collegian.tccd.edu
Homelander is back and The Boys are in danger PG. 2
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 – Volume 33 • Issue 4 Entertainment
Opinion
Opinion
Editorial
Feature
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM Ballerini delivers mashup of two musical genres PG. 2
VOTE HIM OUT Key reasons why Trump shouldn’t be re-elected. PG. 3
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY How to spend money wisely as a college student. PG. 3
CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL Here’s how you can reduce your environmental footprint. PG. 3
TRINITY TRASH BASH TR Campus students and staff beautify Trinity trails. PG. 4
DISTRICT
TCC’s fall enrollment decreases by 8.5% District experiences unexpected decline due to online learning, social unrest and a pandemic MADDY REMINGTON campus editor
As of Sept. 9 the total number of enrolled students in the TCC District is 46,558. The drop in enrollment has been attributed to numerous factors from the remote learning programming for the semester, to the social unrest happening across the country. With the largest decline seen in numbers for the first time in college students amounting to a 30% decrease in enrollment overall. “Students are having to make tough decisions about their academic plans during a national pandemic and an overlapping period of racial unrest,” Dr. Ticily Medley South Campus’ director of counseling said. “Therefore, completing a semester of school may have moved down on some students’ priority list.” With the college’s decision to transfer to a fully remote learning environment for the semester coming out fairly late in the summer, many prospective students were left wondering what was going to happen with their classes. The decision to go in the direction of a remote learning format may have been one of the factors leading to the decline. “There are many students who are fearful of the prospect of online learning, so TCC’s shift to mostly virtual learning is requiring that students conquer their fear and develop a new skill of using technology in a way that they may not be accustomed to,” Medley said. The drop in numbers for the first time in college students and transfer-in, which is down 21% this semester, highlights that many of the new TCC students had trouble completing the on-boarding process which left them unable to register for this semester in time. Associate vice chancellor for enrollment and academic support services David Ximenez speculates that the decrease in enrollment may be attributed to the remote learning system TCC adopted for the semester. “The overall enrollment decline also suggests that many new to TCC students may
File photo The Collegian
TCC takes steps to counter significant student enrollment decreases by increasing availability of remote services for fall semester. have preferred to attend face-to-face classes,” Ximenez said. TCC has taken many steps to counter this decrease in enrollment to make TCC courses more accessible to prospective students. “TCC has enhanced its online course offerings and refined its student support services which continues to include limited in-person services at each of our five physical campuses. Between our remote and in-person services, we stand ready to engage with our students,” said Ximenez.
SOUTHEAST
Stress-free Mondays are possible with meditation MALIK GILES
managing editor
Mindfulness is a state of being in the present and opening up to one’s thoughts and emotions without judging them to be good or bad, a counselor said during the Mindful Monday Mornings workshop. It comes from Hinduism and Buddhism and a lot of people today practice it regularly, SE counselor Divya Patel said. “Mindfulness is an ancient practice and a way of life,” Patel said. “A lot of you have probably heard of meditation, you heard of yoga, mindfulness is actually the foundation of them.” The term “to be mindful” is overused in ways of being aware of things like one’s actions or words,
“It is evident that mindfulness is for stress relief and now it’s booming, especially after Covid happened. It’s becoming more popular.”
Divya Patel SE counselor
“It is evident that mindfulness is for stress relief and now it’s booming, especially after Covid happened. It’s becoming more popular,” Patel said. Patel said mindfulness will help people who have test anxiety gather their thoughts for a test and stay focus. It helps a person be happy and empathic towards the world. Meditating is like exercise for one’s brain, she said. This can give one special abilities like staying calm in intense situations, excellent memorization and proper organization. One must clear their mind of thoughts and emotion and focus on their breathing. Patel does this for 10 minutes and she listens to different types of world music to smooth the setting. NE student Payton Breeding said that because of the pandemic he had lost his job and was forced to move back in with his parents. “I did start doing yoga when we had to stay in our homes,”Breeding said. “That helped a lot with stress and helped me keep a schedule going while not being at work.” NE student Vanessa Mendez never tried meditating but she does take 10 minutes out of her day to relax when her plate is full in order to relieve stress. “I honestly just read. I really like to read,” she said. Patel will host three more workshops going over different ways to practice mindfulness every fourth Monday of the month. Her next workshop will be 11 a.m. Oct. 26.
Other efforts to counter enrollment drops include introducing a new device loan program. This program increases accessibility to technology for students who do not have access to computers to take online classes. The availability of these devices is limited and they are checked out on a first-come, first-serve basis. TCC has also begun offering the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund grants program to eligible students who have completed the FAFSA and the emergency grant application.
These grants will help students who are financially struggling due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has disrupted the operations of the district and left many students and staff challenged. TCC says that it is committed to assisting students to thrive in light of the pandemic and this period of social unrest. “We will continue to do everything possible to advocate and support our students through these challenging times,” says Ximenez.
SOUTH
Academic help at home through online tutoring MEGAN TOWERY campus editor
Students can get tutoring help online for all subjects. Students may go to TCC Blackboard Collaborate to access the link tutoring@tcc. This page will inform students about the lab hours and provide a range of subjects to choose from —business, math, science, languages and more. Click on the learning centers from the campus of your choice, enroll and enter. “When you first join the waiting room there is little to no wait time before a tutor comes to help,” South student Yulonda Smith said. “The tutors use the computer white-
board to answer questions precisely with detailed explanations.” If students need assistance when it comes to writing essays, they will need to schedule an appointment beforehand. Students will need to send an email to the leaders with their name, student ID number, day and time of the appointment request, subject, the type of paper students are working on, assignment due date, phone number and email. Students can choose if they would like the session to be live or via email. Students can also request a drop-in through TutorTrac. This brief tutoring session is 15-20 minutes. South Campus Science Instructor Associate Kristina Pham said tutors are ready to help with students' science needs. “We provide links, model pictures, slide pictures and textbooks to help with reports,” Pham said.
COVID-19 saliva testing will be available courtesy of the City of Fort Worth at the following locations Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2-5 p.m. Como Community Center, 4660 Horne St. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 8-11 a.m. City Northside Service Center, 309 Hillshire Drive. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2-5 p.m. Tarrant County College-Northwest Campus, 4801 Marine Creek Parkway. Thursday, Sept. 24, 8-11 a.m. La Gran Plaza, 4200 South Freeway.
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2-5 p.m. Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church, 3208 Wilbarger St. Friday, Sept. 25, 8-11 a.m. Christ Church Assembly of God, 5301 Altamesa Blvd. Friday, Sept. 25, 2-5 p.m. Hillwood Commons I, 9800 Hillwood Parkway.
Appointments at all sites are available next week by online appointment. Residents who do not have access to a computer may call 817-248-6299 to schedule an appointment.