Viewpoints Vol. 99 Issue 10 March 25, 2021 by RCC Viewpoints

viewpoints R

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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VOL. 99, NO. 10 MARCH 25,

2021

An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922. VISIT OUR WEBSITE VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG

Students respond to reopening plans Mixed reactions as district aims for in-person instruction BY JENNIPHER VASQUEZ STAFF REPORTER

Riverside City College students are anticipating the return to campus in the fall, while some remain apprehensive about the decision. During the Board of Trustees meeting held March 16, Riverside Community College District Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac said the campus is expected to resume all in-person classes beginning Aug. 23, the start of the fall

semester. Moreno Valley and Norco Colleges are also expecting to return to their campuses in the fall if coronavirus numbers continue to decrease. Isaac sent an email to students March 12 announcing that the three campuses will be offering face-to-face instruction starting in August, while many courses will continue to be offered in the online format to better serve everyone wanting to continue with their education. Some students have voiced

their concerns about their safety in returning to campus at full capacity. Marissa Davis, a second year student at RCC, said she is weary about the decision. But she also feels a sense of relief being able to return to campus after having to push back her graduation date. Virtual learning has not worked well for her and she prefers inperson lectures. “I’m more concerned about how things will be (on) campus when it comes to masks and social distancing,” Davis said.

“But if the vaccine is required for staff and students, that sounds fine to me. I used to be a full-time student, but ever since online classes became a thing, I only take one class a semester.” Davis added that she had originally planned to be at RCC for three years. Due to the pandemic setting her behind schedule, she will not be transferring to a university until 2023. “I wanted to drop out but I didn’t want to go through that

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS

See STUDENTS on page 4

WHAT’S INSIDE ‘Repping the transfers’

RCCD science faculty explain vaccines

Fall 2021 scheduling LIFE begins, faculty raise Former Norco student heads to Harvard concerns BY ERIK GALICIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With scheduling for the fall 2021 semester already underway, faculty across the Riverside Community College District have voiced concerns at several Board of Trustees and Academic Senate meetings. A Riverside City College email sent to faculty March 10 announced plans to return at 80% in-person instruction and 20% online instruction if pandemic conditions and government guidance allow for it. Scheduling aims to resemble what it was during the fall 2019 semester. According to Susan Mills, RCC interim vice president of Academic Affairs, scheduling work already aimed to increase face-to-face offerings prior to the email being sent. But questions began rolling in at the RCC Academic Senate meeting March 15 as instructors sought clarification on scheduling. Elisabeth Thompson-Eagle, microbiology instructor, said a return to a fall 2019 schedule poses an issue of access. “In our department, we will actually have to reduce offerings if we go 80%,” she said. “Because of the space issue for labs, doing them online means we’ve actually increased by largely our number of offerings.” Kelly Douglass, English instructor, said returning to instruction as it was in the fall of 2019 is a transitional move, not See SCHEDULING on page 3

8 New ‘Tom and Jerry’ movie underwhelms

EDITORIAL

14 RCCD ineffective in communicating reopening

INDEX

See NORCO on page 6 PHOTO COURTESY OF PIETRO ARREDONDO

Saeed Ahmad, 22, is a Norco College alumn who went on to UCLA. He was born in Pakistan and hopes to inspire minority students to reach for higher goals in education. He is now headed to Harvard Law School.

NEWS LIFE VIEWS EDITORIAL SPORTS

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March 25, 2021

News

Viewpoints triumphant at convention CBS News correspondent speaks to the future of journalism

Staff wins 15 awards including two nationals, news editor to JACC board STAFF REPORT

This story placed first in the JACC On-the-Spot News Writing Contest BY JENNIPHER VASQUEZ STAFF REPORTER

CBS News correspondent Major Garrett sees a bright future in journalism for fledgling reporters. “You’re not in the content business, you’re a journalist,” Garret said. “I am proud to be with you, I’m eager upon your graduation, even at a distance, to call you colleagues.” Garrett, who covers the White House and hosts the podcast “The Debrief,” delivered his “Journalism and Content are Antonyms” speech at the 2021 Spring National College Media Convention virtually March 16. His focus was aimed squarely on the next generation of journalists. Garrett, 58, encouraged student journalists to take their ambition into what he called a “new place of possibility.” “Each step on that journey, take with yourself one question and ask it over and over,” he said. “Am I accurate, do these facts hold up to scrutiny?” A turning point early in Garrett’s career was reporting about a 7-year-old boy who was run over and killed by a drunk driver in his neighborhood. Garrett’s editor asked him to speak to the parents of the victim the next day, but he was unsure how to approach the situation. He was young and apprehensive. “I had no feeling at all for how to talk to a mother who the day before, her child was run over by a car and killed in their own neighborhood where he was riding his bike,” Garrett said. Six months after the incident, he ran into the mother of the victim at the police department in Amarillo, Texas. After hearing heels clicking down the hallway, he heard a voice call out asking if “that was Major Garrett.” He sat and waited nervously as she was ushered into the office, where he was waiting for the police spokesperson. To his surprise, she thanked Garrett for writing the story, claiming it was one of the only sources of comfort for their family. “I let out this enormous breath that had been stuffed in my lungs, and I said ‘Thank you for saying that ma’am,’ and she walked away,” he said. That assignment taught him to push boundaries while sticking to the facts, even when driven beyond his comfort zone. “If you trust your instincts, and you deal with something that’s tough, with curiosity but also compassion, you’ll find a way if you really love this work,” Garrett said.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

Satoru Yamaki, 32, owner of Igikai Artifacts Co., showcases the origami cranes he creates as gifts for his customers while sitting at his storefront in Oceanside, California on March 17. This photo placed third in the JACC On-the-Spot Photo Contest.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Major Garrett is the chief Washington D.C. correspondent for CBS News. He delivered a keynote speech at the Spring National College Media Convention on March 19.

