Eastfield Et Cetera Feb. 14, 2018

Etera

Eastfield College

Ortega tells of war, tragedy and life through a lens See page 7➤

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Volume 49, Issue 9

TEXANS TAKE TO VOTING BOOTHS FOR PRIMARIES STARTING FEB. 20 SEE PAGE 4 ➤ A QUICK GUIDE TO PRIMARY candidates SEE PAGE 5 ➤

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

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First graphic novel chosen as common book

By JULIO VEGA Senior Staff Writer @JulioVegaETC

Using mice and cats to represent Jews and Germans, the graphic novel “Maus” by Art Spiegelman dives deep into the strained relationship between the author and his Holocaust survivor father, his suicidal mother and the struggles of looking into his family’s history through flashbacks and anecdotes.

“Maus” will be Eastfield’s common book for the 2018-2019 academic year, the first graphic novel to be chosen. Classes in all disciplines incorporate the common book into curriculum and events on campus take inspiration from it as a way to create a shared experience across the college.

“Maus” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 and was named in both Time’s Top 10 Graphic Novels and All-Time 100 Non-fiction Books. The New York Times described it as “a complicated, thorny book that became a landmark simultaneously in the disparate worlds of memoirs, comics and Holocaust history.”

Developmental writing professor and committee member Selena Stewart-Alexander said they chose the graphic novel to appeal to college students. Megan Horlander, librarian and common book committee co-chair, said using “Maus” will be beneficial to students and professors as the college implements more eightweek courses by next fall.

“One of the main reasons we picked this

book is because it lends itself better for that,” Horlander said. “Students will find it much easier to read. We want to make sure the book is accessible for everyone. If it’s something that’s way too many pages, students may not be able finish it in a semester.”

Katy Launius, associate dean of the Office of Student Engagement and Retention, said the Disabilities Services Office help visually impaired students so the novel can comply wit the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“There would be some alternative resources available to them,” Launius said. “There are some audio versions of the book that students with visual impairments would still be able to walk away with the story that’s being told and the impact of the book.”

Horlander said she hopes to implement the novel’s content into the school through programs and events about the Holocaust and World War II, although no official plans have been made for next year.

Ideas for next year’s events include bringing in Spiegelman as a keynote speaker, taking students to the Dallas Holocaust Museum, having a Holocaust survivor visit the campus and conducting Jane Elliot’s “blue eyes, brown eyes” discrimination exercise at events and in classrooms.

Stewart-Alexander said the college could host a panel of history professors to talk about World War II and the Holocaust, and events like these could help students become more engaged with reading.

She said the novel could even be used inside art classes.

“They could take a scene from history, maybe an internment camp where Jews were held or a Nazi swastika and do a piece of that,” Stewart-Alexander said. “We could have a contest of sorts. We’ve done different things like that before.”

Horlander said both the art and graphic arts departments get to decide how to implement the common book into their work.

“We hope that they will look at the art of graphic novels and the art of storytelling through pictures,” she said.

Theater coordinator Dusty Reasons Thomas said college plays in the fall have similar themes to the common book, and she looks forward to researching possible shows for next year.

“I’ve been wanting to do a show set in World War II, so I was super excited to hear that our common book was set in that time period,” Thomas said. “We’ve been holding off on doing a show like that until we could relate it to the common book.”

Reasons said the Performance Arts Council will meet sometime after spring break to finalize the decision for the fall play. She said she had been looking to do a play about “Diary of Anne Frank” for some time now but won’t limit her options when choosing the play.

Horlander said although STEM disciplines don’t typically use the common book, they could teach the ethics of science and what the Nazis did to prisoners of war.

She said the committee chooses books that are easy to digest and that avoid anything too complex. This allows them to include students in developmental English classes and other subject areas.

“This can definitely be used in history, art, early college high school and humanities. Even people who aren’t taking [English] classes are going to able to learn from it because they’re going to be able to see the events we’ll be having on campus.”

HARVESTER SPOTLIGHT

Passion for helping students grow drives librarian In this new series, The Et Cetera introduces you to members of the Eastfield community. For this issue, reporter Colin Taylor quizzed librarian Megan Horlander about her job, her travel goals and her pop culture pet peeves.

behind a desk all day?

Yeah, I’m pretty social.

What do you do at Eastfield?

I help students with printing and using computers, and also with their research needs.

What is the most rewarding part of your day?

Being able to help a student that really needs it.

Do you come across a lot of students that do?

Oh yeah, they have no computer skills.

They’re in an online class and don’t know what eCampus is. We’ve had that issue. Especially a lot of our returning students that are older.

When you read the job description, what stood out to you as “I really want to do this”?

I went to a community college when I was younger. I always liked the feel of a community

YESENIA ALVARADO/THE ET CETERA

Librarian Megan Horlander, a former community college student, really wants kids to stop dabbing.

college. It’s someplace that actually helps students. At a university, there’s like one librarian on desk and the rest are somewhere writing papers or ordering or whatever, and they don’t really get to help students that much. I wanted to be able to help students.

So you’d much rather interact than sit

What goals did you have coming to Eastfield, and do you feel like you achieved them?

I feel like I have. We each have a big project, and my big thing at the beginning was to be on Common Book Committee and help with the planning process. … The Henrietta Lacks (common book) was very, very successful. …

I did start the Embedded Librarian Program and actually won Innovation of the Year for it. That’s something I want to see continued whether I’m here or not.

If you received a paid trip to anywhere in the world for a week, where would you want to go?

Europe. I’d go to Germany, and take the train to the Alps. I’m from German descent, and that’s a place I’ve never been. I’ve been to Ireland, Scotland and England. I love those places, and I’d love to go back.

What trend would you like to see started or die off in the student population?

What the heck is the thing called where you raise your arm and like – do you know what I’m talking about – they go like this?

(Dabbing) I want that to stop completely. I want that to die a horrible death. Let’s see, eating Tide pods. That needs to stop. Who the hell thinks that’s a good thing? Realistically, like with my generation, I’m a millennial, and people have a tendency to (change) jobs a lot.

I’ve been here four years and my best friend has switched jobs three times. People need to be more stable.

As a former community college student, what is one piece of advice you think all students should know coming to Eastfield?

Make sure all your credits will transfer. Don’t take classes where your credits won’t transfer.

Look at the college that you want to go to and print out a form. Also, take as many classes that can transfer at community college because it will save you lots of money.

From a librarian’s perspective, what piece of advice would you give to students?

Don’t Google stuff. Use the databases.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Partnership aims to reduce student hunger

By JUAN PRADO REPORTER @TheEtCetera

The North Texas Food Bank gave away fresh produce Jan. 31 to community members, students and employees in an effort to combat food insecurity.

The bank’s food truck, which was stationed from 1 to 3 p.m. in parking lot 4, provided a bundle of corn, eggplants and bell peppers to each visitor.

The mobile pantry visits are a partnership between the North Texas Food Bank and the Dallas County Community College District.

A 2016 survey by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab found that 41 percent of DCCCD students said they skipped or cut the size of their meals because of a lack of money.

“We have too many students that are hungry,” Upward Bound administrative assistant Sandy Hampton said.

Hampton has had her own struggles, which is part of her reason to aid the students in need. She saw the issue of food insecurity almost immediately after she started the position with Upward Bound 18 years ago.

“That’s when I started making sure we always had food here for them,” she said. “And it just kind of grew.

Their friends would come with them,

ESTHER MORENO/THE ET CETERA

and they would see them get a soup you know and I would say, ‘Did you eat lunch today?’ And they would be like, ‘No.” And like it’s there if you want it, take it.”

Hampton said that she keeps food around her office in case people come to her with an empty stomach. About five or six students come to her on a daily basis in search of much needed nutrition.

The food truck is only a small step toward supplying people in need

of food. An on-campus permanent pantry should be opening early in the fall semester, said Katy Launius, associate dean for the Office for Student Engagement and Retention.

“The mobile pantry is only fresh and refrigerated items,” she said. “So that’s why we are working on longerterm plans to have shelf-staple products like canned items, peanut butter and all those kind of things to really provide well rounded food sources to students.”

But the college needs to organize

an adequate amount of space for food and the possibility of a refrigerator for dairy product, Launius said.

“When you think about the fact that we have 15-16,000 students who attend classes here, that is a huge potential service,” she said. “We just need time to put processes into place.”

The mobile pantry also visits other DCCCD campuses.

Botany major Gustavo Rojas was one of many students who visited the mobile pantry. He said the option of

fresh groceries was better than something fast and microwaved.

“It’s pretty awesome because not a lot of students I feel like have access to vegetables and stuff,” he said.

The food bank also provided recipes for those who aren’t accustomed to cooking with particular ingredients.

The mobile pantry will visit campus Feb. 28, March 28 and April 25.

Food bank staff will also provide information on applying for food stamps.

Plant-based nutrition not just for vegetarians, vegans

Q A &

Q A

The Plant Based Nutrition Club is a fairly new student organization that promotes healthy eating and a plant-based diet.

The club meets regularly both on and off campus.

Members donate food grown in the college’s community garden to needy families through Sharing Life Community Outreach. The Et Cetera’s Sean Watkins chatted with club founder and president Durene Tezock about the group’s goals and focus.

What inspired you to create the club?

I started this club to extend my circle of influence beyond my family, friends and

Plant-Based Nutrition Club encourages all to stand up against the toxic food environment on a more regular basis.

Q A

What is your club about?

The purpose of Plant-Based Nutrition Club is to empower people to enrich their lives with more health-promoting, plantbased foods as well as provide a means of support for budgeting, meal planning, social navigation and maintaining the Eastfield College Harvester Community Garden.

JENNIFER RETIZ/THE ET CETERA

myself to the DCCCD community at large. By empowering ourselves with knowledge, we increase our capacity to prevent and reverse various lifestyle-related diseases and conditions.

Q A

What goals do you have for the club?

This semester, we intend to broaden our reach by participating in more activities with greater visibility on campus.

Q

Do you think the club will have an impact on the college, and in what way?

A

We have started conversations on campus, which will lead people to consider their food choices more in depth.

Q A

Which groups of students are you mostly focusing on in the club?

We’re open to all students interested in learning to eat healthier in this toxic food environment that pervades our society.

Our club is made up of vegans, vegetarians and all others interested in adding more wholesome, plant-based foods to their diet.

Join the Plant Based Nutrition Club’s club’s group in the Eastfield app under Groups and Clubs efcplantbase@gmail.com Next event: Workout Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21, Lower Courtyard

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

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The Et Cetera

Political power struggle moves into midterms

By JAMES HARTLEY Editor in Chief @JamesHartleyETC

With widespread discontent with the performance of President Donald Trump’s administration, the 2018 election is expected to be a more contentious than usual midterm race.

Primaries to select the eventual nominees will be held March 6.

More than 15.2 million Texans registered in time for the 2018 primary election, and those numbers are expected to increase as counties turn in final numbers for mail-in registration postmarked in time to count. Dallas County currently has 1.28 million registered voters.

Josh Blank, manager of the University of Texas’ Texas Politics Project polling research, said so few people decide primary elections because the choice is harder than in general elections.

“Even if you have this great sense of civic virtue and you want to participate in every election, that sense of civic virtue would be challenged if you walked into the voting booth and you had no idea who the candidates were and no way to distinguish them,” Blank said.

In many party primaries, candidates hold similar views on the issues.

“It’s a lot easier to make a choice between two distinct brands in a general election than it is to make fine distinctions between products in a brand family,” Blank said. “Most people do not hold deep and strongly held attitudes about the specifics of public policy or about a specific ideological prerequisites about what makes a good candidate for their party primary.”

Undecided major Hunter Wolfgang De Le Torre said he is registered but he doesn’t feel he knows enough for his vote to be worth anything. He believes voting is important, just not something he is ready to do.

“Those are the people who run the show,” De Le Torre said. “The problem is, a lot of people like me, we just do our regular lives and we don’t keep up with politics. It’s the people that keep up with politics that really decide things.”

De Le Torre said that being raised by immigrant parents, his family never took much interest in who was in office.

“I was never raised around politics,” he said.

“We just cared about getting by, working, getting our money. We didn’t care about who was running the country because it didn’t really affect us.”

Blank said primary voters are more important to politicians than general election voters, and much more important than those who don’t vote at all.

The impact primary voters have on any candidate’s chances is strong enough that most candidates will look to what primary voters want and base their platform on those desires.

“It’s clearly the case that elected officials are going to be more interested in the people and the attitudes of the people responsible for get-

ting them into office than the people who sit at home,” Blank said.

Criminal justice major Lavelle Carr said his Texas government professor, Cindy Castaneda, inspired him to vote.

“Given what we learned in Texas government last year, I was really influenced by what Castaneda said about knowing your vote and empowering through the strength of your vote,” Carr said. “That class really opened my eyes, especially to the state of Texas.”

Carr moved to Texas in 2017 and said having an understanding of how Texas works makes him feel like his vote is even more important.

Americans will take to ballot boxes again Nov. 6 with 33 Senate seats and all 435 House seats in contest, along with numerous statewide and local elections. With Republicans in control of the Oval Office and both chambers of Congress, Democrats are vying for enough seats to tip the balance.

The national election The hopefuls that will have a chance to fight for these slots will be decided this March.

While some midterm primary races have what appear to be clear winners, such as the Texas race for U.S. Senate where Blank believes Republican incumbent Ted Cruz will face off with Democrat challenger Beto O’Rourke, others may see changes in party representation.

Incumbents including Republicans Joe Barton, Blake Farenthold, Jeb Hensarling, Sam Johnson, Ted Poe, Lamar Smith and Luther Strange and Democrat Gene Green are retiring from government.

Blank said incumbent retirement “shakes things up” in any primary election.

“It’s definitely already had an impact on primaries,” Blank said. “In general, the re-election rate for incumbent members of Congress is staggeringly high despite generally held negative attitudes toward members of Congress that voters hold in Texas and really everywhere.

This is why, for example, Lamar Smith’s seat has 18 candidates running for the Republican nomination there, because it’s such a safe seat.”

In Texas, Blank said primary election results can be as good as the result of the general election due to the historic lack of real competition in general elections.

Many areas of Texas have a large skew to the left or right that almost guarantees the winner of the popular party’s primary will be the victor in the general election. In those places, Blank said primary voting is the only place where voters have a chance to express their preferences.

“Historically, there are usually a large number of Republicans and a large number of Democrats in the Texas House, for example, who run unopposed in the general election because the districts are so strongly skewed toward one party or the other,” Blank said.

This year is an outlier. A wave of political action, spurred by grassroots efforts to combat Trump, have attracted political newcomers, many of them women, to local and state race.

MANUEL GUAPO/THE ET CETERA

It’s the first time in a quarter century that Democrats have had representation in all 36 Texas congressional races.

Midterm Congress flips Democrats are looking for a chance to regain some level of control in Washington in the wake of Trump’s victory.

The odds are in their favor from a historical standpoint. Every midterm election since 1934 has seen the party of the newly elected president lose an average of 27 seats in the House and three spots in the Senate.

In 2010, the first midterm during Barack Obama’s presidency, Democrats lost 69 seats between the House and Senate. In 2014, Democrats dropped another 22 seats between the two chambers.

Presidential approval ratings are typically linked to his party’s success in Congress, and Trump’s are low. In December, Trump scored a 32 percent approval rating in a Monmouth University Poll.

After the president’s first State of the Union address, that rating jumped by 12 points. But while Trump holds a 44 percent approval rating, he also has a 44 percent disapproval rating.

Blank still believes Democrats would have to work hard to flip one chamber. He believes the fight to take control of the House will be challenging, and it’s even more unlikely they would

be able to flip both the House and Senate.

“I think that’s a possibility, but it would require everything to go right for Democrats,” Blank said.

While Hinckley believes winning control of the Senate is a stretch, he said the House is within the Democrat’s reach.

“Based on where we sit right now, I think it’s probably 50-50 or greater that the Democrats pick up the House of Representatives,” Hinckley said. “I think maybe they’ve got a one-third chance of picking up the Senate. The Senate map is a lot harder.”

Hinckley said some of the biggest losses he thinks Republicans could see in the election will be in governorships.

Gubernatorial elections Texas’ state elections are particularly contentious during midterm years. In addition to legislative elections, Texas’ gubernatorial elections are held every midterm.

The 2018 marathon for the Texas Governor’s Mansion features 17 announced candidates.

Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking re-election and is likely to succeed in his primary — his only opponents are Larry “SECEDE” Kilgore and Barbara Krueger.

Kilgore garnered less than 2 percent of Republican votes in the 2014 primary and See Dem, page 6 ➤

NEWS

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Candidates to watch in MArch GOVERNOR

Incumbent Gregg Abbott looks to easily secure the Republican nomination while a crowded Democratic field looks to face Abbott in the general election. Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez is an early favorite among Democrats.

