Eastfield Et Cetera Sept. 23, 2015

Etera Steady Rise

Eastfield College

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Volume 47, Issue 2

Harvesters climb national polls see page 14

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Panel discusses campus carry

By Karina Dunn and Andrea Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

Students, faculty and staff discussed how new gun legislation will impact Texas colleges last Constitution Day. The panel provided a forum to explore concerns about the coming changes and find the best ways to function within the law.

History professor Mike Noble moderated the event, hosted by the Office of Student Engagement and Retention, on Sept. 17. Noble and the panelists considered the rights of gun owners protected by the Constitution as they explored how new legislation would affect safety on campus.

Panelists included former Eastfield students Tania Santistevan and Franklin Ortega, government professors Stacey Jurhree and Glynn Newman and Texas Junior College Student Government Association President Rameez Sohail, an Eastfield student.

“Once the law is enacted, it must be enforced,” Newman said. “[We must] figure out how to handle the law once it goes into effect.”

Campus carry will allow licensed gun owners to have concealed weapons on campuses. Signed by Gov. Greg Abbott over the summer, this law takes full effect at two-year colleges in fall 2017.

Noble, a member of the National Rifle Association and supporter of gun rights, said he is opposed to campus carry.

He cited recent campus shootings — the Delta State University murder and the Idaho State University professor accidentally shooting himself on the foot — as reasons for his opposition.

“There’s a few professors here that I work with that are dear colleagues that I wouldn’t trust with a gun,” Noble said.

The panelists agreed that the right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment, but did express concern with the campus carry law. “[The goal of the Second Amendment] is to protect the rights of people, but to also ensure … an absolute right to practice [the law] with responsibility,” Sohail said.

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

“

Who is actually carrying guns? Who is licensed?

Background checks aren’t enough.

—Stacey Jurhree Government Professor

”

Audience members voiced concern over the protection of non-gun owners on campus.

Some of the panelists’ responses to the issue included a “beefed up” police department, the implementation of background checks and training procedures for gun holders and the state supplying Kevlar to every professor.

“If we’re having to defend ourselves on campus when this should be an educational environment,” Santistevan said, “there’s a lot more things that have to go in place to make campus safe.”

Measures to protect different groups on campus were also explored.

Santistevan spoke on the impact that gun violence has against women, while Jurhree answered speculation on whether the new laws make racial profiling a greater issue on campus.

The group also discussed who should be responsible for students or co-workers who violate the law and who should identify potential threats.

“Who is actually carrying guns?”

Jurhree asked. “Who is licensed?

Background checks are not enough.

[They are] ineffective.”

Gun control advocates agree that certain restrictions should be set in place to reduce the likelihood of irresponsible gun holders creating a tragedy, but not all students are convinced of their future efficiency.

“As a student, when I see guns on campus, I will not feel more comfortable here,” Sohail said. “I believe college is for education. It’s not to show guns. It’s not to create a fear for each other.”

BRIANNA HARMON/THE ET CETERA

The Eastfield Police Department lowered flags to half-staff in honor of Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth on Sept. 4. His funeral was that morning in Houston. Goforth was ambushed and killed after filling up his patrol on a Houston gas station the previous Friday, Aug. 28.

SGA, students deliberate gun-free zones at Eastfield

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

With the bill allowing owners of concealed handgun licenses to carry a concealed gun on campus, the Student Government Association held a forum to discuss specific gun-free zones.

A majority of 15 students and faculty in attendance agreed that the C-building should be chosen as the college’s gun-free zone due to the large number of people in the Pit on a daily basis. The legislation does not allow for the entire campus to be designated as gun-free.

“If someone came in to hurt the school, what is the first building they come in to? The main building is C,” said student Cory Baxter.

SGA plans to deliver the collected student input to the administration.

K-building is expected to be a gunfree zone because of the daycare.

“I’m sure everyone knows how important of a topic it is for you to understand,” Dean of Social Sciences

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Secretary Aaron Sustaita addresses the students to continue the conversation on campus carry.

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Cory Baxter argued the benefits of the Pit as an unrestricted area.

Mike Walker said. “Part of the job of the college is to put you in situations where you can understand why something like this [campus carry] matters to you.”

The opinions on the bill were split, but having been signed by Gov. Greg Abbott early this summer, it is clear

that it will be going into effect in fall of 2017 for two-year colleges like Eastfield and fall 2016 for four-year universities.

“I’m just for educated gun carriers to be allowed to have guns,” student Vanessa Weseman said. “I want more education on this subject.”

Student Joshua Martinez disagreed.

“I don’t want to know there are guns, I come to school to learn,” he said.

NEWS

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www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Trump supporters pack Dallas arena

Protesters urge voters to ‘dump the Trump’

By Mayra Rosales-Montoya etc4640@dcccd.edu

Thousands gathered in Dallas at the American Airlines Center on Sept. 14 to watch Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump do what he does best — put on a show starring himself.

The audience, mostly white and middle-aged or older, responded like a high school football game crowd when Trump took the stage for his presidential rally. One woman wore a dress and shoes decorated with Trump’s face.

“We are killing it in the polls, ” Trump said.

For the first 45 minutes of his speech, Trump focused on himself, touching on topics such as his hair — “Do you see the shine in my hair?” he asked — and the success of his reality television show “The Apprentice.”

NBC and Trump recently settled legal issues related to his removal from the show for making negative comments about Mexican immigrants. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will assume Trump’s role when the show returns in 2016.

At the Dallas event, Trump again called immigrants murderers and gang members, saying other countries “sent them here because they’re smarter [than the United States]. It’s disgusting. We are a dumping ground.

“Families are being decimated,” he said, pausing for the cheering crowd.

“So many are murdered by illegal immigrants. We have to stop illegal immigrants. We have to build a wall.”

Trump promised to “make America great again,” but failed to outline specifics for his plans to lower taxes and punish companies who take their business overseas.

He bounced from idea to idea, bringing up “anchor babies,” “nuclear global warming” and U.S. prisoners in Iran. He vowed to solve the issues with a single plan.

“I know the toughest guys,” he said. “I know the smartest guys. If we partnered with China, we would win.”

A handful of younger people dotted the audience. Many were from small towns outside of Dallas.

JD Stephens, an 18-year-old student from Comanche High School in Oklahoma, said he had always wanted to see a presidential rally.

“My grandpa saw Kennedy, so really I’m excited to be here,” he said.

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

JONATHAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Supporters tended to cite Trump’s personality and attitude rather than specific policies when asked why they support him.

“I like that he’s going to make America great again and I like his winning mentality,” said Ajee Montes, 21-year-old student at Southern Methodist University.

Doug Crylie, 17, of Denton said: “I just like how flamboyant he is. I figure a millionaire should know how to fix up the country.”

