Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
viewpoints An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922.
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INSIDE
NEWS................. 2 FEATURES........ 4 INSCAPE........... 5 SPORTS.............11 OPINIONS..........13
Pages 8-9
Salute to soldiers Page 3
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Pages 8-9
Fresh faced hoops
Riverside exalts one of Mexico’s oldest traditions
Vol. XCII, No. 4
Viewpointsonline.org | October 17,2013
LUIS SOLIS/ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
PARTY TILL YOU DROP:
Mario Rodriguez celebrates The Day of the Dead by dancing among other dancers in tlahualiles (head dress).
Viewpoints
2 | November 14, 2013
Viewpoints N EWS BRIEF S Follow us @rccviewpoints
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Search: Riverside City College Viewpoints
Correction: vision plan In the Oct. 31 briefs the vision plan is said to have no changes to contract, but it has come to light by the Benefit Committee that changes were made to the contract and kept undisclosed to the benefit committee. The committee head is angered by the secrecy and the change and is working to restore the vision plan to its original integrity.
Correction: Title In the Oct. 31 issue of Viewpoints there was a quote from Dariush Haghighat that referred to him as the Faculty Senate president. Haghighat is the Faculty Association president, but not the Faculty Senate president.
Students hope for honors Students submit their best work to impress at conference DAVID ROMAN STAFF WRITER Assum ing com munity college is all about partying and students with a laissez-faire attitude towards their education is commonplace. When one actually takes the time to see the work honors students at Riverside City College are putting in towards their futures, the notion could not be further from the truth. Coming to RCC Nov. 22 the Honors Research Conference allows the students of the Honors programs of all three Riverside City College District campuses to present the research they have conducted throughout their time in the honors program. The rules for entry are simple: any honors student can pick an
essay they wrote in an honors course and after working with their honors instructor to revise, improve, and prep it for live presentation. They can then submit it, and a panel of instructors read the essays and determine which students from which campuses deserve the coveted grand-prize scholarships. The essays are divided into categories based on their themes, so anyone in attendance can choose to hear presentations on whichever theme sounds best to them. The most competitive pieces go on at the end of the conference. The President’s Outstanding Scholar Award of $100 is awarded to the best essay of each campus, totaling up to three students a year.
The award is funded by the president of each College. “The 4-year universities are always incredibly impressed that our students have participated in an academic conference so early in their careers,” said Thatcher Carter, the coordinator for the RCC Honors Program instructor. She received her Ph.D from the University of California, Riverside and has studied at such schools as the Claremont G r a d u a t e Un i ve r s i t y a n d Occidental College. “I certainly never gave a paper at a conference until I was in graduate school,” said Carter. “ This achievement really makes them stand out when they’re applying to transfer” The RCCD Honors Research Conference is open to students, faculty, and community members.
RCC Culinary cooks for Thanksgiving Riverside City College Culinary Academy will serve its 10th Annual thanksgiving lunch to impoverished and homeless on Nov. 26 from 11 a. m. to 1 p.m. The academy hopes to raise enough money to feed 500 People and welcomes contributions. The lunch will be in the RCC Culinary Academy and contributions can be sent to the same address at 1155 Spruce Street, Rinrside CA 92507 by Nov 20. For more information call (951) 328-3805.
Father and instructor lectures on loss Keynote speaker Greg Burchett, instructor of life sciences at Riverside City College, will lecture on the loss of his son and his struggle to understand mental illness. The lecture will be an empowering and meaningful lecture that will teach all in attendance how to recognize the signs of mental illness and pain. It hopes to encourage students to feel OK about opening up to people if it means saving lives. Flex credit will be offered to all who attend, and light refreshments will be served from 4 - 4:30 p.m. The lecture will begin immediately after at 4:30-6 p.m. and Burchett will be available afterward to sign his book.
IMAGE COURTESY OF: RCCD HONORS PROGRAM
FINALS ROOM: Students in the honors program of 2012 present their winning essays to onlooking supporters.
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RCC diversity week promotes equality The Associated Students of Riverside City College encouraged acceptance equality and diversity in a series of celebrations of diversity. It held a celebration of Native American culture on campus Nov. 5. ASRCC had an LGBTQIA celebration Nov. 6 in the afternoon. It also hosted a vigil for transgender awareness Nov. 6. To continue the celebration, it hosted a Tiger Pride Veteran’s Day to salute soldiers. ASRCC encourages students on campus to accept all students around them regardless of variations in character.
Resource fair helps with personal life The Associated Students of Riverside City College is holding a Resource Fair Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Terracina Drive. Senate Outreach and on campus, community and grass roots organizations will be providing resources to students with their college and personal life.
Festival of Trees summons Christmas Riverside holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees, will transform the Riverside Municipal Auditorium with over 50 elaborately decorated trees, each with its own unique theme. The festival is on Nov. 26 from 6 - 11 p.m. The festival has grown to attract over 30,000 people.
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Date
Crime
Time
LOG Location
Status
10-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
1:25 AM
Cp-college PD Riverside
inactive
11-Oct
Annoying harrassing phone call
4:07 PM
Admin
pending
12-Oct
Vandalism less than $400
12:00 PM
Dental Education
inactive
15-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
12:39 PM
Digital Library
inactive
16-Oct
Vandalism less than $400
11:25 AM
Lot D
inactive
17-Oct
Attempted burglary
7:55 AM
Student Academic Services information only
18-Oct
Vadalism Damage other’s property
8:12 AM
Fairfax Ave.
inactive
21-Oct
Hit and run property damage only
3:35 PM
Lot A
pending
21-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
3:27 PM
Stover Building118
pending
21-Oct
Bat on person sch park etc
7:10 PM
Westbound Terracina street cleared by other means
22-Oct
Grand heft from person vandalism
9:55 AM
PSC #9
information only
less than $400 22-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
1:10 PM
Wheelock Gym
inactive
22-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
12:56 PM
Cp-College PD Riverside
pending
22-Oct
Theft Loss of property
1:19 PM
Math and Science Building
information only
25-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
8:10 PM
Lot B
pending
28-Oct
Petty theft Building Vehicle etc
1:07 PM
Lot N
inactive
28-Oct
bat noncohab spouse etc
3:52 PM
Parking Structure
pending
29-Oct
fictitious check bill
12:31 PM
Parking Street Tennis Courts cleared by other means
30-Oct
Hit and run property damage only
4:25 PM
Lot B
inactive
1-Nov
disturbance
7:39 AM
MLK Building
pending
3-Nov
Vandalism less than $400
5:06 PM
Student academic Services
pending
Viewpoints
News
November 14, 2013 | 3
Serving students since 1922
Fire: this is not a drill
Honor fallen veterans
A fire breaks out on Halloween on RCC campus by theater studio in maintenance below Tech B Building. ADRIANA FREILING/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ADRIANA FREILING STAFF WRITER
ADRIANA FREILING/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CAMPUS FIRE: Students were surprised as they exited their Thursday morning classes on Oct. 31. They walked
into a smoke filled campus. A moderate sized fire started in the maintenance room below the Tech B building and was promptly handled by Riverside Fire Department. “The fire happened right next to the Theater Studio,” said Adriana Freiling, Viewpoints photographer on the scene. “Three fire trucks showed up (along with) three patrol cars and the firefighters were able to control the fire.” ASRCC confirmed early reports of the fire on their twitter.
On Veterans Day, people from all corners of Riverside and neighboring communities came to honor our fallen Veterans at the Riverside Arlington Cemetery. Boy Scouts and troopers gave out boxes and boxes of our nation’s flag to volunteers who planted them proudly at the head of every gravesite. Some individuals fell to their knees and placed a single hand on the marbled stone to thank that soldier for their service. Soldiers feet and heels came together at a 45 degree angle, with their posture upright and their gaze fixed forward; and their fists clenched as if holding a bag of groceries. They lifted their left arm so the tip of their fingers met their forehead for a soldier’s salute, and with a “right flank” they said goodbye. Children and loved ones embodied the love for their fallen soldiers.
