March13 2013 Issue by The Et Cetera

Volume 44, Issue 9

A lifetime of learning 72-year-old teaches classmates through her trials and triumphs By Anjulie Van Sickle etc4640@dcccd.edu

It’s the second day of professor Betsy Joseph’s creative writing class and her students have been asked to bring an object that represents them. The class sits in a circle, sharing the meanings behind their selections. The third to present is 72-year-old Charlotte Shields, who cups a hand-painted coffee mug tenderly in her hands. Her face lights up as she recalls her performance 15 years earlier in the mystery farce “The Murder Room.” On opening night, her

producer asked her to do a special favor: Buy some time on stage because the leading lady was late. Charlotte decided to ad-lib a song and a dance. The cast was so impressed with the performance that they signed the painted mug and presented it to her at the end of the night. For Charlotte, the mug represents a life that was long ago, a time filled with acting, dancing and a love for the stage. As she finishes her story, it is evident that although Charlotte is in the classroom to learn, she has many lessons to teach her classmates through her many life experiences. See SHIELDS, page 2 ➤

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

NEWS

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Put it on YOUR

Calendar March Thu

“POW: Proofreading One’s Work” will be presented by professor Selena StewartAlexander from 12:30-1:50 p.m. in L-208. “Wonder Women Trivia” will be held from 12:302:30 p.m. in S-100.

Mon

Spring break begins. Classes will resume March 25.

Tue

“Texting, Poking, Tweeting: Our Virtual Communication,” which will cover online relationships and dating, will be held from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in G-101.

“Using Mnemonics to Make Studying Less Stressful” will be from 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in L-208.

Wed

History professor Kat Cloer will lecture on women’s rights from 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. in C-135. The Highland Brass Quintet will start performing at 12:30 p.m. in F-117.

Thu

“Valuing Math from the Non-Mathematican’s Perspective” will be from 12:30-1:50 p.m. in L-208.

April Sat

An evening popcorn social with free drinks and popcorn will be held from 4:45-6 p.m. in the Pit.

Tue

“Managing Time, Energy, and Money” with instructors Dr. Ana Rodriguez and Lauren Moore is from 12:30-150 p.m. in L-208.

Thu

“How to Beat Time for the Exit Exam” featuring developmental writing professor Caitlin Stanford will be from 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in L-208.

Tue

“NoodleBIB: MLA, APA Citing Sources” featuring librarian Judy Wayne will be held in two sessions. The first will be from 12:35-1:35 p.m. in L-208 and the second from 5:356:35 p.m. in L-208.

6 9

11 16 Thu

A preview of the spring musical “Hairspray will be held at noon in the performance hall. Regular performances will be held April 18-20 at 8 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m.

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

College outgrows graduation venue By Claudia Guerra etc4640@dcccd.edu

The Mesquite Convention Center has held Eastfield’s graduations for the past 12 years, but now the college has outgrown the venue. This year’s ceremony will be held at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland. Three years ago college officials began considering contracting a new venue, but nothing was official until last year’s graduation proved it was time to find a larger facility. About 4,000 people crammed into the Mesquite Convention Center, which only holds 3,800, and it became a safety hazard. “We realized our number of graduates was increasing and our enrollment was increasing,” Assistant to the

President Sharon Cook said. “And knowing we could only be in that venue with up to 3,800, that’s when we started looking at other venues.” Cook said Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall and Sunnyvale Baptist Church were options when the graduation committee was searching for a new venue. However, because numbers continue to increase, Curtis Culwell Center proved to be the best location. The Culwell Center holds 7,000 guests, which is the estimated attendance for this year’s graduation. The numbers continue to increase because participants for the ceremony also include Lakeview Centennial graduates, dual credit graduates and certificate students. Each student receives 10 tickets

for friends and family. There are also 124 faculty members and 40 administrators participating in the event. Students planning to graduate should submit a graduation application before the March 15 deadline. The form helps ensure that students are eligible for graduation and is available online only. Those who wish to participate in the ceremony must also fill out the commencement participation form due, which is due April 12. Friends and family will not be allowed to bring in any celebratory items like balloons and flowers for the graduates this year. A vendor will be stationed inside for those who wish to purchase gifts. Graduation also will not be held on a Thursday for the first time in the

college’s 41 years. Because Richland College scheduled its ceremony on the Thursday date at the same venue, this year’s commencement will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 4:30 -6:30 p.m. The biggest challenge this year, according to Associate Dean of Arts, Language and Literature Courtney Carter Harbour, is communicating the changes to students. “I am excited about the new venue because it is a nice place,” she said “But I am concerned about the communication piece. With this being the first time, it’s really going to be a challenge to find the best way to communicate.” Parking is free to all guests, and graduates should arrive at the Curtis Culwell Center by 3 p.m.

Shields learns from struggles with abuse, cancer Continued from Page 1 Later they learn that she has become a role model not only because of her acting, singing and dancing, but also because she has had to overcome so many obstacles throughout her life. She was in an abusive relationship for 20 years that left her suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. She raised four children on her own. And finally, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through all of this, she has displayed a powerful desire to improve herself by gaining general knowledge of the world. She wants to learn as much as she can here, then transfer to UT Dallas to complete her bachelor’s degree in musical theater. “I hope people will see that I am a strong individual,” Charlotte said. “I have fought for everything I ever wanted. I’ve had to work for everything I have. Nobody ever gave me anything on a silver spoon.” Married right out of high school in 1959, Charlotte began her life as a drunken man’s punching bag. “He was an alcoholic,” Charlotte said. “He drank beer and would get to the point of just being drunk. We would get into arguments, and the next thing you know, I’d be slapped around a little.” After 20 years of mental and physical abuse, Charlotte was able to escape the seemingly endless cycle of pain when her husband was killed in

a car accident. “After his death, I started going to counseling and found out that I was struggling with post traumatic stress disorder because of the emotional and physical abuse,” Charlotte said. “I really had to learn how to love myself, and I certainly did.” Only through several years of counseling was she able to understand that she was more than a battered wife. She realized what a wonderful and talented person she was. “I had very good counselors who led me to believe that I was a good person, because I had literally been pushed into the ground,” Charlotte said. “Then the counselor told me to go out and do something that I enjoyed.” Charlotte felt as if she had just awakened to a new world. In 1981, two years after her husband’s death, she graduated from nursing school and became a registered nurse. She also embraced her love for the stage. She began singing, dancing, acting and playing the piano. She sang with the Dallas, Garland and Mesquite choruses and also performed in several shows with the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. It was a liberating experience, and she loved every second of it. In the early 1990s, Charlotte was able to turn her hobby into something more. She began working on her bachelor’s degree in musical the-

ater at UT Dallas. However, three years into her studies, she was forced to withdraw because of a job offer, working in day surgery. Since she had four children to support, she had to work twice as hard so she put her dreams on hold. “I’m here now trying to get some of my basics done,” Charlotte said following a recent creative writing class. “I know I’ll go back one day to UT Dallas, but I don’t know when it’s going to be. But I am definitely looking forward to going back.” Charlotte still had one more battle to face: breast cancer. “It was in ‘97 when I discovered I had breast cancer,” Charlotte said. “I was so surprised. I just couldn’t believe it.” She received radiation treatments for six weeks after being diagnosed with a very small, treatable form of cancer. Then she started working with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to promote awareness. “I began campaigning for women to get mammograms because I knew what it felt like to have the illness,” Charlotte said. “I used my own experience as a witness, reminding people how important mammograms are.” Charlotte believes many of her life experiences can impact the lives of others. “I want women to learn that they are strong,” she said. “They have power.” Charlotte has become an inspiration not only for those who are going

through abuse or illness, but to her own family. She has four children, eight grandkids and 12 great-grandkids. “She’s a really good role model,” said her granddaughter, Shelby Shields, who has also been taking classes at Eastfield. “She’s the one who got me into the music program to get my degree. She taught me to always smile about things. There’s never a moment in time that you’ll see her sad. If something’s wrong, she’ll just still smile about it and move on. It’s been like that my entire life.” English professor Betsy Joseph has had Charlotte in her classes for about three years now, and has been instrumental in helping her share her stories by writing her memoir. “I think she was looking for a place where she could tell her stories, and she has a lot of stories to tell,” Joseph said. “When you write you get your experience down on paper, and somehow it becomes more validated because it’s in words.” Joseph described how she loves having such a diverse group of students in her classes. She said the older students, especially, provide a level of wisdom that her younger students haven’t had a chance to develop yet. Therefore, they are able to learn from their long, full lives. She said Charlotte has been an excellent teacher. “I think that’s why she keeps coming back, because she still has more stories to tell,” Joseph said.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Get a flu vaccination it’s not too late By Taylor Wallace etc4640@dcccd.edu

