Thursday
Vol. 83, No. 3 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
September 26, 2019 www.theflareonline.com
Climb into Kilgore
Justin Gill / THE FLARE
Kilgore closed part of South Commerce Street on Saturday in order to participate in SAFFE Day (Special Abilities Family Fun Event). This is one of many activities the city supports and encourages student groups to get involved in while embracing their “home away from home.� KC basketball players and Rangerettes were among the campus organizations that helped make the day special. Watch The Flare and other local news outlets for more ways to experience Kilgore culture, especially in the upcoming fall season.
Look inside to find tips on mental & physical well-being, meet the Hall of Fame inductees, catch entertainment news & much more!
News
PAGE 2 n SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
Campus Calendar
Sept/Oct 2019 Monday, Sept. 30 Ranger Ambassador Meeting 5 p.m. Devall Conf. Room Contact: Callie Blakeley, ext. 8216
Saturday, Oct. 5 The Kilgore Rotary Club / Pilgrim Lutheran Church Blood Drive 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Pilgrim Lutheran Church (713 Florey St., Kilgore) Monday, Oct. 7 Phi Theta Kappa Meeting 6 p.m. - Devall TV Room Thursday, Oct. 10 Diversity Alliance Meeting 2:30 p.m. - Old Main 137 Saturday, Oct. 12 Fall Preview Day 8 a.m. - Multiple Areas on Campus Contact: Callie Blakeley, ext. 8216
Put these in your planner
Mamosa Mohoto
JUSTIN GILL Staff Writer
Major: Physics Hometown: Gladewater Age:18 work in an academic research institution. Q. What kind of music do you like to listen to? A. I religiously listen to Christian music, no pun intended. Anything with a positive uplifting message is always a go-to choice.
Tuesday, Oct. 1 Fall Graduation Application Due Counseling Center 2nd Floor Devall S.C. Friday, Oct. 4 Last Day to Drop with a “W” for Fall 1 Registrar’s Office - 2nd Floor - Devall S.C.
THE FLARE
Q. What is your favorite snack? A. Almond M&M’s are my favorite, hands down. I really just like food in general, I guess you can call me a foodie. Q. What do you hope to accomplish during your time at KC? A. I hope to grow in my faith, and live life responsibly. I want to be able to stay strong through all troubles that God throws my way. I’m looking forward to reaching my full potential and excelling academically to the best of my Dominique Burnett / THE FLARE abilities. Q. What are your plans Q. Where are you from? A. I was born in the states after KC? Q. What is one quote that you but grew up in South Africa. I A. I plan on transferring to a like to live your life by? actually have dual citizenship - larger university to continue A. Just be, and keep moving which is pretty neat. physics education. As for after forward! college overall, the plan is to
As Fall graduation approaches, time is running out to apply. Applications are being accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 1. The Spring semester graduation application period will run from Jan. 15 to March 1. Equally important, the last day to drop a class by withdrawal for the Fall I, 8-week course is Friday, Oct. 4. Final exams for Fall I will be conducted during class times on Oct. 15 and 16, with grades being due Thursday, Oct. 17. The 8-week Fall II session will begin Monday, Oct. 21. Registration for Spring 2020 classes will begin Nov. 4. Pam Gatton, director of counseling recommends talking to advisors about possible changes to Fall II and Spring I schedule as early as possible. “Likewise, if you’re interested in making a change in your major, this is the perfect time to take care of that,” Gatton said.
PTK honor society to update policies to promote student recognition HUNTER MADEWELL Staff Writer With over 400 invitations sent out to potential students, honor society Phi Theta Kappa Gamma Omicrom will feature new developments this fall that incoming members should note. KC’s PTK president Christian Monsivais highlighted some of the newest changes taking place. “The organization’s biggest focus this semester is revamping our chapter, basically because of a lack of activity,” he said. This will be achieved through more
participation with the Longview campus, as well as various fundraisers that will take place throughout the semester. These events are designed to raise awareness among members and to help generate profit, with proceeds going toward member services such as transportation to events. “Creating opportunities for not only officers, but our members as well is important for the future of PTK,” Monsivais said. The Leadership Conference is one of these opportunities and will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Northeast Texas Community College.
This meeting will feature leadership skills and is open to all current PTK members. Also occurring this year will be the “Honor and Action” and “College Project” programs. The former involves case studies in which a topic will be discussed pertaining to world struggles and what honor students can do to help; the latter will enable PTK officers to cooperate with administration to help positively change college culture, such as promoting student involvement. The first PTK meeting of this Fall was held on Sept. 9 and focused mainly on introducing the
organization’s purpose and benefits. The chapter is currently preparing for its induction ceremony, which will be Thursday, Oct. 24. Prospective members should be receiving these invitations via instructors and email within the next few weeks. Monsivais said one of the biggest benefits of joining the organization is for the scholarship opportunities. PTK members from all areas are qualified to participate in the scholarships listed on the website, where $37 million in transfer scholarships are available.
If members are interested in submitting and qualifying for a scholarship, they are required to receive recognition at the ensuing ceremony. The deadline to apply for transfer scholarships is Oct. 25. For students who would like to join PTK, qualifications include being enrolled in at least 12 hours of associate/ bachelor’s degree coursework or 6 hours of 1-year certificate degree coursework, and maintaining a 3.5 GPA. For more information, contact either Monsivais, president, or Dr. Paul Buchanan, advisor, by emailing PTK@kilgore.
THE FLARE
News
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 3
Officers stay busy checking on students, fire alarms The following reports were made to the KC Police Department between Sept. 10-18: • Officer Tristan Caudle took a report of lost property at 6:27 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Old Main. • Officer Myra Dominguez took note of threats made by a student at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at 818 E. Main St. • Officer Caudle was made aware of a disturbance that resulted in College property being damaged at 2:02 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at 1116 Broadway Ave. Later that day he also issued a Criminal Trespass Warning to a KC student at 8:38 p.m. at the Devall Student Center Game Room. • At 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, Caudle conducted a mental health investigation at 1116 Broadway Ave. He also conducted a mental health investigation at 11 that evening in Stark Hall. • Officer Dominguez reported a young adult jumping from the bridge doing stunts and a young woman recording at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. at 1103 S. Henderson St.
• Officer Jessica Copeland received a call about alcohol in a student’s dorm room at 10:19 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at Stark Hall. • Sgt. Sammy Wagner reported a trespassing and a disruption of class at 2:02 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at 1100 Broadway. Later that same day Officer Copeland assisted a student who had a seizure during a fire alarm at 10:26 p.m. at 815 Nolen Ave. • Copeland also reported that a Residence Assistant found alcohol in a student’s room while doing a room check at 8:26 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Quads Housing. Police records are a matter of public record because KCPD is a state-licensed, peacekeeping organization. Public entities funded with taxpayer dollars fall under the Open Records Act and parts of their incident reports are open to the public. —compiled by Justin Gill, staff writer
Log your points for monthly Giveaways, along with a chance to win a car! Look for the Checkered Flag this week at: - Softball game - Football game - Learning labs Be sure and register your visit by finding the QR Code, logging on to kilgore. edu/cruiseforsuccess, and entering the number.
This Day in History - Sept. 26
1960
The first televised debate between Presidential candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy took place in Chicago, Illinois.
1969
The Brady Bunch series premiered on ABC.
1985
Shamu the Killer Whale was born at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Shamu was the first killer whale to survive being born in captivity.
2006
Facebook was opened to everyone at least 13 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
PAGE 4 n SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
News
THE FLARE
Theatre troupe to portray a world of totalitarianism with ‘1984’ BAILEY KERNS Staff Writer
A
world full of government o ve r r e a c h , totalitarianism and oppression will be brought to life on the KC campus for audience members to experience and learn about. The KC Theatre Department will present George Orwell’s novel, 1984, Oct. 10-13 in the Van Cliburn Auditorium with a story that depicts the reality of an overreaching government. “I think those who are familiar with this novel will appreciate our different take on it,” director Micah Goodding said. “I’ve been telling our students that this is a rock and roll play. We think of it like a punk rock response to oppression and totalitarianism, and that’s the fun that our particular take will have. For those who are not familiar with 1984, then I think they will be taken back by the brutality of the world that Orwell created.” Goodding, who has been with the theatre department at KC for
seven years, began creating his vision for this show back in June and began making production decisions in August. Some of the details that have been included in 1984 have made the show unique to other productions done by Goodding in the past. “What we have for this show in particular is the concept of telescreens which are mentioned in the play and the novel,” Goodding said. “Rather than putting the screens on the stage where it’s an actual property that a character can look at, we’re giving the audience the impression of what the screens are actually displaying by putting them up on a cyclorama. The audience gets to see what the characters are seeing through the projections, so that’s something that makes it unique because we haven’t had that before. We’re also going to do a little bit more movement and vocal work than we have before.” The cast and crew is composed of 27 members who are working diligently to perfect their individual part for the show. Sophomore Kenny Kowis, who plays the
role of Winston, said the show is a challenge, but that he enjoys what it is demanding him to do as an actor. “This is the first time I’ve had a lead role in any production, so I’ve had a lot more lines to memorize,” Kowis said. “I had one line in Lord of the Flies and I was a supporting role in Crimes of the Heart, but Winston is so different from any other role I have played. This is good for me because it forces me out of my comfort zone. Every actor has a bag of tricks, and this character is forcing me to add new skills to this bag, overall making me a more versatile actor.” The actors are given a total of four weeks of rehearsal time before the show opens to the public, and two weeks to memorize their lines before they have to go “off-book” for a script that is about 90 pages long. On top of memorizing lines, the members of the cast have also found their own ways of “getting into character” to improve the quality of their on stage performance. “I have been watching hours of Downton Abbey trying to pin down
Jon Frazier / THE FLARE
Theatre students rehearse for the upcoming ‘1984’ play set to be shown from Oct. 10-13. the British accent,” Kowis said. “I’ve been memorizing my lines and attending our nightly rehearsals. There is a lot of time, both in and out of rehearsal, that is dedicated to producing a good show.” Aside from the acting, there are many other aspects to the show that
are vital to completing the production. A set is being built, and costume, lighting and sound designing is taking place as we are drawing closer to the opening day of 1984, and head stage manager Anayeli Macedo is eager for the public to come see what is about to occur.
“The crew put in so much time and effort to set up the stage with an amazing set,” Macedo said. “The cast, they have impressed me on how quickly they are learning their lines, and how they get into character without hesitation. It is none like any other show.”
Production Staff
Cast
Director......................................................Micah Goodding
WINSTON................................................Kenny Kowis
Assistant Director......................................Will Finklea Technical Director / Set Designer.............Meghan Potter Stage Manager...........................................Ana Macedo Assistant Stage Manager...........................Hannah Bradshaw Box Officer Manager..................................Seth Pasel Lighting Designer......................................Dustin Williamson Assistant Lighting Designer /..................Malorie Mosley Sound Designer / Soundboard Operator...Georgie Dumas Props Master / Props Artisan...................Connor Perez Costume Designers / Makeup Designer / Hagen Hunt Choreographer/Wardrobe................................................Talon Pettigrew
Winston Understudy................................Evan Howell Julia.........................................................Allison Headrick O’Brien.....................................................DK Alexander Big Brother Voice / Man 1.......................Connor Myers Girl 1........................................................Lexi Jones Girl 2........................................................Lydia Lopez Girl 3........................................................Shelby Toner Man 2........................................................Rodney Anthony Man 3........................................................Daniel Hellmouth Man 4........................................................Noah Jason Spiro
Projectionist..............................................Ben Huegel
Guard 1.....................................................Dylan Broach
Paint Charge..............................................Petra Enloe
Guard 2.....................................................Allan Pyka
News
THE FLARE
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 5
Freedom of Speech Forum hosts panelists from different outlets, same message
Also, freedom of the press: ‘There is no way to have a democratic society without it’ ADRIANA CISNEROS EMERSON Executive Editor KC and The Flare recently hosted three local journalists for a panel discussion on Freedom of Speech. The speakers, representing a range of experiences, reflected on the fundamentalism of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, as Constitution Day loomed the following morning - Sept. 17. Sonya Roberts-Woods, publisher and CEO of the TriCounty Press and Tasneem Raja, executive editor of The Tyler Loop addressed more than 100 participants during a morning session at the KC—Longview campus. Christopher Groskopf, deputy editor for graphics and interactives of FiveThirtyEight (and Raja’s husband) joined the group at the Kilgore campus that evening with more than 300 students, staff and community members in attendance. Groskopf elaborated on how the First Amendment is of vital importance for journalists and imperative to the sustenance of a democratic nation.
“The press in America exists in the way it does because of such a core, constitutional right. Freedom of speech allows us, in some very abstract way, to do the work that we do in the way that we want to do it and to hold government to account,” he said. Raja expanded upon the meaning of freedom of speech. “As a journalist, freedom of speech means to me what it means in the U.S. Constitution. One of the problems that we’re seeing is that there’s this sort of misperception where people think that a whole bunch of categories of speech are protected by it, when in fact they’re not.” Both Groskopf and Raja found common ground on the importance of being aware of what the First Amendment encompasses and what it does not. “I think we increasingly use freedom of speech to refer to this much broader category of speech, which is sort of like speech online and speech on social media platforms,” Groskopf said. “This is a very different world
that people live in from when it was written. So what do we do about the great discrepancy between what is actually constitutionally, federally protected and what a lot of people think is protected but is not?” Raja asked. The three journalists also addressed political relevance of the First Amendment in today’s world. “There is no way to have a democratic society without having it,” Roberts-Woods said. “We have not had to witness an autocratic society where the government is in complete control. Sometimes I think we forget how privileged we are. If you were to take those freedoms away, this would be a much different country.” Raja was quick to point out that the issue is more than just freedom of speech; it’s also freedom of the press. “As an American, it feels so fundamental, so bedrock to our notions of what the American democracy is all about, that I have a hard time imagining it without that right,” she said. Groskopf added, “If people
can’t express opinions about what a party is or a politician is, it tends to cease to be a democracy really fast.” The panelists agreed that when the press cannot do its job, the democratic quality of the nation is literally threatened. “There seems to be a connection between the breakdown of democratic norms and attacks on the press,” Raja said. “It’s impossible to live in America today without seeing attacks on the press coming from the topdown. That is very alarming for me as both a journalist and a citizen.” One way the group suggested to rebel against the label of “fake news” was for citizens to read the local newspapers for themselves and find who they trusted and why. “We have to be unafraid to point out the fact that some people call things ‘Fake News’ when what they’re really saying is ‘This is information I don’t like and don’t want to be out in the public sphere,’” Raja added. “They are trying to delegitimize the information, the perspective or the research the reporting
shows.” Groskopf agreed that local journalism is where real information begins. “I would argue that the arc of history only continues to demonstrate that journalism is even more important than we thought it was in the 1970s and ‘80s,” Groskopf said. Roberts-Woods runs an online news service covering Titus, Camp and Morris counties in Northeast Texas. As a former educator, she relished the opportunity to share her passion for journalism with the college community. “When I got the call to be a part of the forum, I was excited to get some information out there that’s kind of gotten blurred—why it’s important to have freedom of speech and the press,” she said. “We need more things like this. If people become more conscious about how they consume and disseminate information themselves, that’s positive to me. None of this is going to change overnight, but we have to start somewhere. We have to start having a discussion, and that’s what we did today.”
What does Freedom of Speech mean to the KC community? What Do You feel is the biggest threat to freedom of speech today? how has technology & social media changed the way we view or express freedom of speech? Find us @TheFlareonline via Twitter to join the conversation. Use the Hashtag #theflareopinion
news
PAGE 6 n SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
THE FLARE
A feel of the future
Dancers from across the state to participate in halftime routine with the World Famous dance team BAILEY KERNS Staff Writer Nearly 180 high school dancers from around the state will “Perform with the Rangerettes” at halftime Saturday during the Hall of Fame game versus Texas A&T. They will also participate in activities throughout the day. “Participants will take a master class from KC Dance Department alumni Lainey Bergen and Brooke Luna who were students here from 20142016,” Coast2Coast Productions company owner Angela Aulds said. “They will also watch an Industry performance with our alumni, watch behind the scenes videos of Rangerette activities, and meet the girls and perform alongside them at halftime.” Hosted by Coast2Coast Productions, this year’s event will be the fifth annual “Perform with the Rangerettes.” Preparing for the performance will be different for the student participants
compared to the Rangerettes, but the final product will take place all together. “As a high school student, you learn the routine that you will be performing through a video that is sent out to you,” said freshman Rangerette Clair Hodges. “The day of the performance they will have rehearsal with us to perfect the polishing details. “As a Rangerette, we rehearse and practice on the field almost every day to prepare for our halftime routines, polishing them until they are absolute perfection.” Hodges, who participated in this event as a hopeful high school student, is excited to experience this football game on the other side as a member of the iconic dance team. “As a high schooler, my favorite part of the whole day was being on that iconic field with the Rangerettes dancing,” she said. “This time around, I am most excited to just meet and see all of the awestruck and admiring hopefuls.”
THE ZONE Sunday: 5 p.m.- midnight Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-midnight Friday 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Participating schools Belville HS Giddings HS Glenn HS John Horn HS John Paul II HS Kilgore HS
LaPorte HS Lindale HS Poteet HS San Jacinto HS Shelbyville HS Talkington HS
Individuals from various schools
Kilgore Screen Printing Co.
LET US HELP YOU! FREE PRINT JOBS (UP TO 10 SHEETS PER DAY)
BONUS ! 5 pages o f printing FREE!
We offer FREE tutoring and FREE computer-use services to KC students with ID!
Find us in Student Support Building Rooms 104 & 119 For more info, contact Ronda Lee, 903.988.7491 rlee@kilgore.edu
MONDAYTHURSDAY 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. FRIDAY 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. FOR MORE INFO, CALL 903.236.2031 OR EMAIL US
WE PRINT T-SHIRTS & MORE
edennis@ kilgore.edu or mstephens@kilgore.edu
601-A E. Main St. Kilgore
903-983-1480
Partial funding is provided by Public Law 191-932, the Carl. D Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 2006. Kilgore College seeks to provide equal education and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion national origin, sex, age, disability status or veteran status.
THE FLARE
ADS
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 7
CRUISE SUCCESS FOR
MO R E I N FO AT K I LG O R E .E D U / C R U I S E FO R S U CCE S S
WIN A CAR! Students enrolled in at least six hours automatically entered to
PAGE 8 n SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
Let’s Work it Out
feat
Dominique Burnett/THE FLARE
Jose Flores starts his morning with a light leg workout in Parks Fitness Center. The gym is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; Fridays 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m.
ture
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 9
Fall 2019 Class Schedule:
Dominique Burnett/THE FLARE
Buford Shipley, left, stays focused during his morning workout routine. The facilities are free to students and others can purchase memberships for themselves and their families to use on a monthly basis.
Step: Mondays, 5:15 p.m. Muscle Pump: Tues & Thurs, 5:15 p.m. Aerobic Kickboxing: Wed., 5:15 p.m. Spin: Mondays and Thursdays, 6 p.m. Chair Yoga: Mon/Wed & Fri, 9 a.m. Vinyasa Yoga: Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. Zumba: Tues & Thurs, 6 p.m.
James M. Parks Fitness Center offers a great getaway
F
itness and exercise is something that is important in anyone’s life. From getting into a healthy shape to just letting off some steam, exercising can be crucial, and KC has many resources available to students at the James M. Parks Fitness center. According to Blake McCrary, PFC manager, the classes available include zumba, aerobics, spin, yoga and many
others. They are flexible with the hours they have. If you’re a morning person and want to get a class in early or want a nice workout in the evening, both are available. According to McCrary, the beginning of each semester and around mid terms is when the center gets its heaviest attendance. From those coming back from summer or winter break wanting to get back in shape, to students wanting to
let off some steam after a long period of studying - this is place to be. McCrary said there are countless success stories over the years of people who began their fitness journey at the Parks Fitness Center, took what they learned from the classes and continued that success by working out on their own. This also extended into the Kilgore community as well, since the fitness center is open to the
Brisa Hernandez
Dadrian Strickland
public. The center is always evolving. Free weight equipment was recently added and the entire center got a facelift, which included new carpet, new paint and a new sound system for the dance groups. The Rangerettes and twirl team especially used this during the summer. The athletes at KC use the center for their workouts. The football team goes there for their
weekly Sunday workout during the season and also their off season workouts. The Men’s and Women’s basketball teams also use the fitness center for their off season training. While many find it hard to commit to a daily workout routine, the KC fitness center has many resources and a friendly staff to assist anyone who needs help. -Tyler Sutton, Staff Writer
YOUR VIEW How do you deal with stress?
Photo credits: Jon Frazier / THE FLARE
Gladewater sophomore
Dawn Meyers
Zaria Jackson
Houston freshman
Mt. Vernon freshman
Kilgore freshman
“I exercise and go out with friends.”
“I take a nap”
“I don’t leave homework for the last minute. I prepare, pray, and hangout with friends. My kids make me realize that this is the life.”
“I sleep, eat, and listen to music. Taking deep breaths also helps.”
sports
PAGE 10 n SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
THE FLARE
Get
your
Game
on!
The new digital athlete “The digital age continues to grow and influence college athletics and provide new ways for students to come together as a team to compete. As eSports becomes more popular, the colleges equipped to embrace the emerging sport will see an increase in student recruitment, engagement, and retention.” Randy Sieminski — athletic director at State University of New York in Canton, N.Y.
Jon Frazier / THE FLARE
A KC e-sports athlete plays a 3-v-3 on Twisted Treeline during a practice round with his partner during League of Legends.
