March 7, 2013
Vol. xci, No. 9 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
Riverside City College
RCC Culinary Academy earns recognition David Avalos of the RCC Culinary Academy wins Chef of the Year from the local chefs and cooks association For full story see Page 3
Luis Solis / PHOTO EDITOR
HUNGER FOR SUCCESS: Riverside City College Culinary Academy Chef David Avalos teaches his students in the fast growing industry of cooking.
Student overload in the writing center page 2
Riverside artist makes it on ‘The Voice’ pages 10-11
RCC club unites with diversity page 6
2 | March 7, 2013
Viewpoints
Serving students since 1922
News
Luis Solis / Photo Editor
Pile UP: A long line trails between the Martin Luther King Jr. Teaching and
Closures on Highway 91 As Caltrans continues its construction with the 6 mile-long High Occupancy Vehicle project on Highway 91, more delays are scheduled to take for the next week. From March 3-15, between 10 p.m. – 5 a.m., some lanes are scheduled to close between Central Avenue to 14th Street on eastbound 91. From March 3-15, between 9 p.m. – 4 a.m., some lanes are scheduled to close between 14th Street to Central Avenue on westbound 91. Riverside City College students can stay updated with closures and delays related to the Highway 91 project by following @91HOVProject on Twitter, liking the “SR 91 HOV Project” page on Facebook, emailing 91_hov_project@dot.ca.gov and calling (909) 383-6290.
RCC’s culinary academy hosts a feast The Riverside City College Culinary Academy is scheduled to host its first international food tasting gala at 1155 Spruce Street on March 8 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25, which pays for food and wine. All proceeds benefit the RCC culinary arts program. International delights include Brazil, Caribbean, Germany, Greece, Japan, Italy, France, India and Vietnam. For more on the food-tasting gala, call (951) 328-3663.
Open mic night with RCC’s writing club The Stay Classy Creative Writing Club is scheduled to host an open mic celebrating women’s history month at Back to the Grind, 3575 University Avenue, on March 21 at 6 p.m. Sign ups to read starts at 5:30 p.m. The club asks attendees, who are sharing their work, to respect other readers and remain at the event after they finish reading their own work. For more on this event, contact the club: stayclassycwc@gmail.com.
Campus vending machine offers class supplies The Riverside City College Bookstore has placed a vending machine inside the Digital Library. The vending machine is located at the entrance of the second floor of the Digital Library. It sells supplies such as calculators, scantrons, flashdrives and pens. Justino Gomez, assistant manager at the RCC Bookstore, said the vending machine is going to be tested before it starts operating so it does not have mechanical problems. He said the vending machine will start operating in two to three weeks.
Graduation deadlines approaching Riverside City College students, who have completed their requirements for their associates degree or certificate from RCC by the end of the semester, are eligible to sign up and participate in the graduation ceremony on June 6 at 6 p.m. The deadline to submit an application is April 1. The application is on Webadvisor. The fee is $5 for each associates degree application, and there is no charge for certificate applications. After the application is reviewed, a notice will be sent to the student’s email of eligibility to participate in the commencement ceremony. Assistance and computer access is available in the Admission and Records lobby and the Welcome Center at RCC.
Learning Center and the Assessment and Journalism Building as RCC students try to sign into the Writing and Reading Center on March 1.
Always playing the waiting game Students struggle to earn required lab hours in RCC’s Writing and Reading Center Amanda Arroway Asst. News Editor Students enrolled in English or English as a Second Language classes understand that they need to log 18 hours in the Writing and Reading Center during the semester in order to pass their class. What these students don’t understand, is why they have found themselves waiting in line for upwards of two hours or more outside of the Writing Center for the chance to get their time in the lab. Students who use the Digital Library on a regular basis, or even those students that fight for a parking spot daily, understand that ease of access to these areas of campus can vary depending on the time of day. When it comes to the Writing Center though, the phrase “ease of access” is almost completely foreign. Located on the bottom floor of the Martin Luther King Building, the lab is open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. ESL lab hours are limited to 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. The line to get into the lab forms outside as early as 7:30 a.m. wrapping around the building, and completely filling the breezeway between the Assessment and Writing Centers by 1 p.m. most days. But when students have to log 72 minutes each week in order to pass their class, many students don’t have time to stand in an hour long line between classes or before work.
Student Sarah Samson has waited over two hours to get into the lab, and she has concerns that she won’t be able to log her correct hours to pass her English 1A class this semester. Brian McKay, another student, tried three times in a week to log his lab hours for his English 60B and Reading classes. The Writing Center is currently working on a plan to help get students in and out as efficiently as possible. The system currently in place allows 10 students into the lab, when 10 students leave. With only 110 seats in the lab, this process takes time. Denise Kruizenga-Muro, the lead instructor of the Writing and Reading Center, says that department is aware of the problem, and currently is working toward a solution. “We’re really doing it so that we don’t go beyond our occupancy limit,” she said. “It’s a safety issue, and right now we’re just concerned about everyone’s safety. “ As it stands, the first floor of the Martin Luther King Teaching and Learning building is the only place for students to log their much needed lab hours. “The state requires lab hours to be completed with line-of-sight supervision from a faculty member with a degree in English or ESL,” Kruizenga-Muro said. This is the first semester the Writing Center has seen this much traffic. “This is unprecedented for us,” Kruizenga-Muro said. “I’ve worked in the Writing Center for four years and this has never happened before; we’ve had lines consistently every single day.”
Campus event helps a cause A cast of Riverside City College students and faculty are scheduled to perform “The Vagina Monologues” on March 14, 15 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Digital Library Auditorium. Jami Brown, an RCC instructor, has advance tickets for sale, $10 for faculty and staff and $8 for students. Tickets will be available at the door, $15 for general admission and $10 for students. There will be chocolate vagina pops, buttons, and key chains to commemorate the event. All proceeds go to the V-Day Organization and The Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center. Contact Jami Brown for advance tickets at Jami.Brown@rcc.edu or (951) 2228398.
Amanda Arroway / Staff Photo
Full House: English and ESL students have to log 72 minutes weekly in the Writing and Reading Center.
Viewpoints
News
March 7, 2013 | 3
Serving students since 1922
RCC chef receives top honor
Chef David Avalos of the RCC Culinary Academy wins Chef of the Year Javier Cabrera News Editor C h e f D a v i d Av a l o s , a n instructor at the Riverside City College Culinary Academy, was named the 2012 Chef of the Year for the Southern California Inland Empire Chefs and Cooks Association in January. The award is the first for a chef at the RCC Culinary Academy. Chef Avalos said the award is big for the program, and the college. “It is a good image for the college,” he said. “The students look at it as being proud of it as well, because they can say ‘this is the quality level of instructors we are getting at the RCC Culinary Academy.’” The culinary program was taken over by the college in 2004, after it was ran by the Regional Occupational Program through the Economic Development Agency. Chef Avalos said he was one of the first instructors to be hired by the college when it took over the culinary academy in 2004. He said the program is still operated under the same structure as it did before RCC took over, where the incoming students start at the dining room, and learn how to handle the guests. They then move to the kitchen and learn the basics of cooking in their second semester. In their final semester,
Superior Court judge visits RCC Honorable Irma Poole Asberry, judge of the Superior Court of California County of Riverside, delivered the 2013 Annual Athena Lecture on March 6. Athena international is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empower and inspire women. Faculty, students and the community attended the lecture which took place in the digital library auditorium. The lecture, titled “How to Identify your Winning Talents and Put Them to Use for a Life of Excellence,” centered on the importance of using talents for the community. “Get involved in an organization or cause that interests you,” Asberry said. During the lecture, Asberry emphasized the importance of belonging to organizations that provide a public service, or simply volunteering for a particular cause. Asberry is the first African American female appointed to judge of the Supreme Court of California. “When I was in elementary school I was sure I wanted to be a judge,” she said. “In high school I had the opportunity to meet judge Morris, a dear inspiration who is now deceased.” Read more on this story at www.viewpoints.org. Juliana Zapata and Zamora Finister contributed to this report.
