Nearing new leadership
Who will become the new Eastfield College president?
Eastfield College
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Volume 50, Issue 2
2
NEWS
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
@TheEtCetera
Securing cyberspace
Personal information put at risk in email breach By JAMES HARTLEY Digital Editor @ByJamesHartley
Some employees at the Dallas County Community College District have had their personal information put at risk, including Social Security numbers and financial information, in a recent data privacy incident, according to a notice on the district’s website. District officials said no information was actually compromised. The DCCCD sent letters Aug. 17 to those they believe were affected and posted the notice online Aug. 27. The incident happened between September 2017 and December 2017, according to the notice. A cyber forensic investigation found that the attack put the information of as many as 21,000 people at risk. A 2018 IBM study found that it takes a mean time of 221 days for a company to identify a malicious or criminal data breach. From there, the study found the mean time to contain the attack is 86 days. Robert Wendland, the top lawyer for the DCCCD, said it took a year to reach out because the forensic investigation was ongoing. “They finished their investigation in the summer and that’s when the notification process was instituted,” Wendland said. Sarah Sheldon, an instructional
Watch your ID Anyone who thinks they may have been affected should contact 1-888-6351247, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to determine whether information was lost in this incident.
specialist in digital media, said she was “surprised and disappointed by the lack of transparency and failure to notify employees.” Sheldon, whose information was put at risk, said the district should have notified the public sooner. “They should have let everyone know, ‘Hey, we’re working on it and will tell you as soon as we have answers,” Sheldon said. Those affected have been provided with 12 months of free credit monitoring and cyber insurance that will handle any incidences where information is compromised, Wendland said. He stressed that there is no indication that any information was stolen in the attack. The district recommends anyone who thinks their information may not be secure contact a credit agency, recommending Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The DCCCD detected the brute force attack, where a perpetrator atSee Breach, page 6 ➤
The Et Cetera
VAYLAN JACQUES/THE ET CETERA
New password requirements cause confusion By JAMES HARTLEY Digital Editor @ByJamesHartley
A new Dallas County Community College District password upgrade caused confusion among students and employees at the start of the semester, leading to difficulty finding classes and accessing online courses. Anyone logging into district services such as eConnect, eCampus, myPortal and Office 365 will be required to set up a stronger password if they have not already. Rik Jones, DCCCD executive managing director of cybersecurity and forensic services, said the change is, simply put, to enhance security. “We’re doing things like making passwords longer, stronger and more complex,” Jones said. “They could pose as you, pretend to be you on Blackboard and take tests wrong or delete your homework, they could pretend to be you with your girlfriend. This prevents that.” The passwords require 12 characters with at least one lowercase and uppercase letter and one numeral 0-9 or special character. Unlike previous passwords, this one won’t expire. “That’s the industry standard now, and it’s more secure,” Jones said. “You aren’t coming up with a password on the spot every time it expires, so you have more time to think about it. That and the longer, more complex passwords mean it’s more secure.” Jones also expects students will like the new one password system more.
Need assistance? Still having password troubles? Call 1-866-3747169 or 972-669-6495 for assistance resetting or accessing your account.
The same password for eConnect is now used for student Outlook emails and Blackboard. Ayomide Ajayi, a kinesiology major, said he likes the permanent password and the ability to use it for everything, but when he was first logging in, the process for creating the new password was too difficult. “It’s a security thing, and I understand, but maybe they should emphasize on security after we log in,” Ajayi said. “We need to log in to see our schedule and everything.” Nursing major Ana Ramies said it would not have been such an inconvenience if the district had notified the college community earlier. “I understand the concept, but it’s just irritating,” Ramies said. “The only good thing is one permanent password for everything.” Ramies said the sudden change at the start of the semester made it difficult to get to information quickly when she needed to. The process requires students to set up their new password before they can access anything, including Blackboard, eConnect and student Outlook emails. Employees are required to set up at least five of the 20 available se-
curity questions, a phone number for two-factor authentication and other steps for password recovery. Any system not connected to secure DCCCD Wi-Fi will not allow immediate login. Employees will need a code sent via text message or phone call whenever they attempt to login on a nonsecure device or computer. Any employee with an office can also designate their office phone as a recovery number in case they get locked out of their account. Work-study students and student employees are required to use the same security as employees. Joe Coreas, a developmental math professor, said he hasn’t had too much trouble with the verifications since he downloaded an app that replaces the need to receive text messages. Developmental writing professor Selena Stewart-Alexander has had more trouble with the new system. “I’ve gotten so many text messages to do the authentication,” StewartAlexander said. “I wish we could just go back to changing the passwords every 90 days.” Stewart-Alexander said she spent half a period of one class helping students log in. In eight-week format, she said time is especially valuable. “I don’t know how to help students,” Stewart-Alexander said during the first week of classes. “I hate meetings but it would have been a good thing to have a time where we get together and they say, ‘OK, here’s how you do this.’”
NEWS
3
The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Aspiring presidents visit campus, speak with community Four candidates to replace college President Jean Conway visited the campus over the past week. Each spent a day visiting with the selection committee, touring the campus and answering questions at two forums. Attendees of the forums were able to give feedback to Chancellor Joe May, who will select the finalist, through an online survey that was up for one week after the first forum on Sept. 5.
