February26 2014 Issue

Etera

Eastfield College

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Eastfield defeats Richland two times, heads back to New York for national tournament ➤ Page 10

Volume 45, Issue 8

2

NEWS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

PUT IT ON YOUR

Calendar February

Thu

27

Fri

28

Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Day will feature local college recruiters, Eastfield College advisers and a panel presentation of college professionals, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in S-100/101.

The African-American Stamp Collection exhibit reception will be from 10 a.m. to noon in the library.

March Tue

4

“The Miss Firecracker Contest” theater production will be performed at 11 a.m. in the Performance Hall. Suggested $5 donation at the door.

Explore Seismic Impacts on Architecture with the Spring Science Seminar Series at 12:30 p.m. in S-100/101.

Wed

Looking for a job? Bring your resume and dress for an interview at the Spring Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pit. For more information, call 972-860-8310.

Thu

Explore Amazing Science Discoveries with the Spring Science Seminar Series at 1 p.m. in S-100/101

5 6

Find out what it takes to be an effective science student in a workshop presented by Professor Murray Gans from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in L-208.

Mon

10

Spring break begins and runs through March 14.

Sat

Deadline for submitting short fiction, personal essays and poetry to the campus League for Innovation Student Literary Competition in G-138.

Email Rufel Ramos at rramos@dcccd.edu for more information.

15

Mon

17

Classes resume.

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO BY MIGUEL PADILLA DESIGN BY DEKAYLA HORTON

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

New core curriculum to offer more flexibility

By KARINA DUNN

MORE INFORMATION

etc4640@dcccd.edu

Changes are coming to the core curriculum.

The minimum number of hours needed to complete the core will drop from 46 to 42 this fall, pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Requirements to complete an associate’s degree will also decrease from a maximum of 72 hours to 60.

Incoming freshmen will be required to study under the new curriculum, but current students will have the option to continue with their original degree plan.

Matt Hinckley, chairman of the core curriculum steering committee, said the changes will be minimal for students.

“It’s a decline in hours, but that decline in hours was achieved by trimming the hedges, rather than by doing major foundation work,” he said.

The core consists of a three-tier system in which each skill set builds on the previous one. Basic courses, like English, history and college algebra, provide the foundation and teach the comprehension, reading and writing skills needed to succeed in higher-level courses.

The committees involved in the revision process focused on progression and student improvement. The steering team managed the proposed changes and determined which

The primary resource site for the core curriculum is http://www.dcccd.edu/emp/ departments/ea/coreresources/ Pages/default.aspx

classes best fit the new core curriculum requirements.

“The goal of the core curriculum is to ensure that students graduate with skills to enter job market immediately,” he said, “or the skills they need to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college, and the skills needed to be successful in life.”

Because the core will not exceed 42 hours, the steering team was forced to eliminate or modify some courses in the previous core.

Studio art classes fell into this category. David Willburn, coordinator of the Department of Visual Arts, worked with the Core 2009 committee and views the modifications as a positive change for students.

“The core curriculum still offers a lot of choices, and that’s important,” he said. “I see the purpose of the core curriculum as an opportunity for students to try a number of different courses, until they find their interest.”

Art classes such as Drawing 1, Ceramics 1 and Photography 1 will remain in the core, as will other art offerings.

“Art appreciation and art history will remain in the core curriculum because the current committee that

revised the core agrees those kinds of courses have tremendous value and should remain,” Willburn said.

Business administration major Krystal Hernandez said she searches for classes that provide the tools she will need to succeed at the university level.

“I want classes to benefit me,” she said. “I don’t want them to be useless knowledge.”

The new core offers more flexibility for students aiming for an associate’s degree. It allots 18 hours for electives, allowing students to study courses more closely related to their degree.

Michael Gutierrez, vice president of academic affairs, worked with the Vice President’s Council to approve the new core decisions. He said paring down class options was important.

“When the menu is so big, [students] don’t know what to order; shortening the menu focuses the students and gives them what they need,” Gutierrez said. “They can get through things in an orderly way. It allows them to set their goals a little bit better.”

In the past, the plan to improve the college community focused on increasing enrollment. Instructors and administrators have refocused their plan to give students a clear path toward graduation.

History professor Liz Nichols served on the 2009 committee and was involved in this year’s process.

She does not expect the changes to

have negative consequences.

“While some courses are not included in the core, it does not mean you cannot take them or they will not be offered,” she said.

Nichols emphasized the need for students to communicate with advisers and stay focused.

Once completed, the core curriculum at Eastfield will transfer to any state university. Students’ transcripts receive the mark “Core Complete.”

Typically, state universities must accept the completed core, but they may require students to take specific courses over again.

“As a college, we need to work together cohesively to envision not just the students walking through the doors,” Gutierrez said, “but engaging themselves to the college, progressing, so we can see them walking across the stage at graduation.”

Creative writing major Wesley Wade said he plans to complete the core before transferring.

“I think it’s preparing me to think critically and opening me up to more options,” Wade said.

Students should also be pleased by the fact that less credit hours in the core curriculum will mean lower tuition in the long run, barring any increases in tuition rates.

“By all means, complete the core curriculum because it just makes good sense,” Willburn said. “It is so much more affordable than taking the core at any other university in the state.”

THE HOT TOPIC

If you could recommend one course to a friend, what would it be?

William Soto General Studies

Algenise Harnage Psychology

Nhi Huynh Accounting & MIS

Steven Risberg Music

Stephanie Hux Chemistry

“I loved taking Professor [Ashok] Kumar’s Physics 2426. Professor Kumar is very helpful and gives tutoring and extension opportunities to students who need it.”

“I really recommend psychology with Professor [Koshy] Varghese.

Psychology focuses on the study of the mind and body. The professor is really laid-back and enthusiastic.”

“I really enjoyed biology with Professor [Ron] Beecham. The class is definitely entertaining, and students learn about plant and human life as well as evolution.”

“I would have to recommend Guitar I. The class gives students a strong basis in music. Playing guitar is easier than most people think, and the teacher really breaks it down for students to learn.”

“Mr. [Bryan] Bolster’s biology class is a great course. It’s a great learning experience. There’s a lot we pass by on a daily basis that we don’t know about, but this class helps students understand those things.”

NEWS

3

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

College could see major shuffling

Administration considers several reorganization possibilities

By JUSTIN DAVID TATE etc4640@dcccd.edu

The college’s academic divisions will undergo their first makeover in seven years this fall.

Three reorganization options are currently under consideration by Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success Michael Gutierrez, who said he hopes to make a decision by the end of this week. Two of the options would require approval by the executive council.

Gutierrez co-hosted a series of discussions with each of the division deans this past fall to gauge opinions from faculty and staff about possible changes. Each division held a forum presenting ideas and allowing instructors to voice their concerns and opinions.

“The conversations, as you can imagine, were actually pretty fun,” Gutierrez said. “However, when you actually have to put things on paper, that was a beating, because you have to make some very hard choices.”

Gutierrez revealed the three reorganization options at a standing-room-only forum on Feb. 5 in S-101.

Option 1 would leave the college divisions as they are, with the exception of the American Sign Language program, which would move to the Arts, Language and Literature division. This change is consistent in all three options.

If chosen, Option 1 would not require a vote by the executive council. It would retain the current structure of divisions, which includes College Readiness and Mathematics; Career Technologies; Science, Physical Education and Athletics; Social Science, Human Services and Business; and Arts, Language and Literature.

In Option 2 and Option 3, the College Readiness and Mathematics division would be eliminated, and Developmental Reading and Developmental Writing would shift to a new Arts and Communication division. Under Option 2, College Math and Developmental Math would move to a new Mathematics and Business division, and Learning Framework and Human Development would be placed in the Social, Political and Human Services division.

With Option 3, College and Developmental Math would land in a newly formed Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics [STEM] division, and Learning Framework and Human Development would go to the Social Sciences division.

Opinions among the faculty were varied on whether College Readiness should be broken up. Math professor Leticia Escobar is one of a handful of professors who voiced their support for the developmental programs staying together in their own division.

“I have expressed several times to the VP my

concerns with taking away College Readiness due to the fact that we have a lot of students coming into college for the first time that need all of the college prep classes,” she said. “We can offer those services here in one place so they don’t have to actually go digging in Language Arts for one class and STEM for the other.”

Rachel Wolf, executive dean of Arts, Language and Literature, has a different view on how developmental students should be handled.

“There’s been a lot of distinction between developmental and college-credit-bearing classes, and I’d like to dismantle that. I like integration,” Wolf said. “I can understand keeping developmental students separate, but not all developmental students are separate. Just because you’re in developmental reading doesn’t mean you’re a developmental math student.”

Wolf believes having developmental writing and reading faculty working with English faculty under one division would help promote student success. However, it would expand what is already one of the college’s largest divisions.

Wolf said her division currently contains about 35 full-time faculty members and one associate dean. The faculty number will rise to 46 if Option 2 or 3 are implemented.

“I would advocate having another associate dean,” Wolf said. “I came from Richland, and I was an associate dean at Richland for a department that was only English and foreign language. And the dean there was an executive dean, had my title and had three associate deans. So it’s not unheard of to me to have more administrative support.”

Longtime professors such as developmental reading instructor Jim Swindling, who has seen the college change many times over multiple decades, said reorganization is a natural part of progress.

“I’m in developmental reading whether I’m in a division of developmental education or whether I’m in language and literature,” he said.

“It’s just a house. It’s where I pick the mail up.”

Mike Walker, dean of Social Sciences, Human Services and Business, said the decision to reorganize is an intriguing one, considering the timing. The college’s enrollment has experienced steady growth since creating a College Readiness division.

Walker said most administrators would probably see this as a reason to continue with the same model.

“Our college is working at a really efficient level and our enrollment is growing,” he said.

“When things are good, do we really want to make a change? I think it’s … a little risky, kind of bold of him to suggest that maybe we need to make a change when things are going so well. I applaud him for that.”

Option 1: Current organization with one change

Option 2: Would require approval from the Executive Council

Option 3: Would require approval from the Executive Council

SOURCE: EASTFIELD COLLEGE

4

NEWS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black vets faced greater danger in Vietnam War

By BILLY DENNIS etc4640@dcccd.edu

While their dreams were being deferred at home, their draft cards were certainly not. Black Americans were being asked to serve and die in Vietnam for a country that was still treating them as second-class citizens.

For Black History Month, history professor Matt Hinckley gave a lecture Feb. 12 on what it was like to be black during the Vietnam War. Hinckley said in some cases, military bases in Vietnam were beginning to resemble the segregation America soldiers believed they were leaving behind.

He said Americans increasingly began viewing the war as not their fight.

The black soldiers sent to Vietnam often found themselves in more danger than their white counterparts, Hinckley said. During that time, the black population in America was 13.5 percent, and they were underrepresented in Vietnam at 10.6 percent. However, Hinckley said they made up 12.5 percent of the deaths in Vietnam.

“But this doesn’t even tell the whole story,” he said. “Between 1965 and 1967, African Americans were actually suffering over 22 percent of the combat deaths.”

Hinckley said several factors contributed to these results.

Black soldiers were often from a lower economic status and did not have access to the best education. Seventy-five percent were also drafted into the Marine Corps, a branch of service with limited occupations available. For many, the infantry was their final destination.

When they arrived to their units, they were often given the most dangerous assignments and missions, Hinckley said. Due to the attitudes of the time, he said many officers and sergeants viewed them as expendable.

“You could pretty much guarantee their experiences

were worse,” Hinckley said.

Nursing major Diego Salas said the lecture was a bit harsh, but that it needed to be.

“We need to know the dark side,” Salas said, “so that history doesn’t repeat itself. There is a saying: ‘He {who] doesn’t know his history is doomed to repeat it.”’

Even under such harsh treatment, most black soldiers remained proud of their service.

Hinckley highlighted several black heroes from the war, including Spc. Lawrence Joel.

Joel was a combat medic serving in the 173rd Airborne Brigade when his unit came under heavy fire, killing or wounding nearly every soldier in the lead squad. With complete disregard for his own life, Joel crawled from man to man, administering medical care.

He bandaged his own gunshot wound and injected himself with morphine before continuing to help others in the company. He was shot a second time, but managed to drag himself across the battlefield and help 13 more soldiers before his supplies finally ran out.

For his gallantry, he would be the first combat medic in Vietnam to receive the Medal of Honor.

“There was a lot we didn’t learn about [black history living] in Florida,” kinesiology major Calvin Ward said. “Many African-Americans made sacrifices for their country. [They] didn’t just stay at home.”

Hinckley said the war came at a time of tremendous upheaval in America.

“Given the time when the Vietnam War took place — in the midst of the Civil Rights movement and moving into the Black Power movement — there are so many connections and so much rich history to explore that we don’t even get a chance to cover in a regular class,” Hinckley said. “I thought they needed to be let out for some fresh air.”

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Political science professor Dr. Stacey Jurhree explains the importance of the Brown vs. Board of Education case during Black History Month.

Lecture highlights desegregation and the modern black household

By ANAHI PEREZ etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Supreme Court case of Brown vs.

Board of Education had a huge impact on the African American family, political science professor Stacey Jurhree said during a Black History Month lecture on Feb. 5.

Frustrated with a separate, but unequal school system, Oliver Brown of Topeka, Kan., and a group of parents wanted to enroll their children in what were considered “white schools,” but their children had to go out of town to school. In 1951, they joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and took their case all the way to the Supreme Court.

Brown won the case in 1954, ending segregation in some schools. Others took longer to integrate, however.

At that time, America was a nation where segregation separated white peo-

are born without a father present.”

Jurhree stressed the importance and “[Jurhree] stressed that ever success a child has when both parents are since integration, it has present during childhood.

Political science professor Dr. Glynn somewhat dispersed the Newman said Jurhree not only described father from the home.” the anatomy of the case, but also a modern-day understanding of a historical -Dr. Glynn Newman event.

Political science professor “[Jurhree] stressed that ever since integration, it has somewhat dispersed the father from the home,” Newman said. ple from those of color. Jurhree said the “In a segregated society, the father stayed decision to end segregation introduced close to the community because that was welfare, which allowed women to receive the only community he knew.” government assistance. However, it reSophomore Lyme Baez said the lecquired the absence of the father for the ture helped her and her fellow classmates mother to qualify. understand more about the issue of wel“In 1964, 70 percent of African- fare.

American kids who were from the city “It really helped me and other stuwere born from a mother and a father dents understand what really is going who were married in the household,” Ju- on,” Baez said. “Welfare has a big impact rhree said. “Today, we have 74 percent of on single mothers, and not just in AfriAfrican-American kids in the city who can Americans, but in every race.”

NEWS

5

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Minority males face a difficult crossroads

By EMMA HAHN etc4640@dcccd.edu

One man was wrongly convicted of murder.

Another grew up with bad influences and negative racial profiling. A third said he had to work twice as hard as a white man to get where he is today.

Despite all of these things, they sat at the same table in suits and ties, ready to share their stories at the Choice or Consequences panel discussion on Feb. 19.

The Black History Month event was sponsored by the Men’s Empowerment Coalition, under the guidance of speech professor Courtney Brazile.

The panelists discussed the challenges black Americans face today, ranging from their high numbers in the prison population to attempts to become role models in today’s society.

Judicial District Judge Andy Chatham posed a question that many male minority students could relate to.

“How many times do you get on an elevator with a 40-something white woman, and the first thing she does is grab her purse?” Chatham asked. “How does that make you feel?”

Many students in attendance murmured, nodded and even laughed.

Brazile shared a recent statistic showing that blacks represent 44 percent of those in prison, but only make up 13 percent of the entire American population.

Richard Miles, a student and panelist, said his own personal story reflects this statistic.

He went to prison at age 19 and was exonerated after 15 years. He was released in 2009 and started a nonprofit organization called “Miles of Freedom.” The organization works to help individuals who are released from prison start new lives. “[In prison] you get educated, supposedly, and everything is supposed to be provided for you, but it’s not happening,” Miles said. “If you look at the Constitution, it states that slavery has been abolished, except for crime. So when

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

The Choice or Consequences panel included, from left, Judge Andy Chatham, Eastfield library assistant Jesse Brown, student Richard Miles, Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Haim Vasquez and local attorney Anthony Eiland.

you commit a crime, you go back to the state of slavery. We all know the history of slavery. The concept has never changed.”

The panelists were asked why kids are choosing a life of crime, resulting in jail sentences, rather than success in life.

Attorney Anthony Eiland said a lack of leadership and positive role models are partly to blame.

“The media has portrayed rappers and basketball players as these role models. You have a lot of kids growing up looking to them,” Eiland said. “We don’t have [role models] for kids that are in leadership positions. Kids aren’t being mentored. We need to show kids that there are other options rather than being a rapper.”

Brazile offered a different view on illegal juvenile activity.

“Little Johnny might see that his mom is struggling to work three jobs just to make ends meet,” he said. “So he might go and sell drugs because he thinks he’s doing what he has to do to help his mom. He’s not seeing other options.”

Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Haim Vasquez pointed out that many minority juveniles get into trouble because they simply

History professor Brett Wilkinson gave a lecture on “Students of the Black Panther Party” on Feb. 20. He discussed civil rights figures such as Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Stokely Carmichael, Fred Hampton and Angela Davis, who all were college students before joining the Black Power movement.

Where preparing to return to the workforce balances with

“I have two young kids.”

© 2014 National University 13818

Students see themselves in Panthers

see it as their future.

“We have the same chances that other people have, but society sees minorities as guilty before they are even tried,” Vasquez said. “It’s an issue that just goes in a circle.”

On a positive note, the panel was asked to describe a success story they have witnessed.

Jesse Brown, a library assistant, talked about a student that he met in the transition center.

Brown helped him with little things and eventually built a strong relationship with him.

“It’s just a matter of taking time out to show someone some love and support, and encourage them,” Brown said. “It’s about going and reaching out to people.”

Chatham said minority students aren’t being pointed in the right direction to succeed in public schools.

“I’ve got a 9-year-old little girl, and one of the things I’ve seen is that if you ask a little kid what they want to be when they grow up, they give you lots of answers. Fun answers,” Chatham said. “But you ask a 12-year-old minority kid what they want to be and they say, ‘I don’t know.’ Well, the schools have to start a goal and motivation that says that you can be anything you want to be as long as you stay in school and keep working.”

So how does our culture get out of this mindset?

Brazile offered a solution, using the analogy of a fish.

“A fish doesn’t know that it’s wet,” Brazile said. “If you’re trying to tell a fish about dry land, it won’t understand because the only thing a fish has ever experienced is water. Some of these guys don’t even know that they need help. Be in class on time. Know how to present yourself well in an interview. I’m trying to awaken these guys to know that there is even greater opportunity beyond this water on dry land.”

• • • •

Students can transfer at any time Transfer scholarships are available One-course-per-month format 28 campuses plus online programs

Learn more at nu.edu/transfer JUSTIN DAVID TATE/THE ET CETERA

6 Campuses in San Diego County NU14_13818-29_CC_PrintAd_SD_Palomar_5p25x6p5_K.indd 1

Where quality meets flexibility™

(855) 355-6288 1/31/14 11:20 AM

6

NEWS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

Rising Star helps students realize dreams

By DAVID RAMIREZ etc4640@dcccd.edu

Many high school students believe college is out of reach, due to financial challenges.

Eastfield’s Rising Star program can provide a student with up to $4,000 in scholarship money to cover books and tuition for three academic years.

“We usually get over 1,000 applicants for the scholarship throughout all of DCCCD, but only around 600 students actually get the scholarship,” said Jema Lopez, a Rising Star academic adviser. “About 80 students specifically at Eastfield get approved every year.”

To qualify for Rising Star, students must either graduate high school with a B average, pass the DCCCD assessment test or graduate in the top 40 percent of their class. The amount of money students can receive depends on their household income.

“It’s not like other scholarships, where they give you money in hand to spend freely,” said Emmett Santos, a second-semester student in the Rising Star program. “It’s actually a good thing because it’s more controlled. You’ll have the money there when you need it.”

Undocumented students can also benefit from the program.

“That hits home for me because I was in a similar situation,” said Rising Star student worker María Garcia. “It’s really good to see that students who don’t have a Social [Security card] still have that opportunity to go and continue their higher education here at Eastfield with the scholarship.”

Terry Wooten, another adviser, said he enjoys working with the students, whether it involves academics or financial aid.

“I ended up getting this advising position with Rising Star and it fulfilled my aspirations as far as being that helper,” Wooten said.

“Now I get to help students go to college to get their education, but also to help them through the process.”

Wooten said he wouldn’t be where he is today without the help

Rising Star adviser Jema Lopez assists Emmett Santos in the Rising Star office.

of student advisers.

“I know I wouldn’t have [received] my education if it wasn’t for their help,” Wooten said. “I get to return that favor to the students that I work with. It’s not a job, but it’s a profession for me. I know when I come to work and see the students, I feel like I made that difference.”

MIGUEL PADILLA/THE ET CETERA

The Rising Star advisers visit local high schools — including Mesquite ISD schools; Lakeview Centennial, South Garland, Rowlett, Seagoville, Samuell and Skyline — in order to inform students about the program.

For more information about Rising Star, visit eastfieldcollege. edu/risingstar or call 972-860-7327.

Life&Arts

The Et Cetera

7

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW

PIANO MAN

Flores floors instructor with his musical ability

By ROBERT BURNS etc4640@dcccd.edu

Justin Flores’ hands dance over the black and ivory keys as he plays the piano, filling the room with music.

The mood is lighthearted as Flores and classmate Julia Chin settle in to practice for their juries — the equivalent of finals for most classes. The difference is they have to perform multiple pieces from multiple eras in front of faculty members.

“He really knows his stuff,” said Chin, a piano major. “When we play duets and stuff, we fit well together, and he is really fun to play with.”

Flores, 18, is majoring in music with an emphasis on teaching, conducting and performance. He practices under the guidance of Professor Pierrette Mouledous. She also leads the weekly music recitals for faculty, which is open to all students.

This is only his second semester, but Flores’ skills have impressed Mouledous. ”He is very talented,” she said. “If he wanted to, he could be a concert pianist.”

Since learning the piano in the first grade, Flores has entered numerous events and concerts, including the University Scholastic League competitions and a concert at Nordstrom department store.

“I knew I wanted to play something,” he said, “and my parents suggested that I play the piano. I picked it up really quickly.”

Flores’ father is a music minister at his church. When Flores was a young boy, his father took him to choir rehearsals, and that is where Flores’ love for music began.

In the fourth grade, he started playing the drums. Flores still plays drums at his church and plans to lead worship in a church band after he graduates.

“Ever since I saw the movie ‘School Of Rock’ and I saw [the character] Freddie playing the drums, I knew I had to learn to play,” he said. “For me, the movie was inspirational, at least when I was a little kid. Seeing a kid about my age or a little older playing an instrument was really cool to me, and it looked super fun. It looked like it needed a lot of energy, and I felt like I had a lot of energy to get out.“ His favorite classical musician is Hungarian composer Franz Liszst, who was a child

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Justin Flores, 18, has been playing the piano since first grade. He will perform in a quartet at the spring recital on May 2.

prodigy and pupil to Ludwig van Beethoven.

His favorite piece by Liszt is a fast score called “La Campanella.” “‘La Campanella’ is a monstrous piece,” Flores said. “I really like the speed. I love playing fast. It really works on technique because you have to play fast chords and there’s a lot of big jumps. Your hands are all over the piano.“ However, Flores isn’t only into the classics.

“I’ll be listening to hip-hop, then my phone will play some pop, like Ariana Grande or Justin Timberlake,” he said. “Then out of nowhere, my phone plays classical.”

Flores doesn’t just get to play the piano all day. He also takes classes, such as music

theory, where he analyzes music to be able to hear certain things, and music literature, which focuses on the music of major composers.

Flores also enjoys singing. While he doesn’t perform in concerts, he does like to sing for his friends.

“Music for me is singing. It is a big emotion for me. Whatever I am feeling is what I want to do music-wise,” Flores said. “If I am feeling lovey, then I want to sing some love songs. If I am sad, then I will sing sad songs all day.”

Flores will perform in a quartet at the college’s spring recital on May 2 in F-117.

Despite star cast, ‘The Bag Man’ fails to deliver

By CAITLIN PIPER etc4640@dcccd.edu

By all means, “The Bag Man” should be an excellent movie. Promising equal doses of action and drama, it features several big-name stars such as John Cusack, Robert De Niro and Crispin Glover.

However, its star-studded cast and interesting premise are weighed down by a lackluster, sometimes unintentionally humorous script.

While it has some well-choreographed action sequences and a few memorable characters, “The Bag Man” is not the action-filled thriller it was advertised as, nor is it the character-driven drama it is trying so hard to be.

“The Bag Man,” which will open at AMC Stonebriar on March 7, follows Jack (Cusack), a thug-for-hire with awful luck and a hidden heart of gold. Paid to retrieve a mysterious bag by the notorious mob boss Dragna (De Niro), he is told to wait out the night in a seedy motel, where Dragna will later meet him to claim the bag.

Over the course of a few hours, Jack is pulled into the lives of several other shady motel guests, particularly that of Rivka (Rebecca Da Costa), a beautiful young woman who loves to ask questions. Receiving explicit instructions to never look inside the bag, Jack anticipates Dragna’s arrival and struggles to survive the night.

“The Bag Man’s” biggest problem is it takes itself far too seriously. While the action scenes are enjoyable and sometimes surprisingly tense, the characters and dialogue are a mess.

Jack is your generic tough guy action movie star who has endured many tragedies in his life, while Rivka is just another piece of scantily clad eye candy with a mysterious past and an exotic accent.

Despite being the lead characters, the two have no chemistry. By the time the credits began to roll, I had wondered why Jack ever decided to pair up with Rivka in the first place, as every moment they share on screen seems to be causing him physical pain.

With the exception of De Niro’s Dragna, who steals every scene he is in, the villains are no better.

“The Bag Man” features a dwarf, a bald man with an eye patch and a police station full of giggling and beady-eyed crooked cops as major antagonists.

Half of these characters would be more at home stroking a white cat while they exposit their plot to kill James Bond from within their secret base. The other half wouldn’t make it into a weaker episode of “Law and Order.”

These elements could work if the film wasn’t trying so hard to be an action-filled, dead serious drama.

This, combined with some of the most stilted dialogue I’ve heard in a long time, results in a movie you will be watching only for the fight scenes.

8 Wednesday, February 26, 2014

LIFE&ARTS www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

Paleo and keto and juicing, oh my!

By MORGAN CORLEY etc4640@dcccd.edu

Dieting is something of an obsession for Americans. We cannot stop talking about the newest and best ways to shed pounds and keep them off. Three diets gaining popularity are the ketogenic diet, the paleolithic diet and juicing. They all have their own unique attributes, and all three demand strict control over what you eat.

Unlike many diet plans, keto, paleo and juicing are not permanent dietary lifestyles.

“Keto, paleo and juicing are healthier types of diets,” said Shefali Ajmera, a licensed dietician. “However, they are still temporary diets only — depending on an individual’s capacity and goals — they can do this for a few days to a few weeks. These diets can be used to boost up [weight loss] in the beginning. However, they are not practical enough for long-term health and weight maintenance.”

The paleo diet

The paleolithic diet, more commonly known as paleo, is a diet based on the idea that human DNA is the same as it was 15,000 years ago.

Therefore, we should be eating the same kinds of foods the first hunters and gatherers ate.

Individuals who are taking steps toward a paleolithic lifestyle only eat foods that were available to hunters and gatherers during the paleolithic period. The paleo diet includes foods such as fish, grass-fed beef, nuts, berries, fungi and roots. Paleo dieters avoid things like dairy products, legumes, processed oils, salts, refined sugars and potatoes. Essentially, paleo dieters attempt to avoid any food that requires human intervention to cultivate.

The keto diet

The ketogenic diet, also known as keto, takes a different approach to eating than the paleo diet. Ketoers pursue a low-carb, high-fat and moderate-protein diet. They work to adjust their diet down to 20 grams of carbohydrates or less a day.

People who follow the keto diet do so for a variety of reasons. It has been used by doctors for years to help patients with epilepsy to control their seizures. It can also help diabetics who need to control their insulin levels and patients undergoing cancer treatments. The goal of the keto diet is to put yourself into ketosis, which is when your body switches over from processing carbohydrates into glucose to process fats and protein. Because of how easy it has become to track whether or not you are in ketosis, this diet is gaining popularity with those who want to lose weight.

Juicing

Juicing is one of the strictest diets that is gaining popularity. It involves switching over to an entirely liquid fruit and vegetable-based diet.

Proponents of juicing argue that you can absorb the vitamins and nutrients available in fruits and vegetables more efficiently because they are in a liquid form. Juicing is also effective, in theory, because absorbing liquid fruits and vegetables gives your digestive tract a break from all the work it takes to break down the fiber in whole fruits and vegetables.

“Juicing can be done as a part of a healthy, balanced diet every morning with more veggies than fruits to get healthy,” said Ajmara.

Juicing is very difficult and can be an expensive diet to follow. A good juicer that will extract the maximum amount of juice from the fruits and vegetables can cost upward of $250. Juicing is not recommended for an extended diet plan because your body does need fiber to maintain homeostasis.

Diets work differently for everyone, except those with special health concerns.

“I would not recommend this to [pregnant or breastfeeding women],” licensed dietician Mary Flesher said. “I would want them to have a more balanced diet, especially breastfeeding women, [who] need an extra 500 to 600 calories a day,.

MORGAN CORLEY/THE ET CETERA

Keto-friendly breakfast egg cups include bacon, eggs and whipping cream.

LIFE&ARTS Wednesday, February 26, 2014

9 www.eastfieldnews.com

By LAUREN ALLEN etc4640@dcccd.edu

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees: Amy Adams, “American Hustle;” Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine;” Sandra Bullock, “Gravity;” Judi Dench, “Philomena;” Meryl Streep, “August: Osage County” Who will win: Cate Blanchett Dark horse: Sandra Bullock or Amy Adams Analysis: Unlike some of the other nominees, Blanchett’s Jeanette “Jasmine” Francis didn’t have me running for the tissues. Watching Blanchett’s character slowly unhinge was unnerving, yet spellbinding. Her character is the definition of crazy. It was a car wreck that hurt to watch, but I had to know what happened next. It’s difficult for anyone to compete with Bullock and her one-woman show in space, but Blanchett seems guaranteed to win.

I started a new tradition this year: Oscar binging. I watched 21 films that received at least one Academy Award nomination. I cried with Judi Dench in “Philomena,” sang along to “Frozen,” felt unbearably uncomfortable during “August: Osage County” and almost passed out alongside Sandra Bullock in “Gravity.” I was appreciating the arts, though others may have thought I was simply that crazy girl who keeps buying movie tickets. The 86th Academy Awards hosted by Ellen DeGeneres will be televised this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Here’s a look at the frontrunners and dark horses that could take home the golden statue.

Best Picture

Nominees: “American Hustle,” “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Gravity,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” “12 Years a Slave,” “The Wolf of Wall Street” Who will win: “12 Years a Slave” Dark horse: “Gravity” or “American Hustle” Analysis: “12 Years a Slave” told an important story with the perfect amount of intensity and heart-wrenching reality.

“American Hustle” and “Gravity” are its biggest challengers.

Best Director

Nominees: “American Hustle,” David O. Russell; “Gravity, Alfonso,” Cuarón; “Nebraska,” Alexander” Payne; “12 Years of Slave,” Steve McQueen; “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Martin Scorsese Who will win: Alfonso Cuarón Dark horse: Steve McQueen Analysis: Some thought the “Gravity” storyline was a bit tedious, but the visuals are an insane masterpiece. I admit that I had many mini-panic attacks throughout the film.

While many of the directors are favorites of the movie critics’ circle, such as Russell and Scorsese, Cuarón’s vision had me on the edge of my seat. It is absolutely terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Each time Bullock held her breath, I found myself holding mine. It is official: I am never going to space — ever — unless I have the company of George Clooney. McQueen’s directing was nearly flawless as usual. As much as I’d love to gush about his brutal look at a dark page in America’s history, Cuarón visually took the audience to a place it had never gone before.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees: Christian Bale, “American Hustle;” Bruce Dern, “Nebraska;” Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street;” Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave;” Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club” Who will win: Matthew McConaughey Dark horse: Chiwetel Ejiofor Analysis: The actors in “Dallas Buyers Club” each underwent amazing transformations. McConaughey’s complete change in appearance as an AIDS victim was absolutely grueling, yet it was hard to look away. This year, McConaughey has flexed his acting muscle far outside the typical rom-coms he was once known for, and I’m sure the Academy will reward him.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees: Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine;” Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle;” Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave;” Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County;” June Squibb, “Nebraska” Who will win: Jennifer Lawrence Dark horse: Lupita Nyong’o Analysis: Dear Academy, do the right thing. Lupita! Lupita!

Lupita! Look, Lawrence stole my heart along with the rest of the world. I like her so much I wish we were best friends so I could find something I can’t stand about her and say, “You know that annoying thing you do? Well, I hate it and it’s annoying.” Lawrence may be America’s sweetheart, but Nyong’o came out of left field, took the role of a tortured slave and made it her own. It was her first performance on the big screen, and I could not take my eyes off her.

The Et Cetera

ILLUSTRATION BY DEKAYLA HORTON

Nominees: Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips;” Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle;” Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave;” Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street; Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club” Who will win: Jared Leto Dark horse: Barkhad Abdi Analysis: Leto’s transformation into an HIV-positive transgendered woman proved worth the wait after his six-year hiatus from acting. Leto’s role was raw and daring, and I never found myself focusing on his weight. If you know Jared Leto like I do, then we are all aware he is a beautiful man. Honestly, it’s ridiculous. Watching his performance, he never once looked like a movie star. Leto and McConaughey looked like real people with a devastating sickness. All Oscar politics aside, Leto is an actual rock star. It would be such a cool turn for the Academy.

Sports

The Et Cetera

Feb. 28 March 1 March 7 March 8 March 11 March 14

Baseball vs. Richland Baseball vs. Richland Baseball vs. Brookhaven Baseball vs. Brookhaven Baseball vs. Northland Baseball vs. Coastal Bend

www.eastfieldnews.com

Return Flight

2 p.m.

11 a.m.

2 p.m.

11 a.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

10

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Eastfield defends title to clinch a spot in the Elite Eight

By KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR. Editor in Chief

Ricardo Artis had never played on a winning team. In fact, he hadn’t played a single playoff game in his life.

The freshman forward signed with Eastfield six months ago in hopes of finally being a winner. Now, he can say he made the right decision.

Artis scored a team-high 19 points against Richland on Monday night, including 13 consecutive points in the second half, to help send the Harvesters to the national tournament.

Eastfield defeated the Thunderducks 88-78 to clinch the Region V title for the second straight year.

“This was the biggest game of my life,” Artis said. “Going into the second half, I told my teammates I wasn’t going to let us lose. This what we came here for. We’re going to New York.”

Despite a barrage of buckets from sophomore guard D.J. Jordan, who had 16 points in the first half, the Harvesters went into halftime leading by just two points, 46-44. Richland guard Robert Hall scored 17 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 24.

Jordan said his first-half effort was inspired by all the adversity he faced this season, including a suspension.

“I told my teammates I was doing this for Granny,” Jordan said. “She always told me I was gonna make it, and I had to do it for her.”

Artis’ hot start to the second half helped the Harvesters run up an 11-point lead with 13 minutes to go.

Richland head coach Michael Gross called a timeout, but Artis made a 3-pointer on Eastfield’s next possession, putting the Harvesters up by 14.

From that point on, Eastfield’s lead never dropped below eight.

A string of four straight free throws by Andrew Maxie in the closing moments sealed the Harvesters’ fate as Metro Athletic Conference champions. It was a perfect ending

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

The Harvesters celebrate their NJCAA Region V championship after defeating Richland, 88-78, Monday night. Pictured, from left, are Josh Shockey, D.J. Jordan, Brendan Chapman, Ricardo Artis, Andrew Maxie and Sheldon Yearwood.

for Maxie, one of only two sophomores who played on last year’s team.

“I turned down a scholarship from a four-year university to try and get back to New York,” said Maxie, who finished with 11 points. “I just want to say thank you, and I love y’all to my teammates for helping me get back. Three more and we get one of those big rings.”

Josh Shockey, the only other returner from last season’s national runner-up team, finished with 10 points, all in the second half. Hall

and freshman post Trevon Jeffery both had eight points in the second half for Richland, but the Harvesters held the Thunderducks’ leading scorer, sophomore guard Mister Carroll, to just four points in the second half and 10 points total.

Maxie said the win meant more coming against Richland. The Thunderducks had beaten Eastfield three straight times coming into the MAC tournament.

“I was mad we ended up the No. 2 seed after losing to them twice this

season,” Maxie said. “And they gave us our only loss in conference last season. Going into the second round, I hoped Richland would beat Cedar Valley because I wanted to play them for the championship. It worked out exactly how I wanted it to.”

The two sophomore returners aren’t the only ones who made the trip last year. Coach Anthony Fletcher, shooting guard Quinton Jones (who was a redshirt) and assistant coaches Antonio Richardson and Kevin Martin will return to Loch

Sheldrake, N.Y. The tournament runs from March 13-15.

After cutting the nets down on his home court, Fletcher said he had been thinking of this moment since last March.

“I dream about it every night,” Fletcher said. “Every night … We’ve faced a lot of adversity this season.

There were times where we could have quit, but we kept clawing away.

We’re going back to New York for the second year in a row. This makes it all worth it.”

SPORTS

11

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

MAC Tournament recap

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Eastfield forward Andrew Maxie, who scored 11 points, drives to the basket against Richland.

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

Sophomore catcher Taylor Empkey will lead the Harvesters against conference opponent Richland at home this weekend.

Harvesters shine on the diamond

By KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR. etc4640@dcccd.edu

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

JESSICA GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

D.J. Jordan shoots a jumper against Richland.

Ricardo Artis rises for a layup against Richland.

Game 1: Eastfield vs. Brookhaven

Game 2: Eastfield vs. Richland

Freshman guard Tevin Corprew scored 27 points to lead the Harvesters to a 92-75 victory over No. 3 seed Brookhaven on Thursday. The win avenged a 3-point loss Eastfield suffered at the hands of the Bears just three weeks before. The win, against the only team other than the Richland Thunderducks to beat the Harvesters in conference play, placed Eastfield into Friday’s championship game against the Thunderducks.

The Harvesters beat the Richland Thunderducks 6660 on Friday behind 15 points and 8 rebounds from sophomore forward Andrew Maxie. The win was Eastfield’s first against Richland in its last three tries, snapping a two-year drought on their home court. The win set up a rematch Monday between Eastfield and Richland, marking the fourth time the teams would play each other in less than a month.

The Eastfield Harvesters baseball team is off to a hot start. They’ve won their first 11 games, including nine against Division I opponents.

In those games, they’ve scored 87 runs, and compiled a team batting average of .331, leading the nation in both categories.

Sophomores Taylor Empkey and Gavin Gregory have led the team to this point. Empkey is hitting .529 while Gregory is batting .400. Coach Michael Martin said streaks like these are what teams need.

