Viewpoints - Nov. 1

November 1, 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. 5

Riverside City College

Taking the campaign to RCC Mark Takano is in a heated congressional race which places RCCD in the spotlight For

news stories

see Pages 2-4

Viewpoints reacts to being used in John Tavaglione’s campaign flier For the

Editorial

see Page 9

Luis Solis / Staff Photographer

Class time: Mark Takano speaks to students about the importance of Proposition 30 and the cost of enrollment tuition at Community Colleges.

RCC students explore transferring page 3

RCC football wins in overtime page 20

‘Paranormal Activity 4’ provides scares page 16

2 | November 1, 2012

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

Construction under question

Brianne McClaflin ASST News Editor

The unseen injury Dr.Nancy Farrell hosts a presentation on post-traumatic stress disorder and the potential impact on a persons life. The content is intended to help us better recognize and understand the challenges our veterans face with the transition from military to college. The presentation will be on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Riverside City College’s Hall of Fame.

Some Board of Trustees members are questioning the legality of Riverside Community College District’s use of Measure C funds to construct a massive district office downtown, due to the district office being an administrative expense.

According to Measure C’s ballot, Measure C bonds are allowed to “add and upgrade…technology, academic classrooms/ laboratories; repair, acquire, construct, equip buildings, sites, (and) classrooms.”

Two board members expressed concern over the legality of the building of the district office, as well as concerns over the construction company awarded the project.

Homecoming week Associated Students of Riverside City College is hosting homecoming week from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 with the homecoming football game falling on Nov. 3.

Homecoming week will have different activities that the runners will be asked to participate in according to Miguel Bagsit, vice president of Associated Students of RCC. “The purpose of homecoming week is to showcase the students at RCC that are full of charisma and is meant to foster RCC pride by getting students together,” Bagsit said.

The homecoming game starts at 1 p.m. and the homecoming king and queen will be announced during halftime.

RCC Off Broadway play series presents Riverside City College’s Off Broadway play series is presenting “Lonestar & Laundry and Bourbon”. The play is about two rambunctious brothers reminiscing on their hard-luck past, all while getting drunk and fighting. The play will be showing at the RCC Landis Performing Arts Center on Nov.17 at 14, 15, 16, and 17 at 7P.M. and Nov.17 at 2 P.M.

Poetry performance Attention to poets and poetry lovers: Poetry performance on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 12:50 P.M. to 1:50 P.M.. The poetry performance will be held at the Wilfred G. Airey Library at Norco College. The event will be located in the study area to the left of the circulation desk. You can sign up to read a piece of poetry between 12:00 P.M. and 12:30 P.M. on performance day. You may read classic or original works that are 3 to 5 minutes long.

Operation Christmas Give to a child who otherwise would not receive a gift this holiday. Pick up a shoe box in Center for International Students and Programs in the Technology Building B Room 203. Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl and what age category your gift will be for. Fill your box with a variety of objects that will be suitable for your age category. Include a $7 donation with your gift to cover shipping charges. Nov. 16 will be the last day to drop off your gift to International Students and Programs. Please, brighten the face of a little child this holiday.

Election day on Nov. 8 The 2012 general election is coming up quickly. You can place your vote on November 8. Remember to vote at one of the numerous voting centers or by mail. Your vote does count.

News

B o a r d members and faculty feel that in a time of proposed cuts and threats of decreased instruction, the district should look into some of their questionable and wasteful expenses.

“I do not believe the building of the new district offices is either urgent or critical,” said instructor Rhonda Taube. “While I cannot speak to the legality of such an endeavor, I can question whether this is a suitable expense at this time, given our budget issues and potential fiscal woes.”

Measure C is a $350 million construction bond that was approved by the community in 2006.

Chancellor Gregory Gray anticipates that the $350 million in bond money will create $720 million worth of buildings, by leveraging the money RCC has to other available funding.

On Market and University Avenue, the college recently renovated an old bank building into a Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties. The building was funded by economic development money, and none of the Measure C bond money.

The new district offices will be located on the second and third floors of the new Culinary Arts facility, which will be located near The Center for Social Justice and Civil

Liberties.

The district office is considered a necessary expense at this time because the current district office, worth around $4 million, will be either sold or rented out. The current Culinary Arts building is currently being rented out for $10,000 a month.

In question of the legality of the office, Chancellor Gray said that after the legality was questioned by the board, it was looked into multiple ways and was proven legal.

“I could look you in the eye and tell you it is totally legal, and I believe it makes sense fiscally in the longer term, because they tell me this building had a $4 million value on it,” Chancellor Gray said, at the current district office.

Chancellor Gray explained that the building of the offices at this time makes sense fiscally, because due to the economic crisis, contractors are desperate for work and the bids are coming below initial estimates.

“We have money to build,” Gray said. “We have zero in terms of operational money.”

The Chancellor understands that building at this time looks questionable, but he believes that once people understand, they will realize that the college knows what they are doing.

“Some people think it looks foolish to build now in the middle of an economic crisis. Interestingly e n o u g h , i t ’s t h e smartest time to do it,” Gray said.

Tilden-Coil is the construction company assigned to construct the district office building. Henry W. Coil was the previous owner of the company, and is also a very active and prominent member of the community. He gave a gift of $5 million to RCC, in honor of his parents, Henry W. and Alice Edna Coil, for the construction of a school for the arts. “(The donation) is an extremely generous gift to the college and it bothers me that every individual who works in this college does not go over there and thank him,” Gray said.

Some members of the board are questioning Coil’s relationship with the construction company, and the donation, insisting it is a conflict of interest.

“This innuendo; that is absolutely false, wrong, and I would suggest illegal, because it is a slander of his character and it is absolutely not based upon fact,” Gray said.

Gray insists that he has no problem with compromising or saying he is wrong.

“Measure C it is not short and simple,” Gray said. “It is important in that we understand the entire (story), because in my opinion if you understand the totality of all of what I just said to you, the administrative building makes perfect sense. It is actually going to result in a descent amount of money.”

News

Viewpoints

Campaign fliers anger RCC

Jeremy Fuerte News Editor A 2005 issue of Viewpoints and a letter signed by Janet Green and Virginia Blumenthal, president and member of the Board of Trustees respectively, are being used by prospective Congressman John Tavaglione in fliers as ammunition against his opponent Mark Takano, vice president of Riverside Community College District.

The first flier endorsed by John Tavaglione alleges that Mark Takano suppressed harassment charges at RCCD and states that Takano “let discrimination run rampant” by using a 2005 article in Viewpoints titled “discrimination pervades Riverside Community College.”

Michael Diggin, the journalists who wrote the article calls the attack “bombastic” but agrees that there is more that should have been done.

“I can certainly agree that some responsibility for not taking further action can be placed at Mark Takano’s feet,” Diggin said. “In my personal opinion the lion’s share of the blame should be directed toward Salvatore Rotella, the Chancellor at the time.”

In an email correspondence, Takano called the allegations made by the Tavaglione campaign false.

“That’s absolutely untrue,” Takano said. “Once the Board was presented with the allegations and evidence, we took immediate action to correct the situation and make sure that it wouldn’t happen again, even appointing an independent counsel to investigate all of the claims and changing school and Board policy to ensure that complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation would be promptly investigated. Supervisor Tavaglione needs to get his facts straight.”

A second flier features a letter signed by Green and Blumenthal highlighting the practices Takano employed in order to pass the Project Labor Agreements on the board.

In the letter, Green and Blumenthal state that “Mark Takano jammed through a 52page proposal eliminating true competitive bidding on over $500 million in construction spending…

To keep the public in the dark, he jammed through this proposal through so fast that fellow board members like us never had the opportunity to read it. ” Green stands by the letter that she and Blumenthal wrote signed.

“I support our statement in that letter when we wrote it,” Green said.

She clarified stating that neither she nor Blumenthal were given the agreement in advanced and weren’t allowed to read it over before voting on it but that she now supports the agreement.

“It was a matter of working with your peers,” she said. “(The project labor agreement is) working, and thank God it’s working.”

A large number of RCC faculty have received the fliers and are raising concerns. In response Dariush Haghidhat, president of the RCCD faculty association, sent out a district wide email addressing the situation and clarifying the position of the faculty.

“While we understand the competitive nature of politics, we feel the reputation of our District is being threatened by the very disreputable tactics employed by the Tavaglione team,” the letter stated. “Those two flyers are not just attacks on Trustee Takano; they are an assault n the integrity and well being of every stakeholder at RCCD… Tavaglione’s campaign might very well undermine and jeopardize RCCD’s appeal to members of our community for their support and approval of Proposition 30.”

Haghidhat’s position is also reciprocated by Chancellor Gregory Gray who believes that politics shouldn’t affect the operation of the district.

“I am quite bothered that trustees of the RCC district allow politics to creep in to the business of the district,” he said.

“If Greg Gray wants to vote for Mitt Romney, that’s fine, it has nothing to do with the District and what has happened with that propaganda is it’s been comingled with the district. Most people I talk to will say the same thing, people are very upset about it.”

The Tavaglione campaign could not be reached for comment.

November 1, 2012 | 3

Serving students since 1922

Students welcome transfer fair

Manuel Gray Staff Writer The Transfer Center of Riverside City College hosted an “Annual Fall Transfer” event on campus. The event is for California State Universities, University of Californias, private universities, and out of state universities to come and educate students about their colleges.

The Transfer Center had 10 CSUs, seven UCs, 21 private Albert Melendez / Photo Editor universities and three Looking ahead: Students browse the colleges booths to learn out of state colleges more about colleges they are interested in transferring to. in attendance. The Tr an s f e r C e n t e r had universities such as: USC, over the country to attend the clubs and organization they can be University of Alaska and Columbia transfer fair. involved in.

University of Alaska University based out of N.Y. “I am a part of a club here on As November approaches Representative Marnie mentioned campus, and I would love to be students are rushing to fill out Alaska to be a very beautiful and a a part of a club or organization their Cal State University and college students should choose if when I transfer to either Cal University of California application they are up for exploring nature.

State Fullerton or San Francisco “Students need to have a sense State,” said RCC student Manuel so they can transfer in the fall of 2013. Many students have been of adventure and know it’s very Rodriguez. at RCC for two years or more far away, if they are interested The Transfer Center located in working on completing transfer in attending Alaska University,” the Cesar E Chavez building and Marnie said. requirements. is very pleased to know it hosted Many students attended the such a successful event.

As time gets closer for many students, they are stressing to Transfer Fair and were looking “It’s an honor to host such forward to talking with all of the a successful event,” said Khessa finish their last year at RCC. “It has been such a hard colleges represented.

Slaughet, educational advisor. “I Some students wanted to am here to help students further work these last couple of years,” said RCC student Ismael Reyes. transfer to a UC or Cal State that their education by giving them “Finally I get to transfer out and are located near a beach. knowledge on how to transfer.”

“UC San Diego has excellent even though it’s stressful. It was The Transfer Center has opportunity, over 130 programs, another Transfer Fair coming up well worth it.”

Associate Professor Monica and a really good location,” said in the spring semester of 2013.

Delgadillo-Flores and Educational Tom Johnson, UC San Diego They hope to have just as many Advisor Kheesa Slaughter who are representative. schools and people attending as Students were asking question they did for this event. They are in charge of the Transfer Center started planning the event in the on how to apply, the different expecting to have a good turnout summer of 2012. They worked programs the Cal States, and UC for the Transfer Fair in the spring to get many universities from all offer, tuition prices, housing, and of 2013.

Takano discusses college importance

Jordan Ward Staff Writer

Mark Takano, democratic candidate for the House of Representatives and Riverside Community College District Trustee, came to Riverside City College to shed light on his personal experience and political aspirations in a public relations session on Oct. 23 in Room 103 of the A.G. Paul Quadrangle.

The topic of discussion between students and Takano during the session was tuition and his support for Proposition 30 in the upcoming election.