Not only did the fallen get called to duty to sacrifice their lives for freedom, but loved ones served on the homefront as military families. There are few that know the challenges military families have to go through. While their soldiers are deployed loved ones serve the country on the homefront by demonstrating patriotism in ways others may not understand. Military families are the Veterans emotional support while they are deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq or on tour somewhere else. Love and sacrifice teach military families how to become strong and come together as one, even if the circumstances leave them in loss. A Veteran is either active duty, honorably discharged and retired, reserves, military family or one that has fallen for the price of freedom. We t ha n k you for you r sacrifice for this great nation. Happy Veterans Day.
Writing and Reading Center’s best still leaves long lines VALERIE OSIER STAFF WRITER At almost any hour between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, students can see a line of people waiting outside the Writing and Reading Center in the Martin Luther King Building. During their busiest hours, students may see that line stretching around the building. Any student completing general education courses at Riverside City College has to deal with the Writing and Reading Center at some point. Students enrolled in English, reading, or an English as a Second Language course should expect to set aside 70 minutes or 2.25 hours a week to spend in the Lab, depending on the length of their class. Since the Writing Center has been in use, it has undergone several changes in the way students are able to utilize the center. The lab had been previously r un by letting a ny st udent enrolled in an English class go in for however long they wanted. Students were staying for longer than one hour and the building would quickly fill to capacity. This led to students having to wait in a long line outside the MLK building for upwards of three hours before being able to get in. “Students used the lab in previous semesters as they saw fit,” said James Seals, Instructional Support Specialist at the Writing Center. “Which meant they were staying here, they weren’t leaving, and because
one student stays here for three hours, that’s a seat that could’ve gone to two other people, and that was creating a line of a hundred some-odd people deep that was lasting for three hours.” In the current system, students make appointments for one hour a week over the Internet. If they miss their appointment and want to make up the hour, they must stand in the “Wild Card” line, also known as the walk-in line that allows 11 students in each hour. Students that wait in the Wild Card line aren’t always guaranteed a seat. Students are allowed in in “batches” every hour. T he st udent s who have appointments wait outside a few minutes before their scheduled time, and are allowed into their guaranteed seat. Students with no appointment must wait in the Wild Card line and hope to be let in that hour. According to Seals, the current model is similar to that of the previous semesters, with the exception that when a student’s hour is done, they must leave. “When your hour is done, you have to leave because you are part of a much bigger community than just you,” said Seals. “Other students need access to our lab, other students need access to our resources, to our tutors, to the instructors, and to the materials we have on hold, and if everyone is fighting for those resources at every hour of the day, you get a giant backed-up line. It’s not conducive to learning.”
Something that was causing many problems in previous semesters was the overcrowding in the lab and students monopolizing the resources. This included instructors not being able to see all the students who needed assistance when they were in the lab because the instructor to student ratio was drastically disproportionate. “Number of seats is one thing, I have plenty of seats, what I need is fairness of students divvied up between the instructors,” said Seals. “And that’s why we put certain caps and limitations.” The Writing Center is much more calm and conducive to learning now, according to Seals and instructors in the lab. “It is definitely much better; student access is much more fair,” said Denise KruizengaMuro, Lead Instructor of the WRC. “And I think that things are definitely better than last semester when we had the line stretching around the building.” Last semester, the State Chancellor’s Office changed several of the guidelines for the Writing Center. One of the new guidelines implemented was that students had to schedule their hours for a set time every week, according to Seals. “We took the buffet model of previous semesters and we turned it into a train station,” said Seals. “Everyone has a ticket to the show, everyone has a promised seat for 50 minutes a week. They schedule their appointments on mywrc.com, our hope is that we
can have them schedule them on WebAdvisor when they’re scheduling for classes.” Making students do one hour each week forces students to utilize the Lab every week and not put in their hours in huge chunks of hours at a time. “It’s like you take a little bit of your medicine each day, or each week in this case,” he said. “The lab is supposed to be a supplement to classroom instruction. So it’s not conducive to come in once a month and do four hours in one day. With the model of once a week, then you’re exercising what you’re learning in your class.” The change in the system affects everyone working in the lab. Lab aides must sign in students and supervise the lines to see which students have appointments. “They both (systems) have their flaws… There’s ups and there’s downs, but it’s a lot better than there being a long line of people wrapping around the corner,” said Tanner Summers, a WRC Lab aide. A current problem the WRC faces is students not showing up for their appointment time, often leaving many seats empty for the entire hour with students waiting outside in the Wild Card line. This line can, at times, be seen reaching around the building, although not for as long a period of time as previous semesters. “The system works when you show up for it. The problem is getting kids to show up for
it,” said Mark Joneson, a WRC Lab aide. Seals expressed the importance of students taking personal responsibility for showing up for their appointment times and getting their hours in, so students don’t have to worry about waiting in the Wild Card line. “ We p r ov i d e eve r y oppor tunity for students to succeed in this environment, given the new structures the State Chancellor’s office has given us, and we try to make it a fair and equitable time,” said Seals. Not all students agree with the usefulness and equitability of the Writing Center. “It’s not very (beneficial) because I can do my homework in the library instead, and since I’m not a procrastinator…it’s not really helpful,” said RCC student Daniel White. The English department is still working to make the WRC a place where students can utilize it to its full potential. “We are working to improve things to make it even better for winter and spring,” said Kruizenga-Muro. The Writing Center is meant to be a supplement to what students learn in the classroom, it’s not meant be a hassle for students, according to Seals. “It’s more about how to make the lab more conducive to student learning outcomes,” said Seals. “If we just process people and not care about what they do in here, then we exist just to exist.”
Viewpoints
4 | November 14, 3013
Serving students since 1922
FEATURES
Tragedy inspires professor
ERICK LOPEZ/ STAFF PHOTO
A TEACHER AT HEART: Burchett in not only an in-
structor of Life Sciences, but teaches people to overcome lifes obstacles.
TREVA FLORES STAFF WRITER
Teachers don’t live at school; it’s something we all know, yet sometimes it’s hard to grasp this concept. It can be tough to remember your professor has a life outside of the campus. Some have families, some play mini golf in their spare time, and others may have pet cats and dogs to take care of. It can be tough to remember that our professors have hardships too. They have losses, stress, and
obstacles in their path because life is a journey. Our life is a story and we all turn each page one day at a time. Gregory Burchett, a biology and health science professor here at Riverside City College wants to tell his story to the world in his book “The Missing links,” that was published Sept. 13. “I’m a teacher at heart and I absolutely want to help other people, whether or not they’ve had an experience like mine I think that people will relate to my
book,” said Burchett. Four years ago in Feb. 2009 Burchett’s former wife Lori Burchett had stabbed their 17-month-old son, Garrison, resulting in his death. Immediately afterward Burchett began writing down his thoughts, feelings and emotions in the following days. “When everything happened, I wrote down what I did not want to forget. It had a lot of anger and I used it for years, but never read it,” said Burchett. The thought of creating a book from these thoughts, let alone sharing them with other people such as family and friends had not even occurred to him at the time. Over 4,000 words later and with the encouragement of family Burchett had a story worth telling. “I researched other books about this topic and noticed that there were a lot of books from the woman’s perspective as she’s sitting in jail and writing about why she did it, but there were none from the man’s perspective,” Burchett said. As a teacher at heart Burchett realized he had to help, to make people say, “I can relate to that.” He stated, “Of course there will be curious people who just want to be nosy, but every person will have their own journey throughout the book.” It took a while for Burchett to understand what he was thinking; he hadn’t really read anything through until three years after the loss of his son. Now he isn’t just a professor at RCC, but a motivational speaker and an author. Many people don’t know
International student admires Western freedom ASIA HORTON
STAFF WRITER Across the Pacific Ocean, to the Far East of Riverside, a young boy in China dreamed of a new life in the America. Kingsly Bao is not your average 17 year old. Kingsley Bao, born Zizhao Bao decided to travel the world. Born in Guang Dong province China, Bao left his homeland to pursue a higher education in California. For 2 months now Zizhao has been an international student at Riverside City College. Bao is aspiring to earn a 4-year degree with a major in Economics and Business with a minor in Accounting. At 17, Bao is all too familiar with social concerns regarding over population and the lack of resources.
