KC RENOVATIONS n KC library to have new computers and coffee bar n Library reconstruction to be competed by December n KC Longview campus starts $19 million expansion n Culinary Arts instructional facility and Industrial Maintenance Technology building to be constructed n KC-Longview expansions due to be finished by Fall 2017
SEE PAGE 3 FOR FULL STORIES ON LIBRARY RENOVATION AND KC LONGVIEW EXPANSION
Richard Nguyen / THE FLARE
The Flare
Friday, October 2, 2015 Vol. 79 No. 5 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Hope triumphs over addiction Education helps student overcome past tragedies, set life goal of graduation MADELINE GREENE Staff Writer
M
ost people know Linda Thomas as the woman who works at the front desk of the Financial Aid office. But not many people know that she is one of the most remarkable people they will ever meet. Thomas has battled through depression and addiction to get an education. Shortly after Thomas entered the KC Grill and sat down for our interview, I could tell she was a lovely person with a big heart. In fact, one of the first things she said to me was that she wants to help people and she plans to move into the field of social work after graduating in December. “If you put your efforts into helping others, it lessens the time that you dwell in your own despair,” Thomas said. “Afterward, you feel better that you helped someone else in need which lifts your own spirits.” Thomas was raised by her grandmother after her mother passed away when Thomas was four, and she only met her father twice, “Once when I was five and once when I was nine.” Thomas said. “I found out when I was 21 that he had died four years previous to that. So I never really got to meet him or know him or anything.” She attended Leverett’s Chapel until her freshman year of high school. Her family moved and she began attending Sabine High School where she was bullied. “It was horrible. Very horrible.” Thomas said. “My 9th grade year I went three months, but I only actually went for three days. When they caught me they suspended me for missing too much school. I never went back.” Thomas’ life progressed. She got married, had three kids, and took care of her family until things changed drastically. “Next month nine years ago, my oldest daughter, Heaven, committed suicide.” Thomas said. “I tell people all the time that I died that day.” The next three years were rough. Thomas got divorced and lost custody of
Richard Nguyen / THE FLARE
Linda Thomas has used her experience at KC to help her overcome the numerous hardships she has faced in her eventful life. her youngest daughter. She then moved to Houston. “At first I did a lot of drugs. I mean A LOT of drugs, for probably two and a half years.” Thomas said. “I tell people that I was dead. I mean, I was still breathing, but I was dead.” After the death of her daughter, Thomas went through a period of severe depression. “I didn’t get out of bed to take a shower, I didn’t brush my teeth, I didn’t brush my hair, for a good three years.” Thomas said. “Then one morning I woke up and I hit my knees and I said ‘God, please let me die. Please just let me die. And if you can’t let me die, then show me how to live again.” Thomas enrolled in school the following week. She was still in Houston and enrolled
in Lone Star College. “I was in an abusive relationship so I had to drop my classes to move back here. It was really very hard. I couldn’t wait to get back in school. I came up here that spring for late registration and there was a person … who was mean to me. I mean really, really mean to me. I left crying and thinking I wasn’t going to get in school. I had a lady, Ms. Barbara, she’s the executive assistant to the vice president, and she stopped me and asked me if I was OK. That touched me a lot, that she helped me.” Thomas said. “I try to pay that forward so I work in the financial aid department and I try to be nice to people and I try to help them as much as I can.” “Linda demonstrates a love of learning
and the level of commitment necessary to succeed in college and beyond,” said Barbara Prater, executive assistant to Dr. Mike Jenkins. “She truly ‘pays it forward’ when it comes to the Ranger Experience and is always willing to go that extra mile when it comes to helping other students and/ or employees. Linda is a go-getter and will succeed in every endeavor.” Thomas isn’t sure what specific job she will end up doing yet, but she knows that she wants to help others. In five years, all she wants to be is a better person. “I hope to see myself better than I was today.” Thomas said. “That’s how I try to see every day. I want to be better tomorrow than I was today.”
‘Honk for Bernie’ draws supporters KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor LONGVIEW — The event ‘Honk for Bernie Sanders’ was held this Saturday at Flewellen Park. Four people attended; all were wearing shirts and holding homemade signs showing support for the Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Every few seconds, a driver honked their horn after spotting them. Activist Kimberlyn Boyd said
Sanders is important to Texans because “they are the perfect demographic. He is really pushing for immigration reform, which is an issue many Texans are concerned about. Sanders represents the working class and will help with issues that matter to them the most.” “Texans are usually empathetic with individuals who don’t impose their opinions on other people, which represents what Sanders does,” said supporter
David Estridge. “He stands up for all honest and genuine people. Bernie has a racial platform that is unmatched by any other candidate ever, and his political history shows this. This is important because of the racially diverse makeup of Texas.” Boyd, a Texas Tech graduate, said it is important for Texas college students “to be aware of Sanders’ platform and views on college education. A large portion of millenials are struggling with
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
Supporters of Bernie Sanders hold signs at Flewellen Park in Longview to raise awareness of the presidential candidate. Sanders is a promoter of public colleges allowing students to attend for free.
student loan debt. It doesn’t seem right that people are financing these loans so high, causing students to take years to pay off their educational debts.” “Sanders believes all public colleges should be free,” Estridge said. “He wants to provide an equal opportunity for everyone to be able to attend college. This is a problem we really have to address.” The Honk for Bernie Sanders attendees are part of a larger association — the Tyler/ Longview/ Jacksonville Texas for Bernie Sanders group. “Our first meeting was in July,” Estridge said. “That’s also when the Facebook group was created.” The Facebook page says it is “a place for East Texas Bernie Sanders supporters and volunteers to gather and help promote the political movement sweeping America,” and was created “for and by the people.” The page currently has 141 likes. Boyd said the group will hold events similar to ‘Honk for Bernie Sanders’ once a month. “We will do events in different cities all over East Texas.” On Sunday, members attended the State Fair in Tyler to pass out fliers and talk to attendees of the fair about Sanders. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, visit the Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville Texas for Bernie Sanders Facebook page or the official Sanders website at www.berniesanders.com.
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE n Standing Flare feature “Face In The Crowd” puts the spotlight on freshman Hannah Jordan
PAGE 2 n Recap and preview of the KC Rangers sporting events
PAGES 4 - 5 n Feature highlighting the awareness of the problem of sexual assault on college campuses around the country
PAGE 6 n Editorial/opinion page showcasing Our View and Your View on faith, religion, acceptance and spiritual diversity at KC
PAGE 7 n Recipes from the KC Culinary Arts department for you to try at home
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