Vol 88 issue 3 Oct 12 2017 by Amarillo College

R ANGER

It’s fall, y’all p. 8

October 12, 2017 Volume 88 Issue 3

What’s inside

New greenhouse sprouts

This drawing is an estimation of how the new greenhouse in parking lot seven will look.

Read all about the end of the first round of eight week classes.

Facility constuction underway now in parking lot seven

STORY ON PAGE 3

By DONOVAN ORTIZ Ranger Reporter

What do you do after finishing a Netflix series? STORY ON PAGE 7

Blade Runner 2049: Worth the watch? STORY ON PAGE 7

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A new lab facility and new degrees and certificates are growing on Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus. Construction of the 12,000 square foot greenhouse lab facility started Oct. 9 in the parking lot behind the science lab building and across the street from the Amarillo Museum of Art. Funded through a U.S. Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution STEM grant of nearly $5 million, the new lab is scheduled be completed by fall semester of 2018. The building will be equipped with two labs, lab prep, four greenhouse bays and an aquaponics water system, which will recycle water. The facility will be used for teaching classes that lead

to new certificates and degrees in horticulture, biochemistry, bioengineering and other STEM, (science, technology, engineering and math) related fields. “Students limit themselves because they only think of careers that they have heard about… nursing, teaching, doctors, attorneys. Our new certificate and degree plans will give students more choices,” Dr. Claudie Biggers, chair of the biology department, said. “The whole idea to offer new certificates in STEM was to attract students who are intimidated by academics. Our hope is that their confidence will grow when they complete a one or two semester certificate inspiring them to continue on a path towards a degree.” Finding a location for the new facility meant giving up some parking on the Washing-

Proposed lab offers options

Later hours would allow more students to take advantage of resources By STEVI BRESHEARS Ranger Reporter

A proposed change could help students who rely on Amarillo College computer labs. Currently, the Amarillo College Academic Computing center is open until 8:50 p.m. at the latest, and that’s only Monday through Thursday. There are other computer labs on campus, but they also close when the campus shuts down for the night. For students who work late or have other obligations and rely on the campus computer labs and Wi-Fi to do their work, this poses a problem and puts them at risk. A newly proposed project could change this. While the project is still in the proposal stage, Dr. Tamara Clunis, AC’s vice president of academic affairs, said she hopes that by the fall of 2018, a new computer lab will be under construction in the basement of the Ware Student Commons. “My dream is to give students more access,” Clunis said. The proposal would provide a larger lab on campus that would stay open later for students. To do this, some of the computer labs that are used infrequently would be moved to the basement of Ware. “We don’t want to take labs away, but there are redundancies,” Clunis said. The lab would be composed of six or seven labs that

STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger

Students Lauren Mitchell and Adam Flores work on an assignment together in the Academic Computing Center.

instructors could reserve for classes, but also an open lab space that students could use anytime. “I want the students to be on campus and have the resources they need,” Clunis said. “We’ve had students in the parking lot at night trying to use the WiFi. We want them to be safe in the building.” The proposed lab would be open until midnight, even on Sundays. Clunis pointed out that it would be less expensive for the college to heat and cool one building for a lab instead of several. The combination of some smaller, lesser used computer labs would also free up class space and allow for more courses to be offered on campus. Clunis’s main concern is that the student’s

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needs are met. “I’m serious about listening to the students,” Clunis said, noting that anyone with ideas or advice on how to improve the project can email her directly at ttclunis@actx.edu. Students said they are also excited about the proposal. “I think it would be beneficial for some students,” Education Major Hayley Ingram said. The lab would provide more options for a variety of student study schedules. “I think an open computer lab would be a great idea for those who can’t come during the normal hours,” Nursing Major Kelcie Kuehler said. “I will be starting the nursing program soon and it would open up new options for me on a more strict schedule.”

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ton Street Campus. In an email to all students and employees, Jim Baca, the director of physical plant, wrote, “Part of parking Lot #7 will be blocked off to allow for the new construction site, we sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.” Students said the loss of parking is an unfortunate consequence of the new building. “I think it is a great thing to bring more diverse degrees and certificates,” Kelcie Kuehler, a nursing major, said. “Losing a parking lot, however, is a downfall. I already have significant trouble finding a parking spot as it is, so losing a parking lot is going to put me in a bind before class.” “The bad part of this is that parking, already being a problem, will get worse, but in the end it should be worth it for biology majors,” Manuel Grado, a busi-

ness administration major, said. “I feel the greenhouse will be useful for the school, students and classes,” he added Some of the biology department’s new classes will be available for the spring semester of 2018 with the majority starting in the fall semester of 2018 when the greenhouse is completed. Biggers said the new offerings will provide students with more opportunities for hands-on work and career success. The biology department has also received a $600,000 fiveyear grant from the National Science Foundation that will provide scholarships and research opportunities for students in STEM majors. Eligible students can apply to to receive up to a $4,000 renewable award.

Bemoaning book prices By LAUREN EBBEN Ranger Reporter

Disco wasn’t the only thing that rose in the 1970s. According to an NBC News analysis, the price of textbooks began to skyrocket in 1977. And, unlike disco, the high prices stayed in style. Based on the data provided by the NBC report, the price of textbooks has risen a staggering 1,041 percent between 1977 and 2015. At this point, most student bank accounts are barely staying alive. “The price of textbooks are determined in two ways,” Dennis Leslie, AC bookstore manager, said. “Some books are what you call a trade book. Like, say you have a lit class and they are requiring you to read ‘Madame Bovary,’ that’s a trade book. Those we buy from a publisher at a discount and then we put whatever margin we need on them. With regular textbooks that come from like Pearson or someplace like that, they are sold at a net price to us and then we figure a 25 percent margin.” Leslie said textbooks are expensive because they cost a lot to create. “The publishing of a textbook is a costly procedure,” Leslie said. “Those companies are paying whoever wrote the book and sometimes, that’s multiple authors getting royalties for their work. Textbooks are usually printed on higher quality paper, with color illustrations. All of that

costs extra.” Sites like Chegg and Campusbooks offer used textbooks students can rent at a cheap price. “Used books and rentals, those are the ways that we try to direct faculty so that we can keep the prices lower for students,” Leslie said. Some students keep their costs low by simply not purchasing textbooks. “With my degree plan, most of my time is spent on a computer with editing programs, not with a textbook,” Keegan Brown, a mass media major, said. “Plus, they are expensive and I pay my own bills, so I can’t always afford textbooks.” And Brown isn’t the only student to purposely go without. A survey published in “The College Store Magazine” by the National Association of College Stores (NACS) stated that, in fall 2016, 61 percent of students admitted to not even buying required course materials because the cost was too high. However, the NACS survey also stated the average amount of money students spend on required reading annually has actually fallen in the last 10 years. Students spent, on average, $701 on course materials in 2007. In 2017, the number is at $579. “We sell a lot more e-books and access codes. That’s one way the student is actually paying less,” said Leslie. See pages 4 and 5 for textbooks.

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2 Opinion October 12, 2017

The Ranger

What are your pet peeves about textbooks?

“Textbooks tend to be too generalized.”

Sierra Verble English major

“My biggest pet peeve is when professors don’t use them. ”

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Use it or lose it

Students urge thoughtful use of required textbooks

Elizabeth Burton business major

EDITORIAL

“The price of textbooks is outrageous.”

Katie Burrows biology major

Stricter gun control laws, enforcement could save lives

CLAIRE EKAS

Ranger Reporter

In case you haven’t seen the news recently there has been yet another mass shooting in America. On Sunday, Oct. 1, a gunman rained fire on the concert goers of the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. At least 59 people died and more than 500 people were injured in the attack, making this the deadliest mass shooting in America, for now. Every time this happens I can’t help but wonder why our country has yet to take action on gun control. The solution seems so simple; adopt a longer waiting period for buying guns with a more thorough background check and crack down on illegal gun trade. Our country needs to realize that there are people out there that either have too violent of a past or are too mentally

unstable to have access to deadly weapons. I believe stricter gun laws and maybe even a mental stability test would help reduce mass shootings and keep guns out of the hands of people who don’t need to be in possession of one in the first place. I also feel that it’s unnecessary for anyone to have access to bump stocks that convert a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon. When mass shootings occur, it seems as though no one wants to talk about what we can do as a country to fix this major issue. People say it would be disrespectful to the families of the victims to talk about gun control. If someone I loved was killed because of a mass shooting, I would want to know what preventative measures were being put in place to make sure this didn’t happen again. If we truly want less frequent mass shootings, then we must take action. We must create stricter gun laws and make illegal gun trade on the black market nonexistent. If we want to stop seeing innocent people being murdered because of guns, then we must speak up and demand that our government take real action and make some changes.

- Serving Amarillo College since 1930 For a complete staff listing, please visit The Ranger online at www.acranger.com.

Did that new textbook give you a papercut as you ripped off the protective shrink wrap at the beginning of the semester? Well, go ahead and pour a little salt and lemon juice on your wound because that’s how it’s going to feel when you finally realize that your professor required a book you’ll never use. College classes and textbooks have been going steady since the time of Aristotle, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. Sure, you may soon be using digital copies, but the knowledge contained within their pages is usually essential to the learning process… or is it? We, the Ranger staff, feel it’s a complete waste of money and time for a professor to require a book and then never engage the content in class. There are a couple of different types of professors: those who use the book in and out of the classroom, those who only require readings but never cover the material during the lecture time and those who seemingly insist that you own a

book for giggles. Those faculty members that use the book during class tend to make the content come alive and connect real-world experience with the concepts being taught. We applaud these instructors for being conscientious stewards of student, government and foundation money. To the remaining professors, we suggest a bit of soulsearching when deciding whether to require a textbook and how it will support the goals of the class. The money being spent on these books doesn’t always come from a student’s pocket, it also comes from other resources like foundations and grants that could support many more individuals if monies were not wasted on the thoughtless tradition of having a book for the sake of having a book. With the costs of textbooks at an all-time high, any books purchased in vain represent many other people who won’t get the opportunity to attend classes because “there was simply not enough money to

go around.” In addition to the financial burden represented by a textbook, one must consider the strained student/faculty relationship due to the resentment on both sides. Students today are reading fewer books and moving to more digital means for assimilating knowledge. When a book goes unread, professors become agitated with their pupils which creates a more hostile learning environment. Students who see the book as being pointless begin to question their instructor’s educational priorities. Moving forward, the staff of The Ranger would like to see teachers either utilize the book to its fullest potential, thereby maximizing the student’s time and financial investment, or see professors eliminate the unused textbooks. We feel the focus should be on the course content and ways to maximize the student’s ability to retain that knowledge rather than mindlessly adhering to antiquated habits that only cause frustration and dissent.

Parking spots wither as greenhouse grows The Washington Street Campus is already riddled with parking lot issues, from there not being enough parking spots to having the cones put down to block off more parking spaces, students often find themselves driving around to find a parking space when they need to be in class. Now the college is going to take away more parking spots to build a greenhouse. Don’t get me wrong, I think having a greenhouse is a good idea, but at whose expense? It’s already hard enough to find a parking spot, but to take away more parking

spaces is ridiculous in my eyes. Parking is a hassle already as it is. There are times your class doesn’t start until the afternoon, but you have to drive to the school two hours beforehand and sit in your car and wait. In my opinion, it will be much worse due to construction of this new facility. While I support the construction of the new lab, I think college officials should have considered other options for the location. As it is, the greenhouse will take away more precious

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.

TASHANA SMITH Ranger Reporter

parking spots and will cause more of a hassle for the students and employees.

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

The Ranger

Phi Theta Kappa begins year-long research project on depression By CHRISTINA TORRES Ranger Reporter

Every year, members of Phi Theta Kappa, the national community college honors society, carry out a year-long research project called “Honors in Action.” This year, the Amarillo College PTK chapter has chosen depression among college students as the focus for research. COURTESY PHOTO “After reaching an agree- PTK members shown here at their induction ceremony are conducting research about depresment, we will strive our great- sion among college students. est to educate ourselves on the Having an understandJoshua McCormack, a prematter and to even find a so- ing from depression in the AC lution to the problem,” Taylor community,” Perez-Macias said. physical therapy major, said ing of the issue is important The researchers are still in that during their research they and beneficial in many ways. Gray, a biology major, said. the beginning stages of the discovered that 50 percent of Depression can affect anyone Samantha Perez-Macias, a business management major, project, but so far they have all suicides can be traced back and everyone, so understanding the issue at hand will alsaid the purpose of the proj- discovered that a majority of to depression. low for the opportunity o help students suff er or have suf“I have learned that more ect is to absorb as much information as they can and try fered from depression at one people in college go through each other, according to Osiel depression than I ever realized,” Mondragon, a general studies to bring better awareness or point in their lives. Jimmy Ray Nye III, a psychol- major. “I have some sources that some type of impact that proshow a direct relation between ogy major, said. Nye also exPerez-Macias agreed and vides a positive outcome. “Our PTK chapter is cur- social media and depression,” plained that various causes of noted, “Depression should be rently trying to provide real Gray said. “We are currently depression may include test taken very seriously because evidence on how many people conducting a survey to find anxiety, college tuition, social people have lost loved ones to have, or are currently suffer- out the main coping methods interaction and new environ- it. The outcome of the illness and causations of depression.” ments. is heartbreaking and people

who suffer from depression should not be afraid to share their story or be afraid to seek help.” The students said the group hopes their work will help eliminate the stigma associated with depression and will encourage anyone suffering from depression to get help. “Everyone should be aware that there are beings on this earth who struggle every day to get by because of this illness,” Perez-Macias said. “Some may think that they are over exaggerating, but you cannot judge someone if you don’t take the time to understand their story and emotions.” Building greater understanding and compassion are the first steps toward combating the issue, Gray said. “We would like the Amarillo College student body to know that depression is common. Individual students should know that there are people with open arms on campus that are willing to help.”

College Radio Day brings back former DJ Students are now eligible Theme showcases local voices in community

to be nominated for NAEHS

By SAVANNAH TARBET

By CARTER HALL

Jack Light, former FM90 announcer, stopped by the radio station Oct. 6 for College Radio Day. Conceived in 2010 to celebrate the important contributions of college radio, College Radio Day aims to raise both awareness and audience for the numerous college radio stations that operate worldwide. This year’s theme was “Passionately Vocal, Seriously Local.” Throughout the day former student announcers returned to 89.9 to share memories on the air. Dr. LoweryHart, AC president also did a live on-air interview.

Amarillo College has established a chapter of the National Adult Education Honor Society to celebrate the hard work of the college’s adult education students. Students in English as a Second Language classes along with students in the High School Equivalency certification program now have the chance to be nominated to join this new honor society. “Each semester, adult education and literacy instructors are encouraged to be on the lookout for deserving students in their classes and to nominate them for induction into the NAEHS,” Matthew

Ranger Reporter

COURTESY PHOTO

Another eight week term comes to an end By JOSH BALLARD Ranger Reporter

The school year’s first set of eight-week classes is coming to a close and there is still time to register for the fall’s second set of eight-week classes, which begin Oct. 23. Eight-week classes first began in spring 2016 and were fully implemented the next year. Now college officials say they are starting to see some of the long-term impact of the change. Course drop rates have declined and grades have seen an improvement, but stress levels seem to be higher, according to Ruth De Anda, an academic adviser. Many students who take eight-week courses say that they are helpful but are a lot more work. “Eight-week classes equal more work and more stress, but they help me

get things done faster,” Kyler Lanzo, a business management major, said. Lanzo took four eight-week courses this semester and said he hopes to finish his degree faster because of them. “In 16-week classes I lose interest and get bored,” Brianna Maestas, a mass media major, said. Preventing boredom, especially in developmental classes, is one of the goals of the shorter term length. “Imagine taking a whole semester of beginning algebra, and a whole semester of intermediate algebra and a whole semester of college algebra back to back to back,” De Anda said. With the eight-week class system, students can now take both the remedial algebra courses in one semester, and college algebra the next semester. According to De Anda, the

typical AC student is a parent with a job and a family who may not have the time to finish a degree. With eight-week courses, students with fulltime jobs and responsibilities can also be full-time students and complete their degree plans faster. Eight-week classes do have some drawbacks. “A lot of students can’t handle the pace of eight-week classes,” Philip Fowler, a mathematics major and tutor, said. Eight-week classes are accelerated and require more work in less time. “I make sure to let students know what they are getting into,” De Anda said. “If they can commit to the eight weeks, they can accomplish so much in that amount of time and keep moving forward.” The first set of eight week classes will end Oct. 13 and there will be no classes during fall break Oct. 16 through 20.

Piech, ESL coordinator, said. Students who receive this recognition will also get recommendation letters, certificates and a small pin. “The mission is to encourage students for a job well done. They work hard all the time and this is a way to recognize the students who have a good work ethic and want to do well in their classes,” Ronetta Urton, assistant ESL coordinator, said. “Since July 1, 2017, 733 individuals have enrolled in Amarillo College’s ESL and HSE program,” Piech said. Students who show dependability, good attitudes and who work hard in their classes are most likely to be nominated for NAEHS.

4 News The Ranger

October 12, 2017

THE AMARILLO COLLEGE BOOKSTORE Information provided by Dennis Leslie, bookstore manager

All proﬁt or revenue produced from the sale of course materials, supplies, apparel, gift items etc. go directly into the general funds of Amarillo College. Last year Sept.1 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017, bookstore sales produced $407,000.00 revenue for AC. This money helps keep educational costs lower for students at AC.

Last Year’s Total Retail Sales New

$2,680,415.00

80.40% of Total

Used

$402,561.00

12.08% of Total

Access Codes for E-books

$68,344.00

02.05% of Total

Instructor Manuals/Notes

$20,834.00

00.62% of Total

Trade Books Used as Text Books

$5,972.00

00.18% of Total

Rented

$155,622.00

04.67% of Total

Total Textbooks Including Rentals

$3,333,748.00

The bookstore is an Authorized Acer Service Center, meaning they are authorized to do warranty work on Acer computers through the Amarillo College Bookstore Tech Service Center. The AC bookstore carries textbooks that cost from $2.00 to the most expensive $431.50 (includes a very expensive access code). Renting out and buying back textbooks from students are two ways that are used to reduce the cost of course materials to students.

DESTINY KRANTHOVEN

| The Ranger

The online store represents 17% of the AC bookstore’s business.

Open source opens doors Students prefer paper Alternative approach to textbooks cuts costs By LYNDSEE CANTLY Ranger Reporter

With the price of tuition at an all-time high and the cost of college becoming a burden for some students, many are looking for anything to lighten the load. In their search for cheaper education, some students have turned to open source textbooks. Open source textbooks are books made with an open license that can be downloaded by students at low costs. They can turn out to be a much cheaper alternative to an actual textbook. “As long as it isn’t biased and has reliable information in it, I support it. It would lessen the financial burden on us as students,” Sala Mata, a nursing major, said. Mata said that last semester she had to pay upward of $500 for textbooks alone and she wouldn’t have even been able to do that if it weren’t for her finan-

cial aid. In addition to lessening costs, open source textbooks also provide an opportunity for materials to be updated with more relevant information and a faster pace. “Often material can be out of date because it takes so long to get through publishing and by the time it’s done newer information is already out,” Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez, a psychology professor, said. Open source textbooks also offer up many ways to access them, including printing which some students also see as a benefit. “I support the open source movement, but I personally don’t like online books because I feel like I could get distracted very easily by social media,” Stephanie Burciaga, a dental hygiene major, said. Burciaga also noted that she feels she understands the material more when she can physi-

cally flip from page to page and highlight it. Even with all the benefits of open source material, there are still a few setbacks to the measure. For example, some students may not have access to online materials at any given moment and some resources may not be completely accurate if it allows for users to update the material itself. While these problems exist, there may be simple work arounds that would allow everyone to be able to access suitable material. “I believe that the best way to approach it would be to supplement the text with the open source materials,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez also explained that getting the campus or even a department together to gather the open-source materials in one place might even help students gain easier access to it.

By BRIANNA MAESTAS Ranger Reporter

Many Amarillo College professors have turned to digital textbooks to help the students have better access to their materials in a way that would be more appealing to them. When it comes to textbooks, however, students often prefer paper and print to their digital counterparts. “I prefer print because it’s more personal, I want to feel the book in my hands as I flip the pages, not just swiping across a screen,” said Ciara Kessler, education major. Kessler is not alone in her opinion. “Overall, I prefer print over digital because it’s safe, and more personal,” Vivian Woods, a political science major, said. “I also prefer print for my reading material because I can doodle all I want and leave a signature,” said Woods. The students also said print-

ed books offer greater security. “With the internet and computers, there is always a way to hack into everything these days. Whatever you put into these devices isn’t always safe. With a pen and paper, when you want to delete it, you can burn it and it’s gone. It’s simpler and secure,” said Woods. “The people that would choose print are most likely writers and heavy readers, but due to the rise in technology they choose digital for its convenience,” said Woods. Digital is also commonly cheaper compared to print and some AC professors allow their students the option to choose the medium they prefer. Although students prefer traditional paper books, they understand why others would choose digital. “People probably prefer digital because it’s new and easier to access and carry around compared to a textbook,” Kessler said.

News October 12, 2017

The Ranger

More books for your buck CLAIRE EKAS | The Ranger

Victor Mendrano, a business major, catches up on some reading.

By KATIE WYLIE Ranger Reporter

One of the most common complaints among college students may be the price of textbooks. Students spend massive amounts of money each semester in order to purchase the books required for their classes. However, many alternative options to traditional book buying are becoming just as popular. “For me I would rather buy or rent an e-book online because for starters it’s a lot cheaper than buying a book from the bookstore,” Morgan Adcock, a psychology major, said. “Another reason I’d rather use an e-book is because it’s easier to find the information you need to study or use for assignments. With e-books you can search the information you need and it will pull it up for you instead of having to flip through the pages

of a physical book forever,” Adcock said. E-books have grown in popularity as many students like Adcock find the digital versions more accessible, cheaper and a faster and more efficient way to study and complete assignments. E-books are not the only alternative for students who prefer a more modern approach when buying textbooks. Sites like Amazon, Chegg and Boundless offer competitively cheaper prices on textbooks than a bookstore would. “I used Amazon to order my books for this semester,” Eliza Smith, a general studies major, said. “I think it’s a lot cheaper to

order books off Amazon because the prices are so much better. I even rented a few books from Amazon too.” Smith said. Renting is often the least expensive way to access textbooks. “Personally, I would rather rent my books either online or from the bookstore just because it’s cheaper and I don’t want to spend a ton of money on books that I’m going to use for eight weeks and then never use again,”

Aaron Shelby, a graphic design major, said. Renting books, online book sellers and e-books are all alternative options in purchasing textbooks for school. Students want to spend their money wisely and by researching alterna-

tive ways of buying books, they can get a better bang for their buck.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE EKAS | The Ranger

6 NEWS The Ranger

October 12, 2017

AC Pride sets goals portant that we have people who will stand beside us and Ranger Reporter fight for us,” Willert said. Academic adviser Ruth de AC Pride, Amarillo ColAnda serves as the club sponlege’s newest student club, provides a place where people who sor. “We are currently workidentify as LGBTQ can find ing to gather information, as a safe space. Club members well as brainstorm ideas for have a number of goals for the events,” de Anda said. “We school year. “A few ideas we’ve want to be able to educate, had is educating people on advocate and inform about the history of LGBTQ rights, the LGBT community. Our discussing and sharing forms goal is promoting acceptance of media that have well-writ- and inclusivity,” she said. Gabriella Vasquez, a club ten LGBTQ representation,” Brooklynn Willert, an English member and photography major, said. “We also have dis- major, said the club fills an cussed possibly fundraising for important role by providing transgender students to be able “a place for people who are to legally change their names.” part of LGBT community The club welcomes all stu- and shows their support while dents. “Allies are of course creating a safe environment welcome to join the club. As a for the LGBT students and minority community it is im- their allies to feel safe.” By TANAHALA HUGHES

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AC mass media students and advisers pose for a picture after the awards banquet. From left to right: Maddisun Fowler (adviser), Salvador Gutierrez (mass media major), Jill Gibson (adviser), Savannah Tarbet (mass media major), Sir Garen Grayson (mass media major), Stevi Breshears (general studies major) and Claire Ekas (graphic design major).

Student media earns awards RANGER STAFF

Amarillo College students brought home 23 awards, including several first prizes, from the Texas Community College Journalism Convention held Oct. 6 at the University of Texas at Arlington. The annual convention brought together 137 students and media advisers. The day featured an on-site team multimedia competition, numerous media-related workshops and an awards banquet. In the live on-site team multimedia competition, Sir Garen Grayson took home third prize for headline writing; Salvador Gutierrez and Sir Garen Grayson received honorable mention for the multimedia component and Stevi Breshears, Claire Ekas, Salvador Gutierrez, Sir Garen Grayson and Savannah Tarbet won honorable mention for multimedia team overall. Other contests recog-

nized work published over the past year in the college newspaper, “The Ranger,” the online news website and the college magazine, “AC Current.” The college received first prize for overall excellence for the magazine, as well as firsts for newspaper feature photo, cartoon, video sports story and open video production.Students took home second prizes for magazine nonjournalism story, magazine cover design, newspaper news writing, newspaper layout and design. Finally, AC won third prize for newspaper feature photo, newspaper indepth story, newspaper layout and design and video news and received numerous honorable mentions. “We are extremely proud of our students’ accomplishments,” Maddisun Fowler, student media adviser, said. During the convention, students attended workshops on news writing, layout and design, photography and other topics and exchanged ideas with students from UTA and

other Texas community colleges. “I learned a couple of new terms related to newspaper editing and connected with other students,” said Sir Garen Grayson, a mass media major. “The convention gave our students the chance to practice teamwork and multimedia reporting skills on deadline, learn from industry professionals and network with students from other colleges. It offered an invaluable educational experience,” said Jill Gibson, coordinator of the Matney Mass Media Program and associate dean of liberal arts. Gibson noted that the spring 2017 edition of “AC Current” is nominated for two national awards, the College Media Association Pinnacle Award and the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award, which is collegiate journalism’s preeminent award. Winners will be announced at the end of October.

ASMR videos equal relaxation By BRANDAN WALDROP Ranger Reporter

A slight tingling on the back of the scalp, the hairs begin to rise on the back of your neck and a slight brain-orgasm seems to be underway. No, these are not psilocybin influences here from magic mushrooms, or any effects from lysergic acid and free love going on. This individual is simply wearing headphones and experiencing an autonomous sensory meridian response, also known as ASMR. ASMR is a sedative sensation that starts in a person’s brain and tends to bring a high state of relaxation over one’s body. People are using ASMR videos to relax and wind down for a good night’s rest. They are also used to bring up old nostalgic feelings. All you have to do is simply put on some headphones and play one of currently 5.2 million different ASMR videos on YouTube. “I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds badass,” said Tristen Tijerina, an engineering major.

Other students were instantly curious and eager to learn more. “It was like listening to a white noise, like a constant fan or dryer blowing and was more annoying than relaxing to me,” said Cassie Morgan, a pre-med student, after listening to an ASMR video. Unlike Morgan, many people find ASMR relaxing and addictive, but scientists can’t explain exactly how it works. Although it is known what an autonomous sensory meridian response looks and feels like, the science behind it is still unclear. Psychology has been taking notice of it more lately, but further studies are behind and needed. It’s hard to pin down the euphoric tingles in one particular person’s body and trace it to why it is happening. For now, ASMR remains in the stagnant gray area between science and pseudoscience, but scientists hope that further studies will be able to pinpoint the exact reason behind the meridian response.

Career search starts here By CARTER HALL Ranger Reporter

New iPhone calls for debate COURTESY PHOTO

By JORDAN GIPSON Ranger Reporter

The next new iPhones have been announced and the iPhone 8 and new iOS 11 operating system are now available; while preorders begin soon for iPhone X, but Amarillo College students have not been rushing to the store. A lot of people have mixed feelings about the new iPhones. A primary concern is the price. The iPhone 8 starts out at $699; the iPhone 8 plus starts out at $799 and the iPhone X starts out at a whopping $999. “It’s really expensive I don’t feel like it’s worth $1000,” Darcy Mcmahon, a physical therapy major, said. The high price makes sense to Liliana Hernandez, a business major. “You have to pay for quality. Although the

price is outrageous, it has better security to protect your information that you put in.” Vivian Woods, a political science major, disagreed. “I honestly feel like it’s going to flop,” Wood said. “Only iPhone people will buy it. It’s expensive and I’m cheap. Personally I like Androids better because you can get through the loopholes and you don’t need a lot of information to do stuff. With iPhones, you need to put in all of your information to do anything. I don’t want to have to put in all of my information for every move I make.” Along with the new phones comes a software update. A few things have been added, changed and rearranged with iOS 11. The control center has a sleek new customizable look and iMessage has new features that make it easier to type us-

ing only one hand. “I feel like sending gifs is easier with the update. It’s really nice looking and it makes things easier to get to,” Mcmahom said. Another new feature of the update is the “do not disturb while driving” feature. When the iPhone believes its user is driving a car, it will turn off all notifications. It sends a message to the people trying to contact the phone owner informing them that he or she is driving. “I really like that they made the ‘do not disturb while driving’ feature because I feel like it will help a lot of people stay off their phones especially these days with all of the social media,” Hernandez said. The iPhone 8 and 8 plus are available for purchase now and preorders for iPhone X begin October the 27th.

Students looking for a job or internship, struggling to create a resume or cover letter or worrying about upcoming job interviews have a place at Amarillo College. The Career Center, located in the Washington Street Campus Student Service Center, provides help with interviews, cover letters and resumes. “We are here to help students and alumni with everything about careers,” Mitch Parker, director of career and testing services, said.

One of the Center’s main goals is to help students find jobs related to their majors while they are still in school. Students who have jobs on campus benefit from more flexible schedules. They can complete homework, study for tests, or even get ahead on their schoolwork when time permits during work hours because their employers understand the importance of school. For students wanting to know the ins and outs of getting a job, the Career Center is available to help them achieve their employment goals.

Culture October 12, 2017

The Ranger

A Glass Castle means hope RANGER REVIEW By DRAKE HUTTON Ranger Reporter

CLAIRE EKAS | The Ranger

Avid Netﬂix binger, Salvador Gutierrez, shares tips for surviving the end of your favorite show.

The Netﬂix hangover

How to cure your post-binge blues By SALVADOR GUTIERREZ Ranger Reporter

You are enjoying an episode of your favorite series on Netflix, you know what’s going on in the show, the plot is interesting, and more importantly, you love the characters. This is the most interesting episode of the show and you just can’t stop watching; but then, after 30 or 45 minutes, the saddest moment of your life approaches you without warning. You realize that the episode you are watching is the last episode of the season and that you will have to wait not just three, or five, or even six months until the next season comes out, but one whole year. Even worse, you might find out that your favorite show has been canceled. DUNDUN-DUUUUN! This has happened to all of us at least one time, and it’s really hard to get over it, but you should know that you are not alone. Along with many other people around the globe, I have experienced post-series depression, also known as, “What do I do with my life when I’ve finished a series on Netflix?” Because I have experienced post-series depression often, I decided to start looking for ways to minimize the weekly pain of having to say goodbye to my favorite characters. So, I came up with a list of possible solutions to the problem. 1. Don’t start a new show Wait between three to

seven days before you start a new show. The bingewatching experience is not complete if you jump from one show to another without processing what you’ve just watched. Talk to a friend or find a group of people who watched the same show and have a conversation dedicated to the series, write a review and share opinions on social media. It helps to talk to people who understand what you’re talking about, and other people will appreciate your comments and you will enjoy spending time reflecting on the show. 2. Perform basic daily activities Sometimes when we spend too much time with Netflix (or other streaming services) we forget to perform some really basic activities like eating, sleeping and showering. Right after you finish the show, stand up, go to the fridge, make a sandwich, eat it, take a shower and go to sleep. Your body will really appreciate if you take care of it, and it will be ready for another 10 hour long binge-watching session.

and look carefully around your house or at your planner, you will find something to do or you can always use that time to learn something new. Think wisely about how you will spend your free time -the distance between taking a break and procrastination is really short. 4. Catch up with your friends and family There is a chance that, while you were watching your show, they were watching a different one, or they achieved something important in their lives. Get in touch with them and spend some of that free time with them. Create new memories and enjoy their company. Talk about the show, but not too much or they will run away. Maybe you can start binge-watching with them.

The film adaptation of Jeanette Walls’ 2005 best selling novel “The Glass Castle” follows the Walls family through the eyes of Jeanette as she and her siblings learn to navigate life with a drunken father and a mother who is more interested in her career as an artist than her children. Her father, Rex Walls, is a kind-hearted drunk who has issues holding down a job and keeping his priorities straight. However, he promises to build his family a “glass castle.”This serves as a beacon of hope for the children, especially Jeanette, who believes in her father even when the rest of the family doesn’t. Director Destin Cretton creates a plot that is simultaneously representative of the past and present, similar to what he did with the film “Short Term 12.” This allows us to see the Walls family beginnings, as well as how

their life unravels throughout the years. Woody Harrelson does a wonderful job of portraying Rex. Rex’s personality ranges from that of an aggressive alcoholic maniac who ruins everything, to a misunderstood and goodhearted genius. His parenting is questionable at times, such as when he throws his daughter into a pool and forces her to learn how to swim on her own. On the other hand, when they can’t afford to buy their children Christmas gifts, he takes each one of them out to stargaze and “gives them a star.” Harrelson does an incredible job of portraying both sides of this character. This film absolutely did justice to the book. It is truly moving and makes us appreciate both the good and bad elements of our childhood, and accept that it is often our rough beginnings that shape us into the people we eventually become.

COURTESY PHOTO

Run to the box ofﬁce RANGER REVIEW

3. Catch up with your life. Binge-watching a series in one week or one night means that once in a while we have extra time to get away from the routine, but that does not mean that we should spend all that free time in front of a screen. If you finished watching a show and you are thinking about starting a new one, stop,

5. Watch a documentary or a movie Documentaries can be a great transition between binges. According to a study by Netflix, users usually watch a documentary or a movie and wait three days before they start a new show. Now you know what to do to deal with post-series depression. Leaving your favorite characters behind hurts, but new characters will come and they will take you to new worlds and new adventures. Be strong and don’t forget to pay the monthly subscription fees for your favorite streaming services or your favorite show will be gone for real.

“Blade Runner: 2049,” the sequel to the 1982 film, “Blade Runner” arrived 35 years later to box offices on Oct. 6. Denis Villeneuve directs the sequel to the Ridley Scott cult classic, starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto and Robin Wright. “Blade Runner: 2049” is visually stunning with a moving message, but is mostly drudgingly long. Set 30 years after the first film in dystopian Los Angeles, Agent K (Gosling) is a police officer whose job is hunting down and killing rouge replicants. While on a job he discovers a long hidden secret which leads him on a journey for the truth and self discovery. His quest leads him to search for former LAPD blade runner, Rick Deckard (Ford),

to help him uncover the truth. The interesting music selection helped set the tone of the movie with the score composed by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch. The rest of the music featured in the film is oddly nostalgic in such a futuristic setting including songs by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. The music implies that even in an advanced time period, America continues to have the same problems. “Blade Runner: 2049” is aesthetically pleasing with its fair share of action and futuristic technology. All of these factors help, but the slow pace of the two hour and forty-four minute movie can be too much for most people. Overall the movie was interesting and worth the big screen experience, but I highly recommend seeing the first film to be able to understand this one.

is about coming to empathy for someone else even if they hurt and scare you,” Kesha, wrote in a blog post published on the Lenny Letter website. Even though Kesha had a majority of the say in how she wanted her video to turn out, she got the help from Swedish director Jonas Akerlund to create the “vivid and surreal vision” seen throughout the video. In the blog post, Kesha expressed her gratitude toward Akerlund for his role in helping “actualize the

psychedelic journey that is a physical and emotional ride for the video.” In the beginning of the video, Kesha is lying down in a coffin and appears to be dead with pig men surrounding her body. She then wakes up in what seems to be the afterlife. Floating peacefully in the middle of the ocean, Kesha is in a state of nirvana. She explained that swimming out into the ocean like that is her “greatest form of surrender to the universe.” It isn’t until

the end, however, that color is restored in the ocean scene to show the true beginning of her inner peace. This part of the video is a powerful statement and a clear depiction of how she feels. With her being dead and surrounded by men with deceased pigs, one can understand that this symbolizes how she feels empty and helpless. Throughout the video, she is being chased by these pig men and is forced to fight them in order to escape. This shows her fighting

off her demons and any evil in her life. At this point, she starts breaking and smashing things and falling to her knees asking for peace for both her and her offenders. Then, as I stated before, color is restored in her nirvana moment and a whale appears, which often symbolizes rebirth. The tragic and beautiful story of a healing soul was brilliantly expressed by both Kesha and Akerlund in the making of this video.

By SAVANNAH TARBET Ranger Reporter

Praying for visual brilliance

By CHRISTINA TORRES Ranger Reporter

A really fascinating music video that has recently surfaced is Kesha’s “Praying” video. It’s an emotional song about her journey with depression and anxiety caused by conflict with her record label’s company, Kemosabe Records, and producer Dr. Luke. The story is a powerful one depicting her healing and new outlook on life after recovering from her past struggles. “This song

8 Feature October 12, 2017

for

Falling

The Ranger

fall A reminder of everything great about fall

By CHRISTINA TORRES

Ranger Reporter

ot chocolate, the crisp fall weather, plaid everything, carving pumpkins, the changing leaves. Whether or not you enjoy it, there’s no doubt that the fall season is a great time of year. There’s so much to do and just a sense of comfort in the air... and pumpkin spice of course. There’s a certain idea that comes to mind when someone thinks of fall. For some, it’s just another season, but for others it can be more than just that. “Fall means football season and cozy clothes to me,” Abbigail Valdivia, a premed biology major said. “It’s also my favorite season because it’s not too warm and not too cold.” For many, this season comes with traditions of all sorts. That could mean visiting a pumpkin patch or even just pulling out the oversized sweaters. “Every year my family and I go to the corn maze and we always have a good time,” Katherine Alvarez, a general studies major said. It’s also the time of year to breathe in all the warm smells the season offers. “I usually light pumpkin scented candles because they’re my favorite,” Bailee Baldivia, a photography major said. “I love shopping for new candles and scents this time of year.” Although there is plenty to love about the season, there is also some instances that aren’t the best. “I hate how bipolar the weather gets in

the fall and I also get pretty bad allergies,” Baldivia said. One thing that is for certain, the fall season brings change to the scenery of our city. “I like to go on drives so I can see the leaves change color,” Alvarez said. “I think it’s really relaxing.” Amarillo is known for not having many “fun” things to do, but they probably didn’t know that there’s plenty of fun fall-themed things that one can do this time of year. “Something cool to do arounds town is go to the Amarillo Scaregrounds or even the pumpkin patches,” Baldivia said. The season also brings out fashion traditions which for some, is the best part. “I like to wear darker lipsticks during fall and I love wearing sweaters and boots,” Alvarez said. “It’s is my favorite time of year because of the fashion.” A new fall tradition for AC students is fall break. This semester it will be from Oct. 16 - 20. It’s a great time for student to de-stress, relax, and prepare for their second eight week classes or catch up on school work for their sixteen week classes. One of the best times of the year only lasts roughly three months, so might as well enjoy it.