“We don’t have more than one child per family,” said Bao. America doesn’t question let alone restricted the right to reproduce at will. A westerner would have a hard time wrapping their mind around the concept of one child per family. Bao was truly from a totally different world, a world where control and censorship are typical. Coming to America, Bao faced some immediate changes in the language and food. Bao is not a fan of the taste of American food, and is confused why certain dishes are eaten at certain times of the day. For instance, the Chinese look at a sandwich and imagine breakfast where here in America we think of lunch. Although Bao isn’t a fan of American cuisine, he
does admire many aspects of the culture such as the access to social media. Bao’s enthusiasm of Facebook was a total surprise. In Bao’s country, Facebook is restricted. Facebook is such a trivial thing in America, yet it’s forbidden in China. Bao created a Facebook account shortly after arriving in the States and is an avid user of the site. The mentality in the United States prevents us from being able to even imagine a world where so many restrictions are imposed upon its citizens. Freedom of the press and the right to free speech are as American as apple pie. Our senses of entitlement to civil liberties are pervasive and help construct the very fabric of our culture.
about “Baby Blues Depression,” officially known as Postpartum Depression, yet 50% of women have it. This depression comes after having a baby and it’s not rare for the woman to not feel attached to her child. Many of the women with the depression think these feelings are normal, but they can lead to psychiatric disorders, anxiety, or in the extreme cases what happened to Burchett’s family. “The more people are informed and not in denial about the topic, the more we can help,” said Burchett, “I want to try to break the taboo to talk about it.”
Burchett remains optimistic towards the future, wanting to teach others, and help benefit the world. He really wants to maintain a nurturing and loving home for Gregory Burchett Jr. his surviving son who is now eightyears-old. He plans to speak at a mental health workshop Nov. 14, have book signings, and return to the Dr. Phil show for a second episode. He is also considering writing fiction novels in the future, but plans to keep his teaching position at RCC, which makes him all the more inspiring.
Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
Inscape
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‘Comikaze’ blows über-fans away RAFAEL RIOS STAFF WRITER
“Excelsior!” the crowd replies to comic book legend Stan Lee’s catch phrase, as he speaks to all super hero enthusiasts. Stan Lee’s “Comikaze” attracted thousands of comic book and sci-fi fans, which ran from Nov. 1-3, for the conventions third year. Coming a long way since it’s first year, the pop-culture convention has greatly increased in popularity. Perhaps “Comikaze” being the only convention owned and operated by a pop-culture icon has helped increase its fan base. Not only being owned and operated by Stan Lee, but his presence there was greatly felt by all fans, making them feel welcomed and surrounded by people who truley love comic books. Stan Lee’s “Comikaze 2013” held special guests, reunions and exhibited great work from indie writers and artists. Some of the special guest included; Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica”), Bruce Campbell (“Evil Dead “Trilogy),
and of course, the comic book legend himself, Stan Lee, who sat for hours while fans waited in line to receive pictures and autographs. Many fans attending the show participated in cosplay, which involves die-hard fans dressing up as their favorite characters from comic books, movies, television and more. There were many costumes that looked really fragile and very detailed, but almot everyone partaking were more than happy to take pictures and show off their dedicated work. But what is a convention without a great announcement? Stan Lee went onstage to announce a new group of animated movies, titled “Stan Lee’s Mighty 7,” which are scheduled to premiere on the Hub Network early 2014. The show will be base on a group of 7 new super powered human like aliens. Stan Lee made it clear that there were no secrets to this, and wanted everyone to know about it. Hundreds of booths were set up in the convention but not all seem to get noticed. Some fans went for the
display of cosplay; others go for the special guests, but some go as their job. Truly the main goal of “Comikaze” is for the fan’s experience to learn and for all the exhibitors that set up booths to get some recognition. Some indie writers and artists will attend many conventions yearly, but struggle to gain some appreciation. When attending these kinds of events take into consideration that the most booths are there as part of the experience, and will help you discover new publishers you could become a fan of. Aside from all the good aspects there were a few disappointments. To some people waiting in line was the least of their problems, but realizing you wasted a few hours in line only to have to pay for your heroes’ autograph and picture, disillusioned many people who had no knowledge that they had to pay and felt truly cheated by this. One tip if you plan to attend “Comikaze” in years to come, it’s worth the time and money, but be prepared to spend if you plan on leaving with even greater memories to hold onto.
Viewpoints Entertainment Calendar Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 16 Nov. 17 Nov. 18 EVENTS
EVENTS
Mason Jennings @ the Troubadour 6 p.m.
RadioDriveBy @ Chain Reaction 7 p.m.
EVENTS
Relient K and Motion City Soundtrack @ the Fox Theater
Los Lobos 40th Anniversary Show @ Whiskey a Go Go
RELEASES “Charlie Countryman” released in theaters
Pomona 7 p.m. The Black Dahlia Murder @ the Glass House
EVENTS
EVENTS
“The Book of Against Me! @ the Liz” @ Troubadour Riverside 8 p.m. Womens Club 3-5 p.m. KROQ Locals Only A$AP Ferg Showcase @ the Glass @ the Roxy House 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 22 Nov. 23 EVENTS
EVENTS
EVENTS
Norma Jean @ Chain Reaction 6 p.m.
Thy Art is Murder @ Chain Reaction 6:30 p.m.
Sleeping With Sirens @ the Fox Theater 6 p.m.
Tonight Alive @ the Roxy 7 p.m. Mike Cano @ the Improv 8 p.m.
Natural Vibrations @ the Roxy 7:15 p.m.
Anthony Green @ the Glass House 7 p.m. A Lot Like Birds, HRVRD, Night Verses and My Iron Lung @ the Roxy 7:15 p.m.
EVENTS
EVENTS
Million Dollar Encore H.S. Quartet @ Holiday Riverside Kick-off Festival Performing Arts @ Riverside Center Auditorium 8-10 p.m.
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
RELEASES “Catching Fire” released in theaters
Veil of Maya @ Chain Reaction 6:30 p.m.
RAFAEAL RIOS / STAFF WRITER
I AM IRON MAN: An authentic Iron Man suit was just one of the many replica pieces on display at “Comikaze.”
Editor’s Pick
“The Walking Dead”
The zombie apocalypse drama returns for an innovative fourth season, following the group through a new threat
««««
“Doctor Sleep”
Stephen King returns with a chilling sequel to “The Shining,” following Danny through an adulthood haunted by his past
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“We Never Shut Up About You” HRVRD’s eerie music video centered around the theme of personal identity
««««
“Young Legs”
Seasoned indie frontman Anthony Green releases a well-rounded third full-length solo album, highlighting the raw, universal trials of life
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Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
6 | November, 2013
Inscape
Dia de los Muertos livens downtown ALEJANDRA GARCIA STAFF WRITER
Downtown Riverside celebrated its fifth annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration on Nov. 2. Families came out to remember their loved ones who passed on, and others came to pay their respects and celebrate one of Mexico’s oldest traditions. Among the many kinds of activities were tribal dancers, the Ballet Folklórico of Riverside, live entertainment and DJ sets for everyone to join in and dance the night away. In midst of the haunting aromas and vendors were artists scattered all over Market Street. And when it comes to the Dia de los Muertos, everyone is an artist. Whether it’s families arranging altars or people painting their faces, every kind of artist came out this night. Diversity was the main theme of the night: there were different kinds of people of all ethnicities, different kinds of face paints and different kinds of art. From contemporary art like those cartoony sugar skulls to classic folk art like that of the great Mexican artist, José Guadalupe Posada, who was a popular engraver of the late ninetieth
and early twentieth centuries known for his Calaveras (skulls.) This year would mark his 100th anniversary since the influential artist’s death. A group of the young artists in the celebration were from Norte Vista High School. Carole Lopez, an art teacher, led her students to create something for the celebration. For Lopez, it’s important that her students participate in this celebration even if they aren’t of Mexican descent. “They learn the cultural significance behind (Dia de los Muertos), said Lopez. “They research and create (their art), and put their personal meaning (into it)…and art should have meaning.” Lopez is not of Mexican descent, but she married into a Mexican-American family, and upon adopting her last name she also took up thier cultural heritage for her children. Between a sea of catrinas and calacas were a man and a child painting small coffins with tiny skulls attached. The booth’s owner, Agustín Equihua Ortiz was along with his son painting large canvases, colorful miniature coffins and heart shaped boxes. There were all kinds of knick knacks that one can find in Mexico this time of year.
For Equihua Ortiz, Dia de los Muertos runs deep within his family. Coming from Michoacán, Mexico, where the tradition has deep roots; he finds it extremely important to preserve his cultural heritage. “It’s my cultural heritage,said Equihua Ortiz. “It’s a unique celebration. “This tradition gives an opportunity to accept death,” said Equihua Ortiz. “Our own mortality is our best adviser, to do things now. Let’s embrace it and celebrate it.”
SKULL CANDY :
LUIS SOLIS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday where people honor thier loved ones who’ve passed on is more of a celebration than observance featuring dancing, music and festive foods.
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Hollywood producer charms a full house DEBORAH HALL STUDENT SUBMISSION “People in Hollywood don’t want to share what they know because they don’t know much.” That wasn’t the case Wednesday evening when RCC students, and staff, were taken for a short journey down the rabbit hole with guest speaker Christopher Pratt. Pratt is a writer, a producer, an author, a literary and talent manager, and a consultant for think tanks as well as campaigns. He is slated to produce films at Universal Studios and Paramount. Currently, he is producing “George Wallace: LIVE,” a hit comedy show with a 10-year run, on the Las Vegas Strip. Pratt grew up on a farm in Missouri, surrounded by a large Amish sect. His family was not Amish, but they opted to live without the luxuries of radio, television and movies during his childhood. Though Pratt lacked the shared anthropological experiences of his peers, he has come to accept this as his greatest strength. He believes it made him a better storyteller. He opened his lecture with a “poem written by a friend.” He proceeded to read the first verse of Katy Perry’s Firework. After the crowd finished chuckling, he spoke about his early life, and some about his career. However, Pratt’s main focus was encouraging, and guiding, the talent that sat in the audience. He was energetic when speaking to
the crowd. It is clear that Pratt believes that everyone is capable of living the life that they dream of. Pratt spoke about his new book “Remember The Future How Steve Jobs Used Time Travel to Think Different.” It hasn’t hit shelves yet, but Pratt made it available to students last night. In the book, he explains that ‘Future You’ is already happy and living the life you want. But, how does ‘Present You’ become ‘Future You’? Choices. “What is the future but a series of casual choices in the present which will lead to a pre-desired outcome.” (An excerpt from his book.) He provides seven simple steps to achieve your goals, and to become ‘Future You.’ Whether one wants to be a producer or a doctor, an actor or a sanitation engineer, Pratt’s book is a useful tool to have on the shelf.
The lecture was informative, insightful and engaging, Pratt interacted with the audience, asking for their favorite movies and breaking them down to their simplest story lines. He even gave the crowd his secret to success. “Be awesome,” Pratt says. There was a short Q&A session, followed by a book signing where Pratt was personable and charming, and he graciously greeted all who wanted their book signed. He wrote a personal message to each person in regards to their chosen path. After, he offered even more advice to the students who filmed, and photographed, the event. Susan St. Peters, English professor at RCC, and a screenplay writer, organized the event as part of the Inside Hollywood Speaker Series. For more information on these events, please contact Susan at susan.stpeters@rcc.edu or (951) 222-8269.
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WORD FROM THE WISE: Film producer Christopher Pratt conducts an inspiring lecture at Riverside City College.
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Inscape
Serving students since 1922
November 14, 2013 | 7
‘The Marshall Mathers II’ drops and impresses RAFAEAL RIOS STAFF WRITER
Showing priority too “The Marshall Mathers LP 2,” Eminem proves us right. After releasing the singles “Berzerk” and “Survival” it was safe to imagine the direction Eminem was headed in “The Marshall Mathers LP 2.” Perhaps it being the sequel to what many consider to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time “The Marshall Mathers LP,” Eminem felt he had certain expectation to meet. “The Marshall Mather LP” has sold more than 21 million copies worldwide since its release in 2000. According to Billboard, “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” is on its way to earning the second-largest sales week of the year, selling from 700,000 to 750,000 copies its first week. With a great display of grit, Eminem does well in telling a side of the story we hadn’t heard yet. In “The Marshall Mathers LP” the song “Kill You” talks about the relationship with his mother (“My momma use to tell me these crazy things”) (“then I got a little bit older and realized she was the crazy one.”) In 2002 his single, “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” he continually bashes on his mother Kim Mathers actions, (“keep telling yourself that you was a mom!”)(“How dare you take what you didn’t help me get”) I guess we can say Eminem letting his anger out in previous
albums worked well for him, financially and emotionally so it’s no wonder that he approaches this album the same way. In “Headlights”(2013) Eminem shows feelings toward his mother we hadn’t seen before with lyrics like: “So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote this on the jet, I guess I just had to get it off my chest.” “I hope you get this message that I’ll always love you from afar, cause you’re my mama…” Apart from all the anger ballads, Eminem has continued what he is great at, which is displaying a sense of deep emotion in his lyrics. “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” speaks a story of how Eminem got where he is and what kind of rapper he considers himself to be. “I’m beginning to feel like a rap god (rap god)/ All the people from the front to the back, nod (back nod)” but is this ego or truth speaking? I guess the fans positive reaction to the single answers that, as he is one of the most recognizable rap icons alive. From apologies to the occasional bashing, Eminem hasn’t sounded so focused since the early stages of his career. To all the fans that in previous albums commented that the 40-year-old rapper was washed up, take a listen to “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” you’ll be surprised by your own reaction.
YouTube awards break ground DAVID ROMAN ASST. INSCAPE EDITOR As any awards show fan can tell you, the totem of award shows starts with illustrious The Oscars and ends with the Teen Choice Awards. But where would you put something as radical and new as the YouTube Music Awards? Known for revolutionizing online video streaming, YouTube conquered and earlyon monopolized the streamingservice industry. However YouTube apparently wants to revamp its image among the entertainment world by changing the way people view the video-streaming service. In an unprecedented move YouTube execs decided to put on the first ever YouTube Music Awards, made to honor the very best in the music-video medium. Normally seen as a simple streaming tool, YouTube has been wanting to extend its capabilities within the unexplored frontier of the online entertainment world. A frontier that is currently being expanded upon by media power-houses like Netflix, HBO GO and the elusive online torrenting sites that offer viewers the latest episodic chapters of any show holding their attention. Being their largest jump in that direction to date, the YTMA presented one of the first completely live award shows voted
entirely on by the fans. Directing the nearly 80-minute long webcast which aired was the well respected Spike Jonze known for putting together the very popular and critically acclaimed Arcade Fire video accompany to “The Suburbs” the album that basically stole the 2011 Grammy’s. Co-hosting the comedyfilled event was comedian Jason Schwartzman (“Bored to Death.”) Among the live performances that awards shows have come to be known for, almost exclusively so, were charttopping artists like Lady Gaga who performed a dark-themes “Dope” off her latest album “Artpop” played on her shadowy piano. Eminem also performed one of his upcoming singles, “Rap God” and Arcade Fire opened the show by playing “Afterlife” no doubt being asked to perform by their former collaborator Jonez. A live comedy sketch (one of many) was written by Lena Dunham of the hilariously awkward “Girls” on HBO, featured a heart-broken guy at a rave getting help from a stranger to overcome seeing his ex-girlfriend at the rave with the disk jockey, ending in a fan-chosen tragic outcome for the two. The night of entertainment featured a fresh improv feel similar to that of a “Rocky Horor” performance which kept it funny and held my attention a lot longer then the typical music awards show.
BRINGING BACK THE 90’S: Eminem stays true
to his extream roots in his newest LP “The Marshall Mathers II” Image courtesy of: PR NewsFotos
8 | November 14, 2013
Viewpoints
Inscape | 9
Serving students since 1922
A wild Love Afair ALEJANDRA GARCIA STAFF WRITER
Opening night for the musical, “The Wild Party,” was full of suspense, glamour, jealousy and jazz. Queenie, a vaudeville dancer, fell in love with Burrs, a vaudeville clown. Things between the couple started off steamy, but the romance started to wear off as she realized Burrs nasty habits and his tendency to stray away. Her brilliant plan, to throw the greatest and biggest party there ever was in hopes of embarrassing Burrs and fuel him with crazy jealousy. What Queenie didn’t see coming was a night of tragedy and regret. T h e R o a r i n g Tw e n t i e s extravaganza was full of flappers, gangsters and dancers. Almost each set was filled with dance and dynamic singing. The orchestra for the musical was jazzy enough to set the perfect mood. The cast and orchestra performed 21 songs for the play. The opening musical number was “Queenie was a Blonde.” The music was exciting and upbeat. The cast delivered a good performance, and Audra Brown, who played the character of Queenie, managed to bring her character to life as she sashayed the stage. Osvaldo Mendoza and Brittney Thomas performed “Two of a Kind.” Their animated characters,
IMAGE COURTESY OF: CRYSTAL KLEAR PRODUCTIONS
CLOWNING AROUND:
A hopeless romantic finds her lovestruck lover, but ends up in shambles.
Eddie and Mae, kept the audience laughing with their vibrant musical number. “A Wild, Wild Party” was another number that the cast performed beautifully. It was full of energy and comedy that had the whole audience captivated. For Audra Brown, who played the lead role of Queenie, was excited as she described her first night performing “The Wild Party.” “It was good,” said Brown. “There was a couple of rough patches, but there’s nothing you can do.” As for preparing for the role, Brown said, “It was hard.” She had never been that position before, and did the best she could. Brown gave a great performance. She added credibility to her character, especially when she did her first number. Jodi Julian, the director of the musical, was proud of her pupils. “It was intense,” said Julian. “They did a great job.” The musical took place right here on Riverside City College theatre, and it was mostly performed by RCC students, who gave an impressing performance. “The Wild Party” had a bit of everything. There was comedy, drama, romance, and plenty singing and dancing. RCC Performing Arts definitely has some shows worth watching.
Viewpoints
10 | November 14, 2013
Inscape
Serving students since 1922
‘This is growing up’
Blink-182 performs anniversary show in Los Angeles ALYSSA ALDRETE INSCAPE EDITOR
In 2005, Blink-182 released a music video for the song “Not Now,” the last official song from their “Greatest Hits” compilation. It featured clips from their past videos, first shown as faded photographs on the wall, then zoomed in and played, while panning to Mark Hoppus (vocals, bass), Tom Delonge (vocals, guitar), and Travis Barker (drums) performing in front of the wall. The video ends with the band’s signature “smiley” symbol flying away into the wind. Any die-hard fan knew that this was some sort of goodbye from the pop-punk legends. And sure enough, shortly after the video was released, the band had announced an “indefinite hiatus.”
Fast-forward through three side projects, feuds and a lifethreatening plane crash, and we find Blink-182 announcing their reunion at the 2009 Grammy awards. After touring the world again, the anniversary of the “Untitled” album, which was released in November of 2003, soon approached, and the band announced a tour to commemorate their most popular album. With only five shows and two venues, the band paid tribute to their roots in Southern California, and on Nov. 11, they played the first of three shows at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. At about 9:30 p.m., Barker walked to his elevated drum set, Hoppus wandered to stage left with a signature pink bass, and DeLonge planted his feet on stage right, with a guitar in hand. The band opened with “Feeling This,” the first song
off the “Untitled” album, and proceeded to play the rest of the tracks front to back, just as they appear on the record itself. The trio proved the tale of old age wrong, using the same comedic antics in between songs as they did back when they were fresh-faced 20-something men just having a few laughs on stage while playing their fast-paced songs. Hoppus and DeLonge played their instruments proudly and loudly, singing their ten-year-old songs with even more enthusiasm than can be heard on the original album, while Barker amazed the audience as he beat on his drums with fluid motion that looked nearly effortless. Following the 14-track long original set, the band walked off stage and left the audience staring at dark blue, ambient light in anticipation for more songs that they clearly knew were coming. After just about five minutes
of waiting, the guys walked back on stage, immediately getting into the song that told their tale of goodbye almost a decade back, entitled “Not Now.” The band played a few fan favorites, including “Going Away to College,” “Mutt,” and ended with their most popular song, “Dammit,” inviting rapper Machine Gun Kelly to the stage to entice the crowd and make them jump up and down one final time. Wi t h t h e s p e c t r u m o f emotions that were brought out of the audience (crowdsurfing during “Going Away to College” off the “Enema of the State” album, moshing during “Go,” the entire crowd swaying and breaking out their lighters during “I’m Lost Without You,” and looks of pure awe when Barker performed an intense, lost-in-themoment drum solo at the end of the song), nothing evoked more pure joy than when the band went
all out with “Dammit.” Barker beat his drums and twirled his drumsticks above his head between each beat, DeLonge and Hoppus ran around stage singing and swinging their heads, and the audience was put into a state of euphoria, with strangers putting their arms around one another, jumping up and down, singing their hearts out, and smiling ear-to-ear as confetti rained down on top of them. The show ended with hundreds of people and three middle-aged men smiling and singing the words, “I guess this is growing up,” and in a bittersweet way, it was the perfect way to end an incredible show. Sometimes reality hits us harshly and we think only of getting older and losing our sense of self - but charisma still lives in our hearts, and with a band like Blink-182 around, no one should ever forget that.
ALYSSA ALDRETE / STAFF PHOTO
FOREVER AND AFTER: Mark Hoppus (left), Travis Barker (center) and Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 perform songs off their 10 year old “Unititled” album to their hometown crowd.
11 | November 14, 2013
Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
SPORTS
“If you work harder than somebody else, chances are you’ll beat him though he has more talent than you.” - Bart Starr
Tigers shutout Roadrunners Tigers walk the plank in sweep of Pirates LUCINDA MATTHEWS STAFF WRITER
Deborah Catanese led the Tigers volleyball team with 14 kills in a loss to the Orange Coast Pirates, 31-29, 25-19, 25-20. Cherylain Dizon contributed with 10 kills for the Tigers. Jennifer Norton had 35 assists. The Tigers were swept in three straight sets after key contributions from Pirates
freshman Sierra Brown, who led the team with 12 kills. Following the loss, the Tigers are 7-12 overall and 3-8 in Orange Empire Conference games. With the win, the Pirates move to 11-5 overall and 6-5 in conference play. RCC will play at Golden West on Nov. 15 before closing out the regular season against Saddleback at home on Nov. 20.
THIS MOMENT BEGAN WITH A CHOICE.
CELESTE WALTER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SOFT HANDS: Running back Reggie Turner Jr. makes a one-handed grab at practice. JOSH LAKEY
STAFF WRITER The Tigers rally and perform their third shutout of the season against the College of the Desert Roadrunners on Nov. 9. Quarterback Skylar Howard threw for four touchdowns and one interception on 41 attempts of which 28 were completed. Howard is currently first in conference with 275.4 passing yards per game and first in total yards with 1,567 yards on the season. He is also second in conference with 18 touchdowns. On the ground game, Denzel Foster who only ran for 47 yards on 15 rushing attempts, tallied up a touchdown, which places Foster in the top five in conference in rushing touchdowns with six and number one in yards per game with 107.2. The biggest play of the night came from Howard who connected a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kenny Torrence in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Torrence recorded six catches for 85 yards with the 31-yard connection from Howard being his only touchdown of the night. Wide receiver Devon Blackmon who totaled four receptions for 54 yards in the game caught one of Howard’s three other touchdown completions, with Marquis Thompson and Kendell Moore both attributing to the other two. The Tigers remain second in the SoCal team standings with an 8-1 overall record and a 5-0 record in the Central Conference. The Tigers trail the Fullerton Hornets in the SoCal standings. The Hornets were the Tigers’ only loss of the season and remain undefeated. The Tigers host the number three ranked Mt. SAC Mounties, also 8-1 for the season, on Nov. 16 at Wheelock Field. With the Central Conference Title and an automatic berth into the four-team Southern California regional playoffs, the game is a must win for both programs.
Cross country finishes year at finals meet VICTORIA RANDALL STAFF WRITER
RCC Men’s cross-country team won second Place to Orange Coast College at the Orange Empire Conference Finals on Nov. 1 with a score of 62 points and a total time of 1:49:42. The women’s team finished in third place, lead by Orange Coast in first and
Fullerton in second. Their total time was 1:45:22. The rivalry between RCC and OCC has been ongoing, with RCC taking the top spot last year and OCC taking it this year. From there the Tigers moved on to the SoCal cross-country championship, where the men finished 10th and the women finished in 19th. The Men’s team “qualified for the eighth straight year and ran a good race,” says RCC coach Jim McCarron.
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Sports
November 14, 2013 | 12
Serving students since 1922
J.B. on the ball
This month in Tiger Athletics Football
Men’s Water Polo
Season Record 7-1
Conference 4-0
Next Game: at Desert
JOHN BRAXTON STAFF WRITER
Stress to win Is there anything wrong with working hard and putting a person’s health on the line from week to week? Growing up in such a competitive world that we live in, most of us are taught at an early age todo whatever we want to do in life and do it to the best of your ability. Which in reality, means go above and beyond to achieve success, without even realizing how good of health he or she may be in. Success can sometimes come at a costly rate. Football is already a rough enough sport, with a 16-game season you can imagine players getting hurt and injuries to occur during the season, but when you see coaches passing out on the field a lot comes to mind, are these coaches getting enough rest? Not at all, with any sport coaching is demanding especially in the national football league its kind of a “win at any cause” type of an approach. Being a head NFL coach is far from a cake walk, studying film making big time decisions that can win or lose your team the ballgame is very stressful and is slowly causing concern for the friends and families of these coaches, these are people just like everyone else but with the such a demanding schedule there is simply just not enough time to take of the health of these coaches. On Nov. 3, Head coach Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans attempted a casual jog leaving the sideline after the first half the game had been reached, he collapsed at the age of 52. It was later determined by doctors that Kubiak had suffered from a transient ischemic attack, which in reality is close to a mini stroke. After missing one game, Kubiak will return to the sidelines to coach his team against the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 17. Kubiak is not the only coach that has had health complications this season. John Fox, head coach of the Denver Broncos, will have to undergo surgery to replace an aortic heart valve. Fox will not be able to finish the season with his team at the age of 58. These coaches are still fairly young, but in this brutal business it is obvious and facts prove that health comes last on the agenda, if at all. It makes perfect sense, the general managers of these big time multimillion dollar franchises expect nothing short of greatness for their organizations, if not, then they will be fired. Coaches have families just like regular people. So when they are fired from a job sometimes your entire family may have to relocate to find work. No matter the circumstances, they believe the team must win even if it kills them.
Season Record 9-6
Conference 5-2
Next Game: State Championships
Women’s Water Polo Season Record 14-3
Conference 6-2
Next Game: State Championship
Sept. 7
vs. Ventura
59-41 W
Oct. 26
at Cuesta
14-11 L
Oct. 16
vs. Santa Ana
Sept. 14
at Palomar
41-0 W
Oct. 30
at Golden West
13-4 L
Oct. 18
RCC mini tourn.
Sept. 21
vs. Saddleback
38-31 W
Nov. 7-9
OEC Championships
Oct. 23
vs. Fullerton
Sept. 28
at LA Harbor
71-0 W
Nov. 8
vs. Saddleback
Oct. 25
vs. Long Beach
Oct. 5
vs. Long Beach
42-28 W
Nov. 9
at Fullerton
Oct. 26
vs. Fullerton
13-7 W
Oct. 12
at Fullerton
36-38 L
Nov. 14
So Cal Championships
Oct. 26
vs. Golden West
17-9 L
Oct. 19
at El Camino
48-25 W
Nov. 22
State Championship
Oct. 30
at Golden West
11-9 L
Oct. 26
vs. Citrus
51-50 W
Nov. 7-9
OEC Championships
Nov. 9
at Desert
40-0 W
Nov. 7
at Fullerton
11-6 W
Nov. 16
vs. Mt. San Antonio 6pm
Nov. 9
vs. Golden West
12-8 L
Nov. 14
So Cal Championships
Nov. 22
State Championships
Volleyball Season Record 7-12
13-8 W 11-8 W
Season Record 2-0
Next Game: at Golden West
Conference 0-0
Next Game: vs. San Mateo at San Barbara
TBA 14-7 W TBA
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Conference 3-8
3pm
Season Record 1-2
Conference 0-0
Next Game: Victor Valley @ S.B.C. Tourney
Oct. 11
vs. Cypress
3-2 L
Nov. 7
vs. Cabrillo @ Bakersfield 67-47 W
Nov. 7
vs. Foothill @ SJCC 80-62 W
Oct. 16
vs. Orange Coast
3-2 L
Nov. 8
at Bakersfield
59-53 W
Nov. 8
vs. Merritt @ SJCC 81-63 L
Oct. 18
at Fullerton
3-0 L
Nov. 13
at Mira Costa
TBA
Nov. 9
vs. Lassen @ SJCC 82-65 L
Oct. 23
vs. Golden West
1-0 L
Nov. 21
vs. San Mateo @ San Barbara
Nov. 15
vs. Antelope Valley @ S.B.C. 6 pm
Oct. 25
at Saddleback
3-0 W
Dec. 5
vs. Porterville @ Visalia*
Nov. 16
vs. Victor Valley @ S.B.C 5 pm
Oct. 30
at Irvine Valley
3-0 L
Jan. 8
vs. Saddleback
Nov. 17
at San Bernardino @ S.B.C 5 pm
Nov. 1
vs. Santa Ana
3-0 W
Jan. 10
at Santa Ana
Nov. 19
at San Diego Miramar 6 pm
Nov. 6
at Cypress
3-2 L
Jan. 15
at Fullerton
Dec. 7
College of Southern Idaho 7 pm
Nov. 8
at Orange Coast
3-0 L
Jan. 17
Cypress
Dec. 10
vs. Desert @ RCC Tourny 7 pm
Nov. 13
vs. Fullerton
6 pm
Jan. 24
Irvine Valley
Dec. 18
at Fresno 5 pm
Nov. 15
at Golden West
6 pm
Nov. 20
vs. Saddleback
6 pm
*= Gilcrest Tournament at Sequoias
vs. MiraCosta @ C.O.C 1 pm Dec. 27 S.B.C. = San Bernardino Classic
New look Tigers get season started
LUIS SOLIS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HAND CHECK: The RCC Tigers men’s basketball team faces the new challenge of having a new head coach, Phillip Mattews. JAMES WILLIAMS SPORTS EDITOR
Former UCLA assistant basketball coach Philip Mathews is the new Riverside City College men’s basketball coach following the departure of John Smith. Mathews returns to the junior college coaching scene for the first time since 2006 when he coached at San Bernardino Valley College. Not only is Mathews a new face to the program, but also many of the players on the roster are new to the program. Most of the roster consists of freshman
and college transfers. There are three returning players from last season’s team on the current roster. Anthony Rounds and Kendall Schmidt were key contributors for the Tigers last season. Keenan Braden was a redshirt last year. Other players who could have returned to the program decided to play at other college players like Nate Robinson, who is attending Mount San Antonio College. Mathews coached the Tigers on the court for the teams first live game action of the season during the San Jose City College Tip-Off Tournament.
The Tigers returned back from the tournament with a 1-2 record. The team managed to win their season debut against Foothill, 80-62, on Nov. 7. Following the win, the Tigers took to the court on the next day but fell short to Merritt, 81-63. The Tigers second loss followed after a game against Lassen, 82-65, on Nov. 9. RCC will play Antelope Valley on Nov. 15 in the first of the team’s three games as part of the San Bernardino Classic. Game time is at 6 p.m. The Tigers other two opponents include Victory Valley College and host San Bernardino on Nov. 16 and 17.
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November 14, 2013| 13
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OpinionS
VIEWPOINTS
EDITORIAL
WRC time stands still
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Destiny Rivera 951-222-8494 viewpoints@rcc.edu MANAGING EDITOR Travis West viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Nishe Butler 951-536-2511 viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Jim Burns NEWS EDITOR Josa Lamont viewpoints.news@gmail.com OPINIONS EDITOR Mark Anthony viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com INSCAPE EDITOR Alyssa Aldrete viewpoints.inscape@gmail.com FEATURES EDITOR Nicholle Salvatierra viewpoints.features@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR James Williams viewpoints.sports@gmail.com PHOTO EDITOR Michael Walter viewpoints.photo@gmail.com
MICHEAL WALTER/ PHOTO EDITOR
WRC TRAFFIC: Students wait in line for their appointment time, or the lucky chance of a spot to open inside. There’s an irony in the fact that on its brochure he Writing and Reading Center emphasizes “self-paced.“ It’s hard to imagine the purpose of the writing center to be anything other than a waste of students and faculty’s time. Riverside City College’s WRC is designed to help students in English classes to work toward success at their own pace. Anyone standing in the extensive line to get into the vacant WRC would argue that the WRC is far from “self-paced.” The WRC is inaccessible. A new appointment-based system was implemented to hopefully alleviate the long lines and impossible wait times, but while improvements are obvious, they’re slight and only begin to touch on the real issue. You can make an appointment online for one hour per week, but then you wait in line 10-20 minutes for your appointment. If you miss an appointment you could also try to wing it in a daring hope that you may get into one of the 11 wild card slots available every hour, but you have to carefully weigh your odds of waiting in line for hours to get in. Theoretically, the system would function if only students would use it correctly. But the legitimacy of that claim is debatable. If a pretense is required to say that something functions, can you really say that it functions? If the system they’re now implementing worked, it would be working and students would be getting into the WRC logging their mandatory hours and making their class grades.
ONLINE EDITOR Marissa Bostick viewpoints.online@gmail.com
STAFF David Gonzalez Mark Howard Dominique Smith Luis Solis Celeste Walter Monsoon Muwwakkil Ariel White Erick Lopez Daniel Ghandari Rafael Rios Zachary Ingram Alejandra Garcia
Aaliyah Noble Patricia Mejia Markese Braxton John Braxton Lucinda Mattews Victoria Randall Joshua Lakey Luis Solis Juan Gonzalez Valerie Osier Daniel Mata Conner Munson
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REACH US: Associated Collegiate Press
There would not be lines daily between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. around the corner of the building for students struggling to meet their quota. Not only does the WRC struggle in regular class weeks, but hours of the lab will reduce during finals week, and only students enrolled in eight-week classes will have access to the lab at its peak demand for midterms and finals. While the goal of the WRC is to help students, and not “to exist just to exist,” the application is impeding more than helpful. Currently the WRC poses more of a hindrance to students than an opportunity. It is ill equipped to meet the student demand, and attempts to make it better have improved the situation, but not yet solved the problem. This semester the WRC requirement for hours was dropped from 16 to 12.54 due to problems they had with changes and technical issues. Allegedly the system is much improved from the old system where people would binge on hours and take up tables, forcing students outside to wait for hours as the lines wrapped around the building, but the improvements are slight at best. While English classes all require a specific amount of logged hours, and nearly all students need English, the campus is inadequately equipped to support the demands it makes of students to attend. Maybe a larger, more accommodating WRC is unrealistic financially, but something needs to be done if the school is going to make demands that it cannot accommodate.
PHONE: (951) 222-8488 E-MAIL: viewpoints@rcc.edu Editor in Chief PHONE: (951) 222-8495
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14 | November 14, 2013
Opinions
Serving students since 1922
Black Friday battles tradition JOSA LAMONT STAFF EDITOR
In 1939 crowds raged and protests erupted to the absolute immoral affront to the principles of Thanksgiving when Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to hold Thanksgiving one week early. Or maybe that’s just how we’d like to believe it went. In reality, people were angered by the general inconvenience of the shift and the newly inaccurate preprinted calendars. Small businesses, calendar makers and football coaches erupted in an enflamed capitalistic protest supported by individual states determined to stand against the change to their schedules planned far in advance. Football season was planned around Thanksgiving, and now it was moving! Consumers complained of the general silliness and chaos of the transition. The one week leap was meant to kick start the economy and drag the nation out of the final grasps of the Great Depression but the move enraged those with a vested interest in the gratuitous holiday. Governors boycotted the shift, varying holiday dates from state to state, giving family members different dates to celebrate across borders. In 1941 people were forced to adjust when Roosevelt pushed the agenda through congress, officially declaring Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of every November, signaling the official change of the priorities of the nation toward Thanksgiving. Economically the logic was sound. There would be more time to shop on those rare Novembers with five Thursdays. But pulling the nation out of a Great Depression wasn’t enough to unify the nation behind changing the sanctity of the start of football season. Today the “sanctity” of Thanksgiving is at stake with the progressive development of Black Thursday. Every year Black Friday rings in the Christmas shopping season, but since 2010 major retailers have been sliding their sales forward to the Thursday of Thanksgiving, Black Friday has been losing its relevance. Families kiss their loved ones goodbye for the holiday as corporations enlist their labor for the retail extravaganza that once meant something bigger. If the shift from the last Thursday of the month to the fourth in 1939 was an attack on the value of Thanksgiving, then
the shift of Black Friday to Black Thursday is a sacrilege. Corporations would have us believe the point of Thanksgiving is to buy toys, appliances and gadgets at discounted rates, bypassing the Sentiment altogether. And over the years, little by little our Sense of moral indignation is pushed further from where we remember it beginning. Our priorities as a nation are manipulated by the alleged implementation of a greater good. We are wooed by the idea that the greater good is what is good for our “greaters,” and we have bought into the corporate reasoning that consumption means economic altruism. Thanksgiving’s conception was led not by the ideal of brighter horizons but by brighter windows. Now we look back and wonder where the moment was that we stepped off the path of genuine gratitude and fell into greed. Thanksgiving began as a holiday scattered among many states, and each state that implemented it held their day of thanks on a different date. Sarah Josepha Hale, mother, author and women’s journal editor, fought to have Thanksgiving as a national holiday in heartfelt appeals to her readership. “It is a festival which will never become obsolete, for it cherishes the best affections of the heart the social and domestic ties,” wrote Hale. “It calls together the dispersed members of the family circle, and brings plenty, joy gladness to the dwellings of the poor and lowly.” Hale believed in the importance of Thanksgiving as a nationally celebrated holiday for families to be filled with gratitude and for the nation to reflect on its values and history. She campaigned for 36 years until 1863, when Thanksgiving was made a national holiday under President Lincoln. It would take another 61 years for the holiday to become an official consumer cue. In 1924, with the start of the Thanksgiving Day Parade came the birth of Black Friday, coined for being the day businesses went from the red or negative profits, to the black or increasing their margins. So for the last 86 years Thanksgiving has been coexisting with Black Friday, sharing a complicated dynamic of gratitude followed by an insatiable need to acquire. But in 2010 an affront on behalf of Black Friday into Thanksgiving Day territory began the cultural battle we now fight. Sears made Black Friday into Black Thursday, encroaching
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ILLUSTRATION BY: CELESTE WALTER
SHOPPER VALUE: Shoppers keep the priorities of the season in line with corporate culture. Sales and deals inspire violence with demand outnumbering supply in hectic holiday stores. o n t h e i n v i o l a b i l i t y o f family tradition. And today we press on in the war on fulfillment, while more and more stores join the struggle to stay relevant and compete in the harsh consumer climate that is the Christmas season. CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Toys-R-Us, Belk, Kohl’s, JC Penny, Macy’s, Office Max, Sears and Starbucks are among stores expected to stay open on Thanksgiving. Employees from Kmart have been vocal against the change. While they had accepted partial work days last year when the store was open into the afternoon, this year employees
moved from the last Thursday to the fourth Thursday of November, not everyone minds the impact on tradition. While people like Corina Nunez and her family don’t look forward to work, others celebrate differently. “I’m personally OK with it,” the Tyler Galleria Body Basics employee, Jacqueline Herrera said. “I think it’s maybe my own experience. My parents usually go on vacation on Thanksgiving so we usually have a Thanksgiving breakfast before they head out to Vegas. After they leave I’m just kind of home not doing anything.” Having to work doesn’t really bother Herrera, or many other young adults l o o k i n g forward to increased pay. Jacqueline Herrera “I’m personally OK with (working on Thanksgiving)” said Toys-R-Us employee Becky Oropeza. “Money is Money” Teens and young adults may have never been terribly interested in Thanksgiving in the past, but today it seems like they look forward to the money over family. The youthful mindset seems to align with corporate culture. But teens also seem to sense that the culture is changing. “I guess it depends on who you ask because Thanksgiving really means a lot to a lot of people, I don’t really think Thanksgiving
“Thanksgiving really means a lot to a lot of people, I don’t really think Thanksgiving has a politically correct meaning anymore.” are expected to keep the store open the full day and their sense of family weighs on their minds more heavily than in the past. “I feel terrible,” said Kohl’s employee Corina Nunez about working Thanksgiving Day. “I don’t want to do it. But we’re forced because if we don’t work the Thanksgiving Day we don’t get paid for the holiday.” National and international corporations are encouraging their stores to open earlier and earlier to get the advantage in consumer markets. But like when Thanksgiving
has a politically correct meaning anymore,” Herrera said. “I don’t think that it’s rooted in American culture I thinks it’s more just sentimental.” But Nunez and others her demographic still believe in family. She struggles to make ends meet against the idea of corporate greed taking over her home life. “I think (corporations) value more the money than the family gathering of the one day throughout the whole year,” Nunez said. Her son Chris Nunez is a student at RCC, and she says her family doesn’t look forward to her working either. She hoped to spend the holiday at home with her family. The move represents an invasive step into home culture and values that can be a difficult enemy for the common man to resist. The person paying your paycheck holds the power, and they want Black Friday sooner so it means more sales. The move of Black Friday isn’t the only encouragement companies offer to get people in the Christmas spirit early. It’s coupled by the strategic playing of Christmas music after Halloween to get shoppers to think of shopping. The response is generally that of outrage. People sense the manipulation going on around them, and it angers and frustrates them to lose the sense of value they cling to from all their favorite sentimental and meaningful holidays.
Viewpoints
November 14, 2013| 15
Not so Incognito
Opinions
TRAVIS WEST
MANAGING EDITOR In sports, a locker room is a place of bonding. A brotherhood is built through blood, sweat and tears that come from enduring hours of grueling conditioning on the field. The Miami Dolphin’s locker room lost something on Oct. 28 when offensive lineman Jonathan Martin left the organization after an incident during the team’s lunch that proved to be the final straw. Martin has accused his teammate Richie Incognito of “bullying” him. Since Martin left, the Dolphins have suspended Incognito indefinitely, leaving a
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helpless team scrambling to fill spots. Martin’s abrupt absence comes in the wake of a voice message from Incognito. The message from Incognito to Martin… “Hey, wassup, you half n—– piece of (expletive) . . . I saw you on Twitter, you been training ten weeks. (I want to) (expletive) in your (expletive) mouth. (I’m going to) slap your (expletive) mouth. (I’m going to) slap your real mother across the face (laughter). (Expletive) you, you’re still a rookie. I’ll kill you.” Although Incognito may seem like the bad guy in this situation, it may not be that clear. Martin also sent Incognito an Internet meme of a woman holding a puppy with a caption saying, “I will murder your whole (expletive) family.” Many rookies in all professional sports deal with some type of hazing or rite of passage. Ve t e r a n s t a k e i t u p o n themselves to introduce rookies to the professional ranks. Every year, rookies are
‘Reality’ vs. Reality
MARISSA BOSTICK STAFF EDITOR
Reality is defined as the state of things as they actually exist, rather than how they may appear or might be imagined however shows like Preachers of LA and Bad Girls Club really make you question if there is anything real in reality television. Do the preachers in “Preachers of LA” really live these grandiose lives or is it all rented to portray this mega pastor image they wish existed for them? Are the people on The Bachelor/ette really looking for love or just a chance to be on national television? Reality television has this unholy knack of glorifying all the wrong things in society and perpetuates this false sense of “if I do this I can be just like that person” mentality. What kind of example does that set for today’s youth when the only rags to riches story they seem to care about is Kim Kardashian and her journey from sex tape to possibly getting married rap superstar Kanye West? Some reality shows play out more like scripted dramas or rather daytime soaps so predictable it’s almost unbearable. Shows like Vh1’s Love and hip-hop show this perfectly. The show shadows the lives of new, old and often forgotten hip-hop “stars.”
Often words in the show lack authenticity making it apparent that what people say aren’t always their own thoughts. If only life was that undeniably simple that when you need an idea of what to do next was already written down for you. When the words in your brain just don’t seem right a list of suggestions could be handed to you on the sly. There really can’t possibly be an abundance of ignorance and excessive drama as television executives put out for our viewing pleasure. There’s usually no sign of intelligence life present on shows placed in the reality TV category. Is the average woman really as aggressive as the young ladies of Oxygen’s Bad Girls Club or has someone cleverly found a way to expose mob mentality? No matter how much you don’t like the cast, you can’t help but watch another episode all in to see if misfortune befalls them. Makes you think about how these people are hand-picked solely because they’re a vile and so ignorant it’s almost scary. At least with most reality competition shows the contestants seem to be real people. So You Think You Can Dance has real dancers auditioning trying to make their dreams. The Voice actually judges real people on their ability to sing based on nothing but their voice. Is there a secret formula executives and ratings hounds have concocted that keeps us coming back? What does it say about us a people that we sit religiously in front of televisions watching this perpetual filth instead of dealing with our real issues? I guess you’ll just have to tune in next week to find out.
greeted with four figure meal tabs, handfuls of equipment to carry and the occasional humiliation of being taped to the goal post. It most cases, it is all in good spirit and fun, however, when is the lined crossed? We all have a limit to have much we can take until we fight back and it appaers Martin reached his limit. Once his rookie year was over, Martin was under the impression that his second year would be different, and when he found out that it was going to be more of the same, he brokedown. Incognito has had a reputation of being a troublemaker in the past and has been voted as the dirtiest player in the NFL by his peers in the past. Martin has moved back to Southern California with his family where his is receiving counseling, while Incognito awaits his inevitable suspension. Both players are out of a job and an organization is under scrutiny. This has no place in any work place. Martin is a second year player and Incognito is in his eighth year. It is clear that Incognito used to his seniority to bully Martin,
TRAVIS WEST / STAFF EDITOR
DESERTED: some athletes see hazing as a rite of passage for
rookies on the team while some players take the tradition too far.
and while Martin should have stood up for himself, someone else should have as well. As a young man, Martin wanted to earn the respect of his peers. Martin’s eagerness to fit in may have been misconstrued as weakness by Incognito. There is much to still be sorted out in this tangled mess. But I think we can all agree that
there is no place for any belittling in the workplace. The NFL has told Miami Dolphin owner Stephen Ross to hold off on his meeting with Martin until an investigation is done. Outside of the traditional hazing, players need to know that the man they are fighting next to is also the man that will pick him up when he falls.
Mandatory orientations are scheduled in the Journalism Building on February 18, 19, 20 and 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. (attend any one of these meetings).
Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
16 | October 31, 2013
Opinions
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