Richland Chronicle November 6th, 2018

Richland

Vol. XLV Issue 10 November 6, 2018

Why your vote matters Pgs. 6-7

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Lunch with the chancellor, Pg. 2 • From immigrant to citizen, Pg. 3 • Contest winner insured, Pg. 9 • We are the champions, Pg. 11 RichlandStudentMedia.com

Richland Student Media

@RLCStudentMedia

Richland Student Media

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November 6, 2018

Staff Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

Students from various DCCCD newspapers participate in a discussion with chancellor Joe May on Nov. 1.

Bachelor’s degree program coming to DCCCD Kammonke Obase-Wotta Managing Editor

Plans to bring bachelor programs to DCCCD schools are on the horizon. Dr. Joe May, the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) chancellor made the announcement at a meeting with DCCCD student media leaders on Nov. 2.

“We do have the authority to offer [bachelor’s degrees]. Starting next Tuesday [Nov. 6] we will be asking the board to approve our first program,” said May.

The first program is early childhood education. Legislation requires that the program be built on an existing program. The district is working to connect students to services and programs already in place.

“Because of the accreditation requirements and the coordinating board requirements, technically, only one college can offer the degree, however, we do intend to use all the colleges in terms of making that available.

Right away, Eastfield and Brookhaven will be the two sides to start but we intend to roll that out elsewhere as well,” May said.

Richland Honors Program opens new student center

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Kobloh-Obase Kammonke

Staff Writer The Richland Honors Program, held an open house for the new student center on Oct. 31. The facility is designed to cater to the needs of its membership and members of its sister organizations, Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society and the National Society of Collegiate scholars. Located next to Subway in El Paso, it’s a space where students can relax, do their work and conduct meetings.

The facility includes a computer lab, kitchen, quiet study area and a student area.

“The purpose of the student center is to provide a space for honors students to be productive in their honors classes specifically.

Most honors classes require more collaboration compared to regular classes, so it provides them a space for that,” said Kathleen Stephens, Ph.D., coordinator of the honors program.

“We want to tell honors students that the honors program is a program designed specifically for them. We want to have a separate space for them and not be congested around campus,” said Fahad Ahmed, president of the Richland College Honors Program.

According to Stephens, the student center will be monitored in several ways to ensure that only honors students use the facility.

“When students come in, we’re going to log them in with their ID, which will show us whether or not they’re honors students. We also have an agreement for the honors student center, so the students will review the rules and sign the agreement to follow the rules.

There will also eventually be a keypad on the computer lab door which accesses the honors student areas,” Stephens said.

The rules are quite extensive about what’s appropriate use of this areas. If students violate the rules, their access to the student portion of this area may be eliminated for the remainder of the semester. It’s a privilege.”

The open house was an opportunity for everyone, especially non-members, to admire the new facilities. Representatives from all three organizations provided information about their respective organizations.

“The requirements necessary to access the student spaces at the center are that the student must be enrolled in Richland for that semester, be a member of the Honors Program, Phi

May is hoping the DCCCD can forge a partnership with area high schools to “create some pipelines going forward as well.”

May also addressed funding and student opportunities.

Pell Grants, available through the federal government, provide school funding for students, and are accessible all year round.

May said the DCCCD received approval to access Pell Grants in the summer for the first time this year.“There are now Pell grants available for the summer. It is treated just like the fall and spring.

“One of our goals is for individuals who are interested and want to enroll in summer right out of high school. Frankly, that really wasn’t an option in the past if you relied on Pell grants to pay for your education to go to school, but now it is,” said May This year alone, summer applications for Pell have surged.

“We saw a substantial increase in dollars going to students this year. I think it jumped from like $2 million overall in the summer to $13 million,” May said.

Than Võ uses the computer lab in the new Honors Lounge.

Theta Kappa or the National Society of Collegiate Scholars,” Stephens said.

For more information about the Honors program, visit www.richlandcollege.edu/cd/

Staff Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

instruct-divisions/rlc/mshp/honors-program/pages/ default.aspx or stop by the Honors office in Room E055 during regular business hours.

November 6, 2018

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From immigrant to citizen: An American success story Gloria Agbogla

Staff Writer Richland student Edward Sesay is a Gambia native who came to the United States with his mother when he was 9. That was in December 2006. On Oct. 11, he became a U.S. citizen.

Sesay and his mother received permanent residency thanks to Edward’s father, who had already settled in the U.S. Years later, Edward’s father left the family and was not able to help them pursue their citizenship.

They didn’t give up. Edward’s mother took “all the load on herself,” said Sesay. He said his mother “fought for herself first” because in the U.S. there are several ways to obtain citizenship: through a parent who is a U.S. citizen, upon birth or after birth but before the age of 18. Edward was 17.

The path to citizenship can be a long process for various reasons, including missing or incorrect papers. Sesay’s mother, Marie, became a citizen in August 2015 and Sesay had already turned 18. Edward started college at Richland and had a job. As a result, his own application didn’t go as quickly as he had hoped.

Approximately three years later, he got the phone call inviting him for a confirmation interview. That was on Sept. 25.

“I went and first they made me go through all the application and everything I wrote.

Then they asked me six questions about history and government,” Sesay said.

During the Naturalization Oath Ceremony at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, the room was divided.

Family members and friends were seated on the exterior parts of the room.

The soon-to-be citizens were in the center.

An official with the Immigration Service listed all 36 countries that were represented.

“I am very happy because it’s been a long journey.”

– Marie Sesay

accomplished,” she said. “He is proud to be a citizen of the United States.”

As the countries were called, there were cries, smiles and serious expressions from the people in the audience.

For the most part, it was an atmosphere of relief to the extent that one of the new citizens in the first row started to dance after the ceremony.

Sesay is the vice president of the Student Government Association at Richland. He notes that he can “run for office in the future.”

“Now I can register to vote, maybe not for this election but for the 2020 presidential election. I can do my jury duty. I can travel easier out of the country,” Sesay said.

Immigration is an integral part of Texas history. Richland is the most diverse of the DCCCD colleges.

The student body of almost 20,000 includes international students from 130 countries with 79 languages represented on campus.

– Edward Sesay

To an observer, it may have felt like the United States was adopting children from Cameroon, China, Columbia – all over the world.

When the country of Mexico was called, 20 people stood up. When Gambia was called, Sesay was the only person to stand.

A glance at his mom revealed a proud mother who was moved by the ceremony.

Her eyes seemed to relive their journey leading to this day.

“I am very happy because it’s been a long journey. We thank God [the] mission has been

Photo courtesy Edward Sesay

Marie Sesay and her son Edward Sesay.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

“Now I can register to vote, maybe not for this election but for the 2020 presidential election.”

RichlandStudentMedia.com

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November 6, 2018

This ad adheres to Richland College’s non-partisan policy. Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign was contacted for an equal opportunity to place an ad.

ENTERTAINMENT 5

November 6, 2018

‘A Star is Born’ again Ricky Miller

Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy IMDb

The devil made him do it Everett Newson

Staff Writer Who is that guy in the red suit beating up bad guys in the streets of Hell’s Kitchen?

Daredevil (Charlie Cox) Who is that evil guy in an all-white tuxedo controlling the FBI and building himself a criminal empire in the city of New York? Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio).

Who is that psychopathic guy with enhanced marksmanship dressed up as the Imposter?

Daredevil, and he’s killing anyone with various bladed materials? Bullseye (Colin Farrell)!

“Daredevil,” Season 3, brought a lot of action and drama to the Netflix television series. If you are one of the big-time fans of Rated R martial art movies and television shows filled with bloodthirsty action scenes, “Daredevil” is the right TV show for you.

After all, it is one of the greatest Marvel TV Shows to watch on Netflix.

Unlike “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage” and the “Iron Fist,” “Daredevil” is the show everybody is waiting for on Netflix.

Spoiler alert: Here’s a summary of Season 3: It begins with Daredevil waking up by a nun, who appears to be his biological mother, Sister Maggie, played by Joanne Whalley. Or, you might refer to her as Margaret Grace “Maggie” Murdock in a Catholic Church. Daredevil was so messed up from “Marvel’s the Defenders” that he lost his enhanced senses and hearing to locate his enemies or even himself because Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is blind.

After the Daredevil regains his powers from a heroic street fight, Wilson Grant Fisk aka

ns tera e V g orin inema n o H in C

The Kingpin is able to make a deal and blackmail FBI agent Rahul “Ray” Nadeem (Jay Ali) to get him out of prison and put him in a penthouse so the FBI can keep an eye on him.

I like how Benjamin Poindexter, Bullseye, saves The Kingpin’s life from the Albanians during the transfer to the Penthouse. What’s so special about Bullseye is his enhanced marksmanship. He can’t miss his target. The only person he can’t shake is Daredevil.

