@tccthecollegian • collegian.tccd.edu He’ll put on a good show PG. 4
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 – Volume 35 • Issue 15 NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST
Dance Company shows off their moves in Center Corner
Students question if TCC should be in-person AUSTIN FOLKERTSMA
campus editor austin.folkertsma@my.tccd.edu
Alex Hoben/The Collegian
NE student Morgan Viola dances to the “Cupid Shuffle” to promote the NE Dance Company during Club Rush Jan. 28.
DISTRICT
How’d Joe Biden do in his first year? Varied perspectives are shared on administration’s pros, cons
“I like having a fixed schedule because it keeps me on track so that I can use my time wisely and feel like I am getting the most out of my school and my education.”
JUAN SALINAS II
campus editor juan.salinas465@my.tccd.edu
Joe Biden has been in office for over a yea, so students reflect on his time in office. “I honestly would’ve preferred Bernie, and maybe he would’ve followed through with his promises,” TR student Rikki Smith said. Smith's main concern is that Biden hasn't done anything to implement free college for everyone. On the campaign trail, Biden promised to cancel a minimum of $10,000 of student debt per person, according to a post he made on the online publishing platform Medium. He also proposed two years of free community college in the Build Back Better package but has since considered removing it, according to a press conference held Jan.19 “Biden gave out N95 masks and didn't ignore COVID, but he hasn’t addressed student loans,” NW student Katianna McClain said McClain hasn’t been actively paying attention to politics but has concerns about the recent events happening between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. “The Biden term seems to suffer from the same problems Obama's did,” NW student Sarah Schrantz said. “Both suffer from having to undo damages done by their predecessor and face enough backlash from opposing parties that it feels like not much has been done or can get done at all.” Former President Barack Obama had a supermajority — a majority that is greater than a simple majority — for the first four months of his first term before losing it. The Democrats were able to win back the Senate during the 2020 election, giving them a simple majority. “I believe Joe Biden had a very neutral first year,” NW Jordan Adams said. “After Trump, which divided the country, I think he felt like he couldn't lean far one way or another, causing him to not do much of anything.”
The University of Texas in Arlington, the University of Texas in Dallas, Trinity University in San Antonio and Texas State University are among several universities that opted to start the first few weeks of the spring 2022 semester online while TCC remains in-person. Students share their opinions on the matter. “I feel that if we all comply with the rules for protecting ourselves from this pandemic, the professors, staff and students will be able to enjoy this semester without interference,” NE student Richard Colon Rivera said. NE student Ashley Ryan likes the inperson learning format because she has opportunities to be able to talk to people. She said she felt isolated in an online learning format, and being in-person eliminates that feeling. Ryan is a high school 2020 graduate, so she became familiar with online learning but still prefers to be at school physically. “When we went into lockdown and then started to go back to school, it was all online,” she said. “I felt that the people that I had met in my classes were harder to talk to, and it was harder to meet new people, which sometimes made me feel isolated in the beginning.” Ryan expressed that it was hard to learn because she didn’t have a fixed schedule and prefers in-person because of the social aspects, giving her a chance to have personal connections with peers and professors. “I like having a fixed schedule because it keeps me on track so that I can use my time wisely and feel like I am getting the most out of my school and my education,” she said. NE student Daniel Aghayere feels that TCC should be moved to online because his teacher and another student in his accounting class caught COVID, and he is afraid that he will eventually catch it.
