MAY 19,
2022
VOL. 100, NO. 13
VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG
in this issue NEWS
Frida takes Hollywood
2 RCCD Police Department May Campus Crime Report LIFE
4 Movie review: ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ EDITORIAL JENNIPHER VASQUEZ NEWS EDITOR
6 College students should not fall for latest scam
SPORTS
Whether you know her as Frida Kahlo, Friducha or the self-proclaimed “hija de la revolución,” we can all agree she is much more than just the artist known for her unibrow. Hollywood is one of nine North American cities hosting an exhibit of her most famous paintings. I visited The Lighthouse Artspace in Hollywood which is currently home to “Immersive Frida Kahlo,” previously known as “Immersive van Gogh”. Although I knew I wasn’t going to see any physical
paintings of hers, I walked in with no idea of what to expect and a hunch that I was in for something good. Walking into the exhibit on Sunset Boulevard you’re greeted by friendly staff who are eager to scan your e-ticket and get you inside. The next greeting you receive is a wall display of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh’s 1887 “Self-Portrait,” followed by Kahlo’s 1943 “Self Portrait as a Tehuana,” on the second wall of the entrance walkway. You turn the corner and begin to walk through a tunnel of gold frames and cobalt blue lighting where you make
See FRIDA on page 3 JENNIPHER VASQUEZ | VIEWPOINTS
8 Riverside City College baseball advances to CCCAA south finals
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INDEX NEWS LIFE OPINIONS EDITORIAL SPORTS
2 3 5 6 7
A wall projected light display of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in the “Immersive Frida Kahlo” exhibit hosted by The Lighthouse Artspace in Hollywood on May 9.
Some staff feel Track team gears underappreciated up for state finals DAESHA GEAR ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Classified employees of the Riverside Community College District expressed that they feel unrecognized and underappreciated during classified employee week. Victor Bolanos, a help desk support technician, spoke on behalf of RCCD classified workers at the RCCD Board of Trustees regular meeting May 17 regarding employee access to the back doors and rooftops of buildings due to safety concerns because of the rise of homelessness. These matters surrounding the welfare of classified employees have been brought up. However, according to Bolanos, no action has been taken to solve this issue. “Our classified do not feel safe,” he said. “They do not feel they are able to walk around this area in a safe matter. They are not able to take their breaks.”
Bolanos also added that workers would ask each other to walk together in groups for safety precautions during non-disturbed meal breaks. According to him, it is a lack of humane consideration. “That is not right,” Bolanos said. “That is not the way you treat people. That is not the way you treat your classified here.” Having access to non-accessible areas that would benefit classified workers’ well-being was one of the proposals he suggested to the Board. Trustee Mary Figueroa also agreed with Bolanos and said it was “shameful” to the employees. She insisted the Board give further considerations that will guarantee classified workers access to the rooftop for leisure or to eat as it is a resource that should be shared with all staff members who are part of the district.
See BOARD
DANIEL HERNANDEZ MANAGING EDITOR
It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Riverside track and field teams if they want to earn a spot on the podium at the state championships. And it looks like their biggest competition, the Mt. San Antonio College Mounties, has a leg up. It’s a match-up that has been building up since the two teams met at the Tiger’s first home meet of the season. Athletes from both colleges treated the meet like a championship despite it only being the second event of the season. But by the end of the night, both the Mounties men and women’s teams dominated and earned first place in team scoring. The two teams have only met a couple of times after that initial match-up. One of the most significant being at the Mt. SAC on page 2 Relays on April 9.
Now, the RCC men and women’s track and field team will compete in the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA) State Championships at Mt. SAC’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium from May 20-21. The men’s team will enter as the defending state champions while the women’s team placed second last season. The Tigers are coming off of a strong showing at the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Finals where both teams took first place in team scoring. It was an expected win for the Tigers as they have won the conference title every year since 2007 — excluding the pandemic years where the team did not have competition. But the conference win is overshadowed by the Southern California Regional Finals results. The men and women’s team placed third while both Mounties’ teams
See TRACK on page 7
2 May 19, 2022 News Briefs COVID-19 outbreak at RCC May 14 the Kane Building was reported to have multiple COVID-19 cases. Most individuals were within six feet of each other, and only a few were notified via email about potentially being exposed to the virus. Faculty members brought their concerns to the Board of Trustees on May 17. President honors injured officers Anderson honored two injured police officers while restraining a suspect at RCC on May 11. The suspect was arrested and booked immediately following his illegal possession of drugs, driving under the influence and intent to injure an officer. In-person commencement The upcoming RCCCD commencement ceremony will abstain from COVID-19 mandates. In a district Strategic Planning Commission meeting, each president from all three RCCCD colleges voted in a 2-1 vote to disregard vaccine mandates at the June 10 commencement ceremony. RCCCD student trustee Student Trustee Jack Harris was awarded the Spring 2022 Student Trustee Scholarship Award at the RCCCD Board of Trustees meeting May 17. RCCD reports significant increase of students who will earn associate’s degree/ certifcates RCCD reports 1296 students graduating for the 2021-2022 academic year. The district also reports 2339 associate’s degrees and 449 certificates awarded so far. The youngest graduate is 16-years-old, and the eldest graduate is 66-years-old. RCCD also announced its first concurrent student graduate, who will earn their associate’s degree and diploma. Corrections: In our previous issue, Wendy McEwen’s name was misspelled as McKeen. This has been corrected on our website to reflect the correct spelling. 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
Editor: Jennipher Vasquez | viewpoints.news@gmail.com
Classified staff express health concerns BOARD from page 1
“I do not want to pass by our parking lot and see our staff standing up against the fence line having their lunch,” Figueroa said. “Not even when I was at the prison did that happen with our staff.” Bolanos also asked for a safe working environment due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak at Riverside City College, just a month before the commencement ceremony on June 10. The Kane Building was reported to have multiple COVID-19 cases on May 14. According to Tabitha Fuller, RCC’s academic evaluations specialist, only a few employees were notified of possible exposures. She sent a letter filled with concerns about workers’ safety and lack of communication from Risk Management to the Board. “There is too much uncertainty with little or no planning for potential outbreaks,” Fuller wrote. Other representatives, such as Cassandra Greene, RCC’s chapter president of the California School Employees Association (CSEA), further reiterated the neglect of the welfare of classified employees amidst the outbreak in the Kane Building. “Classified professionals are scared for their safety,” Greene said. “Yet they still want to
DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS
Dr. Charles A. Kane Student Services and Administration Building at RCC.
do their jobs. They want to support our students, and now we are sending them home either asymptomatic or because of a close exposure, and we are limiting services to our students. That is the opposite of what we should be doing.” She also noted that the treatment of classified professionals felt treated like “third-class citizens whose contributions to the district”
feel undervalued. Gary Morris, 54, was a beloved maintenance mechanic at Moreno Valley College who passed away on March 22, 2020. His passing, a few months later, was acknowledged at the May 19 meeting by Christopher Sweeten, MVC’s vice president of Student Services. “I take full responsibility f o r n o t a c k n o w l e d g i n g M r. Morris at the last meeting, and I apologize for that,” Trustee
Bill Hedrick said. “I had it in my list, and there was an oversight. That is all I can say, and it is a horrible oversight.” Hedrick adjourned the meeting by honoring the late Morris two months after his passing. Future beneficial considerations for classified workers in RCCD, however, have yet to be finalized by the Board.
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT May 4 Crime: Credit card information theft, delay in arrest and trespassing Location: Cosmetology building Summary: On May 4, an individual was arrested on charges including theft, trespassing and delaying an arrest. The crimes were committed near the Cosmetology Building. The suspect was booked and arrested the same day the crime was committed.
identity theft for fraud and vandalism were committed at RCC’s Parking Lot section P. The individual has not been identified or arrested at this time, according to the Riverside Community College District Police Department’s Crime Log.
May 11 Crime: Delaying/Resisting an officer’s duty with intent to injure; battery on a police officer; driving under the influence-drugs May 7 Location: RCC, location not specified, according Crime: Burglary; identity theft for fraudulent to RCCD Police Department’s crime log. purposes; vandalism less than $400. Summary: On May 11, a police officer had Location: RCC Parking Lot P difficulties with an individual on RCC’s Summary: On May 7, crimes of burglary, campus which ended in the use of physical
force. After showing signs of resistance, the individual was arrested and charged with: Driving Under the Influence-Drugs, Delaying/ Resisting an Officer’s Duty with Intent to Injure and Battery on a Police Officer. If you feel you or others’ safety is at risk, please contact the RCCD Police Department at 951-222-8171 for non-emergency calls, and in case of emergency, call 9-1-1. If a crime is witnessed and you wish to report to local authorities call the oncampus police at 951-222-8171 or in case of emergency call 9-1-1.
Editor: William L.G. Stephens viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com
LIFE
May 19, 2022
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Artistically immersed in grief FRIDA from page 1
your way into the last room before the main gallery of the exhibit. Wall-mounted televisions displayed many of her paintings with details about her life, the inspiration behind her work and quotes from the artist’s writings. I was almost immediately brought to tears when I entered the enormous room, where I was met by what is described as 360-degree, large-scaled projections displaying Kahlo’s paintings from floor to ceiling. I was truly immersed in the “Immersive” experience. It’s difficult to explain the overwhelming emotions I felt in a two-room gallery housing only small benches and mirrored pillars that each served individual artistic purposes. There are so many different pieces being displayed at once on each wall. It can be challenging to pick a spot to sit and watch due to how fascinating it was to see how each painting was put together. I can only describe it in layman’s terms as the coolest video collage I’ve ever seen. I didn’t want to miss a thing. Each of her paintings was combined in a video-like sequence that completely makes sense if you know of her life and of the inspiration behind her work. Kahlo’s political views and the unsurmountable pain she suffered physically and emotionally
JENNIPHER VASQUEZ | VIEWPOINTS
Projectors pointed at blank walls depict self-portraits that the artist Frida Kahlo painted throughout her lifetime.
throughout her 47 years of life are displayed was her 1932 “Henry heavily ingrained into her work. Ford Hospital” piece. One particular painting that Kahlo suffered a miscarriage I was eagerly waiting to be while she and her husband Diego
Rivera, who is also a famous Mexican artist, lived in the United States. The painting is her depiction of the miscarriage where
she is seen lying down, bleeding vaginally and connected by red ribbons to six flying objects that each correlate to the miscarriage. One of the ribbons connects Kahlo to a male fetus depicting the son she had always longed for but lost that July. The grief-inspired painting was brought to life beautifully, just as the rest of her work displayed. Upon exiting the exhibit, you enter directly into the gift shop. You can find typical gift shop novelties, all van Gogh and Kahlothemed pieces. Particularly, you won’t want to miss the well-lit glass case containing hand-crafted jewelry, mosaic picture frames, shot glasses and flasks showcasing some of Kahlo’s self-portraits. The profits from each item go to the non-profit organization, Piece by Piece. The gallery is partnered with Piece by Piece, which aims to support the residents of skid row and the homeless population of south Los Angeles. The exhibit only runs about an hour long from beginning to end. Tickets start at $29.99, but if you are looking to visit with a significant other, the gallery offers a “date night” package at a higher rate that also includes a private viewing and romantic souvenirs. The experience may not be for everyone but is certainly visually captivating and emotionally drawing.
Community and culture mix on campus
Student club gathers to celebrate AAPI Heritage month JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month holds a special place in many Riverside City College students’ and faculty lives. It is a time for many to reflect on their cultures, ancestral achievements and personal identities. For Asian Pacific Student Union members, May is a month to celebrate their cultures and spread awareness of both Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders within the college. “In recent years (AAPI Heritage Month) has been celebrated more, but before that I never knew (the AAPI community) had a heritage month because no one talked about it,” Johnny Mercado, an APSU board member, said. Many APSU members believe this month allows them and AAPI community members to celebrate one another’s cultures and allows them to explore their identities further. “When I was younger, not being surrounded by a lot of people from the AAPI community (led me to feeling lost and without a
community),” Annabelle Tamano, APSU’s club president, said. “(AAPI Heritage Month) has given me a further appreciation for (my culture and history).” Celebrating AAPI Heritage month is not only important for each individual but is also crucial in raising awareness about a community. The various trials, hardships, and tribulations many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face play an essential part this month. Will Kim, APSU club advisor and instructor at RCC, said many families uproot their original lives in one country and immigrate to America for a chance to achieve a better life for their children. Despite America being a country of diverse backgrounds, it continues to neglect various communities, including AAPI communities. “I am glad (RCC) has an Asian American and Pacific Islander (student) Union, but I hate we had to wait until (the peak) of Asian American hate crimes for us to feel passionate (about our cultures) because we should have always felt proud,” Ishika Beri, an APSU board member, said. Tamano echoed this sentiment
and said that APSU is much more than a community of AAPI people but rather a diverse community full of various other heritages worth celebrating year-round. “I want people to understand that this community is not a monolith, everyone within the community comes from different cultural backgrounds, and it is important to enter into the community with an open mind to accept, learn and listen from people of other backgrounds. That is the only way you can appreciate what is in front of you,” Tamano said. AAPI Heritage Month is not only a month of celebration but also a representation of the PHOTO COURTESY OF APSU community within RCC by APSU students and adviser Will Kim attend a presentation by Nak students and faculty.
“
Yong Choi.
“. . . I hate we had to wait until (the peak) of Asian American hate crimes for us to feel passionate (about our cultures) because we should have always felt proud (of who we are).”
- Ishika Beri
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May 19, 2022
Editor: William L.G. Stephens | viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com
Ambitious vision gets in the way of execution Second ‘Doctor Strange’ film falls short of expectations despite an incredible Olsen performance VIANNEY MORALES STAFF REPORTER
The latest blockbuster from Marvel Studios “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” released in theaters on May 6. The film is meant to be a direct continuation of the events audiences witnessed in the record breaking “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the stellar Disney+ series “WandaVision.” The film centers on Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and a new multiverse traveling hero America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) trying to conquer the multiverse’s biggest threat and preserve reality as they know it. Naturally, the high stakes and introduction of the multiverse led audiences to set high expectations for the film. When it came to her performance, Elizabeth Olsen exceeded my expectations. Following her devastating performance as Wanda Maximoff in the hit Disney Plus series “WandaVision,” Olsen steals the show and surprises fans with a new side to her beloved character. Although some fans were left stunned by the direction of the character’s story, “WandaVision” perfectly set up Wanda’s arc. It’s obvious that Olsen cares deeply for Wanda’s story and did
the utmost justice to her portrayal of Wanda. Most notably, the film does a decent job of straying from the highly critiqued “Marvel formula.” Director Sam Raimi provides a fresh lens for the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing horror elements leaving some viewers wondering if the film would better fit an R-rating. There were a handful of hasty gruesome deaths and, in one scene in particular, Wanda enters a mirror dimension and her body contorts like a zombie’s. Though I wouldn’t go as far to say the film requires an R-rating, I believe the film surprisingly incorporates horror well. In terms of the overall vision, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” certainly has it. Unfortunately, the execution was lacking in some areas. Most notably, the writing was hard to enjoy. Although this film thankfully cuts down on comedy, there’s some awkward dialogue. There’s some Spanish dialogue spoken by America Chavez that didn’t come off as fluid. Chavez even uses Mexican slang, which might be deemed as a lighthearted incorporation of Mexican representation until you remember her character is meant to be Puerto Rican. There’s another moment when a beloved character says an iconic catchphrase that didn’t quite fit followed by a brief pause almost as if the writers were expecting audiences to cheer. It increasingly became clear that the writers focused on providing fan service over a story that focuses on established characters and building upon their stories. Not only does this lead to confusion among general audiences, it makes many subplots from previous Marvel shows and movies difficult to care for.
In this film’s case specifically, it didn’t feel that there was notable development from the film’s protagonist, Doctor Strange. Without giving too much away, I found that the protagonist’s writing paled in comparison to the villain. The film doesn’t quite deliver when it comes to the visuals. There were some transitions I didn’t particularly enjoy and I thought the vision for the CGI was too ambitious to bring to reality. Overall, the film focused too much on catering to a specific demographic of Marvel fans which made for an underwhelming blockbuster for the general audience. It felt like a big jump from focusing on one cinematic universe to suddenly introducing multiple other universes without having time to
catch my breath. That’s not to say the film was terrible, but its weaknesses were most prominent within the writing. Hopefully, Marvel is able to deliver with their next blockbuster.
Pride Briefs LASSE and other organizations are hosting several Pride events at Riverside City College The Zoom meeting ID for virtual RCC Pride events is 942 2886 3846. Grand Opening of LGBTQIA2+ Student Hours G u e s t s p e a k e r To i Thibodeaux, Assistant Director of the University of California Riverside LGBT Resource center and founder of BlaqOUT, will be speaking May 19 in Room 304 of the Martin Luther King Jr. Building from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. LGBTQIA2+ Student Hours *All hours held in Room 304 of the MLK Building. Monday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Friday:11-12 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.
Snacks and books will be provided Financial Aid Workshop Learn about financial aid opportunities for LGBTQIA2+ students May 24 in Room 304 of the MLK Building from 3-4 p.m.
COURTESY OF MARVEL STUDIOS
Film showing: “Transvisible: The Bamby Salcedo Story” Watch the film and talk with supporting LGBTQ+, Latinx, undocumented, HIV+ and formerly incarcerated students May 25 in Room 304 of the MLK Building from 12:302 p.m. Open Mic, Open Floor Do you like to sing, dance, do spoken word or Art? If so, share your work and support others on May 31 in Room 304 of the MLK Building and virtually from 12:50-1:50 p.m. LGBTQIA2+ Mixer Meet and reconnect with students, faculty and staff June 1 in Room 304 of the ML K Building from 5-7 p.m. QTPOC Pride Hour Join the community with other queer, transgender and nonbinary people of color on June 2 in Room 304 of the MLK Building from 12:50-1:50 p.m.
Editor: Darlene Dukelow-Burton
viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com
OPINIONS
May 19, 2022
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PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS
OpiniOns series
American dream exclusionary Concept deeply rooted in systemic oppression, colonization
LEO CABRAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The American dream is a nightmare. My immigrant great-grandfather Fortino, 86, lives in a mobile home park and does custodial work for park management. My 61-year-old nana Diana, who Fortino helped get into the United States when she was about 26, lives in the same mobile home park and cares for patients not much older than herself. My mother Wendy, 43, was brought to
the States at 8 years old and struggles to keep a residence for much longer than two years at a time. She, my younger siblings and I never stayed in one place too long and usually lived with other families throughout my childhood. My siblings and I have been staying with partners, friends or family for a couple of years now and we can only dream about affording an apartment together. Still, many of my immigrant relatives buy into the American dream. This dream was never meant for working class people of color, queer, transgender people and especially the indigenous people of the Americas. It thrives on exploiting people by tricking them into thinking they’re a contributing and functioning member of society. In reality, many people are cogs in the very machine that grinds them down daily while an elite few grow disproportionately wealthy off their criminally underpaid work. It is an imaginary checklist that keeps people’s heads down and distracted from
their community, mutual aid, freedom and the things that will truly bring them happiness. The belief that anyone can reinvent themselves, lift themselves out of poverty and live out their success story is restrictive and rooted in capitalism and White supremacy. It is a lie created only a few centuries ago by White slave owners and colonizers with inherited or established wealth. It’s a lie upheld and greatly mythologized by a select few with power over those centuries. The myth was so potent that even those disenfranchised by the American dream have died trying to obtain it. Those who haven’t died are still working themselves to the bone, like my greatgrandfather. The further a person is from Whiteness, male privilege, wealth and Puritan values — or intersectionalities, which are overlapping systems of oppression that one has, as coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 — the more difficult a time they have obtaining the American dream.
Realtors have historically redlined Black and Hispanic homebuyers to environmentally unhealthy parts of cities, banks have given out fewer loans to Black clients and Indigenous communities are consistently poisoned while state and federal governments do nothing. How can one pick themselves up by the bootstraps and become financially stable when they’re systematically set so far behind? Even when someone with several intersectionalities slips through the cracks and obtains financial success in America, they can continue to perpetuate systems of oppression while still being vulnerable to experiencing oppression and discrimination themselves. We need to decolonize the American dream. The focus should be on mutual aid, indigenous sovereignty, community activism, unionizing and so much more. It’s time to stop kidding ourselves with the American dream. The grind isn’t going to save us.
Trustees overlook Native American students RCCD excludes key student demographics while redistricting
DARLENE DUKELOWBURTON OPINIONS EDITOR
The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees neglected to include the Native American population when considering redistricting in March. The Board used Redistricting Partners to process 2020 census data that did not define several
races but clumped them together in the Latino or “other” categories. This report was a terrible reference because it essentially erased the Native American population from the district’s boundaries. One would expect Redistricting Partners would deliver a more detailed report to the Board rather than the minimal data they got from the census. If the racial and ethnic makeup of the students attending RCCD mattered to the trustees, like they say it does, they would have needed a more accurate breakdown of data to work with to cover students’ needs. They need to take a deeper look at the online census right before them. I know that most Native Americans have Spanish or Anglo names, which can be misleading to many. The Board could assume that
very few Native Americans live in Riverside County, an egregious assumption. Their names are due to colonists violently assimilating Native Americans’ ancestors. These names were forced on them, and their real names were taken away, along with their language, traditions, religion and family. The United States government figured that the Indian had to be removed from inside them before they could be acceptable and useful to society. The infamous Anglo phrase of that period was “Kill the Indian, save the man,” which has been practiced for hundreds of years. Perhaps this assimilation is how and why the Board might come to believe that there are few Native Americans in its surrounding areas. Contrary to this, there are many more Natives than they know.
Of the 39.5 million Californian residents living here, 3.1% are Native American, 4.2% are Native and White/Hispanic, and 4.2% claim Native with Black ancestry. Many Native families still do not identify officially as Indian because of the inherited fear, just like my grandparents. Southern California is said to have the highest number of Native Americans living in its communities than anywhere else. Before America’s historic shutdown in 2020 due to COVID-19, many colleges in practically every Southern California county would host their powwows each year, which local Native groups put on. The groups that often worked with them were the college’s Native American clubs or Native American student programs.
Riverside City College did not have a Native club or program. At the most, RCC used to have a small Native American gathering and a social event each year. In the mid-1990s, RCC also hosted a local powwow that the students put on for years. It would have dramatically grown
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Editor: Darlene Dukelow-Burton | viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com
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Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and are written by the Viewpoints’ student editorial board.
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DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS
NFTs are the new Ponzi scheme Celebrity ads target Gen Z, use fans as cash cows Our generation creates new slang terms on an almost daily basis as a way to find creative ways to say old phrases. The previous generation’s vocabulary that no longer appeals to the masses gets taken and converted into something more intriguing and catchy. One of the more recent additions takes the old phrase “ponzi scheme” and turns it into something fresh: NFTs. Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are among the most recent trends as the internet shifts into Web3 and blockchain technology. It is marketed as a unique item that can be bought, traded or sold between peers. Think of NFTs like a virtual Pokemon card or a rare Fortnite skin but exponentially more expensive. It is fascinating to see how quickly this new fad has spread across the zeitgeist. Social media influencers such as Jake Paul, Logan Paul and David Dobrik began to promote NFTs. Then, as the idea gained more traction, the mainstream media also started to promote the tokens. Celebrities such as Floyd Mayweather, Brie Larson and Paris Hilton promoted NFT projects using their massive platforms. But none of these influencers promoted NFTs because they believed in the power of a decentralized currency. They promoted it
because they saw the dollar signs that came with making a couple of tweets about the project. In reality, NFTs are being used to scam young individuals looking for opportunities to add a couple of zeros to their bank accounts. Influencers think of their fans as cash cows to fund their lavish lifestyle. The increasing number of young college student NFT investors is frightening. However, it’s also easy to see how many fell into the non-fungible rabbit hole. Young college students are already burdened with high education costs, housing and essentials like food or gas. It is stressful having to open a bank account and see the hard-earned money being drained. This anxiety fuels the quest to find a fast way to earn money. So, when a social media influencer flexes their wealth online, followed by a new investment opportunity, their unsuspecting fans take the bait. The NFT project is marketed as a new and exciting investment opportunity that the influencer just so happened to find, and because they love their fans, they just had to share it. The truth is, these social media stars were paid thousands of dollars for a 15-second Instagram video or a 140-character tweet. These stars didn’t do an ounce of research and just cashed in on some easy money —
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the unsuspecting college students’ money. The promoter gets paid, the fans buy in, and the project’s creator pulls the rug. Then, that jpeg image’s speculative price drops from thousands of dollars to pennies. To be fair to NFTs, the overall concept has the potential to become an integral part of society. Anything unique to the individual can become an NFT. A ticket to a baseball game, a car pink slip or the deed to a house are all unique items that can one day become virtual files. It can differ from a regular file because it will be saved on a decentralized network that can only be linked back to the owner. However, that integration is years away and the technology in its current form is used as just a get-rich-quick scheme by morally bankrupt influencers. The best way to not get scammed in this NFT wild west? Don’t buy into it if you don’t have the money to spend. There is no winning with this unregulated market unless you are a millionaire with cash to throw away or are the one controlling the project. Use the money you have earned wisely and find a better, long-term investment to place your money in, and don’t believe the next false prophet social media influencer touting massive earnings if you invest in a jpeg of a monkey.
