Viewpoints Fall 2017 issue No. 4 October 19, 2017

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ySPORTS

Football brings awareness

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yOPINIONS

Editorial: Birth control restricted

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yLIFE

#MeToo spreads across world

viewpoints An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922.

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VOL. XCVIII, NO. 4

Bill pushes for free community college SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

A b i l l s i g n e d b y G o v.

Jerry Brown Oct. 13 marks a continuance of the effort to make the first year of community college free for thousands of California students.

Assembly Bill 19 opens up the possibility that California’s community colleges will offer free tuition to all full-time firstyear students, regardless of financial need. An action that would cost the state $31 million annually.

The bill’s passing would put the “California College Promise” program in place, allowing students to apply for a waiver for their course fees.

In order to qualify for the program, students must apply for the fee waiver and commit to taking at least 12 units per semester.

A similar promise initiative has already been implemented at Riverside City College and Moreno Valley College as a nationwide response to a study done by Complete College America, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, after its results showed that the average student takes up to five years to earn a degree.

“The reality is that our system of higher education costs too much, takes too long and graduates too few,” the report said.

Those accepted into the program receive free tuition, priority registration for up to 15 units and grants for up to $250 to cover book expenses.

According to the California Community College Association, an estimate of 19,000 students would be eligible for the fee waiver

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OCTOBER 19, 2017

RCC honors Angie Gomez SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Every seat in the auditorium was filled.

The curtains were drawn, the lights shining dimly across the stage.

But the building that was usually bursting with joy and laughter was silent.

After a lifetime spent on stage, it’s only fitting that the life of Angie Gomez be celebrated and mourned in a theatre.

“I’m trying to keep my composure, but it’s kind of tough when you lose your baby,” Steve Gomez, Gomez’s father, said. I’ll never forget that phone call we got Sunday night. It changed our world … and we are still trying to grasp how to change it back.”

A lover of country music, Gomez and 57 other people were killed while attending Route 91 Harvest, a country music festival that Gome and her boyfriend, Ethan Sanchez, had been planning to attend for 10 months.

“The last few days she had on earth, she loved it,” Sanchez said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOMEZ FAMILY

Angie Gomez was killed Oct.1 while attending a country music festival in Las Vegas.

“Every single minute of it. From Friday to Sunday.”

In the immediate aftermath of Gomez’s death, Steve Gomez asked their family to describe Angie in one-word. The words

the family used to describe their loved one were ones that displayed the depth of Gomez’s loss in the tight-knit family.

Kind.

Compassionate.

a felony under current law and will be decriminalized starting in January. Supporters of the change argue that the previous law was antiquated because all donated blood is tested for HIV. The bill sponsors, Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblyman Todd Gloria argued California law was outdated and stigmatized people living with HIV, especially given recent advancements in medicine, showing that a person with HIV who undergoes regular treatment has a minimal chance of spreading the infection to others through sexual contact.

“The most effective way to reduce HIV infections is to destigmatize HIV,” Wiener said in a statement. “To make people comfortable talking about their infection, get tested, get into treatment.”

According to AidsVu, a map

put out by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that illustrates the prevalence of HIV in the nation, there 119,589 people diagnosed with HIV living in California as of 2014.

While California was shown to be in range with the CDC’s plans in areas such as increasing HIV awareness and linkage to care, the state also showed to be above the goal line of increasing HIV testing with 45.9 percent to the CDC’s 44.2 percent national goal.

Wiener said by destigmatizing HIV, the bill would encourage people to get tested, which will in turn lower HIV transmission in the state.

Sen. Jeff Stone voted against the bill and strongly expressed his disapproval in September when the Senate voted on it.

Extraordinary.

The youngest of five children, Gomez was described by her family as the “link that kept them all in place.”

I don’t want to believe that losing her really happened,” Gomez’s uncle, Paul Lujan said, “But I know that it has and I may never understand why.”

Julie Gomez talked about her daughter’s passion to entertain, recounting a story about her daughter learning at a young age that if she made funny faces, the people around her would laugh.

“She just kept doing it and they kept laughing,” Gomez said. “People asked if she liked to be the center of the room, and I would say, ‘It’s not for any personal reason of her own, for wanting the attention, she just loved making people laugh.”

Gomez took her love of entertainment to the talents of the Riverside Children’s Theater and spent her childhood doing what she loved, going on to work as a tech after graduating from the program.

“She didn’t do it for accolades, she just did it for the simple joy of entertaining other people,” Julie Gomez said.

See ANGIE on Page 2

HIV no longer charged as a felony SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Starting Jan. 1, it will no longer be a felony in California to knowingly expose a sexual partner to HIV with the intent of transmitting the virus. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Oct. 13 that lowers the offense to a misdemeanor.

The law previously punished people who intentionally exposed or infected others with HIV by up to eight years in prison. The new legislation will lower jail time to a maximum of six months.

The new law will also eliminate the penalty for k n o w i n g l y d o n a t i n g H I Vinfected blood. This action is

T h e s e n a t o r, a f o r m e r pharmacist, said three out of four people who are on prescription medication in the U.S. do not comply with their doctor’s orders on how to take it.

“If you don’t take your AIDS medications and you allow for some virus to duplicate and show a presence, then you are able to transmit that disease to an unknowing partner,” Stone said on the Senate floor.

Sen. Joel Anderson argued that people infected with HIV could never live their lives “to the same extent” again and that it was irresponsible not to disclose the possibility of a life-altering infection.

“The critical word in this is ‘intentionally,’” Anderson said in Sept.. “When you intentionally put others at risk, you should have responsibility.”

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News

October 19, 2017

California signs bill supporting sanctuary state SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

California lawmakers passed a “sanctuary state” bill to protect immigrants without legal residency in the United States on Sept. 16.

Senate Bill 54 would prevent state and local agencies from complying with any “hold requests” to detain immigrants, for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would also prohibit state and local agencies from using their facilities, property, equipment or personnel for immigration enforcement and from spending money on it.

The agencies would be barred from performing actions such as collecting information about a person’s immigration status, responding to notification or transfer requests from federal immigration agencies and arresting people based on civil immigration warrants.

The state Department of Justice would have to publish policies outlining what state and local law enforcement agencies

can and can’t do to assist federal officials.

It would also create “safe zones” for undocumented individuals by requiring all public schools, public libraries, courthouses and health facilities run by state or local government to implement those policies or “equivalent” regulations, though they would not have to be approved by the state.

The bill, which takes effect in January, has been blasted as “unconscionable” by U.S. Att. Gen. Jeff Sessions, becoming the focus of a national debate over how far states and cities can go to prevent their officers from enforcing federal immigration laws. Supporters have hailed it as part of a broader effort by majority Democrats in the California legislature to shield more than 2.3 million immigrants living illegally in the state.

Brown took the unusual step of writing a signing message in support of SB 54. He called the legislation a balanced measure that would allow police and sheriff’s agencies to continue targeting dangerous criminals, while protecting hard working families without legal residency

IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 54 Sept. 16. in the country.

Legal experts have said federal officials may try to block the law in court to keep it from being implemented. Some doubt such challenges would be successful, pointing to the 10th Amendment and previous rulings in which courts have found the federal government cannot compel local authorities to enforce federal laws.

Brown’s decision comes as local and state governments are locked in legal battles with Sessions over his move

to slash federal grant funding from “sanctuary jurisdictions,” where city and county agencies are limited when working with federal immigration officials. A Chicago federal judge largely blocked Sessions’ effort just hours before SB 54 cleared the legislature on Sept. 16.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has determined it would take a one-time cost of $2.7 million and ongoing costs of $2.3 million per year for the state to develop compliance policies, provide training and

outreach to state agencies and compile task force reports as required by Senate Bill 54.

Other federal officials also have sounded off against SB 54, suggesting illegal immigration is tied to increases in violent crime, a case that has been claimed by Trump multiple times throughout his political endeavors.

One of his earliest executive orders put cities and counties on alert that they would lose federal funding if law enforcement did not cooperate with immigration agents.

The new law will largely prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using either personnel or funds to hold, question or share information about people with federal immigration agents unless those individuals have been convicted of one or more offenses from a list of 800 crimes outlined in a 2013 state law.

Supporters of the bill are urging opponents of the bill to move away from embracing Trump’s rhetoric, which they say stereotypes immigrants as criminals, and are pointing to studies that reflect low crime rates in immigrant communities.

Ethan Sanchez: ‘Please remember who she was.’

“We’re going to honor her life every single day, for the rest of ours … You touched her life, and she touched yours,” she ended, “Thank you all.”

Angie Gomez loved the stage and participated in choir and theater events as a student at Riverside Polytechnic High School, where she graduated in 2015.

She was a “fun-loving, sweet young lady with a great sense of humor,” the Riverside Unified School District said in a statement.

“It is with deepest sadness and absolute shock that we mourn the loss of Poly Cheer Alumni, Angela Gomez,” the high school said in a statement. “Angie was a member of the Class of 2015.

She was a cheerful young lady with a warm heart and loving spirit. Angie’s life was cut short when she succumbed to injuries sustained in the Las Vegas Route 91 shooting.

This senseless act of violence has rocked our Poly Cheer and Song family.”

According to RUSD, Gomez took on a challenging course load during her time at Poly, attending honors and AP classes, doing so with a constant smile on her face.

Her English teacher and cheer coach Lupe Avila said the school was “deeply saddened by the loss of a wonderful young woman who had her whole life ahead

of her.”

In the aftermath of Gome’s death, Avila started a GoFundMe entitled the “Angie Gome Memorial Fund,” a fundraiser to assist

always look to the heavens because that it where we will find her watching over us.

“Angela has so many friends who just love and adore her,” Gomez’s mother said.

“My heart is in shambles and none of this feels real,” Veronika Maldonado, a friend of Gomez, said. “Eight years -- Wolde-ab Isaac of friendship and we had so much more to go.” “ We w e r e always a team regardless of everything going her family in making burial on in each others lives, arrangements and taking we never stopped talking, care of all the needs they every time we met again it may have in the days and was just like we saw each weeks to come. As of Oct. 18, other yesterday,” Melissa donors have given $81,890, Cerevantas, a friend of surpassing the original goal Gome. We were always a of $10,000. team.”

After graduating from Throughout the vigil, the Poly High School, Angie Gomez family also passed on went on to RCC where she their love to Ethan Sanchez, studied and received her Gomez’s boyfriend of five nursing assistant certificate years. and was waiting to get into Ethan Sanchez was with the nursing program, so that Gomez the night that she she could accomplish her and 57 other people were goal of becoming a licensed killed while attending Route vocational nurse and to later 91 Harvest, a country music earn her Bachelor of Science festival that the couple had in Nursing. been planning to attend for “She was one of us,” 10 months. college president Wolde“She was not a news story. ab Isaac said. “When we She was not a cheerleader. remember her, we should She was an aunt, she was a

“

“She was one of us. ”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOMEZ FAMILY

Described as a natural caregiver, Angie Gomez was a secondyear nursing student at RCC.

daughter, she was a sister, she was my life,” Sanchez told the somber crowd.

He said Angela had told him when someone passes they die three times: when their heart stops beating, when they are buried and third when the last person who has a memory of them passes away.

“Please, please, please

remember who she was, and pass those memories on; please tell funny stories about her, please tell … who she was, because she was not just a news story.”

Gomez was laid to rest at funeral services held for her Oct. 17 at Harvest Christian Fellowship Church from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with over 300 people in attendence.

October 19, 2017

News

Is Riverside City College prepared for a mass shooting?

JOSHUA BURCIAGA @RCCviewpoints

Columbine, Fort Hood, Texas, Tucson, Arizona, Aurora, Sandy Hook, Charleston, San Bernardino, Orlando night club and the Las Vegas massacre.

These are some of the few mass shootings that have taken place over the past 18 years and it’s difficult to imagine Riverside joining that list anytime soon.

However, as these mass shootings become more commonplace in the United States, we are starting to see that anyone is susceptible to becoming a victim of these horrendous acts of hatred.

In fact, Enrique Marquez, a former student at Riverside City College was arrested in December 2015 for supplying the weapons used in the San Bernardino shooting and for plotting another attack at RCC and on the 91 freeway.

It was through the effort of local law enforcement and government entities that Marquez’s attack never saw the light of day, according to an affidavit retrieved from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

As the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas suggests, atrocities such as this can happen anywhere.

So this begs the question: How prepared is RCC for a mass shooting?

If 500 or more victims were to be injured in a mass shooting here at RCC, would the school have the resources available to help with the physical and psychological trauma that comes with such an event?

Kevin Wurtz, full-time faculty member and the mental health supervisor at RCC is confident in the school’s ability to gather the extra resources needed in order to help him combat the psychological trauma involved in a potential school shooting, but only temporarily.

“The problem here is, and this problem is everywhere, is that there’s no funding in general for mental health professionals and services,” Wurtz said.

Wurtz informs that out of the 114 community college campuses in the state, only 73 of them offer some form of psychological services and RCC happens to be one of them.

Wurtz points out that the Norco College and Moreno Valley College do not have any full-time faculty in regards to mental health professionals and that RCC is fortunate for having the psychological services that are offered to them.

“About 80 percent of individuals who go through a traumatic event won’t establish PTSD,” Wurtz said. “So for the 500 people who were injured

in the Las Vegas shooting, at least 400 of them won’t develop PTSD.” According to Wurtz, there are three main criteria involved with PTSD: You experienced a traumatic event, you witnessed a traumatic event, or you have a relative who either experienced or witnessed that traumatic event.

“One of the common problems with PTSD is that victims go through a dissociative moment which can easily be caused by any of the five senses,” Wurtz said. “Once you become triggered by a certain stimuli, it brings you back to the traumatic event that you experienced, which can be very intense for some people.”

P e o p l e s u ff e r i n g f r o m PTSD tend to avoid stimuli that reminds them of the event they went through.

Therefore, victims of a mass shooting on campus could have trouble reintegrating back to school due to the fact that being around a similar setting can trigger these dissociative moments.

Wurtz explains that isolation is a common symptom of PTSD, and that isolating yourself is the last thing a victim should do when they’ve been through a traumatic event.

“Being around those who have been through similar traumatic experiences helps with the recovery process,” Wurtz said.

Compared to the district’s two other campuses, RCC is more prepared in terms of psychological evaluations and maintenance, but what preventive measures are being taken to prepare the college?

Terry Welker and Henry Bravo are both certified trainers for the Community Emergency Response Team program on campus.

CERT is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security and helps to educate volunteers on disaster preparedness.

Welker and Bravo offer students and faculty with the lifesaving training needed in dangerous situations and they stress that being prepared for any emergency can be the difference between life and death.

“When it comes to these situations, many students and faculty make the assumption that the police will be there to assist them, but in the case of most mass shootings, most of the damage is done within two to five minutes,” Welker said.

Do not be mistaken. Local law enforcement will always be here to help those in dire need, but when confronted with an imminent threat, sometimes one has to take matters into their own hands.

Welker informs that the idea to hide is instinctive, but in the

case of a mass shooting, there are instances where one needs to fight back.

They reference the Columbine High School Shooting and the fact that 12 students hid in the corner when the shooting started, which made them easy targets for the shooters to find.

“Depending on the gunshot wound, many people can survive being hit by nine bullets if they are placed all in the right spots,” Welker said.

“If those 12 students were to wait by the door to take the gunman down, yeah three or four students will get shot, but they increase their chances of survival by fighting back,” Bravo said.

Welker and Bravo report that the training they offer for the CERT program is free as long as participants work or live in the city of Riverside.

Even though many students and faculty are eligible to receive free training, only 35 faculty members have been trained on campus.

“Compared to the San Diego Community College District, which has 750 active members, our numbers are relatively low,” Bravo said.

Welker states that she will be more comfortable when there is a seven to one ratio of certified CERT members to students on campus.

The training that the CERT program provides helps individuals become mentally and physically prepared for almost any disaster.

Welker and Bravo also stress that it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings, and if something appears off, alert the appropriate authorities.

“According to statistics from the FBI, almost all shooters from major shootings target largely populated, congested areas,” Welker said. “So RCC’s library and cafeteria would most likely be targeted.”

Welker and Bravo suggests students and faculty to download the RAVE Guardian app that’s offered for free on most cellular devices.

“If students detect something suspicious, they can leave a tip on the app and that tip will pop up on the local police’s computer terminal,” Bravo said. “It may be false or it may be real, but this causes students to be more aware of what’s going on around them.”

If students and faculty truly want to be prepared for a mass shooting, both Welker and Bravo urges for more people to get involved, get training, practice that training, and to share that information with their family and friends.

It will take a community that’s committed to public safety and the well being of others in order for RCC to be truly prepared for an imminent attack.

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NEWS BRIEFS RCC offers free flu shots Riverside City College Health Services will be providing free flu shots to all students, staff and faculty Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An annual flu vaccination is an important step in staying healthy and preventing the flu from spreading to others.

Nurses will be available on campus Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Charles A. Kane building.

Great American Shakeout Faculty, staff, and students at RCC will join about 10 million people expected to participate in the annual Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill on Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m.

The approximately two-minute drill is a voluntary first-response exercise to a simulated magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the southern San Andreas Fault. Such an earthquake could disrupt utilities, transportation, and telecommunication systems, resulting in injuries, death, and structural damage.

Halloween Town comes to RCC RCC will be hosting a trick or treating event Oct. 27 from 5-8 p.m. in the A.G. Paul Quadrangle.

Attendees can participate in a costume contest at 5 p.m. and begin trick or treating from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The event is free for children ages 11 and under.

AMPUS CRIMES Sept. 26 Hit and Run A student’s 2015 black Nissan Sedan was damaged during a hit and run in Lot E at 3:50 p.m. No suspect has been identified.

Sept. 27 Hit and Run A student’s 2013 JMC SUV was damaged during a hit and run in parking lot P at 8 a.m. No suspect information has been released.

Oct. 2 Hit and Run A student’s 1997 Geo was damaged during a hit and run in the parking structure at 6:40 p.m. No suspect has been identified.

Oct. 3 Stolen Vehicle A student’s 1997 Saturn was stolen from Lot E at 10:30 a.m. No suspect has been identified.

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News

October 19, 2017

RCC students step up to donate their blood SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Riverside City College students stepped out to serve their community by donating blood on Oct. 11 to LifeStream..

Students needed to inform nurses and doctors about their health history, such as past illnesses. Once inside the canteen, students got their temperature and health checked. Once they passed these tests they were allowed to donate blood. The blood donation process usually takes up to one hour and can be repeated every 56 days.

“With everything that’s going on in the world it’s so important that we as a society continue to move this nation and each other forward,” Mia Lamon said. “This is just one of the many ways that we as individuals can carry each other foward.

While many students donated as a show of remembrance for those that were killed in the Las Vegas shooting, for many this was was not their first time donating to the organization.

M a r i a Ta n h a s b e e n a committed donor to LifeStream ever since a blood donation was put on by her high school in 2012.

“It’s just such a simple way to

Students of Riverside City College donated blood to those in need Oct.11 help,” Tan said. “It’s an hour out of my day but it can have such a big impact.”

“It’s just the right thing to do,” Anthony Carter said. “There are no actual downsides to donating blood. All that happens is that you give help to someone who needs it.”

According to LifeStream’s website, when donating blood, it is recommended that donors

avoid performing exercise and strenuous activity before donating as this can raise your pulse rate which can prevent them from donating.

Once students are done donating blood they have to remain in the canteen for 15 minutes to rehydrate and eat food provided by the nurses to prevent donors from suffering nausea that can come after completing their

donation.

Once a donor ’s blood is collected, it goes through a series of test to protect future patients from several types of infections, potentially harmful antibodies and, of course, to confirm your blood type so that it finds its way to the correct patient.

Most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection, meaning that by Nov.

SHEKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

22 the blood that was donated at this blood drive will most likely have already benefited a patient in need.

LifeStream offers donation appointments year-round and can be made on their website or by calling their Riverside location at (951) 687-2530.

“We can all play our part by being kind and helping each other,” Lamon said.

RCC provides resources at biannual transfer fair University representatives assist students in planning academic futures

SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @RCCviewpoints

Where is one place that you will see such colleges and or universities, as CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, Berkeley or California Baptist University, all together?

Riverside City College hosted a transfer fair in the Quad showcasing a variety of universities including online, private and international.

Students had the opportunity to speak with counselors, advisors and representatives from the various colleges at the fair held Oct. 19.

The event was attended by many students, eager to speak with the representatives from the various universities that were eager to talk to potential transfer students.

“These kinds of events provide a platform for students to get information about the colleges in and outside of the area,” CBU representative Michelle Castellor said. “It’s so important that students are able to make an educated decision about where they want to take their futures.

Representatives from the

various universities offered pamphlets, financial aid guides, transfer information and plenty of guidance as to when to enroll and which classes to take at RCC in order to transfer.

“I’ve done really well here at RCC,” RCC student Lindsay Santiago said. “It’s an absolute dream to be able to see all of these schools and know that I can take my success one step further.”

There were a wide variety of colleges in attendance at the transfer fair. Not only were the students engaged, but the representatives were ecstatic while answering the various questions students had.

“This event was informative and interesting,” said RCC student Gabriella Stewart. “It’s just a great opportunity for me to compare all f my options and see what school can help me reach my goals.”

“This event was held with the plan to increase the transfer rate and inform students of the importance of transferring and encouraging the ones who may be thinking about transferring,” RCC Counselor Sal Soto said.

Tw e n t y - n i n e c o l l e g e representatives were in attendance for the Transfer Center’s biannual transfer fair,

SHEKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

Students were given the opportunity to discuss their futures with college representatives Oct.19 allowing students to meet them in person.

Marcella Lowe, a representative from the University of California, San Diego, was quick to inform onlooking students that recommandation letters were not necessary at UC San Diego.

“I look through over 75 applications a day,” Lowe said.

“I don’t want to hear about other people’s opinions of you. I want to hear about your opinion of you.”

Students may visit the RCC Transfer Center in the Admissions building to find out when upcoming workshops will be offered in applying for financial aid, guidance in how to fill out college applications

and how to write a scholarship application letter.

As of Oct. 18, the Transfer Center has been holding a series of workshops that are each aimed towards helping students build and adapt their skills for their best possible futures.

A list of these workshops can be found on the RCC college website.

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October 19, 2017

SPORTS “It’s really hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

- Babe Ruth

SHAKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

Quarterback Vic Viramontes, who has started since week three, has 831 passing yards with 12 touchdowns averaging 138 yards a game and 9.9 yards per completion.

Vic Viramontes takes the lead The freshman quarterback has taken helm of Riverside City College’s still undefeated team CAMERON WINSTON @RCCviewpoints

There is an unheralded superstar in the making who has had the Tigers rolling through what has been, so far, an undefeated season.

Riverside City College football is known around the California Community College Athletic Association as a “ground and pound” football team, and that credit can go to their freshman starting quarterback, Vic Viramontes.

Viramontes attended Norco High School from 2012 to 2016 and was a diverse athlete, playing basketball and football. He had a successful high school football career, throwing for 4,680 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions. He also showed his value in the run game, rushing for 4,190 yards and a total of 53 touchdowns on the ground, a number surpassing most running backs in the state at the time.

Numbers like that brought attention to the impressive fourstar athlete from schools across the country. He had originally committed to the University of

Michigan but later chose to decommit from Michigan and take an offer from UC Berkley. He chose to stay for only one year, as he had gained a redshirt status his freshman year and was one of two quarterbacks to leave the school for the upcoming 2017 season which led to his arrival at RCC. “We had a coaching change (at UC Berkley), and I thought it was a better opportunity for me to come to RCC,” said Viramontes.

“It was close to home they have a good program here, and so I thought it was the best fit.”

As he arrived at RCC in the middle of the summer due to the transfer process, he had to play some catch up to learn the playbook and style of the team.

His late arrival slotted him as the third quarterback on the depth chart coming into the season, behind Travis Jonsen and Matt Struck.

Vi r a m o n t e s p r o v e d h i s case becoming the starter for the Tigers after a week two performance Sept. 9 against Golden West College. That game saw quarterbacks Jonsen and Struck struggling to garner consistent momentum for the Tigers’ offense. Asked to take the helm at the start of the third quarter

MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS

Viramontes has rushed for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns this season averaging 129 yards a game. in a scoreless game, Viramontes helped the Tigers achieve three straight scoring drives, which led to a 21-13 victory for the Tigers.

He ended that night throwing one touchdown pass and rushing for 123 yards along with a rushing touchdown to boot. This became the beginning of a Tiger takeover.

Viramontes’ running prowess

was immediately noticed. To see a quarterback run more yards than the opposing teams running back is certainly beyond the realm of normalcy that you see in most football games.

“Growing up, I’ve always b e e n f a s t r u n n e r, ” s a i d Viramontes. “When I grew up playing football, if plays weren’t

there my coaches would tell me to extend with my legs. If my reads aren’t there or I don’t see something, and if I don’t want to force the ball I can always use my legs.”

Ever since that week two victory, Viramontes has been

See VIC on Page 7

Sports

October 19, 2017

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Tigers football prevail in pink RCC wins on Breast Cancer Awareness night CRISTIAN LOPEZ @RCCviewpoints

Travis Jonsen strides down the field for a 64 yard touchdown run setting the bar high in the second half.

Coming off a bye week after a win against Cerritos, Riverside City College’s football team looked to pick up where they left off as they took on Chaffey College for RCC’S Breast Cancer Awareness game. The event was organized to honor those who have and are courageously fighting the disease.

The success the RCC football team has been having found its way into a 56-7 blowout win over Chaffey College.

Going into the game, the high octane offense was led by quarterback Vic Viramontes who accounted for three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown in one-half of play leading the Tigers to a 42-0 score over the Panthers at halftime.

T h e Ti g e r s d o m i n a t e d defensively against the Panthers giving up just one scoring drive and 279 yards of total offense while also forcing four fumbles all resulting in a change of possession.

Chaffey found themselves in multiple punting situations early on due to finding little to no success in both the passing and rushing game thanks to RCC’s hard hitting defense and drops by Chaffey’s receivers.

MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS

The Tigers defense prepares to stop the Chaffey College offense from marching forward.

Tanarious Achan, freshman wide receiver, accounted for one receiving and two rushing touchdowns garnering nearly half of the touchdowns scored in the game.

“Just the past few years, (the way we’ve been playing) especially at home we knew we had to keep the home streak alive.” Achan said.

Tom Craft, head coach of the RCC football team, was pleased the way his team played

throughout the game.

“We came off the bye week looking to improve in some areas and we did” said coach Craft.

“The passing game was good, the running game was good, defensively we did what we had to do.”

The game got off to a fast start with Achan taking the opening kickoff for 33 yards. They would only pick up steam after that as the opening drive lasted just six plays with a 15 yard touchdown

run by Viramontes.

The next two drives did not mirror this success however as the next two possessions ended in turnovers. Despite this, Chaffey was unable to capitalize and score on either drive.

On Chaffey’s next offensive possession, linebacker Devin Charles forced Chaffey running back Derrione Leeper to fumble and ultimately turnover the ball.

With the successful takeaway, the Tigers led a short drive that

ended in another Viramontes touchdown run.

RCC ended the first quarter in fashion with a 20 yard over the shoulder touchdown pass to Achan to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead. Chaffey’s offensive woes continued as they turned the ball over on three consecutive times all resulting in RCC touchdowns.

With an already demanding lead, sophomore quarterback Travis Jonsen was called upon to start the second half for RCC in relief of Viramontes.

For the Chaffey Panthers, they found a way to get their first (and only) points of the game on a 20 yard touchdown rush in the third quarter.

After RCC turned the ball over on a fumble and Chaffey on downs, the Tigers found their way to score for their eighth touchdown of the game extending and solidifying their lead against Chaffey coming away with a 56-7 victory showing why they are ranked No. 2 in the conference rankings.

Though their record remains perfect, Achan and his teammates believe they still have a ways to go.

“We expect to just go hard every practice we know the teams we are going to be facing and they’re tough teams but our coaching staff puts us in a great position to win every Saturday.”

With another win in the books the team is set to take on 2-4 LA Harbor College as they look to extend their unbeaten record.

Viramontes leads a “ground and pound” team VIC from Page 6

the starting quarterback, and each week he shows why this is his team. The Tigers have gone on to win the all four games he has started, earning them a 6-0 record and moving them to the No. 2 team in the CCCAA rankings. His season totals so far have looked like video game

numbers as he has accounted for a total of 1,530 total yards and 20 touchdowns. Averaging nearly five touchdowns a game since starting.

“He’s a physical strong runner” said coach Tom Craft.

“He’s got great acceleration and he makes good decisions as a runner.”

Coaches know how unstoppable he is running the ball, but they also would like to see him improve in the passing game.

They saw the progression of that improvement in a week four game against Ventura College on September 23. RCC took a 42-34 victory in a back and forth game that saw Viramontes throw

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for 284 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also adding 224 rushing yards.

The position of starting quarterback is never an easy task to take on. It is constant pressure as it is your job to carry and lead the team, analyze the defense and remember all the plays and routes. One bad game can cost you your position. When your job is constantly on the line, most tend to ignore that pressure and show up each and every week ready and determined to give it their best. However, Viramontes embraces said pressure.

“As a kid growing up, I liked the pressure” said Viramontes.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life. At Norco, we’d be in a lot of close games and I just loved that type of feeling. That feeling that the game is on the line. I loved it.”

But, like his favorite player Tom Brady, one thing Viramontes knows is that he must keep his poise, stay calm and continue to improve his game overall.

“I can get better at everything,” Viramontes said.

“No matter what, there’s always something someone could do to get better and succeed.”

SPORTS BRIEFS Women’s water polo At 15-2, the Tigers are ranked No. 2 in the Orange Empire Conference standings with both defeats coming in games where the team lost by two points or less. The Tiger’s will participate in the Long Beach tournament this Friday, Oct. 20 against opponents yet to be determined.

Men’s water polo RCC’s men’s water polo team started the season off well, going 4-1 in the first five games. But have failed to remain consistent since then as they now hold an 8-11 record. The team will play West Valley College in the first round of the Golden West tournament this Friday, Oct 20.

Women’s volleyball A t 7 - 9 , t h e w o m e n ’s volleyball team continues to struggle. The volleyball team takes on Irvine Valley College this Friday, Oct 20 in a high stakes OEC confrontation.

8

October 19, 2017 Tell

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us what you think, in a letter to the editor, in an email, or use #RCCnow.

We don’t take care of our own

Trump’s administration fails to provide relief to the American territory of Puerto Rico

KEVIN KNOX @KevinNotKevin

I n all t he yea r s I have followed American politics I have experienced many events that can only be accurately described as “aneurysm-inducing.”

E v e r s i n c e t h e 2 0 16 presidential election began, these events have begun to occur more frequently and much more rapidly. Late September, I was forced to endure yet another aneurysm courtesy of President Donald J. Trump.

On Sept. 20, a devastating categor y 5 hur r icane made la nd fa l l on t he A me r ic a n territory of Puerto Rico.

W i t h t h e i sl a n d b e i n g bombarded with intense winds and rain for over 30 hours, meteorologist Jeff Weber told Vox that “it was as if a 50-60 mile wide tornado raged across Puerto Rico, like a buzz saw.” Much of the island has been left without water or power.

A spokesman for the Puerto R ica n gove r n ment , Ca rlos

Mercader, told PBS “we have full communities that 80 or 90 percent of (the infrastructure) are a complete disaster. They are totally lost.”

Yet despite the fact that an American territory has suffered such a catastrophic event, the A mer ica n gover n ment ha s treated the situation with an absurdly low sense of urgency.

The Atlantic reports that President Trump did not hold a situation room meeting on the catastrophe until Sept. 26, six days after Hurricane Maria made landfall. The U.S. Navy deployed a ship to bring supplies to Puerto Rico that day, however it did not leave port until Sept. 28 and did not arrive at Puerto Rico until Oct. 3.

On Sept. 29, the president responded to the criticism of the government’s half hearted r e s p o n s e t o t h e c r i si s by eloquently stating “This is an island, surrounded by water. Big water. Ocean water.” Like most of the things that come out of Trump’s mouth, it likely made sense “bigly,” but for those of us with functioning brains, it was confusing, rambling nonsense that did nothing to address the criticism or offer any assurance that Puerto Rico would ever receive the level of aid they so desperately need.

The Atlantic reports that i n t he d ays af ter t h is, t he U. S. gove r n me nt r ele a se d several statements about the relief efforts. Many of which

ILLUSTRATION BY ISELA OROZCO

contradicted each other, or were contradicted by Puerto Rican officials. On Oct. 3, almost two weeks after the hurricane made landfall, Trump finally visited the island, ready to make such a display of buffoonery that all who bore witness might smash their televisions and computers in a wild frenzy.

During his public meeting in an auditorium of some kind in San Juan, the president had the audacity to chastise Puerto Ricans for “(th rowing) our budget a little out of whack.”

Oh, but it’s all right because he prefaced this statement by saying “I hate to tell you this”

and also added “That’s fine. We saved a lot of lives.”

I n yea r s past, a sit t i ng pre side nt m a k i ng such a n insulting, backhanded remark to American citizens that had just experienced such a catastrophic event might have blown our minds, but it seems we have become so numb to the idiotic antics of this greasy oompaloompa that we might actually have been more surprised had he actually said something sensible.

Immediately following that statement, the president then belittled their plight, comparing it to “real” disasters. “If you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina,

and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here and what is your death count? Sixteen people, versus in the thousands, you can be very proud.”

The cherry on top, however, was Trump taking the time to pass out supplies to the crowd that had gathered for the event.

And by “pass out supplies,” I actually mean toss single rolls of paper towels – which the president described as “beautiful, soft towels. Good towels” – into the crowd in the same manner that cheerleaders toss t-shirts into the crowd at sporting events.

At this point the enti re situation has left me catatonic.

I have no words. No amount of creative explicatives can say anything that the events which have unfolded can’t say better themselves.

What we have is a president who ca res fa r more about photo-opportunities than the people of Puerto Rico and a lazy uncoordinated government response to the crisis that has devastated their home.

There is little hope in any of this changing and besides, our commander- in -chief has already moved on to much more important matters, such as waging another petty and idiotic Twitter war with a former Republican congressman.

G o d help P ue r t o R ic o, because our government isn’t.

Stephen Miller threatens the future of DACA

LESLIE SANTIBANEZ @RCCviewpoints

The future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is in danger.

President Donald Trump’s senior advisor Stephen Miller is threatening the future of DACA. Miller is a sociopath determined to push his antiimmigration agenda. He has no regard for the people he has to run over in order to fulfill his

desire of a stronger immigration system.

He is the classic movie villain. He is tall, bald and has no remorse towards others. He just needs a villainous speech.

But the man barely utters a word.

Instead, his eyes speak more volumes about who he is. His eyes are lifeless and reflect a disturbing lack of compassion.

It is hard to believe he is even human.

With a six month window and Miller as a major influence to Trump, I doubt there will be any progress in negotiating a new DACA deal.

There just isn’t enough time to resolve this issue. DACA negotiations will remain in a stalemate as long as Miller continues to manipulate Trump.

According to the BBC, Miller wants funding for the wall and a harsh crackdown on immigration in exchange of DACA.

This means DACA recipients parents will be at a higher risk of deportation under Miller’s agenda.

B u z z fe e d r e p o r t s b o t h Democrats and Republicans state that Trump has repeatedly said he wants to help DACA recipients, but Miller is, “poisoning its prospects.”

Tr ump is his puppet. He is a man of no will with no thoughts of his own that is easily controlled.

“We don’t have a President Tr ump problem, we have a Stephen Miller problem,” said The Latino Republicans.

Miller is the mastermind behind Trump, pulling the strings of the freak show.

Recently, reports of Miller’s contempt towards Latinos have surfaced.

What can only be described as a sense of familiarity washes over Miller’s former classmates each time Trump speaks. They

know Miller is behind the toxic words he spews.

“Even when Trump reads these statements, I know that’s Stephen,” former classmate Nick Silverman told Business Insider.

Miller’s toxicity follows him everywhere he goes.

Jason Islas, a middle school classmate of Miller told The New York Times, Miller had announced they would no longer be friends.

“He mentioned my Latino heritage as one of the reasons,” Islas said.

First, the threat was White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

Now it's Stephen Miller.

DACA recipients are now the pawns in Miller’s political game. They are the leverage in his villainous master plan.

Miller’s prejudice against Latinos is evident in his support of the Refor ming A mer ican Immigration for Strong

Employment Act. If this act had not been opposed by both political parties and instead implemented, it would have eliminated programs that hand out green cards to working class immigrants.

T he R A ISE a c t wou ld , “prioritize immigrants who speak English, can financially support themselves, and have demonstrated skills that could benefit the economy.”

T h is is c o de for wh it e immigrants only.

This is the act both Miller and Bannon supported.

I can’t believe a man of Jewish descent can’t see the irony of his actions. More than half a century ago, Jewish people were the scapegoats for the problems Germany faced.

Now Latinos are the targets of people's prejudices.

If Miller’s anti-Latino agenda becomes a reality, it will harm thousands of DACA recipients.

Views

October 19, 2017

9

Editorial

Morality might kick the pill

COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

President Donald Trump’s treatment against women is no joke.

From name calling to just being down right inappropriate, Trump’s comments and actions are no longer surprising.

Now under the Affordable Care Act, religious run businesses and nonprofit organizations can deny employees access to affordable birth control.

This is discrimination towards women, point blank.

It is not simply a question of moral obligation or religious beliefs but of women’s health.

The administration’s latest decision includes two separate bills that gives employers the right to deny access to no-cost prescription birth control.

One bill allows religious non-profits and employers to deny birth control through insurance.

The other bill, however, is where it starts to become a little hazy. Employers, even those who are not affiliated with religion, can make the case

of denying contraception based on moral objection.

What qualifies as moral objection is left up for debate because there is no set limitation as to what counts as a reason.

While this action may come as no cost to the companies involved, this blatant denial of services to their female employees will not come without consequences.

In a study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, roughly 62 percent of all women of reproductive age, 15 to 44 years old on average, are currently using a contraceptive method.

Prices vary depending on whether you have health insurance, or if you qualify for Medicaid or other government programs that cover birth control pills. For most brands, however, one pill pack lasts for one month and can cost up to $50.

According to Planned Parenthood, birth control can cost between $15 to $50 a month, depending on insurance coverage and the type of pill.

Upon his election, President Donald Trump assured voters that he would keep religion at a forefront, but fails to acknowledge that in fulfilling that promise he is also allowing more room for debate upon what is and isn’t classified as a “moral objection.”

While birth control allows women to keep from having children it also has many other practical and important uses. Birth control balances hormones, clears skin, takes away menstrual cramps and sometimes menstrual periods all together.

Some transgender men even take birth control to keep themselves from experiencing even more body dysphoria than they already deal with. But to Trump these necessary uses of the pill wouldn’t even matter.

