collegian.tccd.edu
Fantasy, horror, and racism PG. 2
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 – Volume 33 • Issue 2 Entertainment
Opinion
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY IS SPOOKY New HBO Show combines HP Lovecraft’s lore with history PG. 2
WHY STORY TELLING MATTERS The importance of taking risks being an artist. PG. 3
NORTHWEST
Positivity breeds successfull work environments
Opinion
Editorial
Feature
CRISIS IN PRODUCTIVITY STEROTYPING IS WRONG The importance of staying Why appereance cannot be taken productive during a pandemic PG. 3 at face value. PG. 3
MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH Tips for keeping mental health in check. PG. 4
DISTRICT
Pandemic changes education TCC opts for online classes in the fight against spreading COVID-19
JORDYN TURPITT reporter
Most people want to work for a company that treats its employees well, and NE business instructor Rachel Allmon thinks sometimes that means students will have to choose a job that pays less to be in a healthy work environment. Allmon and NW success coach Sara DeVries offered tips on how students can identify good work places from the not so good as well as pointers for a good workplace experience. “What makes for a good culture is when an organization places value on the individual employee and does everything within its power to ensure that employee needs are met by linking time-in-service, experience and education to pay,” Allmon said. “Providing an ethical, equitable and inclusive environment incentivizes good workplace behaviors.” Many components indicate a good company culture, including good management and good communication, DeVries said. “Good management builds employee morale and produces a low turnover rate and customer and employee satisfaction,” she said. When there is little respect among employees, supervisors and managers, employees tend to have few goals and lack motivation, and a high turnover rate is common. “In my case, in a former job, the work culture had begun to affect my health,” Allmon said. “My doctors gave me an ultimatum, quit or talk to your boss.” By communicating her needs to her supervisor, things gradually improved in the workplace for Allmon. “Communication is key to success,” Devries said. “Effective communication is important for every company and at every level of that company and typically produces more positive outcomes when doing so.” People will have an overall better experience if they take into consideration the company culture, she said.. DeVries said she goes into jobs thinking long term and wanting to see room for growth in the company. She wants to be sure that employees and supervisors are treating each other with respect and supervisors seem to care about their employees and that helps her determine if the position is the right fit. On the flip side, undue emphasis on competition for positions can produce a bad work culture. “The least enjoyable aspect of an organization's culture that I have experienced has been a culture where profit trumps relationships and position trumps competency,” Allmon said. DeVries values the growth potential of a company, how respected they are by people, company encouragement of moving up, and a manager or supervisor willing to help the team succeed. “The reward of investing in yourself through education, certificates and experience is having power to choose who, what and where to share your talent,” Allmon said. Some questions an interviewee can ask a company are “How does this position help the organization achieve its overall goals?” and “Will I be encouraged to take initiative and provide suggestions regarding my work or related areas?” and “How many years does it take to become vested within your organization and what benefits are associated with time-in-service?” Allmon said. No matter what industry a person will go into, it’s important that the organization is centered on employees and service, Allmon said. “I look for diversity and inclusiveness of their workforce as demonstrated by knowledge, expertise, and demographics,” she said. Both Allmon and DeVries warn against disclosing too much personal information to colleagues or a boss.It is important to keep personal lives separate from work lives because it can otherwise lead to many problems. NW student Carlos Monsante said he has good relations with his co-workers, and it makes his job more enjoyable. “A person’s work environment has a tremendous effect on the quality of their work,” Monsante said.
File photo/The Collegian
Students adjust to a new college environment throughout the TCC District with online learning for the fall semester MALIK GILES
managing editor
No one was prepared for COVID-19. It hit everyone, especially students and faculty who had to continue the rest of the spring semester, going forward with everything virtually. Campuses remain closed for the fall. Both students and faculty try to get used to this new way of life. “The first part of my summer classes sucked,” said NE student Khatry Otto, who is a computer science major. “I had to drop my math class because I had a terrible professor.” Otto said his professor would give his class PowerPoints but didn’t help work
through the problems with the class. “I felt like with math you have to be in person with a real interaction in order to get it because it’s one of those harder subjects,” he said. Before Otto registered for Summer II classes, he went to RateMyProfessor.com to get help choosing a good teacher. “This really helped me because the professor actually helped us through the exercises,” Otto said. Unlike his Summer I class, Otto is looking forward to his fall classes. Some instructors said they feel good about teaching online classes this semester. NE radio/TV/film adjunct instructor Charles Johnson, who would normally teach two sections in a classroom, said he is ready to teach the classes from his house.
“During spring break, they told us that we were going completely online,” Johnson said. “I worked like a crazy man trying to move all my stuff over to more of an online presentation.” Johnson said he feels like technology will be a great way to teach students more discipline. “I embrace technology, and I think if technology was used the right way it can be a great way to be more effective in training,” he said. It is not forgotten among both students and faculty that all of this is being done for safety. “I’m glad we're not going to school,” TR student and business major Justyn Adams said. ”We all need to be safe and not spread the virus.”
DISTRICT
Orientation goes virtual for new college students LINDA PUGA reporter
Along with every scheduled program and event originally occurring on campus, the five TCC campuses’ New Student Orientations for first-time college students were moved virtually and began in mid-August. Kathryn Beard, a TR Campus peer leader for New Student Orientation, joined the team last fall and has experienced both faceto-face and online orientations. The switch that came with the fall semester left her feeling anxious about what to expect with the new format. After the first round of orientations were over, Beard felt surprised at the ease the orientations had. She enjoyed still getting to meet students, even in a virtual format, and offer them a welcome to the college. “I’m excited to at least have a window and some access to still do what I feel like is one of my strong points which is to help people, support people and be that lighthouse with the experience that I’ve gained to make it a little bit easier on somebody else,” Beard said.
“We then built the NSOs on Blackboard, and each campus held live sessions.”
Cara Walker
NE student activities coordinator Something she admires about virtual orientation is the students going through the modules of their introductory course at their own pace and time. Cara Walker, NE student activities coordinator, considered the first month of orientations a success and loved the amount of interaction the online transition offered. “The coordinators of student activities planned out the content of what students would need in their online orientations based on adaptations of the traditional on-campus experience, specific learning outcomes and essential information for online learning,” Walker said. “We then built the NSOs on
Blackboard, and each campus held live sessions.” Walker said the change allowed them to see orientations in a new light and shift their perspective. She said she thinks some elements of orientation could continue online for future sessions and wants to look into ways of communicating even more with her students. Even though students did not have a chance to physically meet the NSO team or their home campus, Beard said she thinks the one-hour virtual session gave students a better introduction to their campus in comparison to the four-hour orientation they would have had in person. South student Fatima Albarran enjoyed the interactions between peer leaders and students. Albarran said she preferred the orientation to be online due to safety. However, if students can return to campus in the spring, she thinks returning to a face-to-face orientation would be better for students in the long run to meet leaders and connect with others. “They are better able to see everything available to them, know where everything is, and it would eliminate the issues that come with the technology side of it,” Albarran said.
Page 3 • September 2, 2020
Entertainment
The Collegian
HBO REVIEW
Best selling book adapted for television
Veteran actor Courtney B. Vance, Juree Smollet, and Jonathan Majors discovers magic, monsters, and racism in the new HBO Series Lovecraft Country MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS editor-in-chief
The character Tic finds out monsters are not only his imagination in the HBO Series Lovecraft Country based on a book of the same name by Matt Ruff
Throughout history, brilliant works of art were created by people who had damning things about themselves. In this case it’s one of the architects of horror and science fiction author H.P. Lovecraft. The author created magnificent tales that had readers imagine themselves in alternate realities where they could fly, fight space monsters or solve mysteries. But the caveat with his brilliance is that he was also a devout racist, and xenophobe. This is what the foundation of HBO’s new series Lovecraft Country is built on. Adapted from a novel of the same name by Matt Ruff from 2016, the show blends Jim Crow racism, elements of horror and fantasy to tell the story of Atticus ‘Tic’ Freeman played by Jonathan Majors The young adult is a black Korean War veteran who imagines himself as a hero in Lovecraft tales despite Jim Crow’s America reminding him that he will never be equal to a white man even though he fought for his country. Tic receives a mysterious letter from his father informing him that he has an inheritance in Ardam, Mass.. Tic then goes to his Uncle George to find out answers about this letter and the whereabouts of his father who he has a strained relationship with. Uncle George is played by Courtney B. Vance who is a publisher to the ‘The Safe Negro traveling guide’ which helps black people avoid dangerous towns during Jim Crow era America, sundown towns and places where they eat, or if they need assistance.
Photos courtesy HBO
Rounding out the trio is Leti who is a childhood friend of Tic played by Jurnee Smollett. Down on her luck, she travels back to Chicago at the same time of Tic’s return to search for his father. With no place to go, and a strained relationship with her older siblings, she decides to join Tic and Uncle George on a road trip. They encounter hatred, magic and monsters leaving their outlook on reality shaken to the core. Lovecraft Country works because of Lovecraft’s deep lore and the relationship between the characters that invites the viewer to feel their relationship. The father-son relationship between Tic and his Uncle George is beautifully portrayed because George nurtures Tic to dream beyond the horrors that Black people go through on a daily basis. While his father Montrose made him look at the reality of how white people view a black man, especially reminding Tic of his favorite author H.P. Lovecraft’s racism with his Poem “On the Creation of Niggers.” People will learn alot about America’s shameful past with the show, and it's timely in this volatile environment. When the trio encounters a sheriff at Sundown Town,’ which reminds them they have eight minutes to get across the city limits line or they could be hanged. The viewer becomes one with Tic while he is behind the wheel trying not to go over the speed limit with the sheriff in pursuit to pull them over. The pressure that this scene could make a person hyperventilate. Lovecraft Country has everything going for it that the Emmy committee looks for during awards season.
MUSIC REVIEW
Creative shackles lifted by incorporating new style LINDA PUGA
campus editor
Australian singer-songwriter, actor and YouTuber Troye Sivan began his musical career in 2015 and has since dropped two albums. The 25-year-old triple threat released his latest body of work on August 21st, an EP titled “In A Dream” containing six tracks. Unlike his previous albums, “In A Dream” distinguishes itself even before diving into the music. The change in titles in this project, though a minor detail, can represent significance in the way he carries his music because of the creative freedom showcased in shortening song lengths and expressing titles in original ways as he heads into his next era. This EP does a great job at segueing into a new direction and a new sound for Sivan for his albums to come. The EP contains the track “Easy” and despite its groovy production, it tells a story of someone trying to save a relationship and make sense of the mess that follows. The standout track in the project is “could cry just thinkin about you.” Not only is the title an instant attention grabber, but the track is only 52 seconds long. The slow and mellow production matched the vulnerability in the song nicely. Though it only consists of one verse, you can tell the lyrics centered around
the idea of one person came from Sivan’s heart. “STUD” and “IN A DREAM” go hand in hand, not only because of title similarities, but melodically as well. They are both laid-back tracks, until “IN A DREAM” kicks in some upbeat tempo and a change of production. Though they deal with different subjects, they are both highly enjoyable tracks. “STUD” talks about a one-night stand, touching on feelings of temporary love and attraction, making it a feisty track. The title track “IN A DREAM,” on the other hand, is more mellow in content as Sivan talks about the struggle with avoiding someone you still know and love. He showcases the feeling of giving your heart out only so many times before breaking with the line, “'Cause my spirit's wearing thin. And there's only so much I can give, I won't let you in again.” A memorable aspect of this project is the production in the song structure. Through the tracks “Rager teenager!” and “Take Yourself Home,” the conclusion of both songs is a fade out of background vocals and instrumental for a duration longer than most artists would have, which is only seconds before leading into the next track. A persistent yet significant factor within. Troye Sivan
Australian YouTuber Troye Sivan returns with a new EP and a brand new sound
Opinion Viewpoints
September 2, 2020 • Page 3
Editorial
Staying productive America it is time during a pandemic to end sterotyping
LINDA PUGA
campus editor
From students in elementary school to college, to adults of all jobs and professions, the work-from-home transition has taken a toll on most. Regardless of who you are, we’ve endured indescribable changes in our day-to-day lives.. But for many, this season brought growing. Even in the world we live in today, there’s a way to make the most out of this time and continue a productive work life. It’s not too late to embrace the good. While it’s hard to duplicate a classroom or office setting in your home, the habits and way you take charge of your day can certainly implement a better work environment. Maybe get up early, get dressed and keep a great schedule just as you would when you had to wake up for work/school early in the morning.
Have a workspace, such as a desk with a warm candle and a cup of coffee, just as long as it’s anywhere besides a cozy bed. While working from bed all day in pajamas may be comfortable and starts off great, it ultimately leads to drowsiness and naps. A daily routine can include getting ready even if it’s just a comfortable outfit to work in. A pro tip for a productive day is keeping a planner and/or to-do lists to stay organized with meetings, calls and classes. Make sure to take breaks every now and then to still allow time to do something you love throughout the day. This season of staying home and remote can become a gift with the time to start developing better habits as well as undiscovered hobbies or passions. Don’t let yourself be limited just because of the unforeseen circumstances. Be proactive and find little ways to make life meaningful again. Set SMART goals by identifying your goal as specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely. This method allows goal setting to be clear and attainable. By implementing productive habits now or improving your daily unmotivating habits of the past, you will cultivate success even when returning to a classroom and office space in the future.
Nuances can make a good story great
RENE HERRERA campus editor
It seems that some writers and critics have lost the understanding of what makes a story good. What I mean is writers seem to value ideas and themes over structure and logic. In fact, some seem to outright ignore common sense just to prove a point or make the plot happen. My main example is The Last of Us Part 2, a game written and directed by Neil Druckmann and co-written with Halley Gross. The game has been a polarizing subject to many fans. It places importance of ideas over plot, which is why it has mixed reviews. Those who love the game seem to appreciate the ideas Druckmann and Gross were going for: the circle of violence, revenge, unceremonious death and self-decay. And make no mistake, this game is pure, unapologetic darkness. There is no light at the end of
the tunnel, except for one character learning to let go of a deceased loved one. Even though it was not really the central thesis of the story, like how it was in the movie Up. And I am all for such ideas and themes. I love dark stories, but not ones lacking in character depth and logic. This logic pertains to the rules set by the story’s own world, particularly set by the first game. That character, shown to be smart and resourceful, would be ignorant and unwise in the next installment.. Ellie and Abby had depth. The greatness of the first game was that it had hope in it. It was not hope for a better future or hope for mankind or even hope for a cure. It was hope for one man, that he could finally put his demons to rest and move on, to find something to love and fight for in such a grim, desolate world. The players understood that, which is why they loved it. That is why they cared for Joel and his story. He found someone to love again, and it was beautiful. Even with so much violence and the most inhumane people living, it was still beautiful. To those who aspire to write, refer back to those things, and never let themes, ideas and philosophy stop you from writing something as simple as a person learning to live again.
Amber Davis/The Collegian
As long as people continue to make assumptions of others and lump individuals into one group, our society will never be equal. Stereotyping, ranging from big to small, has been around since humans started roaming the Earth. Religious wars have been fought because of it. Even today, people can’t get jobs because of their first names. Since the internet is accessible at any time, it is easier to catch things like the George Floyd incident and others like it because of dangerous stereotypes. Police brutality has been more than whispered in 2020. Recently, an unarmed black man named Jacob Blake was shot seven times by a police officer. Because of everything going on lately with Black Lives Matter protests, some people might instinctively be one-sided and create a stereotype that all police are crooked. Jacob Blake’s intentions were unknown when he was shot. Whether the cops were doing their jobs or playing with power is also unknown. We know Blake violated a restraining order, and the situation escalated to the point where he is now under intensive care. Say this happened another time in life before 2020, it is likely that people would have thought that Blake was the bad guy and not the cops. Because of stereotypes of black males,
society has historically not cared about the little evidence and automatically picks a side. But people should not replace stereotypes with other stereotypes. It is great that the world is opening up with the knowledge of police brutality, but on the other hand people should not form an opinion of all police. Kyle Rittenhouse, an armed 17-year-old self-declared militia member, is accused of killing two people and injuring one at a protest prior to the Jacob Blake shooting. Right before the shooting, a video shows a police officer giving Rittenhouse water and thanking him for being there. For every silly stereotype like tall black men being able to play basketball, there’s a dangerous one like every black person from the hood is a criminal. Some companies don’t allow people with foreign names to pass an interview. This is an automatic assumption of someone. In a TED Talk by Jeremy Spiller, he gave examples of automatic assumptions and said “the way to stop stereotyping is to treat people more as individuals.” He said businesses like to over-categorize people but using data will help focus on individual people. Stereotypes are dangerous. But with technology more accessible, people are being held accountable and asked to look at their stereotypes more closely. They can look at others as individuals and not as a homogenous whole.
Letters to the Editor
The Collegian staff welcomes letters to the editor concerning articles that have run in the paper or on other subjects that may be of interest to the general public. All letters should be signed by the writer, who should include his or her Colleague ID or telephone number. The numbers will not be published. They are used for verification only. Letters should be typed and not longer than 150 words. They will be edited for grammar, style and space and will run as space is available and at the discretion of the editor. Letters should be e-mailed to: micheal.fosters-sanders@my-tccd.edu
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Foster-Sanders
MANAGING EDITOR Malik Giles
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LAYOUT & DESIGN Abbas Ghor Amber Davis Kristal Blankinship
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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.
Feature
Page 4 • September 2, 2020
The Collegian
Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian
You are not alone Keeping a sound mind and spirit during a global pandemic
Hanging out with friends, or going to a editor-in-chief social event is now restricted over fear of contracting COVID-19 could put a Mental health is a big issue these days, damper on a person’s happiness because of since the pandemic restructured the world social distancing. that was once familiar to students. Some students have developed a MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS
system to keep their mental health in a good place like TR student Denise Waker. “I have been trying to change my eating habits, drink more water, sit in silence, talk to God and my family to vent about my feelings.”