October 4, 2012
An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922.
Riverside, CA | www.viewpointsonline.org
Vol. xci, No. 3
Riverside City College
An artist’s living dream DreamWorks animator and Academy Award Winner David Wolter visits art students at RCC For
News
see Pages 2-5
Jeremy fuerte / news Editor
ARt appreciation: David Wolter looks over the best pieces of work from art students and gives them advice on where it could take them.
RCC blows out Long Beach, 75-12 page 16
An article that started a career at RCC page 15
RCC men’s water polo is No. 1 in its conference page 17
2 | October 4, 2012
Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
News
College settles with basketball coach According to the Press Enterprise, Riverside Community College District has settled a lawsuit filed by Alicia Berber, women’s basketball coach, in which she alleged sexual harassment and discrimination, based on her ethnicity and a hostile work environment. The district paid $250,000 to settle the lawsuit and Alicia Berber is in a contract to remain the women’s basketball coach for two more years. The Riverside Superior Court case was dismissed on Aug. 22.
Active Minds at RCC promotes mental health Active Minds is hosting mental health awareness week from Oct. 9 to 11 where they are bringing awareness to different mental illnesses every day. According to the club, one in four adults is diagnosed with a mental health illness or disorder, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. Active minds is attempting to change the conversation on campus about mental health and informing students on the importance of mental health to students. “As student government, our job is to support and raise awareness about the student body as a whole and do what we can to help them,” said Miguel Bagsit, vice president of Associated Students of Riverside City College.
Oktoberfest coming soon Multicultural Advisory Committee of Associted Sttudent of Riverside City College is scheduled to host Oktoberfest on Oct. 16 from 12:50 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. There will be free food, games and music for attendees to enjoy. “The October theme is very party; a time for enjoyment,” said Vice President of Associate students of Riverside City College, Miguel Bagsit. Oktoberfest is an annual celebration highlighting the German culture.
Step out: walk to stop diabetes The Associated Students of Riverside City College are participating in a walk to stop diabetes on Oct. 13 at Castle Park. ASRCC has its own Tigers team. “This is a very important cause of our community outreach. We want to participate in empowering the community through events by raising concerns of what our community deals with,” Said Miguel Bagsit, vice president of ASRCC.
RCC implements “park now” Riverside City College is now accepting credit or debit card payments through cell phones to park on campus. It takes a one time registration process then students can pay to park on campus through a p hone application or through their cell phone. Students with cell phones will never have to walk to a meter again.
Dyslexia workshop will be held at RCC A workshop entitled “Dyslexia-Perplexia. Strategies for Success” will be presented on our campus on Oct. 16, in the college hour from 12:50 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. The workshop is scheduled to be in the Riverside City College’s Digital Library Auditorium and includes a presentation of a high-powered program for adults who want to read better. Regina Richards of the Tri-County Dyslexia Association will be presenting at the workshop and all are invited.
Jeremy fuerte/ news editor
Looking Foward: Willy Quezada posts a stick it note to the trophy
case highlighting areas of the budget which the district shouldn’t cut.
“Plan B” forum creates ideas Jeremy FUerte News Editor
On Sept. 28, Associated Students of Riverside City College held an open forum discussing what would happen if prop 30 fails and what should be done if “Plan B” must be implemented. Following a brief introduction by Doug Figueroa, Rhonda Taube, instructor of the art and representative of the teachers association, explained the differences between proposition 30, 32 and 38 urging students to vote for proposition 30. “You have to get the word out that it’s yes on 30, no on 32, and no on 38,” Taube said. “We have to do what we can to make sure that prop 30 doesn’t fail… If you can get your friends, if you can get your parents, if you can get your relatives, anybody you know to vote yes on 30.” If proposition 30 fails, then the school will have to implement an $8.2 million trigger cut that is the focus on plan B. However, if proposition 30 does pass, further cuts will not be implemented as long as the income tax increase on those who make more than $250,000 and the quarter of a cent sales tax brings in the anticipated revenue. “What the district is proposing is closing one of the intersessions, either winter or summer, and we think that is unacceptable,” Taube said. “That is going to cause entire programs to shut down, it’s going to back you up and jam you up even more when you’re trying to transfer.” If the district cuts one of the intersessions it will save $5 million but there is still $3.2 million deficit. “The district has said we, [the district], will absorb $1 million of that,” Taube said. “They have yet to take a cut yet… What we would like to do as the faculty union, what we are proposing is that there are many alternatives which the district will not look at.” Among these cuts which the faculty union is proposing is funding for the Riverside school of the arts, now known as the Coil School of the Arts, which Rhonda said isn’t serving classes yet. Another cut the union is proposing is to cut the Ben Clark Training Center which they believe
the county should take over. In order for the district to serve the students best interest, Taube urges students to voice their opinions. “The one thing you can really do is to present a unified voice at board meetings,” she said. “Board meetings are something that are so important that our board of trustees hear from you, your individual voices, and I think it’s crucial that you form this unified voice.” For their part, ASRCC is attempting to help unify that voice and bring as much of the student body together to present ideas to the board of trustees on what should be cut, what shouldn’t be cut and what other sources of revenues should the district and colleges look at. “This is just the beginning of the student voice,” Figueroa said. “This is where we start doing our brainstorming the next step is putting this all together and then communicating to our district to our board of trustee members.” Cutting summer and winter sessions will be a “quick solution” according to Figueroa but “we think different.” After splitting up the crowd into small groups, students were asked to brainstorm and present ideas as to what the district could do differently to best serve the students. The area which students did not want to cut included summer and winter sessions, childcare services, disability services and class sections. Students preferred to cut cost from the top down including getting rid of the cell phone stipend for administration, raising the co-pay of health benefits from zero dollars to ten dollars and requiring the district do business on campus rather than leasing the office space in downtown riverside which RCCD uses. Among the most innovative solutions to produce revenue for the school and district were to lease space for food vendors, lease out parts of the school for special events and get rid of the alcohol ban on campus. “Leave your legacy,” Figueroa said. “What I’m hearing most from the students and what I will take away from this and tell the board is to cut from the top down and to not let the district impact students ability to attend college.”
Viewpoints
News
October 4, 2012 | 3
Spotlight on Proposition 30 Serving students since 1922
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office holds a conference call discussing the implications of Proposition 30
Brianne Mcclaflin asst. News Editor The main message conveyed during the editorial briefing on Sept. 26, held by California’s Community College Chancellor’s Office, was that colleges are at risk if Proposition 30 does not pass this November. Students of California’s Community Colleges have faced with fewer class selection, fewer instructors, decreased enrollment, higher fees, and larger class sizes. The Community College system has been cut by 12 percent, or $809 million, over the past eight years. Now colleges are facing a possible $338 million cut this January if Proposition 30 does not pass. The California Community College’s Active Chancellor Erik Skinner, the Vice Chancellor for College Finance Dan Troy, and the Student Senate President of California Community College Rich Copenhagen held a media teleconference with various
California Community College reporters and faculty advisors, to discuss the budget and the Proposition 30 ballot initiative. Proposition 30 is a tax initiative that will increase sales tax by 12 percent, or one-fourth of a cent, for four years, and will increase income tax on households earning more than $500,000 for seven years. If Proposition 30 is rejected, nearly $6 billion dollars will be cut in education. “Look at the grand scale, you have these cuts that come to class size cuts. Enormous amounts of money are being reduced from their budget, class room sizes are increased, which lowers the quality of teaching,” Copenhagen said. “ We h a v e o u r s u p p o r t services... These services empower students who may not have the opportunities, and we are cutting those.” Skinner agrees with Copenhagen. “These cuts are targeting students who need it the most.” Skinner said that even though there is more of a demand for
college education, due to the largest graduating class in history and because of the unemployed seeking to further their education, the state is not able to fund this demand. The budget cuts are undermining the opportunity to supply the demand of enrollment. “A lot of tough news; a lot of bad news. Colleges are staying focused on their mission, to serve as many students as best that we can, with what we have,” Skinner said. The only control colleges have to easily reduce spending is by either turning away students or cutting course options. Transferred courses are cut less often than non-transferrable. This means that art courses are the most likely to be cut. The question was raised on how California is going to stay competitive as a state. Troy said, “(College education is) an investment. For every dollar they receive $4.50. (There is a) big return on education, and we need to make this, to be competitive and to go forward.”
An informal survey was conducted by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, which stated that 70 percent of colleges have lower enrollment than last year, 70 percent are offering fewer course selections compared to last fall, 87 percent reduced staffing levels over the last few years due to budget cuts (many in part-time faculty), and 80 percent have wait-lists for fall courses with an average of 7,252 students on its wait-lists. Within the last three years colleges reduced summer and winter intersessions by 50 percent. Troy, the expert on the budget, said that if Proposition 30 passes Community Colleges will receive $210 million in new money. He admits that this money will not go directly to the classrooms, but will go toward paying back deferral. About 50 million will fund growth or new enrollment, and the rest to deferment. Colleges that have to borrow to provide services are called a deferral. If Proposition 30 does not pass, they estimate the total loss of
students to be around $180,000. “After all the loss,” Troy said, “We can’t take this.” Troy also wanted to make it clear that Proposition 38 does not provide aid to Community Colleges. Since Proposition 30 and 38 are both tax initiatives, only one can pass. Therefore, the proposition with the most votes will pass. “Another round of budget cuts can be the final straw that breaks the camel’s back,” Troy said. Copenhagen gives his own opinion on the tax cuts on higher education, and the importance of the tax proposal. “California has devalued higher education. It is not a matter of politics or taxing on who, it is a tax proposal that is a clear step in the right direction,” Copenhagen said. “We will face a California that looks very different. We will lose the ability to train workers, raise well informed children, and lose the path to a career they want to go towards. We will be shipping out to other school in other states.”
ASRCC host an open forum for students on Proposition 30 Associate Students of Riverside City College discuss the prospects of Proposition 30 passing or failing on the November ballot Jordan Ward STaff writer The boom of a microphone invited willing listeners to the steps of the Martin Luther King Jr. Teaching and Learning Center to increase awareness over propositions that can have farreaching effects on millions of Californians. On Sept. 19, Associate Students of Riverside City College hosted an open forum to present the legislative issues surrounding Proposition 30. During this time, students were informed on the importance of Proposition 30, and ways they could encourage others to vote this November. Jose Medina, former Riverside Community College District Trustee and California State Assembly candidate, described
the need for students to vote yes on Proposition 30 and no on Proposition 38. “The educational system in California will have the funding that it needs and deserves,” said Medina. “Voting yes on Proposition 30 will be a move in the right direction.” Along with Medina, Mark Sellick, associate professor of political science and economics, explained the repercussions of Proposition 30 not being voted upon on the November ballot. “The result is that colleges will close in the area. That can have repercussions on student enrollment and financing for students at RCC,” Sellick said. Proposition 30 is a statewide initiative that would raise the income tax of those earning at least
$250,000 a year, and sales taxes by a quarter cent next year, to increase revenue for the California school system. Returns from this seven year plan are designed to help close the state’s budget gap, as well as prevent shorter school years, limited resources, and higher tuition. The projected revenue increases would generate $6.8$9 billion dollars in 2012 with an additional $5.4 to $7.6 billion through 2018. The state’s fiscal year budget assumes added revenue with the passing of Proposition 30. However with its possible rejection, a series of spending reductions will go into effect. These reductions, otherwise known as trigger cuts, will result in a $5.5 billion cut to education across all levels; the
hardest hit being public schools and community colleges. Because Propositions 30 and 38 are mutually exclusive, the one with the majority of votes will be enacted. The state constitution proves that when two measures conflict, as in the case of Propositions 30 and 38, the one that holds more votes, regardless of whether voters wish to enact both, will be instituted over the other. The chief advocate of Proposition 38, Molly Munger, calls for progressive tax increases over 12 years with the resulting $10 billion in revenue going to education and bond-debt repayment. Proponents of Proposition 38 describe Proposition 30 as a means of only temporarily
repairing a problem that can only be resolved through reform of the California educational system and the pension system to save money. Supporters of Proposition 30 think otherwise. Gov. Jerry Brown views it as a central component of a long-term solution to balance the budget. The overall goal of Brown’s budget plan is focused on protecting education, public safety, and other core state services while improving management of the state’s volatile economic structure. “The most important thing for students to do to help pass Proposition 30 is to help spread the word,” Medina said, “Talk among each other, write letters to the newspaper, and lastly be active participants in open forums about issues such as this.”
Associated Students of RCC helps students register to vote Tabitha Caranza Staff writer The nuisance’s on campus harassing students while walking to class have caused such a problem that they are being removed. In response,the Associated Students of Riverside City College is supporting voter registration on campus from October 2 to October 17. During these days students will learn why it is so important to register, and with perfect timing for the November elections. The ASRCC Student Body President, Doug Figueroa, plan is to spread awareness throughout the campus. “It’s so important to get students to recognize that they do
have a voice, and that comes in a form of a vote,” he stated, “We just want to make sure that there is awareness out there.” The goal for the voter registration day is to get as many people to register as possible. Another reason why it is important to register this year is because of the propositions on the ballot this election. Prop 30 is one of the main concerns this year as it directly affects RCC. “If Prop 30 should pass, there would be about $8 million in budget cuts throughout the district,” Figueroa said. Programs in the school and staff members will ultimately have to be cut. Statistics say that most people
between the ages of 18 and 25 do not vote, said Garrett McCarver, Senate Chair of the Legislative Branch. “The demographic of students are usually some of the lowest turnouts for voters,” he said. It is said that the young people are the future, and the choices they make today will shape that future. Many students believe that registering to vote is very important in order to let their voices be heard and an opportunity to change society for the better. “Through voting, we are able to make a difference,” stated Lucille Mere, student and registered voter, “A good majority of people weren’t given that chance. We should put it
to good use.” Although it is not set in stone yet, ASRCC would like to branch out their voting efforts to high school students. “We want to reach out to 18 year old students in high school,” said Senator Gabby Mendoza, “We want to educate them on propositions and the voting process.” Having the event on campus is a great opportunity for students who are not yet register to vote to get involved in society. Being able to vote means you can express your opinion on political topics and help positively change the country. The difference between voting and not voting is “being active
versus passive,” said Micah Carlson, Director of Media. Students believe it is important to vote because they will be most affected by what happens this November. “We have the most at stake,” McCarver said. “The people that do show up for voting are not going to be around for as long. They are not the ones that have to deal with the consequences.” Oct. 22 is the last day to register to vote, so if you are not yet registered and are interested in learning about the benefits of voting, please visit ASRCC’s website at www.rivasrcc.org, for more details on how you can this October.
Viewpoints
DreamWorks wows students Serving students since 1922
4 | October 4, 2012
News
DreamWorks animator and Academy Award winner David Wolter visits Riverside City College Jeremy Fuerte News Editor After a brief period of uncertainty on Sept. 28, in which the Instructional Media Center forgot about a scheduled event at Riverside City College’s digital library, students shuffled into an art classroom to hear from David Wolter, a Dreamworks animator and Academy Award Winner. As it turned out, that was perhaps the best gift IMC could have handed David and this group of students. “The auditorium would have been awkward,” David said. “I love that we’re in this room because you walk in here and take a deep breath and it smells like the same art building where I was an undergrad. It’s got this musty, dusty, like nude models have been in here a lot… and it feels appropriate that we’re in an art class room for this discussion.” David took a seat on an art table and dwarfed the majority of students around him. He had the demeanor of an excited child as he spoke about his roots as an artist. “I am almost seven-feet-tall so when I hit about 14 years old I decided basketball was a better path for me. I got more social capital, and by that I mean girls liked me better,” David said smirking. “In the middle of my college basketball career I decided
David followed it by going into the design process. “My first film was very clean, very antiseptic,” David said. “You were in downtown LA… you can eat a meal off of that film and not get any bacteria.” David didn’t want Eyrie to be like his first film and to show that he utilized the white board and a metaphor involving two hard boiled eggs. “When you peel a hardboiled Michael Walter / special to viewpoints egg you start at the place of least Draw it out: David draws the characters of his film “Eyrie” and resistance, (the explains his fascination of “animal to man” transformation. air seal), because it’s the easiest, everywhere else (the father) becoming an eagle. It’s but encouragement as they try and will be hard to peel but when a dramatic representation of it.” make it in life as an artist. you start at the air seal it caves Davids advice to the students “I think it was more than what right in,” David explained. “A in the packed classroom was to find I thought it was going to be,” hardboiled egg is like your film. their air seal and draw with it. said Timothy Sullivan, a student You want your audience to eat “This is the world inside of at RCC. “In films you see a lot that egg, get that protein, to enjoy animation,” David said as he drew of different aspects put into one that experience, feel nourished a circle on the white board. “This is project so to me it lived higher and entertained by your idea and every animation that has ever been to my expectations because I see how do you do that? You start in done. This is also a ghetto.” someone who went to school, the air seal.” David accidentally created who’s studying the things I want For David, creating his one of the funniest moments of to study and I’m able to see where award winning animated the night through his use of the that can go.” film started with his air seal, term ghetto. The night was a huge success or what he described as that “It’s a ghetto you need to according to the students and ended “unique weirdness” which escape from if you’re going to with David interacting one on one makes each artist unique. be signi... well I don’t want to with them, looking at their art, David’s air seal is human say significant because you can and giving them advice on where beings that take on animal be significant inside the ghetto,” it could take them in the art world. identities. David said pondering his words. Right before meeting the student’s “There’s a group of “You’re funny,” a student in one on one, David imparted some g r o w n m e n r u n n i n g the back of the classroom shouted last words of wisdom. around on that field calling amidst an outburst of laughter. “When you want success as themselves the tigers,” “That took on a double meaning badly as you want air, you will David said as he pointed in I did not want it to have’” David be successful,” David said after the direction of the football replied. “But when I work on he told a tale of a guru and his field. “That exists and it my own personal work I find attempt to drown his student in the blows my mind and there’s influences that are way outside ocean to the classroom. “If I could something in that idea that of the ghetto and that’s when you give you one piece of advice in I freak out about… When leave your own little fingerprint.” animation or in life… if you want Michael Walter / special to viewpoints a guy goes down there and For the students who got to to be successful you need to have Preview: David Wolter plays his film “Eyrie” as a lead up puts that helmet on with tiger meet David, the night was filled that kind of urgency, that degree of to the process he put into animating his Academy Award stripes, it’s the same idea as not only with advice on animating commitment.” Winning Film. I was not meant to be a basketball player, I was meant to be an artist and fortunately I went to a school that had an art department. I started a comic strip in my student newspaper... so I really came in the back door of cartooning to film.” In what would have originally been a formal event, David found a way to use the classroom to his advantage and started by showing two short animated films he worked on. The first was about a fat man who literally found his groove and impressed a girl at a local coffee shop. The second was “Eyrie,” a film which combines elements of mythology and the Native American west in which a boy must protect his flock of sheep against an eagle that his father transforms into. It is a film which he won a gold medal in animation for from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. “(Eyrie) played (at the California Institute of Arts) and I went to go get my wife a drink and I never made it to the drink table,” David said after showing both of his animated films. “Disney, Laika, Pixar and DreamWorks all came up to me and offered me a job.” Showing his two animated films was nothing but a teaching tool and
Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
October 4, 2012 | 5
IllustratioNs
Stacey Patino / Illustration
Top: Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney has been caught on one or more occasion flip-flopping and changing his opinions on important issues. Bottom: California Community Colleges are preparing to defeat Proposition 30 as it can hurt Community Colleges if the proposition does not pass.
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Viewpoints
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October 4, 2012 | 7
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Javier Cabrera (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu eic@viewpointsonline.org MANAGING EDITOR Destiny Rivera 951-222-8488 managingeditor@viewpointsonline.org ADVERTISING MANAGER Breanna Roybal 951-222-8488 ads@viewpointsonline.org FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Jim Burns NEWS EDITOR
Jeremy Fuerte news@viewpointsonline.org OPINIONS EDITOR
Dominique Smith opinions@viewpointsonline.org
Jesus Velosquez / Staff Photographer
Plan B: If Gov. Jerry Browns prop 30 fails students and faculty will need to come up with a plan.
The voice of Plan B
INSCAPE EDITOR
Conner Munson inscape@viewpointsonline.org SPORTS EDITOR
James Williams sports@viewpointsonline.org
The future of Riverside Community College District is dependent upon the result Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, Proposition 30. Prop 30 is a tax measure that would fund education, including Community Colleges. Gregory Gray, chancellor of RCCD, said the District would need to cut $8.2 million if the proposition doesn’t pass. The majority of Riverside City College students are not aware of the tax initiative, that is in play for their future. Either students do not care or do not believe they can impact or change the current crisis on this campus. Proposition 32 and 38 are in place to confuse you, 32 for K-12 education only, and 38 for union busting. Neither funds Community Colleges, they raise taxes on the state, for agendas that benefit a small populous. If this does not scare you the result of the failure in Proposition 30 ruins the pursuit of education, for everyone who attends this college. John F. Kennedy once said “Let us not seek the Republican answer; let us not seek the democratic answer, but the right answer.” The right answer is education. The general Consensus on this campus is: do not allow anymore class cuts to occur, do not cut summer session and winter session; two things essential to RCC students. RCC is a Community College and closing the door to its community members can never be an answer for reallocating funds. Pushing students back and denying them the door to transfer can never be an option. So when that happens to be the first answer to changing the status of fiscal crisis, how, as a student populist, can we impact change? In the ’60s and ’70s students protested various deferent aspects to elicit change, weather for civil rights and peace. The perseverance of those individuals are the reason many changes were made to give us the social lives we are
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used to today. So what is stopping us today? If we take our eyes off our iPhones and Facebook accounts for just a moment, then we can stand up and fight for ourselves, and for the individuals that will walk through these doors after us. Who is to say it won’t have an impact? Plan B depends upon the students to make a difference, to speak up about what you want to see at RCC stay, and what you think is unnecessary. Your voice has a platform. There is a Board of Trustees meeting scheduled Oct. 16. Board meetings are open forum and are a place where anyone with concerns dealing with class cuts or the impact of budget cuts on their future can weigh in. No more programs and classes for RCC students should be put on the chopping block. RCC students have already sacrificed enough; it is time to hold our ground and fight as a united student body rather than disagree and fight each other. However, ideals are needed because if no one speaks up then the administration will be free to do what they wish in deciding what stays and what goes. The golden handshake was supposed to generate funds by offering teachers early retirement, many teachers no longer have a presences on this campus and there still needs to be more cuts? Perhaps we cannot completely overthrow the administration, or officials in Sacramento, but we can withdraw support from their ideals if we feel them to be harmful rather than beneficial. We should put ourselves in the shoes of Kennedy and find a reasonable solution for a problem we already know exists. Yes it is hard to be a student, it is hard to make these decisions but with out a clear plan we will not be able to ever move forward. We will continuously move backward. Do not be afraid to suggest how we can make a change. Even water has to move to get anywhere. We are Plan B, we are the deciding factor.
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Viewpoints
8 | October 4, 2012
Courtney says
Serving students since 1922
Stand your ground
Courtney Coleman Staff Writer Remember in elementary school when nap time was a requirement? Everyone would lay down their mats and blankets (and in my case beach towels because my school was that cheap). Within minutes exhaustion got the best of the class and everyone drifted into dreamland. I have to wonder, what changed? Why hasn’t the tradition of nap time stuck through our adult years? For some people, it has stuck and college nap time is precious. The hard workers, the lazy bums who are at school for no apparent reason, the night owls deprived of sleep and the party animals with no sense of responsibility, these are the ones you’ll find laying around campus taking advantage of free time to catch a few Zs. There’s plenty of places on campus to re-energize and get a good catnap, the most popular being class. Of course that might not sit well with professors, but can you blame us? Obviously recuperating after partying all night is more important than our studies. If you’d rather avoid getting kicked out of class or caught snoring during a lecture, there are other places on campus to catch up on lost sleep. Where are these magical places? Anywhere your heart desires. Curl up in the back seat of a car, lie out on the grass and bask in the sun, or my favorite, find a cozy corner in the library where you can spread out and relax. Clear off a few book shelves in the library and you now have bunk beds at your disposal; thin, hard, metal bunk beds, but we take what we can get at Riverside City College. Maybe you’re a shy student who can’t seem to relax with so many people around. Don’t worry, you need sleep too and there is a solution. “I take prescription drugs,” said Alicia Rivera, a hardworking student. OK, maybe that isn’t the best solution. Nonetheless, being wellrested means a better chance at doing well in school. “(Lack of sleep) can bring down the quality of my work,” said Mario Ortiz, an RCC student. “So when I can take a nap, usually I’m more productive after.” So, my fellow students, brave the vulnerability, sleep when your mind grows weary, don’t be oppressed by librarians who claim you can’t use encyclopedias to create a fortress for your slumber. Get rest where and when you can, because it just might make the difference when it comes to succeeding in college.
Opinions
Stacy patino / illustrator
Under suspicion: Treyvon Martin was suspiciously
dressed wearing a black hoodie when he was approached and shot by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 2012
Devon Everett Staff Writer Self-defense apparently means different things to different people. To George Zimmerman, it means that he can shoot an unarmed black kid and get away with it because of the kid’s appearance. Trayvon Martin was only 17 at the time of the incident. He was temporarily staying in the same gated community that George Zimmerman, a multiracial Hispanic American and coordinator of the neighborhood watch, was living. Zimmerman left his vehicle while still on the phone with the police dispatcher to confront Martin. After the phone call concluded, there was an altercation that ended with Zimmerman shooting Martin once in the chest. The “Stand-Your-Ground” law of Florida states that a person may justifiably use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of an unlawful threat, without an obligation to retreat first. This basically means that you can do anything up to killing someone in “self-defense”, and don’t have to have proof that what you did was justified. This whole story so far is a textbook-style case of racial profiling. The second amendment grants
us the right to bear arms, but the law grants us restrictions on using them. “The Stand Your Ground law basically allows people to do this type of action and claim self-defense without any basis of judgment. As is said, “When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.” Well, you can’t make an ass out of a dead man. Supposedly, law has decreased crime rates in the states that have adopted it. For those states that passed the laws, the violent crime rate did fall from 446.42 per 100,000 residents in 2004 to 431.34 per 100,000 residents in 2009, while those that did not pass them rose from 398.53 to 398.62 over that same timespan. This does seem to indicate some support for this law. The property crime rate fell by 14.5 percent among the 19 “Stand Your Ground” law states, but also for those not passing such laws (31 states plus DC). A 10.95 percent reduction occurred among states not passing such “Stand Your Ground” laws. Well, when you let anyone brandish a weapon and allow them to claim self-defense, of course crime rates are going to drop. I bet our forefathers are turning over in their graves right about now. Trayvon Martin was just your average kid. Today’s current trends are influencing kids to eschew violence, gangs, and image for shuffling, dubsteb, and being yourself. Some of these kids may use drugs, but they aren’t hurting anybody. Which raises the question: What was Trayvon Martin doing that intimidated George Zimmerman?
“I felt he was suspicious because it was raining,” Zimmerman said to NBC News. “He was, cutting in-between houses, and he was walking very leisurely for the weather. … It didn’t look like he was a resident that went to check their mail and got caught in the rain and was hurrying back home. He didn’t look like a fitness fanatic that would train in the rain.” When Sean Hannity of NBC News asked if Zimmerman was threatened by him when he was on the phone with the police dispatcher, he replied, “No, not really.” So should Zimmerman be tried to the fullest extent of the law? Most definitely. He ended a life. Does it not say in the Bible, “Thou Shalt Not Kill?” There is a huge difference between a citizen’s arrest and pulling the trigger on an unarmed man. Maybe if both people were armed, it would be justified, but this particular case is reason enough for the “Stand-your-ground” law to deserve serious revision. There was a fight between Zimmerman and Martin, but it is unclear who started it. Zimmerman may have been the one that started the fight and he may have even been losing. But he had already called the cops. He should have just let the police do their job instead of taking the law into his own hands. If Zimmerman wouldn’t have run outside of his car in pursuit of Martin, the whole scenario may have been prevented. He wouldn’t have gotten into a fistfight, and he wouldn’t have killed a man. This just proves that some people lack common sense. People like George Zimmerman need to be made examples of. Because the hard way is the only way people like him know how to learn. This whole scenario was easily preventable. Zimmerman did not need to engage Martin; he chose to pursue him. There was a clear breach in Zimmerman’s judgment: However, no drug or alcohol tests were conducted at the time. Martin Luther King fought so all races can be treated equally and fairly. This case is solid proof that some people are taking one step in the wrong direction. So what should be done to prevent this scenario from occurring again? First, the “Stand Your Ground” law should be revised for clarity so that people don’t exploit loopholes. Next, the public needs to be aware of cases like this one, so other people don’t make the same mistake Zimmerman did. George Zimmerman’s trial date was on Oct. 3, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. There’s a thin line between upholding the second amendment and the sixth commandment. And once you cross that line, there’s no turning back.
Rape America
mONIQUE bERDUO Staff Writer Missouri congressman and Senate candidate, Todd Akin made a controversial statement concerning his stance on abortion for the sake of rape victims. “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that (pregnancy) is really rare,” he said. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” According to Akin this means there is a newfound subcategory of rape known as legitimate rape. I’m guessing that means illegitimate rape exists? I’m curious as to how Akin would define the difference between the two, and how he could possibly deem any rape victim of having experienced “illegitimate” rape. Akin’s idiotic statement stirred up a frenzy of reactions, mostly negative, from women’s rights activists to educated doctors who found his statement to be contradictory to medical truths. “It undermines and belittles the horror, invasion and desecration they experienced. It makes them feel as alone and powerless as they did at the moment of rape,” said Eve Ensler, an activist, author and rape survivor. It is obvious that Akin, who speaks so insensitively about something he will never experience, is an overwhelming sign that there is still an oppression toward women in this society. Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, agreed that Akin’s comments were offensive and asked that he step down and exit the Senate race. Akin has yet to and refuses to ever step down. On the same token, Romney has no room to talk, because he’s the very man who’s not only opting to revoke contraceptives of all types, but stop government funding to all planned parenthood clinics if elected president. In April, Romney had reiterated his statement concerning any form of contraceptives by saying as president he would move to abolish any chance of being able to do so. At the end of the day, no matter how insulting and insensitive these men may be, they’re toying with the idea of free choice; in this case, women’s free choice. Rape is rape, there is no way to sugar-coat, lessen or move around that fact. Women do not choose that fate, so no man should be allowed to decide how she handles it. In this case, no man should speak on the issue either.
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T h e
x x
Conner Munson Inscape editor The xx was in for a challenge when returning from their massively minimal self-titled debut album. One can only assume that in the three years in between that, and the follow up “Coexist,” the band was floating through space, casting only glances at the wealth of success they had acquired. What was the London-spawned indie pop trio to do with their harshly unique sound, when developing a new set of material? Rather than divert, they have reexamined the idea of space. That sentiment seemed impossible, following the expansive stretch of sound that was their first album. More than a polishing of soundscapes, The xx has refined the style of the songwriting. Guitarist Romy Madley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim have taken another excursion into the vapid depths of their hearts with the succinct, yet heartbreaking lyrics in “Coexist.” The interweaving vocal melodies between the two are like soft, harsh whispers through space, pushing the particles of matter aside as they float eternally onward. Madley Croft and Sim deal with the fecund feelings of factiousness that wander through most people’s lives like romantically forlorn soldiers. They express wars between emotions, senses, and the burden that consciousness carries with its presence. The tracks themselves move in an interestingly organic way. There are no bridges or choruses developed by musicians making music for the sake of making music. Rather, the tracks are as slow as they need to be; possibly reflecting the collective’s phlegmatic crawl past misty-red galaxies and clusters of brilliant white star formations. Feelings of despondence are paired with sparse instrumentation and haunting beats made by the madly creative Jaimie xx (producer). The aggregate of styles and themes that the band portrays translates to an unmatched depth for the listener. One can lose themselves to the guise that The xx has so deviously created. Listening to the poignant lyrics and heartbeat-like percussion on the track “Missing,” will make one look left and right in order to assure themselves that they are not with the band on their astral journey. The listener floats through a field of planets, being subtly tugged at by the gravitational pull of each, yet not disconnected from the liminal beings with whom they travel. You will suddenly realize that it isn’t the planets pulling them from side to side. It is, in fact, their own heads swaying to the captivating sounds The xx has created on “Coexist.” When one has become contented by the airy synths, hushed vocals and Four Tet-esque beats, a reverb-laden guitar melody will soar through the mix, reminding the listener that this is still a band comprised of a guitar, a bass and a computerized human producing the synths and percussion. Moments like this truly do entice the listener, bringing to fruition the ideas of a live show, and how a three-piece band can collapse space and project it onto the curtains behind them. The band has a show in Los Angeles on Oct. 12. If the author may at all interject, it is to call upon everyone to see this act live. Their success has still yet to match their emotive and musical prowess.
Editor’s Score:
9.2
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Looper
monique berduo staff writer Director Rian Johnson, known for projects such as “The Brothers Bloom” and 7 time Emmy award winning sitcom “Breaking Bad,” is now going to be known for his breakthrough action thriller film ‘Looper.’ A majority of big name reviewers and critics have deemed the motion picture phenomenal and a must see for all movie goers; although maybe the film wouldn’t be deemed child appropriate, being that it is rated-R. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is known for big name pictures such as “Inception,” “Dark Knight Rises,” “500 Days of Summer,” 10 Things I Hate about You,” and “Angels in the Outfield,” just to name a few, does an exceptional
job as lead role Joe in “Loober.” In 2011 Levitt was presented with the Hollywood Breakthrough Actor award at the Hollywood Film Festival for his lead role in the movie “50/50” where he plays a struggling melancholy cancer patient. According to an interview by Peter Travers from “Rolling Stone Magazin,” this is the first time Levitt can recall ever being written an actual part in a film. Needless to say Levitt did his character justice, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone else filling those shoes. Levitt co-stars as the young version, perhaps late ’20s early ’20s, of his character along with Bruce Willis who portrays the older and more experienced Joe.
Two time Emmy award winner, Bruce Willis, is known for several projects such as “Die Hard,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Sin City” and “The Sixth Sense.” Willis also has his star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Levitt’s character is a very suave, calm and collected character who has the ability to access whatever his little heart desires. Whereas Willis’ character is much more grounded, who has a complete opposite outlook on life. Although viewers will quickly realize “Looper” is Levitt’s time to shine as an actor. The audience gets to see a young Joe who is hustling his way through difficult times where crime rates are exceedingly high, futuristic drugs are easily accessed,
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Image courtesy of: Zachary Johnson and high class prostitutes are easy to come by. Young Joe is hired to be a target assassin where he meets his victims of the future in a present cornstalk field. Talk about Inception? Joe is living in the year of 2072, and his victims are transported from 30 years in the future via a time travel device that has yet to be invented in young Joe’s present time and is highly illegal in the future. Joe’s job is very simple, he waits for his target to appear a few feet in front of him where he stands at the ready with a blunderbuss, a shotgun that never misses as long as it’s target is 15 feet in range. The object of the game is to automatically shoot your
target, which just so happens to be hooded and tied up, before they get a chance to run. If they run that’s where your job gets complicated, because the job must always be completed. Young Joe comes across a conflicting situation when he goes out to the field and awaits his target to find an unmasked man that appears to be Joe 30 years from his present time. This is where Joe must decide wether or not to end his own life at 30 or let his victim run and face grave consequences from his employers. “Looper” transcends time as we currently know it and places it’s viewer into a futuristic world where the struggle to thrive and survive is eminent.
Vi ew p o i n t s E n t e r t a i n m e n t C a l e n d a r Oct. 4
EVENTS Long Night of Arts & Innovation in downtown Riverside at 6 p.m. Successful Business Writing from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the UCR Extension
Oct. 9
CDS Ellie Goulding “Halcyon” DVDS “Prometheus” “Rock of Ages” GAMES “Dishonored” “Fable: The Journey” “Just Dance 4”
EVENTS EVENTS Broadway in Family Zumba the Basement at at Bobby Bonds Park First Congregational from 10 to 12 p.m. Church Basement Mayor’s Ball for Theater at 7:30 p.m. Arts & Innovation at Human Roast House in Citrus Towers at 6 p.m. downtown Riverside Arlanza Family at 7 p.m. Community Fair Movies MOVIES at Bryant Park “Fame” “Taken 2” at 11 a.m. “Surrogates” “Pandorum” “All Shook Up” at EVENTS EVENTS Landis PAC RufusatWainwright 6th Annual FiftyAlejandra Guzman at the Fox Performing and Better Health Fair Pechanga Arts at Center at 8 p.m. at Janet Goeske Senior Norm McDonald Coming Out Dance at Center fromIrvine 8 a.m.Improv UC Riverside Fine Arts to 2 p.m. from 7:30 p.m. Jeff Goldblum at Music to 10:00 p.m. Center of Los Angeles: Ahmanson Theatre 8 p.m.
Oct. 7
Oct. 8
EVENTS La Sierra University Piano Extravaganza at the Fox Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. Inland Empire Heart Walk at Fairmount Park at 7 a.m.
EVENTS Smart Riverside Golf Charity at Victoria Club at 8 a.m. French Montana at Cafe Sevilla at 9 p.m.
Oct. 12
Oct. 13
EVENTS Forever Plaid at California Baptist University at 8 p.m. Comedy Show at the Canyon Crest Winery at 8:30 p.m.
EVENTS Forever Plaid at California Baptist University at 2 p.m. Heart Walk at Fairmount Park at 7 a.m. Free Family Zumba at Bobby Bonds Park at 10 a.m.
Viewpoints
Inscape
October 4, 2012 | 13
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I n s c a p e : Spotlight
rOSHANIKA WILLIAMS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “Into the Woods” is a play with a twist on classic fairytales. What happened to Cinderella after her prince found out the slipper fit? How well could Rapunzel possibly interact with society after being locked in a tower for 18 years? What did Jack and his mother do with their newly developed wealth? Did Little Red Riding Hood learn her lesson about wandering off and talking to strangers? “Into the Woods” answers these questions, if you wish to fill in the void. As the novels are told, Cinderella and Rapunzel won over their princes, Jack chopped the beanstalk and slain the giant, and Little Red Riding Hood escaped the wolf with the help of the stranger in the forest. What the play “Into the Woods” told was the connection between the four and unleashed the irony that lay beneath happily ever after. The play was centered on the story of the Witch from the fairytale Rapunzel. The Witch paid a visit to her neighbor, the baker, and explained to him that she put a curse on his family. To remove the curse he was forced to go on a scavenger hunt for her. On the baker’s journey we were introduced to Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack, and Little Red Riding Hood. Once the hunt was complete, the irony of happily ever after was revealed. Jack, played by Robert Ramirez, brought the most humor to the
audience. Ramirez added comical pops to scenes with high amounts of tension and suspense. He gave life to Jack. And with seven years of experience, I believe it is safe to assume that he can become any character requested of him. “There’s always usually something that I’ll connect to in a character …standing for a second with milky white and thinking this cow is my favorite pet of all time kind of put me in this child like state,” said Ramirez. The character that stole the spotlight of the play for many was the Witch, played by Andrea
Hilbrant. Hilbrant’s wicked abilities and amazing theatrical singing voice would bring me to see “Into the Woods” a second time. Hilbrant feels most comfortable starring in dramatic plays. She has been singing and acting since she was 4 years old. Now, at age 20, it does not take much of her to get into character. “I just kind of turn it on. As soon as I walk on to stage …I put myself in the circumstance of my character. Imagine having a daughter and she’s all that I have, the only thing I hold precious and dear, and she wants to leave me. I
image courtesy of Crystal klear photography
cAMPUS SPOTLIGHT: Camden Gonzales (Little Red Ridinghood) gently croons to Brandon Sanchez put myself in that situation,” said Hilbrant. Valerie Rachelle, the director of “Into the Woods” has been in the entertainment business since she was a child. Having magicians for parents has given her the upper hand on giving the plays she directs eye opening attributes. She has directed and adapted over 60 plays. The orchestra played beautifully as well. It allowed for
each character’s dialect to stand out to the audience. There was not one moment that I felt a note was misplayed or a beat was skipped. Overall the play was exceptional, and I encourage everyone to see “Into the Woods”. You will be full of laughter and suspense. You will appreciate the time spent. And it will make you linger on the thought of what will happen to your life once you have achieved all of your dreams.
‘Your Poem Here’ This week’s contest winner: Sol by Christopher Rice Sol From Darkness I was born
The Stay Classy Creative Writing Club is holding a contest throughout the fall semester called “Your Poem Here.” Writers can submit poetry (1-25 lines) to stayclassycwc@hotmail.com, and possibly get published in the next issue of Viewpoints. The club judges the poems submitted to it and picks the winner each time. The next deadline is Oct. 12. The club meets every Tuesday 12:50-1:50 p.m. in Room 212 of the Quadrangle.
From Dust and gas, and frigid vastness I grew. My childhood. Alone. Then purpose. As forms of stone and metal, gathered and circled. Shrouded by eternal clouds. My coming of age. I blossomed with light, And let out my first true breath. Scattering the frigid haze, which concealed my flock. My Purpose. I shepherd my children, Through the unknowable abyss. Casting my light out; from the burning of my Soul. like a beacon As we dance around, Twirling through endless dark.
Watch videos produced by Riverside City College Viewpoints by subscribing to “ViewpointsofRCC” and “RCCAthletics” on YouTube.
Viewpoints
14 | October 4, 2012
Serving students since 1922
jonathan rivas / staff photographer
new era: New Riverside City College athletic director Derrick Johnson is adjusting to new surroundings after former director leaves RCC.
New beginnings, and hard work ethics: Derrick Johnson’s recent move to California Monique berduo Staff Writer Traveling from across the country to hold the coveted title of Riverside City College’s new Athletic Director, Derrick Johnson is a man well equipped for the job with an intensive background not just in sports but mass communications and journalism. In July of 2012, Johnson made his first trip from Southern Carolina to Southern California to interview for the position of AD. It was a courageous move on his part to leave everything, his former life as a committed sports contributor for the past 12 years to the Benedict College in Columbia, and a daughter of nine years old behind to transition into the unknown for the sake of a promising career. Thanks to his parents, Johnson had a hard work ethic instilled in him at a very young age. He claims that after watching his parents, who have been married for a total of 41 years, work normally two or more jobs at any given time to support Johnson and his two older brothers, that hard work mentality and a sense of responsibility was just entrenched in him. And so Johnson’s efforts
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To be a leader you have to take some kind of responsibility-- Derrick Johnson
would be displayed throughout his educational years as a student, from graduating high school to present day, where he’s been promoted to AD. As a senior, he would be recruited by many schools and receive numerous scholarships to play sports, while at the same time, being drafted by the Florida Marlins within two consecutive years. Unfortunately, signing a contract to go play for the Marlins meant not being able to have the whole college experience that every young scholar looks forward to having. Johnson denied the offer twice so he could pursue his education at Mercer County College in New Jersey and then transfer to the University of Southern Carolina. At the University of Southern Carolina Johnson, not only played for the baseball team, but also wrote for the school paper and became the cofounder of the school’s newsletter. He also became apart of the debate club and the poetry club on his campus. Johnson fit
the definition of a closet poet to a tee, in that no one really knew the extent of his love for writing and poetry. “I’ve always looked at myself as a student, not just an athlete. I’ve always had a love for writing. When I first started school I was actually an English major.” said Johnson. One of the appeals that attracted Johnson to the art of writing was having a voice and being able to make a change. This mentality would continue to follow him throughout his life, as he would later realize what it meant to take on the role of athletic director. In 2009, Johnson would win the Coach of the Year award at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, although his team ended up coming in second place. He sees it as a testimony of respect that the coaches held for Johnson and the team since the fellow coaches are the ones doing the voting. Even though they didn’t come in as number one, they were still respected and known for being
a great overall team. Johnson takes satisfaction out of the high morals and values he holds when it comes to the concept of student athletes. He sees being an athlete as a privilege, that you can only achieve through the academics of being in college. His main goal is to transfer his athletes onto Universities and make higher standards to stay up to pace with these institutions. “You know wins and losses, that’s a part of life: But wins are great, don’t get me wrong I want to win. But your truly not a winner or being successful if none of our athletes are going on to four year colleges. College is academic before it’s athletic.” Johnson sad. One of his favorite things about coaching was the interaction he had with student athletes and watching them grow over the years. “Your changing lives. I don’t know if a lot of coaches realize that. Not only are you just coaching. Some students, if not most, aren’t ready to be athletes when they get
here. One of the things that allows them to keep pushing and going beyond that point of transition is athletics.” He said. Although Johnson has a passion for mentoring, having face-toface student athlete interaction and being on the field in the middle of all the action, he also acknowledges that being offered the chance to make a larger impact on the whole student athlete body is well worth the sacrifice of not being on the sidelines. Along with all of the responsibility it brings, Johnson is well-suited and prepared to keep up the success of Riverside City College’s athletic department. “I feel like I’m responsible for those who come after me. To be a leader you have to take some kind of responsibility. Not just of yourself but also of what goes on around you. And to not answer that call and accept that responsibility is probably the worst thing you can do,” Johnson said. Despite the fact that he’s thousands of miles away from his little girl and has yet to find a great pizza place to satisfy his pepperoni and sausage cravings, skype dates and Digorno’s will suffice for the time being, as Johnson plans to fill the shoes of Riverside City College’s new athletic director.
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October 4, 2012 | 15
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Viewpoints story inspires Scott Blair to study Astronomy Nicholle salvatierra Staff Writer
na’ilah thomas / staff photographer
Influenced: Scott Blair, a professor of astronomy at RCC, is a professor because of an article he read in Viewpoints.
Professor Scott Blair, former student of Riverside City College, recalls his time as an RCC student, and the Viewpoints’ student newspaper article that persuaded him to study astronomy. “I had always walked past those Viewpoints boxes around campus, and after my final, I decided to pick one up,” said Blair. “I was always too focused on my studies, but inside that paper was an interesting article.” The article was about Robert T. Dixon, former astronomy professor who the RCC planetarium is named after. The article stated Dixon would be retiring after completing his twenty-sixth year of teaching. “I didn’t even know that RCC offered astronomy classes or had a planetarium. But I knew I had to take his class,” Blair said. “The fact that this man had been teaching this subject for so long really motivated me. He was also one of those professors that you would hear
people talk about. They would say that his class was hard, but they had learned so much. I always learned to take the harder classes because those were the ones where you learned the most.” Dixon’s class inspired Blair to study astronomy, which had always fascinated him. Growing up during the time Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon. “It was a great time for science. Where I grew up I was able to see the stars really clearly, so it was all fascinating,” he said. Along with his interest for astronomy, Blair was also amazed with physics. “I remember getting into trouble as a kid for taking things apart. Now that I think of it, it’s just reverse engineering,” he continued. After transferring to UC Riverside from RCC, Blair earned a bachelor’s degree in physics. “When I found out that RCC needed someone to teach astronomy I worked really hard to be a teacher,” Blair said. During the time he earned his masters, Blair’s acquired knowledge of operating the
planetarium from his time as a student and of astronomy allowed him to teach two classes at RCC. “ I p a r t i c u l a r l y e n j o y teaching those that have no former knowledge of astronomy and exposing them to it,” he said. “It’s the world they live in, so it affects them.” “Who knows what I would be doing now if it weren’t for me picking up the paper that day. I learned from Bob Dixon to reach out and go after life. If the door opens, be willing to walk through it,” Blair said. “Picking up Viewpoints that afternoon was part of the journey.” Astronomy is not only a part of his professional life, but his everyday life as well. Last year Blair visited Florida to watch the launching of Atlantis and recently enjoyed seeing Endeavour take flight from Los Angeles. “I guess you could call me a NASA roadie,” he said. With the motivation of something as simple as a newspaper article, Blair was able to work and succeed in a career of something that he feels passionate about.
Viewpoints
16 | October 4, 2012
Serving students since 1922
Tigers maul at Veterans Stadium Riverside scores most points since 1924 in 75-12 stomping of Long Beach City College Matthew Dziak Staff Writer Quarterback Zach Adkins struck early and often with six touchdown passes on the Tigers first seven offensive drives of the first half, as the No. 9 Riverside City College Tigers annihilated the Long Beach City College Vikings, 75-12, on Sept. 29. RCC (4-1) scored the most points in a game since 1924 when the Tigers put up a whopping 130 points against El Centro. In just one half of play, Adkins six touchdowns broke a RCC school record for most passing touchdowns in a game; a record held by last year quarterback Dalton Livingston, who is now at the University of Utah. Adkins finished the first half; completing 18 of 23 passes for 346 yards. “I had good preparation from our coaches,” Adkins said. “Their defense stayed in the same coverage and I found my receivers easily.” Devonn Brown tied a school record with three touchdown receptions and also had an incredible 65-yard reception, juking two Vikings defenders and dove at the pylon for the touchdown. Brown finished with 119 receiving yards. “I knew their defender could not hang with me,” Brown said. “Once I saw the end zone I knew I had to score.” Usually known for his bruising
Dan henley / Special to Viewpoints
Running Wild: Garrette Biggers (center) returns a punt and eludes Vikings lineman Mike Fonoti in Riverside City College football’s 75-12 rout of Long Beach City College on Sept. 29. rushing attack, Jamil Austin got into the mix and had two receiving touchdowns, one a swing pass for 26 yards, and another on a 14-yard screen pass giving the Tigers an early 14-0 lead. “The defense did not swarm to the ball making it easy for us to score,” Austin said. The Vikings lone first half score came on a 15-yard touchdown pass by Nick Pope on a fade route that was reeled in by Rodney Morgan.
However, the Tigers blocked the kick after and Tray Hall scooped up the ball and returned it 97-yards giving RCC two points and a 37-6 lead. Tyler Shreve opened the second half at quarterback and connected with his scat back Barrington Collins on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Shreve followed that up with a 57-yard touchdown pass to former Corona Centennial wide receiver Deji Olajide extending
the lead to 58-6. Maurice Culpepper, the sixth different Tigers receiver to score, reached over a Vikings defensive back and caught Shreve’s 13yard touchdown strike, his third touchdown pass of the game. Shreve finished with 152 passing yards, on 10-11 passing and three touchdowns. Even third string freshman quarterback Max Holmes contributed to the scoring onslaught
with a fourth quarter 47-yard touchdown run, the only rushing touchdown for RCC. The Tigers improved to 2-0 in the National Central Conference, and will look to add to their record against Fullerton College, who they will host on Oct. 6, at Wheelock Stadium. “This shows that we keep getting better each week,” Adkins said. “Hopefully we can break this scoring record eventually.”
RCC rallies for 31-7 home victory Matthew Dziak Staff Writer After missed opportunities and costly penalties, Zach Adkins took over at quarterback and led the Tigers on a 60-yard scoring drive for their first touchdown of the night. It took a second half comeback, but the No. 11 Riverside City College football team rallied behind Adkins with a 31-7 victory over the No. 23 Los Angeles Harbor Seahawks at Wheelock Stadium, on Sept. 22. On the opening drive, Ajay Fanene intercepted Seahawks quarterback Brandon Edwards pass that set up the Tigers for a 20yard Tyler Rausa field goal. “Our defense is physical and athletic and they played well tonight as a unit,” said Tom Craft, coach of RCC. In the first quarter, RCC was unable to punch in a fourth and goal run play from the one yard line as running back E.J. Schexnayder
was stuffed by the Seahawks defense. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Edwards orchestrated a 97-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 20-yard Lonnie Turner reception in the endzone, giving the Seahawks a 7-3 halftime lead. The drive was extended when a roughing the passer penalty was called against the Tigers on third and 10, giving the Seahawks an automatic first down and provided their offense with a second chance. But the emergence of Adkins in the third quarter caused a roar from the Tiger crowd, as he capped of the 60-yard scoring drive by handing the ball off to E.J. Schexnayder for the five yard touchdown run. “Zach had a great second half,” Craft said. “We went to the pass more and he did a great job of leading us.” The offensive line won the war in the trenches, as they opened running lanes for running backs Jamil Austin and E.J. Schexnayder,
who combined for 190 yards rushing. Austin also did most of his damage in the second half, barreling over Seahawk defenders for 102 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers’ offense outgained the Seahawks 416-310 yards, yet they also committed 12 penalties that resulted in 151 yards. “Those penalties are going to hurt us in future games,” Craft said. “We have to clean that up and get better.” Tigers’ receiver Devonn Brown led all receivers with a game high 144 yards receiving and caught two touchdown passes from Adkins. “At halftime coach Craft reminded us to stay focused and humble because we are going to come back from this,” said Brown. Adkins completed a remarkable 11 of 12 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Shreve struggled only amassing 29 yards in the first half. For the second straight week Adkins proved yet again why he should be the
starting quarterback as the Tiger offense seems to be clicking on all cylinders with him calling the shots.
“It was obvious what we saw from Zach tonight,” said Coach Craft. “He will be our guy but I won’t abandon using Tyler.”
Luis Solis / Staff photographer
breakaway: RCC running back Jamil Austin rushed for 102 yards in the Tigers comeback victory against L.A. Harbor.
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Sports
October 4, 2012| 17
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Guerts’ six goals not enough
Travis West Staff Writer
The Riverside City College women’s water polo team was handed its first loss, 12-9, at the hands of their rival, the Golden West College Rustlers on Sept. 29. The Tigers have handled their opponents through their first 14 games of the season out scoring them 185-37 going into the match up with the Rustlers. Although the Tigers knew it would be a tough test for them, Ashley Fedler, who has experience against the Rustlers, was confident the incoming freshmen would make their mark on the rivalry. “I think that the freshman we gained this year make up for the players we lost. I feel our girls mesh really well this season so I am excited to see how we play against them,” Fedler said. The Tigers faced the Rustlers in finals at the Cuesta College tournament from Sept. 27-29. It was a tough match as both teams traded goals back and forth for most of the game with neither team pulling away. The game was tied up until the score reached 9-9 and headed into overtime. In overtime the Tigers were held scoreless as the same Rustler player scored all three overtime goals. RCC Coach David Almquist said a couple players on the Rustlers squad will be receiving more attention next match after two players scored 11 of their team’s goals. The Tigers came up short in a well fought game on both sides. Goalkeeper Chelsea Dement
LUIS SOLIS / Staff Photographer
Attack mode: Tigers’ freshman Megan Guerts launches a shot towards the net during the Tigers’ loss against the Golden West Rustlers. Guerts had six goals in the match and currently leads all scorers in the state this season with 58 Goals. did what she could in net making 19 saves in the loss, Megan Geurts contributed with six goals and Tara Scheibeler had three goal. The loss comes at a point in the season where players like freshmen goalkeeper Summer Reyes can be content with learning from the close contest. “The game was a great learning experience, because now we know what its going to take to win a state championship this year.”
Almquist is optimistic that the mistakes made are correctable. “We don’t scream and yell, but we will crank up the intensity,” Almquist said. The Tigers still hold one of the best records, currently with a 14-1 start. There have been many different reasons for the start the team has gotten off to, one being the equal contribution from incoming freshmen and the sophomores on
the team. Freshmen and sophomores are equally split on the team with 10 aside with goals coming from all over. Up until their game with the Rustlers, sophomores have a combined total of 98 goals while the freshmen are not far behind with 96. The team is under pressure with the expectations from being two-time state champions, but
younger players on the squad like Geurts are up for the challenge of a three-peat. “The pressure of being back to back champs doesn’t affect us. If anything it gives us hope because we know it’s possible to win state.” Geurts said. Geurts is leading the team in goals and is prepared to earn a state title. “I want to help earn the ring this year and I’m going to work as hard as I can to be a part of it.”
Nate Hass. The coaching staff knew the counter was going to open up for them late in the game, said Coach Hass. RCC dominated the majority of the fourth quarter, out scoring the Lancers 4-1. With 2:30 to play in the game and down by four, the Lancers scored three goals in 82 seconds to decrease the RCC lead to one. With 00:58 left in the game, RCC gave the ball to Chris Forte who scored the game-sealing goal. “The last goal by Forte was big for us because it put us up by two with under a minute to go which is hard to come back from,” Hass said. That was Forte’s fourth goal in the game. Trent Virgil also recorded a hat trick for the game
with three goals. The team dropped its second game of the day to the Concordia Eagles B team 11-10. The game went into overtime. A potential game winner for RCC bounced off the top of the goal with 5 seconds left in regulation. RCC struck first in overtime with a goal from James Myers, but were then unable to score again while the Eagles scored two in the overtime period. On the second day of the tournament, RCC faced the Occidental College Tigers and the Chapman University Panthers. The team won both games with a final score of 17-10 and 13-11 respectively.
Both of these games were the season openers for Occidental College and Chapman University. Overall, RCC posted a 3-1 record at the CBU Lancer Invite. RCC moved to 4-4 on the season following a win against the Orange Coast College Pirates on Sept. 26. The final score of the game was 14-10. This victory keeps RCC perfect this season in conference games. Posting victories against the Orange Coast Pirates and the Santa Ana College Dons. The team is number one in the Orange Empire Conference with six points in two victories. RCC has three conference games left. The team is playing the
Fullerton College Hornets away and then the Saddleback Gauchos and the Golden West Rustlers at home. Golden West edged out RCC for first place in the Orange Empire Conference last season. The Rustlers went a perfect 5-0 in conference play. They defeated RCC 19-13 and 20-10 in their two meetings last season. RCC has a 7-5 record on the season after the CBU Lancer Invite. At this point last season, the Tigers had a record of 5-7. The next games for RCC will be at the RCC tournament on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 at the RCC Aquatic Complex.
of 1:46:44 while L.A. Trade Tech took first place overall with 30 points. The fastest runners for the Tigers were Freshman James Gauger and Sophomore Daniel Ybarra who came in eight and ninth place while LA Trade Tech had four runners finish in the top six taking first and second place individual. Riverside runner John Guzman,
who has had an impressive season thus far was not in attendance for the invitational, but spoke highly of the team’s goals. “We have worked together as a team the whole season,” he said. “Cross country is a team sport and we have approached the season accordingly.” Seven runners scored for Riverside with an average course time of 21:21.
But while Riverside’s strong showing in the invitational continues a good season for the team, it is the state championship that the runners are looking forward to. Guzman expects strong efforts from the team in the next race, as the team takes it race by race building up to the state championship. “We have been working hard since June for a first-place finish,” Guzman
said. As a Freshman last season, Guzman placed third in state. LA Trade Tech took first, second, fifth and sixth place as Glendale had two of its runners break Trade Tech’s dominance by finishing third and forth with another runner rounding out the top ten. The next race for the men’s cross country team will be held at Irvine Regional Park at 9 am.
Men’s water polo finishes 3-1 at Lancer Invitational Tim Cornell Staff Writer An offense heavy second half leads the Riverside City College Tigers to a victory in their first game of the California Baptist University Lancer Invite on Sept. 28. RCC defeated CBU’s B team 13-11. After being held to just three goals in the first half, the Tiger’s scored ten goals in the second and third quarters combined. After being held to just one goal in the second quarter, RCC outscored the Lancers 5-3 in the third. “We tried to tighten up our defense (after halftime) and work a little bit harder on the defensive end of the pool,” said RCC coach
Tigers miss Guzman’s presence but still finish third Sean Egle Staff Writer The Riverside City College men’s cross country team continued its 2012 season by running in the Golden West Invitational on Friday, September 21. Fifteen colleges staged a total of 156 runners for the four mile event. Riverside took third place with 82 points and a team time
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18 | October 4, 2012
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Midnight madness basketball Seles Rodriguez Staff Writer
Jeremy Fuerte / NewS Editor
Madness: Tigers freshman, Anthony Rounds, looking to pass the ball during a team practice drill.
The Riverside City College men’s basketball team will kick off its 2012-2013 season on Nov. 6 with its official scrimmage. The Tigers will open the season with a brand new team having 13 freshman players and seven returners. Coach John Smith has great expectations for his team this year and sees a great advantage of their height and ability to perform as a team. “We have a stronger, bigger and taller team this season,” Smith said. He also stated that they are still in the process of learning but senses that they will be ready by November when they will begin to play against other schools. “Saddleback and Irvine Valley are the two schools in our conference that are always our toughest foes,” Smith said. In addition to summer practices, each year Smith organizes a number of teams building strategies to create a strong unit. He strongly believes the team has built a stronger chemistry on and off the court due to these events that took place in the mountains, homes and TV recordings. He has confidence in the idea of the team building trust within the players that will carry on to the court. Still learning each other’s weaknesses and
strengths, the players have a good standing leaving nothing but room for improvement. “Those guys are like brothers and that’s huge because that will carry over as we start developing our system,” Smith said. Smith has set his expectations high and only accepts 110% effort on the court. With the leadership of Dominique Lanier, Jeff Gonzalez, and Anthony Rounds this is sure to be a successful season for the Tigers. An additional player to keep your eyes on this year would be freshman Macam Macam from Lynn, Massachusetts. Macam is doing surprisingly well given that he hasn’t played since his junior year in high school when he tore his ACL on court as well as his disability to hear. “Over the past couple weeks he has made an incredible improvement,” Smith said. “He has become an extraordinary addition to the team.” “We’ve been at the level of the regional eight, nine out of the 13 years so we’re used to getting there but it takes the sophomores to help the young guys get to that point.” Smith said. The team has been practicing since the beginning of summer on defense, shooting averages, and speed with the strong guidance from Smith. This will be Smith’s
thirteenth year coaching the Tigers and has developed many strategies practiced over the years to improve team performance. An example of one of these strategies is a team drill where the players are placed into small groups and attempt to score one hundred points within a ten minute time frame. Every year Smith practices this drill and each year the team only gets passed fifty points but this drill is believed to push the lineup to play harder. “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to continue to get what you got,” Smith said to his team, suggesting that they give him more and more each day to advance in performance. The team is excited to finally have the home court advantage of playing in RCC’s newly renovated gym. “That type of atmosphere gives you just so much motivation, you don’t want to let your home crowd down,” Smith said. The Tigers have predicted a larger audience and better atmosphere with the familiarity of our new basketball stadium. The Tigers will be holding their “Midnight Madness” on Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. after the homecoming football game. At the event, the team will be introduced; there will be a dunk and three point contest as well as a fifteen minute scrimmage.
Women’s basketball looking forward to 2012 season Usman Siddiqui Staff Writer After being named Coach of the Year by her fellow coaches at Riverside City College in 2011, Alicia Berber returns to a team for which she has high hopes of success when this season gets underway on Oct. 1. Last season the team finished in sixth place in the Orange Empire Conference with a conference record of 4-8 and an overall record of 10-18. Berber is presented with 13 new incoming players and three returning players. Berber has assessed what she has seen thus far on and off the court in practice. “I like the team’s cohesiveness, they’re about the team, they’re there for
one another,” she said. She listed work ethic and the ability to adapt to whatever situation is given to them as the team’s strengths. On the other hand, she listed youth as the team’s main weakness. Berber has seen much improvement from all of her players in practice. “All of the players have improved in some way or another overall as people and their skill levels. You can’t put a heart in those kids, they work hard,” she said. Two of these new players will have to make a quick transition, as they will jump into the basketball season from the volleyball season. Guard Josette Calhoun participated in both sports during her time in high school and will continue to show her talent in both sports at
RCC. Kayla Johns is the other, contributing as a middle blocker on the volleyball team and a forward on the basketball team. Another new addition to the team, forward Demitri Murray was named most valuable player in the Big VIII League while she was in high school. Coming from Hong Kong, guard Wai Ngan has also come to join the group and try to elevate their success. Coach Berber has set high expectations for all of her players and feels that her returning players have experience, that will help guide the new players. Although winning may seem like the only thing that is important, coach Berber puts priorities on other things she believes are more vital.
“I expect my players to go far in life; winning is a bonus. We practice winning every day. We focus on winning every day,” she said. “If a championship comes out of it, we’ll take it but the main focus is making the players better.” Many of the players are coming from very local schools. Calhoun
is a graduate from Riverside North High School, guard Neka Hunter and forward Samantha Ratliff are graduates from Riverside Poly High School, Murray is a graduate from Riverside King High School and Christine Pascua is a graduate from Notre Dame High School who plays both the guard and forward positions.
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RCC announces 2012 athletic hall of fame class
James Williams Anthony Gutierrez Travis West Sports Staff
Riverside City College has announced the 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and award recipients. The inductees include state champion women’s basketball coach Michael Barnes, former Major League Baseball player Bobby Kielty, softball player Rachael Bermudez, public announcer Richard Hubbard, RCC Marching Tigers’ booster William Locke, and business contributor Scott Hooks.
Barnes led the RCC women’s basketball team to a state title in 1986, to complete the second undefeated season in Tigers’ basketball history at 33-00. He has coached a number of Tigers’ basketball players during his 20 year RCC head coaching career including current head basketball coach Alicia Berber. Berber was hired as head coach after Barnes retired as head coach in 2000. He finished his head coaching career as the all-time winning coach in Tigers’ history with an overall record of 372-230 and was one of only two coaches to have won 300 games. Barnes rejoined RCC as the
women’s assistant basketball coach in 2011. Kielty is a former MLB player, who won a world championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2007. He played for several teams during his career, including the Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Red Sox. In 1,792 career at bats, Kielty hit 53 home runs, major league game on Sept. 30 2007. Bermudez played softball during the 2000 and 2001 seasons at RCC. She was named MVP of the Orange Empire Conference and named to the All-State Team. She recorded 322 strikeouts in her sophomore year and also holds
the school record for complete games along with five other career pitching categories records. After RCC, Bermudez pitched at Cal Baptist University, where she
broke a school record with 13 strikeouts in a game. The ceremony will take place Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the newly renovated Wheelock Gym.
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October 4, 2012| 19
Penning commits to Baylor
Iyanna Matthews / features editor
Commitment: Tigers’ Gus Penning verbally committed to Baylor on July 23. James Williams Sports Editor Football
Volleyball
Men’s Water Polo
Women’s Water Polo
Season Record 4-1 Conference: 2-0 Next game: Vs Fullerton at RCC 6 p.m.
Season Record 5-3 Conference: 0-0 Next game: At Orange Coast
Season Record 7-5 Conference: 2-0 Next game: RCC Tournament
Season Record 14-1 Conference: 2-0 Next game: At Northwood Aquatics 11 a.m.
Football Sept. 1
RCC 27 Ventura 28
Sept. 8
RCC 47 Palomar 7
Sept. 15
RCC 51 Saddleback College 13
Sept. 22
RCC 31 LA Harbor 7
Sept. 29
RCC 75 Long Beach 12
Oct. 6
Vs Fullerton 6 p.m.
Oct. 13
Vs El Camino 6 p.m.
Oct. 20
At Citrus 1 p.m.
Oct. 27
Bye Week
Nov. 3
Vs Desert 1 p.m.
Nov. 10
At Mt. Sac 6 p.m.
Cross Country
Next meet: At Leadbetter Beach 3 p.m.
Basketball Next Men’s game: At Riverside 7 p.m. Next Women’s game: At Bakersfield TBA
Cross Country
Men’s Water Polo
Sept.1
RCC 9 Claremont 7
Sept. 7
At Palomar TBA
Sept. 7
RCC 10 Golden West 18
Sept. 15
At UC Riverside 7:30 a.m.
RCC 15 LA Valley 12
Sept. 21
At Central Park, Huntington Beach
Sept. 12
RCC 18 Santa Ana 9
Sept. 14
RCC 8 West Valley 12
18000 Goldenwest St. At Irvine Regional Park 9 a.m.
Oct. 5
RCC 10 Ventura 5 Sept. 15
1 Irvine Park Road Orange, CA
RCC 6 Diablo Valley 12 RCC 12 Cuesta 14
92869 Oct. 12
At Leadbetter Beach 3 p.m.
Sept. 26
RCC 14 Orange Coast 10
Shoreline Drive & Loma Alta
Sept. 28
Cal Baptist Tournament 8am-6pm
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Sept. 29
Cal Baptist Tournament 8am-6pm Oct. 26
At Irvine Park 10 a.m.
Oct. 5
RCC Tournament TBA
1 Irvine Park Rd. Orange, CA 92869
Volleyball
Oct. 6
RCC Tournament TBA
Oct. 10
At Fullerton 3 p.m.
Aug. 31
RCC 3 San Bernardino 2
Oct. 12
RCC Mini Tournament TBA
Sept. 4
RCC 3 Canyons 0
Oct. 17
Vs Saddleback 3 p.m.
Sept. 7
RCC 3 Mt. Sac 2
Oct. 19
Golden West Tournament TBA
Sept. 14
At San Diego Mesa
Oct. 20
Golden West Tournament TBA
All Day TBA
Oct. 24
Vs Golden West 3 p.m.
At San Diego Mesa
Nov. 1-3
OEC Championships TBA
All Day TBA
Nov. 8-10
So Cal Championships at
Sept. 15 Sept. 21
RCC 3 Victor Valley College 0
Sept. 21
RCC 3 Grossmont 2
Sept. 28
RCC 3 Santa Ana 0
Oct. 3
At Cypress 7 p.m.
Oct. 5
At Orange Coast 6 p.m.
Oct. 10
Vs Fullerton 6 p.m.
Oct. 12
At Saddleback 6 p.m.
Oct. 17
Vs Golden West 6 p.m.
Oct. 19
Vs Irvine Valley 6 p.m.
Oct. 24
At Santa Ana 7 p.m.
Oct. 26
Vs Cypress 6 p.m.
Oct. 31
Vs Orange Coast 6 p.m.
Nov. 2
At Fullerton 6 p.m.
Nov. 7
Vs Saddleback 6 p.m.
Nov. 9
At Golden West 6 p.m.
Nov. 14
At Irvine Valley 6 p.m.
Nov. 20
So Cal Regionals (1st Round) TBA
Nov. 24
So Cal Regionals (2nd Round) TBA
Nov. 27
So Cal Regionals (3rd Round) TBA
Nov. 30
State Championships TBA
Dec. 1
State Championships TBA
Nov. 16-17
Sept. 12 Sept. 14
At Woodward Park 9 a.m. 7775 Friant Rd. Fresno, CA 93720
Men’s Basketball Nov. 6
Scrimmage at Riverside 7 p.m.
Nov. 9-11
At San Jose TBA
Fullerton College TBA State Championships at De Anza
Nov. 20
Vs Miramar College 5 p.m.
Nov. 27
Vs Southwestern 7 p.m.
RCC 15 American River 2
Dec. 4-8
Riverside Holiday Tournament TBA
RCC 21 San Joaquin 1
Dec. 19
Vs Fresno City College 7 p.m.
RCC 20 Fresno 0 RCC 13 Santa Rosa 1
Dec. 27-29 College of the Canyons Tournament at Santa Clarita TBA
RCC 21 Santa Ana 3
Jan. 4
At Orange Coast 7:30 p.m.
RCC 18 Fresno 0
Jan. 11
Vs Cypress 7:30 p.m.
RCC 13 Cerritos 9 Sept. 15
20777 Lorain Rd. Fairview Park Nov. 17
Nov. 16-18 Tournament at San Bernandino TBA
Women’s Water Polo
Sept. 7-8
At Fairview Park 10 a.m.
Nov. 3
RCC 15 Chaffey 2 RCC 15 Cypress 3
Sept. 26
RCC 15 Orange Coast 6
Sept. 27
RCC 12 Foothill 5
Sept. 28
At Cuesta Tournament TBA
Sept. 29
At Cuesta Tournament TBA
Oct. 3
Vs Cypress 3 p.m.
Oct. 5
Vs Northwood Aquatics 11 a.m
Oct. 10
At Fullerton 4 p.m.
Oct. 12
RCC Mini Tournament TBA
Oct. 17
Vs Saddleback 4 p.m.
Oct. 19
At Long Beach Tournament TBA
Oct. 20
At Long Beach Tournament TBA
Oct. 24
Vs Golden West 4 p.m.
Nov. 1
Orange Empire Championships at Cypress TBA
Women’s Basketball Nov. 9-10
At Bakersfield TBA
Nov. 15-17 Santa Barbra MXTE Tournament TBA Nov. 29
Gilcrest Invitational Tournament at
Dec. 2
Sequoias TBA
Dec. 7-9
L.A. Valley Monarch Tournament TBA
Dec. 13
Vs Mira Costa 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 14
Vs San Diego 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 28-30 Ventura VC Optimist Club Tournament TBA Jan. 4
Vs Orange Coast 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 11
Vs Cypress 5:30 p.m.
After the 2011 season, over 20 Riverside City College football players accepted scholarships to continue their career at the next level following an undefeated season. Tight end Gus Penning is one of the latest players that have chosen to move on after this season with the RCC Tigers. On July 23, Penning committed to Baylor University. “I am an offensive player and they have one of the top offenses in the country and are building a good winning program,” Penning said. Baylor went 10-3 in 2011 and had quarterback Robert Griffin III win the Heisman Trophy, which goes to the best individual player in college football each season. While Baylor was the first program to offer Penning a scholarship, he also received an offer from San Diego State University, where current RCC football coach Tom Craft coached at from 2001-2005. Penning committed to the Baylor Bears before he played in a single junior college football game. He joined the Tigers football team this season after he redshirted his only season at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Mich. “I was at GRCC and it shut down football,” Penning said. “I had to find another school to go to.” Penning had to explore his options for a different team in another state, if he wanted to continue his football career. “Grand Rapids Community College was the only junior college football program in the state,” Penning said. “All of our away games were out of state.” Penning took the advice of his GRCC football coaches when it was time to look for a new school. “The coaches told me to look out west,” Penning said. “I found RCC on Google.” “He works hard every day. He is kind of soft spoken because he is from Michigan,” said Tigers quarterback Tyler Shreve. “Once he came out here (to Riverside) with all of us, we were able to get him (out of his shell.)” Through the first five games, Penning has 22 receptions for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Tigers’ wide receiver Jahari Selmon thinks Penning is a difference maker on offense. “His size and speed is always a great help to the offense and his athletic ability makes it very difficult to keep your eyes off of him,” Selmon said. “With him being such a threat at his position, it opens up opportunities for other players.”
20 | October 4, 2012
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