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Culture

EGALITARIAN The student voice of Houston Community College Since 1974

Stars coming to Comicpalooza • Page 4

News

Student accepted to Galludet • Page 5

Sports

Virginia wins NCAA Tourney • Page 6

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 • Vol. 48, No. 4 • HCCEgalitarian.com

State of the College brings goals for future See Page 8

Barr: Redacted Mueller report coming ‘within a week’ Eric Tucker & Mary Clare Jalonick Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr told Congress Tuesday he expects to release his redacted version of the special counsel’s Trump-Russia investigation report “within a week,” while Democrats criticized his handling of the long-awaited document and demanded he turn it over in full. Barr bluntly defended his dealing with the report and said portions must remain hidden to comply with the law. He said he could be open to eventually releasing some of the redacted material af-

ter consulting with congressional leaders, but he drew a line against grand jury information, which would require court approval. He said Democrats were “free to go to court” to ask for it. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said he could issue subpoenas “very quickly” if Robert Mueller’s report is released with redactions after Democrats failed “to reach an accommodation with the attorney general under which we would see the report and the underlying evidence.” He said of Barr: “He has been unresponsive to our requests.” The attorney general appeared before a House ap-

propriations subcommittee to discuss his department’s budget request — normally a sleepy affair — but Democrats, in particular, were more interested in asking questions about the report. While opening the hearing, subcommittee Chairman Jose Serrano of New York called it “the elephant in the room.” Barr wouldn’t discuss the substance of the special counsel’s investigation into possible connections between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, but he did explain some of what to expect when the report is re-

see Barr, Page 2

Andrew Harnick/AP Photo In his first appearance on Capitol Hill since taking office, and amid intense speculation over his review of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report, Attorney General William Barr appears before a House Appropriations subcommittee to make his Justice Department budget request, Tuesday in Washington.

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Democrats say they will not accept any redactions. At Tuesday’s hearing, Democrats said they were concerned that a four-page summary letter of the report’s main conclusions Barr released last month portrayed the findings in an overly favorable way for President Trump. The letter said that Mueller did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump associates in the 2016 campaign, and that Barr did not believe the evidence in the report was sufficient to prove the president had obstructed justice. Barr said “the letter speaks for itself ” and revealed that he gave Mueller an opportunity to review the letter but the special counsel declined. Rep. Nita Lowey, the Democratic chairwoman of the full Appropriations Committee,

said she was taken aback that Barr had reduced Mueller’s report to a four-page letter in just two days. “Even for someone who has done this job before, I would argue it’s more suspicious than impressive,” Lowey said. Barr said, “I felt I should state bottom-line conclusions, and I tried to use special counsel Mueller’s own language in doing that.” Asked about reports that members of Mueller’s legal team were unhappy with his handling of the report, Barr said he suspected any discontent may have reflected their desire to put out more information. Republicans defended Barr, with Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt comparing Democrats’ questions to theories surrounding President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination.

“So many of the questions here today have gone toward a grassy knoll conspiracy theory,” Aderholt said. Across the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he had no concerns with the handling of the report: “I think it really comes down to a question of whether you trust Bill Barr or not. And I do.” Barr said in the summary released last month that Mueller did not reach a conclusion on whether the president obstructed justice, instead presenting evidence on both sides of the question. Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decided that the evidence was insufficient to establish obstruction. Facing the intensifying concerns from Democrats that he may have whitewashed Muel-

ler’s findings, Barr has moved to defend, or at least explain, his handling of the process since receiving the special counsel’s report. He said in a March 29 letter that he did not intend for his brief summary of Mueller’s main conclusions to be an “exhaustive recounting” of his work. He is likely to be asked to further explain himself at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing Wednesday, though it’s unclear how much more he will say. At one point in the House hearing, he tried to cut off any more questions on the subject. “I’m not going to discuss it any further until after the report is out,” he said. Barr said he would elaborate at hearings scheduled by the House and Senate Judiciary committees at the beginning of next month.

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Barr, From Page 1 leased: He said the redactions will be color-coded and accompanied by notes explaining any decisions to withhold information. “This process is going along very well and my original timetable of being able to release this by mid-April stands,” Barr said. Congress, the White House and the American public have been anxiously waiting for Barr to release the report since special counsel Mueller concluded his investigation and sent it to the attorney general more than two weeks ago. Justice Department officials are scouring the nearly 400-page document to remove grand jury information and details relating to pending investigations, among other materials.

HCC POLICE BLOTTER (Incidents complied from HCC Crime Log available at http://bit.ly/2mhVOjj Case Number: 19-000237 Offense: Other Police Activity Reported on: 4/3/2019 at 7:30am Incident occurred on: 4/3/2019 at 7:30am Location: Central - Midtown Campus Building: Central Midtown Campus Area - Off Campus Description: Non-student adult male in crisis was transported to the Harris County Neuropsychiatric Center for an evaluation. Disposition: Closed Case Number: 19-000242 Offense: Other Police Activity Reported on: 4/3/2019 at 7:20pm Incident occurred on: 4/3/2019 at 7:20pm Location: North Forest Campus Building: 6010 Little York Description: Adult male student was transported to the MHMR Diversion Center after he was found in an unauthorized area. Disposition: Closed Case Number: 19-000236 Offense: Harassment Reported on: 4/2/2019 at 4:30pm Incident occurred on: 4/2/2019 at 12:00pm Location: Northline Campus Building: 8001 Fulton Description: Student alleged another cosmetology student threatened her and her family. Disposition: Open Case Number: 19-000228 Offense: Assault

Reported on: 4/1/2019 at 9:00am Incident occurred on: 4/1/2019 at 9:00am Location: Hayes Road Campus Building: 2811 Hayes Road Description: Former student was issued a summons for assault and a criminal trespass warning after causing a disturbance. Disposition: Closed Case Number: 19-000230 Offense: Assault Reported on: 4/1/2019 at 3:30pm Incident occurred on: 4/1/2019 at 2:45pm Location: Central - Midtown Campus Building: Learning Hub Description: Suspect fled after assaulting an employee in the library computer lab. Disposition: Open Case Number: 19-000224 Offense: Theft Reported on: 3/28/2019 at 1:10pm Incident occurred on: 3/28/2019 at 12:15pm Location: Central - Midtown Campus Building: San Jacinto Memorial Description: Student’s wallet and contents were stolen from the fitness center. Disposition: Open Case Number: 19-000225 Offense: Other Police Activity Reported on: 3/28/2019 at 4:02pm Incident occurred on: 3/28/2019

at 4:00pm Location: Eastside Campus Building: Learning Hub Description: Student in crisis was transported to the Harris County Neuropsychiatric Center for an evaluation. Disposition: Closed Case Number: 19-000221 Offense: Assault Reported on: 3/26/2019 at 10:30am Incident occurred on: 3/26/2019 at 10:30am Location: Northline Campus Building: 8001 Fulton Description: Adult student was arrested for assault after biting her boyfriend. Disposition: Closed Case Number: 19-000212 Offense: Possession of a Controlled Substance Reported on: 3/25/2019 at 8:00am Incident occurred on: 3/25/2019 at 8:00am Location: Central - South Campus Building: Willie Gay Hall Description: Student was arrested for possession of marijuana in a drug free zone. Disposition: Closed Case Number: 19-000200 Offense: Theft Reported on: 3/22/2019 at 11:00am Incident occurred on: 3/20/2019 at 7:00pm Location: Administration Complex

Building: 3100 Main Description: HCC owned laptop was stolen from the Communications Office. Disposition: Open Case Number: 19-000202 Offense: Burglary of Vehicle Reported on: 3/22/2019 at 12:45pm Incident occurred on: 3/22/2019 at 9:00am - 12:40pm Location: Central - Midtown Campus Building: Parking Lot 9 Description: Student’s vehicle was burglarized during class. Disposition: Open Case Number: 19-000205 Offense: Burglary of Vehicle Reported on: 3/22/2019 at 3:00pm Incident occurred on: 3/22/2019 at 8:00am-11:45am Location: Central - Midtown Campus Building: Parking Lot 9 Description: Student’s vehicle was burglarized during her class. Disposition: Open Case Number: 19-000191 Offense: Burglary Reported on: 3/21/2019 at 4:50am Incident occurred on: 3/21/2019 at 12:43am Location: Spring Branch Campus Building: Spring Branch Building Description: Bookstore was burglarized overnight. Disposition: Open

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Culture 4 ‘Thrones’, ‘Flash’ stars coming to Comicpalooza Wednesday April 10, 2019

Ana Gonzalez

agonzalez@hccegalitarian.com Winter is coming in Houston. Wait, what? Brace yourselves, Houston. Comicpalooza announced “Game of Thrones” actresses Emilia Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel, and “The Flash” star Grant Gustin as headliners to the 2019 comic convention, which will run from Friday, May 10 to Sunday, May 12 at George R. Brown Convention Center. In anticipation to the upcoming final season of Game of Thrones, Comicpalooza announced on March 27 that it will transform the weekend to “the mother of all weekends”. Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen has never appeared at a convention before, and fans are extremely thrilled that they will be able to see The Mother of Dragons in person this year in Houston. “This is the first time Clarke has appeared at a comic convention where fans can see her in a panel, take photos, and receive autographs,” the convention stated in a press release. Appearing alongside Clarke is Nathalie Emmanuel, who

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portrays Daenerys’s advisor, Missandei on the show. Both actresses will appear on May 11 and 12. The Flash strikes Comicpalooza weekend, as well. The convention will also host two Flashes The original Flash actor from the 1990s CBS series, John Wesley Shipp, will make an appearance alongside the current Flash actor from the CW series, Grant Gustin. Gustin currently portrays Barry Allen in the current series, which just wrapped up its fifth season. Shipp has a recurring role in the CW series, appearing as Barry’s father Henry along with portraying another Flash — Jay Garrick. “Grant Gustin is a phenomenal addition to the Comicpalooza lineup with all of the excitement and anticipation surrounding this year’s show,” said Michael Heckman, Comicpalooza President, “Last year, we exceeded our expectations, delivering a program that hosted top-tier talent and a diverse and entertaining program that was enjoyed by guests of all ages. This year promises to deliver an even better event.”

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Gustin will only appear on Saturday, while Shipp will appear all weekend. Other notable guests Fans of the popular Anime My Hero Academia are in for a treat as several voice actors will make a weekend appearance at Comicpalooza. Notable actors include Brittney Karbowski, Monica Rial, and Josh Grielle. 90’s kids are also in for a treat as well. The Animaniacs crew are back together once more. Beloved voice actor Rob Paulsen will bring his talents to the show alongside voice actors Tress MacNeille and Jess Harnell, all three of which have given voices to Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. Star Trek will visit the convention once again, only this time The Next Generation series will have their turn. Appearing all weekend are actors Gates McFadden and Michael Dorn. Other guests appearing all weekend are John Barrowman (Doctor Who), Erick Avari (Stargate SG-1, Mr. Deeds), and Billy Zane (Back to the Future, Titanic). Another record weekend, maybe? Comicpalooza is expected to

Above, “Game of Thrones” actors Emilia Clarke (left) and Nathalie Emmanuel (right) will headline Comicpalooza, appearing on May 11 and 12. At right, “The Flash” star Grant Gustin will make a heroic addition to this year’s comic convention in Downtown Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. He will appear on May 11 only. HBO (above) The CW (right)

draw a similar crowd as last year Spider-Man actor Tom Holland made a spectacular appearance, drawing record-breaking crowds. Passes are on sale right now

starting at $78 plus tax and fees. Prices may go up at the door. VIP, Speed Passes and autograph/photo op tickets are also available online at comicpalooza.com.

Nipsey Hussle’s death leaves community greiving Frederick Barnes & Vivian Reyes The Egaliatarian

Ermias Asghedom, a Los Angeles-based rapper better known as Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot on Sunday outside of the store own he owned in South Los Angeles. Sources say that Nipsey’s team was not notified about his appearance to the store. Following his appearance, a man walked up to Nipsey and his friend firing multiple rounds before fleeing in a getaway car. He was at his store the next morning to help out an old friend who just got out of prison. He was trying to hook up his friend with new gear so he could look good before meeting up with his own family and friends The Los Angeles County Medical Coroner stated that Nipsey died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso. The Los Angeles Police Department identified 29-yearold Eric Holder as the suspected gunman under the rapper’s death. He was finally brought into custody after a 2-day manhunt. They believe that Holder shot Nipsey due

Damien Dovarganes/AP Photo Haitian-French actor Jimmy Jean-Louis and his daughter Jasmin, 16, gather around candles set up across from the clothing store of rapper Nipsey Hussle in Los Angeles, on March 31. Hussle, the skilled and respected West Coast rapper who had a decade-long success with mixtapes but hit new heights with his Grammy-nominated major-label debut album in 2018, was killed at the age of 33. to a personal dispute. It is believed that Nipsey shunned the guy after he tried approaching him for a conversation, begging him for a snitch. Shortly after is when Holder returned with a gun opening fire. His death was

met with grief and outrage by residents in the Los Angeles area. Nipsey was known for his incredible talent across the music industry. Houston’s community activist and rapper Trae The

Truth encourages “people who want to support Nipsey Hussle and his family to visit his website and purchase what you can.” Since his untimely death, there have been multiple vigils in cities like Houston

and St. Louis respectively. On April 3, local rapper Trae tha Truth hosted a vigil in Midtown Park. The park was flooded with mourning fans, as they shared positive vibes with each other. “The love I got for him, I want to make I share with my city and let bro see from up there that the city loves him just as much,” Trae said. Nipsey has inspired millions of people and a memorial for the slain activist has been scheduled to be held this Thursday at the Staples Center. Gang members, including Bloods and Crips, marched together in solidarity for the Grammy-nominated songwriter. They also joined together to march for peace and discuss a potential cease-fire. He was loved and respected by a lot of people, especially his longtime girlfriend Lauren London. “It was like he was sent by God to give some love to bring us together because that’s what his lyrics were saying,” she said. Hussle leaves behind two kids, Emani Asghedom and Kross Asghedom.

