UTEPIA attracts students

"We'd always wanted to play out here, so as soon as we saw an ad, we decided to take the opportunity. We just came to rock it out and for the $300," said Caesar Sanchez, vocal performance major and lead vocals and guitar for The Turboprops.


Even though each band sometimes elicited unintentional laughter from some members of the audience, there was always an enthusiastic amount of applause. In the end, Above the Notes Entertainment was declared the winner of the Battle of the Bands.


"It feels good to win. We were up against some really tough competition. We were practicing. It all just goes to show that hard work pays off," said Terry Sharp, commercial music major and member of Above the Notes Entertainment.


Leaders of student organizations such as the Tennis Club and The Desert Dance Club eagerly awaited for other students to show up to persuade them into joining their groups, while other clubs used candy and food to gather donations. Students for Secular Free Thought opted to add even more persuasion.


"We are talking to people, giving awareness of these organizations by starting conversations about religion," said Edgardo Peregrino, sophomore applied mathematics major.


Some of the events and rides at UTEPIA included an eurobungy, an obstacle track and a spinning wheel set up to add fun and excitement. Food stands offered popcorn, burgers and pizza with students forming huge lines for a bite to eat.


To conclude the event, a fashion show was held using Lady Gaga´s style of rock glam as its main theme.


"It was a group effort with UTEPIA, we all decided on Lady Gaga. We just wanted to do something different. Lady Gaga's in," said Rebecca Valdez, sophomore pre-nursing major and host of the fashion show. "She's glamorous and a lot of fun."


The weather made a little bit of a dent for the girls and boys who participated in the fashion show. The winds blew throughout the day and from time to time lifted the sheets that covered the improvised changing rooms.


Throughout the day, students strapped themselves to the eurobungy, jumping various feet into the air as they screamed out of fear and excitement. Then there was a spinning wheel where two people could strap themselves and be spun, ensuing laughter, screams and nausea from the riders.


UTEPIA achieved its purpose of informing and entertaining the students.

"It's a great thing to do because it gives you an opportunity to sit down and get to know some of the chapters around here," said Brian Silva, junior education major. "I had a lot of fun and got to meet new people."


Oscar Moreno may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.