Viewpoints Fall 2019 Issue No. 1 August 22, 2019

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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VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG

VOL. 97, NO. 1

WHAT’S INSIDE LIFE

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O L L E G E

AUGUST 22, 2019

Norco president fired Board of Trustees voted to terminate Bryan Reece on June 12 ERIK GALICIA STAFF REPORTER

3 Top 5 burgers in Riverside

SPORTS

4 Fall sports event lineup

EDITORIAL

7 Trump’s hate speech empowers domestic terrorism

INDEX NEWS LIFE SPORTS VIEWS EDITORIAL

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The recent firing of Norco College President Bryan Reece has warranted opposing responses from students and faculty around the Riverside Community College District.

The district chose Monica Green, vice president of planning and development at Riverside City College, as interim president of Norco College, effective July 1. Reece was not available to comment.

But many at Norco College are still confused as to how and why the Board of Trustees came to their decision to terminate Reece.

“In this kind of situation, an agreement is signed by the district and by the employee being released,” said Wolde-Ab Isaac, chancellor of the district.

“That agreement clearly states that the issue cannot be disclosed.

This is done to protect the person being fired and to protect the institution. This is the way it is at every university and college.”

Norco College students and faculty first protested at the board meeting May 21 after finding out the district decided not to apply for $24 million in state funding for on-campus housing for homeless veterans and foster youth at Norco College. The opportunity for that funding was offered by Rep. Sabrina Cervantes, a state assembly member representing Norco.

Cervantes has not made herself available to comment after multiple requests.

Students, faculty and community members then flooded the board meeting on June 11 to protest the district’s decision to place Reece on administrative leave and urge the board to reinstate him.

The Board voted to terminate Reece on June 12 even though board member Bill Hedrick was not present. This decision drew criticism since protesters requested that the board postpone its vote until a day when the entire board would be present.

“The Board’s guidelines are clear,” Isaac said. “A majority of votes is necessary for all decisions. But we can’t always wait for everyone to be there for every decision. The vote was 4-0.

So whether or not Hedrick was there, the motion would have still passed.”

Norco College student Thalia Moore-Shearer started an online petition in support of Reece

YESENIA HUBY | VIEWPOINTS

Supporters for the former president of Norco College, Bryan Reece, hold up signs at the Board of Trustees meeting June 11. The meeting lasted more than three hours as students and faculty voiced their opinions on President Reece. that reached 721 signatures in “It’s very suspicious to me district, there have been questions a matter of a few days. But that that Hedrick wasn’t there for the about the RCCD Faculty petition has since closed. decision,” Marquez said.

Association’s involvement in There is another online Marquez added that Hedrick the situation. petition that remains open and had not been present for past Dariush Haghighat, Riverside demands “the reinstatement of decisions regarding the budget. vice president of the Faculty Dr. Reece or the resignation of “Because he is the Association, claims the group Chancellor Issac.” That petition representative for the Norco area, was “wrongly accused” by its has no signatures to date and we wanted to know Hedrick’s colleagues at Norco of siding does not identify the person who view,” Marquez said. “It feels against Reece. started it. like it was planned out to target “The faculty association has Norco College students Norco specifically.” not taken any side,” Haghighat have started the No Saddles Marquez went on to say said. “The faculty association Committee in hopes of creating a that he feels “Isaac is very RCC has remained steadfast for the resistance to the board’s decision oriented” and that he is skeptical integrity of the process. When to fire Reece. The committee has of interim President Green. push comes to shove and there pages on Instagram and Facebook The debate over equity in is disciplinary action, there is a which aim to “ensure that the the district has been brought to legally defined process for that. termination of Dr. Reece does not the forefront in recent weeks We don’t under any circumstances go unnoticed” and to “continue as Norco College students and support any violation of the his legacy on behalf of Norco faculty have argued that the process.”

College.” denial of their projects is a trend.

Haghighat said that those who Jose Marquez, a Norco “I don’t believe anything are demanding the district reveal College student who has been shows the district treats one the reason for Reece’s dismissal active in advocating for Reece, college differently from the rest,” do not have an understanding of expressed the reaction of his Isaac said. “If students at Norco confidential personnel matters. peers to the whole situation. feel that way, we had no intention “These are highly regulated “I can say not only myself, but of doing that.” processes governed by very strict a lot of students are disappointed,” Isaac claims that the districtlabor laws,” Haghighat said. “The Marquez said. “We were shocked wide success rate of students people requesting this are not that it was a unanimous vote but has “tripled in the last five taking into consideration that the we will try to get together and years.” He went on to say that information may come back to organize something.” his administration is doing harm Reece.”

Although Isaac and the district enough now to fix the inequities Reece admitted to applying have been adamant that they will of past administrations, but that for positions at other colleges not release information regarding results do not become apparent shortly before his termination.

Reece’s firing, Marquez feels overnight. “there’s still a way to get an In the midst of the issues See BOARD on Page 2 answer.” between Norco College and the

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August 22, 2019

NEWS BRIEFS

News

Board votes to terminate After three hours of public comment, the Board of Trustees voted to fire Reece NORCO on Page 1

5K Run/Walk Riverside Athletics and ASRCC will host the 2nd Annual “RCC Athletics Finish on the 50” - 5K race to kick off the 2019-20 athletic seasons Sept. 7 at 7-10 a.m.

Participants will receive medals, t-shirt, snacks, a free ticket to RCC vs. El Camino College game and a free game day parking.

This event is open to the public.

Add Deadline Students on the waitlist for one or more classes have until Sept. 6 to add a class.

Drop with Refund Deadline Students are advised to drop before Sept. 6 to be issued a full refund from dropped classes.

Drop with W Deadline The last day to drop from a class without a “W” appearing on a transcript is Sept. 8.

Students that withdraw following the deadline are able to drop with a “W” before the following Nov. 15 deadline.

Club Rush Riverside City College will host Club Rush on Sept. 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to learn and become involved in a wide range of clubs and organizations.

To s t a y u p - t o date on upcoming events on campus, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org.

If you have event happening on campus that you want to be featured on the calender, send information about the event to viewpoints. managing@gmail.com.

“My plan A is to stay at Norco for a very long time,” Reece wrote in an email to Norco College faculty June 8. “But with a family who still depends on my income, I need a plan B in place.

I am not trying to leave NC, but I need to be realistic about the possibility that I may be forced to exit and I need a plan in place if this happens.”

Rhonda Taube, president of the RCCD Faculty Association, explained that Reece is the only one who can release information regarding his release and the district could be sued if it discloses any information.

“If Reece chooses to contest his termination and take legal action, then that information can be made public,” Taube said.

Taube went on to explain the faculty association’s involvement in finding the facts surrounding the missed opportunity for the $24 million. She claims the association was invited to get involved by Reece and Norco College.

Haghighat supports these claims.

“We were asked by our colleagues to find the facts about the $24 million and find out what went wrong,” Haghighat said.

“The responses we got from the chancellor were different than what we got from Reece. Because of the discrepancies, we had to take the investigation further.”

Haghighat claims the investigation was taken to the board and that the board gave information “in line with the chancellor.” He said the board then “needed to further investigate the issues” and “promised” to provide a report once all the facts were found.

YESENIA HUBY | VIEWPOINTS

A packed room at the Board of Trustees meeting June 11. Supporters and protesters fill the board meeting in wait of the verdict on President Reece.

“That same night, everyone was shocked by a sudden report from Peggy Campo and Dr. Reece,” Haghighat said, referring to the board meeting on May 21. “It was shocking because in the middle of the fact-finding, the faculty association was accused of leaving unanswered questions.”

C a m p o , t h e D i s t r i c t ’s Academic Senate president, has expressed that she meant to voice her concerns and not to attack Isaac.

Haghighat expressed that he sympathizes with the sentiments of Norco College students and faculty. He disagrees with the “emotional tactics,” not the emotions.

“I applaud our Norco colleagues for coming to board meetings and exercising their democratic rights,” Haghighat said. “Our alliance is not to individuals. It is to the students and colleges. We cannot and must not violate the processes for Dr. Reece, for Dr. Isaac, for any

individual.”

Haghighat also expressed his support for the chancellor and his belief that Isaac is committed to equity for all three colleges in the district. He admits that there has been a history of inequity in the district, but to say that there is no equity in the present is “utter nonsense.”

He urges people to demand that the process become more equitable instead of working against the upcoming bond measure if Reece is not reinstated.

At the board meeting June 11, Corona City Council member Yolanda Carrillo warned the board that the decision to fire Reece would cause trouble when it came to the bond measure.

Carrillo’s argument is that if people in the region are let down, they will not be willing to vote for increased taxes in order to fund initiatives at the colleges.

“The area we live in is a big voting block,” Carrillo said. “We’ve been through lost opportunities in the past three

years. We are not going to forget about this. The area will not be happy when it comes time to vote.”

Carrillo, who is involved in Reece’s presidential advisory board, said Norco College had been moving in a forward direction in the last three years but that the district’s funding mechanism is still not equal.

“We are now at a standstill,” Carrillo said. “The presidential advisory board will continue to meet and plan what our next move is.”

Norco College student Kathy Vaiasuso expressed her fear of what the decision to terminate Reece could do moving forward.

“They went after Reece, who was a voice for students,” Vaiasuso said. “He told staff and students about the $24 million and one week later he was terminated. What’s to stop the chancellor from stopping students from speaking out?”

Norco College student Alan Ruelas expressed the feeling that Norco College will be “just another regular school” without Reece.

“The district should be more realistically connected to students,” Ruelas said.

Contrary to the beliefs of some of his critics, Isaac claims that the $24 million were not a sure thing. He maintains that the opportunity was only for an application for the funding.

Isaac was unable to guarantee anything or give a time estimate for when he believes on-campus housing for homeless veterans and foster youth will be a reality in this district. Yet, he has gone on the record saying he was told

by Cervantes that she applies for that funding every year and that the district will be working with the representative going forward.

Norco student aims for shared governance ERIK GALICIA STAFF REPORTER

The No Saddles Committee, a student activist group at Norco College, is aiming to add two more student trustees to the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees consists of five trustees and one non-voting student trustee.

“The idea of shared governance doesn’t feel like it will be accomplished, but we are going to try anyway,” Thalia Moore, an Norco College student that started the No Saddles Committee, said. “One nonvoting representative is not going to accomplish that.”

Moore started the No Saddles Committee to advocate for former Norco College President Bryan Reece after the Board’s decision to fire Reece on June 11. Many Norco College students and faculty protested Reece’s firing

and argued that the college’s autonomy was under violation.

“Since the board is not likely to reverse its decision on Dr. Reece, we have had a difficult time over the summer on finding our biggest objectives,” Moore said.

According to Moore, the committee plans on “expanding protection for all students.”

“Several students asked me to speak on their behalf at the board meeting,” Moore said, referring to the June 11 board meeting at which protesters spoke on behalf

of Bryan Reece.

Moore alleges that students were advised by some faculty “not to speak negatively at the board” because of the possibility that they would be disciplined by the district.

“Students should be able to speak out without punishment,” Moore said.

After the district’s decision to not move forward on an application for $24 million in state funding for housing at Norco College and Reece’s termination, Norco College

The idea of shared governance doesn’t feel like it will be accomplished, but we are going to try anyway.

-- Thalia Moore, a Norco College student who started the No Straddles Committee to advocate in support of former Norco College president, Bryan Reece

students and faculty put forth the argument that there is a lack of financial equity in the district.

However, Moore alleges that there is also unfair treatment of Norco student transfers to Riverside City College.

RCCD Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac has disputed these claims repeatedly and urges students to show up to discuss their concerns with him during his visits to the district’s campuses.

The district chose former RCC vice president of Planning and Development, Monica Green, to be the interim president of Norco College on June 20.

Prior to accepting the position at RCC, Green served as Norco College’s vice president of Student Services. This will be Green’s second stint as interim president. She previously led Norco College in 2016-2017.

“I am hoping that Monica remains an advocate for Norco College students,” Moore said.

LIFE

August 22, 2019

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“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

- ElEanor roosEvElt

Food Review: Where’s the Beef?

ANGEL PEÑA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In-n-out #1 Consistency is something to expect when visiting any In-nOut location. At a glance their menu is simple, only 3 burger options, soft drinks, shakes and fries. Although simple, this menu attracts customers from all over the country. The location on 7467 Indiana Ave here in Riverside is no exception to these characteristics. None of the other burgers on this list can beat In-nouts prices. For just over $7, they serve the essence of Southern California embodied in a meal.

A “Double-Double”, fries, and a soft drink is a combination recognized by almost everyone.

For the burger enthusiast exists In-n-Out’s infamous “secret

menu”, where classic burgers and dreams collide.

Editor’s order: 4x4 mustard fried with pickles, raw and grilled onions, sliced chillies and extra spread with a side of fries with spread and sliced chillies.

Slater’s 50/50 #2 The epitome of gourmet burgers has just arrived in Riverside with a new Slater’s 50/50 being built on the corner of University Avenue and Market Street. With the price of their burger titled “The Best Damn Bacon Cheeseburger” coming in at just over $13, it is well worth it considering the flavor explosion that is experienced with every bite. Starting with Angus Beef, thick cut bacon, cheese, and the works, this is the older more refined brother of In-n-Outs famous “Double-Double”.

Slater’s 50/50 never disappoints, their unique take on the classic and humble cheeseburger will be the center of any food enthusiasts conversation.

Editor’s order: “The Best Damn Bacon Cheeseburger” with the works, sweet potato fries and bacon ketchup.

The Habit Burger Grill #3 “Breaking the habit” should be the name of this restaurant.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CANSTOCKPHOTO

Their burgers are picture perfect every time, what you see on the menu is what you get. Nestled between two perfectly toasted buns lies two patties, bacon, cheese, and the works, all working together to give you an almost perfect burger experience.

Next to this masterpiece are golden and perfectly crisp french fries. There are two things that can be counted on, that the sun will rise tomorrow and that the

fries will be perfect every time a customer orders them.

Editor’s order: Double bacon cheeseburgers with the works and a side of fries with malt vinegar.

Mission Burger #4 Tucked in a corner on 4606 Pine St in Riverside , it is easy to overlook Mission Burger. When entering the customer is greeted by the same friendly staff every time. This is another one of those restaurants where you can always

count on a great burger. Coming in at just under $10 this burger is well worth the price. The size of this sandwich is almost sharable.

However once a customer tries it they are not going to let anyone get a bite, they are that good.

E d i t o r ’s o r d e r : B a c o n avocado cheeseburger with extra spread and a side of fries.

Johnny’s Burgers #5 Finding a classic cheeseburger is more difficult than it seems.

Some burgers have too much going on and others have too little to offer. At Johnny’s Burgers they created a burger with the perfect balance between size, taste and price to offer to their customers. For $10 a customer can get a grilled to perfection cheeseburger with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions alongside a heaping portion of french fries that do not disappoint. The burgers served here taste homemade and they might actually be better than your mom’s. Located on 4825 La Sierra Avenue, Johnny’s Burgers is just a short trip away to satisfy anybodies burger cravings.

Editor ’s Order: Double Cheeseburger with the works and a side of fries.

RCC Student’s Survival Guide: Tips and Tricks

DIANA CABRAL INTERIM PHOTO EDITOR

College does not have to be the most stressful time in a person’s life. Riverside City College provides many programs and resources to ensure student success and wellbeing.

Student Resources Student Health and Psychological Services is located next to the bookstore in the Bradshaw Building. Students can receive individual and group counseling, women’s health screenings, family planning services, low cost physicals for RCCD program requirements, over-the-counter medications, condoms, first-aid care and more.

The Resource Center is in

the Bradshaw Building above the cafeteria. With a student ID number students have access to free scantrons, snacks and personal hygiene products.

The bookstore offers textbook rentals and purchases, school supplies, food, electronics and laundry detergent.

The Disability Resource Center, the Veterans Center, Student Financial Services, academic counseling and the assessment center are located in the Charles A. Kane Building.

The Ujima Project offers counseling, tutoring, guest speakers and educational tools to African-American students.

Ujima is located in the Bradshaw Building.

La Casa offers counseling, tutoring, guest speakers, and educational tools to Hispanic students. La Casa is also located in the Bradshaw Building.

Club Rush takes place September 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clubs are a good way to make friends, get involved with the community and gain volunteer hours. If students find themselves in need of a club that does not exist they can create their own club through the Inter Club Council.

There are gender neutral bathrooms throughout campus.

Locations are listed on RCC’s website under the ALLY link.

Financial Help Apply for FAFSA. That is free money for college that students are not expected to pay back.

There are BankMobile ATMs located on campus. There are no fees applied when students use their BankMobile financial aid debit card.

Wait until the first day of school to purchase textbooks.

Some professors may use different materials than what is recommended. Be sure to check for affordable alternatives like Chegg, Amazon, CampusBooks and eBay. The Digital Library allows students to check out textbooks with a student ID card.

Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) offers a book voucher, priority registration and transfer assistance.

Prepare meals and bring them to school to save money. Students are free to use the microwaves in the cafeteria.

Students can ride the bus for free when they swipe their student ID card.

Life Hacks Take care of your mental health.

Student Health and Psychological Services offers workshops that help students cope with traumatic events, manage stress and anxiety, adopt a healthy lifestyle and improve relationships. Contact the SHPS at (951) 222-8151 for more information.

Get to campus an hour early during the first few weeks of the semester to secure a parking spot.

Students can connect to “RCCD_Inet” with their student email and password for free access to WiFi. The syllabus can be used as a rough study guide, it outlines important dates and the lesson plans for the current semester.

Use the time between classes to study. The Digital Library has resourceful librarians, computers, a student lounge, study rooms and plenty of tables for student use.

The Quad has benches, tables, vending machines and nice lawns for students to enjoy.

Have at least one study buddy in each class. Peer support can prove useful when life happens and students have to miss a day of class.

Both the Math Learning

Center (MLC) and the Writing and Reading Center (WRC) are located in the MLK Building.

Tutoring services are offered here.

Campus Safety With the Rave Guardian app students can alert RCCD police or call 9-1-1 with the push of a button. There is a Safety Timer escort feature that will alert the authorities if a student does not reach their destination within the given time frame.

Emergency call boxes are located all over campus that will alert authorities at the push of a button.

Students can request a campus police escort at any time. Contact the RCCD Police Department at (951) 222-8171 for more information.

There are signs that indicate accessibility points throughout campus for students with disabilities. This includes elevators, ramps and curbs that have been updated to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information on resources please visit RCC’s website rcc.edu or request help at the information desk in the Kane Building.

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August 22, 2019

SPORTS SEPTEMBER “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.”

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Women’s Volleyball RCC at Long Beach 5 p.m.

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Women’s Volleyball Wo m e n ’s C r o s s RCC vs. College of Country the Desert 5:30 p.m. RCC at Palomar Invitational 9 a.m.

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Men’s Water Polo RCC vs. Inland Empire Classic at University of Redlands TBA

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18 Men’s Water Polo RCC vs. Fullerton 3 p.m.

Wo m e n ’s Wa t e r Polo RCC vs. Fullerton 4 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball RCC at Pasadena City 5 p.m.

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25 Men’s Water Polo RCC vs. Santa Ana 3 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball RCC at Cypress 6 p.m.

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Women’s Basketball RCC at NTS Santa Ana College Showcase TBA Men’s Basketball RCC vs. Fresno TBA

All dates and times subject to change

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- MICHAEL JORDAN

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Wo m e n ’s C r o s s Football Country RCC vs. El Camino RCC at Palomar 6 p.m.

Invitational 9 a.m.

Men’s Cross Country RCC at Palomar Invitational 9 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball RCC at San Benardino Valley 11 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball RCC vs. West L.A at San Benardino Valley 2 p.m.

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Wo m e n ’s C r o s s Country RCC at Southern California Preview 10 a.m.

Men’s Cross Country RCC at Southern California Preview 10 a.m.

Wo m e n ’s Wa t e r Polo RCC at American River TBA

Men’s Water Polo RCC vs. Inland Empire Classic at University of Redlands TBA Wo m e n ’s Wa t e r Polo RCC at American River TBA

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Wo m e n ’s C r o s s Country RCC at Golden West Invitational 10 a.m.

Men’s Cross Country RCC at Golden West Invitational 10 a.m.

Wo m e n ’s Wa t e r Polo RCC vs. Riverside Tournament TBA Women’s Volleyball RCC vs. Golden West 6 p.m.

Wo m e n ’s Wa t e r Polo RCC vs. Riverside Tournament TBA Football RCC vs. San Bernardino Valley 6 p.m.

Wo m e n ’s Wa t e r Polo RCC vs. San Joaquin Delta at 2019 River Rage TBA

Football Women’s Volleyball RCC vs. Fullerton RCC vs. Mt. San at Yorba Linda High Jacinto 2 p.m.

School1 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball RCC vs. San Diego Mesa 4 p.m.

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Men’s Water Polo RCC at Cuesta Tournament TBA Women’s Volleyball RCC vs. Santa Ana 6 p.m.

Women’s Basketball RCC at NTS Santa Ana College Showcase TBA Men’s Water Polo RCC at Cuesta Tournament TBA Football RCC vs. Long Beach 6 p.m.

Join Viewpoints • Serve your community • Viewpoints needs writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, designers, podcasters and videographers

Mandatory orientations for Viewpoints students will be held in the Journalism Building at Riverside City College on August 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. (attend any one of these meetings).

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August 22, 2019 Tell

Campus Conversations

How do you commute to campus everyday?

Views

us whaT you Think, in a letter to the editor, in an email.

Green card or welfare?

JONATHAN RAMIREZ INTERIM MANAGING EDITOR

“Well right now I get in my boyfriend’s car. But usually when I start the Fall Semester, I will be getting here in the amtrak. From Corona West to Downtown Riverside. It’s my first year at this college.”

-Sonia Martinez

“I drive here for only about 15 minutes. It’s only a few miles from here.”

-Tabitha Aguirre

“On my bike. I ride my bike here everyday. I live about point 5 miles away or not even a quarter of a mile away. It’s just so hot, I would rather get here faster.”

-Eddie Gonzalez

“Public charge” is a term historically used in a veil of racism to justify the restraint of immigration based on race or ethnicity. 137 years later, in 2019, we still use it.

The term “public charge” was created during the Immigration Act of 1882 in order to add categories for inadmissible aliens.

The document was meant to prohibit access to foreigners “of any convict, lunatic, or idiot, or any person unable to take care of him or yourself without becoming a public charge,” according to the actual document.

Later this year, that definition will be expanded and abused as it always has been.

On an episode of “Morning Edition” on NPR on Aug. 13, Rachel Mar tin speaks with Ken Cuccinelli, acting head of Citizenship and Immigration Services, in regards to a new “public charge” rule announced last Monday that is set to be implemented Oct. 15.

If enacted, this new rule would obligate immigration authorities to unfairly prove whether or not an applicant for a green card would be a burden to our country’s government based on what welfare programs they have or may need. Even if it’s legally available to them.

Legal immigrants that use or may need public benefits like

IMAGE COURTESY OF CANSTOCKPHOTO

Section 8 housing vouchers, food stamps and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will heavily count negativly towards the applicant and could result in their green card being delayed or completely rescinded, according to an article by CBS News.

Martin, during the interview, recites the lines from Emma Lazar us’s poem “The New Colossus” that says “give us your tired, give us your poor” and asks Cuccinelli if those words are still apart of American ideology.

“They certainly are - give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and

who will not become a public charge,” Cuccinelli said.

The true accomplishment of this regulation will be the pitiless punishment of American-born children and their parents who rely on these welfare programs to either feed their children or raise them especially when they did not think it was going to be a problem.

This regulation blatantly targets poor Latinos for using legally acquirable government a s s i s t a n c e p r og r a m s l i ke healthcare or food as a way to “trim the fat” in favor of immigrants with more wealth out of sheer fear.

In the same article by CBS News, immigrant households that fall under a certain income threshold are going to be subjected to a “public charge” test that would assess their ability to read, write and speak English.

But how can one be a “public charge” when there is no official language in the United States?

This test is irrelevant and does not serve a purpose in deciding whether or not someone can stay here.

The path of citizenship is broken and we need a complete reform, but it won’t happen under this administration.

America exploits minority population “I usually drive from Grand Terrance. So it takes about 15 minutes, maybe more. I feel like we should definitely have more parking spots. I don’t feel like there is enough for the students.”

-Ashley Howard

SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW

Campus

INTERIM NEWS EDITOR

Conversations is an open forum for Riverside City College students to voice their own opinions, views and ideas.

Interviews and photos by Jonathan Ramirez

Four hundred years after the start of slavery in America, the so-called most powerful nation has still not addressed one of our country’s greatest atrocities.

The fact that our country was built on the backs of brutally exploited slaves.

It is a topic that The New York Times Magazine strived to take on in their recent release of “The 1619 Project,” an endeavor that sought to tell the truth about

slavery through the efforts of Black journalists, poets and museum curators.

The project was created to hold a mirror to the sins we have committed as a nation with the hope that we may confront them.

Critics have accused the magazine of pushing propaganda and accusing the magazine of not being objective because the project was carried out by a team made up entirely of Black writers.

To me, this points to a forced culture of innocence that we as a country have created, a brand of patriotism that centers around denying that the U.S. has any flaws. How many times have you spoken to someone adamantly stating that America is the “greatest country in the world” despite being given multiple examples that it’s far from it?

Our country has regarded slavery as a past tense event, one that we have a tradition of

claiming no ownership of. Our history books hardly discuss slavary outside of chapters on the Civil War and our high schools treat African American history courses as optional.

This project serves to prove that slavary has a defining role in every aspect of the United States’ institutions, from politics to healthcare.

More importantly, this is a time for our country, specifically white people, to realize that now is the time to listen and not attempt to take the reigns of this discussion. The discomfort these conversations bring are well worth the long term outcome.

During this vital point in

our history, it is crucial that we accept the brutal truths of our country, look within ourselves and stop justifying them.

The way we learn and talk about slavary has to come with the understanding that it was not a marginal role in the story of our nation, but the ground on which it was developed on.

We have to look back if we a re ever goi ng to pave a path for ward. That star ts with understanding that Black people must lead the narrative on our country’s reeducation about slavary and it is up to the public as much as it is up to our country’s leaders to intently listen.

We have to look back if we are ever going to pave a path forward.

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August 22, 2019

Views

Rise of Domestic Terror

Editorial

Manifesto targets Hispanic community in America

ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA MILLS

“I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion.”

This is a statement taken from the manifesto of Patrick Crusius minutes before he killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso.

It is a statement that mirrors President Donald Trump’s ongoing blatantly racist rhetoric. Trump has referred to immigration as an “invasion” at least two dozen times in the past year. For example, during a recent campaign rally in Florida, Trump used the word “invasion” seven times in less than a minute.

The manifesto also expresses support for the suspect in the massacre at the Christchurch mosque in New Zealand in March, which targeted the Muslim community, and a manifesto written in connection with that mass murder in which 51 people were killed.

This is not the first case in which the president’s

words have empowered his avid supporters to commit hate crimes and it won’t be the last. A 2018 F.B.I report shows that hate crimes have increased for a third consecutive year, indicating that of the more than 7,100 hate crimes reported last year, three out of five were motivated by race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.

The president’s hate speech is an atrocity that has poisoned the highest office of our nation and, at large, our country. The damage that his hate speech alone has caused will take decades to undo, if such a task is even possible.

This should come as no surprise. During the 2016 election, Trump received the endorsement of former Ku Klux Klan leader, David Duke, who stated that Trump’s policy plans aligned with the KKK’s vision of America. Trump never disavowed the endorsement and has gone on to condone the actions of his white supramacist supporters.

Duke would go on to say that the white supremacist Charlottesville protests were the “fullfillment of President Donald Trump’s vision for America.” A statement that was also never condemned by Trump.

Despite Trump’s claims that he is “the least racist person,” he has committed to using hate speech as his primary reelection strategy. As of Aug. 7, Trump’s reelection campaign team has posted more than 2,000 Facebook ads that include the word “invasion” in reference to immigration across the southern border.

Having the president of the United States endorse hateful beliefs and echo white supremacist ideals only serves to provide extremists with a sense of impunity.

Words matter. They have an impact and they have consequences. Especially when they’re shouted by the president of the United States.

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

LETTERS

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Angel Peña (951) 391-2353 viewpoints@rcc.edu INTERIM MANAGING EDITOR Jonathan Ramirez viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Angel Peña viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu

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Baseball Field Softball Field (Ab Brown) Early Childhood Education Ceramics Art Gymnasium (Arthur N. Wheelock) Athletics/Coaches’ Office Fitness Room Stadium (Arthur N. Wheelock Field) Weight Room Nature Trail (Arlene & Robert F. Richard) North Hall College House Riverside Aquatics Complex Technology B International Students Center Printing & Graphics Center Technology A Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Career/Technical Education Welding Automotive Technology Lovekin Complex College Safety and Police, L1 - 3 Gateway to College (GTC), L4 - 9 Photo Lab & Studio, L12 - 14 Tennis, L10 Tennis Courts (Fran Bushman) Gymnasium (Catherine S. Huntley) Dance Pilates Studio (Eleanor H. Crabtree) Warehouse Facilities, Maintenance, & Operations Cosmetology Alumni House - 3564 Ramona Drive Foundation Parking Structure Practice Field