December 13, 2013

Chronicle Richland

Vol. XXXVIII, Issue 16 December 11, 2013

A College of the Dallas County Community College District

Remembering Madiba Pg. 4

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

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TAMUCAdmissions

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AMember of The Texas A&M University System

@TAMUC

lionsmedia

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Campus

Register now for spring semester Don’t wait until the last minute jonathan lee Staff Writer

Students wait in front of the advising offices in Thunderduck Hall to register for winter and spring terms.

“It’s really quick and fast with express registration rather than just waiting in line for the adviser,” said Le. Spring term registration ends, Jan. 15, but

Upcoming events Monday–Thursday: Dec. 9-12 Finals Week

2014 Spring Schedule: Credited classes meet from Jan. 21 through May 15.

Monday-Friday, Dec. 9-13 Book buy-back at the Follett Bookstore Students have a chance to win $500 by entering a code through Dec. 31 when they bring in a book to sell.

Tuesday, Jan. 14: Chronicle

Tuesday–Wednesday: Dec. 10-11 -13 Free massages in El Paso Hall

Tuesday, Jan. 21: Credit classes begin

Tuesday, Dec. 24: Holiday closings The Richland buildings and offices will close for the holidays at the end of the workday.

They will reopen Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014.

Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan. 21-22: The Learning Center will have an Open House in Medina Hall, Room M-216 for students.

Winter Term is from Dec. 16 to Jan. 10.

Regular registration for all students began Nov. 25. Spring term registration ends Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Note: During inclement weather when school is in session, call 972-238-6196 to see if Richland will be open or watch any of the local TV stations by 6 a.m.

First edition of the

Monday, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Campus is closed.

desired the classes may fill up long before then. Students will have to compete with each other for the most popular instructors and convenient class times.

Staff photo by Photo Editor Isai Diaz

Students can also sign up for winter term if they want to get one of their classes out of the way in just three weeks. There is a three-credit hour limit during winter term.

Call for submissions Dr. Bill Matter, English professor, is accepting submissions for the 2013-2014 League of Innovation writing competition. Any submissions could also be used in Richland’s awardwinning magazine, Parallax.

Only Richland students are allowed to submit material for the competition and the magazine.

Matter is looking for one page or less of poetry, short stories, one-act plays and essays no longer than 1,500 words, art work and photographs. There are no limitations on subject matter.

For questions or to submit an article, contact Matter at wmatter@dcccd.edu.

— Joyce Jackson

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Have you registered for spring classes yet?

Students are advised not to wait until the last minute.

Advising is now taking appointments in Thunderduck Hall. Students should check their eligibility for online registration first. If eligible, students have the advantage of registering quickly at home.

Sandibell Hernandez, 27, found the registration process “confusing.”

“There’s like a lot of steps – the admissions, and then to take the Accuplacer, and then all the buildings are so separated,” said Hernandez.

“And then you have to through advising again and then choose your classes. Literally, I’ve been here like for two weeks. I’m missing paperwork, so it’s just back and forth. I was ready to say I’ll just start next year.”

Brandon Vowels, a 26-year-old nursing student, had a similar experience but walked away satisfied in the end. “I wish I’d registered at home because I had to come over here,” said Vowels, “but everything else is fine. The process is great.”

Quy Le, a 19-year-old chemical engineering major, signed up for both winter and spring terms. He had to wait only “around five to 10 minutes.”

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Remembrance

Mandela: The passing of a legend KISTEN S. CHETTY

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Editor-in-Chief

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We all have moments that are etched into our memory, events in our lives from which we remember everything, down to the smallest detail. Usually it’s personal: our first fight (mine was over a girl, of course), our first day of school or our first kiss; deeply personal events that shake our world but in the grand scheme don’t matter to the world.

However, very rarely does an event occur that ripples into the lives of people all around the world. The passing of Nelson Mandela, affectionately called Tata Madiba, was one of those moments.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a part of a political group called the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa and worked to overthrow the white-dominated apartheid government in South Africa in the 1990s. After a long struggle he would eventually succeed and become South Africa’s first black president, as well as the first president elected in a truly democratic vote.

While fighting the apartheid government, he was convicted for crimes against the state and sentenced to life in prison where he served 27 years of it on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town. That’s what we are taught in school in South Africa and any Google search will offer up some equivalent. I can not fault the Internet here because Madiba’s exploits and attributes would be even too much for it to record.

Ironically, I was an ocean away when he passed; on Dec. 5 in a newsroom I heard the announcement that ‘Nelson Mandela is dead.’

My reaction was a mixture of sadness and relief, a reaction I think I shared with many of my fellow South Africans.

I had felt the awe-inspiring presence of Madiba heavier in my house growing up as my grandfather and father were part of the ANC. When Madiba was discussed at home he was held up as an ideal, something to strive for. Growing up I could never understand this reverence our household held for him. Along with that, though, he was not simply an ab-

stract concept. Even though he was already aging by the time I fully realized who he was, Madiba was never far from any conversation.

Whether it was the pessimistic, “Madiba would never have let this happen,” or the pleading “Why don’t they just do what Madiba would have done?” Mandela was ever present in the root of South Africa. But he was old and he was tired. There were multiple scares when the news reported that he was rushed to hospital in the middle of the night, and the country held its breath.

Awkward jokes about how many days of public holiday we would get if he died were made, but nobody would laugh. Then we would get the OK and as a country, we could breathe again until the next time and the next time.

I remember when it truly hit me how tired this titan of a man looked. It was during the World Cup when they brought Nelson Mandela out to give the final ceremonies some of his “Madiba Magic,” I remember being shocked at his appearance and undergoing a paradigm shift because, until then, I was under the impression that this being was never going to grow old. Added to that was the tragedy of his great-granddaughter dying from a drunken driving incident which had pulled him out of the opening ceremony.

From the multitudes of voices that are mourning and writing their own tributes, I only have one story to share about Madiba. It is what I learned about him in law school and his creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

The TRC was a court structure created after the abolishment of apartheid whose function was to give a public forum for people to speak about apartheid.

In essence perpetrators of crimes were allowed to come forward in the hope of gaining amnesty. The goal was to gain as much truth about events that transpired during apartheid and it was open to both sides, members of the ANC that had committed terrible crimes in the name of ending apartheid were also allowed to speak and seek amnesty. Although somewhat controversial, I thought it was an amazing step in the right direction and an im-

mense gesture.

Many argue that people lied to gain amnesty, but how can you weigh that against the reconciliation gained? We read many of the cases as some were even publicly heard and although terrible they helped bring closure to people who would otherwise never have felt it, which I believe is what Madiba had in mind.

It may sound like I have elevated the man Nelson Mandela to a mythical figure, but that is at the core of understanding the loss. Many South Africans did not know the man personally. Most South Africans know the legend, the

icon, because that is what we grew up with, and as absurd as it sounds, we felt some ownership to that Madiba Magic merely for being South African. You see, South Africa has a few legends in its own right, but Madiba was one of the few legends that affected the world. We as South Africans had a connection to him, and that’s the loss that we mourn; the “Madiba Magic” that made the world a lot brighter now is finally at rest.

Hamba kahle, Nelson Mandela. (Zulu: Goodbye, Nelson Mandela.)

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Campus

Visions of light: Challenging the definition of life NINI STERLING

“I don’t take a photograph; a photograph takes me.”

Staff Writer

“I believe that video is a universal language, and through it I can transcend all cultures and ethnic groups to deliver messages to audiences from all walks of life.”

Aaron Thomas shared this heartfelt message in a recent speech class. At 57, he is taking classes at Richland and other Dallas County Community College District campuses. Although he’ll end up with a television broadcasting and engineering degree, Thomas is quick to point out that he isn’t in college for the degree or even a job. He’s here because he loves learning and is passionate about photography and videography.

Thomas’ previous passion in technology led him to his first career in IT where he ran his own computer company for 30 years.

Thomas wanted to develop a business plan to be remembered for. He found inspiration from the Bible. After reading a passage in the Bible about wealth, he asked God to send him the computer illiterate and save them from financial loss.

Thomas advertised, “Get a complete IT department for less than the price of a minimum wage employee.” He had technologists on call 24/7, a business principle that couldn’t be found anywhere else in the world. His slogan was, “I am the Moses of

A self-portrait taken by Aaron Thomas.

technology, sent to say let my people go.”

Since his retirement 10 years ago, Thomas experienced a spiritual shift that brought him a new vision. Thomas decided he had struggled for long enough to make a living and the time had come to stop.

Since he wasn’t pursuing money, he would pursue education for the fun of it, not because he needed employment. Believing he was made in the image of his creator, he decided that he would pursue creativity: a connection between himself and his spirituality.

“My creator in the Bible was called the father of lights,” Thomas said. He did a study that said photography meant writing or painting with light. He said, “I thought OK, if I’m going to be in the image of my creator then I want to be in control of light.” This brought videography and photography to his mind as a topic of study.

When asked why it was important to him he said, “What it allows me to do is to previsualize or to imagine something and then put

photons in organized patterns to develop and show what I have previsualized; hence, photography.”

Thomas believes God is a photographer.

“All types of light manipulation is what he does on a grandiose scale all throughout the universe from the depths of space down to the utmost bowels of the Earth. You’ll see light and shadows and curves and shapes of architecture in every single thing created. So why not photography?”

Photography is his tool to tunnel into a moment of life. Through it he says he finds an emotional connection to that subject, scene or creation.

“I don’t take a photograph; a photograph takes me.”

This highlights how stirring an experience it can be to tune into a moment in life and portray it with imagery and light. Photography is something Thomas is passionate about: it’s something that contributes fulfillment to him and a connection to life. He believes in taking his own advice, “Make sure you decide before you do anything that you’re going to enjoy remembering it.”

If you envision making this world a better place and are a Richland student, drop by the Chronicle offices in El Paso Hall, Room E-020 or check us out on Facebook or visit www.richlandchronicle. com. No matter how big or small your path, it can touch many people.

Winter Bash - will play for pizza Student Government Association “Winter Bash was a huge success! Our goal was to allow students to blow off some steam before finals and learn about the clubs at Richland. Basically, you get a stamp card and attend eight tables, and then you get FREE PIZZA! The clubs did a wonderful job of creating their own unique game and everyone really pulled through, and together we were able to get 400+ kids to get involved! Thank you to the student life office and all the clubs that participated in this event!”

-Quynh Pham, secretary

Photos by Melanie Brandow Students enjoy the various games designed by each club. Participants with eight stamps were treated to free pizza.

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Club leaders share their thoughts about the Winter Bash event on Dec. 4.

RichGrad “The experience was fun and a lot of students came to the table to play the game as well as to sign up for the emailing list. Overall it was a good day.”

-Micheal Aulov, president IYF ( International Youth Fellowship) “It was a really good opportunity to promote IYF and the English Camp. We could reach out to a variety of people!”

-Tuan, member Be Project “It was a great experience. I enjoyed meeting people and had a blast.”

-Celso Arellano, president L.E.A.D. “The experience was wonderful, we all had fun. We hope to repeat this experience later.”

-Nariman Al-Mata, vice president F.O.C.U.S. (Fellowship of Christian University Students) “Winter Bash was a great event. We met lots of new students and handed out a lot of flyers for our club. Also it was a lot of fun!”

-Travis Jones, president Courage “Winter Bash was really fun. It was great to goof off and laugh a little with all the stress from finals right around the corner.”

-Lydia Mulkey, vice president

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CamPUS/Lifestyle

‘The Glass Menagerie’ — a retreat into illusion Joyce Jackson Copy Editor

One’s memories can be powerful when it comes to recalling events from the past. In Richland’s Nov. 23 production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” we saw just how vivid those memories can be through the eyes of one dysfunctional family – the Wingfields.

