NEWS

Viewpoints triumphant at convention

CBS News correspondent speaks to the future of journalism

This story placed first in the JACC On-the-Spot News Writing Contest

BY JENNIPHER VASQUEZ STAFF REPORTER

CBS News correspondent Major Garrett sees a bright future in journalism for fledgling reporters.

“You’re not in the content business, you’re a journalist,” Garret said. “I am proud to be with you, I’m eager upon your graduation, even at a distance, to call you colleagues.”

Garrett, who covers the White House and hosts the podcast “The Debrief,” delivered his “Journalism and Content are Antonyms” speech at the 2021 Spring National College Media Convention virtually March 16.

His focus was aimed squarely on the next generation of journalists.

Garrett, 58, encouraged student journalists to take their ambition into what he called a “new place of possibility.”

“Each step on that journey, take with yourself one question and ask it over and over,” he said. “Am I accurate, do these facts hold up to scrutiny?”

A turning point early in Garrett’s career was reporting about a 7-year-old boy who was run over and killed by a drunk driver in his neighborhood.

Garrett’s editor asked him to speak to the parents of the victim the next day, but he was unsure how to approach the situation. He was young and apprehensive.

“I had no feeling at all for how to talk to a mother who the day before, her child was run over by a car and killed in their own neighborhood where he was riding his bike,” Garrett said.

Six months after the incident, he ran into the mother of the victim at the police department in Amarillo, Texas.

After hearing heels clicking down the hallway, he heard a voice call out asking if “that was Major Garrett.”

He sat and waited nervously as she was ushered into the office, where he was waiting for the police spokesperson.

To his surprise, she thanked Garrett for writing the story, claiming it was one of the only sources of comfort for their family.

“I let out this enormous breath that had been stuffed in my lungs, and I said ‘Thank you for saying that ma’am,’ and she walked away,” he said.

That assignment taught him to push boundaries while sticking to the facts, even when driven beyond his comfort zone.

“If you trust your instincts, and you deal with something that’s tough, with curiosity but also compassion, you’ll find a way if you really love this work,” Garrett said.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS Satoru Yamaki, 32, owner of Igikai Artifacts Co., showcases the origami cranes he creates as gifts for his customers while sitting at his storefront in Oceanside, California on March 17. This photo placed third in the JACC On-the-Spot Photo Contest.

Staff wins 15 awards including two nationals, news editor to JACC board

STAFF REPORT

Viewpoints took home a total of 15 awards, including two national awards, at the Spring National College Media Convention on March 20.

News Editor Cheetara Piry was also re-elected Journalism Association of Community Colleges Southern California president.

The staff placed second in the Associated Collegiate Press National Best of Show for their print and online editions. Viewpoints was also awarded a JACC General Excellence Award for print.

Jennipher Vasquez, staff reporter, placed first in the On-the-Spot News Writing Contest for her coverage of a keynote speech by CBS News correspondent Major Garrett on March 19. She said she worked on her story through the night after losing her cousin the same day and thanked adviser Matt Schoenmann for his encouragement.

“I was completely taken aback when I saw my name on the screen as they announced first place,” she said. “I put a lot of hard work into all of my writing, so seeing it pay off and being recognized for it was such an honor.”

Alyssa Aldrete, Life editor, placed first in Critical Review for her coverage of a virtual concert by rock band August Burns Red last fall. Aldrete lost her father a few years back, who was the biggest supporter of her pursuit of journalism, and stepped away from Viewpoints for some time. She returned to the staff last semester.

“I’m extremely grateful to be recognized among my peers for just doing something I love,” Aldrete said. “Although just getting the opportunity to write has been rewarding on its own, winning this award has reaffirmed that I’m doing what I was meant to do.”

Daniel Hernandez, Multimedia editor, placed first in Video Journalism for his coverage of a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Riverside last summer. He also placed third in the On-the-Spot Photography Contest.

“It feels incredible,” he said. “Everything I’ve been taught at RCC and at Viewpoints is paying off. Thanks to (Schoenmann) for motivating me and being up at 2 a.m. showing me how to edit that video.”

Joyce Nugent, former staff reporter, placed first in Photo Story Essay for her coverage of the Snow Fire in the Palm Springs area last September.

Photo Editor Angel Peña placed second in the On-the-Spot News Judgment and Layout Contest and received an honorable mention in Feature Photo.

Managing Editor Leo Cabral placed fourth in Informational Graphic.

Erik Galicia, editor-in-chief, placed third in Video Journalism for his coverage of homelessness in Riverside. He also placed fourth in the On-the-Spot News Writing Contest and received an honorable mention in Editorial Writing.

Dani Rebolledo, former illustrator, received an honorable mention in the Editorial Cartoon category.

Sheriff, DA hold town hall

Argue against proposed state amendment

BY JESSICA LOPEZ STAFF REPORTER

The Riverside County Sheriff and District Attorney argued against their perceptions of the current state of criminal justice reform March 11.

The virtual Conservative Republican Town Hall, hosted by Town Hall Central and the East Valley Republican Women Federated, discussed a California constitutional amendment introduced by State Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager, D-Los Angeles, as well as issues with defunding the police.

The amendment introduced in December, known as ACA 3, seeks to remove the exception of slavery and involuntary servitude to be used as punishment for crime.

A similar proposal passed through Tennessee’s State Senate on March 16, with only four republican votes in opposition. Over 200 people attended the virtual meeting, anchored by radio personality Don Dix.

He drew from outside sources regarding the proposal’s intent, offering videos of inmates charged with gang-related murders praising the new Los Angeles District Attorney’s “soft-on-crime legislation.”

Dix presented a website that seemingly sponsored the antislavery amendment.

“This movement appears to want to actually get inmates paid a minimum wage and then, eventually, based on articles that we’re reading from the Communist Party USA website ... to get these inmates unionized,” Dix said.

The amendment, however, has no known ties to the Communist Party. Kamlager presented details about the bill in early March at a news conference.

Kamlager said it exclusively focuses on removing all vestiges of slavery from the California Constitution.

Sheriff Chad Bianco argued against the proposed amendment and the growth of police reform movements in the past year.

“With ACA 3, you have to go back to what I said earlier,” he said. “There is absolutely nothing that will ever pass our current legislature that is going to benefit public safety, really even benefit the public. There is a momentum of everything for an inmate.”

He said the amendment is an act to defund the police and there is absolutely no way he would pay a criminal to work.

According to Bianco, inmate work programs currently take $45,000 annually from the Sheriff’s Department budget.

He remarked that if this number were to increase, it would mean reducing the amount of officers out on patrol.

District Attorney Mike Hestrin expressed similar concerns regarding the possible amendment, dismissing its intent altogether.

“The idea that you would equate incarceration with involuntary servitude or slavery to me is problematic,” Hestrin said. “They’re totally different. Incarceration that’s ordered by a judge as a just punishment, after a trial where the defendant’s constitutional rights have been protected, that’s not the same as involuntary servitude or slavery. And so equating those things, I think, is dangerous.”

Both guest speakers were listed with their official state titles on the advertisement for the meeting.

Avalon Edwards, policy fellow for Starting Over Inc., the Riverside chapter for All of Us or None, argued that may have violated the Hatch Act.

The Hatch Act is a law that places limitations on federal, state and local government employees on participation in political events while on duty.

Edwards argued in an email that Bianco and Hestrin failed to present as private citizens and separate from their line of work, often directly relaying on-duty experiences. Top: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco speaks at a news conference at the Sheriff’s Department Building on Dec. 21. LEFT: Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin speaks at a Blue Lives Matter rally outside the Historic Courthouse in downtown Riverside on Sept. 12. The two spoke at a virtual town hall March 16 and presented their ideas on criminal justice reform to attendees.

Erik Galicia | Viewpoints

District instructors criticize fall 2021 scheduling

SCHEDULING from page 1

one that acknowledges lessons learned during the pandemic. Instructors found that some classes work well online while teaching them throughout the pandemic, she added.

“It would be a lost opportunity to not grow from what we’ve learned,” she said.

Concerns continued during the public comment section at the Board of Trustees meeting March 16, as Norco College instructors asked the district to reconsider its campus reopening plans.

“I can’t believe this decision is being made without consulting instructors or students,” Norco

College English instructor Jessica Dobson said in writing. “I am disappointed by the lack of forward thinking. What we have been through is an opportunity for growth and this attempt to return to normal is ignoring this opportunity for innovation and equity.”

Wolde-Ab Isaac, RCCD chancellor, argued during the board meeting that online instruction over the past year has negatively impacted access to education and that without an attempt to return to normalcy, the district will have trouble pulling itself out of its current enrollment decline.

RCCD enrollment has declined continuously since the fall 2020 semester, reaching double digit declines for the first time in the district’s history.

As of March 16, RCC was 14.2% below its target enrollment, while Norco and Moreno Valley Colleges were 22% and 32.6% below their targets, respectively. The district, 60% of which is Hispanic and 70% of which relies on the Board of Governors fee waiver, was 20.4% below its target.

“It is clear that our poor and needy students who need access to education most are disproportionately affected,” Isaac said.

The district’s budget is generated through apportionment of the full-time equivalency students RCCD produces.

If the enrollment decline is not handled immediately, it could result in a more than 20% loss of revenue for the district, Isaac added.

“The implication of that to the fiscal health of the district cannot be viewed slightly,” he said. “Its consequences would certainly be grave.”

Administrators advised that current return plans are aspirational but are not set in stone.

Should pandemic conditions warrant it, Mills said the district is capable of shifting toward a more online schedule, as it did when campuses closed in March 2020.

Fall schedules will be finalized May 7 and posted online May 17. Priority registration will begin June 1 for the fall 2021 term.

NEWS BRIEFS

ASRCC Elections

The Associated Students of Riverside City College will be holding elections this semester for leadership positions to begin after the spring term.

ASRCC is asking students who are interested to contact them for information on what positions will become available and what responsibilities those posts hold.

Email the ASRCC Public Relations Council at asrccpr@ gmail.com or contact them through Instagram @ASRCC for more information.

Talk To A Nurse

Riverside City College is still offering mental health services “Tele-Health” and “Tele-Mental Health” confidential appointments by phone or on Zoom.

To make an appointment or talk to a nurse about medical concerns, or healthcare resources, call 951-222-8151. Calls are answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Local Vaccinations

A new COVID-19 vaccination site has opened up in Riverside County at the Moreno Valley Mall.

Officials said they expect to vaccinate thousands of people a day.

In order to receive the vaccine, you must be eligible. To check for eligibility, visit www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19Vaccine-with-Registration

Fall Survey

Riverside City College sent texts out to students with a survey intended to gather input about its plans to return to inperson instruction during the fall 2021 semester.

The survey asks what type of modality students prefer in virtual learning.

It also asks students for the likelihood that they will register for on-campus courses that follow COVID-19 safety guidelines and online courses.

To access the survey, visit https://bit.ly/2Ppj1PD.

Corrections

In our previous issue, we said an election is coming up for the Ward 3 Riverside City Council seat.

The election will actually be held for the Ward 2 City Council seat.

In that issue, we also referred to a Ward 2 candidate as Aram Ayan.

His name is actually Aram Ayra.

Students optimistic, concerned about returning

STUDENTS from page 1

whole process again,” she said. “So I stayed enrolled but did the bare minimum and have waited until in-person lectures are back.”

Other students expressed their need for the choice between online and face-to-face classes to remain open.

RCC student Emma Hillig said she is slightly apprehensive about the return to campus, especially because those that are out of work, considered non-essential workers and the non-disabled population are at the bottom of the hierarchy for receiving vaccines.

“It’s great to have campus open up, don’t get me wrong,” Hillig said. “I can do some online, but in a lab heavy course it would not be beneficial if I can’t work hands on.”

Hillig also commented on the possibility of vaccines being a requirement for faculty and staff returning to campus, saying that if the campus cannot provide adequate resources to be vaccinated, she may have to take a full term break.

The campus overall has been very helpful in accommodating her needs through virtual learning, she continued.

“I think they did a great job in accommodation,” Hillig said. “In fact, I’d say I’ve talked to a counselor more now than I ever did prior, because it was easy enough to do.”

She also said RCC instructors have managed the pandemic well.

“Special thanks to Skip Berry,” Hillig said. “He’s been one of my professors since I started at RCC in 2019 and has been such a supportive instructor.”

Another student, Celia Sanchez, also said access to counselors has become easier after transitioning to virtual learning, but is excited to return to campus and hopeful to have the option to keep certain classes online.

“I don’t think I feel comfortable going back to campus at 100%, but there are a few classes I would learn more from if they’re in-person, especially math.” Sanchez said. “Although, I do miss that interaction with other students in and outside of class.”

Sanchez is hopeful that counselors continue to be easier to contact once the campus reopens because they have been helpful in providing and connecting her to resources for tutoring and financial resources.

RCC plans on having all campus resources operating in-person, including the library, academic support, food services and all other student services.

ILLUSTRATION BY LEO CABRAL | VIEWPOINTS WiCyS is the only all-women’s club at Riverside City College created to empower women in a male-dominated profession. Club calls for more women’s recognition

BY ISABEL WHITSETT STAFF REPORTER

The Women in Cybersecurity Club at Riverside City College, also known as WiCyS, stepped forward to share its perspective on equality for women in honor of Women’s History Month.

Saem Lee, president of WiCyS Student Chapter, shared her experience at RCC.

“Our campus is very welcoming and is a place for all to learn and get involved,” she said. “It’s so nice to have a club with other women who are just as passionate about cybersecurity as I am — where we all uplift and help each other. It’s a very positive atmosphere.”

WiCyS was established in 2012 with help from the National Science Foundation grant and was created to propel women to achieve success in their chosen career paths.

The Student Chapter at RCC and other colleges alike aims to recruit and advance women in the cybersecurity field.

Computer science is relatively broad, therefore, incorporating a cybersecurity club at RCC specifically for women, aids in the success of women in a field where men are the majority.

The ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Report states that men outnumber women 3 to 1 in the profession.

As of 2019, women made up 24% of the workforce, as compared to 2017, when only 11% in the career were women.

Although women are on the rise in the field, they still face compensation issues in comparison to their male counterparts, at a 12% gap.

The club, dedicated to women’s advancement in cybersecurity came to be at RCC due to the field being maledominated.

Emily Hillig, an autistic member of WiCyS, shed some light on the subject.

“Despite the name, WiCyS is not exclusive to just women,” she said. “The fundamental ideology for WiCyS is to uplift and empower women in cybersecurity. If you believe in the mission to recruit, retain, and advance the position of women in cybersecurity, you are welcome here.”

Hillig went on to mention the club’s adviser, Skip Berry, acknowledging how great of an addition to the club he is. “Our club adviser is so great to have on our team,” Hillig said. “His insight is always welcomed, very helpful and appreciated. Even though our title is specific to gender, we aren’t opposed to hearing what he has to say since his credentials are recognized.”

WiCyS is the only club specifically for women at RCC, however, Hillig believes its creation provides a good incentive for more women’s clubs to form at this institution.

“I think RCC has done well with incorporating this club,” Hillig said. “Seeing more clubs for women form for majors with more male-dominating statistics would also be a good thing. I believe WiCyS has started the path towards having more of them.”

RCCD science instructors discuss COVID-19 vaccines

BY HOLLAND SNIPES STAFF REPORTER

Does anyone you know believe the COVID-19 vaccine works by changing a recipient’s DNA?

As vaccinations roll out, a Zoom conference March 19 featuring Riverside Community College District faculty aimed to educate and dispel such myths. The event, hosted by the Riverside City College STEM Engagement Center, featured guest speakers with scientific backgrounds from the district’s three campuses.

The meeting began with a brief true or false quiz about common misconceptions students or their families might have, such as vaccines causing autism. It aimed to tackle those ideas through a detailed discussion of the virus and vaccination.

Lisa Thompson-Eagle, microbiologist and Riverside City College instructor, explained the history of pandemics and that they are not new.

“Increasing civilization advancements created new problems,” Thompson-Eagle said.

She said the growth of the human population and gathering of people through new forms of transportation allowed for diseases to spread quicker, leading to pandemics like the current one.

Thompson-Eagle’s prime example in explaining vaccines was the history of the importance of the smallpox vaccine to the world. She explained the severity of the illness and provided graphic images of the consequences of an infection.

Monica Gutierrez, a Norco College biology instructor and biochemist, explained the general biological functions of viruses, as well as COVID-19 and its origins.

She explained that coronaviruses are not new. The presentation mentioned that coronaviruses have “been around for 10,000 years in birds and bats.” She gave the examples of the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 in Asia and the 2012 MERS-CoV in the Middle East.

Gutierrez noted that the COVID-19 virus can be mild for many and fatal to others. The virus affects everyone differently based on their immune systems and any preexisting conditions they may have, and around 10% of those infected have long term consequences after their infection.

“An uncontrolled viral infection leads to an inflammatory response and then lung damage and destruction,” Gutierrez said.

Jeffrey Julius, a microbiology instructor at Moreno Valley College, explained the differences between the current vaccines available.

He discussed what is in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as well as the development of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA, which passes on instructions to our cells on how to create a “spike protein.” Cells recognize that this protein does not belong and, when the body is exposed to COVID-19 in the future, it will have already started creating protective antibodies.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is an adenovirus vectored one, meaning it uses the common cold and a gene specific to COVID-19 as a vector to make cells recognize the virus and build spike proteins.

Julius then explained the concepts of herd immunity and how mutations can run rampant if the disease is allowed to spread uncontrolled, stressing the importance of vaccines during his entire segment.

Henry Peel, a Cal Poly Pomona microbiology student and virus-virology researcher, went through the three phases of vaccine trials and provided data on the effectiveness of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines by Phase 3, 94.1% and 95%, respectively.

He concluded with data on the outlook of COVID-19 variants that have appeared, adding that Moderna has already started on an updated vaccine for variants, similar to how the flu vaccine is updated every year.

More information can be found at www.cdc.gov.