FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE Spring semester: May 7-10
TUESDAY OR THURSDAY CLASSES
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR FRIDAY CLASSES Class Time
Exam Time
Date
7:30 -8:20 a.m.
8:30–10:30 a.m.
Friday, May 11
8:30-9:20 a.m.
8:30–10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 9
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
8:30–10:30 a.m.
Monday, May 7
10:30-11:20 a.m.
11 a.m.– 1 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
11 a.m – 1 p.m.
Monday,May 7
12:30-1:50 p.m. (MW) 1:30 –3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
2 -3:20 p.m. (MW)
Monday, May 7
1:30–3:30 p.m.
3:30- 4:50 p.m. (MW) 4–6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
5-6:20 p.m. (MW)
5–7 p.m.
Monday, May 7
6:30 -9:20 p.m. (M)
7:10–9:10 p.m.
Monday, May 7
6:30 -9:20 p.m. (W)
7:10–9:10 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
Grades may be accessed and printed at www.kilgore.edu - click on the myKC link. Grades will be available as soon as they are posted by your instructor. Grades will not be mailed.
Class Start Time
Exam Time
Date
8:30-9:50 a.m.
8:30 –10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 8
10-11:20 a.m.
10 a.m.- noon
Thursday, May 10
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8
12:30-1:50 p.m.
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
2-3:20 p.m.
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8
3:30-4:50 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
5- 6:20 p.m.
5-7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8
6:30-9:20 p.m. (Tu)
7:10 - 9:10 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8
6:30-9:20 p.m. (Th)
7:10- 9:10 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
All Friday only classes will test at regular class time on Friday, May 4. All Saturday classes will test 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5. Flex classes (classes that follow a different calendar than the regular semester) may test at different times. See course syllabus or instructor to confirm exam date/time. Web class finals are arranged by the instructor.
INSIDE
Features Find coverage of movie night, transportation advice, democracy benefits, photo gallery and more in our special B section of The Flare.
Vol. 81, No. 20 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
May 1, 2018
Most Representative Students Sophomore stars shine bright
Generous donors raise $10,000+
n Most Outstanding Students, along with other highlights from 2017-18 school year, will be featured in the Ranger Yearbook, an online publication uploaded to the kilgore.edu website during Finals Week.
n Rey Lazarin
n Jennifer Dyess
n Sera Allen
Each year at KC, faculty members nominate sophomore students as the Most Outstanding in their field of study and vote for the Most Representative students from those nominations. Most Representative students embody the values promoted by KC: hard work, academic excellence and a commitment to succeed in their chosen field. Rey Lazarin, a Nursing major from Hallsville, Jennifer Dyess, a Vocational Nursing major from Diana and Sera Allen, a Speech major from Gladewater were selected as the Most Representative KC students for the 2017-2018 school year.
Most Outstanding Students n Mercedes Nunley — Fine Art n Erica Maring — Drafting/Design Technology n Vicki Magana — Instrumentation and Electrical Technology n Mark Dheil — Occupational Safety and Health Technology n LeAnna Latham — Advertising/Graphic Design n Stormi Mason — Process Technology n Julia Bobo — Education & College Success n David Hammons — Diesel Technology n Richard Nelson — Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology n Colten Woodfin — Industrial Maintenance Technology n Kashawna Mack — Business Computer Office Management n Rey Lazarin — Nursing
n Karen Lopez — Accounting n Daniel Thompson — General Business n Natalie Poss — Business Administration n Marco Solis — Management n Donald Anglin — Legal Assisting n Hayden Wolf — Culinary Arts n Olivia English — Cosmetology n Jesse Glasco — Computer and Information Technology n Jenica Ferguson — Computer Science n Alyson Herberger — Physical Therapist Assistant n Thy Phung — Physics n Jessica Stokes — Engineering n Sayaka Komoriya — Math n Maggie Cotton — Radiologic Science n Lindsey Witt — Chemistry
n Lucas Strough — Communications n Christopher Blake Smith — English n Sera Allen — Speech n Erin Ellis — Dance n Ana Rico — TRIO n Lance Boland — Music n Matthew Samford — Automotive Technology n Max Cervantes — Photography n Marissa Breland — Sociology/Social Work n Angelique Alexander — History n Gloria Guerrero — Government n Catherine Camp — Psychology n Misaki Tsuchida — Philosophy n Parker Watson — Emergency Medical Services Professions n Jennifer Dyess — Vocational Nursing
LUCAS STROUGH Executive Editor
P
eople from across East Texas showed their generosity last Tuesday for East Texas Giving Day and KC reaped the rewards. KC raised a total of $10,205.76 in donations in 18 hours on Giving Day. The money will be used to upgrade the technology infrastructure on campus to create faster, more reliable internet connections. “We were interested in exploring a crowd funding platform and this seemed like a really good fit. We hadn’t used crowd funding prior to this, but based on this experience we will explore other opportunities,” said Dr. Brenda Kays, KC President. The issue of reliable internet access on the campus has been a big issue for quite some time. The money raised during Giving Day is a major step forward in tackling this issue. “Upgrading our technological infrastructure will provide reliable and high speed access to students. It will enable faculty to do more with online course development and provide Open Education Resources (OER) for students, mitigating the need for costly publisher textbooks. We will be working the upgrades in stages designed to provide the least amount of disruption to students, faculty and staff,” Kays said. The KC administration spread the word about Giving Day by giving out free snow cones to students and posting signs around Kilgore. The KC administration may use future Giving Day events to provide additional funding for important campus projects. To learn more about East Texas Giving day, visit easttexasgivingday.org.
Tech-Voc department chair fires on all cylinders as new dean Shaw takes point over Public Services and Industrial Technologies KEATON SHELLEY Staff Writer
C
ollege students, wrapped up in their own lives, often find it difficult to understand or appreciate the sheer amount of responsibility, work and effort, the faculty and staff of KC have on their plates. At a place like KC, the extremely closeknit and personal environments in the classrooms stem from the hard work and dedication from not only the people teaching the courses, but also those behind the scenes; the department chairs and deans who dictate the direction of programs, their funding, and the specific logistics that lay the foundation for what will be offered at KC. D’Wayne Shaw, KC’s newest Dean of Public Services and Industrial Technologies,
made time to sit down and share what being dean is like and how his years of experience with KC has prepared him for this new, ever-changing position. Apart from a brief time in school in Houston, Shaw has spent almost all of his life in the East Texas area. “I graduated from Hallsville, so much of my secondary education was handled there and I spent a lot of time in that area,” Shaw said. He went to school to become an automotive technician and spent time working at numerous dealerships and shops before finding his way to Kilgore. “I went to work for Lively Cadillac GMC for seven years and then worked for an independent shop for a bit after that,” Shaw said. See Shaw on Page 3
Kori Stroud / THE FLARE
D’Wayne Shaw starts his new adventure as Dean of Public Services and Industrial Technologies.
THE FLARE
PAGE 2A n TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018
FACE IN THE CROWD
shelbi church Hometown: Haslet Age: 19 Major: English How did you first become interested in dance? I had always wanted to be a dancer but I knew absolutely nothing about dance. I took a year-long intro to dance course before trying out for my high school drill team, and surprisingly I made varsity on my first go around at tryouts.
Catie Denfeld / THE FLARE
How much time do you spend in dance training? Since I’m trying out a second time for the Rangerettes (yeah, 79 hopeful!) dance practically consumes my life. I take Mrs. (Angela) Aulds’ ballet and modern class and Mrs.
(Shelley) Wayne’s jazz class, as well as another jazz class Tuesday nights in Kilgore and a dance fitness class Wednesdays and a Rangerette prep class Thursday nights. What are your plans after finishing your education at KC? After Kilgore College, I would love to attend Rice University or the University of Texas at Austin to finish my undergrad, and then go to graduate school to get my masters and then possibly a Ph.D. in English. Eventually I’d like to either be a creative writing professor or a traveling/ performing slam poet, or maybe a drill team director.
by the numbers
90
n March 2018 marked the 90th consecutive month of U.S. job growth. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
n The unemployment rate is currently 4.1% after 148,000 jobs were added at the end of 2017. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
4.1
35,100
Who are your role models? Do you have someone who you look to as an inspiration? One of my biggest inspirations and role models is Misty Copeland, the first black principal ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre. She has this quote , “You can start late, look different, be uncertain, and still succeed,” and I love it because it perfectly describes my dance journey. I didn’t start when I was 3 and do pointe by the time I was 10 or have any expensive technical training, but I still have goals and dreams and passion and drive, just like her.
n The average starting
pay in the U.S. for a graduate with an associate’s degree in 2018. Source: payscale.com
Longview hosts non-trad job fair KC’s CTE programs focus on helping students find the perfect career regardless of gender CASSIDY DANIEL Staff Writer The KC-Longview campus hosted a non-traditional career fair on Friday, April 20. The career fair highlighted nontraditional programs such as welding, legal assisting, office professional, nursing, cosmetology and sought to see underrepresented genders enrolled in non-traditional programs. The term “non-traditional” refers to careers that have been typically filled by one gender, meaning that more than 75 percent of those in the career field are of one gender. Currently at KC, out of the 2,180 students enrolled in a nontraditional CTE program, only 327 of those participants are from an under-represented gender group. This means that 15 percent of students enrolled in a non-traditional career program are an unrepresented gender in the field they are pursuing. Dr. Julie Fowler, executive dean of KC-Longview, encourages students to be inspired by their future career, regardless of gender. “Our talents and abilities are not based upon our gender,” Fowler said. “The Non-Traditional event will hopefully inspire our students—and future students—to pursue whatever career excites them.” Stephanie Gallegos, a Longview dual-credit student, is in
Club News: Golden Z YASMINE WILSON Staff Writer KC’s Golden Z Club collaborated with TRiO to host The Women’s Center of East Texas Primary Prevention Seminars, led by primary prevention coordinator Tracey Jones. The meetings were held every Friday at 12:30 in the TRiO lab where everyone is welcome. Jones conducts educational seminars that deal with sensitive subjects which can lead to a striking conversation every week. She teaches signs of healthy and unhealthy behaviors as well as healthy and unhealthy relationships and she speaks on how power can become unequal in relationships. The last few sessions have touched on the topics of the labels and gender roles society places on individuals in our everyday lives and how it affects us. For example, men are told to be strong and to show no weakness or emotions. They may be told to “suck it up,” “man up” and not to “act like a girl.” Women, on the other hand, are told to play the role of a servant: cook, clean, and be quiet. “All of the scripts that society tries to pin on us do not match how we actually feel on the inside. All of the things that society tells us to be most certainly does not define who we are but it can affect us emotionally,” she said. “We learn those messages at some points in our lives and think that’s how we need to be to fit in. Feeling
like we aren’t tough enough or pretty enough in today’s society can truly make or break you,” she said. As human beings who have feelings, we tend to feel angry or belittled, broken and insecure and in some cases we start to feel depressed. Men’s behavior that has been validated by society includes violence, for example, fighting. Women’s behavior that has been validated tends to be dramatic, for example, gossip and attempts at ruining the reputation of others. Other topics that were discussed are how violence can begin to occur in relationships. When power becomes unequal it leaves space for violence to happen and creates an unhealthy relationship. . The Women’s Center of East Texas has helped and supported many women who have become victims, with the hope to enhance their safety and create peace of mind. Tracey Jones, Primary Prevention coordinator, hopes to become more involved to help educate men and women here at KC. Her seminars will fill you with powerful knowledge and get you involved in interesting deep conversations. In my opinion, these conversations are helpful especially for young college kids to hear, many young people right here on campus are going through situations they have never expressed to others. These type of conversations are for the purpose of expressing our emotions, being open and honest.