Cody Samples had the key role as the young, restless Tom Wingfield, who, in the opening monologue, said directly to the audience that “This play is memory.” As narrator, Tom began the family’s retreat into the elusive past, thus illuminating the family’s exclusive trials and tribulations.

Samples performed his role with ease as a wannabe poet who dreams of being successful, but also related his frustrations well regarding his boring warehouse job. Plagued by his overbearing mother, Amanda, to do better, the henpecked Tom struggles between his dreamlike past and his desperate present. As a result, he has acquired the bad habits of retreating into his own private world by smoking and going to too many movies.

Visiting scholar and director Gregory Lush picked just the right professional Dallas actress to play the challenging role of Amanda, Tom’s delusional mother. Mary-Margaret Pyeatt was outstanding as the mother whose

Staff photo Melanie Brandow

In a scene from Richland’s Nov. 23 production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” Cody Samples play Tom, Mary-Margaret Pyeatt portrays Southern belle Amanda Wingfield (center) and Giselle Saucedo play Laura. The play was directed by Gregory Lush.

life revolved around fading memories of the long-lost husband who dumped her and who is now obsessed only with Tom and finding a husband for her daughter Laura.

Pyeatt enhanced her role as the pampered Southern belle with a strong Mississippi accent. In one great key scene, she reminisced about the spring she met her husband in a delirious reverie. Kudos to costume designer Bruce R. Coleman for choosing a beautiful,

feminine cream-colored long dress with gorgeous layers of lace for Pyeatt, who looked simply exquisite in Scene 6 as she pranced around the stage boasting how she was the girl who received 17 gentleman callers from all over the Mississippi Delta.

In complete contradiction to the vivacious Amanda, Lush chose Giselle Saucedo for her shy and slightly crippled daughter, Laura. The rapport between Pyeatt and Saucedo could

not have been better suited. Wearing a drab brown skirt and sweater in the first few scenes, her attire enhanced the role of the brooding Laura and helped the audience feel sympathetic toward her.

Kevin Dang played the suave gentleman caller, Jim O’Connor, who was in complete contrast to the Wingfield family members.

Dang was convincing in his role in bringing a little joy to the insecure Laura, who at first was so shy she clung to a pillow on the sofa, barely able to speak to him. Saucedo pulled off her role brilliantly with some great facial expression to show her fear of her first romantic experience. But she loosened up a bit when she and Dang talked about her precious glass menagerie; that is, until their feeble attempts at dancing, in which her cherished unicorn fell and broke its horn in one of the last key scenes.

The play ended with a bit of disappointment when Laura discovers, much to her dismay, that Jim has a girlfriend and will soon marry.

This two-hour production of “The Glass Menagerie,” based on one family’s complex problems from the 1930-1940 era, combined with music and dim lighting in the cozy little Arena Theater, provided just the right atmosphere for this type of memory play.

It was also encouraging to members of the audience, in a thought-provoking way, to think about their past and people whom they have loved.

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PLACID BLUE

COMFREY PALOMA

PURPLE HAZE

MAGENTA PURPLE FREESIA

CAYENNE

Spring will bring us a new color palette fit for royalty.

The “Kate Middleton effect” has swept the fashion world ever since the royal wedding. The Duchess of Cambridge’s contagious sense of style has visibly infected the color choices by the top fashion designers in their collections for the upcoming season.

Pantone, the international authority on color trends, has officially declared dazzling blue the top color of spring judging by its appearance in 29 shows during Fashion Week. The duchess wore this shade of blue when she and Prince William announced their engagement. This color may also seem familiar because it looks like Facebook’s signature color called social butterfly blue.

One of Richland’s school colors, purple, seems en vogue for next season, appearing in nearly half of all collections combined.

