Vol 88 issue 9 3 1 18

R ANGER

March 1, 2018 Volume 88 Issue 9

Setting sights on safety begins. Maybe now I will start locking it as well,” he Ranger Reporter said.

Students said they are also Amarillo, TX is far away from Parkland, FL, but for nervous, but generally feel many Amarillo College safe on Amarillo College students and staff, the Feb. 14 campuses.

“I do feel that the high school shooting hit too campus is safe,” close to home.

With “USA Today” Sheridan Lillico, a estimating that there have music major, said. been 200 school shootings “I know the AC since Columbine in 1999, police are a phone it’s no surprise that colleges call away if ever are reexamining emergency needed. On a day-today basis, I feel there is procedures.

Some AC employees said a very relaxed atmosphere the entire the recent shooting serves a throughout reminder of the increasingly campus.”

For some students, scary reality that lurks in the however, the idea of an active hallways between class.

Bryant Manning, an shooter situation extends English professor, is taking past the classrooms at AC. Hayley Ingram, an extra precautions in his classroom. “I’ve long had education major, now has the habit of shutting my mixed feelings about her classroom door once class chosen field of study. “I

By STEVI BRESHEARS

What’s inside

Sign language interpreters on campus help students succeed...

STORY ON PAGE 4

Read the story of one student who overcame major struggles after a car accident...

STORY ON PAGE 5

The Instant Pot is taking over kitchens everywhere. Find out what makes them so desirable...

STORY ON PAGE 7

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In order to make sure students and staff members are all on the same page when it comes to emergencies, AC President Russell Lowery-Hart sent out an email containing the college’s entire emergency Pho

management plan and notifications of opportunities for emergency response training. “ The more training and

knowledge w e r e c e i v e , the better we can ser ve our students and campus community. The college will be offering more trainings in the immediate future and I look forward to participating in them,” Manning said.

Palace brews success on campus

By KIARA ALLEN Ranger Reporter

Amarillo’s latest Palace Coffee Company location is staying busy. Palace opened its doors on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus Feb. 1, 2018.

This is the fourth Palace location opened in the last eight years and the reception has been positive.

“I like how easy it is to access; the location is perfect for the campus. Not only that, but other studying places on campus can get kind of loud and distracting, so it was nice being able to efficiently get homework done on campus.

And it’s cheap so it’s kind of a win-win for everyone,” Michael Chancia, a nursing major, said.

The success of the newlyopened shop has been convenient for students and encouraging to the baristas on staff.

“We’ve stayed pretty busy since we opened. The shop is a perfect meeting and studying place. The people are super nice and so fun to talk to. We wanted an easy-going college hang out

STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger

Nursing majors Dezirae Deleon and Janisia Obregon taking advantage of the new study space Palace has provided. The coffee shop is open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

and I think we got it,” Jesse Harada, Amarillo College Palace Coffee Company lead barista, said.

Harada said the peak hours of the day are early morning until noon, so make sure to get to there early. Popular drinks for this season are thin mint lattes, winter lattes and the rose latte, which have long-

exceeded sale expectations.

Palace is known for having a community-based business.

The company owners said this new location has helped them continue their peoplebased theme.

“Nothing has really thrown us for much of a loop, but one thing that was a surprise was

the number of people from the surrounding neighborhoods that now stop by for business meetings and such. We love seeing relationships and businesses flourish within our little area,” Kr ystal Burns, owner of Palace Coffee Company, said.

Department enables achievement

By LES JONES and ALLISON RICENBAW Ranger Staff

The Chinese New Year means something different to everyone.

Find out about the Year of the Dog...

STORY ON PAGE 8

personally am hesitant to continue in my field. I do not think a staff member or teacher should be scared to go to work,”

As human beings, we all face challenges one way or another, but some students and staff members at Amarillo College face a unique challenge. It is the challenge of being disabled.

Disabilities come in many forms, from mental to physical. AC provides the help and accommodations those students with disabilities

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require. There are more than 500 students enrolled at AC who have identified as disabled.

AC has taken steps over the years to improve accessibility on its campuses, from wheelchair ramps, to larger bathroom facilities and elevators.

“I think AC is extremely accessible for people in a wheelchair. I am in a wheelchair and I find it easy to get on every floor and every room on campus, including

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bathrooms,” Luciano Arellano, a psychology major, said.

Other students said they do have a harder time when it comes to certain situations. Liberty Jennings, an art major, contracted early onset Parkinson’s disease and Dystonia at a young age, which left her immobile and confined to a larger wheelchair.

Jennings’ older sister Mariah Jennings is an EMT major who helps care for

her disabled sister. “It is harder to get in some of the other bathrooms on campus due to the larger size of her wheelchair, so we have to use the ones in Parcells Hall,” Jennings said.

