Richland Chronicle October 9th, 2018

CHRONICLE Richland

Vol. XLV Issue 8 October 9, 2018

A fair for everyone

Pg. 5

IN THIS ISSUE: • House District 114 forum Pg. 2 • Register to vote, Pg. 3 • Job fair preview, Pg. 6 • Volleyball, Pg. 7 RichlandStudentMedia.com

Richland Student Media

@RLCStudentMedia

Richland Student Media

2 LOCAL

October 9, 2018

Photo Richland Student Media

Candidates spar over HD114 seat Lisa Luby Ryan (R), left, moderator Ron Chapman and John Turner (D) during Oct. 5 debate.

DREW CASTILLO

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Staff Writer

Republican candidate Lisa Luby Ryan and Democratic challenger John Turner clashed during a candidate forum for the Texas House District 114 seat at the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Oct.5. The event was livestreamed at www.RichlandStudentMedia.com Luby, a small business owner, defeated incumbent Jason Villalba in the Republican primary. Turner, an attorney with a Dallas law firm, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary election. The two candidates sparred over the issues of health care, transportation, public education and the quality of water.

The opening topic was the issue public education funding and whether it was adequate for the State of Texas. Ryan opened by saying that the level of funding was not adequate, that the schools need more money and that money needs to go to the classroom.

“It [money] needs to go to teacher pay and it needs to go to make our classrooms safer,” said Ryan. “We need more money but through legislation. That’s what our state constitution says and that’s how I think we go about.”

On the other side of the aisle, Turner believes that the state needs more funding for public schools and adds that it is a critical time for public education in Texas.

“Texas is far down in the rankings among the states in our funding for public education, but even more significantly were even below the levels we have been in the past even a decade ago if you look at it correctly,” said Turner. “I think if you were to look at it properly, you need to look at it at a per student funding basis and on [an] inflation-adjusted basis.”

The forum switched to the issue of transportation and how it affects the community that commutes through Interstate 635 East.

Ryan believes that the transportation budget isn’t adequate and the issue over I-635 was a big topic during the primary season.

“We’ve not raised the gas tax since the early 1990’s and we need to look at that. We need to look at the vehicle registration stickers, how we take those dollars and direct them

to transportation and not be redirected,” said Ryan. “As we are growing abundantly in Texas, tens of thousands are coming to Texas every year, we need to provide for the roads and it’s a core government function is transportation and infrastructure.”

Turner also agrees that that the state needs more funding for transportation projects especially within Dallas.

“The most important freeway project that has now finally been greenlighted in this district area is the expansion of 635 LBJ East freeway. The North part of LBJ has already been expanded, however that east side has not yet and frankly it was held up for a very long time by some state officials who had an absolute opposition to the use of managed lanes on that project,” said Turner. “I don’t believe tolls should be the centerpiece of our future transportation infrastructure for Dallas and for Texas, however the money has to come from somewhere in order to make these projects work. We need to do all we need to do to fulfill the growing population of Dallas.”

Lisa Luby Ryan believes that the state needs to fulfill the needs of better water quality. “We need more water. We need to invest more money in it and we need to go get more money for it, and it’s a core function of government that we’ve failed,” said Ryan. “We take it for granted to have clean water, it’s a must to have it.”

“Clearly water is a critical issue for our state as we look ahead in our future with our population growth and projected climate change affects in the future,” said Turner. “I think our state does do a number of things pretty well, and I could say in the area of water I think we have done a pretty good job so far as a state.

We have something called a state water plan which is a process that involves regional water planning boards and entities.”

Turner also says the state should do more in testing for lead in the water in our public schools and within the state. Legislation for testing was proposed in the last Texas legislative session.

The full debate for House District 114 can be viewed at www.RichlandStudentMedia.com.

The last day to register to vote in the midterm elections in Oct. 9.

October 9, 2018

OPINION 3

Last chance to register to vote PETE SHANNON Staff Writer

Staff Photo Emily Escamilla

Edward Sesay, left, and Chandler Upchurch register to vote during an election awareness event in El Paso Hall on Sept. 26.

should, but you must first register. The deadline to register to vote in this very important next election is Oct. 9. In other words today.

A Texas Voter Registration Application form is available, postage paid, at the circulation desk in the Richland College library and in the Chronicle newsroom. Pick one up.

It takes about three minutes to fill out the postcard and drop it in a mailbox. Mailers must be post marked no later than midnight Oct. 9.

You can also register online at www.votetexas. gov. Registration ends at midnight.

Next, go online and find your neighborhood precinct voting location (it depends on your address) and go there with your driver’s license to vote between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

To avoid standing in line that day, or if you feel you will somehow be too busy, you can vote in person at any early voting location in Dallas County between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2,

including Guadalupe Hall on the Richland campus. For lots of people, early voting is the best way to be sure they fulfill their responsibility as American citizens.

Regardless of when you vote, first do some homework. Then go into the voting booth prepared to vote and, maybe prepared to be a little disappointed on election night.

Finally, go home proud and resolute in your dedication about why you went there in the first place.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

We do not live in an ideal world. Most of what we endure on a daily basis is less than what we would optimally desire. The rent has to be paid. Groceries are expensive. Schoolwork can be boring. People get sick and die.

Dogs bark at night and the car behind us often honks before the light turns green. Especially at the voting booth, the list of candidates frequently doesn’t include anyone we are really very wild about.

But vote we must, because as citizens we are called upon to make hard choices in order to perpetuate this still experimental system we tolerate and call democracy. We realize as adults that the people we elect to run our governments at all levels are mere mortals, like ourselves, and that like us they too make mistakes.

In a sense, the choices we make when we vote are about selecting the least-worst among many known or suspected evils. Which of the candidates is the most truthful liar? Whose exaggerations are the smallest? Whose record has the fewest flaws? Who is closest to even lightly touching our views on key issues?

It’s not about who looks the most like us in age, race, gender or sexual orientation or who is cutest or funniest. It’s about human beings minimizing the damage about to be done during the next election cycle.

The point of this recitation is to remind ourselves that the obligation to vote is not a casual or optional exercise in virtue identification. Simply because no one issue or cause or candidate perfectly answers our expectations is no excuse to stay home.

As a non-party-affiliated moderate, I am usually the victim of huge frustration when I vote. Yet I have this to share with the fellow middle-of-the-roaders: If you are a U.S. citizen and will be at least 18 years old on Election Day, Nov. 6, you are eligible to vote and you

— Staff Cartoon/ Jerry Weiss

4 ENTERTAINMENT

October 9, 2018

‘The Good Place,’ or is it?

ALY RODRIGUES Editor-in-chief

What happens when we die? The NBC comedy “The Good Place” plays with the idea of life after death. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix and other streaming services.

Season 3 is currently airing on NBC. The series began in 2016. In the first episode, Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) is welcomed to The Good Place by Michael (Ted Danson). Eleanor is introduced to her soulmate, Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper), who she would live with for eternity.

Eleanor meets other residents including Tahani Al-Jamil (Jameela Jamil) and Jason Mendoza (Manny Jacinto). Most of the residents were good people who did good things when they were alive, except for Eleanor. She was not a good person.

It doesn’t take too long for Eleanor to realize it was a case of mistaken identity and she actually belonged in The Bad Place. After finding out how life would be in The Bad Place, she asked Chidi to help her become a good person so she won’t be caught and sent to where she belongs. This is when crazy and

inexplicable things start happening and the story gets interesting.

I don’t want to give away too much, but I think this show is totally worth watching. Season 1 gets more exciting with every episode. Viewers may not have been prepared for the unexpected turn of events at the end of the first season. Information revealed in the final episode changes the audience’s understanding of what the show is about.

I’m glad I was able to watch Season 2 because I was anxious to start the next season.

Season 2 was totally different, except for the end. There’s another turnaround that surely left viewers biting their nails.

One of my favorite things about the show are the jokes. Those who watched the series through the end of Season 1 caught more jokes from previous episodes. In The Good Place, there are no swear words, so viewers add words to their vocabulary like “fork,” “bull shirts” and others. My favorite joke so far was Michael and Eleanor discussing whether or not The Bad Place had Hawaiian pizza. Since most people don’t like it, they reasoned that they would offer it as the only food option.

The first episode of Season 3 aired Sept.

27. I can’t wait to see what mind-blowing surprises they have prepared for the future.

Grade: A

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Kristen Bell, left, and William Jackson Harper star in “The Good Place.”

Nicolas Cage edition

“Wild at Heart” (1990) — In this David Lynchhelmed tale, Cage’s Sailor Ripley shares a strong connection with Laura Dern’s Lula Fortune. The pair deal with the law, Lulu’s unhinged mother (Diane Ladd) and various other obstacles that keep the pair apart.

B-

Photo courtesy IMDb

Photo courtesy IMDb

Nicolas Cage stars in the bizarre fantasy, “Mandy.”

Cage thrills in ‘Mandy’ fantasy RICKY MILLER Entertainment Editor

This film is very far out there, but with a worthwhile conclusion. “Mandy,” for all intents and purposes, is nothing more than a vengeance story about the loss of a past love.

Andrea Riseborough’s title character is in love with Nicolas Cage’s Red Miller, who works his day job and meets up with her at the end of her shift. Mandy works at a job where she spends time reading a bizarre fantasy allegory that represents her own life.

The setting is 1983. Viewers learn this through Miller’s mentioning Erik Estrada from the television series “CHiPs,” which was popular in that era. That is one of the reasons Cage chose this script. His character also mentions the comic book character Galactus, an evil entity that consumes entire planets.

Cage has weird mannerisms that accompany some of his work. Like his Oscar-winning role in “Leaving Las Vegas,” his character succumbs to alcoholism after he mourns the death of Mandy.

Cage shares some great scenes with Bill Duke (“Commando,” “Predator”). Duke’s character Caruthers has some of Miller’s weapons in storage. Caruthers understands the circumstances and wishes Miller the best, since he feels that he will not see him alive again.

“Leaving Las Vegas” (1995) — In this Mike Figgis-directed drama, Nicolas Cage was a down-onhis-luck screenwriter who goes to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. His character meets Elisabeth Shue’s lonely prostitute, Sera, who tries to change his mind about leaving Planet Earth too A soon.

“The Rock” (1996) — Cage portrays Stanley Goodspeed in this Michael Bay-directed actioner. He’s a chemist thrust into a situation with Sean Connery’s John Patrick Mason, the only person to escape from Alcatraz and live to tell about it. The duo share some great chemistry.

B

The film score is immersive and rattles the theater speakers as events unfold on screen that send viewers to another time and place.

The villains in “Mandy” are reminiscent of the cenobites, the evil villains from Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” entries. In “Mandy,” however, they are just run-of-the mill human beings who can perish via stabbings, swordplay, chainsaws and anything else that a person can do to eliminate someone from the planet.

Linus Roache is creepy as all get out as cult leader Jeremiah Sand. He’s insulted when Mandy hears the awful music he poured into his soul and responds by laughing. The juxtaposition of his nonsensical ranting and her laughter is intriguing. Give director Panos Cosmatos credit for this. He wants the viewer to understand the character’s fake philosophy.

Cosmatos’ father, George P., helmed some big flicks in the 1980s with “Cobra” and the mammoth hit “Rambo: First Blood Part II.” “Mandy” marks the sophomore directing effort by Cosmatos, whose other credits include second unit work on his father’s film “Tombstone,” the Wyatt Earp story with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, and for helming “Beyond the Black Rainbow,” an avant-garde mystery-thriller of 2010.

Like director Jonathan Grazer’s little seen “Under the Skin” (2013) with Scarlett Johansson, “Mandy” delivers for those who like quirky movies with an offbeat style. It is fun to see Cage chew up the scenery and get a few chuckles as well.

Grade: C+

“National Treasure” (2004) — In this one, Cage plays Benjamin Franklin Gates, a descendent of one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Director Jon Turteltaub crafted a fun ride with McGuffins aplenty that’s filled with a plethora of cool twists and turns.

B+

“Kick-Ass” (2010) — Cage is Damon Macready, aka Big Daddy, in this action-comedy. His daughter, Chloë Grace Moretz’s Mindy Macready, aka HitGirl, curses and uses foul language like a weathered sailor.

—Ricky Miller

B+

LOCAL 5

October 9, 2018

Step right this way ... the State Fair of Texas beckons

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

The Kilgore College Rangerettes perform for the crowd on Opening Day, Sept. 28.

Staff Photo Nick Medlock

Staff Photo Nick Medlock

A juggler at the Kids’ Boardwalk stage.

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

The State Fair of Texas is famous for its food.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

A midway barker entertains fairgoers on Oct.3.

6 CAMPUS

October 9, 2018

Need a job? Job fair offers opportunities

JOYCE JACKSON

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS

Copy Editor

Richland Career Services is hosting a job fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 24 in El Paso Hall. Around 60 companies have registered, according to Stan Katz, Richland senior career planning specialist. It will include both part-time and full-time opportunities.

Career Services offers a job fair twice a year, in October near Thanksgiving and in March before Spring Break. Katz said the program has been extremely successful.

“My background was in sales and marketing,” Katz said. “I like challenges like that. It’s one of the few things I am good at. I know a lot of them [students] get hired.”

Katz said students looking for a job should bring a résumé. Flyers are available at Career Services in El Paso Hall, Room E090 on how to introduce yourself, write a résumé and how to dress for an interview.

“You should not wear jeans, shorts or sandals,” Katz said. “Just dress appropriately. I would say, business casual, as it’s called today.

A coat and tie is not necessary, although to me, I would always do it because it’s impressive. Women just need to wear a nice pair of slacks or a dress.”

Students should cover up any tattoos too, Katz said. If they have piercings, they should take them out. Career Services also has a closet for people who need professional attire and shoes, and it’s free.

“You don’t want to ask about money or salaries to start [an interview],” Katz said. “To

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Entertainment Editor Layout Editor

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Staff Writer It’s early October and Richland celebrates with its annual Ducktoberfest. Held this year on Oct. 10, it will feature live music, games and food. Hosted by the Office of Student

Students enjoying last year’s Ducktoberfest.

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

ON THE COVER Fairgoers on a ride at the State Fair of Texas on Sept. 28.

Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi

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

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF

Photo Isai Diaz

Students explore different recruiting booths during the spring 2018 job fair at Richland.

me, that’s the most important part. At the end of the interview, it’s appropriate to ask.”

Some of the hottest careers are in the health care industry and computers, Katz said.

“We’re a pretty strong economy,” he said.

“Health care is here to stay. Computers are here to stay. I’m seeing more students who want to teach today.”

As far as majors, Katz said employers are more concerned about experience. What can they offer an employer that will be beneficial?

“There are two fields that are strong with just a two-year degree,” Katz said. “One is dental hygienist. That can be a two-year degree. They can make really good money.

Paralegal is the same way.”

Katz said Richland also offers a dental assistant program through Continuing Education.

Some of the employers that will be attending are: Albertson’s, AMC Theatres NorthPark 15, City of Dallas, City of Garland, Macy’s, Sherwin Williams, State Farm, Waffle House, Hyatt Regency Dallas and others.

The following workshops are available on Oct. 22: “Dress for Success Head to Toe, Including Your Portfolio” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Sabine Hall, Room S118; “Dining Etiquette, Is This My Fork?” in the Brazos Gallery, C140.

Register for these events at the Career Center in El Paso Hall, Room E090.

Richland celebrates annual Ducktoberfest KAELYN BRADLEY

CHRONICLE Richland

Life, the event brings a full day of entertainment to campus.

“The purpose of this event is to engage students and give them an opportunity to socialize and have fun, to bring our faculty and staff out of their offices as well,” said Kristi Battles, Student Life coordinator.

Each year there are several fun activities.

Photo courtesy Paul Knudsen/Richland Marketing

Interactive games are available for everyone.

“We have inflatable games. There’s a mechanical bull. It’s probably the most popular game that we have,” Battles said.

Ducktoberfest is different every year and it can be fun just to see what’s new.

“This is an annual event, so you never know what Ducktoberfest is going to look like. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Battles said.

This year, the music will be provided by a DJ. It promises to offer a wide variety of music. Not only will the DJ play music but they will also interact with the crowd.

Battles said that students enjoy this event.

They often get consumed with school work and Ducktoberfest is time to have a little fun.

“Leave your homework and your book bag and just come out and socialize. Meet people and get to know your teachers on a different level,” Battles said.

Hot dogs will be served, cooked outdoors on a cooktop. Battles encourages all students, staff and faculty to attend if possible. Ducktoberfest is a free event.

Volunteers are always needed for events on campus. Those interested in volunteering for events in the future, can visit the Office of Student Life in El Paso Hall, E040 to sign up for the next one.

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

Lashanda McCuin Nick Medlock Everett Newson Kobloh-Obase Kammonke Muyideen Ogunbunmi Jorge Perez Kim Sanders Mike Sokolski Brea Scott Pete Shannon Isabelle Tchoungang Nathan Terry Jerry Weiss

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Erica Edwards

Tim Jones

Jack Fletcher

Larry Ratliff

Meg Fullwood

ISSUE DATES October 16

November 13

October 23

November 20

November 6

December 4 December 11

AWARDS ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Winner, 2016 CMA Two-Year Radio Station of the Year 2015 ACP Best of Show Award 2015 ACP Photo Excellence Award 2015 CMA Newspaper of the Year Finalist, 2014 1st Place – TCCJA Overall General Excellence, 2014 2nd Place – Pinnacle College Media Award, 2014 1st Place – TIPA Sweepstakes, 2005 3rd Place – TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006 ACP Pacemaker Winner, 2000, 2001, 2007 ACP Pacemaker Finalist, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 ACP Online Pacemaker finalist, 2007, 2008 Over 270 Texas college journalism awards since 2000

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 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 2018

SPORTS 7

October 9, 2018

Thunderduck volleyball bounces back

KOBLOH-OBASE KAMMONKE

Staff Writer

After five consecutive losses, the Thunderducks volleyball team bounced back with a win against Arlington Baptist University on Oct. 4. It was a fight that extended into the fourth set. Richland won 3-1.

“We did good today. We beat a quality team.

We’ve been in the slumps but they [the team] learned how to start playing together in order to win,” said Zelda Smith, Richland volleyball coach.

“I think we actually played really well considering how games have been like within the past two weeks. We’ve been down on our luck, but like we really learned to play together so it felt really great,” Dextiny Patrick, sophomore said. She believes the win will boost the morale of the team.

The game played out like a good conversation. It went back and forth continuously. No one team was leading for too long. It engaged the audience and one could feel the tension in the gym with every play. Richland won the sets by a two-digit margin, which is the minimum amount necessary.

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

October 9 12:30 to 1:30 p.m i

Arena Theater, Fannin Performance Hall, F108

Staff Photos Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

Richland volleyball players huddle up to talk tactics during a recent game vs. Mountain View.

“I think they [Arlington Baptist] played good. They gave us a little challenge. They helped us work on certain things that we were weak on,” said Patrick.

Despite the fact that Richland had experienced several losses, they didn’t lose faith according to Patrick. They analyzed what they needed to improve on and brainstormed a way to implement it into their system. This game allowed them to use the strategies they had been working on and it was successful.

Smith said the Thunderducks will continue to use the strategy in their upcoming games.

She believes the players need to learn how to stay calm and focus on their goal in the face of pressure.

“They need to just repeat what they’ve been doing. This team has [beaten] a lot of teams in our conference, so we know we played quality ball. It’s just that when we don’t play together, we won’t win,” Smith said.

According to both the coach and players, the team’s biggest breakthrough has been in the area of teamwork. It was their weakest point and working through that has enabled the team to progress even further because they inspired each other during the game.

There were times where it seemed as though the T-Ducks were going to lose but the teammates encouraged each other and that gave them the drive they needed to win.

Happy days in conference play for T-Ducks

College audition and transfer panel

October 10 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. i

Texas Woman’s University visit Lakeside Resource Center El Paso Hall, E82 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

i

Veteran Resource Fair Lakeside Resource Center, El Paso Hall, E82 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

i

Ducktoberfest East Breezeway

Oct. 11

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. i

National Coming Out Day Celebration in El Paso Lounge 2 to 3 p.m.

i

Celebration of life for John Michael Miles Sabine Hal,l SH117

Oct. 10-13

James Sesay controls the ball against Johnson County. Sesay scored and Richland won 1-0.

i

Hispanic Heritage Month “Circles of My Multicultural Self” presented by A.C. Cristales Sabine Hall, Room S118 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

i

Crossing Cultures English practice, pizza and conversation Sabine Hall, SH117 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

i Goalkeeper Gianmarco Cubas is steadfast on defense.

Staff Photos Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

Christina Diaz shields the ball during the game against Cedar Valley. Richland won 10-0.

The Drama department presents “The Shadow Box” (free) Fannin Performance Hall, F108

RichlandStudentMedia.com

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

8

RichlandStudentMedia.com

October 9, 2018

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Richland Student Media

@RLCStudentMedia

Richland Student Media