We believe our endorsees will serve the UTEP student body fully in a civil and rational manner. The Ri expects our endorsees, if elected, to work to create a more active student body.

Diana Gloria, President

Throughout the SGA Debates, Gloria’s responses were a welcoming counter to her opponent’s, Cesar Monsivais, aggressive rhetoric. While Gloria emphasized the importance of student involvement and voting, Monsivais emphasized that he was the best candidate because he convinced last year’s majority party to nominate him as Senate Majority Leader, despite his minority party affiliation.

Although neither Presidential candidate spoke enough about UTEP’s issues, Gloria appeared to be well-informed and has the endorsement from current SGA President Alex Munoz.

Edgar Villasana, Vice-President of Interal Affairs

Villasana boasts about being a “hard worker” and “helpful,” a claim the staff confirms. Despite working towards a double major in Economics and Finance, Villasana has stayed involved in extracurricular activities, including as a member of the Regional Economic Development Association. Villasana would be a new face in SGA, which is essential to allow new ideas and perspective.

Wendy Rios, Vice-President of External Affairs

Rios, the most energetic candidate at the SGA debates, was passionate and prepared to campaign for her position. She has helped serve the College of Business and served as Co-Chair of last year’s Appropriations Committee. She possesses the approachability and assertiveness necessary to serve as VP of External Affairs.

Arely Munoz, Senator-at-Large

Munoz’s impressive track record makes her an excellent choice for Senator-at-Large. She is the only business major running for Senator-at-Large; especially during a period of rising state tuition, we expect her majors in Economics and Finance to provide the strong financial background necessary to handle monetary issues within the SGA’s committees. Although a first time SGA candidate, Munoz has leadership experience in the Business College Council and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

Anelisa Benavides, Senator-at-Large

Benavides’s impressive resume makes her a deserving choice for Senator-at-Large. She is a member of the Law School Preparation Institute, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, a National Hispanic Institute Graduate, an LSPI Teacher’s Assistant and High School Mentor, and a Las Americas Immigration Advocacy volunteer.

German Sanchez, College of Business Collegiate Senator

Sanchez, as exemplified by his membership in the Regional Economic Development Association and the Ri staff, is dedicated to improving his environment, especially UTEP. His involvement with the city and the College of Business Administration makes him the perfect choice for the College of Business Collegiate Senator. During the month of April, Sanchez has met or plans to meet with College of Business Dean Robert Nachtmann, Economics Department Chair Timothy Roth, the Institution of Policy and Economic Development, and the El Paso Economic Development Department. Sanchez is the progressive Collegiate Senator that the College of Business deserves.

The following is an account of the events that lead to the present reality of El Paso’s border community.

June 9, 1993

A sad day for the Sinaloa drug cartel. On this date, Guatemalan authorities apprehended Joaquin Guzmán Loera, nicknamed El Chapo. El Chapo, predecessor of drug lord Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, was sentenced to 20 years in jail and was scheduled to be extradited to the United States in early 2001. He remained powerful even behind bars because of his influence over prominent politicians, prison guards, and public office candidates.

2000

Seven years passed and El Chapo was now incarcerated in the “maximum security” Puente Grande prison in Jalisco, Mexico. In this same year, the PAN party celebrated the victory of Vicente Fox, the first non-PRI party President in over 70 years.

January 19, 2001

El Chapo escaped from prison a few days before his scheduled extradition, apparently hidden inside a laundry van. Curiously enough, Calderon’s recently appointed Sub-secretary of Public Security, Jorge Tello Peón, visited the prison a few days prior to the escape to conduct a “surprise inspection” of the facility. Peón announced El Chapo’s escape and was later investigated for possibly collaborating in the incident. Although the Mexican government found no connection, Peón resigned 45 days later citing personal reasons. Peón’s resigning sparked a series of investigations that lead to the implication of at least 78 people.

With El Chapo’s return, the Sinaloa Cartel, whose main operation was smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the United States, began to rebuild.

