Eastfield Et Cetera Nov. 11, 2015

Etera

Eastfield College

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Volume 47, Issue 5

Beer 101 Eastfield offers state’s only college-based brewing classes

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NEWS

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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The Et Cetera

DCCCD seeks longterm student connections

By Andrea Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Dallas County Community College District wants to create a “network” that will connect colleges and businesses for the benefit of the students, District Chancellor Joe May said at Eastfield on Nov. 3.

The concept of a Regional Integrated Higher Education Network was introduced by Dr. Joe May at the district’s 50th anniversary at the beginning of the academic year and is a fundamental part of the widely advertised DCCCD Way. May said that this “way” is based on four principles: prepare the community to succeed, help businesses to prosper, inspire individuals to achieve and improve the quality of life for all those involved in the district.

With its development, the district is hoping to create relationships between organizations where talent, resources and facilities of the DCCCD will come together to meet the needs of individuals and employers.

“Some people are coming to us and they create their own networks,” May said, adding that about 40 percent of students in the DCCCD make their personalized higher education networks by attending different colleges.

However, May said that a rudimentary network is already in place, it can become more effective in addressing the ever-changing needs of the community by taking a proactive approach.

Eastfield College is an example of how all these elements are already in place, May said.

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Chancellor Joe May dicusses the district’s Regional Integrated Higher Education Network at Eastfield on Nov. 3.

High school students can become involved by taking dual-credit courses or attending Early College High School.

College students are able to transfer once they complete their associate degrees or their core classes. The Honors Program has an existing partnership with the University of North Texas and Texas State University that allows members to transfer directly into the honors programs at those universities.

For students who are seeking to enter the workforce immediately after college, Eastfield offers two factory-sponsored automotive programs from partnerships with Toyota and Honda. The programs are designed to allow

students to enter the workforce upon completion — although many students get hired before that and leave college without their certificates.

Eastfield’s partnership with Global Corporate College seeks to provide training for employees in order to improve performance in the workforce.

Another example of the college meeting community needs through infrastructure is the agreement that allowed Amazon to use the Pleasant Grove Campus for hiring during September and October.

Additionally, the Pleasant Grove campus recently hosted the Univision newscast after the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, and last Saturday was the third year that the regional Robotics Competition was hosted in the Eastfield gym.

The creation of a network will enhance these partnerships and provide more opportunities for students to be involved in the community, May said.

There are some challenges preventing the incorporation of a successful network.

Audience members mentioned students leaving college before completion, colleges not offering certain programs of study and technology failing to meet districts plans.

“We think that getting a job is important,” May said in regards to completion.“But this network is about lifelong engagement.”

By creating an interconnected network of colleges and universities, May said that DCCCD colleges are looking toward becoming “access points” for students, in which a student may start his or her studies at one college and

NEWS

Briefs

Mesquite bomb squad demonstrates robot

Campus ceremony to honor trees The college’s fifth Arbor Day celebration will feature the planting of an autumn blaze maple tree, which can grow to 50 feet and turns bright orange-red in the fall.

The program will also feature music from the Motley Elementary Choir, the Eastfield Brass Band and Eastfield Choir.

National Arbor Day falls in April, but many states recognize the holiday during the best season for planting trees. Arbor Day in Texas is the first Friday in November.

The event starts at 10 a.m. in the Lower Courtyard.

Help choose the next common book Nominations for next year’s common book are being accepted online through Nov. 15.

The common book experience is designed to encourage the college community to share the book by reading it, studying it and participating in activities connected to it.

This year’s selection is detective thriller “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett.

To suggest a title, visit eastfieldcollege.edu/CommonBookProject/ and click the nomination button.

then transfer for specialized education.

“It seems to me that’s an idea a long-time incoming,” Matt Hinckley, president of the faculty association, said.

“Too often it is very intimidating, especially for a brand new student, just to work up the nerve to come on the campus to speak with someone.” Hinckley said. “And then to be told ‘We don’t have that program here, but you could try somewhere else,’ that can be very deflating to a student. A lot of prospective students might give up at that point.”

In order to connect students to different colleges and universities, Eastfield College President Jean Conway said that additional training on academic advising would be necessary, as well as an agreement where Eastfield won’t lose funding by referring a student to a sister college.Retaining the talent of professors and staff at colleges is another concern. At the end of the presentation, May addressed the new raises for full-time faculty and staff as a way to stay competitive in the higher education system in North Texas.

“We’ve had a profound effect on the quality of life for just about everyone in this county,” May said, adding that the DCCCD has served more than 3 million people since its conception in 1965.

With the creation of an inclusive higher education network, the DCCCD is looking to reach into the great variety of people in the Dallas county and North Texas.

“We want to be defined by whom we include,” May said, which in the new network plans, is the whole community.

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The Mesquite bomb squad demonstrated the precision with which its 500-pound robot can be used when defusing a bomb by picking up a box of Pop Tarts and crushing it with its claw.

Fire investigator and bomb technician Eddie Rose took command of the robot during a Nov. 6 visit. The session was part of the STEMinar series, which highlights real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and math.

Students and faculty were allowed to try on a protective bomb suit, which weighs about 90 pounds.

The robot and bomb suit are two of the tools used by bomb technicians when dealing with a threat. They also use tools such as the XR200 Xray to look into suspicious packages.

“I’ve never been to a bomb threat where I walked in and there was a bomb,” Rose said. “We come across more things like hand grenades. ... But as far as an actual pipe bomb, in my 16 years I’ve had three in Mesquite, five counting those outside of Mesquite.”

— James Hartley

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The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Calendar Voters consider faith in political decisions PUT IT ON YOUR

Wed

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November

Veterans Day event, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the Pit

Cops ‘n' Donuts Alcohol Awareness, 9:30 a.m.-noon, C-135 Recital series with EFC brass ensemble, 10 a.m., Performance Hall

Thu

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Reality Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., C-135 Arbor Day ceremony, 10 a.m., Lower Courtyard OSER Harvest Hunger Food Drive, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., the Pit E-Lead workshop: Building Trusting Relationships, 10:30 a.m., G-129 Readings by Spanish honors students, 12:30 p.m., Faculty Center

Fri

Fun Friday and Camp Gladiator, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Pit

Tue

College recruiting, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the Pit

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“The Maltese Falcon” screening and talk back, 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., G-101 Blood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., C-135

Wed

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E-Lead workshop: Diversity, 12:30 p.m., G-218 Recital series with Eastfield Choir, 12:30 p.m., Performance Hall

Thu

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The candidates say:

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (D): “I am far from being a perfect human, but I am motivated by a vision which exists in all of the great religions ­— Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and others.”

