Thursday
Vol. 83, No. 11 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
February 20, 2020 www.theflareonline.com
Focus to Finish
Chris PeĂąa / THE FLARE
TIME TO CRAM: Final exams for Spring 1 semester will be March 3 and 4 during regularly scheduled class time. The new 8-week terms give students time to focus on fewer classes in a more concentrated time frame. Spring Break will follow the next week and run March 9-13. The Spring 2 session begins Monday, March 16 and concludes Wednesday, May 6.
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PAGE 2 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Campus Calendar Feb 2020
NOW through March 1! Apply for Graduation Log on through your KC Access or visit the Registrar’s Office upstairs in Devall Student Center for more info. Thursday, Feb. 20 KC Police Academy Graduation #323 10:30 am Devall Student Center Ballroom Friday, Feb. 21 Spring 1st 8-Week Term Last day to drop or withdraw with a “W” Saturday, Feb. 22 KilGogh Arts Festival 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Kilgore Saturday, Feb. 22 Men’s Basketball v Navarro Friday, Feb. 28 Presidential Scholarship Application Deadline
THE FLARE
NeAjaha Johnson
Elizabeth Luis
Major: Nursing Hometown: Houston Age: 20
Major: Radiology Hometown: Gladewater Age: 18
Q: How did you get the opportunity to work in the game room? EL: I received the opportunity to work in the game room by already being a RA. In order to receive extra hours, the opportunity arose as an RA duty to work in the game room. Q: What do you like most about working here? EL: My boss, Monica and my coworker, NeAjaha. They create an environment where it doesn’t just feel as a job but feels like I’m around friends. Q: What are your favorite games to play in the game room? EL: My favorite game to play in here would be pingTyler Sutton / THE FLARE pong although I don’t play all NeAjaha Johnson (left) and Elizabeth Luis (right) keep things civil in the Game Room the time. as attendants in the Devall Student Center. Visit us at www.theflareonline.com to Q: How long have you learn more about our Face in the Crowd students. Q: What do you like most about working here? NJ: The most enjoyable part about working in the game room is watching the interaction of the students and also watching sore losers lose because the reaction is super funny. Q: What are your favorite games to play in the game room? NJ: Pool is definitely my favorite game out of all in the game room. Q: How long have you worked there? NJ: I have been work here since January.
Are you Cruising for Success?
Friday, Feb. 28 East Texas Science Regional Fair 8:00 am Devall Ballroom,TV Room, Game Room
Q: What are some of your duties? NJ: My duties are to help the student when needed, keeping the game room clean, and basically managing the game room. Q: Are you part of any organizations on campus? NJ: I am apart of a small group called BSU (Black Students United) and also the Kilgore College Choir. Q: What do you do in your free time when not working or in classes? NJ: My free time is either split between the grill, game room, the gym, or most likely SLEEP!
April 23
Saturday, Feb 22
6 great prizes (including a 40-inch Smart TV)
will be drawn from those students who enter at the Men’s Basketball game against Navarro. (Must be present to win. Drawing will be held at halftime)
Thursday, April 30
GRAND PRIZE CAR GIVEAWAY at Mike Miller Plaza
Earn Points:
Monthly drawings
worked there? EL: I’ve worked for a couple months now. Q: What are some of your duties? EL: This job requires me to manage the game room, as in make sure everyone is signed in, treating each other with respect, an overall good environment rather than arguments, assist others at the help center who need their IDs or parking passes. Q: Are you part of any organizations on campus? EL: Yes! I am part of the Athletics Training, Golden Z Club, and Student Government. Q: What are your plans after KC? EL: My plan is to continue and pursue my Bachelor’s in my next school.
Go to The Zone, Math Lab, KC plays, basketball and softball games.
Win a car
Top 10 points winners announced All top 10 winners will receive a prize
News
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 3
E-sports athletes expand to alternative arena JUSTIN GILL Staff Writer Last year KC launched its new E-sports program with Andy Taylor, current student and former Kilgore business owner, This year the E-sports program is making a physical move from scattered and inconsistent meeting locations around East Texas to a brand new centralized e-sports lab in the Devall Student Center. “The teams and the competition came together before the room came together. Although we’ve made it work, we’ve had to do that with players not being all in the same room. Some players have had to play from their home set-ups and they may have spotty internet or any kind of technical problems that can interrupt a game,” Taylor said. “There’s
been a few times we’ve had to forfeit a match due to somebody getting disconnected and not being able to reconnect to the game. That kind of thing will be eliminated once we get into the lab and can really have a focused area to work from,” The solution to the problem that the team has had for all their time was found in an underused space that was conveniently close to the game room. “There was an audio recording studio that wasn’t being used, it was just kind of storage. They put some new doors in and a new door leading directly to the game room itself. They’ve got all the locks put in, all the desks and chairs, now we’re getting ready to put the computers in.” With the new lab in a prominent location, the e-sports program is expected to garner more
THE ZONE Sunday: 5 p.m.- midnight Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-midnight Friday 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
attention following the official move by the team. Additionally, the equipment itself that the team uses is getting an upgrade. The desks, chairs and computers are all newer, more optimized equipment that will be essential in giving the team the proper equipment they need to succeed. Taylor also expressed an interest in the psychological effect of the new lab, citing an experience with his team in Arlington as an example of what they should expect out of a career in competitive gaming. “We took the team out to Arlington to the e-sports stadium to watch the opening match for the Dallas Fuel in the Overwatch League series. When you get out there, you see the kind of pressure that the players are under. There’s 4,000 people in a room screaming at you to play
“It’s not just for the e-sports team, it’s going to be good for the whole campus. There’ll be times we’ll introduce new players, we’ll host ‘how to play’ workshops where they can come and learn to play games.” -Andy Taylor, Gaming Club advisor better and then there’s 25 million people that are watching you online. Being able to recreate a small piece of that pressure and environment will allow the student to train better and learn more about themselves and how they’ll react in that environment.” The new lab is also expected to have purposes outside of e-sports that will give students access to the necessary equipment for content creation opportunities. “It’s not just for the e-sports team, it’s going to be good for the whole campus. There’ll be times we’ll introduce new players, we’ll
host ‘how to play’ workshops where they can come and learn to play games.” “We’ve got some other big plans for the lab itself. There’ll be an area for content creation where students can schedule time to come shoot videos for YouTube, Twitch, or whatever else they want to shoot videos for. We’re also going to open it up to clubs to shoot videos for club purposes. It’ll be a different media to reach others with and we plan to facilitate that media. We hope to allow people to come and create content for whatever purposes they want.”
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.
PAGE 4 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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ETOM honors Russell Lee’s photographs through April 4 Beginning Feb. 22, the East Texas Oil Museum at Kilgore College will present “Russell Lee Photographs,” an exhibition organized by the Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin, and presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lee’s photographs will be on display through April 4 at the ETOM. The collection includes 10 photographs that are were taken by Lee in Kilgore in 1939. Renowned documentary photographer Russell Lee decided to use photography to impact change in the world with stunning images focusing on categories such as politics, travel, industry and, most touchingly, the human condition. "Russell Lee Photographs" showcases photographs drawn from the magnificent archive that he donated to the Center
for American History just prior to his death in 1986. The exhibition offers a rare glimpse at the remarkably accomplished images he produced in 1935 and 1936 when he first took up a camera and goes on to highlight the vast body of important work that Lee produced from 1947 through 1977. This program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The ETOM is located at 1301 S. Henderson Blvd. (corner of Hwy. 259 and Ross Ave.) in Kilgore. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, contact Olivia Moore, ETOM Manager, at 903-983-8295 or email omoore@ kilgore.edu. -KCPR. Yarborough campaign onlookers, Mount Vernon, Texas by Russell Lee, 1954. Russell Lee Photograph Collection. The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 5
Coronavirus Updates— First Case in Texas China implements lockdowns, Americans return home after cruise ship quarantine HUNTER MADEWELL Opinion Editor The 2019 novel coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by WHO (World Health Organization), has continued to spread, resulting in 73,439 infected individuals globally, with 1,875 deaths, according to Worldometer. However, the United States’ preventative measures prove to be working, as there have only been 15 cases in the country reported by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), as of Feb. 17. The states that have reported cases of COVID-19 are as follows: Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. The first case of the virus seen in Texas was identified in San Antonio, as a State Departmentchartered flight returned evacuees leaving Japan to the U.S. The Texas Department of
State Health Services assures that “The risk for all Texans remains low,” as the individual remains in seclusion. While the rest of the world fights to halt the spread of the virus by implementing travel advisories and quarantines at the locations where sick individuals have been discovered, the Chinese have been forced to resort to more stringent efforts. As a result of over 70,000 citizens infected, the Chinese government has recently imposed curfews and lockdowns on over half of its 1.3 billion population in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus. According to the New York Times, the forms of lockdown varies based on location and amount of individuals infected. Some neighborhoods require residents to present ID and submit to a health screening before given entry, whereas in other areas, where the virus has proven to be more severe in
transmission, authorities are restricting how many residents can leave their homes, the duration of time they may spend away, and the amount of times per week they are allowed to do so. For the remaining population not under lockdown, officials are suggesting similar travel precautions. Furthermore, the Chinese have lost several medical-personnel as a result of COVID-19, with Liu Zhiming, director of the Wuchang hospital in Wuhan, dying this past week after having contracted the virus in the center of the outbreak. Liu was a neurosurgeon on the frontline of working to combat the virus, and after similar deaths, one of which being the whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang, who initially warned the Chinese government about the possibility of a new coronavirus posing a threat to the world, China has received criticism
for not doing more to protect its medical-personnel from contracting the virus in heavily contaminated environments. In related news, The Diamond Princess, a Japan-based cruise liner, has recently returned 14 passengers back to the U.S., prompting quarantines at Travis Air Force Base in California and Joint Base San Antonio, where individuals will remain for 14 days. Passengers on the ship had been under quarantine for weeks, and following the evacuation of those infected, the remaining 300 American passengers were screened, cleared, and returned to the U.S. on Feb. 16. COVID-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate in China, but it is worth noting that over “12,500 patients have recovered and been discharged from [Chinese] hospitals,” bringing the global total to 13,171 recovered, according to Worldometer. While the number of infected
individuals remains high, the amount of those having recovered outnumbers the death toll; these facts are promising, so hope should not dissipate, but instead grow. As a vaccine has yet to be discovered, the best defense against the virus is to not contract it in the first place. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water, stay home when sick, and of course avoid contact with sick people. The world is still adjusting to this new threat, and studies are providing new information for health and government officials every day; so, we must now do our part in helping the world to recover from this virus by following these precautions, while keeping hope at the forefront of all that is to come.
