February 4, 2014

CHRONICLE Richland

Vol. XXXIX, Issue 4 February 4, 2014

T-Ducks win 95-58 Pg. 3

Also inside: Capt. Pierce remembered Pg. 2 Soccer coach awarded Pg. 6 Richlandcollege.com

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CAmPUS

RLC police officer friendly to anyone Salute to a mighty warrior, Jason Michael Pierce How are the mighty fallen in the midst of life’s battle? My soul is greatly distressed.

Your passing was so sudden and unexpected; I was shocked, and truly grief-stricken.

Jason, I knew you at Eastfield and Richland Colleges. As a silent observer I was awed and sincerely touched by your humanity, generous spirit, dutiful attitude, and quiet resolve.

I remember telling you not too long ago, “You inspire me; and I imagine you must be a true inspiration and role model to your kids.”

Provided by Whitney Rosenbalm

Officer Jason Michael Pierce passed away on Jan. 28.

Joyce Jackson

Richlandchronicle.com February 4, 2014

Copy Editor

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Capt. Jason Michael Pierce was known to his co-workers in the Richland Police Department as a happy-go-lucky guy, someone who enjoyed working with people and being with his friends.

Pierce died at age 40 at Baylor Garland Hospital Jan. 28 after complications from a surgery.

Pierce was born Oct. 3, 1973, in Gainesville.

He graduated from Wylie High School in 1992 and was in the process of pursing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the University of Texas at Dallas. He lived in Wylie and was an active member of the Texas Municipal Police Association and Leadership Garland.

Cpl. Joanne Vaillancourt, Richland desk officer, said she had known Pierce for about 15 years, since they formerly worked together at the Eastfield Police Department. She said Pierce was an avid golfer and a fisherman who liked to fish in Lake Lavon with his three kids.

Lt. Mark Lozano, a co-worker who knew Pierce well and socialized with him, said Pierce was the nicest guy anyone could ever meet.

“He was always cool, calm and collected,” Lozano said. “Whenever he faced any problem, he brushed it off his shoulder and never lost his temper.”

Lozano said Pierce was “a good friend, a good supervisor and a good leader.”

Lozano added that Pierce was his mentor when Lozano joined the campus police department. He was generous with his time in helping Lozano learn about the Richland culture

and guided him through learning about the department, what the police force does and how it functions.

“He took that role as mentor pretty seriously,” Lozano said. “That’s why I’m in the position I’m in. He taught me some good values at Richland.”

Lozano said one of the things Pierce really liked was cars.

“He would keep one for several months and then buy another one,” he said. “He liked to have different cars. His favorite was a Camaro SS. The one he had was black with silver stripes.”

When James Umoren worked at Eastfield as a government instructor, be became acquainted with Pierce. He said he was sincerely touched by Pierce’s humanity, generous spirit, dutiful attitude and quiet resolve.

He said Pierce had a sort of wisdom that he really admired and that he was a very thoughtful person.

Umoren has a law background and encouraged Pierce to think about going to law school after he finished his current degree.

“Overall, he was very ambitious,” Umoren said and remembered telling Pierce not too long ago that “You inspire me and I imagine you must be a true inspiration and role model to your kids.”

Police chief Robert Baker said in addition to Richland, Pierce also worked for seven years and 10 months at Eastfield and at the Richardson Police Department for two years and six months.

“His total years as a police officer was 17 years and 10 months,” Baker said.

But again, how are the mighty fallen, I ask? My soul remains troubled and exhausted with sorrow.

Indeed, you were mighty in words and deeds; a mighty and principled warrior in this battle of life.

Jason, you accomplished so much; for your family, for your police department, for Richland College, and for your community … and the list could go on.

Jason, you were a worthy officer and a true gentleman, and earned the unalloyed respect and admiration of many, including this silent, humbled observer.

Jason, my prayer is that as you have departed, you have gone to your eternal reward; the eternal bosom of Abraham and the everlasting presence of your savior, and mine, The Lord Jesus Christ.

If so, I will rejoice, along with all the angelic host in the heavenlies.

If so, my soul is now at peace, and I can rest assured that this mighty, upright one is not fallen, but has merely passed on to glory.

— James Umoren

Sports/CAmPUS

Thunderducks stronger than ever Team dunks Dallas Diesel Basketball Club 95-58 blanca reyes Sports Editor

Richland beat Dallas Diesel Basketball Club by a wide margin last week, 95-58.

