TCCD Collegian November 17, 2021

collegian.tccd.edu Phase Bore PG. 4

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 – Volume 34 • Issue 11 News

Entertainment

Opinion

Opinion

Editorial

SOFTWARE INVADES PRIVACY Students discuss use of anti-cheating methods. PG. 2

SEGA DOES WHAT NINTENDON’T 16-bit blast processing comes to modern systems. PG. 4

STRAP ON THE VR GOGGLES Will metaverses be humanity’s next move? PG. 5

BATTLE OF TITANS Marvel and DC’s strengths, weaknesses. PG. 5

CRYPTO CRAZY Bitcoin’s changing the market. PG. 5

DISTRICT

Food pantry assists students in dire need TCC helping community with multiple food banks AUSTIN FOLKERTSMA campus editor

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

A child carries a box around looking at the produce on display at the Fresh Food Market on NE Campus. NE, South, NW and SE have monthly produce markets available to registered students.

NE, South and SE’s food pantries offer free food to registered students who may be struggling to find a way to eat.

The pantry on NE and South is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the one on SE is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Each month, there is a fresh produce market on the three campuses, but times and dates vary.

A survey given by the Home Center for College, Community and Justice to 86,000 students showed that 70% of two-year college students were food insecure, housing insecure or homeless and 61% of four-year college students were either food insecure, housing insecure or homeless.

“Pre-COVID, we were having an average of about 250 to 300 students a month in foot traffic and, in these fresh food markets, we usually have about 150 to 250 in a two-hour period alone,” NE food bank coordinator Cheryl North said. “I started the first food pantry on this campus — the NE Campus — in spring 2016,” North said.

She said she had the idea for it a couple of years before the spring 2016 semester, but it took a couple of years to happen and build space for it.

“Right now we have food pantries on SE and South Campus, and there’s some space being built in the new architectural design on NW campus for them to have one. We’re working to have food pantries on all campuses” North said.

She said in the meantime, if a person is registered at TCC, they don’t have to go to their home campus. They can go to any campus and take advantage of the food pantry.

“It’s hard enough to go to col-

lege, but if you have to go to college and worry about where your next meal is coming from, that’s a burden that we don’t want our students to face, and it’s a burden we can help with,'' North said.

NE student Silvia Pardo said the food pantry has been a lot of help to her and her family because she lost her job during COVID. “I worked for the pantry a long time ago in 2017, and it was a much smaller space then,” NE student employee Nicholas Davis said. “We helped a fair number of students, but not as many of them knew we were here.”

He said he was excited when he came back. There was a much bigger space and a lot more people were being helped at the food pantry, but he wants to help more people.

“It’s just a good thing to do for the community because even if somebody doesn’t specifically need it, it just relieves pressure, so this being here means they don’t have to spend any money on food,” Davis said.

Davis said there’s also an opportunity to grab a sack lunch at NLIB that’s put together by the food pantry if it isn’t open. He said the food pantry will put together about 25 to 30 sack lunches of food at a time.

“This woman right here,” referring to Cheryl North, “nabbed me and said ‘Hey, would you like to do your service project?’ and that’s how I started here, and it’s been now a semester and a half,” NE student employee Susan Wares said.

She said she was raised to give back to the community. Growing up in a military family, she didn’t have any money, so working for the food pantry is an opportunity for her to give back.

More information about the food pantries can be found on TCC’s website.

DISTRICT

Perspectives on potential vaccination mandate Businesses with more than 100 employees would require vaccinations or weekly tests JUAN SALINAS II campus editor

The Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for federal workers is up in the air.

The proposed measure, which was halted by a federal appeals court, would require businesses larger than 100 employees or more to be vaccinated, or get weekly tests for COVID and wear a mask while working.

This measure by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would affect federal employees.

Reginald Gates, the vice-chancellor for communications and external affairs, didn’t respond in time before the story was published when sent questions about TCC’s plans for the potential mandate.

“I think it could be a good thing since it doesn’t force people

to get vaccinated,” SE student Ravion Shepherd said. ”You just have to follow procedures to ensure that you’re not positive for COVID, but we should expect a lot of push back from people that don’t want these precautions.”

Last month, Gov. Greg Abbot signed an executive order banning any vaccine mandate for all entities in Texas.

“We may see this in the Supreme Court in the near future, or it may take a while and be irrelevant at that point because enough people will be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity,” NW government instructor Lauren McClain said.

Sociology professor Elizabeth Gabhart brought up how the Supreme Court already ruled on a similar case back in 1905 with the smallpox epidemic.

