TAMIU Back Together: students return to campus for Fall 2021

6Sep

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Academia, Education, Health, News, On Campus

TAMIU Back Together: students return to campus for Fall 2021

TAMIU Back Together: students return to campus for Fall 2021 By Carolina CruzBridge Staff WriterPublished Monday, Sept. 6, 2021 For the first time since the shutdown of schools and universities across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TAMIU students are now back on campus. After a year and a half of remote learning, students, faculty and staff return to familiar settings and routines. Although the pandemic never ended, campus students appear to be back in spirits and maybe even hopeful about the future. David Gomez Jr. | BridgeFireworks light up students and automobiles in the Sen. Judith Zaffarini Student Success Center parking lot as Welcome Week closes on Friday, Aug. 27. For senior psychology major Stephanie Jimenez, the return to in-person classes was long awaite...

Graduate students return to in-person classes this fall

3Sep

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Academia, Education, Health, On Campus

Graduate students return to in-person classes this fall

Graduate students return to in-person classes this fall By Evenlyn Gomez Bridge contributing writerPublished Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 Most graduate students returned to campus this fall yet it’s not exactly the same, Director of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Guillermo Gonzalez Jr. said in light of the pandemic. “Things will certainly be different in the fall semester in terms of interactions between students, faculty and staff,” Gonzalez said. “All information currently available as of Spring 2021 points to still having the same safety protocols in place as we’ve had this past year. For example, all faculty, staff, students and visitors [are encouraged to] social [distance], wear face coverings and frequently wash their hands while on campus.” Moreover, Texas A&M Intern...

20May

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Health, News, On Campus

Gov. Abbott issues executive order regarding face coverings

Gov. Abbott issues executive order regarding face coverings From Staff ReportsPublished Thursday, May 20, 2021 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently issued Executive Order No. GA-36, which rescinds the order of face covering requirements. “Pursuant to Executive Order No. GA-36 issued 5.18.21 by Gov. Greg Abbott, face coverings are no longer required on the Texas A&M International University campus,” TAMIU President Pablo Arenaz wrote in an email Wednesday to faculty, staff, students and campus visitors. “This is effective immediately and applies to all indoor and outdoor facilities and venues.” With that in mind, Arenaz said TAMIU is “encouraged” by the local vaccination rates. “... members of the University community who have not been vaccinated or who have ongoing concerns...

5May

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Academia, Education, Health, On Campus

LEAP to reach out to younger students

LEAP to reach out to younger students By Katya SotoBridge contributing writerPublished Wednesday, May 5, 2021 One plan to expand TAMIU's Laredo Early Acceptance Program includes reaching out to freshmen. The goal of this program is to ease students' transition to University of Texas Health. Introduced in 2017, LEAP was bought to life by then pre-medical adviser Hector Gonzalez. Since then, it focuses on aiding eligible sophomores in continuing their education at UT Health after Texas A&M International University graduation. So far, five students from the local program study at UT. Three more recently received acceptance and five are working toward that goal. “I am hoping that we are going to expand it,” Associate Professor and Chair for the Department of Biology and...

30Apr

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Academia, Education, Health, On Campus

TAMIU continues face-to-face labs

TAMIU continues face-to-face labs By Marlene GonzalezBridge contributing writerPublished Friday, April 30, 2021 [Editor's Note: This story was written prior to the release of the various novel coronavirus vaccines and is a followup to our story “Petition signers urge University to reconsider face-to-face labs” published Feb. 12, 2021. http://www.thebridgestudentnews.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2603&action=edit] The University continues face-to-face labs despite students’ request earlier this semester to transition to online-only labs. “I have done everything in my ability to remain COVID-free since the beginning of the pandemic,” freshman pre-nursing major Edith Gomez said. “Even though the labs are split into smaller groups for in-person attendance, it doesn’t change the f...

25Mar

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Health, News, Science and Tech

Being No. 1 not so good this time

Being No. 1 not so good this time By Erick BarrientosBridge Staff InternPublished Thursday, March 25, 2021 While no longer in quite as crucial of a state, the City of Laredo ranked No. 1, in relation to its population, back in late January for U.S. cities affected by the novel coronavirus. Registered nurse Juan Gallegos said it surprised him by the amount of rising cases in the city. Also unfazed by this news, he acknowledges Laredo’s status as a major land port and the lack of education people received about COVID-19. courtesy Alissa Eckert | CDCThe novel cornavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the disease COVID-19. “We have commerce coming in and going out, even with the bridges closed down,” Gallegos said. “There are people crossing every single day [between the two countr...

Rep. Cuellar, President Arenaz to announce TAMIU CARES program

18Feb

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Finance, Health, News, On Campus, Politics

Rep. Cuellar, President Arenaz to announce TAMIU CARES program

Rep. Cuellar, President Arenaz to announce TAMIU CARES program From Staff ReportsPublished Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 Tomorrow, Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and TAMIU President Pablo Arenaz plan to announce the path for federal funds in the CARES program. Scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at the Student Center Rotunda of Texas A&M International University, the event will explain how these funds "will help meet the needs of students and families impacted by [the] pandemic," according to a press release from Cuellar's office. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas The funds were authorized by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Its intent is to help students who suffered additional expenses du...

12Feb

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Business, Features, Health

Garden, Dusty’s Diner team up for meals

Garden, Dusty's Diner team up for meals By Jhoanna AngelesBridge Staff InternPublished Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 During a free event for participants who signed up, the TAMIU Garden and Dusty’s Diner teamed up to offer a healthy meal. Texas A&M International University students were treated to a dinner featuring organic ingredients on Feb. 1 at the Student Center. Those ingredients were grown on campus. Students received an email providing information about the event, as well as a link to sign up to receive a plate of the following options: cauliflower steak or chicken stir fry. Alejandro Carbajal | BridgeA cauliflower steak seared and served alongside spinach and mashed cauliflower on Feb. 1 at Dusty's Diner. Christopher Segovia manages the garden. “There was a small...

Petition signers urge University to reconsider face-to-face labs

11Feb

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Academia, Education, Health, News, On Campus

Petition signers urge University to reconsider face-to-face labs

Petition signers urge University to reconsider face-to-face labs By David Gomez Jr.Editor-in-chiefPublished Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 At nearly 3,000 signatures on Change.org, TAMIU is facing criticism from the student body for allowing the continuance of face-to-face labs. “What I would like to happen is for the University to keep all of [its] courses online to stop the potential spread of [COVID-19],” sophomore criminal justice major Karen Gonzalez said. “A small risk is still a risk at the end of the day.” She persists her advocacy for online courses at Texas A&M International University since she fell ill to COVID-19 before. “I’ve personally been impacted horrendously by COVID last August right after giving birth and being hospitalized myself,” Gonzalez added. Since ...

23Nov

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Business, Health, News, On Campus

Campus food court nearly deserted

Campus food court nearly deserted By Angela K. CarranzaBridge Assistant Editorand by Juan BarreraBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, Nov. 23, 2020 What was once filled with life and lively conversations, is now a deserted island filled with limited food options. For those unaware, Aramark changed its dining hours at the Student Center Food Court and for Starbucks due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Sue & Radcliffe Killam Library’s Starbuck is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is shortened from previous semesters when the coffee shop’s doors would remain open until late hours. Gabriela Chapa | BridgeAn after-hours empty Food Court shows a lack of chairs and seating to prevent student congregation due to COVID-19 risks, on Nov. 4. Instead, chairs are piled up a...

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