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VOL. XCIX, NO. 9
MARCH 8, 2018
Candidates contend for Board seat
MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS
Candidate Brian Hawley talks about opportunities that would be available to students if he earned the position.
With Trustee Janet Green retiring, three candidate step up to the plate to win her seat SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW NEWS EDITOR
In their first joint public appearance, Jose Alcala and Brian Hawley gathered in the Digital Library Auditorium March 2 to answer questions from the public. Candidate Ben Johnson was absent due to last minute travel obligations. Brian Hawley, a local business owner, attended and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Riverside. Hawley is the founder of Luminex software, a 22-yearold Riverside-based technology company that provides data storage products to a broad range of industries. José Alcala, a member of the Moreno Valley Educators Association, is the Board member for the California Teachers Association serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Alcala has taught history for 14 years at March Mountain High School, an alternative education site in the Moreno Valley Unified School District, and has previously taught at two other schools in the district. “Students who come ready to earn two year degrees should
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Moderator Elena Santa Cruz questions the candidates about student availabilities. earn them in two years,” Hawley said. “Sometimes students aren’t prepared, but sometimes they are. If it takes students too long to get their degrees, they won’t make it.” The topic of project labor agreements was a hot topic among the audience, particularly to faculty and staff members. A project labor agreement
CONTACT US Newsroom: (951) 222-8488 Editor-in-Chief: (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu
is when the government awards contracts for public construction projects exclusively to unionized firms, requiring all contractors, whether they are unionized or not, to subject themselves and their employees to unionization in order to work on a governmentfunded construction project. This is done by including a union collective bargaining
agreement in a public construction project’s bid specifications. In order to receive a contract, a contractor must sign the agreement and subject their employees to union control. “I think it would depend on what’s in the contract. It looks like it would effective, but the devil would be in the details,” Hawley said.
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VOL. XCIX NO. 9 March 8, 2018
Wi t h o u t g i v i n g m u c h explanation, Alcala simply stated that he was “unwaveringly supportive” of project labor agreements. On the subject of prioritizing funding for public education, both candidates were at a loss for how the district could do so without the cooperation at the state and federal levels. “Unfortunately, this isn’t just an Riverside Community College District problem, until the state and the country begins to value public education, we’re going to continue to bandage the situation,” Alcala said. “Prop 80 was a bandaid until we got to Prop 55 and Prop 55 is a band aid until we get to whatever comes next. Until we really fix the problem with funding for public education, we’re going to continue to struggle with prioritizing funding. In the meantime, lobbying in places like Sacramento and Washington, DC will help us advocate for public education and for the students we serve.” “My priorities are going to center around student outcomes and student success,” Hawley said. “You have to understand the importance of quality teachers and how they impact the success of our students.” NEWS 1 SPORTS 6 LIFE 8 OPINIONS 10 EDITORIAL 11
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News
March 8, 2018
Safety becomes hot campus topic After a series of threats to campuses across the nation, safety has reached the forefront
Faculty take part in active shooter training
COURTESY OF STOP THE BLEED
Campus safety has become a hot topic following gun violence threats of more school shootings. PAUL VILLALOBOS STAFF REPORTER
Valentine’s Day, a day known for love and affection with friends and family, was met with unprecedented bloodshed as 17 lives were lost in a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida. The shooting was carried out by Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student who was expelled from the school in 2017. Armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, Cruz allegedly set off a fire alarm to draw out students and staff away from their classrooms, to maximize fatalities. In the midst of the chaos, Cruz was then able to blend in with other students
fleeing the campus. Cruz was later arrested by law enforcement and taken into custody. Just five days after the Florida shooting, a 27-year-old man was arrested for threats he allegedly made on social media to shoot people on the Norco College campus. According to police reports, deputies found a loaded AR-15 rifle and “large amounts of ammunition” in his home. As of Feb. 2018, there have been a total of 18 school shootings, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit gun control advocacy group. Wi t h s c h o o l s h o o t i n g s unfortunately becoming more commonplace, this leads the question as to whether Riverside City College is prepared to handle a potential ‘mass casualty’ event, and if RCC is safe campus for students. “In my opinion students are
safe,” RCC Police Sergeant Robert Kleveno said. “We have a well-trained staff.” With RCC being an open campus it is inevitable that there would be some security issues, but Kleveno adds, “It’s hard to filter out people that shouldn’t be here. We have security challenges with that, but we back that up with vigorous police patrols.” A majority of the students also agree that safety here on campus, for the most part, is fine. “Security so far is good, as far as I’ve seen.” Adding, “I haven’t had any reason to not feel safe,” Kately Katenbrink, an RCC student, said. “I feel safe. I’m comfortable with my surroundings. I don’t feel I have to look over my shoulder,” Samantha Diaz said. However, Diaz also indicated that, while she had never felt unsafe on campus, she says that there should be “more
PAUL VILLALOBOS | VIEWPOINTS
security. Maybe increase security presence.” Could campus safety be improved? “I’m sure there is a way but I’m not sure how they can improve safety because it’s a big campus,” Haley Evett, an RCC student, said. In a time where schools are no longer regarded as safe, students across the country have taken steps to prevent another tragedy from ever happening again. There have already been a handful of protests and even school walkouts across the country, calling for tougher gun laws in response to the shooting in Florida. Even here in Riverside, a “March for Our Lives” event is scheduled to take place March 24. As students continue with their normal day-to-day routine, the thought of a potential mass shooting happening here, still looms on the back of many
Faculty and staff participated in “Stop the Bleed” training, a 90-minute course designed to teach potentially life-saving bleeding control techniques, March 1. They were trained to stop serious bleeding caused by gunshot or other severe wounds using gauze and tourniquets. The program was launched in October of 2015 by the Obama administration, Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and a call to action and is intended to “cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.” The program operates on the idea that those nearest to someone with life threatening injuries are best positioned to provide first care. According to a recent National Academies of Science study, trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans under age 46.
March 8, 2018
News
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City Manager makes visit to RCC SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW NEWS EDITOR
City Manager John Russo visited Riverside City College to discuss his journey to City Hall in the Digital Library Auditorium March 1. Russo was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and is the son of Italian immigrants. His father, a construction worker, and his mother, a dressmaker, moved to the United States from London in 1958 five months before he was born. Russo graduated cum laude from Yale University and earned his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. He worked two years at a legal aid office in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Oakland in 1987, where he worked as a private attorney until 2000. Russo has been Riverside’s City Manager since May 4, 2015, with the council citing Russo’s legislative and executive management experience as well as his commitment to fiscal responsibility, responsiveness and transparency.
John Russo has been Riverside’s City Manager since May 4, 2015. Russo previously spent nearly four years as City Manager of Alameda and before that served as the City Attorney of Oakland for 11 years. Prior to being elected City Attorney in Oakland, Russo
was a City Council member there for nearly six years. Russo served on the Oakland City Council from 1995-2000, where he authored Oakland’s open government law, known as
MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS
the Sunshine Ordinance. He also served as Oakland City Attorney f r o m 2 0 0 0 - 2 0 11 w i n n i n g California Lawyer magazine’s “Lawyer of the Year Award” for Public Service in 2004.
As city attorney, Russo created the Open Government Program, which ensured that citizens of Oakland have full access to information about their city and that the business of city government is conducted in the light of day. Russo’s passion for public service dates back to his childhood when he witnessed his father help their neighbors voice their needs to their city’s representative. His father often helped without ever earning any compensation. “My dad was like the gobetween with all the city’s politicians and the politicians tried to help my dad because a single vote of confidence from him was worth 200 votes. I had always had the idea that I could be the guy on the other end of the phone that could make things happen,” Russo said. “Have I made wrong decisions? Sure, everyone does. We all make mistakes because we have imperfect information, we’re not always as mature as we should be or our emotions get the better of us. However, I can honestly say that I never made a wrong ethical decision.”
Board candidate hosts meet and greet SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW NEWS EDITOR
A good representative is someone that can be seen as a trusted figurehead, someone that can be relied upon to make the tough decisions for the right reasons. Jose Alcala has thrown his hat in the ring to be that person. Alcala attended Riverside City College, UC Santa Barbara and California State University San Bernardino before entering the teaching profession. “I became a teacher to give back and help students just as my teachers had done for me,” Alcala said at a meet and greet. “You always have to pay it forward.” Alcala, a member of the M o r e n o Va l l e y E d u c a t o r s Association, is the Board member for District O, serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Alcala has taught history for 14 years at March Mountain High School, an alternative education site in the Moreno Valley Unified School District, and has previously taught at two other schools in the district. He has served as a bargaining team member and as director of member services and communications for his local association. He has also served as treasurer of the San Gorgonio Service Center Council.
COURTESY OF THE RCCD FACULTY ASSOCIATION
Candidate Jose Alcala was endorsed by the RCCD Faulty Association Oct. 2017. Alcala attended UC Santa Barbara and California State University, San Bernardino, before entering the teaching profession. He became a teacher to give back and help students just as his teachers had helped him. Alcala resides in Riverside with his wife and daughter. Alcala said that he considers some of his core values to be educational equity and equality for all students, regardless. “I will keep Riverside
Community College District’s mission of affordable and accessible education for all of our community,” Alcala said. “As a father, husband, son, brother and friend of women, I believe that it is my responsibility to stand up and speak out when I see discrimination or injustice towards women,” Alcala said. The RCCD Faculty Association has been a continuous advocate for Alcala’s campaign since announcing their
endorsement in Oct. 2017. “The 2018 midterm election is going to be one of the most critical elections in recent memory, leaving a longlasting impact on crucial socioeconomic and political issues at the national, regional and local levels,” Faculty Association President Dariush Haghighat said in a statement. “After careful review of those candidates stands on issues vital for RCCD, the Faculty
Association voted unanimously to endorse the candidacy of one of RCCD’s bright and extremely dedicated alumni, Jose Alcala,” Haghighat said. Alcala is one of three candidates competing for the Area 4 seat on the Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees after current Trustee Janet Green announced that she would be retiring at the end of her term. He is a local high school teacher and for years served as the president of K-12 CTA. He currently serves on the board of directors of K-12 CTA and he is also an elected member of the Democratic Central Committee. “Having someone like Jose representing us, the students from Latino and minority backgrounds, is so imperative to have role models like him within our society actively setting the example that we should strive for,” RCC student Gamaliel Perez said in a video about RCC students advocating for Alcala to win the seat on the board. Alcala stated that a large reason for his desire to be a Trustee is due to his family’s personal connection to the district, particularly RCC. Alcala is a former student of Riverside City College, along with his mother and younger sister. “This is personal to me. RCC was there for my family and gave her a place that gave her the ability to change where she was going was RCC,” Alcala said. “This has been a family affair.”
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News
March 8, 2017
Riverside reveals plan to relieve homelessness
NEWS BRIEFS Commencement Speaker Riverside City College invites students to apply to become the Commencement Speaker for the upcoming graduation. In order to apply, students must submit an application and draft of the speech to Admissions & Records by March 16 at 5 p.m to Johanna Vasquez or submitted electronically to johanna.vasquez@rcc.edu. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The finalist must also be available to be mentored prior to the delivery of the speech at the commencement ceremony by the Center for Communication Excellence in the Martin Luther King Learning Center, Room 221.
Food Grant
JOSHUA BURCIAGA | VIEWPOINTS
Development Director Emilio Ramirez discusses the city’s plan to end homelessness Feb. 22. JOSHUA BURCIAGA STAFF REPORTER
R i v e r s i d e ’s h o m e l e s s population has steadily been increasing over the past couple of years. In response to this, the city of Riverside held a forum Feb. 22 at the Grove Community Church that served to inform locals about Riverside’s latest attempt to combat homelessness. Riverside Mayor, Rusty Bailey, introduced speakers Tom Lance, Brian Jaramillo, Alexander Nguyen and Emilio Ramirez at the event and provided details about their new program, “Tiny Homes.” Riverside officials are planning on providing 400 housing units for the homeless community across the city in order to implement a housing first approach to help those in need. Not all 400 of the housing units will be built, as officials are looking for other available options such as existing apartment units and churches willing to provide Housing First use on their land, but each unit built will have two bedrooms and a functioning kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. Bryan Jaramillo, President of Tilden-Coil Constructors, the company in charge of building the housing units for the program, explains that no money has gone into designing the layout since all of the planning has been volunteer-based. Speakers at the forum said that they hope that by providing housing for homeless individuals, that successful job acquirement and sobriety will follow. “You can’t end homelessness without housing,” Bailey said. Riverside’s Assistant City Manager, Alexander Nguyen, explains that a housing first approach is most effective in helping the homeless because by providing the homeless with housing, social workers believe they can use that house as a tool that will make their jobs easier and ensure a higher success rate. “It’s very difficult for social workers of all kinds to do their work in the middle of the
park, on the bench at the bus stop or especially down in the riverbottom,” Nguyen said. “It’s a lot easier in a space that is safe and warm.” Nguyen went on to address the concerns of the community in regards to the project. One of the main concerns of the program is that the city is just handing out free houses to the homeless. He assures his audience that this is not the case.“It’s not that we’re gonna get a homeless person and throw them the keys and say, “OK, there you go. Party all night long,” Nguyen said.
that they get a free house. They have to work,” Nguyen said. “They have to put forth their individual effort to get better and we work with them.” When informed about the project, several Riverside City College students voiced their concerns about the program, but remained optimistic. “If somebody is seeking help, then that would be good for them… but if they’re not, then I don’t think anything good can come out of it,” McKenna Miller, an RCC student said. “It always sounds like a good idea trying to help out,” RCC student Giancarlo Ortiz said. “But you also have to take into consideration that some homeless people don’t want to receive help.” Associated Students of Riverside City College President Maritzza Jeronimo and Vice President Clara -- Mayor Rusty Bailey Velarde supports Riverside’s new initiative, especially when taking into consideration RCC’s homeless student He points out that recipients population. must work or be actively seeking Both Jeronimo and Velarde out employment and follow the agree that providing housing rules and guidelines found in the and food to students in need will program’s Transitional Housing reduce the dropout rate for many Program Agreement and Code of homeless students. Safe Conduct and Good Neighbor “If we can provide for them, Policy. that will take at least some stress Another concern from a off of them and they can focus Riverside community member on their studies,” Jeronimo said. was that homeless individuals are “It’s something we’re very drug addicts; therefore, they’re on board for and something that problematic. we’ve been working on.” Nguyen informs that if “But it’s not just financial someone is provided with a home, support that these students need, then any addicts need to enter a they need to feel like they have a mandatory addiction program family, they need to feel like they and that the services provided in have a community,” Velarde said. the program will actually be sent “I think this is great, and to that individual’s new home. I think it’s gonna help a lot of “The case is not that, no people, hopefully people that matter what the person is doing attend RCC as well.”
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“You can’t end homelessness without housing.”
In partnership with the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), their goal is to nourish students through temporary hardship while empowering them towards long-term self-sufficiency. In addition to ASRCC’s Student Resource Center, we are now providing emergency hunger relief to students in need. The RCC Food Grant allows ASRCC to provide students with: Up to 30 days of access to a food pantry, temporary financial assistance for food only, educational resources on purchasing and preparing meals on a budget To be eligible, students must be an active RCC Student, have completed a FAFSA application and have applied for CalFresh.
Culinary Job Fair Riverside City College Culinary Arts Academy will be holding a job fair March 19 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Culinary Arts Academy. There is no cost to attend; however, this event is being hosted for RCC Culinary students and graduates. Registration is required. Job seekers should bring resumes and dress professionally to meet with representatives from businesses such as the Mission Inn, The Soup Shoppe and Pechanga Resort & Casino.
AMPUS CRIMES Feb. 8 Possession of Concealed Firearm Riverside City College student with a prior conviction was arrested in the Cosmetology building at 1:08 p.m for the possession of a Glock 9 mm and unlawful paraphernalia. Feb. 8 Outside Warrant/Misdemenor An adult non-student was arrested in Lot G due to an outstanding traffic warrant, incident occurred at 3:25 p.m. Feb. 9 Vandalism RCC is victim to petty theft and electrical system vandalism worth $400 or more in the Wheelock Gym at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 12 Willful Cruelty to Child An RCC student was arrested at parking Lot G due to leaving child unattended in car, incident occurred at 2:58 p.m. Feb. 13 Unlawful Display of Registation Tab An RCC student was issued ticket for unlawful display of registration tabs resulting in vehicle being towed in Lot E around 10:32 a.m.
COURTESY OF JEFFERY MCLAUGHLIN
Model of possible tiny houses used to relieve Riverside’s homeless population.
Feb. 20 Possession of Substances An RCC student was arrested for possession of alcohol and drugs in the Quadrangle, incident occurred at 1:19 p.m.
News
March 8, 2018
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Mental health services under pressure MARISSA MORENO STAFF REPORTER
The first week of the spring semester at Riverside City College was more than a nightmare. The shooting in Parkland, Florida has inevitably forced the Riverside Unified School District to check every potential threat towards its campuses, and for Riverside City College this came shortly after an unfortunate oncampus apparent suicide that took place on the first day of school. “A seemingly endless series of tragic events in campuses and in adjacent communities only serve to reinforce the need for us to design new, innovative, cooperative and holistic approaches that enhance campus wellbeing,” Michael Huey, current president of the American College Health Association, said in a video of the Mental Health Symposium held in Dec. 2017. At RCC, students seeking help or support in the wake of the recent shocking events can either make appointments at the Health Center or attend weekly Wellness Workshops. However just how confident do they feel seeking out the services provided on campus. “I’m not that confident because I feel like they wouldn’t really help me with my problems,” Alexa Vazquez, an RCC student,
ELIZABETH TOVAR LLAMAS | VIEWPOINTS
Riverside City College’s Student Health and Psychological Services located in the Bradshaw Building. said. “But I haven’t really tried our response and what are the successful. it. It’s what I have heard from best practices and what we’re During the American College other students, or in general it’s learning,” he said in the video. Health Association symposium, what you hear even from other Renee Martin-Thornton, the presidents and chancellors schools.” Director of the Health Center also discussed limitations in Troy Paino, President of the at RCC, declined to comment training with staff and faculty. University of Mary Washington on how the Health Center keeps Paino said that he believes in Fredericksburg, Virginia track of and accommodates RCC that staff and faculty training explained how he keeps track student needs. should be a priority in colleges of the quality and efficacy of Whether the services offered along with health services and the health services offered in his have been adjusted to fit student‘s resources. campus. needs or not remains unclear. “ We f o c u s o f t e n t i m e s “We bring in the Director of Similarly, it is unclear whether narrowly on the counselors to Counseling and we talk about any proactive attempts to promote be the saviors for all of our the trends that we’re seeing, health services have proved problems. Send (the students) to
the counseling center and let’s hope that that takes care of it, but we know that’s not gonna solve it, so we have to really prepare faculty,” Paino said in a video. Denise Kruizenga-Muro, lead instructor of the Writing and Reading Center at RCC, explained that newly-hired staff receive diversity and cultural sensitivity training. However, due to budget cuts Kruizenga-Muro states that RCC staff is not as trained as often as they would like and the trainings that are available to staff are not mandatory. Kruizenga-Muro also said that the Behavioral Intervention Resource Team had had a past collaborative effort between staff and administrators to identify behaviors of concern in students. Their goal was to positively affect student retention and safety. She explained that BIRT membership had changed and that it no longer included staff. “I’m sad that it no longer includes those of us in the frontlines, not that officers and the people in the Health Center are not in the frontlines, but sometimes (the staff) would hear about things first, before they became a problem,” she said. While it is unclear whether the changes made to the BIRT team affected the retention and safety rates, one thing is clear, the RCC community is not as involved as it once was.
SPORTS Tennis remains undefeated, 13-0 6
March 8, 2018
JOSH GANDELA STAFF REPORTER
Heads of spectators turned left to right continuously as fluorescent yellow balls were struck back and forth. Intense exchanges of ground strokes and volleys yanked players side to side, up to net and well behind the baseline, in the second conference matchup between Riverside City College and Saddleback College men’s tennis teams. The RCC Tigers, who held an impressive 9-0 record going into the game, showed up to the courts ready, knowing their objectives, and did what they had to do to come out victorious against the Gauchos. “As far as leadership qualities go, these guys are driven,” head coach Tom Yancey said. “They can run a lot of the practices on their own, so I think that’s why you’re seeing so much success on match days.” Miles Clark and Elie-Noe Nicolay got things rolling for the Tigers with an 8-3 doubles win. Number one singles player, Kayne Trustfull executed his gameplay well, maintaining control of his match and finishing at 6-0, 6-3. Thomas Pidoux stepped onto the court soon after and dominated as well with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Three other singles players burned through their matches with straight set victories, ending the day without dropping any singles or doubles matchups. RCC men’s tennis has seen much success in its history, but since last season they made quite a leap in skill level as new players with tremendous talent joined the team. Trustfull from the Netherlands, who has been playing since the age of four, and Pidoux from France, are two freshmen that lead the team as the top two singles players. Cold weather may have been the reason for a small turnout,
but the teammates and fans still kept the spirits up on the courts, applauding hard earned points and shouting encouraging comments. As the team gets deeper into the Orange Empire Conference (OEC), a bigger support crowd can provide a positive atmosphere that the players enjoy and feed off of. “The more people we have the better they play,” said Yancey. “If you’re looking for some of the best tennis in Southern California, this is the place to be.” Trustfull wound down with his fellow team members as the final match of the day came to an end, securing the 9-0 sweep against the Gauchos. “We will talk a little bit about this match, get a good night’s sleep, eat healthy food, say no to cigarettes, study opponents, and then we go for it. That’s how we do it every time and that’s how we are succeeding at the moment,” Trustfull said. After a team huddle and a run down by the head coach of the team’s overall performance, the Tigers showed their respects to the opponents with a group chant, “1, 2, 3, Gauchos!” Every conference match is a battle mentally and physically and a lot of matches can go either way, but the Tigers feel that state championships are within their reach. “There’s definitely going to be a couple of good teams that are expected to be tough … hard to get past, but absolutely. It’s in our grasp,” Assistant Coach Colten Douglass said. “We will try to keep our undefeated win streak,” Trustfull said. “We will fight for it, as a Tiger.” The Tigers kept their streak intact — currently their record is 13-0 — and went on to defeat the Orange Coast College Pirates 9-0, the College of the Desert Roadrunners 6-3 and the Cypress College Chargers. They now shift their focus toward the worthy Irvine Valley Lasers on March 8.
(Clockwise from top) Sami Akouz, Kayne Trustfull and Thomas Pidoux playing against Saddleback College on Feb. 27 JOSH GANDELA | VIEWPOINTS
Sports
March 8, 2018
Men’s hoops season ends in heartbreak Tigers fall in triple overtime AUSTIN TURNER STAFF REPORTER
With 16 seconds remaining in the third overtime period in the California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball playoffs against Cerritos College, Riverside City College held a seemingly insurmountable four point lead. The Tigers had just missed two free throws that could have given them the game, but with a two possession lead and little time remaining, the game seemed to be over. However, the clock didn't phase the Cerritos College Falcons. They quickly hit a layup and the ensuing free throw to make it a one point game. The Tigers then hit one of two free throws to give them a two point cushion, but it wasn't enough.
Cerritos sophomore guard Riley Hamilton, with 1.8 seconds remaining in triple overtime, delivered a 3-point shot to send the RCC Tigers home and give Cerritos the victory 76-75. “I think we could have played defense a little better,” sophomore Rahmell Greene said “I also think rebounding would have helped us more.” Cerritos overcame RCC with a couple of crucial offensive rebounds down the stretch which helped the Falcons complete their late rally.
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“We gave it everything we had”
--Rahmell Greene
Although the season came to a disappointing end, the team has a lot to be proud of this season. “Overall I think we had a rough season,” Greene said. “We lost a few key players that
could have made a difference for us and helped us this season but nonetheless we still played the role we needed to. We won 16 games and made the playoffs.” They finished with a record of 16-11 and were champions of two in-season tournaments, the Ventura Tournament and the Riverside Holiday Classic. Just making it to the playoffs was impressive, as the Tigers finished off the regular season winning four of their last five games to sneak into the 12th seed. They nearly pulled off the upset against fifth-seeded Cerritos, who finished the regular season 15-5. Cerritos will move on to face Santiago Canyon College in the third round of the CCCAA playoffs. As for RCC, being on the wrong side of a triple overtime playoff game can be frustrating, but the players have to be pleased with how they played. “I think we played hard and left everything on the floor. We gave it everything we had,” said Greene. “I think we can tip our hats to that.” Keanu Wallace contributed to this report.
Sports Briefs Baseball RICHARD MARTINEZ STAFF REPORTER
Tigers baseball looks to maintain their impressive record as they gear up for upcoming conference play. They are currently 13-5 as the regular season approaches on March 6th. Last year the Tigers finished 29-13 and made it to the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. They are doing whatever it takes to find themselves back in the playoffs this season. “As always, we set out each year to improve each and every day with a refined purpose in enhancing our skills and abilities as a person, student and as a ball player,” Head Coach Rudy Arguelles said. “We feel, if we can achieve and succeed in this area, then winning a state title is possible” Confidence is high, heading into the regular season. They are putting up good numbers and is looking to be a powerhouse team in the Orange Empire League. Through 16, games as a team, they are batting .253 with a on base percentage of .367 and have tallied 92 runs. The pitching staff are also
putting up impressive numbers, through 18 games they hold a 3.08 ERA and have 130 strikeouts Catcher and designated hitter, Daniel Martinez, is making a lot of noise around the diamond so far this season as he looks to stay in tune for conference play. In 16 games he is batting .306 with a .507 on base percentage. Martinez had a impressive start against Grossmont College where he tossed six scoreless innings and only allowed the defending state champs three hits. He was also named California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) Southern California Player of the week. He is definitely a player to keep an eye on this season. Joseph Hodapp, another star player, has the highest batting average, 0.392, bringing in 12 RBIs this season so far. With key players like these, the Tigers are hopeful to find themselves back in the playoffs this year.
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UPCOMING GAMES Baseball
Men’s Swim & Dive LUIS QUINTERO STAFF REPORTER
There are high hopes in the air for the men’s swim team this upcoming season. Last season the Tigers earned 411 points in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). The team placed third, just 55 points less than Sierra College who placed second, and 162 less than Golden West College who placed first, taking the state championship. As the season grows closer so does the hunger for success in upcoming titles. “We’ve finished in the top three in the last two years and top five in the last six years,” Head Coach Jason Northcott said. “We have a formula that works, definitely make certain adjustments for particular individuals but stick with what has been bringing us success the last couple of years.” The team has proven yearly that their training and approach to competition is successful. This season the team is seeing a lot of fresh new faces and coach Northcott is hopeful for improvement and success of
each individual, as well as the whole team. Among the pressures of the upcoming season, players continue to feel grateful for the opportunity of being part of the squad. “Having the opportunity to be part of this program has been one to cherish,” said Everisto Garcia, a member of the swim team. “Swimming here at RCC has given myself new tools and skills I could use both on and off the pool deck.” Their approach to swim training does not only prove successful on the scoreboard but also with student life off of the pool deck. The general outlook for the men’s swim training looks to receive the same method as past seasons. The formula that the players and coach use is the one the swim team has stood by and shall continue to stand by, which will hopefully bring in the same success as previous seasons. They are working hard in and out of practice and it will bring them closer to the state championship this year. Expectations for the Tigers remain high and fierce as the season comes near.
*March 10 @ Cypress at 12 p.m. *March 13 vs. Saddleback at 2 p.m.
Softball
*March 9 @ Golden West at 2 p.m. *March 10 @ Santa Barbara at 4:30 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
*March 13 @ Fullerton at 2 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
*March 13 vs. Fullerton at 2 p.m.
Track & Field
*March 9 @ Ben Brown Invitational at 8 a.m.
Swimming & Diving *March 9 Riverside Invitaional at 1 p.m. *March 10 Riverside Invitational at 9 a.m.
Beach Volleyball
*March 9 vs. Palomar and Pasadena @ Pearce Sports Center at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Golf
*March 12 @ Irvine Valley College (Tustin Ranch GC) at 11 a.m.
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LIFE
March 8, 2018
“Every time I overcome an obstacle, it feels like success. Sometimes the biggest ones are in our head - the saboteurs that tell us we can’t.”
Clubs provide opportunity
-
Lupita Nyong’o
Entertainment Briefs Free Tickets The Riverside Fox Performing Arts Center is holding “Beatles vs. Stones” on March 9. Doors open at 7 p.m. A limited amount of free tickets can be picked up from Colleen McGurn, the Student Activities Clerk in Bradshaw 207 or in various businesses in dowtown Riverside.
Riverside Arts Walk Every first Thursday of the month is designated for Riverside’s own community of artists and art lovers. From 6-9 p.m. art galleries and museums are free and open to the public.
MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS
During Club Rush on Terrecina Dr. on Feb. 27, students from Riverside City College District’s The Honors Program informs other students of the perks that come along with investing their time in their club.
ANTHONY TORRES STAFF REPORTER
Club Rush for the spring 2018 semester has come and gone. It is not too late to join clubs though. Riverside City College has a variety of clubs to join in almost every subject, major, or career choice. Choices range from the Art Club to the Film Club to the humanitarian areas like Student Orchestrating Change Club to business-oriented subjects like Cyber Security Club and CEO Club. The opportunities are vast with each club, with chances
to make a difference in your community or to network in your career market. “We offer the opportunity to learn leadership skills to help [students] in their own careers and personal life,” Yvette Ayuso, CEO Club president, said. This year will mark the first time that RCC’s CEO Club will participate in a “Shark Tank” type competition and the invitation to submit a business idea is extended to any student of any major. This club has internship programs and opportunistic events, like many clubs do. If you are a technologically inclined person, Cyber Security Club may be something
interesting for you. “ We r e a c h o u t t o t h e community and schools to bring awareness of data protection,” said Nichole Madero, president of Cyber Security Club. The club also participates in cyber security competitions like the National Cyber League which helps create better data protection software and protocols. The Film, Television, and Video Club is made up of students who seek to enter the filmmaking market. The club strongly believes in the building of a community of students that can help each other in the film production process. Like other clubs, FTV Club
offers the opportunity to network and build a portfolio. For the film industry, and other art related occupations, portfolios can make or break a career. These are just a few of the many clubs to choose from or be a part of. There is no limit as to how many clubs you can participate in. Each club offers great career opportunities that benefit RCC students with community hours, personal skill development and networking. Don’t let your future self down. Find out more by asking a faculty adviser or by visiting the RCC website.
about the music world, to his personal life that consists of everyday tasks like doing his taxes and spending time with his family. His adolescent stories engaged most of the audience. Anderson’s lecture felt like a mellow soundcheck. Later he revealed to the crowd that he is a shy and introverted person when he’s not performing, which is unexpected from a person who has worked with legends such as Elton John and The Ramones. He only started to loosen up on stage while performing his original song, “Effortless.” Anderson compared music interaction to a sexual subconscious of magical timing. “There’s nothing like it because it really is a communication instead of with words it’s with tone and with expression of instrument,” Anderson said.
Anderson deserves his fair share of recognition as a very talented guitarist. The lecture overall was inspirational to fellow musicians.
He even shared that McCartney will be releasing a new album this year and that they are experimenting with different sounds.
Paul McCartney’s guitarist visits RCC DOREENA CARTER STAFF REPORTER
Rusty Anderson, Paul McCartney’s lead guitarist of 17 years, came to share his experience navigating the music industry. Riverside City College Coil School for the Arts Concert Hall was home to an intimate conversation between him and many aspiring musicians Feb. 22. “Magical, positive, emotional, bonded, fantastical and all that stuff,” is how Anderson described his separation from the real world to the music world. He reminisced about his life touring with McCartney: playing sold out shows, performing at the Super Bowl, and drawing in crowds of over 200,000 people. He switched from talking
RUSD Art Reception Join Riverside Unified School District for the opening reception for their “Spotlight: RUSD Faculty and Staff Showcase.” The event is free and open to the public, it will be held March 14 from 4- 6 p.m.
RCC Featured Artists The art exhibit, “Nature Mortes ‘Dead Natures’” by Catherine Coan will continue to be exhibited at the RCC Quad Art Gallery, quad 140, until April 4.
Bunny Hop Pizza Party A bunny themed pizza party is scheduled for March 23 from 4- 6 p.m. in the quad. Egg hunts, photos and crafts for kids 11 and under will also be provided. Parking is free in the parking structure for the event.
Riverside Art Museum We n d y M a r u y a m a ’s exhibit in the Riverside Art Museum features historically based work that highlights the tragedy brought about by Japanese internment camps. Her work will continue to be exhibited until May 27.
Don’t Be Sorry, Ask Imari
DOREENA CARTER | VIEWPOINTS
Rusty Anderson speaks closely with his audence in Coil School for the Arts Concert Hall on Feb. 22.
Write in for advice from your favorite editor! No topic is off limits for this fun and informative podcast. Contact us at: viewpoints. artsentertainment@gmail. com
Life
March 8, 2018
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Viewers appreciate representation “Black Panther” gives the Black community a movie and a super hero to be proud of MARIAH GREEN STAFF REPORTER
“Black Panther” displays a revolutionary statement that claws at the 21st century systematic pressures AfricanAmericans experience daily. Chadwick Boseman plays the Marvel superhero Black Panther who originates from Wakanda, a fictional East African nation in the Marvel Universe. The movie highlights the differences between Wakanda, and Americans with African descent. Wa k a n d a b r i n g s t o the forefront topics that are present within the Afrofuturist movement. It shows a vision currently being shaped by present day African Americans. This fictional land Marvel displays shows the potential future that Black people can achieve as a whole. “Black Panther” is a groundbreaking film. Since its premiere, the movie has shattered box office records. According
COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
to Andrew Dalton from Time Magazine, the film has grossed $500 million domestically after three weeks of its release and continues to grow. Domestically, the film is the third fastest to reach the $500 million caliber. Ryan Coogler, director and co-writer of the film, posted an emotional letter on the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Facebook directed to his fans, thanking
them for the movie’s success. “It still humbles me to think that people care enough to spend their money and time watching our film,” Coogler said. This film makes a statement. The African American cast proves that diversity sells in Hollywood and that displays of talent from every ethnicity are appreciated by audiences. The entertainment business
tends to primarily displays and favor white talent. While advocating for inclusivity, Hollywood continues to remain the same. “70.8% of speaking roles in 2016’s top 100 [movies] were white, far outweighing the tallies for characters who were Black (13.6%), Asian (5.7%), Hispanic (3.1%) or other (7%),” reports Stacy L. Smith and the Media,
Coverage Moisturizer has four shades: light, medium, tan and rich. That range is supposed to represent all skin tones. The issue is that only a small majority of women will be able to enjoy their products due to the absence of color range for Black women. Phillippe is a consumer who is disappointed by It Cosmetics. “It Cosmetics has really let me down by only catering to very fair shades,” she said. “When it comes to light shades It Cosmetics offers various undertones. When it comes to deeper shades they only offer grey undertones which does not represent a majority or cool or warm undertones often found in women of color.” Another person who is dissatisfied by the company’s foundation shade range is beauty influencer, Montana Campbell. “I’ve never tried It cosmetics but I have seen it on influencer Jackie Aina and the shade was completely off, it was also the darkest shade. So now I don’t support the brand,” Campbell said. Another example of how women of color are being neglected by the makeup industry is Tarte Cosmetics. On Jan. 15, Tarte released their highly anticipated Shape Tape Foundation. With its release came many frustrated reviews due to the shade range, only three of fifteen shades catered to darker skin tones. Alisyn Green, a Riverside City College student, who is a woman of color, agrees with the beauty industry’s lack of diversity and underrepresentation of Black women.
“I think that the beauty industry’s lack of representation of women of color has to do with the prevalence of racism in the makeup industry which draws their influences from the European-dominated fashion industry,” Green said. “I would agree that many foundations that I look for, don’t quite have my skin tone so I sort of have to improvise and choose what’s closest, but I have to buy at least three different foundation
shades depending on how much I have darkened from sunlight exposure.” Green is not the only woman of color to experience discrimination from the makeup industry, Philippe has also experienced it too. “It’s disheartening to know that there are still too many makeup brands that refuse to expand their shade ranges to accommodate women of color,” Philippe said.
Diversity, and Social Change Initiative at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Black Panther has his eyes on Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Nakia is a woman who is often seen as too dark in complexion by American standards. An important topic that “Black Panther” discusses is colorism. Colorism is the discrimination based on skin color, which includes the idea that people within the same ethnic group that vary in skin color are treated differently in society. Regardless of ethnicity those that are darker are more often discriminated against. The film’s storyline reminds the audience that Black exellence is everywhere. “It was a long time coming, and it was worth the wait,” Odie Henderson, a Roger Ebert critic said. “Black Panther” is a movie that boldly promotes Black power and brings a major headlining superhero to the Black community.
Makeup industry lacks shades for women of color VANESSA ANDERSON ASSISTANT EDITOR
Imagine being an underrepresented minority. Many women of color face this unfortunate reality. Alienated is how many African American women feel. For years, Black women have been frustrated because they are underrepresented. One area where African American women are most neglected in is the makeup industry. There is a second-class citizen approach to Black women. It is difficult for many women of color to find their shade. Many have experienced going to the drug store only to find that the deepest shade available was mahogany or cappuccino. Claudiane Phillippe, beauty influencer and Youtube personality, has found a huge issue with the makeup industry’s absence of shade range. “I’ve found it relatively easy to find my shade in foundations because I have a yellow undertone,” said Phillippe. “What bothers me is that my shade is the darkest in most company’s collections when I know there are deeper complexions that lack representation in the makeup industry.” The makeup industry marginalization stems from the lack of knowledge regarding African American women’s complexions and undertones. A specific brand that fails to cater to women of color is It Cosmetics. The company’s line of Bye Bye Foundation Full
ILLUSTRATION BY IMARI REDE
“Many of my favorite brands lack foundations and concealers that go beyond a light caramel shade and in 2018 that is a major problem.” “I would like to see makeup brands showcasing more Black women as their spokespeople and ‘face of the brand’ because too often I see brands that have wide shade ranges and those that don’t, only promote campaigns with fair skinned models,” “It’s without a doubt that most brands cater to fair skinned women so it is in their benefit to promote diversity to increase their revenue,” Philippe said. Although there are makeup brands that discriminate against women of color, there are also brands that celebrate African American women’s beauty. Phillippe has many suggestions for diverse makeup brands. “For high end I love Makeup Forever Ultra HD foundation and for drug store L’Oréal, in general, really caters to a wide range of deeper skin tones,” Phillippe said. “There is no excuse for high end or drugstore companies to lack deep shades when it has proven to be successful with some of the biggest brands in their respective markets.” Even though Black women continue to be oppressed by many makeup brands, there are still some makeup brands that are passionate about celebrating the beauty of African American women. Some of the most diverse makeup brands to check out are Fenty Beauty, Black Opal and Black Radiance.
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Views
March 8, 2018 Tell
us what you think, in a letter to the editor, in an email, or use #RCCnow.
Lax gun laws lead to shootings The mentally ill are not to blame for the high amount of gun violence in the United States
EMMA CARLSEN STAFF REPORTER
Gun violence is a result of inadequate gun laws, not the mentally ill. Accordi ng to the Small Ar ms Sur vey, the principal i nter nat ional sou rce of information on small arms and armed violence issues, the United States leads the world in both gun ownership and gun violence. Countries such as Switzerland and Yemen have high gun ownership rates. There are 47.5 guns per 100 people and 54.8 guns per 100 people, respectively. But America is still in the lead in the rate of mass shootings. The same survey indicates that America had 270 million guns, or 88.8 guns per 100 people, along with 90 mass
shooters from 1966 to 2012. No country other than the U.S. has had more than 46 million guns, with 18 mass shooters from 1966 to 2012. The Gun Violence Archive is a nonprof it cor por at ion that provides g u n violence information. According to their data, America has already had 34 mass shootings three months into the new year. This brings up one important question: why does America stand alone in their exceedingly high amount of mass shootings? After each mass shooting, the issue of mental health is brought up in American politics. While mental health is a factor in a portion of shootings, it is not the root cause for the abnormal rate of gun violence in America. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, people suffering with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence rather than the perpetrators they are cast as. “Mass Shootings and Mental Illness,” research conducted by Drs. James L. Knoll and George D. Annas, indicates that mental illness and gun violence do not correlate. “The overall contribution of people with serious mental illness to violent crimes is only
about 3 percent … an even smaller percentage of them are found to involve firearms,” the study said. Two key f i nd i ngs f rom the study provide important information regarding mass shooters. “There is no accurate … profile of students who engaged in targeted school violence,” the research stated, meaning it is not useful for anyone to stereotype mass shooters in any categorical way. While mental illness may not be a largely contributing factor to mass shootings, access to weaponry is. “Most attackers had access to and had used weapons prior to the attack,” the doctors said. This finding demonstrates it isn’t possible to accurately profile these shooters. If mental illness isn’t to blame, why do conservatives continue to frame it as the main cause of gun violence? Pro g u n r ights activists blame mental illness because it is easier to scapegoat a group of people instead of addressing the issue. The easy access that Americans have to firearms c o m b i n e d w it h a l a c k of meaningful regulation is the true
ILLUSTRATION BY ROCIO MACIAS
cause for these mass shootings. T he school shoot i ng i n Parkland and the activism the victims have demonst rated has created a tipping point in American politics. Grief is turning into action
across the nation. High school students across America now demand change from lawmakers. But will their call for action be enough to change minds within the Republican Party?
American trade deals devastate Latin America
JOSHUA BURCIAGA STAFF REPORTER
The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993 and other trade deals are one of the leading causes of mass migration from Latin America into the United States. The relationship between the United States and Mexico explains our current migration patterns quite well. In the past, countries such as Mexico put tariffs in place in order to protect their economic institutions of competition from richer industrialized nations like the U.S. However, NAFTA eliminated tariffs between the U.S. and Mexico, allowing only our highly
subsidized U.S. agribusiness to outcompete Mexico’s farming and business sectors. In the podcast, "Wave of Illegal Immigrants Gains Speed After NAFTA," Ted Robbins, Supervising Editor of Arts and Culture at NPR, explains how Mexico's corn industry collapsed once U.S. manufactured corn flooded into Mexico's market. “75,000 Iowa farmers grew twice as much corn as three million Mexican farmers at half the cost,” Robbins said. In the last 24 years, NAFTA has not only destroyed Mexico's economy, but has now devastated the economies in other Latin American countries. While corrupt government officials in Latin America have benefited greatly from our trade agreements, their working class population suffers tremendously. Faced with no jobs and economic turmoil at home, many Latin Americans are faced with no viable alternatives. Immigrants either migrate to the U.S via Mexico in search of better economic opportunities, or they remain in their home country and experience poverty.
IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
Rufino Dominguez, former director of the Oaxacan Institute for Attention to Migrants, shares the same sentiment towards NAFTA. “T here are no jobs and NAFTA forced the price of corn so low that it's not economically possible to plant a crop anymore,” Dominguez said. “ We come to the U.S. to work because we can't get a price for our product at home. There's no alternative.” In response to the inf lux of i m m ig r a nt s, law ma ker s
enacted the Merida Initiative in order to ensure that immigrants fleeing violence stay away from America’s southern border. T he U.S. Cong ress ha s spent $2.5 billion of taxpayer money since 2008 on the Merida Initiative. Their objective is to prevent the flow of immigration from Latin American countries into Mexico's southern border, and eventually into the U.S. America is highly frowned upon for the high number of people they depor t back to
Mexico. However, Mexico is guilty of perpetuating similar behavior towards Cent ral and South American immigrants fleeing the same poverty NAFTA has brought onto Mexico. According to the newspaper El Pais, Mexico deports more i m m ig ra nt s fou nd i n t hei r country compared to the U.S. Immigrant rights activist Cristóbal Sánchez interprets the situation very accurately. “Mexico is doing the United States dirty work; that is what it was tasked with, and it is fulfilling its mission perfectly,” Sánchez said. Amer ican investors, businesses and politicians have become r ich by exploit i ng developing nations for their own gain. If America wants to reduce the flow of immigration, then the U.S. only needs to do one thing. They need to stop contributing towards it. People should not be punished for crossing our borders in order to escape the poverty caused by American corporations and trade deals.
