The Eagle Northeast Texas Community College
Volume 34, Issue 6
ntcceagleonline.com
Thursday, February 23, 2017
CELEBRATING
BLACK HISTORY MONTH “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
“All great achievements require time.” Maya Angelou
“I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.” Frederick Douglass
Student Services opens new center
By Kenzie Messer Managing Editor
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The images above are part of the four-panel mural that artist John Biggers painted in 1955. The mural will be displayed in a special space in the remoldeled Learning Resource Center.
While renovations took place in the former administration building, student services temporarily operated from the multipurpose room in the Humanities building. With the recent completion of the design improvements, student services and advising has moved back to their original location. The Business Office, Testing Center, and Continuing Education will also move into the redesigned space to create a one-stop student service center. After visiting several office intensive operations in the Dallas area, Northeast administration developed
the idea of having an open office concept. The idea is for students to benefit from the one-stop center by conveniently providing students with maximum services in one location. “I think things are going to be a lot more efficient for the students,” Vice President of Student and Outreach Services Dr. Josh Stewart said. “With the addition of the testing center, there’s a lot more resources in that building for a student.” While the setup will be completely different, Stewart said the floor plan will also feature aesthetic elements. “It’s not similar to what we had, it’s going to be completely different,”
Voices from the past rise again Adult Education Northeast to display the mural of Dr. John Biggers
“One beautiful fall Saturday morning in 1985, I was searching for some audio-visual equipment for my class,” Theisen said. “I was not looking for a missing mural. But there, leaning against a wall, was a large mural painting that certainly looked like an early John Biggers work.” -An excerpt from Dr. Ollie Theison “Walls That Speak: The Murals of John Thomas Biggers (2010)
After years of being on display in the Paul Pewitt Elementary School library, internationally recognized African American artist John Biggers’ original mural the History of Negro Education in Morris County, Texas will now be displayed on the Northeast campus in the newly redesigned Learning Resource Center. Paul Pewitt School District generously loaned the mural to the college to be displayed for a minimum of 20 years. “I think we are very fortunate to have this piece,” Northeast Vice President for Advancement Dr. Jonathan
receives awards Special to The Eagle
By Kenzie Messer Managing Editor
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| mandy smith
Fine art movers prepare to remove the Biggers mural from its frame. The painting was been hanging in the Paul Pewitt Elementary School library. McCullough said. “Because this is going to be so visible, I have a feeling that we will have visitors on campus that would have never been here for any other reason except to see that art.” The story of the unique piece begins in 1955 when Biggers was commissioned to paint the mural. The artwork depicts the struggles that
African Americans faced in the early 20th century while trying to obtain an education. After the painting was completed, it was displayed for several years in what was once Carver High School, the See Learning on pg. 3
See Student on pg. 2
The Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education recently lauded a Northeast Texas Community College Adult Education Student, Jose Martinez, and an instructor Jaudon Wilhite, with two separate but distinctive honors. Martinez, an NTCC ESL (English as a Second Language) student from Mount Pleasant has received the Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) ESL Persistence Award. This statewide honor is awarded to students who exhibit personal accountability and commitment to pursuing their education while maintaining their family and civic responsibilities. A cash award of $500 was given to Martinez during the TALAE Awards Dinner in San Antonio earlier
this month. Martinez was nominated by Freda Duncan, Community Resource Center Coordinator. He is currently pursuing his GED. ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor, Jaudon Wilhite, of Mount Vernon, has received the Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) Adult Education Teacher of the Year Award. Wilhite, who has taught adult education ESL since 2004, was nominated for this honor by colleagues and students. She received the award and $1,000 at the annual TALAE Awards Dinner on February 3 in San Antonio. “We were so thrilled to hear that Jaudon was being honored with this award. Her hard work and dedication to the cause of adult literacy has made a difference in See Instructor on pg. 2
Spreading faith and education By Vanessa Navarro and Yami Zuniga Staff Writers
also located in the Jefferson area. While it’s hard to imagine balancing being a professor and preaching, McCowan has There are those who believe that science always been able to devote his time and and religion are mutually exclusive. Dr. efforts to both. Winston McCowan is not one of those people. “A teacher is a skill, it’s a trait and preaching During the workweek, McCowan spends his is a calling,” he said. days in pursuit of science. More specifically, And despite the fact that he instructs in the he teaches biology and anatomy and field of science, McCowan’s strong Christian physiology to the next generation of scientists beliefs have never interfered with his teaching. and nurses at Northeast Texas Community The question that may be running around in College. On the everyone’s minds, weekends, he trades is what was it about “He’s more than a professor, the field of biology in his lab coat for a suit and tie and steps he’s a true teacher in the highest that appealed to a into the very different man with such strong sense of the word.” role of pastor and religious views? spiritual leader for “I was curious three congregations within the area. about science as a child,” McCowan said. McCowan, who was the first African “I always wanted to know how something American hired by the college when it opened worked and why. Therefore, I became in 1985, has spent 31 of his 44 years teaching interested in science.” at NTCC. Before coming to Northeast, Despite what some may see as a contrast McCowan taught at Trinity Valley College in between biology and religion, facts and Henderson County. beliefs, McCowan never really let any The professor, who has been in the ministry obstacles as a student stop him from becoming for close to 35 years, serves as a full time an educator. As a matter of fact, McCowan pastor at the United Methodist Church in said he believes that religion and education Jefferson and also preaches sermons on are equally important to a person’s life. alternating Sundays to the congregations at “Once a minister came out, one of my Logan Chapel and Louis Chapel churches, students was his parishioner, and had told him
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| mandy smith
Dr. Winston McCowan, center, work with students from left, Nikki Martin and Estefania Flores during one of his biology classes. about my class. He was confused because he had always taught that a female had more ribs than a male. The Bible says that God took a rib from Adam and made Eve. I ended up giving him a lesson on theology and anatomy,” he said. McCowan acknowledged that he sometimes uses his knowledge of science in his sermons. He said there is a connection between the two that explains why certain things are the way they are.
“Always, there are a lot of times I reference back in sermons,” he said. “In one sermon, I preached about the anatomy of a Christian, referencing back to a topic called “Your Body, God’s Temple” that defines the differences of the two.” Northeast Mathematics Professor Dr. Paula Wilhite has grown to know McCowan over the past 31 years. See Professor on pg. 3
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The Eagle
February 23, 2017
Northeast Texas Community College
News
Student services relocates to newly renovated spaces Cont. from pg. 1 said Stewart. “Its spread out and visually appealing.” The open space concept design did away with the cubicles that once housed faculty in that building. Other changes that were made to the area include the framework and layout of the building and the front counter, the main area in the front lobby of the building. Small waiting areas will also be accessible near the testing center and advising area. “We wanted that to be very visible,” said Stewart, “that’s where we want people to go when they come in, so they will know where to go, so that’s very prominent.” Although the different services in the building may seem like a hectic operation, Northeast President Dr. Brad Johnson explained the benefits of the blueprint. After meeting with a team of design engineers, Johnson also said the open concept is ideal to improve teamwork and the dispatch of services when helping students. “People feel like they are going to be distracted and it will be hard to have private conversations, but in fact, everybody assured us that they really liked it,” said Johnson. “The advantage that they have described in that approach is that people are more encouraged to work as a team and help each other out.
“What we’re trying to improve is the speed and accuracy with which we help students in those areas.” However, in order to increase efficiency, Stewart advises students to set appointments with their advisor. Also, when signing into the iPads in the front lobby, students are encouraged to provide a phone number so a text message can be sent informing them that they are ready to be seen. “As everybody gets used to the change, they will find that it will be almost like a one- stop shop for them to come take care of everything in one big building,” Special Populations Advisor John Coleman said. “It will be organized chaos for a while. I really believe everyone will adapt as they get used to it without a problem. Once it’s all familiar again, students will like it better.” Testing Center Clerk, Jamille Kelly, said that the students will benefit from the testing center because they won’t have to walk across campus to take their tests. They can just take a few steps and be there. “I’m hoping that we have a functional place that we will all enjoy working in, and that the students will enjoy,” said Jerene Sarrat, Student Support Servicer. “I think that once we are all in a central location again it will be so much nicer for students.” Stewart said that communication between
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| daniel yanez
Adviser Melissa Harrison, right, and several student workers remain in place and continue work as usual as a team of movers dissasemble office cubicles in the background. all of the different departments has been challenging over the last couple of months, but overall, the various departments have managed to overcome the obstacles. “Everybody has done a wonderful job working together during the construction phase,” Stewart said. “I think just having
Astrophysicist shares the universe with PTK and Math/Science Club
everybody back together in one central place that they can get a lot of their information which will be beneficial for the students. We want to provide great service that is quick and efficient, but is also meeting the needs of the student. I’m excited for this new chapter for the college.”
By Daniel Yanez Editor-in-Chief Like the universe, Texas is vast in size. Famous for many of its small towns, Northeast Texas is no exception as it’s just a small corner in space. For astrophysicist Dr. Caroline Caldwell, however, Mount Pleasant is home and the birth of her career and interest in the stars and the planets. Caldwell is a recent graduate of Liverpool John Moores University in England. From there, Caldwell has obtained a terminal degree in astrophysics, the branch of astronomy concerned with the physical nature of stars and other celestial bodies. Recently, Caldwell spoke to Northeast students at the math/science luncheon. However, this was not Caldwell’s first guest speaker appearance on the NTCC campus. Division Director for Math, Physics and Engineering, Dr. Paula Wilhite, said former NTCC students are frequently invited to share their success stories with current students to serve as role models. “This is a mechanism for equipping students with information they need for success,” said Wilhite, “our students learn about career opportunities while also meeting another person who previously had a similar background and many of the same challenges.” Before earning her doctorate, Caldwell first spoke to students back in 2012 and discussed topics in astrophysics, education and careers. The event had one of the largest student attendance proving that there is interest in learning more about astrophysics. A lot of people come to astronomy because they like looking at the night sky. In addition, students are mostly unaware of the research and careers in this important area of science. For Caldwell, pursuing an education and career in astrophysics turned into a drawn out process, one that dates back to her childhood. “When I was a kid I would go out and look at the stars, I had paper stars hanging from my ceiling,” said Caldwell. “My mom would always take me out to look at the meteor showers.” Lacking confidence in math and not giving herself much of a chance, Caldwell decided to study philosophy instead. Caldwell undoubtedly realized, however, that her passion was among the stars. “I didn’t think I was good enough at math to do it so I went and studied philosophy,” said Caldwell, “then I realized I was way better at math than these philosophy people, maybe I didn’t give myself enough of a chance.” After graduating with her Ph.D. in astrophysics Caldwell returned to Mount Pleasant to share her knowledge and maybe inspire aspiring students.
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Wilhite pictured with Anson Green, Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy State Director.
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| mandy smith
In a recent presentation, Caldwell spoke about career possiblities in science and astrology. Caldwell said she plans to continue and expand her reaserch on the universe. “I grew up in Mount Pleasant. This is my hometown college and I’m just happy to be able to come back and share my experiences,” said Caldwell. “Hopefully if you don’t know what you’re doing but you feel scientifically inclined, I encourage you to check out astronomy because it’s taken me to some pretty great places.” Overall, the success stories of previous Northeast students are an evidence of hard work and dedication to current and future generation students. Wilhite said understanding the pathway to success is important in the preparation for students undertaking challenging professions. “To embark on pursuing a rigorous and demanding career, our students need to understand how to navigate the journey,” said Wilhite. “The goal of this outreach is to empower students to make choices that will greatly impact their lives.”
Instructor and student receive state award Cont. form pg. 1 so many lives in our area,” Sue Barker, NTCC Director of Adult Education, said. One of her students stated, “Ms. Jaudon has been the best teacher because she is an excellent, wonderful, and friendly teacher. She always attends our classes and she makes sure that we all learn. Never has she ever doubted us.” Wilhite currently teaches ESL classes two mornings a week at the Community Resource Center located in
downtown Mt. Pleasant at 105 North Riddle. NTCC offers both GED and ESL classes free of charge to adult students at various locations. Students are currently being accepted throughout the area. For more information about either of these programs, please call 903-434-8252 or follow the Adult Education Program at Northeast Texas Community College page on Facebook.
Limited LRC space causes tutor relocation to IT 112 By Kieran Martin Staff Writer
The Write Smart tutors at Northeast Texas Community College are being relocated due to inadequate teaching space in the library. The move comes as construction continues to inconvenience students across the campus with the most recent project being the modernization of the library. This refurbishment has closed off over half of the library and taken away many resources including books, computers, and the Write Smart tutors. After a discussion about where the tutors may be able to set up and resume assisting students, they learned they would be relocated to the computer lab in the Industrial Technology building in IT room 112. “We’re going to be here for at least seven months,” said tutor, Stacie Howell-Or. The Write Smart tutors are sharing the crowded room with other groups of students and faculty who also use the computer lab. “It is very difficult to tutor in the new area we have because we are so compacted and there is extremely limited space to keep our files.”
The tutors are concerned that students may not know where the new room is located and worry that it may be an inconvenience for students to travel to the other side of the campus. According to Write Smart Tutors, both students and tutors are having a hard time concentrating with the constant raucous and rattling coming from the surrounding noise of an air conditioning unit. Howell-Orr also explained that leaking pipes often drip from directly above. “Cold water will fall from the pipes all the time when I’m trying to work,” said HowellOrr. The tutors are unsure of their future, whether they will remain in the IT Building, move back to the library, or gain a new space altogether. Howell-Orr said they are hoping to move back to their original space. All of the same services are currently being offered to students seeking help with their assignments. The tutoring schedule has also remained unchanged. For a complete list of tutoring hours and services available students can visit the Write Smart tutors in IT 112.
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| daniel yanez
Write Smart tutor, Tony Sterling helps a sudent with course work. Due to the recent renovations in the library, tutors were relocated to room IT 112. The, room also houses the M/S lab and other faculty members.
February 23, 2017
The Eagle
Page 3
Northeast Texas Community College
News
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Above, an artist rendering of the redesigned Learning Resource Center shows the room in which the Biggers’ mural will be displayed. Right, crew members from a fine arts moving company secure the painting for transportation to the artist’s studio in Dallas. staff photo
| mandy smith
Learning Resource Center to be new home of Biggers mural Cont. form pg. 1
segregated African American school located between Naples and Omaha, Texas. In the first and second scenes of the mural, the artist illustrates a preacher reaching out to his parishioners in prayer of a better life and a teacher that seems hopeless by what she sees as her students’ lack of education. The mood of the story changes with a center panel that has a patchwork of African American culture surrounding Carver High Principal P.Y. Gray as he reaches out his hand with “seeds of hope.” The last unit of the mural shows the excitement of the students and teachers as they gather outside their new schoolhouse excitedly ready for a school day to begin. In the 1970s, Carver High became a desegregated elementary school and the mural was placed into storage under a band hall. In her book, Walls That Speak: The Murals of John Thomas Biggers, Dr. Ollie Theisen explains how she found the mural and reconnected Biggers to the art piece that he had painted more than 30 years before. Theisen, former Northeast Texas Community College art professor, tells how she discovered the painting in the elementary
school’s old library, which was being used for storage. She wrote that the painting had made its way to the library after being moved from the band hall to an outdoor storage shed where it sat for several years. Theisen recognized Biggers’ work and eventually contacted him to discuss her find. On Oct. 27, 1989, Biggers returned to the Naples/Omaha area for a rededication ceremony for the painting. In her book, Theisen shares the feelings that the artist had for the special story that he told in the mural. “This event marks for me the climax of my career,” Biggers said at the event. “I need nothing else. I told a story with meaning for this community, which you have kept alive all these years-this is why I paint. There is no greater satisfaction.” McCullough said an anonymous donor sometime back learned about the artwork and approached the college about bringing it to the campus so that more people could enjoy Biggers’ work. He said having the mural on campus would be a great opportunity for the college. “I am very grateful for the fact that the Pewitt school board was willing to trust us with it,” Northeast President Dr. Brad Johnson said. “I think it’s a tremendous opportunity
for the college to further a part of our obligation as a college. The black community may treasure this, but in my opinion all of us should treasure it. It’s an important part of us being who we need to be as a college to this community.” Once the college learned that it was going to have the distinct honor of displaying the unique piece, plans are currently being made to highlight the artwork. “When we discovered that we may have an opportunity to obtain the mural, we then asked the architects to reflect on what could be done on something that significant,” Johnson said. “Being able to put it adjacent there where people pull up and drop people off, they’ll see it seemed to be a very appropriate place to put it.” The architects are creating a way to light the classroom, so visitors will be able to see the painting at night from the circle in the front of the college. The mural’s journey is so intriguing to some in the art world that they have volunteered to help with the project in whatever way they could. “It’s a fabulous story of our history of education in Texas,” Tyler Museum of Art Director Christopher Leahy said. “One of
Professor spends weekends in the pulpit
Cont. form pg. 1
The two are part of an elite group known as the “A-Team,” the first employees hired by Northeast in 1985. Wilhite said despite McCowan playing double duty, his dedication to both professions show how special he is. “Dr. McCowan is a wonderful, engaging role model who is completely devoted to his students, ministry and family.” Wilhite said. When he is not at church giving a sermon, the professor can be found in his classroom daily teaching students about living organisms and other forms of life. Each year he finds the motivation to share his knowledge with a new set of students. “I like to see them learn and become invested in the subject,” McCowan said. “Sometimes I keep up with the student even when they’re not in my class anymore to make sure they’re on the right path and to see them graduate. I like to see them get jobs and succeed.” With multiple generations of students coming and going, McCowan recalled a time when the student population consisted of a large group of non-traditional students. Today the average number of younger and full-time students has increased dramatically. A change that has not gone unnoticed by the longtime teacher. He said, “You get a younger group” as time goes by. McCowan been married to his wife, LaWanda, for 47 years now, has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. It’s not too surprising that all three of McCowan’s children have pursued careers in education. His oldest daughter is the athletic coordinator at
Desoto High School and teaches health and coaches. His middle daughter is the curriculum coordinator for Garland Independent School District and actually taught at NTCC for a while. His son, who is the youngest, is a principal at Northwest in Forth Worth. McCowan’s love for his expanding family is all too evident as he speaks about their achievements in their educational careers. The role of an educator is to prepare students for the real world. McCowan takes his profession seriously and understands the impact and difference his teaching has made on several of his former students. He said even as he nears the half-century mark as an educator, he still enjoys what he does. He plans to continue doing his part to make a difference in the lives of the students on the Northeast campus. “I hope I’ve made a difference in some of my former and present students’ lives,” he said. “I get joy when a student accomplishes a goal they tell me they want to achieve,” McCowan said. “I thought his class would be hard. But he made it fun. He kind of made me want to change my major,” former Microbiology student Courtney Higgins said. McCowan’s impact is not only evident to his student but his fellow colleagues as well. Dr. Mary Hearron, professor of biology and chemistry at Northeast, first met McCowan when she was hired as an adjunct. Hearron said what she remembers most about those early days was his smiling face. “The year was 1985 and we were all so excited to
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McCowan stands in the pulpit of one of the three churches that he minsters to in the Jefferson area. be able to participate in the start-up of a new community college,” Hearron said. “Throughout the years, Dr. McCowan has never lost that smile and the positive attitude that he conveys to all of us and most importantly, to the many, many hundreds of students he has impacted. He’s more than a professor, he’s a true teacher in the highest sense of the word.” Despite the fact that it is small in size, Northeast has a diverse group of students from all over the world. McCowan said that every student, no matter his or her ethnicity or cultural background, deserves an education. “When you focus on minorities, whether or not you consider yourself to be part of one, it is extremely
important that we think of all people to be productive in our community,” McCowan said. “Every single one of them must have an education.” Since McCowan stepped onto the Northeast campus back in 1985, he has become an integral part of the college community, moving others to success with his distinctive style of teaching. “Dr. McCowan has been like a “rock of Gibraltar” here at the college,” said Northeast Vice President of Instruction Dr. Ron Clinton. “Not only because he was one of the original faculty members back in 1985 when the college first opened, but also because his wisdom, humor and love of students has been an inspiration to us all. He’s looked up to by faculty and students alike.”
the reasons I got involved with this project is because it’s such a great part of our history and our art history. In its own right, it’s a tremendous work of art. The struggle that is represented in this image makes a hugely compelling story. In its own right, it’s a fabulous work of art.” The mural is currently being restored by Helen Houp, a conservator in Dallas. After the mural’s restoration is complete over the course of several months, it will be displayed at the Tyler Museum of Art before being moved to the Northeast campus. “I’m absolutely over the moon that we will be able to show it here,” Leahy said. “It will be a great opportunity for all the folks in Tyler to be able to see it. It’s the kind of painting that you don’t get to see every day. If any message comes through this painting, it’s the joy of being able to get an education.” Leahy said it will be a great opportunity for the college to have the privilege to permanently display the mural. “It’s really a priceless piece,” McCullough said. “The artist has passed away since he painted it, and it has a long history behind it. We are fortunate to have a piece of art that is so instrumental in education in our area.”
#getyoursignedcopy
Rico Willis, Director of Student Activities and Multicultural Affairs will host his official book launch and book signing event this Sat. Feb. 25. The event will take place from 1-4 p.m. with the last hour filled by a spoken word from Willis and singing performances by Daisy Bates and Jimmy Smith. “This is an experience that normally is not offered in this area,” said Willis, “but we are providing the experience for those that choose to join us. We hope to see you there! Thank you in advance for your support.”
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The Eagle
February 23, 2017
Northeast Texas Community College
Opinion
They’re coming to America One of my favorite parts of being a student is the ability to meet people from different places and different backgrounds. As a student, I have had the opportunity to meet people from around the globe. My fellow Brandon Pettey classmates make Guest Columnist college interesting by challenging what I know about the world. Our diversity is an essential aspect of the American experience that I, for one, could not live without. The diversity that makes our culture so special, however, is currently being cast in a somewhat negative light. Recently, President Trump attempted to ban immigration from seven Muslim countries. A poll conducted by Reuters showed 48 percent of respondents actually supported the ban. And, Muslims are not the only minority group being marginalized. The Pew Research Center published a study that said 52 percent of Hispanics have experienced discrimination based on their ethnicity. The pressure that they have been feeling is wrong and unwarranted. Immigrants are not all that different from native-born Americans. They have dreams and goals. Somehow it has become more acceptable to speak out publicly against people who come to this country as immigrants. On Feb.16, these newcomers, and those who support them, showed their frustration by participating in a protest called “A Day Without Immigrants.” Many of them showed their encouragement to the cause by closing their businesses and refusing to spend money on that day. A total of 50 restaurants were closed in Washington D.C alone, including six in the Pentagon. Since this country’s inception, immigrants have been coming to American with hopes of making their lives better. Despite our financial troubles in recent years and the participation in two wars, we are still the land of the free and the home of
the brave. America is the table of cool kids in the global lunch room. The vast majority of people who come here don’t want to do anything to lose their coveted seat. Starting life anew in a different country is a risky and expensive proposition. It is expensive just to move from one state to another, moving to another country is even higher. It costs $700 just to apply for United States citizenship. That may not sound like a lot to some of us, but for people in impoverished countries, it is a massive amount of money. Then there are the costs of picking up roots and moving. Some individuals save for years in order to be able to move to America. Once someone is finally here, they have too much at stake to risk doing anything that would get them in trouble. Most people come to the country to improve their financial status, to escape hostile governments and to live the American dream, which we all strive for. Immigrants have played a vital role in our history. We all too often forget that our Founding Fathers and their families were immigrants. There would be no United States without immigration. Furthermore, many people who came here from other countries are responsible for things that we hold dear. The 2003 National Survey of College Graduates says that immigrants obtain patents at twice the rate of native-born Americans. The World Intellectual Property Organization reported that America takes in 57.1 percent of the worlds inventor population. Without immigrants like Luther George Simjian, who was originally born in Turkey, we would not have the ATM. I’m glad he came over because if I had to wait in line at the bank every time I needed cash, my head would explode. Thank you Mr. Simiian for preventing my head from exploding. So the next time you meet someone who is new to this country, I implore you to welcome them with open arms. Remember how similar they are to you or me and that immigration built this country. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s the American thing to do.
