EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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March 6, 2019
First-Year Experience Center opens at Valle Verde Destiny Del Palacio Tejano Tribune EPCC has opened the First-Year Experience Center, the center will allow First-Year students the opportunity to speak with an advisor which will be appointed to them during orientation. The center is designed to help college students from the beginning of their college experience and help guide them to a successful graduation. Students using the center will have access to state-of-the-art technology, resources, and multimedia equipment. “Student success if our goal,” Sandra Lujan, Early Alert Coordinator said.
CLAUDIA SILVA / TEJANO TRIBUNE
iPads are available for First-Year students to use throughout the week in VV room A2433.
“As a result, students will develop essential career skills, such as term work, study skills, public speaking and oral presentations in an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary fashion.” The center will be student run, also known as peer academic coaches. They will provide mentoring support to help students successfully navigate the demands of college life. “My Responsibility as a peer academic coach is to help these students succeed in their first semester in college. I will provide as much support by coaching them, guiding them, and mentoring them because I’ve already experienced the student life. I advise them to stress management classes which I work with a group of psychology students that have helped me come up with classes to help these first year students. I do what I can to help them succeed, I am their walking resource.” Diana Villegas said. The First-Year Experience Center is located at EPCC Valle Verde Campus, room A2433. Students, faculty, staff, administrators and board of trustees attended the opening of this innovative
CLAUDIA SILVA / TEJANO TRIBUNE
The First-Year Experience Center, which gives First-Year students the opportunity to speak with an adviser appointed to them during orientation, opened on February 28.
center which operates in conjunction with EPCC’s Early Alert Program. “The first year is when students are at most risk, it is most important especially when it comes to first generation students. In 2019, the fact that we still talk about 70 percent of students who were privileged to serve being first generation has got to
change, the future economic situation of our state will go downhill and we know that. So we not only have to help these student’s get to college but we have to help them succeed.” EPCC President, Dr. William Serrata said. See First-Year Experiece Center page 2
EPCC recognized in The Hispanic Outlook magazine Hugo Dominquez Tejano Tribune For the 14th year in a row EPCC has been recognized for producing the most degrees for hispanic students. EPCC was compared to other community colleges and showed. Because of these degrees students will be able to advance in their education or begin a career with their degree. The college was also recognized for many other efforts by The Hispanic Outlook Magazine. “Data for the rankings is from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Database for community colleges granting the most associate degrees in 2017.” said Keri Moe, the Associate Vice President of external relations for EPCC. The NCES takes into account a number of factors like the amount of Hispanic students enrolled and the amount of associate degrees given to Hispanic students. The NCES compared many community colleges across the nation in their annual study, it found that EPCC gave out 3,128 associate degrees to Hispanic students last year. The college also ranks #2 amongst the Top 25 Community Colleges with the most Hispanic enrollees, with a Hispanic population of 24,537 students totaling
85 percent of the total student enrollment. EPCC President Serrata credits the work of faculty and staff for facilitating student success that helps students cross the stage at graduation and earn that degree or certificate. As a first-generation community college student himself, he says it is extremely important to help all students, including Hispanic students, and others underrepresented in higher education get degrees since higher education is the only path to the middle class. “Being ranked #1 for 2-year degrees awarded to Hispanic students exemplifies EPCC’s role as a national higher education leader and our reputation for student excellence,” said EPCC President Dr. William Serrata. “It reflects our commitment to open admissions with high expectations for the students we serve, and as a result, EPCC is strengthening our community, the state, and the entire nation.” “This ranking is important for students because it means that EPCC is truly the best place to start and finish Not only does EPCC have a high number of Hispanic students enrolled, these students are successful, they graduate and they are able to accomplish their goals.” said Moe. Students with an associate’s degree will go on to either find a job in that field or continue their education at another college.EPCC was also recognized for other achievements in enrollment.
PHOTO COURTESY THE HISPANIC OUTLOOK MAGAZINE
(L-R) STS Managers Amanda Gomez, Johanna Herrera and Gustavo Luevano appear on the cover for the Feb./March issue.
According to a press release by EPCC, the college had the second most degrees and certificates awarded to Hispanic students at 3,437.
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FRIVOLOUS FACTs
HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES PAGE 2
FASHION SHOW PAGE 4
STUCK IN TIJUANA PAGE 6
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3 PAGE 8
Each year since 1962, a portion of the chicago river is dyed bright green for St. PATRICK'S DAY.
CAMPUS NEWS
2 March 6, 2019 Tejano Tribune
EPCC inducts new Phi Theta Kappa members
TEJANO TRIBUNE Spring 2019 Destiny Del Palacio STS student Editor Angel Arellano STS student Layout Editor Douglas Carr Faculty Adviser Steve Escajeda Advertising Sal Armas Photo Editor
CLAUDIA SILVA / TEJANO TRIBUNE
Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society aimed at creating change in the way students recognize their college by taking advantage of what the college has to offer.
Destiny Del Palacio Tejano Tribune Phi Theta Kappa, and honor society in EPCC has increased their membership by inducting new members and swearing in new officers. Phi Theta Kappa is an international honors society for two-year colleges, it’s one of the biggest societies in higher education with associations all along Canada, Germany, Peru and the United States. El Paso Community College is home to the Omega Gamma Chapter, being in the society has helped students come together even though they have difference careers, cultures, ideas, and beliefs.
Phi Theta Kappa members have given back to the community by adopting a highway program and helping out the Child Crisis Center. Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society that wants to create a change in the way students recognize their college by taking advantage of what the college has to offer. In order for students to be a part of Phi Theta Kappa, Students must obtain a 3.5 GPA while being full time at El Paso Community College, an application and payment of membership’s fees are included, students receive a letter of acceptance based on the met requirements. As officer positions become available. Students must be voted in by chapter
members according to accolades and services provided towards the chapter. Phi Theta Kappa provides scholarships to its members, gets members involved with their community and prepares them for the real world as a scholar and a leader. The average member receives $2,500 in transfer scholarships for two years to assist with degree completion. The Honor Society has helped members become campus leaders, serve their communities and collect real-world experience-attributes employers want. The society offers conferences internationally, which gives the members opportunities to network and getting to know their community.
Roberto Lopez STS student Website
Staff Hugo Dominguez Ryan Montes Perla Cortez Jacob Seivek Alex Herrera
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Valle Verde campus, Room A2710 P.O. Box 20500 El Paso, TX 79998 The El Paso County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
First -Year Experience Center Early Alert helps address obstacles students have to face in and outside of the classroom. The Early Alert Program and the First-Year Experience Center at El Paso Community College rests on the collaborative efforts
from page 1
of faculty, counselors, advisors and academic support services working together as a team. “With the Early Alert program, it was specifically based for first year students, now with the center we will be
able to meet with the student one on one by appointment. We will monitor the student when it comes to missed assignments, absences or failed exams. We help them early in
the semester to create an academic success plan, attending workshops, any type of resources to help them become successful.” First-Year Experience Center Academic Advisor, Marisel Yanez said.
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St. PATRICK's day 2019
OPINION
3 March 6, 2019 Tejano Tribune
There's nothing easy about choice
Destiny Del Palacio "Destiny Delivers"
There’s no easy way to talk about this since it has been such a controversy for quite a while, but I think it’s important to talk about. Abortion. Trump has made the decision to abolish Title X forever and put his “Gag Rule” into effect. Over 4 million people rely on Title X annually, this is what gives low-income women the chance to birth control and reproductive health care. These women can’t afford health care services on their own, it’s there to ensure that every woman no matter where they live, or their background, how much money they make, and whether they have health insurance. Title X allows these women basic reproductive health care; but, all society sees is that it allows them the advice to get an abortion. Why take away the only right we feel free to use? Why as a society have we come to this point, only to take 100 steps back when it comes to taking away women’s rights? The Trump-Pence administration has issued their “gag rule,” which basically says that any facility that receives government fundings are not allowed to give legal abortion services or advice. This must be the most dangerous rule the Trump administration has ever come up with, not just that but it’s ridiculous.
It’s ridiculous that women are being told how they should run their own bodies. Woman are always going to be stereotyped about being a mother and taking care of the home and children, we will never have the freedom to do what we want because the law will always say its wrong. The government will always be against us and all we have is to fend for ourselves. So why not stand up for the women who get raped and don’t want the reminder of having to keep their child, or struggle with the fact that they may not be financially ready to support a child alone. Imagine being a 17-year-old girl who was raped by a man who her mother was having men coming in and out of the home, while the mother was drugged up and high the man decided to take it upon himself to rape you and then a few weeks later you find out that you’re pregnant. Then imagine being told that you will have to birth this child no matter what because Trump took away Title X. This would have allowed you to take care of the pregnancy that you never asked for. You are a 17-year-old girl who just wanted to go to school, go to parties, go to college and make a name for herself. You would have been given the resources needed when it came to having an abortion which you should’ve felt free to do in the first place. But instead, you must live with the reminder of your rape, the reminder that your dreams were taken away a long time ago. Women live in a world where
they are being told by a man to move on and deal with the baby they didn’t ask for, if a woman wants to have sex with many men then she should be able to get the resources she needs to protect herself. Women should be able to get what their right say’s she can receive. It’s not fair that low-income women are the only women getting bashed on, the privileged women could always have a private abortion service without the backlash. Title X doesn’t only give women health care but gives them freedom, and empowered lives. There will be a day that women will become mothers, I will become a mother. I want to be able to give my daughter a place where she feels safe to have a conversation about the options she has when it comes to her pregnancy, I want Title X to continue to protect her as a woman by giving her safety to say “The law says I can make my own decision.” Abortion is really a tough subject to talk about because we don’t know how to answer the question of “are you pro-life” or “are you prochoice”. It’s tough for society to be on either side because no matter what side they are on, both sides will never win. Be pro-life or be pro-choice be mad about what you believe in, just don’t be the one that becomes the problem. Everyone has different beliefs, you don’t have to understand each other but just know that the Trump administration wants to take away an essential law that our daughters will one day need. Without it women will never be free, women will never have the chance to do anything freely even when it comes to their own bodies, women will have nothing left. Don’t take away the only thing that keeps women powerful, the right to have a voice. Let us make our own choice Trump.
Voices around campus Jessica Barragan Tejano Tribune
What are your plans for Spring Break? “I’m going to go to Las Vegas with my best friend. I’m really excited for Vegas, we would love to play at the casinos, take pictures, go see the cars and see any showssuch as Cirque du Soleil. Then, I’m also planning to Guadalajara, Mexico.”
Sabrina Minjarrez Criminal Justice
“This Spring Break I plan to go to Nebraska and go see my sister. It’s snowing up there, so it’s not going to be Spring Break, it’s going to be more like Winter Break. After that, we are going to go to California to visit my grandparents and just go to the beach and go to Disneyland."
“I’m going to be out of town and celebrate my grandpa’s 80th birthday. We are going to be taking him around to Southern Arizona so that he can see the different places, because he has never been there before. I’m really happy to see him and travel with him."
Katie Chung Nursing
Jair Tellez Kinesiology
Jordan Graves Music
“I’m planning on going to Florida and going to Disneyworld. I’m looking forward to seeing and getting on the rides and trying out the food. I’m also going to be visiting some family, and really just to get out of town.”
What are you going to do for Spring Break?
ag r ee? d isag r ee? sen d a "Letter to th e ed ito r" to: lead ed ito r@tejan otr i b u n e.co m
CAMPUS NEWS Blood Drive Dates Spring 2019
Rio Grande March 26, Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Cafeteria March 27, Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Blood Mobile March 28, Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Cafeteria Administrative Services Center April 3, Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Auditorium Valle Verde April 23, Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Cafeteria Annex April 24, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Cafeteria Annex
4 March 6, 2019 Tejano Tribune
EPCC 5th Annual Spring Fashion Show
SGA and Campus Life host fashion show for a good cause Destiny Del Palacio Tejano Tribune
El Paso Community College Student Government Association along with Campus Life will be holding their 5th Annual Spring Fashion show, “Decades of Fashion” which will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The show will include items by the EPCC Fashion Technology Department, Lee Wrangler, JC Penny, Forever 21, Neida’s Boutique, and Oshkosh who will be dressing the
Wish Children Models. El Paso Community College shares the many ways it transforms students’ lives and impacts the community and the region; it enhances collaboration at all levels within EPCC and the community. Reserve your seats by calling (915) 8315034, General Admission is $10, VIP is $20. The 5th Annual Spring Fashion show will take place Wednesday, March 6th, 7:00 p.m. at the EPCC Administrative Services Center Building B Foyer 9050 Viscount Blvd.
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Valle Verde 919 Hunter Dr. 831-2887
March 6 - March 14 EPCC Alumna
FIFTY FOR FIFTY
5 March 6, 2019 Tejano Tribune
Fact #16
NASA’s Mariner 7 flies 2,190 miles above southern Mars. The Mariner 7 was launched just a month prior on February 25 from Cape Kennedy, Florida.
MARCH 1969
Fact #18
Fact #17
“The Big Bounce� starring Ryan O’ Neal, Leigh-Taylor Young and Van Hefflin and based off of the Elmore leonard novel by the same name, was released in the U.S.
The Who release a new single off of their “Dogs (Part Two)� album titled �Pinball Wizard�. The single would reach no. 19 on the U.S. Billboard charts.
FILM Fact #16
Fact #15
Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees announces his retirement citing his constant knee injuries as the main reason. Mantle ended his 18 season career with 536 home runs and a .298 batting average.
The price of gold reaches a then record high of $47 per ounce in Paris. Today, an ounce of gold is valued at just under $2,000!
ENTERTAINMENT
6 March 6, 2019
Stuck in Tijuana premiering March 8
Tejano Tribune
Destiny Del Palacio Tejano Tribune
Filmmaker Charlie Minn, who has made thousands of documentaries on border-related issues, such as “Bullets on the border, or the new Juarez,” will be releasing another non-fiction movie soon. The film is called “Stuck in Tijuana.” Stuck in Tijuana was made to put a human face on Central American migrants. “To travel almost 3,000 dangerous miles is quite a feat. “They won my respect and I felt that these people who are trying to escape poverty, violence and a lack of jobs in their homeland was enough to make a documentary,” Minn said. Stuck in Tijuana will show how migrants are trying to shed the image of being criminals, “After talking to a lot of them, my sense is most of them are “law-abiding” but a few of them who are not are bringing the entire group down. But my hats off to the law-abiding migrants who have walked the 3,000 miles in a very dangerous country where there are drug cartels and violence, they found their way to the border and now they are just stuck.” Minn said. The documentary will also show viewers the way migrants are wanting to come into the United States, wishing to seek political asylum. “A lot of the migrants are not going about it the right way. Admitting they are trying to sneak into the US won’t get them in. It’s a sad state.” Said Minn. Minn’s films represent innocent people who have been murdered or victimized. Stuck in Tijuana shows how children ran around and none of their parents were in sight. “Tijuana wasn’t ready for these migrants. Hopefully, Juarez will be better prepared. There is no telling how things will be in Juarez a month from now. The caravan won’t stop.” The film has hit close to home because Juarez is the cities neighbor, Minn gives credit to those who have volunteered for the one shelter that has occupied these migrants. “We have the lack of food, and the lack of supplies, children are getting sick, we have one shelter where 1,000 people are sharing one bathroom. People don’t
PHOTO COURTESY CHARLIE MINN
Stuck in Tijuana will open at Bassett Place Mall in El Paso on Friday 3/8 for a minimum one week run. There will be a free catered dinner at Bassett theatre lounge all weekend for 5:30 and 7:30 ticket holders.
know where to get water so they completely rely on volunteers.” Said Minn. Stuck in Tijuana will open at Bassett Place Mall in El Paso on Friday 3/8 for a minimum one week run. There will be a free catered
dinner at Bassett theatre lounge all weekend for 5:30 and 7:30 ticket holders. Daily show times are 11:30a, 1:30p, 3:30p, 5:30p, 7:30, and 9:30p. The film’s website is www.stuckintijuana.com.
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Crossword ACROSS
1. Transport commercially 5. “What a shame!” 9. Desserts 13. Tibetan monk 14. Busybody 16. Vagabond 17. European
mountain range 18. Consumer of food 19. Absent Without Leave 20. Tumbler 22. Instigator 24. City in Peru 26. Hot chocolate 27. Take up the cause
30. Furlough 33. Having a loud metallic sound 35. Not tall 37. Goblin 38. Pueblo brick 41. Prefix meaning “Modern” 42. Leers
45. Filmmaker 48. Safe 51. Knightly 52. Listened to 54. An outer surface 55. Mortars 59. Expels 62. Dry 63. French school 65. Urgent request 66. Small slender gull 67. A simple seat 68. Dash 69. Kind of bean 70. Sleigh 71. Apollo astronaut Slayton DOWN
1. Smelting waste 2. Corridor 3. Intangible 4. A strong feeling 5. Yes to a sailor 6. Foliage 7. Caper 8. Unsaturated The crossword puzzle answers are available on the TejanoTribune.com homepage
alcohol 9. Egyptian king 10. Hawkeye State 11. Black, in poetry 12. Auctioned 15. Betel palm 21. Self-satisfied 23. Young males 25. Largest continent 27. Reflected sound 28. Plods 29. Terminate 31. Baby’s soft spot 32. Common refrigerant 34. Deity 36. Legal wrong 39. Large 40. Historical periods 43. Spiny anteater 44. Cooking fat 46. Large N. Amer. deer (plural) 47. Snipped 49. Demolishes 50. Builds 53. Dribble 55. Derbies or berets 56. Chocolate cookie 57. Lean and sinewy 58. Blackthorn 60. Feeble 61. Rational 64. A late time of life
above acuity amazing amen began blink border defeat delete
Word Search
desire disappointed dynasty election fears fight furtive future knife
known marry more nation neglect never organize partner steam
story summer support thought tier trace young
7 March 6, 2019
Tejano Tribune
Stuck in Tijuana opens 3/8/2019 at Bassett Place Mall for a minimum one week run. Daily showtimes: 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm Free dinner: 3/8 to 3/10 (5:30 and 7:30pm ticket holders) www.stuckintijuana.com
EMERGENCY INFORMATION CARD An accident can occur when you least expect it. If you end up unconscious, emergency personnel may not know the best way to take care of you. Having an emergency information card with any relevant information to provide you with the best care and this is best down with a medical tracker or even a simple card. If you use a card and write down your name, your health insurance, and policy numbers; individual and group number. You can also write down medications or material allergies you have, if you are taking any prescriptions, and if you have a medical condition that needs care. This way you can make sure that you still get the care to protect yourself from any mishaps
The El Paso County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
ENTERTAINMENT
8 March 6, 2019 Tejano Tribune
This Dragon should have been kept hidden
PHOTO COURTESY IMDB.COM
The third installment to the How To Train Your Dragon films "How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" starring Jay Baruchel as "Hiccup" and America Ferrera as "Astrid" has made over $350 million worldwide since its initial release on February 22.
Ryan Montes Tejano Tribune How would I find the best way to describe “How To Train Your Dragon”: The Hidden World? I would start off by saying that it is a borderline funny and not funny movie. The humor wasn’t very well put, leaving the audience silent like mice. I would also note that it’s not very adult oriented. What I mean by this is that the situations that occur in the film are very fantastical, which means only young children under the age of thirteen would find appealing. I know it’s a children’s film, but there is a group of them that even have adults laughing but this particular film wasn’t quite like that. I’ll explain as the review progresses. The film was released February 22nd and is having major success in box offices everywhere and is currently
ranked number one above Tyler Perry’s “A Madea Family Funeral” at $30 million since its release, per www.boxofficemojo.com. It is the third film in the How To Train Your Dragon saga, with the first film being released in 2010, and the second one released in 2014. The plot is actually very good, describing the conflicts between families and how they managed to resolve them. Directed by Oscar-nominated director Dean DeBlois, this wasn’t his best film, especially when his other films he’s directed are Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” were major blockbusters. As noted earlier, the film was more for kids, not kids and adults. A good plot is bland without creative humor. Having a great sense of humor in films such as these is like adding seasoning to one of your favorite meals, it makes it that much better but it was lacked. Secondly, when you’re a young adult who will never
grow tired of children’s films, you either look for the hidden adult references or just hope the entirety of the film won’t cause you to fall asleep. At the theater, the people I sat around were actually very talkative. Whether you’re the late Roger Ebert who mastered movie reviews or someone like me who is reviewing a film for the college paper, it is extremely imperative that a theater is quiet to get a full understanding. My official rating for How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” is 3 out of 5 stars. It is a cute film to certain standards but the lack of humor is what kept this film from even a 4. If DeBlois managed to tweak some of these things, I would’ve given a much higher rating. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is playing at theaters around Cinemark theaters around El Paso. To find showtimes, look for your nearest theater.
Wedded bliss in San Elizario Destiny Del Palacio Tejano Tribune
Estrada will be at the Art Market in the San Elizario Historic District on March 17, 2019 from 11:00-6:00 where her book, What God Has Joined Together: Wedding Bells Ring in San Elizario, TX 18881986, will be available. It is a historical
account of weddings, including photographs of the brides and grooms who married there. The San Elizario Historic District is located off Socorro Road, next to the historic San Elizario Catholic Church. Book signing is available upon request.
Marta Estrada is a life-long resident of San Elizario, TX. Estrada has done extensive research in this community regarding marriages that occurred in San Elizario. History has been a fascination of Estrada's, she has worked as the Southwest Librarian for twenty-one years until her retirement. Estrada's first article was in Password, a journal that that published quarterly by the El Paso County Historical Soceity. This article was named The Cemetery Trail. Marta Estrada continues to work as a Librarian for El Paso Community College helping assist studetns PHOTO COURTESY MARTA ESTRADA with their research. Estrada's book will be available for purchase on March 17.