Leap Years in History
illustration by Abbey Stogner / Special to THE FLARE
• The odds of • In 1876, George • In 1752, • In 1912, the being born on a Armstrong Benjamin “unsinkable” leap day are 1 Custer fought Franklin proved Titanic sank in 1500. the Battle that lightning is on its maiden of the Little electricity. voyage. Bighorn.
• In the US, leap year coincides with presidential election years.
• Astrologers believe people born on February 29 have unusual talents.
For more facts, visit https://www.livethejourney.co.za/blog/20-fun-facts-about-leap-years/.
PAGE 6 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 7
Does listening to music make you a better student ?
Photo Illustration by Jennifer Ibarra / THE FLARE
DOMINIQUE BURNETT Staff Writer
M
usic is all around us. Chances are you have listened to some today. It serves as entertainment, a mood booster, and even a tool to help us get through our day. Our brain has evolved over time to recognize patterns as a skill for survival. Music is a pattern. We listen to music and let ourselves get caught up in the rhythm of its beat and patterns of its words. As we listen, we are constantly picking out harmonies and guessing what melodies may come next, and for some unknown reason, our minds love it. As we get older, music becomes more than just sound, but better serves as a tool to help us stay focused. We often catch ourselves using music as a mood stabilizer. Whatever reason we might be listening for, music is always being played around us.
When people are happy, we tend to raise the pitch of our voice and speed up the way we talk; and in the same way we change pitch with emotion, a piano or guitar can do the same a hundred times over. Music is made to mimic our emotions and we feel a connection with songs just for that reason. We tend to mirror the emotions we hear in others. When music mimics happy speech, then the listener will become happy too. Music has become not only entertainment, but a great tool in today’s modern society. Growing up we learned how to tie our shoes, count and learned the alphabet by listening to a rhythmic song. We have taken music and utilized it. Catchy tunes are easy to remember and therefore help us retain information faster. For many college students, listening to music is almost essential in the modern day studying process. Researches have found that 53 percent of college-aged
people listen to music while they study. Music is known to help people to focus on the tasks at hand, and no one really knows why. If you think about it, it makes little to no sense. Doing two things at once seems to be way more inhibiting than just sitting in silence, but many studies have shown that students who study with music tend to make better grades than those who chose to study in silence. KC psychology instructor Dr. David Fonteno weighed in on this phenomena. “Listening to music has been found to improve learning for inattentive or individuals with ADHD. Moderate levels of white noise has been found to boost dopamine activity which elevates memory function,” he said. “White noise also has been found to facilitate perception and increase the syncing of neural connections between brain regions which can affect learning and memory.” Thus, listening to music creates an enhanced learning environment and helps
to rebuild damaged neural connections. With the music industry branching out into so many genres, choosing the correct type of music to listen to while studying can be tricky. Fonteno advises avoiding “anything that consciously distracts you to the point where the music takes the forefront to your reading or studying.” “If you are singing out loud or dancing about, or banging your head … wrong choice,” he said. Music is a tool that should be utilized appropriately when studying. According to the NAMM Foundation, 3 in 5 Americans said that music provided a disciplined problem-solving approach. A speaker at the 2018 “Music and the Brain” workshop is quoted saying, ‘‘Perhaps the most important problem in neuroscience is understanding what it means to be human, and music is an essential part of this.’’ Music seems practically inescapable, so why not start using it as an advantage?
Go to our Twitter @theflareonline to check out our playlist of study music on Spotify!
PAGE 8 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Fun Facts about Fat Tuesday
Tuesday, Feb. 25, is Mardi Gras! In honor of the celebratory holiday, we thought we’d do a little research and give you ten fun facts you might not know about it’s origins and traditions.
Mardi Gras is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” in French. With Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting before Easter, Mardi Gras is the “last hurrah” of sorts, with participants indulging in their favorite fatty foods and drinks before giving them up.
Mardi Gras marks the end of Carnival season.
Countries around the world celebrate Mardi Gras as the last day of Carnival season, which starts after Christmas, on January 6 (known as ‘Twelfth Night’).
Mardi Gras is also known as “Pancake Day”
In Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, people celebrate Mardi Gras by eating pancakes
and participating in pancake-themed activities.
The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold, green. Purple signifies justice, gold means power,
and green stands for faith.
King cake is eaten all throughout Carnival season. King cake (or Three Kings’ cake), is eaten throughout the world during carnival season. In the U.S. it is traditionally purple, green, and gold, with a trinket baby Jesus inside. Whoever gets the baby Jesus is said to have good luck all year.