Ashley Ryan NE student
Alex Hoben/The Collegian
A Biden sticker with the words “I DID THAT!” written on it, plastered on a gas pump in Parsons, Texas Jan. 23. Adams said they’re glad Biden pulled out of Afghanistan but thought it was executed poorly. “Joe Biden undertook the handling of the pandemic, a rocky economic climate, and a nation divided,” NW student Emmi Maughan said. “He promised ‘brighter days ahead,’ and a handle on the raging virus and throughout the first year of his presidency, some of his promises have been fulfilled, such as the vaccine becoming widely available, the unemployment rate allegedly dropping to 3.9% and rejoining the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.” Biden is currently sitting with a 52.9% disapproval rating, according to polling ag-
gregation site FiveThirtyEight, compared to his 53% approval rating when he was sworn in as president. Maughan said COVID is the biggest threat to Americans and feels Biden hasn't used his full capabilities as president on the issue. She is frustrated about his flip-flopping on COVID safety being a federal issue to a state issue. “While young voters like myself saw the Biden/Harris administration as a better option, it is still important to call out flaws and disappointments in the leaders we voted into office,” Maughan said. “While there will never be a perfect president, I have hope that things will improve.”
“I certainly prefer in-person,” NE student Matthew Sacks said. “The direct relationship between human beings, there’s no substitute.” He said human interaction is far more effective in person. “I will say, I have had very limited experience with the online format, but I do not want to see computers taking the place of human interaction,” Sacks said. NE student Carlee Tincher said she prefers in-person because she tends to procrastinate. “It’s easier to just pay attention to my surroundings instead of my school work, and I would much rather come in and get my work done,” Tincher said. NE student Ashley Miller said she kept checking the website for closure announcements but was quite surprised when she didn’t see any. “I feel it may have been safer had the campus shut down, but I also understand that a lot of students don’t learn as well online as they do in-person, but my opinion is we should have been online,” Miller said.
News
Entertainment
Opinion
Opinion
Editorial
FUTURE ENTERTAINMENT Most anticipated movies, shows and video game releases. PG. 2
PURE ACTION 80s Sylvester Stallone can’t be beat. PG. 4
GOLDEN LIFESAVER Activision Blizzard CEO got off too easily. PG. 5
MAJOR DISCONNECT TCC campuses are way too varied. PG. 5
YEAR IN REVIEW Looking at what Joe Biden did, and didn’t, do . PG. 5
NEWS
2 • Wednesday, February 2, 2022 DISTRICT
SOUTH
Weight loss advice given by instructors
New exhibit is reflection of artists’ personal experiences LOGAN EVANS
campus editor logan.evans@my.tccd.edu
Artist Jessica Fuentes lives with a unique condition for someone who expresses herself with images — aphantasia, or the inability to visualize. The ideas are all there in her mind, but the shape, color and form are purely hypothetical. For her, photography is a way to document the suggestions flitting just behind her mind’s eye — a way to make those ideas real. In her new South Campus exhibit “Never Changing, Ever Changing,” Fuentes explores that crystallization of experience through a collection of images created during her 2019-2020 residency at the campus’ Carillon gallery. The work combines photographs taken over two decades.
“It was about visiting space, thinking about that compression of memory and time.”
Jessica Fuentes Artist
Alex Hoben/The Collegian
NW staff member Khoi Le does reps with dumbells provided in the NW weight room. The room is available to any student or staff member with an ID. JUAN SALINAS II
campus editor juan.salinas465@my.tccd.edu
Despite the efforts of previous administrations to focus on healthy lifestyles, Americans are still highly overweight. The adult obesity rate passed 40% nationally for the first time, according to the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is a 26% jump from 2007-2008. Obese and overweight would be defined as excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to one’s health. A body mass index over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. “The bottom line for losing weight requires burning more calories than one consumes,” SE kinesiology professor Melissa Evans said. “However, cutting too many calories can cause muscle loss, which slows down your metabolism. The recommended way to lose weight is to cut out up to 500 calories per day and stay physically active.” The keto diet, which revolves around foods with low carbohydrates and high amounts of fat, is the most popular in the U.S., according to the health website Supplement Place, which analyzed the most popular diet trends based on global Google searches. “Many ‘fad’ diets are unhealthy, so people need to be careful,” Evans said. “If people have specific health issues, they should talk
with their doctor before starting any plan, and certain health issues dictate specific dietary requirements. I encourage people to eat healthy for a lifetime rather than trying a fad diet because people go off the fad diet and right back to the behaviors that caused the problem in the first place.” The term “fad diet” refers to diets that promise results in a short amount of time. Liquid-only diets, “weight loss” pills or diets that encourage eating one type of food are some examples. “The diet itself will never work because of the way it is designed,” NW kinesiology instructor Grace Ellis said. “No fad diet can be sustained for a long period of time. Therefore, the weight loss itself is also short-lived. A diet will work when it is something that you can continue doing for a lifetime, but then it is no longer a diet, just the way you eat.” Ellis had to learn about losing weight after the birth of her son. “It was something new to me because I have never thought about losing or gaining weight before,” she said “I just always maintained my weight. I made sure that I took my son and dogs for a walk every single day for at least 30 minutes/day and watched what I ate. Over a course of time, I was able to lose the weight and develop a healthy habit of going on walks.” Students can learn more about ways to manage their weight by taking KINE 1164 or 1338 and other kinesiology classes.
“It was about visiting space, thinking about that compression of memory and time,” she said. Fuentes builds her visual style from the concept of in-camera double exposure — layering two different photographs in the same piece of film. While the images in “Never Changing, Ever Changing” are layered digitally, she wanted to recreate that natural look. “I like the way that aesthetic references the fogginess and haziness of memory,” she said. Because of her aphantasia, Fuentes begins with only a vague idea when placing images together. She combs through years of photographs and settles on a combination that will elicit the strongest response.
“I’ve taken these photos over decades,” she said. “I know in my mind what I’ve taken photographs of. I can’t necessarily visualize them, but I know what I want to go together.” Two of the pieces in the collection, “La Rambla” and “Los Dedos,” bring together images from fifteen years of visiting the same location with different people in South America. Other images — like the series “Under The Southern Cross” — combine different locations altogether, collapsing distance like the folding of a map. Carillon gallery curator Joshua Goode praised the intimacy of Fuentes’ work during the Jan. 28 exhibit opening. “It’s almost like a diary in a way,” he said. “It has that feeling of family and togetherness, but there’s always a melancholia that captures our current state.” The Carillon Gallery artist residency program brings in artists of various mediums to work with students during an academic school year. Central to the program is the gallery itself, which is a space for visiting artists and students alike to experiment. Fuentes began work on the pieces in the exhibit during her 2020 residency and continued on her own when classes shut down in the wake of the pandemic. “Jessica was working with our students constantly,” Goode said. “The students who were around her got to witness her creating these pieces, playing with installation and placement, and really expanding their idea of what art and photography can be.” Visitors of the exhibition can take home an exhibit program pamphlet, which includes an essay on Fuentes’ work written by artist Raul Rodriguez. “The images taken during these trips are a means of capturing the roots of her movements,” Rodriguez wrote. “Fuentes creates her work with the intention to mark a time she can ultimately return to through these visual landscapes. We see the personal collapse into moments of self-reflection and the investigation of her own memories.” The exhibition will run through Feb. 24.
Artwork by Jessica Fuentes
Fort Worth-based artist Jessica Fuentes plays with time and perception in “Under the Southern Cross,” one of several photo collections on display at her exhibit.
DISTRICT
Students anticipate new game, movie, show releases MEGHAN SCHILLING
campus editor meghan.schilling@my.tccd.edu
Students are looking forward to a slew of new video games, movies and show releases in 2022. Since the start of the year, many highlyanticipated shows have started airing such as the second season of the hit show “Euphoria” and the first season of “The Book of Boba Fett.” “Even though the new season of ‘Euphoria’ has been released, and I have been watching it with my girlfriend, I am ready to see what next season has to offer,” NE student Riley Timmions said. “Euphoria” deals with mature themes — such as drug abuse and sexuality — through the lens of a group of high schoolers. Timmions would like to see a different outcome, one where the characters don’t go through so much drama and hopes the show brings some light-hearted sequences in the next season, and possibly show the characters grow up so audiences can see how they would grow in society. NE student Kelly Zaccaria is excited for the upcoming season of “9-1-1” and hopes to see what will happen to the future of the fire station in L.A. The show is based on firefighters, EMTs and police officers in California tending to problems faced within their county.