The team once again proved to be strong during conference tournament play this season.

The T-ducks have won four in a row after a tough loss against Cedar Valley a couple weeks ago.

“It was a wakeup call,” assistant coach Michael Gross said.

Gross explained that, after the Cedar Valley loss, the team was more focused and worked harder at the gym.

This time, though, the outcome was different. Even though the Thunderducks started a little slow — the teams were tied after the first half — Richland took things up a notch, ending any hopes Dallas Diesel might have had.

“They are a pretty good team, but we played good defense tonight and we shared the ball in the offense,” Mister Carroll, guard, said.

Alan Moore, Thunderducks first-year assistant coach, said that the Dallas Diesel is a strong team because they are professionals and travel often, giving them a lot of experience for Richland to overcome.

“I’m proud of [the Thunderducks],” Moore said.

Even with this recent string of victories, the team and coaches are aware that there is always room for improvement and more challenges to come.

At press time, Richland was scheduled to play Saturday at home against Mountain View College, one of the strongest opponents.

“It is going to be tough. This is a very tough conference. Pretty even conference,” Moore said.

“To be honest, everybody in the conference is pretty good,” Gross added.

“I think we have chance to be really good. We have all the pieces. We just have to put them together and continue to get better. And the sky is the limit,”

— Alan Moore

After Mountain View, the Thunderducks will take on Cedar Valley College Wednesday at 7 p.m at Lancaster.

Staff photo Blanca Reyes

Richland guard Ryan Daniel takes a shot against Dallas Diesel Club.

“I think we have chance to be really good.

We have all the pieces. We just have to put them together and continue to get better.

And the sky is the limit,” Moore said.

For more information, visit www.richlandcollege.edu/basketball or stop by Guadalupe Hall, Room G-120.

Today: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

The Richland College instrumental facultywill perform.

Thursday and Friday, Feb. 6-7 These two days are Employee Development days. On Thursday, day and evening credit classes will not meet. On Friday, day credit classes will not meet but Friday evening Saturday and Sunday classes will meet Tuesday, Feb. 11, 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Reception for the Richland Faculty Exhibition, on display from Feb. 10 -28.

Thursday, Feb. 13: 10 a.m.

Artist Talk: Thomas Lawson Arena Theater, Fannin Hall, Room F-108 Lawson will speak about his expansive career as a painter. He’s an artist, writer and dean of the School of Art at the California Institute for the Arts.

Thursday, Feb. 13: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spring Club Fair

El Paso Hall Students will have the chance to join a campus club at the tables set up for a variety of interest. Stop by and check them all out. Presidents of the clubs need to sign up in the Office of Student Life in El Paso Hall, Room E-040 if they plan to participate.

February – April: The Richland Library is offering day and evening Information Literacy in-person classes at a variety of time periods throughout the weeks for students. Students must complete one session each of Research I, II and III – either in person or online – in order to complete an Information Literacy Certificate badge. The badge requirements include Information Pursuer, Information Searcher, Information Evaluator and Information Literacy. For more information or to view the schedule, go to http:// libguides.richlandcollege.edu/libraryclasses.

Pamphlets are also available at the reference desk of the library.

Staff photo Saiya Metoki

Auditions attract RLC students for play Some of the students who auditioned for Richland’s upcoming comedy, “The Nerd” by Larry Shue. The comedy concerns a strange but hilarious dilemma of a young architect who gets a visit from a man he’s never met, but who saved his life. It will be directed by drama chair Andy Long.

The dates of the performances will be March 5-8 at 7:30 p.m.

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Upcoming events

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CAmPUS

Staff Photo Lora Advincula

Richlandchronicle.com February 4, 2014

Representative Eura Miles, left, offers students Manuel Ramirez, center, and Glenn Arceneaux information about the programs available at the University of Houston.

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Staff Photo Melanie Brandow

Texas Woman’s University representative Brandon Vance, left, explains their music program as Zachary Lono weighs his options.

Staff Photo Melanie Brandow

Contributing Photo Oghenetega Okparavero

Alina Luna, left, learns how to transfer from an Austin College repre- Michael Hoggatt, left, a representative from The University of Oklahoma provides Laryn Carson information about sentative. Luna is a Music Performance and Creative Writing major. his dream school.

Record turnout at Spring Transfer Fair jonathan lee Staff Writer

Richland hosted its Spring Transfer Fair ,Friday, sponsored by TACRAO (Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers).

Universities from around the country set up tables in El Paso Hall to meet with students and help them make informed decisions about where they want to transfer.

“We’ve had 52 schools this year, which is kind of a record number for us, and we’ve had a great student turnout, so I’m very pleased.” said Transfer Center coordinator Mike Wright.

“I hope that the students were successful in getting their questions answered.”

Zachary Lono, 21, is weighing his options.

“Originally, I would want to go to UNT just because of – for their music program,” said Lono. “I’m actually studying music here, and it’s my last semester. And, in case I don’t get into UNT at the music program there because of how competitive it is, I was thinking about going to TWU because it’s right next door to where UNT is, which isn’t that much farther from where I live either. So, that’s the reason why I was keeping just these two schools open in mind.”

Laryn Carson, 21, has his heart set on The University of Oklahoma.

“It’s probably my only choice that I’ve ever wanted to go to, and I want to get into meteorology there, and I’ve heard it’s the best school to go to for it,” said Carson. “I’m just getting my associate’s in science here, and then I’m going to go up there and see what I have to do to get into meteorology and everything. … I’ve just always been interested in weather and wondered how clouds form and just tornadoes and lightning and everything, you know. It’s just something that’s always interested me.”

Sana Hussein, 19, hopes to get into an Ivy League school.

“I am considering applying to Columbia,” said Hussein. “I want to go into political

science and maybe economics. … I want to work for the United Nations. … I like helping people, so that’s my main interest is helping people and traveling the world and, you know, Syria and stuff like that.

My family came to America through United Nations, and I think that’s a huge part in why I want to actually work for the United Nations because I came to America through the United Nations.”

For more information on how to transfer to a four-year university, contact Mike Wright at mwright1@dcccd.edu, or visit the Transfer Center in El Paso E-082. The Transfer Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MOVIES

It lived, briefly

Demon

Gargoyle

Entertainment Editor

“I, Frankenstein” is a supernatural fantasydrama that chronicles the happenings of the monster (Aaron Eckhart of “Erin Brockovich” and “The Dark Knight”) Dr. Frankenstein created close to 200 years ago. After being “captured” by some gargoyles, their leader, Leonara (Miranda Otto of “War of the Worlds” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), gives the monster the name of Adam.

It is faithful to Mary Shelley’s 1818 book since it retains this aspect of that novel as well as some similar plot developments. The circumstances surrounding each of the characters play into their motivations and either their salvation or demise.

The “I, Frankenstein” plot is plain and simple: The bad guys want Dr. Frankenstein’s old fomula for reanimation and want to raise some undead of their own. At the forefront is Bill Nighy’s Nebarius, who wants to have his cake and eat it, too. If viewers notice, Nighy has been at this power-hungry thing before, having played the evil and malevolent Viktor in the various “Underworld” flicks.

Although not identical to the “Underworld” flicks, the plot similarities are evident nonetheless. A class of creatures once thought to be fictional wants to get rid of human beings alto-

Richlandchronicle.com February 4, 2014

Immortal

RICKY MILLER

gether and make this planet their playground.

With “Underworld,” it was the lycans (werewolves) and the flying undead (vampires).

This movie comes courtesy of Stuart Beattie, who wrote the screenplays for the mediocre “G.I. Joe: the Rise of Cobra,” the disappointing “Australia,” as well as Gore Verbinski’s fun “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.”

The lavish “I, Frankenstein” $65-million budget actually translated to the big screen well, especially when it comes down to the various battles between the gargoyles (the good guys) and the demons (antagonists) with whom they tussle.

Eckhart carries the movie well, despite the minimal amount of dialogue he utters throughout. The supporting cast, including Jai Courtney (“Live Free or Die Hard”) and Yvonne Strahovski (TV’s “Chuck,” “The Killer Elite”) help carry the bulk of the action within.

Courtney’s character Gideon has disdain for Adam because he does not fully trust him and his actions.

The pacing is quick and brisk throughout, never allowing for trite and unnecessary lines of dialogue.

Although it’s not a great piece of profound entertainment, one can do a lot worse than enduring the mild shenanigans of “I, Frankenstein.”

Grade: C+

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SPORTS

Thunderducks among the best of the best blanca reyes Sports Editor

It has been a good year for the Richland College Soccer program. Coming on the heels of the men’s team taking third place in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championship. Sean Worley, the head coach, has been named one of the top four coaches in the nation.

“I received the NSCAA regional coach of the year [award], which means I was one of the four finalists in the United States for the national coach of the year,” Worley said.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) annually recognizes the best coaches (one per region) through voting among its members.

“It is a nice award because your peers voted on it,” Worley said.

Although this season was full of accomplishments for the whole team, (some of the players were named among the nation’s best as well) it was not the first time that Worley has received this award; it was actually his sixth.

He also received them in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012 and 2013.

While Worley said he would have preferred to keep his accomplishment quiet, it was almost impossible this year.

“It feels good, but I feel much better when our boys accomplish something because it’ll help them to move to the next level,” her said.

Worley added that even though he was the one who received the award, it was won with

teamwork.

“It is not about what I do. It is what the team does. Our team plays hard. Our team plays fair. We are a good team. We have [an] honest, a hard-working team,” Worley said.

Worley explained that even though the players are usually part of the team for just two years, his main goal is to grow them as players and students.

“I want to see them [achieve] success because these memories are lifelong memories.

Lifelong lessons that they learn and they can move on, become better people, better students,” Worley said.

“We have to do a better job in letting everyone knows how successful we have been.”

— Coach Sean Worley His efforts have paid off this year because three Thunderducks were also recognized at both the national and regional levels by NJCAA and NSCAA. Forward Jorge Deleon received two awards.

Deleon won one from the NJCCA and another from the NSCAA. Defender Adrian Justino received an award from the NSCAA. Midfielder Flavio Guzman was also honored by the NSCAA. Worley knows that expectations are high

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ON THE COVER Kierre Moore blocks a shot from a Dallas Diesel player.

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Richland’s head soccer coach, Sean Worley

and there is more work to do, but he is prepared for the next challenge and working hard to improve the soccer program.

“We have to start doing a better job in building the program in terms of making sure we get the right exposure for the team, the players, the coaches, everyone,” Worley said. “We have to do a better job in letting everyone know how successful we have been.”

For more information about the soccer program, schedules and results visit www.rlc. dcccd.edu/menssoccer or stop by Guadalupe Hall, Room G-116.

Raymond Thomas Pronk Avery A. Rains Pete Shannon Ben Siebel

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Terry Blend Erica Edwards Jack Fletcher David Goodloe

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CONTACT INFORMATION El Paso Hall, Room E-020, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079 E-mail: chronicle@dcccd.edu Advertising: 972-238-6068 E-mail: advertise@dcccd.edu Fax: 972-238-6037

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Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration. © Richland Chronicle 2013

OPINION/CAmPUS

Pronk: Problems with Obama’s State of the Union RAYMOND THOMAS PRONK Staff Writer

If you are a young high school or college dropout or graduate looking for your first job, your job opportunities will get much worse if President Barack Obama’s proposals on the minimum wage and illegal immigration are passed into law.

In his 2014 State of the Union address Obama said, “I will issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally funded employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour …” and “to reach millions more, Congress needs to get on board. Today, the federal minimum wage is worth about 20 percent less than when Ronald Reagan first stood here.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), in a Wall Street Journal opinion, titled “The Imperial Presidency of Barack Obama,” said, “Of all the troubling aspects of the Obama presidency, none is more dangerous than the president’s persistent pattern of lawlessness, his willingness to disregard the written law and instead enforce his own policies via executive fiat. On Monday, Mr. Obama acted unilaterally to raise the minimum wage paid by federal contracts, the first of many executive actions the White House promised would be a theme of his State of the Union address …”

Obama wants a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers who entered the U.S. illegally, in other words amnesty for illegal aliens. He said, “Finally, if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of

Image credit granitegrok.com

Obama proposes raising the minimum wage and fixing the immigration problem.

business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement – and fix our broken immigration system.” Obama concluded, “When people come here to fulfill their dreams – to study, invent and contribute to our culture – they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone. So let’s get immigration reform done

this year.”

Cruz reminds us that “the U.S. Constitution imposes on every president the express duty to ‘take care that the laws be faithfully executed.’ Yet, rather than honor this duty, President Obama has openly defied it by repeatedly suspending, delaying and waiving portions of the laws he is charged to enforce. When Mr.

Obama disagreed with federal immigration laws, he instructed the Justice Department to cease enforcing the laws. He did the same thing with federal welfare law, drug laws and the federal Defense of Marriage Act.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in his “Official Response To Obama State Of The Union Address 2014” published on YouTube, said, “Under President Obama the percentage of people working is at its lowest level since the days of Jimmy Carter. Roughly 11 million people are unemployed and millions more have given up looking for work. Our debt has nearly doubled since President Obama entered office and is now over $17 trillion.”

Reacting to Obama’s immigration proposal, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) said: “His hard stand on immigration was in total contrast to a large portion of his speech where he was dealing with unemployment and giving people raises. That’s because his position on illegal immigration will undercut jobs for the American people and tend to get down wages.

You can’t have it both ways. Either you’re going to be tough on illegal immigration or you aren’t, and if you’re not tough on illegal immigration by legalizing or giving amnesty to illegals you’re going to bring down wages and you’re going to lose jobs to foreigners.”

If you want a peace and prosperity full-employment economy, Congress must balance the budget by cutting government spending, reduce tax rates and abolish the minimum wage and the president must enforce immigration laws by deporting all illegal aliens to their country of origin.

PETE SHANNON Staff Writer

Fannin Hall was the site last Tuesday of a jumpin’ and jivin’ sextet of ol’ white guys makin’ some fun music. The occasion was the spring faculty jazz recital featuring Phares Corder, trumpet/cornet; Ron Jones, tenor sax; Joe Lee, electric guitar; Brad Williams, piano; James Driscoll, bass; and Derrick “Sticks” Logozzo, on drums.

The enthusiastic ensemble deeked, bobbed and tapped as they spun out six spunky renditions of songs by Victor Young, Duke Ellington, Pat Metheny, Sonny Rawlins and the duo of Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams.

Perhaps most popular with the appreciative audience was the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras tribute titled “I Found My Baby,” which featured the mellow trumpet of Richland instructor Corder. But everyone got caught up as well with the swinging and swaying of faculty saxophonist Jones, bedecked in his suave blue beret, who poured forth sheer joy on his horn.

One especially salient moment came during one song when everyone in the group fell

silent momentarily to absorb the gorgeous deep vibrations of Driscoll’s well-worn bass fiddle. A similar break occurred when Williams, his back to the audience, pushed his piano through its paces, inventing interesting thematic variations and employing all of the 88s from one end of the keyboard to the other.

Not to be outdone when his turn came, Lee on guitar glided his fingers effortlessly over the frets to give many of the songs a touch of magic.

Perhaps one of the most interesting things for an audience to observe in a jazz concert is the way the percussionist, when his opportunity arrives, can add extra spark to an ambling piece simply by the fervor with which some variety can be evoked.

Drummers sometimes literally go bananas when they fan themselves into a fit over the passion of the moment. But while doing this they can also display an amazing versatility with both hands and feet working violently in unison while carrying forth the relentless beat.

This was our own Professor Logozzo as he shed his normally placid persona and wowed the crowd with his artistic antics.

As I hunkered down in my seat and enjoyed the hour, it was easy to reminisce about kick-

Staff Photo Melanie Brandow

James Driscoll (bass), Phares Corder (trumpet), Ron Jones (saxophone), Derrick Logozzo (drums) and Joe Lee (guitar) perform a rocking piece in Fannin Hall last week.

ing back with a beer at a jazz concert beside a lake one long-ago summer night. Or blundering my way as a troubled teen, back in the ‘50s, through the jabbering throng at Eddie Condon’s in New York’s Greenwich Village just to get closer to the players. One similarly relaxed student among those in Fannin Hall’s audience on Tuesday even succumbed to full slumber during our faculty’s performance and had to be called awake at the end in order to gather

his gear and stumble off to class. It was that soothing.

In case you didn’t already know it, there is a free, one-hour concert in Fannin Hall at 12:30 every Tuesday afternoon which is open to the public. Future programs this spring will include more talented musicians ranging from guest solo guitarists and vocalists to performances by various other Richland faculty and student wind and string ensembles.

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Somethin’ is a-stompin’ at Richland

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