Author: Arianna Rios

Community

CCISD high school students walk out to protest ICE  

Arianna Rios

Hundreds of Corpus Christi Independent School District students walked out of class Thursday afternoon to protest the continuing ICE presence in the city. Students had multiple reasons for supporting the walkout, from opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s increased arrests since the Trump administration took office for moral reasons, as well as the direct effects on their families.  “My father was detained, and I’m … honestly, it’s very sad. It’s very difficult without him. Without him, me and my mom are just by ourselves, and we need him,” said CCISD student Evelyn Colchado. “I’m not old enough, I still depend on…

Community

Annual Walk to Honor Native American Burial Site

Arianna Rios

Indigenous people from across the Costal Bend gathered Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge, a site recognized for its Native burial grounds, to bless and honor the sacred land for their ancestors. Members from various tribal nations attended and listened to instructions and the historical context before taking part in the ceremonial walk along Ennis Joslin Road. Throughout the walk many gave offerings of tobacco and sage. The burial walk concluded at a medicine circle inside the refuge, where participants gathered to honor ancestors, deceased loved ones, and spiritual beings. Community members said the gathering…

Campus

The Siren has officially returned for the Fall

Arianna Rios

Del Mar College’s literary magazine Siren returns this fall for its long-awaited release, the first issue since the Fall 2019-2020 semester. Copies of the DMC student-run magazine will be available across all Del Mar campuses starting Monday, Oct. 27.  The magazine, first launched in 1996, has been a platform for student creativity filled with short stories, photography, art, and poetry. Like many student organizations, Siren faced challenges during and after the global pandemic, including a shortage of editors and contributors. These hurdles put the publication on hold for several years.   Thanks to the determination and leadership of Spring-Summer 2025…

Campus

Paid Internship Opportunities for Del Mar Students

Arianna Rios

Del Mar College is building a bridge between the classroom and the local business community through the Small Business Internship Program, that currently has 25 Del Mar student interns placed at off-campus business sites across the Nueces County region. The Small Business Internship Program is a partnership between the City of Corpus Christi and Del Mar College, that assists small businesses with wage incentives to hire Del Mar students who meet their specific business needs. The program is designed to foster business growth and job creation along with workforce development within the local community. The SBIP connects motivated students with…

Community, Features

Activism on display at local Women’s March

Arianna Rios

More than 250 participants gathered in Corpus Christi’s Cole Park for the Woman’s March for Equality to express their solidarity and support local activism. The event took place on International Woman’s Day, March 8, and was organized by local advocate Ellison Powers Rhea.   Organizers counted 270 participants, including District 2 City Council Member Sylvia Campos. Campos emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with younger generations in the fight against equality by showing up and speaking out. “You’re not alone, and you’re not crazy. There’s other’s that think just like we do,” said Campos on defending women’s right to…

Community

How the wealthy elite could undermine our democracy

Arianna Rios

Oligarchy has been a buzzword in media since former President Joe Biden’s farewell speech warning the nation of an oligarchy emerging in the United States. Many do not understand what it is and if it is something to be concerned about. Britannica.com defines oligarchy as a government that is controlled by a small group of people. Furthermore, it is a type of government that allows only a privileged few with selfish or corrupt purposes to rule. Oligarchies in which members of the selected ruling group are wealthy and exercise their power directly from their wealth are also known as plutocracies.…

Community

March for Equality hopes spark community engagement

Arianna Rios

Community engagement and women’s equality take center stage on International Women’s Day with a March for Equality planned at Cole Park in Corpus Christi. Organizer Ellison Rhea with Progressives of the Coastal Bend was inspired to get involved in the moment due to hostile political movements toward women and other minority groups. Rhea shared that many do not feel safe and feel invisible and the march will send a message that “We are here, and we are strong.” “Equality helps everybody,” explained Rhea. The march begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at the north end of Cole Park and…

Campus

DMC Counseling Center offers suicide prevention help

Arianna Rios

Suicide tends to be a taboo topic that society tries to avoid as it brings up heavy and uncomfortable feelings. However, these conversations are key to bringing awareness to spotting and preventing decisions during times of temporary emotional distress. According to a suicide prevention training hosted by Del Mar College counselors, on average one person dies by suicide every two hours in Texas alone. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ranging from 10 to 24 years old and is the fifth leading cause of death for individuals in the age range of 35-34 years old. Del…

Campus

DMC offers new internship to advance IT careers

Arianna Rios

Students looking for internships can add the Del Mar College Cyber Center to their options. After being awarded a grant to grow the cybersecurity workforce skills, the cyber center has taken the initiative to employ student interns. Del Mar College Cyber Center exists to support small and mid-sized companies by helping improve their cyber security, cyber planning and raising awareness on cyber security and compliance for government contracting. Businesses acquire resources through training seminars and webinars, confidential one-on-one free advising, tools and information. “The grant we received was from the National Institute of Standards and Technology,” said Program Manager Darcy…

Campus

Small Business Development Center Helps Food-Trailer Expand into Brick-and-Mortar

Arianna Rios

Martin Flores, the owner of Marty McPies, was introduced to the Del Mar College Small Business Development Center by a friend while building his then-food trailer. In January 2021, business advisor Mike Thompson helped Flores start operating a legal food trailer business. In 2023, Flores returned to SBDC because he wanted to expand his business. Business advisor Theresa Moffit helped the entrepreneur organize his business expenses and paperwork to get a loan for his restaurant. The SBDC offers no-cost resources to entrepreneurs and business owners, whether they are just starting or seeking to expand their existing business knowledge. It also…