TCC The Collegian February 22, 2023

Board of trustees invite students to speak

ALEX HOBEN editor-in-chief alexandra.hoben@my.tccd.edu

The TCC board of trustees meeting this month was filled to the brim with students, most SGA representatives, to tell the board their stories and experiences regarding TCC.

The room was abuzz with activity before the meeting was called to order, as students from across the district gathered. The main group of students were SGA members who came to the board meeting to talk about Community College Day.

“I was just absolutely honored to have been invited and to experience the Community College Day trip to the capital,” Connect SGA vice president Anthony Guevara said. Guevara said the Connect group met with Sen. Tan Parker, and discussed education and other matters regarding community colleges.

“We were able to touch subjects about student homelessness,” Guevara said. “As well as other services that colleges provide that may sometimes be underfunded and aren’t necessarily adequate enough to serve our student population.”

Along with the Community College Day presentation, there were also students and alumni spot-

lighted once again. They included NW alumnus Tomas Alejandro Silva-Cabrera, South alumna turned instructor Lela Anderson, SE student Van Hung Le, NE student Jade

Abbott diversity memo sparks conversation on hiring to be all-inclusive

HOPE SMITH managing editor hope.smith393@my.tccd.edu

On Friday, Feb. 7 the Texas Tribune reported a memo written by Greg Abott’s chief of staff Gardner Pate announcing a warning against hiring based on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) disciplines.

DEI is a common effort among places like business and school that aims to improve diversity of people in an environment, accommodation to those who may need it and a sense of belonging.

This follows in line with affirmative action, which also puts a similar emphasis on hiring based on meeting quotas of people that have historically faced discrimination.

For TCC, the Equity and Inclusion section of the website details TCC’s efforts and goals on inclusivity.

Listed there as well are qualities like age, ability, cultural expression and ethnicity, to name a few. It states “Our goal is to sustain an equitable and inclusive environment that creates a productive learning community.”

For NE student Abigail Defanti who identifies as lesbian, she said she liked the idea of bringing people in with the effort of diversity and inclusion as it could bring more like her.

“I can’t think of anybody who reminds me of me, you know,” Defanti said. “So it would be great if I had a teacher, or other students that I knew, but I don’t really know anybody like that. So I would appreciate that if that were on every college campus, like an educator or student.”

Defanti said she didn’t understand the opposition to DEI practices and disagreed with the memo’s author.

“I don’t see the harm in bringing that in, I don’t know what his argument is against that,” she said. “God forbid people feel more included by having more representation in their workspace and in their school. I think it’s just another excuse. I don’t understand the opposition to it, I really don’t.”

For some it was a step forward,

as a day after the announcement by the Tribune, conservative activist Christopher Rufo tweeted, “The fight against left-wing racialist ideology has just begun—and we will not stop until colorblind equality is the law of the land,” with an image of the memo written by Pate.

NE student Jason Glover expressed his understanding of the reasons for the memo, saying people do deserve to have the right to have the same opportunity, and also acknowledged that the system should be altered if there are actual issues.

“If it’s not broke why fix it? But in the case that it is broke, it should be fixed,” Glover said.

Like Defanti, however, he also expressed his confusion with the statement.

Scivally and Connect student Cynthia Jones.

“TCC has opened doors for me to become a better person and progress in this country,” Silver-Cabrera

NORTHEAST

said. “It has also given me the opportunity to grow up in all aspects of my life.” In other board news, each item on the consent agenda was passed.

One of the items regarded the resolution and order for the election of districts four and five on May 6 of this year. These districts are See Meeting, page 2

Students, faculty celebrate Black history with a

release any stress and any tension and have fun and move the body. It was great to also learn about all those elements like the brass band and Mardi Gras Indians.”

of New Orleans culture. Teaching people that history was important to Contreras, especially during Black History month in particular.

“I don’t really understand what he’s trying to do to pass this ‘warning’ because it seems more like a political play,” he said.

The memo itself states at the end, “As the head of your agency, you have a duty to follow the law. When a state agency adjusts its employment practices based on factors other than merit, it is not following the law.”

Many Texas colleges besides TCC follow the same DEI practices, though the memo warned that, “rebranding this employment discrimination as ‘DEI’ does not make the practice any less legal.”

NE student activities coordinators talk about the importance of culture at the Second Line Dance event.

On Feb. 15, “Black History

Month: One Time for the Second Line” was hosted in the NTSU Center Corner by TCC student activities coordinator Courtney Matthews and SO coordinator Ana Contreras.

The event sought to teach people about New Orleans’ rich musical culture. Provided at the event were a variety of foods like the famous King Cake, a popular type of cake dressed in Mardi Gras-themed icing, available to attendees to eat while they danced along to the music.

“One Time for the Second Line” was created as a way to help attendees learn something new about and potentially act as a stress reliever, said Matthews.

“We created this event as a new way to center the Second Line and New Orleans,” she said. “It’s a great time for students, faculty, and staff to come and just

According to New Orleans’s official website, the Second Line is commonly referred to as a “quintessential New Orleans art form.” The dance’s humble beginnings took shape as nothing more than neighborhood tradition in small African American communities.

As time has passed, the dance has been used for multiple purposes. It has been used to help sell various forms of financial and social aid to former slaves and even became commonplace at weddings to symbolize the “beginning of a new life,” according to the website.

Additionally, when the members of a certain African American community pass away, the dance is used in honor of said members and is often prominently featured at New Orleanian funerals. The dance had even been given the name “a jazz funeral without a body” by the community. The Second Line’s history is extensive and is an iconic element

“I really liked the act of learning a new dance style,” she said. “It’s a cultural thing, and I think that’s really important today.”

Matthews said TCC has gone about providing a number of good culturally-themed events and raising awareness about what’s going on in certain communities well.

“I think TCC is putting on a really great variety of different cultural months with the different festivals that they have on campus,” she said. “I think it’s just that we need more opportunities for people to learn about each other’s culture, and learn about what’s going on in our society.”

She said she hoped that attendees would walk away knowing something about the history of the Second Line they didn’t know before.

“I hope they [attendees] learn something new,” Contreras said. “I think that’s what college is all about, learning something new, learning a new culture, and learning where this certain dance comes from.”

XAVIER BOATNER campus editor xavier.boatner@my.tccd.edu

Ariel Desantiago/The Collegian Student activities coordinator Ana Contreras dances to the beat at NE’s “Black History Month: One Time For The Second Line” event. The event was held in NSTU Center Corner.

Ariel Desantiago/The Collegian Trustee Shannon Wood applauds during the student presentations and stories at the February board of trustees meeting.

I can’t think of anybody who reminds me of me, you know.

Abigail Defanti NE student

Event focuses on building self-love, betterment

NINA BANKS campus editor nina.banks@my.tccd.edu

SE Campus hosted an event Feb. 14 for students to embrace their relationships with themselves.

Healthy Relationships was created by SE counselor Brandi Nichols, and was the first year the event was hosted.

“I have just been on the counseling team for one year this month, and my task was to create awareness for the counseling program and to organize events,” Nichols said. “So we brainstormed and tried to get people here with the music and the snacks.”

Though Valentine’s Day is a holiday that primarily celebrates romantic relationships, Nichols believes that nurturing the

relationship with yourself is most important.

“I think we forget a lot sometimes that a lot of what we’re seeking in others is what we don’t feel like we have in ourselves,” Nichols said. “So if we are working on you then you bring you into your relationship.”

As music played throughout ESED, students gathered to snack on candies, drink sparkling cider and decorate crafts. SE student Benedict Aiwonegbe accompanied his valentine to the event.

“She wanted me to make roses with her, and I thought it was really fun and cute to just come along and do it with her,” Aiwonegbe said.

SE student Robyn Henking appreciated how the event gave her downtime to relax between classes.

“I think it’s nice being able to sit down and just create stuff,” Henking said. “Just

Students discuss obligation due to social media activism

OLLA MOKHTAR campus editor olla.mokhtar@my.tccd.edu

Black Lives Matter, femicide and the women’s rights issue in Iran are just a few out of the many movements that have gained popularity, but the route to which educating the people about them seems to puzzle some.

A rise of educational videos on different movements are constantly being displayed on social media across different platforms.

The amount of movements are countless. While some are personable and others are not, they all hold a significant amount of importance to at least one person.

TR senate chair of SGA Maya Nassibian is personally an advocate for bodily autonomy and volunteers with a program called ENGin that teaches Ukrainian people to speak English.

“We have made many great strides in advocating for human rights in the past couple of years,” Nassibian said. “I advocate for all of the movements, such as BLM, and women’s rights in Iran. Not through a sense of obligation, but because everyone deserves equal rights no matter who they are.”

She acknowledges it is a great resource but has no guilt if she chooses to skip on some educational videos.

“When I had social media, at times I would stop and read all of the posts about a

certain event or watch a whole video on something that was a popular topic in the media,” she said. “After deleting all of my social media about a year ago, I do not feel guilty at all.”

Nassibian recognizes that the posts were helpful as opposed to overwhelming.

“Seeing all of the posts about how terrible people and the world are made me fearful of other people, and have a strong hatred for those who didn’t agree with me,” Nassibian said. “Ignoring issues that happen on the news has made me have a much more positive outlook on life. It’s helped me dedicate my time to helping the causes I am passionate about.”

Connect student Addie Emery does not feel the so-called guilt after deleting social media.

“I never feel guilt, but if someone sends me a video I tend to watch the whole thing out of respect,” Emery said. “But I do not feel guilty if something pops up and I’m not interested. Societal pressures do not affect me as far as social media goes.”

SE student Toni Fernández agrees with Emery and Nassibian, and proposes a different route to educating. “You shouldn’t be forced to be an activist,” Fernández said. “Sometimes it’s forced upon you, and you don’t know about it so you can’t really speak on it. The way to do it is to actually educate people and not fear mongering. There’s different ways to do it other than guilt tripping.”

FROM WEEKDAY CLASSES

take a break from your classes real quick to do this. It’s nice.”

Despite the emphasis on romance, SE student Gia Vasquez believed having a valentine is not a prerequisite to celebrate the holiday.

“It’s pretty cool to just celebrate it with your friends,” Vasquez said. “I think most of the time people don’t see themselves as the person they should love. Like they need a relationship rather than having a relationship with themselves.”

Aiwonegbe hopes to see more events such as this in the future.

“It gathers the students around for us to see the students we go to school with and communicate with them more,” Aiwonegbe said. “So yeah, it’s a good concept for TCC to keep going.”

Through events such as these, he hopes

students can reexamine their own relationships.

“I would think that it is beneficial because some people are in relationships and don’t know the red flags,” Aiwonegbe said. “So this event will help them see red flags, and know whether they are in a healthy relationship or not”

Nichols hoped students understand that they have resources at TCC to help them better understand themselves and their relationships.

“Knowing that we are here to support them and that they can help themselves,” Nichols said. “We have the resources available, and it really is just about getting to know people. Knowing that you have us to help, but also each other, I think it’s just the community of it all.”

Meeting (continued from page 1)

currently represented by trustee Bill Greenhill and board assistant secretary trustee Leonard Hornsby respectively. The deadline for filing for candidacy was Feb. 17.

Board members were also given a presentation about the grant office, with the Title V grant being highlighted after. Executive director of grants development and compliance

Kim Moss-Linnear gave an overview of the grants, the grant priorities, the awards as well as the partnerships.

“Our priorities include, but are not limited to, STEM, healthcare and innovative ecosystems,” Moss-Linnear said.

After Moss-Linnear’s presentation was a presentation regarding the Title V grant given by Title V director of college access and readiness Demesia Razo. TCC has a Department of Education Developing HispanicServing Institutions grant in this program.

She said that while TRiO grants are

very pointed, this program is more broad. Razo explained that the objectives of her and her team are getting students college ready, career ready, life ready and finally student ready.

“Our first two years of data indicate what we’re doing is working,” Razo said.

The grant is a five-year program with a total fund of $6 million. Trustee vice president Kenneth Barr remarked that it was impressive the amount Razo and her team was doing with the amount of money they were given. He said that grants like these are very important.

“TCC needs to be more aggressive in looking at federal grants,” Barr said. “There is a lot of money out there being pumped into education, and it’s going to go somewhere and we need to focus on what we can do to get those grants to come to TCC. This is having an impact on the lives of a lot of people.”

Feb. 25, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Ariel Desantiago/The Collegian

SGA representatives who went to the capitol for Community College Day take a photo with trustees during the February board meeting.

SHELTER IN PLACE

An immersive art experience at TR that focuses on liberation through art and ritual

Photos by Joel Solis/The Collegian

The work began with Adam W. McKinney’s learning of the 1921 racial terror lynching of Rouse who was murdered at the hands of a white mob.

Photograph on tintype by photographer Will Wilson of a man who’s representing Fred Rouse and the sights where lynchings occurred.

A building in Fort Worth taken by Wilson on tintype photography to give it the old look from the 1920’s. The exhibit is in the East Fork Gallery on TR.

With few historical archives to draw upon, the artist collaborated with Diné photographer Wil Wilson and director Daniel Banks.

Hello ‘You’, Joe the ripper returns to Netflix

Watch Joe Goldberg navigate a murderous whodunnit in London

Netflix’s favorite serial monogamist serial killer Joe Goldberg has returned for a fourth season. And this time he’s back with a vengeance — and a beard.

Goldberg has once again evaded arrest, and two of his toes after faking his death in the suburb of Madre Linda. Watch a widowed Joe navigate life as Jonathon Moore, a professor in London, as he interacts with a cast of eccentric rich Brits.

Like every other season, Goldberg swears off of women, yet to no avail. Kate Galvin is Goldberg’s neighbor and love interest. She’s an art gallery director with a “taking no orders” attitude. Marienne, Goldberg’s love interest in Madre Linda, also returns this season, and is the reason why he is in Europe. Meanwhile, the rest of the outlandishly wealthy cast have their own quirks and kinks — both literally and figuratively.

The season has been broken into two parts, with the second being released on Mar. 9. The first part features a storyline that completely flips the narrative of the story on its head.

Joe becomes the stalkee instead of the stalker. After being settled into his new alias, Goldberg then receives a series of texts anonymously with knowledge of his true identity. This anonymous person then begins to frame Goldberg for murders within his new friend group, which thwarts Goldberg into a mission of self-righteousness to go and protect his peers.

Goldberg’s delusion is at an all time high this season. He is so far in denial that when Galvin opens up to Goldberg about her shame of being the daughter of an activist investor who routinely wipes the record clean of a CEO’s misconduct, Goldberg equates the murders of 10 plus people to a case of unfortunate nepotism.

Now more than ever does Goldberg draw parallels to his actor’s previous work in Gossip Girl as Dan Humphrey. His delusion of not understanding the rich and being constantly irked by them is odd, when all he has done for the past two seasons is surround himself with the grossly wealthy. Dan Humphrey is simply Goldberg if he had a proclivity to homicide.

Though I do love the show, many plot points and some dialogue do feel slightly off putting and rushed. The setting certainly

Paramore’s new album plucks at heartstrings

opens a dialogue for anti-American sentiment, a given.

When Goldberg tells Galvin they should end their situationship, she cursed “Captain America” before storming off. While the moment was definitely intended to be tense, I couldn’t hold off my laugh from such a ridiculous insult.

Additionally, when a hitman from Goldberg’s deceased wife orders him to like Marienne, Goldberg simply steals her locket and texts the hitman that the deed is done.

Certainly the most unconvincing proof that he killed someone, but the show continues with no ramifications of his lie.