We’ve all heard of it: the dreaded influenza. That vicious sickness which can leave people bed-bound and so terribly miserable that it makes days feel like years. The virus plagues individuals with an unbearable fever and body aches, making the world spin and stomachs upset. But it can be more serious than missing a couple of days of school. On March 1, the Centers for Disease Control reported that the flu had claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy from Dallas County. It was the third flu fatality among children in the area this season. Most fatalities related to the virus occur in children and seniors due to their weaker immune systems. Flu season can be twice as difficult for students who have children. “Just missing two days of school because my son was ill feels like I missed an entire week,” Patrice Floyd said. “To try and catch up and still do the work for that day is pretty hard. Once I leave school I’m going home to care for my sick child. Even though I try to bring doctor statements to show the reasons for my absences, there are some professors that will not let you make that work up.” The flu peaks in January and February, but it is possible to contract the virus at other times, especially

during cold or wet conditions. Free vaccinations for children and adults are still being given by the Dallas County Health Department’s Immunization Clinic through April. The clinic is located at 2377 North Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. Campus nurse Cynthia Taylor said it is important for people to receive the vaccination as soon as possible because providers can run out. “They still have time,” she said. “Flu season is not over.” The flu can be contagious as early as four days before symptoms start to appear. After symptoms appear, others can be infected for up to seven days. The virus can be spread through the handling of money, cell phones, cash registers and other items that are exchanged. One reason people fail to treat the flu is that they confuse it with the common cold, whose symptoms are very similar. However, symptoms of the flu are much more severe. The virus is characterized by a high fever and body aches. Other symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, cough and fatigue. Nausea and vomiting are commonly seen in children. This is why it is imperative that youth receive vaccinations. The vaccine is an already inoculated strain of the virus that is inserted into the immune system via the dermis or muscle. The vaccine works to attack the virus, exposing it to a dead

Alex Kennedy/The Et cetera

version of itself. There is also a nasal mist containing a live virus for those who cannot receive injections. Flu shots are highly recommended for those with already weakened immune systems, individuals living in close quarters (nursing homes, hospitals, etc.), pregnant women and people who work closely with children. “There are a very small number of individuals who should not receive the flu shot,” said nurse Taylor. Those allergic to chicken eggs or those who have had severe reactions to a vaccination in the past should talk with a doctor about other options for avoiding the flu. Those with Guillian-Barre Syndrome, a severe paralytic illness, or

fibromyalgia should consult a physician before seeking vaccination. Some people claim their reason for not getting the flu shot is that it actually makes them sick. “I feel that [vaccinations] are unnecessary, especially after I received the flu shot last year and still missed one and a half weeks of school, anyway,” student Justin Gilbert said. “I probably won’t be getting another flu shot anytime soon.” Taylor said most people who get sick after receiving the shot were probably already ill. “Symptoms had not yet appeared,” she said. “They received what we call a ‘virgin flu shot’. It’s the first one ever in your life.” It is recommended that patients take ibuprofen a couple hours before

receiving the vaccination and four hours afterward to help avoid reactions to the shot. There are many ways to combat the flu, including eating healthily, drinking plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration, being physically active and getting an ample amount of sleep. These steps boost the immune system and reduce the odds of contracting the flu. Other practical tips include: n Avoid close contact with sick people. n Refrain from sharing food, eating utensils and makeup. n Regularly disinfect surfaces, toilets and children’s toys. n Dress appropriately for cold and wet weather. n Sneeze or cough into a tissue that is immediately to be thrown away. These measures of precaution sound obvious but are often overlooked. “Assume that every door handle is dirty, or contaminated, or has germs… and [that] every person’s hand you shake has germs,” Taylor said. Individuals with the flu should see their doctor immediately if they find that they have difficulty breathing, experience pressure in their chest or abdomen, purple or blue suffocation of the lips, persistent vomiting, seizures or recurring flu-like symptoms.

THe Hot Topic

What’s the biggest challenge women in America face today?

Lizzette Pina Science

“My culture plays a part in the challenges that I face. I’m Hispanic, and my mother says that I must do the cleaning and everything at home while my brother’s work and go to school. I don’t think it’s fair because I work and go to school as well.”

Torrian Timms Biology

“Trying to compete with our male peers, because we have so many other responsibilities. We have to juggle our roles as mothers and caretakers of our house and still seek to seize opportunities to advance in our careers.”

Jayro Saldana Mechanical engineering

“I blame the feminist movement. They have gone too far in thinking that women are the dominant sex instead of being equal. Back in the 1950s, women were in charge of the kitchen and there was nothing wrong with it. The men did all the hard work. It was like chivalry.”

Breanna Kerst Business

“It’s how our girls are being raised. They are being trained at an early age to wear skimpy clothes and march around in swimsuit contests. How are we raising our girls to respect themselves when this is all around them? We are to blame.”

Kamon Smith History

“I blame media literacy. I recently saw a beer commercial with the bottle as a woman. These type of messages that are being hidden and portrayed in our media play a role in the challenges women face today and in future generations.”

NEWS

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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The Et Cetera

Images of blacks in the mass media debated By Gereneicia Taylor etc4640@dcccd.edu

Negative images of African-Americans have been displayed in pop culture since the media industry’s beginnings. “Images of African-Americans in the Mass Media,” held on Feb. 28, provided insight into how blacks are portrayed throughout the media. Government professor Dr. Glynn Newman and political science professor Dr. Stacey Jurhree squared off in the debate. One of the focal points was how Tyler Perry portrays blacks in his popular plays and films. Newman argued that these images of African-Americans could be viewed in a positive way. “[Tyler Perry] is not using by any account mainstream techniques,” Newman said, “but he is using what his core audience, which is urban moviegoers, understands. He is relating to them through the life that they live. And I think that is a positive thing because sometimes we have to use the vehicles that we have to reach the audience that we need to reach.” Jurhree was against Perry’s depiction of blacks in his movies. He argued there were “unseen dynamics” in Perry’s films and explained that women are portrayed as the ones who “call the shots.” “Where is the strong black male figure in these films?” Jurhree asked. The depiction of the “angry black woman” was also exposed and debated. A clip from Perry’s movie “Why Did I Get Married Too?” was presented, showing the character Angela, who embodied the stereotypical black woman. She was loud, rude and aggressive. “African-American women, in the terms of mass media, have been looked upon in a negative light,” Jurhree said. “They have been told that they are strong … and these images make black women appear that they are not like other women, that they are not delicate, soft, and feminine. These movies project African-American women negatively overall.” Newman felt that black women didn’t have to respond or live by stereotypes projected in the media. “Black women know who they are ... and they are not angry,” Newman said. “They are disappointed because they feel the black man can do better.” Another debated topic was the stereotypical portrayals of African-American men and why they cross-dress in the media. Images of famous actors such as Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx dressed as females were shown to highlight that Perry isn’t the first black man to cross-dress. It has been a staple in Hollywood for years, dating back to the 1970s with Flip Wilson’s character “Geraldine” on “The Flip Wilson

