CHRONICLE Richland
Vol. XLII Issue 7 Oct. 6, 2015
Return of an Olympian Pg. 3
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2 CAMPUS
October 6, 2015
THE FACES OF RICHLAND
Ebony Nickerson: Helping students find jobs AHLAM MARYAM AL MAHROOQ Staff Writer
Staff photo Isai Diaz
Nickerson helps students with their résumés.
Students looking for a job in their field should be prepared for any questions about their résumé at the Job Fair on Oct. 28. Richland’s Career Services office is helping students find jobs by hosting 60 employers who will discuss offers and opportunities with students looking for jobs in their field of interest. If they need any help with preparations, students can go to Career Services in El Paso Hall for help. Ebony Nickerson, a senior career planning specialist and president of the African American Connection, has been at Richland since 2011. Nickerson is in charge of guiding students through the process of searching for job opportunities and internships by preparing them with interview skills and résumé help. Nickerson graduated in 2004 with a psychology degree from the University of Mississippi, although she was also interested in computer science and had worked for the Army National Guard in Mississippi. She discovered her primary interest was in
counseling and working with people. “I have visited the campus by accident and immediately felt connections with the college by walking into the campus,” Nickerson said. Her counseling program required an internship. Although she had a couple of choices, she drove down the wrong street and found herself by accident at Richland. She found the campus
“Communication and personal skills ... are important because students have to be willing to work with anybody.” — Ebony Nickerson very beautiful, and when the internship finished, she started working part-time in 2011 then transferred to a full-time job in 2013.
Nickerson and her team have an online job website titled Nacelink and enter positions into the job bank every day. It’s an opportunity for a student who is a community member to have access to a job, not financial aid. Career Services only provides students with information about off–campus jobs. The team helps in applying via the job links, and students have access to thousands of jobs. It also helps students with interview skills and resumes. They help students prepare for any job opportunity. Work is offered based on the number of credit hours a student is taking and if the job fits their schedule. Nickerson said in order to have a good job, students should be networking with others like instructors, Richland staff and other students. “Communication and personal skills, as well as understanding diversity, are important because students have to be willing to work with anybody,” she said. Nickerson usually helps students apply and gives them one or two months to do research on their majors, if they are interested. Nickerson said she focuses on creating job opportunities and making the application process for jobs and internships easier.
Poppies for soldiers - touching the heart
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Staff photos Blanca Reyes
Dr. Kay Eggleston makes a white poppy for a nurse who died in World War I.
Inspired by Paul Cummings’ installation of 888,246 ceramic poppies (one for each fallen British soldier during World War I), lead ceramics professor Jennifer Rose and history professor Clive Siegel came up with an idea of making 5,171 clay poppies to pay tribute to every soldier from Texas killed during World War I. According to Rose, the last similar project was
in 2012, when 300 ceramic birds were installed in the cafeteria. This project, however, is a lot bigger. About $8,000 was collected from fundraisers and donors like State Farm Insurance and the City of Garland. The installation will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, on the bank of the lake, close to Fannin Hall. Afterward, the poppies will be sold for $10 each. The money raised will go to Puppies Behind Bars. The organization trains inmates to raise service dogs from rescued puppies for wounded veterans. Thunderducks interested in participating in this project can go to the ceramics department, which is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for this activity. In addition to the 5,171 soldiers, a nurse was also killed from Texas during World War I. Dr. Kay Eggleston, Richland’s president, whose undergraduate and masters degrees are in nursing, came to the ceramic department Friday to make a white poppy in honor of that nurse. — Bel Khuu
S October 6, 2015
CAMPUS 3
Former Olympic wrestler comes back home BLANCA REYES Photography Editor
Evan Bernstein, former Thunderduck and Olympic wrestler, visited Richland and shared some of his experiences with the students of the wrestling class last week. Bernstein was invited by Bill Neal, who is the current instructor of the class. Neal was Bernstein’s trainer as well. Bernstein attended Richland in the late '70s when the wrestling program was at its peak. “At one time, they had a really good program,” Bernstein said. Bernstein added the team at that time competed with major universities such as The University of Texas and Texas Tech. “We used to beat them pretty good,” Bernstein said At that time, Neal coached at the Olympic training center, and he managed to get Bernstein there to practice in a higher level. “If you want to be at the top, you have to rub elbows with people at the top,” Neal said. After finishing at Richland, Bernstein transferred to The University of Minnesota, where he kept wrestling and competing in
Olympic trials. Bernstein tried out for the U.S. Olympic team and placed third in the trials. Since he was not able to be part of the U.S. team, he moved to Israel to try out for its team. Since he has dual citizenship, Bernstein wrestled for Israel at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He did not win a medal. “It was my dream come true. I made a commitment to myself one year and I said ‘I’m going to the Olympics.’ And I did everything I could in order to get there,” Bernstein said. “Coach Neal, actually, is a big factor in getting me there.” Remembering the support Neal gave to this former Olympic wrestler, he agreed to come here to spend time with the students to help regain the school’s status in the sport. “You have the potential here to really produce national champions,” Bernstein said. “He [Neal] is the guy who can do that.” Neal plans to have more former Richland wrestlers return to motivate the students. If you want something, you have to make a comminment,” Bernstein said. For more information about the wrestling class, stop by Neal’s office in Guadalupe Hall, Room G122, or call 972-238-6267.
Staff photos Blanca Reyes
Evan Bernstein talks to a wrestling class about his experiences as an Olympic wrestler.
Greg Weasah, front, and Marcellus Lewis practice some of the moves in wrestling class.
BLANCA REYES Photography Editor
“It is a sport for all kids, regardless of their size, weight, ethnicity, challenges and stage in
life,” instructor Bill Neal said about wrestling class. Freshman Greg Weasah recently joined the wrestling class to keep practicing one of his favorite sports. Weasah faces a few more challenges than
his classmates. He has partial paralysis in an arm and leg. However, it has never prevented him from reaching his goal. “Wrestling is a sport where you can go there and just make friends,” Weasah said. Weasah started wrestling four years ago in
high school. He said at the beginning he was not sure about wrestling, but after winning his first match, he could not get enough. “Greg wrestled at Lake Highlands High School, and a number of Lake Highlands wrestlers are in our class,” Neal said. Weasah started in the disability programs at Richland, but because they do not currently have a wrestling program, he got involved in Neal’s class as soon as he heard about it. “The thing about wrestlers is that they never get wrestling out of their system. They are always looking for wrestling opportunities,” Neal said. “I like wrestling. I love the atmosphere. It’s fun. It’s creative. It’s good,” Weasah said. One of Weasah’s goals is making wrestling more popular than it is now. Wrestling not only makes you stronger physically, but emotionally and mentally as well, he said. “If you learn the moves … you can do anything,” Weasah said. “We can make it as big as football, and I think that is what we are doing now.” Weasah added that since the first moment he joined the class, he felt he was instantly integrated into the team. Neal said there is no special treatment for Weasah. He trains as hard as anyone else. In fact, since he has previous experience, Weasah helps those starting out in wrestling. “It is a community sport where respect, admiration and self-confidence are modeled,” Neal said. “Greg is what we are all about.” “They welcomed me with open arms,” Weasah said.
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Fighting life’s challenges in a wrestling classroom
4 ENTERTAINMENT
October 6, 2015
‘The Martian’: Survival of the fittest RICKY MILLER Entertainment Editor
Matt Damon has occupied a role similar to “The Martian” before. In Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi opus “Interstellar,” he was unhinged astronaut Dr. Mann. He was part of a space team on the Lazarus mission, which explored life in a different universe and solar system altogether. For all intents and purposes, like the evil HAL 9000 in the overrated “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Damon was the antagonist of the story. No complaints from me. I had it as No. 2 of my 10 Best that year. In director Ridley Scott’s “The Martian,” Damon’s role as astronaut Mark Watney is that of a man who gets left behind. It’s like Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” in which our hero, once thought to be dead, is alive and well and living life to the fullest. The storyline picks up where he is consumed by loneliness, but with a strong will to engineer “the #$!% out of the planet” and
just survive. Scott is back in form with this tale that is also rooted in reality. “The Martian” comes courtesy of screenwriter Andy Weir (who also wrote the book) and Drew Goddard, who wrote and directed the guilty pleasure stylings of 2012’s horror thriller “The Cabin in the Woods” (Grade: B-). For those fellow students and teachers who do not think I read, when I was younger I read the adaptations of “The Hunt For Red October” as well as “Kiss the Girls.” I tried, but at this point in my life, I just stopped caring. Wrong of me to say it in that way, but when it comes to the movie, it usually rests in the director’s hands. Jessica Chastain’s Jessica Lewis, who feels awful about leaving Watney behind, has a strong sense of regret on her conscience. It was cool to see Donald Glover (“Magic Mike XXL”) in a part with some substance. He is Rich Purnell, a student who has the idea of picking up Mark in some sort of slingshot rendezvous. Also drawing significant screen time are Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara, Chiwetel Ejiofor
and Michael Peña. “The Martian” is a definite must-see for the big screen. It draws you in from the very first scene until its well-defined ending. Grade: A
Images courtesy fandango.com
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Space odyssey #%!# breaks loose in ‘The Martian’ novel VINCENT LEAL Staff Writer
Many science fiction novels today have to do with a dystopian society in which a character must discover his or her purpose on why they were put in a maze or why they’re fighting in these particular survival games ...YAWN! Whatever happened to science fiction novels that had originality, novels that didn’t have to do with dystopian societies? Most of today’s science-fiction authors just keep kicking a dead horse. Back when our parents were children, there were books mainly about space odysseys and humans fighting alien invasions. That is exactly the point of “The Martian” by Andy Weir. It’s not about “dystopian societies,” but a space odyssey!
Imagine you and three other astronauts are assigned a mission to Mars. While you are making new discoveries on this silent red desert planet, your mission is interrupted abruptly by a deadly sandstorm. As your captain tries to reach out to grab your hand, you are swept away by a huge piece of debris. All of a sudden you wake up, your suit is covered in red sand and you hear nothing. You were presumed dead by your crew and left with a limited supply of food, water and oxygen. In “The Martian,” that exact scenario unfolds around astronaut Mark Watney, who was inadvertenty abandoned by his crew as they escaped a terrible sandstorm. Watney’s botany, engineering and chemistry skills are put to the test as he tries to survive on the red, desolate planet Mars. The story is mainly told in the first person. The book consists
mainly of diary entries written by Watney himself. However the story switches from the first-person diary entries to third person. Two big factors that make this book so awesome are the humor and scientific accuracy. Sarcasm and potty-humor are what helps Watney make his situation a little more tolerable. Also, all of the scientific tasks Mark Watney performs, like making his own water, are scientifically accurate. Weir is an expert at both. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading novels about space, good survival stories or books that are full of sarcastic humor. I also recommend it to anybody who is just looking for an awesome book. It is best to say “The Martian” fits all of those categories. Let’s just hope the movie, starring Matt Damon, is promising and true to the book.
Image courtesy andyweirauthor.com
October 6, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT/COLUMN 5
JOE STUMPO
Online Editor
Photo illustration Quan Tran
The drama “Comes the Storm” takes place in a South Texas bar in Houston.
Mysterious murder + misplaced money = something really wicked JOYCE JACKSON Copy Editor
What do you get when you combine a run– down Texas bar, a severe snowstorm and a murder? The answer lies in a new Texas crime-drama titled, “Comes the Storm,” where a strange group of characters congregates as friends until someone ends up dead. Richland Drama Department Chair Andy Long said he wrote the play this summer and chose a Texas setting because he was born and raised here. Events from his past played a large role in inspiring him to write it. “When I was in my 20s, I lived in Deep Ellum and I was working primarily as a professional comedian, traveling all over the country,” Long said. Right behind his loft apartment was a 50-year-old Texas bar. “It was just the most run-down dive of a bar where the same people came every day,” he said. “And I would go in there, and I would nurse a beer for about an hour ... and just listen to these people talk. It was kind of inspiring. ” Long said as he was writing “Storm” his memories of that bar, how it looked and the people in it, helped him create his cast of characters: Two young married couples, Tim and Ida and Frankie and Carla, and a lonely single outsider named Martin, who had no place to live. He settled at the bar several years
Staff photo Ryan Derenbecker
Carter Brown rehearses the role of Martin.
ago and never left. “Martin is very pure in spirit. He’s harmless. He has outbursts where he screams at people a couple of times in the play, but it’s his lack of control of emotion,” Long said. “He is a religious figure. He is that helpless part of our society that’s the pure. “We have a lot of people in our culture who are lost that way,” Long said. “You talk to them and when you’re lost, one of the things that a lot of people rely on is religion. And Martin relies on that,” he said. Long, who said he periodically reads parts of the Bible, was loosely inspired by his re-reading the book of Job and found it to be horrible. “There’s this guy that loves God so much and so God allows the devil to put him through the worst torturous events that any human being could suffer – his children being killed,” Long said. “I mean, all of these terrible things – just to prove how much he loves God. It got me thinking about the way humans treat each other.” The play takes place in a South Texas bar in a suburb of Houston, Long said. “The piano was last tuned during the Carter administration. The bar is comprised of pieces of wood that pretends to be oak and smoke stains from years of cigarette smoke,” Long said. “Into this little world stumbles a large amount of money and a crime. It brings about in this trapped little petri dish the perfect storm of helplessness and violence. It brings into question when is enough, enough?” Six drama students from Long’s classes are in “Storm.” Raied Makhamreh portrays Tim. Mieko Hicks is Ida. Jabin Lewis plays Frankie. Audrey Clark takes on Carla. Carter Brown plays Martin and Eric Obregon, in his first role at Richland, is Detective Padilla. As the plot develops and one of the characters is murdered violently, the others discover a huge duffel bag from the victim – loaded with money. That’s when they start changing their attitude. Who gets the money? Does one of them claim it, or are they all going to divide it up equally? That’s when the stern Detective Padilla takes over the case to investigate. Find out how this Texas drama ends when “Storm” begins its run at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday in the Fannin Peformance Hall, Room F102.
It happened on a Monday night. The date was Dec. 8, 1980. For some, it was the day the music died. This December will mark the 35th anniversary of the day former Beatle/songwriter John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan outside the gates of the Dakota Apartments in New York City. He and his wife, Yoko Ono, were returning home from a recording studio. Lennon would have turned 75 this year on Oct. 9. Rock star Sheryl Crow and actor/comedian Mike Myers, according to a retrospective article on Lennon in the Nov. 9 2000, issue of Rolling Stone, heard about the singer’s assassination watching “Monday Night Football” when sportscaster Howard Cosell made the shocking announcement to TV viewers. I found out the next morning from my dad as I was getting ready for school. I remembered hearing Beatles’ songs like “Yesterday” on the radio the morning after the singer’s death and seeing hour-long newscasts and specials covering the life of the late Beatle on TV that night. I also recall reading various newspaper articles about fans who were so distraught by John Lennon the tragic news they committed suicide. Some fans of Nirvana repeated that same senseless act 14 years later when they found out the group’s lead singer, Kurt Cobain, killed himself. Lennon came out of seclusion in 1980 with his comeback album “Double Fantasy” after devoting the last half of the ‘70s to raising his son, Sean. Some of the music he wrote after the Beatles broke up in 1970 was as much about him as they were about others. “Jealous Guy” made obvious references to Lennon’s relationship with his second wife, Yoko, while “Cold Turkey” spoke of his battle with drugs. Then there was “Beautiful Boy,” which Lennon wrote as a tribute to his son. A couple of Beatles’ songs, however, like “Julia” were about his mother, whom Lennon lost when she died in an auto accident in 1958 “The Ballad of John and Yoko” talked about the two as a couple. Listening to some of Lennon’s best hits on disc, I have often felt as though some of his lyrics described me, like in the song, “Watch-
ing the Wheels.” The lyrics go “People say I’m crazy doing what I’m doing. Well, they give me all kinds of advice to save me from ruin ... I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch them roll, no longer hide behind the merry-go-round, I just have to let it go.” I am sure someone else will interpret those lyrics differently, but for me they seem to say, “Look, you’re getting older now, so stop wasting time.” Then there’s “Borrowed Time,” which came out in 1984. The lyrics talk about how one’s young carefree days never last forever. “My role in society, or any artist or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel,” the singer was quoted saying in the 1988 book, “Imagine: John Lennon.” I was in fifth grade when Lennon was killed. I wasn’t old enough to realize what his death would mean. For older fans, who remember when the Beatles first came to America in 1964 and grew up listening to their songs, the death of Lennon dashed any hopes, if there were any, of a possible reunion. That notion finally hit me in 1995 when the three surviving members of the Fab Four, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, came together to record their first Beatles song in Image courtesy nydailynews.com 15 years titled “Free As A Bird.” The song was part of an unfinished lyric Lennon recorded on cassette tape back in the late ‘70s. When it comes to the subject of Lennon and the Beatles, there is always that lingering question. If Lennon had lived, would the Beatles have gotten together again? The question is like pondering whether or not President John F. Kennedy would have pulled American troops out of Vietnam in 1964, had he lived to see a second term. What I do know is if Lennon were around today, it’s a good bet he’d have a lot to say about many current events over the past three decades, in particular about 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of which he probably would have written about in songs. Lennon was my generation’s JFK. His passing brings to mind the opening line from the Beatles’ lyric, “A Day In The Life” and was the last song on the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. The line was, “I read the news today oh boy ...”
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Columnist remembers a day that the music died
October 6, 2015
6 CAMPUS
Be aware of motorcycles on campus ANGELA MARTINEZ Staff Writer
You may have noticed there are more than just cars, trucks and SUVs in the Richland parking lots. Motorcycles can be seen parked in spots around campus that are marked by yellow stripes or sometimes white stripes. Along with abiding by the speed limit and watching out for other vehicles, all drivers on campus must also take extra caution when sharing the road with a motorcycle. The following tips were complied from a variety of online traffic safety sites. A person who rides a motorcycle to Richland for class or to work should always wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle is always a good idea and, for some age groups, state law. But most importantly, the helmet of your choice should be DOT or Snell approved. DOT stands for the federal government’s Department of Transportation and Snell is short for the Snell Memorial Foundation. These two organizations set safety standards in the United States. Some studies and statistics show wearing a helmet can reduce chances of being killed in an accident by at least 40 percent. In addition to wearing a helmet, motorcycle riders should also dress to protect the rest of the body. People who ride other types of sports bikes are more likely to be seen wearing a full
protective outfit with a jacket, pants and boots because of the speed a sports bike can drive. Those who drive cruising motorcycles are sometimes seen with just a vest and boots because those bikes don’t go as fast as sports bikes and tend to be ridden off highway or on service roads. Motorcyclists should avoid the center of the lane when driving, especially when traffic slows. It is always best to have a quick exit strategy in cases such as if traffic comes to a sudden halt or if a vehicle behind you fails to stop in time. Motorcyclists also should ride under the assumption not all drivers are able to see them. Stay out of a vehicle’s blind spot and try not to share the lane with another vehicle. Passenger vehicles should also never try to share a lane with a motorcycle as a motorcycle should always be given the full-lane width. Avoid riding a motorcycle in poor weather conditions. It may take longer to come to a stop if the roads are wet. It also may take more force to lean to a certain side in high wind. When driving a passenger vehicle, take an extra moment to look out for motorcycles or scooters. A motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spot or other objects or backgrounds such as bushes, fences, bridges and more. Keep an ear open as well. Often, you can hear a motorcycle before you can see one. A motorcycle can seem farther away than it actually is because of its smaller size. Be extra
Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com
Staff Writer
Tables commonly are set up and decorated in El Paso Hall by various college and military recruiters. On Sept. 15, a very different kind of recruiter set up shop. With the help of Jimmy Chang, a 21-yearold social sciences student at Richland, a table was set up to collect student signatures on postcards expressing support for a bill, H.RES.343, with the intent of sending them to members of Congress who represent the DFW area. The summary available at www.congress.gov says the bill, “Calls on China and the Communist Party of China to end the practice of organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience,” and also, “Demands an end to the persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice and the release of all Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience.” Pamphlets detailing the main tenets of the philosophy of Falun Gong (truthfulness, compassion and tolerance) and the persecution its practitioners were facing were available along with the postcards. Chang, who was born in the United States, is a practitioner of Falun Gong. He grew up hearing stories of organ harvesting in Chinese
CHRONICLE STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Online Editor Photography Editor Entertainment Editor Copy Editor
Marta Planells Joe Stumpo Blanca Reyes Ricky Miller Joyce Jackson
ON THE COVER Staff photo Blanca Reyes
COVER AND FONTS
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STUDENT MEDIA STAFF Isai Diaz Abraham Igene Quan Tran Bertille Eya Maffo Alina Luna Tiago Ferreira Vincent Leal Staff photo Isai Diaz
Motorcycles on campus are cause for caution.
cautious before pulling out in front of a motorcycle. While driving a passenger vehicle, pretend a motorcycle is closer than it actually looks and give it an extra car length. Never expect a motorcycle to be able to get out of the way in an emergency. Remember, slow down while driving on campus. This information was drawn from MSFUSA.org, EHSToday.com, TRANBC.ca, ToddCopeland.com, LowmanLawFirm.com and SalviLaw.com
Richland student fights against human rights violations in China RYAN DERENBECKER
Richland
prisons but said most people in the U.S. do not know of the practices. He helped organize the drive because he wanted to raise awareness about the issue. According to Chang, the prisoners involved include Christians, Muslims and people of various other faiths the Chinese Communist Party represses, not just practitioners of Falun Gong. While the resolution takes no direct action, according to Chang, there is still value in it. Chang said if enough Americans are aware of the issue, Washington will be prompted to help end the persecution of the various religions and philosophies involved. “It raises awareness … This will alert China that we’re doing something about it,” he said. The drive at Richland generated 70 signatures to be sent to members of Congress, like Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas, whose district includes Plano, Allen, McKinney and Frisco. The resolution originally was sponsored by seven representatives on June 25, but the number has grown significantly, reaching 120 co-sponsors at press time. Both parties are represented by the sponsors, and Rep. Pete Sessions, also of Texas, whose district includes Richland, became a co-sponsor of the bill on Sept. 8. Further information is available at www.stoporganharvesting.org.
Diana Bonilla Melanie Brandow Ryan Derenbecker Harris Sadiq Bel Khuu Ahlam Maryam Al Mahrooq
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Erica Edwards
Steve Noviello
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El Paso Hall, Room E020, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079 E-mail: richanchronicle@gmail.com Advertising: 972-238-6068 E-mail: advertise@dcccd.edu Fax: 972-238-6037 Staff meetings for fall semester: Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. in E020 Letter Policy Letters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements. Letters must be the work of the writer and must be signed. For identification and verification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s classification (grade level), full name, address and telephone number, although address and telephone number will not be published. Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration. © Richland Chronicle 2015
Trump through an immigrant’s eyes BLANCA REYES Photography Editor
“The silent majority, it’s back, and it’s not silent!” Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said at the opening of his campaign rally in Dallas Sept. 14. Trump is one of the most popular Republican candidates. According to polls at press time, Trump has 15 to 40 percent support among Republicans, depending on which poll you read. Trump has been in the thick of controversy since the beginning of his campaign because of his position toward immigrants. But how can a person with almost no political experience, ambiguous ideas, an arrogant attitude and an extreme and unrealistic vision of immigration be so popular? When I started this article, I said Trump’s target was Mexican immigrants. Last week, however, Trump said if he were elected he will send Syrian refugees back because they may be part of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). At the time of the Dallas rally, Trump didn’t give any specific information about his platform. Last week, however, he announced plans to reduce taxes for the wealthiest and eliminate them for the less privileged. It sounds good, but it is almost the same plan that we currently have. According to the CNN website, Republican economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin said Trump’s plan is not clear and looks more like a compiled
version of some of his GOP opponents’ plans. “I don’t know what he wants,” Holtz-Eakin said on CNN.com. “It looks like bits and pieces of other people’s plans strung together.” I agree we need to fight terrorism, but I don’t think generating fear and hate among people can help this cause. Patrick Moore, a Richland government professor, says he is unsure why the Trump phenomenon is happening. Moore, however, has two theories about why people are making Trump their choice. “He is opposed to the institutions in the Republican Party … and the conservative base of the Republican Party,” Moore said. Moore said Trump’s followers are expressing their frustration and anger for the lack of positive results from the traditional government. “The second thing he is claiming is to be able to offer simple solutions to complicated problems,” Moore said. “People love simple solutions.” “That is like 5 percent of our labor force. You can’t just cut off 5 percent of your labor force and not have an economic collapse,” Moore added. One of most controversial issues in Trump’s political platform is his stance on immigrants living in the United States without legal permission. Although it is a fact they are, Trump has some extreme ideas that focus on Mexican immigrants and, recently, Syrian refugees. One of Trump’s allegations is that undocumented Mexican immigrants include murderers and
Trumped Up: Game of Trump’s
rapists, who are complicit with the Mexican government. He also promised to build a wall on the southern U.S. border that would be paid for by Mexico. I think Trump has the idea that Mexicans are responsible for any immigrant without documents, so that’s why Mexico must pay for the wall. Trump claims to love Mexico. As a Mexican, however, I do not understand how he can say he loves my country when the only things that I have heard from him are derogatory. I had the opportunity to attend the Dallas rally. I was expecting, as at any political meeting, to see friction between supporters and protesters. At the end of the event, the level of aggressiveness was incredibly high. For me, more than politics, Trump is using a populist style to convince some people they are in imminent danger, and he is the only solution for all the problems. I understand the frustration of people about things they perceive as wrong, but I can’t understand why Trump is blaming a specific group and making his followers believe he can deport 11 million people and solve problems in the United States. It is also a fact that every year previous to elections, some politicians use the controversial rhetoric of immigration as a booster for their campaigns. It looks like when they are not looking for a position in government, they forget about the undocumented immigrants and “tolerate” them.
By Abraham Igene
OPINION 7
Upcoming Events Tuesdays 2 to 3 p.m. Yoga and relaxation classes Crocket Hall, Room C249 Email Leepaez@dcccd.edu
Today
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free HIV/STD testing for the Dallas County Health and Human Services mobile medical unit East Circle Drive, outside the library. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. College Audition and Transfer Panel Arena Theater, Fannin Hall, Room F108
Tuesday - Saturday 7:30 p.m. “Comes the Storm,” an original play written by Richland Department Drama Chair Andy Long Fannin Performance Hall, Room F102 For mature audiences (profanity and violence)
Oct. 13 Noon to 2:30 p.m. Transfer Fair El Paso Light refreshments by OSL 2:15 p.m. & 4:45 p.m. “Jurassic World” (PG-13) screening Sabine Hall, Room SH118
Oct. 15 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ducktoberfest Guadalupe Field 12:30 p.m. Richland International Film Series “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2007, Rated-R)
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October 6, 2015
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8 October 6, 2015