Amarillo College's News Source Since 1930 acranger.com
Volume 91, Issue 8
February 25, 2021
According to a blog post written by Thea Fraser, the colors of Black History Month have symbolic meanings behind them. Black represents melanin and shared identity. Yellow symbolizes the sun and prosperity. Green represents mother nature and lastly, red stands for blood and history.
AC fights racism, honors contributions By NOAH DUBOIS and KENNEDY ROYAL Staff Reporters
Amarillo College has recognized Black History Month, while increasing efforts to combat racism. Black History Month, celebrated annually throughout the month of February, recognizes and reflects on the role of African Americans in United States history. “It is a celebration. A celebration of triumph. It is a time to recognize the beauty that African Americans have brought to the world,” Breanna Gordo, a business administration major, said. As part of Black History Month, Melodie Graves, the AC diversity chair, associate director of advising and community activist, gave two presentations focused on how people from underrepresented groups can overcome obstacles. Graves, the second vice president of the Amarillo NAACP chapter, delivered a TED Talk at Texas State University Feb. 13 and spoke at the West Texas A&M University Black Women’s Association Feb. 17. While AC’s traditional Black History events were canceled due to the pandemic, the college’s students and staff acknowledged the month’s importance. “Black History Month means recognizing the past and making a stand to better the future,”
Tong Duang, a general studies major, said. AC professors are also incorporated Black history in their classes. “Understanding Black history is so important for understanding social issues today,” Dr. Eric Fauss, a history professor, said. As the college celebrated Black History Month, the college’s newly-formed anti-racism team is seeking to teach the staff how to engage in difficult conversations about race and to evaluate policies and procedures that reflect an actively inclusive environment. “Everything from hiring practices, to promotions, to student life. We want to make sure that those things are equitable for everyone,” said William Ratliff, the AC training and internal communications manager. One issue the team is addressing is the need to boost the diversity of AC faculty and staff. “We’re doing a really good job at closing equity gaps for student achievement, but we’re really behind in our hiring process,” Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, AC president, said. Lowery-Hart noted the importance of increasing the diversity of the college’s employees to better reflect the diversity of the student body and allow for active inclusion. Many AC student say dealing with racism is a reality for them. Joshua Kaentong, a business major, said that
throughout his life, he learned to adapt to different social groups in order to survive. “You really have to get used to racism because if you don’t you’re just going to feel that power they take from you,” he said. Devin Lethridge, on the other hand, said he refuses to normalize racism. The dental hygiene major said he is trying to overcome the habit of code switching, which is when someone changes the way they talk to fit in with another culture or race. Lethridge said code switching “is almost like a survival mask for Black people.” He explained code switching as if it’s another personality that a Black person can switch to depending on the social situation. “This is taught to us in order to survive,” he said. Code switching is something Lethridge said he has done throughout his life in order to adapt. As a 30-year-old disabled vet and a college freshman, he feared that starting school at AC this year would force him to return to code switching. To his surprise Letheridge said his fears were unfounded. “Personally my experience at AC has been amazing,” he said. “It’s been great. For the first time I have a voice.” Lethridge paused, his voice cracking, and then he started crying. “Sorry, It’s a bit emotional for me... I’m a 30-year-old man, and I finally have a voice.”
Bond brings future updates
Student Life, art department to relocate By RAYGAN LOPEZ Page Editor
New updates and upgrades will be coming to Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus soon, thanks to the $90 million bond approved by voters in 2019. The construction project will last about five years with the completion projected in 2025, said Danny Smith, Master Plan program manager. Renovations will be made to Russell Hall, the student services area and Carter Fitness Center. On all campuses disability accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is a priority, Smith said.
“Walking, talking and seeing are a gift. We don’t know what it’s like not to have it. So we need to take care of other people and make their life as easy as possible,” Smith said. Restroom renovations will play a big role in improving all campuses’ ADA compliance, giving students in wheelchairs at least five feet distance in restrooms in order to allow them to make a complete turnaround. With construction comes discomfort, Smith said, but not having many students currently on campus due to COVID-19 will make the construction process easier. The loss of parking might become a separate issue when the project begins, he added. The construction projects
will affect many students, particularly art majors. The art department will be moved to the basement of the College Union Building. “The art department needs a good amount of space for supply storage and also for students to spread out their supplies,” Christi Dawson, an art major said. “I wasn’t convinced initially that the location chosen was enough because of the walls in place as they are now. It doesn’t look nearly the size of our space in Russell Hall.” The art department will be taking Student Life’s current location. Russell Hall will then become the Student Services’ building. Renovations on Russell Hall will begin around
August or September or possibly sooner, Smith said. Student Life will then be moved to the first floor of the Student Services building. “Currently in the basement, it’s hard for students to come down here and feel connected to what we have to offer,” Amber Hamilton, Student Life director said. “By bringing it to the same level as everything else, it’ll make the importance and value equal to everything else the college has to offer. Student Life will become a part of the full atmosphere of the student experience at AC. We hope that the new Student Life location will attract both students and faculty and grow interests in student organizations on campus.”
Budget shortfall By SUMMER TESSNEER Staff Reporter
Amarillo College is facing a new challenge as it responds to lower numbers in enrollment and a potential decrease in state funding. Jeanette Nelson, the budget manager for AC, said these events could mean a possible $1.5 million shortfall. The budgeting process began in January. “It’s a very team-oriented project,” Nelson said. “Everybody’s involved. Each department, each chair, each dean, up to the cabinet-level and also the regents who are all involved in the process.” See BUDGET, page 3
February 25, 2021
WHAT VALUE DOES DIVERSITY BRING TO A COLLEGE CAMPUS? SAUL CHACON
Computer Information Systems “Different ethnicities and religions have their own culture making every person have a different upbringing. Therefore, being at a diverse college, you can interact with people and see what values made them the person they are today.”
LUIS GUILLIEN Psychology
"This diversity helps bring more attention and more viewpoints to important issues that affect our communities and gives everyone a voice. It also helps students explore cultures and ideas within the campus."
OSYRIS PADILLA Education
"AC already has an increasing amount of diverse students, so what’s keeping the diversity among professors from increasing as well? I would have imagined a college would have a more diverse staff."
Don't be selfish, stay home OPINION By JESSIKA FULTON Page Editor
Quarantine, everyone’s favorite pastime. A word meaning you are forced to stay home alone while feeling sad and angry at the world but also gaining a little bit of extra debt due to lack of funds. I just left the grasps of quarantine due to exposure by my careless co-worker, I'll call "Betty." Now, Betty loves to go out clubbing and to strip clubs with huge groups of friends. She had told me she felt nauseous with headaches and body aches for three days before getting tested. Her reasoning for not getting tested sooner? “It could be that I might be pregnant, but honestly I just don’t want to stay home.” Now, I agree that no one likes to stay home. But exposing your co-workers because of your selfishness is not the solution. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 then there is no
Editor-in-Chief Caylee Hanna
Design Manager Shawn McCrea
Page Editors
Cailey Dinga, Ruth Lerma, Jessika Fulton, Dave Clayton, Raygan Lopez
Online Editor Alyssa Fant
reason for you to leave the house and be around others until you obtain a negative test result. Some people may have the argument, “Well money comes first, and maybe they couldn’t miss any time off work.” Betty is a part-time manager, so she was compensated for eight days of work; however, since I am not management, I was only paid for two days. I am a college student, so when you take away my main source of income due to your lack of empathy for others, it can cause some serious problems. So if you or anyone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms listed on the CDC website, please get tested and stay home until you get your results. Three days of missing work to find out if you are contagious or not, will not kill you. Yes, it will hurt your paycheck, but think of the people around you who would be affected if you didn’t take the extra precautions.
Staff Reporters Stormie Sanchez
Reviewers Sidney West
Graphic Designers
Dave Clayton, Shawn McCrea, Sidney West
Photographers
Jessika Fulton, Shawn McCrea
For a complete staff listing, visit The Ranger online at www.acranger.com Student Media exists to serve you — the students. The Ranger staff urges you to get involved by submitting ideas, photos, videos at therangereditor@gmail.com. The Ranger is an independent student publication. Material published in the Ranger does not necessarily reflect the views of Amarillo College administrators or employees.
