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BOSCO’s sophomore album review Page 2
S E RV I N G T H E TA R R A N T C O U N T Y C O L L E G E D I S T R I C T
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 – Volume 32 • Issue 23 Entertainment
Viewpoint
Editorial
Viewpoint
“DAVE” Rapper debuts acting skill in comedy series. PG. 2
CUT PARENTS SOME SLACK Parents are dealing with major obstacles. PG. 3
MEETINGS CAN BE AT HOME Video conferencing provides options for workers. PG. 3
THE REASONS I STAYED HERE Flying home is not a wise decision. PG. 3
NORTHWEST
Feature PHOTO MADNESS Instagram account features students’ photography. PG. 4
DISTRICT
Taking COVID-19 seriously
Parents at TCC face means everyone must stay home variety of challenges through pandemic JILL BOLD
editor-in-chief
Illustration by Abbas Ghor/The Collegian
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides specific guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Keeping a sanitary living space, washing hands and avoiding touching your face can all help keep this virus at bay.
The key to flattening the curve is social distancing, proper hygiene ARMANDO GOMEZ reporter
No one can make a student take COVID-19 seriously, that’s a personal decision. But if the question is whether or not students need to take it seriously, the answer is “absolutely yes,” a NW counselor advised. When reports of teenagers and young adults frolicking on beaches during the recent spring break began to surface on social media, it appeared that young people were not taking the COVID-19 crisis to heart. “Take this seriously by staying inside and staying away from people,” NW counselor Brentom Jackson said. “Follow the guidelines from local government and the CDC and stop watching internet sources and conspiracy theory programs.” Jackson explained how students can practice social distancing. “Social distancing is where millennials and Generation Y will shine,” Jackson said. “If you really stop and think about it, we have been practicing social distancing for a while with the advent of social media and delivery apps. So think of it as your regular social networking but taken to the extreme.” Jackson suggested that students hop on Skype or Google hangouts with their partner or friends and try to push “play” on a Netflix movie at the same time so they can watch it
together from a distance. NW kinesiology administrative assistant April Miske warned against close contact with others and stressed that the “shelter-inplace” order enacted by Fort Worth is temporary.
“Students can prevent COVID-19 by applying the principles that have been repeated by a number of sources.”
Brentom Jackson
NW counselor
“Students should not go in cars with other friends and don’t go in people’s homes,” she said. “Actually, obey the order and realize it is only temporary. This will end, and we want to be part of the solution, not the problem.” Jackson said to prevent the coronavirus, students should wash their hands with soap and water, stay at home as much as possible and go get tested if they show any symptoms. “Students can prevent COVID-19 by applying the principles that have been repeated by a number of sources,” he said. Miske said it is very important to be isolated in a closed room if you have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“It is important to place yourself in a closed room, hopefully with access to your own bathroom and keep your medicine in your room as well as bottled water and clean clothes,” she said. “Keep your own dishes and silverware for food also. Take your temperature often and go to the doctor if your temp still won’t go down or you feel like you can’t breathe.” People can get tested in public health labs, private clinics or hospitals, but they need to have a doctor’s order to be tested for the coronavirus, so that means they have to call a doctor first, according to the Texas Tribune. Miske advised students to stay busy with school and to go outside to get physical activity. “Get up every day, maintain good hygiene, get dressed every day too,” Miske said. NW student Joseph Alfaro is worried about the COVID-19 situation as it has done damages to society and the economy. “People are losing their jobs and in turn could also lose their homes,” he said. Alfaro is also worried if one of his family members gets infected by COVID-19. “I am most worried that we cannot pay our house payments, and we will lose it,” Alfaro said. “I also worry that my family becomes ill and there’s a potential chance it could be fatal.”
For the students, faculty and staff who are parents, COVID-19 has impacted their ability to protect their families’ mental and physical wellbeing. NE general maintenance staffer Jeremy Greene is a single dad of two who is caring for his children alone. Child care has been a factor in every facet of his life now that the shelter-in-place orders have closed all schools. An act as simple as grocery shopping has become a risk when another parent or family member isn’t available to stay with the kids at home. Although he is only required to work on NE Campus one day per week, he is unable physically to go to work since he must stay home with his son and daughter. He is all too aware of how easily germs are spread in a grocery store. “It’s stressful and frightening to get out for groceries and necessities especially with the kids,” Greene said. “It’s strange to have to be scared of your kids being kids in public.” Couples also struggle with the new task of home schooling. NE speech instructor Jamie Melton said that she spends about three hours a day with her son trying to complete his classwork while her husband works from home as well. “It probably takes four to five hours with lunch, brain breaks and transitioning from thing to thing,” Melton said. Besides home schooling, she teaches seven classes, and five classes have transitioned online. “It is hard to find a work-life balance when everyone is working and learning from home,” she said. “I feel like I am working from the moment I get up and am often still working when my son goes to bed.” TR, Connect and South student Vanessa Galindo is a single mother who said she’s had a rough time dealing with her children’s online schooling through Fort Worth ISD. After some initial setup problems, she said they are trying to find their groove. “They are finally able to log in and start figuring out the online class world,” she said. Families who are sheltered-in-place together feel the strain of being cooped up and unable to socialize outside the home. Melton said some of that restlessness results from everyone spending time together but not doing anything of value. “It is hard because you are together constantly but not really doing anything of quality,” she said. “So we try to do something as the three of us as often as we can like walks, bike rides and mindful device-free time.” Galindo said her kids are coping by socializing with their friends through Xbox, social media and FaceTime. Greene said his children are happy to be out of school but do miss their friends. “We are doing a lot to try and keep busy and to keep our sanity,” Greene said. Melton said she and her son are ready to get back to socializing when the time is safe. “My son is an only child, so I really miss him getting to play with other kids,” Melton said. “I am not sure he will go back to school this year, and that is hard to think about.”
Page 2 • April 8, 2020
Entertainment
The Collegian
HULU REVIEW
Rapper launches acting career in comedy series MALIK GILES
campus editor
Nerdy, white and Jewish, Rapper Lil Dicky stars in the new comedy series “Dave,” which is about his own life trying to prove himself as one of the best rappers of all time. Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” set the wave, but shows like Lil Dicky’s “Dave” will take it to the next level. The “Professional Rapper” takes elements from Donald Glover’s “Atlanta,” making it a mellow-dramatic comedy with clever, hard-to-catch one-liners. The show follows the main character Dave, in pursuit of his goal to prove to his friends and family that he is not just a parody but a successful artist. What’s ironic is that this show is akin to a parody of modern-day
pop culture. Dave is a goofy, white, suburban individual so he can easily get people’s attention. But he has a hard time fitting into the more serious tone of black-dominated rap industry. What Lil Dicky does well is illustrate that everyone struggles in the road to fame no matter what race they are. Dave speaks his mind a little too much. He explains why he does things, and if he messes up, he learns from his lessons. His co-stars are what bring Dave’s character to life. In the first episode, he befriends GaTa, who seems like a shady character but comes through at the end by getting him in the studio with famous rapper YG. GaTa becomes Lil Dicky’s hype man on and off-stage by literally motivating him all the time. “Of course, bro, you should have it
all,” GaTa said to Dave. This sentence alone makes one wish they had a hype man like GaTa. The show pays attention to detail. Dave claims that he resembles rappers like Young Thug and not Macklemore in terms of music style, but if one goes on Lil Dicky’s Spotify profile, Macklemore is one of the artists recommended. Some scenes were poorly edited. Continuity errors and production mistakes pop up. Editors could have done better. Beyond these editing issues, this show is excellent. Not only does this show have amazing costars but also have big-time celebrities with hilarious cameos. Lil Dicky proves that rappers can also take a shot at acting.
Some Day This All Will Make Sense, BOSCO
In her sophomore project, BOSCO narrates a story of growth and realization and how the stories will all connect in the end.
MUSIC REVIEW
R&B music revived by heartfelt lyrics, funky production MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS feature editor
Photo courtesy of Hulu
Co-created and starred by rapper/comedian Lil Dicky under his birth name Dave Burd, “Dave” is a series about a man who is proving to the world he’s one of the best rappers of all time.
