THE
San Jacinto Times
Leonard Brown has a great feel for Aligators during North Campus’s Gator Day. Page 4
The voice of San Jacinto College since 1991
SJC reflects on a fallen student September 26, 2011
The Student Publication of the San Jacinto College District
Vol. 22, No. 2
Best game of the year? Page 7
Check out our online version at www.sanjactimesstaff@wordpress.com
Are PETA’s criticisms hypocritical? Page 2
School shows support for Perez family, Lady Coyotes By MICHAEL DEATS San Jacinto Times
Photo by Michael Deats
Community members look at photos of Jose and the soccer team as they came throughout the day to purchase brisket plates and donate to the Memorial Fund for Jose Perez
San Jacinto South campus hosted a BBQ fundraiser in memory of Jose Perez, killed recently in an auto accident. Also occurring was a Lady Coyote softball double/doubleheader on Sept. 17. The girls managed to pull off three wins and one loss as they worked through an exhausting four games in a row. Over 300 people showed up to support the Coyotes and donate to the Perez family. There were 46 briskets cooked overnight by Mike Saenz, his brother Joey Saenz, and Kim Clemens, and served with drinks. Proceeds went to help the Perez family in the wake of their loss. A somber mood pervaded the event as mourning commenced. Dr. Brenda Hellyer attendended, showing her support for The Perez family as well as the softball team. The soccer team was not in attendance as they were at the going home services for Perez in Dallas.
Car burglaries at Central Campus are still under investigation By CHRIS SHELTON San Jacinto Times
On Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., three possible burglaries were reported. According to a San Jacinto College Police Department press release “Upon further investigation, it was determined that the incidents reported were [of] two vehicle burglaries and one criminal mischief.” According Sargent Ludwig, also of the San Jacinto Police Department, criminal mischief constitutes an attempted burglary where no entry is gained. Any student who has credible information on these incidents is encouraged to contact the San Jacinto Police Department immediately.
The two car burglaries occurred in separate lots around campus. They occurred respectively in Lot 1 and Lot 18, while the criminal mischief occurred in Lot 3. At this point there are no suspects in custody but investigation is still ongoing. It is still unclear if the burglaries and criminal mischief are related but the possibility of a collaborative effort still remains. Police Chief Jeffrey Van Slyke warns that a group, not a singular entity, is the likely culprit, stating that “In my experience, in incidents like these there tends to be more than one person involved, usually involving a lookout.” According to the San Jac Police Department “no additional information is available.”
Cheif Slyke advises students and faculty that adhering to the following tips are conducive to a safe environment at San Jacinto College. 1. Do not leave your vehicle unlocked. 2. Secure all valuables, including cash, laptops, or anything valuable that could compel someone to act. 3. If you take a night class, remember to park in well-lit areas. 4. Observe your surroundings i.e. pay attention to individuals walking through the parking lot that are looking inside of vehicles. 5. Always use your common sense when observing suspicious behavior in the parking lot.
PLEASE SEE INCIDENTS on Page 4
Photo by Harrison Lee
Students are informed of SJC policy upon entry to central campus.
San Jac commemorates its 50th Anniversary at board meeting
Van Edwards: A portrayal of his life seen through the aperture
Sept. 19, 2011 marks the first San Jacinto College day, a state holiday approved by the surrounding municipalities as well as the Texas State government, in honor of San Jac’s continued devotion to their community’s educational needs. State Senator Mike Jackson, of District 11, along with state representatives Wayne Smith (District 128) and Larry Taylor (District 24) were present. After the elected officials addressed the Board, a film was played, narrated by Dr. David LeMaster, promoting the ideology and values of San Jacinto College District. Shortly after the film was played, a series of Q&A interviews were conducted between the Chancellor, the Presidents, three alumni and three current students. Dr. Brenda Hellyer, the Chancellor of SJC, interviewed Gene Blasingame about his early days at San Jac and how he felt about the campus now. A trend started to build as Dr. John Bolen, a founding faculty member, and Dr. Gary Friery both received interviews by Dr. Maureen Murphy, president of south campus, and Dr. Allatia Harris, the president of north campus. Dr. Friery’s word to the current faculty “Get Involved!”
Van Edwards is an adjunct photography teacher at San Jacinto Central as well as University of Houston Clear Lake. He has been teaching here for 30 years now. It does not take long in listening to him to hear how passionately he enjoys living life with purpose. When asked what he liked most about teaching, Edwards replied, “I teach, really, because it is a privilege to share with others what I am learning about the world.” Every year he not only gets to share what he is learning, he gets to learn from others. Everyone has a different perspective of the world. There is always something new to learn and do. Technology is advancing rapidly. It allows us to do so much more than we could have imagined especially when we use it strategically. He encourages others to use technology wisely and pursue their passions. “If you find something you really love, which can lead to other things, you pursue those.” Teaching hasn’t always provided him with the finances that he needs, so he has used his passions like photography and building over the years to earn income. For fifteen years he had a freelance business in addition to teaching. During this time he did editorial photography, architecture, and medical photography. He also spent five years building museum exhibits for the Children’s Museum. Because he developed skills in his passions he was able to use them to do extra jobs. Not only was he able
By MICHAEL DEATS San Jacinto Times
INSIDE
Column/Commentary...2 Around San Jacinto.....3 Front Page Jumps.......4 Entertainment...........5-7
Photo courtesy of SanJac.edu
The Board is together again.
The trend that was set and the message that was being sent was the casual manner these alumni made their way to San Jac and how easy it is for people of any background to find a higher education at San Jac. Dr. Niel Matkin, President of Central Campus, broke the trend of looking to the past though, as he brought out three students currently enrolled, and interviewed them on the contributions they have made to San Jac and their future in education as well as their careers. The students were Krystell Castillo, Angie Langdon, and Adam Guevara.
PLEASE SEE SJC BOARD on Page 4
By ASHLEY CRUZ San Jacinto Times
Photo by Ashley Cruz
Professor Edwards is more than what meets the eye. to do what he enjoyed but financially he provided for his family but he was able to stay out of debt. It isn’t always easy, however if one is willing to work hard and embrace the challenges of life as opportunities, pursuing our dreams is possible. Edwards inspires us to change the world by showing others how to live in the world through how we use our skills and technology. He concludes with this: PLEASE SEE APERTURE on Page 4
Opinion/Commentary
Cheating: a problem with many facets
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 2
By KRISTINA TAYLOR San Jacinto Times
A common problem we face today is cheating. Infidelity has been an occurring issue that does not seem to be getting any better. In fact, it’s getting
worse. The technology we have today tends to make cheating a lot easier. Years ago, people could pass a secret note, and maybe they might get caught, but now we have texting. You can delete texts and have a password on your phone to keep things away from your partner. Facebook, Twitter and e-mail are other easy ways for people to cheat. These advances on technology should not be used for people to have an easier way be dishonest and unfaithful. These advances are to help communicate with the world, not to help infidelity. Some college-aged students are married, but more people are either dating, in a relationship or single. According to Christina Gregoire on Christina-gregoire.suite101.com, women who get married at an age younger than 25 make up about 64 percent of the divorce rate in the United States. At a young age, most people want to be independent and just date. People who do get married at a young age find themselves regretting their decisions and missing times where they did just date and have that independence. This can cause spouses to cheat on each other so they can get that back without leaving their partner. No one would want to be in a marriage
where someone was cheating and possibly getting a divorce, so to prevent this from happening, one idea could be to not get married at a young age. When you are married and the wife or husband cheats, it is much harder to end the relationship; it is much easier to say goodbye to someone who cheats when you are just in a relationship. People are human and will still flirt at this age, but there is definitely a line that you do not cross.
MCT Campus
For instance, asking someone to hang out one on one when having a boyfriend or girlfriend is crossing the line. Sending pictures and flirting every day, even if there is no physical cheating, it is still emotionally cheating and in my opinion unacceptable. Best thing to do is to not even put yourself in that situation if you think you cannot just be friends. If someone does cheat, they are most likely going to cheat again and from personal experience it is not
worth it. In high school, I was naive to think that since my boyfriend told me he cheated and felt guilty that he would not do it again. I thought that because I did not have to find out myself or from someone else. He told me the next day that it happened that he would change and cared. Two years later, he was not only flirting with girls but also cheated again. To this day I know he is not a bad person but he definitely did not respect me and did not care how his lying and unfaithfulness would affect me. People will try to make excuses for them and will convince themselves it will not happen again, but it almost always will. If they could not respect you after dating you a few months, they are not going to respect you any more a few months later. They will probably disrespect you even more for letting it go and why shouldn’t they when you are disrespecting yourself by staying with someone who once treated you that way? Cheating will never come to an end, but we can at least try to improve the issue. When the thought of cheating even crosses your mind then obviously something is wrong within the relationship. Instead of ignoring the problem and being unfaithful, talk to your significant other about the issues. Even going on a break could help and if not, then break up. Do not put someone through that because it is selfish. Anyone who is in a relationship with someone who has cheated or knows someone going through this, my advice is to end the relationship. Staying is basically saying that it is okay that they betrayed you, your trust and if they can get away with cheating, then they can get away with doing anything.
PETA often on the hypocritical side
Floyd again lots of flash
The dogcatcher is considered to be the mortal enemy of all dogs living on the streets. He captures poor homeless pets and imprisons them in pounds, where they face euthanasia if a home cannot be found for them. It is a well-known scenario shown in nearly every animated movie involving animals, instilling in viewers the idea that the pound is no place for a pet to end up. Except these days no kill shelters are becoming increasingly popular and most dogs no longer have anything to fear regarding the pound. That is unless PETA gets a hold of them. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA] have long been known for their radical and over sensationalizing ways, but now growing evidence of their blatant hypocrisy is beginning to materialize as well. In 2010, PETA received 2,345 animals, only 44 of which were adopted, while 2,200 of those animals were killed, according to petakillsanimals.com. PETA chooses to kill animals because it is cost effective. By killing the majority of animals they take in, PETA saves money, because they are not having to house or care for a large amount of animals. The money saved can then be poured into their advertising budget allowing the heavy promotion of new ventures like the launch of their PETA porn site. The site will feature enough pornography to earn itself a XXX domain name, but will also have information regarding the mistreatment of animals, along with undercover videos shot on farms depicting animal cruelty. These videos are meant to entice the viewer into becoming a vegetarian. Although, it seems more likely that instilling in viewers the idea that animal cruelty and sex go hand in hand would lead to other disastrous results. The mixture of adult content and animal mistreatment videos is a desperate attempt at gaining supporters through classic shock value. The money it took to create the PETA porn site could be better spent and perhaps even put towards actually saving some animals. PETA does not wish anyone to eat meat, own leather, wear fur, or attend the circus or zoo. Well regular people shouldn’t do those things, but apparently those rules do not apply to PETA representatives. In PETA’s newest ad campaign “Ink not mink” heavily tattooed celebrities are photographed naked in an attempt to show their support for animal rights. Football player, Chad Ochocinco appears in one ad holding a football with the tagline written directly above it, “Be comfortable in your own
On Saturday September 17, 2011 the WBC welterweight fight took place in Las Vegas, Nevada with two very notorious boxers. In a matter of seconds Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. got a head butt, a hug, and even a kiss from his opponent. In return to Victor Ortiz’s apology for “unintentionally” head budding him, Mayweather punched him twice and knocked him down causing the referee to end the fight in an early four rounds. Mayweather took the fast win that night. “It’s protect yourself at all times,” the boxer told the cameras. With a record of zero losses and 25 KO’s on Mayweather’s record you can say his ego is truly sky high. During the first rounds of this fight Ortiz was getting good body shots, Mayweather responding with a sarcastic grin on his face as if saying no matter what he was going to win, and was the most confident he will take the fight one way or another. But at one point the crowd began to chant “Ortiz” proving that they believed in him, and that he could be successful in the fight and hoping that he would be the underdog to finally shut Mayweather’s mouth good and for all. To both boxers this fight was important. To Mayweather of course, he not only wanted the glory but also the bragging rights to be able to say he was still undefeated if he won. But to Ortiz, it was more personal; he was the current welterweight champion and was in possession of the belt, he had to protect what belonged to him. Mayweather’s arrogance can affect and disrespects persons and take it to a different level. Earlier this year he was caught burning $100 bills in a nightclub in Atlanta. To the young boxer Ortiz this was a sign of pure nerve and disrespect, as he grew up very poor. "Burning hundred dollar bills, that's a slap in the face for anyone." Ortiz said in an episode of the show 24/7 that airs on HBO. Mayweather calls himself the “undefeated champion” the “best of the best” but can he really own up to this title? When credit was given to Mayweather for knocking out Ortiz on Saturday night many spectators were angry because this cheap shot should not have been allowed. It was not a fair blow because Ortiz was not ready. If Mayweather was a true fighter and was doing his job as a professional, he would have finished off his opponent the right way. Even after the fight when being interviewed by HBO’s Larry Merchant, Mayweather got heated when questioned about how fair the knock out was. He started talking back, cursing, and offending the 50 plus year old man. Merchant was simply doing his job as a reporter and analyst and the diva of the ring simply could not take the criticism. Even though Mayweather has been challenged several times by other strong WBC competitors such as Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, he has turned down the challenge. Proving just how big of a coward Mayweather really is. It seems he only wants to defend his title with young novice boxers as opponents. He should take on the real threat to his career and at least try to prove everyone wrong. If he is such a champion then he shouldn’t be scared. Picking and choosing his opponents do not show confidence, it only shows doubt and disbelief in him.
By MIRANDA JENKINS San Jacinto Times
skin and let animals keep theirs.” That is an interesting slogan they chose to use considering all official NFL and LFL footballs are made of leather. PETA allowed the very thing they are opposing to show up in their own ad campaign. It seems as if following their own ideals is a difficult thing for PETA. Another celebrity endorser Pamela Anderson has long been a PETA queen and has appeared in several of their ad campaigns. She opposes animal testing and claims to fight for animal rights. Or hilariously attempts to at least. Anderson contracted Hepatitis C in the mid 90’s. The medication she takes to help control this disease contains some ingredients that are tested on monkeys. It seems as if PETA conveniently forgot this tidbit. Or perhaps PETA makes an exception for Ms. Anderson since the medication is necessary for her to live. Well actually, PETA co-founder and president Ingrid Newkirk was quoted saying, "Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we'd be against it." PETA does not seem to mind paying a spokesperson that is in fact profiting off the things the organization claims to oppose. In fact, nearly every celebrity PETA has endorsed is guilty of this hypocrisy. PETA picks pretty faces that are willing to go nude, rather than finding a spokesperson whom actually agrees with their ideals. They care more about promoting their message than actually upholding it themselves. They hold the general public to a higher standard than their own representatives and a majority of contributions, made by those believing that they are helping animals, are in fact going into ridiculous marketing schemes. There is a stark difference between animal welfare groups and animal rights groups, with PETA falling into the latter. Animal rights groups believe that no animal use can be justified in any way. They wish to eradicate pets altogether and a majority do not offer shelters to house homeless animals. Animal welfare groups on the other hand provide the most care for animals on a tight budget and do not spend contributions on ridiculous, hypocritical ad campaigns. Animal Welfare groups believe in providing care and housing for animals. They seek to improve the treatment of animals, but do not believe that humans should not interact with them. Animal welfare groups such as the local SPCA, the American Kennel Club, and even PetSmart and PetCo provide animals with good care and loving homes. Animal welfare groups are leading the pack when it comes to making a significant difference in the lives of needy pets, but they are often underfunded and overlooked. Those who truly wish to make an impact in the lives of animals should choose stay away from the modern day dogcatcher that is PETA, and instead support their local animal welfare groups. EDITORS
Michael Deats, Maria Chavez
MANAGING EDITOR
San Jacinto Times
Chris Shelton
WEB EDITOR Greg Starks
ASSISTANT EDITORS Jannette Marin, Ashley Cruz, Caty Christy CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
San Jacinto College Student Publications
Harrison Lee
CIRCULATION Cristal Calvillo
ADVERTISING Sara Quintana
ADVISER Fred Faour
By LESLY DELGADO San Jacinto Times
The San Jacinto Times is published weekly by the journalism students at San Jacinto College Central, 8060 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, TX 77505. Opinions expressed herein are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the staff, its adviser, the administration or the Board of Regents. The Times encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be in good taste, accurate, free from libel, malice or personal controversy. Letters must be limited to 200 words in length. Letters submitted without the author’s signature will not be accepted.
The staff reserves the right to edit the letters for accuracy without altering the general meaning. Letters can be e-mailed to fred.faour@sjcd.edu. Letters must include name and phone number for verification. The online edition of the Times is available at www.sanjacintotimes.com. Advertising space is available for $5.00 per column inch. Special rates are available. For news tips and information on advertising, contact the Times at 281-4782752.
Around campus Espanol Norte
Lunes, Septiembre 26 • No hay actividades
Martes, Septiembre 27 • Junta de los officiales del club Rotaract, 1 p.m., Slovacek S215 • Junta del club de la Herencia Hispana, 1 p.m., C1035
Miercoles, Septiembre 28 • Junta del club de la Herencia Hispana, 1 p.m., C1035 • Junta de Phi Theta Kappa, 4:30 p.m., Lehr 208A
Jueves, Septiembre 29 • Junta de los Hombres de Honor, 11 a.m., Sloavacek S215 • Junta del club de Anime, 2 p.m., Brightwell A1025
Viernes, Septiembre 30 • No hay actividades
Sabado, Octubre 1 • No hay actividades
Domingo, Octubre 2 • No hay actividades
Lunes, Octubre 3 • No hay actividades
Central Lunes, Septiembre 26 • Junta del club Catolico, 10:30 a.m., ADMN E202 • Torneo de Billar, 11 a.m., Cuarto de Juegos en el centro estudiantil • Exhibicion de arte East West de Mason Rankin, 12:30 p.m., Galleria de bellas artes • Platica de artistas de galleria, 2:30 p.m., Galleria de bellas artes • Junta del club de psicologia, 2:30 p.m., ADMN 209
Martes, Septiembre 27 • Junta de escritores creativos, 11:30 a.m., C3257 • Junta de TSEA, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 • Noche del club de pintura, 2:30 p.m., FAB 213 • Exhibicion de arte East West de Mason Rankin, 3 p.m., Galleria de bellas artes • Gimnasio abierto, 5 p.m., Gym
Miercoles, Septiembre 28 • Junta de republicanos del colegio, 10:30 a.m., ADMN W218A • Exhibicion de arte East West de Mason Rankin, 12:30 p.m., Galleria de bellas artes • Junta de republicanos del colegio, 1 p.m., ADMN W218A • Junta de VYNE, 1:30 p.m., C3.222 • Junta de la sociedad de anime, 2 p.m., ADMN 104 • Gimnasio abierto, 5 p.m., Gym Jueves, Septiembre 29 • Exhibicion de arte East West de Mason Rankin, 12:30 p.m., Galleria de bellas artes
Viernes, Septiembre 30 • Junta de Phi Theta Kappa, 10:30 a.m., ILC 230 • Junta de la asociasion del govierno estudiantil, 11:30 a.m., ILC 155 • Exhibicion de arte East West de Mason Rankin, 12:30 p.m., Galleria de bellas artes
Sur
• Junta de juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Junta de Artes Marciales Mixtas, 6:30 p.m., GYM 6120
Lunes, Septiembre 26
• Juna de juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Martes, Septiembre 27
• Juna de juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Miercoles, Septiembre 28
• Juna de juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Jueves, Septiembre 29
Viernes, Septiembre 30 • Junta de Phi Theta Kappa, 1 p.m., 2209
Pay athletes? Why not? BY MIKE VASQUEZ San Jacinto Times
Ten seconds left, the crowd is going crazy. They have no timeouts, so it all comes down to this. The snap, he’s rolling right, looking, looking; fires in the end zone! It’s moments like these that athletes dream about. For student athletes, it’s what colleges recruit them for and it’s what they are brought to that specific school to do. Some may say it is even what they might be getting paid for. But before you start to judge these young athletes no matter what the sport, look at what these kids sacrifice in order to bring pride and glory to their schools. As we walk the halls we pass them up every day. It is almost known who is here for a scholarship and who isn’t. Athletes, however, don’t always have it as easy as we might think. There have been many controversies and investigations into colleges giving extra benefits to their star athletes. This can come from fans, boosters, or from the coaches themselves. After interviewing some of these student athletes it is clear that they all have one thing in common: They all have to sacrifice many things to play a competitive and sanctioned sport for their school. The common problem facing these students is time management and relationships. As normal students we take deadlines and seasonal breaks for granted. When Thanksgiving break comes around some of these athletes don’t even get to spend it with their families. Instead they are in another state playing in a tournament or a big TV game. In addition, they have to report to school earlier than most students. Imagine having a six page paper do in a week and throughout that week you might have a total of twelve hours to work on it due to your practice and game schedule. Imagine studying for Finals in hotels across the country while trying to balance what you need to
Commentary
know for your game as well. To top all this stress off, most student athletes have trouble keeping a relationship going due to the lack of time they have to spend with their significant other. One athlete was quoted saying,” It is almost easier to just date another athlete because normal students don’t understand the sacrifice we as athletes must make do to our sport.” Some student athletes find themselves hurting for money. With all the time they spend for their sport, there is no time to get a job. The NCAA also limits when they can work and how often. This means when their friends want to go out, or they want something to eat, they have to budget more so than a student with a job. It is Thursday night, you and your friends are at the club; these students are in a room going over film. Sacrifice might as well be in all caps on the contract that these players sign. The majority of the players all said that extra funds would help them out as far as their budgeting went. The schools make enough money off their athletic department to fund some kind of extra allowance for their student athletes. These players sacrifice more than we know to play the sport they love. With the hours they put in it might as well be a full time job. Though there have been some negative examples of student athletes taking special treatment, there are still those who view that they need to work just as hard as anyone else for their grades and things they get in college. However, seeing as how they sacrifice so much because they are in the spotlight more than the average student, they deserve compensation. So before we are quick to judge, we should really look at what these student athletes go through. Nothing is ever what it seems, and in some unique situations, monetary consideration would be a blessing to these students. Until the NCAA changes the rules, I believe we will continue to see investigations and scandals. These young athletes sacrifice a lot for their schools, so the least we and the NCAA could do is help them ease the load and pressure they have on their young shoulders.
A state of history in this class BY HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times
Did Davy Crockett really wear that Coonskin outfit? Is the Yellow Rose Of Texas song really based on what the urban legend says it is? Answers to all these questions and more can all be answered in one class at San Jac’s Central Campus. Marcus Turner teaches Texas History at Central
Marcus Turner
broad spectrum information in the course was. For those wishing to take the class, as either elective or pre-requisite, Professor Turner has sage advice. “In Texas, the Legislature believes history is so important as a discipline and subject matter, the we Texans should specifically know our history, for obvious reasons. All undergraduates are required to take six hours of History, but in Texas they can take Texas History instead of one of the three-hour US History courses. It is State Law that if you transfer to a University in Texas the course can count in lieu of another History class.” When asked if the class is off the bat interesting, Professor Turner vehemently says yes. “The class is a microcosm of what happened and what is happening. Look at the Industrial Revolution; you get to see the mark it made in Texas. There are a lot of interesting things about Texas. I have so much fun with it because it’s here and it’s local. Students can look at it and touch it. You can read about the Battle Of San Jacinto, then drive ten minutes and tour the actual battle site.” Turner emphasizes. “Texas is a fascinating place. I think Texans in general like to view themselves as unique. In this particular political climate, it’s important to understand that Texans like to hold themselves up as exceptional. It’s an interesting phenomenon.” Professor Turner is convinced students will leave his class with a broader outlook. “Texas is a fascinating place with a very interesting history. The diversity that came into play here is amazing. People have always been drawn to Texas. All that has blended together.”
Celebrate the 50th with San Jacinto BY HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times
8 DAYS A WEEK North
Monday, September 26 • No Scheduled Activities
Tuesday, September 27 • Rotaract Club Officers’ Meeting, 1 p.m., Slovacek S215 • Hispanic Heritage Club Meeting, 1 p.m., Burleson C1035
Wednesday, September 28 • Hispanic Heritage Club Meeting, 1 p.m., Burleson C1035 • Phi Theta Kappa Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Lehr 208A
Thursday, September 29 • Men of Honor Meeting, 11 a.m., Slovacek S215 • Anime Club Meeting, 2 p.m., Brightwell A1025
Friday, September 30 • No Scheduled Activities
Saturday, October 1 • No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, October 2 • No Scheduled Activities
Monday, October 3
Central
• No Scheduled Activities
Monday, September 26
• Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., ADMN E202 • Billiards Tournament, 11 a.m., Student Center Game Room • Mason Rankin East West Art Exhibit, 12:30 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery • Artist Gallery Talk, 2:30 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery • Psychology Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., ADMN 209
Tuesday, September 27 • Creative Writers’ Meeting, 11:30 a.m., C3.257 • TSEA Meeting, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 • Gay-Straight Alliance Meeting, 2:30 p.m., ADMN C3.204 • Paint Club Night, 2:30 p.m., FAB 213 • Mason Rankin East West Art Exhibit, 3 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery • Open Gym, 5 p.m., Physical Education Building
Wednesday, September 28
COURSE FOCUS
Campus, but that wasn’t always the case. His Bachelors Degree from Baylor is centric to Education with a specialization in Modern European History, while his Master’s Degree from the University of Houston is in Historical Studies with a specialization in Modern American History. He stumbled into Texas History almost by happy accident. “I was hired here to teach Western Civilization,” Professor Turner explained. “It was predominantly my background. After about five years or so, I was looking for something else.” At that time, the Texas History class at Central had fallen into something near antiquity. “Professor Wilson, who had taught Texas History for years and years had retired. They were using adjuncts to fill it. The class had fallen down to one section of twelve or fourteen students,” Turner said, chuckling at the memory. “The Department Chair had asked if anyone was interested in taking over the Texas History section, and I said ‘sure, I’ll do that’.” As a native Texan, and the son of a Texas History teacher, Professor Turner grew up with what he termed ‘The Texas History Vacation’. Condensed, this means his vacations consisted of driving across the State while his father pointed out famous landmarks. This left an imprint that grew into a love of Lone Star history. Turner spent a year reading up on all things Texas History before taking over the course and building lectures. “It just gave me intellectual stimulation that I had not had. To me Texas gave me that.” The class begins with Prehistoric movements and streams all the way into the Modern Era. I took the class last semester and found myself agape at how in-depth and
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 3
Interested in being a part of the making of San Jacinto College history? If so, be at the Central Campus track on Tuesday, October 4, at 4 p.m. sharp to mark the 50th Anniversary of the college by forming, you guessed it, a giant human “50” photo. The College estimates about 600 students are needed for this endeavor, so bring along anyone you know on campus that might be interested. If you should have a San Jacinto College uniform [athletics, cosmetology, allied health, automotive and so on], please wear it. San Jacinto College apparel is also recommended, but not required. If you wish to obtain any school apparel or memorabilia, it is available at each campus bookstore.
• College Republicans Meeting, 10:30 a.m., ADMN W218A • Mason Rankin East West Art Exhibit, 12:30 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery • College Republicans Meeting, 1 p.m., ADMN W218A • VYNE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., C3.222 • Anime Society Meeting, 2 p.m., ADMN 104 • Open Gym, 5 p.m., Physical Education Building
Thursday, September 29 • Mason Rankin East West Art Exhibit, 3 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery
Friday, September 30 • Phi Theta Kappa Meeting, 10:30 a.m., ILC 230 • Student Government Association Meeting, 11:30 a.m., ILC 155 • Mason Rankin East West Art Exhibit, 12:30 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery • Latin American Student Organization Meeting, 12:30 p.m., c3.204 • Cycling Club Meeting, 1 p.m., C20.222
Saturday, October 1 • No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, October 2 • No Scheduled Activities
Monday, October 3
South
• No Scheduled Activities
Monday, September 26
• Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Mixed Martial Arts Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Gym 6120
Tuesday, September 27 • Mixteco Ballet Folklorico, 11:30 a.m., Atrium • Student Bible Fellowship Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Game Room • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Wednesday, September 28 • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Thursday, September 29 • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Friday, September 30 • Phi Theta Kappa Meeting, 1 p.m., 2209
Saturday, October 1 • No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, October 2 • No Scheduled Activities
Monday, October 3 • No Scheduled Activities
Jumps, etc.
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 4
Gator Slam offers fun for North Campus students
Ephran Garza prepares to swing the sledge hammer.
Photos by Chris Shelton
Students participate in an assortment of activities at North Campus during Gator Slam.
David Rodriguez is ready to challenge his strength.
INCIDENTS Continued from Page 1
SJC BOARD Continued from Page 1
Castillo, a Marine, is pursuing a degree in Criminal Law as well as Criminal Justice was the first interviewed, followed by Langdon, who is pursuing an associates degree in Applied Science. Following them was Guevara, with his goals. Adam Guevara followed in his sisters’ footsteps by coming to San Jac, and intends to obtain a Masters Degree in Psychology. He expressed his interest in student counseling as a career option, and promoted the Student Life club as well as the Gay Straight Alliance. After the Interviews the special assembly concluded as the regular board affairs began. Concluding the meeting, attendees were treated to punch and cake in the lobby, commemorating SJCD’s Anniversary.
6. Do not be afraid to dial 281-476-5555 or 5555 by ext because the San Jac Police Department will gladly escort students to their cars at night. 7. Importantly, never engage if you encounter someone involved in illicit activities. Preempting incidents like these are a very high priority for the San Jac Police Department because safety is the paramount objective. Sgt. Ludwig stated “Our biggest asset are the students and faculty.” These events come on the heels of many new additions to the San Jac Police Department this school year. The new hires will be expected to perform admirably early to ward off danger and protect the assets of the college. This situation validates the need for added campus security, as all students and faculty expect not to worry about such issues. San Jac student Becca Robertson agreed stating, “Yes the new hires were necessary and this incident proves it.” To this point students still have faith in the SJC Police and their ability to provide a safe academic environment. “I have confidence in the San Jac Police Department,” said Central Campus student Simone Samira. Students are also encouraged to visit the Police
Department and view the Daily Crime Log, which is a visual account of every incident that requires a report. A brief synopsis from every incident that occurs at each campus will be available within 12 hours of the time of the filed report. All students are entitled to view the Daily Crime Log. The Daily Crime Log includes everything from minor traffic accidents to the more serious aforementioned burglaries. No reports have been filed at North or South Campus to this point, obviously because there are less students and less overall traffic. The Daily Crime Log is important because it allows students to stay informed and aware of their surroundings. It is also quick and easy proposition because of its convenience to central campus students, as all it takes is a quick visit to the San Jac Police Department. Students should also be informed that, per San Jac policy, the college is not responsible for damage or theft of private property. There is a sign posted, though it is easily overlooked, at the marquee entrance to Central Campus. Students should be aware that their property would not be replaced in the case of an incident.
APERTURE Continued from Page 1
“It’s your life with the likes of which nobody has ever known in the whole history of the world-past, present, future- there has never been one such as you, there will never again be one such as you.What do you do with that? You give it away. You use your gifts and talents and give them away creatively, constructively.” Edwards is 66 years old and has been happily married for 39 years now. He has two children whom are both engaged to be married so it is a very exciting time for he and his wife. Edwards’ hobbies include photography, music, and building/carpentry. His son, Joshua Edwards, has recently published his first book of poetry called Campeche which also features his father’s photography.
News/Entertainment
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 5
A look into missing persons reports: know the rules By TIFFANY SEXTON San Jacinto Times
Imagine if you were that parent for just a moment. In a store you hear a child screaming because their parent would not let them have a certain toy? You turn your back to put the toy on the shelf, and once you turn to look back at the child, they have disappeared. Instantly your heart starts racing, you think to yourself they were just right here so they could not have gone far. So you walk down a couple of aisles, and suddenly they are not anywhere to be found. You can feel your hands getting sweaty and you start to panic. You find yourself running, and starting to cry, telling yourself how silly it was to get upset, and if only you could find them you would buy them every toy in the store. Before you know it you start frantically asking strangers if they have seen your child. You begin showing them a picture on your phone; you start asking anyone that will listen if they saw your child disappear. Suddenly it hits you that your child is missing. Police reports, flyers, distraught families, and private investigators are all outcomes of a missing person case. “The federal government counted 840,279 missing persons cases in 2001. All but about 50,000 were juveniles, classified as anyone younger than 18,” stated by author David Krajicek. The amount of missing people escalates every year as the population expands. Since 1980 the reports of missing persons has increased from roughly 150,000 to 900,000 this year, confirmed David Krajicek. The classic statement everyone relays is, “That will never happen to me”, but the statistics show otherwise. “An astounding 2,300 Americans are reported missing every day, including both adults and children;” Krajicek explained further. Sadly this reality happened to a mother living in Texas by the name of Sandra West. Her daughter Sharon West is 15 years old and has been missing since July 30, 2011. “Sharon West is described as a white female, 5'6" tall, 115 lbs., with deep red hair on top of her head and purple underneath. She has a mole below her left eye,” said reporter David Lohr. Also “she has a tattoo that says ‘love’ on her left wrist and ‘hate’ on her right wrist;” confirmed Courtney Francisco. She was living with a family friend in Fannett at the time of her disappearance while her mother was looking for a job. Her mother was trying to get settled in Irving where Sharon would start school next fall. “Sharon West's friend, Austin Meaux, last saw her at the residence in the 11100 Block of Gaulding Road at about 2 a.m.,” said Lohr. There is much speculation surrounding her friend’s involvement because none are talking. Sharon disappeared without a trace, without evidence, without anything.
Photo courtesy of elliscountyobserver.com
Have you seen Sharon West?
Missing persons cases are common and they can happen anywhere.
“West sent a text message to a friend at about 5:20 a.m., saying she was at the Seabreeze Youth Club's soccer field, a couple of miles from where she was staying. Roughly 40 minutes later, West used her cell phone to contact another friend and again indicated she was at the soccer field. According to police the area is a popular hangout area for kids. West did not contact any other friends after that and her cell phone died shortly thereafter;” confirmed by Lohr. That is the last anyone has seen or heard of Sharon since July 30. One issue that has been brought up is why there was no amber alert for Sharon. According to Deputy Rod Carroll, each state has its own criteria for issuing Amber Alerts. The U.S. Department of Justice has issued minimum standards or guidelines for Amber Alerts that states can adopt voluntarily. These guidelines are: Law enforcement must confirm that an abduction has taken place. The child is at risk of serious injury or death. There is sufficient descriptive information of child, captor or captor’s vehicle. The child must be 17 years old or younger,” blogger Julie Garcia confirmed. The biggest controversy is that she has been labeled as a runaway before. The public is curious
MCT Campus
to the fact that she could just be seeking attention, although the family thinks otherwise. “’I don’t believe she ran away,’ Foreman told The Huffington Post, noting West did not take any clothes or personal belongings –other than her cell phone-- with her. ‘This is out of character for her,’ Sandra West added. ‘She would have contacted us,’” confirmed Lohr. The problem with her being a runaway before causes the law enforcement not to issue an amber alert as quickly. They do not know without a doubt if she is in danger despite all the family’s concern. Sharon West’s family and friends are deeply upset by this tragedy. All they ask is for Sharon to come home, or to find out what happened to her. “Anyone with information is asked to contact Beaumont Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS or the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 409-835-8411. A Facebook page, "Help Find Sharon West" has also been created,” Lohr explained. The main advice to take with you is always tell your loved ones that you love them because you never know what tomorrow will bring. If you ever get into a situation where your child goes missing, here are the most important tips to keep with you at
Celebrating Mexico’s independence
all times from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website: --If your child is missing, search the house checking closets, piles of laundry, in and under beds, inside large appliances, and inside vehicles, including trunks—wherever a child may crawl or hide. --If you still cannot find your child, immediately call your local law enforcement agency. --If your child disappears in a store, notify the store manager or security office. Then immediately call your local law-enforcement agency. Many stores have a Code Adam plan of action— if a child is missing in the store, employees immediately mobilize to look for the missing child. --When you call law enforcement, provide your child's name, date of birth, height, weight, and any other unique identifiers such as eyeglasses or braces. Tell them when you noticed that your child was missing and what clothing he or she was wearing. --Request that your child's name and identifying information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File. --After you have reported your child missing to law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) on our toll-free telephone number: 1-800-THE-LOST (1800-843-5678). Or you can use our Live Hotline to talk to NCMEC through our web site.
By JANNETTE MARIN San Jacinto Times
On Sept. 15, 2011, a celebration took place at the Miller Outdoor Theater and about 13,000 people attended wearing the three original colors; red, white, and green. Can you guess what Houston celebrated that night? It was Mexico’s Independence Day. No one at the event came without Mexico-centric attire. Everyone had Mexico shirts, brought their flags, and some people even went so far as to have their face painted. While the sun was setting and the stars were falling, everyone was waiting eagerly for the show to start. The event started with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and ended with the singing of the Mexican anthem. Every year this celebration is one of the biggest held at the Miller Outdoor Theater and many local sponsors such as Univision 45 and Telefutura 67 were part of it. That night we were all looking forward to the performance of Mariachi del Sol de Mexico, directed by Jose Hernandez, a tradition started in 1981. This 14-member orchestrated Mariachi group is known worldwide and were proud to come to Houston and perform their beautiful music. Sol de Mexico has shared the stage with some of the most brilliant performers, such as Vicente Fernandez, Luis Miguel, Rocio Durcal, Selena, Green Day, and the list goes on. The records of Luis Miguel have been nominated for Grammy awards and it is a tribute to the impact of Jose that Sol de Mexico was invited to play at the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards. More than the credits and awards, it’s the love and passion for music Mariachi del Sol carries in their heart and veins. Towards the end of the show the crowd knew were to be to take a picture with them and I was one of the people to ask the group members a few questions. 22-year-old Roberto Diaz, trumpet player, was asked, “You must be very busy practicing, does it give you any time for school?” His response was, “ I attend school in the morning, Monday through Friday and I practice everyday. It is
Level: 1
2
3 4
Photo provided by Jannette Marin
Jannettee Marin poses with her favorite Mariachi band.
very hard to manage my time, but I can do it. In this field is better to wait for marriage and kids because we tour a lot and there’s no time for that yet.” He added. This magnificent celebration of Mexican Independence Day couldn’t be any better without the inspirational crowd and the joy that Mariachi del Sol brought to us with their unique sound. We hope to see their presence again in the City of Houston.
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
10/16/11
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit
www.sudoku.org.uk
© 2011 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Entertainment/Reviews
Tha Carter IV makes a BBy GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times
After much anticipation, Tha Carter IV is finally here. Lil' Wayne's series of “Tha Carter...” have set many sales records, both on-line and in stores, and The fourth installment is no different. It sold 300,000 copies online in it's first four days, which broke the iTunes record previously set by Watch The Throne, Kanye West and Jay-z's latest release(also featured this week). Tha Carter IV also got the second highest first week sales behind Lady Gaga's Born This Way. All of the commercial success received by this album could have possibly never existed. There was a collection of tracks that were recorded and destined to become Tha Carter IV, but due to Lil' Wayne being sentenced to a one year prison sentence in Rikers Island for the illegal possession of a firearm, all work on the album had to be suspended. While Wayne was incarcerated the decision was made to release the already recorded tracks as an EP entitled I Am Not A Human Being. Wayne felt that the vibe of the album would likely suffer due to the long gap between the sessions of recording the tracks for The Carter IV. He decided to start fresh on recording when he was released from prison four months early for good behavior while in protective custody at Rikers Island. The resulting work of the “new” The Carter IV is one of a obviously different Lil' Wayne. His deliveries are less exaggerated and much more subdued, which is quite the
contrary to what Wayne is known for. His energy is not there on many of the tracks, but the blunt smoking still is. The overall feel I have from the album is more like that of a greatest hits or compilation album. It lacks a theme or an attitude I expect from an artist like Wayne. Perhaps the reality check of federal penal system has reigned in the outlandishness Lil' Wayne has been known for over the past few years. I personally enjoy the absence of his childlike ad-libs and laughing on the tracks. I must say that it is definitely not as “krunk” as his other stuff though. The production is stellar which is normal for a Lil' Wayne album because he primarily works with the best producers in the country; Diplo, Drum up, Detail and several others. There are six singles that have been released off of this album. That is a lot, even for Lil' Wayne(III had four, II and I had three). A Wayne record always has lots of guest rappers and singers, and IV is no exception. Bun-B, Nas, Andre 3000, Busta rhymes, John Legend, Rick Ross, and Jadakiss are all featured on the album.
While this installment of Tha Carter series does not come as hard as the others, it is still a solid hip-hop record on its own, and definitely worth an add to the media library. I would give it an overall grade of a B-. It's strong production and guest verses are reason enough to want to listen, so press play, crank the subs up to 11 and enjoy.
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 6
Local concert calendar By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times
Sept. 26 Joe Jonas, Jay Sean, Jojo- House of Blues Blink 182, My Chemical Romance, Matt & Kim-Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sept. 27 Peter, Bjorn and John-Warehouse Live Acid Baby Jesus, Mikey and the Drags, Hell Shovel, Psychic Palms-Mangos Mona, Funeral Party- Fitzgeralds
Sept. 28 Bring Me The Horizon, Parkway Drive, Architects UK, Deez Nuts, On Broken Wings- House of Blues Morning After Girls, Black Box Revelation, The Jealous Creatures- Fitzgeralds Sept. 29 Junior Boys with Egyptrixx- Fitzgeralds(upstairs) Rocky Votolato & Matt Pond PA- Fitzgeralds(downstairs) Mild Mannered with The A.M. Prowlers and Grog- Mangos Sept. 30
Basshunter- Stereo Live Cymbals Eat Guitars with Hooray for Earth- Fitzgeralds(upstairs) Only Beast, The Illegal Wiretaps, Murder The Stout, Devil Killing MothFitzgeralds(downstairs) Oct. 1 Gang Gang Dance with Prince Rama- Fitzgeralds The Script with Hot Chelle Ray- House of Blues Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs- Verizon Wireless Theatre
Reasons to Watch The Throne
Photo By Google Images
By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times
Take two commercial hip-hop Goliaths, tons of eclectic samples and some of the best producers in the music industry, put that through some speakers...then what do you get? Watch The Throne,was originally slated to be a five track EP, but through the recording it was lengthened to a full length album. It is easily the best hip-hop record I have heard in a very long time. The production is a refreshing change from typical hip-hop drums and bass. RZA, Swiss Beatz, Mike Dean, The Neptunes, Q-Tip and 88-Keys, under the master-mind of Kanye West bring some great beats to the forefront on the record. The sampling is rampant, as you can expect from Kanye West, and include excerpts from some amazing artists like Curtis Mayfield, James Brown and Ottis Redding. Kanye and Jay-Z obviously wanted to do something wildly different with this project, and I am here to say that they went above and beyond on Watch The Throne. The record runs the gammit of musical genres. It touches everything from dub-step, to Indie-rock and R&B, while still keeping a steady head-bob inducing hip-hop undertone. It is a very active record and the
energy is really infectious. The ubber-confident delivery styles of Kanye and JayZ shine on the record and pair with the impeccable production very well. The writing is different for the two MCs as well, instead of the typical braggadocio style the two actually refer to things other than designer clothes and million dollar cars. Theres is a really heavy emotional feel to the record and it contains some introspectiveness and some uplifting narratives. The two refer to great leaders in time and to several religious figures throughout the album, often likening themselves to their references and declaring their greatness. If the two keep releasing work like Watch The Throne, you can bet that we will be hearing a lot more from these two over the next couple of decades, and I hope they do because I like it, and it obviously works well. This record is the best hip-hop album that has been released this year, and it shows how truly talented Kayne West and Jay-Z are. The record is already platinum and was only released in August, that says a lot. I give it an A+, and again, if I could give it more +’s I would, but since I cannot, an A+ it will stay. I recommend that you acquire this album as soon as possible by whatever means you deem necessary because it will definitely change your perception of what real hip-hop music is.
Drive is a bloody good ride
Photo By Google Images
By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times
There are basically four characters in the new Nicolas Winding Refn movie Drive: Ryan Gosling, the City of Los Angeles, the soundtrack, and the beautifully unflinching violence that had the entire theater simultaneously captivated and cringing. You can be a film snob of the highest degree, but if you’re even slightly unnerved by the continued presence of prolonged scenes of stylized yet pitiless violence, you should probably stick to the source material, James Sallis’ 2005 novel of the same name. From the opening credits, which show that Gosling can do more acting with his eyes than most people can with a full script, you get the feeling that you’re not so much watching as you’re witnessing a very well done piece of guerilla street theatre. To those not familiar with the genre concept of “Neo-Noir”, Drive serves as an almost tour book introduction for everything you need to know about the field. The film, from the breathtakingly silent open sequence, seems like a wonderful mash-up of Bullitt and No Country For Old Men.
Photo By Google Images
Gosling’s character, Driver, seems to be a careful and heartfelt tribute to the silent yet always expressive heroes of Noir films from the 40s to the mid 70s. His stoic nature is reminiscent of Steve McQueen’s Frank Bullitt while his odd fascination and longing for his unorthodox femme fatale, played to paranoia perfection by Carey Mulligan, is almost a direct tribute to Alian Delon’s sociopathic yet overly caring Jef Costello from 1967’s Le Samouraï. Gosling has an almost restrained manic way of getting his character from one scenario to another, regardless of body count. Factually speaking, most of Gosling’s lines have between four and ten words in them. It sounds hokey, maybe even trite, but all the lines he gets across through his facial expressions add to his minimalist approach to his
character. Previously touched on, the sadistically chic violence is possibly one of the most enjoyable parts of the movie. It’s not in the same vein as Saw or Hostel ‘gore porn’, or the pseudo-pedantic slobbery found in Fight Club. It is, in a term, glamorously demented. It’s the kind of brutality we imagine happens when we drive through a particularly rough part of town late at night. No punches are pulled and no sound is left unmagnified. The end result, at the viewing I went to, was something so bloody, yet entrancing we in the theater squeezed handprints into our armrests but never once broke eye contact with the screen.
A flowing mix of low-key instrumental jazz and moderately chaotic electronic music further illuminates sweeping and panoramic shots of the Los Angeles skyline. It almost seems like the music we hear in our heads whenever we pass a lit up Downtown Houston at night. The soundtrack serves as a plot device in the vein of Goodfellas, with the music dictating the mood in a pre-set manner Packaged in a taut and concise 100 minutes, Drive has a weird little way of making you look at the cast less like actors and more like the unseemly characters you might see on Telephone Road after eleven P.M. You feel unquestionably morbid for being so engrossed in their glossy yet grimy lives. The suspect character of Bernie Rose, played deftly and almost uncomfortably well by Albert Brooks, reminds everyone of a boss or coworker who probably had dirty hands from something or another. While solidly Four Stars, a film like Drive is something that transcends the banal “Yes, I recommend it” stamp. You shouldn’t go see it just because it’s the best movie I’ve seen in at least a solid year. You should see it because it’s so violent, so tense, so moving you’ll have a genuinely hard time trying to figure out what you’re watching. My advice? Enjoy the ride.
Around campus
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 7
Deus Ex: Human Revolution a sweet choice for PS3 By JACOB KESSINGER San Jacinto Times
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a first-person stealth role-playing game for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 consoles. DEHR is a prequel of the original Deus Ex, which was produced by industry legend Warren Spector and released in 2000. Deus Ex was a revolutionary gaming masterpiece, and DEHR, while not revolutionary, is a fantastic title in its own right. DEHR, much like the original, puts you in the cybernetic boots of a heavily “augmented” ex-soldier turned international detective. “Augments” are implanted robotic limbs and organs that replace and enhance the functions of their human counterparts. The original Deus Ex accomplished augmentation with nanotechnology, but since DEHR is set 25 years before the original, it features the far less organic method of simply bolting robotic arms and legs onto torsos. The resulting artistic effect enhances the games philosophical theme of the perils of “transhumanism;” the more of your human body you replace, the less human you look and the less human you actually are. The art style can be described as a sort of cyber-sepia. The protagonist, Adam Jensen, sees the world through amber-colored sunglasses that display the First Person Shooter [FPS] standard heads up display for health, energy, ammunition, etc. Though the amber hue can get a little monotonous, it nevertheless exhibits a cohesive artistic flair that really sets it apart from the glut of sci-fi shooters on the market today. What really makes DEHR different is what made Deus Ex unique: the gameplay. Though it is an FPS, DEHR has less in common with lightning fast multiplayer games like Halo or Call of Duty and more in common with cerebral, story driven titles like BioShock or Mass Effect. Like the original, objectives and obstacles can be accomplished or overcome in several ways. Developer Eidos Montreal names the DEHR’s “pillars of gameplay” as combat, stealth, hacking, and social. Any or all of these may be combined in order to advance through the game. For instance, an alarm system connected to a laser grid blocks Jensen from his next objective. If tripped, enemies will swarm to that location and attempt to eliminate the threat. Jensen can take the direct combat approach by tripping the alarm and simply shooting everyone with the
Google Images
game’s cover based mechanics, or, provided the player has purchased the necessary augment, activate Jensen’s temporary invisibility and simply walk right through the grid undetected. Alternately, he can hack the alarm to deactivate the grid, or on rare occasions, convince a non-player character to simply let Jensen advance to the next objec-
tive. Normally any and all of these elements will be combined in order to advance, but the predominant play-style is entirely up to the player. Jensen can kill everyone that crosses his path, knock them unconscious with gas, tranquilizer darts, a stun gun, and robotic fists, or simply bypass threats by sneaking, hiding, and turning invisible. The equipment, augments, and different paths provide the player with countless options. Though DEHR nails many aspects of the stealth FPS genre, it makes a couple of missteps as well. Boss battles are incongruent with most of the rest of the game, which encourages stealth over direct conflict. Instead of providing multiple combat options, the game simply throws Jensen into a locked room with a heavily armored and augmented super soldier that can reduce his health to nothing in seconds. Health and energy pick-ups and ammo are lazily strewn about these arenas, as are pillars from which Jensen must hide behind in order to take pot shots and chip away at the bosses’ health. These battles are difficult, frustrating, limited, and in no way reflect the gameplay tenets of the Deus Ex series. Possibly the most irritating flaw is a simple design feature that unnecessarily limits stealth gameplay. The most silent and effective way to eliminate enemies in DEHR is to simply sneak up behind them and take them out with an instant win takedown that features a slick third person animation. This requires the use of one battery, but only one of Jensen’s batteries recharges at a time, and it does so slowly. This means that in order to use an augment, such as invisibility, and then perform a takedown, Jensen must wait until his first battery charges and then must eat a protein bar (yes, it’s that silly) in order to attain the necessary two full batteries. Imagine if Solid Snake had to chow down on a protein shake before he could perform a stealth takedown, or if Marcus Fenix had to refuel his Lancer before bisecting a Locust with its chainsaw. Developer Eidos Montreal should have taken a cue from nearly every other game that features a takedown mechanism by making it unlimited. Despite frustrating boss battles and one unnecessary gameplay limitation, DEHR is a superb addition to the stealth FPS genre, a worthy prequel in the Deus Ex series, and a fantastic first triple A title in the all-important holiday gaming season. Fans of the original Deus Ex or of the Metal Gear series should definitely pick it up, and everyone else should at least rent it. I rate DEHR a very respectable 9/10.
Sometimes we need a little positive reinforcement By ASHLEY CRUZ San Jacinto Times
Dear Friend, Here we are at the start of the semester and already you are weighed down. Life has been difficult for you. The obstacles you are facing have brought disappointment, discouragement, or even sacrifice. Sometimes your dreams seem impossible. Sometimes you feel insignificant. All great things are worth fighting for, especially you. So over the next few months, we want to be here for you. I hope
these words from friends over the next few months bring a smile to your face as we do our best to encourage you in your journey of life. Sincerely, Ashley
Attending college is a significant part of anyone’s life. It is a time of pursuing dreams, training for a carrier, and developing skills as an effective individual in the world. It can also be a very stressful part of our lives though. We all balance school, work, friends, family, and activities all at the same
NEED A PARKING PERMIT?
Beginning July 26, 2011 2011-2012 permits available at the Business Office ONLY
Here’s what you need to get your free permit:
• Students – San Jac picture ID, San Jac ID (G00#), and vehicle license plate number
• San Jac Employees – San Jac picture ID, San Jac ID (G00#), and the contact information for your department (extension, building, office number, etc.) • Contract Employees – Company Name or Department, Your Name, social security, driver’s license or state ID number, and the contact information for your company or department (extension, building, office number, etc.)
• Motorcycle – San Jac picture ID, San Jac ID (G00#), and vehicle license plate number
• Special/Handicap – State issued driver’s license, San Jac ID (G00#), vehicle license plate number, and appropriate documentation (handicap placard, doctor’s note, etc.)
• Temporary (rental, new vehicle) – San Jac picture ID, San Jac ID (G00#), and vehicle license plate number or temporary plate number. Business Office Hours: M-Th- 8:00am-7:00pm, F-8:00am-4:30pm
time. Some even balance being a parent on top of everything. In addition, some of us carry the weight of depression, doubt, fear, anxiety about the future, making the right decisions, or discouragement in pursuing our dreams. We all face obstacles in life, whether big or small. We are not alone. In some way, we have all experienced pain and struggle. Every week this semester YOU will have the opportunity to help build the community at San Jacinto by sharing words of encouragement and advice to those who are facing some of these challenges.
If you want to encourage someone, or have any questions, please e-mail me at cruz.a5643@student.sanjac.edu. I will be including your messages in the paper as we encourage people facing a specific challenge each week. Our first issue will come out next week. We will be speaking to those who have courageously decided to attend college again after years outside of schooling. Sincerely, Ashley
September 26, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 8
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If you require special accommodations for any condition or disability please call (281) 283-2515 by September 23. *With transcripts (which will not be returned) and required test scores; MHA/MBA, MHA, Professional Psychology, Counseling, Doctorate D octoratte E Educational ducattional L Leadership ead dership an and nd iinternational nternattional sstudents tudents aare re n not ot eeligible ligible ffor or oon-the-spot n-the-spot ad admissions. dmissions. **The $$35 **The 35 application ap pplicattion ffee ee w will ill n not ot bbee as assessed ssessed ffor or sstudents tudents w who ho ssubmit ubmit an n aapplication pplicattion ffor or ad admissions dmissions d during uring O Open pen H House. ouse. IInternational nternattional sstudents tudents w will ill h have$35 ave$35 d deducted educted ffrom rom ttheir heir $$75 75 aapplication pplication ffee. ee.