Batter Up!
Film Festival: Read
Voting For Dummies
Sharks catcher Leo Rojas turned down several MLB offers to focus on his educational goals. PAGE 11
the March 27 issue of The Reporter to catch up on the happenings at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival. Due to The Reporter's production schedule, we were unable to provide MIFF coverage for the March 6 issue.
TurboVote is an easy tool designed to help reduce the stresses of voting in person. PAGE 5
Movie Pandemonium
Here's your exclusive inside look at Will Ferrell and Ed Helms’ new comedy flicks. PAGE 13
Let’s Talk About Sex...And Gender
The indoctrination of the notion of gender on young minds is one of individual freedom of choice. PAGE 15
New Beginnings XXX March intoReporter Spring. —The —The Reporter
4VOL. ISSUE 12—MARCH. 2012 4VOL. 2, 2, ISSUE 9— JAN 24, 6,2012 www.mdc.edu/thereporter
The Reporter
@TheReporter_MDC
CRIME
MDC Student Arrested For Threatening Obama The Secret Service arrested a Kendall Campus Student who made threats against President Barack Obama during his campaign tour through South Florida. By Monique O. Madan monique.madan001@mymdc.net Kendall Campus student Joaquin Amador Serrapio Jr. was arrested on Feb. 24 by the Secret Service for threatening President Barack Obama via Facebook posts, according to Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary. Serrapio, 20, was charged with threats against the president and successors to the presidency, Leary said. Two days prior to Obama’s speaking at the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center in Coral Gables on Feb. 23, Serrapio posted on Facebook SERRAPIO under the alias “Jay Valor”: "Who wants to help me assassinate Obummer while hes at UM this week?” according to a criminal complaint. He also wrote, "If anyones going to UM to see obama today, get ur phones out an TURN TO OBAMA, PAGE 7
East Meets West
Celebrating The Year Of The Dragon: The Miami Chinese Language School’s showcased the traditional Feather Fan Dance on Feb. 12 at Kendall Campus. PHOTOBRIEFING PAGE 3
PARKING
SMOKING
Construction Causes West Campus Students To Park At Overflow Lot Starting March 5, West Campus students will be able to park in an overflow lot at Miami International Mall while the College builds a new parking garage. By Karla Barrios maria.barrios011@mymdc.net Starting March 5, West Campus students might have to park at an overflow lot at Miami International Mall while a new parking garage is built on campus. The overflow parking, which is 3.6 miles from West Campus—according to Google Maps Distance Calculator—will be utilized when the 168 parking spaces at the West Campus have been filled. Five, 45-passenger shuttles will transport students from the lot located on the southeast section of the mall, directly across from JC Penny at 1455 NW 107th Ave.
INDEX: PLEASE RECYCLE
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The shuttles will run Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. and are free of charge. It is unknown how many shuttles will be used per shift or how often they will make their rounds, West Campus officials said, but they are expected to help alleviate the parking problems at the campus. “We have serious parking issues,” said Ana DeMahy, director of administrative and student services at West Campus. “This will make it easier for the students to be at the campus until construction for the parking garage is finished.” West Campus officials broke ground on a new $24 million parking garage on Feb. 8 The five-story facility is expected to be completed in late December. The new five story parking garage will have approximately 1,848 spaces. TURN TO PARKING, PAGE 5
NEWS
5-6,7,9
Despite College-Wide Smoking Ban, Students Still Take Puffs Nearly one year ago, Miami Dade College implemented a college-wide smoking ban. However, many still violate the policy. By Melissa Adan melissa.adan001@mymdc.net Sitting less than 10 feet away from a “Do Not Smoke” sign, Dwight Mejia hunches over to smoke a cigarette as he waits for the bus. “I smoke often on campus,” said Mejia, 20, who did so between building 1000 and 3000 at Kendall Campus. “I have been a student [at Miami Dade College] for four years and I have been smoking since. No one has ever told me anything, [or] to stop.” Despite the college-wide smoking ban that MDC decided on nearly one year ago, many are still violating the policy.
SPORTS
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A&E
“I think [smokers] are aware of the rule but choose to ignore it,” said Kendall Campus student Yorleny Ordaz, 22. “I see them and the smell irritates me.” According to the Tobacco and SmokeFree College Policy I-77, responsibility for the enforcement of the smoking ban relies on the members of the college community. “I think it’s everybody’s responsibility,” said Armando Guzman, Kendall Campus public safety chief. “If I’m a smoker, I need to set an example, and if I don’t agree with the policy I can go about changing it in a positive manner.” Guzman, a reformed smoker, said he has seen a significant decrease of students and faculty smoking on campus. “When I see a student smoking, the TURN TO SMOKING, PAGE 7
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FORUM
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THE REPORTER IS THE FREE BIWEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE. ALL CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY MDC STUDENTS. THE REPORTER IS A PUBLIC FORUM FOR EXPRESSION.
2 BRIEFING | MARCH 6, 2012
THE REPORTER
// BRIEFING Melissa Adan, Briefing Editor  // 
T (305) 237-2715 
Miami-Dade Community Action Scholarship The Community and Human Services Department of MiamiDade County is providing $1,500 scholarships to assist low-income students in attending college. Candidates must reside in the areas of Little Havana, Allapattah, Brownsville, Coconut Grove, Culmer, Edison/Little River, Florida City, Goulds, Hialeah, Liberty City, Naranja, Opa-Locka, Perrine, South Beach, South Miami or Wynwood. To be eligible, students must have a high school diploma, or a GED, or be working toward one of the two. They must also be between the ages of 16-26, have a 2.0 GPA and must submit an essay. The application deadline is March 16. —Annaliese Garcia For more information, contact: Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department T(786) 469-4600 www.miamidade.gov/cahs
Spring Fling Kids Carnival At Kendall Campus On March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kendall Campus Student Life will host the Spring Fling Kids Carnival at Kendall Campus’s track, 11011 SW 104th St., located beside the soccer field. The event is open to the public, with a $1 donation entry fee. All proceeds will be sent to Invisible Children, a non-profit organization focusing on rebuilding wartorn schools in northern Uganda. During the Spring Fling Kids Carnival, student life will also host their first-ever Golf Cart Float Parade. All Kendall Campus clubs are invited to participate. —Giselle Valenzano For more information on either event, and registering for the Float Parade, contact: Kendall Campus Student Life T(305) 237-0531
Armando Olivera Joins MDC Board Of Trustees Armando J. Olivera was appointed to Miami Dade College’s Board of Trustees by Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Feb. 16. Olivera replaces Robert H. Fernandez, whose term ended. Olivera is the chief executive offiOLIVERA cer and president of Florida Power & Light Company. He is also a member of the Cornell University Board of Trustees, where he received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Olivera also earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami. Olivera joins Board of Trustees members Helen Aguirre FerrÊ, Armando Bucelo Jr., Marielena Villamil, Benjamin León III, Marili Cancio, Jose Fuentes and Eduardo Padrón. —Patricia Suiter
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B melissa.adan001@mymdc.net
Writers Encouraged To Apply For The Paz Prize For Poetry
PadrĂłn Named Co-Chair Of Century Foundation National Task Force
The National Poetry Series and The Center at Miami Dade College have established the Paz Prize for Poetry, recognizing a previously unpublished book of poetry. The prize will recognize booklength manuscripts of poetry written in Spanish by an American resident. Puerto Rican poet Victor Hernandez Cruz will serve as the first judge. Joining him on the advisory board for the prize are Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisneros, Cristina Garcia, Campbell McGrath, Pablo Medina, Gary Soto, Ilan Stavans, and Luisa Valenzuela. The winning book will be published in a bilingual edition by Akashic Press, and its author will receive a $500 cash prize. The 2012 submission period for the inaugural Paz Prize for Poetry will be May 1 through June 15. Finalists for the award will be notified in late July, and the winner will be announced in September. The first winner will be published in October 2013.
Miami Dade College President Eduardo J. PadrĂłn has been named co-chair to the Century Foundation National Task Force. The Century Foundation is assembling a task force made up of people from two-year and fouryear institutions and scholars in higher education to look for ways to strengthen community colleges nation-wide. The other cochair is Anthony Marx, the president of the New York Public Library, and former president of Amherst College. PADRĂ“N The Task Force on Preventing Community College From Becoming Separate and Unequal will deal with racial, social and economic issues creating a divide between two- and four-year colleges.
—Jonathan Muùoz For more information and to see guidelines for submission, visit: www.nationalpoetryseries.org
H.E.R. Concert Movie Screening At Kendall Students Aiding International Development (S.A.I.D) will screen scenes from the HBO documentary The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo, on March 13 at Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 St., in Room 6120. Screenings will be held twice, from 9:50 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. and from 5:40 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. Miami Dade College professors Stuart Williams and John Frazier will screen scenes from the documentary and lead a discussion. The film includes interviews with soldiers and firsthand accounts. S.A.I.D. will also host bake sales every Wednesday at Kendall Campus, leading up to their benefit concert on March 30.
—Luis A. Prieto For more information, contact: Carlos Barrezueta T(305)-237-3944 cbarrezu@mdc.edu
North Campus Celebrates Women’s History Month With The Spoken Word Cafe Miami Dade College’s North Campus will celebrate Women’s History Month at an event at the Spoken Word Cafe on March 27 in the Quiet Dining Room from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Featured will be dance, songs and poetry readings. The event also offers a writing contest for MDC North Campus students. The piece may be an essay, short story or interview and must be original work of no more than 2,500 words, submitted by March 12. The contest includes cash prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, ranging from $50-$100. The winners will also have the opportunity to read their winning submission at the Spoken Word Cafe.
Comedian Jen Kober To Perform At Kendall
Wolfson Campus Offers Spring Miami Writers
Comedian Jen Kober will perform on March 14 at the KoffeeHouse at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 St. The event will be held from noon to 1:15 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Kober, originally KOBER from Louisiana, brings to her shows stories about love and madcap adventures. Her southern style makes her unique in the world of live performance entertainment and films. Kober visits MDC as part of her 88-city college tour. In 2011, Kober appeared on the ABC sitcom Happy Endings, and she taped a co-starring role with Christina Appelgate and Maya Rudolph for NBC’s sitcom, Up All Night.
The Center for Literature and Theatre at Miami Dade College is hosting its annual Miami Writers Institute, offering writers advice and workshop programs on literature and publishing at Wolfson Campus. Workshops vary from two to four days. The two-day workshop comprises How To Get Published Successfully, offered May 3-4 from 6 to 8 p.m. The three-day workshop comprises Building a Story: A Fiction; Writing Crime Fiction; and Writing for Book Deals: From Pitch to Proposal, offered May 2 - 4 from 2 - 5 p.m. The four-day workshop comprises The Masked Poet: A Poetry Workshop; Telling It True: Writing About Place, People and the World; Master Workshop on Writing Memoir; and Taller Sobre la FicciĂłn, held in Spanish, offered May 2 - 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. Prices for the seminars range from $100 - $450. MDC students and staff receive a discounted price.
—Consuelo Naranja For more information, contact: Fernanda Ponce CAB president T(305) 904-3926
Paid Summer Internship For Social Justice Students with a passion for social justice may be eligible for a paid eight-week internship. Selected students will work as field interns with The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). Interns will raise public awareness for the “Right to Organize� campaign, and learn in-depth about UAW labor movement. Applicants must have the following qualifications: demonstrated leadership qualities in a work environment, highly effective communication skills, experience in social media, interest in digital photography and video. A flexible schedule and a driver license and car are also required. —Brittany Ahrens For more information, visit: www.uawglobaloi.org
Calvin Hughes To Speak At Journalism Speaker Series
Free Women’s Wellness Fair At Medical Campus
ADHD Scholarship Accepting Applications
Miami Dade College will host its annual Women’s Wellness Fair on March 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Medical Campus, 950 NW 20th St., Building 1, atrium room. The fair will provide breast exams, bone density screenings and zumba dancing. Free massages will be provided by students enrolled in Medical Campus’s massage therapy program. A blood drive will be held during the fair. The event is part of Women’s History Month and is free and open to the public.
The Shire 2012 ADHD Scholarship Program is available for students diagnosed with ADHD and under the care of a health professional for the condition. To be eligible, a student must be an American citizen, already accepted into or attending a college, university or any other institution of higher education. If chosen, the recipients will receive a $ 2,000 award as well as one year of ADHD coaching. The application deadline is March 30.
Calvin Hughes, an Emmy Award-Winning news anchor for WPLG-TV Local 10 will be the next speaker at the Miami Dade College Journalism Speaker Series. The event will take place on March 15 at 10 a.m. in Room 7128 at Wolson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave. Hughes, a 20 year HUGHES TV veteran, started at WPLG, anchoring the early morning news three and half years ago. Before arriving at WPLG, he worked in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Kentucky, and Indiana. He started his career on the radio in Missouri when he was 19. Today Hughes also co-anchors WPLG’s 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. news. The event will include a presentation by Hughes and a 15 minute question and answer session. It is free and open to the public.
—Karina Castrillo
—Jose Prado
—Tacara Turner
—Jonathan Muùoz Emily Dominguez her.concert@gmail.com www.herconcert.com
For more information, contact: Paulette Izac T(305) 237-4336
—Samantha Thorpe For more information, contact: Kate Noonan T(305) 237-1313 knoonan@mdc.edu www.facebook.com/MDCNorthWritingContest
For more information, visit: www.shireadhdscholarship. com
For more information, contact: Manolo Barco T(305) 237-3477
www.mdc.edu/thereporter
The Reporter
—Annette Dominguez For more information, contact: Nicole Smith T(305) 237-3023 www.flcenterlitarts.com
Communications Major Scholarship The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Suncoast Chapter, is hosting its annual scholarship competition for college/university students majoring in communications. The deadline for applications is March 23 at noon. To participate, students are required to attend an accredited college or university in Miami-Dade or Broward County; be a sophomore, junior or senior with a declared major in communications/broadcasting with a concentration in television and have a 3.5 GPA or higher. Also, participants must submit an unofficial transcript, a resume, a one page bio and a 250- to 350-words essay addressing the following questions: Who in the TV industry serves as your role model and why? Considering the variety of media outlets available today, what role does TV play in remaining an important source of news and programming? Candidates will participate in a personal interview with scholarship committee members, and if awarded, the scholarship must be used for tuition and books only. —Jael Teme For more information, contact: Angela Ramos T(305) 471-3907 aramos@univision.net
Seminar On U.S. Foreign Policy In Latin America The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Initiatives at Miami Dade College will host a panel discussion, The Evolution of U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America, on March 6 at 11:15 a.m. at Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. 2nd Ave., Room 3208. The panel will cover various issues pertaining to changes in U.S. and Latin American foreign policy, and how ties have been weakened post-9/11. The event is free to the public. —Morena Guerrero For more information, contact: Carlos Barrezueta T(305)-237-3944 cbarrezu@mdc.edu @TheReporter_MDC
MARCH 6, 2012 | BRIEFING
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PHOTOBRIEFING
1 AKEEM BRUNSON / THE REPORTER
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Turn It Up: North Campus featured a faculty recital concert that showcased an ensemble of professors at the Black Box Theater on Feb. 1. (Pictured from left to right) Claudio Osario, Adolfo Vidal and Ana Rodriguez performed music from the Baroque period with compositions like “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikolai Rimsky Korasakov. Go online to facebook.com/mdc.thereporter for an exclusive look at the recital.
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Legendary: Local legend Bobby Stringer wows the audience with his rendition of the Georgia Mass Choir’s “Come on in the Room” at Gospel Explosion at North Campus’ Lehman Theatre on Feb. 25.
3
Fairly Healthy: Respiratory Care student Omar Celada conducts the spirometry screening to test for lung volume and obstructive disease for visitors at Medical Campus’ health fair on Feb. 25.
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Kung Fu : Two boys from a local Kung Fu School demonstrate some martial arts moves as part of the Lion and Dragon Dance performance on Feb. 12 at Kendall Campus.
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2 DONNALYN ANTHONY / THE REPORTER
DONNALYN ANTHONY / THE REPORTER
4 IRMA GUTIERREZ / THE REPORTER
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MARCH 6, 2012 | NEWS
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// NEWS Monique O. Madan, Editor-in-Chief //
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FAU Day
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VOTING
Voting Made Easy: Virtually Harvard graduate Seth Flaxman created a new online voting service to enable people to participate in elections hassle-free, and he has reached out to Miami Dade College to encourage students to also get involved. By Brittany Esquijarosa britt.esquijarosa001@mymdc.net Voting is now as easy as renting an online movie. TurboVote is an online voter-assistance service that aims to make the voting process hassle-free. "It seems easy and effective. It's great to be able to participate right from home without any inconveniences," said Shannon Ferguson, 20, a Kendall Campus student. Seth Flaxman, a Harvard graduate and the creator of TurboVote, was inspired by his lack of voting participation and Netflix fixation to “make participating in democracy just as easy as renting movies.” The service is still fairly new but expanding rapidly in colleges across Miami-Dade County. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supplied TurboVote with a $205,000 grant, allowing Flaxman to reach out to Miami Dade College, the University of Miami and Florida International
University—schools that decided to partner with the up-and-coming website. “We were aware it needed to grow, so starting with colleges, [TurboVote] would help bring focus on to students,” said Matt Haggman, the Miami Program Director for the Knight Foundation. By registering at the website, members are able to register to vote and request absentee ballots, which are mailed directly to their home and must be filled out and mailed to their local elections department. They can also subscribe for email newsletters and text message reminders for upcoming elections. All stamps are prepaid for students. But not everyone is enamored with the idea of voting online. "Although it does seem hasslefree, people are going to lose the experience of going for themselves and making a difference in person," said Elizabeth Penate, 20, a Kendall Campus student. Depending on the district one lives in, TurboVote will encourage members to vote in local mayoral and school board elections. “That’s the thing, it’s never not election season,” Flaxman said. “Most people only pay attention during presidential elections. Local government impacts your daily life even more.”
Flaxman, alongside co-founder Amanda Kraft, initiated TurboVote at Boston University and Harvard University during the 2008 presidential elections. They partnered with the Vote for Change campaign that aimed at heavily influencing young people to vote. “I think our country and community depends on the youth,” Flaxman said. TurboVote will make its first appearance at MDC on April 11 at all eight campuses during their respective activity fair, as well as on advertisements and posters around the school, and e-blasts that will be sent to each student’s MDC e-mail account. InterAmerican Campus’ Dean of Students Lourdes Perez assures those strategies are something students will respond well to. Flaxman believes the Internet has revolutionized nearly everything, and now it’s voting’s turn. “It is tradition since the 1700’s to have voting accommodated to the American lifestyle,” Flaxman said. “So it was time to modernize things.” For more information, visit TurboVote.org or help@turbovote. org for further assistance. Note: Exclusive Online How-To Video
PARKING
Shuttles Will Take Students To And From West Campus FROM PARKING, FRONT
It will include an amphitheatre, an outdoor area and partially covered stage. “We heard that you wanted parking; with that comes some inconvenience,” DeMahy said. “But we are trying to do this in the best way possible.” According to DeMahy, students should plan to arrive on campus at least half an hour before their classes start to assure they make it to class on time while the construction is ongoing. “I am annoyed at the fact that I have to give up an extra 50 minutes to find parking in order to
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Breezeway, Bldg. 1 This is your opportunity to learn about our programs, the admissions process, scholarships, on-campus activities, student services and so much more!
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ONLINE VIDEO | The Reporter takes a ride on the new shuttle service that will be offered to West Campus students on March 5. www.mdc.edu/thereporter
make it to class on time,” said West Campus student, Eddie Sanchez. But other students like West Campus Student Government Association President Magra Medina believe the sacrifice is worth it for the future betterment of the campus. “The parking situation is a matter of getting used to. It will be
tough for the first few weeks until we all get our schedules together,” Medina said. “Once the parking garage is finished it will allow the campus to grow more—more students, more classes. Hopefully it will ease the schedules for the students who currently attend the campus.”
For more information contact West Campus Public Safety Office at 305-237-811, or go to Room 1204.
MDC President Receives Greater Miami Chamber Of Commerce Award Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón was awarded the Sand in My Shoes Award by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday Feb. 28—an annual award given to a leader who has made a significant contribution to PADRÓN the South Florida community.
Miami Dade College North Campus
Padrón was given the award during a dinner at Jungle Island for demonstrating his love for, involvement in and dedication to the community. Under Padrón’s leadership, MDC has transitioned from a junior college to an institution that offers several four-year degrees. The College is the country’s largest institution of higher learning, with eight campuses and 174,000 students.
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“I am truly humbled by this recognition, but it is Miami Dade College that has [really] made our community the best possible place in which to live and work,” said Padrón in an MDC news release. “The nearly two million people who have studied at MDC, and all the fine men and women who have labored at this institution over half a century, have each left some sand in all our shoes.”
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—Kirsten Rincon
Prepare yourself for medical, pharmacy or dental school or a career in microbiology! Earn a degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida without leaving Miami Dade County. This off-campus program is a unique blend of online courses and live laboratory classes conducted by UF faculty at Miami Dade’s North Campus’ science complex. Same UF faculty and same UF classes as Gainesville. Spring 2012 admission's deadline is September 15 Fall 2012 admission's deadline is March 1st For more information visit our website microcell.ufl.edu/Students/offcampus Or email Adam Jordan at adamj@ufl.edu
6 NEWS | MARCH 6, 2012
THE REPORTER
TECHNOLOGY
Technology Brings Classroom To Medical Campus Students Medical Campus students are using Panopto—a program used to record classroom lectures and Power Point presentations via ceilingmounted web cams and microphones. By Amanda Rodriguez Amanda.rodriguez020@mymdc.net Students at Medical Campus can now re-watch their class lectures using their cell phones, tablets and computers. Panopto—a program used to record classroom lectures and PowerPoint presentations via ceiling web cams and microphones—gives students access to download their course’s audio and video on the go. Originally used by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Miami Dade College was one of Panopto’s first supporters. The Medical Campus has been using the program since 2008. According to Phil Brown, director of the media services department at Medical Campus, Panopto was created with both professors and students in mind. “Our students are the driving force behind Panopto," Brown said. "Students tell me that once they see the program in action, they are hooked and they look forward to each recording." When logging on to Panopto’s website, students can take and save notes. They can also search for specific words, phrases and portions of the desired lecture.
The service is a free tool for students that allows for unlimited uses. Miami Dade College pays for the hosting server costs. To access the program’s website, students who are enrolled in courses using Panopto will receive coursespecific login information from their professors. In the past year, there have been 1,229 Panopto sessions recorded and 48,427 views by MDC students, according to Brown. With the program, faculty can present the web links in class to share the video with students. They can also send the feed to iTunes U—a free website where students can watch and download audio and video files for any field of study. “We have had over 56,000 users and over 31,000 visitors to our iTunes U site since last month," Brown said. "After a live Panopto session is made, it automatically gets uploaded and shared into iTunes U. This way, Panopto reaches more students in different ways, which makes learning easier for our students." Even though the system can give students leeway—not requiring students to physically attend class—attendance has not become an issue, according to Andres Caiaffa, an associate professor for the school of nursing at Medical Campus. He said he has used Panopto for two years, and that students are even more enthusiastic about coming to class. "I used Panopto in a class where I was not present and students still
BRITTANY ESQUIJAROSA/ THE REPORTER
Kids Meal: The Exploration Station at Miami Dade College’s North Campus held cooking lessons for its preschoolers on Feb. 24. Pictured above are Da’Karius Herring, 2, (left) and Layla Cooper, 2, (right) cutting bok choy to prepare sautéed bok choy with chicken. The young chefs used excess produce from the preschool’s garden—mulberries, bananas, kale, and Swiss chard, as the garden’s maintenance supervisor, Roger Horne, led a cooking class. Other dishes that were prepared at the preschool included collard greens with smoked turkey. “We’re teaching the kids about the value of nutrition and growing their own food,” said Ada Niebles, a teacher at the preschool. Niebles’ class prepared chicken with white rice and Chinese cabbage. —Paul Vila
wanted to meet me to discuss the material,” Caiaffa said. "With Panopto you can improve the time spent in a classroom to teach students more hands-on examples instead of lecturing all the time." Those who are interested in using it may contact their campus’ media services department. "It is our job to provide systems to allow students to become successful,
and Panopto is definitely the system to use to help our students," said Medical Campus President Armando Ferrer. Kassia Jurado, a physical therapy major at Medical Campus, said she enjoys having Panopto as a study tool. "It's an excellent system because you're able to pay attention rather than writing notes," Jurado said. "It also allows students to refresh their memory because they aren't
going to grasp everything in a lecture. Panopto is like having a professor next to you all over again to review."
To log on to Panopto, visit: http:// mdc.hosted.panopto.com Search for specific lectures using the search bar.
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MARCH 6, 2012 | NEWS
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7
CRIME
MDC Student Arrested FROM OBAMA, FRONT
record. Cause at any moment im gonna put a bullet through his head and u don't wanna miss that! Youtube!" the complaint said. In addition, Serrapio sent text messages that “challenged” Obama’s “communist administration,” and “threatened” Secret Service agents, Leary said. Leary would not say who the alleged text messages were sent to. After his speech, the President attended a fundraising reception at the Biltmore Hotel and another at a Pinecrest home. “[Serrapio] was taken into custody before he could make any attempt to harm the President,” Leary said. He was arrested at his South Miami home on Feb. 24. “They woke me up out of bed,” Serrapio said. “They found a BB gun and called me stupid.” Serrapio says the postings were “just a joke.” “I obviously can’t talk about the case directly,” Serrapio said. “But I can say that it was a joke. I mean, it’s Facebook. I’m a musician. The biggest crime I could commit is hitting someone with a guitar.” Serrapio, a music business major, is currently enrolled at Miami Dade College, according to Juan Mendieta, the College’s Director of Communications. Serrapio said he is currently taking eight classes. Stephen Quinzy, Serrapio’s song writing professor at Kendall Campus said he was completely shocked when he heard the news.
“Excellent student; one of the best students in the class,” Quinzy said. “Very creative, extremely punctual. He seemed to have a genuine love for what he does; somebody that was going somewhere. I am very disappointed to lose such a great student to such behavior.” Serrapio has since bonded out of jail, according to Leary. His first court appearance is scheduled for March 9th at the United States District Court Southern District of Florida, where he will be represented by a private attorney, according to Serrapio. If convicted, Serrapio could face up to five years in federal prison, according to Vance Luce, spokesman at the Miami Secret Service field office. Serrapio said he returned to class on March 1 after spending five days at the Federal Detention Center at the corner of NE 4th Street and N. Miami Avenue. “Going back to class was great, but this is an unfortunate situation to be in,” Serrapio said. “I’ll learn from it. I do regret it, but it was just all so unnecessary. I’m not going to see this as a stumbling block, but as a stepping stone. I will never touch Facebook again. Never.” Now that he is back in school, Serrapio said he hopes it doesn't affect his future as a singer and songwriter. On Youtube, he appears singing and playing his acoustic guitar. “While I was in jail, I found myself surrounded by murderers and criminals, asking me ‘what are you here for?’ And all I could answer was: ‘Facebook.’ ”
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Light It Up: Miami Dade College junior Emanuel Piz smokes a cigarette outside of building 1 at Wolfson Campus. Piz said he is not a fan of the College-wide smoking ban and wished MDC administrators would have set up smoking zones instead banning smoking altogether. SMOKING
Smoking Ban Up In Smoke FROM SMOKING, FRONT
great majority are very receptive and will offer to put it out,” he said. “Occasionally, we come across not only students smoking, but employees, faculty, staff, you name it.” However, Wolfson Campus assistant public safety chief Carlos Alvarez said his public safety officers rarely encounter this problem. “At Wolfson Campus, [smokers] just need to go to the city of Miami side walk, a few feet away, and smoke,” Alvarez siad. “It’s not like Kendall Campus, where students have to go extensively far in order to smoke.” At MDC’s two largest
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campuses—North and Kendall— smoking isn’t as simple as a sidewalk away. For some students, ignoring the policy is the most convenient way to go, considering the campuses’ geographical lay out. If students, faculty and staff are caught smoking they are asked to comply. If they refuse, they will be directed to the Dean of Students Office and a staff or faculty members supervisor will be notified, according to the Smoke-Free College Policy. Several violations of the smoking ban may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal. However, what constitutes
“disciplinary action” is not defined in the policy. “In my opinion the smoking ban has been successful. Perfection is very difficult to achieve, but definitely we observe significant improvements,” said College Provost Rolando Montoya. “Since 1985, the College [has] banned indoor smoking. And since 2011, smoking is prohibited in any College facility.” When asked whether the policy will make him stop smoking, Mejia responded, “No. It doesn’t bother me. It’s just an inconvenience.” Since the ban, the College has offered several tobacco cessation courses for students and employees.
FAU TRANSFER EXPO Saturday, March 31, 2012
Davie Campus-Student Union 3200 College Avenue • Davie, Florida 33314
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Receive in-depth information about FAU’s programs, admissions requirements, financial aid and more: Meet current students and learn about student clubs and organizations
Attend financial aid sessions
Attend a college panel and meet academic advisors
Win prizes and enjoy refreshments
Learn about student services
Application deadlines for Transfer Students: Summer 2012 April 15, 2012 Fall 2012 July 1, 2012
RSVP at www.fau.edu/admissions/transferexpo12
954.236.1012 • www.fau.edu/broward BOCA RATON • DANIA BEACH • DAVIE • FORT LAUDERDALE HARBOR BRANCH • JUPITER • www.mdc.edu/thereporter TREASURE COAST The Reporter
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MARCH 6, 2012 | NEWS
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9
CRIME
Kendall Campus Student Dies After Car Collides With Garbage Truck ‰‰ Miami Dade College Kendall Campus Student Eric Gonzalez died on Feb. 24 in a car crash after being pinned under a garbage truck. By Monique O. Madan monique.madan001@mymdc.net Eric Gonzalez, 20, never made it home. “I kept calling him and texting him but he wouldn’t answer,� said his mother, Ileana Gonzalez, 50. “I was so worried. I found out that he had left his cell phone at a friend’s. I just never knew that he not answering meant he was in trouble.� Gonzalez, who was a student at MiGONZALEZ ami Dade College’s Kendall Campus, died Feb. 24 in a car crash after being pinned under a garbage truck. He died on impact after his 2008 Nissan Altima collided with a Waste Management garbage truck, according to Tom Pikul, spokesman for Florida Highway Patrol. Ileana, who took classes with her son at MDC this semester, said he was on his way home from celebrating a “B� on a microeconomics exam when the crash happened.
“That night he begged me to go to the beach with his friends to celebrate,� Ileana said. “I would have had to handcuff him for him not to go.� For four hours, Gonzalez’s body remained inside his crushed car at the scene, Southwest 48th Street and 87th Avenue, Pikul said. Miami-Dade County rescuers couldn’t extract his remains. The Nissan had to be towed to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office, where it was dismantled. Cranes had to be used to clean up the scene. “There was no way to even get to him on scene,� Pikul said. “At around 10 a.m., he was taken to the medical examiner’s office while still in his vehicle. They took the car apart there.� William Agreda, 59, the driver of the 2003 Freig Roll-off garbage truck, was on his daily route when the crash happened. He suffered minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital. Just before the accident, Gonzalez was traveling west on Southwest 48th Street while Agreda was driving south in SW 87th Avenue’s outside lane, Pikul said. Gonzalez violated Agreda’s right of way by traveling into the intersection—he did not yield at 48th Street’s flashing red light, Pikul said.
Dawn McCormick, spokesperson for Waste Management Inc. of Florida issued the following statement: "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased. The accident is under investigation by Miami-Dade Police. Our driver, who was treated for minor injuries and released, and our Safety team are cooperating fully with the investigation." The Gonzalez family will be represented Paul Layne, an attorney for Silva & Silva Law firm. “We are fully investigating the accident and trying to see if this could have been prevented,� Layne said. “All this boy wanted to do was finish school.� Gonzalez, an accounting major, spent most of his time going to the gym and staying fit, his mother said. “He had the biggest arms,� his mother said. “I would always tease him and show him off to people. He always blushed.� Friends described Gonzalez as kindhearted, genuine, fun, gentle and funny. He enjoyed swimming, baseball, football and bowling. He also liked skateboarding, snowboarding and rollerblading. “Kids were like magnets to him,� Ileana said. “He was so family oriented and loved so much. He and his brother Max were so close, best friends.�
MONIQUE O. MADAN / THE REPORTER
Memorial: Ileana Gonzalez (far right) and friends set up a memorial on SW 87th Avenue and 48th Street for her son, Eric Gonzalez on Feb. 29. Gonzalez died Feb. 24 after colliding with a Waste Management truck. Gonzalez was the type to “never say no,� she said. He would always pick up medicine for others and take his family to doctor’s appointments. His mother said she always had to remind Gonzalez to “slow
down.� She said her son wanted to “grow up so fast.� “He always wanted to experience different things,� she said. “Always living life to the fullest. So I don’t know, maybe somehow he kind of knew why.�
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10 SPORTS | MARCH. 6, 2012
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TRANSFER THURSDAYS
The University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university located in Tampa, FL, hosts a twice-monthly information session for transfer students from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Attend an information session about transfer admissions Learn more about academic majors and programs at USF Find out about transfer scholarship opportunities Discover student life at USF by taking a campus tour Take advantage of an individualized transfer advising session
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MARCH 6, 2012 | SPORTS
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11
// SPORTS Monique O. Madan, Editor-in-Chief //
T (305) 237-1253
//
B monique.madan001@mymdc.net BASEBALL ROUNDUP
SOFTBALL ROUNDUP
11-6-1
13-13
OVERALL RECORD
OVERALL RECORD
Feb. 13 | Myles Smith picked up the win in Miami Dade’s 21-2 win over Dent Academy. Ozney Guillen had five RBI on 4-of-6 hitting.
Feb. 18 | Miami Dade lost to St. Petersburg College 6-5 in 10 innings. Paris Prusak went 2-for-3 and Aline Uehara went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
Feb. 17 | Miami Dade lost game one of a doublehead 5-4 to South Florida Community College. Yogey Perez went 2-for-3 with one run and Leo Rojas scored one run on 3-for-4 hitting. The second game ended in 6-6 tie. Roberto Llera went 2-for-2 with an RBI and Rojas went 3-for-4 with an RBI. IRMA GUTIERREZ / THE REPORTER
Numbers Machine: Catcher and first baseman Leo Rojas, an accounting major, leads the Sharks in RBI and has the second highest batting average (.448) on the team. BASEBALL
Rojas Always Has A Backup Plan Sophomore catcher Leo Rojas turned down offers from Major League teams to focus on earning his high school and college degrees. By Jonathan Perez jonathan.perez019@mymdc.net Leo Rojas, has been playing on the baseball field since he was 3 years old. Playing professional ball was always his dream, but he knew that he needed to have a plan B just in case that dream didn’t come true. At 16, Rojas caught the attention of professional Major League Baseball scouts. When this young athlete was playing baseball in Venezuela, he was offered the opportunity to sign with the PhiladelROJAS phia Phillies and New York Yankees. In Venezuela, professional baseball clubs can sign prospects as young as 16 years old even if they don’t have high school diploma. Rojas said that by the time prospects turn 18, they are considered too old and most likely won’t be
signed. In the United States, Major League Baseball requires amateur players to earn their high school diploma before entering the draft. Although Rojas was offered contracts by two Major League teams, he decided not to sign with them because he wanted to get his high school and college diplomas. When he was 17 years old, he moved to the United States, where he attended high school at Brito Miami Private School. “[Moving to the United States] was a better opportunity because if I didn’t make it in baseball, I would have my diploma and could eventually get a college degree,” Rojas said. “It was a plan B”. Rojas values his education and always has a backup plan. He is studying to be an accountant and plans to continue working toward his accounting degree if he doesn’t get picked up in the MLB draft next year. “If I don’t sign for professional baseball, then I plan on transferring to another university to improve my baseball skills and to work toward my career as an accountant,” Rojas said.
Good with numbers, Rojas has crunched his own figures for the Sharks. The sophomore first baseman and catcher has the second highest batting average of .448 on the team and also has the most RBIs. He was the 2012 First Pitch Classic Baseball Tournament MVP as a result of his outstanding offensive performance. “His versatility helps us in games, and he is the most consistent clutch hitter we have up to date,” Miami Dade baseball coach Danny Price said. Rojas has received attention this year from different scouts from Major League teams such as the Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. Price says that Rojas is more noticeable to the scouts because of his ability to play different positions and bat third in the lineup. “He is quiet, but when the game is on the line, he is the one you want up there,” Price said. Whether he gets drafted or transfers to a four-year university, Rojas will always have a plan B in mind.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Basketball Coach Summons Garnering National Recognition Lady Sharks head coach nominated for NCAS Giant National Steps Award, but falls short of NJCAA Hall of Fame Induction. By Miguel Machado & Richard Gomez miguel.machado004@mymdc.net & richard.gomez006@mymdc.net Susan Summons added another honor to her distinguished women’s basketball coaching career. The National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), nominated the Lady Sharks
coach for the Giant National Steps Award in the category of coach. The award is offered to top educators and sports professionals who helped make an in stuSUMMONS impact dents’ lives. Summons said it’s an honor to be among the top-12 winning coaches in the U.S., with more than 400 wins, but what matters to her more is the positive impact she makes on her students through sports. “Honors like this are things
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that happen as you continue to go for the real goal, which is to touch lives of people, students and youth using sports and education,” Summons said. This is Summons fourth time being nominated for the award. She has made it as a finalist three times. Summons started coaching at Miami Dade College in 1986, and made it to the state championship that year. She was also nominated for the National Junior Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame but fell short of becoming part of the induction class.
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Feb. 18 | Miami Dade split a doublheader with Lake-Sumter Community College. Yogey Perez went 3-for-3 with three stolen bases in the Sharks 5-1 win in game one. Mikal Hill went 2-for-3 with a stolen base. The Sharks dropped the second game 8-6. Eric Jhones went 2-for-3 with a double. Feb. 21 | Miami Dade beat St. Thomas 4-1. Feb. 24 | Miami Dade swept Hillsborough Community College. The Sharks the first game 8-1. Leonardo Rojas drove in three runs on 2-for-4 batting and Yogey Perez hit a home run and drove in three runs. Ozney Guillen led the Sharks’ 3-1 win in game two. Guillen went 3-for-3 and had a RBI. Feb. 28 | Miami Dade defeated Northwood University’s junior varsity team 13-2. Angel Ortiz went 3-for-5, hit a home run and drove in four runs for the Sharks. Carlos Matamoros had two RBI on 2-for-2 hitting. Feb. 29 | Leo Rojas hit grand slam in Miami Dade’s 30-1 victory over Northwood University’s junior varsity team. Rojas led the Sharks with eight RBI. Antonio Alvarez finished the game with three walks and five RBI going 3-for-4.
Feb. 18 | Miami Dade lost to Northwest Florida State College 10-2. Ericka Acevedo went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two walks. Feb. 19 | Miami Dade split a doubleheader with State College of Florida. The Lady Sharks won the first game 7-4 with Caroline Curran picking up the win. Paris Prusak went 1-for-4 and had two RBI. The Lady Sharks lost the second game 8-2. Christine Marion scored one of the Lady Sharks’ runs and went 2-for-3. Feb. 24 | Miami Dade split a doubleheader with Daytona State College. Allora Miller pitched a complete game in the Lady Sharks’ 4-0 victory. The Lady Sharks lost the second game 11-3. Miller drove in a run. Feb. 25 | Seminole State College swept Miami Dade in a doubleheader in Sanford, Fla. Kayla Ogle went 2-for-3 and hit a home run in the Lady Sharks’ 5-4 loss in the first game. Caroline Curran went 3-for-3 with a double and sacrifice-fly in the Sharks’ 3-1 loss in game two.
SCHEDULE March 7 | Northwood University (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 2 & 4 p.m. March 10 | Broward College (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 2 & 4 p.m. March 14 | Palm Beach State College (DH) | Plam Beach, Fla. | 5 & 7 p.m.
SCHEDULE
March 18 | Brevard Community College (DH) | Miami, Fla. | 2 & 4 p.m.
March 3 | Brevard College | Melbourne, Fla. | 1 p.m.
March 21 | St. Thomas University (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 3 & 5 p.m.
March 6 | Broward College | Kendall, Fla. | 3 p.m.
March 24 | Indian River State College (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 2 & 4 p.m.
March 7 | Broward College | Davie, Fla. | 3 p.m. March 9 | Palm Beach State College | Kendall, Fla. | 3 p.m. March 10 | Palm Beach State College | West Palm Beach, Fla. | 1 p.m. March 13 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, Fla. | 3 p.m. March 14 | Indian River State College | Davie, Fla. | 3 p.m. NOTE: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE MIAMI DADE COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. SCORES AND RECORD ARE THROUGH MARCH 3.
March 28 | Broward College (DH) | Pembroke Pines, Fla. | 5 & 7 p.m. March 31 | Palm Beach State College (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 2 & 4 p.m. April 4 | Ave Maria University (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 3 & 5 p.m. April 7 | Brevard Community Collge (DH) | Kendall, Fla. | 3 & 5 p.m. NOTE: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE MIAMI DADE COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. SCORES AND RECORD ARE THROUGH MARCH 3.
12 A&E | MARCH 6, 2012
THE REPORTER
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
MDC Alum Strives To Impact Society Via TV Producer Diego Morales, who has worked on shows such as CSI:Miami, Magic City and America’s Got Talent, recently returned to his alma mater to shoot a commercial for MTV France. By Jael Teme jael.teme001@mymdc.net
D iego Morales, a film and TV producer from Bogota, Colombia, is aware of the role that television plays in society. “The television is the medium in which society learns how to dress, eat and whom to vote for,” Morales said. In 1997, Morales, tired of the violent situation in his country, left his hometown to start a new life for himself. He came to the United States to begin a journey that would lead him to work with producers from CSI: Miami, The Glades and MTV. Thirteen years ago, he took his first step toward success in the US. He enrolled at Miami Dade College to study English as a second language. In mid-January, Morales returned to MDC’s Kendall Campus, this time to work in a commercial for MTV France—a project that included 50 extras and 45 crew members. In most of Morales’s projects he serves as the location manager, coordinating the various locations where the films are set.
COURTESY OF DIEGO MORALES
Vision: MDC alum Diego Morales is now a producer who has worked on various films, television shows and commercials, including a recent one shot on Kendall Campus. He also deals heavily with the clients. Christina LaBuzetta, also a former MDC student and owner of Location Resources, a production scouting company, has employed Morales many times.
“He works very hard and he is great working with people,” LaBuzetta said. Adolfo Alvarez-Calderon, 57, has worked with Morales on various projects including commercials for Honda and Garnier.
“It’s great working with Diego,” Alvarez-Calderon said. “Many people in our business, as things get hard they start getting uptight and he is always very easy going”. Morales has also been a part
of projects such as America’s Got Talent, Magic City, and the recent remake of the show Charlie’s Angels, which was quickly cancelled due to what Morales calls a lack of content. “We are going through times when people want to see good content,” Morales said. “People want to learn and they are asking to acquire more knowledge and the show was lacking it.” In Morales’ eyes, the way in which society is shaped today is due to the personal connection with the mass communication medium of the television. He believes film and TV production give him the opportunity to make an impact on society. “My vision is to always make a contribution to learning and education,” Morales said. “I am here for a reason. I want to have the ability to open doors and let people have a better audiovisual experience.” Morales considers the greatest challenge in life to be “overcoming the fear and seeing the strength that lies in us as human beings.” He encourages students to pursue a career that will bring a positive change to society, acknowledging that the audiovisual medium is faster and goes beyond most systems of education. “It is because of this that I am very involved with this new generation, which is saying ‘we need a positive change,’ ” Morales said.
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MARCH 6, 2012 | A&E
THE REPORTER
// A&E Mark Pulaski, A&E Editor //
T (305) 237-7464
13
NETFLIX RESURRECTION As a new feature in The Reporter, we bring you the Netflix Resurrection, where we recommend and review an independent film from the past that you may have missed. //
B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net
Coming Of Comedy
An Explosive Satirical Comedy
COURTESY OF DESTINATION FILMS BOOM
Dynamite: Michael Jai White plays Black Dynamite, a kung-fu expert, Vietnam veteran and former CIA agent with swag.
UPCOMING FILMS
UPCOMING FILMS
Will Ferrell: En Español
Hangover Star Promotes Movie Featured In MIFF
Will Ferrell, along with Genesis Rodriguez and Diego Luna, sat down for a round-table discussion on their new film Casa de mi Padre.
Ed Helms, of The Office and The Hangover fame, talks about his involvement in the film Jeff, Who Lives At Home, which is being shown during the 2012 Miami International Film Festival.
By Stteffanny Cott steffanni.cott001@mymdc.edu Will Ferrell, Diego Luna and Genesis Rodriguez were in town promoting their new film Casa de mi Padre, set for release on March 16. Casa de mi Padre is a breakthrough in the cinematic world. It is an American production, shot and filmed in the States, with a mix of American and Latino actors featuring a Spanish language script. Ferrell stars as Armando Alvarez, a good-hearted and gentle soul who lives and works at his father’s (Pedro Armendáriz Jr) ranch. When the ranch is plagued by financial difficulties, Armando’s successful brother Raúl (Luna) returns with his new girlfriend Sonia (Rodriguez), promising to annul any debt the ranch has amassed. Armando, however, falls for Sonia and after it is revealed that Raúl’s business dealings are illicit, and all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a full on war with Mexico’s most feared capo, the powerful Onza (Gael García Bernal). The film also marks the first of its class as it satires the telenovela genre, complete with fake scenery, exceedingly dramatic dialogue and an animatronic tiger to boot. “The most important thing that I want to stress about this movie is that this is the first time anyone has ever done this—anyone. It’s history. And it’s history for Latinos. It’s history, you know, for Americans that such an icon would take on such a huge risk,” Rodriguez said. The film, which has already caused controversy is, of course, not to be taken as a reflection of Latinos or their entertainment content. Fearing that Latino audiences might interpret the film negatively or take offense to it, Rodriguez adamantly said: “It’s not meant to be taken seriously; it’s meant to be taken as a joke.” The film posed a problem for Ferrell. It was written entirely in Spanish. “Obviously, not being a native speaker, it was extremely difficult,” he said. “But the whole concept was my idea so I was happy to do it.” “Those were intense days simply because...this translator would show up at my house at six in the morning and we would drive to [the] set and go over the scenes, work all day, drive home together and work on the next day’s lines, because I wanted it to be as authentic as it could be,” Ferrell said. Although the film contains underlying social and political issues, the amalgamation of American and Mexican viewpoints is one that proves reflective of current relations between the two countries. “There is an intense critique on how Mexicans see Americans and how Americans see Mexicans and how we see what’s going on,” Luna said. Nevertheless, the film should resonate with audiences of both cultures. “It would be fun if this movie, shot in America, all completely done in Spanish, was a big hit in Mexico,” added Ferrell. “That would be really cool, I mean just from a cultural standpoint.” www.mdc.edu/thereporter
By Stteffanny Cott steffanni.cott001@mymdc.edu What do Ed Helms, Jason Segel and Susan Sarandon have in common? Not only their wickedly awesome comedic talents, but they also happen to comprise the starring cast of the new film Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The film, which will screen at the upcoming Miami International Film Festival, stars Jason Segel as Jeff, a thirty-something-year-old who is still living at home in his mother’s (Sarandon) basement, and Pat (Helms), his oblivious but goodhearted brother who is coming to the realization of his failed marriage. While still retaining a comedic foundation, the film is not entirely what you’d expect from Helms and Segel as it ventures into more dramatic roles for both actors. Helms, who is predominantly known for his comedic roles in The Office and The Hangover, explored a side of dramatic acting that, until then, had remained unexplored. “In high school I was in [the play] All My Sons and that might be about the most dramatic thing I’d ever done. I really had no interest in drama,” Helms said. “I wouldn’t call this movie drama, I would just call it, like, in a sense that sort of realism but with a really nice comedic touch to it. So, it might be a little bit different than what people expect, but I hope in a good way, like, kind of a nice little – a nice treat, if you will, a little twist on the expectation.” Not entirely removing itself from a comedic core, the film’s directing duo the Duplass brothers, allowed for creative freedom and improvisation. “Well, it’s funny because they wrote a fabulous script. Down to the word, it is a wonderful, compelling, hilarious and moving script. That said, they were the first ones to say, don’t say a word of this,” Helms said about the artistic autonomy they received. The artistic autonomy of the directorial order proved “exhilarating” for the Nard Dog. “I know for Jason and myself, to just sort of be handed a scene, we’d read through it and sort of understand what needs to happen in the scene, what it’s about, where it takes us and where it goes. And you just find these really kind of authentic moments and it feels real when you're doing it,” Helms said. That creative liberty proved useful for Helms as he embodied his character Pat. The film, which is set for release on March 16, is one that Helms feels particularly proud of. “This movie doesn’t shy away from the kind of painful aspect of a dysfunctional life… This is a little bit more played for reality and I hope that it resonates. I can only hope that this [movie] is well received. I’m insanely proud of it.”
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Black Dynamite, starring Michael Jai White as the title character, is a fast-paced comedic homage to the blaxploitation films of the 1970’s. By Rafael Tur rafael.tur001@mymdc.net Filmed in 2009 but set in the groovy 1970s, Black Dynamite takes the blaxploitation genre to a new level. Make no mistake, Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) is the slickest, most feared and coolest cat on his block. He’s a kung-fu expert, Vietnam veteran and former CIA agent. An introductory narration builds up the character in a way reminiscent to Shaft, yet slightly more satirical with lines such as, “he drives a $5,000 car and wears a $100 suit.” When his only brother is killed during an undercover CIA operation, Dynamite is hell-bent to find his killer. Little does he
know of the corruption and how high up it will take him. His enemies know even less about Dynamite’s will to fight every last jive sucka involved in what becomes a drug-ring tied into a ridiculous conspiracy involving malt liquor. The carefully preserved illusion of a 1970s world is nothing short of a time-warp: Afros, corduroys, plaid suits and a funky soul soundtrack paired with a Mel Brooks-style satire. Black Dynamite is as fastpaced as a modern action film while perfectly executing its cheesy antics and one-liners. A slew of actors and cameos, including Arsenio Hall as the ring-leader of the pimps, help make Black Dynamite a noholds-barred outrageous resurgence to the blaxploitation flicks of the past 30 years. Black Dynamite—2009—Directed by Scott Sanders—Starring Michael Jai White, Arsenio Hall & Tommy Davidson—84 minutes
14 FORUM | MARCH 6, 2012
THE REPORTER
CONGRESS
Land Of The Free And Home Of The Brave The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of our democratic nation and should be upheld verbatim. It’s basis of the law of the land and should be protected at all cost.
By Wilson Hernandez wilson.hernandez004@mymdc.net
Americans need not worry about who wins the 2012 presidential election. Since the first Congress in 1789, there has been a 14-wordlong oath of office that reads: “I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States.” The oath is a promise that must be taken passionately. After all, if one were to violate an oath in a court of law, he would be punished for perjury or held in contempt. If the President, Congress, judges or military break their oath in any way, they too should be held in contempt and
subsequently impeached or discharged. The oath to the Constitution is key to addressing the troubles America faces. I do not care who wins the impending elections. I will sincerely respect any candidate who takes the oath and the presidency. But once the actions, votes and executive orders commence, I will have my ever-present U.S. Constitution booklet, and I will hold any member of government responsible for their disregard of the Constitution. If the President of the United States goes to war without
Congress’s authorization, then the war is unconstitutional. That should greatly concern us all, because it breaks the oath to uphold and protect not only the Constitution, but the American public as well. That is just one example. Based solely on that, we the people have the power and the responsibility to impeach said leader. If George Washington (“The Constitution is the guide which I will never abandon.”) were alive today and witnessed how a succession of past presidents have taken the oath and later disregarded it, I can only imagine
that he would take serious action toward punishing those responsible for trampling the oath and the Constitution with their own orders. We the people have produced the greatest political tools in history. Mankind has been condemned to tyranny, despots, dictators and oligarcs, which have produced some wretched times in history. Applying these political tools won’t result in a utopia, but be assured that the Constitution will maintain our freedom and liberty as long as we rightfully uphold it.
VOX POPULI WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE KNICKS POINT GUARD JEREMY LIN AND “LINSANITY”? GO ONLINE TO GET MORE STUDENTS’ OPINIONS ON LINSANITY AT FACEBOOK.COM/MDC. THEREPORTER “Why are we so focused on this NBA drama? He’s breaking stereotypes, while also making “He’s a good player, hope he keeps them. They’ll forget him the second someone humble.” new comes along.”
“Linsanity is overkill, it was interesting the first few times I heard it, now it’s just annoying. There are plenty of Hispanic athletes, who are just as talented, but don’t receive the same kind of coverage. If he doesn’t do well with the Knicks, he’ll be out.”
Gabriel Maravi, 19, Computer Science, North
Paula Vargas, 24, Mass Communications major, Wolfson
Helen Hamilton, 20, Mass Communications, Wolfson
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“That dude’s cool, he’s got a lot of skills, he’s gonna go really far.” Jason Graham, 19, Aviation, North
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// FORUM Stteffanny Cott, Forum Editor //
T (305) 237-2715
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B steffani.cott001@mymdc.net CRAZY SOCIETY
Be as you choose, not as you’re taught. Gender identities are conditioned and reinforced to us on a daily condition since the day we were born.
SEX ≠ GENDER
By Michael Pelaez michael.pelaez001@mymdc.net Do you remember anything from the day you were born? I don’t either, but we can logically infer that on that day, we didn’t identify with our gender. Sure, we were biologically born with a sex of male or female, but we weren’t born with a gender of “boy” or “girl.” Our journey into the concept and identification of boyhood or girlhood was instilled in us by our parents, the media, and society. It’s extremely common for parents expecting a male child to decorate their room in blue colors, and a females in pink. Why is that? Our sex doesn’t determine which colors, toys, clothes, hair length or hobbies we like. So why are females expected to like and act the same way as other females, and males the same as other males? Gender is an illusion, an identification. Female children are expected to play with “girl”
BERNARD NOEL / THE REPORTER
toys; male children are expected to play with “boy” toys—all while dressed in gender-specific clothing. If a male ever picked up a doll, or took up an interest in playing with an Easy-Bake Oven, leave it to society to subtlety and uncomfortably whisper: “Boys don’t play with dolls or toy kitchens.”
If subtlety doesn’t work, then ridicule and harassment usually jolt the kid back into the made-up gender “norm.” Gender roles are conditioned and reinforced on a daily basis when you are a kid and throughout your life. Depending on your sex, certain behaviors or preferences are
discouraged, as if they belong to one gender over another. It’s no wonder that by the time we’re in high school we have the masculinity or femininity circus act down to a science. We get so lost in our daily act and identify so strongly with our “manhood” or “womanhood” that we react negatively to labels such as “effeminate” if we’re male, and “butch” or “tomboy” if we’re female. The urge to buy that shiny dress and high heels are nowhere found in female biology, and yet we accept that completely nonbiological, non-intrinsic, strictly conditioned mindset and make it our own. We even deceive ourselves into thinking that our sex determines our gender identification, when in reality you can freely choose to identify with either or neither gender. It’s time to wake up and become aware of the unconscious act we put on every day. Masculinity is an act; femininity is an act. The only reason gender stereotypes seem true is because we play into them. Women are not more emotionally expressive than Men. Men are just not expected to be more emotionally expressive than Women. Instead of perpetuating gender stereotypes, use logic and reason to disprove them. Masculinity and femininity don’t belong to one sex over the other. If you choose to identify (or not identify) with either of them, it should be your conscious choice.
QUICKFIRE The Effects Of Mainstream Media In United States
Mars Company Reduces Production Of Sweets
The mainstream media seems to salivate profusely at the thought of the United States going to war with Iran. Broadcasts that show Israeli air fighters, U.S.Navy fleets, and military officers in montage explanations of what would occur if the two nations would go to war have become commonplace on the evening newscasts. While retaliation is a logical course of action for any nation to take against a belligerent force, the press likes to paint the situation as an Iranian Middle-Eastern boogeyman threatening the US and its allies. It has even gotten to the point where stories have emerged from several news organizations that claim Iran was secretly working with al-Qaeda, which has been discounted by both U.S. and European officials. And although the Iranian government has stated time and time again that only if either the U.S. or Israel launch military strikes against Iranian territory would it retaliate, the Republic’s
According to Mars, Incorporated representatives, by the end of 2013, Mars (makers of Twix, M&Ms, and Snickers) will discontinue all products that exceed 250 calories. Snickers, at 280 calories, will be the first to go. Plans have already been made to replace the king-size bars with bags of two to four smaller bars to “enable sharing or saving a portion for later.” By 2015, the company plans to reduce sodium levels in all its food products by 25 percent. Although “broad-based
denying International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials permission to inspect a military base has left some eyebrows raised. However, the sensationalizing of the entire debacle isn’t exactly helping the situation. The role of the media, to inform the public with solid facts, has become a hodgepodge of one-sided news reports that make war seem inevitable and frankly insults the intelligence of its audience. One can’t help but note the parallels of this to the false claims about Iraq’s alleged possession of nuclear weapons that circulated as empirical facts a few years ago.
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—Paul Vila
COURTESY OF MARS
Sweet Tooth: Fans of king-sized snicker bars will have trouble finding their large chocolate fix after 2013. The Reporter
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commitment to health and nutrition” seems like a noble cause, one can’t help but question whether the company truly cares about the health of the consumer. In recent years, companies have been reducing the size of their products as food prices increased. According to The New York Times, snack products of companies like Frito-Lay (makers of Doritos, Tostitos, Fritos, etc.) now contain 20 percent fewer chips than they did in 2009. So, is Mars concerned about curbing obesity, or is it more concerned with expanding their profits? It is interesting to note that in addition to making the calorie cuts, Mars also reduced the total amount of candy in each package from 3.7 oz. to 3.29 oz.—an 11percent decrease, according to DailyFinance.com—while keeping the price the same. —Morena Guerrero
The Reporter is the free biweekly student newspaper at Miami Dade College. All content is produced by MDC students. The opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty, or the student body.
Bureaus ——————————— North Campus Bureau covers North, West, Hialeah and MEEC B 11380 NW 27th Ave. Room 4209 Miami, FL 33167 T (305) 237-1254 ————————————————— Kendall Campus Bureau covers Kendall and Homestead B 11011 SW 104th St. Room M239 Miami, FL 33176 T (305) 237-2157 ————————————————— Wolfson Campus Bureau covers Wolfson, Medical and InterAmerican B 300 NE Second Ave. Suite 1610 Miami, FL 33132 T (305) 237-3368
Editorial Board ——————————— Monique O. Madan Editor-in-Chief
Mark Pulaski Wolfson Campus Bureau Chief / A&E Editor Melissa Adan Kendall Campus Bureau Chief / Briefing Editor Stteffanny Cott Forum Editor Steve Atlas Copy Chief
Art Department ——————————— Akeem Brunson Multimedia Editor
Oriana Fernandez, Nikolaus C.Fink, Rocio Sevilla Designers
Issue Staff ——————————— Donnalyn Anthony, Maria Karla Barrios, Karina Castrillo, Annette Dominguez, Brittany Esquijarosa, Annaliese Garcia, Richard Gomez, Morena Guerrero, Irma Gutierrez, Wilson Hernandez, Maria A. Moscoso, Jonathan Muñoz, Consuelo Naranjo, Michael Peleaz, Jonathan Perez, Jose Prado, Luis A. Prieto, Kirsten Rincon, Amanda Rodriguez, Patricia Suiter, Jael Teme, Samantha Thorpe, Ralph Tur, Giselle Valenzano, Paul Vila
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Create YOUR FUTURE. While working in sales for the Miami Heat and Florida Marlins, Christina Martinez found herself alongside many graduates of BARRY UNIVERSITY. So when it came time for her to pursue her degree, deciding where to attend was simple. “I had no trouble understanding that BARRY would not only promise me a great future, but also provide a community made up of exceptional faculty, highly intelligent peers, and supportive friends.”
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CHRISTINA MARTINEZ Current Master of Sport Management student • Future sports lawyer
Find yourself at BARRY UNIVERSITY, the second-largest private, Catholic university in the Southeast • Main campus in Miami Shores, Florida, offering more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in: Arts and Sciences • Business • Education • Health Sciences • Human Performance and Leisure Sciences • Law • Podiatric Medicine • Public Administration • Social Work • Day, evening, and weekend classes also offered for adult students at sites throughout Florida Main Campus: 11300 NE Second Avenue • Miami Shores, Florida 33161-6695 • 800-695-2279 *Not all programs offered at all locations