Watchers and myself included are excited to see how the rest of the season unfolds, but hope that the rest of the storyline can fulfill its precedent from past seasons.

Paramore is back after six years with an album, “This Is Why” that strikes every single chord of pained nostalgia from the past world events.

The album, released on Feb. 10, is a mix of painful ballads and quirky indie melodies that rounds out to a beautiful yet heartbreaking album. It has 10 songs on it and is in total about 36 minutes long. This is Paramore’s sixth album after a five year hiatus, and it is a very stately comeback.

The songs for the most part are pretty good, if a little safe in their formula. Paramore has always been known as a pioneer in the indie music scene, and this album feels like a reflection of the scene right now. The songs are just weird enough in the melodies and composition that they leave listeners intrigued but not a true pushing of the envelope.

The messages are obvious but no less impactful in their delivery. Some of the best songs on it are its namesake “This Is Why”, “C’est Comme Ça” and “You First”. These have the highest energy, and the smoothest combination of changing melodies and guitar riffs.

The album has the overall feel of the way the pandemic and other world events affected the populations, and now how we are dealing with the aftermath. “The News” is just a straight-up reference to the war in Ukraine and how, due to social media and the internet, the saturation of media has made it possible to keep up with everything. Especially with such a hard hitting topic like war.

Listening to this album for the first time

was like being transported to the mindset I had during the beginning of the pandemic. The further along the album went with its waning and more melancholy songs, the more I could relate it to my own experiences and hardships that the lockdown brought.

The chorus of “This Is Why” explains how I felt about leaving the house, “Running Out of Time” illustrates how my time perception has been incredibly warped and “Thick Skull” invokes a sympathetic pain when you think you can trust someone only to be betrayed.

The main weird thing about this album is the timing of its release. While I love the songs and the meaning behind them I think it would’ve been much more powerful if it was released closer to or even during the pandemic and lockdowns.

Since this was released at such an awkward time of the year, and many main topics in the songs have lost their sheen in the media scope, the album invokes a feeling of distant nostalgia rather than a hard hitting album addressing today’s issues.

“This Is Why” is a wonderfully heartbreaking journey that will bring you back to the lockdown mindset if you pay attention to the lyrics. The melodies are smooth and consistent throughout the whole set and make for an enjoyable listen. If you have enjoyed Paramore’s work in the past, go ahead and give this a listen.

Gardner ____ is Gov. Greg Abbott’s chief of staff.

18. One of the most iconic Disney films. It was released in 1995 and holds the title of the first fully computer-animated movie. One of the two lead characters is voiced by Tom Hanks. (Two words)

19. A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.

22. A popular type of cake dressed in Mardi Grasthemed icing. (Two words)

24. A person who may provide emotional support for someone.

25. A date specifically for Valentine’s Day.

26. “We created this event as a new way to center the _____ and New Orleans,” Matthews said. (Two words)

29. The state of being diverse; variety.

30. “_____ Only” is a dating site and app designed for single rural or country folk.

31. I never feel guilt, but if someone sends me a video I tend to watch the whole thing out of _______,” Emery said.

33. An animated Disney film released in 2022 and was one of Disney’s biggest box office bombs in recent memory. (Two words)

34.The last name of the protagonist of Netflix’s “You.”

Down

1. DEI stands for diversity, _______, and inclusion.

2. A ____ is usually a brief written message from one person from one person or department in an organization, company, etc., to another.

5. “We created this event as a new way to center the Second Line and _____,” Matthews said. (Two words)

6. A candy derived from cacao beans, often enjoyed on Valentine’s Day.

7. TCC has a Department of Education Title V grant for Developing ______ Serving Institutions grant in this program.

8. A ____ will lure someone into a relationship under a fictional online persona, common in dating apps.

9. An artistic dance form characterized by being light and graceful, and utilizes pointe shoes.

10. A loosely organized effort by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a social or political one.

11. A movement in which a dancer bends the knees and straightens them again.

13. The fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime.

16. The band ______ released their sixth album “This Is Why” on Feb. 10.

17. TCC board of trustee districts four and five will be up for _______ on May 6.

20. The connection between two or more people.

21. The current CEO of Disney. (Two words)

23. The emotional state in which someone may not accept their emotions.

24. “I think that’s what college is all about, learning something new, learning a new ____, and learning where this certain dance comes from,” Contreras said.

27.To be defeated completely.

28. An animated Disney film released in 2013 to critical acclaim about two sisters and a talking snowman.

32. A room where an artist, photographer, sculptor, works.

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Goldberg attends the Sundry House with his new peers while under the influence of absinthe in the first episode of the season. The first half of the new season premiered February 9 and the second half will premiere March 9.

ALEX HOBEN editor-in-chief alexandra.hoben@my.tccd.edu

NINA BANKS campus editor nina.banks@my.tccd.edu

Abbott issued warning to diversity efforts

The Future of DEI (diversity, inclusion, and equity) in professional environments is under siege.

In a memo written by Gov. Greg Abbott’s chief of staff, Gardner Pate, told university leaders and state agencies that DEI initiatives are illegal in hiring and should base the acceptance of applicants on merit.

While it’s more than fair to accept employees that are competent or qualified, the need to make sure that professional spaces also reflect the communities they serve is necessary.

Why is the discussion of merit a feasible argument when discussing diversity in the workplace or in the classroom?

Simply being mindful of creating spaces that contain people from all walks of life, doesn’t automatically suggest that employers or admissions should accept those who are underqualified.

DEI initiatives level the playing field for people of different races, sexual orientations, religions, cultures and disabilities.

For Black Americans specifically, this is yet again, another act of violence. Telling state agencies to stop considering DEI initiatives in hiring prevents Black people from getting to weigh in and give input during important decision making.

Unlike their white counterparts, Black Americans have not been able to establish generational wealth. From keeping businesses segregated in the Jim Crow South to

VIEWPOINTS

burning down the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma - commonly known as Black Wall Street.

Some may see the initiatives as a way to keep people from getting jobs they deserve if they don’t

seem to make an environment more diverse. However, the sole purpose of these efforts is to make sure state agencies are doing the best they can to stay true to an American valuefreedom.

Those immigrating to the U.S. are often fleeing some sort of violence and misfortune, hoping to rebuild themselves with the tools and resources America prides itself on providing. It’s almost ironic that the

ethicality of something like diversity and inclusion is being questioned.

How are we a land of freedom if we don’t prioritize liberating marginalized groups who carry the shackles of financial and social strain?

All Americans should have equal opportunity when applying for a job or a university. Many are familiar with the phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence claiming that all citizens have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet, the validity and value of making sure our professional and educational spaces are diverse is being challenged.

Historically, Texas is rich in culture. With its large Hispanic population and melting pot of languages spoken, removing DEI wouldn’t be to the benefit of Texans. Some believe Abbott just wants his office and state to look like him, despite the diversity that exists and has existed in the state.

Representation is important. Without people of color, people with disabilities, people of the LGBTQ+ community and people of different religions in the workspace, how do we tell youth that they can pursue anything they’d like to if the space isn’t cultivated for them?

In order to protect the dreams of American youth, diversity, equity and inclusion in professional and academic settings must not only be considered, but celebrated.

One way or another dating apps were going to be a thing.

It’s just not practical to get intimate in comment sections or customer review sites, though of course it’s a situation where there’s around 99.99% confidence like that of antibacterial.

The comment sections and customer review sites hold the 0.01% with no shame.

And maybe that 0.01% loves dating apps, too, because who hasn’t heard the horror stories? It seems like every dating app story ends with a darkened world view and sprinkle of trauma.

Regardless, this deters absolutely none of the 323.9 million users as of 2021 browsing online dating apps. With everything wrong about dating apps that number is concerning, but are these people wrong for embarking online where the goal is to find other people doing the same?

There is no straight answer because it entirely depends on intentions.

