Etera
Eastfield College
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Volume 49, Issue 4
Backyard Beekeeper
Lab coordinator’s fascination with bees drives her hobby
See page 8 ➤
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NEWS
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
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UNT-Dallas, Eastfield begin dual enrollment By MACKS PREWITT Life & Arts Editor @MacksPrewittETC
Freshmen planning to transfer to the University of North Texas at Dallas are eligible for a dual enrollment program that offers scholarship money, mentoring and a smooth transition from two-year college to four-year university. Participation in the Dallas Connect program puts students on a clear path to bachelor’s degrees beginning in their first semester at Eastfield. “Anytime we have this close relationship with a senior institution like UNT Dallas, it’s a huge plus for the student population,” speech professor Laura Carr said. “Because it makes it so much easier for them to take their course work here and feel so comfortable that when they move into the last two years of their studies, it goes seamlessly.” Benefits include dual admission to Eastfield and UNT Dallas, scholarship money from both schools, mentoring from UNT Dallas faculty, personalized academic advising and access to UNT Dallas services while attending Eastfield. Tuition rates at UNT Dallas are locked from the time students enter the program. Students studying business, criminal justice and education are eligible. They must be recent high school graduates, have completed 18 hours or fewer at Eastfield by Dec. 31 and be classified as “college ready” or one semester from “college ready.” Ubaldisi Guadarrama, a criminal justice ma-
Eastfield increased enrollment 7 percent this fall over fall 2016, according to college records. Administrators had worried that enrollment would decrease compared to last year based on figures available the week before classes started Aug. 21.
The Et Cetera
But the numbers climbed between Aug. 21 and Sept. 5 as officials entered a large number of dual credit and early college high school students into the system, President Jean Conway said in an email. — Staff reports
ILLUSTRATION BY MANUEL GUAPO/THE ET CETERA
jor, said he would be interested in the program. “I think this would be great, because it has more opportunity for students to focus more and do their work faster,” he said. Associate Vice President Kimberly Lowry said Dallas Connect is tailored to Eastfield. “We identified that UNT Dallas is one of the top transfer institutions for our students,” she said. “Then we dug a little deeper and we found out the top three majors students pursue once they transfer is business, education and criminal justice.” She went on to say that the plan is to get students interested and eventually build the program up to include other majors and schools. Students in the program must maintain a 2.25 GPA and be enrolled full-time. They will participate in regular meetings with advisers and career counselors, Dallas Connect events and campus leadership and service activities. Eastfield students interested in Dallas Connect should visit the Advising Center in C-120.
STEMinar explores genetic modification, species revival By MACKS PREWITT Life & Arts Editor @MacksPrewittETC
With the study of experimental genetics making great strides in recent years, projects like chickensaurus hope to bridge the gap between birds and non-avian dinosaurs. The chickensaurus project started in 2011, when the book “How to Build a Dinosaur” by American paleontologist Jack Horner outlined the concept of changing the DNA of chickens to create a new type of dinosaur. Geology professor Daniel Murphy explained at a Sept. 19 STEMinar that this won’t be like “Jurassic Park” because it’s impossible to find DNA in amber, extract it, clone a dinosaur and use frog DNA to fill the gaps. But scientists can use birds, in particular chickens, to create non-avian dinosaurs. “Birds are dinosaurs,” Murphy said. This means that all the material is already
ILLUSTRATION BY MANUEL GUAPO/THE ET CETERA
there because birds are a part of the dinosaur family tree. The only thing lacking is the method of how to do it. Murphy said there are five differences between a chicken and a dinosaur: a tail, different leg structure, teeth, snout and arms instead of wings. Of these five, research teams have successfully modified the genes to allow a snout, teeth
and a dinosaur leg to express themselves in an embryo. However, just because they have successfully done this does not mean that they understand it fully. “When they managed to get the chicken to grow a snout it rearranged the chicken’s jaw and that means that there are genes in play we didn’t understand,” Murphy said. “And we will run into something similar with humans. We are learning fundamental science on how genes express themselves.” The chickensaurus project also raises ethical questions in regard to lab testing. Carl Knight, an anatomy and physiology professor who specializes in poultry science, believes that the ethical question of genetic modification needs to be addressed. “What if we could make a bee colony?” Knight added. “So we take out all the things that the bees don’t need to be a good worker bee, we will be able to take care of that. But is that a good thing?”
Knight also believes a problem with genetic manipulation of food supply is that once you mass produce something from a single culture, one virus will wipe all of it out. “We really need to maintain our diversity in the gene pool,” he said. Biology professor Brie Day said experiments like chickensaurus should proceed cautiously. “I think if it’s one thing to run small experiments on small test groups,” she said. “But when your entire food supply is genetically engineered and your population is altered as to what humans come out, that’s when we should ask, ‘Who should be making these ethical decisions and how far is too far?’ ” Chickensaurus could eventually lead to reviving other creatures. “Once we can do this, we can do anything. If you want a glow in the dark unicorn? We can make a glow in the dark unicorn.” Murphy said. “This isn’t science fiction. We are going to get a mammoth, and it’s going to be awesome.”
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The Et Cetera
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
DAN LUNA/THE ET CETERA
Faculty and staff debated various topics in regards to free speech on college campuses on Sept. 21
Panel debates free speech By DAN LUNA Reporter @TheEtCetera
People deserve an absolute right to free speech, even if their words anger or hurt others, speech professor Nick Vera said at a Sept. 21 panel discussion on the subject. “There’s nuance here, but I will always err on the way of free speech,” he said. “Bullying is a reality, but when you get out in the real world there’s going to be no one who’s going to protect you from someone saying ugly words to you. “Bullying should be met with education rather than legislation.” Other panelists expressed more willingness to accept limitations on speech that involved racist comments and offensive expressions. “I do think that there should be some type of limitations,” adjunct government professor Tiffany Nacoste said. “I think that the school has a responsibility to absolutely protect.” Colleges have been a flashpoint for the free speech debate in recent months. White supremacists waving Confederate flags and shouting antiSemitic chants marched through the University of Virginia’s campus in August, igniting a national debate on hate speech. In February, the University of California-Berkley canceled a speech by right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos after violent protests. Texas A&M refused to allow white nation-
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“Bullying is a reality, but when you get out in the real world there’s going to be no one who’s going to protect you from someone saying ugly words to you.” — Nick Vera Speech Professor
alist Richard Spencer to speak on because of safety concerns. College and university administrators say they are caught between protecting free speech and ensuring safety on their campuses. Schools generally set aside areas on their campuses designated as “free speech zones,” where anyone can give speeches or hold protests. Eastfield’s is in the Lower Courtyard, though it has not been used in more than a decade. The college requires groups to reserve the space but does not regulate the content of their events unless they become disruptive or violent, administrators say. History professor Matt Hinckley argues that colleges should restrict some rallies and protests, such as Neo-Nazis and hate groups. “A college community has the right, I would argue, to regulate things in the public interest,” he said. Nacoste said college officials must walk a fine line to protect the individual but also allow the free exchange of ideas.
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Vera responded: “Who’s the person that’s going to be the sole arbiter of what speech needs to be limited?” Hinckley brought up the controversial flying of Nazi flags. “They have a right to fly the Nazi flag if they want to,” Hinckley said “but I will say this, if you fly the Nazi flag, you’re a piece of sh*t as a human being.” Government professor Michael Iachetta said preventing free speech is dangerous. “You don’t shut people down by force,” he said. “That’s what tyrannies do.” Students who attended the panel left with equally divided views. “People should have the right to say anything,” said Awab Easha, a civil engineering major said. Marketing major Crystal Salinas worries about speech targeting minorities. “Things shouldn’t be expressed that would be harmful to them or expressed in a way that makes them scared or segregated,” she said.
—Compiled by Sydney Abbas, Keaira English, Bryan Crady and Daisy Orona MANUEL GUAPO/THE ET CETERA
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NEWS
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
PUT IT ON YOUR
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NEWS
Calendar Briefs Wed
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Thu
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October
Part-time job fair, 9 a.m.4 p.m., the Pit Recital series: Justin Pierce Jazz Quartet, 12:30 p.m., F-117 Harvester Hunger Project food drive count, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the Pit Completion and transfer event, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Pit and C-135 STEMinar: Saving the Dark, 12:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., S-100
Mon
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Student Government Association Fundraising, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., the Pit Chess tournament, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Pit Day without Stigma and Day of the Girl, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lower Courtyard
Tue
Transfer Fair, noon-2:30 p.m., the Pit and hallways of second floor of C building
Wed
Dance and Snack, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Lower Courtyard
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SGA forum, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., C-135A Recital series: Trio Montuno, 12:30 p.m., F-117 Healthy Living Fair, 1 a.m.-1 p.m., C-135B/C Honors Program networking, 1-2:30 p.m., G-102
Thu
12 Fri
13 Tue
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Mental health speaker, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., G-101 Navy birthday celebration, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the Pit Fun Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., C-135 Community Building with Art, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Pit Panel: Coming to America, the Risks and Relief of Sanctuary Cities, 9:30 a.m., C-135 Disability Services Office event, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Pit
ABOUT THE COVER
Dana See, biology lab coordinator, examines her bees’ honey production while checking on their hive.
PHOTO BY JAMES HARTLEY/THE ET CETERA
The Et Cetera
Campus hosts breast cancer events The Health Center will hold its annual survivor walk at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4. The walk starts in the Fireside Lounge in C building and ends in the first floor G building lobby with a group photo. The Harvesters volleyball team will host two pinkthemed games in support of breast cancer awareness. They are at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 vs. Mountain View and 7 p.m. Oct. 16 against Cedar Valley.
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Free Speech Week comes to Eastfield Student Media will celebrate Free Speech Week with a party Oct. 18. The free event will include activities such as a free speech mural, a free banned books library, voice your concerns video interviews, a contact your representatives station, a letter to the editor campaign and more. The event will be noon-2 p.m. in C-135, directly following distribution of the Oct. 18 Et Cetera student newspaper. For information, contact elizabethlangton@dcccd. edu.
Workforce Development receives grant The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded a $190,000 grant to the Workforce Development & Community Education Division and PepsiCo Bottling Group of Mesquite. The money will fund training at the bottling plant provided by Eastfield that will create 10 new jobs and upgrade the skills of 102 current employees. Workforce Commissioner Ruth Hughs presented a check from the commission’s Skills Development Fund Grant at a Sept. 28 ceremony.
Former semi-pro skater’s art gallery premiers Dyemond Obryan, a self-taught artist, illustrator, cartoon and comic book enthusiast and former semi-professional skateboarder will present a gallery show titled “Blue Palm.” The show, which will be held in Gallery 219 from Oct. 12 to Nov. 10, is “a personal collection ... and an ode to his younger self, one who was glued to every comic book, cartoon, and skate magazine.” The gallery will hold a reception 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in F-219, and Obryan will hold a Q&A 12:30-1:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in C-135A.
FAFSA is now open to students The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for school year 2018-19 opened Oct. 1. FAFSA is required for students seeking federal grants as well as scholarships, loans and work study. College officials recommend filing as early as possible for meet all deadlines at the schools you plan to attend. Visit fafsa.ed.gov. Correction The story “Eastfield to move to two eight week terms” in the Sept. 20 edition stated “many science classes will have class each day and then hold a five-hour and 20 minute lab on Friday.” Professor Daniel Murphy said a small minority of classes will have long Friday labs. They will meet twice per week. The Et Cetera regrets this error.
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*Ranked #1 School of Social Work in Texas for Veteran Friendliness by College Factual *According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social work is projected to grow 12 percent by 2024, faster than the average for all occupations For more information, go to our website uta.edu/ssw or contact the UTA School of Social Work Admissions Office at 817-272-1044 or 817-272-9488 or email sswadmissions@uta.edu
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Weird, yes. But
DELICIOUS It’s easy to miss the interesting places in a city as big as Dallas. The forest of neon signs advertising chain restaurants with boring concepts and the same old food can be blinding, keeping you from finding some truly unique dining experiences. Luckily, you have The Et Cetera. We’ve compiled a list of the five most interesting places in Dallas affordable for the average Harvester. From fresh fusion food to a burger dive older than most students, here are our suggestions. — Compiled by James Hartley
BBBOP 828 W. Davis St., 2023 Greenville Ave. and 5323 Greenville Ave., Dallas Sometimes things that just logically shouldn’t work well together form some unique, almostperfect creations. BBBOP is a prime example. This family owned Korean influenced Tex-Mex restaurant defies norms and exceeds expectations in almost every area. The restaurant is full of handmade tables and chairs. Your inner hipster will be pleased to hear that all of the food is locally sourced from farmer markets and small vegetable growers. Signature dishes like Gangnam Kimchi Fries, TaKO’s Tacos, K Wings and traditional Korean rice dish Bi Bim Bop give foodies a variety to choose from. The best dish is definitely a tie between the Bi Bim Bop and the Gangnam Kimchi Fries. The traditional rice bowl is one of the best offerings in the area, rich with savory flavors and topped with a poached egg. You wouldn’t expect some of the best fries on the planet to come from a Korean Tex-Mex, but the curry ranch fries that come as a side for some dishes and are the base of the Gangnam Kimchi Fries, are just that. While Korean tacos are an interesting concept, they fall short with the pork tacos. The sweet pork in a taco is a sin against the TexMex gods. Luckily, they allow your choice of meat for the tacos. To top off the unlikely mixture of themes, the speakers are set to Title Fight radio on Pandora, lightly playing a mix of late 2000s to early 2010s like “~” by Touche Armore and “The Night I Drove Alone” by Citizen in the background. And a pro tip: skip the soda fountain and go directly to the kiwi green tea limeade — it will
change your life.
TEN Ramen 1888 Sylvan Ave., Dallas During peak times, this standing room only, house made-ramen shop will have people lining the bar in front of the kitchen and flowing out to a patio bar. With a borderline-overload on wood decor and chill EDM playing over the speakers, TEN Ramen is undoubtedly one of the most laid-back ramen shops in North Texas. The narrow interior has room for 15 people tops. The menu is written on a chalkboard to the right of the door and patrons put their orders in on one of two tablets to the left of the door. There’s no pay with cash option here, so be prepared to pay with a card. The mango cream soda is a go-to non-alcoholic beverage, available for $2.50, and the Ahashi imported light beer is a crisp, flavorful option for just $4. Every ramen option is great, but the Shoyu Ramen is the best. It’s savory, bold tones make a rich, deep flavor that is expected from a good bowl of ramen. The house-made noodles are perfectly cooked and soak in the flavor of the rest of the bowl. If you aren’t feeling the ramen, go for the Buta Suboro rice bowl. This is a great place to go with a friend or for a date, but not as well-equipped to handle a group of more than four. The limited space can add challenges, but it also adds to the atmosphere. That paired with the food makes TEN Ramen a must-visit. Devious Desserts 2724 Elm St., Dallas Food trucks aren’t anything special in Dallas, but Devious Desserts isn’t any normal food truck. You won’t see it from the street because this food truck doesn’t have a working engine in it. Or a back half. Meriel Bautista, former executive pastry chef of JOY Macarons in Oak Cliff and Nobu in
the Dallas Hotel Crescent, has made a gourmet dessert stand out of the half food truck parked at the back of Wit’s End bar in Deep Ellum. “I had this wacky dream that I was selling ice cream out of here,” Bautista said. “I talked to the manager here at Wit’s End and he said, ‘I can make that happen.’ ” Thank God for that. Made from scratch ice cream, brownies, whipped cream, sauce toppings and even Belgian waffles can be combined to make the most amazing dessert creations ever served out of an oversized Chinese takeout box. You can pick one dessert from the menu, make your own or go with one of Bautista’s predesigned Belgian Waffle Bowl Sundae creations. Each of the waffle bowls costs $10. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, just ask for the Chef ’s Choice for the same price. Bautista will whip up something random but complimenting. The Frozen Hot Chocolate (yes, that’s a contradiction), Fruity Pebble and Café Cubano ice creams are also available on a rotation but not in the predesigned bowls. Grab your dessert and then hop on one of the TVs in Wit’s End and play classic 2D fight games on Play Station. Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ 1950 Market Center Blvd., Dallas With a 50-foot Ferris wheel in the backyard, this restaurant is the newest and probably the best party stop on the list. It’s also the most expensive with none of the meat dishes running under $10 per half pound and sides averaging $3. The smoked meat and sandwiches are worth
PHOTOS BY YESENIA ALVARADO/THE ET CETERA
Top, Meriel Bautista runs her gourmet dessert restaurant out of a half of a food truck in the back of a Deep Ellum bar. Bottom, Tianu Lu, 21, chows down on some K Wings at BBBOP.
the price, but the sides are easy to pass on. Whether you prefer a sandwich, sliced brisket, pulled pork or double-smoked, melt-inyour-mouth-tender beef tips, Ferris Wheelers will offer some of the best barbecue in town. The sides may be small, overpriced and served lukewarm, but the main dishes make the trip worth it. If you want some waffle fries that bad, you can just stop at Chick-Fil-A on the way home and get a larger serving of fresh, hot fries. The smoked meat portions are small but filling. Everything is smoked on the same day and packed full of flavor. You won’t even need the barbecue sauce, which comes in house and spicy flavors. This place screams Texas. With cow skulls, a giant painting of Chuck Norris in front of an American flag and signs advertising Texas craft See Five restaurants, page 6 ➤
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The Et Cetera
Sus Comics By Aldahir Segoviav
COURTESY OF A24
Yeah, they star in this movie. But they don’t really do anything.
Woodshock is just shockingly horrible By DAVID SILVA Digital Managing Editor @DavidSilvaETC
Brand Medusa Comics By Caylin Gaines
Five restaurants everyone must visit Continued from page 5 beers, you’ll be sure to know which state you’re dining in. While you’re there, be sure to visit the backyard. You can play Cornhole, giant Jenga and take a free ride on the Ferris wheel. Just make sure everyone likes (or can at least tolerate) country music, because that’s about all they play. Keller’s Hamburgers and Beer Drive In 6537 E Northwest Highway, Dallas This isn’t the Sonic drive in you’re used to. Keller’s is a Dallas legend,
serving up simple, cheesy, greasy cheeseburgers stuffed between a poppy seed bun. These burgers won’t win any awards for creativity or novelty, but averaging between $2 and $3, they will become one of your top choices throughout your time as a broke college student. The environment can’t be beat. While it can get crowded, Keller’s allows you to eat in your own car. Laugh and talk as loud as you want without worrying about bothering other patrons or roll up the windows and enjoy a book or movie in the quiet of your vehicle.
The best option here is without contest the No. 8. A double patty, double cheese and chili mess that, considering you probably don’t want to have to pay for a car detail after your meal, you’ll want to be careful with. If you’re feeling hungry— or just want a challenge— add an extra patty to your No. 8 or any other burger for just 70 cents. If you’re wanting to avoid the mess that comes with the chili, the cheeseburger is a safe bet. If you’re still not sure what to get, ask your carhop. It’s a limited menu, so they usually know what’s good.
One would have a hard time outpacing the pretentiousness of the insufferable “Woodshock.” The film, which serves as fashion designers, Kate and Laura Mulleavy’s directorial debut, sees Kristen Dunst as Theresa, a clerk at a marijuana shop who uses a serum to turn her weed high into something closer to an LSD trip. The pot shop also deals in underthe-table assisted suicide. Theresa is burdened by the loss of her mother, who at the beginning of the film utilized the assisted suicide methods of the shop to kill herself. It may seem like a fairly capable setting, one that might allow for unique themes and situations. But alas, nothing ever happens. The pacing of the film is painfully incoherent. The Mulleavy sisters attempt a repetitive shot selection in the early parts of the film to demonstrate Theresa’s consistent mourning, but since the scenes that are meant to demonstrate this tell us nothing else, this repetitiveness is without cause. The cinematography of the film is topnotch, yet the cinematic structure makes the movie feel like it never truly begins. Not to say that this film is cyclical in an absurdist sense. Its incoherence doesn’t give off the satisfaction of sensory experience seen in modern art or the subconscious ambiguity seen in an Andrei Tarkovsky film. The film suggests that some of its shots are symbolic, with the repeti-
tive use of butterflies, the forest and a big neon marijuana plant. But these symbols reach no artistic satisfaction. It seems that the film had a story to tell somewhere. Maybe one that got lost through the filmmaker’s belief that people would actually take the time to study a plot that moves nowhere. It can be understood that the first viewing of a film won’t give you the meaning of everything. But damn, it should at least be enjoyable. Dunst’s transition from mildly sulking to moderately sulking is less satisfying than watching a patch of grass get slightly blown by a spring breeze. The second act of the film includes zero useful information. In fact, the second half is the best time to go for a restroom break, something that many at the screening did. There was no worry about potentially missing anything important, and they were right. The third act is somehow more agonizing than the rest of the film. Theresa builds a fence, yells at her boyfriend, beats her employer in the face with an iron and then walks around in the woods. Then, in true mediocre film student fashion, a hollow collage of colorful shots paired with climatic violin music lets us know that our journey is over. It’s as if we’re supposed to get some type of closure or something that never began. This is easily A24’s worse outing since becoming the frontrunner of innovative filmmaking.
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Artists demonstrate natural dye-making process By SAMUEL FARLEY Reporter @TheEtCetera
Utilizing a mixture of botanical material and other natural resources, guest artists Analise Minjarez and Sarita Westrup showed students how to create unique inks and dyes during a Sept. 25th lecture. Held in room G-101, the lecture gave the artists a chance to showcase the artistic elements and cultural themes behind their collaborative research project named “Tierra Firme.” Gallery director Iris Bechtol brought the University of North Texas graduates to campus to discuss each artist’s creative process and the influences behind the project. The purpose of “Tierra Firme,” as stated by the artists, is to create cultural and social understanding while centering on the Mexican-American border region. Through interviews, teaching workshops and creating work in the border region, each artist intendes to communicate life and culture in their own individual way. Analise grew up in El Paso, a major border city adjacent to Ciudad Juarez, and understands the blending of traditions in her city. “I grew up having experiences that were Texan,” said Minjarez. “But they were heavily influenced by Mexico and New Mexico.”
PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH MCCARTY/THE ET CETERA
From left, students create booklets with ink drawings using natural dyes. Artists Minjarez and Westrup prepared one of these dyes by blending the dried bug cochineal, which is a scale insect that creates red dyes such as scarlet and crimson.
The desert’s various plant life and wide open sky are all natural elements that she uses to make her art. Westrup grew up in McAllen Texas, which shares the border with a Mexican city named Reynosa. “I was inspired by the aesthetics of that region, like the desert,” said Westrup. “But more so by my parents’ experiences as immigrants from Mexico.” One of the pieces that they have created for
the project is called “El Norte” and incorporates avocado pits and other natural chemicals to create a pink dye that was applied to a cloth. “These foods that we grew up with like avocado, black beans, onion skins and hibiscus flowers can all infuse cloth with color that’s apart of our culture,” said Westrup During the lecture, the artists also took students on a journey with a short video of the pair travelling throughout the border region and exploring rural and urban spaces.
