Viewpoints Spring 2018 issue No. 14 May 24, 2019 by RCC Viewpoints

LIFE | Page 8

SPORTS | Page 11

Volunteers particpate in The Great American Clean-up

Riverside City College track and field wins state championship

viewpoints An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922.

O L L E G E

VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG

VOL. XCVII, NO. 14

MAY 24, 2019

Area homelessness on the rise The local homeless population discuss struggles and ask for further assistance JAIR RAMIREZ STAFF REPORTER

Riverside has seen an increase in homelessness by nearly 20% the past year, according to the 2019 Point in Time Count. Everyday, people drive by homeless people on the street or encounter them outside a store and they go on about their day.

Many assume people are homeless due to drugs, alcoholism or laziness but that is not the case for all. Wayne Green suffers from a mental illness, which doesn’t allow him to be in some work environments. “My environment brought me down to living on social security,” Green said. “I lost my work and had a car accident and not able to function in society.”

Some of the people don’t know any way to seek help to get them out of their situation. “My mom and pop didn’t care about me,” Steve Fiorino said. “I was on the street when I was nine years old.” Fiorino, who is now 58, has owned a home for two years. Others who find themselves homeless are people trying to get ahead in life but lack the

resources, like former homeless Riverside City College student Iggy Munoz. “I enrolled in RCC and got a job in San Bernardino and my family is like two and a half hours away,” Munoz said. “Rent is too expensive,” he said. “I didn’t have any references from places to live. My only option at the time was my car and that’s where I would live, that’s

where I would sleep after work.” There is help for the homeless, like social services, churches, food banks and several community organizations. “There’s county hospitals and psychiatrists, you just have to sign up for the programs, there is help available,” Green said.

See HOMELESS on page 2

Students, staff respond to Iran tensions ERIK GALICIA

STAFF REPORTER

collaborative efforts of several passionate staff and faculty members at RCC. “I tried this three years ago but didn’t get this support,” said Meriel Anderson-McDade, the employment placement coordinator at RCC. “I had clothes in a closet for four or five months but without faculty support it wasn’t able to get off the ground,” AndersonMcDade said as she pointed to the closet in her office. Anderson-McDade extends credit to her fellow Career Closet committee members, as well as countless nights of prayer.

The United States’ recent deployment of additional military resources to the Middle East has many people worried about the possibility of a new war. “I pay a lot of taxes,” said Dariush Haghighat, a political science professor at Riverside City College. “I want my taxes to go to the community, not to bombs.” Haghighat, who has family living in Iran, recalls the stress he went through when Iran was at war with Iraq during the 1980s. “I was terrified,” Haghighat said. “I couldn’t communicate with my parents.” According to Haghighat, relations between Iran and the United States have been on “a rollercoaster since the end of World War II.” The two nations were able to reach an agreement that included several European powers in 2015. Known to Americans as The Iran Nuclear Deal, the agreement substantially reduced Iran’s nuclear program and lifted economic sanctions the country had been subjected to.

See CLOSET on page 3

See IRAN on page 3

YESENIA HUBY | VIEWPOINTS

RCC Career Closet opens Bianca Gonzalez, left, tries on a blazer that Career Closet aide Lisa Thompson-Eagle recommends for her interview.

Donations provide students with free business and casual attire for interviews and special events ERIK GALICIA STAFF REPORTER

A student can have all the ambition and skills they need to achieve their career and educational goals, yet a professional first impression can make or break that deal. Riverside City College’s

Career Closet opened April 22 to provide students with professional attire in hopes of alleviating the financial obstacles that many students already face. Located in Portable 5 between the old Life and Physical Science Buildings near the cafeteria, the Career Closet is arranged in the style of a high-end boutique and runs on donations of suits, ties, dresses, shoes and much more that is available to RCC students free of charge. As of now, students are limited to one professional outfit per semester, but the “Casual Corner” section features clothing available at all times for students who just

need something to wear. “The Career Closet has helped me to get … clothing that I can use for an interview,” said Aaron Baeza, a communication studies major at RCC. “My outfit makes me feel like I’m becoming a professional.” Brenda Carillo, a business administration major at RCC, was gifted an outfit to wear to her upcoming peer-mentor interview. “I didn’t have any money to spend on an outfit like this,” Carillo said. “I feel more confident for my interview because I’m presenting myself more professionally.” The Career Closet went from dream to reality through the

May 24, 2019

News

DIANA CABRAL | VIEWPOINTS

Top: Solomon O.B mingles with Riverside City College students from Guardian Scholars in the Digital Library Room 112 on May 14. Guardian Scholars invited Solomon O.B. to RCC for National Foster Care Awareness Month. Left: Solomon O.B. shares his experience as a foster youth in the Digital Library Auditorium

Youth speaker inspires crowd

California Youth Connection is a program devoted to giving struggling youth foster care CLARISSA CORRAL STAFF REPORTER

It’s well known that foster youth face more challenges personally, professionally and academically than their peers. Aiming to enlighten and inform people on foster youth, R i v e r s i d e C i t y C o l l e g e ’s Guardian Scholar program hosted its Foster Care Awareness event May 14 in the Digital Library Auditorium. T h e C a l i f o r n i a Yo u t h Connection is a program that focuses and devotes their efforts specifically to the foster care youth of California. They strive to be a voice for foster youth in California and advocate for their rights, safety and improvement of foster care legislative policies. There to speak on behalf of California Youth Connection was volunteer and member Rayshaun Wilburn and Far Southern Regional Coordinator Kenneth Brown. Wilburn himself is a foster youth and expressed how

passionate he was about foster care advocacy. He also shared some of his own struggles and feelings growing up from a child to a young adult in the foster care system. “It’s hard. It was difficult to believe in yourself so much and not find the support to match that,” Wilburn said. Wilburn went on to explain the hardships and instability he faced as a young child and how California Youth Connection helped guide him and give the support he had been missing. He touched specifically on how California Youth Connection’s work in improving legislative policy made it possible for him to continue to receive aid and support after the age of 18. In previous years, foster care stopped at the age of 18 which left many departing foster care youth with significant frustration and challenges in regards to obtaining proper housing, employment, health care, education and emotional support. Beginning in 2017, legislative policy for foster youth in California changed and

