Vol 88 issue7 Feb 1 18

R ANGER

February 1, 2018 Volume 88 Issue 7

Scholars journey overseas

What’s inside

Read about Russell Lowery-Hart’s talk with the U.S. Senate...

STORY ON PAGE 3

By STEVI BRESHEARS Ranger Reporter

Illustration by Stevi Breshears

Flu flies through campus

By LAUREL SEBASTIAN Ranger Reporter

An in-depth look at students’ global connections ...

STORIES ON PAGES 4 AND 5

Read about “Bomb City,” based on a true Amarillo story...

STORY ON PAGE 8

The flu is on the rise this year, as weekly reports flood in from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding flu outbreaks on college campuses across the nation. According to the CDC, only 26 percent of college students have received their seasonal influenza vaccination, falling staggeringly low from the 70 percent target rate set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources.

“I feel students might hesitate getting the flu shot if they don’t have the time or money. Especially if they have kids whose needs are put before their own,” Josh Jayroe, a general studies major, said.

Unlike some colleges, Amarillo College does not offer low-cost,

on-campus flu shots for students.

Making vaccines cheaper and more accessible could help students who are on a budget or have tight schedules, Jayroe said.

He added that more people might get flu shots if they could get what they need on campus rather than going out of their way.

College students face an even higher risk of catching the flu due to their constant contact with so many other students who may be sick and spreading germs.

“I believe that our immune system starts to break down because of the lack of sleep, not getting the proper nutrition in our diet and being exposed to other students and outside elements all play a role in the risk,” Ashley Brashears, an art major, said.

The flu, is a viral infection

Palace Coffee opens at last

By ALLISON RICENBAW Ranger Reporter

After months of anticipation, students and staff at Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus can now get their caffeine fix on campus.

Construction of the new coffee shop was originally expected to be completed before the fall of 2017 semester began. Due to conflicts, construction did not being until Nov. 15, 2017. On Feb. 1, the awardwinning Palace Coffee shop finally opened the doors of its fourth location. The shop is located in the College Union Building or CUB, where the Badger Den was located.

Krystal and Patrick Burns, the owners of Palace Coffee, said they were excited to be able to team up with AC and create a space that is unique, while still capturing the same atmosphere as the other locations.

“We really want to create an atmosphere where everyone is comfortable coming to study, or have meetings or hang out.

We want to create pockets where all three of those things can happen at the same time,” Krystal Burns said.

The AC location will have the exact same menu as the other locations, including $1 in-house coffee, a seasonal

STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger

The Palace logo on the outside of the College Union Building alerts coffee seekers of the newest location.

menu, teas and pastries.

“We did not want this location to be a watered-down Palace. We wanted it to be a full-scale Palace location,” Patrick Burns said. “We will serve everything that we serve in all of our other locations, which is a very extensive menu.

You can get a straight espresso or cold brew coffee. We have regular black drip coffee. We’ll have pour-over coffee available as well as all the lattes.”

Students said they are happy about this addition to the campus and ready to see how this local business thrives.

“I am super excited that AC is bringing in a local establishment to our campus. I wish they would

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bring in more local eateries to our campus. I feel that the students and faculty would benefit from having an on campus eatery/coffee shop,” Tiffany VanBuren, an education major and Kids College instructor, said.

Andrea Herrera, a nursing major, said she’s excited to be able to save time by not having to go across town to get Starbucks in the mornings before class.

The Burns said their idea is for the shop to be a hub that brings the local community onto the campus and for it to be a place where students can go and feel welcome. The new location will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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that is easily contagious and can be spread through coughing or sneezing, touching a contaminated item or person and swapping saliva through sharing drinks, food or even kissing. “The best ways to prevent the spread of the flu is good hand-washing, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, staying home when you’re sick and staying hydrated,” Monica Herd, a registered nurse and former AC nursing student, said.

Though the flu shot may not completely eliminate the chances of catching the virus, it does greatly reduce the odds and provides extra support to people’s immune systems. Health officials urge students to remember to drink plenty of fluids, get proper amounts of rest and wash hands as often as possible to protect themselves and others.

For most students, Christmas break is a time to relax, spend time with family and enjoy being away from the classroom for a few weeks. For Amarillo College’s Presidential Scholars, it meant an opportunity to step in front of the classroom – and out of the country.

On Jan. 5, 12 Presidential Scholars and two sponsors departed for the Dominican Republic, where they spent the next eight days immersing themselves in a new culture and teaching English to elementary school students.

The Scholars worked with an organization called Outreach360, which specializes in English education for children in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

“We work with the underserved children here that don’t have the opportunities kids in the states have,” President and CEO of Outreach360, Tom Eklund, said. “We work with them to provide English education and additional education like science and math.”

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 4

AC to honor Black History Month Melodie Graves, diversity committee chair and advising Ranger Reporter associate, said. She also Amarillo College will explained that recently more recognize Black History AC faculty from the East and Month with a choir West Campuses are giving comprised of local residents students time to attend many and catered luncheon on of these events by letting their Feb. 15 on the first floor of students out of class early.