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Rural areas like Big Bend national park, which sits directly on the border where the Rio Grande flows as a separation between Texas and Mexico. They also visited urban cities like Del Rio to get perspectives on the land and people of this region. They brought their artistic process to Eastfield, demonstrating to students how to create watercolor works with botanical dyes. Many art majors came out to see the artists and their work. “I’m really interested to see how graphic design and versatility can be fluid,” Digital Communications major Alyssa Sullivan said. “The art of fibers was very unique and worthwhile to see.” The lecture was also hosted to correlate with Hispanic Heritage Month. Bechtol said that the importance of lectures like these are inmeasurable in depicting the reality of those who live in the border and connecting them to students. “The Hispanic community is a community we serve,” she said. “In today’s world it’s important to have conversations about the border, and the art produced by Tierra Firme helps humanize hispanic communities.” Pieces from “Tierra Firme” are not up for display on campus, but can be found on their website tierrafirmeproject.org
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The Et Cetera
In the hive of the beeholder Story and Photos by James Hartley
The jacket is a thick, white, denim-like fabric with a hood attached, netting covering her face. She wears elbow-high gloves, baggy cargo jeans and rubber boots. Every part of the suit is designed to keep bees off of her as she pumps billows of sweet, pine scented smoke at the base and top of the vertical hive. See is a part of a growing trend dubbed hobby beekeeping, which she thinks may be one method of saving the drastically decreasing bee population. According to the United States Dairy Association, there are between 115,000 and 125,000 beekeepers in the United States. Among those beekeepers, there are approximately 2.7 million colonies that produce 161.8 million pounds of raw honey annually. Hobby beekeepers get involved for different reasons: the honey, the ability to pollinate gardens in an effort to save the bees or even for the novelty of having bees in their backyard. Ryan Giesecke, president of the Trinity Valley Beekeepers Association, said that he has seen an increase in local urban beekeeping as a response to the news that the pollinators are in danger. Giesecke said that the increase in beekeepers could be good for the bee population so long as beekeepers are responsible. Neglecting to care for hives can lead to detrimental results. “A lot of our older members get started in beekeeping because they wanted the honey,” Giesecke said. “In the past years we’ve seen a shift. A lot of people want to save the pollinators.” Beekeepers are a diverse group, Giesecke said. “It’s a good, random selection of the population,” he said. Getting involved in a beekeeper association is the logical first step for anyone who wants to get involved, Giesecke said. New beekeepers should look to veterans of the field for tips and advice in caring for bees. See said the attention has been good for the bees. “People have been really enamored with saving the bees and how important bees really are to our environment,” See said. “Then here’s our school with bees becoming the mascot now. They’re really unusual little creatures that provide us with a sweet treat and pollinate the plants in a way that we aren’t even really aware of.” Fred Garrison, a dentist See started visiting at a young age, had an observable bee farm in his office. See would watch the tiny honey makers move around and work in their hive as
she waited for her appointments. Garrison’s daughter, LaJuana Garrison, has kept the practice going but does not have the bees in the office any more. When See’s friend Robin Brashier suggested that they buy bee hives, See’s memories of Garrison’s office influenced her decision to jump right in. The population of bees, who are responsible for a majority of the pollination of plants ranging from flowers to crops, is drastically dropping at a rate that disturbs many experts. The cause: colony collapse disorder, an unexplained disappearance or death of a hive. Some researchers suggest that loss of habitat, an increase in pesticides and problems with parasites add to the problem, but no solid explanation has been found. It not only endangers the supply of honey, but also the health of plants, crops and farms. “Without domesticated honeybees, we would probably starve, our population would crash,” said Murry Gans, microscope lab coordinator, biology professor and fellow insect lover. Gans uses his microscopes to study insects like ants and bees, among other things. Gans said modern agricultural practices, brought on largely by the increasing demand for food, may be partly to blame. “We can become better stewards for the planet,” Gans said. “There are a lot of people trying organic farming techniques that don’t require those types of things. We need to be careful of how much land we pave over.” Hobby beekeepers do a lot more for the survival of bees than many of them realize. “I think it’s awesome every time you get someone like Dana,” Gans said. “She’s an urban beekeeper. She keeps bees in the city. Not only are food crops being pollinated, but all the pretty flowers that you see are being pollinated to make seeds for the next crop.” Gans said that urban beekeeping not only helps local plants and vegetables to reproduce but also gives bees a chance to expand their reach. “What people like Dana are doing, they’re literally providing pollinators right there in their backyard, giving them a place to go out in the neighborhoods to pollinate everything that’s out there, community gardens or whatever,” Gans said. “Any time that you take an animal and you provide it a habitat that it would not otherwise have, you help make that species more successful.” The pollination of gardens is one of two reasons that most neighbors don’t mind backyard
beekeepers. For See’s neighbors, a major influence is the honey. “I’ve never had any complaints from my neighbors over all these years,” See said. “Of course, I also give them honey for Christmas, so that probably helps.” See ends up giving away most of her honey, setting some back for herself each year. Gans, one of See’s beneficiaries, says that honey has a lot of benefits aside from being delicious. Natural, local honey is believed to help the body adapt to allergens and build an immunity. The bees travel for up to 3 miles to collect the nectar and make their honey. The hairs all over their bodies, even some on their eyes, carry pollen from one plant to another. Gans said it’s simple: “It’s sex.” The pollen is gathered from one flower and carried in the hair of the bee to the next, where it is collected and fertilized by the flower. The bees don’t know that they’re doing it, they just want the sugar from the nectar. It’s a process that big farms are willing to pay big money for, Gans said. Hobby beekeepers typically don’t make their living off the honey produced by their bees. See only produces about 3 gallons of honey each year— not nearly enough to survive off the profits— and doesn’t have enough bees to fertilize entire farms. See’s smaller hive stands about 4 feet tall holding only a few thousands of bees, which she says is not a lot compared to big time bee farms. The larger one, a horizontal 5-footer, holds three to four times as many bees. Together, these hives can produce about 3 gallons of honey a year. See could probably get more, but she doesn’t harvest at the end of the summer because the bees need enough to last them through the winter, when they aren’t gathering pollen. Most days, she can be found in an office tucked behind a biology lab storage room. See works full-time as a biology lab coordinator. While her fascination for bees began when she was a girl, she says the connection between her biology work and the bees has fueled that fascination. “Bees are very unusual creatures,” See said. The honey-making process, from pollen gathering to adding enzymes to cooling the honey by hovering outside the hive and flapping their wings so the air they push cools the honey, fascinates her. The opening to See’s hives faces toward a greenbelt behind her backyard, full of tall grass and wild plants they visit for pollen. Just sec-
HOW BEES MAKE HONEY STEP 1 Bees fly from their hive to gather nectar from flowers and other blooming vegetation STEP 2 Once enough nectar is collected, the bees bring it back to the hive
STEP 3 Honey is deposited into honeycomb wax cells. The honey is still wet and not the familiar consistency STEP 4 Bees “fan” their wings over the nectar, causing the liquid inside the cells to slowly dehydrate. The process turns thin liquid into thicker honey STEP 5 Once the honey is ready, the bees cap and seal the cell to keep it clean Bees can visit over 300 different plants. The plants a bee visits can impact the taste of the honey they produce. Some bee farms use this to create different types of honey ILLUSTRATION BY MANUEL GUAPO/THE ET CETERA
