Image By Anthony Nations

May 3, 2012

By Josh Oldham | Ranger Reporter

With May having come at last, the time for graduation is close at hand. However, a year or two at Amarillo College leads up to one of the most frightening things in life: the so-called “real world.”

While many of the graduates this year already have experienced adult life outside the community college, some enrolled at AC fresh out of high school and now are looking toward a future with that lovely certificate, associate degree or those wonderful transfer credits.

How does one survive outside AC, though?

The majority of the answer depends on where the graduate or transferee is thinking of going next. Those who are setting out on their own, certificate or degree in hand, and looking for a job should remember the basics of job hunting.

According to www.theamateurfinancier.com’s blog, one of the most basic parts of job hunting is gaining knowledge that is useful to your chosen field as well as learning to craft an elegant resume and to create a simple cover letter.

A good resume can imply organization and forethought on the part of a prospective employee. Demonstrating a great deal of knowledge about your target job can help you to stand out in a crowd of people who have only a general idea of what the job is about.

Another tip from the blog is to network. In other words, all those friends you’ve made out of your fellow students and staff? Keep in touch with them.
A successful network, according to the blog, can allow you to learn about job offers way before they become public knowledge.

Finally, keep positive about your prospects. It is easy to become discouraged at a few failures, but remember that there are jobs out there for you. You just need to give yourself time to find them.

What about the people who are going on to a four-year college?
There are several things to remember about a university when it’s contrasted with AC life. Expect much bigger classes and less attention from the professors.

In fact, get ready to write some thank-you notes to your AC instructors who took the time to answer your questions in class.

One of the most daunting aspects of university life is getting started.

“Go to your new university’s Student Services office,” said Cody Love, a former AC computer science major. “They will get your started with classes, dorm stuff and parking permits.”

It is essential to remember that there’s a big difference between the campus of a university and AC’s campuses.

“They’re a lot bigger,” Love said.

“You need to get to campus before classes start and learn to find your way around.”

No matter the path an AC student chooses, he or she should not abandon what they’ve learned at the college, especially the ability to think for oneself.

“Be a skeptic,” said Dr. Mary Dodson, an English professor. “I don’t mean a cynic, but a questioner.

“When someone says something, don’t accept it at face value. Find things out for yourself.”

And, of course, one never should stop learning. While AC teaches its students quite a bit, it is by no means the limit of knowledge in the world.
AC students are intelligent and always should look for ways to increase the sum of what they know.

“Being an intellectual has nothing to do with IQ,” Dodson said. “‘Intellectual’ means wanting to learn. Having said that, become an intellectual. Life will be better if you read and think.”Finally, the biggest tip for surviving out in that “real world” is a positive perspective and a healthy understanding of oneself.

As Dodson said: “Take life seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.”

Image Courtesy of Tanner Willis

By ANDREA GODOY | Ranger Web Editor

The night is dark, and the inhabitants all around Paradise City keep quiet against the strict marshal law of Friedrich Koenig-Herr. With near fanatical devotion, Koenig has cowed the people, and those he cannot intimidate, he simply disposes of. Johnny, an up-and-coming musician, rebels at the power Koenig has over the city. His music is his salvation and his downfall. But all Johnny knows changes when one mad man sets in motion the change that will bring the city’s salvation: Volt.

Shaolin Shadow comics is not a household name. Its heroes don’t have multimillion-dollar movies in production with the biggest stars in Hollywood portraying their fictional lives. That hasn’t stopped its CEO and founder, Tanner Willis, from getting his heroes out there. “When I am not at work, I am in my office working on my comic or on design stuff,” Willis said.

The main office for Shaolin Shadow comics is modest. Willis has converted a corner of his bedroom closet into a work space. From there he plans story arcs, battles, plots and backstory for his six superheroes.
Willis, a 2011 Amarillo College graduate, said Shaolin Shadows began as a costume idea. “I was in Chris Perez’s Intro to Graphic Design class my last semester at AC and he gave us this sketch to recreate in Illustrator, and I thought, “Hey, this would make an awesome costume,” he said. The idea grew until it became his first superhero, Volt.

Willis and his illustration team each work on one character. “I give them the character, their backstory and what they should look like,” he said. “After that, it’s up to them.”
Shaolin co-founder Elexi Vasquez said Willis approached her to make his vision a reality. “Tanner has always been very creative and so have I, so when he brought up this idea and explained how we could really make this happen, I had no choice but to tell him that I would love to,” she said.

Willis said he plans to organize his heroes into a Justice League format. “What we want to do is start off with six separate comics that introduce each of our heroes,” he said. “Then we’ll have a crossover comic where all the heroes meet and interact.”