Chef Bobby Moghaddam
Recognition for RCC chefs Javier Cabrera News Editor
Luis Solis / Photo Editor
Bon Appétit: Chef David Avalos, an instructor at the Riverside City College Culinary Academy, gives student Roxanne Polanco a lesson on cutting. the students cook the lunches for the guests. Chef Avalos said the RCC Culinary Academy does not look at awards as something it needs to strive to get. “We just enjoy doing our job, for me, it is a great privilege,” he said. “I am here to educate the students and give them the good skill level they need before they
go out to the industry.” Roxanne Polanco, a student of Chef Avalos, said the class was thrilled when they heard he won Chef of the Year from the local chapter. She said the class was bummed they were not present when he was handed the award, but they were excited for the good news. “We were so excited,” Polanco
said. “We were very thankful we actually get to have him for our junior semester.” She said Chef Avalos is thorough as an instructor and she appreciate how he cares for his students. “He is very concrete, he wants to teach you the right way,” Polanco said. “He will not stop until he teaches you the right way.”
Celebrities make ‘Splash’ at RCC
ABC to use Aquatics Center for its newest show Amanda Arroway Asst. News Editor The Riverside City College Aquatics Center is being transformed for its starring role in ABC’s new reality TV show “Splash.” The show will feature 10 celebrities who will try to impress a panel of judges with their diving form. Some notable celebrity contestants include reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson, former NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NFL player Ndamukong Suh, Drake Bell from Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh” and comedian Louie Anderson. Other competitors include former child star Keshia Knight Pulliam, of the “Cosby Show,” TV talk show sidekick Chuy Bravo, former Miss Universe Nicole Eggert, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Katherine Webb and extreme
skier Rory Bushfield. The celebrities will be coached by Olympic diving medalist Greg Louganis, and will have to “look fear in the face as they leap off the 10 meter high dive.” The judges are Steve Foley, U.S. dive team director and Australian Olympic athlete, and David Boudia, an Olympic gold medalist in diving. The network says that a poolside audience will also be present, though details about ticket distribution have yet to be released. The aquatics center has platforms that are 10 and seven and a half meters on a concrete diving tower, as well as springboards that are three and one meters. Since the Aquatics Center opened in January of 2011, it is estimated that it has brought the Riverside economy more than $3.5 million. There have been no financial
numbers released yet for the show. “It is going to raise the profile of the college and the Riverside Aquatics Center,” Riverside Community College District Jim Parsons told Viewpoints. Parsons also alluded to interntype opportunities that will be available to students during filming. However, information on how to get involved has yet to be released. Nearly 100 construction workers from the Los Angeles area were brought out to construct a tent-like structure over the diving pool, just as students were beginning spring semester. The stage will stay in place above the pool for an estimated two months, and will be removed in time for the CIF swimming and diving championships in early May. The show is set to premiere at 8 p.m. March 19.
Luis Solis / Photo Editor
Hollywood hits RCC: ABC’s “Splash” is being filmed at RCC’s Aquatics Complex.
Chef Bobby Moghaddam, an instructor at Riverside City College Culinary Academy, has been nominated for Chef of the Year for the western regional of the American Culinary Federation. He said there are 13 states in the western regional, and the convention for the region is on April 14-15, where the award will be announced. Chef Moghaddam said he is very good and proud of being nominated for the award. Once someone is picked for the Chef of the Year for the western regional, he or she is then in the running for Chef of the Year for nation, against other candidates who won Chef of the Year from their respective regional. Chef Moghaddam said it is an honor to be nominated for the award because for someone to be nominated for it, he or she must have certain qualifications, background. He said he has been a chef for a long time, saying he start sometime in the ’70s. He has been an instructor at the RCC Culinary Academy for 10 years. He said he loves passing his knowledge to the upcoming chefs. “We are passing the torch,” Chef Moghaddam said. “We try to teach the new generation.” Chef Robert Baradaran, an instructor at the Riverside City College Culinary Academy, has been the educational chief for the Inland Empire chapter of the American Culinary Federation for over a year. His duties include educating chefs, helping new chefs joining the federation and keeps chefs aware of the new trends, techniques in cooking. Chef Baradaran has been an executive chef for over 20 years and he has been a member of the American Culinary Federation for 14 years. The federation promotes chefs with what they do and incorporate foods into their work and it is a way for chefs to network with each other. Chef Baradaran said it is gratifying for him to work alongside local chefs. He said the position allows him to network with other chefs. “It is a way to network amongst the chefs,” he said. “Also, (it helps) educating and being educated, it is a two way street; life is a never-ending process.”
Viewpoints
4 | March 7, 2013
Completing units is the top priority Brittany Denhalter Staff Writer Students at Riverside City College struggle to register for necessary core classes in subjects like Math and English. Each semester students are unable to get the classes they need and students settle for elective classes. Some attend class sessions the first week in pursuit of an add code from instructors, counting on others to be a no show. Kendra Noriega, who is in her second semester at RCC, said she is a part-time student. She said her late registration date does not give her the opportunity to get the classes she needs. “It was hard to get classes, because it is my second semester, and I’m kind of like late my registration date,” she said. “I’m taking classes such as piano and pilates; I need math!” While students continue their studies, 20 percent of class course offerings have been reduced, a result of a $3 million cut by the Riverside Community College District last year, said Cynthia Azari, president of RCC. She said the District lost $60 million, while California has also reduced the number of students it will fund. Administrative steps to help students succeed started with a change in registration policy. Registration priority is given to students with more units earned at RCC; however, students with over 100 credits are now the last to register. The demand for math, science and English is high as administrators are trying to increase the number of sections offered. Later this month, the Academic Senate will vote on whether to hire a new faculty member for the math department. RCC administration is hopeful that Proposition 30 will add more sections for the fall semester. “Be persistent, enroll on your enrollment date, make sure everything is in order, and start from the very beginning,” Azari said. “Keep up with the course work and if the syllabus requires it, make sure you get it in on time.”
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RCC instructor wins the Hayward Award Richard Mahon, humanities instructor at RCC, receives a state award Juliana Zapata Asst. News Editor Richard Mahon, a humanities instructor at Riverside City College, is one of four community college faculty members in California who received the Hayward Award on March 1. The Hayward Award is given to faculty members, who show strong commitment and excellence, not only to their students, but also to their college. The other three winners of the Hayward Award included, Scott Lankford from Foothill College, Sandra Haynes from Pasadena City College, and Carolyn Borg from Shasta College. Aside from teaching at four different community colleges, Mahon has taught at RCC for 15 years. He also has been an instructor at Norco College and Moreno Valley College. Along with teaching, Mahon is involved outside the classroom. Some of his involvements included being president of the academic senate and president of the faculty association of the Riverside Community College
District. Also, in 2006 he was elected to the executive committee of the academic senate for California Community Colleges. He is currently serving as the chair of the RCC curriculum committee. Mahon has a special connection with the community college system because he was once a community college student. H o w e v e r, h e s a i d h e understands that the circumstances and generations are different. “(Today) students are busier, but not with school,” Mahon said. He said he is aware that many students have priorities such as holding a full time job or caring for their family. “I don’t know how you guys do it,” he said. Mahon teaches in the Honors Program at RCC, and previously taught in the Community for Academic Progress program. He said he believes in faculty coming together to create programs for students. Mahon said he believes that faculty need to unite in order to make progress for students. This is the reason why he is deeply
committed to making positive changes, and preserving quality education in the community college system. “Many (meetings) have been boring but ultimately something was accomplished,” he said. In high school he was not excited about going to school, but during that time, he did everything possible to graduate earlier. “I loved learning, but hated school” Mahon said. He said he did not like the high school environment, where policies matter more than learning. Mahon is the chair of the history, humanities and philosophy department. In 1978 he received his bachelor’s degree on history and religious studies from UC Santa Cruz, and in 1989 he finished his doctorate’s degree on history of consciousness. “I didn’t know what graduate school was” Mahon said. “I followed the love of my life, who was going to graduate school.” Mahon said he assumed that it was what people normally did. Mahon was nominated by his fellow faculty members at RCC for the Hayward Award. However,
Riverside Community College District
Selected: RCC instructor Richard Mahon wins the Hayward Award.
some of his previous students were not surprised that he was a recipient. “He motivates students to lead class discussions and promotes critical thinking” Jim Xu said. “He is very nice and available all the time.” Among his students, Mahon is known for always having a smile on his face and for wanting students to be casual by calling him Richard. Mahon received the award at the Board of Governor’s meeting in Sacramento. “It’s very humbling,” He said in regards to the award.
RCC’s first full-time female instructor dies Amanda Arroway ASSt. News Writer Emerita Dina Stallings, former instructor and the first female fulltime instructor in RCC’s history, died on Feb. 27. A speech communications teacher for 25 years, Stallings, known also as “Doc,” had a huge impact on hundreds of RCC students, including Virginia Blumenthal, president of the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. After completing her bachelor’s at Southwestern University, she went on to USC to complete her master’s and doctorate degrees. Stallings’ legacy continues to positively affect students through the many foundations and programs she founded during her lifetime.
The Friends of RCCD Forensics program helps train elementary, middle school, high school and college students in the art of persuasive speaking and communications. Eight scholarships have been granted within the program through its association with the RCCD foundation. Friends of Forensics has also established a program enrichment fund that supports the Dr. Dina Stallings High School Tournament, RCC’s Model United Nations and the Listening Ears program at elementary schools. Stallings believed that forensics “builds students’ confidence, helps them overcome fear, and develops their skills to speak responsibly, enjoyably, and well in their everyday lives.” At RCC, Stallings was the
founding director of the Forensics and Debate program, founder of the Children’s Literature Program, a distinguished faculty lecturer, and Teacher of the Year. After leaving RCC, she remained an active member of the RCC Associates Group and the Norco Campus Advisory Group. A memorial service for Stallings
is scheduled for March 17, at 2 p.m. in the Landis Preforming Arts Center at Riverside City College. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in her name should be made to the RCCD Foundation for the Friends of RCCD Forensics program. More coverage on Stallings’ memorial to come next issue.
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March 7, 2013 | 5
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Destiny Rivera 760-953-0922 viewpoints@rcc.edu MANAGING EDITOR Liz Landeros viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Katiedan Wigfield 909-233-9307 viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Jim Burns NEWS EDITOR Javier Cabrera viewpoints.news@gmail.com OPINIONS EDITOR Nishè Butler viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com INSCAPE EDITOR Conner Munson viewpoints.inscape@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Travis West viewpoints.sports@gmail.com FEATURES EDITOR James Williams viewpoints.features@gmail.com PHOTO EDITOR Luis Solis viewpoints.photo@gmail.com
Amanda awoway / staff photo
hurry up and wait: Riverside City College students’ wait in line to enter the writing lab.
Students Agree
RCC students battle for lab hours in a rush to complete their 18 hours of lab requirement in the first four weeks.
ONLINE EDITOR Benjamin Hernandez viewpoints.online@gmail.com
This sucks! First off, a $ 40 parking permit buys Riverside City College students a parking space somewhere on Ramona Avenue. Second, a six dollar overpriced wet burrito at the City Café collapses in your hand as you bite into it. Third, textbooks lay RCC students’ bank accounts to rest, leaving everyone broke for the next 13 weeks. Although students may not be able to do much about these particular issues, there is an issue students can try to immediately rectify. As the fourth week of spring semester wraps up, there is still a line, but it’s not at the admissions or financial aide building. The reading and writing center, although they have 110 seats available, has a line that is wrapping around the building. As frustrating as parking and even trying to add a class may be this is an issue that can be eliminated. It seems as though the solution could be simple common courtesy. With not too much discussion about expansion and the current financial state of California, we are in need of an immediate simple solution. Could the problem be simply system overload? There are seats available for all students yet you could be standing in line from two to four hours if you come at the wrong time. “Each student is expected to have 72 minutes of lab time each week and what seems to be happening is students are camping out on the computers and if four students did an extra 20 minutes than that is an hour and 20 minutes lengthened in line,” instructional support specialist James Seals said. “It’s kind of like a snake that eats its own tail, students stand in line for so long and when they finally get on a computer they want to stay there while everyone else continues waiting.” The fact is students who stay logged in five to six hours deprive other students the opportunity to obtain their weekly
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72 minutes. The English and technology departments have met and will implement a new system that will be set up more like a classroom. This will not go into effect until the summer however. “I wish it was a little more efficient and less frustrating but there are some days that are easy and I only spent 20 minutes in line and some that are hard, I try to do my best and deal with it.” RCC student Jennifer Gift, said. “The big thing to help the line is sticking to your weekly 72 minutes,” Seals said. “Don’t come in until next week. The center is not built for that.” The reading and writing lab has hired more staff and lengthened their hours. Currently there are 110 students fighting for access at random hours, as opposed to individual students having set lab hours. “Getting people access to the lab is our goal, we believe in the lab and it works,” Seals said. With slight confusion and students not being on one accord it’s no wonder things are so hectic outside of the writing lab. With the police being called for students fighting for cutting in line it seems as though this problem can easily be resolved if at least for the time being. The college uses census to see who is signing into the writing lab so it’s important for students to continue going to the lab, so the college does not lose funds but we should all work smarter not harder since we all have the same common goal education. So, instead of camping out on the computers, if we all agreed to do our weekly 72 minutes opposed to cramming as many hours as possible to meet the 18 hour requirement at once, this line would cease immediately. The way we like to think of it is “Team work makes the dream work.”
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Viewpoints
6 | March 7, 2013
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Opinions
Guiding Force: Ujima Project Ascending all barriers, breaking strong holds, this college club leads the way for all
Devon everett Asst. Opinions Editor
In this day and age, with all the negativity in the media, it seems as though African Americans aren’t willing to help each other out anymore. However, this is not the case when it comes to the Ujima Project here at Riverside City College. The Ujima project, which has been around since 1998, has been mentoring, educating, and inspiring students of all races. In its own way, the Ujima project is like a guiding force, driving students to succeed in all they do. Sure, the majority of the students there are of African American descent, but Ujima retains an “open door policy” and allows students of all races to walk through their doors. The “HOME room,” is located in the Administration building in room 126, which is across from Disabled student services. “HOME” stands for “Hope, Opportunity, Mentoring, and Empowerment. The main Idea behind the Ujima project is the definition of Ujima itself. Ujima is Swahili for “collective work and responsibility.” This closely relates to the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The environment is actually quite enjoyable inside the HOME room. When I toured the HOME room to research the Ujima project, I felt welcome, almost like I was at home. I would assume that this is the environment they were trying to promote. I had the opportunity to speak with four intelligent, wellmannered people when I was there, and when I left I felt inspired to do bigger and better things. Dr. Oliver Thompson, professor of administration of justice classes here at Riverside City College, has been with Ujima since 1998, when it was solely “BSC”. He is a rather respectable gentleman with a strong, moral standing. In my opinion, if anyone were to be entrusted to instill moral values in young people today, I would want it to be him. President Obama would be my second choice. “We’re trying to let a young generation know that they have to go above and beyond what is expected of them with the demographics of California the
Luis Solis / Photo Editor
Above and Beyond: Working more than their share of a 40- hour work week, professor and Ujima adviser Kristi Woods and club president Charles Wagner, work on the plans for the upcoming national Umoja conference on March 15. way they are today.” Dr. Thompson said. “Only so many can be in the arts. You can only have so many rappers and actors. Everyone else will have to get jobs and make use of their educational opportunities.” What he’s saying here is that not everyone is going to be rich and famous. The African American community especially has people aspiring to be celebrities, and some of those people follow the wrong path and end up in prison. This happens among all races, but it is common among blacks in California. The Ujima project is trying to take a stand against this. This makes me respect the Ujima project even more. “Since 1968 and all the work that Martin Luther King Jr. did, progress has been wasted.” Thompson continued. “Hard work made me successful. You have to put in more than your 40 hours a week.” Again, he believes we should go above and beyond what is expected. We should do more than what the media expects of Black Americans. Then he continued about race and racial discrimination. “No one cares about race. Can you produce?” I would assume here that as long as you can get a job done, race is irrelevant. I also spoke with Dr. Kristi Woods, the Ujima coordinator. Woods professes Ethnic studies, Philosophy, African American; U.S. and World Histories as a full time faculty member here at RCC. “The Ujima project is a student success program based on mentoring. We have been in the current HOME room since 2003. What we want to do is help the whole person.” And this shows with the progress the Ujima project has
made over the past several years. Then I spoke with Florita Jones, Ujima’s student adviser. We had a very engaging conversation that basically reflected her views not only of Ujima, but of life as well. “We instill discipline, study habits, and respect in our students,” she said. “We’re here to give them second chances.” “We’re seeing the changes in students,” she said. “They’re beginning to be motivated and strong to bring ‘HOPE’.” I enjoyed our conversation, and then asked her what the Ujima project actually did. “We guide the students in the right direction,” she replied. “ We also build self-esteem, self- image. We even provide counseling, college supplies, and guide them to the right facilities.” Note that she never once said “black students.” I then thanked her and spoke to Charles Wagner, Ujima’s club president for the past two years. He was more direct than the others, basically giving us the hard
information we needed. Wagner is in all honors classes and is RCC’s homecoming king. He is also a supplementary instructor for English 60. When we asked him what Ujima is, he basically told us that it is a program geared toward African American and ethnic diversity. “This program puts high-risk African Americans in the right place,” he said. “It is complete with resources and guidance. We have a lot of disabled students as well.” Admittedly, the conversation between me and Wagner was relatively brief. He did, however, say that Thursday was “college hour meetings,” in which they have debates among other things and plan positive things for the community, such as field trips to feed the homeless. When I finished these interviews, I felt like a better man, like I had been empowered. All of this makes me think of how little Black History Month was acknowledged this year.
There weren’t really any cultural festivals or anything that was brought to light, and some black people didn’t even recognize that it was black history month. Then again, who said that Black history is only for African Americans? Yolonda Banks Reed, author and writer of, “The Guardian Angel Who Had a Loud Voice,” wrote an agreement called “You say, No Problem.” In it, she stated President Ford’s recognition of black history month. “After the week being created by Carter G. Woodson, in 1976 the federal government, President Ford speaks in regards, urging black Americans to seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor through our history,” recognizing black history month. That being said, other cultures need to see their reflection in our history of who they are. I think that the Ujima project is one program that can show this.
NishE ButLer / Staff Photo
Club rush: Collective-work and responsibility. Ujima students Christina Williams, Josh Holmes and Chishimba “Simba” Chanda inform students about the Ujima Project.
Viewpoints
March 7, 2013 | 7
Serving students since 1922
Opinions
Freedom: Who pays the cost? Autumn Yi Staff Writer The government should start to implement policies to monitor religious institutions. By examining the media headlines from the last few years, it appears the religious leaders are abusing their freedom. Islamic extremists brought tragedy upon the Twin Towers in New York (in 2001). Warren Jeffs, the President of the Mormon Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints was convicted on two counts of child sexual assault (in 2011). P o p e B e n e d i c t X V I ’s resignation on Feb. 28 comes after controversy regarding child molestation within the Catholic Church. Although the allegations were not directed at Pope Benedict, he was criticized for not doing enough to investigate the priests involved. Lots of churches try to act as their own judge and jury, something which goes against the judicial principles of the United States. Breaking the law comes with consequences; nobody should hide behind the freedom of religion as a shield.
Religious institutions seem to be abusing their freedom. By expressing freedom, people should never impose on somebody else’s ability to express their own. Policy makers should focus on finding a way to prevent crime within religious institutions. The leaders are in positions of power, and no position of power should be left unchecked. It is said easily in the simple phrase, “power corrupts.” “Where the government is supposed to step in, in my opinion, is when religion is used as a tool for harming others collectively,” said Ismael Vanegas, a student at Riverside City College. It may be difficult for members of the organization to come forth and alert authorities about crimes they witness or are victimized by. Oftentimes, they have familial ties or are afraid of disciplinary action. Hasn’t it been a mantra of the United States, to protect those who are unable to protect themselves? H o w e v e r, t h e r e w i l l b e implications to executing such policies. The diversity within the types of religious organizations is so widespread it will be difficult to find a regulation which can accommodate most of them. Even if there is a policy put into play, there are many complications. It is possible that this may be a vehicle for religious discrimination. In practice, the line between
regulation and invasion of privacy is very thin. Religious leaders may declare it interferes with freedom of religion; however, these policies should not alter the practices of the institution unless they are already illegal. Nevertheless, there needs to be some course of action. Citizens cannot wait to take action after an incident has occurred. Young college students are a driving force in politics and the media, for a few reasons. Firstly, colleges are large institutions which attract a lot of recognition. Students do not have as many religious, political, familial or work-related ties which hinder them from speaking their minds. Young adults are passionate, an attribute which sometimes fades with older generations. College students have incredible voting power. As Spiderman’s Uncle Ben reminds us, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Since our demographic has a strong influence, we can push for recognition of these issues and support these policies. It is important to raise awareness for issues nobody else will address, as long as we have the ability to be heard. As voters, we can also ensure any potential policies will not cross the line and eliminate freedom of religion. If we allow the power to shift from religious leaders to government officials, we have not
Source: prezydent.pl
Bittersweet: Pope Benedict XVI resigns on Feb. 28. protected those who have been victimized. Instead, we have given the opportunity for religious leaders to be victimized – not eliminating the problem, just changing the players. As young adults, we also have influence in our social spheres. Many of us are part of religious
institutions, and we can help to fix the problem by not condoning any corruption we will potentially witness or take part of. It comes down to one thing: being courageous enough to speak up. Will we speak up to protect our friends, our family, and our country?
Increased gun control equals increased crime
Michelle Mathis Asst. Opinions Editor Gun control. Two words that have been on everyone’s mind in light of the rapid increase of mass shootings and crime across the United States. Since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shootings across the country, with the killings taking place in 30 different states from Massachusetts to California. 25 of these mass shootings have occurred since 2006, and 16 of them took place in 2012. Not to mention the many shootings that occurs on a daily basis in many urban areas. From a horrific mass murder in a small-town movie theater in Colorado to the unfathomable nightmare at a Connecticut elementary school, the U.S. is mourning many tragedies and is seemingly looking for a way to prevent this new epidemic from spreading. The first thought that comes to
most people’s minds is to get rid of the problem we seem to think are guns or at the very least create stricter gun laws that in most cases will prevent a vast majority from owning guns. The reality is that taking away people’s rights to bear arms or making it almost impossible to own a gun will only make matters worse. The citizens will be left unprotected and criminals will emerge left and right because of the various opportunities they have to commit crimes. Let’s be honest with ourselves for once, how many criminals actually buy their guns legally in the first place? Can you think of any? I didn’t think so. So we aren’t left with too many options that leave us safe regardless if the laws become more strict or not. It seems the majority of people that are fighting for the elimination of our right to bear arms grew up in rich suburban areas that are less populated with criminals. This leads them to forget that our nation’s poverty rate is increasing dramatically and therefore the number of crimes are rising as well. Wouldn’t one think that these lunatics who want to commit these heinous crimes would be attracted to the areas they know people will be unprotected? If anything, crime
will increase because people will not be able to defend themselves against thugs, burglars, and the once rare but now popular mass murderer. With the psychopath trend at an all-time high, I don’t think we can solely rely on the good of people and the hope that they will stop committing crimes. Our world is cruel or at least the people are, so do we really think that these fools won’t act on an even more perfect opportunity to get what they want in killing and injuring people just because they weren’t loved as a child? I don’t know if there is something in the air that is causing all of this craziness or it’s just our sad excuse for humanity in general but I do know that these psychopaths are shooting up places they know are going to be unarmed such as malls, schools, hell even spas. If we have learned anything these last few months it’s that we’re unsafe almost everywhere and although I understand people just want to eliminate what they think is hurting people but the fact is, as cliché as it may sound, guns don’t kill people, people kill people. It’s like saying cars cause accidents; sorry it just doesn’t work like that and people need to
Benjamin Hernandez / Staff Photo
fatal control: Recent gun control laws alarm citizens. take responsibility instead of trying to put the blame on inanimate objects, plain and simple. Cops can only be in so many places and at so many times, so maybe if we had more guns given to trusted officials and better security to protect people, these maniacs wouldn’t even bother going to these places to perform such atrocious acts. The fact remains that until our nation can at the very least come to a compromise that benefits
both people being able to obtain their rights in owning guns as well preventing an abundance of deaths in the U.S, people are always going to be in an uproar. Unless someone actually does something more productive rather than just talking about it on social media websites there is nothing more that we can do but sit and hope no one else dies because of our lack of action. I guess times truly are hard huh? Damn.
Viewpoints
8 | March 7, 2013
Serving students since 1922
Opinions
Campus Conversations Do you think it’s fair for students to wait in line for the writing lab? If not, what should change?
“Definitely not. I think if they’re going to make it required for all English students they should have an online log on option so that people who don’t need the lab time can do it at home or make it based on whether they did the work or not.” Jenna Kaehle
“I think it’s fair because there are a lot of people who need to get in there.”
Jamye Dean
“I think it’s fair. They only have one building. There’s only so much they can do.” Emmanuel Carrisalez
“I don’t like waiting. They should build a new lab.”
Alan Williams
“No, I don’t think it’s fair. I think having to come the same day and same time should change. A lot of people work and they can’t always make it at the same time every week.” Morgan Freitag
Viewpoints
March 7, 2013 | 9
Serving students since 1922
Education shatters one’s shackles Samuel James Finch Staff Writer For Paul Jones, graduating from Riverside City College in May with conditional acceptance to Cal State San Bernardino is a light at the end of a long, winding tunnel. Jones, now 51, had a troubled start in Akron, Ohio. Born into a dysfunctional household, he suffered abuse and neglect, the toll of which drove him to first experiment with alcohol at the age of 11. After struggling to graduate high school, Jones enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 to leave Ohio behind, relocating to California. His two years in the service, however, did not help his budding alcoholism. “Drinking and going to other countries is a right of passage, so it was an excuse to drink,” Jones said. “It wasn’t frowned upon – it was encouraged.” When he was discharged in 1982, Jones decided to remain in California, despite not knowing anyone in the area. “I’ve never wrote home, I’ve never called home,” he said. “I know nothing about my immediate family … I don’t know who’s alive and who’s deceased.” Homeless in Los Angeles, Jones’ drinking and ongoing battles with severe depression and PTSD worsened. This cycle eventually led to intravenous drug use. His involvement with methamphetamine soon put him on the radar of law enforcement. Jones first went to prison in 1990, returning on additional drug charges over the following two decades. Out on parole, Jones found himself dissatisfied. “I knew there had to be a better way. Yet I knew I didn’t have any tools to get to a better place.” In 2000, Jones was handed the first of the tools he needed. “I was on the bus and I saw Rio Hondo Community College and, for some reason, a power greater than myself got me to push the button and walk up the hill,” he said. Jones enrolled and excelled, earning several certificates and being named Drug Studies student of the year. This first stroll within the halls of academia filled his nostrils with the scent of something greater. But once again, life took over and Jones ended up back in prison. The time away from school gave Jones an opportunity to reflect on his intentions. “The whole thing for me when I started college was a way to obtain money semi-legally,” he said. “When you look at it from
Luis Solis / Photo Editor
Dedication: Riverside City College student Paul Jones, currently carrying 16 units in preparation to graduate and transfer at the end of the spring semester, puts in the hours studying to keep up his grades. a sociological standpoint, it was functional because I was going to college, but innovative because I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I excelled, but I wasn’t done with the life I lived.” The life he lived had become his reality, the subculture of shopping carts and bridges. “It’s the only thing I know,” Jones said. “I know nothing else. I have kids I don’t know, I’ve got a granddaughter I’ve only seen one time. Now my youngest daughter, who was born with muscular dystrophy, kind of encouraged me along, to get back into school.” H i s y o u n g e s t d a u g h t e r, Gabriella, has served as a wellspring of motivation. All the while Jones has slept in cars, staying with friends when possible. “She didn’t ask to be born with muscular dystrophy and she deserves the best life that she can get,” he continued. “And in order for her to have that, I need to become somebody, to give her something.” Though his paternal aspirations to better Gabriella’s life began early, Jones’ personal struggles prompted Child Protective Services to intervene. “A social worker showed me a better way of life.” Jones then gathered his transcripts and discovered that he was classes away from earning a degree. Math was perhaps his greatest challenge, until he learned
that he could meet his transfer requirements with two manageable statistic courses at RCC. He enrolled in the summer of 2012. “Because of the opportunity that Riverside City College afforded, I am able to progress now,” Jones said. “I’ve been out of prison; I have a clean and sober date of October 18, 2011. That’s the longest I’ve ever been sober in my life.” Alongside his daughter, Jones attributes his sobriety to education, which provided him an outlet for the emotional pain previously muted by drugs and alcohol. “School is the best therapy in
the world, better than doctors and psychiatrists and psychologists and social workers,” he said. “It’s here that I find out about myself.” With the freedom found in the classroom, Jones challenged himself to move forward, to build a foundation for a new life, spending time with his daughter on the weekends. “If you want something bad enough, you can get it,” he said. “You can overcome mental health, you can overcome addiction.” Through his personal interaction with CPS and the subsequent education he received, Jones decided to study social work in hopes of one day helping others
who have had to walk the road he has traversed. “I’ll have the education, I’ll have the life experience, to help other individuals like myself,” he said. “People who come from a certain walk of life or a certain socioeconomic class have to remain in touch with where they came from.” With light spilling over the horizon in the form of academic advancement and increasing stability, Jones knows all too well that he will never truly leave the darkness over his shoulder. “I don’t ever want to forget being homeless and bridges and shopping carts.”
Luis Solis / Photo Editor
A better way: Sober since Oct. 18, 2011, Paul Jones receives tutoring in the language center to excel in school and build a bright future for himself and his daughter, Gabriella.
Viewpoints
10 | March 7, 2013
Serving students since 1922
Daniel Rosa In a city where half the men wear suits, and half wear gloves, a cultured talent springs from the sidewalks
Destiny Rivera Editor- in- chief
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Riverside, there is a local celebrity among us. Newly discovered artist Daniel Rosa made it past the “Blind Auditions” and onto several rounds of NBC’s season three of“The Voice.” This happened to be Rosa’s second time auditioning. Not making it through the first time during season two, he was invited back to compete with 25 to 30 others for a second chance at the next season. A smaller competition was held where contestants advanced further in order to perform on air for the coaches once again at the blind auditions. With the expectation of a chair not turning around, Rosa was floored when his version of “Somebody That I Used to Know” turned half the coach’s chairs around. The very chairs that read “I want you” belonged to country singer Blake Shelton and hip-hop artist and producer Cee Lo Green. This was not only a monumental moment for Rosa, but for the entire show as well. He made history on “The Voice” by being the first contestant to return and go forth in the competition. Emotions flew throughout the auditorium and the coaches were ecstatic to see him back, one in particular, Adam Levine. He rushed off from his seat and onto the stage, nearly knocking Rosa over in excitement. “(The hug) was painful actually; I had knots in my stomach.” Rosa said. Rosa’s decision ultimately came to choosing Cee Lo because of the eagerness he expressed while speaking of his music. Musical freedom was one request Cee Lo was able to take him up on, while Blake was blank on that subject. “I asked if they would allow me creative freedom with the songs and Cee Lo was like, ‘Yes, I totally would, I love what you did with it,’ and Blake didn’t even answer the question,” he said. “Cee Lo was really wanting to work with me and it was really awesome.” Having influences such as Stevie Wonder, Amy Whinehouse, Jack Johnson and Ingrid Michelson, Rosa wanted to incorporate their style in his music. Jack Johnson actually inspired him to learn the ukulele, which he planned to use to mix up songs and make them his own. Another instrument the show did not capture Rosa’s talent with is his the guitar.
He learned how to play before his first year of high school in order to become the worship leader at Ramona High School. In fact, that is when Rosa’s genuine interest in music and singing bloomed. In the beginning of junior high, he was stuck with what he believed to be “dreadful” choir class; Rosa even refused to sing in front of the class. This even went as far as ending up in detention because of not participating. The out of character behavior is what led Rosa to what he loves the most, singing. His teacher slowly made him sing in front of all the kids in detention. Then, in front of the class, proving his rebellion to singing was only a common case of stage fright. Stepping out of a comfort zone only leads to experiencing a completely new adventure and maybe even become life changing. Rosa continued throughout the show until round three, the “Knockout Round.” He went up against his very own roommate and best friend on the show, Mackenzie Bourg. After a stiff sing off between Bourg’s own version of “Call Me Maybe” by Carlie Rae Jepsen and Rosa’s cover of “Back to December,” by Taylor Swift, Cee Lo decided to move forward with Bourg, eliminating Rosa from the show. “A lot of people that they battle on the show are bitter against (the people they went home to), but I don’t waste energy being upset about it” he said. Through the confidence, friends, experience, and fans he gained from the show, Rosa continues to create music and play shows here in Riverside. “I want people to know that I’m from Riverside, I’m just like you guys, I grew up here,” Rosa said. He sings at open mic nights around the city, at places such as Back to the Grind in downtown Riverside and Romano’s. He is also working on an EP that he hopes to release this March and is aiming to release a full album in April. Following the release, Rosa plans to host a party for the Inland Empire supporters and fans. In the meantime, Rosa and his band are looking for female backup singers, trumpeters and a manager. Make sure to check out Viewpoints online for the full length video of Rosa.
Albert Melendez / Special to Viewpoints
Riverside fame: “The Voice” contestant, Daniel Rosa, is from Riverside and preforms in cafes around the city.
March 7, 2013| 11
Viewpoints
12 | March 7, 2013
Serving students since 1922
I N S C A P E Vi e w p o i n t s E n t e rta i n m e n t C a l e n da r Mar. 8 Events
Friday Night with Frogs and Toads starts at 6 p.m. at The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo
Mar. 9 Events Swedish House Mafia at 2 p.m. at the Los Angeles State Historic Park
Mar. 10 Mar. 11 Mar. 15 Events
Busan West Film Festival starts at 2 p.m. at Chapman University
Events
RCC Jazz Festival starts at 8 a.m. at RCC
Events
Maroon 5 and Neon Trees at 8 p.m. at The Staples Center
Mar. 16 Mar. 19 Mar. 20 Mar. 22 Mar. 23 Events
Beyond Wonderland at the San Manuel Amphitheatre starts at 4 p.m.
Events
Imagine Dragons at 6:30 p.m. at the House of Blues in Anaheim
Events
Discovery Days starts at 1:30 p.m. at The Riverside Metropolitan Museum
CDS
Depeche Mode “Delta Machine�
Events
Night of Champions starts at 6 p.m. at California Baptist University
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Viewpoints
Inscape
March 7, 2013 | 13
Serving students since 1922
Local Spotlight: Grey This momenT began wiTh a choice.
Chris Troncoza / Special to viewpoints
Grand terrace is grey: Members of the band fronted by lead singer, Trever Stewart. Alyssa Aldrete Asst. Inscape Editor Locals shuffled into the Vibe Bar and Grill in Riverside as the dimly lit club began to be set up for a night of local music on Friday Feb. 22. The night kicked off with Riverside hip hop artist Always Watching (also known as Ed Jauregui), who sang to prerecorded tracks, jumping around on stage and interacting with the audience. Despite his harmonizing rap style differing from the ambient alt-rock sound of the rest of the night’s acts, Jauregui received applause from the audience. Next up was local band In Tetra Heights, who set the night’s sound off with their progressive rock sound. Guitarists, James Valdez and Kris Ramirez, switched off between vocals giving their songs a much more dynamic sound. The band’s set featured their newly released single “Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics,” which starts off with a slightly jazzy sound and progresses into an upbeat mixture of fast paced guitars and drums. The audience clapped along with nearly every song in the band’s set, feeding the energetic antics of Valdez, Ramirez, bassist Frank Delgado and drummer Sam
‘Your Poem Here’
Painter. Following In Tetra Heights was Grand Terrace band Grey. T h e b a n d ’s s e c o n d l i v e performance as a band showed the fans that filled the room just how much they enjoy playing, with energy and passion emitting from each member. Drummer Matthew Hall, guitarists Dominic Trujillo and Nick Hornbeck, bassist Derek Hussey and vocalist Trever Stewart performed to a screaming, clapping crowd, who cheered along with each song. Trujillo, who hosted and promoted the show himself, thanked the audience for attending before getting back into the set with the song “The Traveler,” singing parts of the heartfelt chorus with lead vocalist, Stewart. The band also performed, much to the satisfaction of the eager audience, their first and newly released single “Circles.” Fans sang along to the lyrics and bobbed their heads in sync with the beautifully haunting instrumentals. As Grey’s set came to an end at nearly 10:30 p.m., Trujillo encouraged the members of the audience to stay for the headlining band, When Whales Collide, who had traveled from San Diego to play the show. The band, consisting of The Stay Classy Creative Writing Club is holding a contest throughout the spring semester called “Your Poem Here.” Writers can submit poetry (1-25 lines) to stayclassycwc@hotmail. com and possibly get published in the next issue
drummer Felipe Pezzoli, guitarist Lukas Weiss, bassist Jordan Nassi, and guitarist/vocalist Tory Bader, began to start their set in He chose to make a difference. Chose dim lighting, pairing just right to get a degree. To learn new skills. with their ambient sound. The band performed songs And it was all made possible by the from their recently released National Guard. EP “By Default,” as well as their self-titled EP, released in February 2012. The set included )(9'%8-32 &)2)*-87 a three minute long instrumental that seemed to put the audience 7/-007 86%-2-2+ in a trance, as well as their 4%68 8-1) 7)6:-') singles “I’m In Love with a Wolf” and “City Lights.” Bader thanked the audience. “I didn’t expect people to watch us play this late, it’s pretty cool, so thanks for sticking around,” Bader said. Despite one somewhat out of place act, the show turned out to be a success, with everyone in attendance sticking around for 10BW-04_3.917x10_Fortner.indd 1 1/8/13 each band. It’s safe to say that these local talents will only have growing by Jocelyn Saucedo numbers in their audiences in You don’t turn heads, the future. you’re not much to look at, Grey will perform next at You don’t catch anyone’s attention, all ages Anaheim venue Chain you’re nothing to see Reaction, alongside Between C a l i f o r n i a a n d S u m m e r, You question the heavens, “Why must I be me?” Charming Liars, and The Silent The mirror displeases, you notice every flaw, Bullets. From the face you were “blessed” with The bands will open for to the very core of your heart, Sacramento headliner K Sera, at You’re imperfect, not beautiful, not even close, 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 7th.
Contact Staff Sergeant Eric Fortner at 951.653.4150
1-800-GO-GUARD
Beautiful
of Viewpoints. The club judges the poems submitted to it and picks the winner every week. The next deadline to submit a poem is March 15. The club meets every Tuesday from 12:50 to 1:50 p.m. in Room 212 in the Quadrangle.
From your curly brown hair, to your cherry shaped nose, But what do you do? What can you do? No one in the world can feel as ugly as you; But if you squint you’re eyes, look a little closer, You notice something, so lean in closer, You’re not ugly, the mirror is just dirty, Perhaps a bit blurry, You look fine, beautiful even, You’re not ugly, it’s just how you see it.
2:36 PM
Viewpoints
14 | March 7, 2013
Sports
Serving students since 1922
Stopped in their tracks
A night of bad shooting ends the Tigers hope at a Cinderella run
Travis West Sports Editor The 2013 Riverside City College men’s basketball team had their chance of repeating the Cinderella story of the 2009 Tigers taken away as they hosted the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines and came up short 66-56 on Mar. 1 in the Wheelock Gym. A playoff buzz filled the air as both stands were filled with the SBVC fans showing up to counter act the menacing RCC Marching Band. Conference leader in assists, Mason Biddle was coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him for one game and was listed as a game time decision, but decided that he would stick it out. In the first half, players were seen diving after loose balls. The Tigers turned the ball over 18 times while the Wolverines were not better as they finished with 20. The usually strong shooting Tigers were not able to find their stroke and it proved to be costly. The Tigers were out shot by the Wolverines in every category. The Tigers shot an unusual 1 for 15 from three with their shooters unable to get going. It was a tough night, but the Tigers switched to a full court defense late in the first half after falling behind nearly 10 points and caused the Wolverines to turn the ball over seven times in the first half. The Tigers were able to gain on the Wolverines and by halftime the
Jessika Byrd threw a 184.10 in the hammer throw breaking her own school record of 179.7 feet, which was set last season when she won the hammer throw when the Riverside City College track and field women took on Saddleback on Feb. 22. Byrd’s new record was also
Men’s Golf open season with sixth place Tim Cornell Asst. Sports Editor
Luis Solis / photo editor
Leader of the pack: Orange Empire Conference leader in assists Mason Biddle rises above the defenders as he lays up two of his 15 points vs. SBVC. Tigers were down 28-21. The second half provided some promise with the Tigers pulling within two points of the lead at a certain point; unfortunately, the Tigers were hit by a bad shooting night. As the Wolverines hit their free throws down the stretch, the Tigers watched their chance at glory slip away. For sophomore players like Biddle it will be tough walking away. “I don’t know if there will be much I will forget… I love everyone on the team, including the coaching staff.” Ireland holds the program in
RCC Vs. SBVC Stats RCC FG
39.1%
3PT
6.7%
SBVC FT
55.9%
high regard, “This is probably one of the best (basketball) programs in California… you are a student athlete here.” For head coach John Smith, “It was kind of hard in (the locker room) when your season ends with the sophomores. You develop a
FG
47.8 %
3PT
28.6%
FT
81.8%
bond with those guys, but they have a good future.” Smith went on to say that Shannon Fowler, Anthony Rounds and Thomas Folsom will be returning, “It looks promising and I’m excited about what the future holds.”
RCC finishes third at the Southern California regional Shani Booker Staff writer
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”- Michael Jordan
only two and a half feet off the national record. “I know what I’m capable of and that’s just what I want to do,” Byrd said when discussing how she perseveres. Vagara won the discus throwing event, while breaking a school record with a throw of 41-6. Chandler Edwards won the pole vault with 9 ¼, Michelle Uy won javelin 100-11.
Diego Alvarez / Asst. photo editor
all conference: The strong track and field team look to continue their dominance with four state titles in five years
Taylor Coffelt wins the 100m with a time of 12.86 followed closely by Saddleback’s sprinter at 12.89. Brandee Rodriguez takes the win with a 26.35 time and continues to dominate the events with an eight second 400m dash. The women beat Saddleback 119-34. For the men, RCC runner Justin Thymes (34.56) and Sterling Winston (34.64) were two of four Tigers that finished under 35 seconds in the 300m dash. Tigers’ freshman Luis Guiterrez won the 600m race with a set time of 1:20.43 and led the mile with 4:19.26. Jordon Morris (8.33) and Chris Navarro (8.40) went first and second in the 60m in hurdles. Navarro also takes the lead with the javelin toss of 171ft and 3in. Mt. Sac won the 4x100 in a time of 41.41. The Tigers controlled the 4x400 with a score of 4.15sec. The winning leap was taken
by Aaron Johnson at 6’2 at the high jump. Moises Ramos threw a 49’8’’ in the shot put and a 164’5’’ in the hammer throw, winning both events respectively. Ryan Kent threw 142’10 in the Discus to take first win. Overall, the RCC men’s team defeated Mt. Sac with the winning score of 101-44. Running the men’s 200m dash, Justin Thymes completes with a 21.74, in the 400m Sterling Winston finishes off with a time of 49.89. Gary Davidson competed in the triple jump with a winning jump of 13.51. Connor Einck got 15.43 in shot put and 49.94 in the hammer throw, winning both events. Chris Navarro did the javelin throw with a score of 51.05 for the win. Gabriel Vargas won the Discus toss at an ending score of 47.00. The next track and field event will take place at Cal State Fullerton on Mar. 8.
The Riverside City College Tigers men’s golf team opened its season at the RCC invitational on Jan. 28. They placed in sixth place out of 13 teams with a final score of 399. Orange Coast College placed first by finishing with a 376. Sophomores Cameron Buckley and Anthony Perea led the Tigers by both shooting a 78. Freshman Clay Hjulberg from Riverside Poly High school shot a solid 79 in his first college match. Coach Steve Sigloch said that the Tigers need to work on finishing their rounds off strong. “Towards the end of a round, the players start to wear down,” commented Sigloch. In their second match of the season, the Tigers played a two round match at the 2013 Tee off Classic at the Los Serranos golf course. The Tigers placed in the middle of the pack at seventh place. The Tigers shot 778 in the two day match. Orange Coast won the tournament with a score of 741, narrowly beating Santiago Canyon by one stroke. Anthony Perea led the Tigers with a total score of 150. Perea shot four above par the first day with a score of 76. The second round he shot par with a 74. Josh Roquet also posted two solid rounds for the Tigers shooting 75 and 78 to total 153. Nick Bellstrom from Palomar led the field by shooting an impressive 144 with two rounds of 72. The Tigers opened conference play at the Navy Golf course on Feb. 27 which was hosted by Cypress College. Out of the eight teams, the Tigers placed third with a score of 378. They went 5-2 in their first conference match. They are in 3rd place in the Orange Empire conference behind number one Orange Coast and number two Palomar. Sophomore Zach Hammond and Freshman Jose Pedroza led the way for the Tigers in the season’s first conference match by posting scores of 73, which is one over par. Every Tiger for the day scored in the 70’s. “Our eyes are on a conference championship,” said Sigloch. The Tigers will continue towards that goal at their next conference match on March 11 at the Sycuan Golf Resort hosted by Cuyamaca College.
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Sports
Los Angeles Lakers struggle, innovative owner passes at 80 Usman Siddiui staff writer Following the 2012 off season drama, the Los Angeles Lakers formed a team that seemed to be a force that would be vicious to any team in the NBA. They racked up Steve Nash, who is one of the greatest point guards ever to play the game and also exchanged Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard who is widely recognized as the best big man in the NBA today. Howard and Nash seem fierce enough but even with these additions, the Lakers managed to hold onto Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant. These five players alone combine for 33 All-Star Game appearances, four defensive player of the year awards and three most valuable player awards. However, the season has been rocky since the start as the team fired head coach Mike Brown, five games into the season and replaced him with Mike D’Antoni hoping to bring “Showtime” back. The team now sits at 28-30, sitting three games behind a playoff spot and fighting just to have a post season this year. Last week the Lakers longtime owner, who is considered by many to be the greatest owner in the entirety of sports, Dr. Jerry Buss passed away after he battled cancer for 18 months. The Lakers held a memorial service for Dr. Buss three days after his passing at which former Lakers such as center Shaquille O’Neal, coach Phil Jackson and other current Lakers players such as Bryant and Gasol who spoke in Spanish, gave speeches remembering the great visionary. Under Dr. Buss’ ownership, the franchise acquired ten of its 16 championships and many players and coaches became legends in the process. The Buss family will continue to own the team; Jim Buss and Jeanie Buss have both been heavily involved in the team’s front office for several years.
This month in Tiger Athletics Baseball Season Record 12-5
Men’s Tennis Conference 2-1
Last Game: Mar. 5 Riverside at Cypress win 4-2
Season Record 8-1
Conference 4-0
Last Game: Mar. 2 Riverside at Fullerton Loss 11-2
Track and Field Season Record 0-0
Conference 0-0
Last Game: Mar. 1 Beach Classic at Cerritos
Mar. 7
at Golden West
Mar. 7
at Fullerton
Mar. 9
at Orange Coast
Mar. 12
vs. Mt. San Jacinto
Mar. 12
vs. Santa Ana
Mar. 14
vs. Irvine Valley
Mar. 14
vs. Saddleback
Mar. 15
vs. Palomar
Mar. 16
vs. Irvine Valley
Mar. 19
vs. Cypress
Mar. 19
at Irvine Valley
Mar. 21
vs. El Camino
Mar. 21
vs. Fullerton
Mar. 26
vs. LA Pierce
Mar. 21
RCC Open
Mar. 22
at Fullerton
Mar. 28
at Saddleback
Mar. 22
at Mt. Sac. Multi Event
Mar. 27
vs. Santa Barbara
Apr. 2
at Orange Coast
Mar. 29
at Orange Coast College
Apr. 4
at Cypress
Apr. 4
vs. San Diego
Apr. 9
SoCal Hep/Dec at Cerritos
Apr. 6
vs. Cypress
Apr. 5
vs. San Diego Mesa
Apr. 13
at San Antonio Relays
vs. Golden West
Apr. 9
SoCal Quarterfinals
Apr. 9
Softball Season Record 14-1-1
state Fullerton
Conference 5-1
Last Game: Mar. 3 Riverside vs. Fresno at North W 9-3
Conference 3-0
Last Game: Mar. 3 Riverside vs. Saddleback W 6-3
Mar. 6
at Golden West
Mar. 7
vs. Fullerton
Mar. 8
at Orange Coast
Mar. 14
at Irvine Valley
Mar. 11
vs. Santa Ana
Mar. 15
vs. Palomar
Mar. 13
vs. Saddleback
Mar. 19
at Cypress
Mar. 15
vs. Irvine Valley
Mar. 28
vs. Saddleback
Mar. 16
at Irvine Valley
Apr. 2
vs. Orange Coast
Mar. 17
vs. Fullerton
Apr. 4
at El Camino
Mar. 20
at. Fullerton
Mar. 22
vs. Santa Barbara
Mar. 26
at. Cypress
Mar. 27
vs. Cypress
Mar. 28
vs. Golden West
Jim has taken over for the time being as the main decision maker in the front office since Dr. Buss had to relieve some of his responsibilities. Jeanie Buss has been executive vice president of the Lakers for a few years. With Dr. Buss’ passing, the Lakers are in search of someone who possesses both ambition and sound decision making like Dr. Buss did. Jim is the person who assumes this role, but given the choices he has made within the last few years, many Laker fans seem shaky
OEC Multis championship
Mar. 14
at Santa Ana Aztec Invite at San Diego
Mar. 15
State
Swim/Dive
Women’s Tennis Season Record 6-1-1
Ben Brown invite at Cal
Mar. 8
Season Record 0-0
Conference 0-0
Last Game: Mar. 1 at Orange Coast College
Mar. 8-9
Chaffey Invitational
Mar. 22
Saddleback/Fullerton
Apr. 5
At. RCC Invitational
Apr. 12-13
at El Camino
Apr. 18
OEC champioships at
OEC Dive Championships
Golden West Apr. 25
State Championships at East LA
about the idea of having him run things. During the offseason after the Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 playoffs, Buss hired Mike Brown to replace Jackson without consulting Bryant. Brown was fired five games into this season and was replaced by D’Antoni, though Jackson was once again available. Buss has seemingly also taken over some of the personnel moves that take place within the team. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak
is known for making great trades at the right time, but at times has made some bad moves. The city of Los Angeles and Laker fans are accustomed to seeing their team not just win consistently but win championships at a consistent rate. Lakers fans are not the most patient of people and despite the obvious fact that Jerry Buss cannot be replaced, they want to see the winning culture restored and see the Los Angeles Lakers rise once again to the prestigous platform they once dominated.
Former Tigers coach finalist for basketball immortality James Williams Features Editor Former UNLV men’s basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian has been named as one of 12 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2013. Tarkanian has found success at nearly every level of coaching in his 43-year career from 1959 to 2002, including his time at Riverside City College. Tarkanian’s name can still be found on plaques and awards on the RCC campus. One of his former players, John Smith is currently the coach for the men’s basketball team on campus. “Words cannot express how much coach Tarkanian means to me. I learned how to coach sitting on the bench for him,” Smith said. “He was a father figure to us all and taught us the importance of hard work.” Tarkanian has the highest winning percentage of any junior college basketball coach because of his success at RCC, from 1961-1966, and Pasadena City College, from 1966-1968, where he combined for an overall record of 210-26. He won four straight California junior college championships, three straight with
RCC (1964-1966) and the fourth with PCC in 1967. Among the players on the roster for the last two championship seasons under Tarkanian at RCC was Smith’s father, Lucky Smith. “(Tarkanian) was ahead of his time when he coached my father at RCC and made junior college basketball famous and a valuable route for others to consider,” Smith said. Tarkanian has a 729-201 overall record (784-202 including games vacated by NCAA) in Division I games as coach of Long Beach State, University of Las Vegas, and Fresno State. “He held everyone accountable whether they were future NBA players like Stacey Augmon or bench warmers like myself,” Smith added. “I guarantee you; the majority of players that played for him have gone on and applied some of his teachings into their daily lives.” Tarkanian’s official 729-201 record still has him among the top 25 coaches for alltime wins and one of the top 10 coaches in winning percentage. Out of his 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, Tarkanian and the UNLV
Runnin’ Rebels have made four different appearances to the final four (1977, 1987, 1990, and 1991). The appearance in 1990 led to UNLV winning the NCAA Championship that season. “He definitely deserves to be inducted to the hall of fame. He succeeded against all odds that other coaches would have succumbed to,” Smith said.
After leaving UNLV, he tested the waters in the NBA as the San Antonio Spurs head coach going 9-11 during the 1992 season before a difference in views with front office decisions led to him being fired. Tarkanian along with the other 12 finalist will wait until the NCAA Final Four comes around in April when the Class of 2013 is selected.
James Williams/ staff photo
A plaque that lists the three RCC men’s basketball rosters that won three straight state championships from 1964 to 1966, under Jerry Tarkanian.
16 | March 7, 2013
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