Eastfield Et Cetera March 9, 2016

Etera

Eastfield College

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Volume 47, Issue 10

Black holes, dinos & Rubik’s STEM week explores topics from the stars to fossils ➤ See pages 6, 7

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NEWS

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

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The Et Cetera

PUT IT ON YOUR

Calendar Campus to hold events honoring women March

Wed

9

Career and job fair, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., C building second floor and surrounding hallways Tour the T building, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., T foyer Presentation: Healthy Boundaries and Communication, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m., C-135 Recital: Tatiana “Lady May” Mayfield, 12:30 p.m., F-117 Demonstration of automotive technologies two-axel dynamometer for engine performance, 2 p.m., T-189

Thu

Tour the T building, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., T foyer

Fri

Tour the T building, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., T foyer

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Financial Friday: Build Your Credit & Repair It, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m., C-135

Mon

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Spring break starts.

Campus closed through March 21

Mon

Classes resume.

Tue

Author readings and book signings, 10 a.m.1 p.m., The Link in the library

Wed

Presentation: Learn How to Read Your Credit Report, 11 a.m.1 p.m., C-237A

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By Brittany Parker etc4640@dcccd.edu

Women’s History Month Events

Eastfield students considering launching a women’s empowerment and leadership club similar to the college and districtwide programs already in place for men.

The Office of Student Engagement & Retention will hold meetings March 28 and 29 to access interest in the program. The initiative is part of the college’s celebration of Women’s History Month.

Courtney Carter Harbour, executive dean of OSER, said people have asked why the college does not have a leadership program for women. Eastfield’s Men’s Empowerment Coalition is a longstanding and successful club, and the district also has a M.A.L.E.S. Mentoring and Retention Program that seeks to increase the graduation rates of African-American and Latino male students.

Harbour said she wants to hear from faculty, staff and students about what type of program to set up for women. It could be a club or sorority connected to a national group or an initiative that involves one-on-one mentoring.

Like Black History Month, Women’s History Month is an important opportunity to honor unsung heroes, Harbour said.

“Women’s History Month teach-

Read-in observes

ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

Cindy Horstman plays the harp during a March 2 recital series.

es women how they can empower themselves and each other,” she said.

The national women’s history theme this year is “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” Honorees include Daisy Bates, who led the integration of Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957; Ella Grasso, the first woman governor elected without having been married to a former governor; and Nancy Grace Roman, former chief of astronomy at NASA and the “mother” of the Hubble Telescope.

For its campus celebration, Eastfield expression adopted the theme #GirlBoss, which is designed to promote discussions of issues that affect women

and society. The keynote speaker on March 31 will be Leslie Sanchez, an author, former director of the White House Office on Hispanic Education and contributor to the live-streaming news channel CBSN. Other events include a visit by Cedar Valley President Dr. Jennifer Wimbish, performances during the Wednesday recital series, a screening of the film “Amreeka,” lectures and a Wonder Women Trivia tournament for students.

The trivia game will be played scholar-bowl style by teams of four that must answer questions about prominent women in history, entertainment, sports, literature and science. The top teams will be awarded prizes. Teams must pre-register in the OSER office by March 23 for the March 30 event.

Women have played vital roles in many areas of American society, including science, government, the

March 9: Recital series with jazz vocalist Tatiana “Lady May” Mayfield, 12:30 p.m., F-117 March 21: Dr. Jennifer Wimbish, Cedar Valley College president, 12:30-1:50 p.m., G-101 March 23: Women’s Safety Panel, 12:30 p.m., S-100 Recital series with flutist Julie Kim Walker, 12:30 p.m., F-117 March 24: Foreign film series screening of “Amreeka,” 12:30 p.m., C-237A March 28: Women’s empowerment and leadership interest meeting, 2-3:30 p.m., C-237A March 29: Women’s empowerment and leadership interest meeting, 12:30-1:50 p.m., C-237A March 30: Wonder Women Trivia, 12:30-1:50 p.m., G-101 March 31: Leslie Sanchez, former director of a White House Office on Hispanic Education, 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m., Performance Hall

arts, the law, civil rights and feminism. Harbour said if she could meet one famous woman, she would like to discuss feminism with Gloria Steinem.

“She has an interesting perspective on feminism,” Carter said. “I’d like to know how she conceptualized it when she was young and if it changed as she got older.”

Lauren Anderson, program specialist for OSER, said she would have liked to meet Kilgore Rangerettes founder Gussie Nell Davis, who died in 1993.

“Without her we wouldn’t have the modern day drill team,” she said.

“She taught those girls manners and poise, and that is really important.”

Nu Phi Sigma

Recital: Flutist Julee Kim Walker, 12:30 p.m., F-117

Thu

Presentation: Shine Bright Like a Diamond.

What is Your True Color?, 11 a.m., G-218

Fri

Good Friday holiday.

Campus closed.

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ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO BY DAVID SANCHEZ

Nu Phi Sigma is Eastfield’s very own step team.

If you love to step or are just interested in what we are about, come join us.

AHMAD ASHOR/THE ET CETERA

Student Colby Calhoun dances at an AfricanAmerican History Month Read-in on Feb. 23.

Our next meeting is: Friday, March 11, Time: 11:30 a.m-1 p.m., Room P-208 Come step your heart!

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Super Tuesday young voter turnout rivals 2008

By Jasmine Oliva etc4640@dcccd.edu

College-age voters have the potential to steer the presidential race if they continue showing up at the polls in upcoming primary contests and again for the general election in November.

“Students are recognizing the power they wield and the ability they have to actively participate in governance,” history professor Liz Nichols said.

Young voter turnout on Super Tuesday rivaled the unusually high number of young voters who helped elect President Barack Obama to his first term in 2008, according to data from Tufts University.

About 1.8 million people ages 18-29 voted March 1 in the 12 states that held primaries, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts. Nearly 1 million voted in Democratic races and about 900,000

in Republican.

In Texas, young people comprised 20 percent of total voters on Super Tuesday. An additional 100,000 young Texans voted in the Republican primary compared to those who participated in 2008.

“Young people in general have a low voter turnout but in past years have been energized by President Obama, Wendy Davis in Texas and now Bernie Sanders,” said Allan Saxe, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Arlington.

If the high-turnout trend continues in the upcoming primaries, expect young voters to sway the general election.

“The persons who vote in local elections are likely to vote in national elections in November as well,” Saxe said. “They will stay up-to-date with politics.”

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton moved closer to securing their respective parties’ nominations, each winning

seven states on Super Tuesday.

“Honestly, I feel like the candidates running are cliché,” Shelbie Willmond of Dallas said. “I say that because I don’t really feel like America benefits a lot from any of the candidates, with the exception of Bernie Sanders, because they are more focused on getting and keeping the voters than talking about issues that actually matter.”

In Trump’s case, his success prompted an uprising within his own party. Mitt Romney and John McCain, the Republican candidates in 2012 and 2008 respectively, both oppose Trump as the nominee.

“His domestic policies would lead to recession. His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe,” Romney said in an unprecedented speech March 3. “He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president, and his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill.”

Romney called on delegates to challenge Trump at the Republican convention. Other party leaders have suggested launching a third-party candidate to derail Trump.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who for months laid groundwork for a third-party run, removed himself from consideration Monday, citing concerns that a threecandidate race would lead to Trump’s election.

“Although I am not voting for Donald Trump, I could see him winning,” said Tessa Holt of Plano, who voted for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

“Because although he is often too blunt and not politically correct, he says and does things truthfully and plainly right in the public eye. He’s not being sponsored by people who expect certain allowances if he wins.”

At the March 5 Republican debate, the discussion at times devolved into trading insults rather than ideas, with Trump even defending the size of his penis.

Cruz, Clinton prevail in Texas

By Parker Ward and David Silva etc4640@dcccd.edu

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton won sweeping victories on Super Tuesday, edging closer to locking up the presidential nominations for their respective parties.

Trump took seven of the 11 states up for grabs by Republicans. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz secured victories in the Lone Star State, Oklahoma and Alaska, and Rubio wrestled his first win in Minnesota.

Cruz advised Republicans to rally behind a single candidate to defeat Trump.