“While some people are yelling

“Living in a society with freedom and rights has never meant that people have the right to kill others; that’s the most basic premise of the concept of freedom within a society” Elizabeth Gabhart, Sociology Professor

about their rights, they're missing the point of living in a society,” Gabheart said. “Living in a society with freedom and rights has never meant that people have the right to kill others; that's the most basic premise of the concept of freedom within a society.”

Gabhart explains how she hopes the federal government can go along with its plan to enforce it.

“I think that states which bow to anti-vax sentiment are likely to drag their feet for months or years by filing lawsuits, while thousands of their own citizens die of COVID,” she said. “Eventually, they will lose those lawsuits, and the federal government will prevail.”

NW student Brian Gibbs thinks that people are overreacting to the mandate.

“I don’t think it’s horrible because you can get tested if you don’t want to get the vaccine,” Gibbs said He said a person’s vaccination status will offer differing perspectives.

“I think it depends on your perspective,” he said. “For me, since I’m vaccinated, then I don’t really mind because it doesn’t really affect me as much, but for someone who’s unvaccinated, it might make it more of a headache for them to be able to work.”

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

SE part-time nurse Lucy Harris follows proper safety protocol by washings her hands to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.

NEWS

2 • Wednesday, November 17, 2021 DISTRICT

Anti-cheating software raises concerns BRIAN BARAN reporter

Some view anti-cheating software as needed for online learning to prevent cheating and improve remote learning environments, but others view it as an unnecessary invasion of privacy forced upon them without any say.

Over the last few years, colleges have seen an uptick in the usage of anti-cheating software such as Proctorio and Respondus Lockdown Browser. The sudden shift to online as a result of the pandemic spurred both the implementation of these programs and also discussion about them among the public.

For many students, it was also last year they were exposed to these types of software.

“I was both surprised and not surprised,” SE student Grace Lindsay said about using these types of software. “Surprised, because yeah, it’s an online class, and you don’t really expect a teacher to look at you and say, ‘Download this because I want to make sure you’re not cheating.’ But not surprised because, again, it’s an online course, and you know, you could easily be taking a test and then whip out your phone — taking a test on your computer and then whip out your phone in the other hand without them realizing it and you can easily cheat right then and there.”

Other students were not as understanding in their first reaction, such as SE student

Saayla Conwell.

“First of all, just the thought of these classes asking for you to download this type of software is an invasion of privacy,” Conwell said. “What gives you the right to watch and see what we’re looking up online on our own devices? To me, that’s disgusting, vile and a lack of right to watch and use what we please.”

According to the “About” page on Proctorio’s website, the company states its goal is to expand quality education by providing highintegrity learning environments. While it may not be the most popular among students, some professors and staff see its usefulness.

“This type of software simply enables students to take exams and tests remotely rather than being about cheating, per se,” NE radio/ TV/film instructor Brandt Sleeper said. “This is because I believe while people are basically honest, they may, given the right set of circumstances, fall off the wagon. This tool makes it easier to remain honest in a remote situation. It is a safeguard, or perhaps a guardrail.”

Still, some students, like Lindsay, find its usage a privacy hazard.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve used it for years. Someone can easily hack it, take it over and boom, you’ve got yourselves a virus,” Lindsay said. “And then if a student comes and points the finger at the school, the school’s going to go ‘No, that wasn’t us.’ But it’s your app that your teachers have forced us to down-

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

SE student Ranem Nababteh studies at the SE library computers. load.”

This is not limited to students either.

Sleeper draws the line at some of these software practices and said he would be open to alternative methods if his students came to him about it.

“I do not use camera monitoring systems,” Sleeper said. “There have been issues with that platform. I also do not feel comfortable putting a camera in their personal space.

The Lockdown Browser feature simply keeps them from opening or running other programs simultaneously. It is a deterrent rather than a punitive measure. I'm most open to students

simply being honest. Then it would not be a point of discussion.”

Students have alternate methods in mind as well. Conwell said one way to prevent cheating is to ensure that students have the resources to prepare to take a test.

“You can chat with tutors online who understand the material you’re struggling with,” Conwell said. “Quizlet or any study card, practice test websites help you so much, especially if you just can’t understand what your professor is trying to teach or explain.”

Lindsay, on the other hand, said to prevent cheating, students and professors may just have to bite the bullet and come up to campus like the old days.

“I get it, nobody wants to drive up to TCC, especially in the middle of the pandemic going on right now, you know?” Lindsay said.

“But that seems like the only logical solution.

On top of that, we’re already paying for the courses so it wouldn’t really matter.”

She acknowledged that students cheating both in-person and online is inevitable, and no matter what programs are used, it’ll happen eventually.

“Because no matter what, you’re always going to have that one student that figures out how to cheat the system,” she said. “Whether it be an online system or a physical schooling system, you’re going to — they’re always going to figure it out.

DISTRICT

How different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving in various ways AUSTIN FOLKERTSMA campus editor

Not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving with a turkey, cornbread stuffing and mashed potatoes.

“We call Thanksgiving, ‘el día de las gracias,’ which means the day of Thanksgiving,” NE student Raul Garcia said. “I remember celebrating our Thanksgiving with lots of tamales. We have our traditional turkey just like everyone else does with all the trimmings and fixings, cornbread stuffing, beets, all the same stuff.”

He said his family makes some traditional food to his culture called capirotada — bread with raisins and cinnamon — and also a method of cooking meat called barbacoa, which translates to barbeque.

He said the more you go into Mexico, the more their traditions start to change up a little and become more diverse.

“We have family friends that live in Pflugerville. My immediate family and I will travel to Pflugerville, and we’ll spend time with our family friends over there, and it’s super special,” NE student Stephen DeGrenier said.

He said his family will have turkey, stuffing and other traditional items, and the dad of the friend’s family will smoke various kinds of meat.

“One of my favorite family traditions that we have is that we will gather around the food and we’ll pray over it, and then after that, we will each go around the room and say one thing we are thankful for,” he said.

He said Thanksgiving is one of his favorite times of the year because his family focuses

DISTRICT

COVID-19 vaccine worries parents GABRIELA MARCANO reporter

As COVID vaccines for children ages 5-11 are being passed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, parents are left wondering if it’s truly safe to use.

After schools reopened to the public this fall, over 6.4 million children have been diagnosed with COVID. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 16.6% of COVID cases have been children overall.

The CDC has been working to spread out the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children in hopes of decreasing the hospitalization rate. As cases continue to rise, the CDC recommends that once shipments of the vaccine have been approved and sent to pediatric hospitals, it’s best to have children take it as soon as possible.

“For the vaccination to do its job, we must do our critical part,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “That means vaccinating as many people as possible who are eligible.”

Although the COVID-19 vaccine has already been authorized by the FDA, some trials have shown a high increase in heart inflammation, specifically in young boys. Despite this side effect, the CDC still believes children should get vaccinated.

“I do think that my kids should be vaccinated, but hearing about the side effects that come with it have made me a bit skeptical,” NW student Kristal Ramos said.

The CDC is working to make sure that children are getting the protection they need from the virus – strengthening their immune system to combat COVID. In an analysis done by the FDA, the Pfizer vaccine was shown to be 90.7% effective in combating the COVID-19 virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics has examined the results of the Pfizer vaccine for children and strongly recommended parents get their children vaccinated as soon as it becomes available.

“This is truly an exciting development that allows us to protect a large population of children and help them regain their lives after a really rough year,” AAP President Lee Savio Beers said in a statement.

The majority of parents can’t wait for their children to have some sort of protection against the virus.

NW student Haley Fullen said she doesn’t want her children to experience severe side effects of the vaccine, but if it was proved to work on children, she’d consider it.

“Having taken the vaccine myself, I wouldn’t want my children to experience the pain that comes with it,” Fullen said. “I want my kids to be as safe as possible without experiencing what us adults have gone through.”

on gratitude and just enjoys family time that some take for granted.

“I’m ready to go out to Oklahoma with my family and my tribe,” NE student Chris Mendoza said. “We’re going to have some bear stew, some boar and we’re going to have a little after-party with the whole family.

We’re going to pay some respects to our fallen friends.”

Mendoza said he isn’t fully Native and he loves his family and his tribe.

“Not much has changed, and I don’t want anything to change because it’s tradition, and my family has done it for so many years,” he said.

He said that his family is going to do some activities like go to the lake and do some archery.

“Typical Thanksgiving for my family is very, I’d say, different or odd, because every-

Build a Bolder Future

“I’m ready to go out to Oklahoma with my family and my tribe.”

Chris Mendoza NE student

one comes together differently, but my main core is to be sure we come together and be thankful for what Christ has given us in my life, and in my family’s life,” NE student Felix Cervantez said.

He said his family brings different meals because he only eats plant-based foods. His family doesn’t do anything extraordinary, but he is thankful for what he and his family have.