It was difficult to believe in yourself so much and not find the support to match that. -- California Youth Connection member Rayshaun Wilburn

offered additional support for foster care dependents up until the age of 23. Brown followed Wilburn’s commentary with his own, sharing how he too was in foster care as a child. Brown explained that when he was in foster care, he did not get the benefit of receiving aid after the age of 18. Brown described the importance of advocating for the betterment of the conditions and policies for the following generations of foster youth by those that have aged out of the system and those currently in it. “I faced different difficulties

than Rayshaun. And I’m sure he faced (difficulties) I didn’t,” Brown said. “That’s why it’s so important for us to help the next generation after us. We want to keep making it better.” Following the California Youth Connection speakers, guest performer and former foster care youth Solomon O.B performed a piece of poetry centering around his time in foster care titled, “Unorthodox Beginnings.” At the end of the event, O.B spoke briefly as he reflected on his feelings growing up and now as a young adult no longer in foster care. Like the other speakers, he faced his own trials

California homelessness worsens HOMELESS from page 1

“I use to be homeless for many years, but I finally got some help, I got my documents and I got some great help,” Fiorino said. “Once you get those documents then you can proceed to get help.” The documents Fiorino speaks about are a photo ID, social security cards, birth certificates and Medi-Cal cards which a lot of homeless people don’t have access to. “You have to have those documents and those documents are hard for most homeless people to get,” Fiorino said. “Unless you have your ID, and that’s the hardest thing getting ID and social security cards, you can’t go nowhere if no one believes who you are.” Social and public service workers seem overwhelmed to

those they are tasked to help. “Sometimes public services come out to places like this and document them, you know try and get their social security information and their birth certificate information, then you get the services,” Fiorino said. There are volunteers and food banks to help homeless people, but there is more that can be done like awareness, rent control and jobs to help out. “Politicians in California can have a better handle on rent control and jobs, make it so the prices aren’t skyrocketing. It took me a while to save up and even then I have to share my current apartment with three other guys, politicians should just keep an eye on it,” Munoz said. Munoz believes that there can be more jobs that are made easily accessible for homeless people. “Putting more jobs out there for homeless people and

ERIK GALICIA | VIEWPOINTS

The American flag waves at a homeless encampent in the banks of the Santa Ana River off of Market Street on May 8. them actually getting them, I was fortunate to have a job to save money to get out of my situation.” Green believes that people can help too. “I think they can learn to

recognize and appreciate the fact that there are people in this situation and if they can take time, a moment out of their life and recognize it, they’ll be able to deal with it more appropriately,” Green said.

growing up in the foster care system, however, he claims that it gave him his voice and courage to pursue his many passions in life. Stressing the importance of passion, O.B said that he is driven by them and the “energy of obsession.” He further implored the audience to “be your own guide” and follow their passions with confidence and relentlessness. One of the last pieces of personal advice O.B shared was based off of his moving around as a child in foster care that he believes applies to everyone. “Even when you’re moving from place to place, there are finite things you learn from each experience,” O.B said. O.B’s time in foster care helped to him to form his approach to his life and his craft. Just like Wilburn, Brown and the California Youth Connection program itself, they all share a common trait and goal: passion. Passion and the hope to inspire and help those with similar unorthodox beginnings. Commencement information Riverside City College’s commencement ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. in the Wheelock Stadium on June 7. Check-in for graduates begins at 4 p.m. Wheelock Stadium will open at 4 p.m. for guests to begin getting seats. Guests are expected to be in their seats at 5:30 p.m. Parking will be free throughout the college. Graduates will only be receiving their diploma covers during the ceremony. Degrees and certificates scheduled to be awarded in spring 2019 will be mailed to students beginning in October.

Correction: In the May 9 issue, Melissa Mills is incorrectly referred to in a credit as Michelle Mills. Mills contributed the illustration on page 12.

May 24, 2019

News

Career Closet helps students CLOSET from page 3

One such committee member, RCC professor Rebecca L. Loomis, brought up the idea for the Career Closet at a department meeting. She expressed appreciation for Thomas CruzSoto, dean of student services at RCC, as well as the entire team that worked to bring the Career Closet to life. “We were all thinking in the same direction … and it all came together without any funding,” Loomis said. “We donated what we could, volunteered hours, cleaned up the portable. We spent two to three months getting clothes and racks.” College can be synonymous with financial hardship, so the project aims to help students in whatever way possible. “I had heard most community colleges have a student homelessness problem,” Loomis said, making reference to a recent Temple University study which found that 19% of California community college students are homeless and 50% have struggled with food insecurity in the past year. “The goal is to make it easier for our students to have what they need to get out there and meet their career goals,” Loomis said. For this reason, AndersonMcDade suggests that the Career Closet can be more than just a resource for nice clothes.

“Whatever a student needs, all they have to do is tell us,” Anderson-McDade said. “Having a rough day? I can refer you to health services. If we find they’re in need of food, we can connect them with the food pantry.” Other resources that will be available at the Career Closet are mock interviews and resume support. The cosmetology department will also be getting involved to provide students with reduced-costs on getting their hair, nails and makeup done. Loomis explained that the Career Closet staff will be “learning as we go,” and hopes more resources are added as they identify what the needs are. Although the grand opening of the Career Closet has come as a huge success, much help is needed in order to ensure that this resource remains available to students. In its first 4.5 hours of service, the Career Closet gifted over 170 items, including 28 suits, 31 shirts, 17 ties and 18 pairs of shoes. Those involved stressed the need for student volunteers and a steady inflow of donations. “As of now, we’re running low,” Anderson-McDade said. “If you have anything at home you don’t want, bring it by … this is our biggest challenge.” Allyssa Ybarra, an administrative assistant at RCC, suggests reaching out to the local

community for support. “We as staff and faculty need to come in and seek outside help,” Ybarra said. “We need to reach out to community members. We can’t just depend on our community here at RCC.” Community outreach efforts brought Adam McIntyre to the Career Closet on May 15. McIntyre is the local outreach pastor for the Grove Community Church in Riverside. Since the church has been involved in a lot of theater, McIntyre offered to allow the Career Closet access to the loads of costumes they have acquired throughout the years, which include plenty of appropriate professional clothes. “We have rows and rows of suits and nice dresses,” McIntyre said. “You guys are welcome to come by and scoop up as much as you can.” McIntyre also offered to mention donation opportunities and place donation bins for attendees at the church’s “Serve Week” during the first week of June. Baeza, who also volunteers at the Career Closet, worries that a lack of awareness will end up making this a temporary project. “We have clothing,” Baeza said. “We just need to get students in here and spread awareness of what the Career Closet is doing. Hopefully that

