KC SPRINGS FORWARD WITH PEP RALLY Photo feature on Page 10
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
The KC twirlers perform at the Spring pep rally held in Mike Miller Plaza.
The Flare
Friday, February 26, 2016 Vol. 79 No. 16 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
American Honors program available Fall 2016 MEAGHAN MORTON Managing Editor
Jodi Dosier / THE FLARE
Rick Moser talks about life from the comfort of his office, surrounded by some of his favorite memorabilia.
LIVING HISTORY KC instructor Rick Moser strives to ‘make history interesting’ LUCY LOPEZ Staff Writer
P
eople might think taking a history or government class will put them right to sleep, but having a conversation in his office, surrounded by Star Wars memorabilia and pre-20th century authentic literature, one will realize that Rick Moser is anything but boring. One thing that sets Moser apart right away is his childhood. He spent the early part of his life in Europe, going to school in France and graduating high school in Germany. “I was fluent in French by the time I was five,” Moser said. “I haven’t spoken it in a while, but I’m still pretty good at German. I’m one of those people who thinks if you go to a foreign country, you should at least try to learn a bit of
their language. It’s cultural courtesy.” He also grew up with a different perspective on issues going on in the U.S. “When I studied WWII, I lived in Germany,” Moser said. “We went to battlefields and talked to former German soldiers and I had friends who were soldiers. When the civil rights movement was going on in the U.S.; it was different for me. Where I went to school, we didn’t have the racial problems that were going on in America. Everything was pretty much equal.” Moser grew up in a military family. He was in the army for 22 years, 13 of those spent as a tank commander. He also worked intelligence for a couple of years. “You know the guy you see sticking his head out of the top of a
“We need to remember our history and know about our history. It helps us make decisions in the future.”
See MOSER, Page 3
The American Honors program will be available to KC students beginning in Fall 2016. According to program director Kelsey Johnson, the American Honors Program offers a quality, engaging, honors academic curriculum to help students develop skills to succeed and move on to their four-year transfer school. Members of the program will have access to an adviser who will guide them throughout their time at KC. Admission into the program is based on GPA, SAT and ACT scores. For a select few students, exceptions will be made. “Sometimes your honors student is a student who has that 4.0 GPA. They might also have some other things happen in their life but might not show academically they are very strong, but they might show leadership skills in other ways,” Johnson said. “We have an honors admissions committee; we look at each student and each application case by case.” To become a member, students have to pay more for tuition because they will take more specific American Honors courses. A limited number of scholarships are available to help students cover the extra costs. Another part of the program offers admission into other schools that also work with the American Honors Program. The program calls it the transfer network. “We have a large four-year university transfer network, and we actually have wonderful partnerships with schools all over the United States,” Johnson said. Transfer network schools include universities such as Stanford See HONORS, Page 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE n Face in the Crowd Page 2 n Socratic Club Page 2 n Sports news and photos Page 4 -5 n KC music news and features Page 6 n Oscars Spotlight Page 7 n Artist Q & A Page 8 n Black History Month timeline Page 8 n Taking on Spring Break Page 9 n Spring Pep Rally photos Page 10
Cadets celebrate graduation JAMES SHREWSBURY Staff Writer More than 200 guests were on hand last Friday to witness the East Texas Police Academy graduation of Class 296. Joseph Cassin, ETPA director, kicked off the event by stating the academy has been active since 1966. “Since then, we have provided training to thousands of civilian and law enforcement professionals across the state. Currently, we provide law enforcement training across a 14-county area in East Texas that is serviced by the East Texas Council of Governments.” Additionally, ETPA is responsible for the primary and continuing education of more than 2,600 active law enforcement officers, as well as detention officers and dispatchers working across East Texas. Cassin then introduced graduation speaker, Kevin Reser. Reser, a relative of graduate Janice Vanover, is a sergeant with the San Antonio Police Department, where he has been employed since 1987. He is also a retired Chief Master Sergeant from the Air Force Reserve. Currently, he is Supervisor of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Unit where he
handles drug cases on a federal level. “Twenty-eight years ago, I graduated from the San Antonio Police Academy and began my career as a police officer,” Reser said. “The moment I walked onto the stage and received my badge was one of the proudest moments of my life.” During his career at the SAPD, Reser served as a patrol officer, detective investigator working with the crime scene unit, and a narcotics detective. “In January of 2004, I promoted to my current rank of sergeant,” he said. “As a sergeant, I worked as a Patrol Sergeant, Dispatch Supervisor, Intelligence Unit Supervisor and I am currently supervisor of HITDU.” Reser left some words of wisdom for the graduating students. “Class, today you will leave this classroom and enter your communities and neighborhoods,” he said. “I thank you for the choice you have made to serve others. You will soon become part of a group of men and women who have sacrificed so much in order to serve others. There is no more noble expression of human decency then that. Leadership means not just doing the right thing, but Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
See GRADUATES, Page 3
Sgt. Kevin Reser addresses the #296 Kilgore Police Academy graduates.
Socratic Club sparks conversation NICK SHELLEY Copy Editor The Socratic Club meets at 9 a.m. every Friday in the Baptist Student Ministry to discuss philosophy and theology from a Christian viewpoint. No prior knowledge of philosophy or theology is required, but students will have to think. “You have not been called to a blind faith, and if you look closely, you will see that even faith has its reasons,” said Jaymi Blankenship, BSM director.
Some topics that students may discuss include: • How to know what truth is; • The nature of angels; • If animals have souls; • If humans are different from other animals; • Philosophical objections to Darwinism; • Christian ethics in a post-Christian world; • If humans have free will • How to know about the past. “Topics vary from week to week and the hard questions to answer are always
welcome,” Blankenship said. Students do not have to bring anything with them for club meetings. Blankenship, who has a Masters of Divinity, and Preston Lewis, who is working on his M.A. in philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, are leading the discussion. Lewis is also a history instructor on campus. Blankenship and Lewis started the club to give students a place to discuss theologically or philosophically difficult questions. The Socratic Club was named after
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Longview’s annual spring carnival will be held in the Longview Mall parking lot March 3 - 11. n
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Socrates, a Greek philosopher who came up with most Western theology. According to Biography.com, Socrates “established an ethical system based on human reason rather than theological doctrine.” He questioned his beliefs, rather than blindly accepting them, in an attempt to make his beliefs stronger, which is also the goal of the club. Socrates believed that the more a person knows, the greater their ability to make better choices that would bring thinkers happiness.
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
The Official Texas Gumbo Cook-Off will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at Pirtle United Methodist Church in Kilgore. Admission is $5. n
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Musician Johnny Cash was born on this date in 1932. He was famously portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the 2005 bio-pic “Walk the Line.” n
Check theflareonline.com for a full calendar of activities, or go to twitter.com/theflareonline for live updates
Graduation, scholarship applications due March 1 KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor
The deadline for KC students to apply for spring graduation is Tuesday, March 1. Students must be enrolled in their remaining classes to be eligible to apply. It is recommended that students review their “myKC” degree audit or meet with a counselor before completing the application to make sure they are eligible. Confirmation of graduation status will be sent to students’ KC Ranger Mail accounts once applications have been processed, which takes about four weeks. Students participating in the graduation ceremony will receive instructions in their KC Ranger Mail account about a month prior. To apply, visit the kilgore.edu website. March 1 is also the deadine for students to apply for KC’s Presidential Scholarship. According to the KC website, the Presidential Scholarship is “designed to attract academically superior students to Kilgore College.” Requirements for the Presidential Scholarship include: being a graduating high school senior, an ACT composite score of 25 or SAT composite score of 1600 or above, a high school grade average of 92 or higher and a high school class rank in the upper 10 percent of their graduation class. The scholarship covers tuition, fees and books. Students must maintain 3.3 cumulative GPA with a minimum of 15 hours per semester to keep the scholarship. Recipients may accept other KC institutional scholarships to cover the cost of room and board on campus. They may also accept scholarships from outside sources. To apply, contact Beverly Davis at 903-9838210 or email bdavis@kilgore.edu.
Longview Museum of Fine Arts screens Van Gogh biopic KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor Rain Cohn / THE FLARE
Broderic Crowe Where are you originally from? I was born in Baton Rouge. For the first 10 years of my life, I was raised in Longview, then lived in the Ukraine for eight years.
Hometown: Longview Age: 18 Classification: Freshman
How is the culture different in the Ukraine from the US? For the last couple of decades, the Ukrainian people have very much undergone an emerging process, slowly learning to thrive and flourish as their own independent nation, (almost) free of Russian governance. As Americans, we take this independence from other governing countries so completely for granted that I think we lose sight of the fact that modern day luxuries are really just privileges, rather than entitlements.
very basic foods. This means lots of pasta, soups (namely borscht), and the classic combination of sausage and bread.
How is the culture the same? Ukrainians are quite avid followers of American pop culture, being very familiar with top-chart songs and other media outlets.
What are some of your hobbies? I love to take walks, read, play video games and have great conversations with close buddies.
How are churches in the Ukraine different from US churches? I’d argue that at least 90 percent of churches in Ukraine are strictly Orthodox, following very religious traditions that have been familiar with the country’s heritage for centuries. However, there is a growing dissatisfaction of these mostly lifeless traditions amidst the younger population. These young men and women have a hunger for truth, and a desperation for a real God that moves and brings life.
What is your favorite class so far this semester? It would probably be Federal Government 2305 with Jeff Stanglin. You can tell Mr. Stanglin enjoys teaching, and the class responds well to it.
What are some different kinds of foods eaten in the Ukraine? Most Ukrainian families have a tight budget, and can only afford
What is your favorite food? I personally love seafood, and lots of sushi! How many siblings do you have? I am the oldest of 7 younger siblings.
How many hours was the longest flight you have ever taken? From Atlanta, Georgia to Frankfurt, Germany. You’re looking at a good 10+ hours of flying. What is your favorite movie? Nothing can match the humor and heavy underlying philosophy of “Fight Club”!
The Longview Museum of Fine Arts will show the Academy Award winning biopic "Lust for Life” at 6 p.m. Friday, March ll. The 1956 film stars Kirk Douglas as artist Vincent Van Gogh and Anthony Quinn in his Oscar winning performace as his friend and rival Paul Gauguin. Based on the 1934 novel of the same name, the film tackles Van Gogh’s struggle to create artwork as he descends into mental decline. This is the first in a tentative quarterly film series focused on artists at the LMFA. “We have a year old lecture hall that has stadium seating and a screen, and we thought this would be a great way to start utilizing this space,” said Paula Davis, LMFA’s Art Education Director. She said the hall has 120 seats and expects to fill “at least half ” of them at this screening. “About 40 people have replied that they are attending the movie on our Facebook page,” Davis said. The LMFA has not chosen the rest of the films for their series, but David said “they will be most likely based on artists and will be held on Friday nights. We are going to kind of feel out the audience with this showing and ask them if they have any films they would like to see.” The film will be shown in the LMFA’s Texas Bank & Trust Lecture Hall at 215 E. Tyler Ave. The screening is free and is BYOB. For more information, call 903-753-8103 or visit the LMFA’s Facebook page and website at www.lmfa.org.
NEWS
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
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GRADUATES: student success spotlighted at East Texas Police Academy graduation FROM PAGE 1 always doing right. Find ways to be an example at your station and in your community. Don’t just be a great officer, be a great person. Always lead by example and always be above reproach. My new brothers and sisters in law enforcement, I welcome you to the law enforcement profession and wish you the very best.” After Reser’s speech, Mike Augustine, ETPA Instructor, took the stand to give out special class awards. “The first award I would like to talk about is the m a rk s m a n s h i p award,” he said. “Marksmanship encompasses firearms with the handgun or pistol; it also involves the shotgun and also the AR-15 rifle. We take some people that have never fired a weapon in their lives. We take some people who have been plinking at cans with their grandpa or their dad.” Augustine said “One of the things we tell them is ‘every call you go on there is a firearm involved, because it is strapped on your hip.’ This class had a lot of good shooters, but there is only one who could rise to the top. For class
296, the marksmanship award goes to; from the Longview Police Department, Larry Solomon.” The second award that the ETPA gave out was for highest academic achievement. During the academy, the cadets have to study: penal code, code of criminal procedure, arrest search and seizure and the traffic code. “Some people say 90 percent of the job is writing,” Augustine said. “Wrong, 100 percent of the job is writing and being able to document whatever it is that you do while you are out there on the street. For example, if you have to put your handcuffs on someone, drive fast with lights and sirens on, or, in some departments, respond to an alarm where no one is there, you are going to have to write about it.” For this class, the award for highest academic achievement went to Jonathan Wolf. “We really stress academic excellence. We had a really smart group this time, and it came down to tenths of points,” Augustine said. Lucrecia Allen was the leader and speaker of Class 296. “So we made it guys,” she said. “Nineteen weeks, 720 hours we spent with each other. That’s crazy.”
“...we walked into Room 108 as strangers, and today, we leave as brothers and sisters.”
HONORS: Program aids students who plan to transfer FROM PAGE 1 University, University of Texas, Cornell University and around 180 other schools. A KC student already in the program, Adan Anguinaga, is excited for this opportunity. “Because of this program, I will have great credentials, other students that I can relate to and have things in common such as having a high potential,” Anguinaga said. “I can’t wait to meet new students who are as competitive and dominant as I am!” The adviser for KC’s branch of the program is Laurence Sabeta. For information on applying for the program please contact Sabeta at (903) 988-7942.
Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
Dina Wilde receives her certificate at the Class 296 Police Academy graduation. Allen explained how she grew up as a self-described “military brat.” At 17, she joined the United States Air Force. “When I arrived at the processing center in Shreveport, I told them I wanted to be the police,” Allen said. “I am going to be honest, I didn’t know that I wanted to be the police until I got there and saw the choices that I had.” Unable to qualify to be a police officer, Allen became a truck driver. She served eight of her nine years in the Air Force
overseas. “So what does any of that have to do with right now?,” she said. “Every single person that you see sitting over here has a similar story. In our class, we have two Marines — Solomon and Reynolds; we have two soldiers – Sipes and Travis; and we have two airmen — Bass and myself. In our class we have moms and dads. Vanover found out yesterday that she is having a little baby girl.” “Nineteen weeks ago, we walked
into Room 108 as strangers, and today, we leave as brothers and sisters,” she added. Members of Class 296 include Lucrecia Allen, Spencer Anderson, Austin Bass, Kaleb Brisendine, Stephen Cagle, Angela Cotty, Heath DeGarmo, Syndi Howell, Austin McCracken, Rodney Reynolds, Tim Sipes, Justin Sledge, Larry Solomon, Jacob Travis, Janice Vanover, Dina Wilde and Jonathan Wolf
MOSER: Unique upbringing and Yeti cooler passion shaped teaching career top prize in FROM PAGE 1 tank? I was that guy. Anything and everything about a tank I had to know,” Moser said. “It came in handy when we fought in Desert Storm. I was the intelligence sergeant for two battalions in Korea. We would gather information on the enemy and evaluated how much of a threat the North Koreans were.” Outside of teaching, Moser partakes in several different hobbies. In his late teens, he drag raced in Germany, but now his interests include bass fishing, muscle cars and reading. “Fishing is probably my biggest hobby,” Moser said. “If it’s not old muscle cars, where does it go from there? I do like to read and collect old books. Most of the books I have here were written before 1900.” Among his collection of old books, Moser owns an indentured servitude contract from
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the 1700‘s, complete with the royal seal. It is just one of the various items Moser uses in class to help and engage students in the lessons. “One of the things I decided when I became a teacher was that I would find a way to make history interesting,” Moser said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. We need to remember our history and know about our history. It helps us make decisions in the future.” Moser encourages his students to participate in discussions and say what is on their mind about different issues. “I like to bring up things that are controversial,” Moser said. “If you talk about stuff everyone agrees on, you never learn. I don’t try to change people’s views. If they have logical reasoning, then fine. I just want them to understand why they feel the way they do.”
Ag raffle
The Ag Student Association is holding a raffle to be drawn on March 22. Tickets are $10 each. Ag students will be selling tickets. The prize will be a Yeti 35 cooler monogrammed with the KC Ag Student Association logo. Funds from the raffle will be used to send Ag students on academic trips later in the semester and to the Beef Cattle Short Course at Texas A & M University in College Station this summer. The winner does not need to be present at the drawing. For more information, contact Aimee Law at alaw@kilgore.edu. — by Kathryn Agee
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
SPORTS
KC splits games with Apaches at home
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
KC Lady Ranger Lyrik Williams drives through an Apache defense on her way to the basket. The Sophomore night celebration ended in a 72-66 loss for the KC women’s team.
Lady Rangers lose to TJC in final minutes free-throw battle RICHARD NGUYEN Sports Editor The KC Lady Rangers split their season series with cross-town rivals Tyler Junior College after a 72-66 loss at home on sophomore night. The loss brings KC to 16-13 (9-10 conference). TJC’s Nautica Grant was able to hit a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 66 to swing the momentum in the Lady Apache favor. Grant finished with seven points and four rebounds for TJC. With the Lady Rangers playing on short bench, fatigue kicked in late as KC was unable to make their free throws in the waning minutes, missing seven straight free throws. The Lady Apaches looked to their post players to carry them this game with Jasmine Williams, Sky’lynn Holmes and Taudenciah Oluoch all reaching double figures in points. The three players combined for 51 of TJC’s 72 points. Holmes and Oluoch both finished
double-digit rebounds as well, with Holmes pulling down 12 and Oluoch with 10. The Lady Rangers turned to Lyrik Williams and Dominque Thomas for their scoring. Williams finished the game with 25 points, 13 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Thomas accumulated a double-double on the day with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Despite leading by nine points entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Apaches stepped up their game on both ends of the floor. The Lady Rangers, in the fourth quarter, were outscored by a total of 28-13. The big fourth quarter proved to be the difference as TJC moved to 14 conference wins on the season. KC has one last home game against Jacksonville College at 2 p.m. Saturday in Masters Gymnasium. The Lady Rangers have secured their spot in the Region XIV Tournament with the seventh seed overall after missing out on the tournament last year.
Ranger teams set to travel to Lufkin for regional tournament
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
Mercedes Busby, Houston freshman, creates space from a Lady Apache defender. Busby finished the game with two points and nine rebounds.
Wheeler, Kah shine in final home game of their career, lift KC past Tyler Junior College RICHARD NGUYEN Sports Editor The KC Ranger basketball team completed their season sweep of the Tyler Junior College Apaches with a 67-56 victory, their fourth straight win. KC recognized their sophomores as the Rangers played their last home game of the season. The win moved the KC record to 19-9 (9-9 conference) placing them in a tie for the tenth seed overall for the Region XIV tournament with Blinn College. With the game kept tight through most of the second half, the Rangers would figure out the Apache zone defense. TJC tied the game at 45 apiece, but that was the last scare the Apaches would give the Rangers. From that point, KC went on a 19-2 run and did not look back as they handled TJC on both ends of the court. Two thunderous right-handed Jaleel Wheeler, Newark, New Jersey sophomore hangs in the air as he goes up against a Tyler Junior College defender. Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
dunks by Ndene Gueye was the key that tipped the momentum in favor of the Rangers. Gueye finished with six points and nine rebounds. The Apaches got their scoring mainly from two players in Kwinton Hinson and Brandon Simmons. Hinson finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds and Simmons led all TJC scorers with 15 points. KC’s Jaleel Wheeler and Alassane Kah did not disappoint the Ranger faithful in their last home game. Wheeler finished the game with 24 points, leading all scorers. Kah had himself a big first half, scoring nine of his 12 points in less than three minutes. The Rangers will finish their season against the Navarro College Bulldogs at 4 p.m. Saturday in Corsicana. The last time the two teams met, the Bulldogs edged by the Rangers in Masters Gymnasium with a 71-67 overtime victory.
Follow the Rangers on KDOK Radio (105.3 FM- Kilgore; 101.9 FM- Longview) or KDOKradio.com
LUFKIN — Angelina College’s Shands Gymnasium will be the site of a little March Madness, junior-college style. The college will host the Region XIV conference basketball tournament March 1-5 in Lufkin. The tournament will feature the top 12 men’s teams and the top 10 women’s teams from the conference, with the winners and at-large bids heading to the national tournaments in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Lubbock, respectively. For Angelina College, the event will mark the fifth conference tournament on its home digs in the past five years, having hosted both baseball and softball tournaments. However, this is the first time in 11 years AC has played host to the hoops tourney. Todd Neighbors, the Roadrunners’ head basketball coach, said area fans are in for both a boost in the local economy and five full days of non-stop basketball excitement. “We’re glad to have it back, there’s no question,” Neighbors said. “It’s going to be tremendous for the community, the college and the conference. We have a beautiful facility and I think our community can certainly support this type of event.” Neighbors applauded the intense level of basketball that takes place in this region. “Every year there’s 50 to 55 guys from our league who sign to play at Division I schools,” he said. “We see that when those teams come in to play us individually, but to have it all in one setting is going to be fun to watch.” The tournament, no matter where it takes place, tends to draw some of the biggest names in college basketball. Neighbors said that on any tournament day, one can expect to see between 75-100 coaches from such conferences as the Big XII and the SEC, among others. - courtesy of AC News Service
5 SPORTS Rangers squeeze through home tournament THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
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Vavra, Gonzalez provide big games, help break KC’s three-game losing streak Region XIV Crossover Tournament
@ Lear Park in Longview Friday, Feb. 26 – 4 p.m. Murray State 6 p.m. Blinn College
Saturday, Feb. 27 – 1 p.m. Laredo C.C. 5 p.m. San Jacinto
Sunday, Feb. 28 –
11 a.m. Lamar State College 3 p.m. Alvin C.C. ABOVE: First baseman Hayley Vavra, Spring sophomore, catches the throw for the out during KC vs. Eastern Oklahoma State College. BELOW: Hallee Carter, Canton freshman, connects with the ball, driving it into the outfield. Tiffany Johnson/ THE FLARE
TAREA WESTBROOK Staff Writer The KC Rangers hosted a four-team tournament Friday, Feb. 20. The Rangers split their two games with a loss to Grayson but a win to Eastern Oklahoma State College. Independence College from Kansas also played in the tournament. The Rangers lost against Grayson, 2-0, with one error. Angelica Gonzalez and Brianna Davis each made a base and Alicia Davila hit into a double play. However, the Rangers made a comeback by winning against Eastern Oklahoma State, 4-3. “Our offense struggled a little bit with the Grayson pitcher, however, we did well against her the first time we faced her at their place and knocked her out of the game,” said Leslie Messina, head softball coach. “We weren’t as disciplined as we should’ve been with pitch selection and using our
best swings when batting, but I’m very excited that we had three solid pitching performances on that day, which has been our Achilles’ Heel.” In the game against Eastern Oklahoma State, Hayley McCullers had two at-bats, one run, one hit, and two walks. Brianna Davis had four at-bats, two hits and one strikeout. Taylor Sieber hit a double and got two hits in her four trips to the plate. Angelica Gonzalez made one run, three hits and one strikeout out of her four attempts. Hayley Vavra approached the plate three times for one hit (including a run) and two strikeouts. Kelsey Ancelot and McCullers each stole a base. “We’ll fine-tune our offense just a little, but I’m confident that our offense can bounce back from one bad game to another,” Messina said. The Rangers will play in a Region 14 Crossover Tournament this weekend at Lear Park in Longview.
Tiffany Johnson/ THE FLARE
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRAURY 26, 2016
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Meeting of the musical minds KC clarinet players Cara Fletcher and Mary Davis perform with AllState Symphonic Band ELIJAH BANKS Sports Writer Cara Fletcher and Mary Davis were living many a band member’s dream on Valentine’s Day weekend, when they earned spots to perform in the All-State Symphonic Band at the Texas Music Educators Convention in San Antonio. This convention was the largest one in the nation and both women had a great time. “We got to do justice to a lot of really good music and good composers in an ensemble that you don’t play with everyday,” said Cara Fletcher, L o n g v i e w sophomore. “I enjoyed the concert, but my favorite part was probably listening to the universities play,” said Mary Davis, Longview freshman. There were many junior college band members around the state of Texas who tried out. The women were given the audition music in July and sent off their recordings of the piece in October. Then, after 3 months of
waiting, they found out they were selected for the band. A total of ten clarinets were selected, and out of those ten, Fletcher came in at first chair. Even though this wasn’t her first time being selected first chair for the band, she didn’t expect to do the same again. “It’s always a toss up. Every year it’s different because you never hear any of the other recordings. It’s not like all-region (competition) in high school,” she said. Even though Fletcher was excited to hear the news. KC band director Glenn Wells wasn’t the least bit surprised. “They both made it last year and Cara made first chair,” Wells said. “They are both really great students.” David said she was more relaxed this year in her audition than she was the previous one. “Going into this, I was more confident than last year, because I had practiced more,” she said. “I was just happy that I was there this year. It wasn’t so much about what chair I got; I was just happy to be there.”
“It wasn’t so much about what chair I got; I was just happy to be there.”
Sam Rodriguez / THE FLARE
Cara Fletcher and Mary Davis both clarinet players, represented KC in the All-State Symphonic Band at TMEA.
KC Keyboard Orchestra embraces technology NICK SHELLEY Copy Editor It may come as a surprise to some that students on campus play instruments on iPads. Nine students from the KC Keyboard Orchestra recently played a concert with their iPads at the Texas Education Agency conference on Feb. 13 in San Antonio. At the conference, educators learned of new technologies being offered for the classroom. The orchestra performed orchestral music from their iPads. One song, called “Rhythm Rascals,” was played by all percussion instruments. “You can actually play the percussion,” said student Mario Sandoval, Kilgore sophomore. The app has a drum built in where it can easily be played by tapping the different parts of the drum on the iPad screen. Other songs played at the conference included a soul/pop/ rock piece, “Mombasa,” “Just
Around the Corner” by Cock Robin and a student-written piece called, “Pumpkin”. The app the orchestra used, called Music Studio, has hundreds of instruments available to play, including a piano keyboard, a 127 track sequencer, reverb and percussion. Students teach piano lessons in their spare time so that “When they get their degree, they actually know if they like teaching,” said Sandra Siler, KC music instructor. Orchestra members play on their iPads so they can teach it to future students. “We had to be ready for something different to make money,” Siler said. The orchestra played iPads because they thought they were “more time effective.” The setup time for iPads was around fifteen minutes while setup time for keyboards would be much longer since students have to set up a mixer along with their keyboards. Susan Ogilvy and Dennis Mauricio led the demonstration.
Irish song and dance group bring Celtic celebration KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor The Young Irelanders will perform to KC at 7 p.m. Monday, March 7 in Dodson Auditorium. The Young Irelanders are eight performers in their 20s and 30s who have been raised in Irish traditional music, song and dance. They have performed all over the world and have toured as lead performers with “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance.” Members of The Young Irelanders include: Damien Mullane– accordion and melodeon, Colin Farrell – fiddle, whistles and vocals, Kieran Munnelly – flute, whistles, bodhrán, snare and vocals, Stephen Markham – keyboard, piano, percussion and vocals, Sean O’ Meara – guitar and vocals, Lisa Canny – lead vocals, harp and banjo, Siobhán Manson – dancer and Cathal Keaney – dancer. According to their website, The Young Irelanders “was formed not only to merge the significant creative
The Kilgore College Wind Symphony & Percussion Ensemble featuring:
the bold sound of ‘new Music’ 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3 Dodson Auditorium @ KC campus
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tunes less than a year old will be performed; some for the first time in our area!
free admission
ideas and talents of a select group of young Irish performers who are unique amongst their peers but also in the hope that given their combined youthfulness and ability, their existence in the music business would act as a catalyst in attracting more young people to the world of traditional
Irish music at home in Ireland and throughout the world.” The band’s sound is traditional Irish music mixed with folk, world music, jazz, country and popular music. Tickets are $30. Student tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, visit www.kilgoreconcerts.com.
Image from theyoungirelanders.com
SPOTLIGHT
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
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From Google Images
The 2016 Best Picture Oscar nominees include (clockwise from top left) The Revenant, The Martian, Brooklyn, Spotlight, Bridge of Spies, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Big Short and Room.
OSCARS 2016 E
very year, I look forward to the Academy Awards. I start gearing up for Oscars season in the fall, guessing which movies have timed their release to best gain exposure by Hollywood’s elite and which amazing movies will unfortunately fall by the wayside, ignored for all eternity. I have a strong passion for film, which means not just a strong love, but a strong hate. The love comes from the magic of film, the craft of the writers, actors and directors and the ability to create a wonderful piece of entertainment. The hate mainly comes from, honestly, knowing too much about the film industry and how it really works. It is easy for me to tell which films will be nominated because I know how the Academy works and what they think should be nominated based on prestige and value. Thankfully, this year has been harder to gauge, and the nominee pool has been shaken up a bit. This will make for an interesting show with some
easy predictions and, hopefully, a few surprises. If Leonardo DiCaprio does not win an Oscar for Best Actor this year, there will be rioting in the streets. Facebook is flooded with images of Leo’s smug, disappointed face, lamenting his lack of golden statuettes. Some believe if he KATHRYN AGEE wins, the trend will Executive continue of actors Editor pushing themselves to solely physical, not emotional, limits to portray a character. Mimicry is not the same as acting, but in a film, reality can be toyed with much more than in live theater. “The Revenant” is DiCaprio’s most daunting film to date. I’ll be happy if he wins, but Bryan Cranston’s lead in “Trumbo” is a close second for me. I still cannot believe that Sylvester Stallone got nominated for Best Supporting Actor for “Creed.” He was
good, but not amazing. They shouldn’t just give him an award for returning to the “Rocky” series. I wholeheartedly think Paul Dano deserved this award for “Love & Mercy,” and predicted he would be nominated, but unfortunately he wasn’t. “Anomalisa,” a brilliant, R-rated stopmotion animation film, has no chance to win Best Animated film against Pixar’s “Inside Out.” None of the other animated films do. Lady Gaga is having the best year of her life, and may have an Oscar to add on her awards shelf if she wins Best Song for “Til’ It Happens to You,” written with Dianne Warren for the documentary “The Hunting Ground.” In 2009, the number of eligible Best Picture movies that could be nominated was increased from five to ten. This year, the Academy has under-utilized this again by only nominating eight films. The most glaring omission is “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Even though sci-fi movies have little chance of winning Best Picture, the original was nominated in
1977. If “Avatar” can be nominated for Best Picture, so should “Star Wars” - a much more deserving movie. Out of the Best Picture nominees, I believe “The Revenant” will win, although “Spotlight” and “Bridge of Spies” are my favorites. I still have no clue how “Mad Max: Fury Road” got nominated at all, it not being an “Oscar bait” type of film. I definitely want Alejandro G. Inarritu to win Best Director for “The Revenant.” He won last year for “Birdman,” and this will be only the third time in history a director has won consecutive years. Also, I have no clue how he pulled off those shots in the middle of the woods with natural lighting. It boggles my mind thinking of how he got the cameras to bob and weave with a sense of grace and cinematic storytelling. Regardless of personal opinion, The Oscars are my Super Bowl. It lets me be at my highest film nerd level and celebrate and critique the film industry, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Use this ballot to predict your winners during the live broadcast of the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony hosted by Chris Rock at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28 on ABC.
Oscars 2016 ballot courtesy of PopSugar.com. Page design by Kathryn Agee.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
F E AT U R E
Q&A: Rachel Gardner MEAGHAN MORTON Managing Editor
How has your environment inspired your art? Growing up in suburbia, I longed for a deep connection to nature. I searched for pockets of forest to dream and get lost in wherever I could. As the environment around me began to develop and “progress,” I watched trees go down and concrete go up. I felt part of my soul fade as the natural habitat began to disappear. As years passed and I got caught in the business of life, it wasn’t until my return to the city that I noticed the importance of nature for our souls and how we are meant to live. My work became dedicated to REWILDING not only our environment, but the human soul. Why do you use newspapers? My father was the Editor and Publisher of a newspaper my whole life. The newspaper was always around and held a special place in my heart. I loved the way it felt in my hands, the smell of it, and the stories it told. It only seemed natural to become a part of my art. Did you set up the recycling bins in the fine arts building? I did not have set recycling bins in the fine arts building, but we tend to do it naturally. As artists, we seem to see trash as treasures. Is conserving the environment important to you? Absolutely. I am very passionate about the importance of spending time in nature. I recognize the beauty of fresh air and the importance of the connection between humanity and the nature; therefore, caring for the environment is a vital part of keeping it alive. What made you want to become an artist? I truly believe I was born an artist. Creating always made me feel most alive. Art is not just something I do, it is how I communicate to the world. I am thankful to not only be a creator, but also a teacher. What is your favorite artistic medium to use? I am as mixed media as they come. I do not have a favorite medium, as I see all are a beautiful and crucial part of my versatile creative process. What is your process of working on a piece? Because I sculpt, paint, and draw,
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
Artist Rachel Gardner’s exhibit “REWILDING” is currently on display in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center. I have many different processes that are connected to one another, just with varied materials. When I am drawing, I am sculpting with a pen on paper. When I am painting, I am both drawing and painting at once on a two dimensional plane. When I am sculpting, I am drawing and painting three dimensionally. I love to have one of each going at once so they feed off of one another. What makes you decide what you want to work on next? The next subject matter typically chooses me. Currently the animal has my attention and where I find my vision is most alive. I always listen to my heart and soul and from there I see where I go next. What advice would you give to aspiring artists? Create from your soul. Listen to it. The world needs truth. Find what you are passionate about and make art from there. Every piece will not be your best, but keep going. As Anselm Kiefer says, “Art is longing. You never arrive, but you keep going in the hope that you will.”
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Artist Rachel Gardner’s exhibit “REWILDING” explores themes such as nature and the environment, and seeks to capture “not only our environment, but the human soul.”
Black History Month and Millenials Prominent accomplishments by African-Americans during millenials’ life times
2001 Colin Powell becomes the first African-American U.S. Secretary of State.
n Celebrating Black History Month Honors the Historic Leaders of the Black Community “Heroes deserve to be honored for the sacrifice and suffering they endured for the sake of racial equality. Celebrating Black History Month allows us to pause and remember their stories, so we can commemorate their achievements.”
2002
Halle Berry and Denzel Washington make 2002 the first year that African-Americans win both the best actor and actress Oscars.
On Nov. 4, Barack Obama, becomes the first AfricanAmerican to be elected president of the U.S. Condoleezza Rice becomes the first black female U.S. Secretary of State.
2005 2009 On Feb. 2, the U.S. Senate confirms Eric H. Holder, Jr., as the first AfricanAmerican Attorney General of the U.S.
Quotes on why we observe Black History Month by teacher and Reformed African American Network co-founder Jemar Tisby
2008 The 114th Congress includes 46 black members in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate.
2015 Timeline information from infoplease.com. Photos from Google Images.
n Celebrating Black History Month Helps Us to Be Better Stewards of the Privileges We’ve Gained “Apart from an awareness of the past we can never appreciate the blessings we enjoy in the present.” n Celebrating Black History Month Provides an Opportunity to Highlight the Best of Black History & Culture “Black History Month provides the chance to focus on different aspects of our narrative as African Americans.” n Celebrating Black History Month Creates Awareness for All People “When we observe Black History Month, we give citizens of all races the opportunity to learn about a past and a people of which they may have little awareness.” n Celebrating Black History Month Reminds Us All that Black History Is OUR History “Black history – just like Hispanic, Asian, European, and Native history – belongs to all of us. Black and White, men and women, young and old. The impact African Americans have made on this country is part of our collective consciousness. Contemplating Black history draws people of every race into the grand and diverse story of this nation.” Quotes from raanetwork.org.
OPINION OUR VIEW
The Flare staff ponders how to spend their week of freedom FLARE STAFF: Where would you most like to be during Spring Break?
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
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taking on spring break
b “In Dallas watching the movie “The Room” and going to the Magic Time Machine restaurant.” - Kathryn Agee
b “I can’t wait to go to Puerto Vallarta beach.” - Elijah Banks
b “On the beach.” - Tiffani Branch b “Lying on a bright sunny beach with warm weather.” - Lacey Bunn
b “Disney World - I’ve always wanted mouse ears.” - Max Cervantes
b “Somewhere pretty taking pictures for myself.” - Rain Cohn
b “At Antara Veli Resort in Maldives.” - Jodi Dosier
b “At home visiting family.”
- Victoria Gilchrist
b “The beach.” - Colby Harper b “Spending time with my grandmother.” - Tiffany Johnson
b “AirBnB in Austin, SXSW and Tyler State Park.” - Lucy Lopez
b “To Jamaica to see family. I’ve never
visited them on Spring Break, but it’s the best time to go.” - Ajani McCoy
b “The Dallas World Aquarium, and shopping at NorthPark Center.” - Meaghan Morton
b “Mingling with females and increasing my income.” - Richard Nguyen
b “Camping in the mountains by a lake.” - Tina Marie Reed
b “In California.”- Baylor Roberson b “In Mexico visiting my grandpa while eating corn in a cup.” - Sam Rodriguez
b “In Florida at the beach.”-Kiana Rose b “To Dallas to tour colleges, see
family and eat Vietnamese food with my grandparents.” - Nick Shelley
b “Destin, Florida.” - James Shrewsbury b “I’d love to go to the Cherokee Trace
Drive-Thru Safari, Daffodil Farm and Tiger Creek Refuge.” - Taylor Stewart
b “New York City attractions like
Broadway, Central Park and the Empire State Building.” - Kayla Terrazas
b “Panama City Beach.”
- Tarea Westbrook
YOUR VIEW What are you planning on doing during Spring Break this year? “I am working on my internship for Breakthrough Collaborative.”
“Working.”
‘I am currently saving up money to go to Costa Rica.”
“Spend time with family.”
Tyran Jones Marshall freshman
Dianna Chambers Gilmer freshman
Cheyanne Huntsman Longview sophomore
Gabriel Wade Tyler freshman
The Flare
VOL. 79, NO.16 n Friday, February 26, 2016 Copyright 2016, The Flare. All rights reserved.
2014 Sweepstakes Winner, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • 2015 Sweepstakes Winner, Texas Community College Journalism Association Spring 2012 Gold Crown, Columbia Scholastic Press Association • 2012 First Place, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kathryn Agee MANAGING EDITOR Meaghan Morton SPORTS EDITOR Richard Nguyen COPY EDITOR NIck Shelley
CARTOONIST Sarah Hooten PHOTO ADVISER O. Rufus Lovett ADVISER Rachel Stallard CONSULTANT Jamie Maldonado
ADVERTISING MANAGER Kayla Terrazas STAFF WRITERS Elijah Banks, Max Cervantes, Lucy Lopez, Ajani McCoy, Nick Shelley, James Shrewsbury, Taylor Stewart, Tarea Westbrook PHOTOGRAPHERS Ramona Barryer, Tiffani Branch, Lacey Bunn, Jessica Carrington, Rain Cohn, Jodi Dosier, Victoria Gilchrist, Tiffany Johnson, Richard Nguyen, Tina Marie Reed, Baylor Roberson, Sam Rodriguez, Kiana Rose
Photographs by Kiana Rose / THE FLARE
Tiffani Branch / THE FLARE
LETTERS 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 campus-related 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.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016
F E AT U R E
Spring pep rally unites KC
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Twirler Leslie Becerra, Henderson freshman, performs a routine at the pep rally.
Lacey Bunn / THE FLARE
The Swingsters perform a perfect high kick during their performance.
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
David Verbruggen, a volunteer from Mobberly Baptist Church, grills and serves food to KC students and staff.
Jodi Dosier / THE FLARE
Tiffani Branch / THE FLARE
Triston Adkins, Gladewater freshman, enjoys hot dogs donated by the Baptist Student Ministry and Mobberly Baptist Church.
Right: Alex Bridges, Rockwall sophomore and feature twirler, performs a solo.
Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
Richard Nguyen, Longview sophomore, introduces members of the women’s basketball team: from left: Lyrik Williams, Shantrice Picking and Dominique Thomas, during the Pep Rally organized by the Ranger Ambassadors to honor Spring Sports on the KC campus.
KC students gathered on the Mike Miller Plaza, Wednesday, Feb. 24, for music, food, performances and speeches made by Spring Sports coaches and players