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FEATURE

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 • 3

Carillon Gallery fosters generations of artists

Logan Evans/The Collegian

“Kumogakure” by Charles Gray is a mixed-media series combining childhood memories with a reverence of anime.

LOGAN LOGA N EVANS

managing editor Artist Charles Gray had plenty to reflect on during the opening ceremony for his new South Campus exhibit “Kumogakure.”

On one hand, the series is an homage to his childhood, a collection of layered images mixing family portraits with classic anime characters he grew up loving. But as a TCC alum, there was also a significance in the exhibit’s location — the Carillon Gallery, which has been molding artists like Gray for decades.

“It’s very important,” Gray said of being showcased in the space where he once cut his teeth.

“It’s an opportunity to have a conversation with people who were in my position, learning in a beginning stage.”

While the gallery has been a staple of South Campus since the ‘70s, it wasn’t until 2007 — the same year Gray took a printmaking class that would spark his interest in art — that it took on the life it has now. That was the year curator Joshua Goode arrived and made the decision to revamp the programming.

“They had done some rotating shows, but they weren’t putting a lot of energy into them,” Goode said. “I tried to really bring in higher profile artists both locally and internationally.”

Fourteen years later, the Carillon is a dedicated space for both professional and student artists to build relationships and showcase their work. The gallery features a flagship artist-in-residence program, through which the department recruits working artists to create side-by-side with students through the semester.

Most of these artists come by way of personal connections Goode has made in his career.

An active artist in his own right, Goode has made a name sculpting faux-ancient artifacts (like the 2019 piece “Bartosaurus,” a bronze figurine with the body of a dinosaur and head of Bart Simpson) and showcasing them in staged “excavations” around the world. His work is a blend of fine art, satire and performance meant to expose the malleability of history. Goode sifts through the connections he’s made in the art world for possible mentors for his students.

Apart from instilling artistic wisdom, visiting artists will often leave a physical mark on the fa-

cility itself. Directly across from the gallery space hangs a thin, wiry sculpture made by a Rhode Island-based artist and South students using facility laser cutters several years ago.

Goode said that because artists don’t have to worry about selling pieces or professional reputation at the Carillon, there’s ample room for experimentation within the gallery space.

“People take a risk and you get to see something pretty exciting sometime,” he said.

TR art instructor Erin Stafford began her time at TCC with a residency at the Carillon. She would later showcase her solo show “The Withdrawing Room” at the space in 2017, an exhibit featuring dollhouse-like furniture painted directly onto the gallery walls.

Stafford remembers the effort she put into making her vision a reality.

“When I think about that show, I think about my knees being in pain,” she said. “There was so much work to do, getting up and down a ladder. But I was very happy with the way it turned out.”

Stafford teaches her students the benefits of consuming artwork in-person, something that has

been dwindled over the pandemic but looks to be making a comeback.

“I show a lot of digital images in class, but the scale is lost,” she said. “That’s something that can’t translate to the classroom or social media. You always miss texture or detail.”

While the gallery has an active Instagram page complete with exclusive virtual exhibits and online guest curators, Goode stresses that visiting an in-person show gives students the best idea of how the art they consume was created. He points to the current “Kumogakure” exhibit by Charles Gray, how seeing the materials used and the texture of the crayon strokes makes the work feel more tangible.

As Gray steps into a burgeoning art career, having just won a fellowship from the Talley Dunn gallery in Dallas, he hopes current students who view his work realize they can follow in his footsteps — especially learning in the space that shaped him.

“People walking in and seeing this have some of the same memories and experiences I had,” he said. “It’s a great way to make that kind of connection.”

Logan Evans/The Collegian

TCC alum Charles Gray opened his new show Nov. 11 at South Campus gallery.

Photo courtesy of Erin Stafford

“The Withdrawing Room” was a 2017 show by instructor Erin Stafford.

Photo courtesy of Joshua Goode

“Bartosaurus” is a 2019 piece sculpted by gallery curator Joshua Goode.

4 • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Eternals’ decides to follow generic route

Photos courtesy of Disney

“The Eternals” are a team of superheroes who have been around for hundreds of years. They’ve been assigned by an ancient power to protect Earth from “Deviants.”

JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

Marvel’s latest movie, “Eternals,” is a beautiful façade.

It lures the viewer into a false sense of security, making them believe this adventure will be different from the other 20 plus films.

