Eastfield Et Cetera May 3, 2017

Etera

Eastfield College

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Volume 48, Issue 13

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The Et Cetera

Space: next frontier for crowded classes

By JAMES HARTLEY Managing Editor @JamesHartleyETC

A plan for campus renovations, more space, equipment and a possible new building is in the works as a part of Eastfield’s master plan.

Repairs are also needed to address flooding in aging buildings, and the art department needs a new ventilation system for safety reasons in the art studios, according to Iris Bechtol, director of Eastfield’s art galleries.

Jonathan Rollins, the architect working on a master plan to determine the direction the college takes regarding infrastructure, said C building needs major renovations.

Rollins also said the college should consider adding a new building for additional classroom space.

Rollins said C building has outlived its academic life and needs major updates to its equipment and aesthetics to remain competitive with more modern colleges.

Adrian Douglas, vice president of business services, said the master plan is expected to take three to five years to come to total fruition.

Amy Vance, dean of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Division, said space is her division’s greatest need. Limited space holds

back STEM’s ability to expand, she said.

“Our classes are growing,” Vance said. “We’re adding more sections of courses, which means that our lab space is maxing out. Our biology classes, for example … for majors, specifically, that lab is used from 6:30 in the morning until 10 at night.”

Renovations paid for by the Hispanic Serving Institute STEM grant awarded to the college last semester will both help and hurt the space issue, Vance said.

The grant paid for various necessities on campus, including new labs converted from existing classrooms in an effort to alleviate some of the overcrowding in labs, Vance said.

“In doing that, we’re now giving up two classrooms that our math classes or science classes can no longer use because now they are labs,” Vance said. “It’s a give and take.”

Vance said this would cause a ripple effect when scheduling new classes.

“If two classrooms are no longer being used as classrooms, those classes have to go somewhere,” Vance said. “Where are we going to put them at those peak times of day?

Thankfully, we have a wonderful person that handles rooms that can do the ‘Tetris’ and figure that out.”

JAMES HARTLEY/THE ET CETERA

The Blauuw kiln is one of the only up-to-date piece of equipment currently in the art department, according to gallery director Iris Bechtol.

Ultimately, Vance said a new science building with new labs, classes, storage areas and faculty offices is needed.

Classes are spread across campus, and it is not practical for students, lab workers and professors to be “trekking all over the place,” Vance said.

Vance also wants locker rooms and showers for both home and visiting teams at the baseball and soccer fields, a new weight room and visiting team locker rooms at the gym.

Courtney Carter Harbour, dean of Arts and Communications, said that

while space isn’t a major concern for her division, they need new equipment and repairs.

Leaks add to the problems for Arts and Communication, Harbour said. Douglas said the leaks are a part of the maintenance funding requests she is making.

Facilities Director Michael Brantley said funding requests for all maintenance from 2017 to 2018 totals about $35 million.

The Performance Hall, the library, some computer labs, some music rooms, the H Gallery, hallways and

this community is.”

Dorothy Zimmermann, trustee for District 3, said handguns carried on campus by concealed handgun license holders only increase safety.

“I like looking through church knowing who carries and that if somebody comes through one door and blocks another, I know who can defend us,” Zimmermann said. “It’s a great security.”

Wesley Jameson, trustee for District 5, suggested the board should consider challenging the law.

Before the meeting, Wendland said everything is on track.

“We’re confident that we will have action by the board in time to have the regulations in place,” Wendland said.

The DCCCD hosted forums in the fall and spring to gather opinions from students, employees and community members on what areas should be gun-free.

Amy Vance, dean of the Science,

Technology, Engineering and Math Division, is the college’s liaison to the DCCCD campus carry committee.

Vance said she doesn’t expect much to change when campus carry is implemented.

“When they come back to campus in the fall, with the signage, I don’t anticipate there will be much different, other than signage,” Vance said.

Signs will be placed at exclusionary zones to denote the areas as gunfree.

Vance said a list of exclusionary zones will be published as soon as they are confirmed.

Psychology major Josh Nelson believes Eastfield’s gun-free zones should be limited to areas that are “necessary,” such as labs with toxic chemicals or anywhere where there are pressurized gases.

Nelson believes that if someone returns fire at an active shooter in a room with pressurized gases or hazardous materials, they’re “likely to

some classrooms are also susceptible to leaks during rain.

Trash cans marked as water receptacles are spread throughout the F building.

The tops of some bookshelves in the library have water stains, and the ceiling shows signs of leaks as well. There are no immediate signs of damage to the books.

The leaks in the Performance Hall have created a need for structural repairs and have left some equipment damaged or destroyed. Leaks in the music rooms have damaged pianos.

“I think that the college has tried to do the best that it can with the money that it has to try to maintain these spaces,” Harbour said. “However, I think we’ve gotten to a point where we really need to see some substantial changes. Otherwise, we may end up spending more money in terms of trying just to maintain these areas when, realistically, money might be better spent if some of these areas where there are safety concerns, we completely renovate.”

Harbour said she wouldn’t be surprised if the money already spent on repairs and replaced equipment in the Performance Hall was enough to build a new building.

Lori Honeycutt, technical theater See Low air quality, page 3 ➤

District handgun regulations remain undetermined

By JAMES HARTLEY Managing Editor @JamesHartleyETC

Texas handgun license holders will be allowed to bring their concealed guns to campus starting Aug. 1, and the Dallas County Community College District has yet to solidify any gun-free zones.

The campus carry bill allows colleges to set aside exclusion zones where guns are not allowed. The Board of Trustees must approve these zones before Aug. 1.

The Board of Trustees first discussed a staff proposal at its May 2 meeting but ran out of time before reaching any conclusions. They will hold a special meeting later this month on the issue.

“We have got to have final action on this in June,” Robert Wendland, general council for the district, told the board at the meeting. “We have no flexibility.”

EMYLEE LUCAS/THE ET CETERA

Phil Ritter, trustee for District 2, suggested making guns illegal in classrooms, an act that Attorney General Ken Paxton said would be a violation of the law.

“The almost universal response from the community college community is that they don’t want concealed guns in the classroom, and we get up to this point where we have an advisory AG’s opinion that says, ‘no,’ and we’re crafting a policy based on an advisory opinion that we’re not necessarily bound by,” Ritter said. “As trustees, I feel that we have some duty to listen to this community and what they want to see if there’s a way we can craft a policy that accomplishes what the overwhelming sentiment of

cause more damage than just taking out the shooter.”

He also said the K building, which houses the childcare center, should have armed protection outside but that no weapons should be allowed inside.

“We really took into consideration what the faculty, community and students said but also what the law would allow us to do,” Vance said.

Temporary exclusionary zones can pop up from time to time if an outside group mostly composed of minors reserves a room at Eastfield.

Vance said the Eastfield campus carry committee’s suggestions include science labs, parts of T building, the counseling center and any “high-stress areas.” The childcare center will be exempted.

Vance said in February that the committee would like W building, where the police academy is located, to be excluded as well.

See Gun, page 20 ➤

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Female mechanic defies expectations, social pressures

Q A

Kimberly Fernanda Lops will be the first female student to graduate from the Honda Professional Automotive Career Training, a twoyear program toward an Associate of Applied Science in automotive & technology for future Honda and Acura service technicians. Having tinkered with cars since she was young, Lops plans to pursue a career in automotive exterior design. Reporter Jacquelyne Rojas sat down with Lops and to discuss the obstacles she has faced and her plans for the future.

Q A

They weren’t exactly making it rain, and they were just going to work to feed me and pay the [rent] and whatnot. My dad is not a mechanic, but he likes cars, and he would always install radios and stuff like that, tinker with cars. So he thought, ‘If I can save up 20 bucks by not taking you to the baby sitter and just bringing you with me, and if you just sit there and not do anything, that would be great.’ But of course I didn’t just sit there, I’d be like, ‘What are you doing? Hey, what does that do?’ So my dad was the main resource.

Q A

My mom actually wanted me to go into cosmetology saying, ‘You can do my nails, mija, fix my hair!’ And I was like ‘No, I’d rather stick to cars.’ My mom said to me, ‘You shouldn’t be there, that’s not what women should be doing.’ Her motive was traditionally Mexican. She’s told me many times, but I always tell her that it’s the job, and I like it.”

Why did you choose Eastfield College?

Well originally, I was going to move to Universal Technical Institute after I graduated high school, but it was going to be around 30 to 45 grand for one year… and another 10 grand for the housing. Basically because it’s more financially stable, economically easier to pay for than when you’re going

Did anyone disapprove of your decision to become a mechanic?

DAVID SILVA/THE ET CETERA

to school for only one year and have to pay so much money. This is more fun, too.

Q A

Why did you choose the automotive program?

My parents had me at a very young age.

My mom was only 19. My dad was 20.

ently it’s a big deal, but I don’t see it’s a big deal.

What does the future look like for you?

Q A

What I really want to do is exterior design. I want to design the body and the shape of vehicles, do more inspiring designs. I am still going to keep going on with college, graduate with my associate as well as get my bachelor’s. I have two options laying down right now. One is in the state of Utah.

The other one is going to California, which I’m considering really hard because it’s really expensive. It’s called the Art Center College of Design and, it’s close to Los Angeles. It’s one of the schools that has had a lot of successful designers.

Q A

What advice would you give other young women with similar aspirations?

OK, honestly, I don’t really care toward that. It’s not really about, ‘Oh, first female! Woo-hoo! Give me props, and hey, I’m in the room, so watch out.’ I’m not big on titles or being the center of attention; it’s more of I enjoy doing it and I want to do it right. Appar-

Don’t let them get to you. If you plan on achieving greater things, don’t stay stuck here. Think ahead. For instance, back in February, one of them said that I was too short and that I wasn’t going to be able to graduate because I’m too short. I was like, ‘Watch me!’

So never let them get to you because if you do, that just labels them to get higher and farther out, and it’s not worth you breaking down and having to get back up. Asking questions is OK because sometimes other people have the same questions. When you’re in class, ask your mind out.

pieces of equipment in the art department is a Blaauw kiln, calling it “a Lamborghini of kilns.”

“We’re playing a game of catch-up, and it’s one we can’t win in this building,” Bechtol said.

The F building is nearly 50 years old.

Most equipment in the art department is outdated, and some is difficult to operate according to Eley.

“If we don’t have the infrastructure to add [new equipment] in, they’re going to move on to a four-year university that does have a fully equipped studio, and they will have never seen some of these tools that are considered basic studio tools,” Eley said. “That’s my big concern in this long line of, ‘This needs to happen so this can happen so this can happen,’ so we can make sure our students are moving on to either the workforce, the art world or a four-year university and they don’t feel like they’re behind.”

Eley believes new equipment and some reorganization of rooms would allow the department to open new art classes.

He said reorganizing would cost the art department storage space, but it would be something they could work around.

Brookhaven currently has the largest art program in the district, but with updates, Eastfield can compete, Eley said.

Johnnie Bellamy, dean of Career Technolo-

gies, said her division doesn’t have any safety needs, but has space and equipment needs.

Bellamy requested a new building, and said that early college high school students joining technical programs will increase their needs.

Jeff Mitchell, chair of the welding program, is looking to expand the welding program to include an associate degree, an effort Bellamy said the division is trying to find ways to support.

“We’re looking at how we can expand without expanding,” Bellamy said. “We’re looking at how he can get more space without getting any more physical space.”

Equipment is also a need, Bellamy said.

“In a technical program, there’s always going to be a need for equipment,” Bellamy said.

Rollins said that in addition to needing more space, the campus must make aesthetic upgrades to compete with other community colleges in the area.

“Students are looking at other campuses at the same time they’re looking at Eastfield,” Rollins said. “If they walk into a campus that has a whole bunch of cool spaces where they can work and collaborate and relax, and then they come onto the Eastfield campus and there are only a couple of those spaces, it makes Eastfield potentially less appealing to them.”

Q A

How do you feel knowing you’re the first female to graduate this program? ?

Low air quality, poor equipment, heavy leaks plague programs Continued from page 2 coordinator, agreed.

“Every time we put a Band-Aid on, it costs money,” Honeycutt said. “And the Band-Aids don’t last forever.”

Honeycutt said leaks have destroyed lights, ruined sound equipment, damaged expensive curtains and harmed the stage. Though she would love a new Performance Hall, she would prefer to repair the existing one.

Honeycutt said the biggest loss from a new Performance Hall would be the fly tower.

“It’s that thing you see from I-30,” Honeycutt said.

The fly tower allows stage curtains to be pulled out of view and into the tower, something Honeycutt said is not common in community college theaters.

She also said renovations would likely remove the grandfather clause in fire code available to the theater, requiring expensive and time-consuming renovations. Time and money are two things they don’t have, Honeycutt said.

Eric Eley, an art professor specializing in sculptures and ceramics, said a lack of centralized systems for health and safety, like dust collection and ventilation, is his main concern.

These systems, he said, are needed to protect air quality for techniques like oil painting and

some practices involving ceramics and sculpting. The darkroom for developing film also needs new ventilation for safety.

“Our sculpture and ceramics studio has the greatest need because we produce the most dust work with more, not necessarily hazardous material, although we do use some, it’s more based on particulates and air quality,” Eley said.

Eley added that areas with woodworking equipment and kilns need ventilation, but antiquated electrical systems in the F building prevent them from using their equipment, much less introducing new ventilation systems.

“Our biggest need right now, beyond the electrical service to run those systems, is dust collection and air ventilation systems for our main studio spaces, just to bring them up to what would be considered a minimum level 25 years ago,” Eley said. “We’re that far behind.”

Eley said the art department needs a new building, but since he doesn’t expect one any time soon, he is trying to work with what he has. He wrote a 10-page proposal on outfitting the studio spaces and darkroom with improved ventilation.

The art department also needs new equipment that matches “industry minimums,” Eley said.

Bechtol said one of the only up-to-date

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‘I just want to survive’

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Student with Duchenne muscular dystrophy fights through health issues, attends school

By DAVID SILVA Editor In Chief @DavidSilvaETC

A large cardboard “22” adorns the “Star Wars”-themed cake sitting in front of Edwin Alanis’ table. The large crowd surrounding him, all in their Sunday best, gleefully finish singing “Happy Birthday.” Edwin’s mother, Guadalupe, lights a single candle at the center of the cake.

Edwin gathers his breath and blows with considerable effort, yet he only manages to release a soft puff.

Nevertheless, the candle goes out and the family celebrates.

Edwin’s 22nd birthday fell on Easter this year. More than 20 family members visited his home throughout the day to celebrate.

The younger members sat near Edwin’s electric wheelchair and shared their memories of him and one another.

What hides behind the celebration is that Edwin has been through a recent emotional slump due to complications with his illness.

“I think it’s always going on, but [sometimes] at a lesser level,” he said.

“It’s not that it’s depression. It’s more of a feeling that you don’t belong.”

Edwin is a digital media major living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle degeneration.

DMD occurs when a particular gene on the X chromosome lacks dystrophin, a key protein that promotes muscle strength.

The disorder does not allow Edwin to walk and negatively affects his immune system, heart and lungs. The disorder affects about 500 people nationwide.

Because men only have one X chromosome and the disorder is Xlinked recessive, most of those affected are male. The average lifespan for people living with DMD is 25.

Edwin’s family used to live in Mexico, but once his symptoms started to show at the age of 3, they realized that Mexico didn’t have the resources to treat Edwin effectively.

His family came to the United States in order to access the medical technology to treat his disease.

In April 2016, Edwin contracted

PHOTOS BY DAVID SILVA/THE ET CETERA

Above, Edwin Alanis is wheelchair-bound due to his Duchenne muscular dystrophy and has to wear an oxygen mask due to recent complications. Lower left, Elizabeth Orta, a family friend, escorts Edwin to class. Lower right, Guadalupe Alanis, Edwin’s mother, helps him with a drink at his 22nd birthday party.

pneumonia and was hospitalized for four months.

Due to his weak immune system, his illness left him in critical condition. Edwin was certain he would die.

“I felt like a fish out of water,” he said. “They had to keep increasing pressure on my lungs until they equalized me, which took, like, two weeks. For two weeks, I felt like I wanted to die.”

Recovery was difficult. During his

hospital stay, he caught a rhinovirus, had to eat through a feeding tube and fractured both arms.

He now requires an oxygen tank to breathe.

When a member of Edwin’s church entered his house on his birthday and asked why he had stopped attending, Edwin was honest.

Edwin’s hospitalization forced him to acknowledge his mortality and has driven a wedge between him

and his faith.

Edwin’s experience with pneumonia has also affected several parts of his social life.

“He’s always been a very social person,” Elizabeth Orta, a family friend who helps take care of Edwin, said. “But after his hospitalization, he’s kept more to himself.”

Edwin said he could have no other option but to attend college like any other student.

He said his disease leads to physical obstacles, but he’s confident in his mental ability.

After graduating from Eastfield, Edwin plans to start his own graphic design company.

Despite his commitment to finishing school, Edwin often wishes for a life without his disorder and sometimes feels like he’s invisible to the students around him.

“I am scared of dying before everyone else,” he said. “And I do wish to have what other people have sometimes. I just want to be like everybody else.”

Edwin finds support in his family. His father, Pablo, provides for the family, his mother or Orta accompany him to school and his sister and her husband, Denisse and Justin Dillard, are always helping Edwin.

“My sister has always cared about me, has sacrificed things so that I can be OK,” he said. “During my time in the hospital, they would make me soup, come play games. They talked to the doctors, fought for different things, and they always gave me emotional support.”

Edwin’s closest friend is his 12-year-old brother, Elliot. Edwin and Elliot spend a lot of their time playing video games together, a passion they share. The two also share a lot of friends, with Edwin a part of most online matches.

Guadalupe said that Edwin hit an emotional and physical road bump following the complications relating to his illness, however he remains optimistic.

Edwin said the oxygen tank might elongate his life. It provides support to his breathing and monitors his overall health.

“The doctors said that I could live up to 10, 20 or 30 more years,” he said.

Although his life may surpass the average life expectancy for those with the disorder, he struggles with his persisting condition.

Through the most difficult moments, Guadalupe reminds him of the mentality that has allowed him and his family to persevere.

“We tell him that everyone has to push through no matter the situation,” she said. “Nothing should stop See Edwin, page 5 ➤

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Student leader strives for engagement

By MACKS PREWITT Staff Writer @TheEtCetera

Zach DeCamp, a member of numerous clubs and a student leader on campus, is the 2017 recipient of the Student Leader of the Year Award, an honor commending outstanding academics, leadership and community involvement.

An accounting major, he is president of the Accounting Club, treasurer of the Communications Club and Eastfield’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, a senator in the Student Government Association and a member of the Sigma Kappa Delta English honor society.

He has working toward the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which grants recipients a medal and a letter from the president of the United States if they complete the award.

Awards are categorized between 100, 175 or 250 volunteer service hours in a year. DeCamp plans on completing the 250-hour award.

When he moved from Pennsylvania to Texas in December 2016, DeCamp did not participate in any extracurricular activities on campus.

It wasn’t until Accounting Club adviser Regina Brown asked him to become a member that DeCamp discovered the variety of clubs at Eastfield.

He now wants to help other students become involved in clubs by working with the Eastfield Board of Campus Activities, which he will be serving on for the next academic year.

Brown said DeCamp is driven and self-motivated.

“He’s the kind of student you don’t have to follow up with,” Brown said. “He will follow up with you. He’s the kind of student you want to help.”

DeCamp said his passion is to help Eastfield students though his volunteering.

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

Student Leader of the Year Zach DeCamp poses in the Fireside Lounge.

“I really enjoy giving back to people,” he said. “That’s why I like tutoring. What I want the students to know is that I truly am here for [them]. All the titles are meaningless. What I truly want is to make Eastfield a better place for the students.”

However, DeCamp said that he sometimes he has too much on his plate.