“It’s important to recognize the Ware Student Commons equal rights and the progression building. of American society,” Chris In 1951, AC was the third school of higher Devoy-McCann, a criminal education in Texas to admit justice major, said.

Many students noted the African-American students, according to the book importance of recognizing Black “Bones Hooks: Pioneer History Month for the positive Negro Cowboy.” AC had 551 historical contributions of AfricanAfrican-American students Americans. “Black History enrolled during the fall 2017 Month shows progression, but semester - 5.4 percent of the also highlights civil right issues that need improved,” Lluvia Rodriguez, student population.

This year’s Black History a computer information science Month event will concentrate major,said.

AC has a history of Africanon educating students and staff on the importance of American involvement and diversity and creating open graduates who continue to communication among contribute to the area including different groups, according lawyer Robin Malone, board of to Ruth De Anda, academic regents member Patrick Miller, adviser. De Anda stressed banking executive BJ Jones that having a diverse AC and Graves, who was the first advising staff decreases barriers to African-American associate at AC. communication and helps Graves explained that in the community’s students and parents from diverse the future, she would like backgrounds open up to ask to see a professional trainer questions when enrolling at participate in AC Black History Month. She said she AC. “The main goal of all the would like to have this trainer different diversity groups on teach faculty and students to communicate campus is to educate, inform how and improve communication effectively with a diverse among all groups of people,” population.

By JOSEPH HORNE

Twitter and Instagram: @acranger

2 Opinion The Ranger

February 1, 2018

Is overseas travel important?

Why or why not?

“It varies from person to person because where it would benefit one person it wouldn’t another.”

Jordan McCormack General Studies

“I think it could be important because you learn different cultures and languages.”

DESTINY KRANTHOVEN | The Ranger

Cassey McDonald Education

Parker Gray Sonography

“It is important because we can open our eyes to different cultures and learn from them.”

Respect diversity There is a huge age difference going on here at Amarillo College. You find individuals who just graduated from high school and are going to AC. You find individuals who are in their 30s, but they are blessed to still able to continue to get their education. You have those that are in their 50s, 60s and 70’s who attend college.

Sometimes it can be a hard experience because you are trying to keep up with the younger crowd, but it can be done as long as you set your mind to it.

Some other differences include single parents who work full time, along with going to school. It may be a hard task, but it can be done. Regardless of your age or obstacle, if you set your mind to a task you can do it.

There are many resources on the Washington Street Campus that can help you if you are in need of something, such as the Advocacy and Resources Center, which helps with food, clothing and gas vouchers.

The Math Outreach Center helps with tutoring if needed, there is a

Becoming a self-second society EDITORIAL

American culture is ever evolving, but, is becoming increasingly self-centered. As a society, we view outsiders and other cultures as being less than our way of life. As we grow into this individualistic society, we lose the benefits, and quite frankly the incredible diversity, which comes with sharing life with people of other cultures.

It’s this loss of the communal sharing of life that hurts our nation in the long run.

Our societal past has been riddled with the “conform or else” way of thinking. From the time of our arrival in this land, we sought the expansion of our land ownership and our manifest destiny. When the indigenous peoples proved to be a roadblock to our expansion efforts, we forced bison to the brink of extinction in order to force those peoples onto reservations where we

would provide for them, if they played by our rules. Never mind the fact that they were here first.

Fast forward several hundred years and you find yourself amid the modern political climate where our leaders find it acceptable to do away with protections for immigrants from “shithole” countries.

Are we doomed to selfcentered self-destruction or is there something we can do to avert our demise? Maybe.

The 195 countries in the world today are home to countless cultures, societies, religions and people groups.

It’s time we look at these diverse cultures with respect and dignity.

For example, Japanese culture revolves heavily around respect and thinking of others. The Japanese culture puts others

first and self second. It’s in the little things like the way a food stall owner serves you with a smile, to the way everyone lines up on the right to stand on an escalator so that others, who are in a hurry, can pass on the left. While there are small pockets of this happening around the US, this “others first” mentality is one we could stand to adopt on a grand scale.

We, the Ranger staff, challenge you to start effecting change in your community. The best way to learn anything is by experiencing it. We challenge you to find someone from a different culture and spend some dedicated time learning about who he or she is at his at her core and what makes him or her unique. You could even try living with an immigrant family or visit their country of origin. Each interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Going against the Tide

TASHANA SMITH Ranger Reporter

counseling center that can be contacted through Ask AC at 371-5000 and much more.

I understand the feeling of being in a crowd where you feel like you don’t belong. I go to school every day, I work with the news group and I also continue to help out with FM90, but yet most of my classmates are ten years younger than me and I sometimes feel like I’m out of place. It can be hard to blend in with a younger generation; especially when your interests are on a completely different level.

There are times that it can just make you feel so out of place.

- Serving Amarillo College since 1930 For a complete staff listing, please visit The Ranger online at www.acranger.com.

Some popular trends make more sense than others. The Tide pod challenge has teens ingesting the laundry detergent and pushing the boundaries in their endless quest for likes and social media approvals in today’s digital age.

