APRIL 21,
2022
VOL. 100, NO. 11
VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG
in this issue NEWS
2 Local animal shelters experiencing influx of pandemic pet returns LIFE
3 Small businesses get opportunity to thrive at Goodies Night Market OPINIONS
5 Editorial: Academic counselors must guide students, not dissuade SPORTS
7 Tigers put on impressive display at Mt. SAC Relays
follow our social media @rccviewpoints @rccviewpoints @rccviewpoints @viewpointsofrcc
INDEX NEWS LIFE OPINIONS EDITORIAL SPORTS
2 3 5 6 7
Inflation affects campus attendance MYA CASTRO STAFF REPORTER
Commuter students from Riverside City College are making an effort to adapt and make it to campus despite the inflation of gas prices causing financial struggles. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), regular-grade gas prices averaged $5.82 in California. Nationally the cost of gas averaged $4.16.
The inflation of gas prices created difficulties for commuter students like Kristiana McKelvey, a choir student who drives from Hemet to Riverside three times a week. “I have to get a new tank (of gas), maybe every four days because of how much I drive,” McKelvey said. “Now I’m paying quite literally $75 to $125 every two weeks and it’s ridiculous.” The increase in prices has caused stress
for students like McKelvey. “I’ve been having to work more, which is just taxing on me mentally because I’m only supposed to be part-time,” she said. “I have to take up more hours and shifts so that I can physically get to class, which takes away from my personal time.” Isabella Pelayo, a nursing student from Running Springs, says that her 45-minute
See GAS on page 2
STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS A sign at the Chevron on 14th Street and the 91 freeway shows prices starting at $6.99 per gallon on March 25. Gas prices have surged for the last several weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Spotlight shines on vintage venue SEAN RYAN ASST. LIFE EDITOR
Imagine it’s a Saturday night in the middle of the summer of ’97. You and your closest friends are driving up Main Street in Corona to a show you’ve been waiting to happen since you saw the flier. You have a brand new roll of film for the 35mm camera you borrowed
from your parents and have X’s marked on your hands from a black sharpie. Not only are you going to see Ray Cappo and “Better Than a Thousand,” you’re also going to see your favorite straight-edge band from Boston “Ten Yard Fight” at the Showcase Theatre. From 1993 to 2008, fans of the underground music scene in Riverside county had an all-ages
venue that they could call home. Logan Patrick, director and editor of the “Showcase Theatre Documentary,” set out to make a film that would tell the story of this legendary venue in Corona. “When the word got out that I was going to put this film together, people who were involved and musicians who played Showcase reached out to me and wanted to
help out any way they could,” Patrick said. “They were excited. Any time you start talking about the Showcase Theatre with people, their faces light up and they can’t wait to talk about what it meant to them.” During its existence, bands and musicians that were on tour
See VENUE on page 3
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April 21, 2022
NEWS BRIEFS Jurupa Valley workforce training center Riverside Community College District Workforce and Economic Development received $1.5 million from Rep. Mark Takano to begin creating educational facilities master plans for a center in Jurupa Valley. When completed, the site will host residents who are currently not attending or are planning to attend college or training programs from Jurupa Valley’s 43-mile radius and its surrounding regions.
Hit-and-run suspect at large A 9-year- old boy was the victim of a hit-and-r un in Riverside on April 8. The victim, Casey Ray Jr., was ejected from the motorcycle he and his father were riding after colliding with a white vehicle. Ray Jr. was struck by that same vehicle after the collision occurred. The driver f led the scene on eastbound 91 freeway near Spruce Street where the accident occured. No further details about the suspect have been released but California Highway Patrol has urged anyone with information contact them.
