Richland

Vol. XLI Issue 4 February 3, 2015

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com @Chronicle DCCCDOfficial Chronicle Outlets

Protests in Garland: Pg . 3

Deflate-gate? Super Bowl: Pg. 5

CHRONICLE

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CAMPUS/OPINION

Farewell to the senior ‘state’s man’

The playing field for political honcho Rick Perry was leveled on Jan. 21.

The state of Texas was given several good looks throughout Perry’s terms as governor and a heaping handful of criticism based on several failed attempts, including roadways and toll roads. The brash, strong-willed Perry also must deal with a felony charge of abuse of power that wasn’t dismissed. I really believe this will hamper his run for the White House.

I’m not usually one to bash an outgoing po-litical mainstay, but Perry will leave the Lone Star State in a spot when it comes to the envi-ronment, climate change and education fund-ing.

The latter was due to mass budget cuts that affect the ability of teachers and students to live and work in harmony. This problem is a national problem and the days ahead will verify this. The brilliance that Perry displayed in my opinion was the smile he displayed in defeat and during confusing situations. The smile actually broke the tension during some of the disastrous answers he gave at press con-ferences and during the presidential debate. I feel that all of his goals weren’t accomplished, but significant progress was made toward im-proving higher education, the Texas economy and health care.

JEROME ROBINSON IIStaff Writer

‘Star Child’ – Touching stories of love and adventure

When Bob Davis finished writing his fourth book, “Star Child,” he began searching for an eye-catching image for the cover to capture the stories he had created for a beautiful young girl – his granddaughter Julia.

What went through his mind was, “Every child is God’s star child born to shed light and joy.”

Davis found the celestial girl he was look-ing for in a Hubble Space Telescope image. As he looked at the starry image, what he saw was “the cascading curls of a young girl whose likeness is reflected back in the intense light of ‘Light Echoes of Cepheid Variable RS Pup-pis.’”

Davis, 67, has been teaching English at Richland for 40 years. He also teaches at the University of Texas at Dallas as a university field supervisor observing student teachers in English at middle and high school campuses. This semester, he’s teaching an English 1301 class at Richland.

Davis’s 76-page book, which was just pub-lished in December, concerns a loving grand-father named Grampy and 12-year-old Julia, who is referred to in the book as “the girl.” It’s the story of 12 adventures they take to-gether throughout Texas – each for a differ-ent month, beginning in January and ending in December. The back cover displays the Cot-ton Belt Caboose in Sachse.

“The book is both fiction and non-fiction,

fiction in the sense that the stories are imag-ined from an older narrator’s point of view, but it is essentially me as a grandfather figure and my oldest son’s daughter,” Davis said.

What is unique about “Star Child” is that Davis is now 67 but Julia is only 2. Davis pushed her age up 10 years to 12 – going on 13 – in the book, thus imagining what she would look like at that age.

“The historical part are all the stories that the grandfather tells,” Davis said. “All of those are vintage stories. Those all happened. He [Grampy] talks about rolling newspapers, go-

ing up and down the street selling ice cream cones. Those are all my personal stories.”

Davis said the story he enjoyed working on the most was the last one, “Beachcomb-ing Beauties,” where Julia is standing up in the surf off Galveston Island.

“This story is one of the culmination of all her adventures,” he said. “She picks up some seaweed and makes a bracelet out of it. She finds some rope – she’ll make a necklace out of it. And then she finds this little baby shark on the sand and she rescues it.”

Davis said it took him three years, from

JOYCE JACKSONCopy Editor

start to finish, to write and revise “Star Child.” He has three sons, Bryan, Ian and Ethan, now grown men and his wife, Heidi, who have all enjoyed reading the book and liked it. Julia is Bryan’s oldest daughter.

When Davis finally finished the book, he said he felt something similar to what a woman would feel in giving birth to a child – only as a man. “It was just a really spectacular spiritual experience to be able to say, I’ve done this,” Davis said. “It’s the best I can do. If I tweak it any more, I’m going to lose meaning in what I’m saying.”

Davis said he printed only 50 copies and has seven signed copies at Richland’s Follett Bookstore. He would like to get “Star Child” on Amazon. It was published by a business here in Dallas called iDoc, which does a lot of work for instructors and staff.

“Part of the writing strategy is to go from a campus bookstore to getting it online through Amazon, which appears to be where most on-line publishers are going, if they don’t have an agent,” Davis said.

Davis’s plans for the future include trying to send one of the stories from “Star Child” to other publications.

“I’ve decided that over the years, I can’t write the kind of stuff that does get published because I don’t have an appetite for writing ’50 Shades of Grey,’” he said. “I don’t have an ap-petite for writing political books or theological books or any of those kinds of things. I really just want to write things that are an enjoyable read, so I’m kind of in the Dr. Seuss category on that.”

Image courtesy mei.ms

English professor and author Bob Davis has honored his granddaughter in prose. Staff photo Melanie Brandow

Transportation needs fell $5 billion short each year of his tenure. This is something that all governors must deal with, so I’ll give Perry a pass on that. But Perry probably should have done a better job on air quality in Texas.

The facts show that Houston and Dallas are two of the most air-polluted cities in the country. Also, 19 Texas counties failed to meet federal air standards.

Perry, however, stood for a better Texas. The man is a proud Texan and a fixture in the Lone Star State. Farewell from Texas to the man who served twice as long as any other Texas governor.

The former governor of Texas, Rick Perry

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Protests demostrate fear and loathing in GarlandLYDIA NIGUSSIEStaff Writer

Racial profiling has got to end. Discrimina-tion and segregation are demeaning and quite offensive.

American society’s thinking needs to evolve and adapt to changes and different ways of life. A lack of education has the potential to create hate in the process of evolving. It’s astonishing that a society that has come so far is willing to accept so little.

With recent extremist activities and the devastating terror attacks in Paris, some media (outlets) have been critical of followers of Islam and its prophet’s teachings. In light of that criticism, Sound Vision promoted a conference and fundraiser on Jan.17, titled “Stand with the Prophet of Honor and Peace.”

Sound Vision is an organization that was established 26 years ago with a mission “to build bridges of understanding,” said Presi-dent Abdul Malik Mujahid.

The “Stand with the Prophet of Honor and Peace” conference was held in the Curtis

Culwell Center, which is administered by the Garland Independent School District.

The purpose of the Sound Vision con-ference was to address stereotypes within the Muslim community and prejudices that inhabit them, according to The Dallas Morn-ing News.

“Because of some Muslims who took life of other people . . . it was important for Muslims to make a point that we stand with the prophet against hate and terror,” said Mu-jahid, During the meeting, a group staged a counter-protest bringing what was described in The Dallas Morning News as “hate” to the otherwise peaceful conference.

“Our message was no different than the people demonstrating outside except that we’re demonstrating in a nice way, by giving our respect and asserting our positions as neighbors,” Mujahid said.

According to Mujahid, protestors came with guns, violent words and signs accusing them of bringing terror and who intimidated them by creating noise, shouting revving pressing the loud engines from their motor bikes.

Mujahid said that the protestors prepared

signs with content promoting discord, and that they labled them as murderers who need to leave America.

“It is not on my responsibility - I am a citizen. I’m doing my job and [it’s] not the responsibility of just Muslims,” Mujahid said.

“It’s the responsibility of all good neigh-bors to stand up for their neighbors. Tell the hate mongers to stop [their] hate. The responsibility to accept one another lies on society.”

This protest made it evident that Ameri-can society fails to accept and understand different beliefs. The signs and words of the protestors were languages of hate, abomina-tion and abhorrence.

“America has people from all over the world; there is no country like our country.” Mujahid said, “People need to read and open their mind and that’s what all education is about, if we keep our heart and mind open towards our neighbors and keep praying that our neighbors keep their heart and mind open towards us, the world will be a better place,” he added.

With the proceeds from the fundraiser, Sound Vision hopes to build a support center

for Muslims to learn how to counter negative depictions of their faith.

Having a different belief should not be seen as a threat. Mujahid said that Christians and others who protested against the Sound Vision conference need to realize the impor-tance of this.

Animosity between religious groups can only be reduced with knowledge. Without it, the world is asleep, oblivious to the feelings and beliefs of others.

My hope is that education will wake up the world. Recognizing and acknowledging these different lifestyles will snap America to reality and truly open its eyes. Mujahid encouraged everyone to check out the Sound Vision web-site at soundvision.com.

“Come and see what we feel . . . we say these things, not today, not yesterday, not because somebody comes with guns to dem-onstrate against a peaceful program . . . but we’ve [been] saying [this] since we started our organization 26 years ago.”

This injustice is based on ignorance. All verbal attacks against Islam needs to stop. The bigotry will have no end without knowl-edge. Be aware and learn to love one another.

“That whole protest was a joke ´cause person-ally I know my religion (and Islam by itself) is a religion of peace.”

Yasmeen Akel, 18Sports medicine

Carol Stamper, 69Continuing education

Brianna Garcia, 18Nursing

“We’re still in a soci-ety that can still be this insensitive to other cul-tures. It’s really unfortu-nate. ”

Kyle Wheat, 20Mechanical engineer

“I think that people need to realize that [most] Muslims aren’t terrorists or for supporting them. I think that we need to start learning.”

“People shouldn’t hold things against people just because they’re a certain religion”

Students speak out on religious intolerance

Staff illustrations Isai Diaz

Staff illustration Isai Diaz

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ENTERTAINMENT R

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“Birdman or (“The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”) B - Michael Keaton is a washed-up actor staging a one-man show on Broadway who deals with a variety of pre-dicaments and problems preceding the opening of his play.

“Fury” B+ - Brad Pitt is commander of a platoon of soldiers facing predicaments aplenty in Germany at the end of World War II.

“John Wick” B - Keanu Reeves is the title character

here, a former assassin-for-hire who gets pulled back into the seething underworld he thought he left behind.

“Stonehearst Asylum” C+ - This is an intriguing tale about various denizens of a mental institution that in-cludes Michael Caine, Jim Sturgess, Kate Beckinsale and Ben Kingsley.

“St. Vincent” B - Bill Murray is a curmudgeon of an old man who befriends a next door neighbor kid (Jaeden Lieberher) who learns to fend for himself in the everyday world.

Ricky’sTake 5

“Mommy” — Interesting tale about widowed mother(Anne Dorval as Diane “Die” Deprés) struggling to keep her sanity. Grade: C“Cake” – Jennifer Aniston is compelling as a woman struggling with a painkiller addiction. B“A Most Violent Year” – Compelling drama with Oscar Isaac (“Inside Llewyn Davis”) and Jessica Chastain (“The Help”) that deals with bu-reaucracy, manipulation and disgruntled lost souls in 1970s New York. BNew on Blu-ray“King of the Hill” and “The Underneath” – “King” is an amazing

slice-of-life story set in depression era St. Louis and tells the story of one boy’s quest to outsmart the powers-that-be. Included is “The Under-neath,” his 1995 Austin-set caper flick with Peter Gallagher. “King” A+/“The Underneath” A-One night only“Logan’s Run” – This 1976 Michael Anderson-directed tale receives a revival release Feb. 22 at the Texas Theater. Michael York headlines in a future where one’s life expires at age 30. C+

This year’s race:Predictions, Part 1

This is one academy awards ceremony where people will either remember or just shrug their soldiers.

Supporting actress: Without question, the winner will be Patricia Arquette for “Boy-hood.”

Also nominated are Keira Knightley for “The Imitation Game,” Reese Witherspoon for “Wild,” Emma Stone for “Birdman,” and the usual Meryl Streep entry with her role as the witch in the musical of “Into the Woods.”

Supporting actor: This one without question has J.K. Simmons (in “Whiplash”) all over it. The spoiler, however, would be Ethan Hawke as the father in “Boyhood.”

Also nominated are Robert Duvall in “The Judge,” Edward Norton in “Birdman” and Mark Ruffalo as the other Schultz brother in “Foxcatcher.”

Adapted screenplay: This race looks re-ally tight as well. Paul Thomas Anderson for “Inherent Vice,” Graham Moore’s “The Im-

itation Game,” and Anthony McCane’s “The Theory of Everything” are all in the running.

It will come down to a showdown be-tween Damien Chazelle’s teacher-student showdown of “Whiplash” and Jason Hall’s “American Sniper.” I think “Sniper” will take the cake on this one.

Original screenplay: This race looks a little tight as well. Dan Gilroy’s nod for “Nightcrawler” is a plus for a movie that was barely even recognized. Also nominated is Wes Anderson for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman for “Foxcatcher” and Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armando Bo for “Birdman” or (“The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).”

The surefire winner will be Richard Lin-klater’s “Boyhood.”

The Oscars ceremony will be broadcast on ABC on Feb. 22.

— Ricky Miller

‘Project Almanac’: A misguided twister

I hate to say it, but any movie produced by Michael Bay should at least have one ex-plosion in it! For crying out loud, this is a man who directs robots (“The Transform-ers” franchise) into a two-hour-plus exercise in idiocracy.

The whole premise for “Project Almanac” was hijacked from the beginning. Last year, it was titled “Welcome to Yesterday,” but I think the studio was not pleased with the test audience results. Flash forward to this year and the end results are still the same.

Ramblings in the basement is what sets the story into motion. The group of teens refer to the findings on paper as a “temporal relo-cation project”

Also annoying are the shaky cam shots that have been prevalent in supposed thrillers like “The Blair Witch Project,” “Cloverfield” as well as Paramount’s whole “Paranormal Ac-tivity” series. It not only contributes to the headache you will receive, but just adds to the

RICKY MILLEREntertainment Editor

frustration you will feel after watching these morons try to fix something that is not bro-ken.

The no-name leads are interesting to watch. Jonny Weston is tolerable as teenager David Raskin. He brings a certain charm and everyman quality that translates to the screen.

The other elements involved (winning the lottery, beating up a bully) are touched on and delved out with the appropriate candor.

Also involved are near misses (the basket-ball team lost because a player sustained a broken leg) touched on without much result.

“Project Almanac” falls into the same cat-egory as the misguided and pretzel-twisting thriller, “The Butterfly Effect.” As much as one cares about all the people on screen, the end result is just a total and complete letdown. In the movie, the characters are referred to as a temporal relocation project, but it never fully investigates this aspect.

In the end, “Project Almanac” is not worth the time or patience needed to deci-pher all the clues for a story that gives you no satisfaction. Grade: C-

Sam Lerner, left, Jonny Weston, Allen Evagelista and Virginia Gardner in “Project Almanac.”Staff illustrations Isai Diaz

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SPORTS

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WednesdayMountain View 7 p.m.

SaturdayAt Brookhaven 2 p.m.

Feb. 11 Cedar Valley 7 p.m.

Basketballschedule

Basketball standout wins scholarshipJOYCE JACKSONCopy Editor

Adarian Harris had quite a surprise coming just as the fall semester ended in December.

As Harris, 19, was sitting in his coach’s of-fice, he learned that he had won the Bill Neal scholarship for $500.

“I felt relieved. It felt good, like I had ac-complished something,” Harris said.

Neal, a physical education professor for whom the scholarship is named, recommends a deserving student every year when it’s of-fered. It was created through the Dallas Coun-ty Community College Foundation’s Scholar-ship Committee and Neal’s emeritus students, many of whom are enrolled in Neal’s classes.

Harris said he loves his basketball classes under head coach Jon Havens and is on the Thunderducks team. The season began in September and ends in March.

“I like being with the team,” Harris said. “I feel as if I’m part of a basketball family.”

The Thunderducks took on Cedar Valley Jan. 24 and won 73 to 63.

To deflate or not to deflate: That is the question

“In Bill we trust” – It’s seemingly the motto most die-hard New England Patriot fans live and die by since the organization captured its three Super Bowl victories under the leader-ship of the great Bill Belichick.

His tenure has been plagued by accusations. Can you say, spygate? And now deflate-gate?

Wow, how ‘bout those balls; footballs that is. They were supposedly unknowingly de-flated by either coach Bill, Mr. Quarterback or Mr. Gisele. Sorry, Tom the Great” (Brady) or, someone else. Once again, the organization is tied up in a scandal 13 days before the big game.

My opinion is neither for nor against the Pa-triots, but it goes along the lines of principle, prestige and prudence.

