R ANGER
November 2, 2017 Volume 88 Issue 4
Inside addiction: Take a look at the life of a recovering addict By KATIE WYLIE Ranger Reporter
Melani W. is a 44-year-old recovering alcohol and drug addict. Born in Borger, Texas, Melani and her family moved to Fritch when she was young and she later graduated from high school there. “I had a really good family. I grew up with a really good family. My mom and dad stayed married until my dad died when he was 65,” she said. Melani felt there was a change in her life when she was only eight years old. She told a story about how her little sister was born and for the first time in her life, all eyes that were once on her, turned to focus on her baby sister. “My sister was born and I turned eight a few months after that, at that point in my life is whenever I felt like things changed for me.” As she entered her teenage years, Melani said she did not do well in school. She only went because she had to and she never liked school. At the age of 15, she became pregnant with her first daughter. “I had a school counselor who told me I would never amount to anything,” she said, “I kinda dug in deep and graduated from high school just to kinda show her she was wrong.” When Melani graduated, her daughter was two years old and Melani got married and moved away. She later had her first son and at that point she realized she wanted to move back to Borger to be with her family. It was when she came home that she started drink-
ing. “I came home and I started drinking really bad. I got a divorce. I had an abortion and then I got pregnant again with my youngest and things just started kinda spiraling emotionally after that.” Melani said that after having an experience of going out and being drugged one night, she realized that things needed to change, so she moved away from Borger and to Amarillo. “I left Borger and I moved to Amarillo and that’s whenever I started getting introduced to different things. I drank a lot, and then I was introduced to methamphetamines and cocaine.” Melani said at the time she thought of methamphetamines as her best friend. She said that she has a competitive personality and methamphetamines gave her the ability to feel as though she could outdo everyone else. At this point in her life when she was around 23, Melani said she had a good job until she got hit with a drug test. After the drug test, she lost her job and began dealing drugs. “I thought, you know what, I don’t have a job anymore so I got into dealing and running around with people who did that kind of stuff.” Her mother and ex mother-inlaw were already raising her first two children during this time. Her brother was asking for her youngest son so that he and his wife could raise him, but Melani refused… at first. “There was one weekend where I thought I would just go out and party, and I never looked back. I never looked
back at all. My brother and my sister-in-law adopted my youngest one. He was nine months old and that was hard knowing I had done that and that I couldn’t control that anymore and I just kinda went off on the deep end.” CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 4
STEVI BRESHEARS
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THE FIVE MOST COMMON ADDICTIONS
DESTINY KRANTHOVEN
What’s inside www.facebook.com/acrangerpaper
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The Amarillo College student magazine, “The Current,” wins two national awards.
Read an addictive report on the various types of addiction.
AC Alum J.D. Souther returns to campus for a songwriting class and concert.
STORY ON PAGE 3
STORIES ON PAGES 4 and 5
STORY ON PAGE 6
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2 Opinion The Ranger
November 2, 2017
Are you for or against the legalization of marijuana? “I’m for it. I really think that it is a personal choice for others.”
Jacob Burton Physical Therapy
“I’m for the legalization of marijuana. It’s a taxable resource. ”
Legalizing marijuana:
Education, open-mindedness could lead to understanding
Brandon Staley Computer Engineering
“I’m for it, but only in the instances that pertains to medicinal purposes.”
Katelyn Tabor Radiology
A case of the munchies: Taking a bite out of the myth of food addiction
LAUREN EBBEN Ranger Reporter
Okay, here’s the thing: America is fat, but so is the rest of the world. So when I first heard about the term ‘food addiction,’ I thought it was a joke. A soft and cushiony concept compared to the stories of drug babies and dirty needles in the media. I don’t understand how something that our bodies needs to survive could be considered an addiction. Since food addiction is such a new and controversial topic, there haven’t been many studies over it. There isn’t even an official diagnosis. The closest thing is a self-report survey called the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) that can identify symptoms of a food addict. That being said, it’s a self-report, and no one is ever 100 percent honest with themselves, so how effective is the survey, really?
Even if there was an official diagnosis for a food addiction, what would the treatment be? The root cause of any addiction is different for every person. People can eat when they’re stressed out or sad or even bored, and just like any other addiction, there isn’t a blanket solution that works for everybody. It’s not like a person can just stop eating. Patients who supposedly suffer from a food addiction would probably live in fear of relapsing at every meal. However, I found some science to this whole thing. A recent study into the brain science of food addiction suggests that, in extreme cases, people who consume massive quantities of sugar might react to, say, a bite from a cheeseburger the same way a drug addict might respond to his/her next hit. Apparent food addicts can even show symptoms of withdrawal if they aren’t eating as much as they usually do. But, still, there just isn’t enough evidence for me to be thoroughly convinced that food addiction is a serious problem, or even exists outside of a few special cases. Maybe in a few years, when more research has gone into the topic, that opinion will change but until then, like sweet rice, I’m sticking to it.
- Serving Amarillo College since 1930 For a complete staff listing, please visit The Ranger online at www.acranger.com.
From chemo patients who are trying to find relief from the massive number of pills they must take, to the college students who look for a short reprieve from the pressures of performing at their best every day, the number of individuals who smoke pot has been steadily growing. We, the Ranger staff, feel that it’s time to legalize weed once and for all. Chemotherapy has fundamentally altered the way we approach cancer treatment, but chemo comes with an incredibly high cost. The patients who are subjected to many rigorous rounds of chemo must also endure a battery of other medications that wreak havoc on that person’s body. Many of those medications are meant to regulate mood or appetite but can have interactions with all the other prescribed medications. Marijuana has the unique ability of lifting a person’s mood while also increasing their appetite so that they
EDITORIAL can maintain their strength. Marijuana’s medicinal purposes don’t simply stop with cancer patients. This drug also helps those with glaucoma and other illnesses. This alone should be reason enough to legalize marijuana. Another reason we feel marijuana should get a second chance is the same reason alcohol prohibition failed; if people want it, people will get it. By criminalizing alcohol, our country forced liquor producers into a black market of sorts, which made alcoholic beverage sales a much more difficult proposition. In the same way, the drug cartels are controlling most of the weed market and that’s bad news for end users. By decriminalizing marijuana, we take away the cartels’ power and generate a legitimate and safe environment for consumers. Besides the medicinal and economic factors, the Ranger staff believes it’s time
for the government to stop impressing its own moral ideologies upon the people. Let citizens determine for themselves if pot should be included in their lives. We should be allowed the same opportunity to develop healthy boundaries with marijuana like the way we learn to manage our relationship with beer at a bar or cigarettes after a long day at work. What we need now are more people who are willing to stand up and call their state representatives. We need people who are willing to educate their friends and neighbors on the potential health benefits. It’s time that we make some forward progress in the area of marijuana legalization. We feel like it’s time for the government to decriminalize marijuana and allow the people to access it on their terms in a safe and legal way.
Discover the dangers of speed plus greed I had just gotten amazing news. My brother owed me $20 and he called to say my money was ready for pick up. I was already mapping out what I was going to do with that money. I could get gas, or lunch or even put it in my savings. The problem with the phone call was how my brother ended it. The words still haunt me… and my bank account… to this day. “Watch out for the motorcycle cops,” he said. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I like to call foreshadowing. So, I get in my little toaster and I zoom off. The money was calling my name. Now, people in my family are known for being speed demons and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I just feel like I’m Dale Earnhardt Jr. and it’s the Daytona 500. There I was heading down Hughes Street. The light turned green and I smashed
JORDAN GIPSON Ranger Reporter
on the gas. I was literally the first car over the bridge. As soon as I got over the bridge, I saw a huge semi-truck at the light, so I started calculating if I wanted to (a) pass the semi or (b) stay behind it. I decided option (a) was the way to go so I sped on. That was the problem. I sped on. Just in case you are unaware of the way science and gravity work when you go down a
Student Media exists to serve you--the students. The Ranger is as an open forum where you can learn and talk about the things that matter to you. The Ranger staff urges you to get involved. Submit ideas, photos, writing and videos. Tell us what you want covered. A public critique and meeting session is open to the campus community at 9:30 a.m. Fridays in PH 213. Student Media outlets include The Ranger, The Ranger Online, AC Current, FM90 and our various web shows and podcasts. You can reach us at acranger@actx.edu. We look forward to hearing from you. The Ranger is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers, Panhandle Press Association, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and Texas Community College Journalism Association.
hill, you go faster. I should have been tapping the brakes. Instead, my foot was on the gas pedal. Then, something in my brain said to look to my left and, as soon as I looked, I saw that shiny green vest and that black sleek speed radar. My eyes flashed down to peek at my speed. I was going 53 mph. The problem was the speed limit there is only 35 mph. Instantly my heart sped up, my knees were weak and my palms were sweaty. The officer didn’t even bother to put his sirens on and that’s what really hurt my feelings. I wasn’t even mad because I knew I had made a mistake. The officer gave me the ticket and had the audacity to tell me to have a blessed day. My day was cursed because of him. I ended up paying $109.00, but hey, I got my $20.00. Guess that’s what happens when you mix speed with greed.
In 1993, The Ranger was inducted into the national ACP Hall of Fame. The program is nationally accredited by the Community College Journalism Association. The Ranger is an independent student publication. Articles published in The Ranger do not necessarily reflect the views of Amarillo College administrators or staff.
News
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AC Current wins Pacemaker award November 2, 2017
The Ranger
Student magazine brings home the “Pulitzer Prize” of college journalism By RANGER STAFF The Amarillo College student magazine, “AC Current,” has won two national awards for excellence. The Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association announced the awards during the annual fall national college media convention held from Oct. 25-29 in Dallas. Known as the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism, the ACP Pacemaker is college journalism’s preeminent award. Judges base their decisions on coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership, design, photography and graphics. “AC Current” competed against magazines from both public and private four- and two-year institutions from across the United States and Canada. At the convention, the College Media Association also announced “AC Current” as
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Jenna Gibson, former editor of The Current, with the award.
the 2017 national first place Pinnacle Award winner for two-year college feature magazines. “It has been both incredibly exciting and humbling winning these two national awards,” Maddisun Fowler, student media coordinator,
said. “I know our students produce excellent work, but being nationally recognized just reinforces that they have what it takes to compete against some of the best universities in the country.” The winning magazine was created in spring 2017 by
Bauman, professor of biological sciences, said, “I am distressed that the college has to have such a policy. I wish that teachers would have the character to only require things that truly benefit students no matter who authors or profits from them.” The new policy provides a set of criteria against which all existing and future self-authored course materials will be judged. Those criteria include the extent to which the instructor or department stands to profit, whether or not the content is appropriate for both the Workforce Education Course Manual and the Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual, if the material is reasonably priced, if the material has been peer-reviewed and if the material has been adopted at other schools. Dr. Brian Farmer, professor of social sciences, said the
policy brings clarity and is a welcome change. “AC’s new policy is still supportive of professors that want to publish in their fields, but the policy ensures that whatever t h e stu-
Jenna Gibson, editor; Destiny Kranthoven, art director; Claire Ekas, assistant editor; Michelle Martinez, graphic artist; and Salvador Gutierrez, page editor. Staff members from the student newspaper “The Ranger” assisted with the publication, students from the Matney Mass Media program provided stories and students in the visual arts department contributed photographs and artwork. Jenna Gibson, magazine editor, described winning the awards as a great honor. “Claire, Destiny, Michelle, Salvador and I all worked incredibly hard on this magazine and it was amazing to see our hard work pay off. We could not have done it without the help of our advisers, Maddisun Fowler, Jill Gibson and Derek Weathersbee.” This is the second time the magazine has received a Pacemaker. The 2015 fall issue was a previous winner. That edition
also received a third place Pinnacle Award. “I’m pleased that AC Student Media is continuing its tradition of excellence. This award marks a new milestone in the college’s achievements,” said Jill Gibson, mass media program coordinator, associate dean of liberal arts and student media adviser. “I hope that this will inspire more students to join Student Media and be a part of this award-winning organization,” Fowler said, noting that students from any major can participate. The “AC Current” was first published in 1972 and since then two issues have been produced every year. Work is now underway on the fall 2017 edition of the magazine, which will be distributed at the end of this semester. Copies of the award-winning spring 2017 issue are still available on newsstands on AC campuses.
New textbook policy confronts conflicts of interest By KEEGAN REID Ranger Reporter Amarillo College has implemented a new policy to protect both professors and students from conflicts of interest when instructors choose to publish and sell their own textbooks. In the past, some students have experienced anxiety and frustration when they have been required to purchase a textbook written by one of their professors. Thomas Redgrave, an astronomy major at AC, is one such student. Redgrave’s main concern was with the validity of the facts presented in the self-authored textbooks. “What if the professors get the information wrong? They could put out incorrect information and pass it off as fact,” said Redgrave. Students are not alone in their anxiousness. Dr. Robert
dents a r e r e a d ing will be legitimate since it must be peer-reviewed and used at other colleges.” “I think the policy is a great idea. It holds professors accountable and keeps them from passing their opinion off as fact,” said Redgrave. Redgrave also said that he is encouraged by the new policy but asked if the policy would apply to textbooks already in use.
man said of the vetting process, “My books have been reviewed by hundreds of reviewers, more hundreds of adopters, and tens
o f thousands The of stuCLAIR new policy E EKA S|T dents.” he Ra is retroactive and all ngerr Bauman also said self-authored textbooks and t h a t he would encourage course materials must pass any professor who writes well scrutiny and be approved by and can author superior matethe vice-president of academic rial to publish his or her own affairs. book. “This would add to the Both Bauman and Farmer college’s reputation as an instisaid that their materials had tution that encourages scholarbeen peer-reviewed and are in ship.” use at other institutions. Bau-
Dan Porter to receive national honor Ranger Reporter
Dan Porter, a biology professor, has been chosen to receive a national college teaching award. Porter received national recognition in October, when the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) named him the 2017 recipient of the organization’s two-year college teaching award. According to Porter, this award doesn’t just belong to him. “I couldn’t do my job without other people. One person gets the award, but it’s really for everyone. Everyone in this biology department deserves this award.” Porter will receive the prize at the NABT’s Professional Development Conference Honors Luncheon Nov. 11 in St. Louis, Missouri. This award annually honors a college biology educator who constantly and consistently applies creative and innovative techniques in his or her classroom. “Dan Porter consistently goes above and beyond for our
department, students and community. His father instilled and intense sense of civic duty, and as a result he is always part of the solution,” Dr. Claudie Biggers, biology department chair, said. “He believes in passing knowledge forward for a better community. Porter is a resource for everyone in the department and he shares his ideas freely,” she continued. Porter’s award includes a recognition plaque, a oneyear complimentary membership to the NABT and a $500 travel honorarium to attend the NABT’s Professional Development Conference. Although the primary qualifying criteria is teaching skill, serious consideration is also given to scholarship demonstrated through publications or inventive techniques pertaining to teaching approaches, curriculum design and lab use. Porter has successfully restructured his courses and labs in recent years to integrate active learning strategies featuring student-centered teaching as well as a statistics component.
November 2 DAN PORTER
Additionally, Porter is highly involved in science education in the local community. He provides a biotechnology-training framework class on Fridays for local high school students; conducts a science day at an area elementary school for the deaf; judges elementary school science fairs; conducts tours of the Natural History Museum at Amarillo College; and, as a certified Texas Master Naturalist, leads nature hikes and presents natural history workshops (clocking in at least 70 volunteer hours this year alone) at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
12:30 p.m. | Concert Hall Theater AC Washington Street Campus 7 p.m. | Bud Joyner Auditorium AC Downtown Campus
LECTURES
By CLAIRE EKAS
November 9
12:30 p.m. | Concert Hall Theater AC Washington Street Campus 7 p.m. | Concert Hall Theater AC Washington Street Campus
Lectures are FREE to the public
4 News
Inside Addiction: The Ranger
November 2, 2017
Take a look at the life of a recovering addict continued from page 1 Melani said that all her life she had a desire to fit in and get the attention that she craved. She said she believes that the depression was tied to her desire for attention and doing drugs ultimately gave her the desired attention. Melani described how she felt when she was on drugs that many circumstances did not matter as much. The feeling of caring about things vanished and nothing seemed to matter except for the drugs. “Someone could pull a gun to your head and it’s just, ‘Oh he’s just high,’” she said. “When I was using I just didn’t care. You just don’t care, and if you just don’t care, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are.” In 2011, Melani’s son tried to commit suicide. “I spent about a week with him in the hospital and that was an eye-opening experience even though I was high just about the whole time.” Once her son was out of the hospital, she was going to visit him one night and on her way she got pulled over by a police officer and was taken to jail. As she was taken to jail, she had drugs stashed on her person. Melani was put into a cell by herself and was talking to one of the girls in a cell next to her. The girl next to her suggested going to church. “I said, ‘No I don’t want to go to church,’ and the girl was like, ‘Come on it’ll let you get out of the cell for a few minutes’ so
I said, ‘All right fine, whatever.’” That night Melanie went to church and part of the message was that sometimes God takes dramatic measures to make us sit down, shut up and listen. “I went back to my cell and I didn’t sleep very good that night and I woke up the next morning and I flushed everything I had. I got rid of it all.” This series of events ultimately led to Melani becoming clean. Things began to fall into place after that night and she ended up making connections with people who led her to the Refuge in Dumas, Texas. It wasn’t until she was two and a half years clean however, that she really began her recovery process. “I didn’t actually dig into my recovery until I was two and a half years sober and my life was falling apart. My husband and I had split up and life was crazy, so I started going to AA. It was a lot of small little things that led to my recovery but I really believe it was that lady in jail saying, ‘Sometimes it takes a lot for you to shut up and sit down and listen,’ that led to my whole recovery process.” Melani said if she could change anything in her life, she wouldn’t change much because everything she has been through has led to who she is today. “The strange thing about addiction is, if you’re in it, you don’t feel like there’s hope. But there is hope, and you should never give up. It took me four times to try before I finally got sober.”
Local Resources Area Alcoholics Anonymous: 1301 S Taylor St -- (806) 373-4600 4000 SW 58th Ave -- (806) 355-0123 107 N Hughes St -- (806) 373-2740
Texas Panhandle Centers Crisis Hotline: 901 Wallace Blvd -- 1(800) 692-4039
Amarillo College Counseling Center: https://www.actx.edu/counseling/index.php
Amarillo College Social Services https://www.actx.edu/socialservices/index.php
Substance abuse high among students By STEVI BRESHEARS Ranger Reporter
It’s no secret that college is a stressful time in one’s life. It isn’t supposed to be easy. For more and more students, however, the pressure becomes too much, and they feel the need to turn to something for relief. Substance abuse among college students is on the rise. According to a report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2016 binge drinking and amphetamine use were higher among college students than their non-student peers, and daily marijuana use is at the highest rate since the 1980s.
“Drugs are often used as a coping mechanism,” Aden Sharp, a religion major, said. “What most students don’t actually realize is the fact that their actions will lead to unintended consequences later in life.” While these substances are sometimes seen as a means of escape, that’s not the only way college students can find themselves caught in their trap. “I know a good handful of people who have turned to drugs as a way to party and ended up getting stuck in a routine of doing, buying and even selling drugs to the point their academic life suffered, or they even stopped caring all together,”
John Rich, a business major said. Students who are struggling with substance abuse can seek help from the Amarillo College Counseling Center. “Substance abuse is a common issue for college students. Often it is co-occurring with another mental health issue such as depression or anxiety,” Dr. Alan Kee, counseling center director and psychology professor said. “The AC Counseling Center can help students with substance abuse issues that are not too severe. If the issue is severe, then they would need supervised medical care in an inpatient setting. We can also refer them to specialty substance abuse treatment on more of an outpatient basis.”
News November 2, 2017
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The Ranger
Hooked on health CLAIRE EKAS
Carter Fitness Center offers a cost-effective way to workout.
ity to become addicted to the feeling and results,” said Damon Dzik, a sports management health and fitness management major. Exercise addiction is a compulsive disorder in which a person feels the uncontrollable need to exercise excessively. It goes beyond the enjoyment of exercise and can result in injury or illness. “Personally, I have gone through a few times where I had to take a step back and remember that I do have a life outside of the gym. I think it’s
very important to make exercise a part of a priority list, but at the very same time having balance in your life contributes to overall health as well,” said Abby Harrison, a certified fitness trainer and chiropractic assistant. There are two types of exercise addictions. First, there is primary exercise addiction. This occurs as a behavioral form of addiction. People with this type of exercise addiction do not have any other psychological or behavioral problems or conditions. This
Dante Armendarez, a general education major, said. Ranger Reporter Armendarez went on to explain that he believes people Anna Heard, a psychology may be addicted to not only the major, recently recalled the time that she got her first thought of having more body modifications, but the pain tattoo at the age of 19. “I immediately knew that received while getting them one wasn’t enough, as soon as as well, and there is science to the session was done I started back up his claim. According to an article thinking of when I’d be able to on “Tattoo,” a website made get another,” Heard said. Heard joked that maybe it specifically for tattoo and did sound like she was addicted piercing research, many people to it, but for others, that may get body modifications because it excites them. not be a joke. More specifically, people For years, body modification like the rush and the relief they has been a way that people have expressed themselves to have before and after getting a tattoo or piercing and it’s others. As the practice has become possible to get addicted to that. The article goes on to more commonplace, however, it seems that many have taken explain that after that people it to a whole new level. The may seek out more and more once rebellious and unusual body modifications just to act is now leaving people achieve the feelings they had questioning if addiction to before. Others, however, see body such a thing may be possible. While many see tattoos and modifications as nothing more piercings as nothing more than than a way to highlight their a work of art, some see even a interests and looks. “I’ve seen people with a simple body modification as a lot of tattoos and piercings gateway to more. “I definitely think addiction before, but I think to say they to it is possible and I’ve seen it,” were addicted because of that
is kind of ignorant,” Tanner Widowski, a general education major, said. “I just think they’re expressing themselves and I usually leave it at that,” Widowski said. Widowski isn’t alone in this thought, however. According to “Psychology Today,” tattoos and piercings are typically used as expressions of rebelliousness or creativity and because of this it’s not uncommon for people to have more than one modification done. Sierra Villarreal, an art history major, said that perhaps there is a line to be crossed when it comes to an actual addiction, but for the most part she doesn’t believe people cross it. “It’s really hard to peg something like body modification as addiction in this day and age, but I think it may be possible,” said Villarreal. “I honestly think that if people are safe about what they’re doing and it’s not really hurting anyone, then they should be able to express themselves in this artistic way,” Villarreal continued.
By EMILY HERNANDEZ Ranger Reporter
Exercise, it’s usually a good thing. It helps people lose weight, lowers the risk of some diseases and releases endorphins. But what if you overdo it with physical activity and it takes over your whole life, triggering an addiction? “Exercise addiction is a very real thing. From personal experience and being around people in the fitness industry, I can say it’s a definite possibil-
addiction usually results from the gratifying effects of endorphins that exercise causes to release. The body produces its own high through endorphins, which is what primary exercise addicts become hooked on, the feeling. Next, there is secondary exercise addiction. This happens simultaneously along with another disorder, more than likely an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. This addiction usually develops due to issues with body image.
| The Ranger
“Exercising is exceptional in thousands of ways but at the same time, you can always have too much of a good thing. People can become obsessed with exercise in negative ways that could potentially lead to self-harm. I think if people treat exercising with respect and do it for the goodness and pureness of wanting to better yourself in positive ways, it will always be a positive and life changing addiction,” said Jordan Carr, a biochemistry major and holistic health and nutrition consultant.
Students itching for ink By LYNDSEE CANTLY
STEVI BRESHEARS
Tattoos are a popular form of body modification.
| The Ranger
6 NEWS The Ranger
November 2, 2017
AC alumnus receives honor
Celebrated songwriter J.D. Souther gets 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award By MACKENZIE FARMER Ranger reporter
Amarillo College awarded songwriter J.D. Souther with the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award on Thursday, Oct. 26. Following the presentation of the award, Souther performed at AC’s Concert Hall Theater. Souther is an influential songwriter who attended AC in 1965 and 1966. He has written or co-written several songs for Eagles such as “Heartache Tonight,” “New Kid in Town” and many more. “J.D. Souther is one of the most celebrated songwriters of his generation,” Camille Nies, associate professor of music, said. “He wrote or co-wrote some of the Eagles’ biggest hits and
continues to write and perform.” Nies said Souther credits his music theory and composition teacher at AC with giving him the tools to strike out on his career path. “He is an award-winning musician, famous the nation over, and we are very excited that he is here,” Mark White, executive vice-president and general counsel of Amarillo College, said. Souther was also inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2013, is Grammy-nominated and an actor. “I am excited that he is being given this award because he has been successful with what he loves to do,” Mark Hutson, speech and communications instructor, said. COURTESY PHOTO
Gallery founder visits campus, discusses his art More than one thousand photography pieces in jars explore the nature of evil By Lauren Ebben Ranger reporter
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Southern Light Gallery, founder and photographic imagemaker, Robert Hirsch spoke about his photography piece, “World in a Jar: War and Trauma,” in the Oak Room of the Student Union building on Oct. 26. The audience, a healthy mixture of both young and old, listened as Hirsch, dressed in a red and black plaid shirt with black pants and a small black hat on his head, explained one of his most well known visual pieces. “World in a Jar: War and Trauma is a freeform and social montage that rethinks the customary linear narrative by offering a supermar-
ket of moveable images,” he said, against a slideshow background exhibiting images from this display. A stunning presentation of over 1,000 jars, each with its own individual picture, “World in a Jar” visualizes and explores society and, ultimately, the nature of evil, said Hirsch. “The project is rooted in allegory and poetic archetypes,” he said. “It maps how history and social values have formed my life and, in turn, my artistic practice.” The catalyst for the creation of this piece was the 9/11 attacks, according to Hirsch. “I was actually supposed to be in lower Manhattan on 9/11 for a New York State art council meeting but I skipped out of it,” he said. “Right after 9/11, there was a group of artists in the
city that asked other artists to respond to what had happened. I had an image that I made in Iceland that just reminded me of what happened in New York so I sent it in and it got a big response.” Previously the executive director of CEPA Gallery, Hirsch is now director of Light Research in Buffalo, New York, as well as a curator, historian and writer, having written a number of textbooks on photography, some of which have multiple editions. Other exhibits of Hirsch’s include the Architecture of Texas Landscape which is currently on display in the the Southern Light Gallery, located on the first floor of the Ware Student ComELIZABETH BECKHAM | The Ranger mons on the Washington Rene West, assistant professor of photography and Robert Hirsch, artist, discuss the gallery. campus. Volunteers pose for a picture at Wesley Community Center. Volunteers clean up the grounds at the Amarillo Children’s Home.
#ACcares
Volunteers help with building at Amarillo Habitat for Humanity.
On Oct. 28, AC staff, along with friends and family, united to help the community by cleaning, repairing, building and painting at local organizations during the annual AC Cares Volunteer Day. Staff members volunteer at the High Plains Food Bank.
Culture November 2, 2017
Flying high
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The Ranger
COURTESY PHOTO
Dramatic film focuses on highs and lows of addiction RANGER REVIEW By IVAN DEL VAL Ranger Reporter On Oct. 26, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national emergency, but that didn’t provide any additional funding. Does that not defeat the purpose of declaring a national emergency, if it does not provide additional money to take on the problem? That’s beside the point though, the point is, America has an addiction problem, but not many people are willing to take the bull by the horns. Director Robert Zemeckis took the bull by the horns in Nov. 2012 when the R-rated movie “Flight” was released. The movie starred Denzel Washington as Whip Whitaker, a pilot that had a
major problem with drugs and alcohol. An event that was beyond his control threatened to expose his addiction, and he struggles to end his addiction, or at least keep it under control to fool everyone around him into thinking he’s fine. Washington did an outstanding job portraying such character, and the Academy Award for Best Actor was well deserved. The movie lacked more major characters. I understand it’s meant to be about Whitaker and his addiction, but a few more major characters would’ve added a stronger feeling of pity and sympathy. Many have heard the antismoking commercial that issues the eerie “don’t let tobacco control you” warning. It’s pretty safe to declare that drugs and
tobacco control Whitaker. As soon as he opens his eyes, he takes a drink. Even at the hospital, he can barely walk, yet he asks for some “smokes.” Unfortunately, that’s how plenty of people live everyday, drink-to-drink and smoke-tosmoke. As someone who’s witnessed family members with an alcohol problem, Zemeckis portrayed that issue pretty accurately. The movie has a good message; movies with a message are directed toward a broad audience, not just a specific kind. Anyone can receive a message, no matter the age, gender, race or ethnicity. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie was produced with a $31 million budget and managed to gross $161 million worldwide.
The strongest aspect of the movie was definitely the symbolism. Zemeckis efficiently showed how people with addictions endanger the life of others, turn their lives upside down and even have terrible consequences. He made Whitaker seem like a hero, but only to an extent. At one point he falls and struggles to get up, even after he proclaims the typical “I don’t need help, I can stop on my own” phrase. However, Zemeckis managed to include the fact that those that are supposedly trying to help end up feeding him his addiction, which is the sad reality. The lighting, camera angles and music all help create a feeling of empathy. The sad and emotional scenes are usually dark, cloudy or rainy. The slow
music and tranquil music helped make those scenes more powerful. The scenes that create a sense of hope and optimism are usually well lit or outdoors. The close-ups effectively show the emotion the characters are portraying. All of these combined create the perfect pace. All movies have foreshadowing, but too much foreshadowing is a bad thing. The end was definitely not my favorite. Ironically, I was upset because it ended how I wanted, and was expecting it to end. I don’t like cliffhangers, but I think in this case that would’ve been the perfect ending; to let the audience decide for themselves. Overall, I give this movie a score of 8/10.
New DJ seeks local artists By DRAKE HUTTON Ranger Reporter The Indie Show, an FM90 program that celebrates experimental and not widely known artists, features a new DJ this school year. Joseph Hansen, a mass media major, has taken over as the host of this specialty block show. As a senior at Tascosa High School, Hansen already knew he was interested in the radio and television field. He was able to shadow the student music director, which led to him landing a spot doing the Top 9 at 9 on Wednesdays. After taking some time off, he ran into the outgoing Indie Show host, Micah Smith. “She asked me if I wanted to the show and I said yes,” Hansen said. The show is a good fit for Hansen due to his commitment to helping unknown artists gain exposure. “The Indie Show is way to introduce people to new artists,” he said. Hansen noted that the Indie Show is the most experimental area of the station’s programming. The show tries to introduce
artists they believe are good who just don’t get the recognition that others might receive. The Indie Show also features local music, such as Draven Cruz, Machinesix and many others. “I believe that this is what makes it special,” Hansen said. Hansen is always on the lookout for new local music and all he would need to play an artist’s music is a flash drive or CD. He hopes to pursue a career in music journalism. He’s always wanted to interview artists and write profiles and album reviews. Hansen won honorable mention for one of his reviews last spring at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention. Hansen said he has many favorite artits. Some of the top contenders are The Growlers, Banes Word and Yellow Days. He said he hopes that Yellow Days puts out an album soon. “Their singles have been blowing my mind.” The Indie Show airs Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. on FM 90, Amarillo College’s Cutting Edge, at 89.9 FM on the radio dial or streaming live online at kacvfm.org.
8 Feature The Ranger
November 2, 2017
Get buzzed on binge-watching Some people watch much more in one sitting. Kyler Lonzo, a business Ranger Reporter management major, watched 20 Between television shows, podcasts, episodes of “One Piece” at once. Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez, a vlogs and movies, there’s a lot of video content people can watch. That psychology professor, said bingeentertainment blessing can also be a watching is only an issue if it interferes curse when binge-watching becomes with everyday living activities, such as eating, sleeping or working. addictive. People binge-watch because they “Before I know it, I’ve spent most of my day watching ‘Game of Thrones,’ want instant gratification and they and I have two hours to finish an want to know what will happen next. essay,” Triston Weaver, a general “The next episode is right at their fingertips,” Rodriguez said. studies major, said. Binge-watching can be just as Binge-watching has become more common and, for some people, it bad as other addictions, according to borders on addiction. “I binge-watch Rodriguez. “All addictions are pretty probably once a week during the much the same. It is not really an issue school year, but a lot more during and no one really says anything until the summer,” Weaver said, noting it starts to interfere with the person's he binge-watched two seasons of life.” Binge-watching is much more “Breaking Bad” in one session. That means he spent about 20 hours common thanks to video on demand straight watching his television screen. companies such as Netflix, Hulu and In a survey conducted by Netflix, Amazon Prime. A Netflix survey binge-watching is classified as revealed that 61 percent of customers watching two to six episodes of the regularly binge watch. Netflix same television show in one sitting. currently has more than 109 million By JOSH BALLARD
subscribers per month, meaning around 66.5 million people on Netflix binge-watch. There are multiple negative side effects to binge-watching, including increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association also found that being addicted to binge-watching can have some of the same side effects as being addicted to alcohol or drugs. “I’ve felt great while watching a show but I’m left feeling drained after watching it for hours on end,” Lonzo said. Weaver said he is taking steps to control his potentially dangerous habit. “I’ve started setting a limit to how much I watch each day,” he said. “It helps me focus on the important things I need to get done.” To get help controlling bingewatching habits, visit the AC Counseling Center on the second floor of the Student Services Center or contact them at 806-371-5900. CLAIRE EKAS
| The Ranger
Twitching for tech By KEEGAN RIED and CHRISTINA TORRES Ranger Reporters
From smart phones to video games, few people can live without spending several hours a day plugged in to various types of technology. Some experts say technology addiction poses problems for many college students, but for others, devices provide an escape and a place to bond. According to “The Telegraph UK,” overusing technology can lead to depression and anxiety. The symptoms of this addiction can include "being fretful, confused, anxious, irritable, insecure, nervous, restless, crazy, panicked, jealous, angry, lonely, dependent, depressed, jittery and paranoid." “The Telegraph” reports that students compare technology withdrawal to the "itching of a crackhead," and note that four out of five students have had "significant mental
and physical distress, panic, confusion and extreme isolation when forced to unplug" from technology for as little as a day. At Amarillo College, however, technology has brought some students together. These students are finding camaraderie and developing new relationships through an unexpected medium— video games. Every day a group of students gathers in the fourth-floor lobby between the Byrd Business building and Parcells Hall. Justin Tolley, a criminal justice major, said the group of gamers plays just about everything. “If it’s a game we’ve probably played it or heard of it. Someone up here usually has it,” Tolley said. The games aren’t relegated to just one system. Many different people bring all sorts of gaming systems and laptops. Tolley said gamers and spectators can usually be found in the
lobby throughout the day and even as late as 9 p.m. Even though gaming has given the group a common interest, students said it’s not what binds the group together. Israel Baltazar, a computer game design major, said the group acts as a sort of respite from the demands of everyday life and the stress of schoolwork. “Sometimes people have bad things going on at home, so, they can come here and be surrounded by friends,” Baltazar said. Tolley said that the group members also push each other to prioritize schoolwork over games. “If other students need the TVs to do their school work, we move out of the way so they can use them,” Tolley said. “We always put schoolwork first. That’s what we tell everybody when they come up here. If someone says they have homework to do, we try to push them toward school first.”
Students compare techology withdrawal to the itching of a crackhead.
CLAIRE EKAS
| The Ranger