Etera
Eastfield College
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Volume 46, Issue 9
Women in Science professors shaping the landscape for young girls through example
See page 3
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NEWS
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
Zero energy lab recycles sun, water, power
By Karina Dunn etc4640@dcccd.edu
The opportunity to make zero energy homes a standard rather than an exception is getting closer thanks to research conducted at locations such as the Zero Energy Research Lab at UNT’s Discovery Park. To achieve net-zero energy use, renewable energy resources such as solar, geothermal and wind are combined to power a building. If done right, the system creates excess energy to return back to the power grid. At UNT’s lab, researchers use a centralized computer system to measure how efficiently energy is used. Their goal is to reduce the amount of wasted energy humans produce, getting as close as possible to a net of zero wasted energy. The program’s adviser, Dr. Yong Tao, designed the lab. He spoke last month at an Eastfield Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics seminar. “By using these technologies more, buyers and implementers would make the right decisions to change the status quo and adapt further change,” Tao said. According to eGauge, the lab has used approximately 2.08 megawatts per hour of energy over the last 30 days, which translates to about $270.81. The amount of total energy generated is 234 kilowatts per hour, or 0.234 megawatts. A net of about 1.85 MWh was purchased, approximately $240.28. With a savings of around $30, the lab could save $360 per year. “By understanding these things, future occupants or seekers, homeowners, have a knowledge of this energy efficient technology,” Tao said. “Make the right choice to implement the policy and challenge the status quo.” According to Tao, energy consumption ties directly to human activity, and when people
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNT
UNT’s zero energy research lab uses solar, geothermal and wind for power.
understand that they might make adjustments to save energy and spend less on bills, reducing overall energy use. “It’s [difficult] to convince people to change their behavior on moral and financial grounds,” Tao said. “Hopefully, this will convince people to change their lifestyles ... or convince [willing politicians] to adapt policies to implement the technology.” Visitors and students are invited to the lab to conduct research or act as volunteers, working in the lab as they would in real life to determine how a human presence impacts energy consumption. Because the zero energy technology exists on a grid, he explained, the energy produced by using household appliances — such as refrig-
erators — or through daily activities — such as opening windows — can be recycled using an energy renewal system. The lab includes living and work areas so researchers can study the effects of human activity on energy consumption directly. Due to the impact of human behavior and activity on energy consumption his field also includes work with psychologists. “Energy is multidisciplinary, meaning there are many subjects and areas involved,” Tao said. Robert Xiong, founder of Helios Oil and Gas Equipment, completed his graduate studies at UNT with Tao from 2011 to 2013. He said energy conservation is a hot topic, and scientists must relate their research to “real life.” “The [grid] allows a way to change one fac-
tor in the lab at a time,” Xiong said. “In one to 10 years, we can compare different changes and know which factor is most important to predicting energy consumption over the next 20 years.” In 2003, Tao, five at Florida International University faculty members, three staff members and more than 300 students participated in the second annual Solar Decathlon. As a team, they were tasked with building a singlefamily home that incorporated solar energy and sustainable construction. “It was a chance for me to take a hundred or so students… and gain hands-on experience,” Tao said. “That’s where I learned a lot more about [construction] design.” While the decathlon took place in 2003, competitors did not learn the results until 2005. It was then that each zero energy home was transferred to the U.S. National Mall for judging. Tao said his team won “several awards… related to the impact of thermal science and solar applications.” According to Tao, solar power and energy efficient designs did not appeal to mainstream interest at the time, so he witnessed the advances in the technology as it developed. Tao himself believed it to be an emerging area of research, an interest that led him to the studies he conducts today. Over time, Tao wants to expand the research performed at UNT. After overseeing the construction of a zero energy home in China and a few other labs in the U.S., Tao would like to see the project taken to another level. “My favorite part is having a real research facility, being able to materialize a dream to have a real house and a real building,” Tao said. “I would like to see an entire zero energy community. I see a village with many buildings, restaurants, shops, so we can get zero energy homes employed as soon as possible.”
EFC students test salt in ‘space’ By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu
You can barely hear anything over the roar of the engine of the “Weightless Wonder,” which the students say should not be confused with the privately owned vomit comet airplane. NASA’s Weightless Wonder is a specially modified 1968 McDonnell Douglas C-9 Skytrain 2 used to simulate the zero gravity of space. Five Dallas County Community College students traveled to NASA in Houston to conduct an experiment with sodium acetate, the chemical that makes salt and vinegar chips salty, aboard the zero gravity simulator. Moe Tucker, Chris Pleis, Salvador
de Leon, Stephen Todd Stovall and Valeria Lujan made up the team El HarveSTARs. The flight they took with NASA last year went over the Gulf of Mexico through restricted airspace, which would normally cost the private citizen $4,500. They fly up at a 45-degree angle and then suddenly drop multiple times in what are called parabolic dives. Technically, they aren’t weightless, they’re just falling and it causes the zero gravity effect. The feeling, they all say, is “indescribable.” But it wasn’t all fun and games. “You have to have an idea,” team leader Tucker said about the first step to being accepted for the program. They experimented and brain-
stormed and eventually ended up with the sodium acetate experiment. And that was one of the simpler experiments, Tucker said. “The sky’s the limit,” Pleis said about the experiments. The longer teams had been a part of the program, the more elaborate the experiments were. But it was rewarding. The security at the facility was intense, Stovall said. “Checking into the secure facility was interesting,” he said. “We got to meet astronauts, shake their hand.” The students weren’t there just for the experience, though. They were there to experiment with how crystals form in zero gravity, finding that rather than the normal long, sharp crystals, they formed short, rounded
JAMES HARTLEY/THE ET CETERA
From left to right: Moe Tucker, Valeria Lujan, Salvador de Leon, Stephen Todd Stovall and Chris Pleis.
ones. A student in the audience of the presentation related it to how water clumps together in a ball when in zero gravity. Their real mission, in the end, was to see how zero gravity and reduced gravity effected the forming of crys-
tals in a super saturated solution. The students said they lnjoyed the learning experience and, though funding for the program had been cut, they hope to one day have the chance to experience zero gravity again with their new knowledge.
NEWS
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The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Female scientists carry the torch for progress
By Braulio Tellez etc4640@dcccd.edu
Scientists make discoveries and change the world. They introduce us to new concepts and inspire us to become someone we could only dream of. Many women in science have been overlooked in the past, and Women’s History Month is a great time to highlight those female intellectuals who have impacted the world: Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, Barbara McClintock, Rachel Carson, Lise Meitner, Rosalind Franklin, Mary Anning. But great women in the sciences have made Eastfield their home, as well. Dr. Tammy Oliver is an anatomy, biology and microbiology professor who has taught at Eastfield for 21 years. Oliver found herself pursuing a career in science when she realized her other classes in high school were too easy. She said subjects such as English and history were no challenge for her, but she found science to be a bit harder. The approach was different and required an extra amount of effort and intelligence. “Science has a different language to it,” Oliver said. “It has its own terms and you have to understand that language and be able to use it efficiently. You also have to be pretty good at math. Putting those two together and applying it to a scientific concept in class really made me step back and work a little bit harder on that material.” Oliver earned a master’s in biology from Texas Woman’s University and said the school did great things for her confidence as a young woman. “It was a male-dominated world when I was coming up,” she said. “If you were a woman in a science class, you were usually going to pursue nursing and in some cases medicine, but never a scientist. When I transferred to TWU, the majority of us were women, although there were a few men. Seeing that mixture of people like me pushing forward really helped me be sure of myself.” While studying at TWU, Oliver worked in a medical lab at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She was part of the Human Genome Project, an experiment dedicated to determining the sequence of chemical base pairings in human DNA. “Our assignment was to map and sequence chromosome 11,” she said. “I worked with a big group of diverse people and that’s all we did. We lined up the genes on the chromosomes, got them in order and told what their location was. It was a special project
BRAULIO TELLEZ/THE ET CETERA
Dr. Tammy Oliver, the biologist and hero scientist
and something I’m glad to have been a part of.” While in graduate school, Oliver worked at Parkland Hospital making IVs and taught as an adjunct at Eastfield. She said it was a busy schedule but her passion for her career and her drive kept her going. “You have to love it,” Oliver said. “You’ll have cases that are difficult and your love of the job and desire to become that scientist will get you through. You may not have anyone to push you through it and you’ll have to push yourself.” Oliver encourages young women to pursue careers in science and said now is a better time than ever to do so. “I would tell every young woman to be strong,” she said. “You can’t let any person discourage you because it’s going to be hard work. I also think having a strong sense of confidence will help keep you going forward.” Dr. Shizuko “Zu” Watanabe always knew she wanted to be a geologist, but her research on the erupted Japanese volcano Usu as a graduate student in 2000 sealed the deal. “When I went, the steam was still coming off the ground and I saw a bunch of houses that had been destroyed by pyroclastic materials,” Watanabe said. “It was a pretty eye-opening experience at the time and really changed my life. That’s when I knew I wanted to get into geochemistry and study the chemistry of magmas.” The eruption of Usu gave her the chance to work firsthand in the field. “For my research I collected volcanic rocks and analyzed chemical as well as isotopic compositions,” Watanabe said. “Using that chemistry and also isotopic valleys, I studied the evolution of magma chambers.” Although Watanabe found her passion for geochemistry out in the field, her calling was in the classroom, teaching students. As a graduate student at Miami University, she began teaching classes with the encouragement of her adviser, Elisabeth Widom. Widom was a key figure in the development of Watanabe’s career and she credits her as an influence throughout college. “She was very inspirational to me because she taught me everything I know,” Watanabe said. “Working with her was fantastic. She gave these very interesting lectures that would always spark my interest. The way she spoke to the class always wowed me. She was brilliant and super nice but she was also super tough.” As a woman in science, Watanabe acknowledges discrimination against women in the past, but believes society has seen
progress. “I think it has gotten a lot better,” she said. “I’m pretty sure in the past, if you look at history, it was pretty tough for women. But nowadays I don’t think we are uncommon. It’s not 50-50 just yet, but we do have female scientists, even on this campus. Our dean is a woman and she is a scientist, so that speaks to the amount of change that has happened.” Physics professor Dr. Kendra Wallis loves science so much that she named her car after a female pioneer in the field. “Marie Curie has always held a fascination for me,” Wallis said. “I named my 2000 Camry after her. I’ve had her for a while so she’s special.” Wallis has been teaching physics and astronomy classes at Eastfield since the fall of 2012. Aside from teaching, she worked with the Department of Energy on a program that tried to lower the level of radioactivity in oil field waste. She also helped in the research of nanostructured magnets at the University of Texas at Arlington. Wallis recognizes the importance of exposing young women to science and knows it is up to people like her to begin instilling that into new generations. She is in the process of putting together a conference at Eastfield next November to encourage middle school girls to pursue math and science careers. “We need to be sure these girls know what choices they’re making and what the consequences will be,” Wallis said. “The more women that go into science, the higher the level of awareness becomes.” Wallis said that by the time girls reach middle school, they tend to play down their intelligence and succumb to the standards that society has set for them. She wants to change that. “Sometimes women choose to not have a family right away because they want to focus on their career and they go to college,” she said. “But there are many women who decide to have a child and then go to school once they’re done raising their kids. The second decision is much harder because it’s tough getting back into school when you’ve been out so long.” Wallis said she loves teaching physics because she enjoys seeing the light bulb flicker when her students finally understand something. “It’s the ‘aha’ moment,” she said. “When you’ve explained something a dozen different ways and you’re trying to look at it a different way so they can understand and it happens. They get it.”
BRAULIO TELLEZ/THE ET CETERA
Dr. Zu Watanabe, the geochemist and volcano explorer
BRAULIO TELLEZ/THE ET CETERA
Dr. Kendra Wallis, the astronomer and girls' advocate
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NEWS
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
PUT IT ON YOUR
Calendar Wed
25
Thu
26
March/April
Professor Melinda Imthurn presents the Women Composer Concert, a celebration of history’s most famous female composers with a focus on 19th century pianist Clara Schumann, 12:3011:30 p.m. in F-117. Join Professor David Danforth for Adobe Photoshop Basics, 10 to 11 a.m. in L-208. The Money Management Experience offers free and confidential financial counseling and money management classes, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Pit and C-135. Review sections 4.1 to 4.3 with Professor Sharon Johnson, 1 to 2:30 p.m. in L-208.
Fri
Receive free financial and career advice at the Eastfield Reality Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Pit.
Wed
Celebrate your graduation with other Eastfield students, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Pit.
27 1
As part of the Spring 2015 Recital Series, the Eastfield Brass Ensemble presents a recital, 12:30 p.m. in F-117.
Fri
Campus closed for Good Friday.
Mon
Advising Week runs through Friday, April 10. Consult with an adviser for help with registration and transferring in the Pit and library throughout the week.
3 6
Director of Workforce and Economic Development Christa Jones presents Your (career) future deserves a plan, 12:3012:50 p.m. in L-208.
Tue
7
Enjoy food, games and live music at the annual Spring Harvester Festival, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lower courtyard.
ABOUT THE COVER DESIGN AND ART BY BRAULIO TELLEZ AND SHANE JOHN
www.eastfieldnews.com
Gun laws passed by senate By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu
A bill allowing licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses has gained state Senate approval and appears headed for passage in the House and approval by the governor. The Senate approved three gunrelated bills this month: the campus carry bill, an open-carry bill and a bill making it illegal for government entities to post signs barring guns from their premises. The campus carry bill, Senate Bill 11 by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) passed the Senate 20-11, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. The law would allow concealed handgun license holders to bring concealed weapons into college buildings and classrooms. Unlike similar bills attempted in previous legislative sessions, public collegiate schools could not opt out. A 2013 law allows licensed gun owners to keep weapons in their vehicles on college campuses. Concealed license holders must be 21, have no felony convictions and complete a handgun safety course. Federal law requires licensees to be capable of sound judgment and free of chemical dependency. But neither
psychological testing nor training for armed altercations is mandated. Because of the age restriction, 8,930 of Eastfield’s 14,000-plus students would be eligible to carry guns at school. Student Herbert Rodriguez, a military veteran, said gun owners expecting to use their weapons for self-defense in public need instruction on when it’s appropriate to pull a weapon and how to react in lifethreatening situations. “Students should be properly trained first, also staff and security,” he said. “That would prepare them for any type of scenarios, to only just how to shoot a gun.” Law enforcement organizations along with most colleges, universities and teacher’s groups, including the Dallas County Community College District, oppose the bill. Voters are almost evenly split on the campus carry issue, with 47 percent saying faculty, staff and students should be allowed to carry weapons on campuses and 45 percent saying should not, according to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. The other 8 percent had no opinion. Students, faculty and staff at Eastfield are also divided. A recent informal Et Cetera poll of students found 18 opposed to guns on campus, six said in favor.
Eastfield students
39%
Younger than 21
73%
21 and older
“Why are we building a culture of violence in an educational institution where we teach how to be tolerant of one another?” said Dr. Shazia Ali. Those in favor of the bill believe that the bill would do the opposite, instead building a culture of safety. The open carry legislation, Senate Bill 17 by Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), also appears destined for law. It would allow concealed license holders to wear handguns in hip or shoulder holsters in public. The bill does not allow for open carry on college campuses if SB 11 should be passed. Texas already allows for rifles to be carried openly in public. Senate Bill 273 by Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) would fine government entities such as cities up to $1,500 for the first day of a violation followed by $10,500 per each following day for posting signs prohibiting lawful concealed carry. The bills now head to the House. — Marlene Salazar contributed to this report.
The Et Cetera
NEWS
Briefs Nominate your favorite professor
March 31 is the deadline to enter nominations for the Student Development Leadership Award, the Administrator of the Year Award, and the Excellence in Teaching Awards. Students can nominate professors at www.eastfieldcollege.edu/pressroom/news/teaching-award.asp.
School recognized for foliage Eastfield College received the Tree Campus USA award by the Arbor Day foundation. The school met all five standards required to receive the award in 2014.
Flex writing muscles at study slam Eastfield is holding a Study Slam week, from March 30 to April 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the pit. Each day will focus on a different topic: Monday on sentence structure, Tuesday on a family feud game with all LA classes, Wednesday on MLA citations and Thursday on essay structure. To register your class, contact Associate Dean Judith Dumont in room N-109.
THE HOT TOPIC
Do you believe gay marriage should be legal in Texas?
Christian Jenkins Criminal Justice Major
Deshaun Johnson Academic Advisor
Jarvin Lockett Communications Major
Rebecca Womack Student Assistant
Jesus Lara Mathematics Major
“I do believe gay marriage should be legal in Texas. That’s really none of anyone’s business. I think that it’s not the government’s authority to impose something like that. One of their main things is the pursuit of happiness.”
“No. ... Christianity teaches you that a man should be with a woman. … That doesn’t mean that I judge those who choose to have another sexual preference, but I try to stick with my beliefs as a Christian as far as marriage goes.”
“I believe that it should be legal, but my whole deal with that is church is getting involved and saying it should be a sacred bond between a man and a woman. So I think we should just call it what it is governmentwise — a civil union.
“Yes and no. No because of my religion. In the Bible same-sex marriage is a sin. And yes because I believe people should make their own decisions on whom they want to be married to.”
“Let them do what they want. You know, who are we to judge what people want to do? It’s up to them to do what they feel is right. I don’t have any place to judge them. Nobody really does.”
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
The Et Cetera
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Life &Arts
The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
6 Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Artist couple collaborates in H gallery
By Braulio Tellez etc4640@dcccd.edu
Artists Linda Lopez and Mathew McConnell’s show “Let’s Just Say What We Mean” displays the couple’s honesty through their artwork. Lopez and McConnell are based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas. They are married but have never had their work showcased together until now. Although they have never shared a space, the artists say that they had no trouble putting the show together for Eastfield’s H Gallery. “It happened organically,” McConnell said. “We know each others work very well, so it was easy for us to know which pieces we wanted to bring. We’re pretty collaborative in what we do and how we make our decisions. So it just happened over time, little bit by little bit.” Though the couple has never shown together, they do work together. “You could look at it in two different ways,” Lopez said. “We share a studio, so we literally work side by side. But I think you could also look at it in the way that we help each other with our work when one of us needs an extra hand.” Lopez has installed a series of ceramic sculptures from previous works titled “One More” and “From One Pile To Another.” The sculptures consist of tubular shapes draped on top of one another. She has also set up what looks to be shelves and has displayed some of these sculptures along with her drawings. “I have a tendency to work abstractly so I guess it’s kind of my filter of the world,” she said. “I’m not trying to reference anything particular with the abstract kind of organic shapes, but just trying to create an object and have it feel the way I see it.”
McConnell’s sculptures are selected works from a series of previous art titled “What It Means To Move.” His sculptures are made from earthenware with bone char and graphite. The completely black sculptures are mostly random, obscure shapes. One sculpture is molded to say the words “hopeless” and “hapless.” He has also set up a shelf on the back wall of the gallery that holds rows of stacked cards with different quotes. He said the quotes come from a variety of sources he has collected over the years. “Some I have written,” McConnell said. “Many have been manipulated to a degree that they have little semblance to the original quote.” The piece, “As Ashes or an Overcast Sky: Variations on Gray,” McConnell said best describes what the gallery is trying to achieve. “The viewer in the gallery can take those cards with them,” he said. “As soon as you take that card off the shelf, it’s out of sequence and also out of context. If anybody takes a card, or five cards or 10, they end up being in some other context immediately and then they have some other meaning for that person other than what I chose them for. They can never say the same thing twice.” Gallery coordinator Iris Bechtol usually installs the work of visiting artists. But for this show, she gave Lopez and McConnell the freedom to set up their work. “I believe the layout of the works was fairy intuitive, though they likely discussed their plans prior to installing and may have made adjustments,” Bechtol said. “That often happens when artists encounter the actual space where they exhibit their artwork.” The show continues through April 24, with a closing reception 6-8 p.m. April 23 during the Literary & Fine Arts Festival.
PHOTOS BY STORMY WALLBRECHER/THE ET CETERA
Lopez’s sculptures from the series “One More” (left) and “From One Pile to the Other” (top). A collection of McConnell’s sculptures from his series “What It Means to Move.”
LIFE&ARTS
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The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS MOVIE
Magic doesn’t always leap from page to screen
Growing up, I would have Harry Potter movie marathons with my cousins and wait for what seemed like an eternity until the next book or movie came out. Seeing Hermione’s big, messy hair and Harry’s glasses as they went on their adventures helped bring life to the characters. However, I’ve always found myself disappointed over an enchantment, a scene or a detail that was changed from the book. Although adapting literary works into movies has always played an important part in cinema, a great number of young adult books have been transformed into films over the past decade. After the wild success of the J.K. Rowling-inspired film series, it seems like similar books received movie contracts overnight. Romance, dystopian societies and supernatural or magical elements quickly became popular themes. There is, of course, a list of guidelines for any of these films: 1) they have to be based on already successful books; 2) it is desirable that they can produce a new movie every year or two; 3) the author must be open to suggestions and changes that will make the movie more commercial and appealing, no matter how successful the original story. Often, details are changed to make these movies more commercially appealing to a larger population. It is the personal opinion of every moviegoer if this improves the story. Personally, I am still angry about how the death of Lord Voldemort in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” was handled. Although a terrific demonstration of special effects, his film death greatly differed from the book. The symbolic nature of the Dark Lord’s end doesn’t get through to the film audience when his body magnificently disintegrates into confetti. The next great successor after Harry Potter was “Twilight.” Stephenie Meyer’s ficti-
Andy Carrizales tious romance between a vampire and a human girl captured the hearts of 14-year-olds around the world. With a soundtrack that included Florence and the Machine, Paramore and Muse, the film adaptations added one more item to the list of requisites: a commercial soundtrack that involves contemporary, profitable artists. After “Twilight,” “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins took over the screens. The story depicts a future dystopian society where people are governed by a web of corruption and deceit, and shows how a teenage girl’s resistance becomes the root for revolution. The movie’s first installment, directed by Gary Ross, was a strong beginning that could have worked as a standalone film. The next two films, directed by Francis Lawrence, focused much more on the fictitious Capitol’s view of the games, which in turn seemed more like a superficial view of the original story. The soundtrack albums for “The Hunger Games” series include big names such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons and Christina Aguilera.Not wanting to let the commercial success go, the last book was adapted into two movies. I am still unsure about this practice. The extension of the story keeps the magic alive, and the longer screen time allows for more details and greater development of characters and scenes. However, sometimes the original story drastically changes in the hope of staying relevant for one more year to attain commer-
cial success. Studios Of course, it doesn’t and producers profit always take a sequel to from doubling box ofmake a book desirable for fice revenues and sellfilm adaptation. Various ing more merchandise, stand-alone books by the effectively exploiting same author can also be the market. the subject of movie packIt is annoying how ages. Hollywood desecrates The heartbreaking these stories. Although depiction of young love in some adaptations John Green’s “The Fault in start out truthful and Our Stars” saw box office faithful to the book, success and allowed for by the second or third two more of his literary installment the stories works to get translated are no different from onto the screen. The the thousands of comupcoming “Paper Towns,” mercialized Hollywood featuring supermodel Cara films. Such is the case Delevingne, will premiere PHOTO COURTESY OF PENGUIN BOOKS with “The Hunger this summer. Green’s first Games.” Of course, not John Green’s newest film adaptaliterary success, “Looking tion “Paper Towns” is now playing all movie adaptations for Alaska,” is undergoing in theaters. It comes after the suchave been fruitful. discussions about produccess of “The Fault in Our Stars.” Some books intended tion. to be film series have Markus Zusak’s “The cut their time short, rushing to an ending in Book Thief,” Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of order to save money on production. Being a Wallflower,” Meyer’s “The Host” and “The Mortal Instruments” falls under this catGillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” were all adapted egory. A commercial failure, Cassandra Clare’s to the screen, each enjoying different levels of series will come back as a TV show. success. The “Divergent” trilogy by Veronica Roth is Although movies can sometimes bring new also walking the line. Although the first movie life to book characters, it is not interesting to underperformed, a second installment has see this happen when all the movies resemble made it to theaters. Whether a third movie will other works of a similar genre or format. complete the film series could be determined By trying to create a blockbuster film, stuby the success of “Insurgent.”’ “50 Shades of dios play it safe, leaving out many of the most Grey” also awaits final confirmation about its revealing details that give character to the film sequel. Although it enjoyed great comliterary story. Therefore, even though movies mercial success in its opening weekend, it fell might be visually appealing and a great source victim to criticism, most of which focused on of entertainment for a couple hours, it is alhow the erotic story lost much of its appeal ways better to read the book and not rely on a when turned into a movie. compressed, tainted version of the story.
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LIFE&ARTS
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
Women’s chorus director calls EFC home By Parker Ward etc4640@dcccd.edu
Even when 40 voices rise together in song, Melinda Imthurn can hear a single bad note. “Melinda has an amazing ear,” said Radha Daswani, who previously sang with the Dallas Women’s Chorus. Imthurn, Eastfield’s director of vocal studies, also teaches private vocal lessons in her studio and has worked as an announcer at WRR 101.1. For 10 years, she has been artistic director for the Women’s Chorus of Dallas, planning the group’s season, working with collaborators, choosing music and conducting. “Melinda’s passion and commitment to the Women’s Chorus just says something strong about her, considering the other facets of her life,” said Daswani, now general manager of the Women’s Chorus. “On top of that, she manages to run it so smoothly.” Imthurn has also performed at a wide variety of venues including the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Casa Mañana and the Meyerson Symphony Center and has conducted at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Imthurn graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a master’s degree in music pedagogy. She has also studied with Tony Award-winning actress Betty Buckley and continued her graduate studies with the University of North Texas and the Shenandoah Conservatory. "My degree is in vocal pedagogy, which is teaching voice, but I still have a passion for choral music. Those are my two passions," Imthurn said. Before she came to Eastfield, Imthurn taught private voice lessons. “I taught private voice from when I was about 20 starting in middle school [students] and then going up into high school,” Imthurn said. “Then when I was a graduate student, I had a teaching assistantship doing college-level voice.” Imthurn knew early on that community college was the right fit for her to teach. “I was thinking what the ideal student for me was, and I decided that was the community college student," Imthurn said. "I started teaching adjunct. I started with one class and that solidified the fact that that was something I had passion for." In order to achieve her dream of teaching community college, Imthurn decided to work at Mountain View College. "I did that for a lot of years and then moved to Dallas. I started teaching at Mountain View College which was near where I lived and ended up going there as a visiting scholar." Because she already had a passion for teaching, Eastfield seemed like a natural fit. “I had known some colleagues who had worked here [at Eastfield], and the school had a great reputation, “ Imthurn said. “So I thought, let me come on over to Mesquite, and I have
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The semester before she came to Eastfield, there was seven or eight people in the choir. The semester she took over, there was 30. She's a great recruiter. —Oscar Passley Music professor
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loved it ever since." Since coming here, other faculty have noticed a large change. "Literally the semester before she came to Eastfield, there was seven or eight people in the choir,” said Dr. Oscar Passley, faculty coordinator of the music department. “The semester she took over there was 30. She's a great recruiter and has a really great work ethic.” Along with her choral and private vocal work, Imthurn has also had other interesting jobs. "I used to do radio. I did one year as an announcer for WRR, classical 101.1. Not a big station, but it’s a big deal as far as classical stations go," she said. "I went in with no experience. They had a job opening and my friend worked there. I went in and recorded a demo, and was hired to be there Sunday from 6-4." On March 25, Imthurn will be performing music from several of her favorite women composers. The recital will take place 12:30-1:30 p.m. in room F-117. "The main featured composer will be Claire Schumann. She was a romantic composer,” Imthurn said. “She was really a pioneer in mu-
PHOTOS BY ANA GALLEGOS/THE ET CETERA
Director of vocal studies Melinda Imthurn conducts the Eastfield Chorus.
sic as far as women in music go. She made an international career as a concert pianist, which was absolutely unheard of at the time. " She believes that women have come a long way since the Romantic Era. "The only thing women were doing performance wise was singing because they needed sopranos and altos. But other than that, women
weren't doing that kind of thing, so it was a big deal," Imthurn said. Imthurn enjoys the community surrounding Eastfield’s arts departments. “It's such a great thriving arts community in this building,” she said. “Everybody who teaches is active outside the campus in their art form. I like it here."
LIFE&ARTS
9
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
‘The Order: 1886’ lacks cohesive plot
Gamer Z ne
By Caitlin Piper etc4640@dcccd.edu
I can’t help but cringe when I hear a developer refer to their game as “cinematic.” Don’t get me wrong — I love that more big-name developers are realizing that games can have rich, complex stories and three-dimensional characters in addition to enjoyable gameplay. It just so happens that most of them suck at effectively integrating them. On one side of the spectrum we have games such as “The Last of Us,” a title that deserved every bit of praise it received for its top-tier characters, atmosphere and interactive storytelling but could have done with a little more variety in its gameplay. On the other side we have self-proclaimed “interactive movie” auteur David Cage, whose games have plots so nonsensical and characters so jarringly unrealistic that I’m left wondering whether he’s just another pretentious hack or if he’s actually the greatest Dada artist of our time. Then we have “The Order: 1886.” “The Order” received a lot of attention from the media in the months before its release but for all the wrong reasons. People got so worked up about the pretty graphics and “cinematic” storytelling that they forgot that video games are supposed to have this little thing called gameplay. It was almost as if developer Ready at Dawn was trying to hide its gameplay behind a 1080p, next-gen smoke-
screen before it hit shelves. If you think I have my tinfoil hat on too tight, know this: “The Order” has more cut corners than a picky first-grader’s PB&J sandwich. Set in an alternate Victorian London where vampires and werewolves exist and the Arthurian legends are not only a reality but the basis for a secret society devoted to killing these creatures — and yes, that is definitely one of the strangest word combinations I’ve ever pumped out — you play as a member of this society. I’d tell you his name and motivations, but honestly, I cannot recall a single notable thing about him. Sometimes he shoots things and sometimes he grimaces into the camera, but otherwise he’s nothing but a beautifully rendered piece of set dressing in a world of nothing but beautifully rendered set dressing. That would almost be acceptable in such a “cinematic” game if not for the fact that this is not an isolated case. The characters are to the plot what your car is to your morning work commute: a vehicle to get you from point A to point B. What little personality they show is usually contradicted in the next scene, and you would need a spreadsheet to navigate the sort of anti-logic that goes on behind their decisions and motivations. I’m not going to spend a lot of time on the
PHOTO COURTESY OF READY AT DAWN
gameplay because it’s clear that the developers never did. It’s a cover-based shooter in a game about werewolves and vampires where you rarely get to shoot any werewolves or vampires. There are some quick-time events peppered throughout, but they feel forced and jarring. This all culminates in a rather blatant sequel hook that is more insulting than intriguing, preceded by a final boss fight against a minor villain that the writers thought was more interesting than the actual villain, who inexplicably disappears halfway through the story. “The Order: 1886” is unique, I’ll give it that. Something about its bizarre premise made it seem like an enjoyable if certifiably insane adventure I could plow through in an afternoon — which would probably be possible, as my first playthrough clocked in at just over six hours. But everything about it just reeks of what
I like to call “Launch Title Syndrome,” where developers of games released at the beginning of every new console generation are so eager to show off the system’s upgraded technology that their games turn out to be nothing but a bunch of pretty tech demos forced to dress up in shiny gimmicks while their gameplay legs atrophy. “The Order: 1886” is a tech demo dressed up as a Play Station 4 exclusive and its gameplay was repetitive and bland when “Gears of War” was doing it almost 10 years ago. Its interesting ideas could have made for a memorable game if they were actually given the opportunity to develop, but it seems the majority of the development time was instead allotted to making the skybox foggier. There are words for games like “The Order: 1886” — price drop, disappointment, overhyped — but I think the word “rental” sums it up best.
MOVIE REVIEW
‘Gunman’ full of action movie cliches, lacks originality
By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu
Sean Penn’s latest movie “The Gunman” promises action, adventure and intrigue through the trailers, but disappoints in the theater. Although the film delivers action and edge-of-your-seat suspense, the story is cliché and overdone, lacks any original elements and is riddled with small plot holes. The genre offers a tired story: a politician or company does a bad thing and later tries to kill everyone involved, ultimately paying for it when the hero gets to them. Former special ops agent Jim Terrier, played by Penn, shot and killed a politician as part of a military contract in his past. His actions come back to haunt
PHOTO COURTESY OPEN ROAD FILMS
Sean Penn as Jim Terrier, a lethal special ops hired gun.
him when the company that provided him with the contract needs to clean up the mess and sets out to kill
anyone involved. The action is intense, and that is one of the charms director Pierre
Morel of “Taken” fame delivers to the screen. Two particular sequences, one involving a claymore mine and the other involving bullfights, are impressive. The problem, though, is that the story is tired. It’s been used so much in the past. Think “RED” or “Shooter” and you have a pretty good idea of what you’re walking into. While “RED” brought comedy and “Shooter” brought a more complex story, all “Gunman” has to offer is a medical condition that causes Terrier to have issues when doing his job. It could be said that the socio-political message behind the film also
adds a little flavor to it, but it is underplayed and irrelevant to the plot. Overall, “The Gunman” is a fun movie if you go in expecting little. Slow-paced at times, the film builds to a climactic end and almost feels as though it’s being left open for a sequel. The action and fighting add some interesting elements to the film, but if that’s all you’re looking for, go check out “The Expendables.” As far as content, the movie is deserving of its R rating due to language and gore. Moviegoers should be aware of brief sexual content, though there is no full nudity. With all the hype surrounding it through the trailers and word of mouth, “The Gunman” is almost sure to disappoint most of its audience in theaters across the nation.
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LIFE&ARTS
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
A BOOK TO CONSIDER
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
Train rides get gaslight Since its Jan. 13 release, “The Girl on the Train” has made the New York Times Best Seller list for nine consecutive weeks, climbing into the No. 1 spot within two weeks. The novel by Paula Hawkins is frequently praised as the best new thriller since Gillian Flynn’s sensational “Gone Girl.” “The Girl on the Train” teeters on similar concepts, themes and literary styles as seen in “Gone Girl” while referencing some of Alfred Hitchcock’s work. Hawkins’ inspiration comes from her train commutes in London where she began to wonder what would happen if she witnessed a crime mid-commute. Hawkins worked in London as a journalist after attending Oxford and later made a drastic transition into fictional writing. After stints in comedy and romance writing, Hawkins pursued darker themes and began to write crime dramas.
Plot
Rachel is an alcoholic still reeling from her divorce from Tom, who has since remarried his lover, Anna, with whom he has a child. Jobless, nearing homelessness and hanging onto any shred of dignity left, Rachel rides the train to her old job every day out of boredom and obsession. On her route she watches a seemingly ideal couple, dubbing them Jess and Jason, when they are actually named Megan and Scott. Rachel’s frequent blackouts and worsening alcoholism peaks when she witnesses Megan kissing another man and notices she disappears shortly after. With the observations she’s made from her train trips, Rachel goes to the police to tell them what she’s seen only to be discredited for her drunken state. Rachel finds herself in the middle of a tumultuous missing person’s campaign, which places her in dangerous situations.
Critical Review
The trifecta of unreliable narration (con-
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Author Paula Hawkins
tributed by the three female characters), shaky marriages, and poignant first-person storytelling creates a chilling and addictive journey. The American publisher of “The Girl on the Train,” Riverhead, originally anticipated 40,000 copies, but reprinted the novel 10 times to meet demands. Many critics have theorized that the book pays tribute to Hitchcock’s 1954 film “Rear Window.” It features the element of gaslighting, a form of mental abuse where the abuser manipulates information to confuse and instill anxiety in their victim.
Review
While “The Girl on the Train” has some similarities to “Gone Girl,” it is not fair to compare the two. Hawkins’ work is far more relatable than its competitor. While the novel is full of drama and mystery, its topics and plot are not farfetched from modern society. Alcoholism, infidelity, domestic abuse, female empowerment, infertility and representations of abnormal psychology are all fascinating to its American audience. The first-person narration that alternates between characters Rachel, Megan and Anna creates a voyeuristic quality within the text. It seems that this quality has propelled the novel to success, voyeurism being another common American obsession, a suggestion that is substantiated via social media’s overhaul of society. The three narrators are all subject to gaslighting in the novel and Hawkins cleverly reveals this abusive technique over time. In between developing the relationship between each woman and her abuser, the reader witnesses how all of the women are interconnected through it. Overall, “The Girl on the Train” is a novel deserving of the notoriety it’s received, bending the rules of crime fiction while diligently steering clear of the cinematic plot of “Gone Girl.” — Compiled by Courtney Schwing
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Sports
The Et Cetera
March 27 March 28 March 30 April 2 April 3 April 6
www.eastfieldnews.com
Harvesters climb baseball ranks By Brianna Harmon and Juanita Hernandez etc4640@dcccd.edu
Despite multiple game postponements and cancellations due to the recent snow and rain, the Eastfield Harvesters baseball team continues to climb the national rankings. Eastfield, which was 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the Metro Athletic Conference heading into this week, is ranked third in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division III poll.
Brookhaven 4, Eastfield 1
The Harvesters outhit Brookhaven 10-5, but the Bears made the most of their opportunities and Eastfield’s three errors to win the opening game of the three-game conference series on March 6 at Brookhaven. Sebastian Murray (2-2) gave up just five hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings, but took the loss for the Harvesters. Casey Maack led Eastfield at the plate, going 2-for-4 and driving in Cole Hill for the lone-run. Hill and Cody Duplechin were also 2-for-4.
Eastfield 10, Brookhaven 0
Pitcher Blake Barr (4-1) tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits while
striking out eight and walking only one, to lead the Harvesters to a big win in the opening game of the March 7 doubleheader in Farmers Branch. Eastfield scored six runs in the first three innings to take control early and never looked back. Duplechin led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored, and Tanner Dickerson was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Also contributing for the Harvesters were Daniel McConn, who was 2-for-2 and two RBIs and Michael Kister, who was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Eastfield 10, Brookhaven 2
Brookhaven kept the game close through the first four innings, but the Harvesters plated six runs in the final four innings to win the second game of the March 7 doubleheader. Brandon Saddler (1-0) came on in relief of starters Robert Russell and Evan Rogers to capture the win, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out three in four innings of work. Cody Duplechin went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the way for the Harvesters. Other top producers were Daniel McConn, who was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored; Michael Kister, 2-for-5 with a stolen base, three runs scored
and an RBI; Jason Serchay, 2-for-5 with two runs scored; and Mason Arasato, 1-for-5 with two RBIs.
Eastfield 12, Northland 6
Jason Serchay went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and one run scored as the Harvesters doubled up Northland College of Wisconsin in the first game of a March 10 home doubleheader. Other offensive leaders for Eastfield were Blayten Magana, who went 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, and Ryan Langley, who was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored. Jacoby Tipton (1-0) earned the win in relief of starter John Bodine. Tipton pitched three innings, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three.
Northland 8, Eastfield 5
2 p.m. Noon 2 p.m. 2 p.m. Noon 3 p.m.
Baseball at Mountain View Baseball at Mountain View Baseball vs. Paris Baseball at Cedar Valley Baseball at Cedar Valley Baseball at Hill
The Harvesters dropped Game 2 of the doubleheader when Northland rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning off reliever Garrett Stringer (0-1). Stringer gave up four hits, two walks and three runs in his two innings on the mound. Connor Scruggs went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored, and Casey Maack was 3-for-5 with a home run and an RBI to pace the Eastfield attack.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2015
SPORTS
Briefs Barr named national Pitcher of the Week by NJCAA Eastfield freshman pitcher Blake Barr of Midlothian was named the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division III Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 9-15. Barr turned in a strong outing in a 10-0 shutout of conference rival Brookhaven College on March 7, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters in a complete-game win. The 6-foot-3-inches tall, 175-pound righthander is 4-1 this season with a 1.57 ERA. He has struck out 33 batters in five games while walking just six.
Tryouts scheduled for Harvesters women’s soccer Eastfield College women’s soccer is holding tryouts at 10 a.m. April 18 at the Soccer Complex. All athletes must bring a current physical exam form to be eligible for tryout. Before attending, contact Coach Stein at 972743-0278 or DustinStein@dcccd.edu Coach Stein is located in office M-203.
Spring into shape on campus Spring is here and it’s time to get that beach body back. Winter was lengthy, so try these five spots on campus that can help you get your student body into shape.
→ Pool
Swimming is often considered the best way to get a full-body workout. Now that winter is behind us, it’s time to break out that bathing suit and take a refreshing dip in the campus pool outside the P building. The pool is open for students, faculty and staff from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A lifeguard is on duty during operating hours. Don’t forget to bring your Eastfield ID and towel.
→ Track
Need to get in some cardio before your next class? Eastfield has a soft surface, 1-mile track with a gorgeous view to get the running or walking enthusiast up and moving. The track is open from dawn to dusk and wraps
around campus.
→ Fitness Center
Eastfield’s fitness center is packed with all the fun toys gym rats loves to tinker with. It has bench sets, treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, free weights and much more. Students registered in physical education classes can access the gym for free, but others must pay either $10 a month or $25 per quarter. Workouts are free for faculty and staff. An Eastfield ID is required. Hours of operation are 1-5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 2- 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 1-4:30 p.m. Friday.
→ Other outdoor facilities
If tennis or racquetball are your thing, check out the two outdoor courts south of the P building. The area also has a basketball court for quick pick-up games between classes and a set of outdoor workout stations, like those found at your local park or walking trail, for a quick ro-
tation of exercises such as chin-ups and arm dips. You can even check out golf clubs from the fitness center and play a round on the nearby golf green.
→ Intramurals hosted by OSER
The Office of Student Engagement and Retention is hosting four-week tournaments for basketball, soccer and tennis. Students, faculty and staff can register from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the Pit. Sign-up forms are also available on the college website. Don’t have enough people for a team? Not a problem. OSER can create one for you. Tournament play begins April 7 and is scheduled to last four weeks with the winners taking home trophies. For more information, visit C-141 or contact service learning coordinator Larry Jefferson at 4OSER@dcccd.edu or 972-8607182. — Compiled by J. Gomez
DARNISHA CORNELIUS/THE ET CETERA
A 1-mile running and walking track circles the Eastfield campus.
opinion
12 The Et Cetera
OUR VIEW
Etera
Equal pay is long overdue
Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Associated Collegiate Press • Texas Community College Journalism Association
Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editors in Chief J. Gomez Courtney Schwing Managing Editor Caitlin Piper Design Editor Braulio Tellez Photo Editor Jonathan Wences Life & Arts Editor Andy Carrizales Opinion Editor Parker Ward Online Editor Karina Dunn Staff Writers Nicole Ceron James Hartley Veronica Trevino
Chandler Claxton John Kirvin Brandon Wagner
Designers Marlon Bell Monica Bolton Jasmine Oliva Photographers Darnisha Cornelius Ana Gallegos Guillermo Martinez Carlos Valenzuela Chase Villwok Stormy Wallbrecher Cartoonists Alberto Huerta Matthew Rohan Student Publications Manager Elizabeth Langton 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. Letters may be delivered to Room N-240 or sent to etc4640@dcccd. edu. First Amendment Right Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Wage differences cause Lasers will better equip the military The third installment of “Back to the Future” was released in 1990. Some of the film was set in a fictional James 2015 that had flying cars, Hartley sky highways, holographic advertisements and hoverboards. Everyone dressed like it was still the ‘80s, but the awesome inventions and innovations more than made up for it. Obviously, we don’t have flying cars or holographic advertisements — which is a disappointment — but we have moved forward with our military technology. We’ve provided our troops with better equipment such as drones (socio-political controversy about drones placed aside), bomb-disarming robots, advanced computers and much more. This means our troops are better protected when deployed overseas, but we are still losing men and women to things such as suicide bombers and roadside bombs. Technology company Lockheed Martin, the guys who created that cool looking tank thing called a Havoc, have unveiled a new advancement that has the potential to add extensive protection to our troops working roadblocks
and checkpoints: the Advanced Test High Energy Asset, nicknamed Athena. Athena fires a 30-kilowatt laser capable of burning through even the hood of a truck from a mile away. The best part: it can fit in the bed of that same truck. Though the laser isn’t quite so compact as the one Val Kilmer used in “Real Genius” to make a house explode with Jiffy Pop, the basic idea is pretty much the same as the laser in the film: the heat of the laser is what makes it a powerful weapon. America would be foolish not to jump on this technological breakthrough to aid in the defense of America. While education, federal responsibility and other social issues are important we should also consider the safety of our men and women overseas. Americans owe their freedom to the brave troops who are risking everything for freedom and our democratic republic. It’s time we focus some of our energy on ensuring our troops have the best weapons at their disposal, and as technology progresses we will find that lasers are the future in that field.
After winning an Academy Award for her role in the film “Boyhood” last month, American actress Patricia Arquette ended her acceptance speech by advocating equal pay for women. Her speech brought public attention back to the gender-based wage gap in America after years of smaller squabbles between groups on both sides of the debate, and we think it could not have come fast enough. The most popular statistic shows that women earn 77 cents for every dollar men make, and this drops as low as 54 cents for minority women. But it’s undeniable that women are earning less than men across the country. According to a report published by the American Association of University Women earlier this year, the wage gap exists in every state and in nearly every occupational field, including those that are female-dominated. Texas women earned more than the national median at 79 cents per dollar, but the amount fell as low as 66 cents per dollar in Louisiana. Although childless women still earn less than the average American man, women with children often earn even less. Whether they are pressured to stay at home to tend to the family or are struggling to juggle family life and an active job, many ambitious mothers do not have the time, resources or support to pursue a career, much less a degree to help them claim that career. Stereotypical gender roles play a part in this problem, but some hurdles, such as the climbing costs of childcare and higher education, also limit women with children. Additionally, the average American woman has been proven less likely to negotiate for a higher salary than the average American man. Career-minded women should learn proper negotiation techniques and research the value of their occupational position long before the question of salary should ever enter their mind. Things are improving for women. But if the statistics prove nothing else, they are not on equal footing with men when it comes to wages. While discrimination won’t disappear overnight, there are still steps we can take to promote equality in the workplace. In the past two years, laws making it easier for women to sue their employers failed in both Congress and Texas. Last year, the Paycheck Fairness Act — which requires that businesses provide proof that any wage discrepancies are determined solely by job qualifications while making it more difficult for them to retaliate against questions of gender-based wage differences — was once again rejected by the Senate. We need to act in order to change. Women deserve to be paid an equal wage for equal work, and it’s rather shameful that it took an Oscar acceptance speech to remind us.
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OPINION The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Texas should say ‘I Do’ to all marriages
I came out to my parents a few times. I was 13 when I told them I had a girlfriend, 15 when I tried to explain that I still liked women and 22 when I told my mom I was in love with a girl from New York. In return my mother started drinking heavily and forced me to tell my father. The day I told my father for the last time that I believed I was gay, my knees were buried in our gravel driveway and I cried hysterically. My dad had made it clear my whole life that he was not supportive of the LGBTQ community and never took my confessions seriously until that summer day. “You’re gay, aren’t you?” he said. “Yes,” I responded. “I still love you,” he said. Trying to explain to my family that I would one day want to marry a woman was a difficult concept for them to understand. It wasn’t a “traditional” or “normal” idea, which led me to consistently argue that those terms are subjective. However, I knew that it wasn’t traditional nationally, and especially in Texas. Those who oppose same-sex marriage frequently argue that it’s morally wrong. When did it become morally wrong to be in a committed and healthy relationship? A common rebuttal is that same-sex relationships are forbidden according to most religious doctrine but primarily with Christian emphasis. When did America become tolerant of only one religion? Currently, there are 37 states that have legalized same-sex marriage while seven states are pending further action. Four states have a marriage case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court and two others have filed lawsuits. The Supreme Court is expected to
Courtney Schwing
rule in June. One of the most perturbing ideologies behind the campaign for same-sex marriage is that when the term “same-sex marriage” is utilized it creates differentiation between all couples that marry. Terms like “same-sex” and “opposite sex” marriages do not promote marriage equality. The term “marriage” in itself is connotative of religious ceremonies. By using the term, the LGBTQ community is assimilating itself with those whom argue against the validity of marriage equality. Instead, using terms that are synonymous with the definition of marriage would alleviate animosity from those who believe their religious rights are being imposed upon. Just like any historical document created, the U.S. Constitution is culturally influenced. It was written in a time when Protestantism was the dominant religion. Because of this, said religion was the main influence in determining what was included in the Constitution; therefore, the U.S. Constitution and most state’s constitutions mimic religious values. Times change, but that doesn’t mean that we re-write and diminish a document that has withstood the tests of time. We have, however, created amendments to accommodate the evolution of the United States. Marriage equality needs to be one of those
amendments. On Feb. 17, Travis County Judge David Wahlberg waived a 72-hour wait period for Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant to be married. The couple were married with their daughters watching. Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton all denounced the ruling. Abbott said that he is “committed to ensuring that the Texas Constitution is upheld.” Despite the Texas Constitution clearly defining marriage, the actions performed by Wahlberg prove the inclinations of the changing times and that an amendment would be welcomed. The Texas Constitution is discriminatory against the LGBTQ community. Some of the justifications mimic the same discriminatory rhetoric of the Civil Rights movements of the ‘60s. Nowhere in the U.S. constitution is marriage defined. Only state constitutions provide definitions. However, many people — some of them legal experts and judges — feel these state constitutions violate the Constitution. Their stance is that marriage bans violate the 14th Amendment by discriminating against people who identify as LGBTQ, excluding them from equal protection of the law. Considered to be one of the Reconstruction Amendments, the 14th Amendment was originally created to assist former slaves after the Civil War. There are five sections to this Amendment, the sections being violated are 1, 2 and 3. Section 1 explains that no state shall create laws that restrict citizens of the U.S. from their civil liberties. Section 2, the Citizenship Clause, defines citizenship and was created originally to include black people as citizens.
Are you prepared for the world to end?
“Kiki,” my father said in one of our weekly telephone calls, “We don’t have long on this earth. The Rapture is upon us and it can happen any minute. This thing is almost over. Are you ready?” After an awkward silence, I wondered if he really wanted an answer from me. I did not want to talk, or much less think, about the world ending. At midnight on Jan. 1, 2000, a catastrophic phenomenon called Y2K was to occur. Every computer in the world was supposed to crash. The event would leave the world without food, water or electricity. To prepare, many stocked up on essentials and other items such as candles and generators. Since then we have opened our minds to the possibilities of zombie, nuclear and pandemicrelated apocalypses. I am not certain if the world will ever come to an end, but something is going on around us that does not feel right. In the past decade, the planet has experienced unexplained weather occurrences and people have committed horrific crimes such as mothers trying to eat their newborns and giving their toddlers
Keturah Jones
cocaine in their bottles. Most Christians believe the end is near based on the Book of Revelation. I asked one Christian: What has led you to believe that the world is about to end? They quoted scripture about earthquakes, wars and how the weather would be out of season. What I do know is that no one knows how, when or where the end will occur, and ends always lead to new beginnings. I wanted to ask my father if anyone was ever ready. How could we be prepared for the unknown? From the beginning of time there have been many debates about how this world began and how it will end. Christians believe you must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior and
“
States, such as Texas, have created marriage bans and laws that define marriage as being between one man and one woman, essentially discriminating against LGBTQ people.
”
Section 3 presents the Equal Protection of the Law Clause. This clause was implemented as a response to the Black Codes, ultimately meaning that all citizens are treated equally under the law. States, such as Texas, have created marriage bans and laws that define marriage as being between one man and one woman, essentially discriminating against LGBTQ people and violating Section 1 by creating a law that infringes on their civil right to marry. As an American citizen any LGBTQ person is allowed the same freedoms as other U.S. citizens, showing that marriage bans are violating the Citizenship Clause. Lastly, under the law all persons identifying as LGBTQ are to be protected as dictated by the Equal Protection Clause, yet again these marriage bans are in direct violation. Marriage bans are unconstitutional and are treading upon American citizens’ basic rights and civil rights. This must end. The United States is better than its citizens’ discrimination and prejudice. We are one step closer to proving that we are a land of freedom.
follow rules set by the Bible to prepare for the end. Hindus believe that we pass from one life to the next and that our next life is determined by how we act in our current life. To those who do not have any religious connection to the end of the world or worship any god, we are just going through the circle of life. No one likes endings. Thinking about the world ending is a scary thought and a topic that I hate to discuss. At the same time the curiosity of the end is intriguing to many. Christian or otherwise, one cannot ignore the possibility of the world ending. Even Hollywood has profited from the craze. I am not sure what being prepared means for you. What I do know is that something is happening in the world around us and I want to be ready. Now is the time to hold on to what you believe in and stand by it. Being prepared might mean living your life according to biblical principles or it may mean just loving others and doing good deeds. Whatever it may be, make certain that when the end does happen you can look at your life and be happy with the way you lived.
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The Et Cetera
NOW OPEN AT EASTFIELD COLLEGE:
Columbia College. You’ve started your journey. Now you can be in the first class to complete your 4-year degree all in one location.
ACCREDITED. NONPROFIT. FOUNDED IN 1851. On-campus degrees: • Bachelors in General Studies • Bachelors in Business Administration • Bachelors in Criminal Justice • Bachelors in Human Services AND 28 additional online programs! For any questions, please contact us at (972) 391-1010. 3737 Motley Drive W-Building, Room W-136 Mesquite, TX 75150 Email: Mesquite@ccis.edu
Partners in Education
GoForGreater.org/Mesquite
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Wrapup The Et Cetera
www.eastfield.com
Zek and Slik By Matthew Rohan
Sudoku
Trivia Bits
A) Beer B) Bread C) Cheese D) Pasta 2. Pythias’s buddy in Greek mythology has the same name as Affleck’s buddy in Hollywood. Who? A) Clooney B) Damon C) Kanye
D) Pitt 3. London’s Canonbury Square has dozens of closed-circuit cameras watching everything that happens there, 24/7. Say ... what very famous book was written there in the 1940s? A) “1984” B) “All’s Well That Ends Well” C) “The Remains of the Day” D) “The Waste Land”
Trivia Answers 1. A; 2. D; 3. C
1. When Little Miss Muffet gets off her big fat tuffet, what can she make with her curds and whey?
15 Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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The Et Cetera
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY Make Your Transfer Connection Saturday, April 11
8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. on TWU’s Denton campus Choose from 57 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS in the health sciences, the liberal arts and the sciences, including the BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES With concentrations in 12 fields, including business, criminal justice and art, TWU’S BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES is ideal for transfer students who want to complete a four-year degree. Take classes online or in a blend of online and face-to-face sessions.
ATTEND TWU’s TRANSFER CONNECTION APRIL 11 AND YOU CAN: w w
Plus, TWU OFFERS YOU THESE ADVANTAGES: w
Receive a $50 application fee award
Respected university with nationally ranked programs
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Get admissions, scholarship and financial aid information
Most affordable tuition in the DFW Metroplex
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Online, face-to-face and blended classes
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Meet advisers and faculty
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Receive sample degree plans
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Classes open to men and women
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Learn about services tailored to transfer students
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A-Train service from Dallas to TWU’s Denton campus
Register today Just go to www.twu.edu and click on:
TWU
TRANSFER CONNECTION
I N F O R M AT I O N S E S S I O N or call 1-866-809-6130