The Colegio Blogporter

Tato Torres, lead singe of "El Chivo Loco" is one of the figures that defend puertorican folklore and trova.

With very little notice and a poor promotion, this week in Puerto Rico the ”Decimanía” organization is celebrating the  week of “La Trova”. In different municipalities trough out the nation are taking and continue to take place a series of activities till next Sunday. The activity is dedicated to Luis Miranda that is one of the primary and more prominent institutions of puertorican folklore. The principal motive of this gesture is to demonstrate how letters combined with our culture or art can transmit our tradition through all the coming generations.

The “trova” is a tradition that not only us here in Puerto Rico practice. Is a latino shared heritage by countries like: Panamá, Uruguay, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Canary Islands and Spain and others. In the words of various artists that promote and practice this artistic tradition is a very special gesture; very personal in terms that you are basically mixing your ancestry with words and music.

Tato Torres that is one of the active puertorican musicians promoting our afro-boricua tradition; previously a member of the musical group “Yerbabuena” and currently of “El Chivo Loco”. He was born in the small town of Guayanilla but raised in the Bronx, N.Y. For a couple of years he has been very active in the “boricua roots” music scene and sharing with different young artist renounced in the traditional music production. He shared a couple of words with me about his opinion and position towards the puertorican folklore and how involves us the youth.

How do you consider in this very moment the influence of folklore music here in the island?“I believe that there is a very significant influence of “folklore” in the general Boricua cultural experience and expression. They are not always the images, sounds or concepts usually depicted or perceived by most “folklorists” and/or researchers, and especially not by the media. But never-the-less they are present and palpable if one knows where or how to look
What do you think of the position of the youth in this case? Specifically speaking of college students. In what ways do you encourage them? “The youth is always in a position of great social potential. By virtue of their very youth itself, they are the natural cultural agents of and links to our future. We can only hope to maintain the youth functionally and productively integrated within the general society by making them active participants of the cultural process. By facilitating trans-generational social activity, which, inevitably generates and re-generates culture, which in turn re-binds the society together. I have dedicated myself to working almost exclusively with young musicians in my musical career so far. Both of the musical projects I have founded and currently direct are predominantly composed of young people as the core members. I find that collaborating with the youth, is the best way to produce music, which is not only well-rooted in tradition, but also contemporarily relevant to both old and new generations.

You Tato Torres, How do you define our music, our musical heritage? What impact has or could have, if more promoted? I play Boricua Roots Music, which to me means that I make use of a traditional musical “palette” to interpret a present-day Puerto Rican musical expression. Boricua Roots Music is a musical movement in which Boricua musicians have combined and re-combined elements of traditional and/or folkloric music as contemporary musical expressions. This style of modern music, which reaches back to the roots of Boricua (Puerto Rican) tradition has come to be called “roots music” or “música de raíz” in Spanish.

In reference to the occasion, that this weak is precisely the “La Semana del Trovador”. What do you think of the effort?” Anytime that a society makes any effort to actively value and recognize those cultural agents and roles, which allow us a historical and cultural continuum, is indeed something to celebrate. Valuable functions such as those carried out and perpetuated by artists and entertainers like Trovadores definitely deserve to be honored and respected. By doing this we can only strengthen and stimulate it’s survival and that of our cultural future as a People.”

By Karla Marie Rodríguez Acosta

Tuesday, October 3^rd, Ms. Lourdes Rivera, official public relations coordinator of the student committee for the APPR (Asociación de Psicólogos de Puerto Rico) visited the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez for the very first time as an APPR spokesperson. She was greeted by the members of Psi Chi, currently the only chapter in the island of the International Honor Society in Psychology. During her visit, she informed the students about the benefits they can get by choosing to attend their 58^th Annual Convention to be held this upcoming November (days 10^th-12^th) in the Gran Meliá Golf Resort of Puerto Rico in Río Grande.

Ms. Rivera touched on two specific benefits that the students would have by attending the convention: networking and workshops.

By attending the convention, students will be given the opportunity to network with future colleagues, building social and professional connections that could potentially benefit them in their future as both graduate psychology students and professionals in the industry. She talked about the lifelong connections she had made herself, although she did not give specifics, let alone names. She however, talked about how becoming involved with the APPR opened doors that helped her further her career in psychology.

Also, students will have the opportunity to attend workshops that will help their growth as future psychologists. They will get the opportunity to attend conferences on subjects that are rarely ever touched in undergraduate courses. She also took a moment to remind the students that should they choose to become psychologists, there are certain workshops and classes that they must take throughout the years to keep their knowledge of psychology as fresh and as contemporary as possible. “By attending the convention, you will get to experience first hand what these workshops are like, and that could potentially allow you to appreciate the reasons why they are so important.” Ms. Rivera explained.

The convention has also been tailored to allow professionals in the worldwide industry of psychology to present their research. Ms. Rivera talked about how students, too, can benefit from this. Not only can keeping up with the research help students grow professionally and academically, but it gives them an opportunity to get involved with today’s research topics of interest.

Ms. Rivera also took the opportunity to inform the UPRM students that the convention was open to the public, and not just to psychology professionals and students. “Lawyers, psychiatrists, doctors and many more professionals interested in the science of psychology always attend our convention as well.” She emphasized, expecting to encourage students who are studying psychology, but are interested in a different career path, to attend.

Following her breakdown of the benefits of attending the convention, Ms. Rivera explained the benefits of becoming a member of the APPR, starting with the discounted admission prices the students would get if they became members. Students who choose to become members of the APPR will only have to pay $25 pending additional hotel fees (room, food, and other services), as opposed to non-members who would have to pay $150 plus hotel fees.

In addition to discounts, members of the APPR will receive a tri-monthly psychology journal, e-mail notifications informing them of future events and job opportunities, and will be considered, if eligible, for graduate school grants.

Ms. Rivera ended her presentation by informing the students of this year’s convention slogan: Liderazgo, Diversidad y Optimismo: Impulsando el Cambio, which stands for Leadership, Diversity and Optimism: Promoting Change.

“By attending the APPR 58^th Annual Convention, you will discover if a career in psychology is for you.” She finished, smiling at the group of students sitting in front of her.

The members of Psi Chi as they listen to APPR spokesperson, Ms. Lourdes Rivera.

October 23, 2011              By: Bernard Aanonsen

On Monday, October 3^rd, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory (LL) paid a visit to the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, with the intention of recruiting students who might be interested in a career on science and engineering.

Pedro Torres and Edward Betancourt, both researchers at the Lincoln laboratory held a conference in a small room to explain the goals and expectations of the laboratory. They began by stating that the conference had three purposes. First, to explain the difference between the MIT and the LL, second, to detail their mission, objectives and expectations, and third, to explain to the students the benefits and reasons as to why choose LL as their workplace.

As expected, they began explaining the differences. It should be noted that, those who are accepted do not work or are students for the MIT, instead they work for the laboratory. They said, that the key difference between the two of them, is their goals. As explained by Mr. Torres, the Campus aspires to serve humanity and nature, while the LL’s goal is to defend the United States from possible threats. In his own words: “Lincoln is simply applied science for the purpose of defending USA”.

After explaining the differences, they began to talk about the LL’s mission. As stated before, the LL’s primary mission is to use technology in support of national security. The LL was originally established to deal with possible Cold War issues. This issues involved things such as, the defense of USA against possible soviet missiles and such. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the LL’s mission changed drastically and nowadays it deals more with terrorism attacks, protection against bioweapons and the creation of radars and missiles. This has impacted the nation in many ways such as in bio defense, improved defenses and advanced technology.

Torres then added “The lab’s purpose is not to promote theory it is to apply it”. Through this, he makes it clear, that only those interested in getting their “hands dirty” are the ones that should apply.

Finally, they went on to explain, why the students should choose the LL as their workplace. Many appealing benefits were promised, such as a flexible work days, life insurance, vacations, financial support for continuing education, etc. Bentancourt added “The lab has a very flexible schedule. You don’t have a set time to fulfill, instead you have some goals to accomplish and you do them at your own pace.”

Students who are in any science or engineer major such as, Electric Engineering, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and more, should take it into consideration, if they are interested in making the latest technological advances for the defense of their country.

By: Luis E. Palomo Ramos

By: Arnaldo G. Nieves Vázquez

Chillin Bar & Grill (Mayagüez) celebrated their second year anniversary of going into business along with the long awaited inauguration of their kitchen in the patio of the bar last Saturday Oct. 1, 2011.

The event took place from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Chillin Bar & Grill located in the “Pueblo” of Mayagüez. In celebration of the occasion, they opened earlier than their usual hours so guests could stay and enjoy the event as long as possible.

From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. customers were offered free drinks and they danced to music by featured disc jockey DJ Coach. Chillin Bar & Grill’s official disc jockeys are DJ Shaylom who plays on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and video jockey VJ Doctor Live who plays on Thursdays.

The island-wide known rock band “Algarete” was scheduled to play later that night. However, due to unknown complications, the band was replaced by an unnamed local band playing cover songs like “Mariposas” (by Enanitos Verdes) and “Que Se Joda!” (by Algarete) as people danced and listened to the music. After that, the boxing match “Juanma vs. Oliver” started and was played on the numerous television screens over the bar area.

As people watched the match, they enjoyed bar snacks such as fritters, wings, nachos, sausages and quesadillas from the new kitchen, open Monday through Friday from 10am to 12am and Saturday from 10am to 10pm. The kitchen is outdoors and has a light-finished wooden front wall with shutter style windows opening up to the counter space. People lined up to place their orders at the window and pick up their fritters and other snacks. In addition, there is a Wi-Fi area useful for those who want to study while they eat there and a delivery service as well for those who want to stay in their apartments or college students who need to stay at campus. “Chillin Bar & Grill is conveniently located at a walking distance from Mayaguez’s University of Puerto Rico (UPRM), so students have easy access to our great food or we can bring it to them if they can’t come to pick it up themselves” said Osvaldo Tubens Mendez, owner of Chillin Bar & Grill.

The entire night, Chillin Bar & Grill was full of people eating, drinking, dancing, singing and viewing boxing matches. The atmosphere was young and lively, full of college students celebrating a night out. The bartenders were serving drinks from behind the well-stocked, wood-topped bar. The partygoers were clearly enjoying their time at Chillin celebrating the new kitchen and bringing good vibes to the event.

Chilin Bar & Grill's new kitchen and employees

By Rolando Matias

A large numer of students were present at a conference “improving your personal finances”. It took part at Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the AE-339 room at RUM. It was given by  professor Juan F. de Jesus, and was put together by the Financial Management Association.

The main purpose of the conference was to advise the students of the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus (RUM), about how they should be taking care of their finances. The main topic was on how to save money, comparing expenses with the income.

The conference was part one of three conferences, which will help on how to save on different situations. This one was a general idea of how some expenses could be stopped and save more money for the future. Some presentations were given on how in Puerto Rico over the years, saving income has decreased drastically. “People are just not saving money anymore” De Jesus as to bring an impacting comment to the students about the problem we have the island. Some advices given by the professor to help cut the amount of money wasted and increase the saving budget were: avoiding traveling during high season, going out to eat, and control car expenses.

One of the best ways to save money, as said in the conference is to recognize to have priorities and to leave some desires aside. And some examples were given on how some people prefer to have an iPod rather than a good meal in the fridge. According to the Prof. De Jesus, younger people tend to waste their resources faster specially on unnecessary things and need to create a consciousness that what they are buying is not really needed.

The conference ended with a big applause and several of the organizers thanking the professor for his time and great explanation of the subject. There were also some announcements of upcoming conferences, part 2 and part 3 of the “improving your personal finances”.

By: Stefanny Santana Rivera

University Band and Standard Bearers interpreting the University anthem.

The Business Administration Department (ADEM for its Spanish acronym) of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus celebrated their 41^st anniversary and the University’s 100^th anniversary last Thursday at 10:00am on September 29, 2011.

The activity started in the lobby of ADEM with an Open House for the Business and Economist Development Center and a Job Expo with Puertorican and American companies. The student organizations had different setup booths and ADEM had a gallery of pictures from the founding of the department until recent years.

The University Band with its Standard Bearers was the center of attraction, wearing green and white uniforms (symbolizing the university colors) had the crowd of students, professors, deans and the university chancellor dancing to the rhythm. Being the youngest faculty on campus, at the celebration of their anniversary, they have showed the inner school spirit at its fullness.

When the students first entered the lobby of ADEM, they saw many tables of different Business Companies and Banks ready to offer them their first internship, summer job, graduate school options or even their first real job. The companies gave students brochures and application forms of the programs they offered and students gave them resumes and personal statements. The department of ADEM is known for dressing appropriately or in business attire even for classes, for this particular event students were required to dress professionally.

At 10:45, the formal protocol began with an ADEM student who welcomed the guests. The University Band played “We got the beat” and the Standard Bearers danced to the melody; the crowd loved it. They had an amazing glow on their faces; it was as if they wanted to get to the stage and dance with them. “I feel so proud to be representing my school at one of the most important university activities of the century. This moment will go down in history and I’m so excited that I will be part of it.” said Christine Perdomo, captain of the University Standard Bearers.

Dr.Jorge Rivera Santos, University Chancellor giving his speech.

After the welcome, came a series of speeches from the University Chancellor, Dr. Jorge Rivera Santos, deans and professors. The whole protocol was based on the history of the department. Others talked about how proud they were of their students because of all the hard work and enthusiasm dedicated into everything they do.

Finally, everybody rose from their seats to listen and accompany the University Band and the Standard Bearers while they interpreted the University Anthem. When they finished, the student organization, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) threw white and green balloons into the sky. The activity ended with a presentation from the University Band.

In the end, there was nothing left to say but “Antes, Ahora y Siempre COLEGIO!!!!!”(Which is the University’s most famous phrase, it means we are the best in the past, present and future).