Riverside City College student Cody Barrett picks out a tie for a future interview at the RCC Career Closet. would help us to get sponsors.” committee maintains high hopes Elisabeth Thompson-Eagle, that continued dedication and an RCC life science professor, commitment will ensure that the hopes the Career Closet will find Career Closet will remain open a permanent location. for future RCC students. “Portable 5 is just temporary,” Donation boxes can be found Thompson-Eagle said. “It would in the biology faculty hallway, at be nice to have it in a more the Student Services Office and in accessible place.” front of the Career Center. A permanent location though, For hours, donations and would be partly dependent inquiries, students may call (951) on continued success. The 222-8446.

throughout the region and loyal dedicated allies.” Himadri Ratnayake, a team officer for RCC’s Model United Nations, feels a new war would further increase the number of Middle Eastern refugees seeking asylum. Yet, such a war could also cause a further increase in hate crimes and discrimination toward Americans of Middle Eastern descent. “Members of the international community would most likely have to incorporate these refugees into their country,” Ratnayake said. “Do they really want to leave their beloved homes? Probably not. But they are forced to because of the circumstances they are surrounded by. There is already a lot of discrimination and hate crimes targeting Middle Easterners. Especially throughout Europe, the U.K. and the South in the U.S. It would most likely increase even further due to political and religious beliefs.” According to Haghighat, Iranian currency has “taken a nosedive” in the year since Trump withdrew from the Iran deal. “The economic sanctions have gotten to the point where the Iranian economy is paralyzed,” Haghighat said. “It’s absolutely unbearable for the Iranian people. The cost of living is destroying the economy and poverty is rising.” Haghighat argues that American intervention in the Middle East has resulted in a “complete mess.” “After years of being in Iraq, we still don’t have an exit strategy,” Haghighat said. “In

the end, the country of Iraq is destroyed. It’s been chaos after chaos. It’s the same in Afghanistan. And look at what’s happening in Syria. The region is on fire.” The professor also expresses concern for the local problems a new war could bring. “In Iraq, we spent so much that we didn’t have money for education and healthcare,” Haghighat said. “I was president of the faculty union during the Iraq War. The government just slashed $18 million from our funding. We were always thinking of how many classes would be cancelled. How many teachers would be laid off.” Haghighat also urges the need to examine the toll that war takes on soldiers and to look at the “very real” physical and psychological problems these soldiers suffer from. “I have attended funerals of several former students who, instead of pursuing their education, went to war,” Haghighat said. “Look at the rate of suicide among returning vets … Do we really want to do that again based on rhetoric? Based on Bolton?” There are different opinions on the gravity of the situation among RCC students though. While some are skeptical of the news they are fed on a daily basis, others share the worry that the United States will continue making imperialist decisions. RCC journalism student Fatima Almanza believes there are “zero” possibilities that the

United States will actually end up going to war with Iran. “We’ve been holding back a lot,” Almanza said. “I think the possibility of war is slim. Ultimately, the president doesn’t want war. He can tell that war is not going to be good for the economy.” Although Almanza considers herself a conservative and a supporter of Trump, she accepts the possibility that a new war in the Middle East could worsen discrimination towards Middle Easterners in America. “I do understand why they want to come,” Almanza said. “But a lot of people are going to be hostile toward that type of immigration. A lot of conservatives don’t understand the difference between jihadists and muslims.” Almanza attributes the feeling that tensions are rising to corporate and political theatrics. “It’s a lot of propaganda,” Almanza said. “A lot of politicians are all theatrics. People need to inform themselves on all sides to distinguish between propaganda and truth.” Caleb Karman, a studio arts major at RCC, feels that war with Iran is possible, but advises students to be cautious of what they hear from biased corporate media. “Think with your head,” Karman said. “Think for yourself and look at things objectively.” On the other hand, Ratnayake points out America’s history of interventionism. “Unfortunately, it seems like

YESENIA HUBY | VIEWPOINTS

‘A rollercoaster since the end of World War II’ IRAN from page 3

“Until (President Donald) Trump arrives and criticizes the agreement without offering any concrete examples of why this is bad,” Haghighat said. “The problem in the nuclear agreement is that it had to be renewed every six months by the U.S. president. Trump was able to use this provision to end the agreement.” The New York Times recently reported that Trump’s top national security aides have presented a new military plan that includes sending 120,000 troops to the Middle East if Iran attacks American forces. American intelligence has reportedly accused Iran of encouraging its proxies in the region to “sabotage” Saudi oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. The details leading up to those accusations have not been declassified and Iran denies any involvement in the recent attack on those oil tankers. In the last few weeks, Trump has told reporters that he “doesn’t want war with Iran,” but has also tweeted “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran.” There is worry that these types of decisions are actually in the hands of advisors like John Bolton, who is accused of having had great influence in pushing the United States into war with Iraq in 2003. “John Bolton has a long history of advocating for war with Iran,” Haghighat said. “But Iran is not Iraq. Iran has deep roots

there is a strong possibility for a war to occur between the U.S. and Iran,” Ratnayake said. “The U.S. has been known to interfere in other nations’ political institutions and activities, and it appears they will do the same this time around.” Ratnayake also argues that a new conflict would put stress on Iranian-Americans. “In terms of Iranians, many civilians, including men, women and children … would be killed,” Ratnayake said. “The war would affect many Iranian-Americans who have family in Iran. It is incredibly challenging to pick a side of your identity.” RCC communication studies major Janet Palacio feels that the threat of war is “pretty real.” “The fact that the U.S. asked some members of the embassy to leave gives me the idea that something is about to go down,” Palacio said. According to a 2018 HuffPost poll, 53% of Americans oppose going to war with Iran. In order to influence the uncertain political climate of the times, Haghighat encourages students to be proactive, organize and get involved in community organizations. “I’m a strong believer in organization and involvement in the political process,” Haghighat said. “The problem is that young people run wild with idealist notions but don’t get organized and don’t walk the walk. It’s time for young people to get involved … and claim ownership of the political process.”

LIFE Serving up culinary artistry

May 24, 2019

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Drawing from her Peruvian heritage, chef teaches students valuable skills BENJAMIN DE LEON STAFF REPORTER

Behind every culinary masterpiece there lies a story of cultural heritage, Riverside City College Chef Maria SanjurjoCasado proves it time and time again with her contribution to the Culinary Academy on Market Street. Growing up in Iquitos, Peru, Sanjurjo-Casado would always watch her mother bake and cook but it wasn’t until she moved to Lima, Peru that she would begin to cook with her and begin her culinary journey. “One of my favorites to make was orange chiffon cake for my grandma, I always made that for her,” Sanjurjo-Casado said. In addition to her apprenticeship with her mom, Sanjurjo-Casado also attended technical schools in Peru to help hone her skill. It was only thirty years ago that Casado moved her entire life to the United States. During her first three years in America she was merely a volunteer for RCC as she worked alongside former chef Farman. Sanjurjo-Casado became a certified pastry chef after receiving her credentials from the American Culinary Federation. Since June 2001 she has taught at RCC. It’s been eighteen years and does not plan to leave anytime soon. To me it is not a job, it’s something I love,”

SAGA Drag Show Riverside City College’s Sexuality and Gender Awareness Club is putting on it’s biannual drag show May 28 from 1-2 p.m. in the Bradshaw Building. The event is free for all to attend.

SoCal Etsy Guild Market

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

Chef Maria Sanjurjo-Casado glazes a student’s cake with rum to give it an extra layer of shine on the icing. Sanjurjo-Casado teaches at RCC’s Culinary Arts Academy on University Avenue. Casado said. For Sanjurjo-Casado, she finds excitement and thrill in challenges and gets her fix from baking. From being able to combine two contrasting flavors in her head and make a masterpiece out of it to manipulating her own formulas to find different results, there is nothing SanjurjoCasado cannot do when it comes to baking. Everyone has that activity whether it be yoga, sports or games, that help them disconnect from the world and for SanjurjoCasado, that is baking. This profession is not easy

and challenges her on a daily basis but she has found a way to make the best out of any situation. “You have to be organized, have a list and have focus,” Sanjuro-Casado said. The thought of leaving to work in a restaurant peaks no interest in Sanjurjo-Casado for the mere fact that education is one of her passions and she wants to continue to inspire the students around her. Sanjurjo-Casado is currently teaching cake decorating and fundamentals of baking this semester. She also helps run the Culinary Academy and many of

her students take both because they cannot get enough. “Chef Maria is a woman who is devoted and truthful to her career, she has inspired many of her students to become the finest there can be,” Cecilia Gamez culinary student said. By taking a class with Sanjurjo-Casado students are challenged to push themselves to their limits and she will be there for them every step of the way. Of course there is this pressure to perform well for a professor but Sanjurjo-Casado makes sure her students understand she is there for them to succeed and only that.

Musician values determination

Hard work surely pays off for a young jazz ensemble musician at RCC ZANE MUDRON STAFF REPORTER

Through adversity, people learn more about themselves and what they are capable of. Nobody would know that better than Connor Slape. Slape is a third year saxophone player in the Riverside City College wind ensemble, who plans to transfer to Cal State Long Beach next year. He is a role model to many and a dedicated musician. “I started saxophone at the age of 10, clarinet at 13, bassoon at 14, flute at 16 and I’ve had to go and start learning piano,” he said. Slape attributes his interest in saxophone and many other instruments to his supportive parents while growing up. “When I was 12, I started taking private lessons in Long Beach with a guy named Rusty Higgins,” Slape said. “For a good five to six years I went down and saw him every

LIFE BRIEFS

single week, nonstop ... and they supported me through all of it.” Slape goes on to list his biggest influences in jazz, names like Dexter Gordon, Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley are mentioned. “I guess the best thing to do is just try to sound like you. Play the way that makes you feel good, and just stick to that,” Slape said. “ Someb o dy always h a s something to say in life, if you want to be heard, then you just have to go and play it,” he said. “People will listen, people will want to know what you have to say.” Slape plans to transfer not only to further his musical career and open doors for himself at the university level, but to also get closer to his old teacher. “I kind of got bored because I had this private teacher that I had been going to since junior high and his mentoring and teaching had made me a really great player,” he said. Slape had the option to go to

Cal State Long Beach when he graduated high school, but he decided to go to RCC for a couple years because of what the music program offers. “I remember the week before I started school here, I went through a time where I had no idea what I wanted to do because the future after college was filled with doubt and uncertainty,” he said. Like many college students, Slape was unsure if a job was guaranteed and was faced with a lot of questions about whether his long, hard hours would pay off. “It’s not like I’d ever give it up,” Slape said. He had a chance to influence many people in a positive way within his ensemble and the music program as a whole. Fellow saxophonist Chris Abelgas is a third year RCC student who plays with Slape and the two are close friends. “Since the first time I’ve seen him he is just like a completely different person and player, and definitely matured in both

aspects,” Abelgas said. “He’s a really nice person to be with and hang out with. He definitely is a straight forward person … never a boring moment with Connor for sure.” Kevin Mayse, director of the RCC wind ensemble, views Slape as an example that others should follow. “He leads by example, he is prepared, he doesn’t miss rehearsals,” Mayse said. “He had originally been accepted to California State University Long Beach and decided to come here instead, which was really great for us. “He plays first chair clarinet in my ensemble, but he also plays first chair saxophone in the jazz ensemble. To play at that level is pretty unique.” Slape’s for midable work ethic, undeniable passion and ability to touch others in a positive way can only bring him success. He agrees that the future is uncertain, but many more would agree that the future is bright for this young musician.

Featuring handmade arts and gifts from some of Southern California’s best vendors, the SoCal Etsy Guild Market is an opportunity to do some local shopping for the ones you love. The market is open the fourth weekend of every month at the Galleria at Tyler near the Forever 21. The next market will be held May 24-26.

‘Twilight Pond’ Paint ‘n Sip Have a drink and learn to paint at The MTL with a unique event from The Paint Sesh on June 5. Tickets are $35 and includes all materials needed. Tickets are available online through Eventbrite. Food and wine is not supplied but can be purchased for an additional price.

Juneteenth Celebration 2019 marks 400 years since the enslavement of African-Americans. R i v e r s i d e ’s J u n e t e e n t h Celebration recognizes the history, struggles, sacrifices and contributions of AfricanAmericans with a day of history, art, workshops, music and much more. The event will be held June 1 at Bordwell Park Stratton Community Center and is free to attend.

RCC Muse journal launch Riverside City College’s art and literary journal, Muse, is having a book launch party for their 33rd issue at Mind & Mill in downtown Riverside on June 6. Artists, contributors and local publishers will all be showing art and readings that are featured in the journal. The event is open to all but RSVPs are encouraged.

May 24, 2019

Life

JACOB QUEZADA | VIEWPOINTS

Mario Lara, deputy director for Parks, Recreation and Community, (right) and his son Gabriel Lara paint a trash bin as part of the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful event at Fairmount Park in Riverside on May 11. As deputy director, Mario Lara oversees the maintanence of Riverside’s regional parks.

The Great American Clean-up Volunteers meet throughout Riverside to beautify the city and create commu nity ADRIANA LOPEZ STAFF REPORTER

If you love your city, you should clean your city. The Great American Cleanup is a nationwide event focused on establishing a sense of pride in volunteers in hopes of creating more caring communities. Keep America Beautiful, a non profit organization that is dedicated to organizing and providing necessary tools to volunteers partnered with Keeping Riverside Clean and Beautiful, a community program that organizes volunteers to maintain Riverside’s beauty. Throughout the four hour event on May 11, volunteers picked up trash, painted over graffiti, cleaned gardens and many other tasks that were needed to beautify the city. Fairmount Park was one of the locations volunteers gathered, where they pruned roses, spray painted trash cans and picked up trash throughout the park. Blanca Bautista, a student at UC Riverside, spent her time volunteering pruning roses. On top of the pride that came with giving back to her community, Bautista found the experience relaxing. “It’s actually very peaceful doing this, coming from a stressful week it’s very calming. It’s not just rewarding for the community but for ourselves as well,” Bautista said. While plenty of volunteers kept themselves busy at the rose garden, others moved on to various parts of the park. Manoella Mundo and Josh Balsells, students at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, spray painted trash cans throughout the park to have them looking new again. While they initially volunteered for the cleanup to meet mandatory volunteer hours, both Mundo and

JACOB QUEZADA | VIEWPOINTS

From left: Martin Luther King High School students Julian Aguliar and Alexandria Dovbrsky clean the Fairmout Park lake in Riverside on May 11. Balsells enjoyed the experience. “I really enjoy helping everybody and it makes me feel really nice that I can help my community,” Mundo said. Volunteering at Fairmount Park provided volunteers with an experience that included a scenic environment to spend their day. “I like looking at the lake, it’s pretty cool. I like the park and the animals in it,” Balsells said. Fairmount Park not only serves as a habitat for squirrels but the lake within the park is also home to ducks and geese. For some volunteers, providing a clean home for the animals was their motivation to clear out the park of litter. Alexandria Dovbrovsky, who is also a Martin Luther King High School student, took pride in providing the animals a cleaner environment. “I see all the trash in the lake and picking it up makes me feel good because the animals will be safer,” Dovbrovsky said. Eventually the park became more serene, proof of the volunteers hard work. Among the volunteers was Mario Lara, deputy director for parks, recreation and community services in Riverside. Lara was thrilled to see the amount of people willing to put

in a few hours of their day toward benefiting the community. “Given the vast size of the park and the demands of our community we cannot do it all with taxpayer resources. We do rely heavily on community involvement to help us with the ordinary maintenance,” Lara said. Outside of benefiting the community, Lara believes people can also benefit personally from volunteering. “We’re outdoors, it’s a beautiful day, you get exercise. I promise you at the end of the day you’re going to go home feeling really good about it,” Lara said. At the end of the cleanup, volunteers met in front of City Hall to return tools and receive a free lunch. With the collected efforts of all the volunteers, over 15,000 pounds of litter and green waste was collected. The event was a victory for everyone involved. Connie Librenjak, executive director at Keeping Riverside Clean and Beautiful, was especially proud of all the volunteers. “We couldn’t do this without the collective efforts of the entire community,” Librenjak said. “We’re so lucky because there is such a great sense of volunteerism

JACOB QUEZADA | VIEWPOINTS

Julie Phillips, a Riverside budget analyst, prunes roses at Fairmount Park during The Great American Cleanup on May 11. in the community.” As the volunteers gathered at city hall, it was clear that a majority were teenagers and children. Librenjak believes that events like The Great American Cleanup are especially important for young members of the community to get involved in. “It’s important to learn at a young age about environmental stewardship, it’s probably one of the best things you can do outside of the classroom,”

Librenjak said. The Great American Cleanup was a successful event, not only in that Riverside became a cleaner city but it also created a greater sense of community.