T
he E-Sports team was created this fall to give students around the campus a chance to use their love for games in a competitive atmosphere among themselves and other schools. It also gives students who choose not to participate in more traditional sports a chance to be part of a team. KC e-sports coach Clarence Taylor said, “It doesn’t matter what race you are, what age you are, if you’re handicapped, or you have never played a game in your life. We are always happy to have new members on our
team.” KC is one of the first two-year schools to offer varsity E-Sports — which is classified as an E-Sports team that has sponsors. E-Sports is one of the fastest growing industries in America, and is projected to create a revenue of $1 billion in 2019, according to Reuters. Although a career in E-Sports was not a wellknown idea until recently, E-Sports has been on college campuses for decades with the first E-Sports tournament taking place at Samford University in 1972. Outside of gaming, many of the career paths
chosen by students at KC are supported through the E-Sports program. “We are in need of content creators or commentators to talk about the players and the game they’re competing in during videos,” Taylor said. “Journalists, photo journalists and creative arts students are also needed. There are a lot of opportunities to help the program while benefiting yourself.” The new arena will be available to all students — not just the E-Sports team. Students can record a YouTube video with high quality audio capture
devices that can be used for music as well. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the E-Sports team will hold a “Hearthstone Hootenanny” in the Devall Student Center. The hootenanny is open to all students. The E-Sports team will be at the gathering to help those who are new to the game of Hearthstone. Afterward, for those who are interested, a tournament will be held among the players. — by Brandt Varnell, Staff Writer
sports
THE FLARE
Rangers softball sweeps Hill College Rebels in double-header BRANDT VARNELL Staff Writer A thrilling end to an already good game for KC came with two outs in the seventh inning in the top of a double-header. Right fielder Brooke Goynes, Longview sophomore, gunned down a Rebel runner at home plate for the final out as the Rangers softball team beat Hill College 8-1 in Game 1 of a double-header. Jenna Lewis, Hearne freshman, pitched five innings for KC, holding the Rebels to one run during her outing. KC’s big inning on offense came in their four-run sixth inning. KC loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning when third baseman Mackenzie Pierpoint, Austin freshman, hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Following the sac fly, catcher Nicole King, Graham sophomore, drove a line drive double over the Rebels center fielder’s head, scoring two. The next batter, Leeloni Martin, Lamesa freshman, also hit an RBI double over the center fielder to conclude KC’s scoring at eight. Dani Moreno pitched the final two innings for KC, allowing no runs in that span. The Rangers wrapped up the sweep of Hill College with a 12-4 victory in Game 2 of the double-header. Brooke Arnold, Canton sophomore, led the offensive charge with a two-run home run in the first inning, followed by an RBI single in the third inning. Matty McQuary ,Kingwood sophomore, pitched six innings of shutout ball in the victory. The Rangers will play a double header at The University of Texas at Tyler on Saturday with the first game beginning at noon, followed by game two at 2 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 11
KC Rangers ranked 7th nationally heading into Saturday’s Annual Hall of Fame game CHRIS PENA Staff Writer The Rangers look to start another winning streak as they will face Texas A&T this Saturday at home in the Hall of Fame game. KC has won the last two times they have played on the Hall of Fame game. Last year they beat TV CC 49-24. The Rangers are coming off a 28-21 road win against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, while Texas A&T is coming off a 45-7 deficit against Tyler Junior College with their lone touchdown coming during the fourth quarter. This will be the third meeting between the two teams. They also previously faced each other in 2015 where KC also came with the 49-14 victory. KC faced Texas A&T last season in a game that ended with the Rangers domination with a 45-0 win. During the second half of that game, KC managed to outgain the Drillers offensively 373 to negative 38 yards. A&T’s defense is looking to bounce back after last week’s game in which they allowed a 28-0 first quarter lead and had 186 yards of total offense. The Drillers’ defense will be facing a KC team that are currently third in the conference in points per game averaging 32.3; and 6th in the conference, averaging 352 yards per game. The Rangers defense look to be back on track as it has allowed at least 21 points the past three games after only allowing 10 points during their first game. Players to watch for KC are QB Jacob Frazier, who is averaging 300 yards per game in the air ,and WR Omar Manning who is averaging 127.5 yards per game receiving. Although it is a game in which the Drillers will be the underdogs, pressure will also be on KC to avoid an upset. The Rangers will look to continue what has made them great and a dominating force as they hope to come out Saturday with their fifth win of the season.
Sara Harris / THE FLARE
The Rangers celebrate after stopping a play during the Sept. 14 home game against the Cisco Wranglers, although they lost the game 38-23. The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Rangers, KC bounced back against Northeastern Oklahoma Sept. 21.
Rangers win on the road against Norsemen TYLER SUTTON Staff Writer Hitting the road for the second time this season, the 7th ranked Rangers took care of business and defeated the Northeastern Oklahoma Norseman 28-21 on Saturday night in Miami, OK. With the win, KC improves to 4-1 and 3-1 in SWJCFC play while NEO drops to 1-3 and 0-2. The Norseman got on the board first in the first quarter when Chris Friday scored on a 5 yard touchdown run. But the KC offense answered with a 19 yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Cade Pearson to
Omar Manning to tie the game at 7-7. Both teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter with NEO quarterback Tanner Griffin finding Chris Potts on a 6 yard touchdown pass to put the Norseman up 14-7 . The Rangers quickly countered late in the second quarter with Pearson taking it in from 1 yard out to tie the game at 14 at the half. Jacob Frazier opened up the scoring in the third quarter when a 5 yard touchdown run to put the Rangers up 21-14. Frazier then found Manning for 31 yards and his second touchdown catch of the night to put the Rangers
up 28-14 after three quarters. NEO got back within a touchdown when Griffin finding Dallas Daniels to cut the lead to 2821. The Norseman defense then came up with an interception of Frazier and had their chance to tie up the game, but the KC defense stood pat and forced a NEO punt and was able to pick up a few first downs and run out the clock. The Rangers will be back at R.E St. John Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the Hall of Fame game vs Texas A&T at 5 p.m.
PAGE 12 n THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
SPORTS
A Place of Fame KC to honor former standout athletes, coaches and contributors at annual Hall of Fame Weekend
Men’s basketball Team
football players
Dr. Robert “Bob” Iden
1963-1964 Men’s Basketball Team
Iden was an All-American football player for the Rangers on the 1970 and 1971 teams under head coach Charles Simmons and assistant coaches Jim Miller and Brodie Campbell. In those two seasons, KC was 15-4-2.
The 1963-64 men’s basketball team won the Texas Eastern Conference championship with a 26-4 overall and 11-1 conference record. Head coach was Joe Turner.
Spirit of Excellence Awards Castles played football at KC on the 1986 and 1987 teams under head coach Jim Miller and assistant coaches Marion Turner and Phil Fuller. Castles has served as head football coach at Henderson High School since 2013 where he has a record of 52-23. In six seasons at Henderson, the Lions have made the playoffs four-out-of-six seasons, having reached the state quarterfinals in 2018. In 2017, the Lions were 11-3 and he was named American State Banks 2017 East Texas Coach of the Year. Hendrson reached the regional playoff (third) round during the 2014 and 2016 seasons. Prior to Henderson, he coached at Corsicana, Chapel Hill and Elysian Fields. Phil Castles
Curtis Buckley Buckley played defensive back for the Rangers on the 1989 and 1990 teams under head coach Jim Miller and assistant coaches Marion Turner, Phil Fuller and Raymond Woodward. In those two seasons, KC was 15-7. After KC, he played football at East Texas State University and played in the National Football League from 1993-99 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Franc isco 49ers, New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He now works as an assistant psychiatrist at Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Center in Dallas. Dr. Miller serves as the district extension administrator for Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He played football for KC from 1989-1990 under head coach Jim Miller and assistant coaches Marion Turner, Phil Fuller and Raymond Woodard. Miller played football at Abilene Christian University after KC from 1991-92 where he was named Offensive Player of the Year in 1991. He was also named by ACU as the “Young Alumnus of the Year” in 2005.
Dr. Hurley Miller
SPORTS
“I
always look forward to the Hall of Fame event because it is one of the most inspirational and motivational events of the year. It is such a hard task to narrow down all of the great student-athletes and contributors who have come through our doors over the years to select a few outstanding people each year to honor.” — Jimmy Rieves, KC athletic director
women’s BASKETball
Men’s BASkETball
Walker played basketball for the Rangers from 20002002 under head coach Scotti Wood and assistant coach Cortina James. During these two seasons, KC was 4023 overall and 18-12 in conference play. Meosha Walker
Jermaine Lewis
tennis coach
Chris Blair
Lewis played basketball for the Rangers from 1999-2001 under head coach Scott Schumacher. In April 2019, he returned to Gladewater to head up the girls’ basketball program. He was named head basketball coach at Pine Tree High School in March of 2017. Last season, the Pirates advanced to the Bi-District round of the state playoffs. Lewis took over coaching at Pine Tree after spending eight years coaching at Gladewater High School. At Gladewater, Lewis’ team won the district championship in 2015-16 for the first time in 20 years and he was named 16-4A Coach of the Year.
Tennis player
Blair served as tennis coach at KC from 19962001 where he had several outstanding seasons. He currently works at Pinecrest Country Club in Longview as the USPTA Certified Tennis Professional and has 34 years’ experience coaching top-ranked juniors, adults and future touring professional tennis players.
Former band director Glenn Wells revitalized the band program at KC when he was hired by KC in 2011. Wells, a KC graduate and band alum, served as head band director at KC from 2011 until retiring this past December of 2018. He died in June. With more than 30 years in education, Wells served 20-plus years as the head band director of high schools including Kilgore, Pine Tree, Lufkin, Gladewater, Chapel Hill and Overton.
Glenn Wells
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 13
Martin Kardos
Kardos played tennis at KC from 1999-2001 under head coach Chris Blair where he had outstanding seasons and was ranked in the Top-100 tennis players in the NJCAA his sophomore year. After KC, he transferred to University of Missouri-St. Louis where he earned a Bachelor’s in International Business and an MBA in Management, graduating Summa Cum Laude with 4.0 GPA. Kardos now resides in his home country of Slovakia and is Managing Director for CSI Leasing, Inc., for Central and Eastern Europe, a job he has had since 2005.
contributors Martin is a major supporter and booster of KC athletics. Martin has also served in the Kilgore High School Football Booster Club for many years and has been a constant supporter for the youth of Kilgore for decades. He was also co-founder of the Kilgore Boys & Girls Club where he served on its board for many years. In 2010, the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce named Martin Kilgore’s Citizen of the Year for his work in the community. He currently serves as a supervisor for JDW Services where he has worked since 1985. Travis Martin
PAGE 14 n SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
FEATURE
THE FLARE
A psychologist’s insight on depression, suicide Executive editor, Adriana Cisneros Emerson, sat down with psychology instructor David Fonteno to talk about depression and mental health during Suicide Awareness Month.
Flare: What are the typical causes why people commit
suicide?
Fonteno: “The number one thing on top of the list is depression. That can be broken down into a lot of other pieces. Often people don’t recognize it in others, and sometimes it can manifest itself overtly or in a more latent way. “ Flare: Is suicide exclusive for people who suffer from depression? Fonteno:
“It’s not exclusive. Sometimes it is a choice. It always is a choice, but for some people it may be related to a terminal illness, for example, but overall it comes from lack of hope. You start feeling feelings of worthlessness and helplessness and that just overwhelms you. People haven’t discovered any solutions to that, other than ending your life, which is tragic. We can go through a lot of the adjectives, but at the end, it’s about hope, or lack of it.”
Flare: How would you define depression? Fonteno: “It’s kind of a unique window into the individual. We have certain diagnostic methods. Depression can be sadness, which we really have to distinguish—sadness from depression. Sadness can come from a significant loss and how we process it, or at yourself because you didn’t do as well on an exam. But that’s just normal; it’s part of being human. Depression is deeper, to where it can manifest itself with sleep difficulties—hypersomnia, hyposomnia. It can be a lack of interest in things you normally find interesting. You start withdrawing from other people and activities you normally find exciting, and that’s when the danger comes in.” Flare: Are the rates of depression rising in any
generation?
Fonteno: “The rates of depression are rising, especially in teens and adults. It can even be traced to social media usage. If you’re spending more than two hours a day on social media, statistically, those individuals have a higher rate of emerging depression. Typically, we see an instagram selfie of this happy little couple or somebody at this wonderful place and we associate their life with ours and what we’re lacking in our life, and so often that’s just a false thing.” Flare: How do you approach a person like this? Fonteno: You have to get the person to define it. I often started that discussion with former patients and with people today. If they tell me they’re depressed, the first thing I do is have them explain to me what depression means to them, because it is unique for every person. That’s really diagnostically important, and the starting point. I want to hear your story as an individual; humanize it.”
KC Psychology Instructor
over your head and food on your table, those are basic, Maslovian needs. That’s understandable. People can’t rise up above anything unless they have their basic needs taken care of. So if you can find a way just to have that, then that takes you up to the next step of the ladder. Sometimes it’s a day-by-day thing, but in those repressive regimes, what really troubles people is a psychological aspect of ‘these people should be taking care of us, not hurting us.’ so it’s a basic, psychological issue there. Sometimes you need a helping hand, and sometimes you have to have an opportunity, and that’s what’s hurtful.”
Flare: How do you deal with the fact that it’s more difficult for men to report feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts?
Flare: Do you believe the school and college environment indirectly facilitates or promotes this kind of mentality?
Fonteno: “They have to trust me, clinically speaking, that I will accept them unconditionally, and that I also know they have emotions. As my students in class hear me say, men are raised to be emotionally illiterate to where it’s not socially acceptable for a man to talk about his feelings, whereas it’s more acceptable for a woman to do so. It’s kind of a social construct. But when they know you’re not going to judge them and accept them unconditionally—that it’s OK to express your feelings, to be sad and cry, and that it’s not necessarily reflecting upon your manliness—when you overcome that social barrier, that opens the door.”
Fonteno: “In a school environment, not just college or high school, people use something we call in psychology ‘projection,’ which is ‘I’m going to be mean to you because that makes me feel better.’ When somebody is mean or a bully, I see that as a weakness in them, and I choose to accept that as being empathetic; how sad they have to be to do that to me. Something is really going on with them. But we are seeing a change in that. People are stepping forward saying ‘You are not going to bully this kid anymore.’ And the kids are taking care of this, not the institution. A school environment, no matter what it is, can be stressful. But life is a struggle. College is going to be stressful, as can be the work environment. But it’s about how you learn coping mechanisms to deal with that.”
David Fonteno
Flare: Is it normal for people to think of committing suicide in stressful periods of their lives? At which point does it become alarming? Fonteno: “If I’m quoting the statistic right, 25
percent of our population will suffer from depression within the next 12 months. One out of four students will suffer some form of depression over the next year. It can go from mild depression to a more serious one.”
Flare: How can someone help a person who has given up on life? Fonteno: “That happens a lot. I think a person needs to know that somebody cares, and that you’re not going to judge them. They need to know that you are going to listen to their story. They have to know that their story is important to someone, and that you want to hear it. Also, that it’s going to be their secret with you. One person, adamantly so, has the power to change another person. I think is so important for us as human animals to connect with other people; we are social animals and many people want to feel a connection with somebody—regardless of personality—we still need a sense of connectedness. They also need to know there’s always hope. All you have to do is give somebody hope.” Flare: How do you help someone who is dealing with feelings of helplessness due to poor conditions in which they live in (countries of high-poverty rate and human rights violation)? Fonteno: “That can be difficult. Is there a way they can escape that? If there is no escape, sometimes you have to accept this is your reality, and question how you, as an individual, can make it better. So often we judge or life based on ‘stuff ’ and material needs. Having a roof
Flare: What role do parents play in depression and
suicide?
Fonteno: “Parents shouldn’t put overly harsh statement demands on their kids. Like a parent saying ‘You should be a doctor’ when you want to be an artist. In that case, find the strength to step up and say ‘This is me.’ I’ve seen so many depressed thoughts start developing because sometimes kids just aren’t accepted for who they are due to their sexual orientation, job preference, etc. In that case, keep in mind there’s always somebody who will accept you. So if this person won’t, find somebody who will. Divorce yourself from negativity, and find the positivity in life.” Flare: How do you deal with a parent who’s not accepting of their son’s or daughter’s sexuality? Fonteno: “You have to learn how to divorce yourself from that, which can be hard to do for a child. We’ll go back to that demand statement; ‘that’s a parent, they should love me. They should accept me.’ Quit shoulding on yourself. In psychology, we teach something called ‘Attachment Theory.’ It should be natural for a child to be attached to their parents—for them to believe they are there to protect, nurture and accept them, but in a real world, that’s not always possible. What challenges people is they still have the love in their heart for that person, but they hate their behavior. Divorce yourself from that, and realize that this is you. Accept yourself for who you are and realize there are others out there who will do the same. You can still love them, but you are going to live your life over here.”
THE FLARE
Don’t just ‘Deal with it’
OPINION
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 15
Vol. 82 • No. 3 Thursday, September 26, 2019 Executive Editor Adriana Cisneros Emerson Copy Editors Jon Frazier, Carrie Harris, Nadia Hill, Jennifer Ibarra Staff Writers Maria Ango- Bilogo, Maya Bolden, Dominique Burnett, Jon Frazier, Justin Gill, Jennifer Ibarra, Bailey Kerns, Hunter Madewell, Chris Pena, Tricia Still, Brandt Varnell, Alaija Wilkerson Photographers Jon Frazier, Justin Gill, Rainy Harrison, Nadia Hill, Irene Lucas, Tricia Still, Morgan Walker Cartoonist Alexandria Wooldridge Adviser Rachel Stallard
LETTERS
COMM 1316 Photography Class/ THE FLARE
Destigmatizing mental issues is the first step to a healthier society M
ental health is a serious issue affecting not only college students, but society as a whole. Despite the number of individuals who suffer from poor mental health, open discussion remains scarce due to the general population’s lack of education on the subject. It is no secret, though, that poor mental health can be debilitating, but we firmly believe that, no matter how alone or hopeless one may feel, solutions do exist. Stress, anxiety and depression are emotions that every college student experiences at one point or another, and as mental health has gained more awareness in recent years, it becomes even more relevant that college students take the steps necessary to ensure their mental health remains under control. As students, we understand the struggles that arise from attending college, and while there is no simple word of advice that can cure these issues, it is worth acknowledging that you are not, by any means, alone. In fact, according to collegestats.
org, “44 percent of American college students report having symptoms of depression,” but, unfortunately, “75 percent of those who reported their issues do not seek help for their mental health problems.” Mental health can be a sensitive subject, which is why many individuals refrain from discussing their issues. Mental health awareness has long been regarded with notoriety, as many, particularly older generations, have lived their lives with the understanding that one’s feelings should remain private. Fortunately, recent generations have helped to change this, along with the support and validation from groups such as the World Health Organization. WHO defines mental health as “A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This definition alone speaks volumes, as WHO is not only expanding what is understood to be mental illness, but also, by extension, advocating for the awareness of such.
As expected, the workload of a college semester is enough to make anyone, even those without prior mental health issues, feel stressed. Although high levels of stress are normal when attending college, these emotions can quickly get out of hand and leave students feelings inadequate and depressed. There is a point, though, when these feelings can become dangerous, and it is therefore imperative to seek help if one finds their mind leading them to a dark place. Collegestats.org reports that “Suicide is the third leading cause of death among college students.” We believe that this is a legitimate, but unacceptable, statistic. We are living in a society in which individuals are so averse to discussing their mental health that they opt to make the most permanent of all decisions. Although awareness of mental health has improved drastically in recent years, the fact that these statistics exist is reason enough to evoke a call for absolute change. If you feel as though you are suffering from any of the ailments
listed above or any other mental health issue, the first step toward recovery is accepting that your feelings are valid and help is available. Working to improve time management and study skills can help to reduce the overwhelming feeling that comes with being unaware and disorganized in class. But, for some individuals, we know that issues extend far beyond the classroom, and thus require specialized, professional help. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. The only shameful element is that society has, for so long, turned a blind eye to those suffering. Ultimately, mental health awareness is crucial in order for our society to continue to evolve and do so according to what is morally just. Of course, we understand that mental health can, by no sliver of a chance, be solved overnight, or even a month, but the road to a satisfied, healthy, and productive mind can begin once one realizes that they deserve help.
THE FLARE welcomes any letter to the editor and encourages all readers to use this as a sounding board to express thoughts and opinions on current campusrelated topics. We also welcome news or feature ideas. Due to space limitations, letters should be as concise as possible and may still be edited for space. Letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number so that we can verify their authenticity. Letters should be delivered to the newsroom in Communications-Automotive Building, Room 125, mailed to The Flare, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore TX 75662 or emailed to: kc_flare@ yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER
THE FLARE is the student newspaper of Kilgore College and is published every Friday by the journalism department, except during examination periods and vacations. First copy is free, subsequent copies are available for 50 cents. THE FLARE is a member of the Texas Community College Journalism Association and the Texas Intercollegiate press Association. All people holding editorial staff positions are Kilgore College journalism students. Comments and views expressed in THE FLARE reflect the thoughts of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of other students, staff members, faculty members, administrative officers or the Board of Trustees. Copyright 2019, The Flare. All rights reserved
THE FLARE
Entertainment
It’s Fall, Y’all Misunderstood monster turns tide on Dr. Frankenstein
F
rankenstein is coming to a theatre near you. Based on Mary Shelley’s novel of the same name, Frankenstein’s play will take place at the Henderson Civic Theatre in Henderson to open the season. The play differs from how many are familiar with the movies adaptations as the play is made from the perspective of Frankenstein’s monster as opposed to his creator, Victor. Because of the change, the story will also have differences from the novel such as not showing Victor’s backstory and the relationship between the creature and DeLacey, an older man who is blind and happens to be the only person that does not treat him badly. “Frankenstein” was originally performed at the Royal National Theatre of London in 2011, adapted by Nick Dear starring Benedict Cumberbatch and was directed by Danny Boyle. There was an encore presentation in honor of the novel’s 200th anniversary held in the U.S. in October 2018. The play will open this Friday, Sept. 27, and will run Sunday, Sept. 29; and Oct. 4 through Oct. 6. Friday and Saturday’s performances will be 7:30 p.m., with Sunday’s set for a 2:30 matinee. Tickets are $12 for students (18 and under) and seniors (55 and older). Adult tickets are $15. The box office will open one hour prior to each performance and the house will open about 30 minutes prior to show time. For more info, go online to Hendersoncivicthatre.org or email: mrsnikkidriver@gmail.com. — by Chris Peña - staff writer
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 n PAGE 16
Things to do this Week
• “Frankenstein” from the POV of the monster - 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27-28; Oct. 4-5; 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 29 & Oct. 6, at Henderson Civic Theatre • Pumpkin Patch - St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 401 E Main St, Kilgore
Illustration by Alex Wooldridge
‘Rambo: Last Blood’ ends franchise with a vengeance But end doesn’t come soon enough, says reviewer CHRIS PENA Staff Writer Rambo is a name synonymous with a great action hero, sadly only the action is what saves this movie from being a hot mess. Rambo: Last Blood, as the title suggests, seems to be the last movie in the popular franchise that has been one of the film series leads, Sylvester Stallone’s most beloved franchise. The film’s story continues from where viewers last saw Rambo in the self -titled film “Rambo”, the fourth film on the franchise, where he ends up taking over his father’s ranch and taking care of an old friend and her granddaughter. After the granddaughter locates her biological dad with the help of a friend, she goes against Rambo’s and her grandmother’s wishes of not pursuing him and goes to Mexico to look for him. After she ends up missing, Rambo must go to Mexico
to find her, going up against a dangerous cartel. From the moment we are introduced to the characters, the film is easily predictable and suffers from a weak script as well as the execution on actor’s lines. The movie is so fast paced that by the end of the movie I thought about how short the film seemed. After the movie I realized it was only 89 minutes, not that it needed more. The film is Rated-R and it takes full advantage of it, with the third act bringing lots of violent
moments, albeit in some ways thinking of where does logic come into play, and some may think there was too many violent scenes. The lead, Stallone, does the best he can with the script, which he also cowrote, and is the only reason one may go to see this movie, as every time he is on screen you think about what he will do next. Think of the movie as a dark “Home Alone” where the adults deal with more severe consequences than just toys. The movie will not make anyone’s top list at the end of the year, but it was not made for that as the movie feels as it was made for fans of the franchise and for audiences who love Rated-R. Although I wish the film had a better plot, I leave it to the viewers to make that decision on their own. Follow Chris Pena on Twitter @thechrispena for more movie dialogue.
• Yesterland Farm is in Canton; open Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m.
Spice up your playlist with our tribute to Hispanic hits
Scan the Spotify code to hear The Flare’s favorite Spanish singers in honor of Hispanic Heritage month. — compiled by Jennifer Ibarra and Brandt Varnell