Viewpoints took home a total of 15 awards, including two national awards, at the Spring National College Media Convention on March 20. News Editor Cheetara Piry was also re-elected Journalism Association of Community Colleges Southern California president. The staff placed second in the Associated Collegiate Press National Best of Show for their print and online editions. Viewpoints was also awarded a JACC General Excellence Award for print. Jennipher Vasquez, staff reporter, placed first in the On-the-Spot News Writing Contest for her coverage of a keynote speech by CBS News correspondent Major Garrett on March 19. She said she worked on her story through the night after losing her cousin the same day and thanked adviser Matt Schoenmann for his encouragement. “I was completely taken aback when I saw my name on the screen as they announced first place,” she said. “I put a lot of hard work into all of my writing, so seeing it pay off and being recognized for it was such an honor.” Alyssa Aldrete, Life editor, placed first in Critical Review for her coverage of a virtual concert by rock band August Burns Red last fall. Aldrete lost her father a few years back, who was the biggest supporter of her pursuit of journalism, and stepped away from Viewpoints for some time. She returned to the staff last semester. “I’m extremely grateful to be recognized among my peers for just doing something I love,” Aldrete said. “Although just getting the opportunity to write has been rewarding on its own, winning this award has reaffirmed that I’m doing what I was meant to do.” Daniel Hernandez, Multimedia editor, placed first in Video Journalism for his coverage of a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Riverside last summer. He also placed third in the On-the-Spot Photography Contest. “It feels incredible,” he said. “Everything I’ve been taught at RCC and at Viewpoints is paying off. Thanks to (Schoenmann) for motivating me and being up at 2 a.m. showing me how to edit that video.” Joyce Nugent, former staff reporter, placed first in Photo Story Essay for her coverage of the Snow Fire in the Palm Springs area last September. Photo Editor Angel Peña placed second in the On-the-Spot News Judgment and Layout Contest and received an honorable mention in Feature Photo. Managing Editor Leo Cabral placed fourth in Informational Graphic. Erik Galicia, editor-in-chief, placed third in Video Journalism for his coverage of homelessness in Riverside. He also placed fourth in the On-the-Spot News Writing Contest and received an honorable mention in Editorial Writing. Dani Rebolledo, former illustrator, received an honorable mention in the Editorial Cartoon category.

March 25, 2021

News

Sheriff, DA hold town hall Argue against proposed state amendment BY JESSICA LOPEZ STAFF REPORTER

The Riverside County Sheriff and District Attorney argued against their perceptions of the current state of criminal justice reform March 11. The virtual Conservative Republican Town Hall, hosted by Town Hall Central and the East Valley Republican Women Federated, discussed a California constitutional amendment introduced by State Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager, D-Los Angeles, as well as issues with defunding the police. The amendment introduced in December, known as ACA 3, seeks to remove the exception of slavery and involuntary servitude to be used as punishment for crime. A similar proposal passed through Tennessee’s State Senate on March 16, with only four republican votes in opposition. Over 200 people attended the virtual meeting, anchored by radio personality Don Dix. He drew from outside sources regarding the proposal’s intent, offering videos of inmates charged with gang-related murders praising the new Los Angeles District Attorney’s “soft-on-crime legislation.” Dix presented a website that seemingly sponsored the antislavery amendment. “This movement appears to want to actually get inmates paid a minimum wage and then, eventually, based on articles that we’re reading from the Communist Party USA website ... to get these inmates unionized,” Dix said. The amendment, however, has no known ties to the Communist Party. Kamlager presented details about the bill in early March at a news conference. Kamlager said it exclusively focuses on removing all vestiges of slavery from the California Constitution. Sheriff Chad Bianco argued

against the proposed amendment and the growth of police reform movements in the past year. “With ACA 3, you have to go back to what I said earlier,” he said. “There is absolutely nothing that will ever pass our current legislature that is going to benefit public safety, really even benefit the public. There is a momentum of everything for an inmate.” He said the amendment is an act to defund the police and there is absolutely no way he would pay a criminal to work. According to Bianco, inmate work programs currently take $45,000 annually from the Sheriff’s Department budget. He remarked that if this number were to increase, it would mean reducing the amount of officers out on patrol. District Attorney Mike Hestrin expressed similar concerns regarding the possible amendment, dismissing its intent altogether. “The idea that you would equate incarceration with involuntary servitude or slavery to me is problematic,” Hestrin said. “They’re totally different. Incarceration that’s ordered by a judge as a just punishment, after a trial where the defendant’s constitutional rights have been protected, that’s not the same as involuntary servitude or slavery. And so equating those things, I think, is dangerous.” Both guest speakers were listed with their official state titles on the advertisement for the meeting. Avalon Edwards, policy fellow for Starting Over Inc., the Riverside chapter for All of Us or None, argued that may have violated the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act is a law that places limitations on federal, state and local government employees on participation in political events while on duty. Edwards argued in an email that Bianco and Hestrin failed to present as private citizens and separate from their line of work, often directly relaying on-duty experiences.

one that acknowledges lessons learned during the pandemic. Instructors found that some classes work well online while teaching them throughout the pandemic, she added. “It would be a lost opportunity to not grow from what we’ve learned,” she said. Concerns continued during the public comment section at the Board of Trustees meeting March 16, as Norco College instructors asked the district to reconsider its campus reopening plans. “I can’t believe this decision is being made without consulting instructors or students,” Norco

College English instructor Jessica Dobson said in writing. “I am disappointed by the lack of forward thinking. What we have been through is an opportunity for growth and this attempt to return to normal is ignoring this opportunity for innovation and equity.” Wo l d e - A b I s a a c , R C C D chancellor, argued during the board meeting that online instruction over the past year has negatively impacted access to education and that without an attempt to return to normalcy, the district will have trouble pulling itself out of its current enrollment decline. RCCD enrollment has declined continuously since the fall 2020 semester, reaching double digit declines for the first time in the

NEWS BRIEFS ASRCC Elections The Associated Students of Riverside City College will be holding elections this semester for leadership positions to begin after the spring term. ASRCC is asking students who are interested to contact them for information on what positions will become available and what responsibilities those posts hold. Email the ASRCC Public Relations Council at asrccpr@ gmail.com or contact them through Instagram @ASRCC for more information.

Talk To A Nurse

To p : R i v e r s i d e County Sheriff Chad Bianco speaks at a news conference at t h e S h e r i f f ’s Department Building on Dec. 21. LEFT: Riverside Count y Distric t Attorney Mike Hestrin speaks at a Blue Lives Matter rally outside the Historic Courthouse in downtown Riverside on Sept. 12. Th e t wo s p o k e at a virtual town hall March 16 and presented their ideas on criminal justice reform to attendees. Erik Galicia | Viewpoints

District instructors criticize fall 2021 scheduling SCHEDULING from page 1

district’s history. As of March 16, RCC was 14.2% below its target enrollment, while Norco and Moreno Valley Colleges were 22% and 32.6% below their targets, respectively. The district, 60% of which is Hispanic and 70% of which relies on the Board of Governors fee waiver, was 20.4% below its target. “It is clear that our poor and needy students who need access to education most are disproportionately affected,” Isaac said. The district’s budget is generated through apportionment of the full-time equivalency students RCCD produces. If the enrollment decline is

not handled immediately, it could result in a more than 20% loss of revenue for the district, Isaac added. “The implication of that to the fiscal health of the district cannot be viewed slightly,” he said. “Its consequences would certainly be grave.” Administrators advised that current return plans are aspirational but are not set in stone. Should pandemic conditions warrant it, Mills said the district is capable of shifting toward a more online schedule, as it did when campuses closed in March 2020. Fall schedules will be finalized May 7 and posted online May 17. Priority registration will begin June 1 for the fall 2021 term.

Riverside City College is still offering mental health services “Tele-Health” and “ Te l e - M e n t a l H e a l t h ” confidential appointments by phone or on Zoom. To make an appointment or talk to a nurse about medical concerns, or healthcare resources, call 951-222-8151. Calls are answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Local Vaccinations A new COVID-19 vaccination site has opened up in Riverside County at the Moreno Valley Mall. Officials said they expect to vaccinate thousands of people a day. In order to receive the vaccine, you must be eligible. To check for eligibility, visit www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19Vaccine-with-Registration

Fall Survey Riverside City College sent texts out to students with a survey intended to gather input about its plans to return to inperson instruction during the fall 2021 semester. The survey asks what type of modality students prefer in virtual learning. It also asks students for the likelihood that they will register for on-campus courses that follow COVID-19 safety guidelines and online courses. To access the survey, visit https://bit.ly/2Ppj1PD.

Corrections In our previous issue, we said an election is coming up for the Ward 3 Riverside City Council seat. The election will actually be held for the Ward 2 City Council seat. In that issue, we also referred to a Ward 2 candidate as Aram Ayan. His name is actually Aram Ayra.

March 25, 2021

News

Students optimistic, concerned about returning STUDENTS from page 1 whole process again,” she said. “So I stayed enrolled but did the bare minimum and have waited until in-person lectures are back.” Other students expressed their need for the choice between online and face-to-face classes to remain open. RCC student Emma Hillig said she is slightly apprehensive about the return to campus, especially because those that are out of work, considered non-essential workers and the non-disabled population are at the bottom of the hierarchy for receiving vaccines. “It’s great to have campus open up, don’t get me wrong,” Hillig said. “I can do some online, but in a lab heavy course it would not be beneficial if I can’t work hands on.” Hillig also commented on the possibility of vaccines being a requirement for faculty and staff returning to campus, saying that if the campus cannot provide adequate resources to be vaccinated, she may have to take a full term break. The campus overall has been very helpful in accommodating her needs through virtual learning, she continued. “I think they did a great job in accommodation,” Hillig said. “In fact, I’d say I’ve talked to a counselor more now than I ever did prior, because it was easy enough to do.” She also said RCC instructors have managed the pandemic well. “Special thanks to Skip Berry,” Hillig said. “He’s been one of my professors since I started at RCC in 2019 and has been such a supportive instructor.” Another student, Celia Sanchez, also said access to counselors has become easier after transitioning to virtual learning, but is excited to return to campus and hopeful to have the option to keep certain classes online. “I don’t think I feel comfortable going back to campus at 100%, but there are a few classes I would learn more from if they’re in-person, especially math.” Sanchez said. “Although, I do miss that interaction with other students in and outside of class.” Sanchez is hopeful that counselors continue to be easier to contact once the campus reopens because they have been helpful in providing and connecting her to resources for tutoring and financial resources. RCC plans on having all campus resources operating in-person, including the library, academic support, food services and all other student services.

ILLUSTRATION BY LEO CABRAL | VIEWPOINTS

WiCyS is the only all-women’s club at Riverside City College created to empower women in a male-dominated profession.

Club calls for more women’s recognition BY ISABEL WHITSETT STAFF REPORTER

The Women in Cybersecurity Club at Riverside City College, also known as WiCyS, stepped forward to share its perspective on equality for women in honor of Women’s History Month. Saem Lee, president of WiCyS Student Chapter, shared her experience at RCC. “Our campus is very welcoming and is a place for all to learn and get involved,” she said. “It’s so nice to have a club with other women who are just as passionate about cybersecurity as I am — where we all uplift and help each other. It’s a very positive atmosphere.” WiCyS was established in 2012 with help from the National

Science Foundation grant and was created to propel women to achieve success in their chosen career paths. The Student Chapter at RCC and other colleges alike aims to recruit and advance women in the cybersecurity field. Computer science is relatively broad, therefore, incorporating a cybersecurity club at RCC specifically for women, aids in the success of women in a field where men are the majority. The ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Report states that men outnumber women 3 to 1 in the profession. As of 2019, women made up 24% of the workforce, as compared to 2017, when only 11% in the career were women. Although women are on the rise in the field, they still

face compensation issues in comparison to their male counterparts, at a 12% gap. The club, dedicated to w o m e n ’s a d v a n c e m e n t i n cybersecurity came to be at RCC due to the field being maledominated. Emily Hillig, an autistic member of WiCyS, shed some light on the subject. “Despite the name, WiCyS is not exclusive to just women,” she said. “The fundamental ideology for WiCyS is to uplift and empower women in cybersecurity. If you believe in the mission to recruit, retain, and advance the position of women in cybersecurity, you are welcome here.” Hillig went on to mention the club’s adviser, Skip Berry, acknowledging how great of an

addition to the club he is. “Our club adviser is so great to have on our team,” Hillig said. “His insight is always welcomed, very helpful and appreciated. Even though our title is specific to gender, we aren’t opposed to hearing what he has to say since his credentials are recognized.” WiCyS is the only club specifically for women at RCC, however, Hillig believes its creation provides a good incentive for more women’s clubs to form at this institution. “I think RCC has done well with incorporating this club,” Hillig said. “Seeing more clubs for women form for majors with more male-dominating statistics would also be a good thing. I believe WiCyS has started the path towards having more of them.”

RCCD science instructors discuss COVID-19 vaccines BY HOLLAND SNIPES STAFF REPORTER

Does anyone you know believe the COVID-19 vaccine works by changing a recipient’s DNA? As vaccinations roll out, a Zoom conference March 19 featuring Riverside Community College District faculty aimed to educate and dispel such myths. The event, hosted by the Riverside City College STEM Engagement Center, featured guest speakers with scientific backgrounds from the district’s three campuses. The meeting began with a brief true or false quiz about common misconceptions students or their families might have, such as vaccines causing autism. It aimed to tackle those ideas through a detailed discussion of the virus and vaccination. Lisa Thompson-Eagle, microbiologist and Riverside City College instructor, explained the history of pandemics and that they are not new. “Increasing civilization

advancements created new problems,” Thompson-Eagle said. She said the growth of the human population and gathering of people through new forms of transportation allowed for diseases to spread quicker, leading to pandemics like the current one. Thompson-Eagle’s prime example in explaining vaccines was the history of the importance of the smallpox vaccine to the world. She explained the severity of the illness and provided graphic images of the consequences of an infection. Monica Gutierrez, a Norco College biology instructor and biochemist, explained the general biological functions of viruses, as well as COVID-19 and its origins. She explained that coronaviruses are not new. The presentation mentioned that coronaviruses have “been around for 10,000 years in birds and bats.” She gave the examples of the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 in Asia and the 2012 MERS-CoV in the Middle East.

Gutierrez noted that the COVID-19 virus can be mild for many and fatal to others. The virus affects everyone differently based on their immune systems and any preexisting conditions they may have, and around 10% of those infected have long term consequences after their infection. “An uncontrolled viral infection leads to an inflammatory response and then lung damage and destruction,” Gutierrez said. Jeffrey Julius, a microbiology instructor at Moreno Valley College, explained the differences between the current vaccines available. He discussed what is in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as well as the development of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA, which passes on instructions to our cells on how to create a “spike protein.” Cells recognize that this protein does not belong and, when the body is exposed to COVID-19 in the future, it will have already started creating

protective antibodies. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is an adenovirus vectored one, meaning it uses the common cold and a gene specific to COVID-19 as a vector to make cells recognize the virus and build spike proteins. Julius then explained the concepts of herd immunity and how mutations can run rampant if the disease is allowed to spread uncontrolled, stressing the importance of vaccines during his entire segment. Henry Peel, a Cal Poly Pomona microbiology student and virus-virology researcher, went through the three phases of vaccine trials and provided data on the effectiveness of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines by Phase 3, 94.1% and 95%, respectively. He concluded with data on the outlook of COVID-19 variants that have appeared, adding that Moderna has already started on an updated vaccine for variants, similar to how the flu vaccine is updated every year. More information can be found at www.cdc.gov.

March 25, 2021

LIFE

“Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.” -

Kamala

harris

Norco College grad goes Ivy League

Corona native accepts invitation to Harvard Law School BY BIANCA MACIAS

STAFF REPORTER

If you’ve ever felt the dreams you possess are out of your reach as a Community College student, or as a student from a minority group, Saeed Ahmad’s heartening story just debunked any theory that suggested your doubts. Ahmad, 22, was born into a proud Pakistani lineage and speaks his native language of Urdu as well as English. His mother’s side of the family is from Lahore, Pakistan, while his father, who attended Riverside City College for some time, is from Karachi, Pakistan, where Ahmad was born. He immigrated to the United States at a very young age and grew up in Corona. With three associate degrees from Norco College, a bachelor in psychology from UCLA and an acceptance letter to Harvard Law School, he was actually the first in his family to academically achieve beyond the Community College level. His toughest challenges stemmed from the arduous times that are attached to adolescence. “Everybody goes through this,” he said. “Middle school and high school can be some of the toughest times while growing up, whether that’s due to bullying, name calling or hanging out with the wrong people.” Lacking a crowd of likeminded individuals left Ahmad less goal-oriented and unfocused. He juggled bad company with academics and high school wrestling, but admitted he had no concrete goals at the time. “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re never going to get there,” Ahmad said, admiring a quote he had seen in the past. Ahmad grew from these challenges once he joined the mock trial team at Centennial High School in Corona. That was when he found an interest in law and realized his grades were not up to par for what he wanted out of his future. Despite his challenges, he disregarded any doubt that teachers and peers expressed about the Community College route when it came to pursuing law. “One of my high school teachers said that ‘it makes sense that you’re going to Community College because you don’t have any goals, extracurriculars or aspirations,’ and I wanted to prove this man wrong,” Ahmad said. He sought his dream by taking the high school equivalency exam as a junior so that he could enroll at Norco College. He was on a mission to prove his doubters wrong, but also to

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIETRO ARREDONDO

Saeed Ahmad poses in a Harvard University T-shirt. Despite doubts from some instructors during his high school career, the 22-year-old succeeded at Norco College and UCLA, and now holds an acceptance letter to the Harvard Law Program. Although unsure about his post-Harvard goals, he aims to be a lawyer. make a statement for Muslim and Pakistani people. Ahmad searched for an idol in his field that he could demographically identify with, but found he would need to be the role model for Muslim and Pakistani people. This awareness fueled him in creating representation for his people in a highly competitive field. While at Norco College, Ahmad effectively leveraged the semester’s worth of AP credits

he earned in high school. He was able to balance extracurricular activities with his academics, an opportunity he found worthy of capitalizing on. As a former student ambassador, Honors Program member and appointed president of the Pre-Law Society, he emphasized the importance of networking and extracurricular activities. Ahmad also highlighted that the small class sizes at Norco College made it easier to network. Ahmad said Khalil Andacheh,

a Norco College sociology instructor, was especially resourceful. They remain in touch. Ahmad encouraged students to build genuine relationships with instructors by taking advantage of office hours. Being president of the PreLaw Society at Norco College helped him develop his base through the use of LinkedIn. He learned marketing and networking skills through this program as “that guy” marketing student organizations through

flyers, emails and word of mouth. He became president of the Pre-Law Society at UCLA as well. Ahmad explained that his experience at Norco inspired him to expand the niche of the pre-law program at UCLA by combining it with business, fashion, sports and entertainment to hook people into events. The transfer from Norco to UCLA brought a whole new level of competition for Ahmad. Apart from grades, student involvement was also a factor in acceptance, as was preparation for future experiences. “Do the best you can to focus on your grades because they matter, especially if you have (graduate) school aspirations,” he said. “Go to every event hosted by your college possible. Be involved everywhere you can.” Leadership is part of who Ahmad is. Aside from his PreLaw Society presidencies, he was part of Kappa Sigma’s founding father class at UCLA, a fraternity whose goal was to end the negative stigma on fraternities through positive actions. He is also a part of the Forbes Under 30 Scholars Program. Ahmad is now officially a future Harvard law student, thus fulfilling his goal of “repping the transfers.” He still has the voicemail of himself getting accepted into Harvard. “When I go to Harvard, I’m going to be rocking my Norco College T-shirt,” he said. His acceptance delighted his family and also attracted media attention. Ahmad is preparing for Harvard by gaining experience in sales at Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. He is also working on start ups, a consulting company and, most of all, networking with instructors and other incoming students. He is also focused on further improving his organization skills. Ahmad is not yet 100% sure about his post-Harvard goals, but he knows he will be a lawyer. He is passionate about fashion, law and business, and is also considering politics. One thing he knows for sure, however, is that he wants to combat every negative stigma he has faced. “Whatever I’m doing, I want to say that I served as an inspiration and a beacon of light for Pakistani-Americans, Muslims, immigrants and Community College transfer students,” he said. He also wants to “put Corona on the map.” “When you have a dream and you work toward it with all of your effort and dedication, the universe rewards you with more blessings,” Ahmad said. “Go Mustangs!”

March 25, 2021

Life

TIMOTHY LEWIS | VIEWPOINTS

Chef Robert Baradaran puts his arm around Riverside City College culinary student Eduardo Chavez in the RCC Culinary Academy kitchen March 17.

The culinary rush restarts

RCC restaurant looks forward to relaxed regulations BY TIMOTHY LEWIS STAFF REPORTER

In the heart of downtown, there is a restaurant run by Riverside City College faculty and students that not only offers an education in culinary arts, but also full-service open to the public. The RCC Culinary Academy restaurant is located on Market Street. It provides students with professional experience and offers a plethora of items, with a rotating weekly schedule. Under pre-COVID-19 circumstances, the academy provided a full-service restaurant that was open for both breakfast and lunch. However, it is now open for takeout only. Co-founding Chef Richard Gabriel of the Culinary Academy speculated that hopefully in early April the restaurant will be able to provide full services at a reduced capacity. As the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees discusses opening up campuses for in-person learning, he hopes the restaurant will be under no restrictions in the fall. Gabriel also expressed his discontent with this year ’s class size, adding that student enrollment the previous year has been tough.

“A lot of people were having to put their education on hold due to losing their jobs and had to choose between their education and their family,” he said. “Unfortunately for us and the rest of the college, people had to support their families.” Despite his worries Gabriel was optimistic. He said that student enrollment has improved greatly and that he expects a full class come April. The academy focuses primarily on “back of house” responsibilities, such as both basic and advanced preparation, cooking and cleaning techniques. The academy plans to include online courses in its curriculum, as well as full-credit and noncredit courses for those interested. Students certified at the RCC Culinary Academy can leave with the skills necessary to thrive in the food industry. Professionals often reach out to RCC, looking for qualified Culinary Academy students to work for them. Gabriel said he believes that now more than ever, there is a high demand for skilled food industry professionals. “As the industry starts to return to normal, we suspect that our students will have more than a few opportunities to work at a few places that will be restaffing their restaurants,” he said.

Gabriel and his staff are cautiously optimistic, believing that the demand for food service jobs will bring an uptick in student enrollment. First semester student Samantha Amaya said that running the restaurant is “not the same” as it was before the pandemic. Government mandates on takeout-only service have resulted in slower business at the restaurant. That hasn’t stopped Amaya, however, who has been using the internet to help bring in customers. “Right now, it’s kind of slow,” Amaya said. “What I’ve been doing is going on the Riverside subreddit to post the menu there weekly. We’ve gotten some people from it who’ve said they’ve never known this place was here.” Chef Robert Baradaran is in charge of the academy’s senior program, which focuses heavily on kitchen cooking and etiquette. He shared that students primarily learn classic French cuisine, as well as a multitude of ethnic and international dishes. Baradaran also began holding a large emphasis on food-cost consciousness and management in his junior curriculum, as this helps students prepare for the various roles they may end

TIMOTHY LEWIS | VIEWPOINTS

A Riverside City College culinary student prepares to cut into a chicken in the Culinary Academy kitchen March 17. up playing within a restaurant setting. “One thing we teach is controlling food costs,” Baradaran said. “Our prices are

very competitive in comparison to some of the neighboring businesses, but we don’t want to raise our prices as we are a learning institution.”

March 25, 2021

Life

LIFE BRIEFS SoCal Etsy Guild Market A three-day market at the Galleria at Tyler mall will feature handmade artisan vendors and artists, do-it-yourself activities, live art and more. Vendors will be located on the second floor of the mall between Forever 21 and Sephora. It will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m on March 26-27 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 28. The market takes place the fourth weekend of each month.

Eggstravaganza Drive-Thru From March 30 to April 1, local Riverside parks will hold an Easter event for children ages 12 and under. For $3, children will be able to create DIY arts & crafts, receive a holiday-themed basket and a candy bag. The event will be held from 5-8 p.m. A pre-registration is required, as no walk-ups are being permitted. For more information go to www.riversideca.gov/calendar/ event/eggstravaganza-drivethru.

Free Market The IE Really Really Free Market is being held the second Saturday of every month at Fairmount Park in Riverside. Donations of food, clothing and shoes can be dropped off near the tennis courts at the park. Those in need can pick up lunch or other donations. A healing circle will also be performed at the market. The next free market i s A p r i l 1 0 . Vi s i t @ iereallyreallyfreemarket on Instagram for more information.

Vegan Depot The Vegan Depot will be held at Corona City Park in Corona on March 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The depot hosts over 45 different vendors of everything from vegan food to clothing and other items.

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IMAGE COURTESY OF PIXABAY

‘Cat Nap’ starring Tom and Jerry Live adaptation of ‘Tom and Jerry’ falls short of expectations BY STEPHANIE ARENAS STAFF REPORTER

Longtime fans of the “Tom & Jerry” franchise have been disappointed and heartbroken. What began as a 1940s animated cartoon series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera transformed into an entire franchise of spin-offs, video games and even movies. A more recent adaptation of the two characters was the premiere of the live action film “Tom & Jerry: The Movie,” which was released Feb. 26. The movie stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Kayla Forester, a young woman who lies her way into getting a management position at the Royal Gate Hotel. During her first day at work, Jerry the mouse is found stealing

items from guests of the hotel. Kayla is then tasked with getting rid of Jerry once and for all. As a means of keeping her job, Kayla enlists the help of Tom the cat and chaos soon commences. While the idea in itself feels sort of refreshing for any “Tom & Jerry” fan, the film as a whole feels bland and absolutely boring. The actors in this film do not feel like real people. Of course, this is just a children’s film but that does not excuse the horrific performances. F o r i n s t a n c e , M o r e t z ’s character is fired from her previous job toward the beginning of the film. Any normal person would react with panic or concern, right? Well, not Moretz. Rather than the character reacting like a normal person, Moretz’s character reacts in the most dull and uncaring way possible.

It’s almost as if Moretz had no real interest in the movie and was only doing this performance for the heck of it. Speaking of her character, this movie should instead have been titled “Kayla: The Movie,” as the main focus is really on her. By the trailers, it seems as though Tom and Jerry would play a huge role in this film, however, that is not the case as they really remain in the background. It just seems ridiculous that the filmmakers would even decide to take this route for the cat and mouse duo. The audience is paying for the timeless Tom & Jerry humor, not for a character that it does not care for or know anything about. The classic “Tom & Jerry” humor is simply not there. A typical “Tom & Jerry” short or film includes the two characters battling it out in the most violent and slapstick

comedy way. In this case, the characters are simply just chasing each other for the entirety of the film. Jerry gets a good punch out of Tom in the beginning, but that’s pretty much it. Overall, “Tom & Jerry: The Movie” is a disappointing adaptation to a beloved franchise. Unless you are under the age of 12, I simply don’t see how anyone could find any real joy out of this movie. If you are really interested in watching a good “Tom & Jerry” film, then I highly recommend “Tom & Jerry: The Fast & The Furry.” This film stays true to the original characters and story. It is entertaining, unique and filled with the classic slapstick comedy formula. In my opinion, this movie is infinitely better than that other pile of garbage.

March 25, 2021

Life

MOVIE REVIEW

Disney’s new release doesn’t disappoint ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ not typical kids film, fun for adults too BY SIGIFREDO MACIAS STAFF REPORTER

Being in quarantine now for a year makes you wonder if you should really spend $29.99 to watch an animated Disney movie. And the answer is yes, if you have kids. If you don’t have kids, even better. Although not the perfect Disney movie, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is an interesting and funny film that I honestly thought was worth the buy. “Raya and the Last Dragon” is Walt Disney Pictures’ latest release. The last movie the studio released was “Frozen II,” so your kids or little family member can finally watch something else now. Caution: spoilers ahead. Directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada and Don Hall, the movie is about a girl named Raya (Kelly Marie Tran, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) who loses her dad to a plague called the drunne that hits all six people around her. Raya fights her way to find the last dragon that can help her unite the lands and save other people

IMAGE COURTESY OF DISNEY PLUS

Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” is directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada and Don Hall. It stars Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina. from being turned to stone by the plague. It’s not a typical teary-eyed Disney movie, but it is still very enjoyable. The best part of the film is seeing the different lands and people the characters meet, all of whom are affected by the plague. The different effects the plague has on children, babies and people is at the forefront of

the film. Awkwafina plays the dragon Sisu, who, funny enough, actually resembles Awkwafina. It was actually pretty cool to see that and hear Awkwafina’s voice — she was a great choice for the role. Tran proves her haters wrong with an exemplary performance in “Raya and the Last Dragon.” It is really fun and interesting to just watch the characters come

together throughout the movie. Unexpectedly, it is pretty actionpacked for a children’s film. The ending, though, was not surprising. Let’s just refrain from further spoiling and call it a typical Disney-style ending. The only issue: with all its entertainment, “Raya and the Last Dragon” should have been longer.

The story was rushed and I feel like it would’ve been better to have the story told a bit slower and more drawn out. The movie is not dumbed down and doesn’t make kids feel stupid, which many movies do nowadays. It actually teaches children and adults alike, because at the end of the day, we are still kids learning everyday.

Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ redeems DC Universe BY TYRESE BLUE STAFF REPORTER

Zack Snyder ’s “Justice League” premiered on streaming platform HBO Max on March 18, including two hours of footage not included in the film’s theatrical release. The extra scenes enhance the movie’s quality and make it a must-see version of the original. After watching and analyzing both films, I can say that the Snyder cut has surely brought about a more interesting approach, adding more depth to the characters’ story arcs. The audience now has a better understanding of the origins and motives of both the protagonists and antagonists. Throughout the Synder cut, you’ll notice both different designs and appearances of the characters and the introduction of new ones, since many of their scenes were cut from the original theatrical release. There is an immediate difference between the films at the start of the intro. The Snyder cut opens with Superman dying while screaming in agony. His scream echoes throughout the DC universe, which triggers the “mother boxes” to send signals to the aliens that Earth is vulnerable with Superman dead,

and they can retrieve the three mother boxes. For reference, the original release opens with Batman catching a burglar while already aware that the Earth will be attacked by aliens, which is more anti-climatic in comparison. The original rating for the film was PG-13, but the Synder cut was changed to an R-rating since it has a darker undertone and contains more mature content such as blood, death and strong language. In other words, more thrills for the audience. In terms of the characters that weren’t included in the original, you’ll notice Iris West, the love interest of the Flash and whose appearance also sets up some background for the standalone Flash movie coming in 2022. You’ll also notice Martian Man Hunter, an alien shapeshifter from Mars, a scientist by the name of Adam who also becomes a superhero version of himself as Captain Atom. You will see the Joker, who actually had scenes added to the film instead of being excluded like in the original. Finally, you will also get the villain Darkseid in this film. In the theatrical version, it seemed the plan to kill all life on Earth via the three mother boxes was all Steppenwolf’s idea. However, with the

IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Zack Snyder’s “Justice League” is four hours long and can be streamed on HBO Max. introduction of Darkseid, Steppenwolf seems to be actually on a mission and serving him. Steppenwolf’s new design is one of my personal favorite differences because he actually looks threatening with his razor sharp armor and a significantly larger suit, and has a deeper voice. Zack Synder’s departure from the creation of the film was initially due to the loss of his adoptive daughter, who died by suicide in March of 2017.

However, Warner Bros. Studios, who had already brought in director-producer Joss Whedon to help move the project into a less serious light, gave Whedon the OK to complete the film entirely, which led to a practically distorted version of Synder’s vision. Due to these events, the film was considered to be a failure after ultimately taking a loss of over $60 million in revenue. Overall, the Synder cut has certainly redeemed the original

film and will give the DC franchise the credit it deserves. It seems that Marvel has consistently overshadowed the DC Universe at the box office ever since Disney bought the rights to the franchise. But the anticipation over this cut shows there is still something to be excited for in this fandom. Although the Synder cut goes just over four hours in running time, the quality of this film makes it worthwhile to watch in its entirety.

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”

- Octavia Butler

Views

March 25, 2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A doctor, right, draws blood from a man as part of the “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the African American Male” in Tuskeegee, Alabama.

Black Americans’ healthcare challenges US history of medical racism leads to vaccine hesitancy for many

BY PAUL QUICK STAFF REPORTER

Some are becoming increasingly aware that African Americans are war y of the recently approved vaccines that promise to restore some sense of normalcy to their and all Americans’ lives. It is especially concerning considering how COVID-19 has ravaged our communities. Blacks often lack access to quality health care and are more likely to work in low-end jobs that are considered “essential,” but offer less protection from exposure to the virus. Is there such a thing as medical racism? Let’s look at the history of U.S. healthcare and the Black citizens of this country.

Back i n 1932 , t he U.S. Public Health Study began an experiment called the Tuskegee Study. Black men in Mason Cou nt y, Alabama who had syphilis were told they would be treated. However, the study’s actual purpose was to learn if untreated syphilis affected Black men differently than White. The entire study was based on “fake science” to determine the biological difference between Blacks and Whites. T h e gove r n m e nt n e ve r intended to provide treatment. As a result, as many as 100 men died. Hundreds of women were infected and some of the women passed the disease unto their children. You might be thinking that someone must undoubtedly have shut down such a horrific practice after a few years. No, this inhumane “study” did not end until 1972. Another infamous example is Dr. J. Marion Sims, the so-called father of modern gynecology, who performed extensive vaginal experiments on enslaved Black women without anesthesia. Medical abuse of Black people even occurred after death. Medical colleges would pay enslavers and grave robbers for Black bodies so their students

could study human anatomy. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, East Balt i more resident s would warn their children to be on the porch after dark to ensure their safety from being kidnapped for experiments at nearby Johns Hopk i ns Un iversit y. W hen dozens of Black children went missing in Atlanta, Georgia between 1979 and 1981, some in the Black community thought the CDC had abducted them. Another story well known to Black Americans is Henrietta L a ck s. L a ck s wa s a p o o r Black woman whose cancer cells were used by doctors and pharmaceutical companies for decades without her knowledge, permission or compensation. Early in the 20th century, doctor s forcibly ster ili zed women who were deemed unfit for reproduction. Of course, the majority of these women were Black. These involuntary sterilizations continued into the mid-1970s. A l t h o u g h e ve r y Bl a c k American is not aware of these atrocities, they are mindful of their own challenges in navigating health care institutions. Studies show that disparities in the medical treatment of Black patients persist to this day. They tend to be sicker and suffer

higher mortality rates than their White counterparts. New Black mothers are three times more likely to die in childbirth than White mothers. Against this backdrop of medical misconduct, we have the current administration’s earnest effort to get the message out that the vaccines are safe. Barack and Michelle Obama’s very public taking of the vaccine was undoubtedly an attempt to assuage the concerns of Black Americans. It may not be enough. A study by the Pew Research Center reveals that only 42% of Blacks say they will take the vaccine when it becomes available to them. In comparison, 60% of Whites and Hispanics indicated they would take it immediately. Perhaps not surprisingly, only about 50% of Whites who identify as conservative indicate they intend to get vaccinated. But that is a column for another day. The distrust of the medical community runs deep. Another study found that one in five African Americans avoids going to the doctor for fear of medical discrimination. Many have also pointed to the rapid development and approval of the COVID-19 vaccines as a cause for concern. It’s hard to discount these

suspicions when there is so much historical data giving validity to them. Even now, there are allegations of inequity in the distribution of the vaccine. “There has never been any period where the health of Blacks was equal to that of Whites,” H a r va r d h i s t or ia n Evely n Hammonds told the New York Times. “Disparity is built into the system.” One could argue that framing t he d ist r u st of COV I D -19 vaccines in everyday racism may i ncrea se u nder ser ved communities’ willingness to be vaccinated. Public health announcements featuring Black physicians would be beneficial. It should come as no surprise that a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) s t u d y s h owe d t h a t Bl a c k Americans are twice as likely to trust a messenger of their ethnicity than one outside of it. It should be highlighted that a Black American woman developed the Moderna vaccine, Kizzmekia Corbett. Perhaps the best way to remedy the atrocities of the past is to change the present. For many Black Americans, access is one thing. The willingness to take the vaccine is another.

March 25, 2021

Views

ELIAS CASTILLO | UNSPLASH

A crowd of people in a room holds American flags in the air. President Joe Biden’s immigration proposal may allow new citizens to wave their own flags in a few years.

Social justice requires group effort Now is the time to organize, hold new administration accountable

BY JULIO RODRIGUEZ STAFF REPORTER

With the election of President Joe Biden came a unified sigh of relief: President Donald Trump was gone. I was working my shift at a local windows company the morning it happened, alongside people from all walks of life. My coworkers lived in Perris, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Hemet and all over the surrounding area. They were single mothers whose children were home alone while they were at work and men who were the sole breadwinners of their homes.

Hope shone in their eyes when the news reports confirming Biden’s win began rolling in. One of my coworkers high-fived me and, with a look of relief, said, “we won.” The election alone felt like a real victory. But the real work has only just begun. For many around our country, specifically the most vulnerable communities of color and lowerincome communities, not very much has changed. Increased and continued community organizing is still as essential as it was under Trump. There has been so much hope and optimism. But the issues continue. Police officers continue to murder innocent people and are allowed to walk away without any repercussions. Immigrant children are entering this country in large numbers and being housed away from family and loved ones in immigration detention centers. While there is plenty to celebrate in Biden’s election and Trump’s defeat, the electoral victory can prove to be for nothing if we do not keep up momentum

in political organization and community advocacy. Biden campaigned on many promises and, granted, has started to deliver to a certain extent. He signed into law a COVID-19 relief bill March 11 that is already sending $1,400 stimulus checks to most of the country’s adults and children. Vice President Kamala Harris swore into her post the first Native American cabinet member in United States history, Deb Haaland, as Secretary of the Interior on March 18. Just a few hours later, the House of Representatives passed an immigration bill with a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and undocumented farmworkers. But the recently passed immigration bill and future proposals aiming to tackle police reform and gun policy will not become law without continued focus and engagement from all of us. There are many wonderful organizations locally and nationwide doing amazing work to advance this kind of legislation. Still, this effort will require all hands on deck and help from all of us. We must support

organizations doing good work and educate ourselves and those closest to us. That is why organizing, in the political sense, is crucial. It is crucial for the aspirations and needs of marginalized communities. The fight against a murderous criminal justice system that brutalizes and destroys communities of color must continue, as must the fight for fair taxation, better schools and equitable funding in this country. We must organize and push for policies in the best interests of ourselves and those we love. This is our moment. This is our call to get passionate. Both left and right-wing millionaire senators have proven for years that they do not listen to their constituents. They must be forced to do their jobs in support of the people they represent. These feats can be accomplished because history shows that political movements have created positive change in this country. This will happen when we talk to family members, get friends excited, attend town halls with local politicians and

get involved in local civic groups. Do something. If you care about positive change happening in your own life and in the lives of those you love, it is going to require that you stay engaged and active. Ensuring that this presidency enacts good social justice policies will require resolve. Achieving legal status for all of our undocumented family members and friends and ensuring the immigration bill passed by the House becomes law will require a relentless push. The fight for police reform through a lens that recognizes law enforcement’s history of violent racism is backed by a simple reason: Black and brown lives matter. Enough is enough of the blame game the Democratic Party plays. It has control of the House, Senate and presidency. Democrats must make things happen now. This country is due for a revolution. This revolution will be born out of love for our people and communities, not hatred of others.

New administration slows on promises President Joe Biden assures progress, many plans still up in the air

BY ELAINA KLEVEN STAFF REPORTER

As more vaccines begin rolling out, Biden has taken this

as an opportunity to show how he is making progress toward the America that he pledged to rebuild. While it is his third month of the presidency, Biden has only done 8% of what he has promised, according to Politifact. This does not include the $2,000 stimulus checks he promised, which was a significant push for his campaign. While he has spoken about his immediate plans, what won’t he do? As mentioned, Biden has signed five executive orders within the first month of his

presidency, and one just this past March 16. These include the transgender ban reversal in the military, rejoining the World Health Organization and reversing former President Donald Tr ump’s travel ban. While this seems like good progress toward his policies, will Biden still make an effort to appease the left, which helped elect him? The answer appears to be up in the air. On one hand, Biden needs to be fulfilling, hy p ot he t ic a l ly, a b out t wo campaign promises a month, which he is on track to do. That

was all in January, though, and his momentum seems to be slowing. He h a s ye t t o c on f i r m planning some of the major promises that got him elected. This includes decriminalizing marijuana, public options for health care, pulling out of affairs in Afghanistan and forgiving some student loan debt for public colleges and universities. Biden still has a 64% positive rating from Americans and could potentially be preparing to use this to his advantage to handle other affairs. As for h is presidency’s

future, he has been pushing for a uniting of the American people. But the House of Representatives and Senate seem not to be ready for that. This could also potentially hint at his plans not to fulfill some of the left-leaning campaign promises. Again, a large majority of his plans are up in the air. The only thing that seems certain is that Biden will be making more progress toward healing America of the effects of COVID-19 and pushing to repair its unity.

Views

March 25, 2021

Editorial

MUHAMMAD RIBKHAN | VIEWPOINTS A series of emails to students, staff and faculty over the past few weeks caused confusion and raised many questions among the three groups.

District messaging ineffective Questions about campus return must be answered When students, faculty and staff are expected to adapt to an online environment, open lines of communication are crucial. Language and messaging during COVID-19 must be clear and definitive. But the Riverside Community College District has blundered its messaging on the topic of the year: the return to in-person instruction. Since the start of the spring 2021 semester, the only significant message regarding COVID-19 sent to students has been the “Fall 2021 Face-to-Face Instruction” email March 12. However, that email makes no mention of what measures the district will take to protect the students, nor does it elaborate on how they came to this conclusion. The email points only to a webpage where it claims students and faculty can find the latest plans, updates and information about the safe return to campuses. In our opinion, the website is void of important promised updates and only provides antiquated information regarding the reopening. The pandemic has forced the world to become increasingly proactive with staying informed and the district’s leniency with providing up-to-date facts is unacceptable. During the spring 2020 semester, when the campus made the switch from in-person to distance learning in March, the district made a concerted effort to keep the student body informed and updated on the constant changes occurring to the college. In the beginning, the district would send emails about COVID-19 on an almost daily basis in an attempt to keep students

as informed as possible. However, by the fall 2020 semester, a major shift in their strategy of communication with students became apparent. Weekly emails became monthly emails and monthly emails became bimonthly. Then, when the spring 2021 semester began, only two updates were sent to students, one of those being the March 12 email. The email left a lot of questions unanswered. Faculty and staff have voiced their concerns at recent Board of Trustees meetings. They are the ones that students communicate with the most and, yet, they too have raised questions that go unanswered. We propose that the district hold a town hall that allows students to ask the questions that the task force has failed to provide thus far. The students have a right to know how these decisions are being made and the details of what is being looked at. The advertising for this town hall must be far reaching and the meeting should occur during a time that is accessible to as many students as possible. We understand that members of student government serve on the Safe Return Task Force, but that is not enough. Riverside City College emailed students a survey March 23, asking for input on what type of instruction they would prefer in the fall, but that is not enough for the biggest decision of the times. A survey does not allow for any sort of conversation. The students need an opportunity to voice their opinions on what their future education will look like in this district. Discourse now is invaluable.

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

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“This is my charge to everybody. Do what you can. Do what you have to do. Step outside of yourself. Be more. Be better. Be bigger than you’ve ever been before” - Megan Rapinoe

SPORTS

March 25, 2021

ERIK GALICIA | VIEWPOINTS

Damary Vargas, right, Hemet High School junior, battles a Ramona High School player for the ball March 17. Vargas helped the Bulldogs control possession for most of the game.

Hemet girls control field at Ramona BY DANIELA RAMIREZ STAFF REPORTER

Pre-season soccer has finally begun for local high schools. The Hemet High School Bulldogs took over the field on March 17 at Ramona High School with a 2-1 win over the Rams during both teams’ third game of the season. Hemet has no freshman or junior varsity team this season. All the girls who played March 17 were freshmen, sophomore or junior students. Many of them were new to the team. The majority of Hemet’s girls played the entire game, since the Bulldogs only had two substitutes. Ramona had up to 9 girls on its bench during the game. Hemet dominated possession of the ball during the first half, with 5 attempts and 1 personal foul. The team’s defense came out strong, pushing the ball forward to Ramona’s side of the field. Sierra Higgerson, a midfield junior, scored the first goal of the game in the second half with an assist by Damary Vargas. Vargas, a junior, plays as a forward but controlled the center of the field, stealing the ball from Ramona time and time again. Vargas and Higgerson said

they had never played with each other before this season. They still managed to work together in scoring the winning goals. Delayed practices have changed the way the players learn how to build chemistry with each other. “Lots of these girls never played with each other, since practices are so limited,” said Veronica Morda, head coach at Ramona. M o r d a s a i d t h e t e a m ’s chemistry is the biggest factor they need to work on before the regular season begins in April. Craig Dwinnell, head coach at Hemet, said he only has enough players to put together a varsity team. Throughout the pandemic, many of his senior players decided to get jobs and some graduated early, leaving him with a team of underclassmen. Although a young team, the Bulldogs have shown potential to be a team to look out for, as they advanced to a record of 3-0 with their win over Ramona. Dwinnell said he is very optimistic for the upcoming soccer season, but that the athletes getting better and being active is his main goal. “I’m just happy the girls are playing,” Dwinnell said. Both teams have 13 games to play.

ERIK GALICIA | VIEWPOINTS

Ramona High School players attempt to take the ball from a Hemet High School player.

Viewpoints Vol. 99 Issue 10 March 25, 2021

Articles inside

NEWS

LIFE

SPORTS

VIEWS