AC faculty member, Marcie Robinson, is a speech communications instructor who began losing her vision in 2005.

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Twitter and Instagram: @acranger

2 Opinion The Ranger

March 1, 2018

How can the world be more accessible to people with disabilites?

“Listen to people with disabilites. If you don’t listen to them, what’s the reason for giving them something not beneficial?”

Tasia Brown Art

“I think a lot of people are shut off to the capabilities of a disabled person, so I feel like people should be more open minded.”

SALVADOR GUTIERREZ | The Ranger

Disability is diversity, not detriment Change your perspective to change lives

Lyndzi Ford Dental Hygenist

“By having more access to things like wheelchair ramps and knowing that there is a safe place for them.”

Brandy Blount Pre-Nursing

Women are not the only victims It is 2018, we live in the land of the free, yet we are still faced with the epidemic of slavery.

The average, every day American is not aware of what sex trafficking really is and who it victimizes.

To prove my point, I asked people to paint me a picture of what they think sex trafficking is.

“I imagine a couple of pimps in a Cadillac collecting money from their hoes,” Kenneth Richmond, a former Borger High School student, said. By “pimps” he meant men and by “hoes” he meant women.

“I see a younger woman being held against her will,” Jordan Brooks, a photography major, said.

“I picture a young girl that is bruised, beaten, really skinny and scared,” Brittany Hall, a Borger High School student, said.

I received four more responses similar to these.

An average person might easily misunderstand and think that sex trafficking only involves men keeping women captive, but it is broader than that.

Men are a small percentage of the victims of

EDITORIAL

If you’ve ever walked into a building on the AC campus, you’ve probably noticed the doors with the accessible stickers and their notable feeling of being heavy and hard to open.

These doors are part of the initiative to make all AC services and resources more accessible to those who experience disabilities.

Despite all the disability services that AC has implemented, we still have a long way to go both physically and emotionally.

We, the Ranger staff, want to challenge our readers to reframe their idea of disabilities and to consider using the mindset of diversity instead.

We understand that it’s human nature to see something we don’t understand and to feel a bit uncomfortable. This has been apparent with many topics: race, nationality, sexual orientation, culture, etc.

People who identify with each of these topics have had to work really hard to gain equality and acceptance in the name of diversity. We want to encourage you to think about disabilities from this same vantage point.

When you see someone in a wheelchair, it’s easy to describe the person based on their physical appearance and the preconceived notions about what they

can, or can’t accomplish.

There are so many disability stereotypes and ideologies that have been passed down from generations before us that need to be dismantled. A person is not a handicap or impediment; he or she is a vibrant, unique, wonderful person who experiences a disability.

When we begin to view and treat people based on their unique values and worth, we begin to tear down the stereotypes that attempt to hold people back from meeting their full potential.

Believe that people can do great things. If you don’t, they probably won’t.

STEVI BRESHEARS

political party. A single person made this decision.

But for some reason, America, we don’t see that. It’s a cycle we’re becoming all too familiar with: something horrible happens, we’re shocked, we get angry, we fight with each other about the cause, we fight about what should be done, we slowly forget about it, and eventually life goes back to normal.

We can’t seem to recognize that the problem is so much bigger than just one thing. We get so caught up in looking for something to blame that we forget to look at what’s right in front of us: the killer.

Remember what happened here. Hold your loved ones a little tighter. Be grateful that you are still breathing, and use that breath for something bigger than fighting on Facebook. Together, we can change this world. Why don’t we?

Focus on what matters

MACKENZIE SHIRLEY Ranger Reporter

this crime, but they deserve to be fought for too.

There are approximately 400,000 cases involving men annually according to the International Labor Organization.

Men are generally seen as protectors to women and children, but who is going to protect them in these cases? Who is going to fight for them?

To learn more about this subject, visit websites such as www. humantraffickingcenter.org where you can learn that even though a majority of the victims are female, there is 42 percent that are male.

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

I have never been more disappointed in my country.

As I scroll through my Facebook newsfeed in the wake of the tragedy that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, I see nothing but vicious arguing.

I’ve learned that American citizens have gotten really good at pointing fingers. It’s easy to look at a mass shooting like this and say, “this all could’ve been avoided if we had stricter gun laws,” or “maybe if he’d been on some sort of medication,” or “if the media didn’t glorify these criminals, they wouldn’t be trying to one-up each other.”

People died. Children died.

The bottom line is that on Wednesday, February 14, a 19-year-old walked into his old high school with an AR-15 and murdered 17 students and staff members. These kids will never graduate. They will never get to

Ranger Reporter

experience the magic of senior prom, they will not graduate.

Their parents have to sleep at night knowing their children will never get to experience the rest of their lives because of something another person decided to do. These families will never be the same.

A person did this. Not a gun, not a gun law, not a mental illness, not a medication, not 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.