The six heroes, Volt, Ivictica, Perceaus, Sound Wave, Ariel and an unnamed hero, are just the beginning of the Shaolin Shadow family.
While Willis was attending AC, he didn’t know that his life would lead him to Paradise City. “I just hoped to be doing something where I could make a living with my artwork,” he said. The Green Lantern series Blackest Night is what inspired him to see where Shaolin would go.

Blackest Night not only brought Willis deeper into the world of comic books but also introduced him to his inspir­ation, Geoff Johns.

While Shaolin is just in its infancy, readers will get a chance to read the first comic this year. They also will get an opportunity to meet the artists and founders at the inaugural Ama-Con, a steam­punk and cosplay convention, that will take place July 21.

“Tanner and I have very high hopes for our new company,” Vasquez said. “We already have more fans than I had ever imagined, and just knowing that word is spreading about us only fuels me to think that we can actually make it in this business.”

Willis said that for now, Shaolin will produce its comics strictly in a digital medium, but he hopes to begin printing soon.

Opinion by Brittney Richerson |Ranger Editor

Ranger Editor Brittney Richerson

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish and what your potential is. –Anne Frank
My mother shared the quote above with me a few days ago, and I couldn’t help but ponder just how true it is. We all are capable of something great – it is in each and every one of us.
What makes us all unique is not necessarily what we are capable of doing, but the drive and sense of direction that lies within us, leading us to pursue that great potential.
Anne Frank’s simple, optimistic words are so fitting for my life at this time, as my mother probably knew upon sharing them with me.
The newspaper these words are printed in is the final edition of The Ranger under my direction as editor. Over the past week, as I’ve approached a fork in the road in my journey, I feel like I’ve been on a pretty bizarre emotional trip.
I plan to attend Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi in the fall and hope to find my niche as a musician and a journalist in that community. Having lived in Amarillo all 22 years of my life, I have been so thrilled about the idea of going somewhere new to experience what else life has to offer, and I’ve been dreaming of finding new challenges to push me further as an individual and a professional.
In all the excitement, I almost forgot to consider what and who I first must say “goodbye” to before pursuing this new chapter in my life. When I did realize what I’ll be leaving behind, I couldn’t help but break down a little. I consider myself to be a pretty strong individual, but this … It’s going to be tough.
I will leave Amarillo with no regrets, however. I’ve been blessed with so many incredible opportunities in all aspects of life in this community. At the top of that list would be having the opportunity to be editor of this publication.
It was only a little over a year ago that I was offered this opportunity. Little did I know then what I was getting myself into, having only been in the mass communication department for less than two semesters.
Pretty much blindly, I dove right into the position.
I won’t lie; it has been no walk in the park. It has challenged me and forced me to grow so much in so many ways – as a young professional, as a student and even as an individual. I have learned more about myself – my weaknesses, fears and struggles as well as my strengths and passions – over the past academic year than I have collectively my entire life.
Taking on this challenge was so far outside my comfort zone, but here I am at the end of it, still alive. Not only did I survive, but I am a stronger, better-educated and more-experienced journalist and individual because of the tests I have been put to during my term as editor.
What does this mean to you?
I encourage you to get involved. Challenge yourself and be willing to set foot outside the boundaries set around you, whether you personally have boxed yourself up or society has.
We never can truly know what we are capable of until we are willing to set the bar high and prepare ourselves to take on the mindset and work ethic necessary to reach it.
As Thomas Edison said:
“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.”
So astound yourself. Be willing to put yourself in a position that is going to terrify you, make you incredibly uncomfortable and open your mind to learn something new. With a willing heart and strong will, you will amaze yourself.
Thank you all so much for the opportunity to be editor of your student publication here at Amarillo College.
A special thanks to Mike Haynes and Jill Gibson, student publication advisers, and all the faculty, staff and my fellow students within the department who have so patiently helped me along my way.
This experience always will be held near and dear to my heart. To all of you graduates and others who are willing to go out and achieve greatness – I wish you only the bluest of skies along the way.
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. –Harold R. McAlindon.

Brittney can be contacted via email at brittney.richerson@gmail.com.

Image by Anthoy Nations

By MIRANDA JADE PARMAN | Public Relations Director

KT THOMPSON, vice president of the Photography Club and a soon-to-be Amarillo College graduate, has some splashy plans for her post-cap-tossing adventures.
“My ultimate goal is to be an underwater photographer and to live in Hawaii,” Thompson said.
Thompson does not simply wish to move out to Hawaii but wants to gain experience through working for a larger entity and establishing her name.
“There’s a Disney resort there, and that’s kind of what I’m looking for: to work for somebody, get a little more experience, become a better photographer,” she said.
“She’s the first one I’ve met that wants to do something different than everybody else,” said Travis Lindow, a photography major.
Thompson said underwater photography essentially is the same as normal photography, but she will need a scuba diving certificate before she can pursue that career.
In her last year at AC, the Photo Club has been busier and more full than it had been in the past several years.
“We’ve basically brought it back,” Thompson said.
The Photo Club appears to be a tight group.
Anthony Nations, Photo Club president, said he is Thompson’s partner in crime.
“She’s considered my sidekick,” Nations said. “KT and I have been together for three years as students. Everything the Photo Club shoots, we’ve shot together. We’re photo buddies.”
The club spent spring break together in Angel Fire, N.M., at a cabin owned by Rachelle Burg, a former AC student.
“We just went up there and just took pictures,” Thompson said. “We walked around downtown and went over to Red River. You know, had fun.”
The Photo Club has taken pictures of other AC club functions and helped professors and instructors with projects.
The club hosted a pinhole photography workshop Sunday in honor of Worldwide Pinhole Day.
The AC community was invited to work with photography students to learn about and create their own pinhole photography, Thompson said.
The Photo Club also shoots photos at AC events such as Badgerama and Spring Fling. The club set up booths at both events to shoot students’ portraits.
“We took photos. We had our little setup and let them take their photos,” Thompson said. “We just messed around.”
Also last month, the club hosted Blue Mitchell, a celebrated photographer.
“He’s pretty awesome,” Thompson said. “We got to spend a lot of time with him. He showed us a new way of exposing photos.”
Thompson and the rest of the Photo Club go to San Jacinto Elementary School every other Friday to work with San Jacinto students.
“We get to share our art with the kids,” Nations said. “We get to see them take joy in learning what we already know.”
The president, vice president, treasurer and secretary of the Photo Club all are graduating this semester.
“There will be people stepping up to the plate,” Thompson.
As San Jacinto students continue to learn with future Photoy Club members, Thompson hopes to be out in a world that is 83 percent water, snapping photos in the deep blue.

By Chad Fewell | Ranger Reporter

COLLEGE GIVES many young teens the opportunity to experience life without the constant supervision of their parents. With that freedom, there also are consequences.
Many incoming freshmen find themselves gaining a significant amount of weight and also find alcohol more readily available.
Heavy alcohol consumption and eating disorders are common among teens and college students.
The mix has led to a new disorder named “Drunkorexia.”
“It’s a methodology of drinking,” said Dr. Robert Banks, a professor and substance abuse counselor. “But if you don’t eat for a day or so and your stomach is empty, you hit it with a little alcohol, well, that little alcohol goes a long way.”
The disorder, found throughout the U.S. college population, affects more female teens and female college students. Sufferers reserve their caloric intake for alcohol and binge drinking.
A study found that college students are doing it more often so they don’t have to worry about weight gain from drinking. They also do it to get intoxicated faster because they have no food in their stomachs.
“It is a sociological behavior that depends on the individual, quantity and type of alcohol they drink,” Banks said. “It goes on every day. It’s common and has been around since the ’50s. The only thing that has changed is that they’re getting younger.”
Being drunkorexic can lead to many physical and emotional consequences, including blackouts, seizures, sexual assault, comas, alcohol poisoning, alcohol-related injury, violence, illness or hospitalization.
Drinking on an empty stomach lets alcohol reach the blood system more quickly, which raises one’s blood alcohol content more quickly, which can lead to more brain impairment.
“I think it’s kind of stupid, personally, to do that to your body, because you can have a good time and not go all out,” said Maghan Rodecap, a general studies major.
People who participate in the behavior experience more negative changes in their appearance, motivation, physical abilities, mood, energy level and self-esteem.
Drunkorexia can lead to malnutrition, which affects cognitive ability, and academic performance may suffer.
“If you’re going to diet, you need to do it healthily,” Rodecap said. “You need to exercise and eat healthy – not some crash diet that could damage your internal organs.”
Women are at higher risk of consequences, both behavioral and healthwise. Women metabolize alcohol differently than men do, which can lead to serious medical complications.
“Not eating and drinking a lot can have long-lasting effects on not only the body, but the mind, causing long-term effects, “ said Nik Baucom, a fire prevention technology major
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, women who have either anorexia or bulimia outnumber men 10 to one.
Binge drinking, a common occurrence among college-age students and weekend drinkers, is defined as the rapid consumption of large quantities of alcohol over a short period of time.
There is no differentiation between beer, hard liquor or wine. The signs of binge drinking and alcohol poisoning include vomiting, irregular breathing, extreme confusion and the inability to be awakened.

Image courtesy of Scott Thurman

BY JAMI JOINER and ANDREA GODOY | Ranger Staff

The films shown at the Tribeca Film Festival have a more natural feel rather than the commercialized and airbrushed quality of blockbuster hits. Tribeca gives artists the ability to show off their craft at the height of its creativity.

Less than 2 percent of the thousands of films that apply to be part of the festival each year make it. This year director Scott Thurman, a graduate of Amarillo High School and Amarillo College, showed the world the product of four years of work with the Texas Board of Education.

But while attending AC, Thurman didn’t always know he one day would end up at the independent film mecca.

“I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life when I started AC,” said Thurman.

“I didn’t really get into film and editing until after I started college.” Thurman said Dr. Paul Matney, now the AC president, made a big impression on him in the mass communication department.

“Dr. Matney was one of my instructors, and I think he saw potential in me and sort of pushed me to pursue something in this field,” he said.

Thurman’s newest project, The Revisionaries, follows the lives of members of the Texas State Board of Education seeking re-election.

Members of the board choose the curriculum that students from kindergarten through the 12th grade will learn.

Thurman’s film focuses on the board members who are more socially conservative and whose Christian values have a strong effect on their politics.

The Revisionaries is not Thurman’s first documentary. In 2008, he produced and directed his first documentary short, titled, Smokey.

Smokey follows the life of Stinnett city employee Smokey Binion Jr., who by day performs maintenance and other support jobs for the city, but in his time off performs as an Elvis impersonator.

While attending AC Thurman, along with other members of the mass communication department, was approached by then professor Matney to produce short ads for KACV-TV.

Thurman would go on to win the Addy award for Rising Star Director/Editor. He said it was because of Matney that he continued on this path.

The Revisionaries premiered in Texas at the Dallas Film Festival and had its world premiere at Tribeca. It has received some positive reviews. Tribeca creative director Geoff Gilmore said, “It’s such an intriguing point-of-view.”

Andrea Godoy Ranger Web Editor

May 3, 2012

Opinion By Andrea Godoy | Ranger Web Editor

Every May, I think: “This is it. I am done with The Ranger and Amarillo College.
“It’s been a good run and I am proud of what I’ve done, but it’s time to move on.”
And for the past three years, I have found myself right back in the newsroom, writing more columns, stories or reviews and complaining.
If no one has explained it, editors love to complain. It’s in our very nature. I have held every position there is to have on The Ranger and The Current, and I even have held positions that don’t technically exist.
The thing about this experience, like many we all have, is that while you are living it, there is so much that annoys you.
Whether it’s your co-workers, bosses or the people you interact with, all of them do something that makes you want to scream and give up.
But looking back, those annoyances are what give your experiences character. Without character, we never would grow.
If I take nothing away from my experiences here, I know without a doubt that I have grown because of them.
I came into this department with no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I was terrified.
How was it possible that I didn’t know what to do with my life? You see, when I started college, I did what made my parents happy.
It was OK.
There was only one problem with it: I hated it. I was at a point in my life when I knew if I didn’t do something I wanted to do, I would become complacent, and that was worse than what actually was happening.
Now after three years, I am no closer to knowing exactly what I am going to do with my life, and it’s OK.
My experiences here have taught me that whatever happens, I can take care of myself and I can do things I never thought I would be able to do.
On Monday we began design on my final print edition, and watching it come to life literally gave me chills. I knew in my heart that this was the last time I would be doing this here.
Working as a designer gives me the opportunity to take a vision that has until this point existed only in my mind.
If you have not had the opportunity to experience it before, create something from nothing.
Whether it is something small or the Mona Lisa, that moment where you can point at an object that is being admired and say, “I did that,” is the greatest feeling in the world.
I want to thank everyone who has put up with me. I know there have been times (a lot) that I have not been easy to work with.
I have quirks and weird, obsessive tics, but the fact that you all stuck by me has made me who I am.
Looking back to where I was when I started at AC, I know I am not that person anymore. That girl was afraid to go against the wishes of others. She was pigheaded and stubborn. I might still be the latter, but I am no longer the former.
I owe that to the people who have challenged me to be better than I was before. And now that this all is coming to an end, I know that it really is time to go.
As a wise woman told me recently, “It’s really easy to be a big fish in a little pond.”
In the end, the only thing I can think of to close this is one of my favorite quotes by an anonymous author: “When you come to the edge of all you know, you must believe one of two things: there will be earth upon which to stand, or you will be given wings to fly.”
Thank you for giving me my wings.

Andrea can be contacted via email at andrea.godoy87@gmail.com.