Taking birth control is a choice. Employers should not have a say in the accessibility of this necessary product because morality is not a blanket to protect bigotry.

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

LETTERS

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dominique Redfearn (909) 689-6053 viewpoints@rcc.edu MANAGING EDITOR Nahid Ponciano Samantha Bartholomew viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Samantha Bartholomew viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Matt Schoenmann

TO THE

NEWS EDITOR Smantha Bartholomew viewpoints.news@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Nick Peralta viewpoints.sports@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR Nahid Ponciano viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com LIFE EDITOR Imari Rede viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com

PHOTO EDITOR Marcus Cocova viewpoints.photo@gmail.com

REPORTERS Joshua Burciaga Daniel Carter Heidi Dye Shekina Gamon Geovanny Guzman Dylan King Kevin Knox

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Isela Orozco Daniel Quesada Jonathan Ramirez Leslie Santibanez Dae Thomas Cameron Winston

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10

LIFE

October 19, 2017

“And if they ever ask about me, tell them I was more than just a great set of boobs.

I was also an incredible pair of legs.”

- Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Join the cult ‘The Babysitter’ style

“People have always done human sacrifice.” “Yeah, but like not in America with hot people.”

DAE THOMAS @RCCViewpoints

ILLUSTRATION BY HEIDI DYE

Halloween-time is officially upon us, countless breeds of people are asking the same things: What Halloween-horror there out there is really worth enjoying? Additionally, probably something along the lines of: “What can I watch that won’t rot my brain from seeing the same clichés regurgitated again for the umpteenth time on-screen?”

Coinciding with the recent passing of a pretty neat phenomenon, the ubiquitous Netflix released a horror/comedy picture directed by McG – director of the 2000’s iteration of “Charlie’s Angels” one of my personal favorites –titled “The Babysitter.”

Horror movie buffs feeling their familiar itches, will be looking to indulge themselves in the most captivating films of the year (and yesteryear) in the horror genre. They will undoubtedly surf the streaming mogul that is Netflix and could possibly stumble upon the previously

aforementioned flick.

The film stars Samara Weaving as the blonde bombshell babysitter next door gone cult leader, Judah Lewis as the helplessly nerdy but plucky “faucet”, Bella Thorne as the off-brand Disney Channel Emma Roberts hot cheerleader type, token funny black guy King Bach, “Pitch Perfect” alumni Hana Mae Lee, and Robbie Amell as a shirtless, sociopathic Tom Cruise. So, you know, regular Tom Cruise I guess?

Is “The Babysitter” the much-needed breath of fresh air needed by horror movie fans this holiday season? The answer here unfortunately, but frankly, is “Nah. Not really.”

But, what you do get is a pretty straight-forward and self-aware horror-comedy that delivers enough to keep you entertained for (what feels like a short, frilly) hour and twenty minute runtime.

Looking for a sweet, nocomplex-set-up “scary” movie that has no facetious or greedy promise to do follow-up installments or sequels? This is it.

Looking for a slightly jump-scary Netflix and chill flick? This is it.

Gallons of corn syrup blood are spilt, a perfectly good left titty goes to waste, and on more than one occasion in the film, things go BOOM in an interesting and spectacular fashion. This film’s cinematography and set-work isn’t half bad either. It’s also visually arresting to look at.

That’s something you can’t say about every horror movie.

“The Babysitter” incorporates cheap laughs (Who’s going to motorboat these Bee!?), some questionable horror movie logic (don’t know that we’ll ever get away from this one), young attractive people to look at, the novelty played out on-screen of what we imagined our really attractive babysitters were up to after hours (if you were Caucasian enough to have one, anyway), and just a dash of exploration into why we have a penchant for watching young people dabble in Satanism and human sacrifice.

I ’ d r a t e M c G ’s “ T h e Babysitter” an adequate 2.5 out of 5 stars, no alcohol required (but recommended).

Life

October 19, 2017

11

Why Twitter users say #MeToo The social media hashtag prompts one editor to share her experience and spread awareness

ILLUSTRATION BY ISELA OROZCO

NAHID PONCIANO @nahid__16

A sense of freedom washes over me as I finally hit the button that says tweet. It reads “#MeToo.” I’m sitting at my kitchen table as I avoid doing an essay, I scroll through Twitter and see #MeToo trending. Naturally, I need to know what this hashtag means.

As I go through post after post, my heart rate picks up, my chest feels constricted and tears start to build up.

This hashtag was created to show the magnitude of sexual assault.

According to Sexual Trauma Services and The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, “Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted, and 60 percent of sexual assaults go unreported to the police.”

There is a whole group of people out there who stay quiet because they either feel like they can’t speak up or don’t want to.

And I understand. For the longest time I felt like I couldn’t either.

It’s interesting going about life, knowing in the back of your mind that sexual assault is

happening in the world, but you keep going because, what can you do?

And then it happens to you.

And your whole world turns upside down and you feel even more powerless. One minute you’re fine having a good time, and the next your body is taken from you.

After I was sexually assaulted I thought back to all the different statistics and views about sexual assault and started checking them off.

“67% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim,” according to Sexual Trauma Services and RAINN. Check.

According to RAINN, “Students are at an increased risk during the first few months of their first and second semesters in college.” Check.

And another thing I noticed before I was assaulted, not many people take it seriously. They either brush it off or blame the victim. Check.

That was the hardest part for me. The thing that made me cry for hours and at the same time boil my blood with anger. I became a statistic.

I didn’t want to tell anyone

because the first person I did tell tried to spin it so it made it seem like I was partially to blame. And I believed them.

Maybe if I hadn’t done this?

until one day I decided to stop being mad, stop blaming myself and take back control of my life and body.

Society has a way of making you feel at fault for something you didn’t do, or they refuse to acknowledge that it’s actually happening.

And to all of that I say “no.”

No, it’s not my fault that I was assaulted. No, I didn’t ask for this to happen or encourage it. And no, you do not get to pretend like this isn’t a major problem in our country anymore.

- Nahid Ponciano Sexual assault doesn’t make exceptions and it does not exclusively happen to Was it the way I was acting? women. It can happen anywhere Am I behaving the right way? at anytime to anyone.

Was it what I was wearing?

“One in six men will be For weeks I blamed myself sexually assaulted in their and the memories would keep lifetime,” According to Sexual popping up. I didn’t want to Trauma Services. be around anyone let alone let So next time, when someone anyone touch me. close to you opens up, regardless I felt uncomfortable in my of their gender or sexuallity, and own skin and I was mad at shares with you that they’ve been myself, mad at the person who sexually assaulted, listen and did this to me, even after they believe them. said they would take care of me, That’s all they ask for. That’s and mad at the world. all I ever asked for.

This continued for weeks And I encourage people to

“

“I didn’t want to be around anyone let alone let anyone touch me.”

speak out if they’re ready.

Find someone you confide in and talk to them. And if they don’t believe you, because there will be people who you would expect them to believe you but don’t, move on to someone else until you find someone who will.

Because you deserve to be heard and believed.

Do not for one second think that it’s your fault or that you deserved it. It is not on you to create guidelines to prevent sexual assault.

As Sexual Trauma Services put it, “it is the responsibility of the assailant to avoid sexually assaulting others. It is never the victim’s fault.”

For those who are not ready or do not want to speak up but still want to feel heard and believed, I hear you. I believe you, and you are not alone.

Now sitting back staring at my tweet, I understand and accept that my experience with sexual assault will always be a part of me. But now, it no longer controls me.

I have a platform and I want to use it to spread awareness and inspire conversation.

This is also how I’m choosing to cope. And it’s helped.

12

October 19, 2017

Band rocks killer looks

Life

Get your spook on with local hauntings and fun!

(Left) Emanuel Aceves performs wearing a red sweater and matching lipstick. (Right) Aceves performs with a full face of makeup for the Sad Locals Club show.

ILLUSTRATION BY HEIDI DYE

Ghost Walk Riverside

COURTESY OF BURN BAUM

JAYY MIRELES @RCCviewpoints

From Friday the 13th through Halloween, there’s a lot to plan out.

Whether you want to go to one big show or multiple throught that time. You might die with so many choices to make.

Burn Baum, an indie band from Moreno Valley will give you that spooky, ooky vibe that you’ve been waiting to hear all year.

Oddly enough this uncanny band has never performed a Halloween show.

“Its our first year performing Halloween shows, but we’re gonna go all out.” They are ready to surprise their fans and give them the best they’ve got with make-up and showmanship.

Burn Baum always brings a chilling vibe to each of their shows by either wearing lipstick, or having their whole

faces painted white.

It’s great to know that this high spirited, young local band actually has such an artistic look on showmanship, not just music.

“Shows are so much the same, so we want to switch it up, so we just paint our faces,” the band’s lead singer, Emanuel Aceves said.

Burn Baum threw their own Halloween show on Oct. 13, Emanuel’s birthday. The show featured various rappers and bands.

To keep with the spooky theme, Burn Baum shared some stories at their show.

“Joel usually attracts a lot of weird girls, they always make him feel uncomfortable and they follow us everywhere we go,” Aceves said.

Burn Baum’s drummer, Joel Chinchilla, has the most ominous stories from ghosts to crazy girls, he seems

unfazed by some of the things he’s experienced.

“Not too long ago, Joel claimed he was possessed. He ran to some forest and was just angry and had no control over himself,” Aceves said.

That sounds super scary but Burn Baum sees things like this, laughs it off and has a good time regardless. It’s a good thing that they do this because it keeps things light.

It seems as though the Inland Empire is becoming a center point of creation for bands and other local artists, who are eccentric and funny.

We’re going back into the age where artists are open to wear makeup and dress how they want, reminding us of artists like David Bowie, Queen, and Kiss. Burn Baum is one of those artists, and they will give us that Halloween, spooky, ooky vibe, all year long.

Dye’s DIY Halloween makeup tips to vamp up your gory looks ILLUSTRATION BY HEIDI DYE HIEDI DYE @RCCviewpoints

It’s almost that time of year again where kid’s binge on candy and people are given an excuse to wear lingerie in public.

Nothing like sexy mice costumes or the sweet smell of a pumpkin spiced latte.

So in the spirit of Halloween, I will be sharing to you, ole faithful reader, my favorite hacks to achieve a spooktacular night.

For all those gore-heads out there, blood is one of the quintessential parts of

a grotesque costume.

Now there are different types of fake blood, but for someone who is planning on wearing their costume all night, gelatin fake blood is the best option since it sets in place once dried.

To make gelatin based fake blood, mix one packet of gelatin to two drops of glycerin and two drops of water in a microwave-safe cup or bowl.

Add in drops of red, green, and black food dye until a blood- like color is achieved.

Microwave the mixture for ten to twenty seconds and wait for the blood too cool down a bit to avoid burning the skin.

Of course there are different types of fake blood and other methods to making it, but this is a quick and easy way for poor college students like us to scar the mere mortals on Halloween this year.

When creating elaborate special effects

makeup with liquid latex, use torn pieces of toilet paper or cotton balls to add in texture and dimension. Masking tape can also be used to create the texture of gills or scales.

On the topic of liquid latex, the liquid latex can be quite expensive with a four ounce bottle costing as much as nine dollars.

Gelatin could be used as an alternative or thickening the latex with some flour can work just as well.

Now of course there are plenty more of useful Halloween hacks out there. But hopefully these tips will help spookify your Halloween night and give that extra level to your makeup.

For a detailed video of the Halloween makeup tutorial visit us at viewpointsonline.org

From Oct. 28-29 the Halloween tradition, Ghost Walk, takes to the streets of Riverside. Tour goers can choose from four different spooky storytelling expeditions.

Ghost Walk is known to bring artists of all backgrounds together for a very special experience.

There are four locations to choose from including the Old County Morgue and the Mission Inn Annex.

Tickets and more information are available on EventBrite by searching “Ghost Walk Riverside.”

Maze of Mayhem Don’t walk, run to Moreno Valley’s very own chilling attraction. From Oct. 28-31 horror lovers can get a taste of the most intense and creepy walk, through a maze of frightening wonders.

If you want to try your bravery, be their guest, for free on Alcorn Drive in Moreno Valley.

More information is available on facebook.com/mazeofmayhem.

Mistress Yvonne’s Haunted House A haunted house for all ages with options from scary to friendly ghouls and more.

Produced by Y Karaoke Company, this haunting tour will open its house doors in Riverside Oct. 27-31 from 6-10 p.m.

It’s free and there are also special tours for kids who don’t need the heebie jeebies scared out of them. It is going to be located at 19206 Bergamont Drive.

Annual Zombie Crawl The dead come alive in downtown Riverside at the City Hall Breezeway on Oct. 21.

Along with family friendly activities, Riverside Downtown Partnership will host the zombies versus survivalists zombie crawl at 4:30 p.m.

A costume contest will also be held at 5 p.m. Registration begins at 2 p.m.

Crossroads Haunted Village From Oct. 6 -31, ter ror w ill be rampant in Corona at the Crossroads Riverview Park. The festivities include a hayride through the haunted village, the Pandemonium Magic Show, Coffin Creek haunted mazes and more.

Tickets and information are available on their website, Coffincreek.com.