“While it’s very rewarding to be in all these positions of leadership, it is a lot and it is overwhelming at times,” he said. “So there are times where I have to turn down extra opportunities, which is really hard for me because the reason I got involved with a lot of these clubs was

YESENIA ALVARADO/THE ET CETERA

DeCamp gets a pie thrown in his face as a part of a Communications Club fundraiser.

because people would ask me to be an officer and be involved, and I don’t know how to say no.”

DeCamp said he is dedicated to his responsibilities as a student leader.

“A lot of the time, I’ll end up sacrificing a lot of personal time and sleep,” he said. “I’ll have to tell my girlfriend, ‘Hey, I can’t come over. I have to turn this in or work on this project.’ It’s a struggle to find a balance, but it is all very rewarding.”

DeCamp said he looked to Alejandra Sal-

cedo, president of the Communications Club, as his mentor. Salcedo was Student Leader of the Year for 2016-17.

“A lot of the student leaders on campus are in it for the titles, but Zach is very selfless,” Salcedo said. “Most of them will be like, ‘Here are my titles, respect me,’ and Zach is over there like, ‘Hi, I’m Zach, want to hang out?’ I wasn’t surprised that he was awarded Student Leader of the Year. When it came time for applications and he asked me if I thought he would get it, I told him yes. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.”

Edwin finds peace in science fiction Continued from page 4 you. We always tell him that we have to live life the way God has given it to us. He tells me ‘Well, I can’t walk.’

I say, “Don’t let that stop you. Your mind and hands are sound, and you can speak. There are so many young people that can do so much for themselves and the world, but they don’t do it. Fight for what you want, and be who you are.’”

Guadalupe says that Edwin’s personality and enthusiasm still shine.

Edwin spends a lot of time reading science fiction novels and is a huge fan of all things “Star Wars.”

His room is decorated in “Star Wars” memorabilia, and his family’s

bookshelf is full of “Star Wars” novels.

“I’ve read every “Star Wars” thing ever written, even if Disney says they’re not canon,” Edwin said with a roll of his eyes.

Edwin’s passion for space operas isn’t just because of their entertainment value.

During Edwin’s most difficult moments, he finds himself clinging to a similar hope that pushes the protagonists of the franchise to persevere.

“In ‘Star Wars,’ they have the Force, but it’s kind of like God,” Edwin said. “If you believe, not just in God, but if you believe in what you’re doing, you can do it.”

Edwin lives with the “Galaxy Quest” quote “Never give up, never surrender” to push himself through his most trying times.

Edwin said his outlook on life doesn’t prioritize the things he can’t control.

His goal is to simply take things one day at a time.

He plans to make his return to church soon.

“You’re always asking yourself, ‘Why does everybody else have this, but I can’t?’ ” he said. “But you also say, ‘I’m me because of the things I have. Otherwise I wouldn’t be the same person.’ I don’t really care about any of that. I just want to survive.”

DAVID SILVA/THE ET CETERA

Yaneira and Yaritza Guillen, Edwin’s cousins, hold up his “Star Wars” related gifts during his birthday party.

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PUT IT ON YOUR

Calendar May

Wed

Recital: Jazz Ensemble, 12:30 p.m., Performance Hall

Thu

Theatrical reading: Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged, 12:30 p.m., L-111

Fri

Cinco de Mayo Celebration, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lower Courtyard

Sat

Graduation ceremony, 4:30 p.m., Curtis Culwell Center, Garland

Mon

Final exams start

Thu

Last day of spring semester

Mon

Memorial Day, campus closed

3 4 5 6 8

11 29

ABOUT THE COVER ILLUSTRATION BY EMYLEE LUCAS

NEWS

Briefs SGA elections end May 4 The Student Government Association is holding elections May 4 for president, vice president, secretary, parliamentarian and public relations officer.

A special election for treasurer will be held in August with votes counted through a Survey Monkey form linked in the Eastfield app. For more information, contact Philip Bueno at PhilipBueno@dcccd.edu.

Charter faculty dies Ted Sherrill, Eastfield charter faculty member, died from lung cancer on April 6, 2017.

Sherrill started his Dallas County Community College District career as a biology faculty member at El Centro in 1966 and joined Eastfield when it first opened in 1970. He retired in 2007 after 39 years of teaching. A memorial service was held April 22.

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Sanctuary cities ban approved

By JULIO VEGA Sports Editor @JulioVegaETC

The Texas House of Representatives voted on April 27 to ban sanctuary cities and compel local authorities to comply with immigration laws.

After a 93-54 vote along party lines, the bill is now headed to the governor’s desk and is expected to be signed into law.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated the bill, Senate Bill 4, as an emergency item for the Legislature in January. The Texas Senate passed the bill in February, and the House passed it after more than 15 hours of debate.

History professor Michael Noble, a Republican voter, said the bill would create an increased sense of fear and negativity on college campuses across North Texas. He believes that Eastfield will not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest students on campus without a warrant.

“You’ll see enrollment is going to go down because students will be afraid to come to campus,” Noble said. “It creates this atmosphere, almost Gestapo-like, where the ICE agents are coming on here and asking to see people’s papers. It creates an atmosphere where racial profiling will be prevalent. I don’t think that is indicative of what a college is about.”

President Jean Conway said because the definition of a sanctuary campus so disputed, it’s difficult to even consider Eastfield as one.

“What does it even mean to be a sanctuary campus?” Conway said.

“ICE will not be allowed to come and take students. Does that mean we are a sanctuary campus? I don’t know.”

Eastfield intramural sports coordinator Jide “JC” Carew said he believes Dallas County community colleges are already considered sanctuary campuses.

“I think Eastfield in some ways already is … since we do have students who fall under [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] and they feel safe at the community college level,” Carew said. “If Eastfield continues to provide the services it does for all students, I have no problem with it.

But I understand that having it called a sanctuary campus might bring unwanted attention and more harm than good.”

The issue has sparked discussion

ANDREW GONZALES/THE ET CETERA

Protesters hold pro-immigration signs at the Dallas Immigration March on Feb. 18, days after Senate Bill 4 was passed by the Texas Senate.

across the country. In North Texas, several university students urged their campuses to adopt sanctuary status, including the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas.

UT Arlington held a referendum April 18 when students voted to adopt sanctuary status, but President Vistasp Karbhari said the campus will not label itself to avoid losing school funds.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would withhold funding from sanctuary cities, but federal Judge William H. Orrick blocked the order, writing that Trump overstepped his executive powers.

Orrick’s ruling said that only Congress could place such restrictions on federal funding.

Speech professor Mary Forrest said she opposes legislation that would harm student development, regardless of their immigration status.

“I am against ICE taking the students that are here and trying to better themselves,” Forrest said. “I am against them turning them in and sending students back to their countries. They should be allowed to study as long as they are being good

people, good citizens, doing what they are supposed to do.”

Noble said that he wouldn’t be surprised if the bill is signed into law, but he is against the bill’s premise of outlawing sanctuary campuses and allowing ICE on campuses.

“I think that sanctuary campuses are a good thing because in any institution of learning, students should not have the fear of being deported,” Noble said. “If law enforcement wants to come on to a campus, they better have a warrant.”

Josh Nelson, a psychology major and vice president of Phi Theta Kappa, believes that labeling Eastfield as a sanctuary campus would hurt the college as a whole due to potential funding cuts.

Nelson said that, while he supports DACA, which protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation, sanctuary campuses should not be allowed.

“It’s hiding criminals,” Nelson said. “I know people like to say that people who are here illegally aren’t criminals, but the fact of the matter is that they are. They broke our immigration laws. But I do believe in leniency in certain areas like if they were brought here as children, minors … I think we need to give them

some years to work through it.”

Computer science major Lava Pokharel, an international student from Nepal, said he believes students should commit to the legalization process put in place.

“I filled out many legal documents to be here, and I think everyone should be legal,” Pokharel said.

It is still unclear how the bill will affect Eastfield directly, but Noble said he believes the entire state can also face deeper repercussions from SB4, using a similar bill from Alabama as an example.

Alabama’s House Bill 56 was passed into law in 2011 but caused the state’s construction and agriculture industries to suffer.

It also led to the arrest of German Mercedes-Benz executive Detlev Hager and Japanese Honda executive Ichiro Yada, potentially costing Alabama the construction of automotive factories.

“Any time a state makes laws like this, it hurts them economically,” Noble said. “Everyone that has any sense knows that illegal immigration is a huge part of the Texas economy.

There is nothing wrong with someone who wants to come here and better their life.”

—Vanessa Ochoa and James Hartley contributed to this report

NEWS

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Bills intend to strip veteran, undocumented student aid

By JON-MARK TAMEZ Reporter @TheEtCetera

A bill to end in-state tuition for undocumented students has been rejected by the Texas Legislature while another seeking to lessen veterans’ education benefits in Texas is still up for consideration.

The Noriega law, named after the former state representative who sponsored it, grants in-state tuition to undocumented students who graduate high school in Texas and have lived in the state for three years.

It was passed in 2001 with bipartisan support.

Efforts to undo the law failed due to procedural technicalities, although there are still similar proposals that have not yet been considered.

Accounting major Lucero Alverez said that it would be unfair to take away in-state tuition.

“I believe every student should have an equal opportunity for an education, regardless if they’re undocumented or not,” he said.

Alverez believes that despite the failed attempt to repeal the law this year, there will be further efforts to take away in-state tuition.

The Dallas County Community College District supports the Noriega law.

“For a long time, our district worked really hard on behalf of Noriega students,” said Rachel Wolf, associate vice president of academic affairs and student success. “In our institution, it’s been a goal to have those students supported even when there was pushback.”

Currently, the district only requires Noriega students to show proof that they live in district.

Wolf said that institutions are put in a hard place when laws that impact students are passed. The institution has to obey the law even if they disagree, she said.

“There is an inherent value to what some institutions do,” she said. “We have this responsibility to educate.”

Wolf said she was concerned that such bills could limit access to those wanting a college education.

With the passing of Senate Bill 4, which prohibits cities and colleges from declaring themselves sanctuaries for immigrants, there is uncertainty about whether Noriega will remain intact.

The Texas Hazlewood Act, which aids veterans and their children in paying for their education, is also the target of scrutiny. An effort to lessen these benefits is pending in the House Higher Education Committee.

The Hazlewood Act dates back to 1924. It was designed to help Texas World War I veterans pay for college. It has been amended over time to include other Texas veterans and their dependents.

The Hazlewood Act pays for up to 150 credit hours to public institutions, but does not include housing, books or other fees.

Proposed changes included extending the amount of required active duty time to four years and cutting off benefits 15 years after discharge.

These changes to the Hazlewood Act could hurt

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

The Dallas County Community College District has developed a partnership with Aunt Bertha, a search engine that allows people to find a services and aid in their local area. Here’s a step-by-step guide to use the search engine effectively.

Graphic by Edward Neal, Esther Moreno and Hermila Martinez

PHOTO FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Georgia Perimeter College graduate Wes McReavy benefited from the veteran programs provided by the state of Georgia.

former reservists and their families, said Jessica Jenkins, coordinator for the Eastfield Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success.

“If they put a 15-year time limit, a lot of legacy students are no longer going to be eligible,” Jenkins said.

Legacy students are the children of veterans who qualify for the Hazlewood Act. With further restrictions looming, Jenkins feels this would be unfair to veterans whose children would not qualify under the new rules.

“That would take a majority of our legacy students out because their parents only served a year or two to serve in Desert Storm,” Jenkins said.

Reservists take part in drills throughout their years of service.

These drills do not count toward active time served.

Jenkins added that even if some student can grandfather in, the children of veterans who are not yet enrolled or too young to enroll would lose out.

Jenkins, a veteran, said she did not agree with most of the reforms did agree that there needed to be a minimum academic standard to maintain benefits.

Universities across the state support a rollback in Hazlewood benefits, citing rising costs. The state only pays institutions 20 percent of a Hazlewood recipients expenses. Colleges must pass on the remaining expenses to other students, officials say.

Correction In the April 12 issue of The Et Cetera, a news brief incorrectly said the Board of Trustees added five holidays. The board tabled the issue and did not vote. The Et Cetera regrets this error.

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Technical director provides unique work ethic, personality to the arts

By BRAULIO TELLEZ Contributor @TheEtCetera

Lori Honeycutt is suspended 30 feet above the Charles W. Eisemann Center stage, focusing a stage light. She is held up by a mechanical lift, with only a platform between her and the wooden stage below.

It’s 2002, and Honeycutt is fresh out of college, working her first professional job as a master carpenter and customer liaison at the newly built 117,000-square-foot theater center in Richardson.

She had focused plenty of lights before when she oversaw the set design shop as a student at Tarleton State University. In her two years there, she learned a Swiss Army knife of technical theater skills. She can handle both the composition and setting of light as well as sound design, set building, handling fly rails and just about everything else required in creating a play.

As she is adjusting the bulb, Honeycutt hears a snap from the lift and feels the machine separate from her feet.

Now she’s dangling. Her feet are kicking trying to find support. A blood-warming flash of panic hits Honeycutt as she looks down and sees the electrician, who should have been focusing the light, next to the emergency drop button. He pushed it out of spite. He doesn’t like that she is doing his job.

Honeycutt is desperately hanging on to the beam used to hang the lights, her arm wrapped around the pole. After a few minutes of disbelief and panic, she drops, aiming for the bed of the lift now 5 feet below her. She sticks the landing.

When she reaches the safety of the stage, she spews a barrage of curse words at the man, kicks him out of the theater and bans him from returning. She heads back to the lift, uses it to

8

rise back up to the lights, still out of focus, and continues her work.

Honeycutt is still patronized by people who think she’s unfit for the job. She’s had men question her physical and mental strength. But she doesn’t let it get to her.

“I could give a damn what they think,” she said.

Honeycutt has been the technical director for Eastfield’s Harvester Theatre Company for 10 years. She loves manual labor. When she talks about work, her left hand gestures as if she’s holding a drill and pushing in a screw. She spends 12-hour days building 12-foot walls and hanging theater lights.

“I have to be in the middle of it,” she says, referring to the pre-production process of creating a play. “I want to touch and feel things.

I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I think I would go crazy if I wasn’t able to work or come into the shop.”

Growing up in rural Southwest Texas, Honeycutt learned the value of hard work early. As a sixth-generation Texan with both sides of her family rooted deep in ranching and farming, duties such as tending to crops and feeding animals were a normal part of her childhood. At 16, she would wake up at 5 a.m., leave her home in Eastland to feed the goats and cows on the family farm in Cisco and then head to Ranger High School, where she played on the school’s volleyball and basketball teams. She was also a member of the marching band and, of course, acted in school plays.

In her first year at Tarleton State, Honeycutt realized she wanted to pursue a career in technical theater. Tarleton’s theater program required students to work hours in the scene shop, and since there were only about 30 students in the program, there was plenty of work to be done.

Honeycutt took full advantage of it, soaking up as much tech knowledge as she could.

“I was on every crew I could be on in college

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

DAVID SANCHEZ /THE ET CETERA

Technical theater director Lori Honeycutt designs sets and lights for Eastfield shows.

because I wanted to do everything,” she says.

“There’s just such beauty in all of it.”

Honeycutt graduated in August 2002 with a bachelor’s in theater. The very next month, with experience under her belt and help from professor Mark Holtorf, she got the job at the Eisemann. It was there that she realized she had found her future.

From Eisemann to Eastfield The opening week of the Eisemann kicked off with a gala that filled the three-story performance center. There were more people in the building than the entire population of her hometown. The first show at the center featured Mandy Patinkin and Patti LuPone performing famous duets from works like “Company” and “Gypsy.”

Honeycutt is stage left on the second level fly rail, 30 feet above the stage and a full house.

Looking down, she sees blue light hitting the numerous cables strewn above the stage, and it takes her breath away. It wasn’t the famous actors performing iconic numbers that impacted her, but the majesty of blue light reflecting off the support beams and curtains.

“I’d come to Dallas and gotten a job and I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to audition for shows and act,” she says. “Then, I’m looking out over the stage and I see all of this and I told myself, ‘You know what? This is what I want to do. Tech is where it’s at, man.”

Two years later, she was hired at Eastfield. In her time at the college, she has helped produce more than 30 plays. Zac Cooper, a former Eastfield student who worked with Honeycutt in the theater shop, says that before meeting her, he never knew how to use any kind of power tool.

“It sounds crazy, but her teaching me how to use a table saw helped me with my confidence,” he said. “She’s amazing, just how she holds ev-

erything together and still manages to have an impact on the people she works with.”

Teach them how to work Honeycutt, her assistant Lucas Barnes and three Eastfield students are moving a 400-pound flat off a box truck parked in the docking station of the theater shop. The “wall” is part of the set for “In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play,” which the theater company has just finished performing at a regional community college competition. Honeycutt has nicknamed the massive structure “The Beast.” It’s mid-afternoon, and gusts of wind are rushing through the dock opening like a jet stream in a canyon. As Honeycutt and the crew heave the 16-by-8 foot assembly of wood, drywall and electrical wiring onto a dolly, the wind grabs and tilts it, forcing the structure to lean and sway.

“This thing is like one giant, hard sail,” Honeycutt says as she walks backward with The Beast in her grips.

“It’s cool,” says music student Vinny Perez, his hands tightly bound to the The Beast, opposite Honeycutt. “We got this.”

Then, another burst of wind rushes in from the dock opening and yanks the flat. This time, the Beast’s wooden bones crack and bend.

“This thing is about to fall,” Perez says in a panic, looking up at the structure that is four times his height.

The last leg of the wind whirls around and pushes the wall down, almost falling on top of the students. Honeycutt, who’s at the opposite end of the flat trying to align it to the rest of the set, runs behind the panicked students and, with their help, shoves The Beast into its place.

They look at one another for a moment, joke about their near misses with death and continue nailing the flat into place.

See Honeycutt, page 9 ➤

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Honeycutt seen as asset to campus plays, dance shows Continued from page 8 When disassembling the set is done, Honeycutt heads back to the office to work on the budget for the next production.

Dance instructor Danielle Georgiou, the creator and director of Danielle Georgiou Dance Group, is constantly inspired by Honeycutt’s drive and hustle.

The college tech director helps Georgiou’s dance theater group build sets as well as fix lighting and sound design. She also acts as Georgiou’s assistant director.

In January, DGDG presented its original work “War Flower” at the Bath House Cultural Center on the edge of White Rock Lake.

As always, Honeycutt tackled the set-building.

What Georgiou assumed would be at least a full day’s worth of work was flipped into a four-hour, onewoman job by Honeycutt.

“She told me, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ ” Georgiou said. “‘By the time you get back, I’ll have this done.’”

As promised, when Georgiou made it back to the bath house, Honeycutt had knocked out the entire set by herself.

“I’m so lucky to have someone who understands me and is so dedicated to the craft that I don’t have to explain myself,” she said. “I love her so much. She is such a hard worker and one of the strongest people I have ever met. But it’s not just about being physically strong. She is always ready to take on the task. Like, no matter what the job is, she has a smile on her face, and it is so uplifting.”

Wear and tear The palms of Honeycutt’s hands are rough and rigid, and the bottom of her fingers are hardened with calluses from 20 years of gripping a drill.

The space between her left thumb and pointer finger is a toughened semi-circle of skin, the same shape as the butt of her DeWalt 14.4 XRP cordless drill.

The back of her hands and nails are riddled with scars, too.

At Tarleton, she shot a staple through her right index finger and had to go to the hospital.

When she saw the doctor, he told her that he didn’t know how he would get the staple out.

“I said, ‘Oh, I know what to do,’ and I pulled out a pair of pliers from my back pocket and yanked it out.”

The doctor just stared at her.

BRAULIO TELLEZ/THE ET CETERA

Above, Honeycutt controls the sound board during the Spring Dance Concert. Right, Honeycutt and the theater cast and crew reassemble the stage for the encore performance of “In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play” on March 6.

She later ran a drill bit down the back of the same finger while working underneath a set. She was laying down and when the bit pierced her knuckle, blood splattered and fell onto her face. When she came out from underneath the set, her face covered in her own blood, her classmates screamed in panic. She laughed it off and cleaned the crimson from her face.

Honeycutt has plenty of gory, bloody stories to share, but the injuries that affect her the most are the ones that linger. A torn rotator cuff in her left shoulder doesn’t let her lift her arm up past her head. And, over the years, pushing down on drills has given her tennis elbow.

“My strength isn’t what it was three years ago,” Honeycutt said. “I’m still probably what people would consider to be super strong and able to do what a lot of other people wouldn’t be able to do, but I feel it dwindling. I didn’t have to exert as much effort as I do now.”

When people ask her if she has ever considered laying off the hard labor and handing it over to someone else, she laughs it off.

“No way.”

Home and healing It’s 1 a.m. After a long day of building faux interiors to houses on the Performance Hall stage, Honeycutt’s husband, Jay Phillips, is waiting at the door of their home, ibuprofen and water in hand. He knows how much pain she’s in and exactly where it hurts.

He trades whatever clutter she has in her hands for the painkillers and

guides her to a foot spa he won at a white elephant gift exchange a few Christmases ago. He fills it with hot water and Epsom salt and places her feet inside.

“I don’t like her being in pain, so if I can ease it a little bit, I will do whatever I can,” Phillips said.

At home, Honeycutt unwinds.

Her restroom is a do-it-yourself day spa. She has a sit-in bathtub with a widescreen TV set up at the foot of the tub. The TV is hooked up to a Roku video-streaming device. After long production weeks she calls “hell weeks,” she come home, sits in the spa and catches up on her shows.

“I’m so spoiled,” she said, chuckling while looking at Phillips.

Her husband has automated most of the house using Amazon’s voicecontrolled Echo devices, which do everything from order groceries online to adjust the thermostat.

“Well, the less you’ve gotta do, the more time you have to recover,” he says. “Plus, it’s awesome, so why not?”

Phillips and Honeycutt met 11 years ago at Eastfield. Phillips worked in the media department, where Honeycutt began her tenure at the college. During their eight years of marriage, Honeycutt has managed to convert Phillips into a tech hand.

Although he doesn’t work at Eastfield anymore, he comes to the college to help with production whenever he can.

Phillips and Honeycutt’s youngest son, Zane, jokes about being her helper.

“The thing with Lori is, she’s not just telling you what to do,” Phillips

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

says. “She’s right there next to you, drill in hand, working. She motivates you to work and she makes you feel like you can do anything.”

Zane remembers being 12 years old and already knowing how to build flats. He would hang around the Performance Hall watching Honeycutt juggle a cluster of jobs.

One day, she gathered the students helping with set-building, and let them know that Zane would be teaching them how to build a basic flat.

“They were so blown away that this little kid half their age was walking around with a drill teaching them how to build flats,” Honeycutt says with a laugh, remembering the looks of the theater students.

After a nine-hour day full of budgeting the cost of upcoming productions and deconstructing sets, Honeycutt comes home to her two-story house in Forney and helps Zane trim the limbs off a couple of bushes in the

front yard. They head inside, where Phillips is setting up YouTube videos to watch while they prepare dinner.

After Phillips finishes grilling chicken, Honeycutt cuts up avocados, chops some tomatoes and pops open a jar of salsa.

The family slip into their comfy clothes, find their spots on the living room couches and turn on the Syfy channel.

Honeycutt meant it when she said she realized what she wanted to do for the rest of her life that day at the Eisemann.

“This is what I love,” she said. “I enjoy working with the students.

Yeah, it’s stressful, I work super long hours and sometimes I complain, like ‘God, I hurt,’ but I can watch the dance shows after I design lights for them and go, ‘Man, that’s pretty. That came out of my brain,’ and I can go do the professional stuff that I do with Danielle, and at the end of it, I’m like, ‘Yeah, this is it.’ ”

10 Wednesday, May 3, 2017

For most people, summer is a time of change. Whether you’re still reeling from the symphonies of spring, dreading the dropping temperatures of fall or just braving the lull between semesters, the last thing you want is to be stuck inside with nothing to do. The Et Cetera’s editors and adviser have got you covered. Here’s a list of upcoming summer entertainment to look forward to while you’re weathering out the searing Texas heat.

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We’ve had our fair share of great, good and horrible Spidey flicks in the past, but this is the first time since Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2” that I’ve been so excited for the web-slinger to jump on the big screen. “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” opening July 7, looks to add a refreshing quirk that’s signature to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tom Holland as Peter Parker is a home run of a casting choice, perfectly proving himself in the “Homecoming” trailer also known as “Captain America: Civil War.” We get Michael Keaton as Vulture, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Donald Glover as someone and Marisa Tomei (hopefully in a thick ItalianAmerican accent) as Aunt May. How can you not be excited?

Also be excited for: • “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” May 5 • “Dunkirk,” July 21 • “It Comes at Night,” June 9 • “All Eyez on Me,” June 16 — David Silva

The 5K Foam Fest is returning to DFW Adventure Park May 13 with participants racing through enormous inflatable water slides, mud pits and foamy slip and slides. It will be a great way to kick off the summer break if you aren’t taking classes. If Roanoke is too far of a drive, the Must-Dash 5K Fun Run on June 17 in Richardson’s Galatyn Park might be a better option. It’s a dad-inspired, mustache-themed race that’s great for the whole family.

If you don’t care about fitness or just hate exercise, check out these other events for all the couch potatoes out there: • Fort Worth Stockyards Championship Rodeo: every Friday and Saturday night • UFC 211: Stipe Miocic vs. Junior Dos Santos @ AAC: May 13 • Any Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park in Arlington • Any FC Dallas game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco — Julio Vega

When I first walked into Uncle Uber’s restaurant, located at 2713 Commerce St. in Dallas, it felt like I was walking into a room full of culture. I saw pieces of history decorating the walls, and the warm music created the perfect dining environment. The food is phenomenal, especially the signature Uber Sauce.

Also have a bite at: • Lindy’s Restaurant, 13425 Seagoville Road, Dallas • Best Burger, 2031 S. Buckner Blvd., Dallas • Norma’s Café, 1123 W. Davis St., Dallas • Angry Dog, 2726 Commerce St., Dallas — Andrew Gonzales

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Nearly 30 years after its cancellation, David Lynch’s cult classic “Twin Peaks” continues to be one of the most influential television dramas ever made. What started as an off-kilter murder mystery surrounding the death of beloved homecoming queen Laura Palmer quickly spiraled into a genre-defying journey through the horrifying and the surreal. On May 21, we finally get to see a proper conclusion. A continuation of the original series, “Twin Peaks” will have us returning to the eponymous Washington town with much of the original cast, including Kyle MacLachlan, who will be reprising his breakout role as the relentlessly eccentric FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper.

More to watch: • “American Gods,” April 30 • “The Mist,” June 22 • “Will,” July 10 • “Hooten & the Lady,” July 13 — Caitlin Piper

Paula Hawkins raced onto the publishing scene in 2015 with “The Girl on the Train,” a thriller lauded as the next “Gone Girl.” Her sophomore novel, “Into the Water,” was released May 2 with a splash. But I am more excited about a lesser-known crime writer. Jane Casey’s seventh installment about London detective Maeve Kerrigan, “Let the Dead Speak,” comes out July 25 in the U.S. In the meantime, catch up on the series, which started with “The Burning” in 2011.

More page-turners: • “Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body” by Roxane Gay, June 13 • “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” by Neil deGrasse Tyson, May 2 — Elizabeth Langton

“Cuphead” is a run-and-gun game inspired by 1930s cartoons. Starring a protagonist who has a cup for a head, it features retro character designs and musical choices.

It’s a unique change from all the hyper realistic games we tend to get these days.

Also watch for: • “Hello Neighbor” • “Splatoon 2” • “Hiveswap” — Emylee Lucas

Warped Tour is the music event of the summer. If you aren’t there, you aren’t doing summer right. The dehydration paired with the heat of the crowds is enough to make you pass out, but this is a small inconvenience compared to the grandeur that is Warped. The concert is an all-day event at Fair Park July 28. Tickets start at $52.50.

More hot tickets are: • Pick any local band and show up to support them, usually about $5 • Icon for Hire, May 20, $15 • Hail the Sun, May 26, $12 general admission, $40 VIP • Tears for Fears, July 11, starting at $35 — James Hartley

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Farewell to Fine Arts After a month of performances, galleries and live events, the Literary & Fine Arts Festival is nearing its end. The events taking the stage during the final act of the festival included the “Harvester Cabaret Musical Revue,” the Spring Dance Concert, the Student Art Exhibition and several artist lectures. Remaining events includes the Theatrical Reading Series at 12:30 p.m. May 4 in L-111 and the art gallery shows: Will Heron’s “Entendre,” which runs until May 5, and The Eastfield Visual Art Student Exhibition, running through May 12.

—Compiled by David Silva YESENIA ALVARADO/THE ET CETERA

Top right, dancers present the “In Still Water” piece during the April 27 Spring Dance Concert in the Performance Hall. The piece was choreographed by Kier Amison and performed by the Ballet I and II classes.

JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA

DAVID SILVA/THE ET CETERA

Above, Linda Lopez demonstrates sculpting to students on April 13 during her artist lecture in F-217.

Right, Lydia Bruce poses next to her artwork, titled “Don’t Breathe,” during the April 27 reception of the Visual Art Student Exhibition in F-219C. The charcoal-on-paper piece won the Juror’s Award.

Above, the cast of the second annual “Harvester Cabaret Musical Revue” performs “Footloose” on April 21 in the Performance Hall. The revue featured hits ranging from the 1950s to the 2000s and was a collaboration between the Harvester Theatre Company, the Eastfield Chorus and the Eastfield Music Department. Left, students play during the April 24 Piano Recital in F-117.

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

YESENIA ALVARADO/THE ET CETERA

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Five gems worth visiting during summer It’s time to start planning your summer. What better way to spend some time than by staying local and inexpensive? Spend time with friends, have fun and save money with these top five hidden gems.

— Compiled by Macks Prewitt

Texas Theatre is located in Oak Cliff at 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. ➤ Trinity Trails

A hidden gem as well as a conservation project, the Trinity Trails are hiking, biking and a series of parks in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

They are open to the public and are a good place to go and explore. They also have fishing locations, equestrian trails and launch sites for kayaks and canoes.

You can reach this hidden gem by going to Trammell Crow Park at 3700 Sylvan Ave. and from the park you can get to the Trinity Skyline Trail and the Trinity River Bridge.

➤ Opening Bell Coffee

Most independent coffee shops are not cheap, but Opening Bell offers a little something on the side that doesn’t cost anything to enjoy.

Every Tuesday night, they have an open mic night that features local musicians. So if you are don’t have any plans on a Tuesday night this summer, just drive over to 1409 S. Lamar St., Basement No. 012.

Don’t worry about parking or getting lost because on their website they include complete directions including where to park for free. I would plan on getting there before 7 p.m. though because they are known for their open mic night among hipsters. ➤ 91.7 KXT

Following the vein of local music, the next hidden gem is hidden in plain sight.

In your car there is a radio, probably. Tune into 91.7 FM KXT if you want to experience local music from the DFW area and other amazing artists from various genres.

KXT is the local radio station. It is supported by viewers and almost commercial-free, unlike other radio stations.

So if you like what KXT is giving you, throw a donation their way.

You can also get their KXT app where you can stream their morning, afternoon and evening shows.

➤ The Dallas Fraternal Order of Eagles DAVID SILVA/THE ET CETERA

The open mic and stage at Opening Bell Coffee. ➤ Texas Theatre

If you are really into film as an art form, then this is the place for you.

Texas Theatre was originally built in 1931 and has a rich, storied history including the fact that Lee Harvey Oswald hid in it after shooting John F. Kennedy.

After a long period of misuse and neglect, Texas Theatre was registered as a historical location and was renovated to continue being a cinema as well as an event venue.

The films you will see there now come from all types of cinema. They range from independent films and documentaries to classics such as “Taxi Driver,” “Over the Top” and “The Running Man.” They also hold live comedy events as well as some concerts. Check their web calendar for summer event updates.

Texas is famous first and foremost for our heat, so of course a high five of hidden gem things to do this summer would include a water place. This place feels like going over to a friends house for a pool party.

The Dallas Fraternal Order of Eagles is a house in Dallas with a large pool that has been converted for public use. Admission is $9 on the weekend and $7 on weekdays. Swim season starts May 1 and goes until September.

They have a bar near the pool where you can get refreshments, but the whole place is child-friendly as well. Their calendar has set events like the Redneck Olympics and Mudbug Fest, and you can also rent it out.

Aside from the strange name and its similarities to a frat house, the whole thing is legitimate and cheap way to relax during the summer if you want to avoid the trash in Lake Ray Hubbard.

The Dallas Fraternal Order of Eagles is located at 8500 Arturo Drive.

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TWU, the nation’s largest university primarily for women, offers smaller classes that provide personal attention in an environment that supports career-focused students.

Health care • Nursing • Business • Education • Arts • Sciences

Apply Now. Discover More. twu.edu/transfer

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ALBUM REVIEW

‘DAMN’ good for most rappers, not for Lamar

By JONATHAN AGUIRRE Staff Writer @TheEtCetera

A favorite pastime of hip-hop fans is discussing who is the best rapper ever. Of course every genre fanbase has this debate of who is the best in their field. But hip-hop is a relatively new genre and doesn’t have many artists in the running for the title.

With the respective 2012 and 2015 releases of “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City” and “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Kendrick Lamar has become a contender.

It’s easy to see why Lamar’s storytelling ability shines alongside his brutally honest social commentary filled with intelligent lyrics and clever wordplay.

He provides unique deliveries and flows with beats that complement his voice.

So it’s obvious why I would be extremely excited for Lamar’s new album, “DAMN,” and hoped it would solidify his position in music history.

“DAMN” seems to be one of Lamar’s least polished studio albums. But it is still a fantastic album in its own right.

The majority of the songs have well-thought-out writing.

“FEAR” and “FEEL” both have introspective and emotional lyrics that show Lamar’s ability to convey his feelings through song.

“DUCKWORTH” tells the story of the founder of Top Dawg Entertainment, Lamar’s record label, who attempted to rob a KFC where Lamar’s father worked.

Lamar is one of the most original and creative artists alive, yet some songs in “DAMN” sound like Drake rip-offs. Songs like “YAH” and “ELEMENT” use the same monotone, laid-back singing that’s so popular right now.

In “GOD,” he uses the same hard singing inflection as Drake in his song “Fake Love.”

“GOD” might be the worst song in Lamar’s discography.

Its beat is bloated with synths, the backing vocals are soaked in reverb, its lyrics are terrible by Lamar’s standards and it feels

COURTESY OF TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT

totally soulless for a religious song.

The lyrics are hit-or-miss throughout the album. Some are straightforward braggadocios meant to be played in a bassheavy car like “DNA” and “HUMBLE.” Other songs have lyrics that are meaningless and basic like “LOVE” and “GOD.” These two are written like they were specifically made to be played on the radio. For a man as introspective as Lamar, it is strange that he has a song with the lyrics: “So give me a run for my money. Sippin’ bubbly, feelin’ lovely, livin’ lovely. Just love me.”

“LOVE” features vocals from Zacari, who sounds like a discount Justin Bieber.

But an accessible song isn’t inherently bad. Rihanna makes an

appearance in “LOYALTY,” and it still has the potential to play on radio stations across the country.

When I first saw the featured artists on the album, I was a bit worried. On her own, Rihanna is a great performer. When collaborating, she more often than not sings a bland chorus that could be sung by any female artist. She mostly serves as a name drop. In “LOYALTY,” Rihanna sings a duet with Lamar as they trade verses. She is just as enjoyable to listen to as Lamar.

I was mostly worried about the U2 feature. I have never been a fan of old rock bands working with modern hip-hop artists.

However, Bono only sings for a total of 27 seconds and doesn’t try to steal the spotlight with his performance.

When the lyrics aren’t so great, the beats more than make up for it. Most of the songs have beat switches that give the album a nice pace and keep things interesting.

“XXX” has haunting and unconventional instrumentals. Distorted piano and chopped-and-screwed influenced drums make this track stand out. What’s more impressive is that this strange track is produced by Mikewillmadeit.

“PRIDE” also has a great beat. The guitar is reminiscent of Mac Demarco, and the bassline adds a nice groove.

What’s strange is that the quality of the instrumentals often match the quality of the lyrics from track to track. Mikewillmadeit appropriately produces the boastful songs, while the more insightful songs have simpler beats that keep Lamar at the forefront. The songs with bad lyrics have terrible beats.

I think I’m being too hard on “DAMN.” A couple bad songs do not make for a bad album. In fact, most of the songs on this album are great.

If anyone else released this album, I would have praised it more.

But it’s OK to hold Lamar to a higher standard. He is obviously capable of much more. If he’s capable of two perfect albums, he should be able to make another.

Talking communications

Kathy Wise (right) and Wendy Woody (middle) talk with students at a round-table discussion during Communications Career Day. Woody, a producer at KDFW Fox 4, and Wise, executive editor of D Magazine, and 11 other media professionals gave students advice on breaking into the media world, being successful in a communications career and what to expect while working for a news organization.

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

Sports

The Et Cetera

May 3 May 5 May 6

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

Baseball vs Brookhaven Baseball @ Brookhaven Baseball @ Brookhaven

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16

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Baseball nears season end with eyes on nationals

By BEN ENSIGN Staff Writer @BenEnsignETC

The Eastfield Harvesters baseball team is heading to tournament with an overall record of 25-22 and a conference record of 15-12.

The Harvesters have held near the middle of the Region V conference rankings this season.

The team boasts a batting average of .318 and a 6.13 pitching ERA. Eastfield coach Michael Martin said he hasn’t been satisfied with the state of the team this semester.

“It’s been an inconsistent year, with not only our play but also with our lineups with all the injuries we have had,” he said. “Hopefully we can solidify our lineup and play going into the tournament.”

Starting catcher Skylar Black, who leads the

team in batting average, .414, and home runs, eight, was sidelined after breaking his right hand versus Cedar Valley. Martin said he hopes to have him back before the regular season ends.

Despite the injury, Black said he is confident in his team’s ability to be successful in the tournament.

“We will be good if we show up and play the way we know we can,” he said. “Even if we don’t show up, we may be able to scrap out a win.”

Pitcher Paul Bowman (4-2) said the influx of freshman makes consistent play difficult.

“We have a lot of freshman, so it’s hard to click with them because we don’t really know them,” he said. “But we feel like we’re starting to click now, and hopefully we continue to develop heading into the tournament.”

Bowman also cited a lack of focus for his team and his own struggle on the mound with a

LESLEY REYES/THE ET CETERA

Tyler Foy pitches during Eastfield’s 15-8 road win over Richland April 22, earning him his second win of the season.

4.97 ERA, but he is confident in his team’s ability to play against anyone.

“We know we can beat any team that we play,” Bowman said. “We’re hard to beat on our

best days. Teams should be scared to play us.”

The team expects to face the Tyler Junior College Apaches, ranked sixth nationally, this year after losing the ticket to the national tournament to them for the past two years. Martin is eager to play them.

“Tyler is good every year, and so are we, and it comes down to a tough match almost every year,” Martin said. “I just hope that we are both in that situation. I hope that they have to beat us. That’s what we play for, to beat the best teams around.”

Martin said the team needs to find consistency in their play and recover from the injuries suffered in the season before they can find success in the tournament.

“Hopefully we will get some of our pitchers back, get Skylar back and have a healthy lineup,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting hot at the right time.”

Intramural coordinator aims to continue program growth

Q A &

Q

What inspired you to get involved with intramural sports here?

A

Q A

Jide “JC” Carew, who was born in Nigeria, worked as a peer mentor in the Office of Student Engagement and Retention while studying at Eastfield and the University of Texas at Arlington. After graduating, he took on a full-time job as Eastfield’s intramural sports coordinator. Over the past year, Carew has been adding new activities to the schedule, from Saturday open gyms and traditional sports tournaments to chess tournaments and Workout Wednesdays. He sat down with Et Cetera sports editor Julio Vega to discuss what’s next.

Prior to this, my privilege up here on campus was being a peer mentor. I was taken under the wing of Larry Jefferson, the prior intramural program coordinator.

I’m always active and I like to play sports. So I was like, “I’ll take the job that lets me do what I like a lot.”

So what I have to do is come up

with fun events that I already want to do and participate in because I’m so close in age with students. So of course, intramural sports are just that easy. But it was never anything that I had planned on doing. It’s just something I kind of helped [Jefferson] with, and he said, “Hey, I think this would be a good thing for you to grow with.”

Q

Since starting, what have you done for the program?

What is your goal for the intramural sports program?

My goal is for it to accurately reflect the desires of the student body. That may be through the actual intramural sports or maybe through Workout Wednesdays or fitness things or even through recreational spots with games. Going forward, I would like to rival that of four-year institutions. So five years from now, I think we should have intramural sports year-round and then have a variety of sports that accurately reflect the student body and their desires.

A

ANDREW GONZALES/THE ET CETERA

Since my arrival, I’ve tried each semester to solidify and grow intramural branding as well as our collaboration with different departments on campus. In fall of 2016, I worked with the athletic department to do our soccer program, which is something we’ve done before, but we used mini goals. We’ve worked to try to highlight different aspects of our campus such as the dance program and different things on campus that students like.

Q A

How will you help the program grow?

I plan on making all this growth of intramurals a reality, first, by always listening. Not making sports of things that I want to do or basing our model off what other schools are doing, but basing it off of our student population.

Let’s say we have a heavy student population who likes to stay indoors in the Pit and play things like Yu-Gi-Oh!, card games. But every semester, that game switches.

It goes from dominoes to spades to Yu-Gi-Oh!, and now we’re on Vanguard and from there went to

Magic the Gathering.

Q A

What sports and activities do you want to implement?

Flag football is definitely one more sport to do. We also want to try softball, use something on our fields as well. And just continue to maintain the sports we have today but on a bigger scale.

So for basketball, I’d like to have at least 10 teams in intramurals next semester. For soccer, I’d like to have at least six teams. In the summer, it would be nice to do disc golf and try different things. I would really love to do some rivalry games, like a districtwide intermural tournament. I like the fact that we have sports, fitness and recreation. It would also be nice to have kickboxing or different workout sports.

Q A

What has the intramural sports program taught you?

It’s given me a different connection with students, as in, I’ve [been in] the clubs and the organizations and it’s helped me program better, and it wasn’t too far of an extension for what I was doing. It helped my credibility and growth on management aspects.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

17

The Et Cetera

Graduation Announcements Kalli Willis Congratulations, Kalli!

You have inspired us all with your hard work and high goals! We are so proud of you for accomplishing your associate degree before high school graduation. We know that you will do great things in life. We will miss you dearly when you are off at Texas Tech! We love you!

Amanda R. Gruhlke You Did It!!

After many long years, raising 3 beautiful girls and having a full-time job, you finally did it, and we are very proud of you!

We love you, Mom, Victor, Kristina, Zoey, and Abbey

Kimia Takmil I want to take a moment to honor Kimia Takmil for her dedication and perseverance with the journey of graduating college.

I am truly humbled and honored to be in the presence of such a fighter and such a beautiful soul. I could not be more proud as I am today of this woman and her passion in helping others!

I love her to the moon and back for never listening to the naysayers and keeping an open mind in helping those most would turn a blind eye to.

Congratulations, Kimia, on your achievements, and may your new road take you far.

Love you baby!!

Michael MORE GRAD ANNOUNCEMENTS, SEE BACK PAGE

Texas Sumo Game Rental

Amber Forbes You may have graduated today, but you were a winner in our eyes from the beginning. Congratulations!

Your hard work will pay off for you & the babies.

Love you to the moon & back!

Mom, Tim, Grandma, Breanna, Caitlynn

Joshua Dowden Congratulations, Joshua!

It is gratifying to see your ability and confidence grow through the years. We look forward to all God has in store for you and encourage you to do all your work as unto the Lord!

Natalie Nelms I’m so proud of you!!

Congratulations!!

Love, Adoria (mom)

Natalie Nelms

Congratulations, Mommy!!

Love, Doria Small

Emily Compean Emily, You are beautiful, strong, courageous, determined, intelligent, all of the above.

We are so proud of you, and we wish you nothing but the best in your future!

Love Mom, Dad & Brothers

Sjaletra ‘Beaux’ McDuffie “Strike up the band, sound the alarm, release of your destiny has come!”

So proud of you.

Love, Mama

Hector Robledo

Hector Robledo is one of those rare college students who always strives for greatness regardless if it is intentional or not. He is the first generation to attend college and has a work ethic like no other. For example, this spring semester he has taken two scholar classes, Honors Statistics, and an International Honor course.

Hector is graduating with many accomplishments under his belt. Today he smiles because he and everyone here today realize his future is brighter than ever before. He has been accepted to Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of North Texas at Denton. Hector is a Phi Theta Kappa Officer, Phi Theta Kappa National winner, Phi Theta Kappa Alumni member, and an Honors Scholar. But wait, there is more … he was also a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Mentorship Outreach program, and a Student Government Association member. He is not aware of his many talents!

Determined. Resourceful. Intelligent. Organized.

Team player … these are just a few of his charming talents.

NOW HIRING | $12 an hour | paid weekly 214-357-7077 www.texassumo.com

opinion Etera

18 www.eastfieldnews.com

It's time to detach from our phones

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 Editor in Chief David Silva Managing Editor James Hartley Life & Arts Editor Katrina Bond

Sports Editor Julio Vega

Copy Editor Caitlin Piper

Design Editor Emylee Lucas

Photo Editor David Sanchez

Asst. Photo Editor Andrew Gonzales

Staff Writers Jon Aguirre Macks Prewitt Anthony Resendez

Emily Martinez Landon Williams Ben Ensign

Senior Staff Photographers Ahmad Ashor Alejandra Rosas Isabel Espinoza Jesus Ayala Photographers Yesenia Alvarado Heidi McCaslin Daniel Rodriguez

Valentino Jorge Lesley Reyes

Designers & Artists Alec Ogle Editorial Assistants Martha Especulta Reporters Josh Taylor Matthew Weseman Alyssa R. Fullilove Larsen Ullrich Contributors Esmeralda Olguin Jasmine Oliva Vanessa Ochoa Shekinah Berry Chelsi Harris Hermila Martinez Manuel Guapo Jacquelyne Rojas

Marie Garica Josue Hernandez Jon-Mark Tamez Jessica Luther

Braulio Tellez John Lemus Joel Sierra Alber Molina Jose Delgado Esther Moreno Edward Neal Citlaly Montoya

Advertising & Marketing Keturah Hill 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.

First Amendment 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.

Follow Us On Social Media The Et Cetera is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Find us @TheEtCetera

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

OUR VIEW

MARTHA ESPECULTA/THE ET CETERA

Eastfield, district have made strides in student resources As the semester draws to a close and another academic year ends, we have seen many programs introduced, cut or altered both throughout the district and within our campus with varying levels of success.

A decline in extracurricular activities and lack of accessible resources for students struggling with addiction are hardly the only problems we see at Eastfield.

However, other changes have quickly raised us above several competing college systems. Most effective is the expansion of the Rising Star scholarship program, much of it scheduled to take effect in the fall, which will increase individual funding for qualifying students and expand its services to a wider age group.

This will grant more people the benefits of a college education without the hefty price tag, hopefully bringing us one step closer to the rejected free college program proposed by President Barack Obama in 2015.

The expansion of the Eastfield counseling center, though not without its hiccups, paired well with the increased focus on the Provide Hope and Suicide Education project on campus.

Maintaining mental health is an uphill

battle for a shocking amount of students, and these resources can only help point them in the right direction.

The Eastfield Office of Student Engagement and Retention’s decision to introduce the Puente Project, a program intended to provide further support to students in developmental classes, was also a sound change.

We look forward to seeing planned additions to the program in the fall.

Our proposed partnership with the North Texas Food Bank will provide food to countless struggling students.

An additional partnership with Aunt Bertha, a search engine intended to help users find food, housing, work, healthcare and many other necessities, is another testament to the district’s interest in the wellbeing of its students.

There is always room for improvement on campus. For every success story, there runs the risk of failure.

However, we feel confident to say that both the college and the Dallas County Community College District are receptive to the needs of students and will try to do everything in their power to support them, whether it be academically, professionally or financially.

Letters to the Editor

The content will remain that of the author.

Letters considered for publication must be 250 words or fewer.

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.

Letters may be delivered to Room N-240 or sent to etc4640@dcccd.edu.

All my family gathered up for my sister’s birthday dinner, some- Esmeralda thing that never happens.

Olguin From the moment we sat down, I buried my face in my cellphone.

As our server came to take our order, I looked up only to see my family ignoring her because like me, they were all on their cellphones.

I pointed out how rude they were being going back to their phones as soon as the server left, rather than socializing with each other.

Cellphones have become an essential item in our everyday lives.

Of course they come in handy in case of an emergency and are a way of communicating with others instantly, but it seems as if cellphones are no longer just about communicating.

I tend to check my phone about every two minutes, even if I am not expecting a call or text.

The screen isn’t lit up, but there’s a feeling that if I check it, maybe, just maybe, there will be something there.

Soon, you drift away to social media.

Maybe there’s something waiting for you there. Even if there’s not, the apps are already open, so you begin to look through them until you realize that 10 minutes have passed.

The time you were planning on using for homework or meeting with family and friends is gone.

Even my 55-year-old father, who recently got his first smartphone, has adopted these habits.

He does not have any social media and is still learning how to text, but he checks his phone every few minutes.

His weather and horoscope apps are opened at least 20 times a day, even when it’s the same as when he checked 15 minutes earlier.

Constantly checking your phone becomes a distraction regardless of how good you think you are at multitasking.

We may think we are listening to what others are saying, but that is not always the case.

Friends and family have told me several times that they feel ignored when I am on my cellphone.

The constant need to check my cellphone has become a major distraction when doing homework or attending class.

An assignment that should only take 20 minutes can end up taking an hour due to the distraction.

Most of us are aware that high cellphone usage is an issue, but not many are doing something to fix it.

I am learning to put my cellphone away.

It is difficult to leave it at home because you never know when you may need it, but simple stuff like putting it in a drawer, my purse or my car helps.

It is difficult to just stop using it so much at once, but it is important to fight the urge.

We must all pay attention to how much we use our cellphones and know whether or not it is worth the distraction.

OPINION

19

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Use summer to travel, find internships

The spring semester is almost over. Students are in full study mode, crawling through the last leg of final exam preparation and making plans for the longest break of the academic year.

Some of us can already smell the sunscreen and chlorine from the pool.

Before you commit to lounging and letting the summer creep on by, think about this: How could this lengthy time off be better spent?

As students, some full-time and others part-time, it’s hard to imagine doing anything other than being out all night then snoozing till 2 p.m.

But look at the bigger picture.

School takes so much of our time. Monday through Friday, I’m in classes at both Eastfield and the University of Texas at Arlington more than 60 percent of the day.

I also work for the UTA newspaper part-time.

There’s no time to travel, find a new hobby or search for an internship.

But for three months of the summer, we’re free to do whatever we want.

Sure, doing nothing sounds

Braulio Tellez

amazing after cramming weeks of algebraic equations and random facts into our noggins, but hiking through a foreign country, learning to play the guitar or shadowing a professional will make the break so much more worth it.

Three summers ago, my girlfriend and I were a new couple and eager to do something spontaneous.

It was super hot outside, and for some reason, we decided to head to the desert.

We loaded camping gear into a pickup truck and drove to Big Bend National Park.

It sounds like a stupid thing to do. Why stick yourself in the desert during the most scorching time in Texas?

I don’t really know why, but it sounded better than sitting around doing nothing. We wanted to see

new things and come back with stories. We wanted an experience, good or bad.

We spent four blazing days camping out in Southwest Texas. The drive there is something every native Texan should do. If you’ve never seen the transformation of landscape from city to desert, you are missing out.

Most of us are aware of the vastness of Texas, but it doesn’t come into full scope until you see the shimmer of big city lights disappear into the rear view mirror.

As you drive further west, the dusty, burnt-orange terrain begins to rise, and the horizon becomes one jagged ridge of distant mountain ranges.

Once we made it to the park, it really hit us.

We were surrounded by clusters of cacti, other desert plants and sandy, arid basins. The temperature was tough to deal with at first, but gallons of water and shady trees helped combat the white-hot sun.

On our third day, after a bit of investigation and speaking to park rangers, we found ourselves at the base of the Chisos Mountains.

Emory Peak was the highest point in the park. Sidney and I had never hiked a mountain, let alone one that was 7,825 feet tall.

After looking up at the peak layered in front of the blue sky and burning sun, we mustered up courage and ascended.

The hike lasted three hours up and down.

When we came back down, we were depleted. But we’d found what we were looking for: something different.

I want you to find your mountain.

I have friends on the newspaper who took internships in something they’d never done before — working at radio stations, designing billboards.

Someone even covered high school football and knew nothing about the sport.

They all came back from their experiences with a new skill and memories.

Crave something new. It doesn’t have to be a trek through the mountains or exploring a career opportunity, but it should be something unexpected.

You’ll be kicking yourself when

Awareness of my introversion helped me in journalism When I got my first news writing assignment, I was terrified.

I was told to interview professors and Eastfield students about an event on campus.

Easy, right? I’m an adult.

I should totally be able to interact with other adults and ask them basic questions, right? Not exactly.

Having a basic conversation should not have been the most challenging — and somewhat embarrassing — moment of my college career. But it absolutely was.

The first professor I interviewed probably thought I looked like a Chihuahua — shaking with a vaguely pained look on my face.

I was so focused on how uncomfortable I was that I forgot to do one of the most basic tasks for journalists: take notes.

For an anxious introvert, choosing a profession where I have to talk to people for a living was probably not the smartest idea.

Or maybe it was.

After studying and engaging in journalism for the past three years, I’ve learned that good journalists are not always extroverts.

They’re not necessarily people who thrive on the energy of interacting with others.

There are many great journalists whose success stems from the fact that they are able to make their introverted characteristics into strengths.

Jasmine Oliva

I decided to be a journalist because I have always loved reading true stories. It was not until college that I realized my favorite profile pieces came from real-life conversations.

I used to read interviews and think of how great it would be to sit in on the conversation. I would think of some hard-hitting questions and wish the reporter would ask them.

I never knew how daunting that task would actually be. Introversion has a pretty negative connotation.

Introverts are often stereotyped as selfobsessed thinkers and are characterized by their disdain for small talk. These things are actually pretty helpful when it comes to journalism.

Being self-aware about my introverted tendencies allows me the freedom to play to my strengths.

I know that I need time to psych myself up to talk to people, so I schedule time before and after interviews to relax.

Otherwise, I’d be spending the hours before an

interview dreading the idea of talking to someone.

Because I am relatively bad at making small talk, journalism is perfect.

I do not have it sit there and make a fool out of myself for talking about the weather. I can just sit back and listen to the person I am interviewing.

I used to be the girl who showed up 30 minutes early to an interview just to hide in a corner and practice how to greet someone without stuttering.

In three years, I am now the girl who shows up early to calmly go over carefully written notes. I still get freaked out about talking to new people, but not enough to sweat through a shirt.

Yep, I did that too.

College is the time to stretch yourself, not only learning from textbooks but learning new experiences and skills.

If you told me three years ago that I would be proficient at news reporting, I would have looked over my shoulder and asked if you were talking to me. I would be surprised to learn that I’d be pursuing a career in the very field that once terrified me.

Fellow introverts, do not be scared of a future in any industry that’s seemingly full of extroverts.

Extroverts may thrive in journalism, but I am finding my place in it too.

Journalism did not cure me of my introvert tendencies, but at least I am not that terrified Chihuahua anymore.

you’re knee-deep in government textbooks and group projects if you don’t.

I spent my first three college summers drinking and partying with friends.

While it was fun and kept my mind off of my responsibilities, I became stagnant and failed to grow.

I’d held myself back from things I really wanted to do because I was unmotivated and complacent.

I let a valuable time in my life shrivel at the bottom of a 40-ounce Budweiser and left doors to new experiences unopened.

Don’t do that.

You don’t have to literally go out and climb a mountain.

You don’t even need to get a job.

Just don’t waste these next three months.

Summer vacations won’t be there forever. They’re unique to students, and soon you’ll only have a two- or three-week break to look forward to each year.

When you’re sitting in your first class of the fall semester and your professor asks you to tell the class what you did all summer, what are you going to say?

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS City and school board elections are May 6. Visit your county election site to see what races are on the ballot where you live. Then go vote.

Dallas County dallascountyvotes.org Rockwall County rockwallvotes.com/ election-information/cityschool-websites Kaufman County kaufmancounty.org/ elections Ellis County co.ellis.tx.us Collin County collincountytx.gov/ elections

20

WRAP UP

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

Gun policies yet to be set

ExtrEmylee By Emylee Lucas

Continued from page 2 “They have some kind of simulation tion where it’s like you’re at a firing range, but it’s not real bullets,” Vance said. “Even though there may be signage on the day of the events, someone may not pay attention to the signs, walk in, believe it’s real and use their real gun to ‘save the day.’ ” Tarrant County College has already solidified their gun-free zones, including areas primarily used for performance halls, health services, childcare, testing, early college high school programs, physical education and counseling. The police department at TCCD campuses will also be gun-free.

Kilgore College banned guns in the police station and their health and science center as well as at sporting events. Grayson College also banned guns at sporting events, disciplinary hearings and religious gatherings and will allow them in dorms and workout facilities.

The Collin College Board of Trustees held a first reading of the proposed exclusionary zones on Collin College’s campus April 25. They are expected to vote on the proposed zones in May.

Education major Carina Salcedo said that, while Eastfield and the DCCCD have offered forums, she believes a lot of people don’t know about the law.

She suggested that, even after implementation, the college should offer a place for students to ask questions.

She also worries that students may not have enough notice regarding where exclusionary zones will be before returning in the fall semester.

“If they have questions, they can go there, state their concerns like, ‘How will this affect me,’ and for people who will have guns to know where they can and cannot go,” Salcedo said. She suggested using class time to educate students on the law and implementation.

Nelson said that if students do not understand campus carry or know that it will be implemented in August, it is “willful ignorance” because of the forums offered by Eastfield and the DCCCD. Other areas prohibited by concealed carry laws will also be exempt from campus carry, such as sporting events, places of worship, hospitals or nursing homes.

Graduation Announcements Carlos Guerrero Congratulations, Carlos Guerrero Graduate in AS.FS.Business 2017 PTK Member 1757-1697 “The sky is the limit.”

Et Cetera Staff Congratulations and best wishes to our graduating rockstars!

David Sanchez Emylee Lucas Caitlin Piper Martha Especulta Alejandra Rosas Alec Ogle Matthew Weseman

Holly Horak I have seen you grow over the past 7 years into a stronger person than you once were. I am so proud of you. I know it has been a tough road, and I can’t wait to see what else you achieve in life in the future.

Always remember I will be by your side.

Love, Bigs

Shayla Currier A special congratulations on graduating. Chase your dreams. Never stop trying.

You can achieve whatever you want in life.

We love you!

Your Family

Moses Alfred Join me to celebrate my mom, Theresa Edokpayi, and my brothers, Solomon and John Edokpayi.

They contributed to my success, and I will not fail to thank the almighty God for giving me the grace to get to this level.

Class of 2017 Congratulations, Harvesters!

“And now go, and make interesting mistakes. Make amazing mistakes. Make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules.

Leave the world more interesting for your being here.”

— Neil Gaiman