Today’s Weather
55/38 Cloudy with rain tapering off during the day. Partly cloudy and chilly at night.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 • Vol. 41, No. 3 • HCCEgalitarian.com Psi Kappa hosts LGBT activist see Community, Page 4
Astros’ Castro seeks offensive bounce back see Sports, Page 8
Review: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is like porn see A&E, page 10
12-round fight Champion boxer’s daughter battles rare marrow disease John Cañamar The Egalitarian
With 28 professional fights and years inside the ropes, former North American Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight Champion David Donis knows how to attack an opponent. However, the opponent he currently faces does not have a mean left hook. It is not even a person … and he’s forced to be the corner man in this fight. Donis’ 19-year-old daughter, Briana Donis, is in the midst of a 12-round fight Image courtesy of Yvonne Donis against aplastic anemia — with a smile on Briana Donis prepares to enter a CT scan as part of her treatment for aplastic anemia, a her face and the determination to go the rare bone marrow disease.
distance. Briana radiates a tremendous amount of positive energy and says, “I know I was placed here for a purpose. If that purpose is to spread the word about aplastic anemia, then that is what I intend to do.” Briana was a senior at Mayde Creek High School a year ago. She said she noticed one day that she was always tired, thinking that maybe she was taking on too much with school and work. She later noticed bruising, even though she was not doing any physical activities
HCC accelerates college for students Alyssa Foley
The Egalitarian Houston Community College offers tuition-free classes for high school students through the dual credit program. Dual credit allows high school students to take college-level classes and apply the credit both toward their high school diploma and a college degree. “It’s a very successful program. I think that people ought to know that we do have good students in dual credit,” said Program Director Monique Smith. Smith is the director of HCC Central
college’s dual credit and early college high school program. She continued, “a lot of people have the tendency to think that because they’re high school kids they’re not, um, mature enough intellectually—mature enough emotionally—to handle the college environment. But what I have found is that with proper support and academic guidance, they are able to handle it.” According to institutional data, HCC has 5,720 dual credit students enrolled in the Spring 2015 semester. That number includes all the dual credit students on HCC campuses and at
high schools HCC has partnered with. All six HCC colleges offer dual enrollment. HCC dual credit classes are often taught at high schools, but early college high school students, homeschoolers and others also take HCC classes on the college campuses. High schools in Houston ISD, Alief ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD, Stafford ISD, North Forest ISD as well as some private and charter schools partner with HCC to offer dual credit classes on their campuses. see
Dual Credit Student, Page 3
The Official Student Newspaper Of The Houston Community College System
see
Briana’s Fight, Page 3
Campus Briefs hccegalitarian.com
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Interested in having your event in the campus briefs? Want the HCC Community to know that you have an upcoming meeting or an event? Let us help! E-mail your event info to hometeam@hccegalitarian.com!
Today HCC Foundation Scholarships The HCC Foundation is now acception applications for HCC Foundation Scholarships . The foundation has nearly 200 scholarship opportunities available annually to award to students. The HCCF Scholarship Application is available online at www.hccsfoundation. org/scholarships<http:// www.hccsfoundation.org/ scholarships>. The application will be open through Friday, June 5. Scholarship award notifications will be sent by email in July. The HCC Foundation scholarship application is now fully automated using STARS Online and is different from previous years’ applications. Students can now easily upload their transcript and supporting documents to the online application. Additionally, the personal essay is now part of the online application. Students are also able to save their progress and return to the application to complete it at any time before the deadline date. Spring Branch Art Gallery Houston area artists will be featured in The Guest Artist Exhibition at HCC Northwest Spring Branch Art Gallery. Two Houston area artists are showing off their work at the gallery for free until the end of February. The works by Melanie Loew and Marios Liolios feature photography and mixed-media paintings. The gallery runs through Saturday and is free and open to the public. Gallery hours: Monday/ Wednesday, 1 - 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday/Thursday, noon - 7:30 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Contact Michael Gonzales at michael.gonzales@hccs. edu or 713.718.8252 for more information.
ZUZU African Acrobats The ZUZU African Acrobats will perform at the Stafford Campus Learning Hub, located at 10041 Cash Road in Stafford, at 11:30 a.m. The acrobats will wow HCC Southwest students with their creativity, grace and athleticism as they perform to music. Counseling Workshop A communication in higher education workshop is scheduled to begin at noon in Room 101 of the Learning Hub at Central Campus, located at 1300 Holman St. College counselors will go over the nuances of communication in higher education from the aspect of students, faculty and staff. All Lives Matter: A Roundtable Discussion Part I The Men of Honor will host a roundtable discussion “All Lives Matter” in Room C107 of the West Loop Camups, located at 5601 West Loop South. The discussion coincides with Black History Month. For more information, contact Men of Honor President John Williams at 713.718.6794. God Loves Uganda Steve Wolfe will host a showing of the movie “God Loves Uganda” at 12:30 p.m. in the Cyber Lounge at the Katy Campus, located at 1550 Foxlake Drive. The movie explores the evangelical campaign to change African culture with values imported from America’s Christian Right.
February 26 Library Lunch Series The Library Lunch series continues with “College Success for Students with Diverse Abilities” Thursday, Feb. 26 at noon at Eastside Campus (6815 Rustic) Learning Hub Library iCafe. HCC ADA Counselor John Reno will discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act, steps for students to receive accomodations, identifiying
the needs in the classroom, opportunities the ADA provides and more. The event is open to HCC employees, students and the general public. RSVP at keitha. robinson@hccs.edu or call 713.718.8298. Of Mice and Men Central Drama presents “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck’s tale of George and Lennie, drifters working the fields of California and dreaming of a farm of their own. When Lennie runs into trouble, George must choose between that dream and his trusting friend. Mature language and themes. The performance runs Feb. 26-28 in Theatre One and tickets are $10 for general admission and $7 for students and seniors. For more information, call 713.718.6570.
February 27 Southeast SGA Meeting The Southeast SGA will hold its general meeting Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Learning Hub of the Eastside Campus. HCC Career development Job Fair The Office of Career Planning will provide students, as well as the community, access to different career vendors. The event is scheduled for Friday at 8 a.m. at the West Loop Campus Auditorium.
March 7 Southeast SGA Garage Sale HCC-Southeast is having a Garage Sale on Sunday, March 7. The main purpose of this event is to fund raise. It is an open garage sale for any club, organization or personal cause. Individuals who want to take part in this event have to pay a fee of $20 dollars per table. The amount due must be paid to Ms. Katerine from Public Relations no later than Wednesday, March 4.
The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
Who’s Speaking Out? Are you going to the Rodeo? If so, what are you going to do? “Just going to the carnival for the rides and the food.”
sabrina galvan
“I want to go get some of the good food.”
Melvin Balimattathio
“I have never been to the Rodeo but I am excited to go see the carnival and all of the food.” Jesse Betancourt
“I am going for both the carnival and to see John Legend. I go with my friends and we wear our Rodeo wear like our boots and go out and have fun.” Shakiyla joseph
The Egalitarian is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Houston Community College. All articles, photographs and graphics are property of The Egalitarian and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the writeen permission of the editor-in-chief and adviser. The Egalitarian is published twice-monthly on Wednesdays with a run count of 8,000 copies per issue during the 2015 Spring semester. The paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public on Wednesdays the paper is published.
The Egalitarian is the official student newspaper of the Houston Community College System. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the ditors, staff or student body. The Egalitarian is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Association (CMA).
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The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
News
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Page 3
Briana’s Fight, From Page 1 that would cause bruising. Briana noticed other little signs that individually meant little until you looked at everything as a big picture. “I thought to myself, I should not be bleeding this much from a paper cut. It just would not stop bleeding.” Briana expressed speaking about the different warning signs she was picking up on. Briana’s mother, Yvonne Donis, took her to the doctor at the advice of her mother. After a routine checkup and some blood work, the doctor told them that they would have an answer in two days on what was happening to Briana. The results came back and the doctor told Briana that he had good and bad news: The bad news was she had been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, and the good news was that there is a cure. According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, aplastic anemia is a condition when the bone marrow’s stem cells do not make enough new blood cells. Most often, all three types of blood cells — red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets – are affected. The disease occurs in only one to two people per million annually — an estimated 300 to 600 new cases across all age groups in the U.S. It leaves affected persons feeling fatigued and with a higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Rare and serious, it can develop at any age. It may occur suddenly, or it may occur slowly and get worse over a long period of time. Although associated with some
Dual Credit Student, From Page 1 Dual credit classes are collegelevel classes taught by college faculty, using the same curricula, materials and grading methods as other college classes. The program is approved and regulated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. With the exception of out-ofdistrict fees, the HCC Board of Trustees has waived tuition for dual credit students. Out-ofdistrict dual credit students only have to pay the out-of-district fees. According to the HCC tuition calculator, the difference between in-district and out-of-district cost
cancers and cancer treatments, the disease is not considered a type of cancer. Treatment for aplastic anemia may include medications, blood transfusions or a stem cell transplant. With that news, Donis family’s lives changed. The biggest change at first for Briana was that she was not able to complete high school in the normal sense. She was no longer able to attend her school because of her immune system is weakened by the disease. However, she was able to walk across the stage for graduation. Briana is one of the lucky few that was matched with a donor for a bone marrow transplant. She was matched with a donor because the donor took the time to register with the Bone Marrow Registry at www.bethematch.org. The process of being registered is quite simple. The hardest step is the first one of actually going to the website and answering a brief questionnaire. The following step is to swab your cheek with the provided swab stick (a medical Q-tip). Place the swap stick in the provided box. Finally drop the prepaid postage box in a mailbox and Be The Match will do the rest. Once a donor was matched with Briana, she started a regiment of different types of chemotherapy. This process weakened her immune system to the point where she could not be around more than one or two people at a time. Because of this side effect the Donis family is living in two
homes-Briana and Yvonne in an apartment near the hospital and David and Briana’s two younger sisters at home near Katy. Finally, December arrived for the much-needed bone marrow transplant. Briana was prepped and with a process similar to receiving an IV. The bag of bone marrow was hung on “Robi” and then pumped into her veins. Robi is the name that Briana gave the stand that holds the IV bags and pumps that is connected to her every time that she is admitted to the hospital. “December 18 is my new birthday, because it is the day I received my transplant which has given me a chance at life,” Briana tells people she meets. The transplant worked well at first. Two weeks after believing that her prayers had been answered, she was slapped with the fact that the transplant was a failure and her body rejected the donor’s bone marrow. Within this past month, Briana was given the news that there are two possible donors that could be a match for her. This is the best news that she could hope for even though she has to endure a new round of chemotherapy before a transplant can be performed once again. This back and forth battle that Briana is in with AA keeps throwing more twist and turns at her than a roller coaster. On Sunday, Briana had four biopsies. One of which came back
positive for a fungal infection. This finding will keep Briana hospitalized for several months while the fungus is removed. Until the doctors are able to remove the fungus, she will not be able to get a transplant. “The only thing that I ask is for you to spread the message of how important it is for people to donate blood and register with the BMR,” Briana said. The other thing that she asked, was for everyone not to feel pity for
——— To find the nearest blood bank go to www.giveblood.org. To follow Briana’s battle you can like her Facebook page: www. facebook.com/BrivsAplasticAnemia.
for a three-credit-hour course is $216 for Spring 2015. “They all love it,” Smith said, referring to both participating students and their parents, “for parents, of course, it is always a tuition break.” The waived tuition for dual credit students is a policy voted on by the elected HCC Board of Trustees. It’s a policy which is subject to change by the board’s vote. Smith explained that based on the Memorandum of Understanding HCC has its ISD partners, the cost of the dual credit students’ college textbooks
is passed on to the school. Dual credit students are not eligible for financial aid; a high school diploma or GED is required to receive financial aid. Dual students are allowed to enroll in two classes per Spring, Summer or Fall regular semesters, unless they can prove exceptional academic ability. Smith said that on average, if a student begins taking college classes in the 11th grade they will graduate high school with about twelve hours of college credit, but students who only begin taking college classes in their senior year graduate high school with an
average six to nine college credits. An Oct. 2014 study conducted by Texas-ACT College Success Research Consortium found that students with dual credit were 15 percent more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree in six years than students with no dual credit experience. Dual credit students usually take core curriculum courses, but Smith has had students take classes like accounting while still in high school. To a certain point, they have flexibility in their course selection. However, Smith cautioned, “When we say dual credit, it means that it should
count for high school credit as well.” Smith gave an example of how state articulation agreements work, “If the student takes English 1301 at the college level, let’s go ahead and equate that. Give them half a credit for [high school] English 3A, English 4B, so on and so forth.” “Of course, they have to have their college readiness in reading and writing especially,” Smith added. Like other HCC students, dual credit students must meet the State of Texas Success Initiative or TSI requirements and meet course prerequisites. Students must place into college-
Image courtesy of Yvonne Donis Briana Donis, with her ever-present stand she calls Robi, performs yoga while undergoing treatment for aplastic anemia. her but to help spread light onto the disease known as aplastic anemia. You can donate blood at your local blood bank in honor of Briana by giving the center her name. The blood will not go directly to her, but with every donation up to three lives can be saved.
Community hccegalitarian.com
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The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
Psi Kappa hosts LGBT activist Alyssa Foley
The Egalitarian “We want to be equalized. We want to be treated like everybody else...We want to be able to live our lives without discrimination,” Jack Valinski calmly explained to a student who asked, “What exactly do gays want?” Southwest Psi Kappa Psychology Club hosted Jack Valinski, the director of operations for the Houston Equal Rights Alliance, at their Eighth Annual Valentine’s Week Speaker event, Wednesday, Feb. 11 at the Stafford campus. “I hope that you at least respect us and we respect you,” Valinski added. “The LGBT community is a lot different from all other communities,” Valinski said, “people come from all over, they feel ostracized, they’re orphans,” but the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community he added, “is their community of choice.” “In Texas and Houston, you can get fired for being gay,” Valinski claimed, referring to the fact that Texas, along with twenty-eight other states, currently does not have statewide laws specifically prohibiting all employers from engaging in discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. “We’re not where we want to be, they’re still after us in so many ways,” Valinski said about the movement. However, he still seemed optimistic, “The fact that
HCC holds scholarship gala John Cañamar The Egalitarian
Image courtesy of Psi Kappa Jack Valinski, director of operations for the Houston Equal Rights Alliance speaks to HCC students about the LGBT movement at Psi Kappa’s 8th Annual Valentine’s Week Speaker event, Wednesday, Feb. 11 at the Stafford campus. thirty-seven states have legalized marriage is incredible…we’ve gained so many things,” adding, “A lot of these things just happen because you do the right things and you persist.” Valinski discussed on how Houston’s current Mayor Annise Parker did not run on an “I’m a lesbian” platform, as he described it. She ran on her community experience and on issues. “That’s really, really important is that people are out,” Valinski said, “That they tell their neighbors who they are.”
Besides being the current director of operations for the Houston Equal Rights Alliance, in Valinski’s three decades of activism, he has also been on the board of the Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Political Caucus and is a past executive director of Pride Houston Inc., which organizes the Pride Parade and Festival. He spoke about what it takes to run an organization. “You’ve got to be engaged,” he said. “If you’re going to run an organization—an activist organization—you have
to be open,” Valinski added, “Any possible way you can work with people—and they’re not disruptive—do that.” Cris Fornesa, Psi Kappa president, was glad that Valinski talked about members of the LGBT community coming out. “A lot of people are still struggling with society in general, for example, or like, the people themselves.” Psi Kappa is a psychology club open to all HCC students. Visit PsiKappa.BlogSpot.com and Facebook.com/PsiKappa
On Saturday, Houston Community College held its annual Black History Scholarship Gala at The Hotel Zaza. The event was hosted by KHOU Anchor Mia Gradney and KPRC Meteorologist Khambrel Marshall. More than 300 members of the community -including members of the HCC Board of Trustees, faculty and some students - attended the Gala. Last year’s scholarship recipients were recognized along with HCC Black History Committee Class of 2015 Unstoppable Leaders. Members of the 2015 class were Dr. Michelle Lyn and Genora Boykins. Also recognized at the Gala were Melanie Lawson and State Representative Sylvester Turner, who received the Joyce M. Reynolds Lifetime Achievement Award. Eight-year NFL player, author and sports broadcaster Spencer Tillman was the keynote speaker for the evening. Tillman’s message was that one must lead by example in our actions, to teach consistency and to promote a positive mindset for the future of our next generation and nation. For entertainment, the talented Media Cole enlightened the crowd with her smooth voice and snazzy scatting. Cole said that the event is on the short list of her most memorable performances because of what the event represented. Cole added that being selected to perform at the gala was a great honored to her. HCC student and Men of Honor President, John Williams, stated, “As Men of Honor President, being here tonight means honoring the legacy that our past and present leaders have afforded us.” Williams went on to say, “As a man it means that it is now my responsibility to plant and grow the seed in our youth. Not only must I invest but defend their future so that they can lead us for generations to come.”
The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Page 5
White House race revs up
County redevelops forsaken cemetery
Will Weissert
LABELLE, Texas (AP) — Cleveland Dyer and his son, Griffin, pulled on their boots, equipped themselves with machetes and waded into the woods that covered the Lincoln-Broussard Cemetery on Labelle Road, abandoned to tallow trees, assorted oaks and underbrush. The Dyers were looking for Cleveland’s father, Griffin, who died in 1932, sometime around February or March, after he fell from a mast aboard a tugboat that steamed up and down the Neches River from Sabine Pass to Beaumont. The Dyers could not penetrate the dense woods and gave up trying to find Griffin Dyer’s grave. He was born in 1899, sometime in February. His son, Cleveland, now 96, isn’t sure of the date. He remembers that his father fell aboard the tug on which he worked, the George C. Greer. He remembers his father had come home bloody to the family’s home on Tagore Street in the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood of Beaumont. He remembers that the day after the bleeding stopped, a preacher came to the house. He remembers his father telling the preacher that he would be at work the next day. “Then he passed,” Cleveland Dyer said as the Jefferson County Historical Commission recorded his recollections to preserve as an oral history. When his father was buried, Cleveland Dyer was 13 years old. “Children at that time, they didn’t tell ‘em too much,” he said. “You kept to yourself.” Jefferson County Commissioners Court took over the historic cemetery on the west side of Labelle Road almost two years ago to clean it up and maintain it. It gave the county a space to dedicate to pauper burials, which now are done at Claybar Haven of Rest Cemetery on U.S. 90 west of Beaumont.
Dan Wallach
Beaumont Enterprise
The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Texas doesn’t open the voting in presidential campaigns like Iowa and New Hampshire do, but the 2016 Republican race already feels well underway in America’s largest conservative state. Much earlier than usual, potential candidates, operatives and donors are maneuvering for advantage here. The urgency comes from Texas’ moving its election from the end of the primary calendar toward the beginning. Which, for Republicans, changes everything. Already, would-be presidential hopeful and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has recruited the state’s Republican Party chairman to handle communication strategies. Former Gov. Rick Perry is enlisting powerful Texas donors to prove he’s serious about 2016,
AP File Photo This combo of 2015 file photos, from top left clockwise, shows former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, bottom right. Texas doesn’t open the voting in presidential campaigns like Iowa and New Hampshire do, but the 2016 Republican race already feels well underway in America’s largest conservative state. Texas’ plan to hold its 2016 primary on March 1 means that only the traditional two early voting states, along with South Carolina and Nevada, would predate it. notwithstanding his flame-out three years ago. New Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is stepping forward as a more prominent conservative voice as his father Jeb readies a run, and Sen. Ted Cruz is building a broader fundraising apparatus. Texas’ plan to hold its 2016 primary on March 1 means that only the traditional two early voting states, along with South
Carolina and Nevada, would predate it, though some other states may eventually move their primaries up too. In 2012, Texas’ primary came in late May, when the GOP race was already settled. Traditionally, opening the campaign with small states has allowed the candidates to concentrate on connecting with highly motivated groups of voters rather than wooing the masses, and
gradually building momentum. Adding an early behemoth like Texas makes a difference. More than 150 delegates to the GOP nominating convention are at stake in one place, dozens more than Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada combined. And Texas’s 270,000 square miles requires more campaigning by television across 20 cash-draining media markets.
U.S. seeks stay of ruling on immigration action Juan A. Lozano
The Associated Press HOUSTON — The U.S. government asked a federal judge Monday to lift his temporary hold on President Barack Obama’s action to shield millions of immigrants in the country illegally from deportation. The Justice Department’s motion for a stay was filed with the court of U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville, Texas. The federal government on Monday also filed a three-page notice with Hanen, telling him it is appealing his decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court in New Orleans. Last week, Hanen issued a preliminary injunction sought by 26 states suing to halt the executive action by Obama, who wants to spare from deportation as many as 5 million people who are in the U.S. illegally. The
states, led by Texas, have argued the action is unconstitutional and would force states to invest more in law enforcement, health care and education. If Hanen puts his ruling on hold during the appeal to the 5th Circuit, then Obama’s immigration action would be allowed to go forward while the lawsuit proceeds through the courts. Obama announced the executive action in November, saying lack of action by Congress forced him to make sweeping changes to immigration rules on his own. Republicans, who say Obama has overstepped his authority, are blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless Democrats agree to cancel Obama’s order. Justice Department attorneys said a stay of Hanen’s ruling is necessary “to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is able to
most effectively protect national security, public safety, and the integrity of the border.” The 20page motion argued that keeping the temporary hold “would also harm the interests of the public and of third parties who will be deprived of significant law enforcement and humanitarian benefits of prompt implementation” of the president’s immigration action. Government lawyers also contended Hanen lacked the authority to issue the injunction, the national effect of which is “vastly” excessive. The injunction issued by Hanen should only focus on Texas “so that we can move forward with these executive actions in other states,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday. It is not unheard of for judges to delay rulings they have issued. Last year, a federal judge ruled Texas’ same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional but put that on hold to allow the state to appeal.
Campus Life hccegalitarian.com
page 6 - Wednesday, february 25, 2015
The sTudenT VoiCe of housTon CommuniTy CoLLege sinCe 1974
Top Left - Sydnee Jules, BIology preparing for a test and grabbing a snack. Stafford Campus (Photo By John Canamar) Top Right - Deandre Johnson freshman. Relaxing listening to music before class. South East Campus (Photo By Gilbert Bernal) Bottom Right - Klaelle Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;hopmme Sophmore. Researching in the computer lab at the South East Campus. (Photo By Gilbert Bernal) Bottom Left - Denise Polk, Freshman. Taking care of homework in between classes at the South East Campus. (Photo By Gilbert Bernal)
Campus Life hccegalitarian.com
The sTudenT VoiCe of housTon CommuniTy CoLLege sinCe 1974
Wednesday, february 25, 2015 - page 7
Left - Brandon L. , Business major at the West Loop Campus. (Photo By Sandi Mercado) Right- Adaku Mpanugo, Business studying at South East Campus. (Photo By Gilbert Bernal) Below - Krupa Patel, Nursing studying at the Stafford Campus. (Photo By John Canamar)
Sports hccegalitarian.com
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The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
Castro looks to regain groove
NBA could use new playoff format
Noah Trister
MIAMI — The Brooklyn Nets are on pace to finish 34-48 this season. The Brooklyn Nets are also on pace to make the NBA playoffs. By now it’s not exactly a major news flash that the Eastern Conference isn’t anywhere near as deep as the Western Conference ... or, perhaps, most wading pools. The Nets and Miami Heat, who would both be in the playoffs if they started today with records way below .500, wouldn’t be the worst teams in NBA history to make the postseason. Chicago, San Antonio and Boston have all had teams that, when combining regular-season and postseason records, have had teams make the playoffs with winning percentags of .419 or less twice. And the Bulls, Spurs and Celtics franchises are basketball royalty. But even they’re not immune to down times. One of the ideas that has been floated — and will likely one day happen, somehow — is for the best 16 teams to make the playoffs, regardless of conference. So here’s a look at what that playoff bracket would look like, if this season ended Sunday: —1. Golden St. vs. 16. New Orleans. — 2. Atlanta vs. 15. Phoenix. — 3. Memphis vs. 14. Okla. City. — 4. Houston vs. 13. Milwaukee. —5. Toronto vs. 12. Washington. —6. L.A. Clippers vs. 11. Cleveland. — 7. Dallas vs. 10. San Antonio. — 8. Portland vs. 9. Chicago. Seriously, who wouldn’t take that right now (except Miami and Brooklyn, who would fall off the postseason bracket in this system)? Anthony Davis vs. the Splash Brothers in a first-round series. Chris Paul matching wits with LeBron James to open the playoffs (and everyone who follows college basketball’s postseason knows an 11 seed has to beat a 6 seed every year). Bulls vs. Blazers, a rematch of NBA Finals past in an openinground matchup.
Tim Reynolds
AP Basketball Writer
AP Baseball Writer KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Although he’ll turn 28 this June, Jason Castro has really only played two full seasons in the major leagues. The Houston catcher is still learning how to outsmart opposing pitchers. “With the way baseball is at this point, there’s so much information and video and ways that the opponents can try to gain a competitive advantage by studying you as a player basically, breaking you down,” Castro said. “Adaptation is kind of your best tool to combat that. Being able to adjust to what your opponent is trying to do to you is really your best offense.” Castro was an All-Star in 2013, when the Astros lost 111
David Goldman/AP PHOTO Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro listens during a drill at a spring training baseball workout Saturday in Kissimmee, Fla. games. Houston finally began making some strides last year, but Castro’s offensive numbers dipped significantly. He’s hoping this will be the season when everything comes together — and he can establish himself as a standout catcher both offensively and defensively. Castro made his big league debut in 2010, then had to miss
the whole 2011 season because of a torn knee ligament. There were knee issues the following two years as well, but in 2013 he was able to play 120 games, hitting .276 with 18 home runs and earning an All-Star nod. That’s the level the Astros would like Castro to return to after his offensive performance regressed in 2014. He batted .222
last year, and although he hit 14 homers, he struck out every 3.39 plate appearances, the fifthworst ratio in baseball. Houston’s 70-92 season in 2014 came on the heels of three straight years of at least 106 losses. There is clearly some talent on the roster now. Jose Altuve won a batting title last season, while Chris Carter hit 37
OKC appears to be big winners at NBA trade deadline The NBA’s trade deadline came with a total of 11 trades involving 17 teams making deals. When the dust settled 34 players switched jerseys and 8 future players, yet to be drafted, were dealt all in the name of improving their respective team’s position to win a championship. The Phoenix Suns trade Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat for Danny Granger, Norris Cole, Shawne Williams and Justin Hamilton and two first round picks. The Suns were not done yet; they then traded Cole, Hamilton and Williams to the New Orleans Pelicans for John Salmons. In a six-player, three-team deal, the Oklahoma City Thunder trade Reggie Jackson to the Detroit Pistons and Kendrick
Perkins to the Utah Jazz. In return the Thunder received Enes Kanter and Steve Novak from the Jazz and D.J. Augustin and Kyle Singler from the Pistons. Kevin Garnett was moved by the Brooklyn Nets to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Thaddeus Young. In a three-team negotiation the Milwaukee Bucks send Brandon Knight to the Phoenix Suns while the Suns send the Philadelphia 76ers a first round draft pick. The Bucks receive Michael-Carter Williams from the 76ers along with Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis from Phoenix. The Portland Trail Blazers landed guard Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee from the Denver
Threeand-out John Cañamar
Nuggets, in return for Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson and a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2016. Isaiah Thomas finds himself no longer a Phoenix Suns but a Boston Celtics after being trade for a future first-round pick and Marcus Thornton. The Houston Rockets add K.J. McDaniels from the 76ers and Pablo Prigioni from the New York Knicks. The Rockets send Isaiah Canaan and a second round draft pick to the 76ers,
while sending Alexey Shved and two second round draft picks to the Knicks. The Washington Wizards acquired 28 year-old Ramon Sessions from the Sacramento Kings for the 38 year-old Andre Miller. Tayshaun Prince is returning to the Detroit Pistons while Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome will now call the Boston Celtics their team. While it seems that the Thunder may have had the best deal at the end of all the moving and shaking, no one will really know who mad the best negotiations until the end of the season when only one team will raise the NBA championship trophy.
The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
THE
EGALITARIAN
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Page 9
Arts &Entertainment hccegalitarian.com
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EGALITARIAN
Page 10 - Wednesday, February 25, 2015
The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
Fifty shades of porn
‘AHS’ actor Woolf dies in car accident
Jada Newsome
The Associated Press
The Egalitarian
“Fifty Shades of Grey” written by E. L. James and directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson has shocked audiences nationwide with an excessive amount of nudity. It even caused some theaters to ban the R-rated film. Since its release on Feb. 13, critics have either hated or loved this film. Despite the mixed reviews, “Fifty Shades of Grey” has earned about $323 million, becoming a box office sensation. During the film, there are some red flags when it comes to the characters Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). In the books, Anastasia and Christian have an instant attraction. However, in the film, there is no connection between the two, only awkwardness. In addition, it feels as if the actors are forcing themselves to play their characters instead of letting
Universal Pictures and Focus Features/AP PHOTO In this image released by Universal Pictures and Focus Features, Dakota Johnson, left, and Jamie Dornan appear in a scene from “Fifty Shades of Grey.” it come naturally. Another red flag is the characters Elliot Grey (Luke Grimes) and Kate Kavanagh (Eloise Mumford) Their portrayal of their characters was adequate, but they’re older than their characters. In the books, these characters were in their 20s. Kate just graduated from college so she should be about 22. Instead, they cast somebody who looked about 30 to play her. As for Elliot, his appearance in
the movie did not seem to reflect his description in the book, clean cut and fit, instead he looked more like a drug addict and also a little too old for his role. Despite the red flags, the film was witty because the scriptwriters stuck closely to the book. The audience seemed pleased and interested in the film, and the never-ending sex scenes. Throughout the movie there is a lot of nudity, so it feels like
a porno movie. It should be renamed Fifty Shades of Porn. It’s awkward to watch, but still entertaining. There were many people in the audience shouting out catcalls during racy scenes. Throughout the movie there are hits and some misses, but overall I enjoyed this film and certainly will watch its sequel, which is going to premiere nationwide late next year. Also, try not to get any ideas from the film.
LOS ANGELES — A representative for Ben Woolf, an actor on “American Horror Story,” says Woolf has died. The actor died Monday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, publicist Zack Teperman said. Woolf’s family was at his side. The 4-foot-4 actor was hospitalized in critical condition after he was hit by the side mirror of a passing vehicle on an LA area street. The motorist stopped at the scene last Thursday night and was not cited or arrested. Woolf was a cast member on the FX show since 2011. In a statement, Woolf’s family said they have been overwhelmed by the love and support they’ve received for him. Teperman, his publicist, called Woolf “one-of-a-kind,” and a caring and hard-working man.
Asia Society to show ‘Wayang Kulit’ Chutiya Metheesupapak The Egalitarian
Image Courtesy of Pusaka
The Asia Society will be showing the shadow puppet “Wayang Kulit” Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Ticket can be purchased at: www.AsiaSociety. org/Texas. Wayang Kulit is Javanese. The term “Wayang” is used for particular kinds of theater and “Kulit” means skin. Wayang Kulit “Kelantan” story is based on the Hindu epic called “Ramayana”,
which was adapted in Muslim villages in the Kelantan region in Malaysia. The show features Tok Dalang or puppet master telling the story with over 40 voices and is accompanied with the traditional orchestra folkmusic band. The band has about 7-10 musicians who play hand drums, gongs, cymbals and woodwind. The puppets are made with cow and buffalo skin for the body of the puppets, and the sticks are made out of buffalo horns. Although many countries in Southeast Asia use almost the same materials for puppet
production, the style is different and the story reflects on each society. Wayang Kulit “Kelantan” is one of the main Wayang Kulit that is shown in Southeast Asia. For example, Kelantan is very popular in the rural areas in Malaysia, but not so much much in the urban side. In 1960, the Wayang Kulit puppets began to be developed in Thailand, which made a good tourist attraction. Some people believe that Wayang Kulit was the beginning of motion pictures on the screen, which used the shadow to reflect the puppets to the audience.
The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974
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EGALITARIAN
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Page 11
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 2015 EGALITARIAN STAFF Editor-in-Chief.................................................Alyssa Foley Managing Editor..........................................................TBA News Editor................................................. Jimmieka Mills Community Editor................................... Sabrina Alvarado Sports Editor............................................... John Cañamar A&E Editor...................................................................TBA Commentary Editor......................................................TBA Photo Editor................................................. Gilbert Bernal Social Media Mgr.........................................................TBA Staff Writer................................................Ariana Gonzalez Staff Writer....................................................Tamitra Harris Staff Writer.......................................... Christopher Joseph Staff Writer...................................Chutiya Metheesupapak Staff Writer...................................................... Maria Smith ———
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 8,000 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.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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.
John Shearer/Invision/AP PHOTO Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for best director for “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” at the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
‘Birdman’ takes flight at Oscars LOS ANGELES — The long take of “Birdman” has stretched all the way to the Academy Awards, where the jazzy, surreal comedy about an actor fleeing his superhero past took Hollywood’s top honor in a ceremony punctuated by passionate pleas for equality. On a stormy night in Hollywood, the 87th annual Academy Awards — which came in humbled by backlash to its all-white acting nominees — bristled with politics and heartfelt speeches about women’s rights, immigration, suicide prevention, governmental surveillance and race. In a battle of B-movies for best picture, the Oscars awarded “Birdman” best picture, opting for a movie that epitomizes Hollywood — showy, ego-mad, desperate for artistic credibility — over one (“Boyhood”) that prized naturalism and patience. “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” also won best director for Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, best original screenplay and best cinematography. “Maybe next year the government will inflict immigration restrictions,” said Innaritu, recalling last year’s best director winner, Alfonso Cuaron. “Two Mexicans in a row. That’s
suspicious, I guess.” Inarritu, a larger-than-life figure of frizzy hair regularly wrapped in a scarf, concluded the night’s many moving speeches that called for societal progress. Inarritu said he prays his native country finds “a government we deserve” and that immigrants to the U.S. “can be treated with the same dignity and the respect of the ones who came before and (built) this incredible immigrant nation.” The ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, hosted by Tony Award veteran Neil Patrick Harris, was heavy on song-and-dance to nearGrammy levels. Lady Gaga lavishly performed “The Hills Are Alive” from “The Sound of Music” with a rapt Julie Andrews looking on. The awards overwhelmingly went to less-seen independent films and were widely spread around. All eight of the bestpicture nominees won awards, including Eddie Redmayne for best actor for his technically nuanced performance as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything.” “Please know this that I am fully aware that I am a lucky, lucky man,” said the young British actor. “This belongs to all of the people around the world battling ALS.” All of Sunday’s big winners were first-timers, including best
actress winner Julianne Moore, who won for her performance as an academic with early onset Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice.” “I read an article that said that winning an Oscar could lead to living five years longer,” said Moore. “If that’s true, I’d really like to thank the academy because my husband is young than me.” Harris gave the Academy Awards a cheery tone that sought to celebrate Hollywood, while also slyly parodying it. He began the night: “Tonight we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest — I mean brightest.” Though Richard Linklater’s 12-years-in-making “Boyhood” was the critical favorite for much of awards season, it won only best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette. “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation,” said Arquette. “We have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once for all. And equal rights for women in the United States of America.” Cheers erupted throughout the Dolby, perhaps the loudest coming from a fellow supportingactress nominee Arquette bested: Meryl Streep. “Made my night,” Streep told Arquette backstage.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - Page 12
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The Student Voice of Houston Community College Since 1974