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SPORTS COLUMN
Sports betting slippery slope
Hobby often leads to addiction for students
HAYDEN KULICK SPORTS EDITOR
Everyone knows that excessive substance use is on the rise in the United States, and the popularization of sports gambling will not help that matter. Sports gambling can be one of many gateways into the world of addiction. Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system similar to mind altering drugs. According to ncpgambling. org, 67% of college students bet on sports and it is easy to see why gambling corporations target college students. “I’m not fully invested in the
sports gambling scene but I can see how it can happen,” said Jacob McIntosh, third year biology major at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. “It’s way too easy to get started.” One of the biggest ways sports gambling companies like DraftKings and FanDuel advertise is through social media. According to CNBC, 98% of all college students use social media regularly, making them an easy target on a daily basis. “There’s a lot of promotions that I see when I’m scrolling through my feed that always seem like they are a much better deal than they are,” McIntosh said. “I already don’t want to spend a lot of money on it but all these ‘spend $5 win $150’ advertisements seem like they are too good of a deal to pass up on.” Another reason why sports gambling is popular amongst college students is the culture that comes along with it. Popular social media
community Friday Beers is a big part of that culture. They post entertaining screenshots of text messages weekly on their Instagram account regarding sports gambling that their followers send in. Most of the time the messages are something along the lines of, “I placed $150 on the US curling team just because I can.” With the many of their followers being made up of younger people and college students, it’s easy to see how online communities exacerbate the issue. Another popular social media personality that tries to turn sports betting into entertainment is a TikTok user by the username BookitWithTrent. Trent Attyah is a sports bookmaker that has made a living off of sports betting. He produces multiple videos a day of him hitting and missing on his bets. He also encourages other users on the app to go out and bet the opposite of what he does.
According to Experian Simmons, 88% of college students being on TikTok, it is easy to see how he has gained such a big following within the college community. Addiction is on the rise amongst college students and sports gambling can lead to the same side effects that substance use does. People can experience personality changes such as irritability, restlessness and withdrawals as well as experiencing signs of depression and suicidal thoughts. College is expensive as it is and adding an expensive habit like sports gambling on top of that can lead to financial struggles early in life. If someone is looking to get into the world of gambling, waiting until they are financially stable is the best route. H o w e v e r, i f a n y o n e i s struggling with a gambling addiction, they can seek help by calling 1-800-662-4357 or by visiting www.samhsa.gov.
Track and field seeks revenge at championships TRACK from page 1 dominated and took first. The men’s team score reached 263.5, a 99.5 difference between second place. The women’s team scored 148 and had a 61-point difference over second. A Mounties runner could be seen near the top of the leaderboard of almost every event. The biggest mismatch was the men’s 100 and 200 events where Mt. SAC held first, second and third in both races. However, there were still some stand out moments throughout the Southern California Finals that could prove to be an exciting match-up come the CCCAA State Championships. On the women’s side, sprinters Zoe Ewell and Hailey Hunt have an opportunity to take home the gold and silver in the 100-meters. Amari Weatherford, a Mt. SAC sprinter, comes in with the fastest 100 time of 11.77 but placed second in the preliminary race to Hunt and second to Ewell in the finals. These two sprinters are also
on the 1600-meter relay team and look to be the front-runners to win the event. Alejandra Rosales, an RCC thrower, is also poised to sweep the competition in shot-put and discus but could face some serious competition against Mt. SAC thrower Sahira Lepes Sanchez in hammer throw. Sanchez was only two feet away from reaching Rosales’ length in the Southern California Finals. However, neither will be close to reaching the top spot as Ivy Doung, a Fresno City College thrower, can throw up to 30 feet farther. On the men’s side, look to Joshua Hornsby to put on an incredible display in 110 hurdles. Hornsby finished his race in 14.13 seconds while second place came in at .44 of a second after. The 800-meter event looks to be one of the most evenly matched events of the championships, despite Mt. SAC’s Jonathan Pfeiffer winning the event in the finals. RCC’s Gonzalo Sanchez and Kyle Reden were only .40 of a second
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Sports Briefs Baseball regional playoffs RCC’s baseball team took two out of three games to win their series against Cypress College in the second round of the CCCAA South Regionals. The Tigers won the rubber match 10-5 to advance to the CCCAA Baseball Championship Playoffs South Finals. RCC will be on the road for a best out of three series against Glendale Community College on May 20. Mens track and field The RCC men’s track and field team finished third at the CCCAA Southern Regional Finals on May 13. The 4x400meter Relay team won their event. Freshmen Joshua Hornsby took 1st place in the 110-meter Hurdles and Darius Hill finished in second place in the High Jump and third in the Long jump. The Tigers are headed to the CCCAA State Championships, beginning May 20 at Mt. San Antonio College.
Womens track and field The women’s track and field team placed third in the CCCAA Southern Regional Finals. Orange Empire Conference Female Field Athlete of the Year Alejandra Rosales led the way winning the Shotput and Discus events and placing 3rd in the Hammer. The Tigers placed first in the 4x100-meter Relay and the 4x400-meter Relay. Freshman Zoe Ewell took first place in the 100 M. RCC will compete next at the CCCAA State Championships beginning May 20 at Mt. SAC.
Swim and dive Freshman Lorelai Carney won the one and the three meter dive for the first time in RCC history on May 6. The men’s team placed 14th overall, highlighted by freshman Yanis Massignan placing 14th in the 400 IM on May 7.
All of these dates are subject to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus. To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, v i s i t t h e Vi e w p o i n t s calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org. STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS
RCC Tiger Joshua Hornsby, reacts with disappointment after seeing his time in the men’s 110 hurdle at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 9 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
behind the leader. The winner will be decided on who has the most strength for the final kick as they enter the final 200-meters.
Finding that extra gear will be key to staying competitive with Mt. SAC as it will take more than just a couple of wins to secure a team victory.
If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints.sports@gmail. com.
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May 19, 2022
Editor: Hayden Kulick | viewpoints.sports@gmail.com
RCC Tigers bounce back, advance to South Finals JAIR RAMIREZ ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Riverside City College took game three in front of a home crowd to advance to the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA) South Finals. RCC was demolished in game two of the series, displaying their worst pitching performance of the season. “ We n e v e r r e a l l y g o t a chance from our staff to get in the ball game,” head coach Rudy Arguelles said about the 18-5 loss. “We got to be better on the bump tomorrow.” RCC went into game three with a positive attitude and displayed it, scoring two runs in the first inning and the first five runs of the game. “We’ve been in this scenario all year. We only swept two series the whole year. We’ve only lost one series all year,” Arguelles said. “This is not unfamiliar territory for us. We were built for this from preseason to conference play. I like our chances.” The Chargers were within striking distance throughout the whole game until the bottom of the eighth inning when freshman
The RCC Baseball team lines up for the National Anthem as game three of the Southern Regional round two is about to start.
left fielder Adrian Arechiga drove in two runs to put the game away 10-5. A solid performance by the bullpen kept Cypress at bay allowing only two runs in just over five innings of work. F r e s h m a n p i t c h e r Ry a n Dominguez closed out the game pitching a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory. “It feels good for a moment but then you just got to realize, ‘Alright, next round,’” Dominguez said. “‘Job not finished.’ Let’s get back to work.” Freshman third baseman Ignacio Alvarez and ace pitcher David Butler led RCC to a 6-4 victory in game one. Butler is now 8-0 on the season. “We were always up from the beginning,” Arechiga said. “The energy was up, we were all up.” Arechiga had himself a good series, getting on base 10 times in the three games. RCC will be on the road for the beginning of the Southern Finals against Glendale Community College beginning on May 20. “The remedy and the recipe is going to stay the same,” Arguelles said. “We got to be consistent and attack and be aggressive on the mound.”
TOP: RCC Tiger Daniel Garcia celebrates back at the dugout after nailing a two-run homerun in the first inning.
PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY
RIGHT: RCC Tiger Julian Alvarez gets ready to round third and head home after Matthew Bardowell drove a shot down the right side.
RCC Tiger Hayden Coon pitches a strong first three innings retiring seven consecutive batters, but was pulled in the top of the fourth after allowing three runs.