Viewpoints Fall 2017 issue No. 3 October 5, 2017 by RCC Viewpoints

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VOL. XCVIII, NO. 3

OCTOBER 5, 2017

District supports DACA students New resolution will urge Congress to provide protections to DACA recipients

SHEKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

The Board of Trustees meets Oct. 3 to discuss a resolution that would protect DACA students. SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

With President Donald Trump’s latest announcement of his plan to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, DACA recipients across the nation were faced with an uncertain future. Since its creation, DACA has

protected almost 800,000 people and allowed them to work and get their education. The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees met Oct. 3 met to introduce a resolution that will reaffirm the district’s support of DACA students within the California Community College system and urged Congress to act to provide immediate and permanent legal

protections for DACA students. With Resolution 04-17/18, the district will urge California’s congressional members to uphold the state’s values by pushing for protections that will permit thousands of California DACA recipients to achieve their highest potential. “We are unsure of the future of DACA, but I assure you that we will continue to ceaselessly

advocate for our students and for a legislative solution that protects our students,” Chancellor Michael Burke said in the statement. The resolution was voted unanimously by all four of the present board members: Bill Hendricks, Mary Figueroa, Virginia Blumenthal and Janet Green. Figueroa was quick to express her happiness with the district’s resolution. “I like that we pointed out the contributions that the DACA community has given to the nation economically,” Figueroa said. The resolution referenced a recent analysis conducted by the CATO Institute that stated that the elimination of DACA could result in the U.S. economy being reduced by $215 billion while the federal government could lose $60 billion in tax revenues. “Conservatives tend to try to paint the picture of the lazy immigrant, but that’s just not the case,” Figueroa said. With the passing of the resolution, Blumenthal expressed her concern over its wording, such as the use of the word “committed” as opposed to “convicted” when describing DACA recipient’s potential criminal record as well as making

sure that the resolution covered those that were currently serving in armed forces. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, of the nearly 800,000 DACA recipients in the United States, 222,795 of them live in California. The DACA program was established by the Obama administration in June 2012 to provide administrative relief from deportation to individuals who applied for and received DACA status from the federal government. This is not the first time that the district has taken action to support their students. In Feb. 2017, the Board of Trustees passed two resolutions that were issued as students and faculty expressed concern about what actions the district would take to protect targeted students from actions carried out by the Trump administration. Resolution 38-16/17, entitled Support of Student Access and Protection, promises students that the district will not release information regarding their immigration status “without a judicial warrant, subpoena or court order” unless authorized by the student or required by the law. Resolution 43-16/17, entitled

See RESOLUTION on Page 2

Banned Books Week celebrates freedom to read SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Did you know that more than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982? From Sept. 24 to Sept. 30, Banned Books Week was celebrated across the nation to raise awareness about, as well as celebrate, the freedom and right to read. The event was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating that highlights the value of free and open access to information. Since launching the event in 1982, over 37 books have been either banned or challenged in Riverside, California.

Here are 5 cases of books that have been banned or challenged in Riverside: “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway was banned from schools in Riverside in 1960 for its language, use of profanity and central focus on sex. As of 2017, the classic is number 18 on the American Library Association’s banned book list. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green was banned from middle schools in the Riverside Unified School District in Sept. 2014 after parents complained about the subject matter of teenagers dying of cancer, use of crude language and sexual content. The ban was lifted in Dec. 2014 after the school board decided that it was unconstitutional to go through with the ban. Webster’s Dictionary was

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banned from a Riverside elementary school for a few days in Jan. 2010 after parents complained about the dictionary’s entries detailing references to various types of oral sex. “The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier was banned from RUSD schools in 1996 after being deemed as inappropriate for seventh and eighth graders to read due to its language, portrayal of bullying and some character’s sexual ponderings. “Rabbit is Rich” by John Updike was banned from Riverside schools in 2014. The banning occurred after parents in that district protested Updike’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book as pornographic. Half the fun of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that the books have and will continue to remain available. FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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INDEX VOL. XCVIII NO. 3 October 5, 2017

NEWS 1 LIFE 5 SPORTS 8 OPINIONS 10 EDITORIAL 11

News

October 5, 2017

RCC hosts DACA workshop

SHEKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

Immigration attorney Rosa Elena Sahagun speaks to students about the DACA program. SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Immigration attorney Rosa Elena Sahagun came to Riverside City College Sept. 28 to discuss the next steps of recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Within minutes of beginning her presentation, Sahagun stated that if DACA recipients miss the Oct. 5 deadline for renewal, the chances of them gaining renewal is impossible. “The Trump administration is taking a hard stance on immigration,” Sahagun said. “No delayed applications will be accepted.” “The common feeling I see among the DACA community is feeling like they shouldn’t stay in school,” Sahagun said. Sahagun is no stranger to the hardships that come with immigrating to the United States. After becoming a citizen as a young child through the amnesty program in the 1980s, Sahagun’s family struggled to survive in their new environment, with her father having to work in restaurants, fields and landscapes to make ends meet with his elementary school education. When she became pregnant with her son at a young age, Sahagun attended Chapman