El Chapo began to exercise his tremendous influence to extend the Cartel’s operations across the country. He became Mexico’s top drug kingpin in 2003 when Cárdenas, leader of the Gulf Cartel, was arrested. With Cárdenas’s arrest, the Sinaloa Cartel became the most powerful Mexican cartel. The Sinaloa Cartel added production, transshipment, storage, and marijuana and heroin distribution to its list of illicit activities.

2004

Mexico held its presidential election. Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, the top contender, lost to PAN candidate Felipe Calderón Hinojosa by a small margin (35.31% to 35.89%). The small margin raised suspicions of corruption and electoral fraud because a vote-by-vote recount was never granted, although a general recount took place.

President Calderón vouched to fight the drug cartels by cutting their money supply and using the military to command captures. Calderon’s pledge marks the beginning of Juárez’s current violent reality.

Juárez’s drug trafficking activity was under the control of the Juárez Cartel, an ally of the Gulf Cartel, lead by Vicente Carrillo Fuentes. Juárez Cartel’s activities ran smoothly and rarely had incidents with authorities and civilians. The city ran its normal course; business was flourishing, U.S. imports and exports were growing, and economic development was advancing. Although Juárez occasionally did see murders, the targets of these attacks were connected to drug-related activities.

Late 2007

The Sinaloa Cartel, intending to extend its control, began to infiltrate the operations of the Juárez Cartel. This sparked an inter-cartel war that lives to date.

2008

Up to this point, Calderon had curiously directed his anti-drug war only to El Chapo’s enemies. Calderon’s administration captured leaders of the Gulf Cartel, dissidents of the Sinaloa Cartel, and leaders of the Juarez Cartel, including Alfredo Beltrán Leyva.

In addition, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, Chapo’s brother, and Claudia Adriana Elenes Salazar, Chapo’s cousin, were both released from jail. Furthermore, El Chapo openly married beauty queen Emma Coronel Aizpuru in Canales, Durango in 2007. Authorities did nothing to stop him. Finally, a study by the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México yielded that out of 53,174 drug trafficking related detentions, only 941 were related to Sinaloa Cartel operations.

Pressure mounted as Calderon’s initiatives began to take a toll on the Juárez Cartel’s finances and operations, which lead to an obscure and rarely mentioned event. Governor José Reyes Baeza walked into his Chihuahua City residence to find his family at gunpoint. The governor has had his hands tied to the Juárez Cartel since. The Juárez Cartel has responded to its decreasing money supply by extorting prominent individuals, business owners and civilians, and brutally killing innocent bystanders to demonstrate authority.

The Future

These events outline an inter-cartel power struggle that has killed thousands of Mexican residents, annihilated business creation and growth, and has caused community anger, fear and disbelief.

As Juárez’s sister city, El Paso has a duty to support its brothers and sisters from Juárez. It is essential that Calderon’s successor do everything in his power to stop the violence in Mexico.

The establishment, located at 318 N. Mesa, is the realization of an idea that began in the mind of Raul Gonzalez, nick named “Rulis.” The concept behind Rulis’ International Kitchen is a twist on fine dining: express gourmet. Rulis wishes that his customers experience an elegant atmosphere combined with a “laid back attitude.” Rulis’ is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious frothy beer. The prices are structured so that they are accessible to more than 90% of the local population. UTEP students on a budget can enjoy a gourmet meal just a few blocks away from campus.

Lately, there has been a growing trend toward higher quality food and beverage. Shows such as Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, and the popular Food Network have allowed anyone with a television to become a “food connoisseur”. Rulis’ has catered towards this trend by providing high quality meals at an affordable price.

The food is delicious, varied, and innovative. True to the owner’s word, despite the variety and elegance of the meals, the restaurant still manages to remain down to earth. The menu varies from breakfast to dinner.