It’s directed by Academy Award winner Chloe Zhao of “Nomadland” fame. Even though she’s an award-winner, she’s a risky choice because she hasn’t done anything like a big-budget action film before, which potentially alludes to a film that strays away from the typical formula. But, that’s not the case.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one.

A team of superheroes rallies against an ancient antagonist to save Earth from destruction. Along the way, there is an obvious traitor, large computer-generated villains and bombastic action set-pieces.

It would be disingenuous to act as if there isn’t something interesting about this team, however. They’re all centuries-old, commanded by a higher power to only assist humans when it comes to fighting a breed of aliens called “Deviants.” But, even that slight alteration to a tale as old as time doesn’t make it stand out.

“Eternals” hides its imperfections with gorgeous wide shots, filling the frame with dynamic landscapes. But, it’s a smokescreen, because it tells the same story as most movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

An impending “world-ending” event is approaching, so the heroes should go stop it.

Such a drab plot decision considering that this could’ve been Marvel’s chance to do something vastly unique, especially with Zhao under its belt.

But, one thing is for sure, Marvel movies aren’t about intricate plots or thought-provoking narratives. The movies heavily rely on the characters to carry the film and connect themselves to the decade-old narrative.

Which it does manage to do, expanding upon

the MCU’s seemingly endless lore.

The characters are OK, but there is a standout. Phastos, played by Brian Tyree Henry, is a father — and the MCU’s first openly gay character — that has helped humans advance their technology. He sees the craftsmanship in the tools humans create, but he also sees the destruction they make with the tools he gave them. Realizing what he’s done, he steps away from being a deity-like figure to living in the suburbs with a husband and kid.

Here’s the thing, the other actors and characters aren’t bad, but there are just too many to keep track of. It’s easy to lose your ability for object permanence when you haven’t seen a character in half an hour, and they randomly appear again for a flashback scene.

It’s all just so meh. It’s not bad. It’s not good. It’s an intricately designed flower vase with wilting flowers put inside of it. Burnout to these films was bound to happen after “Avengers: Endgame,” but this plot is beyond lazy. Hell, there is even a scene where the antagonist explains their plan for world domination. It’s a shame too because there are certain times where the film offers a glimpse at what could’ve been if it didn’t take a familiar route.

The morals of the heroes are questioned, asking them if they’re making a selfish decision. It leaves room for the audience to come to a resolution themselves instead of feeding it to them. If the movie would’ve taken more time to flesh that out instead of resorting to having a generic final act, it could’ve been one of the best in the MCU. Instead, it played it safe.

“Eternals” could’ve been a step in a new direction for Marvel. But, it wasn’t ready to commit. Pretty cool post-credit scenes, though.

Salma Hayek plays Ajak, the leader of “The Eternals.” She continuously guides them throughout history, ensuring they don’t interfere in human activities.

GAME REVIEW

Retro compilation reintroduces gaming classics MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS senior producer

Game preservation is a big deal in the world of video games these days.

Physical media is prone to dying, gaming companies are being bought, sold and original assets are sometimes lost or destroyed. The need for modern gaming releases is dire.

One company that always seems to have one foot in the game is Sega. It’s known for re-releasing things like games, mini-systems or compilations with almost every new generation of game consoles. Sega is in the business of making sure the gaming community knows what it has contributed to the culture, despite its last gaming system, the Dreamcast, being released in 1999.

Sega decided to bring out another compilation from its 16-bit Genesis platform that showcases games throughout the lifespan of the system. It has some heavy hitters, and some deep cuts that Sega decided to include surprisingly.

Does this history piece deserve a onecredit-clear achievement, or deserve a game over for being dumpster truck juice? Sega has the skills to pay the bills.

“Sega Genesis Classics” comes with 50 games that have a diverse collection from each genre of yesteryear. The software company “Treasure” developed pure action titles for the system such as “Alien Soldier,” “Dynamite Headdy” and “Gunstar Heroes.” Headdy is an action-packed platformer with a twist, and Sol-

Photo courtesy of Sega

“Dynamite Headdy,” a game from 1994, is one of the titles in the “Sega Genesis Classics” collection. It also has games like Sonic The Hedgehog and Streets of Rage. dier, on the other hand, is a boss rush injected with drugs. It will destroy most seasoned gamers. Heroes is a regular on “Best of Genesis” gaming lists, and it's a Run N’ Gun that even Nintendo fanboys had to bend their knees to because of its gameplay.

The role-playing games that Sega includ-

ed are no slouches either. “Phantasy Star’s” three sequels are here to show it could go toe to toe with Square’s “Final Fantasy” series.