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HCC student accepted to Gallaudet Frederick Barnes

Fbarnes@hccegalitarian.com Mary El-Krab has been accepted into Gallaudet University, a university for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Although El-Krab is not hearing impaired, she will attend under a select group of hearing students who know American Sign Language and would like to study alongside deaf and hard of hearing individuals. This interview will give an indepth look into El-Krab’s life, love for sign language, and the Gallaudet University’s selection process. El-Krab was born and raised in Houston. Her parents are of Middle Eastern descent, and always envisioned their daughter of becoming a doctor or lawyer someday. She reminisces on how strict her parents were when she was a child. “They were so strict on me growing up, but they always supported me no matter what.” El-Krab

knew that being a doctor or lawyer was what her parents wanted for her. By the time she was in high school, she enrolled in a sign language class, so she could communicate with her deaf friend. El-Krab wanted to communicate with people that were hearing impaired. During this time, she befriended several individuals who could not hear, and embarked on a new journey to learn more about the culture of sign language. It wasn’t until her senior year that she decided she wanted to make a career out of sign language. El-Krab was enrolled in San Jacinto Community College. But SJCC took away the sign language courses. But that did not discourage her because she found multiple interpreting programs available at Houston Community College. El-Krab became more involved with the deaf community which forced her to learn at a faster pace.

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Frederick Barnes/The Egalitarian Houston Community College student Mary El-Krab will attend Washington, D.C.-based Gallaudet University, the nation’s oldest university for hearing impaired students. El-Krab underwent the application process for non-impaired students seeking entrance into the college, and hopes to work in a hospital for deaf children after graduation. She eventually graduated from Houston Community College with an impressive 3.8 GPA. Gallaudet University, located in Washington D.C., is the first university for deaf and hard of hearing students. It is the only college that’s adapted its entire program specifically for the hearing impaired. El-Krab decided she wanted to apply to Gallaudet. The first step was to write an essay. Then she had to ‘face time’ with a recruiter sole by sign language. El-Krab

then landed a second interview which provided tougher questions and tested her sign language skills overall. El-Krab opened an email from Gallaudet University. Instantaneously, her phone sends her a text message from Washington D.C. She reads the messages and finds out she has been accepted into the program. “I would love to work in a hospital for deaf children after I graduate.” Says El-Krab. El-Krab wants parents with deaf or hard of hearing children

to know that “Your child is fine, they have a language culture, they have a wonderful culturally rich deaf world out there.” She also encourages everyone to learn sign language but stay humble. “you have your good sign language days and you have your bad ones. Nobody is better than the next person,” said El-Krab. “I thank my teachers for teaching me the basics but I give all my credit to my deaf community, I learned from them.”

NSLS Southeast Chapter looks forward to future success Ana Gonzalez

agonzalez@hccegalitarian.com When it’s Friday afternoon, it usually means “weekend, yay!”. However, the student members of the NSLS Southeast Chapter at HCC Eastside campus holds their meetings every Friday afternoon, and they aren’t complaining. In fact, they love being part of a powerful society. Adviser Tina Williams wouldn’t have it any other way. “Every semester, it gets better and better for our students,” she said. The National Society of Leadership and Success, or NSLS for short, is the largest nationwide honor society, selecting a few students to join every year based on their involvement in the community, as well as their leadership. This year, the Southeast chapter of the NSLS received the Chapter of the Year grant for their accomplishments in their leadership skills within the community, as well as significantly increasing membership attendance and participation. And just this month, the Chapter received one of the Society’s prestigious awards: The President’s Circle Award. “Our chapter is on its way

Ana Gonzalez/The Egalitarian NSLS Southeast Chapter Executive Board (from left, standing: Advisers Tina Williams and Dr. Johnella Bradford, Chapter President Fathy Elsayem, Co-Vice President Kristen Chersky; from left, sitting: SNT Coordinator Martha Molina, and Vice President Filipa Ivo. to complete all ten pillars, and are we are on track to complete four bonus pillars,” said Fathy Elsayem, chapter president, “These pillars measure chapter success by the NSLS national office.” The members of NSLS Southeast are actively volunteering in their community. According to Elsayem, he and other members of the Executive Board are working on establishing an on-campus food pantry to assist food-insecure

students. They expect to have it ready for students later this year. The Executive Board members can attest that the Society has taken them on a new level. With benefits such as exclusive scholarships, and a rise in their GPA, and attending conferences, members say it’s a valuable experience for them. “For me, I think it’s important to connect with the leaders of tomorrow, because people will be holding hands

within the future or not holding hands with [people],” said Fillipa Ivo, Vice-President of NSLS Southeast, “It’s important to build these bridges between myself and people.” The NSLS Southeast Chapter was established seven years ago. As of today, the chapter has 139 members and growing. 65 of those members completed all their steps towards induction. They collaborate with the Student Government Associa-

tion (SGA), helping each other with volunteer assignments, board meetings, and making sure they finish off the semester with ease. Students get an exclusive invitation from their advisor asking them to join, however, in order to complete the process of joining, they must complete a set of steps to become a fullfledged member: participate in orientation, a special Leadership Training Day, attend three speaker broadcasts, and complete three Success Network Team Reports. “It’s like a Christmas tree,” said Williams, “you have all these presents on the bottom of the tree; and then you have the shining star on top of the tree, which resembles all your successes.” According to Williams, the chapter invited several local individuals to speak for the members, both current and incoming. Those include HCC Trustee Eva Loredo, HCC Southeast President Dr. Melissa Gonzalez, and Rep. Sylvia Garcia. HCC Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado plans to speak with the members sometime later this year. Those members who completed their introductory steps will be inducted during a ceremony. The next induction ceremony will be held at the Eastside campus on April 25.

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Sports

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A year after pain, Virginia gets its title Eddie Pells

AP National Writer MINNEAPOLIS — It was an easy question to ask, even if the answer was tough to absorb. “Why?” It dogged Virginia for a year and three weeks — following the Cavaliers through sweatsoaked practices, hostile arenas up and down the East Coast, on talk radio and pundit-driven TV, and in their own, doubtfilled, uncertain minds. The only truly satisfying answer to “Why?” came Monday night — and with the confetti falling and the nets dangling around their necks, it all seemed so clear. That humbling, history-making loss last season to Maryland-Baltimore County happened so the Cavaliers could stand at center court and celebrate this time around. The only top seed to fall to a No. 16 in the history of the NCAA Tournament is now the only team to come back from such a loss and win a championship the very next season. Virginia did it the hard way, squandering a 10-point lead against a tenacious Texas Tech team, only to pull away for an 85-77 victory in overtime. And now, there are no more questions. “We’ve all had our own battles,” said Virginia guard Kyle Guy, who was named the Final

Four’s most valuable player. “I said earlier, it’s a really special group because we all had the same ‘Why?’ among other ‘whys.’ But to share the same one, and to battle everything we battled through, and come out on top, it’s a fantastic feeling.” It’s tempting to call Virginia a team of destiny, but that would undermine what the Cavaliers accomplished this season. It would give short shrift to the way they overcame so many close calls in this tournament, including an entertaining, back-and-forth final against an opponent that simply would not go away. L o t t e r y -p i c k- i n - w a i t i n g De’Andre Hunter scored a career-high 27 points after starting the game 0 for 7 from the floor. Going mano-a-mano against another likely NBA-bound star, Jarrett Culver, Hunter saved the Cavaliers (35-3) with a game-tying 3 with 12 seconds left in regulation, then helped them win it with a go-ahead 3 with 2:07 left in the overtime. Hunter’s game-tying shot came on a play that Texas Tech doesn’t usually allow: Ty Jerome dribbled into the middle, then skipped a pass down the baseline to Hunter, who spotted up from the corner. The nation’s best defense hardly ever leaves someone that wide-open. “With a 3-point lead ... we’re trying to play really sound defense with three objectives: No

David J. Philip/AP Photo Virginia’s Ty Jerome, center, and Kyle Guy, right, celebrate after defeating Texas Tech 85-77 in the overtime in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday in Minneapolis. 3-point shots, no ‘and-ones,’ and we’ve got to secure the defensive rebounds,” Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. “We just came up a little bit short, but give Virginia credit. They have a really, really good team. So much poise, and just have a lot of respect for them.” The poise showed up earlier in the tournament, too. First, when the Cavaliers, a 1 seed again, fell behind by 14 early to No. 16 Gardner-Webb in what seemed like a repeat of the nightmare from the year before. They won 71-56. Next, against Purdue, when, trailing by 2, the Cavaliers intentionally missed a free throw, got the ball back and fed to Mamadi Diakite, who beat the buzzer to send the game into overtime. They won 80-75.

And then in the semifinal Saturday against Auburn, when Guy got fouled while shooting a 3 with 0.6 seconds left, and calmly sank all three free throws. They won 63-62. “I hope that it’s a message for some people out there that there can be hope and joy and resiliency,” said Virginia coach Tony Bennett, whose father Dick, the coach who wrote the book on stifling man-to-man defense, was in the crowd. “I’m thankful for what happened.” All Virginia fans are. This is a program that has lived a tortured existence, starting around Christmastime in 1982, when 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson — as good as they came back in his day — was headlining the top-ranked Cavaliers on a stopover trip in

Hawaii, only to get shocked by tiny, NAIA Chaminade. It still goes down as one of the greatest upsets in sports. Thirty years later, Bennett turned the Cavaliers into contenders again, but they always underachieved once the calendar turned to March. Then, last year. That loss to UMBC could’ve wrecked a lesser program. Somehow, this one got stronger. Has the pain gone completely away? “You have a scar, and it reminds you of that, but it’s a memory,” Bennett said. “Does it go away completely? No. I wish it wouldn’t have happened in some ways. But now I say, ‘Well, it bought us a ticket here. So be it.’”

Barca, Juve focus on Europe, CL rivals face home Rob Harris

AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON — With the completion of their domestic title defenses seeming a formality, Barcelona and Juventus can now focus on the Champions League. For the rest of the quarterfinalists it’s a far more challenging period that will stretch their squads while ambitions at home and abroad are juggled. Here is a look at this week’s first legs: TOTTENHAM-MANCHESTER CITY Just like last season, Manchester City comes up against a Premier League rival in the quarterfinals. Different this time is not only the opponent — Tottenham rather than Liverpool — but also the surroundings. City will be Tottenham’s second opponents in its new 62,000-capaci-

ty stadium in north London on Tuesday. “I don’t care about the stadium,” City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne said. “I care about the team we play. Everybody talks about the stadium like it’s something special. Everybody has a stadium. Everybody has supporters.” If De Bruyne sounds irritated it’s not because of the state of City’s campaign. Pep Guardiola’s team remains in a quadruple chase after reaching the FA Cup final with a victory over Brighton on Saturday, having already won the League Cup and sitting second in the Premier League. The Champions League is the one major honor to elude City in the 11 years since Abu Dhabi investment transformed the club. City hasn’t even reached a final, falling at this stage last year to Liverpool, but is the competition’s top scorer this season with 26 goals.

Tottenham is in a scrap just to qualify for a fourth successive season in the Champions League by finishing in the Premier League’s top four. With a squad lacking reinforcements in the last year due to stadium building costs, Tottenham is third in the league, but only a point ahead of fifth-place Chelsea. LIVERPOOL-PORTO While Liverpool will be without banned right back Andy Robertson, Porto has two key players ruled out through suspension: playmaker Hector Herrera and Pepe, the center back who won three Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Coach Sergio Conceicao will still be able to call on center back Eder Militao, who doesn’t move to Madrid until next season, but left back Alex Telles remains doubtful due to a hip injury.

Porto, which last reached the quarterfinals four years ago, is chasing its first appearance in the semifinals since winning the Champions League under the then-emerging manager Jose Mourinho in 2004. Fueled by Mohamed Salah’s goals, Liverpool made it to last season’s final, where the fivetime European champion was beaten by Real Madrid. The forward has rediscovered his scoring touch in time for the visit of Porto to Anfield on Tuesday, netting for the first time in nine games in a victory at Southampton on Friday. That took Liverpool to the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City. Porto is being kept off top spot in Portugal by Benfica due to an inferior goal difference. MANCHESTER UNITED-BARCELONA The quarterfinals have been the end of Barcelona’s Cham-

pions League journey for three successive seasons since winning a fifth European title in 2015. United is in the last eight for the first time since 2014 when defeat helped spell the end of David Moyes’ reign as Alex Ferguson’s immediate successor. Victory at Paris Saint-Germain last month, though, contributed to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being handed the United job on a three-year contract after convincing the ownership of his credentials during a threemonth audition after Mourinho’s firing. United hosts Barcelona at Old Trafford on Wednesday with the luxury of having not played for more than a week since an April 2 loss to Wolverhampton. “We will have less rest but on the other hand we will be more motivated by the victory over Atletico,” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said.

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Commentary

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Internet access a necessity Longview News-Journal Egal•i•tar•i•an (adjective) aiming for equal wealth, status, etc., for all people 3517 Austin; 303 Fine Arts Center; Houston TX 77004 Phone: 713.718.6016; Fax: 713.718.6601 Adviser: Fredrick Batiste

SPRING 2019 EGALITARIAN STAFF Editor-in-Chief.............................................Ana Gonzalez News Editor................................................................ TBA Sports Editor.................................................. Joey Garcia Culture Editor.............................................. Virginia Grant Photo Editor............................................................... TBA Social Media Mgr....................................................... TBA Staff Writer.............................................Frederick Barnes Staff Writer....................................................Vivian Reyes Staff Writer............................................Esmerelda Rocha Staff Writer..............................................Jazmin Sanchez Staff Writer................................................................. TBA Staff Photographer..................................................... TBA ——— The Egalitarian has been the official student newspaper of the Houston Community College System since September 1974. The Egalitarian is published bi-monthly, every other Wednesday except during holiday breaks. Print circulation is 4,000 copies per issue and distributed to selected HCC campuses in the Houston, Spring Branch, Alief, Katy, North Forest and Fort Bend areas. Comments and contributions are always welcome. Deadlines for contributions and advertisements are one week before the issue print date. The Egalitarian is written and edited by students of Houston Community College. This publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, interests, attitudes and tastes of the Board of Trustees, HCC administration, faculty, staff or students. Opinions and editorial content of The Egalitarian that are unsigned do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Egalitarian staff or adviser. The Egalitarian reserves the right to edit any submitted material for grammatical errors, offensive language, libelous materials and space constraints. It may also refuse any advertising that does not adhere to the HCC mission.

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The Egalitarian staff consists of HCC students who must complete all tasks required to produce the newspaper, which serves all campuses of the HCC System. We want all students from all majors to contribute. However, we must follow our submissions policy in order to operate under our limitations of time, energy and staff. All staff and contributing writers must be currently enrolled students at Houston Community College. The Egalitarian interacts with contributing writers via e-mail and telephone. Visiting The Egalitarian will not help contributors get published, only quality work will. Publication priority is given to staff members and assigned articles, and verbal commitments for assignments will not be accepted or recognized. Press releases, story ideas, news tips and suggestions are always welcomed. Any student interested in joining The Egalitarian staff may request more detailed information regarding story length, topics, style, etc., by e-mailing The Egalitarian Faculty Adviser Fredrick Batiste at adviser@hccegalitarian.com.

At the beginning of this century, internet access for most of us was more about entertainment than any sort of necessity. While some predicted a booming future, most viewed the internet as a curiosity. That was almost 20 years ago. While still a source of entertainment, no one sees the internet as just a game any longer. It now plays a central role in banking and is the way many of us pay our bills, do our jobs, receive news and information and communicate with family and business connections. Increasingly, it even provides a first line of medical care, with digital connections making it possible for a patient to “see” a medical professional via the internet. The U.S. Commerce Department reported that in February, for the first time in history, online U.S. retail sales were higher than general merchandise sales. Internet connectivity also has become key in economic development. We know of no business or industry that today would think of functioning in a location not served by a reli-

able high-speed connection. All those examples are just some of the reasons why it matters that our rural East Texas area is lagging in broadband internet access. According to information reported in a series of stories that continues in today’s editions, large numbers of East Texans — 40 percent across 41 counties — lack access to broadband internet. That means they are reduced to limping along the information highway, being passed by all those who are speeding along with proper connections. For companies looking to locate businesses in East Texas — and bring jobs — choosing a place with slower internet speed is simply not an option. No one wants to invest in an area where they are automatically working with a handicap. This is a problem that has an answer, but it is not an inexpensive one. Counties, cities and industries throughout our region need to form a partnership that will provide broadband access to all who want it. Over the course of the next few years, just about every household is going to want it. Broadband access must be seen as infrastructure in the

same way good roads, drainage and bridges are classified. When a bridge is damaged or a road is washed away, governments typically don’t wait to make the repairs. Everyone understands how vital they are. Internet connectivity is much the same, but East Texas has allowed itself to lag behind other areas of the state and nation. We have done too little while others have been working double time. The best solution would be a regional one, where resources can be pooled to spur the changes, not unlike the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority. We already have a way to develop this through the East Texas Council of Governments. If that doesn’t bring change quickly enough, individual economic development corporations should lead the way, in partnership with local business and industry if possible. The longer we wait to begin this work, the more costly and difficult it will be to catch up with the rest of the world. As we delay, others are moving forward to fill the gap. It begins with understanding that the internet isn’t just about games, it is a basic necessity of living and working.

Immigration impacts Vietnamese The Dallas Morning News At a recent naturalization ceremony in Dallas, former first lady Laura Bush rightly emphasized that Texas is “a land of immigrants.” Our state, she said, “is a place where people come, year after year, to build a better life.” It’s a state “that thrives due to the prosperity, ingenuity, transformation and generosity of immigrants. And we are a much richer state for all the cultures that have settled on our land.” One of those cultures is that of the nearly quarter-million Vietnamese-Americans who call Texas home. That’s second only to California, where more than a half-million Vietnamese-Americans reside. Among the Top 10 metro areas with the largest Vietnamese populations, Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown ranked third (103,525) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked fourth (71,839), according to the last census in 2010. The numbers have grown since then, as Vietnamese business owners, artists, teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, restaurateurs, politicians and entrepreneurs of all stripes continue to contribute to our society and economy. So much so that many Texans think of pho and spring rolls as no less American than pizza or tacos. Just how many Vietnamese call America home? As of 2017, more than 1.3 million people born in Vietnam resided in the U.S., the sixth-largest foreign-born group in the country. Nationwide, the country’s 2.1 million Vietnamese-Americans have a higher median income than native-born Americans and own more than 310,000 companies.

In the early 1990s, Houston’s Wendy Duong became the first Vietnamese-American appointed to a judgeship in the U.S. Like hundreds of thousands of others, she and her family fled their homeland when Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell to the North Vietnamese in April 1975. In May 1975, President Gerald Ford, a Republican, led the fight, along with religious and labor leaders, to pass the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act. The legislation provided funding for resettlement and granted immediate refugee status to more than 130,000 South Vietnamese, many of whom had fought alongside U.S. forces in a war that claimed more than 58,000 American lives and some 3.1 million Vietnamese lives. In 1979, as millions fled communism, war and famine in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, doubled the number of Southeast Asian refugees accepted by the U.S. from 7,000 to 14,000 a month. Carter said his administration was acting “with the compassion that has traditionally characterized the United States when confronted with such situations of human crisis.” Between 1975 and 1997, under three Republican and two Democratic presidents, the U.S. took in more than 1.25 million Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian and other Southeast Asian refugees. But a recent decision by the Trump administration ignores this history and threatens to betray a solemn promise we made to the South Vietnamese people when we pulled out of Saigon — we acknowledge and respect your sacrifice and your service and will provide you and your

families refuge. Since 2017, the administration has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy and taken steps to deport nearly 9,000 Vietnamese refugees convicted of crimes in the U.S., including legal permanent residents who’ve lived here for more than 40 years. Most of the immigrants’ run-ins with the law happened decades ago when they were young and adjusting to life in a new country. All have paid their debt to society, either through jail time, parole, community service or fines. Remarkably, the Trump administration — in clear violation of a 2008 agreement reached under President George W. Bush — would also deport thousands of Vietnamese refugees who arrived in the U.S. before July 12, 1995, the date the U.S. and Vietnam established diplomatic relations. The agreement acknowledges that the great majority of Vietnamese who arrived in the U.S. before 1995 were refugees — and onetime U.S. allies — from South Vietnam fleeing retribution and persecution from the Communists who took control in 1975. After pushback by the Asian-American community and Democratic lawmakers, the Trump administration appears to be backing away from its initial aggressive stance on deportation. That’s due in large part to Vietnam’s unwillingness to repatriate large numbers of refugees or amend the 2008 agreement. But that doesn’t mean that those already detained by the Department of Homeland Security, or the approximately 1,500 Vietnamese-Americans in Texas that could be deported under a reinterpretation of the agreement, are home free.

8 State of the College brings goals for future Wednesday April 10, 2019

The Egalitarian www.HCCEgalitarian.com

@HCC_Egalitarian

Ana Gonzalez

agonzalez@hccegalitarian.com In a full house on a Wednesday morning, Houston Community College Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado delivered a talk on HCC’s research on educational needs. Other special guests and speakers include HCC Trustee and Board Chair Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Dr. Stephen Klineberg, founding director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, HCC alumni Flor Dimassi, Faculty Senate President Darin Baskin, and Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. All presenters delivered a keynote during the State of the College. Houston is growing rapidly by the year, stated Dr. Klineberg, as he presented several graphs that pointed out the amount of students graduating from college today versus students graduating during the Baby Boomer period in the United States. In the coming years, with technology rapidly changing, employers may no longer hire individuals with only a high school diploma. “For Texas to remain competitive in the global economy, 60 percent of them will need a degree by the year 2030;” stated Maldonado during his keynote,

Ana Gonzalez/The Egalitarian Houston Community College Chancellor Cesar Maldonado takes the stage during the 2019 State of the College event at the Hilton-Americas Downtown.

“innovation and creativity are no longer optional in education and in the workplace.” Student success is shown greatly all over the Houston area. Flor Dimassi agrees, as she graduated several years ago, becoming an entrepreneur. “Life is not hard, yet is not a big accumulation of experiences,” said Dimassi, an entrepreneur who recounted her experience as an HCC student, “we are looking for the next big

thing, and there is no app for that.” Maldonado announced several upgrades to some of the Centers of Excellence. One of them, at Northeast College, construction is planned for the brand-new Emergency Response Training Center at the Northeast Campus, in response to the past natural disasters Houston went through. The complex will train up to 4,000 first responders in water res-

cues. In addition, the current relocation of the HCC Katy Campus is still ongoing, as it plans to expand westward, and provide opportunities for students to transfer to the University of Houston-Victoria at Katy. The State of the College presented several promising statistics: graduation rates are still rising, as more and more students have opportunities to take classes in less time. Uni-

versity partnerships with several universities has also brought great result to students as well, with seamless transfer plans making it easier for students to obtain their four-year degrees. “Life is not hard, yet is not a big accumulation of experiences,” said Dimassi, an entrepreneur who recounted her experience as an HCC student, “we are looking for the next big thing, and there is no app for that.”