collegian.tccd.edu
Wandavision takes Marvel fans on a wild ride PG. 4
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – Volume 33 • Issue 15 Opinion
Entertainment
CONSEQUENCES OF SPEECH Why free speech isn’t free after all. PG. 5
MODERN SPIN ON ‘90s ROCK Why Don’t We releases spectacular new album. PG. 4
Opinion
Editorial
WASTE OF A STREAMING SERVICE YOU MAY BE MISINFORMED Amazon Prime proves again why it’s Fake news and its prominence the worst family member. PG. 5 in a modern world. PG. 5
Feature PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY A look into IT courses. PG. 3
SOUTH
Deciding new South Campus president
Azul Sordo/The Collegian
The STEC building stands empty on South Campus as another online semester begins. Prior to the district shutdown, various classes were conducted in the building. ALYSON OLIVER campus editor
After former South president Peter Jordan’s resignation last fall, TCC assesses three final candidates in the search to fill the open position, said Reginald Gates, vice chancellor of communications and external affairs. Jordan resigned Sept. 30 after serving as South president for over eight years, Gates said. He decided to step down so he could be closer to his family by returning to the New York area and pursuing opportunities there.
“The transition has been quite smooth,” Gates said. “The South campus has an exceptional leadership team, faculty and staff to support our students.” TCC Chancellor Eugene Giovannini has taken over the president’s usual responsibilities, Gates said. This entails meeting regularly with South leadership and the faculty and staff, plus the operation of and planning for South. According to a subsection of the Open Administrator Positions page on TCC’s website titled “Search: TCC South President,” the search for a new leader began this year during the week of Jan. 4.
DISTRICT
TCC community weighs in on their spring preparations JANINE SHUMAN reporter
For many, the pandemic introduced dysfunctional daily routines as if the rest of the baggage simply wasn’t enough. NE student Maram Hammoudeh doesn’t have a structured school routine. “My study routine depends on how much I have slept the night before but usually I will do all my work late afternoon or at night,” she said. “I’ll try to finish most of what is due the day of, and if I don’t then I will have it done before the next week starts.”
“I think we all feel a little more prepared for life in this new normal, but I make changes every semester.”
Natalie Russell
NE biology professor
NE biology professor Natalie Russell taught online before the pandemic hit, making her routine more organized than most. “Since I taught online even before COVID, my day has changed less than most instructors,” she said.“I start the day responding to emails, grading and giving students feedback while drinking my first cup of coffee. I open my virtual office hours and hope that a few students will drop in to see me.” Despite having experience than most, Russell is no stranger to the changes of the transition. “The biggest change for me is that any collaboration with colleagues or planning is done through virtual TEAMS meetings instead of in-person meetings,” she said. “About lunchtime, if the weather is nice, I take a walk around the neighborhood to get a break from sitting at my desk. The afternoon is usually spent creating something for class; it might be a video or a lab activity.” For NE student Rebecca Morris, involvement in school organizations and keeping a healthy daily routine is helping her combat isolation.
“The candidate interview process continues to take place,” Gates said. “We’ll soon plan for finalists interviews with the South campus and community.” On the “Search: TCC South President” page, TCC has put out an open invitation for anyone interested in attending a forum with the finalists. The option to send in questions through email was available until Jan. 25, according to TCC, and the candidates will be giving their answers during the forum. The event will take place on Microsoft Teams, and the links to join will be made public in ad-
vance, according to TCC. The final candidates are Daniel Lufkin, Alessandro Anzalone and Feliccia Moore-Davis, according to TCC. They will be answering questions 1-2 p.m. Jan. 27, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Jan. 27 and 1-2 p.m. Jan. 28 respectively. The new South president will be announced during the week of Feb. 1. All three candidates have over a decade of teaching experience, according to TCC. They have all served in leadership positions in higher education, including as college presidents. Anzalone attended the University of South Florida for his doc-
torate in chemical engineering, Moore-Davis attended Regent University in Virginia for her doctorate in organizational leadership and Lufkin attended Nova Southeastern University for his doctorate in education. More information about the candidates, including their education, teaching and leadership history, achievements and goals can be found on TCC’s website under Open Administrator Positions on the page titled “Search: TCC South President.” https://www.tccd.edu/about/administration/open-administrator-positions/so-president/
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Pandemic’s lasting effect on individuals moving forward Students embrace a new era of living and learning JOSE ROMERO campus editor
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented circumstances that have caused TCC staff and students to adapt to a new way of living. In Texas, there have been over two million confirmed cases, according to the Texas Health and Human Services. Because of the high rising number of infected individuals, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order mandating precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus. A primary measure was asking citizens to stay at home. “I would say that the pandemic has changed me as a mother,” student Cruz Garcia said. "I recently have all three of my kids with me at home. They are taking virtual schooling and I have seen how much closer we have gotten, how much harder I have to work as a mom, wife and student.” Each individual was given the same question, “How has the pandemic changed you?” The responses varied heavily from person to person. Some shared personal
paragraphs about the emotional and physical impact staying at home caused, and others responded saying not much has changed for them. “I don’t mind the pandemic,” student Jocelyn Johnson said. “[It] hasn’t really changed me. I was still able to work and things like that but it did open my eyes to how entitled people are.” Change was a common occurrence during the pandemic, but not everybody’s routines shifted drastically. English professor Johansen Quijano said his daily activities have been similar, just doesn’t leave the house as much. Quijano can’t wait to safely be able to visit family and friends once vaccinations start to roll out. Spanish professor LaCresha Adjodi didn’t change much in her usual day as well, but became more cognizant of the amount of misleading information surrounding the virus. Concerns about the media and its depiction of the pandemic has been a prominent topic. Adjodi said that he trust in mainstream media has dwindled significantly because of false information that gets expressed constantly. The differences between quar-
antine experiences can be attributed to situational factors. Some professors and students are used to online courses which meant there wasn’t much of a difference, but for student Shannon Badger, being a disabled veteran and having a disabled daughter means that the pandemic had quite an impact on her. “I have become more patient and that is a clear sign of growth for me,” Badger said. “I am used to making things happen right away.” She has had to get creative with the activities done at home, and there are a lot more daily responsibilities since her children are with her throughout the day. “I also became their teacher, counselor, personal chef for all three meals of the day and it was a toll on me and my body,” Badger said. “At this point, I am learning to take my time with everything. I have learned to not do everything in one day and just enjoy the time I have with them. Because my life used to be so busy with everything, this pandemic has actually shown me a lot of things that are important to me that I should have been paying attention to.”
News
Page 2 • January 27, 2021
The Collegian
DISTRICT
Discovering pros, cons of online learning
Azul Sordo/The Collegian
Dariana Jimenez studies for her online classes in the fall semester. Making the adjustment to virtual learning has had positive and negative effects on TCC students. DEIRDRE BENAVIDES reporter
Mandatory virtual learning under COVID-19 was business as usual for some students, but for others, the transition wasn’t as seamless. “I am a visual learner, so I learn best when I am in the classroom,” SE student Hannia Alvarez said. “I had to drop out this semester because I was not learning a single thing.” Alvarez said she would often postpone assignments out of un-
certainty, which only contributed to the stress of first-time virtual learning. “Prior to the pandemic I only took classes in person,” she said. “I was slacking so much online, I ended up making the decision to drop.” NW student Kaylie Houston said her choice to take classes online had a lot to do with the ability to work within her schedule instead of being obligated to be in a classroom on a certain day at a specific time. She said virtual learning may not be optimal for everyone.
Some students found the experience of virtual learning was made unique by the pandemic. “I took online classes prior to the pandemic,” NW student Chloe Smith said. “I did so more for basic classes like history and a few math classes. However, before this semester, I’d never taken any science courses online.” Smith said she chose to take online classes in the past to save the time of traveling to campus since she worked full time and was facing the possibility of a move. She said her online experience this year was
different from past semesters, and communication was poor. For students with experience in online coursework, some aspects of virtual learning presented new challenges. “I have mixed feelings about the proctored tests,” Houston said. “On some level, it makes me more nervous having something recording my every move and eye movement.” Houston said she thinks online proctoring has prevented teachers from feeling comfortable with allowing people to use notes on their
tests. For Alvarez, virtual learning was a missed opportunity to meet and interact with others in real life. “I don’t feel like I missed out on anything this semester that can’t be made up,” Alvarez said, “except for maybe meeting new people.” Some are walking away with a different perspective. “I just transferred to Texas A&M- Corpus Christi and I do feel as if I missed out on learning this year,” Alvarez said. “You simply do not have the same conversations online that you could face to face. This semester was OK.”
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Students discuss last semester’s trials and triumphs LINDA PUGA
campus editor
The hardest adjustment NE student Lauren Maenza-Oliver faced with the first full online semester of college was easily getting distracted. Some things that helped her navigate online learning included using a focus app, blasting music through noise-canceling headphones and using a color-coding system inside of a planner. Through this past semester, Maenza-Oliver realized how much she missed having an organized routine to produce her best work. In addition to a lack of focus, she struggled with being tech-savvy.
“Before TCC, I had not used a computer for five-plus years,” Maenza-Oliver said. “I had gotten better technologically by the time we went fully online, but it has tested my knowledge, patience and also made me more creative in working things out and in reaching out to my people.” Maenza-Oliver had her hands full with student organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa, Psi Beta and Students in Recovery. Guiding incoming campus students in New Student Orientations in addition to serving in her community challenged Maenza-Oliver creatively and socially. She worked hard to ensure that student activities could carry on successfully with a new set of students to support.
“I was so ready to finally be a student when I got to TCC that nothing and no one can stop me,” Maenza-Oliver said. “I am driven to finish what I started.” Like Maenza-Oliver, South student Valerie Vallejo ended the semester feeling stronger than ever. Vallejo reflected on the fall semester by recognizing how much balance she needed to manage her priorities. “I got overwhelmed at one point because I didn’t plan out parts of my schedule for the day and I had some meetings that overlapped each other and still had work to do,” Vallejo said. She struggled the most with understanding how to use all the platforms, completing assignments
and sticking to a schedule of courses and extracurriculars while simultaneously being stuck at home. I prepared myself for a full online semester by remembering to take time for myself and reach out to my professors with any questions, Vallejo said. TR student Katie Beard feels the same as she looks back, wishing she spent less time crying and more time being productive alongside taking breaks and spending time outside. Beard’s biggest academic struggle was her learning style getting in the way of fully being able to understand her coursework. “Being a kinesthetic learner whilst also learning a visual language online was a massive strug-
gle,” Beard said. “I still feel as though it stunted the progression of my growth in my field.” As an American Sign Language student and club officer, Beard and her fellow collaborators have also been challenged with the task of finding a platform for events and meetings that offers captions or an option to enlarge a screen in order to fully be inclusive to its members. Through the downfalls the semester carried, Beard learned more about herself in the midst of it all. “This year has been a true testimony of growth for me,” Beard said. “Every possible fear I have ever had came to fruition, forcing me to push forward through every personal scar and trail in order to be the human I am today.”
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The Collegian
Feature
January 27, 2021 • Page 3
Azul Sordo/The Collegian
IT courses allow students to interact with technology that would be utilized in a professional environment. There are multiple specializations for students to choose from.
