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Nomad finds her way PG. 8

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 – Volume 33 • Issue 26 News

Feature

Entertainment

Opinion

Editorial

NEED EMPLOYMENT? South Campus provides a way to get hired. PG. 2

A PRESIDENT’S BRUSH How a TCC professor was painted by George W. Bush. PG. 4 & 5

TALES OF DISASTER Thursday’s fourth album doesn’t pull any punches. PG. 8

IN THE DIGITAL NEWSROOM The ups and downs of remote journalism. PG. 9

NO MORE VICTIM-BLAMING Women’s trials and tribulations. PG. 9

The Board of Trustees election came with unexpected twists and turns after some confusion surrounding a withdrawal and only one incumbent win.

Azul Sordo/The Collegian

DISTRICT

Board of Trustees election results are in

COLLEGIAN STAFF TCC’s board president lost reelection, and another race resulted in potential legal action in the board of trustees election May 1. Shannon Wood will serve as District 2 Board of Trustee after beating incumbent Conrad Heede. Wood received 66.8% of the votes, while Heede got 33.2%. “Thank you to all the wonderful people in Southlake, Keller, Colleyville, Grapevine, NRH, Hurst, Bedford and Westlake who voted for me,” she posted on Facebook reacting to her victory. A t t e m p t s t o reach Wood were unsuccessful. She thanked her volunteers that worked alongside her and said she’s happy to represent District 2 as their trustee. Heede has served on the board since 2011 and has been the president of the board since 2019. “I’ve been totally honored to serve Tarrant County College for 10 years,” he said. “To serve the college, the institution, the students and the community for the last 10 years.

I just really enjoyed it and it’s been a wonderful, wonderful experience.” Heede said some of the board’s largest accomplishments he contributed to are the creation of a digital roadmap for the college, sustainability policy and the development of partnerships for scholarships. Heede left Wood with some parting advice. “It’s going to take a lot of training,” he said. “It takes a trustee two or three years before they really know what the job is all about and know how much work it takes. I hope that she puts in that time and effort to learn what it takes to be an effective board of trustee member.” Sherri McCullouch won District 5. She withdrew from the race due to an unexpected change that would keep her from fulfilling trustee duties, as stated in her letter of withdrawal. However, this decision came once the deadline for removal from the ballot had already passed, according to Reginald Gates, district vice chancellor of communications & external affairs.

McCullouch will still be running in the upcoming runoff election against Leonard Hornsby, who beat his opponent Christi Clanton by 13 votes. Hornsby said he has been associated with TCC for over 40 years. His desire to see it thrive was part of what motivated him to run. The race was tiring for him, he said, and he was disappointed by his opponents’ partisan stances. “They’re not red, they’re not blue,” he said of the students at TCC. “They are people that need to be served. However, the college is headed in a good direction, he said, and he hopes this trajectory continues. Clanton denied to comment after seeking legal counsel concerning the validity of the election results following McCullouch’s withdrawal. Jeannie Deakyne will represent District 3, totaling up an average of 75% of votes for the position. Deakyne wants to improve fiscal responsibility and education and workforce development in Tarrant County. “I am a unifier who genuinely

wants to see TCC meet the needs of our county,” she said. “To have such a decisive victory in my race is a testament to how aligned my vision for education and workforce development is with our communities,” Deakyne was proud of her campaign and how it helped her victory. She had over 100 endorsements from community leaders, outstanding volunteer support, and a focus on interests that mattered to District 3 voters, she said. In her run, Deakyne wants to focus on incentives to support economic development and implement career training programs to produce higher-paying jobs in the area, she said. "I want to provide responsible oversight of the $825 million bond passed by Tarrant County voters in 2019," she said. "With over a decade of experience planning and oversight of Arlington ISDs bonds, I have proven experience in ensuring voters' tax dollars will equip facilities, create workforce solutions and deliver innovative programs accessible by all TCCD students." To make college more afford-

able, Deakyne wants to partner with ISDs to support more rigorous dual-credit courses, early college high school and advanced placement testing, which reduces the number of classes taken after graduation. Teresa Ayala won District 1’s board seat with 77.80% of the vote. “As a former TCC student and adjunct, it is an honor to serve this institution and our community,” she said. “Knowing that I play a small role in this cohesive unit of seven trustees who come together for a meaningful common cause is inspiring.” Ayala said the role of community colleges is important, especially now. She hopes to continue focusing on student access, retention and completion while following TCC’s goals and principles. She said effectively managing the bond program, strengthening collaborations with community partners and nurturing the college district so it achieves its full potential is another aspiration. Logan Evans, Alyson Oliver, Jose Romero and Janine Shuman

DISTRICT

How substance abuse influences lives of individuals JOSE ROMERO seniior editor sen

Thirteen percent of Americans have increased their substance usage as a coping mechanism during the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TR student Ryan Moody works at Baylor Scott & White as a patient care technician in the progressive care unit. He said he sees a lot of substance abuse cases and withdrawal, primarily among young women between their 20s and 30s. They come to the hospital in the hopes of a liver transplant due to alcohol abuse, but it can take months to find a donor. “You see a girl coming in and she’s barely 29 or 30 and the doctor has given her maybe a year to live,” he said. “If she can get a liver transplant, she can live off of that, but

she’s not looking good.” Currently, the most abused substances he’s seen at the hospital are alcohol and over-the-counter medicines such as Tylenol PM. He said sometimes people come in numb because they just drank multiple bottles of allergy or sleep medicine. Moody has had firsthand experience with substance abuse. Two of his uncles passed away from overdoses. His uncle Robert’s addiction started after a sports injury in college. It began with a pain pill addiction, then grew into alcohol abuse. “We owned a family farm, and he started hauling off our cattle to support his drug and alcohol habit,” Moody said. “When we took his vehicles away, so he wasn’t allowed to haul cows away to support his habit, he started turning into other things on the street for drugs and alcohol.” His uncle went missing for a

couple of months and didn’t reappear until Moody made a post on Facebook, asking anyone to bring him home. A week after the post, Moody’s mom went down to their grandmother’s house and found his uncle’s body in his trailer. He said his other uncle, Derek, had been in and out of rehab four or five times. The last time he spoke to his uncle before his passing, he told Moody he had his life straight, and things were going great. “Next thing I hear, my dad calls me in the middle of the night, crying,” he said. “He’s like, ‘Ryan, I have something to tell you. Your uncle Derek, they found his body. He’s dead.’” Melanie Rose, TR kinesiology and Drug Use and Abuse instructor, said every semester, she has students telling her they have a substance abuse issue. Rose said she feels there is a

“I think that we just need more education.”