Confessions of a student worker
Where’s my money? By Stephanie Garcia Staff Writer The one question that everyone has this time of the year is “When are refunds going out?” It is an inquiry that student workers dread hearing. We answer that question at least 100 times a day. The answer becomes a reflex and something we can spit out in a matter of seconds. We even keep a tally of how many times a day we answer the question. We all know that a few weeks into the semester, the phones will be blowing up with students calling to ask the same thing. We understand that having that extra cash is nice. It helps with bills, food and maybe even a small (or large) shopping trip. If students call wanting to know when the refunds go out, they will most likely hear the general answer of “four to six weeks after the first day of class.” No, we do not have a specific day, and no we can’t guarantee the refunds will be out in that four to six week time frame. The
Garcia
business office gets the refunds ready to go out and they can’t start that process until after people stop charging to the bookstore. And, the only thing we can tell students regarding refunds is what they tell us. We know that some other schools send their refunds out sooner than NTCC, but their process is different than ours. All we know is that the business office works hard to get the refunds ready for students, and they try to get them out as soon as they can. Calling every day will not make the refunds go out any faster, nor will students receive a different answer. Like I said before, we tell refund recipients what they tell us. When the business office gives us a more specific day, then we will let students
know. Until then, we just ask everyone to bear with us and please be patient. We are working as fast as we can because we know people want answers. One thing that many students do not realize is that the school sends out emails when a refund is going to be applied to an account. The problem is, a lot of students fail to check their NTCC email. If students will just keep checking their email, it will tell them everything they need to know. So the bottom line is, students don’t even have to call the school. They can even call the number on the back of the card (if using that for a refund) to check to see if there is anything on the card. If someone is using a personal account, it takes a little longer than using a student ID, but students can still check with their banks to see if the funds have been deposited. Again, please be patient with us. We work hard to get the money out, but it is a long process that takes time. Thanks for your cooperation, Financial Aid Student Worker.
cartoon by andrew mcclain
Does racism still permeate our society? By Kieran Martin Staff Writer Segregation may have been outlawed, but silent discrimination still occurs. One day I wish to be able to say, “racism does not exist in the millennial generation.” That statement, however, would be wholly dishonest. As we celebrate Black History Month, we acknowledge the remarkable feats and accomplishments of African Americans throughout history. Before Black History Month came about, there was Negro History Week - the jump from seven days to a full month is an intrinsic achievement. In a recent layout and editing class, we were discussing Black Lives Matter, and many were unsure of what the movement actually represents. We looked at their website (blacklivesmatter.com) and their self-proclaimed affirmation includes, “#BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society.” That statement did not sit well with a few of my classmates, as if it was almost controversial to say that racism still pervades the United States today. It is ignorant to assume that racial prejudice is fictitious in the “forward thinking generation.” But those same people who believe that it is nonexistent have never been followed around a store while being watched like a hawk, nor have they ever feared for their lives while getting pulled over by a police officer. The death of Trayvon Martin is the epitome of racial profiling. The young 17-year-old African American was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch coordinator, who believed the high schooler was “acting
Martin suspiciously” solely because of his ethnicity. Martin was pursued and murdered — only to be found armed with a bag of skittles. His nonblack killer evaded a prison sentence and got away with the crime. What kind of justice is that? This begs the question, why are there racial disparities in sentencing? An example is Brock Turner, a Stanford University swimmer who raped a woman behind a dumpster. He was indicted on five charges, including: rape of an unconscious person, assault with intent to rape, and sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object. The felony charges made him eligible for up to 14 years in jail. The judge sentenced him to a pitiful six months, which was then cut down to three. He is now a free man. On the other hand, 16-yearold All-Star black football player, Brian Banks was accused of rape, and he was tried as an adult and served five years in prison and another five years on parole for being a sex offender, before his accuser admitted her allegations were false. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia looked into over 50,000 federal criminal cases and found that black males who commit the same crime as their white counterparts will receive a 60 percent longer jail term. In August 2016, The Longview News-Journal
printed a controversial front page, above-the-fold article entitled, “The Klan Turns 150” accompanied by a large image of a burning cross. This story raised many eyebrows and sparked outrage beyond the local area. This was a sad reminder that the hate group continues to actively function in the United States. Surprisingly, the newspaper outed all of the practicing KKK groups in and around East Texas, including Longview, Dekalb, and one right here in Mount Pleasant, Texas. If nothing else convinces us that racism is alive and well in America, that should make our minds up. For those of us who are inherently accepting of races and cultures other than our own, we are met by white supremacists with the naive phrase, “Quit being so offended by everything, and get over it.” Then we are collectively branded “sensitive snowflakes” for standing up against something that is so implicitly wrong. So you can say that we need to let it go, but even today, some have living relatives that experienced segregation and are being treated second class — and they are still here to tell their story. Racism is not hereditary; neither is it contagious. It is learned. Some people discriminate against a skin color different than their own because that is what their parents taught them, and they feel no need to question it. Others do not understand what it is like to be a minority and they do not necessarily care to know. And some may not want to admit that they have abused their privileges in society as a white man. We may not have separate water fountains or attend racially isolated schools in 2017, but we are far from being perfectly equal.
The Eagle Eagle Adviser Mandy Smith Editor-in-Chief Daniel Yanez
Managing Editor Kenzie Messer
We want to hear from you! Got an opinion? Write a Letter to the Editor and email it to ntcceagleeditors@gmail.com
Staff Writers Iesha Fluellen, Brianna Stacks, Kieran Martin, Andrew McClain, Ryan Mendoza, Nubia Sanchez, Yami Zuniga, Na’Chyna Shardai Rogers, Vanessa Navarro and Stephanie Garcia The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the opinions of the faculty advisor or the administration of the college. Questions? Comments? E-mail our adviser Mandy Smith at msmith@ntcc.edu or visit our website at www.facebook.com/thentcceagle.
February 23, 2017
The Eagle
Northeast Texas Community College
Page 5
News
Engineering Roundtable offers students great opportunity by Andrew
Staff Writer
McClain
The Northeast Texas Community College Department of Physics and Engineering recently held their fourth annual Engineering Roundtable and Luncheon at Northeast Texas Community College. This event - organized by Dr. Paula Wilhite, Division Chair of Math, Physics, and Engineering - is designed to expose high school students – as well as Northeast students – to the NTCC engineering program and unique opportunities it provides. More than that, students received the opportunity to meet and talk with professional engineers in various fields ranging from mechanical to chemical and from civil to electrical. “According to research,” Wilhite said, “one of the most significant barriers for these students is the lack of role models. Increasing outreach to high school and community college students to equip them with the information they need for success has not only been highly recommended, but is also considered a responsibility of educators.” Meeting that responsibility and equipping engineering
students with such information is exactly what the Roundtable and luncheon was created to do. Turnout this year far surpassed previous years with a record-breaking 105 people in attendance from multiple institutions in the area. Students attending the luncheon came from several schools, including Paul Pewitt High, Mount Pleasant High, Hugh Springs High, Chapel Hill High, Winsboro High, Pittsburg High, and NTCC itself. Students in attendance were given the opportunity to meet with professional engineers and received counsel in regards to pursuing a career in the field. More than that, SWEPCO made a generous donation of $1,000 to sponsor the event, and two high school students, Isidoro Hernandez and Chesney Davis, were awarded $500 scholarships each. Also, students in attendance were encouraged to apply for the NTCC Foundation Scholarship. Dr. Brent Donham, mechanical engineer and faculty member at Texas A&M University Commerce, said about the event, “For engineers, I think this is key that they can come and really get some concrete ideas together of ‘What is Engineering?’ and ‘What
Andrew McClain | staff photo
Todd Corbin, P.E. uses his impressive array of prepared materials to strengthen his demonstration to students at one leg of the Roundtable. could I do with it?’ and spur on new ideas.” Hughes Springs High School Junior Cypress Wright echoed the sentiment. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak personally with so many engineers,” Wright said. “They offered helpful advice and a new perspective
that will be very valuable as I pursue a career in the field.” Wilhite said that students who choose the NTCC Engineering program over larger schools reap such benefits as small, concentrated classes that are close to home and affordable and whose instructors are remarkably accessible in
comparison to those of larger schools. More than that, students are offered unique internship opportunities within local engineering industries as well as substantial scholarship opportunities and a chance to join the prestigious honors society Phi Theta Kappa. “When our graduates leave
NTCC,” Wilhite added, “they enroll in a four-year university to continue their studies and complete a B.S. in a field of engineering… Following graduation with a B.S. in a field of engineering, these students have excellent opportunities to become employed in a financially and otherwise rewarding career.”
Valentine’s cards for seniors By Ryan-Rose Mendoza Staff Writer
Mandy Smith | staff photo
Arroyo gets into character onstage as he acts out a scene from the upcoming Thieves production with fellow actress Elizabeth Taraba. He uses his time on the Northeast stage as preparation for a potential future career in voice acting.