“So long as the field remains divided, Donald Trump’s path to the nomination remains more likely, and that would be a disaster for Republicans, for conservatives and for the nation,” Cruz told cheering supporters at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford, Texas.

Clinton triumphed in seven states, including Texas, containing rival Bernie Sanders to three plus his home state of Vermont.

Guests at a Dallas County Republican Party gathering expressed no surprise at Cruz’s Texas victory, but some were unhappy about it.

“I can’t stand someone who is such an ideologue that does not understand democracy with some compromise,” Dallas resident Steven Glover said. “I might leave the Republican Party if Ted Cruz becomes president.”

Jeanne Lewis of Dallas said she feels frustrated by the amount of mudslinging in the campaign. Trump is known for name-calling and insults, and in recent days Rubio and Cruz have followed suit.

“We should be discussing ideas, but unfortunately, Trump is going to the throat,” Lewis said.

Phoenix Leg, an 8-year-old watching the election returns at the restaurant with his father, said Trump does

have some qualifications for president.

“I think he’s a great businessman, but he makes too much of a big deal out of small things,” he said. “He would be a good president in some things, but not all.”

But Phoenix advised his father, Matt Leg, to vote for neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

“I like his relationship with God,” Phoenix said. “I think he would pick the right people to do what they need to do with Congress. He’s very smart and intelligent.”

Leg considered his son’s advice but declined to say for whom he voted.

“He knows what happens and he decides what he thinks,” he said of his son. “The advice was wise. He said, ‘I see arrogance and I see hypocrisy.’ ” Eastfield alumnus David Morrison organized a Clinton celebration at Humperdink’s restaurant on Greenville Avenue, where supporters praised the former secretary of state’s stance on social issues that favor minorities and the oppressed.

Daniel Cyrus said that his support stems from Clinton’s genuine care for immigrant issues.

“Everything I’ve been through, the hardships as a Latino, having parents that are illegal, she understands,” he said.

Clinton spoke as if she was a general election candidate at a rally that night in Florida. She referenced Trump several times, though not by name.

“Trying to divide America between us and them is wrong, and we’re not going to let it work,” she said. “Whether we like it or not, we’re all in this together, my friends, and we all have to do our part.”

Trump also looked toward November when speaking Tuesday night in Palm Beach, Florida.

“Once we get all of this finished,” Trump said, “I am going to go after one person and that’s Hillary Clinton.”

James Hartley, Andrea Carrizales, Brianna Harmon and Gabriel Hinojosa contributed to this report.

“I feel like I’m watching a circus show,” radio, television and film major George Perez said of the election process.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Trump each won two states March 5, and Rubio was victorious in Puerto Rico March 6. Over the same two days, Clinton collected three more wins and Sanders, a senator from Vermont, one.

The next big contests are in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio on March 15, when 535 Republican and 792 Democratic delegates will be up for grabs.

The primaries and caucuses will continue through mid-June, followed by the party conventions. The Republicans will gather July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Democrats will meet the following week in Philadelphia.

Results from the March 8 contests were not available at press time.

Brittany Parker and Devon Rice contributed to this report.

DELEGATE COUNT

Where does your candidate stand?

Clinton

2,383 needed for nomination

1,129 Sanders 498 Trump

1,237 needed for nomination

384 Cruz 300 Rubio 151 Kasich 37 GRAPHIC BY PARKER WARD/THE ET CETERA

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Christie endorses Trump at Fort Worth rally

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

FORT WORTH — Donald Trump welcomed an official endorsement from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during his Feb. 26 rally, adding to his momentum heading into Super Tuesday.

Christie, a former political rival, said Trump is the only qualified Republican left in the race for president.

“There is no one better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs, both at home and around the world, than Donald Trump,” Christie said during a news conference before the rally at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

While Trump is still the frontrunner for the Republican nomination by more than 15 percent, according to an average of national polls gathered by Real Clear Politics, he placed second in Texas behind Sen. Ted Cruz, who is from Houston.

Christie said he was also endorsing Trump because of his electability.

“I’ve been saying this from the moment I entered the campaign. The single most important thing for the Republican Party is nominating the person who gives us the best chance to beat Hillary Clinton,” Christie said.

“I can guarantee you the one person

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

Republican front-runner Donald Trump accepted an endorsement from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in Fort Worth Feb. 26.

Hillary and Bill Clinton do not want to see on that stage come September is Donald Trump.”

Christie said there has been no talk about him holding any positions in a Trump administration, including vice president.

“I don’t speculate on those things,” Christie said. “I am governor of the state of New Jersey until Jan. 19, 2018, and I have every expectation that I will fulfill my term and then go off into private life and make lots of money like Trump.”

Trump said that while endorsements don’t usually matter to him, Christie’s backing would aid his campaign.

“I could have had many endorsements,” Trump said. “I could have had many good ones, … but I didn’t want to take the time, the two hours of dinners and everything else. It just wasn’t worth it. This was an endorsement that really meant a lot.”

With a crowd of more than 7,000 and protestors rallying outside the convention center, Trump contin-

ued on to address his usual talking points: building a wall on the U.S.Mexico border, getting America out of debt and creating new jobs.

“I won women, men, evangelicals, vets, and we won with Hispanics,” Trump said. “They don’t want their jobs taken away, and I’m going to bring a lot of jobs back to America.”

Trump warned that media organizations would face more lawsuits if he were president.

“I’m going to open up libel laws so when [media] writes purposefully negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money,” he said. “When the New York Times writes a hit piece, which is a total disgrace, and when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win lots of money. … We’re going to sue you like you’ve never got sued before.”

Trump added that the Iran deal would not stand under his presidency, calling it “one of the great big sellouts in the history of deal-making.”

“We give them $150 billion and we get absolutely nothing,” he said.

Trump did not offer an alternative to the Iranian nuclear deal, simply stating he would “tear it up.”

Jose Duran gathered with others outside the convention center to

protest Trump’s immigration policy, which includes building a wall along the Mexico border.

“I’m out here to support my fellow Mexicans because Trump wants to take us all out,” Duran said. “He wants to kick us out, but we’re the ones working hard. He’s trying to destroy the Constitution, trying to kick us out just because we’re Mexicans.”

Mexican-American Trump supporters Ruben Salinas and Marisol Salinas argued that Trump’s proposed immigration policy is not about hate, but about security.

“For the last 35 to 60 years, we’ve just basically been exploited by many people,” Ruben Salinas said. “Not only Latin Americans but people from all countries who have come to our country, violated our laws, and broken the laws immigrating here illegally and taken advantage of our system.”

Marisol Salinas added that the threat of ISIS is also a consideration.

“We need a wall to protect our people, our citizens, our children, mothers,” she said.

Mexico will pay for the wall, Trump vowed.

“The reason is very simple. We have right now $58 billion in trade deficits. The wall is a fraction of that, so we’ll get the wall done.”

Cruz and his crew rock Gilley’s bar

By Gabriel Flores etc4640@dcccd.edu

DALLAS — Jobs. Freedom. Security. Those were the focal points of a three-pronged speech by Sen. Ted Cruz at a Feb. 29 rally that also included appearances by Gov. Greg Abbott and former Gov. Rick Perry.

The trio lit a fire under the already fueled crowd. Cruz’s “crew” ranged from retired oil workers to college students, all of whom packed Gilley’s for a final push before the Super Tuesday presidential primaries.

Cruz, Abbott and Perry each took turns firing shots at Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who had notched three primary victories in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Trump won another seven states March 1. Cruz took Texas, Oklahoma and Alaska, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio had his first victory in Minnesota.

Perry stressed that prior to this presidential race, Trump had no political experience.

“Donald Trump has no idea what he does not know,” Perry said.

Cruz supporters echoed his sentiments.

“He has no proven record,” Gabriel Rendon, a 38-year-old physician, said. “I can’t trust Trump. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

The Trump-bashing didn’t stop there.

“He reminds me of someone in a circus,” Marybeth Engle, 57,

said. “He’s just someone to watch and entertain, whereas Cruz is going to get the job done.”

Cruz stressed economic growth by “taking the boot off of the neck of small businesses,” a boot that Cruz believes was put in place by the Obama administration via the Affordable Care Act. He then promised to “repeal every word of Obamacare” and vowed to abolish the IRS in an effort to put money back into the hands of the American people.

Cruz’s comments on freedom of religion and protecting the Second Amendment elicited deafening cheers from the crowd.

He emphasized that with the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court is up for grabs, along with the presidency.

“We are one liberal justice from away from a radical five-justice majority,” he said. “We are one liberal justice away from the Supreme Court taking away everyone’s religious liberty. We are one liberal justice away from the Supreme Court effectively erasing the Second Amendment.”

At that point, a member of the crowd screamed, “Come and take it!”

“We’ve got a bunch of people that want to take [the right to bear arms] away from the American people,” said Joel Stephen, a 62-year-old retired oil field worker. “They feel like if they take my gun, it’ll make us safer when you’ve got people running around out here that don’t care who they kill. It’s not going to make it any safer to take honest people’s guns.”

Border and national security were also on the agenda. Cruz stressed the importance of securing American borders by telling

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz delivers a speech to a group of followers Feb. 26 at Gilley’s in Dallas.

the story of Kate Steinle, a San Francisco woman who was randomly gunned down by undocumented immigrant Francisco Lopez-Sanchez in 2015. Cruz blamed the sanctuary city policy in San Francisco that shelters illegal immigrants.

Cruz also promised to strengthen the military and firmly stand with Israel in its ongoing conflict with Palestine. Cruz and his supporters believe that by strengthening the military, the United States would have a stronger world presence than it did during the Obama administration.

“I think Obama has done a lot to tear down America’s image,” said 19-year-old Dallas Baptist University freshman Megan Chambers. “He’s made us look weaker than we are. I think we used to be respected, and Cruz can bring that back.”

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Sanders rallies thousands in North Texas, jabs at Clinton

By Parker Ward etc4640@dcccd.edu

GRAND PRAIRIE — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, coming off a morning of campaigning in Austin, played to the Texas crowd and used a football analogy to draw more voters to the polls during a Feb. 27 rally.

“Democracy is not a football game,” Sanders said. “It is not a spectator sport. All of you are enormously powerful people if you choose to use your power to vote.”

Shortly after Sanders spoke to a crowd of more than 7,000 at the Verizon Theater, Hillary Clinton won the South Carolina Democratic primary and increased her delegate lead to 542-83.

Sanders said support from the American people, not “the establishment,” will win him the Democratic nomination. He said he likes his chances against Republican front-runner Donald Trump in the general election.

“We will defeat Donald Trump because the American people do not believe in a president that insults Mexicans, Muslims, women, African-Americans, veterans and basically anybody who is not like Donald Trump,” he said. “Thank God most of us are not like Donald Trump.”

The Vermont senator also took the opportunity to distance himself from Clinton, noting her vote in favor of the war in Iraq

AHMAD ASHOR/THE ET CETERA

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders waves to a crowd of more than 7,000 supporters at the Verizon Theater on Feb. 27.

and her acceptance of money from super PACs. Sanders voted against the war and has no super PAC support.

Nick Ligon of Denton, who attended the rally, said attracting minority voters and making his messages more clear would aid Sanders’ campaign.

“Texas has a lot of minority voters, and Bernie still has not gotten his message to minority voters,” Ligon said. “He’s very vague, and when it’s vague, it all sounds very fishy.”

Sanders appealed to Hispanic voters by addressing the need for immigration reform.

“Our job is to unite families, not to divide them,” he said.

Once again, Sanders called for free public college education, adding that he would impose a tax on financial transactions to pay for his plan.

“Wall Street’s illegal behavior nearly destroyed our economy,” Sanders said. “Now it is Wall Street’s turn to help the middle class.”

Kenzie Pauley of Denton said she is drawn to Sanders’s honest personality.

“He’s such a genuine, great guy, and you don’t see that a lot in politics,” she said.

Dorian Smith of New Orleans said that although Sanders’ topics are broad, his willingness to stand up for the little guy is what makes him a good candidate for president.

“Even if he is not able to follow through on all his promises, I’m just thrilled to know that there is a candidate that is willing to change some things,” he said. “It gives the people who can’t get to college the chance to have a little bit of something to believe in and some hope they can get a piece of the American dream.”

Rubio mocks Trump, calls him ‘con man’ at Dallas event

By Andrea Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

DALLAS — Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio continued to take aim at Donald Trump during a rally at Klyde Warren Park on Feb. 26, hoping to secure votes before the Texas primary on Super Tuesday.

Rubio, who argued with Trump often during the Feb. 25 Republican debate, denounced his opponent’s “disastrous” business ventures, support of Planned Parenthood and unwillingness to side with Israel against Palestine, among other topics.

The Florida senator acknowledged that Trump was the GOP front-runner, which prompted the crowd of more than 200 to boo loudly.

“What we are dealing with here, my friends, is a con artist,” Rubio said. “He runs on this idea that he’s fighting for the little guy, but he has spent his entire career sticking it to the little guy.”

Cindy Jones, 45, said that although she likes Rubio’s energy and enthusiasm, she supports Trump.

“I already voted for Donald Trump,” she said. “I think we have to have someone who can actually defeat Hillary Clinton. Either one of them probably could, but to me, we’re going to need somebody with real star power. And I think Donald Trump has that.”

Jones attended the rally with her friend, Shelley Walters, 44, who was

interested in learning about Rubio’s stance on several issues before voting.

The undecided voters who showed up to hear about Rubio’s vision heard more about Trump.

Rubio continued eliciting laughter from the audience by alluding to the businessman’s bankruptcy of the Taj Mahal casino in 1991 and the bankruptcy of the Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts in 2004.

“The charade is up,” Rubio said.

“If he had not inherited $200 million, right now he would be selling watches in Times Square.”

Rubio also took time to read several of Trump’s recent tweets, making fun of his spelling and age. He also referenced how Trump had called him a “lightweight” and “Mr. Meltdown” during the Feb. 25 GOP debate in Houston.

Camille Smith, an engineering major at Souther Methodist University, said she enjoyed hearing Rubio.

“I believe in most of what he’s saying, if not all,” she said. “He’s very funny, which I didn’t know.”

Trump held a rally in Fort Worth a couple of hours after Rubio spoke in Dallas, in which he defended himself and reiterated that Rubio is a “little boy” not fit to be president, which he also mentioned on Twitter the night before.

Rubio, who condemned Trump for hiring undocumented workers at Trump hotels, said that his Cuban parents achieved the American

dream thanks to their jobs as a bartender and a maid.

Edward Retta, 60, whose father hitchhiked from Mexico at 17, said that he fully supports the candidate because he has “all the right ideas.”

“Rubio comes from a family like mine, of immigrants.” Retta said.

“We’re not victims here. The American dream is to be strong, self-starting, self-motivating and self-disciplined. This country rewards that and Marco Rubio understands that.”

He said that Rubio was brave for supporting the gang of eight immigration bill in the Senate and thinks that his retraction from it was done as a strategy to get votes.

Rubio talked about his belief in free enterprise and his vision for the middle class to be business owners, the “growing danger” that foreign countries such as North Korea, China and Russia present to the United States and his commitment to face them with a strong modern military.

He appealed to Texans’ sympathies by saying he will repeal much of President Barack Obama’s work on his first day in office, as well as protect the Constitution and give more power back to the states.

“He was taking stances for Israel and for our troops, which are obviously really great things,” said Elizabeth Ricketts, a mechanical engineering student at SMU. “Texans love to hear that and [that he supports] the Second Amendment. If he follows through in all those things, I

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaking to supporters at Klyde Warren Park Feb. 26.

think it’s great. I think he got a lot of support taking those stances.”

Cameron McBay, a political science major at Brookhaven College, said he was convinced Rubio would take Texas on Super Tuesday. He won Minnesota instead, while Sen. Ted Cruz won three states, including Texas, and Trump claimed seven.

“Marco is the kind of person America should have as president,” McBay said. “The Republicans are a diverse group, all different sections.

And when a Republican president wins, they pull from all the various parts. He’s the only one in the race that can do that.”

Tom Mitchell, 68, said he hadn’t decided which candidate deserved his vote, but he expected Trump to run the table.

“If Trump has a good Super Tuesday, it’s going to be tough to stop him,” he said. “Unless he puts a foot in his mouth one too many times.

Then maybe that’ll slow him down.”