Melanie Rose

Drug Use and Abuse instructor

negative stigma surrounding people with substance abuse issues. They’re dismissed, with people telling them they’re a bad person or have low morals, which isn’t the case, she said. “A lot of people are not educated on what causes addictions, misuse and abuse,” she said. “So, you’re automatically like, ‘Ugh, why are you addicted? Can’t you just stop?’ Not understanding that it’s not that easy to just stop.” People who have been educated on the matter tend to have more

sympathy toward users because there’s a greater understanding of what a person is going through, Rose said. “I think that we just need more education,” she said. People need to start showing more grace and understanding, Rose said. Addicts are shunned, causing them to go further down into their addiction. Robert Parra, exercise science major and Drug Use and Abuse student, said people with addictions are villainized rather than given the assistance needed to break the cycle. “There’s a lot of people that would much rather be judgemental instead of taking time and trying to help,” he said. Parra believes the best approach to getting someone out of a substance abuse habit is to meet them in the middle rather than telling them to stop altogether.

Page 2 • May 5, 2021

News

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The Collegian

SOUTH

Students struggling Drive-thru job fair offers with mental health potential opportunities JANINE SHUMAN campus editor

If a student feels distressed, depressed, anxious or has trouble adjusting, they should reach out for support from one of TCC’s counselors found on every campus, South Campus counselor Andrew Hill said. “We only offer counseling to actively enrolled students,” he said. “However, it is completely free. You already paid for our services when you paid your tuition so you should take advantage of counseling.” Counseling services are being conducted online through video meetings or phone calls, Hill said. He does not have any information regarding face-to-face sessions returning in the fall semester. James Varnado has worked in the field for 50-years, 30 of which were spent at NE Campus working as a professor of psychology and a counselor. He is a licensed psychotherapist and counselor with a private practice and holds several post-doctorate degrees in diverse counseling topics which helps him provide a personal approach to clients from all backgrounds. When a student sets up an appointment, the counselor has to establish a level of comfortability with them, Varnado said. If the student is comfortable, they take a series of assessments that evaluate their personality and behavior which can be indicative of a lot. Through conversation, counselors can identify the root of the problem and work toward solving it. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Varnado assigns “psychological homework” to students who can make changes in their lives that can help them. “You can’t counsel or provide therapy to people by just small talking and cathartic interchange,” he said. “There have to be years of science behind it, similar to what we did with the COVID-19 virus. We eradicate it by approaching it scientifically. The same approach is applied to counseling. The ultimate objective is that person getting better.” NE student Lauren Maenza-Oliver regularly advocates for mental health and stresses the importance of reaching out for help. “For students who are struggling, there are normally many stressors involved,” she said. “The pressure of classes and the isola-

“You can’t counsel or provide therapy to people by just small talking and cathartic interchange.”

James Varnado NW graphics specialist

tion of being online hit us all hard, and being lonely plus stressed is never a good combo. We are only human and can only handle so much. We need to reach out and utilize the resources our school provides.” Maenza-Oliver believes students should prioritize their mental health to support stability. She realizes it can be difficult for some people to reach out for help and be vulnerable, but maintains that it’s important to remember everyone is deserving of a healthy state of mind. “I have seen students make significant changes over a short period,” Hill said. “I do not take credit for that change. My goal is always to collaborate and guide students on their journey to success. The accomplishments they make are because they worked hard and were willing to make changes to get different results.” Varnado has also seen many of his students and patients significantly improve through counseling. Many of his students who graduated TCC are now seeing him at his private practice and are welcome to join his therapy groups free of charge, he said. While counseling can help students overcome struggles, anybody can be a good candidate for counseling, Maenza-Oliver said. Varnado said those who don’t struggle with mental health issues can benefit from counseling by focusing on personal growth. Nobody is perfect, he said. Counseling can provide personal insight on how to continuously work on growth and self-improvement. “I strongly urge students to look at counseling as you would look at changing your oil in your car,” Varnado said. “It’s maintenance. Looking at your strengths and weaknesses and working toward optimizing your potential in life is a continuous and ongoing process that counseling can provide you with.”

INCREASE your OPPORTUNITIES

Complete your bachelor’s degree

Photo ocurtesy of Cytonn Photography/Unsplash

Construction companies, contractors and sub-contractors will be present seeking students with construction backgrounds or in Construction Management. ALYSON OLIVER senior editor

South Campus Career Services will host its first Drive Thru-Walk Thru Job fair May 20. “This event is a job fair representative of the times,” said Terry Aaron, South executive director of community, education and engagement. “Individuals can interview with companies in person, but at a distance by either staying in their car or walking up.” Fifty companies and organizations will be present at the job fair — FedEx, Alcon Laboratories and Nebraska Furniture Mart, for example — including 20 construction companies. Students should arrive prepared for an interview with their resume in hand, ready to speak with employers on the lookout for talented applicants showcasing the skills they have learned at TCC. “The best way to increase chances of getting hired is to present yourself in a positive manner,” Aaron said. “Let the employer know that you are the person they want.” Students should make sure their resumes are polished and reflect their skills. Those skills should fit the needs of the companies and organizations present. “Employers are looking for great tal-

ent,” Aaron said. “Let them know that you have that talent.” TR student Kaitlyn Moore said she thinks the event is a great way for students to interact with employers while staying safe. “I do think you miss out on the more personal aspects of it, though,” she said. “Being able to shake someone’s hand and making a good first impression is so important to do during a job interview, and I feel like some may miss out on the entire experience with it being a drive-through.” TR student Maria Granados said she would be worried about overthinking if she attended. Not only would she have to worry about her own appearance, but her car’s appearance as well. “A car can say a lot about you as a person,” she said. Both Moore and TR student Jaynee Taylor said they think the event is a great idea. “It limits interaction while still enabling you to connect and network,” Taylor said. “I would feel comfortable attending a drivethrough job fair and would be curious to see how that would be executed.” The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in South Campus parking lots three and four. “What is most important is we are looking for our students and our community to walk away with a job,” Aaron said.

Gain the advantages of TWU’s legacy and leadership in health-related professions. Online and hybrid health degrees include Kinesiology/Sports Management, Dental Hygiene RDH-BSDH, Nursing RN-BSN and others.

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News

May 5, 2021 • Page 3

TRINITY RIVER

Film industry struggles during pandemic Theaters’ already-existing trends were magnified by COVID-19 AZUL SORDO photo editor

Azul Sordo/The Collegian

The Grapevine Palace theater maintains usual hours, even during the pandemic, primarily showing old classics such as “My Fair Lady.”

