May 14, 2013

Chronicle Richland

Vol. XXXVII, Issue 15 May 14, 2013

A College of the Dallas County Community College District

Thunderducks take spot in playoffs

Also inside: ‘Injustice’ game review Pg. 4 Summer fun activities and movies Pg. 8-9

Richlandchronicle.com Official Chronicle Outlets #Chronicle DCCCD

SPORTS/Campus

Thunderducks advance to playoffs BLANCA REYES Staff Writer

“Just relax and have fun,” said Guy Simmons, Richland’s baseball coach. “I just want to win next weekend, and then we’ll worry about the next weekend.”

Simmons said that he was aware of the difficulty of the upcoming games, which were, at press time, scheduled for May 10-11 against North Arkansas College in Harrison, Ark. Those games were the beginning of the journey to the NJCAA World Series scheduled for May 24-30.

The Thuderducks appear ready for the challenge.

“We put ourselves in a position where we take advantage of the mistakes made by the other teams,” said Garret Carruth, assistant coach.

This season has been full of surprises and challenges. At the beginning of the month, the Thunderducks played three games against Eastfield, one of the strongest opponents.

An Eastfield forfeit in pivotal game 3 of the May 3-4 series won the Thunderducks the playful spot.

“You promise that you’re not joggling me,” Carruth said to Simmons when he was told about the good news.

“A lot of teams say that we aren’t supposed to be here. We know it, and we disagree, so we

Staff Photo Blanca Reyes

Richland’s baseball team hopes to keep winning and to reach the NJCAA World Series.

go out. If we lose, no! [so] whatever you say, we deserve it. If we win, nobody is going to take it away from us,” Carruth said.

Simmons said that the team got ready for this new challenge by having its regular practice, and they will continue doing what has worked well for them since the second half of the season started.

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Pitcher Hudson Bird said that the team is aware that the scheduled games are crucial in order to move up to the next round, but this is what they have been practicing and striving for. “Do your best and everything will work out,” he said.

Carruth said next year will be better because

he’s learning every day to improve and correct some errors in his first year as a Richland coach.

For more information and the latest news of the team, visit the baseball team’s website at www.rlc.dcccd.edu/baseball.

Student honors West and Boston victims BLANCA REYES Staff Writer

Richland student Muneer Washah jumped 12,000 feet to honor the victims of the attacks in Boston and the fertilizer plant explosion in West.

Washah, a member of the Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa also organized a doughnut sale to raise money for the victims in West. They could raise as much as $500 for the victims.

“Since I have lost a lot of family members in terrorism, particularly my brother, I thought that it was a good opportunity to honor him, as well,” Washah said.

Washah said that just after the jump, he and his younger brother stopped off in West to drop off some supplies for victims.

He now volunteers Dallas, Mesquite and even other states helping West’s people. “Although [that] was sad, I was so happy to see the spirit of the American people.”

Washah also said that everyone can help to prevent and support the fight against terrorism by spreading awareness, learning about it and supporting the people who fight against it.

“It doesn’t need to be monetary,” Washah said. “Sometimes give them a hug. Sometimes just shake their hands or say something nice.”

“If you are a Richland student, then you have to agree [to] Richland rules. So our model here is earning, teaching and building sustainable communities. It is part of we do in Richland College,” Washah said.

Contributed photo Muneer Washah

Bottom: Muneer Washah jumps 12,000 feet in honor of the victims at the explosion at West and the Boston attack.

Campus

Table at center of family dramedy Joyce Jackson Copy Editor

When have you ever seen a piece of furniture become the center of attention in a play?

That’s what evolved in Richland’s May 3 production of “The Dining Room” by playwright A.R. Gurney. A long, elegant dining room table, an inanimate object, provided the driving force for the cast, composed of six student actors, to relate a series of family vignettes. The action took place in the course of a day and focused on a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant New England background.

Director and Drama Chair Andy Long informed the audience before the play that every scene had nothing to do either scenes before or after it.

“Homes aren’t being built anymore with dining rooms,” Long said.

The intimate Arena Theatre helped to create just the right mood for a truly American drama such as this. The table was borrowed from the Dallas Children’s Theater. The setting took precedence in this rather odd dramedy – with kitchen chairs for the table, a lone mirror behind it, a long oriental rug under it, a candelabra for the high ceiling and the continuous tick-tock of a clock throughout the performance. The constant sounds of it permeated the tiny theater to encourage perhaps subconscious awareness of the passage of time since the play covered decades of family memories.

Staff photo Sayako Metoki

From left: Bridget Condra, Uy Nguyen, Giselle Saucedo, Cody Samples, Jimmy Jensen and Laura Vandepas star in Richland’s May 3 production of “The Dining Room” by A.R. Gurney.

Three men and three women played a variety of colorful characters in two hours, with 18 overlapping scenes among 54 roles. They were: Jimmy Jensen, Uy Nguyen, Cody Samples, Laura Vandepas, Giselle Saucedo and Bridget Condra. Five are college theater majors and Nguyen is a junior in the Richland Collegiate High School.

Vandepas in her role as a real estate agent and Nguyen as a client began to reminisce about the dining room in the first scene as they both shared memories of their past at their family dining room tables. A few

minutes later, they were quickly followed by a series of vignettes intermingling the other actors with characters of children, mothers, fathers and grandfathers, all with a glimpse from their family backgrounds as it revolved around the dining room table. Some scenes involved eating it, yet no real food was served – just acted out.

One of the most memorable key scenes involved Jensen as a grandfather and Samples as his grandson Nick as they discuss Nick’s going to a New England boarding school.

Dressed in a drab black outfit with a gray

sweater and an unlit cigar, Jensen’s ability to portray someone 80, in r-e-a-l-ly s-l-o-w movements and speech at the table, was excellent. The scene had to evoke memories from the audience as they recalled similar discussions with older family members.

In another scene, Vandepas and Nguyen crawl under the table and discover an inscription that reads, “Freeman’s Furniture. WilkesBarre, Pa. 1898.”

Some scenes were happier and portrayed much more action, such as 5-year-olds at a children’s birthday party shouting in unison, “We want ice cream,” and teenagers sneaking alcohol.

What’s so unusual about this play is that while the dining room table remained constant, the characters did not, so that each scene presented a family situation worthy of discussion. While the Richland cast did the best they could in portraying such a wide variety of characters, Gurney’s message seems to be the decline of the American family, as we know it. He chose to use a dining room table and specific room to focus on that theme to show that people do come together at times of need.

The play had a lot of meaning if one considers how fast and furious our technical world has become in today’s society and how we may be losing the close family connections that we used to have in previous generations. If nothing else, “The Dining Room” was certainly most thought-provoking.

KISTEN S. CHETTY Managing Editor

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. In the United States,

approximately 1,000 new cases of PAH are diagnosed each year. Despite these numbers, people are still unaware of this disease, often misdiagnosed as seizures.

People with PAH have much narrower pulmonary arteries than normal. As a result blood cannot easily pass through their lungs,

their hearts need to pump harder, increasing the pressure there. Over time the increased pressure wears at the heart. It weakens the heart until it loses the ability to pump as much blood to where it’s needed.

One female student at Richland, who chooses to remain anonymous, suffers from PAH. The condition is usually prevalent in pregnant women and women over 50. However, this student’s case is extremely rare. She was diagnosed with PAH at the age of 2.

She described feeling ostracized as a child, not being able to go outside and play or even run with the other kids. Any type of physical exertion places her life at risk.

Apart from her teachers, none of her fellow classmates knew her condition. Feeling self-conscious about it she couldn’t be honest when kids asked why she didn’t want to play.

A main reason, she explained, is that she did not want to be treated differently. She just wants to live a normal life. She advocates “a balance between being conscious and courteous about her condition without letting it define who she is.”

She said that as a whole the teachers at Richland have “bent over backward” to accommodate her condition. They make sure she can test in the testing center and go so far as to do oral exams in private, as any form of

anxiety or stress puts her heart in danger.

Both the student and her mother firmly believe that faith plays a huge role in living with this condition. There was an incident where she was hospitalized for 88 days. She feels that only faith and prayer got her through.

Severe depression and anorexia are common side effects of this disease, both of which she suffered. Because of this she feels that if a person has “something to wake up to,” it makes the condition more bearable.

“Not necessarily a specific religious faith, but you need something, anything to believe in,” she said.

All the time she has spent in hospitals and dealing with her depression has inspired her career path. She is currently studying psychology and plans to be a counselor, helping people as she was helped.

Due to the lack of attention this disease receives it is common that many people feel alone when diagnosed.

She said she has found a support system online through a PHA Facebook group. The website www.insightsonpah.com has been an invaluable source of information to her and her family. There are also group-support meetings in Dallas organized by ACCREDO, information can be found at www.accredo.com

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

Student relates her experience with PAH

image courtesyncpresby.pbworks.com

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GAMES

NetherRealm Studios does D.C. Universe MARY CHANNELL

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

Gaming Editor

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“Injustice: Gods Among Us” brings a new interactive design to the table where fighting isn’t just fighting in a stereotypical arena where some things move but don’t benefit you when you’re brutally destroying your opponent.

The interactive arena themselves are ridiculously fun. Playing as Batman and being able to kick Doomsday into a helicopter is just the icing on the cake. Whether you are playing the hero, the bad guy or a goddess, you will have something special to bring each and every time you fight. It’s a new experience with each place and character, a never-ending fit of vengeful fun.

There are three different game modes that a player can choose from. The Story is where a player will be fighting villains and vigilantes and has an entertaining story to go along with it. Next is the Battles where you can fight whomever you want against the computer if you are not feeling up for any drama in the mix. And the third mode is, S.T.A.R. Labs this is where the player can take a variety of missions and ch a l l e n g e s that are specific for each character that you have to unlock by how many stars you earn and collect and

Images courtesy Batman.wiki.com, Wallpaperfo.com, Videogamesblogger.com, Netherrealm.com

offer amusing games that ranges from battles to mini-games.

Not only is this game interactive, every character is very specific in their attacks, their Special Moves, and their Clash. The Clash is a move that can let your character escape an attack and/or combo by using your handy dandy Super meter. You also have your Advanced Moves where you can Block Escape that will give you space as soon as you deflect the attack. My favorite one is the Bounce Cancel where both players will cancel each other’s attack but have to follow up with the big damage.

Exciting stuff.

Now I’m not going to give out spoilers, but a fighting game that gives players a compelling storyline, interactive gameplay and just some really ka-pow combat moves to play. Well, what more do you want? “Injustice: Gods Among Us” is a must buy.

Go rent it if you have to because you are missing out on this fantastically ruthless fighting game. It’s available for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U and iPhone platforms.

I’ll catch y’all on the other side; I’ve got to go kick some immortals’ butts.

CAMPUS

Dr. Artist Thornton: Aspiring to inspire Guest Writer

Richland College is one of the most prestigious colleges in the Dallas County Community College District. It is best known for its vast cultural diversity and beautiful campus.

Professors have the opportunity to touch the minds of students and make a positive difference.

The definition of the word “inspire” is to “create a positive feeling within a person.”

This is what Dr. Artist Thornton brings to the students of Richland College. There is a powerful positive energy that lights up Thornton’s classrooms.

This is created by his passion for teaching in which he has a strong desire to help others.

Many of his students have gone on to various fields such as entertainment, medicine and law.

Teaching since 1996, Thornton has found different ways to keep his class exciting and his students engaged. His students experience something unconventional, the exact word that Thornton uses to describe his teaching style. Classes taught by him are never boring or pattern like.

Communication is something spontaneous that cannot be pattern like.

Every professor is said to have the right to amend the syllabus as needed and Thornton certainly practices spontaneity in all of his classes.

Thornton teaches students how to become critical thinkers. He also teaches how to be confrontational, which he says is what communication is all about.

His teaching method is definitely an out-of-the-box style. He uses activities such as reading poems out loud across Thunderduck Lake, which he describes as an activity to teach students how to build confidence and projection when speaking.

There is a significant difference between a professor who simply teaches as a job and a professor who teaches as a mentor and role model.

He describes a great person as being “one who loves oneself and society.” Thornton strives to inspire confidence in all of his students.

JOYCE JACKSON Copy Editor

Photo Monica Rodriguez

Dr. Artist Thornton

Student media wants you!

•TV news anchors •Photographers

Veterans’ club president supports those in need

•Writers •Radio hosts

Darnell Bloom is determined to show support to local and Richland student veterans who may need help.

Bloom is the president of the Blue Star Club, which along with a group of student veterans, had their last meeting of the semester May 7. They’ve met the first Tuesday of every month this semester. Although they’ll take a break this summer, they’ll continue meeting this fall.

The club’s motto is, We Honor Those Who Served.

Bloom, a work-study student in the Veteran’s Affairs Office, is getting a degree in PC support and will graduate from Richland in the fall. He’s on the GI Bill.

“The club got started in the spring of 2012,” Bloom said. “It was a nonclub on campus, but wasn’t active. I made it active by becoming president.”

Bloom served in the Army for four years and said when he first came to Richland he wanted to join a military club.

“I felt I should take it on my shoulders to get the club going,” he said. “I know how hard it is coming from the military to start school.”

Bloom said he’s been in contact with a number of veterans who are not students here.

“I came across a lot of veteran supporters who help me as much as they can,” Bloom

said. “It’s from teachers, Kim Montes (VA coordinator) to Cedric Merritt, one of the advisers for the club.”

Students come to meetings when they can, Bloom said. Usually, about 30 come to each one.

Bloom said you have to a student or staff member to join the Blue Star Club. That also includes Continuing Education, the Richland Collegiate High School and/or Emeritus students.

“My goal is to make sure that every veteran that steps on this campus to become a student feels welcome and feels that he has support,” Bloom said.

Bloom has another goal and that’s to acquire a vet center, which would include a sofa and TV where veterans can get together and chat.

“I would like for them to have a safe spot to take a break between classes somewhere on campus,” he said.

For now, the club is taking a break for the summer and just brainstorm with informal meetings. They also deal with the Veterans Hospital in Lancaster.

“We help veterans with appointments and routine checkups,” Bloom said. “We try to give them the best resources we can. We make sure they get in touch with the right people and have a way to and from the VA Hospital.

DART Rail stops right in front of it.”

For information about the Blue Star Club or the Veterans Affairs office, call 972-238-6188.

Upcoming Events Monday, May 27: Memorial Day No credit classes First day of summer school is Wednesday, June 5. It runs through Wednesday, July 3. Fall registration begins Tuesday, June 11.

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

Monica Rodriguez

Thornton has been teaching speech communications, public speaking and African-American black studies at Richland for the past 10 years, where he constantly challenges his students to engage in a higher way of thinking.

“Find a job where you don’t have to go to work,” said Thornton, which is exactly what he did.

Thornton has many accomplishments under his belt, some of which include being a two-time Fulbright Scholar and former district president of Kappa Alpha Psi. Thornton graduated from the University of North Texas in 2003 with a Ph.D. in higher education and communication studies.

Visit the Chronicle’s website, www.richlandchronicle.com for a full list of events.

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Campus

Best photos of

Staff photo Isai Diaz

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

Staff photo Isai Diaz

Staff photos Sayako Metoki

Top left:Desiree Preston as Mad Morri at the 2013 Sci-Fi Expo.

Top right: Ben Ambroso (Joker) and Emily Lisko (Harley Quinn) dress up for the 2013 Sci-Fi Expo.

Bottom left: Dance students audition for "Flourescent Pop." Bottom right:Louis Rangel enjoys the tacos during the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Richland.

Contributed photo Jannette Morales

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Staff photos Blanca Reyes

Staff photos Rebecca Banks

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

the semester

CAMPUS

Staff photos Blanca Reyes

Top left: Matt Johnson fires a pitch against Brookhaven on April 27.

Top right: Fireman work at a house fire that broke out Jan. 18 near the Richland campus.

Bottom left: Players collide during one of the Dallas Cup tournament matches held at Richland March 24-31.

Bottom right: Richland players Chris Runnels, Ed Williams and Reggie Schnier positioning to claim the rebound from Brookhaven Feb. 20.

Staff photos Blanca Reyes

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Campus/FEATURES

Summer fun for students to enjoy REBECCA BANKS Editor-in-Chief

Six Flags, waterparks and the pool are the common hot spots for summer. It’s time to welcome summer with a wider variety of fun while enjoying the break. Here are some local activities that will kick-start your summer.

Drive-in movie: The Galaxy Drive-In theater lets you watch two movies for one ticket price.

An adult ticket costs $6 and children are $3.

Galaxy shows recent released movies and has six different screens. The concessions range from $5.50 for Texas-sized popcorn to $1.50 corn dogs. For movie times and directions go to www.galaxydriveintheatre.com.

Coyote Drive-in is located in Fort Worth and opened May 10. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for children for two movies. For more information go to www.coyotedrive-in.com.

Wildflower Festival: The music event is May 17-19 presenting genres like rock, country and tribute bands. Country fans can watch Gretchen Willson on the 17th. According to the Wildflower Festival schedule, May 19 is “Tribute band Sunday,” which includes the bands Dukes (tribute to David Bowie), Worlds Apart (tribute to Journey) and Bebe le Strange (tribute to Heart). Tickets start at $20 for one

Staff illustration Isai Diaz

day. For information visit the Wildflower Festival website, www.wildflowerfestival.com Klyde Warren Park: The downtown Dallas park offers free events throughout the week. Zumba fans can exercise every Wednesday evening and Saturday mornings the park offers an exercise boot camp.

Various food Trucks are also available throughout the week. For the complete list of events and times go to www.klydewarrenpark.org.

Art Museums: The Dallas Museum of Arts (DMA) is free for visitors. It is a great

opportunity to explore artwork and every third Friday of the month the museum hosts “Late Night.” June 21 the DMA, Crow Collection of Asian Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center will have their annual summer block party. The website, www.dallasmuseumofart.org, includes a complete list and details of the events.

Perot Museum: The museum has 11 exhibits that help visitors discover science, technology and Dallas. The museum also shows movies and has a café. Museum

exhibit tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children. Movie tickets range from $5 and $8. For more information visit the Perot Museum’s website at www.perotmuseum.org.

George W. Bush Presidential Center: Located on the Southern Methodist University campus. Visitors can explore Bush’s two-term presidency through videos, artifacts such as documents and photographs as well as a full-sized Oval Office. replica. Students can receive a reduced ticket cost for $13 with school ID. For more information visit www. bushcenter.org.

Tubing: Grab your swimsuit and friends and enjoy a nice day floating down the Brazos River. According to the website www.tubetexas. com the river is slow moving and offers visitors the option to kayak and canoe aside from tubing. The website also offers information for other Texas rivers where you can go tubing, rent gear, hotels and camping locations.

White Rock Lake: The lake offers rentals for kayaks and canoes as well as stand-up paddle boards. Rental prices vary depending on the equipment and the location is closed Monday and Tuesdays. Wednesday through Friday the White Rock Lake Boat House is open from 10 a.m. to sundown and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to sundown.

This summer try something new. It’s sure to keep your summer break rolling with excitement.

Eat green: Dallas Farmers Market

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

Image courtesy redwingfarmersmarket.org

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NOEL SMART Guest Writer

Spring is in the air and summer is on the rise! As pollen coats the city with its golden drift, farmers all over Dallas are preparing for their most lucrative season.

Sweltering temperatures often attract fruit and veggie lovers to the Dallas Farmers Market. Shoppers frequently seek to secure their favorite seasonal delights, despite the threat of a little sweat.

The market is no secret to those who crave organic produce, but what may come as a surprise is that many vendors have made healthy eating more accessible by accepting federally distributed food vouchers. Some local farmers, who have produced their own fresh, never frozen crop, actually accept Lone Star for their tantalizing treats!

Sherry Thompson Acuña of Thompson Produce was the first grower to accept funds from the program. After constantly being asked if she took Lone Star, Thompson knew that she had to explore the possibility.

“They were finding that they could use it at other markets, smaller markets, but they couldn’t use it down here. So we decided to apply for it. We put our application in and were accepting the card about six months before the rest of the market was,.” she said.

When quizzed on whether or not she thought accepting Lonestar is beneficial, she said, “They’re so happy to find out that we take it! We have local honey, which is healthy and good for allergies. All types of fresh shelled nuts and dried beans which are full of protein.There are a lot of good health benefits that they can get with their card.”

Garden-fresh nutrients, grown locally and made available, despite one’s income, should sound like a win-win to just about everyone.

Movie Reviews

Summer movies:

MOVIES

Hits or misses?

Staff Writer

Our critic thinks you should check out these promising movies for the summer and ignore some others.

“Pacific Rim” (July 12) This one is going to be dumb fun, but its all in the director and his ridiculous scenario. The director is Guillermo Del Toro, who has only had a single bout of mediocrity with “Hellboy II: the Golden Army.” Save for that misfire, he’s had nothing but a solid career. From the vampire tale of “Cronos” to more bloodsuckers with the Wesley Snipes-led “Blade II,” the man has made nothing but fun rides. “Pacific Rim” involves a giant crustacean attacking the city by the bay, and in order to combat the menace to San Francisco, it’s up to Idris Alba and company to defeat the creature in 70-foot tall robots.

His team includes both Charlie Day (“Horrible Bosses”) and Rinko Kikuchi (“Babel”).

“Man of Steel” (June 14) Yet another Superman reboot, this one courtesy of Zack Snyder, a decent filmmaker who brought “300” as well as the superhero flick “Watchmen” to the silver screen. Here, Henry Cavill is the title character with strong support coming in the form of his parents, played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. Heavy hitter Russell Crowe plays his father Jor-El. The main reason I’m looking forward to this is seeing what viciousness Michael Shannon will bring to his role as Zod. Also key here is Amy Adams as reporter Lois Lane.

“R.I.P.D.” (July 19) This one looks promising because audiences will get treated to having two of my favorite actors together in Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges.

The duo work for the “Rest in Peace” department, which fights the undead and creatures who belong in the grave.

“The World’s End” (August 23) What can be better than the pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost? Not much, because Edgar Wright is at the helm in this end-of-theworld tale that also includes the gorgeous Rosamund Pike and Martin Freeman from “The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

Also worthy of mention are “Red 2,” “Despicable Me 2,” “The Heat” and “The Way, Way Back.”

FORGET ABOUT: “Smurfs 2” (July 31) As if this stupid franchise really needed a sequel, this time out, the plot deails are not all intrecate because this one has a straight path in which Smurfette (voiced by Katy Perry) falls into the hands of Gargamel (Hank Azaria) and she has to decide whether ot noto remain with Gargamel’s clan. Neil Patrick Harris does return for this chapter.

“The Bling Ring” (June 14) Some people like Sofia Coppola and her film projects.

I, however am not one of her admirerers.

“Lost in Translation” was an overrated piece of fluff and “Somewhere” was just plain boring. This time out, Emma Watson stars in this fact based tale of spoiled kids stealing from other spoiled rich kids.

“The Grown Ups 2” (July 12) As if all of the answers were left unturned in the first chapter to this saga about juvenile adults returning to their past, the cast of Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade and Chris Rock all return to this tale which will have shenanigans aplenty.

“The Internship” (June 7) “The Wedding Crashers” duo of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson reteam for a job at Google. Sure, they may not get paid, but I’m sure there will be a lot of forced humor in this one note comedy from director Shawn Levy.

Image courtesy trakt.us, aceshowbiz. com, pacificrimmovie.com, sfx.com

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

RICKY MILLER

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Opinion

Retirement brings freedom and dilemma

Darlene Brimmage Guest Writer

I retired after spending 35 years in the workforce. And when I did so, I thought I knew what to expect. I had certainly given the decision a lot of thought.