Students watch clips from the film “Spirited Away” in Adrian Cook’s Film Appreciation class Jan. 25. “I enjoy the characters and the development, and the challenges they overcome together as a group,” Zaccaria said. The final season of the anime “Attack on Titan” will air in 2022, and NW student Landon Walker — who has been watching the show since 2013 — said it’s unbelievable that it's releasing. “I know I am not the only one who has been waiting for the final season, but I am sad to see it end after so long,” Walker said.
For fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, three announced films are releasing this year. “I am a huge Marvel fan, and I can’t wait for the ‘Multiverse of Madness,’” NW student Robert Stephens said. Some of the things Stephens is most excited about in the film are the Easter eggs and the portrayal of evil Doctor Strange. Video game releases this year include Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, LEGO Star Wars:
Joel Solis/The Collegian
The Skywalker Saga and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. “This is one of the biggest years for the gaming universe,” NW student Jesus Carreon said. Every month will have a new game release or have a sneak preview for what other games will be releasing, Carreon said. “I am mostly excited for the new Suicide Squad game release,” he said. “I can't wait to play against the Justice League.”
FEATURE
Soundsof
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 • 3
Blackness
Black artists that influence today's mainstream culture
Music is a major part of Black culture. From jazz to hip-hop, it has been a method of expression since its inception. Even now, these artists use it as a way to communicate with their audiences, all while influencing the music industry as a whole.
Tyler, The Creator is the black sheep of mainstream music. He began with a group called Odd Future. Edgy, in-yourface lyrics were his forte until the album “Wolf.” “Wolf” was a turning point for Tyler because he was able to focus on the actual sounds of the music rather than causing outrage with his lyrics. Most Popular Album “Call Me If You Get Lost”
New to the music industry, Megan Jovon Ruth Pete — mostly known as Megan Thee Stallion — has already made a splash with the whole “Hot Girl Summer” phase in 2018. Her Houston roots are what separates her from other female artists. The effort she puts into her lyrics has solidified her position in the hip-hop industry. She has become a symbol in her short time in the spotlight. Most Popular Album “Good News” The Toronto artist Drake had an interesting start to his career. He began with acting, but eventually, quit to focus on his music. He has laser-like precision when it comes to crafting mainstream hits. His hot streak started with his third mixtape “So Far Gone.” After that, every project has been a hit and tops the charts. Most Popular Album “Views”
Raised in Chicago, Kanye West was first known as a producer before his smash debut album “The College Dropout.”
Since then, he has been pushing boundaries in hip-hop. His influence is still felt throughout the industry with his 808 beats from the album “808s and Heartbreak.”
Raised in Compton, California, Kendrick Lamar has used his platform to talk about issues in the Black community. He is also the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.” Lamar has always been good at telling a story in his music, but his album “To Pimp a Butterfly” brought his storytelling to the next level. It’s arguably the most influential album of this generation. Most Popular Album “DAMN.”
Most Popular Album “The Life of Pablo” Written by Juan Salinas/The Collegian
Illustration by Amber Davis /The Collegian
ENTERTAINMENT
4 • Wednesday, February 2, 2022 SHOW REVIEW
‘Book of Boba Fett’ answers big question
Photos courtesy of Disney
Boba Fett, played by Temuera Morrison, has taken over Tatooine as its mob boss after killing the prior leader Bib Fortuna. The series can be streamed on Disney Plus. MEGHAN SCHILLING
campus editor meghan.schilling@my.tccd.edu
Disney has blessed us with another amazing adventure set in the “Star Wars” universe. “The Book of Boba Fett” follows the titular character Boba Fett, a bounty hunter every “Star Wars” fan knows and loves. The show began Dec. 29 and has been releasing a new episode every week on Wednesdays. This is set after “Return of the Jedi” and after Boba Fett reprised his role in “The Mandalorian,” in which he helped Mando save Grogu, a little green creature that fans aptly named “Baby Yoda.” Now, Boba Fett is trying to lead the sands of Tatooine along with his comrade Fennec Shand, navigating the underworld of the galaxy and claiming Jabba the Hutt's old territory. Even though audiences watch Boba Fett take over this territory and claim it as his own, there is a big question fans will ask: How did he survive the Sarlacc Pit? Let’s just say that his armor is stronger than it looks. The show is different from what is usually expected from “Star Wars''. We are used to seeing Jedi’s battle to help save the balance of the galaxy, however, Boba Fett introduces a new way of showing how to bring peace among one planet instead. “The Book of Boba Fett” does a wonderful job at displaying old and new references so fans with different ranges of knowledge of the lore can enjoy it. The show doesn’t mind
throwing in a few easter eggs in each episode, hopefully hinting at the eventual blessing that will be the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano shows. Boba Fett will do anything to make sure the territory will stay as his own by hiring fan-favorite characters and new ones. The producers of the show really outdid themselves by bringing new elements to it, such as showing what happened to Jabba's land and what happened during all that time leading up to Boba Fett’s appearance in “The Mandalorian.” This show fills in some questions that were asked during “The Mandalorian” like how did Boba find Fennec and why did she choose to run the territory with him? It also gives the audience details on what has happened with The Mandalorian after everything that went down in season two. Boba Fett has a lot of familiar faces, some from not just the tv shows or movies, but the video games as well. Episode five was exciting because it saw the return of the wonderful and beloved Mando. The episode gave a view into Mando’s current situation and offered a glimpse at the next season of his respective show. I am super excited to see what Disney has set for the rest of the Boba Fett franchise. I hope it keeps including references from the past and present series’. It has been doing a wonderful job at making “Star Wars” adults satisfied.
Fennec Shand, played by Ming-Na Wen, stands next to the throne of Tatooine. Her character was introduced in “The Mandalorian,” and now, she’s Boba Fett’s partner.
MOVIE RETROSPECTIVE
Sylvester Stallone’s action prowess never ages MICHAEL FOSTER-SANDERS
senior producer michael.foster-sanders@my.tccd.edu
The 80s was action-packed. The action movie genre was full speed ahead. New movie stars were being born almost every weekend, and among those stars was Sylvester Stallone. Stallone, who got his big break with the boxing drama “Rocky,” and rolled that star power into the mega-blockbuster “Rambo,” decided to take on a role that was somewhat subdued compared to what he was used to. In the early afternoon, a man walks into a supermarket full of patrons during the holiday season, pulls out a shotgun and shoots anything in sight, causing mass hysteria. Customers who could not make it to the front door are caught in a hostage situation, and the police’s hands are tied. The captor of the hostages is spewing incoherent verbiage about “A new order” while roaming the store looking for his next prey. The upper brass of the force knows there’s only one man who can pull this job off, but is it worth the press when he does things his way? “Cobra” stars Stallone as Marion Cobretti, a no-nonsense cop who’s at odds with his superiors because there’s a new breed of criminal that the environment is breeding. Criminals with no code, no restraint and who are not afraid of the law.
Someone is killing random women throughout the city, which has it shaken to its core. Law enforcement doesn’t have any leads but knows the murders are taking place. Dubbing the killer “The Night Stalker,” and with him having the city at his mercy, Cobra is called in to stop the killings but could it be more than what he bargained for?
The reason why “Cobra” works is because it doesn’t play it safe. It’s not a conventional cop versus bad guy framework like a “Dirty Harry” movie. Marion “Cobra” Cobretti is fed up, and he cares about little to nothing as long as the end justifies the means. He wants to wipe out, which he sees as a disease, and him being the cure.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
Brian Thompson plays The Night Slasher, a cult leader who stalks people he believes aren’t suitable of his vision for a New World Order.
Stallone may have the lead role of the film, but its shining star goes to Brian Thompson as The Night Slasher. Thompson plays this role with such conviction that the viewer would think he was a killer in real life. Also, the way he delivers memorable monologues ensures he will go down as one of the greatest villains in cinematic history. The details put in this movie are phenomenal, and you can tell love was put into making this one memorable. The firearms and car chase set pieces are one for the ages. Cars are mangled, motorcycle shootouts tear through neighborhoods, raising the tension of the scene. The steel factory climax is a visual tour de force in cinematography. Viewers will feel the heat characters are feeling in the environment. Close-up shots of them drenched sweat in an all-or-nothing war is a level of detail that movies rarely have today. The one flaw a viewer might have is Bridget Nelson’s acting is subpar, but she’s just playing herself in the movie, so it’s forgivable to an extent. Audiences will never see a movie like “Cobra” again in history. It’s an action movie with horror elements that grips the audience with its subject matter of a serial killer cult and visceral graphic violence with no CGI.
OPINION
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 • 5
EDITORIAL
Joe Biden’s freshman year was rough at best Biden’s first year in office has been anything but productive. The working class is still hurting for someone to better their lives. This is what happens when someone is elected whose main argument is “I’m better than the other guy.” Biden was elected because the nation wanted a sense of normalcy. Former President Donald Trump lost due to his inability to take COVID seriously and because he had a new controversy each week. It was obvious to see why people didn’t want him around for a second term. Biden’s time in office has been more or less than what was expected from a campaign that ran solely on returning to the status quo. But due to the incompetence of the Democratic Party, the next election will most likely consist of Trump or a Trump-like candidate winning in 2024 because of the lack of action during this candidacy. Biden’s campaign ran on too many empty promises and lies, but that’s just politics. At a time when these promises were needed the most, it was never delivered. One of the primary hopes from the Biden administration was that the president would finally combat COVID in a way that is not harmful to the public. Recently, the administration released 400 million N95 masks for free in pharmacies and community health centers. It’s a step in the right direction, but other regulations or essential protocols have been dismissed out of fear of not being voted in again.
I’m better than the other guy ... right ?
Shelby Gatewood/The Collegian
Politicians will say what they need to say to gain power instead of doing their jobs and trying to figure out what is best for the future of this already broken-down country. The Biden administration is trying to do something to combat COVID, but it’s being so passive about it that it needs to put on its big boy pants and take initiative.
COVID protocols have almost become this big joke in a way. When the pandemic first started, all “nonessential” businesses were shut down in some states because of official orders. Now, because of understaffing, even if people feel sick, they come into work. It doesn’t help that the rules for isolation and quarantine keep continuously changing.
COVID is never going to be eradicated, but people must do their part in preventing the spread of it since the people we are supposed to be looking up to for guidance are not doing enough about it. What the hell was Joe Biden talking about when he said George Floyd’s death had an even bigger impact on the world than Dr. Martin
Luther King’s assassination? “Even Dr. King’s assassination did not have the worldwide impact that George Floyd’s death did,” Biden said at an economic roundtable in Philadelphia June 11, 2020. That statement just seems out of touch with what has been happening. The exit of troops in Afghanistan was another interesting footnote. This project began during the Trump administration. Biden wanted to continue going through with it and make it happen, which he did. Ending the war was never going to be pretty, though. Afghanistan fell pretty quickly to the Taliban, but the withdrawal was 20 years overdue. If anything, the departure further illustrated how the U.S. needs to stop trying to be the police of the world. However, since he’s been in office, he has brought down the unemployment rate tremendously and passed a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, which has helped so many students pay off their loans. It has also helped struggling families pay their bills. Biden has done some positive things but it’s not enough to ensure voters that he was the right choice. The big Cheeto Puff being out of office is what was needed and wanted moving forward, so hopefully, it’s a sign that the presidential election in 2024 will offer more variety in its candidate choices. Maybe it’ll be someone that will finally help the working class, but only time will tell. So far, it’s unlikely.
VIEWPOINTS
Microsoft’s latest purchase offers CEO too much mercy
JOSÉ ROMERO
editor-in-chief collegian.editor@tccd.edu
Another day, another $68.7 billion spent by Microsoft Announced Jan. 18, it’s planning on acquiring Activision Blizzard, one of the largest video game companies in the industry. In doing so, it would gain the rights of franchises like “Overwatch” and “Call of Duty.” Ideally, this seems like a great purchase for Microsoft since Activision Blizzard’s IPs are money-generating titans. “Call of Duty: Warzone” alone amassed over 100 million players in 2021, according to the game’s Twitter account. But, this isn’t just a beneficial move for Microsoft. Activision Blizzard’s reputation has taken a gigantic hit due to seemingly neverending controversies. Last July, it was sued by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing because it created a culture with constant sexual harassment. Female employees compared working there to a frat house, which is not what you want from a professional environment. Unfortunately, this isn’t something uncommon in the videogame industry. Other large companies like Ubisoft and Riot Games have faced similar lawsuits, but those didn’t get a lifesaver thrown to them by Microsoft. In a recent interview with GamesBeat
Standards should be equal across all TCC campuses
lead writer Dean Takahashi, CEO of Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick — emphasis on the “tick” — discussed some of the reasons for selling, other than the soft exit, of course. He essentially said it was due to the changing gaming landscape and all the new technology coming with it. According to him, Activision Blizzard doesn’t have the resources for the pursual of things like AI and machine learning, so selling to Microsoft seemed like the best choice. When Takahashi asked if it was also because of the sexual harassment investigation, Kotick shrugged it off as if it’s just another small factor that affects stock price. He ignores the human factor entirely, offering a lack of empathy, which is expected from a CEO that makes millions of dollars off of overworked employees. It hurts immensely to see a lack of comeuppance for Kotick. He’s going to walk away with a Scrooge-esque bag of money and on his own terms even though, in November, over 1,000 employees signed a petition asking for his removal. The acquisition potentially means employees will no longer be under the steel-toed boots of Kotick. But, as of right now, there is no official confirmation about what is to happen to him. Even worse, the head of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, praised him in an investor call, saying he’s “grateful to his leadership.” Uh, what the hell? The juxtaposition between Nadella’s statement and CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer’s is intriguing. Last November, Spencer spoke to his staff and said he was “disturbed and deeply troubled by the horrific events and actions.” I guess it no longer becomes troubling to have a relationship with the company as long as you can put its games on your service.
ALEX HOBEN
photo editor alexander.hoben@my.tccd.edu
TCC has a problem with keeping its quality of student life the same across the district, and it can make a student feel cheated if they go to one of the lesser furnished buildings. Being the photo editor, I have to go to all the campuses for photos of events that will be featured in the paper. Something I’ve noticed is you can tell which have been getting the most money fueled into it over the other locations because it’s usually the place with the prettiest pictures. This stark difference in conditions based on location is unacceptable for a college to have, especially since it’s focused on one spot, TR Campus. This isn’t fair to the students who will only go to a single campus. Especially if it’s one of the lesser furnished campuses like the oldest, South, or the still under construction NW Campus. They will never even see what they are missing out on. I started at SE Campus, so I got used to the layout and amenities. It has a small gym, a small theater and a Subway in the far back of the ballroom — which is also used as the cafeteria. Imagine my surprise when I first visited TR Campus. It was like being
transported into an Ikea catalog. There are beautiful murals, boardrooms that look like they came right out of the latest business drama and Wi-Fi hotspots on the ceiling. That’s just what you see walking in. I can’t even use the Wi-Fi at NE Campus. It refuses to load anything on any of my devices. The disconnect there, no pun intended, is staggering. TR Campus has in-wall microwaves and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the river in the joint study hall and lunchroom. Whereas NW Campus’ lunchroom is a single hallway with dingy floors and ceilings. At TR Campus, there’s an escalator in the main building that leads to the administration offices. At South Campus, I once saw a woman with a broken leg unable to take the only elevator in the SSTU building because it was broken down. Why can’t it be the same? Especially when it’s always noticed. If you’ve been to TR Campus but attend classes at another location, all you can do is compare them. TCC’s education caliber for the price is impressive to me. I’ve acquired skills through my program that I didn’t think was possible. But when you start to see these divergences in the services and quality you have at one campus compared to all the others, you can’t help but wonder if the money is being distributed equally. Did you draw the short end of the stick because you went to the location that was the easiest for you? TCC needs to have a standard of available technology and ease of access across all of the campuses, not just furnish one with all it can think of while the others struggle to provide necessary resources for its students and staff.
