A. Diez - The Reporter Portfolio

The Reporter Art Director 2013-2014

The following pages are a group of spreads I believe are my best. I created them while serving as art director for Miami Dade College’s student newspaper The Reporter.

Friendly or Offensive

An exclusive Q&A with actor Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad, who was in town to promote his new film Need for Speed.

The Reporter’s Tomás Monzón debates whether the NFL should ban the use of the n-word on the field.

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From Meth to Speed

Brazilian softball player Raquelli Bianco has proven to be an offensive and pitching threat for the Lady Sharks this season.

A&E

Duel Diamond Threat

Miami Dade College community mourns the death of InterAmerican Campus professor David G. McGuirk.

SPORTS

NEWS

Gone But Unforgotten

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Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

—Carl Sagan

4VOL. 4, ISSUE 12 — MARCH 25, 2014 www.mdc.edu/thereporter

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Venezuelan Protests Hit Home Venezuelans in Miami and on campus are showing support for protesters in their country dissatisfied with the government.

By Tomás Monzón tomas.monzon001@mymdc.net For Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus student Diego Almaral, watching Venezuelan protesters being shot at and beaten in the streets of his country Is painful and personal. Like many Venezuelans abroad, he is trying to raise awareness about the situation.

“Even though I am far from my homeland, I will continue to fight for the good of my people,” Almaral said.

The Venezuelan protests sprang from dissatisfaction with living standards, a hobbled economy and high crime, as well as from the frustration of government opponents who felt shut out of the political system, The New York Times reported.

President Nicolás Maduro dismissed the protesters as coup-plotters and fascists.

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ANGELA DELGADO \ THE REPORTER

INDEX:

BRIEFING

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NEWS

Got News? Let Us Know.

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SPORTS

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A&E

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THE REPORTER IS THE FREE BIWEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE. ALL CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY MDC STUDENTS. THE REPORTER IS A PUBLIC FORUM FOR EXPRESSION.

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No Smoking

The Reporter highlights some of the movies featured at the Miami International Film Festival, which will run from March 7 to 16.

The Reporter’s Jonel Juste tackles the issue of whether e-cigarettes and cigarettes are any different.

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FORUM

MIFF 2014 Picks

The Miami Dade College men’s basketball team is headed to the state tournament in Ocala, Florida from March 5 to 9.

A&E

State Bound

The Miami Culinary Institute’s Cafe at Wolfson Campus offers an array of stylish and appetizing meals.

SPORTS

NEWS

Cafe Central

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S.O.S. 4VOL. 4, ISSUE 11 — MARCH 4, 2014 www.mdc.edu/thereporter

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Brayan Takes The Train A young man’s journey for an education stretches far beyond the path he takes to get there.

On The Move: Brayan Vazquez, 19, a computer science major at the North Campus, is undocumented. He commutes more than 100 miles to and from school each day he has class.

Story and images by Gregory Castillo g r e g o r y. c a s t i l l o 0 0 1 @ m y m d c . n e t

O

n a chilly morning in Boynton Beach, glimmers of dawn cut through the pitchblack sky, as Brayan Vazquez steps out of his home and begins a 55mile journey to school.

Brayan (pronounced BRY-uhn) is undocumented.

He doesn’t have a car or a driver’s license, so today, like every Tuesday and Thursday, his dad Jesus Vazquez heads to his

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BRIEFING

construction job in Boca Raton and drops Brayan, a 19-year-old computer science major at Miami Dade College, off at the Delray Beach Tri-Rail station to start his nearly two-hour trek to North Campus.

For undocumented students like Brayan, there aren’t many options for affordable higher education. Miami Dade College is one of two schools that offer in-state tuition waivers to those granted

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NEWS

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Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which Brayan was accepted for in 2013. He could get a driver’s license with his recently approved DACA, but affording a car and still having to make the one-hour plus drive would be unfeasible.

A little after 5 a.m. on the mornings he has class, Brayan drags himself out of bed, jumps in the shower, and grabs a bagged lunch made by his mother. It’s a long

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SPORTS

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commute many just wouldn’t make.

Closer schools like Palm Beach State College—about a 10-minute drive away from Brayan’s house— don’t offer the waiver, making the cost too expensive for him to afford.

At Palm Beach State, in-state students pay $98.25 per credit hour, while out-of-state students pay $358 per hour. At MDC the rates are similar, with in-state

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THE REPORTER IS THE FREE BIWEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE. ALL CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY MDC STUDENTS. THE REPORTER IS A PUBLIC FORUM FOR EXPRESSION.

tuition at $114.22, per credit, and out-of-state tuition at $398.50.

Without the waiver, Brayan would be looking at a tuition bill of about $4,800 for the four classes he is taking this semester. With it he pays a little more than $1,370.

According to Grace H. Truman, Director of College Relations & Marketing at PBSC, the school isn’t pursuing tuition waivers for TURN TO IMMIGRATION, PAGE 8

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THE REPORTER piece of legislation regarding in-state tuition for undocumented students was deundocumented students though the college bated in Florida and though it’s been disdoes support currently proposed legisla- cussed at several levels, nothing has ever tion as a long-term solution for students like been passed.

“There’s a lot of football left to be played,” Brayan.

The commute starts with a 15-minute said Nuñez of the bill’s chances of becomdrive from their home in Boynton Beach to ing law. “There are sixty days of legislature. the Delray Beach Tri-Rail station. On this While it’s sixty short days, it’s also sixty long particular day, they listen to Spanish oldies days. I’m confident that this is as good a on a local radio station. Brayan mumbles chance as any it’ll have.”

Students who attended at least three along with the lyrics, gazing out the passenger window through his black, thick- years of high school in the state and apply for college within two years of graduation rimmed glasses. would be covered Suddenly, Jesus by the bill. At least points out the passen15 other states have ger window, catching passed similar laws. a glimpse of a white “It’s not just a quesbus. tion of fairness, it’s a “Look there,” Jequestion about what sus says, pointing at Miles Brayan travels during type of society and the bus. “Those are commute to and from school. economy we want agricultural workto live in,” said Jose ers; those are the jobs Javier Rodriguez, many of us end up (D) Representative for District 112 of Mihaving to work when we get here.”

They arrive at the station and say their ami. “These are students that the state has goodbyes for the day. As the sun starts to already invested in going through high rise, Brayan waits for a few minutes on a school. Just at the point where they’re going to start being productive in society they’re bench before the train approaches.

When it arrives he quickly scans an elec- being cut off.”

Eduardo Padrón, the president at MDC, tronic boarding pass on the tap-and-go station and weaves through commuters into believes helping students in this position the train, taking the stairs to the top of the isn’t as much an intellectual issue as it is cabin. He grabs a window seat, puts on his a moral one. He commends students like headphones, listening to Puerto-Rican al- Brayan for their commitment to an educaternative hip-hop musicians Calle 13. He tion and recalls that without similar opporbegins reading through his “We the People” tunities he himself wouldn’t have been in the place he is today. textbook for his government class.

“If I had to pay four times the cost of tuThe train glides by nine other stations before reaching the Opa-Locka Station; he ition at the time I came here I would not then hops on a bus to get to North Campus have been able to complete college,” Padrón said. “This is very personal. I think at around 8:30 a.m.

On most school days, Brayan leaves home (tuition equality) is personal to anyone who around 6 a.m. and doesn’t return until 6 understands the basic fabric of America. p.m. He’ll arrive early, go to his classes, It’s something that needs to happen and it study in the computer lab and later mirror needs to happen now.” his morning trip to the background of a setting sun.

“I worry if school is even worth it,” Brayan said, during a recent commute. “Can I pay for next semester? I had to drop one of the five classes I had picked. This is what my Growing up in Jaral del Progreso, a city parents want, this is their dream. So many about four hours northwest of Mexico City of my uncles, aunts and cousins have so was a humble start. much hope in me. They believe in me more “I had a doll, it had one broken eye. I used than I do sometimes.” to make it clothes, sew little dresses for it,” said Brayan’s mother, Maria de los Angeles Aguilar. “I saw my doll as beautiful but she was ragged and broken. I always dreamed when I could, I wanted to give my kids something I never had.”

On a recent Wednesday night, the family As the national conversation on immigration reform remains a top-shelf issue, Flori- gathers in the living room of the Boynton Beach home they just recently moved into. da is no exception.

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed Abril Denisse Vazquez, Brayan’s nine-yearthe Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals old sister, is sitting on a couch on the far side (DACA). The memorandum provides a tem- of the room, finishing her homework. Jesus porary solution for undocumented immi- and Maria recall memories of their early life in Mexico, as Brayan grants who are under listens intently.

31, came to the U.S. Jesus and Maria while under the age of were born and raised 16 and have attended, in Jaral del Progreso. attend or have graduThey met in high ated from high school school and started or completed a GenHours Brayan travels to and dating after Maria eral Education Develfrom school. split up with a boyopment (GED) degree. friend. They laugh as Rick Scott, facing they talk about how re-election in November and hoping to gain momentum with they would go out on Sundays, per tradition, Hispanic voters, is starting to feel increased to “El Jardin” or the garden. It was a small pressure from Florida legislators regarding park where people would walk around lookthe issue of tuition equality for undocu- ing for dates and mingle. Single women would walk in one line and the men would mented students.

"I'll certainly consider it," Scott told the walk in a parallel line, going for a stroll in Florida Hispanic Legislative Caucus in early hopes of finding a match.

“When I met him and he asked me to go February, neither announcing or denouncing support for new legislation. "I think tu- around the garden, we started to get to know each other more,” Maria said. Her smile got ition is too high."

In February, Bill HB-851, was filed in the bigger as she looked toward her husband. house by District 119 Representative Jea- “He was so quiet. I felt so happy when I was nette Nuñez (R) of Miami. The bill aims to with him. I knew every Sunday we’d go out. establish resident status for tuition purpos- I even took him to church.”

Jesus would leave to the U.S. early in es for cases like Brayan’s.

Passing legislation like that comes with their relationship, already having family in challenges. It’s been 11 years since the first Arizona.

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No Place Like Home: The northbound train arrives at the Opa Locka station a little after 4 p.m. on Feb 13

A Better Future

Mangonia Park Station West Palm Beach Station Lake Worth Station Boynton Beach Station

Politics As Usual

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Delray Beach Station

Palm Beach County

Boca Raton Station

Pompano Beach Station Cypress Creek Station Broward County

Ft. Lauderdale Station Ft. Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport Station at Dania Beach Sheridan Street Station Hollywood Station Golden Glades Station Opa-Locka Station Metrorail Transfer Sattion

Miami-Dade County

Hieleah Market / Miami Airport Station International Airport

Metrorail

Tri-Rail Station Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer Station

Source: Tri Rail | Infographic: Marco Caridad/The Reporter

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MARCH 4, 2014 | NEWS

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Maria remembers the day to the tee; January 4, 1994. It was a sad day, she said softly, the uncertainty of the man she loved weighing on her.

They wouldn’t speak again until November of the same year but Maria always After his first class, Brayan usually grabs prayed for him. When they finally spoke a seat by the lake at North Campus to eat his on the phone, Jesus told her he missed her. lunch. Today he’s eating the turkey, queso Maria didn’t tell him, but she decided she’d fresco and avocado sandwiches his mother wait for him. made him early in the morning, along with When he returned to Mexico, a few years grapes, a protein bar and a bottled water. He later, they married. They had Brayan in 1995 normally sits by himself. and Jesus constantly jumped between the “It’s hard to make friends,” Brayan siad.

U.S. and Mexico for work.

“When you only come to school twice a “Back then, it was easier to save money as week, it’s not easy to meet people.” a single man in the U.S.,” Jesus said. “I lived His second class, intermediate algewith my sister, so I’d pay $100 in rent, $50 bra, lets out at about 3:30 p.m. From North in food. I could send [Maria] money back Campus he’ll catch a bus back to the train through Western Union or MoneyGram.” station. The Tri-Rail train he usually takes Maria raised Brayan without the constant leaves around 4:15 p.m., but today he is runpresence of his father. Around the time ning a bit late. That means he has to wait a Brayan was two, Maria decided she’d come half hour for the next train. to the U.S. with her son for the first time.

Sitting at the station, waiting, he begins “When I brought him he was two-years- to talk about his story. Words uttered last old. We walked through a canal and I kept night are echoed. Brayan’s thoughts, begin walking, soaking wet,” she recalls, her voice to wander toward his future and his family, softly painting the details of the difficult and the possible hardships his sister might journey. “We walked and my face was cut face when she gets older. from the branches. The clothing would get “You can’t break her smile, you can’t tell stuck on the branchher that not having es. I walked with him, nine-digit number protecting him. It was won’t let her accomhard, so hard. We plish all her dreams,” were a group of about he says, his voice 12 people, and they shaky and his eyes Dollars Brayan spends on put us on a truck to slightly welling up. public transportation each bring us over.”

“You can’t break her day he goes to school.

Maria would end smile, but when 16 up returning to Mexcomes along, the ico when Brayan was cruel reality hits her. still a baby. The financial constraints in the I don’t dare to tell her what life is like being 1990’s made it difficult for her to stay. Ten undocumented.” years later she’d come back for good, this On the ride back, Brayan is quiet. He’s time with her two-year-old daughter and a looking out the window of the northbound 12-year-old Brayan. train as the sun sets. The loud air conditionA family enjoying the simple pleasure ing almost creating a vacuum in the cabin of a roof over their head, watching TV and making other voices too quiet to hear. food in the refrigerator are what they always He breaks his silence when asked about fought for. It’s not a life of luxury, the fam- his dreams. He mentions wanting to help ily makes under $30,000 a year, but they’ve people in less-than-favorable positions. His got what they need, and more importantly, goal is to eventually start a safehouse for each other. women and children who’ve been through “We are not a perfect family,” Jesus said. traumatic experiences.

“We argue, we disagree, but we try to talk At the end of the day, Brayan will have things out.” traveled more than 110 miles on two trains They take their conversation outside to and two buses. He’ll file off the train and get the porch and continue talking about their picked up by Jesus, who waits for him at the day. Outside, Maria giggles as Denisse Boynton Beach station with his sister. He tells her a joke about her friend at school, isn’t quiet like in the morning. whose name is May but instead she calls her In the car he jokes around with his sister.

March.

They discuss their day, and all that hapJesus gets up from the porch and walks pened at school. onto the lawn. He leans over and starts to Despite its length, Brayan says he has pull weeds from the grass. He wants to keep learned to love his commute. According to the grass of his new home pristine. Brayan him, everything he sacrifices isn’t close to sees his dad and joins him. They quietly pull what he’s gained from the experience. weeds for half an hour, piling them up into “People might feel sorry for me, because I a big stack before receding back into their have to travel for an hour and thirty minutes home around 9 p.m. on the train,” he said. “But If I was driving in They’ll go to sleep and in a few short a car, I wouldn’t meet some of the amazing hours, they’ll be up again for school and people I’ve met.” work.

When 16 comes along...

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3. Brayan will begin his trip back home, arriving at the Delray Beach station a little after 6 p.m.

Board This Train: Brayan scans his electronic pass on the tap-and-go station at the Tri-Rail station early before the start of his train commute.

Home Bound: Brayan gets off the northbound train at the Delray Beach Tri-Rail station. His father, Jesus Vazquez, picks him up there before the final stop to their Boynton Beach home.

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Study Time: Brayan, studying for his Federal Government class on the Tri Rail, reads through his “We the People” textbook. This is his first semester at Miami Dade College.

12 A&E | MARCH 4, 2014

THE REPORTER

MIFF 2014 Highlights

miFF selects Film by Reporter editor-inchief As Official entry into cinemaslam

We highlight some key films that will be featured during this year’s Miami International Film Festival, which runs from March 7 to 16.

Elsa & Fred

March 7 — 7 p.m.

— Olympia Theater The remake of the hit Spanish-Argentine film of the same name, tells the story of a widower who finds love again when he encounters his charming neighbor. The film will start off the MIFF 10-day event. Attending this North American premiere will be actors Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer as well as director Michael Radford.

The Immigrant

March 8 — 1:15 p.m. — Regal South Beach Cinemas A polish immigrant travels to New York in the 1920’s in search of a better life but is tricked into the world of prostitution by burlesque theaterowner Bruno (Joaquin Phoenix). A top-notch performance is anticipated from Phoenix after his most recent role in the Oscar nominated film Her.

PhOTO COURTESY OF MARK PULASKI

It’s About Time, a short-film written and directed by Reporter EditorIn-Chief, Mark Pulaski, was selected as Miami Dade College’s official entry into the Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam—Miami International Film Festival’s student-film competition.

The film will be screened along with 12 other student films from South Florida and China on March 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Regal South Beach Stadium 18 where it will be competing for one of four prizes.

Pulaski wrote and directed the 11-minute adventure-comedy about a pair of time-traveling college roommates for his Film Production 4 class.

In addition to Pulaski, fellow Reporter staff members also served as cast and crew for the film: staff writer Crystal Esparza served as cowriter/producer, videographer Edgard Lobo worked in the camera and lighting department, and photographer Gregory Castillo had a voiceover role.

“I’m happy that the film has gotten such a positive reaction so far,” Pulaski said. “All the hard work from me and my crew really paid off.”

Tickets to the Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam are available through the MIFF website.

—Angie Martoccio

Fading Gigolo

March 9 — 7 p.m. — Olympia Theater Writer-Director John Turturro stars in his New York-based comedy about a florist turned gigolo managed by his friend Murray (Woody Allen). The screening will be preceded by a Career Achievement Tribute to actor-writer-director Turturro.

Only Lovers Left Alive

March 11 — 9:30 p.m. — Regal South Beach Cinemas The vampire love stories continue with Tom Hiddleston as a bloodsucking underground guitarist Adam who reunites with his lover Eve, played by Tilda Swinton.

Free seminar For entrepreneurial student Filmmakers As a part of the upcoming Miami International Film Festival, some of Miami Dade College’s most recent film and television graduates, who have successfully started their own businesses, will share their experiences at the North Campus, 11380 N.W. 27th Ave., Room 2147 at 12:30 p.m. on March 10.

The event will feature a Q & A discussion with a panel of seven student entrepreneurs and special guest Maritza Guimet, director of the Florida Media Market.

Mario Beguiristain, Associate Professor of the School of Entertainment and Design Technology, will host the seminar to encourage students to pursue their dreams with an entrepreneur’s attitude.

“Many students are discovering that taking an entrepreneur's approach to making a living in film and TV is the way to go,” Beguiristain said. “Instead of waiting for the phone to ring with a job offer, students are setting themselves up in businesses that supply specific services to different industries.”

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

—Crystal Esparza

Rob the Mob

March 15 — 7 p.m.

— Olympia Theater Director Raymond De Felita teams up with Andy Garcia for a Queens, NY based crime film about a young couple whose desire to marry leads them to rob rich mobsters. The film seems to promise a good time, with a Bonnie and Clyde-esque story. The talented duo will attend the premiere of the CINE DWNTWN special event.

Open Windows

March 16 — 6:30 p.m. — Olympia Theater Writer-Director Nacho Vigalondo attends MIFF this year with a technological thriller about a fan (Elijah Wood) who wins a contest to meet actress Jill Goddard (Sasha Grey).

COURTESY OF GABRIELLE GAChELIN PhOTOS COURTESY OF MIFF

independent: North Campus student Gabrielle Gachelin will be one of 7 student entrepreneurs on hand sharing their knowledge of starting your own business. www.mdc.edu/thereporter

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MARCH 4, 2014 | A&E

THE REPORTER music FestivAl

// A&E mark Pulaski, A&E Editor

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9 Mile Leaves Audience Convulsing After A Hit And Miss Show

B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

Album Review

Broken Bells’ After The Disco Proves That Unlikely Duos Sometimes Strike Gold

MARK PULASKI / REPORTER FILE PhOTO

9 miles: In addition to the ever-popular Marley Brothers (Stephen, Damian, and Julian), 9 Mile featured performances from artists such as Lauryn Hill, Shaggy and Sean Paul.

COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS

Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse, collaborated with indie-rocker James Mercer to create the band Broken Bells, who recently released their latest album After The Disco.

By Angie Martoccio angela.martocci001@mymdc.net Brian Burton has a career history that includes co-founding Gnarls Barkley with CeeLo Green, producing albums for artists such as U2, Gorillaz and Beck, and cowriting an album with the Black Keys. Burton, better known as Danger Mouse, must have really cool parties.

He’s also a part of the duo Broken Bells, alongside James Mercer, the bearded front man of the indie band the Shins. Broken Bells second and latest album, After the Disco, is a soundtrack for a dance party on another planet—eleven

songs simmered in synth-y disco beats and glazed over with psychedelic vibes, served over dry ice.

“I’ve got nothing left, it’s kind of wonderful,” Mercer sings on the opening track, “Perfect World.”

The album is simultaneously laidback and sophisticated—two musicians hanging out and making music with tight melodies and meticulous recording. The work is split down the middle, with Danger Mouse and Mercer each playing a handful of instruments on the record. Mercer does vocals and Danger Mouse drums, and both play guitar, organ, synthesizer, and more. Danger Mouse produced the album as well.

In “Holding On for Life,” the lead single for After the Disco, Mercer’s falsetto vocals are Bee Gee-esque, making it sound like it was released in 1977. The video for the track is just as groovy and

vibrant—a man finds a woman on another planet while Mercer and Danger Mouse stand on a spaceship.

Because Danger Mouse and Mercer are from opposite sides of the musical spectrum, their announcement to collaborate in 2009 was a little odd. However, their self-titled album, released in 2010, became indie pop at its finestwith songs like “The High Road” and “The Ghost Inside.” WIth this, Danger Mouse and Mercer proved that side projects consisting of two unlikely musicians sometimes generates the best kind of music.

“We wanted to be in our own little world for this thing,” Danger Mouse told Rolling Stone in 2009.

Mission accomplished.

3 out of 5

NetFlix

more than 600,000 watched House Of cards season 2 within 72 Hours Of Release According to the Huffington Post, 2% of Netflix’s 33.4 million U.S. subscribers watched all 649 minutes of House of Cards Season 2 within a 72-hour time span of its Feb. 14 release.

If you did, you know that Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, is even more intense in season 2 than ever before.

The season starts right in the middle of a storyline with a real shocking scene that leaves you wondering how the rest of the COURTESY OF NETFLIX season will top it. mad man: Kevin Spacey stars as Frank Underwood in the popular NetfIn a way, the show itself is as lix original series House of Cards. narcissistic as the protagonist, Underwood.

One of my favorite parts of the show in general is the break from the scenes where the audience gets a glimpse of what Underwood is thinking, delivered as monologues with Spacey looking directly into the camera.

In episode one, Underwood doesn’t break to share his thoughts with the audience until the very last scene of the episode.

“I hope you didn’t think I forgot about you,” Underwood said.

This season of the Netflix original series proves why the show swept the Emmy’s last year.

The writers know exactly what the audience wants and like the taste of chocolate, we just can’t get enough.

If you like those quotable moments from season one you will not be disappointed.

“I’ve always loathed the necessity of sleep,” Underwood said in one scene. “Like death, it puts even the most powerful men on their backs.”

—Akeem Brunson www.mdc.edu/thereporter

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The 21st annual 9 Mile Music Festival featured performances from prominent acts such as Lauryn hill, Shaggy and Tito El Bambino, but still suffered from disorganization.

By Crystal Esparza crystal.esparza002@mymdc.net Lauryn Hill, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Mavado, and Tito El Bambino were only a few of the artists scheduled to perform at the 21st annual 9 Mile Music Festival. After seeing this lineup, I knew I couldn't miss it.

On Feb 15, music lovers stood in line with their required donation of four canned goods waiting to enter Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition Center. Upon entering, the smell of Jamaican cuisine and the sounds of reggae music captured your senses.

Thousands stood enjoying the tunes, while a few others laid out on a blanket on the hard cement ground. I, on the other hand, was glad to be a part of the few who brought chairs. Without the grass to lay on like at Virginia Key Beach—last year’s 9 Mile venue—the experience isn’t quite as relaxing.

Most people seemed satisfied with the new location, but there was one specific difference that turned out to be a great disappointment. This year, the event organizers decided it would be a good idea to have two stages. In actuality it was a major inconvenience causing attendees to shuffle back and forth through the crowd from one stage to another.

Many people complained about missing performances due to the disorganization.

Besides shuffling between performances, the schedule—which wasn’t posted on the official Facebook page until the actual day of the concert—wasn’t even accurate, giving us yet another reason to be unsatisfied customers.

On the main stage, Shaggy pumped up the crowd with an energetic set including hits like ‘Boombastic’ and 'It Wasn't Me’.

After singing one of his newest songs, 'Fight This Feeling' Shaggy still seems to be stirring up a frenzy in the reggae world.

Soon after, the Grammy-winning hit-maker Sean Paul took the stage to provide the crowd with a

fun and nostalgic performance.

Sean Paul was far from a letdown singing some of his top chart hits 'Like Glue,’ ‘Get Busy’ and ‘Infiltrate'.

In between setting up for the next performance, Vanessa Carlton’s ‘A Thousand Miles’ was played through the speakers as a joke to the Caucasian people in attendance. It was a moment no one seemed offended by, as people of all races laughed and sang along to the catchy hit.

Then, the moment I was waiting for was finally unfolding before my own eyes: “I know, I know, Miami knows this tune,” Lauryn Hill said to the restless crowd before beginning her set with a different version of the Fugees’ “Killing Him Softly,” a rendition which the crowd didn't react positively to as they all just watched in silence.

For those who like to sing along, Hill’s performance was quite a disappointment, as it was impossible with the new renditions. Luckily, the eight-time Grammy-winner later included the original version of “Killing Him Softly,” before performing a lively version of “Everything Is Everything,” seguing to an energized version of ‘DooWop (That Thing)’.

Her fiery spirit manifested on stage through a rapid version of “Fu-Gee-La” and “How Many Mics,” before she wrapped up the wonderful experience with with her own interpretation of Bob Marley’s “Jammin.”

There were more low points than high ones throughout the night as the entire festival felt rushed in general.

Stephen, Damian and Julian Marley were set to take the stage at 9:35 p.m., but we were still anxiously waiting for about another half hour before they hit the stage.

As they do every year, the three brothers did justice to their father‘s name singing some of his most legendary songs like “Get Up, Stand Up” “Three Little Birds” and “Buffalo Soldier.” With a hard 11 p.m. shutdown time however, their set was sadly cut short.

After 21 years of putting together this festival, you would think it would be one of the best.

Some advice for the event organizers; stick to what works and plan accordingly.

In the end, with good company and great music it was still a night well spent.

Putin Power

The Reporter’s Kai Sacco has a candid conversation with Thor’s Jaimie Alexander, who plays Sif in the newest Marvel release.

The Reporter’s Jonel Juste disputes Forbes Magazine’s pick of Russian President Vladimir Putin as the most powerful man in the world.

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Fab Freshman Tyra Bolden is contributing to the Lady Sharks basketball team this year. She is averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds a game.

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Food Pantry Single Stop and the Student Life Department at North Campus have partnered to open a food pantry to assist students and their immediate families.

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NEW chIEF

North Campus Gets New Chief Of Public Safety

James Dobson, a 16 year law enforcement veteran, started as the new chief of Public Safety on Nov. 12.

the state of Florida.

He then became involved with the implementation of a brand-new police force in Doral, where he served for four years.

His most recent job was as a lieutenant at Broward College—where he oversaw campus safety at five campuses.

Grant S. Gundle, Campus Safety Operations Captain at Broward College said that during his time at BC, Dobson was “an excellent supervisor and mentor to those assigned under his command, and an advocate of student success.”

During his time at BC, Dobson—a family man with five children and three grandchildren—says he fell in love with a different form of law enforcement.

“I find public safety in a college setting to be even more enjoyable than law enforcement because with the students and staff you get to see your impact to everyone sooner than later,” Dobson said.

North Campus’ Assistant Chief of Public Safety, Francisco Lizano, thinks Dobson’s “good knowledge” and “vast experience” will be a major asset to the college. “[Dobson is] familiar with the campus

By Mark Pulaski mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net There’s a new sheriff in town at Miami Dade College’s North Campus—James Dobson has taken over as the new chief of Public Safety.

Dobson’s first official day on the job was Nov. 12.

“I am joyed to be part of the largest College in the United States,” said Dobson, a Jackson, Mississippi native. “It is a great honor to be selected out of so many qualified applicants.”

Dobson, 42, brings with him more than 16 years of law enforcement experience. He started his career in the Florida Highway Patrol at the age of 25, where he worked for three years before moving on to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Dobson—who has a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy—performed in various capacities during an eight year stint at the FDLE including criminal investigations ranging from counter-terrorism, narcotics, and money laundering, as well as serving on the protection detail for the Governor of

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TEchNOLOgy

Free E-Book And Tablet Rentals Available At MDC Students and staff at Miami Dade College can now rent e-books and tablets for 14 day periods thanks to a new program aimed at making new technology accessible to everyone.

By Pia Molina pia.molina001@mymdc.net Miami Dade College students and staff can now rent tablets and e-books— free of charge— at their campus library.

The program, which is college-wide, implements an up-to-date way of learning along with hands-on experience with modern electronics.

Rentals are for 14 day periods, and can be renewed once for an additional 14 days. To rent the items, students and staff need to provide their MDC ID card.

“With this new technology, students will open their minds to all the kind of learning

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resources available to them nowadays,” said Miguel Wedderburn, an instructional assistant at the Wolfson campus library.

More than 35,000 e-books will be available through the program. The new technology allows greater accessibility—and does away with competition for books that may be checked out.

Tablets available college-wide include 74 iPads, 27 Nooks, Kindles and Android tablets. The devices cost the college a total of $41,180. The amount of tablets available at each campus will vary, said Zoila E. De Yurre Fatemian, Director of Learning Resources at Wolfson Campus “It’s awesome,” said Steve St. Gerard, a music composition major. “It shows [that] the school is up to speed with technology.”

Online tutorials as well as instructional assistance will be available at every campus library to give students a step-by-step guide

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With this new technology, students will open their minds to all the kind of learning resources available to them nowadays.

Miguel Wedderburn, instructional assistant at the Wolfson campus library

on how e-books can be downloaded. Tablets will not only make e-books easily accessible, but they will allow students to get all the apps that the devices offer.

“As a music major, the iPad will allow me to keep all of my music sheets and notes in one place and always portable,” said Daniel Bergamini. “Music and note taking

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applications will have everything right at my fingertips.”

College officials are well aware of the various kinds of tablets available. Wedderburn said the College decided to go with a higher number of iPads because they are more user-friendly. iTunes’s distinguishing feature of permitting one account to control multiple devices allows library staff to reset the tablets after every use.

With 101 tablets available, students and faculty will have access on a first come, first serve basis. The College hopes to expand the program at each campus.

“I think its going to help a lot of students further their education,” said Jose dos Anjos, a biology major at MDC. “Free access to knowledge is the key to education for everyone.”

Staff writer Allison Moraga contributed to this report.

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Miss America Bashed

New exhibition series, swing/ SPACE/miami, features the work of alumni from MDC and New World School of the Arts.

The first contestant of Indian descent to be crowned Miss America has received a shocking level of racist backlash.

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All In The Family Kevin Portillo, whose dad led Miami High to a state championship in the late ‘80s, will be a key cog to the men’s basketball team.

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Top Honors Café Cultura and The Reporter received top honors at the Florida College System Publications Association awards banquet on Oct. 18.

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4VOL. 4, ISSUE 4 — OCT. 29, 2013 www.mdc.edu/thereporter

DECAL

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ROBOTS

Parking Decal Robotics Club Allows Members To Merge Love For STEM Fields four years ago when math profes- self-detect obstacles in its path to said. “They have to first think The organization, which Enforcement started sor Manuel Caramés personally avoid them, and a Segway-like ro- about the mechanics of constructfour years ago with the club for two students, bot that can stand and balance on ing a robot before they are able to two members, now boasts College-Wide more than 20 members, and funded allows participants to apply what its own wheels. put anything together.”

Students and Miami Dade College employees who park on campus without a parking decal risk having their vehicle booted or towed as a result of stricter enforcement of previous College procedures.

By Guillermo Herrera guillermo.herrera003@mymdc.net Students and Miami Dade College employees who park on campus without a parking decal risk having their vehicles booted or towed.

The measures are being taken, college-wide, in an effort to enforce previously instituted College procedures stating that all vehicles parking on campus must have a MDC parking decal. In recent years, the rules have not always been enforced.

In addition to towing and booting, vehicles without parking decals can receive a written warning or a citation.

The parking enforcement plan, which began on Oct. 14, was developed by the Directors of Campus Administration and the public safety department at MDC. “Vehicles without a decal will receive a warning or their vehicle may be subject to the auto boot first prior to being towed, unless additional violations are involved,” said Cristina Mateo, Senior Director of Campus Administration at Wolfson Campus, who oversaw the committee that looked into the matter. “The student/employee will be asked to secure their decal at the time the auto boot is removed.”

Parking decals are free to students and employees. Students can acquire a decal at the student life office with proof of a paid schedule and their vehicle registration; employees must present an MDC ID or another form of identification (driver license or passport), and their vehicle registration, at the public safety office.

Decals must be renewed annually.

The decals must be placed on the lower left-hand corner of either the rear window or rear bumper of the vehicle. A temporary permit can be issued if students or employees are driving a vehicle other than their regularly decaled TURN TO DECAL, PAGE 6

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incorporates what is taught in the classroom into real-life experience.

By Pia Molina pia.molina001@mymdc.net Combining their love for math, science and electronics, the Robotics Club at North Campus has created a way for students to see their talents come alive.

The organization, which started

“Everything we do for the club is hands-on,” said club member Isaac McPerebo. “We get individual attention and help that, otherwise, would not be possible in a classroom setting.”

Meetings allow members to experience all aspects of what robotics is about. Members brainstorm their own projects and have a direct effect on what will be built.

“Students have to first be ‘headon’ and then hands-on,” Caramés

Technology: Students from the Robotics Club at North Campus create robots like the ones pictured to apply their engineering knowledge to practical uses.

Aside from the robots themselves, the club has created a greater outreach to the community in order to promote the use of robotics. Last summer, the club collaborated with the STEM Ladder to Student Success, a program at North Campus aimed at increasing the involvement of lowincome minorities in the STEM fields, to create a three-week TURN TO ROBOTS, PAGE 5

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SMOKING BAN

Electronic Cigarettes Added To College-Wide Ban On Smoking Miami Dade College’s Board of Trustees voted in July to include e-cigarettes in its college-wide smoking ban.

By Akeem Brunson akeem.brunson001@mymdc.net When Miami Dade College approved a college-wide smoking ban in April of 2011, it didn’t have electronic cigarettes in mind.

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they learn in their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses into a real-life setting.

Now with more than twenty members, the club has come a long way from the early days. Club members meet twice a week to discuss projects.

They create robots in a personal environment. Members have created machines such as the obstacle avoidance robot that can

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But this past July, the Board of Trustees voted to amend the College’s ban to include electronic cigarettes, billed by some as a healthier option, and quickly gaining popularity with younger smokers.

An e-cigarette is an electronic inhaler used to substitute tobacco smoking. The mechanism, which mimics traditional cigarettes,

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uses a heating element that releases a vaporized substance.

While most resemble cigarettes, others look like everyday items such as pens.

“It becomes a public safety issue,” said Iliana Castillo-Frick, MDC’s Vice Provost for Human Resources. “We feel that electronic cigarettes portray an image that confuses the students who are

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walking around the campus and know that the college is a smokefree college.”

Adriana Romero, a student at Wolfson Campus, who is not a smoker, thinks the College didn’t think its ban on e-cigarettes through.

“If you can have people smoking TURN TO SMOKING BAN, PAGE 6

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THE REPORTER

Top Musical Releases Of 2013

COURTESY OF XL

The Reporter’s Angie Martoccio chronicles her top five favorite records of 2013, which she has dubbed “Midnight Records.”

BBy Angie Martoccio angela.martoccio00@mymdc.net Music geeks are very particular when it comes to album selection.

The feeling an album produces is directly correlated to the atmosphere in which it plays. Every minute detail is taken into account: the mood, time of day, location, and so on. Because I’m one of these full-fledged music geeks, decisions such as these are my favorite.

2013 was jam-packed with album releases, from the anticipated first major release of rapper A$AP Rocky to the end-of-the-year

COURTESY OF DOMINO

COURTESY OF MERGE

COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS

COURTESY OF MATADOR

surprise masterpiece from Beyoncé. In between, however, five albums were released that became my absolute favorite of the year.

What I found interesting was that all five fit into a specific atmosphere at which I played them-late at night. This is why I’ve dubbed them “Midnight Records.” Each of these five records exude a vibe only fitting for the early hours of the morning. Whether I was driving home from a night out or slowly closing my eyelids while staring at my bedroom ceiling, everything made perfect sense in the after hours.

1. Atoms for Peace - AMOK Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke formed this supergroup in 2009, consisting of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, Radiohead

producer Nigel Godrich, drummer Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco. AMOK is the epitome of fluidity—even at moments of silence the album is in complete flux. Flea’s bass lines melt perfectly over Yorke’s vocals and sizzle with Godrich’s keyboards.

Favorite track: “Judge Jury and Executioner” 2. Arctic Monkeys - AM Entering parties with a leather jacket and sunglasses on, sipping whiskey and hoping the person you’ve had your eye on hasn’t left yet. Then you go home, spill some drinks on your settee and play a song that makes you think of that person “on repeat.” This is how late nights in AM are spent, according to lead singer Alex Kapranos. It’s the Monkeys’ best album yet, and don’t you dare play it in the PM.

Favorite track: “Do I Wanna Know?”

3. Arcade Fire - Reflektor “If you want to be righteous, get in line.” Reflektor was influenced

by Søren Kierkegaard’s essay, “The Present Age,” the 1959 film Black Orpheus and inspiring trips to Haiti and Jamaica. Synth heavy, surrealistic dance vibes and philosophical grandeur embody the year’s best double album from the world’s most ambitious band.

Favorite track: “Normal Person.”

4. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories The electronic French duo returned from an eight year break (other than their score for 2010’s Tron: Legacy) and released what became their response to the EDM craze that they themselves started: 74 minutes and 24 seconds of

disco beats that make you feel like it’s 1978.

The collaborations on here are brilliant, ranging from Pharrell Williams to Nile Rodgers.

Favorite track: “Instant Crush” (feat. Julian Casablancas.)

5. Queens of the Stone Age - …

Like Clockwork Kalopsia: The delusion of things to be more beautiful than they are.

This term from a song on …Like Clockwork, the sixth album from QOTSA, best defines the record itself. Full of dark imagery, drinking potions to erase your loved ones and living in cities of glass with no heart, …Like Clockwork has been nominated for two Grammys this year.

Favorite track: “I Sat by the Ocean.”

AlbuM review

Beyoncé’s New Album Was The Best Kept Secret In Pop Among A Sea Of 2013 Releases non-stop chat about her nude ride on a wrecking ball. Her album, titled Bangerz, followed on October 4.

But then, in the middle of the night on December 13, Beyoncé AKA Queen B, dropped her selftitled album out of nowhere— talk about baller status. The news spread like wildfire throughout social media, it became such a shocker and an excitement that it became a full-blown event. Beyoncé—featuring 14 songs and 17 music videos—quickly sold 80,000 copies in just three hours and, one week later, hit number one on the charts.

Traditionally, the music

industry avoids putting out new music at the very end of the year, but nothing stops Queen B from breaking tradition. The question everybody is asking is, how did B manage to keep the album the best kept secret in pop music?

The album, which costs $16, features a bunch of hot collaborations from Jay Z, Drake, Frank Ocean, Ngozi Adichie, to her daughter Blue Ivy.

5 out of 5

The Koubek Center Premieres The italian Film The best offer by Giuseppe Tornatore on January 24 Miami Dade College’s Koubek Center, 2705 SW 3rd Street, will premiere the Italian film The Best Offer by Giuseppe Tornatore on Jan. 24.

The movie tells the story of an antique dealer named Virgil Oldman who was hired by a mysterious woman who wanted him to sell her family’s artwork. Oldman found himself falling in love with the young woman who also suffers from social anxiety.

The movie explores the sixtythree year old man’s quest for love.

Admission fees for Miami Dade College faculty and students is $8 and general admission is $10.

For showtimes and tickets contact: The Koubek Center at 305-237-7750.

—Nathalie Prieto For more information, contact: The Koubek Center T305-237-7750

COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS

Queen B: Beyoncé’s new titular album is described by the pop singer as a “visual album” and contains corresponding short film/music videos with each of the songs.

Beyoncé, the new self-titled album from the pop princess, was released on December 13, much to the surprise of manBy. BBy Eddy Fiuza eddy.fiuza001@mymdc.net The year 2013 was interesting for music, especially for female artists. It started with Lady Gaga’s Artpop, released November 6, which quickly became more of an art flop.

Following that “Gagalicious” album, Katy Perry released her album Prism on October 18.

The album channels living in the present, relationships, and self-empowerment.

New rising star Lorde, the 17-year-old girl, who dances like she is possessed, released her debut album called Pure Heroin on September 27 but then followed up with an extended version on December 13.

Let’s not forget about Miley Cyrus. She came out with a wild persona, different from her innocent days starting with the twerking in the 2013 MTV VMA performance with Robin Thicke, to the

wolfson Campus President José vicente Honored At inaugural noche De Amigos Wolfson Campus President, José A. Vicente, was honored at the inaugural Noche de Amigos (Night of Friends) presented by Lesesne Media Group Entertainment (LMG) during the Miami International Auto Show in December.

The Noche de Amigos recognizes LMG Entertainment supporters who are making a positive impact in their communities.

—Gabrielle Arzola COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS

JANUARY 21, 2014 | A&E

THE REPORTER

// A&E Mark Pulaski, A&E Editor //

T (305) 237-1254

NETFLIX RESURRECTION A film student’s recommendation of an under-the-radar movie available on Netflix Instant Stream. //

B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

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Jingle Ball Makes Many Merry This Holiday Season

COURTESY OF Y-100

Y100s Jingle Ball concert featured performances from Demi Lavato, Flo Rida, Robin Thicke and MileBy CByrus.

BBy Amanda Aracena amanda.aracena001@mymdc.net Thousands rushed to pack the BB&T center on December 20 to watch their favorite performers at this year’s incarnation of Y100s Jingle Ball.

The audience consisted of teenage girls, chaperoning parents, ticket winners, and a few tough guys who went to win some brownie points with their girlfriends.

The concert had an impressive lineup including a few of the most controversial artists of 2013, Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Demi Lovato, Fall Out Boy, Ariana Grande, etc.

The opening act was the talented Demi Lovato who impressed with her vocals and shocked with her vibrant blue hair.

Y100s radio personalities Nina Alicia, Mack, Nick, Froggy, Valentine, and Elvis Duran, all took turns introducing acts.

One name was constantly being mentioned throughout the show: Miley Cyrus. Of course, the word twerk immediately followed.

Where there is a Miley there is also a Robin Thicke who began

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with the most popular song of the year “Blurred Lines” causing all the moms in the audience to drool a bit.

However, Robin Thicke was quickly forgotten once Enrique Iglesias took the stage. Although dressed in jeans and a v-neck his casual attire was overlooked once he began to sing hits like “Baby I Like it”.

A highlight of his performance was when he threw himself into the crowd as balloons scribed with the initials “EI” fell from the ceiling and even took a selfie with one of the audience member’s phone.

Live tweets with the hashtag #Y100JINGLEBALL were also a big part of the show as they were broadcasted on a screen throughout the night.

An unmemorable act of the night was Austin Mahone who, quite frankly, was repetitive and unoriginal as he sang his renditions of Mario’s “Just a Friend” and “Let Me Love You”.

Equally as disappointing was Fifth Harmony, who performed their single “Miss Moving On” in a screechy manner. The audiences facial expressions said it all and not in a good way.

South Florida’s very own Ariana Grande and Flo Rida definitely entertained. Grande was everything you wanted and more: sweet, cute, sassy, and with a voice larger than life.

“The last time I was here I sang the National Anthem at a Panthers’ game when I was 8,” she confessed. She left her heart on the stage with songs like “Honeymoon Avenue” off her current album Yours Truly.

Flo Rida was the complete opposite: loud, arrogant, and wild, yet still entertaining. He sang his

club hits like “Whistle” and “Good feeling” and allowed a lucky few to go on stage to sing and dance along.

A nice surprise followed when Fall Out Boy took stage and amazed with their pyrotechnics and talent. They shook the BB&T center to its core while performing both new and old work like “Thanks For The Memories.”

Armin Van Buuren brought the techno craze to life after having technical difficulties with his equipment which he managed to overcome with flashing lights and enough bass to make your whole body vibrate.

Finally, Miley Cyrus took the stage and shockingly didn’t disappoint. She wore a barely-there leotard and a plaid shirt around her hips.

Of course, she was bound to have an on-stage Santa drinking booze and some midgets in provocative attire on stage as she sang “We Can’t Stop.”

But what really made her performance one of the most memorable was when she took it a few years back and sang “Party in the USA”.

The crowd sang along loudly and the BB&T center seemed to be made up of “Smilers.” However, Cyrus wanted to keep the shock going and did an extremely nice version of Lana Del Ray’s summer anthem “Summertime Sadness.”

She surpassed everyone’s expectations and proved herself to be a great performer and a genuine artist. It was no surprise why she was the headliner of the tour.

The four-hour long Jingle Ball 2013 was an overall entertaining experience and well worth the earache caused by screaming fans.

A Film That Does An Excellent Job Brewing Chemistry Drinking Buddies is a 2013 romantic dramedBy written, directed, produced and edited bBy Joe Swanberg, who also acts in the film.

BBy Veronica Peron veronica.peron001@mymdc.net Drinking Buddies is, by far, one of the best romantic comedy dramas you’ll find right now on Netflix.

The film is about Kate, played by Olivia Wilde, and her co-worker Luke, played by Jake Johnson, who both work for a brewing company in Chicago.

From the beginning, it is clear that the two have an easygoing friendship with a lot of sexual tension. But, of course, they both have their own significant others.

When the couples go on vacation together, things start to get a little complicated. I don’t want to give too much away because I’d love for you guys to be as surprised in the end as I was.

Olivia Wilde’s performance

was one of the most entertaining I’ve ever seen. Her character Kate is just like “one of the boys.” She drinks beer, plays pool, and belches like the guys. She is a strong independent woman who does what she wants, whenever she wants.

Olivia easily makes you forget she is just an actress because you start to feel like this is who she really is.

But the true genius behind this low-budget film is the director, producer, writer, editor, and even actor, Joe Swanberg. With just an outline of major plot points, Swanberg did an excellent job explaining who these characters are to the actors. With Swanberg’s direction, the actor’s chemistry is the realist I’ve ever seen on screen.

Some say to not judge a book by its cover, I say don’t judge a film by it genre. Don’t let the romantic comedy drama genre change your view on this film, you’ll regret missing this ending.

You can now find Drinking Buddies under the independent section on Netflix.

COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES

Love Drunk: Olivia Wilde stars alongside Jake Johnson as a pair of brewery workers with a lot of sexual tension bottled up in the romantic comedy drama Drinking Buddies.

Drinking Buddies—2013—written and directed by Joe Swanberg—starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson and Anna Kendrick—90 minutes

ArT

New Photo Exhibition Finds A Temporary Home At MDC MOAD Rituales en Haití, a photo exhibition from Spanish photographer Cristina García Rodero features images she captured during a four Byear span in Haiti where she documented various rituals.

BBy Diana Cricien diana.cricien001@mymdc.net Cristina García Rodero, a Spanish-born photographer, presented her exhibition, Rituales en Haití on December 4. The exhibition is hosted by Miami Dade College's Museum of Art and Design and it premiered alongside Art Basel Miami Beach 2013.

The mission of the Museum is to promote the appreciation of the arts and its influence in society.

Miami Dade College has collected over 1,600 works spanning all genres. The Museum of Art and Design presents year-round lectures as well as symposiums.

Rodero debuted Rituales en Haití in Venice, Italy, featuring more than 100 photographs.

Her lifetime works depict festivals in Spain, India, Mediterranean Europe and the United States. Rituales en Haití, is currently exhibited in Miami Dade College's Freedom Tower, 600 Biscayne Blvd, in Downtown Miami and will be on display through March 29.

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

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COURTESY OF CRISTINA GARCIA RODERO

12 A&E | SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

THE REPORTER

10 Reasons You Should Have Gone To Blake Shelton’s Ten Times Crazier Tour

s Ten Times Crazier tour.

COURTESY OF BLAKESHELTON.COM

Country Fried Voice: Blake Shelton performs to a packed crowd during his Ten Times Crazier tour which hit 30 cities across the US starting in July and running through Oct. 5.

On August 31st at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, countrBy singer Blake Shelton proved to a packed audience that his tour’s name is no joke. Here are ten reasons whBy Blake Shelton’s Ten Times Crazier tour is ten times better than Byou’d expect.

BBy Veronica Peron veronica.peron001@mymdc.net (1) Tailgating: Three hours prior to the concert, the Cruzan Amphitheatre opens their parking lot for tailgating. Once you park your car and step out of those doors you have officially left South Florida and have arrived in the country.

There are plenty of pickup trucks blasting Blake Shelton music, a bean bag toss, and lets not forget our tailgate favorite, beer pong.

(2) Venue: The Cruzan has to be one of the best venues in South

Florida. When you pass the gates, there are your typical merchandise huts and concession stands but, look closer, and you will spot a bar with a rooftop party deck. You can have a few drinks there, meet some great people, and then head to your seats for the concert. No matter where you sit, you’re guaranteed a great view, and if you’re too far back there are giant monitors on all sides.

(3) Crowd: As you settle into your seats, you realize Shelton knows how to bring in a diverse audience. The people at his concert range from children to the elderly. There are high school students, college students, parents with their children, straight, gay, and lesbian couples, and let us not forget the “We love Blake Shelton” menopausal women fan club.

(4) Opening Acts: During performances by the opening acts is when when you can get some food,

or grab a drink. But I feel bad for those who missed out on Blake Shelton’s opening acts. First up was Jana Kramer, well known for her hit single “Why Ya Wanna.”

Following Jana was Easton Corbin with his hit “All Over The Road.”

(5) Blake’s Introduction: Finally, Blake Shelton makes his grand entrance. He enters the stage through the middle where he starts singing “All About Tonight.”

The stage lights dance in unison with the beat of the song as Blake sings “Good times, and the music and laughing, and grooving to the band,” reassuring his audience of the epic night ahead.

(6) Stage: There are three elaborate looking silos on stage surrounded by large monitors and tons of stage lights. The monitors behind Blake project different textures, relevant video clips, and the best part, live footage of Blake from multiple angles. It was

something I didn’t expect to see at a country concert.

(7) The Voice: Most of us know Shelton from his gig on The Voice.

So it was no surprise when he mentioned the show during his concert. But the real surprise came when he called out Danielle Bradbery, the 2013 winner of NBC’s The Voice, to sing her new hit single “The Heart of Dixie.”

(8) Blake’s Soft Spot: Halfway through the concert, Blake performs an acoustic set. He shared some words with the audience about his song, “Over You,” written

by Shelton and his wife, Miranda Lambert. The song was written for his brother, who died in a car accident when Shelton was fourteen.

As he performed the song, it was almost as if Blake was allowing his audience to get to know him more as a person rather than a celebrity.

(9) Taylor Swift Moment: When Blake sang a cover of “Home” by

Michael Bublé, he asked the audience to help him create a Taylor Swift concert moment by waving their cellphones in the air. No matter how many pictures you see of this, it doesn’t look as beautiful as when you’re a part of the crowd helping illuminate the sky.

(10) Encore: When Blake finished singing his new hit single “Boys ‘Round Here” he fades into the darkness and the crowd starts cheering for an encore. Blake runs out onto the stage and surprises the audience with a cover of “Footloose.” He closed the show with “God Gave Me You.” There it is—ten reasons why Blake Shelton’s Ten Times Crazier Tour is ten times better than you’d expect. So next time Blake is in town, be sure to grab a ticket and don’t miss out on the best from Country Music Television’s Entertainer of the Year.

MDC Student Releases Digital Children’s Book Hanji Mountain, an e-book bBy Wolfson Campus student Bernard Noel, tells the storBy of a Byoung boBy on a mission to save his village.

BBy Darianne Navarro darianne.navarro001@mymdc.net Bernard Noel, a 27-year-old student at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus, has recently published a children’s e-book titled Hanji Mountain, which he himself wrote and illustrated.

Noel, a former illustrator for The Reporter, has always manifested his wild imaginations through paper, pencil, or pen; whether that be writing or drawing.

“Ever since I was a kid, I have always had wild imaginations that would pour out of my head,” he said.

Hanji Mountain tells the story of a young boy named Jirin who is determined to free his village of a curse placed on its people centuries ago.

The e-book is a project Noel worked on for more than three years and according to him, it is a representation of his daily struggles in life.

“I hope that Hanji Mountain can be a gift that keeps giving. From

children to adults or adults to children,” Noel said.

Apart from being an author and illustrator, Noel is also an aspiring screenwriter and film director.

At MDC, Noel has been studying film production technology and, through the program, he directed his first short film titled White and Black. However, next semester will be Noel’s last at MDC because he will be receiving his associate in science degree.

Noel plans to continue his education at Florida International University for his bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

Noel is currently working on the release of his first Manga—which is a Japanese-style comic—entitled Brave+Hope, along with friend Louis Baptiste. His other upcoming projects include his first children’s novel, Juice Kids, a screenplay entitled Gift Box and many more yet to come.

“One of my many desires is to become successful by sharing my creative ideas with the world,” he said.

Future works by Bernard Noel can be found at www.bernard-beyond. com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUAN CARLOS BATISTA

Bernard Beyond: Bernard Noel, a student at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus, recently released a children’s e-book titled Hanji Mountain. Noel, a former artist for The Reporter, wrote and illustrated the e-book.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 | A&E

THE REPORTER

// A&E Mark Pulaski, A&E Editor

//

T (305) 237-1254

NETFLIX RESURRECTION A film student’s recommendation of an under-the-radar movie available on Netflix Instant Stream. //

B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

Franz Ferdinand’s Universe Expands With New Album

Puncture Is A Piercing, Poignant 99-Minute Drama Based On A True Story Of A Lawyer With An Addiction To Drugs The directing duo of brothers Adam and Mark Kassen, scored a hit with the based-on-a-true-storBy tale of a drug-addicted lawByer who fights for a case close to his heart.

BBy Veronica Peron veronica.peron001@mymdc.net

COURTESY OF SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

The Right Moves: Scottish indie-rock band Franz Ferdinand released their new album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action on August 27.

The Scottish indie-rock band recentlBy released their first album in four Byears.

BBy Angie Martoccio angela.martoccio001@mymdc.net “How can I tell you I was wrong?/When I am/The Cruelest Man/Ever Born.”

For their first album in four years, Franz Ferdinand has returned in anything but the wrong way: Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action is packed with lively, upbeat tracks that contrast stunningly with somber lyrics.

Formed in Glasgow in 2002, the Scottish indie band—consisting of lead singer and guitarist Alex Kapranos, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Nick McCarthy, bassist Bob Hardy and drummer Paul Thompson—took quite a break after the release of three

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chart-topping albums in the past decade.

In the surrealistic meltdown “The Universe Expanded,” confidence and enduring love is depicted in the chorus, “But I don’t mind losing you this time/I’ll meet you coming back/When the universe has expanded.” This is the melancholia that is the essence of Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action: in an interview with MOJO, Kapranos stated that “the idea of the cynic’s search for optimism and the skeptic’s search for a manual crop up here and there.”

Many of the tracks on here, particularly “Love Illumination” feature McCarthy’s keyboarding that sounds so sanguine and funky that you want to dance and drink the “disco lemonade” from Marcy Playground’s 1997 hit “Sex and Candy.”

As if the energizing guitar riff accompanied by Thompson’s drumming on “Bullet” wasn’t electrifying enough, the lyrics, “Never kissed a bullet out of my hand now/baby” will certainly do the trick.

Jonas Odell, the director of the video for their 2004 hit “Take Me Out” (arguably their most popular song) also directed the video for the title track, “Right Action.”

In the video, the band rocks out in cropped technicolor images to the lyrics popping up across the screen, making the song an anthem you want to fist pump to.

In fact, every song on this album seems to have that affect: Franz Ferdinand is back to keep you fist

Puncture is a 99-minute drama based on the true story of a drugaddicted lawyer who believed in a case when nobody else did.

Mike Weiss, the junkie attorney played by Chris Evans (Captain America), is introduced to Vicky Rogers (Vinessa Shaw), a nurse who gets HIV by accidentally pricking herself with a patient’s needle.

Then one of Vicky’s friends invents a retractable safety needle that can help save the lives of nurses everywhere. The only problem is that the hospitals Group-Purchasing Organizations do not want to purchase the safety

needle because of its high production cost, leaving millions of lives at risk.

Evans is extremely convincing in his role; the character he plays is a dark and selfish playboy who slowly envelops into a caring human being.

Co-director, brothers Adam and Mark Kassen—the latter also plays the role of Paul Danziger, Mikes partner at the law firm—did an excellent job in depicting this true story, which is engaging from the first scene where Vicky pricks her finger to the final scene of this drama-filled film.

Puncture was selected as a spotlight movie at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and opened in selected theaters in September 2011.

In the film Nurse Rogers says, “Sometimes the brightest light comes from the darkest places,” and I say, sometimes the best films come from the independent section on Netflix.

COURTESY OF MILLENIUM ENTERTAINMENT

Sharp Stare: Chris Evans, most known for his heroic roles in the Fantastic Four franchise and Captain America, stars in Puncture, which was one of the spotlight films in the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

Puncture—2011—directed by Adam and Mark Kassen—written by Chris Lopata—based on a story by Ela Thier—starring Chris Evans, Mark Kassen & Vinessa Shaw—99 minutes

3 out of 4

2013 MTV VMAs Provide Thrills, Chills The MTV Video Music Awards were at the center of controversBy after former DisneBy star MileBy CByrus’ racBy performance.

BBy Eddy Fiuza eddy.fiuza001@mymdc.net If there were any kids in your living room watching the VMAs this year that would have been a good time to block the television.

The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards broadcast live from Brooklyn, New York were loaded with performances by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Drake, Bruno Mars, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Robin Thicke.

But what really got people

talking were performances by Miley Cyrus and Justin Timberlake.

When Cyrus said, “it’s my party and I do what I want to,” she meant it. I think we can all agree Miley Cyrus’ performance was ratchet.

First, she performed her hit summer single “We Can’t Stop,” which featured a bunch of dancers in bear costumes and an abundance of twerking, and Cyrus sticking her tongue out like she was a new member of the band Kiss.

I love the song, but as the performance continued, all I wanted to do was switch the channel.

As Cyrus finished her song, I thought the torture was

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done, but then Robin Thicke came on stage to sing his summer hit “Blurred

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Lines” a l o n g w i t h Cyrus.

T h e only thing that really came out of the craziness was MTV’s ratings going up.

On the other spectrum was Justin Timberlake’s awesome performance.

If you didn’t know any of his latest hit songs, it would have been a great time to tune in and catch up.

In the middle of his performance, which lasted a good 10 to 15 minutes, ‘N SYNC came from underneath the

stage to reunite with their former band member.

The men performed snippets of “Bye, Bye, Bye” and “Girlfriend.”

I only wish they would have performed longer.

If they weren’t ever going to perform again, it would have been right to let them perform a whole song and it wouldn’t have hurt to have a few more props.

Some of the major awards of the night were: Selena Gomez taking home the award for Best Pop Video for her song “Come And Get It,” One Direction bagging the Song of the Summer Award with “Best Song Ever,” and Justin Timberlake earning the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

APRIL 22, 2014 | NEWS

THE REPORTER

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// NEWS Mark Pulaski, Editor-In-Chief //

T (305) 237-1254

//

B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

SurTax

College Hoping To Bring Vote To Dade County Voters FROM SurTax, FRONT

as update and expand the technology that is available.

This is not the first time that this bill has been proposed. Last year, the same bill, with the exception of an elongated ten-year lifespan, was proposed yet failed because legislators in the House of Representatives utilized a filibuster-like action that prevented the bill from being heard before the session ended.

In total, this is the fourth time that the same half-penny bill has been proposed.

“I’m not willing to put up with it anymore,” Miami Dade College president , Eduardo Padrón, told

a crowd during a recent speech at the Kendall Campus gymnasium to promote the bill. Throughout the past few weeks, Padrón has been visiting MDC campuses to draw attention to the bill and request support.

“As much as I try, I cannot do it alone,” he said at the Kendall Campus event. “I need you to stand by me; I need you to raise your voices.”

Administrators, faculty, and students have responded to the president’s call and engaged in several ways.

On April 1, members of the Student Government Association (SGA) from all campuses visited Tallahassee until April 4. For part

FaShiOn

of the trip they were joined by other students. In the state capital, students lobbied politicians and attended a rally hosted by the Florida College System Student Government Association.

“Our institution is committed to giving us a quality education, but we need that our elected representatives to also support us in that pursuit by allowing us to place that referendum,” said Metzli Rodoli, one of the students who went on the Tallahassee lobbying trip. Rodoli is a sophomore Honors College student attending the Wolfson Campus.

Beyond the trip, SGA has also been distributing postcards on various campuses for individuals

to sign. The postcards will then be collected and sent in bulk to state legislators.

“It’s about trying to get the students and faculty together because this includes everyone,” said Camila Ceballos, SGA President of the Kendall Campus.

The college is concentrating its petitioning efforts on the four key opponents to the bill: Representatives Frank Artiles, Michael Bileca, Jose Oliva, and Carlos Trujillo.

People also have the option of visiting www.voicesformdc.org to advocate for HB 113. The site has a form that sends emails to politicians. The website provides the contact information of the four key opponents to the surtax and

links for getting involved on social media.

Politicians who oppose the bill worry that the surtax would provide the college with an excessive amount of funds that will be insufficiently supervised, even though an independent board would be created to provide oversight.

Despite political opposition, a Miami Herald poll with more than1,500 votes showed nearly 70 percent of the respondents would approve the half-cent sales tax.

The Florida House of Representatives is expected to make its decision during its last few days of session, with the final day being May 2.

SOcial Media

New Fashion Institute Offers Hashtags, Re-tweets And Status Updates Real-World Experience Connect Campus To Community

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUCHT D'OLEO

Fashion Forward: Instructor Rucht D'Oleo is teaching courses in couture at North Campus.

Director brings real-life experience to new endeavor through North Campus’ School of Continuing Education and Professional Development.

By Gabrielle Arzola gabrielle.arzola001@mymdc.net Miami Dade College’s inaugural Fashion Institute program aims to train students who want to work in the fashion industry or just learn home sewing techniques. The program started during the spring semester.

"As a fashion designer, a lot of people come to me to know how they can learn to sew," said Rucht D’Oleo, the director and creator of the Fashion Institute. “I’m very excited with this project and I’m looking forward to sharing my experience and knowledge with all the students.”

Non-credit classes at North Campus in the School of Continuing Education & Professional

Development include sewing, pattern making, draping, textiles, and fashion design. Classes attract a variety of different students.

Classes are half the cost of a fashion design school.

“Fashion is the interpretation of your emotions on the way you dress,” D’Oleo said.

Her collections can be described as stylish, comfortable pieces, with clean lines and pops of color.

She is a native of the Dominican Republic, and first pursued fashion sewing clothes for her Barbie dolls.

D’Oleo formally pursued her passion for fashion at the Instituto Tecnologico Mercy Jacquez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Soon after graduating with honors, she won first place at the Emerging Designer Competition where she earned the title as the Best Designer of the Year.

In 2001 she enrolled in Miami International University of Art and Design.

D’Oleo was named Best New Fashion Designer in Miami in 2006 when her first collection debuted in stores.

She has been featured in the Miami Herald, NBCMiami.com, and the Miami NewTimes. D'Oleo also authored a Spanish-language book about the business of fashion titled El Negocio de la Moda.

“We have great expectations for this program, and we are happy to offer a very affordable alternative to all the individuals who want to know the art of sewing and the business of fashion,” said Sandra Garcia, the North Campus Director of the School of Continuing Education & Professional Development.

The summer schedule offers fashion design, sewing, and patternmaking.

To register for the MDC Fashion Institute: https://sisvsr.mdc.edu/ ce/showsched.aspx?catID=A1D.

College social media director Jordan Ford grows followers through strategic communications posting on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

By Alexandra Muñoz alexandra.munoz002@mymdc.net Director of social media for Miami Dade College, Jordan Ford, believes that social media is a very powerful tool to create community. With Hashtags, re-tweets and status updates, Ford creates connections in our commuter college notorious for students only coming on campus for classes.

“I do it every way,” Ford said, “Phone, tablet, computer, I’m more or less always plugged in.”

Ford’s goal is to enhance the student’s experience at MDC as well as to keep students updated with day-to-day content promoting news, events and activities at the college. He also engages the greater MDC community including alumni, staff and faculty.

Two of Ford’s latest posts on Instagram are #mdcfriends and #mdcrelax. He started them off with a question on the social media website soliciting input from students, spurring followers of #mdccollege to participate with prizes. Students posted photos from a variety of campuses.

One of the winners submitted a photo of a funeral services student standing by an open (empty) casket at North Campus. Another winner submitted an image of a student relaxing by the lake at building five at the North Campus Ford caught a student tweeting to MDC about an issue they had on Saturday and was able to solve their problem. This way students wouldn’t have to wait until Monday for an answer, and can get their information rapidly.

Before Ford, the social media networks for MDC were bare

bones. The postings were more about deadlines and reminders.

Since Ford has been hired, he has a content strategy in which he plans weeks in advance for the content he will post on each social media network “We received applications from close to 100 people and we narrowed it down to a few that we interviewed,” said Theodore Levin, director of college communications. “Jordan was the best, he had a great history at Penn State University where he oversaw all of the social media for their alumni relations.”

Ford graduated from Penn State University with a masters degree in higher education in 2007. After a few years of working in electronic fundraising he decided to pack his bags with his wife and dog and head to Miami to pursue his current position at MDC. “Before Jordan came we had

fewer than 4,000 followers,” Levin said. “We have close to 16,000 now.

There has been a lot of projects where students have been asked for photos and earn surprise giveaways and he just keeps everybody connected.”

On June 2013, Ford started by reaching out to students on campus engaging in conversation about their college life. From there he began to mold the social networks for MDC. The main networks are Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“We look at what works, what doesn’t and we just try and adapt each month and each week to make the experience the best overall,” Ford said.

You can connect with Miami Dade College at : Facebook: www.facebook.com/ mdcollege Twitter: @MDCollege Instagram: @MDCollege

ANGELA DELGADO\THE REPORTER

Serious Tweeter: Director of social media for Miami Dade College, Jordan Ford.

APRIL APRIL22, 8, 2014 | NEWS

THE REPORTER

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envirOnMenTal acTiOn

Plastic Sacks No Longer An Option At Kendall Campus Bookstore Environmental club initiated ban on shopping bags at the campus shop to address the harmful environmental effects theBy create.

By Tomás Monzón tomas.monzon001@mymdc.net

VICTORIA FREGOSO\THE REPORTER

Ban the Bag: The downside of plastic bags is explained in the window of the Kendall Campus book store.

The Kendall Campus bookstore has scrapped its plastic shopping bags. The Youth for Environmental Sustainability Club pioneered the environmental initiative after member Halina Rachelson went on a trip to the Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center to learn about eco-spirituality, conservation and green building.

When they returned, they were motivated to work on a way to better the environment on campus.

Since joining the YES Club in 2012, Rachelson has already participated in recycling projects, worked with the CROPS organization (an Earth Ethics Institute group that strives to offer quality organic food) and service learning projects with environmental organizations around Miami.

They determined to get rid of plastic bags at bookstores college-wide.

“It's unnecessary to have plastic

bags,” Rachelson said.

During the summer term 2013, Rachelson and club members contacted the bookstore managers at the Kendall, InterAmerican and North campuses. The program really got going in the fall of 2013, when the Kendall bookstore got rid of all its plastic bags.

Kimberly Banks, the manager of the Kendall bookstore, was enthusiastic about the idea, particularly since she'd done the same thing at a previous university and she knew it would look good for business.

“The people we worked with were all very professional and it was great working with them,” Banks said. “It was just [a matter of] making people aware of the campaign and explaining why we no longer had bags.”

Rachelson said she understands that people want their convenience but Banks said the store has not received many complaints from customers about the abandonment of the plastic bags. At the moment, customers must bring in their own reusable bags or purchase a bag at the bookstore. However, Rachelson thinks the bags for purchase are currently too expensive.

The campaign to Ban The Bags involves more than forcing customers to use reusable bags. Posters up in the bookstore with information on plastic bags list why they're harmful to the environment, making the point that they pollute, don’t biodegrade and suffocate wildlife.

Support for the Ban The Bags campaign has come from a mass of people at the Kendall Campus who are environmentally conscious, especially classmates of Rachelson in the Honors College.

“Nobody goes to the bookstore to buy a lot of books; everybody walks out with one or two items,” said Kendall student Michael Marrero.

For Rachelson and her club, the future plans for the campaign include attracting local environmental organizations to stand in front of the bookstore and spread the message about the harm of using plastic bags as well as expanding to other bookstores.

“There’s not even a need for a bag, we have our book-bags,” said Daniel Pulido, a photography major.

Staff writer Guillermo Herrera contributed to this report.

TechnOlOgy

criMe

Utilizing iPads In Biology Labs Opening Doors To Scientific Wealth Of Knowledge

MDC Professor Hospitalized After Attack At Kendall Campus

Science students using ipads to record data, do graphical analBysis, access textbooks, record data and turn in assignments in federallBy funded program.

FROM criMe, FRONT

By Pia Molina pia.molina001@mymdc.net Dressed in white lab coats and and safety goggles, biology students at Wolfson Campus now utilize iPads as the latest technological advancement in their lab sessions.

The use of the iPads comes from an idea by Biology Professor Juan Morata to get the students majoring in Science Technology STEM fields to become familiar with the technology that is dominating the field. In a recent Principals of Biology I Laboratory, students in Morata’s class used ipads to record data, do graphical analysis and take pictures to analyze DNA samples used in forensic science labs.

“We are going to start to bring the iPads to the lab,” Morata said, “before, they were just used in the classroom but we will use apps and instrumentation to do the whole lab on the ipad.”

Morata’s innovative idea came from a previous experiment called Learning Communities used in two upper-level biology and chemistry classes.

For STEM majors, Learning Communities links their class lecture with the lab and lecture professor, as well as with the same set of students. With the new iPad technology, they will be able to have two sets of lecture-lab combination as the pilot.

The technology will be used in upper level classes such as

ANGELA DELGADO\THE REPORTER

Teched Out: Students at professor Juan Morata's Principles of Biology Lab use the new Ipad's provided by STEMFYE which was funded by the Department of Education grant.

BSC2010 with experiments that will use models to do research such as DNA sequencing in order to see how the DNA run through gels.

“From my experience, when students have the same lab professor and lecture professor it’s always better,” Morata said, “they will be able to work as teams in four different areas.”

The students will be able to rent out the iPads for the semester and this will be their main learning instrument. The iPads will serve as their book and note taking instrument. Morata has set up a dropbox for the students to turn in all their lab information directly to him from the iPad itself.

The iPads comes as an innovative idea not only to MDC but to most universities. Only recently has technology slowly started to appear in labs and classrooms as essential instruments for

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education.

“We always want to encourage teachers to come up with new ideas for students to become engaged in the classroom,” said Monica Minchala, program director of the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics First Year Experience (STEMFYE). “And with our generation growing up with technology, it is important to introduce this to the students.”

With the help of a grant provided by the STEMFYE program funded by the Department of Education, Morata’s idea was able to start its pilot during the current Spring term.

So far, the spring term pilot for the program has been seen as a success with 100 percent retention rates in the classrooms in which it has been implanted. Morata hopes to expand the program for the upcoming Fall 2014 chemistry classes.

@TheReporter_MDC

crouched over him and “continued to punch him unmercifully.”

“The aggressor ran down to the second floor, where a dark blue sports car was waiting for him,” according to Marc Magellan’s mother, Marta Magellan, who is also a professor at Kendall Campus.

Marta Magellan was not with her son at the time of the attack.

Marc Magellan did not want to be interviewed at this time, concerning the incident.

“It was probably one of those brainless thugs, who was put up to it by someone else,” Marta Magellan said. “It seems impossible to me that it was one of my son's students because students know if they want a good grade, they have to study, not beat up a faculty member. So although a lot of people are thinking it could have been a disgruntled student, I can't imagine what student at Kendall would be so uncivilized and so lacking in intelligence as to resort to uncivilized behavior, that clueless of what it means to get an education.”

Police said the investigation is ongoing. No arrests had been made at the time this issue went to press.

Kendall Campus President Lourdes Oroza sent an email to faculty and staff the day after the incident.

“Our thoughts are with him as he recovers,” Oroza said in the email. “We take these incidents very seriously. Although the investigation is ongoing, it appears to have been a very isolated incident. There is not much else we can share with you at the present

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time. This is a very safe campus.

In an abundance of caution, we have further elevated our security.

Regardless of any situation, I urge you to always be vigilant.”

The incident left Magellan’s colleagues with some cause for concern.

“You know, I’ve been [at MDC] for probably about 28 years now… and this is really the first time that anything like this has happened,” said Kenneth Boos, a music professor at Kendall Campus.

“It changes the dynamic of the institution.”

Marc Magellan’s co-workers describe him as engaging, passionate and student-friendly.

The popular professor, an accomplished jazz and blues guitar player, earned a bachelors degree in music business and entertainment industries from the University of Miami in 2005 and a masters in music theory from Florida State University in 2009. Magellan, a Miami native and 2001 Coral Reef High School graduate, has been teaching at the College for more than two years.

“He is very intelligent, easygoing, cares about the students a lot, and just an overall nice guy,” said music professor Leo Walz.

Magellan’s mother, Marta, called for tighter security measures.

“What happened to my son was one of those inexplicable things, yet, had there been security cameras there, we would have had a chance of catching the aggressor,” she said.

Staff writer Stephanie Fernandez contributed to this report.

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Fin.