Eastfield Et Cetera October 9, 2019

Eastfield College

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Volume 51, Issue 4

etera

Photojournalism professor captures human moments in conflict Eastfield College

Wednesday, August 26, 2019

See page 8 Volume 51, Issue 2

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Day of Action empowers survivors of sexual assault

through this.”

Students stopped first at the station of Brighter Tomorrows, an agency that provides shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. There they were given information on how to recognize unhealthy relationships.

Erin Kincaid, senior director of education and prevention at Brighter Tomorrows, talked

about the need for open conversation about sexual assault.

“There’s a lot of guilt and shame around that for the victim,” Kincaid said. “It’s not her guilt and shame to carry. It’s the perpetrator’s. By having events that normalize the discussion, then we are allowing victims to come forward more freely and to know what resources there are.”

Students learned about resources to help abuse survivors at the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center station. At the Title IX table, Associate Vice President Rachel Wolf distributed pamphlets on how to report abuse.

At the next set of tables, Schlarb and a group of student volunteers explained how to contact state legislators about issues such as combating sexual violence.

“The cool thing about Day of Action: it’s built to educate our students on a social issue and then give them an action to do around that issue,” Schlarb said.

Texas Rep. Victoria Neave (D-Dallas) told students about a bill she had written to help rape victims get their evidence examined within a certain time frame. The bill, called the Lavinia Masters Act, was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 4. It aims to reduce the backlog of unprocessed rape kits in the state.

“In Texas, we know there is an issue on some of our college campuses with increasing numbers of rapes,” Neave said. “We just need to understand what consent means. That no means no.”

Neave said college students can make a difference by reporting rapes, contacting their legislators and attending events like the Day of Action.

Pickens said she hoped the Day of Action would help students.

“We’re a family here at Eastfield,” Pickens said. “And I want to make sure that my family has the resources that they need to heal.”

materials right away,” he said. “This was a difficult decision that the chancellor and the board had to make. And anytime you make a decision of this magnitude, there will be winners and losers.”

John Robertson, chief financial officer for DCCCD, estimates the deal will save students in the district about $27 million. He said the number was found by multiplying $20 by the annual credit hours for the whole district, but noted that the actual number of savings won’t be known until the district has been in the program for a year. He said he expects it to be closer to $17-20 million.

One of the issues brought up in the spring was that students in art classes do not buy books, but instead have to purchase other materials not supplied by Follett. Robertson said the $20 increase will include all learning materials, not just textbooks.

Other issues raised in the spring included programs such as automotive technology. Students in that program purchase one textbook for the entire two years. By increasing the tuition, these students would end up paying about $340 more than their textbook is worth.

According to the bookstore the automotive book package is one of the most expensive items at around $385.

“We will work out those few programs which have special cases,” Robertson said in an email.

“We are not going to be unfair to students.”

Science classes also typically pay a hefty price for their textbooks. Biology professor Pebble Barbero said for her class they use an e-book that costs about $95.

Automotive instructor William Milam said that while his students may be paying more for classes than their textbooks are worth, he’s still supportive of the initiative as a whole.

“A lot of our students are young and don’t have a lot of money, and it’s not like they got rich parents forking out everything,” he said.

“Not having to buy a $180 book is a good thing.”

There have been other problems besides affordability, such as the fact that not all students have access to the technology or internet to use digital access codes from home.

Robertson said the district is working on options to get students digital readers, but said “off-campus wifi access will be a student issue.”

Peace Komuhimbo, a nursing major, was in the library printing out class materials, when she heard that the increase had passed. She said reading off of a screen doesn’t allow her to retain the information, and that she finds it difficult to stay focused.

“I’m glad this is my last year,” she said. “I

hate e-books. I’d rather have the whole textbook. Some people like e-books, but that’s not my kind of thing.”

As someone who pays out of pocket for her classes, she said this increase would hit her pocketbook hard because either way she would still be buying or renting an actual print textbook.

Monica Ratana, a communications major, also pays out of pocket for her classes but said she thinks the initiative could help make classes cheaper overall and that she already uses ebooks for her classes.

“I think it’s a good idea because it will help us financially,” she said. “Since I’m paying out of pocket, I think it could be a big help.”

Isaac Faz, the chief legislative counsel for the district, said that even though the plan has passed, that doesn’t mean that the conversation is closed. Faculty, students and staff can still bring their issues to the board.

“If there are other issues, we want to be able to address that,” he said. “The conversation with students is important.

“For them to keep coming to board meetings or talk with their administration and say, ‘This is still an issue.’ That gives us, the college district, an opportunity to figure out those issues and how we can best help.”

By HARRIET RAMOS Staff Writer @TheEtCetera

Sabrena Wynn didn’t feel safe with her boyfriend. When she wanted to go somewhere, he insisted on driving so he could control where they went. He hit her.

He asked her for money, even when he knew she was struggling financially. Wynn finally ended the relationship.

“I didn’t do it by myself, though,” she said.

Wynn, an Eastfield student, got help because she reached out to her friends. But not all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault know where to go for help. And not everyone knows how to help friends or family members who may be in abusive situations.

Chris Schlarb, service learning coordinator, and Courtney Pickens, program coordinator for the Bee Aware team, aimed to address these issues with the Oct. 2 event “Day of Action: Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence.” It was designed as a hands-on experience for students to learn about the problem of abuse and discover concrete ways to combat it. There were five stations set up in the Hive with different groups at each one.

“The purpose for this event is to empower advocacy,” Pickens said. “We want you to look at it as this is something that I have to do. This is something that I have to learn more about so that I can be well informed, and I can be an advocate for someone else who may be going

SIRGIO RUVALCABA/THE ET CETERA

Associate Vice President Rachel Wolf talks with students about services offered by the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center.

Fall 2020 tuition increase covers cost of books and supplies

By SKYE SEIPP Editor In Chief @seippetc

Tuition will increase in fall 2020 after the Dallas County Community College District Board of Trustees approved an agreement with the Follett bookstore on Oct. 1 to include textbooks with the overall price of classes.

The increase will be $20 per credit hour for Dallas County residents. Out-of-district students will have to pay an extra $24, and outof-state/country students will pay an extra $26.

Students will be given a code to access an electronic version of the textbook on the first day of class, unless that class uses a book without a digital code, in which case they will get a print copy of the book.

This proposal was first brought up last fall but was tabled in the spring amid concerns from students, faculty and staff about which materials would be covered under the new deal.

History professor Matt Hinckley said he wasn’t surprised the board passed the plan and that he’s able to see both the good and bad qualities.

“It’s about the best idea we can do to address, in a systemic way, the fact that many students don’t have access to textbooks or other course

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Paying for higher education explained at college fair

By SKYE SEIPP Editor in Chief @seippetc Crystal Zamora, a sophomore at Colony High School got the call from her sister at around 10 a.m. on Sept. 28 telling her there was a college fair in Mesquite and she should try to go.

Zamora, along with her mom and sisters, fought past traffic and made it with 30 minutes left in state Rep. Victoria Neave’s third “How to Pay for College” fair in S101, co-hosted by Dallas County Community College District Trustee Monica Lira Bravo.

“In my area there are several fairs … every year,” Zamora said. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to make it out to those because they are always on a Monday or Thursday and my parents work and I can’t get a ride.”

Zamora plans to become a medical assistant and is currently a dual credit student, on top of being an athletic trainer for her high school. She said the event was informative and allowed her to ask questions about the college application process, and to spend time talking about her goals with Neave.