I planned. I prepared. I assumed the experience would be about filling the time previously taken by my job. What I hadn’t prepared for were the feelings of loss that began to emerge.

I hadn’t anticipated that, even though retirement was my decision, I would unconsciously grieve -- over losing my identity as a worker, of no longer being part of a work community.

When I first left my job, I was overjoyed at the thought of all the free time I would have.

There would be time to indulge in my hobbies and take interesting classes. I could decide what I wanted to do with my day rather than what I had to do -- i.e., go to work. I could sleep late. I could make my own schedule.

My plan was to develop my skills as a visual artist and take art classes. I also considered trying my hand at writing and maybe submitting something to the school paper.

I was grateful Richland College and its Emeritus program were nearby. I thought a community college would be a safe place

to experience new things, to see if I enjoyed them, that I wouldn’t need skill, maybe so much as interest.

Staff photo Joyce Jackson

And so I enrolled in art classes and began to write.

I remembered advice to new writers was to write about what you know, what is of interest to you.

In the last two years, I have started and abandoned several pieces describing my experiences on being retired. After making half a dozen starts with various points of view and innumerable rewrites, none of them explained the emotions I was experiencing.

And I realized what I originally thought retirement was about (free time) was actually only a small portion of the experience.

In the beginning, I was excited to gain free time, but I hadn’t considered I would lose my decades-old identity as an active member of the workforce.

Consciously, in the beginning, retirement was about freedom from my old work routine and what to do with an abundance of free time. However, unconsciously it was about grieving the loss of my old identity and change in my familiar day-to-day routine.

I hadn’t realized that the experience of retirement would involve emotional change, grieving for the loss of the familiar and the challenge of finding and building a new identity, purpose and daily routine.

Having free time brings the opportunity of choice -- the opportunity to do what I enjoy not just what has to be done. I can stay home when the roads are slick with ice or heavy rains and not experience a stressful commute. Or I can stay home if I don’t feel well.

As time goes on, I find new interests and rediscover activities that I once enjoyed but abandoned because of lack of time, like guiltlessly enjoy a novel or maybe 10 or 15.

Once I overheard a retiree say he had “crossed over.” He had completed the change from worker to retiree. I now understand what he meant.

Visions of self-insight and growth

Jeanine Sterling

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

Guest Writer

Have you ever had a vision about healing the world and/or bringing forth positive change?

Many students lock their inner visions away.

Most never have a chance to express them.

However, visionaries are important in our lives. They generate new, bright ideas. Ideas from each individual hold a light. That light becomes one and fills the world with a glowing pure pathway to our future.

This article is an effort to highlight the visions of students you may see every day here at Richland. It is here that every two weeks new visions bring forth the many possibilities hidden within bright minds. These students envision a better world. These students have new possibilities to contribute for a more peaceful and cooperative community. These students are visionaries.

Here is where I fit in. I am Nini Sterling, I’m 22 years old. I’m working on an associate of arts and I plan on pursuing a double major in psychology and music.

I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and I am the president of the Richland College Visionary Club, a great networking opportunity for fellow visionaries.

One of the reasons I know the importance of visionaries is because I am one. I have found that my passion in music and helping other fellow beings has driven me to pursue positive visions for humanity. I follow three personal development practices, each with its

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own unique magic. They come together beautifully, like a bouquet of flowers. They are designed to create a more peaceful and driven life. I dream of informing others about this path, and eventually teaching the basic principles of all three together. I call it the triangle method.

These three practices are called Compassionate Communication or Nonviolent Communication (NVC), meditation (From the Shambhala meditation center), and cocounseling or r e - e va l u a t i o n counseling (RC).

Each practice is related through teaching that we have the potential for basic goodness, and we form listening groups with empathy skills. Yet, they all work in different ways, allowing unique methods of healing. Each suggests observation before evaluation and thinking well of ourselves and others.

Each flower in this bouquet completes the arrangement by adding its own gift, such as the release of old hurts (RC), a heartfelt connection with ourselves and others (NVC), and a solid mindful head in which to absorb this and any knowledge (meditation).

All of these work well together because in meditation, many thoughts and feelings come up. After these emotions arise, we can counsel deeply on them (crying, shaking, talking) with the co-counseling practice. Then, we can move into a more logical and connected solution with Nonviolent Communication (guessing the feelings and needs behind our stories, and coming to sincere resolutions).

The entire process cleanses our spirits and makes functioning easier and more peaceful.

These visions have positively affected the quality of my life and helped me pursue what’s important to me. While I used to more easily judge and become stressed, these practices helped me to live in an improved state of harmony, allowing for me to take charge of life, rather than letting life take charge of me.

I’ve realized these visions help to benefit others and myself. With that realization, I want to open up the airway and put the spotlight on more students who have a vision in their heart for making this world a better place. Each student and his or her vision is a point of light.

When all of these points of light combine, there is no path we cannot illuminate together.

I am Nini Sterling, I’m 22 years old. I’m working on an associate of arts and I plan on pursuing a double major in psychology and music.

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CAMPUS/News

Tips to look good on campus DALE'MIKA CARTER Contributing Writer

BLANCA REYES Staff Writer

SMU initiated emergency actions because of a potential threat Friday morning.

The Dallas Police Department reported that an armed man in the area called them saying he was suicidal.

Immediately, students, professors and other staff members were informed by text, phone calls, emails and social media; SMU’s webpage.

The lockdown lasted just 10 minutes, from 9:06 to 9:16.

“I was actually sleeping in my room at the campus. I woke up with a couple of phone calls, a couple messages,” an SMU student, Anita Nazmul, said.

“It’s pretty crazy, we have been having so many crazy crimes on the campus. They really need to just lock the entire campus and keep cops everywhere. It’s ridiculous.”

According to a statement from the SMU administration, after the man was arrested on Mockingbird Lane, students were told by the police department to resume regular activities.

Even though the man apparently never was on campus, and, according to published reports had two knives and no gun, SMU took all necessary precautionary measures to keep everyone safe.

“I think I am still pretty safe. Some things like that happen, but I think it’s a safe area,” Morgan Siwet, an SMU student, said about the safety on her campus.

The spring semester’s classes are already finished, but final exams are under way.

Thus, many students were not there at the moment the incident happened.

However, some students, faculty and staff were doing their regular activities when it happened.

“Actually, I had an exam going on,” said Houda Saleh. “She [the professor] told us to keep calm, and she said as soon as we were notified, we were going to be able not being locked anymore.”

Byron Brown, a senior student, said this is the first time that an incident like this has been reported on campus.

For those students who were not able to finish their exams because of the lockdown, SMU, according to its statement by Kimberly Cobb, director of media marketing at SMU, is rescheduling those tests.

Image courtesy wheretobuy.com

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

This campus has a lot of girls trying to become young women, but the way they act and dress tells a different story. Saying the words is the first step and taking action is the next. The fact that you're in college is great, it's a good place to start. But just like everything else in this world, college means business.

When it comes to business, you have to dress the part. If you wouldn't go to work wearing sweats, a hoodie and boots then you shouldn't come to school that way. Make yourself presentable! Wear nice clothes and clean shoes.

I know that everyone's prespective of nice clothing is different, so allow me to give an example of an ideal outfit for school. Let's start with the shirt. A clean cut plain T-shirt is fine or you could wear a nice design shirt; nothing too flashy.

Then you have the bottoms. Jeans are a good choice or a nice pair of leggings. It is school, so you don't have to put on suits or church pants.

Shoes are up to the individual. To each his own. Wear something comfortable that still looks nice, so no house shoes. It's important to look nice at all times because you never know when an opportunity will present itself.

So always look the part that you want in life.

SMU campus goes on lockdown from possible threat of violence

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“ I’M

CONFIDENT I WILL FIND A

CAREER PATH THAT’S

BEST

FOR ” ME.

Princess talks about how A&M-Commerce is preparing her for the world at:

WWW.TAMUC.EDU • 888.868.2682

A Member of The Texas A&M University System

Richlandchronicle.com May 14, 2013

PRINCESS WALKER

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