FLARE SURVEY: 4%4
Should the Confederate 32% flag be banned from public display? 32
64
64%
22 people chose to participate in this Facebook survey. Here are the results. I don't care what people do with the flag. No, people should be64% allowed -toItshow it wherever theybe choose. should only displayed in places that inform It should only be displayed in places that inform people of its historical context, such as a museum.
people meta-chart.com of its historical context. 32% - No, people should be allowed to show it wherever they choose. 4% - I don’t care what people do with the flag.
No one surveyed chose these options: • Yes, it should be fully banned from public use. Jessica Carrington / THE FLARE • It should be banned from public display, but should still be used to teach about the Civil War in schools.
See page 7 for Our View, Your View
The Flare
Friday, September 18, 2015 Vol. 79 No. 3 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Constructive Criticism Upheaval on campus calls for patience with renovation project KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor
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tudents returning to KC from summer break, familiar with the layout of the campus and their routes to and from classes, found themselves faced with complications as they began the new school year. Construction on the Randolph C. Watson Library and Lee Mall area has been underway since the beginning of August, and will continue into the spring semester. Plans to renovate the area were first proposed at a KC trustees board meeting on March 23. KC President Bill Holda said the cost would be “about $2 million for the library and $1 million for the mall.” He said the mall would be completed in “about six months” and the library in “about seven or eight months.” Over the summer, the Lee Mall area was completely fenced off and the grass removed. The front of the library was also
fenced off to ensure no students would mistakenly go in as renovations began. The sidewalks in front of the library continuing on to the west side of Old Main to the bridge were also fenced off to improve the concrete. Signs were put in place to let students know the easiest route to the various buildings on campus. On the first day of the fall semester, students found themselves having to reroute their usual paths and navigate their way around. This has caused problems for many students , including Krystina Jones, Gladewater freshman. “The construction is a nuisance,” Jones said. “It constricts certain ways of getting to and from class. For me personally, I’m pregnant, and that’s really hard because I’m having to walk around everything to get anywhere. I think they need to hurry up and get it done.” “Everyone’s been wondering, why this was not done over the summer, or at least half of See CONSTRUCTION on Page 3
Kaelie Wike / THE FLARE
Transet Co. has been contracted by KC to handle construction of the Central Mall and the Randolph C. Watson Library. They are expected to complete renovations by the spring. Tiffani Branch / THE FLARE
Ag students grow, sell class produce DUSTIN TAYLOR Staff Writer Locally grown food is now accessible for KC students and faculty because of the effort put in by the KC Ag classes. “Whenever we harvest, we take it up [to campus],” said Dustin Law, the farm manager who has been with the college for more than three years. “They typically send out an email when we take up fresh produce to all faculty and staff. But students are also welcome to purchase things up there as well.” From eggplants to banana peppers and jalapenos, a variety of veg-
etables can be purchased from the biology workroom on the first floor of the Engineering Science building. The agriculture classes, along with the animal science classes, take place in Overton on 448 acres that are rented from the Bruce McMillan Jr. Foundation for a dollar each year. “It’s a very old program for Kilgore College,” said Dr. Karl Steddom, an instructor for agriculture and biology who has been with the college for more than four years. “Over the years, it’s done a lot of different things.” Since Steddom and Law came to
KC, growing vegetables has become a part of the program where previously the focus had been on cattle. With the produce being available for sale, Steddom wants to make the students more aware of the produce. The agriculture department is expanding slowly but surely. Two years ago, Ag Industry was added to the courses offered at KC with Law hoping that an equine class can be added some time in the future. KC currently offers four agriculture classes. “Students have an opportunity to see what sort of occupations or careers there are in agriculture,
beyond what folks would normally consider to be agriculture,” Law said, referring to the new Ag Industry class. The class shows careers fields in the agriculture industry such as using GPS systems that map out topography, graphic design, and technology designs. “Everything that we do out here is…for teaching purposes and so we employ student workers,” Law said. “That kind of affords us opportunities to teach those students a greater amount of hands-on detail.” To find out when produce is available for purchase, contact Steddom at ksteddom@kilgore.edu.
Kaelie Wike / THE FLARE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RANGERETTES FROM THE FLARE STAFF Come celebrate the Rangerette’s 75th birthday with us at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium