020421 by The Daily Toreador

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2021 VOLUME 95 ■ ISSUE 17

LA VIDA

SPORTS

Finish the profile on The BSA president and learn more about enrollment numbers.

Student athletes strive to improve Black communities.

Student’s share thoughts on campus diversity.

OPINIONS

ONLINE Vote in the poll on our Twitter, @Dailytoreador, about who you want to win the Super Bowl.

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ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

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BLACK STUDENT ASSOCIATION

BSA president reflects representing Tech students

CHASE SEABOLT/The Daily Toreador

Treyvian Bolton, a senior physcology major from Arlington and president of the Black Student Association, poses for a portrait at 12:30 on Feb. 3, 2021 on the Texas Tech Campus. He has been president of BSA for two semesters.

By AMANDA HAMPTON L a Vida Editor

The Black Student Association President Treyvian Bolton has taken the initiative to lead the Texas Tech student organization in making Black student voices heard on campus. Bolton, a senior psychology major from Arlington, said the BSA offers a way for Black Tech students to find a community during college and build relationships with each other. “ We h o s t s e v e r a l e v e n t s throughout the year from educational events, discussions on topics, and we just try to be a place where students of color can come to this campus and

feel like they have a community when they get here,” Bolton said. He was aware of upcoming projects the BSA was working on and wanted to be the BSA president to help develop the plans, Bolton said. One project he wanted to work on was establishing a Black Cultural Center at Tech. As president, Bolton said he is responsible for leading The BSA members and consistently working and communicating with the Tech administration. “President (Lawrence) Schovanec has been a really big part of things that are going into motion now as far as the Black Cultural Center goals and our scholarships that we are trying

to get endowed,” Bolton said. Overall, the BSA’s relationship with the Tech administration has improved over the years, Bolton said. During his term as president, the Tech administration has worked closely with Bolton and the BSA to get the organization’s input on student issues. Audrey Johnson, a senior public relations and media strategies major from Cedar Hill, said Bolton consistently ensures Black student voices are heard among the Tech administration. Christianah Adejokun, a sophomore biochemistry major from Arlington, said Bolton’s attention to detail helps the BSA have successful conversations

with the Tech administration. “He wants to make sure that if we’re talking in front of a whole crowd or in front of the president that we know everything we want to say and that we have a plan and not only just a plan but actions and steps for us to go ahead and enforce it,” Adejokun, the BSA community engagement chair, said. A s t h e B S A’s p r e s i d e n t , Bolton said he does not focus on micromanaging each task needing to get done. Instead, he delegates tasks to each executive board member, which allows everyone to be part of what makes the BSA successful. Johnson, the BSA event coordinator, said Bolton’s organi-

zational skills and openness to new ideas have helped her accomplish her goals for the BSA. “We could say that we want to have a meeting about jumping off the moon, and he’s going to find a way for us to get it done,” Johnson said. “He does not limit me as the event coordinator. I can tell him I want anything, and he’s going to find a way for me to get it.” Being the BSA president during COVID-19 has limited options for how Bolton can lead the organization, he said. Therefore, he is focusing his term as president on preparing the organization for success next year.

SEE BSA, PG. 3

DIVERSITY

Texas Tech professionals discuss student enrollment By HANNAH ISOM News Editor

As Texas Tech begins the celebration of Black History Month, it can be important to look at Tech’s developments in student enrollment and retention of Black individuals. Matthew Johnson, associate professor in the Department of History at Tech, said public institutions in Texas began to get rid of their exclusion efforts after Brown V. Board. Since then, universities across the

nation have begun efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion on their campuses. “I think the people who have benefitted the most are white students,” Johnson said. This is because the premise of diversity is backwards, Johnson said. Diversity does not do anything for Black students, the idea is that their presence educates white students. “Improving relationships among different racial and ethnic groups has been a big, important

change,” Johnson said. When discussing whether Black students may feel deterred to attend Tech because of its majority white population, Johnson said, it is less of a feeling of being oppressed or someone being racist to them, though that is a factor, and more of a feeling of social isolation. Black students may feel like they have no social life because people that look like them and can relate to them are so few, Johnson said. “I think the one thing to par-

ticularly emphasize is, when you have a small Black population on a particular campus, it’s a deterrent right off the bat,” Johnson said. “So, that’s a recruitment obstacle you have to overcome.” Tech is working on ways to tackle that obstacle, Jamie Hansard, vice president of enrollment management in the Office of the Provost, said. The Tech recruitment team has utilized several tools and datapoints to identify schools with a high population of Black students. “This is progress and work that

we have been working on for the past six years,” Hansard said. In Fall 2020, the recruitment team made over 1,100 visits to high schools with high Black enrollment, Hansard said. For community college, they made 789 visits. Large enrollment is defined using information from the coordinating board, the National Center for Educational Statistics and a variety of other sources, Hansard said.

SEE ENROLLMENT, PG. 3

SUPER BOWL

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs looking for back-to-back Super Bowl wins By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor

Former Red Raider Patrick Mahomes is going back to the Super Bowl for another chance at an NFL Championship. But prior to the big stage, Mahomes was spotting his name all over record books as a Red Raider. The Whitehouse, Texas, native took to Tech in 2014 as a freshman, with just four starts, he tallied 1,547 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, according to Tech Athletics. He showed promise, at the time setting a freshman passing record for yards in a game with 598 against No. 5 Baylor. He stayed with Tech until his explosive 2016 junior season. As the nation’s leading passer, Mahomes went through his final season at Tech playing in just 12 games. Nobody at Tech in eight years

had a season leading the country in passing, with Graham Harrell in 2008 having been the most recent. On a national scale, he was the 12th quarterback in FBS history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, according to Tech Athletics. Even though his team went on to finish the season with a 5-7 overall record and a 3-6 conference record under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Mahomes’ 2016 season would go down in Tech history. Fast forward half a decade, Mahomes is competing on America’s biggest stage in the Super Bowl for the second-consecutive year with the Kansas City Chiefs. With 325 passing yards, Mahomes led the Chiefs in a 38-24 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills. As it stands, Mahomes is the youngest quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to back-

to-back Super Bowls, according to Tech Athletics. The 2021 Super Bowl will be headlined as an old-school versus new-school matchup, with Mahomes battling one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in the history of the sport, a 43-year-old Tom Brady. In fact, Brady was the previous record holder for youngest quarterback to go to back-to-back Super Bowls before Mahomes took the honor from him. Mahomes is the latest in a long line of Tech football players in the Super Bowl. According to Tech Athletics, there has been a Red Raider in the Super Bowl for 12-straight years. Mahomes will have the opportunity to be the latest Red Raider to take on the biggest stage in football at Super Bowl LV, set for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Feb. 7. @ZachRichardsDT

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II prepares to catch the snap during the Red Raiders’ game against Texas on Nov. 5, 2016 at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

NEWS

FEB. 04, 2021

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CAMPUS

Tech vet school officials provide updates By JAVIER BACA Staff Writer

Texas Tech is building a School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, Texas, that is meant to serve rural Texas. The School of Veterinary Medicine is now preparing to open the doors to its inaugural class. Dr. John Dascanio is a professor of theriogenology and the senior associate dean for Academic and Student Services at the Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. “We ended up with 721 applications that were started through the Texas Medical Dental School Application Service,” Dascanio said. “We invited 268 students for virtual interviews and from those interviews, we will determine which students will take the 60 available spots.” Dascanio said they are very excited to interview these students and will begin making offers to students by the end of February. The last round of student applicant interviews was Feb.3. The School of Veterinary Medicine will not know what the final class will look like until the middle of April, Dascanio said. This gives the students time to think about other schools they may want to attend. Commitment to a school is required from students by the middle of April. “Our building is on track, on time and on budget,” Dascanio said. “We expect to move into the majority of those facilities in late July or early August.” Dascanio said there is approximately 180,000 square feet of the main building and an additional 80,000 square feet of the large animal facility called Mariposa Station. The main facility, also known as the Amarillo cam-

pus, is where most of the instruction and research laboratories will occur, Dascanio said. Mariposa Station is about two and half miles away from the Amarillo campus. “Mariposa Station will be delivered at the end of July or early August, as will part of the main building,” Dascanio said. “The other part of the main building that has research labs and some of our teaching labs will be delivered at the beginning of October.” The main building has more piping and wiring within the laboratories, so it will take longer for it to be completed, Dascanio said. The School of Veterinary Medicine has contingency plans in place to deal with lack of full release to the main building and are confident to deliver the curriculum. The most difficult part thus far in the entire process has been interviewing their inaugural class online, Dascanio said. “You’d love your first class to be in-person and for everyone to meet everybody,” Dascanio said. “It is such a unique opportunity to really enter the first class. We are going to have such great relationships with those folks because they are the only students on campus.” Dascanio said he is frustrated they have to do virtual interviews and that it is a bit of a pain, however the School of Veterinary Medicine is committed to doing virtual interviews so they can meet their first class and begin to develop those close relationships. The School of Veterinary Medicine is doing their best to make sure they are getting the best students for their program, Dascanio said. Their focus is to serve rural and regional Texas and to ensure that the

background of the students reflect that. Lindsay Kennedy is an assistant professor of practice in agricultural education and communications at Tech, said the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo is beneficial for Tech Agriculture students wanting to work in the veterinary field. “I think the School of Veterinary Medicine provides another opportunity for Texas Tech to serve rural America,” she said. “It’s another great extension of the agricultural education opportunities that we have here at Texas Tech.” Kennedy said there are many students within agricultural education and communication who are interested in the School of Veterinary Medicine and the opportunities the school can produce. Whether or not an agricultural education student goes to vet school or not, the School of Veterinary Medicine is a great asset to the university, Kennedy said. Michael Orth is the department chair and professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Orth discussed the benefits of the School of Veterinary Medicine and how it will tie into Tech. “I think we already have a really strong tradition in animal science, especially in livestock production and livestock management,” Orth said. “I think it is a natural transition to have one, we already have a great undergraduate program and graduate program, having a vet school will compliment what we already have here.” Orth said that among his students, a high percentage of interested in attending a veterinarian school. There will now be a high interest in the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine be-

Rendering courtesy of Texas Tech System Facilities Planning and Construction/Photo courtesy of John Dascanio

TOP: A rendering of the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine at Amarillo shows what the facility’s entrance will look like upon completion. The initial class is set to start in Fall 2021. BOTTOM: The photo shows the current construction of the School of Veterinary Medicine. cause of students interest in livestock. Orth said that animal food sciences gives students a background in health, nutrition and physiology of the animals they will be working with. Dr. Britt Conklin, an associate dean for clinical programs in the School of Veterinary Medicine, said the interviewing process

was meant to find students who are going to stay true to the mission of the School of Veterinary Medicine. “The interviews consisted of an essay and then breakouts with two stations that helped the interviewers get to know the applicant and challenge them with questions that related to our mission of serving rural and regional commu-

nities,” Conklin said. Conklin said Sarah Innis, the director of admissions for the School of Veterinary Medicine said IT was a great help to run interviews smoothly for four days. The admissions committee will now meet to finalize who will be in the first class, Conklin said. @JavierBacaDT

LA VIDA

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ENROLLMENT

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Additionally, they have significantly increased their work with Community Based Organizations, Hansard said. CBO’s work with underserved students helps to promote higher education and helps gain access to resources. A d d i t i o n a l l y, M e m o randum of Understanding agreements have been signed between Tech and certain high schools, Hansard said. Some of these high schools include YES Prep and One Goal, both located in Houston. “We’re accessible to all students everywhere, but when we have a signed Memorandum of Understanding, we’re kind of listed as a partner school for that particular high school,” Hansard said. Tech’s recruitment team also works with campus partners, Hansard said. For example, the Honors College wants to increase Black enrollment, so individuals within the Provost Office have worked with Aliza Wong, associate dean of the Honors College, and