This regal hue will saturate retail in four different shades: magenta purple and purple haze in menswear and violet tulip and radiant orchid in womenswear. Look for magenta purple, especially in ties and sportswear.

CELOSIA ORANGE

Staff Writer

Middleton donned radiant orchid for her first portrait with Prince George. Radiant orchid ranks as the No. 1 color of the year in 2014.

Students on campus are sporting shoes and accessories in daring colors like cayenne, a fiery reddish orange, freesia, an intense yellow and zesty celosia orange. Each adds a dash of spiciness to classic neutrals like sand, an earthy beige and paloma, a sophisticated gray.

Middleton wore placid blue on the way home from the hospital with her son. This kind of sky blue works well as a background for spring. This blue has a more tranquil quality in contrast to its dazzling counterpart.

Designers have reinvented the ever-popular color green in the forms of intoxicating hemlock, a feminine pastel and comfrey, a masculine Army green. These two shades of green come as an unexpected change from the sharper greens of recent seasons.

“This season, consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a press release. “While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allows for experimentation with new looks and color combinations.”

DAZZLING BLUE

jonathan lee

SAND

DAZZLING BLUE SAND

CAYENNE

RADIANT ORCHID FREESIA

CELOSIA ORANGE

HEMLOCK PALOMA

PLACID BLUE VIOLET TULIP

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Spring 2014 color palette sneak peek

Campus

B r e e z e w a y JAM

Despite the cold and wind on Dec. 5, the Richland dance department put on one last show for the semester.

Left: A hip-hop dance routine keeps the crowd warm with their upbeat music, encouraging the audience to jump, dance and yell for more.

Below left: A barefoot Natalie Baker spins her way to a beautiful performance even though the temperature is below freezing.

Below center: Natalia Dubrov dances a Brazilian physical theater rhythm called “Embolada.�

Below right: Samyia Nasir passionately expresses herself through a poetic dance.

Bottom: Jazz dance students enthusiastically strut their stuff as they shed their fur coats.

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Staff photos by Melanie Brandow

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entertainment

Paul Walker: A life cut short

In 2008 he returned for the horribly titled “Fast & Furious,” the fourth entry in the “Fast” series. 2010 was another solid year for Walker with yet another turn as O’Conner in “Fast Five,” which got a new boost thanks to Dwayne Johnson, who supported as a headstrong FBI man.

This past summer, he returned as O’Conner in “Fast and the Furious 6,” wherein the action shifted from the Los Angeles streets to foreign soil.

Walker was on his way, but a tragic accident ended his brief life.

Ricky miller Entertainment Editor

I interviewed Paul Walker in the fall of 1999 during the “Varsity Blues” press junket. He was polite, down-to-earth, courteous and altogether engaging.

He was optimistic about his role as a leading man in todays movie world. He did not want to be the next Brad Pitt, but the next Paul Walker. At the time, he just wanted to establish a leading man career in feature films.

He died Nov. 30 at the age of 40 in a single car accident involving a top-of-the-line Porsche GT where he was the passenger and not the driver.

He was in the romantic-drama/fantasy “Pleasantville” the year prior. The year following “Blues,” he was one of the love interests in the romantic-comedy “She’s All That” followed by his lead in the heavyhanded drama “The Skulls” in 2000. Walker became more of a household name with the first “The Fast and the Furious” in 2001. That same year he was part of John Dahl’s ensemble suspense-thriller “Joy Ride” opposite Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski.

He then shifted his résumé with varied turns in Richard Donner’s “Timeline,” “Into the Blue,” “Eight Below,” Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” and Wayne Kramer’s intense urban-drama “Running Scared.”

Making the grade:

image courtesy catsboy.blogspot.com

Part of the proceeds from the upcoming DVD sales of “Fast and Furious 6” will benefit the late Paul Walker’s charity, Reach Out WorldWide. Walker was killed in a single-car accident in Los Angeles on Nov. 30. He was 40.