Kendra Hoppie, an educational technologies assistant, said that she hasn’t decided on a candidate yet but her expectations are that the president will be, “a visionary that sees the future and takes us to it.” During the forums, Eastfield community members asked the candidates questions about their experience, work philosophy and goals for the college. — Aria Jones
Kim Armstrong
JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA
Candidate Kim Armstrong visited from the College of the Ouachitas in Malvern, Arkansas, on Sept. 10.
Armstrong, from Malvern, Arkansas, shared her experience as the vice president of student affairs at the College of the Ouachitas. She has work experience in research, clinical and administrative fields. She says working in science requires teamwork and collaboration. “I’m very analytical,” she said. “I’m data driven. I want to see results. That being said, I don’t view failure the same as most people. You get in that lab. If it doesn’t work, you don’t throw it away. You come back and get invigorated and do something else.” Armstrong earned her doctorate in physiology and neuropsychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She has had her research published and co-authored a report on workplace diversity for the National Science Foundation. She still teaches honors and general psychology classes, including online, as an adjunct at College of the Ouachitas while serving as vice president of student affairs.
AYME SMITH/THE ET CETERA
Candidate Carmen Walters from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College visited on Sept. 6.
Carmen Walters Walters began her career more than 25 years ago as a teacher, and said she has worked with May before, so she is familiar with the district model. She currently serves as the executive vice president of enrollment management, student success and institutional relations for the 10 locations of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She said she could help Eastfield have a voice in the district.
“I need to have more time to assess everything, but right off the bat, I feel like I can help grow enrollment, we can have more students,” she said. “I also feel like we can help the part-time students. Seventy-six percent of our students are part-time. I want to help them graduate.” Walters earned her doctorate in philosophy with a focus on community college leadership from Mississippi State University.
Sharon Davis
JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA
Presidential candidate Sharon Davis visited from Mountain View College on Sept. 5.
Davis has a familiarity with the Dallas County Community College District as the vice president of business services at Mountain View College and has worked in higher education for more than 18 years. She has worked in business, student services, instruction, human resources, financial aid, professional development and distance education. “I feel very comfortable,” she said. “The reason I feel very comfortable is because there are so many similarities with Eastfield and Mountain View College.” Davis said the two colleges serve the same demographic, were established at the same time and have many of the same goals. “What I’d like to see the college do is to really get serious about a graduation initiative,” she said. “What we’ve seen at Mountain View College is that we were lacking in that area.” Davis has a doctorate in philosophy and business management from Capella University.
COURTESY OF EASTFIELD COLLEGE
Candidate Eddie Tealer from North Lake College visits with an Early College High School student Sept. 11.
Eddie Tealer
During Tealer’s 10 years with the Dallas County Community College District, he has worked in finance at the district level at North Lake College and has experience in the private sector. He also teaches a doctoral course about American community colleges at Southern Methodist University. Tealer said he has a strong relationship with people from Eastfield who he works with at the district level and has an under-
standing of the college from that perspective. “I think before I set any new goals, I would like to listen and see what some of your goals might be and some of the things that you might want to approve of,” he said. Tealer earned his doctorate in leadership studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and is currently the vice president of business services at North Lake College.
4
NEWS
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
@TheEtCetera
The Et Cetera
Staying cool for back to school
The Office of Student Engagement and Retention’s backto-school kickoff was designed to keep students full and cool and help relieve the stress of returning to classes. From pizza and donuts to cold drinks and water games, Welcome Week offered a wide range of activities to keep students engaged for the first week of the new semester. —Compiled by Jesus Ayala
Right, Evelyn Keith sits in the dunk tank as people attempt to hit the target on Aug. 31 at the Fun Friday: Grill and Chill event in the lower courtyard.
JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA
JESUA SANDOVAL/THE ET CETERA
JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA
YESENIA ALVARADO/THE ET CETERA
Top, Melissa Vasquez, Abraham Martinez and Karla Alvarado hang out in the staircase of the Lower Courtyard during the last event of Welcome Week, Aug. 31. Above, Suly Ramirez sprays Roderick Kines with a water blaster in the Lower Courtyard. Left, students line up for pizza during the meet and greet with the vice president Aug. 29 in the Hive. The Office of Student Engagement and Retention offered free pizza and a chance to get to know Vice President Mike Walker and meet the new mascot.
NEWS The Et Cetera
5 www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday,September 12, 2018
6
NEWS
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
PUT IT ON YOUR
Calendar September
Wed
12 Fri
14
Recital: pianist John Solomons, 1 p.m., F-117 Frida Fun Friday, kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lower Courtyard Dallas Children’s Theater performances of “A Worm, a Spider and a Fly,” 7:30 p.m., Performance Hall, free
Sat
Dallas Children’s Theater performances of “A Worm, a Spider and a Fly,” 1:30 p.m., Performance Hall, free
Mon
Constitution Day film screening and discussion, “The Post,” 12:30-3 p.m, S-100
Tue
“Maus” common book event, Dallas Holocaust Museum field trip and tour, 12:30-4 p.m., reservations required, 972860-7199
15 17 18
Workout and meditation, 7-8 a.m., M-206 Flu shots, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., C-139
Wed
19 Thu
20 Fri
21
Recital: Kent Ellingson Quintet, 1 p.m., F-117 Flu shots, 3-5 p.m., C-139 Workout and meditation, 7-8 a.m., M-206 Mission 22 pushups for veterans, 12:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard
Ted Talk Tuesday: Jewish Identity and Religious Tolerance during Sukkot Celebration, noon-1p.m., The Hive
Wed
Recital: guitarist Rodolfo Perez Berrelleza, 1 p.m., F-117
26
By ANDREW WALTER Opinion Editor @AndyWalterETC
Starting this semester, students will receive progress reports for classes longer than four weeks in length. “It’s a districtwide project,” Title III Director Nancy Singer said. Any student in the Dallas County Community College District should expect to obtain two progress reports in a 16-week class, one in courses between five and 14 weeks and none for any class four weeks or less. During convocation week, Eastfield instructed faculty to implement these progress reports into nearly all courses. Faculty were recommended to mention the new progress report policy in their syllabi and inform their classes shortly after the semester started. Progress reports reflect students’ status at that moment and do not guarantee a final grade. Singer said that for the fall 2018 semester, a pilot system is already in place for how progress reports will be made and distributed. Professors will have a two-week window to issue progress reports that assign a grade or level of satisfaction for each student. On the day of a report’s release, students will receive a notification email. They can then login to eConnect, go to their student menu and find their progress reports under the My Personal Information section. The DCCCD created a task force to enact measures that would ensure students received grades in a timely manner after complaints by students who said they could not determine their grades in some classes. “One of the common concerns that students raise is that they wish they had understood how they were doing in the class earlier, that they didn’t get enough feedback about their performance,” Singer said. “This is a way to address that.”
DAISY ARAUJO/THE ET CETERA
Faculty and student feedback were highly encouraged by the task force during convocation week training. “Depending on what we learn, I would suspect we might be open to making changes for spring term,” she said. “It would also depend on feedback in terms of usage and the functionality of the system.” English professor Brian Roffino hopes to use his position as a certified academic life coach to use progress reports in a meaningful way. He still has minor concerns about the implementation of the new policy. “I feel like it’s another tool,” he said. “If we have too much communication, [students will] just tune it all out.” Roffino said he wants his students to be engaged and know what their grades are, but he also recognizes the potential struggles with creating a rigid system for communicating grades. In some cases, Roffino said, there isn’t enough communication from professors and students. “There are professors that don’t keep up with grades until the end of the semester, and so students don’t have any sense of what their grade is, which is not fair,” he said. He hopes progress reports serve as a wake-up
ILLUSTRATION BY MANUEL GUAPO
call for students to stay focused and finish their assignments. If a student is struggling, he said that he encourages them to ask for advice on how to succeed, whether they are his own students or not. “I’m always willing to coach,” Roffino said. “I do expect to see more students interested in sitting down with me to solve problems and to move themselves forward after a progress report.” One benefit of using progress reports at the DCCCD colleges is that because of rising high school student enrollment, students will be more accepting of the process. “For most of our students who have just come out of high school, they’re used to getting progress reports,” Singer said. While not every student on campus is aware of the new policy, some students, especially those fresh out of or still in high school, understand the utility of having progress reports. Lorraine Lopez, a student with an undecided major, believes that the benefits of progress reports outweigh the negatives for most students. “They let you know if you are passing or failing and what you need to step up on,” she said. “They will be beneficial because they will let your teacher see what you need help on.”
Breach threatens information
Get involved on campus
Continued from page 2
The Et Cetera distribution, 10 a.m.-noon, the Hive ABOUT THE COVER
The Et Cetera
District introduces progress reports
Student government meeting, 10 a.m., C-297
Tue
25
@TheEtCetera
ANTHONY LAZON/THE ET CETERA
Deysi Gonzalez discusses with Eddie Healy during the involvement fair on Thursday Aug. 30.
tempts to login to an email numerous times until the correct password is entered, but did not find any indication that personally identifying information was compromised. The district’s cybersecurity insurance company took over the forensic investigation, hiring a third party cyber forensics group that confirmed no data was compromised. The 21,000 identities were put at risk after 38 email accounts that used IMAP or POP email protocols were compromised, Wendland said.
IMAP allows users to access emails from any internet access device without downloading them, but rather by seeing them from the email service provider. POP downloads all emails to a device so users can access them. Wendland said at the time of the attack, about 100 active accounts were using IMAP and POP protocols. Those accounts were deactivated and users were required to reset their account with new emails. IMAP and POP are no longer allowed for use with district emails. Instead, Wendland said, web access is the safest way to go.
Sports The Et Cetera
Sept. 13 Sept. 14 Sept. 18 Sept. 20
www.eastfieldnews.com
Soccer vs. Seminole State Volleyball vs. Paul Quinn College Soccer vs. Cedar Valley Volleyball vs. Brookhaven
5 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m.
7
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
NJCAA rules, new schedule Treatment of Serena create challenges for athletes shows tennis sexism By ARIA JONES Editor in Chief @ AriaJonesETC
Eastfield’s shift to offering mostly eight-week term classes has placed new time management challenges on student athletes. Some athletes are having to take three eight-week classes at the beginning of the school year in order to meet the National Junior College Athletic Association’s requirement that students remain enrolled in at least nine credit hours during their season. This is more than the recommended course load, according to the Eastfield College website, which says students may not enroll in more credit hours than the total number of weeks their class meets. Taking two eight-week classes at a time is like taking four 16-week classes. Sophomore volleyball player Maura Munoz said she has noticed a faster pace in her classes this year, even in the first week. “Honestly it has been harder, especially because I have work also and so it’s hard to manage it,” she said. “But every chance I get, I remember that I have to do something.” Athletics adviser Amber Sellers said some athletes run into common freshman struggles and fall behind, and the recent technology problems at the college have not helped. But eight-week terms mean the stakes have doubled. If a student were to miss two weeks, they could miss a whole month of work seen in a 16-week term. Student athletes who are taking the minimum nine hours and want to compete don’t have the option of dropping a course if they’re not doing well. Sellers said she has been trying to place athletes in two eight-week classes and one 16-week class to help balance their time. But sometimes it doesn’t always work out. Athletes have limited availability due to their practice schedule, and sometimes those classes fill quickly, leaving them with three eight-week classes. The reason why some athletes have to enroll in so many hours at the
AYME SMITH/THE ET CETERA
Student athletes are finding it difficult to work eight week classes, practice and games into their schedules.
beginning of the school year has to do with NJCAA rules and the dates that flex-terms start. “So if school would have started a week earlier, then our flex term date would have been better,” she said. “Then that second flex term may have started before the end of their regular season.” Some eight-week classes have been extended by about 30 minutes, meaning the volleyball team loses about two hours practice each week. The soccer and volleyball teams begin their regional tournaments during the first week of the second 8-week term. Head coach Brandon Crisp said his team would find a way to adjust to the changes. “It’s challenging to find schedules that work so they can get a break,” Crisp said. “Because you don’t want to go from 8 a.m. to 3 o’ clock without a break.”
The athletes spend six days a week either in afternoon practice or at evening matches. This is an area where Sellers said flex-terms have helped. “Because before, you were trying to squeeze in four to five classes all in the morning,” she said. “Well at least now with the flex-terms, if you have only two or three classes, we have all four days to get them in.” Athletic director Anthony Fletcher said adjusting to the changes is going to be a lot of work for the students. “But I think it’s feasible and I think it’s doable,” he said. He said the changes for basketball and baseball are good during the first semester. Those athletes don’t have to enroll in nine hours and know halfway through the semester if they need more credit hours to compete. See Athletes, page 12 ➤
The expectation that women must wear skirts and dresses while playing tennis has been launched into the spotlight after Serena Williams wore a catsuit to the French Open. The suit, which helped prevent blood clots from forming after having her first child almost a year ago, made her feel like a “superhero,” she told reporters. The French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli later banned the outfit after saying, “The combination of Serena this year, for example, it will no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place.” In response to the catsuit being banned, Williams showed up to her next match with a tutu and a win. Unfortunately, people seem to worry about the tennis uniform more than the actual sport itself. This rule has existed since the establishment of the sport, and honestly, it is becoming antiquated. Female tennis players are slowly ending this dated expectation. Nike released the NikeCourt Premier Slam Dress, which is made to move more comfortably, but it has caused an uproar among the public and players due to its length and transparency. Katie Boulter was pictured in the New York Times with a headband around her waist to make the dress stay in place during a match at Wimbledon and she wasn’t the only one having problems with this dress. According to the New York Times, Swedish tennis player Rebecca Peterson said, “When I was serving, it was coming up, and I felt like the dress was just everywhere.” I understand the frustration that these female tennis players are experiencing because I too, have experienced sexism on the courts. My tennis coaches were fairly laid back about the uniform policy during practice, when we could wear shorts and athletic pants. But when the time came to have a match, our coaches always reminded us to wear a skirt that made us look “presentable.” We still had to
Jessica Reyna @TheEtCetera
wear a skirt mid-winter during a match, but we could wear a jacket over our uniform top. It seems that men are the ones making these decisions for women, and I’ve wondered if it’s more than just making the female players look “presentable.” Could the real reason be that women are being blatantly sexualized in tennis? Recently at the US Open, Williams dealt with another problem, but this time, it wasn’t dress code related. She lost what would have been her 24th Grand Slam on Sept. 8 after being penalized for three different game violations. Her first violation came from the umpire, who said Williams received coaching during the match. She responded, “I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.” Her other violations were verbal abuse when she yelled at the umpire and called him a liar and racquet smashing. She was handed penalties that ultimately led her to lose. Former tennis player James Blake defended Williams on Twitter and admitted that he has said worse things to the umpire and did not receive a penalty. “I will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized. And I’ve also been given a ‘soft warning’ by the ump where they tell you, ‘Knock it off or I will give you a violation.’ He should have at least given her that courtesy.” Soon, this whole “sexism on the courts” scene will end because of powerful women like Serena Williams and Katie Boulter. They’ll do so by making it clear they won’t let sexist expectations ruin their attitude toward the sport they love. — Jessica Reyna is a journalism major and Et Cetera reporter.
8
LIFE&ARTS
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
@TheEtCetera
The Et Cetera
Leave behind your summertime sadnes Become a film snob after watching these six flicks It’s officially time to stop being a summer thot. Virgo season is upon us and pumpkin spice lattes are back. It’s the time of year that entertainment editors and self-acclaimed film connoisseurs like myself flex our film knowledge by telling you to watch fall movies that you probably were already planning to see anyway. We’re just going to say the most anticipated film of the fall season is the new superhero film and call it a day. I say screw that. You and I both know “Venom” and “Aquaman” look terrible. I want to see Jason Momoa shirtless for 90-plus minutes just as much as the next person, but I’m not going to
lie and say I really expect this movie to be anything more than “Justice League” underwater. “The Nun” was whack, and “Night School” and the “Halloween” reboot probably will be too. “Creed II,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and “The Predator” look fine. And “First Man,” “Boy Erased,” “The Favourite,” “Mary Queen of Scots,” “On the Basis of Sex” and “Beautiful Boy” look like either Academy contenders or bore fests. Or both. Let’s get on to the good stuff. Here are all the movies I’m actually excited about. —Compiled by David Silva
“Mandy” (Sept. 14) Nicolas Cage isn’t the first name you think of when discussing films that lit up Sundance and Cannes, but his work in “Mandy” did just that. Cage stars as Red Miller, a man set on vengeance after cultists and supernatural creatures kidnap his love, Mandy. Don’t confuse the plot for just another revenge film. Director Panos Cosmatos truly had a vision. Its prominent red and violet lighting and its bold shadows mix with Cage’s violent rampage to make this a nightmarish standout. It’s nice to know good things can be done with Cage’s lunacy. “Roma” (Dec. 14) Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón has a stacked Hollywood filmography. With films like “Gravity,” “Children of Men” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” under his belt, Cuarón has proven to be a force for massive, beautifully shot, tremendously energetic and critically acclaimed films. This year, Cuarón seems to be doing it again with “Roma,” albeit on a more intimate level. The film is a semi-biographical take on Cuarón’s upbringing in Mexico City, following the life of a middle class family in the city’s Roma neighborhood. The premise is simple, yet Cuarón’s use of large format black and white film and massively choreographed wide shots make this film a piece of art from the cinematography alone. Clearly a deeply personal love letter to his hometown, “Roma” is the artistic film to make sure to see.
“Bad Times at the El Royale” (Oct. 12) This film is the must-see thriller of fall 2018. The plot is simple: seven strangers, all of them mysterious and morally ambiguous, in a creepy hotel with a dark past. Simple enough. Except Jeff Bridges is an obviously fake priest, Jon Hamm is a nice-guy vacuum salesman and Chris Hemsworth is a freaking cult leader. The trailer itself promises a stylized bloodbath in the middle of nowhere, and with “The Cabin in the Woods” director Drew Goddard at the helm, I’ll be in line opening night.
COURTESY OF XYZ FILMS
“If Beale Street Could Talk” “Moonlight” director Barry Jen tion of James Baldwin’s 1974 nove The film follows Clementine desperately attempts to free her fi cused of rape. The acclaimed and beloved s right hands with Jenkins, who h subtle yet powerful cinematic lan The film’s soft cinematography canvas, ensuring this will be ano churning entry to Jenkins’ filmog Just show up. I’ll provide the ti
LIFE&ARTS
9
The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
ss
(Nov. 30) nkins directs this adaptael. e, a young woman who fiancé after he’s falsely ac-
story looks to be in the has mastered the craft of nguage. y almost looks like oil on other intimate and heartgraphy. issues.
“Mid90s” (Oct. 19) Why the hell can’t reporters be nice to Jonah Hill? Anyway, when I say, “written and directed by Jonah Hill,” what else do you need to spark your interest? Hill has come a long way from his “Superbad” days, taking on Oscar-nominated roles in “Moneyball” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” His new incarnation sees him attempting to take on the role of visionary filmmaker. “Mid90s” is a coming-of-age film centered on Stevie, a 13-year-old in 1990s-era LA, and his new skater friends. If the film’s trailer is any indication of the final product, then this film may easily be the best of the year. There’s something about the film. The few clips that were previewed do more than mimic childhood and the 1990s. They evoke the feeling of new possibilities, of finding out what you want to be, of maneuvering your way around a newly realized world. Having found stardom at the age of 24 and maneuvering through his celebrity status for the past decade, I think Hill has finally gotten the opportunity to reflect himself through cinema. This film may not change the world, but the ability to experience Hill’s unfiltered vision is the type of opportunity that only presents itself when autumn films come around.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” (Nov. 2) I’ll try really hard to avoid Queen-related puns. A Queen biopic helmed by “X-Men” director Bryan Singer and starring Mr. Robot himself Rami Malek might make you question if this is just fantasy. Sure, production has been troublesome, with Sacha Baron Cohen almost getting cast as Freddie Mercury and Singer coming under pressure for being a total jerkoff on set and getting sort of replaced by Dexter Fletcher. Nevertheless, I’m hoping this will still be a killer Queen biopic, or at least a by-the-numbers studio production that doesn’t crap on Mercury’s legacy. You never know, though. This might still rock you.
Honorable Mentions • “White Boy Rick” (Sept. 14) • “Alita: Battle Angel” (Dec. 21) • “Holmes and Watson” (Nov. 9) • “Widows” (Nov. 16)
COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX
COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX
10
LIFE&ARTS
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
@TheEtCetera
The Et Cetera
A BOOK TO CONSIDER
HIDDEN GEM
Since its release, Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel “Maus” has been a hallmark of visual storytelling. Maus has sold more than 1 million copies in 30 languages over two volumes. “Maus” is Eastfield’s common book for the 2018-2019 academic year. Spiegelman will visit the college on Oct. 17 to provide a lecture for interested students. —Compiled by Andrew Walter
Patrons at Fiction Coffee can study, read and relax comfortably.
Take a look at history through cat and “Maus”
Plot The plot of “Maus” alternates between two timelines: a series of interviews between Spiegelman and his father, Vladek Spiegelman, in late 1970s New York and Vladek’s recount of his life as a Polish Jew during the World War II era. Spiegelman frequently visits his father to learn more about Vladek’s past and the Holocaust. Spiegelman wants to create a book, which eventually becomes “Maus,” that encapsulates his father’s experiences with Nazi oppression and his own understanding of Judaism and feelings as a Jew. He also has a strained relationship with his father, displayed through their arguments and talks about Art’s youth, mother and lifestyle. Vladek starts his recount of the Holocaust in his late 20s. He lives in Poland before meeting his first wife, Art’s mother. The tale closes when Vladek reunites with his wife following the end of WWII before immigrating to America. Throughout the series of interviews, Art learns how his parents met, about his older brother who died before he was born, how his father narrowly avoided death on many occasions and how his parents survived 10 months in Auschwitz. There are other smaller events within the story that reinforce the idea that Vladek Spiegelman was incredibly lucky to have survived. Author Art Spiegelman, born Feb. 15, 1948, is an American cartoonist, editor and comics advocate. While he is best known for creating “Maus,” Spiegelman also worked for The New
MACKS PREWITT/THE ET CETERA
ESTHER MORENO/THE ET CETERA
Yorker and The Topps Company. Although he was born in Stockholm, Sweden, his family moved to the United States in 1951 and eventually settled in Queens, New York, in 1957. Spiegelman began cartooning in 1960 and was being paid for his work by age 15. Honors and Pop Culture “Maus,” which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992, is consistently said to be one of the greatest graphic works of the 20th century. It’s credited with helping bring the term “graphic novel” and the concept of adult-themed comics into the mainstream. Spiegelman has received numerous offers to have “Maus” adapted for film or television, but he has declined all of them. “Maus” is cited as a main influence on other graphic novels such as Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” and Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home.” Review “Maus,” despite using anthropomorphized mice, cats, pigs and dogs, is a tale that feels incredibly human. Being a graphic novel, “Maus” uses meaningful words and dialogue with powerful imagery. Some of the more violent scenes in “Maus” are especially chilling because the reader can visualize a beating or battlefield but still recognize that animals are used instead of people. The use of a dual narrative works wonderfully. While Vladek recalls
2018 - 2019 Common Book Fall Events Sukkot Celebration, Sept. 2428, 11a.m. - 1 p.m., Lower Courtyard LGBTQ Rights and the Holocaust, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. 12 p.m., G-101/102 Art Spiegelman, Keynote Speaker, Oct. 18, 11 a.m., Performance Hall And Then They Came for Me, Remembering the world of Anne Frank, Nov. 15-16, 7 p.m., Performance Hall
living through the Holocaust, he and his son have everyday interactions and side tangents that provide more insight to their characters. The reader will come to understand Spiegelman’s difficulty connecting to his father and how Vladek’s state of mind was altered because of the Holocaust. As the story progresses, the reader may constantly be left wondering how Vladek managed to survive past every crazy, dangerous and scary encounter with Nazis, anti-Semitic Poles and sometimes other Jews. Overall, “Maus” is a graphic novel that provides a small window into the life of Spiegelman and his father. By masterfully examining themes of memory, guilt, racism and language, Spiegelman is able to tell a story not only about fear and death but also of hope and survival.
Fiction perfectly marries good coffee and great books By MACKS PREWITT Staff Writer @MACKSPREWITTETC
Sitting on a corner in Dallas is a cozy outpost of coffee and pastries. Fiction Coffee offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the real world through a welcoming atmosphere and an atypical take on the modern coffee shop. Aesthetically, walking into Fiction with it’s dark color scheme and its warm lighting feels like walking into a cave. If you are looking for a comfortable coffee house to make your study spot, great atmosphere and better service, come cuddle up at Fiction. The square building is painted a dark blue and is fairly small, so small it might be described more cramped than cozy. However, the atmosphere is warm, and while things may get a little too tight, the coffee more than makes up for it. Fiction offers a secret menu that takes advantage of their custom syrups to craft cleverly named beverages like The Watchman, The Great Gatsby and The Alchemist. Late last year, a company that offers co-working spaces away from the office, Common Desk, bought Method Coffee. Thus Fiction Coffee was born. While most coffee shops embrace the aesthetic of stark white minimalist designs, Fiction isn’t afraid to take you to a darker place.
The entire coffee shop is designed to evoke a dark corner where one could escape reality with dark green paint on the walls and artistic mirror and light designs. Green plants and warm lighting make this place extremely welcoming. This is the coffee shop’s purpose. They plan on making Fiction the friendliest coffee shop in Dallas. Fiction embraces its brand. Novels are scattered throughout the shop so that customers can read while they sip their coffee or tea or eat their locally sourced pastries. The coffee, from Counter Culture Coffee in California, is also above average. Unlike the demon’s pit roasts of Starbucks, Fiction’s coffee is on the lighter side, which adds a subtle contrast to the homelike atmosphere they work so hard to present. The coffee shop is tiny. There is no getting away from that. They have ample seating inside and outside for about 20 customers. But if you plan to go when they are busy, be prepared to awkwardly walk through large groups of people. However, Fiction isn’t meant to be a Starbucks. It is meant to be an escape from the regular routine and the staff goes above and beyond to provide that. The baristas are specifically trained in hospitality to make sure that every type of coffee enthusiast is welcome there. The experience and the service that they provide to customers. is all that really matters.
LIFE&ARTS The Et Cetera
11 www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
THE HOT TOPIC What TV show or film do you want to see remade?
Art faculty show what they’ve got
Juan Pena
“I hated the ending of ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ so I’d like if they brought it back and made that better. ‘Clone High’ ended on a cliffhanger, so that too.”
The show “Looking, Thinking, Making,” featuring work by faculty in the Department of Visual Arts, opened on campus Aug. 29. Participating artists are Eric Eley, Iris Bechtol, David Willburn, Kathy Windrow, Michelle Thomas, Peter Ligon, Courtney Hamilton, Daniel Martinez, Gary Uribe, Jessica McClendon, Jenna Edwards, Val Curry and Tuba Köymen. The show runs through Sept. 28 in Gallery 219.
Taja Warner
“‘Courage the Cowardly Dog.’ Growing up I just really liked it. It was cool, a little scary too. ‘Scream,’ too. I loved ‘Scream.’ I know they started doing more, but they started getting horrible.”
David Ramirez “There’s ‘Deadman Wonder-
land.’ That’s an anime and they did only one season. Like the manga finished but the show didn’t, so an actual ending would be nice.” PHOTOS BY JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA
Clockwise from top, gallery visitors admire and discuss an oil painting during the show’s Aug. 29 opening. Early college high school students move past hanging art pieces. Gallery guests examine a painting. The Faculty Art Show is on display until Sept. 28 in the art gallery in F building.
Taylor McMilla
“‘Adventure Time’ just ended. Me and my buddies liked it growing up and it was cool, so I want it to keep going.”
Shaun Marshall “‘Futurama.’ It kind of left us on
a cliffhanger, so a soft reboot of it would be great because I really just want to see it again.”
Philip Bourghs
“‘Danny Phantom’ ended kind of abruptly. It was such a good show. A continuation would be great, I think.”
12 Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Sus Comics By Aldahir Segovia
LIFE&ARTS @TheEtCetera
The Et Cetera
Athletes in fall sports forced to carry heavy course loads
Awkward Avocado By Abednego Leal AYME SMITH/THE ET CETERA
From left, Shelby Browning, Skylar Fowler and Jade Turner rejoice after scoring against Southwestern Adventist University on Sept. 4.
Continued from page 7 Before, they would find out if they needed to take winter classes at the end of fall semester to qualify. Crisp said he wants students to be successful and pass their classes. He encourages them taking difficult classes after the season, along with online classes in which freshmen may not have experience. Freshman volleyball player Gabby Mise said she is taking three eightweek courses and one 16-week course in her first semester but doesn’t mind the fast pace. “It seems to be easier than high school because we get all of our work done quicker,” she said “The assignments are due back-to-back.” Sellers suggests that athletes check in regularly with their advisers and learn how to study early in their college career to succeed in flex-term courses. She said that getting students to register at the earliest possible time
and having advisers who focus solely on retention during the first week would also be beneficial, because with eight-week classes the first week is important. “I think it would be awesome, as a district, If our athletes could register a little bit earlier than everybody else,” she said “Because I know that’s something our district doesn’t have, but some schools do allow athletes and other special populations to register before registration actually opens.” Crisp said he knows of other colleges that have similar schedules, with eight-week terms and no Friday classes, and he believes it’s possible for the athletics program to be successful. “The girls are making it work so far,” he said. “They’ve gotten through their first week of class. Everyone’s doing well. It just presents new challenges, and we’re up for it. We’ll see what we can do.”
Food Pantry Relieves Hunger
Two volunteers help pack a head of lettuce for students in need of food outside the G-building on Sept. 5.
RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA
LIFE&ARTS
13
The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Blend into fall to stand out
Words by Aji Mariam Photos by Yesenia Alvarado
Look #1: Vampy Violence If you like bold colors that make a statement or just love the idea of Halloween, this is for you. Don’t shy away from the boldness of this look! It’s supposed to be eye-catching.
Look #3: Deer, Barbara A beauty guru that all girls know and love inspired this look. She has been setting trends for generations, young and old, and has a bubbly spirit. Someone is coming to mind, right? I’m talking about Barbie. In our artistic interpretation of the look, we tone things down a little, just so they are fit for everyday deer life.
Look #4: Red in Romance Red is a color that can be sweet, inviting and versatile. In this look, you will be using a deep red lipstick to create a rosy rouge and light eyeshadow to accompany your bold red lips.