When I saw Bullseye dressing up as the Imposter Daredevil in the trailer, I already knew it was him because of his marksmanship.

The way Bullseye killed the bulletin people was deadly and bloody because he uses office tools as his throwing weapons.

I loved the part when he was fighting Daredevil because Daredevil was having a hard time dodging his attacks, but I love when Bullseye uses a baseball and throws it at the wall so it can bounce off and hit Daredevil’s skull. What I don’t like is that Marvel should at least give Bullseye his own costume.

Finally, the ending. It was so amazing when Kingpin fought Daredevil and Bullseye at the same time while he had to protect his wife Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer). The reason Bullseye betrays Kingpin is because he discovered that Kingpin assassinated Julie (Holly Cinnamon), who is his potential girlfriend.

The final showdown was more like a memorial for Season 3. If you are looking for a TV show to watch on Netflix, “Daredevil” is your best option. But watch out, because the devil is coming!

Grade: A

“Stalag 17” (1953) — This amazing and fluid flick contains one of my all-time favorite actors, William Holden. He stars as Sgt. J.J. Sefton, a military officer captured in World War II. Like Morgan Freeman’s Red in “The Shawshank Redemption,” he’s a man who can get you things.

A+

“Saving Private Ryan” (1998) — Steven Spielberg’s epic masterpiece about a group of soldiers led by Tom Hanks looking for Matt Damon’s soldier of the title. The sequence near the opening involving the assault on the beaches of Normandy will leave one’s mouth completely open.

A+

“The Hur t Locker” (2008) — Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director for the gritty war drama involving a soldier portrayed by Jeremy Renner and his penchant for dismantling improvised explosive devices.

A

Photo courtesy IMDb

Cooper, Lady Gaga in “A Star is Born.”

1976 version teamed up Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson and won an Oscar for best song, “Evergreen,” which Streisand sang.

I know this one has already reached the over-praised level, but I just thought the film was solid and well-told. Sam Elliott has some great screen time as Cooper’s brother Bobby.

The duo lost both of their parents earlier in their lives, so their kinship is important to the storyline. It was also cool to see the usually obnoxious Andrew “Dice” Clay as Lorenzo, Ally’s father. Elliott and Clay fill out the cast nicely by adding to the dynamics of the story.

Also subtly effective in his small part is comedian Dave Chappelle as George. He befriends Jack when he finds him passed out on his front lawn in Los Angeles. Chappelle was great in Nora Ephron’s “You’ve Got Mail” and the juvenile “Screwed.”

I am pretty good when it comes to predictions, so I expect Lady Gaga’s name to be in the forefront of this year’s Oscar race. She really is that amazing and gives an Oscarworthy performance.

Grade: B

“War Horse” (2011) — Steven Spielberg delivers again in this beautiful piece of magic set against the backdrop of World War I. Although nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it came up empty on Oscar night.

A+

“Hacksaw Ridge” (2016) — This film is based on the true life story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a conscientious objector, who never fired a single shot in all his days in the Army. With Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington.

— Ricky Miller

A

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Daredevil (Charlie Cox) defeats two bad guys in “Daredevil,” Season 3.

Yes, “A Star is Born” has been done before, but there are always filmmakers who want to bring their own interpretation to the screen.

A colleague of mine pointed out that this story has been told at least four times since the storyline debuted as the feature film “What Price Hollywood?” in 1932.

This time, it is actor Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”) who brought his distinct vision to the screen. As a filmmaker, Cooper does a competent job of filming two mismatched souls, portrayed by Lady Gaga and himself whose lives intertwine via songs and words.

Lady Gaga gives an emotional and believable performance as Ally, a woman who does not like her own nose. Gaga made her bigscreen credited debut in Robert Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills” in 2013 as a character simply known as La Camaleón. It was nothing special, just a way of introducing her to Hollywood.

In “A Star is Born,” her character flourishes and gains notoriety and popularity, as well as a billboard in Hollywood that even shows off her nose. Meanwhile, her better half, Cooper’s Jack, does his best to stay afloat and keep his head above water. His popularity has wavered in recent months while her following has increased in popularity.

This film gets major points since it made me cry. It strikes just the right emotional chord with my being. It was not only the presentation, but the way Cooper told the story.

Cooper, along with Oscar-winning writer Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”) wrote a tale that mesmerizes from the word go. The chemistry between Cooper and Lady Gaga works, since the duo share a natural attraction and connection.

Cooper knows when to turn on the nuances and emotion in telling this dramatic story that might have taken the hokum train if he hadn’t been sure of where he wanted to steer the story.

Cooper’s “A Star is Born” marks the fifth time this tale has been told as a feature film.

Besides the aforementioned “What Price Hollywood?” this story was also told in 1937’s “A Star is Born” with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. The 1954 George Cukor version starred Judy Garland and James Mason. The

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November 6, 2018

Celebrities heat up campus with get out the vote rally Aly Rodrigues, Kaelyn Bradley Editor-in-chief, Staff Writer

RichlandStudentMedia.com

“Are you on fire?” Alicia Keys sang to Richland students in a reference to her popular song as the crowd of nearly a thousand went wild. Keys, a 15-time Grammy Award winner, was joined by activist and Emmy-winner, America Ferrera as well as YouTube sensation, Liza Koshy.

The trio came to Richland on Oct. 23 with the group Voto Latino to encourage students to vote. It was Student Government Association’s (SGA) final pre-election event: “RLC Votes with America.”

The rally Ferrera opened the rally by acknowledging the importance of the midterm elections.

“Alicia, Liza and myself are up here at Richland talking to you all because we know and believe in our hearts that there’s nothing more important going on in our country right now than you all on this campus.”

Knowing that elections can impact many lives, Ferrera reminded the students that the outcome is in their hands. She explained that this is an opportunity to decide who the elected officials will be.

“Texas matters. Texas is a model for the entire country. What you all decide to do in the next 13 days will affect every single American,” Ferrera said.

Amidst one of many ovations, Keys asked how many students were first-time voters.

“We need you. We need you so badly because everything that has happened before has not been good enough for us. And we don’t have to tolerate the things that we don’t want to go on in our democracy,” Keys said.

“I want Texas to have the largest black and brown turnout to vote and the largest young people turning out to stand up.”

Keys said there was no place she would rather be than with the students.

Koshy, a Texas native, empathized with students.

“There are no dumb questions. You need to go online and educate yourself. You need to go use Google. I see y’all using Twitter. I see you all tweeting. I want you to use the same voice and I want you to early vote today,” Koshy said.

Round table talk Following the rally, the visiting celebrities took part in a roundtable discussion with Richland student club leaders in the Chronicle TV studio. Each of the women reiterated the importance of voting.

The women collectively reminded the student body that their votes make a difference.

“One reason that you know that your vote matters and your voice matters so much is because they are literally trying to stop us from voting,” Keys said.

Although there has been a renewed interest in getting young people out to vote in the midterm elections, Ferrera believes there are people who still think their vote doesn’t matter.

“We have been taught to feel like our lives are somehow this thing completely outside of what politics is. Our lives are impacted by every single decision that our elected officials are making,” Ferrera said.

Ferrera was adamant about the power of voting and the impact millennials have in this election.

“Elections are job reviews. We employ elected officials and it’s time for us to review their jobs. What we need to understand is that, that confusion is by design because the more we stay home, the more people in power stay in power,” Ferrera said.

Koshy emphasized that status and popularity can be a small part of it. “No matter how big or how small your platform may be, voting is a lot easier than marching. You don’t have

to yell and scream to have it heard. You just need to take it [vote] on a ballot,” Koshy said.

Ferrera encouraged students to engage in some sort of campaign.

“This is something you don’t have to be American to do. You can knock on doors and say, ‘I can’t vote, so vote for me,’” she said.

The SGA worked diligently to organize several voter awareness events to get students excited about voting. They combined efforts with Volunteer Deputy Registrars and registered more than 1,000 new voters before the Oct. 9 deadline.

Kelly Sonnanstine, SGA adviser, said the idea for the voter awareness events came after Haya Qazi, president of the SGA, was able to go observe the voting process. Qazi had never witnessed anyone voting until she accompanied Sonnanstine to the polls. After seeing how easy voting was, Qazi wanted to find a way to promote millennial participation in the election.

“She wanted to do something that was getting people registered to vote and teaching people how easy it is to vote,” Sonnanstine said.

Sonnanstine believes this event will have a lifelong effect on the students.

“I think it’s really important for young people to see young people saying, ‘This is important you need to do this’ because I think it makes a bigger impact,” she said.

“There is power in all votes. Let no one take your power away,” Keys said.

Election Day is today, Nov. 6. The polls are open until 7 p.m. Registered voters must vote from their precinct in Dallas County today.

That information is available online at www. dallascountyvotes.org/voter-information/precinctlookup/#Search The full video of the roundtable with Alicia Keys, America Ferrera, Liza Koshy and Richland student leaders is available at www.richlandstudentmedia.com/video

Staff Photo Kene Enemo

Kimberly Le speaks to hundreds at Richland as they await the celebrities’ arrival in the East Breezeway.

TV and movie star America Ferrera speaks at the ra

Staff Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

YouTube sensation Liza Koshy is surrounded by fans.

Richlan

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

Musician and TV star Alicia Keys sings to the crowd during the get out the vote rally.

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Staff Photo Emily Escamilla

RichlandStudentMedia.com

ally on Oct. 23.

November 6, 2018

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

nd student leaders gather in the TV studio to discuss the importance of voting with Koshy, Ferrera and Keys.

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

Aly Rodrigues, left, Chrystian Rodriquez and Zairia Buchanan listen to fellow student Kimberly Le.

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November 6, 2018

Student media 'gets that bread' Joyce Jackson, Kaelyn Bradley Copy Editor, Staff Writer

The Richland Chronicle Student Media team received 12 awards at two contests during the month of October for work on the Chronicle newspaper, television and radio contests.

The honors included individual awards for on-site contests and previously published work from 2017.

Chronicle TV, Richland College’s studentrun television station, was named national Two-Year TV Station of the Year by the College Media Association (CMA).

The eminent Pinnacle Award was presented during the CMA’s National College Media Convention, held in alliance with the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), Oct. 25-28 in Louisville, Ky. Richland Student Media also received second place for Radio Station of the Year among two-year radio stations.

Other awards included Advertisement of the Year for Display Advertisement and House Advertisement.

The national conference featured more than 275 career-focused workshops and learning sessions led by advisers from around the country and local professionals.

With so many valuable lectures, choosing which class to attend was the biggest challenge.

Students said that the overlapping times made it difficult to be a part of every seminar.

The Richland Student Media team at the ACP conference in Louisville, Ky. on October 26.

Photo courtesy Erica Edwards

Richland Chronicle writers, photographers and other student media staff members attended the Texas Community College Journalism Association (TCCJA) convention at Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas Oct. 11-12.

The Richland staff, along with other Texas community colleges and universities, competed in several categories, among them a live news multimedia contest, copy editing and design.

Richland Student Media took seven awards including a first place award in the live contest and six awards for previously published material. The college competes in Division Two, which includes two and four-year schools that produce weekly newspapers.

In addition to the competition, professional journalists from area universities gave presentations: “Visual Storytelling in Video News Stories,” “Intro to Sports Media,” “Your First Year out of J-School,” “Preparing for the

Future in Photojournalism,” “Transferring to a Four-Year University” and an “Editors’ Roundtable.” The experiences left students feeling very inspired by fresh ideas, endless solutions and boosted morale.

For those interested in joinning student media, meetings are Mondays and Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in El Paso Hall, E-020. Visit the RichlandStudentMedia.com to review online chronicle articles, listen to KDUX webradio and watch Chronicle TV videos.

For starters, I found Cambridge a vibrant town full of cafes, restaurants and stores.

Harvard Yard itself was a quiet, tree-dense park dotted with quaint redbrick buildings dating from the 1630s and constructed in the Georgian style.

The remainder of the sprawling campus was a deliberate, tasteful blend of Georgian, Purist, Bauhaus and revivalist architecture. It was enchanting.

More importantly, my tour guide Larry was a perky, excited freshman majoring in statistics and sociology. He genuinely and passionately loved to discuss the college, his degree, studying abroad and student life with me as we walked the campus. He expounded on the diversity, the vivacity of campus life and the enormous financial aid and research opportunities.

I left Harvard considering its stereotyped reputation completely undeserved. The campus was not silent, but bustling. I was enchanted.

The administration not backward, but progressive. The student body not oligarchic, but diverse – socioeconomically, racially and sexually. I’d never seen a university like it.

Harvard is not for everyone, though.

Perhaps Massachusetts is too cold for you.

Maybe you seek a less rigorous education.

Perhaps the liberal-arts-based curriculum seems anachronistic. Or maybe you would like college where Greek life has a more prominent position (It’s almost nonexistent at Harvard).

Fortunately, no matter what you would like from a school, there are over 4,000 universities and colleges in the United States alone.

Each one offers a slightly different flavor with vastly different opportunities.

most public universities nationwide will do the same.

At this point, it’s important to note that “even” if you transfer to “just” a public, or little-known private university, you won’t receive instruction of any less value or excellence than Harvard.

I spoke on this matter recently with Dr. Brian Franklin, the associate director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University.

He pointed out that Harvard and similar schools do have their reputation for a reason; but that doesn’t mean they have a monopoly on good instruction.

He said that for the most part, professors go to a relatively small number of universities for their degrees, which means they receive a relatively similar quality of instruction.

These professors then spread across the country to local schools, state universities, private schools, religious schools, etc.

This implies that no matter where you go, you will find good professors.

Stop wasting energy worrying about the quality of professors and instruction at a university and instead, transfer to the university of your choice and start building your dreams.

Transferring to a university-why not go big?

Trace Miller

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Staff Writer

Harvard. The name, for many people, conjures an image of academic snobbery, power-hungry students and old wealth. That alone is sufficient to repel someone – and the recent allegations of structural racism and race-biased admissions certainly don’t help.

Even if the purported elitism is a nonfactor for you, perhaps you find the caricaturized mix of geekiness, wealth, preppiness and erratic genius repulsing.

Or maybe the political ideology. Or the history of discrimination. Or Harvard’s association with the establishment.

There’s much to hate in a university so prominent and prototypical. For a long time, I subscribed to these same prejudices and had no desire to visit Harvard. But I was recently in Cambridge, Mass., where Harvard is located, and had an opportunity to see the campus.

“Why not?” I thought. Of course, I went there assuming I would have a negative reaction. I envisaged cocky, frazzled, overworked students, a dead social scene, overt politicization and abounding bourgeoisie affluence.

Nothing, however, could have been further from the truth.

I left Harvard considering its stereotyped reputation completely undeserved. The campus was not silent, but bustling. I was enchanted.

The good news is this: Most schools will accept your credit – because who wants to trash their hard-earned credit? Locally speaking, every public university in Texas will accept your credit (though it may or may not count toward your degree). Furthermore,

November 6, 2018

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Ghosts, ghouls and goblins get down and dance

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Students dance to the Cupid Shuffle on the dance floor.

Staff photo Emily Escamilla

Jake Song wins first place dressed as Jake from State Farm. Staff photo Chloie Lewis Lisette Osorio-Garcia dresses as a bloody scarecrow.

Staff photo Emily Escamilla

Annisa MacKay as a skeleton for Halloween.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Photo courtesy Meg Fullwood

10 TRAVEL/HEALTH

November 6, 2018

Vietnam trip offers insight

CHRONICLE Richland

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Entertainment Editor Layout Editor

Ryan Bingham Duff Staff Writer

After spending 44 days touring Southeast Asia last summer, Professor Michelle Navarro was so impressed that she is already planning her next trip abroad.

The performing arts and history professor, along with 11 other Richland faculty members, traveled to the region on a Fulbright-Hays scholarship. Navarro held a presentation about their travels in Sabine Hall on Oct. 15.

Navarro said the presentation was inspired by the book, “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert.

“I went to learn for 30 days in Vietnam. I ate wonderful food in Singapore, and I learned about love in all the different forms in Bali [Indonesia],” she said.

Navarro said the research trip through Vietnam was designed to help the group better connect with students of Vietnamese descent at Richland. She discussed the typical feelings a tourist might endure including culture shock, homesickness, adapting to foreign foods and language barriers. The group traveled from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City and visited Da Nang, Hue and Hanoi.

One of the activities in the capital of Hanoi included visiting the Hoa Lo prison, also known as “The Hanoi Hilton,” where American GIs, including the late Sen. John McCain, were held captive. In spite of the war that took place nearly a half century ago, Navarro said, the Vietnamese were not resentful toward Americans. She described the culture as warm, forgiving and even curious. While in Ho Chi Minh City, she developed a case of bronchitis from the pollution and traffic.

“Eventually you just learn to tune it out,” Navarro said. “It’s not a question of if you get sick, it’s when.”

ON THE COVER

Alicia Keys during a voter rally on campus on Oct. 23.

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

COVER AND FONTS Certain cover fonts are provided by the following www.nymfont.com – www.bvfonts.com

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF David Acosta Gloria Agbogla Adrienne Aguilar Omorinsola Ajayi Kaelyn Bradley Jon Brinkley Thomas Cabrera Melanie Castenada Drew Castillo Jasmine Chatman Ryan Duff Kene Enemo Emily Escamilla Chloie Lewis Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Staff Writer More and more people are switching to e-cigarettes. While it is one positive way to help longtime tobacco users quit, government officials are worried that vaping is growing in popularity among teenagers and young adults.

According to the American Lung Association, almost all vaping products contain nicotine, even though they might claim otherwise.

Flavors range from bubble gum to crème brûlée. This is believed to be the reason that many teens are trying it.

“Flavoring is an additive,” said Caroline White, senior manager of the Richland Health Center. “Anything that is not a natural substance is not good for your body.”

It’s something that many young consumers don’t consider to be a habit; however, U.S. health officials are calling it an “epidemic.”

According to The Associated Press (AP), the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is

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STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS

Photo courtesy Michelle Navarro

Women making the traditional conical hats by hand in a small village near Hanoi.

Navarro said she packed a pharmacy in anticipation of possible illness. She also learned about haggling as a part of the local culture. She even shared a controversial story about the government shutting down Google and Facebook to guard against users posting online comments against the government.

When it came to Vietnamese food, Navarro described the coffee as “phenomenal.”

“It’s incredible. It’s very strong, but I loved it because there’s so many ways to make it,”

she said. “There is one [dish] where they put an egg cream in it, and that one was different.

I liked it.”

Navarro visited Singapore for another 10 days to do further research. She met up with her boyfriend and his son who were in China visiting family.

“This is the fourth time I have done extensive travel,” she said.

Read more of this story at: www.richlandstudentmedia.

giving e-cigarette companies the choice to reverse the trend or risk having their products pulled from the market. The five companies involved are JUUL, VUSE, Blu, LOGIC and MarkTen. Some college students at Richland explained their views on vaping.

“My mom used to smoke cigarettes and it made her look older than she was. When she started to vape, it was a way to get herself to stop smoking,” Madison Seelye, a freshman, said.

“It works for so many people to slowly lower your nicotine intake. [She] started looking so much healthier and younger because she stopped smoking cigarettes and she got healthier.”

“I think [vapes] are helpful in the sense that smoking can be very hazardous to the people around you but vaping cannot,” said Mikaela Madrid. “My grandma has this rare intolerance to cigarette smoke and when she smells it, her throat acts up. It’s hard for her to breathe and

she loses her voice, whereas someone who’s vaping doesn’t bother her at all.”

Health advocates are concerned that the popularity of vapes among young people will have an impact on future smoking rates, according to AP. A government-issued report released in January found “substantial evidence” that young people who try vaping, are more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

“It’s not a better alternative. They could be addicted to the substance or be addicted to the process. They’re both difficult to get rid of,” White said.

E-cigarettes have grown into a multibillion dollar industry in the U.S. and little is known about their long-term effects, according to AP. Although they are touted as being less dangerous than tobacco, health officials warn that nicotine in e-cigarettes can be harmful to users, including to the developing brains of younger people. The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still being studied.

FDA proposes vape flavoring ban Adrienne Agular

Aly Rodrigues Kammonke Obase-Wotta Joyce Jackson Ricky Miller Dara Jones

Erica Edwards

Tim Jones

Jack Fletcher

Larry Ratliff

Meg Fullwood

ISSUE DATES November 13

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December 11

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SPORTS 11

November 6, 2018

Women make national tournament Kammonke Obase-Wotta Managing Editor

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.

November 6 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. i

Guadalupe Hall 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. i

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. i

Staff Photo Chloie Lewis

“We are ecstatic. We are really excited. We had a special team this year and we knew that we were capable of beating a team like Brookhaven who all year, in our books, was the best team in the country,” he said.

“It was leadership that won us that game.

The girls were exhausted, and they’d given everything they could. And it was the leaders on the team that just kept them going. ” Toups said.

It was the third consecutive District F final between the Richland Thunderducks and Brookhaven Bears. The atmosphere was rife with chants from spectators.

The match was tied at the end of regulation after goals from Richland’s Eva Mulligan and Brookhaven’s Erian Brown. The winner had to be decided by a golden goal in overtime.

Six minutes into that overtime the Thunderducks were pressing high. Brookhaven’s attempt to play were quickly shut down.

Richland’s Jordan picked up the ball at the edge of the box and set out on a marauding run

down the flank. She shrugged off the attempts by the Brookhaven defense and put a cross in the penalty box. Pedroza was the quickest to react. She charged ahead of the Brookhaven defenders to tap in the game winner.

Miranda Ibarra, sophomore, is confident the current crop of players are better equipped to challenge for the nationals.

“I think this year, we are on the same boat.

We all want the ring. We all want it as badly as the next person,” Ibarra said.

Toups echoed the same sentiments.

“This team knows how to win big games.

I think they’re going in much more confident than that 2015 team that we had. We’ve got a little more depth and I think just the overall experience of learning how to win games has helped hem this year,” he said.

Richland is currently the No. 1 seeded DIII school in the nation. The Thunderducks will travel to Chicago for the national tournament taking place Nov. 8-13.

Managing Editor

With the memory of last year’s national final loss still fresh in the memory of some of the Richland men’s soccer players, the Thunderducks will be looking for retribution at this year’s nationals.

Richland beat Schoolcraft 3-0 to win the District F championship on Oct. 27.

Rafael Dominguez, Lucio Martinez and James Sesay all scored to send the Thunderducks to the nationals.

Head coach Sean Worley was pleased with the victory.

“The boys stepped up and did well. The turf fields are really fair and really good for skilled

teams and we have a skilled team. That helps us. Overall the tournament was an outstanding tournament,” Worley said.

Sesay scored the lone goal in Richland’s 2-1 loss to Genesee in the national finals last year.

He reiterated his desire to avenge last year’s loss.

“The memories [of last year’s final] motivate me more and make me more hungry to try to win it this year. Last year is like you tasted something but you didn’t taste every part of it. Being in the finals last year is an amazing thing and for me, not to achieve what we planned for last year, it was a fall back.

That’s not [the] end of everything because we made it this year. We are ready as a team [and] as an individual,” Sesay said.

Fall Symphonic Instrumental Concert I: “Legacies” Wind symphony, string orchestra, chamber ensembles Fannin Performance Hall, F102

November 7

RIchland huddles up in celebration after Claudia Pedroza’s game-winning goal on Oct.

Kammonke Obase-Wotta

Lucio Martinez scored in the 3-0 win over Schoolcraft in the district final.

Richland Wind Symphony and chamber ensembles Fannin Performance Hall, F102

10 a. m. to 2 p.m. i

Human Book event Lavaca level of the library 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

i

Fall Richland Guitar Ensemble Concert: “The Art of the Guitar” Directed by Jan Ryberg Fannin Performance Hall, F102

November 8

i

Noon to 1 p.m.

Richland Fusion Band and Jazz Improv Ensemble Cafeteria Stage, El Paso Hall 7 to 9 p.m.

i

Phi Theta Kappa Fall Induction Ceremony Fannin Performance Hall, F102

Men advance to 10th consecutive national finals

Staff Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

Voting on campus

November 9

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. i

2018 DCCCD 8th Sustainability Summit Various locations on campus 11 a.m. to noon

i

Richland Wind Symphony “Veterans Day Tribute Concert” Cafeteria Stage, El Paso Hall 2 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday

i

Male Achievement Program (MAP) Sabine Hall, SH117

RichlandStudentMedia.com

A nail-biting overtime clincher gave the Richland women’s soccer team a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Brookhaven, the reigning national champions, to claim the district championship and cement their place in this year’s nationals.

Claudia Pedroza, a Richland sophomore, scored the game-winning goal six minutes into the overtime period. After the goal, her teammates mobbed her, jumping up and down with excitement. The women’s team will be going to the nationals for the first time since 2015.

“I can’t think of a word to explain it. It’s just a surreal moment that is going to stick with me forever. It’s something that I’m never going to forget, because we’ve been working so hard this season,” Pedroza said.

To gain a competitive edge, Richland head coach Scott Toups used an unfamiliar formation in the game. He reverted to the 4-3-3 he deployed last year over the 3-5-2 formation he had played throughout regular conference games this season.

Richland played Brookhaven five days before the District F final in a conference game, but he didn’t change the formation in that game.

“We had a plan for Brookhaven about a month ago. So even for that game on Monday, we knew what we wanted to do but we didn’t do it. We kept playing the same way that we had played all season. We kept the same lineup, the same structure, the same tactics, that way when we did see Brookhaven in that finals it would be something they had not seen from us all year,” said Toups.

Alexis Jordan and Pedroza played as forwards while Lizeth Ochoa and Citali Gonzalez took their places in defense.

“Speed kills. We knew that they weren’t the fastest backline. We knew they would struggle with Alexis Jordan, and so that was our plan.

Put her up there and let her speed give them problems,” Toups said.

Toups was pleased with the victory.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Novermber 6, 2018

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