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 March 1, 2018

3

The Ranger

New children’s center to be reviewed

Recently remodeled Hagy Center For Young Children reaches for a three-star rating from the State of Texas.

By JOSEPH HORNE

Ranger Reporter

Officials at Amarillo College’s Hagy Center for Young Children are hoping to receive top marks from state officials.

Mary Clare Munger, the department chair for education and child development, said the goal is to attain a threestar rating from the State of Texas for compliance once they are assessed at the oneyear anniversary mark.

The new Center is

at full enrollment with approximately 75 children.

“Half of the enrollment consists of AC students’ children and the other half are children of local families,” Munger said.

Tabitha Severn, a sonography major, has her almost 4-year-old triplets at the Hagy Center. She said other parents consider themselves lucky to have their children at the Hagy Center and say the service provided is excellent. “The Center is amazing, child

accessible and kid-friendly,” Severn said. Severn said the smaller class size of less than 20 children allow for more individualized attention.

Linda Rangel, an AC substitute ESL teacher, enrolled her daughter when the facility first opened.

Rangel said she likes how the caregivers at the Center teach and truly care for the children. “The people that work at the Hagy Center love their job and it shows,” Rangel said.

The facility was

LILY GAMBLE | The Ranger

remodeled before the Aug. 7, 2017 opening. The Center received new carpet, paint, light fixtures, drainage system and recently installed custom security doors.

Parents have commented on how clean, new and well-maintained the facility looks, Munger said.

The second Thursday of each month is scheduled for parent education classes offered at 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Subjects such as dental health and nutrition are

presented to assist parents with up-to-date child care information. Rangel said she has attended all but one of the parent education classes.

Munger said the Center would continue to work hard for the people they serve in this community. She said they are striving to make a difference for local families and their children.

The Hagy Center located at 1301 Streit Drive on the AC Medi Park Campus. It is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

want to teach children from birth through high school,” Rochelle Fouts, club sponsor and education instructor, said.

“It’s open to anybody,” Munger said.

The members of this club get to do many exciting things throughout the year, Munger said. Each year they try to have two community service projects and two fundraisers.

“They volunteer, participate in support trainings, attend workshops and of course they have awesome fundraisers,” Dennis Sarine, club sponsor and director of disAbility services, said.

The fundraisers are for a number of different things.

“Each year we do fundraisers for education scholarships and to help put on the Bruce Beck conference for future educators,” Fouts said.

Fouts and Sarine both agree that there are many benefits to joining the club. They try to tailor the club’s activities

around children and students of all ages. It is good for networking, resume-building and helps the students to see into the career path they are choosing, Sarine explained.

They try to introduce the members to role models in their field.

“Members get to hear from guest speakers in the education field and get advice on teaching,” Fouts said. “They are motivated to continue their education to be a teacher.”

Club members do volunteer work for a number of organizations. “My best memories would have to be helping with Snak-Pak-4Kids and volunteering at the Salvation Army,” Sarine said.

Teach Club is all about its members and the jobs they have chosen to pursue. “We have fun all that we do,” Fouts said.

“It’s all about making things better for children and families,” Munger explained.

Paying more, getting less Future educators bond in Teach Club

By KIARA ALLEN Ranger Reporter

Tax season is upon us, and until now, most college students have only cared about how much money their tax return will provide. This year, with Trump’s new tax bill in motion, some students said they are worried they may be paying more and receiving less than previous years.

According to studentloanhero. com, the initial Republican Party tax plan proposed counting graduation tuition waivers as income, which could have raised graduate students’ tax bills by 400 percent, but this proposal ended up not making it into the final bill.

This is good news to students who have some experience doing their taxes, but probably does not ease the uncertainty of the tax first timers.

“I know that taxes add on to either the price of goods or is just taken out of your paycheck. It goes toward government funding for

different jobs, projects and is usually something I don’t want to pay, but I know is necessary,” Bradley Watson, a business administration major, said.

Expert advice on filing federal income taxes includes remembering to start early, not overlooking deductions, being cautious of scams and taking advantage of free tax assistance, whether it comes from family members, school/university, etc.

“I want to do my taxes myself, but I don’t know how. I am super excited, though. I want to do something exciting with my return, but I should honestly just put it in my savings for rent later on,” Calvin Barker, a music major, said.

Money experts say there are always ways to save more or earn extra cash if the return is lower than anticipated.

Refinancing student loans, lowering bills wherever possible, selling clothes or even becoming a freelancer are all ways to get that bank account back on track.

By PATRICK NGUYEN Ranger Rerporter

Amarillo College is a school that provides many diverse clubs for students’ specific interests. One of these clubs is Teach Club.

“The Teach Club is for any student at AC who sees themselves as a person who might be interested in working with children and families,” Mary Clare Munger, club sponsor and education department chair, said.

“Or sometimes students who join the club are people who want to be involved with children and families, like through social work or community nonprofits.”

The club has been around for 10 years and has 30 members. The club meets at 11:45 a.m. on Thursdays in Dutton Hall.

“Teach Club is for all education and child development majors that

Internships create opportunities

the Swann Animal Clinic. “It shows me what I’ll be doing, so Ranger Reporter I don’t just get thrown into it.”

Many businesses require What do you want to do for a living? By now most some sort of internship. Instudents have pondered this ternships open a number of question with great thought. different avenues. Some inWith the plethora of potential ternships even provide pay and career paths, it can be hard to benefits, but most are for the pinpoint even a vague area of experience and college credit. what one wants to do for the Companies such as Apple, Yahoo and Amazon pay their rest of his or her life.

The college experience is interns and companies such geared toward helping prepare as Bloomberg LP provide the students for their future. But opportunities for interns to ineven with that diploma and the terview for full time positions countless hours of credits you after their internship ends.

“I had the opportunity to have earned, most big-name employers require just a little intern with Oxbuilt Company,” more experience. According to Hannah Zambrano, a business career experts, the solution is major, said. “It opened a ton of doors for potential finding an internship.

“It’s highly recommended,” opportunities and I learned to Jordan Taylor, a biology major, start networking with people said. Taylor is preparing to be and companies.”

Interning can also be a veterinarian and interned a requirement for certain for a semester and a half with

By JEFFREY WILLIAMS

degrees and certificates.

Taylor Huddleston, a massage therapist, was enrolled in the massage therapy program and is now the owner of Tailored Massage Therapy.

She was able to intern as a part of the program and was required to obtain her massage license. “Being able to intern and be ‘on my own’ definitely prepared me for when I really was. The internship was a great way to learn how the real world would work,” Huddleston said.

Those with questions about applying for internships should contact Mitch Parker, the director of career/employment services. His office phone number is (806) 371-5641 and email is mparker@actx.edu.

Students can also talk with Parker in person at the Student Services Center room 124 on the Washington Street Campus.

4 News The Ranger

March 1, 2018

Club promotes awareness

By BLASS GUERRERO and LILY GAMBLE Ranger Reporters

Everyone has unique characteristics and Amarillo College’s Ability Club works to connect students with and without disabilities to create a more harmonious campus.

“Having new people without disabilities attend our meetings is always nice because it certainly isn’t exclusive to students with disabilities,” Tyler Grisham, the club adviser, said.

Many students joined the club to be more aware of disabilities and because they plan to pursue careers working with people with disabilities.

“My overall goal is to actually have people who don’t have a disability come into this group to learn from other people that do and become more comfortable around them,” Jacob McGee, a social work major and club president, said.

Club members gain leadership skills, build friendships and network. Meetings are every other Thursday from 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in CUB 106, next to the bookstore.

“If someone really wants a club that they feel really comfortable in and works around your schedule, then they should join the Ability club,” Tracy Haynes, a business major, said.

“Sometimes we’ll hang out and go bowling or go out to eat. It’s fun to do stuff outside of school and just being with your friends,” Zoe Ware, an education major, said.

Many students said they support the club’s mission.

“This club will help many disabled students and many others students interacting with them and make them feel welcomed,” Denise Ruiz, a nursing major, said.

“My favorite part is getting to hang out with some students who understand the lifestyle of living with a disability,” Thomas Lewis, history major, said, “We’ve also been meeting up and raising some money,” Fundraising supports club activities. Fundraisers help cover the costs of travel opportunities and service projects, such as participating in Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree. The travel opportunities range from within Amarillo to out-of-town.

“Disabilities are just another form of diversity,” Grisham said, “We just to make sure people are comfortable and let people know that we’re out there and that people know to come visit with us.”

For more information about the AC Ability Club and how to help or get involved, contact Tyler Grisham by email at tdgrisham@actx.edu or by phone (806) 371-5917.

Illustration By Claire Ekas

Interpreting a path to success LAUREL SEBASTIAN Ranger Reporter

Amarillo College offers free sign language interpreters, along with various other resources, to help deaf and hearing impaired students succeed.

“Interpreters are useful for a number of tasks, like job interviews or engaging in classroom activities; however, it can get a little annoying to have an interpreter who is hard to understand or doesn’t fit your individual preferences,” Christyn Henson, an art major, said.

Signing is more than just hand gestures. It ’s a unique language that comes with its own history and cultural background. “It is a complex system with multiple definitions for each sign a person knows.

That is why it is best to use an interpreter who fits your personal style,” Autumn McClanahan, an AC sign language interpreter, said.

McClanahan said she welcomes the chance to play a vital role in students’ education. “I love interpreting. It comes with such an interactive and diverse background that allows me to help make a difference. Being a part of this career is a completely selfless task,” she said.

Along with interpreters, AC offers services for many other issues such as anxiety, dyslexia, paralysis and speech impediments. “ The impact these services have on the students is huge,” Tyler Grisham, an academic adviser for students with disabilities, said. “ We appreciate the opportunity to ser ve people who might other wise be turned away due to their disabilities,” she said.

LILY GAMBLE | The Ranger

News March 1, 2018

5

The Ranger

Car crash survivor defies the odds

By COLTON DROWN Ranger Reporter

I thought June 7, 2009 was going to be just another ordinary day. I was on my way to Skate Plex for a dance party. I had no clue that my whole life would change in the blink of an eye.

My 14-year-old brother, Alex, was driving a Chevy Avalanche. He turned and a Dodge sedan t-boned us.

My best friend, Isaiah Cordova, and I were sitting in the back seat, while my mom’s boyfriend, Shawn, was sitting in the passenger seat. Isaiah and I were not wearing our seatbelts. When the sedan hit us, we were both ejected from the truck.

Isaiah was ejected from the truck first. When his face hit the rear driver’s side window, it shattered his entire jaw.

After that, he landed face first into a barbed wire fence.

I followed him out of the window at more of an angle. I hit the left-rear portion of my head on the door jam. When that happened, my brain instantly swelled. Luckily my skull caved into my brain relieving the pressure. I landed next to Isaiah in the dirt.

The way the sedan hit the truck, it trapped my brother’s legs. Thank God he was so skinny because if he had not been, his legs would have needed to be amputated. There were five females in the other vehicle and they only had minor injuries while Shawn sustained no injuries.

All of the people involved in the accident were admitted into the hospital. Alex and the girls were checked out pretty quickly and Isaiah was cleared a few days later.

I had the worst injuries and was rushed into emergency surgery. The doctors ended up having to remove the crushed portion of my skull and the damaged portion of my brain. The doctors told me I died twice and was revived twice.

After seven surgeries, they put me into a drug-induced coma and slowly brought me out of the coma, but my body put itself back into a comatose state. I would sleep in this state for the next two months.

When I finally woke up I didn’t know where I was or why I couldn’t move or talk. I was absolutely petrified. The next day a nurse came in and explained to me that I had been in a car accident. Since I couldn’t talk, I was thinking, “This girl is absolutely crazy.”

I was then flown to Dallas with my mom for therapy. After two months of grueling therapy, I was sent back home. I was so excited to get to see family and my

friends because I was so homesick.

Once I got back home, I had to enroll in more therapy. I had to take speech, occupational and physical therapy.

Speech therapy was the easiest for me.

I loved to talk so I wouldn’t shut up the whole time I was with my therapist.

Occupational therapy was a little more manageable, but not easy. I spent my time practicing my fine motor skills. This was extremely difficult because my entire body shakes and my neurologist cannot determine why.

Physical therapy was the toughest of all. I was pushed far past my limits every session. I had to walk, side step, practice my balance and so many other things to help me improve. One of the exercises I had to do was called the dot dance. It was kind of like Twister using only my feet. My therapist would tell me what color to put my foot on and I had to do it.

There were many times I just wanted to hop back into my wheelchair and roll out the front door, never looking back. I knew deep down that my therapists were only pushing me because they knew I was capable of doing it and they wanted to see me grow stronger.

At the beginning of my physical therapy, I told my therapist that I was going to walk the stage when I graduated from high school. After three years I finally graduated from therapy. High school graduation came next.

In May 2015, I graduated from high school and walked the stage. I had to use a walker, but I was so excited that I was able to do it even though it wasn’t the way I envisioned it.

The next month I enrolled in college.

Since I have a disability, I took advantage of the services that Amarillo College had to offer. The disAbility services department helped me get accommodations that would assist with all my classes.

Soon after that, I applied to return to my first job at Wal-Mart. I started back in the electronics department. After working there for less than two years, I was promoted to customer service manager.

Now I live on my own and I pay all my bills with a little help from my mom.

I work full time and I go to college part time as a mass media major.

The day my accident happened, the doctors told my parents that I would probably never wake up and if I did I would be a vegetable. I proved the doctors wrong and I continue to improve a little bit every day.

LILY GAMBLE | The Ranger

Overcoming challenges, all in a day’s work continued from page 1 Despite the challenges related to her disability, Robinson obtained her masters from West Texas A&M University in 2008 and now teaches at AC. Being blind comes with many challenges, according to Robinson. “The two biggest challenges I face are mobility, if I have to go from one end of campus to the other and technology, working with computer programs,” she said.

Before 1997 it was difficult for those with disabilities to access places, get jobs or even go to college. Companies would often decide against putting in accommodations because it would cost them money.

The American Disabilities Act of 1997 made it easier for people with disabilities to have access to everyday things.

The act states that employers can’t discriminate against people with disabilities, and that they must have aids and services to allow easy access.

“You’ll see handicapped parking, you see accessible ramps, there’s rumble strips and thresholds that are smooth. There’s wide doors, tables, sinks and bathroom accommodations so that someone that’s aided by the use a wheelchair is able to access things that you and I take for granted,” Dennis Sarine, disabilities services coordinator, said.

The AC disAbility services office is responsible for making sure that the college meets the standards as required by law of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “The goal of the AC disAbility service is to see our students succeed, to facilitate the accommodations needed in the class room, and to act as a liaison between the students and staff,” said Tyler Grisham, the academic adviser for disAbility services.

LILY GAMBLE | The Ranger

6 NEWS The Ranger

March 1, 2018

Students sick of sick students

By SANTOS ROMERO Ranger Reporter

Coughing, sniffling and sneezing can create quite the ruckus in a small college classroom, especially at this time of the year, when it seems as if everyone is sick.

According to the Texas Department of Safety and Health, the percentage of patient visits due to influenza-like illness and the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza reported by public health and hospital laboratories has marginally increased. Many students have strong opinions on when it’s acceptable to come to class sick and when ADDISON METZGER|The Ranger it’s time to stay home.

Students who come to school sick risk spreading their germs and infecting others.

“If they feel contagious they should just stay home unless the work, but when does it be- had a similar opinion about are already busy with work and it’s a test or something import- come a problem to show up their peers coming to class other things outside of class. sick.

Hayden said he believes stuant,” Charles Peavey, a crimi- sick?

Peavey said he doesn’t get “Everyone coughs here and dents going to class sick shows nal justice major, said.

Any college student knows annoyed when other students there, it’s really not a big deal,” their dedication to their school missing just one day of class come to class sick, he just wor- Aaron Hayden, a precision work. On the contrary, there also means taking the risk of ries for the health of himself metal working major, said. To are students who believe their missing multiple assignments, and the other students in class. many students, missing class sick peers should stay home.

“I don’t think anyone should making it hard to keep up with Surprisingly other students just isn’t an option when they

go to class when they are sick because it puts everyone around them at risk of getting sick as well,” Andy Shackelford, an education major, said.

Students do take a risk of going to class with sick peers since schools are an easy place for illnesses to spread.

“If you don’t feel good the professors will probably understand why you can’t come to class,” Mari Rubio, a nursing major, said.

Rubio also said it can get annoying to hear students constantly coughing and sneezing while she is trying to pay attention to the professor.

Rubio, along with many of the other students, have an overall negative attitude toward their peers coming to class sick due to the importance of attendance.

“I can’t afford to get sick and miss class because someone else in my class had something contagious and other students should see it that way before coming to class ill,” Kobe Morris, a biology major, said.

AC offers programs for Making up time first-generation students for missing class dents feel a place of belonging while providing them with Ranger Reporter much needed advice,” Follins “There are many challeng- said. “We have a simple yet es a first-generation student effective plan to get students faces when attending college,” to make connections.”

Follins said that first-genMaria Andreina, a corporate communications student, said. eration students should not A student could feel lost be afraid and embrace their because the atmosphere seems status as it may give them an different from high school or edge in the college admissions become overwhelmed being process. Many colleges acthe first person in their family tively recruit first-generation students, so identifying as a to attend college.

Most students strongly first-generation student may agree that first-generation actually be in a student’s favor. students often face many bar- It’s always good to find school riers that go beyond being a resources early as it may impact college choice as well as first year college student.

Calee Follins is the coor- make students feel more condinator of new student pro- nected to the college.

Yvonne Stephenson, a grams at Amarillo College and she has been guiding first-generation college gradfirst generation students with uate and AC librarian, said, planning ahead and preparing “Orientation was scary befor their future. “We help stu- cause a lot of people I gradBy JUAN RODRIGUEZ

uated with didn’t attend college. I never thought I would be in a position to help fellow students or be on the deans list.”

“I always said my first two years were the most important time of my college career,” Frank Demos, a first-generation graduate and AC humanities instructor, said. “The college helped open doors and got rid of any shyness or nervousness I had toward college or fellow students.”

According to the AC brochure, the new student programs exist to support first-generation students on their path to excellence. Students are empowered by mentors who assist them in their career development.

For more information, contact Follins in the College Union Building.

By JOEL BEANES Ranger Reporter

For many students, it’s a challenge to juggle school, work and personal life. Some students said they lose track of their work due to an illness.

Students say some instructor’s care about what’s going on with their students and others would rather not get involved.

“It all depends on the instructor,” Austin Cimbrell, a nursing major, said. “My professor right now is like, ‘I really don’t need to know that you’re missing because you’re responsible for the material,’ and he doesn’t give it to you, you need to get it from a student.

I always email them through Blackboard. I just send a broad email to everyone so I get by.”

Some students try to communicate with their instructors to see if there’s a chance they

will have time to help them get caught up. “I emailed the teacher to let them know that I will miss class because I broke my wrist then after that I had to stay after class with them so I would catch up, it was biology so I needed his instructions,” Cristian Medellin, an art education major, said. “It took a lot of time in order to catch up.”

Even though each instructor has different policies in their own classes, Delane McUne, a computer science instructor and lab supervisor, has some suggestions for students who miss class. “The best way to do it is to sit down and talk to their instructor about what they missed. Maybe some instructors can combine assignments or they might be able to work with them on allowing then some additional time to come up with whatever they need to do.”

Escaping the dangers of stress

By ZAKARY GRIEGO Ranger Reporter

College students often find themselves stressed out. Deadlines, good grades, transferring to universities and finding the right career path are all examples of stressors that students face.

“Stress causes our bodies to release hormones that cause the feeling of panic, urgency and anxiety. Being stressed all the time eventually leads to a burnout and adrenal depletion where the individual experiences depression and even physical illnesses that are stress related,” Deborah Harding, a psychology professor, said.

In 2008, a study by The Associated Press found that eight out of 10 college students reported being stressed in their daily lives over the past three months. Since 2008,

statistics suggest that mental health issues and stress among students is steadily rising.

“It’s when people cannot relieve the ongoing stressors in their life that they end up not caring about anything and ‘checking out’ of life. Finding ways to cope and relieve stress is important,” said Harding.

To escape and relieve the daily stress, students often turn to forms of entertainment. The most popular form students report using is social media.

Students are often working, going to school and trying to have a social life all at the same time. Social media can help make users feel connected Homework and stress go hand-in-hand this time of year. socially to their peers, said Harding. include, movies, reading and with stress are bad examples,” “Social media is how I stay social gatherings.

Beth Rodriguez, a psychology in the loop with my friends “Students often believe professor, said. and family,” Emma Womack, a that coping with stress is the Some good examples of nursing major, said. same as relieving the feelings ways to cope with stress are Other forms of entertainment of stress, so most ways that exercise, hanging out with that students said they turn to people come up with coping friends, meditation, yoga and

ADDISON METZGER|The Ranger

listening to music, Rodriguez said.

For help dealing with stress, visit https://www.actx. edu/counseling/pagesmith/8 h t t p s : / / w w w. a c t x . e d u / counseling.

Culture March 1, 2018

7

The Ranger

Show me whatcha got in ya pot RANGER REVIEW

By RAMONA SALGADO Ranger Reporter

SALVADOR GUTIERREZ |THE RANGER

Virtual assistants offer humor, not help RANGER REVIEW

By JAXTON ONEAL Ranger Reporter Ever since Siri came out on the iPhone, with many amazing features, other competitors have created similar other brands of virtual assistants.

Google home, Alexa and Echo have been some of the latest products released. hits with some hopefully satisfied customers.

People all around the world are buying these assistants, but most of them are not too happy with them as they start to actually use them.

Most buyers today are more tune to using them for silly questions and not for any actual help. “Whenever I use Siri, I ask it sarcastic things and not really for serious notes,” Robin Hicks, a mass media major, said. Hicks goes on to explain that Siri is not all that amazing as she cannot perform certain

tasks.

Siri is not the only one to not be able to perform certain tasks either.

Placing a Google Home or an Echo in the kitchen is probably the worst place to put it is not always helpful when you are trying to find out some recipes for something new to cook.

Most of the virtual assistants when asked to read off a recipe for something as simple as how to make a chicken quesadilla they will not actually read the recipe.

Instead they will read off multiple websites to go to if you want a recipe. “I was going to follow along with a recipe about how to make vermicelli, but instead I just got websites to go to,” Lauryn Moreland, a nursing major, said. After few minutes of searching for the websites she finally got to one that she liked.

Even though the artificial intelligence may not seem like the exact product you see in commercials, other customers said they enjoy asking their virtual assistant devices silly questions.

While some questions are inappropriate, other questions can be hilarious since Alexa, Google Home and Siri respond to funny questions with funny answers. Remember when Siri first came out and people would ask where to hide a body? Siri would respond with.

“I found multiple dumpsters in your area.”

“I only use Siri or Alexa for funny purposes. I don’t think I have ever asked it a real question before,” Abel Valenzuela, an engineering major, said.

While on television these virtual assistants may seem cool, they are not that useful to people in the community. Although some people like them,

A new device is taking over many college students’ kitchens, offering the promise of a fast fresh homemade meal. This is the generation craze for making meals that go from the pot to the table in minutes.

It’s reported to be the fastest growing kitchen appliance on the market. The majority of them have been purchased through Amazon.

In fact, these devices were the most-wanted Christmas gift in 2017. So goodbye slow-cookers -- make room for the pot.

The instant pot is a lot like a pressure cooker. These have been around since back in my grandmother’s days. I remember learning how to use my mother’s pressure cooker.

It was fast but loud, and I learned not to ever move the heavy metal on top or open it before steam was released or it could make a mess.

The instant pot is much faster and safer than a pressure cooker. Instant pots are electric and are less dangerous than traditional pressure cookers since they will not open unless the steam has been released. The number of things that can be cooked in one is unbelievable -- rice, yogurt, roasts and even canning. Recipes are available all over the internet and specialty cookbooks are also sold.

Janet Funderburk-Groomer, an intake specialist in the

ESL program, said she wants an instant pot. “I have been reading about and seeing them everywhere and really it would be neat to have one,” she said.

Melissa Hightower, the Success Center director, is also interested in joining the instant pot movement. “I have many friends that have great success with their instant pots. They can make a meal in about 20 to 30 minutes. And they are very good.

I also have friends that are looking for more recipes to use with an instant pots, so I really want one.”

Amy Presley, program director of FM90, has an instant pot and uses it frequently. “I love my instant pot. It has changed the way I cook and the way I buy food,” Presley said. “I am a person that does not cook much but it has made me cook more.

My favorite thing to cook in my pot is ribs. I also make chicken potpie, I have baked chicken in about five minutes. I love having leftovers now,” Presley said, noting that she bought her instant pot from Amazon and it was a great deal. “Every student should invest in one. It will save money, time and they will have great food,” she said.

Not everyone is jumping on the instant pot bandwagon. Miguel Martinez, a liberal arts major, isn’t rushing out to purchase one. “I don’t cook,” he said. Other students said it is too expensive.

Drone extends the limits of tech RANGER REVIEW

By JAXTON ONEAL Ranger Reporter

Multiplayer game WoWs players

COURTESY PHOTO

RANGER REVIEW

By Sir Garen Grayson Ranger Reporter It’s 3 a.m. I’m chilling in my room with the lights off and I have classes in the morning, but I just got into a raid, so you know what that means? Two more hours of “World of Warcraft.” and a prayer to Y’Shaarj hoping he wakes me up in the morning.

What an amazing game.

How can you play anything else, when you have an entire fleshed-out world, with dozens of races, and lore to back it up?

From collectable mounts to ingame achievements, this really might be one of the most perfect MMORPG’s ever created.

Graphics: Sure, it looks cartoony, but that is also a part of its appeal. With the goofy emotes, dances and character designs, the art style of the game complements this well.

Think about it, you get to ride on mounts ranging from mini rocket ships, to giant mammoths and Chinese dragons.

Making this game look more realistic would take away from its personal flare that it has carved out for itself.

Playability: Come on, the game has been going on for 14 years with no end in sight and it’s still play-to-play. How many other games can make that claim? With tons of end game content, vast worlds to explore, dungeons to zerg and the ability to customize the armor your characters wear, what else do I really need to say? If you want PvP, it’s there for you.

If you want to PvE, go ahead.

If all you want to do is level alts (alternate characters), ain’t no shame in your game. Do what you want to your heart’s content.

End Game: Imagine grinding from 1-110. You’ve quest-

ed through Goldshire, did the AMAZING questline in Red Ridge, slayed countless Winterfall bear-folk, etc., etc., etc.

Now you’ve made it to the end game. Here is where the legends are born. Assemble a group of friends to take down Mythic+ dungeons to gear up and raid. Hell, even race for world’s first on the bosses. Aim to be top healer, dps, or play making tank solo kills the boss after your entire raid dies with the boss at its last 2 percent, because you are just that damn good. This all can be achieved with a little hard work and dedication in this game called “World of Warcraft.”

So, when sizing up “World of Warcraft” against any of its competitors, how is this even a competition? Be sure to join the Horde because trolls are the master-race. Make the right choice and be WoW’d yourself.

Over the years a company called DJI has released a series of drones all across the world to many filmmakers, photographers and vloggers.

One problem everyone faces with most of these drones is that they are extremely large and hard to travel with.

That is not the case for the DJI Spark. The Spark is a diminutive drone that is easy to travel with. In fact the drone is so small that it fits right inside of your pocket.

Now there is a downside to the extremely small size such as a smaller battery size and the lack of a 3-axis gimbal.

Most of the drones’ gimbals move up and down as well as

side to side and with the rotational gimbal. The Spark, on the other hand, can only move side to side and up and down, but other than that,it is not that bad. The other feature that the Spark does not have is 4K resolution camera, but it still does have a notably great camera with 1080/30 frames per second.

Other than these minor downgrades, the drone still holds the title of being one of the best drones ever made by DJI. In my eyes, the flying part of the drone is the coolest part. With three different flying features, such as the normal control as well as control by gesture and the phone control, this drone has an amazing set of features.

8 Feature The Ranger

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