Show.” Newman believes black people can relate to Perry’s character because he is using a form of comedy to talk about things like cross dressing in the black community, a subject blacks may not feel comfortable talking about. Perry’s gross earnings were also assessed during the debate. Three of his most popular films were displayed and compared based on the amount of money that they brought in. One of his films, “Madea Goes to Jail,” grossed more than $90 million. But his most recent film, “Alex Cross,” only grossed $25 million. The debaters were asked to review these figures and explore whom his films appeal to. Newman explained that Alex Cross wasn’t as successful as the other films because Perry is trying to cross over into mainstream. He also explained that urban moviegoers are his traditional audience and mainstream audiences are still skeptical about what Perry can do. He said the biggest positive of the films is that Perry is creating jobs for not only AfricanAmericans, but for Caucasians and Latinos as well. “Just because he makes a lot of money does not make [the characters he portrays in films] right,” Jurhree said. The debaters were asked to share their views on Oscar Award winners and the roles they played. There have been several African-American actors and actresses who have won Oscars for their performances in films, including Halle Berry in “Monster’s Ball” and Denzel Washington in “Training Day.” None of the examples displayed showed Oscar-winners playing a positive role. Jurhree explained that the roles listed were all “acceptable roles.” Many of the roles played by African-American actors or actresses are domestic, crooked or stereotypical. Because these roles are acceptable, they said, these actors are more prone to prosper in society. If these roles were nontraditional, they would not be as successful. Student Jessica Hayes said that before the debate, she didn’t feel the movies portrayed African-Americans negatively. “I thought it was more comical than anything else,” she said. After the debate, her perspective didn’t changed. Hayes says she would still watch his movies just the same. Both Newman and Jurhree agreed that some of the images portrayed in the mass media are negative. However, Newman said his view of Perry’s work is primarily a positive one. “Tyler Perry is only reminding us in a positive way through negative images that this is where you were, this where we are now, and the best is yet to come.”

Artist portrays black celebrities

English professor Mary Ann Turner displayed her portraits of famous African-American celebrities as a part of Black History Month in a showcase entitled “Art of Living Black Exhibition.” Turner’s painting of actress Eartha Kitt, who played Cat Woman on the ‘Batman’ TV series, was inspired by the actress’ political courage, which is symbolized by the White House in the background. Other portraits in the exhibition were of Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday and Muhammad Ali. The exhibition was organized by Brynndah Hicks Turnbo and Vivian Davis, at left with Turner. Danyelle Roquemore/The Et cetera

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Panel discusses preparing student athletes for life By Chanel Jimenez etc4640@dcccd.edu

Young athletes often don’t know what they’re going to do once their sports careers are over. The African-American and Latino Male Initiative club hosted a panel that discussed that predicament and how athletes are being prepared for life after sports during the program “When the Season Ends and Real Life Begins” on Feb. 26. The panel was led by two local university basketball coaches and a former TCU athlete. “[Sports] should teach life lessons. It is all about preparing these guys for after basketball,” said UNT men’s basketball coach Rob Evans, who has been coaching college basketball for 27 years. “You’re not going to be playing basketball all your life. You are a professional athlete, then when you come out at age 34 you still have a long life [to work], so you have to be prepared for it.” Evans also explained the important role a coach can play in the life of a young athlete. “Some [kids] come from singleparent homes and don’t have role models,” he said. “You have to fig-

ure out what they need because you might be the last person that they talk to before they go into the real world.” Terrance Maiden, a former TCU football player, is the co-founder of Two-Wins Foundation, a non-profit organization that takes young black and Latino males to different companies and shows them various career opportunities. “Road to Success is a program where we take 150 students from different high schools and expose them, for instance, to the Omni Hotel and all the career options there,” he said. Maiden shared his experience in college and how difficult it was for him to declare a major because he was not aware of the opportunities available to him. “I didn’t declare a major until junior year and [did not start] networking until senior year,” he said. “[By that time] my peers were already ahead of me.” Ulric Maligi, an assistant basketball coach at SMU, hopes programs such as these will help young men realize there are a variety of career fields for black and Latino males to consider. “When I get the chance to make

NEWS

Briefs

DCCCD chancellor discusses his upcoming retirement

Kevin Cushingberry Jr./The Et cetera

From left, SMU assistant basketball coach Ulric Maligi, former TCU football player Terrance Maiden and UNT basketball coach Rob Evans discuss the opportunities awaiting athletes after the final whistle.

an impression, I show that I’m the first one in my family to get my degree,” he said. “I just try to change the culture and the mindset and try to expose these kids [to new things].” The panel also discussed programs can help athletes learn life skills. “We brought in a sports psychologist and it was unbelievable what came out,” said Evans, explaining that he was shocked to learn what his athletes were going through. “I’m trying to coach [these athletes] but how can I if I don’t know what is going on at home?” Brazile later explained that it is important for faculty, staff and

coaches to equip student athletes with the skills to go out and get a job. “We want to ensure that we are presenting our young minority males with a holistic perspective and outcomes that they can attain,” said speech professor Courtney Brazile said, adviser of the African-American and Latino Male Initiative. He also expressed the importance of teaching students the importance of giving back to the community. “If they do go pro and make millions, one day they should know that we become so that others may become … then go back and help bring another young guy,” he said.

During the March Board of Trustees meeting, DCCCD Chancellor Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr. confirmed that he will be retiring at the end of the year. If a successor is not chosen by then, he said he will continue working as chancellor until his replacement is found. A search committee has been established to find his successor, and a national search is planned. “Following my comments, the trustees took its first steps in the search process by unanimously electing board member Bob Ferguson to serve as chair of the search committee,” Lassiter said in a district-wide email March 6. Lassiter has worked with the district since 1986, when he was appointed president of El Centro College. He has been the district’s chancellor since 2006, overseeing a 20 percent growth in enrollment and the completion of a $450 million bond program. The search committee will discuss its search before its regular monthly meeting on April 2. — Caitlin Piper

Tuesday, April 9 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. • The Pit Bring your résumé! Dress to interview For more information, please contact Patsy Caropresi at 972-860-7038. 3737 Motley Dr. Mesquite, TX 75150 www.eastfieldcollege.edu/careers An equal opportunity institution.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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The Et Cetera

Web editor discusses social media marketing By Kevin Cushingberry etc4640@dcccd.edu

Social Media Do’s and Dont’s

A woman pulls out her camera and takes a photo of her dinner. She uploads the photo to Instagram, follows the restaurant on Twitter and likes it on Facebook, all in a matter of minutes. Those are just a few of the social media sites DCCCD Senior Web Editor Joanna Jordan spoke about during her presentation “Social Media Marketing: Yourself + Your Business” on Feb. 28. Others were Foursquare, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest. “Social media has made people equal with the brands,” she said. “For example, people on Facebook can ask questions to a brand now, something they couldn’t do in the past.” She said businesses are also establishing a voice on social media sites. “When you see a post by Old Spice on Twitter, you think of the man from their commercials with that masculine voice saying ‘Look at me. Now look at your man. Now back at me.’ He’s their voice right now,” Jordan said. Jordan then addressed the dark side of social media, telling the sto-

Be professional. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say at work or in a job interview.

Don’t post about anything illegal. If you’re under 21, don’t post a picture with alcohol.

Be positive. Don’t be a Debbie Downer. Nobody likes that Facebook friend.

Don’t make everything public. Everyone shouldn’t have access to your personal account.

Think like a boss. Would you want one of your employees posting that?

Remember there’s no privacy. Once you post something, it’s online forever.

Check your private settings. Know what others can and cannot see.

Don’t complain about your job. Your boss might be one of your friends.

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ry of Georgia High school English teacher Ashley Payne, who was fired after posting pictures on Facebook showing her holding alcoholic beverages. “I’m not saying this is right, that it should have happened, but it did,” Jordan said. “So you have to be care-

ful with what kind of things that you’re going to post.” Business professor Emilio Lopez said it’s important for students to learn what not to do on social media so they don’t waste a job opportunity. “They should know this stuff because the risk is their jobs,” Lopez

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said. “In today’s economic times, it’s too hard to get a job, and to lose one because of a bad picture that’s uploaded or a bad comment doesn’t make any sense.” Jordan also talked about ways to find jobs that people might not know about, such as groups and networks

on LinkedIn. She said networks consist of family, friends, former employers and anyone who can assist in finding job opportunities. “On LinkedIn, a job search is much narrower,” Jordan said. “They’re good jobs that people are paying to advertise.” She added that searching for hashtags on Twitter, such as #jobs and #careers, as well as following job accounts can produce job leads. “A Twitter account is a really good thing to have, especially when you’re looking for a job,” Jordan said. “They’re not going to pay to advertise these on Monster; these types of jobs are only being advertised on Twitter.” Business major Edward Tapia said students heed Jordan’s advice on social media do’s and dont’s. If they don’t, he said it may come back to haunt them. “It’s important for students to gain social media skills because you might have somebody who portrays themselves as someone who’s professional, of integrity and good character to an employer, but then you go on a social media site and it’s the complete opposite,” he said. “What you’re telling them no longer has any value.”

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Science Week

Genetics lab combines biology, forensics By Anjulie Van Sickle etc4640@dcccd.edu

Professor Danita Bradshaw-Ward worked with DNA sequencing and strands in newborn babies at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for several years before coming to Eastfield to teach biology, anatomy and genetics. Now, she is able to use her experience to teach students the importance of understanding how genetics works and how it relates to real-life situations. Through her experience at Baylor, BradshawWard is able to provide critical knowledge of genetics to the students and faculty in the Eastfield science department. On March 8, Bradshaw-Ward designed a tour of the college genetics lab in W-116 as a part of the Science Week. Although the lab has been available to science and forensics classes for almost two years, it is still somewhat of a secret on campus. “A lot of people don’t realize it’s here, because it is over here in the criminal justice building as opposed to the S building over in the biology department,” Bradshaw-Ward said. “I wanted to make more people aware of it.” The lab is used not only by science instructors, but also by the criminal justice and forensics programs. Similar to the television show CSI, the genetics lab doubles as a crime lab. Within it, students are able to learn techniques about how to solve crimes. “We wanted to have a genetics course to expand the biology offerings in general,” said biology professor Rik Post. “The reason we’re able to get the genetics lab set up is because it fits in with the forensics program and the criminal justice program

THE CRIME BEAT

Laptop stolen from library By Keturah Jones etc4640@dcccd.edu

Ana Nunez/The Et cetera

Danita Bradshaw-Ward shows students the different ways DNA is studied in the genetics lab.

here at the police academy.” DNA can be found anywhere in the body, Bradshaw-Ward explained during the tour, passing around a vial filled with a white, floating substance. It was the DNA of a strawberry. The students carefully held it, making sure not to drop it or shake it up, and passed it around the room. As she continued to go through the different stations she had set up in the lab, Bradshaw-Ward captivated her audience with explanations about DNA, its sequencing, chromosomes, genes and dominant and recessive traits. The students were able to take away a great deal of new information. “We only ever scratched the surface when we were learning about chromosomes and DNA,” bi-

ology major Zulema Martinez said. “This definitely showed us more of what goes down in genetics.” The science department hopes to expand the genetics lab and make students more aware of the classes offered on the subject. The thought is that if more students knew about the lab and the high-quality machinery available, more would be inclined to take the course. The ties with the criminal justice program can also make a difference in class enrollment. “We needed to have a genetics course to begin with, because biology is moving towards genetic everything,” Post said. “They can now do a DNA fingerprint using genetics. So, it helps the criminal justice students find out if someone did do a crime or not.”

A student’s laptop was recently stolen from the library when he briefly left it unattended to go to the restroom. Because the student acted quickly in reporting the theft, library employees were able to check the video camera footage and identify the thief. The laptop was recovered and an arrest was made. Dean Karla Greer of Educational Resources said many students are unaware that the library is equipped with security cameras. Although personal belongings are not the library’s responsibility, she said she has often alerted students to secure items such as purses, phones and tablets. Greer said student textbooks are sometimes the target of thieves, who take the books to the college bookstore and sell them for money. In other reports: n Feb. 15, 4:30 a.m.: Burglary at the Pleasant Grove campus. n Feb. 18, 1:20 p.m.: Disorderly conduct in N-220. An arrest was made. n Feb. 21, 6:40 p.m.: Assault by threat in the gym. A citation was given. n Feb. 27, 10 a.m.: Theft greater than $50 in the gym.

Star Party brings out the astronomer in students, staff

By Sidney Murillo etc4640@dcccd.edu

In 1610, Galileo gazed into the abyss of the night skies through his telescope. He observed stars, the moon and even Jupiter and its four moons. On March 7, students had the chance to experience a similar view, thanks to the Texas Astronomical Society, which brought two high-powered telescopes on campus for a Star Party as part of Science Week. The event was organized by physics and astronomy professor Dr. Kendra Wallace, who believes it’s not enough to learn about stars from books. She believes observation is the key to understanding astronomy. Public observing coordinators Kenneth Harrison and Greg Brody helped students and staff look

through two Meade Dobsonian telescopes at the Orion Nebula and Jupiter. Psychology major Eduardo Perez said looking at the stars closer than usual “makes space real.” Brody said that’s a common reaction for participants. “We basically do these star parties for whoever asks,” Brody said. “Very few people get to look through telescopes like these. Most people look at the sky and they say, ‘Oh, cool, a bunch of bright lights. But I don’t really know what’s up there.’ It’s for science awareness for the public more than anything.” The event was open to the public mainly to attract families and children. Getting children interested in astronomy at an early age is important, Brody said.

“I think that knowledge about math, science and engineering gives kids more options later in life,” said Vice President of Organizational Development Tom Graca, who brought his son, Adam, to the Star Party. Wallace said it’s important to have events like this so people can gain a grasp of the world at large. “It’s very difficult to even imagine the size in scale of the universe,” Wallace said. “Coming outside and observing the things you cover in class and seeing how you can observe a galaxy far away, even with a small telescope, can help excite people. It makes it more real.” President Jean Conway also enjoyed the event. “We need to learn about our environment and we need to learn about astronomy,” she said. “It’s important for everybody to experience.”

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Public observing coordinator from the Texas Astrological Society Kenneth Harrison helps student Ethan Chavez observe Jupiter.

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Helping horses, healing hearts

Rescue group unites horses, people with special needs By Ginny Morris etc4640@dcccd.edu

Death was written all over the skinny horse. Every bone stood out on her emaciated body. Her ragged yellow coat was covered with grime and dust. Her hair was thin — a scanty defense against the harsh chill of the December wind. Her matted white mane hung dully over her neck. Her tail drooped sadly. The mare was named Marigold. Starved, and ultimately abandoned by uncaring owners, she was finally taken to a place where she would be loved: Throwaway Ponies. Throwaway Ponies is a non-profit organization in Rockwall that rehabilitates abused horses and offers therapeutic riding classes for children who have also been abused or have mental disabilities. TaPs was started by Karen Bander in 2004 when the horses she was fostering for a rescue organization were not adopted and needed a home. Originally, she thought she would provide a sanctuary for a few old horses. It soon developed into much more. In 2007, TaPs became a nonprofit because the number of horses had become too large for Bander and her family to support on their own. By 2010, Bander’s 12-acre backyard was too crowded. She purchased 27 acres in Farmersville and moved some of the horses there. Today, TaPs cares for nearly 70 horses in two locations with no paid staff. A dedicated group of about 80 volunteers put in 4,000 hours of work last year to care for the animals. “[Our goal is] to offer a place where people and animals can come and feel accepted for who they are, where they are, but grow, change and realize a dream that they have,” said equine coordinator Kiki Teague. “The [volunteers] who end up staying are part of a family. We’re all drawn by these animals, but when it

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Karen Bander feeds Annie, a retired mare who lives a TaPs.

comes down to it, this group is really about the people.” Horses, mules and donkeys come to TaPs in many ways: They are brought in by the sheriff ’s department, donated by owners who can no longer take care of them or rescued after being abandoned. In some cases, owners who can’t afford to feed their horses ask TaPs to take them in. “If the sheriff finds them, he has three options,” Bander said. “Euthanize them; sell them at auction, which usually means they go to slaughter; or give them to a non-profit. The Rockwall County sheriff gives them to us. We try to stay within Rockwall and Hunt County because most of the places around here have an animal shelter that will take them in, but Rockwall and Hunt counties don’t.” Frequently, horses arrive underweight and scared of people. Some,

like one little mare named Jinger, have horrifying injuries. “She was attacked by dogs,” Teague said. “She was strung up on a barbed wire fence and being eaten alive by dogs when she was rescued. She had a patch on her side where all the muscle was gone between the skin and bone.” After Jinger’s physical injuries were healed, Teague began the process of healing her heart. She tied Jinger in the arena during the weekly Kids’ Club to help her relax around humans and other horses. Terrified at first, she slowly formed a relationship with one of the girls in the club. “By the time we were done with Kids’ Club, we had a girl on that horse riding her,” Teague said. “She was only 8 or 9 years old, but she bonded with that horse, and that horse trusted her and liked her. It

was because of that bond that Jinger started relaxing.” Last summer, a loving family that wanted a horse for barrel racing adopted Jinger. In the last three years, TaPs has rescued 71 horses and found permanent homes for more than 50. Since its beginning, TaPs has saved more than 250 horses. Funding is sometimes a challenge for TaPs. With nearly 70 horses in its care, some of whom require special medical care or training, the organization needs more than $7,000 a month to function. “We spent over $90,000 last year, and nobody gets a salary out of that,” Bander said. “That was for things like training, but most of it goes to taking care of the horses. If the horse is not sick, it costs $100 a month [per horse] to take care of them.” TaPs meets its financial needs by getting sponsorships from local businesses, holding fundraisers at local restaurants and hosting an annual golf tournament in May. They have also applied for grants. The five-year goal of the organization is to purchase between 50 and 100 acres in Rockwall County and build a permanent facility that will include paid therapists and workers to take care of the horses. In the past, TaPs has worked with several shelters for abused women and children to help them rebuild their confidence through therapeutic riding. Currently, they offer classes for children with mental disabilities. “We have a few kids with autism, and one with Down syndrome,” Bander said. “Our kids have to be able to stay on the horses they ride without us holding them on. If they can’t, they have to go to another facility. We also have a professional counselor that brings kids out here and does equine-assisted psychotherapy.” At TaPs, learning new skills and growing in a positive, safe and supportive environment is a priority for both horses and humans. Last year, TaPs had to discontinue the Kids’ Club program due to a lack of volunteers, but a new Horse Pairing program was implemented in January. Under the program, volun-

teers contribute $50 a month and help with small chores. In return, they are assigned a special horse, which they can teach basic skills, such as being haltered and groomed. This makes the horse more adoptable. “We help them set a goal of what they want to do with that horse, and then we help them meet that goal,” Teague said. “We’re basically here to answer questions and help you reach your goal, but not give you a lesson and hover over you.” The program socializes the horses and allows them to bond with a specific person. It also allows potential adopters to talk with someone who is familiar with the horse’s personality, which helps ensure a good match. “It’s been a really good experience to see the development [in the horses] and the character that this place holds,” said Bridget Lamm, a senior at Rockwall Heath High School who has been volunteering at TaPs for five months along with her mother, Mary. “It’s extraordinary. It makes my heart smile to see improvement in the horses each time we come.” Rachel Papson, a member of the Horse Pairing program who has been volunteering for two years, loves seeing the transformation in the horses. “Most people think if you have a horse you just want to ride it, but it’s also taking care of them,” she said. “That’s one of the things I love about TaPs. They teach you from the ground up.” As TaPs expands to help more people and horses, Teague said the most important challenge is to keep the unique, personal environment from getting lost in the process. “Karen created an environment here on this property where people feel welcome,” Teague said. “Where they felt they could be themselves. Where there were rules in place to keep you safe, but not so many rules that you felt you were being watched all the time and were going to get in trouble if you did something wrong. There’s a lot of forgiveness here. There’s a lot of joy here. That, to me, is the thing that’s going to be most important to protect and the biggest challenge we will have as we grow.”

LIFE & ARTS

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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Band of brothers

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Musicians find creativity through diversity By Anjulie Van Sickle etc4640@dcccd.edu

Even before they were teenagers, Kevin “K.J.” Gray and his younger brother Kwinton knew they wanted to become a part of the music industry. By 11, Kwinton had started to play piano and sing. By 13, K.J. had learned to play the acoustic guitar and was on his way to learning the bass. Together, the duo grew up playing their own music around the house as well as church. Now, however, they have moved out of their house and into the local music scene as part of a pop/soul group called Friday’s Foolery. One of their biggest fans is Dr. Oscar Passley, who heads up the college’s music program and has had the brothers in his classes for a few years now. He predicts that the brothers will make it big thanks to their hard work and dedication. “They’re very talented,” Passley said. “I could literally see them at the Grammys. It’s my job to give them the tools to be successful.” He described the brothers’ relationship as like peanut butter and jelly: when one is seen, the other isn’t too far behind. The band is made up of K.J. and Kwinton, as well as Brandon Price and JaQuay Morgan. They were all born and raised in the Dallas area and have plans to further their careers in the music industry and are currently working on releasing their first EP. K.J. plays bass, Kwinton plays keyboard, Price plays drums, and Morgan is the bands lead singer. Friday’s Foolery was formed a little over a year ago after a Friday night music practice at church. “We were having a little jam session, and we started playing the theme song from “Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers’ Kwinton said. “That’s how we came up with the name Friday’s Foolery.” Kwinton said there is a certain feeling of accomplishment in recording the band’s original music that he doesn’t get from practicing or performing covers. “It gave me a feeling that all the

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(From right to left) K.J., Kwinton, Brandon and JaQuay (bottom) make up the R & B group, Friday’s Foolery.

time I put into it turned into something better than I could have ever imagined,” K.J. said. After the EP is released this summer, they plan on performing locally and working toward a record deal. The band’s highlight thus far was

performing live for the first time at the GreenHouse restaurant in Denton. “The crowd’s response was really warm, and they really enjoyed what we were doing,” Kwinton said. “There were about 40-50 [people there], but

it was a small room, so it was a cool vibe.” The band’s influences include Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis and several other jazz and gospel singers. “We try to be as relative as possible

[with our music],” Morgan said. “We sing about love, current situations and things that people can relate to and be touched by. We try to include a message in each song.” All of the music they perform and record is original and is representative of their efforts to stay creative and true to themselves. “We don’t want to sell out on our morals or do something just because it’s popular,” Kwinton said. “We just want to be our own band and not copy anybody else.” The band’s motto has developed into “Creativity through Diversity.” “We have four different minds and four different opinions, and we all have to put them into one to get one product,” Kwinton said. “It’s really about patience and practice because it’s going to take time. You have to commit to the process of becoming what you want to be and not rushing it.” Like most musicians, there tend to be disagreements between band members. However, those arguments usually bring them closer and strengthen their ties. “If you have a band and you’re just going in there and butting heads the whole time, you’re not going to get anything accomplished,” K.J. said. “There has to be cooperation.” The members credit their determination, patience and practice for their success but also say they’ve gotten a lots of help from others, particularly their family. “Even at the very beginning, [our families] always encouraged and supported us,” Kwinton said. “I am extremely grateful for them.” K.J. said when there were slow points in rehearsals, his family would encourage the band to start practicing again. Eventually, the band members hope to leave their hometown and tour the world. They want to make their music available to anyone who will listen. “The reason why I wanted to start the band was because I wanted more people to hear my music,” Kwinton said. “I want my music to be something more, something to be remembered by whoever will listen to it. I want them to be able to feel the words.”

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Places to kick it during Spring Break During the week of Spring Break, students are either out of town or stuck at home surfing the front page of Reddit. Nestle into a happy medium with our spring break to-do list. Explore Dallas for a week and come back to school refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the semester.

Fruteria Cano

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Tiptoe through the tulips when you visit the Dallas Arboretum’s Dallas Blooms event during Spring Break.

Klyde Warren Park

2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Dallas 75201

Stretch your legs and walk about the central park in downtown Dallas. This 5.2-acre park has a variety of free activities including yoga, Zumba and YMCA boot camp.

Every day from noon to 5 p.m. there are food trucks like Relish, The Butcher’s Son, Crazy Fish, Gandolfo’s and Ruthie’s throughout the week of spring break. Visit the botanical gardens to get away from the bustling city life. The park is a great place to take a date or even take a casual stroll to clear your head.

8525 Garland Road Dallas 75218

As the days get warmer everyone will be looking for ways to cool down and hide from the hot Texas sun. Why not treat yourself to some refreshing fruit and assorted ice cream at an authentic Mexican fruteria? Fruteria Cano offers healthier snacks like their huge mangos with chili pepper powder and chamoy. The mangos are cut into a floral shape and put on a stick. Warning: These are spicy snacks so you should probably purchase an agua de sandia or fresh watermelon drink to cool it down.

The Dallas Museum of Art now has free admission. Walk down the halls of history and visit great works of art on a lazy afternoon. From now through May 26, the museum is hosting an exhibit exploring the works of Russian artist Marc Chagall. His pieces include ceramics, paintings and costumes used in the ballet “Aleko.” The Dallas Museum of Art is the only venue in the country currently displaying his work.

Geocaching

Dallas Arboretum

800 South Beacon St. Dallas 75223

Dallas Museum of Art

1717 N. Harwood St. Dallas 75201

Welcome in the spring season with a trip to the Dallas Arboretum. From now until April 7, the Dallas Arboretum will host Dallas Blooms. Every year the arboretum plants a whole color spectrum of flowers. From tulips to lilies, daisies and forget-me-nots, you can enjoy an assortment of Mother Earth’s gifts. Bring along sandwiches and Izze sodas for a picnic. There will also be a Spring Tea after Spring Break on April 5 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (214) 515-6511 to make a reservation.

Let your inner pirate out with a few friends and go on a geocaching adventure somewhere in the Metroplex. Geocaching is a fun and modern form of treasure hunting. It involves searching for random item with only coordinates for clues. You can download the free Geocaching Toolkit iGCT app to your iPhone to help navigate your way through an area. There are websites such as geocaching.com that are devoted to giving hints and coordinates to help adventurers find their way to the hidden treasures. — Compiled by Sidney Murillo

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Gun proposals will not protect Americans

Editor In Chief Danyelle Roquemore Managing Editor Anjulie Van Sickle Opinion Editor Caitlin Piper Life & Arts Editor Sidney Murillo Sports Editor Kevin Cushingberry Jr. Photo Editor Odessa Leeper Online/Social Media Editor Miguel Padilla Copy Editor Enrique Morales Staff Writers Billy Dennis Jr. Chanel Jimenez Keturah Jones Ginny Morris Taylor Wallace

OUR VIEW

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Graphics & Layout Chadney Cantrell Alex Kennedy Braulio Tellez Contributors Claudia Guerra David Karczewski Gereneicia Taylor Student Publications Manager Lori Dann Faculty Adviser Caitlin Stanford 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. 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 must be 250 words or fewer. Letters may be delivered to Room N-240 or emailed 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.

‘Act your race’ comments just perpetuate ignorance In the past 50 years, the Western world has experienced some dramatic changes regarding the perception of race and ethnicity. While public discrimination and prejudice have not disappeared, our nation no longer considers them socially acceptable. Despite this progress, racial stereotyping is depressingly common. Stereotypes are harmful because they reinforce the idea that people who belong to certain groups should act a certain way, regardless of how individuals think and act. We will never understand how attending college and graduating with a degree is inherently a “white” thing, a view some narrow-minded people still hold. Intelligence is not determined by race, and anyone, regardless of ethnicity, should be granted the opportunity to further his or her education. Anyone who tells you otherwise is only striving to put down an entire group because of their ignorant assumptions. Pursuing a degree has never been something to be ashamed of. It makes no sense when people of the same racial group can call other members of that group “too white” or “too black,” “not a true Latino” or “not a true Asian,” just because they don’t fit the stereotypical mold.

The entire point of racial equality is just that — equality for all races. Equality will never be achieved if so many people continue to insist that each race should stick to a strict set of rules. Just as not all black people sag their pants and speak in ebonics and not all Asian people are math whizzes, not all white people are wealthy college graduates with a number of degrees under their belts. When someone encourages a person to conform to their own expectations just because they are of a certain race, they are treating that person less like an individual and more like something that should be categorized in order to fit into their limited view of the world. Doing this only widens the gap between races, strengthening stereotypes and, ultimately, promoting ignorance and intolerance. It causes people to judge others by their ethnicity or the color of their skin, which is something we as a society have been working to escape for several decades. You may think you’re just making a harmless jab at someone when you say they need to be more like others of their race, but you’re only serving to ostracize them.

Due to recent tragedies such as the Sandy Hook school shooting and Jared Loughner’s assassination attempt on Arizona Sen. Gabrielle Gifford, our government is attempting to implement new restrictions on the purchase of guns. These new laws include universal background checks for anyone wanting to buy a gun. People who own gun shops and sell independently will also have to undergo a background check in order to buy and sell weapons. Other laws under consideration include the use of smaller ammo clips and a requirement for gun owners to register their weapons. Previously, it was only required for the individual to pass a background check and register their name into the database. If these new laws are passed, the gun owner and their weapon would be added into the system. I do believe universal background checks would benefit society. This would give us a better idea of who is buying and selling these weapons to make sure they do not end up in the wrong hands. However, I’m against registering weapons. Knowing who has a gun isn’t going to prevent that person from using it. I am also against the change from a high-capacity magazine to a single shot or lower-ammunition clip. If someone knows how to properly use a weapon, it does not matter how much ammunition it can hold. Lives can still be lost if a gun is put in the wrong hands. I think putting more government restrictions on our choices as American citizens will destroy our rights. I also think it will only waste dollars that we do not have. Furthermore, it will be nearly impossible to keep track of everyone who owns a weapon. We should create laws that make sense, rather than waste taxpayer dollars on strategies that do nothing but create a false sense of security for the American people.

Opinion

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Women can thrive outside society’s box The role of a woman is often defined in black and white terms: She is either a timid, subservient, antifeminist housewife or a bra-burning, man-hating radical feminist. With these two extremes, it’s hard to be comfortable and confident as a woman, because it is difficult to decipher exactly what society expects of us. The funny thing is, I don’t personally know any women who fit into just one of those two molds; they’re all somewhere in the middle, overcoming obstacles in both fields. A good friend of mine is very liberal in her views on gender roles, but she is also a stay-at-home mom.

Danyelle Roquemore

She made the decision to stay home, and not because her husband forced her to. She chose to watch her daughters grow up and be more involved in their lives than she would have been if she had a full-time job. Conversely, my mother is moderately conservative, believing in more traditional gender roles, but she has

been a single mom most of my life. She worked two jobs because she didn’t feel like she had to have a man to help her raise my sister and me. Since I have seen women flourish in the middle of the spectrum, I believe both radical feminists and anti-feminists do women a disservice because both groups put women in a box. They make it seem like we have to be on one side or the other for fear of not fitting a certain mold. When one woman attacks another, they’re minimizing all the efforts women before us have made. We have to stop tearing each other down just because someone else has

a different family dynamic or belief about gender roles. We have to lift our fellow women up and support them in whatever role they decide to take on. Women can do anything they want to because we are versatile; our roles are ever-changing. We can be wives, mothers, or breadwinners. Or all three. And we can be happy fulfilling all of those roles. I believe women can be business executives, good wives, and loving mothers all at the same time, if that’s what they choose to spend their lives doing. Our minds and bodies are strong, and that’s something that isn’t often

celebrated in our culture. But it should be. Women aren’t weaklings who need protection and to be locked away in a house; we are social creatures with problem-solving skills that can be utilized in the workplace as well as in the home. In the corporation I work for, many of the successful women are also mothers who have learned how to solve problems from years of experience with their children. I plan on being a mother, a wife and a business professional because, as a woman, I am entitled to make that decision and I have the power to do so.

Music addiction Thank you, but no thank you; requires restraint I’ll raise my child how I please

I am a music addict. I love my addiction for the pleasure it brings, yet I hate it for how much of my time it consumes. Because of this constant listening, I can recall any song after enough exposure to it. I can play all the songs I want in my mind, without an iPod, cellphone or stereo. By setting my own words to music, I can even remember more of my obligations than I would otherwise, allowing me to plan my day appropriately to meet my priorities. I especially enjoy reclining in bed to music. Some days, I don’t want to do anything else. I feel tempted to blow off my duties all the time and just rock. I sometimes give in to the temptation, resulting in incomplete essays, lack of studying and unmet commitments. I always feel horrible afterward and, after failing a paper dismally, set up guidelines to manage my addiction. I find my methods do help. I hope other addicts can benefit from them as well. First, I have duration limits, usually about 30-45 minutes long, as that lets me listen to an album. Without a limit, minutes turn

Enrique Morales

to hours and one task turns into millions. Second, all of my obligations must be met or be on the way to being met before I may listen to music. This gives me an added bonus as I then can worry less. Finally, motivational chants like “After all your work is done, you will enjoy music more.” Though seemingly childish, are moraleboosting while working. I do feel fortunate in one regard: My addiction does not physically harm me. Unlike other addictions, I do not lose brain cells or blacken my lungs when I fulfill my desire. Instead, I feel enraptured, inspired and motivated. I feel that way when I hear beautiful songs. They are songs that bear so many nuances and euphonies. I want to hear them over and over again. So, overall, I feel lucky to be a music addict. Music enriches my life with beauty. I feel I’d lack without it.

When my daughter was born, I wasn’t prepared for all the changes that followed. You have to be able to take a lot when you’re a new mom, and that includes knowing what advice to accept from others. Since day one, my mother has been a constant nagger about what I should and shouldn’t do when it comes to raising my daughter. Since we live 30 minutes away from each other, it’s easy to ignore her over the phone. But when she did visit, all I heard was “give her this,” “don’t do that” and “maybe you should try this.” At first, I told myself that mother knows best. After all, she’s done this before. But this is my baby. I grew tired of hearing my mom put her two cents in. One day, I snapped. “Stop telling me what to do,” I

Let your voice

Claudia Guerra

said. “She’s my baby, and I know what I’m doing!” I didn’t like yelling at my mom. After all, she was only trying to help. However, she did finally get the hint. After that, she calmed down and let me take charge. It didn’t stop there, though. Sometimes friends will comment on how well their baby is progressing, making you wonder what you’re doing wrong if your baby isn’t developing as quickly. I finally realized that I will always hear from others about how I should

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care for my baby. It won’t always be what I want to hear, but most people do it because they believe they are being helpful, and think they know more than you because they’ve already been though the experience. They might mean well, but it can get overwhelming to a new mother when she is constantly hearing what she should be doing instead of how well she is doing. The best advice I can offer is to simply smile and say “Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.” No one knows what is best for your baby better than you. Advice from others is always helpful, and the best part is that you don’t always have to apply it to you. So even though I might be boiling on the inside from this constant advice from others, I’ve learned that this is something all mothers go through.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Captain hopes to harvest championship By Kevin Cushingberry Jr. etc4640@dcccd.edu

When he came to Eastfield in the fall of 2010, Brock Hunter wasn’t sure if he would ever play the game he loved again. After playing the past two years for the Harvesters, the sophomore guard hopes to end his career with an NJCAA Division III basketball championship this week in New York. Hunter, who played for Naaman Forest High School in Garland and graduated in the spring of 2010, said he was unsure of his future when he first enrolled in classes at Eastfield. “After high school, I didn’t have any offers, so I quit,” Hunter said. “I was just going to school. I still practiced because I love the game, but nobody wanted to give me a chance.” Hunter’s father convinced him to try out for the basketball team at Eastfield. “He just said, ‘Try out for the team and see what happens,” Hunter said. “[Coach Anthony Fletcher] told me, ‘I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll let you try out.’” More than 100 students try out for the basketball team every season, but Hunter’s work ethic stood out. “He was always in the gym, working out,” Fletcher said. Hunter made the team and, after starting several games during the second half of his first season, gained honorable mention all-conference recognition. This season, he was elected captain and was named second-team all-conference honors. “It’s a lot more responsibility,” Hunter said on being captain. “It’s positive, though, because people listen and respect me because of it.”

Raul Carrington/The Et cetera

Sophomore guard Brock Hunter, right, hopes to end his career with a national title.

Hunter averaged 10 points, six rebounds and four assists this season, placing in the top three on the team in all three categories. He scored 27 points against Cedar Valley, helping the Harvesters clinch the Metro Athletic Conference title. He then helped Eastfield secure a berth in the national championship tournament, with 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the Region V tournament championship. Hunter said this season was much different

than his first, when he had to prove himself to a new group of teammates. “It was real tough,” he said. “Nobody really liked me, so I was just out there. I was just playing as hard as I could until I made each and everybody respect me.” Fletcher said Hunter’s determination to succeed fueled his improvement that first season. “It doesn’t just happen overnight,” Fletcher said. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into

it. Brock really used that year to get better and work. Guys get better with age when you’re talking about mental maturity, physical maturity, being around the game and playing more and more. He’s been really good because he really wants it a lot.” Hunter wasted no time preparing for his sophomore season. He was in the gym the same day his freshman season ended, and then he gathered teammates David Bonner, Andrew Maxie, Quinton Jones and Mike Love to talk about their goals for the 2012-13 season. “Over the summer we did nothing but play basketball,” he said. “We bonded a lot. Basketball is more than just a sport. It builds friendships that made us all come together, which is why we gel so much on the court.” Love said Hunter is someone he would want on his dream team. “He’s the type of player that, if everything’s going wrong, he’s going to bring the team back,” Love said. “He always boosts the morale of the team and helps keep us on track.” Fletcher said the way the team bonded during the offseason was crucial to winning the Region V championship. “The work the players put in over the summer is huge,” Fletcher said. “During those three months, 90 days of just putting in work, you can come a long way as a player.” Hunter said the team’s ability to work together has changed drastically since last season. “Last year we had good players, but we really didn’t share the ball,” he said. “This year, we don’t care who takes the credit. If [sophomore guard Demarcus Metcalf] scores 30, we’re proud. If I score 30, we’re proud. We just want to win the game.”

Harvesters shoot for three more wins, national title

By Kevin Cushingberry Jr. etc4640@dcccd.edu

Even before the season began, back in October when they were only scrimmaging each other, the basketball team focused on one thing: a trip to New York. Now, after finishing their season with a 26-4 record (10-2 in conference play) and claiming the Region V championship, the Harvesters are realizing that dream. They left Tuesday for Loch Sheldrake, N.Y., where they will compete for the national championship at the NJCAA Division III Elite Eight tournament. “We’re looking forward to getting these last three wins,” sophomore

guard Brock Hunter said. “We just need to work hard and stay focused when we get up there.” The Harvesters are trying to win their second national championship in team history. In 1997, coach Bob Flickner, now a physical education professor at the college, led Eastfield to its first title. This year’s team, ranked No. 5 in the latest national poll, is led by coach Anthony Fletcher, who came to Eastfield in 2005 and will be making his first Elite Eight appearance. “It’s been a lot of hard work,” Fletcher said. “This coaching staff has put in eight good years of hard work, and the players have put in hard work as well.”

Fletcher said several players have made sacrifices for the team. “You look at Michael Love, who redshirted last year,” Fletcher said. “He’s been a key piece to what we’re doing and we asked him to redshirt last year for this reason here, to contribute to a championship team.” Eastfield’s baseball team was crowned World Series champions in 2011. Now the basketball players believe it’s their turn. “I’m ready to bring back some more of that NJCAA hardware,” freshman forward Andrew Maxie said. “We got the regular season and the Region V trophies. Now it’s time for a national championship.” The tournament will be hosted by

Sullivan County Community College. Teams from seven states will compete in the tournament. Firstround games begin on Thursday; Eastfield plays in Game 1 at 11 a.m. against the winner of the Region VII tournament. The game will be shown on the TV in The Pit. The players are looking forward to the New York experience. “I’m ready to try one of those New York hot dogs, New York pizza or something,” Maxie said. “Crab legs with the heavy butter.” Following their win in the Region V tournament championship, several Harvesters were honored with postseason awards. Sophomore point guard Semar Farris was crowned

Metro Athletic Conference MVP, and Maxie won Freshman of the Year honors. Both players were also named to the all-region first team and are all-American nominees. Hunter was a second team allconference selection, while sophomore guard Demarcus Metcalf was a third-teamer, and Oscar Lewis and Love were both honorable-mention picks. Eastfield President Dr. Jean Conway, Assistant to the President Sharon Cook, Dean of Science Dr. Gretchen Riehl and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success Michael Gutierrez will travel to New York to support the team.

15 The Et Cetera

www.eastfield.com

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Jonathan’s World By Jonathan Wences

It Could Be Worse By Joelle Goosen

‘They Breathe’ is a fresh breath of air The Gamer Z ne

By Caitlin Piper etc4640@dcccd.edu

Developed by Swedish indie game studio The Working Parts and originally released on the Xbox Live Indie Games marketplace on Dec. 6, 2011, “They Breathe” is quite an interesting little game. It has game mechanics that should feel very familiar to fans of the 2D shoot ’em ups of the 90s, and yet it is presented in such a way that it is unlike anything I have ever experienced in a game. There are no tutorials, there is no Heads Up Display, and the only bit of text to be found in the entire game is on the title screen. There is no dialogue, there are no cutscenes, and until a recent update, you could not save your game. But I suppose that’s not enough to make a game unique. What sets “They Breathe” apart from so many other indie games on the market is its atmosphere and sense of mystery, its ability to tell a genuinely unsettling story without ever saying a word. You play as a nameless, depressed little frog who has decided to dive into an underwater forest for reasons left

unexplained. As he makes his way farther and farther down, weaving through submerged trees and floating branches and gathering air bubbles in order to breathe, he finds that he is not alone. Bizarre, moose-like predators have taken up residence in these waters, and are intent on dragging our hero down to the forest floor for their own nefarious purposes. Like the frog, they drown after some time, but they will not go down without a chase. There are other frogs beneath the surface, floating helplessly and in need of rescue. Without the player to guide them to the air bubbles, they will either drown or be devoured by the creatures. Thus, the player is presented with a dilemma: Rescue the other frogs and sacrifice our air supply, or ignore our drowning friends and take the air for ourselves as we try to escape from

the moose? “They Breathe” does an excellent job building tension between encounters with the moose, mostly aided by some truly phenomenal sound design. This is definitely a game that should be played with the lights turned down and the sound up. The only proper music to be found here plays at the beginning and end of the game. The rest of the time, we are accompanied by soft underwater splashing and gurgling, which, strangely enough, disappears once the moose are on-screen, and grows more noticeable as the frog approaches the forest floor. The arrival of a moose is preceded by a muted explosion at the bottom of the ocean and a brief, haunting cry largely reminiscent of a whale song. When the frog is near death, his heart will begin to pound, louder and louder and faster and faster, until a moose manages to drag his body offscreen and into the deep. All of this leads up to a truly disturbing twist, that of which I dare not spoil here. That’s not to say the game is perfect. To begin with, it is incredibly

short. You can beat the game in 15 minutes if you know what you’re doing — though I suppose stretching it out any more would feel forced. It has almost no replay value, and while it doesn’t destroy the experience, “They Breathe” can be quite challenging at points, especially if you want to save all the frogs. Personally, I think the last point adds to the tension, but it is because of this that I cannot recommend “They Breathe” to everyone. Regardless, if you’re a fan of beautiful, hand-drawn artwork and great storytelling, I cannot recommend “They Breathe” enough. It is clear that a lot of love and effort went into this game, and it breathes life into the otherwise dull Xbox Live Indie Game marketplace. PC versions are also available for purchase at IndieCity and Desura.

The Et Cetera

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Class of 2010

Meet Chris

or Chris of Austin, Texas, attending A&M-Commerce was the logical choice to continue his education after hearing great things about the university from his professors at Collin College, many of whom were A&M-Commerce alumni.

“All of my [community college] professors expected nothing less from me than to get my bachelor’s degree,” Chris said. “A&M-Commerce had the only commercial photography program with a strong network of alumni who are active in the Dallas photo community. It would not be unfair to say that A&M-Commerce alumni make up a large part of the Dallas commercial photography scene.” Chris’ love for photography was spurred shortly after returning to school. He took a black and white film photo course to fulfill an art requirement and quickly discovered an undeniable passion for photography. At A&M-Commerce, Chris was happy to find a student advising staff that works tirelessly to help each student transition into life at A&M-Commerce, and find their way to graduation. “As a photographer, the sky is the not really the limit for me,” Chris said. “It’s been a pretty amazing ride…one day I am serving my country the next I am photographing magazine covers!!!”

SCAN thiS QR CODE to learn more about Chris, watch his video profile and learn how texas A&M University-Commerce can change your future.

WWW.TAMUC.EDU • 903.886.5000 or 888.868.2682 A Member of the texas A&M University System