Last week, the Northeast college book store devised a way to give back to the community for the Valentine’s day week. The store staff held a hand-made Valentine’s Card competition with all creations going to be sent to nursing homes in the surrounding areas. People of all ages were encouraged to try their hand at homemade creations with a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Mount Pleasant Cinema Six (adult prize) and a Valentine’s Day gift basket (children’s prize). “We wanted some way to
give back to the community and spread some cheer to the elderly, and we thought that this little project would be a great way to bring everyone together and just have fun doing something good for the community” college store worker Carol Harrah said. Naomi Taylor, College Store Director, spoke of the planning and outcome of the event. “There are always Valentine’s fundraisers, but I wanted to do something that you didn’t have to pay for, just an activity to bring the campus involved as well as give back to the community.” “It was really nice to see everyone who brought in cards. It was even more
awesome on how many individuals brought in multiple cards.” The Adult winner was Cynthia Linseisen with Upward Bound and the child winner was Ryder an 8-yearold little boy. His card was 4 sided: Happy Valentine Day, I, heart, you (with ninja turtles). Cards were dispersed to four different homes in four different cities, The Lodge – Mt. Pleasant Bluebonnet Elite – Naples The Windsor Place – Dangerfield Pittsburg Nursing Center – Pittsburg A total of 186 cards were received and given out.
Voice actor finds his start onstage Brianna Stacks Staff Writer by
Northeast Texas Community College theatre major, Francisco Arroyo, recently took one step closer to his dream of becoming a voice actor. On one of Arroyo’s frequent visits surfing through Castingcall. club, a website that has hundreds of projects for aspiring voice actors, he came across an opportunity. Arroyo found a project called “Broken” and decided to audition by recording for several of its characters. After waiting for the last day of casting, Arroyo logged on to be informed by the creator that he had been casted. What this will mean is that Arroyo thought was only an anticipated career is now off to a great start. “I fully believe this will be a great experience for me to get a taste of online voice acting. I need to start somewhere after all,” Arroyo said. “Broken” is a project associated with Machinima, a YouTube channel of select
videos where the creator uses real time computer graphics to tell a cinematic story. For the project “Broken,” the popular video game franchise, Super Smash Brothers is going to be used to create the graphics for the videos, with a storyline written by the creator. In this video, Arroyo will voice one of the main characters, Roy, a playable character in the Smash Bros series. Despite having auditioned for many characters, Roy was the character Arroyo had the highest hopes for. “I felt Roy was the best fit for me out of all the characters,” he said. “Which is why I was so excited to be cast as him.” Arroyo added that what he has learned from Theatre Northeast would carry on through his ambitions in voice acting, “The big thing that I’ve taken from Theatre Northeast is that I can make any character my own. No matter the type of character, I can make individual choices that I believe can better help me
bring any character to life,” he said. “It may not always be the right call, but it’s nice to know I have this kind of freedom.” Theatre Northeast director, Martin Holden, sees this as a valuable experience for his student and fellow actor. Holden who has done voice overs himself sees this as an opportunity, “Voice acting is another form of performance. Good voice actors are great performers and for Frankie to do that I think it is amazing,” said Holden. “This is very good for him and opens up a very broad range of acting in any form that he will pursue in the future.” After NTCC, Arroyo plans to record a demo reel of his voice and send it to Funimation, a major dubbing company based in Texas. “What I want to accomplish is simple. I just want to entertain, to bring smiles to people’s faces when they hear my performances,” Arroyo said. “Voice actors have done that to me, so I want to be able to do the same for others as well.” Iesha Fluellen | staff photo
These are just a few of the hundred or so Valentine’s Day cards that were created by students and staff alike and eventually donated to nursing homes in Mount Pleasant and beyond. In total, the Northeast College Bookstore wound up receiving and subsequently delivering well over a hundred heartfelt handmade cards to senior citizens all around Mt. Pleasant.
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The Eagle
February 23, 2017
Northeast Texas Community College
Entertainment
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From left, Veronica, Betty, Josie, Jughead, Sabrina and Archie gather for a photo-op at their favorite haunt, Pop’s Chock-Lit Shop, which is featured prominently in the show.
The CW’s ‘Riverdale’ presents a whole new Archie by Iesha
Fluellen Staff Writer It usually takes a lot for me to get involved in a television show. I rarely follow most shows due to the fact that there’s so many to choose from, and if I ever get behind a few episodes, it’s always a chore for me to get caught up. I personally know quite a few people in the same boat as me when it comes to this, but I’ve got to say that the newest series on The CW, Riverdale, has certainly gained my undivided attention. When I first heard that this show was going to be made,
I honestly thought it would be cheesy and ridiculous because the show revolves around the famous characters from the Archie comics. They’ve been around and revamped throughout the years for new generations before I was even born, a lot like the Scooby-Doo characters. I didn’t think the show would be as intriguing as it actually is. In the show, we follow the protagonist, Archie Andrews, played by KJ Apa, as he deals with conflicts while living in the town Riverdale. Some of Archie’s daily obstacles involve his childhood friend, Betty
Cooper, who is portrayed by Lili Reinhart. Betty has an interesting story arc in the show surrounding her overprotective mother and her mysterious sister Polly. Another girl in Archie’s life that has created an impact is Veronica Lodge. She is played by Brazilian actress, Camila Mendes. Veronica comes from a wealthy and sneaky family, but is humble at heart. One character that has certainly been a standout among the rest of the cast is Archie’s good friend Jughead Jones. He is played by Cole Sprouse of The Suite Life of
Zack & Cody fame. Not only does he give a great performance as Jughead, but Sprouse also narrates the show. In the classic Archie comics, the town of Riverdale is thought of as a perfect place where there are no troubles. This television series is changing everything you think you know about the town. The show begins one summer when a tragic and mysterious death occurred to one of Archie’s classmates. As the new school year begins, bits and pieces of the mystery are starting to emerge causing every one of the characters to become
a suspect. Truths come to the light and skeletons are revealed from closets in every episode of the series. As this all happens, you begin to realize that Riverdale was never a perfect town. In fact, you discover that the town is full of characters with dark secrets and questionable behaviors. I will admit that I initially didn’t even bother to tune in on the night of the premiere, but once I started hearing the buzz about the show it sparked my interest. I mean, who doesn’t love a good mystery? By the second week of the show, I downloaded The CW
app and watched the first two episodes. From what I saw, I was one hundred percent sold. Each episode will have you on the edge of your seat and will leave you wanting more. The show is still early in its first season, so there’s plenty of time to catch up if you are interested. I’d highly recommend downloading The CW app, like I did, or just go to their website and watch the episodes there. This is one of those shows that I can’t help but recommend to everyone I know. I judged it way too soon. Riverdale is truly a gem.
Who Said It? 11 Famous African-American Quotes 1
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The starring family of Netflix’s newest series gather and share their reaction to Sheila’s new all-flesh diet.
Suburban sitcom turns family to the dark side
Kieran Martin Staff Writer by
Santa Clarita Diet poses the question: can two high school sweethearts keep their marriage intact if one of them gains a desire for human flesh? The series was created exclusively for Netflix, starring Drew Barrymore, known for numerous rom-coms including 50 First Dates, and Timothy Olyphant from Deadwood. Netflix dropped the entire season on February 3. The 30-minute horror-comedy show follows the semi-boring life of Sheila and Joel, two real estate agents living between two cops in a cookie cutter neighborhood in Southern California, and their cynical 16-year-old daughter. The show soon turns dark after Sheila loses her heartbeat while vomiting half of her body weight (and a couple organs) and turns into a flesh-eating zombie. Suddenly, she has more energy and becomes more adventurous, leaving her vanilla lifestyle behind. Now don’t get turned off by the zombie aspect, as we all know it is a theme that has become stale in recent years. Santa Clarita Diet over exaggerates the
living dead characteristic, almost poking fun at the worn-out idea. After Sheila’s transformation, Joel attempts to keep up the American family dynamic, helping their daughter with homework and boy problems; while going out at night searching for human flesh for his wife because that’s what couples do, right? We then follow their search for a cure for the zombie outbreak as they plead to claim Sheila back from the undead. You would think that joke after joke about eating people would get dull. However, the jokes constantly land with the audience. There are guaranteed chuckles during each episode. Keep a close eye out for cameos by highprofile Hollywood actors throughout the season. The show takes its time to get into the rhythm and build the entire story, so it requires the viewer to be patient throughout. The level of gore may not be to everyone’s taste, so watch with caution - and a sick bag! Those who can muscle through the blood, guts, and gore will be rewarded with one of the most comical dark comedies to grace our screens in a long time.
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Down
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1. “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
2. “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.”
3. “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
4. "No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place."
1. “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” 9. “I had no idea that history was being made. I was just 3.of giving “Myup.”humanity is bound up in tired for weis less can 10.yours, “The cost of liberty thanonly the pricebe of human repression.” together.” 11.8. "When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength “I believe that unarmed truth inand the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less unconditional love will have the final important whether I am afraid." word.” 9. “I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.” 10. “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” 11. “When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” 8. "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
2. “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability 5. “Have a vision. Be demanding.” comes true for us.” 6. "Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about 4. “Nooneman can know where he is embracing another's uniqueness." unless he aren't knows exactly 7.going "The battles that count the ones for gold where medals. The invisible, inevitable hestruggles has within beenyourself and-- the exactly how he battles inside all of us -- that's where it's at." arrived at his present place.” 5. “Have a vision. Be demanding.” 6. “Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” 7. “The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself -- the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us -that’s where it’s at.”
February 23, 2017
The Eagle
Page 7
Northeast Texas Community College
Entertainment
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Season 6 of ABC’s popular Once Upon a Time series begins on March 5. The season continues to delight its fans with the look into a different side of popular Disney characters.
Once is never enough for devoted ‘OUAT’ fans By Nubia Sanchez Staff Writer
In less than two weeks the fourmonth wait will be over! For all the “oncers” (fans) of ABC’s Once Upon a Time series will begin airing on Sundays starting in March. So many good and bad things have happened along the way since this show began in 2011. I have been looking forward to March 5 to get here since the 2016 winter finale. Once Upon a Time is my favorite show and could be yours too if you love magic, mysteries, fantasy and Disney. What I love about the show is how the many Disney characters such
as Snow White, Prince Charming, the dwarves and others live in our modern world but flashback to their homeland, The Enchanted Forest. The characters travel from different realms and find themselves trapped in curses and different lives. For example, Snow White and Prince Charming actually have children on the show unlike in the Disney films. I also love how the characters are shown in real life, unlike Disney where most of the fairytale stories are animated films. The show itself has the different Disney characters, villains and heroes, within the storyline. We learn the true story of the characters
and some tend to be the total opposite of who they were in the films we grew up watching. Since most Disney movies end with happy endings, Once Upon a Time is about everyone finding their happy ending and deciding whether villains can actually become heroes and make peace with their enemies despite their past evil actions. The heroes find a way to beat the evil villains and sometimes even become friends and family with them as well. Some of the main characters are Snow White, Prince Charming, Emma Swan, Captain Hook, Henry Mills, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Regina Mills and The Evil Queen.
The second half of season six is going to be awesome. The winter finale ended with a variety of surprises that left me jumping and screaming on my sofa. With some of the main characters coming back to the show as well as some new ones, that should make the rest of this season interesting. The winter finale ended with the great surprise of Robin Hood returning. It seems like Regina might get her happy ending with her lover after all since in season five Robin was murdered by Hades. The upcoming episode promo shows what to expect once the series is back on television. There seems to be many events that will
take place including learning the weaknesses of some heroes and how some characters that were meant to be heroes might turn out to be villains instead. There is supposed to be a fight between the savior (Emma Swan) and Morpheus, and as seen on previous episodes, the savior dies due to a prophecy that he saw, but you never know, there could be a change of events. All there is to do now is to see the remaining half of season six. I hope I won’t be disappointed because this show can sometimes do that, too. But until then, I’ll just have to watch the last episode from the first half of season six as a recap.
Theatre Northeast presents a production of ‘Thieves’ By Brianna Stacks Staff Writer Theatre Northeast presents the other side of life in Thieves. Theatre Northeast is in the works of producing their first play of the spring semester with a dash of New York accents, a little comedy and some revelations into the dark sides of life. Performances for the upcoming show will be at the Whatley Center on March 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and March 5 at 2:05 p.m. Thieves, written by Herb Gardener, is set in New York City and over the course of one night, this dramatic comedy focuses on the strained relationship of Martin and Sally Cramer. Surrounded by a unique body of colorful street people and stereotypical neighbors, Martin and Sally separate and stray in their own separate ways. The play shows their journey to rediscover one another, in a story of heartbreak, humor and hope. Theatre Director and former Northeast student, Martin Holden, previously
acted as Martin in the original cast of Thieves on the Whatley stage in the spring of 1993. Martin, who never lost his connection with the dramatic comedy came back eight years later to watch the revived performance under the direction of former Northeast Theatre Professor and Director Douglas “Papa” Hoppock. Holden came to love the play even more. Later, while contemplating which play to produce this semester, Holden’s wife suggested Thieves and he immediately knew his decision. But his love for the play was not his only reason for the choice; he said it was for his students as well. “There are some great roles, some challenging roles in this play. That’s another thing I look for when selecting a play,” said Holden. “Is this something that is going to be challenging for my students? Will they learn anything new? And I think that this play will provide that as well, along with telling a good story for the audience.” Thieves is not just a pure
comedy, it sheds light on many of the difficult times in life. The audience sees the hardships of the Cramers and those around them. The play shows that not everything in life is always hearts and flowers. “Too many times young romance is shown and you never see a downside, but for Martin and Sally, they have been together for a long time and the magic has gone so what remains?” Holden said. “What do you do to keep that relationship alive? Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship will appreciate the rough patches and the ability to forgive others and forgive yourself.” Holden said he hopes the play will help the students develop new skills while also exposing them to a different side of acting. “If you do the same thing over and over again, there is not much growth and not much change,” Holden said. “It’s been interesting and continues to be in the rehearsal process of Thieves to watch the students have to struggle with it and that’s not
mandy smith
| staff photo
The Theatre Northeast cast will step onto the Whatley stage March 2-5 for the production of Thieves. a bad thing. It means they are growing.” Theatre Northeast student Elizabeth Taraba, who is playing the role of the Sally Cramer, said she already feels like she is progressing in her abilities as an actress. “I’m learning how to portray thoughts and emotions without saying a word,” Taraba said. “There will be moments when I don’t have any dialogue, but I still
have to tell the audience something. It’s really interesting.” Taraba wants to not just see a growth in herself and her other cast members, but a growth in the audience. “I hope this show lets the audience reflect on their friendships and relationships with other people,” Taraba said. “And maybe even give them a little advice.” Tickets will be $10 for
adults, $7 for students, $5 for Sr. Citizens and NTCC Faculty and Staff, and free to NTCC students with current ID. Holden wishes to convey to future audiences to be advised, the play contains mature language and themes. Due to the intimate setting and limited seating, reservations are required by calling the Whatley Box Office at 903-434-8181.
West family to debut new lines under family label By Na’Chyna Rogers Staff Writer Kayne West and his wife Kim Kardashian always have something up their sleeves to stay in the spotlight. Their next big move is to soon release a children’s clothing line inspired by their kids with the help of their 3-year-old daughter, North, who will also be modeling some of the clothes. Kardashian announced the plans on snapchat while Northie had on two items
from the clothing line: a yellow high neck skater trim sequin dress with a shearling jacket and black vans. Kardashian has also said that North has a role in design and has even helped pick out colors and fabrics. Since the day she was born, North has been known as an icon in the fashion industry. Her fashion sense has a
wide variety ranging from cute dresses to big white coats that look like they are about to swallow her up. In many of her outings, she has been seen in girly dresses, but she also throws in a pair of sneakers that give her look a tomboy edge. Regardless of how she
dresses, all of North’s outfits have been the cutest, but with her only being three years old, a lot of her dresses are a little too short and a little too low cut for someone her age. I think it’s safe to say though, North’s style is unique just like her dad, Kanye, but it fits her personality, and it keeps everyone in the fashion industry on their toes. The world can’t get enough of North’s sense of fashion. Nobody knows exactly how the clothing in the
collection will look, but all the clothes in the collection will be inspired by what the West’s kids wear. If the clothes North has been wearing are in the collection, there is no doubt in my mind that the line will be another huge success for the Kardashian-West crew. People already use North’s outfits as an inspiration for dressing their own kids in everyday life and even on Halloween. Kayne has said that the line will be featured in Yeezy
season 4, but that came out last September, and the kid’s collection was not released with it. We were expecting it to release this year with Yeezy season 5, but once again no sign of the line. The official release date for Kimye’s kid clothing line, or even the official name of the line has yet to be announced. One thing is for sure, when the Kayne and Kim’s clothing line does come out, the fashion industry will go crazy.
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The Eagle
February 23, 2017
Northeast Texas Community College
News New biology labs in UHS offer high tech scopes By Iesha Fluellen Staff Writer Northeast’s biology labs have not only been relocated, but have been updated with high-tech equipment, giving students a newer perspective in the classroom. The new labs are a part of the $19.9 million construction project that has been taking place across campus over the past several months. The labs were previously located in the Industrial Technology (IT) building in IT 104 and IT 109, but have moved to the University Health Sciences (UHS) building. The new equipment features microscopes that include features such as flat screen monitors and a place to insert an SD card. The professors are enjoying the new equipment nearly as much as their students. “I think this is perfect for the students,” said Professor of Biology Dr. Brenda Deming. “They can take
a picture on their SD card and take it home to study. Also the monitors have good quality images.” The microscopes are so high tech in fact that the instructors are still learning new features about them. “We didn’t learn how to use them until the weekend before this semester,” Deming said. “The lights in the IT building were still being worked on, so we had to be completely moved out already. That same weekend, we sort of got a crash course on the new microscopes. We learned how to use them pretty easily, but there’s still new things we discover about them all the time.” The professors are adjusting to their new equipment to the best of their ability as they continue to instruct their classes. The students taking biology courses this semester seem to be fairly impressed with the new equipment as well. “The new microscopes are
very precise in every little detail,” said Tiffany Johnson. “They’re very easy to use.” The room also holds more lab equipment as well as Biology models and containers. The new labs have also been refurbished and customized for all of their requirements. This includes new furniture such as shelves, tables and a large number of storage cabinets. The facilities also gained new lights and sink stations. “Everything in here is new,” Deming said. “I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out.” Behind the labs are more areas for storage. This specific space holds a refrigerated area for dissecting items. An entire ventilation system was also installed in the new labs to keep unpackaged dissectible items preserved. All in all, the new biology labs are opening up a whole new learning environment for the students in the biology courses.
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| daniel yanez
Students Savanna Hagood and Tiffany Johnson look at cells through one of the new microscopes in the new biology labs. The new microscopes are very precise in every little detail and very easy to use,” Student Tiffany Johnson said. “They are really, really, really cool.” She said every thing in
the lab is visual and “good for the eye to see.” Dr. Hearron said her department is appreciative of the new lab spaces and the opportunities the equipment
offers to the students enrolled in the courses. “We are very grateful for the new space and equipment we’ve gotten,” said Dr. Mary Hearron.
Biology students to the rescue By Nubia Sanchez Staff Writer
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| mandy smith
Dr. Jim Ward, center, and his biology II students cut mistletoe from a tree located outside of the library.
While most people think about hanging up mistletoe in their doorway as a cheerful Christmas tradition, the parasitic plant has taken on a much more sinister role on the Northeast campus. A longstanding oak tree located outside of the library is being attacked by mistletoe. NTCC Biology Professor Jim Ward said he and Plant Services Director Tom Ramler originally debated whether to take the tree down or see what could be done to save it. Ward said after some discussion, he got the idea to turn the tree into a service learning project for his Biology II class. “We are trying to save and help the tree recover to where it will grow out with full foliage,” he said. This undertaking is one of several other projects that Ward’s biology classes will be involved with over the next few months. Ward said he and his students will
work closely with Ramler and his crew to assist with the college’s landscape management plan and tree identification. Ward and his students began the process of cutting the mistletoe out of the tree several weeks ago. He said pictures that were taken from fall 2016 of the effected tree will be used to compare the results later on this spring semester. “The tree might take a year to recover,” he said. “This project is important for students to learn biology. It’s hands on, and gives back to the college so the college will not have to pay anyone to solve this problem.” Usually biology students just learn about plant life while sitting in the classroom, but in this particular course the students are actually getting to experience saving one. Biology student Melody Mott said she thinks that this project is “cool because it is interactive learning about the biology of the tree and the different types of mistletoe there
is.” She said the project also gives the students a chance to give back to the college. “It is a way in helping the community and landscape, and it helps the whole campus environment look better and nicer by helping the trees,” Mott said. Another biology student, Gavin Dethrow agreed with Mott. “It is fun and hands on learning,” he said. “The tree looks a lot better from the first time I saw it. It did not look like the best. But with what has been done the tree can get back to being healthy without all the parasites sucking the life and water from the tree.” Ward said the class will continue working to get the tree back into a healthy state, but it will be awhile before they know if their efforts have paid off. “We are in the process of stopping the ‘bleeding’ and the repairing will start,” he said. “We won’t know about the results for about a year.”
The sky is the limit Where The Green Grass Grows By Michael Rundle Guest Columnist
What is Ag Industry, how do you define it? Is it the producing and selling of cattle, the cultivation and marketing of fruits and vegetables? What if I told you that in nearly every degree program in college there is an underlying, nearly limitless potential of jobs in the field of agriculture. Nearly every time I go outside to mow the yard, my seven-year-old daughter Phoenix tags along begging the question, “Daddy can I please ride with you?” Whenever I go to water or dig or even walk the property, there she is with her innocent smile asking, “Daddy can I come?” I have found myself pondering the questions, what and who will she grow up to be. What impact will she make as she grows and matures? At the very impressionable age of seven, she already understands the concept of why something as simple as a seed is so important and how it works at the most basic of levels. My heart jumps with excitement at the
thought of the little biologist lingering within. As a parent I can only hope that she grows up to do something she will enjoy. Biologists, ecologists, lawyers, authors are a few examples of the thousands of professionals that have a direct impact on the food that you eat and many of the clothes that you wear. As you read this article you may be asking yourself, “I don’t want to spend a lifetime in school” or you may have three kids at home and find yourself in school learning a new trade under a work trade program. Fear not, there is room for you too. Welders, equipment operators, truck drivers and even farmers are a few of the career specialties that offer an honest living with experience ranging from a high school diploma to a two-year associates from your local community college. I will end this piece much in the same fashion as the last article. I will challenge you to take a look at where you want to go, who you want to be and what impact you wish to make. Do you want to finish here at NTCC and jump straight into the workforce, or perhaps you aspire to go on to a four-year degree program? Perhaps you wish to acquire your masters or PhD. Just remember, whether you are a liberal arts student or a country boy, there will always be a home for you in agriculture.
Texas A&M features
Ms. Lucero Rivas Luci Rivas, current A&MTexarkana at NTCC Bachelor of Business Administration student graduated from NTCC in 2015 before continuing her studies with A&M-Texarkana. Lucero has worked for American National Bank in Mt. Pleasant for 15 years and has recently been promoted to an assistant vice president position. Congratulations to A&MTexarkana at NTCC’s very own!
As a child, what did you “want to be” when you grew up? Growing up, that answer never came to me.
Where is your hometown? Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Tell me one entry on your bucket list? Travel to America’s famous tourist attractions with my family.
Who in your life has influenced you most? My family. They have also been my biggest supporters and cheerleaders.
How did you hear about A&M Texarkana at NTCC? NTCC What do you do in your free time? Read, watch movies, and spend time with my family. Family date nights are my favorite! What advice can you give to other students? It’s never too late to pick up where you left off. Never quit. Continue your journey to reach your goal, even if it’s at a turtle’s pace.
Ideally, where will you be in 10 years? Working at a job I love and enjoying life with my family.
February 23, 2017
The Eagle
Northeast Texas Community College
Page 9
Sports
Top: First baseman Will Dawson mans the field in the top of the fifth after the Eagles cushion their lead in a game against TCS Post Grad. The Eagles secured a 22-12 win after seven innings. Left: Eagles’ players Darien Simms (12), Justin Bundy (15) and Chandler Dean (3) congratulate Brady Batten (11) at home plate after hitting a three-run home run to left field.
Northeast baseball claims big win off 22 hits By Teresa Flores Public Information Office After dropping two games to Ranger College this past weekend, the Northeast Eagles baseball team returned home to face TCS Post Grad. The Eagles dominated the game, clearing a six-run shortfall with a big 10-run inning. The team cushioned their lead and secured a 22-12 victory. Brady Batten helped lead the team to their win. The player racked up 5 RBIs off of three hits, one of which was a threerun homer. Things appeared a little rocky for the Eagles as they entered the bottom of the third down by six. The team made a killing as errors and a strong offense at the plate helped round up 10 runs. Ryan Dudley got the hits going for the Eagles with a hard ground ball to left field. Darien Simms and Batten collected two hits each in the inning, with
each scoring two. A double to left field on a pop fly by Justin Bundy brought in two runs. The Eagles’ bats overpowered Post Grad fielders in the big inning, allowing Northeast to take the lead for good. In the fourth, the Eagles crossed home two more times before Batten widened their lead with a three-run homer. Despite a lineup change in the fifth for Northeast, Post Grad was unable to recover. Both teams tacked on another six runs, but Post Grad couldn’t quite dig themselves out of the hole. Head Baseball Coach Shane Wedd said the team’s performance against TCS Post Grad showcased their entire team’s best effort. “I am really proud of our guys. All of our position players got in the game and contributed,” he said. “In the fifth inning, we changed the entire lineup and put guys in who haven’t played many games. They came out ready to go, and I thought they did a great job. Any time you score 22 runs, it’s a positive night.”
Although suffering two defeats in close games against Ranger College, the head coach said the win was a great way to bounce back into the game. “The guys were within two runs in both losses against Ranger,” Wedd said. “It was some tight games and the guys played hard but we just got to clean a couple of things up. It was a great way for them to come out and respond and leave with a big win.” The Eagles will head into conference play next week when they travel to face Paris Junior College. Wedd said their most recent win against Post Grad was a good chance to ready players for conference. “We got a couple of pitchers in that haven’t had an opportunity to pitch in a while,” he said. “So it was good to get them in and get some experience as we gear up for the conference next week.” Northeast will travel to Little Rock, Ark. for a doubleheader versus Arkansas Baptist College on Feb. 23. The team will host Arkansas on Feb. 25 for an afternoon doubleheader.
Lady Eagle Aileen Robles pitches in a game earlier this season. The team has struggled to gain any traction in recent games, but look forward to the remainder of the season.
Lady Eagles struggle early in season By Na’Chyna Rogers Staff Writer With softball season in full swing, the Northeast Lady Eagles softball team are having a little trouble finding their footing, and struggling to put wins under their belt. Recently, the Lady Eagles traveled to Temple for a five-game tournament. The girls faced San Jacinto, Temple, McLennan, Blinn and Galveston. The Lady Eagles put up a tough fight against both San Jacinto and Galveston. Northeast took a late lead in the game against San Jacinto. In the top of the seventh, the girls snapped two runs putting them above their opponent by one point. But, San Jacinto was able to tie the game with an error by Emily Burgos. “We have started off with some struggles, but we are overcoming all that has been thrown at us,” Softball Assistant Coach Sarah Lankford said. Northeast was unable to secure the win, falling 3-2 to San Jac after a walk-off in the eighth. On Saturday, the Lady Eagles grabbed an early lead against Galveston. Brittany Baggett scored on a passed ball in the top of the first and Daniela Azuajo scored after Nadia Ballarin grounded into a fielder’s choice in the second. “[The game] didn’t go as planned, but we have learned a lot from different situations thrown at us,” Lankford said. “We did have a lot of good process throughout all our games.” The girls held off Galveston for the first four innings, but two hits in the bottom of the fifth brought in three runs. The Lady Eagles were unable to recover, losing 3-2.
IeshaFluellen|Staff Photo
Rodeo team members Jess Bean and Cole Ward get in a late afternoon practice roping as they ride their horses in the college’s rodeo arena.
Rodeo travels for first event Kenzie Messer Managing Editor
Beginning the spring season, the Northeast Texas Community College’s men’s rodeo team is currently sitting in tenth place with the women’s team ranked slightly ahead in the eighth place spot. The first rodeo of the spring
Northeast softball player Nadia Ballarin fields a ball during an afternoon practice. “The team is coming off a tough loss that I think has stuck with them. They are ready to come out fighting this weekend,” Lankford said. “The fight that this team has and what they have overcome, we have no doubt that they are unstoppable.” Although the season has been a challenge for the team, the ladies still have quite a bit of time in the season for adjustments. The Lady Eagles will head to Beaumont, TX for the Cross-Over Tournament on Feb. 24-26. Conference play will start March 3 when the team faces Trinity Valley’s Lady Cardinals at Trinity Valley. “We are excited to watch this team grow and succeed every day on and off the field,” Lankford said.
semester for the Southern Region was held at Trinity Valley Community College. Northeast Rodeo Coach Skylar Hunnicutt said the team had a decent showing for the first rodeo. He said, “I hope to see a few more names pop up in the stands after this weekend.” Three members of the Northeast rodeo team placed.
Jessie Bean placed third in the bronc riding event while Zaine Carnahan placed fifth in the same event. Brittany Mayfield placed seventh in the barrel racing. Overall, the team placed seventh. The Northeast Eagles rodeo team will travel to Kingsville this weekend for their next rodeo.
Page 10
The Eagle
Northeast Texas Community College
February 23, 2017
Lifestyle
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| nubia sachez
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| kenzie messer
Madalyn Baker does a facial for a little girl as her close friends watch on.
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Bridget Conroy focuses as she gently paints an elderly woman’s nails. Conroy was one of several students who treated ladies to a day of pampering during a visit to the nursing home.
By Nubia Sanchez Staff Writer
smiles to faces. The students recently had the chance to treat some excited youngsters from E.C. Brice Elementary School to an afternoon of hairstyles, manicures, facials The Northeast Cosmetology Department has been and pedicures. actively involved in giving back to the community. Vilma Flores, a former E.C. Brice student, who is now Cosmetology students have enlisted in performing acts of in the dual credit Chapel Hill cosmetology program, said kindness that not only service others, but also provide a it was great to work with the youngsters. hands-on learning experience for students. Flores said she remembers having similar experiences Recently, the cosmetology students visited the Heritage visiting the campus when she was a little girl. She said it Park Village senior living community and experienced a is special that she is now the one who is getting to work hands-on working opportunity with the residents. with kids. The students were able to treat the ladies to hairstyles “It is cool to do this with the fourth grade kids, I like and give them manicures. talking to them and it brings back memories from when I Cosmetology student Carla Denson said that activities attended E.C Brice Elementary School.” like these are good opportunities for the students to not Northeast Cosmetology Instructor Debbie Lovelady only get practice, but also to do something for others. encourages these types of activities to give back to the “Knowing we’ve made somebody’s day, makes it all community and help the students get more experience worth it,” said Denson. “If it’s good for the ladies, it’s working with children as well as senior citizens. good for us.” “We need people for our students to practice on and the The elderly ladies said they enjoyed getting pampered little ones really don’t intimidate the girls, and that’s a big by the factor. Letting them cosmetology learn out to work on students. people who don’t Senior living make them afraid resident Katie and they build their Webb said she confidence,” she felt good and said. “Plus it gets appreciated the little kids in the students’ here and gives them ability to serve something to do.” others. Webb Bob Banks, also said that Communities the students in Schools “are good at Coordinator at E.C. what they do, I Brice Elementary, feel I am ready said they try to bring staff photo | kenzie messer to go dancing.” out students who Another resident normally would not Rosie Willford Cosmetology students use their skills to treat ladies to a morning of get an opportunity to said she usually hairstyles and manicures. visit a beauty salon does her own very often. hair, so she felt special that someone else did her hair for He said they also try to reach out to at-risk children the day. with these types of activities. “They are special and God’s gift for what they did Fourth grade student Chloe Snodgrass said having the for us,” said Willford. Heritage Park Village Activities salon treatment was a fun experience. Director Haley Watson said, “It is lovely that the girls “I feel special because not all girls get to do this,” she come out and do this for the ladies and the ladies get very said. “I like how they brush my hair. I think the students exited.” are nice for dedicating their learning time for us.” The Chapel Hill dual credit cosmetology students have Lovelady said the students would continue to give back also been getting some hands-on experience that brought to the community throughout the community.
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| nubia sanchez
Sandy Chavarria prepares to paint a little girl’s nails as her classmates give other children manicures during the fourth-graders visit to the campus.
Carla Denson curls Mrs. Katie Webb’s hair just after she receives her fresh manicure.
They are special and God’s gift for what they did for us,” said Willford.
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| nubia sanchez
Maegan Grissom curls one of the E.C. Brice student’s hair while she watches herself in the mirror.