Richland Chronicle October 17th, 2017

Vol. XLIV Issue 9 October 17, 2017

Victory season approching Pg. 11

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Richland Student Media

@RLCStudentMedia

Richland Student Media

2 CAMPUS/LOCAL

October 17, 2017

Lincoln-Douglas gun debate: Thunderduck style

HARRIS SADIQ Managing Editor

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Voting is underway to determine a winner in a Lincoln-Douglas style debate on gun rights that took place Oct. 12 in front of a live audience in the Chronicle TV studio. It was the joint project of the Richland Debate Club, Turning Point USA and Richland Student Media. The controversial topic was “Gun control and its Impact on Society.”

Andrew Castillo, president of Turning Point USA’s Richland Chapter debated Brian Miranda, president of the Richland Debate Club. Castillo argued for fewer gun laws and Miranda was for more of them.

The Lincoln-Douglas style debate lasted about 45 minutes. The debaters made opening statements, cross examined each other and delivered rebuttals. Each segment was closely timed.

Miranda opened firmly for the need of government regulation to deal with issues of gun violence. He referred to the recent rampage at an outdoor concert at in Las Vegas and criticized Nevada’s loose gun regulations.

“There is no mandated waiting period to buy a gun. You can bring a gun to a polling place, to a casino and to a bar,” Miranda said.

Miranda expanded his argument for regulations to prevent deaths related to domestic violence.

“An example of that just actually happened in Plano a few weeks ago. A woman was killed because her husband was angry and so he acted on impulse,” he said.

Castillo argued that gun ownership is a fundamental right for citizens and essential for protection. Citing the Constitution he said, “The Second Amendment protects us from government tyranny.”

Castillo also encouraged weapon ownership for self-defense. “In D.C. you had a congressman, Steve Scalise, he was shot at a baseball game. He didn’t have a gun. Why? Because it was a gun-free zone. We need to get rid of them. Because when you’re in gun-free zones you have no protection. Absolutely nothing.”

Staff photo Chassedy Johnson

Students will decide who won the debate on gun control through an online poll.

Castillo suggested that too many government regulations make it harder to solve gun violence. He criticized local leadership for Chicago’s weapons epidemic. He said, “Criminals are not going to listen to laws. Look at Chicago.

He added, “These kids deserve a future and they’re letting the guns go off in Chicago and that goes back to the leadership in that city.

I think it’s a disgrace really because you look at Vermont and Wyoming, less gun laws and then low gun death rates.”

Afterwards, professor Geoffrey Manzi said, “I think the rhetorical skills of both participants were clearly exceptional so determining a winner is very difficult.”

Lincoln-Douglas style debates typically name a winner. Students and faculty who would like to participate are encouraged to visit RichlandStudentMedia.com to view a podcast of the debate and submit their opinions on gun control before and after watching the program to richlandchronicle@gmail.com by Oct. 20.

The winner of this debate will be revealed in the Oct. 24 issue of the Chronicle.

Drew Castillo speaks his position on gun control on behalf of Turning Point USA.

RICHARDSON, Texas (AP) — Authorities were searching Monday for a 3-year-old suburban Dallas girl whose father said she went missing over the weekend after he made her stand outside in the middle of the night as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Wesley Mathews, 37, said he ordered Sherin Mathews to stand next to a tree behind the fence at their Richardson home at around 3 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit.

The tree is across an alley from the home.

Mathews went outside about 15 minutes later to check on her, but Sherin was gone, the affidavit states. The child, who has a developmental disability, was wearing leggings, a pink long-sleeved shirt and pink flip-flops.

The father didn’t notify police that his daughter was missing until about five hours later, said Sgt. Kevin Perlich. He said the delay in reporting the matter “is certainly concerning to us.”

“That does not seem like a normal response that one would do if you have a missing child,” Perlich said.

Mathews was arrested Saturday on a charge of abandoning or endangering a child. He posted bond late Sunday, according to Perlich.

A working phone number for Mathews could not be found and it’s not clear if he’s hired an attorney to speak on his behalf.

Mathews at one point told investigators that coyotes have been seen in the alley, but investigators say there’s no indication that one might have dragged the girl away.

Investigators have seized three vehicles, cellphones and laptops from the family in an effort to find out what became of Sherin,

Mystery case of a 3-year old child missing in Richardson

Photo The Associated Press

Photoof 3-year-old Sherin Mathews

Photo courtesy Jack Fletcher

Perlich said. Footage from surveillance cameras in the area also is being reviewed.

State Child Protective Services removed a 4-year-old child from the home early Monday, he said. A CPS spokeswoman, Marissa Gonzales, said the agency has had dealings with the family before, but she declined to release additional information.

Perlich said Mathews and his wife adopted Sherin, who was malnourished when the couple took her in. Mathews told investigators it wasn’t unusual for the girl to wake up late at night to eat so that her weight would increase, Perlich said. That may explain why she was punished at 3 a.m., he said. He said authorities are casting a broad net in determining what happened to the girl.

“We don’t have any other indication or evidence that she was forcibly abducted from that area,” he said.

–The Associated Press

October 17, 2017

OPINION 3

Photo The Associated Press

On Sept.26 immigrant rights supporters gather in Washington D.C.

MIKE SOKOLSKI Staff Writer

The “Dreamers” make up an estimated 800,000 young people who, through no fault of their own, were brought to the United States as children. They have grown up here, attended school here, are part of the labor force and many own businesses or are professionals who contribute to the economy.

Don’t they deserve better than all the political nonsense?

According to a poll conducted by The Associated Press Nonpartisan and Objective Research Organization (AP-NORC), conducted between Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, “About 60 percent of Americans favor allowing those young immigrants, commonly referred as ‘Dreamers’, to stay in the U.S. legally, compared to 22 percent who are opposed. Just 19 percent of respondents say all these childhood arrivals should be deported.”

When President Donald Trump ordered the phase-out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program last month, he gave 150,000 Dreamers a chance to renew their work permits before March 5. Unfortunately, those whose DACA permits expire after March 5, 2018 are ineligible for renewal and thus will lose DACA protection.

Last month, Trump asked Congress to come up with a permanent solution for the Dreamers. In fact, Trump met with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in which Trump agreed to support DACA protections in exchange for a package of border security measures. It looked like legislation to normalize the status of Dreamers was a possibility.

Unfortunately for the Dreamers, the White House’s idea of “border security” means 370 new immigration judges and 1,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to deal with the problem of unaccompanied children who cross the border. Trump also wants Congress to fix what he sees as the problem of asylum seekers. He wants to be able to deport them more quickly and easily than currently permitted under law. And, of course, he wants to build “the wall.”

In order to support DACA, Trump wants to improve “interior enforcement” which includes blocking funding to “sanctuary cities.” These are cities, like Dallas, that have refused to allow local police to act as immigration agents.

Police chiefs argue that when the police act as immigration agents, the undocumented fail to report crimes or participate in prosecution of criminals. Trump says he needs 300 new federal prosecutors and 10,000 new ICE officers.

How do these demands relate to Dreamers? They don’t. Reaction from Democratic lawmakers has been negative. Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement, “The administration can’t be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans.”

Representative Michelle Lujan, D-N.M., said the president’s “draconian and anti-immigrant principle” threatened to jeopardize “the bipartisan, bicameral progress that has been made to pass a legislative solution that will protect nearly 800,000 Dreamers.” She said, “It is immoral for the president to use the lives of these young people as a bargaining chip in his quest to impose his cruel, anti-immigrant and un-American agenda on our nation.”

I’ve known one dreamer since she was in seventh grade. In spite of the fact that her mom and two younger brothers are all undocumented, she completed high school and got additional training at the Garland campus of Richland College.

She now has a job in an office and is taking care of two kids of her own, her mom and one of her younger brothers who is handicapped. She is now waiting for her last two year renewal of DACA. It really upsets me that young people like her can’t be permanently accepted in this country.

They are as much American as anyone born here. I suppose that there are people who believe she and other dreamers like her should be deported. I definitely do not.

For more information on DACA status provisions, visit the Department of Homeland Security website at www.uscis.gov/daca2017.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Trump discourages ‘Dreamers’

4 ENTERTAINMENT

October 17, 2017

Ford passes torch to Gosling RICKY MILLER Entertainment Editor

RichlandStudentMedia.com

I was a little tyke when the original “Blade Runner” came out in 1982. Even though I was young, I got into it because of the supporting turns by Rutger Hauer and Daryl Hannah. To me, they were the real reason to see this adaptation of a story based on the writings of Phillip K. Dick. Harrison Ford’s persona of Rick Deckard was just window dressing for me.

In “Blade Runner 2049,” Ford returns as Deckard, albeit in a smaller, supporting role.

This one is Ryan Gosling’s vehicle. He is on the screen for a majority of the flick. Ford’s Deckard does not even show up until an hour into the movie. Gosling’s K persona occupies the majority of it.

Quirky performances abound in this flick, especially Jared Leto as Niander Wallace, a creator of sorts, who claims to be the maker of the replicants. He nonchalantly guts and kills his creation like it was spoiled fish.

Also important to the storyline is Robin Wright’s turn as Lt. Joshi who is, for all intents and purposes, K’s boss. She fears for K who is essentially flying blind in their search for Deckard, who has been absent from current America for many years. James Edward Olmos makes a cameo appearance as Gaff, who fashions minute origami versions of various creatures.

Directing “Blade Runner 2049” is Denis Villanueve, who scored major points with me

for helming the amazing “Arrival” (2016) as well as “Sicarrio” in 2015. He knows where to point the camera in every single solitary frame.

Ridley Scott returns to the “Blade Runner” universe, this time as executive producer.

What is really cool is the vibrant color palette used in sections of the movie. Roger Deakins' cinematography glistens on the screen. He even brings a presence to snow that is falling to the ground.

Like the original “Blade Runner,” the film makes references to now defunct companies such as Atari, which has not been a part of the American gaming landscape since the mid1980s.

I have a feeling this one will be a frontrunner in this year’s Oscar race, kind of like what happened a couple of years back when the well-received “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) received a deluge of the shiny gold statues.

I saw the screening at AMC NorthPark. This is important because I did not get the goose bumps I’m always looking for but busted into big smiles whenever I heard events unfolding on the screen. The seats literally rumbled, adding to the atmosphere by making it a fullon immersive experience.

I know a lot of people dread science-fiction tales, but this flick is just awesome. I highly recommend “Blade Runner 2049” because it does everything it’s supposed to do, even a conclusion that is thoroughly dynamic.

Grade: A-

Photo courtesy IMDB.com

Ryan Gosling (K), left, and Harrison Ford (Rick Deckard) in "Blade Runner 2049."

“The Meyerowitz Stories” (2017) – Dustin Hoffman re-teams with director Noah Baumbach for this slice-of-life tale with Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Shailene Woodley and Emma Thompson. Hoffman’s sculptor father deals with predicaments in a quirky comedydrama about strange characters in New York.

B-

Photos courtesy IMDB.com

Ellen Page leads her fellow medical students in a study on the effect of death in 'Flatliners.'

‘Flatliners’: New life to old script JEREMY GAYDOSH Staff Writer

A group of young medical students take it upon themselves to analyze the mind experiences of a person after they die. What starts as an experiment with the potential to be a breakthrough in modern medical science turns into a fight for survival.

The film opens with four students including an overstressed perfectionist Sophia (Kiersey Clemons), suave party boy Jamie (James Norton), career-driven Marlo (Nina Dobrev) and level-headed voice of reason Ray (Diego Luna) being drawn in by brilliant but traumatized Courtney (Ellen Page) for an extracurricular experiment. Courtney explains that she wants to reveal the answer of the “white light” phenomenon that a dying person is said to experience.

How to achieve this? She volunteers to have her colleagues stop her heart for a short period of time, then bring her back, all while having her brain scanned for activity. As expected, there is apprehension but as soon as Courtney injects herself with the substance to slow her heart rate, they put her under (after a charge of heart defibrillators). We see Courtney’s outof-body experience, but rather than arriving at the pearly gates to meet St. Peter, she sees moments from her past as well as her little sister Tessa (Madison Brydges) who was lost in a car accident.

“Gerald’s Game” (2017) – In this Stephen Kingpenned tale, Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood are a married couple trying to work out some kinks in their life when an unexpected accident puts a damper in their weekend plans.

C+

“Needful Things” (1993) – Recently released on Blu-ray is this Stephen King adaptation in which a quirky curator (Max Von Sydow) opens a shop in a small Northeastern town.

With Ed Harris and Bonnie Bedelia (“Die Hard”).

B-

No sooner after being brought back does Courtney feel rejuvenated and even more focused to the surprise of her friends who all start wanting to partake in the experiment.

Each go under and experience past moments.

Things take a turn soon after they’re brought back when they see visions of people they have done wrong, whether it was a student they bullied, an abandoned lover or a patient who died due to a medical mistake.

The visions also turn violent as the students are attacked at random, then see that it is all in their heads. In wanting to exorcise their demons, the group seeks to atone for any wrongdoing before they end up victims of their own pasts.

This film is a remake of a 1990 film starring Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin, Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt and was intended to be a heavier drama with spiritual undertones but this version is a supernatural thriller that actually enhances the excitement of after-effects into a journey to the unknown. Sutherland returns along with the original producer, Michael Douglas.

There was speculation as to whether this film was to be a sequel, but that turned out to be wrong. Sutherland plays a new role as the tough-as-nails doctor in charge of the group.

While this film may not join the ranks of the greatest films of all time, it certainly makes for an amusing thrill ride of a movie.

Grade: B-

“Carrie” (2013) – Chloë Grace Moretz stars in this Stephen King adaptation along with Julianne Moore as the unhinged mother who thinks her daughter’s blossoming is the work of others.

C-

“Cell” (2016) – This Stephen King adaptation finds John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson re-teamed for a tale about the rampant use of technology and how it turns the masses into zombie-like creatures.

–Ricky Miller

C-

October 17, 2017 CAMPUS 5

Richland hosts 2017 Minority Serving Institution Convening JOYCE JACKSON Copy Editor

Higher education administrators from around the country will meet at Richland College on Oct. 20-21 to discuss initiatives that impact the academic success of students at minority-serving institutions. Richland, along with the Asian-American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) program, will host the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Convening, “Minority Student Success: Using Data to Effect Change.”

“The expectation is for colleagues in higher education from minority-serving institutions to share ideas for the continued academic success of their students,” said Megan Farmer, an AANAPISI navigator. “Participants of the

“Participants will listen and learn from guest presenters on student success strategies and data tools.”

– Megan Farmer

MSI Convening will have the opportunity to engage in discussions about programs and initiatives from colleges across the nation who interact with similar student populations. They will listen and learn from guest presenters on student success strategies and data tools.”

While previous conferences have focused on best practices and innovation, this year’s MSI Convening will cover existing evidence, effective research and ways to develop more robust methods for determining the success of minority programs that will help colleges and universities obtain funding, improve programming and effect change.

This year’s event will kick off Friday at 8 a.m. and feature a keynote address with Dr. Mike Flores, president of Palo Alto College, a part of the Alamo College District in San Antonio. Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, founder and CEO of Do Good Work Educational Consulting, LLC, will give the plenary address on Saturday.

The conference will also include panel discussions and breakout sessions.

"Walk-in guests are welcome either morning of the MSI Convening,” said Farmer, an AANAPISI navigator. “There will be a special registration table for those individuals.”

Onsite registration is available Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and Saturday from 8-10 a.m.

Attendance is free.

With around 15 percent of Richland’s student population comprised of Asian-Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and at least half demonstrating financial need, AANAPISI funding impacts many of the college’s underserved students.

The program helps the college to increase the three-year graduation rate for AAPI students who have one or more risks to success and completion, such as financial need or academic challenges.

For more information on MSI convening, visit: richlandcollege.edu/miss-convening.

Photo Courtesy DoGoodWork Educational Consulting, LLC.

Dr. Terrell Strayhorn will speak at Richland on Saturday Oct. 21.

THU NGUYEN Layout Editor

Scholarships can play an important role in academic success. Scholarship availability is based on grade point average, field of study and financial need. For those looking

for scholarship opportunities, here are some recommendations: Established in 2016, the Level Up Scholarship supports students with financial need who are attending one of the schools in the Dallas County Community College District.

The scholarship is open to Dallas County residents 21 years of age or older who demonstrate

Scholarships can help students prevent college debt.

Photo illustration courtesy CBSnews.com

financial need. The scholarship is designed to provide additional money to cover the cost of books and tuition not covered by other financial aid.

To be eligible for the Level Up Scholarship, students must be enrolled in a “Promise Pathway,” which includes the fields of Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Computer Information Technology, Construction, Electrical Technology, Electrical Engineering, Emergency Medical Technology, Logistics Technology, Retail Management, Medical Front Office, Multimedia Technology, Veterinary Technology, Welding Technology, Early Childhood majors. Preference will be given to veteran applicants.

Applicants must meet federal guidelines and complete the entire Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process by May 1, 2018. The Level Up scholarship requires students to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours with a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA). The recipient must maintain a 3.0 GPA each semester.

After receiving the scholarship, the recipient must communicate with a mentor at least twice a semester, complete their degree or certificate in 18 months and maintain the requirements to receive the spring scholarship.

Failure to do so could result in a loss of scholarship benefits. Scholarship awards vary. The application deadline for the spring semester is Jan. 6, 2018.

The Joe Stanco Memorial Scholarship was established in 2003 by the friends and family of the long-time Richland College English professor. It awards scholarships of $400 to Richland students.

To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours for the semester with a minimum three credit hour honors course at Richland for the period of award.

The minimum GPA requirement is 3.5. One recommendation letter from a Richland College Honors professor is also required.

Students must answer the supplemental questions: 1. What is your major along with which current activities are you involved in?

2. What are your college and career goals? 3.

What is your major along with what current activities are you involved in? 4. Provide a name and email address of a Richland College Honors professor for a letter of recommendation.

Applicants can contact the Richland College Honors Program for a list of Honors professors at 972-238-6938 or RLCHonors@dcccd. edu. Deadline is on Jan. 15, 2018.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Ne w scholarships for students are now available

6 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

October 17, 2017

Domestic violence: Help available for immigrants CHASSEDY JOHNSON

All information will remain confidential.

Arlington: SafeHaven (817)535-6462

Staff Writer

Richland hosted a domestic violence town hall on Oct. 10 focusing on immigrants’ rights and getting help for themselves or loved ones in unhealthy and unsafe situations.

“Immigrants have the right to feel safe and get help, too,” said Gil Zafra with the law firm Brewer and Lormand, PLLC. Zafra, along with Zainab Munawwar president and founder of the Human Rights Coalition at Richland and Karen Cuttill, a licensed professional counselor, want people to know that there is help available to them no matter their citizenship status.

According to futureswithoutviolence.org, immigrant women often suffer higher rates of battering than U.S. citizens because they may come from cultures that accept domestic violence or because they have less access to legal and social services. Additionally, immigrant batterers and victims may believe the penalties and protections of the U.S. legal system do not apply to them.

Zafra emphasized the trapped situations immigrant victims are likely to have gone through. “Sometimes the spouses hold their papers, their ID’s and birth certificates and they think they can’t get help.”

The town hall focused on educating people about domestic violence, how to recognize it in social settings and what they can do to help.

“Most people don’t want to tell people they have been treated this way by someone they love so often they cover,” said Cuttill.

Cleburne: Johnson County Crisis Center (800)848-3206 Dallas: Genesis (214)946-4357 Dallas: The Family Place (214)941-1991 Dallas: River of Life (214)886-3563 Staff Photo Chassedy Johnson

Town hall panelists discuss domestic violence among immigrant groups with Richland Students.

“A lot of people think domestic violence is only in an intimate relationship. It can be between siblings, spouses and friends,” said Munawwar.

The message stressed in the town hall was the importance of saying something.

The panelists took turns explaining that it is common for friends and relatives to not intervene during instances of domestic violence.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, thousands of domestic violence incidents go unreported each year because of silence by both the victims and witnesses of the abuse.

“We need to take the courage to report these incidents,” Zafra said.

The panelists acknowledged that reporting these incidents was not always easy for the

victims or the witnesses. Many victims are afraid of leaving or being hurt or even breaking up families so they stay quiet and suffer the assaults.

“It takes the average domestic violence victim seven attempts before they leave their abusers. So, the idea that that someone wakes up and says, ‘I’m out of this, it’s bad!,’ it happens that way but more than likely it is going to take multiple attempts and a lot of preparation and a lot of help,” said Cuttill.

“The law is not a general model. It depends on who is applying the law. Each case is different when you are presenting it to the court,” Zafar said. “They [immigrants] are still people who have the right to be safe and get help if they are not.”

Students’ reaction to Weinstein: It’s the same old story CAITLIN RAMSEY

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Staff Writer

“We crucify this man in this manner, yet contridict ourselves by electing a president who did the same,” said Augustine Nukoka, a Richland journalism student looking to study law next year at the University of Texas-Dallas.

Harvey Weinstein, 65, was a co-founder of The Weinstein Company, a multimedia production and distribution company responsible for producing well-known films including Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” and “Django Unchained” as well as “The King’s Speech” starring Colin Firth, which won four Academy Awards in 2011.

Weinstein, father of four daughters, was recently fired from the company that bears his name after a The New York Times investigation revealed numerous allegations of sexual harassment and at least eight settlements with women who accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact.

Heather Daniel, a Richland journalism student who previously reported on the entertainment industry, said, “It’s not surprising,” and it “happens a lot.”

Daniel focused on music during her tenure at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and said the music industry is ripe with similar examples. In 2014, singer and songwriter Kesha accused Dr. Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, an

Shelters resources

Photo The Associated Press

Producer Harvey Weinstein faces multiple allegations of sexual abuse and harassment from some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

American record producer and songwriter, of sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abusing her.

Daniel said the entertainment industry is structured so “who you know and your connections” heavily influence success.

“Careers aren’t solely based on talent,” she said. And with that structure comes a huge, and not uncommon, power disparity.

“Some people get in the industry to take advantage of power,” leaving those without influence “too afraid to speak out for fear they’ll lose their jobs,” said Daniel.

With such a common narrative, Patricia Martinez, a Richland journalism student

focusing on broadcast writing, wonders if readers are too quick to judge. “When I search Weinstein, I see a lot of praise of Ashley Judd and other victims.” Yet, Martinez saw little about Weinstein from his point of view.

“I don’t think how this is being reported is fair.”

LaShanda McCuin, a Richland journalism student focusing on entertainment news, disagrees.

“The reporting is bringing awareness to any type of tycoon taking advantage of his power.” She said reporting helps the victims because it lets abusers know this “will come out to the public and he will be taken out of the company.”

McCuin is not alone in thinking an educated public is a powerful tool. Professor Michael Jackson, Richland journalism faculty, said, “The only way to stop this is to make people aware.”

Daniel is also hopeful, yet has another idea: break up the power from the few and distribute to the many. In this new age of social media, “We are accepting more independent artists,” she said. Daniel added that through a “do it yourself environment, using YouTube or Facebook, you can promote yourself.”

With this story spreading across time and industry, Jackson wondered if “maybe it takes something like this to change.” One thing is for certain, this controversy is far from over.

Dallas: Salvation Army – DV (214)424-7208 Dallas: Mosaic Family Service (214)823-4434 Denton: Friends of the Family (800) 572-4031 Fort Worth: SafeHaven (817)535-6462 Gainesville: Abigail’s Arms (877)846-4751 Garland: New Beginning Center (972)276-0057 Granbury: Mission Granbury, Inc. (817)579-6848 Grand Prairie: Brighter Tomorrows (972)262-8383 Greenville: Women in Need (903)454-4357 Plano: Hope’s Door (972)422-7233 Plano: Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation (972)880-4192 Sherman: Crisis Center (800)259-3909 Wichita Falls: Faith Refuge (940)322-4673 Wichita Falls: First Step (800)658-2683 Weatherford: Freedom House (817)596-8922 Tarrant County: DV Hotline (877)701-7233 National: Hotline Nationwide DV Shelters (800)799-SAFE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE7

October 17, 2017

Don't be afraid; get help for domestic violence LASHANDA MCCUIN Staff Writer

Domestic violence is a topic many people avoid discussing, yet it’s something that affects entire communities in many ways. Knowing the signs can help you, your family and friends stay safe.

Plano was devastated on Sept. 10 by domestic violence when Spencer Hight, the estranged husband of Meredith Lane, shot and killed eight people during a Dallas Cowboys football-watching party.

Lane told her mother she wasn’t afraid of Hight. She said she had never seen signs of violent behavior with him until she filed for divorce. In July, she told her parents he had become violent with her at least twice, including a time when he slammed her face against the wall.

After the incident, she did not go into hiding. Her family didn’t see any reason to be concerned with his behavior.

Victims may fail to report physical abuse to authorities in hopes that the domestic partner

will not make the same mistake again. In reality, it’s a red flag that wasn’t identified in part because people are unaware of the signs of abusive personality traits.

There are several behaviors that may signal an abusive personality. Among them, controlling behavior, jealousy, quick involvement, unrealistic expectations, isolation, blaming others for problems or for feelings, hypersensitivity, cruelty to children or animals and a playful use of force during sex.

“Domestic violence can come in different forms like, mentally, physically, emotionally and financial abuse,” said Ellicia Money, a Richland personal counselor. “These are signs of an unhealthy relationship. No one should avoid any signs or take them lightly.”

Domestic violence can also occur in same sex relationships.

“With same-sex partners, a domestic violence case becomes more complicated because we don’t want both partners in the same shelter,” said Money. “Our job is to figure out who is who. We must determine who is the victim and who is manipulating to find out where their partner is located. In this case we must work very diligently.”

Photo courtesy www.genesisshelter.org

Victims of domestic violence should know they are not alone and seek support immediately.

In 2014, The National Domestic Violence Hotline recorded 6,960 people who identified themselves as male victims of domestic violence.

“Men are not as open about domestic violence in a same-sex relationship as women because, by society’s standards, they’re looked at as weak for not stopping the fight. Which, that’s not the case, but that’s why a lot of them don’t speak out,” said Money.

In June, the Dallas nonprofit “The Family Place” opened the country’s first shelter exclusively for male victims of domestic violence and their families.

“If the shelters are full they [the victims] would have to stay with family, friends or

at a Salvation Army shelter until a domestic violence shelter becomes available. There’s only so much the shelters can do if people are not donating and the lawmakers are not changing the laws. If nothing changes they can only accommodate a certain amount of people,” said Money.

Domestic violence affects everyone in one way or another. Knowing the warning signs is the first step in staying safe. If you or someone you know needs help escaping an abusive relationship, contact counseling services at Richland’s Lakeside Counseling Center by calling 972-238-3771. Additional information is available online at alt.richlandcollege.edu/counseling-services/

Illustration courtesy courageconnection.org

said. Even if the victim gets out of the abusive household or out from under the abuser’s control, the victim never really breaks free.

“She is still looking over her shoulder.”

Langbein has hope. One woman consigned her clothes to get money to escape.

“I’m so inspired and encouraged by women who can think of things like that.” It doesn’t have to be this way though. “I want your generation to stop this,” said Langbein. She wants students to stand up and say, “We are not going to die from this anymore.”

Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support has around 100 employees who serve some 1,300 women with direct client services and has received calls from 2,000 women through the shelter’s hotline in 2016.

The facility has an emergency shelter. Counseling services, short-term housing and transitional housing are also available. The shelter also provides legal services w i t h an onsite staff attorney who can offer legal counsel and representation. The shelter’s hotline is available 24/7 at 214-946H E L P (4357).

More information is available online at www.genesisshelter.org/.

CAITLIN RAMSEY Staff Writer

The spark plugs were taken from one woman’s car every day. Another woman’s children, all grown up, looked the other way when she asked for help for fear of losing their trust fund. Yet another woman was killed watching a football game with her friends.

People in abusive relationships are trapped in many ways. One trap that is extremely effective, yet not as well known, is financial abuse. According to Allstate’s Purple Purse Foundation website (www.purplepurse.com), the No.1 reason domestic violence survivors stay or return to an abusive relationship is that they don’t have the financial resources to break free.

One woman’s stash of quarters would not have been enough to save her, without the help of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support.

“She had this place where she buried the extra money [from the laundromat]” said Jan Langbein, CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter. She used the quarters as gas money to get her and her four children to Dallas. The woman told Langbein if she had more money she would have gone to Oklahoma, but her gas tank was on empty. Genesis was her only hope. The woman told Langbein, "If you hadn’t taken me in, I don’t know what I would have done."

“If you think of a bicycle wheel, the axle is the power and control that one person has over another one,” Langbein said. In abusive

Most cases od domestic violence are not reported because of the victim's fear.

relationships, the victim is trapped by the abuser, similar to how spokes keep an axle from moving. The spokes “are merely a choice of weapon.”

Financial abuse, or compensatory power as Langbein put it, is one of those weapons.

Langbein explained it is not required by the abuser. Just as there are other spokes in the wheel, there are other weapons in the abuser’s arsenal. But 98 percent of domestic violence cases have signs of financial abuse, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence website (https://nnedv.org/).

Financial abuse comes in many forms.

The abuser may lock the victim out of bank accounts or make the victim quit his or her job. The abuser may have “isolated her from

finishing school or access to her money at her job.” Langbein said, “He will actually show up at work or harass her at work or make it so she can’t go to work.”

And, if a victim decides to get back his or her life, “Her coming after some of his money, whether that is in divorce and custody or child support, can be the most dangerous time for her because his money is his.”

Since many domestic violence cases involve financial abuse, Langbein said “none of our services have any cost,” adding “We even have school and daycare and preschool on site.”

Still, it’s a tough process for abuse victims to get back on their feet because “When you walk away, no matter how much you have, you are walking away from everything,” Langbein

RichlandStudentMedia.com

One woman hid quarters in the lining of her purse

8 CAMPUS

October 17, 2017

Job fair connects job seekers and employers JOYCE JACKSON Copy Editor

Need a job? Richland Career Services is sponsoring a job fair for students and the community from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25 in the El Paso Lounge.

“We will have between 50 and 60 employers,” said Stan Katz, career services planning specialist. The event will include part-time and full-time opportunities with companies and municipalities ranging from banks and restaurants to police and fire departments.

“I try to have a lot of variety because of all the different majors,” Katz said. Career Services hosts two job fairs each school year; one in October and another in March. Occasionally they do an industry-specific job fair in criminal justice or health care, which are popular fields.

Katz offered suggestions about what students should and shouldn’t do. “They should get a résumé together,” he said. “We can help them with that if they come in before the job fair.”

Katz recommends dressing professionally; not wearing jeans and T-shirts. “It’s not necessary for men to wear a suit for the job fair, but it’s OK if they do. We also have a clothes closet for people who don’t have professional attire.”

A list of employers and company profiles will be available in advance so students can come better prepared.

Richland senior Anna Tanner, left, talks with representatives from the Dallas Police Department at last year's job fair.

“Some of the best jobs are in the computer field, as well as in engineering,” he said. “I push teaching a lot because teaching salaries are better than they used to be. Accounting is good [as are] business-related careers."

Katz thinks it’s important for students to get experience before they finish school. Some companies hire students before they graduate.

Even though a student may not have ever worked, everybody still has some kind of skills and abilities.

The job opportunities offered at the job fair don’t require a college degree. “I’ve always tried to keep the student in mind and realize they’re freshmen or sophomores,” Katz said.

If potential employees would like to improve their interviewing skills, Career Services can help students learn how to ask questions, make a résumé and provide other useful resources, such as finding a major.

Katz said it’s required for all new-to-college students to come in and take a career assessment test.

Staff photo Jorge Gomez

“But, if they didn’t happen to take it or are sophomores and still haven’t figured it out, they can come in and we’ll help them with that,” he said.

For more information call Career Services at 972-76-6717 or visit online at alt.richlandcollege. edu/career-services/. Their offices are located in El Paso Hall, Room 093.

Read the completed list of employers online at: www.RichlandStudentMedia.com

Paid Research Study For PeopleWith Asthma

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Pharmaceutical Research & Consulting, Inc. is conducting a research study with an investigational medication for adults with asthma.

Ask Micah

If you are at least 18 years old and have had asthma for at least 6 months, you may be eligible to participate.

Qualified participants receive:

• Study medicine and study-related office visits at no cost • Study-related ECG, lung function tests, and lab work at no cost • Financial compensation up to $490 for your time and travel • Evaluation and supervision by board-certified allergists Dr. Michael Ruff and Dr. Gary Gross For more information please call (214) 361-5555 or email Emily Osta at emily.osta@daac-prc.com

Need some advice and don't know where to turn? The Richland Chronicle is starting an advice column called "Ask Micah," for those with questions about relationships,

health, career and more! Micah will consult with campus resources to get the answer to your questions. Send your questions to askmicah2017@gmail.com

October 17, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT 9

The swing ride on the Midway illuminates the night at The Texas State Fair, which continues through Oct. 22 at Dallas Fair Park.

Staff photos Aly Rodrigues

First experience at the Texas State Fair Staff Writer

I went to the Texas State Fair for the first time on Oct. 7. I was quite curious about the event that everyone was talking about; the fact that people go there for the fatty fried foods and the popular and scrumptious big turkey legs. I was looking forward to the experience.

When I arrived, I wasn’t surprised by the size of the crowd because the Texas State Fair is the

biggest one in the U. S. I considered my options with the many fried food stands but what really caught my eye was a U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps playing for the public. I remember telling myself, "that’s cool!" And then I felt bad for them, having to wear uniforms in such hot weather. I really respect them!

I joined my friend, Aly Rodrigues, who showed me Big Tex, a 55-foot-tall statue and marketing icon of the annual event. I found it typically American and more typically Texan.

I have to admit, I didn’t fully enjoy the food

A puppet show at the kids' boardwalk is an option for families with children.

experience. I tasted a turkey leg which was good but nothing unusual. I heard a lot of people talking about how expensive it is to eat at the fair, so I ate at home before heading out.

Fair Park is huge and there are a lot of attractions. We walked by the kids’ boardwalk and later spent some time at the car show to enjoy the air conditioning for a little bit.

Aly, Kammonke and I decided to go to the Midway and I adored it! I tried two or three rides, which reminded me of an annual event we have in Paris that we call "La Foire Du

Trone." It was a déjà vu experience that made me feel right at home. We tried to go to the Ferris wheel, but the line was long and we spent about 30 to 40 minutes waiting before we gave up. It was late on a Sunday and we all use public transportation to get home, so we wrapped up our visit.

The Texas State Fair is really fun, but if you ask me, I enjoyed my first State Fair experience not so much for the food or the rides, but because I was with good friends, having good moments. That I'll buy every time.

The Toyota FV2 Concept is one of many attractions at one of the indoor exhibitions.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

GLORIA AGBOLA

10 SPORTS

October 17, 2017

Zeke Elliott loses in appeals court, CHRONICLE lawyers contemplate next move STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Entertainment Editor

HARRIS SADIQ Managing Editor

A federal appeals court overturned a district court ruling Oct. 12 and reinstated the suspension of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. This suspension will take effect for the next six games.

This suspension has been a year in the making and is the result of accusations of domestic assault by a former girlfriend against the 22-year-old running back.

On Oct. 12 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction that prohibited the league from imposing the six-game suspension issued to Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. NFL.com reported that “The Court also directed the district court to dismiss the union’s lawsuit which was filed on Elliott’s behalf. As a result, Elliott’s suspension will begin effective immediately. Elliott is eligible to return to the team on Friday, Nov. 24 following the Cowboys’ Thursday, Nov. 23 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.”

Elliott will return to the Cowboys Friday, Nov. 24 following the Cowboys’ Thursday, Nov. 23 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.”

In June of 2016, Elliott’s ex-girlfriend claimed she had been abused by him for months saying, “It finally got out of control to where I was picked up and thrown across the room by my arms.”

While the local district attorney found insufficient evidence for a criminal prosecution, the

ON THE COVER

Thunderducks soccer game photo courtesy Micro Daniel Mbega Ndonmou

COVER AND FONTS

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

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF

AP Photo/Ron Jenkins

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott walks off the field holding the jersey of Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley after their game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington.

NFL investigated to see if Elliott violated the league’s personal conduct policy.

On Aug. 15, the NFL appealed the suspension to a federal court, allowing him to play in the beginning of the season in September.

The Cowboys have played five games since the season began. Now, Elliott will miss the next six.

Elliott is officially suspended, but there’s still a chance he won’t miss a game this season as the case makes its way through the courts.

According to NFL.com, “Although the 5th Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of the NFL, the majority’s decision centered primarily on the

timing of the NFL Players’ Association filing, which came before a decision was made in Elliott’s suspension arbitration hearing. With an amended complaint, there’s a chance the NFLPA and Elliott could win on the merits of their case. Elliott’s lawyer and the NFLPA stated are reviewing their legal options.”

Elliott is in his second season with the Cowboys. His suspension may have an effect on their standing.

The team is currently 2-3 and will face the San Francisco 49ers on Oct 22 without him.

to respond to reporters. Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick said, “No comment” several times during a recent interview. It’s interesting that a defensive player like Scandrick is getting beat by the NFL’s best and worst receivers. How ‘bout “no talent!” That was a waste of money if you ask me. To make matters worse, Scandrick played a song in the locker room that blasted President Donald Trump which really didn’t solve anything.

The only one good thing Scandrick has done is show support for Breast Cancer Awareness month. As far as his talent, the Cowboy nation still isn’t impressed and that goes for the rest of the defense.

Aren’t we getting sick and tired of hearing about the flag being disrespected? How about politicians stop disrespecting our fellow Americans? While the Trump administration is blasting the NFL about tax breaks, there are more important things to be worried about.

Like racial injustice, health insurance and gun laws. For decades, the NFL has supported the American people. From acts of violence to tragic weather conditions, the NFL has always been there to lend a hand, unlike the Trump administration.

True Knights in Vegas, not in D.C. Nevada’s first professional sports franchise, the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, is off to a great start. Winning their first official game in Dallas against the Stars was historyin-the making for an expansion team. Then the Golden Knights won the next two games, becoming the first NHL expansion team to start its inaugural season 3-0. Normally in hockey, you see arenas with advertisers circling around the rink. The Golden Knights had a better idea. They filled the rink at T-Mobile Arena with “Vegas Strong.” The new hockey club paid tribute to the victims of the horrific shooting on the Strip that left 58 dead with a moment of silence and honored Las Vegas’ heroes during the pregame. They’re the first new pro sports team in the world ever to do that.

The Golden Knights gave their city a show they’ll never forget as they beat the Arizona Coyotes, 5-2 before a sellout crowd of more than 20,000. This will be a season worth watching as the Las Vegas community rejoices and celebrates another group of heroes -- its own pro sports team.

-Tru Armstrong

NFL bucks Cowboys (again); Knights shine in Vegas

Tru Grit Aaron Rodgers loves AT&T Stadium.

Super Bowl XLV, last season’s playoff win against the Cowboys and last Sunday’s comeback win against Dallas, 35-31. Rodgers’ 12-yard pass toward the back of the end zone to Davante Adams was the clincher. The Cowboys defense allowed 342 total yards and over 300 total yards for the fourth week in a row, clearly demonstrating that their offense is well-supported but their defense is not. After watching another terrible game, the Cowboys will once again depend on its now Zeke-less (Elliott) offense to stay off life support. Playoff chances just got ever slimmer as Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension has officially been reinstated.

Watching the Dallas Cowboys interviews make you want to change the channel. Jerry Jones told the team recently that if they kneel during the national anthem they will be benched. Obviously, Jones’ statement has put fear in the Cowboys’ eyes as players refuse

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David Acosta Gloria Agbogla Ahlam Al Mahrooq Tru Armstrong Cassandra Burgos Chassedy Johnson Drew Castillo Eli Esquivel Maria Etetere Jeremy Gaydosh Brionna Griffin Valentino Jorge LaShanda McCuin

Vanessa Myron Thu Nguyen Kammonke Marisol Orozco Caitlin Ramsey Jorge Perez Julio Salvador Pete Shannon Kristen Skousen Mike Sokolski Paul Young

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Erica Edwards Jack Fletcher Meg Fullwood

David Goodloe Tim Jones Larry Ratliff

ISSUE DATES October 24

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CONTACT INFORMATION

El Paso Hall, Room E020, 12800 Abrams Rd., Dallas 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079; richlandchronicle@gmail.com Advertising: 972-238-6068 Email: Advertise@dcccd.edu Fax: 972-238-6037 Staff meetings: Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. in E020 Letter Policy Letters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements.

Letters must be the work of the writer and must be signed. For identification and verification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s classification (grade level), full name, address and telephone number, although address and telephone number will not be published.

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 2017

SPORTS 11

October 17, 2017

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

Today

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. i Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

Soccer coach Sean Worley concenrates ahead of the team’s game against Tyler Junior College on Sept. 26.

Stakes high for Thunderducks soccer team KAMMONKE Staff Writer

As the regular season draws to an end, the stakes have increased and everything is up for grabs for the Richland men’s soccer team.

Ranked No.1 in the country at press time, the Thunderducks have a record of 10 wins, one draw and two losses.

The first loss came against Mount San Antonio College, California. It was a pulsating game.

You could sense the tension of the fans with every tackle and goal opportunity. Unfortunately for Richland, Mount San Antonio snuck a win in during the dying minutes of extra-time.

The match against Western Texas ended in a stalemate and the second loss came against San Jacinto College, Houston. Richland lost 2-1.

Head coach Sean Worley believes there’s nothing to worry about heading into a critical time of the season. He said the team was a bit unlucky and should have tied the games that they lost.

“It has been a very brutal schedule with top teams but we came out of it all right. To play that many games in such [a] short time is very

Staff Photo Valentino Jorge

Erwin Regules, left, shields the ball away from a Mount San Antonio defender.

challenging,” he said. They played four games in two-to-three-day intervals.

Worley is adamant that his team is not going through a rough patch. He said they’re focused on the task ahead and the draw and losses are “going to prepare us to be a better team.”

Worley believes today’s (Oct. 17) game against Mountain View is the most important game.

“We’ve got to beat Mountain View in order to win our region,” Worley said.

If Richland wins the game against Mountain View today, they’ll qualify for the District

tournament. They will play the teams that qualify from Region 4 and 13 in the District tournament and then the overall winner will advance to play in the national championship. But if they come out of the game with anything other than a win, they will have to replay the game with Mountain View to decide who advances to the next round. Worley is confident that his team is well prepared for the task ahead.

The Thunderducks currently average three goals per game. James Sasay, Richland sophomore, so far has notched 15 goals to lead the goal scoring chart for the Thunderducks. This is more impressive given that this is his first collegiate season and that he didn’t play in three games.

Sasay was recruited to fill the void that Sergio Lara (last season’s top scorer) left, and he has been relentless in front of goal, scoring goal after goal with great aplomb.

Also in good form is Joshua Peloquin, sophomore. So far this season he has contributed eight goals, three more than he managed the whole of last season. Worley believes Peloquin’s experience from his freshman season has been invaluable and helped him acclimate to the pressure of the game this year. Worley said once Sasay fully adjusts to the college game we can expect much more from him.

Free HIV Testing – open to students, employees and the community Health Center, Thunderduck Hall, Room 110 4 p.m.

i Richland vs Mountain

View College (Men)

Richland Soccer Field

Wednesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. i

Alcohol awareness event El Paso Lounge Noon to 2 p.m.

i

Journalism Film Series: “Network” TV Studio: El Paso Hall, Room 015 6 to 9 p.m.

i

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars New member induction ceremony Wichita Hall, Room 259

Thursday 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. i

LGBTQ – Gender Expression Panel

Through Nov. 22 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. i

French Café – Brown bag conversations in French For more information call 972-238-6299 Bonham Hall, Room 156

October 19-22 i The Thunderducks soccer team before winning 10-1 against Tarrant County Community College on Sept. 10.

Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

TBA Region 2 and 5 Soccer Playoffs Region 5

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Sabine Hall, Room 118

12

October 17 , 2017

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