Stitching for freedom Kiana Rose / THE FLARE
The Pleasant Hill Quilters display their hand-sewn quilts at the Gregg County Historical Museum. The quilts have coded messages in their patterns that guided slaves to freedom.
The Gregg County Historical Museum in Downtown Longview honors Black History Month with its exhibit, “Stitching a Legacy: The Symbolism in AfricanAmerican Quilts.” Page 8
The Flare
Friday, February 12, 2016 Vol. 79 No. 14 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
A/C units to cool down Nolen Hall NICK SHELLEY Staff Writer
Melting students in Nolen Hall will soon feel the cold once again. Duane McNaney, vice president of administrative services, asked the KC Board of Trustees to consider renovating Nolen Hall with new air conditioners at a meeting on Monday night. The vote was unanimous. The board moved to put new electrical systems in the dorms, which would be the first step in the process to install the new units. The piping will be replaced before installation. Once the new units, PTACs, are installed, students will be able to control the temperature in their own rooms. “It will be good for students,” McNaney said. The board expected renovations to cost more than $500,000 but will now cost $335,000. The PTACs will be more efficient than the old units. A hole will be cut into the walls of rooms in order to install them. According to the LG website, “The LG lineup of PTACs are extremely quiet.” The PTACs are individual room air conditioners,
rather than community air conditioners. “Now empty rooms can be shut and the systems individually turned off,” added Mike Jenkins, vice president of student development. The board meeting began with the call to order, during which the Board and attendees were led in prayer and said the Pledge of Allegiance. No citizen’s comments were given. Chris Gore, admissions and registrar director, presented Pedro Robles as the Student Spotlight recipient. Robles was honored for his involvement in various KC activities, such as working as a student volunteer and being president of both the Student Government Association and the Ranger Ambassadors. “We’re a better institution with him being here,” Gore said. The Employee Spotlight recognized KC’s football coaches. They were honored for their ability to train students on and off the field. They teach classes when they are not on the field and have regular practice schedules. The coaches also check on the football players daily. See BOARD, Page 3
Ash Wednesday at Wesley Chapel Photos from observation service Page 6
International love story
O. Rufus Lovett / SPECIAL TO THE FLARE
Belinda and Paulin Libebele met at KC and were married November 6, 2015.
African students’ endless romance began here five years ago
Kilgore college MEAGHAN MORTON Managing Editor Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
Destarra Alexander, Longview freshman, worships at the Wesley Chapel after receiving the cross of ashes on her forehead.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
n Face in the Crowd Page 2
n PTK seminars: “How to College” Page 2
n KC Comic Book Club meets Page 2
n Softball invitational Page 4
n New police academy courses Page 2
n Your View/Our View: Valentine’s Day Page 7
I
t’s almost like a KC love story - well, actually, it is. Two international students from Africa, one from Congo, the other from Zambia, both came to KC to receive an education but eventually, and unexpectedly, found love. Paulin and Belinda Libebele both came to KC at about the same time, Paulin in 2009 and Belinda in 2010. The couple were brought together by a group of mutual friends. “Most of the time, the Africans after graduation meet up and have a party, so that’s how we got to know each other,” Belinda said. Paulin said at first he asked for Belinda’s number just to talk as a friend. After a while, his affections started building. The now-couple were friends for five years before they began dating. “He was one of my best friends,” Belinda said. “We’d known each other for maybe 5 years and then 3 years of talking.”
The night Paulin asked Belinda to go on a date with him, she wasn’t sure what to think. “I was at her place one night and I asked her if she wanted to go out with me,” Paulin said. “It sounded like I was joking, so she really couldn’t take me seriously.” “I was just laughing!” Belinda said. “Then, he kept talking about it and sounded really serious.” Paulin said the only thing running through his mind while she was laughing was “Maybe she doesn’t like me.” But she decided she would go on a date with him and was secure about her decision. “This is a person I probably wanted to depend on because he was so trustworthy,” she said. “You would tell him to do something and he would be there on time. He was there when I was stressed with school, he would call me and comfort me and encourage me and just do what women like.” First came love, and eventually came marriage. Paulin proposed in the traditional way by taking the three steps. “The first one, you knock on the door and give the parents money like you want to talk about it [marriage]. You give them money and explain why you are there,” Belinda said. “The big one is when you’ve agreed to get married to this person and your parents have authorized you to get married to this person. It’s like a price tag.” Paulin said he was nervous about what she was going to say. “I had to meet her sister in Michigan, so I didn’t know how she was going to take it or what she was See LOVE STORY, Page 3