The Patriots organization is being charged with deflating 11 of the 12 footballs used by them in the AFC championship game Jan. 18. Even though the game was a romp, this was still a violation of league rules. The Indianapo-lis Colts were mauled 45-7, but at halftime the score was 17-7. I’m just saying.

Scandals involving the Patriot organization have been common for the most part, but winning is the big draw and they, the Patriots do win – a dozen division titles in the past 14 years, a great accomplishment.

I feel the latest allegations are just another tarnishing blow to the NFL overall; its lack of oversight on the smallest details – football measurements. The rules are put in place by the

JEROME ROBINSON IIStaff Writer

league and the NFL was lacking in some way for not being on top of the issue in the AFC championship game.

Patriot officials are looked down upon for not following the rules under the leadership of team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Belichick.

One more football offender is the great “Tom Terrific” Brady for not notifying any-one in an official’s uniform about the alleged football deflation. After all, he’s the last per-son to touch and feel the footballs for grip

and comfort purposes before the game. I won’t let the referees (officials) off the hook either. They’re to blame also.

Another interesting point is that Tom Ter-rific was feeling ashamed during the press conferences that the media and critics would accuse him and his organization of cheating. Previously, the Patriots got into trouble when they videotaped defensive coaches’ signals of other NFL teams and were caught. Coach Bill was fined $500,000, but after that, he received a hefty raise.

The NFL is ultimately to blame because this problem continues with the unfair treatment of teams and players getting away with hor-rific things including crimes (another subject). Their tactics are terrible in dealing with unruly situations. I like the competition the NFL dis-plays, but unfortunately, big money rules in professional sports and the show will go on and on, no matter what cost, whether it be concussions, domestic battery, suicide, brain trauma or even cheating scandals.

Can you say Ray Rice?

Image courtesy youtube.com

Harris said his introduction to sports start-ed when he was just a kid, with youth basket-ball. His dad helped him get into it, along with his grandmother, who took him to games and watched him play.

“It’s [basketball] part of my character. It’s who I am. It’s been a part of me forever, for about 15 years,” Harris said.

This is Harris’s second semester at Rich-land. He’s taking 14 hours in core courses and plans to take courses in his major, kinesiology, when he transfers later to a university.

“I want basketball to give me my free edu-cation and if it takes me further, I’ll let that decision come when that time is here,” Harris said. “As of right now, I’m letting basketball take me as far as I can.”

Harris said he would love to be a teacher or coach, perhaps starting off at the high school level at some point in the future. His basket-ball idol is Detroit Pistons’ guard Brandon Jennings.

“Jennings doesn’t let fame or being an all-star go to his head,” Harris said. “He’s very humble.”

Adarian Harris at Richland gym in practice. Staff photo Melanie Brandow

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Richland

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERSEditor-in-ChiefLayout Editor

Photography EditorEntertainment Editor

Copy Editor

Melanie Brandow Kisten S. ChettyBlanca ReyesRicky MillerJoyce Jackson

ON THE COVERLeft: Garland protests. Top right: NFL deflate-gate. Bottom

right: Free community college.

COVER AND FONTSLeft: Staff Illustration Quan Tran. Top right: pixgood.com.

Bottom Right: Staff Illustration Quan Tran

Certain cover fonts are provided by the following:http://www.nymfont.com - http://www.bvfonts.com

STUDENT MEDIA STAFFIsai Diaz

Audrey MortonAugustine Mukoka

Jerome Robinson II

Quan TranPete ShannonJoe StumpoLydia Nigussie

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERSErica EdwardsJack Fletcher

David GoodloeTim Jones

Steve NovielloLarry RatliffMarshall Siegel

ISSUE DATESFebruary 3

February 10February 17February 24

March 3March 24

April 7April 21April 29May 6May 13

AWARDSCMA Newspaper of the Year Finalist, 2014ACP Pacemaker Winner, 2000, 2001, 2007

ACP Pacemaker Finalist, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007ACP Online Pacemaker Finalist, 2007, 2008

1st Place - TIPA Sweepstakes, 20053rd Place - TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006

1st Place – TCCJA Overall General Excellence, 2014Over 170 Texas college journalism awards since 2000

CONTACT INFORMATIONEl Paso Hall, Room E-020, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, 75243

Newsroom: 972-238-6079 E-mail: richanchronicle@gmail.comAdvertising: 972-238-6068 E-mail: advertise@dcccd.edu

Fax: 972-238-6037

Staff meetings: Monday and Wednesday 2 p.m. in E-020

Letter PolicyLetters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements. Letters must be the work of the writer and must be signed. For identification and verification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s classification (grade level), full name, address and telephone number, although address and telephone number will not be published.

Editorial PolicyThe Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration.

© Richland Chronicle 2014

Billions will be made, again, die-hard fan support will be visualized all over the world and human firecracker Katy Perry will do her thing at halftime. And after all the hoopla over deflate-gate is over and done, pro football will crown a new champion for the 49th time.

Will the controversy tarnish the integrity of the sport that has taken a major dip in the last decade?

Agree or disagree, the question is valid. I’m a fan of football, both college and profession-al. That being said, our morals and values have been shown to take a back seat to the almighty dollar.

Super Bowl success simply is about profit and more profit for the National Football League organization and the league makes no excuses about that.

High-priced commercials (an estimated $4.5 million per 30 seconds), expensive game tick-ets and the half-time entertainment show shat-ter barriers when it comes to the number of spectators watching from around the world.

Bravo to the league that can boast so much success in one day alone. Some might ques-tion my views. I’m only telling my version of the disparity I’ve seen for years pertaining to the NFL and how it handles different complex situations on and off the football field and yet presents to the masses a championship game every year for 49 years.

The first game actually called the Super Bowl was played in 1967 in Miami and won by

The legacy of the big gameJEROME ROBINSON IIStaff Writer

the Green Bay Packers. Can you say “history lesson?”

The lack of integrity in the NFL and the scandals the league often faces are subject to one’s opinion, but it’s obvious that the com-missioner of this great league, Mr. Roger God-dell, picks and chooses how he reprimands incidents involving domestic abuse, drugs and even homicides. I’m not saying the man isn’t

doing a good job, but some of his decisions have been questionable.

When watching the big game with family and friends, eating chips and dip, drinking a favorite beverage, take the time to reflect on all the good, bad and ugly this game brings us. Then ask yourself, “Is this really big game that important or does America have more impor-tant issues to deal with?

“I don’t think people really think about the political as-pect of the SuperBowl. How much money goes down for that event? And also, how many campaigns are between two teams. People could kill each other. I think it’s bad.”

Wasiq Afzaal, 19Health care

“There is a lot of money that goes into it. More money can be used for something else. It could be used to go to the problems with concussions. It could be used for the city.”

Jeffery Brown, 20Kinesiology

Thoughts on Super Bowl XLIX

Staff illustration Isai Diaz

Staff illustrations Isai Diaz

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Free community college - A good thing? Today 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. UT-Arlington team visitEl Paso Hall, 9 a.m. to noon Sabine Hall, 1 to 4 p.m.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Texas Woman’s Univer-sity Team VisitEl Paso Hall

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.Richland Instrumental FacultyFannin Performance Hall, room 102Free and open to the public

Black History Month activities begin Opening Jazz ReceptionSabine Hall, Room SH-118(Light refreshments served)

Friday1:30 to 3:30 p.m.Sgt. Jim Huggins, Texas Ranger Lecture on forensic scienceWichita Hall, Room 115

Upcoming Events

Thursday12:30 p.m. Foreign Films Series“Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons” (In Mandarin with English subtitles)Sabine Hall, Room 117

Feb. 10

Chronicle Issue 5 on newsstands

Noon to 1 p.m. Sabine Hall, Room 118Student Book Club discussion on:“Simply Maria, or the American Dream:A One-Act Play” by Josephina Lopez(Light refreshments provided)

AUGUSTINE MUKOKAStaff Writer

The announcement by President Barack Obama proposing two years of free commu-nity college education was warmly welcomed by students at Richland.

Students believe this development is a huge financial relief to help them avoid student debt.

Daiquan Stewart, 21, is a first-year student pursuing a degree plan in sociology. He be-lieves free community college will go a long way to help America’s graduating population avoid debt.

The New York native moved to Dallas to study at Richland and currently receives finan-cial aid to subsidize his educational budget.

Stewart said it’s those in dire need of fur-thering their education that will greatly benefit from the proposal to make community college free.

“I think free college will actually be a good idea because there are not a lot of families that are able to support themselves or their kids to further their education,” he said.

“For those who can’t afford college, those are normally the ones who need to be in col-lege, need to be in class, but they just can’t af-ford it.”

Amanda Nwachukwu, 20, said a college ed-ucation should not enslave graduates to a per-petual loan payment when they are supposed to be progressing happily in their careers

Nwachukwu said getting loans to finance college should be “the last resort,” but that a program allowing students two years of free community college will “help people not be in so much debt so that after they graduate … they don’t have to work so many years just still trying to pay off a loan rather than graduating and be able to progress financially.”

While students at Richland returned to cam-pus this spring to face a tuition increase of $7 per semester credit hour, these tuition costs are among the lowest in the country.

According to an announcement made by the Dallas County Community College Dis-trict (DCCCD) board of trustees, the tuition rate effective in January is $59 per credit hour, up from the previous cost of $52.

This means a student taking a three-credit-hour course will pay $177.

The average tuition rate at community col-leges statewide is $78 per semester credit hour. Currently, DCCCD’s tuition rate is ranked 49th-lowest among all community colleges/districts in Texas, according to members of the board.

“Tuition also helps the district pay for in-struction and other expenditures, but at a far lower rate than DCCCD’s two other main

sources of funding: taxes and state appropria-tions,” a statement from the board read.

In a statement issued by the DCCCD on Jan. 9, Chancellor Joe May said, “All of these actions are an investment in our students and in the communities that DCCCD serves.

“Our communities also are making a smart investment in DCCCD, in higher education and in economic development because we are educating the skilled workers this area needs to boost our economy,” May added.

It is the recent announcement, though, by Obama, which he repeated during the State of the Union address, pushing for free commu-nity college education that excites many.

The president’s initiative will not benefit Pell Grant recipients or students who can af-ford tuition at $3,300 annually.

In the Jan. 9 release, May expressed delight in the proposal, saying the announcement has the potential to make postsecondary educa-tion accessible to everyone and that it builds on the strong commitment that DCCCD and other community colleges across the country already have made to provide a low-cost, high-quality education.

“With this type of opportunity, the nation’s students can get the education and training they need to obtain employment with high salaries in high-demand fields, regardless of their financial situation,” he said.

In Obama’s plan, students will be required to attend community college at least half time, maintain a 2.5 GPA and make steady progress toward completing their program.

Community colleges, according to the pro-posal, will be expected to offer programs that offer either academic (and fully transferable) credits to local public four-year colleges and universities, or occupational training programs with high graduation rates that lead to in-de-mand degrees and certificates.

The plan also calls for community colleges to adopt promising and evidence-based insti-tutional reforms to improve student outcomes.

Under this plan, federal funding will cover three-quarters of the average cost of commu-nity college.

Dr. William Nericcio, director of the Masters in Arts in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Program at San Diego State University, will visit Rich-

land to present his “Mextasy” art work exhibit, along with a lecture.

Dr. Kendra Unruh, English professor, said Nericcio will be discussing stereotypes of Mexican-Americans portrayed on TV, the Internet and in popular culture at 4 p.m. Feb. 11 in Sabine Hall, Room 118. The exhibit and lecture will explore some recent immigration issues as well.

The Honors Academy is hosting the event with Unruh and her Honors English 1302 class. There will be a reception following the lecture with light refreshments provided by the Office of Student Life.

In addition, Unruh said a Student Book Club meeting will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 in Sabine Hall, Room SH-118 on the book, “Simply Maria, or the American Dream: A One-Act Play” by Josephina Lopez.

The Honors Academy is hosting all events, which are free and open to the public.

Writer, artist speaks on Mexican-American issues

2 p.m. and 6 p.m.Movie screening: “Dear White People”Wichita Hall, Room 115 - free

Inclement Weather Hotline: Students: 972-238-6196Richland employees: 972-238-6912Information available after 6 a.m

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