Vol. 81, No. 2 September 15, 2017
Serving Kilgore College since 1936
How to save a life
Suicide Prevention Week More than twice as many people die by suicide in Texas annually than by homicide; the total deaths to suicide reflect a total of 72,622 years of potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the state of Texas between the ages of 15-34 On average, one person dies by suicide every three hours in the state of Texas.
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nd
Information from afsp.org Photo Illustration by: Taliayah Clark
Don’t be afraid to lend a hand to those in need
N
ational Suicide Prevention week concludes Saturday. The week includes World Suicide Prevention Day, held on Sept. 10. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Each year, 44,193 Americans die by suicide. Suicide is often related to brain functions that affect the decision making process and behavioral control making it difficult for someone to find positive solutions. Don’t be afraid to ask anyone directly if they are contemplating suicide. It won’t put the idea in their head —
most will be relieved that someone cares enough to have a conversation. Seldom does someone take their life for a single reason, such as getting divorced or losing a job. Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying and potentially treatable mental health condition that combines with known risk factors, such as childhood trauma, substance abuse, or even chronic physical pain, according to the AFSP website. In fact, most people who survive a suicide attempt go on to live healthy lives. Anyone in need can contact one of the four AFSP chapters that serve communities across Texas at afsp.org.
Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
THE FLARE
PAGE 2 n FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
FACE IN THE CROWD
Branden Alexander Hometown: Dallas Age:21 Major: Instrumentations and Engineering What do you plan to do with your degree? I eventually want to own my own business. Would you consider yourself a creative person? Yes, I do believe I am quite creative. I like building vapes and clay modeling. What is your favorite animal? snakes Grace Garcia / THE FLARE
Fitness Center open daily
What is something most people wouldn’t know about you? I’m Wiccan. [a nature-oriented religion containing rituals and practices derived from preChristian religious beliefs and typically incorporating modern witchcraft] One who is Wiccan is someone who practices white magic, which is good magic.
Do you have any other interests? Skateboarding, gaming, vaping, and I am a big animal lover. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to? Amsterdam and Japan. I just went sightseeing in Amsterdam, but Japan was more fun.
How did you get involved with this religion? An ex-girlfriend.
DANCING QUEENS
Weights, gym, pool, machines free for students JAMIE HWANG Staff Writer The James M. Parks Fitness Center located on campus has been a place to help KC students reach their personal fitness goals and strives to provide an environment for Kilgore residents as well. The Fitness Center is fully equipped with workout equitment is available to all KC students and employees for free. KC students must bring their student IDs to enter. Those who are not students or employees need to pay per month to have memberships. The prices are different for individuals: •$37 for Single •$47 for Family •$20 for Senior (65 or older) •$20 for KC Student Family. One-Day Visit is also available and costs $5. The Fitness Center is open every day except for national holidays such as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The hours are as follows: •Monday - Thursday 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. •Friday 5 a.m. - 7 p.m. •Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. •Sunday 1 - 6 p.m. Closed 8-11 a.m. Monday through Friday for classes. The Fitness Center consists of a weight room, a basketball/ volleyball gym, indoor walking/ running track, tennis courts, indoor cycling room, racquetball courts and a swimming pool. The hours for the swimming pool are: •Monday - Thursday 3:30 - 8 p.m. •Friday 3:30 - 6 p.m. •Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. •Sunday 1 - 5 p.m. The swimming pool is only open when there is a life guard on duty. The Fitness Center offers a variety of programs for all the members as well and one of the most popular programs is a group exercise class. Anyone who has a membership to the Fitness Center can take the group exercise classes and they are from Monday through Friday. There are 8 different sports in the class such as water aerobics, spin, muscle pump, kickboxing, cardio pump, cycling, silver circuit and Zumba. They have a different schedule for each sport: water aerobics on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9 a.m., spin on Monday at 5 p.m., on Thursday at 6 p.m., muscle pump on Tuesday, Thursday at 5:15 p.m., kickboxing on Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. and Zumba on Tuesday, Thursday 6 p.m. The school nurse is in the Fitness Center as well for a checkup and emergency situations. KC students can get an excused doctor’s note from the nurse. The hours for the school nurse are from 9 a.m. to noon. Monday through Friday. For those who need expert advice and some motivation, the Fitness Center provides personal training to assist the members in leading a healthier life. There are 3 personal trainers and the prices for personal training will vary depending on the hours. In order to get more information about the personal training, ask to the Fitness Center staff at the front desk.
COURTESY ABBAFAB
ABBAFAB brings disco vibe to Dodson ’70s music makes a comeback in Sept. 19 concert KAITLIN MITCHELL Staff Writer
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he Kilgore Community Concert Association and Live on Stage Inc. are sponsoring a performance by ABBAFAB as part of their 2017-2018 concert season. The show will take place 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 in Dodson Auditorium and is free for students. Single tickets for non-students are $30 and can be purchased at the door or online. Formed in 1947, The Kilgore Community Concert Association decided to incorporate live music into the lives of East Texans as a way to bring more culture to the community and celebrate the arts. ABBA, whose music has a cult following,
became one of the most commercially successful and recognized artists in the history of pop music, topping charts worldwide. The infectious social response and phenomenon of their music inspired several adaptations, including a movie and a play featuring the same title as one of their most popular songs, “Mamma Mia”, as well as several song covers. ABBAFAB is a multimedia band that tours worldwide paying tribute to the popular Swedish group with a show centered around ABBA’s greatest hits. Its core members include Anne and Nick Davies, Chelsea Faulds, Scotty Pearson and features various other solo artists. For more information, visit kilgoreconcerts.com or call 903-988-1591.
ABBAFAB FACTS n ABBA originally consisted of Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog. Their initials acted as an acronym and inspired the band’s name. n The members of the band were engaged to one another and later married after the group’s fame grew. n In 2010 ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. n There is a movie adaptation of the Broadway play “Mamma Mia!” which features the Swedish group’s music.
Crucible cast, crew, named; opens Oct. 12 The cast and crew for upcoming KC Theatre production of The Crucible follows. The play by Arthur Miller premieres Oct. 12 in Van Cliburn auditorium. PRODUCTION STAFF Micah Goodding – Director Meghan Potter – Technical Director/Set Designer Amber Driver – Stage Manager Hannah Garner – Assistant Stage Manager Bucky VanDoren – Lighting Designer Savannah Sturdivant – Light Board Operator Patience Evans – Sound Designer Chance Crane – Properties Master Kaitlyn Hampton – Properties Artisan Cole Williams – Wardrobe Designer Jordan Duren – Wardrobe Head Tristin Sechrist – Makeup Artist Andrew Littleton – Usher Hannah Jordan – Usher Clay Mikey – Dramaturg/Usher
CAST Lazarus Salinas – John Proctor Hunter Ballard – Thomas Putnam Skyler Yarbrough – Rev. John Hale Michael Murry-Rojas – Giles Corey/Francis Nurse/Tituba Griffin O’Neal – Judge Hathorne Thomas B. Thomburg – Deputy-Governor Danforth Robby Childers – Ezekiel Cheever/John Willard Ian Kirkpatrick – Rev. Samuel Parris Madison Gable – Abigail Williams Stephanie Barajas – Elizabeth Proctor Madison Brown – Betty Parris Kate Wells – Ann Putnam Nikki Newman – Mary Warren Hayli Hughes – Mercy Lewis Lauren Fields – Martha Corey/Rebecca Nurse/Tituba Sarah Farmer – Susanna Wallcott
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 n PAGE 3
THE FLARE
By The Numbers
1787 n The year the Constitution of the United States was drafted, which eventually replaced the Articles of Confederation as the primary governing document of the United States.
15 KILGORE COLLEGE PHOTO
Dr. Rob Williams speaks to a class in this 2009 file photo. Dr. Williams died Aug. 31.
Long-time instructor dies SARAH REDFORD Staff Writer Just as the Fall semester started, KC lost “our friend, our co-worker and our champion,” said Tina Rushing, sociology instructor. Dr. Frank R. (Rob) Williams, former head of the psychology department, died on Aug 31. A Celebration of Life was held for Williams on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Radar Funeral Home. Williams was born on July 18, 1847 to the late F. C. and Joy Williams in Grand Saline. He excelled in musical ability and played many instruments but was most proficient on the piano and organ. According to his obituary, Williams spent his younger years helping his father in the family’s television repair shop.
“... our friend, our co-worker and our champion.”
Tina Rushing, Instructor After graduating from Grand Saline High School in 1965, he attended Tyler Junior College where he graduated in 1967. Marriage to his sixth grade sweetheart, Cheryl, was next on his agenda. They married soon after his graduation. They both went on to attend East Texas State University in
Constitution Day event Sept. 21 All students, faculty, and staff are invited to celebrate Constitution Day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Devall Student Center Ballroom. Constitution Day is observed nationwide, commemorating the date when the delegates in Philadelphia approved and signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787. This event will consist of a short presentation on the significance and meaning of the Constitution – a
document that has endured the test of time and sets up our government to grants us individual freedoms. Afterward, all attendees are invited to participate in a short Kahoot game, and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. Refreshments will be served after the game. For more info, contact Jeff Stanglin, government instructor, 903-983-8230; or e-mail jstanglin@kilgore. edu. from Staff Reports
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Commerce. Upon receiving his masters in 1970, the Williamses moved to Denton, where he worked on his Ph.D. He earned his living during that time by doing social work. His time with Child Protective Services and Adoption instilled in him the importance of love when raising children.
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In 1986, Williams earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Texas and 1989 brought him and his family to Kilgore where they settled. Williams’ teaching style involved lots of humor. He was always cracking jokes and brought the subject of psychology alive in a way that his students remembered fondly. Many say he was their favorite instructor at KC. His 28-year tenure in the halls of KC were filled with learning and laughing. Rushing remembered her colleague fondly with one of her favorite quotes: We must take our best memories, our most loving thoughts and make a great big ball of sparkly stuff and throw it up in the sky. We can then look up on the darkest nights and see all the shiny people winking down at us from their shindig in the sky.
n U.S. President Donald Trump declares Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in honor of the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans who have helped shape our Nation.
‘98
n On September 15, 1998 Google registered their domain name.
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PAGE 4 n FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Anthonie Thomas, Houston sophomore, carries the ball and a defender toward the end zone while Jonathan Mackey (17), Ennis freshman, assists.
Rangers blank ABC KC defeats Arkansas Baptist 55-0 KENDALL HURTT Staff Writer The KC Rangers notched their first victory of the 2017 season by defeating Arkansas Baptist College and accumulating 55 points while holding ABC scoreless. The Rangers now have a .500 record of 1-1; ABC is now 2-1 on the season. KC put together an
all-around game for their fans. The first of the Rangers’ game plan looked to be in the passing game. Jalil Kilpatrick was able to throw for 146 yards, while Jacob Frazier and Roger McCuller waited for their time to shine. Frazier’s 44yard pass contributed to his 107 yards, completing 8 of 11 passes. McCuller added 80 yards off of 8 snaps. Kilgore’s receiving core also put on a bowing performance. Zecharius Nash-Kelly had an 11yard touchdown catch during his 68-yard journey.
Demarcus Smith figured he would catch for 68 yards alongside fellow receiver Zecharius. In addition to KC’s offense, their defense held ABC to two first downs, 53 total yards, and robbed ABC’s cradle with two fumbles and interceptions. Elery Alexander put someone’s son in the dirt nine times throughout the Rangers slaughter of the Buffaloes. All but three of KC’s defensive family imputed pain on their opponents. Darius Anderson gave ABC a 13-yard loss sack among six that happened as a
unit. Arkansas did force a fumble on KC’s 24-yard line and gathered an interception; but for every offensive error, Kilgore’s defense quickly wiped it from fans’ minds. KC takes an odyssey to Cisco College to take on the 2-1 Cisco College Wranglers on Saturday. Kickoff will be 7 p.m. at Chesley Field.
Ty Hayter, Garrison sophomore, and Elery Alexander, Van Vleck freshman, make a joint tackle stopping Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes’ advancements.
RANGER PREVIEW: CISCO KC VS. CISCO - SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 Time: 7 p.m. Saturday Stadium: Chesley Field Coaches: - Kilgore: J.J. Eckert; Cisco: Russell Thompson Last Week: Kilgore 55, Arkansas Baptist 0; Cisco 40, New Mexico Military Institute 38 Players to watch – Kilgore Offense: QB Roger McCuller (11/13 attempts, 113 yards, 3 TDs; 16 carries, 123 yards, TD) RB De’Montre Tuggle (21 carries, 121 yards, TD) WR Anthony Thomas (9 receptions, 105 yards, TD) Kilgore Defense: LB Troy Burnett (23 tackles, 13 tackle assist, INT) LB Ty Hayter (20 tackles, 13 assist tackle, SCK, 2)
Did you know? KC defeated Cisco in their home opener last year in a 67-13 rout. Since 1997, KC has played Cisco 21 times, and are 18-3 in that span. Keys to Victory – Containing a high scoring offense. In the span of only three games, Cisco has scored 168 points; including a 98-0 rout of Rezolution Prep Academy in their season opener. Although the Wranglers have a potent offense, their defense gives up points; including 42 points allowed against Blinn, and 38 against New Mexico Military Institute. –compiled by Alec Reyes
FOLLOW THE GAME ON KDOK WITH THE FOLLOWING FREQUENCIES IN THE EAST TEXAS AREA: 1240 AM/105.3 FM IN KILGORE, 101.9 FM IN LONGVIEW AND 107.9 FM IN HENDERSON. KILGORE COLLEGE SPORTS BROADCASTS ALSO WILL BE STREAMED LIVE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.KDOKRADIO.COM, WWW.TSRNSPORTS.COM AND THE TUNEIN RADIO APP.
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
2017 SCHEDULE Aug. 26
Tyler Junior College
7 p.m.
Sept. 9
Arkansas Baptist College
7 p.m.
Sept. 16
@ Cisco College
7 p.m.
Sept. 23
Blinn College
7 p.m.
Sept. 30
@ Northwestern Oklahoma A&M College
2 p.m.
Oct. 7
New Mexico Military Institute
5 p.m.
Oct. 14
@ Navarro College
3 p.m.
Oct. 21
Trinity Valley Community College
3 p.m.
Oct. 28
@ Tyler Junior College
3 p.m.
Nov. 4
1st Round Playoffs
TBA
Nov. 11
SWJCFC Championship Game
TBA
TBA
Bowl Game
TBA
Overall Record: 1-1-0 (0-0 SWJCFC)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 n PAGE 5
THE FLARE
Double disappointment KC loses doubleheader against Hill College From Staff Reports
Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Top: Katy Worrell, Maud sophomore, pitches against the Hill College Rebels during a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. Bottom: Alyssa Maldonado, Lampasas freshman, goes for the tag against a Hill College runner during a doubleheader at home.
The KC softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader against Hill College during fall league play on Wednesday at The Ballpark at KC Commons. Kilgore dropped the opening game, 5-4, after building a 4-0 lead. In the nightcap, KC fell 14-3. Hailey Nash and Makenna Bell homered for Kilgore in the opening game. Bell finished with two RBIs. Marissa Molina added a double. Tori Tovar had two hits, and Christina Herrera and Alyssa Maldonado chipped in with a hit apiece. Katy Worrell took the pitching loss. She allowed four earned runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts in seven innings. Hill used a pair of big innings in the nightcap, scoring four in the third and five in the sixth to turn things into a rout. Bell tripled and singled to pace the KC offense. Kaitlin Hunter doubled, Molina and Brenna Ortiz singled and Nash singled and drove in a run.
Bri Ynfante went the distance inside the circle and took the loss. Kilgore opened fall league play on Sept. 9 by hosting the KC Round Robin Tournament and recording wins over Mountain View (12-6) and Eastern Oklahoma (12-0) before closing out the day with a 6-2 loss to Eastern Oklahoma. Tovar, Cailon Palmer, Kelsey Ahart and Kaitlin Hunter all collected two hits and two RBIs in the win over Mountain View, with Yfante earning the pitching win. Taylor Christopher doubled, singled twice and drove in four runs and also earned the pitching win in the victory over Eastern Oklahoma. Herrera added a double, two singled and four RBI. in the loss to Eastern Oklahoma, Tovar had two hits and Shelby Edwards doubled and drove in a run. Worrell struck out five in six innings, allowing one earned run, to shoulder the pitching loss. KC (2-3) will visit Weatherford on Sept. 20 to play games at 1 and 3 p.m.
FALL 2017 RANGER SOFTBALL SCHEDULE DATE DAY 20 23 27 30 Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Wed Sat Wed Sat
OPPONENT TIME LOCATION SEPTEMBER Weatherford College 1/3 Weatherford KC Travel Ball Round Robin TBA Kilgore Cisco College 1/3 Kilgore Letourneau Univ. 11/1/3 Longview
PAGE 6 n FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
THE FLARE
Atlas Entertainment Films
A night under the stars
Reel East Texas Film Festival brings ‘Wonder Woman’ to City Park ALLISON TALIAFERRO Executive Editor
A
night under the stars at the legendary Hollywood Cemetery inspired local director Chip Hale’s latest project. “I lived in L.A. for a while and we used to have outdoor movies at the Hollywood Cemetery. They would show them on a big white mausoleum, and people would bring their picnic baskets and blankets and go out and enjoy a movie,” Hale said. Hale decided the people of East Texas needed to experience what he did in L.A. “We originally wanted a recent blockbuster/ summer type movie. When we thought that wasn’t possible we went with “The Goonies” because it is a classic. However when we
received word that we could screen “Wonder Woman” we jumped at the opportunity,” Hale said. The strong female lead in “Wonder Woman” stood out to Hale. “Not to belabor the point, but for the past 15-20 years, Hollywood has churned out myriad super hero movies, but none with a female lead. “Not only was it successful at the box-office, but it has critical acclaim as well. I’m pleased to be able to show “Wonder Woman” for our first movie in the park,” Hale said. The showing of the film is free, but all attendees have to do is bring one canned food item for helping hands. “I am really hoping we can get a bunch of the students from KC to come out,” Hale said. Wonder Woman will be shown at sunset on
Saturday, Sept. 30, as promotion for the Reel East Texas Film Festival “We wanted to have our first footprint as a film festival and we didn’t want to wait until November. We wanted to go ahead and start advertising ourselves, so we chose to show a movie in the park,” Hale said. The Reel East Texas Film Festival will run November 16-18 and be shown at the Texan Theatre in Downtown Kilgore. There will be an award ceremony Saturday during the festival. “I wanted to try to get film makers to come to town and see if I could convince some of them to make movies here in town. I also wanted to be able to start some new events and movies in the Texan Theatre,” Hale said.
The Reel East Texas Film Festival already has 61 submissions, including narratives, documentaries and student films. “This being the first year I wasn’t expecting to get 61 submissions, so for our first year I wanted to make sure we had enough narratives and documentaries. We are also taking short and feature films, anything over 90 minutes,” Hale said. Hale’s inspiration for directing the film festival was being a film maker in Kilgore and the many film festivals he’s attended across the country. “Being a film maker myself and having made some movies that have been in film festivals. I have gone to so many them by now, I just followed what is a common theme of film festivals I’ve been to all around the country,” Hale said.
INDIE FILM FESTIVAL OPENS SEPT. 20 AT FOUR STAR CINEMA IN KILGORE
Lifetime Films
PARIS CAN WAIT When her director husband is occupied with work in Paris, an American woman takes a jaunt with his associate. 9/20 - 9/23
Sony Pictures Classic
MAUDIE
An unlikely romance in which the reclusive Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) hires a woman named Maudie (Sally Hawkins) to be his housekeeper. 9/24 - 9/26
Killer Films
BEATRIZ AT DINNER When two opposites (Salma Hayek and John Lithgow) meet at a dinner party, their worlds collide and neither will ever be the same. 9/27 - 9/30
Silver Reel
Northern Light Films
Hurricane Films
Termite Films
CHURCHILL
THE HERO
A QUIET PASSION
KEDI
Tensions mount for the beleaguered British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Brian Cox) in the days leading up to D-Day. 10/1 - 10/3
Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging Western icon. He spends his days reliving old glories until a surprise cancer diagnosis. 10/4 - 10/7
Cynthia Nixon delivers a triumphant performance as Emily Dickinson, whose genius only came to be recognized after her death. 10/8 - 10/10
Not a documentary about house cats or the strays. Kedi is a film about the hundreds of thousands of cats who have roamed Istanbul freely for thousands of years. 10/11 - 10/12
THE FLARE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 n PAGE 7
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
The Student Newspaper of Kilgore College Since 1936
“I sincerely hope that your semester is off to a great start. We are excited that you have enrolled at KC and we know that whatever path you take that your future is bright! I believe in you. Believe in yourself, dream big, work hard, and ask for help when you need it....the rest will always fall into place.”
Vol. 81 • No. 2 Friday Sept. 15, 2017
Dr. Brenda Kays KC President
Editor Allison Taliaferro
“Kilgore College is at its best when students succeed in meeting their goals and KC is committed to helping students reach those goals. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it – see an advisor, visit with your instructors, go to the Zone in Kilgore or the Longview North Zone for tutoring. Lots of great people are ready to support you and to help you on your journey at KC!”
Assistant Editors Whitney Ervin Lisa Harris Kendall Hurtt Kaitlin Mitchell Sarah Redford Lonnie Ross Lucas Strough Gabriel Wade Yasmine Wilson
Staci Martin Ed.D.Vice President of Institutional Planning
Staff Writers Moises Ela Jamie Hwang Nelda Milligan-Turner Destiny Parrish Alec Reyes Chris Williams
“Students: Kilgore College is an amazing place full of amazing people who want to help you succeed. Make a connection with at least one or two people who can help you navigate the higher education environment. The right connections will help you succeed.”
Photographers Diana Castillo Alma Cedillo Taliayah Clark Grace Garcia, Tiffany Johnson Dina Robinson Grant Worley
Michael H. Turpin, Ph.D. Vice President of Instruction
“It’s always exciting watching students begin their educational journey at Kilgore College. Watching students find their passion and succeed in school is a true pleasure. I encourage students to never give up. Classes may seem daunting at times and the end of the tunnel may seem far away. But once you reach the end of the educational tunnel you’ll realize it’s not really the end, but the start of something extremely rewarding.”
Adviser Rachel Stallard Photography Adviser O Rufus Lovett
LETTERS
Chris Craddock Public Information Officer
LEARN your STYLE T
Diama Castillo / THE FLARE
Find a study method to suit your lifestyle
he most common struggle that some college students face is their performance in completing their classes. This issue is a serious challenge in earning success. Learning styles, study habits and the use of available resources are important factors when retaining information and having the responsibility of learning and organizing the material for each class. Students struggle with getting to class on time, showing up prepared and participating in class. Being top notch in those areas can still be difficult. Everyone has their own style of learning, and not knowing what skills to implement could hinder your education performance from being great. From the classes in which you choose to enroll, to taking notes and studying, everyone needs a personal system to turn their progress into successful production. Do you perform well in a live classroom with social interactions? Or do you succeed better taking on-line courses on your own time? Some
students test out of a course just to knock it off the degree plan. Whichever works for you, plan your schedule to accommodate your lifestyle. Attending class prepared is essential to completing successfully. How you show up for class determines your outcome. Set up for lecture with a form of taking notes. For example, have a specific notebook, spiral or note cards to write what your instructors present. If you are an electronics user, recorders and tablets are useful for collecting class data. Come prepared with your own notes from reading ahead. Get rest so you are balanced and focused to retain the lessons. Be open to getting to know your classmates so you know who to contact instead of solely depending on your instructor. Build a trustworthy relationship with your instructor by showing up prepared, and show them that you take their class seriously. Some students choose to take their courses online. This is perfect for those who cannot commit to being in a classroom, faithfully and on time. There is flexibility and privacy,
but one must still be thoroughly prepared. Commit time to logging on and spend time reviewing all instructions and due dates as they are posted. Make a plan to stay on track. Are you confident enough with your ability to test out of a course? Check with an adviser to see if that will help you along your degree plan. Utilize ALL campus resources available. At the KC website, (kilgore.edu) click the Current Students tab and check out Student Services. There, you will find information on student success programs, instructional student support for students of special populations, tutoring, and testing. Also, visit the Student Support building to inquire about the TRiO Fast Track program and get help at The Zone tutoring lab. Staff is available to help you with your success issues in note-taking, testtaking, and study skills. Take advantage of all of the available resources and build your skills to greater heights. Be the best student you can be and stay on the road to success during your journey through college.
THE FLARE welcomes any letter to the editor and encourages all readers to use this as a sounding board to express thoughts and opinions on current campus-related topics. We also welcome news or feature ideas. Due to space limitations, letters should be as concise as possible and may still be edited for space. Letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number so that we can verify their authenticity. Letters should be delivered to the newsroom in Communications-Automotive Building, Room 125, mailed to The Flare, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore TX 75662 or emailed to: kc_flare@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER THE FLARE is the student newspaper of Kilgore College and is published every Friday by the journalism department, except during examination periods and vacations. First copy is free, subsequent copies are available for 50 cents. THE FLARE is a member of the Texas Community College Journalism Association and the Texas Intercollegiate press Association. All people holding editorial staff positions are Kilgore College journalism students. Comments and views expressed in THE FLARE reflect the thoughts of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of other students, staff members, faculty members, administrative officers or the Board of Trustees.
In the eye of the hurricane H
urricane Harvey was a devastating event that struck the Texas Gulf Coast. Being a Category 4 hurricane, it was the strongest recorded hurricane to hit the Gulf. Being a native of Houston, I was terrified. Knowing my family and friends stayed worried me. Seeing all the pictures on Twitter of the water swallowing up the highways, and houses being underwater really shook me. This hurricane took a lot from people. I was leaving Ranger football meetings worried about my family, and while at practice I couldn’t focus and give my all. I was calling my family every chance I got. Learning that my house reached the point where my family had to evacuate crushed me. Hearing my mom cry made me feel helpless. I couldn’t save them from their nightmare. My
family were given the title evacuees and was given a yellow band to show it. Everything was gone — from furniture to clothes. My family and I were emotionally crushed. It was hard for me to be strong, but I had to be for CHRIS my family to WILLIAMS keep a positive STAFF WRITER m i n d s e t through all the negative things that had happened. My family was sheltered in the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, sleeping on cots with up to 500 people in one area. My mom didn’t sleep for three days. She was up watching families
smile and pray and giving thanks to be alive. I couldn’t imagine what was going through her or my family members’ mind at the time. When the storm passed, I went home to help with the cleaning of the house. It smelled like death all through the house and neighborhood; insects were everywhere. The storm pulled a lot of people together, I met interesting people when I went back home people I would have never spoken too. A member of the Ku Klux Klan helped me and my family clean out our house. I was shocked to see that happen because of all the tension happening in our country at the time. From different races, religions and beliefs, people came together to help one another without asking for anything in return or secondguessing themselves. I helped
families clean out their houses and even though people lost their homes and materials, people were happy and were glowing with hope and joy. That made me very happy to see how strong families are. Yes, this hurricane took things away from people and made a lot of people cry and emotional but it also brought people together. It was beautiful to see how something so devastating can also bring people together. I later looked at this storm to be a blessing in disguise. For all those who were affected by the hurricane and the flood, I pray that you and your families stay strong. Continue to move forward and do not look back. Chris Williams communications Houston.
is a freshman major from
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THE FLARE
PAGE 8 n FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
Semester Falls in Place
Diana Castillo/ THE FLARE
DJ “Hot Boy Yoshi� gets the crowd pumped up KC Kick-Off.
Diana Castillo/ THE FLARE
Rowdy the Ranger, KC mascot, and the crowd dance at KC Kick-off. Students gathered in Mike Miller Plaza to kick- off the new season.
K
C students started the 2017 fall semester with food and fun with two events in the first week of school. The first event, Party
in the Plaza on Aug. 29, was organized by the campus student ministries and was followed by KC Kick-Off on Aug. 31 which focused on the upcoming KC sports season. Crowds of students attended each event for a chance to win raffle prizes, to enjoy live comedy and music or simply to socialize and share great food. Each event allowed students an opportunity to make new friends and to become familiar with the campus before diving into the new semester. These two events are just the beginning for a fall semester that will feature many more on-campus activities and events.
Glenn Wells and the KC drum-line preparing to play at KC Kick-off. Alma Cedillo/ THE FLARE
Dina Robinson/ THE FLARE
Freshman Cierra Birmingham eats a cookie at Party in the Plaza. Food was served to those who attended. Diana Castillo/ THE FLARE
Freshmen Tori Miller, Miya Pettifrew, Mia Perez and Linh Dinh get information from the TRiO booth at the KC Kick-Off. Diana Castillo/ THE FLARE
Freshman Leandra Gilbert and sophomore Caleb Bouetou-Kadilamio wait in line for their food at the KC Kick-Off.