“Meet the Deedles” (1998) C“Pleasantville” (1998) B+ “Varsity Blues” (1999) C “She’s All That” (1999) C “The Skulls” (2000) C“The Fast and the Furious” (2001) C “Joy Ride” (2001) B“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003) C“Timeline” (2003) C“Into the Blue” (2005) C“Running Scared” (2006) B“Eight Below” (2006) B“Flags of Our Fathers” (2006) C+ “Fast & Furious” (2009) C“Takers” (2010) C“Fast Five” (2011) B“Vehicle 19” (2013) C+ “Fast and Furious 6” B-

Winter holiday movie preview Ricky miller

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Entertainment Editor

8

Rather than spending time delving into a bunch of end-of-the-year flicks, I played it safe by listing a few of the winter titles I’m looking forward to seeing.

1.“American Hustle” (Dec. 18) Director David O. Russell knows human drama. After all, he steered both Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence to golden statuettes.

Bale received his trophy for “The Fighter” a couple of years back. Lawrence just won last year for her turn as a widow in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

“American Hustle” looks to be a bit gritty and edgy, a la Paul Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” (1997). It’s about a group of various individuals vying for a piece of the American pie. The cast includes Amy Adams (“Enchanted,” “Julie and Julia”), Jeremy Renner (“The Avengers”), Robert De Niro (“The Godfather Part II,” “Taxi Driver” and “The Playbook”) and the one-two combination of Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.

2.“47 Ronin” (Dec. 25) I hate to admit it, but Keanu Reeves actually makes a darn good action hero. Here, he stars

as Kai, a samurai whose master was unjustly killed. It might seem kind of weird to see this opening Christmas Day, but Brian DePalma’s “Scarface” did the same thing in 1983!

3.“Inside Llewyn Davis” (Dec. 20) Oscar Isaac (“Drive,” “Sucker Punch”) is a folk singer traveling the Upper Northwest with a tabby cat he inherited along the way.

Of course it would not be a Coen brothers flick without John Goodman, who appears as Ronald Turner. Also in the cast are Carey Mulligan, (“The Great Gatsby,” “Drive”) Justin Timberlake (“The Social Network,” “Friends With Benefits”) and Max Casella (TV’s “The Wonder Years,” “Oldboy”).

4.“Out of the Furnace” (Dec. 6) Christian Bale (again!) struggles to live a normal life in a small steel town, only to find out younger brother Rodney Blaze (Casey Affleck, “Gone Baby Gone,” “Good Will Hunting”) is in trouble with small-time criminals, especially Woody Harrelson (“Natural Born Killers,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “Zombieland”).

5.“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (Dec. 25) Ben Stiller is actually a solid dramatic actor.

Everyone knows him from “There’s Something About Mary” and the “Night at the Museum” flicks, but I know him better for his

image courtesy blackfilm.com

From left, Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) and Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) from “American Hustle.” The upcoming release is already generating Oscar buzz.

own “Reality Bites,” David O. Russell’s “Flirting With Disaster” and “Your Friends and Neighbors.” This one looks to have a “Forrest Gump” and “The Truman Show” vibe. It also

stars Sean Penn, Adam Scott (“Stepbrothers,” TV’s “Parks and Recreation”) and Kristen Wiig (“Bridesmaids,” “Friends With Kids”).

Campus

Students’ New Year’s resolutions

Maricruz Resendiz, 22; Nursing “Continue to lose weight.”

Carlos Moreno,17; Pre-med

“Procrastinate less and study more.”

Juan Facundo, 22; Art “Stop saying ‘you wish’.”

Cinthia Correa, 17; Core Curriculum “Lose 5 pounds.”

Allie Prater, 20; Nursing “To graduate in May.”

Victor Thomas, 20; Counseling

“Stop flicking the lights on and off like it’s a rave party.”

The time has come for everyone to make their resolutions. It’s an opportunity to take advantage of a clean slate or fresh start. Richland students share with us some of their New Year’s resolutions with a smile.

