The Collegian (Hurst, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 17, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 20, 2002 Page: 2 of 10
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Opinion
page 2 • February 20, 2002
Collegian Ofiinio-n
STEEEERIKE 2!
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in
MORRISON
y-
Viewpoints
Spouse con offer income fox relief in 2009
Letter to the Editor
Staff
Don't Tread on Me
__
I
Everything old
is new again;
70s revisited
Dear Editor:
I can see why The Collegian does not have a comics
section.
One has only to read Chris Taylor’s superficial and
r. myopic viewpoint on world affairs for a good laugh. His
The Collegian is a weekly student publication serving the Tarrant County College District.
Editorial statements and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the TCC admin-
istration.
Letters to the paper should be 150 words or less, free from libel and poor taste and include the
writer's name and social security number. Letters may be brought to The Collegian office (CAB 120,
NE Campus), or mailed to: The Collegian • 828 Harwood Road • Hurst, TX 76054 • Phone: 817-
515-6392 Fax:817-515-6767 e-mail: tcceditor@lycos.com
Check out The Collegian online at: www.tccd.net/collegian
TCC is an equal opportunity institution that provides educational and employment opportunities on the basis of
merit and without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status or disability.
Eric Hooker
REPORTER
grasp on the events surrounding Afghanistan is incredibly
naive.
If we must have an editorial column, at least allow
someone to contribute that has an academic understanding
of world events and can present them in a fashion that
would compliment the intellectual atmosphere of a college
campus.
Mark Stevens
South Campus
t 7
i /
i /
t (
Although I am single, I was interested, so I kept
searching. In bold letters I read: “In 2009 joint deductions
will be almost double single joint deductions starting in
2005.”
Amazed by this discovery, I thought by 2005, I possi-
bly could be married and have more money to spend be-
cause of that marriage.
With today’s tax laws, married couples get hit by heav-
ier taxes, so this new law will be beneficial to married cou-
ples.
However, if Congress does not approve the proposal,
this tax break will carry over only until 2011.
I hope our government will approve this tax bill.
Bush stressed tax relief for married couples during his
campaign. As a result, lawmakers agreed to double the
standard tax deductions. This new law, especially for stu-
dents who are married, is beneficial because most people
marry.
* 3,
J
• All-American • _ • Pacemaker •
The Collegian
I
Finally, when the student finishes taking the test, he
thinks it is the end of his sudden anxiety attack. But anxi-
ety is at its peak because we all begin to anticipate the
grade. We show up for class again and receive our graded
test.
The worst part comes when the professor tells the class
the breakdown of grades. You know you made a “C” on
your test, and the teacher points out that only three other
students made the same grade.
Then you are told there are 50 people in the class and a
“C” was the lowest grade. You are even more anxious for
the next test because almost the whole class did better than
you.
If I really wanted to know how well I did compared to
the class, I would ask.
I know professors and schools have tried to make some
accommodations. Most schools allow students with dis-
abilities to have specialized conditions for their tests.
And most professors are willing to help students in any
way possible.
Should students have to say they are disabled or ask for
special treatment just because they get nervous for a test?
I think it would be very beneficial to all students if pro-
fessors learned less-stressful methods of testing.
If professors expect students to learn how to take their
tests, the least they could do is give tests that accommodate
all types of students’ learning and testing capabilities.
The people who are hit the hardest by taxes are those
who file jointly and make $50,000 or less.
As well, people who live in poverty also suffer.
Lower income families suffer more from tax penalties be-
cause they have less access to tax credits.
In conclusion, I am glad that Americans were granted a
tax relief in 2001.
The article that I read greatly influenced me, and it
gave me more insight into how taxes work.
Expenses sometimes overwhelm me, but tax relief can
be granted to me if I marry within the next few years—the
pressure is on.
This tax bill also should decrease the number of single
tax filers, something that should please the IRS.
Taxes are not such a bad thing. Everyone has to pay
them, but the amount for each individual should be deter-
mined fairly.
Now the question remains: Will I find a wife in time?
-i
a
I
Last month I filed my taxes at
H&R Block.
The consultant who assisted
me asked if I were married.
Noticing that this question
was not an attempt to ask me out,
I said no, and asked her why.
She was able to confirm that
my standard deduction would be
higher if I were married. My total
deduction was, of course, lower
than I expected.
However, after the woman
processed my refund, I went home and was eager to find
more information regarding tax filing.
On the computer, I was able to find a website that pro-
vided joint-filing information.
A new tax law reflected tax relief for married couples.
F* J
L J
The COLLEGIAN
—■ • I
w
st.
' St \
Chris Taylor, editor-in-chief • Shannon Harrison, managing editor
Bernie Scheffler, ne news editor • Lauren Crider, nw news editor
Mary Barrera, south news editor • Brian Shults, se news editor
KC Jones, feature editor • Jamie Beck, photo editor
Ashley Clark, Diana De Leon, Eric Hooker, Melissa Lee, Paul D. Matson,
Nick Nance, Melissa Sanchez, Alida Stokman, Michele Whitehead, reporters
Rueben Gonzales, James Robert Jr., photographers
Raphael Elizalde, computer assistant • Jennifer Piorkowski, web designer
Stacy Luecker, business manager
Eddye Gallagher, Diane Turner, advisers
I would guess the answer is “none.” It would take only a
few modifications, and testing would be a little less stress-
ful for everyone.
Some professors give timed tests. Do they not under-
stand that being timed is what stresses us out the most?
Then there is that anxious feeling students get while the test
is in progress. Some of us watch every student walk up to
turn in his or her test. We wonder why it is taking us so
long to finish. The clock always seems to get louder the
closer it gets to the end of class. The stress level increases
and increases as the time ticks away.
I had two professors who understood that all students
take tests a little differently. One professor offered his stu-
dents two types of exams: essay or multiple choice. He
said students always did better on the essay tests. They
weren’t second guessing their answers. Just by having a
choice of what kind of test works for your anxiety level re-
lieves some test-taking stress.
I had another professor who required us to take our test
in a testing lab. We would go to a special lab the day the
test was scheduled. The lab allowed us to take the test any
time that day. My professor wasn’t even there. I just hand-
ed my student ID to the person monitoring the testing.
I was allowed to take as long as needed, which relieved
my concern about students who finish before me. The
grades I received on my test that semester were the highest
of my college career.
———
Chris Taylor
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Being bedridden for a week will
certainly open a person’s eyes to a few
things. During my stint on the sick list, I
learned that daytime television stinks.
First, you have Barry Manilow
(shudder) selling his greatest hits (?!) on
television. Then, Miss Cleo is telling me
the cards never lie, and I get to see a
commercial for a hair removal product
that bears the unfortunate name of Nads.
I did notice something else, though.
What year is it exactly?
I see Scooby Doo on television; a j
new Star Wars movie is due this sum-
mer, and Spiderman is about to star in a
movie. Is it the 1970s all over again?
Further proof of this exists at the
local toy store. On the shelves are toys
from Star Wars and Kiss (the band that
wore all the outrageous makeup).
It might seem like some fads are
going through cycles like they usually
do, but while still at the toy store, I see
evidence of some kind of time warp.
I saw G.I. Joes, Transformers and
Masters of the Universe. All these toys
were big in the ’80s. On television, there '
is That ’80s Show. Even our government
is getting into the act. Military spending .
is at its highest since the Reagan era,
and there is?* talk of a war with Iran.
Is the Ayatollah still in power over I
there? Also, our president thinks we |
need a missile defense system. The 1
economy is in bad shape, and the unem-
ployment rate is increasing.
Does this sound familiar to anyone?
The ’90s are haunting us also. Re- ’>
member Saddam Hussein? He’s back, <’
feuding with a president Bush again.
So what does all this mean? Are we
stuck in a time warp or has the space-
time fabric been ripped to shreds? I
Or could it be that we’ve just run J
out of good ideas? ■
It certainly seems that the more ■
things have changed in the last 30 years,■
well, the more they’ve changed back. ■
It’s not a bad thing because nostal-J
gia can be good, but as the saying goes, ,
if we don’t learn from history, we are 1
doomed to repeat it. I
When people yearn for the good old 1
days, it seems that maybe they haven’t ’’
gone that far at all.
All I know is I’m going to cash in on
those trends early this time. If anyone
wants to buy a pet rock, let me know.
Testing should match student learning styles
It is five minutes before a test,
and the professor walks in the door.
Your heart starts racing, palms
sweating. You are trying to cram
every last bit of knowledge in be-
fore the professor passes out that
first test. Then the test begins.
You might think that you are
prepared, but you find yourself al-
ways second guessing your an-
swers. If you can relate to these
feelings, you are experiencing what
is called test anxiety.
For years, students have struggled with taking tests.
They have gone to great lengths to learn ways to overcome
this anxious feeling. Classes and books are offered on how
. to reduce stress and anxiety. Some students with severe
cases take prescription drugs.
What are the schools and professors doing to make
testing a little less stressful?
I have been in school for 18 years of my life, and the
majority of my teachers give the same kind of test: long,
hard and simply confusing at times.
I am not asking for my professors to change their
tests. I just want them to understand that some students are
.a little more anxious than others. How many times have
your professors stood up before a test and told you to relax?
Morrison: Oops, she did it again
Some people never learn. her probation.
It seems that after her slap on the wrist from the Tar- But, since she was able to wait out the six months’
rant county courts, TCC board member Gwen Morrison probation before she decided to find herself on the wrong
has gotten into trouble in California. Morrison is accused side of the law, yet again, Morrison will probably get away
of filing fraudulent petitions in support of a California with another crime.
school district’s leadership. If there were any real justice in the world, Morrison
Also of note, Morrison is paid $400 a month as a con- would be in jail.
suitant for the Ravenswood school district. Ravenswood is A federal judge has suggested that maybe ethics class-
one of the poorest school districts in California, yet can af- es are the answer to Morrison’s proclivity toward illegal
ford to pay Morrison to be a consultant. Because of Morri- behavior.
son’s and other members’ actions, the Ravenswood district If Morrison signs up for the classes in time, maybe she
could face a $10,000 fine. can get a good seat next to OJ. Simpson, Ken Lay and
Surely, such a poor school district would be only fur- Tonya Harding. Of course, that seems to be who she sat
ther hindered by such a large fine. next to in her last ethics class.
In January 2001, Morrison pleaded no contest to tarn- It would seem that the time for ethics classes has passed,
pering with federal records in connection with her double If Morrison had learned some ethics many years ago,
filing expenses with TCC and the Fort Worth Independent maybe she would not feel that it is permissible to take
School District (FWISD). from children and their schools.
How long does TCC have to put up with this rogue We can only hope that Morrison suffers harshly for
board member? this second offense. She received a second chance,
Morrison has apparently put little thought into how whether she deserved one or not. Her response to that
her actions have tarnished the image of not just TCC, but chance was to blow it completely.
the rest of the board as well. It seems reasonable to remove Morrison’s voting priv-
Also, Morrison has not just given TCC’s image a ileges and to ask her to step down.
black eye locally; now she has tainted the college’s nation- Maybe, the other trustees will pressure her to do the
al image too. right thing before she drags them all down with her.
If she had not received such a generous plea offer for If that does not work, perhaps the ethics classes will
her previous transgressions against the public, for whom tell Morrison what she needs to hear.
she is supposed to be working, she would have violated We would like to hear, “Good-bye.”
nF’
k I
B o
— A
Melissa Lee
reporter
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The Collegian (Hurst, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 17, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 20, 2002, newspaper, February 20, 2002; Hurst, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1315534/m1/2/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Tarrant County College NE, Heritage Room.