SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE @plainsman_press PLAINSMAN PRESS www.southplainscollege.edu/ppress Levelland, Texas A bi-weekly collegiate publication Vol. 60 • Issue 1 • September 18, 2017 New campus easily accessible by MATT MOLINAR struction of the Lubbock to adapt to using newer Lubbock Center. “The The Cadillac Ranch is a to southeastCenter. Lubbocktechnologies. only issue hereresidents is that kind of equipment we Editor-in-Chief pop-culture icon just two “The partnership “The AutoTech pro- the next group of stu- need,field. They and tellwhat us skillswhat hours north of Lubbock. South Plains College’s with Lubbock ISD lasted gram is already rockin’ dents will have to wait and knowledge the stu- Read more on page 16! newest campus location about 17 years,” Mc- and rollin’,” McConnic the whole year to enroll dents need to go and be offers a workforce hub Connic said. “But, both said. “Almost everything in the next program. remarkable and hirable.” Cover to with easy accessibility programs were bust- in here is brand new. So This situation is high Like Kirk, McConnic to those who live in Lub- ing at the seams. Last the instructors are being demand.” was able to work his way Cover bock. I looked, we were at instructed. I know we McConnic says that up to a leadership posi- The new facility, lo- Campus Carry goes 790 students. That’s 53 have already received around 30 instructors tion, and found himself cated at 3907 Avenue into effect for Fall at the Lubbock Center. Q, increases student 2017 But his background is accessibility by offer- slightly different. page 2 ing a variety of pro- “For most of the past grams in technical 11 years, my work has Professor helps stu- - been in retail,” McCon- dents and community motive technology and nic explained. “I worked flourish machinistfields, including trades, alongauto with United Supermar- with academic courses. kets, where I started as page 6 The location houses a seafood clerk before Check out reviews more than 77,000 I was able to get my for DC, Marvel, and square feet, which will degree. But I quickly others on first Comic provide students with moved into a leader- Corner state-of-the-art equip- ship development role. page 10 ment, multiple labs, The last position I had and classrooms for in- there was Manager of Men’s and women’s struction. Education in Commu- track teams win at “It’s all about ac- nity Partnership. I was first meet cessibility,” said Kevin a really big part of try- McConnic, executive A grand opening for the new Lubbock Center will be held on Sept. ing to help out with our page 15 director of the Lub- 26. culinary arts program.” bock Center. “Lubbock RILEY GOLDEN/ PLAINSMAN PRESS After receiving his Art installation on is a population center. master’s degree in orga- Route 66 becomes So by nature, having a nizational management pop culture attrac- facility here allows us to percent up from enroll- calls from shops in town are currently working from Wayland Baptist tion grow our accessibility. It ment at the ATC from asking if we have any in the new facility, with University, McConnic gives folks an opportuni- last fall. I expect that students that would more to come as new worked in higher edu- page 16 ty, who otherwise would a year from now, we want to begin working programs and labs are cation for three years Feature page 4 not be able to make it to will be close to capacity, in their shop. So, these being constructed. in student business ser- Entertainment page 7 the Levelland, or even which is maybe more guys are the experts. “Whether it’s parale- vices at Texas Tech Uni- Reese campuses.” that 400 more students. They will teach you ev- gals, real estate agents, versity. Opinion page 11 At the Byron Martin However, at this new erything you need to At the Lubbock Cen- Sports page 14 Advanced Technology location, we have more know. One interesting experienced people ter, three women, who Spotlight page 16 Center just down the core offerings. The ATC thing is that some of this here,”firemen, McConnic we have those ex- have been named “Stu- street from the new loca- was focused more on technology is so new, plained. dent Support Special- Calendar of tion, SPC began offering workforce development Kirk has been in the ists,” have been cross- courses in a community a job in an auto shop, welding industry for 40 trained in the three main Events partnership with the here, you can get your studentsthat when will students end up find go- years. He says after he student services, further Lubbock ISD. According academics.”and technical fields. But ing backward in technol- graduated with his asso- adding to the campus’ Sept. 18 to McConnic, the Byron One wing of the Lub- ogy, because many of the ciate’s degree in welding ease of accessibility. Martin ATC was at full bock Center is where shops in town just don’t technology, he was able “If you go to Cindy, Last day for 70 per- capacity, with a waiting all labs and classroom have it yet.” to work his way up to one of our Student Sup- cent refunds. list. The need for more New, high-tech leadership positions. Af- port Specialists, you can space, along with the located. The technical equipment, ranging in ter leaving the industry, - community’s need for labsfor technical are stocked fields with are cost from $20,000 to Kirk decided he wanted cial aid, business, and Sept. 19 a skilled work force, led high-tech equipment, $100,000, is also pro- to teach and joined the registration,”talk to her about McConnic finan to the planning and con- which allows instructors vided in the welding and advisory committee. said. “They have a very Pickin’ on the Plains metal fabrication pro- “I’ve been on the broad base of informa- at 12:15 p.m. at Tom Ecological challenges arise gram, which is currently committee for about 28 tion they’ve got to know. T. Hall. at full capacity, with a years before teaching,” We’ve got great folks as climate change increases waiting list for next fall. Kirk said. “So most of here that are going to Sept. 21 larized concept. But the “I currently have 16 our programs have an take care of you.” nation’s leading climate students in class, with advisory committee that SPC rodeo teams in scientists say it’s time to seven on the waiting does consist of people compete at Eastern make a choice. list,” said Larry Kirk, in the community that emolinar0541@students. New Mexico Univer- Using tools to measure welding instructor at the southplainscollege.edu sity. precipitation, tempera- ture, and sea level, climate work in that specific scientists have noticed DeMerritt named new vice Sept. 25 that the average amount of rainfall has increased over Last day for 25 per- time, along with the aver- president of student affairs cent refund. age sea level and tempera- by TINA GONZALEZ ture. However, almost half Editorial Assistant Sept. 26 [Editor’s note: Thisof the planet’s population South Plains College story is the first part does not agree with these has a new face for vice SPC Lubbock Center of the multi-part research discoveries. president for student af- Grand Opening, 10 series “Climate Crisis” According to a study fairs. a.m. examining the causes by the Pew Research Cen- Dr. Stan DeMerritt re- and effects of climate ter, out of 40 nations that cently was select to take change that begins with were polled, including the the position after having Sept. 28 Issue #1 and concludes United States and Latin served as dean of students in Issue #6. Several since November 2016. SPC rodeo team America, the global aver- staff members took it age of people who say He has devoted his competes at Vernon upon themselves to climate change is a serious time and career to helping College. interview and conduct problem is 54 percent. students and faculty. research. The results of Ninety-seven percent of “I get to improve stu- 50¢ lunch every their combined efforts climate scientists claim dents’ lives,” Dr. DeMer- Monday and Thurs- follow.] that climate is changing. ritt said. “I look forward to working with multiple de- day at the BSM by MATT MOLINAR At the beginning of September, three hurri- partments with the college Editor-in-Chief and finding ways to assist Worship Service canes, Harvey, Irma, and Dr. Stan DeMerritt is the new vice The idea of climate in increasing retention and every Wednesday in change has become a See “Warming” on completion at SPC.” president of student affairs at SPC. MATT MOLINAR/PLAINSMAN PRESS the Sundown Room largely politically po- page 2 See “DeMerritt” on from 8 to 9 p.m. page 3 2 News September 18, 2017 Plainsman Press Warming world more susceptible to natural disasters that carbon dioxide out methods that predict when “But just look at the im- in the solar industry in the Continued from pg. 1 in an interview with the of the atmosphere,” she the next solar eclipse will pact clean energy has U.S., than there are in the Plainsman Press. “The explained. “They are turn- occur, Dr. Hayhoe says on our economy. Here coal industry,” she said. reality is that a lot of the ing it into blocks, baking The idea of climate that denial of climate in Texas, we have over “Clean energy is great for timing is just bad luck.