R&B music is in such bad shape right now. From the toxic femininity that Jhené Aiko albums reek of, and the forced campy love songs of Ella Mai or Summer Walker. BOSCO, with her sophomore album “Some Day This All Will Make Sense,” feels as refreshing as surprise rain on a hot summer day. BOSCO’s debut album in 2017 dealt with a young woman coming into her own dealing with the world, relationships and heartbreak. It felt heavy with its rollercoaster of emotions. So with this evolution, she embarks on being carefree and having fun over sultry grooves with funky bridges. The album starts with the track “Champagne,” and it’s going to be a summertime allwhite rooftop party slapper. With its light pop mood-inducing melody that’s just vibing and having fun, it will make butts get on the dancefloor to cut a rug or two. “Attention” is about a woman who craves affection from her boyfriend and is trying to figure out a way to let him know without seeming overbear-
ing or abrasive. A relatable track for anyone who’s been in love and yearns for more devotion from a partner. The free spirit mood picks back up on the de facto jam “Take Off” which starts with a simple but funky drum pattern, then eases in a distorted electric guitar. It’s topped off like a cherry on a sundae with psychedelic keys to create a score that memories should be made to. The lyrics to the hook are, “We can get away/Dancing in the dark/We forever like the stars/ Even if we don’t go far.” BOSCO plays with her voice, going from singing in her alto vocals to talking in a baritone, which enhances the vibe of the track. The only issue with the album is the final track, “Paid in Full,” which seems out of place and takes away the synergy of the album. It’s not a terrible song, but it feels like it should have been sequenced as one of the earlier tracks of the album. BOSCO has the ability to surpass her contemporaries in the R&B genre and become the queen with making good music, which feels like it is natural and comes from the heart.
Opinion
The Collegian
Viewpoints
Parents need support during unusual time
JILL BOLD
editor-in-chief
Child care outside of the home has virtually disappeared in the U.S., another symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic gripping this country, and showing grace to all parents in this extraordinary time is necessary. The COVID-19 crisis has caused a major shift in the way children are cared for when daycares, schools and other child care providers are shutting down on an unprecedented level. Parents are facing hard choices and a lack of options. They must grapple with daunting realities: either they’ve lost their job or they’re struggling to accomplish it at home. They are expected to deal with the ramifications of either option while leading a household. Now add to it being a full-time, stay-at-home parent. Even if relatives
lived nearby, social distancing in an attempt to flatten the curve prevents any relief for parents. Home schooling is the third layer woven into this new routine. Many parents are not capable of effective at-home instruction, and there is nothing wrong with that. That’s not the new normal, that’s just normal. For students, faculty and staff at TCC who are parents, the hits just keep coming. As if keeping up with school while raising a family wasn’t challenging enough, having to spend more precious personal time making adjustments to an online learning style that may not work for everybody is difficult. The college offers a number of support systems to help students cope with the barrage of obstacles they are facing like the Eliminating Barriers Fund (https://foundation.tccd. edu/s/1262/home.aspx) for those with financial needs. Anyone, whether they are a parent or not, can help by being understanding of the limitations in our schedules and a general lack of patience that has become the latest battle in our new normal. And when they finally let us loose, the kids can stay with grandma for a week while we catch up on some sleep and chores.
Staying where I am is smartest decision
DANG LE
managing editor
It was a mellow evening as I was working at home just like most U.S. citizens currently dealing with this pandemic. My phone rang, and it was my mom. She wanted me to go back to Vietnam. She has a point. Most of my Vietnamese friends have returned home. By now, they have less than 300 cases of coronavirus with zero deaths. People believe in #StayHome, masks and hand sanitizers are everywhere, and the Vietnamese government has prepared for this battle since mid-January. Deaths doubled or tripled daily in the U.S., so flying home seems like the safest bet, but I won’t, and there are many reasons for my decision. It’s not a fast trip to be home. My hometown is 8,000 miles away from here, and it takes around 19 hours to
reach home. In that amount of time, the traveler will have to walk around the airport with millions of people, stand in line which may not practice social distancing and sit next to at least two people if a person’s flying economy. That would make a person very vulnerable to contracting the virus, seeing how they’re allowing themselves to be in an environment where millions of people interact. And, I really don’t want to carry the disease home to my parents. While they’re not old, they don’t have the best immune systems. Also, even though campuses are closed, I still have my classes and job here. Going back home will affect my entire schedule, as Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of the U.S. Most of my online lectures will happen at around 1 a.m. if I go home. So, all of that combined, I told my mother that I would stay where I am. It’s a tough decision, as Vietnam has now closed its borders, and I won’t be able to see my family for a while. But people tend to forget that staying at home where they are is not just for themselves but also for the people in their surroundings, and that’s the biggest reason why I didn’t fly home.
April 8, 2020 • Page 3
Editorial
Video conferencing provides alternative
Michael Harp/The Collegian
In two weeks, virtual meetings have become a new normal for office workers. The pandemic has helped employees and their employers realize how fast and effective online meetings can be. Obviously, video conferences should not entirely replace traditional face-to-face meetings. There is a certain energy in the meeting room where collaboration sparks ideas and workers read the atmosphere to understand whether they should move forward with these ideas. However, there are multiple convenient aspects of online conferences that businesses should take advantage of even after life returns to normal. In a day and age where people at least have a cell phone, it’s hard for people to find any difficulty in connecting to the meeting. If they have cellular connection and data, those are the only steps needed to join an online session. Even though online meetings are virtual, workers can still talk, listen and see the others. With video, workers can hear and see each other’s tone, hand signals, facial expressions or body language. All of those will help clear up confusion as people can see others instead of emails, which are easily misinterpreted because some cannot adequately express their ideas in writing. When employees are asked to attend meetings in-person, there are two possible hurdles: travel costs and time. To arrive at a meeting, at least five people will drive, which increases gas and carbon emissions and time lost while in transit. In contrast, online sessions can be done at home. Also, instead of rushing to get ready and the time it takes to commute, workers can use the time to develop their ideas and pitches. This guarantees that employees will get to the meeting on time as it only takes less than a minute to join a meeting. It will also help increase the productivity of workers. Thus, the output quality is also improved.
That being said, the final decisions should still be made during a face-to-face meeting, as that’s when people can interact with each other and capitalize that discussion dynamic to come up with better ideas. During times like this, people take sick symptoms like coughing or sneezing more seriously. Not only will online meetings help reduce the use of sick days, as employees can still join from home, but it will also help avoid getting the whole team infected. Sometimes, parents take days off because their children are sick. Video conferencing allows parents to be home with a sick child while still participating in necessary work meetings. It helps them to care for their child while fulfilling their work obligations. This way, every worker’s productivity is maintained, nobody has to miss out on their job, and the team doesn’t lack any decision-makers. Online conferences are also the best way to communicate worldwide. If a company sends out people to other states or countries to do research, it will take days or maybe weeks to get a full report as everybody has to wait for those people to travel back and attend the meetings, not to mention the travel expenses. But having a web conference means that they can connect to the company even from afar while still developing a rapport. They can also send graphic data and their reports daily, and all of this will ensure the office will move at a faster pace. Although online conference companies have been around for almost a decade, the COVID-19 crisis has introduced this software to many more in the office community. Companies and office workers shouldn’t disregard how beneficial these online meetings have been in terms of communication and time-efficiency. It’s something to take advantage of even when this pandemic is over. A business that can thrive in an online-only setting is pandemic-proof.
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Feature
Page 4 • April 8, 2020
The Collegian
Students from NE photo department share inspirations behind their visual art on Instagram JILL BOLD
editor-in-chief
NE associate photography professor Ting Huang cited many different motivations behind the social media account. “One is to introduce them to online marketing, as most photographers are now doing on Instagram,” she said. In the form of “weekly challenge in the style of…,” she also wants to introduce great photographers to her students, Huang said. On Blackboard, she showed the students in her ARTS 2356 and PHTC 2343 classes a photographer and challenges them to study the photographer’s inspirations. “By the end of the semester, we would have created a strong community and a collective journal chronicling this extraordinary time we live in,” Huang said. “It has been a humbling experience for me as their instructor.”
NE student Azul Sordo sits casually with her brother making conversation at a park bench surrounded by flooded lake and eerie silence. Being outdoors after prolonged isolation makes the outside world appealing as a part of the new normal.
NE student Azul Sordo snaps a shot of her reflection in the window of Bistro 1031, where she works as a waitress. Fridays usually host a full dining room, but it was silent this evening.
NE student and designer Nyranee Funk is glued to technology in an effort to stay connected through Zoom meetings and YouTube while sheltering-in-place. She reflects on her blessings of good health in this time of crisis.
NE student Gia Giovenco finds inspiration from street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson in this photo of a stone archway at an empty intersection.
NE portfolio development and student Carol Sewell captures a man besides a reflecting pool, walking a safe distance from others.
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