El Paisano Newspaper Vol.68 Issue 1

Basketball loss to Mt. San Antonio college 102-74 on Wednesday, February 21st.

RIO HONDO LOWER QUAD BEAUTIFICATION

Omar Lopez @oflix_03

Rio Hondo Community College continues to make noise while in the process of making beautification renovations to its lower quad on campus. As students walk by the blocked off area many wonder what all the noise is for and what changes are going to be made to their campus.

After many weeks of speculation Rio Hondo has officially provided an answer in the form of its Vice President of finance and business Stephen M. Kibui. When asked what changes can be expected Kibui had multiple things to say regarding the new material being used, its environmental properties and benefits, and overall new design.

The turf being used has been chemical free certified from the state agency

providing a safer environment. Another bonus of said material was for it to be long lasting. The environmental benefits were mainly wildlife focused preventing any

BLACK SCHOLARS PROGRAM: EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO EXCEL

SAMANTHA MARIN

@sammarin4

The Black Scholars Program at Rio Hondo College is a support service available that is specialized for black students to make their academic journey more successful.

“The main focus of the program is to serve our black scholars here at Rio Hondo College. Our goal is to help our students achieve their academic goals”, said Azalia Gonzalez, a Student Services Assistant for the Educational

Programs

The Black

resources for Black students such as individualized counseling and interventions. The program also offers free school supplies and students are able to stop by for free food and snacks. The program also provides students with things such as meal vouchers and book vouchers to help support student aid.

“It’s based on availability

wildlife being harmed while students roam the campus allowing for both parties being safe and protected.

For the design of the new space Rio Hondo would

but if students come by, they participate, they show that they’re interested in being part of the program and they’re asking for those resources, then we will try our best to make those available to them”, said Gonzalez.

The Black Scholars Program is also focused on creating a community for students in the program. They host community events to give students a chance to get to know others in the program as well as to gain better relations with the staff. The program is hoping to open a new center for Black Scholars this summer and it will be located in LR-130.

“I think having somewhere to go, somewhere to be, a place to study, a place to ask questions, ask for resources is always a plus,” said Gonzalez. “We want them to find a place where they can feel supported in their journey through academia”.

The program, as well as other educational justice programs, goal is to make students feel more welcomed in their community so that they would want to go to different events and find somewhere they want to be.

If you are interested in joining the Black Scholars Program, you can contact them using the email blackscholars@ riohondo.edu. If you would like to visit and learn more about the program, they are currently located in the Dreamers Resource Center in LR-105.

like to show off some school spirit in the way of its school logo which will be presented the day that all construction and renovation is complete. With all these upgrades

being made to the lower quad we got a rough estimate of how much this project is costing the school. The estimate is around $182,000 with the majority of the cost going towards the manual labor while the rest is in material, pretty high price. A good spend considering the changes that will surely be appreciated by the students and faculty who constantly roam on campus.

For Kibui himself, he is excited about the renovation mainly due to the beauty that will come once the project is complete. Thinking of the school as a whole when it comes to school wide events that require using a clean environment.

“Despite the challenges with finances we want to make our campus more appealing for the students,” Stephen M. Kibui, Vice President of finance and business, said.

VISION PRO A SIGHT INTO THE FUTURE

ENRIQUE

RIVAS

@erijour74

Apple’s newest spatial computer product called the Vision Pro has become the most talked about technology product today. With the Apple Vision pro, you can either play games, watch movies, or FaceTime using your eyes, hand,and voice. Apple released the Vision Pro on February 2, 2024 in all U.S. stores and online starting at around minimum $3,499 for a 25 gigabyte Apple Vision Pro. With Apple having a spatial computer competition rivaling with Oculus Rift, it seems to have mixed reviews with Apple Vision Pro. I asked Rio Hondo College students what they think of Apple Vision Pro. “I like it, I like the concept of it. It’s a pretty big price tag on it. If I could, I would totally get it just because I use a lot of Apple products”, said Isaiah Raui, Rio Hondo College student. The mixed reviews I had seen of positive reviews of the concept behind it. You can actually see your surroundings so you don’t crash on your furniture. Negative of Apple Vision Pro reviews of the headset either being uncomfortable, motion sickness or too expensive. “I don’t like the

battery pack , it’s not wireless. You have to carry a bag, that’s the only thing I don’t like about it”, Raui said. I figured that Apple Vision Pro will have tons of motion sickness from playing games, Helen Li, Rio Hondo College, CalWorks staff says, “I have played virtual reality before, I’m not good at navigating new things”. Videos on the news or social media of people wearing the Apple Vision Pro in public at a bus stop, where it makes it seem that person looks ridiculous or kind of thinking that this is what everyone is going to wear now. “ Wearing it in public is kind of crazy, I think it should only be indoors”, said Sarah Ramiez, Rio Hondo College student. My only thoughts of the Apple Vision Pro is that it is a nice concept, I like the features of using your senses to navigate the spatial computer. “I don’t think it will fit well in society where it is an Apple product so of course everyone wants to get it, you see people wearing AirPods”, Ramirez said. To me, I wouldn’t get it, it’s not for me. However, you can book a demo of the Apple Vision Pro online by using an Apple ID account and book one to the nearest Apple store near you.

Renovation underway at Rio Hondo College in the lower quad during school hours

Omar Lopez

Samantha Marin

Justice

at Rio Hondo.

Scholars Program offers many

Men’s

REMOVAL OF UPTOWN WHITTIER TREES

STELLA RAYGOZA

@stellaraygoza05

The city of Whittier completed the final plans for the Greenleaf Promenade project, taking place within Uptown Whittier, on Dec. 12, 2023. However, concerns regarding the trees that line the streets of Uptown, have risen.

Some changes the project will bring include fixing the lighting system by replacing and adding new light fixtures, renovating the sidewalk, as well as allowing for outdoor dining to take place. Along with these differences, the renovations also cover the replacement of trees that stand in the area. According to Whittier Daily

News, “The project design calls for the removal of 108 trees along Greenleaf – 83 of which are ficus – but will be replaced with 118 new trees.” Some of the replacement trees include Evergreen Ash and Pink Trumpet Tree.

According to the Uptown Whittier Streetscape Beautification Plan of 2019, some issues with the Ficus trees that cover Uptown Whittier include “Lack of light penetration, messy fruit droppings, root damage potential, and host to pests.” stated in the Resolution No. 2019-32 Some of these concerns are being taken notice of business owners and visitors alike.

Kenny, owner of Uptown 2000, said that when he first heard about the project he believed that much improvement was going to come from it. He stated that the trees can cause the issue of mess, due to the leaves being tracked inside the store as well as the roots causing damage to the side walks. Justin Tipton, Executive Director of the Whittier Uptown Association too many people against the renovations. Just like Kenny, Tipton said that there are many problems that the trees and its roots create, especially with plumbing issues.

Ricardo and Liz Suarez

have been members of the Whittier community since 2001 and have seen the changes that have occurred within the city over time. “I think that they are a little bit overgrown. It’s great in the summer, but in the fall it’s horrible. A little shade would be nice but I do see the benefit of removing the trees or taking them down and replanting.” said Ricardo. Liz stated that “Even though I am sad that the trees are going to be taken down, I know that other trees are going to be put up instead, that is not so invasive and overtake the space so much.” Some of their concerns

lie within the cleanliness and potential lawsuits that the trees may bring. “People may slip or trip on the uneven pavement.” noted Ricardo.

Justin Tipton, Executive Director of the Whittier Uptown Association too many people against the renovations. Just like Kenny, Tipton said that there are many problems that the trees and its roots create, especially with plumbing issues.

The start of the Greenleaf project is said to start within the Fall of 2024.

CONTEMPY FILM BOB MARLEY ONE LOVE IS ONE FOR THE BOOKS

@brandon_journ1

The contemporary film

Bob Marley, one love is easily one for the books. It contains tragedy, humbleness, humor, drama, and much, much more. This movie is based on the story of how the legendary icon Bob Marley overcame adversity and helped pave the way for Reggae music. The movie starts with his peace concert in 1976 and continues to go through his life to adulthood with flashbacks from his childhood.

As an adult, Bob Marley and his wife were shot alongside his “manager”. I personally enjoyed the movie. I loved the character buildup, and I loved how he was always concerned for his country, even though he was shot for trying to bring peace. Marley did not care about his fame and money; all he wanted to do was make peace within Jamaica and to continue to be an amazing father to his kids. Don’t just take my word for it. “Well, actually, I thought the movie was really good; it’s inspirational, and it was a really good description of

history. I felt bad for him that he passed away and that we did not get to see him. I’m going to go look up more of his music now for sure, so I appreciate the movie telling me more about his life and the intricacy of what he went through,” said Charles Luscious and his wife Sunset, a movie enthusiast. As well as “I think it was a really good movie; it portrayed him as an awesome person. I did not know much about him going into the movie, but it is definitely something that I want to look more into. I really think he was a humble person,and I learned a lot about his life,” said Isabell Reyna, a movie enthusiast. If that was not enough, “I thought the movie actually portrayed the whole reason why he did his concerts very well. Also just his life, a lot of his background, the purpose of his music, and what was important to him—not just money, not money at all, just the quality of achieving people.” said Geroge Tavier, a movie enthusiast. After watching the movie and hearing the people talk about it and give their feedback on it, I can honestly say that I give this movie a solid 9/10.

BRANDON NEVAREZ

Brandon Nevarez

Robert Jimenez

Omar Lopez

INTRODUCING LEAGIE+: A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS FOR LATINO MALES AT RIO HONDO COLLEGE

MATTHEW GARCIA

@mattg05er

Walking through the familiar campus of Rio Hondo College, something new caught my eye - a flyer heralding the launch of LEGACIE+, a program that immediately piqued my curiosity. Aimed at enhancing the academic and transfer rates for Latino males and men of color, LEGACIE+ stands for Latinos Empowered, Guided, And Cultivated In Education, and it promises to be a game-changer.

The details on the flyer were intriguing. It outlined a variety of services that seemed to address some of the real challenges students face. From counselor support, transfer assistance, mentorship, to networking - it’s all there. The program even offers special field trips and conferences, opportunities that could broaden horizons and open doors to new possibilities.

I couldn’t help but be impressed by the initiative. It felt like a fresh approach to supporting a segment of the student body that could really benefit from such targeted assistance. And the fact that it’s available to both current and new students, whether they’re in the classroom or online, suggests a level of inclusivity and understanding

of different student needs.

What’s more, joining the program seems straightforward. There’s a QR code on the flyer for an ‘Interest Form’, and a dedicated email for inquiries, signaling a welcoming gesture for engagement and questions.

From what I can tell, LEGACIE+ is more than just a list of benefits. It’s a

commitment from Rio Hondo College to foster success where it’s most needed. Though I’ve only just stumbled upon this initiative, I’m already eager to see the impact it will have on our community. It’s a new chapter for the college, and I’m here for it, ready to watch it unfold and to report on the stories of transformation that will undoubtedly follow.

ELON MUSK’S SPACEX: CONTRACTING SATELLITES

VICTORIA ORTIZ

@victoriaisavirgo

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is now commissioning out satellites for military intelligence. Spacex is a contracted company that sends satellites out into space that could provide global internet through a system called Starlink.

On September 1, 2023, Musk was awarded his first confirmed contract for his Starsheild network by The Pentagon. Starshield is a military grade version

of his Starlink program that can handle secure communications and capture data for military defense use. Spacex also has the ability to try to prevent certain countries from accessing the use of Starlink through Starsheild.

Earlier this month it was reported by Business Insider that SpaceX wants to block Russia from having access to Starlink even though Musk had previously disputed that they didn’t have access to it at all.

Ukraine confirms that they are working alongside SpaceX

to stop Russia from having access and using Starlink terminals in their wars.

On Sunday, China

House Chairman, Mike Gallagher, sent a letter to Musk demanding that U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan should get access to Starsheild. Starsheild is possibly inactive, or has blocked access, in and around parts of Taiwan. Failure to provide the U.S. military with access to Starshield could breach the contract that the company has signed with the Pentagon

that requires global access to the technology. In Gallagher’s letter he states, “Indeed, the United States government has committed over $100 million of American taxpayer dollars to Starshield,” and “The promises of Starshield offer the U.S. military a strategic advantage in space and, indeed, the Pentagon is committing tens of millions of dollars over the next year for the program”.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is now contracting out satellites for military intelligence

Staff Stella Raygoza

Alexander Almendarez

Staff

Kassandra Guillen

Staff

Matthew Garcia

Staff

Christopher Villasenor

Video Editor

Manny Smith

Staff

Pedro Galvez

Staff

RIO HONDO WELCOMES THE PRIDE CENTER

Love and kindness was still in the air when the Pride Center opened its doors to students on February 15th. With love and acceptance Rio Hondo College welcomed the new Pride Center located in A-119, (right next to the bookstore).

The Pride Center is open throughout the school week from 8:30AM - 7PM with the exception of Friday’s operating hours of 8:30AM-2PM.

The Pride Center has made it its mission to provide love, safety, and acceptance to the

LGBTQIA+ community by creating this safe space for all to come and join. Students have been advocating for a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to have at Rio Hondo since the founding of the Gay Straight Alliance club. This is the first designated center at Rio Hondo where all LGBTQIA+ can come freely to rest, study, join clubs and even hold meetings.

The Pride Center provides many opportunities to connect with other students, as well as faculty, to share their life experiences and help others navigate through their own journeys. Through the pride center, students can expect

MENS BASKETBALL ENDS CONFERENCE SEASON

CHRISTIAN GRAJALES

@chris.grajales

Playing at Rio Hondo College, the Roadrunners (4-23, 1-8) played a strong defense against Mt. SAC Mounties (24-3,8-1) but closed the season out with a 10274 South Coast Conference North Division loss on Feb 21. Scoring 21 points, Dejon Brown led the Roadrunners offense with Mike Bilal close behind, the latter putting 15

to see friendly faces whose goals are to inspire inclusivity and provide acceptance to all.

The Pride Center provides many outlets and opportunities for students to express themselves while also receiving support.

Some support resources that LGBTQIA+ students can benefit from include: financial assistance, housing security, mental health support and educational assistance. The center provides access to mental health counselors as well as academic counselors that work to help boost students’ college experience.

One of the most important features that the Pride Center offers is direct access to “Cuz I Love You” meetings for pride students where students can share their life experiences and stories. The purpose of this partnership is to connect students with health and psychological services via in person and zoom meetings to inspire personal growth for students happiness and wellbeing.

At the Pride Center, students can also expect to receive a newsletter through email subscription that

will inform them about upcoming events, meeting dates, important updates and other topics revolving around the Pride Center. Overall, the Pride Center is the perfect place for all students in search of a deeper connection with like minded individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community. The opening of the center will allow students to explore their innermost true selves with the wise words of support and encouragement from their fellow peers.

points on the scoreboard.

Kenny Hunt, Pierre Daire, Isaiah Rouss, and Bryen Williams all contributed 6 points each and assisted in keeping the RoadRunners in the game. Mike led in

rebounds, grabbing 7 total while also managing 5 steals.

Rio played well in the paint, with 36 of their points being made there and grabbing 40 rebounds. The game ended with a foul by Bryant Handley

leading to a decisive 102 - 74 loss Wednesday night and closing out the Rio Hondo Roadrunners conference season with a 4-23 record.

Christian Grajales

WENDY GARCIA

Wendy Garcia

Wendy WWGarcia

Christian Grajales

Christian Grajales