For breakfast, one can have waffles topped with fruit that varies with the seasons. Another good option are the breakfast sandwiches, like the St. Dennis Ciabatta which consists of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, and ham in wine sauce served on a ciabatta roll.

For lunch and dinner, a great dish is the Gambas al Ajillo; an entrée made up of six tiger prawns marinated, sautéed, and served in spicy garlic-chili oil. Another option is the Patatas Bravas; a dish that consists of thick cut potatoes spiced up and served with a cilantro aioli and a chipotle aioli. Another personal favorite is the Cuban Panino; a dish that consists of grilled pork tenderloin, black forest ham, pickles, mustard, homemade aioli, and Swiss cheese on a ciabatta roll. The sides range from kettle chips to fried green beans.

Superb food is not the only thing Rulis’ has to offer. Hand in hand with the concept of elegance and a laid back attitude is the restaurant’s recent addition of wine and beer. Rulis said he wants everyone to know that “anyone can drink wine” and “you don’t have to be rich” to enjoy a glass. On that basis, Rulis’ regularly holds wine and beer tastings. Alternating every week is Wine 101 and Beer 101; two events where anyone can learn the basics of wine and beer.

Rulis’ International Kitchen invites anyone who wishes to enjoy a superb meal at an affordable price in a casual yet class atmosphere. For more information, visit their website at www.rulisik.com.

All students at UTEP are required to take Expository English Composition and Research and Critical Writing (ENGL 1311 and 1312 respectively).  ENGL 1311 focuses on the strategic use of language, rhetorical form, and authorial voice so that students will be able to inform and persuade effectively. ENGL 1312 teaches students to focus questions, use academic resources, critically evaluate materials, and shape writing to match the purpose and audience of the piece.  Business majors are required to take Workplace Writing (ENGL 3355), which teaches the principles of professional rhetoric both written and oral. The goals of these courses are broad enough in nature to aid students in a variety of courses, but when it comes to writing papers tailored toward financial analysis, a critique of theory, or article writing, after taking these courses students remain unprepared.

So now that we have identified the problem, what is the solution?

Well, like so many skills that must be acquired to be successful in the workplace, improving one’s writing skills can be done outside of the classroom. The remainder of this article will highlight ways to do so, starting with the almost archaic way of learning…reading. Two books that all students should consider reading are Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style and Deidre N. McCloskey’s Economical Writing.

The Elements of Style is a proper-use rule book that the New York Times described as a “lifeboat to both professional and amateur writers.” The book contains easy to understand rules, detailed explanations, and examples of both proper and improper usages.  It is available in a multitude of editions and sizes, including a pocket-size version at Barnes and Noble.

Economical Writing (the second edition) by Deidre N. McCloskey is a 98 page (would you expect a book with such a title to be any longer?) book containing 31 rules, which can be applied to all writing. The rules range from Rule 27: Be Concrete, Rule 28: Be Plain, to Rule 23: Around Order Switch Until It Sounds Good. Below are some rules that can readers (and hopefully writers) can put to use now.

Rule 20: Avoid Elegant Variation

Simply put, elegant variation is using many words to mean one thing. For example: “history is concerned not only with what happened but also with why events turned out the way they did.” The reader will interpret that “what happened” and “events [that] turned out the way they did” as two different things, when in fact they are the same thing.

Rule 25: Use Verbs, Active Ones

In revision the adjectives and adverbs should be the first to go. Sydney Smith wrote, “In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigour it will give to your style.”

An interesting and humorous take on revision, but as McCloskey shows Smith should have followed his own advice: In composing [of course it’s composing: that is what we’re talking about, you dunce!], as a general rule [what would be the point of any other?], run your pen through every other word you have written [of course writing: again, that’s what we’re talking about; and in any case, what else would you run a pen through? Your finger?]; you have no idea what vigour it will give to your style [for goodness sake, how often do you have to repeat that you are talking about style?].

This leaves the much more concise: “Run a pen through every other word; you have no idea what viguor it will give.”

Economical Writing places a large emphasis on editing, which in my opinion is the most undervalued step in the writing process. Professors from schools such as the University of Chicago, UCLA, and Harvard praise Economical Writing for its broad applicability, simplicity, and wit. The book is available on Amazon.com and at most other online book retailers.

After reading about good writing, how about putting some writing together? A lot of the time, the best way to improve a skill is by using it. Starting a blog is easier than ever now. Don’t feel like you can come up with new content on a continual basis? Try joining a blog, here is a good place to start your search.

Many students feel it is their university’s responsibility to teach the skills necessary to be successful. Warren Buffet, one of the most respected figures in the business world, strongly advocates communication skills. The Oracle of Omaha, who took courses in verbal and written communication following his MBA, has taken proactive steps to place pressure on universities to teach students better communication skills.

A student can buy used books, but it is a hassle working with ravaged, withered, underlined, and highlighted collections of glued back pieces of paper. A few lucky students may get fortunate enough to avoid the ridiculous purchase prices of new books by purchasing substantially cheaper, hardly opened, used books. Having said that, if a student has to pay $150 for a book that originally cost $200, he or she is still paying in the triple digits.

Some students have stumbled across and have been pleasantly surprised by another solution: international edition textbooks. These books usually cost half, or less than half, of what a U.S. edition textbook costs. The most amazing thing about international edition textbooks is that they are the same as their U.S. counterparts.

Although international textbooks may look different from their U.S. counterparts, they feature the same content. The most obvious difference between a U.S. textbook and its international version is the cover. International textbooks usually are soft cover and portray a different cover image. Additionally, the paper in an international edition textbook is not the glossy commodity that publishers print U.S. editions in. A textbook’s most crucial element is the written knowledge that the books hold. Not only do international and U.S. print the same written knowledge, they print the same knowledge in the same prose, and in the same formatting. The author of a U.S. textbook also owns the international edition’s copyright and thus receives royalties from both editions.

If international editions are comparable to their U.S. counterparts, why are students reluctant to buy them? One possible explanation is the fear of being defrauded. International books are available online from third party sellers who sell the books on sites such as Amazon, EBay, AbeBooks, andValoreBooks. These books are not found in U.S. campus bookstores, nor are they available at your local Barnes & Noble.

The words “Not for Sale in the United States” that are printed alongside the titles is another factor that makes people reluctant to purchase international editions. This message scares U.S. consumers away because of copyright infringement and potential lawsuit nightmares.

There is good reason to fear the almighty copyright, so piracy should be discouraged. However, international books do not violate the law. In 2003, Tamar Lewin wrote a story on the copyright issue of international textbooks for the New York Times. Lewis notes that some students have taken it upon themselves to provide students with the cheaper international alternative. These students purchase a bundle of international books and sell them to other students in their campus.

There have been instances where companies have tried to block the importation of their products from countries where they are sold at substantially reduced prices. Lewin’s article refers to a supreme court decision made in Quality King Distributors, Inc. v. L’anza Research International, Inc. The case in question involved the re-importing of goods sold legally in foreign markets. “It appears that after L’anza’s United Kingdom distributor arranged for the sale of several tons of L’anza products, affixed with copyrighted labels, to a distributor in Malta, that distributor sold the goods to petitioner, which imported them back into this country without L’anza’s permission and then resold them at discounted prices to unauthorized retailers. L’anza filed suit, alleging that petitioner’s actions violated L’anza’s exclusive rights under the Copyright Act of 1976”.

The Court ruled against L’anza and found that “after the first sale of a copyrighted item lawfully made under this title,” any subsequent purchaser, whether from a domestic or from a foreign reseller, is an “owner” of that item. In simpler terms, the ruling states once an individual purchases a copyrighted material legally, it is his to do with what he will (except pirate said material), which includes selling, importing, or exporting.

The Supreme Court ruling established that the purchase and use of international edition textbooks is perfectly legal and a viable option for students. With that said, there is no reason why a student should not buy the less expensive versions of their textbooks. After all, why should student purchase U.S. editions at such insane prices?

Lastly, for any student who wishes to save cash next semester, the remainder of this article will briefly explain how to find international books.nte

The best place to find international books is online. Popular e-commerce websites and booksellers, like Amazon and EBay, offer international editions. There are also several websites that specifically cater to academia, such as abebooks.com, valorebooks.com, and textbooks.com. These websites also offer international editions from various individuals who sell them from their place of origin.

The easiest way to locate international books is to:

1. Visit a specialized search site, like bigwords.com.
2. Enter the U.S. edition ISBN# and run a search. BigWords runs a search of the major online textbook providers and displays a list of the various prices for new and used books.
3. Scroll down the page to view the listed international editions of the books.
4. Follow the links and secure your purchases. Each link comes with descriptions, pictures, and details about the seller. Most sites guarantee that their international books will have the same specifications as the U.S. books. The sites also usually handle disputes very well and promptly reimburse buyers who experience any problems.

Certain careers have large obstacles to overcome, however dedication and persistence will be determining factors that will enable everyone to reach their goals and be successful. Differentiating themselves from the crowd and taking self-initiative will secure the dream job a student hankers to obtain. “This is a long process of training and high performance. My recommendation is that you always achieve the highest grades during school; and during your work experience, make the most possible effort to be the best. The level of competition among government agencies, businesses, and corporations is very high, therefore it is imperative that one differentiates from the rest,” said Antonio Ortega, Commercial Counselor for Mexico in Michigan and Trade and Investment Representative for Hidalgo and Estado de Mexico, during one of our conversations.

Many students, like me, want to pursue a profession that is not necessarily common and requires a lifetime commitment.

I want to become a prominent ambassador to my country. Specific prerequisites and a challenging background, stated in Chapter IV of the Law of the Mexican Exterior Service (Ley del Servicio Exterior Mexicano), come adhered to my goal. Even though the requirements are challenging, the burden I have imposed on myself to promote the prosperity of Mexico and its untapped intelligence and talent weigh more than any other barrier that may come along my journey.

Living in a border city like Juárez has enabled me to experience the desperation of people from South Mexico and Central America. These people come to Juárez to attempt to illegally enter U.S. borders, in the hope of having a brighter future for themselves and their families. People still believe that “the grass is greener on the other side of the River,” and do not take into account that they will jeopardize their life and their family’s wellbeing by walking long days in hot deserts or traveling inside unventilated trailers as cargo before they reach the green grass. Why is it that immigrants do not stay in their country and prosper with its country’s resources? Is it the government’s inefficiency of creating jobs for its people? Or is it the people’s attitude?

When Hernan Cortes first landed in America in 1504, he noticed that the Mexican soil was rich and fertile, thus fought against anyone for the acquisition of such land. Mexico has excellent resources available to exploit and generate jobs, enough jobs to put bread on every Mexican table.

Illegal immigrants in the United States have an important role in the nation’s large economy. According to the Urban Institute, immigrants constitute 34% of the labor force in the domestic sphere, 23% in agriculture and fishing, 21% in assembly operations or machinery, and 18% in services. Immigrants contribute greatly to the success of foreign countries’ economy, although the economy of the immigrant‘s country is affected by the hard working immigrant that left. The USA Today could not be more accurate when on July of 2001 it stated, “USA just wouldn’t work without immigrant labor.”

Former U.S. President George W. Bush also had his opinion on immigration. Bush said, “Immigration is not a problem that needs to be resolved. It is a signal of a secure and successful nation… Foreigners should be welcomed, without prejudice and resentment, but with appreciation and courtesy.”

I want to be a part of Mexico’s economic transformation. I want other countries to see the potential filled in Mexico’s citizens. Many Mexicans have a strong desire to work hard for the wellbeing of their family. Hiking through deserts and working long hours for a poor salary in a foreign land demonstrates the immigrants’ determination and willingness to build a better future for their children.

My goal to change Mexico will certainly be difficult to obtain, but the passion and love I have for Mexico will get me to where I desire to be. A student’s story might be similar to mine, or their expectations might be higher, it does not matter. If somebody is determined to fight for his or her dream, the process will not be tedious, but exciting.

Challenges and Opportunities

Opening a business often requires a grueling effort to overcome various barriers (cultural, generational, gender) that might exist between the customers and the product. When Tara Thai opened, it was no exception: Bringing Thai cuisine to a Southwestern city was no easy task. Sai Pituk, owner of Tara Thai, believes one of the greatest challenges of opening a Thai restaurant in El Paso was overcoming the regional stereotypes towards Asian food.

According to Pituk, the El Paso community tends to associate Asian food with cheap, mediocre-tasting buffets. However, once the El Paso community became aware of the concept of fine Thai dining, the restaurant’s challenges turned into its opportunities. Pituk’s restaurant is one of the only places in the city where you can enjoy high quality Thai cuisine.

Bringing El Paso the Best of Thai

Tara Thai came to El Paso about eight months ago to help change cultural misconceptions about Thai food. Although the restaurant prices are higher than most of its competitors, Tara Thai justifies the cost by offering an exclusive Thai experience. Tara Thai brings a genuine Thai culture by importing most of its fresh ingredients and by only employing Thai chefs.

Management personnel at Tara Thai have used several different mediums of advertising, such as radio commercials, billboard ads, and newspaper ads, to get the word out. Tara Thai chefs have also participated in TV segments that feature the preparation of traditional Thai food. With that said, Tara Thai believes that “word of mouth” has been its most effective marketing tool.

Success and Growth

El Paso Magazine recognized Tara Thai as 2009 Best El Paso Restaurant. As if this was not enough to denote a successful start for Tara Thai, urbanspoon.com and tripadvisor.com, two online sites dedicated to touristic destinations reviews, feature an impressive 90+ reviews for Tara Thai. Eighty-percent of the reviews are positive. As for the negative reviews, Pituk has an explanation.

“The bad reviews must be from competition because this place has the best service and best Thai food in town. Competition knows this,” Pituk said. “Believe me when I say that Tara Thai is the real deal. From the ambience to the food itself, Tara is by far the best Thai food one can get in El Paso or anywhere in West Texas.”

Hard work and effective marketing have allowed Tara Thai to begin looking into expansion. Tara Thai plans to open a hip and modern non-alcoholic bar where customers will be able to enjoy savory artistic plates made by the process molecular gastronomy.

Tara Thai Alchemy: Science in the Kitchen

Imagine opening a cookbook and encountering an ingredients list that includes rare chemicals like methyl cellulose and locust bean gum. For Tara Thai, this is not an unusual occurrence. Shortly after opening the restaurant, the Tara Thai team sought to introduce an innovating concept that will change the way El Pasoans view food: molecular gastronomy.

Molecular gastronomy is a cooking technique  that produces an artistic blend of science, flavor and art. Tara Thai is one of the first businesses to bring molecular gastronomy to El Paso. Very few cities nationwide offer this type of cuisine. Plates that utilize molecular gastronomy usually cost in the range of $90-$120 in large cities like Chicago and New York. Once Tara Thai introduces this concept in El Paso, locals will be able to taste it for much more accessible prices starting at $45.

Address: 2606 N. Mesa

Phone: (915) 533-1300

Hrs. of operation:

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Student Discounts: 10%

Since UTEP sits right at the border between Mexico and the United States, it is no wonder that it draws its students from both sides of the border.  Oscar Chavez, a computer science major, lives close to campus yet frequently travels across the Rio Grande to visit family.

“As I lifelong El Pasoan with strong ties to Juarez, the only thing that makes me feel I am visiting a foreign country when going to my grandmother’s house in Juarez is the waiting time at the bridges,” Chavez said. “Even though the day-to-day violence was enough of a deterrent from visiting my family often, the waiting lines only add to the problem of trying to get to and from Juarez in an efficient manner.”

Though commuters might feel otherwise, the Customs and Border Protection agency believe properly checking every vehicle entering the country is essential to maintaining the nation’s security.

Officer Ruben Jauregui, a Public Affairs spokesperson for the Customs and Border Protection, referred to the bridge waits as an “unfortunate circumstance”, yet feels nothing is more important than keeping our country safe from outside threats.

“Since 9/11, our department has increased our vigilance along the borders, and thorough car screenings is only one of the many steps that we have taken to prevent not only another terrorist attack, but to inhibit illegal drugs from entering the country.”

Jauregui stated that unlike other locations along the US-Mexico border, commuters in our area actually have a choice as to which port of entry is most suitable for them.

“In San Diego for example, there is only one port of entry with 24 lanes, and everyone must enter through this port even if it diverges them from their destination.  In our metro area, we have 3 major international bridges spaced out across the city, allowing drivers to ultimately decide which is most suitable for them.”

Jauregui added that the recent increase in violence in Juarez has not altered the Customs and Border Protection agency’s operations, and he also has advice for UTEP students who travel frequently to Cd. Juarez.

“I would suggest that by comparing traffic on the bridges at different times of the day and week, students can plan ahead and make their frequent commutes less stressful than they already are.”

“The Fed is the single most pervasive problem affecting every American, every age, race, and every socioeconomic status in the same way. It burdens us with tyrannical excesses of a small, elite class of people who view themselves as superior and intend to rule rather than serve,” said Matt Sistrunk, organizer of the group protesting in front of the El Paso branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Sistrunk, a West Point graduate and former Army Captain with 11 years of service, said he started questioning certain “status quo belief systems” in 1996, and has been active in working to enlighten the masses and to mobilize them to bring America back to the people by restraining government with constitutional rule of law ever since.

Although the Federal Reserve has been around for almost a century, Sistrunk, the other protestors, and those involved with the End the Fed movement do not think the Fed is necessary for economic stability. “That’s a lie. They create the crisis they claim they’re protecting us against. It’s an example of creation-reaction-solution. They create a problem, get a reaction, and install a prepared solution. They create slavery through the control of money supply. The government gives them the power to counterfeit money, something that if you and me did, we would go to jail.” The sentiment that the Federal Reserve has an ulterior agenda seems to be a unifying concern for members of the “End the Fed” movement. The introduction to a magazine posted on endthefed.us as educational material to be redistributed by group members says that “the Federal Reserve Bank and its owners are bringing to a conclusion the planned implosion of the financial economy of the United States.”

Despite all of the provocative language, Saturday’s protest was very peaceful. Federal Reserve security commended End the Fed’s orderliness and cooperation. “Oh yeah, the leader, he’s really good at keeping everything calm and in order.”

“This is completely peaceful,” iterated Sistrunk, “We want to achieve heightened awareness. We want to mobilize action. We want to equip people with the informational tools needed to affect their spheres of influence.”

End the Fed wants to abolish the Federal Reserve, but they think it will take several steps to get there, starting with an audit of the Federal Reserve’s records. “That’s the first step, auditing the fed. That falls under HR1207 which currently has [55] cosponsors. This audit will give a detailed look at the Fed, and it will uncover all of their secrets. Americans will no longer tolerate the Fed’s presence. The Fed is absolutely criminal.”

Besides their nationally based goals, the El Paso Campaign for Liberty Meetup Group has some plans locally as well. “We want to build a political machine made of people who support the constitution. We don’t want to fall into the typical paradigm of divisive politics,” Sistrunk said enthusiastically “We want anyone who loves our constitution. We’re looking into electing a few guys into city council and maybe a sheriff in 3 and a half years.”

Out of the six candidates that are running for Mayor of El Paso, four attended and laid out some of their proposals on how to make the city progress and prosper over the next four years.

Among the attendees were incumbent Mayor John F. Cook; Gus Haddad, a local businessman; Carlos Rivera, a former farm-worker and Air Force veteran; and Lee Mendez, a UTEP student and Navy veteran.

Each candidate did a good job presenting themselves to the UTEP students and to those that live in the surrounding community who took the time to attend. With that said, none of the candidates did enough to completely separate themselves from their opponents.

The big question going into this race is not whether one of Cook’s opponents will be able to beat him outright, but whether or not any of his opponents can force a run-off. A run-off occurs when none of the candidates can garner more than 50% of the votes, which then leads to another election where only the top two candidates compete.

The latest polls have shown Cook is close to that 50% mark that he hopes to achieve, yet at least one-third of El Pasoans remain undecided.

To those who might believe that a run-off is just delaying an inevitable Cook re-election, recent history proves otherwise.

Cook himself benefited from a run-off back in 2005, when then-Mayor Joe Wardy received the most votes but did not clear the 50% “safety line”, allowing Cook (as 2nd-highest vote-getter) to remain in the race. The one-on-one matchup and extra time to campaign before the run-off election proved to be more valuable to Cook than to the incumbent, as Cook came out on top after the final votes were counted.

With all this in mind, Cook, Haddad, Rivera, and Mendez took the stage at the Cinema on Monday, and the following is an assessment of their performances.

John F. Cook

Cons: Cook’s campaign organization at the event was very poor. While the other candidates had supporters present and shook hands with whoever approached them, Cook had no posters up (if he did, I did not see them) and did not spend as much time in the lobby as his opponents did. Also, while all the candidates criticized the status quo as being inefficient and out-of-touch with voters, Cook did very little in regards to refuting these claims, something he must do in the coming weeks so as to not be viewed as complacent.

Gus Haddad

Pros: Out of all the candidates present, he came off as the most “people-friendly”. While two other candidates also shook hands with the attendees in and around the Cinema, Haddad was the most engaging, making the majority of those with whom he met feel as if they held a true stake in this election. When on stage, he also made it clear that he played a key role in most of the initiatives that Cook was taking credit for, such as the 2000 Quality of Life issue.

Cons: The most controversial question of the day was the one concerning drug legalization, and in an auditorium full of students who made it evident through cheers and jeers (according to the direction that the discussion was headed) that they smoked marijuana, Haddad did not give a concrete yes or no as to whether he supported the idea. He is currently in second place behind Cook in most polls, and at some point, Haddad will have to answer tough questions such as this one and show that his views will not be swayed by a boisterous audience if he wishes to push Cook to the limit.

Carlos Rivera

Pros: The most energetic of the candidates, he constantly involved the audience when he was at the podium through questions which asked for feedback through a show of hands. He promised to give everyone in El Paso “a seat at the table”, making the city government more easy-to reach.

Cons: At times, it appeared that Rivera and Mendez were saying the exact same thing. In fact, at one point, both candidates stated that “the culture must change” at the city government, seemingly word-for-word of what the other candidate stated. If Rivera is to change his current poll fortunes, he must show that he and his ideas are fundamentally unique from the rest of the field.

Lee Mendez

Pros: The most eloquent speaker, and by far the most quotable. He gave one-liners like “We cannot ask the poor to subsidize the poor”, and “the fruits of NAFTA come at a price.” Though the other candidates are graduates of UTEP, Mendez had the advantage of being the only one currently enrolled at the school, thus sharing a noteworthy link with most of those in attendance.

Cons: The least politically experienced, Mendez does not have a record to fall back on. This made it critical for Mendez to fully outline his plans while in office, and while he said many things that made sense, the substance behind those ideas was not there. Mendez spoke of keeping the city’s intellectual property in El Paso, but he did not outline how exactly he would facilitate this. A detailed plan of his ideas would be advantageous to Mendez if he hopes to not be seen as just rhetoric.