The Spectator -- Issue 6 -- Dec. 11, 2012

SPECTATOR

The

Western Nebraska Community College

Dec. 11, 2012

Volume 59, Issue 6

ENTERTAINMENT: Enjoy the holidays with strawberries and chocolate, pg. 4 SPORTS: Volleyball player Alex Rivera excels while dealing with diabetes, pg. 5 BACKPAGE: Niger features plenty of history, pg. 8

Student SPOTLIGHT: Chance Giles

Taking the time to help students shine Sue Kandel, a WNCC English instructor who has been nominated for Faculty of the Year, enjoys playing a role in her students’ educational success

BY JOHN BAHR Spectator Reporter

I Courtesy Photo

BY KATIE PETERSON Spectator Sports Reporter Chance Giles is a student at Western Nebraska Community College. He’s pursuing a degree in forestry and wildlife management.

Katie: Where are you from?

Chance: I’m from Halsey, Nebraska.

Katie: What school did you go to?

Chance: I went to Sandhills High school.

Katie: Why did you pick Western Nebraska?

Chance: It’s a small school, and I like the atmosphere.

Katie: Do you participate in any activities at WNCC? Chance: Ping pong, flag football, and things like that.

Katie: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Chance: Jumping out of helicopters into wildfires to save someone’s property.

Katie: Where do you want to study after WNCC? Chance: Chadron or Laramie.

Katie: Where do you want to work after college?

Chance: On a hotshot crew, then a hela-repeller crew or smoke jumper crew.

Katie: What do you want to specialize in?

Chance: In fire science.

Katie: What is your favorite color?

Chance: I’m not sure.

Katie: How many siblings do you have?

Chance: I have one older sister.

Katie: What do you like most about your major?

Chance: That I get to work outdoors.

Katie: What do you like least about your major?

Chance: Nothing at all. I love it.

Katie: What is the most challenging part about your major?

Chance: The amount of science classes.

Katie: Do you have anything else to share about yourself?

Chance: I’m a very sociable person.

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n Sue Kandel’s English Composition II class, students recite the characters Horace and May, two mayflies, going through their mating ritual. Time Flies, by David Ives, is about two flies that realize they have one day to live and their only purpose is to procreate. It is a humorous play that Kandel’s students seem to really enjoy.

Learning about plays, though, is just part of Kandel’s English Composition II class. She also teaches students about short stories and poetry. The purpose of English Composition II is to

try to get students to think about and understand what they read.

Kandel always makes sure her students accomplish this task.

The other classes that Kandel teaches at Western Nebraska Community College are English Composition I and Public Speaking. English Composition I is designed to help students learn basic writing principles. Her Public Speaking class teaches students how to write and deliver a speech.

She also teaches at some of the public high schools in the area.

Chase Harmon, a WNCC business student, said, “I really like her because she knows her

See Kandel, page 7

Courtesy photo/WNCC Marketing

Sue Kandel enjoys teaching English at Western Nebraska Community College’s Sidney campus.

COVER STORY

‘I almost ‘The sacrifices will pay became off in the end’ a beekeeper’ Junior Alvarez, though, instead chose a career in education, and he’s now enjoying his job as a math instructor at WNCC

BY JOY ANITEYE Spectator Reporter

Photo by Heidi Hancock/The Spectator

WNCC student Summer Carey (right) works on her homework.

Going back to school hasn’t been easy for WNCC student Summer Carey, but she said the sacrifices she’s been making are well worth it

BY HEIDI HANCOCK Spectator Reporter Going back to school after a long period of time off is a difficult decision for many people. But for non-traditional student Summer Carey, going back to school was

a choice she made after doing a lot of soul searching and talking with her family.

“Having seen the traditional side of college, I was fully aware of the difficulty I was going to face being a non-traditional student,” Carey said. “It is tougher than being a traditional student because I have a family at home now, a job and all kinds of responsibilities that I didn’t have before.”

Carey, though, didn’t shy away from the challenges.

“Working and going to school at the same time is tough, but I am lucky because my daughter is old enough to go to school,” Carey said. “I currently have a 4.0 GPA, but that has taken a great deal of work.”

There is a delicate balance that one has

Western Nebraska Community College instructor Junior Alvarez almost missed out on the life that he has enjoyed for so many years.

Alvarez, who began working as a manual laborer in bean fields in high school, nearly went into a very different occupation than education.

“I almost became a beekeeper,” Alvarez said.

After working with bees for eight years, Alvarez and his brother decided that they wanted to buy the bee colonies from the farmer they had worked for.

Photo by Joy Aniteye But the bee industry Junior Alvarez at his then took a big hit desk in the A-pod. because of spider mites, and Alvarez’s future changed drastically.

“I came this close to signing papers, but we decided not to, and the rest is kind of history because I went into education,” he said.

See Carey, page 3

See Alvarez, page 2

Have some extra time? Consider volunteering Lots of volunteering opportunities exist in the community

BY ALEX SCHLUTER Spectator Reporter Studying, spending time with family, and working full-time jobs clutter many students’ agendas.

Keeping on top of classes, making time for a social life, and juggling the countless other

responsibilities that students face is a talent and a struggle for the everyday academic. With all of this jumbled into the life of a student, finding extra time to do something else seems almost impossible at times.

However, now, more than ever, people are giving back to their communities and taking time out of the aforementioned chaotic schedules to lend a helping hand in various ways. Volunteering opportunities abound in Scottsbluff; people just need

to take the time to look for them.

One of the simplest and least time-consuming acts of generosity one could engage in is donating blood. While there are several blood drives in the community throughout the year, the Donors Center at Regional West Medical Center (RWMC) is open five days a week. It accepts walk-ins to add to their ever inneed supply of blood.

Taking no more than 30 minutes, donating blood can be

an invaluable, life saving, and easy way of volunteering. Additionally, RWMC runs a volunteer program. From delivering flowers to helping to run the gift shop, more than 30 caring individuals make up the team of volunteers.

While not everyone is comfortable in hospitals, fear not, there are several other opportunities to give back to the community that do not include needles or hospitals. For the animal

See Volunteer, page 3

Top

News

CAT

Students Dylan Bairn Gering, Neb. Age: 19

Major: Criminal justice H o n o r s / awards/activities: RA; member of the Residence Counsel; SNT coordinator for the Leadership Society; T.R.I.O YES member Favorite movie: “21 Jump Street” Favorite quotes: “In order to succeed, your desire should be greater than your fear of failure,” by Bill Cosby.

Favorite TV show: “The Walking Dead” Favorite food: Italian Hobbies: “Hunting, fishing — anything outdoors.”

Who is your role model?: “My grandfather because he has always been someone I’ve looked up to for things in life.”

If you were a super hero, who would you be?: Superman If you had one piece of advice to share with everyone, what would it be?: “Make sure your studies are always first; the fun can always come later.”

By Abner Pizano

Jessica Schluter Scottsbluff, Neb. Honors/awards/ activities: Placed second at the National Association of Teachers and Music; Varsity Vocalize; collegiate chorale; Quintessence Major: Vocal performance Favorite band/singer: Jason Mraz Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump” Favorite quote: Deuteronomy 31:6 Favorite TV show: “Gossip Girl” Who is your role model?: “My older brother Michael because he is in music as well, and he has inspired me my whole life to pursue my dreams.”

What’s the craziest or hardest thing you’ve ever done?: “Living in New York City for a year while going to school there.”

If you had one piece of advice to share with everyone, what would it be?: “Don’t let anybody underestimate you because you are a lot stronger than you seem.”

Dec. 11, 2012 — Page 2

Battling a cold? Be careful not to overmedicate

BY ALEXANDRIA MOREE Spectator Commentary Since Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin in 1928, there has been a run on discovering the next “it” drug.

The drug world, a cut throat and incredibly competitive business, especially now that citizens are scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as medicines are concerned, is now turning its attention to synthetic drugs instead of naturally found remedies.

While Germany and Australia remain the front runners in the medical/scientific world, it is the American populous that has and continues to take advantage of these new and improved drugs.

Science has produced some of the most incredible and efficient drugs in the last quarter century, saving more and more lives every year. The industry continues to grow, making larger steps to cure and treat previously deadly diseases.

The question now lies in the potential overmedication of patients, whether by doctor prescription or patients demanding more aggressive treatments.

Elise Knaub, a graduate of the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Interdepartmental Health Sciences, said, “I think medications are helpful solutions, but people jump too quickly to medical resolutions instead of their

own immune system.”

Americans are famously busy and known, especially in European countries, for overworking themselves and not taking time to relax. Often overbooking schedules, living on little to no sleep, and having poor nutrition, many Americans treat sickness as a nuisance and reach instantly for an antibiotic instead of allowing their own built-in immune system to take care of the intruder.

From a cough to the seasonal flu, many Americans are continually popping pills to rid themselves of everyday bugs, when in all reality, they have a perfectly well-functioning defense that will naturally take care of the problem.

Why then do people reach for pills and liquid syrups to elevate even the slightest symptom of sickness?

“We don’t have time to be sick,” Knaub said about the average American.

Instead of taking a day off and allowing the body to fight off a cold, many people rush instantly to their family doctor or walk-in clinic demanding an antibiotic so that they don’t have to slow down. No one wants to be sick; it is inconvenient and unpleasant, not to mention a time-consuming annoyance that the average American cannot possibly afford. However, this mindset has put the United States at the top of the charts when it comes to sickness — both

minute colds and major diseases — across the globe.

Could it be possible that our need for a quick fix is actually compromising our immune systems, endangering us of catching/contracting more and more bugs? Are drugs made too readily available to patients by doctors and other health care professionals?

“It’s a combination of both doctors wanting to please patients and patients not being proactive about their healthcare,” Knaub said of the availability of antibiotics to the general public.

This practice of overmedicating does not stop at the general antibiotic or cold remedy.

There is a mindset growing in the United States that if someone does not function, think, or act in a certain manner, then there must be something wrong. Attention Deficit Disorder and Autism are two very serious diseases that are now thrown around casually in conversation and self diagnosed by attention- or drug-seeking citizens.

If we as a country continue to self medicate and overmedicate, we face the very real possibility of eventually having no other medicinal options and will be forced to turn to toxic and dangerous options to treat the simplest of diseases that have adapted and mutated to be drug resistant — all because of our inability to patiently let our bodies handle a cold.

Gering High School a few years ago, but he missed being around students. He eventually decided to get back into teaching at WNCC. He said he enjoys having an opportunity to teach college students.

“If they’re here to learn, I’ll teach them the best way I can,” he said.

Throughout his teaching and coaching career, Alvarez has earned several awards for his accomplishments. He takes pride in being able to make a difference in education.

“When I was younger, I guess I wanted those things, and I strived for them. You know, you like to be recognized,” he said. “At the same time, now I enjoy doing it, and that’s what gives me the satisfaction. I just enjoy doing it.”

Anyone who has ever walked by Alvarez’s classroom while he was teaching has probably heard his enthusiasm and passion for his job.

“If you ever ask any of my kids, they know that I’m loud and obnoxious. I tell all the dumb jokes because you have to make things fun to do, and I know that math sometimes isn’t fun to do. But I try to make it fun,” he said.

Besides having a good sense of humor, Alvarez has empathy for his students, knowing the struggles that college students sometimes go through. And in the classroom, he has a knack for making difficult topics easier for

his students to understand. He’s willing to do whatever he can to help his students succeed.

“One thing I don’t like about teaching is grading papers. But it is a necessary evil because I have to understand where the kids are making the mistakes,” he said.

He usually grades his papers in the math lab, where he can also help students. Making contact with students is very important to him.

“You form a relationship with the kids, and you feel like you’ve done the very best you could teaching,” he said.

As much as he enjoys teaching, Alvarez is unsure how long he will stay in the classroom.

“As long as I enjoy doing it and my health is good, I’ll do it a few more years,” he said.

“Plus, I enjoy the kids. It keeps you young.

They have young minds, and it’s nice to be around them because they think young.”

While much of Alvarez’s time is spent teaching students, he does fit some of his favorite pastimes into his schedule, including playing golf. In fact, he usually plans his days around golf. “I probably play too much golf,” he said, smiling.

One thing he can’t get enough of, though, is spending time with his family.

“It’s life. What else is there?” he said. “I just enjoy it.”

Alvarez Continued from page 1 Alvarez, who is in his third year of teaching math at WNCC, grew up in Minatare. After graduating from Minatare High School, Alvarez attended the Chadron State Teachers College, (now Chadron State College). He obtained his bachelor’s of science degree at Chadron, and he then earned his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Alvarez found his way into education thanks to his college advisor, who was a math teacher. She encouraged him to pursue a career as a teacher.

“Chadron State Teachers College? I’ll become a teacher,” he said, laughing. “It was kind of blind luck because I didn’t think I would be in education at all.”

Alvarez, who played football in college, was a physical education and arts major, but then he started focusing on math.

“I was fortunate enough that I could visualize things. I was always good at it; I just didn’t know how good,” he said.

He began his teaching career at Sidney St. Patrick’s Catholic School, where he taught for two years.

Before Alvarez started teaching at WNCC, he taught for 34 years at Gering High School, where he also coached football. He retired from

WNCC students chosen for All-Nebraska Academic Team

BY JOHN BAHR Spectator Reporter Faculty at Western Nebraska Community College’s Sidney campus chose 10 students for the All-Nebraska Community College Academic Team.

To be eligible, students must write a 500word essay describing their most significant endeavor to the school, to the community, or to society while attending WNCC. A student’s score is generally determined by his or her ranking in the national competition.

Phi Theta Kappa and community colleges sponsor All-State Community College Academic Teams in 37 states. Over $41 million is available in scholarship money to all-state members. Students also receive special recognition, medallions and certificates.

Award ceremonies are usually held at state capitals with legislators, corporate leaders and educational leaders. In a number of instances, Coca-Cola, gold, silver, and bronze scholars are also recognized.

The student receiving the highest application score in the state is named the Coca-Cola New Century Scholar and represents his or her state at the American Association of Community Colleges Convention. The American Association of Community Colleges, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and Phi Theta Kappa sponsor the

theSpectator

Western Nebraska Community College

By Abner Pizano

Contact the newspaper at: The Spectator WNCC 1601 E. 27th street Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361 Phone: (308) 635-6058 Email: spectator@wncc.edu

Coca-Cola New Centuries Scholars program.

In all, there are 52 total awards. The top scoring Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team nominee is awarded a $2,000 scholarship in each of the 50 states. The winners will also be featured in the USA Today, Community College Journal, AACC’S Community College Times, and on Phi Theta Kappa’s website.

According to Patricia England, Sidney campus Phi Theta Kappa advisor, nominees should be quite proud of their achievements.

It is a special honor, she said, to be selected by the faculty to represent WNCC. When asked about her nomination, Haylee Park, a cosmetology student, said, “It means a lot to me because I was selected by the faculty. It shows off all of your hard work for the year, and they recognize it.”

She said she plans to write about her experiences at the PTK international conference in Nashville for her essay. She wants to share her experiences, and how they helped her, with others.

Whitney Young, a WNCC business student, said being nominated to the academic team is a validation of all her sacrifices and hard work in the last year and a half.

“It is an amazing recognition and accomplishment. I wouldn’t be here without the constant help, support and the occasional push from the WNCC staff,” Young said.

Her essay will be about her experiences with

the Sidney Jaycees, and more specifically, the Jaycees’ Toys for Tots giveaway.

“It was an incredible experience, both heartwarming and heartbreaking,” Young said.

In December she will graduate from WNCC and transfer to Chadron State College.

Up to twenty students will also be named to the All-USA Community College Academic Team. Students will receive extensive recognition through the USA Today, which aims to recognize outstanding two-year college students. Honors will be presented at Phi Theta Kappa’s Presidents Breakfast during the annual Convention of the American Associate of Community Colleges Convention (AACC) April 22, 2013, in San Francisco, California.

In addition, students will be eligible for the Guistwhite Scholarship Program and the Hites Transfer Scholarship. The purpose of these scholarships is to recognize the outstanding achievements of Phi Theta Kappa members. In order to be eligible for these scholarships, students must be a Phi Theta Kappa member.

Note from John Bahr: As for my own nomination, I have a hard time believing I was chosen to represent WNCC for the academic team.

My essay will be about my life after suffering a spinal cord injury and how it has impacted people around me. My goal is to be a positive influence in other people’s lives.

2012-13 Staff Members

Letter to the Editor Policy

Katie Peterson, Reporter Alexandria Moree, Reporter Abner P.izano, Reporter Heidi Hancock, Reporter Danielle Hearn, Reporter Johnny Escamilla, Reporter Joy Aniteye, Reporter John Bahr, Reporter Kayla Romey, Layout Mark Rein, Production Jeff Fielder, Advisor

thespectator the spectator encourages reader input about the articles it publishes. Any reader may submit a letter to the editor. All letters to the editor submissions must include the author’s name and hometown.

Phone numbers must also be included for verification purposes. Letters and columns may be edited for space limitations, style, grammar and libelous content. The letters must contain around 50 words and be typed. Letters can be sent or e-mailed to spectator@wncc.net.

The opinions in the thespectator spectator are those of the newspaper staff and do not reflect the opinion or scrutiny of WNCC, the administration, board of governors, staff or student government. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the editorial board.

Signed columns reflect the opinion of the author.

News

Dec. 11, 2012 — Page 3

Your

Lending a helping hand in WNCC’s GED program

Voice

One question, many answers!

What do you want for Christmas this year?

“Batting gloves, a baseball bat, and Derek Jeter cleats.”

— Gabriel De La Rosa, Miami, Fla.

“Cookies, food, and more food.”

Lacey Bauer enjoys making a difference as a volunteer

Q: What gives you pride in your

Q: If you won two million dollars, what would you do with the money?

A: I would buy me a really nice vehicle, and I would put money in each

of my kids’ account for college funding so they wouldn’t have to struggle the way I struggled.

Q: What are some goals you’re still trying to accomplish?

A: To make it through my third surgery without hassles like the last ones, and to be strong enough to continue my original goals.

Q: What would you like to go to school for?

A: Any sort of childhood education.

I just want to make an impact and encourage kids to do things with their future rather than just throw it away and to make them see what they are worth.

Q: What moved you to become a volunteer?

A: Mary Carlson was one of my biggest influences when I was doing my GED, and I felt that if I could be what she was for me, [volunteering] is worth it.

Q: What is it like to volunteer in the GED program at the HATC? A: It’s a feeling of accomplishments with some students. We have students that show up on time every day and are ready to work, and we have some that don’t even show up.

That’s a little frustrating for all of us, but we’ve got to help the ones that are willing to help themselves.

school while I was a senior in high school, and she has been my biggest inspiration,” she said. “She did it all: she worked full-time, went to school full-time for nursing, and graduated at the top of her class.”

Carey said it helps having the people she cares about supporting her.

“Having my fiancé and daughter behind me keeps me strong, pushes me to do my best, and motivates me to achieve anything I set my mind to,” she said.

Carey said she understands the opportunity that she has now, and she doesn’t want to waste it.

“I am much more motivated now to get the best grades I can, and some of that might be that I am paying for it now instead of my parents,” Carey said. “I also know that I am ready to get into nursing school and get a job that pays better.”

Even though Carey doesn’t have much free time, she does make sure she takes time out to spend with her family.

“I try to do as much homework as I can after my daughter goes to bed. That way when she gets home from school, I can spend time with her doing homework and reading,” Carey said.

Though going back to school isn’t easy for many people, Carey said tackling the challenges is well worth it.

“It can be hard when your family has activities that you want to be a part of and you are unable to, but the sacrifices will pay off in the end,” she said.

BY ABNER PIZANO spectator Reporter Lacey Bauer is a GED volunteer at the John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center of Nebraska at WNCC. She received her GED in 2009 through WNCC’s Adult Education Program at the HATC, and she decided to become a volunteer because she wants to help other people attain their GED.

Q: Where are you from?

A: Newcastle, Wyo.

Q: What was your childhood like?

A: It was good. I spent a lot of time raising my brother and sister. My mom was a single mom, and she worked a lot, so it was pretty busy.

Q: What is the most treasured memory that you have?

A: I think the most treasured memory was the day that I found out that I was pregnant with my daughter.

Q: What did you enjoy doing as a kid?

A: I think reading and walking.

Walking outdoors — pretty much anything outdoors.

Lacey Bauer is a volunteer in WNCC’s GED program.

Q: What were your favorite toys when you were a kid?

A: My rock tumbler, books, and that’s about it. I didn’t play with toys very often.

Q: Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad, but it turned out to be for the best?

A: The car accident that I was in last year in September. I had to quit school. I tried to continue, but I struggled really bad. I feel like if that wouldn’t have happened, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I would not be doing the things that I’m doing today.

country?

A: The fact that women are treated equally [with men]. That we can work and have a future and careers, and we are just allowed to do the things that we can do.

Q: What were the most difficult decisions you had to make during your lifetime?

A: I think one of them was going back to school after I had so many people telling me that I couldn’t do it and that I wasn’t going to be able to do anything. I think that was a difficult decision.

Q: What have been the major milestones in your life, and why are they major to you?

A: Having my three kids; being in a car wreck; deciding to take a break from school; trying to stay active so I don’t get discouraged; and continuing my education.

Q: What’s on your bucket list?

A: Finishing my education, becoming a teacher, making an impact on children’s lives to change the future for the better, and finally, taking my daughters to England when they graduate.

Carey Continued from page 1

— Angel Council, Las Vegas, Nev.

“A hippopotamus.”

— Madison Spencer, Gering, Neb.

to achieve in order to be successful going to school, working, and taking care of a family. Carey is well aware of the focus she must keep to succeed in all areas.

“The hardest part about being a student is getting time to spend with my family and time to do homework as well,” Carey said. “It is a hard balance.”

Carey draws inspiration from her mom, who also was a non-traditional student.

“My mom went back to nursing

Volunteer Continued from page 1

“A kiss from the love of my life, Simone Spurgeon.”

— Tyler Picket, Alliance, Neb.

“To be home with my family and for everyone to make it home safely.”

— Dion Gibson, Alliance, Neb.

“To become Batman.”

— Brandon Lenz, Alliance, Neb.

“My father.”

— Osvaldo Gonzalez, Miami, Fla.

“World peace and the end of slavery.”

— John Timmins, Omaha, Neb.

— Compiled by Danielle Hearn

lover, the Panhandle Humane Society is constantly in need of community help. Walking dogs, cleaning and grooming, or doing something as simple as adopting a pet greatly benefits the small yet unfortunately crowded nonprofit organization and can be fit into a schedule at any time for any amount of time during the week.

Along with the humane society, the Riverside Zoo accepts and appreciates volunteers to help care for the many animals that inhabit the small menagerie.

On the other end of the spectra, away from the four-legged creature, is the Scottsbluff/Gering Teammates program. Started in 1991 by Nebraska Football Coach Tom Osborne and his wife, Nancy, the program was originally meant for the football players at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Since its inception, the program has expanded to include all of Nebraska, Iowa, and parts of California.

Designed as a mentoring program, volunteers are paired with a student ranging from a first grader to a senior in high school.

The program is designed to be a long-term commitment, with mentors and mentees developing a relationship over not just a few months but years of weekly interaction and encouragement.

The program is not designed specifically for high-risk youth but simply for young people looking for guidance. With almost 6,000 members nationwide, the Teammates Program is an excellent way to become more involved and help in the community.

For more information about volunteering, please contact: The Donor Center at RWMC 308-630-2477; Panhandle Humane Society: 308-635-0922; Riverside Zoo: 308-630-6236; or Maurie Deines (chapter coordinator for Teammates): (308) 225-2997

Entertainment

Dec. 11, 2012 — Page 4

‘Savages’ will keep you on the edge of your seat

1. What country is it a crime to drive a dirty car?

2. What animal can use human’s birth control pills?

3. What animal has the largest eyes?

4. What is the longest word that you can type with your left hand?

5. How many newborns are given to the wrong parents every day?

6. What must be worn by loose cats in Colorado?

I

often find it surprising how some movies are so underrated that you don’t hear too much about them until they’re already released on DVD. This is especially unfortunate when there’s a movie that would have been completely worth watching on the big screen.

“Savages” is one of those movies that was probably overshadowed by the hype for “Ted” and probably even more for “Magic Mike.”

“Savages” premiered this summer and was released on DVD last month. The name of the movie sounds brutal, and the movie is brutal, but it’s still worth watching.

“Savages” is an adaption of the same-named novel by Don Winslow that made it on the New York Times bestseller list — more than once. Winslow was actually one of the screenplay writers for this film. He is not an ordinary crime fiction writer; Winslow has actually worked as a private investigator.

The movie, set in Laguna

9. Slaughter is a city in what state?

10. During the American Civil War, what were used as a coffee substitutive? http:\\www.triviachamp.com/weirdTrivia-Facts-VII.pho#ixzz2E3OD1ItO

Movie Review: “Savages” Lively.

Up to this point, their lives under the warm Californian sun by the endless beaches are pretty much idyllic. Their luxurious, sweet life doesn’t last very long. A Mexican cartel led by Elena Sanchez (Salma Hayek) demands a business partnership with the duo.

Hayek is superb in this role. Her character is tough, mean, elegant, and noble at the same time. She is the untouchable queen of the drug cartel, but she does have her weak point, which unravels in an interesting way as the story goes on.

Chon and Ben decide that they don’t want a business partnership with Elena and instead want to disappear for a couple years. On this long “vacation” they want to take O. As you might have guessed, the trio does not get to go on vacation.

Instead, a ruthless war between Ben, Chon and his military friends and the Mexican cartel

erupts because Elena has her men kidnap O in order to force the deal on the guys. Ben and Chon do not want to give in, and with the assistance of the corrupt Drug Enforcement agent Dennis (John Travolta), they fight against the Mexican drug cartel and Elena’s savage enforcer Lado (Benicio del Toro) to rescue the love of their lives.

The brutal violence of this battle for drugs makes up a great portion of the movie. However, the characters, not necessarily the trio, are what really bring this movie to life. It is up to the viewer to decide who their heroes and villains are in a movie full of bad guys with drugs and weapons.

Overall, the movie really delivers — beautiful actors and location, drama, and action. And all of this is topped off with unpredictable twists and turns of characters and storylines alike, which lead to a surprising ending.

Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy strawberries — and chocolate

7. Who invented the words “bump” and “assassination”?

8. What is the color of polar bears’ skin?

Beach, is a story of contrasts – good and bad — that focuses on the love triangle of two young, successful entrepreneurs and their shared girlfriend. The two men are not your usual multimillion-dollar entrepreneurs — of course not. They are in the marijuana business.

Chon (Taylor Kitsch), Joy Aniteye an ex-Navy SEAL, and his genius Buddhist counterpart Ben (Aaron Johnson) have managed to build a huge drug empire in southern California. Their relationship is really cliché, but in a tolerable way. Ben is the softie, and Chon steps in whenever things get too rough. And then there is O, their girlfriend. Yes, she is the girlfriend of both guys. O is a stereotypical native Californian beauty who couldn t have been portrayed better by anyone other than Blake

F

or many people, Christmas is a time to spend with family and enjoy gifts while sitting around a beautifully decorated tree. Everyone, though, has different rituals around this time.

Some people enjoy the company of extended family, some go away to warmer and more exotic places, and some choose to take a break from everything and just relax at home.

I always look forward to this time of year not only to receive presents but also to relax. School takes a lot out of people; it stresses everyone, including myself. When December rolls around, students get anxious, realizing that finals are approaching. But once the school break arrives, everything,

it seems, comes to a standstill.

Sleeping in late and waking up to the aroma of a warm breakfast is exciting.

Both of my parents are teachers, and my Katie brother and Peterson I both are in Food Columnist school, so there is very little time for us to spend quality time together. At least until the holidays.

One thing our family enjoys doing around the holidays is cooking. Cooking helps relax and feed not only your stomach but also your mind. Yes, the holiday

season means one is likely to be surrounded by lots of cookies and sweets, so it’s very hard to stay on a healthy diet. It’s not impossible, though, to enjoy some tasty treats while also eating some healthy foods. Fruit, for example, is very tasty and healthy, and when you mix that with the wonderful taste of chocolate, well, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Every Christmas our family spends part of a day making yummy treats, such as chocolate-covered strawberries. If you’ve never tried them before, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Ingredients 1.

16 ounces milk chocolate chips

2. 2 tablespoons shortening 3.

1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves Directions 1.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.

2. Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.

3. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into Styrofoam or place on nonstick wax paper for the chocolate to cool.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-covered-strawberries/

Answers: 1. Russia; 2. Gorillas; 3. Giant squid 4. Stewardesses; 5. Approx. 12; 6. Tail lights; 7.

Shakespeare; 8. Black; 9. Texas; 10. Acorns

Spring classes begin January 9. Register today!

Same low, in-state tuition for SD, WY, and CO residents Start here. Get there. wncc.edu * 800.348.4435

Sports During the holiday break, still make time to exercise

INSIDE: New colored athletic tape makes dealing with pain more manageable, page 6

‘It is all about believing in yourself’ WNCC volleyball player Alex Rivera doesn’t let having diabetes keep her from succeeding on the court or in life

T

he holiday break is right around the corner, and for most people that means a much-needed break. Time to go home and enjoy mom’s cooking and relax.

For athletes, the time off means taking a break from practicing, eating whatever they want, and sleeping until noon. This sounds amazing, and for the most part, students at WNCC will take full advantage of the holiday break and kick back. Many people believe that being an athlete is tough, so a break is both needed and deserved. But after everything I have heard lately, that is almost worse for an athlete than daily practices.

When athletes practice daily and use their muscles, Heidi they keep them Hancock healthy and preCommentary pared. When athletes take a break from working out, they almost do more damage to their bodies. Hours of practice and multiple practices a day can surely take a toll on the body. An athlete wouldn’t be an athlete if he or she didn’t complain on occasion about the “torture” that he or she endures.

The amount of physical activity that an athlete performs each day can be looked at as torture to some individuals because of how much effort they must put forth to excel in their sport.

Even during the offseason, athletes are required to condition. Doing this keeps their muscles and their minds fine-tuned to perform. The connection between the brain and muscles is actually really interesting. After long periods of time of inactivity, the body starts to feel sluggish and the brain feels foggy. It’s then hard to get motivated to do a whole lot of anything.

Now, think about how you feel after a good workout. Your body has recharged itself, and you feel like you can take on the world. There is so much technical mumbo jumbo about what is released, but to break it down into simpler terms, exercising just makes you feel better.

This brings me back to what happens during holiday breaks for athletes. The holiday break is a great time to relax and recharge, but the amount of work that has to be put forth after the break is almost worse than the daily “torture.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not up on my soapbox telling all athletes to continue their normal, full workout schedule during their holiday break; however, I am saying that doing a moderate form of exercise at least every other day will decrease the amount of conditioning that will be required after break.

Coaches will be much happier and athletes will not feel as though they have been put through the ringer when regular practices resume. I’m not an athlete, and I have no experience in this area personally, and to be honest, I need to be better about taking my own advice. But to be sure, staying physically active is important to everyone, not just athletes. Having a strong mind and body can help a person succeed better overall.

So enjoy your holiday break, but remember to push yourself a little bit.

It will pay off in the long run!

Dec. 11, 2012

BY HEIDI HANCOCK Spectator Sports Reporter

A

Alex Rivera is a sophomore at Western Nebraska Community College.

She plays volleyball for the Cougars. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13.

lex Rivera, a sophomore libero on the WNCC volleyball team, received the diagnosis that she had Type I diabetes when she was 13 years old.

A disease of this nature could have ended Rivera’s athletic career. However, thanks to having a strong family foundation, Rivera never considered giving up. She said her younger brother was also diagnosed with diabetes when he was just one year old.

“He was really sick, and it was a miracle that he came back to us,” she said.

Rivera has learned not only how to live with her disease but also how to overcome it. A big reason is her healthy lifestyle. She said her parents did an excellent job of teaching their children how to eat healthy, especially since Rivera and her brother had diabetes.

“When I was diagnosed, I didn’t feel like my life had changed a lot because there was always a healthy diet in my house,” she said.

Volleyball has been part of Rivera’s life for as long as she can

See Rivera, Page 6

WNCC women soar to No. 6 in national poll

{left) WNCC freshman Gritt Ryder plays defense on an Air Force Prep player during the Holiday Classic. WNCC has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the NJCAA poll. The women will return to action after the break on Jan. 7 against Northwest Kansas Technical College on the road. (above) Simone Evans brings the ball up the court during a game against Air Force Prep.

IN the HUDDLE: Shalisa Moffit

BY HEIDI HANCOCK Spectator Sports Reporter WNCC freshman forward and shooting guard Shalisa Moffit, of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been a big contributor for the Cougar women’s basketball team. Her decision to come to WNCC was easy, she said. The Cougars, who are off to a 14-0 start, are ranked in the top 10 in the NJCAA national poll.

Q: Why did you choose to come to WNCC? SM: This was the only option that I had; this was a full ride. I really liked the town when I visited.

Q: What other schools did you look at?

SM: Otero, NJC, and CSU-Pueblo.

Q: What is your major?

SM: Athletic training Q: How do you feel your season has gone so far?

SM: I think it is going good. Beating Casper was great!

WNCC Freshman Shalisa Moffit dribbles down the ball during a game against Casper College on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Q: What do you think is the team’s strength?

SM: Our defense is really what we rely on.

SM: Just chill with the teammates; there isn’t really anything else to do. I like to go to the movies.

Q: What have you enjoyed most so far about going to WNCC? SM: Getting to know new people. My basketball coach, Coach Harnish, is a good coach!

Q: What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

SM: Mint chocolate chip

Q: What do you like to do for fun when you are not playing?

Q: Who’s your biggest inspiration in life?

SM: My dad!

Sports

Dec. 11, 2012 — Page 6

Kinesio tape: The tape that has revolutionized Don’t feel limited to running injury treatment on physical therapy indoors during Physical therapists and athletes have found a more effective and inexpensive way to treat sports injuries

the winter

BY ABNER PIZANO Spectator Commentary Did you watch the Olympics this summer? If so, did you notice how many of the athletes that participated had pink or bright blue tape on their bodies.

Many probably thought, “What is wrong with those people?” Why are they wearing a piece of tape? These athletes are not making a fashion statement, or trying to set a fashion trend. They are using this for a sense of relief caused by pain from injuries.

Among those athletes who use this tape are German beach volleyball player Katrin Holtwick, MMA fighter Scott “The Animal” Heckman, USA volleyball player Kerri Walsch, USA 200 runner Wallace Spearmon, professional tennis player Novak Djokovic, and many others.

This tape is an athletic tape called Kinesio tape that some people refer to as KT tape, or Kinesiology tape.

This is a strip that is made of cotton. This tape is really elastic and it has an acrylic adhesive. This athletic tape is used for treating athletic injuries and a variety of physical disorders.

For example, let’s say that you have finished playing tennis and now your shoulder hurts, or the last time that you went out for a run you twisted your ankle. You could try spending lots of money on pain medications and physical therapy, or a person could try wearing a brace, but this tape works for all those injuries.

“The way it works is how it is applied, so if I want to tell the muscle to relax I put a reverse stretch on, which tends to lighten the muscle. It also works through sensory organs in the muscle that sense stretch. On the other hand, if I want to tell the muscle to get tighter or to work more, I put a stretch from where it starts to where it ends, and that recoil of the tape tells the muscle to tighten up or to tone up,” Michael Moravec, who

MVC Most Valuable Cougar

Willie Mangum

Photo by Haley Paxton

Kayla Romey waits as WNCC athletic trainer Doug Jones tapes her arm with Kinesio tape before practice. is a physical therapist at Monument Physical Therapy, said.

This is a good alternative to all those expensive medications and annoying braces, and it’s scientifically proven and tested by athletes, and it has been used by many people not only in the sports industry but also people in general. It not only looks cool on you, but it provides you with a sense of relief for about 15 days, and even better, it’s water proof, so you won’t have to take it off to take a shower or go swimming. The best thing about this tape is that you can wear it anywhere where it hurts your neck, foot, wrist, shoulder, back, ankle, or knee. This is how convenient this tape is.

Dr. Kenzo Kase developed this tape in the 1970s.

“It got popular in the last 10 years,” Moravec said. “This was developed because people would go to a clinic to get worked on, and then they will get better, and feel better, and a few days later they didn’t do anything for themselves like their exercises. They would come back and be the way they were before. So this doctor developed this tape in which there is no medicine, no nothing to it, and he figured out ways to put it on just like taking his hands, putting them on that person, and sending them out the door. So that’s the way he kind of wanted to develop it.”

Rivera Continued from page 5 remember. Her mother played professionally in Puerto Rico.

“My first time in volleyball was when I was five years old,” Rivera noted.

Being active is very important not only to Rivera but also to her whole family. Following closely in his big sister’s footsteps, Rivera’s brother, Raul , is a successful men’s volleyball player in Puerto Rico and is being recruited by a number of colleges in the United States.

Alex said overcoming the stereotypes associated with diabetes was one of her first steps in getting past the disease.

“I had to accept that I had diabetes, but that I wasn’t diabetes.

I was still Alex, and I was more than [the disease],” she said.

Because of her experience with diabetes, Rivera is passionate about showing people that they do not have to submit to a disease — anyone can rise above it. She wants to let people know that although it is easy to give up, overcoming challenges is far more rewarding. Learning to control diabetes rather than letting it

WNCC sophomore Alex Rivera dives to save the ball during a game against Iowa Western during the National Tournament on Nov . 15-17. control her has been her primary goal.

Not everyone knows what to expect from someone who has diabetes, but Rivera’s Cougar teammates and coaches went out of their way to make sure they knew how to support her. In addition, her family has always been her biggest support group, and she attributes her success in life to them. One of her biggest influences in life has been her brother, Raul.

“He still fights, and he makes me feel like I’m never alone,” Rivera said.

Even though she has diabetes,

Rivera always stays positive and doesn’t allow the disease to define who she is on the court or in her everyday life. She firmly believes that she can do anything if she puts her mind to it.

“People will be successful if they believe they can do it,” she said. “If you have a condition, that doesn’t mean that you are a condition; it means you are a human being with talents and dreams and hopes and strength, and you can fight for whatever you want.”

Rivera added, “It is all about believing in yourself and believing that you can do it.”

The best thing about running is that it is one of the few sports that you can practice all year around. However, when that time of the year comes in which there is less daylight and the cold weather hits, many people tend to stop exercising as much as they did in the summer or in past years.

But when it’s cold outside, that doesn’t mean that you have to spend the whole winter season hibernating inside your house. Running in cold weather can be a fun, healthy and safe activity, and it doesn’t require fancy gear, equipment or techniques. All Abner Pizano you need to do Spectator is follow these Columnist tips: 1) Dress appropriately. When it’s cold, don’t overdress. Try to wear layers. Your bottom layer should be a thin layer made of material that will keep the sweat away from your body. If you wear a shirt that’s made of cotton, this will not help you. If you feel like you’re going to be too cool, you could always wear a thicker layer on top of your shirt that will insulate you from the heat and cold. Try to wear an outer layer that it is made of nylon so it is breathable. Do not forget about your head and feet.

Most of the heat that your body loses is through your head, so wearing a knit hat is always a good idea. For your feet, you could wear cotton socks, but I suggest wearing wool socks. This will keep your feet warm even if your feet are wet since wool socks have better insulation. Also, always layer up the extremities of your body, such as hands, ears, and toes, to avoid frostbite.

2) Warm up before the run.

Warming up is always important and even more so during cold weather. The winter season is the best time to warm up inside your house rather than outside. Move around, use a jump rope, or even do some yoga positions. The main thing is to keep blood flowing through your body without breaking a sweat.

3) Lower the intensity of your workout/run. Humans handle warm weather better than cold weather. So, you cannot expect to do the same quality and quantity of training in cold conditions.

See Running page 8

Cougar Scoreboard

Willie Mangum is a freshman from Richmond, Va., where he was one of the top scorers in the state. Mangum is currently averaging around 18 points a game for the 4-5 Cougars and has had a number of 30-point games for the season.

Handling the ball with determination WNCC freshman Youssoupha Kane handles the ball during a game against Northwest Kansas Technical College on Dec. 7.

Sport: Basketball Grade: Freshman Major: General studies

11/16-17 @ CWC Tourney Won 80-48 — Central Wyoming Won 68-43 — Miles C.C. Won 72-42 — Casper College 11/29-30, 12/1 @ Prep Tourney Won 64-38 — Adams State Won 91-68 — Ft. Carson Won 90-36 — Air Force 12/6-8 Holiday Classic, home Won 94-47 — Colby Won 90-41 — Hastings Won 92-44 — Air Force 12/11 @ Colo. Christian JV 1/7 @ NW Kansas Tech

1/8 @ Lamar C.C. 1/11 McCook C.C., home 1/18 Trinidad State J.C., home 1/19 Otero J.C., home 1/22 Eastern Wyoming, home 1/26 @ Casper College 1/19 @ Northeastern J.C. 2/8 Lamar C.C.. home 2/9 Northeastern J.C., home 2/15 @ Otero J.C. 2/16 @ Trinidad State J.C. 2/19 @ McCook C.C. 2/21 @ Eastern Wyoming 2/27 NW Kansas Tech, home

Position: Combo guard Hobbies and interests: “Listen to music.”

Favorite movie: Game”

“He Got

Nickname: Willie Best part about going to WNCC: “Getting to be here with my two brothers, Tahir Little and Quante Cooley.”

By Heidi Hancock, Spectator Sports Reporter

Men’s Basketball Schedule 11/2-3 @ Gillette Classic Won 98-78 — Gillette College Lost 104-107 OT — Sheridan Lost 49 - 102 — @ South Plains 11/16-17 @ Reg. 9/18 Challenge Lost 67-68 — Southern Idaho Won 82-76 — Salt Lake CC Won 96-81 — Western Wyoming 11/27 CasperCollege, home Lost 74-95 — Casper College 11/30 @ Holiday Classic Won 65-61 — Gillette College 12/1 @ Holiday Classic Won 65-61 — Gillette College Lost 84-69 — Sheridan College Won 96-85 — Northwest Kansas 12/14-15 @ Northwest Classic 1/7 @ NW Kansas Tech 1/8 @ Lamar C.C. 1/11 McCook C.C., home 1/18 Trinidad State J.C., home

1/19 Otero J.C., home 1/22 Eastern Wyoming, home 1/26 @ Casper 1/29 @ Northeastern J.C. 1/31 @ Laramie County 2/2 @ North Platte C.C. 2/8 Lamar C.C., home 2/9 Northeastern J.C., home 2/12 Laramie County, home 2/15 @ Otero J.C. 2/16 @ Trinidad State J.C. 2/19 @ McCook C.C. 2/21 @ Eastern Wyoming 2/23 North Platte C.C., home

Women’s Basketball Schedule Won 88-29 — Nebraska All-stars 11/8-10 @ Colby Classic Won 62-24 — Colby C.C. Won 58-41 — Colorado Northwestern Won 75-40 — Hastings J.V. Won 96-31 — Colo. Christian JV,

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Entertainment Kandel Continued from page 1 her stuff. She gets the class involved. Her guidelines are strict, but not too hard to accomplish.”

If students are willing to work hard, Kandel will do everything she can to help them. To reiterate this point, she told one of her classes, “Nobody in college is trying to trip you up. Teachers are there to help you, not to push you down and run over you.”

That’s not to say that Kandel doesn’t push her students. She always expects their best effort.

That certainly became apparent to one of her students who turned in high-quality work but had a bad habit of not turning in assignments. In a witty exchange, Kandel asked him, “Does your foot hurt?” The student replied, “No, why would it?” She said, “Well, you keep shooting yourself in the foot by not turning in your work.”

Kandel was a middle child, born in Canton, Ohio, with three other siblings. She attended Edgefield Elementary School and later Glenwood High School, both in Ohio. After graduating from high school, she attended Colorado State University. She did her graduate work at both Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

After completing graduate school, Kandel landed her first teaching job at Dix Public School in the southern Nebraska Panhandle. She later went to work as a teacher in Gurley. When Gurley merged with Dalton, she was able to keep her teaching job. She eventually became the principal at Leyton High School. While she was the principal at Leyton, she raised the academic standards to better prepare students for college.

Kandel retired from Leyton Public Schools six years ago. She didn’t stay away from teaching for long, though, as she decided she wanted to teach at the college level. She said teaching in college is her “second act.”

Kandel said she enjoys teaching in college. And as long as she feels like she can help students, she plans to keep teaching.

Students at WNCC’s Sidney campus have responded to her excellent teaching by nominating her for Faculty of the Year. It’s not the first time she’s been recognized by her students. Her high school students had nominated her for the Golden Apple Award. She was surprised, she said, because she thinks math and English are students’ least favorite subjects.

Although Kandel doesn’t have a lot of free time because of all the classes she teaches, she does like to give individuals voice lessons when she has time. Her youngest student is a kindergartner and describes her as “adorable.” Kandel said she loves working with children.

Her other interests include reading, writing and making crafts. She also has participated in the Summer Theater and was in Dalton’s production of Oklahoma. She really enjoys music; in fact, one of her top memories was when she first appeared on stage to sing her first solo.

“I won!”

WNCC freshman Jonathan Ramirez Rodriguez reacts after being selected to go on stage after being hypnotized. The hypnotist performance was held in November at Pioneer Hall.

Dec. 11, 2012 — Page 7

17 years of PlayStation history battle it out Video Game Review

W

hen I heard that newly-formed SuperBot Entertainment was making a cross-over fighting game inspired by Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series, I was all over it.

Imagine: ALL of PlayStation’s BIGGEST characters and franchises since 1996 coming together in one game.

Such games are some of the biggest events in gaming, but many were outraged, accusing the game of copying the huge success of Nintendo’s Smash Bros. But rest assured, PlayStation All-Stars is as much a rip off as Mortal Kombat was of Street Fighter.

In other words, it’s not a rip off. Inspired, at best. In All-Stars, two to four characters battle it out on one stage, strategically using imaginative moves to outmaneuver your opponents on stage—that’s where the similarities end. Otherwise, it plays, feels and works nothing like Smash Bros.

I promise you—you’d be disappointed even if you hoped so.

In Smash Bros. the goal was to knock you opponent off the stage by increasing their damage percentage, making them more likely to fly off screen with harder hits called “Smash Attacks.” In All-Stars, every hit you land builds up your meter until it’s filled and you’re able to use a Super attack that can vanquish your opponent from the stage if used successfully. You can fill your meter three times, each time reaching a more devastating Super.

The Supers are hard to master, make the battles constantly unpredictable, and are really challenging to use at the right time. Skillful players can evade almost any of your Supers; any opponent can vanquish you with their own Super while you’re using yours; and

By Johnny “Krr’ej” Escamilla

an opponent can stop you from using it if they interrupt you in the first split-second of it.

Surprisingly, four-player battles are actually more fun in All-Stars since the more players you have to vanquish with your attention-hogging supers, the more satisfying it is—especially when you vanquish everyone off screen at once with one super-cunning tactic. In Smash Bros., four-player matches aren’t preferred because they have a tendency of turning into tedious dog-piles of players just beating on each other.

To my relief, however, oneon-one rivalries are just as fun as they are in Smash Bros. In that game, the fun was slowly building up the suspense as you and your opponent got so damaged that one good hit could send either of you flying off screen. In AllStars, you’re tense the entire time because one squandered Super could cost you everything, and getting vanquished by your rivals’ Super could come out of nowhere and happen at any time in a splitsecond. And if you and your rival are really good at evading each other’s Supers, the fight can last for a good 10 or even 20 minutes!

Most impressively, this game

is bursting with so much personality, and the moves are so ambitiously creative it actually makes Smash Bros. seem bland by comparison. Every character has multiple taunts, intros, outros, and costumes you can unlock and assign, and everyone has dozens of superbly written one-liners made for every situation that’ll have you laughing in every battle. The stages are even hilarious mash-ups of two franchises that each play out like a story of one franchise trying to take over the other. Stage hazards can also be turned off, so players won’t have to constantly play on the same plain stage like in Smash Bros. for uninterrupted one-on-one rivalries.

But the moves are what I’m talking about. They’re so creative that many of them change the landscape of the stages, and every character breaks at least one standard rule. You can fight invisibly the whole time you play as Sly Cooper; Ratchet uses his Suck Cannon to suck characters in and spit them out for his “grab”; every character’s Super involves the help of a supporting character from their game; and all of Sackboy’s moves are physics-based like his game and can use his pop-it

menu to “decorate” the stage with a string of flaming coal as the famous narrator from his game gives a one-liner. The designers did an astounding job of making the actual personality of each represented game a force to be reckoned with in battle.

Each character’s story is also very cleverly ambiguous in a way that can be taken seriously.

It always starts with them “leaving to go on a journey” for a very understandable and even fascinating reason where they’re expecting to “meet other formidable foes,” leading to a very juicy cinematic of them having a heated confrontation with another franchise’s character. Everything else in the story, however, is told with rendered stills, which is disappointing but strangely satisfying in how well they capture the soul of the game and the character they’re about.

All Stars, in my opinion, is an amazing game and one I’ll be playing for years (especially since you can download it for free on the portable PlayStation Vita, which is identical to the console version).

And in many ways for now, it’s a superior fighting game to Smash Bros.

The only thing that keeps it from a perfect score is the fact that other than what I mentioned, there’s not much else to do (other than the plenty of modes for playing online that work amazingly).

There’s hardly any fun collectables, and the trail challenges are kind of dull and uninspired. But what All-Stars does have going for it deserves nothing less than an exceptional score.

Grade: A-

And the game of the semester is...

T

here’s many ways I could choose The Spectator’s “Game of the Semester.”

The game that I enjoyed the most? The game I’m still playing the most? The game that was the “biggest and baddest”?

What I ended up choosing was the game that most audaciously challenged the definition of what

Video Game Review

By Johnny “Krr’ej” Escamilla a video game was: Thatgamecompany’s Journey, which I reviewed in our Sept. 18 issue.

I’ve never played a game that I’m able to look back on and feel like I understand the significance

of my life a little better as well as the meaning my life-journey and eventual death will carry.

This is something no other medium can do: affect you in the most personal way by allowing you, not a character, to experience a whole new state of being in a whole new world that’s different for every individual who experi-

ences it. And afterward, leave you with the memory of an experience you could have never had in life otherwise.

As I wrote at the beginning of this semester, video games are evolving into the greatest form of human expression ever produced.

I know it. I’ve experienced it. I’ve lived it.

‘Wreck it Ralph’ fixes Disney’s losing streak

I

write reviews about games.

Sometimes I write reviews about movies. So, it’s pretty fitting that I’m writing a review about a movie about games, don’t you think?

Either way, one thing I thought about when I saw that this movie was coming out of Disney was how the has-been story teller was going to wreck, Ralph-style, another ingenious premise. Nothing ground-breaking has come from them in what feels like two decades, but with a new director making his debut, I decided that it might be worth a few tokens to play, err, watch.

I asked myself. Could they play off the premise of a “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” for gamers? Would there be an obvious bias toward retro games, implying that newer games were just violent and breast-physics? (Yes, that’s a term.) Would there be another romantic interest shoehorned into this one? How many questions am I going to ask in this paragraph? I dunno, maybe five?

Ralph is a bad guy, and he

has to stick to the programming and be resented (and unappreciated) for it. In fact, it’s his job like everyone else at the arcade, for when the arcade isn’t open and the machines aren’t played, everyone exits out the back cord of their cabinets and meets in a grand station to get ready for another day at work, keeping their cabinets played and on the floor. Like a Monsters Inc. Johnny for games!

Escamilla In Movie time, Ralph Review leaves his game to prove that a bad guy can be appreciated, too, and soon meets a girl-avatar who dreams of being a selectable-racer in a candythemed go-kart game that can’t be because she’s a glitch — who becomes a very likable character despite how she comes off in the trailers.

Now this is the first dis-

tinction. This is a game about the arcade, not video games in general. And dang, does the new director pull it off like a boss. No Disney movie has ever been so “Pixar” than this one. Bringing to life a world we never thought to imagine before. In fact, this may be the best movie that’s come out of Disney in nearly two decades.

The world is so witty and fleshed out, and there are too many references to catch the first time around. From how serious the arcade characters take the dreaded “Out of Order” sign taped on their window to how the movie uses game concepts as crucial story elements like resetting the game to stop a virus or not respawning if you die outside your own game.

But this brings me to the first downside. Only half the movie is like this as the entire second half takes place in the candy-themed go-kart game with few references, which is actually pretty disappointing.

But another strength of the movie is how genuine the emo-

tion is in it, including one scene that was so chillingly cold that I was shedding pixilated tears. The story also had some of the best plot structure and twists in any Disney movie ever, including one big one I never saw coming, like running out of quarters.

Truly, the movie at a few points made me question how it could all possibly come together, but it did! And in the most perfect and inventive way. Which leads to my biggest gripe, for in true Disney fashion, the epilogue after the closure handed out a perfect “everyone fell in love and got married” type of fate to practically EVERY character. That really spoiled the mood, overdid it and sweetened the deal like pouring a bag of sugar on a hotfudge Sunday.

But after it was “Thank You for Playing!,” I must admit, Disney scored some bonus points with me, and I’m really interested to see what they buy with the tickets they won from this play on new creative talent. See you next round, Disney.

The Spectator is looking for writers and photographers for the second semester.

Working for the college newspaper can help you learn to manage your time, meet new people, and improve your writing skills.

If interested, contact Spectator advisor Jeff Fielder at jfielder77@yahoo.com.

Backpage

Dec. 11, 2012 — Page 8

Big change going from Niger to America F

adouma Kader, originally from Niamey Niger, has found herself in the middle of finals week at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff. With an aunt and uncle living in Scottsbluff, Kader has traveled from West Africa to further her education in the United States.

An ocean away from her home, Kader laughed and rolled her eyes as she explained how lots of people in the United States think that Niger is a tiny poor country. “Its 1,267,000 square kilometers,” Kader said wide-eyed, “It’s a very large country.”

Niger, located in the center of West Africa, is officially the Republic of Niger and named after the Niger River. Bordering seven different countries and with more than 15 million residence Niger’s Capital city is Niamey, located in the southwest corner of the nation. With such a large land

International Country Spotlight: Niger

By Alexandria Moree

mass the population of the country is rather small, this is because almost 80 percent of the country is covered with the Sahara desert, hence the clustering of cities and people.

Due to the fact that most of

the country is covered in a desert, the cultivated and city areas of Niger routinely suffer from severe droughts. While Niger, in the eyes of some Americans, is thought to be a warring country, Kader explains that Niger has experienced

more peace time than war time.

Niamey, the capital is the must visited city of Niger. While Niamey was originally founded in the mid 18th century and it held little importance to the rest of the country until the French developed a trading post in the late 1800s.

Naturally, with such a heavy European influence present in the city, French became and remains the official language of Niger.

“The majority of the people in Niger speak French, but we also have several local languages that people speak,” Kader said.

A thriving city with more than 1.3 million residence Niamey is the bustling political hub of the country. “Lots of people have cars,” Kader says, “but we take taxi’s a lot, they are very cheap.” Kader continued to explain that taxis and family cars

are the main forms of transportation in Niamey.

When questioned about the local cuisine, Kader said that, “We always eat together, always.”

Rice, couscous and cooked meats are the heart of Nigerian cuisine and are generally served with a local bread, similar to a French bread. While there are grocery stores, the vast majority of the city prefers to do its shopping at local outdoor markets, where the produce is exquisitely fresh.

As most of the population of Niamey is Muslim, Kader noted that the two major holiday celebrations of the country are Tabaski and Ramadan, both very important Islamic holidays.

If ever there was a time to visit Niger or Niamey during one of these holidays would undoubtedly be it.

Horror movies are a lot different now compared to a decade ago

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less successful films from the land of the rising—yeah, you get it. A dreaded phone call in which you listened to your moment of death (One Missed Call), a viral plague of ghosts that infected the internet and drove masses of people to commit suicide on their webcams (Pulse), etc. The point?

Horror was getting creative again.

And then came the pioneer from a Film Festival that chained us to a pipe in a disgusting bathroom until we were forced to saw our own foot off (SAW).

Dividing horror goers into two—literally: Half thought of it as nothing more than a gross-out while others saw it as a thrilling and chilling reinvention of horror.

Others followed suit, exposing us to levels of fearsome brutality, and ransom and torture that made us tense, cringe and keep our appendages in close proximity.

SAW also introduced a whole new moral undertone to the genre that had never been there before.

We saw chainsaws cleaving through people (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), silent but murderous faceless families holding victims ransom (The Strangers), brutal, mutated people capturing

back-road travelers (The Hills Have Eyes), and movies that took inspiration straight from SAW (Hostel). This is also when my favorite horror franchise jumped on the bandwagon and killed everyone on board in a gruesome predestined pileup (Final Destination). It’s a series about people who are able to avoid and cheat their predestined deaths via premonition and then who are hunted by death itself—being killed one by one in fated, freak accidents in the order they were supposed to die in!

In a way, the murderous horror from the classic slasher era found its way back into the genre. But just when you thought you were safe in bed after the movie, another film festival hit made you wonder

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previous decade, and in no other story have I been more in the mood for puns. Oh, the horror!

Coming out of the ’90s, it was all about a machetewielding slaughterer with a hockeymask (Friday the 13 th), a sadistic murderous stalker in our dreams (Nightmare on Elm Street), and an unfeeling Johnny doll intent Escamilla on stabbing Video Game the life out Review of everyone (Chucky). Slasher and horror were synonymous with each other.

But with the turn of the century came a new clammy foreign touch straight (in a contorted way) from Japan.

Horror, like a zombie with dreams and ambitions, never looked back. A faceless, long-haired girl clawed out of our TVs after watching a disturbing VCR tape (The Ring); and we saw a croaking Asian woman with a snapped neck and a limp head crawling down the steps (The Grudge).

We also saw a slew of other

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ow that we’ve finished another season of horror movies, it’s fun to look back. Not just back at this season, but back at how much horror has changed in the last 10 years. In fact, there may be no genre that’s as fun to look back at in retrospect than horror.

Unlike other movie genres, horror has to constantly change because we so easily grow tired of old spooks that don’t scare us anymore.

How easy it is for an audience to go from shrieking in its seats to making obnoxious jokes at the screen. Face the hockey-masked truth—it takes more than guts to be a director in the horror movie business.

What was once the house (haunted, of course) built

by Frankenstein, Dracula and the Wolfman is now a genre of contortioned bodies bent backward scurrying across the floor (The Unborn), fingers crawling out of throats (The Exorcism), rusty ticking bear-trap-like machines tied to people’s jaws threatening to tear them open (Saw), etc.

Horror is excitingly unpredictable and constantly in evolution.

But in no other decade has horror jumped ghost-ship as many times as it has in the

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what happened while you slept (Paranormal Activity).

Horror for the first time was made to be as real as the things that go “bump” in the night. Filming done to look like real, recovered footage was cruelly ingenious and revolutionized the genre again.

Other great sleepless flicks followed (Paranormal Entity) and even ones that made you question if aliens were visiting you in your bedroom at night (The Fourth Kind).

But also what Paranormal Activity started was an explosion of films that played on the religious sensitivities of our minds; demonic possession and demons have never been so popular. Jewish demons that sought to be born by possessing human fetuses (The Unborn); demons that sought to possess children who sleep too deeply (Insidious); and demonic apocalypses that sought to possess all of humanity and throw it into chaos (The Devil Inside).

This is where horror is now. In no other genre has its evolution been so apparent and fascinating, and where it’ll take us from here remains to be seen — perhaps as ambiguous and mysterious as the deepest, darkest parts of our human psyches, and yes, as the unknown itself.

Running Continued from Page 6 During the winter, your runs should be more focused on maintenance miles rather than speed miles.

4) Be careful where you step. Running in the snow can be fun; however, you have to be aware of ice. Running on surfaces free of snow and ice is the best thing you can do.

Also, make sure you go very slowly when turning corners and be careful on icy surfaces. Don’t worry about losing fitness by running a bit slower.

Instead, focus on getting through the run without injuring yourself from a fall.

When there’s too much ice or snow on the ground, this can be dangerous, so I would advise you to consider using a treadmill instead.

5) Hydrate. When running in cold weather, you may not be aware of how much you’re sweating.

It is really important that you hydrate appropriately before, during and after a run.

This will help you be hydrated at all times.