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Putting a price on love VOLUME 89 | ISSUE 7
By RAFAEL FLORES Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
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collection of letters EE R she has been I CLA by writing daily to him. c i raph Infog “I think it’s more personal when they someone makes something instead l o o k of buying something,” Grantham forward to buying teddy said. bears, and Valentine’s cards. Several students who do Some students said they do not have significant others said not expect to go shopping for they still intend to celebrate gifts, because they prefer to give Valentine’s Day. “I think for a something they have made. single person, you can watch Jennifer Grantham, a nursing romantic movies or hang out major, plans to give her boyfriend with your girlfriends,” Kenzie of six months a jar filled with a Werford, a nursing major, said. T S| KA
According to Juan Soto, a business major, shopping for his girlfriend is easy because he knows exactly what she wants. “In my opinion, any day could be Valentine’s Day,” Soto said. A few students said they plan to celebrate with baking get-togethers; while others said
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Master Plan addresses potential changes By SALVADOR GUTIERREZ Staff Reporter
The Amarillo College board of regents will meet Friday, Feb. 15, to consider whether to hold a bond election to raise money for campus improvements. Some of the changes the bond could possibly fund include facilities upgrades, a new innovation center and better parking on the Washington Street Campus. This move comes after college officials released the results of the campus Master Plan outlining possible improvements for
various aspects of AC. AC partnered with architecture and engineering firm Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc. to conduct research and develop the Master Plan, which concentrates on six points: building and infrastructure upgrades and addressing ADA compliance issues, the development of a first responders and public safety academy, improving the way students enroll in AC and find their way around the campuses, technology upgrades and the creation of a downtown innovation hub, improving the student life experience and creating a robust Student Life
Center and increased parking on the Washington Street Campus. “What Parkhill, Smith & Cooper has done is give us a rough draft. They will normally take a full year to develop a master plan,” Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, AC president, said. “We’ve asked them to speed that process because there might be might be political things that we have to do that require us to deal with it sooner rather than later,” he said. All employees’ participation will be crucial in the execution of the master plan, Lowery-Hart said, adding that no decisions
will be made without continued input from AC students and staff. Should the board choose to hold a bond election to raise funds for these improvements, the vote will most likely take place in May, Lowery-Hart said, adding that, if passed, the bond would mean an approximately $3 per month property tax increase for the average Amarillo home owner. “We’ve done some initial polling and AC has the highest approval rating of any organization in the community,” Lowery-Hart said.
Amarillo and found trace amounts of opium and motor oil. “The motor oil could be from the processing machinery in the packaging and shipping of the coffee and the opium could be from the area it was grown, like Columbia,” she said. Barclay added that the trace amounts they found in the coffee are not significant or dangerous. This discovery is just a small part of the research that this community club is conducting. Any AC student can be a part of the club, even if they are not pursuing a degree in one of the various STEM fields. The students in the club perform experiments and studies on many different samples such as water, soil and plant life throughout the Panhandle region. “We basically expanded the
scope of the research because we had so many students and now, we have about 168 soil and water specimens collected by students,” Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe, a physical science professor and head sponsor of the STEM Club said. “We test the differences in the molecular compounds in each one,” said Bentli Veneklaseh, a horticulture major and member of the STEM Club. “We use the infrared machine a lot to condense them down to a very precise n u m b e r, it’s very accurate and it tells you individually
what is in each sample that is analyzed.” Taylor Gresham, a chemical engineering major and professional coffee roaster, suggested the coffee analysis due to her interest in the chemistry of coffee. “I suggested that we use coffee to build a database for the infrared machine since we know what is in coffee,” she said.
Opium found in coffee on campus By JEREMY STITSWORTH Staff Reporter
Students in Amarillo College’s STEM research club made a surprising discovery while conducting tests on coffee from the Writers’ Corner. “The sample of the Writers’ Corner coffee was from Sam’s Club and it tested for a very, very, very small amount of opium,” said Stephanie Barclay, a biology major and STEM Club member. Opium is an addictive narcotic drug derived from the seeds of poppies. “It started when we wanted to test our friend’s coffee mug because he drinks like seven cups of coffee a day and doesn’t wash his mug,” Barclay said. The students tested several types of coffee from shops around
Students seek financially beneficial relationships By JEREMY STITSWORTH
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alentine’s Day is known as a commercial holiday across the nation. According to thebalance.com, Valentine’s shopping contributed $19.6 billion to the economy. Reports say that half of the U.S. population partakes in buying gifts. In 2018, 55 percent of those shoppers spent $1.8 billion on candy, 44.9 percent spent $1 billion on greeting cards, 35 percent spent 3.7 billion on an evening out, 35 percent spent $2 billion on flowers and 19 percent spent 4.7 billion on jewelry, according to the National Retail Federation. Students at Amarillo College also said they plan to purchase Valentine’s gifts for their loved ones. “I want to go with flowers, just to express how valuable she is to me,” Byishimo Muhorana, a computer science major, said.