The “Shining Force” series gave players tactical RPG gameplay for a different experience with science fiction elements.

Shining stars of this walk down memo-

ry lane is the “Streets of Rage” series which changed the beat ‘em up genre completely with its mechanics, gameplay and soundtrack by veteran composer Yuzo Koshiro. The first two “Sonic The Hedgehog” games are featured, and last but not least, the “Genesis Shinobi” trilogy. Every gamer should play these games at least once to experience their awesomeness.

To be fair and just, there are some weird inclusions of games on this list that shouldn’t have been cut such as Golden Axe 2 and 3, the abysmal “Alex Kidd and The Enchanted Castle” and the demake of “Virtua Fighter 2.”

Why didn’t Sega include Sonic 3 and the lock on features from other games? But some deep cuts such as “Gain Ground,” “Beyond Oasis” and “Comix Zone'' make up for the shortcomings.

Let’s get this out of the way. Emulation will never beat playing the original game, so what the developers were able to pull off is great. The only way one would notice something slightly off would be to run these games side by side with an actual Genesis, and even then, only die-hard gamers would be able to notice. But this compilation is not for them, it's for people who want to learn about the company that dared to challenge Nintendo during the 16-bit gaming wars, and almost won.

Grab a copy of the “Sega Genesis Collection,” and see what Blast Processing is all about.

OPINION

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 • 5

EDITORIAL

Keep your cash. Crypto will not take over Around 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto — alias for the creator — released bitcoin into the world, changing how currency is looked at forever.

Twelve years later, Bitcoin’s average price, as of October, was $48,162.71, according to Coinbase Due to the wild success Bitcoin has been able to achieve, there are now multiple cryptocurrencies. Ethereum, Binance Coin, Cardano and many more. It’s the Wild West.

Here’s the issue. If someone were asked what exactly the currency is, there would be more questions than answers.

They’ll probably use phrases like “Don’t ask what crypto is, ask what it can do for you,” trying to sound like the next Mark Zuckerberg In simple terms, cryptocurrency is a digital currency that isn’t backed by a government or a bank. Crypto uses the technology known as blockchains, which spreads out its workload onto other users’ computers. It is designed to remove the banks out of the equation.

The appeal of cryptocurrency is that it removes banks as the middleman. Owners of cryptos don’t have to deal with the fees that come with banks. Third-world countries have been looking at cryptocurrency as their ticket to prosperity.

For example, El Salvador has become the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender. The government of El Salvador believes this is an investment for the future and will help Salvadorans who don’t have access to traditional financial services.

El Salvador’s trust for the adoption of Bitcoin has $150 million

Amber Davis/The Collegian

in reserves of Bitcoin and is being managed by the Bank for the Development of El Salvador, according to Global Construction Review.

Global powers like the U.S. are trying to regulate it, or even outright ban it, like China did back in September to make room for its crypto — the digital yuan.

Crypto does have some positive

aspects that equal out the playing field for many people around the world. But it needs to address its effect on the climate if it wants to be a serious solution to wealth inequality.

There are massive warehouses across the globe full of computers with the latest hardware, mining crypto 24/7. This is a significant waste of electricity.

Bitcoin has a carbon footprint of 90.19 Mt CO2 as of Nov. 9, that’s equivalent to the country of Chile, according to Digiconomist’s Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index. The year isn’t even over yet and it has the electronic waste of the Netherlands.

This is just Bitcoin. It doesn’t account for Ethereum, the secondbiggest cryptocurrency, or others.

A single transaction with Ethereum consumes as much electricity as an average U.S. household uses in a workweek, and has a carbon footprint equivalent to 140,893 Visa credit transactions, according to a report done by Fortune.

There have been promising developments by the developers of Ethereum involving transitioning the already existing blockchain to a new system that would virtually eliminate the negative effect on the environment. That would make Ethereum the “green” option for crypto.

This is a great development for Ethereum, and would probably be a great advantage for it to overtake Bitcoin as the largest cryptocurrency in the world.

But, there isn’t enough time to let the market play this one out.

An assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said, “Many changes due to past and future greenhouse gas emissions are irreversible for centuries to millennia, especially changes in the ocean, ice sheets and global sea level.”

It’s not a matter of preventing climate change at this point. It’s about lessening the effect.

If this new system — Ethereum 2.0 — is game-changing, it should be shared with all developers of cryptocurrency so it can become the new standard for the industry.

Cryptocurrency needs to become greener if it wants to achieve its intended goal of bringing opportunities to the less fortunate — once it achieves that goal, then everyone can hop on and go to the moon.

VIEWPOINTS

Metaverses won’t be as big Differences between two as companies are hoping major superhero franchises

JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

Better start packing. We’re all moving to the metaverse.

A metaverse refers to a virtual world where people interact with one another through digital avatars. There are a couple of examples of software that currently do that, but it isn’t enough. Corporations like Facebook want to take it to the next level, making it into a whole world visualized through the lens of Oculus VR headsets. The best depiction of what a metaverse is would be “Ready Player One.” Pop the goggles on and your external surroundings now mean nothing.

It’s a horrifying proposition. There’s enough of a disconnect between people and the real world because of social media and cellphones, so a fully-realized metaverse could be detrimental. Especially one curated by Meta, previously known as Facebook. Even changed its name to show the direction it’s taking.

Meta is all in on this. Recently, Microsoft got in on it by striking up a partnership, integrating Teams into Workplace — Meta’s collaborative software tool. Not only does Meta want to be a titan in the real world, but it wants to steer the cart in the virtual world as well. The last thing the world needs is overlord Mark Zuckerberg controlling another dig-

ital space.

The interesting thing about the metaverse conversation is that Meta isn’t the only company taking a stab at it. The worldwide phenomenon “Fortnite” is steering in that direction. It has brought in elements from real life into the game, thrown concerts and events in there, and has added multiple social methods like hubs for players to interact with one another in. With over 350 million registered players, according to “Fortnite’s” Twitter account, it has the closest chance of becoming the ideal metaverse.

At this point, it’s a battle between tech giants to decide who will have control of the digital space. But, as the tech industry always does, the repercussions aren’t being evaluated whatsoever.

Everybody at Epic Games — “Fortnite’s” publisher — and Meta need to reflect on the ramifications of going through with this. Metaverses could create a disconnect between reality and virtual reality. People will buy clothes for their avatars before considering buying clothes for themselves. A practice that already happens with microtransaction and in-game currencies.

This isn’t just a concern for adults.

“Roblox,” a game targeted toward children, has similar systems in place. People create an avatar and buy clothes, accessories and gear from them. Starting them off early, I guess. “Roblox,” like “Fortnite,” has had events that tie into the real world such as concerts from Twenty One Pilots.

With how much Meta is investing into metaverses, it’s no doubt it’ll take notes from “Roblox” and “Fortnite.” But, something to always be considered, is whether or not it’s a fad. It could just be the talk of the town this year then fall into obscurity the next.

MEGHAN SCHILLING campus editor

People love to talk about superheroes.

The characters, the comics and the movies. Eventually, though, there will be a crossroads between two different franchises, DC and Marvel.

This debate has been going on ever since the two comics started publishing. I’m here to discuss which one is better, or at least what catches my eye.

The Marvel Universe is known for The Avengers and all their unique powers. DC is known for Batman, along with the Justice League. Out of the two, I would say the team that is likely the most powerful would be, honestly, neither. Both superhero squads have heroes with either the same powers or a similar tragic backstory. The teams are always changing, so it’s safe to assume that there can’t be a comparison at any time on powers and abilities.

Now let’s talk about movies and upcoming releases, and for the sake of my sanity, that will include Spider-Man, even though that’s considered Sony. I am not going to lie.

Marvel has not disappointed with movies in recent years. DC, on the other hand, has disappointed. Although DC has had a bunch of movies flop, it has announced some movies I can’t wait to see on the big screen, such

as the new Flash, Batman and Black Adam movies. However, Marvel is releasing “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness,” and “Thor: Love And Thunder.”

In recent years, the reputation of DC movies has dwindled. The only enjoyable stuff it has released is the animated movies and shows, which I very much enjoy.

However, Marvel has done phenomenal with movies. That’s also reflected by the box office numbers with movie releases such as “Avengers: Endgame.”

Marvel does not do very well with animated series, or at least none of them have been able to keep my attention. I find it ironic how both are flipped. Although, the release of the Zack Snyder cut of the “Justice League” represents a brighter future for DC ahead.

Eventually, DC could potentially outshine Marvel if it’s not careful.

I would review the video games by both Marvel and DC, but it would be a Lego game review. The only comparable games I have played were Sony’s Spider-Man and Rocksteady’s Batman games. Honestly, I enjoyed the Batman games more because you focus on Gotham and its dark side, and you also get to see the bat family. DC has also announced the release of a new game called “Gotham Knights,” which is based on the bat family taking over after Batman is officially pronounced dead. “Marvel’s Spider-Man” for Playstation has an amazing plot, but it didn’t carry the ambiance that DC does.