University, graduating with honors as one of the few minority students in her class before earning her doctorate at Chapman University School of Law and beginning her law practice in 2002. “I do not take excuses for not pursuing your education easily,” Sahagun said. Sahagun told attendees that if they were able to receive benefits from AB 540 that they should continue to apply for that assistance. AB 540 is a bill that allows undocumented students who meet certain requirements to pay in-state tuition instead of outof-state tuition in California’s higher institutions, such as the University of California, California State Universities and California Community Colleges. “Do not assume that applying for AB 540 help will hurt your immigration future in the long run,” Sahagun said. Sahagun encouraged attendees against opening the door for anyone that they suspected could be members of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE. “Do not grant them entrance to your home,” Sahagun said. “Once you open your door, you are granting them permission to enter and search your home.” Sahagun also referenced a statement from RCCD’s police department that stated that none

of their officers would cooperate with and provide aide to ICE officials should they come to deport students. A major theme of Sahagun’s presentation was about people protecting themselves from immigration fraud after seeing so many of her clients scammed by notaries and paralegals. In attendance were many RCCD staff and faculty members, i n c l u d i n g M o r e n o Va l l e y counselor Sal Soto, RCC’s Vice President of Student Services FeRita Carter, that came with the intention of learning how to best guide their students during this time of uncertainty. “ We w i l l s u p p o r t o u r students,” Soto said. This is a sentiment that has been reiterated throughout the Riverside Community College District with the administration continuously stating the colleges’ commitment to supporting all students and maintaining welcoming and safe educational environments. “I assure you that we will continue to ceaselessly advocate for our students and for a legislative solution that protects our students,” Chancellor Michael Burke said in a statement released to students, staff and faculty Sept. 5. Sahagun will be offering students free consultation at her law offices in Riverside and Indio.

Board passes new resolution RESOLUTION from Page 1

Support and Protection of a Culture of Care, was put in place to assure students that the district would “vigorously advocate at every level of government to protect our students and our system’s values” and that the district would not cooperate with any efforts to create a registry at individuals based on any protected characteristics such as religion, national origin, race or sexual orientation. “The colleges of the RCCD remain committed to supporting all students and maintaining welcoming and safe educational environments,” Burke said in a statement.

Though acting on their own accord, all community colleges in California have been encouraged to pass similar resolutions by the California Community Colleges. “In California, we don’t put dreams ― or Dreamers ― on hold, ” CCC Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley said in a statement. “The California Community Colleges remain committed to serving all students, regardless of immigration status, and to providing safe and welcoming environments in which to learn.” As of Oct. 3, most of California’s community colleges have passed or are in the process of drafting a suitable resolution

that will further reassure their students that their administration will fight for them. “This is definitely a step in the right direction,” Figueroa said. The rescindation of the DACA program is an ongoing battle between certain states and Trump. As of Sept. 6, a total of 15 states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit with the intention of putting a stop to the recission, the announcement has effectively sent DACA recipients into a state of panic and uncertainty for what the future holds.

Remembering Angie Gomez

Riverside City College students, staff and faculty mourn the loss of RCC student Angie Gomez, who was one of the 59 people that were killed in the tragic shooting that occured in Las Vegas on Oct. 1. The staff of Viewpoints offers their deepest condolences to Angie’s friends and family, as well as anyone else that has been affected by this senseless act of violence. Professional support is available through the Employee Assistant Program. Student Health and Psychological Services are also available to those that need them. Riverside Community College District campuses will be lowering its flags this week to half-staff in honor of Angie.

NEWS BRIEFS Transfer Fair 2017 The Riverside City College Transfer Center will be hosting a Transfer Fair Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the A.G. Paul Quadrangle. Students will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from four-year institutions such as University of California, California State University and private/independent universities. This event is free and open to the public.

Degree and certificate application deadline The deadline for students to apply for their degree or certificate is Oct. 15 if they want to graduate in the fall. In order to complete the application, students must have completed 45 units or be in progress to do so, successfully completed Riverside Community College District’s ENG-IA and Math 1-36 and have sent all of their transcripts from other colleges to the district before the deadline. To apply for degrees and certificates, students will need to log into WebAdvisor and choose “Application for Graduation” from the Student Menu.

FAFSA 2018-2019 application available now Applications for 2018-19 federal student financial aid are now available. FAFSA is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation, providing more than $120 billion in federal grants, loans and workstudy funds each year to more than 13 million students paying for college or career school. Some states and schools have limited funds, so don’t hesitate.

AMPUS CRIMES Sept. 14 Vandalism A student’s car was vandalized with graffiti in parking Lot B at 12:30 p.m. No suspect has been identified. Sept. 20 Hit and Run A hit and run left a student’s car damaged in the parking structure at 8 a.m. No suspect information has been released. Sept. 22 Grand Theft A student reported that their photography equipment and backpack had been stolen from Lot Y at 10 p.m.

October 5, 2017

News

Climate change affects food JOSHUA BURCIAGA @RCCviewpoints

The world is getting warmer. Whether one believes it’s man-made or naturally made; regardless, it’s just one of the many things it was made to do. In a polarized debate about climate change, one thing is for certain: the rate of CO2 in the air is rising. CO2 and sunlight are the two essential ingredients needed for plants to grow. One would think that if one increases the amount of sunlight, CO2, or both, one would attain a higher yield when growing crops. That’s exactly what happened, but it came at a price. Since the industrialization of our agriculture, Western society has introduced a new era of cheap and bountiful amounts of food and produce for the world’s population, but here lies the issue. “A diet based on quantity rather than quality has ushered a new creature onto the world stage: the human being who manages to be both overfed and undernourished, two characteristics seldom found in the same body in the long natural history of our species,” Michael Pollan said. Michael Pollan is an advocate for healthy eating and living habits, and helps to simplify the situation. Pollan and other biologists have been aware that the nutritional value of Earth’s produce has been slowly declining. Important vitamins such as protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin C have declined in our produce over the recent decades. “To put this in more concrete terms, you now have to eat three apples to get the same amount of iron as you would have gotten from a single 1940s apple,” Pollan said. The fact that a person has to eat at least three times more food in order to get their required nutrients could explain why food related illnesses such as obesity, insulin resistance and heart attacks are becoming more widespread. Various researchers and professors argue that the decline of nutrients derives from the poor health of the soil, while others argue that the type of produce we choose to grow aren’t as nutrient packed as other types we have available. It wasn’t up until recently that a small amount of scholars and professors began to connect this phenomenon to climate change. This is synonymous with the recent research conducted by mathematician Irakli Loladze. In a biology lab at Arizona State University, Loladze was studying zooplankton, which are microscopic animals in a sense.

SHEKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

Student Sustainability Collective President Stephanie Fowler volunteers in community garden. These zooplankton rely heavily on the nutrient packed algae that grows on all four corners of the Earth. Politico reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich points out in her article that in 1998, scientists discovered that by shining more light on the algae, one is able to make the algae grow faster, resulting in a higher yield. “When the researchers shined more light on the algae, the algae grew faster, and the tiny animals had lots and lots to eat, but at a certain point they started struggling to survive,” Evich said. “This was a paradox. More food should lead to more growth.” How could excess food result in health problems for both humans and zooplankton? What is happening to the food? Isn’t food growth supposed to be beneficial to society big and small? Plants rely on sunlight and CO2 to grow, however, the amount of sunlight that plants are exposed to will always remain the same, but the amount of CO2 that plants have been exposed to has steadily been rising over the past century. As it turns out, if one increases a plant’s CO2 intake, it causes the cells responsible for photosynthesis to go into overdrive. This causes the plant to focus more on creating carbohydrates such as glucose and other simple sugars while neglecting to make more essential nutrients such as protein, iron, or zinc, the type of

“

nutrients we need to survive. American dentist Weston Price, researched the inextricable

further by applying this concept to bees. The bee population has been dwindling down to the point where they are now classified as endangered species. Scientists and researchers have linked this to pesticides and the introduction of invasive species brought -- Virginia White irresponsibly by humans. There were many theories as to why the bee population has been dying off, but only a handful have attributed this to climate link between the health of our change. ecosystem and the health of our Bees rely heavily on people. Goldenrod, a wildflower that Price was quick to point out blooms late in the fall season. that humans ate cattle, cattle ate This flower contains the essential grasses and the grass thrived on nutrients that bees need in order the Sun. to hibernate long enough to “The dinner we have eaten survive winter. tonight was a part of the sun but “They found that the protein a few months ago,” Price said in content of goldenrod pollen a 1928 lecture to his students. has declined by a third since Price’s theory suggested that the industrial revolution and the if the health of one’s cattle, change closely tracks with the grasses or sun were to deteriorate, rise of CO2,” Evich said. then their health would deteriorate The research composed as well. by plant physiologist Lewis Humans are inextricably Ziska suggests that this is yet linked to a complex food web that another hindrance that an already connects all the way to the sun. vulnerable species has to deal If any member of this food web with, making the bumble bee were to suffer, then anything and species’ future all the more dire. anyone involved in it will suffer This may also help explain as well. why thousands of dead fish have Evich reminds her readers been washing up on American that Loladze’s findings have been shores recently. consistent worldwide and has had Environmentalists and profound effects on the world’s ecologists have been befuddled ecosystem. by this phenomenon, but just like Evich even takes it a step before, no one has linked these

“Every factor plays an important role.”

unusual deaths to climate change. Professor Virginia White from Riverside City College’s math and science department offers her expertise on the matter. She informs that there are many other factors contributing to the demise of the bumble bee population, but in regards to fish, she’s a little more convinced by the correlations. Remember that fish, just like the zooplankton, rely off of algae in order to survive, and that whales eat microscopic organisms that also rely on algae as its main food source. “If the nutrient content in algae is deficient, it affects everything, but one has to remember that rising CO2 is not the only factor degrading our oceans. Every factor plays an important role,” said White. Climate change should concern anybody, especially those living in the Inland Empire, as we are notorious for our polluted air. However, professor White isn’t as worried about the long term implications of climate change on our produce. “A large number of plant and crop species are not strongly affected by atmospheric carbon pressure,” White said. “Plants categorized as C3 plants are periodically prone to damage while C4 plants such as grass crops can combat this problem altogether.” C3 crops, which make up the majority of crops that are grown, are still being affected by rising CO2 levels, but White is confident that the U.S. is handling the issue correctly. “I don’t think climate change is as big as an issue when it comes to our food. The U.S. has strict and rigorous regulations put in place for our crops,” White said. It’s understandable for one to be concerned, but rest assured, the scientific and educated community are convoluting different methods of combating this problem. As the scientific community delves into the complexities of climate change, they reiterate that climate change is natural and is one of the many factors contributing to this decline. It’s also important to know that the climate has always been prone to change. In the past, the Earth’s atmosphere was burned up by an asteroid during the Jurassic Era, then shortly after, the entire Earth was consumed by the Ice Age. There was even a time on Earth where the water level rose over mountains, and there was even a time where the Earth didn’t have a climate or an atmosphere for that matter. One cannot halt climate change because climate change has proven to be inevitable. The Earth has been able to survive climate change for eons, but the big question is: can we?

News

October 5, 2017

DeVos replaces Title IX guidelines After announcing her plans to withdraw and replace Obama-era guidelines

IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos introduced the interium guidance Sept. 22. SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Sept. 22 that she is rescinding the 2011 Obama Administration guidance which states how schools should handle sexual assault cases under the Title IX law. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender for schools and programs that receive federal funding, including protection from sexual harassment. Schools that operate under Title IX are encouraged to inform students of their option to request confidentiality and available confidential advocacy, counseling, or other support services; and their right to file a Title IX complaint with the school and to report a crime to campus or local law enforcement. The announcement comes just weeks after DeVos announced her intentions of reversing and replacing the Obama administration’s 2011 guidance on sexual assault, better known as Title IX, in a speech given at George Mason University on Sept. 7.

The Department of Education said it was withdrawing the Obama administration’s policy, which was implemented in a 2011 letter to schools, stating that it placed too much pressure on school administrators, favored alleged victims and lacked due process for people who had been accused of sexual assault. DeVos concluded, “As I said earlier this month, the era of rule by letter is over. The Department of Education will follow the proper legal procedures to craft a new Title IX regulation that better serves students and schools.” DeVos says her concern about the 2011 guidance includes the neglect of proper due process to the accused. The Education Department has released an interim guidance as of Sept. 22 that gives colleges the ability to set their own standards for evidence, practice informal resolutions to cases and establish their own appeals process. The process of creating a new official guidance, which will allow the public to weigh in on how the department should dictate the way schools handle assault cases, is likely to take several months. DeVos’s new guidance gives schools more flexibility for the

standard of evidence used to investigate these cases. The previous guidelines suggested using a “preponderance of evidence,” meaning the decision makers were more than 50 percent sure an assault occurred. Critics said a higher standard should be used, such as “clear and convincing evidence” of an assault, which will now be an option. DeVos’s new, temporary standard offers no specific outline about how long schools must take to investigate assault, which victim advocates worry could drag out investigations. College administrators who handle issues under Title IX, which requires schools to address sexual violence on campus, say this interim period could make it more difficult for them to do their jobs. The interim guidelines still require each school to have a coordinator that will report and documate all incidents of sexual assault as required by the Clery Act of 1990. Under the Clery Act, a federal law that intersects with Title IX, a bill of rights for victims of campus sexual assault requires colleges and universities to notify victims of counseling resources available

to them, notify victims of the option to report a case to either the school, law enforcement, or both, and to provide academic or living accommodations, such as changing dorms, classes, etc. to victims. Critics were quick to denounce the interim guidelines. “This is a disgrace and a disservice to everyone who has worked to address sexual violence. Congress must act to undo this terrible decision,” Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted. Civil rights attorney Alexandra Brodsky said she disagrees with the decision to rescind and calls on schools to maintain their responsibility to ensure student survivors can continue to learn. “We are calling on them and counting on them to be leaders here,” Brodsky said. Brodsky criticized the interim guidance’s allowance of direct cross examination. “The old guidance never forbid cross examination of witnesses,” Brodsky said. “It strongly discouraged direct cross of alleged victims by alleged assailants.” By allowing direct cross examination, a survivor could potentially be directly questioned by their assailant, as opposed to being questioned through an intermediary or representative. “That’s why the old guidance suggested schools could have students submit questions through intermediary board. That’s what Harvard Law School does now,” Brodsky said. “There are many ways to promote truth-seeking and provide opportunities for parties to push back on others’ narratives without direct cross.” However, some applauded the department’s announcement. “While the previous guidelines were based on good intentions, the unintended consequences were that it did have the deck stacked against the accused students,” college disciplinary lawyer Kimberly Lau said. “Walking into the process as an accused student, already many of my clients were

feeling as if they were guilty before proven innocent.” This has been the primary reasoning behind DeVos’ desire to reverse and replace the original guidance. “This conversation has too often been framed as a contest between men and women or the rights of sexual misconduct survivors and the due process rights of accused students,” DeVos said in her address. “The reality is, however, a different picture. There are men and women, boys and girls who are survivors, and there are men and women, boys and girls who are wrongfully accused.” T h o u g h t h e i s s u e ’s prominence suggests a recurring issue, a review of research conducted by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center finds that false sexual assault reporting occurs two to 10 percent. This estimate is backed by a 2006 study that analyzed 812 sexual assault reports from 2000-2003 and found a 2.1 percent rate of false reports. “This interim guidance will help schools as they work to combat sexual misconduct and will treat all students fairly,” DeVos said in a release. “Schools must continue to confront these horrific crimes and behaviors head-on. There will be no more sweeping them under the rug. But the process also must be fair and impartial, giving everyone more confidence in its outcomes.” The Department of Education said that they plan to continue to speak to survivors, campus administrators, parents, students and experts about sexual misconduct as they finalize and organize a new and permanent Title IX regulation. “We also will continue to work with schools and community leaders to better address preventing sexual misconduct through education and early intervention,” DeVos said. There have been no further update as to when or if DeVos’s Title IX replacement plan will officially replace the guidance.

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LIFE

October 5, 2017

“Do something you really like, and hopefully it pays the rent. As far as I’m concerned, that’s success.” -

‘Aww geeze, Rick’

Tom Petty

Season three has solidified dynamic character arcs but leaves several questions unanswered. Where will Rick and Morty’s adventures lead fans next? HEIDI DYE @RCCViewpoints

Well it’s that time again where fans have to say goodbye to the beloved duo Rick and Morty. Don’t worry, as of 2017, “Rick and Morty” has been renewed for a fourth season. After waiting a whopping two years since the end of season two, fans were delivered a gorefilled season three that gave us a look inside at what makes Rick Sanchez from C-137 tick. Season three started us off with the heavy subject of how all the missions that Rick and Morty have been going on are affecting Morty mentally and diving into Rick and Morty’s toxic relationship. Rick was right, this was the darkest time of Rick and Morty’s lives. This is proved in the episodes

“Rest and Ricklaxation” and “Vindicators 3.” Both episodes share the common theme of Rick’s mental dependence on Morty seeing as Drunk Rick even killed almost all of the Vindicators in jealousy. Well, jealousy hidden under the appreciation of Noob Noob. When it comes to character development, Morty has changed the most since his introduction in the pilot episode. He changed from a nervous sidekick, to someone who has been through so much of Rick’s abuse that he’s done with Rick. This is evident in “Morty’s Mind Blowers” where Morty finds out, again, that Rick has removed Morty’s memories both with and without Morty’s discretion. But Rick and Morty fought more as the season has progressed. Even if the season was a short ten episodes, it was filled

Entertainment Briefs Riverside celebrates Chinese Moon Festival The Chinese Moon Festival is set to be held Oct. 5 at the Heritage House in Riverside from 6-8 p.m. Attendees will be able to play games, listen to music and have a chance to look at the moon through telescopes. Moon cakes, which are pastries made specifically for the event, as well as hot tea will be available for purchase during the festival. It honors the 15th lunar day of the eighth Chinese lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest of the year.

Art gallery to hold opening reception An opening reception will be held for Viviflections in the Quad Gallery from Oct. 5-6 at 8:30 p.m. The exhibition will feature work by artists Laurie Hassold and Jamie Sweetman. Hassold makes sculptures that present as possible “future fossils” while Sweetman layers multiple images to produce large and small works that are “mysterious, bold and beautifully refined.”

Cartoon Network supervising director to visit Riverside City College

The Riverside City College Art Department will host supervising director for Cartoon Network Studios, Benton Connor, to speak at the Digital Library Auditorium Oct. 19 from 3-5 p.m. Connor is best known for his work on “Regular Show,” “Adventure Time” and “Paranormal Roommates.” The event is free and open to the public.

with character driven story arcs. This season even brought back fan-favorite, Evil Morty, who is in the episode “The Ricklantis Mixup” where Evil Morty runs for president of the Citedal of Ricks. Rick’s progress of getting Beth and Jerry, Morty’s parents, divorced at the beginning of season 3 has been reversed in the final episode, “The Rickchurian Mortydate.” This season, we’re seeing that Rick’s family no longer sees him as a God-like figure. Beth and the kids even choose Jerry at the end of the season over Rick. Hopefully season four will answer some of questions that left fans pondering after the season three finale. Is Beth a clone of herself? Does Jessica actually care about Morty? What is Evil Morty’s plan for the Citedal? And most importantly, will we ever see the return of Mr. Meeseeks?

ILLUSTRATION BY HEIDI DYE | VIEWPOINTS

Throughout Rick and Morty’s missions, Morty is the only one who can power the portal gun of Rick’s mind.

Dae’s life hacks and advice DAE THOMAS

@RCCViewpoints

“I’d like a life hack to juggle time management, to handle work and school simultaneously.” –Hailey Totten This is a really common problem that a lot of people our age struggle with, Hailey. I hear wonderful things about the Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot, because it gives you a personal voice assistant for the entry-level price of $50. If that’s not quite right for for you though, try 24me, it’s an app geared specifically toward combining bill payment reminders, task management and calendars all in one place and is available for Android and iOS. “How do I get rid of oil stains?” –Julia Balancier A dish soap and/or shampoo scrub with an old toothbrush on the oil stains before throwing them into the washer should do the trick, Julia. Because a life lived without grease isn’t a life worth living. “What can I do about stress?” –Ashley Coyle The answer will vary drastically from person to person, but what I can recommend based on what I’ve seen do wonders for some of my peers is simple

physical activity. What type is up to you, but I would highly recommend a yoga class for the sheer fact that you learn to focus on your breathing, which alone can help you to alleviate some of the stress and angst that wells up in the pit of your stomach. Other things to try based on some research on what millennials find soothing though, include finding a new Netflix series to binge or taking bath bomb soaked baths. “Parking, is there a way to let you know there are available spots?” –Anonymous Unfortunately not, parking is one of those things at Riverside City College that is like the Loch Ness Monster, widely discussed but rarely seen. Know that everyone here at Viewpoints hears your gripe with parking and any coverage we can bring to help remedy the severe lack of parking on campus, we will. “Is there a program to see a personalized digital version of your car that will show you what modifications look like?” –Victor Martinez Victor, I’m not going to lie, this took some extra thorough work on my part. I went all the way to page three of Google’s search results page because I was that desperate to find a decent answer for you, but I think my

efforts paid off. Give 3dtuning.com a looksee! You can choose your car manufacturer, model and year and make all sorts of digital customizations like paint color, wheels, front and rear bumpers, grills, headlamps and tail lamps, spoilers, fenders, mirrors and even suspension-level customization. They have a very large catalog of cars from the past 100 years. There’s also an app by the same name in both the Google Play and iTunes app stores. Not bad for a gay that knows nothing about cars, eh? “How can I make my hair grow faster?” –Gabriela Rios Gabriela, great question! Some products do claim to make hair grow faster, but use them with a grain of salt. Hair grows an average of half an inch per month, and will vary a little bit from person to person. Use products that have mixes of vitamins and oils consisting of vitamin C, niacin, lavender oil, argan oil, and hazelnut oil. They promote thickness, strength, removing of dead cells, moisture and they can reduce scalp inflammation. As far as wanting hair to grow faster, you may not be able to affect that directly, but you can have healthy-looking hair while you wait for your locks to grow in.

October 5, 2017

Life

Beach Bums’ ne lets ‘Everything’ IMARI REDE | VIEWPOINTS

(top left) Beach Bums’ drummer, Kunu, sells the band’s new album “Everything” on cassette to fans. (center) Beach Bums performs at A Very Rare Shop in Los Angeles, California for their second album release party. (top right) Kunu playing drums during their set on Sept. 29, 2017 (left middle) Beach Bums’ lead singer/guitarist head bangs during “3:33.” (right middle) Beach Bums’ representative counts money after selling the band’s new merchandise. (left bottom)The lead singer crouches down on stage as he addresses the audience. (right bottom) The lead singer stripped down to beat the heat in A Very Rare Shop.

IMARI REDE @RCCViewpoints

Beach Bums dropped their new 16 track album “Everything” on Sept. 22, 2017. To celebrate their album release they hosted Beach Bums Ball II, a two part record release party “because f--- the rules!” The cover of the album features their “Everything” logo, an image that “symbolizes whatever free thought and imaginative creation your mind can produce,” according to the band. The album was a colossal drop for the indie music scene. Fans and artists from the areas that the band frequented most such as the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and beyond were ready to listen and indulge in the head banging, love swaying, and mosh pitting mixed genred bangers that the band is known to serve. According to the band’s drummer, Kunu, Beach Bums’ sound stems from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Ty Segall, Sales, Ski Mask the Slump God and The Doors. The album starts off with “3:33,” it sort of opens pandora’s box and gives a taste of what’s to come later because after all, it’s only the beginning. Toward the end of the song, the guitar solo wakes you up. Then it leads into a hard cumbia beat that gets your hips moving and your blood pumping in the pit. Hip-hop is a big influence for the Beach Bums. “We love it, grew up on it. It’s been in our lifestyles forever,” said Kunu. “We were bumping and drawing influence from all across the map, bruh.” The fourth song, “Fokus,” is a hip hop joint that has a tight beat and strong message. Standing for what you believe in is just part of the memo. As a band, Beach Bums acknowledges mental

IMARI REDE | VIEWPOINTS

JAYY MIRELES | VIEWPOINTS

Life

October 5, 2017

ew album ’ out IMARI REDE | VIEWPOINTS

IMARI REDE | VIEWPOINTS JAYY MIRELES | VIEWPOINTS

illness as a serious subject. “‘Everything’ is about life. The struggle, the feeling of making it,” he said. Lyrics from “Fokus” read “bounce back better than ever because I told you I’m focused, mother f--- depression.” They use their platform as artists to empower and show fans that they too can overcome and reach success as long as they put some effort in. “Growing up my pops always told me I should love and create all types of music so universally I could touch the mind body and souls of everyone,” said Kunu. The order of the songs on the album was chosen intentionally. “We all decided that the placement should have the essence of day to night, and to keep people’s minds fresh,” said Kunu. The last song, “Shut You Out,” closes the album by talking about the grimy backyard scene, the very place they started out. Beach Bums keep it real like they always do. Through “Shut You Out” they glamorize the trash that is the indie-punk scene but they create a space that is centered on love and growth regardless of how shutout a person might feel during a vulnerable time in their life. Even though some people in that scene are messed up from drinking, doing drugs and partying to cope, they stay together to support each other in getting better. Beach Bums encourages their fans to be “whoever and whatever the f--- they want to be.” They shared that they are going to drop an EP of B-sides that didn’t make the album. “It’s like eight songs,” said Kunu. So look forward to that coming up online soon. “Everything” is available now on Bandcamp and Spotify.

IMARI REDE | VIEWPOINTS

8 October 5, 2017

SPORTS - Adrian Peterson

RCC Tigers thrive in the water “When you don’t give up, you can not fail.”

Women’s water polo dominate the pool at 14-1 CHRISTIAN LOPEZ @RCCViewpoints

It’s been nothing but smooth sailing for the Riverside City College women’s water polo team this season. Thanks to their aquatic stars Katy Peterson and Megan Upton. Peterson, Upton, and their teammates have jetted off to a great start with a 13-1 overall and 2-0 conference record in the first half of the season. The Tigers got off to a roaring start with a 12-2 blowout win over American River College where Peterson was responsible for two goals and a steal. With a 1-0 start, the team then took their talents to San Joaquin Delta where they left victorious at 8-2 with Peterson leading her team by scoring five points for her four goals and an assist while Upton was credited for one point with an assist and a steal. With momentum on their side they then traveled to Santa Ana College where they annihilated the Dons 26-2 with Peterson putting on a solid performance offensively with three goals and two assists for a total of five points. Upton notched one goal, three assists and also acquired three steals. The Tigers then went on to continue their dominance with a blowout win against Allan Hancock College where Peterson and Upton again put up impressive numbers with Peterson being credited with five points by posting one goal, four assists, and three steals while Upton had three points with one goal, two assists, and four steals.

MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS

Women’s water polo players Riley Hart, Nikkol Webber, Ysatis Lujan, Brinna Kuri, Katy Peterson and two other players continue practice for the next game. The women’s water polo team did not have their first close contest until they took on Santa Barbara City College on September 16 for their seventh game of the season. Both teams got off to a slow start with neither team scoring in the first quarter. By the end of the second quarter the score was 3-1 with Santa Barbara in the lead. Once the third quarter began, the Tigers came back to life to mount a come from behind 5-4 victory. After a close call against

Santa Barbara, the women’s water polo team returned to form with convincing victories over Saddleback and Citrus College. However, the team was handed their first loss in a closely contested 8-7 defeat where they once again went head to head against San Joaquin Delta. After suffering the loss, the team rallied together to defeat Orange Coast College 10-9 while Peterson posted five points for four goals, one assist and garnered two steals as well. They then went on to have three

MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS

Coach Doug Finfrock speaking about the progression of the girls water polo team.

consecutive wins in low scoring affairs against San Joaquin Delta 5-3, Long Beach 6-2, and Santa Barbara 6-4. “We’re not a team that likes to lose.” Peterson said. ”To know that we could have gone in and played a little better in that game, I think we put our energy toward our next couple games and get us back to where we need to be.” The season is now halfway spent and although it’s far from over, the women’s water polo team have been making it look easy, partly because of the big numbers their offense puts up. In eight of their 13 wins, the Tigers have defeated their opponents by at least five points. “I feel like there is a lot of work that goes into the season that a lot of people don’t see,” said Upton. “They see the games but they don’t see the fifteen practices a week that we do.” Teammates Upton and Megan Bannes are ranked at No.1 and four, respectively, in assists, according to oecsports.com. Peterson also is currently ranked No. 6 while teammate Kate Fox is ranked at No. 8 in goals scored. Another reason why the team has found such success is because the opposing teams simply cannot stand up to RCC’s defense. Sophomore Dafne Garcia, who is currently ranked No. 1 in steals, according to oecsports, has not provided many opportunities for her opponents to score. Instead, she provides her own teammates with an opportunity to and extend their lead. Even if the opposing teams did get that

rare opportunity to put points up on the board, there would still be another obstacle in their way. Goalie Hannah McCarley is ranked No. 1 in goals blocked with a 71.6 save percentage and is also ranked fourth in goals allowed. With an offense that scores often and a goalie in McCarley who does not allow many in return, this team has the potential to be one of the greatest in the school’s history. Head coach Doug Finfrock has lead a phenomenal team and sees the obvious potential at greatness this team has, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to see where this already great team can continue to improve and coaching the only way he knows how. “Our defense is good but not good enough,” Finfrock said. “At one point we had a twelve quarter stretch where we only gave up nine points so that’s pretty impressive but there is still plenty of room for improvement even though they were impressive during that stretch. I think we’ve got to work on our defense in order to be successful in the end.” Despite stern criticism, Coach Finfrock is adamant that this team can maintain their nigh historic season “The way they played four strong games in that tournament and managed to win some close games, I have a lot of confidence in them. They play hard for one another, they really come together as a unit and not as individuals and I feel like that is going to be key for them to succeed.”

October 5, 2017 Tell

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us what you think, in a letter to the editor, in an email, or use #RCCnow.

A system rigged against them Undocumented women often choose to remain in abusive relationships in fear of deportation

LESLIE SANTIBANEZ @RCCviewpoints

Undocumented abuse victims live in a world where the fear of being deported causes them to remain with abusers. This is the everyday reality of being an abused undocumented woman in the United States. These women live a life filled with paranoia. They are af raid of their abusers, authority figures, and in fear of deportation. Being in a foreign country away from any support system is an isolating experience. Isolating a woman from any friends or family is the first step abusers take. According to The Intercept, “Abusive partners whose victims

are undocumented often exploit their inability to legally work … or enforce obedience by th reatening to bet ray them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” After isolating the victim, the abuser becomes the sole breadwinner to make the woman and her children economically dependant on him. Threatening deportation is the final step in the abusers plan. Deportation to these women, means being thousands of miles apart from their children. Fearing separation from their children, they remain with their abusive spouse. To them a fate away from their children is worse than remaining in a relationship where they run the risk of death. It is impossible for them to escape the prison they are in. T he elect ion of Donald Trump has only amplified this fear. The rhetoric he has spewed against immigrants has left these victims in the shadows. The best option in their eyes is to remain in the relationship instead of getting help. ICE promises these women t here is no rea son to fea r deportation as they are protected by the law. A 2011 directive states, “it

is against ICE policy to initiate removal proceedings against an individual known to be the immediate victim or witness to a crime.” But that is not the case anymore. The new memos released

It is a reflection of o u r b r o ke n ju st ic e syst e m when people are afraid of receiving help. That is how we k n ow t h a t something is truly wrong. We p u t a p e r s o n’s l e g a l status over our morality. These women are human beings just like you and I. They deserve to get help without fearing the system that is supposed to help them escape their abuser. It is a basic human right to live in a safe environment. So why aren’t we allowing these women the right to a life without fear? ILLUSTRATION BY ISELA OROZCO Undocu mented by ICE secretary John Kelly women shouldn’t in February rendered the 2011 have to put up with an abusive directive protecting these victims spouse along with a justice system useless. that is rigged against them. These new memos subject We should not live in a society u ndocu mented wit nesses where undocumented women see of v iole nc e t o i m me d iat e a life with their abuser to be a deportation. better choice than to ask for help.

Choose human connection over Wi-Fi connection

IMARI REDE @RCCviewpoints

Millennials are known as the generation inclined to prioritize screen-to-screen contact and maintain egos fulfilled by media based peer acceptance. Although I too am a millennial that loves Instagram and Snapchat just like the rest of you, I think that a lot of us create our own discomfort and

more personal insecurities by not communicating well with the people we cherish in our lives. People often base their own self worth on their interactions with others. They assume that someone feels a certain way about them because of a single text or a passing glance. Insecu r ities come about w h e n c o m mu n ic a t io n h a s disconnection. How many times have you texted someone or received a message right after leaving them that’s along the lines of, “I wish I would have told you-,” or “By the way, I forgot to say-?” Times like these you miss out on opportunities to truly use the inert human connection that ever yone has. Humans are designed to interact with one another. You build identity through the relationships that are formed in your life. Te c h n o l o g y h a s m a d e reaching out to a friend or loved one a simple task. Social media

platforms have made it easy to share a compliment or a ‘like’ to show some artificial sympathy. This type of communication is hard to deal with because there is so much space for misunderstanding. These misunderstandings have for med i nto a newly a ck nowle d ge d phe nome n a known as “ghosting,” which has hurt a lot of people’s sense of self. Ghosting is a term for the slow end of a relationship that is purely based on texting, direct messaging and other forms of electronic communication. It happens when both parties do not share the same type of connection. One or both people realizes that the sort of pseudo relationship that has been growing is no longer as important as it once was. Building relationships that are technology based are a waste of time because ultimately people crave intimacy in a way that cannot be met unless you are

physically present. You would be much more content with yourself if you made strong personal connections with one another in person. People have a better chance of being held accountable when they are confronted in person. Say what you mean when things come up. Being honest and opened about what you feel and what you expect from the people in your life. It will make understanding one another a lot easier. Face to face communication is important because texting forces both parties to make assu mptions and can leave dissociated emotions. Tone is often undetectable or consequently over exaggerated. There is not necessarily a lack in communication because the tools are there. The true thing lacking is quality of communication. When you are interacting

in person with someone you get so much more out of the conversation. There is spoken language which brings together tone and the specific syntax and diction that the individual uses. It's not like texting where someone takes the time to write out and send their thought, it’s real time. Sp e n d i n g q u a l it y t i m e with people also gives you the ability to learn about their body language. W hen you t r uly k now a person's body language a small movement could be enough to say it all. To be more connected and to have better relationships, stop worrying about morning texts and start looking forward to planning some personal time with the people that are important to you. Solidify your relationships by being more upfront and confident with your own communication.

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October 5, 2017

‘Take a knee’ for change

Editorial

Before a National Football League game last year, then-49er’s quarterback Colin Kaepernick shook up the world when he kneeled during the national anthem. Kaepernick explained his position stating that he was not going to “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Kaepernick was referring to a series of events that involved police officers shooting and killing minorities across the country. He added that he would continue to protest until he feels like “the American flag represents what it’s supposed to represent,” calling for the improvement of law enforcement and abolishment of racial injustice in America. A year has since passed, and many other professional football players have followed Kaepernick’s lead in kneeling during the national anthem. This movement has drawn much criticism from some Americans as they look to kneeling during the national anthem as a disrespectful stance toward veterans and the country as a whole. While many Americans plead for this form of peaceful protest to stop, they never add any constructive substitution that could take the place of kneeling. Kaepernick’s form of protest came at a time of great intensity in our country, yet it was obviously the most peaceful and respectful form of protesting. So if even that wasn’t good enough, it begs the question: What is? On Sept. 23, President Donald Trump sent out multiple tweets advocating that NFL players should be either fired or suspended if they fail to stand up for the national anthem and called said players “son’s of b------“ at a rally held in Alabama. In response, many NFL teams and players stood together to protest Trump’s beliefs Sept. 24 in the form of kneeling, locking arms or even sitting out the performance of the anthem. Now it is very understandable for some that kneeling for the flag may hurt some people. For personal reasons, whether it be because a loved one was lost in battle, they themselves served, etc. However most players who kneeled prior to Sept. 24 did so to combat racial injustices. But most will purposely turn a blind eye to and not acknowledge it. There’s pain for those that are kneeling as

ILLUSTRATION BY ISELA OROZCO

well. There’s pain on both sides. Yet many simply acknowledge one side, their side. For those that kneel, it doesn’t come from a place of hate, it comes from a place of hurt and wanting this country to do better. Few things are more patriotic than demanding justice and equality for all Americans as well as simply wanting this already great country to be better. The protest to combat racial injustice affects our military as well. Anthony Hill, Air Force veteran, was killed by police while naked and unarmed at home. Kenneth Chamberlain, former US Marine, killed by police after his medical alert device went off and police busted down his door and shot him dead. All these soldiers were African-American. It’s obvious that even being a part of the military doesn’t prepare you for the racially charged violence that comes from the bad apples of our law enforcement. Now to the players in bulk that kneeled after Trump’s comments toward them, it was a sign of unity against the president’s seemingly semi-fascist attack on free speech. Not to follow Kaepernick’s undertaking. It took a personal attack from the president to get these players almost unanimously united. It begs consideration that until you see or feel

what Kaepernick was protesting, unless it directly affects you, one won’t consider it important or applicable to one’s own life. It is also unfair to say that athletes in general should just “shut up and play.” That because players make a lot of money or simply that they’re athletes, they’re not entitled to a social or political opinion. This comes off nonsensical when you consider NFL players are by and large college educated individuals from all over the country. Many moral turntables throughout U.S. history started with protests like this. Women were looked at as if they were attacking the “American way of life” when they protested for their right to vote, Vietnam War protesters were seen as un-American and they were actually protesting for soldiers to come home and not die, and so on. Protesting America’s current social cycle by pointing out its racial injustices should not be combated, it’s actually a big part of our recent history. Coincidentally, Kaepernick is a football player. What do football players do when a player on either team is injured? They kneel. Symbolically, it’s not at all far-fetched to say that this country is hurting and the protestors are kneeling to acknowledge the pain being felt.

Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and are written by the Viewpoints’ student editorial board.

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