Tolarian Community College
{{Short description|YouTube channel}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = Tolarian Community College
| image =
| caption =
| other_names =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| channel_handle = @TolarianCommunityCollege
| channel_display_name = Tolarian Community College
| years_active = 2013–present
| genre =
| subscribers = 1.13 million
| views = 428 million
| network =
| language = English
| associated_acts =
| silver_year =
| silver_button = yes
| gold_year =
| gold_button = yes
| stats_update =
}}
Tolarian Community College is a YouTube channel focused on the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. The channel is run and presented by Brian Lewis, and the channel's writer is Jesse Robkin. Lewis is known on the channel as "The Professor", and has an official Flesh and Blood card named after him. The channel hosts games, unboxings, product reviews, gameplay tutorials, analysis, and discussions of lore, as well as a podcast. It has raised over {{Usd|1,500,000}} for charities.
Channel
The channel was started in August 2013, and is named after the Magic: The Gathering card Tolarian Academy.{{Cite web |last=Shotwell |first=Alyssa |date=2023-11-09 |title=YouTube's Favorite 'Magic The Gathering' Course Turns 10 |url=https://www.themarysue.com/youtubes-favorite-magic-the-gathering-course-turns-10/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=The Mary Sue}} It is run by Brian Lewis, "The Professor" and head writer Jesse Robkin, a writer, filmmaker and the 2025 Magic: The Gathering United States Regional Champion.{{Cite web |title=jesse robkin |url=https://jesserobkin.com/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=jesse robkin |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Metagame Mentor: Modern and Metalcraft at Regional Championships |url=https://magic.gg/news/metagame-mentor-modern-and-metalcraft-at-regional-championships |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING {{!}} ESPORT |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Week That Was: The Breach Queen Claims Victory |url=https://magic.gg/news/the-week-that-was-the-breach-queen-claims-victory |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING {{!}} ESPORT |language=en}}
The Tolarian Community College channel provides videos of games, unboxings, product reviews, gameplay tutorials, lore and analysis as well as a podcast.{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Joshua Nelson {{!}} |date=2019-12-30 |title="Tolarian Community College"'s 2019, Ranked – "Magic: The Gathering" |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/tolarian-community-colleges-2019-ranked-magic-the-gathering/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=MTG |first=Proxy |date=2023-04-27 |title=Five YouTube Channels to Watch for Magic: The Gathering Fans |url=https://proxymtg.com/five-youtube-channels-to-watch-for-magic-the-gathering-fans/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Proxy MTG |language=en-US}} The channel has also covered antisemitism, sexism, racism and transphobia within the Magic: The Gathering community.{{Cite web |last=Tamburro |first=Paul |date=2017-11-28 |title=Magic The Gathering Cosplayer Quits Over Harassment |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/357945-magic-gathering-cosplayer-quits-harassment |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=GameRevolution |language=en-US}} The channel became Lewis's full-time job after he set up a Patreon account.{{Cite web |last=Betão |date=2021-04-25 |title=Eleven Questions to The Professor, our favorite Tolarian! |url=https://mtg.cardsrealm.com/en-us/articles/eleven-questions-to-the-professor-our-favorite-tolarian |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Cards Realm |language=en-us}} Writers who have worked on the channel include Carmen Klomparens, as well as Robkin. Lewis has also appeared on other Magic channels, including playing a game with Post Malone.{{Cite web |last=Parlock |first=Joe |date=2021-10-01 |title=Watch Post Malone Play Magic The Gathering With I Hate Your Deck And The Professor |url=https://www.thegamer.com/post-malone-play-mtg-commander-i-hate-your-deck-the-professor/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}
Charity work
= Trans Lifeline =
Since 2020, Tolarian Community College has run an annual fundraiser for the charity Trans Lifeline, a phone support and crisis hotline for transgender people.{{Cite web |last=Riedel |first=Samantha |date=2025-02-14 |title=A 'Magic: The Gathering' YouTuber Has Raised Nearly $500,000 For Trans Lifeline |url=https://www.them.us/story/magic-the-gathering-tolarian-community-college-fundraiser-trans-lifeline |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Them |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=GCN |first=Intern |date=2025-02-21 |title=YouTuber raises over half a million dollars for trans crisis hotline |url=https://gcn.ie/youtuber-raises-half-million-dollars-trans-hotline/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=GCN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=MTG YouTuber makes $400k for trans charity giving away the best sets in Magic |url=https://www.wargamer.com/magic-the-gathering/trans-lifeline-giveaway-tolarian-community-college-2025 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Wargamer |language=en-US}} In 2020 the channel raised {{Usd|120,000}};{{Cite web |last=Forster |first=Danny |date=2020-10-08 |title=Magic players donate over $100,000 to trans charity in one day |url=https://dotesports.com/mtg/news/magic-players-donate-over-100000-to-trans-charity-in-one-day |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} in 2021, {{Usd|220,000}};{{Cite web |last=Parlock |first=Joe |title=The 'Magic The Gathering' Community Raises $220,000 For Trans Lifeline Charity |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joeparlock/2021/02/25/the-magic-the-gathering-community-raises-over-12000-and-rising-for-trans-lifeline-charity/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chase |date=2021-03-01 |title=MTG YouTuber Tolarian Community College fundraises over $220,000 for Trans Lifeline |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/magic-the-gathering-game/news/tolarian-community-college-trans-lifeline-fundraiser-magic-the-gathering |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}} in 2023, {{Usd|240,000}};{{Cite web |title=Tolarian Community College Fundraiser For Trans Lifeline 2023 |url=https://give.translifeline.org/campaign/tolarian-community-college-fundraiser-for-trans-lifeline-2023/c467939 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=give.translifeline.org}} in 2024, {{Usd|418,000}};{{Cite web |title=Tolarian Community College 2024 fundraiser total |url=https://x.com/TolarianCollege/status/1758674910870950122 |website=X.com}} and in 2025 over {{Usd|560,000}}.{{Cite web |last=Chancey |first=Tyler |date=2025-02-14 |title=Tolarian Community College Fundraises $460,000 for Trans Lifeline {{!}} TechRaptor |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/tolarian-community-college-fundraises-460000-for-trans-lifeline |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=techraptor.net |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Waller |first=Arin |date=2025-02-18 |title=Magic: The Gathering YouTuber raises Half a Million for Trans Lifeline |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/02/magic-the-gathering-youtuber-raises-half-a-million-for-trans-lifeline/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=LGBTQ Nation |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Nathan |date=2025-02-13 |title=MTG Community Raises $150,000 For Trans Lifeline In Just 24 Hours |url=https://mtgrocks.com/trans-lifeline-mtg/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=MTG Rocks |language=en-US}}
= Fundraiser for black communities =
In 2020 Tolarian Community College raised more than {{Usd|140,000}} for black community charities Saving Our Sons and Sisters International and the Trans Women of Color Collective. The channel raised this money through the sale of rare Magic cards, selling cards from some of the game's earliest sets including a copy of Black Lotus.{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chase |date=2020-12-08 |title=Magic: The Gathering YouTuber sells $140,000 worth of rare cards for charity |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/magic-the-gathering-game/news/magic-the-gathering-donation-black-communities |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}}
= Serious Fun =
Products
= ''Flesh and Blood'' card =
In 2023, the trading card game Flesh And Blood created "The Professor" card based on Lewis as part of the "Round the Table: LSS x TCC" box set.{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Trinity |date=2023-08-30 |title=Flesh And Blood Releases New Multiplayer Game Format Featuring The Professor From Tolarian Community College |url=https://geekculture.co/flesh-and-blood-tolarian-community-college-the-professor/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Geek Culture |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2023-08-30 |title=Flesh and Blood, Tolarian Community College team up for new multiplayer boxed set |url=https://www.polygon.com/23852158/fab-tcg-tolarian-community-college-round-the-table-announcement-release-date-price |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title='Flesh and Blood' Tolarian Community College Boxed Set Incoming |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/54987/flesh-blood-tolarian-community-college-boxed-set-incoming |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=icv2.com |language=en}} The card is a "hero" card and was illustrated by Simon Dominic.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Nick |date=2023-07-06 |title=Flesh And Blood Crossover With The Professor Coming In September |url=https://articles.starcitygames.com/flesh-and-blood/flesh-and-blood-crossover-with-the-professor-coming-in-september/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Star City Games |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chase |date=2023-08-31 |title=Flesh and Blood team with YouTube's Tolarian Community College for a Commander-esque multiplayer set |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/flesh-and-blood/news/flesh-and-blood-round-the-table-multiplayer-tolarian-community-college |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}}
= The Academic card box =
In 2022 The Professor collaborated with game company Gamegenic to produce a Magic: The Gathering card box called "The Academic".{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Nick |date=2022-02-25 |title=Tolarian Community College Launching Kickstarter For 'Dream' Deck Box |url=https://articles.starcitygames.com/news/tolarian-community-college-launching-kickstarter-for-dream-deck-box/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Star City Games |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Nick |date=2022-03-02 |title=Tolarian Community College Reveals The Academic Deck Box |url=https://articles.starcitygames.com/magic-the-gathering/tolarian-community-college-reveals-the-academic-deck-box/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Star City Games |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Gamegenic Teams Up with YouTube Channel Tolarian Community College |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50547/gamegenic-teams-up-youtube-channel-tolarian-community-college |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=icv2.com |language=en}} A Kickstarter campaign was run for the card box with a goal of {{Usd|50,000}}; almost {{Usd|4,000,000}} worth of preorders were placed.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Tom |date=2022-03-24 |title=About the Academic – an Interview with the Professor |url=https://blog.cardkingdom.com/about-the-academic-an-interview-with-the-professor/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Card Kingdom Blog |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Joshua |date=2022-03-23 |title=The Academic Deck Box Is the Professor's Magnum Opus |url=https://twincitiesgeek.com/2022/03/the-academic-deck-box-is-the-professors-magnum-opus/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Twin Cities Geek – MN Geek Culture Magazine |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{YouTube|c=tolariancommunity}}
Category:English-language YouTube channels