“Sometimes hitters just get into a zone like that,” Martin said. “You try and ride it out as long as you can because it’s not always going to be that way.”

Assistant coach Travis Graves, who played for Martin at Eastfield in 2008 and was an all-American, Easton Defensive Player of the Year, Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner, all-regional selection and two-time all-conference selection, said the team’s early success hasn’t all been about bats.

Graves said Gregory’s ability to steal bases also impacts pitchers.

“The pitcher’s timing is affected,” Graves said. “When you put someone like Gavin on first who causes havoc, instead of being focused on just getting the hitter out, now the pitcher has to think about him ‘cause he can try and steal at any time.”

Martin said the team has done a good job of executing the game plan.

“We’ve played pretty consistently, and that’s what we’re looking for,” he said.

“The players have competed well. We’ve got a long way to go. They’ve lived up to our expectations to this point, but we expect to continue to get better.

Hopefully, these kids will keep going at it. I know they will because they have those kinds of attitudes, good work ethic and, most importantly, the desire to get better.”

opinion

12 The Et Cetera

Etera

Caitlin Piper

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 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu

Modernizing classic literature can be counter-productive

Editor In Chief Kevin Cushingberry Jr. Managing Editor Justin David Tate News Editor Billy Dennis Opinion Editor Caitlin Piper Online Editor Miguel Padilla Photo Editor Jessica Garcia Design Editors Aki Ohashi DeKayla Horton Staff Writers / Contributors Gerenecia Foster Karina Dunn Emma Hahn Robert Burns Morgan Corley Lauren Allen Kametra Loud Anahi Perez Photographer Luzette Portillo Jonathan Wences Cartoonist Alex Hernandez Graphics Antonio Audiffred Advertising Manager Allison Slomowitz Student Publications Manager Gary Piña 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.

The content will remain that of the author. Letters considered for publication must be 250 words or fewer. Letters may be delivered to Room N-240 or sent to etc4640@dcccd.edu 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, February 26, 2014

OUR VIEW

Refusal to recognize same-sex marriage violates basic rights The gay marriage fight has come to Texas.

After the marriage rights of two same-sex couples were revoked upon moving to Texas, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio must decide whether the statewide ban on gay marriage should be temporarily blocked.

While similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, this is the first time one has appeared in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is largely conservative.

We believe it is wrong to deny same-sex couples the right to matrimony and all the benefits that come with a state-sanctioned marriage.

Same-sex marriage should be recognized by the state, and it is troubling that Texas has so far refused to acknowledge a marriage that was legally sanctioned within another part of the country. Imagine if you were married and moved to another state, only to discover that your marriage wasn’t recognized by law.

Gay marriage is permitted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Of the 33 states where gay

marriage is illegal, all but eight are considering similar cases. The majority of the cases were filed after the Supreme Court ruled last June that the federal government was required to recognize same-sex marriage in states where it has been deemed legal.

We believe the idea that marriage can only take place between one man and one woman is highly unconstitutional. As long as it takes place between consenting adults, marriage should not be restricted by law.

To deny same-sex couples the right to marry denies them the right to benefits, such as couples’ life insurance. It can also complicate cases where same-sex couples wish to adopt a child or be recognized as the legal parents of a child born to one parent.

We hope Judge Garcia recognizes the couples’ marriages as legal.

Perhaps, some day, these cases will be recognized as the turning point for same-sex marriage rights throughout the country.

In a misguided effort to teach the current generation to appreciate classic literature, many people are attempting to modernize these works.

Whether by adding modern music to a film version of a classic tale — for example, the 2013 adaptation of “The Great Gatsby,” which was partially produced by Jay-Z — or re-releasing copies of “Jane Eyre” with minimalist, “Twilight”inspired covers, the entertainment industry will try just about anything to catch the attention of young people.

Though their hearts are most definitely in the right place, their methods are both counter-productive and insulting.

Assuming that the current generation will only become interested in classic literature if it is dressed up in modern apparel proves just how little these people think of modern youth. No one likes to be talked down to, and attempts to manipulate someone into trying something new based on what is popular is condescending.

A strong plot and cast should be able to stand the test of time without any modern touches.

Creative license is to be expected, but there is a thin line between adding your own spin on an existing work and transforming it into something else entirely.

Additionally, modernizing classic literature creates the exact opposite effect as intended. The modernized work will become dated within a few years of release.

Classics are classics because they are relatable regardless of the passage of time, and modern additions can unintentionally turn the adaptation into a period piece.

The 2013 adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” made frequent use of modern rap, hip hop and dubstep music, which clashed with a plot written to lambast the decadence of the Roaring Twenties. The music choice pulled the viewer out of the film’s world, and was a failed attempt to help them relate to the plot and characters.

It’s great that so many people are concerned about the current state of youth and classic literature, but we shouldn’t be manipulating them into reading it. Rather, we should allow them to discover it for themselves.

If the piece is good enough, no tricks should be necessary.

OPINION

13

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Forgiveness is a choice Building relationships I often wonder why people tend to hold grudges against someone who has hurt them.

Whether it was a mistake or an intentional act, I came to realize that a person always has the choice to forgive.

I have been put in many situations where people have hurt me. Whether it was someone stealing from me, cheating on me or telling a lie, I chose to move on and forgive.

As a Christian, I am commanded by God to forgive.

The Book of Colossians says, “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

We forget that forgiveness is a road we all must travel.

For instance, my best friend was in a car accident that left her in the hospital for a few months. She had numerous operations and was confined to a wheelchair for a short period of time. When I visited her in the hospital, she told me she had been hit by an underage drunk driver.

She expressed to me the anger she carried in her heart for the driver who hit her.

Once her strength came back, she began walking on her own. She said she often wondered if she would ever be able to forgive him.

A few months passed and it was time to go shopping for a new car. My friend was excited and chose a dealership near her house.

Once inside, she noticed a familiar name listed as an employee. Then a young man walked past her. She recognized him

is important for dads

Kametra Loud

instantly.

Her heart stopped. She walked toward the young man, and he ran. It was the young man who hit her car.

She grew anxious and wanted to leave.

But as she walked out the door, the young man called her name.

She stopped, tears rolling down her face.

She was now facing the young man she could not forgive.

He began to apologize and told her he recognized her too.

After a conversation with him, all the hatred began to leave. He asked her to forgive him, and she did.

She said she decided to forgive because she was carrying a grudge that was too heavy.

It wasn’t until she made the choice to forgive him that she was able to move on with her life.

At some point we will all face such a decision.

Randall D. Worley said it best: “Forgiveness is not an emotion, it’s a decision.”

On Feb. 13, I rode a Greyhound bus for 17 hours, arriving in Denver by noon for a special Valentine’s Day date. It was that important to me.

My backpack was full of heart-shaped candy boxes, some with gummies and others with chocolate.

I phoned my date. She answered, unaware I was a few blocks away.

I knocked on the door. Her brother answered and yelled. My date ran to the head of the stairs and her jaw dropped.

“I knew it!” my 13-year-old daughter Majesty exclaimed.

The first close relationship a daughter has with a male is with her father. He will set the standard for how she expects other men to treat her.

I am a stepfather to three daughters whose birth fathers were never in their lives. One suffers from drug addiction. Another drowned under mysterious circumstances, and the third is content with being a ghost to his daughter.

That means I have to work harder to show them a positive male image. There’s already a negative expectation about what men will do.

Majesty is at the stage where she’s trying to be cool and sarcastic. But when I walked through the door and up the stairs, she was ecstatic, leaping into my arms and crushing my ribs with a powerful grip.

I surprised 15-year-old Icey Lee and 9-yearold China when they came home from school, greeting them with bear hugs and hearts full of chocolate and candy.

Over the weekend, I took China out for

Justin Tate

pancakes at IHOP, then took Majesty and Icey to dinner at Cici’s Pizza. We also went to the Cheesecake Factory, Claire’s and Coldstone Creamery as a family, but the one-on-one dates with my daughters were most special.

This is just the beginning. In the future, I plan to surprise them with dates on days that aren’t holidays or their birthdays. I’ll take them to fancy restaurants and out shopping just because.

Any man who dates my daughters will have to display a standard of excellence in everything he does, from how he dresses and speaks to how he treats women.

Research shows that daughters of absent fathers are more likely to become sexually promiscuous at a young age and become pregnant.

The role of a father is vital to a girl’s development into a woman, and I cherish that responsibility.

I will continually show my daughters by example of what to expect from a good man and how to immediately identify and turn back wolves in men’s clothing.

And it will start with our daddy-daughter dates.

Snowden is a whistleblower, a traitor and a coward From Michael Moore to Glenn Beck, people on both sides of the political spectrum have hailed National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden as a whistleblower and a hero. But make no mistake about it, Snowden is a traitor and a coward, and as such, deserves to be tried as a spy.

Let’s set aside whether or not you agree or disagree with the NSA’s surveillance and metadata storage capabilities.

The debate should be about the constitutionality of the various NSA programs that protect Americans from the asymmetrical threats we face from terrorists and rogue states like North Korea and Iran. However, a little nuance interjected into the debate would be nice.

Let’s discuss the act of stealing the data and scattering the sensitive national security information around

Billy Dennis

the world — in some cases to our own enemies.

Snowden, 29 at the time, didn’t betray his NSA contract and country for humanitarian reasons. Like all narcissists, he did it for his 15 minutes of fame and at the cost America’s security and standing in the world.

If Snowden truly believed what was being done at the NSA violated U.S. law, then he could have pursued a number of avenues that wouldn’t

have involved him betraying his country and breaking the law himself. Many sympathetic congressmen and women would’ve happily looked into the allegations he was making.

What exactly did he think the NSA’s purpose was? He must have had some idea as to its mission. My 8-year-old nephew certainly did.

Snowden instead dumped the information into the hands of American journalists. While journalists may have been wiser in how they disseminated information, he does not get to decide who has access to this information.

Snowden does not get to unilaterally decide for himself what is and what is not constitutional. He also does not get to make the decision as to who is qualified to see the information.

In fact, I don’t believe he was even qualified to see the information.

Journalists are certainly not quali-

fied to determine if the information could threaten American lives.

Searching for a Pulitzer has, in the past, often meant putting American lives in jeopardy.

Let’s also not forget that Snowden fled with his stolen loot to China and Russia, two countries that are some of the worse abusers of civil rights in the world. Does anyone seriously think China and Russia are giving him sanctuary on humanitarian grounds? Of course, Russia and China now have the information he stole. They are also our biggest rivals in terms of intelligence in the world.

Snowden’s espionage activities will cause untold damage for years.

So when I heard that The New York Times editorial board was recently calling on President Obama to award him amnesty, I was outraged.

That might be the most naïve thing I have ever heard. Even if you

believe Snowden is a hero, you must realize the implications of such action. That would set an extremely dangerous precedent.

It would give intelligence officials and military personal carte blanche to decide on their own what orders and protocols they will follow.

What happens the next time a soldier is asked to carry out a drone strike on suspected Islamic radicals and they don’t feel the strike is warranted? Are they going to refuse the orders? Are they going to carry out the orders and then release the particulars to Al Jazeera?

The world is full of narcissists who are desperately looking for the chance to become famous. Giving Snowden amnesty will not only allow the traitor admittance back into the United States, but it will embolden those seeking the spotlight to repeat his actions.

14

The Et Cetera

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Wrapup The Et Cetera

www.eastfield.com

Short Thoughts BY ALEX HERNANDEZ

Trivia Bits

1. What star of Nashville got “Live Without Regrets” tattooed on her back in Italian, only to get the spelling wrong?

A) Selena Gomez B) Leighton Meester C) Sienna Miller D) Hayden Panettiere 2. What legendary boxer has a daughter named Laila, who has become one of the great female boxers?

A) Muhammad Ali B) George Foreman C) Sugar Ray Leonard D) George Frazier

15

3. What did the L stand for, in the Ilene Chaiken TV series “The L Word”?

A) Latino B) Lawyer C) Lesbian D) Liberal 4. What character from “Reservoir Dogs” inspired Alecia Moore’s stage name?

A) GooGoo B) Kesha Kent C) Mr. Pink D) Rhiannon

Sudoku

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Trivia Answers 1.Hayden Panettiere’s tattoo reads “Vivere senza rimipianti” but the last word should be “rimpianti.”

2.Laila Ali has an impressive record in the ring.

3.The L word was “lesbian.”

4.Mr. Pink gave us Pink. Or, technically, P!nk.

16

The Et Cetera

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Complete your degree at A&M-Commerce.

There are no limits to what you can achieve.

Texas A&M University-Commerce is committed to transfer students who want to complete their undergraduate degrees. Whether you complete your degree to receive a promotion, change careers or to be the first college graduate in your family, any reason is a good reason!

Transfer scholarships up to $2,000 with 45 transferrable hours. $500 housing scholarships also available when credit hours and GPA requirements are met. *Dependent upon GPA

tamuc.edu/CompleteYourDegree DegreeCompletion@tamuc.edu

Phi Theta Kappa members are eligible for scholarships up to $3,000.

TAMUC

TAMUC

*The Phi Theta Kappa scholarship is not stackable with the general transfer scholarship.

TAMUC

LionsMedia