Free rides on Earth Day Met rol i n k is goi ng g reen and offering free rides April 22 for Earth Day to support com muters. T he deal will not only cover t rains, but Metrolink buses and bikes as well. The offer includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego Counties. Legendary war correspondent and freedom advocate Charles Wiley dies at 95 Scan the QR code below to read the obituary at viewpointsonline.org
Editor: Jennipher Vasquez | viewpoints.news@gmail.com
Post-pandemic puppies Gas prices Pet return rate worries volunteers SAMANTHA ASHLEY STAFF REPORTER
Local rescue and animal shelter workers collectively fear the growing number of discarded pets in shelters will lead to more euthanasia, abandonment cases along with negative behavioral and emotional effects to animals. During the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown, many citizens adopted dogs and cats to cope with the unprecedented times. So much so that animal shelters and rescues were emptied out. The demand to adopt or rescue dogs was so high during the lockdown that, at one point, shelters and rescues struggled to supply the demand. However, with the reopening of cities across the nation, pet abandonment cases and owner surrenders have filled shelters and rescues with animals. “People wanted dogs like crazy. We could not keep dogs in the rescue,” said Jennifer Williams, founder and CEO of Second Chances Rescue in Norco. Shelters and rescue organizations in Riverside County have experienced a reflective surge due to people no longer willing to house pets as work, school and timing strain their commitment. Williams estimates the current state of adoptions numbers went from 80% adoptions to 20% surrender rates in the early pandemic, as opposed to 95% surrenders to a 5% adoption rate post-reopening of cities. “Dogs are not disposable,” Williams said. She urged those who participated in the mass pandemic adoption to search for alternatives to abandoning pets in the streets, roads or parks. “Figure out an alternative to rehoming and ask a rescue for help,” Williams said. “Right now, there are not enough homes for the amount of dogs.” The abandonment of pets has led to an influx of stray animals
force students to reconsider travel plans
SAMANTHA ASHLEY | VIEWPOINTS
Large breed dogs in their kennels at the Riverside Animal Shelter in Riverside on April 7. across cities, creating strenuous work for animal shelters and their workers. “Dogs that are coming back to shelters because people are going back to work or have been left on the streets have severe separation anxiety and trust issues,” said an affiliate from a Riverside animal shelter who wished to remain anonymous. “Puppies and kitties grow up to be dogs and cats and will need forever homes, not just during a pandemic.” Some in the animal care field say that the public does not understand the feelings and wellbeing of the animals. “Our shelter is usually full, however, the amount of people passing off their pandemic dogs as strays is heartbreaking,” said another affiliate from a Riverside animal shelter who wished to remain anonymous. “Animals have feelings.” Yet, Daniel Pacheco, Animal Services Enforcement supervisor for the Corona Police Department, denied the abnormal influx of animals. “We have not noticed a drastic or significant difference — rehoming and adoptions usually come in waves,” Pacheco said in an email.
SAMANTHA ASHLEY | VIEWPOINTS
Four-year-old Stella waits at the Riverside Animal Shelter.
GAS from page 1 commute to school four times a week has created a problem with her finances. “I’m not tempted to go out as much because I don’t want to waste gas,” Pelayo said. “A lot of my paycheck now goes to transportation.” Pelayo feels the college should give commuter students extra financial assistance. She now spends an extra $20 every time she goes to the gas station. “More financial aid should be given,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t live in Riverside and they have to commute more than 20 minutes.” RCC student athletes are also experiencing the financial consequence of the rise in prices. Maxwell Shor, a student athlete from Palm Springs, visits RCC daily for practice and training. “I had to move due to the gas prices and (the) time that it took to get from Palm Springs to Riverside on a daily basis,” Shor said. Due to the increase in prices, Shor stays at home whenever he can and carpools with teammates to save money. “When I fill up, I can’t fill up my full (gas) tank because it costs too much money, and I won’t have enough (money) to spend on food and rent,” he said. “Some of my other teammates live in the same apartment complex as me, so I carpool with them a lot.”
He said the usual spikes in adoption happen during the holidays and that the sole impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on animal shelters was that it limited public contact for several months. Pacheco said adoption and licensing for pets still occurred through the pandemic by appointment only and that there was no interest in adopting or fostering pets in regards to the pandemic. STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS No further interviews were A California driver fills up with gas conducted at Corona City animal at the Chevron on 14th Street and shelters per Pacheco’s request. the 91 Freeway in Riverside.
Reality of realty unrealistic Housing difficulties continue to plague students DAISY OLIVO STAFF REPORTER
All of these dates are subjected to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus. To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org. If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints.news@gmail.com
The stereotypical college experience is not the reality for many students across Riverside Community College District. As students struggle to establish financial independence and make progress in their education, lack of financial resources and affordable housing prove to be the main cause. Jocelyn Marquez, a student attending Norco College, finds herself stressed over her living situation. “As a commuter, I choose to live with my parents,” she said. “I don’t have the financial capacity to live on campus or find a place
closer to school, especially being part-time at work.” Each institution in the district provides housing resources to its students, but some believe the college’s guidance is not entirely resourceful. “There isn’t much help from anyone really except my family when it comes to housing issues,” said Marquez. Reduced tuition creates opportunities for students to have more spare change for their future living expenses. “Reducing tuition fees, more affordable housing and prohibiting landlords from upselling and (gentrifying) would help make it easier for students like myself to take the risk and move out,”
said Marlene Gomez, a full-time Riverside City College student and part-time associate at Home Depot. Many students live with their parents throughout college because they cannot afford other housing options. Some find themselves wanting independence but become stressed because they are not able to afford their desires. “Living in a dorm is extremely expensive and off-campus housing is so much more affordable, but most of us don’t have a good enough credit score to even consider moving out,” said Ashley Loera, 21, a second-year student who is struggling to find an affordable place to live.
Gomez said she is not able to become a full-time college student because she devotes a lot of time to her job. “I feel I have more mental strain because I want to be independent despite living at home,” she said. “But my work schedule has often clashed with school, making it hard to even think about anything I want to try and pursue.” Although there are not many resources that aim to help directly with student housing, other forms of student aid are available to students that may be struggling financially. The RCCD website provides information to students about Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other financial resources.
Editor: William L.G. Stephens viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com
LIFE
April 21, 2022
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Small businesses thrive at night market
Good vibes only at Goodies ANGIE ESCALANTE STAFF REPORTER
The warm atmosphere and energetic greetings from vendors were just some of the things I noticed while attending a Goodies night market. An array of different vendor setups, that when looked at individually, each had their own little world. Goodies is a night market focused on vintage clothes, jewelry and art run by Katrina “Kat” Gomez. Gomez started Goodies during the COVID-19 lockdown to give small businesses a voice. She quit her job, started making jewelry and vended for her first time at a desert festival. After that experience, she ended up coming up with the idea for Goodies. “I couldn’t live everyday doing a nine-to-five,” Gomez said. “It motivated me to start my own business.” It was tough in the beginning. Not only did Gomez have to start from scratch by reaching out to vendors herself but she had a lot of doubters. They told her to drop it or that it wouldn’t all work out. “I didn’t listen to those people,” Gomez said. “I’m doing what I do now and I love it.”
STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS
Katrina Gomez, who organizes and runs pop-ups throughout the Inland Empire plays music at the Goodies pop-up April 2. She was surprised at how fast Goodies grew in one year. Gomez now has vendor applications and many people showing up. She tries her best to make sure everything is great not only for vendors but for the visitors as well. Goodies also does charities, where all the proceeds are donated. “To all small business owners, if you have a dream or an idea — do it,” Gomez said when asked if she had any final words. “Go for it. No one can do it but yourself.” Gomez and I parted ways and I made my way through the vendor tents and came across a set-up filled with various crochet items. Tiffany, also known as Mamabunnee, welcomed me with a smile.
The tent was shared with Robert who offered upcycled jeans and jackets which he painted himself. Tiffany, who has 16 years of crocheting experience, offers hand-made bucket hats, tops, mushroom pillows, bags and necklaces. This was their second time working with Goodies and so far, they loved it. “Everyone has good energy and it’s very organized,” Tiffany said. “It’s an awesome vibe and the people are good.” Robert added. I thanked both of them and maneuvered my way through people, stopping upon a cute set-up emitting beautiful scents. There I met Karina who brought organic handmade candles to the table and David, her partner
who offered moral support. Karina began in 2020 during the pandemic. “I was really anxious, I played with fragrances and started this (candle making)” Karina said. Her candles come in different colors, aromas and designs. Everything melts, including the decorations that she adds separately to the candles. This was Karina and David’s first time vending and they were really excited. “I love the environment, everyone has their own vibe going on and it’s peaceful,” Karina said. After the lovely encounter, I took a few more turns and stopped at a table showcasing anime decals and keychains. Anthony C. came over and sparked a conversation.
Anthony began working with Goodies mid-last year and has been at every pop-up since. He shares that he’s a graphic designer who opened his own printing company where he prints out characters he and his sister draw themselves using Procreate. Anthony also does custom prints if a customer has something to bring in. “I like the vibe, everything is organized,” Anthony said when asked about his experience working with Goodies. “People don’t interact at other events but people here are really down to earth and I like that.” I then said my goodbyes and walked around a final time as I came to realize Goodies has a little bit of everything.
Concert Lounge premieres ‘Showcase Theatre Documentary’ VENUE from page 1
or coming from areas outside of Riverside County were excited to make the stop in Corona to play at the Showcase. Artists knew they were guaranteed to see their fans slam in the pit while others were stage diving. David Ingram, who is involved with promoting and putting together the documentary as well as being Patrick’s longtime friend, used to frequent the Showcase in his youth. “The Showcase was important for me at that time in my life,” Ingram said. “I was a musician in a death metal band and I played shows, hung out at shows and sometimes I didn’t have the money to get into shows. The owner would ask me to do security and PHOTO COURTESY OF SHOWCASE THEATRE that’s how I got to keep hanging out at the venue. That’s the type of community we had The Showcase Theatre first opened July 25, 1973. at Showcase.” Venues like Showcase provided a safe outside of school, work, home or whatever bands playing at the Showcase, the people in this community had their own scene right space for youth and young adults to create it happened to be. Whether it was punk, hardcore, or Ska here in the Inland Empire. and share communities for themselves
Just like the scene in New York had CBGB’s and A7, Boston had The Ratt, or Los Angeles and its many notorious clubs, the underground music scene was alive and right here in our backyard. “Many notable bands got their start at Showcase,” Patrick said. “Many kids who grew up going to shows there, got their start as photographers. Others found different avenues within the music industry.” The Showcase Theatre documentary will premiere at the Concert Lounge in downtown Riverside May 16. “I think the younger generation needs to see this film,” Ingram said. “I don’t believe that there is a documentary out there that is so raw and unfiltered about our generation.” Find more information for screening times and other dates for showings at showcasetheatredoc.com.
Showtime Info
Date: May 16-20 Doors Open: 6 p.m.
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April 21, 2022
Editor: William L.G. Stephens | viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com
LIFE BRIEFS Distinguished faculty lecturer presenting Dariush Haghighat, the announted Distinguished Faculty Lecturer will present his lecture ‘Iran and America: A Troubled Past, A Turbulent Present - How Immigrants Caught in the Middle Offer Promising Contributions for the Path Forward’ April 26 in the Henry W. Coil Sr. and the Alice Edna Coil School for the Arts Concert Arts, and April 28 in Quad 144.
On campus jobs
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY+
Making of ‘Sour’ looks sweet Film drives home debut album’s success VIANNEY MORALES STAFF REPORTER
Olivia Rodrigo has become a household name for many over the course of a year. The “Drivers License” singer rose to stardom following the release of her debut song and album “Sour” in 2021. U n b e k n o w n s t t o m a n y, the 19-year-old pop sensation originated from the Inland Empire. She primarily spent her early years in Temecula before moving to Los Angeles after landing a lead role on the Disney Channel series “Bizaardvark” which led to her fateful casting in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” In 2021, Rodrigo broke records and received multiple Grammy nominations. Shortly after that she announced her first tour. In honor of her Disney roots, she filmed a documentary for Disney+ titled “driving home 2 u,” which is a reference to lyrics from
her debut song. The documentary entails the writing process behind each song on her “Sour” album. It’s revealed that she recorded the album in between Salt Lake City where she filmed “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and Los Angeles, where she resides. In the spirit of nostalgia, Rodrigo takes a road trip from Utah to California in the documentary and makes stops along the way to perform new renditions of her songs. Before each performance, we see a glimpse of the early writing and recording sessions for every respective song. I enjoyed that every performance was in chronological order of when the songs were written. As someone who religiously listened to the album, I appreciated the new renditions of each song. It was especially insightful to see the creative collaboration between Rodrigo
and her producer Dan Nigro. However, as much as I enjoyed the film, it occasionally seemed like the producers played it too safe. I mostly took issue with the documentary’s censorship of explicit language within the music considering the fact that the album has an explicit warning label. The cursing in her songs is what makes the album reminiscent of teenage angst. Rodrigo tends to hold back when sharing her experiences that contribute to the writing process of each song. While this was an understandable choice to avoid controversy, many fans craved context and hoped that the documentary would provide clarity. S o m e w o u l d a rg u e t h a t Rodrigo’s overnight fame was largely due to an interest in the details surrounding the drama behind her real-life Disney romance.
Rodrigo has managed to avoid directly addressing her past which inspired her creative processes. Documentaries are meant to convey complete truth and the film seemingly did its best to avoid doing so. Other than that, the film solidifies Rodrigo’s pop princess status. She showed a drastic improvement in her stage presence and vocal performance in comparison to her early performances. Her early performances didn’t reflect proper vocal training. To Rodrigo’s credit, her overnight rise to fame happened when live performances were deemed unsafe in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary makes it clear that Rodrigo has been training to craft a brilliant stage presence. Undeniably, “driving home 2 u” adequately grows fans’ anticipation for Rodrigo’s upcoming tour and even her sophomore album.
Best TikTok trends to try right now KRISTYNA RAMIREZ STAFF REPORTER
If there’s one word to describe TikTok, it’s unpredictable. Every day, creatives discover new trends for people to hop on as the old ones die, so goes the circle of life on a social media platform. How does one find the current trends or keep up with them? It’s simple. A quick scroll through the “For You Page” will usually show the latest trends, or you can always go on the “Discover” page to search up hashtags, dances, audios, recipes, you name it. Don’t worry, I’ll break down a few of my favorite trends so you can get an idea of what’s circling the app, so read on and get inspired! One of my favorite trends right now is the rotoscope filter. When it comes to animation, Adobe describes a rotoscope as “the process of creating animated sequences by tracing over live-action footage frame by frame.” The rotoscope effect will activate once the creator nods their head whenever the beat drops
on the audio they prefer to use. People usually dance around or wiggle their arms in the air to make the colorful effect more satisfying to watch. The cool thing about it is that people add their own unique touch to it and use different audios, so you will never get bored of watching the same thing. I attached my favorite rotoscope video below using the audio “Captain (whistle) [Restricted Remix].” Now, let’s jump into some of my favorite trending audios really quick. Julia Fox, who seems to be the queen of trending sounds lately, is back. At the Oscars red carpet, a reporter asked Fox who did her strong eye makeup. “I actually did it myself, yeah,” Fox replied. This audio is starting to go viral as creators use it to tell their audience about something they’re proud of, or something they caused, usually in a sarcastic manner. For example, let’s say I created a fake scenario in my head, and it got me upset. I can use this audio to imply that I’m only doing the
mental damage to myself for overthinking. Another example of using this sound would be where a fashion designer is wearing a unique outfit that they designed and they lip-sync “I actually did it myself, yeah,” giving them the opportunity to sell their brand online. Last, but not least, is my favorite hashtag of all time, #DogsOfTikTok. I mean, who doesn’t love seeing those loveable and adorable creatures on their For You Page? People from all over the world use this hashtag when posting their furry babies. The best dog videos are the glow-ups. Creators will post the “before” pictures/videos of their dogs, with a preferred audio, and then add the “after” to see how much their dog has grown and changed throughout time. The videos are endless, and the personalities of the dogs are what makes them enjoyable to watch. Trends come and go quickly, so if you see a trend that you enjoy hop on it, as you could become the next viral creator. Just remember to stay true to yourself and have fun while creating!
RCC is currently looking for students to employee on campus Jobs and Internships. Check your RCC student email for more details such as job availabilitys, dates and applications.
Riverside Job Fair The Riverside Job Fair is happening at the Tyler Mall on April 27th Come interact with professionals who are in your interested field of work, and create in-person connections to help your future. No admission is necessary.
CCC LGBTQ+ Summit The virtual CCC LGBTQ+ Summit is taking place on April 28 and 29. The event will include different seminars and spaces based around topics to better improve Community Colleges support towards LGBTQ+ students.
AAPI Heritage Month May is Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Heritage month. The RCC Asian Pacific Student Union is holding various events, such as inviting guest speakers throughout the entire month to spread awareness.
To stay up to date on upcoming events on campus, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org. If you have event happening on campus that you want to be featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints. managing@gmail.com.
Editor: Darlene Dukelow-Burton
viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com
OPINIONS
April 21, 2022
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PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH
OpiniOns series
American dream not equal for all
SEAN RYAN ASST. LIFE EDITOR
The American Dream is the idea that everyone in America has an equal opportunity to achieve their goals and ambitions. It’s almost a “sky’s the limit” type of ideology. It is a promise from our government that we can prosper in whichever direction we see fit through our constitutional freedom.
I grew up a witness to the American Dream. My mother and her family came to the United States from Mexico with that same promise that they could be, and have, whatever they wanted because it was America. My family worked hard and took every opportunity to create their version of the so-called American Dream. Times have changed, though. We are no longer living in that 1950s puerile fantasy of America. In the last 20 years, we have been through two wars, a housing market crash and an economic recession. The average inflation rate of the dollar is 4.7%, and it has increasingly become harder to live in this country. My mother and father were eventually laid off from their factory jobs because those companies decided it would be financially advantageous to move to another country for cheaper labor. My uncle
struggled to maintain the restaurant for which he had worked so hard. For many Americans, owning a business is part of the American Dream. Since COVID-19, small and family-owned businesses have taken a major hit. At the same time, corporate institutions flourished and profited from the economic crash of the middle class. So, what does the American Dream mean in today’s society? Is it finding any full-time job available and working there for 20 years in hopes that one might get thrown a bone with a promotion? Is the dream to own a big house with a white picket fence, two cars, pets, a spouse and kids? After completing high school, I followed this old model of society’s American Dream. I went straight into the workforce and worked 50 to 60 hours a week on the night shift. I put higher education, ambitions and life goals on the
back burner. In my mind, I had this image that those things were only for the dreamers. For years I was stuck on this road, from one dead-end job after another with no actual career in sight and no ambition. I was living on autopilot while the corporate world killed the incentive of people like me. Don’t get me wrong. There is honor and dignity to be had when you work hard and put in the hours at a job, no matter what it is, providing for yourself and or family. People should try to chase down their dreams if possible. They should find ways to generate their own wealth, travel the world until they’re 30 and then decide to become something. Whatever it is, people should be who they want to be and do what they truly want to do. Don’t settle. Remember that there is an end
to all this at some point. Life is too short to be going through it like a zombie living in the matrix. Shouldn’t we be doing what we see fit for our own lives? Shouldn’t we as individuals be the ones to determine what our meaning of living in this country, let alone the world, means to us? I don’t feel that I am alone in this way of thinking. Many Millennials and Generation Z have decided to follow their dreams and found other avenues of generating wealth. They decided they didn’t have to settle for wasting away their adult life by making money for someone else. Many decided they didn’t want to be in debt with the bank for 30 years because the old society measured your success by taking out a loan on the house. Today we choose how we want to live our lives, and that is the American Dream.
Campus Conversations TOPIC:
Is cancel culture toxic?
Interviews and photos by Daisy Olivo
“Cancel culture is kind of toxic because I feel that it takes peoples’ past experiences and puts that image onto them, that they are racist or (an) ableist or sexist in any way. It could be (from) ten to five years old, or even more but people still bring that up.” - Maria Peña
“It is toxic because it doesn’t work the way you want it to. The people that are doing things worthy of being ‘canceled,’ are still selling music, are still in political office, still making lots of money. (With other people) there are some genuine mistakes that are made from ignorance but not malice and those (mistakes) are treated like un-repentable sins.” - Naila Santos
“I feel like cancel culture is beneficial in a way. We need to get rid of all of these elements that put other people down or do not add up to the rules we as a society have implemented. I think it is totally valid. We have to let these individuals know that whatever they are doing is no longer acceptable in today’s society.” - Juan Koontz
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April 21, 2022
Editor: Darlene Dukelow-Burton | viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com
STAFF LIST
Editorial
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Leo Cabral viewpointseic@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Daniel E. Hernandez viewpoints.managing@gmail.com
Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and are written by the Viewpoints’ student editorial board.
ADVERTISING MANAGER viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR Jennipher Vasquez viewpoints.news@gmail.com ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Daesha Gear SPORTS EDITOR Hayden Kulick viewpoints.sports@gmail.com ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS Jesus Coronel, Jair Ramirez OPINIONS EDITOR Darlene Dukelow-Burton viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com LIFE EDITOR William L.G. Stephens viewpoints.artsentertainment@ gmail.com ASSISTANT LIFE EDITORS Elaina Kleven, Sean Ryan PHOTO EDITOR viewpoints.photo@gmail.com
DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS
The counselor conundrum Lack of guidance leaves students lost, confused There is a very controversial saying that goes, “those who can’t, teach.” A more accurate statement would be, “those who can’t, preach.” Students are the drivers who choose which road to go down and guidance counselors are tasked with giving directions on how to reach the destination. However, it seems that the Riverside City College guidance counselors devote a substantial amount of attention to students who choose a more conventional path. So then, what do RCC counselors provide for the student with an unconventional dream? The Viewpoints Editorial Board believes that a counselor’s job is to inform students of the risks as well as the rewards of a desired major. Instead, we have heard several students recount stories about counselors brushing off their chosen major while simultaneously promoting a more common career path. Av e r a g e s a l a r i e s a r e p l a s t e r e d everywhere on RCC’s platforms, which
feels like an attempt to dissuade students from pursuing degrees. The greatest teachers will say, “come to me with a problem and a solution on how to fix it.” RCC needs to hire counselors that can specialize in a few specific programs rather than the current method of combining a bunch of programs that don’t truly correlate. This change will allow counselors to have a smaller list of students to serve and in return give them the proper time to plan and develop detailed educational plans to fit less common majors. If new hires of specialized counselors are unachievable, then the counseling department should be restructured to work in tandem with the educational departments at RCC. Counselors should be educated about the programs that exist on campus because some are unaware of what is offered at RCC. This will also cut back on counselors spreading misinformation on what the requirements are for graduation. RCC should also offer full ride
LETTERS
TO THE
Letters to the editor should be kept to 250 words or less and include contact information. Email letters to viewpointseic@ gmail.com. 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 faculty, administration or the Board of Trustees.
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Tim Nacey multimedia.viewpoints@gmail.com SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER John Michael Guerrero viewpoints.socialmedia@gmail.com REPORTERS:
scholarships to students who major in counseling if they commit to working within the Riverside Community College District once they graduate. This is a common hiring tool that several counties use for social workers in their respective county’s. Furthermore, there is no need for counselors to waive the possibility that someone will graduate on time like it’s the end of the world, as if that person isn’t smart enough to know that already. The pathway to a degree, certificate or special trade should not be a race to the finish line. That piece of paper does not mark the end of a line, it simply represents the beginning of the next chapter in life. Remember that there is nothing wrong with changing majors in college. The only way to find out if you actually enjoy something is by trying it out. Be wary of those who only tell you the likelihood of something happening. Show up early for those who tell you “hold on to something because this road to your dream isn’t going to be easy.”
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Editor: Hayden Kulick viewpoints.sports@gmail.com
SPORTS
April 21, 2022
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Sports Briefs Beach Volleyball The team’s last two games of the regular season will be against Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College on April 22. Both games are at Irvine Valley College’s campus. The volleyball team is 1-14 overall and 1-7 in conference.
Baseball The Tigers’ last three games will be against Cypress College on April 26, 28 and 29. The first game and the last game are home games. The baseball team is 22-10 overall and 10-5 in conference.
Golf STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS
Riverside City College Tiger, Zoe Ewell, finishes strong in the woman’s 100-meter dash. Ewell took fifth with a time of 12.11 at the 2022 Mt. SAC Relays held on April 9 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut.
RCC runs at historic event HAYDEN KULICK SPORTS EDITOR
The Riverside City College track and field team continued to put up impressive numbers at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on April 9. Sprinter Briana Olukoju showed off in the 400-meter run. Olukoju shot out the blocks with speed and maintained second place throughout her race, finishing with a time of 57.70 seconds. That time was an improvement over her previous personal record (PR) of 59.17 seconds. “The girl behind me, her PR was 58 so she passed me on the straight so I said, ‘Briana just calm down,’” Olukoju said. “In the last
100 I was just using her to finish and PR.” This puts Olukoju as the fastest female 400-meter runner in the conference by a significant margin. This also makes her one of the 10 fastest female 400-meter runners in RCC’s history. “We trained in the rain, in the wind — it didn’t matter the workout,” Olukoju said. “We just had to keep pushing and coming to practice every day.” Middle distance runner Zachery Williams took first place in the 1500-meter run. Williams is primarily an 800-meter runner, but was still able to dominate in his race. “I’ve been running the
800-meter so many times and it’s just been mentally challenging for me,” Williams said. “It wasn’t a PR but it feels good to win my first race in college.” Williams led almost the entire time and almost finished a full 2 seconds ahead of the next competitor. “Doing the 1500-meter is a little fun and I’ve been performing well in it,” Williams said. “I wish I had a little bit more of a challenge but it was a nice race.” Darius Hill is a jumper that’s been performing well all season. He continued to be a model of consistency at the meet, winning both the long jump and high jump. Hill is primarily known for his
ability in the high jump, previously being able to jump 6-9.. However, this time he got a new personal best of 25- 1/2 in long jump. “High jump is my favorite event,” Hill said. “But just as long as I’ve been doing high jump, I’ve been doing long jump.” Hill was able to clear 6-9 at the meet, but ended up not being able to clear 6-11. “After I clear 6-11, 7 feet should be a cakewalk and hopefully 7-1 should be pretty smooth,” Hill said. “I’m really good when there’s competition, that’s when I think I thrive most.” The Tigers’ next meet will be at the Orange Empire Conference Prelims on April 22.
Idaho to Ohio, athletes transfer out of area LEROY OROZCO STAFF REPORTER
Over the last few decades, Riverside City College football has established itself as a junior college powerhouse not only in the state, but in the country. Up and down the roster, whether it be offense, defense or special teams, stars are born at Wheelock Stadium. Players come from all around seeking opportunity. This year’s batch of transfers prove, yet again, that Tom Kraft and his elite coaching staff present them with plenty of opportunities. One of the players responsible for leading this past year’s team to the state championship game was freshman running back Dean Connors. Throughout the season, Connors shared the backfield with other running backs and posted 516 yards and seven touchdowns. In the middle of the year during the team’s bye week, Connors committed to Rice University. Handing the ball off to Connors in the backfield was freshman quarterback Jordan Barton. Throwing for 2,400 yards and 19
touchdowns, Barton was awarded second team all-conference. Those numbers were enough to grant him an offer from University of Texas Permian Basin. Offensive tackle Anthony LaFrance was the player protecting Barton’s blindside. LaFrance transferred to RCC from Weber State. And with the support of his position coach, Mustafa Johnson, the 6’5” product dominated the entire season. As a result, LaFrance received first team all-conference honors, as well as an offer to Fresno State. LaFrance signed with the Bulldogs on Feb. 2. Joining LaFrance at Fresno State will be cornerback Carlton Johnson, who led the Tigers’ defense throughout the season. Johnson racked up 45 total tackles on the year and displayed his impressive ballhawk abilities with two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns. Like LaFrance, Johnson received first team all-conference. Johnson also received offers from Brigham Young University, University of Massachusetts and University of Nevada Las Vegas.
The golf team will compete in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Championships at the Classic Club Golf Course on April 25.
Swimming and Diving The OEC Swim Championships will begin on April 21 and continue until April 23. The women’s team has come in either first or second place all season.
Tennis The California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional individuals tournament will be held April 29-30 at Cypress College. The women’s team is 11-3 overall and the men’s team is 9-7 overall.
Track and Field The Tigers will compete in the OEC Prelims on April 22 and in the OEC Finals on April 29. Afterwards, the team will compete at the Southern California Prelims on May 6.
Personal Record Collin Orlando vaulted 1410 at the CSU Long Beach Invitational which is a new collegiate personal best. Orlando’s high school best stands at 15-3.
DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS
The RCC football team rushes out of a brand new inflatable tiger and are greeted by cheerleaders Nov. 6. The special teams were one of transfer offers to continue their the strongest units. careers. Cornerback D’Avonte Leading them was kicker Davis-Smith went on to play for Ricardo Chavez. He was named Davenport University. Defensive first-team All-American, first-team back Kylen Ross accepted an offer All-California and first-team All- to play for the Sacramento State Conference. Hornets. He also broke the school Wide receiver Marquis Ashley and state record twice, one of committed to The University of those kicks coming in the state Nevada in Reno. Defensive lineman championship. Now, Chavez will Chris Ballard joined the Alcorn take his talents to the University State Braves. Defensive lineman of Idaho. Deporess Schletty accepted a There were plenty of other preferred walk-on offer to The k e y p l a y e r s w h o r e c e i v e d Ohio State University.
All of these dates are subject to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus.
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April 21, 2022
Editor: Hayden Kulick | viewpoints.sports@gmail.com
PHOTOS BY DANIEL HERNANDEZ
From left: United States athletes Rai Benjamin, Fred Kerley and Michael Norman compete in the 200-meter race at the Golden Games hosted by Mt. San Antonio College on April 16. Fred Kurley won the event and set a new meet record of 19.80.
We got USA on the track Mt. SAC event features Olympians, future stars
Eldred Henry, who represents the British Virgin Islands, prepares to launch the shot put ball. Henry placed eighth in the event.
United States pole vaulter Jacob Wooten narrowly avoids touching the pole which was set at 19-1/4. He would place second in the competition.
Raevyn Rogers, third place medalist in the 800-meters at the Tokyo Olympics, lowers her meet record by a second and finishes the races at 1:58.77