TCCD Collegian December 1, 2021

collegian.tccd.edu BUSTED PG. 4

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – Volume 34 • Issue 12 News

Entertainment

Opinion

Opinion

Editorial

BUILT BACK BETTER Construction on NW Campus continues. PG. 2

UNIQUE KILLSTREAKS “Call of Duty: Vanguard” brings blitz-paced action. PG. 4

CYBERBULLYING HITS HOME More than one generation faces it. PG. 5

MUSKRAT Rich bastard doesn’t deserve praise. PG. 5

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE Are mask mandates worth it anymore? PG. 5

NW sailing program just keeps swimming

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

Groups of students in Dana Latham’s intro to sailing class push their boats into the lake on NW Campus as they prepare to head into the water. Page 2

DISTRICT

DISTRICT

Technological refresh approved by trustees

Students discuss overruling of governor’s mask mandate AUSTIN FOLKERTSMA

JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

Outdated technology like monitors and computers will begin getting upgrades districtwide within two years.

The $2.9 million proposal was approved during the monthly board of trustees meeting Nov. 18.

“With the ongoing need for this enablement for distanced learning, the district needs to replace devices that currently do not effectively facilitate the continuation of distanced learning,” said Dave Killingsworth, executive director of IT business administration and user support, during the work session meeting a week prior.

According to Killingsworth, TCC is behind right now when it comes to the technology it’s been using. He said upgrading will refresh outdated technology and allow the district to replace failing devices by simply swapping them out.

“This project is a great opportunity to utilize HEERF funds to catch up and accelerate our technology refresh,” he said.

Another improvement made to TCC’s technological infrastructure is toward its virtual desktops. The Virtual Desktop Infrastructure allows students and faculty to use a Windows 10 desktop anywhere with internet access.

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

Board members Leonard Hornsby and Bill Greenhil during board meeting Nov. 18.

“This project is a great opportunity to utilize HEERF funds to catch up and accelerate our technology refresh.”

Dave Killingsworth

executive director of IT business administration

“With this, we will empower students to have the best possible workspaces for utilizing all of our VDI technology,” Killingsworth said at the work session. “The devices will be more powerful, easily supported and ensure optimized VDI experience for our students using our flexible lab spaces.”

The current goal is to have this $343,902.75 project finished by the end of the fiscal year.

TCC has 290 votes to allocate toward candidates for the Tarrant Appraisal District board of directors. TAD is responsible for local property appraisal. Initially, board vice president Kenneth Barr made a motion to allocate 136 votes to Jungus Jordan, and 154 to Kathryn Wilemon, but board member Shannon Wood moved for a substitute motion, allocating 136 to Gary Losada instead. The substitute motion had four members vote no, while the initial motion had five vote yes, so the votes went to Jordan.

The board approved of a one-year renewal of Network on Demand circuits through AT&T. The contract is for three years and amounts to $414,425. It provides the college with more flexibility in the way it delivers internet to its locations, Killingsworth said.

In 2019, the TCC Means Business ad campaign was started in cooperation with PytchBlack, a creative consulting firm. The board approved $1 million for the campaign, and now, they approved an extra $750,000 to expand it so it can reach additional audiences.

During the public comments section, Karl Ronacher, a former TCC human resources employee, shared his concerns on the HR department.

“You can’t sit here and tell me that this turnover rate within this department is not harming our district as a whole, is not harming our students,” Ronacher said.

campus editor

A federal judge overruled Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates in public schools Nov. 10.

Texas schools reportedly had more COVID cases in the first two months of the school year than they did in the entire 20202021 school year, according to the Texas Tribune. The mandate was overturned because it violates the Americans With Disabilities Act. Now, mask mandates can be enforced in lower education, but in higher education, the decision is still pending. TCC students share their thoughts on the matter.

“I think that a mask mandate isn’t necessarily out of the question,” NE student Sophie Estrada said. “It might not always be needed, but considering the cases go up and down, it really just depends on what the trend is. I think what matters most is the ICU beds, whether they are being occupied or not, because those beds are needed for other diseases that are actually unavoidable.”