You Tube has taken an initiative and removed all Tide pod challenge videos from its site completely, yet the challenge still seems to be going strong. The American Association of Poison Control Center (AAPCC) has spoken out recently as well, with a high-alert, noting that there has indeed been a significant rise in calls due to intentional ingestion of the detergent. In fact, in the month of January, there were 86 cases of intentional ingestion handled by the AAPCC, which now has Tide and US Consumer Product Safety Commission teaming up to release messages pleading that people (mostly teens) not to eat their product. As

BRANDAN WALDROP Ranger Reporter

if it’s not common sense already.

I find this common sense paradox humorous. I personally ignored it initially, like I do with most of the viral stupidity that trends from day to day, yet somehow this one has stayed in the spotlight for longer than I would have expected or ever hoped.

Should we keep bubble-wrapping the world for

Student Media exists to serve you--the students. The Ranger is as an open forum where you can learn and talk about the things that matter to you. The Ranger staff urges you to get involved. Submit ideas, photos, writing and videos. Tell us what you want covered. A public critique and meeting session is open to the campus community at 9:30 a.m. Fridays in PH 213.

Student Media outlets include The Ranger, The Ranger Online, AC Current, FM90 and our various web shows and podcasts. You can reach us at acranger@actx.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Ranger is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers, Panhandle Press Association, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and Texas Community College Journalism Association.

everyone in order to make it a safer place or shoould we just let natural selection work its magic for the sake of humanity? Perhaps I’ll need to show my I.D. the next time I need to purchase laundry detergent thanks to these viral teens and their You Tube star career goals.

So I suppose the whole point of this rant, is that conventionally speaking, it’s obviously a no-brainer idiotic thing to take part of, yet we as adults should perhaps not be so quick to judge and degrade others for partaking. Most of us helped create this monster in a sense by giving an iPhone to our young children in order to keep them occupied or quiet, so you have to expect these sort of ridiculous repercussions down the line, because yes, technology has advanced no doubt, but our brains still remain primitive and have yet to update along with it.

In 1993, The Ranger was inducted into the national ACP Hall of Fame. The program is nationally accredited by the Community College Journalism Association.

The Ranger is an independent student publication. Articles published in The Ranger do not necessarily reflect the views of Amarillo College administrators or staff.

News February 1, 2018

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The Ranger

Lowery-Hart testifies to senate committee

COURTESY PHOTO

AC President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart defends the importance of financial aid front of the United States Senate.

By STEVI BRESHEARS Ranger Reporter

On Thursday, Jan. 19, Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart represented community colleges and universities across the country on a panel

of financial aid and economic experts for the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Together, the policymakers discussed ways to simplify the financial aid process for students across the country.

Female takes the lead

Birkenfeld named AC Police chief

By KIARA ALLEN Ranger Reporter

A new leader has taken over the Amarillo College Police Department as the college’s first female police chief.

After obtaining multiple AC degrees, completing the Law Enforcement Academy, and spending eight years doing various police work, Stephanie Birkenfeld is back at AC to revamp and clean up the Police COURTESY PHOTO Department.

“I saw opportunity to be able Stephanie Birkenfeld to lead the department in a new than never. The fact that nobody direction and make a difference has made a big deal out of her in how our officers are viewed position is appealing because and how they feel about their it shows that she has the same jobs,” Birkenfeld said. amount of respect as any other Birkenfeld said that working man who has been in her in a male dominated profession position,” Macey Gibaszek, an has never affected her work education major, said. ethic and she has not had any Since Jan. 1, Birkenfeld has problems maintaining authority. already applied for and received Students said they are state funding to cover the cost happy to see a woman in this of 11 new rifle-resistant vests, traditionally male position. “I matching the number of officers am so pleased that AC has a employed by the college. woman as the chief of police. I Birkenfeld replaced the think it is sad that it’s taken so previous chief, Steve Chance, long, but I suppose late is better who retired at the end of 2017.

“We have students that don’t apply for financial aid, one, because they don’t think they’re eligible when they are, and, two, because the process is so complicated that they don’t think that they can complete it, or that they don’t think they’re

smart enough to complete it,” Lowery-Hart said.

For many students, financial aid is the deciding factor as to whether or not they get to attend college.

“The cost of higher education has exploded, especially at the university

level, and I think community colleges have done a much better job at keeping costs in check, but we still have work to do ourselves,” LoweryHart said. “Financial aid really is the stopgap that helps middle class students and low-income students be able to afford going to college, and we know that a college degree equals a better job that pays more.”

While better education is important on an individual level, it’s also beneficial to the rest of society.

“Our economy depends on us not only enrolling students, but graduating students, and we wouldn’t be able to do that without financial aid. We would not be able to graduate the students we have without financial aid,” LoweryHart said.

Now that the committee has heard from the panel of policymakers, the committee members will use the information they’ve gathered to vote on laws to alter the financial aid process. New laws could be seen as early as this summer.

Amarillo College to host high school showcase

By JUAN RODRIGUEZ Ranger Reporter

More than 400 high school students will gather at the Amarillo Civic Center’s North Exhibit Hall Feb. 1 for the Amarillo College’s first annual Success 360 college and career showcase.

During the event, high school students will visit with representatives from AC’s nine broad occupational career communities.