For more photos of The Great American Cleanup event, visit us at viewpointsonline.org

May 24, 2019

Life

‘Voices and Visions: Light Through Darkness’ Students light up the stage with stories of personal trials for foster care youth awareness DIANA CABRAL STAFF REPORTER

Spoken word poetry, rap and beatboxing may simply be seen as hobbies to some, but to RCC and UCR foster youth, it is a way to cope with the world. The Guardian Scholars Program at RCC and UCR collaborated and organized their fourth annual “Voices and Visions” benefit May 16 for Foster Care Awareness Month at the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts. This year’s theme was “Light Through Darkness,” a theme that many foster youth can closely relate to in their personal lives. Many in foster care face hardships and discrimination. Events like “Voices and Visions” provide a safe platform for foster youth to open up and share their experiences with others. Jeremy Johnson, foster youth

specialist, is familiar with the obstacles many students encounter. “I think events like this really spread light on the challenges that foster youth go through,” Johnson said. “Every day having those challenges like: where are they going to live? What are they going to eat? Those are real challenges.” A woman from the audience approached RCC Guardian Scholar student Marco Romero after the closing performance, something that caught him off guard. “Even though I didn’t think I had the power to do so to someone, she was really touched about what I had to say and I thanked her because I don’t really feel like people listen to me,” Romero said. He believes the applause after a performance is more of a mechanical social expectation. “They just applaud because that’s what everyone else is doing,” he said. “But for someone to

actually approach me, that actually meant a lot.” First time performer Daisy “Flower” Lopez from UC Riverside did a piece on abuse in a home environment. Having faced discrimination and insensitive remarks from peers unfamiliar with the foster care experience like, “You don’t seem damaged enough to have been in foster care,” she finds comfort and understanding amongst other Guardian Scholars and attendees at benefits like “Voices and Visions.” “A lot of people were able to relate,” Lopez said. “I mean, I’m not glad because it’s kind of scary to go through that but at least they know that somebody can go up there and just say ‘This is my story. We’re here. F what everybody else says. You made it.’” For more information on the Guardian Scholars Program visit Digital Library Room 112.

ALL PHOTOS BY DIANA CABRAL | VIEWPOINTS

Clockwise from top: Attendees show support with merchandise. Genieva Burks delivers a powerful spoken word piece in honor of her late brother, Guest performer Solomon O.B revisits the death of his foster father, Aashanique “Shrxxm” Wilson emotionally mixes prose and rap.

May 24, 2019

‘Girl power’ momentum soars

Life

Powerhouse artist Lizzo breaks boundaries as well as genres with album ‘Cuz I Love You’ SAYEDA GHAZANFAR STAFF REPORTER

Girls, snap your fingers in a z-formation, our new it-girl is every bit as soulful, sassy and sensational as you need her to be. Lizzo’s new album dropped last month and she’s already on everyone’s radar and if she’s not on yours, she needs to be. “Cuz I Love You” is an album for females of every shape, size and color. Lizzo is one of many artists in our generation that is moving toward a genre-less sound. Instead, her music seems less like a statement and more like a movement. She’s been playing the flute since junior high and thought she would primarily be a rapper. Though with this album, we see that she is much more than that. The title track hits hard from the very beginning. “I thought that I didn’t care/I thought I was love-impaired/But baby, baby/I don’t know what I’m gonna do/I’m crying ‘cause I love you.” Her strength and conviction

PHOTO COURTESY OF JD BARNES

Lizzo graces the cover of Essence Magazine for its May 2019 issue. come through in the way she belts those lyrics, like a release for herself and for her audience. Fresh out of a therapy session after “Cuz I Love You,” the album changes course with “Soulmate.” It is, without a doubt, the single girl anthem of the year. It’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” with an edge. In “Soulmate,” Lizzo is in a relationship with herself. “She never tells me to

exercise/We always get extra fries/And you know the sex is fire/And I gotta testify/I get flowers every Sunday/Imma marry me one day.” You can’t help but think that there was a man involved to lead her to this new self-appreciation in “Soulmate.” It’s no surprise that she makes a better lover than “Jerome.” This gut-wrenching track has you singing along like you are Aretha Franklin, who is,

in fact, a big influence for Lizzo. They even share the same record label. She sings, “Poor little baby/ Who told you that you stood a chance with this royalty?/You’re so sweet/Bless your heart.” “Jerome” is the winner on the album and solidifies that she is more than just a rapper, she is a singer, too. An incredibly talented one. Lizzo keeps the girl power

momentum moving with “Tempo.” She enlists the help of another one of her idols, Missy Elliott for her feature rap song on the album. And they both deliver. Lizzo sings, “Slow songs/ they for skinny h---/Can’t move all of this here to one of those/I’m a thick b----/I need tempo.” In an interview with Essence magazine, Lizzo said that while everyone can enjoy her music, her songs are mostly dedicated to big black girls. “It’s so exciting to me to finally be at a level where I have exposure to my black sisters, my big sisters, my black trans sisters,” she said. With her powerful music, Lizzo has propelled a population of women who are fed up with unrealistic beauty standards, shaming other women and being too accommodating to men. Empowerment, of yourself and of other women, is a critical right of passage for females all over the world. As is the feeling of falling in love for the first time, mourning a relationship with a less than deserving man and looking at yourself in the mirror, finally realizing “Damn, she the one.”

Not so nutritious, not so delicious

Riverside City College’s City Grill plans an update to give students better meal choices PATRICK TINDALL LIFE EDITOR

Greasy pizza slices, sad chicken fingers and cold, dead fries. Some students have called it “gas station food,” others have called it flat-out “garbage.” Some students refuse to eat at the cafeteria altogether due to dietary restrictions or allergies. Riverside City College’s City Grill has been the subject of many student’s mealtime ire when it comes to getting nutritious foods in between classes. “It’s whack,” RCC student Jamie Tran-Vo said. “It’s not fresh. The fries are not fresh and sometimes the chicken tenders are old.” When students walk into the cafeteria they are greeted by a wall of pre-packaged danishes and muffins like the kind you would find in a 7-11, as well as a salad bar. “The salad bar is very limited,” RCC student Stella Rocha said. “I would like to see more fruit options, that way if I didn’t want a quesadilla or chicken strips, I could get something from there.” If you are vegetarian, vegan or have another kind of dietary restriction, such as allergies, you can forget about lunch on campus. “I have a friend who has a dairy allergy mixed with something else,” Rocha said. “She can’t even eat here, all she can get is water.”

The funny thing is, this isn’t the first time Viewpoints has covered the lack of nutritional lunches being served at the cafeteria. As far back as Aug. 6, 2007, student journalists Jessica Santibanez and Amber Richard wrote in an article called “Food selections lacking in Tiger’s Den cafeteria.” “RCC cafeteria and Tiger’s Den must still regard students as small children by the items they choose to serve: pizza, french fries, nachos, corn dogs.” This just happens to be the same kind of food that is still served today in the cafeteria, nearly 12 years later. If you’re in a rush, starving between classes and for some reason, craving those chicken fingers, it may not be a quick errand. As recently as March 26, 2015, the Viewpoints editorial staff published an op-ed which timed how long it could take to get food and that it can take students up to “24 minutes and 31 seconds to order a quesadilla during a lunch rush.” This is by far an outstanding amount of time for a greasy quesadilla considering most students are just trying to get something decent in between classes with no other options in the nearby neighborhood. Most students settle for prepackaged foods, like the wrapped pita sandwiches or jello cups as they may actually be

ZANE MUDRON | VIEWPOINTS

Plastic wrapped hot dogs are served and ready to eat in Riverside City College’s City Grill. healthier and quicker options for the money that the City Grill miles away in either direction is also students than what is served up to would use to pay it’s employees. a nuisance, considering parking on them in the hot cases. However, such agreements are campus is always terrible. RCC does bring in outside used by large corporations to However, there seems to be vendors to campus occasionally in create monopoly on the items that some change on the horizon in the form of food trucks, but these they produce. the right direction. Food services aren’t a regular occurance. The City Grill’s website is director Cheryl Ruzak said that In fact, the popularity of these pretty misleading as well. It there will be changes coming to the food trucks can be distracting features stock photos of fancy City Grill over the summer. because the lines are just as long plates of fresh spaghetti, english “We are looking at the menu waiting for a Miguel Jr.’s burrito muffins and fresh fruit bowls and hoping to add some new truly from a vendor as it is waiting in being served by a man in a highvegan and vegetarian options for line for stale pizza. end chef coat, none of which is students,” Ruzak said. “Students Not to mention the fact that actually served here on campus. can look forward to the new menu there is a non-compete agreement “They should open up a food items next fall.” in effect with the outsourced food court or something,” Tran-Vo said. RCC definitely has some work vendors which are required to not “We just need more options.” to do when it comes to providing serve the same foods as the City Students crave variety. The healthy food options to it’s students. Grill. fact that the closest thing to Here’s hoping that in the fall we The positive aspect of this is campus is Carl’s Jr. or Jack in the can look forward to some new that the vendors do not take away Box which are still nearly two changes.

May 24, 2019

Another anti-woman bill

Views

Editorial

Georgia abortion bill represses female civil rights

IMAGE COURTESY OF CANSTOCK PHOTOS

Misogynist legislators in the state of Georgia are classifying women who need abortions as second degree murderers. The new bill passed in Georgia and other states soon followed. The bill proposes that a woman will not be allowed by any doctor to abort a fetus after a heartbeat is detected, which usually occurs within six weeks. Any physician willing to perform an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected may be subject to losing their medical practice license. With the bill in effect, unborn children will be recognized as natural persons and will be included into the general population in certain states. The bill also states that the full value of a child begins at the point when a detectable human heartbeat exists, meaning the fetus will be entitled to receive alimony and child support. We feel the bill further contributes to the mockery that is the justice system and the fact that the decision was made by a room full of old white men further

pushes the idea that women exist only to be whatever men want. This law does not keep the well-being of the mother in mind and it is a law against the female body decided by a council of sexist men who will never consider the lives of theses children who they will never spare another thought for after they are born. Let’s be clear, this bill is about power. If there was actual concern about reducing the number of abortions, these politicians would fight for free contraceptives and take more strides for comprehensive sex education. Cr iminalizing abor tion simply cont rols the nar rative of who is allowed to have a abortion. The privileged will always have that option, but the disenfranchised will either be criminals or be forced to stay trapped in poverty. The very concept of abortion will never go away

no matter how many laws you try to pass and limit a woman’s ability to do so. All these laws will do is increase the number of unsafe abortions women will do on their own. If the states passing or considering this bill care so much about children, their leaders should devote their time to ensuring that children in poverty have proper resources and that LGBT children have a safe place to go if they’re forced out of their homes. They should focus on finding ways to ensure that there is a brighter future for all children, not just the ones that fit the image you want to use to push your hateful and outright possessive politics. Being pro-life should extend to all life and should not just be embryonic. That means taking care of the children in Flint, Michigan that are drinking leaded water or having them being born into a world that does not view a child in poverty as just a statistic.

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

LETTERS

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dominique Redfearn (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu MANAGING EDITOR Mia Magaña viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Patrick Tindall viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Matt Schoenmann

TO THE

NEWS EDITOR Dominique Redfearn viewpoints.news@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR Diego Lomeli viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

SPORTS EDITOR Nick Peralta viewpoints.sports@gmail.com

LIFE EDITOR Patrick Tindall viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com

PHOTO EDITOR Angel Peña viewpoints.photo@gmail.com

ONLINE EDITOR Imari Rede viewpoints.online@gmail.com

REPORTERS Samantha Bartholomew Diana Cabral Clarissa Corral Darrisha Daniel Benjamin De Leon Erik Galicia Sayeda Ghazanfar Ashley Gomez

Karina Gutierrez Yesenia Huby Timothy Lewis Robert Johnson Adriana Lopez Kenia Marrufo Zane Mudron Angel Peña

Jacob Quezada Jair Ramirez Jonathan Ramirez Corey Robinson Keanu Wallace Jerome Wong

REACH US: Associated Collegiate Press

Journalism Association of Community Colleges

Letters to the editor should be kept to 250 words or less and include contact information. Deliver letters to the Viewpoints office in the room behind the Assessment Building. An electronic copy is required. Viewpoints reserves the right to edit letters for space and to reject libelous or obscene letters. Letters to the editor and columns represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Viewpoints staff, Viewpoints faculty advisers, student government, faculty, administration nor the Board of Trustees.

PRINTING SCHEDULE Copy deadline:

August

Photo deadline:

August

Ad deadline:

August

Next issue:

August

Viewpoints is a public forum, First Amendment newspaper. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

MEMBER: NEWSROOM PHONE: (951) 222-8488 E-MAIL: viewpoints@rcc.edu

EDITOR

California Newspaper Publishers Association

© 2019 by the Viewpoints staff, Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. 92506-0528. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the Viewpoints Editor-in-Chief.

SPORTS

May 24, 2019

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,”

- Jackie Robinson

MIA MAGAÑA | VIEWPOINTS

From left, Riverside City College President Gregory Anderson, womens head coach Damien Smith and head coach Jim McCarron celebrate the success of the the track and field teams during the state championship ring fitting ceremony in the Wheelock Gymnasium on May 21. The men won first placce and the women took second.

RCC wins state championship Tigers wins their ninth track and field state title NICK PERALTA SPORTS EDITOR

For the ninth time in school history, Riverside City College men’s track and field have captured the California Community College State championship. “Right before the conference championships, we met with the team and set an ultimatum to focus on being a cohesive team,” said RCC head coach Jim McCarron. “After the meeting, the team’s focus, dedication and

determination was on point.” This is the Tigers seventh state title under coach McCarron. It is their first state title that RCC has earned since 2014 after narrowly beating the Mt. San Antonio College Mounties with a point total of 116, the lone team in the competition to land in triple digit points. Mt. SAC finished with 73 points, while American River was close behind in third place with 61. “Well the coaches together as a coaching staff we all gave our all, and they all did a fantastic job,

but the two guys that really stood out were Tony Mitchell and Alec Jones,” said McCarron. Sophomore and future Arizona State University sun devil Antonio Mitchell won all three events he participated in, the 100 M (10.21), the 200 M (21.16) and the 4 x 100 Relay (40.17), winning the Track Athlete of the Meet. “It was an accomplishment,” said Mitchell. “We have been working on it all year and we kind of started off a little slow at the beginning but everybody picked it up at the end and got ourselves to the championships.”

Sophomore Alec Jones won the Hammer event (54.16 m) and placed second in the Discus throw (49.23 m). “Winning state was the goal all year, so it’s nice to not fall short, last year we came up short in second, so this was kind of a redemption year of sorts,” said Jones. “That’s something we will have forever.” Jones was named Field Athlete of the Meet and won the Riverside City College Student of Distinction for Kinesiology and Athletics award.

“It didn’t go exactly how I wanted, but it’s a good year, had a lot of fun, made a lot of good memories and relationships, and got an individual and state championship,” he said. Jones will receive his degree in Kinesiology with a focus on Physical Therapy this spring. RCC had an outstanding season placing first in seven meets this season. “It was a very rewarding season and very satisfying to bring home the state championship to Riverside Community College,” said McCarron.

May 24, 2019

Sports

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

Garrett Irvin only allowed 5 hits against Cuesta College on Feb 3. Irvin finished the season with a 2.25 ERA and only 73 hits allowed.

Baseball star transfers to Arizona Garrett Irvin led Tigers to conference regionals JAIR RAMIREZ STAFF REPORTER

The 2019 Orange Empire Conference Pitcher of the Year Garrett Irvin helped lead the Riverside City College baseball team to a 32-12 record. “I was really excited,” said Irvin on winning the award. “It’s crazy because there’s a lot of good pitchers in this conference this year and every game felt like a dog fight. There was a lot of good arms in this conference that definitely had a shot to beat me out this year.” Good defense and strong pitching helped the Tigers to have such a solid season. Leading the team in pitching was Norco native and sophomore lefty ace Garrett Irvin. Irvin finished the season 10-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 15 starts. “Trust your defense and everything will work itself out if you keep on grinding and keep doing your thing every day,” Irvin said.“You can’t take any days off, you can’t take it for granted at the end of the day.” Garrett is following his father’s footsteps in his career and in the love for the game. “My dad growing up always played baseball, he played all the way through college,” said Irvin. “So as soon as I was born he brought me straight into baseball and put a baseball in my hand and I just immediately loved it just like he did, he was a lefty pitcher too so we have a lot in common.”

He also credits his father as the most influential person in his baseball career. “He taught me my curveball and he taught me how to be the man on the mound and not have any fear,” he said. “He’s definitely the most influential person I have in my baseball career, I owe a lot to him.” Irvin doesn’t only play baseball for the love and fun of it, he also uses it as a way to relax. “It takes you away from everything outside baseball, I think a lot of kids specially at this stage are going to school and trying to balance baseball and education together,” Irvin said. “Being on the baseball field four hours out of the day, it’s nice to not have to worry about your homework or what’s going on at home, you can just go out on the field and try to get better at the sport you’ve been playing since you were eight.” Irvin finished with a conference high 98 strikeouts with his offensive approach on the mound. “My mindset is probably similar to a hitters in regards to I want to beat them, I take it a little bit personal when they get a hit or I walk a guy,” said Irvin. “I try to have a mind set of, I’m better than you and I’m not going to let you beat me in any way possible.” Garrett’s leadership on and off the field helped the Tigers reach the Super Regional round in the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs.

“He’s the optimum teammate, your see his personality, his characteristics, he’s free spirited, he turns into a different individual from a competitive standpoint when the ball is put in his hands,that’s what makes him great,” said RCC coach Rudy Arguelles. “He’s selfless, he contributes, he wants success for everybody not just for him, from a teammate’s standpoint he’s outstanding and he’ll be able to fit into any clubhouse and program he’s a part of.” Garrett always had a feeling he would play for coach Arguelles, “I’ve known him since I was in high school and it was never about if I went to (junior college) where would I go,” said Irvin on playing for coach Arguelles. “It was always, if I play JC ball it’s going to be with coach Arguelles. He jokes around but when it’s really go time you can see the competitive side in him, it’s fun just playing behind him.” Outside of baseball Garrett Irvin enjoys the outdoors and going to the movies, “I go snowboarding a lot, I guess baseball kind of interferes with that just because of the injury factor, so I don’t go that much anymore,” he said. I’m a big movie guy, I like going to the movies every week and going to the lake, going wakeboarding and anything outdoors, I just like being outdoors a lot, but I’m a big movie guy too.” Irvin will be attending the University of Arizona next year,

ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS

Sophomore Garrett Irvin finishes the 2019 season with 96 pitched innings and 98 strike outs. Irvin has signed with the University of Arizona to continue his babseball career. “The heights he has the ability to achieve within the game are going to be up to him,” said Arguelles. “I foresee as long as he stays on the path he’s on right

now, really stays diligent from the mental side, physical side, working with a purpose each and every day, which he’s embracing, I can see Garrett’s future in Major League Baseball.”