CHRONICLE Richland
Vol. XLV Issue 12 November 13, 2018
When will the madness stop? Pg. 2
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Richland Student Media
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Richland Student Media
2 NATIONAL/CAMPUS
November 13, 2018
Photo The Associated Press
People comfort each other as they stand near the scene of a mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California where a gunman opened fire inside a country dance bar Nov. 8.
Another mass shooting Kaelyn Bradley
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Staff writer
The epidemic of gun violence in the United States has happened once again and shifted an atmosphere of happiness to one of hatred. On Nov. 7, “college country night” at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California turned into a crime scene after a Marine veteran opened fire, killing 12 people before turning the gun on himself. It was the 307th mass shooting in the U.S. this year, according to Gun Violence Archive. The massacre might have seemed more likely to happen in a state with lenient gun laws. This time, however, it happened in California, a state with gun regulations. Authorities identified the gunman as Ian David Long, a 28-year old Marine veteran who had a history of mental illness. He was cleared by a mental health specialist after an encounter with police earlier this year. The mass shooting changed the lives of all involved. Telemachus Orfanos was a survivor of the deadly mass shooting that took place in Las Vegas just 13 months earlier. He was present at the Thousand Oaks shooting too. This time, he did not survive. In an interview with CNN, his mother, Susan Oranos said prayers are the last thing she needs. “I don’t want prayers. I don’t want thoughts. I want gun control and I hope to God nobody else sends me any more prayers. I want gun control. No more guns,” she said. In recent years, many mass shootings in the U.S. have been blamed on mental health issues. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been a common diagnosis. PTSD is a mental health condition that people can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-altering event like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident or sexual assault, according to the National Center for PTSD. Sgt. Richard H. Miller is a Vietnam war veteran who suffers from PTSD. Miller admits that not everyone with the condition is able to maintain mental stability. He believes the experience of combat is directly related to the condition, but emphasizes that it is never an excuse for mass murder. “Anyone who has been in combat has
PTSD. No question about it,” Miller said. “During the Vietnam war, they just shipped you back home and that was it. A lot of guys have PTSD, including me. I have 60 percent and I have seen four psychiatrists.” Miller said assisting with the transition from combat to civilian life should be made a priority, the same as preparation for combat. “We see a lot, but the government says we didn’t see anything,” Miller said. “Programs are necessary. The transition, it was never addressed. Off you go. You get your papers. You’re honorably discharged and that was it.” Louis Whatley, a Richland college Counselor said moral injury may also be a psychological factor that haunts former serviceman and women. “Let’s say you’re against shootings and killings but you go over and you’re trained to shoot and kill, and then you come back and you’re injured from that stand point,” Whatley said. “Your moral [position] is that you don’t kill and then you come back and you’re considered a killer and they struggle with that.” Whatley acknowledged that he is against making excuses for the actions of those who would commit mass murder. “A lot of people blame an instrument and I am totally against that because it takes a thought or action or something through your brain to go and pick up something and do something with [it].” Whatley said that the educational training for future mental health professionals should be centered not only around civilians, but include those who have seen the unimaginable during combat. “I think that people that go into psychology and counseling need to be very much trained about our men and women that come back from combat,” Whatley said. “We need to be ready. I think that the graduate schools that are pumping out a lot of these psychologists, these social workers, these psychiatrists, need to be ready for the men and women in combat and they have not been.” The Richland College Counseling Center is staffed with licensed professional counselors available on a walk-in basis in the Lakeside Resource Center, El Paso Hall, E082. It is open Mon-Wed 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Thurs-Fri 8 a.m.-5 a.m. Phone: 972-238-3771.
November 13, 2018
CAMPUS 3
Chancellor addresses student needs Joyce Jackson
Copy Editor Dr. Joe May, chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD), held a Student Centered Network update for faculty, staff and students at Richland Nov. 8. The focus was on the needs of individuals, employers and communities to improve outcomes by moving to an integrated master plan. Richland president, Dr. Kay Eggleston, joined May on stage. Dr. Carol Kent, speech communications professor, served as Master of Ceremonies. May answered a variety of questions and said he planned to visit every DCCCD college this semester. One of the first questions concerned overall student enrollment and how the Dallas County Promise has affected the student experience. “We want to find a way to get more students into higher education,” May said. “It’s more about how we’re engaging with our high schools and how we’re engaging with the students. We knew all along that our price is incredibly affordable and shouldn’t be a barrier.” May said one of the factors to helping students from an economically disadvantaged background was whether or not the students completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in high school so students could have their college tuition paid for at one of the DCCCD colleges. That process has led to 31 high schools participating in the Dallas Promise this fall. This coming year, the district hopes to accommodate students from 43 high schools. “We ended up getting about 65 percent finishing the FASFA,” May said. The coordinating board made a presentation to the Board of Trustees Nov. 6 on enrollment in the state. May said most of the growth
Richland president, Dr. Kay Eggleston and Chancellor Joe May at Fanning Hall on Nov. 8.
in higher education in the state of Texas is coming through two-year colleges. “While the universities were up across the entire state, about 8,000 students, [in] the DCCCD alone we were up this fall 14.65 percent across the board. That’s 10,000 students this year over last fall.” May said he wanted to explain what a “Student Centered Network” means. “What we’ve not always done is design all our systems with the individual student in mind. We want to make sure that we’re keeping that student in mind. It begins with an education master plan. What we’ve not done historically is kind of look at the broader picture of what’s going on throughout the country and throughout the district that we serve.”
Staff Photo Emily Escamilla
Eggleston said she was pleased to announce that 277 full-time Promise students enrolled at Richland this fall. Next year, Hillcrest High School students will be on campus with more to follow from the Richardson ISD and Garland ISD. To respond to those growing numbers, Richland is increasing its faculty and staff by adding seven full-time faculty members during the spring semester. “The initiative focused on the lowest performing schools in the DISD, making a transformative difference in those high need areas,” she said. Kent said changes were coming to enhance the student experience with a new textbook program, the Follett Learning Initiative.
“About one third of students don’t ever have textbooks for the courses they are enrolled in,” she said. The plan is to work with over 300 publishers each year to move towards digital materials to reduce the cost of books for students. The pilot program will move be implemented in the fall of 2019. “Richland College is certainly committed to providing an exceptional learning environment and services every day for every student, every place, every time,” Eggleston said. “We embrace a student-centered culture and we are deeply committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all of our work, modeling the change that we want to see happening.”
OSL encourages everyone to donate whatever they can to support the food pantry. They suggest that employees buy at least one thing to donate to the food pantry when they get paid and also encourage students who have food to spare at home to donate. Louise Rogers Keim, the administrative assistant at OSL, said, “We have been asking, greatly suggesting [to] some of the clubs that normally do food drives, that instead of donating to the North Texas Food Bank, to please donate it to Richland College.” They ask that you do not donate cash because they are not allowed to accept cash but all food donations will be accepted. They also accept toiletries and can openers because with all the canned food available, students will need something to open them. Do not donate clothes, though. The Career Center accepts clothing donations. “The Career Center accepts donations of business-type wear to help students and/or staff that need good clothes to wear to an interview or if you just get a job and you don’t
have the wardrobe you might need, then they can always go to the Career Center for that,” Keim said. For now, they have a sufficient stock but more donations are always appreciated. Any donation should be taken to the Office of Student Life in El Paso Hall, Room E040, where it can be processed and placed into the food pantry. There are flyers all over school that display the information needed and their social media addresses where they can be contacted. The flyers have information about items that can be donated like snack crackers, granola and cereal bars, instant oatmeal and other packaged food other than canned food as long as they are not expired. Keim can be reached by email at Jlr8143@dcccd.edu or using other contact information listed on the flyer. All donations are appreciated, according to Keim. “If it’s something you would appreciate having, it’s probably something the person in need would appreciate having,” she said.
Omorinsola Ajayi
Staff writer The Office of Student Life (OSL) has organized a food pantry where students and staff can get free food. You read that right, free food. If you haven’t noticed the flyers around campus, this is notice for students who may not have money to buy food or may have forgotten to bring lunch. The OSL has got you covered. Being in college is both financially demanding and time consuming, so many times students disregard their need for food and go hungry. With the development of the food pantry, students can save time and money by just walking down to El Paso Hall to get some food to take home or even eat at school. The OSL organized the pantry to ensure that members of the Richland community do not go hungry. There are various food options like noodles, sauces, crackers and more. There is also the North Texas Food Bank’s mobile pantry that comes twice a month with fresh food and vegetables.
Staff Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou
Food pantry is open Mon. and Tues. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wed. and Thurs. 1 to 5 p.m.
The food pantry, for the time being, is based solely on donations, but organizers hope to be able to buy from the North Texas Food Bank very soon once the paperwork is finalized. The
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Richland food pantry requests donations
4 OPINION/ELECTION
November 13, 2018
Staff Photo Muyideen Ogunbunmi
Gloria Agbogla, right, interviews judge Aiesha Redmond at the Democratic watch party on Nov. 6.
Democratic watch party
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Gloria Agbogla
Staff Writer Hundreds gathered at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Dallas for the Democratic watch party election night, Nov. 6. The format was informal. The candidates mingled and were available to answer media questions. This was the purpose of the political game; for the candidates to show that they were accessible to the media and to share time with volunteers and supporters. I interviewed some of the candidates including Judge Clay Jenkins, Judge Aiesha Redmond and Texas House District 102 candidate Ana Maria Ramos. They all shared their hope for the Democratic party to make history during the elections. The candidates reflected the variety of people in the audience. They were from all backgrounds, ages and ethnicities. All were impatient to learn results of the election. The atmosphere was enthusiastic and the mood of the crowd reflected confidence. Election results were projected on two big screen televisions. When the Democrats won
a race the crowd responded with cheers and shouts. As the night continued, the crowd excitedly followed the most anticipated race. The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Beto O’Rourke, was rubbing shoulders with Republican challenger Ted Cruz. The first accounts placed O’Rourke ahead of his opponent with 52 percent for O’Rourke and 48 percent for Cruz. As the night went on, Cruz passed O’Rourke with the final result of 51 percent to 48 percent. The disappointment was voiced throughout the ballroom as the crowd learned of Cruz’s victory. At the end of the evening, the Democrats left the hotel with mixed feelings. Texas may not be a blue state, but nationally, the Democrats won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, which gives them more power to counterbalance the Trump administration. What I learned from the experience was voting matters. Through their voices, young voters showed the American public that they wanted a change. Minorities made history by electing candidates they could relate to. When the people act, the impossible can happen.
“I voted today because its my civic duty as a citizen of the United States, and I feel that every voice should be heard including my own.” – Reni Acosta, music
Erica Edwards, left, Patrick Moore and Carlos Martinez update the listerners of KDUX web radi
Election night brings students Adrienne Aguilar
Staff Writer The hallways had cleared except for a handful of students and a few custodians as the campus shut down for the night. As people headed home, more than 30 students, faculty and staff piled into the Chronicle newsroom to cover the mid-term elections as the polls closed. Student reporters focused on finishing their stories as breaking news flashed across the newsroom TV. “It was fun but it was kind of hectic,” said Kaelyn Bradley, a student journalist who managed the Student Media election blog. “I think I really enjoyed seeing the reactions of other people; getting to see everyone work under pressure as I did too.” Students rushed from one corner of the room to the other to ensure the information in their radio scripts was correct. The pressure in the room mounted with each new announcement. The polling percentages of senators and representatives winning and losing fluctuated by the minute as writers tried to keep up. Reporters double-checked their information before going to the radio station to announce the results.
“I think that my vote will make a difference. Not only make a difference, make a huge change in society to where people will understand and see the bigger picture in what society is doing to us.” – Anthony Pitts, criminal justice and music
VIEW Why did
“I voted because representation is important in our democracy.” – Michael Puente, mathematics professor
ELECTION 5
November 13, 2018
Staff Photo Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou
Drew Castillo, right, interviews campaign volunteeer, Steve Meng at the Republican watch party on Nov. 6.
Trace Miller
io on the results of the election, Nov. 6.
Staff Photo Melanie Castañeda
together for real-time coverage Student writers documented report after report as they contemplated which states would finally become red or blue. Even without the atmosphere of chaos in the student newsroom, the past two years of political pressure had created a sense of anticipation unlike any event they had experienced in American politics. Professors, faculty and staff helped the student reporters make sense of the loose papers shifting through their hands. “It’s always an adventure and fun to watch and see what happens,” said Erica Edwards, lead faculty for journalism. She helped manage students in the radio station and co-anchored the broadcast for the night along with government professor Patrick Moore and economics professor Carlos Martinez. “What’s really exciting for me, as an educator and a broadcaster at heart, is when our students actually get to see and get that real-world experience of covering an election, of covering something in real time, and not just in an exercise,” Edwards said. “I think it’s also very rewarding because you’re seeing stuff happen in real time that affects everybody, whether or not you’re interested in politics.”
WPOINTS id you vote? “I voted so that I could exercise my constitutional right and inspire other young people to vote.” – Zairia Buchanan, major not specified
Staff Writer The night began in prayer. For many, it probably ended the same way. Few alternatives remained to those at the “Victory Watch Party hosted by the Dallas Country Republican Party” as they experienced a disquieting mixture of jubilation, frustration and apprehension. Earlier in the evening, spirits were unadulterated and soaring. A cardboard, 6-foot Donald Trump welcomed guests, upon arrival, with two thumbs up. Inside the ballroom, music boomed and the lights glowed Republican red. An 80-foot screen played live election coverage via Fox News, NBC and ABC; smaller televisions in back of the room projected county-by-county results. Cheers, backslaps, and high-fives followed Republican victories — curse words followed news of the defeats. The chairwoman of the Dallas County Republican Party, Missy Shorey, welcomed guests in her opening speech and congratulated donors on their collective contributions exceeding $7.3 million. She then thanked the candidates, party leadership and volunteers for their time, commitment and hard work, and invited all to sit back, relax and enjoy the victory party. Emphasis on victory. Beneath the façade of high spirits, however, loomed the specter of defeat. One man – a half Hispanic, gay member of the Log Cabin Republicans – speculated that no one in the
“I voted because, as an American, I think it’s my duty rather than to sit back and complain. Even if my vote doesn’t count, like a lot of people say, I would rather just make an effort to change what I feel should be changed rather than just complaining about it and doing nothing.” – Uchechukwu Iwotor, business management
room felt confident about a Ted Cruz victory. Meanwhile, Republican candidates Pete Sessions, Faith Johnson, Don Huffines and Aaron Meek trailed early on – and permanently – in their respective races. Congressman Session’s defeat disappointed Dawna Walsh, an avid volunteer for his campaign. She was comforted though by the fact that Republicans will have another chance in 2020. Meek appeared confident early in the evening, chatting, joking and laughing with his wife and fellow officers. His smile slowly disappeared as the night progressed. Not all was defeat however. J.J. Koch won a seat on the Dallas County Commissioners Court, making him the sole Republican on the court. He delivered a victory speech to the crowd, thanking his wife and two children for their love, and the numerous volunteers for their time and support. Then, of course, there was the Cruz victory. When The Associated Press called the race for Cruz, the room erupted into cheers. Willie O’Brien, a Hispanic volunteer for the Cruz campaign, jumped up and down for an entire minute while releasing ecstatic hoots. The Texas Women for Trump Coalition – a group of eight or ten women in red dresses – applauded incessantly for five minutes. Despite the numerous defeats at the state, local and national levels, the Republicans almost certainly gathered a victory of morale as they watched Cruz deliver his victory speech from Houston.
“I voted because I care about the future of this country, especially education and healthcare.” – Dr. Kathleen Stephens, Honors Program Coordinator
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Republican watch party
6 MOVIE/CAMPUS
November 13, 2018
Nutcracker dances with Disney CHRONICLE Richland
STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS
By Ricky Miller
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Entertainment Editor Layout Editor Photo Editor
Entertainment Editor I am as cultured as the next guy standing in line at the bus stop, but despite my dislike and lack of interest toward movie musicals, I actually had some semblance of hope for “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” another in the cookie-cutter-line of Disney products containing high production values and marketed for the masses. MacKenzie Foy (“Interstellar”) plays Clara. She and her family are invited to a holiday gathering on the mountainside. Clara’s godfather, Drosselmeyer, is portrayed by Morgan Freeman. Some misadventures unfold and Clara has to tell everyone she knows about her mom’s untimely death. An almost unrecognizable Keira Knightley plays Sugar Plum, one of Clara’s mom’s creations. Further involvement includes protagonists Shiver (Richard E. Grant) and Hawthorne (Eugenio Derbez). They all come from the imagination of Clara’s deceased mother, who oversees the realm. Helen Mirren plays Mother Ginger, an ominous and foreboding character, who turns into an asset after a few predicaments. Like most of her roles as of late, Mirren wanted a role that was challenging. “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” was co-directed by Lasse Hallström (“Chocolat,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”) and Joe Johnston (“Captain America: The First Avenger”), who bring their own oversized versions of the original tale of “The Nutcracker” (2009) to the silver screen. The duo seemed unsure which direction to take this movie and, for some unknown reason, it just treaded in mediocrity. Sure, some of the set pieces were a touch overblown, but when
ON THE COVER Gun violence in America Illustration by Aly Rodrigues, Emily Escamilla and Adrienne Aguilar
COVER AND FONTS Certain cover fonts are provided by the following www.nymfont.com – www.bvfonts.com
STUDENT MEDIA STAFF
Photo courtesy IMDB
Keira Knightley and Mackenzie Foy star in “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”
it comes to the realm of fantasy, I’ll take that with a grain of salt. Also woven into the storyline are a few key scenes with Misty Copeland who is credited as the Ballerina Princess. Her appearance, although brief, propels the fantasy elements in the storyline. As I’ve said in the past, I go into movies with my mind as a blank slate. Unfortunately, the overblown antics that presided over this film were run-of-the-mill and lacked the verve that went into the productions like the enjoyable re-telling of C. S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005), directed by Andrew Adamson. Each of those particular tales, including “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (2010) and
“Prince Caspian” (2008), had something to admire. None exploded onto the screen, but they were each nicely told stories that finished with a satisfactory palate. I also admired Kenneth Branagh’s direction of “Cinderella” in 2015. There was no hokey song-and-dance numbers to be found. Branagh just took the tale and told the story simply and clearly. I just wanted more from “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” even though I can deal with the creepy clowns, the ridiculous McGuffins and the sincerity of this so-so family tale. So the readers know, the screening I attended was in 2-D, not the pretentious 3-D. Grade: C
from the FASFA.gov and StudentAid.gov websites. The app is accessible from any electronic device with access to the internet. “Last year was the first time I filled out the FAFSA. It was a strenuous process. It took me two hours within a span of two days. It was kind of stressful for me because I had to go out and find all of the information,” said Emily Escamilla, a first generation college student and Chronicle staff member. The amount of the federal aid award is based on eligibility and when the application is submitted because of limited funding available. An appraisal of the individual’s financial situation is conducted, as well as the school he or she is accepted into and then an award is given. Eligibility requirements are based on income. Students with a total family income of $20,000 or less receive the biggest awards. “It was stressful. I’m still feeling it,” said Richland student Obidi Lewanika. “I’ve still not gotten verified from the one that I filled
[out] so I had to take out a loan to sign up for classes.” According to the federal student aid annual report, the maximum award distributed changes yearly. The maximum award for the 2015-2016 academic year was $5,775, while that of 2017-2018 was $5,920. The secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, announced the mobile app at the annual Federal Student Aid conference in 2017. It was one piece of a larger overhaul of financial services for aid recipients and student borrowers that the department has dubbed NextGen. The goal is to improve customer service to be on the same level as the likes of Amazon or Apple’s Genius bar. Richland is hosting FASFA/TASFA night Dec. 4 to help students apply for 2019-2020. It will be in Thunderduck Hall, T-219 from 3 to 7 p.m. For information on what to bring visit the financial aid office or call 972-238-6127.
Student federal aid app makes it faster, easier to get school funding
RichlandStudentMedia.com
Kobloh-Obase Kammonke
Staff Writer Financial aid is a resource available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States. It makes college more affordable, enabling more students to further their educations. The Department of Education launched the app My Student Aid on Oct. 1 in time for the 2019-2020 federal aid cycle. The app is a portal to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that merges webpages
Staff Illustration Emily Escamilla
Aly Rodrigues Kammonke Obase-Wotta Joyce Jackson Ricky Miller Dara Jones Emily Escamilla
Gloria Agbogla Adrienne Aguilar Omorinsola Ajayi Kaelyn Bradley Jon Brinkley Thomas Cabrera Melanie Castenada Drew Castillo Jasmine Chatman Ryan Duff Kene Enemo Chloie Lewis Mirco Daniel Mbega
Ndoumou Lashanda McCuin Trace Miller Nick Medlock Everett Newson Kobloh-Obase Kammonke Muyideen Ogunbunmi Kim Sanders Mike Sokolski Pete Shannon Isabelle Tchoungang Nathan Terry Jerry Weiss
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Erica Edwards
Tim Jones
Jack Fletcher
Larry Ratliff
Meg Fullwood
ISSUE DATES November 20
December 11
December 4
AWARDS ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Winner, 2016 CMA Two-Year Radio Station of the Year 2015 ACP Best of Show Award 2015 ACP Photo Excellence Award 2015 CMA Newspaper of the Year Finalist, 2014 1st Place – TCCJA Overall General Excellence, 2014 2nd Place – Pinnacle College Media Award, 2014 1st Place – TIPA Sweepstakes, 2005 3rd Place – TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006 ACP Pacemaker Winner, 2000, 2001, 2007 ACP Pacemaker Finalist, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 ACP Online Pacemaker finalist, 2007, 2008 Over 270 Texas college journalism awards since 2000
CONTACT INFORMATION El Paso Hall, Room E020, 12800 Abrams Rd., Dallas 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079; richlandchronicle@gmail.com Advertising: 972-238-6068 Email: Advertise@dcccd.edu Staff meetings: 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 2018
November 13, 2018
LOCAL/SPORTS
Feast with the coach on Thanksgiving Joyce Jackson Copy Editor
For students, faculty, staff or anyone in the Richland community who has nowhere to go for Thanksgiving Day, one professor has an answer. Physical education professor Bill Neal and his wife, Donnie, are inviting the Richland community to their Lazy Gator Ranch in Canton for a delicious Thanksgiving feast Nov. 22. “I do this because I’ve spent Thanksgiving alone before, and it wasn’t very much fun,” Neal said. “It’s one of my favorite holidays of the year. I have so much to be thankful for. I guess maybe that’s why it’s my favorite holiday.” Neal has a spacious log home on 50 acres and an assortment of animals, namely dogs, cats, goats, chickens, horses and cows. He’s been serving Thanksgiving dinner to the Richland community for 23 years and has been teaching at Richland for 47 years. “I came here with the furniture,” he said. Neal said his family doesn’t meet for Thanksgiving so it’s an opportunity to open up his ranch to those who might enjoy a day in the country. Those who come shouldn’t fear any gators running loose on his property. “My property borders on Lazy Gator Creek and so I just picked up the name,” Neal said. “It’s Alligator Creek, but since I’m on there and it floods occasionally I tamed it by calling it the ‘Lazy Gator.’ There were [alligators] at one time, but not anymore.” Neal and his wife plan to serve a Thanksgiving feast at 1 p.m. Normally, they host 10 to 30 guests. After that, folks can enjoy walking around the property, taking in the beautiful fall colors, visiting with friends, enjoying the animals, taking a nap or watching football. Glen Sovian, a former Richland student from Indonesia, has attended Thanksgiving at the Lazy Gator Ranch several times.
7
UPCOMING EVENTS All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.
November 13
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. i
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North Texas Food Bank mobile pantry East Breezeway 12:30 to 1:30 p.m./ 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fall Jazz Showcase: “Rhythm Pictures” Fannin Performance Hall, E108
November 14
11 a.m. to Noon i
Richland guitar ensemble Cafeteria stage, El Paso Hall 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Participants of Bill Neal’s 2016 Thanksgiving event.
“While some of the guests are Richland staff and faculty members, it often attracts a diverse student population,” Sovian said. “It is a good place to feel the holiday atmosphere for students who are away from their families or international students who want to experience this American tradition.” Sovian said the couple serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal, which includes roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, yams, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin and pecan pies and more. In addition to the food, Sovian said, guests can enjoy a tour of Neal’s ranch. “They may get up close to the animals on the ranch,” he said. “Some may also watch a Thursday night football game.”
Photo courtesy Ibraheem Altaha
“To me though,” Sovian said, “the most enjoyable experience is the good fellowship with the other guests. I enjoy meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and professions.” Besides the local Americans, I have met quite a few visitors from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. It’s nice to exchange our stories in a friendly atmosphere. Sometimes, we even converse in Spanish and French.” Neal would like anyone who plans to come to RSVP at bneal@dcccd.edu so he and Donnie can provide enough food. They can email until the day before Thanksgiving or call 214-686-1039 with any questions.
Basketball season starts with a win
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Fall Richland Guitar Ensemble Concert: “The Art of the Guitar” Directed by Jan Ryberg Fannin Performance Hall, F102 2 to 4 p.m.
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Veterans benefits chat El Paso Hall, E081
November 15
10 to 10:30 a.m. i
DCCCD study abroad Cuba information session Crockett Hall, C110 Noon to 1 p.m.
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Richland jazz combos Cafeteria stage, El Paso Hall
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Anthropology Club meeting El Paso Hall, E091
November 19 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Malcolm Green dribbles past an opponent.
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Thanksgiving fun day: trivia, free snacks, pumpkin decorating, games Cafeteria stage
November 20
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. i
Fall Richland choral concert
Staff Photos Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou
Richland’s Darius Hausley scores a lay up in season opener vs. Tribulation Prep on Nov. 5. Richland won 98-47.
Malcolm Green and Jamal Dilworth power down the the court.
Fannin Performance Hall, F108
RichlandStudentMedia.com
2 to 3 p.m.
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November 13, 2018
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