collegian.tccd.edu
Talented Native Americans PG. 4
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 – Volume 34 • Issue 7 Entertainment
Opinion
Opinion
Editorial
SKODEN “Reservation Dogs” knows to represent a culture. PG. 2
BYE BYE BIRDIE List of extinct animals gets bigger and bigger. PG. 3
DON’T BUY THAT The difficulty of being an ethical consumer. PG. 3
OPEN LETTER TO YOU There is a divide between the public and journalists . PG. 3
NORTHEAST
TRINITY RIVER
Faculty share thoughts on COVID
Nurse aide program to return LOGAN EVANS
managing editor
Ian McIntosh/The Collegian
COVID-19 caused all TCC campuses to shut down for 18 months, and the return has been met with mixed reception by faculty. AUSTIN AUST IN FOLKERTSMA campus ed editor itor
Since classes returned in August, faculty have had some concerns about returning to in-person instructions. “I think it was important for the college that we get back in person as so many of our students have apparently made it a priority that we come back in person,” NE speech communications instructor Amber Meyers said. “I think we lost a bunch of students to the online format because that’s such an unusual way of learning and most people are not accustomed to that.” On the first day of class, she observed that about 33% of her stu-
dents were wearing masks in the classroom. She said if wearing a mask in the classroom would make students more comfortable, then it is a small price to pay. “I think those who were taking classes online are really comfortable with that form of learning and that’s just one of our six campuses,” Meyers said. “The other five campuses may not be as comfortable because of the simple fact that they aren't as accustomed to it.” Meyers said she isn’t personally worried about COVID-19 because she was part of the Pfizer trials and she already has her booster shot. NE assistant biology professor Kari Eamma said she’s vaccinated, so she’s not particularly concerned
about getting sick, but she wears a mask to all her classes. “I know the vaccine is very efficacious and so I’m not worried so much about myself, although vaccine efficiency wanes after six to eight months so when it comes my turn, I plan to get the booster,” she said. NE assistant English professor Toni Whalen thinks the return to campus is for the best but has some reservations. “I do think that we need to have more safety measures in place,” she said. TCC’s lack of policies on COVID can potentially be problematic because it tends to rely on selfreports and can lead some students
to lie about having it, she said. NE professor of kinesiology Elizabeth Koenn said she’s happy about the return but was a little concerned at first because as the fall semester started, the number of COVID-19 cases started spiking. “I like being back on campus because I’m back on my regular routine,” she said. “Part of the pride that I have in my occupation is that I love what I do. Koenn said she remains cognizant of social distancing and does everything she can to keep herself safe since she has reservations about others. “You go to the store, you don't know what the people there are exposed to.”
DISTRICT
Employment policy sparks debate JUAN SALINAS II campus editor
During a board of trustees work session Sept. 16., Provost Elva Concha LeBlanc presented TCC’s new proposal for hiring practices. At the full board meeting a week later, several members of the public expressed their concerns about it. In her presentation, LeBlanc offered data showing TCC’s demographics this semester. 35.5% of students are Hispanic, 30.8 % are white, 17.6% are black and 6.7% are Asian. However, she said 64.1% of the faculty are white compared to 35.9% being people of color. “It is imperative for institutions to foster a more culturally diverse faculty reflective of today’s student body,” LeBlanc said. Executive director of human resources Gloria Maddox-Powell said the college would review its recruitment and retention plan with an initial focus on how to attract more Hispanic faculty members. “From an HR perspective, our role in this is to apply those research findings to our hiring strategies,” Maddox-Powell said. “We are going to use the data that Dr. LeBlanc already shared and to really focus on hiring more of the underrepresented demographic faculty.” After the presentation, board
Screenshot of TCC board meeting video
The public voiced its concerns on a new proposal during TCC’s Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 23. member Shannon Wood asked LeBlanc if they were focused on diversity over qualifications. “This isn’t about numbers. It really truly isn’t,” LeBlanc said. “It is about hiring the best.” LeBlanc said the policy is about widening the “net” and not watering down the qualifications for positions. When the board returned for its regular monthly meeting Sept. 23, several citizens voiced their concerns about the policy change. “Equality is what this country and our Constitution call for, and equality should be what you focus on,” Tarrant County resident Diana
Voguer told the board. “You are all teaching all of our children and our future leaders.” Erica Porter is a board member for a group called “Moms For Liberty” and she said the change was troubling her and believed race shouldn’t be a factor when hiring instructors. “We live in a community that is very divided right now across the nation,” Lowe said. “As a taxpayer, I don’t want to have to be faced with an institution being sued or having to keep someone on staff who is not capable of being qualified to do that job.”
This point was brought up numerous times during the public comments section of the meeting. Several said this policy would open TCC to lawsuits for discrimination. Brenda White said she thought the proposed plan was already in place and that Hispanic candidates were the only ones that would be looked at for positions at TCC. “Do we want Tarrant County College District known for discriminating hiring practices and division in the community?” White asked. “It is discriminatory. That’s not the real world.”
After lying stagnant for years, the Certified Nurse Aide program on TR Campus is returning this fall in full swing. Students can register for the 100-hour program that will train them to enter the healthcare profession as a certified nurse assistant starting Oct. 4. This comes during a nursing shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “In times like these, there’s a critical need for CNAs,” program director Varnessa Dorsey said. CNAs are responsible for performing much of the hands-on care required in healthcare facilities. Because of their close proximity to patients, they’re instrumental in providing nurses with information that might otherwise go unnoticed. “We need people who have a genuine interest in caring for people,” Dorsey said. Students enrolled in the program will learn the ins and outs of the job complete with clinical rotations at local facilities including Discovery Village, a senior living home in Southlake, and Westpark, a rehabilitation center in Hurst. While technical training is a major part of the program, just as big a focus lies on learning to foster an emotional connection with patients. “One of the biggest components of the CNA program is teaching mindfulness,” Dorsey said. “You need to block things out and be fully there with that person.” Dorsey said she strives to teach her students how to learn and understand a patient’s background. “You can’t take care of me unless you know my story,” she often repeats to students. TR nursing instructor Tamesha Sneed said the treatment of mental health is something that often goes overlooked in the medical field. “When you have a program that speaks to the emotions of a person, that will help them to have a holistic care approach to the patients,” she said. Sneed said students hoping to become nurses have a lot to gain by training as CNAs. Hospitals like to hire from within, she said, so becoming a working CNA is a foot in the door. “Hospitals are looking for nurses and are offering a lot of sign-on bonuses because of COVID,” she said. While COVID-19 has put a spotlight on healthcare workers, Varnessa Dorsey doesn’t believe this impacts the approach she takes to teaching. “You’re always using standard precautions,” she said. “But I think now, it just makes you more aware and more conscientious.” At one time, the CNA program was a hallmark of TR Campus, but when the previous program directory retired, TCC struggled to find someone to fill the role. Dorsey, who had previously applied as a nurse, was deemed to be a fitting replacement, given her diverse background in teaching, rehab and pediatrics. “We’re very excited about the relaunch of this program,” TR Assistant Dean of Nursing Virginia Covington said. The application window for the CNA program runs through Oct. 22. Classes will start Nov. 1 and run for 10 weeks.
ENTERTAINMENT
2 • Wednesday, October 6, 2021 MOVIE REVIEW
Indigenous actors lead new comedy series
Photo Courtesy of FX
Bear, played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, meets up with his friends Willie Jack and Elora after getting into a fight with a rival gang. The first season ended Sept. 20. JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief
There isn’t a show that embraces Native American culture quite like “Reservation Dogs.” And before you ask, no, this show isn’t related to Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.” The show is a comedy that centers around a group of teenagers living on a reservation in rural Ohio. What surprised me about the show is that the majority of the cast is filled with Native Americans. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to point to some sort of media that does something similar, but I’m glad this show exists because it’s fantastic. The show has made history for being the first-ever with an all indigenous crew of directors, writers and series regulars. Took
until 2021, but at least it happened. It’s super important when writing a movie or show about a certain group of people to have that group of people work on it. Sounds obvious, but it’s surprising how often a writer’s room for a show about people of color is filled with the exact opposite. There is a primary group of four teens that the show focuses on. Bear, Willie Jack, Elora and Cheese. For being young actors, each one manages to give a great performance. It genuinely feels as if they’re a group of friends that grew up together. The chemistry between all of the main characters is tangible, making it easy to feel like the viewer is a part of this rag-tag group. The show is presented in 30-minute episodes that only sort of connect. Episodes are somewhat isolated experiences, focusing on different people around the reservation or the
group of friends. Even episodes that don’t focus on the four main cast members are intriguing to watch. But, even though episodes loosely connect, there is one primary goal in mind: Save enough money to get to California. No spoilers, but there’s an event that happens to the group, leaving them wanting to move away from the reservation and start a life in California. The show is great at meshing together more emotional scenes with funny ones. That’s just good writing. Speaking of the writing, knowing the background of the production crew makes the show feel authentic. I know while watching the show that the cultural traditions on display are accurate, which is refreshing. Something interesting about the show is how dreamlike it can feel at times. It is most-
ly tied to reality, but there are moments in which something ridiculous or otherworldly may happen, making you question if it happened or not. There’s a recurring joke with Bear’s character in which he sees a spirit of his ancestor now and then when he’s facing a moral dilemma. There are also some mystical elements like magic that sometimes come into play. It’ll make sense when you watch the show because you absolutely should. “Reservation Dogs” feels like a passion project for everybody involved. The one gripe I had with it is that near the end of the season, there was an episode or so that felt like filler and didn’t add much. But, other than that, it’s an enjoyably memorable experience.
MUSIC RETROSPECTIVE
‘90s rap album does not hold back whatsoever MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS senior producer
Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D unknowingly laid the seeds for gangster rap with his reverb-heavy, abrasive song “P.S.K. What Does It Mean” in 1985, changing music forever. The sprouts from P.S.K. reached L.A. and found future “Law & Order” actor Ice-T, who made his rendition of the song called “6 in the morning.” From there, Gangster Rap was nationwide. Memphis, Tennessee is one of the places where the genre's influence was heavily felt due to poverty, crime and drugs sweeping the city. Memphis already had a rich musical history because of Stax Records alumni such as Otis Redding, Issac Hayes and The Bar-Kays, but due to the hopelessness that was going on throughout the youth, a new sound was born. Crunk, or Buck music, was being crafted by taking horror movie music samples, combining them with the reality of gangster rap and soul music. That was dubbed “The Pimpin.” Artists like the future Academy Award-winning DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia decided to dance with the devil and get Bible thumpers of the Bible belt Old Testament wrath with their lyrics of satanic worship, and all-out anarchy. On the other side of the spectrum, you had Tommy Wright III, a teenager who was a product of foster care by the age of five and took to the streets to survive and decided to drop his debut album “Memphis Massacre” at the age of 16. The eight-track album is an assault on the listener’s auditory senses with its lyrics conjuring up visceral imagery of mayhem, drugs, sex and violence.
Photo courtesy of T.W. Productions
“Memphis Massacre” was released in 1992. The album has not been released on streaming services like Spotify, but it can be found on YouTube. The album starts with Wright giving a shout-out to his friends and family who are dead, locked up or on the run over a simple snare drum striking every three bar of the mea-
sure, setting a spooky tone for the listener. Listening to Wright call out those names is haunting because of the pain in his voice toward his loved ones.
With police sirens going off, “Shoot 2 Kill” blasts through the listener’s speakers for the next track, and Wright is letting anyone against him, law enforcement or criminals know that he’s about gunplay. With a sample saying “shoot ‘em up” throughout the chorus, it paints Wright as one-man against the world. The day in the life of a drug dealer is painted on the track “Caught You Slippin” with the warning of not being on your Ps and Qs will cost you dearly. While the song “Street Type N—-” is letting anyone who deals with his demeanor know not to expect him to change to make anybody feel comfortable. The stand-out track “Don’t F— With Me” has a Tony Montana sample blaring the name of the track as the hi-hats blast and the bass blows the trunk off a box Chevy with the thunderous 808 drums pounding throughout the song. The charm with Wright’s music is that, unlike his fellow city rappers, music production sounds somewhat professional and mixed. His music sounds like random one-takes with basic equipment and raw energy that harkens to punk rock music. The bad thing about his album is that it’s not available on streaming platforms due to numerous samples that would most likely cause the legendary Memphis rapper financial issues, but his loyal fanbase has posted his discography to YouTube for those to listen. Wright might not have reached the levels of stardom that other rappers reached in his city, but this album shows why he deserves a brass note on Beale Street.
OPINION
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 • 3
EDITORIAL
We want to earn our community’s trust, faith Public trust in the media has been dwindling. Net trust in U.S. Media is 29% which is the lowest among 46 countries that were surveyed, according to the Digital News Report. Canada has 45%, and Mexico has 37%. The report states that this low rating is due to America’s highly polarised market and highlights that news cable organizations like CNN, FOX and MSNBC have the highest distrust level. Some speculate that is due to the previous administration’s attack on the media. In contrast, others suggest that it could be a deeper problem in the economics of journalism. Whatever the reason may be, this mistrust of traditional news media has bled into the local level. As a result, new staff members have experienced worrying responses when asking students to be interviewed. “You’re not going to like what I have to say” or “I’m not trying to get canceled” are some of the responses we get while asking the student body’s opinion on an issue. This type of response is very disheartening to us. No students at TCC should be scared to share their opinion on an issue. The Collegian is here to represent the student body. No matter what political leaning you may sway. The Collegian is not in the business of yellow journalism.
Amber Davis/The Collegian
We are not looking for quotes that we can twist into a better story or clickbait headlines. The Collegian is not asking you to put your full faith in us and act like our words are from the Gospels. About 63% of Americans think that the public should be more skeptical rather than trusting
of news media, according to Pew Research Center. Being skeptical is a good thing. It means that you are open to the possibility of being wrong and that you strive for greater knowledge. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t try to gain more of your trust. The same report by Pew Research Center found that 71% of
Americans say that news media can improve the level of confidence the public has in them. It also states that 55% of Americans want a personal connection with their news sources. The Collegian believes that one way to establish a personal connection with you is to understand where we are coming from.
The staff isn’t much of an emotionless machine. We do have opinions and thoughts on the world. Just like you, we are human. The Collegian feels that if were are open about our biases, then we can become more trustworthy rather than act like we don’t have any in the first place. Another way Pew Research Center shows that news media can gain the public’s trust is with official correction when the news media makes a mistake. 51% of Americans would feel more confident if the outlet made official corrections if it makes a mistake. The Collegian has always done and will continue to make corrections when we mistake quotes or misspell names or details in a story. The Collegian staff will strive to be the best journalist that we can be. The staff will definitely make mistakes this semester, but we will be open and honest about them. We understand that this won’t fix the partisan divide across the nation and sensationalist practices in traditional media or magically change overnight. It will be a long process to gain the public’s trust again. But, we hope that this small community college newspaper can be one of the few news organizations that you can trust to be honest and only give you the facts, leaving it up to you to form your own informed opinion on a matter.
VIEWPOINTS
We must improve funding to Ethical consumption is almost non-existent in today’s society prevent animal extinction
LOGAN EVANS
managing editor
The ivory-billed woodpecker was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world. At 20 inches long, it boasted a 30-inch wingspan and a stark display of black-and-white feathers. The males sported a bloody shock of red on the backs of their heads. It was nicknamed the “Lord God” bird for what birdwatchers might shout after seeing one. But it will never be seen again, according to a recent proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The proposal seeks to remove 23 plants and animals from the endangered species list due to extinction — the largest proposed batch in history. While it’s easy to hear news like this and feel hopeless, it’s important to think about species that are endangered, how they become that way and the threat of more magnificent creatures living among us being snuffed out forever. Oftentimes, extinction impacts not only the species being depleted but other organisms living within their ecosystems. Among the species listed in the recent proposal is a group of freshwater mussels, many of which became extinct after the U.S. built dams in their habitats along the Eastern side of the country. This led to a shrinking habitat, which was further
invaded by pollution. Freshwater mussels filter water and work to stabilize riverbanks. Because of their extinction, others within their ecosystem will surely suffer. As for the ivory-billed, the elusive bird once populated stretches of woodland in the South. When timber companies began churning through forests in the early 20th century, the bird quickly disappeared. In fact, the USFWS cites the last confirmed sighting to have been in 1944. Reports in 2005 of sightings in eastern Arkansas ignited a frenzy of birders and biologists scouting the area. The most credible proof of the bird found at this time was a pixelated video taken from a kayak of what might have been one fluttering in the distance. Now, all that remains of the “Lord God” bird is an archive of more than 60 lifeless specimens at Harvard collected between 1869 and 1914. Their stilted bodies and zig-zag feathers give us a small idea of what they might have looked like alive and in flight. So how can we prevent more endangered species from reaching the same fate? A big part of the answer is proper funding. The Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973, has prevented a reported 99% of the species on the endangered list from becoming extinct. This is proof that funding and legislation geared towards nature conservation works. The ESA has not been fully funded for decades. As of 2019, hundreds of endangered species were receiving less than $1,000 a year for their recovery. Some receive none at all. With a fully-funded ESA, we can conserve nature better. Until then, more animals will be doomed as the Lord God was — lost to the wilderness of the past.
JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief
It is way too difficult nowadays to be an ethical consumer. It seems as if each week, news comes out about how a company is screwing over a small business or exploiting its workers. It’s far too prevalent. Amazon, Walmart and Nike immediately come to mind. These three companies are known for how unethical they are. Amazon, for example, has become the poster child for overworking employees. There have been reports of its drivers peeing in bottles because of tight deadlines and little to no breaks. It’s also known for stomping small businesses. There’s a story that always comes to mind when I think about the things Amazon has done. There used to be a website called diapers.com. It was one of the cheapest ways for parents to buy diapers for their babies. Amazon decided to compete with the website’s pricing, so they made buying diapers on its site cheaper. In doing so, diapers.com went out of business. Amazon raised its diaper prices shortly after. The news of the corporation’s abuse isn’t hidden. It’s quite widespread, yet it makes billions of dollars of revenue a year.
That’s because it is difficult and expensive to be an ethical consumer. The convenience Amazon provides can’t be beaten. Its prices are extremely competitive. A small business selling handmade bags can not realistically charge a couple of dollars for it like Amazon since it can mass manufacture items while a local business has nowhere near the resources to do so. Of course, a small business absolutely should charge a higher price because it most likely put a lot of effort into making the item, but it’s not surprising that a consumer would choose the cheaper option. Not everyone has the funds available to spend more on an item they can get way cheaper at a larger shop. It’s a similar story with places like Walmart. Many know about how awful it treats its employees, but it’s a privilege to be able to shop at a place that isn’t as terrible. It’s interesting that just a couple of months ago, these same employees were touted as heroes and described as essential yet these large corporations refuse to treat them as such. I wish there was a positive ending, but I don’t see one. These major companies are going to get bigger and bigger, killing more small, local businesses. Something consumers can do, however, is look up whether or not a company is ethical. If not, and you have the resources to do so, buy from another place. One that cares about the environment, labor laws and, most of all, its employees. A site that’s worth checking out is “Good On You.” It gives you an idea of the negative actions a company has done and whether or not they’re scummy. Money is the best way to show companies how much we care.
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ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER Amber Davis
MANAGING EDITOR Logan Evans
PHOTO EDITOR Ian McIntosh
LEAD DESIGNER Abbas Ghor
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ADVISERS Chris Whitley • Jocelyn Tatum
4 • Wednesday, October 6, 2021
FEATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN
Underrepresented community gets spotlight
JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief
Indigenous People’s Day is Oct. 11, and media has always been lacking in its representation of them. Many Native American athletes have incomplete biographies on the internet, making it difficult to learn more about them. Some have only a single sentence talking about their lives. But it’s important to know them, even if it’s difficult to do so. They have paved their way into professional sports careers, demonstrating why they should be known. Hopefully, as time goes on, the media will expand its focus on Natives of every country. The lack of information on many of these athletes should be seen as an opportunity. It’s time to give them the attention they all deserve. Tyler Bray, the Potawatomi tribe, is a free agent in The National Football League. He joined the NFL in 2013 and was previously the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Before joining the Bears, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs for five seasons. Bray played football for the University of Tennessee before being drafted into the NFL. Basketball is a popular sport among the Native American community. So, some seek a professional career in the sport. Angel Goodrich, the Cherokee tribe, is a former Women’s National Basketball Association player. She played for the Tulsa Shock and Seattle Storm. She made history because, at the time, she was the highest-drafted Native American in the WNBA. She played basketball professionally until 2016. Afterward, she opened a basketball
camp for Native Americans, preparing them for college-level play. On the college level of basketball, Brice Calip has shone. Calip, the Creek tribe, currently plays basketball for the Missouri State Bears. During her basketball career, she has scored over 1,300 points. This year, she was named the 2021 Jackie Stiles Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Last year, she was awarded the MVC Defensive Player of the Year award. Currently, she’s finishing college, working toward a degree in sports management. There is a variety of sports Native Americans participate in. Some have even participated in the Olympics. Mary Killman, the Potawatomi tribe, is an Olympic s y n c h r o n i z e d s w i m m e r. She competed in the 2012 London Olympics where she placed 11th. She began competing at a young age, and, at the age of 16, joined her first national team. She is a fourtime winner of the U.S.A synchronized swimmer athlete of the year. Hopefully, soon enough more outlets will cover Native Americans in a variety of sports. Their stories deserve to be told, just as much as everybody else.
Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian