TEJANO TRIBUNE
El Paso Community College
What’s Inside
Ceballos PAGE 4
On the scene PAGE 5
movie review PAGE 7
Tilted Kilt Review PAGE 8
Tejano Film Festival
on May 14 Premiere Cinemas at Bassett Place from 7 to 9 p.m. All films have been produced by EPCC students
EPCC 2015 Spring Commencement will take place on Friday, May 15 at 6 p.m. at the Don Haskins Center
ASC . Fort Bliss . Mission del Paso . Northwest . Rio Grande . Transmountain . Valle Verde
May 6, 2015
EPCC President William Serrata's Spring 2015 Town Hall Meetings:
Guns on campus House Bill 910 already approved by Texas House, if signed, open-carry will take effect January 2016
Ricardo Felix Tejano Tribune Students, faculty and staff made their way to the EPCC Valle Verde campus’ cafeteria annex on April 27 when EPCC President Dr. William Serrata addressed the campus during his town hall meeting. Serrata addressed and elaborated on topics including campus tuition increase, office relocations, a new Fort Bliss campus, but most notably, the possibility of open-carry guns on campus. With the Texas House of Representatives approving House Bill 910, which will allow licensed citizens to openly carry handguns in a shoulder or hip holster, the bill will only need Gov. Greg Abbot to sign off on it to go into effect in January 2016. “We already have plans and procedures [in case of an active shooter] since postVirginia Tech attack,” Serrata said during his address. “Every institution has to have tabletop exercises and has to have an emergency crisis plan. We already have those. I hope and pray that we never have an incident, but if we do, we have plans and ways to deal with that.” Serrata said that he knows there will be differing viewpoints on the open-carry topic, including the argument of safety. “We anticipate that they will [pass House Bill 910]. Then we will move forward on implementing a plan and process to deal with it,” he said. If passed, the state of Texas will become the 45th state to allow the open carry of
handguns in public. “It hasn’t been approved yet,” Joseph Barragan, captain of the EPCC Police Department, said. “Professionally, how I feel, I think it's not a good idea for the law to pass. I think it disrupts the learning environment for the students. You are talking about a few that want to carry a weapon. The majority of the students don’t like the idea.” On April 22, the Texas House of Representatives voted 101-42 in favor of House Bill 910. With the issue already being talked about around campus, Assistant Professor ricardo Felix / tejano tribune of Psychology Claudia President Serrata speaking at Valle Verde campus on April 27 for the Town Cochran said some aspects Hall meeting announcing the possible open-carry gun policy. concern her. Not in favor of the idea, “To get a license, you "I like the open-carry idea," Tereza Nevarez, EPCC Marrufo said. "It goes with our do have to show that government instructor, said constitiutional right to bare you have a sound the open-carry would arms. Some people are really mind, so that’s not help in any against the idea, but this is good,” she said. way. “I’m glad that Texas and Texas has always a lot of the been known to most as a gunpeople that do slinging state." carry concealed weapons are responsible, but as a If House Bill 910 is passed, open-carry will go psychology teacher, I also into effect in 2016. The Tejano Tribune asked 300 faculty, staff and students where they “I know that sometimes just stand in the possibility of an having a weapon makes you think it only open-carry college. puts students more likely to use it.” danger Currently, Texans who in carry a handgun in public must and faculty against the possibility danger,” have a concealed handgun in license and are required to she said. “Guns and keep the gun hidden. Under education don’t go handstate law, residents 21 and in-hand. You are here to in favor of the possibility older, as well as active-duty learn and guns don’t have military, can obtain a license anything to do with it.” Wanting to protect after undergoing a background check, taking classes and his Second Amendment undecided Child passing written and hands-on rights, EPCC Development student tests. Texans can already openly Xavier Marrufo said he carry long guns, such as rifles. is in support of the bill.
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Do you agree with the possibility of guns being allowed on campus?