Eastfield Et Cetera May 6, 2015

Etera

Eastfield College

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Shows to binge watch over the summer break See pages 8 and 9

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

collective expressions of

The Literary and Fine Arts Festival turns the campus into a stage for students, faculty

Volume 46, Issue 12

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

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The Et Cetera

Eastfield promotes awareness, rallies behind Nepal

By Andy Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

Rohan Dokharel remembers the night of Friday, April 24 very clearly.

“It was when the tornado came on the DFW area,” Dokharel said. “I came back from my grandpa’s home. I was looking at Facebook.

Somebody [had] just uploaded a status like ‘Earthquake in Nepal.’ ” Dokharel, who has experienced minor earthquakes before, said he was not concerned for his friends and family back in Nepal.

“I was like laughing ‘cause I have faced a lot of earthquakes in Nepal and they’re pretty minor shakings,” he said. “Used to be fun when I was with my friends, so I thought ‘OK, it must be fun.’ ” The earthquake that hit Nepal just before noon April 25 Nepal Standard Time reached a 7.8 magnitude with an epicenter in the small district of Gorkha near Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

“Then I came to hear about the magnitude of the earthquake and it was huge, so I just needed to call my family but the number was not being dialed,” Dokharel said. “I thought it might be the network disturbance. After an earthquake you get a lot of disturbances on the network because a lot of buildings shake. Cellphone towers and Internet towers don’t match up the signal because of the high magnitude of the earthquake. So I thought, ‘OK, I’ll wait.’

“I came in contact at five in the morning,” he said. “I was trying to [get] in contact [since] 12 a.m. and then everything was pretty fine, but everything was ruined in that old city that I [grew up in] till [I was] 18 years [old].”

Just like many other Nepalese students, Dokharel left his country in search of a quality education. He is an undecided major at Eastfield and has been in the country for nine months.

On every post-quake picture that Dokharel sees, he remembers the places, the buildings

and the areas he used to visit. He is convinced that if he went to Kathmandu today he could still find his way around the city, even though the quake leveled many buildings. He said that it would feel like déjà vu.

“I know every nook and corner of Kathmandu,” he said. “The buildings that used to be there, they won’t be the same. It would look a lot different.”

The earthquake affected many people around the Gorkha district. Ten days after the quake death tolls surpassed 7,000 with twice as many injured, as reported by the National Emergency Operation Center.

A week later the earthquake survivors were still being rescued. It has been determined impossible to rescue more survivors.

Dip Niraula, an undecided major, said the biggest problem is that Nepal’s government is not handling the situation efficiently.

“They got the resources there, they got the first aid sent by the other countries, but it’s not delocalized by the government, it’s just stuck in one place,” Niraula said. “It’s not even distributed in Kathmandu.”

Resources such as food, water, clothing and tents are being delivered by helicopter but the landscape provides many obstacles. Many of the main roads are covered in rubble, making it nearly impossible to reach small villages.

“One of my friends, she had her house break down in the earthquake,” computer engineering major Milan Biswakarma said.

The aftershocks of the earthquake are still terrorizing the population.

Every day there are two smaller earthquakes that still cause trouble to the architecture and the psychological well-being of the people.

The families of Niraula, Biswakarma and Dokarel did not suffer from any physical harm.

However, Biswakarma said that this doesn’t mean they aren’t affected.

“Rather than not being affected, I think all of them are affected,” Biswakarma said. “[The Nepalese] have to live in tents in the ground

DARNISHA CORNELIUS/THE ET CETERA

Dip Niraula and Diwas Adhikari are using hand gestures to represent #UnityforHumanity. They will be accepting donations to help Nepal in the pit until Friday, May 8.

outside their [houses]. They don’t have good food to eat, good water to drink, so when they need food or water they go in the house and it’s a horrible situation because they have to go there in fear, fear that an earthquake might hit again and they might die. It’s far from being normal.”

Biswakarma, Niraula and Diwas Adhikari, a computer science major, created their own donation campaign to help the earthquake victims. They are taking donations in the Pit through May 8.

They accept most first aid supplies, but since airlines are charging processing fees, Dokharel said that monetary donations would be better.

All collections will be delivered through the Nepalese Society of Texas.

The campaign started when they emailed their English professor, Kassandra Buck, asking

for an extension on an assignment.

“As soon as we sent our email, she gave me a call saying ‘How are you? We are there for you,’ ” Biswakarma said. “It was like a feeling of motherly love for us because we had no one here for us. We all were not able to make contact with [our] families.”

Buck encouraged them to start the campaign and contact faculty and students who might be able to help.

They now have the support of various student organizations such as the Rotaract Club, the International Club and the Student Government Association.

“I really thank all the people in the Earth, especially Professor Buck. She has been like a light for us,” Niraula said. “When you are so far from the homeland, somebody does something like that. It always feels good.”

Texas legislative bills under consideration Briefs

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

Time is running out for the Texas Legislature, which meets biannually, to pass bills and send them to the governor for approval. The current legislative session, controlled by a Republican majority, ends June 1.

Read on for the status of bills of interest to the Eastfield community.

Guns Both the House and Senate have approved bills to allow licensed gun owners to carry handguns in holsters.

Once they iron out minor differences between the two bills, legislators will send it to Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it.

The campus carry bill, which would allow licensed gun owners to carry weapons on public college campuses, has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House.

Abortion A Senate bill would prohibit insurance companies from providing coverage for abortions except in cases of medical emergency. Abortions would still be covered under supplemental health insurance. The bill has been placed on the intent calendar in the Senate.

The bill to end coerced abortions has been sent back for a rewrite.

Fracking A bill that would give the state more control over fracking has been

sent to the governor. The bill has been often referred to as the “Denton fracking bill” because that city passed a law banning fracking within its city limits.

Taxes On April 28, the Texas House of Representatives tentatively approved a $4.9 billion tax cut by reducing state sales taxes The Senate plan would cut property taxes by 25 percent across the board.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has said that he will only support a budget that includes a cut in property taxes. Gov. Greg Abbot has previously stated that he supports any tax cuts.

The House and Senate must reach an agreement before sending the

budget to the governor.

Tuition A Senate bill that would require undocumented students to pay out of state tuition in Texas received a hearing but remains in limbo.

It has not been placed on the intent calendar, and cannot be voted on until it is on the intent calendar for two days.

Texting and driving The House passed a bill in March to ban texting and driving in Texas.

The bill would make it illegal to text while operating a vehicle, but would allow for phone calls, emergency texts and talk-to-text. The bill has been referred to committee in the Senate.

NEWS

Dr. Joe May visits Congress DCCCD Chancellor Dr. Joe May testified before the Congressional Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training in Washington April 30.

He and three other witnesses discussed how low-income and firstgeneration students in the district benefit from federal programs such as TRiO while suggesting ways to improve them.

Online story Read about how disabled students navigate classes and daily life at Eastfield college. Online at eastfieldnews. com

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Gunmen die attacking Garland event

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

Two men were killed after opening fire outside a controversial art exhibit in Garland May 3.

The Curtis Culwell Center was hosting a contest and exhibit featuring artwork of the Islamic prophet Muhammad when the shooting took place.

Security officer and former Rowlett police officer Bruce Joiner, 58, was shot once in the leg with an assault rifle before Garland police returned fire, killing the assailants. Joiner was released from the hospital the same night.

“The effectiveness of the public safety response illustrates why Garland is one of the safest cities in America, and yesterday’s events don’t change that,” a Garland police press release said.

The event was hosted by the American Freedom Defense Initiative and political activist Pamela Gellar.

The website of AFDI, where the event was

promoted, said the contest and exhibit were held “to show that we will defend free speech and not give in to violent intimidation.”

Off-duty Garland police officers had been hired by Garland ISD to work the event, but official GISD peace officers were unarmed.

Garland police said that due to the controversial nature of the event, they were prepared for such a response.

“Security was set up heavier for this event, simply because of what they represented and what has happened in the past, … things that have happened around the world,” Garland Police Department spokesman Joe Harn said.

Other depictions of Muhammad have been met with violence. Terrorists invaded the Paris office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Jan. 7, killing 12 and injuring 11. The magazine previously ran a number of controversial cartoons featuring the Islamic prophet.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating the Garland incident. Police said that a motive was unknown on the night of the shooting, but a May 4 report

from CNN suggests that one of the two men has possible ties to terrorist groups overseas.

One suspect, identified by federal law enforcement as Elton Simpson, linked himself to the Islamic State group via Twitter before the attack. Simpson was convicted for making a false statement revolving around terrorism in 2011.

The assailants’ bodies remained on the ground while authorities checked their vehicle for bombs.

Attendees were evacuated from the area after a lockdown.

They were bussed to an undisclosed location to be debriefed by law enforcement officials as potential witnesses.

In response to the shooting, GISD schools have increased security measures on campus.

Businesses and roads that were closed and evacuated in the shooting’s aftermath were re-opened May 4. Portions of Naaman ForJAMES HARTLEY/THE ET CETERA est Boulevard and Elliot Avenue and the entire property of the Culwell Center remained Joe Harn, spokesperson for Garland police, said that the motive remains unknown. closed.

German researcher studies habits of students

By Karina Dunn etc4640@dcccd.edu

A native German, Lisa Wenleder, a psychologist, is visiting the United States to help research academic probation students.

She reached out to Dr. Jonathan Michelon, QEP specialist and professor of human development and learning frameworks, last year for an internship opportunity.

Wenleder’s internship with Michelon focused on the class human development 0100 offered at Eastfield, which ended a few weeks ago.

Together, they worked with students and professors on campus to improve learning in the classroom and to improve student success.

The class was initiated by Michelon, Executive Dean of College Readiness and Mathematics Ricardo Rodriguez and Executive Dean of Student and Enrollment Services Kimberley Lowry. It sought to identify personal and academic problems that hold students back and to create a program to overcome those issues.

“A [psychology] background helps [me] to see that it’s not always just cognitive,” Wenleder said. “It makes it clear when [students have] a lack of security or confidence about what they can achieve and what they cannot … Most of the students are just at a point in their lives where … they have to decide whether they will continue college … I think everyone can relate to having to make that decision.”

Michelon wanted to bring a proactive system that will help students make better choices for their future. With Wenleder’s help, he monitored workshops and interviews on campus to gauge how well professors communicated class objectives to their students and whether those

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

German psychologist Lisa Wenleder, intern for Dr. Jonathan Michelon, is studying ways to improve classroom learning and increase student success.

objectives were met.

A survey is also being sent out to students in HDEV classes to complete the final stages of research.

“We felt the need to create a class for students on probation, seeing nothing that could help them under emotional, psychological and academic stress,” he said. “Get them back in good standing and give them a little help.”

In her work alongside the students, Wenleder noticed an advantage that she missed out on as a German student, a real collaboration between professors and students.

“In Germany, you are left more alone and by yourself. Here it seems more like a school envi-

ronment,” she said. “You have closer relationships to your professors. We don’t really have that … Here the professors emphasize coming in.”

She explained that in Germany undergraduates are more self-directed and independent.

“By the time I reached university, I could [focus solely] on the degree classes,” Wenleder said. “I think it would have made life a bit easier to have an adviser. But I don’t know if an adviser in our system would even make sense … at home where there are not so many electives.”

If she had the power to do so, Wenleder said she would make a few changes to German education.

“At home I would introduce more extracurricular activities, help teachers and professors engage more with the students,” she said. “In the U.S., I would change tuition fees and break down the barrier between private and public schools.”

She said she thinks the U.S. educational system could benefit from narrowing the difference in higher education opportunities.

“When you go to public school or private school there is a gap between opportunities,” Wenleder said.

“Coming from a country where education is free I think money is a big issue for a lot of people … where they’re being kept from a good education, based on that.”

Moving forward, Wenleder wants to complete her graduate studies then work in Human Resources.

“I’ve always been interested in training people on the job,” she said. “Working with people on the job and making sure people are happy.

Making sure that people from different cultures work together.”

Looking back on her time in the US, Wenleder said that she learned a lot about herself, not just from the internship but from the more casual style of American life.

“People are easy going here,” she said. “It’s easier to approach people. So far, I’ve only had good experiences with people here.”

She offered a bit of advice to students who would consider studying abroad or who are hesitant to try out a new approach in their studies.

“Be open because people are there to help you,” she said. “Forget for a second [your culture]. Just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s a waste.”

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Power greater than ourselves

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The Et Cetera

Former addict uses tribulations as tool to console, teach others

By J. Gomez etc4640@dcccd.edu

She unfolds a paper bearing mug shots dating back to February 2002.

The mug shots show the battle of a woman in the midst of an addiction to crack.

Substance abuse counseling major Charlesetta Garrett keeps copies of this paper with her everywhere she goes. It is a reminder of how much she has overcome and is a tool to reach those who still fight the affliction of drug addiction.

“I have done so many things,” Garrett said. “I am speaking of my past life. I robbed. I stole. I jacked. I wrote hot checks. I pimped women.

So many things that I have done that I am not happy about. But that’s why I am trying to build a future that I can be happy with.”

Garrett said her drug-driven criminal life began in 1987 as a prostitute and ended with her arrest in 2009.

Garrett has been incarcerated three times for non-violent crimes.

“I went in and out of institutions … jail, prison and rehab,” Garrett said. “The longest time I ever did in prison was 21 months. The reason why I went in and out of prison was because my addiction, using, forging checks and prostitution.”

Addiction to crack motivated Garrett for more than 20 years, she said.

She hit rock bottom several times but was unable to maintain sobriety.

“They gave me probation and I couldn’t do the probation because I kept using,” she said. “And when I went in for [drug testing] I was dirty and ended up in prison.”

Garrett grew up in Oak Cliff, living there for almost 50 years. She is the youngest of four with two sisters and a brother. They all have addictions of their own, she said. One of her sisters passed away due to congestive heart failure related to her drug use.

After her parents divorced, Garrett felt an emptiness that grew too painful to bear.

“My prostitution occurred from my abandonment from my father” Garrett said. “Now see I was a daddy’s baby, not a mama’s baby. Everywhere he went, I went. The drag strip, the juke joint, we just ride around town and he fill it up with 50 cents of ethyl.”

Garrett said that after the divorce, her father’s visits became less frequent.

“I didn’t like that,” she said. “I wanted to see more of him. So I’m having problems, and I don’t know how to talk about it. I’m just 11 years old. It got to where it was once every other month and I’m really tripping now. I’m missing my daddy.”

By the age of 26, the unshakable feeling of abandonment is what led to her becoming a prostitute, Garrett said.

During this period of addiction and crime, Garrett gave legal guardianship of her two daughters to her mother.

“She was beaten badly on several occasions,” Nikki Shields, Garrett’s niece, said “Years ago she was kidnapped by a gentlemen who took her out of state and the police got involved. She got in the car with him, and he wouldn’t let her get out the car.”

Last semester Garrett took a speech class taught by Professor Nicholas Vera. One project he assigns students is a personal narrative speech. Garrett’s personal speech covered her battle with addiction.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Vera said. “It wasn’t ‘And then you know I hit rock bottom and then I came back.’ It was ‘I hit rock bottom, then I wanted to get better, then I hit rock bottom again.’ ” For another assignment Vera said Garrett delivered an “impactful” speech on the reality of individuals whose addiction has led them to a life on the streets.

“She owed money to all kinds of seedy people on the streets and there were people that threatened her life,” Vera said.

Things turned around for Gar-

ANA GALLEGOS/THE ET CETERA

Charlesetta Garrett decided to take control of her life after battling a life of drug use and prostitution.

Now she wants to counsel others who face the same challenges.

“

I decided while I was in rehab to help others, to give them what was freely given to me to help save my life.

—Charlesetta Garrett

Substance abuse counseling major

”

rett after she went through a Dallas County rehabilitation program called STAR court. According to the court’s website, the program takes people convicted of felony prostitution and places them in a treatment facility.

“Once she got out of that cycle she started to discover things about herself that started to build herself back up,” Vera said. “Because she wasn’t depending on drugs anymore and she started saying ‘What value do I have to offer society after this?’ ” Garrett successfully completed the program at the Phoenix House in Wilmer, Texas.

“I decided I wanted to live and so they gave me the tools to do that,” Garrett said. “I have been clean ever since.”

The program provided Garrett with strategies to assist her in her new life.

“You are taught coping skills, different types of things to avoid using drugs and alcohol or committing the same crime,” Garrett said.

Garrett created her mission while at Phoenix House.

“I decided while I was in rehab to help others, to give them what was freely given to me to help save my life,” she said.

Along with this change in philosophy Garrett decided in 2013 to go to school to become a substance abuse counselor.

“I want to be able to counsel families that are having issues, no matter what the issue is,” Garrett said. “I just want to be able to save lives, bring families together … because my family was broken up pretty bad.”

Garrett works at her sobriety on a daily basis by taking part in churchsponsored programs such as Overcomers, which she said is similar to a 12-step group.

In addition, she is a sponsor for

several individuals in a 12-step program for narcotics.

Garrett also makes use of her experience by volunteering at ABC Behavioral Health and Nexus Recovery Center.

Garrett recently obtained employment at a transitional house, which has provided her with income to move into her own place.

“I was in a housing program at ABC Behavioral Health for five years,” she said. “I just recently was able to move out on my own.

“I felt like, ‘OK I’ve been here five years, now I have a job, I have income and so somebody else needs that spot, somebody else needs to move in there.”

Garrett’s transformation has had a positive impact on those who are close to her.

“Some of the biggest changes is that she is able to take care of herself and her kids,” Shields said. “Just being there for them is something she has never really done.”

Garrett is now a doting grandmother of six as she works towards her degree.

“I want to help save people in their addiction,” she said. “To find a new life, a new way, a new day.”

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

District’s first chancellors dies, age 97

By Andy Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

Blue balloons arranged in the shape of a bow tie decorate the right side of the stage in the Performance Hall. In the middle, a screen displays several photos, the backdrop to influential leaders who await their turn to say a last goodbye to Dr. Bill J. Priest.

On April 22, Eastfield College hosted the memorial for Priest, founding chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District.

Priest died Dec. 31, 2014. He was 97.

The tribute to Priest involved many high-profile individuals in the North Texas area and abroad who started their careers under his tutelage. Dr. Joe D. May, current chancellor of the district, started off the memorial.

“When you set something on the right course, when you bring in the right people, when you have the right vision, good things happen and continue to happen,” May said. “And that continues to happen to this day because of [Dr. Priest’s] vision, his leadership, frankly his unwavering

commitment to quality and doing things right.

“We now continue to have and provide an opportunity for the millions of people that live in this area, the millions of people that will come in the future,” he said.

Former college presidents and retired faculty also spoke about Priest’s influence in their lives. Mentorship, leadership values, entrepreneurship and a great passion to serve the public are some of the characteristics Priest passed on to his employees and friends.

Community leaders and Eastfield students were also in attendance. The diversity of the attendees reflected Priest’s passion for serving the different entities that make up community colleges, many speakers said.

“There were no little people in the DCCCD [for Priest], whether students or employees, full-time or part-time, or in one’s personal life for that matter,” Dr. Stephen K. Mittelstet, former president of Richland College, said.

DCCCD legacy

Priest, a California native, arrived in Dallas in 1965 and was hired as the

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Dr. Joe D. May speaks about the impact Priest had on the college and the vision he had for the future ABOUT THE COVER

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN WENCES: JARVIN LOCKETT, SHADRECK NTUMBWE AND KENDRA CRUZ CUT LOOSE AT JAZZ UNDER THE STARS. LO NICOLE GOODSON STRUMMING AT UNPLUGGED: GUITAR CENTER. COURTNEY BRAZILE ALL SMILES AT JAZZ UNDER THE STARS. ANDREA RESENDIZ PERFORMS AT THE SPRING DANCE RECITAL. PHOTOS BY BRAULIO TELLEZ: MONIQUE JONES’ CHAIR PIECE TITLED “HOME.” ALLI GILBREATH’S ACRYLIC ON CANVAS PIECE “SMALL.” PHOTO BY COURTNEY SCHWING: A TEA SET READY FOR A TASTING CEREMONY AT INTERNATIONAL TEA TIME. PHOTO BY ANA GALLEGOS: BUDDING JAZZ LOVER RYDER DUMONT FERNANDEZ, SON OF ASSOCIATE DEAN JUDITH DUMONT, AT JAZZ UNDER THE STARS DESIGN BY BRAULIO TELLEZ

first chancellor of the DCCCD. At the time the district was just about to open the doors of El Centro College.

Two more colleges, Eastfield and Mountain View, were in planning stages. The district is commemorating its 50th anniversary this year.

Robert L. Thornton III, executive officer of the DCCCD Foundation Board, although unable to attend, sent a video remembering his friend.

“Bill Priest was … an extraordinary leader who built the DCCCD into one of the top community college systems in the country,” he said.

Priest retired in 1981 and was named chancellor emeritus with base at Richland College.

His commitment to providing aesthetically pleasing environments for students to learn has been translated in the creation of various buildings named in his honor, Mittelstet said.

El Centro’s Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development, now named the Bill J. Priest Campus and the Bill J. Priest Center for Community College Education in the University of North Texas are examples of how the work of Priest is remembered.

Leadership

Many speakers provided insight to the intimidating words of the man with the bow tie, but none of them showed resentment. On the contrary, speakers expressed great admiration toward Priest’s autocratic leadership – his brutal honesty, swift reprimands and unyielding character.

Dr. H. Deon Holt, former vice chancellor of planning and founding president of Richland and Brookhaven colleges, talked about Priest’s words and lessons.

“I remember and appreciate what I call Bill Priestisms,” Holt said. “Such as ‘If you never make any mistakes, you’re not trying enough new things.’

And another one, ‘The only dumb question is when you ask twice.’ ” Much of Priest’s success in building the DCCCD was his ability to surround himself with a hard-working, passionate and knowledgeable team.