BSA

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “I really want to lay a foundation for them, giving them all the necessary skills and tools they need to do any event they want to do or any programming they want to do,” Bolton said. “If they want to bring in a guest speaker, making sure they have what they need so that when things start to go normal there is proper planning for what we can do.” Bolton said the BSA im-

pacted him in many ways. His involvement helped him find people to build relationships with at Tech. He loves how Tech students are all passionate about the school they attend, Bolton said. The excitement people have for Tech makes the relationships he has made in the BSA even stronger. “BSA has really given me something to do while I’m here and getting my education, something to drive my purpose for what I want to do after college,” Bolton said. Throughout his time in

the BSA, one of his biggest takeaways has been the importance of being able to adapt, Bolton said. The ability to adapt is necessary for any situation and is often overlooked. “You cannot let yourself get stumped for too long on things that don’t go your way,” Bolton said. “You have to adapt and be able to adjust in order to get your best outcome.” The BSA worked with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to program their Black History Month events, Bolton said.

the marketing team to develop specific communications, Hansard said. Additionally, Hansard said they have been working with Carol Sumner, vice president of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and her team to ensure that all students are receiving information about resources available to them. “Across the board, we’ve really enhanced the communication; we’ve made it very personal, as much as we possibly can,” Hansard said. There has also been promotion of intentional conversations, Hansard said, because people tend to shy away from them. Because of these programs and actions being taken to promote diversity in the university, it can be important to look at how enrollment numbers for the Black community at Tech have grown. Black enrollment over the past six years has increased 19.6 percent, Hansard said. For incoming freshman and transfer students, it has increased 7.8 percent. “We are making progress, which I’m excited about,”

The BSA is hosting volunteer projects throughout February for Black History Month, Adejokun said. There will be an “Adopt a Highway” event and a “Love for our Elders” project where people can write letters to the elderly who have been secluded during COVID-19. The easiest way to get involved in the BSA is by attending a meeting, Bolton said. Meetings are hosted in-person and online every second and fourth Thursday of the month. @AmandaHamptonDT

WILD ART

CHASE SEABOLT/The Daily Toreador

Ryan Denton, involved with Christ in the Wild, debates with students at noon on Feb. 3, 2021 at the Free Speech Area near the Student Union Building. Denton has a Theology degree and is based out of El Paso.

Hansard said. It can also be important to look at retention and graduation rates of Black students. Patrick Hughes, vice provost for university programs and student success in the Office of the Provost, said it is first important to note what students are counted when producing the numbers. Tech reports on First Time in College Students, meaning the student has had no previous college before coming to Tech, Hughes said, so transfer students are not counted. However, students who received dual credit in high school are. “That kind of reduces the number a lot,” Hughes said. Tech is evaluated as an institution on its one-year retention rate, which is fall-

Page 3 thursday, feb. 4, 2021 to-fall and according to the fifth and 20th class day of the term, Hughes said. The one-year retention rate of Black students is up 2.6 percent in the last four years. “We really can’t count the student as being retained after the 20th class day,” Hughes said. Graduation rates are evaluated on four-year and six-year rates of FTIC students, Hughes said. In the past four years, the graduation rate of Black students at Tech has increased 9.5 percent. In the past six years, it has increased 2.9 percent, Hughes said. “ We ’ r e w o r k i n g v e r y hard to identify and work with students to improve their likelihood to succeed,” Hughes said, “and I mean all students.” @HannahIsomDT

OPINIONS

Page 4 Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021

COLUMN

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Student’s thoughts on campus diversity I

have not always dealt well with identifying myself as Black. Throughout my life, I had to educate myself on what it means to be Black. I am continuing to learn to this day. It never occurred to me that I was different until others pointed it out. Just as today, I am reminded by being at a predominately white university. It sometimes is an uncomfortable feeling. While there are student organizations and policies where progression is encouraged for diversity, psychologically it still takes time to adjust to sticking out like a sore thumb. When I was in kindergarten, I did not even notice that my hair and skin were different from the kids in my class. Reality hit me when I had liked a boy. He had said he did not like Black girls. I was stunned of course, but

Chyna Vargas is a freshman journalism major from San Antonio.

even more taken back that my skin color was a factor of someone not liking me. I was only five. Yet I was experiencing discrimination within an institution. A place where I was supposed to be safe and comfortable being myself. Children should be worried about coloring, being with friends, and not the microaggressions from white people. Not much changed when it came to race in school as I got older. Students would tease, name call, and use subtle ways to make me feel embarrassed to be Black. The derogatory was always intergraded into my education. Ignorance just seemed to be a forgotten

lesson. That statement does not change when I got to university. The lack thereof diversity is improving, just at a slow rate. Texas Tech’s first Black student to attend was in 1961. My grandparents lived through that same shift from segregation to desegregation. That puts in perspective that I am still a result of the recent movements. This is why I get eerie feelings about being in the south attending college. If I were born in an earlier decade, I would not be able to go to school at Tech. Senior year of high school, I had to go through the universities that would best suit me. When looking for a university to attend, my ultimate requirement was “Is this university diverse?”. Diversity was an important factor because in order for me to feel comfortable, is having everyone comfortable with me.

After committing to Tech, I was still concerned. I had heard stories about racial incidences, and how they would be brushed under the rug.

Recognition should be given to the progression, but not applause, as it is the bare minimum. Friends and family were surprised I was even coming here. Tech has Black Student Association, African Student Organization and many more diverse student organizations. This then reassured me, I was not the only one enduring this predominately white institution. I then knew there were communities for me. Where I would not have to be alone in dealing with the pricking and poking

of being Black. Being Black is normalized in those organizations. I am waiting for when it is normalized everywhere I am in. Racial issues are not blatantly obvious to be seen in schools. They can be minor incidences such as what I experienced in elementary, or major ones where racial slurs are used by high schoolers. This is where worry and fear stem when attending a Texas institution. When schools transitioned to desegregation, racism did not just disappear. It crept in new cracks and comes out in new forms. As much as I want to believe that I am going to experience a new era where racism or ignorance is ceased, new cases pop up to this day at many universities. I do not want to be naïve, so I have to be aware. My guard is always up being at school. I am not disregarding

the people that are allies and who do make me feel welcome in any situation. I have had professors, colleagues, and families who support me and the causes I stand for when it comes to racial disparities. I am beyond grateful for those people. There are just not enough of them. Recognition should be given to the progression, but not applause, as it is the bare minimum. Where it should start is where Americans spend 18 or more years of their lives. Tech can enforced workshops, classes or even events where diversity is being taught. I believe it should go beyond student organizations to encourage divers i t y. T h e e n v i r o n m e n t where we are educating our citizens should be the same place where everyone should feel comfortable in who they are. No matter who they are. @ChynaVargasDT

COLUMN

Importance of hair within Black community I cut off my permanently straightened hair the summer before I began high school, leaving me with about an inch-long afro. The fresh start of leaving behind the world of chemicals and flat irons began a new journey. Now to figure out who I am and how my natural hair can reflect that. For me and much of the Black community, our hair has remained a corner-

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Toluwani Osibamowo is a junior journalism major from Plano.

stone of our culture and heritage. Though it has become an increasingly contentious topic within conversations about cultural appropriation and colorism, hair’s significance has remained present throughout Black history. Its impact must not be lost among rapidly shifting beauty standards and race relations. Our connection to hair has been there from the beginning, and the unfortunate truth for many is that Black history, their family history, began with slavery. But from the atrocity and desperation of slavery came innovation borne from the need for survival. Research from Judith Carney, a geography professor at the University of

California in Los Angeles, details oral accounts from descendants of African slaves in South America. Those of whom attribute the introduction of rice to Brazil and other countries to women who would keep grains of rice in their braids to plant and eat once they and their children were brought to the mainland. In addition to being a survival tool, hair was the only way to keep beauty traditions alive. Various types of braids and haircuts in African countries let others know of one’s status. Gradually, throughout slavery and past emancipation, Black people were forced to assimilate just to be seen as equals. The late Cicely Tyson, known best for her transformative onscreen presence in films like “Sounder,” “The Help” and the TV series “How to Get Away with Murder,” was an early pioneer of the natural hair movement in Hollywood.

Ty s o n r e v e a l e d o n Oprah’s Master Class in 2014 that the night before she played the role of an African woman on TV, she got her straightened hair cut short and shampooed to revert it to its natural state. She kept the closecropped look during her time on the 1963 show “East Side/West Side.”

For me and much of the Black community, our hair has remained a cornerstone of our culture and heritage. “I got letters from hairdressers all over the country telling me that I was affecting their business because their clients were having their hair cut off, so they could wear it like the girl on television,” Tyson said. When I got my hair cut at 14, I didn’t personally

know any black women who had their hair styled that way, let alone see it on TV - and that was 2015. To know that 1960s Cicely Tyson, a talented Black actress at the height of her career, could make such a bold style choice to maintain the integrity of the African character she portrayed gave me the confidence to brave a daily environment where no one looked like me, where I felt like my beauty and worth were stunted by having this short, strange mess of hair. My own insecurity doesn’t even speak of the systemic discrimination other Black people have faced. It was only in 2019 that California became the first state to ban discrimination against natural hair with the CROWN Act. This came after countless cases of black girls and women being told their own hair, in whatever style they wore it in, was inappropriate for

school or work. B l a c k p e o p l e ’s h a i r looks the way it does bec a u s e o f g e n e t i c s , u ndoubtedly. But the need to protect our hair and its customs is not as simple as the conflict of being the brunette in a room of blondes; it’s about having the hair growing out of your head being tied to centuries of struggle and degradation, of beauty and celebration. It’s about our ancestors crafting hairstyles inherently tied to their identity and survival in a world that scorned them. During this Black History Month and beyond, I encourage those within the Black community and outside of it to appreciate the versatility of Black hair when you see wigs, weaves, box braids, cornrows and afros. Most importantly, recognize the ongoing fight to be respected for our expression. @TOsibamowoDT

COLUMN

Influence of Black culture in music industry Nalani Nuylan is a junior journalism major from Leander.

Give credit where credit is due. Rock, hip-hop, blues, jazz, gospel, Rhythm & Blues and many other genres of music were started by Black artists and musicians. We wouldn’t have a wide variety of music if it wasn’t for the Black artists who trailblazed the music industry. As a part of Black History Month, let’s honor the excellence and creativity of the musicians who shaped American culture for the better. The first wave of Black music that changed our culture was gospel. I am genuinely envious of Black singers because of the powerhouse vocalists gospel produced. The gospel vocal style is so distinctive and utilizes so much technique. Every time I listen to gospel, I’m in awe. Mind you, this was way before auto-tune was even a thing. If you go back

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and listen to gospel vinyl, all of that is pure talent. The breath control, the vibrato and the variety of ranges; it gets me emotional sometimes. With queens like Mahalia Jackson and Shirley Caesar and kings James Cleveland and Kirk Franklin spearheading the genre, the talent gospel singers have is unbelievable. In the same way, soul takes me places to places in my mind and heart that I never thought was possible. Combing elements of gospel, R&B and later funk, soul took insertion from gospel's poetic lyrics and made them secular for the general public. This is why it’s not uncommon to see singers, like the legendary Aretha Franklin, labeled as both gospel and soul singers. Musician Gregory Porter put it this way: “Gospel is soul. Soul is gospel.” In the next stop on our walk-through Black music appreciation, we transition from singers to musicians in the era of blues, jazz and funk. I have no musical talent in my body. That’s why I

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chose to be a writer. But I’m always amazed at the layers of instrumental scales and combinations that this era of music is known for. Piano, saxophone, bass, drums, all unique in their sound and function in performance, but they all come together to form one beautiful piece of music.

The gospel vocal style is so distinctive and utilizes so much technique. With the talents of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Sly & The Family Stone, Ella Fitzgerald and Muddy Waters, this time period of instrumental nuance is artistic in every interpretation of the word. More often than not you’ll find me listening to rock. Yes, I’m a metalhead and proud of it. But I need to pay homage to rock’s origins in rock ’n’ roll. With Louis Jordan and his contributions to the swing sub-genre and Louis Jordan who was the guy

who influenced the one and only Elvis, the ‘50s is where I get the giddiest. Now if we are talking about Black music history, we need to talk about the Jacksons. Of course, there’s Michael. No artist ever will live up to his level of song, production and performance in the music industry. But there was also Janet. She, if her career wasn’t cut short by that Super Bowl performance, quite possibly could have lived up to Michael's legacy. She did everything musically and was an excellent performer and dancer. She deserves to have more recognition rather than only being known for her career-ending mishap. We now take a 40-year jump to the ‘90s. Oh, the ‘90s, what a time to be alive. Hip-hop and rap were at the forefront of pop culture. As a writer, I appreciate the lyrical functions in the rap culture at the time. Reflective of the society’s issues but poetic in many aspects. Legends like Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z and 2Pac provided some of the best rap albums that so many

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artists would be inspired to make. That brings us to the present. There are so many different types of music and artists that are contributing to Black music history. It’s honestly insane: Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Lizzo, H.E.R., Nicki Minaj, Neo, Rico Nasty, Jennifer Hudson, Megan Thee Stallion, Ciara, Alicia Keys, Tauren Wells, Rhianna, Normani, Tyler the Creator, Lecrae, Beyoncé. You get the idea. Now as a white girl who has no musical talent or knowledge talking about Black music, the last thing I want is to come off as I’m committing cultural and musical appropriation. My goal was to walk through history and just marvel at the talent and artistry of Black musicians. I have profound respect and love for Black music. It took talent and courage to push Black music out at the beginning with gospel and continuing through today. I’m so excited to see where Black music goes from here. Thank you for making amazing music. @NalaniNuylanDT

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ATHLETES

Page 5 Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021

Student athletes strive to improve Black communities By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor

Texas Tech enrollment numbers have surpassed record levels, according to their website, and with such a large student body, there have been numerous moves in Tech’s culture and diversity. But with a steadfast flow of Black students, they have utilized their opportunities to make themselves heard not only on campus, but in surrounding areas as well. Tech recognizes over 10 organizations and nine historically African American fraternities and sororities on its campus. Despite the newfound growth of these groups, it has not always been the case. Tech did not include its first historically African American sorority on campus until 47 years after Tech’s founding, and nine years after the acceptance of Tech’s first Black student, Lucille Sugar Graves, according to Tech’s website. Tech professor Bill Dean is one of the longstanding members of the Tech community and recalls his experiences with Black students despite the events being over 60 years ago. “When I was a student here, I don’t think we had any Black students. We had Hispanic students. That was the 1950s and early ‘60s,” Dean said. In a time of segregation and division within America, changes were made, and Dean was able to witness the transformation happen right in the heart of his own alma mater. “I can tell you the faculty in the college of Media and Communication that I knew were very welcoming and very supportive of desegregation,” he said. “I think whether they are Hispanic, Black or Asian, within our college, it has been very welcoming.” While more Black students were being admitted to Tech, organizations led by African American students were forming at the core. One of the most recognizable was charted by the first scholarship athlete at Tech,

Danny Hardaway, who arrived six years after Tech’s first Black student, Graves. “There was a young lady who was the first black student here. But the most recognizable student was a guy named Danny Hardaway. He was a football player so obviously he would be recognizable, and I think he was the only black player on the team at that time,” Dean said. Hardaway’s contributions both on and off the field magnified him as a hallmark member of both Tech Athletics and the Black community on campus, as he led the Red Raiders in rushing and playing as a wide receiver. Hardaway paved the way for many Black athletes on Tech’s campus, and they have not taken the opportunity to use their platform for granted. But it was a steady process, as no results are granted quickly. In the late 80s and early 90s, Tech basketball welcomed student-athlete Will Flemons to the program. “I had a white girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, and some people would give us looks and be like, ‘How dare you,’” Flemons said. “But on campus, when people knew I was an athlete, I never had any problems.” Flemons received praise from those who knew he was an athlete, but was treated differently as a standard individual. “If I wasn’t in the athletic department, I very seldom saw any black students on Tech’s campus,” he said. Very seldom was Tech outspoken about current events as it pertained to race during the time, Flemons said, but what he sees now is much different. Now an integral and moving part in many of Tech’s Black student-athletes and Black organizations, the University has aimed to make its point clear, and 2020 was hallmark for Tech in the same realm. 2020 served as a steppingstone for many students and student-athletes to let their voices be heard as a part of Tech’s Black community, and it was put on notice when

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech student-athletes and coaches heading towards Memorial Circle from the Jones A&T Stadium during the Red Raiders United Walk to end racial injustice on Aug. 2, 2020. The Black Student Athlete Association works to make changes in the Black community on Tech’s campus. hundreds of members of the Tech community gathered on Aug. 2, 2020 for the Red Raiders United Walk. The Tech sponsored event was developed by members of Tech’s football team but included an abundance of participants from major Tech Athletics programs such as men’s basketball, women’s basketball, soccer, track and field and more. The march was headed by sophomore Tony Bradford Jr., who led the march around campus. “I’m just tired of seeing the violence,” Bradford Jr. said. “It’s just time for a change and it’s time for my generation to step up. I refuse to be the next victim.” B r a d f o r d J r. l e d t h e march, but the power was in the numbers. “I’m just surprised at how many people are supporting it. How many coaches and people from the presidential

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office and the police department,” Bradford Jr. said. Less than two months following the Red Raiders United Walk, Tech’s newest alliance blossomed – the Black Student-Athlete Alliance (BSAA). After their petition to officially be an on-campus organization through Texas Tech Office of Campus Life, their mission was simply stated: “To educate, empower and unify the voices of all student-athletes that attend its monthly meetings,” according to a release from Tech. The organization is led by senior President of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, D’Jenne Egharevba, who prides her organization on being outspoken. “Student-athletes need a voice, so we decided that it was important to create an organization for our Black student athletes to use their voices to talk about these

That’s the part of free speech, we have the right to peacefully assemble,” he said. Tech’s Black involvement on campus is a direct reflection of their numbers, growing by year. In fact, Tech had 2,491 Black or African American students enrolled in Fall 2020, according to their website. Tech continues to make strides despite being relatively isolated from big Texas metropolitan areas, especially in the Black community. “I think we have made great strides since then. I think the enrollment statistics suggest that we have made great strides both with Afro Americans and with 25 percent of our enrollment being Hispanic. I think we have made tremendous strides in those areas,” Dean said. Despite the monumental transformation at Tech, there is still a long way to go for the Black community. But with Tech, students and studentathletes alike working together, change is surely in store. @ZachRichardsDT

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issues that are going around the world,” she said. Egharevba has an impressive resume, consisting of numerous gold medals across a flurry of events, but she wants to be recognized as more than just an athlete, she said, something the BSAA prides itself on. “I love what they’re doing,” Flemons said about the group. “Nobody should just be labeled as just an athlete; even though athletics has helped me in just life, I was, and am more than an athlete, I am a person first … I’m glad these young people are taking the topic into their own hands and pushing it forward.” The organization launched an event surrounded by the topic of “Shut up and Dribble”, a documentary from NBA legend Lebron James that encompasses athletes having more to give than just their on-court, on-field abilities. On such a hot topic of late, Dean sides with both athletes and the Constitution. “I certainly don’t object to particularly black athletes expressing their concerns outside the area of athletics.

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