Takano began by describing his personal experiences growing up in Riverside; specifically his family background, schooling and his eventual enrollment into Harvard College.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in government, Takano worked as a teacher in the Boston, Mass. area. It was during his time as a teacher that Takano noticed the discrepancies between suburban and inner-city schools.

Wanting to expand upon how working as a teacher affected his outlook on life and how he could help students in the public education system, Takano, former Riverside Community College District trustee, explained his motivation in becoming a teacher after his time in Boston.

“I wanted to become a teacher to understand high school education in the public school system, and do my part in making it better.” Takano said Returning to Riverside, Takano gained his secondary teaching credential to teach in the Rialto Unified School District. As forty first Congressional District candidate, Takano’s missionas defined by his campaign site “is to help states and local governments keep teachers and public safety personnel on the job, and to recognize that Congress must get serious about addressing the budget deficit as well at the national debt, but not at the risk of our economic recovery.” said the campaign website.

Running against him is Republican John Tavaglione; fiveterm Chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisor. He hopes to help in the restructuring of government politics and addressing regulation to help the economy in closing wasteful tax loopholes.

The event opened into an open discussion between students and Takano. In response to questions about funding to RCC and unavailable classes, Takano encouraged the student body to promote Proposition 30 in their communities and around campus.

“As your member of congress I believe that we need to support our community college program,” Takano said. “(In reference to Proposition 30) I think it makes more sense to directly fund the community colleges.”

In his closing remarks Takano emphasized what he wants to do for District 41.

“People are counting on me because I am going to fight for them in his district,” he said.

Viewpoints

4 | November 1, 2012

News

Serving students since 1922

ASRCC pushes to get out the vote

ASRCC teams up with Mi Familia Vota to educate voters for this November Jordan Ward Staff Writer Halloween came early to the Riverside City College as tombstones and walking skeletons were employed in raising awareness on voting yes for Proposition 30 during an open forum on Oct. 17.

Hosted by the Associated Students of Riverside City College and Mi Familia Vota, the forum allowed for students to voice their questions and concerns.

The principal aim of the forum was to create active participation with the student body in the hopes of eliciting student aid in spreading the word on Proposition 30 through the selling of T-shirts and other materials. Supporters of the proposition passed out fliers describing the measure’s purpose and intent, while ASRCC President Doug Figueroa addressed the affects of Proposition 30 not passing to those in attendance.

“If Proposition 30 doesn’t pass we will have to cut $8 million in our own District,” Figueroa said.

He went on to explain the probable risk of RCC shutting down, and the unavailability of resources on campus that can result in students not being able to get into half of their classes.

Proposition 30, a tax increase initiative resulting from a $56 billion cut in education, healthcare, and other critical services over the last four years, will temporary raise income and sales taxes as part of a larger statewide budget plan designed to increase revenue and funding for the state of California.

The revenue generated through the proposition will go to local school districts and Community Colleges in what is described by the 2012 Text of Proposed Laws as a “guarantee for solid reliable funding for schools, community colleges, and public safety.”

Shirts were sold during the event and emphasized the point of “Voting Yes on Prop 30 and No

Albert Melendez / photo editor

Eating out: Students eat lunch at the cafeteria.

Plans for cafeteria expansion ripening Tabitha Carranza Staff Writer

Jeremy Fuerte / News Editor

Walking Dead : Noe Chavez gets his face painted to be used as a prop so Mi Famlia Vota can educate voters. on Prop 38.”

Proposition 38 calls for a state personal income tax increase over 12 years. An estimated $10 billion in the subsequent years of the plan would go to K-12 schools.

The taxes are focused on providing for public schools, early childhood programs, and state debt payment. The generated revenue will go to public schools but not colleges; essentially limiting the available resources of higher forms of public education.

Mark Takano, vice president of the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees and current Democratic Nominee

for Congress, spoke at the forum.

“On a bipartisan basis, the Board of Trustees voted to support Prop 30,” said Takano. “I believe we must stay committed to higher education-public education-and continue to support proposition 30.”

Gustavo Arroyo, campaign manager for Jose Medina shared his opinion on why the ballot propositions in the general election are important.

During a brief intermission in the program the podium was opened to students in the audience before a performance by The Jalapenos Brothers.

Since the opening of the math, science and nursing buildings at Riverside City College, a lot of the student population has shifted to that side of the campus, according Cheryl Ruzak, food services director at the college.

Because the current location of the cafeteria is stationed at the opposite side of the campus, the Food Services Department has decided to expand.

Ruzak said new food service facility will be built underneath the digital library, and although the idea is still in its planning stages, it is expected to be in service during the fall 2013 semester. She said the reasoning behind the new café is to cater to the students who don’t have enough time to walk to the cafeteria due to their schedules. “(The cafeteria) is not in an ideal spot,” Ruzak said. “We are going to meet the needs of the students that have classes on that side of the campus.”

Ruzak said the department expects business to shift 60 to 70 percent to the new café, but the dramatic changes won’t affect the stability of the original food service facility. “(The new café) will change the makeup of the cafeteria over here, but we are going to make sure that the menu offerings are different,” she said.

Due to high demand, the second café will host an in-house coffee concept. Students will be able to buy hot drinks such as cappuccinos, espressos, or a classic cup of Joe that will be made

to order. It will also offer freshly made sandwiches and paninis.

The new cafeteria will also include large outside seating area, where students will be able to relax by the healing garden and enjoy their food.

Food made to order is what makes the café different from the food service trailers that have been on RCC’s campus in the past which sold pre-packaged food. Although the Food Service Department does not currently use the trailers, Ruzak said that there is a possibility of bringing them back, if it is cost effective.

Chris Cortez, a RCC student, thinks he will visit the new cafeteria due to convenience.

“My classes are by the (Quadrangle),” he stated. “It’s not a far walk (to the cafeteria), but I still have to go out of my way; (With the opening of the second café) I would go to the café more often.”

Other students, however, don’t believe they would go to the cafeteria more, for different reasons. Selena Ulloa, an RCC student, doesn’t eat at the café often for health and financial reasons.

“I want to eat healthy, and salads here are about three to four bucks, but have bacon and other stuff in it,” she said. “The other food is deep fried and not good for you. I could just make (food) at home.”

Ulloa said the cafeteria needs more food options than expanding its business.

“If you’re going to have ‘healthy’ food, make it healthy,” she said.

Viewpoints

November 1, 2012 | 5

Serving students since 1922

E

Proposition 30 If passed, Proposition 30 will increase sales tax by 25 percent (a quarter of a cent for every dollar, or 7.5 percent from 7.25 percent), and increase taxes on those earning more than $250,000 for seven years, to prevent school cuts and provide funding for new education. This will increase sales tax revenues to about $6 billion annually.

A yes vote on Proposition 30 will prevent the planned spending reductions in education.

If not passed a $6 billion cut will take place in state funding and education at all levels in the 2012-2013 year.

People against Proposition 30 believe that there is no guarantee that the additional money will go to schools, and believe that Proposition 30 does not reform schools.

California State University is considering a 5 percent increase in tuition if the proposition does not pass, since they will face about $250 million in cuts in their university alone.

Public schools and Community Colleges could respond to this cut in various ways, including drawing down reserves, cutting class selection, shortening the instructional year for schools, and reducing enrollment for Community Colleges.

Proposition 30 is endorsed by Gov. Jerry Brown, the League of Women Voters and a statewide coalition of leaders from education, law enforcement, and business.

The increase on personal income tax would be, for joint filers an additional 1 percent

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increase on $500,000 to 600,000, an additional 2 percent increase on income between $600,000 and $1 million, and an additional 3 percent tax rate for income above $1 million for seven years.

If Proposition 38, also a tax initiative, passes along with Proposition 30, the proposition with the most yes votes will go into effect.

Proposition 30 will not go into effect and “trigger cuts” will take place if Proposition 30 gets less votes.

Proposition 30’s taxes are temporary. Only the highest income earners pay more income tax.

Couples earning below $500,000 a year will pay no additional income taxes.

A cut of $5,354 billion will take place to public schools and Community College if Proposition 30 does not pass.

Wi t h o u t P r o p o s i t i o n 3 0 passing, colleges will have to endure more cuts in education.

Proposition 31 Proposition 31 sets rules for offsetting new expenditures, allows for the governor to reduce state spending in fiscal emergencies, and also establishes a two-year state budget cycle.

The proposition prohibits the legislature from creating expenditures of more than $25 million, unless offsetting revenues or spending cuts are identified.

The initiative also requires performance reviews of all state programs, and requires performance goals in state and local budgets.

Proposition 31 also requires the state to publish bills at least three days prior to legislative vote.

If Proposition 31 is passed, it will impact the state fiscally by a decrease in state tax revenues of about $200 million.

Under this measure, local governments are allowed to develop new plans, and create plans for coordinating how they provide services to the public.

The measure also allows local governments to alter administration of state-funded programs, allows transferring of local property

Follow Viewpoints on Twitter: @RCCViewpoints and like “Riverside City College Viewpoints” on Facebook for updates of the results to the general election on Nov. 6 and coverage on the presidential election

taxes, and allows for a shift in state sales tax revenues to local governments.

A yes vote on this proposition means certain legal responsibilities of the Legislature and Governor, including budgeting and oversight procedures, would change.

Local government would create plans to coordinate services, and would receive funding from the state, to administer state programs.

People for this proposition believe this measure would stop politicians from keeping Californians from knowing how the government is making decisions.

It will prevent the state from passing budgets behind closed doors and require governments to report results before spending money.

A no vote on Proposition 31 means the current fiscal responsibilities of Legislature and Governor would not change.

People against Proposition 31 believe the initiative locks expensive and conflicting provisions into the Constitution causing lawsuits and confusion.

Proposition 32

Proposition 32 prohibits unions from using payroll deducted funds for political uses.

A yes vote on this proposition means that unions and corporations could not use money deducted from an employee’s paycheck for political purposes. Money going directly or indirectly to

Illustration by Jackie Trejo

Illustration by Stacey Patino candidates, or candidate-controlled committees, will be illegal if the money comes from employee paycheck reductions.

Supporters of this proposition are for stopping payroll withholdings for politics. Voluntary contributions from employees of an employer-sponsored candidate are permitted.

Some common payroll deductions would be for Social Security, income taxes, medical plans, and voluntary charitable contributions.

Voting no on this proposition means that there will be no change in existing laws regulating the ability of unions and corporations from using an employee’s paycheck

for political purposes.

People against Proposition 32 believe that this initiative is not reformative, and is unfair because it exempts business SUPER PACs, and thousands of big businesses.

If passed, the state would experience a fiscal impact of $1 million annually, in an increase of administrative costs to investigate alleged violations.

Proposition 33

Proposition 33 changes current laws so that insurance companies can set prices based on whether or not drivers previously carried auto insurance with any companies See

Election on Page 6

Viewpoints

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Serving students since 1922

Election Continued From Page 5 A yes vote means that insurance companies could provide a discount on auto insurance premiums, based upon a number of years in the previous five years, that the customer was insured.

People for Proposition 33 believe this initiative allows you to switch insurance companies, while keeping your discount.

Proposition 33 makes insurance companies compete, which helps lower rates and insure more drivers.

The measure allows a “continuous coverage” discount for new customers who switch from another insurance company.

The proposition treats drivers who lapse, if less than 90 days (or 18 months if due to unemployment), if due to military service or loss of employment.

If an insurance company chooses to provide such a discount, it would be on a proportional basis.

A no vote on Proposition 33 means insurers can continue providing discounts to their longterm insurance customers, but would be prohibited from providing discounts to new customers.

People against Proposition 33 believe it is a deceptive insurance policy trick that allows companies to raise premiums on responsible drivers up to $1,000, and unfairly punish people who stopped driving for legitimate reasons.

Proposition 34 Proposition 34 repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life in prison without the chance of parole.

If passed, it will apply retroactively to existing death sentences.

It also directs $100 million to law enforcement for investigations on existing homicide and rape charges.

Those in support of Proposition 34 argue that evidence shows that over 100 people have been sentenced to death in the U.S and have been found innocent at a later point.

Many of these have even been executed before the evidence was found to claim their innocence.

If a person is executed, there is no way to go back if they are later found innocent.

They also argue that the death penalty is broken and too costly.

Only 13 people have been executed since 1967, and most of them died of old age.

Millions of dollars are wasted on appeals that can last years.

The death row inmates sit in jail for the rest of their lives not doing anything.

If the proposition passes, it will make convicted killers work and pay into the victims’ compensation

Results to the general election will be in the next issue of Viewpoints

fund.

Those in opposition to Proposition 34 state that instead of getting justice on killers, they receive lifetime housing and healthcare benefits.

They also claim it will cost taxpayers $100 million over the next four years and many more millions in the future. They argue that to have justice, there must be capital punishment.

They claim the last time the death penalty was abolished in California, that killers a rapists were let free to kill and rape again.

Those in support of Proposition 34 include Gil Garcetti, district attorney of the Los Angeles County from 1992-2000, Jeanne Woodford, warden of the California’s Death Row prison from 1999-2004, and Jennifer A. Waggoner, president of the League of Women Voters of California.

Those in opposition of Proposition 34 include Hon. Pete Wilson, former Gov. of California Marc Klaas, father of 12-YearOld murder victim Polly Klaas, and Keith Royal, president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association.

Proposition 35 A yes vote on Proposition 35 increases prison sentences and fines for human trafficking convictions.

The initiative requires human traffickers to register as sex offenders and requires registered sex offenders to disclose internet activities and identities.

Prison sentences for human trafficking could go up to 15 years to life in prison and fines up to $1.5 million.

Proposition 35 also expands the definition of human trafficking under state law.

If sex trafficking of a minor is forced, the current law would sentence them to a maximum of eight years, but under Proposition 35 would be a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Sex trafficking of a minor without force would be no charge under the current law, and a maximum of 12 years under

Proposition 35.

Sex trafficking of an adult by force would be a maximum of five years, and a maximum of 20 years.

People for Proposition 35 believe that this initiative fights against the exploitation of children by increasing sentences and protects children while they are online. The proposition also imposes new finds to fund services for human trafficking victims.

A no vote on Proposition 35 means existing human trafficking laws would stay in effect.

People against Proposition 35 believe that this initiative threatens innocent people.

Proposition 36

Proposition 36 revises the Three Strikes law to impose a life sentence only when the new felony is serious or violent.

If passed, it could authorize resentencing to prisoners facing life sentence if the third felony was not serious or violent.

The fiscal impact includes correctional saving of around $70 million annually. The savings could vary drastically in the future.

Those in support of Proposition 36 call to make the punishment fit the crime.

They believe the life sentence should not be imposed on felonies that are not violent.

They argue taxpayers could save around $100 million a year that could go to better use.

It will also open up room in prisons for dangerous felons. Those who repeat non-violent crimes will receive longer sentences.

Those in opposition to Proposition 36 argue that since the Three Strikes law was passed in 1994, crime has plummeted.

The reason is because the same criminals were committing all the crimes. They may not have been violent or serious, but crime is crime.

T h e y a rg u e t h a t i f t h i s proposition is passed violent criminals currently is jail will be set free to commit crimes again.

Those in favor include Steve Cooley, District Attorney of the Los Angeles County, George Gascon, District Attorney of the San Francisco City and County,

Illustration by Jackie Trejo

and David Mills, Professor at the Stanford Law School.

Those in opposition include Sheriff Keith Royal, President of the California State Sheriff’s Association, District Attorney Carl Adams, President of the California District Attorneys Association and Harriet Salerno, President of the Crime Victims United of California.

Proposition 37 Proposition 37 requires certain food products made from animals or plants that are genetically changed in specific ways be labeled as such. Those foods will no longer be able to be marketed as “natural.”

The current state costs for regulating labels on foods on a yearly basis is a few hundred thousand dollars.

If Proposition 37 passes, these costs will raise to over $1 million each year.

Supporters of Proposition 37 argue that foods that have gone through genetic engineering will be properly labeled.

They also believe that people have the right to know what is in their food, especially in the case of genetically altered products.

They believe that this will be accomplished with proper food labeling as required by Proposition 37.

Supporters of Proposition 37 argue the proposition will not increase food prices because food companies regularly reprint

labels anyway, and the cost will be absorbed in this normal reprinting process.

Groups who oppose Proposition 37 argue it will raise food costs because companies will be forced to put new labels on their foods in order to comply with the new regulations set forth in the proposition.

They also argue that exceptions to the law are written into it, thus making it less than effective in its stated purpose, which is to make food labeling of genetically altered foods transparent for the public.

As part of this exception, food companies in support of the proposition will not have to put the labels on their foods.

Scientific studies have also proved foods made with genetic engineering are safe. Thus putting labels on the foods will be misleading.

While there will be a grace period for which companies must label their foods, even a funder of Proposition 37 agrees it would be a huge logistic nightmare.

The supporters of Proposition 37 include Dr. Michelle Perro, a pediatrician, Rebecca Spector, West Coast director of the Center for Food Safety and Grant Lundberg, chief executive officer of Lundberg Family Farms.

Opposition to Proposition 37 include Bob Goldberg, member of the National Academy of Sciences, Jamie Johansson, California Family Farmer, and Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association.

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Election Continued From Page 6

Proposition 38 Proposition 38 increases taxes on a sliding scale on annual earnings over $7,316. This increase will last 12 years. The first four years of the increase will see 60 percent of it go to K-12 schools, 30 percent to repaying the state debt, and 10 percent to early childhood programs.

The remaining eight years will see 85 percent of the money go to K-12 schools and 15 percent go to early childhood programs. It also prohibits the state from directing these new funds elsewhere.

The supporters of Proposition 38 argue that it will restore and expand school funding. It guarantees funding to schools, averaging $10 billion annually.

Schools will be able to use the money to help restore arts, music, math, science or reduce class sizes.

The proposition also sets aside $3 billion annually for 2016-2017 to help reduce the state deficit by repaying state education bond debt. It will also prevent future cuts to education in California because of the proposition.

The opposition to Proposition 38 argues that the tax increase targets small business and could kill jobs.

The additional tax increases could result in small family businesses to take jobs, or moving

out of state. Proposition 38 also has no requirements to improve school performance.

Money will continue to be spent on administration and little of it will be sent in the classroom.

The proposition, if passed, will create an untouchable tax for 12 years.

No changes can be made even if there is fraud or waste. The economy could be in a much different and potentially much better state in the years to come.

The tax may not be necessary but taxpayers will have to continue to pay for it.

Supporters of Proposition 38 include Carol Kocivar, president of the California State Parents Teach Association, Edward James Olmos, an actor, and Arun Ramanathan, executive director of the Education Trust-West.

Opposition to Proposition 38 includes Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, Ken Williams, member of the Orange County Board of Education, and Thomas Hudson, executive director of the California Taxpayer Protection Committee.

Like “Riverside City College Viewpoints” on Facebook for coverage and results on the Nov. 6 general election

Proposition 39

Proposition 39 requires multistate businesses to pay income taxes based on a percentage of their sales within California.

For five years, the revenue will be dedicated to clean/efficient energy projects.

It will increase state revenue by an estimated $1 billion annually.

Half of that will be spent on clean energy projects while the rest will likely be spent on schools.

Those in favor of Proposition 39 argue that it eliminates the outof-state tax loophole that many businesses use.

It will require all businesses to pay a percentage of their taxes to California based on their profit in California, regardless of their base of operation.

The proposition will level the playing field of businesses based out of state and those based in California.

It will help encourage businesses to be based in California, instead of out of state to use the tax loop hole. Proposition 39 will require strict audits to ensure the correct taxes are being paid.

Those opposed to Proposition 39 argue the tax increase will result in job loss to many middle-income families.

They believe the proposition will not ensure any money will go to cleaner energy solutions of schools.

It will spend up to $22 million on a new bureaucracy and special interest commission. Opposition

Illustration by Stacey Patinio calls for reform not more taxes that could potentially go to waste.

There is $2.5 billion that could go to schools and clean energy solutions but is wasted in government pay checks that require little accountability.

The tax increase attacks businesses that provide jobs to the middle class.

Supporters of Proposition 39 include Jane Warner, president of the American Lung Association in California, Tom Steyer, chairman of the Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs, and Mary Lelsie, president of the Los Angeles Business Council.

Opposition of Proposition 39 include Jack Stewart, president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association, Lew Uhler, president of the National Tax Limitation Committee, and Pat Fong Kushida, president of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce.

Proposition 40

Proposition 40, if passed, will ensure that the state Senate boundaries set by the Citizens redistricting commission will continue to be used. If voted no upon, the districts will be adjusted by officials supervised by the California Supreme Court.

Supporters of the proposition believe the ability to redistrict should be kept out of politician’s hands. The current boundaries set by the commission are voter approved. If the ability to set Senate boundaries is put into the hands of politicians they will move them for self-interest reasons.

In an official statement from the opposition to Proposition 40, they call for a no vote due to the Supreme Court ruling the current lines remain in place.

Reports on the propositions are by staff writers Brianna McClafin and Tim Cornell.

8 | November 1, 2012

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

Opinions

Viewpoints

EDITORIAL

Viewpoints clears the air

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Javier Cabrera (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu eic@viewpointsonline.org

John Tavaglione, a Republican candidate, who is running states, “Mark Takano let Discrimination run rampant-and for a Congressional House seat in the U.S. Senate used an then punished those who tried to fight it.” article from Riverside City College’s Viewpoints to attack This is also incorrect, because Takano was the his opponent, Mark Takano, a Democratic candidate, while member of a five board panel and it is very hard to say he taking the article out had a sole position of context. on anything that The article is titled happened during those “Discrimination investigations and it is pervades RCC,” also not a position which ran in the Viewpoints staff Viewpoints’ print members highlighted edition on May 26, in the article.

2005 and it was Also in that same written by former issue directly next to staff writers Vanessa the article, a second D. Overbeck and article was written Michael Diggin. by the same students T h e titled “Discrimination Discrimination policy revision,” in article is reporting which the opening an issue during of the article 2005 in which an states “Riverside RCC instructor was C o m m u n i t y investigated for College is one step harassment of RCC closer to adopting a students and the new discrimination Board of Trustees policy.” discussing the Viewpoints staff matter. would like to clear In Tavaglione’s any confusion on our flier it uses clips end. from the article, The paper copy of including a quote Tavaglione brochure from Takano, who inaccurately claims was the president that the story was of the Riverside published in 2009, Community College when in fact it was District Board of written in 2005.

Trustees in 2005.

Viewpoints has no Image courtesy of: John Tavaglione for Congress 2012 “The problem is open affiliation with a vigilante spirit that Tavaglione or Takano circumvents the established process,” Takano said at a nor were we contacted for permission to use the article.

Board of Trustees meeting on May 17, 2005, and is the It is merely a political attack, in which RCCD has now quote Tavaglione’s flier uses from the article. been placed in the cross hairs.

Takano was addressing the matter of harassment and A school that has benefited from the presence of Takano, allegations that were coming down on the administration otherwise he would not still be an active member after all from faculty and students on how the District was dealing this time. the issue.

The school is aware and has always been aware that the First off, Viewpoints is excited to be sourced in a majority of the blame laid on Chancellor Rotella. political flier for an U.S. Senate candidate but Viewpoints In a recent interview with Viewpoints News Editor, also feels the Tavaglione campaign is attempting to take Jeremy Fuerte, Takano responded to questions about the advantage of us because it is a student newspaper. allegations made by the Tavaglione camp.

Viewpoints is not endorsing either candidate in this “Once the board was presented with the allegations editorial but the main point of this editorial is: Viewpoints and evidence, we took immediate action to correct the feels the quote was taken out of context. situation and make sure that it wouldn’t happen again,” Takano is not mentioned until the last few paragraphs of Takano said. the article and the main purpose of the article was how the Fuerte attempted to contact Tavaglione for comment faculty felt nothing was being done by the administration, on the flier but Viewpoints has yet to hear from him as this but Grace Slocum, trustee at RCCD in 2005, said the Board article is going to print. attempted to take action, only to be given limited documents Tavaglione is trying to take an angle in a political of the harassment case and blaming Chancellor Salvatore situation, which is fine because he is only trying to gain Rotella, the acting chancellor at the time, for not taking the ground against Takano, but it is inappropriate. proper actions.

Distortion seems to be the new normal in this political Viewpoints believes this is an issue of ethics on the climate, but Viewpoints will not allow itself to be part of behalf of Tavaglione. On another flier from Tavaglione, it such tactics.

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

Courtney Coleman opinions@viewpointsonline.org INSCAPE EDITOR

Conner Munson inscape@viewpointsonline.org SPORTS EDITOR

James Williams sports@viewpointsonline.org FEATURES EDITOR

Iyanna Matthews features@viewpointsonline.org PHOTO EDITOR

Albert Melendez photo@viewpointsonline.org

STAFF Ekezie Aranotu Manuel Gray Monique Berduo Devin Hardy Shani Booker Paul Harris Yohonna Brewer Michelle Mathis Nishe Butler Donte Henderson Tabitha Carranza Marjean Howard Tim Cornell Lizbeth Landeros Kayla Corral Jerimiah Madden Dennis Cruz Brianne McClaflin Matt Dziak Susan Parker Sean Egle Stacey Patino Devon Everett Gerard Quevedo Miriam Fenton Jonathan Rivas Anthony Gutierrez Brittany Robles

Seles Rodriguez Nicholle Salvtierra Usman Siddiqui Dominique Smith Luis Solis Na’Ilah Thomas Jackie Trejo Jesus Valasquez Adriana Verdusco Jared Walker Jordan Ward Travis West Roshanika Williams Juliana Zapata

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR

Letters to the editor should be kept to 250 words or less. Deliver letters to the Viewpoints office in the room behind the Assessment Building. Viewpoints reserves the right to edit letters for space and to reject libelous or obscene letters. Letters to the editor and columns represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Viewpoints staff, Viewpoints faculty advisers, student government, faculty, administration nor the Board of Trustees.

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Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and

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Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. © 2012 by the Viewpoints staff, Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. 92506-0528. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the Viewpoints Editor-in-Chief.

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10 | November 1, 2012

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Opinions

“Endeavor’s” journey comes to an end

W here your vote really goes

Devon Everett Staff Writer Space: the final frontier… wait, that sounded a bit cliché.

The space shuttle “Endeavor” is being retired after countless years of service.

“Endeavor” has been on 25 missions within its short lifespan of 20 years.

Before its decommission, it went on a tour of the U.S. before it reached its final resting place, the California Museum of Science, in Los Angeles.

A new addition to the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, called the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavor Display Pavillion, was constructed to accommodate the shuttle.

The tour wasn’t exactly a smooth road however, as several trees were cut and power lines and buildings were at risk of getting damaged due to the shuttle’s wingspan of 78 feet.

Still, several people that got to see the shuttle enjoyed its presence, so the rewards outweighed the risks.

I would have enjoyed seeing this myself since I loved science as a child, but I had other obligations.

Sounds like I missed out on a once in a lifetime event, but I have a feeling that it would have been interesting for only a short while before I started taking it for

Revisiting the death penalty

susan parker Staff Writer Proposition 34 presents a rational argument of the feasibility of California’s current death penalty costs. The moral debate of “an eye for an eye” no matter what the cost is losing grounds the longer California remains backlogged and at a stand still because of the under-funded workload that its capital cases have brought on.

Since enacting the death penalty

dominique smith Staff Writer

Illustration By: Jacki Trejo granted.

I can’t help but want to see this exhibit for myself, just to get a taste of what people got to see during the shuttle’s tour, but at the same time, I’m not sure it would be as worthwhile an experience.

A few Californians reported their thoughts to “The Atlantic Newspaper” and several people showed a bittersweet enthusiasm toward this once in a lifetime phenomenon A person near Edwards Air Force Base reported that he got a shot from the roof of the newly completed Strato-launch Carrier Aircraft assembly building. A round of applause exploded as the shuttle passed. Spectators stuck around for some time after, chatting excitedly about the “Endeavor.”

“It’s my sincere hope that NASA can regain its footing

as a pre-eminent research and exploration agency in the near term, serving to inspire the kids of today like they did for me when growing up.,” said the spectator.

“Aerospace seems like a cultural backwater these days, almost as if it’s a mature field with all the fun problems already solved.”

The “Atlantic” reader adds, “but we’re just a tiny dot in this universe begging to be explored, the sound barrier is hardly tickled these days.”

Spectators in Los Angeles were also excited to see the shuttle pass over.

“The atmosphere around LAX reminded me of the torch relay just before the 1984 Olympics, an impromptu street carnival,” said another “Atlantic” reader from LA. “Aviation Boulevard was mobbed. The 105 Freeway

came to a complete standstill for about one half hour. People gave up honking and stood on their cars to watch.”

According to spectators, the sight was “magnificent and moving.”

There was a grand awe amassing from the “Endeavor’s” return. It’s kind of sad to see it retire and this event would definitely inspire young kids to become astronauts, but for me, it is what it is.

So despite the sheer awe displayed by this “Endeavor,” some people were slightly indifferent on the “Endeavor’s” return. Maybe we’ve just been desensitized to so much that the little things aren’t as impressive. Still, I’m sure that anyone that got to see the shuttle on tour will remember it for a lifetime.

in 1978, around 900 individuals have received the death sentence.

Of these, only 14 have actually been executed, 83 have died prior to being executed, and 75 have had their sentence reduced by the courts. This 14 to 83 ratio is ridiculous.

By approving Proposition 34 California would cut off all of the expensive delays that buy these offenders life behind bars.

As of July, California had 725 offenders in state prison who were sentenced to death. Most of these cases are at various stages of the direct appeal or habeas corpus review process.

These extensive legal challenges ordinarily take 25 years to complete in California.

In fact, these cases have consumed so much of the state’s court resources that Riverside Superior Court, ranked first in below standard judicial needs by the Judicial Council, had to dismiss 18 criminal cases due to a lack of courtroom space and judges to hear those cases.

Many states have undertaken cost-benefit analyses to determine whether the death penalty’s benefits

outweigh its costs. California outspends them all by an order of magnitude and needs to take a serious look at what savings have occurred with those states that have decided to eliminate the death penalty.

According to former death penalty prosecutor and senior judge, Arthur Alarcon and law professor Paula Mitchell’s review, California has spent $4 billion on the death penalty since 1978 and death penalty trials are 20 times more expensive than trials seeking life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

California taxpayers would save well over $100 million every year if the death sentence was replaced with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Proposition 34 would direct this $100 million saved each year to a new special fund called the “Savings, Accountability and Full Enforcement” California act fund.

Transferring funds from the state General Fund over the next four years, these monies would be distributed to local law enforcement, specifically, police

departments, sheriffs and district attorney offices, to increase the rate at which homicide and rape cases are solved.

Former California Attorney General John Van de Kamp commented recently that in his view that there’s a strong economic argument for doing away with capital punishment.

“With California facing its most severe fiscal crisis in recent memory, with draconian cuts about to be imposed from Sacramento that will affect every resident of the state,” said Van de Kamp. “It would be crazy not to consider the fact that it will add as much as $1 billion over the next five years simply to keep the death penalty on the books.”

Former prosecutor and judge James Ardaiz argues in favor of California’s capital punishment law, saying it is a deterrent and the right moral choice.

The reality is that many people sit on death row for years and years, and it doesn’t fill the hole they’ve left behind, nor does it bring the victims back to life. It only seems like a fair trade, but no one wins. It’s a false hope.

Every four years, we are flooded with campaign propaganda, flyers litter the streets as they conveniently slide off of car windshields, incessant e-mails bombard the American people and not to mention the cold calling for the democratic and republican voice automated messages asking for a small campaign contribution.

Yes, that’s right its election season, but have you ever wondered where your vote really goes?

The Electoral College was implemented by our founding fathers to ensure fair presidential elections.

It consists of 538 electoral votes, each candidate needs to win with a total number of 270 before they can call themselves President of the United States of America.

If you’re confused, here’s the explanation.

The Electoral College decides the presidential election, not popular vote.

Each state electoral vote is decided by the members of congress each state has, for instance, California has 55 electoral votes because it has 55 members in congress, the reason being it is a large state with many districts.

Some smaller states only get three to four electoral votes such as Hawaii, Alaska and Delaware.

Your vote does count for other things though, do not be completely discouraged.

For instance, California has many propositions on this year’s ballot many of which can change the course of the state for its residents for years to come.

Also state officials and elects would greatly appreciate your consideration like Mark Takano whose running for congress, or Jose Medina who is running for California State assembly both residents of Riverside.

President Barrack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney are not going to tell you that their whole campaign strategies are really just for ego boost, they’re going to stress the importance of voting, and how much we all matter in the grand scheme of things, That’s very true, but they are not really thinking that, they are thinking how many states they can afford to lose in the Electoral College, the real deciding factor of presidential elections.

So if you’re still trying to figure out who to vote for just remember your vote does count but only a little.

Viewpoints

Opinions

November 1, 2012 | 11

Serving students since 1922

Armstrong can’t out race allegations

Michelle Mathis Staff Writer Seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong, who single handedly put cycling on the map, has been stripped of his titles based off of the many assertions that he used illegal performance enhancement drugs during each tour.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency stripped Armstrong of all competitive results from August 1, 1998 to the present as well as a lifetime ban from any activity or competition for which it has jurisdiction.

Armstrong, while publicly maintaining his innocence, decided to not officially challenge the agency’s sanctions.

In a statement Armstrong said that the anti-doping agency had engaged in “an unconstitutional witch hunt” based on “outlandish and heinous claims.”

He added that he would have been more than willing to fight what he described as the agency’s “one-sided and unfair” arbitration process was not worth it.

“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough.’” Armstrong said. “For me, that time is now.”

If The United States AntiDoping Agency is going to take away Armstrong’s titles then they need to do the same for every other cyclist since the establishment of the tour in 1903 because it is widely known that majority of the participants have in fact doped.

For 60 years this was allowed.

For the past 30 years it has been

Stacy Patino / Staff illustrator

officially prohibited.

Yet the fact remains great cyclists have participated in doping, then and now.

B a s i c a l l y, t h e m e s s a g e Armstrong and the other cyclists are sending to the people is that the tour is only possible because there is performance enhancement drugs.

No dope, no hope right? But it’s false hope for those who look up to these professional cyclists and want to be in their places one day.

It’s obvious that the continued integrity of the sport will be forever affected by Armstrong but do his titles deserve to be taken away?

No, because regardless if The United States Anti-Doping Agency has evidence that he has used such drugs, there is no evidence that he used them during the tours.

What if he doped during just one tour and was clean the rest?

What justifies the stripping of titles from 14 years ago or any other past year when he tested negative?

There is none.

The agency scrambled together a thousand page document and gathered witnesses, only after Armstrong called their bluff on taking away his titles.

It was a one-sided accusatory body that gave only its side and would have never allowed Armstrong the fair opportunity to defend himself even if he had taken it to court.

The only “evidence” The United States Anti-Doping Agency has against Armstrong are the testimonies from coerced witnesses under trial from their own persecutions, along with sworn affidavits from witnesses who have already committed

perjury.

Because we all know jealous teammates would never lie or be bitter about someone they lost to, right?

Should we really put our money on their credibility? I think not.

The message I got was go ahead and dope so long as you don’t win a lot.

If you get caught just point your finger at some retired rider and you get a slap on the wrist and are back in time for the next tour. `The fact of the matter is Armstrong is retired and so the real question at hand is, is it all worth it?

I suppose investigation might clean the sport up by simply killing cycling altogether.

But other than that I’m not sure how banning a retired rider ,who is an icon to many, helps anyone.

The races that Armstrong won

can’t be remedied in a significant way.

The wins won’t even be retroactively assigned to the runner ups for they too, were allegedly using drugs Besides the only real effect is that next year, some other doper will win with a fewer sponsors than last year.

Armstrong should just be left alone being that he was just another number in the great amount of cyclists that were utilizing performance enhancement drugs, he just happened to get caught.

The concern should be present in the fact that Armstrong’s legacy one which has impacted millions of people has left those with questions over both a role model and an inspiration.

With that in mind, what should be said about the number of cyclists that have yet to be exposed?

Child’s beauty pageants continue to manipulate innocence

marjean howard Staff Writer A beauty pageant that was scheduled to take place at Indian Land Elementary School in South Carolina has been cancelled due to the outcry of parents and other individuals in the community.

According to ABC News, the flier advertised that the contestants would be judged based on facial beauty, personality and overall appeal.

After the overwhelmingly negative response, the organizers issued a statement saying that the event was really more of a fashion show fund-raiser that would make

possible the donation of a piece of equipment to the school in honor of a faculty member who had passed away.

It was further emphasized that the fashion show was not designed to focus on comparisons of students’ looks. This important clarification was not shared with anyone outside the group presenting the pageant, and it is questionable at best.

It is one thing for parents to enter their children into pageants on their own time, a debatable topic as well, but to bring this kind of competition into the school environment is not appropriate.

Some parents make the argument that competition is competition.

On a daily basis, children are judged based on their sports ability, scholastic ability, and/or abilities in various other areas in which one student can excel over another.

The distinction that should not be lost, however, is that one can practice making free throws or go to the batting cages, one can write and rewrite spelling words to prepare for a spelling bee or use flash cards to prepare for a math test, and one can spend hours on the balance beam practicing a gymnastics routine, but there is not much one can do at a young age to change one’s looks.

Therefore, it is not appropriate to make a child think that his or her physical appearance is in some way lacking and needs to change.

Children already deal with the pressure brought to bear by messages received from television, magazines, older siblings, and peers. They do not need to be further overwhelmed by being judged against their classmates and ranked on the basis of who is prettier or more handsome.

School is supposed to be a safe haven that contributes to

the building of character and positive self-esteem. It should be a place where children are taught that there is more to life than the physical attributes they have to offer, and they should be assured that the outside does not mean so much if the inside is not taken care of.

In spite of the economy, elective cosmetic surgery is still a booming industry. So much emphasis is placed on beauty from an early age that the outlier is becoming smaller and smaller when it comes to work being done.

Children are scheduling rhinoplasties, breast augmentations, and abdominoplasties for their 18th birthdays. Some go so far as to leave the country and get work done at an even earlier age.

This story brought back to my memory the guilty pleasure that I am most ashamed of, the television program “Toddlers and Tiaras” that airs on TLC.

This program showcases stage mothers and fathers who are many times more into the competition than their children.

They clip pieces into their children’s hair, make them wear flippers, doll them up in false eyelashes and nails, and dress them up in clothes that are in some cases entirely too risqué for young children.

This might well leave these children with the impression that they are not good enough in their natural state, and it may well put unnecessary pressure on them to live up to an unattainable standard.

It is healthy to allow a child to compete in all areas of life, especially if the child thoroughly enjoys such competitions. However, when competition becomes more about a parent’s bragging rights than about the child having an uplifting experience, then it is no longer beneficial.

Viewpoints

12 | November 1, 2012

November 1, 2012 | 13

Serving students since 1922

Monique Berduo staff writer

Conner Munson Inscape Editor W h e n yo u w a l k t h ro u g h t h e d o o r s o f t h e H e n r y Fo n d a Th e a t e r, it is as if the threshold unveils a biome that is unimaginable from the streets of Hollywood. You are immediately confronted by the sounds that were somehow hushed before by the vintage entryway. It is as if the antiquarian-yet-renovated venue is shrouded by a purposeful mystique; rewarding only those who venture forth.

The bass shudders across the checkered ballroom floor like a massive snake, shaking the baroque moldings that adorn the walls and ceiling.

The head of the serpent scans the room, preying on its targets and the treble of the shrill electric guitars flit across your ears like the tongue of the beast.

On October 17th, Bombay Bic ycle Club took hold of the reptilian’s reigns, as it were. With a sound marked by Afro-beat rhythm influences and effer vescently melodic vocal and instrumental composition, the band is unique in every way possible.

Jack Steadman, lead singer, guitarist and lyricist for the band, utilizes the dichotomy of emotional and physical woe in his lyrics with the contrasting esthetic pleasure of melodic instrumentation.

This method of expression is the most earnest in translation to a live setting. You see Steadman furrow his brow as he tells tales of discordant relationships, but you feel the emotional presence that he evokes with every word.

The Henry Fonda Theater is, if anything, a landmark in entertainment history.

One can be assured that whoever sweeps the stage at the end of the night has swept away the particles of worn-off tread from the soles of some of the largest acts of all time.

Backstage waste -bins filled with the long-forgotten shoe dust of legends like Thom York of Radiohead or Stevie Wonder.

It is fitting that Jack Steadman, and the band Bombay Bicycle Club, may now be part the history of the venue.

They command such a prowess over their instruments, they could most likely play the tunes of those who came before with strik ing similarity. That is where Bombay Bicycle Club excels; it is as if they subtly nod at various musical trends, using catchy riffs and harmonic backup vocals whilst still being wonder fully unique. You could try to place it, but it always comes out in a particularly Bombay Bicycle Club way.

The master y of their craft shows when they are all succumbing to the vigor of their unique, individual parts.

Ed Nash, bassist for the London collec tive, turns out some of the funkiest grooves with drummer, Suren de Saram. All the while, Steadman can be heard pumping out some of the most intricate, yet complementary guitar melodies on his lively, reverbified, satin-black Stratocaster.

Part of the collective’s set was a return to the second studio LP, “Flaws”, an 11 track folk-acoustic album.

Break ing out a banjo and acoustic guitars would, in most cases, detract from the energy of a per formance, but proved to be as lively and hard-hitting rhythmically as their electric jams.

Seeing Bombay Bicycle Club play their live showcase is enthralling. It somehow foreshadows the future, giving the concert-goer the peace of mind that the future likely holds a manifold of new, and possibly even more refined, Bombay Bicycle Club material.

Vs.

Despite front man Jack Steadman’s (guitarist/vocalist) fight against spewing out his insides while effervescently rocking out on stage at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, the band was able to pull through and execute a phenomenal performance, giving off euphoric vibes in each guitar strum and catchy song lyric.

Jamie Maccoll (guitarist), Suren De Saram (drums) and Ed Nash (bassist), Amber Wilson (back-up vocals) were put to the improvisational test when Steadman swiftly ran off stage to the restroom, or at least that’s what the crowd was assuming. Maccoll proceeded to egg on Saram to follow through with a drum solo; this surely excited the audience and served as a distraction before Steadman returned after ten minutes with a sincere apology and a promise to play a free follow up show the next time the band visits Los Angeles.

The overall sound of the band comprises of mesmerizing melodies and whimsical harmonies to counteract Steadman’s free-sounding, yet profoundly melancholic lyrics.

BBC has a knack for making even the deepest heartfelt break up song evoke the same feelings one might get after watching an inspirational documentary or finally reaching the top of a mountain hike.

BBC kept a good balance of switching from their acoustic recordings, which was inspired from their album Flaws, released in 2010, to their ever familiar electric fix that has helped them establish a more concrete foot in the industry, while keeping an original sound and not conforming to the other series of acoustic upbeat bands that are currently trending.

Although my initial reaction to attempt to describe BBC by comparing them to recognizable triumphs such as, Mumford and Sons, Postal Service, Animal Collective and Two Door Cinema Club, it would be unfair to even classify them as just a comparison and discredit their unmistakably original sound.

A Different Kind of Fix, more recently produced, was released last August with returning vocal contribution from English songstress Lucy Rose.

Although Rose was unable to join BBC for their 2012 tour due to her solo project, Wilson was recruited to sing back up next to Steadman; which she did effortlessly divine.

The album is best summed up in the sense that it provides a temporary summertime warmth in the gloomy cold air of winter.

This album has been associated with more of a success rate due to it’s publicity from recognizable projects like the Twilight Saga movie soundtracks and several single hits that peaked on both UK and US music charts.

BBC’s setlist lead up to an encore opening of hit single Shuffle, which was foreshadowed in the middle of a previously played song.

It’s difficult not to find yourself dazed in Steadman’s harmonic piano loop that plays from start to end of shuffle.

At the height of their success, BBC manages to stay true to their original sound and committed to their fans by putting on a humble and jaunty performance.

Optimistic vibes filled the hardwood floors to the dimly lit wall-chandeliers in the small and intimate venue, reminding the audience why they are so fixed on this still rising British breath of fresh air.

14 | November 1, 2012

Viewpoints

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Opinions

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Inscape

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kayla corral staff writer She’s smart, hilarious, fun, adorable, and weird. It’s Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) and she’s back for another season.

New Girl has returned and aired its first episode of season two on Sept. 25; fans are just ecstatic of what they have in store for season two.

This show is a comedy series about a young, bright woman named Jess, who was a teacher at an elementary school in Los Angeles. She decided to move in with three young men named Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Coach (Damon Wayans Jr.), when she found their ad on Craigslist after she saw her boyfriend cheating on her.

Coach moved out and another young man, named Winston (Lamorne Morris) who was a former roommate of theirs, took

Illustration by: Stacy Patino his place and from there, their random adventures begin; also tagging along is Jess’s best friend, Cece (Hannah Simone).

The last episode of the season ended when Nick was going to move out of the loft and move in with his girlfriend; but a happy ending came out and he decided to stay with his friends, after all, it wouldn’t be the same without him.

Now, so far in this season, Jess has lost her job as a teacher and is going through a lot in her head;

thinking about what she will do with her life and what career to choose, and also along the way, she stumbles across some very interesting new decisions that she will be making.

Nick finds himself in trouble when he ends up getting a visit from future Nick. Winston needs to answer to his disapproving mother and basketball star sister.

Schmidt freaks out when he starts thinking about getting old and then starts getting jealous when Cece is dating the anti-Schmidt.

New Girl was created by the brilliant Elizabeth Meriwether along with executive producer, Jake Kasdan and Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer. The very first episode aired on Fox on Sept. 20, 2011 and since then this sitcom became a hit.

They became so famous and critics fell in love with it that Fox ended up convincing them to make an additional 11 episodes of New Girl, so instead of 13 episodes that season, it had a total of 24.

They’ve been nominated for 25 awards and have won three, including “Favorite Actress” for Zooey Deschanel.

New Girl was also one of eight honorees in the “Most Exciting New Series” in 1st the Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

They’ve done a remarkable job for a new series.

Many viewers are in love with Zooey’s bright and amazing personality, along with the other cast members.

It has come a long way in the past year. The producers were not expecting to have this much success with the show.

They keep getting notes from critics and fans on how much they adore this show and it’s cast, and hope to see how many season they wish to take it. New Girl airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on Fox 11.

Viewpoints Enter tainment Calendar Nov. 2

Nov. 3

Nov. 4

Nov. 5

Nov. 6

EVENTS Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead Celebration) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Riverside

EVENTS Fight For Air Walk at Fairmount Park at 8 a.m.

Tonic at the Fox Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m.

EVENTS Homecoming and Family Weekend 2012 at California Baptist University 8 p.m.

Car Show at First Class Pizza at 1 p.m.

EVENTS Riverside Flower Show Planning Meeting at Janet Goeske Foundation at 7 p.m.

American Sign Language Beginning at My Learning Studio at 7:15 p.m.

EVENTS 2012 Democratic Election Night Celebration at IBEW Hall at 8 p.m.

GAMES “Halo 4”

Nov. 7

Nov. 8

Nov. 9

Nov. 10

Nov. 11

EVENTS LifeStream blood drive starting at Riverside County Administrative Center at 11 a.m.

EVENTS Stuff-the-Bus at the Riverside Transit Agency at 1 p.m.

Peter Pan: A New Musical at the LifeHouse Theater in Redlands at 7:30 p.m.

EVENTS Theater: “Our Town” at California Baptist University at 8 p.m.

America at the Fox Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m.

EVENTS 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at RCC Performance Riverside at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Free Family Zumba at Bobby Bonds Park at 10 a.m.

EVENTS 35th Annual Mission Inn Run in Downtown Riverside 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.

4Troops at the Fox Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.

Viewpoints

16 | November 1, 2012

Inscape

Serving students since 1922

A spook away from being perfect Javier Cabrera editor-in-chief With the suspense building up through every scene, “Paranormal Activity 4” comes up short of producing a perfect horror movie.

As the fourth movie of the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, “Paranormal Activity 4” continues with the story of one family’s relationship with a demon named Toby.

Since its debut five years ago, the “Paranormal Activity” franchise has become a phenomenon to those curious about the paranormal. At the same time, it has continually swept fear into many moviegoers.

For the few diehard fans of this franchise, such as myself, we all were taken away from the first movie as many of us believed what was presented in “Paranormal Activity” was real, because the movie was shot in a way were it seemed original with homemade videos.

In a quick summary of the first two movies, Katie Featherston plays Katie, and is the first character introduced in “Paranormal Activity.”

She reveals her secrets of being haunted to her boyfriend Micah, played by Micah Sloat, after the two moved in together.

That movie ends with Katie disappearing and leaving Micah dead.

“Paranormal Activity 2” parallels along the same time period of the first one and it is about Katie’s sister, Kristi Rey, played by Sprague Grayden, and her family experiencing paranormal activity after her son, Hunter, is born and brought home.

The second movie ends with Katie killing Rey and her husband then leaving with Hunter.

“Paranormal Activity 3” is about rewinding the story back to when Katie and her sister were little and identifying all the paranormal activity that the two sisters experienced as kids.

Through the first three movies, fans found out that Katie’s great grandmother struck a deal with the devil to be rich in exchange for

giving him the family’s firstborn male.

That firstborn male happened to be Hunter and fans kept asking what happened to him and Katie.

Fast forwarding to “Paranormal Activity 4,” the question is somewhat answered but there are still questions to be answered.

In the fourth movie, we find out where the two disappeared to but it ends with where they go from here; the main point in the fourth movie is Katie started preparing Hunter to be offered or given to the demon.

Heading into this movie, I, like many others, was expecting the film to be plain and predictable since the first three movies were alike and many fans already knew

the regular routine of what is going to go down in every scene.

But surprisingly “Paranormal Activity 4” brought a whole new look to the series. The storywriters and directors really did their homework and invested a lot of time figuring out new ways to keep the fear in people’s minds.

In one scene the camera is on night vision and green dots light up a dark living room, and in a close view, fans can see a silhouette of a child.

In the paranormal field, the ultimate finding for ghost hunters is the Holy Grail, which is a full body apparition. In this scene alone, there is a full body apparition detected and it brings the chills down your spine as you

‘Your Poem Here’ This week’s contest winner:

© 2012 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS stepbrother brother, Hunter. see it roaming around.

And for an afterthought, one Many would argue the film has bad acting and there are parts question fans have after this fourth that show that, but the cast for movie, is how did Hunter get adopted into this family when Katie “Paranormal Activity 4” is solid.

Alex, played by Kathryn supposedly kidnapped him?

My theory is this family found Newton, is the main one in this movie because she is the one Hunter and he was never reported recording all the strange activity, found by Alex’s parents.

“Paranormal Activity 2” and and she is the one getting all the “Paranormal Activity 3” were action thrown to her.

She brought a new breathe OK, but “Paranormal Activity 4” of fresh air to the franchise since brought that dose of spook back to she was able to sell the idea of the franchise just like “Paranormal the homemade video clips being Activity.”

In overall, “Paranormal Activity realistic.

In one scene, fans can start 4” is 85 percent impressive that I feeling the anxiety kicking in give it a four out of five, because and heartbeats increasing as Alex it might be good enough to have braves herself to head into a dark, its fans leaving the movie theater creepy house to look for her little whispering “Mama.”

Under the Blue Reflections of dolphins under the ocean, Means a lot to me.

The matching sky of blue above me, How brave are the waves under me, As my feet touch the sand.

Waves come roaring at my feet, Covering my arches with blue.

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. 26.

The club meets every Tuesday 12:50-1:50 p.m. in Room 212 of the Quadrangle.

Reminds me of rivers and streams, How beautifully they flow naturally.

You can whisper thru trees, And pick blueberries you find, Knowing above you there’s miles and miles of velvety blue sky.

You almost know when you breathe, That the world is complete when the sky is above you and the dirt is beneath my feet, Completely covering my body under the blue.

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November 1, 2012 | 17

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Illustration by Stacey Patino

Illustrations by Jackie Trejo

Follow Viewpoints on Twiter: @RCCViewpoints Like Viewpoints on Facebook by searching “Riverside City College Viewpoints” Watch Viewpoints on YouTube by subscribing to “RCCAthletics”

Viewpoints

18| November 1, 2012

Serving students since 1922

Cross country win conference

Tigers men’s cross country win its third conference title in six seasons under McCarron Sean Egle Staff writer Riverside City College men’s cross country team secured its third Orange Empire Conference title in six years by defeating Orange Coast College.

RCC finished the meet with a total of 26 points, while OCC finished the event with 40 points.

The Tigers had four runners place in the top five, with sophomore John Guzman taking the individual win with a time of 20:50.43, narrowly edging second place finisher Kyler Fisk of Saddleback College by just nine seconds.

Guzman was exuberant with the win and the team’s effort, more than the title itself. “I was happy with my race execution and the collective effort the team put it in to come out on top. Our victory was absolutely a team effort,” Guzman said.

Tigers cross country coach Jim McCarron believes that the team acts as a unit and is successful because of the effort given by each member. “They are a tight group that challenges each other academically and athletically,” McCarron said.

OCC presented the biggest threat to the Tigers. They had runners finish sixth through tenth but came up short on points with freshman Felix Cruz coming in at seventeenth place.

McCarron knows that

Courtesy of RCC Cross Country team

Finish Line: RCC runner Diego Aguire running side by side with a Orange Coast College runner at the Orange Empire Conference championship meet on Oct. 26. expectations are always high for his group of runners, but it leads to a positive effect on course.

“Expectations are always high for them, but they thrive on that pressure,” McCarron said. The Tigers are currently ranked fourth

in state.

Freshman Luis Gutierrez has performed all season long alongside fellow runner Guzman.

Gutierrez made his name know once again by taking the third spot on the podium with a time

of 21:07.70 amongst a total of 88 runners.

McCarron was delighted with the team’s overall display, especially for sophomores Brandon Johnson and Daniel Ybarra who finished fourth and fifth respectively. “I

was so pleased with how all the guys ran. Both guys (Ybarra and Johnson) exceeded expectations with top five finishes,” McCarron said.

It was sophomore Justin Samaniego who secured victory for the Tigers, coming in thirteenth place with a time of 21:58:57, edging the win from OCC. The team’s belief is at a high, according to McCarron. “We gel well because everyone believes in what the coaching staff is doing,” he said. “For the guys to win by such a big margin in a smaller race really says a lot about the potential this team has at the state level.”

The Tigers’ overall time for the meet was 1:47:05, again defeating OCC by nearly two minutes.

The team will now look to continue their success by traveling to Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Nov. 3 to compete at the Southern California Championships.

Only the top 14 teams from that event will qualify for the state championships in November.

The meet will host four of the top six teams in the state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno, CA.

Final standings

1) RCC 26 pts 2) Orange Coast 40 pts 3) Saddleback 54 pts 4) Fullerton 122 pts 5) Golden West 158 pts 6) Santiago 166 pts

Courtesy of RCC Cross Country team

Title Run: Riverside City College had four individual runners finish in the top five in the Orange Empire Conference Championship meet on Oct. 26.

Viewpoints

Sports

November 1, 2012 | 19

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Tigers have win streak broken

tim Cornell Staff Writer

In the opening minutes of the match against the Golden West, the Riverside City College men’s water polo team were matching wits. The game was tied at 2-2 before the Rustlers took control and had an offensive explosion.

After increasing the lead to seven, the Tigers were never able to bring the lead below five.

This was the Tigers’ first loss in Orange Empire Conference games.

Their record in conference play is now 4-1. They are in second place in the conference below Golden West. The Rustlers remain perfect on the season at 21-0.

The RCC men’s water polo team’s dominating six match win streak came to a halt at the Golden West Tournament on Oct. 19th and 20th.

The six match win streak was topped off with a win against conference foe the Saddleback Gauchos. The Tiger’s won 23-5 against the Gauchos on Oct. 17 at home.

Trent Virgil led the team with six goals. Brody Wood also contributed four goals for the Tigers. This win moved the Tigers to 4-0 in conference play.

Utility Virgil contributes their six match win streak to getting to know each other more on the team as well as repetition of drills.

The Tigers lost their first

Taylor Smith / Special to Viewpoints

Conference: Riverside City College men’s water polo team is currently sitting in second place of the Orange Empire

Conference with a record of 16-9. t w o g a m e s o f t h e G o l d e n of 12-6. The Tigers’ last win West tournament to the Diablo against the Vikings was in the 2009 Valley Vikings and the Cerritos playoffs where the Tigers won 9-8.

College Falcons, 15-7 and 17-10 RCC defeated the Falcons earlier in the season 14-9 at the RCC respectively.

Both matches were the second tournament.

RCC won the final two games time the Tigers’ faced those teams of the Golden West tournament this season. against the Grossmont Griffins The first match against the and the Cuesta College Courgars.

Vikings this season the Tigers The scores were 15-12 and 15-9 also dropped with a final score

respectively.

The Tigers’ six match win streak included wins against conference opponent Fullerton and the Long Beach City College.

The Tigers’ won 23-7 against the Hornets in a conference match.

“We just wanted to go out that game and not give them a chance to catch up,” said Trent Virghil The Tigers’ record on the

season is at 16-9. They are 4-1 in conference play.

The Tigers’ next match will be at the Orange Empire Conference Championships that will be held Nov. 1-3 at Cypress College. After that the team has the Southern California Championships on Nov. 8-10 then they end their season at the State Championships on Nov. 16 and 17.

Tigers move on after loss, prepare for postseason action Travis West Staff Writer

With the state championship tournament just two weeks away, the RCC women’s water polo team lost two games in three days at the hands of the No.1 ranked Golden West College.

The state title contending teams played in Long Beach on Oct. 20 and again at the RCC Aquatic Center on Oct. 24. Coming into the highly anticipated conference match, Rustlers head coach Kyle Kopp, knew what he was getting himself into.

“Last four years have been us going at it and playing out here is top notch,” Kopp said. “When you get to good solid rivalry like this it makes it fun for everybody.”

From the opening whistle the Rustlers came out scoring jumped out to a two goal lead in the first four minutes until Megan Geurts broke away from the pack and netted the Tigers first goal of the game a minute later.

At the end of the first half the Tigers were down 3-1.

The Tigers were unable to capitalize with a man advantage in the third quarter, but did manage to create scoring chances. Ashley Fedler was able to find some room at two meters and converted the Tigers second goal of the game.

Goaltender Chelsea Dement did what she could to keep the team in the game by making huge stops in the cage, but with a man down the Tigers gave up their fourth goal of the matchup.

Going into the final quarter the

Tigers trailed the Rustlers 6-3.

Tara Scheibeler was able to score the Tigers third goal, which led to the Rustlers immediate response with a quick goal of their own.

The game came down to the final minutes.

The score was 6-5 with three minutes to play when the Rustlers crushed the Tigers chance at victory and added another goal to take a commanding two goal lead. Despite their best efforts, the Tigers were unable to overcome the Rustlers lead and ultimately fell 7-5.

The No.2 Tigers have been behind the Rustlers in the jcwaterpolo.com coaches’ poll all season and have yet to get their first victory against the Rustlers, but freshman Emmie Betz knows the potential her team has.

“If we come out and play for four quarters with intensity and heart…no one can stop us,” Betz said.

This was the second game in three days for the Tigers against the Rustlers. In the first game in Long Beach, Golden West battled to another victory against the Tigers 8-5.

Chelsea Dement had 12 saves in the cage and defensively the

Taylor Smith / Special to Viewpoints

Season: The Riverside City College women’s water polo team will head into the Orange Empire Championship tournament with a record of 21-4.

Tigers combined for 21 steals.

Tara Scheibeler and Caroline Teets both had two goals each and Betz had one.

Tigers’ coach David Almquist was disappointed about the loss but knows that there is still room

for improvement.

“We are not playing our best defense,” Almquist said.

Almquist went on to say that the team needs to take advantage of special team chances and lock things up on defense.

“If we execute our power play or extra man offense and defense we will have a great chance to win a state championship.”

The team will be in Cypress College from Nov.1-3 for the Orange Empire Championship.

Watch the Riverside City College water polo highlight videos on YouTube by subscribing to RCCAthletics

Viewpoints

20 | November 1, 2012

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Sports

Tigers rally leads to overtime

Dan henley / Special to Viewpoints

Comeback: Tigers’ kicker Tyler Rausa makes the game winning field goal in overtime against Citrus College on Oct. 20. RCC won 21-18 in overtime.

Matt Dziak Staff Writer With nails bitten down to the bone and hearts skipping a beat, everyone at Citrus Stadium awaited the Tyler Rausa overtime field goal attempt.

With ice water running through his veins, Rausa kicked the ball through the uprights for a 40-yard game winning field goal, capping off the dramatic comeback victory for the gritty Tigers.

The No. 3 Riverside City College Tigers narrowly escaped

an inter-conference upset by the No. 4 Citrus College Owls as the Tigers won, 21-18, in an overtime thriller.

“Adversity; that’s the headline of this game,” said RCC coach Tom Craft.

Trailing 18-12 with less than two minutes remaining, Citrus managed to navigate the ball down to the 18-yard line before freshman quarterback Barnard Porter spiked the ball, stopping the clock with one second left in regulation.

As players from the Citrus

sideline took a knee to pray, Porter took the snap from the 18-yard line and lofted up a floater that was reeled in by Josh Jones tying the game at 18 as time expired.

Thankfully for RCC, Isaiah Kepley missed the game winning point-after-touchdown attempt and the game headed to overtime.

Similar to the overcast draping the turf, the Owls’ defense smothered the typically explosive Tiger offense.

On the first play of the afternoon, quarterback Zach Adkins’ pass was

tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Owls’ linebacker Kody Duffy. Adkins, who had only one interception through his first seven games, threw two interceptions in the first quarter.

Citrus (5-2) capitalized on its good fortune, scoring twice in the first quarter on the arm of Porter; initially on a 35-yard slant to Jo Jo Curiel and again on a 15-yard pass to Donovan Holmes.

Porter was baffled by the Tigers’ secondary; however, throwing four errant interceptions to Trey Hall, Naim Colbert, Ryan Coleman and Chris Gonzalez collectively.

“Our defense (was) able to keep the turnover ratio close was huge for us,” Craft said.

After being held scoreless in the first half for the first time all season, RCC (7-1) enacted the attributes of a tortoise, slowly working its way to a remarkable comeback.

Finally getting on the board, the opportunistic Tigers defense answered the call as safety Ryan Coleman intercepted Porter’s pass and returned it 14 yards for the touchdown, cutting the Owls’ lead to 12-7.

RCC’s stout defense finished with four interceptions, five sacks and surrendered only 228 yards.

On two separate occasions in the second half, both Adkins and Tyler Shreve mishandled the snap from center and had costly fumbles in the red zone as RCC was just yards away from scoring on each.

“There is no excuse for that,” Craft said.

On a crucial fourth and goal from the one-yard line, RCC committed a false start penalty and were forced to settle for a 22-yard Tyler Rausa field goal, tightening the score to 12-10 with 9:16 left in the game.

That drive was set up by the punishing run game led by E.J. Schexnayder, who carried the ball 25 times for 138 yards.

Schexnayder continues to lead the National Central Conference in rushing.

“We rode his back in the fourth quarter and picked our opportunities to go play action,” Craft said.

It seemed the Tigers’ fate was primed for a heartbreaking defeat, but with two minutes remaining Garrette Biggers changed that, returning a punt 68-yard for a touchdown.

After a two-point conversion pass from Adkins to Kenny Torrance the Tigers finally nabbed a late lead at 18-12.

“We found a way to win with special teams and defense,” Craft said.

The RCC offense, which leads the nation in scoring, was unable to score a touchdown for the first time in three years under Craft but still managed to pull out the victory and remain undefeated (4-0) in the National Central Conference.

“This was a game of will. . . not game plan, and that was reflected by the end result,” Craft said.

Biggers is proven factor for Tigers’ punt return unit Usman Siddiqui Staff Writer

Freshman punt returner and wide receiver Garrette Biggers has kicked off his first season at Riverside City College leading the state in punt return yardage, continuing the success he achieved at the position in high school.

Biggers has returned 22 punts for 366 yards and one touchdown thus far through the first seven games.

Many of his return touchdowns have come at crucial points in games such as his 68 yard touchdown run back with 1:53 remaining which ultimately led to the Tigers 21-18 overtime victory over Citrus College on Oct. 20.

The game was back and forth throughout the entirety of it with plenty of lead changes. RCC started the game down big but came back to force overtime and pulled away with a win.

“At first the team was down as if we already lost the game and someone had to make a play so I stepped up and the play of the game to give my team the lead,” he said. “Once we had the lead our intensity went up and we never lose when we’re intense.”

Biggers’ high school career took place at Riverside North High School. In high school, Biggers returned punts and kickoffs during

his junior and senior years as the lead returner for the team.

His accomplishments in the sport of track and field at North can serve as a testament to his speed. He broke over five records at various meets during his high school campaign of participating in the sport.

He broke a record at the Riverside Championship meet in the 400-meter event and broke another record in the same event at a meet in the city of Beaumont.

Biggers had another touchdown return this season against Saddleback College in the third game of the season but it couldn’t place onto his stat sheet because it was called back due to a holding call.

Biggers has proved to be a huge threat and opposing teams have started to kick the ball away from him, sensing the danger that comes with him being in the back of the punt formation.

Some of the Tigers’ recent oppositions have begun to implement this strategy ever since Biggers’ return against Saddleback.

After Saddleback, RCC played Los Angeles Harbor College, Long Beach City College, Fullerton College and El Camino.

All of these teams attempted to use this tactic but unfortunately for Citrus, Biggers was able to run back the most important punt of

Luis Solis / Photographer

Return of the Man: Returner Garrette Biggers leads conference in punt return yards. the game for the loss.

“I only saw four kicks come to me in the previous four games before the Citrus game so it was

good to finally be able to return one,” Biggers said.

Biggers and the Tigers will face College of the Desert on Nov.

3 at home where Biggers will hope to see more balls come his way so that he can leave a bigger mark in his first season at RCC.

Viewpoints

NBA games for the next two weeks

November 1, 2012 | 21

Serving students since 1922

Sports

Viewpoints pick ’em: NBA games Javier Cabrera

James Williams

Matthew Dziak

Tim Cornell

Seles Rodriguez

Sean Egle

Travis West

Iyanna Matthews

Jordan Ward

Usman Siddiqui

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

Nov. 2 Lakers at Clippers Nov. 2 Heat at Knicks Nov. 3 Blazers at Rockets Nov. 4 Hawks at Thunder Nov. 5 Knicks at 76ers Nov. 7 Lakers at Jazz Nov. 9 Pacers at

T-wolves

Nov. 12 Nuggets at Suns Nov. 14 Heat at Clippers Nov. 14 Grizzles at Thunder Standings

Oklahoma City Thunder trades James Harden to the Houston Rockets Usman Siddiqui Staff Writer The Oklahoma City Thunder managed to find something that could match the hysteria of the Dwight Howard saga.

The Thunder dealt guard James Harden to the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard/forward Kevin Martin, guard Jeremy Lamb, two future first round picks and a future

second round pick on Oct. 27. ​Along with Harden, the Rockets received center Cole Aldrich, guard Daequan Cook and forward Lazar Hayward. ​Harden is a very proven player as he has been a huge part of the Thunder’s success in recent years working with superstars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2012 and was a selection to the NBA all-rookie

second team in 2010 to list his recognitions in the NBA. In his NCAA career he made the Consensus All-American First Team in 2009, was named Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009, and is a

Keep up with Viewpoints’ sports staff by reading its blog rccviewpointssports. blogspot.com

two-time selection to the All-Pac10 First Team in the years of 2008 and 2009 as a part of the Arizona State University.

Harden also has international recognition as he was a member of the US Olympic team that finished first and received gold recognition at the London Olympics this past summer.

Aside from the big loss that the Thunder felt from this deal, they are the clear winner.

Oklahoma City received Martin, who has proven to be a very good scorer.

Oklahoma City made the right deal at the right time as Harden refused to sign a four-year, $56 million extension deal.

Some questions remain unanswered such as the question of Lamb being successful in the NBA but apart from that, the Thunder will be just as good, if not better than they were last year.

Viewpoints

22 | November 1, 2012

Sports

Serving students since 1922

Path to playoffs

Football

Volleyball

Men’s Water Polo

Women’s Water Polo

Season Record 7-1 Conference: 4-0 Next game: Vs Desert 1 p.m.

Season Record 8-8 Conference: 3-6 Next game: At Fullerton at 6 p.m.

Season Record 16-9 Conference: 4-1 Next game: OEC Championships

Season Record 21-4 Conference: 4-2 Next game: OEC Championships

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

RCC 45 Fullerton 28

Oct. 13

RCC 63 El Camino

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 Fairview Park at 10 a.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 1-1

1 Irvine Park Rd. Orange, CA 92869

Volleyball

Oct. 6

RCC Tournament 2-0

Oct. 10

RCC 23 Fullerton 7

Aug. 31

RCC 3 San Bernardino 2

Oct. 12

RCC Mini Tournament 2-0

Sept. 4

RCC 3 Canyons 0

Oct. 17

RCC 23 Saddleback 5

Sept. 7

RCC 3 Mt. Sac 2

Oct. 19

Golden West Tournament 0-2

Sept. 14

At San Diego Mesa

Oct. 20

Golden West Tournament 2-0

All Day

Oct. 24

RCC 9 Golden West 14

At San Diego Mesa

Nov. 1-3

OEC Championships TBA

All Day

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

RCC 1 Cypress 3

Oct. 5

RCC 0 Orange Coast 3

Oct. 10

RCC 3 Fullerton 2

Oct. 12

RCC 0 Saddleback 3

Oct. 17

RCC 0 Golden West 3

Oct. 19

RCC 2 Irvine Valley 3

Oct. 24

RCC 3 Santa Ana 0

Oct. 26

RCC 2 Cypress 3

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

At Fairview Park 10 a.m.

Nov. 3

20777 Lorain Rd. Fairview Park Nov. 17

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

Nov. 16-18 Tournament at San Bernandino TBA

State Championships at De Anza

Nov. 20

Vs Miramar College 5 p.m.

Women’s Water Polo

Nov. 27

Vs Southwestern 7 p.m.

RCC 15 American River 2

Dec. 4-8

Riverside Holiday Tournament TBA

Sept. 7

RCC 21 San Joaquin 1

Dec. 19

Vs Fresno City College 7 p.m.

Sept. 8

RCC 20 Fresno 0

Sept. 8

RCC 13 Santa Rosa 1

Dec. 27-29 College of the Canyons Tournament at Santa Clarita TBA

Sept. 12

RCC 21 Santa Ana 3

Jan. 4

At Orange Coast 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14

RCC 18 Fresno 0

Jan. 11

Vs Cypress 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14

RCC 13 Cerritos 9

Sept. 15

RCC 15 Chaffey 2

Sept. 15

RCC 15 Cypress 3

Sept. 26

RCC 15 Orange Coast 6

Sept. 27

RCC 12 Foothill 5

Sept. 28

At Cuesta Tournament 2-0

Sept. 29

At Cuesta Tournament 1-1

Oct. 3

RCC 13 Cypress 3

Oct. 10

RCC 10 Fullerton 11

Oct. 12

RCC Mini Tournament 2-0

Oct. 17

RCC 20 Saddleback 4

Oct. 19

At Long Beach Tournament 2-0

Oct. 20

At Long Beach Tournament 1-1

Oct. 24

RCC 5 Golden West 7

Nov. 1

Orange Empire Championships at

Sept. 7

Cypress TBA Nov. 9

So. Cal. Reigonals at Fullerton

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.

Marissa Bostick / Staff Photographer

Team: Samantha Straley defends an open serve by Trish Gauthier during an RCC practice.

Shani Booker Staff Writer

The Riverside City College volleyball team took Cypress College to a five set match on Oct. 26.

Cypress managed to pull away at the end to win the fifth and final set to secure the victory.

“We went head to head and in the fifth game, (Cypress) pulled and won the 15 pointer,” RCC coach Monica Trainer said.

The Tigers had lost the first two sets to Cypress before a late rally to win the next two sets.

“I thought we could sustain the momentum but unfortunately we got into a weak rotation and was not able to pull it through at the end,” Trainer said.

The Tigers were coming off a win against Santa Ana College prior to the game against Cypress.

The team defeated Santa Ana, winning the conference match in three consecutive sets.

With the Tigers in the middle of conference play, the team is working toward a chance in the playoffs.

“Right now we have a good chance to the playoffs, we just have to win two more matches and then we are pretty much guaranteed the playoff position , our conference is so strong they usually take six of the eight teams out of our conference to make out the top 16 which is good.”

The Tigers’ next game will be at Fullerton on Nov. 2. The RCC Tigers will compete against Saddleback College at home as part of the team’s fundraiser “A Game for Cure” to help support breast cancer awareness on Nov. 7.

Homecoming events Nov. 3 at 9:30 a.m.

RCC Tigers Football Homecoming Tailgate Wheelock Gymnasium rededication ceremony, open house and tours Immediately following the Open House Game kick-off at 1 p.m.

RCC vs. College of the Desert

Viewpoints

November 1, 2012 | 23

Serving students since 1922

Charles Wyckoff serves as new acting vice president of Business Services nicholle salvatierra

Staff Writer

albert melendez / Staff Photographer

Out with the old in new: Charles Wyckoff poses in his new office.

Weeks into his seventh year of teaching, Professor Charles Wyckoff was asked to accept new duties serving as the new vice president of business services.

These new responsibilities interfered with Wyckoff’s classes, forcing him to leave all but one of his online business classes.

Wyckoff was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Baruch College and received his M.B.A from New York University.

Wyckoff retired as the vice president of financial services from a finance company based out of New York.

To Wyckoff business is a way of life.

“I learned from a young age that business is the only thing you’re involved with everyday, besides Facebook,” said Wyckoff.

“I like that business allows me to be creative in a way. You can find creativity in anything.

Business is one of those things

that doesn’t necessarily need art and music to allow me to be creative.”

Wyckoff’s first year of teaching at Riverside City College was in 2005, where he taught classes focusing on business management and marketing.

This semester Wyckoff began teaching his usual schedule of classes, until he was asked to take the position of acting vice president.

“My biggest reluctance was telling my students two weeks into the semester that I would have to leave them,” said Wyckoff, “I hated telling them this news,” In order to allow his students to continue with the classes they had already enrolled in, other professors willing continued to teach the classes.

“It was really sad when I had students tell me that I was the reason they were taking that class,” said Wyckoff.

Wyckoff continues to teach one, eight week online business class.

Replacing the professor in the middle of an accelerated course would be a difficult adjustment for students, which is why Wyckoff continues to teach this course.

Because his duties are time consuming Wyckoff teaches the class from home on his own time.

“I really enjoy teaching that class, and being able to communicate with the students.

I’m not looking forward to when that class ends in a few weeks,” said Wyckoff.

Wyckoff’s new position gives him responsibilities involving the business aspects of construction, caring and maintaining facilities, as well as interacting with the custodial crews.

“I like accepting new challenges. I chose to accept this position to do good for the college and give the faculty perspective,” said Wyckoff. “The difference between teaching and my new position is night and day. Either way though, I enjoy what I’m doing.”

Paying it forward Iyanna matthews features editor jordan ward staff writer Victor Sandoval Riverside City College alumni has dedicated his life to the bettering of students here at RCC. Sandoval wasn’t always the best student; he didn’t receive the best grades in high school so when it came time to enroll in college RCC was his only option.

“I feel that RCC is the perfect place for people like me that may need a second chance. I was pushed in a variety of directions until I was able to decide what I wanted to do,” said Sandoval.

Sandoval was able to transfer out of RCC within two years, where he then continued his education at UC Santa Barbra earning his M.S. in political science with an

emphasis in reading.

While enrolled at Santa Barbra Sandvoal was very active in local politics. Touring with a local politician to a school inspired him to become a teacher.

“It was during this time when I was working with politicians, and visiting schools that I realized what I really wanted to do was teach,” said Sandoval. “I felt that I could make more changes in the world with students rather than policy.”

Sandoval began his first teaching job in Riverside. He taught seventh-grade English at La Sierra Middle School for eight years. He then continued to teach various levels of English at John W. North High School for about ten years.

Now as an instructor his main goal and motivation is to “turn students on to the life of reading”.

This drive stems from the influence of his instructors here

NA’ILAH THOMAS / Staff Photographer

READING AHEAD: Victor

Sandoval explains the theory of outliers to students.

at RCC. Kirstina Kauffman, retired political science professor at RCC, was Sandoval’s inspiration to change his major.

“Her class was very interactive it’s something I always looked forward to,” said Sandoval.

“Taking her class helped me establish the fact that I could be a student,” said Sandoval.

To m J o h n s o n o n e o f Sandoval’s former professors is a constant reminder in Room 103

of the Quadrangle where Sandoval taught three classes last semester.

Johnson’s picture hangs on the wall and acted as a reminder in what he aspires to be as a teacher.

“To me the photograph of this instructor in my classroom, is reassuring,” said Sandoval.

“I really enjoyed the hands on teaching style, as well as centering instruction on what the students want and need,” said Sandoval.

When asked why he returned

to RCC to teach he replied, “I believe that the school is still the same place it was when i was a student here. They still have the same mission statement, and the same quality of instruction. I am very happy I’m here.”

Staff Writer Nicholle Salvatierra contributed to the article

Viewpoints

24 | November 1, 2012

Features

Serving students since 1922

The Flying Tiger monique berduo Staff Writer In 2005 Justin Brooks Wiley graduated from King High School with a steady 2.0 grade point average and later moved on to complete his last semester at Riverside City College in the fall of 2006.

Just a few days ago, 25 year old Justin, was granted the honor to take the F/A-18 Hornet, a fighter aircraft with the flyaway cost of over 65 million US dollars, for a solo flight as part of his Naval Aviation training.

Justin’s father, RCC Spanish professor and track coach Duverick Wiley, recalls how his son has always dreamt of flying ever since he was a toddler. Duverick’s brother, Ron Wiley, helped spark this lifelong passion of Justin’s when he decided to give both Duverick and Justin a tour of an aircraft on his Navy base.

“He (Ron) took Justin and myself, and grabbed the keys off the wall to a 40 billion dollar aircraft and basically just let the kid run all over inside,” Duverick said. “That was the start of the whole thing.”

Duverick remembers Justin being full of questions and remarks, and his brother Ron eager and willing to answer any of Justin’s questions.

The process of graduating high school below average, to rising up to fit the qualifications of your childhood dreams and passions is a life lesson that should inspire students in all fields of education, but especially those enrolled in community colleges.

It’s very common to find college students on campus who are either frustrated or discouraged with their current academic status at a community college, but this should serve as a testimony to students near and far that it is possible to make your dreams a reality; community colleges serve as a stepping stone to help get us there.

By the time Justin had graduated high school he managed to maintain a real average grade point average, in fact one of Duverick’s friends and former professor of Justin took the liberty of nicknaming Justin ‘Mr. Average.’

“I was not a stellar student. I think I graduated King with a 2.0, it was pretty bad,” said Justin.

“I kinda realized when I got to RCC that I needed to step up my game a little bit, so I really started applying myself.”

Attending RCC helped Justin realize that in order to fulfill his dreams he needed to get his act together when it came to getting good grades and enrolling in the necessary programs such as the ROTC program.

Both Duverick and Justin agree that at this point when Justin enrolled in Riverside City College he was determined to get the necessary grades and take the

Duverick Wiley / Special to Viewpoints

Flying high: Justin Wiley poses in front of the U.S. F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet he flies for the U.S. Navy. next steps in becoming a Naval Aviator.

Like many students enrolled at RCC, Justin was mainly enrolled in general education classes such as English and mathematics.

“The quality of instructors I had at RCC far exceeded the instructors I had at the school I attended after; in terms of liberal arts, math, english, and that kind of stuff. There were a lot of instructors at RCC that influenced my education.” Said Justin.

When asked who or what helped Justin keep focus on his dreams he likes to credit not just his uncle Ron but his dad more than anyone.

“It’s a combination of people, but if someone held a gun to my head I’d have to say my dad. He’s one of the people I look up to the most, even now.” said Justin.

After close observation and interviews with both Justin and Duverick, one theme remains predominant and that it is the concept of dedication.

Justin and Duverick both agree that one of the toughest hurdles to overcome is to stay passionate and

dedicated to your dreams, and not lose focus.

“Staying dedicated to one singular goal can be pretty difficult at times. You kind of get down in the weeds as far as day to day stuff, and lose sight of what your overall goal is sometimes.” Said Justin.

Although through the power of being able to stay focused and consistently dedicated to the thing you desire most, you can accomplish just about anything.

“It’s one thing I like to anchor on, it that no matter what’s behind you if you really want to do something, it just takes hard work, dedication, and drive to get what you want.” said Justin.

“I think that’s pretty cool, you could do anything really.”

Although Duverick recalls Justin failing Spanish class in high school, with a father who teaches the same exact course at a collegiate level, he later witnessed his son do much more than just pass his classes.

“He was selected as one of the Naval Air Training graduates with distinction because he did what many men never do and that’s sail

through the Navy’s Jet Training School with a perfect score,” said Duverick.

Even through difficulties and hurdles Justin’s perseverance eventually helped him attain his innermost desires.

“Justin was able to keep that dream all the way through several hurdles, and it’s kind of an amazing story in that he never lost focuse on his goal, he never lost passion for it,” said Duverick.

“And it seemed like every time someone told him ‘nah you can’t do that,’ he would say ‘yes I can,’

and work that much harder.”

Justin’s story serves as a perfect testimony for students today who are still dreaming and holding close to those passions they’ve developed over time.

Inspiration should be reinstated in the minds of students who have lost sight of what they want.

“For students who go to RCC, it’s a perfect example why we’re here at a community college which is to give students a shot at their dreams,” said Duverick. “‘What is your dream?’ Don’t lose it and keep fighting.”

Duverick Wiley / Special to Viewpoints

Proud family: Duverick and Justin Wiley poses in front of the fighter jet Justin flies for the U.S. Navy.