CHRONICLE Richland
Vol. XLVIII Issue 12 November 19, 2019
• Chancellor addresses bond issue: Pg. 2 • Discussing gun violence:
Pg. 3
• Men’s soccer back to finals:
Pg. 4
Lights, music, dance: Pg. 5
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2 CAMPUS
November 19, 2019
Open Letter from the Chancellor The following is an open letter from Dr. Joe May, DCCCD Chancellor in response to a recent media report. UNIVERSITY OF
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• HUMAN SERVICES • COMMUNITY & PUBLIC HEALTH • ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE
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• EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / DIVERSITY • PRIVATE PRACTICE • SUICIDE PREVENTION • POLICE AND VICTIM SERVICES
As you know, the bond package will provide the District with the resources to fund new facilities, resources and technology to support student success, the community, businesses and workforce development. In June, a local group filed a suit in a Dallas County District Court citing what they deem as irregularities in the voting process. While it’s not our policy to comment on pending litigation, I want to reiterate that this suit does not reflect the merits of the bond package or the standing of the Dallas County Community College District, but instead focuses on the processes of the Dallas County Elections Department. Our legal team is addressing this suit, and we anticipate the case going to a non-jury trial in Dallas County in February. The article correctly references that we cannot issue bonds until the lawsuit has
been resolved, which could impact our ability to move forward with many of the projects we’d identified. Fortunately, we developed our bond plans as part of a phased approach, identifying a number of projects that we could self-fund on an interim basis and then repay ourselves via the general obligation bond proceeds, once the lawsuit has been resolved. The projects in Phase 1, totaling $297 million, touch all of our campuses. In fact, we are entering the request for qualifications stage for architectural and engineering services on nine of the 12 projects. Three projects are underway and will continue. While I am disappointed that this lawsuit will slow the progress on some of our larger projects, such as the downtown hub, and the new El Centro campus, I am encouraged to know that the majority of the voters, business and community leaders in Dallas County support our efforts. We will provide additional updates on the status of the bond package as necessary, so be sure you stay upto-date through our employee newsletter. Thanks, Dr. Joe May
Chancellor coming to RLC Jack Ramirez Bernal Maniging Editor
Richland Student Media, in partnership with Richland Student Government Association, will host Chancellor Joe May in the Chronicle TV studio November 20th.
The talk with the DCCCD’s Chancellor will be available: Streamed live:
• HOMELESSNESS • HOSPITAL / HEALTHCARE
In case you haven’t seen it, I wanted to make you aware of an online article in D Magazine that references the $1.1 billion bond package that Dallas County voters overwhelmingly approved in May. I’d also like to take a moment to share my thoughts on this issue and provide you with an update.
VISIT US AT WWW.UTA.EDU/SSW OR CALL US AT 817-272-1044 817-272-1475
www.richlandstudentmedia.com/live
Available as a podcast shortly thereafter:
www.richlandstudentmedia.com Dr. Joe May, DCCCD Chancellor.
File photo
November 19, 2019
Richland community discusses ongoing gun violence in the US
CAMPUS 3
Acne • Must Be Healthy 12-40 Years of Age • Must Have Mild-Severe Acne • 3-4 Clinic Visits Over 12 Weeks • Compensated Up to $300.00 for Time and Travel
Internal Hemorrhoid Trace Miller Staff Writer
Richland Student Government Association (SGA) held a town hall meeting and open dialogue about gun violence in America on Nov. 12, featuring a panel that included police, veterans, counselors and victims of gun violence. They discussed issues such as gun control, disarming of law enforcement, decriminalization of gun ownership and the requisite steps towards eliminating gun violence. “Stay engaged,” said Captain Javier Lozano of the Richland police. “Right, so how do you stay engaged? Speak to your local representatives. Go and share your ideas. Start a movement. Stay engaged and do something about it.” The following day, Nov. 13, a student at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, pulled a gun and fired upon fellow students before shooting himself, according to The Associated Press (AP). He killed two students and wounded three others. It was the suspect’s 16th birthday. Alex Villanueva, the Los Angeles County sheriff, briefed the media in a press conference. “At 7:38 this morning, Santa Clarita sheriff ’s station received a 9-1-1 call of a shooting at Saugus High School. Within seconds we received multiple calls. And within two minutes, at 7:40, our first units arrived on scene,” Villanueva said. “There were a total of six victims.” Two students, 14 and 16-years-old, were killed and three students, two 14-year-old and one 15, were wounded, according to AP the shooter, 16, was hospitalized and later died. The victims “were promptly triaged and transported to local hospitals for treatment,” said Villanueva. “Among those who were transported turned out to be the suspect.” Villanueva described the suspect as “a male, Asian, 16 years of age, and a student of the school.” The police identified him through first-hand witness reports and video surveillance. The police have yet to determine the
shooter’s motive. “At this point in time, we have no indication of motivation or ideology,” said Paul Delacourt, the agent in charge of the FBI field office in Los Angeles. After identifying him, however, the police promptly executed a search warrant of his residence. “Now we’re going through the very lengthy process of conducting a thorough investigation to figure out what happened and why,” Villanueva said. Following the shooting, President Donald J. Trump tweeted, “We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those tragically lost, and we pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded.” Presidential hopefuls were also quick to offer condolences and solutions. “Another school shooting. How long will we go on like this? No kid should fear their safety in school & no parent should worry whether their kid will come home. Our hearts go out to Santa Clarita, but prayers aren’t enough. We need real gun reform to make our schools safer,” Joe Biden tweeted. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren tweeted, “I’m heartsick for the victims of this horrifying shooting and their families. We shouldn’t have to live like this. Students shouldn’t live in fear when they go to school. We must act now to end gun violence.” According to the Gun Violence Archive, the Saugus High School shooting constituted the 366th mass shooting of the year in the U.S. The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident involving four or more casualties not including the shooter. Richland SGA plans to continue working to raise the awareness of gun violence in America. SGA president Edward Sesay believes we need to “work with the campus police and do more exercises.” “What if there’s a school shooting like what happened in California? What can we do? Sesay said. “We need to be like, ‘Hey, what if somebody has a gun?’ What can we do? How can students react?”
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Staff Photo Glen Pierre
Capt. Javier Lozano, left, J.J. Larson, student services for health and wellbeing, and survivor Cory Davis discuss gun violence during the town hall meeting Nov.12.
4 SPORTS
November 19, 2019
Thunderducks compete in national finals The Thunderducks remained undefeated as of press time coming off two wins in the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) finals in Herkimer, New York. It was a battle in the snow on the 14th when they took on Sussex County. At the end of the first period, Richland led by three goals to nothing. A final goal in the second half had Richland securing the victory, 5-0. The game on Nov. 15th was fought in the freezing cold, this time against Genesee. Richland had a two goal lead in the first period and scored three goals in the second, leading Richland to a 5-0 win. At press time, the Thunderducks were scheduled to take on the Herkimer Generals who were the second seed in the tournament. The Richland Chronicle will have full details of this game in the Nov. 26th issue and on our website at www.RichlandStudentMedia.com. – Alex Ortuno
Richland’s Gabriel Rojas, left, fights for the ball against Sussex County in the NJCAA semi-finals Nov. 15.
Transfer to a better future We know transfer students — nearly half of TWU’s undergraduate students are transfers
Attend the Pioneer Preview Event
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Visit our Denton campus on Dec. 7 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. •
Get admissions, scholarship & financial aid information
•
Meet advisors & faculty; receive sample degree plans
•
Learn about the Touchstone Honors program for transfer students
•
Tour campus & view a residence hall (optional)
•
Lunch will be provided
Learn more and register at TWU.edu/transfer
Photos courtesy Sean Lynch
T-Ducks prepare in their pre-game ritual.
ARTS 5
November 19, 2019
Staff Photo Thinh Phan
Dancers shine in Celestial Glow
Staff Photos Thinh Phan
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Staff Photo M. Daniel Mbega Ndoumou
• Top: Richland student dancers perform a routine. • Lower right: Micahela Cardinal executes a majestic pose. • Middle top and bottom: Guest dance troupe ImPulse Within. • Middle left: Student dance ensemble perform in Celestial Glow.
Staff Photo M. Daniel Mbega Ndoumou
Staff Photo Jonathan Lin
6 MOVIES
November 19, 2019
‘Doctor Sleep’ outshines ‘The Shining’ CHRONICLE Richland
Ricky Miller Entertainment Editor
“Doctor Sleep” is a follow-up of sorts to “The Shining,”(1980) which even writer and creator Stephen King said he didn’t like. Director Stanley Kubrick struck all the right chords with Jack Nicholson’s turn as alcoholic writer Jack Torrance, a writer overseeing The Overlook Hotel during the off season. That gem still creeps me out. “Doctor Sleep” picks up the storyline years later, wherein Ewan McGregor’s Danny Torrance is a drifter visiting a small town off the beaten track. Torrance is trying to escape his past, but there are unseen powers that seem to be pulling him back in. That includes Rebecca Ferguson’s Rose the Hat and Kyleigh Curran’s Abra Stone. The latter is a telekinetic girl in fear for her life. She possesses a power known to very few people. Rose the Hat is the antagonist of “Doctor Sleep.” She is a woman with a vindictive streak who desires nothing less than absolute power. Directing duties here were handled by Mike Flanagan who helmed “Gerald’s Game’ in 2017, which was also based on a King tale. I didn’t really care for it that much. I gave it a C when it premiered on Netflix that year. What Flanagan is able to do with the camera in “Doctor Sleep” is nothing short of amazing. For starters, he gets a remarkable performance out of Curren, a young girl reminiscent of Natalie Portman in her role as
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ON THE COVER Paola Gonzalez Perez and Robert Short perform in Celestial Glow. Staff Photo Lloyd Roberts
Ewan McGregor plays Danny Torrance in “Doctor Sleep.”
Mathilda in Luc Besson’s “The Professional” (1994). Curren carries her part with the greatest of ease, conveying the despair of a young woman who is trying to control her powers. Also vital to the tale is Cliff Curtis as Billy Freeman, who helps people get back on their feet. He is a good guy, very trustworthy and reliable in dealing with everyday life. The pacing of “Doctor Sleep” never slows down. Flanagan knows where to place shots and how to advance the story. There are a couple of scenes, however, that are difficult to watch since they involve children in danger. One subplot deals with a 12-year-old baseball player who is taken by a group called The True Knot, a reprehensible group of people who are out for their own selfish gain.
Photo courtesy IMDb
Additional subplots involving bad people are also interwoven into this tale, but they are handled to just the right degree. This storyline is in reference to Emily Alyn Lind’s Snakebite Andi who befriends Rose the Hat just after she finished a kill. The performances throughout “Doctor Sleep” are all top notch. From the retelling of the events in the “The Shining” at the beginning of the film to the twists and turns that bring the film to its final resolve, this one does not disappoint in the least. As much as I have previously expressed my dislike for horror tales, I actually want to see this one again. It pulls you in from the get-go and fully realizes what it set out to do. Grade: A-
‘Motherless Brooklyn’ a film noir-do-well Chase Wilson Staff Writer
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Adrienne Aguilar Jack Ramirez Bernal Barbara Gandica Martinez Joyce Jackson Ricky Miller Dara Jones Jonathan Lin M. Daniel Mbega Ndoumou Damon Craig Ryan Bingham Duff André Duncan
As I sat in the theater watching “Motherless Brooklyn,” it was clear to me that director Edward Norton truly appreciates film history. There are elements to the film that pay homage to film noir and the private detective films of the 1940s and 1950s. Sure, there are some clichés, such as the flat-capped newspaper boy yelling, “Read all about it!” and the melancholy trumpet music that plays as a character walks down the street at night. What Norton does effectively is create an atmosphere of noir. Audiences feel as if they have stepped back in time to Brooklyn in the 1950s. Norton has a flair for creating beautiful scenes. One in particular features Norton, as Detective Lionel Essrog, sitting in a wingback chair next to a record player with the lights of New York and the Brooklyn Bridge glistening outside the living room window. It is aesthetically pleasing. Norton portrays Essrog as a character with Tourette Syndrome. He has involuntary outbursts but remembers every detail and every word. While working on a secret case, Essrog witnesses the murder of his mentor, Frank Minna, played by Bruce Willis. He must investigate why Minna was murdered and find out who is responsible. As the movie progresses, a lot of the side characters are introduced. I found them uninteresting and don’t think they added much to
the flow of the picture. There are two notable exceptions that add to the plot and give solid performances. One of these is Moses Randolph, portrayed by Alec Baldwin. Randolph, the leader of the Borough Bridge Brigade, is a sinister character driven by greed and power. He wants to forcibly evict minorities through gentrification. Randolph can’t be removed from power and considers himself above the law. Laura Rose, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, comes across as genuine. She is involved in the fight against gentrification and her passion shows. When she first meets Essrog, he considers her to be somehow involved, but the chemistry between them is fantastic. During their on-screen time together, they develop an understanding of each other. There is a scene after a major event in which Rose is in tears. Essrog comforts her with empathy and kind words. Similarly, earlier in the film during a scene at a jazz nightclub, Rose comforts Essrog when he couldn’t control his violent twitches. “Motherless Brooklyn” is a formulaic but above-average movie that appreciates and honors films such as “Chinatown” and “The Maltese Falcon,” but doesn’t add any new ideas to the genre. The film features solid performances, outstanding cinematography and does just enough to keep the audience involved. In an era of cliché action films and superhero movies, a cliché noir is a breath of fresh air. Grade: B-
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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 2019
CAMPUS 7
November 19, 2019
UPCOMING EVENTS All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.
November 19 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. i
Ultimate Relaxation Spa El Paso Hall 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Blood drive East Circle Drive 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
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Richland choral ensembles Fannin Performance Hall, F102 7:30 to 9 p.m.
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Richland choral concert Fannin Performance Hall, F102
November 20 International Film Series: 3 to 5 p.m. Staff Photo Jonathan Lin
Checking out ‘human books’ at the library Joyce Jackson Copy Editor You’ve likely heard the old saying about someone being an “encyclopedia of knowledge.” That’s what “human books” are -- people with insights or expertise in a particular field. Several human books participated in the 4th annual “Human Book Project” at Richland Nov. 6. Students had the opportunity to chat with the “books” about different topics. The project was initiated by former Richland library deans Laura McKinnon and Lennijo Henderson. “We wanted to try it out here at Richland to see how it worked and we’ve been doing it ever since,” said Ashley Franklin, the circulation coordinator at the library. The human books and students were seated in small groups to discuss topics that included “What is Fake News?,” “International Student” and “This is My Life, Not My Parents,” among others. The conversations lasted 15 to 20 minutes. Jesica Lopez is Richland’s only female police officer working the day shift. On this day,
she became a human book and spoke with students. She’s been at Richland for five years and before that, she worked in human resources. “I like the culture of the campus,” Lopez said. “We have geese and when they walk across the street, they really walk slow. That’s a danger for them. I like the little critters.” At night, Lopez said, we see all the rabbits, skunks and coyotes, especially by the tennis courts. As far as crime, there’s isn’t as much because police maintain a presence that has reduced crime. There are 17 total officers on the campus police force, she said. “The word around the community is, ‘Don’t go over there. They’re the real deal’,” Lopez said about the department’s proactive approach. Richland police officer Stephen Gutierrez, another “book,” has been at Richland for three years and works evenings. He said theft is an occasional problem on campus. “Students leave stuff around,” he said. “When you leave your stuff unattended, it’s considered abandoned property.” He explained that abandoned property is frequently turned in to the police department. “Don’t leave your stuff unattended,” he said.
The number to call if anyone needs to claim something is 972-860-4290. Franklin said that some of the human books were so interesting that people kept signing up for the same book, which made some of the sessions longer than just 15 minutes. “There is a national organization [the Human Library Organization],” Franklin said. “The originators are not in this country. They are from Denmark, but they don’t come and host. You submit your proposition or ideas to them and then they OK them.” Franklin said this was the first year that there was a cost associated with the Human Book project. In previous years, it was free. Those interested in the Human Library Organization can go to their website, www.humanlibrary.org, for more information. Franklin said she thinks this program is “awesome.” “I feel like in this climate that we live in today, especially with all this stuff going on with the politics and the relations between community and police officers, I think conversations like that will give anyone, not just students, an opportunity to have these tough, hard conversations in a safe place,” Franklin said.
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“What Will People Say?” (NR) Norwegian, Urdu Drama, Romance Free popcorn – bring your own drinks Sabine Hall, SH118
November 21 Noon to 1 p.m. i
Thanksgiving trivia Cafeteria stage, El Paso Hall
November 22 Noon to 1 p.m. i
Richland Big Band Jazz Ensemble Cafeteria stage
November 19-25 i
Canned food drive - Donations accepted for the college food pantry through Nov. 25. Thunderduck Hall, Information DE; E40 Office of Student Life
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Richland police officer Stephen Gutierrez chats with student Christina Le at the “human books” event on Nov. 6.
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November 19, 2019
To the men and women who have served,
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mythology, spooky stories and folk lore
Richland Student Media honors our armed forces. throughout Veterans Month.
Meetings every Monday and Wednesday in room E020, at 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. RichlandStudentMedia.com
eclectically themed events
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