Help for Homeless Peace Events Change Hearts
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Lampanelli GTAV review ‘Quean of Mean’ Hottest new game smack talks Orlando sets new records page 14 page 15 Volume 19, Issue 3 www.ValenciaVoice.com Sept. 25, 2013 Peace events change hearts Valencia East Campus gives students a chance to spread love By Christopher Stanley [email protected] EAST CAMPUS — Carl Wilkens -- author of “I’m Not Leaving,” an ac- count of his time in Rwanda during the Azabache Films. genocide in 1994 -- finished Peace Day last Thursday with his presentation, “Help Build a Peaceful World by Seeing the ‘Other’ as Yourself.” Help for homeless “I don’t think horror is a lasting mo- tivator,” Wilkens said to a packed room. Film looks at problem in heart of Orlando “It’s love, plain and simple.” Peace Day was part of Peace Week By Stephanie Cardenas on the streets. Instead it isn’t unusual to 2013, sponsored by the Peace and Jus- [email protected] pass by a homeless person and ignore tice Initiative (PJI). Several tables were them as if they are invisible. An invis- set up at Valencia East Campus’ Mall WEST CAMPUS — What is the first ible homeless is overlooked by the pub- area with pamphlets advertising the thing that pops into your mind when lic and often not regarded as a priority of student group and opportunities for you see a homeless person on the streets? any means. These are the people whose passing students to write a letter to Syr- Drug users, alcoholics, physiological name is not a name, homeless. ian refugees, write what the word peace problems; these are the common miscon- Valencia College West Campus had means to them or gather information on ception most people believe to be true. a screening of a film called “Take Me how to live more peacefully. But what if a homeless person didn’t Home” on Thursday, Sept. 19. This film “It’s kind of a day for us all to re- have these problems, what if they just was a documentary of the life of home- flect on the idea of peace,” said Kelly don’t have any other alternative? less people living in Orlando, Florida Ormesher, one of the PJI’s Ambassa- Because of the social conception to and also works raise awareness on the dors. “That’s not something you do in define the homeless there has not been matter as well. Christopher Stanley / Valencia Voice your daily life.” a way to fight against the growing num- Famor Botero not only directed the Students contribute to a sidewalk peace mural in chalk art at Valencia East on Thursday. — See Peace on page 5 ber of people and their families living — See Homeless on page 5 www.valenciavoice.com NEWS Sept. 25, 2013 2 ‘Rafea: Solar Mama’ film enlightens Compelling story of one woman’s struggle to find herself, bring light to others By Hannah Skelton all of the women in her class to build homes in her Jordanian village. Ef suspected something was awry [email protected] a functioning solar-powered light. Eldai Ef, co-director, presented when Badr suddenly claimed that She returned to her home in Jordan the film to an audience at Valen- she wanted to go home, “because WEST CAMPUS — Rafea Badr where she brought solar power into cia College where she revealed the the food was too spicy.” This out Columbia Pictures transformed from an uneducated her own home. Through her labor details or Badr’s hardships. Ef di- of character statement did not fool Actor, Ben Kingsley, (Left) stared in 1982 film “Gandhi.” mother of four living in a tent to a so- and determination she birthed new vulged information that the origi- Ef for one moment, so she followed lar power engineer. She left her life as light into her life. nal intent of her work was to tell the Badr to the airport and learned the a secondary wife in the impoverished The documentary film, “Rafea: stories of four different women who truth about her husband’s threats to Expert will speak village of Rowdat Bardon, Jordan, to Solar Mama,” tells the story of this attended the Barefoot Institute in In- take away her children to his other train for a career at the Barefoot Col- one woman’s struggles and ultimate dia, but decided to follow Badr ex- wife and leave her with nothing. on Gandhi’s view lege in India. success through this institution. clusively after her confession about “Rafea: Solar Mama” provides Threats of abandonment and di- Since its release in 2012, Badr’s story the real reason that she was leaving insight into the lifestyle of those By Frank Shala vorce from her husband forced Badr has inspired viewers in 82 different after only one month. who suffer without food or heat, yet [email protected] to give up on her dreams of success countries. To date, she and her fam- After watching her work with shows how the right resources can after just one month of her educa- ily have brought solar power into 80 diligence and passion at the college, inspire and illuminate lives. Professor Ed Frame will be discussing The Ideas tion in India. She returned home im- of Gandhi and the Influence of Jainism in his Choice mediately after her husband called Lecture Series Thursday, Sept. 26 from 7 to 8 p.m. her and demanded that she do so or on the West Campus, building 5 room 111. lose her children forever. Frame said via email that he will be covering She wanted to work. The sight of several topics including the relationship between hungry families burning everything the ideas found in Jainism (part of the Hindu reli- that they owned to stay warm with- gion of India) and the ideas of Gandhi. out hope for a better future further “I will be giving an overview of Jainism in order motivated her to finish the journey to be sure the audience understands this religion of that she had begun. India. Since these ideas have had such a profound She could not sit and only sip influence on our own civil-right movement I felt it tea and smoke cigarettes every day was important for our students to know the origin when she knew that she had another of many of these ideas.” choice. She could not allow herself to He will also involve looking briefly at the life tolerate her husband’s harsh words of Gandhi and at the ideas from Jainism that influ- and discouragement, so instead re- enced his ideas of non-violence in the 20th century. turned to India to finish her program. The presentation will be in the new Prezi format Badr pushed forwards and con- rather than the traditional powerpoint. quered her final exam as the first of Ty Wright / Valencia Voice You can contact Professor Frame at eframe@va- Students at Valencia College West had the oppurtuinty to view a free screening of “Rafea: Solar Mama’ and ask filmaker questions. lenciacollege.edu for more information. www.valenciavoice.com NEWS Sept. 25, 2013 3 First public view of SunRail Central Florida’s commuter train opens its doors for close-up look By James Tutten sons loves trains.” tives involved with SunRail were also [email protected] SunRail’s bi-level commuter train car excited to see the train and speak with design is highlighted with sleek sloping the public to get their reactions. WINTER PARK — An excited McGin- sides with a high-gloss white body com- Steve Olson is a spokesmen for the ley family and hundreds of other Central plemented with waving strips of yellow, Florida Department of Transporta- Floridians were given their first up-close orange, light blue and green. Inside the tion that is in charge of SunRail. When look inside an all new SunRail passenger train is a brightly light cabin with large asked about the potential impact of James Tutten / Valencia Voice train car on Saturday, Sept. 21. windows positioned between groups of SunRail in the coming years Olson said A young McGinley family sits at one of the tables on the second level of SunRail’s train car. “It looks clean and new, and it looks cushioned seats, most of which face in- “We’re confident that SunRail is going designed to help out commuters with wards at bright yellow tables. to change the face of mass transit here savings in operational costs compared that’s going to cause some challenges to the Wi-Fi, electricity, tables and things Those in attendance for this special in Central Florida.” to single level rail cars and 70 percent traffic,” said Orlando City Commission- like that,” said Patrick McGinley, en- public viewing event were excited to get “Phase One” of SunRail is set to open more passenger room. Their initial plan er, Robert F. Stuart. “People are going joying the new passenger car built for their first look inside a commuter rail with pain passenger service on May 1, is to run seven locomotive sets of 14 to look for an alternative and SunRail is SunRail with his wife Bernadette and project that has been years in the mak- 2014. This first phase will connect 12 passengers cars during peak demand, going to be running right next to it.” young children. “It’s great, and my ing. County commissioners and execu- train stations for a 32 mile stretch start- with a combination of cab cars and More information on locations, train ing from DeBary in Volusia County go- coaches. hours, and fees can be found at SunRail’s ing south to a station on Sand Lake Road “We’re going to begin work on I-4, website at http://www.sunrail.com/ in Orange County.