Eastfield Et Cetera May 4, 2022

Etera Dallas College Eastfield Campus

Students celebrate hard-earned diplomas at GradFest See page 3

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Painting for justice Jeremy Biggers uses his art to tell powerful stories See pages 6-7

Volume 53, Issue 9

2

NEWS

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

@TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

O’Rourke says Texans are struggling, vows change

By HARRIET RAMOS Editor in Chief @TheEtCetera

Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke spoke to a group of Dallas employees and community members at North Lake April 21.

O’Rourke, sporting a dark blue Dallas College baseball cap, shared his vision for improving jobs, public education and expanding Medicaid access across the state. His visit to North Lake was one of several rallies intended to boost support for his campaign.

“If you’re working two jobs to make ends meet, if you have to take on that third shift to put food on the table, pay for medication, keep a roof over your head, that is pretty hard to do,” O’Rourke said. “And too many people right now are struggling in the state of Texas.”

O’Rourke and Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott will face off at the general election Nov. 8. Abbott is seeking a third term in office.

O’Rourke accused Abbott of focusing on controversial policies like limiting abortion access for women and voting restrictions instead of things that are important to all Texans like jobs, education and healthcare.

“When we win this thing, we’re going to get our priorities right,” O’Rourke said.

O’Rourke said his number one priority as governor would be jobs, and he praised Dallas College’s early college high school program, saying that it gives students a head start on their careers.

“So how about we take the lead that you all have provided here at Dallas College . . . [and] extend it across Texas,” O’Rourke said. “So that every graduating young person has the skills and education they need to work the kind of jobs that give them purpose over the course of their lives.”

If O’Rourke does win in November, he will be the first Democratic governor in the state of Texas since 1995. Another one of O’Rourke’s priorities is improving public education, and he said that starts with increasing support for teachers. He proposed raising teacher’s salary by a minimum of $7,500 per year.

“What if we paid every single educator in the state of Texas enough so that they didn’t work a second job and can fully focus on the job they have before them right now?”

O’Rourke said.

O’Rourke responds to questions from the crowd about abortion rights and heath care access.

Amy Carrillo, an Irving resident, came to find out more about O’Rourke’s plans to help Texans.

“Mainly I’m interested in funding more for education, so that’s one of the main reasons,” she said.

Bedford resident Jan Morgan said O’Rourke is the best candidate for the state. She doesn’t agree with Abbott’s immigration policies, referring to Abbott’s recent move to bus migrants to Washington D.C. to make the Biden administration take responsibility for them.

“I’m very concerned,” Morgan said. “I think [O’Rourke’s] heart is in the right place. I think his perspective is what we need. I’m not seeing it with the current administration, so I’m hoping and praying that yes, there will be a change.”

Kimberly Cruz, a Tarrant County College student, also came out to support O’Rourke. This will be the first election she will participate in, and plans to cast her vote for him.

“I feel like this is a change that we need,” Cruz said. “I know Beto would certainly help us move towards that path.”

Some of Cruz’s family are immigrants, and she said that is the issue that is closest to her heart.

“I’m going to support [O’Rourke] because I know that he’s going to spread love, not hate,” Cruz said.

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

O’Rourke says better jobs for Texans would be his number one priority if elected governor.

3

NEWS The Et Cetera

eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Graduates celebrate achievements at GradFest

By CARLOS GUZMAN Managing Editor @TheEtCetera

Criminal justice major Angela Westley came to GradFest with her two small children and a sense of relief.

She approached a table marked for alumni, satisfied to be part of Eastfield’s class of 2022.

After juggling being a full-time mother, employee and college student for three years, Westley is graduating with her associate degree in criminal justice.

“My husband always teased me about it,” Westley said. “He goes, ‘hey, you’ve been in school for as long as we’ve been together.’ I say it’s true, but there’s no rush in doing anything.”

Westley is graduating with a near-perfect GPA. Organizations like Phi Theta Kappa noticed Westley’s success and invited her into the group.

Although the stress of parenting and academics hasn’t wound down for Westley, she’s determined to wrap up her associate degree at Eastfield.

“Online classes definitely made it easy for me,” Westley said. “It gave me the opportunity to be flexible with my schedule.”

Although Westley took the occasional inperson class, she owes her success to online classes, which she always jumps on the opportunity to apply for.

“I honestly prefer online because I’m still holding my children,” Westley said. “I’m able to be a mother and get everything done.”

daughter. They were looking through photo albums, and her daughter noticed the lack of graduation photos.

With her daughter starting school, Westley wants her achievement to give her daughter more avenues for success.

“I don’t want her to idolize that she has to go to college to be successful,” Westley said.

Although Westley doesn’t disapprove of her daughter going to college, she doesn’t want her children to experience a journey like hers. The hardest part for Westley was applying for college, having to consider finances and being there for her children.

Another obstacle for Westley was re-entering the swing of education.

“It can be discouraging when you go into that [testing] room and they say, ‘you didn’t pass,’” Westley said. “It was for me.”

Westley hasn’t decided where to continue her education, but she doesn’t plan to slow down.

“Despite what that test may say, keep moving,” Westley said. “Keep going forward.”

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Angela Westley talks about why she chooses online classes at Eastfield and how it makes her flexible for her family.

Outside of Eastfield, Westley tries to be a good wife and mother.

“My daughter is motivation and a blessing for me,” Westley said.

Westley was inspired to apply for college after a conversation with her four-year-old

Time to unwind

Information technology major Herbeth Cerritos stood in line for the photo booth at GradFest, raring for a chance to photograph himself in a cap and gown.