Views
March 8, 2018
11
Students rally for gun control
Editorial
Today’s high school students were born and have grown up in an era of active shooter drills and other safety efforts at schools. Some have grown to see their once open elementary school campus become blocked off by metal doors, resembling a prison even among the vibrant murals decorating its quad. But those precautions were unable to prevent the carnage from continuing. There have been at least 170 school shootings since Columbine in 1999, in addition to hundreds of other mass shootings including the five deadliest shootings in U.S. history in the past 11 years alone. However, the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida shooting is different than those the nation has seen before. Instead of seeing footage of vigils and eulogies, we are seeing images of the survivors fighting back. It’s no wonder then that many high school students have had enough. They watched as news unfolded about yet another school shooting with the same type of semi-automatic rifle used in other mass shootings in recent years. Often times, students are accused of being desensitized to violence with the blame falling on the shoulders of the video game industry and Hollywood’s heavy increase in violent action movies. They’ve grown up with the knowledge that a shooter could murder them and their classmates at any given day. They’ve also grown up with the knowledge that their deaths would result in no more than a series of thoughts and prayers before their images faded away with the next school shooting. Students from Douglas High School are doing their part to make sure this time is different. Cameron Kasky, Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg are at the forefront of the Never Again movement. Together they created the March
IMAGE COURTESY LORIE SHAULL | FLICKR
of Our Lives protest. The March for Our Lives protest will take place in Washington D.C. on March 24. Their mission is to protect kids, not guns. They’ve rallied together to demand that lawmakers do something more than talk a big game and then do nothing of significance. Ideas floating around the speeches of politicians include raising the age at which assault rifles can be bought to 21, implementing the same threeday waiting period for assault rifles as is required for handguns and creating a restraining order to prevent someone who poses a threat from possessing firearms. Lawmakers have also discussed increased funding for mental health services, law enforcement officers and improved safety measures at schools.
While these are worthwhile ideas, we, the Viewpoints Editorial Board, believe that they shouldn’t come at the exclusion of stronger gun control laws. Assault rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines should be banned across the country. It is no coincidence that mass shootings have become more frequent and deadlier since a federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004. The United States is an outlier among the developed world in its high rate of gun ownership and gun deaths. Continuing to expand the availability of guns and the ability to carry them in public won’t change this distinction. The students from Douglas High School are showing the rest of us how changing things is done. But the rallies they have planned aren’t enough. All of us need to need to vote, especially
the young people whose turnout numbers have traditionally been low. Don’t let the legislature throw a few shout outs toward mental health funding and school safety measures and then act like the problem is solved. We have to light a fire under these lawmakers the same way the National Rifle Association has for years. We need to keep pressure on lawmakers to include gun control measures at the forefront of any solution to help prevent school shootings. These students are doing what the adults in power refuse to do. They are refusing to let another mass shooting fade into the void of empty promises made by those that are supposed to protect them. They are taking back the narrative, no longer as the victims but as the fighters.
Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and are written by the Viewpoints’ student editorial board.
LETTERS
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dominique Redfearn (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu MANAGING EDITOR Samantha Bartholomew viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Samantha Bartholomew viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Matt Schoenmann
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March 8, 2018
Views
Guns do not guarantee safety
Arming teachers is a business interest of the National Rifle Association, not a viable solution
JONATHAN RAMIREZ STAFF REPORTER
When tragedy takes place in this country, we demand immediate and erratic solutions that sometimes disregard any form of common sense. After the wake of the Parkland High School shootings, the idea of providing guns to teachers to defend students would do more harm than good. At first, the idea of arming teachers, seems like a charming solution to deter the increasing problem of mass school shootings. In an ideal world, we can simply give teachers the option to possess a firearm, train them effectively, and have them defend our innocent children from school massacres. Although it seems like a good idea, it’s actually a flawed
ILLUSTRATION BY ROCIO MACIAS
anecdote that tries to convince the public that every teacher is fully capable of handling tense and horrific scenarios. According to The Washington Post, School Resource Deputy Scot Peterson, took a defense position outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Peterson was seen on video armed and in uniform, but did
not react according to his duties. The deputy did not go into the building and instead waited outside the school building where 17 innocent lives were taken. This man was armed and in a position to save lives, but couldn’t find the courage in himself to do his job the way he was supposed to . How can we expect the same
for teachers with occupations that have nothing to do with protecting lives? We can’t expect to provide every teacher with a gun when we do not even pay our teachers a fair wage for the value they bring to our society. According to Vox, there is not enough research proving arming teachers has enough of a positive
impact on the safety and well being of students. The other side of the argument relies on comforting and unrealistic anecdotes that derives from the “good guy with a gun” as an extension that assumes all teachers are adept to use the gun as a life-saving protective tool. Those who support armed teachers are blindsided with the assumption that all teachers are morally sound without harmful bias or intentions. As a first grader, my teacher slammed my arm against the edge of my desk out of frustration from my low attention span. She then proceeded to shove me against a different desk. Out of intense fear of being harmed again, I did not tell anyone about this incident and attempted to block it from my memories until I felt it was too late to bring up. If this teacher abused her power, now imagine the type of power a teacher can have over its students when armed. Anyone in a school setting can feel unsafe at any time with an educator possessing a gun. It can especially happen when the person who is supposed to protect you does not seem to care about your well being even without a gun.
Campus Conversations Question: Should professors be allowed to carry guns on campus?
Campus Conversations is an open forum for Riverside City College students and staff to voice their own opinions, views and ideas. Interviews and photos by Nahid Ponciano
“No, I feel like that would make the problem a lot more worse. Sure they might have a good background but who knows, somthing might trigger them in the future that might have then turn against the students.”
“No, it’s a bit ridiculous to even put that into thought. It just doesn’t make sense to arm up. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think it’s kinda stepping backwards.”
“In a college setting I think they’re more professional and educated, so I think it’s right in a college setting, but in a high school setting and lower, I wouldn’t trust it as much.”
“I don’t think that is the proper way to secure the safety of our students. A college professor’s job is to teach. To ask them to be trained in firearms, that’s a whole other profession.”
- Ceasar Morales
- Ashley Romero Pitones
- Favian Coronado
- Professor Tony Ortiz
“Absolutely not. That’s really much all I have to say. I don’t think it’s a very safe idea. There’s been too many tragedies, I really don’t think we need any more.”
- Daniel Cortez
“I would have to disagree with that. I think it just cont r ibutes to a bigger problem of accepting weapons in general.”
- Heather Taylor
“There’s no need to have weapons on campus, it’s a place for education. That’s why we have police and security, for that reason, which they need to be stricter with.”
- Nallely Ibarra
“No, because I would feel less safe if they had weapons.”
- Yesenia Morales