her second year of the cosmetology program. As one of the many female students enrolled in the course, she believes that the addition of males in this field would be highly beneficial. “Cosmetology is a great option for anyone who wants to pursue a creative career, regardless of your gender,” Gallegos said. Like other non-trad programs, the stigma for underrepresented genders is prominent for cosmetology students. “The stigma is that cosmetology for men is less masculine, which makes it less appealing,” Gallegos said. “The career is ideal for anyone willing to put in the work and time. Success in the beauty industry doesn’t have a gender.” The career fair hosted representatives from 33 KC CTE programs to talk with potential students and offer career direction. “Wait until you see how successful women and men can be in careers that have always been considered for only one gender,” Fowler said. KC offers a variety of CTE programs designed for a range of careers with both genders in mind. When pursuing a nontraditional career, students have the opportunity to choose between programs that offer 2-year associate’s degrees and certificate programs. “The Non-Traditional Career Education Fair is designed to
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inspire students to think outside the box,” Fowler said. “Do you like being outdoors? Indoors? Do you like working with people? By yourself ? Do you like detail work or more big picture type of work? These should be the things students ask of themselves about what careers to pursue and not this line of thinking: ‘I can’t do that because I’m a man (or a woman).’” Ebony Allison-Dennis, Director of Instructional Student Support at KC-Longview, wants to showcase the nontraditional programs with both high school and college students in mind. “The fair is not only for high school students researching possible careers, but also for working adults who are thinking about a possible career change,” Allison-Dennis said. “KC offers career and technical programs with an abundance of career choices including associate degrees and certificate programs.” Designed to showcase nontraditional programs as a whole, gender equality in these programs plays a role as well. “When I say gender equality, I’m meaning women in welding and men in cosmetology,” Allison-Dennis said. “This fair allows for potential students to see what KC has to offer in our non-traditional programs.”
Monday - Thursday April 30 - May 3 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 4 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. -------Monday - Thursday May 7 - May 10 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 11 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
ID Required!
TUESDAY , MAY 1, 2018 n PAGE 3A
THE FLARE
Shaw: from automotive instructor to division dean Continued from page 1 “After that, I went to Henderson to work for a dealer who is now Yates Buick GMC and eventually came here to Kilgore, so I’ve pretty well always lived around this area.” Shaw is wrapping up his 18th year teaching at KC. He has held numerous positions over that time. “In the fall of 1999 I started here as an automotive instructor,” Shaw said. “At the time, the program was looking to make some changes and hired me as a part of that process. After about two years, we became NATEF certified, which is the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, making us a nationally certified program for the students coming through.” After this, Shaw worked closely with the inclusion of the new auto body and collision programs that the school had begun to offer. “We built the program up, got the auto body going, and auto tech got large enough for us to hire on a second instructor, which put me in a lead instructor sort of position,” Shaw said. He worked closely with Hallsville ISD to hire a new full-time instructor for the program to teach auto-tech, dual credit on the Hallsville campus.
Changes and reorganization came to the division under former dean, Randy Lewellen, placing Shaw in the new position of department chair. “I ended up being the department chair of six areas at that time. I was still teaching full-time in auto tech, then I went from having automotive and auto-body to having four additional areas beyond that,” Shaw said. Further changes came to the division under current KC president Dr. Brenda Kays. After she restructured the programs, Shaw’s gained another additional program, for a total to seven programs. “Dr. Kays was then looking to hire a full-time person to coordinate the technical dual credit, so everything done at the high schools for workforce dual credit; anything from culinary arts to welding,” Shaw said. “I had already been doing that for our industrial technologies areas, making necessary connections with people, so I went ahead and asked Dr. Kays if I could take that position, so instead of hiring someone outside for that job, I would absorb that and we would hire another full-time automotive instructor.” This was Fall 2017 and Shaw spent the semester coordinating the technical
dual credit program, and remained the department chair of those seven areas. “Our dean retired January 31st, and I applied for his position,” said Shaw. “They spent the month of February taking applications and holding interviews, and I ended up with the job the first of March,” said Shaw. After nearly two months as new dean, Shaw is acclimating to his new responsibilities. “I think it’s an ever-changing and evolving position,” Shaw said. “We try to help our instructors, department chairs and programs be as successful as they can be. We want to help them make connections, whether it be ISDs for dual credit opportunities or making sure we catch any opportunities that come our way.” Shaw still holds many of the positions he held prior to being dean and continues working very closely with the people in his department to further push for the very best opportunities. “I look forward to being a part of Kilgore College for as long as Kilgore College will let me,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of really great stuff coming; there are some really neat ideas out there, and we look forward to being able to offer students some really exciting stuff.”
‘Caffeine and conversations’ KC president discusses the state of the college at informal meetings JAMIE HWANG Staff Writer Note: Last spring Dr. Brenda Kays, KC president, began “Caffeine and Conversations” as a way to stay in touch with employees and keep them updated on actions in the Legislature. She continued that tradition this semester with updates on the strategic plan and SACSCOC Reaffirmation. n Legislative News Highlights: KC is now in its Base Year of funding, where contact hours determine money from the state; Perfor mance-based funding is becoming increasingly based on Student Success Points. Kays said: “Thirty-two states are now using perfor mance-based funding.” n Budget Highlights: Budget development is currently underway through the work of Fred Gore, VP of Finance; Property tax revenue might cause issues in the future per a court ruling. Kays said: A $1 increase approved by the Board of Trustees will help with Student Success Initiatives from the Pathways Forum.
Mary Williams-Smith / THE FLARE
Mike Simmons, KC Fire Academy Director and veteran firefighter, describes the realities of a career as a firefighter to visiting West Rusk High School students during the final “Day in the Life” presentation of the semester, held in the Randolph C. Watson Library.
KC Fire Academy accepting applications through May 14 for Basic Structural Firefighter Class #104 Registration is underway for Kilgore College Fire Academy No. 104 which is set to begin June 4. Deadline to apply for the Basic Structural Firefighter program is May 14. Classes will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with a possibility of evening and/or weekend classes. The 474-hour, 12-week academy will run through Aug. 23. Tuition is $1,200 for in-state students and $1,750 for students out-of-state. The program is physically demanding as well as academically challenging and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) strongly recommends all students are able to read and comprehend with at least a 10th grade reading level.
Students must also present a valid high school diploma and official high school transcript or GED scores with their applications. Admission to the KC Fire Academy is based upon a highly competitive process with preference given to an applicant’s level of education, experience and their affiliation with a career, volunteer department or rescue unit. To apply for the academy, download and fill out the Basic Fire Academy application located at www.kilgore.edu/ fire-academy. For more information contact Mike Fennell, lead instructor, at 903-983-3762 (mfennell@kilgore.edu) or Renee’ Golden at 903-983-8662.
n What’s Happening? Highlights: Energysaving efforts will be used to pay a lowinterest rate loan as the college: increases lighting on campus; installs fixtures for water conservations; installs security cameras (cable laid and cameras put into place); upgrades to HVAC and Mechanical Control Systems. Kays said: “This will enhance system reliability and make for a better learning and working environment.” Highlights: Also considering a bid to improve the Pedestrian Bridge by replacing rails, selecting a design to update the appearance of the campus, painting the rails and installing lighting across the top
of the bridge. Campus electronic signage is also being considered as an upgrade to campus. Kays said: This will be an 18-month project. We have deferred maintenance until we can’t defer it any longer. Highlights: An upgraded IT Infrastructure is in the works so the college can host its own Jenzabar products on campus and no longer have to depend upon the connectivity of someone else. An anonymous donor: He said he’ll give us $350,000 if we can find $150,000 matching. Those dollars will be dedicated toward upgrading IT infrastructure. Kays said: We’ve got a lot of good things going on. n Strategic Plan Highlights: In its third year, it shows us where we are in the process and encourages us to accomplish our goals. It is a living document that changes to accommodate the college’s needs. Kays said: “Every aspect of Kilgore College’s Strategic Plan is firmly grounded in, and may be tied back to, our overarching priority of promoting and achieving student success. Highlights: It enhances college resources to adequately support student learning and success and was shaped through input from the students, faculty, staff, board of trustees and community members who attended Kays’ public forums. Kays said: “The purpose of the Student Success Plan is to provide students with the things that they need to progress, from developmental into college level; to decrease the percentage of students who complete their first semester without earning any credit and to capitalize on things that we do well; and have partnerships with not only 2-year institutions, but also 4-year institutions.
