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By: Moon Phases Picture this: It is an early morning, you missed your alarm clock and you have an exam in thirty minutes. Normally this would not be an issue if it were not for the University of Texas at El Paso's (UTEP's) parking situation. I have been late to multiple classes because it can take up to 15 minutes trying to find a spot that's close to campus and will not get me ticketed or towed. Unfortunately, most UTEP students share this fate. For students who cannot afford a parking permit, running late to class is only one possible worst nightmare. They are left debating if they should risk parking at McDonald’s and getting towed just for one class. According to UTEP’s website , parking permit prices range from $150 to $400 for students and $300 to $930 for faculty, forcing individuals to decide between a convenient parking space or other financial needs.  Clearly, parking is overpriced and an issue at UTEP if students would rather struggle and try to find parking in nearby neighborhoods or businesses. For students like myself, it is not as simple as “just buy a permit.” As a broke college student, the last thing on my mind is paying hundreds of dollars for parking. I have gone two years strong without a parking permit and no parking ticket, which does not come easy. I have no choice but to leave my house at least an hour before class because of both traffic and parking. Everyone has their own method to the madness, but even then, individuals struggle finding somewhere close by without facing the wrath of UTEP’s or the city’s parking police. After eventually finding a parking spot one must still walk all the way to campus and to their class. I have even skipped class a few times because of how long it took me to find a parking spot.  Many students resort to bicycling, skateboarding and even electric scooters because of how far campus is from free parking spaces. This is why free parking should be provided for students and faculty. According to an article by El Paso Times from 2018, there are 7,329 parking spaces available for students, faculty and staff, leaving roughly 70 percent of the student body without adequate parking. As a university that claims to have multiple resources available, it should help its student body with this issue. Since space is so limited it is unfair to overcharge students for horrid parking. UTEP shuttle buses that are meant to take students from far parking lots to campus fill up fast, which sometimes causes students to miss a spot and end up late.  Even though the neighborhoods I park in are far from campus, I still find it more convenient than paying $400 a year for filled parking garages. As a UTEP student I already pay so much in fees and taxes for resources I barely use, I would rather pay fees towards something that benefits me. UTEP could allocate funds from student tuition towards free parking for students and staff. Charging faculty for parking is outrageous. I cannot fathom the idea of giving so much commitment to a career and being forced to pay for parking. UTEP has failed its community by not dealing with the ongoing parking issue.

By M. Paula Barquero I have worked at a museum for some time now, and from my experience these places are often seen as vaults of the past. However, museums are far more than just containers of old objects. They are places that constantly help us understand the past, they make us feel present and even imagine the future. In a museum time blends together, it is a place where ancient meets modern, from a fossil from thousands of years ago to a digital exhibit. These objects do not just show us what happened millions of years ago, they ask us to connect them to our lives today. They make us reflect on the objects on display, where they come from, what they mean and at least for me, how they shape our understanding of the world.   Museums are also spaces of inspiration. When we step inside one, we are not just seeing artifacts of the past, we are connecting with new thoughts and ideas while exploring history, art and creativity. They are a constant reminder that history is not just something behind us, it is something we carry with us. As my literature teacher Luz Ortega said, “People that don’t know their history tend to repeat it.” To get more insight on this topic, I reached out to Director Daniel Carey-Whalen of the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, who shared his opinion on the importance of museums.  “The role of museums in society is becoming more important, especially in an age of divisiveness, fragmentation and digital inundation,” Carey Whalen said. “Traditionally, museums have been a trusted institution, praised for conveying the truth and displaying real, tangible objects. As museums transition to become more accessible to a larger number of people, this integrity will enable us to include more people's histories and their relationships with the environment into our collective stories. That's what it is all about,sharing a wider variety of stories and healing the divisiveness of our current situation.”   Carey-Whalen’s perspective captures perfectly the importance of museums. They are no longer just preserving ancient artifacts, they are  places where people can come together and share stories. They remind us that history is alive and crucial for understanding who we are and where we came from. In this world where so much feels uncertain, museums help us ground ourselves. So, are museums really just vaults of the past? No, It is in these spaces that we learn not only from our ancestors, but about ourselves.

By: Kate Sierra To the average reader, romance novels appear as stories exclusively with happy endings and weddings. As the genre has risen in popularity amongst young women, romance has been reduced to its most basic form. Although happy endings are what many people look for in these novels, romance explores the many nuances of relationships and ways they impact our perspectives. One of my favorite books, “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry, serves as an example of the complex themes found in romance novels. In “Book Lovers,” Henry writes a classic enemies to lovers, small town romance following literary agent Nora Stephens and her sister Libby Stephens on an unexpected trip with an even more unexpected nemesis, Charlie Lastra. Beyond its tropes, “Book Lovers” is an exploration of grief and familial connections. Throughout the book,the Stephens sisters, come to terms with their mother’s death and its impacts on their relationship.  “Book Lovers” is one of the few examples of how romance novels are far deeper than one might expect. Even common tropes in these books reflect real life issues that exist within relationships. One common trope is miscommunication, where one character misunderstands the other, possibly jeopardizing the relationship the characters have. This trope is something that almost everyone has experienced in a relationship, romantic or otherwise. The combination of tropes and explorations into deeper topics allows the audience to connect on a deeper level with the characters. Romance novels offer this connection in a way that other genres may not be able to achieve.  The stigma around romance novels and their superficial themes can be seen as a reflection of their audience. Romance is a genre that predominantly appeals to women. Being a genre directly tied to women, the similarities in societal views of women and the romance genre are striking. Women’s interests are seemingly devalued simply due to their association with women. As a result, romance novels are not seen as worthy enough to read by wider audiences solely because women enjoy them. The idea that such books are lesser detracts others from reading them, causing unnecessary conflicts in book related communities.  The pattern of devaluing the things that women enjoy is unfortunately common in the media. Books are no exception to this rule. As book related communities continue to grow, so does the exclusion of women in these spaces. Rather than encouraging reading in all genres, certain communities see romance as unworthy of reading and criticize those who continue to read the genre. Reading, regardless of genre, should be uplifted by all communities.  As popular as romance is, the genre is still scrutinized because of its content and those who enjoy it. Reading is not a hobby to be valued by what others think of it, rather it is an uniquely individual experience. I have read many genres throughout my life and at one point I was apprehensive of reading romance because of the stigma surrounding the novels. Breaking down the common misconceptions of romance has allowed myself and many other readers the joy of reading romance and finding a new form of love.

By: The WIM Founders Every story has its own unique beginning, but ours has four. Women in Media, more lovingly known as WIM, was initially born from the want to create a journalism space that was kinder than the ones we were brought up in. However, as the organization has grown, so have we. This story could never be told from one point of view, though, when the minds of four hopeful women are what brought this dream together. Hear about the beautiful mesh of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets from our four founders below. Meagan Garcia Believe it or not, when I first started my journey in the journalism industry, it was not because I had a particularly strong connection to the field. I am actually a mechanical engineering major, curious at heart and hoping to change the world for the better through my studies.  However, I love writing, I have always loved writing. There was nothing more fun to me than coming up with stories in my head and being able to bring them to life on paper. I lived in books, got lost in the fantasy worlds and the lives of beloved characters. I wanted to create that for other kids like me.  When I first got to college, it was hard to find a balance between my academic career and my passions. I got involved and eventually became a leader in the Creative Writing Society at UTEP, but the community I garnered there only made me want to expand that. Then I met my three lovely co-founders.  I found immense inspiration in my companions’ talents and work drive. Annabella completely reshaped the way I viewed photography as an art form. Fatima opened my eyes to new creative opportunities. Itzel fed my passion for making a change with my words. Coming together to make this was the breath of fresh air that we needed in a field that did not always feel welcoming to young women.  Our goal is to cultivate a safe environment that encourages women to use their voices and tell stories through any medium of media that they would like. Above all, I want little girls to see my work and know that no matter who you are, you can do anything you set your mind to.   Annabella Mireles Photography was a passion of mine that started in high school and blossomed into a freelancing career that I am currently learning to grow. Ever since I had initially picked up a camera for yearbook in high school, I felt an instant connection and knew that my future was going to change.  From always wanting to be a teacher, to wanting to become a photographer in a matter of a year, I had no idea where to start. I had joined different organizations, but none of them had felt right. I knew I needed a space to learn, grow and feel accepted.  Wanting to break into the media field is a hard feat, especially if you are a woman and a minority. One of the few factors that kept me going was the friendships I created in the field with these three amazing women. Together we wanted to create a safe space for women wanting to succeed in the field of media by hosting workshops, social events and providing a mentorship that we did not experience when we started.  With WIM, we hope to introduce women who are at different stages of their career to one another while teaching them everything we know. Personally, I hope to inspire up and coming photographers and show them what being in a community is like rather than seeing others as competition. We have worked tirelessly to put together an organization we wish we had when we started. We cannot wait to grow this organization, and induct new WIMsies!  Fatima Alvarado  Coming into college, I was filled with uncertainty that I would ever be able to enjoy the future in journalism I had been working towards since high school. So, I did what any other student would do. I changed my major to my biggest passion, graphic design.  My love for journalism began when I joined yearbook in high school as a small helper, where I was able to watch others do what they did best and ended up growing fond of the busy environment. Throughout the years I had always been most connected with making creative and colorful pages that others would be able to enjoy. Since graduating high school, creating has always been my biggest passion. When I decided to change my major from communications to graphic design, I realized how sure I was of my future.  Thankfully I had amazing friends and family who supported all my endeavors, including my three honorary sisters, Meagan, Annabella and Itzel, whom I have been able to share my journey with towards a successful future. Now I am working towards a career in print design, where I hope to continue being in the journalism field.  When creating the idea of Women in Media, we all knew it was to support women in the field, and be able to share our knowledge and experience with other students. Going through this semester as a junior, I am more than certain that what we have created will be able to live on after graduating. I cannot wait to see the growth of our members and organization, and am beyond grateful to be able to do this.  Itzel Giron For so many people, finding their passion in life isn’t easy. Some struggle for months and sometimes even years to find their calling; luckily for me, I knew mine since I was six. Rather than worrying about the cartoon lineup after school, I eagerly awaited for it to be 5 p.m. every day in order to watch my favorite news channel, KVIA.  It was there, watching all of those journalists, that inspired me to become the journalist I’m flourishing into. While working in different types of newsrooms and being in different roles, the best part of those experiences was finding women who help other women become the best that they can be. When finding my three new honorary sisters as Fatima mentioned, it felt like I had surrounded myself with the best support system any woman could have. I know so many people dream of finding something like this and I’m so honored to have found something so unique. When creating Women in Media our goal was to create a safe space for women just like the one we found amongst ourselves. WIM has now become our token to the world to not only showcase the talents of other women, but also act as an opportunity to inspire anyone who has felt less than in any work environment. We stand together to remind you, our readers, that feeling less than in any workplace is not right and sometimes those heartbreaking moments can end up leading you to your soulmate of a workplace even if it is a student organization. We cannot wait to see all of your WIMsical selves!  The point of this piece is not only to introduce ourselves and our organization. We want people to understand that even when life feels stifling, you have to dream and find the people you can share them with. WIM is a testament to our  dreams. When there is not a seat at the table for you, do not just pull up a chair, make your own table. Be loud, be brave, and dream big.