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IT program prepares students for careers JOSE ROMERO ROMERO campus editor
From 2019 to 2029, there’s a projected growth of 11% for jobs in the IT field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Professors have noticed IT’s popularity and ensure the course’s effectiveness in preparing students by providing multiple career pathways and an effective course curriculum. “Based on the specialization for information technology, we have so many different areas,” South Campus computer science instructor Shahla Durany said. “We have networking, programming, web application, cybersecurity, gaming and simulation.” Convergence technologies — cloud technology and information assurance — are also offered. Each specialization is catered to its respective field by teaching students how to
utilize industry-standard tools. For example, Cisco systems in network support courses or Unity in game, simulation and animation design courses. Before choosing a specialization, students are required to take core courses which assist in making a final choice, deciding which career path will be the most suitable. “All of the programs in information technology have the same set of what is called, technical core classes,” Durany said. “That means regardless of what area you’re going to, there are certain classes that every student needs to take. After the completion of those core technical classes, students then would know what is the specialization they’re most interested in.” For students looking to transfer, TCC has agreements with other colleges such as Tarleton and Collin in which certain specialization credit hours will transfer. Constant communication between universities forms
significant partnerships that prepare students for studies beyond TCC, TR Campus computer science professor Tyson McMillan said. “I see the TCC IT courses as a vital foundation for our students,” he said. “We give students the confidence to go from TCC to Ph.D. We are an initial spark towards continued studies and a fulfilling career. I hope that students gain the one-on-one help that they need to find the area of IT that they enjoy most.” Campuses have had to shut down because of COVID-19, meaning courses are online only. Classes have shifted accordingly. “The pandemic meant that we, teachers, needed to adjust to spending more time in course preparation and finding creative ways to engage with our students,” McMillan said. “I view the live video sessions as vitally important as a lecture I would generally give in person. The pandemic has demonstrated the ne-
cessity for functional technology. Students are required to do their work on various sites which means servers for these sites must stay consistently online. Online only courses have revealed how important technology-related careers are, said Connect Campus program coordinator Kenya Wilson. “The great thing about Tarrant County College is that we have an online campus, TCC Connect Campus, through which many faculty teaching in IT and Computer Science were teaching online prior to the pandemic,” she said. “The full-time faculty at Connect Campus, full-time faculty at our partner campuses and many of our veteran adjuncts were able to continue the best practices in online teaching and learning, to ensure continued success for students.” For more details about information technology courses, go to https://www.tccd. edu/academics/courses-and-programs/programs-a-z/credit/information-technology/
IT students prepare for Hackathon event that was partnered with Cisco Systems in 2018 before campuswide shutdowns.
File photo/The Collegian
January 27, 2021 • Page 4
Entertainment
The Collegian
DISNEY+ REVIEW
MCU’s new show is classic with a twist
Photo courtesy of Disney
Wanda Maximoff and Vision watch in amazement as their surroundings turn from blackand white to color. The scene showcases the changing of the decades in the episodes.
MADDY REMINGTON campus editor
Wandavision, the first show of Marvel’s fourth phase, is a modern spin on classic television that takes viewers through the decades, but with a creepy twist. The show mimics old American TV shows by including canned laughter and cheesy lines. However, Wandavision is quite different from other shows and films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It utilizes weird storylines and humorous dialogue. However, it stays in character with the rest of the MCU by having an underlying tone that something is going wrong. Cue creepy storyline. The series takes viewers on a wild ride with Wanda Maximoff and Vision settling down in a friendly suburb. They are trying to project an image that they are a normal American couple to keep the secret of their powers safe. The first episode introduces the idea that the characters don’t exactly know anything about their history or how they got to where they are. The next two episodes build on that idea with a theme similar to that of “The Truman Show.” The first episode seems to take place in the fifties, while the second episode takes place in the sixties. At the end of the second episode, we see the world turn to color from
black and white, and here enters the seventies-themed episode. The characters reference major themes of the decades with noticeable digs at the prevalence of sexism in the time periods. Overall, the sitcom seems to be a mix of the dialogue and humor of “I Love Lucy” with the style and themes of “The Truman Show.” Wanda and Vision both get a lot more character development in the show right away. We see more of the relationship between the pair and their dynamic is compelling. The audience also gets to see Wanda’s powers as the Scarlet Witch expanded upon, which is prevalent in all facets of her life. Before watching this show, it was difficult to understand her powers’ purpose and her full capabilities, but after viewing, the viewer understands how she fits into the greater MCU. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bethany are the perfect pair to play Wanda and Vision because of their chemistry and impeccable acting skills. They shift into different versions of their characters in each era, and their acting throughout the funny and even the serious scenes just screams talent. Wandavision was not at all what I expected, but I’ve found that’s what makes it perfect. The viewer finds themselves asking, “What is going on?” several times throughout each episode, but it’s not enough of a confusing storyline to turn the viewer off the show.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Wanda, played by Elizabeth Olsen, notices something isn’t right when a colored helicopter falls from the sky in their black-and-white world. The cinematography is enticing and fits the style of the decade of the episode. The editing is precise and the scenes where the pair displays their powers are cut effortlessly into the timeline. The first three episodes have been released on Disney+, with the next six coming out weekly on Fridays. While this show is quite different from much of the typical MCU content, that aspect
makes it all the more appealing and compelling to watch. Dedicated Marvel fans and anyone who just wants a good laugh should definitely watch Wandavision.
MUSIC REVIEW
Boy band goes retro with a modern twist on new LP LINDA PUGA
campus editor
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records
After the successful boy band took a short hiatus, they are back with a new spectacular 10-track album.
The Los Angeles-based band Why Don’t We dropped their second studio album after leaving fans guessing when they took a ninemonth hiatus from social media at the start of 2020. The 10-track project, “The Good Times and the Bad Ones,” climbed up on the iTunes charts and became the No. 1 best selling album in pure sales in the country the week after its release. The album starts with “Fallin’ (Adrenaline),’’ the first single released following the band’s break. The track lays a solid foundation for the sound listeners can expect in the rest of the project. The lead song has heavy drums that kick-start the feeling of an adrenaline rush. The catchy production immediately draws attention, coupled with scattered high notes that showcase immense vocal development from previous bodies of work. Things “Slow Down” on track two with less intense production while still keeping the classic drum and guitar combination, creating a song perfect for a Saturday night out with friends. The band reminisces the importance of living life to the fullest and incorporates a fun play on words with the phrases, “California ‘cation,” “We took a shot at this but maybe we’re too wasted’’ and “It’s hard to swallow but I know we gotta chase it.” “Be Myself ” starts a new wave of sound in the album with a stripped-back production. The lyrics were written by Daniel Seavey after watching bandmate Jack Avery’s encounter and hardship with anxiety. The song is beautifully written as it showcases the struggle of overthinking and
contains a message listeners can have a heart to heart with: “We’re dancing on the edge of anxiety’s ledge and I might fall again, we’re walking on a rope of worry and I hope that I don’t fall again.” The band slows things down and listeners are left feeling “Grey” with the second mellow track on the album. This completely stripped-back song leaves room for effortless runs, the sole use of a grand piano and an immaculate chorus with Avery’s vocals. The power ballad describes the feeling of being in the wrong of a relationship and recognizing that hurt, ending beautifully with a fade-out of strings. A sample of Heath Ledger’s laugh as the iconic Joker character starts off the sultry track “Look At Me.” As the shortest song on the album at 1 minute and 59 seconds, it’s the perfect length for the easy flow of verses, a subtle yet mysterious beat and dark undertones throughout. The sequence of the album takes listeners through the story of a romantic relationship. Whether the song comes from a realistic or visionary standpoint, the artists express themselves through the music, using each shift in production or vocals as a change in narrative to further connect fans to each track. Why Don’t We make its mark with its first self-written and produced album. As a collective, these five experimented with production beats, vocal ranges and lyrical content, generating a one-of-a-kind project and an open range of possibilities as to what they have in store for the future.
Opinion
The Collegian
Viewpoints
Prime Video has a trash user interface
JOSE ROMERO campus editor
Streaming services typically provide users with a Swiss Army knife of functionality unless you’re Amazon Prime Video. Prime Video is the faulty abandoned charger left in a drawer gathering dust of services. It doesn’t work well but, once in a blue moon, it manages to stumble its way into getting the job done. The app and site’s user interface looks like they were ripped straight out of an early 2000s food blog with its bland color palette and lack of personality. Compared to Netflix and HBO Max, it seems as if it’s a student project that was completed in a day the night before the deadline. My main issue with the service is that I have to trudge through a clunky interface to get to the content I want to watch. “The Boys” is a great show,
but I shudder at the thought of having to click my way through the service. Once I manage to hold my breath long enough to select the show, an ad will greet me — ones that can’t be disabled—for other exclusive content that I’ll never watch since that means continuing interaction with Prime Video. Other big companies seem to know when it’s time to do a full redesign or add requested features for convenience’s sake. Heck, Prime Video got multiple user profiles last year, seven years after Netflix introduced it. The only feature that it has that others don’t is its “X-ray” functionality, in which a show can be paused at any time to see the name of the actors along with some trivia about what’s on screen. Issues with Prime Video stem from Amazon’s priorities. The main site has one of the most advanced search algorithms on the internet. Meanwhile, their streaming service is further down the benefits list for a Prime subscription. You just happen to get to watch “Sneaky Pete” along with having something as efficient as free two-day delivery. Who knows, Amazon could be strapped for cash? According to CNBC, it’s only valued at $1.7 trillion, so perhaps there aren’t enough pennies in the Bezos piggy bank.
Twitter fingers lead lemmings to revolt
MICHEAL FOSTER-SANDERS editor-in-chief
As an American, you are entitled to the First Amendment, which includes the freedom of speech, but that does not protect you from saying anything, nor does it absolve you from the consequences. Many people learn this the hard way with online bullying, hate speech or enticing violence and spreading disinformation. Former President Trump used his four years in office trying to destroy credible journalism to skew the narrative in his favor with his ridiculous propaganda that brainwashed a great deal of the American population. Then one of the darkest days in U.S. history happened when the U.S. Capitol building came under siege by some of those same brainwashed people he duped into thinking were some kind of patriots. Trump had the ability to attempt
to quell the great uprising, but nope, that would have been to much to ask. Instead, he decided not to do anything and decided to use a tweet to condone the siege on the capital. Five people died because of his bratty ways by not being able to take his defeat in a classy way. Twitter struck first with a 12hour ban, then came to the conclusion to permanently ban him because of his misuse of the platform. Facebook struck next by temporarily banning him. Right-wing extremist, white supremist and QAnon conspiracy theorists were also in for a surprise when the popular social media app Parler was delisted from both iOS and Android app stores, and server usage was stopped by Amazon. False cries of tyranny from the participants saying that the government and these companies were trying to oppress their thoughts and opinions was not the case at all. Why a self-respecting business would let them use their tools to spread hate and dissension throughout the interwebs is baffling. But it has been refreshing to see them scatter like cockroaches when lights come on. They will never completely go away, but the job from this day forward is to stop them from building up and infesting minds with their madness.
January 27, 2020 • Page 5
Editorial
Let’s put facts over sore losers’ feelings
Amber Davis/The Collegian
The ugly facts are not fake news. According to the Charles Koch Institute, American leaders’ history of taking swings at journalists is a sign they are acting as they should: by shining an honest spotlight on authority. So with a track record like Trump’s, it’s no surprise he’s spun his own “fake news” narrative. And it worked. A 2020 study by Pew Research Center shows a majority of Biden and Trump voters say they disagree on basic facts about relevant issues in America. The 27% of Republicans who used Trump as a news source during the 2020 election were more concerned about provably false election fraud, according to another study by Pew Research. In a third study, Pew Research reported Republicans reliant on Trump for news about the pandemic had a more favorable outlook on the handling of COVID-19, were more likely to trust Trump over health organizations like the CDC and were more likely to think COVID-19 was blown out of proportion, even as it continues to impact and end lives. Trust in science and journalism has declined over the years, according to the General Social Survey, cited in an article by the Brookings Institution. This is thanks to a politically charged barrage on scientists and the press that dates before Trump’s presidency, according to Brookings. Trump has been especially harmful by feeding into misinformation about COVID-19 and contributing to claims of election fraud that spiraled into an attack on the Capitol. This has deeply divided the American people,
from populations to families. While no scientist is exempt from human error, and while no mainstream news outlet is perfectly unbiased, relying on a politician for news is a surefire way to only hear one side. Especially when it comes to power-hungry science-deniers. A moment that set the Orwellian tone for Trump’s presidency occurred during an NBC News interview in 2017, days after Trump’s inauguration, with his senior counselor Kellyanne Conway. She coined the use of an incorrect statistic by Trump’s press secretary, pertaining to inauguration attendance, not a mistake, but a presentation of “alternative facts.” This may seem like a small misstep, but it demonstrated the nature of the Trump administration. Leading a country leaves no room for uncorrected errors, “alternative facts” or a disregard for the truth. This begs the question: Amid all the conflicting signals, how does one avoid potentially harmful misinformation? Staying informed is an excellent method. TCC offers classes on politics, debate, media, communications and more, and encourages critical thinking. Furthermore, getting information from a variety of trustworthy sources, and learning to discern where a source’s bias may lie, is important for students to practice in academics and in life. Using websites such as Allsides or Snopes for fact-checking is also helpful. Science and the press exist independent of the government for a reason. Students should continue to think critically and continue to be analytical while navigating the modern ocean of information.
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.foster-sanders@my.tccd.edu
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Foster-Sanders
MANAGING EDITOR Maddy Remington
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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). Letters may be brought to The Collegian office (NCAB 1124A, NE Campus), or mailed to:
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.
Opinion
Page 6 • January 27, 2021
CHAOS AT THE CAPITOL The Collegian staff reflects on the events of Jan. 6 M i c h a e l F o s t e r- S a n d e r s , e d i tor-in-chief: The morning of Jan. 6 I woke up to a series of text notifications from friends telling me to turn on my television to watch what was happening at the U.S. Capitol. What I witnessed looked like it could’ve been a summer blockbuster movie, but it was reality. American-bred terrorists were storming the Capitol, which didn’t surprise me because peaceful protests on a national level warned that America had a problem with domestic terrorism, extremism and a lack of empathy for minority groups. It was the flags and attire that some of these terrorists were flying and wearing. They were symbols of oppression and hate such as the Confederate flag, Nazi homage and blatantly antisemitic Camp Auschwitz sweaters that beared the motto “Work brings freedom.” And last but not least, Blue Lives Matter. The kicker in this circus is that the terrorist attacked and murdered federal police officers nullifying the Blue Lives Matter tomfoolery showing that it was simply to try to silence the Black Lives Matter movement with its tone-deaf stance. What the aftermath has shown of this farce is that fear-mongering, false information and privilege that goes unchecked will become a ticking time bomb. Alyson Oliver, editor: Initially, seeing the Capitol attack play out was frightening to me. Even though I was already aware of the unrest, Jan. 6 stunk with hypocrisy and entitlement. It was a blatant demonstration of white privilege. The fact there weren’t more immediate repercussions for those rioters, as they disrupted democracy, is appalling. If they had not been white, the outcome of that day would have been very different. How is it that Black Lives Matter protesters, raising their voices against the centuries-long oppression of Black people and people of color, are
condemned by those same people who were involved in the unjust Capitol attack? How is it that Trump could refer to BLM protesters as “thugs,” but then provoke and encourage the events of Jan. 6 because he lost a fair election? It is truly disgusting. Jose Romero, editor: What happened at Capitol Hill was the best physical representation of the state America is in. For a while now, everything has been in complete disarray with a lack of authority to control it. The president incited a riot and told his supporters that he would be right there with them. Well, he wasn’t, but what was there was a violent mob willing to do anything to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory. I don’t know how the mob thought that it would accomplish that, but having five people killed was probably not in the repertoire. This kind of behavior has been normalized for far too long so my guess is that nobody was expecting any kind of repercussions. Also, the fact that many weren’t wearing masks was the cherry on top. Janine, reporter: In his farewell address, George Washington warned the nation of the dangers of partisan division, claiming that America would remain strongest when united. Now, a little over two centuries later, we are witnessing the repercussions he warned us would occur. Law enforcement officers were caught taking photos with rioters, rioters were destroying property, and displaying aggressive behavior. People quickly remembered the treatment of Black Lives Matter protestors just a few months ago. We witnessed many lives stripped away at the hands of law enforcement. The same people who were caught at the Capitol were condemning BLM protesters just a few months ago, claiming they were being “too violent.” The rioting at the Capitol only intensified my deep beliefs about extreme white privilege in America and how even in 2021, people are still being
treated differently based on their race. If one thing is for sure, people’s true colors are showing more than ever. Mary Maturo, editor: As a Jew, the Capitol attacks confirmed the fears of many in my community. Anti-Semitism is more prevalent and accepted in this country than it has ever been. To see symbols of hate and oppression carried by terrorists through the halls of the most important building in America is an unimaginable reality. What is more unimaginable is the fact that this was allowed to happen by those who were both elected and chosen to keep this country safe. There is much blame to lodge here, but make no mistake, this will not end with a new president. From the perspective of a Jew, there are people on both sides who are complicit in this problem, and it should not have taken swastikas in the Senate for politicians to call out this hatred. The attacks have left me and our country shook, and I fear we may never recover. Stayce Petties, editor: Centuries later and moving forward, racism still is the number one battle America has not fixed. The attack on Capitol Hill raises so many frustrations of anger from the black communities all over the U.S. The events that took place at the Capitol show the struggle and the battle that we fight every day when it comes to race. For Caucasian Americans to march into the Capitol forcefully, beat officers, disgrace and trash it without interference demonstrates how prominent white privilege is. People say you know you have a right to protest and speak your mind with freedom of speech, and that is true, but when different races and cultures do it, it becomes a problem. For example, most of the people who stormed the Capitol, beating officers, trashing it and resulting in violence were a disgrace and were majority white people.
Some police officers instead of protecting, walked beside protesters and walked right in like keeping them out wasn’t their duty. Then, you have the African Americans protesting for what they believe in, which they’ve been doing since the beginning of time. Violence and hatred were unleashed upon the Blacks even when unarmed. This is what needs to be fixed. Logan Evans, editor: It was a chilling coda to the last four years. Images surfaced online as the tension was just beginning, pictures of smoke, crowds and ruin. Already, the storming of the Capitol was burned into American history before the embers of unrest had truly erupted. The doors were breached by mid-afternoon and then we saw the worst of it. Broken glass, Congress members in hiding and symbols of white supremacy marched beneath the Capitol rotunda like a homecoming parade for ignorance. On the surface, there was a finality to it; a boiling over of the meanness that had brewed through Trump’s presidency. Just as Trump lost his re-election, this mob was subdued in the end. But as the dust settles and the culprits are identified, it’s becoming clear that they came from all over. Veterans, gang members, musicians and conspiracy theorists alike. This meanness was deepened by the last four years, but it did not start with Trump. It will not suddenly end as he leaves office. This attack was a startling reminder of the progress we have yet to make. Linda Puga, editor: The event that took place at the Capitol building was absolutely horrendous. I genuinely hope there isn’t ever an event like this again. Our law enforcement could have and should have acted better than they did in the day’s events. What we saw was a delayed response from security to get protesters to exit the building, as if they weren’t vandalising one of the most important structures in our country. BLM protests and this riot are not even close to comparable, also knowing the president at the time had a part in this event is disgusting.
Illustration by Amber Davis /The Collegian