For women, intentions are so crucial. The initial interactions for women who look for men online are like a horrid game of Russian roulette––dating edition––where each match is a trigger pulled and instead of just one bullet there’s also a thumbtack and a little red flag that says “BANG!”

For women, meeting men through a

dating app is texting your mother and friends where you are going, with who and for how long. Because some women don’t get to go home alive.

So much trust must go into both parties because at some point when they meet it’s a step off into the deep end and they must pray the other can swim. All of the talk has to amount to some walk.

But for people who are tired of being alone and genuinely want the human connection that dating apps are made for, it’s not horrible. Technology advancing communication has always been a doubleedged sword, and there are innocent people who can meet other innocent people.

Sometimes, online dating apps have a specific thing that can’t just be found anywhere. “Farmers Only” fosters the farmerly love of this country, it does a great service. On a more serious note, it has benefits for groups of people like those who are LGBTQ because it makes it easier to find others with the same sexual orientation.

Transparency and education is one of the most important things for people who are involved in dating apps. Being upfront about what a person wants will get them faster results than beating around the bush and wasting another person’s time.

The stigmas may continue to stick because it is an imperfect world, but more statistics and information on dating apps will help people make educated, well-rounded decisions on what they involve themselves in.

To quote Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” which probably isn’t what he intended the quote to be used for but he must agree if he prefers a population who can reject someone who fights the reasonable part of them to simply greet a new match.

Recently, Disney has announced sequels for “Toy Story,” “Frozen,” “Inside Out” and “Zootopia” and the response has been mixed.

On Feb. 8, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger told investors about various work-in-progress sequel projects during an earnings call according to The Hollywood Report. During the call, Iger stressed the reason for bringing these upcoming films into existence was to help futureproof the brands.

The moment this news broke, so too did the internet. The announcement of these installments has been divisive. Many believe these sequels are unnecessary, and many have said Disney should start making new IPs instead of defiling Buzz Lightyear’s grave for the sixth time.

However, that’s precisely what they’ve been doing. Some of the company’s latest attempts at fully-original stories have largely been successful such as “Encanto,” “Luca” or “Soul.” It’s not like new ideas are out of style. Although, that isn’t to say that every new idea is a slam dunk.

For the not-so-successful original stories, look no further than Pixar’s last outing, “Strange World.” It’s a movie that released a while ago. There was a blue slimy character likely made solely for merchandising purposes. It’s one of the

biggest box office bombs in Disney history. The ideas are there for the most part, but it doesn’t seem like people are showing up.

It’s not that the people are at fault for not watching movies that don’t particularly interest them of course, but to say there’s a lack of ideas in the movie industry or even DIsney’s catalog isn’t all that true. There’s nothing inherently wrong with sequels to movies, especially when people will inevitably go to the movies in droves anyway.

The reality of the situation is despite people being upset about the “lack of new ideas” from Disney, once “Frozen 3” rolls around, the chances are it’ll ice out whatever film that’s unfortunate enough to stare Else in her cold dead eyes. Again, that’s probably not what people would want to hear, but it’s likely to turn out this way.

People get an obscene amount of catharsis from making fun of these announcements and it’s insanely understandable and 100% relatable. But giving the original ideas their due diligence and props is important. Going and supporting new ideas instead of constantly showing up for the established franchises could help get more original ideas off the ground.

This doesn’t just go for Disney movies either. Showing support for movies at film festivals like Sundance, which is full of creations from various talented independent creators, and studios like A24, Motive Films and Ventureland could be a great way to scratch any itch for original movie ideas.

In short, there’s honestly so much more out there for people to indulge in, whether it’s old ideas or new, and there are plenty of great worlds and characters to explore. This can miraculously be done with a total of absolutely zero “Toy Story 5” or “Zootopia 2” viewings. So get out there and watch new things.

Tj Favella/The Collegian

Dating apps have proven to be predatory, swipe safely

XAVIER BOATNER campus editor xavier.boatner@my.tccd.edu

The ballet world hasn’t always been very supportive of Black artistry. Four Black women discuss their experiences in an industry that culturally and historically hasn’t served them or people that look like them.

Reflecting on her journey so far, SE student Amaya Brooks said what she would tell her younger self- as well as those who may be starting their ballet journey.

“Dear Black girl, don’t try to fit in when you’re born to stand out,” she said. “Growing up you’ve tried to be someone you’re not, even though in reality you’re great as your own. God created you just the way you are, so you don’t have to try and be like anyone else - just do you.”

While expressing one’s self can act as a form of self care, navigating ballet spaces that haven’t always considered the needs of Black dancers can be difficult.

“One of the first things I did while teaching here is every time I’d have a Black student in class I’d ask them, ‘Do you know you can get brown ballet shoes? You don’t have to wear pink ballet shoes because they’re pink to expand the line of the dancer, and they’re based upon white skin,’” instructor Lacreacia Sanders said.

Black dancers have also been expected to meet beauty standards that prevent them from embracing their authentic selves.

“I know in regards to hair, most people have to straighten their hair, or wear their hair a certain way just to fit in with the standard of what it looks like to be a ballerina,” Brooks said. “You can have curly hair, or whatever type of hair texture and still be a ballerina and dance.”

Loving one’s body as a dancer can also be a difficult journey.

“It’s just the idea of trying to still look beautiful and graceful, but like accepting the fact that this is my body and how I move,” SE student Makel Dandridge said. “I can still be an amazing dancer and not fit the stereotype of a ballerina.”

Growing up in the ballet world, Dandridge said that identifying with being Black didn’t always feel easy or empowering.

“There was a little bit of self hate,” she said. “I didn’t really identify with my blackness at the time because I just remember so much negative chit chat amongst the people I was around.”

Dandridge said that feeling confident in her identity was a part of the struggle she experienced in predominantly white ballet studios.

“I did ballet for 10 years when I was a kid

and I just remember being in a lot of spaces where my Blackness was being questioned,” she said.

Representation can be important and allow people to feel like there’s space cultivated for them to accomplish their dreams.

“It wasn’t until I got a little older and found people like Martha Graham and Misty Copeland - like there are Black people who are capable at doing ballet and who are exquisite at it,” she said.

According to Sanders, the dance world is slowly but surely changing. She said there’s more opportunity for artists now than when she was growing up in the 80’s.

Making sure her students are aware of the role they play in that change, she said, is impor tant.

“Dear Black student, you are Black history,” Sanders said. “I didn’t realize that until I got older. You are in a time when dance is changing. A time where dance wants to make a space for you.

With more Black bodies in a plie position, a common ballet term in which the dancer bends their knees, the more aspiring dancers, such as NW student Jaide Chavez, feel amazed at how much progress the Black community has made in the industry.

“At a time, black people weren’t allowed to do ballet, so seeing how far we’ve come and seeing how many of us are in ballet and doing dance of all styles, is really amazing.”

Even with the progress supposedly being made in ballet spaces, Sanders said there’s still issues to address.

“You could have a whole other article on ballet and the LGBTQ community, especially in regards to Black people.”

Dandridge said that the pressure to get things right as a Black woman can be overwhelm ing.

“There’s a lot of pressure as a Black woman because it feels like you can’t be the only Black person in that space and not be getting it right,” she said.

Among the different struggles Black people face in the industry, Dandridge said that Black boys and men can struggle with adversity and don’t always gain the necessary support. She said what she would like them to know.

“Dear Black boy, nothing in this life is given to you. That is true, but that’s why you were blessed with the gift of resilience. This is my motto - prayer, supplication and problem solving. Those are the ways to get through adversity in life. Believe in yourself.”

Alex Hoben/The Collegian

SE students Amaya Brooks and Makel Dandridge pose together on the practice floor of EART at SE Campus in costume, complete with their brown ballet shoes.

TCC ballet artists share their stories and experiences practicing their art in a predominantly white industry

KEYLA HOLMES campus editor keyla.holmes@my.tccd.edu