Etera
Eastfield College
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Family gives retiring piano instructor Pierrette Mouledous a special send-off. ➤ Page 6
Dr. Joe May, new DCCCD chancellor, visits Eastfield campus. Page 3.
Volume 45, Issue 11
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
PUT IT ON YOUR
Calendar April
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A recital series featuring guitar ensembles with directors Eddie Healy and Rachel Loss Cutler-Hull will be held from 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. in F-117. A lecture with guest Sarah Welch, comics writer and part of No Restraints Activist Zines and comics, will be held from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the H Gallery. Spend time with professors in the Faculty-Student Mixer from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pit.
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The opening reception of No Restraint: Activist Zines and Comics, curated by Iris Bechtol and Josh Rose, and featuring comics, zines and original art, will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the H Gallery. A Native American event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the lower courtyard. The Video game, Anime and Business clubs will host a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament from noon to 2 p.m., in C-135. Sign up in Student Life, Room C-141.
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The Eastfield Literary and Fine Arts Festival begins and continues through May 2. For a list of events, see page 9.
Tue
Having trouble dealing with anxiety before an important test? Counselor Jeff Quan will show you how to overcome it from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in L-208.
Wed
This year’s Common Book presents Tai Chi. Get in a Zen mood with friends from 11 a.m. to noon in the Lower Courtyard.
Thu
A campus Cinco de Mayo fiesta, featuring a mariachi band, Rhythm The M3 and salsa dancing, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in T-130 (auto body lab).
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ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO BY KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR. DESIGN BY DEKAYLA HORTON
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The Et Cetera
Human trafficking hits close to home
By ROBERT BURNS etc4640@dcccd.edu
Imagine being taken from your home with the promise of a better life in America, then being forced into prostitution or working for no pay when you get here. Human trafficking is a reality for thousands of people seeking a life in America. The transport of people for involuntary servitude or forced prostitution, was the subject of a presentation by Supervisory Special Agent Shawn McGraw of Homeland Security on April 3. Human trafficking is a $30 billion industry, according to McGraw, who has been in law enforcement for 25 years and is currently based in Irving. “The stuff is out here in our community,” he said. “We need to start doing something about it and start changing the mindset of prostitution. The woman that is engaged in prostitution is doing it for survival. It is the guys that are benefitting financially. They are the enemy in all this. We need to go after johns and pimps. It has to be the younger generation that can make a difference.” According to a report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 83 percent of cases involve sex trafficking, 12 percent involve forced labor and 5 percent include other forms of trafficking. McGraw said Texas ranks second in the nation in the number of victims of human trafficking. Dallas (No. 1) and Houston (No. 2) are the hot spots. McGraw said forced labor is essentially modern day slavery. Victims are usually smuggled into Texas from South America and Mexico. Most are lured in by the promise of good-paying jobs only to be forced or tricked into jobs with poor working conditions and little or no pay. A variety of industries, from agricultural manual labor to the hospitality industry, use forced labor to decrease costs.
HOW TO HELP
Several organizations in Texas help victims of human trafficking. Students can volunteer their time or donate money to mosaicservices.org, hrionline.org or traffick911.com.
Bonded slavery is the most common way victims are enslaved, according to anti-slavery.org. Usually victims owe a debt to their employers and must work until the employer says they have paid it off. They are usually kept under surveillance and sometimes under lock and key. The victims also must depend on their employer for food and housing. This poverty, along with threats of violence, keeps victims from defying their employers. McGraw said 12 is the average age of victims of sexual exploitation. While most are foreigners, they can include people of any race or nationality — even Americans. The majority of American victims are runaways who come from poverty or broken homes. Many have already been victims of sexual abuse. Typically, the trafficker gets the victim addicted to drugs so they can control the victim better. “There is some pretty gruesome stuff going on, and there are some really violent and nasty guys who physically and sexually abuse their victims,” McGraw said. “One girl we rescued had sex with 38 men in one day.” According to McGraw, a pimp can make up to $20,000 per a month on a single girl. The average case takes about four months to prosecute, he said. “It is not like CSI at all,” McGraw said. “It takes a long time to gather all that evidence, the hotel receipts, the witness statements, the phone tolls, and then going through and identifying who the johns are.”
McGraw said he works with four agents, each of whom works four cases. According to polarisproject.org, human trafficking is a fairly recently recognized crime, with the first federal legislation laws coming in 2000. Now 39 states have laws against human trafficking. Texas has tough laws against human trafficking that mirror federal laws and in some instances exceed them. McGraw said the minimum jail time for a trafficker who forces a victim into prostitution is 10 years. The presentation drew a huge turnout, with students sitting in silence as they listened to the horrors of human trafficking. The students engaged in a lengthy question-and-answer session following the presentation. “I thought it was very eye-opening,” communications major Chanel Jimenez said. “We need more of that type of information going around.” Jimenez said she wasn’t aware that human trafficking was such a problem locally. “I know it happens all over the world, but I didn’t think it was so close to home, in our own backyard,” she said. Psychology major Alexandria Morris had a similar reaction. “I very much enjoyed the presentation,” she said. “I like that he made it hit home, that he emphasized that this can happen here. I’ve got two little sisters. I don’t think I will let them walk down the street by themselves anymore.” McGraw said he would like students to get involved in the fight against human trafficking. “They can start by talking about it,” McGraw said. “Getting their legislature to do something about it. And there are a lot of good nonprofit and government organizations where they could volunteer their time.”
THE HOT TOPIC
What is the biggest challenge you face as a college student?
Dellar Jinkens Medical Lab Technician
Jordan John Music
Salvador De Leon Electrical Engineering
George Jalloh Computer Engineering
Ron Vaughn Science
“Time management, because I work full time. I’m a full-time mom, and then I have to plan study time. I’m also in the middle of moving from one home to another.”
“Money. After paying for classes and books, you still have to have money to eat and just to live. At that point, you don’t even have money to go out and have fun with friends or do what you enjoy. ”
“Homework. Whenever I take free time, I take it before doing my homework when it should be the other way around so I can have free time after to enjoy whatever I want to do.”
“Procrastination. A lot of times l don’t want to tell my friends ‘no,’ so I’ll put off classwork. I let my social life affect my life as a student. That’s something I have to do a better job at.”
“Stress. It’s not school stress, though. For me, all of the stress outside of school sometimes makes it harder. I help take care of my siblings, so sometimes personal family issues cause stress.
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
New chancellor brings tech focus to DCCCD By BILLY DENNIS etc4640@dcccd.edu
An exuberant crowd greeted new DCCCD chancellor Dr. Joe May with thunderous applause when he visited the campus on April 10. May made his way through the packed room of faculty, staff and students, shaking the hands of wellwishers on his way to the podium. The Mount Pleasant native is the seventh Dallas County Community College chancellor in the history of the district. He joined the DCCCD on Feb. 26, replacing outgoing chancellor Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr. May previously served as president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. May actually started his academic career as a student at Cedar Valley. He talked about passing Eastfield as he drove down Interstate 30 on his way to earning his associate degree. May attained his associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees — all without taking a break. May’s focus now is on building bridges from the academic to the business communities, noting that times have changed since he was a student. “In those days, you used to be able to get a job with a high school diploma,” he said. “That’s really not the case anymore. You have to come to one of our colleges, and certainly Eastfield has been a leader for a long
MEAGAN HARRIS/SPECIAL TO THE ET CETERA
Dr. Joe May, who joined the Dallas County Community College District as chancellor on Feb. 26, visits with Eastfield President Dr. Jean Conway and executive dean Mike Walker on April 10.
time. In this last recession, people thought they had jobs for life but found out they didn’t even have skills for life.” May said one of the most effective ways to achieve this is through the implementation of technology.