She wasn’t alone in seeking this knowledge. Around 375 people crowded into S101 to hear two guest speakers discuss the different routes available to help pay for higher education.. Attendees also had the opportunity to talk with representatives of different universities and to ask the speakers questions.

Neave said she wanted students and families to better understand the college application process, especially those of first-generation college stu-

SKYE SEIPP/THE ET CETERA

State Rep. Victoria Neave helps set up for the college fair in S101. dents like herself.

“We wanted to break down those barriers and provide a forum for our community and families to be able to come and get their answers to questions and even learn the difference between what a grant, scholarship and loan is,” she said.

During this past legislative cycle, Neave supported bills to help make college more accessible. House Bill 535 requires all students to apply for

FAFSA before graduating high school, which she said would help Texans not waste the almost $300 million in federal financial aid that students fail to take advantage of. The state is ranked 27th in the nation for the percentage of people who complete FAFSA, with 60.5 percent of graduating students filling out the application.

Applying for FAFSA isn’t an option for undocumented students, because it requires that the person be a

U.S. citizen. But workshops like this one let these students know that they have options like the Texas Application for Free Financial Aid, where the only requirement is that the applicant be a Texas resident. Neave recently made it easier for those students to apply for TAFSA by authoring HB 2140, which allows for online applications.

“We just want to make sure that the number of students who go to college or trade school increases in our community,” she said. “We know that going to college can transform a family’s trajectory and help them move out of poverty and into the middle class, just by earning that college degree.”

The two speakers were Daniel Rodriguez, a coordinator for the G-Force program at Texas Woman’s University, and Phillip Fabinn, the manager of college readiness and success for Dallas County Promise.

Rodriguez, a first-generation college graduate from Pleasant Grove who attended Eastfield, explained the difference among FAFSA, TAFSA, scholarships, loans and grants. He also gave information about deadlines and opening dates for the applications.

He said when he applied for college, he had no idea what to do and neither did his family. One of his teachers from Skyline High School filled out his FAFSA application.

“I’m very grateful to give back to students and parents and to educate them,” he said. “It could be a scary process.”

Attending the event were sisters Maria Olivas and Erika Mueck, who both transferred from Eastfield to the University of North Texas at Dallas.

They came to the event to support their other sister, Jeniffer Olivas, a junior at Mesquite High School who wants to major in music.

With Maria and Erika both being DACA recipients and their sister being a U.S. citizen, the event helped clear up some troubles they were having with what types of financial aid would be available for Jennifer.

“Being undocumented, there’s a lot of stuff that we’re excluded from when it comes to help,” Maria said. “We want to show her [Jeniffer] that there is a lot of help, that she doesn’t have to settle for the bare minimum. And there are ways for her to get to the top and not have to struggle to do so.”

Eastfield President Eddie Tealer said the college will look at hosting the next event in a different room to better accommodate the crowd, which filled room S101 to the point where people were standing along the back and side walls. He noted that whether students decide to enroll at Eastfield or not, they are serving the community by being a resource for families to learn more about the college application process.

Deysi Herrera, mother to Zamora, said she was glad they rushed to the event so her daughter could gain more insight, even though she doesn’t speak English herself.

“With more support you can lift your child higher to succeed,” she said through a translator. “In the same way I dropped what I was doing to bring my daughter, I wish other parents would drop what they are doing to bring their children to events like these.”

—Jessica Ramirez contributed to this report

Parts of campus unaware of lockdown drill after alarm fails

By SKYE SEIPP Editor in Chief @seippetc

A failed intruder lockdown on Sept. 26 revealed problems with the alarm system in A, F, P, G, L and N buildings according to an email from police Commander Gabriel Galvez.

The drill took place around 10 a.m. and lasted 11 minutes. There was supposed to be another drill at 6 p.m., but it was cancelled. According to the email, the evening drill would be rescheduled at a later date.

Galvez, spokeswoman for the college, Sharon Cook and President Eddie Tealer all declined to comment for the story until they received reports from the police department and facilities. Cook said they hope to have them by this week.

English professor Ann Friederich was in the

middle of lecturing about the differences between the point-by-point and block method of a comparative analysis essay in room G224 on that day, when a police officer appeared in the open doorway.

“Didn’t you hear that we have a lockdown drill going on?” he asked the class.

Friederich said one student reported hearing a beep, but she was too focused on her lesson to hear the muffled noise.

The officer closed the door and Friederich said they turned off the lights and moved away from the windows. Then they waited for the announcement to say it was over.

“We heard one beep, and it came from the projector. I thought ‘OK, does that mean we’re in the clear?’ We didn’t know.”

Gizell Villa, an early college high school student, said she was sitting on the second floor of the G Building when the drill was taking place.

She had no clue there was a drill until someone came by and told her.

“If no one came we wouldn’t have known and would have stayed there,” she said. “I think they should get it fixed, but I guess that’s why they were doing a drill.”

Music professor Eddie Healy was teaching guitar in his classroom that he calls a “fishbowl,” due to the large windows that allow onlookers in the hall to see in.

His class also didn’t hear the alarm go off and they were informed by a police officer that they needed to still participate even though there was no alarm.

“When he opened the door we heard this cricket-like sound coming out of the speakers in the hallway,” Healy said. “Rather than a message or a clear indication like you get with fire drills. … It was just kind of this weird, fuzzy, crickety sound. But we couldn’t hear it in our

classroom.”

Healy said the speaker in his classroom has worked before, but that this wasn’t the first time there’s been problems with the system.

He said he couldn’t remember if the last time they had drill if the speaker in his room worked.

“I have faith that the school will do what it can to ensure this problem doesn’t persist,” he said. “We were fortunate this was a drill, because obviously this could have been really ugly. … My hope is that this is something that’s addressed right now.”

Friederich said she’s been involved with these drills when the alarm system worked properly and that it’s “overpowering.”

“If it had been a real situation, what about the safety of the students?” she said. “I may not be responsible for them, but I would feel responsible for them.”

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PHOTOS BY SKYE SEIPP/THE ET CETERA

Above, Kent Giles prepares his corny dog upon entering the fair grounds on opening day, Sept. 27. Far left, Helen Jaeckle kisses a male Jacob fourhorned sheep at the fair’s petting zoo. Left, Jose Vargas eats a corny dog in the Midway. Bottom, Carter Gentry prepares cotton candy on opening day.

There’s only a short amount of time left to spend your paycheck on deep-fried comfort and be watched by the all seeing cowboy. The State Fair of Texas ends Oct. 20.

The 2019 State Fair includes eclectic favorites like the Big Red Chicken Bread, which features a doughnut with Big Red soda frosting and a chicken wing on top.

This odd combination was the Big Tex winner in the sweets category.

Other attractions this year include the bird show, Soar, the Fiesta de Marionetas and, you won’t believe this, but a sculpture made entirely out of butter.

— Skye Seipp

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Finding stillness in chaos Part explorer, part documentarian, photojournalism professor Kael Alford shines light on rare stories

By SKYE SEIPP Editor in Chief @seippetc

ANTHONY LAZON/THE ET CETERA

Alford holds her son, Aven, at the reception of the “Dallas Is Home” exhibit at Dallas City Hall on Sept. 12.

A single bullet hit the front bumper of Kael Alford’s vehicle as she crossed the battle lines of Najaf, Iraq. She dropped to the floorboard.

She stayed there before being taken out of the car and forced to march with around 20 other journalists into the city overrun by Shi’a fighters and the stench of burning plastic.

