Forget the books–it’s time to play

The beginning of the spring semester is here and UTRGV helped students make the start of another year a good one with the Week of Welcome, held from Jan. 16 through Friday, by hosting numerous activities on both campuses.

The Office of Student Involvement hosted the activities.

Events included the Group Exercise Try-A-Thlon, which featured Zumba, yoga and Butts & Guts. At the Campfire Bash, students roasted marshmallows to make s’mores, played games and enjoyed music. Other activities included Custom Street Signs and Student Organization Involvement Fairs.

Mass communication senior Christopher Rivera roasts a marshmallow to make a s’more during the Campfire Bash last Wednesday at the Chapel lawn on the Edinburg campus. LESLEY ROBLES/THE RIDER PHOTOS
Biology senior Ashley Garcia roasts a marshmallow to make a s’more at the Campfire Bash last Wednesday at the Chapel lawn on the Edinburg campus.

Computer science freshman Matt Treviño attended the Custom Street Signs event, where students created their own metal street sign to look like it came straight off the corner.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Treviño said. “As soon as I heard about it, I, like, kind of ran over here. I was in line for a good 20 to 30 minutes but it’s totally worth it. I told all my roommates it’s really cool. I was just like, ‘Dude, guys, come over.’”

Gus Davis (left), vice president of Fun Fotos To Go, designs custom metal street signs for UTRGV students last Wednesday on the Brownsville campus. The street sign designs were part of the Spring 2017 Week of Welcome. MICHELLE ESPINOZA/THE RIDER
Pre-medical chemistry junior Jonathan Salilnas (left) and pre-medical biology senior Carlos Ramirez admire their custom street signs. GABREIL MATA/THE RIDER
Criminal justice junior Frankie Jimenez gets his custom street sign at the Student Union last Thursday. Students could choose what was printed on a street sign with multiple patterns and colors from which to choose. GABREIL MATA/THE RIDER
Maria Mata (left), a psychology sophomore, and Yaretzy Arredondo, a psychology freshman, toss nickels into a mobile water fountain last Thursday during the Student Organization Involvement Fair on the Edinburg campus. The fair was part of the Spring 2017 Week of Welcome. MICHELLE ESPINOZA/THE RIDER

More than 100 students attended the Student Organization Involvement Fair on the Brownsville campus last Tuesday and on the Edinburg campus last Thursday on the Chapel lawn.

About 10 organizations, including Hack and Make, American Criminal Justice Association, Alpha Psi Lambda National Inc. fraternity and ESports Association, gathered on the Brownsville Main Courtyard to recruit and speak with students about their organization.

Group Exercise Instructor Nayelli Gutierrez leads a Zumba class demonstration Tuesday in the University Recreation Center during the Group Exercise Try-A-Thlon in Edinburg. SARAH CARVAJAL/THE RIDER
Group Exercise Instructor Nancy Garza leads participants Tuesday during the Butts & Guts segment of the Group Exercise Try-A-Thlon in the UTRGV University Recreation Building in Edinburg. The event was part of the Week of Welcome and allowed students to sample four of the classes offered by UREC. SARAH CARVAJAL/THE RIDER
Social work sophomore Sierra Almaguer spins a wheel to determine what kind of treat she can get at the Student Involvement Fair last Thursday at the University Ballroom in Edinburg. GABRIEL MATA/THE RIDER
Marketing sophomore Monica Vera plays the ukulele last Thursday in front of the Treble Thrivers booth during the Student Involvement Fair, where students were invited to learn about the university’s student organizations. The event took place at the University Ballroom in Edinburg. GABRIEL MATA/THE RIDER

“We go travel to places like Austin, Houston, Dallas. … We go to the events called “hackathons,” which are sponsored by major corporations like Dell, Microsoft, Google, and what they do is that they give us prompts or something they want us to do and we all create teams and see who can create the best invention in 24 hours or sometimes a week long,” said Alissa Flores, Brownsville Hack and Make treasurer. “We also do a lot of volunteering.”

Students interested in joining the organization may email Christian A. Martinez at christian.a.martinez01@utrgv.edu

“We got certified on pepper spray last May,” said Liliana Resendiz, a member of the American Criminal Justice Association at UTRGV. “We just went to competition in November. We had shooting, testing CSI, physical training and we are just excited for this new semester for all the new things we have to come.”

To become members of the association, students must be criminal justice majors or minors.

For more information, email Rogelio Gutierrez at rogelio.gutierrez01@utrgv.edu in Brownsville and Isaac Tamez at isaac.tamez01@utrgv.edu in Edinburg.

Alpha Psi Lambda President Vanessa Soto said the fraternity is recruiting new members. The fraternity does community service and helps new members with their homework and other things they may need.

A student must have a 2.5 GPA and be enrolled in at least six credit hours in order to become a member. For more information, email apsialphabeta@gmail.com

ESports, a gaming association with more than 60 members on both campuses, is looking for new recruits who like to play videogames.

“What we focus on is creating community around competitive gaming and hosting tournaments as well as developing teams and professionalism and leadership,” said Nicholas Hill, president of Esports Association. “We are [on] both campuses. We host events, we work with the community and businesses that do videogames and stuff. The club is for everyone, even if you don’t like competing, or if you play just for fun.”

For more information, visit @ESportsUTRGV on Facebook.

On the same day, the same organizations gathered for games, food and music at the “Throwdown,” held at the Texas Southmost College Recreation Center in Brownsville.

Exercise science junior Cesar Trinidad places a Velcro pad on the side of the inflatable game as the resistance rope pulls him back. ANA CAHUICHE/THE RIDER PHOTOS
Biology junior Mariana Alvarado (from left), biology junior Diony Tovar and psychology junior Alejandra Canales compete in a game called “Flip a Cup,” hosted by the Circle K organization during “Throwdown.”
Nursing freshman Israel Lambarri (from left), criminal justice freshman Julio Garza, marine biology junior Ivonne Cano and international business junior Samuel Vallejo play “Spike Ball” last Tuesday during the “Throwdown” outside of the Texas Southmost College Rec Center in Brownsville.
Communication senior Nicholas Hill (left) and chemical engineering sophomore Osiel Castillo play chess during last Tuesday’s “Throwdown” at the Texas Southmost College Recreation Center in Brownsville.