As the crowd left the arena, some clashed verbally with protestors, shouting “We don’t want you here; go back home” and “leave my country.”

No violence was reported.

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Clockwise from top, Donald Trump speaks without a telepromter before a full house at the American Airlines Center.

Protesters, including Mayra Huerta, marched from a nearby church to the arena as Trump spoke. A supporter carries a "the silent majority stands with Trump" sign.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Republican candidate Donald Trump’s presidential rally at the American Airlines Center Sept. 14, hoisting signs with phrases such as, “We will not remain silent” and “Do I look like a rapist to you?”

Trump has previously made controversial statements about undocumented immigrants and Hispanics, including his plan to deport all undocumented immigrants and build a “big wall” on the border.

The North Texas League of United Latin American Citizens organized the march and gathered support from other members of the Latino community, meeting at the Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe before marching to the rally with banners, flags and chants of “dump the Trump.”

LULAC District Director Christopher Enriquez said he hopes the protest will encourage other groups to act likewise across the nation.

“I believe that we have to take a stand against [Trump],” he said. “He’s been talking a lot of hateful things and that’s been destructive to our community, and he has been very divisive.

“We can’t just remain silent. When we hear these things, we have to take action. We have to show him that we will protest and, more importantly, we will not vote for him.”

The crowd consisted not only of Hispanic protesters, but also white, black, Asian and Middle-Eastern supporters coming together to show their support of the Latin-American community. Joshua Maymar of Dallas was among them.

“He’s such a demagogue, and I feel like that’s not something that anyone really needs,” Maymar said. “He’s playing to people’s fears and some of us people have told ourselves, ‘OK, it’s time to get rid of this guy.’ ” Eastfield student Michael Heggie, a representative of the Dallas County Democratic Party at the protest, described Trump as a “narcissist.”

“He stirs things up,” he said. “He’s a rabble-rouser. We don’t need that type of person in the White House.”

Many appeared not just to show their disdain for Trump but to express their support for minority groups.

“We’re here to support … all minorities unjustly forgotten about by Donald Trump,” LaShadion Anthony, a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, said. “We are the working class. If the working class took off, who’s going to run this country?”

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

PUT IT ON YOUR

Calendar September/October

Wed

Jazz group Funky Knuckles performs in the recital series, 12:30-1:30 p.m., F-117

Thu

Carter Blood Care blood drive, 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m., C-135

Tue

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

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29 Wed

30

Sherlock Holmes expert Leslie Klinger speaks in a common book event, 11 a.m. and 5:35 p.m., Performance Hall Art authenticator Meredith Meuwly speaks about fakes and forgeries in a common book event, 11:15 a.m., G-101 The Perot Museum presents “Diagnosis: The Body in Question,” a common book event, 9:30 a.m., Pleasant Grove campus Transferring with success workshop, 12 p.m., L-208 Guitar and voice recital with Eddie Healy and Brandi Estwick for the recital series, 12:301:30 p.m., F-117

Thu

Creating job opportunities through LinkedIn workshop, 12 p.m., L-208

Mon

Note-taking tips workshop, 12:30 p.m., L-208

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Tue

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Wed

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www.eastfieldnews.com

EFC men’s retention efforts expand

By Parker Ward etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Men’s Empowerment Coalition and the Office of Student Engagement and Retention are collaborating to enact a new initiative called Men’s Achievement, Leadership, Empowerment and Service.

The DCCCD originally created the African American and Latino Male Initiative to retain minority men and help them graduate.

However, OSER Executive Dean Courtney Carter-Harbour and MEC advisor Courtney Brazile changed the acronym to MALES in order to encompass all men on campus rather than just African-American and Latino men.

Although MALES is a new program, Brazile’s MEC will still be active on campus, organizing events and mentoring students.

“The MALES program is designed to engage and retain male students by involving them culturally, academically and socially both on campus and in the community,” Brazile said.

The MEC is making some changes in leadership under the guidance of MALES. Rather than having elected positions, the MEC will have appointed community leaders who will be in charge of professional development, social responsibility, peer mentoring and sports and recreation under Brazile. The committees headed by these community leaders will plan events and initiatives on campus and in the community.

The new leadership system is doing well, said Jaquan Telfor, co-chair of sports and recreation.

“Each leader is really dedicated to their part,” Telfor said. “This year, we have a lot more dedication and people willing to help others.”

These committees are a great way to get involved on campus, Brazile said.

“We want every male student that joins the MEC to become a part of one of these committees so that way they are actually involved,” he said. “I think that will actively help and engage and retain these guys so not just have them sitting in a meeting, but be on a committee.”

Brazile founded the MEC in 2012 and has since

NEWS

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

Briefs

Campus safety and Title IX workshop, 11 a.m.

Et Cetera, two student journalists nominated for national awards

Perot Museum trip, 12-4 p.m. Contact the library for information.

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTOS BY JONATHAN WENCES AND DAVID SANCHEZ CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: TORRI SAYMAN, SARAHI OSORIO, BRENDA AGUILA (JUMPING) AND ABIGAYLE CANTRELL (ON GROUND), LAUREN BEYER.

The Et Cetera

The Et Cetera has been named a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award, the college journalism equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.

Only seven community college newspapers were nominated.

The Et Cetera was previously nominated for the Pacemaker in 1999, 2000, 2012 and won in 2011 and 2014.

The Et Cetera is also a finalist for a Pinnacle Award, a national honor from the College Media Association.

Photo Editor Jonathan Wences and cartoon-

ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

Speech professor Courtney Brazile talks with Best Okpamen and other members of the Men’s Empowerment Coalition at the first meeting of the fall semester.

been able to create a supportive community for men on campus. Social Responsibilities Chair for the Men’s Empowerment Coalition Dillan Johnson hopes to keep it going.

“This year, we really want to get people together and get them communicating and get them involved in the school so that they are opening up opportunities to help themselves and also using their strength to help their peers,” Johnson said.

Brazile hopes to make sure that the group isn’t limited to just minority men.

“Here with our male initiative, and there are also others who follow the same pattern, they want to have more of a program that has strategic initiatives in place to help minority males but doesn’t exclude a male that wouldn’t consider themselves a minority male or a man of color,” Brazile said. “We want it to really encompass everyone.”

The MEC is putting increased emphasis on peer mentoring this year. The MEC students will be mentoring students in Eastfield’s early college program as well as the local charter school, A+ Academy, while mentoring one another.

Brazile hopes to inspire male students to accomplish their goals through mentoring.

“The primary purpose of the MALES program is to make a life-changing impact one student at a time,” Brazile said. “We want the students who are involved, whether big or small to feel cared about, to feel important and to feel like they have someone to talk to.”

Telfor says believing in each other is really inspiring.

“I feel like when I hear positive words from [Brazile] and see other people believe in me, it makes me want to move forward,” Telfor said.

ist Matthew Rohan are finalists in the Illustration category for the ACP’s Design of the Year Awards.

Wences is also a finalist in the editorial cartooning category for both the ACP and CMA contests.

The winners will be announced at the National College Media Convention in Austin from Oct. 28 to 31.

sculpted figures to UFOs, from religious iconography to Egyptian inspired motifs.

The show opens with a reception 6-8 p.m. Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 20. Nowell will give a talk about the work of artist Burgess Dulaney at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 1.

Artist Andy Don Emmons will give two talks Nov. 5. And Howard and Martin will discuss the artists in their collections Nov. 11.

Campus art galleries to show private collections of folk art Eastfield is hosting a new art gallery exhibition called “Haints, Saints and Spirits of the South,” a collection of work by self-taught folk artists.

The works are owned by collectors Karol Howard, George Morton and Terry Nowell.

The artists’ themes include visions, religion, personal narrative and vigorous imagination. The subject matter ranges from pre-Columbianesque

EConnect room services relocate for renovation to Welcome Center The eConnect Room in C-127 is undergoing major remodeling to house the new Welcome Center. All current functions have been temporarily moved to C-116.

— Compiled by Parker Ward and Andrea Carrizales

NEWS

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www.eastfieldnews.com

SGA president plans outreach

Q A

The Student Government Association is an elected group that represents Eastfield students.

Students can hold leadership roles as part of the Executive Body of the SGA, the House of Representatives or the Senate or & serve on committees.

All students may attend the SGA general meetings, held at 12:30 p.m. every other Friday.

Danny Lam, a biomedical engineering major, is SGA president for 2015-16.

He has previously served as SGA secretary and is a vice president for Phi Theta Kappa and the Rotaract Club. Et Cetera contributor Ana Gallegos chatted with him about his plans.

Q A

As President of SGA what do you focus on?

One thing I want to advocate is visibility on campus and we have so many issues around us that nobody ever addresses. Last year we actually got the dead birds away from the windows and another … issue that I’ve seen is that there aren’t many recycle bins out on the track field. So you can see bottles and trash littered around the track, and that’s an easy issue we can combat. What I really want SGA to do … is to start by addressing issues that affect the student body and actually going up to administration and having administration propose a solution to those issues.

Q

What does SGA have planned for this coming school year?

To be eligible for membership:

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Club Fair

A

For some fundraising ideas we’re thinking of having a turkey chase, its going to be a 3K to 5K run but the twist is we’re going to have someone dressed as a turkey leading the runners. First place wins a turkey. To implement the service aspect we are accepting two canned goods that will take a dollar off your ticket purchase. Every canned good we collect will be donated to a family, so were hoping to partner with an elementary school or middle school around here to use their track and get the students there and their families involved.

Q A

Is there anything you would like to bring awareness to here on campus?

My big idea is to raise awareness about voter registration because voter turnouts were really low and usually it’s because people believe that their votes don’t matter ... we also have a large Latino population and I’m thinking of partnering with LULAC to raise awareness. I actually thought of having student forums every month to talk about specific issues surrounding campus.

Q A

What is the best thing about being part of SGA?

We just love interacting with people, we love having people share their experiences and just getting together and having fun. We want SGA to be more inviting than it already is because we lost a lot of members this year and we’re hoping to get new members this year, fresh ideas you know, it can’t just be the officers, we need help too. I think it’s important that every club has a representative in SGA so that they understand what issues are going on around campus. We have so many committees that we need help filling in and those are the members I’m looking for.

Q A

What motivated you to join SGA?

The way I got involved was by being an SGA rep for Phi Theta Kappa and I had an officer position that I held.

Once I went to an SGA meeting, I was introduced to Judy Schwartz and she gave me a brief about SGA and I was really pleased by what I heard about what they’ve done so far and as the year progressed. I found myself being more involved and I just loved the organization to where I would just want to help them.

* You must be enrolled in a regionally accredited institution offering an associate degree program * You must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework that may be applied to an associate degree (part-time students may be eligible) * You must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher * You must receive an invitation to membership from the chapter at the college where presently enrolled * You must adhere to the moral standards of the society To find out if you are eligible for Phi Theta Kappa membership, contact JoAnn Coates, VP Membership at psietamembership@gmail.com Member meetings are held in C-297 on 1st and 3rd Friday of every month at 12:30 p.m.

SARA LOREDA/THE ET CETERA

Dozens of student clubs gathered in the Pit on Sept. 9 to recruit news members. Active clubs cover interests such as video games, service, math, science, communications and anime. To join a club, visit clubs coordinator Unswella Ankton in C-141.

Join us!

Every other Wednesday @ 2 p.m.

Room C-297

Life &Arts

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Classic crime novel chosen as common book

By Doug Castillo etc4640@dcccd.edu

Eastfield is taking a trip back in time to solve a somber mystery this academic year in its latest installment of its annual common book project.

This year’s common book is “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett, a book ranked 56th on Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century list.

Published in 1929, “The Maltese Falcon” stars Sam Spade, a detective hired by Miss Wonderly to trail a man. The case leads him to a deeper mystery of missing prized possessions and murder that casts suspicion on the detective himself.

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.

“We want the book to enrich our students’ life in a way,” said

Common Book Nina Lambert, English professor and co-chair of the Common Book Committee. “But it is also a way for all of us to come together. We’re a community college. When we read these books with our students, we discuss, we discover things together and we share a bond that we may not have with a textbook.”

This year, the committee has planned a series of mystery-themed events based on “The Maltese Falcon.” Four are scheduled this month.

The Maltese Falcon Scavenger Hunt, which started Sept. 21 and runs through Sept. 25, leads students through a series of clues to find the eponymous falcon on campus. A Sherlock Holmes expert and an art

authenticator will speak Sept. 29 and 30, respectively. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will present “Diagnosis: The Body in Question” on Sept. 30 at the Pleasant Grove campus.

Future events include a mock crime scene staged by the Dallas Police Department, a Halloween costume contest and screenings of the 1941 film adaptation of the novel starring Humphrey Bogart.

“You attend the events and you’re able to relate to other faculty, other students,” said Judy Wayne, librarian and co-chair of the committee.

“More than one person has read this book, and you have something in common with them.”

Outside of these events, “The Maltese Falcon” is also being incorporated into the curriculum of many English classes that are teaching the core values associated with the book.

“When the faculty and the college at large embraces the common book,

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” will be the theme of many events on campus this year.

it’s providing connections across disciplines. It’s providing connections across classrooms,” said Executive Dean Courtney Carter-Harbour. “It provides a wonderful opportunity for our students on many levels.”

