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What is Student Burnout and is it a Problem?
Matthew Murillo Reporter
As the school year is ending, Rio Hondo College students are more excited than ever to head into their Summer vacation. However, a common situation that happens within students towards the end of the year or the semester is experiencing burnout. However, what exactly is burnout?
Burnout is a type of exhaustion from constantly being overwhelmed by being busy.
Professor Velazquez, who teaches English at Rio Hondo, expressed his thoughts on whether student burnout exists.
“It is a common problem, what occurs is that students may have outside obligations… and that affects their schoolwork [and attendance].” States Professor Velazquez. Velazquez also says that the students who stay in the course
instead of dropping it begin to miss assignments that affect their final grades.
Student burnout is typically the same as a regular burnout, but this type of burnout results from the amount of work given in class instead of other factors,
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such as workplaces.
Experiencing burnout as a student can happen at any point, but it most often occurs at the end of the semester as classes prepare for finals week. Students experiencing burnout tend to fall behind on
their work due to their lack of motivation, or they can stop attending class altogether.
Carlos Novoa, a student at Rio Hondo, expressed his view on how he deals with student burnout.
“I would say pretty much
towards the end of the semester,” Novoa states, “it gets very tiring…I get very burnt out from my work, [seeing] the same stuff repeatedly, the burnout really gets to you.”
Novoa deals with his constant burnout by reminding himself that throwing all his efforts and what he learned from school out the window at the last moment would be a waste.
Both students and professors on campus agree that student burnout is a real problem, but it can happen at any point in the semester.
Around campus, everyone has ways of dealing with student burnout.
Some students deal with their burnout by managing their time for work due to their classes. Others fix their burnouts by decompressing their bodies so they can have the energy to go back to their classes in a good state of mind and finish their finals.
Uptown Whittier Mariachi Night
To kick off summer, Uptown Whittier hosts a night market on Wednesdays once a month. With food, shopping, and music, the three-block event is perfect for all ages. To make the event even more interactive, different performers perform each month. Uptown Whittier Night Market arranged a Mariachi Festival on May 7 to honor Cinco De Mayo.
The community came together to honor Mexican heritage through live music. At the start of Greenleaf, different Mariachi groups put on performances throughout the night. Attendees showed their appreciation for this music by dancing and singing along to the beautiful music. Individuals of all ages danced the night away while singing along to their favorite songs.
Several guests showed up early to set up lawn chairs in front of the stage to secure a spot to watch the performance. As viewers sat down, they enjoyed the food and drinks being sold throughout the event. Several food trucks and pop-ups sold a variety of entrees, including noodles, tacos, drinks, desserts, and much more. The restaurants located throughout Uptown were also open during the event.
Different mariachi groups performed throughout the
night, showing their talents through music. From all-female groups to co-ed groups, there was no difference in the joy they brought to the crowd. Several performers covered songs that honored Latin artists, including Selena Quintanilla. The crowd could be heard singing along, attracting more guests to the musical performance.
Whittier local Brandon Duran expressed his appreciation for the event: “It is a great event for our community to come together and support local small businesses. I look forward to this event each year. It’s a time I enjoy spending with my family and friends. Being able to enjoy mariachi music is something I always enjoy, so
this night is extra enjoyable.”
This festival is inclusive for all ages and extremely petfriendly. Many booths sell pet treats, clothing, beds, and much more. Pet owners enjoyed the performances with their furry friends by their side. Many guests dressed up to honor this event, and some dressed up their animals with sombreros to include them in the fun.
Uptown Whittier hosts this event once a month, on Wednesdays, varying each month. To keep up with the performers of each event, follow @ @uptownwhittierofficial on Instagram or their website, whittieruptown.org, for more information.
past week on Monday, April 21 Pico Rivera’s very own El Rancho High School had the grand opening of their new...”
Aaliyah Avila Reporter
Photo by Aaliyah Avila
Photo by Omar Lopez
Car Seat Headrest
“The Scholars”
Indie rock band, Car Seat Headrest, released their thirteenth full length album on May 2. With its release, Amoeba Records Hollywood hosted a listening party where they will hold a raffle for items such as signed postcards and posters on the same day.
Car Seat Headrest is a band originally founded in Leesburg, VA, but is now Seattle based. Their members are: Will Toledo on vocals and guitar, Ethan Ives on guitar, Seth Dalby on Bass, and Andrew Katz on drums. Their newest album, The Scholars marks as their thirteenth album in the span of 15 years, it comes five years after 2020s Making a Door Less Open.
The Scholars is an hour long rock opera concept album with a cast of fictional characters made by longtime collaborator, Cate Wurtz. The album holds some of their longest songs with “Planet Desperation”, a five part nearly 19 minute track, it overtakes “Beach Life-In-Death” from their albums Twin Fantasy as their longest song beating it by six minutes. Themes of the album include religion, sexuality, and chronic illness, something that Toledo has been dealing with ever since he had contracted long COVID. The Scholars is also the first album that includes all members of the band providing both vocals and writing credits.
The band first kicked off their album release in February with a virtual webquest that was meant to mimic the style of early 2000s websites. The webquest took the form of a college period system with two periods releasing at the same time every week. With the completion of each period, a snippet of their new song, “Gethsemane”, would be played. Once all the periods were completed, a secret seventh period titled “computer lab” would be shown where fans would have to inspect the HTML of the website and put in a specific code. Once done, the album artwork and title would be revealed. Their second single, “CCF (I’m
Gonna Stay With You)” would be released normally in the month of April. The last single, “The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man)”, was surprise released in the early morning of April 29.
Over at Amoeba, fans have gathered to listen to the album together and buy any sort of merch that the record store had in their selection. The listening party, which started at 5, had fans attending in cosplay of the previous albums persona, Trait.
“[The Scholars] is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year.” Kris, an attendee at the event stated. “I remember when the rollout first happened with the [webquest] it made people go to, I think it was Wisconsin, just to find out an answer for one of the riddles.”
Halfway through the listening party, the raffle was held and ten winners were picked winning prizes ranging from signed postcards, a coupon, pennants, and more. “I found out about the band back in 2019 when I was in a relationship with someone, I genuinely think if it wasn’t for the person I was with at the time, I’d be a millionaire.” A raffle winner jokingly said.
As for the album, the band has really nailed it once again–even after five years. The unique variety of cast and the idea of each song being a short story and not connected entirely adds to the play concept significantly. “Planet Desperation”, the longest song on the album, follows the poisoning of the liberal arts dean of the fictional university Parnassus University, a school that was rumored to study witchcraft. The song’s climax ends with him hoping the best for the future generation. Even with songs that are 10 minutes plus, which take up a majority of the second half, it fails to ever seem like a drag to listen to. The album’s final song, “True/ False Lover” ends off on a rather sweet note, with a recording of Toledo’s friend and their family bringing us back into the real world.
The Scholars is out now on streaming and physical.
LA County on Strike for Rights
Frank Seijas
Over 55,000 Los Angeles County workers marched down the streets of Downtown L.A. on Tuesday, April 29 to strike in solidarity for better wages. The 48-hour “lock-in-arms” began with a work walk-off Monday at 7pm. This is not the first time that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 decides to go on strike, but it is the first time that the great majority of members voted in favor of the strike; making it a notable first in union history. Thousands are walking off the job to demand fair pay, safe conditions, and respect from the system that depends on them. From nurses to janitors, social workers to tech staff, these are the people who keep L.A. running, and they want to be heard.
Union members, wearing purple shirts and waving signs, marched on Temple Street; closed to traffic to accommodate the action. “It’s important to be here. I’m fighting for better wages and stability in retirement,” said warehouse worker Robert Dickerson. Even though the protest was planned to be noticeable yet peaceful, fourteen arrests were made during Tuesday’s protest. Police eventually moved in and “peacefully” arrested the protesters individually. Those arrested were quickly processed, cited and released at the scene.
SEIU Local 721 represents more than 55,000 frontline workers including healthcare professionals, social workers, public works employees and many more. SEIU 721 is the county’s largest union, with
members in 36 of the county’s 38 departments. The Union has cited 44 unresolved unfair labor practices and claims that the county has repeatedly violated labor laws and failed to bargain accordingly. “The Union has our backs. What affects us, affects them,” said MLK patient resources worker Maria Coronado..
“We’re asking for a raise due to cost of living changes. Our contract is for every 3 years, but the cost of living changes before that” said MLK hospital LVN Marcus Ontiveros. Many county workers are moving out to farther areas and counties because they want to be homeowners and cannot afford the cost of living in L.A. County. Coronado commutes from San Bernardino to work as a patient resources worker at MLK.
There have been strikes before, but this time it affected a larger variety of job titles. Some of the services disrupted or closed include health clinics, libraries, local beaches, and parks. “This strike isn’t just about contracts. It’s about dignity, justice, and saying enough to exploitation,” said Ontiveros.
L.A. County contracts are negotiated for 3 years at a time; with the recent contract expiring in March.
“Our contract expired March
31st. We’ve been doing rallies since November because our union informed us that the upcoming contract was not within reasonable standards. We’ve been working without a contract,” said supervisor at MLK outpatient center Tomasa Samaniego. County workers get notices for at least 6 months prior to contract expiring, about projected contract pay increase. Union has been negotiating the current contract since September.
The city of L.A. is facing financial disruption and it has made most workers uneasy. “This affects the community, it affects the patients. Who’s willing to continue to work and withstand the low budget? We’re here to make a difference,” said Soto. Mayor Karen Bass’s recently proposed budget includes 1,600 layoffs of city workers amid a nearly $1 billion deficit. Therefore the leaders of SEIU Local 721 warranting a strike due to failure by the county to fairly negotiate a new contract can be understood. What happened was a significant disruption. It became clear that the workers’ concerns must be addressed so that both sides can come to a resolution that improves conditions for everyone while minimizing the impact on the community.
The First American Pope
The Catholic church has elected its first American pope, Robert Francis Prevost. He has selected his name to be Pope Leo XIV; previously, Pope Leo XIII was known for his efforts within the church to push modern thinking. Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, and spent many years living in Peru on mission trips and serving his communities. Prevost addressed the public in Italian and then Spanish at the Vatican, honoring the Vatican and his life in Peru. In his speech, he showed great appreciation for the late Pope Francis and promised to continue the work he had done for the church. As the first American Pope having been elected many are bound to question his holiness but Pope Leo stated in his speech “To all of you, brothers and sisters in Rome, in Italy, throughout the world: we want to be a synodal
Church, a Church that moves forward, a church that always seeks peace, that always seeks Charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.”
It has been said through the college of cardinals that an American Pope had never been chosen before because America has always been seen as too powerful on its own, putting an American on the throne of St. Peter would have been detrimental to the Catholic Church. Pope Leo, although born American, has spent over 20 years living in Peru, educating professed members and teaching Canon Law, Patristics, and the Moral Theology at the Major Seminary, as well as being appointed to pastoral care of Our Mother Lady Church, along with connecting with several community members throughout. Although he still visits his family in America, most of his life has been dedicated to
serving the Catholic Church.
His inaugural mass will be held on May 18th in St. Peter’s Square. The inauguration will begin inside the Basilica at St. Peter’s tomb, two Deacons will provide the new Pope with a fisherman’s ring symbolizing becoming the successor of St. Peter, as well as a Pallium to demonstrate his new Papal authority. These two items are constantly created and customized to represent each new Pope. These objects will be bestowed upon Pope Leo XIV after he leads in prayer and his version of the procession. He will then be presented with the ring and pallium to symbolize stepping into his papacy once his mass is completed. Although there are no real time restraints to the inauguration, most are completed within 2-4 hours. The Catholic world awaits the official welcoming of their new Pope into his role as head of the church.
Matthew Murillo Reporter
Reporter
Estefany Cardenas Reporter
Photo by Frank Seijas
Photo by Matthew Murillo
Movie ‘Sinners’ Proves that a Horror Original is Capable of Success
Wendy Garcia Reporter
It has been a while since movie theaters have seen an original horror film garner such success. “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler teamed up with Michael B. Jordan again for this original film. “Sinners” has had unexceptional success at the box office and has surpassed all expectations for a horror film. In a day and age where most movies making it to the silver screen have been new adaptations or sequels, “Sinners” provides a refreshing break from the current movie cycle. The original film follows twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan in 1930s Mississippi, where racism wasn’t the only thing lurking in the dark. This movie earned an R rating due to its portrayal of blood, violence, and sexual content; viewer discretion is advised.
The movie has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most significant original hits in a long time and has held its own against Marvel’s new film, “Thunderbolts.” In its third
week, “Sinners” has ranked 27th amongst the highestgrossing horror movies ever. Many viewers praised the horror themes combined with Coogler’s storytelling ability during a deeply traumatic period. “Sinners is a phenomenal movie. Ryan Coogler masterfully blends horror, thriller, musical elements, and history into a film with a strong sense of identity”, reviewing movie goer Nadia Dakota. “The cinematic and stylistic choices enhance the film’s impact, evoking feelings of nostalgia, fear, sadness, and humor—all at once.”
The reason the movie has succeeded beyond expectations is that the audience is spreading the word about the captivating film. Word of mouth has reached social media platforms, and users have created memes with picture stills of the movie. The biggest buzz in viewers’ minds comes from the performances of actors such as Michael B. Jordan. Movie viewer, Jonathan Mendez, notes that “Michael B.
Cinco De Mayo: its Importance
Edwin Ramos Reporter
Every year on May 5th, many people around the United States celebrate Cinco de Mayo with festive decorations, food, and music. Beyond the colorful parties that people have, the holiday has a historical meaning that some people may not know about.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory against the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. At that time, the Mexican side was a struggling country facing political instability. French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to establish a French empire in Puebla.
Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza and around 2,000 soldiers defended the town of Puebla against nearly 6,000 French troops. Against all of those odds, the Mexican army triumphed. The victory didn’t end the war, but showed that Mexico showed resistance and national pride.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. In Mexico, the city of Puebla is the one that celebrates it, but not other cities. Here in the United States,
many towns celebrate it. Many Mexican-American communities celebrate it to honor their heritage and culture.
Mexican-American student at Rio Hondo, Jesus Garcia, expressed what Cinco de Mayo means to him.
“Cinco de Mayo to me is important because my parents are from Puebla so they understand the story of what happened on Cinco de Mayo and have told me about it. I know for some people they may not think it is important but people close or from the city of Puebla understand what the Mexican army went through to triumph over the French Army.”
Today, Cinco de Mayo is served more as a celebration of parties instead of seeing what Mexican culture is like, which includes stories and resilience.
Celebrate the festivities on Cinco de Mayo; it’s a chance to reflect on the holiday’s history. Cinco de Mayo reminds us that having confidence and bravery can lead to good outcomes even if the adversity is enormous.
So, next time the celebrations for Cinco de Mayo start, remember the true story behind the day of Cinco de Mayo.
Jordan’s dual performance as Smoke and Stack is truly epic. He brings both characters to life with distinct energy and emotion. The contrast between them is striking, yet a powerful thread ties them together.”
Along with Jordan, the cast portrayed their characters in a manner that captivated the audience’s attention and made them care deeply and root for their survival.
The film was shot with IMAX cameras to capture high-resolution pictures, but the release of “Thunderbolts”
ended its IMAX run. In an interview with the Associated Press, Coogler explained his reasoning for using IMAX cameras. “In this day and age, with folks having so much access to streaming and watching so many things on their phones, it’s nice to have a format like IMAX that can be an experience you can only experience in the theaters.” In light of high demand, IMAX announced it will release the movie across IMAX screens at select movie theatres for one week, starting May 15.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Closes Phase 5 With their Last Movie the “Thunderbolts*”
Matthew Morales Reporter
The Thunderbolts* was premiered to theaters on May 2, 2025, as many fans were skeptical prior to its release due to the bad reception of Marvel Studios’s previous releases. Despite the skepticism, critics enjoyed the film and posted positive reviews prior to its release which gave some fans hope for the Marvel Cinematic to make a comeback. As for the film itself, the plot is really good with capturing some emotion between all of the characters.
While most of the characters in the Thunderbolts* come from past Marvel Studios’ films and television series that were received poorly.
Fortunately in this movie, almost all of the characters in this movie feel that they have a presence in the movie. While the comedy may be generic at times, it isn’t overbearing, and it helps shed some light among the main characters. Another thing that helps the movie is action, as the movie has amazing fighting choreography in the first half of the movie and was loved by viewers.
Angel Flores, a viewer of the movie at the Harkins Theatre in Los Cerritos Center mentions “I thought it was badass, I was expecting it to suck but I’m glad it didn’t.” Despite it’s good writing and action, one of the
issues that the Thunderbolts* movie is the runtime, as the movie’s runtime is a lengthy two hours and fifteen minutes with a post credit scene that also extends its length. Flores also comments “It was a long watch, I almost fell asleep near the end when I started feeling uninterested.”
Despite it’s long runtime, Marvel fans are quickly taking a liking to the Thunderbolts* movie and have their hopes back up with Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe and can’t wait to see what they have in store for them in the future with their next release coming soon in July.
Photo by Wendy Garcia
Photo by Matthew Morales
Graphic by Edwin Ramos
Opening Night of the Cowboy Carter Tour
The Anticipated Tour From Beyonce’s Album
Esmeralda Rodarte Reporter
“Cowboy Carter,” Just started this past Monday, April 29th. Five nights of this tour were at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California—fans from around the world, like Puerto Rico, Atlanta. London, Mexico, flew in just to see Beyonce on her first night of the tour.
People who adore and love concert culture fly out for tours and just to see their favorite artist. Live tours, such as concerts that goers love and cherish, are known for traveling just to see their favorite artists.
Another thing that happened and that is known during concert culture is that during this tour there were people that had section tickets on the floor decided to line up and start the lines at 6 am as to line up and there were four pits within the stage and to see which section got them was gonna be the best spot.
A lot of the time, concertgoers do this because it is a way that people would like to have great videos and experience, and overall enjoy the concert.
Cowboy Carter means country and folk, which was known during this time, and is the theme of how to dress. Many fans were in cowboy gear, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, western clothing, and enjoyed themselves wherever they were in the stadium.
Beyoncé sang songs as well from her 2008 album “I AM SASHA FIERCE”, her 2016 album “LEMONADE”, and her 2022 ALBUM “RENAISSANCE”. Fans were
hoping a special guest would come and and no anywhere in appearance, as mentioned albums being named, her daughter blue ivy was a backup dancer as well for her mother which is crazy to see that she is just in the right hands of her mom, another guest to mentioned her 2nd to youngest daughter came out for the song “protector” as that song was written for her, she came out during the song as the three performed and sang the song.
The fan named Stephanie R expressed her emotions and feelings. It said that she has been in anticipation for the store because she has seen Beyoncé three times in total, and has seen her since the On the Run tour with Jay-Z in 2019, and has expressed her feelings and love for Beyoncé. Stephanie said, “Beyoncé is the greatest performer in all of the generations and I can’t wait to see what this tour brings me in store.” With that, she said Beyoncé is one of her favorite performers of all time and has loved her since she was in her mid-20s. Over time, Beyoncé has always been a great and inspiring artist.
RHC Theater Arts Presents: Urinetown Musical
Frank Seijas Reporter
Rio Hondo College Theater Arts welcomes you to Urinetown, a satirical musical that challenges viewers to laugh, think, and question the world around them. At first glance, its premise may seem absurd—a town where citizens must pay to pee—but beneath its quirky surface lies a bold critique of corporate greed, environmental neglect, and authoritarian control. It invites the audience to reflect on their values, institutions, and the sustainability of their choices.
In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he’s had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, privatization of natural resources, bureaucracy, municipal politics, and musical theatre itself. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America’s greatest art forms.
RHC’s Urinetown musical is free to the public and runs Thursday through Saturday May 15-17. Performances will be held at the student-built outdoor stage in the L Tower Breezeway. Doors open at 7pm
with the show starting promptly at 7:30pm. The nineteen-cast member show has a two hour running time filled with music, dance and political uproar.
The characters in Urinetown are larger than life, yet achingly familiar. They embody both the resilience and the flaws of humanity. “The show is very entertaining and there is a lot to relate to with the characters. It is relevant with things that are happening today, like tariffs,” said Andres Flores who plays the main protagonist Bobby Strong. The cast has seemingly embraced these roles with great enthusiasm, bringing energy, precision, and wit to every moment. The creative team has worked to design a world that feels both dystopian and absurdly theatrical—an echo of the real world amplified through satire.
“Don’t be fooled by the title, because Urinetown...Come to the show and you’ll get it,” said Cassidy Hemsley-Alfaro who plays the main female protagonist, Hope Cladwell. At its core, Urinetown is not just a parody of musicals or politics; it’s a mirror. “It is a reflection of what is happening in the world today, if you read between the lines. A comedic theatrical
parallel to the real world,” said third year theater major Adrian Elizalde.
The show’s unique blend of Brechtian storytelling, selfaware humor, allows theatrical exploration of serious themes through a highly stylized lens. In the fictional world, even hope and rebellion are questioned, as the line between hero and villain blurs. It asks: What does justice mean when the systems themselves are broken?
“We wanted to do a musical because they are usually wellreceived by audiences. It has been over 2 years since we did the last musical. It’s sort of a parody on all musical theater. Has more of a cabaret type feel,like a nightclub. Shocking, in your face. The themes of this musical are very relatable to today...climate change, political issues. When it comes to rules and system of enforcement, when do we cross the line and become an inhumane society?,” said Matt Schleicher, theater arts professor and Urinetown director.
The cast hopes you laugh, they hope you think, and most of all, they hope you leave the theater wondering: What is Urinetown?
From Vision to Victory: El Rancho’s New Athletic Fields
Marissa Chavez Opinion Editor
This past week on Monday, April 21 Pico Rivera’s very own El Rancho High School had the grand opening of their new athletic facility. The city was able to make a 70 million dollar upgrade project on the Dons memorial Stadium, the aquatic center, and three sports fields. The public was allowed entrance at 4:30p.m. while the ceremony began at 5:00pm. This ceremony was a great opportunity for students, staff, and members of the community to observe the final product from the years of construction.Construction started back in the winter of 2023 and was finally finished in early April of this year.
El Rancho’s band, color guard, and cheerleaders were also in attendance to help make this event feel more special to everyone that attended.
The Dons Memorial Stadium got major upgrades to the football field, track, box office, lighting, score board, sound system, concession stand, and stadium bleachers. The stadium previously had a green grass turf and a dirt track, but now has been upgraded to an all weather track and a blue football field.
This change was very drastic
to the school’s previous look. El Rancho takes pride for being all about tradition, the classic “Defend the Ranch” sign is still on the box office where it has remained for many years.
The aquatic center also received a complete makeover.
The school now has a brand new 33-meter deep pool alongside a brand new locker room, weight room, and
training room. The aquatic center also changed their location. The pool was located in the back of the school next to the cafeteria, but now is located in front of the school next to the attendance office right in front of the street Passions Boulevard.
The three sports fields that were updated included the softball, baseball, and multi-
use sports fields. All of these projects also had upgrades to the parking lots that are near the athletic fields.
These new improvements on the parking lots allows more space for both sides of the campus. With all these renovations done, students and the community now have a better place to practice and work on fitness.
Pico Rivera is very open about the importance sports have on the community.
The local park near El Rancho, Smith Park will also receive renovations on their community pool that will be finished by the end of summer during this year. Smith Park is also receiving an upgrade on the current football field that the Pico Rivera Dons football team practices on. The field is receiving new turf that should also be ready by summer of this year.
Photo by Marissa Chavez
Photos by Esmeralda Rodarte
Photo by Frank Seijas
In a Galaxy Far Far Away: 20 Year Anniversary
Edwin Ramos Reporter
This month marked the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which was the conclusion to George Lucas’ Star Wars prequel trilogy. Released on May 19, 2005, the film was a success in every aspect. From April 25th through the 30th, the film was re-released for its 20 year anniversary.
The film had many strong parts to it which included the practical effects, digital effects, and well executed character moments. A huge part that shaped this film at the time was its dark tone.
The past Star Wars films were more on the lighter side than this one. It was not only the tone but the emotional impact it had for many fans who watched the film.
At a recent showing of the film, fan of the Star Wars franchise Sarah Gonzalez expressed what it meant for the film to be back in theaters and how the film impacted her.
“For this movie to be back for a short time is amazing because I am able to watch it again on the big screen as I did before and others who never got a chance to see it when it first released will get the chance to. The film impacted my life a lot
because it was the first movie where I felt many emotions with how the film played out.”
The film had many powerful moments that people still talk about today. Another great part of the film was the score from composer John Williams which to some say is his best work which includes his song Battle of the Heroes which takes place near the end of the film.
It’s now been two decades since the film was released and to this day it continues to grow as more people have come forward to watch and recommend it. At first many people were criticizing the film but as time went on they have started to appreciate it more for its importance.
Many people have considered it to be the best entry to watch a film franchise even though it is the last of the trilogy. Some of the reasons why is because of the theme the film revolves around which happens to be loyalty, fear, and the corruption of power.
Even though it may have been a short time for the film to be back on the big screen, it was welcomed with much praise by the fans of the Star Wars franchise to relive their favorite moments or for some of their heartfelt sad moments that they may not get over.
Music for Wellness Workshop
Where the Beats are Soothing and Your Mind at Ease
Esmeralda Rodarte Reporter
The Student Health and Psychological Services hosted the music for wellness workshopThe music for wellness workshop was hosted by the Student Healthstudent health and Psychological Servicespsychological services for Mental Health Awareness Monthmental health awareness month.
This workshop took place in the student union, where students were allowedgiven the opportunity to join and have an interactive Zoomzoom session and activity through music. Students who alsoas well that joined had the opportunity to be vulnerable and share their thoughts through the process.
An exercise that was expressed through this was that students sawgot to see a glare through their emotionswhat emotions they feel while sensing and feeling the music while they stare at a glaringglary screen.
This was one of the main exercises that took place and ensuredmade sure that
students hadgot the time to express themselves. The main idea during the workshop was thattime of the workshop was students feel attached, connected, and focused on what matters most to them.
A student named Esmeralda Salazar got to express her emotions during this event and said “Its really cool and to see they have this event for students, I love how students are able to express their feelings especially even if it’s anything they want to express about”
Through the various and helpful activities students got to take a moment and settle in for everything.
As mentioned, staying on the topic of May is mental awareness month that has been observedstarted since 1949 and has started to make and build changes ever since. The mental health system has changed overwithin the years. People, people have never believed in mental health changes inwithin the early 50’s. I think the system and people wanting to make a change are always changingdo thinkbelieve the system and
people wanting to make a change are always making a change year by year, day by day. This idea on mental health has been growing over the years, and the most age group that struggles with it is thosethe agedages 18-25, and as well as 26-49, and into taking those effectsaffects into place, this is why changes have to be made. The service office has been hosting events for the month of Maymay.
Students and staff are more than welcome to join and see what events are being hosted. There are activities such as the Mental Health Resource Centerhealth resource center, A mental health movie being shown, A zumbathon fest, and as well a de-stress from your test.
If you would also like to take part in those events, they are located in your student access Riorio email, and to can partake for yourself, or if you know anyone whothat would love to be a part of these events. Make sure you take care of yourself and you only before anyone else.
Pathway to Welding Day at Rio Hondo College
Rio Hondo Welcomes Local Highschool Students to Learn About the Field of Welding
Alexander Almendarez Reporter
Select groups of students from various high schools in the Los Angeles County area were invited to participate in Rio Hondo’s first-ever welding tech pathway day on Friday.
Running from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M., the event promised to educate and inform those interested in welding not only about what to expect from the industry and the benefits available to them should they choose to pursue a career in the field.
Among the activities for the attendees was a lab tour, showcasing the everyday
equipment, tools, and machinery a welder will use and allowing the students to try on welding masks. Other activities included introductory presentations on the world of welding, a focus on women specifically in welding, and metals and joints.
One of the more eyecatching stations was the relay race. Their students were pitted against one another to see who could put on a welding uniform faster, mask and all.
Most of these stations were run by Rio Hondo students, who were, in fact, welding students. Students such as Daniel Biza,
who has felt like he has found his purpose career-wise since picking up welding, “when I opened the [welding] book, I genuinely liked what I was reading and liked what I was learning, and I was able to find myself comfortable enough to sit down and ask questions,” Biza said.
Those involved in the welding program feel a growing concern about how the industry has seemingly stagnated regarding youth involvement and interest. Lead welding instructor Alexander Angustain explains, “the welders that have been out here for a while are retiring…
involvement and interest, Angustain talked about the possibility of an industry event later to better introduce and represent the welding industry.
Graphic by Omar Lopez
Photo by Edwin Ramos
Photo by Alexander Almendarez
The LA Kings Dethroned? Out of Championship
in this locker room, once again falling short is disappointing.”
The Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Los Angeles Kings from the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth year in a row, setting the stage for a disastrous finale to the 2024–25 season for the Kings. The Kings were defeated by a score of 6–4 in Game 6 at Rogers Place on Thursday night, bringing their series loss to a total of 4–2 after a promising start to the game. As a result of their strong start to the series, the Kings were able to clinch victories in both of their inaugural home games. Notwithstanding this, the Oilers were able to pull off an incredible comeback, winning four games in a row to secure the victory in the series. Adam Henrique, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Darnell Nurse, Trent Frederic, and Connor Brown, who also collected three points, were among the players that scored goals for Edmonton in Game 6. The club’s attack was also quite aggressive. An additional three points were scored by Connor Brown. Anze Kopitar, the captain of the Kings, expressed his sincere sadness after the loss by saying, “Considering the season we had and the camaraderie among the players
Kopitar was speaking about the negative impact of the loss. It is truly frustrating to face defeat in
this manner. This particular loss is even more agonizing than the ones that came before it. The season of the Kings is over as a result of this defeat, which
enables the Oilers to advance to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face off against the Golden Knights of Las Vegas. Resolving the issues
that led to the Kings’ premature withdrawal from the league will now be the primary focus of the Kings’ efforts throughout the offseason.
by Omar
The Golden State Warriors Victory
In the concluding game of their first-round playoff series on May 4, 2025, the Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Houston Rockets with a score of 103–89, thereby advancing to the semifinals of the Western Conference. The strategic choices executed by Head Coach Steve Kerr were pivotal to the team’s
success. Kerr implemented substantial modifications in response to the criticism he faced when the series was tied modifications involved relieving Stephen Curry of ball-handling duties to evade traps and implementing a zone defense to counteract Houston’s tactics.
Notwithstanding prevalent mistrust, he opted to retain Hield in the starting lineup, yielding substantial advantages.
Buddy Hield emerged as an
unforeseen hero, delivering a performance that would ultimately define his career.
The Lakers Out of the Running for Championship
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 103–96 in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, which concluded on April 30th. Notwithstanding the Lakers’ mid-season addition of Luka Dončić, they could not overcome the Timberwolves’ resilience and strategic execution. Rudy Gobert exhibited outstanding performance, amassing 27 points and 24 rebounds, comprising nine offensive rebounds. The Lakers capitalized on their small-ball lineup, which lacked a traditional center, due to
his dominance in the paint. As a result, Minnesota held a significant advantage in second-chance points.
The Lakers have averaged only 17 points in their last two games because to offensive challenges, particularly in the fourth quarter. During those critical times, LeBron James and Luka Dončić achieved a collective shooting percentage of four out of eighteen, highlighting the team’s difficulties in attaining victory.
Anthony Edwards’ postgame comments, in which he derided ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe’s prediction of a Lakers triumph in five games, significantly enhanced the Timberwolves’
He finished the game with 33 points, showcasing an impressive shooting performance of 12-of-15 from the field and 9-of-11 from threepoint range, thereby tying the NBA record for the most threepointers made in a Game 7 with nine. Particularly in the initial half, during which he amassed 22 points, including a buzzeraccomplishment. Edwards claimed that the Wolves effectively accomplished that goal, which added a comedic aspect to the outcome.
After the tournament, LeBron James, aged 40, expressed uncertainty regarding his future in the National Basketball Association, indicating he would evaluate his upcoming pursuits during the winter. The Los Angeles Lakers face a crucial summer requiring the resolution of roster shortcomings, particularly in the frontcourt, to develop a more balanced and competitive club for the future.
beating half-court jumper to conclude the first quarter, Hield’s exceptional shooting significantly influenced the game’s result. Despite Hield’s status as the team’s leading scorer, veterans Stephen Curry and Draymond Green provided essential consistency and leadership.
Following a sluggish beginning, Curry accumulated 19 points in the second half and nearly attained a tripledouble. In a significant display of team unity, he executed his customary “night night” celebration following his
assist on the three-pointer that ultimately secured the victory for Hield. Green played a crucial role in sustaining the team’s composure during the match and was instrumental in creating an early rhythm with eight consecutive points. This victory enables the Warriors to eliminate the Rockets for the sixth time in the last decade and progress to the subsequent round of the Western Conference playoffs, where they will confront the Minnesota Timberwolves. Game 1 will occur in Minnesota on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Photo
Lopez
Brandon Nevarez Reporter
Brandon Nevarez Reporter
Brandon Nevarez Reporter
Graphic by Omar Lopez
