THE
San Jacinto Times
Smoking limits around campus have become a topical issue this week. Page 2
The voice of San Jacinto College since 1991
SJC students ‘two step’ for cure October 17, 2011
The Student Publication of the San Jacinto College District
Vol. 22, No. 5
Check out our staff blog at www.sanjactimesstaff@wordpress.com
The anticipation level for this edition of the Gears of War series is unprecedented. Page 4
Big Tex and The Times enjoyed both the Red River Rivalry and State Fair. Page 6
Photo by Michael Deats/San Jacinto Times
A GOOD CAUSE: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and San Jac is bringing recognition with the art of dance. Many students and staff showed up and put their best foot forward by performing dance moves and participating in a movement.
San Jac selected as Leader College after students achieve dreams By CHRIS SHELTON San Jacinto Times
Achieving the Dream is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping community college students. Their goal is to expedite the success of higher learning institutions across the country. There is a network of 160 Achieving the Dream community colleges nationwide with 30 states, also including the District of Columbia, that are participating. Achieving the Dream recently designated 23 new leader colleges and San Jacinto College was among the few selected. According to achievingthedream.org, “Institutions that have met high standards of practice and performance are recognized as ‘Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges.’ They have enlisted institutions who demonstrate commitment and progress on its four principals for three years now.
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In order to qualiinvolved interventions around fy, a community campus and students now enjoy college must the benefits. These interventions [San Jac] clearly show a were limited to meet a specific tardeserve(s) enormous recognition for get audience, according to sancommitment to leadership, use of jac.edu. In all, 27 percent of the their focus on equity and excellence and student body were affected by the evidence to improve programs new measures. their extraordinary contributions and services, Achieving the Dream President broad engagement, and CEO, William Truehart was to their community and our and systemic instiproud of the progress made, telling tutional improvesanjac.edu “San Jacinto College Nation. ment. has carefully analyzed student outThe San Jac comes evidence and has impleadministration has -Achieving the Dream President and CEO, mented sustained positive studentWilliam Truehart taken these four centered changes. They deserve principals to heart enormous recognition for their and substantive fruit were born. focus on equity and excellence and their extraordiThe process to becoming a leader college nary contributions to their community and our
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Nation.” The Fall-to-Spring persistence rate has steadily improved since 2007, peaking at 78 percent up from 73 percent, in 2010. San Jac used a combination of direct student programs and interventions that have garnered positive results. San Jac now offers Men of Honor, free tutoring, a student success course, mandatory new student orientation and First Year Experience Calling Program. San Jac has shown initiative and it has paid dividends as evidenced by the positive results. “This is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff, and the commitment of our Board of Trustees who have allocated resources to fund innovative projects to help students complete their courses and certificate or degree program,” said SJC Chancellor, Dr. Brenda Hellyer.
A dynamo of a new place
Sore spots? SJC can help
With its futuristic and innovative design the new Houston Dynamo stadium will be one of the best facilities for a true soccer fanatic to enjoy a soccer match. The 2,200 ton steel stadium will be an advanced state of the art structure located southeast of the well-known Minute Maid Park in the Downtown district of Houston. The Dynamo stadium will be the first of its kind, as it will be the first downtown soccer specific- stadium in the United States. Location, location, location, one of the most important things in realty is where a venue is located. In this case the location of the stadium is very convenient. People tend to like to keep the party going, go out and have fun after an intense match. So, the downtown area is just perfect as a location. This will not just benefit the Dynamo team, but it will help the city of Houston bring more spectators to this attraction. It is one more thing Houston can add to its repertoire.
We have entered into the second month of the semester, which unfortunately means our backs are aching from hunching over our textbooks during long study sessions. Well take a study break and come receive an affordable 50-minute massage now available at San Jacinto College Central Campus. It is an easy, budget happy solution to rid you of all those aches and pains. The Massage Therapy Program is a fairly new, one-year program being offered at SJC. It was launched in the spring of 2010 and includes over 350 hours of education in the science of therapeutic bodywork and 192 hours of classroom, lab and clinical courses. According to www.bls.gov massage therapists can specialize in over 80 different types of massages. Gaining a license in massage therapy opens doors to varying careers including working in spas, salons and resorts, rehabilitation clinics, elder care facilities and hospitals or even the possibility of owning your own business. Around 57 percent of licensed massage therapists are selfemployed. Employment is expected to experience serious growth between now and 2018, says www.bls.gov. Spas are continuing to increase in
By LESLY DELGADO San Jacinto Times
INSIDE
Column/Commentary...2 Around San Jacinto.....3 Front Page Jumps.......4 Entertainment...........5-6
Photo by Lesly Delgado
The new Dynamo stadium is under way.
PLEASE SEE DYNAMO on Page 4
PLEASE SEE LEADER on Page 4
By MIRANDA JENKINS San Jacinto Times
Photo by Jared Gilmore
Massage therapy can be beneficial
numbers. Franchises such as Massage Envy are becoming more popular and provide massage therapy services to a broader range of people for half the price of resorts. Although the program at SJC has only been around for 18 months, it has still managed to make quite an impact on campus. The Massage Therapy Program hosted two successful events over the summer. PLEASE SEE THERAPY on Page 4
Opinion/Commentary
Elder abuse an issue that knows no age
October 17, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 2
By TIFFANY SEXTON San Jacinto Times
The Golden years are supposed to be the best time in your life. The time where you watch your children get married and you have grandkids. You no longer have to go to work; it is the perfect vacation. My Papa always says, “I’m not going to do anything I do not want to do. I’m going to get up when I want, go to sleep when I want, and do as little as possible.” But did you know that one in ten adults over the age of 65 will be in some type of assisted living facility? Brent Adams & Associates Personal injury lawyers confirm this statistic. The most heartbreaking point to discover is that most of them will experience some form of abuse or neglect by their caregivers, according to attorney Marion S. Rosen. The majority of the people in the United States know or has known someone in a nursing home, whether it is a family member or a friend. There is a special place in my heart for the elderly, and no one under any circumstances should ever be abused, especially the ones who cannot defend themselves. “There are nearly 6 million cases of elderly abuse every year. That’s approximately one case every five seconds. Unfortunately, many of these cases will go unreported,” according to Elder Abuse Daily. People seem to take for granted the time they have while they are young and forget that one day they will be elderly. Most people have their loved ones sent to a nursing home because they can no longer take care of them. One reason is the elderly person’s mental state has caused them to no longer be able to allow them do anything by themselves anymore. Another reason can also be because of their physical state; they can no longer walk or sometimes in more severe cases they cannot feed themselves without someone’s help. One of the most common mental illnesses is Alzheimer’s, which is also the most common cause of a progressive Dementia, confirmed by the Mayo Clinic Staff.
fully relying on their caregivers to do the right thing. “An estimated 50 percent of nursing home patients suffer from untreated pain,” says Adams. Numbers like these should not even be in existence. One of the most common physical illnesses is Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease leads to shaking and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination confirmed by the A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. In worst cases with Parkinson’s Dementia can also develop. Once Parkinson’s disease has fully taken affect, elderly adults can no longer drive a vehicle, write, or even eat without help. It is heart breaking when a customer even has difficulty handing in money at the cash register. Everything everyone takes for granted with all three of these diseases is suddenly taken away from them. People become fully dependent on someone else. It is horrible knowing there are nursing homes out there with employees that are neglecting to take proper care of these people.
“Just five states accounts for over 1/3 of all elder abuse cases in the U.S., California, Florida, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania have the most cases of elder abuse annually,” confirmed Elder Abuse Daily. It is shameful that Texas is even included in this category, and the abuse needs to stop.
I work at a drug store and because it is close to some of the assisted living facilities a lot of our customers are elderly people. The other day I had a customer come in and ask the pharmacist a question and by the time he walked back to the isle he had forgotten what the medicine was the pharmacist had told him to get. While I am talking to him with another coworker, I find out that he has Dementia, which causes him to be forgetful. He was a very nice gentleman and was extremely grateful that my coworker and I helped him out. These experiences happen daily at the store I work at, and the smile out of each one of their faces lets
MCT Campus
me know that as little as my job might be it is worth it to get their smile. Some of the customers that come through I may never see again, but at least I made their trip a little bit better and more comfortable. Customers tell me the older they get things just fall apart, and they might be joking when they say it but the fact is they are telling the truth. People who have a disease like Alzheimer’s or Dementia cannot help what is happening to them. When they are in a nursing home they have no control over how many times they can get bathed, how often they can eat, or their dosage of medicine. They are
The caregivers need to start looking at it like ‘this is my mom that I am taking care of’, and treat them with the same respect. It is my personal opinion that this would be treated completely differently if there were children involved. The media and the public seem to get in a larger up roar if abuse is happening to children but not much is talked about when it comes to the elderly. It is very upsetting considering how high the statistics are that the problem is not being resolved. The nursing home facilities need to weed out the caregivers that are treating the elderly with neglect and abuse. It takes a special kind of person to want to do the job that the caregivers do, and if they do not like it then they should not be a part of it.
No smoke, no freedom? The Times staff has its say By MICHAEL DEATS San Jacinto Times
Soldiers right now are engaged in battle. They fight for our “freedom” in Afghanistan, and in the past all over the world. They spill their blood for our rights to be free in a free society; but when it comes to freedom of comfort we are not free at all. Every day, new policies and laws harass Americans and the comfort topic of the day is smoking cigarettes in an open environment outside of a building. 15 feet, no 25 feet, no 50 feet, make it a hundred feet. Outside is outside and a wisp of smoke isn’t going to harm the interior of a building. Sure it smells, but so do colognes and perfumes. Some socalled fragrances smell so disgusting I can’t stand sitting in my class for an extended amount of time, but these odors are perfectly acceptable compared to the smell of a cigarette. I remember the day when my father found out you cannot smoke indoors in the Houston area. His indignant attitude amused me at first but the truth of the matter was not amusing at all. He risked his life, for several years, for the right to live his life how he chose. He served
Photo by Chris Shelton/San Jacinto Times
Smoking on campus will always be a hot button issue with students and faculty alike.
three tours in Vietnam and he was wounded, like many others. But he couldn’t have a cigarette in a bar; with a son he rarely gets to see. When construction takes over an area where people normally smoke they are forced to move, and then they are chastised about the 50 feet rule. Stand 50 feet away from a door to pursue the creature comfort of your choice and make it back to class in time. At one point while
smoking a cigarette I was asked if I can count out 50 feet, to which I responded “nope”. Seriously, who counts out 50 total feet or honestly feels like they are capable of determining 50 feet without a visual aid. They have physical aids for blind people, but no marker for where the smoking lines start, so a smoker that has a visual disability would be at an even greater disadvantage. Perhaps we should address another
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
serious issue. If students and faculty are required as per signage to maintain a healthy, safe, and rational 50 feet from the doors at all times while smoking, why can’t the ashtrays be 50 feet from the door as well? Presumably the powers that be care about the safety of our environment as well as every none smoker and these ashtrays that girdle every doorway into the buildings must surely have a place in the parking lots along with all
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.
of the smokers that are being evicted from the safer pedestrian areas. It seems like people who enjoy the smooth menthol taste of a cigarette can’t be considered when it comes to freedom and rights. Just shove them to the corner for the sake of the people. People just get off on some high horse and start making new rules to live by, without any concern for the people they are trying to restrict. A 50 feet marker for most doors would end with people standing in parking lots, and negotiating through parking traffic, or in a construction zone. These places are dangerous and unsafe for the students of San Jac to drift around, just so they can consider themselves obedient to arbitrary and uncaring policies and laws. With the recent rise in parking lot related thefts and vandalisms the choice to meander around the parking lot also increases the potential for being thrust into a police investigation. If a car is broken into while you are in the parking lot smoking, you can become subject to questioning by campus police forces, or even assault from the alleged perpetrator while a crime is being committed. Some people may not know, but being in the vicinity of a crime when its taking place makes you a suspect. Either way, a simple break between classes became far more hazardous without much potential for safety in the future.
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, Octubre 17 • No hay actividades
Martes, Octubre 18 • Junta del club Rotaract y empiezo de la collection de cellulares usados para el mes de reconocimiento de la violencia domestica, 1 p.m., Slovacek S215
Miercoles, Octubre 19 • No hay actividades
Jueves, Octubre 20 • Junta del club de anime, 2 p.m., Brightwell A105 • Juego de Lady Gators, 5:30 p.m., Nichols Gym
Viernes, Octubre 21 • No hay actividades
Sabado, Octubre 22 • No hay actividades
Domingo, Octubre 23 • No hay actividades
Lunes, Octubre 24 • Venta de pasteles de parte del club de justicia penal, 9:30 a.m., Patio del centro estudiantil
Central Lunes, Octubre 17 • Junta del club catolico, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202
Martes, Octubre 18 • Gira de Save-a-life, 1 a.m., Centro estudiantil • Junta de escritores creativos, 11:30 p.m, C3.257 • Junta de GSA, 2:30 p.m., CADM 204
Miercoles, Octubre 19 • Visita de UHCL, 8:15a.m., officina de servicios de inscripcion • Junta de los republicanos del cole gio, 10:30 a.m., & 1 p.m, CADM W218A • Reclutamiento de VYNE, 11 a.m., mural de CADM • Junta de VYNE, 1:30 p.m., C3.222 • Junta de la sociedad de anime, 2 p.m., CADM W112
Jueves, Octubre 20 • Junta del club de filosofia, 2:30 p.m., CADM W106
Viernes, Octubre 21 • Junta de Phi Theta Kappa, 10:30 p.m., CILC 230 • Junta de LASO, 12:30 p.m., C3.204
Sabado, Octubre 22 • No hay actividades
Domingo, Octubre 23 • No hay actividades
Sur Lunes, Octubre 17 • Gira de Save-a-life, 10 a.m., atrio • Junta del club de Artes Marciales Mixtas, 6:30 p.m., GYM 2120
Martes, Octubre 18 • Junta de T.I.E.S, 1 p.m., cuarto de juegos • Junta de SGA, 1:30 p.m., 4202 • Junta del bloque del escritor, 6 p.m., 3200
Miercoles, Octubre 19 • Junta de la asociacion de AfricanosAmericanos, 12 p.m., Cuarto de j uegos • Junta de la fundacion de academicos hispanos, 1:30 p.m,. 2216
Jueves, Octubre 20 • Junta de la sociedad pre-medicina, 4:15 p.m., 1104
Viernes, Octubre 21 • Junta del club de artes marciales mixtas, 9 a.m,. Gym • Junta de Phi Theta kappa, 1 p.m., 2209
Student shows love of all By TIFFANY SEXTON San Jacinto Times
Happiness is a goal everyone tries to achieve, but did you ever think you would try to achieve it by going back to school? Paula Swearingen did and she is an inspiration to anyone she talks to. I sat down with Ms. Swearingen on a Monday morning in the San Jacinto Cafeteria and she was
Student Focus
more than willing to help me with my project. She was in the middle of doing her college Trig homework when I stopped by and asked her if I could ask her some questions, and with a wonderful smile she said of course. I explained to her how I am in a reporting class and my professor sent me out to interview someone I did not know and without knowing me she was willing to help me out in any way she could. Ms. Swearingen has two wonderful sons who share her ambitions. One of her sons is currently going to Southern Methodist University and is studying Pre-Law. Her other son, who lives in Waco, did business management as his major with a minor in finance and received his degree from Baylor University and is currently a financial analyst. Ms. Swearingen has always been interested in the environment and she has decided to seize this “golden opportunity”, as she called it, to go back to school and get her environmental science degree. She currently already has a degree in business management, like one of her sons, but she just is not happy with it anymore. This is the perfect opportunity right now for her to go back to school. She has no grandchildren, her children are not married, one is already out of school, and the other is still going strong, so why not take this opportunity while it is right in front of her, and that is exactly what she did. She told herself and like she will tell anyone else, “if you are going to make a career change, focus on it”. So she planned a budget that will get her through school, and she quit her full time job to become a full time student. Most people will have their stomachs in knots at just thinking of doing that, but not Ms. Swearingen; she knew that this is what she needed to do to meet her goal. “You can’t
put a price tag on happiness” is her motto and a wonderful one at that. This has been a challenge for her with getting back into school, although she is being very smart about it. There are some science courses that she has already taken when she was getting her business management degree, but she went back to take some of them over again so she can be fully prepared. Once Ms. Swearingen is finished with San Jacinto College she is going to transfer to the University of Houston Clear Lake. The environmental science degree can open up so many doors for her that she is still unsure what she will be doing with it. She is hoping to get an internship somewhere so she can get her foot in the door and see if that will be the area she wants to go in to or if she should take a different route. One area she is considering is environmental education where she could teach about recycling, reducing prints on paper, soil, water, and air conservation. One of her neat conserving techniques is printing on both sides of the paper. All of her notes that she prints out for her classes have already been printed on the back from either previous assignments or papers that she had to write. I was instantly impressed and told her I have never thought about doing that. Her heart is completely into conserving the environment and you instantly get that from her just when she starts talking. Something Ms. Swearingen loves to do in her spare time is to garden. She loves to plant flowers, native plants, and even plants that help with diseases. She has already started tilling her garden for the fall and winter. You can always find her outside doing something to her garden. Pamela Swearingen is an inspiration to anyone looking to start over in their career or to even just finish school. “Pay off your bills, pre plan, and you can do it. Start over; you need to be happy and excited.” I absolutely enjoyed talking to her, she will put a smile on your face as she lights up a room. Ms. Swearingen will always have a special place in my heart as a little hidden inspiration. She inspired me to make sure what I am doing will always make me happy, and she gave me the confidence if down the road in life I am not anymore, that it is never too late to go back to school.
Constructing the future By ADRIAN A. MARTINEZ For The Times
Not many college graduates of design are finding employers beating on their doors looking for an employee. The continuous economic turndown is forcing clients of construction firms to back down, and in turn, cause job layoffs at these firms. Like a domino effect, these firms are reluctant to send recruiters to find design graduates in fields such as architecture; computer aided drafting technicians, and other construction related career fields. As a result, students are finding themselves out of a job after their long, difficult journey through college; an ironic outcome for a hardworking student moving themselves up the social ladder. What are students doing to avoid this outcome? Some are becoming more captious and sticking to their chosen careers in design, remaining optimistic that the economy will improve in due time, (hopefully before graduation). Others choose not to take any risk, and begin to search for other career choices known to pay salaries $80,000 or more a year,
even in the six digits. As one trigonometry student says: “I was on my way down the career in computer aided drafting, until I realized how hard the housing bubble hit. Now I’m pursuing mathematics, something I know that’ll pay off.” The construction projects that put design graduates to work just aren’t getting finished. Like a ghost town, projects are stopped and then abandoned because the paying client just doesn’t have enough income to spare. But are architects feeling the financial pressure as well? A recent survey in Architecture Magazine’s (2011) reader’s response says, “My gross income for 2009 was $7,404. I call this very gross income!” However, there is a glimmer of hope. As reported in the Houston Chronicle, (2011), “Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, and builders broke ground on more homes in May.” These seem to be signs that the construction industry is picking up. In this difficult time of a slumping economy, other career fields are beginning to feel the pain as well.
Raven Rally scheduled for next week By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times
This October 26, San Jac’s Central Campus will be hosting their annual Raven Day, sponsored by the Student Government Association and Student Life. Starting at 10:30 am and running to 2pm in the North Courtyard outside the Student Center on Wednesday, the Rally will play host to all manner of activities and festivities including a rock wall for the adventurous, an inflatable twister for the fun-loving and a booth-decorating contest for the more artistic.
8 DAYS A WEEK North
Monday, October 17 • No Scheduled Activities
Tuesday, October 18 • Rotaract Club Meeting & Kick-Off for Collection of Used Cell Phones for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 1 p.m., Slovacek S215
Wednesday, October 19 • No Scheduled Activities
Thursday, October 20 • Anime Club Meeting, 2 p.m., Brightwell A1025 • Lady Gators Inter-Squad Scrimmage Game, 5:30 p.m., Nichols Gym
Friday, October 21 • No Scheduled Activities
Saturday, October 22 • No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, October 23 • No Scheduled Activities
Monday, October 24 • Criminal Justice Club Bake Sale, 9:30 a.m., Student Center Courtyard
Central
Monday, October 17
• Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202
Tuesday, October 18 • Save-A-Life Tour, 10 a.m., Student Center • Creative Writers Meeting, 11:30 a.m., C3.257 • GSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 204
Wednesday, October 19 • UHCL Visit, 8:15 a.m., Enrollment Services Office • College Republicans Meeting, 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m., CADM W218A • The VYNE Recruitment, 11 a.m., CADM Mural • The VYNE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., C3.222 • Anime Society Meeting, 2 p.m., CADM W112
Thursday, October 20 • Philosophy Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM W106
Friday, October 21 • Phi Theta Kappa Meeting, 10:30 p.m., CILC 230 • LASO Meeting, 12:30 p.m., C3.204
Saturday, October 22 • No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, October 23 • No Scheduled Activities
Monday, October 24 • Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202 • Psychology Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 209
South
Monday, October 17 • Save-A-Life Tour, 10 a.m., Atrium • Healing Field for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, 8 a.m., Student Center Lawn • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Mixed Martial Arts Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Gym 6120
Tuesday, October 18 • Healing Field for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, 8 a.m., Student Center Lawn • Student Bible Fellowship Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Game Room • T.I.E.S. Meeting, 1 p.m., Game Room • SGA Meeting, 1:30 p.m., 4202 • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Writer’s Block Meeting, 6 p.m., 3200
Wednesday, October 19 • Healing Field for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, 8 a.m., Student Center Lawn • African American Association Meeting, 12 p.m., Game Room • Hispanic Scholars Fund Meeting, 1:30 p.m., 2216 • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141
Thursday, October 20 • Healing Field for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, 8 a.m., Student Center Lawn • Game Enterprise Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Pre-Med Society Meeting, 4:15 p.m., 1104
Friday, October 21
All Clubs are invited to attend and compete, making it an ideal place to interact with new people and invite potential members that are down with the Club scene. Raven Rally also provides an opportunity to raise funds for any club on campus. In addition, a costume competition with prizes will be held. Clubs will be catering to food and drink needs, so be prepared for quite the variety. Everyone is invited to take a break from the hectic pace of class to swing by and enjoy all that the Raven Rally has to offer.
October 17, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 3
• Healing Field for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, 8 a.m., Student Center Lawn • Mixed Martial Arts Meeting, 9 a.m., Gym • Phi Theta Kappa Meeting, 1 p.m., 2209
Saturday, October 22 • No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, October 23 • No Scheduled Activities
Monday, October 24 Photo provided by Student Life
• No Scheduled Activities
Jumps/Etc.
October 17, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 4
Newest addition to popular series takes to a new Gear By JACOB KESSINGER San Jacinto Times
Gears of War 3, released last September for Xbox 360 and PC, concludes the Gears trilogy in thrilling, if predictable fashion. GOW 3 continues the series’ signature pitch-perfect cover-based shooter mechanics, while introducing new characters, modes, and weapons. GOW 3 picks up two years after the conclusion of Gears of War 2; with the flooding of the Locust’s underground home and the sinking of Jacinto, humanity’s last stronghold. The Coalition of Ordered Governments, humanity’s final remnant of a structured government on Sera, has been disbanded. Compounding all of this is the rise of a terrifying new enemy; the Lambent. The Lambent, an explosive, emulsion infused form of the Locust, were introduced at the end of Gears Of War 2. Developer Epic does a good job of expositing all of this new plot development in mercifully short cut-scenes and in-game dialogue. After all, no one buys a Gears game just to find catch up on Delta Squad’s current happenings on Sera. The gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has previously played the Gears series. The action reload, the roadie run, cover based shooting, and the crimson omen all return in GOW 3 in near-perfect
LEADERS
action game harmony. Epic clearly did not feel the need to fix what was not broken, and while it is perhaps getting a little stale over three full games, the gameplay still represents the best combination of mechanics that third person shooting games have to offer. Offsetting the repetitiveness somewhat are the new weapons and enemies, though the new enemies sometimes feel like re-skinned Locust rather than being an entirely new set of antagonists. The Lambent, while appearing radically different with a sort of nuclear yellow visage, behave much like their Locust analogues. Lambent rank and file includes rifle-toting foot soldiers (Locust Grunts), huge, hard to kill, explosive lobbing Chunkers (Locust Boomers), and small, numerous, explosive melee creatures called Polyps (Locust Tickers). Though the graphical difference is appreciated, I feel that Epic could have done more to differentiate the Lambent in form or behavior. The main difference between Lambent and Locust is that the Lambent tend to explode when dispatched. Unfortunately, this does not add much more than a visual treat, as the consequence of being caught in a Lambent explosion at close range is merely a slight ding to your health. The new weapons do far more to differentiate GOW 3 from the previous two. For instance, the retro lancer is a primitive, more powerful version of
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From a macro perspective, the college offers opportunities to all students who enroll at any of the three campuses. Every student who tangles with the gators at north campus, flies with the raven at central campus or hangs with the coyotes at south campus has a chance to achieve their dreams no matter their immediate circumstance, as financial aid is available to those that qualify. It has given me an opportunity to achieve my dream of obtaining a college degree. I am on pace to graduate with an associate’s degree in communication so I have firsthand knowledge of the dreams that can be accomplished through San Jac. This school can add pollen to a student by enriching their life and allowing them to blossom within two summers of their entrance date.
DYNAMO
the series’ signature weapon, and it features a bayonet rather than a chainsaw. The retro lancer is best fired in short bursts due to its ridiculous recoil which complements its incredible power. Trying to melee with the bayonet is similarly inaccurate, as the animation sends you into an attack run that must be lined up perfectly in order to connect. Also new is the one-shot, a devastating sniper rifle that lives up to its name by enabling its user to eliminate nearly any target in the game with only one shot, and the digger, an explosive weapon that burrows under barriers to find its mark. These new weapons and others alter the dynamic of single and multi-player enough to justify this sequel. New multiplayer modes are another welcome addition. Horde mode has been augmented with new tower defense elements, and a sort of opposite of Horde mode is introduced; Beast mode. Beast mode sees you and your comrades raiding a human encampment with Locust units such as the Ticker, Wretch, Grunt, Boomer, or even Corpser over 12 levels of increasing difficulty. The more units you buy, the more you unlock, enabling you, at the highest level, to experience the rewarding catharsis of eviscerating Marcus Fenix and crew with a Berserker, rather than playing as Marcus Fenix on the receiving end of a Berserker beat-down. Frustratingly, Beast Mode features a too-short time limit and long between-unit load times which serve
San Jac graduate and current University of Houston student Jesus Villegas concurred and elaborated by saying, “You would be very surprised at the wide range of diverse people that make up San Jac. During my three years there, I met future writers, politicians, lawyers, wrestlers, actors, engineers, singers, and even morticians. Every colorful person that I crossed paths with allowed me to be open to other people's beliefs, customs, ideologies, and their witty and insightful views on life. Any school would have taught me to tolerate other people of different backgrounds but only San Jacinto College provides the environment where I can appreciate them as well.” This just goes to show you the immense potential blooming around San Jacinto College.
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The stadium will accommodate a seating capacity of Houston’s Reliant Stadium. It is definitely one of the 22,000 including 33 main suites that are located less city’s big projects because the Reliant Stadium is one of than 10 rows from the playthe venues in which important ing field. These main suites Fun Facts about the new stadium events are held as well as concerts will come in handy for and corporate conferences. those who really want to • Site Size: 12 acres The Houston Dynamo Stadium experience the game up will also be equipped to accommo• Building Size: 340,000 square close and personal. But for date other sports like football, rugby those who prefer the bigger feet and lacrosse. Do not be surprised if, crowds and party atmosin the future, there are boxing phere with their closest • Highest Elevation: 70 feet matches taking place in the stadium. friends and family there will Oscar de la Hoya, co-owner of the also be 2 private party suites • Radio broadcast booths: 3 Houston Dynamo and founder of to enjoy the game. “Golden Boy Promotions” told the • TV broadcast booths: 4 One of the priorities when Houston Chronicle back in February building this facility is for • Playing surface: Bermuda grass that he “promised to bring worldthe Dynamo fans to enjoy class boxing events to the stadium” the game to its fullest. The • Stage: 5,000 square feet The soccer community is ready for stadium will be enhanced this brand new multipurpose stadiwith today’s top of the line • Gates: 4 fan entry/exit main gates um that will serve as the home of the sound and visual aides, such Houston Dynamo soccer family. as the giant 25-ft by 40-ft LED High Definition screen. Construction is advancing with most of the structure The stadium floor and playing surface will be 90,000 already up. The tentative completion date of this project square feet, which is only 7,200 square feet shy of is May 2012.
True beauty always around
Dear Friend, Whether or not someone has ever told you so, you ARE beautiful. I know it may not always feel true (trust me I’ve been there) but you really are wonderfully made. That can never be proven wrong. There is no one else like you. No one else has your exact make up of physical appearance, personality, talents, and passions. That is a gift that you alone can bring the world. You are priceless. Exercising and eating healthy is wise, but don’t let anything or anyone ever tell you your worth is less than it truly is. When magazine images cause you to feel insufficient, when finding something that fits right seems impossible, and when others wrongfully criticize your appearance, hold on to the truth. Your beauty goes far beyond your appearance. It is radiant most of your character. Physical beauty is short lived, but beauty from the inside out lasts beyond a lifetime. For something that is passing, it isn’t worth the pain and sacrifice of your health and relationships. You are so much more than what you put yourself through emotionally, mentally, and physically. Sincerely, Ashley
San Jacinto students respond: “As a dancer, I was always concerned about my figure and weight. It would stress me out a lot and I would often feel insecure in and out of dance class. But after many years of self-doubt I finally realized that I do not need to the world to define who I am and tell me how I should look. If you are dealing with an eating disorder, just know that you are beautiful! Don’t compare yourself to anyone and don’t let the world tell you who you are. The world is blind when it comes to beauty. It tells us that we need to hide out imperfections but really it is our imperfections that show our personality and make us unique. True beauty is being yourself! ~Olivia “Beauty is not just on the outside but also one’s heart, soul, and mind. Everyone is made to be unique. Embrace it, focus on what you have.” ~Bryan It is estimated that eleven million people in the United States struggle with bulimia or anorexia (National Eating Disorders Association). And according to Anorexia Nervosa and Associate Disorders (ANAD), “25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weightmanagement technique.” What could be haunting someone so much, that they take extremely unhealthy measures to look and feel a certain way about themselves? Is it a desire for control,silencing bullies, pressure from parents, stress, the desire to feel beautiful, or competing with Hollywood’s unrealistic standard of what it means to be attractive and desired? The truth is there are many reasons, unique to each individual. Whatever the reason is though, it is not worth it. Placing the body through these conditions is extremely dangerous to an individual’s mental, emotional, and most obviously physical health. If you find yourself considering any of these paths, I caution you. Do not to think you can control how far you go. Many testimonies I found during research and people I have personally known tried that but found they were unable to control it once they started. Do your research and most of all know that you are worth so much more than just what is on the outside.
Facebook needs a dislike button for its new layout By JANNETTE MARIN San Jacinto Times
THERAPY Continued from Page 1
The VIP Massage Night and the free Chair Massage event where 20 masseurs conducted approximately 200 chair massages. Future events are currently being planned and there is potential for a massage club, so keep an eye out for flyers around school. Currently the program’s Fall 2011 internship is offering 50-minute $10.00 massages for students with a valid student ID and 50-minute 20 dollar massages for non-students now through December 16. Massages are given on Fridays 6-9 pm and Saturdays 8:45 am-Noon. You can schedule an appointment by calling 281-4761818 or stop by Central Campus Davison building room D-201. The Fall 2011 internship allows its ten appointed interns the chance to practice their skills in real life application, which luckily allows students to experience this great limited time offer. Take advantage of this great opportunity while it lasts.
Photo courtesy of Lesley Delgado
On average, an hour-long massage can cost between 50 and 150 dollars according to massage-price.com, but SJC is offering massages at less than half that price. Not only will you have the luxury of being inexpensively pampered for 50 minutes, but you can also receive some of the great benefits a massage has to offer. According to massagetherapy.com an estimated 90% of diseases are stress related. Receiving a massage can help you to better manage and lower your stress levels by decreasing anxiety, improving concentration, and reducing fatigue. Massages are also great for athletes and can help you recover from strenuous workouts. Massages have even been thought to increase immunity as they stimulate lymph flow. Not only that, but they feel amazing! Finish this semester off stress and ache free by scheduling an appointment today your back will be thanking you for it later.
to limit the fun that could be had if the time limit were increased just a bit. Another irksome element of GOW 3 as a whole is the main game’s inability to answer basic questions about the world of Sera. What year is it in Earth time? When did humans travel to Sera in the first place? What, exactly, are the Locust and where did they come from? Did they evolve naturally on Sera or are they migrants too? Why is it that the hideous, crag-faced, polymorphic Locust have a human chick in a red leather Dominatrix outfit for a leader? It’s as if the developers deliberately left these questions unanswered so that we would be forced to buy the GOW novels to find anything out about its universe. To be fair, there are random tchotchkes scattered about the game that do provide a bit of backstory, though these are so out of the way that you might as well just consult a Wiki for their contents. Despite questionably absent exposition and repetitive gameplay elements, GOW 3 is a great game. New enemies, weapons and game modes spice up the already stellar single and multiplayer features. The multiplayer aspect alone will have you exploring every weapon and map for tactical advantages far after you’ve beaten the single player campaign alone or with friends. If you have the ability to play online, you should consider buying, but all others should rent it to beat it alone or with couch co-op. I rate Gears Of War 3 a very good 8.5 out of 10.
On Thursday, September 29th Facebook was reborn. This social network is designed to enhance the emotional connection users have to each other and these new changes will make Facebook a place where almost everything in your life will depend by your social graph. Facebook has uncovered a huge number of major changes, including a great overhaul of user profiles, new applications for music and watching videos, and social news apps. According to mashable.com, a staff member for Facebook said, “It needs to change, otherwise it could go away just like MySpace. The idea of social network and what social network is continues to evolve” Williamson said. Then he added, “ First it was creating a profile and sending status updates. Now Facebook is going more social and helping users feel like they have a stronger connection to these business, media, and things they are interested in.” In my opinion this update is great regarding communicating with different companies, being able to watch videos, or listen to music, but sometime is feels unsafe. According to the
Internet reviews, a great number of people, say they dislike the fact that their “privacy” is not private anymore. Each user’s Facebook profile shows everything they do. From what music they are listening to where they are located and it is a bit scary to know that hundreds of friends and strangers know what someone is up to. From San Jacinto North, biology major, Grecia Solano said, “I am not a big fan of it, it can be confusing. I rather stick to the old version of Facebook.” Many people’s reviews regard the same thing, but I do not think it will fade away anytime soon. Facebook has reach close to 800 million people worldwide! Depending on how far they take these technical changes it can cause more people to join or deactivate their account. According to mashable.com, this is a recent survey poll from Face-book users who voted.
Loved it 11.92% (1,444 votes) Hate it 74.39% (9,009 votes) Don't care 13.68% (1,657 votes) Total Votes: 12,110
Entertainment/Reviews
Fifteen days to make an album?
By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times
Lenses Alien was released on Barsuk records; a label with a very impressive stable of artists. Death Cab For Cutie, Menomena, Rilo Kiley, and Ra Ra Riot are less than 10% of the artist they maintain, so I'd check them out if you are not familiar with the material they release. This record is the band’s second release, and the first on Barsuk. Lenses Alien starts like any other Indie-pop record, but Rifle Eyesights falsely ends in a sprawling noise-scape of guitar effects wrestled into obedience by the guitar player and starts again into a very catchy Indie-rock movement. It fades out again with some very beautiful instrumentation and soft vocals, only to come roaring back ten times stronger than before with a banging Indie jam. This is already my favorite track on the record, and its the first one I have even heard. The next few tracks are light and poppy, but still have a darker-than-usual tinge to the music without being too over-powering to the regular Indie-popness of the band. I really like Lenses Alien. It has a
traditionally simple pop-punk sound, with the complicated undertones of Indie-rock. A harmonious blend of styles gives Cymbals Eat Guitars its sound and a good sound it most certainly is. The band chose storied record producer John Agnello, who has worked with industry greats Bob Dylan and Mic Jagger, as well as later acts like Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Social Distortion, and The Living End. I'm certain that the Agnello definitely had a heavy hand in the sound of Lenses Alien. The record fluctuates between up and downtempo songs, but there are no noticeable lulls in the energy of Cymbals Eat Guitars, they keep it sustainable, even while changing tempo and mood throughout the recording. The album closes on a really strong note with Gary Condit, another building a falling track in which Cymbals Eat Guitars showcase their talents at blending the pop elements along with the noisescapes filled with guitar effects and reverb that are so synonymous with Indie-rock. This record is easily a B+. It keeps your aural attention throughout and most certainly does not disappoint. Get it, listen to it, and be happier because of it.
A way to Take Care of yourself
By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times
Austin Texas’s Indie-instrumental benchmark, Explosions In The Sky have released their sixth full-length album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care on the Temporary Residence Limited label (Maserati is on there too, really good band). If you have never heard of Explosions In The Sky, crawl out of your hole and pick up their discography and spend an afternoon absorbing it into your brain, you will be better off because of it, trust me. Explosions In The Sky is an obvious reference to fireworks that was coined by the drummer, Rick Hrasky, after the band performed their first set, and recorded their first track at KVRX, the University of Texas at Austin’s student run radio station, which is at 91.7FM on the dial in Austin. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care does not depart very far from the previous five albums by Explosions In The Sky, but it does have a quicker energy than most of them. The band said that they were going to be more patient with their build-ups, and let the songs play out more to better develop the emotion being conveyed. While I am not too sure there is much audi-
ble difference from that, and what they did before, I am sure that I have loved every record that they have released, including the soundtrack to Friday Night Lights, which was most people’s first exposure to Explosions In The Sky and the Indie-instrumental sound in general. This record is the first Explosions In The Sky record to feature vocals, although they are only snippets. Trembling Hands has some “oh’s” in the background, and Let Me Back In has some heavily effects-laden vocals looped throughout the song, but they are pretty much inaudible. The founder and president of the bands label, Temporary Residence Limited, said that a major factor in sales of the album is the albums packaging itself. The CD and the vinyl for Take Care, Take Care, Take Care folds out into a 3-D house. If you can somehow view this tiny paper house from the inside looking out, the view from the front door overlooks a tornado out on the plains. I am obviously going to give this record a high grade, but that is based on this album alone, not how good I think Explosions In The Sky is as a band, or as a pioneer in instrumental music. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care is an A+ album, and everyone out there needs to get their own copy and wear grooves into it from overplaying. It is well worth it.
October 17, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 5
Local concert calendar Oct. 17
Gringo Star- Fitzgeralds Oct. 19
Sound & Shape, The Julys- Mangos My Brightest Diamond, the Rebecca West- Fitzgeralds Oct. 20
DELUXE- Mangos Battles (previously Fitzgeralds
reviewed
here),
Nisennenmondai-
Oct. 21
Boats, Empress Hotel- Mangos Lionize, Larry and His Flask, East Cameron Folk Core, The Ragged Hearts- Fitzgeralds (upstairs) Hell City Kings, Texxxas, Ghosttown Electric, The FreakoutsFitzgeralds (downstaitrs) Oct. 22
Grouplove, Belle Brigade, White Arrows- Fitzgeralds The Escaatones, The Grimm Dolls- Super Happy Funland Oct. 23
Clint Black, Ruby Jane- Crighton Theatre
Bon Iver releases Bon Iver, Bon Iver to much critical acclaim
By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times
Bon Iver is the Indie-folk rock quartet founded by Wisconsin native Justin Vernon in 2007. Bon Iver is actually not a name; it is French and means “[have a] good winter”. Bon Iver, Bon Iver is their eponymous second release on the Jagjaguwar label based in Indiana, and it is an amazing work of auditory art. The singer, Vernon, has one of the softest, almost ethereal voices I have ever heard. Along with the shear pleasure of the sound, the control he exhibits over his voice is amazing. I imagine the majority of their initial success is owed to his voice alone. It is like nothing else people have heard before, and most of the people I know that have heard it absolutely love it. The album itself is wonderful. It takes you to so many different places in such a short amount of time. The four constant members of Bon Iver had a lot of help in making this album as excellent as it is, and have a central role in creating the music that accompanies Vernon’s delicately alluring vocals. There was a lot of help from outside the band. Seventeen other musicians worked on Bon Iver, Bon Iver for a total of three years. That speaks volumes for what exactly they were trying to create with this record. Vernon said that the album was going to be ten songs that take a new musical direction, and he was not wrong. Bon Iver, Bon Iver is probably the most beautiful album that I have ever had the pleasure of doing absolutely nothing but sitting
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there and listening to it. It has such a grand and warm feel to it, while still having the sparseness of traditional Indie rock. Along with the folk and electronic undertones, Bon Iver, Bon Iver definitely earns a strong A. The album has gathered a lot of critical acclaim since it’s release in June. It entered the US Billboard charts at #2 and sold over a hundred thousand copies in its first week of sales. In all the music charts around the world, Bon Iver, Bon Iver has charted in the top 60 positions in every single one of them with #59 being the lowest chart position on Ultrapop, the Belgium album chart. So show Dr. Evil, The Smurfs and everyone else in Belgium that #59 is not the chart position that this album deserves, and go actually buy it in a store… seriously, Bon Iver, Bon Iver is worth it.
Around campus
October 17, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 6
Even the fairs are bigger in the Lone Star State The school’s official photo of the human “50,” shot to recognize San Jacinto’s 50-year anniversary. The school estimates 800 people appeared for the shoot.
San Jacinto College publicity
By MICHAEL VASQUEZ San Jacinto Times
Here in Texas we have a saying. “ Everything is bigger in Texas”, and nothing could ring more true in Dallas where the state fair is held. If the size of the Texas Star, which is the world’s largest Ferris wheel doesn’t prove that point, then how about The Red River rivalry. This is arguably the biggest rivalry in all of college football. This sixty-minute game lasts for three hundred and sixty-five days. This rivalry pits University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma for year round bragging rights. As I went to the game, it was an atmosphere that every sports fan should experience at least once. From the driving to the game to the actual in-game action, this rivalry was felt from start to finish. On the road to the game vehicles made it very clear with flags, stickers, and hand gestures just who they were going for. The classic passing up an opposing fan met with hand gestures and horn honking if a fellow driver was the fan of the same team, set the tone for what was going to be a magical afternoon. As we left the comfort of our car, the sight of the fair and massive mobs of crimson and burnt orange surrounded my view. It was like sort of an unwritten rule that you don’t speak to anyone wearing the wrong colors. It was like being a member of a nonviolent gang. Everyone just exchanged stares and met each other with an unsaid “can’t wait to kick your butts” look. The fair ground was littered with ticket booths and places to indulge the soul. From beer to fried butter, this was the only thing that the fans had in common. Chants of “Boomer” which was responded by “Sooner” between OU fans echoed throughout the fair grounds. “ Hook-em Horns” was the battle cry given in response to Oklahoma fans by Texas fans. Whether they were Oklahoma or Texas fans the ladies were similarly dressed in short blue jean skirts with cowgirl boots and the team shirts in which they were there for. The guys would walk around boasting their team colors chanting their battle cries. Even after going through these pregame festivities, nothing would prepare me for what would happen once the ball was teed up. The Cotton Bowl stadium was divided literally fifty-fifty. This is extremely rare in the world of sports. The fifty-yard line was the dividing line of all this mayhem. On one side of it was burnt orange, and the other was a sea of crimson. Chants echoed throughout the stadium throughout the first half. Both sides going back and forth, booing of each other’s bands and mocking of the schools fight The Texas State Fair features many attractions, including a football game that tends to draw a lot songs solidified the hatred. the teams did battle on the field, the outcome the game, the Oklahoma sooners took not only the Imagine a place so loud that it affects your breathbecame very clear by the end of the first half. trophy, but also bragging rights for the next year. ing; the roaring of the crowd could be felt in your Texas just was too young, and inexperienced to After the Oklahoma victory 55-17, the Texas fans chest. The only way to communicate to someone stand up to the talent of Oklahoma. Beating them silently left the stadium to lick their wounds and right next to you was to scream in his or her ear. As physically and mentally in virtually every aspect of prepare for the mocking of anyone who was an OU
of attention.
Photo by Michael Vasquez
fan for the next year. As the cheers and shouts of so many meant heartbreak and anguish for so many others, this is the world of sports. This Texas size loss will be felt even bigger, because again, in Texas, everything’s bigger. Everything.
Ides marches along to the beat of a smart drum By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times
Ingredients for The Ides Of March: One part of 1972’s The Candidate, mix generously with 2007’s Michael Clayton, and top off with a sprinkling of 2011’s Drive (be sure to remove any hammers, driving gloves and toothpicks). Place ingredients in taut and highbrow dialogue shaped pot and stir together for 101 minutes. Let sit for two hours then contact someone with a History or Political Science degree and engage in conversation. Besides being proof that Ryan Gosling really, really wants an Academy Award for Best Actor, be it for brutality or cunning, The Ides Of March is very much a theatrical production with cameras. Think David Mamet with a bigger budget and better looking actors. The “hero”, very loose term, of this gem is the young and entirely to capable Deputy Campaign Manager Stephen Meyers [Gosling], a sort of caricature of all the bright-eyed, college educated cam-
anonymously, point out that the paign staffers who want so badly to storyline can at least be folded believe that the candidate they work over three or four times. Going for is actually bound by their slogans by the facial expressions of my and taglines. Instead of sparse diafellow moviegoers, we all logue enjoyed finally seeing a movie The candidate, Governor Mike that forces you to keep up with Morris (Clooney turning a role that its graduate school level screenalmost resembles Michael Sheen’s writing. Even if it was just for channelings of Tony Blair), is the energy-driven candidate for President 101 minutes, I enjoyed being who appears on the surface to actualthe presence of a film that didly play by his own lofty rules. It’s a n’t lower itself to make it more ‘mainstream’. unique role for Clooney, who often Luckily, the trailer’s promise of plays obviously flawed characters. constant and pithy dialogue is, Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour to lovers of film, is fulfilled in Hoffman play supporting but crucial roles as totally jaded campaign veterCourtesy of Columbia Pictures nearly every scene. There is a lovely whiplash-like quality to how one scene can ans on opposite sides of the same fence. involve four or five characters then, with a quick For once in the brief history of modern filmmaking, the theatrical trailer doesn’t give away the jump, you have Gosling giving a Drive-style death bulk of this movie’s plot. For a film this complex, glare to Marisa Tomei’s New York Times reporter that speaks volumes. I can safely, and somewhat character.
I know that politics is a big turnoff for most people, but The Ides Of March is a wonderful menagerie of the types of people, well meaning or not, that compose campaign staffs. Even then, the candidate themselves are normally the crux of the film. It’s a mix of refreshing and peculiar to witness a film where a good chunk is from the worker ant point of view. Even if politics isn’t your overall cup of tea, Ryan Gosling alone makes this worth a watch. If you were to dream up a perfect character in a political thriller, it would be his Stephen Meyers character. Because of his doe-eyed innocence in the beginnings of the film, we genuinely feel for him when all his efforts result in opposite outcomes. The film pulls an interesting question out by the end: if you get what you want by methods that you despise, has any of it been worth it? While it can be a bit of a split if you’re not into politics, The Ides Of March is a solid draw for the acting and dialogue alone. There’s no need for a drawn-out debate, this is a solid Four Star affair.