“He was a good people-picker,” Dr. Kathleen Krebbs Whitson, retired DCCCD administrator and author of the biography “Bill Jason Priest, Community College Pioneer,” said. “He could see the strengths in

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Bill J. Priest's efforts to improve DCCCD schools lives on through the memories of his friends and family.

those around him and help them in developing that.”

Personal Life

Priest’s experience in junior college education started early in his life.

He attended Modesto Junior College before transferring to the University of California at Berkeley to get his bachelor degree.

Priest, just like any college student, had some trouble finding his vocation when he was young.

“He wanted to be a professional baseball player. That was his ambition,” Whitson said.

Priest was always a genuine person, in his leadership style as well as in his personal relationships, Dr. Ruth G. Shaw, former president of El Centro College, said. His affinity for tennis, fishing and baseball is something remembered by all those who knew him.

Mittelstet’s recollections of uncomplicated luncheons with Priest at economic venues with 2-for-1 coupons moved the audience to laughter.

Priest’s grandchildren, Matt J. Priest and Dr. Jill Priest Amati, also spoke at the ceremony.

“To us he was simply Papa. To the people here today he was so many

things,” Priest said. “Educator, innovator, hunter, fisherman, world traveler, bow tie wearer, baseball and tennis enthusiast and, for some folks here, probably some words we just can’t use in public.”

Before arriving in Dallas, Priest served in the Pacific during World War II as an intelligence officer.

When his grandchildren asked him why it was he had chosen to serve in Asia, they remember he replied that it was because his wife, Marietta, was living in San Francisco at the time and he would have the opportunity to see her before shipping off to the war.

“I love this story because it brought to light the human side of him,” Amati said. “He was always so calculating and well thought out and not to be one overcome by emotions, but this story illustrates his softer sides, I always found it very wonderful.”

Priest’s work for the DCCCD will continue to inspire generations who attend the Dallas Community Colleges, Mittelstet said.

Priest was "a giant of a leader,” he said, “and a human being with a big heart.”

Life &Arts

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A BOOK TO CONSIDER

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Reading with enemies: Larson goes to sea “Dead Wake,” written by non-fiction narrative author Erik Larson, is a climatic delineation of the events that happened leading up to, during and after the Lusitania’s fate.

Larson was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1954 but grew up primarily in Freeport in Long Island, New York, a suburb of the city. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 with a degree in Russian History then progressed to receiving a graduate degree in journalism from Columbia in 1978.

Larson has taught non-fiction writing seminars at the University of Oregon and San Francisco State University. He has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, Atlantic Monthly, Time, The New Yorker and Harper’s.

“Dead Wake” is not Larson’s first book. He has written six other non-fiction narratives.

Many of his previous works as well as “Dead Wake” involve retelling of historical events forgotten by modern civilization.

“It is not necessarily my goal to inform. It is my goal to create a historical experience with my books,” Larson says in “Dead Wake.” “My dream, my ideal, is that someone picks up a book of mine, starts reading it, and just lets themselves sink into the past and then read the

thing straight through and emerge at the end feeling as though they’ve lived in another world entirely.”

Plot World War I began in July 1914 centered in the Balkans, eventually involving nearly all of Europe. President Woodrow Wilson was hesitant to assist the warring continent, keeping America neutral.

In May 1915 a 787-foot British superliner, the RMS Lusitania, set sail on its maiden voyage from New York to Liverpool, England. In an act of unrestricted warfare, a German U-20 submarine fired a torpedo into the cruise liner nearly 11 miles off the coast of Ireland.

It took 18 minutes to kill 1,200 passengers, 128 of whom were Americans.

The sinking of the Lusitania marked Wilson’s choice with the support of the American people to enter the Great War in 1917.

“Dead Wake” tracks the voyage of the Lusitania while delving into the high profile American passengers and conspiracy theories surrounding the fate of the cruise liner. The novel features Wilson and Winston Churchill as characters and creates an unparalleled perspective of the Germans aboard the U-boat that

sunk innocent civilians of war.

“Dead Wake” briefly explores the longstanding curiosity surrounding the second explosion that delivered the fatal blow to the ship.

The Germans argued that the British had been utilizing passenger liners akin to the Lusitania to quarter weapons and soldiers from the selfproclaimed neutral America to Britain.

U-boat Capt. Walther Schwieger was stunned when he saw a second explosion from the cruise liner, not believing that a single torpedo could sink the great ship. It was known that the liner was harboring 4 million rounds of ammunition in addition to tons of other warrelated material, potentially guncotton.

Review If Larson’s desire is to create that otherworldly element, he has succeeded with “Dead Wake.” The portrayals of Churchill and Wilson create an environment for the reader. You are truly able to envision the panicked and mysterious telegrams sent back and forth between the leaders and among Berlin, London and America.

Larson’s true success of mastering the macabre and weird truths of history is evident in “Dead Wake.” Previous works such as “The Devil in the White City,” a non-fiction piece about the serial killer H.H. Holmes and the Chicago World Fair, illuminate Larson’s effervescent attraction to the haunted and sociopathic. We see the return of this partnership brilliantly in “Dead Wake.”

For nearly 100 years the Germans have been painted as cruel devils in the Lusitania’s demise. Naturally, this triggers Larson’s interest.

He explores the conditions that U-20 captain, Schwieger, and his men lived in.

“The toilet from time to time imparted to the boat the scent of a cholera hospital and could be flushed only when the U-boat was on the surface or at shallow depths, lest the under-

sea pressure blow material back into the vessel,” Larson writes.

Larson humanizes the German submariners, creating an empathetic relationship between the reader and the enemy. “Dead Wake” spends quite a bit of space contrasting the invasively tiny quarters of the U-boat and the sea they were submerged in, explaining the loneliness the German submariners experienced atop the filthy conditions.

By the end of “Dead Wake” the reader begins to shift their opinions of the Germans, specifically Schwieger. The German captain was a leader who pursued his job relentlessly in an almost impossible environment.

“Dead Wake” marries history and narrative so eloquently that the reader completely disregards the obvious research measures taken by Larson to weave this tale of maritime tragedy. ­— Compiled by Courtney Schwing

LIFE&ARTS

7

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Henson turns final page in his Eastfield book

By Parker Ward etc4640@dcccd.edu

When Dr. Jerry Henson walked in as one of Eastfield’s first professors in 1970, the college had four buildings, one of which was not complete, and lacked carpet and furnished classrooms.

Now, 45 years later he will walk out for the last time.

Henson found his new job through a friend. He was excited to be part of the first group of professors at Eastfield.

“It’s very exciting to start something,” Henson said. “We were instrumental in getting the college up and running.”

Henson originally taught religion and philosophy classes. Henson has a bachelor’s in religion from Hardin-Simmons, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Seminary and a doctorate in philosophical theology from Baylor University.

At the end his seventh year, however, he became the division chair of social sciences. After serving for a year, Henson was promoted to vice president of instruction, where he would serve for 11 years.

Later, after serving as an administrator, he returned to teaching religion and philosophy classes for a year before transitioning to history.

“When I came back on faculty, we had vacancies in history,” Henson said. “We were overstaffed in religion and philosophy, so I was knocking someone else out of a class [in religion and philosophy], and I always wanted to get into history.”

While at the college, Henson has had his hand in several major projects including writing Eastfield’s history book, “The Person Centered College,” which documents the first 30 years of Eastfield. He helped create the honors program and Oral History Project.

Henson has seen many students and staff mem-

bers come and go, as well as seeing some famous people on campus including comedian George Carlin, David Eisenhower — son of former president Dwight Eisenhower — theoretical physicist Edward Teller and two U.S. presidents, one of which he was able to speak to personally.

“George H.W. Bush came when he was vice president,” Henson said. “I got to visit with him a few minutes alone, and we talked basketball and a little bit about West Texas.”

Both came from small family farms in Texas.

“I was the first in my family to go to college,” he said. “I discovered the world of [academic] scholarship and I discovered that I would like to be a college professor.”

Though he knew that he wanted to go to college, Henson was not always interested in teaching.

“I made that decision about the time I was 14,” Henson said. “That was a decision to go into the ministry to be a pastor.”

After 45 years at Eastfield, Henson has inspired professors around him. One is Professor Michael Noble, who has taught joint history classes with him for five years.

“I look at him almost as like a father figure,” Noble said. “He’s the guy I go to whenever I have questions or I just need to vent.”

Henson has always enjoyed making sure that students in his class feel relaxed.

“Students then and now feel very comfortable and relaxed around him,” said Dean of Social Sciences Mike Walker, “He’s smarter than us, but he doesn’t act superior in any way.”

At the end of the day however, Henson has always been here to serve the students.

“The institution was here to serve the people,” Henson said. “I found that here I could change lives, much more than I could have at a university.”

ANA GALLEGOS/THE ET CETERA

Dr. Jerry Henson peppers his history lectures with childhood stories.

ANA GALLEGOS/THE ET CETERA

Country boy returns to Mesquite roots, family and friends

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

JAMES HARTLEY/THE ET CETERA

Craig Wayne Boyd sings “Gone to Texas” at the Real Texas Festival on April 25 in Mesquite.

Two years ago Mesquite native Craig Wayne Boyd hadn’t quite made a name for himself. That meant that his initials, “CWB,” on his guitar strap didn’t mean much to most people.

On April 25, however, Boyd stood on a stage in Mesquite with that guitar strap, proudly showing it off to a crowd of adoring fans. Boyd, a Mesquite native and winner of “The Voice,” said he’s only slept in his own bed six times since last October.

“What a great reception! To come out and see all my friends and family in the audience, it’s so awesome,” Boyd said. “I thought Martin Luther King was the only one who ever had a street named after him … It’s very humbling to have all those people who my whole life have had an impact on me. I feel very undeserving.”

Boyd, like so many other talented musicians, wrote his own songs, played local gigs, did national support tours and did anything else he could think of to try to get his music career up and running, but the moment he truly broke through was when Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams turned their chairs for him during the blind auditions on season 7 of “The Voice.”

The season saw Boyd switch to Gwen Stefani and back to Shelton before Boyd went on to win Shelton his fourth championship on “The Voice.”

Even with his newfound success, Boyd remembers his roots.

“When I got out there I got a little lonesome,” Boyd said, “so I had to write a song about my home state, Texas.” And thus the single “Gone To Texas” was born.

Boyd holds his hometown and home state close to him and is careful not to let go of his roots even as he tours around the nation, performing before masses of adoring fans.

“Right behind the stage, I look over and my high school is there,” Boyd said. He planned on visiting his old stomping grounds after the festival, then it was back to his home to see his son.

One of the signs used to name Honorary Boulevard, after CWB is to be auctioned off to support the Mesquite Food Pantry. Boyd says that’s the biggest honor of all.

The masses of adoring fans, the street being named after him and all the press attention can’t beat the feeling Boyd gets from knowing something he is doing is helping those who are a little down on their luck.

“To me, that’s bigger than anything. To be able to help and put support behind a good cause,” Boyd said.

He is touring non-stop right now and with the tours going well, his popularity rising and a promising new career in music ahead of him Boyd may need to rethink his definition of his own bed. The last scheduled stop in Texas was at the Real Texas Festival on April 25.

8

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

cSummer TV binge A crash course in shows with cult followings S

ummer is here and another semester at Eastfield comes to an end. At The Et Cetera, we racked our brains thinking of the best ways to spend our summer vacation. Instead of burning in the Texas heat, why not relax, enjoy the cool A/C indoors and get hooked on some great TV shows? With services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus, you can enjoy a nice summer day binge-watching an entire season of “Sons of Anarchy!”

Take a look at our staff recommendations that will help you kick the summer off right.

A NF b Parks and Recreation b

This beloved comedy depicts Leslie Knope, a dedicated government official struggling to make her beloved city Pawnee the best on Earth.

Surrounded by antipathetic yet lovable co-workers, unpleasant neighbors and events that don’t always go as planned, we see Leslie maneuver and rise above her circumstances every time.

Throughout the seven seasons, she successfully manages a thousand different things, while finding the time to celebrate “Galentine’s Day,” “Treat Yo’Self ” and on many occasions, the famous mini horse Li’l Sebastian.

Her friends and co-workers provide firm support to Leslie on her many endeavors, while undertaking entrepreneurship and great personal development.

How to Get Away with H Murder b

A group of law students enroll in the class of cutthroat criminal defense lawyer Annalise Keating. Under her guidance, they move out of the classroom into the real world to solve cases for her firm while negotiating their own complicated lives. Yet, neither Annalise nor her students can predict how real their work will become. They quickly find themselves embroiled in the center of a murder, forced to use everything they’ve learned to keep themselves on the right side of the courtroom.

Season 2 premiers Fall 2015

Sons of A

“Sons of Anarchy” follows nal) led by Jackson “Jax” Tell guns, murder, prostitution an of Charming, California. The This mantra often pits the ch Kurt Sutter, modeled the plot stretched for seven seasons o gangsters, the IRA and the A

LIFE&ARTS

9

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Where to watch it: NF-Netflix H-Hulu A-Amazon

H NF A Anarchy b b b

s SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Origiler. Despite their illegal activity involving but not limited to: drugs, nd pornography, the biker outlaws act as vigilantes for their town e outlaws follow a strict code of conduct, as do their old ladies. haracters against themselves and one other. The show’s creator, tlines to loosely follow Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” “Sons of Anarchy” on FX. Follow the gang of outlaws as they encounter rivaling clubs, ATF.

H Gotham b

Whether you are a Batman fan or a fan of cop shows, “Gotham” will amaze. Several intertwined storylines fuel the drama by allowing for multiple characters to show their true personalities.

Batman himself is not in the show because Bruce Wayne is still a child, but several notable characters from the Batman universe play relevant roles in the series, including the Penguin, Jim Gordon, the Riddler and Catwoman.

Season 2 premiers Jan. 2016

Orange Is the NF New Black b

Inspired by the true story of Piper Kerman, “Orange Is the New Black” follows socialite and rebel Piper Chapman, who, after graduating college, enters into a romantic relationship with drug dealer Alex Vause. For over 10 years, Piper helped Alex launder money. Years after the end of their relationship, Piper is indicted on drug trafficking charges. Piper finds herself serving a 15-month sentence at Litchfield Federal Prison, far away from her Upper Eastside life with her fiancé, Larry. “Orange is the New Black” follows stories of the women Piper meets while staying at Litchfield and chronicles the often hilarious antics of prison life and the grim realities of it as well.

Season 2 premiers June 2015 — Compiled by Courtney Schwing, Parker Ward, Andy Carrizales and Karina Dunn.

Illustrations by Jonathan Wences and Matthew Rohan. Page design by Braulio Tellez.