The library has multiple copies of

the book available for checkout. The bookstore sells new and used copies.

Visit libguides.eastfieldcollege. edu/maltesefalcon for information about the novel, its author, the 1940s, crime investigation and film noir compiled by Eastfield librarians.

‘Maltese Falcon’ captivates with attention to detail

By Andrea Carrizales etc4640@dcccd.edu

This year’s common book, “The Maltese Falcon” written by Dashiell Hammett, promises an interesting plot, intriguing characters and a great read for book lovers. A charade at large, “The Maltese Falcon” will have its readers trying to discern the truth from the lies and connect the dots — most likely unsuccessfully — that lead to a surprising ending.

Hammett was born in Maryland in 1894. He left school when he was 14 years old. After working several jobs, he became part of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency before enlisting in the Army during World War I. After the war, Hammett left the North for San Francisco. This 1920s San Francisco appears in many of his stories and is the setting of the 1929 “The Maltese Falcon.”

In Hammett’s obituary, The New York Times called him “the dean of the ... ‘hard-boiled’ school of detective fiction.” Hammett also created the characters Nick and Nora Charles of “The Thin Man” novel and subsequent movie series and the Continental Op, the unnamed detective in “Red Harvest” and “The Dain Curse.”

Plot The story begins when Ms. Wonderly enters detectives Sam Spade and Miles Archer’s consulting office, asking that one of them follow Floyd Thursby, a dangerous man who Wonderly claims has eloped with her sister. Miles takes the job and later that night he and Thursby are found dead.

The morning after the incident, Spade meets with Wonderly, whose real name turns out to be Brigit O’Shaughnessy, and discovers she fabricated the story from the day before. She had

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHER’S PICTURES

The film adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon (1941)”

travelled herself with Thursby from Hong Kong, but he betrayed her after landing in San Francisco and she wanted to know his whereabouts.

Claiming that she doesn’t trust Spade, she manages to keep him as her protector without revealing her story to the reader.

After meeting Joel Cairo, a past acquaintance of O’Shaughnessy, Spade learns that both are looking for a black figurine of a falcon, thought to be in possession of Thursby before he died.

Later, Spade meets Casper Gutman, a rich man who had employed O’Shaughnessy, Thursby and Cairo to obtain the figurine for him. Gutman explains that the falcon is a precious relic with great historical value dating back to the 16th century and invaluable monetary value.

The story develops around these four characters, who struggle to find the falcon through lies, deception and complicate the

job by holding important information to themselves.

Review For any avid reader, “The Maltese Falcon” will hold them glued to their books.

The main characters’ flaws —infidelity, manipulation and greed, just to name a few — combined with their determination to obtain the falcon, give way to an exciting succession of events.

Hammett adds unanticipated elements that, although not of great importance, add character development and complicate the story to different degrees. His ability to draw a detailed picture of San Francisco consistently throughout his book aids in giving life to the plot.

The end connects all the dots together in a masterful way.

However, no one should skip to the last page, for the whole book develops the story gradually, perfect for a relaxed weekend reading.

Legacy “The Maltese Falcon” has been regarded as one of the best detective stories to ever be written.

Its story has been translated into film several times beginning 1931, a pre-code Hollywood film, which held true to the story but was censored due to its sexual references and homosexual themes. Until 1966, the unedited film could not be shown in the United States.

In 1936, Warner Bros. produced “Satan Met a Lady” a light, loose version of the story.

The most well-known version is “The Maltese Falcon (1941),” a film noir movie starring Humphrey Bogart as Spade and Mary Astor as O’Shaughnessy. This has been praised as the first major American film noir movie and holds a loyal audience as it gets close to its 74th birthday.

LIFE&ARTS

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www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

COMMENTARY

N.W.A. biopic impacts next generation

of people based on a minority.

Upon my digestion of “Straight Outta Compton,” it became evident that this movie is not just about Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube becoming infamous for telling their story through rap lyrics. “Straight Outta Compton” is about how N.W.A. persevered through adversity.

Anyone who has ever experienced any form of discrimination can relate to this movie.

By Aisha Davis etc4640@dcccd.edu

Since its inception in 1988, the hardcore rap group N.W.A. was known for stirring controversy through shocking lyrics and bold antics.

More than 20 years later, the group’s popularity has been renewed via its biopic “Straight Outta Compton.”

Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella were five outspoken young men on a mission to tell the world about their experiences as African-Americans surviving the streets of Compton, California.

Some viewed their lyrics as vulgar and offensive while others saw them as a true representation of the time. What could have caused such intimidating overtures and monstrous lyrics?

Although this movie intricately depicts the rise and ultimate break-up of N.W.A., it also places a spotlight on racial prejudice and tensions between police and the African-American community.

One can easily see parallels with modern America. In one particular scene, Ice Cube is harassed by police for “looking like a drug dealer” while his parents plead for officers to let their son go.

The 1991 beating of Rodney King, who was black, by four white police officers was also covered along with the officers’ not-guilty verdicts that sparked the infamous L.A. riots.

More recent incidents have drawn comparisons to those events. Michael Brown, a black 18-year-old, was shot and killed by a white police office in Ferguson, Missouri. Freddie Gray, also black, died of spinal cord injuries following his arrest in Baltimore, Maryland. Both incidents prompted protests and rioting.

All of these instances struck a chord with me. While growing up in Chicago Heights, Illinois, my father was followed home by two white police officers late one night.

Waking to my mother’s screams and police lights beaming through my bedroom window, I ran to the window to witness my dad being beaten by police in our driveway with his hands cuffed behind his back.

As an 8-year-old, I couldn’t understand what my daddy could have done to deserve such treatment. I began to fear that we would never be safe in our own home again.

Police are here to serve and protect. Unfortunately, a few bad seeds may give the majority a bad name. Do police officers get a bad rap for simply doing their jobs?

There are many police officers who take their oaths seriously and will serve our communities regardless of race or socio-economical factors.

Bre Kimble, 20, grew up listening to N.W.A.’s music. After seeing the movie, she said she “liked everything about it,” adding that her favorite part was when the group performed the song “F--- the Police” during a concert after be-

Jeremy Artzt, a 27-year-old business administration major, says that he has been a victim of discrimination because of his age.

“There have been times when older customers ask to speak to a manager and I appear (and) they would laugh and ask for someone older or ask to speak to my manager.” Artzt said.

Artztz says he grew up listening to “gangsta” rap. His first CD was Dr. Dre’s The Chronicle.

“I’ve always been a fan of N.W.A. as well as what they stood for,” he said. “People don’t realize that rap is poetry.“ Aaron Rosebud, a 21-year-old art design major, liked the film but was disappointed to see the police brutality that was depicted. He said he has also experienced discrimination.

“By my own race as well as other races,” he said. “I have friends of other races and I’ve dated outside of my race. Some people make comments or give me strange looks, but I just ignore it.”

Rosebud said the story of N.W.A. remains relevant.

“Everyone should go see this movie because it will teach you more about society today,” he said.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEGENDARY PICTURES AND RUTHLESS RECORDS

Rap group N.W.A. debuted in 1988. Top: “The actors of Straight Outta Compton” Bottom: N.W.A. cover art for the album “Straight Outta Compton”

ing told they could not.

“A lot of things are still the same,” Kimble said, “but there is one slight change. We have a black president.”

When asked of her opinion regarding the relationship between African-Americans and the police, she said, “My friends and I have been harassed and followed by police because we are

black,” the business management major said.

“However, I want others to know we must be mindful of the decisions we make. Not all cops are bad cops.”

Kimble is correct; not all cops are bad cops.

It seems as though discrimination may be a derivative of myths and stereotypes.

Some are quick to categorize an entire group

I have seen “Straight Outta Compton” four times. I grew up listening to their music. I can recall going to my cousin’s house, and we would wait until her mom fell asleep to play their music, reciting the lyrics. I remember feeling like I understood the emotions behind every word.

Seeing the experiences that prompted those lyrics sent chills down my spine. Watching the men forced to on the ground for no reason other than being African-American men was a gut-wrenching reminder of what my dad experienced at the hands of police and how my mom and I had to watch, helplessly. My father is a proud man who never shows weakness.

I can only imagine the thoughts running through his mind as he took blow after unnecessary blow.

If you’ve ever been discriminated against due to your race, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability or even religious beliefs, you might leave this movie feeling a remarkable kinship and mutual understanding for the men of N.W.A. Ice Cube said it best in one of his lines from the N.W. A. hit “Express Yourself.”

“It’s crazy to see people be what society wants them to be, but not me!”

And not us either.

8

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

Blizzards, Blasters and Bond

By David Silva Summer blockbuster season is officially over. Does that mean we have to say goodbye to heart-pounding, high-speed chases, thunderous IMAX explosions and edge-of-yourseat suspense? Absolutely not.

The upcoming movie

season has plenty of familiar faces, from Tarantino to Waltz to Depp.

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” tries to close out the franchise with a bang, and the highly anticipated “Star Wars” revival makes its debut. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in “The Revenant” has already placed him in the middle of the Os-

car race, and critics are making Best Picture predictions on trailers alone.

With so much in store, I dare say that these upcoming films will be more explosive than anything we have seen this summer. Here’s a glance at the films that should be making big waves, whether at the box office or Academy Awards.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Diehard fans and casual moviegoers alike are anxious to see what has become of our beloved galaxy far, far away. The film takes place 30 years after “Return of the Jedi”, and Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia will return. Disney has succeeded in keeping the plot of the film under wraps. The secrecy, however, has only increased the hype surrounding the film.

As a hardcore fan of the “Star Wars” franchise, I was initially skeptical of the revival. Disney taking over the saga’s rights puzzled me, and the failure of the prequels is still looming over George Lucas’ head. However, that all changed when the trailers were released.

John Williams’ booming score, Luke Skywalker crowning a new Jedi Knight, Kylo Ren maneuvering a three-bladed lightsaber and Han Solo announcing “Chewie, we’re home” ensured my presence at the premiere. Will you witness the awakening? “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will be released on Dec. 18 in 3-D.

Spectre The 24th installment of the legendary “James Bond” film series has the eponymous British

GRAPHICS BY JESUS LABRA, EDARDO ORGEGA/ THE ET CETERA PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY, LIONSGATE, DISNEY, 20TH CENTURY FOX, WARNER BROTHERS, COLUMBIA PICTURES

Secret Service agent, played by Daniel Craig, taking on a global criminal network called SPECTRE. Craig returns for his fourth performance as the iconic spy, and since his appearance in “Casino Royal,” he has proven to be one of the best Bonds since Sean Connery and Pierce Brosman.

“

John Williams’ booming score, Luke Skywalker crowning a new Jedi Knight, Kylo Ren maneuvering a three-bladed lightsaber and Han Solo announcing “Chewie, we’re home” ensured my presence at the premiere.

”

Bond’s new foes are Franz Oberhauser, played by Christoph Waltz, and Mr. Hinx, played by former WWE star, Dave Bautista. Waltz’s intelligence and sinister demeanor are hypnotic, and in the trailer he boasts that he is “the author of [Bond’s] pain.” This line not only sets up Oberhauser’s cruelty, it also implies that we will learn more about Bond’s mysterious past.

The biggest upside to “Spectre” is Sam Mendes’ directorial return after the critically acclaimed box office smash “Skyfall.” Mendes has given the

LIFE&ARTS

9

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

A preview of what’s left in the world of blockbuster films this year “007” franchise a breath of fresh air, not shying away from pushing Bond’s story forward.

Keep an eye out for “Spectre” on release day Nov. 6.

The Hateful Eight Quentin Tarantino returns for his eighth film in “The Hateful Eight.” Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth and Channing Tatum, “The Hateful Eight” is a movie I have high expectations for. The homage to spaghetti westerns revolves around a simple concept: a Wyoming blizzard traps eight deadly strangers in a stagecoach cabin. This leads to a clash of epic proportions that Tarantino has shown he can deliver. The trailer boasts the use of glorious 70mm film and ensures that Tarantino still has the knack for the witty dialogue and excessive violence that put him on the map. After Tarantino announced that he plans to retire after his 10th film, I particularly want to see this in theaters. “The Hateful Eight” is available in selected theatres in its limited release Christmas Day and nationwide on Jan. 8 2016.

The Revenant As the fall season is underway, there is already plenty of Oscar talk emerging, namely for the Best Actor award. Leonardo DiCaprio tries again for the gold (what’s a guy have to do to win an Oscar?) in Alejandro Gonzalez

Inarritu’s “The Revenant.” Set for limited release on Christmas Day and wide release on Jan. 8. The film is based on the life of Hugh Glass, an Alaskan fur trapper who travels across more than 200 miles of the Alaskan wilderness to get his revenge after he is robbed and left for dead by his companions.

I have no doubt that DiCaprio will give it his all in this film, and I am curious to see what Inarritu has in store after his previous film “Birdman” took three Academy Awards last year.

and Academy Award nominee Fassbender and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (“The Dark Knight Rises,” “Inception”) make this film my early frontrunner for Best Picture.

Black Mass

Book lovers get their due as the “Hunger Games” franchise reaches its climatic finish with the Nov. 20 release of “Mockingjay Part 2.” After the build-up of a full-scale revolution in “Mockingjay Part 1,” we are finally taken inside the mysterious and oppressive Capitol. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) sums up the purpose for the rebels loud and clear when she states,“turn your weapons to [President] Snow” in the trailer.

Johnny Depp is also getting well-deserved Oscar buzz for starring as the notorious mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger in “Black Mass.”

It’ll be fun to see Depp in a Oscar-worthy role that doesn’t include pirates. The trailers feature a sinister and almost unrecognizable Depp in his role as the leader of the infamous White Hill Gang. The film was released Sept.

18.

Macbeth Michael Fassbender (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “12 Years A Slave”) is taking on the role of the titular tragic hero in Justin Kurzel’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” coming out Oct. 2. The trailer showcases a dark and visually compelling film that I believe will take the Bard’s story to a new level,

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

The Martian Matt Damon stars in Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2011 novel “The Martian.” The iconic director looks to return to form after a few missteps over the past few years, and “The Martian” looks like he’s coming back with a purpose, showcasing the epic rescue of Mars-bound astronaut Mark Watney. Catch “The Martian” in theaters Oct. 2.

Hateful 8

Coming Soon to Theaters ...

Sept. 25 “Hotel Transylvania” “The Intern” Oct. 2 “The Martian” “Macbeth” “The Walk” Oct. 9 “Pan” “Steve Jobs”

Oct. 16 “Bridges of Spies” “Crimson Peak” “Goosebumps”

Oct. 23 “Burnt” “The Last Witch Hunter”

“Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimensions” Oct. 30 “Our Brand is Crisis”

Nov. 6 “The Peanuts Movie” “Trumbo” “Spectre” Nov.13 “By The Sea”

Nov. 20 “Legend” “Mockingjay: Part 2”

Nov. 25 “Creed” “The Good Dinosaur” “The Night Before” “Victor Frankenstein” Nov. 27

“The Danish Girl” Dec. 4 “Krampus”

Dec. 11 “In the Heart of the Sea”

Spectre

Dec. 18 “Star Wars VII: The Foce Awakens” Dec. 23 “Concussion”

Dec. 25 “Joy” “Point Breaks” “The Hateful Eight” “The Revenant” Dec. 31 “Regression”

The Revenant

10

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

www.eastfieldnews.com

Faculty show ends Friday

MUSIC REVIEW

Jay Rock’s newest doesn’t disappoint

By Brandon Wagner etc4640@dcccd.edu

During September, original artworks of faculty and students decorate the Eastfield walls in the show “In Good Company,” open through Sept. 25 in the H and F-217 galleries.

The show consists of a collection of photography, sculptures, sketches, paintings and more.

The atmosphere shifts with each piece, some dark and somber, while others are full of energy.

Iris Bechtol, Eastfield’s director of art programs, put together the show with 18 pieces from professors and students.

“We have nine of Eastfield’s art professors displaying their work,” Bechtol said. “Additionally each professor was asked to invite another artist to display a piece. This allows our art students to view their professor’s work and appreciate others at the same time. It’s a way for us to prove ourselves.”

Adjunct art professor Cassie Phan has a piece entitled “Warm,” located in the H building.

“It channels feelings of togetherness and also loneliness,” she said. “Displaying my art with everyone has been a great experience.”

Photography student Drake Higginbotham was present at the reception.

“The exhibit is a cool way for us to see our professors’ work. It is nice to be able to see what we might learn from them by looking at their work.”

Bechtol scanned and manipulated a photo from the 1960s and made it into something new.

“The photo itself had memories and meanings associated with it,” she said. “To me it was just a photo that I had bought. When I scanned it and copied it though, it took on a new character and meaning. This highlights the nature of our memories and the interpretation of others.”

The art gallery is open Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Et Cetera

By Jonathan Aguirre etc4640@dcccd.edu

PHOTOS BY ALEJANDRA ROSAS/THE ET CETERA

Above, students admire art from “In Good Company.”

Below, an untitled painting by Nicholas Mathis.

Bassoon couple plays together

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Dr. Laura Cameron and husband, Brandon Cameron, played the bassoon at the Sept.

16 recital series. Dr. Cameron teaches bassoon at the University of Texas at Arlington. Cameron, an Eastfield professor, regularly performs with the Dallas Wind Symphony.

“90059” is the latest album from rapper Jay Rock that released on Sept. 11. Jay Rock is a part of the label Top Dawg Entertainment which includes artists as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.

The three rappers and Jay Rock comprise the musical group Black Hippy, formed in 2009. All the members of Black Hippy are from Los Angeles and they won’t hesitate to say so. Top Dawg Entertainment is redefining West Coast hiphop and “90059” confirms that.

This is Jay Rock’s sophomore album after he debuted with “Follow Me Home” in 2011. The catchy hook of the opening track “Necessary” reveals that “90059” is a reference to the Los Angeles ZIP code. The groovy, steady beat quickly changes to a harder hitting one. Many of the songs on the album use this technique, and they use it well.

The production should be praised. Jay Rock’s lyrics are mostly braggadocios and are sometimes meaningless, but the beats make up for it. I see more and more rappers taking the “Run The Jewels“ technique of having great flow and beats supporting lyrics that don’t really matter.

The album’s beats range from simple to complex. The more complex the beat, the more producers Jay Rock employs. The second song, “Easy Bake,” has the most textured beat and features three producers, but the song doesn’t feel cluttered.

It makes great use of negative space by using small parts of silence. Everything flows together perfectly. Kendrick Lamar comes in on the song with a head-bob inducing flow, and it only gets better.

Lamar and Rock burst into this aggressive back-and-forth rapping, one of the best parts of the album. I wish it lasted longer than 14 seconds. SZA, a female singer on Top Dawg, also has a good performance on the track. No other song on the album comes close to the energy of “Easy Bake.”

The lull of the album happens in the middle. Tracks four through seven are borderline forgettable

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT AND MTV

Jay Rock’s new album is a must listen for any fan of hiphop.

on the first listen. Other tracks get worse with additional listens. The beginning and the end are the high points of the album.

“Vice City,” featuring all the members of Black Hippy is a great idea for a song. It’s refreshing to get a song featuring all four members because it rarely happens anymore. “Fly on the Wall” is a more serious track in which Busta Rhymes gives one of the best performances I have ever heard from him.

“Money Trees Deuce” references “Money Trees” from Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid M.A.A.D. City” album, which featured Jay Rock. Jay Rock raps on the track under his alternative name Lance Skiiwalker, but his presence isn’t pronounced.

The final song, “The Message,” is a nice closer that ends in a fade out, a call back to the album’s start with a fade in.

“90059” is one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve heard this year.

It’s not perfect, but the good outweighs the bad. There’s something for most people on this album, and I strongly recommend it to everyone who is a fan of hip-hop.

LIFE&ARTS

11

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Maze’ sequel fires off action

By James Hartley etc4640@dcccd.edu

COURTESY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) lead Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), Minho (Ki Hong Lee) and Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) in a daring escape from the World in Catastrophe: Killzone Department.

Action, explosions, drama. The newest installment to the “Maze Runner” series has it all. From beginning to end, “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” offers heart pounding suspense and insane action to keep audiences on edge and craving more.

Despite the fact that it may appear to be just another teen-focused film, the characters and story will excite audiences of all ages. Parents of younger audiences should be aware of some language and a scene where the main character makes an obscene gesture at a group of pursuers.

The story follows the unlikely hero, Thomas, and his band of misfits as they struggle against the evil corporation World in Catastrophe: Killzone Department – called WCKD throughout the film – the virus-stricken zombie-like people, nature and a couple of particularly dim-witted groups of survivors out in the desert.

The film starts exactly where the last left off. Keeping the characters the same and avoiding the annoying and drastic changes in tone, as experi-

enced in the “Percy Jackson” series, is a definite plus. Thomas and the group of survivors have been rescued from the maze by an unidentified group of armed men and taken to a special facility out in the scorched lands.

The plot takes a sharp turn as the true motives of the group’s rescuers become clear. When Thomas learns the secret held by the mysterious group, he and his allies break out and head for the mountains, where they believe they can find safety.

The only problems of the film are during the start of this journey. The death of an unknown character will make no impact on audiences. A scene involving what appears to be a mall or shopping complex of some sort turns out to be full of those effected by a virus called the flare. The infected act much like zombies, and thus the scene turns into a cliche zombie flick.

Viewers bored with the zombie theme should not avoid this movie, however. The film quickly moves on from this. Though the infected are a persistent problem, they are not the focus. Rather, the conflict between

COURTESY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) prepares to detonate a bomb.

people remains the focus of the film, the virus ending up as more of an obstacle.

The rich character development, suspenseful plot and persistent action keep the story moving ahead, leading to a twist at the end that even some of the most seasoned moviegoers will not see coming.

“Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” is a must see for any action-lover. I highly recommend audiences to see the first film in the series to ensure that the plot is easy to follow and the character development already displayed in the first installment has a chance to enhance the enjoyment of the story.

Explore the opportunities and discover the difference at A&M-Commerce. > Presentations for freshmen and transfer students covering admissions, residential living & learning, financial aid and scholarships > Meet faculty, staff and students > Bilingual sessions by Hispanic Outreach

PREVIEW DAY

> Academic and student organization showcase > Tour campus and residence halls > Lunch included

October 17, 2015

8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW! tamuc.edu/ManeEvent

opinion

12 The Et Cetera

Tragedy inspires aspiring reporter

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

Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief Parker Ward Managing Editor Andrea Carrizales News Editor James Hartley

Photo Editor Jonathan Wences

Sports Editor Brianna Harmon

Copy Editor Caitlin Piper

Online Editor Nicole Ceron Writers Jonathan Aguirre Douglas Castillo Aisha Davis Keturah Jones Mayra Rosales-Montoya David Silva Brandon Wagner Designers/Graphic Artists Jesus Labra Jasmine Oliva Eduardo Ortega Brittany Parker Photographers Jose Garcia David Sanchez Alejandra Rosas

Sara Loredo Aaron Sustaita

Video Raul Ulloa Factchecker Marie Garcia Contributors Juanita Hernandez Ana Gallegos Cartoonists Pablo Aberrisquieta Chelsea Chizoba

Karina Dunn

Michelle Chase Matthew Rohan

Advertising Manager Vanessa Trevino Student Publications Manager Elizabeth Langton Faculty Adviser Lori Dann Editorial Policy The views expressed on the opinion pages and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County Community College District.

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

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

The content will remain that of the author.

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

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

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

OUR VIEW

School ‘bombs’ in clock case Fourteen years ago, the world watched as a series of terrorist attacks organized by Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda left thousands dead and the World Trade Center in ruins. In that time, millions of innocent Muslims have been subjected to prejudice born of the same blind hatred that led to the 9/11 tragedy.

While action has been taken to prevent such crimes, horror stories continue to make national headlines. Four days after the 14th anniversary of the attacks, 14-year-old freshman Ahmed Mohamed of MacArthur High School in Irving was arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center after bringing a digital clock he had built in a pencil case to show to his engineering instructor.

When his English teacher noticed the clock, Ahmed was accused of building a bomb and taken into police custody, where he was questioned for more than 90 minutes without being allowed to contact his parents or an attorney.

After the clock was proven to not be a bomb, Ahmed was accused of building a “hoax bomb” in an effort to incite panic, a crime according to state law. He was also threatened with expulsion in the event that he did not sign a written confession.

He was eventually released without charges, but received a three-day suspension.

Whether or not you believe Ahmed’s story is a case of “Islamophobia,” his treatment at the hands of the school administration and Irving police is nothing short of appalling. By no means are we saying that they should not have taken precautions to keep students safe, but their reaction to his project was extreme even by the standards of controversial zero tolerance policies.

Ahmed was led away in handcuffs despite insisting that it was nothing more than a project.

Even after it was determined to be safe, he was still treated like a criminal.

While Ahmed ultimately received nationwide support, including from figures such as President Barack Obama and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the overreaction he received from school officials speaks volumes about their priorities.

No one contacted a bomb squad when the clock was discovered. The school was not evacuated. Ahmed was harshly punished for trying to impress a teacher with a personal project and now we can only wonder who else will be punished in such a broken system.

I almost gave up my Keturah dream of be- Jones ing a journalist because of my weight.

I was questioned one day about what I was in school for. I told the person who asked that I wanted to be a journalist. They looked at me and said, ”Ms. Jones, you have the sound for the part but you do not look the part. You need to lose weight, become blonde and blue-eyed.”

I replied: “You must have never heard of Oprah.”

Even though my comeback was quick, my feelings were hurt. There I was, a small town girl from Roanoke, Virginia, with big dreams of being a journalist. I graduated but soon started to have doubts and became conscious about my weight.

I secretly started looking for a way out of the field because I began to believe that I did not look the part. Then something unforeseen rocked my world and renewed my faith. I was at work when I received the news that two reporters were shot on live television. However the most shocking news was that it happened in my hometown.

Roanoke is a beautiful city that sits in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We have the beautiful Catholic church that sits on the hill that lights up at night. We have the world’s largest man-made star, known as Mill Mountain Star, that lights up over the city at night and renders a breathtaking view. Now, it is known as the place where two reporters were tragically killed on live television.

As I checked reports from the local media outlets in Roanoke, I was still in disbelief about what I had witnessed earlier. Watching the tribute videos for Alison Parker and Adam Ward, I saw something that restored my faith.

Passion.

It was the passion they had as journalists. Something about that helped me rediscover the desire that I had felt as a child to become a journalist. It was that same passion that connected many journalists across the world, compelling them to send their support to WDBJ-7.

I too want to show my hometown and fellow journalists that The Et Cetera staff and I support WDBJ-7. It was an honor for our staff to make a video and send it back home.

However, my feelings go deeper. I will not let their deaths be in vain. I will no longer let the opinions of others kill my passion. My tribute to Alison and Adam is to continue to carry the torch in journalism in their honor. I will not let anyone diminish my passion for journalism ever again.

On behalf of Roanoke, I would like to thank you all who supported and prayed for the families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward and for WDBJ-7 staff.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

13

The Et Cetera

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Sports

The Et Cetera

Sept.24 Sept.25 Sept.27 Sept.28

www.eastfieldnews.com

Volleyball vs. North Lake Soccer at Richland Soccer at Southwest Adventist Volleyball at Mountain View

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

14

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Harvesters ranked No. 4 in latest national poll

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

After ending the season with a loss to North Lake in the Metro Athletic Conference semifinals last season, the Eastfield soccer team is off to a strong start.

The Harvesters it are currently ranked No. 4 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll with a 4-1 record.

The Harvesters finished 7-8-3 last season, 6-2-2 in conference. Twelve athletes have returned from last season, and eight new players have joined the program.

This season conference play will be a dogfight to see who takes the No. 1 spot and goes to New Jersey for the national championships. Richland, who is ranked No. 8 in NJCAA Division III, appears to be Eastfield’s biggest competition this year.

“I have really high expectations now,” said Miriam Mendoza, a returning player with one goal this season. “We started off the season really good, and I expect to finish it just as strong.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Abigayle Cantrell leads the defense. She was named an NJCAA Division III Player of the Week last season after posting an .846 save percentage and making 22 saves in a three-game period.

“The best of Abbi is yet to come,” said Dustin Stein, Eastfield’s head soccer coach. “Now she trusts her teammates, and last year I don’t think she necessarily did.

“She is learning from every game, and we look to ride Abbi all year. She is the No. 1 unless she is hurt.”

During nonconference play this season Cantrell has posted a .688 save percentage with 11 saves.

Key newcomers this season in-

clude freshman midfielder Karla Gutierrez and defender Torri Sayman, who played together at Horn High School. Gutierrez earned a starting position and has found the back of the net twice.

Sayman, also a starter, has played a crucial role in the backfield, keeping opponents off the board.

The Lady Harvesters have scored 21 goals in five nonconference games this season, an average 4.2 goals per game. Last season they scored 32 goals the entire season, an average 1.8 goals per game.

Eastfield opens conference play this week, traveling to Mountain View and Richland. The Harvesters’ home conference opener is Sept. 29 against Cedar Valley.

“I expect us to go to New Jersey,” said Sayman. “I’m going to push our team, and everyone else, and I want to prove everyone wrong.”

JOSE GARCIA/THE ET CETERA

Eastfield sophomore Miriam Mendoza keeps the ball away from a pair of Wiley College defenders during a 1-0 Harvesters victory on Sept. 3.

Volleyball team opens conference play

By Brianna Harmon etc4640@dcccd.edu

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

The Eastfield Harvesters sit in a dark locker room with music blasting as they prepare to take the court for a game.

It’s their pregame ritual: the calm before the storm.

So far, it seems to be working. The Harvesters, who posted seven wins last season, are off to a 6-6 start with three consecutive wins.

The Harvesters ended last year in the Region V semifinals, losing to Brookhaven and finishing 7-17, 5-6 in conference play.

The team is starting fresh, with 10 new athletes who have joined the program and only two returners.

Several players have had early success for the Harvesters.

Three are ranked in the top 10 in the country in individual statistics, and the team is ranked fourth in the nation in digs per set.

Captain Megan Murphy is ninth in the NJCAA Division III in kills per set while Grizelda Ortiz is ranked third in service aces.

Freshman Captain McKayla Petters is ranked No. 1 in the nation in digs per set.

“We have a great team this year. We bond great,” Petters said.

Eastfield still has some kinks to work out, being a young team.

The Harvesters will continue to work on being more aggressive with their serves and becoming a more aggressive offensive team.

“We keep trying to attack where our weaknesses are and get better every practice,” Eastfield coach Brandon Crisp said. “We need to be a little tougher serving. We are trying to work on our offense too.”

The Harvesters started conference play at home against Brookhaven on Sept. 22.

Brookhaven is ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division III poll, and the conference is expected to be competitive.

“We want to win conference, beat Brookhaven and go to nationals,” freshman setter Alyssa Jimenez said.

JONAHTAN WENCES/THE ET CETERA

Above, freshman Madi Wenrick goes for the kill for the Harvesters.

Left, freshman Lauren Beyer serves the ball against Southwestern Adventist University. The Harvesters started conference play against Brookhaven, ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA Division III poll, on Sept. 22.

Wrapup The Et Cetera

15 www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Animal Droppings By Michelle Chase

Reality Check By Pablo Aberrisquieta

Trivia Bits

Zek and Slik By Matthew Rohan

Who paid Gordon Jenkins around $75,000 because the melody and lyrics to his “Folsom Prison Blues” were a lot like Jenkins’s “Crescent City Blues”?

A) Johnny Cash B) George Jones C) Jerry Lee Lewis D) Willie Nelson

Sudoku

What star was discovered at a bank on Hollywood Boulevard, when she threw a fit because they wouldn’t cash the international check her South African mom had sent her?

A) Nicole Kidman B) Lupita Nyong’o C) Thandie Newton D) Charlize Theron

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Trivia Answers: A, D

Candid Campus Wednesday, September 23, 2015

www.eastfieldnews.com

BRIANNA HARMON/THE ET CETERA

BRIANNA HARMON/THE ET CETERA

16 The Et Cetera

The Office of Student Engagement and Retention hosted a Friday Fun Day on Sept. 4 to welcome Harvesters back to campus. Clockwise from top left, Chris Pescador challenges a friend in the sumo pit. Alicia Popoola dances in the Lower Courtyard. A crowd gathers as a student takes aim in an attempt to dunk an administrator. History professor Kat Reguero surfaces from the dunk tank. A student tries to save her giant Jenga tower.

Crowd enjoys sumo wrestling, dunk tank at Fun Day

DAVID SANCHEZ/THE ET CETERA

BRIANNA HARMON/THE ET CETERA

BRIANNA HARMON/THE ET CETERA