May07 2014 Issue

Etera

Eastfield College

Graduation Day 1 family, 4 degrees

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Volume 45, Issue 12

Woodruff family prepares for a walk to remember ➤ Page 3

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NEWS

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

PUT IT ON YOUR

Calendar May

Wed

07

Enjoy free food, karaoke and cultural displays at the 2014 Asian-American Heritage Celebration from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in G-101/102.

Get some help for your finals. Alla Kelman will present a MATH 1314 final exam review from noon to 1 p.m. in L-208.

Having trouble learning MLA style for your essays? Kathy Carter will host the workshop Formatting MLA Style Research Papers from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in L-208.

Leticia Escobar will host a DMAT 0097 final exam review from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in L-208.

Thu

08 Fri

09

Sharon Johnson will present a MATH 1314 final exam review from 3-5 p.m. in L-208.

The Man-Up Conference will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in the Performance Hall, sponsored by the OSER office and the Men’s Empowerment Coalition. Sen. Royce West will be the featured speaker. For more information or to register, contact Courtney Brazile at 972-860-7164 or visit eastfieldcollege. com/man-up.

Sat

The 2014 Eastfield College graduation ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Curtis Culwell Center at 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd. in Garland.

Tickets are required for guests of graduates.

Fri

Eastfield will compete in NJCAA District C baseball tournament in Tyler.

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June

Wed

Summer classes begin, running through Aug. 7.

Mon

Fall classes begin.

04 25

August

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AKI OHASHI AND MIGUEL PADILLA

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

Jacobson overcomes cancer to graduate

By KARINA DUNN etc4640@dcccd.edu

A few months ago, Wendy Jacobson was planning her own funeral.

She and her daughter, Brooke, were discussing arrangements on the phone.

“She said, ‘Mom, I hate to ask you this, but do you want to be cremated?’ ” Jacobson said.

Jacobson, diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma of the diaphragm, a rare form of cancer, understood she might not survive her upcoming three-hour surgery. The phone call made it reality.

Brooke flew from her home in California to care for her mother.

“That’s a hard talk to have with your daughter,” said Jacobson, 52.

Doctors diagnosed Jacobson with cancer in mid-September 2013. To her knowledge, there are only 12 reported cases of leiomyosarcoma of the diaphragm in the world.

“I’m the second survivor that I’m aware of,” she said.

The causes of leiomyosarcoma of the diaphragm are unknown. An absence of physical symptoms complicates the diagnosis in its early stages.

By the time Jacobson was diagnosed, tumors had already grown. In midNovember, surgeons removed tumors around Jacobson’s heart and two major arteries. She relaxed a little, thinking of herself as a survivor.

She and her daughter are focusing on different kinds of arrangements now. Jacobson is preparing to graduate from Eastfield on Saturday, and Brooke, 33, is pregnant with her first child.

“She’s having a girl,” Jacobson said.

“I’ll have to go visit.”

The road to beating cancer made Jacobson more aware of the future, personally and professionally.

“I didn’t know if I was going to live or die,” she said. “I wanted to finish school, just in case.”

To make better use of her time left, Jacobson returned to school in the months preceding her surgery.

“My experience at Eastfield reinforced my desire for a bachelor’s degree,” Jacobson said. “I don’t know how to thank [my professors].”

Her professors’ encouragement enabled her to continue her interest in social work. In addition to the associate degree she will receive Saturday, Jacobson has also completed her bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Tarleton State. She wants to pursue a Master of Social Science.

“You need a degree to take advan-

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

Wendy Jacobson, shown with her dog Buddy, will graduate Saturday.

tage of possibilities,” Jacobson said.

“Getting a degree is about focusing on living my life.”

Math professor Erika Glaser, who had Jacobson in her online statistics class last fall, said she was surprised when Jacobson enrolled in her class after the diagnosis.

“She emphasized the point that [cancer] wasn’t going to stop her from completing her goals,” Glaser said. “The future is bright for her.”

Physical education instructor Bob Flickner taught Jacobson in his Beginning Walking for Fitness class.

During labs, he saw her determination to excel and build her stamina.

“I think the exercise gave her some hope,” Flickner said. “How we approach hardships is 95 percent of the problem … It’s inspiring to have a student like Wendy graduate.”

Jacobson said several conversations with Flickner gave her the idea to continue her personal development. Then she focused on developing a healthy body and lifestyle.

“Too many people underestimate the importance of healthy living,” Ja-

cobson said.

Two battles with cancer taught Jacobson the importance of physical and mental health. She exercised the wrong kind of thinking in the past She struggled with depression after her first diagnosis. She felt trapped by her illness when she found out she had non-Hodgkin lymphoma in fall 2006.

“You need to have the right people around you,” she said.

Jacobson went through two rounds of chemotherapy and entered remission in 2008. She enrolled in Eastfield that May. Community involvement allowed Jacobson to stay busy and give back wherever possible. An interest in criminal justice led her to join a group of students in organizing a criminal justice club.

Jacobson’s focus on her studies earned an invite to Phi Theta Kappa, where she was an active member. In 2010, she graduated with certificates in mental health and substance abuse and criminal justice.

Judy Schwartz, director of Stu-

dent Life, befriended Jacobson. She watched as Jacobson demonstrated leadership in her campus activities.

“She’s sharp and dependable,” Schwartz said. “This world needs more people like her.”

Schwartz supported Eastfield students when they attended the Relay for Life event in Dallas. She believes Jacobson found comfort in the event.

“She became more hopeful,” Schwartz said.

Starting at night, the Relay for Life honors people diagnosed with cancer. The event ends at dawn, symbolizing the journey to recovery and recognizing the patients who do not survive. Schwartz said she thought the experience encouraged Jacobson to make more positive steps.

“I’m going to her graduation,” she said. “I feel a tremendous amount of pride and joy.”

Jacobson also found a friend in a gray schnauzer named Buddy who showed up on her doorstep with an injured leg. Jacobson nursed him back to health.

“He’s my Earth angel,” she said.

“My spirituality grew when he came into my life.”

Jacobson also drew strength from the book “90 Minutes in Heaven,” the true story of minister Don Piper, who survived a car crash and spent 90 minutes unconscious. He said his spiritual influences visited him in those 90 minutes. Piper believes the experience pushed him back to health. She said his book taught her that worrying about death would slow down her own recovery.

“In the first round, I didn’t have that realization,” Jacobson said. “Now I tackle things with a little more finesse.

