020322 by The Daily Toreador

THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2022 VOLUME 96 ■ ISSUE 19

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NEWS

Students share growing interest in the meanings behind astrology and zodiac signs.

Before the Tech versus Texas game, people donated money and supplies to students camping out. Read about how donors felt.

International mission trips can create cultural problems and controversy.

OPINIONS

HOUSING GUIDE Check out the Housing Guide insert in this week’s edition to help you navigate finding a home in Lubbock.

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INDEX LA VIDA NEWS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

Black History at Texas Tech 27th anniversary of Harris’s time in space Editor’s Note: In celebration of Black History Month, The Daily Toreador will highlight a notable local person or event in each week’s print edition.

CHERRY ON TOP Trook scoops up local retro ice cream shop By TANA THOMPSON la vida editor

e grew up eating ice cream at a small shop in Lubbock. In March of 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, he began looking for a job. When he was hired, he had no idea that one day he would own the place. On Nov. 29, 2021, the third-year communications student from Lubbock, Wesley Trook, purchased Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe, changing his life for the better. “I grew up in Lubbock, knowing about the history of Holly Hop and then at that location for 11 years and in existence for 13,” Trook said. “So I knew I loved their ice cream and knew it was homemade.” When he began working, Trook said there were two shift managers, both of which still work at Holly Hop today. One night, Trook told the shift manager he believed he someday would buy the place. “It was kind of joking but kind of serious and that I saw the potential for it being a really good opportunity,” Trook said. “Fast forward through all 2020, through the end of 2021. I have worked my way up to becoming a general manager.” Since he has taken over Holly Hop, Trook said he has struggled learning how to balance life while still being a college student. “There’s no balance between school and work. You’re never going to be able to find that center balance and that’s something that I’ve

really noticed and taken to heart,” Trook said. “There are some weeks where I am very behind in school. So something that I will say has helped me is people around me. The support that I’ve gotten from people at Texas Tech, people that are in the community that are regulars at Holly Hop, and it’s very encouraging.” The past owners of Holly Hop were Darryl and Stephanie Holland, Trook said, and he approached them when he was ready to buy the business. “I said, look, I’m already running this place. I want to buy it— and this is the title of if I ever write a book, this is what the title will be— I am 19 years old and with no credit, which was the big problem,” Trook said. “I couldn’t get a loan or anything. So I worked with Stephanie Harrell and we kind of figured out a way to get a purchase agreement.” Emilee Jackson, the morning manager at Holly Hop, said things have changed since Trook took over the business. “It’s been overall I feel like a lot more open-minded, a lot more peppy,” Trook said. “There’s just a lot more steps being taken to make this place overall a better, more efficient place for both customers and workers.” Jackson was a manager before the owners changed, so she experienced the entire process. “That would just include things like washing the aprons, making the brownies and even just making the schedule for the next week. It all just kind of slowly happens,” Jackson said. “Then there was a day that

they announced it to everybody. And that is when the real shift happened. He’s just got a lot of big plans for Holly Hop, and that includes really big expansion plans.” Jackson said the fact that Trook is in college has astounded her because he has done so much for Holly Hop since he took over. “So he has to go to his classes, make sure he’s getting his work in on time, and then he still comes here does the paperwork for here and, like I said, he’s making all those big expansion plans. He has so many ideas for this place, and he’s balancing it all, and from what I can tell balancing it all really well,” Jackson said. Gavin Lathan, Holly Hop’s assistant manager, said he noticed Trook’s work ethic as well. “It’s encouraging for me. I mean, I’m only in high school. And so seeing him do that right out of high school is really encouraging,” Lathan said. “There was a lot of risk that he had to take a tremendous amount. I mean, as a 19-year-old owning a very popular, growing, locally owned business.” Lathan said that he has noticed that Trook barely sleeps or eats when he gets obsessed with a store issue. “I’ve been very excited for Wesley, you know, him taking ownership of his business. And I can see the potential and I can see that it’s already growing,” Lathan said. “It’s really exciting. I’ve seen, you know, how it’s come. All the changes that he’s made. And I’ve just, I’m very proud of him coming and seeing where he’s come from.” @TanaThompsonDT

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The Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe located at 3303 34th St., has a new owner, Wesley Trook, a third-year communciation studies student. When Trook started working at the shop in March 2020, he joked with the shift manager that he would someday buy the store, sp he did in November.

Born on June 26, 1956, in Temple, Bernard A. Harris Jr. made history as a pioneer both in this world and in space. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Harris earned his doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. Harris’s time as a Red Raider did not end at education. In 1993, he was appointed to the Board of Regents for the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center by then Gov. Ann Richards. His inclusion to the list of regents also made Tech history as the first Black man to serve on the board.

On Feb. 3, 1995, in NASA mission STS-63, Harris became the first Black man to perform a spacewalk. During his career as an astronaut, Harris clocked 438 hours and 7.2 million miles in space, according to a Texas Tech University news release. According to The Harris Foundation, founded by Harris in 1998 in Houston the organization has a main goal to “giving support to kids and students of all backgrounds who find it hard to integrate in a quality educational environment and become permanent members of it.

Art professor creates sculpture for Hobby airport By TÉA MCGILVRAY

Digital Content Manager Hanging from cable wire, levitating above, soft clouds reflect light from a ceiling-high window. At first glance, these clouds resemble balloons with billows and shine, but upon further inspection these clouds are handcrafted sculptures made of firm industrial steel. Artist and associate professor of sculpture at Texas Tech William Cannings was chosen to incorporate his art into the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston in May. Cannings was chosen for this project out of 350 submissions from Texas artists varying from sculptors to painters to photographers. Curator of public art for the Houston Airports Alton DuLaney said the panel of art experts chose Cannings’ piece because it felt uplifting, inspiring, peaceful and perfect for an airport. “William Cannings’ piece was part of a multi-project call for art that we started about a year and a half or two years ago, and in that we bought 74 works of portable works of art, which are small paintings and sculptures and things that are movable. We commissioned 10 site-specific works. He was one of the 10 artists chosen to create the site specific works,” DuLaney said. Cannings’ sculptures focus on taking rough industrial materials, inflating them and molding them into softer shapes. While working at Texas Tech, he developed the technique. He first asked himself the question, “What if I could inflate steel like a balloon?” He said he enjoyed watching metals transform in a way people hadn’t considered. Born in Manchester, England, Cannings said he spent his life torn between three passions: engineering, art and cycling. He understood mechanic work, was an accomplished cyclist and had a passion for art. He said he considered all of these to be potential career paths. “I was a big pain in the butt and my mum did not want to deal with me, so my dad would take me to work with him when I was young on the weekend,” Cannings said. His father, a woodworker, owned a construction company where Cannings began his journey as an artist. It was in that space he said he learned many of the technical skills that he implements into his art today. “I never wanted to be employed or work within that realm. It seemed too tight to my mind. I like to paint and draw and collage and, so I went off to art school and we had a workshop with a sculptor from Manchester,” Cannings said. “That workshop with the sculptor really kind of bridged two different worlds for me, that kind of the vocational world that my father lived in, and the fine art world that I wanted to exist in, and it kind of set me off on a path that I knew sculpture were what I wanted to do.” He began his educational journey with fine art locally with an undergraduate program at Loughborough University so he could continue pursuing cycling. Cannings said he was a well accomplished second-category racer, which is one category below professional. During his undergraduate years, Cannings discovered an exchange program with Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States. Though he could have pursued cycling as a career, the timing of the exchange program on top of a couple injuries veered Cannings’ career fully in pursuit of art, he said. “I’m a leaper, not a looker. I could not plan my life because every time I’ve tried to plan things, you know the best laid plans of mice and men and something messes up and seems

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CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 like, well, I just seem to enjoy life more when it’s an opportunity presents itself,” Cannings’ said. “It feels right in my gut, follow through. And so I’ve really led my life like that.” And just like that, Cannings said he emigrated to the United States over 3,000 miles away from his family. He didn’t know it at the time, but VCU was and continues to be one of the best sculpture programs in the country. “VCU is a very competitive environment and reminded me of the competitiveness of the cycling world I really loved,” Cannings said.

I’m a leaper, not a looker. WILLIAM CANNINGS Professor in sculpting Because of student debt and a rocky immigration status, Cannings took a year off from school to work as a British and Italian sports car mechanic. He said this opportunity

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reminded him of his times in the studio with his father and it allowed him to build further on his mechanical and problem solving skills. Once he finished his bachelors in fine art with VCU, Cannings was offered a free ride with Syracuse University, where he achieved his masters degree. Throughout his education, Cannings worked as a studio assistant alongside his professors and eventually moved into teaching roles. “I like tools, I like making, and I have pride in what I do, and I like to do it well. And so, I was always hired by my faculty as a studio assistant. I look back and I got a better education as a studio assistant than I really did within my classes,” Cannings said. In 2000, Cannings accepted a job with Texas Tech, teaching welding, foundry and creation-based courses. Moving to Texas, the Cannings family was in awe. He said the cultural mentality and democracy of the United States felt very familiar to him, but what he did not expect was the scale of things. Everything was bigger from the trees to open fields. This move opened up a multitude of opportunities for the artist. During this

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Photos courtesy of WILLIAM CANNINGS

TOP: Houstons William P. Hobby Airport will feature William Cannings’ clouds in May of 2022. His artwork will be located at gate 50. This image is a simulation of what the piece will look like fully installed. BOTTOM: William Cannings creates balloon-like sculptures using inflated steel rendered with automotive paint in order to achieve a softer effect. period of his life, Cannings and his wife, Shannon, had two daughters, Cannings designed the sculpture space in the campus 3D Art Annex, and his work began to take off, landing galleries in Houston, Galveston and Dallas. “Things kind of really snowballed very quickly for me and threw me into the spotlight with my work,” Cannings said. “I talked about being a leaper not a looker. I approach my artwork in the same way

at times. Just wondering– I wonder what if, and just asking questions of my practice and the materials around me.” Jerod Foster, friend of Cannings and associate professor of practice for the Department of Journalism and Creative Media Industries said one of the things he admires the most about Cannings is his perspective. Foster and Cannings met through a cycling group and got to know each other really well, Foster said. One of the first things Foster noticed about Cannings was how much he loved West Texas and found the beauty in the flatlands. Cannings’ clouds installation was inspired by the landscape around him, the flat plains, open sky and saturated sun, he said. “Living here on this wonderful flat plane of the

llano estacado, and the atmosphere that we have, the sense of time and space and somewhat relevance as humans. We get these glorious moments of beautiful clouds and I just wondered, you know, what is kind of the iconic pop cloud,” Cannings said. Once installed in May, the piece will feature 30 levitated clouds that have been cut, welded, inflat-

ed, sanded, primed, and painted. Cannings said he attributes his experiences working alongside his father in Nantwich, studying under his professors, the discipline and persistence he learned in cycling and serendipitous moments such as discovering new ideas to leading him to this point in his work. @DtMcgilvray

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COVID-19 leads to teaching shortages With teacher absences mounting and substitutes in short supply, parents may be wondering: Who’s teaching the kids? The answer around the U.S. could be a local police officer, National Guard soldier, state budget analyst, parent or recent high school graduate — nearly anyone willing to help keep schools’ doors open through the omicron-driven staffing crunch. States have been loosening teaching requirements to

give schools more flexibility on hiring as coronavirus exposures, illness and quarantines add to strains on schools that also have been tapping librarians, custodians and support staff to help cover classrooms during the pandemic. Brian McKinney, a parent with students in second and 10th grade in Hays County, Texas, spent part of this week as a substitute, helping sixth graders through a social studies assignment that had them writing essays about the Soviet Union. A former teacher, he decided he could help as he waited out a cold snap that has slowed business at the World War II-themed miniature

golf course he and his wife now own. The measures have kept schools from having to revert to the waves of remote learning that disrupted homes and left many students behind earlier in the pandemic. Supporters say it’s better to have students in school, where they are supervised and have access to food and services, even if the solutions fall short academically. Still, the lowering of the bar for teachers raises some concerns about whether schools are just treading water. In some cases when possible, virtual school taught by students’ regular teachers could be a better alternative, said Richard Ingersoll.

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Students share interest in zodiac signs, astrology By STEPHANIE GHANDOUR

Staff Writer Astrology and zodiac signs have been popular among college students for years, and the popularity of the belief is only rising. Many students attending Texas Tech have found solace and comfort in what zodiac signs offer within their dayto-day lives. “It correlates with your birthday, the time that you’re born and the place. The main thing that people think of zodiac–it’s your sun, moon and ascendant,” Trevor Wilkinson, a first-year Honors science and humanities student from Abilene, said. “Your sun determines your ego, identity and role in life, your moon rules your emotions moods and feelings and your ascendant are the mask that you present to people.” Wilkinson said he has been interested in astrology and zodiac signs for the past year and a half, and zodiac signs have helped him better understand himself. Especially in his transition to college and living in Texas, Wilkinson said implementing practices astrology has aided him with the anxieties college has brought. “People say that they influence your personality more than anything, and sometimes they can kind of influence your future, too,” Lauren Stone, a first-year pre-nursing student from Houston, said. “Kind of like who you’re compatible with, different signs and we’re compatible with others. On a friendship level on a romantic level, that sort of stuff, but primarily it impacts your personality and kind of how the world views you and how you see the world.” Stone said she has been interested in zodiac signs and astrology since she was a first-year student in high school. The origin of zodiac signs stemmed from the

Babylonians who developed the initial belief in the 12 different signs, Stone said. In addition to zodiac signs, she recently has taken an interest in crystals and how they correlate to zodiac signs and have further influences in her life, Stone said. “I know that there’s certain crystals that you can charge either in the moonlight or the sunlight, and the color of the crystals coordinates with specific chakras around your body, like it goes from your crown to your third eye, and so forth,” Stone said. Different crystals can be attached to a particular zodiac sign as well. In his experience, Wilkinson said they add an additional balance to life. For college students especially, crystals and zodiac signs can aid in providing clarity in addition to a sense of identity, Wilkinson said. “It does add an aspect of self-reflection that I think is helpful to those who are kind of, like, have a weird like taboo feeling around mental awareness,” Annabelle Hays, a third-year psychology student from Lubbock, said. “So, like, labeling it with astrology kind of helps to destigmatize that.” Hays, who has been interested in astrology since as early as the fifth grade, said she has continued to apply it to her life increasingly as she has grown older. She recently has learned more about crystals, Hays said, and is beginning to utilize them in addition to her day-to-day routine as well. “I think a lot of it has to do with planets and things, so crystals usually tie in because it’s from the earth,” Hays said. “People have a belief that depending on the type of crystal, they have different functions that exude different vibrations, or they have served different purposes because they are from the earth and can be quote unquote, charged by

the moon, all very, like, natural based for the most part.” Many people may have the misconception that the belief in zodiac signs and astrology itself is a practiced religion, although for some people this may be the case. Wilkinson said that he utilizes zodiac signs and astrology mostly for self knowledge and awareness. Stone said that although she has seen practices of astrology used in some religious ways, she has not seen it used as its own centralized religion, but rather as a system of belief. “I could definitely see how those who are really religious, who don’t necessarily lean more towards the super scientific aspect of how the world was created, would probably not believe that the stars and the planets could actually really control who we are as people versus like, an actual like spiritual being.” Hays said. Wilkinson, Stone and Hays all said that the best way to learn about zodiac signs and the influence they can have is through the app Co-Star, which is helpful in tracking day-to-day horoscopes and advice. Stone said she personally uses the app to help analyze her emotions and help her in understanding her moods. The app also is a great way to become more knowledgeable in the subject of zodiac signs as well as to stay informed and connected with those around you, Hays said. “I think after like getting more in depth with astrology and not only going into my sun sign but the rest of my chart,” Hays said. “It’s helped me realize my negative tendencies and helped me reshape them into what I know that they can be, and kind of help me overcome things that I always knew held me back.” @StephanieGhanDT

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According to Britannica, Dec. 22 to Jan. 19 is Capricorn, Jan. 20 to Feb. 18 is Aquarius, Feb. 19 to March 20 is Pisces, March 21 to April 19 is Aries, April 20 to May 20 is Taurus, May 21 to June 21 is Gemini, June 22 to July 22 is Cancer, July 23 to Aug. 22 is Leo, Aug. 23 to Sept. 22 is Virgo, Sept. 23 to Oct. 22 is Libra, Oct. 24 to Nov. 21 is Scorpius and Nov. 22 to Dec. 21 is Sagittarius.

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Students could return the favor postgame O

ne of the reasons I came to Texas Tech was because of the school spirit. This school has pride like no other and students camping out for four days before a big basketball game proves my point. It is great they experienced once-in-a-lifetime college memories by seeing the basketball team, head football coach and Lubbock figures before the big game against University of Texas. Free food and drinks were being handed out to them because of their dedication to the school and they endured this fluctuating cold weather. However, why can’t this energy also be put into people who have no choice but to be outside in these uncontrollable weather conditions? Step off campus down Marsha Sharp and just look around the street and there are ‘please help’ signs. Those who are outside of Walmart are snuggled up to concrete and left without a tent while

Chyna Vargas is a second-year journalism major from San Antonio.

college students have been using tents to get good seats at a game. It’s one thing that Tech recognizes students for their pride and dedication to getting a good seat for the Tech vs. UT game, although it becomes a moral question when money and multiple accommodations were for students who chose to be out there. Students were not expecting the generosity from the community. They were expecting good seats at the game if they could withstand the weather. Homelessness is not a recreational activity and there are even homeless students who attend Tech who struggle on a regular basis but do not get this

much recognition or accommodation. According to the 2020 South Plains Homeless Consortium point-in-time count, there are 283 homeless people in Lubbock. According to TexasTech.com, there are 1,500 seats in the United Supermarkets Arena. If the community can help out everyone who is trying to go to the game by offering food and supplies, they can help 283 people as well. Local donors and vendors are distributing food, blankets and heating systems for students who had places to go home to after this game was over. Where did all those supplies go after the game? I would hope for those who are in need of it more. It is one thing if Tech was the one to provide these tokens of appreciation through merchandise giveaways and classes being canceled but it seems that getting front-row seats to the game was not enough of a reward for these students. They knew what they were getting themselves into and did not come unprepared, in $100 tents and on air mattresses. This momentum

from donors or alumni can simply be matched to a smaller population, the homeless, in the Lubbock community. Or, appreciation for these students can be given in alternate ways. Instead of giving students what they already had with supplies, shelter or food, give them recognition at the game. Give out tickets to future events in the USA. Anything would have been better as that money and food could really be put to better use. Tech students are prideful, and I love to admit I am a part of this university. However, the efforts of money and support goes to the most wasteful places. Students are struggling to pay for college and housing and here $10,000 from a GoFundMe is easily dropped for a cause that is temporary.

As said before there are students actually living in these unwanted conditions currently but when it becomes a trend to camp out and rough it for a few days in school spirit, the Lubbock community blows up and immediately rewards that.

If the community can help out everyone who is trying to go to the game by offering food and supplies, they can help 283 people as well. Students could give back to the community that gave to them and donate those leftover supplies to homeless shelters.

There are multiple places for students to go out and give the unwanted air mattresses and propane heaters like; Family Promise, Salvation Army or Open Door. It’s showing how privileged we are as a school to be able to just go out and camp and receive even more benefits for doing that. There are students and people in this town that work hard to afford a hot meal each day. To an extent this is great and prideful but it becomes tone deaf when the Lubbock community is praising students for doing what others are forced to do every day. As a university, we can do better and actually recognize our privilege. Let’s give back to those who actually need it. @ChynaVargasDT

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Mission trips can be culturally controversial In the Christian c o m m u n i t y, s h o r t t e r m mission trips are common and sometimes expected for various church groups.

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However, mission trips, especially international ones, can be more harmful than one would think. For one, churches sometimes do not educate themselves regarding the culture of the country they are visiting. This can be problematic as the “American way” is not always the efficient or respectful way. Going on an international mission trip usually costs a few thousand dollars, most of which is for airfare, food and lodging. It is no secret that traveling abroad is expensive. For some churches, these expensive mission trips allow the church team to build houses and buildings in developing countries. Some even paint buildings or do other construction projects. However, it is important to note how the teams who usually participate in such mission projects are unqualified for such work. Some might say, “Well, it is better than nothing.”

Faith Dolan is a first-year English major from Midland.

This kind of belief sets a standard for poor care and poor resources for families in developing countries. It can reinforce a savior complex and portray privileged church members as the savior or hero, which is unbiblical and missing the entire point of mission work. Perhaps, instead of spending a large amount of money to go and perform work for which one is unqualified, individuals should donate the money to Christian ministries in that area so they can pay wages to workers to complete such projects. This also would help grow the economy in the community. Domestic mission trips are another great option as it is within your own culture and does not involve

spending lots of money that could be used in other ways. Another moral option is choosing to live in another country for a long period of time while spreading the Gospel. This becomes less of a mission trip and more of missionary work. International mission trips for the purpose of evangelizing also can be harmful if not executed correctly. Many churches choose to evangelize to children in orphanages or low-income neighborhoods. To some, this might seem b e n e f i c i a l . I n r e a l i t y, it is giving children negative messages about relationships. If a young child is visited by a new church group each week, it is unreasonable to expect that close connections will occur for each group. Being expected to form week-long relationships, for example, will set the child up for a lifetime of trust issues. Spreading the Gospel cannot always happen this way. Church groups

may think these processes are always beneficial, but one cannot truly spread the news of Jesus if he or she is more concerned with getting an social media worthy picture and receiving praise for helping the poor children in (insert developing country here). The idea of a church group going to a developing country and staying at a nice lodging place at night and going to less-fortunate neighborhoods during the day is immoral. Ultimately, these “mission trips” sound more like charitable vacations. Also, why do Christians not consider how these individuals and families feel when they are visited? Would someone feel a genuine connection to God if they encountered several groups who do not sacrifice their comfort and privilege and instead use mission work as an ego-booster to make them feel better about the adversity in their own lives? Would they feel embarrassed being used as

a lesson to remind church members that they should be grateful? Does being preached to about Jesus lose its meaning when one takes photos just so they can brag about going on a mission trip? Tr u e o u t r e a c h d o e s not elevate the self. True outreach is done without the internalized gaze of others. Those in developing countries are not obligated to serve as an inspirational story. Elevating the self involves believing oneself suitable to perform jobs in developing countries that they would not be allowed to perform in developed countries. The standard for care does not and should not decrease for families of color outside the United States. Is it important to spread the Gospel? Yes. Is it ok to use mission work as a way to invite subtle racism and portray oneself as a hero? Absolutely not. @FaithDolanDT

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Multicultural areas should welcome all

The dedication of multicultural spaces in colleges is important for students to feel comfortable and secure in their environment. The purpose of these spaces serves to embrace the diversity of the student body in schools. However, in recent controversy, many are questioning whether white students should be allowed in these spaces. In the beginning of the year in 2020, the University of Virginia saw a racial debate regarding a video in which a Black student expressed their discomfort with an overwhelming number of white people in the university’s Multicultural Student Center. In response, UVA stated the area was open to all, while others condemned the student’s reaction as racial intolerance. Many reacted in agreement with

LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,

Julianne Cervera is a third-year English major from Grand Praire.

the student’s actions. Although the student’s intention can be seen in a negative light, recognizing the reason for his or her discomfort is also significant in exploring the conversation of multicultural spaces. Explaining their reaction, the student details the limited number of spaces for students of color and how university’s accommodate white students, describing how multicultural spaces act as escape from these predominantly white areas. This notion reveals the uncomfortable feelings minorities feel while

signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

attending predominantly white institutions. Being a minority attending a PWI, I have felt similar feelings of needing to escape to a more familiar area. It is the job of universities to continue supporting students of color and providing these spaces and groups. Regarding the presence of white students in these places, all should be allowed to have a place. It is important for these students to educate themselves on their place as a white student in a diverse area. White students should recognize the reason for their place in these areas and avoid taking up spaces for students of color seeking a safe space. Examining situations like these, many can also compare how places with a predominantly ethnic population continue to be

gentrified by white people. The process of gentrification is seeing fruition in many urban neighborhoods, an act that displaces many of its poor residents into economic hardship. The target of the process often affects minorities, while their white counterparts live in affluence among their former homes. Universities partake in the act of gentrification as well. Gentrification affects many negatively, a stark contrast to its supposed positive results. The process of gentrification relates to the tension felt by students of color when white students take up areas for minorities. Working to combat these growing tensions, the exchange of respect regarding students of color and white students in multicultural spaces is vital in creating a unified and diverse

GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

space for all to coexist. The debate surrounding multicultural spaces reveal the ongoing racial disparities within colleges. The destruction in the label ‘PWI’ opens many doors for people of color to acquire higher education without feeling like a minority. As a minority among many at Tech, having an optimistic view of the city and the school’s treatment of minorities creates a safer space among all. Universities should work better to educate white students about the purpose of multicultural spaces while also making efforts to comforting students of color into embracing a unified space. Multicultural spaces serve as a place of community for many and should welcome all in an educated and unified way. @JulesCerveraDT

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.

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FEB. 3, 2022

$6K donor happy to help campers By BISHOP VAN BUREN sports editor

The first Texas Tech students to set up tents outside the United Supermarkets Arena did so at halftime of Tech’s men’s basketball team’s home game against Mississippi State on Jan. 29, three nights before the No. 14 Red Raiders hosted No. 23 University of Texas. In an effort to supply these students with anything they could need, Lubbock resident Patrick Worthen started a GoFundMe fundraiser the following morning that he said broke his initial goal of $10,000 in under 10 hours. “As we were shopping somebody made a $6,000 donation,” Worthen said while unloading a truck full of groceries with two companions on Sunday, “We’re gonna go back to Walmart and get more blankets, probably some gloves and some hats.” That somebody was Tech alumnus Joe Fairless, founder of the podcast “Best Real Estate Investing

Advice Ever” and co-founder of Ashcroft Capital, a multifamily investment firm that controls over $1.5 billion in real estate, according to Fairless’ LinkedIn account. Fairless said he made the donation to support what he thinks is the best student section in the country. “So they could help our basketball team demolish Texas on Tuesday night,” Fairless said. According to Tech Athletics, the 15,300 fans who attended Tech’s 77-64 win over Texas at the USA were the most in school history. Tuesday’s game was the return of Tech’s former head coach Chris Beard against his successor Mark Adams. It surpassed the previous attendance record of 15,250 from Tech’s 62-61 overtime loss to Texas on Jan. 27, 2004, when Bob Knight was head coach. “I viewed this as a way to show support to the team and the Red Raider community,” Fairless said. “I had a really fun experience going to basketball games when I was in school —

when Bob Knight was the coach — and just wanted to help make it even more memorable for the students who were camping out.” After graduating from Tech with a degree in advertising and moving to New York City to work for an advertising agency, Fairless said he started his career in real estate after he saved enough money to purchase a rental home in Dallas. “I’m in a position where through my career I’ve been fortunate to build a business where I could give back,” Fairless said. “I was giving back even before I was in a good financial position, just through my time not my money.” Fairless said there had been $4,000 raised when he came across Worthen’s fundraiser, and he wanted to make a donation that ensured the fundraiser achieved its goal. “I was just wanting to support the students there who were camping out,” Fairless said. “I wanted to make sure they were nice and refreshed and ready to

ERIN DIGIACAMOThe Daily Toreador

On Jan. 30, 2022 students wait in tents outside the United Supermarkets Arena, hoping to secure seats for Tech’s men’s basketball team’s game against the University of Texas on Feb. 1, 2022. go for game time.” Rico Saldivar, a thirdyear biology student from Plano, said he started camping out immediately after the final buzzer of Tech’s win over Mississippi State. Saldivar said he was disappointed to see a line

already forming, but appreciated that the fundraiser raised enough money to help everyone that pitched a tent regardless of when they arrived. “Everything’s been appreciated. It’s all going to us and we got a lot of food

coming out … lot of water, lot of Gatorade, chips, snacks and blankets even. I mean it’s been really nice,” Saldivar said on Jan. 30. “The whole community is coming together, helping us out.” @BishopVB_DT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Flores says he won’t drop lawsuit even if hired as coach Brian Flores says his lawsuit against the NFL over alleged racist hiring practices will continue even if he becomes a head coach again this offseason. Flores has interviewed with the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints, who have yet to fill their coaching vacancies. If they call, Flores will listen, but he said the suit will go on because the league needs change. “This is about changing the hiring practices in the

National Football League, and that’s what this lawsuit is about,” Flores said We d n e s d a y o n C N N . “ I want to coach football that’s what I’m called to do.” Flores said he knows others have similar stories and that it is hard to speak out. He called his potential sacrifice bigger than football or coaching. The NFL is at a fork in the road, he said. “We’re going keep it the way it is or go in another direction and make some change

where we’re actually changing the hearts and minds of those who make decisions to hire head coaches, executives, et cetera,” Flores said on CBS. “That’s what we’ve got to get to. We’ve got to change hearts and minds.” Tony Dungy, a Pro Football Hall of Fame coach, wrote an open letter to NFL owners Wednesday and shared a link on social media. “One year ago I wrote a letter to NFL owners saying the NFL had a problem only they

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could solve,” Dungy wrote on Twitter. “Not a lot has changed. Brian Flores’ suit shows the frustration many black coaches have. It could be just the tip of the iceberg. Something has to change!” Flores’ lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. It is seeking class-action status and unspecified damages from the league, the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants, along with unidentified individuals.

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OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

A student holds up a sign about head basketball caoch Mark Adams and Texas head coach Chris Beard at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 1, 2022. Beard’s return was highly anticipated by the Lubbock community, with many calling him a traitor for leaving Tech to coach Texas.

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

Mylik Wilson attempts a 2-pointer at the Tech vs. Texas men’s basketball game at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 1, 2022. The Red Raiders played in front over over 15,000 attendants, ultimately beating the Longhorns 77-64.

Senior Bryson Williams stands next to senior Kevin Obanor and head coach Mark Adams after the Red Raider victory over the Longhorns on Feb. 1, 2022 at the United Supermarkets Arena.

SYDNEY BANOVIC/The Daily Toreador

A student holds up a ‘horns down’ sign while waiting to catch beer outside the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 1, 2022. Students made many signs to distract the Longhorns during their game against the Red Raiders.

Visit the QR code for The Daily Toreador’s video coverage of the Tech vs. UT game.