The first New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade was 177 years ago. New Orleans has been celebrating Fat Tuesday with parades since 1837. The first floats appeared in the parade in 1857.
Parades are planned by ‘Krewes’
Krewes are organizations that put on a parade and/ or a ball for Mardi Gras/Carnival. They are clubs of a sort, with dues ranging from $20 to thousands of dollars annually. Krewes are also responsible for selecting
Mardi Gras Events Near You
feat
carnival royalty in New Orleans, such as ‘Rex’, the king of Mardi Gras.
Masks are required by law for float riders. Yep, it’s illegal to ride on a float without a mask! The original purpose of the mask was to get rid of social constraints for the day, allowing people to mingle with whomever they chose.
Beads have been a tradition since the early 1900s. Beads were first thrown by Santa during a parade in the early 1900s. It wasn’t until a few decades ago that they became synonymous with flashing. People also throw stuffed animals and toys, among other things.
Mardi Gras is a state holiday in some places. Fat Tuesday is an official state holiday in Alabama, (the home of the first Mardi Gras parade and 2nd biggest current celebration), Florida, and parts of Louisiana. Although it’s not a state holiday in Texas, Galveston is home to one of the biggest celebrations in the country! - Compiled by Jennifer Ibarra
Dallas:
• Annual Mardi Gras Texas Style: Saturday, Feb. 22, Texas State Fairgrounds • Lake Dallas Mardi Gras: 4:30-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, Lake Dallas City Hall 212 Main St.
Jefferson:
• Krewe of Hebe - Mardi Gras Upriver Friday - Sunday, Feb. 21-23
Shreveport-Bossier City:
• Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Parade XXXI 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, Intersection of Lake Street and Clyde Fant Parkway downtown
ture
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 9
Let’s Talk About Self Defense
Online course gives writer confidence to tackle dangerous world MORGAN WALKER Staff Writer
W
hile I prepared for a weekend of Mardi Gras fun with my boyfriend, I couldn’t help but be a little nervous. As someone who overthinks everything, I ran through all the bad situations that could possibly happen. After about an hour of trying to get myself ready for any of these made-up scenarios, I realized that I wasn’t as confident as I would have liked to be. Then it hit me- a self defense class. Not only would that be beneficial to my upcoming weekend, it could also prove useful if I got into any trouble later on. When I Googled “online self defense classes,” I was shocked to see just how many there were. Not only are there tons of options for all ages, most of them are free, which I know as college students we all love. The website that caught my attention the most was udemy.com. The class I chose to do was a class specifically for teaching women how to defend themselves and I loved it. I know that my boyfriend pretty much has it covered in the protection department, but once again, as an overthinker, I wanted to make sure I would also have the skills I
needed if something were to happen. Since I know most of us are plugged in to social media, or even pay attention in everyday life, I would say most of us are aware that women are attacked literally every day. Now, factor in the consumption of alcohol in many public places and it becomes even more likely that you, or someone you’re with, will be targeted. That’s why it’s so important to know how to defend yourself against someone. The class was only an hour long, but it was filled with so much useful and potentially life-saving information. This course taught me how to break free from every hold, grab, clutch, and snag you could even imagine. It taught me counter attacks, techniques to avoid being grabbed all together, and so much more. Once again, it was only an HOUR long. One move that caught my attention was the double arm grab. This is where your attacker is in front of you and has you restrained by grabbing your forearms. Rather than flail, like I feel most of us would probably do on first instinct, they teach you to keep your elbows in, hands open, and move your arms in a downward, circular, trainlike motion. This causes your arms to jerk free from your attacker’s grasp. Make sure that you keep those elbows
Safety Tips for Crowded Places: 4 Go with your friends, stay with your friends. 4 Never travel alone. 4 Be constantly aware of your surroundings. 4 Keep someone updated on your location. 4 Stay hydrated. 4 Keep money/belongings close by and in
eyesight. 4 Always plan ahead! Know how you’re getting somewhere, where you’re going, and how you’re getting back to where you’re staying. 4 Drink Responsibly! Know your limits! 4 Never drink on an empty stomach. 4 Consent is key! Always have it and give it, especially when drinking. 4 Never leave your drink unattended!
in! Raising them does not have the same effect as the other move and your attacker is able to block this tactic. Another thing I found interesting is that they stress how important balance is. If your attacker manages to get you off balanced then they gain the advantage, and vise versa. So what this means is that every opportunity you get, you try to get your attacker off balance and gain that upper hand. I highly recommend that everyone looks into taking a self defense class, whether online or in person. The knowledge you gain from this truly could keep you alive. These classes allow you to have some peace of mind that if something were to happen, you would know how to fight back and escape. Taking this course put me in such a good state of mind once I completed it. I know now that if something were to happen while I’m celebrating this weekend, my boyfriend has back up. With all this in mind, let’s party hard, but not TOO hard and remember to be aware and stay safe! — Morgan Walker will receive her associate’s degree in general studies in May 2020. This is her first journalism class.
Know the Signs of Predatory Drugs: 8 Most are odorless and tasteless 8 Feeling more drunk than usual 8 Extreme wooziness or fainting 8 Confusion 8 Difficulty standing 8 Slurred speech 8 Memory loss 8 Disorientation 8 Impaired judgment
Go to the hospital IMMEDIATELY if you are experiencing these symptoms!
PAGE 10 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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REGISTER TODAY! REGISTER FOR THE SPRING II TERM! C L A S S E S B E G I N M O N DAY M A R 1 6 T H
Current Students can register for classes online through AccessKC.
OR
Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor. Kilgore (903) 983-8206 Longview (903) 753-2642
For more information visit WWW.KILGORE.EDU
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 11
No place like home as KC dominates field
Dominique Burnett/THE FLARE
Rangers Pitcher Mattie McQuary, Kingwood sophomore, throws an out in a recent game at KC Commons as softball moves into the spring season.
KC’s offense, pitching come alive in sweep The Rangers notched 3-0 and 8-4 wins over Hill College at The Ballpark at KC Commons. In the opener, Jenna Lewis dominated inside the circle, striking out eight, giving up four hits and walking three in a complete game. KC scored in the third inning with Marissa Medina scoring on an error off a ground ball by Brooke Arnold. In the fifth inning, Racheal Thomas homered to put KC ahead 2-0, and the Rangers scored again in the sixth inning on a single by Natalie Castillo, scoring Madalyn Spears. Mac Pierpoint, Castillo, Thomas and Medina each had one hit for the Rangers. In the second game, KC broke open a tie game by scoring three runs on a Hill College error and doubles by Castillo and Nicole King to defeat the Rebels, 8-4. Hill scored in the top of the sixth inning on Dominique Burnett/ THE FLARE
Liberty City freshman and first baseman Calleigh King gets set for a swing in a Ranger victory.
an error, but in the bottom of the sixth inning, Hannah Grumbles put the exclamation point on the KC victory with a two-run homer over left field. KC got on the board first in the second inning with an RBI single by Lauren Corley, Nicole King scoring on an error and RBI double by Grumbles. Mattie McQuary earned the victory for the Rangers, lasting five and a third innings, allowing six hits, four runs and striking out five. Dani Moreno threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. KC totaled 12 hits in the game with Grumbles, Corley, Nicole King and Brooke Arnold racking up multiple hits. Grumbles led KC with three hits in four at bats. STAFF REPORTS
PAGE 12 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
SPORTS
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Rangers’ impact reaches overseas
Chris Peña/ THE FLARE
From left: Rangers Basketball players Michael Okoye (Anambra, Nigeria); Rodrigue Andela, (Yaounde Cameroon); Jeremy Lefort (Paris, France); and Assane Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) talk about being away from home, but being united by a love of basketball.
International students talk about life in basketball and advice for future student-athletes KC Men’s Basketball has had a history of recruiting talented international players and that was no exception over the past two seasons. Get to know four of the Rangers basketball players.
Jeremy LeFort from Paris, France
Do you plan on continuing playing basketball after leaving KC? JL: Yes I plan to continue playing basketball as long as I can. Why did you choose to play at KC? JL: I had heard about KC after my last season and the basketball program seemed good to me. What is your advice to future international athletes or students who decide to come to Kilgore? JL: Kilgore is a great place to be if you are an international student or athlete. People try and make you feel at home. I’m not sure about the other sports, but the basketball staff is really good and competent. Favorite NBA team and player? JL: Team: The Mavericks (because of Luka Doncic) Player: Zach LeVine This season LeFort has mainly appeared off the bench as a key player appearing in all 26 games (2 starts) for KC averaging 2.9 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and averaging 4 rebounds per game.
Assane Ndiaye from Dakar, Senegal
Do you plan on continuing playing once you leave KC?
AN: Yes, I plan to continue my career as long as I can. Why did you choose Kilgore to continue your basketball career? AN: Because KC is a good school for me to continue to pursue my academics and Coach Hoberecht is a great coach to help me continue developing my basketball skills. What is your advice to future international students or athletes? AN: I would tell them that KC is a good school that always cares about you and will help you with anything you need. If you don’t understand something in class, the teachers will explain it to you or you can go to The Zone to find someone to help you understand. Who is you favorite current NBA team and player? AN: Team: Miami Heat player: Hassan Whiteside This season, Ndiaye has appeared in 22 games as a key big man off the Rangers bench averaging 2.4 points per game on 69.4 percent shooting and 2.3 rebounds per game. He also signed a letter of intent to continue playing at the University of New Mexico in the fall.
Michael Okoye from Anambra, Nigeria
Do you plan on continuing your playing after KC? MO: Yes I plan to continue my playing career. Why did you choose KC to play basketball? MO: I knew a former KC player who went here. Also my former High School coach knows Coach (Brian) Hoberecht. What is you advice to future international athletes or students?
MO: Stay on top of your academics and eliminate distractions so he or she can maximize their athletic potential. What is your favorite NBA team and player? MO: The Bucks and Giannis (Antetokounmpo) Okoye has yet to appear in a regular season game for the Rangers this season.
