Eastfield Et Cetera Oct. 21, 2015

Etera

Eastfield College

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Volume 47, Issue 4

Is there a war on police?

➤ See page 5

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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The Et Cetera

Field conditions prevent tournament

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

With an Oct. 16 win over Cedar Valley, the soccer team won the Metro Athletic Conference championship for the first time ever.

The win gave Eastfield the honor of hosting the conference tournament. However, due to inadequate facilities, coach Dustin Stein has chosen to move the tournament to the field of the Harvesters’ biggest rival, Richland College.

The conference tournament champion advances to the national tournament in New Jersey.

National Junior College Athletic Association rules state that colleges must have bleachers, a scoreboard and lights to host a conference tournament. Eastfield has lights on its field but does not have bleachers or a scoreboard.

Athletic Director Anthony Fletcher offered to rent a scoreboard and bleachers, but deep cracks in the ground, an unlevel playing surface and damage from a recent lacrosse tournament make it unfit for a conference tournament, according to Stein.

“The goalkeeper box will be absolutely shredded,” he said. “Our fields are about to be destroyed thanks to lacrosse right before the end of our season.”

Eastfield owns the soccer fields on the west side of campus and leases them to the city of Mesquite, an agreement that started about 30 years ago, President Jean Conway said.

The city subleases the field to groups such as the Mesquite Soccer

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

Left, Liliana Cardozo passes the ball in an Oct. 9 home game against Mountain View. Above, spectators sit in lawn chairs while watching the game at the Eastfield fields, which have no bleachers.

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Association and hosts events such as the lacrosse tournament.

The agreement requires that the city maintain the fields. Stein said some of the cracks in the surface are more than 30 inches deep.

The college and the city are negotiating a renewal to the agreement, which now allows the city exclusive rights to the fields, Conway said.

“What we have asked in the negotiation is to have first dibs on four of the 24 fields,” she said. “And if we could have those four, we could turn

one or two of them into true regulation fields, with stands, the whole bit.

“And they could use those fields, but we would approve their schedule instead of their approving our schedule. They are very resistant to that right now.”

City Manager Cliff Keheley said in an email that the city is committed to providing “quality, safe soccer fields for the entire community,” but did not respond to specific questions about Stein’s concerns about the field conditions.

Stein believes the field conditions have caused ankle injuries to five players on Eastfield’s roster. One is still battling her injury.

“If we did have a field like Richland’s, it would make practice a lot easier every day,” goalkeeper Abbi Cantrell said. “When I dive by the goal, I feel like I’m diving on concrete.”

The field conditions make the players feel like they aren’t supported by the college, they said.

“We don’t have a setup for support,” defender Torri Sayman said.

“We have plenty of fields, but we don’t have bleachers for our fans. We have little bitty bleachers for [the players] to sit on. And our field is very dry.”

Spectators must stand, bring lawn chairs or sit on the ground. Some lay in the grass.

“I have to remind my dad to bring his chair every game, and he forgets every game,” Cantrell said. “So bleachers would help a lot.”

The leasing agreement has also

forced the team off their field. Stein had to cancel practice the past two Saturdays because of city events.

The soccer team’s facilities are a stark contrast to the baseball team’s stadium, which the players nurture by hand-watering the grass after each practice and game.

Stein said the soccer team would do the same for its field to help avoid cracks, but the agreement doesn’t allow them to maintain it. Watering is controlled by the city.

Eastfield is undefeated in conference play, and confident despite having play on Richland’s turf.

“I would much rather have the game here. We are undefeated on our home field,” Stein said. “But I’m the type of person, I will play anybody, anytime, anywhere. I’m not afraid to go play it at Richland.

“We are comfortable on Richland’s field. What makes soccer a homefield advantage is the crowd. We are very blessed to have a good following. Our fans will be there.”

Panel discusses economics of immigration in U.S.

By Karina Dunn etc4640@dcccd.edu

Students and faculty met to discuss the impact and role that immigrants play in the United States at the Economics of Immigration panel Oct. 7, which was part of the college’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities.

Government professor Glynn Newman and economics professor Gerald Shilling answered audience questions on the relationship between immigrants and the U.S. economy at the presentation hosted by the Office of Student Engagement and Retention.

Immigration fluctuates in relation to factors such as employment opportunities and better standards of living, Shilling said.

“Immigrants tend to hold a more compli-

mentary role than a substitutory role,” he said.

In their complementary role, many immigrants to the United States develop entrepreneurial careers, creating jobs and working alongside native citizens, as opposed to replacing them, Shilling said.

Contributions that immigrants make after entering the U.S. were a central concern during the meeting. Possessing a college education or knowledge of a trade gives individuals a better chance at finding sustainable work, Newman said.

“New immigrants are our best entrepreneurs in America,” he said. “We have to be careful when we take a look at low-level sophisticates [performing low-level tasks] but not getting credit because they are undocumented.”

Skilled workers have an increased likelihood of

being legally admitted to the U.S. For example, the House Bill 1 Visa allows people to immigrate to the U.S. if there is a shortage of workers in a particular field, such as math or science “Immigrants will impact native workers by reducing wages,” Shilling said. “They are more likely to create jobs than take jobs.”

Employers can pay undocumented immigrants lower wages, but these immigrants work in positions that did not previously exist, expanding the labor force.

One student in the audience voiced concern of whether an influx of foreign workers posed a threat to teenage and college-aged workers already in the country.

Newman said it would create competition between the two groups and also addressed questions of whether native U.S. citizens con-

sider those jobs below their skillset.

Newman noted a resurgence of immigrants to the United States based on 2013 data. According to the Pew Research Center, they migrate from countries such as Mexico, India, El Salvador, Canada, Jamaica, Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic.

Many develop a skillset from their home countries that may not translate to work here, Newman said. While new immigrants are shown to hold college educations, blocks in the immigration process and in their integration once they enter the country can cause difficulties as they adjust.

“Many immigrants come to the U.S. searching for jobs in a new country, but cultural standards and preparation [create] a system that complicates this,” Newman said.

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Survey reveals student views on advising, professors, safety

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

Eastfield students feel secure and welcome on campus but are unsatisfied with academic advising and the speed of feedback from professors, according to a recent survey.

About 800 Eastfield students are randomly administered the Noel Levitz student satisfaction survey every two years. The results are then evaluated and addressed by Eastfield administration.

President Jean Conway said Eastfield administers the Noel Levitz survey because it is “highly actionable.”

A committee has been formed to review the results of the 2015 survey and find ways to improve the student experience.

The survey showed that 71 percent of students feel welcome and 67 percent feel safe on campus.

“I feel welcomed and that this campus does a good job of having

resources and tutoring and things that people may not even know they need,” computer science major Fernan Deluna said.

According to the survey, 71 percent of students were satisfied with campus cleanliness and maintenance.

“The campus, I think, is really good," said Shadreck Ntambwe, a social work and counselling double major.

"It’s not just a place where I can come and learn. It’s become more of a place where I can come and talk to my friends and hang out. I just like the environment itself. It’s clean. It’s healthy.”

The survey also showed that students are not satisfied with academic advising. While 86 percent of respondents said it is important that academic advisers are knowledgeable in program requirements, only 57 percent reported satisfaction in that category.

“They kind of just told me the

things I need to do, the classes I need to take for my major,” Ntambwe said.

“You can tell any student, ‘Hey, you need to take these classes.’ But I think they could be more engaged with the students, … more encouraging."

Deluna agreed.

“In the past I’ve had advisers that have seemed really hasty,” Deluna said. “They didn’t really advise. They were just like, ‘You should know what you want to do, so tell me and I’ll punch it in the computer.’ ” Conway said college administration is working to fix these issues.

She also said faculty is trying to provide an engaging experience to students in the classroom.

“I know the goal was to have students engaged with each other, the material and the teachers, inside and outside the class,” she said. “It’s been an intentional road all of our faculty have been on.”

The Office of Student Engagement and Retention and Zone Registration

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Student Survey

Percentage shows share of survey respondents who ranked an issue important and who reported satisfaction with it.

Important

Satisfied

Faculty provide timely feedback

85%

55%

Campus staff are caring, helpful

85%

68%

Administrators are available to hear student concerns

80%

54%

I seldom get the run-around when seeking information

76%

47%

Eastfield helps me find resources to finance my education

81%

50%

Assessment and course placement procedures are reasonable 79%

60%

Source: Institutional Research and Decision Support

were created in response to the 2013 Noel Levitz survey results to make students’ experiences more enjoyable.

OSER was developed to “help students feel that they have a stronger connection to the college,” Conway said. Zone Registration was created to help students navigate the college registration process more smoothly.

The learning communities program was created after the last survey to help retain and engage students. A

group of students takes two or more linked classes together to build relationships and prepare for their careers.

Students enrolled in automotive classes can take English and speech classes that relate to their future work field.

Conway said the learning communities have been successful.

“We want to change lives by giving students educational and career options,” she said.

Harvesters volunteer in community

By Andrea Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

ANDREA CARRIZALES/THE ET CETERA

Members of the Rotaract Club paint and do yard work on a homeowner's property. The Rotaract Club and Phi Theta Kappa brought 12 students each, helping make up about 1,000 volunteers who participated on Addressing Mesquite Day.

Many volunteers and local organizations came together Oct. 10 to do minor exterior home repairs for Addressing Mesquite Day. Dating back to 2005, Addressing Mesquite Day began as a joint effort between the Mesquite Ministerial Alliance and the city to “address” citizens who were unable to take care of their property due to age, disability or financial impairment.

“It was a way to show love and at the same time help the community and our neighborhoods,” Mesquite councilman Bruce Archer said.

Archer said the volunteers were like an “army” as they trimmed trees, painted house, performed yard work and removed debris.

“It sets our city apart in terms of setting an example for neighbors, looking out for neighbors and helping each other,” Archer said.

The honors organization Phi Theta Kappa partnered with the Hispanic Forum of Mesquite for the event.

This year, the HFM had 33 volunteers.

President Rachel Lopez said that this was due to the high involvement of their partner groups, the Divine Mercy of Our Lord Catholic Church and Phi Theta Kappa.

“It was very moving because community involvement is very dear to my heart,” she said. “I just felt so proud to know that so many students, so many young adults were interested in giving back to the community.”

The volunteers did yard work — from picking up litter to cutting tree branches and cleaning the fence — on disabled veteran Sammy Colgrove’s home.

“These were chores he could not do and could not afford to pay someone else to do,” Lopez said.

Phi Theta Kappa members and sisters Jana and Casie Burdge were among the volunteers.

“It was really fun to put on the gardening gloves and the goggles, use the hedge clipper,” psychology major Jana Burdge said. “We helped clean up the yard and I got hit with a tree branch, but it was fun.”

She said that her favorite part about small kindness could liven up someone’s day.

“He was talking about how he has retired twice from the city and how he wants to take his RV that he hasn’t driven and go cross country,” she said.

Both sisters said the camaraderie and welcoming environment made them want to participate again.

Alma Leal, a criminal justice major, said she enjoyed volunteering in the event.

Apart from meeting new people and mak-

ing friends, she said that the purpose of Addressing Mesquite Day opened her eyes to a different sector of the population.

The Eastfield Rotaract Club brought 12 volunteers who painted the exterior of the house and cleaned up the backyard of a different homeowner. They partnered with its sponsoring organization, the Rotary Club of Mesquite.

In 2013, the city repaired its 500th house. Through the influx of volunteers and support from the community, the event surpassed its goal of helping 100 houses by an additional three this year.

In total, Addressing Mesquite Day has cleaned and repaired 703 homes.

Lauren Rose, management analyst for the city and coordinator of Addressing Mesquite Day, said that the event has grown by “leaps and bounds” and that “continued growth and continued involvement” are its central goals.

Archer, who graduated from Eastfield in 1994, said he was excited about the students’ involvement in the event.

“It gives our nation and our community tremendous hope,” Archer said.

“There’s so much apathy in this nation across the board — old and young. When we see young people taking ownership of their community and wanting to serve and make a difference, it’s a good sign for where we’ll go in the future.”

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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The Et Cetera

Calendar Gun control debate reaches presidential race PUT IT ON YOUR

October/November

Wed

21 Thu

22

Recital Series: piano performance with Fenia Chang and Sunny Yun, 12:30-1:30 p.m., F-117 E-Lead Workshop Series: effective communication, 12:301:30 p.m., G-218 Student Success Series: seven creative writing lessons from Stephen King, 2-3 p.m., L-208

Tue

27 Wed

28

College recruiting, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the Pit E-Lead Workshop Series: nice guys don’t finish last, 11 a.m.noon, G-129 Recital Series: UTD guitar faculty Rick Madriguera, 12:30-1:30 p.m., F-117

Thu

Club fundraising, all day, the Pit

Fri

Club fundraising, all day, the Pit

29 30

Tue

3

Halloween costume contest, dress up as a “Maltese Falcon” character, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Pit College recruiting, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the Pit Student Success Series: c ollege and transfer essays, 2-3 p.m., L-208

By David A. Silva etc4640@dcccd.edu

The candidates say:

On the morning of Oct. 1, Umpqua Community College student Christopher Harper-Mercer shot and killed nine people and injured nine more before exchanging fire with police officers and ultimately committing suicide in a classroom.

A week later, one student was killed and three were injured in a shooting at Northern Arizona University. Then a student was killed and another injured in a shooting at Texas Southern University.

These events revived the long-standing gun control debate in America.

In light of the mass shootings at places such as Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary and Charleston, South Carolina, President Obama has demanded an end to these cyclical acts of violence. When the Umpqua shooting happened, the president said the U.S. must address the need for gun restrictions.

His demand, however, was quickly met with backlash.

Advocates for current or loosened gun restrictions argue that the possession of guns by lawabiding citizens serves to protect everyday people.

Restrictions would give criminals, who would obtain guns regardless of whether restrictions are in place, the upper hand. Furthermore, many believe heavy restrictions on guns undermine the Second Amendment and fundamental Constitutional freedoms.

With this dispute again finding its way into the national spotlight, many wonder how current presidential candidates would address this crisis if they were to enter the White House.

“Criminals have weapons, so if somebody’s a good citizen, is in their sane mind, I don’t see a problem with them having the right to carry a weapon if they want to,” freshman Lea Dominguez said. “The crime rate doesn’t depend on whether BA LLO T

Co

Recital series: cellist Yuri Anshelevich, 12:30-1:30 p.m., F-117

Brief

Tue

College recruiting, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the Pit

Presidential candidates visit Plano megachurch event

10

Get advice from Eastfield alumni on graduating and transferring, 11 a.m.noon, C-237A

ABOUT THE COVER DESIGN BY EDUARDO ORTEGA AND JESUS LABRA ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATTHEW ROHAN

Businessman Donald Trump (R): “The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.”

