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The daughter of former NBA champion Dennis Rodman, Trinity Rodman, is a renowned soccer player who has already broken several records in two short years in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League). Recently she became the youngest player in NWSL history to reach 10 goals and 10 assists.

According to CBS Sports, when the Washington Spirit beat the San Diego Wave 3-1, over the weekend, not only did that victory keep the team undefeated, but it also saw Trinity Rodman make league history after she scored a goal and added an assist.

With 13 goals and 10 assists, Rodman became the NWSL first player to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in the regular season before turning 21.

10+10 – With a goal and an assist today, @WashSpirit‘s Trinity Rodman (13 goals, 10 assists) is the first player in @NWSL history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in regular season play before turning 21 years old. Complete. pic.twitter.com/z4yFbGiIxU

— OptaJack (@OptaJack) May 6, 2023

The athleticism inherited from her famous, yet controversial father has carried her to the record books.

Trinity Rodman was drafted second in the 2021 NWSL College Draft. When she made her professional debut with the Washington Spirit, she immediately placed her name in the record books by becoming the youngest American goalscorer in league history, minutes after entering the game.

College campuses have been under pressure to meet student’s mental-health needs, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Counseling centers and clinicians who work with students are now seeing a significant increase in anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders. There are also less-visible problems like stress, attention deficit, and more that have an impact on academic performance. It’s crucial that leadership on college campuses understands these challenges and knows how to intervene.

According to the National Education Association, nearly 100,000 students across 133 campuses participated in a survey that showed 44 percent of students reported symptoms of depression; 37 percent experienced anxiety; 15 percent considered suicide. The rates of depression and anxiety among Black students have been increasing at an overwhelming rate. When mental illness goes untreated, academic performance is hindered, as well as the student’s social and emotional well-being.

Students are very much feeling disconnected from a lot of things — from classes, from their friends, and from families. That could have a huge impact upon other areas of their lives. Sometimes, however, it’s not as easy to detect what’s clearly a crisis.

I have taught in higher education for 15 years, with the last 10 of those years fully online. The average age of my students is 35 years old, and the majority are current and prior-service military. Some of my students will soon be separating and have tremendous stress about what they are going to do next.

There are a separate set of challenges associated with students attending online classes. They feel isolated and have no interaction with their classmates, other than Zoom. In fully remote learning environments, many students can face challenges with limited internet or technology access. Loss of a loved one, homelessness, financial hardships, racial discrimination, or moving back in with aging parents all contribute to the steep rise we’re seeing in poor mental health.

A study from the National Institutes of Health found that approximately 34 percent of Black students reported feeling “so depressed in the last year it was difficult to function.” Black students attending HBCUs have also been dealing with the additional stress of bomb threats at their universities and suddenly not having access to abortion services in the wake of Roe v. Wade — Black women are disproportionately affected by this.

Eighty-six HBCUs are in states that have already restricted access to abortion, and many more are in the process of challenging reproductive rights, a factor that completely adds to the stress and anxiety Black students are already experiencing. 

The pandemic has certainly increased the mental strain on a generation of college students already reporting record levels of psychological challenges. Black students need mental health services — both talk therapy and sometimes medication — now more than ever, but with the increase in students seeking counseling, some universities are having trouble meeting their needs. 

Racial disparities exist on college campuses, despite increasing rates of college admissions and enrollment among Black and Brown students. On campus, students are more likely to encounter people of color in service jobs than in faculty or leadership positions. I receive emails from Black students all the time letting me know they are excited to have a Black professor. I don’t take that lightly, and it reinforces the fact that representation matters. That connection alone sometimes makes all the difference between a student pushing through my class or giving up.

The truth is, the coronavirus crisis highlights the fragility of a system that even before the pandemic was not doing enough to meet students’ needs. Here in California, college campuses have responded by moving therapy appointments online and using state grants to add services.

The question is: What can colleges and universities do to better support Black and Brown students?

I believe a first step is creating an environment in which they can feel supported and included. This begins with recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff. More important is the need to hire culturally competent mental health providers from diverse cultural backgrounds. It is possible to invest in initiatives that improve equity and inclusion on campus, even though they are in jeopardy in some states. When programs like this exist, they support social support and feeling a sense of belonging, as well as cultural pride. This is also important within the distance learning space.

As a faculty member, I am privy to many firsthand accounts of my Black students’ struggles to thrive in a predominantly white environment. I also hear the stories of challenges at home and how they are trying to cope. In certain situations, school is the only outlet they have. Those who are struggling with multiple burdens associated with being a Black student must be protected by their campuses and offered proper resources and help.

The process of students’ healing from mental-health challenges requires significant internal commitment and external support. Black and Brown college students are brilliant, talented, and creative, and they dream as big as other students. Pursuing higher education should not cause them to suffer in silence.

In the words of Young, Famous & African star, Khanyi Mbau, ‘things are about to get messy!’ Today, Netflix released the tantalising, can’t-look-away trailer for Africa’s hottest reality series, Young, Famous & African season 2, launching on the service on 19 May 2023. 

Last season, the fiery stars from all walks of life on the African continent put their lives and loves on display for the world to see, and this season is no different. Tensions rise and friendships are put to the ultimate test as new faces Bonang Matheba, Luis Munana and Fantana show up and show off in the sneak peek of the hit series, and promise to enthral audiences with their inclusion into the A-list crew.

With a blow-up between besties, Swanky Jerry and Annie Macaulay-Idibia and a catfight between Zari Hassan and Fantana, (fueled by Nadia Nakai, of course) over Diamond Platnumz, the tea is piping hot! Andile Ncube faces his own dilemmas, with the inclusion of his former partners, Sebabatso Mothibi and Rosette Ncwana, while Naked DJ and Kayleigh Schwark present a united front.

Season two of Young, Famous & African launches only on Netflix May 19th worldwide.

Content creators are becoming more and more creative in going viral. The latest sensation is the Boot Girls.

Two anonymous women have gone viral on TikTok (@bootgirlsinbuckhead) by removing boots from cars for much less than established parking companies. Wearing pink and bedazzled masks to hide their identities, the Atlanta natives will save the day by removing a boot from your car for a flat fee of $50, according to WSB-TV. One said the fame and business are unexpected. “It expanded out of nowhere,” one of the women said.

@bootgirlsinbuckhead #bootgirlsinbuckhead #atlanta #fyp ♬ Beyonce x My Husband x Casa Di Remix – CasaDi

The masked duo said they got the idea after being booted themselves. After searching online for cheaper ways to get out of it, they found ATL Boot Key, a business that sells copies of keys that unlock boots. They bought the key for less than the parking company charged for the removal, and things took off from there. Christian Verrette, who owns Boot Key, says booting is a “predatory act.” “It is holding someone hostage. You are holding someone for ransom: $75, or you cannot go anywhere,” Verrette said.

“I’m just trying to outright eliminate the boot. It is not about business for me. Business has been good, but, still, at the end of the day, my heart is banning the boot.” He feels ticketing is a much better option, however, thanks to Boot Girls, he says he’s sold $50,000 worth of keys.

But can this practice get the anonymous duo or others in trouble? The answer is yes and no. 11Alive reports purchasing a boot key isn’t illegal, but removing a boot on your own is if you’re not licensed, and it generally depends on where a person is in the state of Georgia. The community has to have an existing ordinance that allows booting. If someone wants to enforce booting on their private property, signage must be displayed, and anyone booting cars must have a permit.

The Atlanta Police Department is aware of the new practice, sending out a warning. “Recently, it has been brought to our attention that many motorists within the city are investing in Boot Keys, which is a key used to unlock the booting device.” It continued, “The Atlanta Police Department does not intervene between motorists and private business owners when vehicles are booted in violation unless a criminal matter arises.”