DISTRICT

Student organizations vote out imposter during gaming event MARY MATURO reporter

Three student organizations, two games and one presentation on the new online learning platform Canvas were the highlights of the Finals Fun Game Night April 28. The game night was part of a district-wide week of virtual events to help students take a breather from finals preparations, but this event also served to help students prepare for the Canvas transition. “That is one good thing about being online: all the different campuses are able to be more connected than ever,” TR student Kaitlyn Moore said. The short and informational session on Canvas allowed students to ask questions, view screenshots and see what the new system has to offer. TR student Saja Namah attended the event specifically to learn more about Canvas. “Ever since I heard about the transition I was curious and wanted to be prepared for the change,” Namah said. Moore is the Student Government Association Historian and Sigma Kappa Delta Officer, and she said she hoped the event would help her to better understand what the Canvas transition would look like. After completing the presentation, TR director of Student Development Carter Bedford opened the floor for questions from all in attendance. Students and staff alike flooded the chat with their concerns, and most answers promised an easy transition ahead. “I do feel a little more prepared for it hearing that all of the resources in Blackboard will still be there,” Saja Namah said. Although she and Moore both agreed that a video tutorial would be helpful as the transition approaches, which are available to students on the TCC website to view as they wish. Most features from Blackboard will carry over to Canvas, such as Student

As COVID-19 gripped the nation in March 2020, Hollywood’s unremitting gears came to a grinding halt. Film studios faced major setbacks amid shutdowns and major movie theater chains found themselves teetering on the edge of bankruptcy — the kind an $18 bag of popcorn can’t fix. The TR film club continued their meetings online, but members were forced to confront the possibility of encountering an unfamiliar film industry post-COVID-19. “I think that basically it’s going to accelerate trends that were already there,” TR film club member Miles Lilly said. Box office earnings plummeted $9.2 billion from 2019, according to the Motion Picture Association’s 2020 THEME report. However, the need for new content didn’t simply disappear. In fact, consumers were hungrier than ever. The U.S. digital entertainment market soared by 33% in 2020, with major studios such as Disney and Universal releasing new films to their streaming platforms simultaneously with their theatrical release. “It’s gonna take over, honestly,” TR film club president Devin Jones said about streaming. “I think a lot of industries, a lot of companies, started to understand that this is the best way to make money — and the easiest.” With a vaccine rollout underway, it’s difficult to say where movie theaters will stand when the dust finally settles. While Jones believes surviving theaters will become “hollowed shells” of the entertainment titans they once were, TR film club advisor and drama instructor Arturo Garcia is hopeful their appeal might keep them from extinction.

“There will always be the few of us that love sitting in a dark room with an overly priced popcorn and watching this film and laughing with our fellow moviegoers, crying, sitting there breathlessly, without saying a word at the conclusion,” Garcia said. “I still think there’s a need for that.” Even if the exhibition of film undergoes major changes in the near future, the film industry has escaped near-calamity many times before, Garcia said. “Cinema itself has gone through changes that threatened its very existence as a model at that time frame — whether it was sound coming on, or how color changed the way they did cinema, how TV really rocked studios’ worlds,” he said. If anything, this inclination toward streaming platforms will expand the independent cinema marketplace, he said. Netflix, which has been at the forefront of the streaming wave, has amassed a wide collection of independent films. “I think that many people are anxious to make art,” he said. “This pendulum is swinging back where one needn’t have this scholarly background to create film, so I do see a huge surge of potential filmmakers.” Despite the uncertainty, Jones is eager to become part of this developing industry. As a screenwriter, when he’s not in class, he’s writing riveting stories of gambling, near-criminal cleanup crews and disgruntled clowns treading the line between entertainment and imprisonment. “I’m just happy to be around the magic of it all, I know to always expect change,” Jones said. “I love the challenge of a new environment, I love the challenge of always having to better myself or better my understanding and education so that I know how to be the best I can be in that area.”

Emergency fund offers students help with bills

“That is one good thing about being online: all the diffrent campuses are able to be more connected than ever”

Kaitlyn Moore

TR student

Organization pages links to TCC resources and Tutor 24/7, according to the presentation narrated by Bedford. He described the new layout as clean and easier to navigate with a homepage providing quick access to classes, organizations and tools such as the due-date calendar. Bedford also mentioned that Canvas, unlike Blackboard, has a fully operational mobile app. Despite the information-heavy start to the night, the organizers said the event’s goal was to provide a break from studying, so TR Campus student organizations Sigma Kappa Delta, Phi Theta Kappa, and TR Student Government Association lead the virtual games “Among Us” and “Jackbox.” Attendees were sorted into breakout rooms. Both games reached capacity fairly quickly, but many attendees were content to cheer on their friends from the sidelines. Student Emily Niestroy, SGA Parliamentarian and Phi Theta Kappa officer, said she felt it was a good way to end her last semester at TCC. “Definitely surprised by how many people showed up,” Niestroy said. “I’m really glad we were all able to stay connected by playing games.” For students like Namah though, the most important thing the event did was provide a break. “These sessions make it easier for students to forget about their stress from their assignments and just enjoy some good times,” Namah said.

Photo courtesy of TCC Foundation

Low-income students may be eligible for the Student Emergency Assistance Fund. They can apply for the scholarship on the TCC Foundation page. MARY KATHERINE OWENS reporter

Eliminating Barriers is a TCC scholarship available to students for immediate financial relief from issues such as electric bills, cars, payments and more. “We did not want students to wait days or weeks to receive help,” said Fred Schmidt, director of development at the TCC Foundation. “It is possible for students to receive help within hours of making a request.” TCC’s Chief Operating Officer Susan Alanis said she understands how life can get in the way of education for students with issues that are nonacademic. “Eliminating Barriers grants, in particular, prevents life’s hiccups from becoming insurmountable,” Alanis said. Eliminating Barriers will be available for the next year or so, said Kristen Bennett, executive vice president of advancement for TCC Foundation. She said private funding has

helped students in various ways through the program. “What we focus on is the general and eliminating barriers where the college can’t help with federal funds,” she said Students are more likely to drop out due to financial issues than anything else, Bennett said. “It’s not necessary that they can’t learn and that they can’t test,” Bennett said. “It’s always the barriers like housing disparity, food disparity, bills.” The idea for the scholarship came in 2019 before the pandemic hit the U.S., but board members and faculty came together out of increased concern as things worsened in 2020 wanting to ensure student success during this time. “TCC Foundation made an appeal to our current donors and other potential donors, and the result was immediate and generous,” Schmidt said. Donors’ gifts are “deeply personal,” Schmidt said, and the passion donors have for the students and their success is the most important.

Feature

Page 4 • May 5, 2021

May 5, 2021 • Page 5

C.A. Smith Photography for President George W. Bush

Former U.S. president George W. Bush paints in his studio. Bush began painting in 2012, three years after leaving office.

Courtesy of The Crown Publishing Group

“Out of Many, One” is a collection of oil paintings by George W. Bush spotlighting American immigrants and their contribution to the U.S.

Photo courtesy of Carlos Rovelo

Carlos Rovelo becomes a U.S. citizen at his naturalization ceremony at Southern Methodist University on Sep. 17, 1987.

Artwork by George W. Bush

Carlos Rovelo looks to the sky in his 20” x 30” portrait, painted with oil on stretched canvas.

Professor painted by former president Carlos Rovelo’s journey from civil war to Bush’s artistic inspiration LOGAN EVANS

campus editor editor / photographer

In a painting, South professor Carlos Rovelo sits up straight, his skin rendered in strokes of rust and amber. A fire burns in his eyes, brought to life by the artist — former president George W. Bush. Rovelo, who escaped civil war in El Salvador 41 years ago, is one of the 43 American immigrants painted by Bush in his new book, “Out of Many, One.” He is one of just seven featured on the front cover. Rovelo said the question he’s been asked the most since the release of his book is how he made it from a war-torn country to TCC and the end of a president’s brush. “It happened the way things happen in America,” he said. “It’s not a straight shot.” Rovelo was born in Santiago de Maria, a city he calls “famous for coffee plantations” in a testimony in the book. The coffee industry drove El Salvador in the early 20th century, but the benefits weren’t reaped by many. Fourteen families controlled most of the wealth, creating widespread tension between the upper and lower classes. The Salvadoran Civil War began when a coup placed a military-led junta government in power, resulting in the formation of an opposing leftist liberation front. From 1979 to 1992, over 75,000 people were killed, according to the UN. The bloodshed often seeped into civilian life, with the recruitment of child soldiers and the terrorizing of Salvadoran citizens. Rovelo was a teenager when his father, a business owner, was tortured by a military squad after refusing to choose a side in the conflict. He recalls racing through his city on a motorcycle with a friend, searching for his father and feeling the pull towards violence boiling over inside of him, too. For a moment, it almost took him. “I felt this sense inside of just becoming a mercenary,” he said. “We are born with certain values, and when those values are contradicted in plain view, it’s pretty dangerous.” Rovelo’s family was forced to pay a ransom for the return of his father, who was mentally and physically incapacitated from the torture he endured. With the father figure he wanted to emulate struggling, Rovelo felt lost. For years, he had dreamed of attending university in the U.S. After graduating high school, he applied for an I-20 student visa and was accepted to Wichita State University in Kansas. When he arrived in the cold Midwest, he struggled to cope with an unfamiliar culture and the gnawing pang of what he’d left behind. An American family took Rovelo in during this time. He remembers playing soccer with their children and marveling at their use of a microwave for cooking. They showed him a kindness and hospitality that he couldn’t understand. He remembers having a conversation with the family about his gratitude. “I really appreciate what you’re doing, but I can not repay you,” he said. “Carlos, we are not asking for anything from you. But I

know that down the road, you will meet another Carlos Rovelo. And that will be the moment for you to pay.” Not long after Rovelo arrived in the U.S., Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated during Mass in El Salvador for speaking out against injustices in the country. Rovelo’s grandmother was in attendance and watched as the bishop was shot while breaking Holy Communion bread. All of this happened just a few blocks from Rovelo’s family home. When the news came to the U.S., Rovelo struggled to describe its gravity to his American peers with his limited English. He worried about his family and their proximity to political violence. “There are moments when I wanted to go back,” he said. “Where is justice? Where is God in all of this?” Rovelo, who was Catholic, began attending First Presbyterian Church in Wichita. The congregation understood the situation his family was in, and they petitioned a visa to bring them to the U.S. Rovelo’s family arrived on Christmas day, 1980. For the last 14 years, Rovelo has worked as a community college professor, teaching government and art history. It was his passion for art that led him to meet former president Bush, who had taken up painting after leaving office in 2009. They were introduced in a gallery in 2019 by Jim Woodson, one of Bush’s art instructors. Taken with Rovelo’s story, Bush asked to paint his portrait. In conversations, the former president often asked Rovelo where he stood on current immigration issues, given his background. “I told the president my position is always based on where we come from,” Rovelo said. “When we judge instead of wonder, we get into trouble.” Rovelo believes that in order to move into the future, you must remember the past. In 2004, he returned to El Salvador to attend his 25-year high school class reunion. He saw former classmates who had taken up arms in the war still struggling with injuries they received. Many others, he learned, had died. “I realized how drastically my life had changed,” he said. Rovelo, now 61, hopes his inclusion in Bush’s book will help immigrant students understand the opportunity they have to build a legacy in the U.S. He thinks back to the American family who took him in when he first arrived in this country, and their request to pay it forward. “This is a country, as an immigrant, you’re going to transform,” he said. All 43 of Bush’s original oil paintings from the book are on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Center museum in Dallas through Jan. 3, 2022. The exhibit aims to “spotlight the inspiring journeys of America’s immigrants and the contributions they make to the life and prosperity of our nation,” according to their website. As he grows older, Rovelo looks to the past for lessons he can impart on his family and his students. “I’m not as focused on me,” he said. “I’m fading.” But his portrait is set forever in color, looking up — not away.

Photo courtesy Adam Verdugo/CBS News

Carlos Rovelo and George W. Bush appear together on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss how Bush’s book aims to quell fear around immigrant and spearhead immigration reform.

Feature

Page 4 • May 5, 2021

May 5, 2021 • Page 5

C.A. Smith Photography for President George W. Bush

Former U.S. president George W. Bush paints in his studio. Bush began painting in 2012, three years after leaving office.

Courtesy of The Crown Publishing Group

“Out of Many, One” is a collection of oil paintings by George W. Bush spotlighting American immigrants and their contribution to the U.S.

Photo courtesy of Carlos Rovelo

Carlos Rovelo becomes a U.S. citizen at his naturalization ceremony at Southern Methodist University on Sep. 17, 1987.

Artwork by George W. Bush

Carlos Rovelo looks to the sky in his 20” x 30” portrait, painted with oil on stretched canvas.

Professor painted by former president Carlos Rovelo’s journey from civil war to Bush’s artistic inspiration LOGAN EVANS

campus editor editor / photographer

Photo courtesy Adam Verdugo/CBS News

Carlos Rovelo and George W. Bush appear together on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss how Bush’s book aims to quell fear around immigrant and spearhead immigration reform.

Page 6 • May 5, 2021

News

The Collegian

DISTRICT

Assisting students formerly in foster care ALYSON OLIVER senior editor

May is the time to acknowledge how everyone can contribute to enriching the lives of young people in foster care, South assistant director of counseling and advising Rosemarie Hammon said. “Starting in 1988, U.S. presidents issued annual proclamations in recognition of National Foster Care Month to show appreciation and gratitude to foster parents across the nation,” she said. Foster care provides temporary living arrangements to children who are no longer safe at home and have no other guardians with whom they can live. After the court grants Child Protective Services legal possession of the child, they can be placed in one of several foster care settings such as a family home or a group home, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Less than 10% of youth previously in foster care complete a bachelor’s degree, according to the Texas Higher Education Foster Care Liaisons Information and Reference Guide. However, a great majority of them wish to attend college. But TCC has resources in place to support its students who have experienced foster care. TCC’s Foster Care Alumni Transition Program started in the fall of 2017 by South’s First-Time-In-College center. It connects students to champions on each campus, which are people who can help them with academic advising, financial aid and more. It became a district program in 2019, and Hammon is its district liaison. “We had a number of foster alumni students who needed to submit or reverify their benefits which is basically tuition and fee waiver,” she said. “As success coaches started working with

DISTRICT

Apprenticeship program grants child care employees credit hours MARY KATHERINE OWENS reporter

Camp Fire First Texas partnered with TCC, offering child care employees in the surrounding area up to nine college credits hours through the new Early Education Apprenticeship Program. Lisa Self, TCC coordinator for the program, said offering college credit for child care employees in the metroplex creates easier access for child development education, and the Camp Fire’s apprenticeship classes meet accreditation standards for higher education. Eboni Kelly, director of the Early Education Apprenticeship Program with Camp Fire, said they had to partner with child care centers in the area, calling them “Host Sites.” “A host site is a child care center in which the director or owner have agreed to terms that are outlined by both the Department of Labor and Camp Fire,” Kelly said. Camp Fire’s partnership with TCC started two years ago because of the established standing relationship between the institutions, said Lyn Lucas, vice president of Early Education Workforce Development for Camp Fire. Even during the pandemic, the program took off with 20 apprentices, each student working at their own pace. “These folks are working, but they are also taking these classes and learning about how to do everything that they do every day, better,” Self said. Maria Sanchez has been in the apprenticeship program for the last seven months. “I have really amazing teachers and mentors working with me,” she said. “I am glad I got to be in this apprenticeship program.” Lyn Lucas said the community has a shortage of quality child care, and

Camp Fire is working to help relieve this issue. “The apprenticeship program bridges the gap between in-the-field experiential learning and college opportunities — giving value to and recognizing each effort along the way,” Lucas said. Lucas and Self agree on the need for better child care. Quality care is important, but sadly, quality education is lacking, Lucas said.. “This has been a difficult bar to reach for many teachers already in the field, particularly in low-income, low-resourced communities,” Lucas said. Self said participants could get a pay raise and bonuses for meeting milestones like finishing a course. She said with the incentive of pay raises and up to $2,000 in grants, the opportunities for education increase. Sanchez plans to continue on an academic path following her mother’s example, who received her college degree later in life. “Once I am done with the apprenticeship, I will keep working on my associates degree and then work on a bachelor’s degree,” Sanchez said. Camp Fire needed a higher education partner to write the grant and approached TCC, Self said. The need came out of a desire for better-equipped child care employees — something she said was a long-standing issue. “You have a lot of people in child care that just walked in the door and got the job and don’t have a lot of training, which leads to not great quality child care,” Self said. The significance of this program is the impact it will have long-term, and Self said TCC’s child development department is excited to see the effect it will have on the community.

new students who experienced foster care, we learned they have other benefits that could assist them in establishing their independence such as Education and Training Voucher and Supervised Independent Living.” Success coaching and academic advisors started the South FCAT program after finding students returned to the FTIC center for support while going through their first year of college, Hammon said. “Our mission is to connect foster and adopted students through education and advocacy with resources that will assist holistically with their TCC experience,” she said. FCAT has started partnerships with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and their various programs, such as the Transition Resources Action Center, Preparation for Adult Living and Supervised Independent Living. “Another FCAT purpose is to have

campus champions who are responsive to their unique history and needs,” Hammon said. As a part of this, this year, they are offering workshops for future and current students who have been in foster care. “We hope this awareness month is an opportunity to welcome them to the TCC family and know that you have our support,” Hammon said. National Foster Care Month’s purpose is constantly in flux, she said. Currently, some goals include raising awareness for the needs of youth in foster care and spotlighting how the child welfare system can promote reunification and emphasize foster care’s function as a service for families. Hammon said someone looking to support youth, families and workers who are a part of the foster care system can donate, volunteer with local child welfare organizations, spread awareness on social media or become a foster parent.

DISTRICT

Toro’s food pantry plans its expansion all across district TONY HARRIS reporter

There were times when NE student Jonathon Moore would eat ramen noodles out of a package for days. “A guy can’t live like that,” he said. Being raised in semi-poverty, Moore said the connection between a healthy meal and a good education was not lost on him. “You’ve got to feed your brain with the proper nutrition in order to be able to retain information,” he said. Needing assistance to feed himself, Moore turned to Mission Arlington, a local religious social outreach center. He said while he was reluctant to ask for canned foods on his first visit, it became clear to him he should not feel embarrassed to ask for help. Toro’s Pantry is a food bank dedicated to combating hunger among TCC students, and it’s expanding to more campuses in the fall to meet these increased demands. Toro’s pantry has the feeling of a family corner store, NE sociology instructor Cheryl North said. Only a student ID is needed to grab lunch or a scantron. The pantry was created to help give students and faculty a space free of social notions and embarrassment unfairly associated with the use of food banks, said North, the woman behind the pantry. Inside the pantry, there are shelves stocked with dry and canned goods along with refrigerated coolers lined with milk, cheese and eggs. Students with children can also find baby items like diapers and formula. The pantry is made possible by donations. Students and faculty can help provide for those in need as well.

The pantry is also a popular place for students to fulfill their service-learning projects and earn a wage as a hired worker, North said. “The convenient location on campus is ideal for students who travel,” North said. “You can get your hours while you are already here.” Toro’s Pantry has been so needed that North is now expanding her outreach. Multiple TCC campuses now have food pantry projects underway that will be in place in the fall. “The idea is that we want students, regardless of which campus they attend classes on, to have this benefit that is such a benefit for student success,” North said. Much of the problem with an expansion of the food pantry has been the issue of not enough space, she said. NW Campus, which is currently undergoing an architectural renovation, has shown a commitment to the food pantry project. After working with NW dean of humanities Lisa Benedetti and their architectural team, North said officials are including a space built for a newly constructed food pantry. “The students on NW Campus will benefit greatly from having a food pantry on our new campus,” Benedetti said. “With food insecurity being at an all-time high, the need can be addressed on a daily or weekly basis for our students.” Working with the building team will remedy some of the problems associated with finding the space necessary to house a food pantry. “That just shows that the college district supports this to have it built into their blueprints,” North said.

The Collegian

News

May 5, 2021 • Page 7

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TCC offers key for hospitality industry

Lydia Regalado/The Collegian

Texas Live!, located in Arlington, is hosting a career fair May 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for mulitple occupations such as cashiers, bartenders, promotional staff and more. LYDIA REGALADO campus editor

Hospitality in Texas is booming and TCC courses are serving up success in fields such as culinary arts, event planning and audiovisual. According to Freeman, a global leader in events, people feel more confident about returning to in-person conventions once vaccinated. Their research indicated 78% of attendees and exhibitors plan to return to in-person events by the fall, and 94% will return by winter. “It’s all coming back and jobs are flooding in,” SE culinary instructor Katrina Warner said. Warner said this type of industry can take someone who loves to travel all over the country and anywhere there is an interest. If there’s food, there’s a need for jobs.

“This is a great area to be in for hospitality all the way around between all the hotels, all the private clubs, all the golf clubs, and all of the event venues that are coming back open,” Warner said. TCC offers an associate of applied science degree in culinary arts, and credits can be transferred to other schools, such as the University of North Texas, toward a Bachelor’s degree in food science. If students are interested but do not want to go for the full degree, they can choose from certificates which include culinary, catering and baking. SE student Christopher Spradlin has already launched his goals before finishing his first year in the culinary arts and business administration programs. He aims to become an entrepreneur and start his own restaurant and retail business. “Before I get to that stage, I will be working as a private chef also in an entrepreneurial capacity,” Spradlin said. “In fact, I’ve

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already started that and now I have personally catered a few private events and dinners for clients in Fort Worth and Dallas.” Freeman’s research showed 85% of respondents believe in-person events are irreplaceable because of their ability to inspire collaboration, ideas and partnerships on a personal level. A large part of this inspiration relies on the use of event technology, such as audiovisual, scenic and lighting, to connect others in a creative atmosphere. TCC’s associate of applied science in radio, television and film can not only help students achieve careers in hotels and events, but also in television, radio and production companies. Chad Jones, NE instructor of radio, television and broadcasting, said a formal education can prepare students with well-rounded knowledge of audio and video technique and production. “It’s a shortcut as far as experience,”

Jones said. “When you’re on an actual job the goal there is to make money and not to actually train someone, so there’s not always the opportunity to fully develop someone.” The level one and two certificates can be stacked and lead toward the full degree depending on students’ goals. The level one certificate is aimed at sound recording technology and level two delves into multimedia production. Audiovisual is a hands-on field where no two shows are the same. Set up of screens, lighting, staging and operation of sound and video presentations can be challenging and rewarding. Most states are open for business across the nation and music festivals, galleries and events continue to return. “This is definitely a great time to be in this industry,” Warner said.

DISTRICT

Students’ social anxiety Faculty recall sudden takes its toll in pandemic shift to online learning ANDREA CROSS reporter

Photo courtesy of Chris Greene/Unsplash

TCC’s website has a list of mental health resources for students in need of assistance. There are also resources provided for military veterans.

ANGELEE GUTIERREZ reporter

One challenge TCC students face during online learning is worsening social anxiety. “I found that my social anxiety had actually worsened due to the pandemic because I wasn’t surrounding myself with people as often as I used to,” student Natalia Chavez said. NE counselor Lilian Mabry said social isolation and the inability to meet in person have set students back with anxiety they coped with in the past. She said normal coping skills like therapy and meditation had previously helped them with their social anxiety issues. “It seems many students with social anxiety have used online learning as a way of dealing with their social anxiety,” Mabry said. TCC student Nathalie Darkwa said her increased anxiety makes her feel less motivated to reach out to her classmates and professors. She becomes afraid of how she will be perceived, making her fear asking for help. Darkwa said her anxiety used to involve

feeling judged over the way she looked or dressed, but because she wears a mask, she does not worry about that as much. “No one cares how I look. Therefore, I put less thought into how I present myself in public because no one will recognize me,” Darkwa said. Chavez said online learning has helped her with presentations since she does not have anyone looking at her while she gives her speech. Her concern is how her anxiety will be when she comes back to school and must deliver presentations in person again. Mabry said a good way to reduce social anxiety was for students to seek help, meditate, do breathing techniques, exercise, go to support groups and keep a journal. “Psychology Today or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America have ways to connect with a therapist in their area,” Mabry said. “Visiting with a couple of different psychologists or counselors to obtain information and find a good fit to help assess their anxiety.” Mabry recommends students let their professors know when they are having a difficult time, and said every campus has Student Accessibility Resources offices that could help them find necessary accommodations.

While COVID-19 has affected TCC students over the past year, faculty members have also had to adapt. Ting Huang, who teaches analog and digital photography on NE Campus, had never taught virtually prior to the pandemic. She said her personal life has been affected tremendously. “On weekdays, I have more small moments or breaks to spend with my family since I am working from home,” she said. “But overall, I have less longer periods of time to spend with them because half of my weekends are typically spent on working.” Feeling overworked and unable to step away from the computer is a familiar feeling to Elizabeth Koenn, a NE kinesiology instructor, who was also new to virtual teaching. “I had specified work hours,” she said, “Now, teaching virtually makes me check my laptop at any random hour of the day/night.” Bill Parker, a SE dual credit math instructor, has also seen his family time reduce. “Time with my family has been sitting in the family room with them while having my computer on my lap as I plan and post lessons for the week,” he said. Time management is a crucial tool that educators working from home have had to master. Huang said she often finds herself without enough time in the day to complete her to-do list. “My biggest challenge has been my procrastination with grading,” Koenn said. Without delay, educators had to learn a new way of teaching unlike the style they were accustomed to, and do so in a way their students could understand. “Teachers are expected to continue to deliver vibrant and rigorous classroom environments online but receive little support and guidance on how to,” Huang said. Faculty have also been concerned about how students react to virtual learning. Teach-

“Many students are doing very well and are submitting beautiful assignments this semester.”

Ting Huang

NE photography associate professor

ers must stay organized and present to assist struggling students. Koenn said she questions the integrity of her kinesiology students in their workout submissions. She has to trust they absorbed the material and really did the work they say. Parker has had issues with students not applying themselves in the same way they would if classes were face to face. “The majority of my students are gaining very little of the material,” Parker said. “They are given the opportunity to work problems on their own, but as I follow up and call on them individually, I learn that they are not doing anything productive with that time.” Huang, however, said she has noticed the opposite. “Many students are doing very well and are submitting beautiful assignments this semester,” she said. Educators are ultimately there to help guide students to success, and that requires a flow of communication between teacher and student, Huang said. “My advice for students who are struggling in the classroom is to recognize you are struggling and ask for help from your instructors,” she said. “Once a plan is in place, then prioritize your day to allow learning to happen. Time management is the most important life skill to learn, but don’t forget to schedule breaks in between tasks so you are taking care of yourself, too.”

Page 8 • May 5, 2021

Entertainment

The Collegian

MOVIE REVIEW

Story of loss results in personal healing

Photos courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

“Nomadland” recently won three Academy Awards for best actress, best director and best picture. In total, the film was nominated under six categories. LOGAN EVANS

campus editor/photographer

Fern, played by Frances McDormand, sits outside and has a conversation with Dave, played by David Strathairn.

“Nomadland” is the portrait of a life on the fringes — one that’s becoming a reality for more and more people. The recent Academy Award winner for best picture explores the growing trend of displaced older Americans turning to a life of nomadic van-dwelling. Based on the nonfiction book by Jessica Bruder, it moves along with sometimes tragic, sometimes beautiful realism. Frances McDormand stars as Fern, whose life was brought to pieces when her community in Empire, Nevada was shut down after the closing of a nearby gypsum plant. Left with nothing, she decides to travel the country looking for work. On her journey, Fern encounters a vibrant cast of characters in the modern American West, many of which are played by the real nomads who were profiled in Bruder’s source material. The film has an intimate, documentary-like feel, something that could only be achieved by placing McDormand alongside people who have really lived the life she’s being brought into. McDormand soars as Fern, a performance that won her an Oscar for best actress. She carries heartache and humor in every gesture of her body and turn of her face. Her character is deep, but also relatable enough to guide the audience into the unfamiliar world of working nomads. As one of the only traditional actors in a cast of non-actors, she never sticks out.

Dealing with the wave of working nomads who rose from the fallout of The Great Recession, the film is thorough in its exploration of van-dwelling subculture. Bob Wells, a van-dwelling YouTuber and author, is featured along with The Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, an annual gathering of nomads he founded in Quartzsite, Ariz. “Nomadland” is a film about grief and the loss of the American dream, and the vast American landscapes captured here allow plenty of room for those themes to reverberate. Seeing characters dwarfed by rolling plains and outstretched mountains is both dreamlike and a visual representation of the indifference their world seems to show them. The structure of the film is loose, which might be the biggest area of contention for some. It could easily be seen as aimless, but it works given the subject matter. The story doesn’t meander, it drifts. Above all else, this is a character study of one woman. She’s struggling with things that speak to larger issues, but her journey is the heart of the story. Director Chloe Zhao, who became the second woman to win an Oscar for best director, made the choice to present her characters without judgment. Like their real-life counterparts, the lives depicted will surely be interpreted differently by each viewer, but the film never stops to make that call for us. Instead, we get a portrait of real things that are happening to real people.

MUSIC REVIEW

Album drapes dark visuals over ethereal soundtrack ALYSON OLIVER senior edito editorr

New Jersey-born rock band Thursday’s fourth album, “A City By The Light Divided,” is the band at its most ethereal. Listeners are immersed in layers of del-

icate guitar backed by overdriven bass. The lyrics paint pictures of stormy skies, pounding hearts and the mangled metal of a highspeed crash. Macabre disaster is a running theme throughout the record. Even its explosive opening track, “The Other Side of the Crash/ Over and Out (Of Control),” was partly in-

Photo courtesy of Island Records

A City By The Light Divided” was recorded in New York over the span of several months and released in 2006. It received a primarily positive response from critics.

spired by a car accident lead vocalist Geoff Rickly’s friend was involved in when he was younger, as he described in an interview. “Counting 5-4-3-2-1” paints a picture of an impending train accident (“The train is catching up, keep on running, don’t look back”) — a scene revisited later on in “Running From the Rain” (“There is blood on the tracks tonight”). And in “At This Velocity,” the clear standout of the tracklist, an airplane catapults from the sky (“Traveling at 500 feet per second / 5,000 feet from the ground”). Urgent, fast-paced guitar, a drum break and a couple of tempo changes all build toward an epic ending, where eerily serene vocals narrate as the passengers come to terms with the end, all layered over a wall of glowing, heart-pumping sound. The album’s power lies in its atmospheric moments such as the end of “At This Velocity,” or the fake-out near the middle of “The Other Side of the Crash/Over and Out (Of Control),” or the reverb-laden, tremolo-picked guitars in “The Lovesong Writer.” “Sugar in the Sacrament” opens with an immersive blend of pad, keyboard and guitar that reappears as the song crescendos and decrescendos. Its choruses explode with powerful, delayed guitar, and its lyrics paint a picture of intimacy as a religious experience. Some of the record’s punchier moments are in “Running From the Rain” and “Telegraph Avenue Kiss,” which transition seamlessly from one to the other, and “Into the

Blinding Lights” hits a consistent high note when it comes to energy levels. Almost every track stands strong on its own. However, put together, it’s obvious many of them follow the same formula: a build-up to an explosive beginning, a moment of respite near the middle and a huge ending. The lines between them start to blur, and the record could have been a bit shorter. “Autumn Leaves Revisited,” with its haunting musical composition and lyrics (“Did a violin swell those circles under your eyes?”) could have been a great closer. “Even the Sand Is Made of Seashells,” the actual final song, pales a bit in comparison. “We Will Overcome” falls a bit flat, and “Arc-Lamps, Signal Flares, A Shower of White (The Light)” is an organ interlude that serves as a transition from the first half of the album to the second. However, it seems drawn-out as a standalone track consisting only of a repeated chord progression for over two minutes. But despite its flaws, “A City By The Light Divided” is still very much worth a listen. Much of the record is packed with power. Its darker lyrics pair nicely with its atmospheric sound. As a whole, it sounds and feels like the thrill of waiting for a thunderstorm to roll in, lightning streaking across the gunmetal sky.

Opinion

The Collegian

Viewpoints

Overcoming barriers of online journalism

JOSE ROMERO senior editor

Man, being an online-only journalist is difficult. These past two semesters, The Collegian has done everything virtually. From interviews to staff meetings, there hasn’t been a single piece of work done face-to-face. In journalism, the human element of a story is important and can sometimes make or break an article. Gathering that element is an Olympian task virtually. Social cues have to be understood through a screen, and everything a person is saying has to be gathered verbatim. A factor almost always in play is the technical hiccups that come with apps like Microsoft Teams and Google Meets. Far too many times, something important is cut into bits because someone’s internet decides it doesn’t want to

work correctly. Setting up these meetings isn’t any easier. Writing a story while having to rely on the person’s ability to respond through email is nerve-racking. Responsiveness is a factor in any kind of story, physically or virtually. But in a physical format, I can show up to the campus or classroom and speak to a source directly. It’s much easier to get someone to speak if they’re in the room. There have been countless times throughout the semester in which a story I’m writing has to change direction because somebody won’t respond, sometimes even after setting up an interview. With all that said, I think the staff has done a great job working under these circumstances. Each week, diverse articles have been published, telling stories from all campuses. Stories covering unique individuals or school politics, there’s no limit to the stories that have been told. For a while, things didn’t seem as if they were getting any better, but with vaccination rollouts and a decline in COVID-19 cases in Texas, things are looking up. I am unable to say how the situation is going to be next semester, but finally being able to sit down with the TCC community will be a breath of fresh air.