According to organizers, the goal is help these students to explore prospective career paths and the academic programs and extracurricular groups that support them.

“I am very excited for this event, and we have been receiving great responses from people,” Becky Burton, dean of academic outreach, said. “It is a great way to get students excited for the future and to bring students who have a similar interest together.”

Burton said the showcase will help high school students take the next step toward college and teach them how to be successful in the classroom and beyond.

In addition, it is a great way for students to explore their interests and talk to other classmates who may have the same goals.

Organizers said they hope the students have fun at the showcase.“There will be plenty of activities planned and even a chance to win scholarship money,” Frank Sobey, associate vice president of academic affairs, said. “We will have food, drinks and fun things to do besides talking.”

Some current AC students said they wish they could have attended an event like this when they were in high school.“I think it is a good way to help someone find a career,” Jaxton O’Neal, a mass media student, said.

The free event will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A column by Writers’ Corner that helps you improve your writing published every Wednesday at acranger.com.

New leader isn’t ‘Kitten’ about East Campus goals

By PATRICK NGUYEN Ranger Reporter

Amarillo College’s East Campus has a new leader.

Michael Kitten began his new job as the dean of East Campus at the beginning of January.

Kitten has already set goals for the campus. “We want to create new partnerships with new and existing businesses in the community,” he said.

“We also want to increase exposure of the East Campus to business and industry and increase enrollment with marketing and communication within our school districts.”

Dr. Kim T. Hays, the

department chair of welding untold opportunity, good technology on the East jobs, rewarding careers,” Hays Campus, said Kitten arrived at a said. “It has the same new time when AC is going through problem as all industry; we some big changes. With changes come some challenges, Hays said.

“Today there are so many distractions that Kitten will need help to get out and work on his goals,” Hays said. “This help will also allow me to focus on the classroom and labs more.”

Hays said he agrees with Kitten’s goals and said that industry partnerships and recruiting have always been the goal for the East Campus.

COURTESY PHOTO “East Campus represents Michael Kitten

are in a society that doesn’t know what the words controls, machinist, instrumentation and manufacturing mean.”

Kitten has received high praise from fellow staff members. Claudia Arnold, the adviser on AC’s East Campus, said that she is excited to work with Kitten and will assist him as much as she can.

Before accepting the dean position, Kitten served as the Executive Director of the Hereford Economic Development Corporation and was a nonvoting member of the AC board of regents, representing Hereford.

The East Campus offers

technical programs including the Harrington Aviation program, the Kritser Diesel Program, logistics and transportation and industrial technology.

East Campus was once the location of the Amarillo Air Force base, which closed in 1968. The campus then became part of Texas State Technical Institute, which was renamed Texas State Technical College, and then it became part of Amarillo College in 1995.

In addition to academic classes and technical programs, the campus also delivers training to industry through contracts and grants.

4 News The Ranger

February 1, 2018

Scholars break barriers, experience new cultures continued from page 1

Outreach360 began as Orphanage Outreach, after Eklund visited a Monte Cristi orphanage in 1994 and realized how few opportunities the children there really had. Orphanage Outreach was formed, and eventually became Outreach360 with a focus on English education.

“People here really want their children to know English, because they see it’s an opportunity. It opens the doors for educational opportunities, it opens the door for jobs,” Eklund said. “It’s a real need that we serve.”

The Scholars said they found teaching difficult because only a few of them had any experience in education. The added factor of a language barrier made things even more difficult.

“Most of us don’t speak Spanish, so the only way to communicate with the kids was to communicate love,” Aden Sharp, a religion major, said.

Despite the communication difficulties, the Scholars managed to connect with the students and teach them.

“You see kind of a light bulb go off, and that’s a really good feeling for me and a really good feeling for them, knowing that we’re making a difference,” Olivia Moctezuma, a psychology major, said.

While the main focus of the trip was the service, the Scholars also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Dominican culture. During their eight days in the country, the Scholars were able to walk around Santiago and Monte Cristi, swim in the ocean, eat signature local dishes, attend church and learn about the history of the Dominican Republic through visiting several museums.

“I really want to come back here,” Cielo Gutierrez-Anchondo, a biology major, said. “I will forever cherish this trip.”

Presidential Scholars is an application-only learning community designed to help AC’s highachieving students excel. Each year, 15 students are selected for the program. The Scholars participate in student-centered learning experiences designed to promote intellectual growth, cultural appreciation, professional development and civic participation.

One of the highlights of the program is the annual overseas trip. Scholars groups have traveled to China, Cambodia, Lithuania, Poland, India and Nepal. To see a collection of photos taken on the most recent trip visit acranger.com.

Travelers prepare for overseas adventure

By JOSE PEREZ

Ranger Reporter

T R O P PASS

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This spring break, students are taking a trip to Paris, France.

The group includes four professors and 17 Amarillo College students. According to trip organizers, the students will not just be learning about life in Paris, they will also be learning about the culture and music and will stand where people who changed history once stood.

“This trip is tied to Ms. Milleson, Mr. Caetano, Ms. Jung and also my class,” said Becky Easton, assistant professor of English and chair of English, humanities and languages.

To prepare for the trip, students and faculty have gotten their passports and held fundraisers to help cover some of the travel costs.

Students had to pay for the rest of the costs themselves. Josh Ballard, a mass media major, said that he picked up extra shifts at work to pay for this trip.

Not only are they going to see historical places but they will get to visit Disneyland in Paris. “The fact that we are able to visit Disneyland Paris to explore culture (and have a lot of fun) is very unique. This opportunity is unusual and exciting,” Courtney Milleson, speech professor and faculty travel sponsor, said.

The group will also get to visit Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter, where many authors lived and worked, Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and the Lourve. Caetano also plans on taking his students to concerts while in Paris.

Students who are going say they are excited, ready to explore and learn about the different parts of the world and experience things that most people do not get to do in their lifetimes. “For each new destination you travel to you can always take something back with you, whether it’s a memory, a lesson learned, a new outlook or even a souvenir,” Andreanna Simpson, a music major, said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the historical places I have learned about in school, as well as the international landmarks that have survived two world wars,” said Michelle Whittler, a biology major. “This trip is a great opportunity for AC students because it gives us the chance to broaden your horizons and experience,” said Whittler.

News February 1, 2018

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The Ranger

ESL helps broaden horizons

By MACKENZIE SHIRLEY

Ranger Reporter

As some Amarillo College students seek to broaden their horizons by traveling to other countries, other students come to Amarillo from overseas.

AC’s English as a Second Language, or ESL, program serves students from more than 20 different countries. “The program is diverse,” Carol Summers, an ESL instructor, said, noting that her students have come to AC from areas around the world such as the Middle East, Central and South America, Africa, Asia and more.

The ESL program is one of the many avenues that AC uses to remove barriers. ESL classes teach students who don’t know English how to confidently speak, read and write.

“We have activities where the students learn to listen for detail and understand the main idea of what somebody is saying,” Ronetta Urton, assistant ESL coordinator, said.

ESL student Karina Flores Chavez came to Amarillo from Durango, Mexico. She has been enrolled in ESL classes for one semester. “I have received a tremendous amount of support in the ESL program,” Chavez

said. “It has been flexible with my everyday lifestyle, allowing me to work and be a mother of four.”

The ESL program also offers a variety of services that help these students adjust to life in the United States. Some of these services include integrated education and training programs, certified nursing assistant classes, high school equivalency classes and professional re-entry classes. These re-entry classes are designed to help non-native English speakers who have had formal training in their country of origin reenter their profession in the United States.

Overall, the ESL program offers ways to help the students learn how to navigate America on their own, according to Urton. The program creates opportunities for immigrants that they wouldn’t otherwise have, she said.

Recently AC officials began a new way for students from other countries to bond and support one another.

The newly-formed International Students Organization will give students from overseas a chance to share their experiences and their cultures. The new club will help students adjust to life in America and will give them a chance to make friends who are experiencing similar challenges. “That’s what it’s all about,” Urton said, “being a successful family.”

ESL classes are free for all levels and registration is a two-day process with specific registration dates set throughout each semester.

For more information, visit the English as a Second Language page on the AC website.

Refugee finds happiness at AC

By LES JONES

Ranger Reporter

LES JONES | The Ranger

After growing up in a war-torn country with danger and death around every corner, living in the United States is a dream. For 21-year-old education major, Jolie Mwiza, living in the U.S. and attending Amarillo College is a gift that she is enjoying to the fullest.

Mwiza was born in the African country of Congo in 1996. That same year the first Congo War broke out. Many experts regard it as Africa’s World War due to how large it was and the mass genocide that ensued.

Mwiza and her family managed to escape to Burundi, Uganda when she was nine years old, however tragedy would follow. The family left the refugee camp on Thursday, August 12, 2004. On Friday Aug 13, 2004, a brutal massacre took place at the camp. One hundred sixty women and children were killed in the massacre. An additional 100 refugees suffered from machete and bullet wounds.

The day after the carnage, Mwiza’s grandfather returned to the camp and fearing his family had died in the massacre, suffered a fatal heart attack.

Mwiza and the family settled in Uganda. She attended boarding school where she learned English. “One of the major differences is that in Africa you must pay to go to school as a child. In the United States you do not,” Mwiza said.

At the age of 18, Mwiza and her family moved to the United States with the help of a refugee program. The family of 10 first settled in Houston, Texas.

After a year in Houston, the family moved to Amarillo, Texas. “There was a much better opportunity for jobs and education than in Houston,” Mwiza said.

Once in Amarillo, Mwiza obtained her G.E.D. and enrolled at AC. Many of Mwiza’s classmates and teachers say she has been a great addition to AC and they are happy she is here.

“Jolie was a joy to teach and have in my classroom. She always had a smile on her face and worked very hard,” Karen White, an associate professor of developmental math, said.

Mwiza said she hopes to one day become an elementary teacher. Her classmates agree that being an elementary school teacher would be a great for Mwiza. “She is a loving woman who loves to help others,” Merci Ruremesha, an engineering major, said.

6 NEWS The Ranger

February 1, 2018

New schedule planner offers strategy for student success

By ZAK GRIEGO Ranger Reporter

Hannon’s boarded up house during Hurricane Irma.

COURTESY PHOTO

Online student juggles homework, hurricanes

By IVAN DEL VAL Ranger Reporter

Professors throughout Amarillo College have heard all kinds of excuses when it comes to a late assignment or an overdue exam. Only a few, however, have heard the excuse “a hurricane knocked all my power out.”

Kate Hannon, a radiation therapy major, lived through Hurricane Hermine in 2016 and Hurricane Irma this past fall.

“Power to most of the city was out, lines were down, traffic lights were out, most stores were closed, you couldn’t find gas anywhere and ice was a luxury in a powerless town,” Hannon said.

Hannon, who has lived in Florida her whole life, moved to Tallahassee in 2010 to become an X-ray technician.

She has lived there since and it was after finishing a radiologic technology program that she decided she wanted to become a radiation therapist.

As she started looking for schools, she realized there were no schools in Tallahassee that offered the

program she needed.

She researched online schools, and decided to enroll at AC. Hannon started the program in the fall semester of 2016 and just two weeks after, Hurricane Hermine hit her newly-owned house.

“We started feeling Hermine’s 74-95 mph winds at around 10 p.m. and I think I remember seeing 4 a.m. on the clock before I finally could fall asleep at night. I’ve lived in Florida my entire life and I’ve never heard winds that strong blowing outside,” Hannon said.

A hurricane had not made landfall in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and her house was without power for over 36 hours.

According to Hannon, there was something she kept thinking about: her first test that was due in two days.

Tony Tackitt, the radiation therapy program director, who was one of her professors at that time, said Hannon is dependable and always prepared for exams, so he figured a hurricane is a pretty good justification for an excused absence.

“Kate cracked me up, as

during the first hurricane, when she was just starting our program, power was out all over town and her phone battery was getting low, she was so worried she wouldn’t be able to submit her assignments,” Tackitt said.

The second hurricane she experienced was Irma several months ago. Although it didn’t hit Tallahassee as badly as Hermine, it was still one of the strongest hurricanes of 2017.

Hannon said that although they didn’t suffer too much damage, gas was hard to come by, parts of the interstate were shut down and schools acted as shelters for evacuees from down south.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster trying to decide whether to evacuate, to stay put, to board up, to go north or to go east, just exhausting,” Hannon said.

Hannon said she hopes she can get through the rest of the radiation therapy program without experiencing another hurricane.

The first time she will set foot at AC will be in May when she takes her exit exams and, if all goes as planned, graduate.

Amarillo College has released a new scheduling computer program intended to help students and their advisers find the best academic pathway.

This new schedule planner is intended to allow students to maximize the potential of the classes offered at AC. “The Student Schedule Planner is designed to help our students make better-informed decisions that accelerate timeto-degree and support the best possible student outcome,” Ernesto Olmos, director of advising, said.

According to Olmos, the time spent between students and advisers is valuable.

With the new planner, students will be able to ask and focus solely on the academic and career questions they have, rather than wasting time on scheduling issues that often occur when meeting with advisers.

Students can use the planning module from the comfort of their own homes, and bring the schedule with them to advising or simply just get a head start on planning their aca-

demic futures, Olmos said.

“That’s pretty convenient, I like being able to see all my classes laid out in front of me,” Bostyn Andrews, a kinesiology major, said. The module plots the classes chosen by students on a linear timeline. This linear style timeline allows students to see what classes they have, from left to right in an organized fashion.

Although the planner is available to all students, not many know about it. Despite the planner being easy to read after classes have been chosen, the planner can be confusing for anyone who hasn’t had experience with it or guidance on how to use it.

“I couldn’t figure out the planner, it was confusing trying to figure out how to use it,” Jaren Alvarado, a general studies major, said.

To help combat the confusion some may have when using the new program, AC has provided a step-by-step guide with pictures detailing how to use the scheduling module. The guide can be found by typing in “Using the Student Planning Module” in the search bar on the college’s main website.

Disability coordinator leaves legacy behind

“With Rossnagel’s retirement a lot of knowledge is Ranger Reporter going to walk out the door,” Amarillo College’s dis- Tyler Grisham, an adviser for ability coordinator, Brenda disability services, said. GrishRossnagel, retired at the end am said Rossnagel knows so of January. Students and staff much about the laws, complimembers said they are sad to ance and student needs related to disability services. see her leave.

“She will be dearly missed,” Rossnagel has held the disability coordinator position for Thomas Lewis, a history ma19 years. She has had held the jor, said.

Rossnagel’s replacement same position the entire time will be Dennis Sarine, a forshe was at AC. Rossnagel said it was ex- mer faculty member in the edceptionally difficult for her to ucation department who has a background in special educaleave her staff and students.

“I know deep down that my tion.

“With a new individual students will be in phenometaking a new position, we will nal hands and will be helped to no less than the best with see changes that need to be the wonderful accommoda- made, but only for the benefit tions that AC has to offer,” of the students. He will work as a team player,” Rossnagel Rossnagel said. said.

By COLTON DROWN

Changes made to intramurals, addition of new games

By JAXTON ONEAL Ranger Reporter

This spring, students who play intramural sports will see more changes, including the end of co-ed teams in some sports.

“We are changing up some of our typical leagues. Like for example, basketball we have men’s and women’s leagues as opposed to last year we had coed,” Trent Oneal, intramural coordinator, said.

Another change is the beginning of collaboration with West Texas A&M. The two schools are creating joint teams so that students who go to college at WT have a chance to play with students from AC. Bringing the school teams together also provides students with more intramural choices, including new games such as

battleship and turkey hunt.

Meeting new people is not the only thing that students can gain from intramurals.

There are multitude of other elements that can be gained from participating. Some students said that they see playing intramurals as an alternative form of learning.

“Different things that can come up and keep you active is pretty cool,” Uriel Valenzuela, sports and exercise sciences major, said.

“I miss the recreation.

When I come there is not a lot of people here but intramurals has plenty of people to play with, it’s fun to have competition,” Damian Gaune, a diesel technology major, said.

For more information on intramurals and how to get involved, contact Oneal by phone at 371-5965 or by email at taoneal@actx.edu.

Culture February 1, 2018

7

The Ranger

Free concert for students

By CHRISTIAN GARCIA Ranger Reporter

The greatest fiasco

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Stardom fails to save movie with overused formula

By SAL GUTIERREZ Ranger Reporter

Musicals are a complicated topic in the movie industry.

They can be good or be ridiculous, in my opinion, the biggest musical blockbuster of 20172018 fits the second option.

“The Greatest Showman” is the most inaccurate, long and empty-plotted movie.

The movie is intended to be a biopic of P.T. Barnum, founder of the Barnum Circus in the 19th century. Starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebbeca Ferguson and Zendaya. The movie had a budget of $85 million and earned $77 million in its first month.

Let’s start with the main element of a musical, the music. With original songs by “La La Land” Oscar-winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “The Greatest Showman” succeeds on awakening the curiosity on new audiences to this underrated movie genre, the pop vibe in every song of the movie and the recurrent use of auto-tune worked as a hook for millennials and placed the soundtrack among the hottest tracks of 2018.

A couple of songs are memorable but the incongruence between time period and music genre takes away from the

realism.

The story is vague and it does not really go deep into plots that could make the movie a standout. “The Greatest Showman” could focus more on the interracial relationship between Zendaya’s and Efron’s characters because this was a sensitive subject back in the day and could’ve given a touch of realism to the story and exploit the acting skills of the performers.

There is not much to tell about Jackman’s side of the story; the use of the classic structure hardships-boom-fall-repentance-happy-ending does not hold true with the real events in Barnum’s life.

The screenplay is the product of Jenny Bicks (Rio 2, 2014) and Bill Condon (Beauty and the Beast, 2017) and it is envisioned to soften the rough and obscure aspects of Barnum. The film accomplishes its intention of delivering a love-yourself message. Presents Barnum’s museum as a “celebration of humanity, rather than an exercise of exploitation.

One of the most remarkable inaccuracies in the story is the portrayal of General Tom Thumb (the dwarf ) while in the movie we see an old man who was casually found by Barnum, in real life he was related to “The Greatest Showman,” Barnum adopted him as a kid

and taught him how to sing, dance and impersonate characters such as Hercules and Napoleon -we see this one in the movie- by the age of five he would smoke and drink alcohol for entertainment purposes.

Another outstanding feature of the movie -not for good- is its exaggerated use of CGI. From dancing sheets to CGI generated light effects –The light coming from the dream-keeper- “The Greatest Showman” does not reflect an $84 million dollars budget.

General Tom Thumb was CGI generated from head-to-toe and it was obvious every time he was in a wide shot. The animals, well, they have no shame.

They could be creating animals with CGI to avoid problems with PETA but didn’t they learn anything from “The Jungle Book?”

The movie gets slow after two hours, the incongruences in the story and music are notorious. Jackman seems to be living the dream but that is not enough to save the sinking boat.

At the end of the day, this movie reflects Barnum’s spirit and his audacity to sell cheap entertainment and call it art.

After all: “Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.”

– P.T. Barnum.

On Feb. 9, the Amarillo College Creative Arts Community and FM90 will host a free student appreciation concert with musical guests, The Deltaz.

Admission for this event is free, the concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall Theater on the Washington Street Campus.

The Deltaz do in fact, have a history with AC and have performed in past years for the Panhandle PBS concert events, Yellow City Sounds Live and the Yellow City Music Festival.

Stevi Breshears, a general studies major, was able to see The Deltaz in concert during the duo’s last visit to Amarillo.

“I interviewed them for ‘The Ranger’ for a class assignment I really enjoyed it.They were really cool and nice people,” Breshears said. “As far as AC and FM90 goes, I think they have a really good relationship with both. I’m definitely going to this concert. I asked off from work specifically for it,” she added.

“In the past, the band has come in on the day of a show to perform acoustically and to do an interview live on the radio,” Brian Frank, PBS content producer, said.

Before the concert, audience members will have a chance to learn more about student organizations and academic opportunities within the Creative Arts Community, Activities and information stations will be set up in the Common Lobby of the Concert Hall Theater. FM90 will also be doing live remote broadcasts from the lobby and distributing bumper stickers and T-shirts.