Look #2: Pumpkin Spice Latte This list would be incomplete without considering fall leaves and pumpkin patches. If you’re feeling extra artsy and ready for Halloween, draw a bat or a ghost with black eyeliner.
Look #5: Gloss Boss This look is for lovers of all things glossy and dewy who want a face that resembles glass. Your eyes, lips and cheeks should look like you were sunkissed, and the glow on your face should make people question whether or not it’s real.
14
The Et Cetera
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
opinion
15 www.eastfieldnews.com
Burning Nike shoes is a waste of time
Etera Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Texas Community College Journalism Association • Associated Collegiate Press • College Media Association
Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief Aria Jones Managing Editor Yesenia Alvarado Photo Editor Jesus Ayala Opinion Editor Andrew Walter Digital Editor James Hartley Graphic Design Editor Mateo Corey Multimedia Editor Esther Moreno Senior Videographer David Silva Senior Graphic Designer Manuel Guapo
OUR VIEW
Staff Writer Macks Prewitt Photographers Vaylan Jacques Rory Moore Niels Winter
Ayme Smith Jesua Sandoval Willie R. Cole
Graphic Artists Anthony Lazon Sean Watkins Daisy Araujo
Abednego Leal Aldahir Segovia Blake Washington
Reporters James Eyre Samuel Farley Jessica Reyna
Aji Mariam Eva Rosen
Editorial Assistant Marie Garcia Student Publications Adviser Elizabeth Langton Digital Media Adviser Sarah Sheldon Faculty Adviser Lori Dann 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. 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. 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.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
ANTHONY LAZON/THE ET CETERA
College should seek student input in search In the search for the next Eastfield College president, students should be playing a central role. But for the past two weeks, unless their professors informed them about the presidential candidate forums or they read about them on our website, students did not know the forums were taking place. Emails sent to college employees gave dates, times and the names and bios of the candidates. According to college officials, students did not receive any of those emails. We have a suggestion to fix this. The deadline to provide feedback to the Dallas County Community College District should be extended, and access to the forum videos should be provided to students. Students hold a special stake in Eastfield and its leadership. The value of our degree can change based on the reputation of the college, and the quality of our education is impacted by the leadership. We should not be left out of such an important process. While college employees often have a good idea of some things students need, nobody will be able to tell the district about the challenges and the benefits of being a student at Eastfield like those very students. Et Cetera reporters and photographers
rarely witnessed students at forums. When students were present, the questions they asked were excellent. From financial aid to how the college can expand its target age demographic, students showed they care about what’s going on in their college community. By giving students easy access to the videos from these forums, Eastfield could garner student feedback that would be invaluable to the search process. If decisions are made without students, that can have a negative impact on the college’s reputation. It could make Eastfield less desirable to incoming students looking for a place to be educated and reduce the worth of a degree. That hurts both past, present and future students. The wisest move of Eastfield College would be to include students, even though it’s late in the process, and encourage their input. By extending the deadline for feedback to Sept. 19 and notifying students of their ability to participate, we think our college would walk away with a wealth of insight. Hopefully by allowing this input, the DCCCD will be able to better determine the right choice for Eastfield’s next president. We’re certain it will.
It was almost two years ago that Aldahir Colin KaeperSegovia nick infamously @TheEtCetera kneeled down during the national anthem preceding kickoff of a San Francisco 49ers game. Since then, Americans have been in a constant storm of controversy, and it doesn’t seem to be near resolution. Plenty of newsworthy events deserve more attention than coverage of uptight citizens’ reactions to Kaepernick. There are still mass shootings and suffering immigrants and massive national debt. Humanity has endless real problems like ongoing wars, famine and pollution that continue to turn the planet into a huge trash can. Most people have enough common sense to understand what is really going on in the world. Yet the public watches immature people burning their shoes as a protest against Nike for the controversy behind Kaepernick. A lot of people are aggravated, to say the least, with Nike for choosing this man as their sponsor. But why is the anger targeted at Kaepernick for voicing his opinion and not Nike for cashing in on his cause? Controversy creates cash and Nike is obviously a business that understands this concept. Their ads have a history of promoting something that the public is divided on. In 1989, it was disabled athletes, and in 1993, Charles Barkley. In 1995: gay rights and sexism; in 2010: Tiger Woods, post scandal. Nike has an influential platform that has the power to address social issues that give their company an advantage over competitors. They may lose customers now, but in the long run they’re still making millions on media coverage. The brand is more than happy to slap its logo onto any sensitive topic because it’s going to make them more money than a generic sports ad. People do know this, but pay it no mind. The frustration that surrounds Kaepernick is completely unnecessary and overblown. It seems that Americans are running out of things to complain about. The sensitivity toward this protest is mainly painted as disrespect. It’s viewed as disrespectful to the flag, the armed forces who fight for the flag and the people who love this flag. Yes, there are many military families who find disrespect in Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem. However, some military families support his actions. In fact, Nate Boyer, an Army Special Forces veteran, persuaded Kaepernick to kneel rather than sit during the national anthem. He accepted guidance from a veteran he’s said to be disrespecting. What’s the problem going on here? There isn’t one. The soldiers who are serving our country fight for our freedoms, but we each decided how to utilize those freedoms. No one should limit the rights written in our constitution. — Aldahir Segovia is an astronomy major and a graphics artist at The Et Cetera.