I understand how to handle situations with more practical thinking.”

Jacobson has stayed motivated by listening to what she called her theme song.

“Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw changed Jacobson’s life for the better during her battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“It made me inspired to keep living,” she said. “It brought me back to school.”

The road has been long, but Jacobson feels like a brand-new person.

She has learned that if she stays focused, nothing can prevent her from accomplishing what she wants.

Jacobson threw her head back and laughed in delight at the thought of finally accomplishing her goal.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said. “I’m actually graduating.”

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Graduation becomes a family affair Graduation Information

By KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR. etc4640@dcccd.edu

They didn’t intend for it to happen. They didn’t look at each other’s degree plans and try to take just the right amount of classes to time it perfectly. They didn’t even set a family goal.

It happened simply by chance.

Ben Woodruff, his wife Sheri, their daughter Jessica and her fiancé Caleb Streeter will all receive diplomas from Eastfield College during Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

“They told us at the beginning of this semester that it could happen,” Streeter said. “We thought it was really cool.”

Although the Woodruffs and Streeter will graduate together, their journeys have been quite different.

At age 17, Sheri Woodruff was a high school dropout with an infant daughter and no sense of direction. In the fall of 1989, Sheri signed up for her first classes at Eastfield as prerequisites for the El Centro nursing program.

Woodruff earned her associate degree in applied science in nursing and soon began working at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Eight years later, she married Ben, who was a police officer at the hospital.

By 2006, the Woodruffs already had seven children between them: Mindy (now 31 years old), Josh (28), Chris (26), Jessie (23), Ryan (23), Jessica (19) and Davey (14). That year, they decided to adopt three more children: Ben Jr. (now 8), Leilah (7) and Olivia (7).

“We had tried to have another child, but it didn’t work out,” Sheri said. “Ben was adopted too, so it just worked. It was just a God thing.”

That same year, Ben enrolled at Eastfield. He had been taking classes off and on at El Centro since 2004. He had over 170 credit hours, but no degree to show for it. Sheri pushed him, saying, “You need to finish your degree.”

He decided on criminal justice, finished in December and will walk on Saturday. Ben is already taking online classes at Columbia Southern and hopes to earn his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in October. Sheri is pursuing her nursing bachelor’s at the University of Texas at Arlington.

The Woodruffs have managed to reach their educational goals despite a hectic life. Five of their

Eastfield College Commencement Ceremony 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Curtis Culwell Center 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd., Garland

MIGUEL PADILLA/THE ET CETERA

The Woodruffs — Jessica, Sheri and Ben — will join Caleb Streeter in receiving their diplomas on Saturday.

children still live at home, and a typical day starts at the crack of dawn.

“I wake up at about 6 a.m.,” Ben said. “I get the kids up by 6:50 and feed them breakfast. Sheri gets the girls’ clothes and I’ll get [Ben Jr.’s] clothes. Once they’re ready, I drop them all off at school across the street. From there, I head to my job as a school resource officer.”

Ben’s evening schedule is just as busy. He’s the den leader for Ben Jr.’s Cub Scouts troop, attends Davey’s Boy Scouts meetings and coaches both boys’ basketball teams.

It’s not easy, but Ben said he has had a lot of family support while balancing classes and a full-time job with his parental responsibilities.

“Sheri helped me a lot,” he said. “I knew that I needed to get my degree. She’s really the reason this is possible.”

Sheri said she also has faced many challenges that come with being a mother and student.

“It’s a juggle with all the kids’ activities,” She said.

“I’m in three classes, and I still work at Baylor on the weekends.”

Sometimes, she has to tough choice.

“With my online classes, it’s a lot of busy work,” Sheri said. “I felt like I didn’t have time to let them have fun, so they started going to the Boys and Girls Club so they have a place to learn and have a good time.”

Even though she’s not always able to have fun time with her three youngest children, Sheri said she’s trying to lead by example.

“Education was important to me, and even once I started having children, school was still a priority to me,” Sheri said. “School is what we are.”

Jessica, who started taking classes at Eastfield in 2011, said there are times when she comes home and sees her mom with a book open or her dad writing a research paper.

“They’re always doing homework,” Jessica said.

“Since they go here and to a four-year university, it’s kind of weird because sometimes I’ll get home and they’ll have more homework than me.”

Jessica is studying pre-med and hopes to go to the University of Texas this fall. She said her mom talked her into coming to Eastfield, and they even took the same class once.

“We had a chemistry class together, and we really enjoyed it,” Sheri said.

Sheri and Jessica are also members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Sheri said she saw Jessica go into overdrive when she got to Eastfield.

“Once she decided what she wanted to be she has taken the max number of classes,” Sheri said.

“She even had to get permission to take so many hours this semester.”

If Jessica had taken a full 12 hours per semester, she wouldn’t have been able to walk this weekend.

However, she pumped up her schedule this semester, taking 18 hours.

Caleb, an art major, also picked up the pace and joined the graduation group.

“We figured Jessica would graduate next fall, or maybe even next spring, but her and Caleb both went into overdrive and it all worked out,” Sheri said.

“It was another God thing.”

Graduation is a special day for any family, but Saturday’s ceremony will be even more memorable for the Woodruffs.

“This will be a story that we tell our kids one day,” Jessica said.

President

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

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The Et Cetera

Garcia voted new SGA president

By DAVID RAMIREZ etc4640@dcccd.edu

Danny Garcia was announced as the new president of the Student Government Association on April 29. Garcia recently sat down to discuss his goals for next year.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish as president of SGA? A: What I really hope to accomplish is the purpose of student government, which is getting students more involved with school.

When students get more involved in school, they tend to be more successful when they see somebody cares about them. So basically, my goal is to get students engaged and show them that we care. I’m just a college student like you are. I’m young, I’m a teenager. I’m actually 19.

I’m just striving for students’ experiences to be better at Eastfield.

Q: Why did you want to become president of SGA? A: I just like to serve people. It’s a good thing to serve people. I felt like if I could take over this position and make an impact by serving my fellow students, friends and peers. That was a good thing to do.

Q: What does Eastfield mean to you?

A: Honestly, I think it means a lot just because I have been involved since I got here, almost since day one. I see Eastfield as a rocket launcher for students because you can go from here and become the next U.S. president if you

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Danny Garcia will be the president of the Student Government Association next fall.

really want to. It’s just kind of like a land of opportunities for you to take on. I mean, look at me. I’m the SGA president. It’s just things that can add to your resume that can launch you to a bigger position.

Q: Will you be taking any training this summer to prepare for the position?

A: Oh yeah, of course. I have to. I mean, you just don’t take a big position and hope that you do all right. No, you have to go to some training. We have training for students that want to get involved as well. They can have a little knowledge of what they’re doing so next year

can be a really great year.

Q: Have you been a student body president before?

A: Not actually student body president, but I’ve been involved in SGA. I was actually a committee chair for the Campus Activities Board, which plans all the activities going on around campus. I was part of the Men’s Empowerment Coalition. Also, I’ve been part of the Science Club and other clubs as well.

Q: How will this position help you with your career goals?

A: I feel like the more leadership you take

in, the more prepared you will be when you go into higher positions. For example, I might want to become a lawyer later, maybe a politician. So to already be able to familiarize myself with campaigning and what it is like to talk to people and socialize with them also helps me. Being in a leadership position just trains you for later on in life.

Q: What is your major?

A: I’m still deciding between liberal arts or political science.

Q: What university do you plan to attend?

A: Actually, I’ve been accepted into UTA, but I might change it if I get my grades to the right amount. I might be able to go to SMU or Texas A&M. Q: What or who is an inspiration to you?

A: My dad. Since I was little, he’s always given me the example of being a good man. He’s actually pretty straight, if you ask me. Honestly, if it weren’t because of that, I wouldn’t be where I am now. He’s always helping people, and he never asks for anything in return. He does it by heart, so that’s why me working with him on cars as a mechanic has really helped me to just look at what he does and says. That is what really touches my heart and really drives me to be where I am and to help people.

Q: What are some of your hobbies and interests?

A: I like to do a little bit of everything. I like to play soccer. I like to run. I’m actually a video gamer as well. Also, I like to spend time with my family, friends, having fun and going out to eat at restaurants.

THE HOT TOPIC

As you graduate, what is your most memorable Eastfield moment?

Maria Yolisma Garcia Public Relations and Strategic Communications

“Something that I remember the most from Eastfield was getting my first work-study job here and starting to work at the Rising Star department back in 2012.”

Adalit Mateos Christian Counseling

Brandy Constancio Arts

Jimmie Polk Criminal Justice

Michelle Cotton General studies

Edward Tapia Marketing

“Going to piano class with my friend. We went to high school together, so seeing him again in that class was really nice.”

“I have two unforgettable memories. Not only going to school with my father, but one of my stories actually won the One Amazing Story contest, so I got to have my work published.”

“My most memorable memory from Eastfield is final exam time, going to the library and cramming everything before the test.”

“Meeting new friends has been some of my most memorable moments. When I first came to Eastfield I didn’t know anybody. Now that I’m graduating, I can say I’ve made many friends here.”

“Last semester when they did the awards ceremony. It was a complete surprise that I actually got called to the stage for being a representative of the student government and also the Business Club.”

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Wounded Warrior Project helps Usener adjust to civilian life

By EMMA HAHN etc4640@dcccd.edu

MIGUEL PADILLA/THE ET CETERA

Eastfield Police Chief Michael Horak, left, said Chaplain Bill Blain is a great fit for the department.

Police department gains new chaplain

By CYNNAMON ROUNDTREE etc4640@dcccd.edu

Police officers face dangerous and stressful situations in their daily routine. Chaplain William Blain is there to support the officers and the hardships that they may face at work or at home.

Blain was recently sworn in as the first official chaplain at Eastfield College. Blain has also been a chaplain for the Dallas Police Department for three years.

“An officer is an officer,” Blain said. “I don’t consider a campus officer as any less than an officer driving a squad car. Because of the number of campus shootings, they are in as much danger as any officer in the United States. When you have a shooting, you don’t run away from it, you run toward it.”

Blain believes his role is different from counselors called to comfort students following shootings.

“The role of the chaplain is nonthreatening because I have confidentiality,” he said. “They know they can say anything to me in private and I don’t have to say anything.”

Eastfield Police Chief Michael Horak said Blain is a great fit for the department. The two met on the

website Linked In, and Horak invited Blain to the visit Eastfield soon after.

“He is always so positive, and has great integrity,” Horak said.

Capt. Timothy Ellington said having Blain is a win-win situation.

“If you ever need someone to talk to, he will always be there,” he said.

Blain previously served as senior pastor for 14 years at Fairmeadows Assembly of God Church in Duncanville.

He also served 21 years as a chaplain in the Navy, where he learned religious beliefs, the strengths of others and how to develop working relationships with people who had mental health problems.

Blain said he is always willing to give prayers to whoever needs them.

He said he helps people through relationship problems and domestic violence and also offers marriage counseling. Sometimes, he goes to the scene of fatal car accidents to comfort the victims and family.

“We’re working on re-working some things,” Blain said of his role at Eastfield. “All the officers were very kind and very receptive. Slowly but surely, they will get used to having a chaplain. They know they can call me and I will respond.”

In February 2007, a bomb hit an Army truck full of U.S. soldiers on a recovery mission. John Usener, now an Eastfield College student, was inside the truck that day.

“I ended up being a human pinball,” Usener said. “I busted three of the four plates in my chest, took a huge chunk out of my helmet and shattered the protective eyewear I was wearing; thus the head injury, neck fusion, bad back and the partridge in a pear tree.”

Usener said he still has flashbacks to the explosion, but they are not nearly as bad as they used to be.

Usener, 36, who served as a U.S. Army sergeant until he was medically discharged in 2010, is studying science at Eastfield and working toward his associate degree. It hasn’t been easy for him to return to a normal lifestyle, but he’s had help.

An organization called The Wounded Warrior Project has given him the tools for success through its many programs. The project’s main purpose is to help veterans reintegrate into society.

“They use sports psychology, resume writing, working with colleges, and financial [help], Usener said.

“It’s like a mini boot camp. A friend of mine told me about it. He knew it was a resource that I needed, and he was right.”

Usener was one of several medically retired soldiers selected to have his story broadcast in a television documentary called “Wounded: The Battle Back Home.” The documentary is split into single episodes, each featuring a veteran and his or her challenges. The episode featuring Usener’s story, including footage shot at Eastfield, is expected to be broadcast on MSNBC in late June.

Usener’s injuries have posed many challenges in his daily life.

He has difficulty balancing, and his migraines leave him in bed for days.

Usener’s eyes were also damaged badly in the explosion, forcing him to wear sunglasses all the time to protect them from bright light.

“I’ve had quite a few lead foot experiences where law enforcement officers thought I was under the influence when I wasn’t,” Usener said.

“Doing a field sobriety test requires a lot of balance, which I don’t have

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

Army veteran John Usener, who is studying science at Eastfield, was selected to have his story told in a television documentary episode on MSNBC.

because of the injuries. Also, when they hit my eyes with their flashlights to judge pupil response, my eyes don’t react like a normal human being’s, so they automatically assume that I’m under the influence of something.”

Michelle Fields, Usener’s wife, said his injuries have also impacted her life. She tries to be there to support and help him during his trials.

“I have to retain more of the memory, to make sure he keeps up with his doctor’s appointments,” Fields said. “If I see him getting wobbly, I try and make sure that he doesn’t fall. When he has the severe skull splitters, he’s usually down for three to five days. It doesn’t matter what he takes; he has to be in a dark room and sleep until it goes away.”

Director of Student Life Judy Schwartz said she appreciates what that the Wounded Warrior Project does for veterans.

“I have a deep respect for our soldiers,” Schwartz said. “I appreciate the WWP for understanding the needs and wants of our wounded veterans enough to provide services, programs and activities that encourage and motivate our veterans to assimilate back into society and make positive contributions to our communities.”

The Eastfield campus carries a “veteran friendly” designation Schwartz said most veteran students where just want to be welcomed and appreciated, but also treated like normal students. She said Eastfield is working hard to grant these wishes.

Fields said she would recommend the Wounded Warrior Project services to any veteran who is trying to reintegrate back into civilian life.

“If I had millions of dollars,” Fields said, “I would give it to them, just because I believe that much in their cause.”

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

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The Et Cetera

Students take off on unique NASA flight

By BILLY DENNIS etc4640@dcccd.edu

Seven Eastfield students are part of a select DCCCD team that will take the ride of a lifetime this summer in the NASA 2014 Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program.

The students will conduct a complex scientific experiment in a microgravity environment during the week-long program from July 11 to July 19 at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The team, officially named the El HarveStars, will include seven students from Eastfield and one from El Centro. Eastfield’s Eduardo Aguirre, an electrical engineering major, will lead the team. The remaining members are Salvador de Leon, Clara Oliva, Samuel Rodriguez, Stephen Todd Stovall, Jasmine Chavez, Valeria Lujan and Eric Edwards.

This is the first time DCCCD students have had the opportunity to participate in such a high-profile experiment.

“Being on the team means going above and beyond what is normally expected at DCCCD,” Aguirre said. “The challenge given is unlike anything else given in the classroom. NASA flight teams normally consist of university upperclassmen, but we are a community college team, so we have to be willing to do that level of work.”

The experiment will be conducted aboard the famous “Vomit Comet,” a modified Boeing 727-200, which reaches a high altitude before nose-diving back to earth, creating a weightless environment. The team will conduct their experiment in these extreme conditions.

The team will attempt to crystallize sodium acetate in super-saturated sodium. This experiment has never been performed by anyone in a microgravity environment. Usually the growth of crystals takes weeks, but the El Harve-Stars have discovered a way to achieve this in seconds. This growth is due to the introduction of a seed crystal into the super-saturated solution.

MIGUEL PADILLA/THE ET CETERA

Harve-Star team members including, from left, Salvador de Leon, Samuel Rodriguez, Stephen Todd Stovall, Eduardo Aguirre and Valeria Lujan work on an experiment with biology professor Rik Post.

The objective of the experiment is to discover how the rapid crystallization of these compounds will react when grown in microgravity.

The results will be compared to the results of the same experiment conducted on the ground.

With their hypothesis, the students expect to see a higher quality crystal with no deformations caused by gravity.

Dr. Kelly Soich, director of programs and chief payload specialist at Waypoint 2 Space, is the team’s mentor. He works for a research education site at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and volunteered to work with students interested in microgravity.

“My role as mentor is to basically help them get the engineering documents prepared for the flight, and be a sounding board for them when it comes to integration and hopefully getting their experiment to be successful,” Soich said.

MIGUEL PADILLA/THE ET CETERA

The El Harve-Stars team includes, front, Eduardo Aguirre; back, from left, adviser Dr. Kendra Wallis, Salvador de Leon, Samuel Rodriguez, Valeria Lujan and Stephen Todd Stovall.

While this may be just a college scientific experiment, there are many who feel the experiment could produce results applicable to the real world.

“From a practical application, there’s always

the ability of having some grow in microgravity,” Soich said. “I think there’s always practical applications if somebody can find a use for it.”

Aguirre said dedication is required for students pursuing degrees in a STEM-related field.

“Being on the team means staying on track with the project even while holding down classes and jobs,” he said. “It means skipping parties and telling friends you cannot go to the movies with them. It means attending Friday and weekend meetings, and never complaining about it. Basically, it means sacrifice.”

As with many scientific experiments, the team was thrown a curveball when it learned the experiment had to be conducted using “double containment,” a precautionary measure NASA put in place due to the extreme environment in which the team will be working.

This means the jar in which the experiment will be conducted must be placed inside another layer of containment, a box specially designed by NASA. The question became how to insert the seed crystal into the sealed solution without opening the jar. Undaunted, the team sprang into action with a utilitarian solution.

“Using magnets, we are able to hold and release the seed crystals on command,” Aguirre said. “I think we came up with a pretty good answer. In problems where every little additional item carries enormous costs, the best solution is often the simplest.”

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Garden organizers hope to give back

NEWS

Briefs

Sosa-Hegarty leaves Eastfield to become dean at A&M Commerce

By MORGAN CORLEY etc4640@dcccd.edu

The college celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by showcasing the new Harvesters Community Garden at a special dedication ceremony. Staff and students strolled among the plots, speaking with gardeners and examining their work.

The garden, which is located between the T and W buildings, has six raised plots, a star-shaped butterfly garden and a large shed for the gardening tools. The garden was assembled by the Facilities Department, headed up by Michael Brantley.

Two plots are maintained by the Art Department and Science Club. Upward Bound Program Services Coordinator Ida Stewart, government instructor Cindy Castañeda and Career Technologies Program Coordinator David Danforth all have their own plots, and executive deans Rachel Wolf and Mike Walker care for the sixth plot.

Each of the plots will soon be bursting with fruits, vegetables and herbs. While the surrounding area is still barren and dry, the first few plots have already livened up the corner of the campus.

“I’ve planted onions, three different types and potatoes, also three different types,” Science Club adviser Jeff Hughes said. “I also have cherry tomatoes, jalapeno and habanero peppers, okra, mammoth sunflowers, romaine lettuce and dill.”

Gardeners will continue to maintain their plots until harvest time. What they do with their harvest is up to them. Many community gardens donate a portion of their harvest to food banks and other charities, which is also a goal for the Harvester Community Garden.

“We’re hoping that it will continue to grow,” said ESOL instructor Vera Guillen, one of the garden’s organizers. “We want to work with the community and schools, and eventually open an outdoor classroom. And eventually, as we continue to grow, donate to the food bank.”

The butterfly garden will be filled with different plants and flowers that will attract butterflies and create a favorable environment for them to breed. Organizers have been using plants donated by the Texas Discovery Gardens. As they plant more, they hope to attract even more butterflies.

“We’ve planted seven different kinds of milk-

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Dina Sosa-Hegarty, the college’s dean of Student Success, Outreach and Student Development, resigned last week after accepting a position as the new dean of Enrollment Management and Retention at Texas A&M Commerce.

Student Literary winner advances to national contest

Eastfield student Robert Nichols won first place in the 2014 DCCCD League for Innovation Student Literary Competition with his story, “The Smokehouse Tunnel.” He now advances to the national competition, which will be hosted by Johnson Community College in Overland Park, Kan.

Eastfield PTK chapter wins two awards at international conference JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Science Club faculty and members stand by their community garden plot. Pictured from left to right are biology professor and Jeff Hughes, Science Club secretary Lizzett Pina, biology professor Rik Post, Science Club president Yvette Gonzalez, Science Club treasurer Luis Ortiz, Science Club vice president Yasmin Awad, Instructional Associate/ Biology Lab Tech Dana See, biology professor Joseph Malaer, Science Club communications officer Monica Stockton and biology professor Dr. Carl Knight.

weed in the butterfly garden,” said speech professor Laura Carr, another garden organizer. “These will help to attract monarchs, whose population has been dwindling.”

Applying for a plot in the garden is free and open to any student or staff member. It is up to each gardener to maintain his or her plot using organic gardening principles. No herbicides or pesticides are permitted.

Organizers want to expand and build an outdoor classroom. This new teaching area would be available to students and faculty, as well as students and teachers from surrounding elementary through high schools. The new classroom will be used for activities involving STEM classes.

“In the future, I plan on having my classes par-

ticipate,” Hughes said.

Hughes said he wants his biology classes to help maintain the garden, applying what they learn in their class to their gardening practices.

Donations for the garden were made by the city of Mesquite and the Mesquite Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club purchased the butterfly garden, the storage shed and the tools. The city of Mesquite donated the compost and mulch used.

As the garden gains popularity, organizers want to open up additional plots and make them available to students, staff and faculty.

To apply for a plot, contact any of the garden’s organizers, including Carr, Guillen and Arts, Language and Literature associate dean Sheneika Hathaway.

The Eastfield Phi Theta Kappa Psi Eta chapter won two awards at the 2014 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Orlando, Fla. In addition to being named one of the top 100 chapters internationally, Psi Eta was awarded Most Distinguished for Honors in Action Project-Food versus Competition. Students representing the college were chapter president Rachel Knowles, vice president of membership Jessica Tito-Aplicano and vice president of service Paola Sanchez and secretary Glenn Ress.

Dallas youth work program looking for applicants

Destination Work Dallas is currently seeking youth, age 16 to 21, interested in gathering skills to enter and advance in the workforce through its youth work program. For information, call 214-302-5500.

Chorus performs with symphony The Eastfield College Chorus, under the direction of Melinda Imthurn, joined other Dallas community colleges in a special performance April 12 with the Irving Symphony orchestra, performing the “Carmina Burana.”

“Carmina Burana” is a book collection of poems and songs from German composer Carl Orff.

The choir practiced numerous hours to perfect its performance, learning musical pieces in Latin, French and German.

Imthurn said she was proud of her students, acknowledging that learning musical pieces in a different language is not an easy task.

She said some of her students had no previous musical instruction before her class, so their perfor-

mance with the Irving Symphony was a big jump for them.

The chorus also performed with Weatherford College on April 30 during the Literary and Fine Arts Festival in the performance hall.

– Genesis Castillo

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Life&Arts Retro expression The Et Cetera

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9 Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Zines are an inexpensive way to send a message about any topic

By ROBERT BURNS etc4640@dcccd.edu

Zines are a bit of a throwback in a world of blogs and social media. The ultimate goal of the small publications — a cross between a comic and a magazine — is to express an idea. Any idea.

Shannon Driscoll, owner of Oil and Cotton art school in Oak Cliff, said zines can focus on any subject, no matter how controversial or mundane. Some are hand drawn and feature little writing. Others contain prose and poems, and some even have photographs like a normal book.

“Zines are a piece of ephemera,” she said.

“Something that could be made easily by someone that is inexpensive. It is a way to communicate an idea or something that you are interested in.”

On April 30, Driscoll led a zines workshop as part of the college’s Literary and Fine Arts Festival. During the workshop, students were able to make their own zines.

As a child, Driscoll was introduced to zines in her hometown of Baltimore by an independent bookstore called Atomic Books.

“There was a rack of punk rock and indie rock zines,” she said. “They looked weird and hand-drawn and rebellious, and so as a kid, I was immediately attracted to them and started collecting them.”

According to fallofautumn.com, a few genres exist in the zine world. The most common is called a perzine, short for personal zine. It is non-fictional, depicting real events that happened to the author.

There are also litzines, short for literary zines, which contain original fiction, and compzines that are put together by a group of people.

Zines are circulated by distros, which are online stores that sell zines. They usually cost $1 or $2 and are distributed through the mail.

Zines can be traced to the 1930s with the advent of the Sci-Fi fanzine. According to zinebook.com, one the first fanzines was called “Wonder Stories,” which was a promotional tool used by the Science Fiction League, an early science fiction club.

Like modern zines, these fanzines were cheaply produced using inexpensive printing technology. A community coalesced around these fanzines, eventually leading to other types of fanzines.

In the ’60s, the underground press became prominent. This network of underground newspapers concerned themselves with particular communities and often talked about issues that weren’t being discussed by the mainstream me-

HOW TO MAKE A ZINE Zines are easy to make. You need a sheet of 8” by 11” paper, glue (the workshop used gluesticks), pens (Sharpies), scissors or a paper knife, magazines, old books, stock photography or anything you can cut out. You can also use rub-off lettering or a typewriter to get that vintage look.

JONATHAN WENCES/SPECIAL TO THE ET CETERA

Shannon Driscoll, owner of Oil and Cotton, shows how to create a zine at a workshop on April 30 in the G building.

1. First, fold your paper in half horizontally so the edges meet.

2. Cut along the center line that goes along the two center squares in your paper.

Then fold it again the other way so the two shorter edges line up.

Then cut the top center squares apart, forming a T shape.

Fold it again the same way you folded in step two. It should be the size of a postcard. Now unfold it. You should have eight squares.

Fold the top-center squares onto the top-outer squares, then fold the topouter squares down onto the bottom-outer squares. It should look like a book at this point. Close the “book” and you are done.

dia, such as Vietnam, drugs and racial inequality.

It brought together all the different ideas and communities that would make up the “counterculture” of the ’60s.

In the 1970s, zines gained prominence with the new punk movement, and saw an explosion with the advent of new photocopying technology. Zines allowed ideas to quickly disseminate through punk culture. Zine creators could come up with an idea one day, then publish it the next.

The modern zine can be traced to Riot Grrl zines, which came out of the alternative and

“It is a way to communicate an idea or something that you are interested in.”

-Shannon Driscoll

Owner of Oil and Cotton

punk music scenes in America in the early 1990s. Thousands of women and young girls began to publish political zines centering on

3. Now all you have to do is fill your zine with whatever you want. This is your master copy.

When you are done, unfold it and make as many copies you want.

Then repeat the folding process for each copy.

Now your zine is ready to hand out or just leave it for people to find.

— Robert Burns

women’s issues. According to flavorwire.com, more than 40,000 zines were published during the early ’90s. Most of them tied to the Riot Grrrl movement.

“Zines are a great way to express yourself cheaply, and anyone can do it,” said art professor Iris Bechtol, who organized the event. “It teaches you a way to get your own voice out there, and it is a really inexpensive way to do it. So if you have a political rant or you want to promote something or even if you want to promote yourself as an artist, you can do a zine and pass it out for free.”

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TV REVIEW

‘The Goldbergs’ delivers big laughs

By BILLY DENNIS etc4640@dcccd.edu

This hasn’t been a great year for new comedies, with many failing to find an audience, or themselves. The one consistent bright spot has been “The Goldbergs.”

Set in 1980-something, the show tells the story of the Goldbergs, a unique and lovable family from Pennsylvania. The show is based on the real-life adventures of creator Adam “Cobra” Goldberg (“Fanboys”) and his family, with episodes often concluding with 10-second home movies from Goldberg’s childhood prefacing that week’s show. Goldberg has been making movies, plays and shows since he could pick up a camera.

In a recent telephone interview, Goldberg told me about how he received his Adam Goldberg Cobra moniker.

“My first job was on a sitcom called ‘Still Standing,’ ” he said. “I was a baby writer of 23.

There was a very veteran writer who was always falling asleep in the room. We had [two] Adams, so people were calling me Goldberg. But he just blurted out, ‘Who is this Cobra people keep talking about?’ And the nickname was born.”

I asked Goldberg how his family felt about the show, which has made them all famous. He admitted that they were certainly apprehensive at first but have really come to appreciate the nostalgia and homage to his father, the late Murray Goldberg, played by Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”).

“Only Barry complains,” he said of his older brother. “But he complains about everything anyway, so that’s a given.”

The show takes full advantage of how fun-

WATCH IT NOW The Goldbergs can be seen at 8 p.m. on ABC and online at www.abc.go.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM GOLDBERG

“The Goldbergs” includes, front from left, Sean Giambrone, Hayley Orrantia and Troy Gentile; back, Jeff Garlin, Wendy McLendon-Covey and George Segal.

ny people dressed and acted in the 1980s. The clothes, the language and the mannerisms are all dead solid perfect.

Goldberg decided to adopt an anachronistic flow to the show, as opposed to following a linear timeline from 1980 onward, for which the show has received a little shortsighted criticism. This would have tied Goldberg’s hands.

Who in the world remembers the 1980s in order? No one. That’s one of the best things about the show.

The format is genius. It has allowed Goldberg to create a dynamic show.

However, my favorite thing about the show is its incorporation of some of the best movies from the 1980s. So far, the show has references to “Back to the Future,” “Ghostbuster,” “The Karate Kid” (my favorite episode), “Top Gun” and “The Goonies,” just to name a few.

If this doesn’t impress you, then Barry Goldberg (Troy Gentile, “Drillbit Taylor”) has some words of wisdom for you: “You need to educate yourself, man! See more movies.”

Goldberg said they will do a “full-on movie homage episode” every season. Season 1’s winner was “The Goonies.” It was a great choice,

as it was one of the best episodes of the season.

Next year it will be a John Hughes’ film, but he’s not about to say which one. One would assume the frontrunners to be “The Breakfast Club,” “Weird Science” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” with the dark horse being “She’s Having a Baby.” Though I doubt he’s ready to impregnate his sister, Erica (Hayley Orrantia, “XFactor”) just yet.

The show has a cast as strong as any on TV. The matriarch of this family is Beverley, played

by Wendy McLendon-Covey (“Bridesmaids”).

McLendon-Covey is the nucleus of this nuclear family.

That’s really reason enough to watch the show. She is an amazing comedic talent. In the wrong hands, her character could’ve easily become cartoonish. Instead, she was made the smothering mom just about all of us had enduring. You need her to talk to the president to get you out of the presidential fitness test? No problem, done.

But it’s the interactions between Adam (Sean Giambrone) and Barry that provide the biggest laughs. Both actors are exceptional in their roles. Barry is quick to offer Adam some of his “sage wisdom,” which is always heartfelt and terrible advice. Their presence in front of the camera is ineffable.

You leap to your feet rooting for this family.

And that’s rare. While the show is called “The Goldbergs,” it could’ve been called “Any Family USA.” The show is great because it’s about me. It’s about you. It’s about everyone.

Screw Spartacus. I am Adam Goldberg.

Comics artist addresses social, political, cultural issues

By DAVID RAMIREZ etc4640@dcccd.edu

Comics writer and artist Sarah Welch hasn’t always been into writing comic books, but she has been into art her whole life. She has a contemporary art background and uses comics as a source of inspiration.

Welch, whose work is on display at the “No Restraint: Activist Zines and Comics” exhibit in the H Gallery through May 16, spoke about her work during a lecture on April 23.

Although Grant has multiple vision disorders, she is able to express her point of view on a variety of cultural issues through her writing and comic illustrations. Often her work takes

on an activist tone.

“One thing that is a common complaint is there is a big gender disparity in comics and comic publishing, even in alternative press publication,” she said. “So, that’s definitely something that I dislike in the comic world. I think everybody is prepared to see a wider range of voices in comics and people that aren’t coming from a standard Marvel-type background.

“I feel like I’m part of a shift that is happening, and it’s only a matter a time.”

Welch writes autobiographical comics and uses the lives of her friends in her stories. She likes using the classic line work art drawing style, which is a technique used by various artists.

“I work at home. I have a Tony Little office set up, but it’s still functional. I do all the drawing and inking bit by hand,” she said. “I do my color on my tablet or on the computer. I just enjoy keeping it balanced between hard-hand drawing and digital.”

Art professor Josh Rose, who is curating the display along with Gallery Director Iris Bechtol, said he admires Welch’s work.

“She does predominantly illustrations for newspapers and magazines,” he said. “She always combines an artist’s hand-picking techniques and abstraction into her work along with various patterns. Her work is lovely, and it bridges a gap into what is a mass production on zines as we think of them.”

COMIC EXHIBIT Students can see Sarah Welch’s “No Restraint: Activist Zines and Comics” exhibit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 16 in the H Gallery.

Welch, who is also working on a website, eworcharas.tumblr.com, said comics have always been difficult to define.

“I think that the definition that Scott McCloud has in his book [“Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art”] is pretty solid when it comes to defining what is a comic,” Welch said.

“Art is what you want it to be.”

Candid Campus The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

opinion 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 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor In Chief Kevin Cushingberry Jr. News Editor Billy Dennis Opinion Editor Caitlin Piper Online Editor Miguel Padilla Design Editors Aki Ohashi DeKayla Horton Staff Writers / Contributors Gereneicia Foster Karina Dunn Emma Hahn Robert Burns Morgan Corley Anahi Perez Cynnamon Roundtree Photographers Luzette Portillo Jonathan Wences Cartoonist Alex Hernandez 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.

12 The Et Cetera

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Overcoming shyness has its rewards My palms were sweaty. My heart raced. My stomach felt as though it had dropped to my knees.

It was my first assignment in my first journalism class at Eastfield. We were supposed to write a profile on a club or organization, and I had chosen the Disability Services Office.

I sat just outside of the office, frozen. I was supposed to meet with DSO director Bobbi White.

I couldn’t. Instead, I stared at the entrance, watching people come and go. It was like there was some invisible barrier I couldn’t cross, no matter how much I wanted to and knew I needed to.

I left without setting up the interview. Because of my shyness, the article wasn’t published, and I knew it was my fault.

I have always been shy. I’ve had a pretty visible disability since birth called spina bifida that requires the use of leg braces, and I always felt people were looking at me, judging me. As a result, I was never one to attend parties. I preferred to stay in and read a book or play video games.

I was a loner, and I was OK with that.

Eventually, I began to dread social situations. I would actively plan my

Robert Burns

day so I could avoid social interaction as much as possible. I thought this was just some awkward teenage phase and it would pass. With time, I’d become the social butterfly everyone else was. It never happened.

After my first article failed, I knew the next one could not. Why did I feel this way? Why couldn’t I approach people? It wasn’t as though they were going to bite my head off.

Yet that was how I felt. That was my irrational dread.

Thinking it through is what helped me the most. I felt like my every word or action was somehow being criticized. I now know that was utter insanity.

I thought to myself: “It’s OK if you mess up. People mess up. They aren’t there to judge you.” It was my truth now, and I kept repeating it. This

became my mantra.

For my next story, I had to interview students and faculty members.

When I interviewed the first faculty member, anxiety set in again. But now I was armed. I had my mantra, my sword. I repeated it over and over in my head and took a deep breath. I’ll admit I was hesitant, but I completed the interviews and felt relieved. I wrote the story and it became my first article to get published.

The beast was slain. I felt accomplished.

There are many ways you can overcome shyness. I realized that my negative thoughts about how people perceived me were all wrong.

Sometimes, however, it takes a more proactive approach. Here are three strategies that might work for you: Several websites recommend that you wear mismatched socks. At first, you may feel conspicuous, but eventually, you will forget you have them on. More importantly, few people will even notice your mismatched socks.

Then there is the advice late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien used when he was younger: Force yourself to do something completely out of your comfort zone. Conan did stand-

up comedy because it was what terrified him the most. This method is called radical implosion. Essentially, you tackle a problem so huge that once you get through it, your original goal is easy in comparison.

Another thing you can do is go to a busy place and take off your watch if you have one. Then go up to 20 people and ask the time of day, spacing each encounter out by three minutes. Keep a log of their reactions. At the end of the day, you should notice that most people will give you the time. Some will walk past you without a second glance.

Some might even engage you in brief conversation. Reflect on how the people reacted to such a simple request. Soon you will realize your apprehension was just a silly social fear to begin with.

I conquered my fear of talking to people. This is my second semester on the Et Cetera staff, and I really love it. I get to learn about people and do what I love: writing. I talk to people now without much hesitation.

If you would have asked me in high school if I would be doing this in college, well, I probably wouldn’t have even answered you back then.

Domestic terrorists take aim at federal government Since when did it become patriotic to support treason? Oh yeah, since we elected a black, Democratic president.

The far-right conservative hero, Cliven Bundy, has been stealing from the federal government for over 20 years, racking up a debt of $1 million for not paying his grazing fees to the Bureau of Land Management. The Nevada rancher said he doesn’t recognize the existence of the U.S. government, so he owes no one.

The scofflaw Bundy has enlisted the help of several militia groups, including the Oath Keepers, White Mountain and the Praetorian Guard. Militia in this context is just another word for domestic terrorist. With more than 1,000 men under his command, Bundy is actively threatening the U.S. with violence unless it abandons all federal land in Nevada.

If Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh were alive, he’d be right by Bundy’s side.

Bundy’s thugs have not only rallied to his defense at his ranch, but have

Billy Dennis

gone so far as to have snipers take aim at federal agents, block U.S. highways and set up check-points stopping passersby. The actions of Bundy and his right-wing confederates must be dealt with promptly and harshly.

These types of activities are in clear violation of 18 U.S. Code 2383 — Rebellion or insurrection, which states he is to be arrested, fined and imprisoned for not more than 10 years.

I have often used hyperbole to make my point in the past, but let me state this unequivocally: Bundy and his jackbooted thugs should be confronted and

arrested. If there is an armed confrontation, so be it. It’s time we take down this free-grazer.

Despite early support from many mainstream Republicans, including our own U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, many are now retracting their support for Bundy after his recent comments on race.

During a conference with supporters, he spoke about the abuse of welfare in the black community.

“I want to tell you one more thing I know about the Negro,” he said. “They abort their children, they put their young men in jail, because they never learned how to pick cotton. I’ve often wondered, are they better off as slaves … or are they better off under government subsidy?”

Yes, the confederate rebel who doesn’t recognize the U.S. government also hates black people. Hmmm, where have I seen this before?

The irony of Bundy decrying black people being afforded a government subsidy while he has been mooching off the government for 20 years appears to

be lost on him.

As horrible as his racist comments are, no U.S. senator should throw his lot in with armed men wielding assault weapons at federal agents. The Bureau of Land Management is perfectly within its rights to seize his cattle in order to sell it off and pay down his debt.

This just falls in line with the conservative notion that rebellion is needed to take back their country from those evil, leftist, socialist democrats. If President Obama is Karl Marx, then I am Vladimir Lenin. Despite what some say, Obama has governed as a centrist and is not in any sense socialist. Hell, Obamacare is a big giveaway to private insurance companies. That’s hardly a socialist move.

Right-wing conservatives and their militant cousins say they love their country, but are eager to take up arms against her. They act as if they are the only people willing to fight for what they believe in.

It’s high time we eliminate this growing fringe movement before it’s too late.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

The Et Cetera

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Sports

The Et Cetera

14 www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Harvesters clinch MAC title

Eastfield sweeps MVC to reach district tourney

By KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR. etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Eastfield Harvesters clinched their 18th Metro Athletic Conference baseball title in school history and secured the No. 1 seed in the District C tournament with a series sweep at Mountain View last weekend.

“It feels good to finish the job on the final day of the season,” sophomore center fielder Gavin Gregory said. “This was one of our goals.

It’s good to be back in the tourney and get a chance to see what we can do.”

Eastfield finished the regular season with a 36-13 overall record, including 22-8 in conference play.

The Harvesters outscored the Lions 46-8 in the series, winning 22-3, 13-3 and 11-2. It was the team’s highest run differential in any series this season.

“We knew coming into this weekend if we won three games in a row we’d be conference champs; that’s what we did,” said sophomore pitcher Matt Terrones, the Game 2 winner. “We handled business. It feels great to have a lineup that really supports me. It frees up my mind to where I can throw strikes instead of having a close game, trying to press and do too much.”

The Harvesters won’t know who they will be facing in the tournament until this weekend’s play-in game between North Lake and Coastal Bend is completed. They aren’t concerned with any specific opponent.

“I don’t know who we’re going to see, but it doesn’t matter to me,” Gregory said. “Whoever we play, we have to be the best team on the field.”

“We’ll take all comers,” Terrones added.

The Harvesters missed out on the District C tournament in Tyler last season after a player was found ineligible. Now, they’re eager for the chance to make up for lost time.

“For [the sophomores] to be able to have a comeback season and win conference [is] kind of redemption from the end of last season,” assistant coach Travis Graves said. “It says a lot about their character. Our sophomores are the leaders of our team. A couple weeks ago against Brookhaven, they had their backs against the wall. They came out, swept the last two series and won conference. I just can’t say enough about those guys. They’re good character guys.

They play hard and they’re the leaders of this

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

Freshman infielder Blayten Magana fields a line drive between second and third, and prepares to throw to first on the play.

team.”

On April 17-18, the Harvesters lost a series at Brookhaven 2-1 [losing 10-2 in Game 1, winning 4-1 in Game 2, and losing 4-3 in Game 3].

They haven’t lost since then, sweeping the final two weeks of the conference schedule.

“It’s just been such a roller coaster of a season, and to come here and win conference is an amazing feeling,” sophomore catcher Taylor Empkey said. “It’s a blessing to be here, after not making it last year. It will be fun just to experience it. We made it this far, might as well win it all.

Graves, who has been to the District C tournament as both coach and player, said “all bets are off ” when it comes to the postseason tournament May 16-17 in Tyler.

“When you get to the postseason tournament, you’re 0-0,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you got in, you’re in. It’s a new season, it’s a new beginning. You don’t get to bring your conference record with you into the regional tournament. Now that you’ve found a way to get in, you have to play as hard as you can.”

Coach Michael Martin said the Harvesters’ road to the conference championship wasn’t easy, but the team believed all along that it would be able to compete for a title.

“We’re exactly where we wanted to be at the beginning of the season,” Martin said. “We felt

KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA

Eastfield freshman outfielder Mason Arasato heads for home during Game 1 of a doubleheader at Mountain View on May 3. Eastfield beat the Lions 13-3 en route to sweeping the series and win the Metro Athletic Conference.

like we were one of the better teams in conference. We’ve got a couple of teams in this conference that are well deserving of moving on.

We feel like we’re one of the best teams in this conference, and we established that. We went out and won the games we needed to win to put ourselves up at the top. It’s been a great year for us so far.”

Martin said although the regular season and conference schedule is over, the Harvesters’ season is far from finished.

“This is what we play for, to put ourselves in a position to go to a regional tournament, and have an opportunity to move on.” Martin said.

“I told the guys there at the end, now our season starts.”

Wrapup The Et Cetera

www.eastfield.com

Short Thoughts BY ALEX HERNANDEZ

Trivia Bits

1. Tom Cruise nearly destroyed his career jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch. What movie was he promoting at the time?

A. “After Earth” B. “Collateral” C. “War of the Worlds” D. “Minority Report” 2. What poet knows why the caged bird sings?

A. Maya Angelou B. Rita Mae Brown C. Toni Morrison D. Alice Walker

15

3. In 2005, what basketball star became a reserve police officer in Miami?

A. Kobe Bryant B. Allen Iverson C. LeBron James D. Shaquille O’Neal 4. What line of Scarlett’s causes Rhett to say, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn?”

A. What if I still love you?

B. What shall I do?

C. What will the neighbors think?

D. Where will I go?

Sudoku

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

1. “War of the Worlds” 2. Maya Angelou knows why the caged bird sings.

3. Shaq is also a reserve cop.

4. “What shall I do?”

Trivia Answers

16 Wednesday, May 7, 2014

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