10/24/11

THE

San Jacinto Times

Is the new version of Footloose better than the original? Page 6

The voice of San Jacinto College since 1991

In October, U.S. rises to challenge October 24, 2011

The Student Publication of the San Jacinto College District

Vol. 22, No. 6

The Times celebrates the life of Dan Wheldon.

Page 2

Check out our staff blog at www.sanjactimesstaff@wordpress.com

Bjork creative album art is indicative of her innovative lyrics. Page 5

For almost 30 years, Americans have turned month pink

By CHRIS SHELTON San Jacinto Times

Photo courtesy of Susan G. Komen Foundation

Breast Cancer awareness now comes in many forms, as evidenced by the ReMax Ballunar Festival.

Mini classes equal big rewards

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

Registration for the Spring 2012 Semester has officially opened.

Students wishing to view the full array of courses offered at all three campuses online at sanjac.edu. All you need to do is click on the Future or Current Student tab to learn more.

For those wishing to get a leg up, retake or simply have a productive winter break, the Holiday Mini begins on December 19 and runs through January 6. More specific information regarding specific courses and hours will be made available in the coming. Standard services such as BlackBoard, SOS and Counseling Services will be offered throughout the term.

As a “veteran” of two Holiday Mini’s, it can safely be said that they are a fastpaced yet entirely doable way of completing a core class. The classes are long and the information is of a much more channeled intensity. Let it be said that Mini classes are not for the aca-

INSIDE

Column/Commentary...2 Around San Jacinto.....3 Front Page Jumps.......4 Entertainment...........5-6

demic faint of heart. Classes run about four hours and easily qualify as intensive.

“Don’t get behind,” Advises American History professor Paul McRee of Central Campus. Professor McRee is an experienced teacher of Holiday Mini’s, and has seen all the signs that lead to a positive outcome.

“Missing a day can be the equivalent to missing a day and a half. It can zoom by you.”

There is a formula to the few weeks of a Mini. It tentatively follows the line of lectures on Monday through Thursday, then a test on Friday. This is a very centralized method plan that can take Mini-rookies by surprise, but is easily conquerable. “You get used to it after the first two classes.” Said Professor McRee. Achieving a good grade in the Holiday Mini is bit of a different sort, but still entirely doable. “Be proactive,” Professor McRee advised. “I can’t stress enough, don’t miss class. The biggest thing is to stay on top of it. You

MCT Campus

Healthy study habits are imperative for success in the holiday minis.

have three tests and you’re done, a lot of times you can remember back to Monday, but that can be risky, especially if you fall into a false sense of security and forget to study. What happens next is you get overwhelmed on the test.

“Treat it like a regular semester class, study just like you normally do, maybe even a little more.” McRee said. “ Take more notes than normal, keep your head in the game. But most importantly, find some way, any way, to keep engaged in the class.”

America, for the past 27 years, has meshed red with white, painting a pretty pink picture during the month of October. Retail stores sell pens and other pink products while portions of proceeds are donated to research for a cure. Major sports leagues, including the National Football League and Major League Baseball, have shown support by wearing pink gear.

Even the White House turned pink for a night. According to abcnews.com “The North side of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the Naval Observatory, home of the Vice President, are both lit up with the color of the cause for the remainder of the evening.”

President Obama commented stating “This month, we join together in honoring the women and men lost to breast cancer. In their memory, we recommit to supporting the hard-working researchers, health care providers, advocates and organizations dedicated to treating and curing this devastating disease.” The Bush administration initiated the color change in 2008 and the Obama White House has continued the annual tradition as a sign of solidarity.

Not much has cost our Melting Pot more ingredients to its success than cancer.

And not much evokes more passionate connections that are apolitical and absent of racial issues. Every person reading this article has a friend, family member, or colleague who has been affected by this treacherous and often fatal disease.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which commences every October, gives Americans an opportunity to take a proactive step in eliminating Breast Cancer.

You can steadfastly align yourself with finding a cure by participating in a physical activity that we do every day.

Join by Making Strides, literally.

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is an event that all can participate in. It celebrates those who have beaten breast cancer and educates Americans onways to lower your risk of receiving this diagnosis.

According to makingstrides.acsevents.org, “Since 1993, nearly 7 million walkers have raised more than $400 million to help fight breast cancer through participating in the noncompetitive, three to five mile events.

In 2010 alone, nearly 800,000 walkers across the country collected more than $60 million to save lives from breast cancer.”

The next Making Strides Walk in the Houston Area will be held on Saturday, May 5th 2012 at 9am.

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women and 39,520 women are expected to die. It is paramount that breast cancer be corralled because it is the second leading cause of cancerous death among women.

PLEASE SEE BCA on Page 4

Get Lit gets going

By JACOB KESSINGER San Jacinto Times

If you run into the late father of free verse poetry, Walt Whitman, in the interactive learning center on Nov 2, don’t worry; it’s not a zombie apocalypse featuring only English literature luminaries. It is, however, an event no less thrilling.

The Get Lit! Festival is back!

At a glance San Jacinto College Central’s annual Get Lit! Festival will be taking place from 8:30 What: Get Lit! am to 11:30 am in front of the mural in the Where: San Jacinto College ILC on Wed, Nov 2. The festival began Central Campus. around six years ago in order to increase awareness of SJC central’s sophomore literaWhen: Nov. 2, 8:30-11 a.m. ture courses. Literature courses explore and dissect the important authors of the English Purpose: Raise awareness of language within specific time periods. Later the campus’ Literature courses.

American Literature, for example, would include American authors of the 20th century such as lost generation novelist Ernest Hemingway, Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes, or beat poet Alan Ginsberg.

“It sort of took off on its own and now it’s quite the celebration,” explains Professor Kim DeLauro, English department public liaison and professor of Later American Literature. Language arts professors and students are encouraged to dress up as and read from their favorite authors while enjoying free food.

Professor DeLauro, for instance, enjoys dressing up as Southern Gothic writer Carson McCullers and reading from her novella, The Ballad of the Sad Café.

Handouts will be available to students to inform them about the literature courses offered in the spring semester. Many students do not know that sophomore literature courses fulfill the humanities requirement and that they can be a rewarding alternative to traditional humanities courses such as Philosophy.

So come on down to the ILC on Nov 2 and enjoy a free snack and maybe a poem or two. You may just run into your favorite writer, reanimated or no.

Opinion/Commentary

October 24, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 2

Certification or Bachelor’s? An open debate

Faster path to job is a good step Degree still best longterm road

By LESLY DELGADO San Jacinto Times

A college degree, a certification and now the simple fact of just finishing high school can impact one’s life in a very big way.

Continuing education is essential when looking to expand and fulfill your dreams and goals in life.

Everyone wants to make more money and at the end of the day people also want to be content and satisfied in the place they work. The big question when looking to further your education is deciding what really benefits you the most, that being a certification or a four year college degree.

A bachelor’s degree can take at least four years to finish. That is if you are a student going to school full time, meaning that school is your number one priority, and most likely you are unemployed, so

you can dedicate yourself to school. For those who do not qualify for government help, grants or financial aid the only choice they have left is to borrow money from their parents or take out a loan.

Say that you do achieve the goal of obtaining a four-year degree, kudos to you, but is it really worth it? Four years of working hard and studying hard and you come out of college with big expectations of finding a very good job with a very good paycheck.

not the case. Big companies are looking to hire people with experience. Sometimes a bachelor’s degree is not enough.

On the other hand, you can take the easy route and attend school to obtain a certification. A certification will focus on a specific subject. You will only have to take classes that you need. For example if you want to be a welder, you only take welding classes or classes that pertain to that subject. You will not have to waste your time on classes, which in reality do not benefit you or your career. A certi-

fication is short and straight to the point.

Think about it from the point of view of the employer, they would definitely think twice before hiring an inexperienced person with a fancy bachelor’s degree. They would have to invest money and time training and molding them into the perfect worker. Since they have a degree, employers will have to pay them more than an experienced person without a degree.

So really think about your decision when you are looking at both options. Think about all the time and money you are investing because it is all business in this world. The same way we are all trying to make and keep money in our bank accounts so are the companies in America. At the end of the day, those companies will hire whoever benefits them the most. I can assure you that will be the experienced person with a certification rather than mommy and daddy’s inexperienced spoiled princess that owes them money.

By MICHAEL VASQUEZ San Jacinto Times

Degrees these days are seemingly becoming part of the norm.

With the vast amount of students enrolled in universities around the country, some might question the value of their degree? There are some who begin to flirt with the idea of getting a two -year certificate in a program, however that might not be the way to go.

Having a certificate might fast track your way to making more money than you are now, but opportunities to advance with just a certification are extremely limited. With a college degree opportunities, for advancement come with hard work and skill in your profession. It is almost impossible now to get an interview for an upscale job without a degree.

College is not for everyone. This is something that is proven to many people during their first year of college. A degree is proof that you are willing to work and sacrifice. Companies now days may not care so much as what grades you scored, but just having that proof of prior struggles that you overcame, and that you are willing to work to get the job done; is really what they like in seeing a degree.

With all the amount of students who leave school for various reasons, many of them never go back. A big factor in this drop off has to do with wanting it.

A college degree sounds sexy at first, but once you find out that its actual work, well that just turns a lot of people off. These are the people that major cor-

porations and business’s want to avoid hiring, and a college degree is a great tool in assisting them in doing so. Think of your college degree as a sign of work ethic.

The business world is changing. The competition is vast and very competitive. So making yourself stand out is of utmost importance. Even choosing what university you attend can help with this task.

Some schools are more prestigious in certain fields than others. Another great advantage that a college degree has over a certification is the opportunities of internships.

I recently just finished an internship with ESPN radio. The vast amount of on the job training I received was astounding. The experience was very exciting, but further more, it will help me in my career field. Just adding a name like ESPN to my resume is going to help me out down the road.

Oppertunities like this don’t occur when you are getting certification training.

Degrees can sometimes be a stressful thing to pursue. However it’s at these times that you should keep the goal in sight. Though many people pursue degrees, not everyone achieves them. Its not easy, but then again nothing in life worth having comes easy. We must remember that college degrees not only benefit our futures, but also those of our future families. Going through the trials and tribulations will be worth it once you receive that degree.

You will be able to say you did it. Companies will look at you as a person who is going to work hard and get the job done. Gaining certification is a good alternative to college, but it isn’t the best choice.

Hard work pays off.

A life perhaps too short, but obviously fully lived Keep on dreaming because most of the time this is

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

We always think that sport is the great escape when it comes to the perils and mind-numbing bleakness of reality. We use it as a near-perfect distraction from everything else we don’t like. So, what is more shocking to our communal mindset when real life invades the world of sport?

We all work very hard to make sure items of awkward or depressing subject matter never interfere with our pleasures and pastimes. That can be considered partially honorable if only because we devote so much energy to it. Can we really be blamed? It is quite the normal reaction to want to immediately flip to Sports Center whenever the latest fear-laden “news” hits the screen. It is equal parts denial and coping.

Oct. 16 saw the specter of real life again invade

our sports safety cocoon. Dan Wheldon, only 33, lost his life doing what he loved. Fitzgerald would call that noble, but the rest of us mere mortals are mired in the sadness of it all. It is a special kind of sadness that can only happen when two completely different spheres come crashing together.

There’s always a tragic kind of charm when someone so young dies doing what ever it is that they truly love. It is a sort of smiling melancholy when it does happen, perhaps because it is truly rare. The replays of the crash were horrendous, but what I found to be truly moving was the fact that the on-air video tributes that quickly popped up each seemed to use different material. It is amazing that a life so short could spawn enough achievements to fill a bottom of the screen crawl bar for five solid minutes. Even in death some people refuse to be blips.

I was too young to remember when Dale Earnhardt died, but I will remember what happened to Dan. It wasn’t an overly important race on some

world-renowned track. This wasn’t the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, there wasn’t a neon-lit nighttime skyline as a backdrop. This was some midday race I couldn’t name in Las Vegas. And yet, there he was along with his fellow drivers. Sure there was prize money and it was partly televised, but you really have to love what you do if you are a former Indy500 winner and you’re doing a no-name race in Las Vegas.

It sound so very inglorious, but it really isn’t. This was Dan’s life, art and passion. There can be nothing more dignified than to leave this Earth doing the one thing that makes you happy. That is not to say his death isn’t a tragedy, but his occupation combined with his youth should not lead us to sadness, but to an fête. No one ever wants to die, but as George Strait put it, “I hope to go out with my guitar in my hands.”

Perhaps we could learn something about dedication from this tragedy. There is certainly a valid

argument to be made of perceived safety omissions in racing, but now doesn’t feel like the right time. It can never be the right time to second-guess someone living or dying, especially when the life is truly worthy celebrating. When given the option, we should go with the highroad and simply celebrate what was gifted unto us, even if only for a brief time.

As the old song goes, only the good die young. It isn’t really an axiom that we go out of our way to prove, but it is a constant. Dan was 33 with a wife and two children. Forget focusing on safety precautions, focus on that.

We should all strive to pursue with dedication the things that we love. We need not be governed by fear or doubt when it comes to our dreams. Life, in all its forms and speeds, is but a race. Some among us, like Dan Wheldon, merely take the Checkered Flag a little earlier than they should have.

their answers change to more practical things. No one wants to grow older and find a job that they hate, but in reality, millions of people trudge to work each day wishing that they could be doing something else. A job that they love and enjoy.

According to businessinsider.com 80% of people are dissatisfied with their jobs. So it seems as if a lot of do not feel as if they belong behind a desk, but they’re doing it anyways. That is just life. Not everyone can be a rock star, and not everyone can become world-renowned figures. Society needs people who stay out of the spotlight. Society needs garbage men and fast food workers, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

These people make the world go round by playing their role in society. They endure so much for minimum wage pay on a daily basis because they have to. Jobs are scarce to come by now and any job at all is considered a good one. Majorities of people do not have the luxury of dropping everything and pursuing their dream of stardom, or refusing to work because they feel they “do not belong” as a cashier.

Yet the arrogant attitude contestant Nick Voss

displayed seems to be common among the American youth as of late. According to www.intotheblue.co.uk a study found that 54% of the 1032 teenagers answered that they hope to become famous when asked what their career goals are. Teenagers are not children anymore. They should realize now what careers are realistic and which ones are not. This infatuation with fame is beginning to start at younger and younger ages.

I would never want to dissuade anyone from following their dreams, but I do wish people would be a bit more realistic about their career goals. If you wish to pursue a dream of becoming famous, then realize the odds are against you, and think of a back up plan. Earn a degree or a diploma first, so you will at least have an education to fall back on if you are unsuccessful. Try to make sure you do not become another unemployed statistic lost in the depths of Hollywood.

What makes Nick Voss better than a cashier?

Nothing. I personally feel that a person working behind a desk seems to be much better off than an unemployed, wannabe singer, with a bad haircut. I do not understand how having a good singing voice

equates to being too good to work a regular job.

The average everyday person, the people we are surrounded by everyday, are working their hardest to get by. No matter how lowly someone might think a job is, that person is still helping us stand on our own two feet. How would the world look without garbage men? How quickly would Americans fall apart if no one wanted to work in the fast food industry?

These people who help us to carry out our days in so many ways, on a near daily basis, are often overlooked or if they are noticed looked down upon. Why should a celebrity demand so much respect?

Forget celebrity, why not focus on the stars of our normal lives?

By MIRANDA JENKINS San Jacinto Times

“I don’t belong behind a desk. I don’t belong as a cashier.” I was watching The X Factor on Thursday night, when I heard contestant Nick Voss give this explanation when asked why he deserved to win the ultimate prize of a recording contract and 5 million dollars. His quote stuck with me and I thought to myself, does anyone actually feel as if they belong behind a desk?

When we were kids we answered exciting things like astronauts and sports stars or actors when asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. You never heard a child say he wanted to work at a fast food restaurant or answer that he wanted to be an accountant. It was always something exciting and fun. They were dream jobs that a majority of people would kill to have, but eventually as kids grow older, those career goals change.

For the most part, a child begins setting more realistic goals for themselves the older they get and

EDITORS

Michael Deats, Maria Chavez

MANAGING EDITORS

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

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.

They do their part as well, no doubt. They entertain the masses, but what they provide is no where near the hard work or caliber the average worker provides us. No job should be looked down upon, especially in today’s economy. Nick Voss and other egomaniacal celebrities should mind their manners and learn to appreciate all it is that the “little people” do for them, because without us they would not be where they are now.

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 24

• Venta de pasteles de parte del club de jus-

ticia penal, 9:30 a.m., patio del centro estudiantil

Martes, Octubre 25 • No hay actividades

Miercoles, Octubre 26 • No hay actividades

Jueves, Octubre 27 • Junta del club de Anime, 2 p.m.,

Brightwell A1025

Viernes, Octubre 28 • No hay actividades

Sabado, Octubre 29 • No hay actividades

Domingo, Octubre 30 • No hay actividades

Lunes, Octubre 31 • Casa de espantos de parte del club de Artisan Baker’s, 11 a.m., patio del centro estudiantil

Central

Lunes, Octubre 24

• Junta del club catolico, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202

Martes, Octubre 25 • Junta del club de escritores creativos, 11:30 a.m., C3.257 • Junta de TSEA, 1 p.m., CDCI 243

Miercoles, Octubre 26 • Junta de los republicanos del cole

gio, 10:30 a.m,m & 1 p.m., CADM W218A • Junta del VYNE, 1:30 p.m., CADM W218A • Junta de la sociedad de Anime, 2 p.m., CADM W112

Jueves, Octubre 27 • Junta del club de filosofia, 2:30

p.m., CADM W106

Fashion pic of the week

By ANGELICA RODRIGUEZ For the Times

rectly, red looks great! She was chosen because her outfit was really well put together for a nice cool day at college. Starting off with her ruffled Editors Note: Hey San Jac students! Ever shirt, these shirts look great dressy or wanted to see your name or picture on the casual as Lily did. Combining her newspaper? Well, now is your chance! Each white blouse with a red sweater made week we will pick one out of many photos to her outfit stand out. Her jeans are be on the “San Jacinto Times.” The pictures dark blue and help show off the will be taken of our current students each bright red. Lily also however, balweek who are wearing the latest trends or ances the outfit by wearing dark season styles. We will also describe a little brown shoes and a dark brown belt. about your outfit and why it was chosen. How Observe how Lily’s jeans are slightly to participate you ask? It’s easy, just being at the bottom, which means if folded yourself, if you stand out you’ll see me and my she has a special occasion after class camera at any San Jac campus looking for she can always unfold her jeans and you. All you have to do is answer a couple of put on some heels turning her outfit questions about your apparel so your picture into a dressy look. and description can be printed here for the Photo by Angelica “Pic of the Week.” So San Jac, whether you Rodriguez Notice that Lily is not wearing a necklace which is perfect because dress up or dress down, be on the lookout, the a necklace on top of a ruffled shirt can having next person might be you! sometimes appear too cluttered. She is however, Don’t see me around campus and want to participate? wearing silver earrings combined with her silver Take a picture at any SJC of your seasons’ outfit and bracelet that give her outfit a little spark. The accessend it into: rodriguez.a2412@student.sanjac.edu only sories she chose also work if she decided to switch from your San Jac e-mail. Tell me what you consider a dressy look. Lily’s make-up is neat, it is not to your style to be, why you chose that outfit, don’t forget over the top, yet still gives her eyes and cheeks just to mention your first and last name including the camenough color. Last but not least, not only did Lily pus you attend.

I spotted Lily while I was going to class one after- make time to get dressed up for her day, she also got noon and what really caught my eye was Lily’s ready for classes with her adorable Hello Kitty bright red sweater. I have to say, when worn cor- binder!

Youth hopes for a Freaky good time

By CHRIS SHELTON San Jacinto Times

Since Stephen King’s scary tale It, no singular ideal has been more synonymous with Halloween than creepy clowns.

Anthem Youth Group has tapped into this apprehension with a rousing play that will keep viewers on their heels.

This is the seventh production for Anthem Youth in a little more than a years time. Their first production, The Gate, debuted last Halloween and garnered a turnout of over 500 people. Assistant director, Ashley Cruz, expects to cruise past those numbers because this production resonates with a broad audience. “This play is cool, relatable fun that everyone would enjoy,” said Cruz.

Sideshow Freaks, as it is aptly named, begins with three students looking for a very unique haunted house deep in the woods. Leah, played by Kalya Hirsch, Mark, played by Issac Di Napoli and David, played by Lance Irving unknowingly stumble upon a circus and a charismatic Ringleader played by Jacob Baird.

He convinces the three teenagers to stay and watch his circus act. The psychotic nature of the Ringleader and his acts are initially unbeknown to them until it is revealed that real humans are the

acts in his eerie circus. The humans are held against their will and forced to participate. After the reality of the situation sets in, the teens attempt to escape only to be thwarted. This leads to a progressively more possessive Ringleader.

Cruz could not give out specific details on the ending but relayed that it is unique and spellbinding. She guaranteed a great show stating, “with the work we have put in and the heart we have, this show will be a 10.”

Anthem Youth has also been hard at work promoting their upcoming play by passing out flyers at local haunted houses in the Houston and Kemah area. The members of Anthem Youth hope their work will pay dividends and many will come check out their play.

Perhaps one of the most interesting tidbits about Sideshow Freaks is the set. It includes several different forms of art and is expected to have swings and jumps. “It incorporates dance, music, arts and stunts,” commented Cruz.

Freaks will open live at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct 24 through Wednesday Oct 26 at Grace Community Church. The address is 14505 Gulf Fwy Houston, Tx 77058. No one under the age of 11 will be admitted. If you have any questions or concerns call 713-363-2552 or email questions@anthemyouth.com

October 24, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 3

8 DAYS A WEEK North

Monday, October 24

• Criminal Justice Club Bake Sale, 9:30 a.m., Student Center Courtyard

Tuesday, October 25 • No Scheduled Activities

Wednesday, October 26 • No Scheduled Activities

Thursday, October 27 • Anime Club Meeting, 2 p.m., Brightwell A1025

Friday, October 28 • No Scheduled Activities

Saturday, October 29 • No Scheduled Activities

Sunday, October 30 • No Scheduled Activities

Monday, October 31 • Artisan Baker’s Club Halloween Haunted House, 11 a.m., Student Center Courtyard

Central

Monday, October 24

• Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202 • Psychology Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 209

Tuesday, October 25 • Creative Writers Meeting, 11:30 a.m., C3.257 • TSEA Meeting, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 • Gay Straight Alliance Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 204

Wednesday, October 26 • College Republicans Meeting, 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m., CADM W218A • The VYNE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., CADM W218A • Anime Society Meeting, 2 p.m., CADM W112

Thursday, October 27 • Philosophy Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM W106

Friday, October 28 • Phi Theta Kappa Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CILC 230 • Student Government Association Meeting, 11:30 a.m., CILC 155 • LASO Meeting, 12:30 p.m., C3.204 • Psi Beta Meeting, 1:30 p.m., TBA

Saturday, October 29 • No Scheduled Activities

Viernes, Octubre 28 • Junta de Phi Theta Kappa a las 10:30 am en CILC 230 • Junta de la asociación del gobierno estudiantil, 11:30 a.m., CILC 155 • Junta de LASO 12:30 p.m., C3.204 • Junta de Psi Beta, 1:30 p.m

Sabado, Octubre 29

Sur

• No hay actividades

• Juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Junta de artes marciales mixtas, 6:30 p.m., 6120

Lunes, Octubre 24

• Noche de Pintar, 2:30 p.m., FAB

Martes, Octubre 25

213 • Juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141

• The Bridge over troubled water, 9 a.m., atrio • Junta del club Newman, 2 p.m., 2215 • Juego de las empresas del gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Junta del club de ciencias, 4 p.m., 2052

Miercoles, Octubre 26

• Juego de las empresas del

Jueves, Octubre 27

gremio, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Junta de la sociedad pre-medicina, 4:15 p.m,. 1104

Sunday, October 30 • No Scheduled Activities

Monday, October 31 • Catholic Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m., CADM E202

South

Monday, October 24

• Game Enterprise Guild, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Mixed Martial Arts Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 6120

Tuesday, October 25 • Student Bible Fellowship Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Game Room • Paint Club Night, 2:30 p.m., FAB 213 • Game Enterprise Guild, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Writer’s Block Meeting, 6 p.m., 3200

Wednesday, October 26 • The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, 9 a.m., Atrium • Newman Club Meeting, 2 p.m., 2215 • Game Enterprise Guild, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Science Club Meeting, 4 p.m., 2052

Thursday, October 27 • Game Enterprise Guild, 3:30 p.m., 2141 • Pre-Med Society Meeting, 4:15 p.m., 1104

Friday, October 28 • Mixed Martial Arts Meeting, 9 a.m., Gym • Fall Festival- Petting Zoo, Music, Costume Contest, & More, 6 p.m., South Campus

Saturday, October 29 • No Scheduled Activities

Sunday, October 30 • No Scheduled Activities

Monday, October 31 • No Scheduled Activities

Jumps/Etc.

October 24, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 4

Survivor inspires with bravery

By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times

BCA

Continued from Page 1

locally. I have total confidence in their abilities.

My Aunt is a breast cancer survivor and her name is Colleen Etchberger. I am writing this to give you a glimpse into the world of a person who has survived the most prevalent form of cancer in the US. Cancer is not a death sentence, there are 11.9 million survivors currently living in the US, 22% of those are survivors of breast cancer like my Aunt. There are real people like you and me that are diagnosed with it every single day. I know one of them, and this is her story.

Q : When were you diagnosed?

A: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2006.

Q : How long after the screening did you find out?

A: Well, it takes a while since they run several tests before they definitively diagnose. I actually had more extensive testing on several other occasions and the results were always negative. About four years before being diagnosed at this location, I had a needle biopsy that was negative. I personally think that the cancer may have been missed the year before its discovery but that is something I will never know. Anyway, after the mammogram, they did an ultrasound, then a biopsy. The results of the biopsy were told to me a couple of days after the tests. This process took a little over a week.

Q : What was your first thought when you found out the diagnosis?

A: My gynecologist called me at work to give me the news. Frankly, I was in denial as I'm sure most people are. After all, there was some cancer history in the family, but I didn't think that would affect me.

I've always been very healthy, so this was news that seemed totally foreign.

Q : How did you feel about having cancer?

A: After it settled in and I knew there was no mistake, I was ready to do anything that had to be done to make me better. I'm a very positive person, so I had, and still do have, confidence that I didn't need to worry about cancer once we took care of the lump. I definitely did not let it take over my life, and I certainly have never wanted any special attention because of it. I guess that is why I always wore a wig and didn't talk about it much outside of my close friends and family.

Q : What were your treatment options?

A: I had the choice of a lumpectomy where they only take out the lump and surrounding area or I could have had a single mastectomy. The lumpectomy choice involved both chemo and radiation whereas the mastectomy involved only radiation.

At least this was my understanding at the time but logical thinking makes me wonder why I wouldn't need chemo and not radiation. Anyway, I definitely recall knowing that I was actually choosing between having chemo and not having it. I think the doctor knew that I preferred the lumpectomy since it would be something that I could do without reconstructive surgery, and he told me I probably wouldn't even need a prosthesis. Thank goodness he was right.

Q : What was treatment like?

A: I could probably go on forever on this one. The surgery was not that bad, but I did have a recuperative period as you would from any surgery. I met with my oncologist and she laid out the treatment plan. About four weeks following the lumpectomy, I began chemo. Now that was not pleasant at all. I recall the first treatment was the worst. I became violently ill about four hours after the treatment.

They gave me anti-nausea medicine but it didn't begin to ease the upset stomach in the least. I received treatment every two weeks (I was given the option of every three weeks, but I wanted to get it over as quickly as possible). I told my oncologist about my being so sick and she prescribed a much stronger medicine and I never experienced the upset stomach again. I took the treatments on a Thursday, worked from home on Friday because I had to have a blood test on that day to determine if my blood counts were okay. If they weren't, then I would get a shot (a very expensive one--thank goodness insurance paid for it). The chemo treatment would hit me mid day on Saturday. I had absolutely no energy.

This lasted until mid-day on Monday, so I worked from home again on Monday. I then worked until the next week when I got another treatment. I had six treatments. Working was the very best thing I could have done. It kept my life normal and very much off of my treatments. I had to watch for fever because my body was in a vulnerable state and I did have that issue once and had to postpone my treatment a few weeks. That upset me because I was ready to get it all over with! I also had some issues with the second half of the treatment as they change medication at that point. I had an allergic reaction and my hands and feet swelled and then they peeled and I lost all my finger and toe nails. What fun! My

Photo courtesy of Greg Starks

Etchberger sees the path ahead of her.

medication was changed and I had some adverse reaction to it, also, but they resolved that and all went well from then on out. Two weeks after my last chemo treatment (recovery time), I started radiation every day except Saturday and Sunday. I don't recall exactly, but I think that lasted six to eight weeks. First they made a mould of my back and marked my body with tiny tattoos to show the radiologist where the radiation was to be directed. The mould was used for each treatment to insure I was laying exactly the way I was when they made the marks. As you can tell, they were very thorough.

For me, the radiation was a piece of cake, but there were others in there that had problems with their skin burning from the radiation. They also said that it tired them out--but those women did not have chemo, so they really didn't have a clue what "tired" was! After I was released by the radiologist, I was considered cancer-free and in remission. I visited my oncologist every three months and took blood tests for the first two years. After that I saw my oncologist every six months, got blood tests each time, but a chest X-ray is only done once a year. It has been five years now, and when I see my oncologist next month, I expect her to tell me that I only have to see her once a year. Whahoo!

Q : What would you say to someone who is apprehensive about getting screened?

A: This is a no-brainer. Why would you ever not get screened, except for monetary reasons? The earlier cancer is detected the greater chance of eradicating it. For women, a yearly Pap smear and mammogram is a must. We only have so long on this earth and we need to be sure we are as healthy as possible for as long as possible. I have a firm belief that it is selfish for a person not to take care of himself or herself if they have the means to do so.

These statistics are staggering and show the need for a cure, if for nothing else, to prevent the mental anguish cancer places on the victim, as well as their family and friends.

Breast Cancer typically does not exhibits symptoms while the tumor is small and the disease is most easily managed. This is why following the screening guidelines are especially important to surviving the beast that is breast cancer. Once the tumor has grown to noticeable size, the most common symptom is a painless lump on the breast. A physician should evaluate any persistent abnormality in the breast as soon as possible.

Some risk factors to avoid include alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activities, women currently using oral contraceptives, age, as women over 55 constitute 2/3s of all cases of invasive breast cancer, and obviously gender because women are 100 times more likely to contract breast cancer than men.

Early detection is the key. At stage 0 the fiveyear survival rate is 93%, while at stage IV, the final stage of Breast Cancer, it is 15%.

It is clear that treatment is improving because there were 2.5 million women with a history of breast cancer living in the United States in 2010. More than half were diagnosed in the last 10 years and are now living cancer-free.

To continue this trend the American Cancer Society advocates that women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic health exam by a health professional, at least every three years.

EGG DONORS NEEDED! Q : How did you decide to go about getting treatment?

A: My gynecologist referred me to a surgeon who gave me my options. I chose to have my treatment

photo courtesy of cancer.us

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Entertainment/Reviews

Biophila is first of its kind

By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times

Always one to innovate, incomparable Icelandic singer/songwriter Bjork is not stopping now.

Biophilia is her eighth record, and the first to be what is dubbed an “app-album,� that is not only for the iPhone, like Bluebrain’s The National Mall.

Biophilia is a groundbreaking endeavor in entirely interactive works of art. The app-album is a collection of visualizations, games, and music that accompany Bjork’s album.

The main Biophilia app is free, but each sub-app, which contains a song and an interactive game, is $.99, $9.99 for the entire record.

Before everyone without an iPhone or an iPad starts freaking out, a traditional audio-only version of Biophilia is still available, and the music is just as good without all the frills of interaction.

Bjork has been one of, if not the most, innovative musician of the past 20 years. She has worked with a wide array of musicians and composers, and departed almost entirely from traditional instruments and album recording.

Biophilia is no exception. The majority of the record was recorded on an iPad, and a Tesla coil is even used on Thunderbolt. A gameleste, which is a combination of a gamelan (an Indain gong of sorts) and a celesta (a piano like instrument using metal plates instead of strings) was programmed to be used remotely by a tablet computer and is featured on several of the songs.

Bjork has never been one to have an “average�

sound, or idea for that matter. The title of the album Biophilia is a nod to the book Biophilia, in which Edward O. Wilson suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems.

The term Biophilia literally means, “love of life or living systems,� and is the underlying theme of the record that creates a feel of a little microcosm in each song. Each track in theory is alive, and has a life of its own, that will evolve after the album’s release with the addition of new elements.

Bjork is very complex, her music is even more so, and I understand why the majority of people do not understand, or even like her music. I on the other hand adore everything she has ever released, and was ecstatic when I learned of this album’s release date this month.

Biophilia is her most forward thinking and sounding record to date. It is a web of complexity that will take many listens to unravel fully, if that is at all possible.

I feel one can never truly grasp what exactly Bjork is trying to accomplish in her work, they can only commit to listening to it, and open their mind to the possibilities of what truly great conceptual, audible art can be.

Biophilia is an A+ record, as are all of her recordings. I almost feel the need to create a grade that transcends letters to appropriately convey the grandeur and wonder that is the music of Bjork.

Since I cannot, I simply ask that you give her a chance and see what you have been missing for the past 18 years.

October 24, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 5

Local concert calendar

Oct.24 The Drums, IO Echo- Fitzgeralds (upstairs) Uh Huh Her, Jarrod Gorbel- Fitzgeralds (downstairs) Minus the Bear, The Velvet Teen- Warehouse Live Alexis Marceaux & The Samurai, Elaine Greer, Day Sailor- Rudyards Oct.25 Dream Theatre, Trivium- Verizon Wireless Theatre St. Vincent, Cate Le Bon- Fitzgeralds Oct.26 Infinite Apaches, Dead People, Psychic Palms- Mangos Alpha Rev, Carbon Leaf, Nic Cowan- Fitzgeralds (upstairs) Das Racist, Danny Brown & Despot- Fitzgeralds (downstairs) Oct.27 Fitz & The Tantrums, Walk the Moon- House of Blues Wild Flag, Derw Grow & The Pastor Wives- Fitzgeralds Oct.28 Bassnectar, Ana Sia- Verizon Wireless Theatre Shonen Knife, Shannon & The Clams, Black Pistol Fire- Stereo Live The Toasters, Red Five Point Star- Fitzgeralds Ghostland Observatory- Warehouse Live Oct.29 CSS, Men- House of Blues Indain Jewelry, Lords of the Universe, Weird Party- Mangos Galactic, JJ Grey, & Mofro- Warehouse Live The Age of Hell Tour: Chimaira + Guests- Fitzgeralds (upstairs) The Wombats, The Postelles, Static Jacks- Fitzgeralds (downstairs) Oct.30 Halloween 2011: Concrete Blonde, Girl in a Coma- Fitzgeralds (upstairs) Boots Electric (ft. Jess Hughes from Eagles of Death Metal), Fiskadoro -

Fleet Foxes continue to please their fans with Helplessness Blues

By GREG STARKS San Jacinto Times

Fleet Foxes are an Indie-folk or Baroque-pop band formed in Seattle Washington in 2006.

They rose to prominence in 2008 when their second EP Sun Giant and self-titled LP were released and garnered many positive reviews. A fan of both, I am.

The sound of Helplessness Blues is a lot like their previous works, but much more refined and purposeful. The principal songwriter and lead vocalist Robin Pecknold, has some of the most ethereal vocal harmonies that have ever graced a recording.

The man is a seriously talented vocalist and musi-

cian. Along with the other band members, he achieves the greatest vocals I have heard from the exploding genre of Indie-folk.

I prefer the descriptor of Baroque-pop for Fleet Foxes’s sound. It refers to the implementation of classical music techniques and sounds. The band uses classical instruments like guitars and a double bass, a handful of synthesizers, tape replay keyboards, and several antiquated instruments that I do not have room to describe, lets just use one as an example‌ Tibetan singing bowls, need I say more?

Helplessness Blues layers the modern and the classical. It has both a worn and broken in feel of Folk music, as well as the minimal new feel that is Indie.

I believe the bands love for Bob Dylan and Neil Young is apparent in the sounds they create, and that was actually the shared interest that brought the two founding members, Robin Pecknold and Skyler Skelset, together in high school.

Their sound is a lot like Dylan’s and Young’s, just with a higher production value and access to more interesting instruments.

Fleet Foxes have a very vocal centered approach to making music that serves Pecknold incredibly well. His lyrics shine through to the forefront with the accompaniment of the band and their eclectic choices of instrumentation.

I love this record, as well as everything else Fleet Foxes have released. I am stamping a big red A on Helplessness Blues in hopes that you will take my advice and check it out, it is well worth it.

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October 24, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 6

Re-imagining of classic 80s flick a clear Footloser

By LESLY DELGADO San Jacinto Times

With popular shows such as Glee, Dancing With The Stars, and video games like Dance Dance Revolution, the dancing and musical theme is hitting America right through. Therefore, it was only fair that the popular 1980’s dancing movie was remade.

The much anticipated remake of Footloose hit theaters the weekend of Oct. 14th 2011. Coming in for the second spot right behind “Real Steel” (which debuted the previous week.) Footloose is just a failed attempt to the 80’s beloved classic.

The synopsis of the movie is about a young guy from the City named Ren MaCormack, played by Kenny Wormald. He moves to a small conservative town after his mother’s tragic death of battling with Leukemia. He later finds out that his new home of

Bomont, Ga. has banned loud music such as rock and roll and even dancing. But to rebellious Ren this was only a challenge to defeat. He decides to keep on dancing and tries to get the ban overturned so everyone can dance and have fun. In the process of the movie he meets Ariel Moore played by Julienne Hough, the preacher’s also rebellious daughter. The two develop a romance and that’s when the music and dancing adventure begins.

To Craig Brewer, (the director) this was the perfect opportunity to make a dancing/musical movie.

This was right up his alley because Brewer also directed Hustle and Flow a movie about the struggles of a starving rap artist, and Black Snake Moan which is filled with plenty southern accents and rhythm and blues. Footloose was the movie to remake that included lots of music and dancing.

The movie runs pretty much parallel to the original one; do not expect to see some new twists and

turns. The movie follows the exact same plot and script. Therefore this is not much of a remake but an rehash to the original. The only difference is that there are new actors, the music is better sounding and someone else does the songs and dancing.

There is no doubt that Kenny Wormald is compared to Footloose’s original leading man Kevin Bacon. It is hard to fall in love with Wormald as Ren because audiences already love Bacon in the previous movie. Wormald does a mediocre job playing his part, he lacks that edgy and likable persona that Bacon achieves in the original.

Being a person that does not enjoy musical and dancing flicks very much, I decided to give this movie a shot, because I actually enjoyed the first Footloose. Unfortunately, for my taste, I found myself distracted from this movie. Some scenes dragged and I found the story line started to bore

Come see the artful display at Central

me, even if it was almost word-for-word the same as the original. The music however, it was pretty good and I think I may just enjoy the sound track better then the motion picture.

Footloose is supposed to be one of those movies that make you feel good. I believe you are even supposed to make you want to get up and dance, the remake was overall average and even before the credits started scrolling through the big screen I felt unsatisfied.

Therefore, I give this movie a C+, jumping in the bandwagon of making a remake is pointless. Even though the original movie wasn’t superior masterpiece, I believe it was certainly better than the remake. So, if you plan on taking a trip to the theater’s this weekend save the 113 minutes you will waste if you see Footloose the remake, instead wait until it comes out on video.

For once, this play really is the thing

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

Photos by Maria Chavez

Left to Right: Jason de Leon Orgyʼd, Erich Schenk Not a Childʼs Mind, Rachel Byrant Plastic Cling Monochromse, Jason de Leon Love, Dave Silverio Aachan, Glenda Zuniga Girl Afraid

BY MARIA CHAVEZ San Jacinto TImes The Collective Effort art exhibit brings together 5 talented student artists in a collaborate effort to help students gain experience in building a portfolio, working with other artists, and all the minor detailing that comes with doing an art show. 4 out of 5 are current students, while one has already graduated. The artists are: Dave Silverio, Glenda Zuniga, Jason de Leon, Erich Schenck, Aaron Gutierrez, and Rachel Bryant. The art exhibit’s opening night was October 12th, but the display will last until November 2nd. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 1:30-3:30 p.m., and is located in the East Wing of the Admin. building, room C4.119/E119.

It’s daft, it’s surreal, it’s crazy, it’s deconstructive, and it’s patently absurd in several places.

But here’s the thing: it’s nothing short of genius.

What’s Past Is Prologue, the latest work of on-stage machination from San Jac Central’s Dr. David LeMaster, debuted on Tuesday the 18. A very healthy sized crowd of turned out and was rewarded from the very beginning.

With a count of five applause breaks and a two minute standing ovation at the end, suffice it to say Prologue has a bright future ahead of it.

The production mixes purposeful insanity with whip-like writing, and that is its greatest gift. You don’t have to be a trained wordsmith to enjoy the verbal frivolity that the able cast traded back and forth with effervescent ease.

It would be an insultingly miniscule understatement to all the cast members to settle for the prototypically contrived “it was ably performed” line. It was, but it was much more. We groundlings in the audience sat agape at the ease with which dastardly devious dialogue was put on display.

The plot of the play, which is a sort of joke in and of itself, pales in comparison to the real stars of the show; the cast and the writing. Dr. David LeMaster said, “It was always about the words, words, words. I saw a great cast that worked together and solved some of the diction. That was very impressive.”

The premise of What’s Past Is Prologue is a rapier-like lampooning over Shakespeare authorship conspiracy theories. If you’ve always felt somewhat burned out over Shakespeare and felt he could stand to be taken down a notch or two, then this show is undoubtedly for you. Prologue is a formal evisceration of all the snobbish traits we associate with the Bard.

It all basically centers on Christopher Marlowe [performed to perfection, in a hapless way, by Gino Sandoval], and his quest to gain fame for his play writing ability. Through clever usage of literary reference and good, old fashioned theatrical, we’re introduced to the delightfully deranged William Shakespeare [imagined to a megalomaniacal T by Alec Trevino].

Beyond the acting and garrulity, the sheer savvy of the stage crew and set designers adds leaps and bounds to the sublimely simple yet surreal setting of the play.

Since many of the 50-minute shows plots twists are essentially indescribable through the typed word, I won’t expend the energy trying to explain them. I will tell you that even if you can’t stand Shakespeare in any way, shape or form, What’s Past Is Prologue is such a wonderfully offbeat satirizing of all things related to the playwright, you’ll laugh even if all the dialogue does go right over your head.

There’s plenty of wisdom in the stars here at SJC

By TIFFANY SEXTON San Jacinto Times

Why is Pluto no longer a planet? How did the solar system actually form? How many stars are actually in outer space? Why is Earth the only planet with life forms? These are some of the popular questions that people often wonder when talking about life outside of our planet.

The unknown is a fascinating subject that researchers strives to answer questions that are near to impossible for the average person to figure out. Astronomy is a class offered at San Jacinto College South Campus that is extremely fascinating. You get a chance to learn about the solar system and how the planets orbit around the sun and how our early astronomers, like Aristotle or Galileo, were able to come up with the calculations that got everything started.

So far during this semester we have learned so much and we are only half way through. My pro-

fessor Walter Thompson is truly a really great professor. He makes class enjoyable and interesting.

He grades fair and makes sure to give you plenty of time to get all of your assignments taken care of.

“Walter Thompson is the honors program coordinator and professor of physics and astronomy at San Jacinto College South Campus. He earned a B.S. in Physics from the University of Texas and a Master's degree in Physics and Astronomy from Johns Hopkins University. While earning his graduate degree, Prof Thompson performed research on galaxy evolution and the large-scale structure of the universe at the Space Telescope Science Institute (home of the Hubble Space Telescope). He has been a full-time instructor of physics and astronomy since 2004 at several institutions, including Towson University, Harford Community College, and San Jacinto College, and also teaches at the University of Texas Medical School’s Summer Medical and Dental Educational Program,” confirmed by San Jacinto College website.

The Astronomy class I am taking this semester is offered on one night a week on Tuesdays. The most exciting part of the class is being able to use the telescopes. I have never personally seen a telescope up close or even used one so it is a very exciting experience. The neatest object we have been able to look at is Jupiter. It is amazing to be able to see a planet in another galaxy. We have been able to see it so well that we have actually been able to see the red parts of Jupiter’s atmosphere. Professor Thompson has informed us that if we take the class next semester than we will be able to see Saturn.

Another exciting thing about the class is there is an app you can download called “Go Sky Watch” or “Sky Walk” on your smart phone or iPhone that allows you to see the constellations. Living in this area the clouds and pollution block a lot of our view of all the stars in our sky. By downloading these apps even if the clouds are blocking the other stars in the constellation you are able to see the whole constellation on your phone. All you need to

do is point your phone at one of the stars and it will tell you the name of that star and show you the entire constellation and where the other stars should be located.

In the Astronomy course you are able to get a chance to see through your telescope the stars that are not blocked from the clouds. Today in class we were taught how to tell a difference between if you are looking at a star or a planet in the sky. A star will twinkle in the night sky and a planet will not.

So the next time you are looking up at the night sky without a telescope or a downloaded app and you notice a star not twinkling, you might be looking at a planet.

On Tuesday Nov. 8, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. there will be a star party hosted on the San Jacinto College South Campus, so everyone should come out and see what part of the Astronomy course is all about. You will get to see some planets, stars and deep sky objects that you never thought you would ever get a chance to see, especially not for free.