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opinion
10
The Et Cetera
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Etera
David
Ramirez
Award-winning member of:
• Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
• Associated Collegiate Press
• Texas Community College Journalism Association
Eastfield College
3737 Motley Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150
Phone: 972-860-7130
Fax: 972-860-7646
Email: [email protected]
Take the time to
manage your time
Editor In Chief
Kevin Cushingberry Jr.
Managing Editor
Justin David Tate
News Editor
Billy Dennis
Opinion Editor
Caitlin Piper
Online Editor
Miguel Padilla
Design Editors
Aki Ohashi
DeKayla Horton
Staff Writers / Contributors
Gerenecia Foster
Karina Dunn
Emma Hahn
Robert Burns
Morgan Corley
Lauren Allen
Kametra Loud
Anahi Perez
Photographer
Luzette Portillo
Jonathan Wences
Jessica Garcia
Cartoonist
Alex Hernandez
Graphics
Antonio Audiffred
Advertising Manager
Allison Slomowitz
Student Publications Manager
Gary Piña
Faculty Adviser
Lori Dann
Editorial Policy
The views expressed on the opinion pages
and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this
publication are those of the author and do
not necessarily represent the views of The Et
Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County
Community College District.
The Et Cetera is published every two weeks—
except December, January and summer
months—by a student staff. Each member of
the college community is entitled to one free
copy of The Et Cetera. Additional copies are
available in Room N-240.
Letters to the Editor
Letters must be typed, signed and include a
phone number. Letters will be edited for profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style,
grammar, libel and space when needed.
The content will remain that of the author. Letters considered for publication must be 250
words or fewer. Letters may be delivered to
Room N-240 or sent to [email protected]
First Amendment Right
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances.
OUR VIEW
‘Stand Your Ground’ should be shot down
The Et Cetera called for reform to Stand Your
Ground laws shortly after the murder of 17-yearold Trayvon Martin in 2012. These laws allowed
Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, to avoid
being convicted even though he shot an unarmed
teenager. We believed these laws were ripe for
abuse, and today that abuse continues.
Stand Your Ground laws evolved from castle
doctrine, which simply says that you have the
right to protect your home without the duty to
retreat. However, applying these laws outside of
the home is tricky.
Stand Your Ground laws say that if you perceive that your life is in danger, then you have
the right to use deadly force to protect yourself.
As we all know, perception is not always reality.
These laws are essentially a license to kill. This is
especially true for those who already have a predisposed fear caused by their own prejudices.
Zimmerman, then a neighborhood watch
volunteer, initiated the conflict with Martin
by pursuing the teenager on foot as he walked
home, wielding only a concealed bag of Skittles.
If anyone should have perceived their life to be in
danger, it would have to be the unarmed Martin
being pursued by an unknown armed assailant.
Fast forward two years. The negative attention
toward Stand Your Ground legislation has brought
to light the horrendous flaws within those laws,
which are active in 24 states, including Texas.
The recent trial of 45-year-old Michael Dunn,
again in Florida, echoes the controversy sur-
rounding the Martin case. Last month Dunn was
convicted of three counts of attempted seconddegree murder for firing into an SUV occupied
by four teenagers after asking them to turn down
their music. Although the conviction will land
him at least 60 years in prison, Stand Your Ground
laws could prevent Dunn from facing accountability for the death of the fourth victim, 17-year-old
Jordan Davis. The jury was unable to reach a decision on the charge of first-degree murder.
Simply put, the law makes it easier to convict
someone of attempted murder than murder itself.
Just months after a Stand Your Ground law was
in place in Texas in 2007, Joe Horn successfully
used it to murder two people who were robbing
his neighbor’s house in Pasadena. Horn phoned
911 and reported the break-in, telling the operator
that because of the law he now had the right to
shoot the two men. With the police on the way, he
pumped his shotgun and gunned down the two
robbers as they were fleeing the scene.
Was Horn in fear for his life, or was he using
the law as a basis to commit murder? The 911 tape
is public record, so listen and judge for yourself.
These laws, while meant to protect citizens for
defending themselves in the face of danger, really
just make it more difficult to arrest murderers, let
alone convict them.
Contact your local representatives and ask
that these laws be changed. We, the people, must
demand a change, or we will suffer more injustices
in the name of fear and prejudice.
College students, especially new ones, are learning something you can’t learn in a classroom: time
management.
When full-time students juggle classes and a job,
it can be quite difficult.
As a student with a 4.0 GPA, I wanted to challenge myself beyond this semester. I’m taking six
college courses and working two jobs, which makes
time management very important.
When I tell my classmates about my situation,
they ask me how I do it. I always respond with,
“That’s easy, I just gave up my free time.”
Students are often distracted by things other
than school, such as social networking, video
games and procrastination. I used to spend most
of my time on social networking sites such as
Facebook or Instagram, but now I rarely have time
for those activities.
I use a planner to assist me with my time management. Seeing your time on paper or through an
app on a smartphone can give you a better idea of
what free time you have. I love having a planner app
on my phone. It’s really easy to access my schedule
because it’s always at my fingertips. I have alarms
set up for certain tasks to remind myself what I
should be doing at what specific time.
Setting deadlines is helpful. Breaking down everything step by step is a sure way to conquer time.
Although I sometimes feel like stress will overtake me, I always try to think positively because I
believe thinking positively helps students perform
better at work and on tests.
Prioritizing tasks is also very important. Worry
about the most important items on your list first
before tackling smaller tasks.
Sometimes, situations can pop out of nowhere.
In those circumstances, all I can do is work through
it efficiently. Since I use a planner, I can adjust my
time as needed.
I always stay busy, but I simply love it because
I know I’m completing many goals while earning
money. I get a great sense of accomplishment knowing that I can achieve many objectives simultaneously.
I honestly didn’t mind giving up all of my free
time because I would rather do something productive than just sit around.
If I can do it, you can do it as well.
To reach your full potential in life you must
overcome many challenges. So put down the remote control or your smartphone and ask yourself
what you should really be doing right now.
opinion
Award-winning member of:
• Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
• Associated Collegiate Press
• Texas Community College Journalism Association
Eastfield College
3737 Motley Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150
Phone: 972-860-7130
Fax: 972-860-7646
Email: [email protected]
Editor In Chief
Braulio Tellez
Managing Editor
Caitlin Piper
Photo Editor
Jonathan Wences
Life & Arts Editor
Sidney Murillo
Staff Writers
Robert Burns
Andy Carrizales
Karina Dunn
J. Gomez
Juanita Hernandez
Courtney Schwing
Parker Ward
Design
Jasmine Oliva
Dora Trejo
Photographers
Guillermo Martinez
Cartoonist
Matthew Rohan
Contributors
Carolina Catalan
Clay Gibson
Tony Neese
Brad Watkins
Advertising Manager
Jessica Villarreal
Student Publications Manager
Elizabeth Langton
Faculty Adviser
Lori Dann
Editorial Policy
The views expressed on the opinion pages
and other opinion pieces and cartoons in
this publication are those of the author and
do not necessarily represent the views of
The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas
County Community College District.
The Et Cetera is published every two
weeks—except December, January and
summer months—by a student staff. Each
member of the college community is entitled
to one free copy of The Et Cetera. Additional
copies are available in Room N-240.
Letters to the Editor
Letters must be typed, signed and include a
phone number. Letters will be edited for profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style,
grammar, libel and space when needed.
The content will remain that of the author.
Letters considered for publication must be
250 words or fewer. Letters may be delivered
to Room N-240 or sent to etc4640@dcccd.
edu.
First Amendment Right
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances.
The Et Cetera
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
OUR VIEW
President correct to act on immigration
On Nov. 20, President Barack Obama announced a series
of long overdue executive actions that will finally allow undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria, primarily
parents who reside in the United States with their children, to
temporarily live and find work permits in the country without risk of deportation. The actions will be in effect for three
years, and can be legally reversed by our next president.
Critics claim President Obama’s actions are illegal, calling
for everything from impeachment to imprisonment to a mass
lawsuit.
The president’s acts are not only perfectly legal, but a major
step forward for immigration reform.
Current legislation makes it difficult for undocumented
immigrants to do the right thing and gain legal citizenship
while punishing children who were brought into the United
States by guardians. It allows skilled workers to be taken
advantage of and paid significantly lower than minimum
wage by greedy employers. It forces well-meaning people to
forgo opportunities our country provides for fear of being
deported.
Amnesty for all undocumented immigrants is not the solution we need, but neither is punishing otherwise law-abiding
people who are so desperate to improve their lives that they
leave their homes behind in favor of the constant risk of arrest. Many people in Mexico, for example, are currently being
terrorized by widespread drug cartels and high crime rates.
Mass deportation only encourages undocumented immigrants to remain in hiding while discouraging them from
gathering the proper documentation to become full-fledged
citizens. Granting them amnesty will allow them to find better jobs and wellrounded educations, improving the quality of life for the United States as a
whole.
Regardless of whether or not members of Congress agree with the
president’s decision, it is still undeniable that our country is in dire need of
JONATHAN WENCES
Etera
13
comprehensive immigration reform. Current immigration laws promote fear,
split apart families and forcibly remove people from the only home they’ve
ever known. They prevent people from building better futures in the land of
opportunity.
We are a country founded for immigrants, by immigrants, and it’s about
time we started showing some compassion for our fellow man.
Honey help: Be sweet to bees, we need them
Since I started working for a bee removal
company earlier this year, my appreciation for
bees and the work that they do has increased.
Bee removal is basically an alternative to killing
honeybees to remove them from homes.
In the early ‘80s, Africanized killer bee DNA
was mixed with European honeybee DNA to
create a stronger hybrid bee. This made the bees
bigger, stronger and more aggressive.
People grew to fear Africanized bees, but we
need bees. We should be helping them, not killing
them. Thanks to the Africanized mutation, bees
here in Texas can adapt more easily to harsh
weather conditions and predators.
But even with this mutation, bees still face the
perils of pollution, pesticides and a decrease in
wildflowers.
Bees are responsible for at least one-third of the
entire nation’s food source. And if the extinction
of honeybees were to ever happen, there would
be a collapse in our food chain. Animals also eat
from all kinds of plants that the bees pollinate.
Not one person can change the world and save
all the bees, but doing small at-home projects can
help the
honeybees
with their
daily
Sidney
chores of
pollinating. Murillo
When
spring rolls
around, the
bees come
out of hibernation and search for wildflowers,
herbs and floral trees.
Honeybees are attracted to lavender, mint,
rosemary, sage, thyme and fennel. By planting
these herbs in a small garden in your backyard,
bees will be more than happy to give your garden
a visit.
According to NorthCoastGardening.com,
honey bee-friendly pesticides include sulfur (a
fungicide), serenade (a biological fungicide),
insecticidal soap, petroleum-based oils and
Bacillus thuringiensis (biological control for
caterpillars). By using these natural pesticides in
your gardening, you could prevent potential harm
to the bees.
According to iflscience.com, over 750 bees
must log over 55,000 miles in flight in order to
produce a pound of honey.
With that much work, bees need a quick boost
of energy to make it back home to their hives.
Italian designer Hady Ghassabian witnessed
fatigued honeybees and came up the idea of
designing a keychain that acts as a first aid kit for
bees.
It’s a 2-inch wide piece of biodegradable plastic
that contains specifically formulated artificial
nectar. The plastic is brightly colored to attract
the bees, and a thin film of wax is spread over the
nectar to keep it from spilling.
Ghassabian is accepting donations in order to
introduce the product to the market.
Bees touch most of our foods before they are
even picked. In order to sustain and thrive, fruits
and vegetables need to be pollinated. Change
doesn’t happen overnight, but doing small
things like starting a garden can help your local
honeybees.
By saving bees, you are saving the human race.
opinion
12
The Et Cetera
Mundo latino should
reconsider exhibit
Etera
Award-winning member of:
• Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
• Associated Collegiate Press
• Texas Community College Journalism Association
Eastfield College
3737 Motley Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150
Phone: 972-860-7130
Fax: 972-860-7646
Email: [email protected]
Editor In Chief
Braulio Tellez
Managing Editor
Caitlin Piper
Photo Editor
Jonathan Wences
Life & Arts Editor
Sidney Murillo
Staff Writers / Contributors
Robert Burns
Andy Carrizales
Karina Dunn
Clay Gibson
Juanita Hernandez
Stephen Klehm
Tony Neese
Courtney Schwing
Design
Jasmine Oliva
Dora Trejo
Photographers
Guillermo Martinez
Jesus Meraz
Cartoonists
Matthew Rohan
Advertising Manager
Jessica Villarreal
Student Publications Manager
Elizabeth Langton
Faculty Adviser
Lori Dann
Editorial Policy
The views expressed on the opinion pages
and other opinion pieces and cartoons in
this publication are those of the author and
do not necessarily represent the views of
The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas
County Community College District.
The Et Cetera is published every two
weeks—except December, January and
summer months—by a student staff. Each
member of the college community is entitled
to one free copy of The Et Cetera. Additional
copies are available in Room N-240.
Letters to the Editor
Letters must be typed, signed and include a
phone number. Letters will be edited for profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style,
grammar, libel and space when needed.