After breaking down each of the universes and comparing what the other one did better, and how the other could improve, I would have to say DC is ultimately my favorite. I am a person who likes a darker, more cynical universe.

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FEATURE

Shaped by Culture Native American employees share personal stories JOSE ROMERO editor-in-chief

Marjeanna Burge’s grandfather was raised at a time when his heritage was shunned, forcing him to repress it and assimilate. But Burge’s grandmother ensured her culture wouldn’t be lost, allowing Burge to wear it like a badge of honor.

Burge is the NE intercultural network coordinator, and she is a citizen of the Comanche Nation.

This month is Native American Heritage Month, so two TCC employees from different indigenous tribes shared their experience being a part of the community and how it has shaped them.

Growing up, Burge wasn’t taught too much about her culture. Her quest for selfdiscovery began once her mentor asked her

what it meant to be a citizen of the Comanche Nation. She didn’t have an immediate answer, but she wanted to have one, so when she got her associate degree, she moved to Kansas and attended Haskell Indian Nations University. Afterward, she went to Kansas University and got her master’s in Global Indigenous Nations Studies. Currently, she’s working toward receiving her doctorate in sociology, and she plans to write her dissertation on Comanche tribal members.

“I was raised by my grandparents and my grandfather was full-blood Comanche,” Burge said. “My grandmother was white, but she was fascinated with the culture, so she’s probably the one that kept us connected to it in some ways.”

Burge’s grandfather went to Fort Sill Indian School in Oklahoma. It was a boarding school where Native Americans were forced to convert into European-American culture.

Her grandfather’s sister told Burge stories of how they were treated in these schools, whipped if they spoke a bit of Comanche.

“He taught us probably about five words when I was a little girl, and I’ve never forgotten them,” Burge said. “But, he wouldn’t teach us the language. He would

say, ‘Oh no, you need to learn English, and you need to just go to school and get a job’ and all that stuff.”

Now that she’s an adult, she has spent more time reflecting on why her grandfather may have kept his culture so hidden. Burge believes that he may have been ashamed of it since it was forcefully taken from him. But, even with all this adversity, she said he was still proud to be Native American. He was a quiet man, but he offered her glimpses of the things he loved about the culture and people.

Burge said media and education are stuck in the past when it comes to representing Native Americans. In doing so, it makes the community seem like mythical beings that don’t exist anymore, she said.

“I’ve heard stories recently that some young person did not think that there were any Native Americans still alive,” she said.

“Reservation Dogs” is the first show to have a fully indigenous crew of directors, writers and series regulars. Burge said it presents hope for the community.

NE government professor Lisa Uhlir is Ojibwa, and she said the small population of Native Americans could potentially be the reason for the lack of representation. At TCC, Uhlir said she ensures there is representation by taking time during Native American Heritage Month to do various presentations, telling stories about her people.

“Having those opportunities to sort of let people know that we’re still here, we still exist has been really valuable,” she said. “It’s one of

the things I’m grateful for that they’ve done for us.”

On the topic of gratuity, Uhlir said what she has done to reclaim Thanksgiving, stripping it from its controversy. Instead of focusing on the negativity around it, she uses it as a connection to her historical past.

“I remember growing up, one of my father’s favorite things was whenever the Redskins would beat the Cowboys,” Uhlir said. “That was his way of getting back for Little Bighorn.”

She said Thanksgiving is Native Americans’ holiday. It represents how her culture is all about helping others and how they’re willing to give more than they had.

By focusing too heavily on the history of the holiday, it could minimize the value of her culture and how Native Americans helped, Uhlir said.

Beneficial changes that can help the community need to be federal, she said.

More power to reservations to punish non-native criminals, better financial and technological resources and a better curriculum for higher education for Native American students are a couple of changes she thinks could assist the community.

“Educating native students often require an understanding that we think in a different way,” she said. “We don’t think linearly, and we don’t think in the scientific method way. Requiring us to change creates internal dissonance.”

After Thanksgiving break, Uhlir will be doing a presentation on Native American creations that people don’t realize were made by them. In past years, her presentations were more focused on historical tragedies, so she wanted to take a different approach this year.

“In the way the world is right now, it really would be a ray of sunshine to focus on positive things,” Uhlir said. “I want to be proud of my people. I want to be standing on the rooftops shouting how wonderful they are.”

Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian