collegian.tccd.edu
Teenage drama in bounty hunting review PG. 2
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 – Volume 33 • Issue 1 Entertainment
Opinion
Opinion
Editorial
COUNTRY STAR RETURNS Luke Bryan returns with seventh studio album. PG. 2
JOB CRISIS WOES Why increased unemployment benefits are needed. PG. 3
THE HARM OF BIASED HISTORY Why history should be told truthfully without bias. PG. 3
A NEW DAWN How world events are shaping colleges across the nation. PG. 3
NORTHEAST
COVID-19 changes journalism throughout the world
campus editor
The global pandemic took student journalists at The Collegian by surprise as they watched the country turn upside down the second week of March. Everything about their beloved school newspaper’s production was about to change. Like many others, former Editor-in-Chief Jill Bold found the job harder than ever before, especially doubling in roles as a mom to a highschooler and toddler. Hearing about the transition from in-person to online after having worked at the paper since August 2019 left Bold shocked and bewildered. “It was the first time in Collegian history we were not going to have printed newspapers,” Bold said. The Collegian celebrates 32 years in print this year. With new challenges to endure such as duplicating their newsroom, the paper continued publication online right away, not
once missing a weekly edition. Bold went on to talk about the steps the staff took to get through the transition. Photographers continued their work by getting pictures while maintaining social distance and wearing masks wherever they were. The interactive Copy Control sessions among the editorial staff continued through Zoom meetings, and WhatsApp was used among the staff to work on story edits. Bold added the struggle the team had with no longer having stories revolve around events taking place on campus. Stories in The Collegian along with every newspaper in the world were taken over by COVID news and headlines. However, through their setbacks, Director of Student Publications Christopher Whitley believes they overcame their obstacles and broke new ground. Whitley and adviser Jocelyn Tatum supported the staff and team through it all, aiming to continue to run the publications for the college audience given all circumstances. “Don’t let all of this stop you from get-
An illustration depicting the life of a Collegian editor without access to the newsroom
OLINE LEARNING The pros and cons of forced online learning . PG. 4
DISTRICT
Virus shuts down newsroom LINDA PUGA
Feature
ting the job done,” Whitley said. Through it all, they persevered even while missing memorable events such as the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference and their graduation commencement. For the design aspect of the newspaper, production manager Stacy Luecker made sure the production team continued the process smoothly by transferring their production files and photos to Google Drive when the outbreak first occurred to continue their work, as well as adding communication through many video calls. Luecker mentioned the added use of the digital platform “ISSUU” was used for the accessibility of the paper as well as works of an e-newsletter, both utilized for increased circulation. “In some ways students are more creative,” Luecker said. Bold advises the incoming Collegian staff of the importance of communication, staying in touch, and engagement through social media for story ideas, virtual events and breaking news.
Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian
Campus pride without students RENE HERRERA campus editor
Student activities on all TCC campuses collaborate on how to be innovative and keep students informed and social during this isolating pandemic. “Our biggest challenge has been getting the word out to everyone, getting them properly informed about events,” assistant director of student development Eddie Brassart said. “We used to do everything face to face on campus,” he said. “But now everything is virtu TR student activities coordinator Kelsey Bratcher said she is a social person and loves interacting with students. She learned a lot from the hurdles in March and April about how to keep those students together. “With the changes to online programs and activities, I was able to be creative and explore new programs and activities for students,” she said. She took a speaker event that was originally on campus to Facebook live. “I know that students are looking for ways to connect with TCC and peers — it is what feels normal,” she said. But in these new challenges,Brassart, Bratcher and others have found ways to combat them. Using our college Blackboard as a space to meet and plan, student activities have come up with new ways to keep the college social life alive. From answering student’s questions on Google Meets, to giving out “virtual tours” of campuses via PowerPoints, or just doing something as simple as playing games such as bingo and trivia. Bratcher went on to further note they have been collaborating with Student Activities on other campuses to share ideas and plan to have a big virtual meet this coming month. Brassart said that they have been using email and TCC’s Instagram to provide information about upcoming events. . Student Activities is in the process of learning how to socialize during a pandemic. With many upcoming events planned this upcoming week, they are not letting the virus stop them from connecting students in a time where connection feels so lost. Student, Nate Spencer said he has received numerous emails from them about online seminars. “It’s clear they’re doing their best to stay connected with students while staying remote/online,” he said. “I think they’re doing well!” To see what online events your campus student activities have planned for the semester check The Collegian news paper or check the online calender at calender.tccd.edu.
CONNECT
Keeping mental heath in check during pandemic LAURAETHA DAVIS reporter
Mental illness and stress have become more common among college students now more than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TCC has moved to online classes because of the coronavirus for the fall semester, and many students are facing new stressful challenges every day trying to keep up with the new social norms. “My mental health is not doing well because Ii’m under stress,‘’ SE student Christina Wells said. Although she has not reached out to a counselor for help, Wells said she’s searched for online ways of releasing stress instead.
"YouTube has been kind of a big help as it takes my stresses off my mind, and going outside to sit and relax in the elements,'' Wells said. To speak to a TCC counselor, students can must go to their Blackboard account and click the online academic advising tab. SE student Wala Omer, president of the Muslim Student Association, said she has reached out to students like Wells who are having troubles coping with their transition into online courses. Omer said the MSA sent out a letter to students saying that they are there to help. “We are reaching out to you to let you know if anyone needs help with anything, we are here,” the letter said. ”If you need a laptop or are having any difficulties with this transition, email me back, and I’ll do my best to
accommodate you.” Mental stress is real, and it is affecting so many people, Omer said. SE Conunselor Divya Patel, said she hasn't noticed a larger number of students
“YouTube has been kind of a big help as it takes my stresses off my mind, and going outside to sit and relax in the elements.”
Christina Wells SE student
who’ve sought her help now compared to before the college closed. “Student traffic during the temporary re-
mote services has been very consistent and comparable to on-campus services,” shesaid. “It has been busier right now due to the summer and fall 2020 registration as well as students’ stress levels increased due to the sudden change to online courses and other struggles such as financial stresses due to COVID-19.” Patel said she hasn't seen that students are struggling more to open up during online counseling sessions. “Students have been more vocal and open about what’s going on in their struggles and have been able to reach out to the counseling center,” Patel said. “This may be due to being more comfortable in their environment while speaking with a counselor.” Counselors are providing individualized resources to students and referrals to students who need extra help, Patel said.
Page 2 • August 26, 2020
Entertainment
Maddie Phillips and Anjelica Bette Fellini team up with industry veteran Kadeem Hardison in a new Netflix comedy series, Teenage Bounty Hunters.
NETFLIX REVIEW
Crime does pay in new comedy series MALIK GILES
campus editor
To enjoy the brief unrealistic, dramatic comedy that this show has to offer, one must suspend disbelief. The show is literally called “Teenage Bounty Hunters,” something that has not been seen before. A lot of events and portrayals happen in this show differ from everyday life. The show starts off with the two main protagonists, Sterling and Blair, who are female fraternal twins. The two wrecked their father’s truck, leading them to a bounty hunter named Bowser who gives them bounty hunting jobs to get them the money to fix the truck. The premise sounds a bit creepy and unusual, but as the show progresses, it gets funny and interesting. Every conversation, there’s either a joke or a one-liner that helps
softens the mood in serious moments. For instance, the opening scene has Sterling and her boyfriend, Luke, having sex for the first time. The moment was gross and weird, but the witty conversation humor of Luke being nervous and second-guessing the situation made the scene more hilarious. Throughout the show, the creators tried to get viewers to realize that not every high school student is ideal. Take Sterling. She becomes the leader of her Christian class in her private school and has good grades, yet she has sex with her boyfriend more than once in the show. Her counterpart, on the other hand, Blair, is the ideal high school rebel. She praises protesters such as the ones that vandalize Confederate statues. She differs from everyday society norms. For example, her parents are Republicans, and she dates a black kid whose parents are Democrats.
The show has plot twists from big to small, and at the end, there’s one that contradicts the protagonists’ family as a whole. It puts a cliffhanger at the end of the season. This type of show has the characters progress the story. The characters are funny in their own type of way, and the actors portrayed them well. Kadeem Hardison’s portrayal of Bower Simmons, a middle-aged, angry bounty hunter, is what pulls the audience in. At first, one may think “stranger danger,” like the girls did the first time they got in the car with Bowser, but his witty quips and intellect made this work. This show is something to watch to blow away time. It is not really deep and dramatic but funny and interesting. It is worth watching during this quarantine.
Photos /Courtesy of Netfleix
The sisters try balancing teen life and school with an unlikely career to retrieve their father’s truck which was impounded.
MUSIC REVIEW
Veteran country singer returns with hit new album
LINDA PUGA
campus editor
Georgia native singer-songwriter Luke Bryan has been known for his country hits that top the charts. This month, Bryan released his seventh studio album “Born Here Live Here Die Here. Bryan’s latest project includes 10 tracks, each unique in its way from the storytelling to the concepts. It has simple production with prominent uses of both guitar and drums. However, they carried the songs, as well as Bryan’s vocals, very well. The title track tells a story of unity as Bryan shares his roots and stays true to who he is, which is evident in this project. A majority of the songs consist of classic country hits that are the kinds of songs to blast through the speakers at a party. Others, such as the last two tracks, capture the feeling of being in love, as well as a feeling of adventure that concludes the album nicely. Because the majority of songs deal with a night out or drinking, the concepts intertwine and become repetitive as the album goes on. However, he did have some standout tracks within that aside from feel-good music. The album took a turn with the track “Little Less Broken.” It was one of the only ballads in the project but carried great and heartfelt meaning. The story talks about Bryan’s perspective of Bryan seeing
someone that used to mean a lot to him out in a public place. He effortlessly describes the pain of seeing someone being happy without you when you’re not healed yet. The title lent itself to the way the girl’s heart is less broken than his that’s still mending. Another ballad piece on the album is titled “Build Me A Daddy.” It talks about an occurrence among many people who grow up without a father figure in their life. The song dives into the story of a boy who wants a father “built” to be there for him. A line in the chorus, “If I walked in with him, it’d sure make Momma happy, if you could build me a daddy,” hinted the possible context of the father leaving the family and the boy wishing he could have him back. This longing sentiment is one many people can relate to, making it a beautiful song that stands out and enhances the album through its vulnerability. Country music is a key genre that many people admire for the sole aspect of storytelling. Anyone could enjoy these songs in one way or another either because of the upbeat production or the lyrics that carry a three-minute-long story., What stands out is the way the catchy melodies give off serotonin. This is an album full of party songs, late-night-drive songs or something to play to just amplify a room.
Luke Bryan /BHLHDH
American Idol judge Luke Bryan defies odds with releasing his seventh and most personal album to date, “Born Here Live Here Die Here.” The 10-track record stays true to Luke Bryan’s roots.
Opinion Viewpoints
Editorial
People need help during job crisis
LINDA PUGA
campus editor
Since the rise of Coronavirus cases all over the country, our unemployment numbers have gotten significantly higher, rising from 3.5% in February to 14.1% in June. This has led to an increase in the number of workers affected by COVID who have applied and been awarded benefits through the federal government. P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d Tr u m p ’s CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act was passed on March 27 for those who could not benefit from Unemployment Compensation, Extended Benefits, or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation that can be provided assistance through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Regular benefits are given for up to 26 weeks. Each program gives benefits for a specific period of time
depending on eligibility, especially with all of the programs added in response to the COVID outbreak. These programs put in place that last for a certain duration are great for those temporarily off work or who simply can’t return for a set period of time only, as opposed to others who may not be going back for a while and will need more benefits. Some programs like PEUC last up to 13 weeks, HUP for up to seven weeks, and PUA for up to 46 weeks. As of June, the unemployment rate in Texas is 8.6%, and the total number of unemployment claims as of the beginning of August is 61,723. With cases rising each day in every city and county, the rate of unemployment will continue to rise due to the precautions businesses are taking to ensure the safety of their employees. The federal government should continue to expand benefits to continue to provide for those individuals who need it and can’t go back to work yet. In addition to that, it’s important to rely on people going to work when it is safe for them to continue and use their benefits to supply their essential needs. It’s equally as important for the government to continue planning accordingly for these programs that benefits both the people and the recovery of the nation.
American History is Black History too
MALIK GILES
managing editor
History is written by the victors, conquers and conspirators. In other words, it is written by the winners, and anything by the losing side is either minimized in the history books or is not worth mentioning at all. Americans glorify figures like Thomas Jefferson, who was most likely a rapist because of his sexual relations with his teenage enslaved girl, Sally Hemings. If he did not rape her like the evidence leading to that allegation, she was still underage and being taking advantage of. Evidence like that will never be in the history books if things do not change. Even though white people make up more than 70% of the nation, I believe that history is more than what white men have written, and grade-schoolers should be taught
August 26, 2020 • Page 3
about more cultures in their history classes to understand what people of color are going through. People are taught that slavery is wrong and all the evil that comes from it, but what about certain events after slavery, such as the Tulsa Race Massacre. As a black man, I did not know about that event and the fact that there was a Black Wall Street until I had turned 17. They do not teach this because it’s graphic and also a dark time in history that white people are ashamed of and want to cover up. Grade schools should not only teach a more diverse history, but they should do it right and in a respectful way. Many historical figures are not mentioned in history books or inaccurately or negatively portrayed. One example is Huey P. Newton, whom I learned from watching a cartoon called “The Boondocks.” He was the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, and they were portrayed as gangsters and drug dealers. In my eyes, they were heroes who started the Free Breakfast For Children Program and policed the police. I feel if grade schools expose students to this type of knowledge, not just white people, but Americans will have an understanding of different races and cultures.
Fall classes shaped by world events
Amber Davis/The Collegian
The year of 2020 will forever be titled “What else can happen?” By February, the mood in The Collegian newsroom shifted. Rumblings of COVID-19 cases from the media increased in frequency through alerts on our smart devices, and infections started to spread closer to the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. NW student Juan Ibarra, the multimedia editor at the time, started to exercise more precautions with his interactions with the team, warning us like an elderly man in a 1980s slasher horror movie that viral danger is coming. We didn’t take the time to assess the situation or take it seriously after seeing the media sensationalizing these things in the past. Oh boy, we were in for a rude awakening not taking heed of the warning that was given. By spring break, the lives of many TCC students and employees changed permanently. We received the news that the campuses across the district would be closed indefinitely in line with colleges across the country in an attempt to combat the spread of the virus. The TCC community had to shift to an online-only environment many were not prepared to deal with — some were unable to adapt and stepped away from education. The ugly side of humanity revealed itself with people hoarding necessities such as toilet paper and Lysol, with scalpers extorting customers with a 400% increase for the cost of these items. Grocery stores closed early due to a lack of food. Whispers of a food shortage prompted people to buy up food to decrease the amount of interaction with people by staying at home. Staying in the house brought cabin
fever to the masses since many people had no choice but to deal with their home situation and themselves. Some college students endured depression from not being able to work on their hands-on degrees that they were in school for. In some homes, domestic violence flared up, and child abuse took hold when some adults could not interact with their children or partners without breaks or space. Just as we were adjusting to life with COVID-19, an onlooker caught one of the most tragic events in American history on video with her cellphone. Eight minutes and 46 seconds of video showed the torture of a black man named George Floyd, apprehended for allegedly passing counterfeit bills, with a knee to his neck, pleading with the officers that he couldn’t breathe. Watching someone call out for his mother as he’s dying does something to you on a personal level if you’re truly humane. Floyd’s death was the last straw, sparking civil unrest in many urban areas in America, including Dallas and Fort Worth, reigniting that Black Lives Matter to those detractors that counter with All Lives Matter when trying to shed light on issues the black community goes through. Black Lives Matter is not a hate group, nor does it imply black superiority over any other race. If you still believe that, after BLM supporters of all races repeatedly explain this to you, it’s time to look in the mirror. As students return to campuses, they’re entering a whole new world that’s more isolated and less welcoming than ever before. One of the most critical presidential elections looms in the near future that’s going to shape the landscape even further after all the smoke clears.
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Staff
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Foster-Sanders
MANAGING EDITOR Malik Giles
CAMPUS EDITORS Rene Herrera Linda Puga
LAYOUT & DESIGN Abbas Ghor Amber Davis Kristal Blankinship
Letter Policy MARKETING AND ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Rudy Martinez WEBSITE COORDINATOR Kristal Blankinship
The Collegian is a weekly student publication serving the Tarrant County College District. Editorial statements and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the TCC administration. Letters to the paper should be 150 words or less, free from libel and poor taste and include the writer’s Colleague ID or telephone number (the numbers will not be published).
ILLUSTRATOR Amber Davis
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The Collegian • 828 Harwood Road Hurst, TX 76054 Office: 817-515-6391 Editor: 817-515-6394 Advertising: 817-515-6619 email: collegian.editor@tccd.edu TCC is an equal opportunity institution that provides educational and employment opportunities on the basis of merit and without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status or disability.
Page 4 • August 26, 2020
Feature
College students across the nation had to make a huge adjustment to online learning with COVID-19 being contracted in America. While online learning can have its advantages, it also has many barriers that might discourage students from learning.
Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian