SOUTH Learn more about the PLAINS Ranching Heritage Center on COLLEGE page 16!! www.southplainscollege.edu/ppress PLAINSMAN PRESS Levelland, Texas A bi-weekly collegiate publication Vol. 59 • Issue 10 • March 27, 2017 Intense training prepares future agents for border protection is to detect and prevent “The Border Patrol ensures in defending our country and a career fair held at Michigan or understand what the Border terrorists and terrorist’s that agents are properly trained laid down their lives to protect State University. Patrol’s mission is. This job weapons from entering the to confront and diffuse these the homeland.” “I had never heard of the isn’t for everyone. But if you U.S., as well as preventing the situations in a successful Like many agents before Border Patrol before then, love the outdoors and have a illegal trafficking of people law enforcement conclusion, her, Marquez heard about the and I met some wonderful strong desire to work in law and contraband,” said Jennie but sometimes, bad things U.S. Border Patrol through recruiters who opened my enforcement, this is a great A. Marquez, assistant chief career to pursue.” patrol agent. “This mission is Once trainees become inherently dangerous, because U.S. Border Patrol agents, the violators are taking a great they have the possibility of [Editor’s note: This story is risk in accomplishing their being chosen for a variety the first part of the multi- illicit goal, and, at times, of assignments, including part series “Protecting Our violence is the result.” patrolling international land Homeland,” showing the life Potential trainees go borders and coastal waters to of U.S. Border Patrol Agents, through months of waiting and prevent the illegal trafficking trainees that begins with Issue extensive background checks of people, narcotics and #10 and concludes in Issue #12. before they are approved to contraband into the United Staff members took it upon go through several months States. themselves to interview, take of physical and mental agent If a new agent is assigned photographs, and conduct training. Once through the to the border, he or she can research. The results of their academy, the trainees who are expect to be responding combined efforts follow.] still there will graduate and to alarms in remote areas, receive their agent badges. by SARA MARSHALL detecting, preventing and “The length and makeup apprehending undocumented Editor-in-Chief of Border Patrol Academy aliens, smugglers of aliens and In light of recent local and training has varied quite a bit illegal narcotics at or near the worldwide political events, over the past 10 to 15 years, land borders. Agents also could Americans are growing and continues to evolve as the Agents at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy conduct a ‘concrete experience,’ be assigned to work with the increasingly concerned with law enforcement environment demonstrating the proper techniques to handle stressful situations an agent K-9 Unit, which uses canines protecting the nation’s borders evolves,” said Paul Clayton, may encounter in the feild. to detect concealed humans from terrorists and illegal senior border patrol agent. PHOTOS BY TOVI OYERVIDEZ/PLAINSMAN PRESS and narcotics, Search and immigrants. “When I was at the academy Rescue unit, and patrolling. Every day, brave men and in the early 2000s, it was happen,” Marquez said. “That a career fair hosted by her eyes to a new career path,” women come from all walks of roughly 20 consecutive weeks is why we honor our fallen college. She joined the U.S. Marquez said. “Many people, life to attend the U.S. Border of training where all the agents. They knew the danger Border Patrol 23 years ago at men and women, do not know see “Aspiring” on page 2 Patrol Academy at the Federal basic disciplines were taught Law Enforcement Training together.” Center [FLETC] in Artesia, In Artesia, experienced Math, law enforcement student receives New Mexico. The training instructors teach aspiring center was purchased by the agents new skills such as Burnside Scholar Award, scholarship Federal government in 1989, Firearms, Pursuit Driving, by BRANDI ORTIZ a trustworthy, hardworking, said Sarkis. “Since then, it has and the chairperson of the after the Artesia Christian Physical Fitness, Police and Associate Editor and exceptional person and been more of a calling.” Professional Services and College closed its doors. Border Patrol Operations, math tutor for the past two Sarkis says she hopes Energy Department, says that Spanish, Law The Burnside Scholar years,” says Alan Worley, to complete her associate’s Sarkis could go far with her and other Award was recently given to a chairperson of Math and degree in Law Enforcement career in law. real-world South Plains College student. Engineering Department at Technology and become a “I see Rachel, in the long techniques. Rachel Sarkis, a sophomore SPC. “I couldn’t think of certified peace officer. She run, as an investigator,” says By teaching Math and Law Enforcement someone more deserving than also plans to complete her Scott. “Possibly with the FBI, trainees in Technology major from she.” math requirements to transfer but definitely not just your a controlled Lubbock, received a $1,000 Sarkis says her talent and complete her bachelor’s typical street cop.” environment, scholarship from the Texas is math, but her passion is degree in mathematics. Though the overall goal for instructors can Community College Teachers law enforcement. She is “Mathematics takes a Sarkis is to become a detective, ensure the next Association. if she plans to work federally generation of In 2002, the TCCTA or for the state, which requires agents will be established the Burnside a bachelor’s degree, she can better prepared Scholar Award, an award use her mathematics degree for what lies named after the first executive to fill that requirement. But, ahead. director, Charles Burnside. Sarkis plans to stay local “Each This award is presented to by applying to work at the instructor one deserving student at Lubbock Police Department has their own the college of the current and working her way up. twist when TCCTA president. This year, “Short term, I want to kick teaching,” it was Professor Wayne in doors and get bad guys,” Sergeant Major Langehennig who got to said Sarkis. “But if something Frank Ayala select the recipient. was to ever go awry then, said. “We have “I wanted to find someone with my mathematics degree, a wide range A trainee pats down an ‘illegal who academically is doing I can have a wider range of of instructors very well,” says Langehennig, immigrant’ role player during the opportunities than I would here, teaching president of the TCCTA and Dr. Lance Scott, Wayne Langehennig, Rachel Sarkis have if I majored in criminal trainee’s Spanish class. many different a Spanish professor at the and Alan Worley in front of the Law Enforcement justice.” techniques. An Reese Center campus at SPC. Building on March 8. Sarkis says that she could Soon after, they created the officer’s safety is our number “Someone who has a hard BRANDI ORTIZ/PLAINSMAN PRESS not have followed her dreams Office of Artesia Operations, one concern here.” work ethic, and who truly without her professors. which is one of three FLETC From their very first day paints a picture of who we actively involved in the Law lot time and energy to do “[SPC] has amazing residential training sites in the at the academy, trainees are are as a community college.” Enforcement Club, currently the homework, but the law professors,” says Sarkis. United States. The 3,620-acre issued a fake sidearm to After asking around for serving as vice president. She enforcement academy is “They are very encouraging site houses many facilities acclimate to the feeling of a recommendations on which has recently been nominated just the same,” Sarkis said. and helpful when it comes to which allow the United States weapon that will constantly student should receive the to serve as president for the “Balancing the two is tough, figuring out what is the right Border Patrol to conduct basic be at their side. But they are award, it was Sarkis’ name fall semester. but doable.” thing to do.” and advanced law enforcement not trained to ‘shoot first, ask which would be brought up “My interest in law Dr. Lance Scott, training. questions later,’ as many may from fellow colleagues. enforcement began when I associate professor of law bortiz1552@students. “The Border Patrol Mission believe. “Rachel has been such took classes at Frenship High,” enforcement and technology southplainscollege.edu Cover to Cover News Feature Entertainmment Sports Spotlight Opinion... page 4 Board of Regents approves 3-D printing now a fast, Local rock shows hold Texans, Lady Texans National Ranching Heritage Feature... page 6 Campus Carry policy. cheap tool for creative concerts in Lubbock. advance to National Center brings life to frontier Entertainment page 9 expression. Tournament. days. Sports... page 13 Spotlight... page 16 page 3 page 6 page 9 page 13 page 16 2 News March 27, 2017 Plainsman Press Voice of Hope works to counter sex trafficking as case managers for sex traf- tion paperwork. We provide manipulative these men are it’s really dangerous, so they were in that position, I would ficking victims. Arrington an on-sight counselor who really changed the way I look latch on to them. By the time have trust issues. Voice of says that before the two began works directly with the victim at the situation.” a month passes, the guys turn Hope wants to come in and working with Voice of Hope, for free.” Arrington says she has on them and they’re stuck, and make them feel safe.” the organization was lacking In 2016, Voice of Hope worked with people from it’s hard to get out.” When a victim is first en- in services for sex trafficking Lubbock worked with 55 cases many different backgrounds, Some of the girls who re- countered, Arrington says victims.