Estrada said she doesn’t feel like it’s too late in the pandemic to enforce a mask mandate because some are unvaccinated, so it can still be spread.

She said she plans on coming back to TCC in the spring if there was a mask mandate put in place.

“If there is a mask mandate, I’ll go with it,” NW student Crystal Bustamante said.

“I’m not going to throw a fit about it, obvi-

ously. I’ll do it to protect others. If they have it in schools, I’m fine with it. I don’t think it’s too late to have a mask mandate because people are still getting COVID. It hasn’t disappeared. The pandemic isn’t over.”

She said she does plan on coming back to TCC in the spring because she couldn’t do online classes.

“I’m OK with whatever TCC decides to do,” Bustamente said. “I’m chilling as long as we get to come back in person because I couldn’t do it online, so long as we are able to come back.”

NE student Jason Glover said if there is a mask mandate, he would be very upset because he already has his COVID and booster shots.

“Not even one person in my class has gotten sick, so I would find it very obsolete and very outdated to put in a mandate now,” he said. “It’s not even in the full swing of things anymore, it’s on the decline, so if we put in a mask mandate, they’re probably going to lose a lot of people if the colleges are going to do it.”

He said he believes it is the right of the student to wear or not to wear a mask and if he does, it is to protect himself and the people around him.

“On principle, I would love to say no to coming back if TCC had a mask mandate next semester, but I have nowhere else to go,” Glover said. “For this price range, I would have to come to school. Online classes, there’s so many glitches. You can’t really go to online school here because of all the crap that’s messed up.”

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

Masks sit in a closed sandwich bag for students, staff and faculty, placed on a table on NE’s NFAB building with a sign that says “Free Mask.”

NEWS

2 • Wednesday, December 1, 2021 NORTHWEST

Construction ahead of planned schedule JUAN SALINAS II campus editor

Redevelopment of NW is ahead of schedule and is expected to have the framework for buildings one and two finished by January, according to NW project director Daniel Stewart.

Last year, the board of trustees unanimously approved a $105 million contract with Skanska USA for construction on the first two of four new buildings that will constitute the core of the campus. The project, budgeted at $308 million, is part of the $825 million bond program authorized by the voters of Tarrant County in 2019, according to a TCC press release.

Of the $308 million, $53.5 million of that has already been spent, according to vice-chancellor emeritus Bill Lace.

“Through this redevelopment, we are making improvements to how students experience our institution,” NW Campus president Zarina Blankenbaker said. “The ‘3 Goals and 8 Principles’ represent the convergence of our collective work to reimagine who we are, will be, and what it means to serve in excellence.”

The proposed plan would replace all NW’s current buildings, making room for the new buildings.

“I’m sure I will shed a few tears when WTLO and the library are torn down,” said Jim Baxter, assistant director of library services. “I fell in love with our library when I was a student here in the fall of 1980.”

Building one and two are projected to be finished by 2023, while the entire project is projected to be completed by December 2025.

“We’re going to have a fantastic new campus — one that everyone in Tarrant County can be proud of, and one that will serve our community well for many years to come,” Baxter said.

Building WADM, which was an NW administrative building, was removed earlier this year.

“I had to move before it could be demolished,” said Ryan Ferguson, acting director of academic affairs. “There was also a period of time when the sidewalk between WHPE and WBSA could not be used.”

Ferguson explained that there was no way to go from WCTS to WHPE quickly, and people would have to go around the campus perimeter. But this inconvenience didn’t affect students because this happened before all campuses reopened in August.

“COVID actually helped with construction as it was much easier to navigate campus and take down areas for infrastructure installation that weren’t being used during that time,” Stewart said.

The goal of the project is to make NW more modern, flexible and accessible for students.

Building one will contain early college high school, art, music and general-purpose classrooms while building two will have the majority of student development services and a student gathering atrium.

NW Veterans Counselor Bill Alexander is excited about the new open concept.

“We are continuing to connect with our community partners in meaningful ways that create an affordable vehicle for which students use to change the economic landscape, transforming their lives and the lives of their families and our community,” Alexander said.

Joel Solis/The Collegian

Scaffolding sits atop entryway, protecting students, staff and faculty before entering the building. The redevelopment project is estimated to be done by 2025.

DISTRICT

COVID shifts students’ holiday plans NICOLE BESTA reporter

The holiday season is in full swing.

This time, usually spent with friends and family, could be an unlikely scenario for some this year as COVID-19 continues to affect Texas.

However, some TCC students are planning to celebrate with their families and friends this year, with precautions in place when needed.

NE student Mena Chapman said she continues to be wary about spending time around friends but will be with family for Thanksgiving and Christmas as she doesn’t have family members who live separately from immediate family.

“Personally, I don't think spending too much time around my friends would be beneficial when we are all possibly asymptomatic,” Chapman said. “My family is a different story because they are vaccinated and always keep track of each other's symptoms on a daily basis.”

Chapman also mentioned that, while her fears of COVID-19 aren’t as substantial as they were in 2020, she still tries to spend time away from others and is socially distant if unaware of someone’s vaccination status or possible COVID-19 diagnosis.

NE student Jarred Gracey said his family plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas were in full swing this year, eagerly describing the dishes his grandma cooks for Thanksgiving.

Gracey had mentioned that his family plans hadn’t been slowed down by COVID19, aside from the initial precautionary lockdowns, but that he doesn’t tend to spend holidays with people outside of his immediate family.

“I don't recall how all of my friends reacted, but I wanted to get back to the usual hangouts when it was deemed safe to leave your house,” Gracey said. “We went back to usual gatherings probably as soon as there weren't people inquiring about why you were out.”

NE student Ruben Moncivais said he will be spending the holidays working, as well as with family.

Moncivais said COVID-19 wasn’t playing a factor in how he will interact with family during the holidays, as it hadn’t changed any plans earlier in the year.

“During COVID-19, obviously, most people relied on the internet to have meaningful interaction,” Moncivais said. “This was easy for me to talk to people around the world and have friends and hangouts without having to spend mental energy or time.”

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

Three boats driven by students in Dana Latham’s intro to sailing class playing a game of dodgeball and capture the flag in the water on NW Campus.

NORTHWEST

Clear skies forth for NW sailing program SAM TORRES reporter

Back to in-person learning means students can once again be part of the sailing program.

“It’s not easy, but it’s fun,” NW student Camille Escobar said. “It’s good for a new experience.”

She is taking this class for extra credit, and she hopes to use this knowledge for future travel destinations.

The program is available during the summer and in the fall.

“To me, it’s like camp TCC,” NW adjunct kinesiology professor Dana Latham said.

Growing up near White Rock Lake in Dallas, Latham used to sail with her brother there. After teaching sailing for 10 years, her passion for outdoor activities continues to this day.

After taking this course, students will know each function of the boat, sailing terms, knot tying, how to read the wind and waves and they will learn how to upright the vessel in case of an emergency, Latham said.

“I just find it relaxing, just being out in the water,” NW student Zac Mactaggart said.

Working toward a marine biology degree, Mactaggart said it will benefit him to

Build a Bolder Future

know how to sail as some of his classes will be in the water.

One of the advantages of working with Hobie Cats, which are like small watercrafts, is that students will know what to do, Latham said.

On windy days, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks are an alternative.

NW student Ryley Schneider said he recommends this class to those who like to be challenged by something uncomfortable. It takes a lot of practice, but it is rewarding sailing across the lake.

Schneider said the best part about this class is learning how to make turns with 14 mph winds. He was smiling ear-to-ear and said he felt joy when he overcame this task, which he was not sure he would achieve.

For students concerned about safety, there are three certified lifeguards on duty, one on land and two in the water during each class.

An inflatable rescue boat similar to what firefighters use is their latest addition. The TCC fire department taught them the proper use and maintenance of the boat.

Besides canoeing and paddleboarding, they set up a course for Olympic Racing.

NW kinesiology lab manager Sarah Matlock said at this time, there are no arrangements to organize any water sports events for the spring.

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FEATURE

3 • Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Creates

Healing Wall

Positivity

Hard Work Pays off in new PTK Project AUSTIN FOLKERTSMA campus editer

A collaborative project between NE President Kenya Ayers-Palmore and Phi Theta Kappa Phi Tau Chapter called The Healing Wall came to fruition Nov. 15 during an unveiling event. It promises to bring inclusiveness, connectivity and a sense of belonging to students.

“My heart is full,” AyersPalmore said to a room of people during a speech. “I was approached by this wonderful group of leaders and advisers with the question ‘What can we do that will make an impact for the campus?’ and as president, they wanted to know what was closest to my heart.”

E a c h s e m e s t e r, P T K pitches their biannual project to the president for their college assignment. This semester, the group asked the NE president what she would like them to do.

She said TCC was at a place of uncertainty when they initially met in July 2021 and still is as the pandemic continues.

She said after being online, no one had those personal connections that they were used to in the classroom, but now that students are back, they’ve returned to an in-person community again.

“What you have done, PTK, is give this community a place where we can express our concern for one another, provide the students with hope, be uplifting to one another and encourage others,” she said.

As she looked around the room, she said she thought about those who had experienced great loss or are still grieving and that TCC now has a place

where students and faculty can come together as a community, showing how much students and faculty care about each other.

“Whether you were instrumental in figuring out how to put the lights up, design process or cheering your colleagues on, everyone’s role was important and valuable in this project,’’ Ayers-Palmore said.

NE student and project manager Megan Stiffler said the organization had met every Tuesday about their college project for the semester.

“Funny story of this entire project is me, and a few other members of the team, were putting up the original design and we thought to ourselves, ‘The tree kind of looks like a grandmother,” Stiffler said.

“I asked Timothy Solorio, the person that sculpted the tree, ‘What is your strong suit?’ to which he replied, ’I’m an artist,’ and we were just kind of like ‘Thank God.’” PTK vice president of leadership Haley Crombie said a tree wasn’t supposed to be the original design. It was supposed to be a bulletin board.

PTK honorary officer Alekxi Simonelli said she got the inspiration for the tree from ”The Cheetah Girls: One World.” In the film, they come across an old guy that tells them to make a wish and tie it to a tree, she said.

Simonelli took the idea of

tying a wish to the tree and incorporated her twist to it.

Instead of tying a wish to the tree, students and faculty can tie notes of encouragement or words of affirmation to the tree.

Ay e r s - P a l m o r e c u t t h e ribbon, “Wow, wow, wow.” She was emotional as she wrote the first note to put onto the Healing Tree.

The note read, “Yes! You will make it through this season.

Every season has a definitive beginning and ending. This too shall pass.

Hang in there! I believe in you!

All my best, Dr. Kenya AyersPalmore.”

Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian

ENTERTAINMENT

4 • Wednesday, December 1, 2021 VIDEO GAME REVIEW

Rockstar ruins revolutionary gaming titles

Photo courtesy of Rockstar Games

Main character of “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” CJ, drives away from an explosion on a motorcycle. The definitive edition released Nov. 11.

Three game remasters have had features stripped away from them JUAN SALINAS II campus editor

The original Grand Theft Auto trilogy has been praised by the gaming industry for decades.

Each title has been described as a masterpiece, revolutionary or a monumental achievement in gaming. The trilogy revolutionized the industry, and the foundation of those games is still felt to this very day.

GTA showed the world that video games weren't just for children and are capable of telling mature stories.

These games have inspired a generation of developers.

Twenty years after the release of “Grand Theft Auto 3,” Rockstar Games decided these classics needed a facelift. Instead of doing it in-house, Rockstar decided Grove Street Games — a mobile developer — should be responsible for remastering these games that defined a

console generation.

This simple facelift has been butchered to all hell. Grove Street Games has done a terrible job of remastering these games. All three games have numerous problems that could be categorized as minor to game-breaking. Some of these bugs are from the 10th-anniversary edition of the games, which was made by the same studio, while others are brand new to this version.

Even with the day one patch, issues associated with alpha or beta builds are still in the games. Bridges in “GTA San Andreas” won’t appear, but still have collision, so CJ, the main character, will just be driving over an invisible bridge. You fall out of the map in some areas in “GTA 3,” and missions are just straight-up broken in “GTA Vice City.”

It still has the mobile interface, for crying out loud. These bugs from the mobile version break mechanics from the original games that worked

just fine before. Little details from the original releases of the games are removed for whatever reason. For example, the different animations for the three body types CJ can get through overeating or working out.

So, instead of having a waddling fat CJ, he uses the basic skinny animations. I could go on and on about these removed features and elements that made the originals so great.

The games still feel how they did 20 years ago, but now, each title has improvements in the control department. Driving has been overhauled. Vehicles have some weight now. It isn't realistic per se, just less arcade-like than the originals.

The weapon wheel from “GTA 5” and the modern rotating camera for “GTA 3” and “Vice City” are welcome changes, making those games less frustrating to go back to. But, the implementation of them feels like a fan-made mod — which I had installed in my original pc ver-

sion — and would be acceptable for a free download, but when you are charging $60, I would expect a little bit of effort on revamping the controls.

One positive is the environment. The games use Unreal Engine to handle the graphics, while the old engine handles the rest, which would explain the numerous bugs. It probably looks like a mess in the source code. The environment has been fully revamped with new textures and added props to make the world more lived in. Driving the Sanchez around the countryside, catching the L train in the mean streets of Liberty City and the neon lights of Vice City has never looked better. However, some of these improvements ruined the aesthetic of these games. Maxing out the draw distance sounds like a good idea on paper, but when you can see the whole “state” from one building, it kills the immersion.

Also, it seems like the majority of

signs and billboards have been lazily upscaled by A.I. because they contain spelling errors or are just unpleasant to look at. The new lighting system and upgraded explosive effects really make you feel like you are experiencing these games for the first time with childlike wonder.

But, it is too bad because once you get sucked into the world, a significant bug or broken mechanic will ruin it all and bring you back to face the awful reality that is this “definitive edition” This edition is a slap in the face to these beloved games. If this is how Rockstar treats the games that made them what they are today, I have major concerns for the future of this studio and its games.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW

‘Vanguard’ returns franchise to former glory MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS senior producer

The “Call of Duty” franchise is an American staple now.

There is a new game released every holiday season, so children who are still in grade school can yell out racial epithets as they time travel to the 1960s Bull Connor rally in Alabama.

Activision refuses to let the franchise rest for a year so it can improve on the gameplay across the board, due to it being its cash cow. So it has four game developers working on four titles. Three of those are the retail games “Modern Warfare,” “Black Ops: Cold War,” and this year's WWII-inspired “Vanguard.”

COD games fall into two categories: Modern Warfare or Black Ops. Modern Warfare feels the most polished between the two with its focus on realism, slower, but brutal, gameplay and modern aesthetics.

Black Ops has its twitch-based mechanics and fun arcade-type gameplay to promote inclusiveness. Neither cared about the third game, “Call of Duty: WWII,” due to it being slow with ancient weapons.

Developer Sledgehammer Games tries its hand again with another WWII-inspired title with Vanguard, but will this go the way of the Axis alliance?

Vanguard comes in guns blazing and deserves a hero's homecoming.

The majority of people do not play COD for its single-player experience, so this review is strictly for the

multiplayer component of the game If a person has played one COD game, they’ve played them all, but the new game mode options make this game feel special, rather than the usual cut and paste jobs Activision tends to deliver yearly.

Champion Hill is a cross between team deathmatch and battle royale, where eight squads of two and three players duke it out in a four-round tournament until the last team is standing. Patrol has opposing teams battling for a constantly moving hardpoint which the players have to control and can lose in a heartbeat if they’re not on their A-game.

Now, there are some downsides to Vanguard, such as shots not hitting their target in range and allowing invincibility within some games.

Some of the Killstreaks could be distracting for players, such as the mortar and bombing runs, but they’re supposed to mimic the real-life feeling of a warzone environment. Last, but not least, someone needs to ask People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals about the number of shots it takes to kill the attack dog killstreak.

It should not take a full magazine to put them down.

Sledgehammer combines the best of both mainline games to create a blend that only nitpickers would cry about. A fast-paced shooter with tactical elements that’s fun, but also deep at the same time. Make sure you grab your controller and head for the trenches.

Photo Courtesy of Activision Blizzard

“Call of Duty: Vanguard” is the 18th installment in the franchise. It was released Sept. 10 for Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

OPINION

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 • 5

EDITORIAL

Masks should’ve been mandated way earlier When TCC opened its doors to students, there were no rules on masks. It was up to the students, staff and faculty.

This lead some to feel unsafe and not very happy about the protocol for masks, or lack thereof.

However, others don’t care about wearing a mask and find it pointless.

Recently, a federal judge overruled Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning mask mandates in public schools. Judge Lee Yeakel said, “The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs.”

This will help protect those who will be surrounded by classrooms full of people and will help stop the spread of COVID-19 to loved ones.

Here’s the issue. It’s a little late to change the flow of what schools have contributed by not enforcing a mask. People have gone so long without using masks, forcing a mandate now is welcome but it should’ve happened sooner. It should’ve been mandated within the first couple of months of the pandemic. Now people are used to the fact they don’t have to wear masks in public places. If it’s enforced now, it will cause an uproar. People have been allowed to be selfish for too long already. Masks have been made into a political device rather than a way to ensure everyone’s safety.

Children have been forced to go to school, and only recently, have been able to get vaccinated.

They were walking around in tight hallways and classrooms, maskless, completely exposed because masks became a charged topic of discussion. They should’ve been required

Amber Davis/The Collegian

to wear a mask from day one. Not only would it protect them, but their families and teachers as well.

It’s great that there is a focus on children, but they’re not the most at-risk age group. The elderly have had to hide away during the duration of the pandemic. Some of the older faculty and staff at TCC were forced into early retirement. They’re still having to hide away because

masks and vaccinations aren’t required. Technology can be difficult for them to understand, so offering curbside delivery isn’t the solution many people think it is. All of this is because COVID became subjective rather than an objective thing to think about.

Making masks and vaccinations into a political matter has been detrimental to society. People

have been divided by who’s vaccinated and who isn’t. People that wear masks, and people that don’t.

All this division during such a time of contention just added fuel to the fire. People were divided rather than trying to be there for each other through such a troubling time.

At a time when the world should’ve been at its most united, countries and states took different

stances on what should be done to make people feel “safer.” Instead of having any kind of mitigating, some places said “screw it” and ignored recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These exact reasons apply to TCC as well. It hasn’t implemented any protocols, even after the executive order has been overruled.

But, at this point, it’s too late. The damage has been done. There has been a lack of empathy throughout for students, staff and faculty. Even the reporting that the school does is lacking. It’s all done through selfreports, so if someone comes down with a case of COVID, they’re expected to go on the website and fill out a form.

More actions need to be put in place to stop the spread to protect the immunocompromised or others who decide they don’t want a vaccination. Overall case numbers could potentially go from triple digits to double digits in Tarrant County.

Masks are important to help protect the people around us, and without them, we wouldn’t have survived going outside during lockdown for necessary needs. There would have been no protection.

Masks also ensured that essential workers could work safely.

COVID-19 has affected all our lives in different ways. Whether that be with a loss of a family member, or getting sick and having to deal with the virus yourself. At the end of the day, we should all push to help protect each other and make this world safer for everyone.

VIEWPOINTS

Cyberbullying is detrimental to mental health of adults

AUSTIN FOLKSERTSMA campus editor

Ages 12-18 are the most common group that falls victim to cyberbullying, but what isn’t talked about very much is it’s not the only one targeted.

Research shows 41% of adults have experienced forms of cyberbullying, according to Pew Research Center.

The word “bullycide’’ is a term used when someone that is a victim of bullying or online harassment takes their own life.

The old saying sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me is complete bullshit. Oftentimes, your mental wounds don’t heal, and if they do, let’s face it, they never heal completely. I remember in vivid detail some things that were said to me in school.

I was a victim of bullying and cyberbullying through most of my schooling. The school I attended had a policy that if it didn’t see anything, then nothing happened, or that’s how I felt it went down.

Cyberbullying is common nowadays because it’s easy to get a device that connects to the internet, and the long-term and short-term effects of it are absolutely insane.

Cyberbullying increases one’s chances of developing a mental disorder. One in five Americans has already been diagnosed with

Elon Musk is not someone people should be idolizing

at least one, according to the Megan Meier Foundation.

Someone who is a victim of cyberbullying will develop certain long-term behaviors that will stick with them. For some, they may develop unhealthy habits or addictions such as alcohol abuse and/or drug abuse, according to the Online Abuse Research Center. Some people may develop self-destructive behaviors, trust issues and start taking poor care of their body and mind.

Cyberbullying has gone up since COVID, according to MI Blues Perspective. With COVID having been around for nearly two years, all we had for interactions was our cell phones. It has allowed the bullies to get to us because let’s face it, we can’t “just turn our phones off and ignore the problem,” as some would say.

It’s easier said than done telling that to a generation that grew up with technology all around them.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 29, according to the World Health Organization, and the numbers have gone up 8.7%, according to the Journal of Health Economics.

I lost my best friend to cyberbullying four years ago Nov. 1, 2017, and it was the worst day of my life. I remember getting that phone call from her family. Nothing hurts worse than hearing your best friend’s mom’s voice shaking on the other end of the phone, struggling to even speak to tell me that her daughter had taken her life.

So, before you send that tweet, that gossip column or whatever social media outlet it might be, take into consideration that you might be hurting people and their reputation.

JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

Elon Musk is not your friend.

Musk is one of the top five richest people in the world, and he’s also a manipulative, unfunny douchebag that has managed to convince way too many people otherwise.

It seems as if Musk is in a new scandal each week. Recently, he replied to a post Bernie Sanders made on Twitter calling for the wealthy to “pay their fair share.” In his reply, Musk wrote, “I keep forgetting that you’re still alive.” Hilarious, right? Rather than offering constructive criticism, he goes for a playground insult instead of reflecting on his low tax rate.

Somebody needs to take Twitter away from him because that’s where he does most of his damage. He’s made tweets that have manipulated the stock market and posts that were anti-union. The anti-union post even got him in legal trouble with the National Labor Relations Board. The tweet says “But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing?” He was ordered to delete the post, but as the old song and dance go, it was more so a suggestion rather than an order since it can still be found on his Twitter account.

Once COVID started taking off, he tweeted “The coronavirus panic is dumb.” By the time he wrote that thousands of people

had already died from it. When a Tesla assembly line was forced to shut down in California last year, he wrote on Twitter that it would restart production, violating protocols in place. But, it’s OK, he said to arrest him instead of anybody else.

There is a lot of proof of his misdoings, yet he still has a lot of supporters. How did he manage that?

Well, he’s an internet funny guy.

He has managed to represent himself as the charismatic, relatable billionaire. He posts memes, makes companies as a joke and smokes weed on Joe Rogan’s podcast. He’s the whole package.

Taking on this “not like other billionaires” attitude has proven to be effective for him. It makes people believe that he’s not entirely separated from reality. How people manage to believe that when he has a child named “X Æ A-Xii” is beyond me.

Idolizing people like Musk is toxic. It leads people to accept his wrongdoings, and even go as far as defending him. The same energy that’s put against the richest man in the world, Jeff Bezos, should be put toward Musk.

These billionaires don’t give a shit about anyone but themselves. All the garbage about helping the world that comes out of Musk’s mouth is only said so outlets can write headlines about him.

I get it. I should pull up my bootstraps and stop complaining about a man that worked so hard to get to where he is. I should also ignore that he was raised in a wealthy family.

Bezos could learn something from Musk. People would ignore the awful working conditions at Amazon as long as Bezos starts posting funny video game memes.

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