Vol 88 issue 5 nov 16

R ANGER

November 16, 2017 Volume 88 Issue 5

AC recognizes Veterans Day

By STEVI BRESHEARS and THALAW WAH Ranger Staff Veterans of Amarillo College Together held a Veterans Day observance Nov. 9 at the clock tower on the Washington Street Campus. Melissa Kalka, a representative from Congressman Mac Thornberry’s office, was present and spoke on his behalf.

The event also honored Vicki Barker, who is a student and also works in the Advising Center, and her husband Daniel. The Barkers are “Gold Star” parents, which means they lost their son. The name “Gold Star” comes from a tradition that began in World War I, in which families flew flags with blue stars to represent family members in the war.

In the event that one of those family members were to be killed, the stars would be changed from blue to gold.

“This is a day that has been bought and paid for,” Daniel Barker said.

In another Veterans Day observance, the Amarillo Master Chorale held a Patriotic Salute on Nov. 11. The program featured two original compositions by Nathan Fryml, AC’s director of choral activities.

“The concert was moving and wonderful in every way. The singers and the instrumentalists were perfect,” Perry Pletcher, an instructor and lab supervisor in the Student Success Center, wrote in an email to all AC staff. “The event was inspiring and enjoyable.”

Veterans Day, which was first known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated in 1919. Every Nov. 11, Americans come together to honor and thank both veterans and active-duty service members alike.

Veterans Day also reminds Americans of the sacrifices people who serve in the military make for their country. “It’s more so for veterans to remember the lost brothers in arms,” said Brody Green, an engineering major. “That’s part of the reason for leaving coins on the graves of troops.”

Amarillo College was recently recognized as a military-friendly school by “G.I. Jobs” magazine. For veteran students who wish to get connected with veterans services on campus, contact Veterans Coordinator Kelly Murphy at (806)3715026 or by email at kpmurphy@actx.edu. Veterans services is open Monday-Friday from 8-5 in the Student Service Center on the Washington Street campus.

Garrett Schulz, a retired Master Chief from the U.S. Navy stands with his head bowed during a prayer at the Veterans Day observance.

Ground breaks on Palace project Construction of the long-awaited coffee shop now underway in Badger Den

By STEVI BRESHEARS Ranger Reporter Construction to transform the Badger Den on the Washington Street Campus into a Palace Coffee shop began at last on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

The construction was originally projected to be completed before the fall semester of 2017, but construction was postponed so that the Hagy Center for Young Children on the Amarillo College Medi-Park Campus

could be completed. After that, there was speculation that the coffee shop would be completed sometime before the end of the fall semester.

Now, it seems as though Palace will be finished and open at some point during the 2018 spring semester.

In order for the construction of the shop to happen, the Badger Den will be closed. This means that any events scheduled to be held in the Den will have to be moved. However, the post office will still be open, as

What’s inside www.facebook.com/acrangerpaper

well as handicapped access on west side of the CUB and access to the elevator inside the building.

“I feel like it’ll be a good thing for students to be able to go get coffee anytime,” Justin Johnson, a business administration major, said.

“It will also draw students down to the Burrow, where Student Life is located.”

The project is being completed by Chamberlain Contractors and is anticipated to be completed in the spring.

COURTESY PHOTO

Biology majors get hands-on experience in Ceta Canyon.

Student leadership retreat offers fun and inspiration.

A look back at AC’s 88-year history. Find more on acranger.com

STORY ON PAGE 3

STORY ON PAGES 3

STORIES ON PAGES 4 and 5.

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Twitter and Instagram: @acranger

2 Opinion The Ranger

November 16, 2017

Should history be preserved? Why or why not?

“We don’t need to preserve history because things change over time for a reason, usually for the better.”

Kenzie Roberson Physical Therapy

“I think that we should preserve history. It keeps us from repeating the same mistakes we’ve made in the past and helps us better society.”

DESTINY KRANTHOVEN | The Ranger

Hiding our history:

Re-writing the past could lead to repeating mistakes EDITORIAL

Jacqueline Garcia Biology

“Yes, because we learn from our past mistakes, so we know what not to do.”

Kylie Parton Nursing

Student shares struggles There are people that tend to place a stigma on those that have a mental illness. They tend to call them “crazy,” or “insane” or say they have “just lost their mind.” Trust me, I know, I have dealt with mental illness my entire life.

I first tried to commit suicide when I was nine years old. I know that at the age of nine I should be spending the night with friends and not have a worry in the world. But I guess you can say that I was not like normal children. I was bullied in school and I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I just wanted to end it all. I felt like it would be better if I weren’t around.

I spent my entire childhood in and out of psychiatric hospitals. It went from me trying to cut my throat to swallowing a bottle of pills. I got to the point to where I just didn’t want to live anymore. I wanted to give up. I couldn’t take the bullying, I didn’t have anyone to talk to besides my mom and I felt so alone.

I was finally discharged from Big Springs State Hospital when I was 17 years old and I have not

TASHANA SMITH Ranger Reporter

gone back since. I don’t know why I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder, but I do believe that God has a purpose for everything that has happened in my life.

I am a student at AC, and although I have had my share of struggles as a student, I will not give up.

I wanted to share my story because there might be someone out there struggling with mental illness and not know where to turn or who to turn to.

I just wanted to send some encouragement your way to let you know that you can always find someone to talk to. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

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

Whether it was that time you studied for months and won the school spelling bee, or that moment you lost your ever-lovin’ mind and stole that pack of gum from the corner store, your past is always with you. We, as human beings, never consider hiding the moments we are most proud of, so why do we want to erase the parts of our history that represent our greatest failures?

We, The Ranger staff, feel that we, as a society, should stop trying to re-write or hide the parts of our collective past that make us uncomfortable and embrace those successes and failures that have made us who we are today.

Re-writing history is not a new thing, but that doesn’t make it right. People have been attempting to make themselves look better by “revising” their history since the time of the cavemen. “Ugh... Me kill 12 mastodon!!” “Ugh… You not kill mastodon. You kill tiny bug and scream like little girl!!”

Take, for example, Korea,

also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (abbreviated DPRK).

The media in North Korea are state-controlled and every piece of information that is disseminated to the people is shaped to make the Supreme Leader and his actions seem to be in the best interest of his country.

The DPRK’s history books are written in a way that make their past leaders look like heroes that have been fighting a world full of evil nations rather than appearing like men who have tortured and killed their own people for decades.

How about an example that hits a little closer to home?

Our own civil war is still a point of contention that some people would like to erase from our textbooks. Confederate statues are being torn down for a myriad of reasons but those who seek to hide the fact that our states fought to keep their right to expand slavery are severely misguided.

Just a few years ago a Texas

textbook publisher referred to African slaves as “workers” and “immigrants” rather than slaves.

We want to take a moment here to say that while we don’t encourage the memorialization of leaders who have made tragic mistakes or followed terribly misguided ideologies, we do want to encourage the preservation of historically factual texts and landmarks.

It’s important that we don’t lose the things that are a part of our predecessors’ legacies. Their victories and losses made them stronger and wiser. For us to disregard their blood, sweat and tears just because they make us embarrassed or uncomfortable would be disrespectful to their memory and the lives that they lived.

We, The Ranger staff, want to challenge our readers to embrace our uncomfortable past. We feel it is important to get out of our comfort zone, learn about and from our mistakes and teach our descendants a better way of life.

Stop pointing fingers Society’s views on rape culture needs to change

“What was she wearing?”

“Did she say no?” “She was probably asking for it.”

In today’s society where misogynistic views are expressed, statements and questions like these are some of the first to be asked in the case of a woman being raped or sexually assaulted.

However, we’re asking all the wrong questions. Why do people think it is okay to assume that a woman is “asking to be raped” based on her clothes or attitude? Why isn’t the abuser forced to take responsibility for his or her actions?

It seems to be much more common to hold the victim accountable than the abuser being held responsible. According to

KATIE WYLIE

Ranger Reporter

sexual misconduct studies, victim-blaming is one of the most common elements in rape culture. However, sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Sexual assault is a violent, unsolicited attack on an individual. For a victim, it is a

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.

humiliating and degrading act.

No one “asks” for or deserves to be harassed.

It’s not fair that as women we have to dress to certain standards because it may be distracting to men. What I want to know is why doesn’t society put more emphasis on teaching men to respect women and express selfcontrol? Why isn’t anyone teaching men that just because a woman is wearing a short skirt, doesn’t mean she is giving you permission to catcall her on the streets.

The question, “What was she wearing?” needs to disappear, especially in cases of rape and assault. Instead of asking, “What was she wearing?” we should ask, “Is she okay?”

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 November 16, 2017

3

The Ranger

Biology majors conduct field research

By LYNDSEE CANTLY Ranger Reporter

Amarillo College faculty and students recently went on a trip to Ceta Canyon to conduct field research for their majors. They had the change to get hands-on research experience with a drone amongst other things and they learned a great deal not only about their own majors, but about other majors as well.

“The Ceta Canyon trip was a weekend research project [that] correlates to the NSF grant and the students who got accepted into the program,” Gerek Burford, greenhouse director, said.

Students who attended the trip had recently received a scholarship from the National Science Foundation for STEM (science, technology,

engineering and mathematics) majors.

Burford explained that the grant was an academic scholarship that was awarded to various students based on their merit and needs.

“We had to apply at the beginning of the year and say why we chose our major and what we wanted to do with our majors,” Bri Ehrlich, a physics major, said.

Ehrlich went on to explain that getting the National Science Foundation scholarship was a lengthy process, but it was worth it in her opinion because of how much she learned.

While Ehrlich is not a biology student, she said she learned a lot about the subject overall. More importantly, she noted that she was also happy to learn about other students who attended the trip.

“I met a lot of the other students and got to learn why they chose what they did for their majors as well,” Ehrlich said.

Burford seemed to agree that students were able to learn about other students as well.

“I think students got a lot of great field experience, hands-on research and just really a comradery with a lot of the other students and faculty,” Burford said.

Overall, both students and faculty seemed to enjoy the trip and found it worth it as a whole.

“It was a very good opportunity and we got to learn a lot, especially outside of your major,” Ehrlich said.

“I know I had a lot of fun.

It was pretty hot outside, but definitely worth doing. Everyone COURTESY PHOTO I know enjoyed it, there was lots of hands-on fun, and we got to Dan Porter, biology professor, helps biology students capture fly a drone,” said Burford. different bugs.

Contests offer cash prizes Students give thanks Maybe a subhead??

By DONOVAN ORTIZ Ranger Reporter

The Common Reader competition is an opportunity for students to compete and win cash prizes for work relating to the Common Reader, “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien.

The cash prizes total $1,400 and is open to all Amarillo College students. There will be a writing competition and a visual art competition.

The book contains collection of short stories about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War. First, second and third place winners will be awarded for a total of $700 for the writing competition.

For the writing portion of the competition, participates are encouraged to write an original piece, fiction or nonfiction, prose or poetry, that tells about something you carry that has a certain impact on your life.

“It includes a good deal of work,” Becky Easton, English department chair, said.

“Writing isn’t always fun when you’re doing it right, however there is some satisfaction when you can com-

By BRETT HERRING Ranger Reporter

CLAIRE EKAS | The Ranger

municate your ideas powerfully through your writing.”

All entries must be typed and be no longer than 2,500 words. The entries should refer to the Common Reader text and using examples from the reader text will help improve the entry.

For the visual arts competition, students will try to create an artistic response in which similar to the writing portion, will be something you carry with you all the time. Cash awards for the winning entries total $700.

“I think it will help me in my art process,” Jeremiah Galan, a graphic design major said. “I like art and this competition can help me establish a good art background, since I love doing tattoos I can create a good design for the competition.”

Students can create any sort of visual element from paintings and drawing, sculptures, photography or may even re-enact scenes from the book.

Any media will be acceptable to submit and will be shown in an exhibition show in the Common Lobby Gallery.

“It is a good challenge that is particle,” Rene West, photography and visual arts professor, said. “I hope more people would do it because often times in art we are ask to respond to things and so this is good practice to gain more real world applications in the arts.”

The entry deadline for the visual art competition will be Wednesday, Dec. 13 and the writing entry deadline has already passed. Winners will be announced at a reception in the spring semester.

“What I really liked about Greg Clark was that he really did a bunch of teambuilding, where you’re growing with each other instead of just by yourself.”

Over the weekend, students faced a multitude of challenges that forced them to communicate with each other and work as a team.

One particular challenge that the students faced on the second day of the retreat was the Key Punch. In this challenge, the students were broken in to two groups and given the task of “punching” the numbers 1-60 in order, without skipping or overlapping any digits, as fast as possible. The groups were able to come together and tackle the challenge in under one minute.

“A lot of times, the first day is the best, and the second day is a lot slower. This group was totally different. They came

back in and they set a new record for the Key Punch,” Clark said.

Clark’s program was extremely interactive, and focused on making the students work together to reach their goals.

“Other leadership events I’ve been to were to listen and to take notes, but this one was overall the most interactive,” said Samantha Perez-Macias, a business administration major. “Each activity we had depended on the cooperation, communication and the respect of each individual.”

Attendees of the retreat were encouraged to take the things they learned and use them when facing challenges within their clubs and organizations.

“One of the things that I tell the people that I work with, whether it’s a corporate group or a college group, or an athletic team is to

does a potluck and board games, and the night ends in an atmosphere filled Once again it’s that time with good sentiment, and year! Family and friends, long stories, we all go home changing leaves, pumpkin waiting on the next holiday everything and food. The so we can do it all againsmell of turkey and stuffing it really is a fun time,” said filling the air, with christmas Tristan Pinter, a mass media major. right around the corner.

Students also said they Even though all of that is important, most important appreciate having the ability are the memories we make to live in a country that prides and the things we have to be itself on freedom, something thankful for. A few students millions of people don’t have shared what they have to the ability to experience.

“I am most thankful to be thankful for and best be an American to have memories.

“My favorite Thanksgiving freedom to love live speak memory is growing up and believe as I choose,” said cooking with my dad every Will Clowe, a psychology year and always “testing” the major.

Some students’ favorite mashed potatoes,” said Emily memories Fairweather, a medical data Thanksgiving are far from the traditional specialist major. of Thanksgiving Many students mentioned image how much they enjoy dinner.

“One year we ate nachos spending time with family on on Thanksgiving and that was Thanksgiving.

“My favorite Thanksgiving my favorite Thanksgiving tradition is making peacan because I hate turkey,” Sir pie with my grandma,” Garen Grayson, mass media Jordan Gipson, mass media major, said.

So whether you’re sitting major said “I can’t think of a down to eat nachos or turkey, Thanksgiving I haven’t had have a happy holiday from a great time at, my family The Ranger.

Student organizations collaborate, bond at fall retreat

By STEVI BRESHEARS Ranger Reporter Once a semester, Amarillo College students from various organizations have the opportunity to attend a leadership retreat at the Talon Point in Channing, TX. The retreat always features a different facilitator, but the fundamental idea of bringing students together and building valuable leadership skills remains constant.

For this semester’s retreat, which took place on November 3 and 4, Student Life brought in the founder of Adventures in Teambuilding, Greg Clark. Clark has over 25 years of experience working with all sorts of groups.

“I thought the retreat was something different,” said Justin Johnson, a business administration major and the president of the Student Government Association.

LILY GAMBLE | The Ranger

Retreat-goers participate in a challenge where they must move the hula-hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each others hands.

remember the things that you discussed and how you went through the non-threatening challenges we use when you’re facing something that’s more serious. You can use those same values and the same ideas,” Clark said. “It’s really important that we don’t forget that.”

Another retreat will be held

at Talon Point in the spring.

“Students should take advantage of any leadership retreat because I can guarantee that they will get something out of it,” PerezMacias said. “Whether it’s to benefit themselves, their work or school environment, they will leave with ideas on how to grow.”

HISTORY

Main entrance to Polk Street auditorium where AC first held class.

AC radio/TV repair student gets hands-on experience in 1980.

1929

Amarillo College (AC) becomes the first Texas junior college district to be organized independent of a school district.

A LOOK AT

Amarillo Junior College begins its first classes in a municipal auditorium with approximately 80 students.

1930

The AC student newspaper, “The Ranger,” begins publication.

1931 1932

Thirty students try out for AC football team.

1933

AC is first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

1937

The college moves its main campus to Washington Street in what is now known as Ordway Hall.

Spanish club is organized, called “Los Habladores.” French club also begins.

1939

A flying school is established to train pilots under the authority of the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

1941

A national defense vocational training school is formed at the college to supply personnel to defense industries for WWII and to train for wartime building efforts.

AC begins to offer courses in radio and television.

1947

Opening of the Student Union Building on Polk Street.

1951

Amarillo College becomes one of the first three publicly supported Texas college to have racially integrated undergraduate classes.

Early photo of the Washington Street Campus mall.

AC students using computers in 1993.

ARCHIVE COURTESY PHOTOS

1976 1977 1984

Founding of FM90, KACV FM, 89.9 FM.

1988

Founding of KACV-TV, the public television station licensed to the college.

1995

State legislation transfers Texas State Technical College - Amarillo to AC. Today, it is called the East Campus (formerly Amarillo Technical Center).

1996

AC Business & Industry Center, now known as the Downtown Campus, opens on Polk Street.

1999

Amarillo College Fencing Team is initiated into the Amarillo College Fencing Association.

2000

Opening of the Amarillo College Moore County Campus in Dumas.

2005 2007

AC begins leasing two gyms on Polk Street.

Amarillo College Natural History Museum opens on the Washington Street Campus.

Opening of the Hereford Campus.

Passage of $68 million capital improvements bond issue, used to remodel Byrd, Parcells and Dutton Halls, the Washington Street Campus College Union Building and the Allied Health Building; to build Jones Hall and the Science Lab Building and to install new parking and a new chiller plant.

2011

Moore County Career and Technical Center opens.

2013

New Hereford Everett and Mabel McDougal Hinkson Memorial Campus opens.

Rebranding of KACV-TV as Panhandle PBS.

1953 1956

AC’s first African-American student graduates.

2016

Washington Street Campus mall renovations are completed.

Radio and television courses move into their own studios.

2017

Medipark Campus opens.

1958

Amarillo College is granted its own board of regents independent of the trusteeship of the Amarillo Independent School District.

1962

Establishment of the Amarillo College Foundation.

1966

AC establishes the West Campus next to the Harrington Regional Medical Center.

1972

AC begins publishing the student magazine, “AC Current,” in place of the yearbook, “The Palo Duro.”

The Amarillo Museum of Art (originally named the Amarillo Art Center) opens on the Washington Street Campus.

Joe F. Taylor, The AC Story: Journal of a College (Canyon, Texas: Staked Plains, 1979). |The Ranger archives www.actx.edu|Texas State Historical Association

East Campus’ new aviation hangar and diesel facilities open.

Opening of the Student Union Building on Polk Street in 1947.

A squirrel featured in the Fall 1971 issue of the AC Current.

A photo featured in the Fall 1985 issue of the AC Current.

A student browses for books in 1972.

A group of students sneak in a quick study session between classes in 1972.

Student applies his welding skills on West Campus in 1972.

ARCHIVE COURTESY PHOTOS

Director of womens programs in 1976 conducts a tour of the campus of European teachers.

6 NEWS The Ranger

November 16, 2017

Going up

COURTESY PHOTO

Hip-hop and college education

By SAL GUTIERREZ Ranger Reporter

Amarillo College is full of talented people wanting to go further away and show the world that the Helium Hollow is more than a bomb fabricator. This is the case with Justin Lazaro, a student in the recording arts program that has taken a step closer to his major goal in life, to be a rapper.

Lazaro’s music was selected to be part of a project called “From New York 2 Texas.” A compilation of twenty hip-hop tracks produced by established unknown artists from Texas and New York. “I got a connection in New York, and this guy was telling me he really liked one of my songs that was really dope and he was doing a mixtape,” Lazaro said.

Darron Charles, also known as Azazel in the hip-hop industry, put the project together. He is a member of Xocial Complex, a hip-hop duo from Austin, TX. Charles is looking to create a new chapter in the

music industry with projects like this. “I came across Justin’s Facebook page and I was intrigued by his music; I was feeling his vibes,” Charles replied when asked about Lazaro’s inclusion in the mixtape.

Lazaro showed interest in rap and hip-hop when he was in elementary school. In fifth grade he started writing and singing, making remakes of his favorite songs.

“I wasn’t all that good but I still did it,” Lazaro said. “Since then I kept on and off with it until two years ago when I got in contact with one of my friends, Kili, and I started freestyling with him.”

Lazaro, Kili and Lazaro’s manager, Dominic Real, freestyle and record the songs Justin writes at Kili’s budget studio. “We call it a budget studio because it’s all the basics you need from Guitar Center,” Lazaro said.

Lazaro enrolled in the recording arts program this year to be certified in audio production. “I figured that the best

Keegan Brown procrastinates on the second floor of Parcells Hall.

way to go into make my start in the industry was going to college,” Lazaro said. “I came to AC to learn about mastering and recording, it’s gonna help me being a better producer,” he added.

Lazaro goes by the name of Gozz de odd in the music industry and his goal is to be good enough to work with Sony music and PIXAR. The “From Texas 2 New York” mixtape is available on Soundcloud and datpiff.com.

To connect with Justin Lazaro and listen to his tracks visit his social media, he can be found on Instagram and twitter as Godd_De_Odd, as Juicy_just1n97 on Snapchat and as Ozz De Odd on Soundcloud.

For additional information about the new mass media certificate program with an emphasis in the Recording Arts, contact Jill Gibson, associate dean of Liberal Arts, at jlgibson@actx.edu or division adviser Ruth De Anda at r0343730@actx.edu.

SAL GUTIERREZ | The Ranger

Procrastination: a matter of priorities

By BRANDAN WALDROP Ranger Reporter

College assignments and the art of procrastination seem to correlate well these days. Classic studies have shown that 95 percent of students procrastinate at least occasionally and a study conducted by the University of Vermont showed that close to 50 percent do so with some consistency.

“It’s human nature to procrastinate, I think it’s only a problem when it creates more stress,” said Jill Gibson, associate dean of Liberal Arts and Matney Mass Media program coordinator. “Procrastination with mass media (students) seem to be more common,” Gibson added, referring to the

constant deadlines that media students have.

Students do agree with the human nature aspect of procrastination. Some more than others, but is it necessarily procrastination if it becomes a weekly routine that is expected?

“Every damn time,” said Chace Curry, a business major about his procrastination tendencies “Probably because I just don’t want to do it, plus I work better under pressure,” Curry added.

Some students choose which classes take precedence over others, using a procrastination scale, where they determine the importance of the assignments.

“It depends on if it’s something I’m confident on or not, or if I think I have more time than I (actually) do, plus that

fall break definitely didn’t help my motivation,” said Shelby Thomas, an English major.

Thomas agreed to working better under pressure like others.

Not all students drag their feet when it comes to this subject. Some prefer to stay ahead in general with their busy schedules. This is the case of Cassie Mason, a respiratory therapist major who does not think twice when it comes to being on top of things. “I always make a plan for my assignments,” Mason said. “I schedule them into my time accordingly.” Being halfway through the second eight-weeks of the fall semester, students still have a chance to focus on what really matters and improve their productivity and grades.

SAL GUTIERREZ | The Ranger

Former AC student, Stetson Smith, risks an awkward moment as he rides the elevator.

The unspoken rules of elevator etiquette hold the door open for them because the next day the situRanger Reporter ation could be reversed and I Elevators are boxes of would want them to hold the awkward situations. Every- door open for me.”

Anything can happen in one knows there are unspoken rules to riding an ele- the short timespan of an elvator. Everyone also knows evator ride. It can leave you with every rule there is some- wishing you took the stairs.

These small awkward boxes one who will break it.

When entering an eleva- are just asking for things to tor you get on, press the floor go crazy. “Once, I took an elnumber and occasionally evator at a hotel. A lady and ask the other rider, “Which her kid came in behind me, floor?” After that, you stand and a few seconds after the there, put your headphones door closed, the kid puked in your ears and stare at all over the opposite side of the elevator wall and won- me. I was ready to get out of der, “What’s for dinner to- there,” Kuykendall said.

Sometimes the problem night? What if this elevator isn’t the other people on the gets stuck? What if Waldo doesn’t want people to find elevator—it’s you creating him?” Then you hear the dis- the awkward atmosphere. embodied female elevator “One time when I was getvoice say which floor she has ting on, the elevator the door stopped on, you get out with was closing and it hit me. It no words, no glances back felt like such a freshman moment,” Suarez said. and finish the day.

Other situations can arise Rule one of elevator etiquette is, “No talking.” when you enter the elevator Most people get on and say with someone who isn’t necnothing, but as I said before, essarily the person you want there are people who are on to see. Emily Hernandez, a this earth to break the rules. mass media major, said she Everyone knows that social recently got into an elevabutterfly that no matter what tor with some girls she had situation, no matter who it known in high school. “We is, they can and will talk to did not get along. I was not them. It’s a possible way to going to talk to them but make a new friend or make they did not get the picture. someone think, “Why in the They asked me what my maworld is this person talking jor was so I told them mass media and they said, ‘Oh to me?”

Kyler Kuykendall, a mass what’s that?’ I said journalism media major said, “I normal- and other things like that and ly only talk to people on an they said, ‘Oh I hate writing elevator if I know them or if I could never do that.’ Then they initiate a conversation the door finally opened and with me. I am usually not I was like, ‘Well, got to go. one to start a conversation Hopefully, see you never.’”

The next time you get with someone I don’t know.”

Rule two of elevator eti- on an elevator and nothing quette deals with holding the awkward happens and no door open. You can decide if one bothers you, consider it people get on or if they have a good day. Always rememto wait. Monica Suarez, a ber there is a flight of stairs dental hygiene major, said, “I somewhere.

By JORDAN GIPSON

Culture November 16, 2017

Actors Kelbi Havins and Lauren Cotton run through a scene during a dress rehearsal for Silent Sky.

7

The Ranger

STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger

Theatre program prepares for play

Kelbi Havens, a theater major, said she was young when she first realized she had Theater season is upon a calling in life to entertain Amarillo College with a new others in a way that few people play entitled, “Silent Sky,” can commit to doing. “I started which means students and theatre when I was 10 and was production crew members are in fourth grade and my mom learning new cues, striking the was like, ‘Your personality is too great. Go for it,’” Havins stage and memorizing lines.

Theater students said they said.

AC students looking for are looking forward to putting on their second play of the a way to relax and get out of academic school year and the house for a little rest and they are busy researching and relaxation can head to AC’s Experimental Theatre for perfecting their roles.

They are learning about “Silent Sky,” which will open motivation and techniques for Nov. 30. “Silent Sky” is similar to “Hidden acting characters of different thematically Figures.”

This production is set ages and said they can’t wait to during the turn of the century share what they have learned the college as well as the and focuses on women working at the Harvard Observatory. community.

By CARTER HALL Ranger Reporter

The women are doing all the hard work while others get the credit.

“I needed an acting challenge because this is our Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival entry,” Ray Newberg,theater program coordinator, said.

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival is a national theater program intended to provide recognition of students in collegiate theater. “‘Silent Sky’ is our participating entry. We will actually have a couple of regional respondents come in and respond to it,” Newberg said.

Just like other AC students study and prepare for a test, the actors prepare for their roles.

They must be close to perfect with dialogue, movement and even accents when they are in character. Preparing is vital for any play and musical. It is not just the people onstage that need to know cues, lines and movements, the production crew must also meet the needs of the cast while they are onstage.

It takes a full team to put on a play. From light cues, music cues and hair and makeup, the people behind the scenes are just as important.

“For rehearsal we usually try to work anywhere from five to six weeks, four nights a week and a couple of hours each night as a minimum,” Monty Downs, instructor and technical director, said.

Students must be willing to practice for countless hours to perfect that one scene, that one cue or even that one facial expression.

Now the department is spreading the word about the upcoming production.

“Publicizing an event has changed from your typical hanging of posters. Social media has been the primary platform for publicity,” Newburg said.

Newburg and Downs are also spreading the word that students do not have to be theater majors to audition for the AC productions.

“All of the shows are open call auditions, which means anybody can auditions,” Downs said.

Common Reader writer has good reason to brag going no matter how much she ached.

“I tell it because it is one of Time for a throwback. the few ways I can think of to As the first book chosen for repay her for all the suffering the AC Common Reader and indignity she absorbed Program, former New York for us, for me,” Bragg said in Times reporter Rick Bragg’s the book.

It was truly a mother’s award-winning memoir sacrifice that gave Bragg the “All Over but the Shoutin’” catalogues Bragg’s life step he needed to “escape the growing up poor in the rural poverty and hopelessness that South with two brothers, a ringed them, free and clean,” hard-working mother and an he made sure to point out.

This book will make abusive alcoholic for a father. readers laugh as Bragg Despite this however, the story he tells is not his own, describes the tale of his not really. He wrote this book whiskey-making grandfather, for his “momma”. So, it is and cry as he recounts the way his mother looked after mostly her story he tells.

He tells of her sacrifice, accepting handouts of turkey refusing to live on just welfare and ham at Christmas, alone after her husband ran because sometimes, it was out on her and their three just too hard. Written with children. Instead she spent a characteristically Southern hours picking cotton in the accent and sprinkled with fields, cleaning up other humor in all the right places, peoples’ messes and went 18 Bragg’s words will cause years without buying a new readers to reflect on their dress so her sons could have own lives and the stories and people who have shaped new clothes for school.

Bragg tells of her strength, them.

In addition to this book, too, how she stood “like a wall between her husband and Bragg has written five others, sons” whenever the “tortured was the recipient of the 1996 man” had too much to drink. Pulitzer Prize in feature He mentioned how she writing for his work at the always found the strength, New York Times, and has and the faith, to keep won numerous other awards.

By LAUREN EBBEN Ranger Reporter

COURTESY PHOTO

Texas Panhandle Vietnam Project features art, film, lecture at AMoA

By MACKENZIE FARMER Ranger Reporter

The Amarillo Museum of Art currently has three Vietnam exhibits by four artists on display until Dec. 30. The exhibits are in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Vietnam Project, a community-wide initiative to promote the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick film, “The Vietnam War.” The three exhibits on display are “A Shared Experience” by Anh-Thuy Nguyen and Du Chau, “The Soul of Vietnam: a Portrait of the North” by Lawrence D’Attilio and “Remember Me” by Larry Collins.

“The music and culture

of ‘the Sixties’ (roughly from 1963 to 1975) is impossible to understand without some knowledge of the Vietnam War and its effect,” said Mark Morey, art history instructor.

Each exhibit shares different point of views on the Vietnam War,life after the war and the rapid development of this Southeast Asian country.

“I understand that this era is as remote to my Amarillo College students now as World War I was to me, but I have also learned, in 40 years of studying and teaching art history, how inescapable that war was in understanding the culture of Europe and America between the world wars. The same holds true of Vietnam,” said Morey

AMoA also hosted a film and lecture event. The film, ‘M.I.A.’S on Tiger Mountain’ by filmmaker Norman Lloyd was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 in 3rd floor library. The lecture with D’Attilio will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 in the first floor gallery.

“Everyone should come see these fascinating exhibits that touch on several aspects of Vietnam,” said Stephanie Bybee, marketing and events coordinator.

AMoA is free admission for all and is located at 2200 South Van Buren on the Washington Street campus. It’s open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For additional information visit www.amarilloart.org.

8 Feature The Ranger

November 16, 2017

AC students play a game of flag football in 1977.

The 1976 AC men’s basketball team competes against the Frank Phillips Plainsmen. They were victorious, winning 77-75.

Put me in coach!

ARCHIVE COURTESY PHOTOS

The 1972 AC Roundballers pose for a team photo.

Amarillo College’s, 1972 women’s speedball team, The Independents, compete.

A reflection on sports throughout AC’s 88-year history

By CARTER HALL Ranger Reporter

Long before Amarillo College’s current intramural sports program began, several intercollegiate sports teams played on the same courts and fields.

AC sports included basketball, track, baseball, football, archery and swimming. Competing against other colleges and universities, the AC teams found major success.

Sports schedules at AC can be traced back as early as the 1920s. In 1930, the Badger football team faced off on the gridiron at Butler Field against teams from Decatur Baptist College, Oklahoma Christian and Texas Tech.

The football team gained success and head football coach Frank Kimbrough led AC to the state junior college championships in 1933 and 1934 before moving on to coach for West Texas State University, now West Texas A&M. Today, AC football is a distant memory. “I’ve seen the trophies and pictures those teams won tucked away in a dusty storage room in the Carter Fitness Center,” Trent Oneal, director of intramural sports, said.

The passage of Title IX laws led to the end of the AC’s football program.

Title IX required schools to spend an equal amount of money on woman’s sports teams as men’s.

It became too expensive, so the AC

board of regents decided to drop the football program entirely.

Basketball then took center stage in AC’s intercollegiate sports lineup. The Badgers would compete against colleges such as Odessa, Frank Phillips, Tyler and South Plains College. In the 1970s, the men’s basketball team was ranked ninth overall in pre-season and remained in the top ten with other junior colleges in the nation during the regular season.

Two-time All American basketball player Larry Kenon led the Badgers to several victories before transferring to Memphis State University his junior year where he took the team to the NCAA championship game. Kenon went on to be drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1973. He went on to play for the New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers and earned the nickname “Special K.” Due to financial concerns, intercollegiate basketball at AC ended in the 1980s, leaving behind the Carter Fitness Center, which was named after Bob Carter, who founded the college’s physical education department and was the varsity coach.

During his 29-year tenure at AC, Carter coached the Badgers in almost every sport.

Now the Fitness Center is home to intramural sports where it once housed the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Students say intramurals give them a way to stay active and relieve stress. “If Amarillo College did not have intramurals then it would basically be a community college with an underused and oversized room of weights and unfulfilled need for student activity,” Brendan Brice, a biology major, said.

Although Amarillo College officials are not looking to reinstate intercollegiate sports, some students say they wish that would happen. “I think they should bring back intercollegiate sports because we can have our own college team and go to college games and because I miss going to high school football games,” Ashley Denham, a general studies major, said.