Vol. 101 Issue 9 March 9, 2023

Blooming business brews

Fired baristas unite, community support prevails

MARIA ODENBAUGH OPINIONS EDITOR

The owners and employees who founded Slow Bloom Coffee Cooperative in Redlands hosted their first anniversary party March 4 to celebrate and give thanks to their patrons for their support.

During the pandemic all 54 of Augie’s Coffee employees were fired with no warning after voicing they needed better pay and support from their employer.

A group of people who share their love for coffee and serving the community created a welcoming and encouraging space for others to do the same. This was the foundation for the opening Slow Bloom Coffee.

Coffee, a cup of joe, a brew—or whatever you prefer to call it—is a sacred part of most people’s day. Morning, midday or evening coffee is always there to pick you up.

However, what’s more important than the quality of the coffee is people connecting, serving and supporting the community within that cup.

Slow Bloom hosted its one year anniversary party March 4 to

celebrate and give thanks to their patrons for their support.

“We were not getting what we needed from our employer, so we all got together and educated ourselves,” said Miranda Castaneda, Slow Bloom employee, while doing a pour-over.

After being left jobless, 15 of the fired Augie’s baristas decided to band together and open their own shop.

The coffee shop was born after only a couple of months, built on hard work and dedication.

“Everything was built from the ground up,” said Erik Lopez, an original Slow Bloom barista.

The staff credits the community with the shop’s recent success.

“Being a barista, our job is to be social, all our customers are cool,” Lopez said. “I rarely have bad interactions with our customers.”

Lopez and Castaneda agreed that the community is the reason they were able to start a successful, collective ownership of the business. The appreciation was noticeable.

They spoke about the community with gratitude.

“The community is the reason why we are even doing this, they donated to our kickstarter, (they) came to all of our pop ups,”

Castaneda said. “That is how we made the money to be here.”

It was a two-part event where the coffee shop offered its new spring collection and had multiple vendors. The line was out the door full of customers waiting to try their new spring drinks.

Slow bloom invited vintage clothing, books and vegan food vendors for the daytime event. When the sun went down, the cafe lights turned off and the disco ball turned on for the latte art throwdown. Along with Ryan Bermuda’s comedic commentary while emceeing, the event was filled with increasingly intense music as the cafe housed friendly supportive yet competitive vibes.

Bermuda said in his speech that it was important for Slow Bloom to become the establishment they are today: a completely democratic workforce where every position is elected and they each receive equal pay.

Slow Bloom workers were proud and continued to keep that energy throughout the throwdown. In the latte throwdown, a total of 24 willing baristas competed in four rounds, single elimination, where all were required to create different styles of latte art.

The small, intimate shop was

packed, shoulder to shoulder, with people standing on top of seats, dancing and cheering for each barista. Latte art throwdowns are a common competition for latte art lovers so naturally some brought their own milk pitchers.

“You know you’re a serious barista when you bring your own pitcher to the throwdown,” Bermuda chuckled to the crowd.

As each round went by, the crowd got more invested. By the last round, which was a free pour (total free range of design) everyone had their phones out closely huddled together, ready to capture the final moments of the competition.

The most intense part of the night, however, was the rush made by Paden Frye and Johnathan Revaldo to make their best latte in a sudden death round. Frye and Revaldo both poured swans as their final designs, with Frye taking second place with loud and obvious cheers from her friends.

Martin Fuetre, who is employed by Stereoscope Coffee in Newport, took home the first-place cash prize.

This event was welcoming, exciting and a great way to celebrate the coffee shop’s enormous success over the past year.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Slow Bloom Coffee Cooperative in Redlands, Calif., celebrated its one year anniversary March 4 with a party and a “Latte Throwdown” bringing in more than a dozen latte artists from all over the region to vie for best latte artist.

News Briefs

UC Riverside decrease police force

UC Riverside decreased the number of police forces to implement a new task force of behavioral health specialists known as Student Well-being, Intervention and Follow-Through, or SWIFT. To respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises. A vehicle called the SWIFT van, not a police car, will transport those students in need of mental health assistance to deescalate the situation.

County health inspectors shut down two local restaurants

On Feb. 23 the Riverside County health inspector shut down two local restaurants, Ortiz Panaderia located on Iowa Ave for cockroach and rodent infestation including no working restrooms. The franchise Cookie plug located in Moreno Valley was closed on Feb.16 due to plumbing backup and unfit wastewater disposal. Ortiz panaderia is expected to reopen on March 2, while Cookie Plug reopened on Feb. 27.

Wrong way driver crashes, killing motorist and passenger

On March 5 A sedan speeding the wrong way on California State Route 91 in Corona crashed head on with a motorist killing driver and passenger. The wrong-way driver was identified as Mathew Pineda, 24, according to a report by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.

LGBTQ+ activist event

Dana Johnson and Khalid White hosted a screening and workshop to spread awareness for the LGBTQ+ community March 2 and 3 at Riverside City College. The two-day event consisted of a documentary screening on the importance LGBTQ+ inclusion and hands-on activities explaining the different acronyms with specific definitions that define this community. The event overall was to establish a space everyone’s identity is affirmed and is a space where they can continuously embrace their originality and embrace their identity.

To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, visit the Viewpoints 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 news,viewpointsonline@ gmail.com

NEWS CRIME REPORT

Editor: Alondra Montes-Martinez & Elaina Kleven news.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

COUNTY CRIME LOG

Man Fatally shot at Lake Elsinore

On Feb. 26, deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 38000 block of Via Majorca, La Cresta. Deputies found Andrew Cisneros, 35, with gunshot wounds. According to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Department, when paramedics arrived at the scene Cisneros had succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Investigators have now identified one of the suspects to be Jose Daniel Aguilar, 29, who was then arrested on March 5, after a traffic stop. The investigation is currently on-going and no further information has been released.

Man found dead at residence

According to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, Perris Station responded to a request for a welfare check March

6. Upon arriving at the scene officials found signs of forced entry. Deputies entered the residence and located the deceased body of a 78-year-old male with signs of trauma. No other person was found in the residence or property. An investigation is underway, the victim’s identity has yet to be released.

Concentrated cannabis sold to minors through social media app called ‘Atomic Clouds’

In February, Southwest Sheriff’s Station allegedly discovered vape pens,

containing concentrated cannabis, being sold to juveniles who attend middle schools and high schools throughout Temecula and French Valley. Investigators revealed the two suspects to be Anthony Harry Mathisen, 18, and Catherine Hickisch, 18,. Mathisen and Hickisch sold concentrated cannabis and psilocybin using a social media mobile delivery service, “AtomicClouds.” On March 3 Mathisen and Hickisch were later arrested at Mathisen’s residence where they were taken to Cois M. Byrd Detention Center and charged for the distribution of marijuana to minors.

RCC CAMPUS CRIME LOG

February 7

Crime: Vandalism

Location: Evans Field

Status: There is no current status available or arrest at this time.

Summary: No further information surrounding potential arrests of the perpetrator was listed on the RCCD’s Police Department’s crime log.

February 8

Crime: Vandalism

Location: Wheelock Stadium

Status: There is no current status available or arrest at this time.

February 10

Crime: Trespassing, Burglary Tools, Felony Warrant Service, Probation

Violation

Location: Parking Lot G

Status: Booked

February 10

Crime: Trespassing, Burglary Tools, Felony Warrant Service, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Location: Parking Lot G

Status: Booked

February 13

Crime: Traffic Collision- Hit and Run

Location: Parking Structure

Status: There is no status available or arrest at this time.

February 14

Crime: Stolen Vehicle

Location: Parking Lot C

Status: There is no status available or arrest at this time.

If you feel you or others’ safety is at risk, please contact the RCCD Police Department at 951-222-8171 for non-emergency calls, and in case of emergency, call 9-1-1.

If a crime is witnessed and you wish to report to local authorities call the on-campus police at 951-222-8171 or in case of emergency call 9-1-1.

Editor: Angie Escalante life.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

Something to chew on Editors’ Eats

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO & ALONDRA MONTES MARTINEZ

While coffee is an essential part of students’ morning routine, boba has now become a staple in students’ late night study sessions. We visited five boba shops in Riverside to find the perfect spot for a late study session and tastetea boba.

Krak Boba cafe, our first stop, is the closest location to Riverside City College.

Here we tried the dragon slayer boba and the brown sugar milk tea.

The dragon slayer has a layer of dragon fruit and mango that is separated by a thick layer of a lychee blend. The bits of fruit did throw it off a bit, however the drink was still enjoyable.

The brown sugar milk tea tasted very similar to a latte but with a hint of black tea and the added element of smooth tapioca balls.

While it was a little hard to find, the next spot was Ding Tea on University Ave.

Something particularly unique about this location was the usage of golden boba, which can add some sweetness to any order.

Here the drink to try is their peach tea boba. The drink is extremely peachy and packed with ice.

The brown sugar milk tea at this location was very bland and forgettable. The boba pearls are slightly tangy which is a nice element to all of the beverages.

Boba Cafe, a very popular place in University Village, was the next stop. Alongside serving custom drinks with a wide variety of boba, the cafe also served an array of foods. What really defined them is the ability for one to purchase an XXL drink.

The specialty drink we tried here is the passion fruit boba. The passion fruit is very refreshing and made for a very pleasant balance of sweet and bitter ingredients.

This location’s version of the brown sugar milk tea is lackluster and extremely simple. It has the typical milky texture but lacks any other sort of character.

The ice in the drinks does not affect the flavor despite the mass amounts of it.

Tim Boba is a classic that all Riverside students should know about. This location attracts the college level age demographic due to its study room style decorations. This location also stands out for its ‘reward system’ that gives back to loyal customers.

The sugar cane boba was sweet with a distinctly powerful aftertaste, but this did not affect the enjoyment of it. Mt. Evermilk was not a typical brown sugar milk tea boba.

The drink is a slushie rather than a regular milk tea. The combination of warm tapioca pearls helped hold the drink together, melting it into a strong combination of sweetness. This drink is definitely aimed at those with a sweet tooth.

The last tea house we hit was Ten Ren’s Boba Cafe. It shared a similar interior layout to Boba Cafe, however this location catered to both dine-in and to-go orders. Being a midway point between RCC and UCR, they do a good job at pitching towards the college population.

When reviewing their grapefruit boba, there was a difference of opinion with one thinking it was too strong and unbalanced and the other thinking the drink was just the right amount of sweetness.

The black sugar milk tea, another twist on the brown sugar milk tea, had to be one of the most delicious drinks out of all them. The quality of the drink felt as if it was much higher than the others, with a perfect milk to tea ratio.

Overall, downtown Riverside is home to many boba shops that offer customers unique specialties and twist on fan favorites. Whether you enjoy your drink iced or blended, these spots are guaranteed to satisfy your boba appetite.

PHOTOS BY AUSJA NOLAN | VIEWPOINTS

ABOVE: A partially drank matcha milk tea with boba from Tim Boba on University Ave. in Riverside.

LEFT: A bright neon green sign hangs above the seating area at Ding Tea making it colorful and bright.

Art exhibit leaves many inspired Faculty, local artists showcase work

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

The Riverside City College Art Gallery held a reception March 2 to display faculty and local artists’ works.

The reception allowed students, RCC faculty and the community to observe and mingle with one another.

A live display of Humberto Reynoso’s piece also took place midway through the reception, with the model wearing the metal artwork.

Gallery coordinator and co-curator Matthew Luther said it is important for

students to have these kinds of exposures to art, “for students to see what their art professors do.”

He said that a significant component of holding receptions is meant to benefit aspiring artisans and students within the community.

The opportunity to mingle with others and discuss the various mediums of arts allows for student growth and inspiration.

This is further echoed by Brenda Mesillas, a studio arts major at RCC.

“(The art reception) can help motivate people to find new hobbies or even change their major,” she said.

Mesillas said the event has inspired her to eventually become part of a future art reception and mingle with fellow artists from the Inland

Empire.

“It is important to see what the faculty do in their professional careers,” Mollia Ong, a professor for the RCC art department, said. “(Art) is not just about the quality of the work, but also how different each faculty is and the different places their work would apply to.

Instructional arts specialist for the fine and performing arts department, Joey Smigh, elaborates further that the art gallery serves not only the students of RCC, but the wider IE artist community.

“The important part of being an art student is having some conception of what their professors are working on,” Smigh said. “It serves as an inspiration for some of them.”

PHOTOS BY JOHN MICHEAL GUERREO | VIEWPOINTS

The Riverside City College Art Gallery holds a reception for The Fabulous Faculty Exhibit March 2 for students, faculty and guests to observe various artworks and mingle.

ABOVE Humberto Reynoso wears his artwork "Neurasthenia" during The Fabulous Faculty Exhibit reception March 2.

BELOW A student observes various art works on the March 2 Fabulous Faculty art exhibit while enjoying food provided by the event.

Bartender mixes things up

Local business offers classes, camaraderie and cocktails

A finished cocktail is poured into

What started as an outlet on social media to show off making colorful cocktails has now become a small local business offering bartending services and mixology classes.

The mobile bar catering business, Kandy Cocktails, is owned by Riverside native Yolena Ramirez, better known as Kandy.

The business was formed shortly after the pandemic. Kandy Cocktails is a tightknit group, everyone is either family or childhood friends. Every team member has known each other for years.

Most of the team had lost their jobs and the party business was starting to gain traction again.

The business’ social media account grew popularity after they catered a wedding and posted their photos from the event. Kandy and her team were hesitant because they didn’t have bartending experience but eventually agreed to show.

Their first bartending gig was a success and they decided shortly after to start mobile bartending. Kandy and her team meet at least three times a month to experiment with new flavors.

“I think a lot of the content that we produce markets (to) the Mexican community,” Kandy said.

She added that they like to use fruits she and the team grew up eating like mango, guayaba and tamarindo with tajin as one of their main garnishes.

By popular demand, mixology classes became available because many people wanted to have these drinks but didn’t want the bartending services. Kandy jumped at the opportunity to share the craft she and her team had spent time mastering.

“We pretty much teach them fundamentals and how to make three of our signature cocktails,” Kandy said. “Our cocktail menu changes every single month … It’s a good marketing tactic to bring people back to experiment with new liquors and different cocktail flavors.”

Kandy and her team were born and raised in Riverside, they are community-based and enjoy encouraging others to engage within the community as well.

She also describes the classes as a social experiment since many different people come in alone and leave with new friends.

Kandy’s account manager, Vivian Gonzalez, handles Kandy Cocktails’ designs and marketing. Being a woman-

owned business, Gonzalez admits that their designs may come off a lot more feminine because they don’t have a dark aesthetic but she pushes to be all-inclusive.

She mentions she tries to find a balance between being modern and keeping a traditional-Mexican feel since they’re main clientele is the Latino community.

“I think we have more of a retro style. I think we do want to be a little bit more modern, but also trying to keep, like that retro feel,” Gonzalez said. “(Our style) is minimal but bold for sure.”

Kandy shares that their social media audience is about 80% women and frequently get asked if men are welcomed to their events.

“We try to be as inclusive as possible, of course, but because we are women, you know, it’s normal to gender base things,” Kandy said. “I think that our aesthetic tries to be as gender-fluid as possible, but it’s not always (viewed) like that.”

Karina Sanchez is another one of Kandy Cocktails managers. She loves trying new things and making drinks that everyone can enjoy.

“I feel like we change people’s opinions a lot like on the alcohol we use,” Sanchez said. “A lot of people come in and say, ‘Well I don’t like tequila but I’ll try it,’ ‘I don’t

like mint but I’ll try it,’ ... We make the drinks our style and we get a lot of (positive) feedback.”

Kandy Cocktails prides itself on its ability to balance flavors. They make their very own syrups using organic fruits which they say add more flavor than using artificial sugar. The mixologists said their cocktails are fruity but pack a nice kick.

“I feel like all of our cocktails have a perfect blend of alcohol and flavor,” Sanchez said. “There’s a balance, you can’t just taste more flavor, more alcohol, (it’s) just perfect.”

The team is self-taught, none of them having attended a bartending school. Everyone involved has taken experience from previous restaurant, manager and barista jobs and applied it to their craft. Each team member used resources that they already had to get permits and licenses to make Kandy Cocktails possible.

“We have a really positive environment, (we) bounce ideas back and forth really well,” Kandy said. “We’ve known each other for such a long time that it’s a really easy flow of communication for all of us working together.”

ANGIE ESCALANTE LIFE EDITOR

a Kandy Cocktail glass.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KANDY COCKTAILS

Kandy Cocktails owner, Kandy, shakes a mixed cocktail before pouring it into the glass.

Editor: Maria Odenbaugh opinions.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

Community efforts improve home school

KATHYA SAGREGO STAFF REPORTER

In the last three years parents have decided to take full responsibility for their children’s education by going the home schooling route. I home school three of my four children and I would not go back to regular public school.

After the pandemic, many parents realized how much growth our children had with a one on one teaching system. Home schooling

has grown on social media with the belief that home-schooled children lack social skills and don’t benefit from a seat based education.

However, my experience with my children has been the opposite.

My children have been able to build a community within the home school system.

We are enrolled in a public home schooling program that provides us with state funds each semester for each child. These funds make it possible to go on field trips to museums, events and aquariums.

My children are also able to do extracurricular activities such

as sports and music lessons. My toddler even takes literature in the kitchen class. I am able to buy school materials, books, but most importantly I buy curriculum for each subject.

We are not alone while taking this journey. Through the public homeschooling state program my family has an assigned teacher. She is who guides us to provide my children with the best education possible.

We meet monthly in person. She helps me cover education standards and holds me accountable for my children’s work.

Homeschooling is a full time job and I have taken full responsibility

for my childrens’ education as well as their social growth. We attend organized home school park days and events as well as organize coops to work on science projects or nature hikes.

Homeschooling is flexible. I have the opportunity to teach each child according to their needs, passions and level. I get to adapt to every child’s learning setting as well as learning through games, handson projects and reading literature as a family.

I am a believer in homeschooling because while I teach my children educational

standards, I teach them life skills. They get assigned chores and daily routines. They also help garden and learn to use tools around the home.

Home school is about routine and more than anything about being consistent.

Our daily dynamic is done through learning even when we are grocery shopping or going on a road trip as a family to learn about deserts and forests.

I am an advocate for homeschooling because this has been the best choice for my family.

We have created a safe, productive and loving educational setting.

Women motivate, achieve, educate despite obstacles

for them to take.

According to The Hechinger Report, 60% of United States college students are women. Some of those women have full time jobs, kids and a family to raise.

MARIA ODENBAUGH OPINIONS EDITOR

March is Women’s history month. It is a time to celebrate and show appreciation for the growth of a sex that has been discriminated against and shunned away, especially in education.

Being part of a generation where women are starting to take over the “man’s world” and show equality feels exciting but also worrisome. Although women are allowed to vote and have some basic human rights, there is not enough appreciation for women who value their higher education despite the sacrifices.

It’s been more than 150 years since women decided higher education was an important path

Women are able to receive an education and graduate with degrees and we owe that to the generation of women who have made sacrifices for what they believe we deserve.

The gender educational gap is closing.

I am able to value my post high school education because of women who are valuing their education no matter the sacrifices they have to make.

I did not realize this until I became a community college student.

Women of all ages, backgrounds and different stories are learning with me. Getting to know teachers and students over the past years that have children, work full time and experienced modern day sexism has motivated me immensely.

They radiate motivation for young women.

As a full time student in my twenties, who doesn’t have the same amount of responsibilities, I feel inspired by these women.

What about the young girls in primary school? We have to educate them on these women. Inspirational hard working women who shaped this nation. They need more knowledge of the important historic women who allowed their mothers, aunts and sisters to gain a degree.

Growing up there seemed to be no history lessons on specific significant women who changed the history of America. From elementary school to high school

history classes, the slave owning, sexist male figures were always taught. Having that huge gender gap in my education left me uneducated on the history of my sex.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson were all NASA “human computers” behind launching the first man into space, yet, their names are not brought up in the history of space travel as much as the male astronauts.

We need to get to a point in our school systems to have equal understanding of the accomplishments of men and women.

There is not enough representation of women who teach young students about the history of our nation.

The growth women have made in education won’t last long if young girls are not taught the history of important women in our society.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS

A young student reads about women in U.S. history at the local college library on March 8.

A young student and their mother use a tablet to study together during a home schooling session.

Education requirements should highlight historical progress

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

E ditorial

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

STAFF LIST

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jennipher Vasquez viewpointseic@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Hayden Kulick viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

DESIGN DRECTOR

Elaina Kleven

ADVERTISING MANAGER

John Michael Guerrero advertising.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

NEWS EDITOR

Alondra Montes-Martinez news.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

LIFE EDITOR

Angie Escalante life.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR

Maria Odenbaugh opinions.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Julia Goldman

SPORTS EDITOR

Peter Gibbs sports.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Jiar Ramirez

PHOTO EDITOR

Stephen Day photography.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

Safety concerns raise questions

As Riverside City College students who spend 20 plus hours a week at campus, we do not feel safe.

It’s a common concern of any student as to what will actually take place during a campus wide emergency.

Riverside Community College District Board of Trustee Mary Figueroa expressed her concerns Feb. 21 at the RCCD Board of Trustees Committee meeting.

“It’s been a while since we actually talked about active shooters, but I want to know we have a pattern and a structure and an organizational set up between our police department and our mutual aid agencies,’’ Figueroa said, as she welcomed the new RCCD police chief, Chris Cano.

She also expressed the need for communication so that all officers know their way around the campus, which they should already know.

We agree and appreciate Trustee Figueroa’s effort to establish that safety net.

It’s troubling to know that the officers might not have a sense of direction when they step on campus. How can they protect us with no knowledge of where to go?

There is also no call to action by RCC to educate their students on what to do in an active shooting emergency. The RCCD website offers informational pages on what

students should do or how to react when an active shooting occurs, however it’s vague. There needs to be an interactive way for us to learn and be prepared if something were to occur.

Another important factor to add to campus safety discussion is our vulnerability as an open campus. Doors aren’t always locked and campus police response can be unpredictable. There is no immediate force to keep violence at bay.

Even after classes are over for the day, many classrooms are still left unlocked with the ability for anyone to walk in.

There are lock blocks on some doors throughout the school but not every door has them. If this is a safety mechanism, why doesn’t every door on campus have a lock block?

These are just a few of the many questions students don’t know the answers to. We should be well informed of safety procedures without having to dig for the answers ourselves.

We can’t be blamed for having safety concerns because bomb threats, shootings and other countless acts of violence are so frequent.

In the last two years, both the University of Virginia and Michigan State University have experienced school shootings, resulting

in six deaths and seven wounded. That’s not even the worst of it.

Closed campuses such as, Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas for example, have fallen victim to mass shootings.

If this has occurred on open and closed campuses, how can we be sure that RCC is not going to be the next target?

In our newsroom we openly discuss our safety concerns and how we can keep, at least, our room safe and protect one another.

We spend early mornings and oftentimes late nights in the newsroom producing the campus newspaper. We’ve made it a point to never leave the room alone after dark, walk each other to our cars and usually keep our door locked.

Why? Because we can’t be blind to the fact that anyone, students included, can step foot on campus armed or have intentions of inciting any kind of violence.

There needs to be a clear line of communication between students and those in charge of our safety about all protocols and the plan of action if there is an active shooting of any sort that possibly threatens the campus.

We deserve to feel safe at school. We deserve to be informed without needing to inform ourselves.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the editor should be kept to 250 words or less and include contact information. Email letters to viewpointseic@ gmail.com. Viewpoints reserves the right to edit letters for space and to reject libelous or obscene letters. Letters to the editor and columns represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Viewpoints staff, Viewpoints faculty advisers, student faculty, administration or the Board of Trustees.

PRINTING SCHEDULE

Copy deadline: March 15

Photo deadline: March 15

Ad deadline: March 15

Next issue: March 23

Viewpoints is a public forum, First Amendment newspaper. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

© 2023 by the Viewpoints staff, Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. 92506-0528. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the Viewpoints editor-in-chief.

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Matthew Acosta

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

John Michael Guerrero multimedia.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

REPORTERS:

Kara Alexander

Izaiah Cerratos

Ilani Cervantes

Xavier Constantino

Jesus Coronel

Chris Diosomito

Seth Haygood

Jazmyn Hope De Jesus

Vianney Morales

Ausja Nolan

Lee Orozco

Zach Reynosa

Dalila Romero

Kathya Sagrero

Anna Silva

Lindsey Tovar

Alyssa Velasquez

FACULTY ADVISERS

Angela Burrell

Matt Schoenmann

JOURNALISM SPECIALIST

Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu

REACH US: NEWSROOM PHONE: (951)-222-8488

EMAIL: viewpointseic@gmail.com

A Riverside City College student looks at the Rave Guardian app, the school uses this method to send out mass messages to students in emergencies.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

SPORTS

Slow start ends Cinderella run

PETER GIBBS SPORTS EDITOR

All season long, the Tigers’ identity was to rely on defense and rebounding. In the third round of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs, they lost that identity while also struggling to score.

The 11-seed Riverside City College women’s basketball team fell to the 3-seed Mt. San Antonio College Mounties 66-54 in a game that saw RCC get outrebounded 48-41. In the previous two playoff games, the Tigers had won the battle on the boards.

Riverside was inexperienced coming into the playoffs, starting four freshmen against a tough Mt. SAC squad that had plenty of reps in the postseason.

“I’m proud of the way they played and how far they came,” head coach Alicia Berber said. “What went wrong is they’re freshmen, they’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Mt. SAC got numerous offensive boards and open looks in the first half which led to an early lead. Meanwhile, the Tigers

failed to make a single shot in the first quarter, scoring all their points from free throws.

The second quarter proved to be the difference, with Riverside being held to only four points.

“We came out flat, the pressure was a lot more than we expected,” freshman guard Ashley Smith said. “Maybe we weren’t prepared all the way, but once we got it going it was too little too late.”

Two of the Tigers playoff stars, freshman guard Makayla Roberts and freshman guard N’Dya Parks, struggled to find a rhythm.

“I was being double-teamed

and face-guarded,” Parks said. “I’m one of our top offensive players. It was hard to get me the ball.”

Parks was unable to score until the second half, putting Riverside in a hole early. After leading the team with 14 points in the second round, Roberts was held scoreless for the entire game.

On defense, there were multiple instances where the team seemed confused.

“We had a lot of (trouble communicating) with switching and hedging,” Parks said. “In transition you pick up who’s closest to you, which creates mismatches.

That played into their hands.”

The Tigers had used a full court press to force turnovers and score in transition throughout the regular season. That scheme wasn’t used until the second half which helped cut the lead in half and give the team hope.

“We didn’t have the bodies to keep up with a physical team like this,” Berber said. “When we did press, we got into foul trouble and were late on plays.”

Smith sparked the rally by scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter.

“In the first half, I didn’t work to get myself open,” she said. “When I did, it was too late in the fourth.”

Ultimately the comeback fell short, ending a season where the Tigers recorded 10 more wins than last year.

Riverside finishes the season with a record of 21-10 but can expect to improve even more with multiple starters returning next season.

“They have to get in the gym and practice,” Berber said. “We were a game away from being in the Elite 8. Now we keep building on it.”

Track, top thrower win on and off the field

HAYDEN KULICK MANAGING EDITOR

In a track and field meet that had Division I NCAA talent, Riverside City College still found a way to win.

At the RCC Invitational on March 3, the men’s track and field team was able to win multiple events even when faced against NCAA athletes. Track clubs and schools such as Mt. San Antonio College, Cal State San Bernardino and University of California Riverside all fell at the hand of RCC.

One big contributor for the Tigers was sophomore middle distance runner Kyle Reden who placed first in two events.

Reden has a very popular, yet difficult racing technique and in his performance in the 800-meter run he executed it to perfection. With less than a lap left, he was in last place. However with 250-meters to go, he began to kick past every runner on the track as he crossed the line in first place.

“It’s my favorite thing to do. I began to love that style of racing in high school,” Reden said. “I’m glad I get to carry that kind of racing into college.”

His performance in the 1500-meter run was very similar. With less than a lap to go he was hanging in the back before kicking

his way into second place.

Training is what Reden attributes his 1500-meter performance to.

“Honestly it’s working on strength, endurance and pacing,” Reden said. “[Coach] wants us to hit 16s’, which is going through every 100-meters in 16 seconds.”

Reden also was able to qualify for the state meet with his performance today.

“He was against running the

1500-meter, he just wanted to do the 800-meter,” head coach Jim McCarron said. “I talked him into trying the 1500-meter today and he qualified for the state meet.” Even with their best thrower having to leave early to get married, the men’s team was able to win in the throws.

Thrower Donal Aluesi not only placed first in both the hammer throw and shot put, but will also be getting married on March 4.

Editor: Peter Gibbs sports.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

Sports Briefs

Basketball

The Riverside City College men’s basketball team fell short in the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern Regional playoffs losing 94-77 to East Los Angeles College. Men’s basketball finished the season with a record of 17-13.

The Tigers women’s basketball team suffered a 66-54 defeat to Mt. San Antonio College in the third round of the CCCAA Southern Regional playoffs. RCC ended the season with a record of 21-10.

Golf

The Tigers’ golf team placed 10th at the Riverside Invitational with a score of 404 on Feb. 27.

Swimming & Diving

The men’s swimming & diving team placed 3rd at the first Orange Empire Conference meet on March 3.

The women’s swimming & diving team placed 2nd at the OEC meet #1.

Tennis

The men’s tennis team lost to Irvine Valley College 5-4 on March 7. The Tigers are 6-2 on the season.

The women’s tennis team defeated Cypress College 6-3 on March 7. RCC is 5-2 for the season.

“He had a good day today in the shot and hammer,” McCarron said. “But what’s even cooler is that he had to go home right after in order to leave to get married tomorrow.”

While the women’s team did not end up winning the meet, they still ended up having some great individual performances. Dakota Zamarripa started off the track events with a win in her first ever 3K steeplechase race. In that race she was able to beat two Division II NCAA athletes.

Freshman Adelini Pacheco also had a good day for herself, setting new personal bests in the 800-meter run and 1500-meter runs.

“A lot of hard work goes into getting better,” Pacheco said. “I hit the splits that Coach McCarron wanted me to and overall I just felt good today.”

COVID-19 made racing difficult at the end of high school for Pacheco as they were allowed minimal contact with the coaches and other athletes.

“Being here makes a big difference for me. I am surrounded by student athletes that all want to move on to a four year [university],” she said. “I have coaches now that are here all the time and are very supportive.”

The Tigers will be competing again on March 8 at the Orange Empire Conference

championship.

Baseball

RCC baseball defeated Golden West College 3-2 on March 7. The Tigers have a record of 12-4 overall on the season.

Softball

The softball team defeated Golden West College with a score of 10-2 on March 3. RCC has a record of 4-8 for the season.

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High jumper for Premire Elite, Aaron Chiong, clears the high jump bar during the RCC invitational on march 3. RCC went on to win the meet.

MATHEW ACOSTA | VIEWPOINTS

Freshman RCC guard Ashley Smith drives baseline early in the fourth quarter during the CCCAA Southern California Semi Final. Smith finished with 14 points in 39 minutes during the loss.

HAYDEN KULICK | VIEWPOINTS