Author: Victor Herrera

Community

Hundreds take part in local of No Kings 3.0 protests downtown

Victor Herrera

Hundreds of protestors turned out for the Corpus Christi No Kings 3.0 protest at Oleander Point in Cole Park on March 28, part of nationwide opposition to the current actions of the federal administration. Protesters lined Ocean Drive, holding signs addressing many issues in the American public eye: the Iran war, rising gas prices and the cost of tariffed items, issues with Immigration Customs Enforcement and disapproval of authoritarianism targeting specific ethnic minority groups. The movement is named in direct opposition to President Donald Trump, citing his overuse of federal power. The No Kings 3.0 protest, named for the third…

Community

Corpus Christi legend Ronnie Mathis loses battle to cancer

Victor Herrera

Ronnie “Pointy Boots” Mathis, a Corpus Christi icon known for his stylish strolls around town in long-toed boots and custom suits, died March 19 at 70.  Mathis died surrounded by loved ones after a battle with Stage 4 prostate cancer.  Known as a positive force throughout the city and his life, Mathis was a cultural legend with grand cowboy hats, multi-colored suits, and a bright personality to match the courage of his ensemble. Inspired in part by his twin brother Donnie Mathis, who sports similar attire only without the pair of pointy boots, Mathis had cultivated his memorable flair along…

Community

Texas voters head into primary election

Victor Herrera

With the early voting period coming to an end, the March 3 primary election nears, when Texas Republican and Democratic voters will pick which candidate they want to represent their interests and their party on the ballot for the November general election. In each race, the candidate who wins more than half of the votes will face the winning candidate from the other party in the November general election. If no candidate gets a majority of votes in a primary race, the top two vote-getters will head to a runoff election on May 26. Voters should know a few things…

Campus

DMC students have second chance at dreams

Victor Herrera

The tuition waiver Freedom to Dream returns for the upcoming Fall 2026 semester with new requirements and new adjustments. The first Freedom to Dream period was intended to promote interest in the college from recent high school graduates and eligible returning adult learners. The program achieved an 82% retention rate, with 1,390 students currently enrolled under the tuition and fee waiver program. The first round was successful enough to warrant a second trial, the Freedom to Dream 2.0. This time around changes are being made to better suit potential Del Mar College students’ needs. While the core requirements of full-time…

Community

CCISD high school students walk out to protest ICE  

Arianna Rios

Hundreds of Corpus Christi Independent School District students walked out of class Thursday afternoon to protest the continuing ICE presence in the city. Students had multiple reasons for supporting the walkout, from opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s increased arrests since the Trump administration took office for moral reasons, as well as the direct effects on their families.  “My father was detained, and I’m … honestly, it’s very sad. It’s very difficult without him. Without him, me and my mom are just by ourselves, and we need him,” said CCISD student Evelyn Colchado. “I’m not old enough, I still depend on…

History

The Viking is dead! Long live Valdar!

Victor Herrera

Del Mar’s Valdar the Viking history started even before he had a name, creating the mythos of a Nordic traveler landing in Corpus Christi.  Beginning simply as “The Viking,” he was represented in yearbook art in a hyper-realistic gothic style, and the football team began using the Viking name in 1939. But there was no official mascot to represent the school.  In 2010 Rito Silva, then the Vice President for Student Affairs, with the College Relations Office led the charge of introducing an official DMC mascot to the campus and general community. The process involved focus groups with participants exploring…

Campus

Del Mar celebrates Día De Los Muertos in White Library

Victor Herrera

Día De Los Muertos took place early at Del Mar on Oct. 30 at the White Library on Heritage Campus, giving students and staff a chance to reconnect with the ones they have lost but also celebrate the life they lived. Participants also learned more about the traditions of the holiday, with two professors giving educational talks. Carey Rote, Professor of History at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, talked about her research via exploration of the holiday in Oaxaca, Mexico. The second speaker, Jacqueline Sommer, adjunct Professor of History also at TAMU-CC, talked of her lived experience of growing up celebrating…

Featured

SGA ready for students at Meet & Eat, Viking Fall Carnival

Victor Herrera

Pizza with the Del Mar President and other upcoming events are ways for students to make their college experience better, according to the Del Mar SGA. New business covered at the second Student Government Association meeting was students’ chance to meet and eat with Del Mar College President and CEO Mark Escamilla, as well as voice any student concerns. This event also gives students the chance to meet with their SGA officers and members, sharing their thoughts and ideas or simply get a chance to know them better while dining on pizza. The Meet and Eat will be held Wednesday,…

Campus

Viking Fest returns with upgrades, live music

Victor Herrera

Viking Fest sails on as a solo opportunity this year for students to raise funds for all academic endeavors. This year’s event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Windward Campus. In the first year it began, Viking Fest paired up with the Registered Student Organization Fall Carnival as only one singular event for students to attend to support Del Mar College student programs. But in this second year, DMC is attempting something different, by breaking up both the Fall Carnival and Viking Vest as different events to create more opportunities for students to…

Campus

Del Mar Libraries celebrate Banned Books Week

Victor Herrera

Banned Books Week is taking place at all Del Mar College Libraries, aiming to invoke critical thinking, challenging ideas students may (or may not) disagree with.  Organized nationally by the American Library Association starting in 1982, every year since has gone to highlight the importance of the concept for students and all individuals alike, about the ills of censorship. The nationwide theme this year is “Censorship Is So 1984 — Read for Your Rights.” The DMC Libraries participate annually in the endeavor to foster conversations of freedom of speech, as well as the freedom to choose what literature or media…