February 14, 2019
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Seeking.com is a sugar daddy and sugar baby website where men and women seek out partners for profit. The money-making approach has become increasingly popular across the nation and even at Amarillo College. “We have a special program catered just to college students,” said Jennifer, a press consultant from seeking.com. The program called Sugar Baby University currently has more than 3 million registered students and continues to attract more, she said. “Each month our sugar babies in successful arrangements receive around $2,800 in gifts or allowances from a sugar daddy or sugar mama to assist them,” Jennifer said. One successful sugar baby using seeking.com is an Amarillo College dental hygiene major who asked to be referred to as Sarah. Sarah said she turned to seeking.com because her parents couldn’t help her pay tuition anymore. “Clients pay straight cash or just deposit money into my checking account,” she said, adding that she charges $500 for dates, but her services can go up to $1,500. A former sugar daddy, who asked to be referred to as Ray, said that sugar baby arrangements can get costly after a while - and in more ways than one. “Eventually, you develop a connection with the other person and it really hurts to know that they really only want you for your money,” he said. Sir Garen Grayson, a mass media major, has had experiences with older women and flirting for profit. “There’s a big market for this and lots of different favors they ask for. Things like pictures, just talking to them or even going out with them,” he said. “Sometimes people ask for really weird or sexual things, but I don’t really get involved with them,” Grayson said. “Our members are all background checked and verified so everyone you meet is who they say they are,” Jennifer said. “Seeking.com also encourages sugar babies who have a bad experience to contact us so we can take proper action against the member that mistreated them or made them feel uncomfortable.” Jennifer added that just because someone has a lot of money or is extremely successful doesn’t mean they can degrade or exploit someone who is not as well off as themselves.
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Opinion
2 | The Ranger February 14, 2019
Relationships are not perfect What are your relationship expectations? “Currently, I’m doing a long-distance relationship. So right now, all I’m working on is communication, and making sure I call my girlfriend every single day,"
BILL ROBERTSON mass media
EDITORIAL “I would say patience, you just have to have patience for one another so you can meet halfway,”
BRENDA HERNANDEZ biology
“My expectations would
be to spend time together and not care what other people think,"
KATIE MADRID radiography
Swiping for love in all the wrong places
OPINION By SIR GAREN GRAYSON Staff Reporter
It is crazy how much the dating scene has changed since I was in school. Back then, if you wanted to talk to someone you had to wait until after 7 p.m. to have unlimited texting and be off the phone before 12:01 a.m. to avoid the extra charges. You also had some semblance of what to talk about since you somewhat knew about each other. Nowadays, you match with someone on a dating app like Tinder or Bumble and hope that the conversation actually goes somewhere, with the worst part being you get a match and actually have a conversation,
because I truly hate texting. I remember matching with someone I had seen around school and hitting her up via Tinder, talking about casual stuff to get a conversation going, just for her to ignore me both on the app and in life. Online dating is tougher than meeting someone in person and getting a conversation going, with the biggest reason being that online I have no way to gauge if the other person is actually rocking with the conversation unless they stop replying. Despite the changes in dating, I have realized the more things change, the more other things stay the same. Like on Bumble, women are the ones who must instigate the conversation after you match I rarely hear from my matches and often I am sitting there wondering, “Why in the hell did they swipe right?” Then I remember how I used to constantly suicide swipe – that, is swipe right on everyone - just to see who I matched with for the slight ego boost, leaving hella messages unread. I am a hypocrite.
It seems that Valentine’s Day brings out the romantic in people (unless you’re the kind of person who despises the holiday, in which case, we don’t blame you). Really, though, it seems like when V-Day rolls around, everyone’s talking about relationships. The ones they’re in, the ones they wish they were in and the ones they don’t have. People tend to yearn for the “perfect” relationships displayed around them, especially around this time of the year. It’s really easy to look at relationships portrayed in movies, books and even on social media and think, “Man, I wish I had that kind of relationship,” or, “I wish my significant other would do that [insert romantic thing].”
Just because the tough parts of a relationship don’t show doesn’t mean they aren’t there. The truth is, no relationship is perfect. It might seem that way, but many times, you’re only seeing the surface of a relationship. Sure, when you first dive in to a new relationship things can seem perfect, but humans are humans. We are all flawed, and those flaws will eventually make their way into our relationships, romantic and otherwise. More often than not, movies, books, social media and even the couples you see in the real world are putting their best faces forward, and who would blame them? We, The Ranger Staff, believe
that relationships can be great even if they aren’t perfect. However, they don’t just come that way. For a relationship to be its best, it takes work and compromise from all parties involved. It isn’t easy, but if you really care about your significant other, that’s all that matters at the end of the day. It’s easy to look at what another couple has and want it. But, even the best of relationships have their lows. Humans are complex, and life is unpredictable. Things happen. Everyone has bad days, which can cause bad moods, which can bleed into every interaction you have. There will be arguments, tough times… it happens. It’s normal, and sometimes normality is the most desirable of all.
How to have a perfect relationship The do's and don'ts of a relationship
OPINION By JACOB MCGEE Staff Reporter
In any relationship there are ups and downs. Some of them are obvious and others not so much. Some people believe that there is some kind of perfect recipe that you can use to make the relationship work. Not every relationship works the same, just like every person is not the same. You have to find that common ground and build upon it. Laying a foundation that is strong and will last the test of time begins with a mutual love for each other. We develop the rest of the characteristics that love inspires.
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There are five traits that I believe that make relationships work. Communication is the biggest key to making it work. This means not only sharing our everyday feelings but also our intimate feelings. We have to tell each other we love each other or, unsaid, they do not exist. Sharing quality time helps strengthen the foundation by building and transforming the relationship into a greater love through intimacy, romance and time spent together. Date nights and regular time spent alone with each other do wonders for the love bond. Don’t criticize each other in front of others. It is embarrassing and crushing for our partner to endure. Public criticism is a form of retaliation by an angry partner. Choose to disagree in private and discuss it lovingly with respect for the other's view. Criticism does not cultivate love and it does not show respect for our partner. Show affection daily. Touching is a form of communicating our love for
each other. Hugging, kissing, a simple touch at the waist, or a stroke on the arm says “I love you” in a different way. It shows our sensitivity and our attentiveness to our partner. Affection instills in us that we are loved and we are appreciated. Pick your battles wisely. There are situations that arise where a cooler head must prevail. Fighting over unimportant issues can be destructive. Do a quick review and ask yourself, ‘in the big picture, is this going to change my life?’ Save your time and energy for more important matters that require your total devotion. Like buying a house or having a baby. Implementing these dos and don’ts into your relationship will strengthen the bond that holds you together. While I believe that these are the most important, sitting down and listing the things that are important to you can bring awareness into the relationship. Awareness is a good thing. It makes us see what is important.
Student Media exists to serve you — the students. The Ranger is an open forum where you can learn and talk about the things that matter to you. The Ranger staff urges you to get involved by submitting ideas, photos, writing, videos and telling us what you want covered. A public critique and meeting is open to the campus community on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. in PH 214 or you can reach us via email at therangereditor@gmail.com. The Ranger is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Association, Panhandle Press Association, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and Texas Community College Journalism Association. For a complete staff listing, visit us at acranger.com. The Ranger is an independent student publication. Material published in The Ranger does not necessarily reflect the views of Amarillo College administrators or employees.
News
The Ranger | 3 February 14, 2019
Say it anyway, comedian visits campus for laughs, lessons By STEVEN OSBURN Staff Reporter
A comedian featured on “America’s Got Talent,” Adam Grabowski, recently visited Amarillo College and performed in the Burrow. He did make many students laugh, but he had a message that persisted throughout his routine. He gave out wristbands with the text “#sayitanyway,” a message about opening up and being honest that he wanted students to take home. “If we can laugh about it, we are given a reward rather than pain or annoyance or boredom,” Grabowski said. His jokes were wide ranging. One moment, he would be talking about a Disney movie and the next he would be talking about how girls and guys interact. He discussed some serious subjects, quoting Donald Trump, then noting that the audience would rather talk about whether a hot dog is a sandwich or not. “I think people should talk about stuff, but laughing and
being humorous when you talk about things makes it more digestible. It makes it more fun,” Grabowski said. “I went into comedy because I saw it as a way to get into public speaking,” he added “I want to have a purpose to what I’m saying.” Grabowski sent a message of self-worth to a handful of college students. He told them all to stop worrying about how many likes they got on a post, or how they look, but to be happy with themselves. Cameron Miller, a programing major, said he enjoyed the event. “I got a lot of laughs, a lot of learning how to deliver jokes and have serious conversations in the midst of jokes.” Natalie Padilla, a nursing major said she agreed with Grabowski’s message that people should be more open with one another. “I liked that he was honest about the way he talked,” she said. Grabowski’s message to students is to, “Talk openly about what you’re going through, don’t be afraid of that. Strength comes from recognizing that you’re not alone and also stop letting people in power pull the wool over our eyes and tell us things are going well when they’re not.” Grabowski has performed at over 600 college campuses, been awarded the No. 1 college comedian five times and holds the title for 2017 APCA comic of the year. The Burrow will be having another event featuring Coach Sherry Winn at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Students only need their student ID to get in, and there will be free food.
COURTESY PHOTO
Program helps adults succeed By MICHAEL SULLEN Staff Reporter
The adult students program at Amarillo College is a scholarship program that is available to students who are 24 years and older or who are single parents. These services help adult students succeed while they are attending school, Ashley Guinn, a social services coordinator, said. “Sometimes students have to pay out-of-pocket for their school expenses and it helps knowing that scholarships are available to help alleviate the cost and stress that a student might encounter,” Guinn said. “AC believes that it is important to provide support that will help students remove barriers that may keep them from completing their courses,” she said. The program receives federal funding from the Carl Perkins Grant scholarship funds from the Amarillo College Foundation. In addition to helping with tuition, the program awards transportation and child care scholarships and assists with textbooks and supplies. “We understand that transportation is expensive and child care is necessary,” Jordan Herrera, director of social services, said. According to Herrea, students who have children
often face special challenges while attending college. “I believe that adult students need services because a lot of the time they are the forgotten,” Leslie Hinojosa, a social services coordinator, said. “People tend to think traditionally that students are young, still at home with their parents and that’s not true,” she said. “A lot of adult students have children and families that they are having to support and so we are helping them in more ways than one,” Hinojosa said. “Not only to help them get in classes and see them succeed, but also helping their families in a way. Services are really needed for them and sometimes I feel like they’re forgotten so I’m glad we have what we have for adult students,” Hinojosa said. Services are available to students who have applied for the program first and then the services are opened up to the rest of the student body on the first day of classes. In addition, to qualify for these services, the student has to be enrolled in an academic degree or certificate program at AC. To apply for services, students must complete the online scholarship application found at: https://www.actx. edu/foundation/scholarshipapplications and answer the questions related to the adult students program.
New director seeks students
Montgomery focuses on enrollment By FAYTHE REEVES Staff Reporter
Promoting Amarillo College enrollment and the Thrive scholarship are the goals of AC’s new director of outreach services. Cassie Montgomery took on this role at the college Jan. 7. Montgomery said that the outreach services staff ’s main focus is on drawing high school students into AC and showing them all the college has to offer. She also said she aims to help adult learners and make sure that they are taking advantage of the opportunities available to them as well. She added that while Amarillo is a large feeder of AC’s student population, it isn’t their only focus. “We’ve got students in all our rural communities who would benefit from knowing what we have to offer,” Montgomery said. Amy Guerrero, a recruitment specialist, said that working with Montgomery has been great. She also said that they have been able to brainstorm new ideas for increasing enrollment. “She understands where we are coming from, what our goals are and what we want to achieve,” Guerrero said.
CASSIE MONTGOMERY Increasing the student population will help AC grow, but that is not the only goal, according to Bob Austin, vice president of enrollment management. “Anytime that Cassie and her team can help a student make a positive choice to go on to higher education after high school, it not only benefits the student, but the community as well,” Austin said. Thrive is a new scholarship allowing students to go to AC for free starting with the graduating class of 2018. Although the Thrive scholarship has not pulled in as many people as the outreach services staff was hoping, Montgomery is pushing forward to share the new opportunity.
This semester is the first time students have the chance to learn about the Thrive scholarship before graduating or choosing a college to attend. “Money shouldn’t be a barrier,” Austin said. “We want every student of this community to take advantage of that scholarship and to enroll at AC and to be well educated and to create better outcomes for our entire community.” Austin said that working as an adjunct speech instructor and a senior communications consultant before applying for the new position, has given Montgomery plenty of experience in her field. However, she said that it is her passion for making sure that the right message is given to the right audience at the right time that drives her forward. “When it comes to education, I just want to hold the door open,” Montgomery said. Most of all, Montgomery said her goals for outreach services is to show students and adults in the Panhandle area that AC is a real, viable option. “I want them to consider us as a game changer, and not just a second option,” Montgomery said.
Fraudulent fundraisers claim to represent AC College police warn campus, community about scammers
By CARTER HALL Staff Reporter
The Amarillo College police department is warning people about a door-to-door sales scam.
On Feb. 8, officials sent a campus-wide email stating that a male and female were going door-to-door trying to collect money by selling magazine subscriptions. The email further explained that the subjects said they were
selling the magazines to raise money for an AC-sponsored trip to London. “They are selling magazine subscriptions to pay for internships with the BBC in London,” Wesley CondrayWright, the director of
marketing and communication, said in a news release. Condray-Wright said the subjects claimed to be “AC mass communication students.” “This scam is in no way connected to our program,” Jill Gibson, Matney Mass Media
chair, said. “We never conduct this type of fundraiser,” she said. “I’m disappointed that people would try to take advantage of students and the school as a whole,” Drake Hutton, a mass media major, said.
News
4 | The Ranger February 14, 2019
More than teacher’s pet PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MINSHEW | The Ranger
Professor/student romance: forbidden love or fatal attraction?
By KYLE GRAHAM Staff Reporter
Valentine’s Day…chocolates, cards, flowers, teddy bears, last second shopping, love blooming in the air. Many individuals are not dating these days, but for those who are, there is a bit of a ruffle on the feathers of a lot of birdies. Some people believe that love doesn’t discriminate. This is understandable, but where
is the line drawn between students and professors? It is a rare occurrence, but it does happen, as controversial as it seems. A few students and professors argue that professorstudent relationships could be acceptable in rare circumstances for older students who are close to the age of their instructors. Many students are returning to college and their spouses happen to be instructors at AC. Others happen to find love in places they would not expect.
Whatever the circumstance, this does bring up some difficult issues. “For an existing marriage, it wouldn’t make sense for them to get a divorce or change universities when they can use their spouse’s employee scholarship,” said Samantha Jewett, a student adviser at AC. Jewett also said that it would be less problematic for the student to take the class with another instructor. If instructor-student relationships are allowed, some
students say they believe that people in these situations are going to get special treatment or will be distracted. Many professors, administrators and students said they believe such relationships would be unethical or disruptive. “I don’t think it would be acceptable at all,” Johanna Goode, a business management major, said. Several students and instructors said that it might cause problems such as favoritism, pampering or free
grades. It would be completely unfair for those going through the class, studying for countless hours and buckling down on a test just for someone to put their name on the test and get an automatic passing grade. Love can bloom literally anywhere, but it is currently against AC policy for any members of staff and faculty to have any relations with students or vice versa and most individuals keep their personal business under lock and key.
Farmersonly.com For farmers to find farmers Christianmingle.com A site for people to find other people that believe the same thing Silversingles.com A dating site for 50+ people Elitesingles.com A dating site for “educated singles” Haterdater.com An app that matches people by things they mutually dislike Diapermates.com For adult babies and diaper lovers Glutenfreesingles.com it is so much easier to go on dates with some body that has the same allergy as you Tallfriends.com A dating site for tall people Clowndating.com It’s a platform for clowns to meet
Roma n ce at t he tip of your fi ngers By ISABE LLE Staff Re LINK porter
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Some dating apps are so specific that it seems it could only be for a handful of people in a certain community. These are some examples of some specific dating apps – some of the more than 2,500 U.S. apps and sites.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY SALVADOR GUTIERREZ | The Ranger
News
The Ranger | 5 February 14, 2019
Pets give unconditional love By MEGH AN HOLLAND Staff Reporter
Many animals have an unbreakable bond with their owners. Some people like to celebrate holidays with their pets, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. “I am going to adopt a pet today,” Lindsey Spruell, a social work major, said. She has had two dogs in the past, but they have died, and she said she feels like it’s time to get another dog. “I’m planning on getting a husky. I’ve already been to the shelter, and I got to meet the dog. I saw her personality and how she was around me, so I knew she was going to be mine,” Spruell said. Spruell loves to spoil her pets. “I treat it like a human. I feel like it’s family,” she said. When Spruell and a friend went to Palo Duro Canyon to go hiking, they took one of her dogs with her. Instead of putting the dog in the back, Spruell said she made her friend go to the backseat so her dog could sit in the front seat with her. She said she plans on buying her new husky a toy and taking her to the Canyon for Valentine’s Day.
“It’s good for a dog, it’s good for me and it’s a good bonding experience.” Spreull said that animals help you with your emotions and that you can rely on them. “Just to have my dog near me calms me down. I personally am not really good at emotionally bonding with people, so for me, it’s more of bond with pets,” she said. Sometimes the bond between a human and a pet can be unexpected. “My bond with my dogs is something I honestly never imagined it would be,” Cecilia Rizcallah, a dental
hygiene major, said. Dogs really are a woman’s best friend.” Rizcallah said she loves hanging out with her dogs, and she said they are like her children. “I buy my dogs gifts for everything. I buy more stuff for them than I buy for my boyfriend,” Rizcallah said. Patrick Houseal, a general studies major, has one cat, one dog, one fish and eight llamas. Although his family does not do anything for Valentine’s Day with their pets, Houseal said that they celebrate major holidays and special days with them, such as Christmas and their birthdays. Houseal said that he has a really good connection with animals. “Usually at parties or if I am invited somewhere, I either talk to the parents and adults or the animals. It is kind of hard to ignore them,” Houseal said. Valentine’s Day is about being with loved ones and showing appreciation, and that would include showing love to pets. Many animals have an unconditional love for their owners, and Valentine’s Day is a great time to spoil those furry (or scaly) friends.
Breakups 101 By MARCUS HUMPFREY Staff Reporter
Surviving romantic breakups can lead to emotional, physical or mental trauma. At Amarillo College, there is counseling offered to people experiencing relationship difficulties or going through a breakup. “Breakups aren’t something that can be conquered overnight,” Lindsey Eggleston, Counseling Center coordinator, said. “Regular counseling can get you headed in the right direction,” Eggleston said, adding that talking to someone about emotions can be healthy and can move people in a new direction. “A breakup can result in a stronger and better you,” she said. After a breakup, “students should not overindulge in alcohol beverages,” Kristen Barrick, an AC licensed professional counselor, said. Turning to alcohol or drugs
to numb feelings will merely cover up problems, but issues can resurface later with the same impact, she said. After a breakup, Eggleston recommends watching some of your favorite TV shows, funny videos, Instagram or stand-up comedy. “It’s OK to smile” in the mist of grieving the loss of a breakup. This may be just what you need,” she said. “A breakup from a longterm relationship can leave you with regret and hate, which can be hazardous to your recovery,” said Marc Arteus, a mass media major who has survived a breakup. Although breakups are painful, they are survivable, he said, adding that a breakup doesn't have to break you down. The Amarillo College Counseling Center is located in the Vice President of Student Affairs Suite on the second floor of the Ware Student Commons. For an appointment call 806371-5900 and a counselor will work you in.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ISABELLE LINK | The Ranger
Students say Tinder is the most popular dating app.
Tinder: finds you love with a swipe Can you trust an app for that?
By STEVI BRESHEARS Editor-in-chief
In today’s world, if you aren’t on a dating app, you’re either in a relationship or missing out on a lot of opportunities to begin one. While dating apps offer many options, users say to take precautions before moving your dating game online. According to a study by technology company Quantcast, 74 percent of online daters use the app. Tinder itself boasts that it’s responsible for more than 30 billion “matches” in more than 190 countries, resulting in more than 1 million dates per week — but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good dates. There’s a certain amount of anonymity in online dating. People create profiles that highlight the parts of them they think are most attractive,
and in pre-med student Julio Salazar’s case, that means flatout being lied to. “I was 19 and Tinder had just come out and was fairly new. I met this guy on there and we chatted for a little bit,” Salazar said. “He seemed genuine and I was pretty excited.” Salazar’s match described himself as a 21-year-old West Texas A&M student. “The thing about Tinder is that you can't send photos, you can only have the few ones allowed on your profile. I ended up agreeing to a date,” Salazar said. When Salazar arrived for the date, he did not see anyone who fit his match’s description. “Finally I see this guy wave at me and I'm like, ‘Are you waving at me?’ He was way older than me. I walk over and I say his name, my stomach sank. This guy was actually in
his early 30s. He was pretty much balding, out of shape. It was the worst date ever. Finally, I said I needed to go to the bathroom. I grabbed my keys and jacket and beelined for the exit.” But Salazar’s Tinder torture wasn’t over. “The date was the weekend before the semester started, and I show up to my class on Tuesday morning. Guess who was the T.A. for that class? We made the most awkward eye contact ever and we had to endure a whole semester together.” Salazar said this bad experience taught him an important lesson. “Long story short, I ask for updated pics, references and Snapchat before meeting guys on dates now,” he said. Sometimes, it isn’t the match that goes wrong, it’s outside influences during the date, according to Hayleigh
Steadman, an English major. “I met up with a Tinder match at Mulligan's for drinks and about an hour into our incredibly awkward ‘date’ some girl (obviously super drunk) comes and sits by me. She started flirting with me right in front of him! She took my phone and added herself on Facebook,” Steadman, said. Despite the interruption, Steadman said she dated her Tinder match for several months after that. While that relationship has ended, she said she’s still Facebook friends with the girl. Although many people said they see Tinder as a useful tool or an easy way to waste some time, others said they feel that it does more harm than good. Ivan Dopeman, an accounting major, said he thinks that dating apps like Tinder can have a negative effect on self-esteem.
“It’s just a big game of men jumping through hoops for women who are allowed to have these totally unrealistic standards,” Dopeman said. “For women, Tinder is like going to an American grocery store. There are tons of options readily available. For men, Tinder is like going to a North Korean grocery store. There’s only one option, there isn’t much of it and it’s grossly overpriced.” Should you choose to take a chance and start swiping, it’s important to be careful. Get to know your matches for a decent amount of time, ask for extra pictures and meet in a safe, public place. It’s also a good idea to let someone know where you’re going and when, and update them if you need to. Bad dates can be a great source for funny stories, but they can also be dangerous.
News
6 | The Ranger February 14, 2019
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Program gets accreditation By MARC PAMPLONA Staff Reporter
The automotive technology program at Amarillo College has received accreditation from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The ASE accreditation is a way for the industry to see that a program is training students to be prepared for the future in the automotive field. It shows employers that their curriculum is dedicated to the program and to the industry by having the accreditation, Isaac Bernal, interim automotive program coordinator, said. Bernal said he believes that earning a degree from an ASE certified program will give students a sense of pride. “In the end it would help the students to attain a job in the field,” Bernal said. He added that the accreditation ensures that AC has a curriculum that is aligned with the ASE’s required student skill set upon their graduation. “That would be how to diagnose a vehicle; how to use the tools properly; primarily to diagnose and identify the concerns of the vehicle and repair them properly,” Bernal said. The program started the process of getting accredited a year ago and just received
accreditation this January. The process of gaining ASE certification is complicated, said Rebecca Archer, executive secretary for the automotive and diesel departments. “First, we have to look at the program ourselves, and then we have to get people of the outside come in and evaluate us and then we have team come that sat for two days and looked over every tool, every room, every instructor and all of our proof before they could recommend us for accreditation,” she explained. Archer said that the accreditation will last until February 2024. “So then, we have to go through the whole process again just before it lapses so we can keep it.” Becky Burton, the dean of academic outreach and support services, said she thinks that the certification will attract more students, especially if it is marketed properly. “When marketing this to high school students, we can show them that it is an accredited program. It is on the same scale as all those other accredited programs across the nation and that gives it a lot of validity,” Burton said. Claudia Arnold, the senior adviser for the East Campus, said that getting accreditation will get more students interested in the program. “The advertisement of that would just bring students in.”
MARISSA RIVERA | The Ranger
Students receive help from an adviser on their spring semester classes
Changing majors is a major change By MARISSA RIVERA Staff Reporter
More than one-third of all college students change their majors at least once before graduation, according to a U.S. department of education report. Some students change majors multiple times, the report said. While changing majors is common, Amarillo College advisers say switching majors can become a major problem “Changing majors without verifying how it affects course work, financial aid, transfer and time to completion can cause problems," Ernesto Olmos, director of advising services and coordinator of transfer services, said. "If students have completed courses toward one major and then change to a completely different major, those courses may no longer apply. This can cause excess credit hour issues that can affect financial aid eligibility and also transferability,” Advisers encourage students
to talk to them when thinking about changing majors. Depending on the student, there are some who will go to the adviser of their next major choice. “I know that a lot of my students will most times stick to what they’re doing, but I occasionally I get people from other majors that come to me,” Ruth De Anda, an academic adviser, said. De Anda said there are pros and cons to major changes, but the main consideration is that the classes they have already taken might not fit into the new degree plan. “I do have students who change completely, and I like to pull the degree plans from wherever they are going and see how this will impact you,” De Anda said. When transferring to another college or university, there are some credits that may not transfer and major changes at AC can lead to multiple AC courses that will not count toward a particular bachelor’s degree. “An Amarillo College major
may be selected that best fits the transfer university’s bachelor’s degree requirements. If students change their majors before visiting with an adviser, they may have completed courses that no longer apply to their ultimate bachelor’s degree goal,” Olmos said. Changing majors also forces students to get used to working with a different adviser. “The thing I liked about my nursing adviser was that she actually mapped everything out for me and explained everything. My business adviser was different,” Geovanni Ramírez, a nursing major who changed to businesses administration, said. Major changes are available to all students, but advisers say they want the students to talk to them so they can help with planning and make sure the students don’t cause other problems by making a major change. Students should take the initiative to make sure their own education is mapped out properly, but talking to an adviser can prevent issues that could arise when transferring.
Faculty encouragement equals success Students say Witherspoon makes math more enjoyable
By MICHAEL SULLEN Staff Reporter
When it comes to math, some students have a hard time comprehending the material. Reem Witherspoon, Amarillo College math instructor and Math Outreach Center supervisor, helps students who have traditionally struggled with arithmetic build confidence in their skills. “There are a lot of things that I like about my job,” Witherspoon said. “It is very versatile and I work very closely with our students, which gives me a very clear sense of their struggles and concerns.” According to her students, Witherspoon develops relationships with them by being patient, caring and having a kind personality. They described her as dedicated to her job and someone who will do whatever she can, including meeting before or after class, to make sure they understand the material. Having a good math teacher makes people less stressed and more confident about passing classes, students said. “I love Mrs. Witherspoon because she teaches math very well,” Kristyn Serra, a graphic design major, said.
Witherspoon started teaching as a part time math instructor in the Access Learning Center during summer 2008. In 2009, she was offered a full-time job as a math instructor. In 2014, Witherspoon moved to the math and engineering department as the coordinator to the Math Outreach Center, the Math Testing Center and as a math instructor. “She’s so great. She teaches everything to where you can understand it, gives us reviews, works through problems with us. It’s great,” Jessica White, a radiology major and math tutor, said. Witherspoon said she focuses not only on the content being taught, but also on the students. Listening and looking out for signs of trouble helps her figure out ways to help students understand the material, she said. Witherspoon also supervises the student math tutors at the Outreach Center. The students who work under her said they enjoy working with Witherspoon because she builds caring relationships with them. “I like working at the Math Outreach Center with Mrs. Witherspoon. She’s a caring person and has a big heart for the Outreach Center,” Anthony Do,
Reem Witherspoon tutors John Wilke to improve his math skills
a computer science major and Outreach Center student tutor said. AC math students praised Witherspoon for her dedication
to teaching, engaging students in learning, superior listening skills, deep knowledge and passion for their subject matter, friendliness and approachability, excellent
MICHAEL SULLEN | The Ranger
preparation and organization skills, strong work ethic and community-building skills. When it comes to having the right skills to teach math, it all adds up.
Culture
The Ranger | 7 February 14, 2019
Former dean leaves AC to pursue passion for art By MARIA VALLES Staff Reporter
Amarillo College’s dean of liberal arts, Victoria TaylorGore, left AC Jan. 31 to return to work as a full-time artist. “I’ve always had a passion for art,” Taylor-Gore said. “My mother’s death made me realize how short life is, and I decided then that I would make art my career.” Taylor-Gore worked full time as an artist before becoming an
instructor at AC. “After getting my MFA, I eventually moved to New Mexico and exhibited my work in galleries in Santa Fe and Taos,” Tylor-Gore said. “It took time and perseverance to get to the point where I made a good living selling my artwork,” she said. Stephanie Jung, an art instructor said she is sad about Taylor-Gore’s departure, but understands. “I feel very happy for Vicky and I feel sad for us as a department because Vicky has been the most amazing
boss,” Jung said. “Vicky was a professional working artist for many years and I absolutely respect and am thrilled for her to go back to doing that.” Jung said she has learned many things from Taylor-Gore. “Vicky has taught me so much about what it’s like to be a good leader in a variety of ways being honest, straightforward, kind and consistent -all those things are so valuable,” Jung said. Former student Elizabeth Beckham, a photographer, said Taylor-Gore has influenced
her life in a positive way. “As a photographer who felt really off balance in my first art class, Vicky helped me feel at ease and boosted my confidence in my innate artistic sense outside of my camera,” Beckham said. “She always gave me solid advice regarding my classes and fine art career as a whole.” Jung said it can be risky to quit a job that has a steady income and to make way as a full-time artist. “Not many people are able to do that but Vicky has done this in the past so she has experience; she
knows what is required to make a living from being an artist,” Jung said. “I am very excited and happy for the next chapter in her life.” Taylor-Gore said she will be waking up every morning with gratitude that she is pursing the thing that makes her the happiest; however, she plans to keep up with the people from AC. “I have very mixed feelings, because I love AC,” Taylor-Gore said. “I will miss the inspiration of interacting with students and my great friends and co-workers at AC.”
first, I thought this is going to be one of those shows like “Riverdale” that will have cringy mediocre acting and will use good looking actors to distract viewers from the horrible acting. Yet, this show proved me wrong, and I love it when movies and TV shows prove me wrong. I never really like Penn Badgley’s portrayal of Dan in “Gossip Girl” but he. He is fantastic in portraying Joe as a creepy-psychotic-obsessivestalker. He makes the viewers empathize with him not because of his looks, but because of how he portrays the character of Joe. Elizabeth Lail, is phenomenal as Beck, especially in the last few episodes. She really takes the spotlight from Badgley in the season finale. I would love to see more of her in the second season. Even the side characters feel genuine. Third, are the visuals. The cinematography of this show is top-notch. This a very beautiful looking TV show, which I think deserves a lot of credit. I love how every camera angle
looks and how every shot of New York feels authentic. You can absolutely feel how massive the city is. I find the use of color tints on this show very interesting. On the first few episodes, there is this yellowish tint, which kind of represents Joe’s hope of getting together with Beck. Then in the later episodes, it switches into a contrasty and blackish tint, as it represents the unknown, evil and death. I applaud the use of the color tints as an archetype on this TV show. Now, for the negatives. To be honest, my only complaints are just nitpicks that I think are too distracting. There are some side characters that really are not supposed to be there, but are there for the sake of entertainment. Also, some aspects of this show do not make sense, especially in real life. But overall, I highly recom mend this showbecause it really hits on all cylinders. Let’s just hope that as Netflix continues this show, it won’t lose its quality.
‘You’ should watch this television show REVIEW
By MARC PAMPLONA Staff Reporter
“You” is a psychological thriller series based on the book “Hidden Bodies” by Caroline Kepnes and then developed for television by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. It stars Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Luca Padovan, Zach Cherry, Shay Mitchell and includes a special appearance by John Stamos. The pilot episode aired on Lifetime on Sept. 9, 2018, and then was picked up by Netflix to stream its first season. Netflix has announced that a second season will be released. In this show, we follow the character of Joe (Penn Badgley) who constantly stalks a beautiful aspiring poet Beck (Elizabeth Lail) after their cute but sort of creepy first encounter in Joe’s bookstore. This type of plot has been used in many TV shows and movies, but in this show it is executed perfectly. It makes its viewers wonder whether Joe has good intentions or if he is a psychotic stalker who
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thinks everything he does is out of love. Joe is so madly in love with Beck. This forces Joe to stalk her through social media to get to know better before confronting her face-to-face. He sets a goal to be her partner and to live a happily-ever-after. I find this TV show to be creepy. Not because of the creepy-stalking aspect, but because I found myself rooting for the psychotic stalker in the midst of my binge watch of this show. Those creepy vibes did not stop me from being impressed by this series. There
are a lot of things that are praiseworthy about this show and there are also a few things that bothered me. First, is the plot? The trailer kind of gives away what this show is going to be about, but at the same time it also subverts my expectations. Some people might think it would be difficult for the writers to stretch the plot out into 10 episodes, but the writers of this show nail it. They manage to give us a complete understanding of and empathy for the characters. Second, is the acting. At
‘Gilmore Girls’ writers create marvelous Amazon Prime series REVIEW By CLAIRE EKAS Design Manager
If you are anything like me and adored “Gilmore Girls,” then I have some delightful news for you. Dan and Amy Sherman-Palladino have crafted another fast-talking, quick-witted T.V. series, the Amazon Prime Original “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Set in the late 1950s, the show centers on Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel, a young, upper middleclass Jewish housewife living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She is married to Joel Maisel, a businessman and an aspiring comedian who steals his material from other comedians. Midge’s life seems to be playing out exactly as she planned until Joel leaves her for his secretary early on in season one. This comes as a complete shock to Midge and she quickly and almost haphazardly turns to comedy herself and quickly works her way up in the world of comedy. Midge is more than just a female comedian in the 1950s. She is a strong, independent (for the time) woman that has no problem living her own truth.
I find her personality extremely relatable although it quickly becomes obvious she doesn’t fit in with her contemporaries anymore. Although season one is mainly about Midge finding her place in the world again, season two turns its focus on the rest of the characters, which I found entertaining. Midge’s parents have marriage qualms, her in-laws struggle with money and Joel wallows in self-pity. Toward the middle of season two, Midge starts to learn to love herself again when she must tell her family that she is a female comedian and they don’t take the news well. The whacky storyline and outrageous characters are just parts of what makes this show amazing. Its set and costume design are also something to marvel at. Fans of “Mad Men” will get a huge kick out of the brightly colored attire, the seemingly endless number of hats Midge owns and Wes Anderson style color palettes. I highly recommend this show because there is truly something for everyone to enjoy throughout the first two seasons. Mrs. Maisel is indeed marvelous.
The jazz band rehearses for the recital.
MEGAN MINSHEW | The Ranger
Students, faculty host honors recital By MEGAN MINSHEW Staff Reporter
The Amarillo College music department presented the Honors Students and Faculty Recital Sunday, Feb. 10, in the Concert Hall Theatre on the Washington Street Campus. Music faculty members and majors said the event allowed them to showcase the department and the skills of students and staff. “I really love how it shows off the different aspects of the music program here at AC,” Andreanna Simpson, a music major, said. “Not only does it highlight our amazing faculty, but it gives some of
the students and ensembles a chance to shine as well.” Students who performed included: Sergio Almanza and Jason McClanahan, playing the trumpet; Anna Bahn, singing as a soprano; Thomas Bales, playing saxophone; Celeste Hutchins, with viola; Jessica Ruiz, playing the flute and Simpson, playing the piano. The performance featured a variety of music styles such as jazz band, vocal jazz and Suzuki Advanced Ensemble. “I love hearing other people perform and hearing the kind of music they play and how they might interpret it,” Thomas Bales, a music major, said. Bales and Simpson said
they hope this event helped convince prospective students to pursue music as a career. “That’s a big part of the reason we have this recital, is to promote the music program,” Simpson said. “It gives the audience the chance to hear what some of our staff is capable of, and what they could be capable of too if they dedicate themselves to music,” she said. Camille Day Nies, music chair and Suzuki coordinator, said the recital provided an ideal way to showcase the AC students’ talents. “It gives us a way to really celebrate the students that we have. We enjoy producing what we teach,” Nies said.
Feature
8 | The Ranger February 14, 2019
Listen to the love in the air By Jake Day | Staff Reporter
From The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love” to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” to the crooning of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, romance is a popular theme for music and Valentine’s Day can be the perfect time to listen to love songs and celebrate romance. Romantic songs idealize love and pay tribute to matters of the heart. This music can provide the soundtrack for a candlelight dinner, a moonlit walk, a slow dance or a snuggle. when it comes to love songs, Amarillo College students had a few to recommend. Kenzie Dallas, a general education major, said that even though she is as, “single as a Pringle” she still likes love songs. “I would recommend Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ album...just the whole album is so good,” Dallas said with a smile. Other students aren’t choosy. “Most pop music talks about being in a relationship,” Jasmine Gunter, a criminal justice major, said. Erik Carrillo, a general studies major, recommended “I’m Good” by Z-Ro for feel-good music on Valentine’s Day. Some students said that when they consider love songs, they are more likely to think of entire playlists. Students who are in a relationship said that when they first got together they bonded over shared musical interests so they have playlists devoted to music they share in common and listen to together. With love, however, also comes heartbreak. Instead of recommending romantic tunes, several students said they would prefer to offer suggestions from their breakup playlists. Carrillo recommended Chris Brown’s “X” and Jasmine Garza, a radiology major, suggested Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next.” Garza said she listens to “sad songs” around Valentine’s Day. Kaitlin Troutman, nursing major, said that Post Malone is great “breakup” music. But love must come before the inevitable heartbreak, so, for students seeking a sentimental soundtrack, Amy Presley, KACVFM90 program director and instructor, made a playlist of her romantic recommendations for Valentine’s Day.
FM90’s Programer Director, Amy Presley’s, Valentine’s Day Playlist
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows Van Morrison - Into the Mystic Temptations - My Girl Mazzy Star - Fade Into You Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps Pixies - La La Love You Foo Fighters - Everlong Buddy Holly - True Love Days The Ronettes - Be My Baby Alisson Krauss - When You Say Nothing At All The Toadies - Pressed Against the Sky Elvis Presley - Can’t Help Falling in Love Etta James - At Last