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

Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editors in Chief J. Gomez Courtney Schwing Managing Editor Caitlin Piper Design Editor Braulio Tellez Photo Editor Jonathan Wences Life & Arts Editor Andy Carrizales Opinion Editor Parker Ward Online Editor Karina Dunn News Editor James Hartley Staff Writers Nicole Ceron Veronica Trevino

Chandler Claxton Brandon Wagner

Designers Marlon Bell Jasmine Oliva

Monica Bolton

Photographers Darnisha Cornelius Guillermo Martinez Chase Villwok

Ana Gallegos Carlos Valenzuela Stormy Wallbrecher

Cartoonists Alberto Huerta

Matthew Rohan

Contributors Juanita Hernandez Keturah Jones Brad Watkins Brianna Harmon Student Publications Manager Elizabeth Langton Faculty Adviser Lori Dann Editorial Policy The views expressed on the opinion pages and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County Community College District.

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

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

The content will remain that of the author.

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

First Amendment Right Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

10 The Et Cetera

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

OUR VIEW

Express disquiet without riots Riots and lootings shook Baltimore after a peaceful protest against the horrifying arrest and death of Freddie Gray turned violent on April 25. And though Americans have every right to decry the pointless violence and destruction, the original protest had merit.

Gray, a 25-year-old black man living with his two sisters in a low-income Baltimore neighborhood, died April 19 after police used excessive force to arrest and detain him April 12. The officers chased Gray on bicycles after he attempted to flee “unprovoked,” tackling him and finding a switchblade in his pocket. Two witnesses recorded the arrest on their phones, showing that police dragged a struggling Gray into their van.

Though police reported that he was arrested without force, he was later taken to a hospital and was in a coma a week before his death. He

endured three fractured vertebrae, an injured larynx and his spine was “80 percent” severed at the neck. Gray had an extensive criminal record, but the majority of these charges were for drug use and distribution — non-violent crimes.

An ongoing investigation has revealed that the officers did not follow protocol during the arrest, failing to buckle him into the van or call paramedics in a timely manner. Six Baltimore officers have since been charged with varying counts, such as assault and involuntary manslaughter.

In no way do we condone violence against police, nor do we believe all officers are crooked or unnecessarily violent. But the nature of Gray’s arrest and injuries is inexcusable.

That said, rioting is not the answer. Destroying homes and businesses and endangering innocent people to criticize a violent act is senseless.

If nothing else, the violence contributes to ugly stereotypes many have about inner-city minorities and goes directly against the wishes of Gray’s family, who are begging for peaceful protests.

It’s difficult to not draw parallels between the situation in Baltimore and the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. Ferguson, Missouri, was similarly pulled into a media firestorm after Brown’s death led to rioting, and the city still hasn’t recovered. Though most of the violence was committed by opportunistic criminals, the riots began as peaceful protests.

Regardless of whether you believe the Baltimore riots are justified, racial tension is still a factor in the response to Gray’s death. It’s distressing that the American media tends to focus on injustices like these only after a community has responded with violence.

Women deserve leadership roles in U.S. “You can be anything you want to be when you grow up,” my dad said.

“Anything?” I said.

“Yes, Courtney, you can do whatever you want as long as you stay in school and work hard.”

Well, Dad, Loretta Lynch went to Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She was the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

When President Obama nominated her as U.S. attorney general in November 2014, her confirmation was delayed for five months. The delay was third in length behind former attorney generals Edwin Meese III and A. Mitchell Palmer.

Potential 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attended Wellesley College and Yale Law School. She was a first lady, a New York senator and a former secretary of state under President Obama.

Despite her accomplishments, the media continues to highlight minor blunders such her using her personal email for government matters.

Both women have been criticized for the support they have shown to the president’s use of executive action on immigration reform.

Parents, do your daughters’ educations or the accolades they may receive really matter? While women are now more accepted in politics, some still believe they aren’t as competent as their male counterparts.

Clinton is often compared to or

Courtney Schwing

packaged with her husband, former president Bill Clinton. Citizens have also created phrases such as, “four years of Hillary is four more years of Obama.”

Why are these women’s capabilities tethered to their husbands and male colleagues? Sarah Palin, Wendy Davis and Nancy Pelosi are qualified for high positions of political leadership. However, some American media and citizens demonize them over their relationships and focus more on their appearances than their qualifications.

Earlier this year, Wendy Davis was the Democratic nominee for governor of Texas. Davis was scrutinized for her relationship with her former husband and her two abortions.

The media ignored her education with Texas Christian University and Harvard Law School. In May 2011, Davis led a filibuster against a budget bill that cut $4 billion from public education in the state. A special session had to be called by Gov. Rick Perry. In June 2013, Davis held

an 11-hour filibuster to block Senate Bill 5, which put heavy restrictions on abortion in Texas.

While her remarkable filibuster made the cover of Texas Monthly and she graced the cover of The New York Times Magazine, Davis’ pink Mizuno Wave Rider 16s defined that historical moment.

Rather than focusing on Davis’ advocacy for women’s rights, opponents denounced her pro-choice stance. Davis’ campaign was a prime example of what happens when a woman brings women’s rights to the board and is denied the opportunity to change lives.

With male politicians, society focuses on their achievements, values and experience.

My personal hero is John Fitzgerald Kennedy. A brilliant man and successful politician who had a very sophisticated foreign policy outline, Kennedy was one of the most prolific presidents in U.S. history.

However, JFK was a philanderer who knew that he was handsome and came from a family of wealth and notoriety. He publicly disgraced his wife countless times. Americans knew this, but accepted his infidelity because he was still a strong leader and had the education, experience and political flair.

Double standards, anyone?

More women need to be filling the seats of political positions.

America wasn’t just founded by men. Women birthed the men that dominate our government. Women have set the table and the time has finally come for them to take their place at it.

Currently, Liberia, Argentina, Switzerland, Lithuania, Brazil, Kosoro, South Korea, Central African Republic, Chile, Malta and Croatia all have women serving as president.

Angela Merkel serves as Germany’s chancellor and Margaret Thatcher served as the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.

Equal wages, equal employment opportunities and the right to their own bodies is just as important as other issues happening in our country. Women’s rights didn’t die with women’s suffrage or Roe v. Wade. It will not end until there is financial, social and political equality of the sexes. A woman’s perspective is just as necessary as a man’s, especially in one of the largest countries of the modern world.

If women are considered to be an integral role in civilization, they do not deserve to be limited by stereotypes in politics.

For those who view women’s rights as a left wing extremist endeavor, I encourage you to take a long, hard look at the women in your life and ask yourself how our current political system disenfranchises them.

11

OPINION The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Newspaper writing saved my life Use caution, care

I recently had the opportunity to watch the movie “Good Night and Good Luck.” It was about a journalist who took on former Sen. Joseph McCarthy when the senator claimed communists and Soviet spies were infiltrating the United States in the 1950s. After each news segment, the journalist would end his broadcast with the phrase “Good night and good luck.”

I am not one for saying goodbye, but my time here at Eastfield and with The Et Cetera is coming to such a bittersweet end. From writing columns that evoked emotions, to articles that told of sin and redemption, I had a wonderful experience and platform while writing each one.

I will be graduating this week and moving on to become a broadcast journalist. I have started to reflect on my time here and thought of what could I say to those of you whose journeys are just beginning and those of you who feel like giving up. One word came to mind: Fight.

When I first came to campus to register, I had hope despite my fear and doubt.

As a single mother with three kids and no job, I knew that education was the key to me reaching my goals and bettering my life.

I thought that I was too old to go back to school and that it was too late to start over, but I fought my insecurities and took the first step to begin the rest of my life. Even after registering, I was not sure what I wanted to do. I was not sure I would be good at it.

Keturah Jones I have always had a passion for writing and speaking in public, so I thought I would do well in writing classes. When I received my first class writing assignment back, the paper had red all over it.

With tears burning my eyes I went up to my professor and said, “Ms. Stanford, if I don’t have what it takes as a writer, please let me know now so that I can change my major.” She looked at me and smiled and told me that I would be all right.

Fighting what I thought was defeat, I continued to write and soon was introduced to The Et Cetera. My first published piece was a small highlight of a club on campus. I was so happy, you would have thought I just won a Pulitzer. Seeing my name next to my work gave me confidence I never had. As my writing became more prevalent, others started to believe in me, but I still did not believe in myself.

That was until I attended the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference.

I sat at the table fighting back tears as I heard many of my fellow writers’ names being called out for awards. Feeling like I had not contributed or made a mark in the world as a student journalist, I hung

my head down, thinking I would give up.

I was going to withdraw from school and just find a job that would support me and the kids. In the middle of my pity party, I felt people patting my back, shouting and pointing to the screen.

Through my tears I saw my name under the first place category for column writing. Before I could take my next breath, my name popped up on the next screen for first place headline writing. I was fighting back the tears because no one knew how close I came to giving up that day. That day I found a purpose and a place where I belong. I learned the valuable lesson to never give up and fight past my feelings.

So the message I will leave to you is: fight. Classes will get hard. Fight. Life will get hard. Fight. Each step that you take will get you closer to your dream, but you must be determined to fight and not be defeated. Do not be so quick to give up because you could be one step away from victory.

I would like to say thank you to my professors, staff and friends who have supported me. Thank you to Sandy Hampton for posting my columns in the window of Upward Bound and a special heartfelt thanks to Professor Lori Dann for showing me support and how to fight through the tough times. Thank you for believing in me. The Et Cetera saved my life. As I have stated before, I do not like saying goodbye, so I will say this: goodnight and good luck.

Army training takes time away from studies I joined the military as an Army Reserve soldier because I wanted a degree and thought of the GI Bill as an appealing way to help pay for school. After my first semester at Eastfield, I realized that going to school and having a military career would be a daunting task.

Reservists in the Army are required by contract to attend two, sometimes three days of monthly training in addition to a couple weeks of annual training. However, the Army provides its soldiers with an annual training schedule each year to accommodate future scheduling.

While attending training, keeping up with missed classes is essential to managing homework and grades.

Being gone does not prevent you from doing homework. Professors do provide extensions for assignments and excuse absences for the time you are gone but being able to keep on track with your military obligation as well as schoolwork can be trying.

This semester, my two weeks of annual training were held at Fort Irwin in California’s Mojave Desert. The barracks

J. Gomez

I stayed in came with a wi-fi hotspot that could service up to 10 users.

Although the number of users varied depending on whether someone was streaming a movie. The reception quality and download speed was slow, which made watching videos that pertained to my homework practically impossible.

While all of my current classes are lectures, my assignments are required to be submitted online via Blackboard and MyMathLab. Due to the irritating lack of Internet speed and sometimes access, homework quickly lost its importance. It became clear that I would need to contact my professors and ask for extensions on my work.

The training in California kept me busy for most of the day. I had a radio program that broadcast nearly everyday. When I wasn’t on the radio I was researching stories to talk about on the radio, training with a video camera, developing public service announcements or busy doing miscellaneous tasks required by my superiors.

After a lengthy day of training the most pleasant thing I could think of was a hot shower followed by my bunk and maybe a movie.

When I returned from California I had an overwhelming amount of homework assignments waiting for me, coupled with the anxiety of turning in the work and not falling further behind.

Joining the military is one of the best decisions I have made. It has provided me with the opportunity to obtain a degree with very little of the cost coming out of my own pocket.

The caveat to that is maintaining and applying the skills I have learned when it comes to balancing my schoolwork and military tasks.

when donating

Charities deserve your trust and attenBrandon tion, but some Wagner organizations are incompetent or abuse this good faith for selfish means. Everyone has seen the commercials that pull at your heartstrings. Whether it is to alleviate hunger, help animals in need or provide shelter for the homeless, most people know charities they would like to help.

This is usually a good thing, but more people should think twice before donating. I am not talking about established charities such as Direct Relief or International Rescue Committee. These organizations need your donations and time to continue to meet increasing demand for charitable services.

However, not every charity is worth your time or money. Take, for example, Cancer Fund of America. The name sounds innocent enough, but under the surface the company is a mere piggy bank for the founder and his family. The charity spends 82 cents of every donated dollar on fundraisers. It has obtained $98 million in donations in the last decade, but less than a million has gone to cancer victims, according to the IRS. There is absolutely no excuse for this organization’s existence.

A number of donation strategies appear helpful, but are counterproductive. According to Associate Professor of business economics at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Garth Frazer, donating clothes meant for people in Africa contributes to the country’s high unemployment rate and stagnated economy.

Because local businesses have to compete with free donations, he wrote in The Economic Journal, they have no incentive to manufacture. Who is going to buy a product and therefore stimulate the economy when they can get it for free?

There is also something condescending about the idea that people in Africa cannot get T-shirts. These donations are helpful for people in areas who cannot easily get these commodities, but such oversight is rare. Donating money to medicinal causes such as vaccinations and disease research would make a more positive impact.

These factors cause legitimate and competent charities to lose contributions and can divert from the resources of the real problem solvers of our world. This is not just because of corruption, but also because of not knowing how your money will be spent. There are organizations that rate charities and give tips on what to look for in a good charity.

I cannot stress enough that charities are not inherently mismanaged or unworthy of your donations. Just know that giving money to an organization claiming to do well isn’t necessarily helping anyone who needs your attention.

Find a cause you care about and do some research before you consider donating to an organization. Your dollars will have more power when spent on a legitimate issue as opposed to being blindly thrown at your favorite charity.

Send a letter to the editor etc4640@dcccd.edu

12

The Et Cetera

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CANDID CAMpus

The Et Cetera

Festival applauds songs, words, art The Literary and Fine Arts Festival filled the campus with music, dance and discussion of the arts during the week of April 20.

Arts in Action featuring Jazz Under the Stars attracted 200 people, launched the Arts Collective, an um-

www.eastfieldnews.com

13

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

brella for Eastfield’s visual and performing arts, and raised $500 for art student scholarships.

More than 20 poets competed in The Et Cetera’s poetry slam, while Kyle Stewart talked to an overflow room about tea.

Right: Omar Perez freehands a drawing in the lower courtyard during Arts in Action. Far right: Guitarist Adam Wright performs during Unplugged: Guitar Center.

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

COURTNEY SCHWING/THE ET CETERA

Clockwise from bottom left: Ezequiel Alcala plays bass alongside keyboardist Kuinton Gray during the Jazz Under the Stars event for Literary and Fine Arts Festival. Dr. Oscar Passley performs with students and faculty during Jazz Under the Stars. Certified tea specialist Kyle Stewart guides students through the process of ancient tea tasting ceremonies from Japan, Afghanistan and China. Ursula Villarreal sings at Arts in Action.

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Sports

The Et Cetera

May 14 May 15 May 16 May 23

Eastfield vs. TBA, District C Tournament District C semifinal District C championship Division III World Series

www.eastfieldnews.com

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

TBA

14

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Harvesters capture MAC championship Eastfield wins at North Lake

By Parker Ward etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Eastfield Harvesters swept a home doubleheader against Mountain View on Saturday to clinch the regular-season Metro Athletic Conference title.

Eastfield (34-10 overall, 22-8 MAC) finished the season ranked No. 6 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll.

The Harvesters used a pair of strong pitching performances from freshman Blake Barr (8-3) and redshirt sophomore Emilio Gonzales (30) to win their final conference series of the season.

Both pitchers posted completegame wins and threw a combined 32 strikeouts — Barr with 14 and Gonzales with 18.

“We have a good group of guys that have worked hard all year long,” Eastfield coach Michael Martin said.

“They have had a goal in mind that we set from day one, and that is to win this conference.”

In Saturday’s first game, Barr gave up just one run on five hits and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Offensively, the Harvesters also had only five hits, but one was a home run by Michael Kister, who was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

In Game 2, Eastfield scored three runs in the first inning and cruised to a 9-1 win. The Harvesters had 14 hits, led by sophomore Jason Ser-

By Duncan Dixon etc4640@dcccd.edu

JAMES HARTLEY/THE ET CETERA

Blayten Magana tags a Mountain View runner out at third after a botched attempt to steal in the first game of the double header on May 2. The runner slid and missed the bag.

chay, who was 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, one run scored and a stolen base.

Sophomore infielder Cody Duplechin went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Redshirt freshman Casey Maack helped to round out the offense, going 3-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored.

Gonzales dominated the game, surrendering just three hits and taking a shutout into the eighth inning.

“I had all my pitches working and I was hitting locations with them,” Gonzales said. “The mechanics fell together nicely today, and I got back to what I know I can do and I’m capable of.”

Serchay is optimistic about the future of this team.

“I’m just excited to keep going,” he said. “I can’t harp on the past too much. I’m hopeful for the present and focused on the future.”

Eastfield has now won nine of its last 10 games.

The Harvesters will represent the MAC in the NJCAA District C tournament which will be held May 1317 at Cedar Hill High School. Eastfield’s opening game will be 7 p.m.

May 14.

“The momentum is huge,” Gonzales said. ”We’ve got a week to prepare and then we’ll carry this success into the regional playoffs.”

The No. 6-ranked Eastfield Harvesters won three of four games at North Lake on April 25-26, moving into a tie for the conference lead heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

In Game 1, Eastfield scored seven runs in the final inning to overcome a 9-3 deficit and pull out a 10-9 victory.

Jason Serchay went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, four RBIs and two runs scored.

Dakota Hunter (3-1) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings after replacing starter Blake Barr.

Sebastian Murray (6-2) turned in a strong performance in Game 2, giving up just two runs on two hits while striking out eight over eight innings in a 4-2 Eastfield win.

Eastfield mounted another late rally in Game 3, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings, but North Lake scored twice in the top of the 12th for a 7-5 victory.

The series came to a dramatic close in Game 4 when Cole Hill homered to left field in the ninth inning to give Eastfield a 4-3 victory.

Tanner Dickerson was 2-for-4, and Sedillo (3-0) earned the win in relief.

Rangers lose nothing, only gain by bringing Hamilton back Josh Hamilton’s return to the Rangers after spending the past two seasons with the Angels may be a tough pill to swallow for many fans, but it could be one of the best decisions General Manager Jon Daniels has ever made.

The Rangers took a significant risk with the trade, knowing Hamilton is a recovering addict and angered fans by making comments about Arlington not being a baseball town when he left Texas. However, the big smile on Hamilton’s face at his recent press conference shows he is happy to be back and is ready to put the past behind him.

The whole experience in Los Angeles

Brianna Harmon

started off on the wrong foot for Hamilton and never got better. With the Rangers, he will have the support system he wants and obviously needs.

There will also be more tangible precautions. To ensure his mistakes are not repeated, Hamilton will be taking five drug and alchohol

tests a week.

Drugs and alcohol can ruin an athlete’s career, but Hamilton seems ready to move on from the past.

And what better place is there for a Hamilton comeback than Arlington? He was a fivetime All-Star and 2010 American League MVP here, and he put up some amazing numbers during those five seasons: a .305 batting average, 142 home runs and 506 RBIs. To the fans who hate this trade: Are you really saying you don’t want those numbers back?

Yes, he has been injured and hasn’t played

since February, but after coming home and being reunited with his former teammates, Hamilton has a lot to play for this season.

And to the fans who say the Rangers are wasting money: They will only pay Hamilton about $7 million over the next three years.

So why not give him a shot? The Rangers are expected to finish last in the American League West anyway.

With assets like Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Nick Tepesch, Ryan Rua and many others on the disabled list, there’s really nothing to lose.

It’s time for Rangers fans to face the facts.

The trade was made, and it’s time to play ball.

Wrapup The Et Cetera

15 www.eastfield.com

Zek and Slik By Matthew Rohan

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

MOVIE REVIEW

COURTESY MARVEL PICTURES

‘Avengers’ balances fun, action, drama

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

Sudoku

Trivia Bits

2. If you could fly at the speed of light, how long would it take you to reach Pluto?

A) 6 days B) 6 hours C) 6 minutes D) 6 seconds

3. What Hollywood tough guy appeared on “Laugh-In” in a fluffy pink bunny suit?

A) Charles Bronson B) Humphrey Bogart C) Steve McQueen D) John Wayne 4. What country’s 100 trillion dollar notes became novelty items on eBay? A) Greece B) Ireland C) Zimbabwe D) Thailand

Trivia Answers 1. D; 2. B; 3. D; 4. C

1. What future “Mad Men” showrunner financed his first film with his winnings from “Jeopardy”?

A) Steven Bochco B) David Chase C) Aaron Sorkin D) Matthew Weiner

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” has everyone’s attention, and for good reason. The film is exciting, fast-paced, well-developed and layered.

Unlike “The Avengers,” the sequel delivers a fascinating story, better action and top-of-the-line effects. Most importantly, the characters run deep.

In his review of the first movie, YouTuber Cinema Sins said Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury’s “character development begins and ends with ‘eye patch.’ ” But “Age of Ultron” produces characters that feel like real people. It’s hard not to get attached.

The film starts with a mission to take down an enemy base that doesn’t quite go as planned. The Avengers are introduced to a new villain, and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) decides he needs to do something to better protect the team.

He builds Ultron (voiced by James Spader), which predictably backfires on the Avengers.

The mission to bring Ultron to life succeeds, but, like many other wellintentioned villains, Ultron believes

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that the best way to end war and conflict is to just wipe out the human race.

The movie has a magnificent balance of humor, drama and violent action.

Don’t assume you can get a popcorn refill mid-movie. If you leave your seat for more than 10 seconds, you will miss some vital piece of information.

Writer and director Joss Whedon has definitely redeemed himself after the mess of underdeveloped characters and pointless events that was 2012’s “The Avengers.”

The movie introduces two pivotal personalities aside from Ultron.

Quicksilver, whose real identity is Pietro Maximoff (Aaron TaylorJohnson), and Scarlet Witch, a.k.a.

Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), add intrigue and suspense to the plot.

Scarlet Witch’s ability to make people see their deepest, darkest fears provides intense character exploration for the heroes.

Superhero fanatic or not, “Age of Ultron” will blow your mind.

16

The Et Cetera

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

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