Illustration by DAVE CLAYTON | The Ranger
Not being racist isn't enough Anti-Racism requires action EDITORIAL Anti-racism is a term that many people hear, but they might not know what it means. However, in order to fully understand the term anti-racist, we must first learn the definitions for two other words, racism and a “not racist.” The first definition we need to know is the meaning of the word racism. According to the National League of Cities, “Racism is a system of oppression that is based in and upholds the superiority of White people and the inferiority of Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Racism was created by and upheld through policies, practices and procedures to create inequities between racial groups.” Now we need to know the definition of a “not racist.” The National League of Cities wrote that a “not racist” refers to “a passive response to the generational trauma and pain inflicted on Black, Indigenous and People of
Color in the United States.” They also noted that it does not require action, which is an important part of the definition. Finally, we can now learn the definition of anti-racism. According to the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, Anti-racism is “the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that it is redistributed and shared equitably.” Anti-racism is more than just being a “not racist” person, it’s about proactively defeating racism. It’s a call to action. Many people call themselves anti-racists, but only do things like post pictures of Black Lives Matter marches on social media and say things like “I don’t see color.” Although they have a good mindset towards racism, the actions that they are taking are unacceptable.
We as a society need to take steps to put an end to racism instead of simply posting a photo and saying a few simple words that make little to no impact on defeating racism. For example, when we hear someone being racist we should step in and do something about it. Whether it’s calling the racist person out or educating them on what’s right and wrong. It shouldn’t be a one time thing, we need to constantly put an end to racism once and for all. This one extra step that we can take throughout our day will separate us from being people who are “not racist” to being anti-racists. Not only should we all be anti-racists, we should all embrace being anti-racists. Embracing anti-racism changes the attitudes that we have towards any diverse individual. It helps us remember that we are all equal and it’s something that we should take pride in.
Neglected north side needs attention now aaap By RUTH MARTINEZ Page Editor
From the streets to the alleyways, houses and parks, the city of Amarillo continues to neglect the north side of town. Poverty and crime rates are also high, with approximately eight ‘homeless shelters’ on the north side of I-40 according to homelessshelterdirectory.org. It’s time for the neglect of the north side of Amarillo to end. In the past few years, studies have been done on neighborhoods on the north side, including Hamlet, San Jacinto, North Heights, Barrio and some on the east side. According to Texashousers.org, in 2018, about 30 percent to 40 percent of the households in the Barrio, San Jacinto and the North Heights neighborhoods fell below the poverty line. Texashousers.org also mentioned Adam Pirtle, the NorthWest Texas Co-Director for Texas Housers, a fair
OPINION
housing and civil rights advocacy group. On the website he said he has seen Amarillo prosper and grow, but he has also seen the downside. “Because of historic patterns of segregation, this prosperity hasn’t been shared across the city. Low-income residents, especially low-income communities of color have for the most part been locked out of this growth and opportunities for this great city,” Pirtle said. Crime is common in north side neighborhoods. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2020, shots were fired around 5:51 p.m. during a sports event. Many calls were made to the police department, but, according to newschannel10.com, officers were responding to other calls and did not arrive at the shooting until 6:52 p.m. This is an example of how the Amarillo Police Department places a lower priority on the north side. Good things do happen for the north side community,
like the recognition of North Heights and Barrio with their street signs now proudly on display in many intersections. Snack Pak for Kids has impacted many children in these neighborhoods. Hodgetown has made downtown a much bigger attraction and as well as the Embassy Suites by Hilton. Palo Duro High School, located on the north side near Amarillo Boulevard, is close to many residents’ hearts and many of the school’s graduates continue to live in the neighborhood. What needs to change is neighborhood equality. The north side needs to look just like the south side. The alleyways need to be paved, more trash bins need to be provided and the community deserves better roads without potholes. Downtown might look pretty, but the neighborhoods surrounding it are needing attention. We all should speak out against north side neglect.
February 25, 2021
COURTESY PHOTO
Scholarship deadline nears By RAYGAN LOPEZ Page Editor
Illustration by SHAWN McCREA | The Ranger
Read against racism
Book opens reader’s minds to inequality around us By ISAIAH FLORES Staff Reporter
During this semester Amarillo College faculty and students are reading the same book as part of the college’s campaign to combat racism. In the fall, faculty and staff were given a copy of the book “Just Mercy,” which centers on a lawyer’s efforts to combat racism and injustice in the judicial system. Copies of the book are available at the AC library. This semester, the college’s Presidential Scholars Program is conducting a book study on “Just Mercy.” Lesley A. Ingham, Presidential Scholars/honors coordinator, said. “I think that it’s just a very, very important story and message for the time we’re in right now,” she said. “Our country is divid-
ed, and there’s talk of racism and oppression and we just need to learn more; we need to be more educated on the subject.” The students meet weekly through Zoom to discuss their reading. “Already the book study is creating an impact, and I am absolutely loving this book study, and my students are getting so much out of it,” Ingham said. Hannah Homfeld, an AC librarian, created the libguides for “Just Mercy.” “A libguide is an online guide that the library creates to help with courses, to help with books, really just about anything,” Homfeld said. By working with the libguides and reading the book, Homfeld said, “I’ve learned a lot more about the racial inequalities in our country. It’s helped me reflect on our own community and how I
can change my services in my own department to better help our students.” Maci DeArmond, a business administration major and Presidential Scholar, said she is enjoying the book study. “We’ve had some great conversations in class about the story and more importantly about the discrimination and what we can do to prevent similar situations for those around us. I never realized how prominent these issues of injustice still are.” Breanna Gordo, a business administration major, said she is also finding the book enlightening. “One of the many things I have learned this far into my reading is: society is not always right. Follow what you believe in and do not be ashamed to fight for it,” she said.
The recommended deadline for applying for 20212022 Amarillo College Foundation scholarships is approaching. The Foundations offers general scholarships for students in need of financial assistance, but also for students’ campus involvement and grades. “The AC Foundation was established in 1962 by a group of citizens that saw the need for students to receive financial assistance to attend college,” said Tracy D. Dougherty, the Foundation director of marketing, scholarship administration and special events. “The purpose of the Foundation is to obtain gifts and grants to further the development of AC through scholarships, program development, faculty professional development and expansion.” AC officials use the general scholarship application to administer
Club embraces cultures By ALYSSA FANT Online Editor
BUDGET: College plans for budget cut Continued from page 1 “We start with what we do know, which is an anticipated reduction in enrollment and an anticipated reduction in state funding,” Nelson said. “We take our most conservative estimate and work with that with the hopes that it won’t be quite that severe.” According to Chris Sharp, the vice president of business affairs, the cut only goes so deep. “The proposed budget cuts will have no effect on personnel, students or programs. We’re asking departments to cut five percent from their non-personnel accounts. These would be expenditures like travel, equipment and supplies,” Sharp said. “We are planning for great things to happen at AC and don’t expect the reduction in the 2022 budget to have any effect
on students, faculty, staff or the services we provide.” Becky Easton, the dean of the liberal arts department, said AC’s preparedness has made the budgeting process more bearable. “Budgeting for the college is always stressful for me, but the chairs and coordinators have done a good job of saving money where they can,” Easton said. “They understand why we need to be especially frugal right now. Their careful planning has helped me to be less stressed out about the budget cuts than I would otherwise have been. We will have spots where managing the cutbacks will be difficult, but worrying doesn’t help. I would rather look for solutions than waste time worrying.” When making budget decisions, officials say the students are their top priority. “Our leadership cares
and they’re going to do everything they can to make these cuts without the students seeing a difference in our services. That is our president’s number one goal,” Nelson said. “He has such a passion. It’s an inspiration to watch him and see him and the regions and everybody just be so concerned in such a good way. They have such a deep interest in the institution.” The college’s current budget sits at $68 million. “We won’t know the state’s portion until June or July,” Nelson said. “We do have a good tax base in Amarillo that’s been very strong and healthy, and so we’re hoping that that will offset some of the reduction.” The final amount of the overall budget decrease will not be made official until sometime later this year.
over 700 scholarships. About 3500 students apply annually, Doughtery said. All scholarships have different requirements and criteria. “Some are given as recruitment tools to area high school students to attend AC,” Doughtery said. The preferred deadline for applying is March 1 but students can submit applications from Nov. 15 through Oct. 15. The Foundation will begin awarding scholarships to students in April. To apply, go online at actx.edu/foundation and fill out the application completely along with an official transcript from AC or a previous school. Students can call the Foundation at 351-5107 or email the Foundation at ttdoughtery@actx.edu or m0155026@actx.edu. The Foundation office is located on the second floor of the College Union Building on the Washington Street Campus.
The Amarillo College Embr[AC]e Club is a place where students and faculty can come, share and learn their unique cultural backgrounds with others. This club supports diversity within the college and spreads cultural awareness in the Amarillo College community. Isabel Arjon, a physical therapist assistant major, joined the club last year. “Embr[AC]e is a club for any multicultural students so we can learn more about their culture and let them know that we’re here for them and if they need any help they can just come to us,” she said. “We want different cultures to feel welcome at AC. We celebrate Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Lunar New Year. We sometimes feature our members on our Instagram to show what their culture is all about.” Arjon said that before COVID started, the club
would have one person of each culture come up and talk about their unique culture. They would talk about things like the dishes they prepare and how it is a part of their culture. If the club members have any problems, questions, or just want to get something off their chest, Embr[AC]e is there to listen and give them feedback, she said. Jamie Perez is one of the club’s sponsors. “The organization started in the spring of 2019,” he said. “Then, it started gaining some momentum in the fall of 2019. Right now we have about eight members but over 20 have said they are interested and have been in at least one meeting in the past year.” Perez said that since Covid started and everything went virtual engagement has been a little low but they still continue to meet and organize. The club posts on their Instagram page about meetings they hold every Monday.
February 25, 2021
Nuclear medicine students radiate success By DANIEL PINEDA Staff Reporter
Amarillo College students are mastering a medical specialty that serves a dual purpose. Tamra Rocsko, the Amarllo College nuclear medicine program director, said her students are learning to inject patients with radioactive materials to look and see what kind of diseases they have. Nuclear medicine students also learn how to treat certain cancers by performing the targeted radiation. “So we diagnose and we treat. That’s kind of a double whammy,” Rocsko said. Rockso said that the program consists of five semesters, the first of which, always starts in the fall. In this semester, students start out by taking a patient care class and a physics class that is geared toward nuclear medicine. The second semester students take a radiopharmacy and instrumentation class. For the third and fourth semesters, students take a methodology class, with an addition of a PET-CT class in the
fourth. For the final semester, students finish off with their capstone course. “And all of that, they’re doing simultaneously while they’re doing clinical rotations at the clinical site,” Rocsko said. The nuclear medicine program will allow students to practice hands-on. “The thing I like the most about my classes is the clinical aspect,” Mallery Warden, a nuclear medicine major, said. “Going to the clinical sites helps put what you learned in the classroom to a real life situation.” This semester, second-year students are in the midst of taking their capstone course, which they have to pass in order to move on and take their registry exam. “I’m hopeful that everybody passes their registry exam. It’s a big one because they will go take their board exams this semester. So, my biggest hope is that everybody does well, and passes their board,” Rocsko said. Students describe the program as difficult, but rewarding. “Being in a medical pro-
ARINE GARIN | The Ranger
Mallory Warden, nuclear science major, observes the geiger counter, a device used to detect radiation.
gram is very challenging,” Inez Carrillo, a nuclear medicine major, said. “I’m just very thankful to have a supportive family that pushes me to finish my degree.” Rocsko said that students who graduate with an associate degree in nuclear med-
Students Who Are Parents New club offers resources, support
ALEJANDRA GARCIA | The Ranger
Nicole Emahiser, psychology major and president , founded Students Who Are Parents club in Oct. 2020.
swap, family friendly events and possible day care opportunities to be in the works. S.W.A.P. also offers members a chance to list the organization on university applications as club engagement. “We want parents to feel involved,” Renee Stovall, a S.W.A.P. adviser, said. “We don’t want them to feel like they can’t be in a club because they have meals to cook, children to care for and a job. We don’t want the moms and dads to feel left out.” Due to COVID-19, S.W.A.P. is currently meeting on Zoom, but members said they hope to meet in-person later in the year.
Their objective for the semester is to spread the word, recruit more members and build their list of resources. “It takes a village, surround yourself with people that will show up and help you,” Abbie Landry, the club vice president, said. “It’s great to have someone to talk to and we want this group to support each other as we try to better our lives.” To join, students only need to be enrolled in AC either full or part-time. Students don’t need to be a parent to join either, they welcome all who would like to be involved. Contact Student Life or Nicole Emahiser at 725877-9840.
Rocsko also said that with a credential as a nuclear medicine technologist, graduates are able to work anywhere in the United States and even hold temporary jobs in Europe. Graduates can also work as radiation safety technicians at nuclear facilities, she said.
Phi Theta Kappa scouts new members By ISAIAH FLORES Staff Reporter
By ALEJANDRA GARCIA Staff Reporter
Students Who Are Parents, or S.W.A.P, is preparing for its first official semester as a new Amarillo College organization. “The majority of AC students have children,” Nicole Emahiser, the club founder and president, said. “The most common student is Hispanic, 26 and has two kids. That’s me,” Emahiser said. Realizing how many AC students were also parents led Emahiser to ask Student Life officials if there was a parent group for students. When she realized there wasn’t, she decided to create S.W.A.P in October 2020. “The interest in something like this was there,” Emahiser said. “We had 15 members sign up by the end of the first day.” Emahiser said the club seeks to recognize the difficulties in juggling life and schoolwork. The ultimate goal is to see a decrease in parents dropping out of school by providing a community “S.W.A.P. gears toward having a space for people to connect with others that share a commonality,” Amy Pifer, a S.W.A.P. adviser, said. “Students that have, have had, or will have kids as well as anyone else who would like to join are welcome. We’d like to connect them to resources the community gives that they didn’t know were there, such as the Advocacy and Resource Center or grants.” In addition to resources, the club members mentioned ideas for the future such as a textbook
icine immediately enter the workforce with a starting pay of $34 to $37 an hour. “So their starting pay scale is really good. And after a two year experience, it goes up dramatically, but they start out with no experience at a pretty high pay scale.”
Amarillo College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society is rebuilding after nearly being wiped out because of graduating students and decreased participation due to the pandemic. PTK is an international honor society for community college students who meet certain requirements such as a 3.5 GPA or higher and have completed at least 12 hours toward an associate’s degree, or 6 hours toward a one-year certificate. Once a student has met all requirements, they receive a letter or email inviting them to join. Jenna Welch is a student life coordinator and club sponsor for PTK. Welch said this organization is a way for students to gain expereiences during their academic journeys. “It gives them a lot of opportunities for personal growth and development and scholarship opportunities that they can transfer on to other colleges and just a way to get engaged with their fellow students at Amarillo College,” she said. Maci DeArmond, a business administration major and club president, said she has enjoyed her experience in PTK. “Being invited to join PTK is a prestigious honor full of great rewards. It’s like surrounding yourself with other
hardworking students dedicated to their schoolwork. It’s a great community for other like-minded people to have others they can count on whether for help or fellowship,” she said. DeArmond said she has gained leadership and life experience, despite the short amount of time she’s been with the organization. “When I joined the Beta Eta Chapter at AC there wasn’t much of a chapter at all. Between COVID-19 and graduation in May of 2020 there were no officers left and essentially it just completely died out.” DeArmond said she basically had to restart the chapter. “I learned I would have to rebuild the chapter from the ground up. Throughout this process I learned a lot about how to be a strong leader toward my peers and also the staff at AC.” DeArmond encourages fellow students to work hard and get involved with PTK as soon as possible. Ruth Martinez, is a mass media major and PTK vice president. Martinez has been a member for two years. She said she has gained networking and time management experience from being in PTK. “People should care about Phi Theta Kappa, because if you qualify, you already have so many benefits for a four year university if someone decides to transfer,” she said.
February 25, 2021
VR simulates new way of gaming REVIEW By SIDNEY WEST Reviewer
It felt like most of my friends had gotten a VR headset after getting their stimulus checks. They all looked like zombified drones with those plastic boxes strapped to their heads, waving around their hands aimlessly and shuffling around their rooms. Over time the FOMO became too much to bear, I wanted to become part of the hivemind. I caved in, and ordered my HP Reverb G2. I was ready to be assimilated. So the day came, the box had arrived and sat there on my doorstep. It’s haunting aura made me tremble, it beckoned me. For a moment I thought to leave it there, but I spent too much money, I was in too deep to back out now. I opened the box, and prepared myself to join my friends. Setting the thing up was kind of a pain, there were so many wires. I’m thankful I didn’t have to set up any tripod sensors or anything though. It took me a bit to plug everything into the right place. There was a special USB slot I needed to use that I didn’t know existed prior, but if you’re going to get a reverb headset, make sure your computer has a blue USB slot, and a display port slot. There are adapters that come with the headset but I don’t know where the adapters go. After plugging those in, I evicted my cat from my room so I didn’t accidentally trip over her, and began installing the appropriate software. Once everything was set up, I donned my VR headset and thus my cyborg transformation was complete. With wires dangling from the back of my head and cameras protruding from my face, I was now one with the machine. The helmet itself is pretty comfy, though unfortunately my nearsightedness transferred into VR, so I had to put on my glasses. They fit alright with the helmet on, but
I had to fiddle with them alot and probably looked like I was picking my nose in front of people online. I also had to lift up the device a lot to see where I was, despite it having built in cameras. These cameras are supposed to help with making sure you don’t bump into things, but they’re low quality and are in black and white so I’m not sure they’d help you much, especially in a dimly lit room. I probably would have used them more if they had a dedicated button but you have to go into the windows menu and I’m terrified of doing that because, on numerous occasions, doing so had exited the game I was currently playing. However, that may have just been me not being used to the controllers yet. Speaking of the controllers, they’re lightweight and comfortable. They don’t feel cheaply made or anything, and in a head-to-head collision with a framed family portrait, the controllers came out on top. I do have a few gripes with the controller though. I hate how they use batteries instead of being USB rechargeable, and it’s really annoying how the windows button on the controller is so close to the options button. More than once I pressed it by mistake and accidentally exited my game, as mentioned before. I really wish they would have moved those buttons or made each button a different shape at the very least, because you can’t see which one your thumb is over in VR. But I suppose it’s an issue that might go away with time as you grow accustomed to the layout. Overall, you get a really good headset for a decent price when compared to the other ones out there. However, the reverb still costs quite a bit, and if you get it, you might find yourself low on cash to spend on games. There are options out there though, don’t worry.
In fact you might even already own games that are VR compatible. So far I’ve tried VR Chat and Valve’s “The Lab,” both of which are free games. I also tried “PayDay 2’s” VR mode, which you must own the base game to play. VR Chat is cursed and jank, but I’ve had a blast exploring locations from other games and playing with friends. I usually stayed away from public worlds though, because you can run into some real weirdos there. Being cornered by a 100 ft Ronold Mcdonald will haunt me for the rest of my days. The Lab is a showcase of what VR can do, and comes with a selection of mini games. It was fun for about an hour but I don’t really have any desire to replay any of the minigames aside from archery. “PayDay 2” VR was a blast. It felt so satisfying to dual wield pistols and clean out a bank. You equipped weapons by reaching down and selecting them from your tool belt. I felt it really added to the chaos of the game when you run out of ammo and are scrambling to get out your other gun. I enjoyed playing these quite a bit, but I occasionally wonder if I made a good investment. I’m not sure how much is out there on the VR market and how much of it is just 1 hour showcase games. There’s also a lot of issues I’m still trying to fix when it comes to the reverb. Frequently will games freeze on me and my audio will constantly switch from my headset to my computer speakers. The sound even breaks entirely and will become very distorted and painful, usually leading to me restarting the headset or waiting for the issues to go away. Stuttering is also a recurring issue, despite me having a pretty decent gaming PC, but that may be due to the games themselves having poor optimization. It’s
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nauseating regardless. I was worried about me not having the stomach for VR. but I’ve only felt sick after extended play sessions of around 3 hours. And to be fair, you shouldn’t even be playing that long without any breaks. If you are prone to getting nauseous while playing, I’ve heard from multiple people that you need to get your sea legs in so to speak. So maybe virtual reality is something you’ll grow a tolerance for over time. So is it worth getting? I’d
say so if you’re curious about VR games. It’s one of the cheaper options out there, being around $600, as opposed to ones that go for $1,000 and such. There are even cheaper options out there, like the Oculus Rift. I feel like Virtual Reality as a whole is still in its infancy, but slowly is coming out of it. There’s tons of potential for it, not even just in terms of gaming, but in film and art. I’m excited to see where it goes and how it changes and improves.
Local TV series highlights Black experience By RUTH MARTINEZ Page Editor
Panhandle PBS, the Amarillo College licensed public television station, is preparing to debut a series about the Black experience. “Living While Black” will feature six 30-minute episodes that will air in March. In preparation for releasing the show, the station began posting some short segments on the Panhandle PBS website, YouTube channel and other social media platforms in the fall of 2020. The show will feature 25 Black residents from the Ama-
rillo area and five experts from around the country to contextualize their experiences. The guests will discuss topics such as the Black experience in Amarillo, the history and vocabulary of racism and the reactions to recent protests and social justice movements. Through these conversations, the people featured will connect emotionally about what it’s like to live while Black. PPBS Content Manager Hilary Hulsey is leading the PPBS content team with more than 30 hours of footage. Heavy work has been
put in with editing and post production of the program as well as making sure the guests came into the studio feeling safe, Hulsey said. Brian Frank, the PPBS content producer, said he knows that they were asking people to become vulnerable about a subject that involves difficult experiences. “It was hard to control your emotions,” he said. Hulsey said she also struggled with her feelings when the show’s guests discussed their experiences. “Our crew is an entirely white crew, so we felt that our emotions had to remain
in check because we needed to hold space for these people who are sharing these incredibly raw and emotional moments of their life,” she said. Some of the guests who appear in the show are David Lovejoy, Melodie Graves, Meesha Westmoreland, Idella Jackson, Patrick Miller and Isaac Butler. PPBS Senior Content Producer Karen Welch interviewed all 30 people on the show and said the key to successful interviews is creating a connection with the guests. “The most important thing was listening. We all want to
talk and fill in the space, so sometimes it’s hard to just make sure that what we’re doing is truly listening,” Welch said. Kyle Arrant, the PPBS director of operations, said producing unique local content like “Living While Black” is an important part of the station’s mission. “Panhandle PBS is uniquely positioned to educate our community and allow us to begin conversations around this topic,” he said. The show will air on television Thursdays at 7 p.m. from March 11 through April 15.
February 25, 2021
By LEXI SMITH and ALYSSA FANT Both students and faculty say succeeding in video conference based classes is challenging. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amarillo College offers numerous classes in a “tech-supported” format, which relies on programs such as Zoom. This new teaching method has led to new problems, including everything from weak internet signals and dropped connections to the challenge of remembering to get out of bed and log in on time. “I have been struggling a little bit. I do better face to face with a teacher,” Savannah Garcia, a nursing student, said. Some students said they feel that specific classes are harder online than others. “My goal is to pass math, especially because I’m taking it fully on Zoom,” Autumn Logan, a zoology major, said. Many students say Zoom learning makes it more difficult to concentrate. “Giving my full attention to the class when I am around so many things that can distract me; on top of not getting that one-on-one teaching with the professor, has made things very hard,” Garcia said. Courtney Milleson, an associate speech professor of communication, said she works hard to help students fight distractions. “Most of the same teaching material is going on, but it is a lot harder to keep the attention over a screen,” Milleson said. “Although, I do think that this is the best solution under the circumstances, it has made keeping students’ focus on me and the material tough. That is why I like to have a lot of repetition involved in learning material, as well as using teamwork techniques to keep my students interactive,” Milleson said. Moving to tech-supported classes also has prevented some students from taking advantage of AC’s free tutoring services. Jeannie George, the director of
the student learning support, said some students may not realize they can access tutoring services virtually. The college started virtual tutoring in March as a result of the pandemic. On-campus tutoring remains available as well. “Students can use virtual tutoring for any subject including math, science and writing,” George said. “There is also a math Zoom room tutoring session that is always available, so students don’t have to schedule an appointment.” Angela McNabb, the supervisor of the Science Enrichment Center and Tutoring Center, described virtual tutoring as similar to its in-person counterpart. “We use Zoom to meet one-on-one with the student,” McNabb said. “We begin by asking the student questions to gauge where they are in the learning process, go over study techniques and test-taking strategies if needed, and then ask and answer questions to clarify gaps in the student’s understanding of the material.” Will Hays, a history major, said he uses the virtual tutoring system frequently. “Getting a time scheduled with the tutors is quick and easy,” said Hays. “They are very helpful and will answer any of your questions, except direct homework questions, obviously. Overall, I would give them a 10 out of 10,” Hays said. Another issue students say they have experienced with the tech-supported classes is an increased sense of isolation. “Meeting new people during this online time has been much more difficult,” Jacquelyn Blalock, a general studies major, said. “It’s easier to reach out to people when you’re sitting right next to somebody, rather than if you don’t even know what they look like or sound like.” Milleson said she also worries about students feeling isolated and disconnected from campus. “Socially, I find that it is very lacking. A lot of my friends now are people that I met in college and the fact that you guys are not finding friends now, it worries me for you,” she said.
Illustrations by DAVE CLAYTON