RamPage, March 13, 2019, Vol. 46, No. 1

VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE

RAMPAGE

March 13, 2019| Volume 46| No. 1 “He who is without a newspaper is cut off from his species.” P. T. Barnum

Getting Settled In

By Mikayla Martinez Reporter

Dr. Daniel Walden, entering his second month as President/ Superintendent of Victor Valley College, is building on his plans. Walden plans to push the college to further success for students and staff alike via open communication and involvement with the community.

Dr. Walden has been actively pursuing relationships not only with the college’s staff and students, but also the community and business leaders in the area. He believes that these relationships will be of great importance to student success, both at the college, and after graduation.

President/Superintendent

Photo Courtesy of vvc.edu

Walden, has been busy meet ing with different constituent groups, the Union and Management leaders of the college, and the Associated Student

Body. He has arranged for agendized meetings to be held on the fourth Monday of each month with his cabinet. He will be using these meetings to consult those around him on information necessary to help Walden better the college. He has recently attended and spoken at Victorville’s Chamber of Commerce Meetings.

Dr. Walden has been acquainting himself with the students at campus events such as the Student Mixer held at the campus Student Activities Center. He has also been meeting with local business leaders and members of the Unified School Districts to remain updated in the community.

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VVC Celebrates Graduates From The New Construction-Apprenticeship By: Akane Sanchez Reporter

In April of last year, Victor Valley College received about $443,000 in the form of a grant from the California Apprenticeship Initiative. The funding was given with the purpose of aiding students in receiving extensive training to prepare them to enter the manual labor job field.

News pg. 2

This grant, administered by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, then led to the creation of the Construction-Apprenticeship Readiness Program. The program had its first round of instruction for students on

January 7 and was finished on February 7. Frank Castaños, VVC Contract Education and Workforce Programs Director, says that because, “this program is part of a CA Grant Continued on page 4…

MUN Goes to Harvard By: Dania Kaoud Reporter

Victor Valley College (VVC) participated in the 65th Harvard National Model United Nations conference for the third year. The VVC Model United Nations Team (MUN) demonstrated their ability to sit at the same table as the large institutions such as Harvard.

The conference took place in Boston, Massachusetts from February 13 to 18 of 2019 at Harvard University. The community college gave effective points as well as modern solutions. Showing the capability of community colleges. Victor Valley College won at Harvard’s conference against Stanford, Yale, and other reputable MUN schools.

Model United Nations has been a club and class on Victor Valley College’s campus for three years. This program provides a multitude of opportunities for the students of VVC. Opportunities that enhance unique social and constructive skills on many levels.

The students on the MUN team learn how to interact with delegates from around the world. They learn more effectively by communicating face to face in a formal environment.

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Features pg. 4

Entertainment pg. 10

Sports pg. 13

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March 13, 2019 Page 2

These Truths We Hold

By Brian Woods Reporter

The month of February is an important time to come together and remember how far racial equality has come, and how far it still has to go. All of last month was dedicated to acknowledging the contributions, accomplishments and accolades of the African American community - both globally and at Victor Valley College as well. Black History Month allows opportunities to applaud black excellence in all its forms, while also reflect on perceived racial progress and structural disadvantages still present today. On campus, a multitude of inclusive programs were made available for students of all demographics to participate in celebrating the history of African American culture.

Events hosted by the Black Students’ Union club include the ‘Brown Suga’ Valentine’s Day mixer, Sit and Paint inspired by historically black art and African American literature on display at the library.

A large array of activities implored students to not only educate themselves in black history, but to engage in it and Walden from page 1…

When asked why these relationships meant so much to him and his presidency, Walden stated, “I am going to best be able to serve the students by understanding and having a good relationship with the faculty and staff, to be able to work with them for the good of the students.” His comments on the community hit home, as he notes that, “In regard to the community, that’s where the students are coming from, and where they will be going when they leave here.”

openly discuss social equality as well.

“Having different events and clubs is important to see how many ways black students really influence campus life,” said second-year student and psychology major Naomi Fowler. “I wish there were

more groups or members making themselves known and making an impact. Just being seen isn’t the same as being heard,” she concluded.

According to U.S. News’ education overview of 2018, only 12.7% of Victor Valley College’s ethnic demographics

Photo courtesy of BSU Club

President Walden believes his greatest success, since stepping into his office on January second, is the same positive relationships that he has formed with the community around him. Walden places great importance on first impressions, and pointed out one of the keys to his current relationships was to do “more listening than talking.”

When asked about his plans for the future of Victor Valley College, Walden strongly affirmed that he would be pushing hard for student success in completion of degrees and certificates here at the college,

whether it be for transfer, further experience in the workforce, or any other purpose.

He plans to fully renovate the college’s Educational Master Plan, including an update of the curriculum, programs, and support services necessary to the college’s success. He also plans to hone in on strategizing the college’s enrollment management, which includes the college’s outreach, recruitment, marketing, class schedules, and various other elements within the college that will boost enrollment and retention through strategic planning.

are African American. Compared to the 2010 reported 10%, black academic representation on campus has indeed increased, although still does not accurately reflect modern diversity statistics. The City of Victorville’s online demographic data shows a positive influx of black communities expanding to the High Desert; currently up to 16.8% of the population identify as African American compared to only 11.9% the decade prior.

Cultural integration plays an important foundation of today’s social constructs. This year’s Black History Month theme is Black Migrations, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. This motif perpetuates the reported growth of black families into more opportunistic places, both spatially and symbolically. With growing inclusion and steadily equivalent racial representation, the true impact African Americans have on modern America no longer lie in minorities, but instead propel black history to the forefronts of cultural constructs.

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In his final comments, Dr. Walden noted that it was important for everyone, students, staff, and community members alike, to know that, “I’m not smart enough to run this college by myself; I need everyone with their input and their knowledge, interacting with me. I bring a lot to the table … but I am not smart enough to run this college without feedback from the students, faculty, staff, and the community… we can work together, and we will, together, make a difference.”

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March 13, 2019 Page 3

The 2020 Campaign Trail Off To A Blaze

By Jacob Wilson Reporter

The competition seeking to run for the position of commander-in-chief against President Donald Trump is heating up. A staggering eleven candidates have already announced their bids to attain the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

The eleven candidates who have announced their bids as of February 25 are Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kamala Harris, ex-San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former Rep. John Delaney, author Marianne Williamson and former tech executive Andrew Yang.

Alongside these eleven candidates, there are another two, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Peter Buttigieg, that have formed exploratory committees in lieu of an official announcement.

According to sources such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, several political figures still are considering a bid including former Vice President Joe Biden, exNYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Sen. Sherrod Brown. These names do not include over fifteen others who have also expressed interest or refused to confirm or deny rumors regarding potential bids. One of the previously announced bids has already dropped from consideration, former West Virginia Sen. Richard Ojeda. He stated his reason for this was not wanting his supporters to donate money to a campaign with very little possibility of success.

One of the candidates who has announced their bid has already made a large impres-

Photo courtesy of SF Gate

sion on the voter base. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who made huge waves in the Democratic Party with his initial presidential campaign back in 2016, has already garnered well over six million dollars in donations to his political campaign following his February 19th announcement for party consideration. His original 2016 campaign led to several members of the party and supporters to suggest a restructuring of the Democratic Party’s politics as a whole.

Sanders is looking to right the wrongs of his previous campaign and actually attain the nomination rather than taking second place as he did in his previous campaign. In an e-mail announcement to his supporters, Sanders said, “Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump, our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.” Sanders’s mention of

“defeating Donald Trump” is a statement that has been echoed by several other candidates in one way or another alongside their campaign announcements.

The ballot not only has Sanders, but others that are making their own waves with supporters. Of the candidates who are holding an equal amount of media attention, one is Sen. Cory Booker, who has long been viewed as a potential for the presidency.

Another is Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in spite of a recent controversy regarding her own claims to being that of Native American descent. Much of the force behind Booker comes from his stance as more of a centrist in the Democratic Party and as such having his candidacy represent a symbol of unity and pride rather than political opposition that has grown more common in recent years. Warren’s popularity comes from her established history as a beloved politician and her progressive stances

that are still often accented by a level of centrism aimed to satisfy those more hesitant of her politics.

While the Democratic campaign trail may look cramped at this point in time, there are clear leaders in the pack.

These leaders all have a strong claim to why they deserve to be the Party’s presidential candidate. There is still the hulking giant in the room that is Donald Trump’s presidency.

While President Donald Trump may seem polarizing, he remains popular amongst his voter base and the party he represents.

There is still plenty of time from now until the initial caucuses that will kick off the full campaign trail. Much is left to question regarding the strength of Trump’s tenure in the Oval Office. The claims that many are trying to make to the Democratic candidacy leave many similar questions. It will be up to the voters to determine what the answers to those questions are.

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Winter Weather in the High Desert By: Jacqueline Hernandez Reporter

The spring semester at Victor Valley College (VVC) started off with temperatures as low as 30 degrees. Snow-

When driving in snow, precautions should be taken.

Travelers should check road conditions and have the proper equipment when driving the snow-covered roads. Check weather advisories. on

covered mountains from Big Bear to Wrightwood were visible from the campus.

At times, it rained all day and snowed at night. Students couldn’t face the freezing conditions as they walked to class or to their cars. It made students second guess if going to class in the cold weather was even worth it. Dangerous road conditions were also a factor.

www.dot.ca.gov/ website..

Students visited the Angeles National Forest or the San Bernardino National Forest to sightsee, snowboard or ski at Mountain High located in Wrightwood.

The semester was a cold start, but after days of snow or rain, students realized they are ready for spring.

Construction, from page 1

ticeship Readiness Program is designed to “prepare students to enter an apprenticeship with the Building & Construction Trades,” as Castaños explains.

In this course, the students learn about the requirements for various trade occupations and get a competitive edge so as to be accepted into esteemed apprenticeships. In the program, Construction Technology Department Chair, Anthony Bonato, and additional instructor Bruce Painter, help the students students to earn both their CPR and First Aid certifications. They also receive 10 hours of Occupa-

the college received, there was no cost for the students for instruction, supplies, services, etc.” However, because of the grants limited funds, the program can only take up to 60 students before it will come to an end.

The first session had 11 students, and all successfully completed the five week class.

The students were then each presented with their Certificates of Completion during a small luncheon-type ceremony on February 7th.

The Construction Appren-

News

March 13, 2019 Page 4

MUN from page 1 At this conference, team member and Club Treasurer, Robert Ellison, won Distinguished Delegate in the Historical General Assembly for the representation of the Republic of Cyprus. After the dedication VVC has displayed, they have exceeded the standard criteria resulting in their eligibility to be amongst big named schools; such as Universidad Simon Bolivar from Venezuela and the Peruvian Debate Society. The schools’ reputation plays a small percentage comparing to student’s dedications. VVC is the first community college to win at Harvard’s Conference; their win showed that it was not based off of wealth or status but the dedication and passion of our students.

MUN members all have the

same goal: they all cherish that one thing that always brings them together and that is the love they all have for debate.

After winning a major title at the conference, the students couldn’t wait to share their good news with the VVC chairmen.

The Model United Nations Club at Victor Valley College campus is a group of hardworking students that know what they want and aren’t afraid to speak up to get it.

They continually make this campus proud by representing the school with excellence.

The MUN group from VVC see themselves as a family that will continue to win together.

If interested in becoming a team member; stop by Building 50, room 5 on Fridays between 2-5pm for their Global Issues class to hear what MUN is all about.

tional Safety and Health Administration training and have frequent visits to numerous training centers in the local area. Once they complete the program, the students will have acquired the necessary training to enter a variety of jobs such as: electricians, roofers, plumbers, carpenters, etc, all with a base salary of $13 to $26 an hour.

The program is set to take on it’s second session of students beginning on March 4 and end on March 29. The classes are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Students interested in participating can register at

shop.vvc.edu. To be eligible to apply you must be 18 or older, have Right to Work documents, a California Driver’s License, be registered with U.S. Selective Service, pass the assessment (about a 7th grade math level) and complete an intake interview.

For more information, contact Frank Castaños at Frank.Castanos@ vvc.edu.

Aimed towards giving the students the necessary tools to be successful and excel in their apprenticeships, this program will only have three more sessions before it comes to an end.

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March 13, 2019 Page 5

The Child Development Center a Hands-On Program

By Karen Flores Reporter

Victor Valley College offers a hands-on child development program in the Child Development Center on campus. It gets them into the field shortly after taking a few of their core classes. They begin with the basic classes of child development.

For instance, child growth, motor skills, nutrition, family and community. These classes can be completed before or after the general education classes.

Once these classes are met, they introduce a class called “practicum.”

Everything that the student has learned throughout the basic child development classes will be used hands-on in this class. The student gets a sense of the field through communication with children and applying the skills learned throughout the program.

Sarah Rodriguez, a student enrolled in the program said, “I always worked well with children and communicating with them.” Rodriguez is in her last core classes and is practicing for interviews. She is taking extra classes to give Truths from page 2…

In politics, an upward trajectory of black political leader ship shows further momentum toward social equality. According to Pew Research Center, in 1965 only six members of the House of Representatives were black. Today, 52 black members delegate the laws of society; this puts the

her more help with children in special needs. She said, “I would like to work with children in special needs because my brother is in those classes and I enjoy helping him”. Rodriguez has a younger brother

college students in the software program and in how the system works. The program provides college students infant and toddler classes. It emphasizes in all ages for college students to be able to

Photo Courtesy of momtrusted.com

who is in a special needs program where she volunteers and helps her brother and others with their homework. It’s an advantage that the program not only helps students communicate and apply skills with children, but also teaches the field’s system.

Teachers and staff engage

choose in what age range they would like to work in. The Child Development Center has a preschool classroom and is also used as a lab for child development majors. They are able to sit and observe how the teachers and staff communicate with children. During the last core classes, the students

share of House members on par with the share of black Americans for the first time in history. Hollywood juggernauts like Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman contribute to the narratives of black pride and racial inequality. Former NFL quarterback turned civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem to protest

police brutality. Discussion of social justice has never been more prominent.

Black History Month acknowledges both the trials and the tribulations of African Americans throughout time.

Highlighting the contributions of African American history is not limited only to the month of February, but every day from here on out. These truths

will practice how to speak about their skills in an interview. They set up a classroom as a interview room with two teachers asking the interview questions. The students are required to come in professional attire and bring their resume and folder with all their achievements and projects with children.

It is beneficial to students to begin learning what goes on in the workplace before starting in the field.

After taking a few of these classes the students will be eligible to apply for a preschool as a teacher’s aide.

This would depend on what classes the students took and if they received an Associates in Child Development. An Associate’s degree is not needed in the field, but it is recommended to move up in a position. The Child Development Program may suit a college student who is passionate to work with kids and is looking to work in a school setting.

are self-evident, that all men are created equal. To quote famed Black History poet, Langston Hughes, “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed - I, too, am America.”

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March 13, 2019 Page 6

Students are Loved at Victor Valley College

By Dalia Soltero Reporter

The Victor Valley College (VVC) Associated Student Body (ASB) organized an event on campus for the students on February 14 for Valentine’s Day. ASB’s Public Relations Senator, Amber Scott said, “I wanted to do something different for Valentine’s day about abstract love to make sure students feel loved, respected, and know that somebody cares.”

The event was set up in room B upstairs in the Student Activity Center and was available for students to attend from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students who attended the event enjoyed the free cupcakes, chocolate, hugs, condoms, and an entry to a raffle for two 5-dollar food vouchers at Chowtime: one for the winner and one for them to share with someone if they choose to.

To participate, students had to write about what love meant to them along with their name and contact info should they win. There were a total of 25 winners from the raffle. One of the 25 winners was David Edgerson. This event made a difference to him and his friend, Geramie Carter, who attended the event with him.

They both had recently separated from their significant others. “This was just another Thursday. I was hating this

day, and this made it better,” said Davion. Among all the free chocolate and cupcakes was a booth that seemed to surprise many students. The free condom booth with a sign that encouraged students to be safe. “What stood out to me

the most was the condoms but it's good to promote safe sex.

We’re all adults here,” Matthew Vigil stated before getting his free hug at the free hugs booth. The students who attended had fun and enjoyed some free goodies as they listened to some love songs that were played.

A couple of students felt this event was different from the events ASB usually organizes.

“It’s nice to see ASB not only focus on the physical needs of the students but with the emotional needs as well. It has a welcoming atmosphere because of the people who are here,” Maria Soto stated. This event also brought the attention to two exchange students from China, Faith Cheng and Cherish Xu, who had captured

pictures of the event with their phones and enjoyed the free treats. “The atmosphere of the other event we attended was more serious, proud, with everyone’s families,” Faith Cheng said. She was describing the Construction Workshop that

they had attended previously at VVC. “This is totally different, it is fun, casual, and it is interesting.”

Cherish Xu agreed with Faith and added “In college, we don’t celebrate events like this, just take photos. My favorite part is the chocolate.”

The Valentine’s event achieved the purpose of making students feel loved and cared about like Amber Scott had hoped it would accomplish. “It’s a really good cause that you guys are doing because some people don’t have a Valentine and then get depressed or they feel down, and their self-esteem goes down… so people will feel loved,” said Maria Gonzalez.

Finding Out What’s NextUp

By Jessica Penn Reporter NextUp is one of the newest programs offered here at Victor Valley College (VVC).

This program is designed to provide extended assistance for current or former foster youth. They are currently accepting applications for students to join their program.

NextUp is a program that is made to provide assistance with things that will create a difference in their students’ lives. According to Nextup.cccco.edu, “Sometimes the hardest part about getting your college education is steering your way around all the bumps in the road. Most students will face challenges throughout this journey. That's where NextUp comes in.”

Students within the program will receive priority registration. They may also have access to financial aid and student fee assistance. They may also qualify for textbook assistance, where students may receive book vouchers redeemable at the Rams Bookstore. If needed, the NextUp program can provide its students with some much needed supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, writing utensils, etc. Meal vouchers can also be provided through this program. For those student who may be in need of transportation assistance. NextUp may be able to help stuContinued on page 8…

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March 13, 2019 Page 7

Federal Work Study

By Ariagna Perez Monreal Reporter The Spring Semester begins and students struggle to juggle between school, work and their personal life. Victor Valley Community College (VVC) provides opportunities for students to work on and off -campus under the Federal Work Study program. Student employment is available to students who demonstrate financial need.

To be eligible for the Federal Work Study, students will need to have their financial aid file completed, be enrolled in a minimum of six units at all times, and have a 2.0 GPA or better. The program gives students the opportunity to work part time with up to 20 hours a week, earning 12 dollars per hour and getting paid once a month. Students may only be a part of the program as long as they haven’t exhausted their funds, stopped receiving financial aid, or get terminated by their department’s supervisor.

Melina Rodriguez is the Inter-

im Placement Specialist, who is eager to help. Rodriguez says, “It’s our goal for the students to be successful, and it’s important to earn skills.

Federal Work Study is the stepping stone to get those future jobs.”

The student employment office also offers resources for students who need help writing a resume, cover letters, or thank you letters. For students that are not eligible there's a board outside of the student employment office in which job openings from the community are posted. Additionally, the campus hosts job fairs every year in which more than 60 employers participate. This year the job fair will take place in the lower campus, in the gym (Bldg. 71) on Wednesday, May 8 from 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Employers will hire people that same day. Come prepared with resumes and dressed in business attire ready for an interview. The job fair is not only open to VVC students, but also the High Desert Community.

Picture Courtesy of A. Perez Monreal

If interested, the students may apply online, access to the site must be requested, once accepted it is very important to apply correctly and attach a resume. If prefered to do it on campus, the Student Employment office is located in building 52, through the back, Melina Rodriguez can help answer any questions students may have regarding Student Employment. Walkins are available Wednesdays 2:00pm - 4:00pm and Thursdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, other dates and hours are by appointments only. Delfino Solorzano, a fellow student from VVC and former student

The Program That Changes Lives

By Socorro Pinedo Reporter

The Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) is a program entirely invested in enabling students to reach academic success and develop specific plans for achieving their professional career goals.

EOPS is geared toward helping educationally and economically disadvantaged students remain motivated and focused on their academic journey.

The office is currently located in the Student Services Building and lead by Director Carl D. Smith. He manages a wellorganized team of people that

inform and help students apply for EOPS benefits. Some of the services offered are coun-

seling, orientation and priority registration that allow the students to benefit from first

worker suggests for students that would like to work under The Federal Work Study program “to be persistent and show them that you are really interested in gaining the experience.”

Trying to find a job and a job schedule that fits with a school schedule may be a difficult task. Victor Valley College provides the resources for every student to find a job that is convenient for them.

Whether it’s here on campus through the Work Study Program, or through the Job Fair, the opportunities are out there, take advantage of them.

block class enrollment.

Transfer assistance is offered and is helpful in the planning and mapping of the requirements for degree completion, attaining certificates and fulfilling the proper requirements for transfer to a four year college. EOPS also offers book vouchers that help students by lessening the financial burden and help cover the high cost of books.

Additional opportunities are available for single parent participants to receive further help from other programs like Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE). This program offers eligible students some additContinued on page 9...

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March 13, 2019 Page 8

VVC Welcomes Spring by Helping Students

By Rebecca Medina Reporter

Students getting lost in the system at a community college is what the Outreach department at Victor Valley College (VVC) hopes to defeat.

VVC is doing this by standing on the frontlines and reaching out to students. Director of Financial Aid, Jason Judkins, and Outreach Director, Michael Edwards, have joined forces to help Victor Valley College students as they start the new semester.

The Outreach and Financial Aid departments collaborated on welcoming new or returning students by offering a variety of information and items.

The Financial Aid department provided the swag, while the Outreach department mobilized their team by going to the frontlines.

There were not only staff reaching out to students, but Rambassadors, current students working with Outreach.

“Welcome Back” was a VVC event designed to help new or returning students feel more at ease. A financial aid drawstring bag with an office set and helpful information was provided. Campus maps and a list of open classes were readiNext-up, from page 6... dents with bus passes and other assistance.

The program is currently offering community referrals so that students can get the help they may need. Referral services would include goodwill interviews, where a student may qualify for a gift card if they are in need of clothing for job interviews.

ly available to hand out to students. Those involved were also prepared to inform students on how to register for classes and important add/drop information.

There were six booths set up

However, Edwards assures that the staff will constantly try to make VVC students feel a sense of community throughout the semester. The goal of this event mirrored that of the Outreach depart-

Photo of Michael Edwards

around the campus. These booths were strategically placed so that students were more easily reached. They could be seen on the lower campus, Student Activities Center, Performing Arts Center, the Advanced Technology Center, and in front of the Counseling building. The event occurred during the first week of the Spring semester.

They may also be referred to a place to submit job applications. They also offer ongoing counseling for their students.

Recently they have been inviting students to do homework in their offices because they are offering added assistance for students class work. According to the NextUp office, they will offer students “homework help.” Soon they hope to hold field trips for

ment – making sure students know what VVC has to offer them and build a sense of community.

Whether students are firstyear or returning, those at Outreach want students to be comfortable and established in their community college. One way Edwards accomplishes this is by sending out all members of his team no matter

their students also.

To qualify, a student must be a California resident, have applied for financial aid and qualified for BOGW (Board of Governors Fee Waiver/CA Promise Grant), been in foster care on or after their 16 birthday, and are under 26 years old. Finally, they must be enrolled in 9 units. If a student meets all of the qualifications, they should take a trip to bldg.

their position. He says, “You can be a Dean, V.P., or Department Chair – we’re all here for the students.” Another way Edwards makes sure to keep the spirit of last week alive is by always having his office door open. He says this simple act creates a welcoming invitation for any student. A welcoming environment is a major goal of Edwards, and he wants instructors to incorporate this attitude which he believes will help create a sense of community. Edwards affirms, “VVC has talented and excellent educators who are wellrounded and knowledgeable. They’re willing to share and have something to share that has substance – that’s the difference.”

The first week of Spring Semester isn’t all Outreach has to offer the future of VVC. Edwards encourages students to challenge their instructors to create an atmosphere and culture unique to VVC. This can be created by letting students know about the Writing Center, Math Success Center, and the course reserves in the library.

80 rm. 6 to the NextUp office where applications are available.

The NextUp office hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (Mon, Wed, Fri) and from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm (Tues, Thurs). Please contact NextUp at (760) 2454271 ext. 2929 or nextup@vvc.edu with any questions about the program.

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Not All Heroes Wear Capes.

By Mike-O Bonam Reporter

Not all superheroes wear capes; some just teach communication classes. Jennifer Fowlie is a Communication Studies Instructor at Victor Valley College (VVC). She is known for always going above and beyond for her students every semester. She has a true passion behind what she teaches. Fowlie is always smiling and is very energetic - possibly due to the grape Rockstar she drinks each day.

She would never push a student aside, because every student is deserving of equal treatment in her classroom.

She never gives up, as she makes sure she gets through to all her students. The students in her interpersonal and intercultural communication classes all feel the same way about her. Fowlie is an eye-opening and heartwarming teacher who loves her job. Students who have had Fowlie as a professor says that she is very inspiring in everything she says and teaches. Victor Valley College stuEOPS, from page 7 ional aid and support.

“Because of all of the services offered, most of our students are on task and book vouchers are no stress on buying books,” office assistant, Isabelle Nunez said. A former VVC student, Isabelle Martinez knows exactly what the needs of the students are and is eager to help answer any questions. Educational plans are generated with the help of the office counselors. The office

dent, Lee Ford, took Fowlie's Interpersonal Communication class during the winter semester. He talked about how she motivates him to go farther and pursue more in life. He believes Fowlie to be the best instructor he has ever had in his life. "She makes you want to be more. She makes you want to pay attention by the

dents say that Fowlie is a hard working, funny, creative, outgoing professor who would do whatever it takes to get her lesson across to her students.

She inspires her students to be the best that they can be every day and to never let anything stop them from being their very best. Being able to hear what Fowlie had to say

Photo Courtesy of Google

energy she brings into the classroom,” he said. Her stu-

on the behalf of her students, she understands how it feels to

currently employs three counselors to help the students. The Counselors include Manuel Gaytan who identifies the student’s potential and helps put together the best plan to help the student thrive in their studies. Susan Tillman encourages students to stay motivated and stay on task. Tamala Clark is very helpful in guiding students overcome any challenges and encourages success.

“This is the best program on campus,” according to Isabelle Martinez when asked how she

feels about the EOPS program. Many students could be eligible and not even know it.

The deadline to enroll is March 22, 2019 for the spring semester. Students applying must be enrolled in 12 or more units, have applied for financial aid, and have not yet received an Associate's degree.

Those educationally disadvantaged are encouraged to apply.

Smith is excited and proud to help with scholarship information. He also gifts graduation caps and gowns to the

attend VVC, seeing as how she graduated from VVC. That is one of the main reasons she can relate to her students.

When Fowlie prepares for a new semester, she tries to consider current events that may interest her students. She tries to discuss a topic that the students can relate to so they will stay engaged. Her passion for teaching developed. She never pictured herself teaching, and now she realizes that she loves helping new people succeed and grow in life.

Her favorite part of teaching is seeing her students develop confidence in their abilities.

Many of her former students feel more empowered at the end of her course. She really cares on a whole other level.

"Kind words from students are better than money and it’s those moments that make me feel like the richest person in the world,” she said.

She knows how to relate to her students. So no, "It's not a bird. It’s not a plane.” It’s just students that complete and succeed in the EOPS program.

All are invited to walk in and pick up a brochure that is inundated with information. The EOPS Personnel are knowledgeable with various resources and ready to assist students. EOPS is a place that offers "a helping hand" and a true life changing experience.

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Victor Valley College Features

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Get to Know Your Fellow Rams By: Alex Malan

By: Socorro Pinedo

Reporter

Reporter

Samuel Ryann Jakob Hanke is a second year student at VVC, who loves performing in the Theater Arts Department.

When asked about how he’s able to get back into the swing of things at the start of the school semester, Sam said, “I went to bed early the night before the first day of class, got up 3 hours before my first class starts, ate a good breakfast and went to the gym” .

Sam said that this is his first time doing this routine, looking to carry it on for every

Getting back to classes can be stressful, but not for Erin Braun, an 18-year-old Fine Arts major hoping to double major in dance and child development. Her dream is owning a dance studio for special needs children. “I look forward to being surrounded by friends” says Braun.

Morning classes are better says Braum, “instructors seem to be in a good mood and the free time in the evening is a plus.” She prepares for class she organizes her backpack and makes sure she has the supplies needed. Dance is Braun’s life and she participates in the

By: Angel Barajas Reporter

Dayline Perez graduated from Oak Hills High School in 2017. She is majoring in Sociology at VVC and is transferring to Cal State University Long Beach and hopes to earn her degree and become a Social Worker.

When asked how she prepares for a new school term she stated, “I mentally prepare by writing By: Frank Staggs Reporter

VVC student, Cixous Isabel, says to help get into the swing of a new semester she will, “Clean out my backpack and emptying out all my previous

semester in the future to get in the habit of a better and healthier lifestyle. Sam is looking forward to having another productive and fun semester at VVC! new school year resolutions such as goals, and making sure I achieve them”. “Since I am at school all day, a good night rest is essential for tackling my day”.

She added, “I feel my methods are unique and achievable, but I could definitely add some more methods which will help me overall as a student”. work from last semester and replacing it with new notebooks and tabs helps me feel more organized and prepared for the next semester.”

To get back to work after a long break, Isabel said, “I definitely struggle with that a lot, but I just tell myself that I’m going to read and study at certain times every day and focus on homework during other times. I force myself to do it even if I don’t want to and eventually it becomes just another part of my day and gets easier, if I don’t keep up with it then it’s easy to fall behind”.

By: Mikayla Martinez Reporter

Lester Perkins is a 22 yearold Kinesiology major currently in his third year of at Victor Valley College.

Aside from serving as the Vice President to the Associated Student Body on campus, Lester also takes joy in reading and playing basketball when he is not in class.

By: Ashley Flores Reporter

VVC student, Alexis Anaya, wants to major in communication. To get back into the groove of school, Anaya said, “I took time off school to focus on work and be able to save up on money so that I could buy myself a car so I

school productions:13 numbers this semester. Dedicating herself to what she loves, is what keeps Erin ready, focused, and always happily coming back for more.

When asked how he prepares himself for each new semester, Lester says it is most important to get into the habit of falling asleep early. “You need to get yourself to sleep early so you can wake up early, but remember that even if you’re up all night studying, you still need to be able to wake up early.”

didn’t have to wake up at 5 am to catch the bus.”

Anaya found it difficult to get back into the groove of being back in school.

“I have the belief that I will be able to do what I love one day as a career”.

She is motivated to reach her goals.

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Get to Know Your Fellow Rams By: Jacob Wilson Reporter

Andrea Jean Smith is a nineteen year-old second-year Communication Studies student with an interest in theatre and teaching. She is taking four classes this semester and can understand why students may find it difficult to get into the groove. She has a very personal philosophy in regards to getting a hang of what one may be facing during the semester. When asked what she did to get into the swing of things, Andrea said, “Getting back into the rhythm of things can be pretty difficult, but usually I start preparing a few days before and gather all the things I’ll need, and buy a new planner. Having a planner is a life saver for me, because I tend to lose track of assignment due dates.” Smith also said that to her the most By: Dania Kaoud Reporter

Brianna Corcuera is in her third year at VVC. She enjoys dancing in her free time and she loves that they offer vari-

important thing to do is just remind yourself to stay flexible and open-minded in any new classes and to especially try to immerse yourself in as much of the material as possible. She also wants to empha-

By: Cristian Estrada Reporter

Cesar Aguayo, a 19 year old student at VVC is a Fire Technology major. Fire Hazmat is one where he is learning more about the equipment that is used and getting the experience of being physical with fire. He is also taking a Emergency Medical Responder course (EMS50) where he learns what to do in emergency situations. His hobbies are playing basketball with friends, working out with his older brother, and playing League of Legends. When asked how does he get back into the groove of going to school, he said “I get back into By: Karen Flores Reporter

size that above all, again “keeping an open mind and such is definitely something I needed when I began college.”

ous of dance courses on campus. “This semester was sort of tough getting back into,” she stated. She had just finished taking two science classes for the winter semester.

She felt like the weekend she had before the spring semester started was the only real break she really had.

Corcuera is currently enjoying all the classes she is enrolled in, and is pleased with how all the information given so far.

Her professors have been very accessible and it is only a few weeks in. She is very thankful for that! Although she is very tired, she is very confident and positive that things will work out perfectly during this spring semester.

Sarah Rodriguez is a child

development

major.

When

By: Akane Sanchez Reporter

Suzanna Adams, a VVC student, said that the very first thing she does to get back in the groove of school, is put her class schedule into her phone, so that she can keep track and check it when needed. A few days before the semester starts, Adam said she “begins to rebuild the habit of waking up earlier.”

Adams sends her schedule to all of her friends on campus to

the groove by force and as the semester goes on I slowly adjust.”

He also said that his sleeping schedule is messed up when starting school and he does not start getting enough sleep until a few weeks into the semester.

Cesar is working hard to pursue his dream of becoming a

asked, how she prepares for that field, Rodriguez said, “They’re getting me prepared for an interview.” She added, “If I keep practicing I know I can land a job at a preschool.”

She wants to be a substitute teacher while working on the credentials to be a preschool teacher. Rodriguez said, “I prepare myself a week before school starts, I sleep early and make sure I have all my books and my job schedule set.”

Rodriguez makes sure she gives herself the time to complete the hours in class and the study time. see if they share any courses or if they can hang out together in between their classes.

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Get to Know Your Fellow Rams By: Ruben Velazquez Reporter

Getting back in the groove for VVC’s Nursing Program is no easy task for Carmira Cortez. Cortez is in Nursing Process 3. When the class syllabus is available she starts a planner and purchases supplies.

Next, she begins to prepare mentally by trying to pump herself up. Cortez says, “I’m telling myself I can do this and not to freak out before By: Ariagna Perez Monreal Reporter

Stephanie Betanzo, age 20,is a student at (VVC). She is ma-

By: Jessica Penn Reporter

Elva Reyes-Leano has been a student at VVC since 2015.

She is working on three majors (Arts & Humanities, So-

classes even starts. I try and be a little cheerleader to myself.”

Cortez also finds comfort by sharing her fears with her friends, “I feel like, okay so it’s not just me dreading to go back!” She explains, “no matter how much I complain, I’ll study and do all my work.” She enjoys being back with her fellow nursing students and learning to heal the bodies of tomorrow. joring in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She intends on going to UC Irvine after she graduates from VVC. Betanzo reveals the tips that got her through her semesters at VVC. Betanzo says the most important thing to be successful in college is managing your time and not procrastinating. Stephanie states, “In order to get to through a semester successfully, you need to jump at it, do your work, stay focused, but most importantly, manage your time and don’t procrastinate.” cial & Behavioral, Math & Science).

Reyes-Leano has everything ready for the semester early.

She pays her tuition before the semester starts to get has her ID. She organizes her backpack before classes begin. Being prepared places her ahead of the curve, and she isn't stressed on the first day. She tries to eat before classes and have snacks throughout the day so she won't lose energy.

She uses all of these tactics to make sure her days on campus go smoothly.

By: Mike-O Bonam Reporter

Lee Ford, a VVC student, was very straightforward and honest. To get back in the groove of school he said he like to prep his bag the night before. He open up and told me he like to prep his bag the night before. He makes sure his papers are organized and have his pencils and pens ready for all his classes. He also said he loves to get to school early to talk to his professor and interact with them if possible before class starts. “ by doing this you will make a memorable impression on your professors.” he said.

He makes sure he gets a full night’s sleep. To him is also a big factor on the first day cause he believe if your falling asleep or dozing off in By: Rebecca Medina Reporter

Kaylee Preston, a prenursing student at VVC, finished her prerequisites for the program. Preston likes to prepare for a new semester by meeting with a counselor first to go over her progress from the previous semester. Then, Preston says, “I usually just By: Brian Woods Reporter

Amanda Jane Business Education Technologies major, a successful resurgence into a new school term comes from her own conviction and positivity.

“I get back into the groove by focusing

Anderson,

class can affect how the teacher will look at you throughout the semester.

His main goal is to become a professional football player.

He play cornerback he came from Adelanto high-school.

make sure that I check BlackBoard a lot and keep myself organized.” She does this by checking the syllabus before the class meets, if it has already been uploaded to BlackBoard, so that she can get the supplies and books she may need. Preston believes being ready to learn and becoming serious about the class is the best way to go! and staying organized. I keep a notebook with due dates for all my assignments and try to set out a schedule for studying and getting homework done,” Anderson said.

“A trip to Starbucks on the first day back doesn’t hurt either!” she concluded.

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Get to Know Your Fellow Rams winter and summer classes so a week or two off is not that Reporter hard. Jasmine does go on to Jasmine Jaramillo is a 28 say “the hardest thing to do is year old originally from River- figuring out how to implement side Ca. She has been in the time management with the High Desert for a little over new schedule of classes.” three years and has been attending VVC for the past one and a half. Jasmine’s prior goals were to study marine biology because of her love for ocean life.

She has since changed her major to communication which she says “will allow her to verbally fight for the ocean she loves.”

She is on track to graduate in the fall of 2019 and would love to attend USC. When asked if it was hard to get back in the grove of school she replied “not really because she enrolls in both By: Edward Freer

By: Alexandra Kirollos Reporter

Adriana Lorente is a full time student trying to earn a Fine Arts degree for transfer at Victor Valley College.

Adriana said that she gets herself back into the groove of classes by just going with the flow of her schedule for the semester.

She said there is really no certain method

or way that she uses to get back into the groove. Lorente just forms her routines based around her classes as the semester proceeds, letting it click into place as time goes on. In her free time, Adriana loves to practice drawing and creating art.

By: Ishmael Solomon Reporter

Aniston Morris is a Freshman at VVC is very excited for the spring semester as it is her first spring experiencing the college life.

Ani, as she prefers to be called, enjoys reading long romance novels, binge watching the latest Netflix Originals, and spending a lot of time volunteering at, and attending, her church. For Ani getting into the spirit of college and starting new classes can be tough.

When asked about how she By: Dlia Soltero Reporter

Victor Valley College student Raven Strange is double majoring in Psychology and Fine Arts. She strives to become an addiction therapist or a middle school counselor.

When asked how she gets back in the groove of being in school, she answers “I try not to get out of it, if I’m on break I’m still By: Jacqueline Hernandez Reporter

It can be hard to get back in the habit of going back to school VVC student, Noe Rangel, he is in his second year and majoring in English and Liberal Arts. When asked how do you get back in the groove of going back to VVC?” Rangel said, “I like to start by having a competitive mentality with myself that also makes me organized which

gets herself back into the college spirit and how she prepares Aniston said this, “I

mentally prepare for school by taking the weekend in between semesters to relax and get my supplies for the next semester.” reading, working on random math questions or I’m just doing normal word problems just trying to keep my brain going academically.” Strange also mentions that she likes to stay organized before going back to school to make sure she is ready for the new semester. She also mentions that along with keeping her mind sharp she balances it with taking a break, “I have days where I like to do nothing...you need a break or else you’ll go insane.” helps me balance school and work.”

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March 13, 2019 Page 14

The 61st Grammys By: Alexandra Kirollos Reporter The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held at the Staple Center in Los Angeles on February 10, 2019. Fourteen-time Grammy award winner, Alicia Keys was the host.

From eccentric performances to unexpected award winners, it was a riveting award show.

Pop singer, Camila Cabello, kicked off the show with a superstar performance of her hit song “Havana.” Special appearances from Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Jada Pinkett Smith helped Keys with her opening monologue, which was a fan favorite. Miley Cyrus and first -time Grammy performer, Shawn Mendes, performed Mendes’ song “In My Blood.”

The first award of the night, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, went to Lady Gaga and

Bradley Cooper for their song “Shallow,” from the Oscar nominated film “A Star is Born.” Best Pop song went to Childish Gambino for his song “This Is America,” which also won for Best Music Video, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Record of the Year.

Dolly Parton was named the Grammy’s MusiCares Person of the Year. To celebrate, Parton performed and was accompanied by Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgraves, and Katy Perry. Diana Ross also gave an amazing performance celebrating her 75th birthday. Keys gave a mini performance, playing two pianos and singing a medley of songs to honor music. Other amazing performances given that night were from Janelle Monae, Dua Lipa and St. Vincent, Dan and Shay, Cardi B, Post Malone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jennifer Lopez, Brandi Carlile,

Photo courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar

Chloe X Halle, Travis Scott, Lady Gaga, and Kacey Musgraves.

Kacey Musgraves went home with four Grammys, including Album of the Year, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Song, and Best Country Album.

Newcomers, H.E.R. and Dua Lipa won two awards and performed their songs on the Grammys stage. Rapper, Cardi B, won Best Rap Album for her “Invasion of Privacy.” She is the first female rapper to

Disappointing Sequel By: Ashley Flores Reporter

“Happy Death Day 2U” is the sequel to the mystery slasher film, “Happy Death Day” (2017). Tree Gelbman, played by actress Jessica Rothe, is a college student who keeps reliving the same day of February 18. Which is not only her birthday, but also the day of her death.

In the film she has to keep reliving this day until she discovers who her murderer is.

After dying and coming back to life about 11 times, and with the help of a stranger and soon-to-be boyfriend, Carter Davis, (Israel Broussard) Gelbman must discover why she keeps dying. Tree discovers who her murderer is at the end of the film and has to stop them so everything can go

back to normal.

I enjoyed the first movie and I was excited when I heard the

news about the sequel. I saw the film with my best friend and we were excited because we both liked the first one, but we both left the theater slightly disappointed.

The first few minutes of the film focused on one of Carter Davis’ friend Ryan Phan, (Phi Vu) because he was beginning to experience the same day over again and he had to discover how he died. Turns out, it was himself that was his own murderer.

They showed that “Ryan” created a time warp malfunction with his thesis project that messed with the different dimensions. The Photo courtesy of IMDB..com

win this award since the Fugees which had member Lauryn Hill, in 1996.

The last performance of the night was by Yolanda Adams, Fantasia, and Andra Day, singing “Natural Women;” a tribute to the late, Aretha Franklin.

The 61st Grammy Awards was an exhilarating show with captivating performances and special appearances, it was a night to remember.

future Ryan is trying to turn off the machine to the present.

He stops it, and the machine breaks. This caused it to start all over with Tree reliving the day of her birthday. It was a bit disappointing and confusing because I thought it would focus more on Ryan and how he is trying to save himself.

In the second half of the movie, Tree realizes that the other dimension is the life she wants. She has her parents and everything is perfect, except her boyfriend Carter is dating her roommate. So she has to choose between the two dimensions.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie.

Although some scenes were predictable, had very cheesy and typical teen movie comedy along with some confusing parts that needed me and my friend to explain it to each other. I think the actors did a Continued on page 15…

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Sequel from page 14… good job at playing their roles.

I especially enjoyed the role of the main character Tree Gelbman. Jessica Rothe did an amazing job capturing the slightly snobby and rude attitude of her character. I also enjoyed the scenery and the setting of the movie. It looked very real and accurate to a college campus and students.

However, the plot felt very repetitive to the first one. I

was expecting something slightly different. It was an average movie, but I definitely enjoyed the first one more.

According to movie critic companies like, “Rotten Tomatoes”, the movie received a 67% and “IMDB” gave a 6.7/10. I have to agree with both ratings. I give it a 6/10. I would recommend it if you have seen the first “Happy Death Day” and enjoyed it. If you haven’t, you are not missing out on much.

Velvet Buzzsaw Art About Art By: Frank Staggs Reporter

Velvet Buzzsaw is a Netflix original film released on February 1, 2019 and is the re-teaming of Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo and writer/ director Dan Gilroy of 2014’s Night Crawler.

Velvet Buzzsaw is a satirical horror/ comedy about a series of paintings by a deceased and unknown artist being discovered and sold for millions of dollars, only for those who plan to profit off these paintings to be killed off one-by-one, in mysterious ways.

Velvet Buzzsaw takes place in Los Angeles, where the lives of Morf Vandewalt, (Jake Gyllenhaal) Rhodora Haze, (Rene Russo) and Josephina (Zawe Ashton) and their involvement with dealing and criticizing art are about to take

a turn for the worse. The trailers make the movie seem like a straightforward horror film with some hidden messages about the world of art. Howev-

er, the movie was much more of a satirical comedy than it was a horror film, which is not necessarily a bad thing, unless someone goes into the movie expecting a straight up horror film.

March 13, 2019 Page 15

Gilroy’s writing and directing is brilliant. It is funny and scary when it needs to be, and seems to blend the two tones in a way that, while not always seamless, does fit the over-the-top tone of the film.

The movie is over-the-top, but it seems to be purposefully so as the world of art and the people involved with it are pretentious and over-thetop in real life, and the movie reflects that in a way which translates well to the screen.

Everyone in the movie does a brilliant job in portraying their characters, especially Jake Gyllenhaal who, as always, steals the show in the movie. It's hard to see anyone else portray this character for if his character were to be played by a less talented actor, it wouldn’t work.

The movie is one of the most beautifully shot movies in recent memory and has a lot more to say than what’s on

foreshadowing or a symbolic way of representing an aspect of real life and to go into detail of what the shots mean would be a spoiler for those who haven’t seen the film.

Velvet Buzzsaw, upon its release, was met with harsh criticism and praise at the same time. Some people seem to really love it, while others despise it. Although, there is no denying that it is a unique film and one that can only be allowed on a streaming service like Netflix as something this bizarre would most likely never make it to theaters. It is a different kind of a movie and one that should be checked out, but without any expectations going in. It is worth watching for the mesmeric directing of Dan Gilroy alone, but when paired with the brilliant performance given by Jake Gyllenhaal and the rest of the talented ensemble cast, it is a treat to watch it unfold.

Photo Courtesy of FlixChatter

the surface. Everything from the angle of the shot, to the lighting of the scene, has a purpose for being there. Every frame seems to have some sort of meaning, rather it be

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Dungeons & Classrooms By: Ruben Velazquez Reporter

“Nine points of fire damage? How do you want to do this?” asks Matthew Mercer, dungeon master of the popular Critical Role series. A show where it's cast plays tabletop games like, Dungeons & Dragons and Mansions of Madness.

Critical Role and other shows like it have increased the popularity of tabletop games. Especially with college students looking for ways to express themselves creatively. Tabletop games focus on making players critically think in a space where anything is possible. College students who play tabletop games create characters and work together to solve mysteries or fight villains. Tabletop games trains players to use skills that they use in the game and incorporate in their college career.

The game’s story is created and formed together by every player sitting at the table. Each person has a say in the collective story and plays the part of their character.

Tabletop games help players build social skills and flex their imagination; which are important skills college students can benefit from helping them grow.

These games are fun and pull players into the story; allowing their imagination to run wild. The first benefit for a college student is its social building aspect. As Victor Valley College student, Jacy Bertrand expresses, “as a player, it really made me feel better about working in a team to achieve the end goal; instead

Photo courtesy of Wizards of the Coast LLC of trying to figure it out myself like I and other introverts, tend to do.” Tabletop games have helped her come out of her shell. Bertrand also believes that these games can help create lifelong friendships through in-game character bonding. People will play characters with different personalities that do not match their own. If they feel comfortable with the rest of the group.

Giving characters unique voices and quirks that

make the character their own person. Through this, Bertrand explains, “It got me to open up and not be afraid to say anything I want.”

Jacy Bertrand has experience with playing as a gamemaster.

The gamemaster guides players though their adventure and creates the worlds around the players. Unlike the players who create and play one character, the game master plays everyone the players encounter and the word around them.

This role makes great use of the game master’s imagination, critical thinking skills and builds improvisational skills, so they can adapt to the players actions and questions.

Bertrand says, “as a game master it brought on another element which is world building and being able to think on my feet.

For you never know what is going to happen, especially if you have such a diverse group of people playing.”

This helps players build critical thinking skills that they can apply to their everyday life or college work.

Tabletop games are shadowed by a stigma of being nerdy and hard to play. After playing a session, the stigma is dropped away.

These games are played on pen and paper but are engaging fantastical stories. Unlike other games, players do not play against each other, but rather with them.

Creating an environment that will help nurture friendships and minds is typical of tabletop games.. Just as Jacy Bertrand has, many more college students can benefit from playing tabletop games. The lessons learned from fighting dragons and saving towns, are incorporated in the classroom.

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Sports

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Unofficial Start of NFL Season Has Arrived

By Edward Freer Reporter To football fanatics, the start of the NFL season unofficially begins with the NFL scouting combine. It is a chance for the football faithful to watch and gage whom they would want their favorite team to draft.

The once small event started in 1982 in Tampa, Florida.

The event initially invited 163 of the top collegiate football players and kept out of the spotlight. Now with Indianapolis, Indiana as its host, it has exploded into around 335 invitees, and one of the biggest spectacles in today’s sports; seen exclusively on the NFL Network.

The official start of the combine is February 26th with physicals and psychological testing. Friday, March 1st is when running backs, offensive line, special teams, and placekickers show up for onfield workouts.

Highlighting day one will be the two-headed monster from Alabama, running backs Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris who helped pave the way in Alabama's run to the National Championship game. Included will be RB Benny Snell Kentucky's all-time leading rusher, allpurpose back RB David Montgomery from Iowa State, and OT Jonah Williams also from Alabama. The big question mark will be Stanford running back, Bryce Love, who was one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy at

the beginning of the 2018 season. Love tore his ACL during the last game of the season and will have limited participation at the combine.

Saturday will focus on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends, but all eyes will be on QB Kyler Murray the reigning Heisman Trophy winner out of the University of Oklahoma. Murray, a first round pick and 9th overall by the Oakland A's, decided to put his baseball career on hold to try to showcase his talents in the NFL. At roughly 5'9, he electrified and dominated the collegiate ranks, so the scouts are interested to see what he can do in person. Another QB that has scouts attention is Heisman Trophy finalist, Dwayne Haskins from Ohio State. Haskins has the size and arm strength that on tape has

State, Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama, Josh Allen, OLB/ DE, Kentucky, Ed Oliver, DT, Houston, and Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan are all considered top ten picks according to sbnation.com. Bosa tore his abdominal muscle at the beginning of the season, but is still considered to be the top pick in the draft.

Monday will conclude the workouts and will feature defensive backs. At the top of the list is LSU’s Greedy Williams who is considered one of the top pure athletes in the draft.

There is plenty of Southern California talent represented at the combine with five from USC, Chuma Edoga, OL, Porter Gustin, LB, Iman LewisMarshall, DB, Cameron Smith, LB, and Marvell Tell, DB, and two from UCLA, Andre James, OL, and Caleb

Photo courtesy of Courtesy of gamblingsites.org

impressed the scouts, but his limited amount of starts could be cause for concern.

Sunday’s showcase of defensive linemen and linebackers will have an immense amount of talent. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio

Wilson, TE. For a full list of players check out nfl.com.

The NFL combine is just a prelude to what comes next for these top athletes. The ultimate goal is to be drafted in one of the 7 rounds on April

25th-27th, by one of the NFL’s 32 teams. How these prospects perform will go a long way in determining what rounds they are chosen. There is no guarantee that the participants at the combine will be chosen. Those who are not are considered unrestricted free agents and can sign with any team. This worked out for Hall of Famers Warren Moon, John Randle, and Kurt Warner to name a few who were undrafted. And future Hall Of Famers Antonio Gates and Adam Vinatieri and stars like Tony Romo, Michael Bennett, C.J. Anderson, Malcolm Butler, Doug Baldwin, James Harrison and countless others who have become the backbone of the NFL. Each of these players will have another opportunity to showcase their talents at their

respected University’s pro day.

But it is the size and prestige of the NFL scouting combine that showcases the enormous amount of talent to the world.

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Rams Spring Sports By: Angel Barajas Reporter Victor Valley College men’s and women’s tennis, basketball, golf, softball and baseball are setting new standards for spring sports.

The tone from all coaches transcribe with sports being more than just competing, “I try to instill within everybody is that I’m not here coaching them just to play basketball or play a sport at Victor Valley College, I am trying to prepare them for life.”

Victor Valley College Women’s Tennis opened up their season at home Thursday, February 7 against Bakersfield. Men’s tennis opened their season on Friday, February 8 with a home match against Orange Coast.

The two Rams teams have had to face challenges with maintaining enough players to participate in the sport. Every year tennis faces this adversity and continue strong to recruit, and confidently allow anyone

Photos courtesy of Angel Barajas

willing to join with open arms.

Inside the gym, men’s and women’s basketball conclude their seasons with a double header home game Friday, February 22 against Citrus College. Baseball began their season away at Mt. San Antonio College on Friday, January 25, and Softball began their campaign on Friday, January 25 at San Diego Community College tournament against Allan Hancock.

North of VVC, the golf team is set for their season at the Spring Valley Lake Country Club Golf Course.

“I have been playing tennis since I was 14,” Freshman Abby Corey claims.

When asked what she is looking forward to this season she said, “Gaining experience for next season, knowing that this sport can help me with opportunities to meet new people, and leading towards my career.”

Corey enters her first semester at Victor Valley Col-

lege with high hopes to have personal growth in the classroom and on the courts. “What we want our players to get out of the class and season is to continue playing and love tennis,” said Assistant Coach Shayne Harper. His coaching philosophy is, “Go out and have fun,” Harper claims, “The best way to learn a sport is by not being nervous, and just enjoying the process.”

To complete the team this 2019 campaign, Coach Harper recruited Linda Luna from women’s soccer, and Xitlali Gonzalez from volleyball.

Women’s tennis played Santa Barbara Thursday, February 21 away. The Vaqueros have an overall record of 6-1 “I have a strong men’s and women’s team, it is stronger than it has been in recent years,” Head Coach Justin Harper claims. He constantly motivates his teams with strong philosophies, “1% better every day, a small improvement every day will add up to large Improvement in the end.” Chris Pena, a returner in men’s tennis, is seeking to rally his best performance his sophomore year. He says, “I have been playing tennis for 3 years, I grew up playing baseball and basketball.” Pena claims, “tennis is a great sport

to add to your catalog if you are an athlete.” When asked what he is looking forward to the most about this upcoming season Pena replied, “I want to see how good I can get, I am a competitor I love to see how much I can grow.” He claims this competitive nature translates in the classroom as well. He first started playing Tennis here at VVC and in the short span he has grown to be a top competitor and asset for the Team. “I want to get some wins this season, and focus on making the playoffs.”

Men’s basketball thrived with a spectacular season under new head coach Richard Thomas. When asked what challenges Thomas went through his first year as head coach he claimed, “Our main challenge is the fact that men’s basketball covers two semesters, we have a big challenge making sure our players remain eligible as far as academically, because we cover two semesters there’s a lot of rules we have to abide by both spring and fall semester.”

Freshman Alton Thompson followed up on the same question by claiming, “It is a lot to manage at first, you know, with class, work and school but after a while you get used to it.” When asked how he stayed motivated all season, and both semesters Thompson claims, “It’s the love of the sport, you have to make time for what you really like.” Coach Thomas believes

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that being a coach is more than just running drills. He claims, “The main thing that I try to instill within everybody is that I’m not here coaching them just to play basketball or play a sport at Victor Valley College, I am trying to prepare them for life.” This philosophy showed on the court as Jamain Owens led conference by averaging 23 points per game.

They concluded their season on Friday, February 22 finishing 4-6 in conference and 12-

14 overall.

Women’s basketball had a great season under new head coach Troy Hall.

“We won our first home conference game in 3 years, s well as being amongst the top rankings in conference for a few weeks,” an accolade Coach Hall is proud of.

When asked what are some accomplishments she is more proud of this year, Megan Burt asserted, “I led the state in assist for 3 consecutive weeks, and led the conference in assist for 6 consecutive weeks.” To remain motivated through both semesters she added, “I think we just need to stay focus, and remind myself that this is important to me and to try and go far, we try to get a better record than last year.”

Coach Hall has an emphasis on making sure his players have a tight bond all season, he claims, “I want them to understand that family is first, we look after each other and we support each other no matter what’s going on, through the good and the bad.” Coach Hall when asked what opportunities the program can provide for his players he stated, “I tell my players to use basketball for life, use basketball for free education to better your life for your family and for yourself, and pretty much let them know that I am here for them as a father figure, someone to

March 13, 2019 Page 19 always support them.” Women’s basketball finished conference 6-4 with a .600 winning percentage.

Softball continues to play their pre-season matches this month in preparation for conference. Richard Thomas returns his second year as head coach of the softball team.

Thomas said, “We are looking to improve this season, last year a majority of our starting lineup were freshmen, so this year we have a lot of sophomores that are supposed to be producing a little bit more, that’s what we are looking forward to just having more

this year to last, the team is already way better than where we ended and I’m looking forward to it because I know we’ll do better.”

To motivate her teammates he claimed, “I think just personally having a positive attitude, I feel like a lot of the players just follow because of the way they look to me and the other captains, so if I had a negative attitude they would follow that as well and that’s something we try to be aware of.” Softball hosted Barstow College on Thursday, February 28 to begin their conference.

productions and a better season than last year.” This season, Sophomore captain Araselly Diaz said she is looking forward to, “A lot of the incoming freshmen had talent, just looking at the team from

Golf begin to prepare for their upcoming season led by Coach Mark Yates. Freshman Ryan Miller has been playing golf on and off for Continued page 20...

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The Ram’s 2019 Buzzer

By Ishmael Solomon Reporter This season for both the Victor Valley College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams has been a long one, extending into 10 games in California’s Western State Conference East Division.

The VVC men’s team pulled together and had a fruitful year with new Head Coach Richard Thomas. The Coach is taking the reins from their last coach, Troy Johnson, passed away in January of 2018. Through this loss, the team has performed well and continued to provide a promising organization for talented Freshman joining the team this year and continuing on to play on the team in future seasons. The men’s team ended their regular season with an equal 8 wins to 8 losses and closed out the conference with an added 4 wins to 6 losses, bringing their total to 12-14 upon their final game against Citrus College.

The women’s season closed out with a 5-11 record and added an additional 6 wins and 4 losses at the end of this year’s conference run. The Women’s team really turned up the heat with their wins in the conference games and with their last game was a win played against Citrus College.

Despite the men’s team overall negative win ratio during the season, the team showcased many astonishing plays and players, such as Sophomore Guard #2 Jamain Owens Rams, from page 19 10 years. Miller claims, “I haven’t noticed anything challenging about golf being a spring academically, the weather plays a huge role, sometimes when the course is wet it definitely makes it difficult to play, one of the main

becoming the 3rd place leader in Points Per Game according to the Western State Conference official statistics, as well as 5th place leader in scoring 3 points shots in the WSC. Another record holding player, is Freshman Forward #11 Alton Thompson. He holds the 1st place spot for Points Per 40 Minutes, and the 5th place leader in Blocks in the WSC official stats.

The Women’s team can find pride in their impressive accomplishments this year as well as their players. When asked about her experience this season, Freshman Forward Kolani Henderson said, “There were a lot of good things, and a lot of things we could’ve done better but it was a good season.” Along with her favorite aspect of her first season being, “Getting to travel with the team and getting to bond and know them better.” Fellow Freshman players Viviana Rojas and Serenity Diaz shared in their sentiment of their favorite part of the season being “The chemistry of the team and the bonding between everybody.”

The overall ranking of the women’s team according to the WSC is 1st place in Free Throws and Blocks made dur-

ing this season. Sharing in the record spotlight is Freshman Forward #33 Cierra Steemer who holds 2nd place in Blocks in the conference. Also holding a high ranking status is fellow Freshman Guard #22 Destiny Marin holds the 2nd

place spot for Points Per 40 minutes in all of the WSC. Both teams this season have made Victor Valley College and the student body very proud with their performances this semester.

challenges is that we could use a lot more players out here, I don’t think a lot of people at VVC know about the team, so if we could get the word out that we have a team so we can compete and get a score out there.”

Miller further asserts that what he is most excited for

about this season is, “Definitely dropping my score, just playing and having fun getting to know a lot of people, it’s a pleasure to be out here.” Opportunities that he is looking forward to is, “The networking, getting to meet a lot of different people.” When asked what is one take away

he wants from this upcoming season he said, “Learning how to deal with the pressure out on the course, which I imagine that could actually relay to many aspects in life as well.”

Photo courtesy of vvdailypress.com

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A New Developmental League for the NFL By : Cristian Estrada Reporter

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) is a new football league consisting of eight teams with a 10 week, 40 game schedule that was founded in 2018 and began play on February 9, 2019. The AAF is a developmental league for players who are not ready for the NFL and need more repetitions.

The league is founded by Charlie Ebersol, named league CEO and Bill Polian, named the Head of Football. Ebersol is the co-founder of the Company and has produced a solid amount of shows such as the ESPN 30 for 30 “This Was the XFL.” Polian is a former GM of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Head of Football Operations is J.K. McKay and he is the leader in making the AAF different than other pro leagues.

Hines Ward, a Super Bowl MVP and champion, is the Head of Football Development.

There are rule changes that make the AAF different than the NFL. The play clock is at 35 seconds, five seconds shorter than the NFL. To make games shorter, there are no television timeouts. Games are expected to be around 150 minutes compared to the NFL's 180 minutes.

There are no kickoffs in this league and teams get the ball at their own 25 yard line. Instead of

onside kicks, a team gets a fourth and ten at their own 35 yard line, if the team converts, they keep the ball. There are no extra point attempts and teams will have to attempt a two point conversion after a touchdown. In overtime, both teams get to possess the ball and start at the 10 yard line.

Games that go into overtime can end in a tie if both teams score. The last notable change is the big hits that are allowed in the league. Hard hits on quarterbacks are almost always flagged in the NFL, but in Week 1 of the AAF a hard hit by Shaan Washington caused QB Mike Bercovici’s helmet to fly off. In the NFL

this is a flag for roughing the passer because it is a hit to the helmet, in the AAF it is a nocall.

All eight teams have their own stadium and have former NFL and CFB players. The Eastern Division consists of the Birmingham Iron (3-2), Orlando Apollos (5-0), Atlanta Legends (2-3), and the Memphis Express (1-4). The Western Division consists of the Arizona Hotshots (2-3), San Antonio Commanders (3-2), San Diego Fleet (3-2), and the Salt Lake City Stallions (1-4).

Trent Richardson plays on the Birmingham Iron and is a former NFL player who was a top 5 overall pick in the NFL. Zac

Photo courtesy of New Haven Register

Stacy of the Memphis Express in his rookie season in the NFL had over 1000 yards from scrimmage. Other notable players are Josh Huff, Rahim Moore, Christian Hackenberg, Brad Wing, Will Hill, Mat Asiata, and Aaron Murray.

At the end of the regular season, the top two teams from each division face off for a chance to play in the AAF Championship Game which is held in Las Vegas. The AAF will need a few years to get going, but the future looks bright for this league.

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NBA All-Star Weekend Recap By : Alex Malan Reporter NBA All-Star Weekend is considered by many as the most entertaining part of the NBA season. It’s filled with the best players in the league doing what they do best: putting on a show for the fans to enjoy. The events, which took place during the weekend of February 15-17th, include the Rising Stars Game, the Skills Challenge, the 3-Point Shootout, the Dunk Contest, and the All-Star Game.

The weekend started off on Friday night, with the Rising Stars Game. This match features the best first and second year players in the league competing against each other in a full-length game. The players were divided into two teams, with ten players that were born in the USA on one team, and ten players who were born outside of the country on the other.

The young men all put on a show, featuring a wide array of different dunks, 3-pointers, and flashy passes. The game finished with a Team USA victory over Team World with a score of 161-144. Los Angeles Lakers second-year forward Kyle Kuzma earned MVP honors for the night, finishing with a game high of 35 points.

Next up, we had All-Star Saturday Night, featuring the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Shootout, and the Dunk Contest. Starting things off with the Skills Challenge event, 8 players were selected to show off their skills with dribbling, passing, and shooting, with 2 players going head-to-head each round to see who can finish the challenges first. In the final round of the contest, second-year star, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, edged out rookie sensation,

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Tatum won the challenge with a half-court heave that he made right before Young was able to hit his final 3-pointer, being crowned the Skills Challenge Champion in a way that has never been seen before!

The next challenge was the 3 -Point Shootout, featuring some of the best 3-point shooters in the entire league facing off for the championship. The challenge gives each contestant one minute each to make as many 3-pointers from 5 racks, featuring 5 balls on each rack, attempting to get the highest score of the night. The final round consisted of 2015 3-Point champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings sharp-shooter Buddy Hield, and the underdog of the night, Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets, with Harris pulling off a very narrow victory. Harris edged out Curry with a final of 26 points to Curry’s 24.

The last event on All-Star Saturday Night was the Dunk Contest. T he event has 4 of

the highest leapers in the league, facing off to perform the flashiest dunks possible, with a judge panel of 5 former NBA and WNBA greats. The final round featured the New York Knicks young guard Dennis Smith Jr., going up against Oklahoma City Thunder high-flyer Hamidou Diallo for the crown. Diallo stole the show, when he brought out NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and jumped over him to complete a dunk. He was also able to stuff his entire arm into the hoop with the dunk, then he tore his jersey open, revealing the Superman logo on his chest. This earned him a perfect score of 50 from the judges and the title of the 2019 Slam-Dunk Contest Champion.

Sunday featured the main event of the weekend: the AllStar Game. The two teams consisted of twelve of the best players in the league from the Eastern and Western Conference. The starting five for each conference was selected by a combination of fan and NBA coaches votes, with the seven

Photo courtesy of sbnation.com

remaining players on each side being chosen strictly from all the coaches in the league. Once the starters and reserves are selected, the two players with the most votes in their conference are selected as the Captains for their conferences. Los Angeles Lakers superstar, LeBron James, was the captain for the West, and young MVP candidate of the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was the captain for the East. There is a draft held, with the two captains picking their players of choice for their team, mixing up the two conferences to play together. The game was as entertaining to watch as ever, with some players who are usually opponents working together to get their team a victory, while also having fun and putting on an entertaining show for the fans. After trailing by as much as 20 points, Team LeBron was able to pull off a huge comeback to beat Team Giannis with a very high final score of 178-164. Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors was crowned MVP for the night, with a game-high of 31 points, earning his second NBA All-Star Game MVP, after winning it in 2012.

The All-Star Weekend is looked at by players and fans alike as a weekend of rejoicing. Players who are normally competing with each other in the NBA Regular Season come together and have fun with the events, giving the fans the entertainment that they want to see. Up next for the NBA will be the rest of the regular season and playoffs.

The teams will be back to competing for what every player, team, and fan wants: the NBA Championship!

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DON’T FORGET!!

Important Dates and Deadlines 3/20 - Financial Aid and Student Services Awareness Day—SAC 11am-1:30pm

Spring 2019 Campus Tours 3/22 - CSU LA & Cal Poly Pomona Tour 4/5 - CSU Northridge Tour 5/3 - UC Riverside Tour 5/10 - CSU San Bernardino Tour

March 13, 2019 Page 23 RAMPAGE STAFF Reporters: Angel Barajas, Mike-O Bonam, Cristian Estrada, Ashley Flores, Karen Flores, Edward Freer, Jacqueline Hernandez, Dania Kaoud, Alexandra Kirollos, Alexander Malan, Mikayla Martinez, Rebecca Medina, Demetra Miller, Jessica Penn, Ariagna Perez Monreal, Socorro Pinedo, Akane Sanchez, Ishmael Solomon, Dalia Soltero, Frank Staggs, Ruben Velazquez, Jacob Wilson, Brian Woods Cartoonist: Guest Wor k Welcome Advisor/Instructor: Deanna Hays Administration/Faculty: Robert Sewell, Printing: Victor Valley College Campus Print Shop Mission Statement: The Victor Valley College RamPage is a student-run newspaper that aims to inform and entertain the Victor Valley Community.

We strive to teach and preserve core journalistic values while supporting the unity of faculty and students on campus.

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GENERAL INFORMATION The RamPage is a newspaper published as an educational exercise and First Amendment Public Forum by students at Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif. Issues come out approximately twice a month in the two full-length semesters, generally each March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December, for a total of 8 issues each calendar year.

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