Last day to withdraw Foreign film series, 12:30 p.m., C-237A Eastfield Choir performs, 7 p.m., Performance Hall

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JONATHAN WENCES DESIGN BY PARKER WARD

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

Editor’s note: This is one of a series of stories exploring issues in the 2016 presidential election.

Religion in politics has been among the most hotly debated topics of the 2016 presidential election.

Six Republican candidates discussed the role of religion in legislative policy at last month’s Faith and Freedom Coalition forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

Dr. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood, said that the issues discussed were picked because they were “issues we’re concerned about as believers.”

According to a 2014 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of Americans believe religion is losing its influence in day-today life.

Forty-nine percent of Americans, 6 percent more than in 2010, believe religion should have more influence in politics, according to the poll.

Presidential candidates have been outspoken about religion in politics.

Republicans tend to say that religious liberty is being threatened, while Democrats tend to argue that religion should not play a role in government.

“I believe 2016 is going to be a religious liberty election,” Sen. Ted Cruz said at the Faith and Freedom Forum.

Graham and Ralph Reed, chair-

man of the n Faith and Freeio g i l Re dom Coalition, both said they believe evangelical Christians could be the deciding factor of the 2016 election.

Cruz added that millions of evangelical Christians don’t vote and that their participation in the elections is vital to the Republican party.

This could mean that the religion in politics issue may become even more pivotal.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson said his faith and willingness to fight for it have allowed him to stay high in the polls.

“I think one of the reasons the doors are opening [for my campaign] is because it’s time to bring God back to our country,” Carson said at the forum. “The president says we are not a Judeo-Christian nation, but he doesn’t get to decide. We get to decide.”

Criminal justice major Derek Cash said he believes that religion should play some role in politics.

“Not everyone has the right set of mind when it comes to religion and our government,” Cash said. “I believe it should play a role in politics only to certain extent.”

Science major Devon Rice said she believes religion in politics should

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D): “Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will, and deepseated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”

BA LLO T

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson (R): “I think it depends on what that faith is. If it is inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter. If it fits within the realm of America and is consistent with the Constitution, I have no problem.”

Businessman Donald Trump (R): “People are so shocked when they find ... out I am Protestant. I am Presbyterian. And I go to church and I love God and I love my church.”

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R): “We should seek a balance between government’s responsibility to abide by the laws of our republic and allowing people to stand by their religious convictions.”

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R): “Religious liberty is under threat today like it never has been before in this nation.”

play a more influential role.

“God tells us how we are supposed to live, and we should live by that, and that should define our government,” Rice said. “I do believe a lot that it should play a role, but I think we would put ourselves in a place where we would offend a lot of people if we did put our religion into policymaking. “ Social science major Victoria Perez disagrees.

“Since America has no set religion, we’re so diverse,” Perez said.

“If we have one set religion running for our nation, there would be a lot of prejudices against other religions.”

Science major Emari Smith said that religion doesn’t belong in the federal levels of government, but that

local and state government should be able to make policies based on religious beliefs.

“Think of it this way: if a state is more religious than others, if a state follows mostly one religion, then who is the federal government to say that we want to make laws to disregard your religion?” Smith said. “Whereas in another state, the majority may be a completely different religion.”

Smith added that she believes religious influence in government is affecting religious and racial tensions in the United States, as outspoken elected officials may have an impact on the way people treat race and religious relations.

“I feel like government should just leave it alone,” Smith said.

Et Cetera wins 6 national honors The Et Cetera won six awards at the annual National College Media Convention sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association.

Photo Editor Jonathan Wences won best Editorial Cartoon at CMA’s Pinnacle Awards. Additionally, the Et Cetera took second place for Two-Year LessThan-Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

At the ACP awards, the Et Cetera was named Pacemaker finalist for work in the 2014-15 academic year. Wences and cartoonist Matthew Rohan received honorable mention for Best Illustration.

Wences also received honorable mention for Best Editorial Cartoon.

Additionally, the Et Cetera placed fifth in the Best of Show contest with the

Oct. 21 issue featuring the cover story “Is there a war on police?”

Staff members also participated in the Texas Community College Journalism Association’s “6 to 6 on Sixth” competition — a 12-hour multimedia contest on Sixth Street.

The Et Cetera received first place for best multimedia package, best story, best photo story, best headline and best multimedia element (video) and honorable mention for best dominant photo.

The team members were Andrea Carrizales, Brianna Harmon, James Hartley, Keturah Jones, Raul Ulloa, Matthew Rohan, Alejandra Rosas and Parker Ward.

See the winning multimedia package at eastfieldnews.com.

PARKER WARD/THE ET CETERA

Bradley Huddleston (right) creates an effect of fake blood on Lorena Martinez's arm during a Chemistry Week event.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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The Et Cetera

Knowledge on

College offers state’s only brewing certificates Story by Mayra Rosales-Montoya and Caitlin Piper

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Photos by Alejandra Rosas

iant, shiny tanks bubbled with many varieties of beer brewed by Eastfield students new to the craft as they finished up their Journeyman Brewer Certificate, the first program of its kind in Texas.

Pipes and hoses wormed throughout the building, emitting fine scents of crisp brews, some fruity, others more earthy or spicy. As members of the group enjoyed a few sips of their product, there was a Wonka-esque feel to the factory through its balance of cleanliness and sophistication flavored by their genuine enjoyment of what they were doing.

In the past couple of years, DallasFort Worth has experienced a boom in craft beer culture.

What was once thought to be a trend among local college students has now taken over nearly every bar and restaurant in North Texas.

The business is in such high demand that each year more breweries open up to compete for the best new product.

In just four years, Dallas has gone from having a mere two breweries to being the home of 24. The rise of craft brewing in Texas has pumped billions of dollars into the economy and created more than 3,000 jobs.

It’s no wonder Texans are jumping on the business bandwagon and demanding an educational path into the professional world of craft beer.

Eastfield is the first college in the state to offer a College Brewing Education Program.

In addition to the Journeyman Brewer Certificate, the college will begin offering Technical Brewer classes Jan. 4 for more experienced brewers who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of the industry.

“I was a little apprehensive not knowing what type of feedback we would receive, since this is the first of its kind in Texas,” Continuing Education Director Rosana Martinez said.

“Over the past three months, we have received over 200 inquiries. The program has been welcomed with open

Brewing has become a North Texas trend and students enrolled in Peter Bottcher’s Journeyman Brewing Certificate course will learn everything they need to know to be able to brew their own beer.

Eastfield will also be offer a Technical Brewing course on Jan. 4.

arms.”

According to Martinez, the Technical course will be more focused on the business aspect of brewery. Both course are taught by Master Brewer Peter Bottcher, who has over 30 years of brewing experience worldwide.

It took a year to introduce the courses into the curriculum, but now that it’s taken off, Bottcher is ready to reach out to local brewers and help improve the blossoming craft beer culture in Texas. He hopes that to improve the art of brewing through education.

“I’ve been in the U.S. brewing for almost 20 years,” he said. “I’ve seen that there’s a need to educate and form a common standard.”

According to Bottcher, the course is an absolute time investment for Journeyman alumni.

The program only lasts six weeks, but each student dedicates five days a week to the course.

With the Brewer’s Certificate course, a strongly scientific environment is expected.

Learning the appropriate art of brewery means learning everything from the chemistry of beer to the correct process for maintaining a

sanitary work environment.

“This is not a joke,” Bottcher said.

“It’s a very serious program. This is intense. It’s a crash course that is very data- and process-driven.”

Aside from meeting for a lectureintensive class three times a week, students also go through a process similar to an internship at several local breweries twice a week.

These breweries include Grapevine Craft Brewery, Shannon Brewing, Martin House Brewing, Rahr & Sons Brewing and Texas Ale Brewing.

“A huge part of our program is the hands-on experience our students receive in the brewery,” Martinez said. “Every Monday and Friday, our Journeyman students get the opportunity to work in a brewery. This is their time to shine.”

“This is all becomes a part of your daily life,” Ryan Petens, a 38-year-old graduate, said.

Petens, who was a home brewer for seven years prior to completing the program, said he was excited to find work at a local brewery and hopes to open his own someday.

Others, like 59-year-old Kingsley Kessie, knew nothing about brewing

+Students enrolled to the Journeyman Brewer program learn more about the craft brewing industry at Twin Peaks Brewery. On the last day of the Journeyman course, students who had brewed their own beer at the Twin Peaks Brewery were able to taste their finished product.

prior to enrolling in the program.

He was drawn to the business after seeing the recent success of local beer brewers.

“I’m extremely excited to work on a commercial scale,” Kessie said. “After seeing the success statistics even in my country, Ghana, I plan to open my own brewery there in the future.”

Although the course may be in-

tensive and time-consuming, the graduates seem to be very excited and looking forward to their future and careers in the local brewing industry.

“Many of the breweries are looking to hire experienced brewers, but without the formal education around, that is a hard task to complete,” Martinez said.

NEWS Wednesday, November 11, 2015

SOURCES: BREWERS ASSOCIATION, BEER INSTITUTE

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The Et Cetera

ILLUSTRATION BY EDUARDO ORTEGA. DESIGN BY ANDREA CARRIZALES

Life &Arts

The Et Cetera

Tradition honors memory of family

By Juanita Hernandez etc4640@dcccd.edu

Do not be alarmed if you go to Mexico the first week of November and find streets decorated with ofrendas, or altars, built to commemorate those who have died.

Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, has been celebrated in Mexico since the time of the Aztecs.

Eastfield College held a presentation on the holiday headed by history professor Kat Reguero in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Dia de los Muertos is when we get to celebrate our loved ones’ lives, … the life they had when they were alive,” Reguero said. “We celebrate it by offering ofrendas.”

The most popular altars consist of seven steps, which are said to be a path to heaven. They are colorfully decorated with sugar skulls, bread, cempasuchil flowers, tissue paper, candles, water and photos of the deceased.

Nov. 1, the first day of the holiday, is dedicated to angelitos, or children who have died. Their altars may contain toys or snacks. Tradition says that the gates of heaven open to all the children on this day.

The second day is for deceased adults whose altars may hold ciga-

rettes, alcoholic beverages and favorite meals. It is believed that these relatives come to the altars to enjoy what they loved in life.

On the third and final day, the family of the deceased gathers around their altar or tombstone to enjoy meals and share memories.

Some families are accompanied by mariachi bands that play the favorite songs of the deceased.

During these three days, men and women of all ages dress up and paint their faces and bodies in the image of La Catrina, a dapper skeleton woman who is one of the most emblematic figures of the Day of the Dead and was first introduced in 1910 by illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada.

“To me, she is the most beautiful and essential part of el Dia de los Muertos,” Reguero said. “She is so special to me because her skeleton is her indigenous self.”

The Day of the Dead has become so prominent that some parts of the United States have already adopted the tradition.

“I think people should be able to celebrate what they want,” computer science major Donovan Tankersley said. “It’s good that Americans adopt this culture because America is like a melting pot where cultures and races can come together and learn from

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JUANITA HERNANDEZ/THE ET CETERA

An altar honors Anita Munoz with religious images, art and more at the Dallas Latino Cultural Center.

DAVID SANCHEZ/ THE ET CETERA

each other.”

Tankersley said that death is inevitable, and he has no problem accepting it.

Eastfield music major Alexander Brown, the president of the college’s mariachi club, has celebrated the Day of the Dead since he was a child.

“I hope people don’t lose the real meaning of the Day of the Dead,” Brown said. “I hope they realize where it comes from, why it’s important and not just because it looks cool.”

A sugar skull stares into the ceiling of the Pit. Students celebrated Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 2 by decorating sugar skulls with colorful icing, sequins and candy.

MOVIE REVIEW

Snoopy loses his groove in new rendition of ‘Peanuts’

By David A. Silva etc4640@dcccd.edu

Charlie Brown and the gang get a 21st century makeover and new set of adventures in “The Peanuts Movie,” in theaters now.

The plot revolves around Charlie Brown as he finds himself smitten by the little red headed girl who just moved in across the street and ends up in crazy situations as he attempts to impress her. Along the way, Snoopy journeys through his imagination as he pursues the Red Baron.

“The Peanuts Movie’s” best asset is the voice-over performances.

Every character is crafted perfectly in accordance to the beloved comic strips and voiced similarly to their

COURTESY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP.

Charlie Brown’s new popularity angers Lucy in “The Peanuts Movie.”

other feature length specials. Also, the drawing style and 3-D add to the warmth of the movie instead of taking anything away from it or creating

an oversized theme to such a simplistic world.

The story’s plot and subplots also honor the original strip. From Lucy’s

psychiatry booth to Charlie Brown’s kite problems to each character’s dance moves, “Peanuts” purists will soak up the constant tips of the hat to original creator Charles M. Schulz.

However, the movie’s sound track may strike a nerve with fans of the originals. The filmmakers acquired access to many of the classic Charlie Brown tunes, but have also added songs by the likes of Meghan Trainor and Flo Rida. This inconsistency in the sound track may leave audiences wondering if the film’s intent is to stay true or modernize a classic.

Furthermore, the film fails to target those that are new to the world of

Charlie Brown. “The Peanuts Movie” strictly revolves around pleasing those who are lifelong fans of the comic but makes for a predictable kids movie for the majority of individuals not consumed by nostalgia.

Younger audiences around the 6-or-7 year-old age group may enjoy the film due to its constant slapstick comedy. And with squeaky-clean content, parents should have no worries when choosing a film for the kids to enjoy.

“The Peanuts Movie” is faithful to its source material for the most part.

Unfortunately this commitment ultimately keeps the movie away from any original plot points and walls it off from any new fans outside of the younger age group.

LIFE&ARTS

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The Et Cetera

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

‘Halo 5’ aesthetic, single player underwhelming

Gamer Z ne

By Caitlin Piper etc4640@dcccd.edu

What does the modern game industry have against split-screen co-op, anyway?

Back in my day, if I wanted to play a game with a friend and couldn’t be bothered to find an extra controller, I had to wrestle with a 50foot Ethernet cable and perform a blood sacrifice before little Billy from down the street could shoot me in the face and tell me how much he enjoyed his late-night tryst with my mother. Now I have to spend half an hour sending smoke signals to my Internet service provider before some 9-year-old in Guatemala can shoot me in the back and tell me how much I suck. The world’s going to the dogs.

I have to wonder what they were thinking when they neglected to include such a staple in “Halo 5: Guardians,” the latest in the series of highly influential runny-stabby sci-fi shooters that also have a plot sometimes.

That’s not to say “Guardians” doesn’t do a lot of things well. And truthfully, most of you who are reading this probably just want me to shut up and tell you whether or not the online multiplayer is utterly broken. But in a beloved franchise built on either A) shooting your friends, or B) blasting the confetti out of some aliens before “accidentally” shooting your friends, the omission is particularly glaring.

But enough of my nitpicking. How’s the other 99 percent of the game? The good news is that developer 343 Industries added a few changes to the familiar “Halo” formula. The bad news is that developer 343 Industries added a

few changes to the familiar “Halo” formula.

Most of these tweaks manage to be unobtrusive if not outright good, but some of them fall flat and some of them crash and burn. Perhaps the most noticeable of these changes is the addition of three AI-controlled teammates who will follow you to space and back, for better or for worse.

While they usually know to stay out of your way and shoot at things that are trying to shoot at you, more than once did I find one of these guys standing off in some desolate corner of one of the (admittedly beautiful) 15 levels picking his nose with an energy sword while I tried desperately not to die.

An occasional glitch wouldn’t have been so bad if not for the dreaded rescue system. Every once in a while, a firefight would screech to a halt when I took one too many bullets to the sternum or tripped over a space root and had to wait for a twitching AI partner to drag me back up before either of us died.

Spoiler: It usually ended in death.

And so I would be tossed back to the last checkpoint and left to ponder if that kid from Guatemala was right. Thirty seconds of my life gone because I couldn’t just die instantly in an explosion of hilarious ragdoll physics like any other manly man space marine.

This feature was clearly intended to keep the action going in high-risk battles, but it winds up having the exact opposite effect.

The system is almost saved by some smile-

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worthy banter between the characters as well as the option for a friend or three to drop in at any time for some instant multiplayer. But the latter feels unpolished and serves as a sorry reminder of just how weird it feels to play a “Halo” game without split-screen co-op.

I thought it was a truth universally acknowledged that escort missions should have been thrown in a bag and dropped off a bridge over a decade ago, but here we are.

The plot also leaves much to be desired.

I sure hope you read up on your “Halo” lore, chief, because it’s all on the test. Much of the story relies on the assumption that the player is familiar with the game’s predecessors, and while not particularly convoluted, much of the narrative feels disjointed and underdeveloped.

There’s potential here, but writing as someone who believes that the overarching plot of the “Halo” series is surprisingly decent, this one needs some work. Don’t even get me started on the gratuitous cliffhanger ending.

That being said, the online multiplayer is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the series that popularized online console gaming. I could go into greater detail, but all I’m going to tell you is that you should skip the formalities and just jump straight into Warzone, a 12v12

bloodbath that flings you into boss fights and base fights and any other number of spacethemed shenanigans with an energy the main campaign sorely lacks. This feature alone was worth the price of admission.

Overall, “Halo 5: Guardians” really feels like a game done in by its own legacy. Nothing about it is exactly bad, but when compared to its predecessors, it’s clear that it just doesn’t hold up. Many of my criticisms are more nitpicks than complaints; ways to make a good game great in a series of great games.

If you liked a previous “Halo,” you’ll like “Guardians.” But don’t expect to be blown away by anything. It’s a perfectly competent baby brother or sister straining under the pressure of the overwhelming success of its older siblings, but that doesn’t make it a failure by any means.

The single-player campaign is mildly entertaining when you aren’t being forced to babysit three dopey beefcakes. The levels are gorgeous eye candy, and the online multiplayer is a blast.

While not perhaps worth the full $60 price tag, fans new and old will enjoy themselves while those unfamiliar with the series should probably check out one of the earlier games first.

Just don’t ask about Cortana.

MUSIC REVIEW

Long-awaited ‘Divers’ album sets new standards for folk

By Jon Aguirre etc4640@dcccd.edu

It’s been five long years since the release of avant-garde folk artist Joanna Newsom’s last album, but it was more than worth the wait. This new album surpasses the hype.

“Divers” is Newsom’s fourth studio album following her huge 2010 triple album “Have One on Me.” “Have One on Me” was a huge change of sound from her 2006 release titled “Ys.” “Ys” used grand orchestral arrangements, and “Have One On Me” used more modern influence. Newsom continues this trend by changing her sound again.

In “Divers,” Newsom incorporates instruments varying from her typical harp to a surprising amount of synthesizers. She uses a blend of classical

and modern instruments perfectly.

Each sound complements another through a combination of beautiful strings, full drums and droning synths.

Some of the instruments accompany Newsom’s vocals like a duet.

The best example of this is the piano on “The Things I Say.” The piano is independent of Newsom’s voice, yet it complements it.

Newsom has a unique singing voice that might be off-putting at first, much like fellow folk singer Bob Dylan.

Her voice is a bit nasal, and some notes she hits sound sharp to the ear.

It takes a while to get used to.

There are other things new listen-

ers have to adapt to. Newsom doesn’t use traditional verse-chorus song structure. Instead the songs have a more free-from feel to them. Because of this, the album takes a few listens to get used to but gets better each time.

Newsom is one of the best lyricists of the 21st century and shows it by tackling many concepts on the album. Some of the lyrics negatively reference her time in New York City, mainly on “Sapokanikan” and the traditional folk-sounding “Same Old Man.” Some lyrics describe love with a significant other, which may be about her husband, Andy Samberg. Newsom describes the complicated relationship on the title track through lines such as, “I can’t claim that I loved you first, but I loved you best,”

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and, “I don’t know if you loved me most, but you loved me last.”

Newsom also shows her exceptional talent for wordplay by referring to lyrics on the first half of the album in songs on the latter half. This really connects everything together.

The first and last songs on the al-

bum, “Anecdotes” and “Time, As a Symptom,” execute more of this clever wordplay. The first and last sound we hear on the album is the coo of a dove. Newsom hasn’t commented on this, but I interpret it as a representation of nature as a whole. Nature was here before us, and after we’re gone, nature will still be there.

Connecting more of the beginning and end of the album, the last word of “Time, As a Symptom” is cut off on “Tran-.“ If you repeat the album, you’ll find that the first word sung is “Sending.”

This is probably Newsom’s most accessible album, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for innovation or something to expand their musical tastes. I just hope I don’t have to wait another five years for her next album.

8

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Hot, hot, hot

Savorista exceeds expectations

Chef gives students taste of spicy salsas

By Parker Ward etc4640@dcccd.edu

When she’s cooking, Chef Lydia Gonzalez brings Latin American flavors and culture to the table.

Gonzalez visited Eastfield on Oct. 21 as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

As students gathered, they were greeted by Gonzalez with her three spicy salsas that sent students to the back of the room to drink water.

She demonstrated how to make salsa using ingredients such as tomatillos and serrano peppers from Latin American countries. While Gonzalez was making the salsa, she educated those who attended on the history of some popular food items that have made their way into American dishes, such as potatoes from Peru and jalapeno peppers from Mexico.

“It was great and informative.

I love salsa,” science major Emari Smith said. “It was great not only to taste it, but learn about the history.”

Some enjoyed how the lesson allowed the students and faculty a chance to experience other cultures

through food. Gonzalez explained that Europeans were afraid to eat tomatoes for 200 years because they were from a different continent and some thought it was poisoned.

“It gives everyone the opportunity to experience different cultures,” said business professor Emilio Lopez.

“This opens your eyes to the people around you, especially here in Texas.

Everywhere you turn, there is something Latin American.”

Gonzalez also offered tips on how to eat healthier.

“Get off the processed foods, She said. “That’s the No. 1 thing you can do to eat healthier. I don’t have a deep fryer. I think the easy way out is to throw everything in the fryer.”

“You have to have a passion for it. What a wonderful life I have. Yes, I do get up at 4:30 in the morning, but the rewards of sharing something and seeing people get excited just drives me to continue and do more.”

Students say they want to try more of Gonzalez’s cooking at her restaurant, Savorista, in Addison.

“I’ll definitely be visiting her café,” Smith said.

By David A. Silva etc4640@dcccd.edu

GUILLERMO MARTINEZ/THE ET CETERA

Chef Lydia Gonzalez of the Addison restaurant Savorista prepares fresh salsa during a cooking demonstration Oct. 21.

Chicken with green tomatillo salsa verde 1 lb. chicken, cut into strips 2 Mexican or yellow squash 1/2 medium onion Garlic power Cumin 1 bay leaf Salt and black pepper Olive oil Tomatillo Salsa Blend 8 medium tomatillos and 4 serrano peppers (boiled), cilantro, salt and pepper

Step 1: Heat saute pan on medium high heat and add olive oil, then add chicken. Season with a dash of garlic, cumin, salt and pepper.

Step 2: Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes then add onion, Mexican squash and bay leaf.

Add 1/4 cup of tomatillo salsa and 1/4 cup water to chicken, turn down heat and let simmer for 10-13 minutes.

Turn off heat and add cilantro.

Serve warm over Spanish rice or with sides of your choice.

Chef Lydia Gonzalez’s Savorista Café is labeled as a Latin American restaurant, but such a label does not tell the whole story.

Savorista has a diverse menu, which includes sautéed shrimp linguine, chicken wraps and a variety of hamburgers and subs.

It’s a small café located near various banks, firms and publishing and software companies. This drives the atmosphere of Savorista, which is filled with professionals enjoying Gonzalez’s food made, as she states, “for the love of food.”

The Southwest Grilled Chicken Wrap, priced at $5.75, is loaded with black beans, corn, tomatoes, mixed greens and, to my delighted surprise, sunflower seeds.

The wrap is soft aside from the sunflower seeds that give it a nice crunch and is nicely accompanied by Savorista’s iced tea.

It is unfortunate that Savorista Café is only open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Its quick service and delightful meals would make it a breakfast go-to.

Nevertheless, Savorista Café is a nice, small restaurant for a quick bite.

Candid Campus

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Haunting Eastfield Superheroes, ghouls and the Headless Horseman visited campus over the Halloween weekend.

The Harvester Theatre Company staged five performances of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which depicts Ichabod Crane’s quest for the hand of Katrina, the daughter of a rich farmer, and his fight

against the Headless Horseman.

Rain forced outdoor performances indoors, but the company reported enthusiastic audiences despite the relocation.

Students, faculty and staff also participated in a costume parade Oct. 30.

JONATHAN WENCES/ THE ET CETERA

Genevieve Dominguez, playing maid Judith, performs with Victor DeTerra as Ichabod Crane during a scene from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" over Halloween weekend.

PHOTOS BY DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

Charles Ratchliff won creepiest costume at the costume contest, arriving in his stage attire after a showing of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Left, Director of College Programs Diana Hopes shows off her impression of Wonder Woman.

Above, Digital Media Program Coordinator Dave Danforth, covered in foam, plays the legendary Headless Horseman in the Harvester Theatre Company's staging of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Sports Crushed Nov. 13 Nov. 14 Nov. 17 Nov. 20

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Basketball at Southwestern Christian JV Basketball at Hillsdale Freewill Baptist JV Basketball vs. El Centro College Basketball at Lone Star College-N. Harris

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Eastfield soccer season ends in MAC championship loss to Richland

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

A week after Eastfield’s season-ending loss to Richland in the championship game of the Metro Athletic Conference Soccer Tournament, the Harvesters were still in shock.

“I felt like my heart had just been ripped from my chest,” freshman defender Tori Sayman said of the Oct. 29 loss, which allowed Richland to advance to the national championships in New Jersey. “We worked so hard all season long, going undefeated, winning conference. The better team doesn’t always win.”

Eastfield beat Richland twice for the first time in program history this year in regular season conference play. A goal from Richland’s sophomore forward Yarely Orona in the 85th minute gave Richland the 4-3 win.

Going into the game Eastfield was a bit beat up. The Harvesters played without secondleading scorer Hazel Espinoza, who was still recovering from a concussion.

Two-time player of the week and sophomore goalkeeper Abbi Cantrell played despite a serious hand injury. Cantrell had several fractures in her hand and muscle tissue damage that increased as the game went on, causing her to have to have surgery the day after the game.

“I’m blown away by Abbi. She is tough as nails,” Eastfield coach Dustin Stein said. “The fact that she was able to play through it says a lot about her. She didn’t want to let those girls down. Abbi said she wanted to go, and I wasn’t about to take it away from her.”

Richland took an early 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the first nine minutes of the game.

Freshman midfielder Karla Gutierrez said the two quick goals were like a “slap in the face.”

“When they got that second goal, my mindset was ‘please God, just let us get to halftime just down 2-0 so we can reset’,” Stein said. “Our girls had every opportunity to give up, roll over and die. They showed a lot of character and a lot of maturity because that is not how you want to start a game.”

After the two initial goals Cantrell shut out Richland for the remainder of the half.

“When the first two goals happened I got really nervous,” Cantrell said. “It was just a total misread of the ball being up in the air.”

The Harvesters bounced back from the 2-0 deficient as they found the back of the net three times to go into half with a 3-2 lead. In the 19th minute Gutierrez scored with an assist from

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

Karla Gutierrez lays on the ground after a season-ending loss to Richland in the Metro Athletic Conference Tournament championship on Oct. 29.

Cardozo. Freshman Judith Hernandez scored the next goal on a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Gutierrez registered the last goal in the 44th minute.

“I tried my best. My heart was there,” said Gutierrez. “Sadly, it wasn’t possible to get a third one.

Two goals against Richland in the finals is something, and for me to do that against a team no one can beat, that was a proud moment for me.”

Stein said he was impressed with Gutierrez’s effort during the game.

“I think she had a phenomenal game. She created a lot of opportunities for us. She is very

dangerous,” said Stein. “Karla has a bright future in soccer. She is a special type of player.

The scary thing is I don’t think she realizes how good she is, and it will be a scary day for teams when she realizes how good she is.”

Going into the half Stein had to change his mindset from being down 2-0 to that they were up 3-2.

“I think we felt a little comfortable,” said Stein. “I think we felt that Richland was going to roll over and die. I knew that they wouldn’t roll over and die; they are the defending champs for a reason. They have a lot of fight in them.”

Eastfield remained in charge until the 70th minute when freshman defender Brenda Agui-

lar challenged Ariane Bersoza in the box and was called for a yellow card. That led to a penalty kick and the game being, tied 3-3.

“I was just hoping she wouldn’t score and they wouldn’t catch up,” Aguilar said. “Now I feel like everything is on me and it is all my fault.”

Richland scored the game-winning goal in the 85th minute.

“We had opportunities in the first 10 minutes of the second half to finish it and we didn’t,” said Stein. “We just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

See Soccer, page 11➤

SPORTS

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Volleyball season over with 3-0 loss on Halloween to Brookhaven

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Lady Harvesters’ volleyball season ended Oct. 31 in the Metro Athletic Conference tournament championship match with a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Brookhaven College.

Eastfield came into the game without any preparation beating North Lake 3-0 in the semifinals the night before.

The Harvesters were also missing outside hitter Cailey Clogston due to a discipline issue during practice.

“If Cailey [Clogston] had played, we would have won,” captain Mckayla Petters said.

“She was our starter. If we were down, she could bring us up.”

The Harvesters started the first set off slowly, falling 25-12.

Coach Brandon Crisp believes nerves were to blame for the rough start. The team had 11 errors in the first match, which is more than the Harvesters had the rest of the night.

“I think every game we played we had a bad first set because you’re still getting warmed up,” freshman outside hitter Myka Morehead said. “It happens every game on both sides.”

The second set was much closer, ending 25-20.

Offense has been Eastfield’s weak spot this season said Crisp.

Crisp gave credit to Brookhaven’s defense that it is very strong, and that it is hard to score on.

“The hardest thing to do was

put the ball on the floor,” Crisp said. “Unless we can score points, it is going to be hard to win.”

The third and final set ended 25-10.

The athletes felt like it was over in the final set and that there is nothing else they could do to get the win.

“I feel like we were trying, but it got to the point where there was nothing else we could do,” Morehead said. “After the second set, it was all downhill. We were still pushing, but it felt pretty helpless.”

Outside hitter Karina Lay had four kills and 21 digs during the match. Right side hitter Megan Murphy added five kills and nine digs.

“I did the best I could helping out,” Lay said. “I just wanted them to know I did the best that I could for them.”

Eastfield ended the season ranked fourth in the nation with 2,152 digs and second in the nation with an average of 21.96 digs per set.

The Harvesters were also fifth in the nation for total attacks with 3,715.

“I’m proud of us as a team,” Petters said. “Even getting recognized as a Division III and being up there in the ranks is absolutely amazing.”

The team finished with a 1613 overall record and an 8-3 conference record.

“We had a really strong bond, and that is what won most of our games for us,” Petters said.

GUILLERMO MARTINEZ/THE ET CETERA

Sophomore defedner Karlee Hickson keeps the ball away from Richland forward Chessie Luptak.

Soccer loses in conference final Continued from page 10

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Sophomore right side hitter Megan Murphy rises to spike the ball in the 3-0 Harvester loss.

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The Harvesters ended the regular season undefeated in conference play and won the conference for the first time in program history.

They finished conference 9-0 and the season 14-2 with 11 shutouts, which ranked third in the nation.

“When I took over this team they didn’t win conference games, they didn’t win regular season games,” said Stein. “It was a joke of a program. I think that stereotype is gone, Richland is not looking forward to playing us.”

Eastfield only gave up one goal during regular season conference and only six goals all season.

Stein and his players all agree that the biggest highlight to the season was beating Richland 4-1 at howme earlier in the season.

The team is full of sophomores who are expected to move on to four-year programs.

A few of the freshmen are also leaving due to other scholarship offers. Stein says he is feeling like he is losing his girls.

“And then my wife said ‘you’re not losing the girls, they will forever be your girls, they are just gone for now’,” Stein said.

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Hoopin' for success

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

By Gabriel Flores etc4640@dcccd.edu

By Gabriel Flores etc4640@dcccd.edu

Eastfield opened the basketball season in dominating fashion, scoring a combined 372 points in their first three games and winning each by at least 36 points. Spearheading the charge was sophomore guard Tevin Corprew, who currently ranks third in the nation in scoring at 31 points per game. He was selected as the Region V Division III Player of the Week for Oct. 26-Nov. 1.

The Eastfield Harvesters men’s basketball team has retooled and is determined to restore the program’s winning ways.

Last year Eastfield finished with a 19-11 record but was just 3-7 in Metro Athletic Conference play and lost in the opening round of the Region V Tournament. That was a tough blow for a team that had captured back-to-back MAC regularseason and Region V tournament championships and advanced to the national tournament in 201213 and 2013-14.

The Harvesters have a strong basketball tradition, boasting the second-most national tournament appearances with 13, the most MAC championships with four, winning the national title in 1997, and finishing as the national runner-up three times, most recently in 2013. It’s a tradition that sophomore guard Tevin Corprew knows firsthand, having played on the 2013-14 team that finished fifth in the nation. And he is determined to

Eastfield 117, Paul Quinn JV 77 Behind Corprew’s 35 points, nine assists and three steals, the Harvesters steamrolled past Paul Quinn in their season opener on Oct. 30.

Danzel Whitemon and Din Androk each added 11 points, and Ed Williams and Aaron Miller had 10 each. Forward LeTron Manning came off the bench to contribute seven rebounds, seven assists, five points and one block.

PHOTOS BY ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ETCETERA

From left, Ed Williams, Tevin Corprew, LeTron Manning, Danzel Whitemon, and bottom, Tre Anderson have started nonconference play off 3-0.

lead Eastfield back into the national spotlight.

“I think I’m the 'glue guy,'” Coprew said. “I keep everybody together. Guys will get down on themselves and I’ll have to tell them, ‘It’s OK, move on to the next play. I’ve got to be a leader on this team to get us back where we were two years ago.”

Corprew’s performance that season helped him earn a scholarship to play at Collin College, but an injury has landed him back at Eastfield under the familiar tutelage of coach Anthony Fletcher, with one season of eligibility remaining.

“He’s a special player,” Fletcher said. “He has some great ability. I honestly think Tevin is a Division I player. I’ve seen him with my own eyes. I’ve seen him match up with those guys.”

That ability was on full display in a preseason intrasquad scrimmage where Corpew stuffed the box score with 44 points. He went 7-for-9 from

Harvesters start season undefeated

3-point range and 11-for-13 from the free-throw line. His ability to score inside and out impressed his teammates.

“Tevin’s got a really high basketball IQ, and playing with him raises your IQ,” said forward Tre Anderson, a transfer from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Along with Corprew, forwards LeTron Manning and Danzel Whitemon also return, hoping to bounce back from last season’s disappointment. Whitemon was voted Newcomer of the Year for the Harvesters in 2014-15, and he earned the title “Junkyard Dog” from his coaches and teammates for his tenacious defensive play and relentless rebounding.

The three returners hope to bring a veteran presence to a team with an influx of young talent that includes players like Scott Garriaga, a 6-foot-5 power forward from Wylie who has good hands and agility for his size, and 6-7 forward Myron Wright of Houston Conroe.

“This is probably our best big, skilled, true freshman class,” Fletcher said. “We’ve got some size that we may not have had in the past. We don’t need a 7-footer to win a national championship.”

Fletcher enjoys the luxury of reaching deep onto his bench, which plays into the up-and-down style of the high-scoring team.

See Basketball, page 13➤

Eastfield 126, Jarvis Christian JV 90 Eastfield posted another landslide victory over visiting Jarvis Christian College as the backcourt duo of Corprew and Whitemon combined for 48 points. Corprew had six assists to go along with his 32 points, and Whitemon led the Harvesters in rebounding with 13.

The Harvesters’ bench players scored 55 points in the win.

As a team, Eastfield shot 52. 9 percent (45-for-85) from the field, including 52.6 percent (10for-19) from 3-point territory.

Eastfield 129, Texas Wesleyan JV 91 The Harvesters poured in 78 second-half points after leading by only seven at halftime to run away from Texas Wesleyan.

Four of Eastfield’s five starters scored in double figures, and two had double-doubles.

Corprew scored 26 points and dished out 13 assists, while Tre Anderson had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Whitemon shot an efficient 9-for-12 from the field while racking up 21 points.

SPORTS

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Harvesters return strong behind veteran ‘Glue guy’

Continued from page 12 ➤ “I think we’ve got guys that can come off the bench and produce,” Corprew said. “When starters leave the game we won’t have to worry about who’s going to score. It definitely takes pressure off the starters not to have to score all the points. ... We could play 10 on 10.”

Fletcher has also taken notice of his veterans’ progression as leaders.

“I think Manning is doing a good job trying to be a vocal leader and trying to get the young guys to the right places at the right times,” he said. “[Corprew, Manning and Whitemon] have been in the program. They know what we expect. They know what we want. They know what we need.”

That sort of leadership extends off the court as well, and Fletcher said his players often respond well when they’re held accountable by their own teammates.

“It’s good to hear from a cohort instead of a supervisor, a coach, a teacher,” he said. “There’s somebody else that’s the same age saying, “Hey, man, coach is right. We’ve got to come on.”

The returners will help newcomers like Tre Anderson, a four-year transfer student from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio get acclimated to Fletcher’s fast-paced, free-flowing “Freedom Offense.

“I love it,” Anderson said of his new offense, ”I’m a transition player. That’s where I get most of my points.”

Last year Eastfield averaged nearly 95 points a game, shooting 42 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc. The Harvesters are off to another good start this season, topping the century mark in each of their first three games.

“It’s freedom.” Corprew said with a smile. “If you think you can take your man, take him. It makes you play better because you can really play your game. When I went to other schools it was like you’re a robot. You have to make seven passes before you can do something with it.”

However, the Harvesters have plenty of room for improvement on the other side of the court.

“Second-level defense needs to step up more,” Anderson said. “We just need to communicate more. We also need to move with the ball and not be reactionary.”

As the season approaches there is still time for the Harvesters to sharpen their game in anticipation of a grueling schedule that includes 10 competitive MAC games.

Seven of the last 10 national championships have featured a team from the Harvesters’ conference.

“If you get out of Dallas you have a great shot of playing for a national championship,” Fletcher said. “You are battle tested. It’s brutal. It’s a battle every night in conference.

PHOTOS BY ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ETCETERA Whether you’re in first From top, Tevin Corprew,Danzel Whitemon and Ed Williams place or last place, you can are all starters on this year’s basketball team. get beat.”

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opinion

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Melting pot culture fosters societal unity

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

OUR VIEW

Voters should focus on policy, not prayer With another election year coming around, many candidates are voicing their stances on everything from prisons to pistols in an effort to garner votes, but an alarming number of prospective voters are largely, if not entirely, basing their decisions in the polls on a presidential hopeful’s religious beliefs.

Several candidates seem to be aware of this, leading to situations like the Oct. 18 presidential forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, where six Republican nominees spoke to an audience of more than 7,000.

Religious preference should have no bearing on politics, but both candidates and voters are all too willing to push other issues aside in favor of faith or a lack thereof.

There is nothing wrong with having religious beliefs or voicing them to the public, and no one can, nor should anyone try, to force people to change their religious beliefs. However, basing political stances solely on beliefs can produce ethically questionable results.

For all the emphasis our Constitu-

tion places on the separation of church and state, many seem to ignore this vital building block in our country’s foundation when it comes to their own interpretation of “church.”

That isn’t to say this sort of thinking is limited to stereotypical Christians or Republicans. A non-religious person could just as easily choose or reject a candidate based on their religious beliefs, and that is just as much of a problem.

Casting a vote for something that should have nothing to do with politics is wrong no matter what your intentions.

The First Amendment is clear in its wording, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” We must not omit the first part of that statement. It is just as important as the second.

In the end, voters should focus more on a candidate’s policies than faith. Acting solely on faith is a type of prejudice.

The sooner we learn that there is more to politics than religion, the sooner we can learn to compromise for the benefit of the nation.

There is a popular belief that devoting America to a multicultural mindset will invite tolerance into our James nation.

Hartley But it seems that multiculturalism would cause more division that unity, and already has. Our communities are divided by race, ethnicity and heritage. As we approach a more multicultural society, our nation is growing further apart.

The growing cries of racism in America revolve around the idea that we don’t understand the culture of our neighbors, or that we are hated because of our own culture. We’re told that racism exists because one culture is not accepting of another.

But instead of fixing the hatred and misunderstanding, we’re devoted to creating more differences. As an effect, our society is less coherent.

There was a time when the dream of America was to have all people equal. We didn’t have this desire to separate ourselves into different cultures. People wanted to be Americans, not any merging of ethnicity with nationality. We didn’t want a label attached to our status as Americans. We don’t see that any more.

A perfect example is when Raven-Symone said she didn’t consider herself African-American, just American, and she was called a traitor to her race. When she said she was “tired of being labeled” during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, she got backlash.

The dream is now to have the most diversity. Americans are dividing themselves based on heritage. We talk about the Americanization of culture as if it’s a bad thing. It’s almost as if people think that becoming purely American means leaving behind their heritage, forgetting where they come from, when in reality a melting pot requires that heritage be not only remembered, but also shared.

We’ve abandoned the melting pot society, mistaking it for an assimilationist one, and it’s hurting us. The melting pot of American society is what kept the nation bound together through the hardest times.

During the Great Depression, Americans suffered in poverty of unprecedented levels, yet we remained America. We remained united as one nation, one culture. The world watched as America became the strongest nation on Earth during World War II and became fully committed to the protection of the freedoms we have in our country.

During the hardest times, America has been at its strongest. It was because Americans were one people. We fought wars for the person next to us, we worked through poverty for our families and we didn’t hesitate to do what we could to help our fellow man.

That’s changed. The compassion we once knew is all but gone.

Our divisions have gone beyond ethnicity to financial status, occupation, sexual orientation and religion.

I don’t think people really see that, though. They are blind to the educational value of history. As George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The intentions of the multiculturalism push are good, but we all know what road good intentions are used to pave.

In the end, it looks a lot like segregation. We are dividing ourselves based on these things, and until that ends we will continue to reverse the progress found by those who fought against division.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Animal Droppings By Michelle Chase

Hodgepodge By Hunter Cave

Trivia Bits

What movie prop was stolen from John’s Grill in San Francisco?

A) The chariot from “Spatacus” B) The ruby shoes from “The Wizard of Oz” C) The titular Maltese Falcon D) The sled from “Citizen Kane”

Zek and Slik By Matthew Rohan

Sudoku

What country hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, even though it had never won a Winter Olympic medal?

A) Great Britain B) Japan C) South Korea D) Yugoslavia

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Trivia Answers: C, D

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Learn online or attend classes on the Eastfield College campus. Visit with an advisor in Building W, Room 136.

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