Out with literature, in with technology

JANINE SHUMAN campus editor

Opening a book and embarking on exciting adventures as reality withers away is one of life’s most enjoyable experiences. As a child, I never went anywhere without a book in my hands. But as I grew older, it became more challenging to focus when reading, something many people struggle with today. The American Psychological Association reports that less than 20% of U.S teenagers read recreationally. With unlimited media access at our fingertips, opening up Netflix, YouTube or TikTok and going on a video spree is more appealing than opening up a book for many. A study conducted by Professor Gloria Mark in 2014 showed individuals switched their focus every 59 seconds on average, getting distracted by their phones, compared to three min-

utes in 2004. While the occasional series binge is generally harmless, prolonged exposure has proven to lead to long-term cognitive, language and memory decline, according to the medically reviewed website Healthline. By consuming endless media, the brain gains instant gratification through binging on dopamine. This severely decreases productivity and slows down progress, according to scientific research reported by Inc. By slowly replacing devices with a good book, benefits are reaped. Research shows reading can help improve brain connectivity, vocabulary, comprehension, empathy, stress reduction and cognitive function, according to Healthline. As generations grow more dependent on technology, fewer children develop a love for reading. Instead of handing a developing child an iPad to keep busy, parents should encourage their children to read more and gain valuable skills in their crucial developmental stages. Arguably, it can be challenging to find the time to read between work, school and daily obligations, but reading a few pages of a book instead of scrolling endlessly through social media may conjure up a love for reading, and there is nothing to lose by giving it a chance.

May 5, 2021 • Page 9

Editorial

Women should not have to live in fear

Amber Davis/The Collegian

Pepper spray keychains fastened to bags, tasers clutched in hand and handguns tucked into nightstands are all common items many women globally keep for self-defense, but they shouldn’t have to. Nationwide, 81% of women reportedly experience sexual harassment in their life, and one in four undergraduate women report experiencing sexual misconduct on college campuses, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Why do so many women in universities experience this if there are supposedly safety measures on campus to prevent these traumatic events from happening? A woman should not have to accessorize with self-defense weapons when they want to take a walk. But the reality is scary, and according to statistics collected by Stop Street Harassment, 65% of women endured harassment in public spaces. Women have been vocal about the prevalence and severity of these issues for years, but statistics continue to climb the charts despite the efforts. Sarah Everard, last seen walking to her home in London, went missing March 3. Her kidnapper and murderer was 48-year-old police officer Wayne Couzens. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers women face, unprovoked and unnecessarily. In the wake of victim-blaming culture, many women feel their struggles are invalidated. “Don’t dress that way. You’re asking for attention.” “Don’t walk alone, and you’ll be safe.” “Just don’t take your eyes off of your drink.” Victims of sexual abuse and harassment should never feel responsible for their trauma, yet these

common phrases make them feel that way. There is a misconception that women’s self-defense weapons make them feel safer. When she was 16 years old, Cyntonia Brown was sentenced to 51 years in prison for shooting her trafficker in self-defense. And Brown is not alone. As many as 90% of women serving a murder sentence endured domestic violence by their victims, according to statistics reported by women’s advocacy group the Purple Berets. Emphasizing educating young people on the consequences of sexual harassment and misconduct would be a step in the right direction. Public school systems should not continue ignoring the rampant issues on campuses from an early age. How many more victims of suicide due to sexual exploitation and harassment will it take before schools start caring? Stories like Amanda Todd’s have circulated, yet the education system doesn’t do much to educate students on the ramifications of these actions. Over 40% of U.S. colleges and universities have conducted no investigations regarding sexual assaults on campuses, according to USA Today. As long as the perpetrators continue to get away with their crimes, what’s keeping them from stopping? A woman should feel safe to walk back to her car from class without gripping a bottle of pepper spray. Women should feel safe to take a walk and get a breath of fresh air without having to look over their shoulders in fear every couple of seconds. Perpetrators need to be held accountable, and victims need to be heard without fear of judgment.

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 their 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 length. Letters will run at the discretion of the editor. They should be e-mailed to: michael.foster-sanders@my.tccd.edu

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Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Foster-Sanders

MANAGING EDITOR Maddy Remington

CAMPUS EDITORS Logan Evans Lydia Regalado Janine Shuman

SENIOR EDITORS Alyson Oliver Jose Romero

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Mary K. Maturo

WEBSITE COORDINATOR Kristal Blankinship Amanda Cole

PROFESSIONAL STAFF PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacy Luecker

ADVISERS Chris Whitley, Jocelyn Tatum

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Letter Policy PHOTO EDITOR Azul Sordo ILLUSTRATOR Amber Davis DESIGN & LAYOUT Abbas Ghor Amber Davis Kristal Blankinship Alejandro Meza Amanda Cole

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.

Page 10 • May 5, 2021

Feature

Batalla de Puebla

Mexico’s VICTORY OVER FRANCE

JOSE ROMERO senior editor

Since the 1860s, Cinco de Mayo — or La Batalla de Puebla — has been a day celebrating Mexican-American culture in the U.S. It’s worth noting Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican independence day. Mexico’s independence day is Sept. 16 and celebrates the country’s freedom from Spain. “Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the incipient Mexican army over the French army, one of the best in the world at the time, during the Battle of Puebla in the year 1862,” South Spanish instructor Julieta Cano said. “This victory symbolized the country’s ability to defend its sovereignty against a powerful foreign invading nation.” Cano recalled her memories of the festivities in Mexico, attending the parade as it passed through. But Cinco de Mayo isn’t celebrated as heavily in Mexico as it is in America.

The holiday began in California as a cultural celebration, which is why, nowadays, Los Angeles hosts its largest party known as Fiesta Broadway, according to NBC News. Puebla is one of the only places in Mexico where citizens largely celebrate it. Cano said the president of Mexico in 1861, Benito Juárez, was elected during a period of financial ruin because of internal conflicts. The country’s condition at the time led Juárez to default on debt payments to Europe, causing France, Britain and Spain to send naval forces to Veracruz. “Mexico negotiated with Britain and Spain, and they withdrew their forces,” she said. “France, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to establish an empire in the Mexican territory.” The French army pushed Juárez into retreat during their infiltration of Veracruz, she said. After its victory, France advanced to Mexico City, then to Puebla de Ángeles, where the French army was defeated by 2000 soldiers.

The soldiers were primarily made up of indigenous, or mestizo, Mexicans led by general Ignacio Zaragoza who was sent by Juárez, Cano said. “The victory of Cinco de Mayo in 1862 was not the end of the French invasion of Mexico, but it represented the victory of the people’s will to resist invading forces,” she said. In 1867, France fully withdrew from Mexico after citizens executed Maximillian, the emperor appointed by Napoleon in 1864. Como las palabras de Juárez dicen en la bandera de Oaxaca, “Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.”

Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian