Viewpoints spring 2022 vol. 100 issue no. 9, March 17

MARCH 17,

2022

VOL. 100, NO. 9

VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG

in this issue

Board

LIFE

ends RCCD booster, mask mandates

4 TV Show Review: ‘Euphoria’ loses its voice in season two

The district will no longer require booster vaccinations for campus access effective March 16

OPINIONS

DANIEL HERNANDEZ MANAGING EDITOR

5 Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine an unwise decision EDITORIAL

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

The Riverside City College women’s basketball team breaks from a huddle and walk toward the sideline while wearing t-shirts expressing solidarity to women’s athletics Feb. 24.

Trouble in athletic department Women’s basketball team demands equal treatment 6

Board of Trustees contradicts itself about COVID-19 safety SPORTS

7 Tigers swimming and diving team fall short at first invitational

follow our social media @rccviewpoints @rccviewpoints @rccviewpoints @viewpointsofrcc

INDEX NEWS LIFE OPINIONS EDITORIAL SPORTS

2 3 5 6 7

JENNIPHER VASQUEZ & DAESHA GEAR NEWS EDITOR AND ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Women from the Riverside City College basketball team were restricted from an individual oneon-one interview with Viewpoints surrounding Title IX allegations.

Desiree Jackson, RCC women’s basketball assistant coach, oversaw the entirety of the interview after the team’s final home game on Feb. 24.

They recently called for equal treatment as women athletes in a video posted on Twitter earlier this month.

Players said they want to encourage positive change and protect future athletes from experiencing the same mistreatment.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

Fans wear #EqualityInWomensSports shirts in solidarity to the Riverside City College women’s basketball team.

They alleged they are being think those are things that need denied their time in the weight to be handled within the RCC room, while the men’s team is administration,” Berber said. “And prioritized.

I just think until that gets resolved, Women’s basketball head I think it’s only fair for both parties coach Alicia Berber declined to to meet and get things resolved.” comment on who is keeping them Jackson asked Viewpoints to from using the weight room. move on to the next question when “I’m really not going See TITLE IX on page 2 to comment on that because I

Inland Empire artists thrive on passion JULIA GOLDMAN STAFF REPORTER

Despite an architect’s day being full of early morning meetings, numerous projects and deadlines, Zoey Valenzuela never ceases to believe art is a prominent part of her identity.

For Valenzuela, architecture is more creative and artistic than people realize. The project’s artistic conception is contingent on an architect’s creative vision.

What began with drawing on school worksheets and sketchbooks instead of playing at recess, transformed into Valenzuela pushing her artistic outlets. The introduction to digital art at an early age was a core inspiration.

Most children, when learning

art, follow a linear path full of developmental stages, with early childhood filled with encouragement of art. It’s at the age of 9 or 10 that most children are faced with what’s referred to as the “drawing crisis.”

Children faced with this decide to either pursue their current artistic interests or discover a different medium to express themselves with. Children are also faced with the choice of abandonment, which many do, due to a heavy sense of self doubt in relation to the activity.

For Valenzuela, art never waivered.

Despite working all day on architectural projects, her environment continues to encourage and stimulate her

The Riverside Community C o l l e g e B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s voted 5-0 to end the booster and mask mandates throughout district facilities March 15.

Under Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac’s direction, the mandates will end starting March 16.

“Based on the data and where we are today, it is suggested that the Board ends the booster requirement and (that it) now be highly recommended,” Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac said prior to the vote. “Similarly, the masking mandate will be removed and it will also be converted to be recommended.”

Although the district will recommend masks and boosters, it will still require students, staff and faculty to provide proof of full vaccination — at least one shot of the Janssen vaccine or two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer — or weekly COVID-19 testing.

The district’s decision is based on the latest guidelines set by federal, state and local health agencies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in its newest guidelines March 11 t h a t o n l y c o m m u n i t i e s experiencing a high surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations

See MANDATE on page 2

artistically.

“Art is something I do regularly and always has been a huge part of my life,” Zoey said. “And that won’t ever change.”

A r t f o l l o w s a d i ff e r e n t manifestation in first generation Latino college student Rudy Mejia.

Mejia juggles two jobs on top of being a third year history major at Cal State San Bernardino.

Their outlet is dance, mostly to reggaeton and bachata.

What began as an interest in physical art, encouraged by their DARLENE DUKELOW-BURTON | uncle, evolved into an interest VIEWPOINTS in dance. In times where Mejia can’t dance, they return to the Trustee President Bill Hedrick traditional 2-D art they love. votes to remove the booster and mask mandate during the March See ART on page 3 15 Board of Trustees meeting.