6 Wednesday, March 9, 2016

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STEM Week explores different disciplines

By Taylor Roberts etc4640@dcccd.edu

Stargazing, drone flights, movie nights, lectures, animal dissections and chemistry experiments introduced students to careers and hobbies in science, technology, engineering and math during STEM week.

The STEM division held events during the first week of March, dedicating each day to a different field.

Math professor Jonathon Verwys started the week off with the lecture “Statistics and the Rubik’s Cube.” Though one of the world’s bestselling toys, the Rubik’s Cube was created by Hungarian architect Erno Rubik in 1974 to explain three-dimensional geometry.

The traditional Rubik’s Cube has nine squares per side, called a 3x3, with each side a different color. However, they can range in size from 2x2 to 17x17, Verwys said.

As Rubik’s Cubes increase in size, the math needed to solve them becomes more complicated. Verwys said the solution starts with completing a single color on one side with the top row of each connecting side also matched to a single color. This is followed by a pattern of turns to complete each subsequent row.

“Once a person knows how to solve a 3x3, it won’t take much to solve a 5x5,” Verwys said.

Biology professor Brie Day said Verwys’ talk made “people think deeper on a different level of math than they do on a daily basis.”

A planned visit from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science’s traveling planetarium had to be rescheduled, but stargazers gathered on the tennis court March 3 to look at the night sky through telescopes. Professors guided participants through biology and chemistry experiments, including dissecting fetal pigs.

Technology took the forefront March 3 when students and professors demonstrated drones, robots and “other fun, techie things.”

Instructional designer Jason Busbin said he was asked to “bring in something techie and bring your “Star Wars” stuff.” He showed off a “Star Wars walker” and a lightsaber he “brought

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

GRAPHIC BY CRAIG MARTINEZ/THE ET CETERA

Solving the Rubik’s Cube First thing to know is that “getting help with solving the Rubik’s Cube is not cheating,” according to the official Rubik’s website.

1. Get to know your cube. On a traditional cube, there are six different colors, 54 tiles and 42 quintillion possible combinations.

2. Arrange the top color, making sure that the colors on the three squares on each side of the top correspond with their center square.

3. Complete the middle ring. Now you should have the top color and the upper and middle ring all arranged.

4. Make a cross on the bottom and bring in the corners to finish the sixth side.

5. There should be only one bottom ring out of order. Arrange the corners for all sides.

6. Bring in the four remaining tiles on the bottom ring of the sides.

from the man cave.” He also talked with students about building their own personal computers.

Biology professor Jose Flores presents a lecture on “Herpetology of Puerto Rico” on March 1 as part of “Biology, Enviromental Science and Health Day.”

Professor examines wildlife

By Tiffany Aragon etc4640@dcccd.edu

Puerto Rico native and biology professor Jose Flores introduced “Herpetology of Puerto Rico” during a March 1 presentation for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Week.

One of the most common genus of frogs in Puerto Rico is the eleutherodactylus, also known as the tropical American frog.

Puerto Ricans call the frogs coquis, he said, and he played a recording of their distinctive mating call — a loud whistle that sounds like the frog saying its nickname.

“The coqui is well known for its sound,” Flores said.

The Carolinesis lizard, the only species native to the United States, lives in different parts of trees.

“Some species can live in the trunk of a tree, in the trunk crown and even in the trunk ground, but they are not interested in each other,” Flores said.

People on the island like to catch lizards,

Flores said, so he gave the audience a few pointers on how to accomplish the task.

“These lizards are fast,” he said. “Understanding herpetology can give you an idea on how to catch them.”

For instance, lizards removed from their comfort zone become clumsy, he said.

Flores also discussed the diversity among species in Puerto Rico and how they travel.

“With this, you can get an idea basically how the different species evolve,” biology major Jimmy Hernandezr said.

Flores concluded his presentation with the fact that citizens of Puerto Rico brought green iguanas from South and Central America, which, they have since become abundant on the island.

“To the point that the government is promoting iguana meat,” he said.

Biology professor Brie Day, who helped plan STEM Week, said Flores’ lecture provided insight into real-world applications of science.

“It really shoots the light into what ecologists do in conservation biology,” she said.

STEM Week Hosted by the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math division, STEM Week sought to introduce students to the world of STEM. Various professors shared their passions and their work in the field by giving tips for successful science students.

PHOTOS BY: DAVID SANCHEZ & ISABEL ESPINOZA/THE ET CETERA

NEWS

7

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

‘Jurassic Park’ realism explored by geology professor

By ar r ar etc4640@dcccd.edu

“Jurassic Park” blew up in 1993 by presenting audiences with a thrilling story about a theme park based around dinosaurs created from a single strand of DNA. It was the first PG-13 movie that geology professor Daniel Murphy saw when he turned 13.

Now that he’s a scientist, he tries not to let his knowledge ruin a good film.

“I don’t let science get in the way too much when I enjoy movies,” he said. “The only time it gets in the way is when a movie tries to explain it in a scientific way to make it seem like they are doing something real, then they butcher it.”

While earning his master’s degree, Murphy studied micropaleontology and began to look at dinosaurs closer. In a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math STEMinar on March 4, he took an in-depth look at how much the dinosaurs in the movie resemble the real thing.

“The dinosaurs were not there just to be dinosaurs,” he said. “There is a deeper story about the hubris of man and the ethics of science.”

Although he enjoys the movie, Murphy believes that the extraction of DNA out of the amber is not possible.

He said that there is little to no chance that the DNA could ever be harvested out of the amber because it would have broken down by the point it reached modern time.

COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

T nony

i ion o a o ira or a a o a or ing o a on o ogy

One of the biggest differences between reality and the movie involves one of the more iconic groups of dinosaurs, the velociraptors.

“Michael Crichton, when he wrote the original book, the velociraptors were actually the dinosaur deinonychus, which is what was actually depicted in the movie,” Murphy said. “He decided at the last minute that the name wasn’t scary enough, even though it literally translates

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to ‘terrible claw.’

Velociraptors are actually about 2 feet tall and 6 feet long with feathers, Murphy said.

Deinonychus is around 5 feet tall and 8-10 feet long.

Many dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus rex, had feathers and were precursors to modern birds. When compared, there is almost no difference between the two, said Ron Tykoski,

director of paleontology lab at the Perot Museum.

“Birds and dinosaurs aren’t just similar, they’re one in the same,” he said. “There are a lot of anatomical features that you can point to in living birds that seem rather unique to us until you look at the fossil record of carnivorous dinosaurs.”

While most birds have evolved way beyond their fossilized counterparts, some birds still show their features.

The cassowary is a flightless bird that has three claws on its feet. While the two on the outside are typically harmless, the inside claw can be up to 5 inches long and can easily rip through human skin.

Murphy said some scientists are using the connection between birds and dinosaurs in an attempt to resurrect the prehistoric creatures.

Paleontologist Jack Horner is attempting to recreate a dinosaur by manipulating chicken genes.

By turning the dinosaur genes on in the chicken, scientists created an chicken embryo with the snout of an alligator.

Although this could set the stage for a “Jurassic Park” scenario, communications major Kyle Mabry believes that the world would not let something like that happen.

“I don’t think they would have a whole island,” Mabry said. “I think it would be more like the Dallas World Aquarium. I don’t see it being on the scale of ‘Jurassic Park.’

Gravitational waves discovery proves Einstein theory correct

By Jennifer Sanmiguel etc4640@dcccd.edu

A century ago, Albert Einstein theorized a universe in which space and time formed a fabric that could be pushed, pulled and distorted as objects moved through it.

Last month, scientists revealed the first evidence of these ripples in space-time, called gravitational waves. They heard two black holes colliding 1 billion light years away.

“When I first heard it, … the fact that we’ve measured a gravitational wave was, ‘Wow. We actually did it. Finally,’ ” astronomy and physics professor Kendra Wallis said. “The second piece is we know what caused it. So that is even more exciting.”

Scientists call the discovery a major breakthrough in physics.

Wallis conducted an informational session about gravitational waves March 3 during the college’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Week.

Einstein first predicted gravitational waves in 1916 in his theory of general relativity, describing them as ripples in spacetime caused by large cosmic events. Instead of an empty void, he said, space is like a fabric that can be pushed or pulled as objects through it, causing distortions that create gravitational attraction.

“Einstein had predicted them about 100 years ago, and we have been looking for them ever since,” Wallis said. “It’s so exciting that general relativity can explain gravity.”

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, a lab that attempts to capture gravitational waves with lasers, detected evidence of these waves Sept. 14 — 35 years after starting the search.

“Until now, we scientists have only seen warped space-time when it’s calm,” retired physicist Kip Thorn, who helped launch the experiment, told the New York Times. “It’s as though we had only seen the ocean’s surface on a calm day but had never seen it roiled in a storm with crashing waves.”

Scientists spent several months working to confirm the sound emitted by the lab’s antennae originated from gravitational waves.

Science major Joel Baum said he didn’t understand the importance of the news until Wallis’ presentation.

“We don’t know what we are going to be able to find from this,” he said. “Who knows? Maybe we can go out to space.”

Physics professor Yudong Mo agreed, predicting that this discovery will advance space travel.

“Maybe someday we can use that power to travel and then make it possible to travel by the speed of light,” he said. “The concept of space-time tells us that space is actually bended. …

So maybe we can have a shortcut in space.”

The discovery might also lend more insight into the Big Bang, the theory that the universe was born from a single explosion of mass and energy.

“There is a time period, a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, that we don’t have a theory that explains that,” Wallis said.

“And so there’s this gap. It’s a fraction of a second. It’s tiny, but it’s a gap. I think there is a really good possibility that this will spur more research.”

Gravitational waves may also contribute to the study of the evolution of galaxies, Wallis said.

“Everyone wants to know how we got to be where we are right now and then of course, what is the fate of the universe,” she

ISABEL ESPINOZA/THE ET CETERA

T o a an ar in ing a stargazing

r o a rono y off ring on r on gra i a iona a an

said. “So general relativity is a big factor in our best guess for the future of our universe.”

8

LIFE & ARTS

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

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The Et Cetera

Looking back: the best American Idols Cultural phenomenon “American Idol”’ is coming to an end after 15 seasons.

Watching “Idol” growing up, I dreamed of auditioning. I remember reenacting the audition process with my brother on my karaoke machine. My brother and I would take turns — one would play the contestant, and the other all three judges (in those days, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell).

Over the years, many talented individuals graced the “Idol” stage. Some went home with the title while others departed earlier than they had hoped.

To witness these contestants go on and become successful is extremely encouraging for those who want to pursue a career in singing, just like myself.

The singers named here have created great success for themselves. I chose these singers as my top five picks of amazing performers because they opened doors for others who aspire to be in their shoes.

Those singers who did not get the chance to claim the title still became successful because they were determined and did not give up on their dreams.

Because of this mindset, they achieved many awards and earned a special spot in the history of “Idol.”

Story by Jamiah Sandles - Illustrations by Jonathan Wences

Final ‘American Ido

Kelly Clarkson

➤

Kelly Clarkson took home the title in season one and still remains the “Superstar” of the franchise. The Fort Worth native’s career skyrocketed after the show and remains successful. Her seventh album, 2015’s “Piece by Piece,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. “Idol” contestants of season 14 even dedicated a week to her music.

When Clarkson’s “Stronger” came out in 2011, it was immediately a hit, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. I loved the song because it had a great message behind it. The message motivated me to keep going any time I experienced some form of adversity. Clarkson has sold millions of albums, rightfully earning her the title as the queen of “American Idol.”

Fantasia Barrino

➤

In season 3, Fantasia Barrino won the nation over with her unique voice and heartwarming backstory. Because she was a single mother and high school dropout, the Los Angeles Times noted that many did not view Barrino as a proper “American Idol.”

Determined to reach her goals, she did not allow the opinions of the world to stop her from winning “Idol” in 2004.

I remember watching the Lifetime film “Life Is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story” directed by Debbie Allen. One of my favorite moments was watching her prepare for her “American Idol” audition because, for many young girls, it was similar to watching the beginning of a favorite childhood fairy tale. It was like the “once upon a time” to a Cinderella story. It was particularly memorable for me because I pictured myself in her shoes someday taking the same journey. The story ended up being such a success that it became the network’s second-most viewed program of all time.

Barrino is number two on my picks of top five performers of “American Idol” because she became a living testimony of perseverance and acceptance. One of her greatest hits is “Without Me” from her 2013 album “The Side Effects of You,” featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliot.

Carrie Un

Inspirational country singer C in the fourth season, making her “American Idol.” Underwood eve Cowell. At that point, she could h and there.

Underwood’s confident perfor helped her establish a future as a millions of albums, Underwood h her reign on the show. Her succes including a nomination for Fema ing Academy of Country Music A earned a Grammy for Best Count “Something in the Water.”

Her debut album, consisting o Take the Wheel” and “Before He selling country debut in a decade surprised with a 20 Million Album

LIFE & ARTS The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Contestants save best for last in ‘Idol’ swan song

ol’ set for April 7

“American Idol” revolutionized live, competition-based television shows by allowing the country to call in and pick a winner. Most nights, voting for idols became almost as heated as voting for president.

At a time when the 7 o’ clock hour of prime time was getting too racy for children, the show revived the idea of families watching TV together.

Now, 15 years after the show’s debut, “Idol” is coming to an end. Although the ratings have not been as high as when “Idol” dominated broadcast television, this year is still showcasing dynamic voices and charming personalities.

With eight contestants remaining, here are my top picks for the last American Idol.

— Compiled by Parker Ward Trent Harmon Harmon has all the necessary qualities to become an Idol. His voice is most closely related to

that of Sam Smith. They both have a wonderful tenor and can hit incredibly high notes while carrying a song. Harmon’s image also helps him to succeed. He looks like everyone’s friendly neighborhood hipster, complete with an atypical fashion sense that he still makes look good.

On top of that, Trent will succeed because he is the oldest of the top eight. At 25, that puts him well above the average contestant age of 19. This extra time translates to more maturity and room for growth as an artist.

Avalon Young If there was ever a time to use the “girl next door” cliché, this would be it. Watching Young perform is like watching your best friend sing at school. You see them and you want to cheer for them because they seem like an actual person living out a passion rather than just someone who is in it for the money.

Adam Lambert

Young is able to do a lot with a little. She doesn’t need to cake on make-up every performance. She doesn’t need the most expensive dress. She just needs a stage and a microphone. While most female contestants feel the need to project their voices for long stretches of time, her voice flows well with the rhythm of the song.

Dalton Rapattoni Onstage, Rapattoni has a natural confidence that gives him the air of a seasoned veteran despite being only 20 years old. His voice carries rock and roll melodies but also bursts in pop choruses.

This Dallas native does well in representing the big D. He has the charm that makes you want to believe in him. He’s always got a smile on his face and seems to genuinely enjoy every performance.

If he is able to add more power into his voice and show good range, there is no reason he is not a legitimate contender.

➤

➤

Despite not winning the title of American Idol, Adam Lambert has been just as successful as a runner-up. Lambert may have more of a name for himself than the winner of that season, Kris Allen.

Following his departure from the competition, his 2009 debut album “For Your Entertainment” became a great success as it debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The following year, Lambert received a nomination for his first Grammy for the hit “Whataya Want From Me.” According to Forbes Magazine, he has also made the most money out of all the other “American Idol” alumni.

Something that set Lambert apart from the other contestants on the show is that he was a theater kid. Because of this, his style of singing had a Broadway feel to it. His uniqueness earned him a devoted group of fans and great exposure, but he was unfortunately voted off as a runner-up.

I can relate to him because I also participated in musical theater. It is where I learned to develop a voice aside from the church choir. Lambert appeared on “American Idol” as a substitute judge for Keith Urban in season 13. He provided valuable feedback as well as advice on what it is like to compete in the show.

nderwood

rmances and powerhouse voice Nashville hit-maker. Selling has been very successful since ss has led to numerous awards ale Vocalist of Year at the upcomAwards in spring 2016. She also try Solo Performance for her hit,

of the country-pop hits “Jesus, Cheats,” became the fasteste. Recently, Underwood was ms Sold plaque.

➤

Carrie Underwood won the title the first country singer to win en managed to amaze Simon have claimed the title right then

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson placed seventh during season three. Much like Barrino, her singing style was unique, and she blew the judges away with her powerful voice. Though “Idol” did not turn out for her the way she may have hoped, true success rushed in like a great hurricane after the show.

The actress and singer won both a Grammy and an Oscar for her astonishing role in “Dreamgirls.” She also accomplished her goal to lose weight, and it helped her establish confidence in her appearance as she excelled in the entertainment industry. Hudson became a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers as she focused on her health and being physically fit.

Hudson has received many other awards as well. In 2014, she received a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian. In 2012, she received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist in the music video “Where You At.” Hudson’s latest album, “JHUD,” shows off a more upbeat version of Hudson’s style while keeping her amazing vocals in the spotlight throughout the entire album.

Life &Arts

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10

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

‘Investment’ shares secrets to getting dream job

Q A &

Former Eastfield student Scott Eberwein went into a career in investment banking in New York immediately after his graduation from University of Texas at Dallas. In his book “Cash Your Investment,” Eberwein shares secrets on how to get your dream job right out of college. Eberwein talked with Et Cetera news editor James Hartley about his challenges as a student, building a resume and how his book could help students. You can find Eberwein on Twitter, @SAEberwein. “Cash Your S. A. Eberwein Investment” is available on Amazon.

Q A

What kind of challenges did you face as a student?

I wasn’t super academic coming out of high school, so I didn’t come charging out of the gate I guess, necessarily. So I guess I had to get in that mode of studying, first and foremost. I think it wasn’t until I got here at Eastfield … that I really started to apply myself and getting good grades, and that carried over. I feel like I always had ambition, but I didn’t really apply it in the early days of college. But eventually I turned a corner.

Q A

When should students start building their resumes?

There’s really no such thing as too early. For the average student, it’s really something to start thinking about, I think, as early as when you’re a junior. But I guess then it’s a little more about what’s your internship going to be. Then once you get that in the bag, you probably need to start that a little early in your senior year. There’s no downside to starting too early.

Everyone’s different. You may have that great internship right before senior year, others not so much. Sooner rather than later.

Q A

When did you know what career you wanted to have?

I don’t know that anyone really can answer that question in college completely definitively. I think for most of us, we really have to get out there and figure out what we want to do. I kind of started with a little bit more general parameters. I had been in Texas my whole life, so I wanted to do something else, move somewhere else, take on a different challenge. Then I think in a nutshell I wanted a quote-unquote good job. You want to get your foot in the door and then ideally if that’s not your permanent calling, which for most people it isn’t, you can leverage that experience into something else. My brother was actually in New York and I remember thinking, this would be such a dynamic experience, what could I do to get up here? There’s a lot of fields, like investment banking, consulting or just kind of general finance. I do talk about this in the book a fair amount. A lot of bigger firms, they’re just like factories. They just need students coming out of college to turn in the work, yada yada yada. It’s really just a stepping stone. I think I kind of just narrowed it down to where I wanted that first good stepping stone first, and for me that was investment banking in New York.

Q A

Can you give us a quick run through of “Cash Your Investment?”

The goal of the book was to create that resource that I feel in some respects I didn’t have.

I did learn by seeing what my older brother did, talking to some of his friends, going on a lot of informational interviews. But prior to then, especially early in college, I didn’t have a leg up in getting a good job in college or anything like that. So my intention was to fill the void, and that being said I wanted to keep it as much original content as I could. I didn’t want it to be, “Here’s how you make a resume, X-Y-Z,” or “Here’s how you interview, X-Y-Z.” I wanted to touch on things that I thought were a little under appreciated or not out there as much. I think if a student reads a book, they’re going to be more like, “OK, I need to tackle this, and I need to tackle that.”My first chapter is “Master your Mind.” I just really talk about the importance of mindset.

I have some examples in the book of someone that’s a grade-A student, but didn’t really get that first job out of college like he should have. He was highly intelligent, a super hard worker, but just didn’t really have the game worked out. I think I was in the middle of writing the book when I decided to make that my first chapter because I think that’s just so important.

In the second chapter I try to just go into a whole slew of job search strategies. Most of those, just go to your campus career center. If you’re at a top-notch school, there’s going to be a lot of employers there. But I think what I wanted to do is stress in chapter two, you don’t have to be confined to what’s available at your campus career center. For me, I was at UTD, wanting to work in investment banking in New York, and none of those firms are really going to interview at that campus. The campus interviews that I did were actually fairly limited because I was looking a little bit further. You need to network. There are a few other ones, thinking outside the box and thinking like, leveraging your internship. But I think a little bit of the point of the exercise is just heightened awareness.

A BOOK TO CONSIDER

Alumnae pens story of grandmother’s domestic struggles

By David Silva etc4640@dcccd.edu

Alumnae Marilyn Thomas, who graduated from Eastfield in 2007, has released her debut book, “Mercedee: A Black Woman’s Struggle During the Early Part of the Century.” “Mercedee” is a biographical novel, based on Thomas’s grandmother’s struggles with racism and abuse.

Born in Louisiana in 1908, Mercedee was a victim of domestic abuse that had occurred in her family for many centuries and would continue to plague them for generations to come.

Mercedee is nearly killed by her husband and has to endure tribulations as she and her parents try to take care of her children. She battles through a racist society and through mistreatment from surrounding family and friends. Thomas’ personal

battle with abuse, as well as the violence she has seen afflicting her family makes this biography a vital read in her eyes.

“Many others I grew up with and around suffered abuse, but most of them do not know their past,” she said. “Awareness of domestic abuse is a must. Understanding is paramount.”

Thomas is a former Et Cetera reporter Marilyn Thomas and TRIO member. During her time as a student, she committed to one day write the biography. Her time as a reporter encouraged her to get her grandmother’s life story in print.

“The articles I wrote gave me the pride I needed,” she said. “[I believed] that this book can and will happen.”

Thomas believes that “Mercedee” can open a unique cultural perspective to students studying childhood psychology, sociology and substance abuse, as well as students who are victims of domestic violence or child abuse.

She hopes the faculty who helped her along the way realize how big a role they play in the success of their students, as they did in hers. She also said she hopes to encourage students to stay enrolled and not settle for anything short of their dreams.

Thomas sees her book as a possible inspiration to those with ambitious goals, as she saw herself as “an older woman who basically had little education” before earning her associate degree with a focus in journalism and publishing her grandmother’s biography.

“I want them to say, ‘If she did something like this, so can I,’ ” Thomas said.

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

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Eddie (Taron Egerton) and Bronson (Hugh Jackman) celebrate a record-breaking jump.

‘Eddie’ biopic misses mark

TWU is a one-of-a-kind public university, historically dedicated to advancing women’s education and careers.

This event is a great opportunity to learn about our online and traditional bachelor’s degree programs.

By David Silva etc4640@dcccd.edu

“Eddie the Eagle” tells the true story of underdog British athlete Michael “Eddie” Edwards, whose historic showing at the 1988 Winter Olympics made him an international celebrity.

Eddie’s (Taron Egerton) dreams of Olympic gold begin in early childhood. As a young teen, Eddie is rejected from England’s skiing team due to his unsophisticated nature, despite his success in the sport. Eddie never receives funding for his Olympic qualifying attempts because he’s comparatively overweight and near-sighted, causing him to wear big, clunky glasses.

Never the quitter, Eddie decides to enter the Olympic field as a ski jumper. He self-funds his run through the ski jumper circuit and enlists the help of former ski jumping champ Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman).

Director Dexter Fletcher does a fine job giving this sports biopic a creative twist. Keeping a quirky and energetic tone to match Eddie’s personality, the story is filled with various side jokes and one-liners. Eddie, Bronson and the surrounding characters are so witty that the film can play out as an overly comedic biopic or an overly serious parody.

The writing is sharp and brought to life by Egerton and Jackman, with Jackman’s side story of past failure adding weight to the final threshold. However, the film suffers when it chooses to resort to typical underdog sports movie clichés. Without ruining too much from the film, let’s just say that Eddie struggles with obtaining his father’s acceptance for most of the film, and their interactions play out with sigh-worthy predictability.

The movie is also thin in its content when on its second run through. Although this makes it an easier movie to enjoy and process, it’s certain that this film won’t be up for any awards any time soon.

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The cast and crew of ‘Eddie’ were in Dallas for the red carpet premier on Feb. 18.

That being said, there are moments when the movie embraces its sports movie clichés in order to give them hilarious spins. The training montage of the film is as funny as it is inspiring, and Eddie’s inability to drink anything but milk sets up an interesting final toast.

Doing more research into Eddie’s life story, I discovered that Jackman’s trainer character is fictional. Eddie’s real trainers were John Viscome and Chuck Berghorn. The complete deletion of Eddie’s trainers ultimately takes away from the movie.

Jackman’s character is a big deal, being the flawed advisor and the film’s supporting actor.

The fact that he replaces Viscome and Berghorn makes a lot of the conflicts and background story between Eddie and Bronson almost pointless. It also suggests that Eddie’s journey wasn’t really that interesting if that amount of Hollywood embellishment had to be involved.

Ultimately, the movie has its flaws and its watered-down moments, but it is an enjoyable and fairly inspirational tale of a common man who achieved larger success.

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opinion

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FBI does not need backdoor to iPhone

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Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief Parker Ward Managing Editor Andrea Carrizales News Editor James Hartley

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

OUR VIEW

Juvenile insults harm politics Donald Trump has stood center ring of the American media circus for decades, and his farcical bid for the 2016 presidential nomination has only left us searching for the hidden cameras.

When he isn’t making vague threats disguised as vaguer promises to close the country to Muslims or force Mexico to build a wall at its northern border, he’s targeting rival candidates from all parts of the political spectrum with insults and name calling unworthy of an elementary school playground.

And unfortunately, his Super Tuesday win for seven states has only solidified his status as a Republican front-runner.

Even dedicated members of the GOP seem to be scratching their heads at this development.

Trump’s campaign has fractured the already unstable Republican party, drawing accusations questioning Trump’s claimed status as a conservative Republican, and many members rightly find his more extreme behavior unacceptable for someone representing them.

Even more distressing than Trump’s unthinkable success is the fact that some nominees are more than willing to stoop to his level.

Tension between the nominees reached an

embarrassing low at the March 3 Republican debate, where grown men in expensive suits were too busy trading childish insults about the size of each others penises to actually debate their stances.

Dominating the “debate” was Trump’s response to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s jabs at his “small hands” and “spray tan” late last month.

In response to Trump calling him “little Rubio,” the presidential hopeful said Trump had small hands for a man his height at a university rally in Salem, Massachusetts. “And you know what they say about guys with small hands,” Rubio added before joking that Trump would “make America orange.” At a Dallas rally, he mocked Trump’s twitter postings by reading them aloud, .

Trump’s outrageous behavior is already being rewarded by a shameful number of voters, and the last thing our country needs is for so-called professionals to mimic him in a pathetic rush for votes.

As alarming as it is that such a cartoonish character has made it this far in the nominations, it’s even more alarming that others feel the need to resort to mudslinging instead of worthy criticism.

It is a difficult decision to make when the security Mickey given to us by our Smith electronic devices has conflicted with an ongoing FBI investigation.

Should we allow our privacy to be tampered with?

The FBI has recently requested that Apple create a backdoor, or a way to disable security features, for iPhone operating systems. Authorities want access to a locked iPhone 5C owned by Syed Farook, one of the shooters in the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack, which killed 14 people and wounded 22.

Farook used an iPhone SMS service to communicate with his wife and fellow perpetrator Tashfeen Malik during the shooting, and the FBI is looking to access this information to see if there is anything useful to their investigation.

While the FBI’s intentions to uncover the motives behind the shooting may be good, this is still a problem.

Creating this backdoor is an invasion of privacy that could be applied to every iPhone whether you are a lawabiding citizen or not.

This would set a precedent for privacy and how law enforcement can access it on every phone. While this could be used for good, a way to access someone’s personal information on every phone could lead to future problems.

With cellphones already having some issues like the iCloud leak that occurred in August 2014, a backdoor on every iPhone could lead to even more potential leaks and invasions of privacy.

Law enforcement would be granted access to people’s messages, photos or any information stored on a personal device. People’s entire lives are stored in their cellphones, and it is our right to keep that information to ourselves.

This a dangerous time in which our privacy with our electronic devices is being threatened by different parties such as the NSA or our very own law enforcement agencies, and Apple has made the right decision by choosing to reject this proposal and instead have the back of their customers.

The iPhone is the property of Apple, and if they believe that this is a violation of our privacy, then we should stand behind them. This case should be an example for our government and electronics companies who are given the responsibility of guarding our personal information.

The encryption on our phones should not be tampered with and The FBI should find other methods to investigate this specific.

Unless investigators can find a way to access Farook’s phone without endangering the privacy of all iPhones, the FBI should abandon this route.

Apple should not be forced to do the government’s bidding, and those of us who own iPhones should not be forced to surrender our Fourth Amendment right to unreasonable searches.

OPINION

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The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, March 9, 201

#freeKesha demands needed change in rape culture The legal system is holding Kesha hostage in a business deal with her accused rapist.

The #FreeKesha movement has taken over social media after a New York state Supreme Court justice denied Kesha’s motion for an injunction to break her contract with RCA Records under the umbrella of Sony Music.

Fans are outraged and disappointed in the legal system’s refusal to free Kesha from working with her alleged abuser, music producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald.

The movement is incredibly important because it emphasizes how society should support and protect victims instead of shaming them.

Kesha has been trying to get released from her contract with Dr. Luke since October 2014.

Although she filed the initial civil suit in Los Angeles, any dispute of her contract with her record label has to be handled in New York.

Kesha requested an injunction to break her contract with having to work with Dr. Luke, but was still willing to work with Sony and RCA. She was denied this motion, because the judge felt as though the evidence to prove that the alleged rape and abuse happened was not

Tarryn Lingle

substantial enough to break her contract. Dr. Luke denies all the allegations.

The #FreeKesha movement has become a campaign to inform the nation that rape and abuse victims should not be shunned or ignored. Victims should have a voice, one that will be heard. Victims should not fear to speak out about what has happened to them.

Celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Demi Lovato have spoken out in support. Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to help Kesha with legal bills.

It is vital that people come together to voice their disappointment with the mistreatment that rape and abuse victims face from the legal system, and demand change.

We should not be a nation that ignores rape

victims. We should be a nation that stands by and up for victims to get them justice.

Kesha is not asking for Dr. Luke to go to jail, she just wants to no longer have to work with a man that has put her through so much pain physically, mentally and emotionally.

Gaga performed “Til It Happens to You” during the Oscars, accompanied by dozens of survivors of sexual assault.

This is a powerful, Oscar-nominated song from the documentary film “The Hunting Ground,” which discusses the epidemic of sexual assaults on college campuses.

Gaga’s passionate performance let the audience into the emotional struggle and battle victims of rape and abuse go through.

Women on college campuses have an overpowering fear of being raped, as it seems to become a more and more common occurrence on campuses nationwide.

Rape and abuse should not be something that is “normal” or acceptable for colleges, nor should it be something that haunts women as they try to better their lives through education.

But the sad truth is that rape is a part of col-

Cruz is best GOP candidate for White House With three Super Tuesday victories, including the Lone Star State, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz proved to voters that he has what it takes to win.

Super Saturday wins in Kansas and Maine and close second place finishes in Kentucky and Louisiana narrowed the gap between the senator from Houston and businessman Donald Trump to a mere 80 delegates.

What’s just as important as Cruz’s ability (which he most certainly has at this point) to secure the Republican nomination and later the presidency is the fact that he should win.

The statement that he is the most consistently conservative candidate in the field today is no exaggeration.

When Cruz was a child, he would sit at the feet of his parents and listen to stories of Cuba before and after Castro. His parents would remind him to protect the freedom of the United States. If that freedom dies, there's nowhere else to run. He would go off and say that he wanted to grow up to be a freedom fighter, like his family was. Now he is just that.

His story of overcoming odds is inspiring, from working multiple jobs to put himself through Princeton because his parents couldn't afford it to his defense of the Constitution. Cruz's work to protect of freedom is a clear sign of his love for America When Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate three years ago, he made a promise to his constituents to protect the Constitution, fight an oversized-and-growing government and to fight President Barack Obama every day of his presidency.

He hasn’t broken that promise. Cruz has

even stood alone to fulfill it. While others may have buckled under the pressure of the establishment that has gotten conservatives so riled up, Cruz has remained strong.

Even as Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) gave in with the rest of the establishment to Obamacare, Cruz filibustered for 21 hours in an attempt to stop government funding of the healthcare train wreck. He fought to defund Planned Parenthood and has sworn to launch an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s alleged activities relating to abortion and the sale of unborn babies’ body parts when he is elected.

In his war against the “Washington Cartel,” Cruz has gained many enemies in government and much voter support. Those who have long claimed to hate large government have their first true representation in D.C. since President Ronald Reagan, yet he has been painted by rival presidential contenders Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio as a liar and a fake conservative. Cruz’s record should be reason enough to vote for him.

If it’s not enough, consider that while Marco Rubio continues to struggle to follow Cruz and Trump and that Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) has no real chance of winning the nomination, Cruz manages to stay close to Trump in delegates. If conservatives really want a truly constitutionalist nominee who can win, they must rally behind Cruz.

Cruz is the only hope the conservative voting base has of securing the White House.

As the results roll in, it becomes clearer that Clinton will be the Democratic nominee.

Polls gathered by Real Clear Politics show that Trump trails behind Clinton by 3.4 per-

James Hartley

cent on average in a general election scenario. Cruz, on the other hand, currently leads Clinton in the poll for general election by 1.5 percent.

Now is the time to choose a candidate to rally behind. While Trump seems to have made himself that candidate, if supporters of Rubio and Kasich would cast their ballots for Cruz, the tide would quickly turn.

In his home state, Rubio trails behind Trump by 16 percent, according to the Real Clear Politics average. By contrast, Cruz dominated Texas by more than 17 percent over Trump. While Kasich maintains a chance of victory in his home state of Ohio, he has 37 delegates as frontrunner Trump maintains 384.

Cruz is the only candidate Republicans can count on to secure the nomination over Trump and then win the general election and perform the duties of the president in a consistent, conservative manner.

Cruz is the first Hispanic to clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States, to serve as Solicitor General of Texas and to serve as a U.S. Senator from Texas.

If Republicans rally behind him, Cruz can be the first Hispanic President of the United States.

lege, and not only do victims usually lack support from their peers but also they don’t have support and protection from the legal system.

Victims shy away from coming out with the truth because they feel ashamed of what has happened to them, or fear they will not be believed.

This rape culture is something that needs to be fixed.

We need to be informed of the increasing number of people being raped and abused. We need to learn of not only the physical effects of rape and abuse, but also of the emotional toll they have on victims.

Until we become educated on these heinous crimes and the effects they have on victims, we will never be able to truly support or get victims justice. #FreeKesha keeps the conversation of the mistreatment of rape and abuse victims active, continuing to raise awareness that justice needs to be served.

This movement informs people of the injustice many rape victims receive, hopefully uniting the country to change the system.

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Harvesters return to national tourney

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

After losing Tevin Corprew, the nation’s leading scorer, to academic issues after the fall semester, the Eastfield Harvesters’ hopes of earning a trip to New York for the national tournament looked slim.

Then they lost key reserve Din Androk to a knee injury.

But the team’s goals never changed.

“I told [the players] the first day of school that we have enough to win a national championship in this room,” coach Anthony Fletcher said. “And after we lost some guys, I told them we still have enough to win it.”

Sure enough, several players stepped up to fill the void, including shooting guard Zack Duncan.

The 6-foot-6 freshman went from playing less than 10 minutes per game during the first half of the season to more than 20 in the final eight games, and his scoring average soared to 18 points a game.

Duncan is shooting 54 percent from the field, including 48 percent from the 3-point line, and is a big reason Eastfield is back at the national tournament for the third time in the past four seasons.

In the Harvesters’ 98-71 win over Brookhaven on Feb. 6, Duncan drained seven 3-pointers, added 10 rebounds and finished with 27 points.

“He went crazy,” shooting guard Donald McBride said. “That was a fun game for all of us.”

But if it weren’t for Duncan’s high school trainer, he might never have continued to play basketball.

Early in his senior season at Denton Guyer, Duncan drove for a layup in a game against Hebron and landed awkwardly on his knee.

He felt a pop and fell to the ground screaming.

He had torn his ACL and would be out for months.

With help from physical trainer, Kathy Cox, Duncan went through rigorous therapy to rehabilitate his knee. He came back from the injury in six months instead of nine.

“I thought about if I was ever going to play again a lot,” said Duncan, who also broke his elbow during his junior season. “Without my parents and trainer, I probably would have quit.”

This season, when Duncan stepped onto the court for the first time since his injury, he was hesitant to give it his all for fear of injuring himself again.

With the encouragement of friends and family, Duncan has overcome his fears.

Shooting guard Tre Anderson is Duncan’s best friend and has helped push Duncan in practice and games.

“When Zack is on the court, I’m all for him,” Anderson said. “I basically want him to do everything. I want Zack to get that rebound. I want him to make a 3-pointer. If he makes a three, I’m about to get live. I get a lot of energy from him.”

Duncan and Anderson were brought together by basketball, but they also have a lot in common off the court.

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Basketball by the numbers

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National Championship

National Championship runners-up

10 Player of the week awards this season

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Zack Duncan drives for a layup against North Lake in the Region V championship game on Feb. 20.

“Zack is like my brother,” Anderson said. “Over time, we grew closer and closer. We are together 98 percent of the time. When we go up to New York, they aren’t going to expect him [to be as good as he is]. This is his first year back, and he is already making noise in the nation.”

Anderson can relate to Duncan’s injury fears.

After undergoing back surgery during his freshman season, he also thought his basketball career was over.

“I didn’t touch a basketball for a long time,” he said. “I wasn’t going to play basketball anymore. I was done. But when I got back in the gym, I got a lot stronger than I was before. I thought all I could do was keep my faith and work hard and be relentless. Play without fear.”

Anderson noticed at the beginning of the season that Duncan was uneasy when making certain movements “I told him, ‘You just have play,’” Anderson said.

“As long as you play hard, you won’t mess anything up. It’s when you take time off that you mess things up. You can’t just ease around it. You’ve got to go hard.”

Duncan’s late-season surge has boosted his confidence. In the last eight games, he scored 144 of his 227 total points, helping the Harvesters’ over-

come Androk’s season-ending injury. He even earned third-team All-Metro Conference honors.

“He isn’t babying his injury anymore,” Fletcher said. “We thought he would be a starter for us, but he didn’t play very physical [at the beginning of the season], and he lost his spot. The great thing is that he hung in there. When Din got injured, he took his spot and he flourished. The guy barely missed a shot.”

Duncan said he no longer worries about reinjuring his knee. Now he is making plays and sacrificing his body without hesitation.

“When he starts to dive or slide on the floor, I get excited because he is buying in,” Fletcher said.

Duncan has bought in so much that he had to get stitches after being hit in the face in the Region V championship game.

He said his teammates’ support keeps him going.

“They are over here telling me that ‘we need you,’ and they push me,” he said. “They help me stay successful. It gets me hyped every time.”

Duncan is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and hopes to be a physical therapist.

“After my physical therapist helped me get back, I want to make that impact on people,” he said.

“She will always have an impact on my life.”

National Championship appearances

Players to watch: #20 Tre Anderson shuts down the opponents’ leading scorer. #35 Zack Duncan is averaging 18 points in the last eight games. #13 Danzel Whitemon has been playing well on both sides of the ball this season. #24 Ed Williams has been quiet the past few games. Be watching for a breakout performance.

About the national tournament Where: Loch Sheldrake, New York When: Thursday, March 10 Time: 4 p.m.

Opponent: Nassau (26-5) Watch the tournament live at njcaatv.com Follow the Harvesters’ progress at etceterasports.wordpress.com

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Zek and Slik By Matthew Rohan

Harvesters signed to play soccer at A&M Coach Dustin Stein recruited, from left, Liliana Cardoza, April Rodriguez and Hazel Espinoza as freshman. All three, now sophomores, will transfer to Texas A&M-Texarkana to play with the Eagles soccer team starting fall 2016.

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Trivia Answer B: Rankin, from Montana, was elected to congress in 1916

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