Staff photos by Photo Editor Isai Diaz Image courtesy usnews.com

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Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

Kevin Graf, 17; Pre-med “Become a better writer.”

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Campus

New DCCCD chancellor approved

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor in Chief Managing Editor Layout Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Entertainment Editor Radio News Director Copy Editor

Kisten S. Chetty Christian Tanner Lora Advincula Blanca Reyes Isai Diaz Ricky Miller Carla Davis Joyce Jackson

ON THE COVER Former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela died on Dec 5.

COVER AND FONTS Cover photo wordpress.com Certain fonts are provided by the following: http://www.nymfont.com - http://www.bvfonts.com

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF

Image courtesy of DCCCD

Jerry Prater (right), chair of the DCCCD board of trustees, welcomes Dr. Joe May as the district’s seventh chancellor following the trustees’ Dec. 3 meeting. Earlier this year, DCCCD Chancellor Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr. announced that he would be retiring on Dec. 31. The DCCCD Board of Trustees unanimously approved May as the district’s next chancellor. May, chancellor of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, will begin on Feb. 26. May told the Board of Trustees, “I am honored and deeply humbled to be selected as the next chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District.” May said he’s happy to return to his native state where he taught psychology at Spring Valley College early in his career.

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Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

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STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Terry Blend Erica Edwards Jack Fletcher David Goodloe

Tim Jones Steve Noviello Larry Ratliff Marshall Siegel

Spring 2013 ISSUES August 20 August 27 September 3 September 10 September 17 September 24 October 1 October 8

October 15 October 22 October 29 November 5 November 12 November 19 December 3 December 11

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opinion

Just fix our candy store, please Staff Writer

As a long-time adult credit student at Richland, I basically love the place. In fact, I often refer to it as “my candy store” because of its rich array of delicious, enticing classes and educational opportunities. However, there are several areas where I think the school’s administration needs to sit up, take notice and make some long-overdue improvements.

The first, bicycling on campus, I have already written about at length, but to nearly no avail. I have pleaded with the administration and facilities people for more than five years to upgrade Richland’s campus street access, dressing rooms and lockers and security for the benefit of student cyclists and received almost nothing for my efforts but polite smiles and nods. This is, to my frustrated mind, a classic example of bureaucratic incompetence and budgetary stonewalling.

My second complaint is more easily remedied. It has to do with two matters relating to classroom administration: the complete and universal online posting of syllabi and much closer monitoring of teacher evaluations.

If you’ve ever enrolled for a course at Richland without prior access to the class syllabus and then discovered when you attended the first class meeting (but after registration was closed) that the class you were in was not at all as described in the too-brief catalog description, then you know what I’m talking about.

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Better conditions for bikers, more access to course information and being able to properly evaluate professors are little things that could go a long way toward making Richland a better experience for students, according to the author.

Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013

PETE SHANNON

It’s too late to make any changes and you’re stuck.

All teachers, without exception, should be required to post their complete syllabi online for easy access and this should be closely monitored by the deans. After all, that’s their job.

The same goes for administering teacher evaluations. Although a clear procedure and policy for doing this is in place, there are too many instances when there is no opportunity during the semester to register a student’s opinion about a class. The teacher simply “forgets” to pass out the forms – and no one seems to be making sure that happens. Wake up, deans!

My last complaint is much more mundane.

It has to do with the blaring noise from leaf blowers, power edgers and lawnmowers around the central core of the campus during peak activity times.

If one major benefit of college life is to enjoy studying and learning in a bucolic, contemplative atmosphere amid a beautiful lake, fountains and lawns, then that message has somehow never been delivered to the guys who manage to destroy almost every pleasant day with their furious racket.

Why can’t Richland’s lawn maintenance, especially at the core, be restricted to non-class or low-class hours? Doesn’t the top administration’s opinion about our college’s physical milieu trump the scheduling decisions of the people who mow the grass?

If so, I’d sure like to see some evidence.

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Richlandchronicle.com December 11, 2013