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NEWS BRIEFS Organizations to help Ukraine Revived Soldiers Ukraine (RSU): RSU is a nonprofit organization that offers medical rehabilitation to Ukraine soldiers and humanitarian aid to their families.

Monetary donations can be made at https://www.rsukraine. org/.

For further information, contact RSU by email at: info@ rsukraine.org International Medical Corps: As first responders, the IMC provides resources such as food, water, healthcare and mental health services to Ukrainian communities affected by the war. The organization also trains the communities how to make their journey from relief to self-reliance by teaching first responder skills.

Donations can be made at https:// internationalmedicalcorps.org/ get-involved/.

Nova Ukraine: Nova Ukraine is a nonprofit organization that has raised over $3.5 million in donations to provide emergency aid to everyone remaining in Eastern Ukraine. They provide limited assistance to locate and reconnect families that have been separated.

Donations of mixed goods in the U.S. are not effective.

However, monetary donations can be made through PayPal to donate@novaukraine.org.

For more information on ways to donate, visit https:// novaukraine.org/donate/ International Rescue Committee (IRC): IRC is an organization focused on economic well-being, education, health, empowerment and safety. The organization is at work in 40 crisis-affected countries, including Europe and the Americas.

Donations can be made at https://www.rescue.org/.

To take action by becoming a corporate partner or volunteer, visit https://www.rescue.org/ how-to-help.

All of these dates are subject to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus.

To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, v i s i t t h e Vi e w p o i n t s calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org.

If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints.news@ gmail.com.

Editor: Jennipher Vasquez | Viewpoints.news@gmail.com

RCC athletes allege title IX inequalities RCCD aims

to increase cybersecurity initiatives

TITLE IX from page 1

the women were asked to describe their experiences with sexism and discrimination.

They referenced weight room issues again and said they want to be recognized for the dedication they apply to their sport.

“We believe that women should have all the equal opportunities and just for (Berber) to let us know what she’s been through, really motivated us to make change ourselves,” Elizabeth Lau, team captain for the women’s basketball team, said. “It’s been 20 years, I don’t want to wait another 20 years when my daughter comes home and is like, ‘They don’t let me use the weight room, Mom.’” Berber settled a lawsuit in 2012 with the Riverside Community College District where she alleged discrimination and sexual harassment.

She voiced her concerns again nearly a decade later at a Board of Trustees meeting in March 2021, where she stated that President Gregory Anderson was not responding to emails after promising it would be resolved.

Anderson and Berber have not met since recent allegations broke out.

Both RCC and the Orange Coast College teams wore shirts with the statements: “Equality in Women’s Sports” and “We

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

DAESHA GEAR | VIEWPOINTS

Riverside City College women’s basketball team groups in unison as Tigers come short to Orange Coast in final regularseason home game. 66-64 deserve to be here.” Many spectators also wore the shirts.

“It was really empowering to see the support of our fans, our community, you know, even of our opposing team,” Lau said.

“We just felt this overwhelming support on this really important issue because it affects women everywhere, not just our team, not just other teams.”

Anderson attended the women’s final game.

“For me to see the teamwork, to see them caring about each other and supporting each other,” Anderson said. “That is why I’m in this because they care about each other, this college cares about them, their coaches care about them, and

that’s how we create success here at Riverside City College.”

Riverside native and basketball legend Cheryl Miller was also in Wheelock Gym. She is a Hall of Famer, coach, sportscaster and sideline reporter.

Miller wore the same T-shirt as the student athletes in solidarity.

“Well, basically, what it means is that we should have equity,” Miller said. “Here, we should be equal, you know? Men, women, whatever, but women want equality, and so that’s what we’re fighting for, and we’re still fighting.”

The team is fighting for equality and more accessibility to the weight room it shares with male athletes.

DARLENE-BUKELOW BURTON | VIEWPOINTS

From left: Trustee Mary Figueroa, Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac, President Bill Hedrick and Vice President Jose Alcala vote to end the mask and booster mandate March 15. The two trustees on the left supported continued full caution by wearing masks and getting booster shots.

MANDATE from page 1 would be required to wear masks.

As of March 10, Riverside County is within the CDC’s “low” category, which only requires vaccinations and COVID-19 tests when symptoms are present.

“I’m glad we are taking this particular direction that doesn’t totally allow those individuals … to feel like we don’t have any kind of protection after this,” trustee Mary Figueroa said. “We are allowing those individuals, who know based on their own personal issues, that they need to wear the

mask to still continue to be as safe as possible.”

Isaac noted that the district’s decision is in line with the state’s March 11 update to its K-12 masking mandate, which allows students to enter class without a face covering for the first time in two years.

The chancellor expects this alignment to increase district enrollment.

Vice President Jose Alcala, added that he would like the community to respect one another’s choices when it comes to mask wearing.

“I always have to chuckle

when reminding adults how to hopefully behave,” Alcala said.

“With this happening, I hope folks do respect one another’s choice … and just leave it like that.”

This update comes after the Board approved a booster mandate Jan. 18, requiring all students, classified staff and faculty to receive a booster shot and upload proof to the CLEARED4 system to enter district facilities.

The Board initially passed its vaccine and mask mandate Aug. 10 before the district reopened its campuses to the community after being closed for almost two years.

There are many cybersecurity vulnerabilities present within the Riverside Community College District that leaves personal devices open to attacks due to the past two years of distance education.

Susanne Ma, director of I n f o r m a t i o n s Te c h n o l o g y, infrastructure and systems, gave a presentation March 7 on the importance of cybersecurity within RCCD. “The tactics (of hackers) attacking servers has shifted to individual devices,” Ma said.

“Many colleges have been hit with server shutdowns due to a ransomware attacks recently.”

The presentation began by explaining why internet security is important and how it has evolved since its early roots in the late 1900s.

Hackers originally were focused on attacking corporations or groups of people, but with the onset of the ‘Digital Age,’ individual devices have become a more popular form of attack.

Ma elaborated the leading factor behind this shift is the onset of the global pandemic that forced many people to begin working remotely and access college databases from home on personal devices.

All a hacker would need to do is reconnaissance, preliminary survey of a given device to obtain sensitive data, via phishing, keylogging, or denial of service attacks. To combat this evolution in attacks, RCCD’s IT department has various resources available, both for faculty and students, to help in the event of a suspected attack on a device.

“We have a system that has an algorithm to break down if an email is a phishing email,” she said.

Ma hopes to minimize the amount of ‘master keys’ available to decrease the likelihood of a hacker using it for malicious intent if someone’s device is successfully hacked into.

Along with providing resources for people to utilize, the IT department has hired threat actors for the district.

These individuals specialize in finding flaws in cyber security networks, allowing RCCD to fix blatant errors and stay one step ahead of hackers.

The IT department ensures that many devices are up to date with security measures and updates.

Faculty are also provided with the ability to self-download RCCD system software without the aid of IT experts. Ma explained in an email that faculty can access vetted software through a secure central software portal.

Monthly meetings regarding cybersecurity awareness are also held to further decrease the chances of a cyberattack on the district.

Editor: Will L.G. Stephens viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com

LIFE

March 17, 2022

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Ten most popular fashion trends for 2022 ALYSSA CADENA STAFF REPORTER

In the fashion world, trends constantly change or return from the past. Models, influencers, and fashion magazines have shaped fashion today and have inspired individuals to make it their own.

Here are the top 10 essential fashion trends to incorporate into your wardrobe to give it more spice and ultimately give you more

confidence.

1: Biker Shorts Biker shorts can be paired with fitted or loose clothing to feel both comfortable and fashionable.

“You're as likely to see biker shorts under an oversized blazer with sandal heels today as paired with a matching crop top and sneakers. They’re everywhere— and they're not going anywhere.” said Halie Lesavage, “Harper’s Bazaar”.

2: Flare Leggings Flare leggings have become influential to the younger generation due to their form-fitting feel and reliability when exercising, dancing, or laying in bed all day.

They seem to have a permanent spot in the fashion world as of this moment thanks to their versatility.

3: Mini Uggs Uggs have become a necessity in women’s fashion this year after being reintroduced on TikTok.

Mini Uggs gained popularity through social media influencers rediscovering them and enforcing their return.

These boots can be worn while heading to a coffee shop or having a night out.

4: Leather Jackets Leather jackets are a must in everyone’s closet. Its strong material can endure any weather or tear. Incorporating a leather jacket with jeans and a shirt or a

ARTWORK BY ZOEY VALENZUELA

Local artists find their groove through diverse mediums ART from page 1

Dance enters Mejia’s life in the form of their large, tightknit family with gatherings every month full of home-cooked food and music. These parties truly unify all of Mejia’s family, as it’s a way for them to get together and decompress.

Music unlocks something very special for Mejia, allowing their emotions to manifest organically.

“You won’t ever see me cry, unless I hear a certain song,” Mejia said. “And then you’ll see me dance.”

Art can adhere to several interpretations, and for Cole Dallas, his art is articulated through the medium of music.

Despite classifying himself as an average third year Riverside City College anthropology student, Cal Baptist dropout, and an Inland Empire native, Dallas is so much more; and it is his ambition and passion for music that makes him one of a kind.

Dallas’ obsession began when he listened to 90’s and 2000’s rock as a child. This led him to learn

“

guitar and eventually, bass.

“It was different, which I liked, because I felt everyone played guitar so I wanted to play bass,” Dallas said. “I’ve always kinda had a weird thing, I’m a contrarian of sorts.”

It’s this contrarian personality that’s allowed him to develop success within his music world, with a hyperfixation and inspiration on unique artists.

“I guess I was pretty stubborn with what I was interested in,” Dallas said when asked to reflect on his younger self. “But if I was more open, I’d be more ahead.”

Dallas has experienced his fair share of inspirational blocks throughout his music as well.

“I’ll see other people quit and think, damn, that’s stupid to quit,” Dallas said. “I want to keep playing music, progress, meet more people, and do as many things as I can.”

Despite never meeting each other, there was a mutual understanding throughout all of them that their art is something they’ll continue to pursue, however they may choose to.

Art is something I do regularly and always has been a huge part of my life.

- Zoey Valenzuela

ARTWORK BY ZOEY VALENZUELA

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Editor: Will L.G. Stephens | viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com

Nothing in the way The story of a man who doesn’t want to live, but doesn’t know how to die WILL L.G. STEPHENS LIFE EDITOR

For a film where its main villain is a madman obsessed with leaving riddles like blood dipped breadcrumbs, the theme is without a hint of crypticness.

Here “The Batman” has succeeded where other D.C. films have failed lately — It knows its tone.

And it’s going to take you for a ride that may not be as pleasant as you like.

Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” immediately and unapologetically sucker punches you in the face with a dark, cold depiction of a city infested with corruption, refusing to pick you back up.

Unlike its predecessors, Reeves daringly incorporates the “detective” Batman persona in the film as Robert Pattinson aids Commissioner Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) in his investigation of political figures who are being picked off one by one.

It’s a bold move that is outdone by refusing to tread lightly over the mental health undertones of the man

responsible for picking off those figures.

In a time where other big studios are nervously avoiding backlash for films about certain topics, Warner Bros. clearly didn’t get that memo.

Leave it to a movie about a billionaire-vigilante dressed up in a batsuit to send a message about the current state of the world.

Even with this underlying commentary, the film still has the grit to tackle a subplot about organized crime.

The attempt would be superficial without the unrestrained presence of The Penguin played

by Colin Ferrell in one of the most convincing performances I’ve witnessed.

We have seen five actors take on the role of Batman in the last 33 years.

What’s tainted all five of those fine actors is the part where they have to pull off

playing Bruce Wayne as well.

Never have we had a version of Batman like this.

If Pattinson was exonerated of his “Twilight” days with the 2017 film “Good Time” then his performance in Reeves’ “The Batman” is his resurrection.

What interests me is movies with protagonists who clearly have their character faults on full display.

This particular Batman/Bruce Wayne is filled with them.

You might even find yourself not liking Batman. I’m certain Wayne doesn’t like himself.

In one particular scene, after a horrific murder takes place, Batman sees a little boy who is

now without a father talking to the police, just as he did as a child.

Pattinson’s eyes fill with a color of rage that, as strange as it sounds, makes for something beautiful.

I’m still having trouble deciding which portrayal of the character in this film was darker. Is it the Caped Crusader, obliterating henchmen and degenerates with his fist? Or, the reclusive prince of Gotham digging up the sins of his father?

Both nocturnal animals seek vengeance in two

worlds, where the on/off switch is getting harder to find. Because even when he’s just Bruce Wayne he’s still Batman, and when he’s Batman, he’s still Bruce Wayne.

Each of these personas collectively carries a burden of aggression they are so desperately trying to suppress, with or without a mask on. That aggression is bound to boil over at any given minute.

Some of us are looking for braindead action flicks to take us out of this complicated place called Earth, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, to the contrary, this is a 155 minute examination of a dirty world with a fine-tooth comb and clear lenses.

It’s difficult to imagine a film I’ve seen recently that had such a distinctive look separating itself from everything else coming out these days.

You’re either going to love it or hate it. But you cannot deny it takes you to a place where no Batman film has gone before.

‘Euphoria’ season two gets lost in its own fantasy

Latest developments in popular teen drama detract from show’s original attitude VIANNEY MORALES STAFF REPORTER

It would be an understatement to say that the second season of “Euphoria” performed well.

The pop culture phenomenon had many viewers and non-viewers alike yearning for the next episode every week.

It exceeded its first season in ratings, which may be attributed to the many melodramatic subplots and an increased interest in the HBO teen drama over the pandemic.

The season began with a thrilling backstory for Fezco, played by Angus Cloud, as we come to understand his family background and the origin of his drug dealing. The story shifts to the present, where the main cast reunites at a fateful East High party. With unpredictable character interactions and a brutal fist fight, the stage is set for the upcoming storylines in the season.

Somewhere between the various subplots, it becomes unclear what the show is trying to be. There were a few central plotlines that dragged on only to be resolved almost too amicably. It seemed like the showrunners tried to compensate for this with elaborate plot devices and cinematography to illustrate things that should have been straightforward.

Rue’s (Zendaya) story loses

PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO

focus, which was made evident by her growing lack of narration that initially gave the show so much personality. Amidst the provocative sequences, Rue was the guide to the show’s chaos. Her sarcasm and wit made the unsettling storylines easier to digest. The story felt lost without her.

Yes, the withering narration was likely an intentional decision to show that Rue’s state of mind was slipping as she dealt with her worsening addiction. But it would’ve been more interesting

to have her narrate while she was slipping from reality.

The show scrambles to connect everything in the finale. While it answers some questions, it also made many details irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

M o r e o v e r, t h e r e w a s a n evident gap in the season that was previously filled by Jules (Hunter Schafer) and Kat (Barbie Ferreira) in the first season. Both characters had their own episodes in the first season with riveting backstories.

During the show’s prolonged

hiatus, Jules had an additional hour-long special episode. The special featured Jules’ retelling of her problematic relationship with Rue and her identity struggles to her therapist. The audience’s perspective of Jules positively shifts as they learn that Rue’s portrayal of their relationship was not faithful.

Rather than building upon Jules’ or Kat’s character arcs, the show fixated on Nate’s and Cassie’s relationship.

This is incomprehensible as

both Kat and Jules were set up to be key characters in the first season only to be given arguably the most unappealing storylines with no redemption in the second.

The first and last episodes were the most plot-driven and every character felt as if they had a place in the story. Although the season started and ended strongly, it doesn’t negate that the episodes in between felt trivial.

The cast delivered stellar performances despite the writing, namely Zendaya.

Zendaya portrayed Rue’s withdrawal and the moments leading up to it truthfully. Even when Rue is doing everything she can to burn bridges with everyone in her life, I can’t help but sympathize and recognize her pain under the surface.

It’s hard to imagine “Euphoria” lasting longer after the season two finale. There’s heavy hinting that Rue won’t stay sober and her romance with Jules won’t be revived. We do get a sense of the other characters’ fates beyond East High.

The third season isn’t slated to release until 2024 and it’s unclear what the season will entail, especially with the show’s unpredictability.

For now, fans will have to continue the unrelenting discourse and wait patiently for the next two years.

Opinions editor: Darlene DukelowBurton

viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

OPINIONS

March 17, 2022

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DAESHA GEAR | VIEWPOINTS

Democracy at stake amidst crisis in Ukraine Vladimir Putin’s power grab brings uncertainty to other nations

DARLENE DUKELOWBURTON OPINIONS EDITOR

After a rambling hour-pluslong pre-recorded speech on television, filled with twisted history and much of Russia’s usual mythical government propaganda, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was beginning a special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24.

He never called it for what it was: another Russian invasion upon a democratic government.

Ho w does a superpower

such as Russia come to fear the smaller Ukraine? Ukraine has stood in its way of profiting. They are vulnerable with no nuclear weapons, hold free elections, and their President Volodymyr Zelensky is an exemplary leader.

Then, when Ukraine wanted to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Putin forbade it.

Putin used fake news reports and stock video on television to inform his troops and citizens that the Ukrainians were committing atrocities on Russian citizens living in the contested sectors of Ukraine.

He said of Zelensky, who is Jewish and lost part of his family in the Holocaust, that he leads this “band of drug addicts and neoNazis.” Putin has told his people this propaganda for years and reiterated it in his war speech at the start of the invasion, adding he “will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.”

The subversion of reality

Putin employs is despicable.

He uses flimsy, inflammatory tales to persuade his people to think he is entering Ukraine on a peacekeeping mission. He doesn’t just lie to the world; he lies to his fellow citizens.

To be fair to them, many Russian citizens only know what Putin and his government tell them and they only hear censored information from inside their country. There is no free press, only government-controlled news.

Putin recently closed the only two trusted Russian news agencies that air the truth because he didn’t like the unrest it caused.

Fortunately, it is common for many citizens to sneak cell phones and computers into the country to reach the internet and learn what the world sees.

Many citizens stay quiet because they fear their government’s special police, the OMON (Special Purpose Mobile Unit), and Spetsnaz.

When a different truth came out about the special military

operation, many Russian citizens took to the streets daily to protest the war despite the police. Since their police are known to be violent, the protestors are courageous to confront them, knowing they will be jail-bound for 15 years.

After the Russian forces moved forward with the invasion, they bombed every major city in Ukraine. Non-combatant citizens in the millions fled toward every free country on Ukraine’s border.

Putin ordering strikes on the radioactive meltdown site in Chernobyl was especially surprising.

Russia then turned off the power sustaining the plant, and it is now starting to leak. The threat of radioactive fallout emanating from it once more is assured.

Ukraine’s largest reactor, Zaporizhzhia, has fallen into Russia’s hands. There is fear for the safety of fifteen other online Soviet-era nuclear reactors located across the country.

We must understand that Russia

wants the immense power these sites can provide, and capturing them will cut it off from Ukraine.

For years, Russia resentfully paid billions for the leasing rights to send their gas and oil through the Russian-built pipeline running through Ukraine to deliver and sell it to Europe.

However, it is ludicrous to think that the Russian government imagines that fighting in nuclear containment fields is safe.

It is causing fires in the plants, and the control equipment is far too sensitive for this insanity. It is dimwitted and without conscience to risk poisoning half of Europe and the world for one man’s colossal ego.

I see that the Ukrainians are in an ugly situation.

A peaceful country was invaded by an enemy from its nightmares.

Putin’s Old-World ambitions will tip us all into World War III and in his ignorance, he says he’s willing to press his finger on the button.

Addiction needs to be addressed, not down played

WILLIAM L.G. STEPHENS LIFE EDITOR

Standing on the corner, licking his lips dry. He had to choose the hottest day of July to come down.

His girlfriend beside him, giving up all her free love and realizing it

wasn’t so free after all.

The couple stands relatively close to the general public but the “normies” as we like to call them, have placed a grave distance between them and the junkies.

Though to be perfectly honest, I’ve never encountered a normal person a day in my life.

We all seem so put together, working blue collar jobs, shopping at the same grocery stores, even going to the same church on Sundays.

So much so that we forget there’s another six days of the week where we don’t interact with each other.

There’s a saying in AA and in NA, that I’m going to go out on a

limb and say it is present in most addiction groups: “Get this or die.”

There comes a point where an individual can get so deep in their addiction, that death doesn’t seem all that bad considering the alternative of being clean and sober.

What the addict tends to forget is the wreckage and carnage they leave behind for their loved ones to sort through.

Addiction has been referred to as a selfish disease.

I believe that statement can be misinterpreted.

I’ve never heard that statement from six people carrying their best friend in a casket. I’ve never heard that from a mother who found her

son dead in his bed because he choked on his own vomit.

In those instances you usually just hear noises.

Noises that you will never be able to get out of your head again.

I’ve let addiction take a great deal from me but my faith that people are still compassionate was restored in my darkest hours.

The problem isn’t that people are oblivious to the fentanyl epidemic happening right in front of their faces here in the Inland Empire.

It’s that people are waiting on someone else to do something about it.

We’d be off to a good start if we treated addiction and mental

illnesses the same as we would broken bones and cancer.

It’s going to take courage. It’s going to require us to say that person’s name in our family that we refer to as “they who shall not be named.”

It means telling someone how much you love them, even if there’s a chance you may never hear it back.

I’d rather say it and never hear it back, then never be able to tell them again.

To quote Robert Wakefield in the 2000 film “Traffic”: “If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy and I don’t know how you wage war on your own family.”

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Editor: Darlene Dukelow-Burton | viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

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Editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Leo Cabral viewpointseic@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Daniel E. Hernandez viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

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

ADVERTISING MANAGER viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Matt Schoenmann Angela Burrell NEWS EDITOR Jennipher Vasquez viewpoints.news@gmail.com ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Daesha Gear SPORTS EDITOR Daniel E. Hernandez viewpoints.sports@gmail.com ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS Jesus Coronel, Jair Ramirez OPINIONS EDITOR Darlene Dukelow-Burton viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Board backtracks on booster Decision contradicts previous position The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees is now backtracking on its mask and booster mandates in week five of the semester, shortly after California’s indoor mask mandate ended.

The Board voted Jan. 18 to mandate masks and a COVID-19 booster vaccine for students, faculty and classified staff who planned to be on campus this spring.

Many rushed to receive their boosters and upload proof of vaccination to CLEARED4 by the Feb. 1 deadline — less than two weeks before the semester started.

Students were afraid they’d be dropped from courses they enrolled for weeks prior, many had to find an online substitute for the hybrid or in-person courses from which they were dropped and many others struggled to get a booster appointment in the district’s allotted time frame.

The district made students, staff and faculty go through all of that trouble just to end the booster and mask mandate just a few weeks later.

It is unfair to remove the mandates after everything the district put the college

community through.

Faculty and students have obeyed the rules set forth by the district in order to begin a return to normalcy. Many felt comfortable returning to in-person instruction due to the district’s stance on mask and booster mandates.

Now, it feels as if the district is ignoring those who have followed their rules to accommodate potential students who might have taken issue with their mandates.

The Trustees explained that their decision is in alignment with federal, state and local guidelines such as the new regulations set by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC’s new guideline suggests that communities wear masks only if there is a surge of hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

Communities with low or medium risk, like Riverside County, are not required to wear masks.

However, the March 15 decision goes against what the trustees said in the meetings prior to this vote and how safety was their first priority.

For months they enforced vaccine, mask

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and booster mandates to err on the side of caution, even enduring backlash from student populations who disagreed with the mandates.

Board members told heartfelt stories about the impact the pandemic had on the community or in their personal lives.

They made sure everyone knew that COVID-19 safety was their first priority.

Now that the trustees have voted to remove the mandates, it makes all of their heartfelt stories and the long speeches about safety completely meaningless. This latest decision is inconsistent with everything the Board has preached over the latter part of the pandemic — almost hypocritical.

The district should have stood by its mandates at least until the end of the semester. Anything less feels performative.

Their choice is disrespectful to those who have listened and respected the rules that were set.

Now that the college has relaxed its regulations, it will only be a matter of time before we begin to see an uptick of COVID-19 infections throughout the district.

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Editor: Daniel Hernandez viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

March 17, 2022

Down to the wire Tigers lose conference game in last inning XAVIER CONSTANTINO STAFF REPORTER

The Riverside City College Tigers lost to the Saddleback Bobcats 5-2 in the first game of the Orange Empire Conference on March 8.

Giancarlo Flores, freshman AUSJA NOLAN | VIEWPOINTS starting pitcher for the Tigers, took Giancarlo Flores, Riverside the mound and went on to pitch City College freshman pitcher, seven innings, facing 28 batters, throws the first pitch of the game and gave up only a run.

The teams were held up and strikes out his opponent.

offensively through four innings with most of the Tigers’ contact leading to an out. The Bobcats were struck out six times and only got on base three times.

However, it was freshman shortstop Sebastian Flores who got the Tigers the first hit of the day with a single in the top of the fifth-inning.

Freshman center fielder Julian Alvarez came up to the plate with two outs and two men on base.

He gave the Tigers their first

runs of the game with a hard hit two RBI single down the middle into the outfield grass.

The Tigers were up 2-0 after five innings.

A couple innings later, the Bobcats had a two-out rally in the seventh and gained a run back to make it 2-1.

The Bobcats rallied with two outs with the help of a couple back-to-back walks and errors.

The Tigers were down 5-2 in the ninth inning.

From football cleats to track spikes LEROY OROZCO STAFF REPORTER

Freshman wide receiver Joshua Hornsby had set his sights on running track since stepping onto campus for the first time.

He believed it could aid him in garnering more efficient skills for the upcoming 2022 football season. At the RCC Invitational meet on March 4, Hornsby put his explosive and quick athleticism on display.

From the sound of the gun firing to speeding through the finish line, all eyes were on Hornsby who finished first in his 110-meter hurdle race. With an impressive time of 14.28 seconds, Hornsby never took his foot off the gas the entire race.

“It’s a different game really,” Hornsby said when discussing the difference between the two sports.

“In track, it’s really your own lane and own race, and in football you need to be together as a team.”

Regardless of what sport he competes in, it’s safe to say Hornsby will always be a factor for his team.

As for Hornby’s football teammate, Imari Coats, he too competed in the 110-meter hurdles this past invitational meet. Coats is also a freshman, and when he’s not running on the track, he’s on the defensive line looking to sack the opposing quarterback.

Coats has been playing football almost his entire life, and when he entered high school, he decided to

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Sports Briefs RCC Alumni JC Jackson, former RCC football player, signed a 5 year $82 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Track and Field After a strong showing at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 12, the men’s and women’s track and field team will compete at the RCC Open on March 18.

Men’s Golf The RCC men’s golf beat College of the Desert with a total of 454 points March 14. They will play next at the Socal preview, an OEC neutral game, March 21.

Softball RCC lost to Long Beach City College 3-4 March 14.

Their next matchup will be March 18 against Santa Ana College.

Baseball RCC loss against Saddleback College 7-5. Baseball’s next matchup will be against Santa Ana College on March 17.

Beach Volleyball

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Riverside City College Tiger Lovewyn Don-Willies, 6, crosses the finish line and took 5th place in the men’s 100-meter with a time of 11.03 seconds March 4 at the RCC Invitational. give track a try as well. He went on to enjoy both sports throughout his high school career, so he desired to pursue both here at RCC. “It still moves as fast as football, but there’s always going to be downs, flags and injuries that slow down the ball game,” Coats said. “For track, it’s just the simple pull of the trigger and you’re off.”

The speed of both sports is completely different, but there

are things an athlete can learn in track that which may translate to another sport.

The final athlete from football, defensive back Lovewyn DonWillies, competed in the 100-meter dash.

Like his fellow teammates, he too believed he could gain a competitive edge on the gridiron by running track.

Not only that, but Don-Willies claims it’s beneficial to his body

to do new activities. That way, it can grow and adapt to new movements. “ S p e e d o b v i o u s l y, a n d athleticism. And then just doing something new for your body; switch it up a little bit,” DonWillies said.

With Don-Willies playing defensive back during the fall, opposing offenses will always have to account for his blazing speed and outstanding athleticism.

Swim and dive team shows potential MYA ALINA CASTRO STAFF REPORTER

Riverside City College women’s swim and dive team fell short of first place at the RCC Invitational and took second overall while the men’s team placed sixth.

Orange Coast College beat the Tigers by just 43 points. RCC top swimmers Valerie Juarez, Loren Loffelmacher and Pilar Lara helped the team accumulate a total of 863 points in the meet.

Coach Doug Finfrock is looking forward to seeing the team win as the team progresses through the season.

“The girls have been swimming strong, we’ve won a few meets and their times are getting better,” Finfrock said. “I like where

we’re at and I think we have the potential to have a successful season.”

Loffelmacher placed first in two of four events during the meet this past weekend. She was able to accumulate 69 points for the team and plans on working harder the rest of the season to see more successful meets.

“I hope to get first in the conference,” Loffelmacher said. “I think we have a really good shot at getting that this season.”

Loffelmacher also has expectations for herself and says that showing up to every practice and working hard will get her to where she wants to be.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS “I would like to go to state and I’d also like to get first in the women’s 200 IM and 400 IM in Swimmers take their mark as the next heat begins at the RCC Aquatics Complex on See DIVE on page 8 March 11 at the RCC Invitational.

RCC lost to San Diego City College 3-2 and beat Santa Ana College 4-1 on March 11. They face off next against Cypress College on March 18.

Women’s Tennis RCC beat Cypress College 7-2 on March 10. On March 17 They’ll face off against Saddleback College.

Men’s Tennis RCC lost to Irvine Valley College on March 15. On March 17 they will be facing Saddleback College.

All of these dates are subject to change due to To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, v i s i t t h e Vi e w p o i n t s calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org.

If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints.news@ gmail.com.

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March 17, 2022

Editor: Daniel Hernandez | viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY

An RCC swimmer practices laps while waiting for the next heat at the RCC Aquatics Complex March 11 at the RCC Invitational.

Diving into competition DIVE from Page 7 in conference,” Loffelmacher said.

With a total of 295 points, the men’s team placed sixth overall at the invitational out of 10 teams.

Freshmen Ben McCombs, Yanis Massignan, and Seth Zarn lead the team with a total of 103 points combined.

McCombs’ placed seventh place in the men’s 200 yard fly

coming in at 2 minutes and 21.07 seconds.

McCombs believes that even though the team had a slow start to the season, there’s still hope for them to see more success in later meets.

“The season started off pretty slow but because we put in a lot of practice and effort we’re making progress,” McCombs said. “Our times are improving as a team so I think we are doing well.”

A diver spins through his flips as water is flung from his body at the RCC Aquatics Complex on March 11 at the RCC Invitational.

Judges watch as a diver attempts to stick his dive at the RCC Aquatics Complex on March 11 at the RCC Invitational.

Judges relay their scores after the last dive at the RCC Aquatics Complex March 11 at the RCC Invitational.