From cap decoration tables to snack booths, GradFest featured spaces for graduates to celebrate their upcoming graduation. Students like Cerritos waited patiently for the opportunity to memorialize overcoming academic hardship.

“I’m here to celebrate my academic accomplishments from over the years,” Cerritos said.

“I’ve been under a lot of stress, and I feel like I deserve to relax.”

Cerritos is receiving his associate of applied science. After starting his studies at Eastfield with low grades, Cerritos’ graduation marks the culmination of an academic rebound, a feat he owes to his teachers and fellow students.

“I found great motivation for my classes,” Cerritos said. “Now I’m in love with learning.”

Cerritos initially struggled to find motivation for his studies, frustrated with online classes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Counselors and professors began to check in with Cerritos when his grades declined. They kept encouraging him to stay on top of his classwork.

“I didn’t have anyone to talk to,” Cerritos said. “I was just by myself. I felt like no one cared for me.”

One way Cerritos built motivation was by opting for in-person classes when Eastfield began reopening.

“Whenever I started attending in-person classes, that’s when everything changed for me.”

Cerritos said.

Cerritos attended in-person classes because it gave him the opportunity to socialize and do hands-on work. It was easier for him to communicate with his professors as well.

Cerritos grew his social circle, and his peers routinely encouraged him to continue his See STUDENTS, page 5

Board of trustee candidates present conflicting visions

By HARRIET RAMOS Editor in Chief @HarrietRamosETC

Dallas resident Bob Burns came to the Brookhaven Dallas College Board of Trustees candidate forum with several questions.

He wants to support the candidate who would be best for Dallas College, but he said he’s not sure who the best candidate is.

“We’re hearing so many conflicting stories,” Burns said. “We just wanted to get everybody in one room and see if we could make a decision of who’s telling us the truth.”

Candidates for Dallas College Board of Trustees districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 are running for election May 7.

In District 1, incumbent Gretchen Williams is defending her seat against Lynn Davenport and Catalina Garcia.

District 2 incumbent Phil Ritter is defending his seat against Eugene

Robinson. In District 3, incumbent Dorothy Zimmermann is stepping down, leaving an opening for Soji John and Paul Mayer to compete for.

District 4 incumbent Monica Lira Bravo stands uncontested.

All the candidates, with the exception of John and Lira Bravo, answered questions at public forums held at Richland on April 11 and Brookhaven on April 19.

Burns said the candidates’ statements about what is happening at Dallas College conflict with each other.

One point of contention among the candidates is the consolidation into one college. Incumbents Ritter and Williams insist the merger saved the college millions of dollars and was a positive change.

“It’s one that will put us in the future and make us one of the best systems in the country,” Williams said.

Davenport and Robinson say it was a complete failure which cost the

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Candidates for the Dallas College Board of Trustees gather at the Brookhaven Campus’ performance hall. They discussed current issues and what actions should be taken in front of a live audience on April 19.

college $18 million in consulting fees and another $12 million in payments to staff who were laid off.

“I don’t understand how you can

justify the decrease in students [and] increase in spending,” Davenport said. “And where’s the fruit?”

Another area of disagreement sur-

rounds the dual credit, early college high school and P-TECH programs at Dallas College.

“That is putting the cart before the horse where the students are really not getting what they need in K-12,” Davenport said. “So then they’re having to be remediated at the college level.”

Robinson, a former Dallas College employee and adjunct professor, claims the reason he was laid off in 2014 and his program dissolved was to make funds available for early college high school programs.

Ritter said that is false.

“The suggestion that money was taken from his bucket . . . to fund early college, it’s just not true,” Ritter said.

Dallas Independent School District trustee Dustin Marshall said the early college high school programs are producing excellent results in

See TRUSTEE, page 5

4

NEWS

Wednesday, May, 4, 2022

@TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

Advocating for victims of human trafficking

By MOIRA McINTEE and LONDY RAMIREZ Contributors @TheEtCetera

A 17-year-old girl checks into the emergency room, pregnant with her third child. She avoids eye contact with staff, and the person she’s with has control over her personal belongings.

Improperly healed broken bones and other injuries are evident, but no one stops her from leaving the hospital after giving birth with the father of her children, 13 years her senior.

These are signs of human trafficking that can easily go unnoticed when people don’t know what to look for, according to panelists at Cedar Valley’s “Stop Human Trafficking” event on April 12.

With over 10,000 cases of human trafficking reported in the United States in 2021, 987 came from Texas, according to theNational Human Trafficking Hotline.

“We are at a crisis of mass proportions,” said Joe Seabrooks, president of Cedar Valley. “However, we are not going to be able to tackle a crisis as huge as stopping human trafficking without forming the relationships needed to be able to impact the people who are suffering.”

Human trafficking is not a new crime, but the strategies to combat it are constantly changing.

Dallas Sheriff Marian Brown, one of the panelists at the event, said human trafficking is nothing more than modern day slavery.

“We also had to realize that human trafficking was a lucrative criminal enterprise,” Brown said. “And that to really effect change, we had to affect the profitability.”

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 is the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking. Using a three-pronged approach, the law aims to prevent the offense, protect the victims and provide them with resources, and prosecute the perpetrators.

Special Agent Sarolyn Morgan, victim assistance specialist for Homeland Security Investigations, said there are many false assumptions surrounding trafficking.

“Many people are under the myth or the assumption that [the victim] has to be someone that is undocumented or from another country,” Morgan said. “That is not so because over 80% of the individuals that are trafficked are United States citizens.”

MATTHEAU FAUGHT/THE ET CETERA

Tonya Stafford, founder of the nonprofit organization It’s Going To Be Okay, and a former trafficking victim herself, uses her personal experience to navigate the nuances of this crime.

“When I was taken, nobody looked for me, nobody was doing the right thing for me,” Stafford said.

“And during those 10 years I was raped, beaten and almost killed, but I survived.”

Now with a trauma-informed staff and counseling centers at her disposal, she tries to help victims who are suffering through the same abuse and neglect she did.

But not all victims are eager to be saved by people like Stafford. With the promise of housing and food and consistent threats from their abuser, accepting help from the outside can be frightening without the guarantee of substantial support.

Morgan, working in conjunction with the surrounding community,

set up large rescue missions for these individuals.

“The whole goal was to get them away from the traffickers [and] to offer them assistance and support comprehensively,” Morgan said. “We had clothing, and we had housing set up for them.”

In spite of these efforts, Morgan said only three of the 46 individuals who were recovered were immediately receptive to these services.

Many victims have accrued a long criminal record because of the situations they have been forced into.

Prostitution, drug use and distribution, and theft are crimes many victims are found guilty of while being trafficked.

Bianca Davis, CEO of the nonprofit agency New Friends New Life, said corporate, legal and community partnerships are important to rectify these situations for the women she assists.

“She is guilty on some levels by

appearance,” Davis said of the typical victim she encounters. “She will not admit what he has done to her, so she’s backed into a wall. She’s pressured to accept responsibility because she’s looking at a death sentence from him if she gives law enforcement information.”

However, thanks to a partnership with the district attorney’s office, Davis can offer these victims a pre-trial agreement. For example, a woman who was forced into sex work by her abuser and picked up on a misdemeanor prostitution charge now has the option to enroll in the New Friends New Life phase program and have her record put up for expulsion.

“This provides a long-term clearing path for her,” Davis said. “Now she can get a job without having to check the box that says ‘con.’ Now she can apply for housing.”

Matt Osborne, leader of the New Friends New Life advocacy group, said he works to prevent human traf-

ficking at the source. He coordinates a group of 100 men in North Texas as they take action against sexual trafficking and the exploitation of women and girls through advocacy, education and volunteerism.

Osborn said the journey to becoming a buyer and trafficker involves many steps. A man doesn’t just wake up one day and say he is going to buy another human being.

“The first few steps are objectifying women, disrespecting women,” Osborne said.

Brown encouraged the audience to support victims of human trafficking in any capacity they are able.

“With continued training, with continued awareness and relevant laws, we here in Dallas County and throughout the state and throughout this country can indeed combat this crime,” Brown said. “And again, we encourage everyone if you see something, say something. Let’s keep up the fight. We can win this battle.”

5

NEWS The Et Cetera

eastfieldnews.com

Jobs on tap: Brewing program relaunches

By CARLOS GUZMAN Managing Editor @TheEtCetera

Peter Boettcher is nearing his 40th year in the brewing industry. He’s worked in leadership positions for brewing companies such as Miller, Coors, Pacific Western and Abita.

Boettcher is currently the head brewer at Legal Draft Brewery in Arlington, but he doesn’t settle in his occupation. He shares his expertise with students as the founder and master brewer for Eastfield’s brewing program.

“I’m very happy we’re back with Dallas College,” Boettcher said. “I think this program belongs in a community college.”

Eastfield’s brewing program was closed due to the pandemic. The program relaunched in March after students and local breweries praised the program for being a gateway into the brewing industry.

“Breweries ask us all the time for staff,” Boettcher said. “Not one month goes by where we don’t have two or three inquires about having someone to hire.”

Over 20 breweries across Texas are partnered with the program to give students a space to gain hands-on brewing skills. “[Students] are in the industry and they love it,” Boettcher said. “Our students are well-equipped to succeed in the industry.”

The program boasts a 98% placement rate. Nearly every student finds a career shortly after completing the program, and some begin careers before graduation.

Some students have opened their own successful breweries throughout Texas, such as the Klaus Brewing Company in Houston.

Boettcher said the list of partnered breweries is growing. Breweries across America have opened their doors to accommodate Eastfield students.

“The interaction between the school and

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Peter Beottcher is a partner at the Shannon Brewing Company and also teaches others about the mechanisms in the process of brewing.

industry is important,” Boettcher said.

Senior Director for Workforce Steve DeShazo partnered with Boettcher to help relaunch the program.

DeShazo learned about the relaunch when an outreach program contacted him regarding student inquiries, prompting him to work with Boettcher and program partners.

“Every person I know who worked with this growing program has positive things to say about it,” DeShazo said.

Thanks to the program’s industry connections, DeShazo encountered no trouble reconnecting with partnered breweries.

“Every single time I brought [the program] up, they said Peter is your guy to run it,” DeShazo said. “[Partners] said we should continue to run our [program.]”

No brewing programs currently exists at the community college level in Texas, result-

ing in a competitive environment for enrollment positions.

Daniel Medrano was among numerous in-state Eastfield students who inquired about the program’s shutdown. Eventually, DeShazo contacted him and ensured enrollment when the program relaunched.

“Now that [my son] is graduating, I’m going back to doing what I love,” Medrano said. “And I figured, why not brew beer?”

Shannon Brewing Company in Keller, Texas, one of the program’s first partners, hired Medrano for an internship.

Medrano discovered his love for brewing when he tried brewing at home.

After the death of a close friend, Medrano and his friends collaborated to brew homemade beer as a tribute.

After that, Medrano began homebrewing as a hobby. The brewing program gave him an outlet to explore his passion.

Program students like Medrano hope to open their own brewery someday.

“Somebody is going to enjoy something I helped create,” Medrano said.

Like Medrano, Boettcher unintentionally discovering his love for brewing after being invited to work at his uncle’s brewery in Germany. After that, Boettcher moved to the United States after receiving a work opportunity in Pittsburgh.

Boettcher’s stake in brewing remained constant for decades. He intends to spark similar work ethic in students through his hands-on teaching approach.

“It’s all about the people,” Boettcher said.

“The students have passion.”

Boettcher continues to use his industry expertise to help build up Eastfield’s brewing program for upcoming and passionate brewers. “[The students] have a lot of ingenuity and can-do attitude,” Boettcher said. “It never stops to amaze me.”

Trustee candidates stir uncertainty among voters Continued from Page 3 DISD with more than 75% of high school students graduating with an associate degree.

“I think it would be a travesty to the kids of DISD if there were any efforts made to unwind that partnership,” Marshall said in a phone interview. There are also major differences in how the candidates view diversity on Dallas College campuses.

“We’re all different people and that’s what makes the world interesting,” Williams said.

“But we all need to be included, and we work very hard to train people to include people.”

In response to what he would do to make the college more inclusive, Robinson said his greatest concern was the disappearance

of white students from the campuses.

“Where did those white students go?

That’s my question,” Robinson said. “You talk about diversity, equity, inclusion — how much more diversity can you get? One hundred percent non-white? Is that inclusion?”

The candidates also have radically different approaches to how they would work with the current structure and administration of Dallas College if elected.

District 3 candidate Mayer said he has close friends among the administration and would support the chancellor in his efforts to make Dallas College a premiere workplace.

“Having a trusting relationship based on a mutual understanding of the direction of Dallas College that is founded on measurable goals is the kind of support I mean,”

Mayer said in a candidate survey.

Robinson said he would get rid of the current Dallas College administration.

“They’ve all got to go,” Robinson said.

“And somebody who’s really interested in education needs to be brought in as the chancellor.”

Marshall said the best scenario would be for the incumbents to win.

“I’m hopeful that both of them prevail in their contests and that we can continue on this positive trajectory of partnering together for the benefit of kids,” Marshall said.

At the end of the forum, Burns said he didn’t find the conclusive answers he was hoping for.

“Well, there’s another forum tomorrow that I’m going to go to,” he said.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Students overcome tough circumstances Continued from page 3 academic success.

“I got to know many great people,” Cerritos said.

“They felt the same way I felt about [college]. They talked about their pandemic stories and a lot of us had similar stories.”

Although Cerritos takes the occasional online class, he enjoys feeling excitement when he walks into Eastfield. It serves as a reminder of how far he’s come.

“It was a tough ride, but I feel like it’s well worth it,” Cerritos said.

A second graduation

Science major Abigail Varghese entered GradFest with wonder in her eyes. She’s joined by her father, Devassy Varghese, who is as equally amazed at The Hive and its celebratory decorations.

Abigail Varghese’s head spins from all the eyecatching sights, her curious gaze scanning the surroundings like she walked into a different world. It’s Abigail’s first time walking into Eastfield, and she’s graduating with an associate of science.

“I wasn’t expecting to get an associate degree,” Abigail Varghese said, beaming a pearly smile.

“When I went to see my dual credit counselor, I had one credit left. I just decided to complete it.”

Abigail Varghese is an early college high school student who completed her associate degree without going to college, thanks to dual credit classes.

Eastfield served as a jumping point for Abigail to accelerate her progress towards a bachelor’s degree. “[Dual credit] makes me feel better about going to college because I’ve had a college experience academically,” Abigail Varghese said.

When Abigail Varghese isn’t enjoying free time, she’s already studying for her next test. She credits most of her success to her father’s emphasis on education.

Devassy is involved with his daughter’s education, making sure Abigail Varghese stays on top of her studies, but he credits his daughter’s initiative with their success.

“It’s a great [achievement],” Devassy Varghese said, nodding in approval. “I cannot say anything more than that.”

To juggle high school classwork, college work and test deadlines, Abigail Varghese organizes with a planner.

When Abigail Varghese struggles with classes, she consults her teachers for help and resources.

“I have great teachers,” Abigail Varghese said.

“They’ve all been helpful.”

Although Abigail Varghese hasn’t decided where to continue her studies, she looks to the future with optimism.

Having high school teachers who taught at a college level helped Abigail Varghese cultivate enough motivation to advance her education. But no voice is more encouraging than her father’s. “[Dad] has been helping me out with making decisions and getting my associates,” Abigail Varghese said. “Now he’s motivating me again.”

6

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

@TheEtCetera

Biggers Inspires Change

The Et Cetera

Award-winning art student starts residency at Eastfield campus

By MOIRA McINTEE Contributor @TheEtCetera

Cleo Sol’s smooth and soulful voice fills the Eastfield performance hall. On the stage sits an inspired artist, a wooden easel and a stark white canvas. With his face just inches away, he confidently places paint to paper, leaning back periodically to bob his head and shimmy his shoulders in rhythm to the music.

A constant on-beat tap of his foot proves that the music is part of his flow and helps to take the lead in his dance with the brush. Funk, vibrance and attitude surge from the auditorium speakers, the bristles of the paint brush and Jeremy Biggers’ soul. He says flamboyancy will be the painting’s essence, but subversion is the overarching goal.

Biggers explains that being bold and unapologetic while being Black could historically put you in harm’s way. But in this gallery space, it will be celebrated.

For an upcoming exhibit, he will use oversized portraits and vivid colors to make this point.

“Taking up space, being as big as possible, puts a target on us sometimes,” Biggers says. “Just being that is an act of defiance.”

After 10 years away, Biggers returns to Eastfield campus for a micro-residency to mentor current students. Upon receiving a National Endowment of the Arts grant, Biggers has had the opportunity to make appearances at many of the Dallas College campuses, including an exhibition at Brookhaven, a workshop at Cedar Valley and an artist talk at Mountain View. Biggers now joins Eastfield for two days to share his knowledge.

No longer attending classes himself, he still treasures the time he spent at this campus. Taking his lunch into one of the familiar art classrooms, Biggers takes a moment to look around and reminisce about all the time he spent here.

“I didn’t have a studio at home and didn’t have to be into work until 3 or 4 o’clock, so I would still be in the classroom working on projects,” he said. “I owe a lot to these rooms.”

MICRO-RESIDENCY Even with a powerful presence

on stage, Biggers isn’t intimidating.

Prior to starting a slide presentation for his micro-residency at Eastfield, Biggers took the time to connect one-on-one with the occupants of the auditorium seats.

Asking each person how they are feeling or what show they were currently watching broke down the imposing fourth wall between presenter and attendee.

“Jeremy is the kind of person that you would like to be a close friend,” Alison Starr, Dallas College gallery manager, said while introducing him to the crowd.

Inviting students on stage to watch him in action, he sat back down on his stool and returned to his colorful canvas. Stopping often to answer the questions of inquisitive minds, he refused to cut an answer short.

There were no secrets to his art. He allowed everyone to have access to his process.

“I love how he talked about how to make art affordable and accessible,” education major Hannah Kelley said.

When seeking advice on how to improve her painting skills without having to invest too much into the products, Biggers gave her obtainable suggestions she could pick up at the local hardware store. He insists that art is for all people, not just those who can afford it.

A STUDENT TEACHING Biggers liked to joke about how he spent seven years at Eastfield, but when he thought about it in depth, that exaggeration of time was not far off from reality.

As a long-term art student he made a special connection with one instructor. Taking every class Kathy Windrow offered, they built an unbreakable bond. Windrow’s name came up frequently in Biggers’ conversations about inspiration, and he influenced her just as much as she taught him.

“He kind of taught me how to teach,” Windrow said. “He taught me how to give students a lot of freedom to explore their own vision. And one way he did that was by always taking my ideas or my suggestions for a project and really running with them.”

Windrow recounts multiple times that Biggers filled every wall of her classrooms with his art. In only eight

Students in various art courses watch Jeremy Biggers work on a demo painting

weeks’ time, he could cover many square feet with drawings, paintings and digital photography.

But it wasn’t only his work ethic that stood out. Even as a young student, Windrow said he had a knack for inspiring his peers and moving through life with patience and grace for others.

During a project that involved creating life-sized self-portraits, Biggers walked into class one day to find another student working on top of his canvas. When the mistake was pointed out to the student, Biggers sensed the embarrassment and didn’t miss a beat.

“Jeremy said ‘That’s OK, no problem. You keep drawing on that one.

Should I draw on this one?’ And they just switched identities,” Windrow said. “That was such a Jeremy thing to do.”

Windrow said Biggers was always a natural leader. Comfortable in that role, he used compassion to show the people around him how to move through life.

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Biggers references a friends photo for his demo painting

LIFE&ARTS

7

The Et Cetera “Other students have taught me things too, but I think Jeremey taught me more about humanity,” Windrow said.

STORYTELLING Pulling much of his inspiration from the struggles Black Americans face while finding their place in the world, Biggers uses art in all forms to tell their stories. In respect to identity issues the Black community deals with, such as “code-switching”, he finds some solace in helping to communicate these problems with others. With some of his exhibitions, like “Influence,” he can portray these conflicting identities with the broader public.

Understanding the powerful impact of recent social justice issues such as the killing of George Floyd, he finds it necessary to represent the side of the story that he feels is oftentimes diminished. Having an emotional response to the images of police brutality he has witnessed against people of color; he chooses to use his talents to convey these feelings to his audience.

“The most hurtful thing is the lack of acknowledgement that there’s two different existences for Black Americans and white Americans,” he said. “It’s disrespectful and a slap in the face to people that are seeing the same information and seeing the

same video footage.”

Despite feeling like there might not ever be a way to force everyone to see eye to eye, his art will always remain a sentiment to his perspective for future generations. Acting as a time capsule, he attempts to use some of his work as documentation of current issues and conversations he thinks should be had.

“There’s no way one single painting that I create will solve the problem,” he said. “But at the very least, I’m compelled to make the work that I feel will make it digestible, at least in visual form, for certain people.”

The stories he tells with a paintbrush are meant to move his audience, but the likeness of the figures he portrays hold substantial meaning as well.

Surrounded only by white faces hung in museums for most of his adolescence, Biggers now holds representation in his art as a high priority.

“When you don’t see yourself in those spaces, it kind of makes you feel like there weren’t people in those times that look like you,” Biggers said. “I just want to make the art so that other people that are like me, that grew up in a similar community, or grew up in similar situations financially, can see that work and maybe start their art career earlier than I did.”

eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Jeremey Biggers finished piece from his demonstration

Biggers speaks at the Performance Hall of Eastfield Campus on April 20.

Become a Pioneer

with a degree from Texas Woman’s Join us at Pioneer Preview on our Denton campus Saturday, June 25, 8 a.m.-noon Come learn about: • Admissions • Financial Aid • Scholarships

Or you can schedule a weekday tour!

Register at

8

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, May 4 2022

@TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the right way Cinco de Mayo dates to 1862 at Puebla de Los Angeles when the French emperor, Napoleon III, wanted to build a base in Mexico in order to get the upper hand on America during the Civil War. On May 5, 1862, 6,000 French soldiers faced Mexico’s army of 2,000 soldiers. Mexico was rebounding from their own civil war and wasn’t prepared to participate in another.

Since America was too busy with the Civil War to help, it made Mexico vulnerable.

After a day of fighting, Mexico forced a French retreat.

Mexico’s President Benito Juarez declared May 5 as a national holiday. While Mexico won the battle, the French came back a year later and took over Mexico until 1866. This is why most of Mexico doesn’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

In the 1960s, however, Chicano activists wanted to use Cinco de Mayo to show Mexican pride. Despite Mexico’s defeat, Chicanos saw it as a real underdog story. To honor Cinco de Mayo, here are some ways you can celebrate.

Community Festivals

Find out if an organization in your community or local church is going to celebrate. Most churches and some schools hold folklorico dances and festivals.

Learn how to cook Mexican food

In Mexico, people celebrate by cooking with their family.

You can learn how to make delicious Mexican food like tamales, mole, chilaquiles, Mexican street corn, enchiladas, chiles en nogada, pozole and so much more. There are many tutorials on YouTube.

My personal recommendation is de mi rancho a tu cocina.

Doña Angela makes traditional dishes, and the steps are simple to follow.

You can try learning some Mexican dances. They are fun to learn and can prepare you if you are invited to a Quinceañera, a coming of age celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday.

Learn dances that require fast feet such as Zapateo and Huapango, or couple dances like Norteñas and Cumbia. Impress your friends with your newly learned dance moves.

Go to an art exhibit During the month of May there are many exhibitions in Dallas honoring Mexican heritage. You can visit the Latino Cultural Center, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Immersive Frida Kahlo exhibit. You can also go to artandseek.org to find out what else is happening in Dallas.

Virtual Celebration

The virtual celebration will be 2-3 p.m. May 5 and will take place on the City of Mesquite’s Facebook page, YouTube and website. The celebration is a collaboration with the Hispanic community in Mesquite. There will be dances, musical performances and speeches from community leaders that you can watch online.

Cinco de Mayo Dallas 2022

Learn how to dance

Words and Design by April Calvo

The Cinco de Mayo Dallas 2022 Parade & Fiestas will take place May 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. Activities include a parade, DJs, art exhibits, vendors/exhibitors, food trucks, folklorico dances, mariachis and a car show.

LIFE&ARTS

9

The Et Cetera

eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

HVAC instructor stays cool under pressure

Q& A

Q A Q A

Eastfield heating, ventilation and air conditioning program professor Bonnie Masten sat down with Et Cetera reporter Grayson Lesley-Milburn to discuss what it takes to be a woman in a male-dominated field and the importance of teaching the next generation to follow their dreams.

Q A

Q A

How did you get into your field?

I was actually an engineer at Texas Instruments for a long time. I taught high school math. My husband has his doctorate in electrical engineering. I’m mechanical. We called in one day, had someone come in and work on our air conditioner.

Long story short, we got ripped off.

My husband and I were floored thinking, “Oh my gosh, we should be able to know how to do this.” So, I took classes so I could learn how to work on the unit at home.

So, that’s kind of how it all started. I hate not knowing and I hate having no clue and feeling ignorant about something.

Q A

Q A Q A

What made you want to get back into teaching?

Can you break down your education?

Where did you learn to do this?

I went to California Polytechnic State University. I have my IT Engineering Technology degree in mechanical engineering from there.

Then I went back to college at University of Texas at El Paso and I got my actual straight mechanical engineering degree. So two engineering degrees. Then I started work at Texas Instruments and never fully finished my masters. All of the course work is done, but I was hired before I could present my thesis, so I just jumped straight into the field

Probably a vet.

What made you want to be a vet?

I loved animals and wanted to help them. Unfortunately, I don’t like the sight of blood.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

This is going to sound stupid, but I want to save all the animals. But that’s really not a superpower, is it? I guess to fly.

Do you have a favorite animal?

I pretty much love all animals. I have a lot of cats, so I probably would say cats.

But I love dogs too.

What exactly does your animal rescue/ volunteer work entail?

I have fostered numerous cats/ kittens with ringworm. Right now I am not fostering any kittens.

The last group, when I had six of them, was this past summer. They have all found their forever homes now.

However, right now, I clean the cat cages at a PetSmart next to my home. They are cats that have been rescued by a rescue group and are at PetSmart.

PetSmart is nice enough to let the rescue house the cats there so they are visible and hopefully they will get adopted. The volunteers clean the cages and feed the cats, and of course love on them.

I taught high school math for three years in two different districts. You have so many students, just over 100 split between classes. But luckily Texas Instruments was really good to me, so I was able to retire.

Then I get asked to teach at Eastfield, but I’m not gonna do it. I’ve done that whole teaching thing. Then one of the guys I went to college with was the lead partner, he got a job.

So, I went in as an adjunct and I just fell in love with it because it’s different.

Your students, they want to be there and they want to learn, and it’s nice to see that you’re helping them find a career path that they can have an actual career in.

Q A

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

HVAC is predominantly male. How do you navigate that?

I’m used to that. I have a mechanical engineering degree. There were no females when we were in [the program]. So I was the only female in my class.

Also in graduate school, I was the only female. I know that as soon as I go to present, I’m going to have to prove that I know my stuff.

Outside of HVAC and teaching, what are your hobbies?

Q

Did that ever make you hesitant about the career itself?

I golf, I play tennis. And I do rescue animals.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

A

I guess I just got used to it from back in school. I got used to knowing I was just gonna have to prove it, and it just became part of it. I do find it funny when the guys have a stereotype and I walk in and they’re messing up, and they’re all scared. I walk over and fix it and they’re always like “Whoa!” you know? It’s not my first rodeo.

Q A

Do you have any advice for women wanting to get into HVAC?

I’m old-school. Men are men. For example, we had some old-school men at Texas Instruments in Lubbock and all of a sudden I came in and I was the person in charge. And a lot of them had a hard time dealing with that. But kill them with kindness.

If something offends you, I think if you deal with it straight up and say, “You know what?

I didn’t appreciate that comment. It made me feel uncomfortable,” it helps.

I don’t immediately run to HR. I’d have a conversation and go from there.

We all have things that are unique that we bring to the table. Find your thing and use it.

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Bonnie Masten shows a student how to work on an air conditioning unit.

Q A

Q A

OPINION Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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

Dallas College Eastfield Campus 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu Editor in Chief Harriet Ramos Managing Editor Carlos Guzman Presentation Editor Mattheau Faught Photo Editor Rory Moore Staff Writers Manny Willis Photographers Martha Villalobos Chantilette Franklin Guillermo Cazares

Keturah Jones Indiana Silva

Graphic Designers April Calvo

Taylor McMillan

Contributors Londy Ramirez Grayson Lesley-Milburn

Moira McIntee Valery Tinajero

Staff Breanna Hernandez Daniel Serna Luna Publication Adviser Elizabeth Langton Student Media Adviser EJ Vernon 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

ABOUT THE COVER Jeremy Biggers paints for an audience during a campus event.

Photo taken by Rory Moore

10 @TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

OUR VIEW

Trustee incumbents should stay On May 7, voters will choose three Dallas College trustees. This is the first board election since the consolidation into one college, and the results will determine the direction of Dallas College for years to come.

We realize school board elections are usually on the low end of voter turnout, but we urge all eligible voters to get out and vote.

Some of the candidates who are running in this election represent ideologies that are not in the best interest of Dallas College or your tax dollars.

District 1 The candidates for District 1 are incumbent Gretchen Williams, former IT recruiter Lynn Davenport and retired anesthesiologist Dr. Catalina Garcia.

Davenport bills herself as nonpartisan and is running on a ticket to restore academics to Dallas College. She’s voiced concern over the college’s emphasis on workforce training and is critical of the early college high school, dual credit and P-TECH programs.

She said the current trustees are lying about the college’s success and her first act as trustee would be to “audit and evaluate the existing programs.” She wants to find out where the money is going and why college building programs are up when enrollment is down.

On the surface, Davenport’s crusade to expose corruption seems noble, but we think her hyperfocus on alleged wrongdoing will be a distraction for the board and will not produce anything productive.

We believe the college needs a trustee who who will build up the college instead of tearing it down based on perceived wrongdoing.

Our other concern about Davenport is her endorsement of District 2 candidate Eugene Robinson, whom we mention below. Even though Davenport is more careful with how she talks about diversity and inclusion issues, we are alarmed she is so closely allied with Robinson. She

MATTHEAU FAUGHT/THE ET CETERA

regularly shares about his campaign on social media.

We endorse the incumbent Williams for District 1. She has experience working with the board and we believe she will move the college, forward.

District 2 Incumbent Phil Ritter and Eugene Robinson, a former Dallas College employee and adjunct professor, are running for the District 2 seat.

Robinson said his first act as trustee would be to “get rid of the entire upper echelon of administration,” citing misspent funds, poor decisions and the possibility of money laundering, none of which have been proven.

Robinson has also posted controversial messages on his Facebook

page, which is open to the public.

On Jan. 6, 2021, the day Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol, he posted a tweet about the insurrection and added a personal message: “Americans, get your arms. The Second American Revolution has begun!!”

When asked at the Brookhaven trustee candidate forum what he thought the board could do to enhance equity, diversity and inclusion, he said the district is already 82% minority and he wants to know where all the white students have gone.

Robinson’s agenda does not align with Dallas College’s mission to support a broad range of diversity among students.

His mindset will keep him from working with other members of the

board to make positive changes that will help students.

Ritter, on the other hand, has an excellent record of listening to faculty concerns, including during the open carry law controversy a few years ago. He is the candidate we endorse for the position.

District 3 Soji John, a Dallas lawyer, and Paul Mayer, the CEO of the Garland Chamber of Commerce, have both promised to act in the best interests of the college and do all they can to work with the board to move the college ahead.

Both of these men seem like wellinformed candidates, but Mayer has the most experience.

He is the candidate we endorse for District 3.

Sports The Et Cetera

May 4 Baseball vs. Cedar Valley May 6 Baseball vs. Cedar Valley

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

11 eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Simes named to All-American team

By MANNY WILLIS Staff Writer @TheEtCetera

MANNY WILLIS/THE ET CETERA

Spencer Simes takes a shot during the national tournament.

Spencer Simes, the Harvesters’ freshman guard, was recently selected to the NJCAA Division III All-America team and will represent Dallas College in the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches All-Star Game on May 14 in Las Vegas.

“I found out a couple weeks ago that I was selected along with another great number of great athletes to be a part of this game,” Simes said. “I was really in shock.”

Simes led the Harvesters to a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA national tournament in March, finishing second in the nation in scoring, averaging 24 points per game, hitting 53% of his field goal attempts and averaging 7.8 rebounds in 35 games.

Coming from Northern Little Rock High School, one of the top basketball programs in Arkansas, Simes averaged 15 points a game, but was never recruited highly.

“I decided to take the JUCO route, and after my first year, I felt reju-

venated.” Simes said. “God had it planned for me to be here. And with the inspiration of my family, as well as my hard work and determination, I kept going in an all-or-nothing battle, and it led me here.”

Coach Anthony Fletcher is working with Simes to be sure that he is in shape, staying sharp and focused as he looks to impress potential scouts and recruiters.

“We are working on shooting, recovering, getting that competitive edge back after a long season,” Simes said. “I really want to impress more schools and coaches while in Vegas, and hopefully have more options available to further my career.”

Currently, Simes is sitting on multiple offers from four-year universities, and even some from NCAA schools that are currently undisclosed, as he looks to make a statement in Nevada.

“Numbers talk,” Simes said. “They talk and they’ll be looked at by everyone there. I hope to go to four year university, but I’m confident there could be even more [opportunities] for me after this, so we will see.”

Simes will be joined by North Lake guard Gregory Crawford in the all-star game.

NIL deals should be regulated to preserve college sports NIL deals have the potential to ruin the competitive nature of college sports and people may not even realize it.

On July 1, 2021 the NCAA approved a policy called NIL, which allows college athletes to profit off of their name, image or likeness and accept endorsement deals.

While the NIL policy creates financial opportunities for players, there are many components of the system that create legitimate concerns and issues. Things like differences in school athletic funding and athlete popularity have already forced the NIL world to get out of hand.

In college football, athletes can use the transfer portal as a free agent to explore other school options. In the NIL world, this means that if athletes are unhappy where they are playing or looking to make more money, they can use the transfer portal to shop around for the best deal.

The Texas Longhorns’ 2021 quarterback, Casey Thompson, understood his limited NIL potential after Quinn Ewers, an Ohio State five-star quarterback, transferred to Texas after entering the portal. According to Heartland College Sports, “Thompson is looking like QB1 for the Cornhuskers and it sounds like there are more perks to being ‘the guy’ in Lincoln rather than Austin”.

MICHAEL DEHLINGER

@TheEtCetera

Although the NIL policies and transfer portal gives athletes the chance to find better opportunities, this system unfairly benefits schools with more funding.

In 2020, the Ohio Stte Buckeyes football program brought in $115.1 million in revenue. Rutgers University, on the other hand, only generated $26.9 million.

Therefore, schools like Ohio State, the University of Georgia and the University of Texas that have well over $100 million in football funding a year can offer NIL deals that pay out increasingly more than a school like Rutgers that only has a fraction of that budget.

This gap in funding will make the bigger programs powerhouses.

These schools will use their wealth and influence to attract higher-rated recruits and ensure that the smaller schools will never have the talent to compete.

The University of Texas recently created an NIL deal called the Pancake Factory that guarantees every scholarship offensive lineman $50,000 the minute they arrive on

campus in exchange for participating in university supported charity events.

After this NIL deal was put into place, UT signed its best offensive line class in years. While I am a diehard UT fan and am very excited about the strength of our O-Line, the system is obviously unfair to underfunded schools and athletic programs.

Another issue is player jealousy.

Highly touted players will inevitably make more money than others, which could cause unwanted tensions between teammates and lead to toxic playing environments.

It’s no secret that Ewers will make substantially more than almost any other Longhorns team member.

The ultimate effect of NIL deals is that there could be about six core schools that since it isn’t a person could dominate college football because of their resources. This would ruin the competitive nature of college football and the same teams would win every year.

Even Alabama’s Nick Saban, with more national football championships than any other college coach, says that NIL “creates a situation where you can basically buy players,” according to an article from cbssports.com.

I’m not saying I completely disagree with NIL because there are some great aspects of it. The

ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEAU FAUGHT/THE ET CETERA

program gives talented athletes the ability to support their families and profit off their name, which is positive, but I strongly believe that unless the NCAA introduces additional regulations, it could ruin competitive college football.

In my opinion, putting a salary cap on NIL deals could be a way to ease the potential problems and help the smaller schools be competitive in recruiting.

Ultimately, the effects of the NIL system are still yet to be seen. While I do believe these rules can be beneficial, I hope the NCAA looks into

the many issues these policies can create in order to preserve the true spirit of college sports.

While I do not believe NILs should be fully removed, I strongly believe they can ruin the competitive nature of college football and true school spirit.

College football is great because players care about making their schools proud and winning — not the size of their paychecks.

It would be a shame for so many great and competitive programs to be driven to irrelevancy because of the NIL policy.

WRAP-UP

12 Wednesday, May 4, 2022

@TheEtCetera

The Et Cetera

Dallas College administration and local officials share in the groundbreaking for the new student services building at Eastfield on April 12.

INDIANA SILVA/THE ET CETERA

Campus events breathe new life into Eastfield Countless events popped up around Eastfield campus throughout April. Most events unfolded in The Hive, the campus’ student hub, which had decreased student activity since the college reopened on.

RORY MOORE/THE ET CETERA

Students in Kathy Windrow’s drawing courses work on a mural drawing using charcoal and burned bark from a tree.

INDIANA SILVA/THE ET CETERA

MARTHA VILLALOBOS/THE ET CETERA

A remote-controlled BB8 rolls through the hall of the S building during STEM Fest on April 29.

Will Douglas, left, and Connor Jennings perform in a quintet guitar recital inside F200 on April 27.