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R): “New gun control measures are not the way to prevent mass killings. Florida is a pro-gun state. [Florida] created a balance that’s focused on lowering gun violence but protecting the Second Amendment, and it’s a model for many other countries and many other states because of that.”

we hold guns or not.”

According to the Crime Prevention Research Center, the United States is the world leader in registered gun ownership per capita with approximately 88.8 firearms per 100 people. The United States is fourth among developed nations with less than 10 homicides per 100,000 people.

Supporters of gun restrictions claim that more guns do not equal a safer environment. Sophomore Winston Ebune said that Americans should look for alternative forms of self-defense.

“We have a lot more non-lethal ways to protect ourselves,” he said. “Because anybody can be dangerous with a gun. Just because they’re not dangerous doesn’t mean [the gun] is not dangerous.

Knowing that gun control is a candidate’s concern is important to me.”

According to a recent Gallup poll, 47 percent of Americans favor stricter gun laws, 17 percent favor looser gun laws and 38 percent favor present gun laws.

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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R): “I believe law-abiding people have a fundamental constitutional right to bear arms.

And I believe criminals and dangerous people should not have access to guns. There are laws that protect those two things—but many of these gun laws are ineffective. They don’t do those things. They infringe on the rights of lawabiding people and do nothing to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”

Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush and Rick Santorum spoke Oct. 18 at the 2015 Faith and Freedom Presidential Forum to an audience of more than 6,000 at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano and 10,200 online viewers.

Candidates discussed race relations, education, abortion, qualifications, immigration, foreign and domestic affairs, the economy and the role that faith would play in their administrations if elected president.

Visit The Et Cetera’s website, eastfieldnews.com, for coverage of the event.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson (R): “I would never advocate anything to interfere with Second Amendment rights. We must make absolutely sure that we will never let the right to keep and bear arms be removed from those who follow us in this nation.”

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (D): “I think the people of Vermont and I have understood for many years that what guns are about in Vermont are not what guns are about in Chicago, Los Angeles or New York, where they’re used not for hunting or target practice but to kill people. We need strong, sensible gun control, and I will support it. But some people think it’s going to solve all of our problems, and it’s not.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D): “We’ve got to rein in what has become an almost article of faith that anybody can have a gun anywhere, anytime. ... The vast majority of the American people, including law-abiding gun owners, believe we can and must do better.”

With this heated discussion rising in recent weeks, the 2016 candidates have been asked to respond. However, many Americans have seen this routine time and time again.

“It’ll be a topic, and it’ll be emotional, but ultimately nothing will get done,” said history professor Mike Noble. “The NRA has Congress in their right pocket.”

Since its entry into politics in 1975, the National Rifle Association has proven to be one of the most effective lobby groups in Washington with over 5 million members. A poll done by Pew Research Center shows that 45 percent of gun supporters have been involved in activism, as opposed to only 26 percent of gun opponents.

With many factors contributing to the future of gun control, it may prove difficult for any candidate to fulfill his or her promises for legislation.

Nevertheless, gun rights will prove to be a persistent and highly emotional topic of discussion for the 2016 presidential candidates.

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Police, community relationships strained

By Parker Ward and Andrea Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

Eastfield Police Academy Cadet Josh Palma understands dangerous situations. He began his career in public service as a firefighter and is now looking to expand into a career in law enforcement.

He is entering police work at a tumultuous time. A rift exists in the country. On one side, citizens rally against officers accused of excessive violence. On the other, law enforcement defends itself against what they perceive as a war on police.

Palma doesn’t see it that way.

“In the end, I don’t think it’s a whole lot of us versus them,” Palma said. “There is a lot of support for officers. At the end of the day, I think they understand that we have their best interests at heart.”

The seeds of distrust go back several years.

The police-related deaths of African-Americans — Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Eric Garner in New York City; Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio; and Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland — gained national attention from the Black Lives Matter movement.

Supporters of law enforcement point to the unprovoked fatal attacks on officers — Deputy Darren Goforth in Houston and officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in New York City — as evidence of an open season on police. They responded by launching the Blue Lives Matter and Back the Blue campaigns.

After the death of Goforth, 58 percent of people in a Rasmussen Reports poll said they believe that there is a war on police.

Police deaths in 2015 are expected to increase by 9 percent from 2014 but have declined since 2011, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

The situation is a far cry from the post-9/11 days when police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians were universally treated as heroes.

Strained relationships between officers and civilians are the stem of these issues, Eastfield Criminal Justice Coordinator Patrick Patterson said. Mending them will not be easy due to the violence caused by both sides, but it can be done, he said.

“There is still a long way to go,” Patterson said.

“The police need to work on some things, and even from there the public needs to work on some things. We have both sides here that need some serious dialogue, education and understanding, but that starts with the police.”

Elisa Jimenez, a social work major, says that if the conflict between the police and society is to be fixed, education about stereotypes and job duties is necessary.

“A good solution would be having everybody to be educated about the stereotypes that are in the black community and about cops,” she said.

She said that the media has had a great impact on the issue.

“You don’t see the minorities. You don’t hear stories about them doing good things, or you don’t hear stories about good cops,” Jimenez said. “You hear the cop shot this person, you see all the bad stuff. And that’s what people see, and that’s what people think and that’s why we are all prejudiced. Very rarely do you see something good.”

Jorden Wells, a fashion design major, said that social media has influenced many opinions on police actions.

“I feel like it’s a positive and a negative thing because it gets the subject out more,” Wells said.

“But a lot of people just take a little bit of what the media says and run with it. And then say, ‘This is what I’m going to believe,’ without actually knowing the facts of a situation.”

In response to negative comments from civilians on social media, the police force has not demonstrated an effective handle on criticism, according to Patterson.

“The police officers don’t want to admit it, but they are trained to never down their own,” Patterson said. “We never discredit our own in front of the media. A lot of this stems from the fact that the police are slow to work on themselves within their departments. You have too much defending going on.”

There is still evidence of this defensive behavior. Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke blamed Goforth’s death on the Black Lives Matter movement and President Obama.

“President Obama has breathed life into this ugly movement,” Clarke told Fox News. “It is time now for good, law-abiding Americans to rise up like they did in Houston around that Chevron station, an outpouring. But it can’t just be symbolic. We now have to counter this slime, this filth coming out of these cop-haters.”

PHOTOS BY PARKER WARD/THE ET CETERA

Top, Eastfield police cadets honor Deputy Darren Goforth, who was fatally shot Aug. 28 while putting gas in his patrol car. Above, cadets perform physical training.

However, supporters of the movement believe that Black Lives Matter is not racist and that acts like Goforth’s murder are isolated incidents not supported by the group.

“It’s amazing to me that black people and their allies affirming that Black Lives Matter is somehow celebrating murder,” movement leader Johnetta “Netta” Elzie told ThinkProgress.

“Nothing about us affirming our own lives has anything to do with embracing and celebrating the murder of police officers.

“We came out of our houses because we were tired of seeing police officers hurt, harm and murder black bodies with impunity, not because we want to see any police officer killed.”

Eastfield student Alex Hernandez says that

the debate should not revolve around race.

“Instead of being a separatist group just focusing on African-Americans, there should be a new thing that focuses on the whole population,” he said.

“These groups are good because they are confronting the issue, but at the same time they give a message of Black Lives Matter. But what about Asians or Latinos? There should be a group that is concerned for everybody, the whole population.”

To Patterson, the only thing that matters is who has suffered from the actions of others.

“I side with those who have been wronged, not those who are wrong,” Patterson said. “It doesn’t matter what race.”

Life &Arts

The Et Cetera

JOSE GARCIA/ THE ET CETERA

J.B. Johnson and Genevieve Dominguez practice choreograhy for the Harvester Theatre Company show “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

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www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

cording to Lewis.

Lewis said that learning the blocking for the show is like learning two different plays and more challenging than the spring 2015 production of “The Medea,” which included both the classic play and a modernized version.

“Inside the theater you can work with a lot of the entrances, … and you can go under the stage, behind the stage, around the stage,” Lewis said.

“But outside, we come in [on stage in the courtyard] from different places, and we’re going to have to travel like literally around the campus to get to where you need to be on time.”

Victor DeTerra, who plays Ichabod Crane, said he is expecting the show to be exciting.

“I can certainly say we will have a lot of energy because at every rehearsal we have an abundance of energy, just overflowing,” DeTerra said.

As for the Headless Horseman, the Harvester Theatre Company is building a giant foam and cardboard prop to place over Danforth’s head to make him taller and more intimidating.

The show is expected to be a fun event for the whole campus, according to the cast and director.

Lewis says it is a good alternative to going trick-or-treating for parents who don’t want their kids on the streets Halloween night.

“I think it will be kind of spooky and magical and a lot of fun,” director Mara Richards Bim said.

Headless Horseman to visit on Halloween Students should watch their heads this Halloween as the Harvester Theatre Company brings the Headless Horseman to campus in its rendition of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

“Sleepy Hollow” takes place in a small village in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town.

The tale depicts hero Ichabod Crane vying for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina, the daughter of a rich farmer, and his fight against the Headless Horseman.

The play will open Oct. 29 in the Lower Courtyard and feature a live horse with digital media professor Dave Danforth atop as the infamous horseman.

All other night performances will be held outside, while the performances during the day will be held inside with a puppet horse constructed by the company. The final show is Halloween night.

“Hopefully everyone goes to see the outside show,” said Brianna Lewis, a theater major who plays the role of Katrina. “It’s going to be a real live pony, and I’m such an animal lover that I’m so excited.”

The company is renting a horse for the performances and said that a handler will be present at all evening showings to keep the horse calm, ac-

‘Sensuous’ photos link digital realm with real world

By Hunter Cave etc4640@dcccd.edu

The “Sensuous World” art show opened Thursday and features a large collection of art photography from professionally trained artists to attract students.

Iris Bechtol, who manages Eastfield’s galleries, said she wanted to bring together a photographic exhibition exploring “the relationship between the digital world and the real world.”

When Bechtol was searching for artists to contribute to the gallery, she looked for former art professors with images that touch on the “sensuousness” that appeals to people in the real world, hence the gallery’s title.

“To allude to an experience that is normally three dimensional … to a two dimensional plane, it is very difficult,” she said.

Bechtol selected 10 artists to submit one or two photos each that keep within the theme of the parallel between digitality and reality. Included in the exhibition is Kalee Appleton, who uses digital processes to explore the relation-

ships that lie between the past and present.

Appleton will be giving an artist talk lecture at 2:15 p.m. Oct. 22 in F-218.

Another artist featured was Rachael Banks, with her two photos “Michael in the Broccoli Shade” and “Dad Sits for Me.” “Michael” shows a young man in casual clothing lying on a wooden deck, staring up at the sky as the shadows of foliage cover him. “Dad” shows an older man sitting in a foldout chair beside a body of water glancing at the camera.

Banks photographed both pieces for a personal gallery called “Between Home and Here.”

She frequently visits her home state of Kentucky to take pictures of her friends and family.

“They represent my identity,” Banks said, “in the sense that they’re in a place where I’m from, but I’m not there anymore.”

One exception to Bechtol’s challenge of translating an experience into the second dimension is “Fragment,” an installation created

by Josh Dryk. “Fragment” is a wooden shelf mounted on the wall with a large vice clutching to a framed glass panel. The panel has a small

hole in the middle, with cracks branching out to the frame. Beside the vice is a small photograph of the same cracked glass pattern against pitch black.

“There’s an object sort of in my head,” Dyrk said, “and I start to figure out what it’s about later.”

Dryk said he believes that the most significant advancement in contemporary art is the union between art forms, which in his piece merges photography with sculpture.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve done every type of art I can get my hands on,” he said.

Though Dryk’s focus is photography, he didn’t want to give up other forms of art such as drawing, painting and sculpture.

Bechtol said that she hopes students come to see the exhibition, especially those who strive to become artists.

“What differentiates these images from images you see pop up all over Facebook and social media is that they are practiced,” she said.

Nevertheless, Bechtol also understands that finding appeal in photographs compared to

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

The “Sensuous World” shows in Gallery 219 through Nov. 20.

other art forms is a challenge for some.

“Not every student is going to come into the gallery with a breadth of knowledge and analyze everything,” she said. “But … they will be able to come in and get something out of the exhibition. … People often forget that art is meant to be enjoyed.”

LIFE&ARTS

7

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Thrift stores offer cheap prices, affordable student fashion finds Fashion blogger and Eastfield student Tiffany Aragon went on the mission to create a chic fall outfit for under $40.

Forget every negative concept you have about thrift shopping because it is a trend that everybody is following.

Buying full-price clothes can be expensive, especially as a college student. I decided to create a complete outfit (excluding the shoes) for under $40.

I visited one of the local thrift stores, Thrift World of Dallas, and scored a Ralph Lauren plaid shirt for only $2.98.

My leather black skirt was originally from Forever 21 and only cost me $4.48 at the thrift store.

I accessorized my outfit with a cross body purse for $4.98 and a black fedora for $6.98. My total cost for this super chic outfit was $18.92.

Dallas has amazing and unique thrift stores that provide different shopping experiences.

Several of the stores donate a percentage of your purchase to local organizations.

➤ Buffalo Exchange

3424 Greenville Ave., Dallas 75206 Buffalo Exchange elevates your shopping experience by uniting new and recycled fashion while donating to local organizations. The shopper chooses the organization.

The store also helps fight pollution by giving you the option to donate five cents to a charity of your choice instead of purchasing a plastic bag. What a great way to go thrift shopping!

If you are a fashionista, this is the store for you. Their website gives you awesome ideas on how to put outfits together, and they have YouTube videos to help you create thrift store outfits.

This store focuses on fashion and new trends. Some of the styles you can find are vintage, hippie, feminine and minimalist.

They offer students a 10 percent discount, so present your student ID at checkout. ➤ Thrift World of Dallas

3046 Forest Lane No. 100, Dallas 75234 If you are into home décor, this is the thrift

store for you. Thrift World of Dallas has a great selection of furniture and household wares for a great price. You can find frames, mirrors, love seats, kitchen supplies and more. This is an awesome store for refashioning.

Thrift World of Dallas also has a variety of coats for less than $20. If you are looking for designer clothes, shoes or handbags, they have a special section behind the register for items in great condition at a good price. ➤ Rescue Thrift Store

2344 Oates Drive, Dallas 75228 The Rescue Thrift Store is owned by the Texas Regional Animal Rescue, which means 100 percent of your total bill goes to animal rescue.

Men get 50 percent off their total every Monday and women every Wednesday, excluding items from the 99 cent section.

If you are interested in electronics, housewares and remodeling supplies, this is the thrift store to go to.

Everything is clearly labeled and well organized, making shopping easy. If you don’t want

PHOTOS BY ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

Top, fashion blogger Tiffany Aragon shops for bargains at Rescue Thrift Store. Above, she reads “The Maltese Falcon” while wearing her thrifty outfit.

to spend a lot of money this year on a Halloween costume, thrift shopping would be a good idea. As an added bonus, the Rescue Thrift Store also has fitting rooms.

8

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Bridge’ plot thrills, exhilarates, entertains

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Cold War heats up in Steven Spielberg’s new dramatic thriller “Bridge of Spies.”

When the FBI captures a Soviet spy in New York, the Bar Association asks insurance lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) to step up and defend the man in a court case due to his known patriotism and his proven ability to fight criminal cases in court.

Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (three-Time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance) stands strong in his claim that he is not indeed a spy at the start, but as he gets to know Donovan he opens up about his real life in Russia.

Rylance provides a stunning performance.

One emotional scene stands out among the rest, where Abel tells Donovan that the lawyer reminds him of a man who Abel knew as a child.

When partisans, Soviet men in favor of Nazi Germany during World War II, came to Abel’s house and beat his mother and father to death, the man was beat as well. However, the friend of Abel’s father stood back up every time he was knocked down, earning him the name “Standing Man” and causing the partisans to let him live.

Abel honors Donovan by giving him that name.

The second half of the film feels like a separate movie.

After Abel is convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison, the spy plane of Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) is shot down and an American student studying in Germany is arrested on suspicion of being a spy.

Donovan is asked by the CIA to negotiate a trade for Powers, but not for the American student.

Donovan, however, is determined to rescue both through cunning and sheer skill in negotiating.

“Bridge of Spies” is everything we’ve come to expect when Spielberg and Hanks work together.

The drama is thrilling and intriguing, and Spielberg impresses again with his ability to prove that cookie-cutter films are not the only ones with the potential to be blockbusters.

Avoiding cliches, useless characters and plot devices that can cause clutter, screenwriters Matt Charman and the three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

COURTESY OF DREAMWORKS

James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) pushes his way through a crowd and confronts border guards in a rush to reach an appointment at the Soviet embassy in East Germany.

weave an intricate, electrifying story based on true events and people.

Like “Woman in Gold,” “Bridge” shares an emotional and fascinating true story in a rarely seen form. Spielberg manages to match his other historical dramas such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Lincoln” in the massive scale of the film and the level of intensity.

Spielberg and his star-studded cast captivate through the suspenseful moments, such as when Donovan is thrown in an East German prison. Another is when Powers is shot down

by the Soviets. He fights to reach his aircraft and activate the self destruct by climbing up an oxygen tube as he plummets from 75,000 feet.

Hanks’ charismatic personality shines through in the role of Donovan as he struggles at first to uphold the constitutional right to a fair trial, then later on as he works to free two Americans in exchange for one Soviet spy.

The film exhibits no noticeable flaws. The story is captivating, the acting is stellar, the cinematography is perfect and the movie is overall electrifying.

Spielberg discusses filmmaking, history, spycraft

Q A &

Q

Three-time Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg held a conference call with 32 college journalists to discuss his new film “Bridge of Spies,” which stars Tom Hanks.

Et Cetera Life & Arts editor James Hartley participated in the call and submitted the first question included here.

For more of Spielberg's Q&A plus additional coverage of “Bridge of Spies" by Hartley, visit eastfieldnews.com.

How do you manage to keep people’s attention without conforming to cookie-cutter style movies that are becoming big?

film which is tonally very much like the movie I directed in 1993 and sort of, you know, trade up on the nostalgic factor. I just try to find stories that I’m interested in directing into movies that are being made today or even were being made a hundred years ago. I love people challenging me ... because it’s a real test about my own convictions. And the more I can stand up, the more I can be the standing man of my own life and take a stand on a subject that may not be popular but I see it in a certain way that I would be proud to add that to the body of my work, that’s pretty much the litmus test that gets me to say, "Yeah, I’ll direct that one.'

Q

fiction?

COURTESY OF DREAMWORKS

A

Well, sometimes I will conform to it like when I produced a movie like "Jurassic World." We’ll conform, ... we’ll conform for instance to the first "Jurassic Park" and design a

A

How much of a role do you play as an educator when directing historical

When I started having kids, it made me look ahead and then that forced me to look back ... I’ve always loved history. I was a good history student and I’ve always said to my kids 'you, you can’t go forward unless you know where all of us collectively have

been.' I’ve always had this interest in historical subjects ... but I never really turned to that until I got serious about being a parent.

Q A

How do you see this film contributing to the understanding of the Cold War?

Well, the Cold War is something that we are reminded of with being in the strained relations that we’ve experienced over the last seven or eight years, maybe even over a decade. And so the Cold War wasn’t even ... the war of words that we’re experiencing today, which is nowhere near as intense as the Cold War was in the 50s and 60s. It's nevertheless a kind of current context from which we can go back in time if we’re interested enough to see what might have led to Vladimir Putin, you know, because he did grow up in the Cold War and he was influenced by all of the leaders in Communist Russia. We’re flying drones everywhere and we were spying on each other all through the 50s and 60s, and today we have a great deal of cyber hacking which is a form of espionage.

Sports

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Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 26 Oct. 30

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Cedar Valley Soccer vs. North Lake Volleyball vs. Richland Basketball vs. Paul Quinn

www.eastfieldnews.com

9

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Conference champions

Harvesters dominate Richland on way to winning first MAC title

By Gabriel Flores etc4640@dcccd.edu

From the conference basement to the national rankings, the No. 4-ranked Eastfield Harvesters soccer program has made a complete turnaround in the past three seasons.

Now Eastfield has solidified its position as a national championship contender after earning a convincing 4-1 home victory over defending national runner-up Richland on Oct. 13.

Coach Dustin Stein believes his team sent a strong message to future opponents with its second win of the season against the Thunderducks, which helped the Harvesters wrap up their first Metro Athletic Conference championship and the top seed in the conference tournament.

“There’s going to be a lot of teams who will see that score and feel intimidated,” Stein said. “If we’re fortunate enough to make it [to the national tournament], no one is going to want to play us.”

In the first matchup of the two teams on Sept. 25, Eastfield edged past Richland 1-0 on a first-half penalty kick by Hazel Espinoza. In the rematch, the Harvesters started slowly again on offense, not scoring until Espinoza’s goal in the 42nd minute gave them a 1-0 halftime lead.

The second half was a much different story as Eastfield added a flurry of three goals in a six-minute span to go up 4-0.

“As soon as that second goal went in, Richland completely crumbled,“ Stein said.

Midfielder Karla Gutierrez started the scoring spree with a goal just three minutes into the second half.

Judith Hernandez and Elizabeth Cobar quickly joined the party with goals in the 51st and 54th minutes. In addition to her own goal, Hernandez assisted on the three other scores.

Goalie Abigayle Cantrell said Gutierrez’s goal was a catalyst for the rest of the match.

“We were definitely a lot more nervous [this time], but once we scored that first goal [in the second

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ETCETERA

Karla Gutierrez, Elizabeth Cobar and Miriam Mendoza celebrate after one of Eastfield’s four goals against Richland on Oct. 13.

half], it all came naturally,” she said.

The offensive blitz gave Eastfield a commanding lead and left the Thunderducks reeling. With the game out of reach, Richland’s Briana Dyess and head coach Scott Toups were each given red cards and ejected. Eastfield defender Karlee Hickson was also given a red card and left the game.

The only disappointing aspect of the match for Cantrell was losing the shutout on a late Richland goal that she said she simply misplayed after reacting late.

Cantrell and the Eastfield defense had posted six straight shutouts in conference play and were shooting for 10 this season.

“I don’t like getting scored on,” she said. “It makes me mad when I don’t

get a shutout. I take everything personally when I’m in goal.”

Stein said the goal might actually relieve some pressure on his team heading into the conference tournament, and Cobar agreed.

“I didn’t want to go into the conference tournament not being scored on,” Cobar said. “I wanted us to get scored on so we can know, yes we can get scored on, but we can still beat them.”

A third matchup against Richland in the postseason seems inevitable, and Cantrell said the Harvesters will be ready. A win could send Eastfield to the NJCAA Division III national tournament in New Jersey.

“I can’t wait to see them in the conference tournament,” she said.

Eastfield 6, Mountain View 0 The Harvesters dominated at home, piling on six goals in yet another shutout on Oct. 9.

Eastfield came out aggressive, getting first-half goals from Elizabeth Cobar, Liliana Cardozo, Brenda Aguilar and Miriam Mendoza on the way to a 4-0 halftime lead. Forward Hazel Espinoza, nursing a sore ankle, added an unassisted goal in the 70th minute. Then Sierra Gause came off the bench and capped off the night with another late score.

Karla Gutierrez had two assists for the Harvesters, while Gabriela Alva and Sarahi Osorio added one each.

“We’ve got some girls scoring who don’t really score a lot,” Stein said. “The depth that we have really

helps us. We’ve played six conference games and I haven’t started the same lineup, and we’re still winning. We just have that many good players.”

The Harvesters’ suffocating defense did not surrender a shot on goal until the second half.

Eastfield 3, North Lake 0 After a scoreless first half, Eastfield erupted with three late goals from Gutierrez, Elizabeth Valdez and Amber Burks. Gutierrez’s goal was unassisted, but Hernandez and Espinoza assisted on the final two scores. of the game The Harvesters registered another conference shutout behind Cantrell, who stopped North Lake’s only two shots on goal.

10

TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY

be a

[

]

Set your own path. Follow your dreams.

TWU can help you on your journey.

“Visiting TWU and meeting the professors and staff, I felt they really PHOTOS BY JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Above, Karina Lay and Jessica Lane go up for a kill against Brookhaven on Oct. 12.

Below, freshman Lauren Beyer serves the ball for the Harvesters.

Volleyball looks to finish strong in conference play

cared for me, which was a huge motive for me to attend the university.

There definitely is camaraderie here among students, faculty and staff.

Everyone is committed to student success.”

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

With the conference tournament quickly approaching, Eastfield volleyball coach Brandon Crisp is confident in his team and ready to see them compete in the postseason.

This is Crisp’s first season at Eastfield with a full recruiting class. He believes if his players compete as hard as they have all season, they can play against anyone out there.

“They have been phenomenal defensively,” Crisp said. “That is one of our strengths. We can dig up anybody out there. It’s hard to find out who our lineup is every day because everyone does play so well.”

Eastfield (13-11, 5-3) is currently ranked third in the Metro Athletic Conference standings behind Brookhaven (20-8, 8-0) and North Lake (7-22, 5-2). Brookhaven has won the conference every year since 2004. Eastfield has never won a regular-season conference title.

“We have amazing talent on this team that can beat Brookhaven,” libero Mckayla Petters said. “They are cocky … but we have beat teams better than them.”

Crisp said the road to nationals will once again go through Brookhaven. Eastfield has played Brookhaven twice this season and lost both matches 3-0. Captain Megan Murphy said the Harvesters have improved since the first time they met.

Eastfield averaged 10.7 points per set last season and is averaging 12.4 this season. One reason for this is that the Harvesters have been more aggressive at the net. Eastfield already has 749 kills this season after posting 700 for the entire 2014 season. The Harvesters are also averag-

Dennis Sorto Music (Education) Transferred from Dallas County Community College

Attend the Transfer Connection event from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, on TWU’s Denton campus and you can:

ing 21 digs per set compared to 15.4 last season.

“There is way more talent,” Murphy said. “We are more of a family this year than we were last year. We have more chemistry on the court.”

The Harvesters have two matches remaining before the conference tournament. The Harvesters will host Cedar Valley on Oct. 22, then head to Richland on Oct. 26. Eastfield has beaten both Cedar Valley and Richland 3-0 in conference play.

The sophomores are looking to end the season strong when the conference tournament starts on Oct. 28.

“This is my last year playing volleyball,” Murphy said. “I just want to end on a good note. I want to put it all on the floor and not looking back anytime.”

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Carlisle tops list of DFW area coaches

Considering the way the Texas Rangers played this season, many people are lobbying for Jeff Bannister to be named American League Manager of the Year. Bannister’s coaching job this season is one of the best we’ve seen in the DFW area through the years. But where does Bannister rank among the head coaches of the big four professional sports franchises in the Metroplex?

Here’s how I see it.

First place: Rick Carlisle Carlisle takes first place for leading the Dallas Mavericks to their first championship in 2011. Winning the NBA title legitimatized DFW professional sports for the first time since 1999, when the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup. If that’s not enough to convince you why Carlisle should be first on this list, consider how competitive the Mavs have been against good teams, even when they have lesser talent. Remember the

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2014 playoffs when the Mavericks took the Spurs to Game 7?

Carlisle has been an elite head coach during his seven years in Dallas and has made more out of what he has been given than any other DFW area coach.

Second place: Jeff Bannister In his first season as manager of the Texas Rangers, Bannister had to deal with numerous setbacks, including losing ace Yu Darvish to Tommy John surgery before the season started and watching starter Derek Holland land on the 60-day disabled list with a shoulder injury.

He also had to overcome the struggles of outfielder Leonys Martin and members of the bullpen. Trials like these allowed us to see Bannister’s best managing, such as overhauling the bullpen.

The Rangers were eight games back in the American League West standings on Aug. 1, but Bannister, with the help of the blockbuster Cole Hamels trade, helped rally the team to win the West. The AL Division Series loss can’t really be blamed on him. Coaches coach and players play, and errors doomed the Rangers against the Blue Jays.

With Darvish making a comeback next season, expect the Rangers to make some noise again with Bannister at the reigns.

Third place: Lindy Ruff Ruff is third on this list because he hasn’t done enough in his two years here to really be awful, but he also hasn’t done much to stand out

either. He certainly brings experience to the table, making the NHL playoffs nine times in his career, including a Stanley Cup Finals appearance where his Buffalo Sabres lost to the Stars. Ruff did lead the Stars to a playoff appearance in his first season, and even though they didn’t make the playoffs last season, they put up virtually the same record.

Ruff has been given considerable talent these past couple of offseasons with the additions of Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya and Antti Niemi. That being said, if they don’t make some noise in the playoffs this year, it might be time to make a change.

Fourth place: Jason Garrett Garrett came in last place on this list by a lot. In his tenure as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Garrett has been two different types of head coach: a play-calling head coach and a walk-around head

coach. Garrett the play-calling head coach was mediocre at best, leading Dallas to three straight 8-8 seasons from 2011-2013. Garrett the walk-around head coach seemed impressive last year as he was able to manage his team’s emotions and composure, which was part of the reason the Cowboys had an 8-0 road record.

But so far this year, Garrett the walk-around head coach has been one of the worst in-game managers in the NFL. We’ve seen him have poor communication with his coordinators against Atlanta and New Orleans, and he failed to call timeouts in critical situations, ultimately resulting in two straight losses.

The Cowboy faithful won’t be happy until Dallas wins another Super Bowl, so if Garrett doesn’t at least make a Super Bowl appearance within the next three to four seasons, he will be gone. And deservedly so.

Shortstop verbally commits to play baseball at Southern Mississippi Eastfield shortstop Casey Maack has verbally committed to play baseball at the University of Southern Mississippi. Maack made the announcement on Twitter on Oct. 13.

Southern Miss is a Division I school and is a part of Conference USA along with Rice, the University of North Texas, Louisiana Tech and Florida Atlantic University.

Maack comes from a family of baseball players. His father, Mike Maack, pitched in the Minnesota Twins organization. His grandfather, Glenn Rowdon, was an infielder for the New York Yankees.

His uncle, Wade Rowdon, was a utility in-

fielder for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles.

Maack was named a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III FirstTeam All-American over the summer. He led the NJCAA national rankings with 12 home runs and was tied for fourth in the nation with 59 RBIs. Maack previously played at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano before attending Eastfield. He also played for the Haysville Aviators in the Jayhawk League of Summer Collegiate Baseball.

— Brianna Harmon

To be eligible for membership:

Join us!

Every other Wednesday @ 2 p.m.

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* You must be enrolled in a regionally accredited institution offering an associate degree program * You must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework that may be applied to an associate degree (part-time students may be eligible) * You must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher * You must receive an invitation to membership from the chapter at the college where presently enrolled * You must adhere to the moral standards of the society To find out if you are eligible for Phi Theta Kappa membership, contact JoAnn Coates, VP Membership at psietamembership@gmail.com Member meetings are held in C-297 on 1st and 3rd Friday of every month at 12:30 p.m.

opinion

12 The Et Cetera

Free speech is essential

etera Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Associated Collegiate Press • Texas Community College Journalism Association

Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief Parker Ward Managing Editor Andrea Carrizales Life & Arts Editor James Hartley

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Student Publications Manager Elizabeth Langton Faculty Adviser Lori Dann Editorial Policy The views expressed on the opinion pages and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County Community College District.

The Et Cetera is published every two weeks— except December, January and summer months—by a student staff. Each member of the college community is entitled to one free copy of The Et Cetera. Additional copies are available in Room N-240.

Letters to the Editor Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters will be edited for profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style, grammar, libel and space when needed.

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First Amendment Right Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Lives Matter movements both important to culture Police brutality and racism are ongoing problems in our society that must be addressed in a timely and sensitive manner, but violence against police officers does not solve those issues and instead perpetuates a hideous cycle.

No excuse exists for the murder of law enforcement officers performing their jobs.

Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth was shot 15 times in August while fueling his patrol car at a Houston gas station.

New York City officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were ostensibly killed in an effort to avenge the police-related deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

Black civilians have suffered equally senseless deaths at the hands of police.

Two Cleveland police officers shot Tamir Rice, 12, and then failed to give him first aid.

Eric Garner died after a police officer had him in a choke hold and refused to let him go. Freddie Gray died from a partially severed spine after riding in a Baltimore police van.

Tension between racial minorities and

law enforcement personnel has reached a fevered peak.

The Black Lives Matter movement, created after the killing of black teenager Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer, fights perceived police brutality against black Americans.

In response, police supporters launched Blue Lives Matter and Back the Blue campaigns to protest cop killings and other violent retaliation against law enforcement.

Both movements have attracted critics, but their core ideals have messages worth pursuing.

It is no better to lash out against the American police force for the actions of its minority than it is to paint an entire race as thugs or criminals.

Either way, innocent people are being stigmatized or even killed in the name of justice.

These vigilantes must be held accountable for their actions, just as corrupt cops should be held accountable for theirs.

When it comes to this senseless violence, nobody’s actions are justified.

Freedom of speech is often viewed as a delicate subject. We don’t want to hurt people’s feelings or James offend someone with our Hartley words. We sure don’t want to use anything that could be considered hate speech.

However, it’s wrong that we’ve come to the point in our culture where we are so easily offended by the words and actions of others that we want to limit the free speech of fellow Americans.

The growing desire for political correctness is a danger to our natural human rights. It’s prompted the creation of terms like “micro-aggression,” where even the small things a person says or does can be seen as racist or sexist and thus offensive.

A disclaimer before we really get into this: I do believe in being courteous toward others. And I believe being sensitive toward the feelings and situations of others is important.

The Bill of Rights outlines the freedoms granted to us by the “Creator,” as the founding fathers said in the Declaration of Independence.

For those who don’t believe in a Creator, they were saying the same thing as John Locke: that the rights of a man [or woman] are natural. They are not granted by the whim of a monarchy or other form of government. Every human being, born or unborn, has the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Locke said it as life, liberty and property.

It is no coincidence that the first of the protections in the Bill of Rights are the freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly and petition. This overall right of expression is essential in order to fulfill all three of the natural rights.

To do anything to limit another person’s right to free speech is an attack on their natural rights. It does not matter if that person’s speech is hateful, mean, offensive or in any other way undesirable.

If an individual wants to use a derogatory term to describe a white person, let them do so and face not legal consequences but rather social ones. The same thing goes for anyone using derogatory terms about any race. Until it violates another person’s natural rights, it falls into the individual’s own freedom.

The idea of any restriction on speech is absurd. To argue that anyone should be forced to abide by the social construct of political correctness is to remove opportunities for intelligent conversation to take place. It is a hindrance on human communication.

Political correctness is a danger to any communication. Challenging a popular idea or siding against popular belief is viewed as politically incorrect. Standing on unpopular religious beliefs is often called intolerant or hateful, and despite the right that Americans have to those stances, there are calls for limits on voicing beliefs under the guise of hate speech.

The freedom to express what a person wants is the building block of a democratic republic. We see this in the freedom of the press. If we begin to censor ourselves to the point where we are afraid to speak for the risk of offending someone, we are not having our freedom taken away from us, but rather surrendering it to our own desire to make everyone happy.

I believe in man limiting his own speech for moral reasons. We are charged with controlling our own speech. But I also believe that as humans the God of the universe grants us free will. The founding fathers shared the belief that our rights are granted to us by something more than just the will of a ruler. Because of this, it is not the place of any government or institution, nor the place of another person, to limit an individual’s right to self-expression.

OPINION

13

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Gun legislation brings mixed reviews among students

Firearms do not belong on college campuses

Armed students could help prevent tragedies

Allowing guns on college campuses is a big mistake.

Andrea School shootCarrizales ings have become commonplace, and the problem will only get worse if students are armed.

Earlier this year, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that requires colleges to allow guns on their campuses. It will go into effect August 2016 at four-year universities and August 2017 here at Eastfield and other two-year colleges.

It seems as if the state has passed a law without taking into account the feelings of those people who will be most affected by it: students, professors and staff at colleges.

The majority of college students are opposed to the new legislation. A large number of professors and staff do not agree with the idea, which makes me wonder: Is the government truly representing its constituents with this decision?

The environment in academia worsens as the date approaches. Professors at universities – and even some here at Eastfield – are saying that they will retire as soon as the law comes into effect. Professor Daniel S. Hamermesh, who teaches economics in the University of Texas in Austin, said he doesn’t want to “face the risk” of someone shooting in his classroom.

The repercussions will be devastating for academia.

Professors once deemed as the best choice for the school will leave, depriving students of their insight and experience.

Students will go from class to class, in fear that a classmate might pull out a gun if they receive a failing grade or encounter something that displeases them.

In an effort to not excite anyone, classroom discussions will lose their flavor, and controversial ideas will be neither shared nor explored, undermining the safe environment colleges offer.

The idea of allowing guns to protect oneself is nothing but a farce. It is of no benefit to have one student feel protected by his or her gun while the majority fear for their lives.

Although guns aren’t allowed just yet, campus shootings throughout the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates. By allowing guns on campuses, the state is not mitigating the fire – it is feeding the flames.

Let’s just think about a scenario. In the event that someone infiltrated our campus, a concealed handgun license holder would be able to pull out his or her gun in self-defense. However, a trained police officer could assess the situation and classify the carrier as a threat.

Add a hundred terrified and confused young adults to the mix, and the situation could spin out of control.

To make it worse — as if the conflict wasn’t bad enough — the law is going into effect on Aug. 1, 2016 at four-year universities, which marks the 50th anniversary of the tower shooting at University of Texas, when lone gunman Charles Whitman killed 13 people from the top of the tower.

We defend our president, congressmen, governors, celebJosh rities, sporting events, jewelry Nelson stores, banks, office buildings, factories and courts with guns. We defend our schools with a sign that says, “This is a gun-free zone.” If an emergency occurs, we call someone with a gun to fix it.

Carrying a gun is both a constitutional right and a possible way to save lives. The majority of the mass shootings in the news happen in gun-free zones, including the ones not on school grounds. If concealed carry had been legal, the citizens on site could have cut the death toll significantly by shooting the perpetrator long before the police arrived on scene.

The reason why shootings happen in gun-free zones is simple: Criminals will have guns no matter what law the government enacts. Criminals typically attack those who cannot fight back. Gun-free zones appear to be the easiest targets.

Many people worry about guns on campus, their argument being, ‘If guns become more accessible, more shootings will happen because they can pull out their gun at any time and shoot their teacher or fellow student.’ I am baffled by this sentiment. If someone is unstable enough to do that, they are going to find a way to do it, no matter what the laws are.

According to The Times of Israel, “Citizens trained in the use of firearms are a force multiplier in the struggle against terror.” This means citizens with guns help stop terrorists. If guns can help stop terrorists where terrorists are a constant threat, why do we think that guns won’t stop criminals in our own neighborhoods?

George Mason, who conceived and proposed the Bill of Rights, said, “To disarm the people … is the most effectual way to enslave them.” Likewise, George Washington said, “A free people ought not only be armed, but disciplined.” Washington went on to say that civilians need to be independent with their own supplies to defend themselves.

To make sure that someone who is mentally unsound does not get a gun, we have put extensive laws in place. However, these laws, and any future laws, will never stop criminals from obtaining guns. This reinforces that “We the People” need the right to defend ourselves, because the law cannot. The only purpose the law serves is to punish the criminal after the crime takes place, not prevent it.

According to legal defense program Texas Law Shield, 13 state laws determine if people are qualified to carry guns. Also, there are at least nine federal laws that bar people, such as people living in the country illegally, convicted drug users and those dishonorably discharged from the military, from having firearms.

Criminals will always have guns, and no law will ever change that. Criminals will continue to target gun-free zones as they always have, so we need guns of our own.

It is not only our right by constitutional law, but it is also common sense.

GUILLERMO MARTINEZ/ET CETERA

Eastfield joins the nationwide moment of silence Oct. 8 honoring the victims of the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.

THE HOT TOPIC

What are your feelings about campus carry?

“It can be a good thing to carry a concealed gun. The only thing is it’s hard to determine which students will use it for protection and be sensible about it and not fly off the handle and start shooting everyone.”

Elizabeth Matus, Nursing major

“I’m definitely not a fan of this law. I don’t care if it’s concealed. I feel like if you are not an officer, then you don’t need to have a gun on you.”

Alontra Evans, Marketing major

“It makes everyone safer. If someone else is going to be trying to shoot you, you need to have a way to protect yourself. And if someone is around you, you don’t want them shot either. ” Cullen Orrick, Computer Science major

“It’s kind of scary. I don’t think it’s a good idea, everybody carrying their own gun. People can get upset very quick. If the gun was not there, there would be a better solution.

Vlynn Troung, Science major

“I understand the idea of having to protect yourself. I feel like in the wake of campus shootings going on, you kind of want people to protect themselves, but there’s different ways you can go about protecting yourself without killing someone.”

Jordan Coleman, Communications major

“I think it’s really scary. I don’t think everyone should be holding a gun. I don’t think everyone is capable of holding a gun. I think it would intimidate a lot of people.

Even if they had a license to carry it, I wouldn’t like it.”

Sarah Bates, Social Work major

Wrapup The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Reality Check By Pablo Aberrisquieta

Fake Friends By Chelsea Chizoba

Trivia Bits

What is the Shakespearean name for the psychological phenomena in which you clean up to reduce guilt?

A) Brutus syndrome B) Horatio syndrome C) Iago syndrome D) Lady Macbeth syndrome

Zek and Slik By Matthew Rohan

Sudoku

Within a year, who was nominated for an Oscar (for “The Aviator”), a Tony (“Glengarry Glen Ross”) and an Emmy (“The West Wing”)?

A) Alan Alda B) Leonardo di Caprio C) Al Pacino D) Martin Sheen

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Trivia Answers: D, A

Candid Campus Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Heritage fiesta

www.eastfieldnews.com

ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

Eastfield started its Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations with a concert by the Dallas band Havana NRG and a dance performance by the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico group.

The Office of Student Engagement and Retention has planned a variety of activities to celebrate Hispanic heritage that combine academic studies, cultural diversity and inspiration.

Upcoming events include:

15 The Et Cetera

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

• A salsa tasting with chef Lydia Gonzalez at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 21 in C-135; • An appearance by world champion slam poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo at 11 a.m. Oct. 27 in C-135; • A Día de Los Muertos event at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 28 in C-295; • A presentation titled We are the Blacks: Somos Latinos, at 10 a.m. Oct. 30 in C-135; • A Knowledge Bowl at 10 a.m. Nov. 2 in the Pit.

ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

Top left, the Dallas-based Latin band Havana NRG plays in the Performance Hall on Oct. 14. Top right, bottom left and center, members of the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico troupe dance Oct. 12 on the Lower Courtyard stage. Bottom right, English professor Kassie Buck and another audience member dance to a Havana NRG tune.

ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

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The Et Cetera

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Earn your 4-year degree right here at Eastfield.

Learn online or attend classes on the Eastfield College campus. Visit with an advisor in Building W, Room 136.

Get started at CCIS.edu/Mesquite