“The goal of this event is to welcome students back to campus while offering them a chance to learn more about the many opportunities in the Creative Arts Community,” Jill Gibson, associate dean of liberal arts, said.

The event is free and open to the public; donations will be accepted to help offset the cost of scholarships and training for the Matney Mass Media Program and AC Student Media.

AC awards money to avid writers The ‘Freelancer’ publishes work of the AC community

By CARTER HALL Ranger Reporter

Every spring, the Amarillo College English department puts out the “Freelancer,” a literary and art magazine that includes work submitted by the students, staff and faculty. “The ‘Freelancer’ publishes the short stories, photography, essays, poetry and visual arts of the AC community.

We are honored to showcase the myriad creative talents our students and colleagues possess,” Bryant Manning, English instructor and “Freelancer” reviewer, said. People can write an original piece or make their own piece of art.

Submitting work does not guarantee that it gets published. A committee of reviewers will decide which pieces make it into the magazine. “It

comes down to tough choices that there might be two pieces that we think are good, but we only have so much space to get published,” Joshua O’Brien,“Freelancer” reviewer and Writer’s Corner coordinator said. O’Brien added that they always try to be objective in making selections.

Even though the “Freelancer” is not much of a competition, people on campus look forward to having some money to put in their pockets. Three of the submissions will be selected as the best overall pieces and will garner cash awards.

“We offer cash prizes for first, second and third place winners,” Manning said.

While only three people receive prizes, the reviewers said it’s an honor to get published.

All of the published pieces will also be spotlighted in a

special reception. “We will feature live readings and present all photography and visual art in a relaxed setting with friends and family,” Manning said.

The “Freelancer” has been published annually since 2004. It offers an outlet for people who have a passion for writing, Jenna Welch, student life specialist, said. “I always enjoyed writing from a young age, and you do not have to be a professional writer to get your work in there.”

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2018. People have various ways to submit their work. Everyone can submit their work by handing it to someone in the English department, emailing it to a “Freelancer” review committee member or giving it to someone in the Writer’s Corner, which is in room 103 in Ordway Hall.

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8 Feature The Ranger February 1, 2018

By TITUS MEDLEY

Ranger Reporter

Illustration by Jake Wagner-Russell

T

he city that is always sleeping makes noise in the world of film with the new movie “Bomb City.”

Based on the true story of the Dec. 12, 1997 event that resulted in the murder of an Amarillo punk artist, the movie premiered Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2017, at the Amarillo Globe-News Center, after a run at film festivals.

Brian Deneke, the central figure in the film, is wellknown and has turned into a legend in the punk rock community at large. Countless bands, writers, artists and even rock star Marilyn Manson have referenced and drawn inspiration from Deneke’s story.

Deneke’s older brother Jason Deneke, who still lives in Amarillo, talked about the popularity of his brother’s story saying "It’s cool so many people take inspiration from Brian’s story. It’s OK to be yourself, that’s the message."

Brian Deneke, who sported a mohawk, a spiked choker and random homemade tattoos was definitely that - himself. Ultimately, his free spirit and wild personality lead to his death when Dustin Camp deliberately hit Deneke with his car after a fight outside of the International House of Pancakes on Western Street. Jason Deneke recalled this incident saying that it was a large build up. The “white hats,” as he called them, and he and his brother’s friends had experienced conflict here and there for quite some time. Jason Deneke said he remembers getting in lots of fights with the white hats, saying they didn't get along “because we were outsiders. We were weird and well, outsiders. Not just punks, hippies too.

Outsiders, and we pissed them off."

Though the conflict between these two groups had been going on for a while, the death of Brian

Deneke was the height of the conflict and in many ways marked the end.

Reviews of the movie have been steadily positive through the film festival circuit. Amarillo musician David Beatty went to the premiere and really enjoyed the movie, calling it a "re-enactment" more than a "Hollywood dramatization." Beatty said he appreciated the filmmakers approach to the movie.

“Instead of ‘We are going to write an original plot based on this story,’ it was like ‘literally we are telling this true story,’” which sounds refreshing in the midst of big budget movies with lots of CGI and pictureperfect protagonists,” Beatty said.

Ruby Guerra, the daughter of Jason Deneke and niece of Brian, never knew her uncle personally, but knew his legend well. Guerra grew up in Amarillo around a lot of the people the movie is based on.

Her family members often spoke about the legacy. “I grew up with them telling stories and basically I just grew up learning don't judge people based on how they look. To treat everyone the same. It’s OK to be whoever you want to be,” Guerra said.

“Bomb City” was written by Amarillo natives Jameson Brooks, Sheldon R. Chick and Cody Chick.

Brooks, who directed the movie, is a Randall high school alum. Filming took place mostly in Dallas where the film company is based with some exteriors shot in Amarillo.

Moviegoers at the Amarillo screening of the film said “Bomb City” offers a history lesson, a compelling story and an inspiring examination of their hometown.

“Bomb City” will be available on iTunes, in select theaters and On Demand Feb. 9, 2018.