Secure your scholarships Students can find many ways to further their education through free money SARAH REDFORD Copy Editor College. The word can strike fear into the hearts of parents everywhere. Some start saving for their children’s college right away, others wait and, for others, saving for college is not an option. Regardless of how the money is obtained, it must be obtained. There are several ways to secure this extra money. Federal Student Loans, Pell Grants and scholarships are just a few. A person should begin planning their college career while still in high school. Dual credit courses can save time and money as they are free and will cut a semester or more from your time in college. Talk to your counselor about what is available and, if attending a community college before transferring to a university (this can save thousands of dollars), make sure your credits will transfer. Fill out the FAFSA form at www.fafsa.gov. This is how you get student loans and Pell Grants. There are companies who offer to do this for you but that help comes with a
price tag. The FAFSA can be daunting to fill out, but you and your parents can do this without help and the added expense of someone doing it for you. Grants are money that does not have to be repaid. They are funded by the US government, corporations, foundations, trusts and individuals. They are usually need-based and have qualifications that must be met. You will have to search for them but there are websites such as www.studentaid. ed.gov to help. This site offers information on several grants and how to apply for them. There are grants for students who want to become teachers, grants for veterans and for Pell Grants. It is worthwhile to spend a little time searching these monies out. They can ease the financial burden of paying for an education. Scholarships are a creative way to obtain money for your education and are sometimes called gift-aid. This money is not paid back and can be any amount, from a few hundred dollars to enough to cover your entire education. Finding scholarships is not hard. They
are everywhere. You just need to hunt for them. Look at the website for the college you will be attending. They will often have them available, if you simply ask for them. There might be scholarships available from your parent’s place of employment or from a civic organization like the Lions Club or the Rotary Club. School organizations such as FFA can have money available. There are scholarships available for good students, athletes, church members, military dependents and Native Americans. There are also monies available for women, older students and even those that want to save the whales. Most scholarships have some sort of qualifications. Name, address and major are usually required. Sometimes an essay is requested and there are deadlines to submit entries. The website, https://www.careeronestop. org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships. aspx, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and has 812 pages of scholarships, fellowships, grants and other financial aid award opportunities.
There is one for $1,000 that anyone is eligible for. It is sponsored by www.allaboutcats. com. One of the qualifications is to provide an essay on “how to best promote the most humane treatment of felines.” Another is a $500 scholarship from ‘Working for Farmers’ Success School,’ “to encourage young people to pursue an agricultural career.” Still another is for those majoring in food service, chemical science, biology science or a related field who are interested in confectionery technology. It is for $2,500 $5,000. The scholarships are out there, but there are a few guidelines to follow to keep from being scammed. Consider carefully before you pay for information. You should not have to pay to receive a scholarship. There are some companies that, for a small fee, will provide a list of scholarships. You can find them yourself by searching online or by asking your school counselor, a TRiO counselor or searching at the library. Keep in mind that legitimate companies never guarantee or promise grants or scholarships.
THE FLARE
PAGE 4A n TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018
Ranger Softball concludes season
Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Camille Freudensprung, Lake Jackson freshman, gets a hit Wednesday afternoon against Navarro College.
Rangers sweep TJC
Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Ranger softball teammates Cailon Palmer, Kaitlin Hunter, and Alyssa Maldonado cheer on their team
KC notches first home win against TJC in school history ALLISON TALIAFERRO Managing Editor After the double header sweep on a sunny day at the ballpark in KC Commons against Tyler Junior College, Rangers softball ended their season on a high note. The Rangers took the first game by storm coming out on top 5-4. Pitcher Devyn Power shut down the Apaches earning her seventh win. Power fanned two, walked two, allowed seven hits and struck out one through a complete seven innings of pitching. Shelby Edwards started the opener off hot and put the Rangers on the board early by hitting a home run to left field. “Shelby had a great day! It always helps to score early. It gives the rest of the team confidence that we can hit the pitcher. When we keep scoring in multiple innings, it is a good sign that we will battle the whole game,” said Head Coach Leslie Messina. The middle of the Rangers lineup showed up to bat in the fourth inning earning them four runs. Brianna Ynfante started the Ranger’s scoring streak by hitting a single. Ynfante was followed by singles from Makenna Bell, Taylor Christopher and Camille Frudensprung. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Rangers went three up three down, but
still managed to get the Apaches with a 5-4 win. This was the first time the Rangers according to school statistics defeated TJC on their home field. In the second victory against TJC, the Rangers came to bat in the first inning when Edwards cranked yet another homerun going driving in Hailey Nash who hit a single, putting the Rangers on the board 2-0. Pitcher Katy Worell, in her final game at KC, allowed 10 hits, walked four, and struck out six of the Apaches batters. As the wind picked up, so did KC’s bats. In the third inning, both Hunters drove Edwards in, allowing her to score and taking a 3-0 lead over TJC. The Rangers started off the fourth inning hot with a single from Tori Tovar, Nash, Christopher, and Frudensprung and a double from Edwards. Earning them a 6-0 lead over the Apaches. TJC came with bats prepared in the fifth inning knocking in three runs, and putting themselves on the board. The Rangers earned one run in the fifth inning from Ynfante putting them at 7-3 lead over TJC. In the sixth inning the Apaches gave KC a scare after a three run inning putting the score 7-6. The Rangers were able to fight in the seventh inning keep the score at 7-6 and earning Worell win
number 10. “We will be looking forward to having depth on the pitching staff. Three freshmen pitchers were able to pitch this year. So we will be bringing in more pitchers,” said Messina. “I am very proud of this team. The amount of adversity with the injuries this season was tremendous and they fought to the end. Almost every player had some injury that kept them out for a while and some season ending injuries, but they didn’t quit. TJC is a great program, but our players wanted it more today and pushed though some injuries to win two against a top ranked team in the nation,” said Messina. After a series of fighting injuries the Rangers hope to go into next season healthy. “Only two or three players didn’t experience an injury all year. Many had multiple injuries,” said Messina. The sweep over TJC is a chapter in the Rangers softball history, going down as the first time the Rangers beat TJC at home. “I will miss this sophomore class. They are the winningest class in KC softball history. Each team has their own personalities and strengths. I look forward to learning next year’s team’s personality,” said Messina.
Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Makenna Bell, Nacogdoches freshman, completes a force out against Navarro.
KC splits with Navarro
The Kilgore College Rangers split a Region XIV Conference twinbill with Navarro College on Wednesday at The Ballpark at KC Commons, winning the opener (4-3) and falling 16-11 in the nightcap. In the first game, Kaitlin Hunter doubled, Alyssa Maldonado added two hits and two RBI, Kourtlin Hunter singled twice and Kelsey Ahart and Avery Hooks drove in runs for Kilgore.
Zoe Miranda homered and drove in two runs for Navarro. Katy Worrell earned the pitching win, striking out 10 with no walks and allowing three earned runs in seven innings. In the nightcap, Kora Heine doubled twice and drove in five runs and Miranda homered again for Navarro. Kourtlin Hunter homered to go along with two doubles and four RBI in the loss for KC. Brianna Ynfante added
a home run, two singles and three RBI, Makenna Bell had three hits, Brenna Ortiz drove in a run and Shelby Edwards added two RBI. Devyn Power shouldered the pitching loss. Kilgore (19-23, 12-14) will close out the regular season at home on Friday, hosting Tyler Junior College at 11 and 1 p.m. -KCPR
Rangers drop two against Bossier Parish Chelsea Fagan belted four home runs and drove in seven runs in two games, leading Bossier Parish to a double header sweep of Kilgore College on Sunday in Region XIV Conference action at The Ballpark at KC Commons. Bossier earned 10-2 and 13-2 wins, improving to 17-5
in conference play. Kilgore drops to 18-22 overall and 1113 in the conference. In the opener, Shelby Edwards, Kourtlin Hunter and Alyssa Maldonado all doubled for Kilgore, with Edwards and Hunter driving in runs. Devyn Power took the pitching loss. She struck out three and walked one in
six innings. In the nightcap, Kelsey Ahart homered and Tori Tovar drove in a run for KC. Katy Worrell struck out two and walked one in five innings to shoulder the pitching loss. -KCPR
Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Kaitlin Hunter, Gladewater sophomore, stretches to catch a ball on first base in order to tag out an advancing TJC runner in Friday’s game.
Athletic Scholarship Fundraiser Set for May 5 The Kilgore College Foundation will host an athletic scholarship fundraiser the size of Texas featuring a live auction hosted by Walt Cade, star of the hit TV show Texas Storage Wars on A&E. “A Texas-Sized Fundraiser” is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the Longview Exhibit Building at the Longview Fairgrounds. Tickets for the event are $50 per person and include dinner, four drink tickets and a bidder number. The event will also feature Bingo and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit KC Athletics to
fund student athletic scholarships. The night is sure to be filled with excitement as attendees participate in a live auction for items such as a week’s stay in a vacation home in Mexico, designer purses, firearms and much more. “We are thankful for all of the people and businesses donating time and auction items so we can make this fundraiser a night to remember,” said Jimmy Rieves, KC athletic director. “We are doing everything possible to ensure our studentathletes are taken care of and are so thankful for the local support we have received.”
Rieves said that the fundraiser is all about helping the college’s best assets – its students. “Many times, our studentathletes have the talent but not the financial resources to attend college,” Rieves said. “Money raised will directly help our studentathletes have a better chance of being successful and fulfill our college’s mission of student access, success and completion through collaborative partnerships.” For more information visit www.kilgore.edu/atexas-sized-fundraiser or contact Kristan Propes at 903-988-7537 or kpropes@ kilgore.edu. -KCPR
TUESDAY, MAY 1 , 2018 n PAGE 5A
THE FLARE
Overcoming Adversity
Former 5-Star recruit lands at KC amidst a rough road CHRIS WILLIAMS Staff Writer Kendell Shelby Jones Jr., better known across the nation as “Hulk,” was a fivestar recruit coming out of Shoemaker High School in Killeen. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Jones did not play football until the eighth grade. He was always the big kid on the team and flourished into the sport rapidly. He received his first scholarship offer in the ninth grade from the University of Texas at Austin even though he was kicked off of Shoemaker’s team his freshman year. Former head coach Charlie Strong actually gave Jones his nickname that he is officially known as. “One day, he sat down in the office for a meeting to give me my scholarship. He starts calling me “Hulk.” As soon as I got back home three hours later, I got an article on-line saying the nickname. I was like how did it get out so fast? But the name stuck.” Being highly recruited in high school, was a big shock. “Fame…. It felt like you were superior to all. From seeing all the coaches from TV travel hundreds of miles to see me was shocking,” Jones said. There were challenges being a five-star
Whitney Ervin / THE FLARE
Kendell “Hulk” Jones works out with 75 pound dumbbells during a workout session at Parks Fitness Center. Jones, a former 5-star recruit, is attempting a comeback in hopes of once again landing at a Division I school.
recruit and Jones faced them head on. He said “Of course you have to worry about how much you weigh, how you are in the classroom and always staring coaches in their eyes when we first meet. Try your best to stay impressive and you always have to give the coaches something new when they come see you.” Jones’ performance on the field impressed every coach in the nation and he later committed to coach Nick Saban and the University of Alabama. However, his plans to play for Alabama were put on hold because of grades. As a result, Jones had to attend Copiah Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi. He attended the school for a year and got into a fight that ultimately led to his dismissal from the school. Jones was sent back home to Texas where he found himself not attending any school. He was at home with no schools contacting him, and just wondered if he would play football again. The passion for the game never left him. Jones reunited with his high school coach and explained his situation. The coach agreed to help him with finding another school to attend. To help Jones in this process, the coach took a picture of him and put it on Twitter. The picture he
took changed his life and situation in a matter of days. He received calls from every junior college in the nation, calls from topranked schools and schools that are trying to get off their feet. All of the attention reminded Jones of his high school days and made him feel wanted again. One of the schools left an impact on him. He received a call from Assistant Coach Willie Gooden from Kilgore College. “Coach Gooden is on the spot telling me everything I need to know. You know, talking about business. He came to see me and laid down the law. I can abide by his law.” Coach Gooden left a mark on Jones. He wanted to stay close to home so his dad and friends could see him play in the fall. As a result, Jones decided to sign with KC and felt happy with his decision. The school felt like home to him and a place that would put him back on track. Jones will participate in football this fall and still plans to go to the NFL. “A lot of people expect a big return from me. My father, schools and mother expect to see me, so the plan is to stay fit and hit the books. The goal is still to get to the league. Everybody’s route is different, but I will get there.”
“Everybody’s route is different, but I will get there.” - Kendall Shelby Jones Jr.
Road to Recovery Lady Ranger discusses season-ending injury, recovery process, support her team RAHSAAN SHEPPARD Staff Writer Paula Esteban, a KC Lady Ranger point guard from Madrid, Spain, was not able to play much this season due to a season ending knee injury she suffered in November. As the KC Lady Rangers rallied past Bossier Parish Community College 91-81 in the first game of a Region XIV Conference doubleheader back in March, her injury did not stop her from supporting her teammates. Esteban continued to stay positive and cheered for her teammates after the injury despite her distance away from home. “Well, when you play a team sport, they become your family, and as they didn’t let me down with my
injury, I can’t let them down during the games and during the process,” she said It is hard to be on the sideline, not even on the bench, but if there is anything I can do for my team, no matter what it is, I will do it. And now that I am injured like this, I’ve realized that I’m not able to help on the court but on the outside and that is what I do. “Every teammate has their role, and my role now is to be there for my team, and show the best energy as possible,” she said. Lady Rangers Head Coach Anna Nimz expressed praise for Esteban as she contributed to the team despite not playing. “Paula is a tremendous teammate,” Nimz said. “She goes above and beyond to ensure her team knows
she is there for them. Even with her injury/surgery, she has made sure to make it to each game. She sits behind the bench and is a continuous voice of excitement. She continues to make a difference from the sidelines.” Esteban’s basketball career is far from over as she continues to go to therapy and workouts to strengthen her knee so she is able to come back stronger and better. Esteban plans to play at KC for two more years after her knee injury in which she tore three ligaments in the left knee. As the rehabilitation process on her knee began, Esteban was not too fond of the injury she suffered. “In the beginning of my injury, I was very unhappy and scared,” Esteban said.
“I knew I had injured my knee bad, but did not know it was going to be three torn ligaments in one knee. The first month, I could barely move and walk. The second month, I started doing weights, squats and more gym workouts. I am starting on the third month of my rehab process for my knee and will be starting to run soon.” Esteban also gave recognition to her trainer, Lauren Moreno, who has been with her ever since the injury occurred. “My trainer, has been with me from the beginning of my injury and through my whole rehab process. She was also by my side when I had my knee surgery.”
“Well, when you play a team sport, they become your family, and as they didn’t let me down with my injury,” - Paula Esteban Grant Worley / THE FLARE
Paula Esteban, a point guard from Madrid, is returning to practice after a fall injury.
The truth about being a student-athlete Columnist implores others to overcome stereotypes Being a student athlete in college is a challenging title to hold. The stereotypes and stories to come with it are bizarre. Words like “lazy”, “easy” and “babied” are commonly used to describe student athletes. I describe my experience being a student athlete as challenging but also a blessing. I had a scholarship out of high school to play football at The University of Louisiana at Monroe and I accepted and signed to play there. The requirements to keep that scholarship were to maintain a 2.0 GPA and excel on the field, which sounds simple, but it is not. It started in the summer when I first moved to the school. It was all smiles and
I was extremely happy to see all the guys that I would build a bond with over the n e x t f o u r to five years. Then t h e work began. I CHRIS had to WILLIAMS wake STAFF WRITER up at 6 a.m. for weight training and running. Then, I had to go to class afterward. It was different but that’s not all. There was a second workout at 4 p.m., then after that there was Study Hall at 7 p.m. Your whole day and
week is planned for you and there is not time to enjoy a summer break. As I checked Twitter and Snapchat, I saw my old high school friends enjoying their summer, taking trips and just relaxing ,while I was working hard, sweating, bleeding and being pushed to a limit that, coming out of high school, I was not used to. As we got to August, we started fall camp, which is a series of intense football practice until school starts. The whole day is planned and it is just football. We were starting at 7 a.m. and freshmen did not end until 11 p.m. Most of these practices were high intensity and involved a lot
of hitting. My body was so sore and my feet hurt so bad that I had to walk lightly. There is no break during the day and every time we stepped on the field, we had to give one hundred percent. We had to show the coaches our ability so we could get the chance to play. Fall camp is six days out of the week. The only rest day is Sunday. Most people do not know about fall camp and the things that we, as football players, have to endure. As fall camp ended and students moved in, we actually helped them move into their dorms. We carried refrigerators, TVs and many bags. The students we helped were the
same students that talked bad about us and called us privileged. It is not all glory. When school started and classes began, all of our classes were scheduled before noon. There was no room in our schedule to get a bite to eat and we mostly ate granola bars. As we got to the stadium, we had to change into workout clothes to get our weightlifting in before practice. We busted our butts in the weight room until we were drained. After lifting, we hustled down to the locker room to change and head out onto the practice field. Practice was high intensity and involved a lot of movement. As we practiced, we got yelled
at and called everything but our real names. After practice, we have to hustle to eat because we have study hall to attend, to get all of our work finished in the same amount of time our classmates have to. Being a student athlete is glorious. School gets paid for, dreams come true and worries do not exist as much. However, the words “lazy” do not describe us. We are hard workers just like everybody else and deserve the respect. Chris Williams is a communications major from Houston
PAGE 6A n TUESDAY MAY 1, 2018
THE FLARE
What’s new in the arts Semester wraps up final art projects
Lucas Strough / THE FLARE
Madison Brown speaks out as the narrator in Naomi Iizuka’s “Good Kids”, presented by the KC Theatre Department.
Annual KC Spring Dance Concert set for May 4 in VCA Kilgore College dance students will showcase their broad range of dance skills at the annual spring dance concert set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 4, in Van Cliburn Auditorium on the Kilgore campus. The concert, “Collective,” will offer a variety of dance styles and techniques taught by the KC Dance Department. “It will give dance students the opportunity to display their talent and show what they have accomplished in the ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and modern dance classes taught at KC,” said Angela Aulds, KC dance instructor. The choreography is a collaboration of the students and instructors: Aulds for ballet and modern dance and Shelley Wayne for tap and jazz. KC offers a complete transfer program for dance majors planning to attend four-year universities. The program includes ballet, tap and jazz, modern dance, improvisation and composition, dance appreciation and performance. n Tickets are $10, $5 for students with KC identification. n Reserve tickets online at www.kilgore.edu/dance. n Tickets can also be purchased using cash or check beginning at 6:15 p.m. the night of the performance at the auditorium’s box office. The auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. n For more information call 903-983-8633.
REVIEW CASSIDY DANIEL Staff Writer In the age of “13 Reasons Why”, Time’s Up and the #MeToo movement, an outpour of survivors are standing up to systemic abuse, sexual assault and harassment. Now more than ever, men and women of power are speaking out against abuse and sharing their stories, making a way for others to speak out too. This is why “Good Kids” by Naomi Iizuka is destined to make a mark on the KC campus. It’s breathtakingly real, honest and, let’s be real, horrifying. Set in a small Midwestern town, this play showcases high school sexual assault and harassment in a modern world: cell phones, social media and all. Like most millennials, I rolled my eyes at the cell phone narrative at first. “We get it!” I thought to myself, “Phones are bad! Stay off social media!” I was ready for a tired narrative on social media responsibility and dead brain cells. That wasn’t what I got. This play turned on the light, or rather the screen, to just how prevalent the perceptions and stigmas regarding sexual assault really are. It presented a raw narrative on kids these days, and the real intentions of supposed “good kids.” I’ll be honest: I can’t count the times I have defended supposed “Good Kids.” It’s remarkably naive, but call me crazy and optimistic; I just think most kids
are good. Then I saw “Good Kids,” KC Theatre’s spring play directed by Matthew and Meaghan Simpson. As a Kilgore native, this play seemed all too familiar. The small town, the football fascination, the dating scene, everything. It was like another walk through my high school and I am not so sure that was a good thing. It was painfully real and honest about small town life. The characters came to life within this high school and it was easy to identify who was who. Amber, the classic mean girl played by Madison Gable, was painfully accurate and honest. Or Deidre, the reclusive narrator with a knack for computer skills was full of enough angst, revenge and tact that it was easy for me to believe Madison Brown was a real high school student. And we can’t forget our football team, the Mustangs. I think I had Landon and Ty, played by Thomas B. Thornburg and Robbie Childers, in one of my high school classes. I’m kidding of course, but the characterization of these actors was absolutely real. And then we get to Chloe, played by Georgie Dumas. We all know a Chloe from high school. She’s nice and pretty and she likes guys and everyone has an assumption about her. It’s this assumption that drives the play, and later, the sexual assault. This is not an easy story. It includes a party we have all been to, a group of friends we all have and a story that’s all too familiar. Underage
drinking, combined with the force of social media, comes together for a modern horror story of sexual assault far too many have lived. It’s both heartbreaking and heartbreakingly familiar. In my only critique, I believe that this show needed a trigger warning. The show became very real, very fast and for those who have been affected by these topics, it came without any warning. Rape, sexual assault, and intense social media bullying aren’t matters to play with. The playbill contained a general warning, but it needed something more. With a vast audience of different students, faculty and locals, it is safe to assume that many of the audience have experienced the aforementioned topics. We should err on the side of caution and concern in the hands of such experience. I saw this concern in the show’s closing and I was awed by the honesty this play exhibited. Not only was I awed, I was also thankful — thankful we are having this conversation; thankful this story was written. It’s too often we avoid this conversation and steer away from the awkward and uncomfortable. We settle the score for now and walk away without any ruffled feathers. Not with “Good Kids.” The cards are dealt, the story is told and the audience gets to decide whether or not the conversation will continue. For me, the conversation continues and I hope it does for you too.
KC Choir’s Spring spectacular n 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 n Forest Home Baptist Church, 15746 County Road 173 Kilgore n The concert will feature KC’s three choral ensembles and many student soloists. The program will include Appalachian harmony, Kenyan sacred music, musical theatre and traditional choral works. n The concert is free and open to the public. GUITAR ENSEMBLE
Lucas Strough / THE FLARE
Pictured, left to right: Kevin Kelley, KC guitar instructor, Josue Sanchez, Longview sophomore, Samuel Herring, Kilgore sophomore and Anthony Salvador, Longview freshman.
n The KC Guitar Ensemble presented a selection of classical and contemporary works adapted for acoustic guitar on Thursday, April 18 in the Van Cliburn Auditorium. Kevin Kelley, Director of the guitar program at KC, performed along with three guitar students: Josue Sanchez, Samuel Herring and Anthony Salvador. The quartet played selections from Bach and Handel as well as two Tom Petty songs in honor of the late rock musician.
Tradition meets the future at Kilgore College • News writing for print and Web • Photo Journalism, News Design, video, & more
kilgore.edu/journalism
KC CHORALE
Courtesy of the Chorale
The KC Chorale performs at Loyola University in New Orleans. The Chorale had multiple vocal performances scheduled at high schools, museums and churches along the way, including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. The Chorale delivered a message of hope and optimism with their program, “One Voice, One Vision — A Declaration of Hope.”
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018 n PAGE 7A
THE FLARE
The Student Newspaper of Kilgore College Since 1936
YOUR VIEW
Vol. 81 • No. 20 What are some concerns that you have about life after KC?
Photos by Grant Worley and Kori Stroud / THE FLARE
“After I leave KC, the thing I am most concerned about is whether or not I am prepared educationally to transfer to a university. Was KC the best foundation and worth my money?”
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Executive Editor Lucas Strough Managing Editor Allison Taliaferro Assistant Editor Lonnie Ross Copy Editor Sarah Redford Features Editor Lisa Harris Sports Editor Alec Reyes
Michaela Jones Roanoke, Virginia freshman
Staff Writers Adriana Cisneros, Cassidy Daniel, Claire Feng, Tony Gore, Jamie Hwang, Quan Le, Nelda Milligan-Turner, Javier Orta, Keaton Shelley, Rahsaan Sheppard, Chris Williams, Yasmine Wilson Photographers Maria Cabrera, Whitney Ervin, Grace Garcia, Brooke Harris, Lonnie Ross, Keaton Shelley, Kori Stroud, Lucas Strough, Gabriel Wade, Mary Williams-Smith, Yasmine Wilson, Grant Worley
“Transferring to another college.” Ribbal Khan Russia freshman
Adviser Rachel Stallard
LIFE after K C
Photo Illustration by Catie Denfeld / THE FLARE
“Finding a good-paying job.” Stephenie White Beaumont freshman
“Having anxiety, my biggest worry is to go to a school where I don’t know anyone and starting over alone.” Christionna Odom Longview sophomore
T
Life is a series of beginnings and endings. Each task that you complete will lead into new opportunities and, as time passes, you will leave a series of milestones behind you. This is especially true for college students. When you reach the end of your time here at KC, you may find yourself wondering what step to take next. For some, the choice is simple and straightforward. They may use their time at KC as a stepping stone to the next phase of their education, usually by working toward a degree at a four-year university. Others may use an associate’s degree or certificate from KC to launch their new career. But even if you have already made a choice about your next step after leaving this place, you might still have some unanswered questions. Will you be attending a nearby university or moving out of state to enroll at a new college? You’ll need to find out how much
you’ll be spending in travel costs and how you’ll cope with a new environment far away from friends and family. Are you entering the work force after graduation? You should know how to make a good resume and where you might have to relocate to find a steady job. The semester is almost over and, if you are graduating, there are only a few days remaining until you cross the stage in Dodson Auditorium to pick up your degree. That’s no reason to panic, though. You can find out the answers to many of these questions in KC’s Counseling and Academic Advising office. However, that’s not the only place you can go for advice in this critical time in your life. Some of the best advice you can find is available from people who have walked this path before you. Your parents may be able to offer insight about what it’s like to make a big move to pursue a
new opportunity. Older siblings or friends from high school can give you a few hints about fitting in at your new university or workplace. If you have a chance to visit a university, take some time to talk to students about which professors they recommend, where to get a cheap meal and where students like to hang out. The best strategy you can use at this point in your life is to ask as many questions as possible. Talk to everyone. People love to talk about themselves and you can usually get valuable tips and insight for free or for the cost of a cup of coffee and few minutes of your time. If you are anxious about the next step after leaving KC, that’s completely normal. Be confident. Work hard and apply yourself but don’t skip over the fun stuff along the way. Always keep your mind and your ears open so that you can learn from everyone who has a lesson to offer.
When assuming and rooming goes wrong
he infamous consequences of “assuming” are an old story. In the myriad of decisions made daily, some are trivial, like which shoes should be worn. Other decisions are more crucial, such as “Can I beat that car?” when waiting to pull into traffic. Then there are decisions that can have lifealtering consequences. In the struggle for financial stability while attending college, I looked for what many students seek: additional income. A part-time job was out of the question; not enough time. A major part of my monetary obligations was making my mortgage payment. I live alone in a three-bedroom house and started to ponder the wasted space and ways I could use it to create the elusive additional income. “Hey! I can rent rooms to fellow students,” I realized. Better yet, I could rent a room to anyone in need of housing. So, I began telling people at work that I wanted to rent a room. A couple in
transition needed a place to stay, temporarily. A month’s rent really helped me. I now
TONY GORE
STAFF WRITER
looked for a more permanent resolution. Continuing to look for a long-term rental agreement, I spoke with everyone I saw, reciting the benefits of renting a room from me for a very reasonable price. Eventually, a lady from personnel at my job suggested that her son rent a room. This lady’s son was in a transitional point in his life and wanted to begin anew. “Assuming“ that, since she seemed to be a good, decent, responsible person, I surmised her son would be a nice guy. Did I conduct any kind of vetting
for a potential candidate? No, I “judged a book” (the guy), “by its cover” (the mom). Well, I should have at least read the table of contents. Things went fine for the first few weeks. He even cleaned house and washed dishes. I thought my new renter was a little different, but he seemed okay. Then, “Dustin” began disappearing for a day or two. Not knowing why, I just “assumed” he had met a girl and was staying with her some. Eventually my renter was absent for four days. I didn’t care, he was grown and the rent was paid (by his mother). I work the evening shift at my job and live close by so I frequently go home for lunch. One Sunday I went home for lunch and when I opened my front door I was greeted by a very intimidating poster of a skull displayed so that it would be the first thing I saw upon entering. I thought my new roommate must be having a party and these things hanging from
my ceiling fans must be decorations. I didn’t care, but I remember thinking, “I wished he would have let me know about it.” Believe me, this was no party. I had been burglarized and my house ransacked. Luckily, I was able to “buy back” my Social Security card and birth certificate; $50. My life was turned upside down. Many things were taken, most everything of value. One of the most frustrating items missing were my textbooks. This really set me back. My house was a mess, my valuables taken and I didn’t have books for school. The point of this article is a warning. Whether searching for a roommate or buying an expensive item, don’t “assume.” Check things out. I should have done some background checking on this guy. For about $30, or so, a person’s criminal background can be examined online. Ask questions and look for red flags. Let me list the red flags that I either ignored or
“assumed” would not be a problem. 1. “He’s trying to get his life back on track.” (A book’s cover) 2. “I went to jail for stealing, but that is all behind me.” (After he moved in) 3. Strange thoughts and behavior. (Another story) 4. Mom paying rent for grown son. (Another book cover) 5. My desperation, hastiness. There are good people that, for various reasons, need a boost up. There are bad people who use empathy as a weapon and a tool to infiltrate and pillage. If you don’t want to learn a lesson the hard way, do as Ronald Reagan suggested in 1987 regarding the nuclear disarmament of the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. — “Trust but verify.” Tony Gore is a freshman journalism major from Kilgore.
Photography Adviser O Rufus Lovett
LETTERS 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.
Copyright 2018, The Flare. All rights reserved
THE FLARE
PAGE 8A n TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018
CRAW FISH BOIL 2018
Hundreds of pounds eaten at this year’s event
Whitney Ervin / THE FLARE
Rowdy the KC Mascot helps serve crawfish.
Keaton Shelley / THE FLARE
Devon Tibbs, Houston freshman, and Davante Emebo, Missouri City freshman, show off their mudbugs.
Grace Garcia / THE FLARE
Marissa Vasquez, Gladewater sophomore, ready to eat her crawfish.
Whitney Ervin / THE FLARE
Above, left to right: Jaron Reed, Hallsville freshman, Lindsey Flanagan, Hallsville freshman and Clayton Barnett, Henderson freshman, enjoying their crawfish.
Garrison Knight, L o n g v i e w freshman, chows down on his plate of crawfish. KC Students pack the tables at KC’s annual crawfish boil.
Mary Williams-Smith / THE FLARE
Whitney Ervin / THE FLARE
Feature
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SECTION
Special Edition Tuesday May 1, 2018
Comics come alive
KC students gather for screening of ‘Justice League’ on campus n 6 Best Summer Movies In a year full of blockbusters, Summer 2018 will be especially huge.
n Deadpool 2 (May 18)
Courtesy of Marvel
n Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 25)
Courtesy of Starwars.com
n Incredibles 2 (June 15)
Andrea Jimenez / THE FLARE
KC students enjoy the night air and snacks donated by various campus organizations during movie night held April 23. The event, sponsored by Student Government and Baptist Student Ministry, was held in Mike Miller Plaza.
MARVELous opening weekend for record-setting superhero flick JAMIE HWANG Staff Writer inally, one of the most anticipated movies of 2018, the third Avengers movie, “Avengers: Infinity War” came out on April 27, marking 10 years of Marvel studio movies because their first one, (Iron Man was released in May 2008.) I watched it at the 4-Star Cinema in Kilgore, I’ve never seen so many people there before. According to comScore, a media analytics company, “Avengers: Infinity War” made $106 million at the domestic box office on its opening day Friday, making it the second biggest opening day in history. I could see the Avengers really brought all the people to the theater. First of all, I guess Marvel Studio wanted to celebrate their 10th anniversary by bringing an enormous cast together. ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ features 76 characters appearing in the film. It certainly was jam-packed with characters, battles and scenes. It was quite intense. However, I was thinking to myself, “Was it a good idea to have that many characters?” My answer is “Yes and No” because even with all the characters, it still didn’t get me all excited the whole time. Maybe for huge Marvel
F
REVIEW fans who have watched all the movies, this new “Avengers” movie would be a breathtaking epic blockbuster. However, for a person like me who didn’t watch everything, there were too many characters running around in too many places, which was kind of disturbing. So to fully understand what’s going on, it’s necessary to watch all the previous ones. If you have been catching up with all these movies, you will get the basic setup of Infinity War. To talk a little bit about the plot without spoiling, Thanos, who is portrayed as a villain, tries to collect all six infinity stones to wipe out the universe. The Avengers fight with Thanos to stop him from getting all the stones and to save the world. The leading character in “Avengers: Infinity War” would definitely have to be Thanos, rather than the superheros. But I don’t know if each character equally had their own time to shine. I guess the directors and writers tried to give each of the character’s moments to shine. However, some of the characters, and especially their superpowers, weren’t
characters, which made the story more interesting. I heard from friends that some people get really emotional with the movie. I can see which scenes they are talking about but I have to say, it is pretty hard to get emotional over this film, in my opinion. But I think they did a great job on balancing the humor and the dark story. I’m glad they added some humor so it wouldn’t be too dark. Although I do Courtesy of MARVEL.com want to talk about as impressive. And since the ending, I won’t because it there are already so many would be such a big spoiler. characters appearing in Thinking about the first the film, I feel like they Avengers movie, I realized focused more on the plot this new one is completely balancing the characters different from the first one. rather than developing each Even though I wasn’t too character’s powers. I guess satisfied with the movie, I it’s impossible to cover all know one thing for sure: I the characters equally. The can’t wait for Avengers 4. I movie was already jamthink that one is really going packed and runs for two and to be a masterpiece. If this is a half hours. I’m just letting what Marvel intended to do, you know if you are a fan of to make us get excited about a certain characters. the next one, I’d like to say, Also, there are scenes “Good job, Marvel!” P.S. Sit where certain characters through the credits! interact with other
Courtesy of Disney PIXAR
n Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (June 22) Courtesy of steven spielberg
n Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6)
Courtesy of Marvel
n Mission: Impossible – Fallout (July 27)
Courtesy of Paramount
THE FLARE
PAGE 2B n TUESDAY, MAY 1 , 2018
Kori Stroud / THE FLARE
Creative writing teacher Heather Fitch instructs students on how to improve their writing skills with novels, short stories, poetry and personal writing.
Use your words
Express yourself through creative writing classes LONNIE ROSS Assistant Editor
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ant to express yourself creatively? Want to learn ways to improve writing? Take it to a new dimension? Try a creative writing course. There are three classes available through KC Adult Education Program: Creative, Personal, and Poetry. Creative focuses on the elements of writing short stories and novels. The class covers the genres of mystery, romance and science fiction. The Personal class focuses on different styles of writing, including blogs, social networking, memoirs, fan-fiction, travel writing and ghostwriter. Poetry is offered for those wanting a better understanding of this form of creative writing. The creative course is broken down into three sections taught over a space of four weeks for each section. The classes are $75 for each section. Creative Writing is taught by Heather Fitch, a KC English instructor. “Creative writing is just a matter of using descriptive words that can help your audience understand and visualize what you’re trying to say,” Fitch explained. Spring 2018 was Fitch’s first semester to teach creative writing as an Adult Learning class. She said she has enjoyed the time with her students in a calm and relaxing environment. The students have also taken away important information from the class. “She encourages you to reach beyond your current ambitions,” James Hodges, one of Fitch’s students said. “I love teaching,” Fitch said. She was a Teaching Assistant
for three years at Texas Tech and Texas A&M UniversityCommerce before joining KC as an Adjunct Instructor in 2016. In Fall 2017, she started teaching full-time at KC, with English 1301, English 1302 and two World Literature classes. She is currently working on her doctorate degree and plans to graduate in 2020 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Fitch is the adviser for the KC Game Club, co-adviser of Sigma Kappa Delta English Honor Society with Stephanie Laszik and serves on the Faculty Senate. Of all her classes, three rise above the others in her mind. The first is the creative class because “In fact, it is creative writing and it’s wonderful. Creative is my jam,” she said. Her second is English 1302. “It’s Literature and Poetry and Drama and the first World Literature class covers Greek Mythology, and that’s one of my favorite areas also.” Her third is a class not taught here, but one she has studied. “I like Gothic literature. That’s one of my favorite things ever,” she said. “I don’t have a class that focuses on that, but it was one of my favorite areas to study in college. And it still is.” In her spare time, Fitch loves to spend time with her 4-yearold daughter, Amethyst “Ame” Lilly Fitch and her fiancé Marcus Wells. She and her daughter enjoy drawing and coloring together. “Free time is not a luxury at this time,” Fitch said. “But when I do, I love spending it with my family. I love playing games, card games, board games and computer games.” As the Game Club Sponsor, Fitch combines two of her loves. “English relates to gaming in ways that people don’t think
about because of literature and it’s all about a matter of creativity. When you’re playing a game, you’re very strategic — that’s a creative force,” she said. “When you’re communicating with others, that is a form of composition. Waiting for the game, playing the game, writing the game — these are all forms of expression and composition and rhetoric and negotiations; and all those things play right into the field of English and literature,” Fitch said. “It’s actually kind of a hot topic in literature and languages to incorporate games and talk about games. It’s really not as far-fetched as people would assume to have the English teacher be the sponsor of the Game Club.” Everyone has a unique writing style, including Fitch. “I like Playwriting because there is instant gratification. I like creative writing. I do enjoy academics writing to a point. But like everybody else, (I fear) the blank page, the starting of writing! Once I get past that point I do well. I enjoy expressing myself on paper in a general sense — whether it’s a blog or a diary entry or whatever it is because when I write things down, I can phrase them in ways because, sometimes when speaking, my mouth runs away with me. But when I’m writing it out, I can think and reflect and understand more clearly than I do when I’m talking or listening. Writing has always been an outlet for me,” Fitch said. Try some Continuing Ed classes. Most are taught at both KC and Longview campuses. Visit www.kilgore.edu/academics/ workforce-development-continuing-education for more info.
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018 n PAGE 3B
THE FLARE
New languages lead to opportunity Multi-lingual KC students describe advantages, benefits associated with learning new dialects COMMENTARY
CLAIRE FENG Staff Writer Being bilingual is a skill that can benefit you in the workplace and help you develop better thinking skills. According to the U.S. Department of Education, bilingual people have advantages in literacy development, development of problem-solving skills and other areas of cognition. As a bilingual person, I find that while learning a new language, I’m appreciative of other cultures. I learn to put that language in the context of a different culture and therefore develop a global perspective. Learning a new language creates opportunities that I would have never imagined. For instance, when I first started to learn English, I never imagined I would be writing for an English
language newspaper-The Flare. Yu-Hsiang Tseng, a freshman from Taiwan who speaks both Mandarin and English, said. “I could have just stayed in Taiwan but knowing English allows me to study abroad in the United States and thus broaden my horizons. The best advantage I can think of is broader options for many things: in education, job markets, or even making friends,” Yu-Hsiang Tseng said. Moises Ela Nchama, a freshman from Equatorial Guinea, who speaks Spanish, French, English and Portuguese thinks it is important to learn more languages because it is a requirement to work in some fields. “Speaking more than one
language helps me gain confidence, allows me to have much more enjoyable travel experiences and make more friends,” Ela Nchama said. Learning other languages has many advantages but how do we pick up a second language? Here are some tips: 1. Know your motivation. This might sound obvious, but if you don’t have a good reason to learn a language, you are less likely to stay motivated over the long run. As for Ela Nchama, he understands the importance and advantages of learning other languages, so they will keep him motivated when learning another language. 2. Know your learning style. Different types of learners include visual, auditory or kinesthetic. If you can remember words by reading
them over a few times or by Set SMART (specific, matching these words with measurable, attainable, pictures, you’re probably relevant and time-bound) a visual learner. If you can goals. remember words by having “I memorize ten words someone else read the words or phrases each day and to you several times without make sentences out of these seeing them words. I set yourself, “Speaking more goals that have you’re most degrees than one language some likely an of difficulty me gain but are still a u d i t o r y helps l e a r n e r . confidence, allows a c h i e v a b l e , ” As for me to have much Tseng said. kinesthetic l e a r n e r s , more enjoyable travel 4. Start with and vocabulary. you would experiences p r o b a b l y make more friends.” Vo c a b u l a r y remember and grammar Moises Ela are words by equally r e a d i n g Nchama, Equatorial important in and writing Guinea freshman languages. t h e m , H o w e v e r, repeating building a them out loud and listening strong base of vocabulary to them read by someone words will help you apply else. You associate memories your grammar better. and feelings with them. 5. Seize every chance to 3. Set SMART goals. practice.
“I watch everything on TV in that language. I use a dictionary when I go outside to speak with someone in the language. I write in my notes a word that I don’t understand to look for the meaning later, read books in the language although I don’t understand everything just to get used to it and I listen to music in that language,” Ela Nchama said. 6. Be consistent and do not give up. Learning a new language can be fun yet challenging. Sometimes you may want to give up, but bearing your motivation in mind can keep you going. “I keep saying to myself I’m not the first one trying to learn it. If other people can do it, so can I,” Ela Nchama said, “That is why I’ve never felt like giving up when learning a language.”
by t he nu mbers
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Mandarin is the number one spoken language in the world. www.aisintl.com n
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The top five spoken languages in the U.S. 1.English 2.Spanish 3.Chinese 4.French/French Creole 5.Tagalog www.worldatlas.com n
7,000
n Different spoken
languages in the world, 90% are used by less than 100,000 people. www.bbc.co.uk
THE FLARE
PAGE 4B n TUESDAY, MAY 1 , 2018
Conceptual Illustrations
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he selected photographs reflect just a few of the successes by this Spring’s KC Photography Illustration Class. Still life studio work can be some of the most difficult photographic work, as the photographer makes a photograph from “scratch”, so to speak. Student’s decisions involve thought regarding variables, such as: their subjects, lighting direction
and qualities, surfaces, backgrounds and other photographic nuance that tell stories about inanimate objects. This can be most challenging. This series of photographs also has historical significance because these are the last images made from the Photography Illustration class, as this particular studio instruction will not be offered at KC after this Spring semester.
Food
Liza Latham
Fish and Chips
Apples
Farm Fresh
Max Cervantes
Andrea Jimenez
Mary Williams-Smith
Gold Fish
Liza Latham
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018 n PAGE 5B
THE FLARE
Max Cervantes
Shiny Metal
Flatware
Maria Cabrera
Stemware
Reflection
Transparent
Meghan Poynor
Kori Stroud
Andrea Jimenez
Stemware
Alma Cedillo
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PAGE 6B n TUESDAY, MAY 1 , 2018
No Ticket to Ride
Photo Illustration by Keaton Shelley / THE FLARE
Lack of public transit a concern for some KC students QUAN LE Staff Writer “I have seen and even know people who walk. It sounds crazy, they actually walk every day and I think they need someone to give them a ride,” said Aryana Bosh, Kilgore freshman. Public transportation would be useful. However, people would rather use a car than public transportation nowadays. Especially in Kilgore, public transportation is an issue because it is not readily available. There are many students and people who do not have cars but need to travel every day. The bus system in Kilgore still has some restrictions. “I don’t think there is really much of a public transportation system in Kilgore, maybe just the Gobus. Unlike in some larger cities, which have a lot of public transportations you can use, in Kilgore, a small town in East Texas, transportation is not a priority,” said Dennis Cliborn, an academic adviser in KC Trio Department. KC used to provide KC public
transportation, named Ranger Ride for KC students. However, the Ranger Ride is no longer offered due to budget cuts and lack of drivers. It affected students who had been using Ranger Ride to get to school. Cliborn said, “I do think it (the fact that Ranger Ride is no longer offered) is the problem for students who are taking classes in Kilgore and Longview, because the way to travel between Longview and Kilgore is an issue.” Public transportation in Longview is better than Kilgore because they have the Gobus and the Longview Transit system running, which provides options for public transportation. In case students who do not have cars have classes at the both KC in Long view and Kilgore, lack of transportation in Kilgore can be stressful. According to countylinemagazine.com, “Gobus has provided 159,000 trips, especially for trips to the grocery store, shopping, and work in the wheelchair lift-equipped buses and vans. Students can use Gobus for $4 each way within local service area and $8
each way for outside the local area.” Uber is popular because it is convenient and easy to use. You book a ride by using the Uber app; however, it can get costly. For example, the estimated cost for a ride by Uber is $4 a mile, that means if you live in Longview, about 25 miles round-trip to KC, the cost to get to school is nearly $100 instead of $8 by bus. Although Kilgore is a small town, public transportation is significant and necessary and needs to be improved. Bosh said, “We need public transportation and not only for people who don’t own cars. People from out of town come here without their car and they need public transportation.” Attaway Craigory, Big Sandy freshman, said, “Sometimes,public transportation does not meet people needs. Trips don’t include all areas, and can take a few minutes to get to your stop. It is still a good choice for people who do not have cars.” “I think there should be more public transportation here for students who do not
have a car. I don’t have a car and I don’t know many friends who have cars. In case I want to go to Wal-Mart or somewhere general and it requires transportation, I don’t have that. It is very hard for me to ask someone to drive me somewhere,” Bosh said. “I think the government should expand the public transportation system by investing more money. Although it is just a small town, we still have people who need to use the bus.” Cliborn said that the public transportation in Kilgore is an issue due to population and location, he said, “I can’t say public transportation isn’t a demand, but I am not sure the demand is large enough to expand.” “The popular public transportation helps a lot of students who don’t have transportation to get to school. Although I have my own car and don’t use public transportation, I agree that public transportation helps students who don’t have cars continue their education,” Enterman said.
Uber driver helps students get around JAMIE HWANG Staff Writer It seems like there are not many options for transportation for those who do not have a car in Kilgore. Even though there are some options such as GoBus, it is pretty inconvenient because it doesn’t operate that often. Since Kilgore is a small town, maybe people don’t realize that Uber is now available here. John Hattaway, who started working as an Uber driver last October, hopes to make Uber active in Kilgore. “I’ve been driving since last October, shortly after I found out it was legal to drive for Uber in Kilgore,” Hattaway said. Hattaway usually goes to Tyler every weekend because there’s more business there. “Nobody knows that there’s Uber here in Kilgore,” Hattaway said. Hattaway says that there are two or three more Uber drivers in Kilgore. Hattaway worked in the oil field back in the 1980s for about six years and took photography and digital art at KC with O. Rufus Lovett, photography instructor. After Hattaway got his disability, it made him realize that he wanted to become an Uber driver. “I wasn’t allowed to work so I thought this would be a good part-time job,” Hattaway said. His daily schedule starts as he goes to Tyler at around 6 p.m. and he usually finishes at 3 a.m. Hattaway doesn’t work 24/7 but he says that he spends a lot of time waiting
O. Rufus Lovett Special to / THE FLARE
John Hattaway holds a photo of his dad, a taxicab driver for Kilgore in the ‘80s. John became an Uber driver in order to supplement his income.
for his clients. “There’s a lot of waiting. Sometimes it can be 30 minutes or an hour, so I sit and look at my Facebook during my down time. There’s a lot of waiting to earn it,” Hattaway said. Hattaway’s primary clients are club people and he usually gets 10 to 12 people on weekends. “I get all kinds of people. I like talking to everybody. Minimum would be six,” Hattaway said. He also likes to ride during the week in Kilgore because there are people going out to eat and then going back to their hotel room. Uber works by determining whoever is the closest to you gets the opportunity to be your driver first. “If you call an Uber and I’m in North side of Kilgore, and then there’s another Uber driver a few blocks away from you, then that person is going to get the call to pick you up,” Hattaway said. Drivers have the option to reject a call if they want to. Also, you have to use a credit card or debit card if you call an Uber. Hattaway believes that this may be a bit of problem to low-income people. “I don’t know if Uber is going to help them because low income people don’t have debit cards and they usually use cash but Uber isn’t a cash thing,” Hattaway said. According to Uber, you can earn free rides by inviting friends to sign up and ride with Uber. To see your invite code, tap FREE RIDES in the app menu. When friends sign up with your invite code, their first ride will be free.
“There’s a lot of waiting. Sometimes it can be 30 minutes or an hour, so I sit and look at my Facebook during my down time.” - John Hattaway
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018 n PAGE 7B
THE FLARE
A tale of two governments Photo Illustration by Maria Cabrera / THE FLARE
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Students discuss personal views in political arena
ocialism is rubbish. Socialism is fiction. In a world where competition and the need for power and success is human nature, “equality” is a concept that can simply not exist. In the United States, we have a rather inexperienced or innocent concept of what Socialism is, for we have not got to live in it, and we might get to think of it as a better alternative to the flaws we see in our Capitalist system. However, countries such as Venezuela, who have been struggling with Socialism for over 18 years, have a more accurate idea of what Socialism is, and how even though the theory of it sounds captivating, its practice drastically differs from it. Donald Seals, History teacher at Kilgore College and Chair of the Department of Humanities and Social Behavior Sciences, defines Socialism as “a concept that sounds good in theory, but that in reality, throughout history, simply has not worked out the way it was supposed to; a concept that contradicts a lot of natural, human tendencies”. Clearly, Socialism contradicts human nature and the innate need of a bigger purpose. In addition, the practice of it is often used as a tool for manipulating citizens as a strategy of the government that seeks consolidation of power. Sarah Smith, an ex-worker for PDVSA (1987-2003), the National Oil Industry Company in Venezuela, has been one of the many victims of the despotism that naturally comes with Socialism, in this case with Hugo Chavez’ dictatorial regime, and the protests that took place in the city of Caracas against his administration in 2002. “When Venezuelan general strikes occurred in December 2002, I was not even in the country. I was attending a training in NYC on project finance. When I returned to work, military officials kept me from accessing the building and I could not enter my office. Afterward, my name was listed in
I
f you were to search the catacombs of the Kilgore News Herald, you would find a patriotic front page clad with U.S.A. lovin’ kindergarteners. Up front and center, you’d see me— singing the national anthem at the top of my lungs. I wouldn’t know until years later that while my classmates had their right hand over their hearts, I was fighting to be different and using my left hand over my chest to salute my country. At a young age, my dad taught me to love my country second only to God. Patriotism was, and is, his life’s blood. You’re looking at the little girl who was scolded for singing Toby Keith’s ‘Courtesy of The Red, White and Blue’ in Sunday School. The first movie I remember watching was ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and when NASCAR Sunday rolled around, I was singing the national anthem loud and proud before letting out a hearty “Gentlemen, start your engines!” I was, and am, a homegrown American girl with a heart for her country and a fierce spirit to defend it. But now, more than ever, I feel that little girl slipping away. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country. I stand for the anthem and honor those who have given everything for our freedom. I am the first at the polls and I believe fully in the U.S. constitution. I celebrate July 4th with every fiber of my being and I love being Texan. Yet every day, the lines get a little blurrier. I ask myself
the main National Newspaper as one of the employees that was fired by participating in the National Strike. I never paid my economic compensation package, my whole-life savings remained within the company in the savings account all employees had. My pension plan was frozen and all the money was later stolen in a corruption case that was public in the U.S.,” Smith said. Furthermore, Socialism also leads to the violation of some of the most basic Human Rights: Freedom of Speech and Liberty of Thought. In a system where every citizen is “equal”, and therefore it is Adriana the government that has the responsibility Cisneros and power to administrate the goods and Emerson to equally distribute wealth, corruption Staff Writer and tyranny is to be read between the lines. Seals has a theory for this: “Socialism tends towards restrictions on free speech because the party in power does not want to be challenged. The regime does not want to be challenged. When you allow free speech, you allow people the right, not the privilege, to criticize and to try to convince the citizens of a nation that Socialism does more harm than good, and no politician in power from a Socialist country wants that”. In 2017, Venezuelans took the streets to protest for basic necessities that the government was depriving them of medicine, food, and the corruption of the government branches, and the abuse of power exercised through it. Becky Henderson, a University student from Caracas, Venezuela, was part of these strikes, and witnessed how citizens were punished through violence as a response for peacefully opposing Nicolas Maduro’s regime. “These protests translated to military forces making excessive use
of violence and fire guns, murdering this way classmates, children, and arresting others, turning them into political prisoners. Our human rights were unquestionably violated, we were not able to make use of our freedom of speech, and this resulted in the torture and death of students, adults, and anyone who dared to oppose the government and publicly express it” Henderson said. Socialism is a concept that promises a classless society, justice, and equality. However, in reality, it has resulted in a promise of dictatorship, corruption, and poverty of the countries, as can clearly be seen in the case of Venezuela. Sarah Smith, after living in Socialism from 1998 to 2017, concluded that “it is the biggest lie and fraud a country can suffer. Money and privileges are just for the few that hold the power, while the rest of the people live their lives waiting for socialism’ promises to become true. First, the system takes advantage of social resentment of a few and provides these people with crumbs of food and social basic needs while deploying the country’s natural resources and destroying its production capacity to make everyone dependent of the government. In this way, it holds control of everyone. The more educated people leave the country, and only the uneducated remain to struggle with socialism’ consequences, which are poverty, illnesses and a lack of resources to sort out the crisis”. Socialism, a fictional, unnatural concept, rather than equality, is nothing but the equal distribution of poverty and subjugation. Note: Some names in this article have been changed for the privacy and safety of the people involved.
how I can still support my troops while disagreeing with U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to get further involved in Syria. I question just what it means to stand for an anthem when our country has yet to take a stand against the many years of systematic racism. I find myself shoulder to shoulder with people I love with my entire heart, but disagree with on just about every major political issue. So where’s the disconnect? How can I fiercely love and defend a country I am having a hard time agreeing Cassidy with as the days pass? I know it’s crazy, but I think that is the Daniel beauty of democracy. Hear me out, there Staff Writer are plenty of things I would change about America’s current state but I have come to see just what democracy means in the muck of now. We have rights and privileges that allow us to have fierce opinions and we have a Constitution to support that freedom. We get to complain, wallow and disagree— and still live as free citizens. We can question authority and be very vocal about our government, and face no repercussions. We live our lives blanketed by protected freedoms. It’s hard to see some days, but we are better off than others. As I sit in my
KC classes with multiple international students, I know that America is not perfect, but it has its perks. When I hear about the civil wars, strict government and minimal freedoms of other nations, my issues are put into perspective. In our democracy, we are granted constitutionally protected liberties and it is our responsibility to put them in action. We have to make a conscious daily effort to exercise the fullness of our freedoms, even with people we disagree with. We have to challenge ourselves to see all people as people, regardless of what they believe. This isn’t a principle for just honoring other Americans. This is a people principle. Renowned researcher and author, Brene Brown wrote about this, telling her readers to ’Hold Hands with Strangers.’” This is how and why I love my country. We disagree, we falter and we hardly get along— but we can still choose to honor the humanity in others. That’s the beauty of American democracy. I can have my way, you can have yours and we can sit next to each other in class. I love my country. I love Toby Keith and NASCAR Sundays and war movies. I love that we aren’t perfect, and we probably won’t ever be, but we’re free. That’s the beauty of my country and our democracy.
Adriana Cisneros Emerson is a journalism major from Longview, originally from Venezuela.
Cassidy Daniel is a journalism major from Kilgore.
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PAGE 8B n TUESDAY, MAY 1 , 2018
Gamers Unite! KC Game Club hosts inaugural gaming tournament, gamers compete head-to-head in popular franchises NELDA MILLIGAN-TURNER Staff Writer
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hree winners walked away with $20 gift certificates to ‘Games 2 Go’ in Kilgore after the first KC video game tournament was held on Saturday, April 28 in the Devall Student Center Ballroom. The winners were Jose Ramirez, Overton sophomore, for Mario Kart, Tyrell Wiltenshire, North Richland freshman, for Dragon Ball Z and Everette Major Jr, Dallas sophomore, for Madden. There was an entrance fee of $5 for each of the three tournaments, and the games were double elimination per player for each game. This kept things exciting all afternoon and into the night. Hourly door prizes were given to those in attendance for both tournaments and table games. There was a video station for each game in the tournament and one warm-up station for the Madden football game. The Game Club officers provided four televisions for the tournament and officers and club members provided consoles for each tournament. The Game Club officers wore blue KC shirts and went from tournament game to tournament game to help set up controllers and reset the games for each new round. Players could play with controllers provided or bring their own. Youngsters brought to the tournament by their parents were welcome to play table games or do puzzles. Game Club members provided games but encouraged all students to bring games to share. Heather Fitch, the sponsor for the Game Club, said the administration and other faculty she interacted with were excited to help with this initial tournament. Ashley Mason, Coordinator of Residential Life helped make all the arrangements for the tournament. Judy DeRouen, Support Specialist, made sure there were enough tables available for setup before 1 p.m. The Christian Campus Center, known as the Tri-C, provided free snacks and drinks for the gamers.
Blaine Pace, Gilmer freshman, was there from Tri-C and participated in all three tournaments. KCPD provided Officer Coleman for the event. Dr. Brenda Kays, KC president, attended for about an hour and talked to the gamers, club officers and Fitch. “It was exciting to see such a good turnout for the inaugural tournament, especially with there being so many competing events this past weekend. Kudos to Ms. Fitch and officers for organizing and hosting the first event of its kind at Kilgore College. “I do hope that the momentum will continue to build and that the club will host a tournament for students from our service area ISDs. I think that it could be a great event and would allow high school students to be exposed to all of the exciting activities at KC. Dr. Ginger Dennis, IT department head, is also exploring curriculum designed to train individuals on game and app development. I expect that there will be a high degree of synergy between the educational program and the gaming organization,” Kays said. “This year the tournament was only open to KC students due to record keeping, follow-up feedback via email, surveys and suggestions. We hope to open it to seniors of nearby high schools next year,” said Lisa Parks, secretary. “Students can network, develop support systems and widen their horizons and international students can learn to interact in a friendly environment as they practice their language skills,” said Christionna Odom, Longview sophomore and student coordinator for the Game Club. Odom intends to transfer to UT Tyler and become an elementary teacher. There was a real difference in personality and approach from the participants. In the Madden football game, runnerup Michael Johnson, Houston freshman and KC football player, had a laid-back, gentle, G-rated trash-talking style. “I’ve been beat before by gamers who have never stepped
Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE
Jose Ramirez, Overton freshman, goes head-to-head against Game Club President Josh Parks, Gladewater freshman, while Justin Nguyen, Longview freshman, observes.
on the football field. The only thing that might give me an advantage is knowing formations and plays,” Johnson said. He was easy going and cheered on other gamers until it came time for the final playoff for the Madden tournament. At that time, he put music on and rapped as he was warming up to start and then kept his earplugs in and music on his phone while playing to block out all of the other noises in the room. In contrast, Major, who had a three game clean sweep, sat quietly texting on his phone between matches. When it was his turn, he brought out his own gold controller and remained focused on the game. There was a lot of banter between all of the players in each game tournament. The treasurer for the club, Kenneth Turner, Gladewater freshman, oversaw the two Madden game tables whose matches were the longest, at about 20 minutes each. Fitch was pleased with the turnout of the first event. “I am an avid gamer, and that is partially why I chose to be a sponsor, but more than that, I saw great potential for the Game Club to become a resource for the college and for the students,” Fitch said. “I saw a need for it and my competitive spirit only pushed me to work with the students to make sure it would happen.” By taking a more visible presence with tables set up during KC preview days and summer orientation days and by adding the help of KC employees Manny Almanza, Coordinator of Marketing Operations and Outreach and Chris Craddock, Coordinator of Public and Sports Information, the club has grown from a few students to more than 20 students each week. The club meets every Thursday at 3 p.m. in the TV room in the Devall Center. “We had thought of doing a tournament for the last couple of years but everything just came together and all of the members pitched in during the last month to make this a great experience for students,” Fitch said.
Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE
Steven Skimer, Longview freshman, looks surprised at Michael Johnson’s, Houston freshman, skills, while Ken Turner, Gladewater freshman, looks on. Tyrell Wiltshire, North Richland Hills freshman, plays a match of Dragon Ball Z with Anthony Joplin, Gladewater freshman.
Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE
Lucas Strough / THE FLARE
Jose Ramirez, Overton sophomore, and Micah McSwain, Gladewater freshman, play Mario Kart.
Lucas Strough / THE FLARE
Jalen Alexander, Garland freshman, plays Madden 17 with Michael Johnson, Houston freshman.
Christionna Odom, Longview sophomore, plays Magic: the Gathering while Justin Nguyen, Longview freshman, and Andrew Domato, play Yu-Gi-Oh!