Letter Policy The Collegian is a weekly student publication serving the Tarrant County College District. Editorial statements and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the TCC administration. Letters to the paper should be 150 words or less, free from libel and poor taste and include the writer’s Colleague ID or telephone number (the numbers will not be published). Letters may be brought to The Collegian
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The Collegian 828 Harwood Road Hurst, TX 76054
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Meet EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jose Romero
@tccthecollegian • collegian.tccd.edu
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Staff
ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER Amber Davis WEB COORDINATOR/DESIGNER Shelby Gatewood PHOTO EDITOR Alex Hoben
Professional Staff ADVISER Chris Whitley PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacy Luecker
FEATURE
6 • Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Celebrating popular figures in media JOSÉ ROMERO
editor-in-chief collegian.editor@tccd.edu
The Black community has a slew of Muslim figures that have accomplished many things. Some of which are classified as the best in their respective
categories. In the 1960s, the media portrayed Black Muslims as extremists, describing them as dangerous outsiders. But now, it’s become a common practice in the U.S. seeing that a fifth of U.S. Muslims are Black, with about half being converts to Islam, according to Pew Research Center. There are two major Islamic sects Sunni and Shia. Each figure
listed celebrates their faith, making it a major part of who they are. These are award-winning athletes, singers and actors. Each of them has individually exceeded in what they’ve sought out to accomplish. Maybe even went further than initially anticipated. They all have left a legacy that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Ikram Abdi Omar
Muhammad Ali
Mahershala Ali
Ibitihaj Muhammad
Ikram Abdi Omar was the first hijab-wearing model to be featured on the cover of Vogue. Initially, Ikram was going to receive a degree in biomedical science, but in 2018, she quit to pursue modeling. As a model, with her face featured in magazines and advertising ads, it’s shown other Muslim women that the industry is for them as well. In an interview with the BBC, she reflected on how many people doubted her at the start, and now, she’s done advertising campaigns for Nike and Burberry.
Muhammad Ali’s nickname is “The Greatest.” That already says a lot about what he accomplished in his lifetime. He was a professional boxer, ranked as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. Initially, his name was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., but in 1964 he dropped it, saying it was his “slave name.” He won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in the light heavyweight division and was the youngest boxer at 22 to defeat a reigning heavyweight champion. Ali died in 2016.
Academy Awardwinning actor Mahershala Ali was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in 2019. He began on television but his prominence in film grew after starring in “The Hunger Games” film franchise. He’s been constantly touted as one of the best actors of the generation, especially after his performances in “Moonlight” and “Green Book.” On top of winning two Academy Awards, he’s won three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy.
In 2016, Ibtihaj Muhammed was the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab in the U.S. team during the Olympics. She is also the first female Muslim American to win an Olympic medal. She is a saber fencer that started at the age of 13. Because of her abilities, she received a full-ride scholarship to Duke University where she continued competing. Mattel, a toy company, honored her by making a Barbie doll that used her likeness, making it the first Barbie to wear a hijab. Illustration by Abbas Ghor/The Collegian