DEMOCRAT Adrian Ocegueda 43, Principal at Lone Star Investment Advisors texasreason.com Andrew White 45, Businessman andrewwhite.com

Andrew White

None James Jolly Clark No information available Jeffery Payne 50, Business Owner jeffrey4texas.com Joe Mumbach 68, Self-employed con sumer electronics technician joefortexas.us Lupe Valdez 70, Retired Sheriff lupevaldez.com Thomas Wakely

Cedric Davis

51,Teacher/former Balch Springs mayor mayorcedricdavis4txgov.org Grady Yarbrough 81, Retired teacher

Lupe Valdez

Gregg Abbott

64, Runs private care home for hospice patients texansfortom.com REPUBLICAN Gregg Abbott (I) 60, Attorney/governor gregabbott.com Larry “Secede” Kilgore 53, Telecommunications and real estate secedekilgore.com Barbara Krueger No information available

LAND COMMISSIONER

Incumbent George P. Bush, son of former Florida governor and 2016 presidential hopeful Jeb Bush, is facing Jerry Patterson for the Republican nomination.

Patterson, the holder of the land commissioner title before Bush, has been openly critical of the incumbent due the commissioner’s office’s response to Hurricane Harvey and the “Reimagining Alamo” project.

George P. Bush

Jerry Patterson

REPUBLICAN George P. Bush (I) 41, Attorney/land commissioner georgepfortexas.org Davey Edwards 47, Land surveyor daveyfortexas.com Jerry Patterson 71, Retired Marine/former land commissioner votepatterson.com

Rick Range Retired firefighter and translator www.rickrange.us DEMOCRAT Miguel Suazo 37, Attorney miguelsuazo.org Tex Morgan 38, Engineer votetexmorgan.com

U.S. SENATE

Incumbent Ted Cruz, a Republican, is a frontrunner to face off with Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke.

O’Rourke has recieved media attention lately for his fundraising, which he is doing without the assistance of any PACs. O’Rourke outraised Cruz in the latest fundraising quarter, but may find a tough battle for Senate in the deepred state of Texas.

Ted Cruz

Beto O’Rourke

REPUBLICAN Ted Cruz (I) 47, lawyer/U.S. senator tedcruz.org Stefano De Stefano 36, Attorney stefanofortexas.com Bruce Jacobson 57, Vice president of media, executive producer of Life Today brucefortexas.com Mary Miller 55, Retired naval officer maryusa.org Geraldine Sam 66, Retired school

teacher/former mayor None DEMOCRAT Sema Hernandez 32, Business owner semafortexas.us Edward Kimbrough 75, Retired Postal Service administrator/businessman edwardkimbroughforussenate. com Beto O’Rourke 45, Businessman/U.S. Congressman from El Paso betofortexas.com

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Other Contested primary Races Here are several federal, state and local contested primary races that affect Dallas County. Uncontested races, those with only one candidate running, are not listed.

U.S House District 5 Republican Danny Campbell campbellforushouse. com Sam Deen samdeen.com Lance Gooden lancegooden.com Charles Lingerfelt itrustcharles.com Bunni Pounds bunnipounds.com Kenneth Sheets kennethsheets.com David Williams davidwilliams.org Jason Wright jasonwrightforcongress.com U.S House District 30 Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson ebjcampaign.com Barbara Mallory Caraway barbaramallorycaraway forcongress.org Eric Williams ericwilliamsforcongress.com U.S House District 32 Republican Pete Sessions petesessions.com Paul Brown paulbrownforcongress. com Democrat Colin Allred colinallred.com Ron Marshall ronmarshallcam paign. org Todd Maternowski

toddfortexas.com Ed Meier edfortexas.com George Rodriguez george4texas.com Lillian Salerno salernoforcongress. com Brett Shipp shippforcongress. com Lieutenant Governor Republican Dan Patrick danpatrick.org Scott Milder scottmilder4txlg. com Democrat Mike Collier collierfortexas.com Michael Cooper vote4coopertexas. com State Senate District 16 Democrat Nathan Johnson nathanfortexas. com Joe Bogen joefortexas.com State House District 100 Democrat Eric Johnson johnsonfortexas. com Sandra Crenshaw facebook.com/sandra. crenshaw State House District 107 Republican Joe Ruzicka joe4texas.com Brad Perry perryfortexas.com Deanna Metzger votemetzger.com

State House District 108 Democrat Joanna Cattanach joannafortexas.com Zac Duffy zacduffy.com State House District 113 Democrat Billy Ingram billyingram4staterep. com Rhetta Andrews Bowers rhetta-bowers.ruck. us Republican Jonathan Boos boosfortexas.com Charlie Lauersdorf charliefortexas.com Jim Phaup phaupfortexas.com Criminal District Attorney Democrat John Creuzot hardworkheartwork.com Elizabeth Davis Frizell frizell4da.com Dallas County Sheriff Republican Aaron Meek aaronmeek4sheriff. org Chad Prda prda4sheriff.com Democrat Marian Brown m a r i a n b ro w n f o rsheriff.com Eland J. Sigler No information available Roy Williams Jr. vo t efo r ro yw m sj r. wixsite.com

TEXAS SENATE DISTRICT 2

Eastfield alumn and current state representative Cindy Burkett is facing off with incumbent Republican Bob Hall for this state senate seat.

REPUBLICAN Cindy Burkett 59, Commercial Realtor/ state legislator

cindyburkett.org Bob Hall (I) 75, Retired/state senator senatorbobhall.com

DEMOCRAT Kendall Scudder 27, On-site education programming scudderforsenate.com

Andrew Walter

Cindy Brukett

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

PUT IT ON YOUR

Calendar 14

Tue

20

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Relationship Week Presentation: Surviving Dating Violence, Sexting, and Digital Abuse, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., G-101

Mental Health Speaker: 16 Parenting Precursors to School Shooters, Domestic Abusers and Terrorists, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., G-101

Recital series: Trombonist Bryon Sleugh, 12:30 p.m., F-117

Wed

Play Auditions: Anna in the Tropics, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Performance Hall

Wed

Recital series: Eric Willis Jazz Quintet, 12:30 p.m., F-117

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March

Thu

Campus open, day and evening classes do not meet

Fri

Campus open, day classes do not meet

1 2

Mon

5

Victor Diaz Nursing Major

Lixy Cortez Digital Media Major

Deisi Gonzalez Biology Major

Sandy Zamora Business Major

“I don’t vote. I mean, who’s running anyways?

I think it’s important, but voting seems difficult by design and I’m not even sure how to do it.”

“Voting is important in any election. Sometimes it’s not possible to vote when you’re too busy, or the poll is too far away.

But as long as I have the time, it’s voting time.”

“It’s important to vote to have an elected person in office. But my vote alone won’t affect the outcome, so I don’t vote.”

“I can’t vote yet, but it’s a civic duty. I hate how the two-party system decides our leaders, but as soon as I can I will vote.”

Gallery exhibit opens: Works by Mesquite High School AP art students, H Gallery

ABOUT THE COVER DESIGN BY BRYAN PEREZ

Tuesday, Feb. 20 Presentation: The Evolution of African-Americans as Told

by My Hair, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., C-135, Explore the work of Cantoinette Studios’s wearable head wraps and speak to an on-campus natural hair expert.

Tuesday, Feb. 27 No Beats, Just Bars, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m., C-135, Jonathan Jones uses current hip-hop music to inspire action and leadership beyond Black History Month.

Free HIV tests, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., C-139, appointments preferred, 972860-7190

Workout Wednesday: Agbara Latina cultural dance, 12:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard

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Do you vote?

Friday, Feb. 16 Film Screening: “Dear White People,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m., G-101

Workshop: Better Your Best Communication Skills, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., C-237

Wed

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CALENDAR

STEMinar: “Searching for the First Exomoon in the Radio,” 12:30 p.m., S-100

Valentine’s Day Movie Night, “Get Out,” 6 p.m,, Performance Hall

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THE HOT TOPIC

University recruiters, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fireside Lounge

Recital series: Barbara Hill Moore Vocal Studio, 12:30 p.m., F-117

Thu

The Et Cetera

Wednesday, Feb. 14 Speaker: Repairing Our Roots: Healing the Community through Mental Health, 11 a.m., C-135

February

Wed

@TheEtCetera

Adam Stephenson Undecided Major

Ann Barnett Art Major

Alee Walker Undecided Major

“I’m too young to vote, but I will as soon as I’m older. With everything going on today I cannot not vote.”

“I always vote, I’ve always voted. In the general election or in the primaries, every vote makes a difference.”

“It’s important, but I don’t vote. I don’t know the candidates, and I’m not sure what the primaries even are.”

Dem governor race could end in runoff Continued from page 4 Krueger is a relative stranger — the Republican Party doesn’t have any information on her.

The Democrats have a larger group of candidates working for the nomination, with nine names on the list. Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who stepped down from her post to pursue Texas’ highest office, is an early frontrunner in that race.

Blank believes that the race for the Democratic nomination is between Valdez and Andrew White.

“The only prediction that I can make with a high degree of certainty is that race is going to go to a runoff,” Blank said.

Voter turnout in Texas gubernatorial contests is not known to be impressive. In 2010, 32.1 percent of eligible Texas voters threw their support behind a candidate in the voting booth.

In 2014, when Democrat Wendy Davis appeared to pose a potential threat to Republican Greg Abbott, voter turnout was at 37 percent.

Primary turnout is known to be lower.

In 2014, the Republican gubernatorial primary saw just fewer than 10 percent of registered voters cast a ballot and the Democratic primary claimed barely more than 4 percent turnout.

Michael Antero Electrical Engineering Major

“I’ve never voted before, but I will this March. It’s important to me that I do.”

Thespians at work

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH CALENDAR March 1 – 30 #MeToo wall mural and book display, Library Tuesday, March 6 Speaker: Let’s Talk About Sex: Chat with a Sexologist Women’s sexuality through the years, beginning in the ‘60s with Dr. Justine Shuey, 9:30-11 a.m., C-135 Thursday, March 22 Panel discussion: We marched. We tweeted. We shared our stories. Now What?, Feminism after the #MeToo movement, 12:30 p.m., G-101 Friday, March 23 Fun Friday: Geeks Who Drink Team trivia with womenrelated questions and pretzels and root beer, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., C-135

JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA

Joseph Martinez and Vashti Moffett rehearse Feb. 9 for “Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike.”

The play will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23. Tickets are $10 and $7 for students.

A free matinee will be at 11:15 a.m. Feb. 23.

Monday, March 26 Speaker: Trans Identity Day, Time and room to be determined Wednesday, March 28 Film Screening: “Hidden Figures,” 12:30-2:30 p.m., S-101

Life &Arts The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Photography that makes an impact

Ortega travels the world to tell true stories visually

By Yesenia Alvarado Photo Editor @YeseniaA_ETC

In the middle of the night, Morty Ortega hides in the back seat of his fixer’s truck. Writer JK Nickell sits next to him as the truck slows down.

Ortega waits anxiously as the fixer puts the truck in park, opens the door and heads off with a box of cigarettes in his hand.

Hearts pounding, the two journalists wait silently in the vehicle. If something goes wrong they could be arrested or killed for what they’re doing. Ortega watches out the window, staying hidden as he waits for the fixer to return.

When the fixer walks back into Ortega’s view, he’s no longer carrying the cigarettes. Silently, he gets back into the truck, puts it into gear and drives. The two journalists do their best to stay out of view as they pass cigarette-bribed, armed men —probably government officials — into “Kachinland.”

In 2011, over 100,000 Kachin people were displaced after a ceasefire between the Myanmar Armed Forces and the Kachin Independence Army was broken. Conflict across the Kachin state drove many refugees into China.

Ortega wanted to show how conflict affected the Kachin people, forcing some into makeshift refugee camps and others into the army.

This routine of offering bribes for passage happens about half a dozen more times as they visit different pockets of Kachin “villages.”

Each time they cross Chinese border checkpoints they face more danger. But the driver, who knows exactly what time the guards were either taking a tea break or a nap, easily drives past these checkpoints.

After spending a week in Kachin’s capital, Laiza, Ortega and Nickell spent a week in Mai Ja Yang meeting Kachin refugees and spending time with the KIA. The pair became the only two Western journalists who witnessed the Chinese government kicking out Kachin refugees out back

into Myanmar.

As they headed to the Chinese airport, word of their trespass got to the guards at the border. The number of guards doubled.

They were now faced with the possibility of getting detained because, although they had tourist visas, they were doing prohibited journalism work.

“We had to come up with this fake story of how we got lost and we were on a tour,” Ortega said. “We didn’t speak the language, the tour guide didn’t speak English, and we had just gotten off the path. So I had a few nice tourist pictures on my camera, but the rest of my memory cards I hid under the insole of my shoe.”

Despite the danger faced and the exclusive story Ortega was able to tell, his work was never picked up by a news agency.

Ortega, a freelance narrative and visual journalist, visited campus Feb. 13 to share stories about his career, including the rescue of 33 Chilean miners trapped in a collapse. The event was sponsored by the Common Book Committee in connection with “Deep, Down, Dark,” the 20172018 common book.

Ortega has photographed for Getty, Hartford Courant, German Press Agency dpa, La Tercera and Las Ultimas Noticias in Chile, Delta Air Lines’ SKY and Korean Air’s Morning Calm magazines. He’s also worked for education institutions, journalism conferences and the Chilean government.

Ortega wasn’t always drawn to photojournalism. As a high school student, he enjoyed photography only as a hobby. It wasn’t until his senior year when he considered photography as a potential career.

He was given the option to take a college class at the University of Connecticut while still in high school. He decided to take a fine art photography class and found he had a passion for it.

As an undergraduate student, he took a documentary photography class, a genre between fine art and photojournalism. That was his bridge

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORTY ORTEGA

Clockwise from top right: Young boys in Kachin state play war games while Morty Ortega covers the Kachin refugees’ displacement. Ortega is a photojournalist who has covered the Kachin people, hillbillies, and the Dalai Lama. In 2010, he was one of four photographers who captured the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners.

into telling stories with photographs.

“I struggled to make photo art that was interesting to me,” Ortega said. “It was that desire to tell something else in photos apart from the fine art perspective. Like, a lot of fine art is about the artist making a statement or something very personal.

From a fine art perspective, ‘look at what beauty I can capture. Look at my beautiful pictures.’ Where in photojournalism it’s more about ‘look at what these people are going through.

Look at this issue. Look how climate change is affecting this community.’ “ During a fine art course, one of his professors showed the class photojournalism, and Ortega realized that he admired the work.

He didn’t know that years later he would meet some of the same photojournalists who inspired him and

have the opportunity to work with them.

As soon as he finished his undergraduate studies, he went to his native Chile. There he met Hugo Infante, who had been a photojournalist during the 2004 Iraq war. Infante became Ortega’s mentor and taught him how to create a good news photo.

“I knew how to make a picture and write a story, but I had to learn how to put those things together by myself,” Ortega said.

Infante and Ortega worked together to cover the Chilean earthquake in 2010 and later in October the miner’s rescue.

They arrived at the site three days before the actual rescue to see the Chilean president staring down a hole in the ground. That photo would

later be used on the rescue site.

During the rescue, Ortega didn’t get to sleep because once the first miners were pulled to the surface, the rest of the miners were pulled up at an increasingly faster pace.

He had about three minutes to photograph each miner then run from the rescue site to a trailer acting as the communications office, plug in the CF card, find the images, caption them individually and upload them to Flickr.

There was no time to set up a server that could handle all the media attention. Flickr found out about the situation because of the amount of traffic the account was getting and highlighted the photos on their main page.

News organizations across the See Ortega, page 11 ➤

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The Et Cetera

Rhythms of b

Looking at black history thr To try to encompass the entirety of AfricanAmerican music in a single article is a futile effort. From early work songs and spirituals to blues, jazz, rock and roll, soul, hip-hop and everything in between, black music has dominated American culture and has found itself as the foundation for the majority of modern music worldwide.

From the beginning, black artists and their songs have been a reflection of the black experience in America.

It’s equally a bridge between African roots

COURTESY OF CURTISMAYFIELD.COM

“Little Child Runnin’ Wild” - Curtis Mayfield During the ‘60s and ‘70s, everyone had something to say about the civil rights movement and the state of the black community.

Artists like James Brown promoted self-love and unity in the face of discrimination while artists like Gil Scott Heron pointedly protested integration and hypocrisy.

Curtis Mayfield used his platform, namely his “Superfly” album, to comment on the inner-city struggles of crime, poverty and drug abuse. Sonically, this entire album sounds like the soundtrack for a too-cool-for-school blaxploitation film, and that’s because that’s exactly what it is.

However, Mayfield’s lyricism paints a different picture.

The opening track, “Little Child Runnin’ Wild,” tells the tale of a young homeless man contemplating his downward spiral into drug abuse. The man questions why it had to be him falling into addiction, then frantically pleads his drug dealer for a fix.

While songs like “Pusherman” and “Superfly” are the most recognized of the album, “Little Child Runnin’ Wild” frames the distressed atmosphere of what may be the most critical and politically conscious concept album of the era.

PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO

“The Bourgeois Blues” - Lead Belly The origin timeline of the blues genre is one closely tied to black emancipation. Unlike spirituals, which were limited to being performed a cappella due to restrictions on instruments, the blues became a genre that allowed black artists to express themselves on several platforms. The artists were free to experiment lyrically, vocally and through instrumentation, namely the guitar and the American-made banjo.

“The Bourgeois Blues” ties artistic freedom with the daily oppression experienced by newly freed slaves. Lead Belly sings of his visit to the nation’s capital and the mistreatment that he suffers there.

He calls the “home of the brave, land of the free” a bourgeois town, pointing out that the idealism in D.C. was just a lift to help white Americans climb upon their high horses while they continue to live with their conventional attitudes toward race.

“Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve The spiritual is widely considered one that’s a distinct merge between situations imposed on African-Amer Spirituals, which find their stylist festations of slaves’ Christian convers under slavery. Most spirituals were al The lyricism of “Nobody Knows that era’s sentiment, asserting that th rienced by the singer is so great that except for Jesus Christ.

In some variations of the song, th staying in the path of righteousness, b in heaven first, to tell everyone that th

LIFE&ARTS

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black history

rough its musical influence and European influence as much as it’s a counter to white oppression. It’s a celebration of black excellence and a critique on shortcomings in black communities.

It’s deeply religious in some facets while being carnal and excessive in others. It clings to its origins while consistently moving toward innovation.

Here are just a few noteworthy songs from artists who planted their flags in the vast and diverse catalogue that is African-American music.

— Compiled by David Silva

COURTESY OF KENDRICKLAMAR.CO

PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO

PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO

e Seen” - Fisk Jubilee Singers the first true genre of the Americas, African song traditions and the life ricans due to their enslavement. tic origins in work songs, are manision and the hardships they endured lso strongly tied to a desired freedom. the Trouble I’ve Seen” holds true to he physical and emotional pain expet no one else can truly understand it,

he singer speaks of the difficulties of but affirms that if the listener ends up hey will be there one day, too.

“Strange Fruit” - Billie Holiday Although a well-known staple in depicting the violence and cruelty that black Americans endured between emancipation and the civil rights era, this Billie Holiday classic is in many ways a departure from the jazz genre that the singer dominated.

Jazz at its height was the signature genre not only for the black community but also for the country as a whole. Its upbeat, danceworthy, larger-than-life characteristics are nowhere to be found here though.

Released in 1939, “Strange Fruit” opens with sharp and pained horns and a melancholy piano. Holiday’s iconic voice illustrates the horrific picture of lynched black bodies “swinging in the Southern breeze.”

Its intensity only increases as Holiday’s voice amplifies, creating perhaps the most realistic description of brutality in the South. It’s the expression of an artist who not only changed jazz on a vocal standpoint, but also of one who was not afraid to deliver a devastating message.

“i”- Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” is largely considered the anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement for good reason. It unapologetically speaks on police brutality, vices within the black community and views the future with religious optimism.

However, “i,” from the 2015 “To Pimp a Butterfly” album, speaks directly on the importance of both self-love and collective love within the black community.

The song is staged like a live performance, one that is interrupted by a fight in the crowd halfway through the set. Lamar stops the show and asks those around him how many friends they’ve lost due to violence.

He tells them, “We don’t have time to waste time” on violence against one another, then, before starting the show, rhymes about the origins of the “infamous, sensitive N-word.”

At nearly the end of the album, the song takes all of the self-hatred, exploitation and self-destructiveness displayed throughout the previous records and combats them with his a cappella rhyme.

Lamar tells the audience of negus, the Ethiopian word for royalty, a word that he claims has been overlooked and bastardized and that needs to be reclaimed to its proper definition.

Lamar’s intention is clear: revisit the glory of the past and know that your history does not begin on slave boats, but instead as the rulers of continents.

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The Et Cetera

Five ways to avoid the singles blues this Valentines

On Valentine’s Day, many couples will do the typical loveydovey activities, but what about those of us without a date? What will we do to stave off perpetual crippling loneliness?

If you are single on February 14th, it’s expected that you won’t be partaking in most kinds of romantic encounters, but what else are you supposed to do? Just sit around waiting for the torture to end?

Other than simply remain alone and bored for the entire love-filled day, here are several suggestions to make the most out of being a single person on Valentine’s Day. — Compiled by Andrew Walter Take your furry best friend out Here’s an easy one for any single person with a pet: go with a pet, preferably a dog, to a pet-friendly café or restaurant.

Dogs are generally much more cooperative and easygoing than most people, so in theory, they would make for excellent dates on the holiday dedicated to couples.

Some of the many dog-friendly restaurants around Dallas with great reviews include Katy Trail Ice House, The Dream Café and Rise No. 1. The wide range of meal options include TexMex, French cuisine, and even vegan accommodations.

The best part about having a dog as a date is that if the food at the restaurant ends up tasting terrible, the dog would be more than happy to scarf down the leftovers.

Don’t have a dog? Just borrow one from someone you know.

I’m sure they’ll say yes.

Go on a date with yourself Still can’t find a dog, but want a good meal? Treat yourself to a meal from a fancy restaurant. Order dinner for two, and then

eat the entire dish alone.

Consider it as a way to reward yourself for all the hard work you do. By doing so, you’ll be able to forget that you’re the only person in the restaurant eating by yourself on Valentine’s Day. Besides, nothing helps fill the void in your heart like filling the void in your stomach.

When it comes to choosing a restaurant, remember to strike a balance between pleasure and your wallet. That can make all the difference in deciding whether you should eat at a Red Lobster or The Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Make a fake partner for Instagram Great for those who love to snap photos, my next suggestion would be to create a fake Instagram lover. How could this be done?

Simple. A mannequin, gifts addressed to you from some imaginary person, a romantic note written by yourself and so on. Anything to convince your followers on Instagram of how #blessed you are to be with your totally real significant other on that special day.

Don’t know where to buy a mannequin? That’s easy. They can be found anywhere from Amazon to Walmart, and with free shipping much of the time.

On February 15th, all you have to do is make some sappy post about how you had a nasty breakup the day after Valentine’s Day. With that, you could win mad sympathy points from your followers and eliminate any suspicion of your brilliant ruse.

Embrace your inner third-wheel So what if you’re alone? It doesn’t mean you can’t go on a date.

Tag along on someone else’s date. They’ll surely be thrilled to

have you there on one of the most romantic nights of the year.

In reality, this is probably the most difficult option to pull off.

To do this, you’d need to win approval from your friend and their lover, but if it works, you’re going to have some great fun.

By being a third wheel, you could witness a blossoming relationship or the beginning embers of a huge garbage fire. Maybe it’s a combination of the two.

One immense benefit for this suggestion is the fact that it can work on almost every kind of date. A restaurant, the movies or the park would quickly come to mind.

To sweeten the deal for your friend and his date, you could offer to pay the tip during dinner. Or, if you’re broke, you could always just crack lame jokes and make snarky comments whenever they try to have some romantic moments.

Either way, there’s something to be had for everyone.

Just wallow in self-pity If all else fails, you can fall back on the first stage of grief: denial.

If you couldn’t get a date for Valentine’s Day, then it was obviously not your fault.

It was the fault of all those disgusting normies who couldn’t see your outstanding qualities.

How could they ever understand you if they never took the time to bask in your greatness?

Pfft. You don’t need them. They were simpletons and you were too perfect a being to accept their love.

Trust me. That’s the absolute truth. Just be sure to remind yourself that every now and then.

If that’s not quite your speed, buy a year’s supply of Blue Bell and rewatch “Pretty Woman” while drowning your sorrow in Moo-llennium Crunch.

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Journalist creates intimacy in his photography Continued from page 7 globe were using Ortega’s photos with their stories of the international event.

After reading the book “Deep, Dark, Down,” Ortega learned the rescued miner’s stories.

“It was really cool for me to understand the stories of these people, because for me at the time it was very superficial,” Ortega said. “I just saw miners coming out of a tunnel who were immediately sent to the triage where they were doing all kinds of medical exams.”

His experience there was one many photojournalists work their entire careers to have.

Photojournalist Kael Alford, who teaches news photography at Eastfield and Southern Methodist University, said Ortega’s work with the miner rescue was invaluable.

“When you get one of those news stories that gets a lot of attention, you’re suddenly catapulted into this platform,” Alford said. “That’s something that’s hard to come by as a journalist, which is a big microphone.”

Alford met Ortega at one of the first Foundry Photojournalism Workshops, a now-prestigious annual event, in 2008 in Mexico City, where Ortega was a workshop producer and social media coordinator.

He also worked as an assistant instructor for the “Heart of Mexico” international journalism study abroad class through the University of North Texas Ortega earned his Master of Journalism from UNT in 2013.

Ortega experienced one of the most touching moments of his career working for the UNT Mayborn Magazine.

He was covering a story on hillbillies in Tennessee, accompanied by Nickell, the journalist he worked with on the Kachin story. This was their first assignment, retracing the steps of photographer Joe Clark.

Their main goal was to find a young boy named Jimmy Powell, whom Clark had photo-

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORTY ORTEGA

Ortega took a portrait of this “hillbilly” and his partner in Tennessee. It was featured in a story for the Mayborn Magazine for UNT.

graphed. Ortega and Nickell made phone calls and traveled the same path Clark had, photographing their journey.

After a week of searching, Ortega and Nickell found themselves in a small, run-down town. There, Ortega found a chain-smoking, half-drunk man wearing a dirty letterman jacket with a brown-bagged beer in his hand.

The man came out of the train station and approached the journalists, snarling at them, asking what they were doing.

Rather than leaving, Ortega and Nickell began to talk to him.

They learned he was wearing his son’s letterman jacket. The letterman jacket was the only item salvaged from the car crash that killed his son.

In talking to him, Ortega learned that the man and his partner had turned the train station into a squatter’s home.

“After we established trust with him, he in-

vited us in and told us his story, and that was really touching,” Ortega said. “So I did this portrait of him and his partner in front of this building. I was able to get the shot I wanted, but even better — with the human element.”

Alford appreciates Ortega’s work because she sees that he gets close to his subjects.

“He has an understanding that intimacy in a story and getting close to your subjects is an important part of storytelling,” Alford said. “It’s not just about being in the right place at the right time but also understanding your subjects and learning as much about them as possible.

When he gets a big story or a project, he gets as close as he can and spends a lot of time with the people that he is photographing. I think that’s probably the most unique thing about a photographer like Morty.”

Being a freelance photojournalist means having to find a story and sometimes go out on a limb, Ortega said.

It can be dangerous and for many, it is hard to get stories published. In many cases, Ortega would pitch his story to multiple editors and nobody would pick it up.

“It’s either feast or famine,” Ortega said. “You could go weeks without work or you could have a really good month where you have up to three assignments and get well paid for it.”

Because of the difficulty in the field, many photojournalists have side jobs as event photographers or, in Ortega’s case, as teachers.

Ortega worked as an adjunct news photography professor at Eastfield for two semesters in 2016-17, in part to raise money to finance future stories.

Ortega regularly invited guest speakers to his class, including freelance and portrait photographer Jeremiah Stanley.

Eastfield graduate and professional photographer Alejandra Rosas connected with Stanley through Ortega’s class and had the opportunity to work as his assistant on an assignment.

Although Rosas had a digital photography certificate and a lot of experience, she said she found the class valuable.

“It felt like I was learning photography again,” Rosas said.

Rosas said one of the things that made Ortega an interesting professor was his experience photographing international news like the Chilean mine collapse and rescue.

“You see it on the news and everywhere, but you never imagine you’re going to meet somebody who was there,” Rosas said.

Ortega now works for the marketing team for Baylor University. He makes videos, has a stable income and a home in Waco with his wife, Madiha Kark.

Even in his current job, he works with people to visually tell their experiences and stories.

“It’s really about the world, less about one self, so that’s something I really liked about photojournalism,” Ortega said. “The capacity to connect with the world.”

opinion Etera Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Texas Community College Journalism Association • Associated Collegiate Press • College Media Association

Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief James Hartley Digital Managing Editor David Silva Managing Editor Bryan Perez Life & Arts Editor Caroline Ceolin Design Editor Manuel Guapo Photo Editors Yesenia Alvarado

Jesus Ayala

Senior Staff Writers Julio Vega

Macks Prewitt

Senior Staff Photographers Niels Winter Photographers Vaylan Jacques Jennifer Retiz

Willie R. Cole

Videographers Narely Martin Daija Heaven

Amber Bell

Graphic Artists Sean Watkins Esther Moreno

Aldahir Segovia Anthony Lazon

Reporters Adrian Maldonado James Eyre Kevin Meyer Aria Jones Juan Prado Josue Hernandez

Andrew Walter Samuel Farley Kathryn Higgins Colin Taylor Zachary Smith Keaira English

Editorial Assistant Marie Garcia Advertising & Marketing Keturah Hill Student Publications Adviser Elizabeth Langton Digital Media Adviser Sarah Sheldon Faculty Adviser Lori Dann Editorial Policy The views expressed on the opinion pages and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County Community College District.

The Et Cetera is published every two weeks—except December, January and summer months—by a student staff. Each member of the college community is entitled to one free copy of The Et Cetera. Additional copies are available in Room N-240.

Letters to the Editor Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters will be edited for profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style, grammar, libel and space when needed.

The content will remain that of the author.

Letters considered for publication must be 250 words or fewer. Deliver letters to Room N-240 or sent to etc4640@dcccd.edu.

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OUR VIEW

Neglecting primaries hurts the process Voting is one of the most powerful ways Americans impact their government, but Texas voter turnout is abysmal, ranking third lowest in the nation.

It’s up to our generation to be the ones who change that, and it starts with making our voices heard in primary elections.

While more than half of Texas adults 18 to 24 registered to vote in the 2016 election, only 39.4 actually cast ballots, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s November 2016 Current Population Survey.

That’s compared to about 60 percent of the total U.S. population, according to the U.S. Elections Project.

Low voter turnout means that we as an entire state do not have as powerful a voice as the rest of the nation.

It means that candidates feel they do not have to worry as much about Texas voters.

They do not think they have to appeal to the beliefs and stances held

by Texans as they would states with higher voter turnout, particularly in the primary elections.

Low voter turnout in statewide and local primaries also mean the final decision between two candidates is made by a minority of registered voters.

ANTHONY LAZO/THE ET CETERA

With early voting, the excuse of not having enough time is largely invalid for most.

With the resources available online to learn about the candidates, the excuse of being ill informed of stances and policies is weak.

Our generation has more resources and opportunity to make voting easier than any before us.

We should have the highest per-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Column publication shows poor judgment Dear editorial staff, My identity is not open to discussion or debate, and I am tired of defending it.

I am writing in response to your decision to publish an opinion piece by Adrian Maldonado (“Sexual orientation is always a personal choice,” Jan. 31). It took me a week to decide if and how I might reply to this ill-informed work published by an award winning academic newspaper. At worst, this is an example of yellow journalism, and at best it is an embarrassing oversight.

I invite you and your readership to do some research on the topic of sexual orientation, including its history as a field of study, and the difficult— often brutal—stories of ignorance, violence, heartbreak and bloodshed that my Queer brothers and sisters can share. No one chooses sexual orientation, just as no one chooses to be ridiculed and tormented by individuals and institutions based on who they are.

My real problem is with The Et Cetera’s choice to publish this opinion piece in the first place. It is the stuff of tabloids, and seems aimed at reopening social wounds disguised as engendering dialogue. It was a shameful choice, and it is not a reflection of the vast majority of students I have worked with in my 14 years of teaching at Eastfield College.

Thank you, David Willburn, Eastfield College Faculty

centage of eligible voters turning out for each election.

We need to stop making excuses about why we didn’t vote and instead educate ourselves and cast a ballot.

If we don’t do that, in what way will we hold our elected officials accountable to their actions?

Early voting for the party primaries begins Feb. 20 comes to a close on March 2.

Primary elections are March 6.

The last day to register for the general election is Oct. 9.

Early voting will run from Oct. 22 to Nov. 2 and Election Day will be Nov. 6.

Mark those dates.

Get out and vote.

Make our elected officials hear us through our votes and we can make a real difference.

OPINION

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As a military veteran, I stand with Dreamers I will start with a little background on myself: I served in the United States Air Force from 2004-2010, ending my enlistment as a Senior Airman.

My first 3 years were spent as a meteorologist and my last 3 as a financial manager for a special forces unit. I did a great deal of traveling and met people from all over the world.

I served with airmen that grew up in Mexico, the Philippines, England, Australia, Africa and many other places. They all had unique stories about how they came to the United States and different reasons behind their choice to enlist in the United States Armed Forces.

I found it amazing that these people were willing to not only fight for the United States, but they were willing to die for a country that wasn’t naturally their own.

At 19 years old, I wasn’t fully able to understand their reasoning, but my inquisitive nature would find the answers.

My first interaction with someone serving with this mindset was in basic training. I trained and made friends with a girl from the Philippines.

She was quiet, hardworking, and would usually keep to herself. One day I finally asked her why she chose to join the United States Air Force and her answer would open my eyes to

Dottie Turner @TheEtCetera

things I’d never considered.

She told me about the struggles she faced growing up in the Philippines.

She didn’t have regular access to clean water or consistent food.

Her parents had to go great lengths to afford her a basic education. Her life growing up was hard. As a child, missionaries from the United States came to her village.

They worked to teach the children English and told them about the United States.

After they left, she knew what her goal was: to move to the United States to make a better life for herself and her family.

She went to school, had a child, worked and saved every bit of money she earned. When she had enough money, she left the Philippines to pursue her “American dream.” As heartbreaking as it was, she had to leave her daughter behind to make a better life for her child.

After arriving she spent a great deal of time trying to get a better grasp of the English language and worked menial jobs while waiting

for her immigration paperwork to go through.

The day she was approved, she joined the United States Air Force.

She wanted to make a difference in the country she had become a citizen of.

She loved the United States. Her goal was to eventually move her family to America.

She missed her daughter every single day, but knew that what she was doing would be worth it. After a few years in the service, she was finally able to make enough money to move her family to the United States.

This was her American dream. She made it come true through great personal sacrifice and dedication.

So when President Trump started talking about getting rid of programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, I thought of her. She wasn’t technically a “Dreamer”, but her story was a reminder to me that many of the Dreamers are just trying to better their lives. Since they are part of DACA, they are going through the proper channels.

With that, they should be allowed to stay.

We are a country founded by immigrants.

So how does this pertain to me? While I was in the service, I got a connected disability and now receive compensation and pension from the VA as a result.

As a full time student at Eastfield College,

I use the Post 9/11 GI Bill for tuition and my living stipend. I also have recurrent doctors appointments at the VA Medical Center in Dallas.

When a shutdown happens, my compensation and pension stops, the VA stops processing education payments, and with furloughed government employees, that could mean the cancellation of my doctors appointments.

What reason has congress and the president given to explain their inability to come to an agreement on a budget? Primarily, DACA. DACA is a program that was put into place in 2012 by the Obama administration that protects young undocumented immigrants from deportation and gives them a work permit.

The program expires 2 years after it is granted, but allows for renewal. It is a very fair system. I’m rooting for the democrats to hold strong until a better option for DACA is negotiated.

It’s worth fighting for even if it means that my livelihood will be affected.

If it takes losing my pay and losing my doctors appointments to keep the fight alive for the Dreamers, by all means, do it.

I am a veteran. I served our country, and I would fight for the Dreamers.

— Dottie Turner is a journalism major and a reporter

based, conservative Republican Party is so desensitized as a celebrity that he brags about sexually harassing women and having the ability to get away with murder.

Something doesn’t add up.

At some point the Republicans became so obsessed with gaining control of the Oval Office that they abandoned the very foundation their party was built on to go with a candidate who was popular for all the wrong reasons.

Trump resonated with middle America – low and middle class, predominantly white citizens who have felt slighted by the government – by promising jobs and education.

These citizens feel that since they have worked hard for generations, they deserve these jobs instead of the undocumented immigrants.

They cheered for the man who said he would bring jobs back to the U.S. and send the Mexicans who stole the jobs back home, erecting a wall that the Mexican government would pay for in their wake.

They celebrated when Trump pledged to command-Z the last eight years and undo everything the Obama administration did to “ruin” this country.

While it is understandable that this class of citizenry followed his words, the steadfast Christians of the Republican Party should have stepped in to put an end to his campaign.

These same faithful Republicans, who refuse to remove (Christian) prayer in school, who have forced the boundary of the separation of

church and state, sat back and followed Trump as he bulldozed his way to the White House. It has been shocking to watch the party crumble.

Some did speak out against his message, claiming he does not represent them.

Instead of uniting under the banner of good morals, his supporters cast off those who opposed him.

The identity of the Republican Party has changed, and it was baffling to see Roy Moore get as close as he did to winning the Alabama U.S. Senate seat.

Although Moore was accused by nine different women of sexual harassment, Trump endorsed him multiple times in the week leading up to the election.

Following the president, the Republican National Committee and National Republican Senate Committee reinstated their support of Moore.

The greed of the Republican Party overcame its traditionally strong stance against subjects such as sexual harassment. This new “Republican Jesus” has compromised the integrity of the party and left many wondering how strong its moral foundation is.

Republicans, both the politicians and the voting citizens, need to decide whether upholding the Christian values of the party or following Trump’s new controversial direction for the party is the correct path.

— Colin Taylor is a journalism major and a reporter

Conservatives are sacrificing their traditional values

Although the Republican Party views itself as traditionally conservative, its recent actions have revealed a departure from their Christian values.

Republicans have a very strong set of values shared throughout the party, typically aligning with Christianity. The party is staunchly prolife, and members have resisted LGBT rights on every front. Red states have fought to keep prayer in schools despite the fact that religious participation is not mandatory in this country, pushing the boundary of the separation of church and state.

Conservatives dragged Barack Obama’s name through the mud for the entirety of his presidency, accusing him of being a Muslim and a foreigner despite a lack of facts. However, as Donald Trump has become the face of the Republican Party, the legal and moral concerns of the party that drove their criticisms have collapsed.

One major weakness of the Democratic Party is the diversity of its values and beliefs.

With so many different religions, races and morals represented, Democrats often trip over themselves while pushing their own agenda.

This has not been a problem in the Republican Party. It has always held a very clear set of beliefs and morals, and it has always been supportive of traditional, Christian candidates.

While we may have questioned the qualifications, intelligence and ability of some Republican presidential candidates, we have

Colin Taylor @TheEtCetera

not questioned whether these men represented Republican ideologies.

However, Trump has somehow ascended to the presidency while raising a giant middle finger to the Christian values of Republicans.

Trump has never been very public with his religious alignment. He has said he is a Presbyterian. He refutes claims that he is not religious, but he lacks evidence of being a spiritual person.

At a speech delivered at Liberty University, an evangelical university, he quoted from the biblical book “two Corinthians” instead of “second Corinthians.” This is an easy slip for someone not devoted to the writings, but less forgiving for a man quoting it in order to gain favor from a religious institution.

He has gone on record saying his favorite verse is “an eye for an eye.”

He infamously said he could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue, shoot someone and not lose any voters.” This is also the same man who said, “And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.”

The man who is the face of the religious-

Sports The Et Cetera

Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 17 Feb. 18 Feb. 21

Baseball @ Texas Wesleyan Basketball vs North Lake Basketball @ Brookhaven Baseball vs Kansas City Kansas CC Baseball @ North Lake

www.eastfieldnews.com

Family, desire fuels freshman guard

1:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

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Noon 2:00 p.m.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

By JULIO VEGA and COLIN TAYLOR Staff Writers @TheEtCetera

Freshman guard DaJuan Ridgeway passes the ball to his teammate Kuol Arop to bring the play to life on the offensive baseline. Ridgeway darts away from an opposing Richland player as the play builds up, with Sean Odum feeding Ridgeway the ball on the right side.

His moves into space as he hits a 3-pointer to start off the game.

“He just has a drive that other kids don’t have at this point,” associate coach Antonio Richardson said. “Normally a lot of freshman tend to shy away, but with his athletic DNA, a lot has trickled down into him.”

That athletic DNA is also in his half-brother, Demetrius Harris, 26, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. Harris played college basketball at Mineral Area College in Missouri and later club football at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

He was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted player in 2013 for the practice squad and was in the senior squad by the next year.

Harris often tweets about Ridgeway’s progress at Eastfield, sharing videos and tweets by Fletcher after having put in a solid game. He’s even had the chance to see a game in person, having visited for Eastfield’s away loss to Richland Feb. 3.

“I’ll support him any chance I get,” he said.

“I know how passionate he is for the game and I know how bad he wants it. When I was at a juco, him and my mama and brothers, they’d come to my games and when I was Milwaukee, too.”

Ridgeway has helped the Harvester basketball team go 6-2 in conference. The team is in prime position to win the regular season title. With 12.5 points per game, 38.6 percent on 3-pointers, and a 42.5 percent from field goals, he’s been a solid contributor to the team this season.

Ridgeway was a three-year varsity starter from Jacksonville High School basketball team in Arkansas when he was recruited by Richardson at a basketball showcase at Texas A&M in Commerce.

Richardson said the saw great traits in Ridgeway at the showcase, such as “his size, tenacity, leadership and athleticism.”

Fletcher said he and Richardson know what players are the best fit for the program, and called Ridgeway a talented and dynamic athlete.

“Normally true freshmen don’t make the team or get to play a lot,” he said. “This kid is starting and playing well. He can control the ball, pass, shoot, defend, and do it all well.”

Richardson wants to see Ridgeway become more aggressive. He believes Ridgeway is special, and that his strong-willed mindset will help him become a leader on the team. Fletcher said his versatility as a left-handed player “changes the game.”

FILE PHOTO

Stein during the 2015 season.

Coach resigns for new job

By JULIO VEGA Senior Staff Writer @JulioVegaETC WILLIE R. COLE/THE ET CETERA

DaJuan “Ju” Ridgeway takes on Mountain View players in a conference game Feb. 7

Ridgeway said he credits his work ethic to Harris and his mother who raised five kids.

“He’s the one always motivating us, so if the family was always down, he was the one trying to pick us up. I want to have his drive,” Ridgeway said.

“My mom is always trying to keep everyone’s head on straight. She plays the ‘soccer mom’ role, be a team mom and make sure we are all good.”

The youngest of five siblings, 18-year-old Ridgeway is following a similar path Harris took by attending a junior college. He said he’s learned a lot from his older brother about the challenges of aiming to be a professional athlete.

“He showed me that it doesn’t matter what college you go to in the world,” Ridgeway said. “If you’re good enough, somebody’s gonna find you.”

Growing up with Harris, Ridgeway said the two were always close. Ridgeway was a part of Harris’ Amateur Athletic Union team and traveled to various locations to compete.

When he was younger, Ridgeway would occasionally suffer from seizures, and Harris acted “like it was the end of the world.”

“He would panic and have a sense of urgency to get help,” Ridgeway said. “He cared for me so much because I was his baby brother.”

Harris said the episodes would worry his family, but they don’t occur anymore.

“We’d always have to be alert with them,” Harris said. “He’d probably have one about once a week.

But luckily, we figured out what to do. We’d put him on his side, put a cold towel on his head, and then he’d be fine. I was young, so I didn’t know what was going on. But it was tough seeing him

go through.”

Harris also helped Ridgeway’s passion for sports. “Ju,” as he is often called, has been playing basketball and baseball since he was about 4 years old. He also played football in his preteen and early teens years.

“I used to always see him play sports, so I want to be like him in sports,” Ridgeway said. “My mom would say when we were at his peewee football games, I’d be running up and down the sidelines.”

Harris said he deeply cares for Ridgeway and is constantly looking over his progress. Harris is always making sure Ridgeway isn’t “around the wrong crowd.”

“You have someone to look up to going in the right direction,” Harris said. “I try stay on him, make sure he’s on top of all his stuff, school work, and of course, basketball. I do my best to keep him focused. I want only positivity around him.”

Over the summer, Ridgeway accompanied Harris for his NFL offseason workouts.

“It was fun having him around,” Harris said. “It feels good knowing you have a little brother look up to you and you show him a successful path and have him around a lot of successful people.”

Ridgeway said having a brother like Harris has help him grow, and he’s motivated and compelled to exceed on the court.

“He was something like a father figure but at the same time, my best friend,” Ridgeway said. “But I have to work harder because … people expect more out of you. Your family tree shows that someone in your family made it to that level, and you’ve got potential. It’s a big weight on my shoulders.”

Eastfield women’s soccer head coach Dustin Stein announced his resignation Monday via Twitter after accepting a job offer as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

Stein said it was a can’t-miss opportunity to work under Pittsburgh head coach Randy Waldrum. He said it was bittersweet parting with his “baby” but its future looks bright.

“When I took over this program, it wasn’t competitive,” he said. “I had a lot of people that told me I was an idiot for taking this job. Well, I like to prove people wrong. I’ve always believed that when people are hating on you, then you’re doing something right.”

He leaves with a 56-32-4 record, making him the soccer program’s most successful coach.

Although he never reaching the national tournament, he did lead the 2015 team to their first conference title, going undefeated during the regular season.

Stein said the base for the future is still there and that a really talented freshmen group is returning as sophomores for a new coach.

“Eastfield soccer now has the respect that it didn’t have five years ago,” He said. “I’m sure a great coach will come here and build on the success and hopefully be able to take it to the next level.”

SPORTS

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The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

INTRAMURAL SPORTS CALENDAR Intramural sports start Saturday with the first open gym of the semester and activities continuing through May. For more information on how to participate, contact Jide “JC” Carew in the Office of Student Engagement & Retention, at jidecarew@dcccd.edu or sign up at lmleagues.com/Eastfield.

February 17: Open Gym, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gym P-200 21: Workout Wednesday, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard 22: National Recreation Day March 1-29: March Madness, 3v3 Basketball tournament, Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays 3: Open Gym 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Gym P-200 7: Workout Wednesday, 12:301:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard 9: 3-point Shoot-Out Contest noon-2 p.m., Gym P-200 17: Open Gym, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gym P-200 21: Workout Wednesday, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard 31: Open Gym, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gym P-200 April 2-25: Tennis Tournament, 12:30-2 p.m., Tennis Court 4: Workout Wednesday 12:301:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard 6-27: Intramural Volleyball Tournament, 12:30-2 p.m.

Fridays, Gym P-200 14: Open Gym, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gym P-200 18: Workout Wednesday, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Lower Courtyard 27: Fun In The Sun RecFest and pool party, noon-3 p.m., Upper Courtyard and pool 28: Open Gym, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gym P-200 May 4: Video Game Tournament, noon-3 p.m., Performance Hall

WILLIE R. COLE/THE ET CETERA

Eastfield’s Jacob Perry (top right) catches the ball as UT Dallas’ Peyton Becker (bottom right #26) attempts to slide to safety. The Harvesters won both double-header games 12-0 and 5-4 Jan. 29.

Harvesters take early 7-2 record

By KEVIN MEYER Reporter @TheEtCetera

Eastfield baseball is off to a hot start, winning seven of their first nine games.

“We’ve had some really good outings by some pitchers, and we’ve got a couple of guys in our lineup that are swinging the bat really well,” head coach Michael Martin said.

It’s a marked improvement over a year ago, the team had a 2-7 record.

However, Martin still sees room for improvement.

The defense has posted five multierror games in the first nine, and at least one error in all but one game.

A 19-9 loss to Hill College highlighted areas where the team needs work, Martin said.

“Our defense is a little behind,” he said. “We need to come along and play a little bit better defense, but we’ve had some pretty good outings.

Some of our guys were struggling a little bit against Hill on the mound, but we were able to still generate

some offense.”

The Harvesters’ offense has been effective, averaging seven runs a game on about nine hits.

“If you look at our first five or six hitters or so, they’re sophomores, and they’re guys that we have some pretty big expectations for,” he said.

“So far I think they’ve kind of lived up to those.”

Martin likes what he’s getting from a variety of players.

Freshman Trenton Dowley and Ryan Ferguson have split time at catcher, with Christian Del Bosque at designated hitter.

Transfer pitcher Tyler Stone has added depth to the pitching staff, something that Martin is planning to use.

“We feel like he’s a guy that could step in and earn a starting role on this team in a short amount of time,” he said.

Sophomore first baseman Isaac D’Agostino has recorded 15 hits in 27 at bats and drew three walks, giving him an on-base percentage of .600.

WILLIE R. COLE/THE ET CETERA

Solomon Klimech has pitched for 14.2 and has a 0.61 ERA.

“He really came on halfway through the year last year, and we kind of put him in a role where he earned it, where he was hitting in the middle of the lineup, hitting in the 4-hole for us last year toward the

end of the year and started swinging it really well, making some adjustments,” Martin said.

“Doing those things, and he’s come out this year, and along with coach Ryan Downs working with him, and he’s really come out to a hot start.”

Martin said the team won’t allow themselves to become overconfident because of the good start.

“Our expectations are the same every year we walk into this program, and that’s to go out and win the conference,” Martin said.

“We want to be the best team in this conference. Whether we start out 0-6 or 5-2, it doesn’t matter.

Those expectations don’t change.”

With the way the team is performing, Martin hopes to see more students attend games.

“Come watch some Eastfield baseball,” Martin said.

“When the weather turns nice and it starts to be 80 degrees outside, grab you a sandwich, come down, watch a few innings of the game, support our guys.”

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WRAP UP

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

@TheEtCetera

Sus Comics By Aldahir Segovia

The Et Cetera

Shooting from downtown

Gray brothers jam out

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The Kwinton Gray Project, lead by Eastfield alumnus Kwinton Gray, performs during a Black History Month-themed Wednesday Recital Series on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

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Zack Mahoney sinks a three-pointer en route to winning the Three-Point Shootout. The contest was held during the halftime of the Harvester home game versus Mountain View.