The
AntiRacism Issue Amarillo College's News Source Since 1930 Volume 91, Issue 2
acranger.com
September 24, 2020
Badgers stand against racism
Photo illustration by SHAWN McCREA | The Ranger
By CAYLEE HANNA Page Editor
As part of Amarillo College’s new No Excuses 2025 Strategic Plan, AC will become an anti-racist institution. During an allemployee staff meeting called General Assembly held on Sept. 11, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, the AC president, described the initiative as groundbreaking. “When our board approved the No Excuses 2025 Strategic Plan, we became the first school in the country that declared it would
be an anti-racist institution,” Lowery-Hart said. Anti-racism is defined as a conscious effort to combat systemic racism and oppression. Ibram X. Kendi, the director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University, notes in his book “How to be an ‘Anti-racist,’” “The opposite of ‘racist’ isn’t ‘not racist,’” he writes. “It is ‘anti-racist.’” Lowery-Hart said that he has created an anti-racism team which includes 25 AC employees and two students. The team has been charged with discussing how to
alleviate racial justice issues. During spring semester 2021, the team will look at policies and processes and make changes to them in order to ensure they are anti-racist. Melodie Graves, the associate director of academic advising, is an administrator for the team. “An anti-racist team is a group of Amarillo College employees who are dedicated to providing education surrounding equality and social justice,” Graves said. “The term anti-racism means opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance.
This team will ensure that our policies and procedures are inclusive and provide educational initiatives to enforce racial tolerance.” Graves said that the overall goals for AC’s antiracism team are to bring more awareness of racism to the community and to strive for racial equality. “Amarillo College will become intentional about opposing racism and pushing for racial tolerance,” Graves said. She is eager to see what the team will accomplish. “I am excited to be a part of this team and I’m ready
for the change that our work is going to produce,” Graves said. Lowery-Hart said that in order to bring the community together and move forward in the future, people have to learn from the past. “We have to confront our history in order to rewrite our future,” he said during the assembly. “This is about having true, deep, heartfelt conversations that allow us to find ways to bring our community and our region together, even if the rest of the country can’t figure that out themselves.”
the chance to reapply. “At the current time, our most recent graduates are at a 75% pass rate in associate degrees and 75% pass rate for certificates,” Garcia said. Currently, the program is in a phase called “teach out,” meaning they are not accepting new students, but every student who was already enrolled will be “grandfathered” in as having graduated from an accredited program, she said. “I’m just bummed out because I was looking forward to being able to study what I wanted in Amarillo,” said Leslie Roll, a high school student who planned to enroll in the program. Roll is currently attending Tascosa High School with the goal of majoring in mortuary science at AC. Roll said he will now have to find the closest college to pursue the career he wants, which in Texas would be the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services. “We want more than
anything that the ‘powersthat-be’ at Amarillo College will allow us to reapply for accreditation based on our current, successful testing percentage,” Garcia said. “We amped up our efforts even more for the summer courses and these current fall courses.” For some students who plan to attend AC, the loss of accreditation has caused them to change their majors. ¨I have decided to pursue a different career path because my scholarship is going to be at Amarillo College,” Patrick Cole, a student at Amarillo High School, said. “I may change my mind after I complete my basics and try to find an accredited college. Maybe Amarillo College will even be accredited again by then.¨ It is not yet known if or when the college will be able to reapply. Up-todate information about the program’s status will be available on the American Board of Funeral Service Educations website.
By STORMIE SANCHEZ
said he wants all students to have some kind of technology based skillset. “What we know from talking to employers locally and nationally is that the number one skill prospective employers are needing from students is the tech skill that they themselves don’t have yet, but they know they’re going to need in transitioning their businesses.” As for anti-racism policy, Lowery-Hart said he wants to ensure that success is equally possible for all students. “I think we’re an inclusive institution that closed equity gaps. I just want to make sure over the next five years that we’re actively ensuring that our students of color have access to the exact same success in society that all other people have,” he said. Lowery-Hart said he is satisfied with the results of the college’s previous strategic plan, which this new plan replaces. “I’m really proud of the college and the employees and the incredible efforts they put in place to systemically love students to success.”
Board of regents AC’s mortuary science program kicks the bucket plans strategically By ALYSSA SPANGLER Staff Reporter
The Amarillo College mortuary science program is no longer accepting students after losing its accreditation from the American Board of Funeral Service Education July 1, 2020. According to the program website, this was because of “failure to meet threshold for minimum accepted pass rates on the national licensing examination for two consecutive 3-year periods.” Program officials said they hope the situation will be temporary. “It is our hope that the administration of Amarillo College will allow us to reapply for accreditation at some point in the future,” said Patricia Garcia, the codirector and instructor for the program. While the program has lost its accreditation, Garcia said that their current testing levels are where they should be and they just hope to get
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, the Amarillo College president, and the board of regents are rolling out a new strategic plan for the next five years. This new plan features four new goals: creating an Earn and Learn program, transforming the downtown campus into an Innovation Outpost, emphasizing technology skills for all students and implementing an antiracism policy. The Earn and Learn program will make it possible for students to work in the field they are pursuing a degree in and make money while earning college credits, LoweryHart said. “The Innovation Outpost is designed to help our local economy and local businesses innovatively shift their processes into artifical intelligence, robotics, bioscience and the direction the world is going in the next 10 years,” he said. Additionally, Lowery-Hart
September 24, 2020
DO YOU THINK AC NEEDS MORE DIVERSITY, AND WHY? BRYETON CAGLE General Studies
“They’ve done pretty good with handling diversity and making everyone feel welcome.”
Make time to talk
Illustration by DANIAR ONOZ | The Ranger
WHISPER KING Art
“I guess if you want to be able to identify with somebody then sure, but as far as just for teaching the subjects, I don’t really think so. So I mean if it’s not really broken, don’t fix it.”
CRISTAL CHAVEZ Art
“They should be more diverse, nobody should be judged for the color of their skin. Like everybody should be treated the same way everybody wants to be treated.”
Mulan misses mark OPINION By BRIDGET ULLOA Page Editor
The new live-action version of the Disney princess movie, “Mulan,” came out just Sept. 4, 2020, on Disney Plus available to viewers with a premium subscription of $29.99. I, however, didn't spend the $30 needed to watch “Mulan” because I did not want to see it. And no, I won't see it because I, like many others, have some issues with the live-action adaptation. The story behind “Mulan” actually comes from a Chinese legend called "The Ballad of Mulan," which tells the tale of a young woman who dresses as a man to take her father’s place as a warrior in the army. Disney said that they wanted to make an adaptation as similar to "The Ballad of Mulan" as they could, which seemed like a good idea to me because we get to see how the original story is told.
Editor-in-Chief Stormie Sanchez
Design Manager Shawn McCrea
Online Editor Sarinity Frazier
Page Editors
Joey Pantoja, Bridget Ulloa, Taylor Burton, Caylee Hanna, Jessika Fulton, Pierce Lawson
That was until I found out the director of the movie and most of the production staff were not of Chinese descent. Maybe it’s just a personal thing, but I would assume if one wanted to make a movie that is based on a Chinese legend that includes immense knowledge of Chinese culture and history, wouldn’t it make sense to have a Chinese production staff who actually know these things? There’s another issue I have with the movie. Part of “Mulan” was filmed in Xinjiang (a region in China). For those who don't know there are Muslim internment camps in Xinjiang right now. I think that it’s important to be aware of all the contributing factors that went into the making of this film. There are real-life issues taking place behind the scenes that need to be talked about and not just left behind the curtain. That’s why I, for one, will not be spending $30 to watch “Mulan.”
Staff Reporters Alyssa Fant, Arine Garin Columnists
Emma deGrood, Ruth Martinez
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Sydney West, Daniar Oñoz
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Brandon Belflower, Zach Quiros
EDITORIAL
We live in a zombie film, endangered and weary of something that should have died long ago and yet lives on. Racism lingers, continuing to creep around every corner, avoidable by none, and we need to be able to discuss it openly without fear of retribution. There are many touchy subjects out there ranging from abortion to xenophobia, but unlike others on the list, racism is one that no one can opt out of being affected by its consequences. We only get past racism by addressing it. We just need to talk about it. It can be awkward; it can be shameful; it can be unforgiving, but opening a discussion of racism shouldn’t be the barrier, it should be the solution. Big change comes from big effort, and we as a people have shown that progress is not unattainable in this area. Segregated bathrooms, schools and bus seating are things of the past, and yet it is still so difficult to have a simple conversation about the subject.
Many people may feel they are unqualified to speak to the situation because they are not members of the groups affected. Some merit may lie in the idea that not everyone has been victim to racial oppression; therefore, how can those individuals be qualified to speak about it. Since when, though, has that been the baseline for knowledge or understanding? For those who have won the battle against clinical depression with the help of a friend, did your friend also have to be depressed in order to help you? While some may believe that a firsthand account may be the only true way to know meaning, it is not beyond us as people to be understanding. We have to give the benefit of the doubt that understanding will win out, as it has in the past. It’s the tribalism perhaps. We come from a history where nature bestowed on us the primitive instinct that sticking with our tribe was necessary for survival, and a sense of belonging is
a craving for us all. When we belong to a group, that instinct is satisfied, but we are no longer Neanderthals. We now can decide on the progress we make with more than just instinct. We have a choice. Yes, we still make generalizations; we create patterns; we create stereotypes. We tend to group people together and, when we don’t fit in that group, whether it’s based on age, race or religion, then that group becomes the “other.” Yet why aren’t we the “other?” After all, it’s us that doesn’t fit in that group. Addressing issues of racism is one of humanity’s most dividing and overwhelming challenges. If we avoid conflict and awkwardness and fear, we will never move forward. Since when have solutions been found by hiding behind what’s uncomfortable? We have to be willing to accept the uncomfortable and discuss the issue to move forward. Until then, racism will remain a zombie we can never lay to rest.
RBG leaves legacy for humanity OPINION By ALYSSA FANT Staff Reporter
Ruth Bader Ginsburg lived outside herself and the world is a better place because of it. On Sept. 18, the Supreme Court Justice, a woman’s rights activist and close friend to many, died at the age of 87. Ginsburg was highly regarded for her service to her country as a law clerk, law professor, US court of appeals judge and finally, as a US supreme court justice. She became an important person in the United States for her efforts in not only women’s rights, but the rights of all Americans. In the early 1970s, Ginsburg began arguing her first cases for human rights. She was praised for her persuasive skills in court and her strong morals. Despite her small stature, she was
described as having a “tough as nails” attitude. She never gave up and would stand strong until the end, a quality many lack. She championed many causes in her time, affecting changes including the Virginia Military Institute's shift to accepting women, keeping firms from discriminating against pregnant women while hiring, and the right of single-parent men to receive child support. Whatever she did, she always strove for all people to be treated equally under the law. Only days before her death, Ginsburg spoke with her granddaughter Clara, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." She was clearly worried about President Donald Trump and how he would replace her in the
Supreme Court. If President Trump were to select the new Supreme Court justice before the election, then the ratio of conservative to liberal leaning judges would shift to 6-3. Trump has recently stated that it is the Republican’s duty to replace Ginsburg quickly. Most people are imploring the court to wait until after the election to fill the vacancy, even going so far as to suggest launching a new impeachment inquiry to block the President Trump nominee. It would be more respectful for the United States to live up to Ginsburg's wishes and wait until after the election to replace her. Without a doubt, Ginsburg was one of the greatest Supreme Court justices for her stance on progressive issues, making her an inspiration for people, especially young women, across America.
September 24, 2020
Voting registration available now
BRANDON BELFLOWER | The Ranger
Miranda McHugh, Student Life assistant, helps Coral Enriquez, an education major, register to vote. Students can now register to vote in The Burrow.
Resource fair becomes 24/7 database By EVAN STATON Staff Reporter
Amarillo College’s ninth annual resource fair is going digital. This fair is held every year by the Advocacy and Resource Center to connect students to solutions. This year, college officials have found a new way to give students what they need to
succeed. “The resource fair is an opportunity for students to learn about campus and community resources who have programs in place to help contribute to their success,” Ashley Guinn, the social services coordinator, said. Guinn said that the pandemic has led her department to change its approach to the
annual event. “Due to COVID, we had to rethink this year’s resource fair. We are working on creating a database that students can access 24/7 from any electronic device that will list every resource a student would normally see in person at the fair,” Guinn said. The resource database will be available by Oct. 1. Advo-
cacy and Resource Center officials said that in the past, the fair was extremely successful. “The resource fair is a great event to participate in to learn more about what resources are available,” Jordan Herrera, the director of social services, said. “Every year we have over 100 students in attendance at the resource fair on the Wash-
ington Street Campus. We have received positive feedback from students that enjoyed the event,” said Guinn. Guinn said that although she regrets having to cancel the fair because of COVID-19, as things transition to a digital format this year. The database will provide students the chance to get the same type of support.
New fundraising campaign begins By BRIDGET ULLOA Page Editor
Sept. 1 marked the beginning of Amarillo College’s Badger Bold Comprehensive Campaign to bring in money for capital, scholarships, faculty development and programming needs. The money raised during the campaign will address these four areas and more specifically, be used to refurbish the Concert Hall, the Experimental Theatre, help build the Innovation Outpost, transform the Honor Program into an Honors College and fund many other projects at AC. Joe Bill Sherrod, the vice president of institutional advancement, said he hopes people in the community will support the college. “People give money to people, not projects,” Sherrod said. “So what we’ve got to do to raise this money is to start telling the AC story in the community in a way that it hasn’t been told before.” The campaign is part of a 6-year plan with a goal to raise $30 million. Students said they are excited to see the funding from the campaign become noticeable in both the refurbished buildings and assistance to programs. Pedro Hernandez, a biolo-
gy major, said that he is glad to see AC funding the music and theatre programs through the comprehensive campaign. “Art equals creativity,” Hernandez said, “For the most part the sciences get the most funding because they are what they consider ‘essential,’ so it’s nice to see the school fund other programs that are just as important.” Samantha Rodriguez, a theatre major, also said she is excited. “I love that they’re funding the arts! The concert hall definitely needs an upgrade,” Rodriguez said. “I usually perform in the Experimental Theatre so I’m very excited to see the improvements they’ll be making. I know all of us music and theatre majors will be eager to see what changes will be made.” Sherrod said that this campaign is designed to show both future and current students that they are important. “I want students to have an experience at Amarillo College, that maybe for the first time in their life, they come to believe that they’re valued and that they have the potential to make a difference in the lives of the community,” Sherrod said. “That would be something that I hope this campaign helps us communicate to our students.”
BRIDGET ULLOA | The Ranger
Clarissa Chairez studied agriculture before coming to Amarillo College.
Greenhouse welcomes new director By FLOREYA QUINTERO Staff Reporter
The STEM research lab, also known to many as Amarillo College’s greenhouse, has a new director. Clarissa Chairez, who joined the college in July 2020, is originally from California, where she studied agriculture and worked for The Walt Disney Co. “As I learned more about the Amarillo College population, I got to learn more about what AC does to make sure our students are successful beyond the classroom and get them the resources they need,” Chairez said. “That really stood out to me and made me want to be a part of AC.” According to Adam Lehn, a horticulture major, the STEM
building allows growth for the college itself, offering potential for new and unique opportunities. “The STEM building is an incredible asset,” Lehn said. “I can imagine even four year schools who don’t have access to some of the equipment that our lab has.” Equipment in the STEM building varies greatly, from CO2 incubators that mimic global warming conditions to root imagers that take 3D images of roots as they grow. The STEM research lab has added a new mass spectrometer to the list of equipment. The horticulture and chemistry departments will be collaborating in using this new piece of equipment to test pesticide residue in meat and in different plants.
With so many things that are available to students, Teresa Gaus-Bowling, a horticulture instructor, said it’s vital to have good communication with students. “If you don’t talk to me in class, you’re going to hurt my feelings,” Gaus-Bowling said. “You have to establish a good relationship with students early on. If you’re not comfortable with talking to me and asking questions, you’re not getting 100% out of this course or lab.” Lehn said that the STEM lab and faculty have definitely helped him deepen his knowledge about horticulture. “I see some of the equipment and opportunities that exist in the STEM building and I get giddy just imagining the possibilities,” Lehn said.
September 24, 2020
Anti-racism in the classroom
Students and faculty stand up to end racism on campus By FLOREYA QUINTERO Staff Reporter
As Amarillo College officials turn their focus toward combating racism, faculty, students and staff are examining how the college’s new anti-racism initiative will be reflected in the classroom. Students and faculty agree that the classroom should be a safe space where students can learn and ask questions to gain a better understanding of the world. AC has students from many differing backgrounds and experiences, which is why the topic of having an anti-racist curricula is important to both faculty and students. “In my opinion, teaching an anti-racist curricula means to bring awareness to the diversity of cultures and how racism impacts and affects cultural and educational systems,” Stephanie Decker, a history professor and program director, said. Decker said that as the anti-racist initiative is implemented through college’s new strategic plan, faculty members will have a more
concrete idea of how to reach the overall goal through their teaching and course design. Lesley Ingham, a speech professor and the coordinator of the honors program at Amarillo College, said anti-rac-
Staff Reporter
People across the nation are speaking out against injustice and discrimination, and the leaders of the Amarillo College Student Life department say they are working to support this movement and enhance the college experience for all students. The goal is to promote an environment committed to helping students with personal, educational and professional development, Student Life officials said. According to Jenna Welch, Student Life coordinator, the department is working with the Student Government Association and the AC employee diversity team to advocate for anti-racism on campus. “We support various student organizations so that there is a place for everyone to feel like they belong,” Welch said. Amber Hamilton, the director of Student Life, said they have recently launched
people who are just like them and those who are not like them at all,” she said. Ingham also said that an overall step should be taken to expand and diversify the faculty at AC and to recog-
nize the differences in individuals and in groups of people. Both employees and students said that, while they appreciate the new anti-racism focus, they have not experienced issues with racism at the college. “I think the AC faculty is doing well in teaching in a way that’s fair and comfortable for everyone,” Eh Ler Paw, a general studies major, said. “I haven’t experienced or witnessed any sort of racism from anyone. Everyone is inclusive and accepting.” Ingham said she believes that as an institution, huge measures are taken to celebrate everyone. In efforts to support students to the fullest, many faculty members are now expected to complete a diversity training, she said. “My goal in life is for students to walk out of my classroom feeling a new level of confidence and accomplishment,” Ingham said. “I want them to have new perspectives and a better spring in their step.”
Illustration by TAYLOR BURTON | The Ranger
Student Life speaks out for equality By CAILEY DINGA
ism can be incorporated into assignments. “The anti-racist curricula would need to apply to everyone to help all students and faculty understand the struggles and empathize with the
a Hispanic student association and a Black student union. “While these initiatives are still in the works, we are committed to supporting this endeavor,” Welch said. “Student Life embraces an inclusive college environment,” Hamilton said. Student Life recently held an event called Statistics Speak featuring signs talking about how people experience discrimination in different ways. The signs mentioned everything from racism to sexual discrimination. One of the posters read, “Black and brown people are 20% more likely to get shot to death by cops than any other ethnicity combined.” The goal of the event was to connect to students on a personal level and to show that everyone gets discriminated against in different ways, Welch said. “Our long term goal is to keep reflecting on our practices and learning how to best serve our students,” she said.
Badgers read for change By MELISSA SANDOVAL Staff Reporter
For many, books are a way to learn and understand the things that aren’t easily talked about. Hard topics such as anti-racism come to mind. But what precisely belongs on an anti-racist reading list? “For a book to be anti-racist, it needs to project a voice that we don’t often hear in our society. It needs to give the perspective of the other side of a conversation,” Courtney Milleson, a speech professor, said. “We always have the adage that there is one side of the story and then another side but then there’s the middle.” Milleson said that she could argue that there’s an underneath that we as a culture have not even begun to explore. “I think more importantly than just a specific book is just having resources to learn new ideas of what it means to be a racist and what it means to be an anti-racist,” she said. Emily Gilbert, the AC librarian, said that it’s difficult to offer ways to change society, but any book that offers a map to change - not only for the people who want change but also for people who don’t want it - belongs on an anti-racist reading list. “Sometimes it’s difficult to challenge the views of society if you don’t experience that yourself because you
Photo illustration by JESSIKA FULTON | The Ranger
don’t always know, although sometimes it’s very clear that people are treated differently or poorly or brutally,” said Gilbert. “I think that the new literature on how to recognize that the system is broken is really useful for that.” The AC library has several books on anti-racism, some having been recently purchased over the summer in order to expand their collection for students who are interested in learning more about the topic. Ericka Rodriguez, a horticulture major, said she is glad the books are available at AC. “Reading books focused on anti-racism would show how I can change and be better to help other people of color so they wouldn’t
have to go through it alone, and so we could slowly but surely educate everyone and eradicate racism for good,” she said. Milleson agreed that reading is a way to fight racism. Through books, one can learn how to view the world through a different perspective, she said. “We’ve got to find a balance between my generation who’s watching and the third generation who have begun taking action,” said Milleson. “Between those two we have to come back and say, ‘OK, tell me your side of the story.’ I think that that’s the most powerful thing we can do, just listening to people. Not listening to respond, but listening to hear.”
September 24, 2020
Racism victim dives into success By BETHANY FOX Staff Rep orter
Sai’Tavian Austin stood on the pool podium, getting ready to start the race by diving into the water, when a swimmer next to him called out, “Once you go Black, you never go back!” After the Lubbock swim meet, Austin confronted the swimmer on his statement, but he didn’t have anything to say in response. “It didn’t make any sense, but I think they were trying to be funny,” Austin said. Austin was born and raised in Amarillo. While attending Tascosa High School, he was one of the only Black swimmers. “I would experience some racism from the other kids because there weren’t too many Black swimmers at the time,” Austin explained. Austin was appreciative of his fellow teammates because they were always supportive of him and his swimming. They would encourage him by saying, “Don’t let your color affect your ability to swim.” After graduating from high school, Austin came to Amarillo College. At the end of this fall semester, he will graduate with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. Austin admitted that it can be difficult being a young Black man. With the recent deaths that have sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, Austin said he gets nervous every now and then. “As a criminal justice ma-
“
jor I know that not all cops are the same,” Austin said. “But sometimes I am cautious of things I do and how I carry myself, just to be extra careful.” Lemisia Adams was also born and raised in Amarillo, and is majoring in surgical technology at AC. In 2007, Adams began working at a local business. “I came every day to my job,” Adams said. “I came early and stayed late.” After a few years of hard work, when a management position opened up, Adams eagerly applied. In response to her application, her supervisor told her, “Black females don’t fulfill this type of position, but you would be a great helper.” The business hired a white person for the management position, instead of Adams. “They hadn’t worked there as long as I had and they didn’t always show up for work,” Adams said. “I was even the person who trained them.” Experiencing racism in the workplace discouraged Adams. “Even to this day it still bothers me,” Adams said. Every job after this experience she would tell herself, because of her color, “I won’t be able to get into a management position even if I work hard for it.” Now Adams proudly works for AC as the Community Youth Development (CYD) grant site supervisor. “At the time I didn’t know anything else,” Adams said. “But now I know that was not true.”
Sometimes it’s difficult to challenge the views of society if you don’t experience that yourself...
”
Illustration by JENNA GIBSON | The Ranger Illustration by DANIAR ONOZ | The Ranger
September 24, 2020
Tuesdays get re-designed By MACKI EDWARDS Staff Reporter
Amarillo College Student Life recently held a contest for students to design an AC T-shirt. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, received a free shirt with their design on it along with a $25 gift card. “A mass email was sent out the second week of school giving all the information and guidelines for creating a shirt,” Miranda McHugh, the Student Life administrative assistant, said. “It wasn’t just free-forall. A couple of guidelines were that the shirt had to say Tuesday Bluesday and it had to be on a blue shirt. To make it a little easier for the students we said it could be any shade of blue for the
shirt,” she said. Every Tuesday, AC employees are allowed to wear something blue to show off school spirit. Students are encouraged to wear blue on Tuesdays as well. “Our office, a little over a year ago, started this initiative called Tuesday Bluesday because we wanted something on campus for school spirit. Also, it’s something fun to do on campus,” Jenna Welch, the student life coordinator, said. McHugh and Welch said the goal was to get staff and students more involved on campus. McHugh, who began working at AC in the spring semester of 2020, spearheaded the project. “When she started her position, we told her it was one of her tasks and we wanted to promote Tuesday Bluesday
COURTESY PHOTO
and get the word out. She is really creative so it was her idea to start the shirt contest,” Welch said. Voting on the designs took place online due to COVID and 16 people entered the con-
test. Each student could submit up to three different designs. All AC students were eligible to vote on the winner and the contest was promoted through email and social media. The Student Life depart-
ment will sell the shirts in the basement of the College Union Building, The Burrow, on the Washington Street Campus; however, the price and the date that the shirts will be available has not been determined yet.
Students tackle eight-week courses By ADELINE HARRIS Staff Reporter
Across the country, hundreds of colleges and universities are beginning to adapt to students’ growing need for a quicker way to achieve a college degree. In December 2016, Amarillo College began offering students the option to enroll in eight-week classes. Although the idea of finishing a semester-long class in eight weeks sounds appeal-
ing, it also comes along with a heavy load of schoolwork. It is extremely important for students to learn about tips and resources to have a successful eight-week course. “In order for students enrolled in eight-week classes to succeed they need to stay organized, learn to say ‘no’ to distractions and interruptions, ask for support, avoid procrastination and create a time management plan,” Amy Pifer, the first year ex-
perience coordinator, said. “AC also offers a number of resources for students, such as tutoring, testing taking strategies and suggestions for studying,” said Pifer. “There is also a counseling service open to all AC students to help manage stress or any other needed service.” At first, eight-week classes were more common at two-year colleges such as AC, but Grant Sabadash, a film major, is taking shorter classes at the University
of Colorado this semester. “I feel like my university does a great job making the short courses doable for students. This is my second semester taking eight-week courses and I honestly prefer them over normal length classes,” Sabadash said. He added that taking shorter classes requires greater self-discipline. “If students want to excel in the fast pace environment, they need to manage their time wisely and
create a routine with their class or classes.” Students and faculty say a key to succeeding in fast-paced classes is proper time management. “The biggest piece of advice I can give is to buy a planner,” Kasey Celniker, a political science major, said. “The key to doing well in eight-week classes is creating a good schedule for your classes that will help you get work done on time.”
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Chick-fil-A returns to campus COURTESY PHOTO
Badgers learn banking tips By MELISSA SANDOVAL Staff Reporter
This school year, Amarillo College will be offering a new virtual series called Adulting 101, which is a variety of classes that will be focusing on financial literacy hosted by Student Life and Career and Employment Services. “Over the summer, Student Life and the Student Government Association discussed the needs of AC students,” said Jenna Welch, the student life coordinator. “Several topics that were identified related to ‘adulting’ skills, or things one should know as an adult. With this idea, SGA narrowed down the possible subjects to ones that supported financial literacy— an important topic that is often
not taught in traditional education settings,” Welch said. The first session of Adulting 101 was held at noon on Sept. 22 and it focused on banking and included a guest speaker from Amarillo National Bank. “The virtual event was well attended and prompted a lot of questions from participants,” said Welch. “It was very informational, the ANB speaker explained the ins and outs of banking, including different accounts, debit cards and more.” Welch said that students seemed to have appreciated the session, as those who tuned in remained for the entire program, but official feedback has not been collected yet. “I think it is a really cool thing that AC does,” said Carmen Nava, SGA member and
criminal justice major. “Not many people learn things like this in high school, so AC is giving that opportunity for people to join the call and ask any type of questions. It is a safe zone and they don’t judge you.” There will be one session each month focusing on a different topic and every session will be hosted by Student Life, SGA, AC’s Career and Employment Services and a guest speaker from a financial institution. In each session they will also be offering a $25 gift card to a randomly selected student participant. “The next session of Adulting 101 will cover budgeting, and will be held at noon Oct. 8 via Zoom,” said Welch. “Another session covering credit will be held at noon Nov. 12.”
By LINCOLN SISNEROS Staff Reporter
The Chick-fil-A truck has returned to the Washington Street Campus after a lengthy absence due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The truck is parked between the Experimental Theatre and the College Union Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. “I enjoy the food truck because it’s convenient and I love eating it because the food they sell tastes good,” Josiah Raab, a radiology major, said. “I think the idea the restaurant had for the school was convenient because the regular one is all the way on Georgia Street,” he said. Trent Oneal, the intramurals coordinator, said
he is happy the food truck is back because it’s convenient for the students to order food when they have busy days. “Usually, whenever I give away gift cards, I choose to give out Chick-fil-A ones,” Oneal said. Chick-fil-A company officials said they have received positive feedback regarding the return of food truck. “I have had customers call me and tell me that they are happy the food truck is back,” said Natalie Spicer, the director of outside Chickfil-A sales. Spicer noted that the truck’s sales have decreased somewhat because fewer students are on campus due to the pandemic, but she is hoping it will pick back up soon.
September 24, 2020
Hamilton revolutionizes Broadway musicals REVIEW By JESSIKA FULTON Page Editor
The video version of “Hamilton” first aired on Disney+ during Independence Day weekend to the delight of fans from all over the world. This brilliantly well-written musical takes you back in time with actors in brass-buttoned coats, tall boots and tan colored breeches. It tells the story of a 19-year-old immigrant, Alexander Hammilton, who wants to make his mark by taking his shot as he joins a group of like-minded revolutionaries. He eventually becomes the right-hand man of General George Washington and all his dreams come true as they defeat the British. Hamilton is energetically and charmingly played by Lin-Manuel Miranda who is the writer of the musical. It was musically directed by Alex Lacamoire and produced by Jeffery Seller. The casting of Hamilton’s founding fathers and allies makes a huge mark as the show’s outstanding cast was made up of Black and Latino actors. The diverse representation included Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson as well as the Marquis de Lafayette, Christopher Jackson as George Washington and Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, not to mention the power house women, Renée Elise Goldsberry as the role of Angelica Schuyler and Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds. In addition to a diverse cast, the show also had actors dedicated to their roles such as Jonathan Groff who embodied the role of King George III.
Not only did he spit his words, but he seemed to be the actor most in character with his dramatic hip swivels and energetic movement around the stage as he truly channeled the king. With catchy songs like “You’ll be back,” “Alexander Hamilton” and “Helpless,” this show turns pop and hip-hop into an entertaining look through a history book. The constant beat throughout the show allows a superlative amount of charisma from each performance during every scene. One thing that is quite entertaining about the whole experience through Disney is the feeling of being in the theatre. With the camera shots of the stage up close and from seated areas, you feel like you are inches away from Groff’s spit storm. To make it even more realistic, they add short intermissions half way through the show as if you are actually there and about to break for concessions. When I watched this show for the first time, I watched it with my nana. She is not a huge fan of musicals whatsoever; however, “Hamilton” changed her mind and she quickly fell in love within the first 20 minutes. It is truly a show for everybody. The visuals, the music, the acting and everything about “Hamilton” was astonishing and is something that I have played on repeat ever since it was first released for streaming. I highly recommend “Hamilton” for everyone. There is not a single thing bad about this musical. So grab some popcorn, a blanket and enjoy having these songs stuck in your head for the rest of the year.
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
New game quenches SpongeBob fans’ thirst REVIEW By SIDNEY WEST Graphic Designer
A lot of people share the same sentiment when it comes to Heavy Iron’s “SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom,” that it being a licensed game, was better than it had any right to be. I too share this opinion, so of course I went out and snatched up its remake, “SpongeBob Battle for Bikini Bottom: Rehydrated.” As an obsessive 24 year old SpongeBob fan, it is my duty to nitpick and analyze the heck out this game made for children. Please keep in mind that I have played the PS4 version of SpongeBob Rehydrated, so I don’t know if what I say here will remain true for the Switch or PC ports. First off, the game runs very well and looks absolutely amazing. Purple Lamp Studios did a fantastic job reimagining the locations from the original game. It’s so bright and colorful. If this game were candy, I’d eat it. There’s loads of little details added to the world, like flowing grass covering the ground, an abundance of bubbles everywhere you go, countless landmarks outside the bounds of levels and memes. That last one will probably bug a lot of people, but come on, don’t be a Squidward. Some areas from the game really benefit from the graphical overhaul, such as the Kelp Caves, which in the original, were difficult to navigate because of how dark the location was. Now
it’s lined with glowing statues and brightly colored fog blankets the ground. It’s both atmospheric and practical. Overall this game knocks it out of the park with its visuals. Controls are pretty decent. Nothing about them really stands out, they’re responsive and that’s all that matters. A lot of the more frustrating aspects from the original games controls have been improved such as the awkward aiming and camera movement. However, some elements have been made worse, such as rope swinging, bungee jumping and you no longer gain extra air time from attacking midair. Thankfully those downgrades don’t get in the way too often. The main goal of the game is to collect golden spatulas scattered throughout the game’s nine worlds. To get the majority, you’ll have to fight through robots, explore every nook and cranny of Bikini Bottom and complete a variety of tasks. The vast majority of the game is pretty fun, though there are a few stinker missions thrown in. Sadly, a lot of these more frustrating parts have been left intact in the remake, such as this really annoying ball rolling game in the Mermalair. Thankfully, sections like these can be skipped entirely, as you only need to collect 75 out of the 100 spatulas to complete the game. When the game was first announced, a bullet point on the Steam page boasted about how cut content from
the 2003 game would be re-implemented in the remake. This was very exciting news for those of us who were already huge fans of the first game. Things like unfinished levels and bosses were said to be fully playable. It was like a wish come true. Sadly, it turned out to be a monkey’s paw wish, as all of the cut content was crammed into a really boring multiplayer mode that no one asked for. The gist of it is you and a friend fight robots on a series of small islands while a giant robot Squidward stares at you angrily. The problem with this mode lies in the fact that the fun of the game is not in its combat, it’s in navigating obstacle courses and exploring interesting locations. The robots in the game mostly serve to make moving through those said locations trickier. When you’re on a flat, empty island fighting these machines, there’s nothing for them to add too and you’re just running in circles mashing squares until they die. It’s a pretty worthless addition to the game, but aside from it, this was an excellent remake. After 17 years SpongeBob BFBB still holds up and it’s nice to see it finally get the attention it deserves. Overall this was a great experience that I can recommend to anyone who’s a fan of the show, anyone who has kids or anyone who is severely starved for 3D collect-athon platformers like me.
September 24, 2020
BADGERS BRAWL
online
More than just gaming By BRIDGET ULLOUA Page Editor
Having students meet new people and form new relationships is something Amarillo College strives to achieve through its multiple clubs and organizations. Located on the fourth floor in Parcells Hall room 415, is the home of AC’s eSports team.
Badger eSports is a club for students who love to game both competitively and casually. The group encourages students to join regardless of their gaming level. The club is not only welcoming new players but also more fans to support the players in competition, said Christopher George, a computer science instructor and the group sponsor. George said that currently, eSports is up to a lot of things, “So we have 100 students
signed up,” he said. “We have four varsity teams playing against other colleges across the nation. We have a varsity Overwatch team, varsity League of Legends team, a large Rocket League team and varsity Valorant team.” Even though a big part of Badger eSports is getting to play different types of games, current eSports members said that there is more to enjoy than just playing in the gaming center. Meeting new people and forming new relationships with them is why students said they enjoy eSports. Khalia Stevensen, a biology major who joined eSports last semester, said that she loves playing new games. She also said she enjoys the opportunity the club gives
her to meet people. “It’s more to it than just gaming,” Stevenson said. “My favorite part about eSports is getting to play with new people.” Many players agreed that they are drawn to the companionship and community the team offers. “Many of our members join being first year students who don’t know a lot of people at AC and may be scared to try and talk to others,” Joshua McCort, a psychology major, said. “We do our best to break down those barriers and make them feel welcome. Every member we have, old and new, are here for one another, whether they need help improving their gameplay skills, studying to pass that test and improve their GPA or even just need someone to talk to.” Cadance Hamlin, a psychology major who joined this year but had
f re quently visited the gaming center during his internship last year, said that he hopes that people will give the club a shot. “Try it. If it’s not your fancy, hey, at least you gave it a shot, right?” Hamlin said. “You might find one of your next favorite hobbies or meet a new major person in your life.” Students said another benefit of the club is how it meets their desire for competition. “It’s the difference between playing basketball with your friends and playing in the NBA.” One is for fun and lets you just play casually, while one is competitive, for prizes, and to push you to your limit. A lot of people join to scratch the competitive itch that normal ranked games or just gaming casually doesn’t hit,” Sina Aria, a computer science major, said. wTeam members said competitive gaming pushes players to develop new skills in a different way than casual play does.
“It’s the difference between playing basketball with your friends and playing in the NBA.” “When you participate in a match or a tournament you learn a couple of new things as you grow as a player,” Conor Johns, a computer networking and cyber-security major, said. The club itself has major goals for the future, George said. “We want more students coming out to play games and to
have more of the community finding out about us and watching our matches online,” George said. “When we have events for the public, we want to have our fans here in the game room watching and rooting our teams on and just to continue to grow.” Though the pandemic has created some challenges for the club, George said that Badger eSports is doing the best they can. ”We’ve had to take our game center down from 14 computers to seven or eight, so we don’t fill the room up too much,” George said. “We have two rooms where students can go play. That kind of helps us
separate that out. And of course, it’s eSports so we do a lot of stuff online and we communicate through a discord channel where we organize and play games together online. “ C O V I D hasn’t hurt us as much as other supports we can still attend online and play in groups from safe locations,” Aria said. “If we do have games at the school and in the game room, we wear masks and just have to take extra precautions such as cleaning constantly and to be socially distanced.”
For more information about Badger eSports, you can find them @acbadgeresports on Twitter, Twitch, Instagram and Facebook or on www.actx.edu/esports/
Illustrations by PIERCE LAWSON | The Ranger