SAN MARCOS, NICARAGUA NOV-DEC 2009

2nd EDITION - 29 PAGES

Grupo Roble Agreement

Academic Section Ask Your professor
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BE GREEN Miracle on Nicaraguan Beaches

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Culture Room El Reflejo

Dacono del papa

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The Berlin Wall

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Ave Maria professor sweeps two winning categories in Art exhibit

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

Credits
Editor in Chief Emilia Yang Rappaccioli Co-editors Carlos J. Perez Vega & Maria Jos Hernndez Art Director Mario Gonzlez Zablah Treasurer Alicia Chvez Marketing and Distribution Lucila Delgado
Staff Writers
Ana Fuentes Ochy Montoya Javier Pinto Francisco Chamorro Alejandra Borge Carlos Guardado Ernesto Meja

Editorial

Advisory Board Arturo Wallace Dr. Kenia Halleck Beth Garca Wilbert Salgado Desiree Romn Special Thanks to Karen Arbiz Yahoska Jimnez

Gabriela Flores Art and Imagery

Erick Martnez Mario Guardado Cynthia Luna

hristmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. -Mary Ellen Chase I would like to dedicate the Paper Cut Editorial for three major events that took place during the time of this edition: Thanksgiving, the Democracy march and the upcoming Christmas. We made this issue regarding the Thanksgiving holiday because my writers were sent out during the Thanksgiving break to look for inspiration and ideas to write in this edition, and they found them. Some of them found out that Thanksgiving is a holiday to give thanks of what we have, others that its time to get together with God, and others preferred to go to the beach or stay home and do a good deed. I personally was thankful because I saw how our little country is heading towards a brighter sunrise, with the demonstration of civism that we saw November 21st by both sides of our political spectrum. In this new edition we wanted you, our readers, to feel more included. For that reason we included two new sections. Our new environmental corner in which we have feature articles regarding the Copenhagen protocol and also a field trip of the environmental science lab that went to the Flor Reserve to see the turtles nest. The second section is what we called Got 2 read section, in which we had collaboration from a Salvadorian Blogger Elisa Guadrn and other interesting columns regarding personal experiences of our writers. November was very hectic, and December will be even more. People is getting ready for finals, some are finishing up projects or term papers and we will see a lot of people running around dressed up nicely for their final grade presentation. After finals Christmas arrives with its entire splendor, we include a note on what to buy under a C$100 that will be very useful for the secret santas and also the good bye presents to some of our friends that are not coming back until graduation. I personally want to say goodbye to my friends who are not coming back in January, the school will not be the same without you guys! And for the final touch we have so many cultural things happening that is almost incredible how much creative work we are getting. THANKS!!!!! We hope to include all your pieces over time and at the same time I invite you to keep reading the paper, following our blog, and paying attention, because you never know what we can write next (it might be about you). Thanks again team and see you next year for a new semester full of stories, Merry Christmas and God Bless,

Emilia Yang Rappaccioli Editor in chief

international news
The Berlin Wall
Ernesto Meja-Traa
ovember 9th is a very meaningful date for German history, from the proclamation of the Weimar Republic in 1918 to the Kristallnacht in 1938, when synagogues were burned and more than 1,300 Jews were killed. Therefore, it is still surprising that this date, which is full of joy and sadness in German history, is the date in which the Berlin Wall fell. Germany was divided into four sections corresponding to the Allied Powers after World War II (Great Britain, France, United States of America and the Soviet Union). Berlin as the seat of the Allied Control Council was divided as well among these nations. Two years after shared management of the country, divisions arose between the Soviet Union and the rest of the powers. After massive immigrations from Eastern Germans to West along with many other factors, the decision to build the wall was taken. It was until August 12, 1961 that Walter Ulbricht (General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party and Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic) signed the closing of the border and the building of a wall. During the existence of the wall, there were 5,000 successful escapes and about 200 deaths. Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were especially known for lobbying to the cause of the tearing up of the wall. However, the separation continued creating a lot of differences culturally and economically speaking. Such differences are still felt in modern Germany, were life standards are higher in what used to be Western Germany than that of Eastern Germany. The sudden creation of the wall split families, cut off East Berliners that worked in the West and caused an isolation feeling in Western Germans. After years of repression,

Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Belin.

Germans began to protest as a part of the Pacific Revolution of 1989. They expressed their will by chanting We want out! and We are staying here! By November 4th, 1989 the protests had increased in such a way that there were gathered half a million people at the Alexnaderplatz demonstration in East Berlin. On November 9th, the borders were opened and that date is seen as the date in which the border fell. The following days people

appeared with hammers to destroy the wall, they were known as wall-peckers. Nowadays, some sections of the wall have been left to remind the people that such thing should not be repeated ever again.

THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

our faith
Dicono del Papa

l da de Pentecosts tuve la gran gracia de servir como dicono al Santo Padre en la Baslica de San Pedro. Fue una experiencia realmente emocionante. No me lo poda creer, yo sentado junto al sucesor de San Pedro, el representante de Cristo en la tierra. En la Santa Misa servimos cuatro diconos, los otros eran dos de Italia y uno de Ghana; y concelebraron junto a Benedicto XVI un total de 19 Cardenales, entre ellos el espaol, S.E.R. Card. Julin Herranz. Providencialmente ese da, 31 de mayo

ltimo da del mes de Mara, es tambin una bonita fiesta de Nuestra Madre: la Visitacin de Mara Santsima a su prima santa Isabel. Al coincidir con Pentecosts no se celebra pero la Virgen Mara, esposa del Espritu Santo, estuvo presente, al igual que lo estuvo en el cenculo de Jerusaln, no slo en el icono que presida la ceremonia, sino sobre todo en nuestros corazones, con su amor maternal que nos lleva siempre a su Divino Hijo; Cuntas veces le di gracias por estar all, en el corazn de la Iglesia, junto

al Papa, el da de Pentecosts! El Santo Padre en la homila nos dijo que, como sucedi en el cenculo, hay dos presupuestos necesarios para que venga hoy el Espritu Santo a la Iglesia, a cada una de nuestras comunidades: la concordia y la oracin unidos a Mara; y tambin nos anim diciendo que cuando recibimos el Espritu Santo no tenemos nada que temer, el miedo desaparece. Tanto en la procesin de entrada, como en la de salida, yo iba junto a otro dicono un poco por delante

del Papa y pude ver el gran cario que le tiene la gente. Debi de ser un consuelo para l, como lo fue para m, ya que en otros ambientes el Santo Padre es despreciado y calumniado. Al pasar por el pasillo central de la Baslica toda la gente se agolpaba para intentar saludarlo y se oan aplausos y vivas muy emotivos. Una joven madre tena en brazos a su hijo de unos dos aos y cuando se acercaba el Santo Padre le dijo a su pequeo emocionada: mira, mira hijo que ya viene el Papa, y a m se me quedo grabado

como el nio balbuca feliz: Papa, Papa. Es conmovedor vivir la belleza de la Liturgia en la Baslica de San Pedro: la arquitectura majestuosa de la cpula de Miguel ngel y el imponente baldaqun de Bernini; las magistrales obras escultricas y pictricas; la magnfica msica de Joseph Haydn interpretada por una orquesta y coro de Alemania; todas las artes reunidas cooperando a dar esplendor a la Liturgia para gloria de Dios. Todo esto en la celebracin de la venida del Espritu Santo, que supuso la presentacin pblica de la Iglesia, nacida del costado abierto de Cristo en la Cruz. Qu importante es cuidar la Liturgia, dndole la mayor belleza posible dentro de nuestras posibilidades, porque para adorar a Dios el hombre tiene que dar lo mejor de s y Dios nunca se deja ganar en generosidad! Me impresion profundamente la inocencia y mansedumbre del Santo Padre. Con qu ternura reciba en la procesin de ofrendas a las distintas personas que se iban acercando! Se arrodillaban ante l y con gran amor paternal y una sonrisa que iluminaba su cara les preguntaba de dnde eran; luego les coga las manos con cario, recibiendo los dones y les bendeca signndoles en la frente. El Papa con su gran humildad es un hombre que trasmite paz. Al recorrer el pasillo central de la Baslica delante del

Papa record tambin la teologa del burro, de San Josemara Escriv, que nos haba contado el Cardenal Herranz. San Josemara le tena devocin a este animal bblico por su constancia, fortaleza y humildad. Un burro acompa al Nio Jess en el portal de Beln dndole calor y un burro llev a Jess sobre sus lomos en su entrada triunfal en Jerusaln el Domingo de Ramos. Y qu necio habra sido el burro si hubiera pensado que esos gritos y hosannas eran para l en lugar de para Jess. Del mismo modo, que estpido habra sido yo si hubiera pensado al escuchar esos aplausos y vivas: no es para tanto, si slo soy un dicono. Pero reflexion que esa gran ovacin que reciba el Santo Padre, que te pona los pelos de punta, no era tampoco al hombre Joseph Ratzinger sino al dulce Cristo en la tierra, como llamaba Santa Catalina de Siena al Papa. Al finalizar la Santa Misa y volver a la capilla de la Piet, que hizo de sacrista, pudimos saludar personalmente a ese gran hombre que es Benedicto XVI, el cual siempre con una sonrisa en la cara, nos trasmite paz, esperanza y confianza en Dios, y un gran amor a la Iglesia. Viva el Papa! By Father Jos Javier

Mission of Love
By Alicia Chavez t is Sunday morning, I have to wake up. The alarm keeps going; it is 7:00am. Today is a big day, is the Mission trip! I get dressed, grab an apple and get on my way to Ave Maria. There are 2 big yellow buses outside and a bunch of excited people .Today La Sabanita community will be visited by the Ave Maria Community with the purpose of preaching the good news and helping people who are in need. Both buses are getting full; there are 110 students who want to help in this mission. After riding for 50 min, we arrive at La Sabanita. Sun Block, hats, glasses, water; everybody is ready to begin this Mission of Love. It is 9:00 am; Evelyn Mendoza, the student who is in charge of this mission, divides us in groups to evangelize the families. The rest of the missionaries will stay in the Church evangelizing and playing with all the kids. La Sabanita Community is formed by 200 families and most of them have economic and spiritual needs. We go house by house, family by family, preaching the good news. Our team gets to visit ten families; all of them are very friendly. They listened to us carefully; and I can tell that we are accomplishing our mission because we are sharing the Gospel of God with them! It is 11:45 am; it is time to go back because we have mass at noon. We walk, tired, sweating but with the heart full of joy for what we have done today. We arrive at the Church; the other missioners are still playing with the children. They are skipping rope, playing ball and different kinds of games. The floor is painted with chalk; there are toys, piatas and all types of fun for the kids who look very happy. It is 12:00 pm; time for mass. After mass, all the children play with the piatas. Also, it is time to start giving away all the clothes and basic grains that were collected to donate to all these needy families. It is 3:30 pm, time to go. A picture is taken of all the missionaries. Everybody looks happy; a great job has been done. 200 families listened to the good news; many kids played and had a good time. The joy we have in our hearts is immense and it cannot be taken away. The mission of love was accomplished.

THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

By your Immaculate Conception, make my body pure and my soul holy

his is my big day: the one I have been waiting since long time ago. My heart and soul are prepared to receive a special grace and to accept the commitment of love. Thirty-three days of preparation have allowed me to be part of this solemnity. Thirty-three days where I renounced the World, purify my heart, and get to know Jesus, Mary, and myself deeply. I sacrificed this time to get rid of all of my temptations and offer myself as a slave for love. Today, I am consecrating to the Virgin Mary, I am giving my all to the greatest Faith that had ever existed on Earth. Since the moment I see the Chapel from far, I realized

it is not the usual Chapel. This is Heaven, a landscape adorned by the whiteness of the flowers, roses, little candles, and souls that have decided to enter in the pure love of Mary. At the entrance of this beautiful place, wonderful hosts are waiting for me: The heavenly Divinity and the earthly one. The heavenly Divinity, formed by The Holy Son, opens his arms widely to me, and His Blessed Mother, a beautiful Lady dressed with purity and glory, gives me a lovingly smile. The priests and the altar servers are the angels and cherubs who venerate their Heavenly King and Queen; they are the earthly divinity who today makes our blissful

dream of devotion come true. All these aspects transform the environment into an atmosphere of joy, confirming the uniqueness of this Mass. The lectures are a reminder of how getting to Mary gives me the grace and discernment to fully understand who Christ is and what He wants from me. The responsorial Psalm, the Gospel and the Homily talk on how the act of consecration is the basis of communication between the soul of Mary and mine. I do this act to glorify the Lord, whom becomes a seed in my heart. This seed is watered with faith and fidelity to finally become a beautiful fruit, Jesus Christ.

Now that I consecrate my body and soul to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I renew my Baptism commitments of following God and reaching my goal of holiness. By the time the priest imposes the blessed scapular to me; I receive the external sign of the Marian Devotion, the hope of Marys maternal protection. This scapular is a memorial of all her virtues, especially the ones we pursue: humility and chastity. From now on, I abandon my own intentions with great confidence to the Blessed Virgin. Our Lady is just waiting for you with her arms wide open. By Jos Rubio

academic section
ENG | SPS | PHI | PSS | PHY | MA | BA | FIN | MGT | MKT | CIS | BIO | ART | AC | COM | IRP | POLT | FS | HI | THL

Hope for the Younger Generations

By Gabriela Alvarado Law, Government and Diplomacy Club invited Mr. Felix Maradiaga to Ave Maria University on November 12, 2009. He is a former student of Ave Maria University and received a MPA from Harvard University (with honors). He is the Founding Director of Instituto de Liderazgo de la Sociedad Civil, a non-profit center affiliated to Movement for Nicaragua, one of the largest civic movements in Central America. In addition to this, he was the youngestever Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense (2004-2007). As a result of all his actions, he has been awardedseveral international recognitions such as International Youth Peace Prize (2000), United Nations Disarmament Fellow (2003) and Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (2009). Mr. Maradiaga was invited to make a speech to the students of Ave Maria about the relevance of President Daniel Ortegas search for re-election. The day of the event he tried not just to inform students, but to make them part of the imperative incidents of their country. He wanted to provoke desires of hope in the young generations by saying to the audience: What I used to hear in speeches when I was younger was the version of the adults meant for younger generations to do. Now, he is calling the young generations to be part of these speeches, he wants them to wake up their consciences and create solutions for the situation of our country. He entitled his talk: Democracy under fire introducing a narrative of Nicaraguas current political crisis and after, presenting an inquiry into the roots of Daniel Ortegas emerging dictatorship. He upheld that there are many Roots of the Dictatorship that have been present in Nicaragua throughout the years with different persons upholding and trying to maintain power. One of the most important roots that he mentioned is that Nicaragua lived an authoritarian regime between the years of 1935 and 1979, repressing the rights of any citizen to belongto a democracy. He referred to the stunted economic growth that followed

THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

the civil war, which placed of peaceful protests; howthe nation among the poor- ever, the response of many est countries in Latin Ameri- against t this protest was of ca; one in which 46% of the violence, causing physical Population lives below the harm to many. In addition Poverty Line earning less to this, he added that our than $1 daily. history is a story of social, Another important root that political and economic he stated was the creation instability rooted in a legacy of the political pact beof conquest, inequality and tween Daniel Ortega and corruption. Arnoldo Alemn; after this He finally stated: the counpact took place, constitutry is far from making innotional reforms were encour- vation, competitiveness and aged, such as the reduction prosperity, its key national infrom 45% to 35% of the terest. Now I put this quespertion all the country is far from making inno- of us: centage vation, competitiveness and prosperity, How reis the its key national interest. youth quired to win presidential responsible for this? How elections in the first round. can we support this process, As a consequence of this instead of just criticizing constitutional reform, the government? Are there Ortega won the elections in ways in which our voice can November 2006, with a 38% be heard? Are we valid citiof thepopular votes. zens, with valid opinions? The civil society has deteI invite all of you, including riorated considerably since myself, to analyze these Daniel Ortega came into questions and find what we power; society Organizahave done to improve the tions that promote democprocess of our country and racy are abolished by the notice if our opinions have Law 299 and the new rule been validated through ac612 in which the CPCs are tions. As he said: these are the only recognized nonquestions that shall lead us governmental organization into action. and no money can be given to civil society. After all this process took place, on October 19, 2009, a fraction of the constitutional commission of the Supreme Court inverted a constitutional ban on consecutive re-election and on serving more than two terms. The public rejection to Ortegas re-election was obvious and revealed by a number

Column for the Invitation of Young Generations to integrate themselves in movements:

By Gabriela Alvarado

he civil society is one of the aspects that strongly consolidate the democracy of a nation; without it, there is no democracy. What the young generations could do to show that they have voice? They could integrate themselves in civil movements and groups that will make them

aware of the real condition of their country. They will not only be aware, but they will also be able to create national values and look for better ways of dialogue and comprehension between all political members and those in power.

BY Alicia Chavez

or anyone who does not read their mail accounts or check the bulletin boards, The Papercut has created a new column called: Ask your Professor. In case you dont get the point of the column, is to Ask Your Professor! Every edition you will get the chance to ask one or two professors whatever you want to know about them. This time we chose questions related to two professors of our business faculty: Mr. Carlos Barahona and Mr. Eduardo Loredo.

Does the project from Accounting II actually help students or not?

Throughout this project students can actually know what is to have a real business. The experience gained can help them in their future as business administrators.
Prof. Carlos Barahona

Why do you think so many students fail your class?

One factor is that students are mentally blocked; meaning that even before taking accounting students fear the course because of the negative word of mouth at the same time some students do not make an effort to study and pass the course . So dear colleagues, if you are or will be taking accounting, remember that this accounting project is worth 10% of your final grade. Have your mind open, study hard and do your best!

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

Following Mr. Barahona, was the always polite and smiley, Mr. Loredo. I went direct to the issue:

Are you single?

Yes... but Im engaged.

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?

I consider myself a very friendly person. I like to be friends with my students and share with them. Even if Im busy, my door is always open. I also like to dance and go out with my friends. Yes, its true; I have been to Moods many times.
Prof. Loredo.

t i o n s? s e u e q e v Ha o k p r ofil o b e c a F m o n o u r s p a p e r). Po s t t h e t Ne w u C r e p a P (

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student lif e section

Giving Thanks

By Maria Jose Hernandez Fu t has been a long year and for many giving thanks has long been overdue. Political, financial, and even social crisis have top off a year with many ups and downs. As I thought in bed what to write about in our upcoming thanksgiving edition I could not figure out if giving thanks was more of an intrinsic step we have been conditioned to accept. I wanted to see what people around school were thankful about. Many gave the expected answers as family, love, shelter and even food. Others included their personal belongings; they gave thanks for having a car, a cell phone or for passing a class. Others were in no doubt most grateful for the past two-day vacation we enjoyed courtesy of the thanksgiving celebration. Although I was most thankful for all of the things listed above I woke up this past weekend being thankful for something different. I was thankful for hope. Last Friday, as I drove down the hollowed streets of Managua, I had a different encounter. A young girl no more than eight years old approached my car as I parked in front of my house. She tapped my window with subtle movements. I turned around and she smiled. Her smile made my day and I pulled my window down to offer her one of the candies I was carrying in the lowest compartment of the car. She stretched her hand and said thank you. I smiled and asked her with hesitation: why are you not in school? Fast and with a mischievous look she answered why are you, not in school? , she said. I do not have class, I replied asking myself why I was giving an explanation to an eight-year-old stranger. But my answer was short in comparison to what she stated. I do not go to school because if I do I do not eat, she answered me. I had no reply to such and answer, yet she repeated but one day I will go to school, of that I am sure. The eight-year-old stranger had something hard to find lately in this country. She had hope. As I went to bed this past weekend I could not stop thinking about this young girl. In the midst of all our worries and apparent problems, in the midst of our political and economic troubles, in the times of loneliness and need, we forget about the most important gift of all; the capacity to hope.

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

In this time of giving thanks I want to dedicate this article to a stranger who reinstated in me the capacity to love, to smile beyond any circumstance, and most of all to hope. To hope that these upcoming days will be better. To hope that next year our attitudes will be different, and to hope that we will continue to work in being better sons and daughters, better brothers and sisters, better citizens, better human beings. For my eight-year-old stranger and her hope I lovingly give thanks.

What are we giving thanks for?

inally, the day is here! Everyone, get ready to purchase a twelve pound turkey and a bag of Betty Crockets stuffing. Make a checklist, so nothing would be forgotten: cranberries sauce, checked, mashed potatoes, checked, pumpkin pie, checked. Big table, lots of relatives and friends. What a great holiday to spend with our loved ones! But, hold on for one minute. The only thing we know about Thanksgiving is that its we got to eat turkey at dinner. Well, and to go shopping on Black Friday. Why does it seem we need to celebrate a holiday that only exists in the United States? Well, it looks like movies and TV commercials made it easier for us to feel the joy of Turkey Day. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, and it commemorates a celebration between the pilgrims, who arrived to the U.S. in the Mayflower and the Indians, who helped the pilgrims survived through the cold winter. However, are we actually affected by this tradition? We know this is not a holiday that is embedded in our mindsets; as we all come from different backgrounds and have different traditions. A benefit from studying in a multicultural University is the customs and values we get from every culture member of our community. Still, the most tangible element to celebrate in Thanksgiving is the 2 day vacation and long weekend that comes with the holiday. So, thank you AMULAC, for being an American University! The holiday has come at perfect timing; because, by this time in fall semester, everybody is worn out from the endless midterms, essays and papers that never seem to cease. That is why Ave Maria students take advantage of Thanksgiving to relax and have fun. We change the pilgrims feast for a weekend on the beach or returning to our home countries. Now, since we get the chance to enjoy the holiday our way, dont be ungrateful and lets give thanks! Thanks for the year ending and for our friends and family, thanks for the semester ending and for the ones who are graduating, and special thanks for being part of the Ave Maria community.
By Mario Guardado

Thanksgiving Dinner:
ur thanksgiving special could not be complete without mentioning the activities that took place in remembrance of this celebration. SGA offered a dinner past Tuesday to celebrate and give thanks for this year. As the mashed potatoes and turkey flew from the table the Ave Maria Community was able to give thanks for this year, hoping that this upcoming holiday season will be celebrated with joy and hope by all. We invite you to continue being part of the activities offered around Campus this holiday season and we hope to see you all charged up in January for a new semester.
By Maria Jose Hernandez Fu

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SK8 Fest

By Rosa M. Montoya.
arly morning, when my History class was over, I saw some flyers being handed announcing a sk8t fest in the basketball court. At first, I ignored the flyers and just left them behind wherever I could. The day went through and, suddenly, I wondered about how could a sk8 fest be? Ive never thought about skates or skaters, believing that the world just turns around ballet shoes and fashion. It is amazing how many different ideas revolve around us, and I never would have imagined that skaters had such an interesting and fun lifestyle. The sk8 fest took over on a November Thursday night around 8 oclock. The court had several different ramps and pipes that varied from size and forms. The skaters made flips and tricks that seemed almost impossible to do. Meanwhile, an absolutely amazing band named Bluefields Sound System played during the entire event. The environment was full of excitement and adrenaline. The decoration made the event even more exciting with graffitis and different drawings painted on a large fabric, and it made people to join the skaters environment to a 100%. The crowd danced and cheered for both the skaters and the band. When the event was over I couldnt believed I almost missed so much fun just because during all this time I ignored the fact that skaters have the guts to do such amazing things for pleasure. The Sk8 fest was an awesome experience for everyone.

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

sports section
By Javier Pinto

Ave Maria Knights Vs. Guerreros de Nicaragua

t was a peaceful and dark afternoon. The rain was approaching, as the nerves and the anxiety were increasing. The clock marked two oclock in the afternoon, and the Ave Maria Knights showed at the field, in order to warmup for their first game of the semester. Luis Felipe Rosales Defensive-Offensive line player, when asked about the feelings before the game, he answered that the team is full of spirit, we are all positive that we are going to make a good game because we have been training hard. It was 02:30 PM, and the infamous Guerreros started to show at the field: they came in groups of 10, all summing up to a quantity of about 60 players. 60 Guerreros against 25 Knights, it sounds like an epic battle, doesnt it? At the end, the final hour arrived: it was 3 in the afternoon, and the rain was smoothing the battle field where these two great teams were about to collide. As the game started a little number of fans showed up because of the rain, but the two teams were giving everything looking to be the first in putting some numbers on the board. The Knights efforts were big, but Guerreros efforts were even greater. So, the first Touchdown was for the Guerreros. During the game, there were some good plays, and the Guerreros kept the score up. Bottom line, the final score was 48 to zero, a great win for the Guerreros, but a big hit for the Knights. Whether the climate conditions, the small number of players, or the scarce training the Knights receive determined the game timeline. What is true is that nothing can take away the pride of wearing an Ave Maria Knights shirt, and fighting for your University colors! Keep it up Knights!

Ave Maria University Latin American

Campus Soccer Intramurals

ll soccer fans studying at Ave Maria asked Tavin: Hey Tavin, when are the soccer intramurals starting? But Tavin and the Ave Maria soccer team were in the middle of a competition, so he could not expose his players to any kind of injury or fatigue. Nevertheless, the competition ended, and the Intramurals in Ave Maria started with a lot of tension between the teams. Six teams entered the competition, ones representing really strong competition; others, coming with great histories; some others representing their culture. Bottom line, it was just one round, and the two teams with the most points were going to be the ones qualifying to the great final. The six teams that entered the competition were: Galaxia, Las Pupusas, Los Chafas, Sorpresa, AMLI, and Los Amigos de Abraham. After some weeks of intense games, adrenaline rushes, and great goals, the final table took its form. The two first places, containing most of the Ave Maria Soccer team players, were Galaxia and Los Amigos de Abraham, therefore the two big finalists. Representing a great history in Ave Maria Intramurals, Los chafas could not make the finals after three glorious tournaments in which they reached the Championship in a really good way. Finally, a team with great expectations but not fruitful at the end, Las Pupusas, ended last, with a lot of great players who promised a lot, but little mistakes in their games cost them important points in the tournament. The expected final took place on Monday November 30th at the Soccer Field and Amigos de Abraham played against Galaxia and won 4-0. Congratulations!

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Ave Maria University Pep-Rally

he Ave Maria PepRally is an event in which all sport teams representing the university are presented in front of the whole community. Ranging from soccer to Tae Kwon Do, all teams are meant to be gathered in order to be honored in front of all the students. The purpose of such activity is to encourage school spirit, and to support members of the team for which the rally is being held. Nevertheless, according to the majoritys opinion, this Pep-Rally was not well organized, it was scheduled too late, and team member felt discouraged about students participation in the event. This event took place at the Ave Maria Basketball Court, on Thursday November 12th, and it was intended to be better than other semesters rally. They even made certificates for each of the players, recognizing their participation in any sports activity held at the institution. Unfortunately, students spirit was absent, given that few people showed up, and not all team members were present too. Some people say that this is another negative point against the SGA 20092010 term. They say that the only good thing was the food and the presentations given by the Tae kwon Do team, doing katas and breaking tables. However, we all know we are proud of the good improvements that are being witnessed in the sports life at Ave Maria. First of all, we would like to congratulate Guillermo Orellana, for his great championship winning at the Tennis Tournament held in Managua. Also, the great and improved Ave Maria Soccer team, whose game is improving as well as their presence in the Nicaraguan universities field. Last but not least, the heart of Ave Maria: the Ave Maria Knights football team, with their hard work and heart giving at every practice and every game they play. As a conclusion, this Pep Rally served more as a time to take some food rather than to honor those who deserve to be honored. If it has had more participation in the past, why cant we have a more encouraged participation now that better things are being witnessed at Ave Maria?

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

Where will we build the tree house?

By Alejandra Borge ur planet is sufferof political controversies more CO2 than the ecosysing a slow but inexorable because of the many catatems can immediately reabchange: it is drying. This strophic results: animal sorb. This is the effect of the is a quotation from 36 football fields an article in El Nuevo worth of trees that Tesoro de La Juventud are deforested evEncyclopedia, a first ery minute. Regretedition published in tably, our con1969 dedicated to sumption habits, the youth of America. without delay, are When men wrote leading us to global these treasure lines destruction. many of us were not born yet. Many of you The first attempt to reading this now are reverse these habthe children of chilits was the Kyoto dren for whom this Protocol (1997). treasure was written. 184 governments You and I today are no gathered to discuss longer children. It is actions to reduce our generations responsiextinction, the collapse of emissions below 1990 levels bility to end our usual ways unique ecosystems, unimag- for the period of 2008 to and to make courageous inable starvation, and now 2012. Although many counchanges to tries have return to a followed sustainable through environwith their El Nuevo Tesoro de La Juventud Encyclopedia ment. It commitis time to ments, take action! the most dramatic climate Canadas GGE is more than disorders are in fact stirring! 25 percent above the limit, 40 years later we live in According to the WWF, we and the USA in 2001 ceased the era in which the slow are using nearly 30 percent to comply with the protoinexorable change is 5 years more natural resources col. On December 9th 2009 away. The old predictions than the Earth can replenat the Copenhagen protocol are today at the pinnacle ish. Each day we release far a more striking agenda will be proposed. One of the frameworks in the agenda is to reduce emissions from forest destruction by 75 percent by 2020. Regardless of the irreversible impact that awaits us; many countries dont wish to sign the agreement. Although the objectives are promising, the outcome does not uniquely depend on the Copenhagen protocol but on the conscious continuous change of our own habits. It is only a step on many actions that should be undertaken, which is why I exhort you: Take action, plant a tree! This is an important first step; if not where will we build the tree house? For more information

Our planet is suffering a slow but inexorable change: it is drying.

of how you can help please visit: www.panda.org www.greenpeace.org or join the Earth Club!

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Miracle on Nicaraguan Beaches

A Salad Please?
hether or not there is a demand for salads in Ave Maria, there is a huge need for them regardless and it is important to be aware of its nutritional value. The main reason why people would rather choose salads over other meals is for dietary purposes. Everyone wants to have a healthy and well balanced diet, yet people tend to forget it can make a low calorie full meal all by itself. When one uses a variety of ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and grains or just a few of the right ones they can also be laden with vitamins and antioxidants. According to the USDA food pyramid one should have at least 3 to 5 servings of vegetables a day, 2 to 4 servings of fruits, and 2 to 3 servings of dairy. Whether it is a sports fan young man or a vain lady or the other way around, everyone needs some cheese to go in salads but should be more careful with the dressings. The USDA food pyramid also suggests to sparingly use oils and fats, by sparingly they mean to take it easy. Cesar dressing is usually made out of loads of parmesan cheese, olive oil, some vegetable oil, lemon juice, and few other ingredients for taste, and it is surely appetizing, but it may ruin a balanced meal. Everyone should go slow on the dressings. Vinaigrettes on the other hand, are healthier and are needed in fewer amounts thanks to their pungent taste. People are not asking enough for salads, but one should consider them more. This is the reason why now there is the option to enjoy a salad as a meal at Ave Maria. No need to be a salad lover, but it is highly encouraged to compliment the cafeteria team on how important salads are for ones meal; the cafeteria might even surprise students with their own suggestions in the future. Perhaps the average person does not have a taste in particular for salads, but there is certainly a need for them and there is a lack of objective information on its nutritional facts. Give your body a rest; order a salad from time to time. By Alejandra Borge eptember 18, 2009 was a spectacular day for Ave Maria students, as they had the one time chance of seeing turtles nest at a beach. A trip to La Flor Wildlife Reserve departed from the main gate. The reserve is over 3,000 hectares and is 22 km from San Juan del Sur. It took about 3 hours to get there, but it did not matter as students were most excited to see an Olive Ridley turtle for the first time. Dr. Eric Van Den Berghe organized the trip and explained seven massive arrivals occur each year. In order to enter the reserve, C$100 were required. Later on, the students headed towards the beach, no more than 10 feet away, there was the first Ridley turtle finishing its nest. As the students walked across the beach there were turtles at every step. It took the turtles about half hour to move 10 meters. The light of a lantern scares turtles, and after a half an hour nesting, they all went back to sea. As the night progressed, turtles kept on making their appearance; there was no opportunity to see a spawning. There was one turtle which grabbed the attention of all the trip participants as it was paddling the sand with its posterior flippers and did not change its position. It began to dig into the ground and after an hour of digging, it started to lay its eggs; around 100 eggs fell in. Then, the turtle started to plug the hole, using its own body to compact the sand producing an unexpected noise. After this extraordinary work, the turtles returned to the water quietly and slowly. The most outrageous act the students observed was another turtle destroying a nest due to the overcrowding of the beach. For the work it takes for turtles to nest and to reproduce I encourage you to admire their sacrifice and DO NOT EAT TURTLE EGGS!

By Luis Felipe Rosales

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

speak out section

ATTENDANCE:
n our University most if not all professors take attendance, and count it as part of our grade. Personally, I believe attendance should not be taken in account when it comes to our grades. A grade should be based on how well we do academically. When professors take attendance it just makes us feel like were back in high school, forced to be there. Taking attendance patronizes students and fails to treat us as adults. If you treat an adult like a child, its likely for him to behave childish. The Universitys handbook states that students are expected to attend every class session in each course for which they are registered. At the beginning of the semester, each instructor states a policy regarding absences. Most of our professors policies consist of 4 whole months of class, where only 3 unexcused absences will be allowed without affecting our grade. While I personally dont miss class, I dont agree it should be a requirement. A good professor doesnt require of a mandatory at-

SHOULD IT MATTER?

VIAJE A MONTE CARMELO

Profesor Gonzalo Lpez n estos das de crisis econmica y poltica a nivel mundial y local me dio gran placer y satisfaccin espiritual el pasar un fin de semana en MONTE CARMELO. Me sent en el extranjero sin salir del pueblo de San Marcos. La invitacin, muchas veces rechazada, por fin se materializ y veinticinco parejas fuimos alojados en un edificio-hotel, nuevecito, destinado a parejas catlicas que desean aumentar su espiritualidad y profundizar en los conocimientos de nuestra Fe Catlica. Fue una luna miel inolvidable. La hermosura del Seor se hizo presente y hubo corazones transformados, saturados de amor, bautizados por el Espritu Santo. Al lado del edificio-hotel se ubica la capilla donde se desarrollaron los ejercicios espirituales, innumerables y sorpresivos, que nos mantuvieron alerta sbado y domingo. Haban matrimonios de ms de treinta aos de vida conyugal as como una pareja de tan slo veinte y un das de casados. En veinte y nueve aos de vida matrimonial nunca haba experimentado enseanzas tan asombrosas aplicadas a la vida de cada uno de los participantes; disfrutamos de un contacto ntimo con Jess. Puedo asegurar que la felicidad completa, inmarcesible slo se logra abandonndonos a los brazos del Seor y regazo de la Santsima Virgen. Quisiera invitar a las parejas, administradores, catedrticos, oficiales de seguridad, jardineros y dems empleados de nuestra comunidad universitaria a no resistirse a la gran oportunidad de pasar un fin de semana con Cristo. El encuentro conyugal de Enero 2010 podra ser el tuyo.

By Ana M. Fuentes tendance policy to fill up his classes; the best incentive is to create a desire to go to class. Making the classes interesting and joyful are effective incentives for students to attend class. Going to class is our responsibility; we should not be forced to attend. For one reason or another, not everyone is able to attend all their classes. You can require a students attendance in class but you wont necessarily encourage them to listen, understand or learn. The students that go to class unwillingly are more of a hindrance than a positive contribution to the class. With the mandatory attendance policy, professors dont know if their students show up because they are interested in the class or because they dont want their grade affected by their absence. By missing class you are already being left out on a lot, there is no need in penalizing you even further. Missing test dates and due assignments are the only factors that should directly jeopardize your grade.

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entertainment
A Day in San Juan del Sur

By Frank Chamorro
y favorite place in Nicaragua would have to be San Juan del Sur. I go there as much as possible, and I can honestly say that I always have a great time meeting new people. San Juan del Sur is a crescent shaped bay which has local fishing boats, sport fishing boats and yachts. Sometimes even a large cruise ship disembarks visitors for a day or two. San Juan del Sur is the most visited location in the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, probably one of the most visited in Nicaragua. At the Market Street you can take a cab or bus to Rivas, Managua or even to local beaches which are about 20 minutes from San Juan. There are plenty of tourist services in San Juan, including hotels, hostels, internet cafes, restaurants and bars. Tourists can take surf lessons, scuba lessons, canopy tours and underwater expeditions. There are many places in San Juan to satisfy your hunger in dependence of your taste. The best places to eat are El Timon, El Buen Gusto, The Central Market, Mauricios Pizzeria, El Gato Negro, Piedras y Olas, Big Wave Daves and Iguanas. There are a few other good places. El Timon and El Buen Gusto are located in front of the beach and offer a great view while having your meal; they specialize in seafood but offer a lot of different things. The Central Market is an ideal place to have breakfast and lunch. They offered a variety of Nicaragua food for a relatively cheap price. Mauricios Pizzeria is probably the best Italian restaurant in the area. The owner moved there from Italy a few years back and established himself in San Juan. El Gato Negro offers organic

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

New Moon
By Rosa M. Montoya.
ew moon, the movie of the second book of the Twilight saga, was released on November 16. The drama starts after Edward leaves Bella because he represents a big danger for her and is the cause of all the dangers that chase her. Basically, he tells Bella its not you, it`s mehe leaves her devastated, and this leaves Bella obligated to look for new friends. Of course Bella has to look for new epic friends, so she starts hanging out with werewolves. These creatures, tons of suspense, created by romance and action, since the vampires and the werewolves are not only fighting for their territory but, also for love. The movie is full of great visual attractions and special effects, but nothing beats the book which includes the best Edward Cullens quotes that always makes you feel as if every single man would do anything for the girl he loves. The best part of the movie its meeting the new werewolf characters and how Edward Cullen, no matter what, cannot live without Bella in his life. Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were stars points of light and reason And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty.

food with coffee included and variety of books to keep you entertained in case you want to do some reading. Piedras y Olas is by far the most expensive restaurant and hotel but its well worth it, everything on the menu is prepared meticulously and I can tell you it is delicious! Big Wave Daves offers a variety of North American food. Big Waves is also a very popular bar

that transmits most international sporting events. Iguana bar is probably the most popular spot and it offers a variety of food and drinks to please even the pickiest customers.

I invite you to check out what San Juan del Sur has to offer, from its many restaurants and bars to its many adjacent beaches, there is always something to do and people to meet when visiting this pacific coast paradise.

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networking & alumni

The Alternative for Employment in Nicaragua
By Jorge Arteaga s a young professional, alumni of Ave Maria College, I had plenty of job opportunities when I graduated in 2003. Back then, we were proud of knowing we came from the most prestigious and capable business school in Nicaragua. That is not enough now! Our economy faces international complications and local political uncertainty, there arent enough job opportunities, we are not growing economically, and job competition is fearsome. But theres hope, I believe, and Im proud of a new trend that bases itself on entrepreneurship. Nicaraguas universities and youth have embrace entrepreneurship as the new alternative. Many new graduates are looking to employ themselves instead of looking for a job, but more importantly, create job opportunities and contribute to the development of Nicaragua. What do they base themselves on? On the energy and innovation young entrepreneurs have. But what does this mean for Ave Maria graduates and students? It means we have to embrace this new trend, take notice that we have the energy and innovation required, but we can also add the fact that we have access to networks and capital, essentials to launching a new business. As Mr. Arguello (RIP) said in his Business Strategy classes while I was in Ave Maria College, its unfair for the few privileged Nicaraguans who can go to college, and to Ave Maria, to leave the country or not help the development of Nicaragua. Through innovative, entrepreneurial businesses, we create opportunities for ourselves, our community, and all the stakeholders. Young graduates or students of Ave Maria take your time and explore entrepreneurship! Who says you cant be the next Bill Gates? You already have the knowledge. You just need to nourish your innovative capabilities and motivate yourself. Its a risk but as we learn in class, big risk equals big profit.

The Center for Academic Excellence

By Carlos Guardado
ver had some trouble with your classes? In case you say yes (I know most students will probably answer yes to this one), then the Center for Academic Excellence is your place. The CAE is a special division of the University designated to help students with their classes by offering personalized tutoring sessions. With an average of 550 weekly visitors, the CAE is one of the most heavily visited hot-spots of the University. This place is run under the management of Mrs. Johnson & Mrs. Blandon, who are more than happy to aid students with academic and non-academic problems. Fully equipped with air conditioner, computers, projectors, and 17 tutors, the CAE is the perfect place to study. The CAE tutors are straight A students boasting GPAs of 3.5 or higher. From Accounting to Western Civilization, these tutors ace any subject, and are ready to offer peer-to-peer tutoring to any student who needs them. It has been a long journey since the CAE first opened its doors to students thirsty for knowledge, but it certainly has evolved. Its effectiveness is truly to be reckoned. Last August, the CAE was awarded with a College Reading and Learning Associations International Tutor Program Certification, making the CAE the only place with this recognition on Central & South America. But thats not nearly all! The CAE also runs the Accuplacer Tests (the very same Placement Exams), manages Project Success, and even offer academic and personal advice. We do pretty much a little bit of everything here, except for cooking adds humorously Mrs. Johnson. So, if you need any help in anything, please dont hesitate to come.

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

Our senior memories

Appreciation Lunch
ast Thursday December 3rd, the Academic Deans office offered the annual teacher and staff appreciation luncheon were a diverse number of staff members as well as a representation of the student body shared the Ave Maria accomplishments of this year. Special Guest, provost Leach offered a small speech stating the diverse accomplishments and future projects. Teachers and staff were eager to put into practice new projects such as the completion of the new library, new acquisitions in correspondence to expanding Amulacs Campus, and Grupo Robles internship Agreement. Amulacs staff also hopes to increase enrollment for this upcoming year, and continue targeting special projects to sustain returning students, such as the Center for Academic Excellence. The Appreciation luncheon was an opportunity to share ideas, explore new opportunities, and celebrate accomplishments. On behalf of the Academic Deans office and Provost Leach, they congratulate the Ave Maria Community for a good 2009, hoping that next year will continue to be productive and hopeful.
By Maria Jose Hernandez Fu

read on a Bumper sticker: You dont come to college to find your husband; you come to college to find your bridesmaids, 4 years at college bring back so many memories that would not even fit in the whole newspaper. We started as a group of freshman not even knowing what an SB classroom was; now we finish this journey with new friends that you do not even have an idea of how you spend your days without them. Regardless of our majors we all have found an awesome working team, a professor whose classes we love or hate, and a passion for something completely

new. As a member of the senior class graduating this December I would like to say thanks for all the hard work that our senior senators, Elisa and Cristiana, have done this semester. For the senior class all I have to say is thank you for a great run, and Ill see you all in May.

By Gabriela Flores

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Grupo Roble Agreement

By Maria Jose Hernandez Fu hursday November 5th, Grupo Roble and Ave Maria University signed the Grupo Roble Agreement, benefiting not only the student body, but also the relationship between these two prestigious entities. Both entities are committed to continue working in the development of professional and academic goals of Ave Maria students in relation to summer and winter internships offered at Grupo Robles enterprises. Last summer a small group of students form Ave Maria left a positive mark at their first internships, and opened the door for this new and important agreement to become a reality. An example of this experience may be perceived by Noel Gutierrezs testimony: During the month and a half laboring at Grupo Roble, I worked in the Department of Marketing and Customer Service where each day brought vast experiences to my professional knowledge. The development and daily relationship with the internal and external customer was a self-learning foundation. Determination, teamwork, and sense of responsibility were new abilities that I was able to learn during my practices. Grupo Roble offered a proper-working environment and a trained staff to instruct us not only in our areas, but to handle affairs of other departments. A determining factor in my learning experience was the constant supervision and help of my superiors. The daily contact and observation of their performance were vital in my learning process. Through their advice, they transmitted us values such as love of work, responsibility, and sincerity to achieve fruitful opportunities. I hope Grupo Roble will continue instructing high-quality professionals in our region. It is our pleasure to inform that this new agreement will provide our students an opportunity to put into practice the diverse knowledge acquired at Ave Maria. As Mr. Ilich A. Menca Lara, General Manager of Grupo Roble in Nicaragua stated: We are really impressed and pleased, not only by the excellent organization and setting of the event, but also by the excellent structure of the university, and the human quality of its students, professors and administrative members of the staff. This opportunity is unique and it is an opening to the job market in Central America since Grupo Roble has been for two years in a row part of the ranking of the best companies to work for in Central America. On behalf of the Papercut, we congratulate our student body and staff for this new opportunity.

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

Got

2 Read

Los hombres son las nuevas mujeres

Por Elisa Guadrn.

as mujeres son complicadas". He odo esto demasiadas veces y mi opinin, como mujer ingenua, es que eso es cierto, aunque les sorprenda. Somos caprichosas, berrinchudas, tardistas, exageradas, preguntonas, platiconas, dramticas, sensibles, inseguras, celosas, egostas, superficiales, metidas y miles de cosas ms... No es cuestin de que todas somos todas estas cualidades, pero no podemos negar que todas somos al menos una de ellas. No es que las mujeres tengan que cambiar y reducirse a una descripcin tan sencilla como bonita e inteligente o fcil y divertida; y mucho menos que busquemos hombres perfectos de otro planeta. Pero es que, a veces, los hombres de este mundo parecen completos extraterrestres que no conocen como tratar a una mujer o ni siquiera han escuchado algo de una

relacin. Ahora, no por el hecho de ser mujer dejo de cuestionarnos. Qu es lo que las mujeres quieren? La respuesta para m es sencilla: atencin y amor. Para no olvidarnos de esto lo llamaremos AA, como las bateras bsicas de una mujer en una relacin. Luego podemos ponernos a pensar: los hombres son los que no nos llaman, pero si ellos quieren que les llamemos, no soportan cuando no lo hacemos; no les gusta nuestra inseguridad, pero no hacen nada para hacernos sentir seguras; no les gusta nuestro drama, pero lo han consentido ms de una vez; nos dejan, se buscan otra, se aburren y se dan cuenta que no pueden vivir sin nosotras. Complicadas? No lo creo.

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Holiday Gift Guide... under 100 cordobas!

he holidays are coming, and the infamous recession has been hitting everyones wallets pretty hard. So what to do when our budget reaches only 100 cordobas for everyone? The answer is pretty simple, the requirements needed for making the best with what you have is to have a little creativity and more special thought into the gift. Here are some gifts ideas that dont really make you feel like you only spent 100 Crdobas on them, and remember its not the price tag that counts; its the thought that does!

1. Artisanal jewelry - This category is more envisioned for our friends that are more into ethnic items or have a bohemian vibe. We can find items for both sexes in this category, for men there is an assortment of woven bracelets that range from 20-50 cordobas. For women there is more of an assortment of things from earrings made of seashell, to rings, bracelets, to home dcor items such as picture frames, pens with art work on them, or even jewelry boxes that are all under 100 cordobas and the best thing is that we can personalize them with the persons name or nickname. The places we can find these are the national marketplaces such as Huembes, Mercado de Artesanias in Masaya, or other two hot spots for ethnic jewelry and items are in the central park of Granada and in front of the bus stop of UCA in Managua. 2. Sports- This category is for any sports team fanatic of both sexes. Of course these items have a higher price tag than most, but you can find items that are similar to those that are sold in sports stores. Its most likely that

you wont find a team jersey for under 100 cordobas, unless you are looking for a copy of an original one, but you can find items that are allusive to your friend or family members favorite sports team such as key chains, bumper stickers, notebooks or even pens. 3. Home Dcor- Some items that mostly can end up seeming like they are worth more than 100 cordobas are things we can find in home dcor. These gifts can have more of a sentimental touch to them since we can find things in this category such as picture frames that we can place within them pictures with the person that we are giving the gift to, or even take more of a creative approach and make a collage of pictures and images that refer to special memories that we have shared with that person. You can find many stores that specialize in cheap home dcor items such as La Casa del Regalo in Managua. 4. Clothing One of the toughest categories since it seems IMPOS-

SIBLE to buy something nice with this budget. However, I am pleased to inform you of some sales that seemed impossible to get with quality clothing from American stores. The store to go to is Luzma Outlet, with stores in Camino de Oriente as well as Centro Commercial Managua. They provide brand names such as Charlotte Russe, Delia*s, New York and Company, Forever 21, American Eagle among many more. There are end of the month sales of 70% off some brands such as Charlotte Russe, and basic tees of the same brands at 3-5 dollars. They also have jewelry of known brands from prices ranging from 1-5 dollars. 5. Beauty- Its highly unlikely you can buy great perfume for someone at 100 Crdobas, so its best to go for smaller items such as maybe a quality LOreal lip-gloss that can be sold around 90 cordobas, or for guys there are great quality hair products, and after shave that you can find under this price. You find these items in supermarkets such as La Colonia.

By Cynthia Lucia Luna

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

culture room
El Reflejo.
ufemio y Estela esperaron durante muchos aos para poder tener un hijo. La poca fertilidad de Estela, por la cual gastaron la mitad de su fortuna en doctores Europeos y orientales y en bebedizos mgicos que consiguieron de curanderos en su viaje al Brasil, era la razn de aquella espera. Le dieron dos vueltas al mundo en busca de un tratamiento efectivo., y al final lo nico que les funciono o fue el consejo de la abuela de Estela que le recomend hacerse lavados de ruda y beberse sus propios orines. Mercedes naci en el octavo mes de gestacin en un parto comn, que no fue as para la enfermera que lo atendi. Despus de aquel da en el que haba nacido un monstruo, como ella se refera al nacimiento de Mercedes, quedo curada de todo espanto y nunca ms le tuvo miedo a nada. Estela era una nia trompuda, narizona, con un ojo diminuto y otro tan grande como un limn. Mi hija parece un asitico ojn dijo Eufemio la primera vez que la vio, y ms tarde cuando le salieron los dientes, se dieron cuenta de que tambin le salieron cuatro en el cielo de la boca. A pesar de todos sus desperfectos, sus padres decidieron amarla y se propusieron que tuviera una vida feliz. Para lograr su objetivo, eliminaron de la casa todos los espejos y objetos en los que Mercedes se pudiera reflejar, decidieron no mandarla a una escuela, y la educaron en casa. De esta manera, la nia nunca supo de su terrible condicin de fea, y en cambio siempre se crey muy bonita, porque a pesar de que se haban dispuesto a que nunca supieran sobre conceptos como la belleza, la fealdad e inclusive el amor gape, no lo lograron por su abundante contenido en poesa y literatura. A pesar de su encierro, era un alma inocente, feliz y de muy buenos sentimientos. Cualquier persona que estuviera cerca de ella quedaba cautivada por la hermosura de su interior que se le reflejaba en el rostro. Cuando Mercedes era una adolescente, sus padres no pudieron evitarle la curiosidad por el mundo. Entonces, le dieron pequeas libertades, las cuales fueron cuidadosamente vigiladas para evitarle la desgracia de que supiera de su fealdad. Durante una de esas salidas en la que ella caminaba en un parque, un apuesto joven se le acerc o y le rega lo una rosa. Luego, se noto que cada vez que ella sala pareca causar en las personas algn tipo de atraccin que sus padres nunca creyeron posible. En cada ocasin hacia nuevos amigos. Tanto as que pronto su casa estaba siempre llena de visitas y su madre tena que preparar 50 galones de t y alrededor de 200 pastelillos para ofrecer a las visitas como se haca en aquellos tiempos. Se hablo tanto de ella en la ciudad que el sindicato de las fiestas patronales la nombr o Reyna del evento y llego a ser tan popular y a estar tan rodeada de personas que olvid o la palabra soledad y aburrimiento que alguna vez eran las ms conocidas de su vocabulario. Una vez cuando Mercedes ya haba alcanzado la madurez suficiente para casarse con el joven que le regalo la rosa en

el parque, con el cual haba sostenido una relacin desde entonces y al cual amaba y estaba segura que era correspondida, sus padres decidieron abandonar los cuidados y aceptar que su hija era hermosa, ya que el resto del mundo no pareca estar consciente de aquella fealdad. De esta manera, le dieron permiso para que fuera con su novio a un lago que quedaba fuera de la ciudad para un da de campo. Aquella, era la primera vez que Mercedes iba a conocer un lago, ya que sus padres nunca la haban dejado observar el agua concentrada en grades cantidades por miedo a que se reflejara y se viese a s misma. Cuando llegaron al lugar, Esteban, el novio de Mercedes, le haba preparado un bote con flores que tena escrito Mercedes. Se adentraron en el lago hasta que la orilla se miraba lejana, y all se amaron entre besos y palabras de amor en las que Esteban no se cansaba de repetir: Mi bella Mercedes. Cuando el atardecer lleg o, Esteban tomo a estela del brazo la jalo hacia la orilla del

tena la oportunidad de observar por completo. Entonces, un da sin previo aviso escap o lejos sin decirle nada. Estela lo entendi y se hundi ms en su tristeza hasta que todos la olvidaron y en aquella ciudad nunca se volvi a escuchar su nombre, porque ya estorbaba hasta recordarla. Las personas no la abandonaron por maldad o prejuicios, sino porque aquella fealdad le incomodaba hasta a ella misma. Despus de todo, ella tena la capacidad de reflejar su interior.

bote y le dijo: quiero que siempre recordemos estas imagen de los dos juntos. No tardo mucho Estela para saber de que aquella mujer que ella miraba al lado de Esteban en el fondo del agua era ella, y entonces cayo inconsciente. Esteban crey que el acto de amar haba dejado a Mercedes dbil y que por eso se haba desmayado, pero fue en realidad el reflejo horrible que vio en el lago y el saber que aquella aterradora mujer junto a su atractivo Esteban era ella. Entonces, Mercedes se lleno de tristeza y amargura, y nunca volvi a ser la misma porque cuando vio por primera vez en su vida su reflejo, la fealdad de afuera le contamino el interior. Cada da fue menos la cantidad de t y pastelillos los que se prepararon en su casa, hasta que ya nadie la volvi a visitar porque ahora todos vean lo que ella vio aquel da en el reflejo. Nunca fue antes tan fea, ni siquiera cuando curo a la enfermera de espanto. A Esteban, le cost reconocer que alguna vez estuvo enamorado de aquella espantosidad que tena ante sus ojos, y que hasta entonces

By Luis Salvador Zomarriba Illustrations by Magda Montiel

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THE PAPERCUT | NOV-DEC 2009

Ave Maria professor sweeps two winning categories in art exhibit

icaragua will officially participate in the Bienal Istmo Centroamericano in 2010, with 6 selected art representations. This event mainly promotes Central American contemporary art across the region and attempts to categorize artistic value dealing mostly with individualism other than movements or specific schools of art. In past bienales there were prizes and special commemorations given to all artists but the sponsors of the VII Bi-

enal de Artes Visuales, promoted by the Ortiz-Gurdian Foundation, only decided to announce 6 official winners out of the 18 participating. The VII Bienal de Artes Visuales will take place in Panama around November next year. One of the selected frontrunners was current Ave Maria Arts professor, Patricia Belli, who presented two pieces of artwork titled El equilibrio mas precario and Columna, both incorporating wood as an

eloquent sign of ones surroundings. Donaldo Altamirano, Marc Calvet, Moises Mora and Patricia Villalobos figure as the respective winners as well, who expressed their artistic perspectives through other means of visual imagery as photography, paint-sculpture and charcoal drawing. The exhibit was held in three different setups at Palacio Nacional de la Cultura where videos, 3D animations, photographs, sculptures and a wide variety of

painting techniques were displayed. All these were seen in a predominantly conceptual and experimental phase of art, which has been mainly promoting the school-project EspiraEspora. Photos 1. "El equilibrio mas precario" 2. "Columna"

By Carlos J. Perez.

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Media Club Reloaded

Picture by: Memex Molina

Picture by: Carla Gonzalez

Picture by: Irma Pavon