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onds ago, the bees were moving in and out of the hive, traveling to the grassy clearing to gather nectar and heading back. Now that they’ve noticed the smoke, most of them have moved inside to protect their honey, ready to move it if they have to evacuate their hive. See moves slowly and quietly to avoid startling the bees, pumping puffs of smoke on occasion until the bees seem to be calmed down. She sets down the smoker and pulls off the lid to the hive, using her orange, crowbar-like bee tool to pull lose a honeycomb for inspection. The bees use a type of glue they produce to hold the hive together and keep the honeycombs in place. It’s tough enough that See has to wedge her bee tool in and pull the honeycombs loose. As she pulls up the long, narrow piece of wood the bees have built the comb on, she notices they’ve already started completing some of their honey and laying eggs. “It’s amazing how much heavier the hive becomes when the bees have made honey and laid their eggs,” See says. The eggs are placed in combs just like the honey, but with a rough, burnt orange appearance. They are a stark contrast to the wax-coated golden honey. See begins lowering the comb back into the hive, satisfied with the progress they’re making on building up their winter stores. She moves slowly, giving the bees time to get out of the way. “Alright girls, I don’t want to crush you,” See says. “You’ve gotta move.” At this point, the only bees left are the workers bees— all female. The male bees, known as drones, only serve one purpose: fertilize the queen bee’s eggs. After
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they’ve done their job, they die. There are some obstacles to it, though. Some cities won’t allow residents to keep bees in their backyard. Luckily for See, Garland does. See has to take a number of other circumstances into account in caring for her bees. Two of the biggest concerns are the food the bees have to last them from winter to summer and the amount of space in their hive. If they do not have food, they will die. If they do not have space, they will leave in what is called swarm, relocating their colony to someplace more spacious. See lost a hive to what is called a swarm one year. After running out of room for their hive, the bees leave together to find a new hive, taking the queen and all the honey they can carry. It stalls the ability of a beekeeper to harvest any honey. After replacing the colony and the queen, beekeepers have to let the new residents gather pollen and nectar for a year before collecting honey. See is more attentive now, checking more frequently to make sure the little creatures have enough space. That’s what she’s doing today. The smoke burns See’s eyes for a few seconds as she pumps a couple more bursts into the air. She grabs the lid to the hive and moves it back over the hive, slowly lowering it so the bees have time to escape. Eventually, See would like to have a couple more hives and the ability to go to farmers markets to sell her honey. For now, she’s happy with her two hives and 3 gallons of honey.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Clockwise from top left, Dana See uses a bee tool to wedge loose a honeycomb. Bees use a glue-like wax to keep the honeycomb in place. See uses smoke to calm the bees while she works in their hive. See inspects a bee-covered honeycomb.
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HOWDY, FOLKS
Thousands across Texas flooded to Dallas Sept. 29 for the opening of the State Fair. From Big Tex and crazy rides to corndogs and fried you-name-it, the fair is one of the biggest events in the state each year. The fair will continue until Oct. 22 with must-see events like the Marine Corps Drum and Bugel Corps, the returning laser-light show and daily contests. For a full schedule of events, visit bigtex.com.
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Counter-clockwise from top right, at the Fast Trax slide at the State Fair of Texas, children can race down alone, with a friend or a parent. Turkey legs are one of the State Fair’s main attractions, giving fair-goers a break from fried food. Christopher Hoffman poses for a picture during the set-up of Big Tex on Sept. 22. Big Tex is the 55-foot-tall iconic greeter at the State Fair of Texas, making him the world’s tallest cowboy statue. The rides at the State Fair light up the night on opening weekend. JESUS AYALA/THE ET CETERA
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
‘Say Something’ performances tackle sexual assault By CAROLINE CEOLIN Reporter @TheEtCetera
One out of every four female undergraduates will become a victim of sexual harassment before graduation, according to the United States Department of Justice. The Harvester Theatre Company’s production of “Say Something” will be a series of strategically constructed scenes exploring the devastating aftermath of sexual violence, rape and the challenges that exist in sexist female-male relationship culture. “Title IX has been a huge issue right now with universities regarding sexual harassment, stalking, cases of molestation and even rape in some cases,” said guest director Shelby-Allison Hibbs, who is also a professor of theater at the University of Texas in Dallas. “I’m hoping that through these scenes that people will find ways to have a more in-depth conversation about sexual harassment, discrimination and stalking.” The scenes are taken from various plays, including Naomi Iizuka’s “Good Kids,” which targets modern rape culture and victim shaming, as
well as “Boy Gets Girl” by Rebecca Gilman, which explores stalking and the misperception of romantic pursuit. These scenes are intended to be intense and thought-provoking and will be performed in various public locations throughout the campus. “This issue, it doesn’t happen just behind closed doors. It can happen really anywhere on campus,” Hibbs said. “The seven-to-10-minute scenes will pop up at different places around campus. People will be coming and going from class, see a scene and then we would have a talk back afterward to talk through what they saw, what they think could happen and how they respond to it.” Although Eastfield has never experimented with site-specific theater before, Hibbs and theater coordinator Dusty Reasons Thomas have a vision that through these intense interactions between characters, students will become more aware of sexual harassment and how complex it is. Hibbs also wanted to go forward with the project in a way that would counter the portrayal of sexual assault victims in the media. “These scenes really come from
the perspective of a person who has been used, a person who is being threatened, a person who feels trapped,” she said. “I’m hoping that people will be open to see their points of views in a more humanistic way than other ways that they have been portrayed in the media.” The scenes have affected the cast by opening them up to the perspectives of the roles they play. “It’s kinda surreal, and it’s very enlightening for me because I’ve never been in the situation and I hope to never be in that situation,” theater major Victor Deterra said. “For me it was just getting into that character of someone who is acting as this aggressor, who is coming onto this girl, and it just put me out of my comfort zone because it’s not something I think I would ever do.” Deterra, who takes on the role of Conner from “Good Kids,” hopes the guerrilla-style scenes will surprise their unconventional audience and will not allow students to dismiss the topic. “What I hope some people get from it is a sense of awareness that this stuff does happen and can happen at any time and to anyone,” he
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Shannon O’Vale, left, and Brandon Chapa rehearse a scene from “Stop Kiss” for the upcoming “Say Something” performances.
said. “It can happen to guys. It happens to girls. It can happen anywhere.” Fine arts major Conner Morris had a similar view and believes the production will influence students to help possible victims who may be struggling with similar circumstances. “They’ll probably want to help others, too,” he said. “If they see something that’s wrong with them, they’ll want to say, ‘Hey, what’s up? Do you need help?’ ”
Thomas expressed how important it is for someone to speak up if they see that something is clearly wrong, which is why the title “Say Something” is reiterated throughout the scenes. She acknowledges that quite often these things happen around us and if we pay closer attention we may be able to prevent them. The production will be performed from Oct. 10-24 and will occur in the library, Upper Courtyard, pool locker rooms and the Pit.
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opinion Etera Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Texas Community College Journalism Association • Associated Collegiate Press • College Media Association
Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief James Hartley Digital Managing Editor David Silva Multimedia Editor Andrew Gonzales
Life & Arts Editor Macks Prewitt
Design Editor Manuel Guapo
Asst. Design Editor Bryan Perez
Photo Editors Yesenia Alvarado
Jesus Ayala
Senior Staff Writer Julio Vega Staff Writers Jonathan Aguirre
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Reporters Alejandra Pena Rodrigo Mendoza Nicholas Singleton
Kathryn Higgins Caroline Ceolin Samuel Farley
Senior Staff Photographer Lesley Reyes Photographers Dan Luna Niels Winter Anna Lehmann James Patterson Graphic Artists Aldahir Segovia Sean Watkins
Allison Lee Julian Hernandez Narely Martin
Jesse Lay Jonathan Ventura
Social Media Reporter Mikaela Carrillo Cartoonist Caylin Gaines
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Editorial Assistant Marie Garcia Advertising & Marketing Keturah Hill Publications Adviser Elizabeth Langton Digital Media Adviser Sarah Sheldon Faculty Adviser Lori Dann Editorial Policy The views expressed on the opinion pages and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County Community College District. The Et Cetera is published every two weeks— except December, January and summer months—by a student staff. Each member of the college community is entitled to one free copy of The Et Cetera. Additional copies are available in Room N-240. 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. 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.
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OUR VIEW
Puerto Rico relief unacceptable More than 3 million American citizens have been living without food, clean drinking water, shelter, medical assistance and communication with the outside world in the wake of a disastrous hurricane that leveled the majority of Puerto Rico. An island just over 1,000 miles from Florida, Puerto Rico waited far too long for relief from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and while relief efforts are now underway, these American citizens living on American soil deserve better. The death toll is reported at 16 as of press time. That number will likely grow. Most towns and villages have been inaccessible since Maria ravaged the island and there has been little to no headway in efforts in clearing the way. This means the damage cannot be assessed. This also means that there is no way to know if there are more people starving, dehydrated and waiting for help. In comparison, the response to hurricanes that hit South Texas and Houston and Florida last month was quick and effective. The Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Administration was quick to the scene. The Red Cross had shelters and services available before the hurricanes even made landfall. Only days after Harvey hit Houston, ordinary Texans hauled boats to the affected areas and pulled people out of flooded houses. Churches, businesses and rec centers opened their doors to refugees. While Puerto Rico has been in the news, the disaster and needs there have been overshadowed by a debate about overpaid entertainers kneeling during the national anthem. The needs of these Americans have only begun receiving an appropriate amount of attention in the past few days. Relief efforts have been slow. Response from government officials has been even slower. President Donald Trump’s response to Puerto Rico has been despicable, especially when it is clear from relief efforts throughout September that we can do better. There is no excuse for Americans to be left like this. It is the duty of governments to protect those they govern.
Instead, our president has been involved in a public relations war with the NFL. The situation has become so dire and help is so slow moving that the Pentagon has moved without FEMA and without other federal aid, sending the Navy and thousands of troops to jumpstart relief. This should never have been necessary. The United States needs to take three primary steps: clear the streets and begin the unacceptably long
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overdue process of clearing houses, mobilize medical assistance and get food, water and resources to Puerto Ricans. The Et Cetera calls for a change in attitude and actions from the government. Instead of attacking expressions of free speech, the president should be leading the charge to render aid. Instead of congratulating himself for non-existent victories in aid efforts, Trump should be taking action.
Forget your fears, write to make a change “Visions that can change the world trapped inside an ordinary girl. She looks just like me, too afraid to dream out loud.” These are the opening lines to one of my favorite songs, “Don’t Give Up,” by Gospel artist, Yolanda Adams. I relate to the song so much because I often feel as if I’m that ordinary girl with these potentially world-changing visions that fear keeps tucked away deep inside my heart and mind. But what am I so afraid of? What great fear is keeping my mouth closed? Or you, what keeps you silent? Fear can be a dream-killer and a hindrance to progress. It can keep greatly gifted people from expressing themselves—people who could graduate from ordinary to extraordinary if they would just risk one small thing or everything for the greater good their ideas could produce in the world. There are plenty of extraordinary people who have stood up in fearful times and in the face of fear and made their voices heard either verbally or
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@TheEtCetera
visually, often backed by the power of the pen. Anne Frank, a German-Jewish teenager who was driven into hiding in Amsterdam during the Holocaust, wrote about her experience in her diary. Her intimate musings helped give the world insight into the incredible inhumanity of the event. Martin Luther King, a third-generation preacher and a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement, has been praised as a magnificent orator. But his writing has been equally as acclaimed. His sermons, speeches, and letters helped bring about more equality and justice for all people in America. You and I can also have such an impact on the
world. We can never underestimate the power of the pen to help challenge the silence that enables the brokenness in our world to go unhealed. So, I challenge you to go along with me and put pen to paper or fingers to keys and write the silence. Think about it: Not everyone will agree with everything you say or do. It doesn’t mean that what you have to offer isn’t presentable or viable or applicable to whatever situation in life you are bringing it. And it doesn’t mean it can’t have a powerful positive impact on the world. Don’t allow the world-changing visions you have that could produce great good in our society to become trapped inside you. The world needs to hear from you and from me those thoughts, visions and ideas that can help heal it and make it a better place to live. Writing them out and sharing them with an instructor, mentor or pastor who can get them heard is a great place to begin and to ultimately convey them to the world.
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Shallow mindsets will lead to real devastation What do we millennials care about? Do we care about children not having a childhood anymore? Kids learn to read, write and do basic math problems at the age of 4 for a standardized test they don’t have to take for another couple of years. Do we care about exams like STAAR being given to kids with mental disabilities? Do we care about these kids being puppets in this economic play? Their standardized test scores alone as opposed to actual comprehension turn into dollar signs and jurisdict the job status of their teachers. Do we care about pre-teens being treated like idiots when all they are is curious about the adaptation of their body and mind? Do we care that, while these children are being faced with a dramatic development into adulthood, their mental health is also being challenged with the overbearing stress of school? Do we care about schools turning miniscule wrongdoings into severe punishment? Schools are environments that should be trusted and safe, but turn out to be metaphorical prisons. Yet, we have the audacity to question why kids hate school. Do we care that private schools
are not faced with nearly as many issues as public schools? Think about why that is. Are private schools even a tiny bit accessible to everyone as it is for the wealthy? Was it ever meant to be to? Do we even care about education and the imperfections behind it? Do we care about how low the funding is for education? We’d rather fund the military to fight wars the old and bitter cannot resist. Do we care about the economy and government or is it only when Trump’s name is being thrown in between the terms? Do we care about how either of the two work? Do we care about the tsunamis of impoverished Americans and immigrants who pay taxes? There are more than 320 million people living in the United States and 45.3 percent do not pay taxes. Let that sink in for a bit and ask yourself if you care. Do we care that they sacrifice their finances for the benefit of others, helping the economy that doesn’t help back until the age of 65? Do people care about Social Security’s demise? We worry about receiving $1,000,000 or more after retiring when 2045 should stir the con-
science because that’s the year Social Security is expected to end. Do people care about that? Do we care about longevity? Do we care about how long it will be until the debts of the U.S. are settled? Do we care that debt is increasing as you’re reading this? Do we care about the monumental concessions that will be made to mend our mistakes as a country? Do we care about making our own decisions or having our voices heard? We can boycott elections and vote for pseudo candidates such as a dead gorilla or a bottle of liquor to make a statement, but that won’t give our voices credibility. Do we really care about making our voices heard or do we prefer tweeting mic drops for approval? Do we really care about ongoing issues such as immigration, reconstruction of cities or even our own government? Do we only care about these topics when they get to a critical level? Are the areas affected by natural disasters going to be important to the public after a month? A lot of individuals have already failed to remember the damage caused in Houston by Hurricane Harvey. The more devastating part
Aldahir
Segovia @TheEtCetera
about it is when Texans forget about it. It’s also very easy to forget that Mexico sent in its people to help Houston, but we are barely acknowledging the destruction from three back-to-back earthquakes. It’s disappointing that Mexico’s condition is becoming a runner-up for attention with a pregnant celebrity. Do we care to learn the laws that govern our nation? Or is knowing the law only important when a police officer is pulling us over? Is this knowledge valuable only when it comes to a class? Do you care about the importance of this message? There is a clear message behind every question asked. This isn’t an ad asking for you to donate your interest, it’s to open the concern of both the informed and misinformed. The intention is to establish critical thinking in the minds of everyone in our community and beyond that.
To say we do not care is an incorrect assumption. Yes, some people don’t care about these problems, but many people don’t know enough to care. Especially the youth. Younger generations seem to have a lot of apathy surrounding these issues, believing that they do not impact them directly and thus do not have the ability to impact them at all. But we should care. These issues impact education and the wellbeing of our society. The goal should not be to fixate on these problems as a whole, but to effectively progress from the alpha to the omega of these circumstances. Our compassion is misguided and lacks the whole truth. We acknowledge there are complex issues but go about fixing them in the most facile way possible. We mistake it for deep insight, but it’s delusion. We know so little about every current event going on. We must start caring because we are the future of America and in unity we can make a difference in the problems we are faced with. Alone we do not stand a chance, but together we are unstoppable. That’s why we should care. —Aldahir Segovia is a graphic designer and a science major.
Jeffress’ immigration policy excuse is ill-founded Robert Jeffress, President Trump’s Evangelical adviser and pastor of First Baptist Dallas, used the Bible to justify ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects from deportation young adults who entered the country illegally as children and allows them to work. He did this in response to a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan from 3,400 church leaders urging that President Trump keep the program. Jeffress agrees with the letter in that “we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.” But he argues that “The Bible also says that God’s the one who established nations and its borders. God is not necessarily an open borders guy as a lot of people would think that he is.” Jeffress and this letter, however, contradict themselves by stating that the Bible should not be used to determine immigration when it says, “While Christian compassion is one consideration, it’s not the only consideration in the immigration problem.” In historic Judaism, welcoming strangers into your land was more than just compassion. Jews were to welcome strangers at the gate, then provide them with a bed and food.
Dan Luna @TheEtCetera
This practice is the reason you see Lot waiting at the gate of Sodom in Genesis 19. The passage shows the dichotomy between how Lot treated the strangers and how the citizens of Sodom treated them. This practice is enforced later on in Deuteronomy 10:19 when God reminds his people that they are to love strangers in their land because they were once strangers in the land of Egypt. The strangers in a strange land theme can be followed up until the final chapter of the Bible. It is one of those threads that can be followed from the beginning of the Bible to the end and therefore is vital to a Christian worldview. Putting that aside, the Bible does indeed teach that God established borders and nations. It is hard to know what passage Jeffress
was referring to, so to generalize the statement is the best approach. Based on passages like Acts 17:26, which is the one he was most likely alluding to, and Deuteronomy 32:8, one can see that God does indeed claim to establish nations and borders. The purpose of those passages however is not to say that “God is not necessarily an open borders guy” as Jeffress claims. Instead, it’s to provide the people with security that regardless of who seems to be in power and what nation seems stronger, in the end God is in control. Jeffress chose to use the Acts passage in order to push an anti-immigration agenda that pleases President Trump, knowing that it comes from a source of authority. The most disturbing part in all of this is not his abuse of scripture but the intention behind it. Jeffress’ motive is made clear when he said he wants a distinction between the roles of the church and government. We should have a separation between church and state, since not everyone in the state is part of the church. For Christians however, there is no such
distinction. That is to say, there is something outside of the Christian that governs their morals, which influences their vote. This outside governance is supposed to be above all other governing bodies. It’s what makes a Christian a Christian. Jeffress has taken that out of the equation and is practically asking Christians not to act based on God’s law but on what he perceives is best for the country. Based on his interviews and actions, Jeffress believes that he can and should persuade the president in a way that is not within Christian parameters because the state and the church should be divided. This means he is not a Christian first and foremost, he is a presidential lapdog first and a Christian when it helps him have a platform from which he can say what the president wants to hear. As Christians, we don’t have to support illegal immigration because the rule of law is a good thing. We do, however have the imperative to love foreigners, regardless of their legal status. —Dan Luna is a reporter and an accounting major.
Sports The Et Cetera
Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 13 Oct. 16
Volleyball vs. Mountain View Soccer vs. Brookhaven Soccer vs. Cedar Valley Volleyball vs. Cedar Valley
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7 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m.
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PHOTOS BY DAN LUNA/THE ET CETERA
Above, Maura Munoz goes for a dig against Richland. Right, Payton Costlow tips the ball over the net.
Volleyball maintains perfect record in conference By JULIO VEGA Senior Staff Writer @JulioVegaETC
The Eastfield women’s volleyball team has not dropped a single set in conference play on its way to being ranked No. 3 in the nation. Coach Brandon Crisp attributes that success to the entire team’s effort during competitive practices and praised the depth and talent across the roster. “It takes everyone on the team to get where we are at,” he said. “If our A-group is No. 1 in the country, then the team on the other side of the net during practices better be the No. 2 team in the country.” Outside hitter Keishla Reyes continues to lead the nation with 76 service aces and also leads the Harvesters (16-7) with 234 kills, while Kerstin Fredrickson is second with 205 kills. Fredrickson said the team seems stronger compared to last season.
“We don’t have any weak positions,” she said. “Last year we weren’t always the best on the right side or other certain spots. I think every person this year makes an extremely good contribution to the team.” Libero Alyssa Tomlin has made a team-leading 396 digs, with fellow libero Maura Munoz adding another 305. Munoz said the team must keep its focus and not let its guard down, no matter the opponent. “We need to act like every game and every point is the last one,” she said. “Sometimes we play teams that we know we’re better than them and already in our head, we think, ‘Oh, we got it. We don’t even have to try our best and we got it.’ We have to step into the shoes of playing all out for every point.” Crisp said he intentionally put the team through a more vigorous schedule this season, playing more highlevel teams and participating in an extra tournament at Odessa— they lost all four matches to Division I
teams— to improve the squad. “Part of it is we want to test them because I know we did very well last year,” he said. “I want to make sure that we’re prepared to finish conference.” Crisp also believes the squad’s depth has helped the players find their roles and adding that this team was “more well-rounded than last year.” “Yeah, we’ve won 12 matches, but we’ve had so many different lineups this year,” he said. “We’ve had at least five or six different lineups. You can’t say it’s been one person.” Despite the favorable record, players say there are still areas where the team can improve. Fredrickson said she needs to be more consistent in serving, having made more service errors, 38, than service aces, 32. Middle blocker Chloe Hope added that a lack of communication at times has cost the Harvesters points. “Once we get a rally going, we
kind of shut down vocally, and that will kill us,” Hope said. Tomlin said that staying vocal on the court is crucial for the team to play efficiently. “We need to let people know what ball we’re getting and calling the ball every time,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes we forget that, even though it is our ball.” Setter Kalli Caddell said the team’s best aspect is how close and energetic everyone is with each other. “We don’t let each other get down on ourselves,” she said. “It keeps us up and keeps us positive the whole time. If a mistake happens, let’s always be encouraging to a teammate.” Tomlin said the team expected losses but knows how to deal with them. “I know we’ve lost a few games at the beginning of this season against some really tough teams,” she said. “But it didn’t bring our morale down. We can’t go undefeated the whole season. Once we got past that, we
kept going and now we’re not losing, so nothing is going to stop us.” The Harvesters, who played North Lake after press time on Oct. 2, start the latter half of conference play hosting Mountain View College on Oct. 9. Crisp said the Metro Athletic Conference keeps getting better every year, so repeating another undefeated conference season will be difficult for Eastfield. “Things can shift every year in conference,” he said. “I’m looking forward to all the games we play.” Many of the team members are excited about upcoming rivalry matches with Brookhaven and Cedar Valley. However, Tomlin said she’s looking beyond the conference. “I’m looking forward the most to the national championship because I really think that we can make it this year,” she said. “I think we’re going to make all the way past regionals and all the way to nationals.”
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Nothing out of reach
Women’s soccer goalie Gabriela Roa ranks second in the nation in shutouts despite size By JULIO VEGA Senior Staff Writer @JulioVegaETC
Dustin Stein sat in the stands with about 20 other college soccer coaches at an FC Dallas recruitment showcase last November, waiting to watch a small-but-prodigious goalkeeper by the name of Gabriela Roa. Stein was already familiar with Roa, a versatile player capable of playing in the field and between the sticks. The Eastfield coach had followed her since her playing days at Lakeview Centennial High School. Her club coach, Chris Spear, had invited him and the other coaches to the showcase to expose Roa’s potential. The match started and within minutes Roa was needed to step into action. The ball was crossed into the box from the wing, but Roa was unable to read the flight of the ball when she jumped. It bounced between her legs, off her heel and into the net she was defending. Upon seeing the mistake, 18 of the coaches walked away. Stein stayed. Seeing Roa’s frustration, he figured that she may have lost the ball in the sun. It was an unlucky but costly error. “Unfortunately, in the recruiting world, you can be judged on one mistake,” Stein said. “I hung out to watch her a little more and tried talking to her afterward.” Stein said he’s glad that he stayed since Roa eventually ended up in Eastfield. However, it wasn’t a direct route. Roa first committed to Brookhaven, but Stein didn’t give up. He invited her to visit the Eastfield campus and promised her a starting spot in goal. He knew Brookhaven wouldn’t guarantee such an offer because the Bears were returning the goalkeeper who helped them reach the national tournament the previous season. A few days later, Roa called and said she wanted to sign with Eastfield. The freshman Roa is now second in the nation with eight shutouts and has played every minute of the season so far. She’s made 65 saves with an .867 save percentage as the Harvesters have lost only twice through 15 games. Her performances early on earned her two consecutive Division III National Goalie of the Week awards by the National Junior College Athletic Association and a Region V Player of the Week honor. She has helped Eastfield earn a No. 8 ranking in the nation in the Sept. 26 poll and start conference play 3-1. Not short on talent Although she stands just 5 feet 2 inches tall, considerably short for a goalkeeper where taller players with a longer reach are preferred, Roa hasn’t let her height stop her from becoming one of Eastfield’s key players this season.
PHOTOS BY ANDREW GONZALES/THE ET CETERA
A goalie’s progression: Gabriela Roa succesfully secures a corner kick during a 4-1 win against Murray State College on Sept. 27.
“Other teams and coaches will look at me and think, ‘Oh, just shoot it over her,’ ” she said. “But the advantage is that I can jump, and I’m very quick.”
Justin Staab, Roa’s coach during her high school years at Lakeview Centennial, said she doesn’t look like a typical goalkeeper at first glance.
“She’s not the size of a goalie,” Staab said. “Not height, not size, weight, bulk, none of that. See Freshman, page 16 ➤
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Freshman goalie’s dominance, versatility praised playing for him. His computer screen wallpaper features the team photo of her senior year, with Roa in a bright orange goalkeeper kit in the center.
Continued from page 15 She’s just this tiny little monster that has these hops and touches the crossbar.” Stein said Roa’s technique and speed from her experience as a field player give her an edge while playing in goal. “She’s phenomenal on breakaways,” he said. “She’ll come off her line really quickly. If we are caught with a high line and a good ball is played through, she’s not afraid to clear the ball with her feet because she’s very good with them.” Stein praised her commanding presence and vocal leadership on the field, something he felt the team lacked last season. “That was the biggest thing that drew me to recruiting her in the game I watched,” he said. “She just demands the back line. She helps keep us organized. It’s just massive having a goalkeeper that will talk. I can hear her on the sideline, communicating and telling them to drop back or recover on somebody. It’s good to know that she’s handling that, and it’s one less thing that I’ve got to worry about. I’d much rather that come from my goalkeeper.” Roa also feels that she has a good connection with her defense. “Ever since I started, I’ve gotten closer to these girls, especially Adriana [Arzola] and Aileen [Hernandez],” she said. “They pretty much have my back whenever I’m off my line or something like that.” Stein said Roa’s most standout attribute is her athleticism and shot-stopping ability. She’s even garnered praise from opposing coaches. “Almost every game we’ve played this year, the opposing coach will say, ‘Man, your goalkeeper. Holy cow!’ or ‘Where did you get this goalkeeper?’ ” Stein said. “She’s kept us in a lot of the close ones.” One of those performances came in a 3-1 win over Paul Quinn College on Sept. 19. On a set piece, Paul Quinn senior Amy Joya shot a free kick toward the top corner. Believing it was out of reach for Roa, Joya and her coaches on the sideline started celebrating as soon as she took the shot. Roa had other ideas. Somehow, she was able to stretch fully, parrying the ball away to prevent the goal. “She can just fly,” Stein said. “She throws her body at everything. She gets up to the shots going under the crossbar and will deflect it up and over. She’s a really good shot stopper. I think goalkeepers have to be a special breed. Not everyone wants to throw their body in front of a ball.” Spider monkey In high school lettered all four years and was the starting keeper as a freshman. However, a concussion at the start of the season caused her to miss the remainder of the season. The majority of her sophomore year was played on the field as an attacking player. It wasn’t until her junior year that she established herself as the undisputed No. 1 in goal,
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Roa guides her teammates to set up a defensive wall against Murray State.
and she stayed there for the rest of her high school career, finishing her senior year as team captain. It was her outstanding reflexes and shotstopping abilities as a goalkeeper that earned Roa her high school nickname, “spider monkey.” “Her senior year in our first game against Sachse, the goalie’s mom at the end of the game was like, “God dang! Your goalie is just a little spider monkey. She was everywhere tonight,’ ”
Staab said. Roa said the name came from her jumping and ability to save even the most well placed shots in high school. “It started junior year,” she said. “One time I saved an upper-90 shot (in the goal’s top corner), and it’s been going on ever since.” Roa was part of the Lakeview Centennial team that reached the playoffs her freshman and senior year. Staab said he has good memories of Roa
Other monkey business Roa said playing soccer has given her a new perspective on life, as well as new friendships and a new attitude. “It was a big thing for me,” she said. “I had no doubt in myself that I would get recruited by colleges.” Roa said she plans to play with the Harvesters for two years. “I’m trying to look for universities after this, but if I can’t, then I’ll stay another year,” she said. “Hopefully, I get more opportunities.” In the meantime, Roa said she has a lot to look forward to at Eastfield. She wants to major in criminal justice. “Ever since I was younger, I’ve wanted to be a cop,” she said. “It fascinates me how they go out there, save people and take care of the community.” Roa, who has been playing soccer since she was 8 years old, is also an avid follower of Mexican side Tigeres de UANL and European powerhouse FC Barcelona. Roa said she sees herself mirrored in the player she admires the most, former Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos. Campos was just 5 feet 7 inches tall but still played at a high level throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, competing in two World Cups. He was known for his speed, reflexes, his colorful self-designed uniforms and risky play. He was arguably most famous for his versatile ability to start a professional game as a goalkeeper then switch to a forward position to score. “He’s my favorite player because he was also short,” Roa said. “He was a keeper but he would play on the field, too. It kind of reminds me of me. I look up to him.” Off the field, Stein said Roa is a bit of a “goofball” who likes to joke around. “She’s always smiling, always laughing,” he said. “She helps keep the mood light. She likes to play little jokes on people. She’s very wellliked by her teammates.” She isn’t the only unique character on the team. “This is probably the loudest personality team I’ve ever had,” Stein said. “We’ve got divas on the team, the pranksters and the goofballs. There’s not a lot of quiet time with these girls when you get them in a group. It’s a really fun group of girls.” Staab described Roa as a “phenomenal person” and a leader who cares about everyone she gets to know. “She brings positivity and energy to any situation,” he said. “She builds positive relationships with so many different people. Even when there’s cliques within cliques, she tends to be a part of all of them and can glue people together.”