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Lany experiments with new sound for third album. PG. 2
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 – Volume 33 • Issue 6 Entertainment
Opinion
Opinion
Editorial
Feature
FOURTH ALBUM IN A YEAR Westside Gunn takes control of his destiny on new album. PG. 2
TRUMPS DANGEROUS GAME Our President’s lack of leadership is on display. PG. 3
SOCIAL MEDIA SUCKS The dangers of being addicted to social media. PG. 3
TOEING THE LINE How Trump’s rhetoric could be viewed as hate speech. PG. 3
TRUE AMERICAN HISTORY Celebrating the indigenous people of America. PG. 4
DISTRICT
Early voting starts Oct. 13 across TCC
Photos by Azul Sordo/The Collegian
Troy Havard helps voters register for the 2020 elections season. TCC will host polling stations for the Tarrant County election office at all campuses for the first time.
Students, people of the community now have clear voting sites to cut down confusion MADDY REMINGTON managing editor
The 2020 general election begins next week as Americans head to the polls for early voting beginning Oct. 13. The Tarrant County Election Office announced that all of the TCC campuses will be used as polling stations for the first time ever. TCC students and Tarrant County residents can cast their ballots at NW Campus in WFSC 1403A, at South Campus in the Student Center SSTU 1112, at NE Campus in the Student Center NSTU, at the SE Campus in the EMB Portable Building C, and at TR Campus. TCC students have had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the announcement. “I’m ten times more likely to vote in person,” TR student Katie Beard said about having TCC campuses as an option to vote. Having an identifiable and familiar place for students to go to cast their ballot is encouraging TCC students to take up their civic responsibility this November. Too often voters are left to their own
The galley at NSTU will host a polling station for the 2020 election year. Early voting can allieviate the long wait times before regular voting starts. devices to find out information about voting and where to go. With this announcement, many students have said that they are glad that they now know where they can cast their vote as they previously weren’t aware
of any polling options. The consensus is that the polling station announcement has made students feel that it is their responsibility to cast their ballots rather than just an option.
“I hope that with having such a powerful resource on campus, this will encourage our fellow students to make the choice to be proactive in their political lives,” said Rae Brown, NW student government association president. Especially with the current political turmoil, students are opening their eyes to what they can do to be active in their communities. “I feel the need, now more than ever, to vote, and to make my voice heard,” Brown said. People overlook the small details of elections and the unnecessary boundaries there are just to cast a single vote. Making polling stations more accessible especially within our TCC community is an effort to decrease the barriers associated with elections. If you want to work at the polls this year at a TCC campus or any other station, you can go online to tarrantcounty.com/en/ elections to volunteer. Tarrant County voters can take to the polls for early voting Oct.13 through Nov. 2. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
TRINITY RIVER
Remembering culture through traditions, languages LINDA PUGA
campus editor
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for reflection on cultural roots for TR student Sarai Marquez. Without her heritage and a family full of love and support, Marquez would be confined and unable to reach her full potential. Though Marquez was born and raised in Fort Worth, her family was born in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Marquez is grateful for her dad who worked countless hours and her mom who always took care of her and her three siblings. “Although my family wasn’t rich, my parents never failed to provide a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothes to wear every single day,” Marquez said. Today, Marquez’s family still prioritize the Spanish language and use it the majority
of the time they speak to never lose that part of their heritage. Marquez gained values such as love, respect and independence from her family. She said they will always be the people she can rely on no matter what. “Being Hispanic is more than just a word, it’s about being there for your blood and showing respect,” Marquez said. “It’s about hard work and showing up when no one else does.” TR student Pedro Gonzalez immigrated at 4 years old to the U.S. with his family from Jalisco, Mexico. Soon after, he started kindergarten. “Due to the language barrier, my parents weren't very active with my teachers or my assignments so I slowly began to develop a sense of responsibility,” Gonzalez said. His responsibilities came quickly being the youngest of five siblings. By age 15, Gonzalez had his first job and worked all throughout high school.
“My hard working family have always raised the bar for me because time and time again; they've shown hard work makes everything achievable,” Gonzalez said. Jan. 6 marks a special day for Gonzalez and his family where they celebrate “Dia de Los Reyes Magos,” also known as Three Kings’ Day or Epiphany. Dia de Los Reyes Magos is a Christian feast day that celebrates the Wise Men’s visit when Jesus was born. “This is my favorite tradition because this is one of the rare times in the year I get to see my whole family together,” Gonzalez said. Spanish professor Janet Rodriguez is from Caimito del Guayabal, a small town in Havana, Cuba. Even though her family was extremely poor, Rodriguez considered herself a happy child. A memory from home she will always remember is the first rainy day of the season. “Every child would go outside,” Rodri-
guez said.“It was said that if you get wet that day, you would grow up to be handsome or pretty. It was so much fun to run in the rain splashing puddles.” A big Hispanic family helped Rodriguez learn the meaning of selflessness. She still recalls the sacrifices her parents made for their children, always being the last to eat on days where food was scarce. “It was not until we moved to the United States that I found out my mother preferred the breast of the chicken. In Cuba, she always had a wing,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez’s tight-knit family has helped her share both joys and sorrows and navigate through life’s challenges with people by her side. From Ciudad Acuña to Jalisco to Havana comes just a handful of the many stories of lives being changed and the importance of the roots left behind that helped cultivate a new life.