“The journalists are here! The journalist are here!” they chanted in Arabic as she walked into the smoky desolate city.

On that day in 2004, American forces had planned to bomb the city, which would have destroyed the Immam Ali Mosque, considered the fourth-holiest site for Shi’a Muslims. Fellow photojournalist Thorne Anderson, now her husband, was also trapped in the city with a dead satellite phone.

“We wanted to tell the story from inside the shrine,” she said. “Within limits, because it was also an active battlefield.”

She talked her way into getting both the American forces and the Shi’a militia group to cease fire, allowing them to gain access for a press conference. But when the time came for her to cross the front lines, none of the other journalists were willing to go. A friend told her the only way to rally the other reporters was to get in the car and go.

“So I get in the first car and we go,” she said.

“Everybody’s like, ‘Oh shit, she’s really going.

We better get in there too.’”

Alford, a freelance photojournalist and adjunct photojournalism professor at Eastfield, has traveled the world to capture every angle of stories for more than 20 years now. From the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, to the effects of climate change on people in Louisiana, and her latest project titled “Dallas is Home,” which highlights different immigrants within North Texas, most of her work focuses on giving viewers a different angle than other media forms may be showing.

“I think it definitely helps to remind people of the common human experience when you’re trying to talk about the policies that affect people,” she said. “It’s when humanity gets removed from the policy that it gets easier to take a hardline and be exclusionary of others’ needs and vulnerabilities.”

On top of her photography she has received prestigious awards like the Nieman Fellows Scholarship from Harvard University and the Knight Luce Fellowship award from the University of Southern California. Her projects from Iraq and Louisiana were also published into a book.

She originally went to college to be a writer and earned her undergraduate degree in Eng-

lish literature and archaeology from Boston University. She never took photography seriously until going to graduate school at the University of Missouri for in the mid 90s.

“I had a 35mm film camera that I had gotten for graduation from high school from my father,” she said. “But it was something I thought of as how most people [do] … I took it with me on holidays and made pictures of my ordinary life. I didn’t think of it as a tool for information gathering.”

Attending the annual photo of the year contest changed her view on the possibilities that photography had to offer. She said hearing the judges discussions made her realize that photography could be a way for her to tell the stories she had originally wanted to express in words in a more visual way.

“I was interested in traveling, exploring and going to learn more about the world,” she said.

“I didn’t want to be stuck at a desk in a newsroom. So I found photography would be more likely to get me to that goal.”

She began living internationally in 1996 for her master’s thesis, photographing the culture of the Pomaks, a Serbic-Muslim ethnic group from the mountains of Bulgaria.

From 1992 to 1995, Bosnia — a country just to the west of Bulgaria and a former communist ally — was in a civil war that resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims and Croats by the Bosnian Serbs.

“The idea of civil war was something I wanted to understand better,” she said. “What would turn neighbors against each other? And since we come from a country that had a civil war, I think that compelled me.”

For the next seven years, she moved about Eastern Europe and parts of Eurasia, freelancing for various publications around the world.

That was until March of 2003 when the bombing campaign began in Iraq. She packed up and headed to the desert.

Under the watch of the Iraqi Ba’ath party, she was driven around daily to see the aftermath of American airstrikes.

“We didn’t know if they would use us as human shields or take us to some location that was going to be bombed to get some Western casualties,” she said. “Every time we got on one of their buses,[we thought] ‘Where were they going to take us? What was really going to happen?’ It was really unnerving.”

Once the ground forces invaded, it became a free-for-all. The Ba’ath party disappeared, and any former members of the government slipped out of sight.

She spent the next year documenting the results of the war. At the time the American government said there were no civilian casualties, See Alford, page 10 ➤

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Propositioning the people

10 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution On Nov. 5, Texans will have their say on a list of proposed changes to the state constitution.  Since the constitution took effect in 1876, voters have amended it a whopping 498 times out of 680 proposals.

Here’s a brief summary of the proposed amendments.

—Erik Krouskop

Arguments against the proposal are that any relief should be mandatory rather than determined by the local government, and it shouldn’t be left up to jurisdictions to decide who qualifies. Opponents also say that the potentially long and expensive reappraisal process would still be a problem.

Prop 1 (House Joint Resolution 72)

Proposition 4 has raised eyebrows not just for what it would do — permanently ban a state individual income tax — but for how it is written.

A “yes” vote bans future income taxes, while a “no” vote leaves things the way they are.

Some, including Wichita County Tax Assessor/ Collector Tommy Smyth, believe that wording is confusing.

Since 1993 state law already requires a public referendum to enact a state individual income tax, opponents say the ban is unnecessary. The 1993 law also requires that the revenue of any income tax go to education. Other opposition claims are that an income tax could reduce business tax burdens, and that Texas’ needs may change over time, making an income tax desirable in the future.

Supporters counter that the lack of individual income tax supports population growth, and ties in to Texas’ current low-tax, pro-growth stance. They also note that a University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tribune poll found that 71 percent of residents are opposed to an income tax.

This proposition would allow municipal judges — who handle small claims, misdemeanors and pretrial hearings — to hold multiple offices in different counties at the same time. Many smaller cities don’t have a municipal judge, and this would allow a judge from a larger neighboring community to act as judge for the smaller one. Opponents say these judges won’t understand the interests of the communities they serve because they do not live there.

Prop 2 (Senate Joint Resolution 79) This amendment would allow the state to issue bonds up to $200 million to fund the development of water supply and sewage projects in economically distressed areas. This would result in more reliable funding than using the state’s General Revenue Fund, which is up to legislative whim at every budget renewal.

To qualify for funds, the area must have a median income of less than 75 percent of the state’s median income, about $42,788 Opponents argue that states should avoid mandatory funds like this and use the general revenue fund, as it allows for funding flexibility when needed. Others contend that this is a local issue and should be handled at the local level, not by the state.

Prop 3 (HJR 34) Recovering from a disaster like flooding can take a toll on a community, and this proposition seeks to allow temporarily exempting some affected properties in stricken areas from property taxes. Depending on the amount of damage, the exemption could be from 15 to 100 percent.

Local governments in affected areas would determine whether to adopt the exemption and how long it would be in effect.

Prop 4 (HJR 38)

Prop 5 (SJR 24) Tax revenues on sporting goods like those for hunting and fishing are meant to support Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Historical Commission. This proposal would close a loophole that allows those funds to be shifted elsewhere to balance the state budget, leaving those agencies underfunded.

However opponents fear that it would limit budget flexibility with mandated expenditures.

Prop 6 (HJR 12) Funding for cancer research in Texas has two main sources: the federal government and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of

Texas (CPRIT). Current funding for CPRIT is set to run out in 2022, and Proposition 6 reauthorizes the Legislature to double the bond amount to $6 billion from the initial $3 billion to continue funding of the program.

Those opposing the change would rather develop a plan to make the institute self-sufficient for funding.

Prop 7 (HJR 151) This proposal deals primarily with the seedy underworld of state accounting and how funds get managed and moved around between dedicated accounting funds. It would increase the amount of money that the State Board of Education can disperse from the Permanent School Fund into the Available School Fund to be given to school districts.

The Permanent School Fund is land and other assets held by the state to generate interest and mineral royalties to help fund education in the state. That land is leased, sold and bought by the board, and money brought in goes into the fund. A percentage of that money is dispensed by the Board of Education into the Available School Fund to pay education expenses.

Opponents argue that with less money in the permanent fund, future disbursements could end up being smaller. Proponents counter that only interest and not principal is dispersed, and that the amendment would improve education funding while lowering the reliance on local property taxes.

of the plans and a proposal for paying off the loans.

Prop 9 (HJR 95) In 2018 Texas created a precious metals repository. To make it more competitive the Legislature is asking for authorization to exempt precious metal holdings from property taxes to encourage people to use the depository. The exemption would only apply to metals held within the state, bringing the laws more in line with other states that do not tax precious metal investments.

Some believe that the amendment is unnecessary because Texas counties rarely enforce the tax now. Supporters say that an official exemption would better the odds that the state repository can join COMEX, the top marketplace for commodity and precious metal exchange.

Prop 10 (SJR 32) Prop 10 allows for handlers to adopt law enforcement animals for free. Currently, the law does not distinguish between animals and other property of the government, so when an animal is to be retired the only options are auction, donation, or if no one is willing to pony up for them, death.

Proposition 10 clears the way for the animal to be homed permanently with the handler they have lived and bonded with during their service free of charge and ensure a nice, happy retirement for four-legged officers.

Prop 8 (HJR 4) Texas doesn’t have a fund set up to finance flood control projects, and Prop 8 seeks to change that by establishing the Flood Infrastructure Fund. The proposal would take $793 million out of the state’s Rainy Day Fund to set establish it. The fund would then make loans or sometimes grants to local governments to finance construction of drainage and flood mitigation and control projects.

Federal funding for these types of projects often requires matching expenditures at the local level, and this would allow the state to help those communities access those funds. The local governments could only qualify for state money after submitting a technical analysis

Early voting begins Oct. 21 Locate your precinct and polling place at

dallascountyvotes.org Early voting is held at Eastfield Pleasant Grove Campus 802 S. Buckner Blvd.

Dallas, TX 75217

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Q What is the main goal of Move Texas?

Texas is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, A Move grassroots organization. What we do is

try to get younger people involved when it comes to voting. We strive to give everyone an opportunity and a voice. (We recruit) anyone that’s not included, such as minorities or LGBTQ+ as part of the Move family, and then we can reach out and touch all those different demographics.

We’re nonpartisan, so we don’t tell people which political party to vote for or which candidate to side with.

Q How did you get started with Move?

Erica Elliott, the organizing manA Initially, ager, came to Eastfield. I had already been

interested in getting active with civic duties, so when she explained what Move was, I basically fell in love with it.

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Ingram moves toward better life

More than half of millennial voters went to the polls during the 2016 election, and the number of college students voting in midterms doubled from 2014 to 2018. Move Texas, a nonprofit organization whose main goal is to register young voters, hopes to see those numbers climb even higher in the 2020 election. Business administration major James Ingram has been an intern with Move Texas since August and has already helped the organization set records for registering voters. Ingram sat down with Hunter Garza of The Et Cetera to discuss his work with the organization and his own goals.

does a typical day look like for Q What you?

A

I’m a full-time student, so I go to school every day. Move has a lot of events every day because we are state-wide. There’s always something to do or something going on. Today, for example, I got out of class and drove directly to Richland College to work a table event for their student government to help register people to vote. Along with getting people to vote, we also make sure they know when the next election is in their counties. ... Usually, in between my classes, I’ll stop by some other classes to spread the word and get people to register.

A

schools you go to?

lack thereof?

A

That’s actually a perfect question. Not everyone knows, but they should, about the new law that was implemented this month that makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase tobacco products. When I was working a table event, someone came up to me and said, “Is it for real that you have to be 21 or older to buy tobacco now?” I said, “Yeah, that’s actually a law now.” Their response was, “Well, why didn’t anyone say anything about it?”

I replied, “We did. We tried to get people civically engaged and let people know what’s going on, but no one cared.” do you do aside from working with Q What Move and going to school?

A

I work in real estate under my mentor. We purchase properties together. I generally do quick flips, and sometimes my mentor decides to turn them into rental properties. Aside from this we do a lot of donation work.

For example, one property we purchased was a condemned church. We then donated it to a small church that could use it. I am also a home health aide.

ly I’ve been looking into other schools that are basically giving me better options. So, I’m hoping I can land a complete scholarship plus more grants so I won’t have to take on as heavy a workload and I can focus on school exclusively.

I’ve already helped open several businesses within the last three to four years. Some examples of what I’ve helped open are a trucking business, a salon and a neighborhood market.

I’ve also helped my brother run a few of his businesses, and I plan to be a business owner myself.

overcome them?

you think students at Eastfield Q Do are more or less receptive than other

are some issues that students may Q What not realize are affected by their voting or

Q What are your plans after Eastfield?

After Eastfield I plan on transferring. Initially plan was UT Austin because I had great A my scholarship opportunities. However, recent-

obstacles do you think Move faces Q What as an organization, and how can you Honestly, the biggest obstacle is the fact that younger people don’t think their vote matters and that’s always a bad thing.

When we have our table events, we always have a diverse group of people. Sometimes we try to talk to people and reach out, and they act like we’re not even there. At the end of the day, we’re still people and all we want to do is get people involved and give them a voice. ... We do a lot of different things to get people to register. However, we cannot incentivize anyone to vote, so we basically just try to get as young and diverse a group as possible.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

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A

Honestly, so far at Eastfield, it’s been a pretty good group. Teachers try to be active and engage students in stimulating conversation, which is always a plus. As students, if a teacher makes you do something, you’re not going to be as interested as if you went about it on your own. It’s always going to be tedious, but teachers help us out by informing students on topics that we may not have covered.

Q Who is your biggest influence? of my biggest influences would have A One to be my late father. Before he died, he was

a retired civilian military veteran. He was always an influential and guiding light for me.

He’s the one who gave me my relentless personality. Because of this, I will persevere through anything. I don’t care what the obstacle is. Everything I want in life, I’m going to achieve it, and that is because of him.

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LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

@TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

Hispanic He and a sudden However, wor with people fr As a Guatem I’ve been calle together with tired of this, I where I came While it’s no any nicer to d able middle sc from Guatema response I had “We are ind jor Jaqueline C that shape us, Even within tion of one’s b major Ana Nu My culture i Afro-Latina ea where I come everyone auto To attempt a of the word H customs throu parison betwe ent aspects of ern day.

Inti is the ancient Inca Sun god

Machu Picchu, Peru Elevation (7,970 ft) Traditional Inca attire

Maya Sun god Kinich Ahau

Inca warrior attire

El Castillo, also knows as the Temple of Kukulcan

Viracocha is the great creator diety in Inca mythology

M Traditional Maya attire

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LIFE&ARTS The Et Cetera

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eritage Month brings countless celebrations, festivals n acknowledgement of anything remotely “Hispanic.” rds like Hispanic or Latino have become synonymous rom Mexico to the exclusion of other cultures. malan, I don’t know if I could count how many times ed a Mexican. So many times I’ve been lumped a culture that isn’t all mine, and as someone who is just want to be recognized for the individual I am and from. ot always malicious, knowing that doesn’t make it deal with. I remember being a sensitive, impressionchooler trying to explain to my friend that I hailed ala. “Oh, that’s the same thing,” really wasn’t the d hoped for. dividuals with respective backgrounds,” business maChavez said. “We’re raised through unique traditions , and they should be recognized out of respect.” n the same Latino community, the immediate assumpbackground is almost second nature, graphic design unez noted. is from the Caribbean,” she said. “I’m profiled as asily, when I am so much more than that. I’m proud of from, but I never get the chance to express it when omatically assumes I’m part of their own culture.” and highlight cultural differences within the world Hispanic, I delve deeper into the very origins of these ugh ancient native empires. Here, you’ll find a comeen the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan empires and differf their cultures, most of which are reflected in mod—Lucero Guzman

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

The Aztec or Mexica Calendar was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico.

Pyramid of the sun in the city of Teotihuacan

Traditional Aztec attire

Aztec dancer attire

Quetzalcoatl, Aztec god of creation, intelligence and self-reflection

Maya priest attire Itzamna was considered the creator in Maya creation mythology

Graphics by: Jessica Martinez, Margaret Tamez, Lucero Guzman and Anthony Lazon

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COVER STORY

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

@TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

Alford documents human and environmental cost Continued from page 5 but her work showed otherwise. Pictures like the one she took of a young boy with his mother dying in a hospital bed were the “whole range of consequences,” as she called it, of the American policy.

“I just wanted to be sure people in the United States understood the human costs of the war and didn’t just hear the ideological agenda from the U.S. government of this fantasy narrative about what was going to happen and what it would be like,” she said. “I wanted people to see. I wanted to ground truth of that policy and say, ‘OK this is that policy. This is what the consequences are of that policy’” As a journalist, she said it felt like her job was to read between the lines and show the ramifications of the war on everyday people.

She hoped her work would shatter the realities that some Americans believed about the war.

After almost two years in the Iraqi desert showcasing the death, calamity and anarchy of the war, she decided to move back to the states.

But stepping on American soil didn’t alleviate her stress. Instead it made her feel like a “failure.”

“Doing that kind of work has a way of making you feel like that’s the most important thing in the world and nothing else matters,” she said.

“Because … this tragedy is playing out before your eyes, and I tended to feel like if I could only record it well enough … then surely people would see the fallacy of this course of action and at some point reconsider.”

Her feelings of inadequacy at leaving felt like that of a soldier wanting to be there for their squadron. But unlike a soldier wanting to protect their fellow troops from harm, she said her duty was to “wake up” the decency of humanity.

“I never felt like there are Iraqis or there are Americans and I’m one or the other,” she said.

“I just felt like a person in a set of circumstances that was bad for everybody. … It didn’t really matter that I was American … but I happened to have personal skin in the game because this was being done in the name of me and my government. So that made me extra motivated.”

She moved to New York City in 2004, but working as a freelancer overseas for her entire career meant she didn’t have any real connections with editors, and journalism doesn’t typically pay enough to afford housing in NYC. In search of a cheap place to live, she saw an ad for an apartment that offered low-rent in exchange for dog sitting while the tenant was out of town. Since she just left her dog in Amsterdam, she decided to call. Dionne Searcy, who is currently the West African Bureau Chief for the New York Times, answered the call. She was coincidentally packing for a trip to Iraq for the publication Newsday.

With a place to live now, Alford began wondering how she could show her work from Iraq to more people. She had the idea to bring in three other photojournalists, one being Anderson, her husband, to set up an exhibition and

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAEL ALFORD

A terrified child is carried across the street on Aug. 21, 2004 by his father at the outskirts of the old city of Najaf.

print a book titled “Unembedded.”

The book focused on the Iraq invasion from the lens of four freelancers. It allowed them to not only bring their work to a larger audience, but to explain what they saw while they were in the Middle East. The exhibition was installed in galleries and museums across the country, with the last installment being in 2013.

“I was so frustrated because I was one jour-

“Doing that kind of work has a way of making you feel like that’s the most important thing in the world and nothing else matters,” she said. nalist, and as one journalist, alone, you don’t make much of a dent in the overall narrative,” she said. “You don’t get a chance to really tell the story as you see it if you’re just taking assignments all the time. You’re just supplying photographs for somebody else’s story.”

Alford said most of the people who came out to the presentations were already opposed to the invasion, but others called her a “traitor.”

She noted one mother who brought her child to the exhibit. Worried that her photos of war and death would scar the child, what she heard instead was the child recognizing the realities faced by other children around the world.

In between her showcases, she began working on a new project in 2005 titled “Bottom

of da Boot,” which showed the crumbling environment of Isle de Jean Charles and Pointeaux-Chenes in Louisiana, whose communities trace their lineage to French settlers and Native Americans who escaped the Trail of Tears.

“It’s a climate change, fossil fuel, indigenous, colonial, post-colonial story,” she said. “It’s very much a case study of our time.”

With genealogy on her grandmother’s side traced to the area, she felt it was her mission to photograph the effects of disasters like Hurricane Katrina and climate change had on the region.

In April of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ruined the water in the area, spreading into places the locals had deemed sacred territory. Some of them being grave sites. And Alford was there to document the intoxicating wasteland that was created by the disaster.

“What they were left with is this ecologically degraded landscape that’s succumbing to climate change,” she said.

During the middle of her work in Louisiana, she was awarded a Nieman Scholarship at Harvard University from 2008-2009, which brings together journalists from all over the world to work and learn together at the prestigious institute. She also moved to Dallas around this time after her husband accepted a job at the University of North Texas.

As her “case study” was coming to a close, she returned to Iraq for a month to check in on the people she had left in 2004 and to see the landscape seven years later.

“Iraq was just a very different place,” she said. “There had been a civil war. Neighborhoods were segregated and divided between

different religious or ethnic groups. There were tons of internally displaced peoples across the country. … Overall the country had just been at war since I left. They never had a break.”

One widow of a Shi’a family that Alford knew from Baghdad was raising seven children alone. Her husband died in the Iran-Iraq war, and Alford said two of her sons were involved with resistance movements, whether they wanted to be or not.

At the time of her 2011 trip, one of the sons was hiding from militias looking to recruit him. The other disappeared while Alford was visiting, and she helped the mother search for him. They later found out he was imprisoned.

The rest of the children were still schoolaged, but with a hodgepodge government running the country, there wasn’t much support for the widow.

“The schools weren’t working well, and she didn’t have any pension from the government anymore,” Alford said. “They were just piecing together an existence.”

Back in Dallas, Alford began working at Southern Methodist University teaching art photography. In 2014 she had her daughter, Rosalie.

About three years ago she started teaching at Eastfield as an adjunct professor.

In that time she has had to adjust her life a little, but she continues to work on projects, such as one that she did for a magazine in Sweetwater, Texas on climate change.

In January she started her latest project, “Dallas is Home,” which debuted in the lobby of City Hall the week of Sept. 9. The project highlighted immigrants from around the world who live in North Texas. She said it began out of her

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PHOTO COURTESY OF KAEL ALFORD

Kirstin Guidry stands on the prow of her grandfather’s skiff on the lawn in July 2010 of their house on Isle Jean Charles.

desire to show a human aspect of the current hot-button political issue of immigration.

“I’m just hoping to create a space in our city where people hear from immigrants and migrants directly,” she said. “Rather than through the lens of a media narrative about what immigration concerns us. Like right now the conversation is immigration or migration as a problem. … When the human story is a story of migration.”

With the help of Dianne Solis, a reporter for the Dallas Morning News, the two began interviewing different immigrants from the community to show their life in the states upon moving to America.

In the exhibition, the viewer is shown a series of photographs of the subject, while a recording of their interview plays during the slideshow.

In between the project and being an adjunct professor, she also gave birth to her 5-monthold son, Aven.

His cries echoed through the monolithic lobby of Dallas City Hall as Alford was curating the reception for the project. She stepped away from the project and began nursing the baby. At that moment there was a malfunction in the show. With Aven still suckling, she fixed the issue and went right back to leading the exhibition.

One of the subjects was Stanley Ukeni, who immigrated to Dallas from Nigeria after seeking asylum from the tyrannical government of his home country. After settling down with his wife and two kids in Dallas, he was deported from the city he had called home since the 1990s and was kept for years in Africa awaiting trial.

He eventually won his case and was able to return to Dallas. When Alford asked him to be a part of the project, he looked her up on the internet and saw she was more than qualified to tell the story. .

“It also advances a narrative that immigrants are human beings,” he said. “They have

their own stories. Their own hopes, aspirations, pains and triumphs. Just like every other American citizen. … I think it’s admirable that she’s doing this.”

Working with her on the project was former Eastfield digital media student and aspiring photographer Kate Arrows, who met Alford in fall 2018.

When the time came for Arrows to get an internship this past summer, Alford was the first person she called. Arrows figured she would know of someone that had an open internship, not expecting it to be herself.

She said working with Alford allowed her to see the calm, linear approach that she brings to a project like “Dallas is Home.”

“She’s an excellent instructor, and her passion for helping others is unlike anyone I’ve ever met before,” Arrows said. “She’s inspired me to think about how I can make my talents help other people and give them a voice.”

Alford may not have to face a blistering desert sun and bullets flying at her car on a regular basis anymore, but she’s still dedicated to showing the world through a new lens.

When asked how she balances being a mother, teacher and freelancer, she simply said: “You’re looking at it.”

As she sat on the floor playing with Aven and Rosalie’s flashcards laid sprawled out on the coffee table, covering up the latest issue of the New Yorker.

“It’s pretty inextricable of who I am as a person,” she said. “I can’t not keep my mouth shut or my hands out of it. I hope these kids grow up to see that if there’s something they think is not right in the world with the way things are happening and you have the power to say something or do something about it, then you better get involved in some way. That’s the only way things can change. Powerful wealthy people will rule this planet unless enough people who are not as powerful or wealthy get involved to shift the direction otherwise.”

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

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Alumni artists return to roots, show art to inspire

By ESON FELLERS Staff Writer @EsonFellersETC

“Making It,” an upcoming Eastfield exhibition, will feature seven alumni artists to inspire students and allow the artists to revisit their roots.

Iris Bechtol, art professor and curator for the exhibit, said it’s important for artists to return to where they started.

“All of the alumni that are showing started in community college,” Bechtol said. “I think it’s important for our current students to see their work, and hear how they accomplished that. As a way to come back and say, ‘See, you can do this too.’”

The artists are Jeremy Biggers, Brennen Bechtol, Chris Blackhurst, David Dreyer, Daniel Driensky, Sandra Lara and Kathryn Vestal.

Lara, Blackhurst, Bechtol, Vestal and Biggers will be in attendance for the opening night reception Oct. 10. There will also be an artist panel Oct. 24 in which the same artists will be available to answer questions.

Each of the artists have had successful careers since graduating from Eastfield. Some of them have worked with companies such as the Dallas Cowboys, McDonald’s, the Dallas Art Fair and Nylon Magazine, as well as their own solo exhibitions.

The forms of art that will be featured con-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SANDRA LARA

This piece by Sandra Lara titled “The Helpers are on the Way,” will be featured in the “Making It” exhibit in Gallery 219.

sists of paintings, ceramics, photography, videography, drawings and prints.

Driensky began studying art and photography at Eastfield before transferring to the University of Texas at Arlington. He said he took

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many art courses at Eastfield, including 2D Design, 3D Design and Drawing I and II. “After taking a digital imaging class, I fell in love with Photoshop and decided it was time to make my own digital images to play around

with,” Driensky said. “Around this same time, I also took a photo I analog class and got reintroduced to printing in the darkroom, something I only briefly experienced in high school.

At that point, I was hooked, and knew that photography was going to be an important part of my life.”

Upon discovering he had a knack for the subject, he founded a media company called “Exploredinary” with local artist Sarah Reyes.

The agency specializes in sculptures, murals, photography and filmmaking.

Brennen Bechtol went to Eastfield before transferring to the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design. He now has a sign painting studio where he painted murals and display signs for companies in the Oak Cliff area, such as Bishop Cider Co. and The Lathery. Bechtol has two upcoming projects this October, one at the Wild West Mural Fest and one at Casa Linda Plaza in Dallas.

Bechtol said he had a lot of great experiences at Eastfield, with many supportive professors.

“It’s totally different from what I’m doing now,” Brennen said. “It’s going to be interesting seeing my piece on the wall for this show. Nothing but good vibes.”

The exhibition will be open Oct. 10-Nov. 8 in F219, with the opening reception 6:30-8 p.m.

Oct 10.

The artist panel discussion will be 11 a.m.noon Oct. 24 in G101.

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Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Tune in and veg out with the most influential

Reality TV

One of my favorite things to do after a long day of work, school or errands is to come home, change into my PJs and turn on some reality TV. There are so many options to choose from now, but the first modern reality show was “An American Family,” which came out more than 30 years ago. Reality TV didn’t rise to prominence until the late 1990s and early 2000s with favorites such as “Survivor,” “The Real World” and “Flavor of Love.” These are my picks for the top 5 most influential reality TV shows.

—Hunter Garza

ing for Colton in a complete frenzy.

This scene was used as a promo before the season premiere even aired.

5. “Survivor” (2000-current) GRAPHIC BY ERIK KROUSKOP

find out means you have to actually wash your own clothes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CBS NETWORK

It only seems fitting to start with the show that introduced us to something we had never seen before: Sixteen contestants stranded in a remote location, all competing for the grand prize of $1 million. It’s far different from “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” but the fact that it’s still on air almost 20 years and 39 seasons later speaks for itself.

Favorite scene: Susan “Sue” Hawk comparing her fellow contestants to snakes and rats in the final episode of the first season. Hawk gives a speech thanking family and friends, but after the gratitude came the anger. “This island is full of, pretty much, only two things – snakes and rats,” she said. “And in the end of Mother Nature, we have Richard The Snake, who knowingly went after prey, and Kelly, who turned into the rat that ran around like rats do on this island, trying to run from the snake. I believe we owe it to the island spirits we have come to know to let it end in the way that Mother Nature intended: For the snake to eat the rat.”

4. “The Simple Life” (2003-2007) The show followed two best friends, Hilton hotel heiress Paris Hilton and Lionel Richie’s daughter Nicole Richie. The plot changed from year to year, but the one constant was that these two “spoiled rich girls” were taken out of their lavish lifestyles and thrust into a life without credit cards, cell phones and money. Lasting only a short four seasons, we follow the girls (including Paris’ dog Tinkerbell) as they embark on their adventures while working minimum wage jobs and hanging out at WalMart (because they sell walls there, duh).

Favorite scene: Paris and Nicole are ready to wash their clothes but are soon hit with the fact that their new home doesn’t have a washing machine. They then figure out that this means they must take their clothes to a laundromat, which they soon

3. “Real Housewives” (2006-current) On March 25, 2006, we were introduced to “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” which fans refer to as RHOC. The show gave us a sneak peek into the lives of several affluent housewives.

Throughout its 13-season tenure, the show has had multiple spinoffs such as “Real Housewives of New York” (my personal favorite), “Real Housewives of Dallas” and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, just to name a few.

Favorite scene: On the Season 6 finale of RHONY, housewife Aviva Drescher, who is famously known for wearing a prosthetic leg, took all the women (and America) by surprise when she took off her prosthetic and slammed it on the table, yelling, “The only thing artificial or fake about me is this!”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC NETWORK

2. “The Bachelor” (2002-current) Probably my least favorite of all the reality franchises is “The Bachelor.” However, personal preference aside, there is no doubt that this show is one of the most influential of our generation, despite the constant kissing close-ups. Thank you, but no thank you. The show, hosted by Chris Harrison, introduces us to the new Bachelor, who is met with 25 contestants competing for his love. With its mega fan-base, Bachelor Nation and multiple spinoffs (“The Bachelorette,” “Bachelor in Paradise”), it’s easy to see why this show is so popular.

Favorite scene: In the most recent season finale of “The Bachelor,” Colton Underwood believes he has found love with one of the contestants. She ends things and decides to leave the show, to which Colton responds, “I’m [freaking] done!” He pushes a cameraman to the side and jumps over the fence of the mansion.

The rest of the episode is the producers as well as Harrison look-

1. “Keeping up with the Kardashians” (2007-current) This list wouldn’t be complete without the mention of a Kardashian. The show takes us into the everyday lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family, which gained notoriety due to Kim and her close relationships with Alisters such as Paris Hilton and Ray J. The Kardashians, with the help of producers and “momager” Kris Jenner, turned one bad situation into a seemingly never-ending honeypot. The success of the show is directly related to their “reality,” and they are reality professionals.

Favorite scene: When middle child Khloe is arrested and thrown in jail, the family heads to the jail to bail her out. However, sister Kim sees this as a perfect selfie opportunity, to which her mother replies, “Kim, would you stop taking pictures of yourself? Your sister’s going to jail.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MTV STUDIOS

Honorable mention: “The Real World” (1992-current) This show set the tone for the idea of reality shows that we have today. Each season, series producers choose a group of seven to eight people in their mid-20s to early 30s to live together in a major city. The series shows their unscripted, random interactions with each other and their new city. Each season focuses on a different group and city. The first season came out before I was even born, so what would a list of the most influential reality shows be without the O.G.?

What’s on YOUR tube when you’re keepin’ it real? Let us know on Twitter at

@TheEtCetera

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

Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief Skye Seipp Creative Director Anthony Lazon Graphics Editor Erik Krouskop

Senior Photographer Rory Moore Staff Writers Eson Fellers Harriet Ramos Brianna Harmon Jordan Lackey Graphic Artists Allan Garcia-Ramos Jessica Martinez Margaret Tamez Lucero Guzman Cartoonists Laura Sanchez Romero Eric Santos Jesus Madrid Photographers Estefany Kulas Sirgio Ruvalcaba Sonya Nunez Christian Vargas Contributors Manuel Cruz Sazoun Grayer Stephanie Carrillo Ritchie Manalastas

Jessica Ramirez Lindsey Craft Lucero Guzman Hunter Garza

Editorial Assistants Marie Garcia Jonathan Winter Publication Adviser Elizabeth Langton Student Media Manager Sarah Sheldon Digital Media Adviser Sandra Evans Faculty Adviser Lori Dann

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 by a student staff.

Each member of the college community is entitled to one free copy of The Et Cetera.

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.

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ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO BY ANTHONY LAZON

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Wednesday, October 9, 2019

OUR VIEW

Events should fill students with inspiration Another Hispanic Heritage Month is wrapping up, but with the number of bland events, we almost forgot it started.

In the past, there have been grand events to kick off the month, from a Dieciseis festival in 2017 to the Frida Kahlo themed event last year. All of which included music, arts, food and education. .

This year the month kicked off with some cut-rate tacos, “traditional” drinks and the option to color.

What are we, 5-year-olds?

Offering students free food is legitimate, especially since food insecurity is a real issue for students at Eastfield, But these events should be used to better cultivate the student body, not just fill them up with cheap eats.

And let’s talk about your food choice.

Hispanic culture is much more than tortillas with seasoned-meat, onions and peppers. Try to expand our horizons a little bit and quit being stereotypical.

There are all sorts of foods you could bring in from any of the countries that are considered Hispanic, such as mole, arepa, which originates more from the South American region, or empanadas, a popular dish in Spain, Chile and Argentina.

While there’s still a chance you could surprise us with the “Fiesta” planned for tomorrow, our ex-

But in order to do that, the school needs to have an overhaul in its event planning process.

For starters, we need to spread the events out. Some weeks you can look at the calendar and see that some days are open, while others are loaded with events, many of them taking place at the same time. The rational answer to that problem is simple: Have one department that events have to go through to be approved.

As for next year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, there are a plethora of local, successful innovators to choose from.

There’s literally a Latino Cultural Center downtown, which for the past three years has held a “Texas Latino Comic-Con.” This ANTHONY LAZON/THE ET CETERA event featured people such as Hector Cantu, who graduated from Skyline and is a writer, pectations are low with the number of lackluster editor and comics creator who has had fame with events that have transpired thus far.

Instead of trying to fill up space each week with newspapers throughout Texas, including the Dalmultiple events, we believe the school should put las Morning News.

If Eastfield is serious about engaging students, more heart, soul and energy into one bigger piece. they should be figuring out ways to give us someYou could have music, arts, education (not just a thing to take away from here that’s more than lecture) and food.

We aren’t the only ones who think this either. transferable credits and a piece of paper.

We should leave this campus with the enthusiAt President Eddie Tealer’s forum last month, he asm to change the world and not continuing the talked about his desire to have more campuswide cycle of stereotypical degradation. events.

Social expectations of perfection need to change What’s the first thing you do in the morning when you wake up? Brush your teeth? Make breakfast? Or do you check your phone to see who liked the picture you posted before bed last night?

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and so many other platforms are all just a tap away, allowing you to show off your figure, art, pets, business, etc.

These are places we can go to escape our daily lives of paperwork and responsibilities. But there’s a downside to our social media dependence.

Not only are these sites filling up with constant self-promotion and links to buy countless amounts of products, but they have also become a popular place to advertise plastic surgery, crazy diets and luxurious lifestyles.

Our generation has been sucked into a social media wormhole that fills our minds with constant selfdoubt and has constructed a craving for validation from people we don’t even know. But social media isn’t

Lindsey Craft

@TheEtCetera

alone in holding an influence over us. Television, movies and magazines can have the same effects.

Many of us are filled with hidden insecurities and we want to know how we can become more like the “perfect” people we see online. I want to have glowing skin. I want to own designer bags. I want big breasts, a small waist and a big butt just like the Instagram models I see online every day, because for some reason it seems like those are the only things people care about and notice online.

As a young woman in her mid 20s, I speak from personal experience when I say that spending an excessive amount of time online can be mildly brainwashing. I have always battled

with extreme body insecurities and feeling comfortable in my own skin.

My addiction to altering my appearance started years ago with trying juice cleanses and extreme fad diets. But in the last three months I have made major modifications to my face and body.

I have spent thousands of dollars on clothes, make up, skincare products and vacations just to keep up with or mimic fantasy lifestyles.

I have endured lip, nose and undereye filler, Botox injections and even breast augmentation surgery just to feel happier with who I am and what I look like.

And it’s all because social media has planted a bug in my head that says the way I looked before wasn’t good enough.

Having this mindset is a daily struggle. I’m aware that I’ve been throwing away money and that the changes made to my body only create temporary feelings of happiness until the next fad comes along.

During this process I’ve learned that our opinions on what “perfect” looks like need to change. We need to pay less attention to people like Jeffree Star, Trisha Paytas and the Kardashians, who flaunt their money and have made dozens of modifications to their bodies. We should pay more attention to people like Ashley Graham, Beyonce and Anna Victoria, who share the same aspirations to use their social media platforms to promote body positivity, female empowerment and equality. We need to see more of this.

Following advocates who encourage us to embrace our natural bodies is one step in the right direction. For me, following a positive influence and unfollowing an unrealistic one has been a minor help.

Because I am aware of my addiction and my insecurities, I know the next step for me is to seek professional help and talk to someone about the way I feel rather than run to a med spa every time an insecurity pops up.

OPINION

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Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Same sex house hold teaches healthy relationships I’ve had what most would call a highly unusual and unorthodox upbringing. I remember the conversation with my father vividly. I was 6 years old and didn’t understand what he was telling me.

I didn’t know what “gay” really meant. The only response I could form in my adolescent mind was simply, “Whatever makes you happy, Dad.” Those words mean more to me now than they did back then.

My parents divorced when I was very young. The only reason I memorized the order of the days of the week as a child was because I needed to know what house I would sleep in that night.

On one hand, I grew up in a very liberal environment. I learned to play chess before I started elementary school. I was taught to converse like an adult and allowed to read anything and everything I could get my hands on.

I was encouraged to expand my mind and to be who I wanted to be.

On the flip side of that coin was an upbringing I’m not proud of. I hated the

Jordan Lackey @TheEtCetera

screaming, I hated the nonstop rotation of endless stepfathers (eventually it was easier to just refer to them by number instead of name).

I hated the violence and the vitriolic words, all of which were justified through a veil of moral superiority.

I was born conflicted. When I told my mother about the conversation my father and I had, she responded in her usual malicious form and fashion by saying the exact words: “Your father will burn in hell, and the flesh will melt from his bones.”

I cried for days, I couldn’t get the image of my father burning out of my head.

I just couldn’t understand it, my father burning for the simple act of accepting himself and wanting to be happy? It didn’t make

sense. I questioned everything after that: religion, faith, life after death and, most importantly, myself. My world crumbled in response to a decision that wasn’t even mine to make, a decision that was never a choice at all.

I felt like I had no one to turn to, like I was alone. But I had my father, I had unconditional love, and it came from the side of my family that many told me to be ashamed of. The “heathens” and the “sinners” were the only ones who showed a young boy compassion.

A few weeks later, I still couldn’t get the thought out of my mind. My head was filled with the image of flames. In-between sobs I begged my father to stop being gay. Like it was a choice. I told him I didn’t want him to go to hell. I told him I didn’t want him to burn. I can’t imagine how much that hurt.

That night, he calmly found one of the many Bibles throughout the house and turned to the book of Leviticus. First he found the words “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Then he went on to find numerous examples of rules forgot-

On-campus childcare out of reach for low-income students

As a young mother of three school-age children, I know firsthand the struggles of finding adequate child care.

Is it affordable? Is it a safe place? Are the employees trustworthy? Are the hours flexible?

I’ve been attending Eastfield for about two years, and I didn’t discover the child care services in the K Building until I took classes this past summer. But when I say the college offers child care, I mean the service is available, if you can pay for it.

I needed services from June to the beginning of August, about a two-month span. My kids were out of school for the summer, and I planned to take two classes a day, four days a week.

It would be convenient for me to be able to drop them off at Eastfield while in class and pick them up when I was done.

The Children’s Laboratory School, as the facility is called, has accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, according to its website.

So I felt comfortable knowing my kids were in the right hands. When I visited, I saw pictures of happy kids along with toys and a coloring table. Already I thought the environment was perfect for my children.

Then the receptionist told me there was a monthlong waiting list. It was the end of May and my summer classes were scheduled to start June 6.

Then I learned that the cost of tuition for one child was about $175 a week, and they only accept children under the age of 5.

Well, I was straight out of luck at that point. My son is 8, so that was not going to work. I would have to find him somewhere else to go. For Sofia and Vivian to attend, it would cost $1,400 a month.

The national average for child care, according to the

Jessica Ramirez

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website “Care” is about $200 per week. In a study of the top states that offer affordable childcare, Texas falls far outside the top five.

As a single mother who only makes $9 an hour, I can not afford the services Eastfield currently officers. So I opted out of taking on-campus classes and took two online.

Then I applied for assistance from the ChildCareGroup, a non-profit organization that helps low-income families get child care services for little to no cost. This is the same group that is in talks with Eastfield to take over the Children’s Laboratory School.

It took about 90 days to get approved, but Aug. 16 I was granted a year of services through ChildCareGroup and now I just have to pick a partner facility for my children to attend. I wish it could be Eastfield.

College students who are also parents desperately need a convenient, affordable child care option. But is it really the best option to force employees out of their jobs and force families to search for new child care without enough notice?

The best outcome for this situation would be a partnership that allows current families to keep using the Children’s Laboratory School and also gives Eastfield students an affordable option for quality child care services.

—Jessica Ramirez is a contributor and journalism major

ten by modern society within the same book.

Rules that forbade things like the eating of red meat and the intentional marking of ones own skin. Rules that even instructed parents to stone their disobedient children in the street.

Why were all of these rules discarded and forgotten, while that one statement concerning homosexuality was so heavily quoted and emblazoned on flags of intolerance and willful ignorance? Why was love so great a sin in the eyes of God and the Bush administration? I was finally starting to understand the hypocrisy.

Since then, I’ve watched a 20-year relationship blossom for my father while my morally superior mother jumped from one dysfunction to the next. I learned what so many children of divorce never do; I learned what a happy relationship actually looks like.

In a world consumed with hate and judgment, my father taught me acceptance and love.

—Jordan Lackey is a staff writer and journalism major

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The Et Cetera

Recital series gets jazzy

Madpuffy Comics By Jesus Madrid

Laura’s Mind By Laura Sanchez Romero

SIRGIO RUVALCABA/THE ET CETERA

Mario Cruz, saxophonist with the “Common Ground Jazz Quartet” peers out into the audience at the recital in F117 on Oct. 2.

NEWS

Briefs Get some school spirit Homecoming week will kick off Oct. 22 with a tailgate party in Parking Lot 1. Other activities will include a pep rally and parade Oct. 23, a student vs. employee volleyball game Oct. 24 and The Big Event, a community service day Oct. 25.

For more info, visit eastfieldcollege. edu/homecoming.

Solero Flamenco recital

Improve your improvisational skills Eastfield’s theater department has invited The Laugh Supper, an improv troupe from Dallas, to give a free workshop from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 10.

Participants in the workshop will be able to take part in a performance Oct. 11 that begins at 7 p.m. in the Performance Hall.

To sign up contact Dusty Reasons Thomas at dreasons@dcccd.edu.

Irma La Paloma, left, sings with Jeremy Garcia, associate director of the Houston Classical Guitar Festival and Competition, and director of guitar studies at San Jacinto College at the recurring recital series in F117 on Sept. 25.

SIRGIO RUVALCABA/THE ET CETERA

Exercise your constitutional rights

The annual Free Speech Festival will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 16 with several activities to flex those First Amendment rights.

Write your unabridged thoughts on the free speech mural, dive into a banned book, stimulate your senses with a taboo theater production and more during this event.

It’s that time again Flu season is here, and the Health Center will be giving flu shots on 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 17. Cost is $28, but they accept insurance.

Et Cetera finalist for two Pacemaker awards The Et Cetera is a finalist for both a print and online Pacemaker award from the Associated Collegiate Press for the previous year’s publication.

The Et Cetera has won the award three times in the past, with the last time being in 2017.