The content will remain that of the author.
Letters considered for publication must be
250 words or fewer. Letters may be delivered
to Room N-240 or sent to etc4640@dcccd.
edu.
First Amendment Right
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
OUR VIEW
A lesson learned: More
education means more pay
In the past few decades, more and more pressure has been placed on graduating high school
students to pursue college degrees.
The appeal of a college degree is obvious.
The Census Bureau reports that the population of Dallas has increased by 5 percent in the
last few years, while poverty has skyrocketed
by 41 percent. According to a study released in
February by the Pew Research Center, employees aged 25 to 32 who earned bachelor’s degrees
or higher made almost twice as much money as
high school graduates from the same age group.
In addition, the unemployment rate shrunk
from 21.8 percent for high school graduates to
5.8 percent for those with degrees.
A college environment promotes growth
and ambition, and students seeking to improve
their lives can acquire skills to locate and retain
jobs in their desired fields. With options such as
community colleges and financial aid, even lowincome students can earn college-level degrees.
However, not everyone prospers at a traditional four-year university.
According to a recent study conducted by
Complete College America, more than half of
students entering a two-year college are unprepared and must pass remedial classes in order
to be placed in college-level courses. Only 22.3
percent of these students complete the required
developmental and college-level classes within
two years, and a mere 9.5 percent graduate with
associate’s degrees within three years.
Although many institutions of higher learning are making an effort to improve remedial
education, few, if any, are willing to acknowledge
that college will not help everyone. Students
often enroll in college because they are pressured into believing that degrees will solve their
financial problems.
However, entering college without any real
ambition or direction can only lead students further into debt, and many of them choose to drop
out, losing both time and money as a result.
Even if traditional college isn’t for everyone,
there are still options. Trade school can guide
students interested in more specialized fields
into lucrative careers and can help them find
connections in the congested job market.
Eastfield offers a full slate of academic courses designed to launch students into four-year
universities. But the college also has programs
that take two years or less in heating and air
conditioning technology, automotive repair,
welding, computer aided design and drafting,
management and criminal justice.
Four-year degrees may not suit everyone, but
everyone can and should take advantage of some
form of post-high school education.
The state fair
isn’t just about
feeding your
Braulio
belly. You can
Tellez
feed your mind,
too.
The Mundo
Latino exhibit, located
in the Women’s
Museum on the
fairgrounds’
northeast side, welcomes visitors with a giant banner.
Since 1996, Mundo Latino has provided fairgoers with vibrant and informative exhibits on Latino
culture in Texas. It has highlighted a multitude of
subjects, from notable Latino scientists and engineers
to the accordion and its key role in Tejano music.
This year’s exhibit is titled “Futbol Soccer.”
Photos of legends like Hugo Sanchez and Edson
Arantes do Nascimento greet visitors at the entrance.
The players’ jerseys and cleats rest in glass cases along
with plaques giving brief summaries of their careers.
I will be the first to admit that Latinos love their
soccer, but it feels like a stretch to make the sport the
focal point of the exhibit.
In years past, the exhibit chose topics that I, a
young Latino, was not too familiar with. I was able to
step onto the floors of the museum and learn about
the pioneers of my race. I walked away with knowledge of our accomplishments and innovations. This
time, I walked away feeling like a cliché.
Sure, soccer is a big part of our culture, but who
doesn’t already know that?
Although the main exhibit was a disappointment, I
did find a hidden gem tucked away in the museum.
The third floor houses an exhibit highlighting
“Little Mexico,” a former Dallas neighborhood where
Mexican immigrants lived during the early 20th
century.
The displays contain collages of photos depicting
whole families before their tiny homes and old shops,
which once existed in the neighborhood. The photos
are accompanied by captions that tell the story of how
the tiny housing district came to be, as well as the
stories behind each picture.
The exhibit was rich in history and opened my eyes
to a part of Dallas I had no idea ever existed.
Cities such as Los Angeles and San Antonio have
plenty of historic Mexican communities that give
Mexican people in those communities a sense of
pride and belonging. Knowing that we have that too
made me look at Dallas in a new light.
I think the organizers made a huge mistake by
leaving that wonderful exhibit hidden upstairs.
People will always know that Latinos love soccer
and have had a major role in how the game is played,
but not many know how Latinos shaped Dallas into
the place it is today.
Next year, the theme of Mundo Latino should
be “Little Mexico: the neighborhood Dallas forgot.”