Rodrigue Andela from Yaounde, Cameroon
Do you plan to continue playing once you graduate for KC? RA: Yes I plan to go to a four-year school to continue my education and play basketball. What made you choose Kilgore to play for? RA: I decided on Kilgore because the environment and they have a good basketball program that can help me get to a Division 1 school. What is your advice to future international athletes? RA: My advice is if they listen to the coaches, they will improve their game and get recruited by Division 1 coaches. What is you favorite team and player in the NBA? RA: The Lakers and Lebron James Andela has started in all 26 games averaging 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He leads the team in scoring in double figures in 21 of the 26 games the Rangers have played so far this year. — Compiled by Tyler Sutton
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Sports
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 13
Basketball season approaches final stretch with key wins Strong lead enough for Lady Rangers to get past Paris during ‘Pink-Out’ game; domination continues with roll over of Coastal Bend 88-45 McKenze Brown made sure no extra time was needed this time around. Brown hit back-to-back buckets and then assisted on a 3-pointer by Jada Hood all in the span of less than two minutes, helping the Kilgore College Lady Rangers hold off a furious comeback attempt by Paris and hand the visiting Lady Dragons a 76-63 setback at Masters Gymnasium Wednesday., Feb. 13, during the Lady Rangers’ annual Pink Out against Cancer game. Kilgore never trailed, leading by as much as 14 a couple of times, but Paris whittled away at the lead and got the deficit down to a bucket (63-61) when Jaicia Canady drove the lane for a layup with 4:39 left. Brown answered with a layup of her own 17 seconds later, and then knocked down a jumper from the baseline before dishing to Hood for a triple that helped KC put things away. Brown’s first bucket sparked an 11-0 Lady Ranger run. The teams needed two overtimes to settle things when they met back on Jan. 8 in Paris. Ireneshia Johnson led a balanced KC scoring attack with 17 points, adding 11 rebounds and a couple of steals. Hood was close behind with 16 points and five
Jamie Maldonado/ Special to THE FLARE
KC Guard Jada Hood sets her eyes on a lay-up for a crucial score at home.
A few games remain before Region XIV playoffs March 4-7 Feb 26 Wom e n v . Bo ssi e r Par ish cc 5: 3 0 Feb 2 6 Me n
@ Pa r i s J un i o r Colleg e
Feb 2 9 L a dy R a n g e rs @ Jac ksonville
7 P.M 2 P.M
assists. Sarah Matthews chipped in with 12 points an six boards, Annillia Dawn added 10 points, Brown eight, Alba Garcia Camarena and Trynadee Greenwell five apiece and Tara Kessner three. Brown also pulled down five rebounds and added three assists and a couple of steals. Hood had nine rebounds. Nikyla Green had 15 points, Tahilia Sloan Casey 11 and Ariel Warren, Alaeh Pressley and Skye Watts 10 apiece in the loss for Paris. KC took the lead with 7:48 left in the opening quarter on a pull up jumper by Matthews, and the Lady Rangers led the rest of the way. Kilgore led 20-14 after one quarter, and a 9-0 outburst early in the second extended the lead to 13. Paris got the deficit down to six (37-31) at intermission and used a 6-0 run late in the third to trail by eight, 56-48, heading to the final stanza. Kilgore’s women snapped a two-game skid and improved to 18-7 overall and 7-6 in Region XIV Conference play. As of press time, the Lady Rangers had beat Coastal Bend 88-45 on Wednesday. STAFF REPORTS
KC gets 20th win past Cavaliers with playoffs around the corner TYLER SUTTON Staff Writer
In a game that was a little chippy at times, the Rangers basketball team was able to win a grind-it-out game over the Bossier Parrish College Cavaliers 75-62 last Saturday in Masters Gym. KC jumped out to an early lead after starting out hot from the field. But Bossier Parrish chipped away late in the first half and cut the Rangers lead to six at the half at 31-25. The second half was a back and forth battle as both teams were hot from the field. The game also got a little physical as their were two technical fouls called in the second half (one on KC’s Michael Thomas and one on Bossier’s Diamante Brown). The Rangers were then able to break the Cavaliers press defense to put the game away late with back to back
buckets. D’rell Roberts led KC with 15 points, four assists and two steals. Rodrigue Andela contributed with another near doubledouble at 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Thomas also had a good game off the bench with 14 points and three rebounds. Tyron McMillian also dropped in 10 points and five rebounds. Bossier Parrish was led by E.J Clark who had 16 points. Aaron Gregg scored all of his 15 points in the second half and Brown had 11 points off the bench for the Cavs. With the win, the Rangers improve to 20-6 on the season and 11-5 in Region XIV play while Bossier Parrish drops to 16-10 and 9-7 in conference play. KC played Tyler Junior College Apaches on the road Wednesday. The men's last home game of the season is 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Masters Gym.
Opinion
PAGE 14 n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
THE FLARE
Black culture is American culture NADIA HILL Feature Editor
T
o be black in America.” I often find myself saying those words as I observe what it is like to be black in America in 2020. I hear many people say we have come so far and slavery was so long ago, but was it? Slavery was abolished 155 years ago, and the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, the same year my mother was born and only 56 years ago. My father was 18 and old enough to experience what it was like to be black in those days, and if you didn’t know, being black wasn’t celebrated by many. So, no, it wasn’t that long ago, and the repercussions still ring
prominent today. And as my college professor said, race always matters. While the times have changed, I don’t believe we have come far enough, and my black culture only thrives when welcomed in by America. In actuality, so much of what America is thrives off of the contributions of black culture and our exceptional way of standing out. This Black History Month I thought it necessary not only to celebrate the achievements of our ancestors that have lit a dark path here in America, such as the fearless Harriet Tubman, but also to express what black culture is and what it means to this country. The thing is, black people don’t fit in; we stand out. It’s prevalent here in America that black culture is the champion — whether it is celebrated or not. We embody everything that is the American dream, even when every obstacle has been thrown our way since the founding of this
country. If you haven’t seen Google’s black history month commercial, I recommend taking a look at just how much of American pride comes from black culture. From the most searched athlete (LeBron James), female poet (Maya Angelou), Pulitzer prize winner (Kendrick Lamar), Star Spangled Banner rendition (Whitney Houston), and movement that led to our civil rights, we have it all. There’s a divide in America between what’s “acceptable” in black culture and what’s considered “too black.” While it’s acceptable to take our hairstyles and turn them from corn rows into boxer braids, our beautiful locs are keeping young men from graduating high school, and young black boys are kicked out of school for their hair being too long. Whether you hear it here for the first time or not, our hair is our glory and it isn’t for white society to deem “acceptable.” After
The thing is, black people don’t fit in; we stand out. generations of being called “nappy,” we will no longer let America decide. There is no such thing as “too black.” Be black and be proud of everything we have endured and overcome. Be proud of where we are going. From every new trend and slang, it all derives from black culture. We are what’s trendy, even if WE aren’t. From the way we come together to celebrate, to our cuisine, music, art, and so much more, we are a big part of what makes the United States beautiful. So, while we’ve come a long way, we have so far to go. We are not only black culture, we are AMERICAN culture. —Nadia journalism Tatum.
Hill is a major from
BY THE NUMBERS
13
The 13th Amendment was ratified on Feb. 1, 1865, abolishing slavery.
15
The 15th Amendment was ratified on Feb. 3, 1870, giving the right to vote to men, regardless of race and previous enslavement.
1619
The first enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, starting two and a half centuries of enslavement.
1965
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act.
YOUR VIEW Who do you consider to be a great influencer in American Black History?
Photo credits: Hunter Madewell /
The Flare
Ana Macedo Kilgore sophomore
Hannah Cleveland Tatum freshman
Xandor Good Longview freshman
Abigail Langlais Huntsville freshman
“Rosa Parks”
“Rosa Parks”
“Queen Latifah”
“Michelle Obama”
THE FLARE
RESET
Opinion
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 15
Vol. 83 • No. 11 Thursday, February 20, 2020 Executive Editor Carrie J. Harris Digital Content Editor Jennifer Ibarra Features Editor Nadia Hill Opinion Editor Hunter Madewell Sports Editor Chris Pena Copy Editors Maria Ango-Bilogo, Morgan Walker, Tricia Still, Rainy Harrison Staff Writers Katherine Bassett, Dominique Burnett, Haylee Cook, Justin Gill, Irene Lucas, Tricia Still, Tyler Sutton, Morgan Walker Photographers Dominique Burnett, Jennifer Ibarra, Hunter Madewell, Chris Pena, Tyler Sutton, Irene Lucas Cartoonist Alexandria Wooldridge Adviser Rachel Stallard
yourself with Spring Break reprieve
S
pring Break is coming up, and most college students do not realize that there are more benefits to having a week off than simply letting loose and partying. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying your time off with friends and family, it’s nice to also be able to feel as though you’ve had the time to decompress from the stresses that come with college. So, our argument is this — if you take the time to physically, mentally, and socially relax for a moment during the break, then you will find that at the end of the week you will feel adequately recharged and ready to finish the semester. Physical stressors are not only limited to athletes and individuals who work out, rather, everyone experiences some form of physical exhaustion. For most, simply having a week packed with activities that require constant movement and active thinking can be exhausting. For school athletes, they must balance their classes and work out routines, and this can be even more draining. A good solution to this is to take the time to sit still, relax, and get a good night’s sleep. Whether you relax by reading a
book, watching a movie, or meditating, simply allowing yourself the moment to slow down and let your body unwind will have enormous benefits to your physical health. Additionally, during school weeks, students tend to have erratic sleeping schedules. And while we may not realize the toll it takes at the time, a week of improper rest can be physically draining. Not everyone will take the time to follow this advice, but even an hour a day of relaxation can be beneficial. Reducing time on your phone can help your mental health. According to the Child Mind Institute, there is evidence that shows that social media causes depression and anxiety in teenagers and young adults on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. Between 2010 and 2015, depression symptoms in teenage girls increased by 33 percent and suicide rate by 65 percent. To avoid these symptoms, you can delete the social media apps you don’t use, turn off your notifications, or turn off your Wi-Fi. When you make the decision to delete some of your social media platforms, it will allow you to use less data and leave you less stressed. Social media is very addictive,
LETTERS
Illustration by Alex Wooldridge
but also annoying sometimes. If you are tired of posts that are completely against what you believe and are offensive, then it’s time to delete your apps. Turning off your notifications will give you a sense of freedom and you won’t have “FOMO” (fear of missing out). The transition could take time, as we are always in the habit of checking our phones and trying to see if our friends texted us back. Additionally, you can turn off your Wi-Fi. Turning off your Wi-Fi can help you sleep at night. When you don’t get nightly notifications, you’ll get to rest peacefully. Finally, we’d like to emphasis how important resting is to your social life. Lack of sleep can severely affect how you socialize with others. The Healthline website said that the more sleep-deprived you are, the lonelier of a person you are. It also says that you’ll have a strong desire to sleep rather than socialize. Socializing gives you long-term benefits. Connecting with friends and others can
help your mental health and lower the risk of developing dementia. Because of this, you should join clubs, participate in the community, exercise or play games with your friends. In conclusion, while spring break is certainly a time to let loose and enjoy your time out of school, it is even more imperative to make that time worthwhile. If you spend your break going about your same routines, whether that involves staying active every moment of the day, spending hours at a time on your cellphone, or not allowing yourself the time to hang out with friends, then you are doing yourself a disservice. Enjoy your break, party responsibly, and have fun, but also realize that you will not get this block of free time again until summer break. Spring break is a time to physically, mentally, and socially unwind, so take advantage of the approaching break, and by doing so, you’ll be ready to handle whatever else the semester has in store.
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 Thursday 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 2020, The Flare. All rights reserved
THE FLARE
Entertainment
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 n PAGE 16
Go ‘crazy’ this weekend with live events Sketch comedy opens in ‘Crazy Town’ on Van Cliburn stage, Thursday IRENE LUCAS Staff Writer
K
Irene Lucas / THE FLARE
Roy Williams, Petra Enloe, Seth Pasel, and Daniel Hellmuth rehearse a scene from “Crazy Town,” a sketch comedy made up of many short plays. The KC Theatre production opens tonight and runs 7:30 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Feb. 22, with a Sunday matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on the Kilgore campus.
C Theater will present “Crazy Town” by Jonathan Rand opening tonight at 7:30 p.m. and running nightly through Saturday, Feb. 22; a Sunday matinée performance will be 2:30 p.m. All productions will be at Van Cliburn Auditorium, in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center on the Kilgore campus. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for KC students with IDs. To buy tickets online, visit www.kilgore.edu/ drama, or call 903-983-8126. “Crazy Town” is a low-tech sketch comedy and is made up of many short plays taken in the same location. The play has music with a jazzy and 1950s feel, but takes place in an everyday town where things seem a bit backward and upside down. The play is appropriate for most ages, but children ages seven and
younger will not be allowed in. It makes fun of everything that revolves around today’s society, including the news, censorship, political debates and more. KC Theater wants the audience to be entertained, have fun and just laugh while watching, because everything in the play is just one big joke and is not meant to be taken seriously, according to Micah Goodding, theatre instructor. The play’s seven actors are: Shelby Toner, Petra Enloe, Talon Pettigrew, Roy Williams, Haegan Hunt, Seth Pasel and Daniel Hellmuth — with many of them playing multiple characters as the play features over 70 roles. From the police interrogation room where the nicest guy in town is issued a strange ultimatum, to the elementary school for a heated political debate on critical issues like tater tots, the town’s motto is: Welcome to Crazytown.
Enjoy Kilgore over the break with live music, good food, local shopping MARIA BILOGO Copy Editor
S
pring Break is around the corner, and sometimes students don’t know what to do in town while on a break from classes. However, there are plenty of restaurants and eating establishments. The Back Porch, located at 904 Broadway Blvd., in Kilgore, is one of the most famous place in town because of the live music. This spring break artists such as Cole Allen, Darrin Morris, The Outlaw Republic, Brick Street Blues Band and others will perform at The Back Porch. If you want to know more about the artists who will perform at The Back Porch, you can check the calendar or visit thebackporchkilgore.com for more info.
FEB 20 Jenn Ford
FEB 28 Jenn Ford & The Wide Eyed Devils Details Share
MAR 07 Cody Cooke & the Bayou OutlawsCountry
TEAZURRock
MAR 11 Darrin Morris
Feb 21 Sheila Clark & The Kaddo Kats FEB 29 FEB 22 The HaggertysRock Alternative Rock / Classic Rock
MAR 04 Cole Allen
FEB 26 Wade SkinnerCountry
MAR 05 Matthew Marcus McDaniel Soul / Blues
FEB 27 Jennifer Marler
MAR 06 Darrin Morris BandCountry
MAR 12 Tyler Dudley MAR 13 The Outlaw Republic
MAR 18 Gary Patrick MAR 19 Patrick James Rock Acoustic MAR 21 AmbushRock
Classic Rock
MAR 14 Brick Street Blues Soul, and Rock & Roll
Live music begins at 7 p.m. Wednesdays & Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays