Fall financial aid now needed for December mini MEAGHAN MORTON Staff Writer Students who are planning to enroll in the December mini-mester are being advised to save money from the Fall financial aid refund on Oct. 18 to be able to pay for classes. The mini-mester will now be counted as a stand-alone semester for which no financial aid will be rewarded. “Students who plan to enroll in the December mini need to plan ahead, especially
if they are students who have financial aid, budget problems or have limited funds, and they were planning on using their financial aid,” said Becky Johnson, dean of liberal and fine arts. During the December mini, KC will also be offering fewer classes. “We are going to offer a reduced number of courses,” Johnson said. “We offered some multiple sections of the same course, like a face-to-face history class and a web history class, but this year we’ll probably just offer
that one course, whichever format we offer it in.” KC, like other schools, is funded based on contact hours the school and students receive. “Well, we had a budget crisis this year that we finished dealing with, but part of that money we lost due to contact hours. Our money comes from our contact hours, our student enrollment,” Johnson said. Last year, the December mini was not a stand alone semester. Now, there is a concern
The Flare
for lack of students being able to enroll due to not being able to pay for classes. “I can tell we had 191 students last December mini. About 160 of those used financial aid, so if those were three-hour classes, that’s five hundred and something contact hours at least,” Johnson said, “which we had last year and would like to have again this year, but I suspect we will have a reduced number of contact hours.”
Friday, September 25, 2015 Vol. 79 No. 4 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Marie Smith / THE FLARE
KC band director Glenn Wells instructs his students during a rehearsal as they play their instruments.
Marching through tragedy Band director finds joy in working through adversity; Rallies spirits around music, students and lifelong passion
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Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Glenn Wells conducts the band at the football game Saturday.
MADELINE GREENE Staff Writer
s I swung open the glass doors to a building I had never been in before, the sweet sounds of jazz floated out into the heavy summer air along with a voice counting off the beats to a piece of music that seemed to have been rehearsed many times. A bit hesitant, I stood in the open doorway of the band hall trying to decide what to do. The interview had been scheduled for two o’clock in the afternoon and I was nearly twenty minutes early. Just as I began to turn and leave to pass some time outside, the music stopped and I heard the voice say, “Are you my interview? You’re a bit early but you can come on in and sit if you want.” Glenn Wells has been a band director for his entire working career. Watching him direct with such energy I would never have guessed that the man standing in front of the room, wildly gesturing at a trumpet player to give more vibrato, had been battling with melanoma and was currently in remission. Standing at the front of the room with one leg on a chair and pounding on it to keep time as students were playing, Wells called each student by their first name and kept track of where each of them were in their sheet music. “I was in band in high school.” Wells said. “I loved playing in the band. I decided to move that way in my vocation. It’s just a draw for me and I’ve always
done it.” This fact was evident as I watched the way he interacted with his students. After the piece had been restarted three times, he turned to me and said, “I’m sorry, we just started this and we’re all kind of sight-reading right now.” as though the music, that I had been thoroughly enjoying, sounded bad. Never having picked up a musical instrument in my life, this floored me as I pondered the possibilities of a KC Jazz band that knew their music. What must that sound like? “Band directing is kind of my way of life.” Wells said. “I’ve dealt with so many stressful things and band directing...when you have to put a group of kids on stage and stand in front of them and there’s an audience full of people...the worst case for me is marching band because you can’t be with them. It’s pretty stressful knowing ‘Are they going to get through this or are they not going to get through it?’ Maybe it helped me deal with [cancer] a little bit better.” In 2009, there were 876,344 men and women in the United States with a history of melanoma. It’s a cancer that affects skin cells through exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. On average a person is more at risk to have Melanoma if they’ve had five or more sunburns, especially while they are still young “Melanoma is so fast, it is so aggressive, that you have to be scanned about every three months for the first three years.” Wells said. See WELLS on Page 3
Highlights from Rettes’ 75th birthday performance: Page 8
Tiffany Johnson/ THE FLARE
Creative date ideas to celebrate the fall season LUCY LOPEZ Staff Writer Fall brings cool weather, football and preparation for the holiday season. It’s a perfect time to begin a new romance or rekindle a long lasting love. Here are a few date ideas to try in the upcoming months. z Go on a picnic. The weather is starting to feel lovely and the leaves are changing colors. It’s the perfect time to go on a picnic. The temperature is perfect, and you don’t have to worry about bugs. All you need is a blanket, snacks and great company.
z Visit a nature park or go to the zoo. Fall is just an all-around amazing time to be outside. If you go to a state park, there are many fun activities, like hiking or cycling. Also, who doesn’t want to see cute animals at the zoo? This is a perfect opportunity to capture moments, so bring a camera and have a fun photo shoot! z Carve pumpkins. Go to a pumpkin patch or to the store and buy a pumpkin. Then, have a nice date carving them. Candles can make the date original and romantic. z Tour a vineyard. Not only is going to a vineyard classy,
but interesting. Enoch Stomp in Harleton has several activities to enjoy. There is beautiful scenery and they have a restaurant you can dine at while enjoying great music. z Bake together. We’ve all seen the cheesy scene in rom-coms where the guy and girl are being all cute while cooking together. Just because it’s cheesy doesn’t mean it’s not a good date idea. Fall is time for pies, especially pumpkin or sweet potato. Show off your baking skills. If those are nonexistent, it’s still something fun to try! z Go for a drive. Sometimes, it
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In 1960, Chubby Checker’s song “The Twist” was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. In 2014, Billboard magazine declared it the “biggest hit” of the 1960s. n
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really is the simple things in life that are the best. Go for a scenic drive with that special someone. East Texas has some breathtaking roads and sunsets. Not only will you enjoy the gorgeous view, but you can also jam out to music, making the date even more awesome. z Take a trip to Shivers. When visiting Longview, go to Shivers Shaved Ice. They have unique snocones made with natural ingredients that are absolutely delicious. They have “late night, date night” on Fridays where you can enjoy a sno-cone under the stars on a blanket, surrounded by twinkling
lights and good music. z Visit a drive-in movie theater. There is a drive-in theater called Skyvue in Tyler. It shows current films, including double features for only six dollars. Two movies for under 10 dollars is an awesome deal. This is perfect for you old souls out there who like nostalgia. All you need to bring are snacks and blankets in case it gets chilly. Finding fun, creative and affordable things to do as a couple is easy and can strengthen the bond between you and your loved one. Take the opportunity to create memories that will last a lifetime.
THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 On Oct. 12, Congressman Louie Gohmert will visit the KC Devall SC ballroom to talk about the constitutional amendment process. n
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On this date in 1929, American broadcast journalist Barbara Walters was born. She worked as a co-host on The View until her retirement in 2014. n
Check theflareonline.com for a full calendar of activities, or go to twitter.com/theflareonline for live updates.
FACE IN THE CROWD
Graduation deadline approaching MADELINE GREENE Staff Writer The deadline to apply for Fall graduation is Thurs., Oct. 1 at midnight. So far, 318 students have already applied. Since students cannot apply on Campus Connect, an application has been set up online at www.kilgore. edu. To file an application, students will need to go to the website and find “Quick Links.” Then, select “Graduation Application” to fill it out and submit it. After filing the application, students may have to wait two to three weeks for an email to their KC address notifying them of their eligibility to graduate. Degrees and certificates are not automatically awarded to students with enough credit hours, so if no application is filed no degree will be awarded. Those who are deemed eligible after the application process will receive information about the graduation ceremony through their email. Graduation will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 in Dodson Auditorium. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, contact Pam Davis, Assistant Registrar at pdavis@ kilgore.edu or stop by the Registrar’s Office, in the Devall Student Center.
Chunk-apalooza set for Oct. 10 DUSTIN TAYLOR Staff Writer
Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE
Sayaka Komoriya What are you studying at KC? I am studying aerospace engineering. Why did you choose to study aerospace engineering? I like airplanes. I want to design an electric airplane that is friendly to the environment and people. What do you miss most about your home? Food! I can eat Japanese food in some places, but I miss real Japanese food. What is the one food from Japan you miss the most? Sushi. I want to eat raw fish. How many place have you traveled to? A lot! I have been to America many times, maybe more than 15 times. I have also traveled to many Asian countries because it is cheap!
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan Age: 18 Classification: Freshman What is your favorite thing to do? Watching movies, talking to people and helping people. What is something interesting about you not a lot of people know? I don’t know, but I hope I can make people happy. What is your favorite cartoon to watch? Actually, I don’t watch cartoons. I like watching Disney movies, but I am not sure if Disney movies are cartoons or not. Are you in any clubs at KC? Yes! I belong to the International Students Club and Art Club.
Get involved in fun, new KC campus activities z Clearly You Crystals by Kramer will be on campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wed., Sept. 30, in the Devall Game Room. The group will take a picture of you and display it on a crystal. For more information, visit their website at http://www.kramerintl.com.
z Indoor Soccer will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Mondays in the carpeted gym at Parks Fitness Center. It is free for full-time KC students. Wearing long pants and sleeves to avoid rug burn is highly recommended.
z Homecoming court nominees must be submitted by campus clubs and organizations by Oct. 7. If you are a faculty adviser, send Edward Williams an email so he can get you the info.
z Student G ove r n m e n t Association will meet at 3 p.m. Thursdays in the Devall TV room. The group is currently seeking new members that want to help make a difference at KC. For more information, email Richard Nguyen at nguyrich5733@go.kilgore.edu.
The annual event that sees pumpkins flying through the air is almost upon us. The Chunk-a-palooza Pumpkin Chunking Contest is set for 2 p.m. on Oct. 10 for its third year. “Chunk-a-palooza started off a pumpkin chunking contest,” said Dr. Karl Steddom, instructor at KC who came up with the idea to hold the event. “But it’s also a pumpkin patch, an opportunity for students to show off some of the things they’ve been working on.” Last year, early education offered face painting for children that attended the event. This year, hayrides and other sources of entertainment will be offered. “We’ll have people from Texas A&M that will be doing demonstrations,” Steddom said. “We’re hoping to get culinary arts out this year to do some cooking demonstrations with fresh herbs. We’re trying to get as many people from campus involved as possible. The first year, there were a total of four competing teams, and three the second. This year looks to have more than the other two combined, with still a few weeks to go before the event. Already, three high school teams have signed up and two from KC. “Hopefully this will be our biggest one,” Steddom said. “[We are] trying to build it bigger each year.” Last year’s event set the current chunking record of 300 feet. Each team throws three pumpkins. The average is figured out as their distance. There will be two divisions for the event: one for youth 18 and under, and one for college students. First through third place will receive cash prizes, with first place winning $500. There will also be a contest for Most Creative, with a prize of $300. The entry fee is $20 per group. The number of groups available to compete is limited. For the rules and an application, contact Steddom at ksteddom@kilgore.edu or (903) 9838656.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
NEWS
Non-religious at KC find home in SSA ALEX JACOBO Staff Writer What does it mean when someone says they are secular? What about agnostic or atheist? How about humanist or freethinkers? Chances are, few actually know what the aforementioned terms mean. Even worse, some could have preconceived notions of their possible meanings. KC now has a new club, The Secular Student Aliance, to educate the student population and the community. The club is affiliated with the nationwide Secular Student Alliance organization based in Columbus, Ohio. This past summer, SSA president Mary Farrell fattended a series of workshops at Ohio State University for an entire weekend to be able to effectively lead the SSA at KC. Through her efforts, club membership has doubled since their first meeting last spring. As a predominantly religious community and campus, a secular minded or non-religious
Student Secular Alliance member Brian Houston and club president Mary Farrell offer pamphlets on atheism, skepticism, humanism, and more secular topics at the KC Student Club and Organization fair.
him from teaching ‘great group of kids’ FROM PAGE 1 “Melanoma is so fast, it is so aggressive, that you have to be scanned about every three months for the first three years.” Wells said. “If it’s had eleven months to develop when they find it, it’s probably too late. When I was at MD Anderson they basically said ‘You’ve probably got six months. You should probably take care of your business,’ you know, ‘because it’s not going to be too long. It’s going to be quick and it’s going to be over with.’” Wells kept his job as a band director throughout treatments. “I love working with the kids.” Wells said “Our band has gotten bigger and bigger and better quality kids in it every year I’ve been here and we’re looking forward to bigger and better things. Throughout the interview, Wells constantly referred to his “great group of kids” with a note of amazement in his voice. The skill involved in both jazz and marching band require hard work and dedication. In 90 degree weather, this is not easy to do but Wells has been right there with his “great group of kids” all year. “Everybody thought I’d quit work.” Wells said. “My wife still bugs me about it. I like working, I enjoy being with kids, I enjoy
making music, I enjoy teaching kids, so I plan on doing it. Coming to work every day gets me out of bed.” Wells doesn’t have a “bucket list” per se, but he and his wife have a general idea of what they want to do with their lives. “My wife and I, the only thing we’ve talked about, is that in our summers we’d like to start traveling some and seeing a few places and things.” Wells said. “Other than that, it’s whatever we decide to go and do.”
THE FLARE ONLINE
September: National Suicide Awareness Month observed KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor September is National Suicide Awareness month. It was founded to raise awareness that suicide is preventable, to improve education about suicide, to spread information about suicide awareness and decrease stigma regarding suicide. According to the World Health Organization, one million people die by suicide each year, or 3,000 daily. Suicidal thoughts can occur in anyone regardless of age, gender or background. Many people affected by those who commit suicide are left
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results out of banging your head on the wall. At least when you bang your head on the wall, you get a headache.” The SSA believes in the right to assemble and to be thought of as normal and who happen to be non-religious. The group has not received any negative backlash. may This is not always the case for secular groups in areas with a similar status quo as KC. Most of the faculty and students at KC have been respectful to the group and have not defaced flyers, which is a common occurrence at other campuses. Hopefully, the civility will continue as the SSA gains momentum. Club meetings are open to students and non-students alike. If anyone would like more information about the Secular Student Alliance they meet every other Friday at noon in Old Main Building, Room 210. The next meeting is today. Snacks will be served and a round of Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me will be played. For more information, visit the SSA at Kilgore College page on Facebook.
“...everyone can feel free to say who they really are...” — Mary Farrell KC SSA President
Kaelie Wike / THE FLARE
WELLS: Melanoma can’t keep
KC student could easily feel like an outcast. Farrell said the club’s goal is “to bring diversity to the club availability and to provide a safe place for those who are nonreligious.” She said the SSA works a lot like a support group “where everyone can feel free to say who they really are because some people’s families don’t even know that they’re not religious; they keep it a secret.” The SSA gives an opportunity and safe place for like-minded individuals to gather and exchange ideas about their secular beliefs without any fear of judgment. The SSA does not intend to interfere with any of the religious organizations on campus but wants to peacefully coexist with them. If at any time anyone says anything negative to SSA members or tries to incite a discussion or debate about religion, members are encouraged to not engage. That is not the image or belief they want to promote about the SSA on campus. President Farrell says “the key is to keep it nice. You get more
asking questions after their loved ones have died. The suicide victim may have felt embarrassment or shame talking openly about mental health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five youth aged 13 to 18 will experience a severe mental disorder at some point in their life. Over one third of all students age 14 to 21 drop out of school because of their illness. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24. Suicide is preventable, especially for college students. They have become increasingly more vulnerable to developing
mental disorders because of constant use of technological devices, alcohol consumption, and sleep deprivation. For help dealing with issues concerning suicide, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. Psychiatrists, Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers can also help. Those who know someone who is displaying warning signs of suicide can help by providing a caring and non-judgmental place to go for their loved one.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Live, Laugh, Love Tour stops at KC TAYLOR STEWART Staff Writer They met on Facebook. Now they are just like brothers, separated at birth. Chad Prather had already heard of Cooper Wade. Years ago he had been impacted by Wade’s song, “Don’t Walk Away.” Since meeting through mutual friends on Facebook, Prather and Wade started the Live, Laugh, and Love Tour. On Saturday, they, along with the Purple Hulls, were at KC performing, a fund-raiser concert for East Texas Oil Museum and the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation. I had the chance to interview Chad and Cooper before the show. In my opinion, Chad Prather and Cooper Wade are two of the biggest social media sensations. First, I have never interviewed anyone before, and I was definitely nervous. Before the interview we were all laughing so much. They made the entire interview interesting and fun. The two crack jokes and say silly
COMMENTARY things, but are also deep hearted and care about the well being of others. Here are some of the highlights of that session. Q: How did the Live, Laugh, and Love Tour get started? Chad: Live, Laugh, and Love are our core values in which we live our lives. Life is worth living, making people laugh, and we are big on loving our families. Q: What do you want people to get out of the tour? Cooper: We want people to live, laugh, and love, and leave thinking the show was a positive environment. We want to be the good in this world. We want people to leave our show a better person. Q: What is your favorite Whataburger item? Chad: What a Chicken with cheese and jalapenos, but NOT on the whole-wheat bun. I like it on white bread. Cooper: Double meat
Whataburger with an apple pie to wash it down. Q: What advice would you give college students? Chad: DON’T GET PREGNANT! Cooper: Take your time in college. Being a grown up is not all it’s cracked up to be. Late night trips to Whataburger in Kilgore Texas is where it’s at. Don’t rush this time of your life. During the performance, between the jokes and the singing, the entire audience was rolling with laughter. After the show, both Chad and Cooper took the time to meet and take pictures with everyone. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to meet and interview two of my favorite men. I also want to say thanks to Stan, Cooper Wade’s right hand man. (You rock, Stan!). For the entire interview, look for us on YouTube. com — “Interview with Chad Prather and Cooper Wade”.
Internet sensations Chad Prather (left) live streams Wade’s performance so Wade’s daughter can enjoy one of her favorite songs. Purple Hulls, Katy and Penny Clark of Kilgore, open the show with their bluegrass stylings and multiple instruments. Photos by Hunter Lohr.
Vote for your favorite KC instructor
Oct. 5-23 1. Vote in person at voting tables on both Kilgore and Longview campuses 2. Vote online at www.kilgore.edu/excellence-in-teaching 3. Vote by contacting Paul Buchanan (ES 339/341) or Michele Daniels (CA 108) 4. Vote right now by scanning the code on the right with your smartphone
To vote you must include the first and last names of the teacher, your name, ID number and the reason you are voting for this instructor.
SPORTS
THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
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Cardinals Fly High Over Rangers
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Above: Running back Martinez Syria attemps to keep his balance after getting tackled. Syria had one touchdown for the game. Right: Garrett Barton, leaps for a catch over a TVCC defender. He finished the night with 10 catches for 126 yards.
Richard Nguyen/ THE FLARE
KC dismantled by TVCC, falls to 2-2 on the season DEVIN BROOKS Sports Editor The KC Rangers were dismantled by the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals 61-32 in their first conference game that was played Saturday at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. TVCC quarterback Jerod Evans broke his own school record for touchdown passes in a single game. Evans threw seven touchdown passes during this game without throwing a single interception. KC now has a 2-2 overall record and a 0-1 conference record this season. TVCC struck quickly. The
first play from scrimmage, Evans hooked up with Derrick Willies for a 56yard pass down the middle of the field. Two plays later, Evans lofted a pass over the KC secondary for an 18-yard touchdown pass to Andre Wilson making the score 7-0 after kicker Leo Peralta made the extra point. TVCC burned only 52 seconds off the clock on a three play 83yard scoring drive. On KC’s first offensive possession, they received a lot of help from the TVCC defense. The Cardinals had three huge penalties that totaled for 17 yards on third down that helped KC get down the field. After a 27-
yard pass from quarterback Josh Bolfing to Garrett Barton, running back Martinez Syria rumbled into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown. That nodded the score up at seven after a Troy Duran extra point. TVCC scored on backto-back possessions; both were touchdown passes by Evans making the score 217. KC drove down the field on their next possession all the way inside the ten yard line, but they were called for numerous holding penalties and the drive was eventually halted on third down when quarterback Cameron Martin was sacked for a
12-yard loss. Duran easily made a long 46-yard field goal making the score 21-10 early in the second quarter. TVCC scored once again midway through the first half. Evans hooked with his go-to receiver Wilson for an 18-yard touchdown pass making the score 2810. Kilgore drove down the field into TVCC territory looking to score before the half. Martin’s pass to the end zone was incomplete to receiver Joe Lewis on third down that led to a 47-yard field goal, which Duran made without any doubt just as time expired. TVCC led KC 28-10 at halftime. The second half for
TVCC was much like the first. Evans threw four touchdown passes in the second half, including a 63yard touch pass to Willies late in the third quarter that gave him the school record for touchdown passes in a single game. TVCC also connected on a 21-yard field goal as well. KC scored three times during the second half. Bofling found Lewis for a 15-yard touchdown. He also ran in a touchdown from six yards out. Backup quarterback Jaylen Fails scored on a three-yard quarterback sneak late in the fourth quarter. Evans went 21-26 for 365 yards and seven touchdown
passes. Willies caught three passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns. The KC defense gave up 652 yards of total offense which is the most they have given up all season. Fails who was inserted during the second half went 9-12 for 110 yards and one rushing touchdown. Syria and Barton left the game early with injuries. KC will face conference foe Navarro College for their next contest. KC defeated the Bulldogs last season in walk-off fashion. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in Corsicana.
Rangers look to snag a win KC hopes to get first conference victory against Bulldogs RICHARD NGYUEN Page Editor The Rangers are coming off a game that most would prefer to forget. A game where KC allowed a season high 61 points to a high flying Trinity Valley Community College offense. This week the Rangers look to another familiar foe in the Navarro College Bulldogs. The last time these two teams met on the gridiron KC edged the Bulldogs in a nail biter that ended in a 40-yard touchdown pass as time expired. A play that the Bulldog faithful will have in their minds when the Rangers travel to Corsicana this weekend as they seek their first conference win of the year.
Both teams enter the matchup with a 2-2 record and look to use this game as a launching pad for the rest of the year. Last year’s matchup was a coming out party for KC’s DeQuinton Osborne who accounted for a season high 14 tackles and accounted for half a sack. This year’s matchup will be a role reversal from last year. A Ranger team that was very pass orientated last season leans heavily on its run game this year to establish its offense, while the Bulldogs rank third in the National Junior College Athletic Association in passing yards. Despite a stout Rangers front seven, their pass defense has been less than
spectacular this season. This showed last week when the Ranger defense gave up over 400 yards passing and seven passing touchdowns to the TVCC Cardinals. The Bulldogs have only played one home game this season and won 49-7 against the Texas A&T Drillers. KC handily defeated the Drillers in their only away game when they traveled down to Santa Fe and won 49-14. The Rangers go into the game winless in the conference while the Bulldogs are 1-1 in conference play. KC will play the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in Corsicana at Tigers Stadium.
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Running back Markell Sprigner evades the Cardinal defenders by twisting and dancing between attempted tackles. However, Sprigner was unable to get into the end zone for the touchdown.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
F E AT U R E
Stifling Education
Banned Books Week is Sept. 27 Oct. 3. The annual event celebrates the freedom to read. This year’s theme is Young Adult novels. Here is a list of the top ten challenged YA books of the past year. Tina Reed/ THE FLARE
THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie PERSEPOLIS by Marjane Satrapi THE BLUEST EYE by Toni Morrison THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky DRAMA by Raina Telgemeier CHINESE HANDCUFFS by Chris Crutcher THE GIVER by Lois Lowry THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET by Sandra Cisneros LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green
Challenged book brought to life KC theatre department to cast adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in October MEAGHAN MORTON Staff Writer An annex, two families and the unsettling feeling that you could be found at any moment. The KC theatre department will be performing “The Diary of Anne Frank” as their next production. Opening night will be 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Van Cliburn Auditorium and will run through Saturday, Oct. 10. An early performance will be 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11. “The Diary of Anne Frank” tells the story of a young girl hiding away in an annex with her family and another, trying desperately to keep away from the Nazi soldiers. “We’ve done a fair bit of research on the actual people because it’s based off Anne Frank’s diary that her father found when he went back to the annex after he got out of Auschwitz,” said Annalise Wisdom, playing Mrs. Van Daan.
Because the production is historical, actors and technical workers have to research roles, clothing, scenery and the time period. “We have stagecraft three times a week, so we work on the set for nine hours a week. We are doing a lot of construction right now to build the actual physical set,” Wisdom said. Hannah Sanders, who is playing Anne Frank, said the show is different from Anne’s diary because the show does not adapt everything from the book. “The adaptation of the play we are doing actually has more in it that Anne’s dad and the original playwrights wanted,” Sanders said. “[American playwright] Wendy Kesselmen brought back parts of the diary that she thought deserved to be in it and would show who Anne really was.” The unedited diary has a deeper look into the life of Anne.
A CLOSER LOOK: THE HISTORY OF ANNE FRANK’S DIARY 30 percent of original material from Anne’s diary found in the annex was left out of “The Diary of a Young Girl,” the book that was published in 1947. n
In 1957 there was an allegation from a Swedish Nazi magazine that Anne did not write the diary, and went even further to say she never existed. n
Members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee attempted to ban the book in 1983 because it was “a real downer.” n
Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
“When I was reading about her, it was kind of like a reality check for me because it made me realize that she was just a normal girl, like me,” Sanders said. “She had feelings and regrets and problems regarding her parents and her sexuality. Once I learned so much about her, I had a whole new respect for her.” Audience members should expect the story they may have heard before, but also expect humorous, softer sides to the story as well. “You should expect the story that we all know from high school
KC theater students rehearse a scene from “The Diary of Anne Frank.” or middle school, whenever you read the diary, but you should also expect a good time because we know it’s a heavy show. We know that everyone knows there’s not a happy ending, but we are doing our best to find the humor in places, because these are people,” Wisdom said. “It wasn’t all just doom and gloom and they led a fairly happy life in this really small room for two years. It wasn’t just, ‘Hitler’s coming for us. We’re all going to
die.’ You can’t live like that, and so they lived off of hope. So, expect hope.” Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students and $5 for KC students. Children under the age of 7 will not be admitted. The box office will be open one hour prior to performance. To reach the box office call (903) 983-8126. Also visit Kilgore.edu/drama or e-mail the box office at box-office@kilgore. edu.
OPINION
THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
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Don’t stop young dreams RICHARD NGUYEN Page Editor
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“The ones who think they are crazy enough to change the world are the ones that do.” — Steve Jobs
Kathryn Agee / THE FLARE
Cyberpolitics Today’s politicians strive to stay relevant in an age of digital saturation
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f the president of the United States were elected today based solely on social media presence, our president would be…Donald Trump. Yes, Donald Trump, most famous for being rich, having ridiculous hair and tweeting about how Robert Pattinson should dump Kristen Stewart. If elected, he will be the only president with zero political experience. He did previously run for president in 2012, but it was revealed to be just a publicity stunt for his reality show, “Celebrity Apprentice.” With current president Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton all appearing in sketches on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” in an effort to increase their entertainment value to Americans, does political experience for a presidential candidate really matter? It should. Presidents who have been pop culture darlings still have had political experience, but adapted to the changing times, which younger voters found appealing. Millennial voters in 2008 loved Obama. He was viewed as a welcome change from the stereotypical “uncool” candidate. No one had gotten the younger vote before as effortlessly as he did. According to Forbes, 60 percent of millenials voted for Obama in 2012 and accounted for 19 percent of all voters, up from 17 percent in 2008. This was partially because of Obama’s huge
YOUR VIEW
“Yes, because a younger generation has a larger affect in politics.” Samantha Phrumjuntun Longview sophomore
The Flare
“No, everyone should have the right to vote.” Omar Briseno Longview sophomore
PHOTO ADVISER O. Rufus Lovett
PAGE EDITORS Hunter Lohr Richard Nguyen
ADVISER Rachel Stallard
SPORTS EDITOR Devin Brooks
“I think the new generation is definitely more open and liberal and not as informed. They are really swayed by social media and I think this will really affect votes.”
“Yes, just like any other demographic, the millenials are important to consider in an election.” Jacob Cartwright Union Grove freshman
Breanne Garner Saginaw sophomore
VOL. 79, NO.4 n Friday, September 25, 2015 Copyright 2015, The Flare. All rights reserved.
2013 Sweepstakes Winner, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • 2014 Sweepstakes Winner, Texas Community College Journalism Association Spring 2012 Gold Crown, Columbia Scholastic Press Association • 2012 First Place, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kathryn Agee
internet presence leading up to his election. Over the past eight years, technology has increased tenfold. In 2008. just millenials used Facebook and Twitter, and only occasionally. Now, social media apps are a part of everyone’s daily life from teenagers to grandparents. The 2016 candidates are all active on social media. Hilary Clinton live streamed her first presidential rally via Periscope. During the GOP debate, Democrat Bernie Sanders live tweeted, calling out Republicans and consequently going viral. Trump’s tweets, though lambasted for their ridiculousness, have given him more media exposure. Jeb Bush’s tweet announcing his presidential run became his most re-tweeted tweet ever. Millenials latch on to and appreciate candidates who communicate in the same way they do. Republicans and Democrats have shown they care about young voters by embracing social media. A president today must speak about issues that concern millenials most and know how to have fun with the fact that he/she will get to be president in this media-saturated technological age. All we can hope for is that millenials will be smart enough to vote for the candidate they think will best run the country. There are still many qualified candidates to vote for, even with media whore Trump muddling the presidential race. #President2016.
Do you think millenials affect election results? Why or why not? Photographs by Richard Nguyen / THE FLARE
ast week, 14-year-old Ahmed Mohammed of Irving was arrested on charges of bringing a “hoax bomb” to his high school. This “hoax bomb” turned out to be a clock that he had invented at his home — a simple four-digit analog clock in a suitcase. He was detained, interrogated and processed by Irving PD before he had contact with his parents. While I am RICHARD aware that you have NGUYEN to be cautious about Page Editor some things because of the age we live in, it’s obvious that many people over-reacted in this situation. This story had me pretty wound up. I mean, this high school freshman built a clock with some household items. It’s absolutely crazy that he has the ability to come up with something like that. I know it’s just a clock, but you try building a clock in your bedroom. What made me most upset about it all? He came out and said later that this would be his last invention for his school. That absolutely crushed me. Creativity was destroyed for a moment that day. If education is one of the most valuable gifts we have, why doesn’t it feel like it? Schools are supposed to serve as a shelter of imagination for students, a place where they can go and express their ideas in all aspects of life. I remember when my teacher would give my class a piece of paper and tell us we had 15 minutes to write a story about whatever we wanted. What happened to the times when students were challenged to be creative? The fine arts used to be pushed heavily in schools to help build a brighter future for America. Not that it still isn’t that way, but now more than ever, our math and sciences are needed. We live in a day and age where technology rules and it’s going to stay that way for a long time. Yet I see time and time again that creativity is being blanketed in those fields. People are claiming that they’re just ‘number-crunching problemsolvers.’ That’s what they are, and we need more of them. We need to start focusing on what our students are excelling in and promote it. Why not get a coach for something we’re good at rather than a tutor for something we struggle in? We should not be telling our students how to think, but what to think about. By doing this, the door is opened to discover new ideas. When I read Ahmed’s story, I was saddened by the ignorance of those who didn’t recognize his knowledge and tried to bring him down. However, like all good stories, as the day went on we found out more and more about Ahmed Mohammed the person and we got to know his family. That’s around the time that the Mohammed family started to receive support from people across the country from the President of the United States to heads of major engineering companies. They saw potential in him and wanted to let him know that he has supporters. Sometimes, this is all a kid needs to push forward. Mohammed would later say in his press conference “This is not the first thing I have invented, and it won’t be the last.” In a day that seemed so dim for him, turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
F E AT U R E
Rettes still kicking at 75
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he Rangerettes celebrated their true birthday on Saturday, Sept. 19 — 75 years to the day after taking the field for a Thursday night football game in 1940. After a year of celebrating, the festivities continued to light up the field with the addition of 230 area high school drill team members joining the ‘Rettes in a performance to “Paint it Black.” The Rangerettes were originally founded by Gussie Nell Davis as a way to keep spectators in their seats during halftime of Rangers football games. Along that journey, they have traveled the world entertaining millions with their unique performances, legendary high-kicks and red, white and blue signature look.
photos by Tiffany Johnson