He understands that with the rapid advancements on the technological front, students are demanding that such skills be woven into the academic curriculum. “[Students] will often equate the use of technology with improving
quality,” he said. May will face a number of unique challenges as he prepares for the politics of education in Texas. “He was able to navigate and survive the alligator-infested waters of Louisiana politics,” history profes-
sor Matt Hinckley said. “[He] is well versed at navigating very treacherous political waters. … We have alligatorinfested waters here, too.” Many say that one of May’s strengths is his accessibility and authenticity, something that Texans expect from their leaders. “We need him to be a strong voice for this district,” Eastfield President Dr. Jean Conway said. “He’s very pragmatic, very approachable and very authentic. I believe he’s a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person. I think that makes him trustworthy. He’s very frank and very honest.” Some are hopeful that May will be able to quickly assess areas where improvements can be made and turn the district’s focus toward worthwhile initiatives. “I would like to see district-wide support with the African-American and Latino male initiatives,” speech professor Courtney Brazile said. “It’s important that we all come together collectively across the district to help our young men excel.” Brazile said coming from another community college environment where May held a leadership role will allow him to hit the ground running. “I believe that he’s able to bring something new to the DCCCD,” Brazile said. “To actually choose someone from a different system allows for new ideas to be brought in to what we’re doing.”
Sen. West to give keynote speech at Man-Up conference May 9 By CYNNAMON ROUNDTREE etc4640@dcccd.edu
The Dallas County Community College District’s annual Man-Up Conference is coming to Eastfield for the first time on May 9. State Sen. Royce West, who was named one of the top 25 most powerful people in Texas politics by Texas Monthly magazine, will be the keynote speaker. Speech professor Courtney Brazile, who advises the Men’s Empowerment Coalition and is also organizing the event, hopes the conference will positively impact minority-male students. “I think this conference Royce West will change students’ perspective and outlook on life as a whole,” said Aaron Fields, president of the Men’s Empowerment Coalition and a member of the Man-Up Committee. “I look forward to meeting other stu-
HOW TO REGISTER Students interested in attending the Man-Up Conference on May 9 can register at eastfieldcollege.edu/ man-up/ dents and the speakers at the event.” The goal of the conference, which is open to males who are high school juniors or seniors or college students, is to empower students to excel academically and to become productive leaders and citizens. A picnic and basketball tournament on May 3 will serve as a kickoff for the conference. The picnic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in C-135 and the Pit. Hot dogs and refreshments will be provided. There will also be a disc jockey, a T-shirt giveaway, dominoes and card games. “We think it’s important to have the picnic because it allows the guys to connect and do something that’s fun,” Brazile said. “It allows them to network in a fun, friendly environ-
ment.” The conference will continue from noon to 4 p.m. on May 9 in the performance hall. All DCCCD students are invited. Brazile said Eastfield President Dr. Jean Conway recommended West as the speaker. “She ran into him at an event and said he would love to come and speak,” Brazile said. “When I stepped up to coordinate this year’s conference, our administrative team suggested I reach out to West. The rest is history.” Brazile said it will be great to have West as a speaker at this year’s conference, considering that President Barack Obama is really pushing to help minority males in public school as well as on the collegiate level. “With [West] being a voice, a representative here in Texas, what better way to compliment what [Obama] is doing than to have one of our very own politicians come and speak to the country, as well as the state’s commitment to these students,” Brazile said. Other speakers include Richard Miles, who
was exonerated after being wrongly convicted of murder and subsequently founded Miles of Freedom to help others who were wrongly convicted; Jeronimo Valdez, a trial lawyer and founder and managing partner of the law firm Valdez Washington LLP; and Desmond Blair, a project manager at Scottish Rite Hospital. Business major Latrell Nelson, who is on the Man-Up committee, said he’s excited to experience the conference. “I look forward to seeing and hearing the speakers’ stories, as well as making the conference attendees feel welcome,” he said. Brazile said Conway has been very supportive of the initiative. “She is a true visionary,” he said. “She really has a heart for students, student engagement and success. She’s wants to see us succeed, and I believe she genuinely and authentically wants to reach the core of these guys, to really have them become better and to realize they have the support of not just each other, but their campus as a whole.”
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
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The Et Cetera
Online map helps students find way from classrooms to restrooms By CYNNAMON ROUNDTREE etc4640@dcccd.edu
On the first day of class, many students are scrambling around, trying to find their classes, asking for directions and then arriving late to class. But students will no longer have to worry about getting lost on campus. Now their smartphones can lead the way, thanks to Google Maps. David Danforth, Digital Media Coordinator, worked with a Google Maps team to develop the campus map. He said almost all of the buildings are done. The only glitch is that the admissions area on the first level of the C building is missing. For security reasons, the K building with the child-care center was not mapped. A Google representative contacted the Dallas County Community College District office in 2012 about mapping all of the schools and requested blueprints. “The Google team had to go to every classroom and every corner to graph the entire campus,” Danforth said. It took a week for the team to walk every inch of the campus with their smartphones to ensure accuracy. The indoor map allows users to zoom in and out, giving them a view of the layout. There is also a street view showing the outside of the buildings. Students have already started using their phones to guide them around. “It gives me more assurance going from class to class,” said business major Krystal Jones. “I think it’s a good thing, time and confidence-wise.” The college bookstore can be tracked via GPS, along with the entrances, classrooms, public spaces, stairwells, elevators and auxiliary services, such as food services, ATMs, vending machines, restrooms and
telephones. Students can view all three floors by right-clicking the icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen. Thanks to Google Maps, making it to class on time has not been a problem for some students. “When I used the GPS on my iPhone to get to class, it gave me shortcuts,” Jones said. District Director of Internet Publishing, Georgeann Moss said she was contacted by Google in 2012 to see if the DCCCD was interested in working together on this free project. She served as the colleges’ initial liaison with Google. Each college appointed a Google Maps coordinator to work directly with Google to supply the needed information. “If you Google Eastfield College, the location map will appear on the right-hand column,” Moss said. “You can continue to zoom in on the location map until you see the individual buildings on the college campuses.” The project began in late 2012. It took six months to build the Google map of Eastfield. Danforth said the map can be used at the information tables at the beginning of the semester for new students. Employees at the information tables can use iPads, go into Google and show the students going to class. Danforth said he has always been a fan of Google because of its search engine and productivity tools. It offers many free applications that students can use every day in the classroom. “Honestly, I just thought it would be a cool way for students to navigate the campus,” Danforth said. “By the fall semester, we’re hoping to have the college completely mapped.” Danforth said plans are under way to create color-coded signs — similar to street signs — that will help everybody, mainly first-time students learn the layout of the campus.
It gives me more assurance going from class to class. I think it’s a good thing, time and confidence-wise. -Krystal Jones Business major
ILLUSTRATION BY AKI OHASHI/THE ET CETERA
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
The Et Cetera
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
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NEWS
Briefs Danny Garcia wins election for SGA president
Danny Garcia was named president of the Student Government Association at the Club Banquet on Tuesday. Garcia, a pre-law major, received 67 percent of the votes to 33 percent for Fabiola Resendiz. Garcia will start training this summer as he prepares for his leadership role in the fall.
The Et Cetera will host fourth annual poetry slam April 29
On April 29, The Et Cetera will host its fourth annual poetry slam from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in G-101 during the college’s Literary Fine Arts Festival. Entrants, who will be competing for prizes for best original poem, must sign up between 5 and 5:15 p.m. Refreshments will be available.
College celebrates retirement of instructors Laza, Jones
A retirement reception for Developmental Math faculty member Liz Laza will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in S-100 on April 23. Another reception will be held to celebrate the retirement of Hayden Jones, evening and weekend AV Classroom Technology specialist, from 2 to 3 p.m. in S-101 on April 23.
Science, Engineering and Health Transfer Day set for April 24
Have questions about transferring? A Science, Engineering and Health Transfer Day will be held in S-101 on April 24. A list of times and participating schools is available in the Science, PE and Athletics Division office in S-213.
OSER looking to hire six part-time students
The Office of Student Engagement & Retention is looking for the next group of outstanding orientation leaders. OSER plans to hire six part-time peer mentors for this summer. The pay is $9.45 an hour. Students must have attended a DCCCD college for at least two semesters and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. For more information, email 4oser@dcccd. edu or visit the job posting page at https:// dcccd.peopleadmin.com/postings/search.
Women’s History Month trivia contest winners announced
The winners for the Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment Trivia Contest were Alina Rico, Amina Youssuf and Arleesha Anderson. The winners each received a Subway gift card.
Eastfield women’s soccer team to hold tryouts on April 27
The Eastfield women’s soccer team will host open tryouts from 2 to 5 p.m. April 27. The tryouts are open for any female student who is interested in playing on the 2014 team. All participants will be required to bring a copy of their most recent physical. The physical can be no more than one year old.
Winners announced for student literary competition
The recent winners of the League for Innovation Student Literary Competition include: Fiction/Short Story Category 1. Samuel Rodriguez, “Ratten” — will advance to the district-level competition 2. Cameron Searcy, “Massage Situation” 3. Cameron Searcy, “A Field of Lilies” Honorable Mention: Rebecca Moore, “Cassius Blue” Personal Essay Category 1. Robert Nichols, “The Smokehouse Tunnel” — will advance to the district-level competition 2. Cristal Cuellar, “Classical Music” 3. Dorothy Bennett, “Swimming in Lemonade” Honorable Mention: Tina-Marie Guinn, “The Tassel Is Worth the Hassle” Poetry Category 1. Rebecca Moore, “Fire Fighting” — will advance to the district-level competition 2. Rebecca Moore, “Pages” 3. Rebecca Moore, “Hidden Light” Honorable Mention: Virginia Morris, “The Child Who Once Was Me” and Katherine Byers, “Dear Me” The annual League for Innovation Student Literary Competition Award Ceremony and Student Readings will be from 10:10 to 11:05 a.m. in G-101/G-201 on April 30 during the Literary Fine Arts Festival.
Eastfield Student Media captures 31 awards at TIPA conference
Eastfield College students won 31 awards recently at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention in San Antonio. Sixteen students from The Et Cetera, The Alternative, and eastfieldnews.com received individual awards, including seven first-place honors, for previously published material from Spring 2013 and Fall 2014. Also, Alex Hernandez took first place in the live editorial cartoon competition.
Send us your news
Want some publicity? Submit information about a campus event you’re hosting or an honor you received. Email etc4640@dcccd.edu
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Life&Arts
The Et Cetera
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Concert celebrates Moledous’ career Instructor’s love for music shows in her students
By KARINA DUNN etc4640@dcccd.edu
A ski resort in the Pyrenees Mountains in France offered solace for a young musician studying piano with her mother. The calming atmosphere gave Pierrette Mouledous a chance to relax and enjoy her surroundings outside of her rigorous studies. Mouledous, the head of Eastfield’s piano department, still returns to the Pyrenees every few years to take a break from her life filled with the pursuit of music. Now, as she prepares to retire after 44 years at the college, Mouledous can appreciate her musical beginnings and how they fueled her passion. At 14, Mouledous studied under Reine Giancoli, president of the Ecole Normale Musique in Paris. She described the lessons as “severe,” but said they made her a better artist. “I had to work very hard because I was with top musicians,” Mouledous said. These opportunities exposed Mouledous to a variety of artists. She even practiced ballet, which meant she was always surrounded by a live band during performances. “It’s like a sport in a way,” Mouledous said of music. “You have to drill, drill, drill … you constantly learn.” It seemed appropriate that Mouledous, who will retire from full-time teaching in May, would end her journey at Eastfield with a special concert given by her adult children. On April 2, students and teachers lined the hall outside F-117 as they waited for the next installment of the Wednesday Recital Series, which was a tribute to Mouledous. “The concert was like our memorial stone to our mom,” Laurie Mouledous said. “Music is our passion. To be able to express that was a joy.” The concert commemorated Mouledous’ almost 50 years of dedication to the DCCCD, where she helped form the music departments at El Centro in 1966 and Eastfield in 1970. Laurie Mouledous led the concert with her brothers Daniel and Alfred Mouledous, who played songs that drew laughter, jokes and affectionate smiles from the audience. The most intimate moment occurred when the three children invited their mother onstage for a performance of “Sweet Honey Dew,” one of Mouledous’ favorite songs that was written and performed by Daniel. The crowed clapped along, then erupted into applause when he finished.
KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR. / THE ET CETERA
From left, Daniel Mouledous, Pierrette Mouledous, Laurie Mouledous and Alfred Mouledous gather April 2 at a Wednesday Recital Series after celebrating Ms. Mouledous’ upcoming retirement and her years of dedication to the DCCCD.
“It was fun to watch them. I’m very proud,” Mouledous said. “They love to perform.” A music coordinator for the college from 1974 to 2011, Dr. Harrell Lucky applauded the special performance and shared his early memories of working with Mouledous. “I just found someone who’d hold on longer than anyone else,” Lucky said. “She loves the students. They love her back.” Mouledous first visited Dallas when she married her ex-husband, a piano teacher at SMU, where she earned a master’s degree in performance. Intrigued by the music culture of Dallas — a “piano city,” as she called it — Mouledous used her own experiences studying in Paris and the United States as inspiration for starting the Wednesday Recital Series. “It’s important to the music department to have a series where students can see quality performances,” Mouledous said. She also founded the Chamber Music Ensemble Trio Accord with members from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and helped establish the Mesquite Arts Center. “What we have here in Dallas is important,” she said. “It’s a great music center.” Mouledous said she believes live performances are essential to teaching and enjoying classi-
cal music. Gatherings, like the recital series and music festivals throughout the state, allowed her to engage others in the live experience. She also created a positive experience for students in the classroom. With constructive feedback, they are more comfortable increasing their discipline and skill. “It’s not easy to learn an instrument,” she said. “You help them to be more dedicated as they learn to play and perform.” Mouledous mentored Oscar Passley, now the music department coordinator, when he joined the college seven years ago. He helped organize the tribute concert and was invited to share a few comments afterward. “I’ve been able to work next to her for the past several years,” Passley said. “She lit my fire for teaching. It’s been a privilege.” Despite their mother’s interest in classical music, Laurie, Daniel and Alfred gravitated toward the string instruments and singing. “I guess there were too many pianists in the house,” Mouledous said. They may have pursued different paths than their mother, but Mouledous’ children absorbed her passion and respect for producing first-rate shows. “It was an honor and privilege to perform,”
Alfred said. “Getting to play with family was an extra treat.” Mouledous is hopeful about her students’ futures and intends to see them improve. “I enjoy the challenge of making students whole,” she said. She said most students enter her classes with no prior experience, and watching them learn to perform keeps her motivated. She creates a structured classroom environment that welcomes all skill sets. “She’s a patient teacher,” music major Alex Rodriguez said. “She has an amazing passion for music.” Rachel Wolf, executive dean of Arts, Language and Literature, summed Mouledous up in three short words: “She’s French, glamorous and classy.” “She brought longevity and dedication to students,” Wolf continued. “She knows what she’s doing.” Mouledous is interested in upholding the level of dedication the music department has established. She revealed that she will continue to teach part-time at the college. “I hope we continue to do wonderful work,” she said, “so we can see the results in the students’ performances.”
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LIFE&ARTS
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
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The Et Cetera
DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
There’s plenty to appreciate in ‘Thank You a Lot’ By BILLY DENNIS etc4640@dcccd.edu
The Dallas International Film Festival just concluded its best event in years with more than 175 outstanding feature-length, animated, documentary and short films. A ton of stellar films were available to choose from this year, and I saw many films that were as good as any big-budget studio movie. But the one that lingered in my mind for days was “Thank You A Lot.” This movie tells the story of a struggling small-time Austin city music manager named Jack Hand, played by Blake DeLong (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”). Jack is trying to break into the big leagues with his indie rock band. In order to do so and keep his job, he must sign his estranged father, a reclusive and weary country western singer named James Hand. As if this wasn’t a tall enough challenge, his employer and fellow colleagues attempt to sabotage his efforts. Director Matt Muir’s guidance was outstanding. Muir, an Austin-based filmmaker and former University of Texas film student, was able to take several professional and un-
VINCE MARTIN/THE ET CETERA
Director Matt Muir and actors Kaci Beeler and James Hand from “Thank You a Lot” were at the Angelika last week.
trained actors and guide them through visceral and memorable performances. DeLong, the lead actor, is a friend of Muir’s whom he met and worked with while attending UT. DeLong, as Muir said, has a knack for play-
ing a lovable, yet shifty character. As the heart of the movie, the other characters play off his talent and are better for it. I loved DeLong in this film, but it was the performance by James Hand that kept me glued to my seat. Hand is a country western singer based in Austin who received the job after being spotted by Muir at a local honky-tonk. Muir was so enamored with the raw magnetism of Hand that when he wrote the script he didn’t even change his name. What a great name for a country singer, too. Hand had never acted before, but the performance he turned in will have filmmakers making a pilgrimage to Austin to seek him out. He was also one of the nicest people I interviewed at the festival. Hand has the ability to covey a seemingly insurmountable number of emotions though his eyes alone. Professional actors the world over would kill to be able to achieve what he did in his first movie. When you’re watching Hand in this film, special relativity takes over and time slows down. When I walked away from this movie, I felt like I was taking Hand with me, and that feeling lasted for days. While he may not have been a professional actor, he is a performer. He
has a presence that cannot be taught. You either have it, or you don’t. James Hand has it in spades. Another notable bright spot in this film is Kaci Beeler. Beeler plays an intern at Jack’s workplace who desperately wants his job. Along with a fellow co-worker, she attempts to complicate Jack’s efforts to do his job, albeit in the nicest way possible. Beeler really provides an element that many independent films are lacking: the dry, cute, petite, lovable and ambitious character. She has this Austin, Texas-Aubrey Plaza thing going on that is very appealing. In fact, if Aubrey Plaza lived in Austin, she’d want to be just like Kaci Beeler. Beeler is a polymath artist. Not only is she a fantastic young actor, she is also a painter, improviser, theater director, teacher and designer. She has a bright future, and I intend on following her light to even bigger things. I really can’t find enough great things to say about this film. It was by far my favorite of the festival and one that I feel every red-blooded American should see. “Thank You A Lot” will be available on Video on Demand in June.
‘Heaven is for Real’ was a project of faith for all involved By BILLY DENNIS etc4640@dcccd.edu
The real-life family that inspired the book and movie “Heaven is for Real” made an appearance on the red carpet at the Dallas International Film Festival last week. Et Cetera reporter Billy Dennis Jr. had a chance to interview them, along with the actors and director and the author of the book on which the film was based. Co-author Lynn Vincent Q: What was the most challenging part about writing this book? A: The biggest challenge is making sure to keep it stripped down and really simple. I was trying really hard not to make some big, sweeping narrative pulling in a lot of different things. What I really wanted was a simple, straightforward telling because there are a lot of books on the market that talk about people’s journeys to heaven and some of them are really light on the heaven part. I wanted to make this book just about heaven. Todd Burpo, real-life father Q: Were you nervous about turning over such a personal project to a major Hollywood studio?
VINCE MARTIN/THE ET CETERA
“Heaven is for Real” is based on the Burpo family: front, Colby; back, from left, Sonja, Todd, Cassie and Colton.
A: Absolutely. It was probably the biggest step of faith I ever had to take. When you look at the hospital and the events in the movie, those are things that actually happened to us. But we didn’t vote, we didn’t decide, we just suffered through it. But now to tell your story and work with Hollywood, how do we get that right? From the very beginning, the integrity of the story was a big deal for us, and we prayed many prayers: God help us get through this. Hollywood kept true to their word and, to be honest, to Colton’s story. Q: Did you have any involvement in
picking the director, writers and cast? A: We didn’t with the director. We were thrilled when Randall Wallace came on, obviously. And I think he did a lot of the casting, too. But we got to talk to him a lot as he was helping with the screenplay, so by the time we saw the screenplay, it was done so well. Actor Margo Martindale (“August: Osage County”) Q: Has your idea of heaven changed? A: Heaven hasn’t changed. I think it’s anybody’s interpretation of heav-
en. The most important thing you’ll get out of this is God is love, and big, and embracing. Q: Do you feel audiences will walk away with a message of hope? A: I hope they will. I also hope there is a conversation that is opened up.
the audition and Randy called action, and he went a little Brando on me. The room got quite quiet for about a minute, and then he just went bam and he dropped out his first piece of dialogue, and I volleyed it back. That’s how it worked. He’s a natural.
Actor Greg Kinnear (“Little Miss Sunshine”) Q: Was there ever a point where your faith was tested in making this film? A: Yeah, the little 5-year-old tested my faith every day … and my patience. Mostly my patience. He’s great, actually. Connor [Corum] is a remarkable young man and really is a natural. He’s a great actor. If you don’t have someone in that role who can honestly deliver a performance that’s real and believable, then there’s no movie here. The kid was awesome. Q: What did you give Connor in terms of advice? A: Stay out of show business, kid. Yes, I have been called the child whisper, but the truth is he did it all on his own. We looked at a lot of kids. They looked at thousands across the country, and it came down to about four or five that I read with in Los Angeles. There were some really good, talented kids, but he had some sort of natural abilities. So there we were in
Director Randall Wallace (“Secretariat”) Q: What did you want this movie to say? A: What we all wanted this movie to say was that God loves us all, just like we are. God made us all. The Bible says we are all made in the image of God, but look at us. We all look different. We all think differently. I wanted this movie to say that with our doubts, with our flaws, we are loved just the way we are. Q: I suspect the people who are upset about the movie “Noah” will be more than pleased with this film. A: The main ones we wanted to get it right for were ourselves. We have to look in the mirror and say, ‘Do we believe this?’ Because the audience will never believe what you don’t believe yourself. And then we had about 10 million people who bought the book and loved this story. If we can be faithful to that, then we will let the chips fall where they may.
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LIFE&ARTS
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
Annual literary festival starts next week By EMMA HAHN etc4640@dcccd.edu
The Arts, Language and Literature division will host its annual week-long Literary and Fine Arts Festival April 28 through May 2. The festival is filled with events, including a poetry slam, readings and a jazz and a choir concert. The spring drama production, “The Violet Hour” kicks off the festival with performances at 7:30 p.m. on April 24-26. There will also be an 11 a.m. showing on April 25 and a 2 p.m. performance on April 27. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students with a valid ID. Rachel Wolf, executive dean of the Arts, Language and Literature division, is looking forward to the festival. “[The festival] sort of reflects all of the things that go on in the literary and fine arts,” she said. “It’s part of an education. Every student should have an education in the humanities, the fine arts and the literary arts.” Wolf said the event was established in spring 2010 because she felt the need for something that tied all aspects of the department together. She said that the festival has always been well attended. Refreshments will be served at most of the events.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE Monday, April 28 9:30-10 a.m., G101 — Festival opening 10:10-11:05 a.m., G102 — David Hopkins: “Historical and Social Impact of Women Superheroes” Tuesday, April 29 9:30-10:30 a.m., G102 — Sally Glass: Artist and founder of arts magazine Semigloss 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m., G102 — Nia King: Artist and activist 12:30–1:50 p.m., G101 — Global Communications: Spanish 1411 student readings, Comunicaciones Globales — Lecturas de los Estudiantes 5:35-7 p.m., G101 — Et Cetera Poetry Slam Wednesday, April 30 9:05-10 a.m., G101 — International Tea Time 10:10-11:05 a.m., G101 — League for Innovation student literary competition readings 11:15 a.m.–12:10 p.m., G101 — Joani P. Reese and Lynn Beighley. Reese will be reading from her second book of poems, “Dead Letters” 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., G102 — Zine Workshop with OIl and Cotton founder Shannon Driscoll and artist Jessica Sinks 12:30–1:30 p.m., Performance Hall — Concert: The Music of Eric Whitacre, EFC Chorus and Weatherford College Chorus Thursday, May 1 9:30–10:50 a.m., Performance Hall — Musical Theatre: “Grease” 11 a.m.–12:20 p.m., S100 — Faculty Readings 5:35-7 p.m. — Student Show Reception in F219; Jazz Under the Stars: EFC Jazz Ensemble in lower courtyard Friday, May 2 7 p.m., Performance Hall — Theater student showcase (Donations accepted)
opinion
10 The Et Cetera
Discrimination against the disabled is a problem
Etera Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Texas Community College Journalism Association • Associated Collegiate Press • College Media Association Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor In Chief Kevin Cushingberry Jr. News Editor Billy Dennis Opinion Editor Caitlin Piper Online Editor Miguel Padilla Design Editors Aki Ohashi DeKayla Horton Staff Writers / Contributors Gereneicia Foster Karina Dunn Emma Hahn Robert Burns Morgan Corley Anahi Perez Photographers Luzette Portillo Jonathan Wences Cartoonist Alex Hernandez Advertising Manager Allison Slomowitz Student Publications Manager Gary Piña 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, April 23, 2014
OUR VIEW
Tougher sanctions for Russia, Putin are needed for actions in Ukraine Amidst the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine over the Crimean region, we feel that it is time for President Obama to enforce tougher sanctions on Russia, and its president, Vladimir Putin. While we understand the folly of war with Russia and decry any sort of military involvement by the West, we also acknowledge that Russia needs to face some sort of punishment for the flagrant and illegal actions taking place within the sovereign borders of Ukraine. Putin is an old-school cold warrior. He’s not simply trying to regain the ethnic Russian regions of Ukraine. He’s on a mission to rebuild the Soviet Union under the guise of protecting ethnic Russians. He knows full well that the West doesn’t intend on intervening militarily. The only recourse we have at our disposal of economic sanctions. The Obama administration appears to be signaling that tougher penalties are on the way, but as of yet, the sanctions have been half-measures, not providing enough incentive for Putin to change course. Putin appeared recently on Russian state television looking calm and controlled in an exhaustive four-hour question-and-answer show. He seems to be signaling his new, or rather old, vision for Russia, referring to the southeastern
Ukraine as Novorossiya, which literally means New Russia. This troubling new revelation into the mind of the former KGB Lt. Colonel has sent many scrambling in hopes of figuring out his game plan. For us, his plan appears simple and straightforward: he’s attempting to regain the Russian empire. Dating back to the time of the Ottoman Empire, Novorossiya has generally referred to the area from the border of Moldova in the west to the Dnipropetrovsk industrial region to the north. Is this a rare glimpse into the seldom-traversed mind of a mad man? Or is Putin simply testing the political waters, seeing if the West is prepared to block his intentions? Since the West is uninterested in war with Russia, whatever sanctions that are put in place need to be tough enough to dissuade Putin from any further ambitions he has for territorial gains. The one thing we do not want is for the Obama administration to draw any more proverbial lines in the sand that it is not willing to back up with action. Putin will call our bluff because he knows it’s a bluff. One leader is playing chess, while the other is playing checkers. Let’s just hope Obama is on top of his game.
I distinctly remember my best friend’s 7th birthday party. She had invited Caitlin 10 other kids Piper from our firstgrade class for an afternoon filled with colorful balloons, sugary treats and a veritable truckload of torn wrapping paper. More than anything else, my friend wanted a bike — a bright green one — to ride around the neighborhood after school. But the party came and went, and there was no bike in sight. It was only after the cake had been devoured, the last of the wrapping paper shoveled away and every guest had returned home, when her parents wheeled her new bicycle into the living room. My friend came to me the next day in class, looking rather peeved. She told me that her parents wouldn’t let her ride the bike around me. Considering we were practically glued at the hip, she might as well have never gotten a bike at all. According to her parents, it would be wrong for her to ride the bike around me because I could never ride one on my own. This was also why they kept the bike hidden in the garage throughout the party. They were afraid the mere sight of it would send me into tears. I have had cerebral palsy all my life. Though I’ve come a long way physically since childhood, friends and strangers alike still act like the mere acknowledgement of my disability would destroy me. I find this troubling. Though I know their hearts are in the right place, the implication that I am this fragile creature unwilling to accept the reality of my situation or acknowledge my own shortcomings does not sit well with me. And though I do not pretend to represent the disabled community at large, I know I am not the only one who has experienced this. By no means am I saying that living life with a disability is without its struggles. I get tired easily and am usually self-conscious about my gait, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to just take my chances and toss myself down a staircase if it meant less time would be spent searching for an elevator everywhere I went. But such behavior happens to have the exact opposite effect as intended. By painting disabled people in a light where they cannot recognize their weaknesses or flip out at the mere mention of the words “disabled” or “handicapped,” many well-meaning people are being unintentionally ableist. These bids for sensitivity are infantilizing an entire group of people who are still capable of living independent and productive lives and forcing other able-bodied people to define those in the disabled community by their own handicaps. Discrimination against the disabled is still a genuine problem, but this is not the way to go. If you are fighting for tolerance without listening to the very demographic you claim to represent, you are contributing to the issue.
OPINION
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The Et Cetera
www.eastfieldnews.com
New outlook on community colleges After leaving St. Edward’s University, a small, private liberal arts college in Austin, I was skeptical about moving back to Dallas and transferring to a community college. Not sure of my decision to move back home, I visited several Dallas community colleges. Tuition at St. Edward’s was very expensive, and my parents had paid for my tuition my first year. However, I could not imagine how they would manage to pay for three more years, so I decided to come back to Dallas. I graduated from a prestigious all-girl high school in Dallas. My classmates were all attending prestigious universities, like Yale and Stanford, so I just felt ashamed for transferring to a community college. After visiting Richland, Cedar Valley, Mountain View and Eastfield, I decided I would make Eastfield my new college. Although I liked it best out of all the Dallas community colleges, I still had some negative preconceptions about community colleges. I believed I would not be challenged as I had been in my previous schools, and assumed student involvement would not be as high. During my first week of classes, I heard about the club fair. I attended the fair and a guy in my speech class called me from the Bible Study group table. I decided to join. I later met other people through him, people I am still friends with and attend church today.
Genesis Castillo
Those friendships have brought me closer in my relationship with God. And because of that, I believe that transferring was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Now, two years later, I am a Sunday school teacher at my new church. That first year, I felt like a failure because I had always envisioned myself attending a four-year university after graduation. I never expected to be enrolling at a community college, especially after I had been accepted into a number of colleges my senior year. “So much work for nothing!” I thought. Eastfield surprised me, though. The classes were small, just like they had been at my previous four-year university. And the professors really cared about my success. There weren’t any teacher assistants. Instead, teachers took the time to help students one-on-one with assignments. The student involvement center really made me feel welcomed. Now, as I walk around campus, I see familiar people who greet me by name. Even the guy at Subway, whom I took an English
class with, is friendly. The writing center is full of tutors who are more than willing to help, even with my transfer essays. Moreover, tuition at Eastfield is among the cheapest in the nation. The affordable education gives hope to students pursuing a career. There are even programs in place to help students make the transition to a four-year university, such as Phi Theta Kappa. Professors are also more than willing to write letters of recommendation for students. Deciding what I want to study for my degree was a challenge. At Eastfield, I’ve been able to discover my strengths and weaknesses and what I love and don’t like so much through the classes I’ve taken. I would strongly recommend Eastfield to students who are working on their basic core requirements. Students can save a considerable amount of money by starting at a community college. Classes here can really help students grow before they transfer to a four-year institution. Many people seem to be skeptical about community colleges and even look down on them. I used to be one of them. However, I have grown so much here at Eastfield. Our campus is a very special community college because of its staff and students. I used to be ashamed to wear anything with the Eastfield name on it, but I have come to love the school. Now I wear the name with pride.
We should embrace open online courses Massive Open Online Courses are a good thing. While there are people who believe they are a waste of time and resources, widely available education will always be a positive thing. MOOCs are one of the newest trends among universities. Universities will post entire classes worth of information and material online so that anyone can access it. Those enrolled in the courses are privy to almost all the same information as the tuition-paying students. There are those who argue that because MOOCs are free, there is no incentive to keep up with the class. Students do not face any sort of penalty for failing or not finishing the class. But if you look at current college retention rates, you can see that there are already plenty of students already who don’t care about their classes. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 59 percent of those who begin pursuing a bachelor’s degree will complete it. The rate of students at community college and other two-year institutions who finish their associate’s degree is even lower, languishing at a de-
Morgan Corley
pressing 31 percent. Students who fail to complete their degrees every year are wasting more than their own time. They are wasting money. It doesn’t matter if it is their own money, their parents’ money, financial aid, or grants and scholarships. If you fail to complete your degree, you are wasting someone’s money. While the completion rate for MOOCs is still quite low — around 5 percent, according a study released by MIT and Harvard in January — they don’t come with the financial burden that traditional classroom education does. According to the same study, from fall 2012 through
summer 2013, more than 43,000 participants earned certificates of completion. None of these people had to pay a dime for their education. They just had to have the drive to follow through. MOOCs are also beneficial because they allow students to complete their courses in as little time as they want. Some students have the focus and stamina to finish their MOOCs faster than the time allotted. Thanks to the flexible structure of MOOCs, they are able to do so and still receive their certificate of completion. Because MOOCs are only available online, anyone with access to the Internet can participate. If you can go online, you can learn. More institutions should support MOOCs. It is time for them to become more widely accepted as an affordable alternative to a traditional brick-and-mortar education. Why not encourage the widespread availability of knowledge? Society advances the most when those with the drive for education can pursue their passions. These are the people who change the world.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Gereneicia Foster
Could the blood moon signify that end is near? As I stayed up for the turning of the moon last week, I must admit that I didn’t know what to expect. Honestly, I have never heard of a blood moon before April 14, and the term sent a chill down my spine. I kept seeing pictures of a huge crimson moon on every news outlet and social media platform. I was excited that I would be able to experience something so beautiful, but I was also terrified at the same time. I can recall growing up in the church and hearing the elders say that we are in the last days and that God would show us signs that the end has come. I didn’t understand what that meant then. I just knew that the world, as we knew it, would change. So as I stared at the darkening moon, I couldn’t help but wonder, was this some apocalyptic turning point? Was the world destined for wars and famine like none that we have ever experienced before? Could this moon be the beginning of the end? As I scrolled down my Facebook news feed, I saw that many of my friends shared similar fears while others just believed it to be another lunar marvel. One post that resonated with me quoted scriptures that mentioned the turning of the moon. So I researched the scriptures for myself. The books of Joel 2:31 and Acts 2:20 have similar warnings: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and terrible day of the Lord come.” These scriptures struck fear within me. I became so frightened that I no longer wanted to look out my window. I sat awestruck that something that I see often could be the source of such apprehension. But science has another explanation for the turning of the moon. According to earthsky.org, the blood moon is a part of the lunar tetrad. A tetrad is four successive total lunar eclipses, with no partial lunar eclipses in between, each of which is separated from the other by six lunar months (six full moons). The moon appears “bloody” because the earth lies directly between the sun and the moon, which causes the earth’s shadow to appear on the moon. As sunlight passes through our atmosphere, the light is refracted and sends a red tinted light onto the moon. I understand that this isn’t the first blood moon that we will see this year nor is it the first that has been seen. But I feel like maybe this time is different. What if it is a warning or a sign from the heavens? Maybe the apocalypse is upon us. The only thing we can do is wait and watch for what the future may bring. It doesn’t matter how people try to explain it, whether they say it’s an act of God, or some fancy scientific term like lunar tetrad. I stand amazed and terrified at the power of God and at the majesty of our moon.
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LIFE & ARTS
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
‘The Witch and the Hundred Knight’ lacks magic Gamer Z ne
By CAITLIN PIPER etc4640@dcccd.edu
I really wanted to enjoy “The Witch and the Hundred Knight.” It has many of the elements fans have come to expect from games developed by Nippon Ichi Software: colorful, handpainted visuals, lush fantasy locales and a wide variety of weapons and attacks for players to acquire at their leisure. However, it seems the transition from the developer’s popular strategy RPG gameplay format to the far more derivative hack ’n slash experience present in “The Witch and the Hundred Knight” has brought its own slew of problems. Featuring repetitive gameplay, absurdly long cutscenes and one of the most unlikeable protagonists I’ve seen in recent memory, only the most hardcore fans of Nippon Ichi’s work will draw any enjoyment from this dull and oftentimes downright unpleasant disappointment. “The Witch and the Hundred Knight” begins with the introduction of the titular duo: the abrasive and foul-mouthed witch Metallia and her adorable familiar, the Hundred Knight. After Metallia is freed from a years-long imprisonment in her own swamp, she summons the Knight to enact vengeance on the world. The two present an interesting dichotomy over the course of the game. The contrast between the Hundred Knight’s squat and inno-
cent appearance and Metallia’s deplorable acts of violence provides a bizarre juxtaposition with the game’s cutesy visuals. To get an idea of the jarring experience I am talking about, I will relay an early scene that almost caused me to drop the game completely. After defeating one of her foes and beating her within an inch of her life, Metallia transforms the woman into a mouse and commands a wave of male mice to chase after her, leaving the strong implication that they will sexually assault her. This scene is one of many that left a bitter taste in my mouth, and Metallia is not the only character to put such vile behavior on display over the course of the game. Playing as the villain can be fun sometimes, but none of Metallia’s actions carry the unique sort of strange humor we’ve come to expect from Nippon Ichi’s villains. Humorless and cruel, much of her dialogue makes her sound like an awkward pre-teen who has just discov-
The game just seems to be trying way too hard to be edgy and mature. An attempt to redeem Metallia’s character is made late in the game, but it is far too little, far too late.
ered curse words. Carrying out her demands as the Hundred Knight left me feeling rather uncomfortable, as many of these actions, like Metallia’s cursing, seemed to be inserted into the game’s narrative solely for shock value. The game just seems to be trying way too hard to be edgy and mature. An attempt to redeem Metallia’s character is made late in the
game, but it is far too little, far too late. This is not helped by a number of intrusive cutscenes that could have relayed the same amount of information in half the time. Gameplay is a bizarre hybrid of isometric combat reminiscent of the “Diablo” series and a more traditional menu-scrolling RPG. Players can combine hundreds of weapons to form special attacks, allowing for some variety, but what little fun that can be found in this system is weighed down considerably by the GigaCal meter. The GigaCal meter sounds all right on paper. It puts a limit on the amount of time the Hundred Knight can spend in combat, and while this can theoretically add an element of strategy to gameplay, it ultimately becomes an arbitrary source of frustration for players. Combine this with the aforementioned absurd length of many of the cutscenes, and you have some of the worst pacing problems I’ve ever seen in a game. “The Witch and the Hundred Knight” isn’t horrible. It looks nice, has several utterly insane, but ultimately memorable scenes, and some players might find the combat enjoyable. It will have fans. But it just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get past the unlikeable protagonist and tiresome combat. It’s sad, really, because this could have been a fantastic game with some minor adjustments.
Sports
The Et Cetera
April 25 April 26 April 28 May 2 May 3
Baseball vs North Lake Baseball vs North Lake (DH) Baseball vs North Central Baseball vs Mountain View Baseball vs Mountain View (DH)
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2 p.m. Noon 3 p.m. 2 p.m. Noon
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‘Not one ... not two ...’ – LeBron James, 2010 Editor in Chief Kevin Cushingberry Jr. takes a look at the first-round NBA playoff matchups and LeBron James’ quest to fulfill his promise to win multiple titles for the Miami Heat. As the playoffs continue, look for updates/reactions on each series as well as our postseason awards on eastfieldnews.com.
Western Conference
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (62-20) vs. No. 8 Dallas Mavericks (49-33)
No matter how much Mavericks fans believe in Dirk Nowitzki (deservingly) and minniemite guard Monta Ellis, they have little to no chance of beating their Southwest Division rival, the No. 1-seeded Spurs in a seven-game series. These teams share five of the last 15 NBA titles and are led by future Hall of Fame power forwards Tim Duncan and Nowitzki. But the difference is the Spurs have four titles to the Mavs’ one, and although he coached Dallas to its only championship, Rick Carlisle isn’t exactly Gregg Popovich. Prediction: Spurs win in 5 No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23) vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies (50-32)
Last spring, the Grizzlies pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history with a 4-0 sweep of Kevin Durant and the Russell Westbrook-less Thunder. Westbrook missed 37 games this season after suffering a torn meniscus against the Rockets in the first round of last year’s playoffs, and Grizzlies all-star center Marc Gasol also was sidelined 24 games with a knee injury. I expect Durant and Westbrook’s motivation to land them in the conference finals,
fighting for a 2012 rematch against the Heat. Prediction: Thunder in 6 No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (57-25) vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors (51-31)
Eastern Conference No. 1. Indiana Pacers (56-26) vs. No. 8. Atlanta Hawks (38-44)
On April 9, the Hawks took a 29-point win over the No. 1-seeded Pacers. No one outside of the city of Atlanta thinks the Hawks can dominate the Pacers in a seven-game series, but on that night you could have talked me onto the Hawks bandwagon. The story here is about the Pacers’ struggles to finish the end of the season. Every once in a while, when Paul George calls an iso-play, you’ll catch one of his teammates looking at him like “what the hell are you doing?” This is followed by a turnover or a missed No. 4. Houston Rockets (54-28)) vs. off-balance 19-foot fadeaway. The Pacers might No. 5. Portland Trail Blazers (54-28) get it together to win this series, but they won’t This matchup is going to be run and gun. The beat Miami in the conference finals. Rockets are led by sharpshooter James Harden, Prediction: Pacers win in 6 who scores 25 points per game. At the end of the day, Harden is the best player on the court No. 2. Miami Heat (54-28) vs. for either team, and his teammate, Dwight No. 7. Charlotte Bobcats (43-39) Howard, is the best big man in the league when Talk of Durant breaking LeBron James’ he wants to be. The Blazers’ all-star duo of Da- MVP streak will likely light a fire under mian Lillard and Lamarcus Aldridge are among James, whose Heat are the two-time defendthe best in the league, but they’ll be inferior in ing NBA champions. Dwyane Wade started this tag-team showdown. just 52 games, his lowest number since the Prediction: Rockets win in 7 2007-08 season. Despite Wade’s injuries, Western Conference champion prediction: the Heat should advance past the Bobcats. Spurs win in 7 games over the Thunder Prediction: Heat win in 4 All-star point guards Chris Paul (Clippers) and Stephen Curry (Warriors), who both were among the league leaders in assists this season, will go head to head in Curry’s second career playoff series. Curry takes on more of a scoring role for his team, while Paul is focused on creating and getting the ball in his teammates’ hands. Supporting casts will play a big part in this matchup of stellar point guards. Prediction: Clippers win in 7
No. 3. Toronto Raptors (48-34) vs. No. 6. Brooklyn Nets (44-38)
The Nets sat their starters on the final day of the season, avoiding the Chicago Bulls (who beat them in the first round of last year’s playoffs) in favor of a matchup with the Atlantic Division champion Raptors. Trading away Rudy Gay helped open things up for the Raptors on the offensive end, and the Nets’ acquisitions of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett brought a veteran leadership presence to the Brooklyn locker room. Prediction: Nets win in 6 No. 4. Chicago Bulls (48-34) vs. No. 5. Washington Wizards (44-38)
I’m not sure if Noah’s ark in the Bible had bulls on it, but Joakim Noah has definitely carried the Chicago Bulls through the storm this season. When Derrick Rose went down with yet another knee injury and all-star forward Luol Deng was traded mid-season, Noah never wavered (and got my vote for defensive player of the year). Despite Noah’s galiant effort, the Wizards just have too much offensive firepower, even though Noah doesn’t think so. Prediction: Wizards win in 7 Eastern Conference and NBA champion pick: The Heat beat the Pacers in 5 games in the conference finals and edged the Spurs in 7 in the Finals.
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SPORTS
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
www.eastfieldnews.com
The Et Cetera
Final Four experience was an amazing feeling I could hardly sleep the night before. I tweeted out my excitement, writing “Big day tomorrow,” but little did I know just how big the day would be. I woke up bright and early. Well, really, it was just 6 a.m. April 4 but that’s about six hours earlier than my ideal wake-up time. I had to be at AT&T Stadium, affectionately dubbed “The Jerry Dome,” by 8:30 to pick up my all-day media pass. That would give me full access to each of the Final Four practices, news conferences and the Reese’s All-Star Game. I made it through security and soon was introduced to Malcolm Moran, the director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University and organizer of the United States Basketball Writers Association’s 2014 Full Court Press Sportswriting Seminar. I gave Moran a hometown Dallas welcome, and he thanked me for my southern hospitality. Before I knew it, students from all over the country were piling into the conference room in the press box. I made time to take a photo of the court below. It was a mind-blowing moment. ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports and Jim O’Connell of the Associated Press spoke at the seminar, which lasted about an hour. All were in Arlington to cover the Final Four, and they talked about their experiences covering sports professionally. O’Neil, a woman in a male-dominated industry, talked about the tough skin it takes to be a female journalist, or any journalist for that matter. Forde, a former columnist for the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., and now a featured ESPN columnist, talked about how sports writers can’t worry about people hating or loving them because they’re not always going to say the popular thing. O’Connell, who became the national college basketball writer for the Associated Press in 1987, talked about how practice makes perfect. He encouraged journalists to write as many stories as possible and compare them to professionals. He also talked about how the media has changed since he covered his first Final Four in 1987.
Kevin Cushingberry Jr.
Following the seminar, the USBWA Oscar Robertson Player of the Year award was presented to Creighton’s Doug McDermott. I sat alongside journalists from national media outlets at the press conference and asked questions just like they did. Afterward, I met Oscar Robertson. For me, a kid who grew up enthralled with sports and learning about the all-time greats, meeting Robertson was like meeting a former U.S. president. I kept thinking, “Wow, this is the only player ever to average a triple-double.” He is arguably the greatest point guard ever. Later, the moderator told us that University of Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie and his players would be available for comment. Ollie’s demeanor was amazing. He talked about how each member of his coaching staff was a former UConn player, and how UConn stood for something. I’d want to play for him, I thought to myself. After the press conference, I followed the other journalists to the court. I showed security my badge and was able to walk right onto the court with my camera and laptop. It was an amazing feeling being in the middle of the stadium where the Cowboys play, and being under that video board hoping it didn’t drop. As I was taking pictures of UConn’s Shabazz Napier, rubbing elbows with photographers from publications ranging from the Orlando Sentinel to Sports Illustrated, I looked to my right and saw former NBA stars Grant Hill, Steve Kerr and Greg Anthony talking to former Huskies coach Jim Calhoun. It was a crazy scene.
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KEVIN CUSHINGBERRY JR./THE ET CETERA
Guard Ryan Boatright and his Connecticut teammates work out during a Final Four practice at AT&T Stadium. The Huskies won the 2014 NCAA Championship on April 7.
I had been a Kentucky fan since John Calipari left Memphis to coach the Wildcats in 2009. Getting to interview Calipari and the Fab Five 2.0 was a great experience. As I sat in that press room alongside reporters from ESPN, CBS and MSN interviewing the top college athletes, I felt a sense of belonging.
Although I’m the editor of a community college newspaper, and my writing has been published for a couple years, I never had confirmation that this whole journalism thing was for me. I got that from covering this Final Four. I walked away knowing I’ll be writing about college basketball for years to come.
Wrapup The Et Cetera
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Short Thoughts BY ALEX HERNANDEZ
Trivia Bits
1. What father of his country had no children by his wife, but some say he had a son named West Ford by a slave named Venus? A) Simon Bolivar B) Ho Chi Minh C) John A. Macdonald D) George Washington 2. Sylvia Trench appeared as what character’s girlfriend in two movies? A) James Bond B) Sherlock Holmes C) Indiana Jones D) Superman
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3. What Battling Bard of Potidaea really seemed like she was the life partner of Xena, Princess Warrior? A) Danielle B) Gabrielle C) Mirabelle D) Murielle 4. What reggae-flavored song was also Blondie’s last No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart? A) “Atomic” B) “Call Me” C) “Rapture” D) “The Tide is High”
Sudoku
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
1. George Washington 2. James Bond had a London girlfriend 3.Gabrielle and Xena were really, really close friends. 4. “The Tide is High” was Blondie’s last No. 1.
Trivia Answers
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The Et Cetera
Wednesday, April 23, 2014