Viewpoints - 3/8/12

March 8, 2012

Vol. xxxVIVI, 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

Nursing’s new chapter

Features story see Pages 8-9 For a

Diego Alvarez / staff photographer

Caretakers: Brittney Stuteville (left) and Jennifer Giordano, nursing students at Riverside City College, practice taking measurements of infants.

A stand against bullying page 12

‘Mass Effect 3’ preview page 9

RCC track and field looks to improve page 15

2 | March 8, 2012

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

News

Honoring Cesar Chavez Riverside City College Diversity Committee will be advocating a Cesar Chavez celebration on March 27,28, and 29.

Event will be held during college hour 12:50-1:50 p.m. At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Teaching & Learning Center. Event will include United Farm Workers student skits, entertainment by the SAFE club, civic rights music, food, a migrant worker panel and information on Chavez.

United Farm Workers president Arturo Rodriguez will be hosting a special evening reception and presentation on the path that Chavez started.

Documentary and discussion to be announced.

Changing the world through community service The Discovery Lecture Series is presenting Social Justice and Advocacy: One Step at a Time March 15 from 1-2 p.m in the Digital Library Auditorium.

The multimedia talk will focus on efforts to make a difference in the world through service projects within the community and globally. Issues that may be addressed are poverty, human trafficking, oppression, abuse and neglect.

The event is open to all faculty, students and staff and flex credit is available.

Spend the summer in central Europe

Travel to central Europe with Riverside Community College District’s summer tour.

From June 28 through July 14 participants will tour Prague, Czech Republic, Krakow, Poland, Budapest, Hungary, Vienna and other places.

For fliers, reservation forms and information visit the study abroad office in Quadrangle 100 or email jan.schall@rcc.edu.

Support Inland Empire animals The Inland Empire Classic Mustang Club is presenting the 3rd Annual Park n’ Bark Car Show. The event is on March 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Riverside County animal shelter at 6851 Van Buren Blvd.

The show will feature classic car displays, raffles, food, vendors and free pet adoptions with the ASPCA mega match-a-thon.

For more information go to ieclassicmustangclub.com.

RCC wind ensemble in a tribute to Souza The Riverside City College Wind Ensemble will be performing a Tribute to John Phillip Souza March 11 at 4 p.m. at the Landis Performing Arts Center.

They will be joined by the Tribute to John Phillip Souza High School Honor Band.

Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 for students and seniors.

RCC cosmetology helps young cancer patients Riverside City College’s Cosmetology School and the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California are holding the 2012 hair cut-a-thon on March 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at RCC’s Cosmetology School.

Attendees can get their heads shaved or get haircuts to support children with cancer.

Hair can’t be chemically treated and 12 inch hair donations will be donated to Wigs for Kids. There is a minimum donation of $10 and sponsors and donors are welcome.

For reservations call 909-558-3419 and for more information go to ccfsocal.org.

Fun for the whole family and its pets The Mary S. Roberts pet adoption center will be walking and talking with the animals at Fairmount Park on March 17 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

There will be appearances from Bob Harper of “The Biggest Loser” and the dogs from wolfhouseresue.org. as well as a pancake breakfast, bagpipes, Irish dance, a pet costume contest, raffle, exhibits, and more.

The adoption center is also offering low-cost shots and microchips for all pets. This event is free of charge.

For more information call 951-688-4340 extension 307

Open forum for all students Students are invited to an open forum to discuss Riverside City College institutional improvement on March 15 from 12:50-1:50 p.m. in the Bradshaw Cafeteria.

They will be able to engage in open dialogue other students, stafff, faculty and administrators.

Allison Perez / Photo Editor

Bad news: Chancellor Gregory Gray presents the budget for Riverside Community College District for the current academic year during a meeting with faculty, staff and students Feb. 21 at Riverside City College.

More cuts are on their way for RCC

RCCD has already cut $60 million from its budget and there is still more cuts to come Ashley Anderson News editor The problem of budget cuts is being tackled by community college districts all across the state.

Riverside Community College District is no exception. Chancellor Gregory Gray has presented the budget shortfall of $14.31 million for RCCD for the 2012-13 academic year, which is the best case scenario, if the Governor’s Tax Initiative in November is passed.

The tax initiative includes a temporary sales tax increase of .5 percent and an increase of income taxes for top bracket income earners in order to help fund education in California.

If this tax initiative does not pass, RCCD will have to cut an additional $6.3 million along with the shortfall mentioned above, bringing our total District wide deficit up to $20.61 million which Chancellor Gray calls “budget Armageddon.”

For now, the $9.48 million in solutions proposed by Chancellor Gray might prove to make a dent in the $14.31 million budget problem.

Some of these solutions would be coming from areas such as faculty health care savings, funding shifts, and reducing contingency from 5 percent to 3 percent.

This means that RCCD will contingently spend 97 percent of their total budget rather than the 95 percent usually spent.

However the plan to cut $1.22 million of health care benefits from employees unilaterally will be tough, negotiations will have to be done with the faculty union in order to accomplish this big of a cut.

“This is a real dangerous area to go,”

said Ward Schinke, associate professor of Political Science. “People obviously need quality health care; I don’t think our health care benefits are that generous that we can afford to take a cut.”

The remaining $4.81 million in cuts will be shared between all three colleges, Riverside City College, Moreno Valley College, and Norco College.

This means RCC will be facing a $2.68 million in cuts of its own. The Moreno Valley share of the deficit is $1.15 million.

Norco comes in at $980,000 in cuts.

Cynthia Azari, President of RCC, has the task now of closing the $2.68 million gap for RCC. Starting with a cut to large lecture sections being offered in the amount of $190,000 will be reduced.

One faculty member at the session suggested that the District office was not proposing any cuts at the district level.

The question was directed at Chancellor Gray. Chancellor Gray responded by stating that they were looking at budget cuts at all levels.

“Cutting at the top,” said RCC student Miguel Ramirez, ethnic representative for the Student California Teachers Association.

“Lead by example, as a leader you set an example so the Chancellor should start by looking into his own administration.”

Many students and faculty agree with Ramirez when he said, “We need education, therefore, students should become aware and informed about how to vote for this upcoming tax initiative.”

November will prove to bring many changes to RCCD whether or not the tax initiative passes, but if the tax initiative doesn’t pass it will possibly bring a “budget Armageddon.”

Viewpoints

News

Serving students since 1922

March 8, 2012 | 3

A proposal for a new voting area

Riverside Community College District is looking to district voting areas in the county Norihito Ikeda Staff Writer A special forum was hosted by the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees March 1 to discuss district trustee areas.

The population in Riverside County has changed and RCCD has to reflect the population shift increase, and possibly add several trustees to the board.

The forums were also held at Moreno Valley College Feb. 27 and at Norco College Feb. 29.

During the forum at RCC, the trustees talked about how to set boundaries in order to balance the voting population within the District.

The reason for new district areas is that the RCCD needs balanced voting districts.

According to California Voting Rights Act, the total population difference between the largest and the smallest trustee area cannot be over 10 percent.

However, the population within the RCCD area is unbalanced between cities.

Justin Rich, an associate director who works for planning school districts in Dolinka Group, said that the population has recently changed within RCCD, so it will become roughly proportional.

The total population within RCCD is approximately 950,000.

The top of three largest population areas are Riverside, Moreno Valley and Corona.

About 30 percent of the total population is in Riverside, 20 percent is in Moreno Valley and 15 percent is in Corona.

The rest of the population is in Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, Perris and unincorporated Riverside County.

The Board of Trustees is

working with the Dolinka Group to fix the areas of population without collapsing communities of interests and identities.

Four scenarios which indicated possible trustee areas were shown.

Scenario A contains Eastvale, Norco and Northern Corona in the same area and is the early favorite.

Scenario B is almost the same as Scenario A with a little exception.

Scenario C also has five trustee areas, but it combines Corona with Western Norco and splits Riverside horizontally.

Scenario D contains seven areas which divide Riverside into four areas. Each scenario has wellbalanced population areas.

During the meeting, two of the trustees stated their views of these scenarios.

“Riverside City is just too big, too much population, over three hundred thousand,” Trustee Mary Figueroa said.

She suggested it should have been spread into at least two areas.

Trustee Virginia Blumenthal said she and Trustee Figueroa agreed that Scenario A was better because communities of interests came together.

Some participants supported Scenario A after they heard the discussions.

Allison Dale, who came from Woodcrest, said that she preferred Scenario A because it remains Norco, Moreno Valley, and Eastvale though it divides Corona.

“They are keeping community’s interests together as much as possible,” she said.

Norm Godin, who is vice president of Business Services at

allison perez / photo editor

RCCD: Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees are changing district areas in accordance with the California Voting Rights Act. RCC, also chose Scenario A. “It does not divide communities as much as the other scenarios,” he said.

Jan Schall, the director of the Study Abroad program for RCCD, said that she probably preferred Scenario A and did not prefer Scenario D. “I like the way it keeps particular communities in touch,” Schall said.

For more information regarding the four scenarios, they can be found at www. rccd.edu

Michelle Davila wins an award

Davila, an administrative assistant, wins employee of the year Itzel farias Assistant news editor Every year the Riverside Community College District’s California School Employees Association’s (CSEA) employee of the year award is presented to the staff member, who has earned the recognition as an outstanding employee.

The employee who is recognized as the employee of the year is described as someone who goes “above and beyond” in their job performance, a leader and someone who demonstrates professionalism, among other qualities that make them exceptional employees.

This year the RCCD CSEA 2011-12 employee of the year was awarded to Riverside City College’s Michelle Davila, an administrative assistant of Business Services.

Chosen among nearly 500 CSEA employees that were eligible to win this year’s award, Davila is being recognized for

her dedication and contribution to RCC, as well as to the students, faculty, and staff.

The employee of the year is chosen though the nominations of their colleagues.

Emp lo y ees s u b mit th eir nominees by filling out an application form and a nominee is chosen from the District and from each of the District’s three colleges (RCC, Moreno Valley College and Norco College).

The employee of the year is recognized by the RCCD Board of Trustees and then they’re sent to state level.

This year Davila’s name will be sent to the Systems’ Office in Sacramento.

Davila expressed how she felt receiving the award.

“Very honored and surprised,” said Davila. “I’m very honored, but I’m very humbled as well, because I couldn’t do my job without everybody else I work with.”

Davila also credits the staff she works with.

“As I’m concerned it belongs to all of us, and I mean it because I can’t do what I do without everybody else,” she said.

“I want to believe that what I do helps everybody’s job move easier and because of what I do, I get to interact with a lot of different people.” Davila said, referring to her work.

Davila describes her job as “fast paced,” but very much enjoys interacting with faculty and students.

Since Davila started working at RCC, she has had the opportunity to work in different areas of the college, such as student services, academics, the foundation, and now finance.

“I’ve gotten to see all sides of the institution and how it operates, so for me it’s nice to see how everything functions and how it all works together,” she said, referring to the different areas of the college she has worked in.

“I’m just honored to represent RCC staff, we have an awesome staff.” Davila said.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

4 | March 8, 2012

News

Students rush to find a place

Student services and clubs offer students a chance to discover interests at Academic Rush Tim Kimbirk Staff Writer

Riverside City College students were unable to avoid the rush as many stopped by to learn more about the clubs at RCC. The two day Academic Rush event on Feb. 28 and 29 boasted music, candy, funnel cake, and more importantly – clubs.

Between the Martin Luther King Teaching and Learning Center and the Admissions and Records building was a diverse array of both tents and purposes.

Ranging from the Karate Club to Christians on Campus, students and teachers gathered, working together to raise awareness for their organizations. “(The event) served as a way for faculty and students to work together and bring more opportunities to students together,” said Gender and Sexuality Awareness President Stephanie Drago. “GSA has a place for anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality to come experience an open forum in a safe educational environment.”

Joey Reynoso, president of Associated Students of Riverside City College, sided with academic rush being a beneficial event.

“It helps bring in new members and raises overall awareness of

clubs and events at RCC,” he said.

ASRCC advocates issues on behalf of other students at both the district and state level.

“They also help solve issues right here on RCC campus, and there is talk of an upcoming campus clean up event in lieu of the recent shortage of custodial help,” Reynoso said. “Even though times are tough, we need to be tougher.”

The Student California Teacher Association was present as well, seeking to recruit new members into its ranks.

The association helps prepare future teachers through a combination of experience and training.

“Club rush usually helps us find a core group of members.

It provides an opportunity for students to unite with one another,” said Robyn Razook, Secretary and Treasurer, of Student California Teacher Association.

“Academic rush provides an opportunity for students to get involved. Through this involvement students can get the real college experience,” said Clarence Romero, the advisor of the association. “It’s not enough to just go to class and leave, you need to establish a personal and professional network with

alison perez / Photo Editor

eye catching: Associated Students of Riverside City College decorated their booth with photos to draw in students to join student activities. students and the people around you. Academic rush serves as one of many gateways to doing this.”

Despite cool temperatures, plenty of students still turned up to the Rush, where they could register for and receive information on the many club choices at their disposal.

“I think the event really helps raise awareness for all of the clubs at RCC and maybe even helps

students find a cause that they can support,” said RCC student Marissa Dodge.

The event was an overall success as many of the academic services and programs of RCC had a chance to reach out to students and bolster it’s rosters with fresh recruits.

Another benefit of the event is that it both helps students network and meet new people as well as

providing a more fulfilling college experience.

Anthropology Club, Creative Writing, Puente, and Transfer Readiness and Awareness are a few more of the clubs that attended the event.

Further information on programs and clubs, including how students can form their own club, can be obtained through the RCC Student Activities office.

student activities assistant from the Student Services office, said that that practice is against the flyer posting regulations.

Other students who drive to school and use the parking structure, Dave Rogers and Kristopher Taylor, have concerns about flyers being posted on their vehicles. Taylor was concerned with people looking through windows, or possibly breaking windshield wipers. Rogers said that “most people don’t have any business touching the cars.”

The Student Services Center, which oversees the approval process for the school flyer posting, receives complaints from people like Taylor and Rogers, who don’t

like flyers on their windshields.

So what is done about it?

Rebecca Faircloth, a counseling clerk in the Student Services Office, pointed out that if enough information can be obtained from violating flyers, they are reported to campus police.

While this is not always the case, a group of students working through this office, know the regulations, and takes down flyers around the school if the flyers violate any policies.

“I sit them on my seat and they sit there for a long time,” said Leilani Lumer, one RCC student.

Not all people make this effort, and many papers end up on the ground around campus or the

parking structure. And as Wilson pointed out, it is unfortunately up to the facilities employees to clean up these discarded flyers.

So what can be done to help ensure the regulations are upheld and the papers don’t become a mess? One of the problems is that not all students know that there are regulations. RCC student, Nick Chase suggested that before the start of the semester, teachers could give a notice to all of the students to inform them of the posting guidelines. Or, as D. Iwais, another RCC student, said we could add more places around campus for posting papers.

Perhaps then there won’t be a need for vehicle posting.

Campus fliers become nuances for RCC students Sean Maulding Staff Writer After walking down the stairs and through the parking structure to their cars, expecting to get in and leave, Riverside City College students notice a variety of flyers pinned to their windshield. After realizing the message isn’t worth reading, but before balling it up to throw onto the ground, or into a recycling can, many question why it is there and whether it has the right to be there.

The note is a message about a new club or a meeting to be held on campus, so it could pertain to RCC students, but should it be on the windshield? Just what are the

regulations for posting flyers?

According to the flyer guidebook, anyone “may post, circulate, or distribute literature in those areas designated as public forums on the campus of the district in accordance with existing laws and regulations.”

Such regulations include asking for approval and signing in to post up to twelve flyers on campus for a pre-designated amount of time.

Public forums are available at six locations around campus, but does that include the parking lot or even your car? When asked if flyers were allowed to be posted on cars, Angela Lee, an administrative assistant from Student Services, said they were not. Dany Wilson,

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

News

March 8, 2012 | 5

Climate uncontrolled in Quad

JEREMY FUERTE Staff Writer Not even five years after the A.G. Paul Quadrangle has been renovated, students have become plagued with poor heating and air conditioning.

Many classrooms are consistently hot or consistently cold despite outside weather conditions.

“My classroom is really stuffy and hot when I first get there,” said Arianna Sherman, a full time student at Riverside City College.

“When students come in, the professor has to open either the windows or the doors but it’s not much better.”

Sherman who suffers through the heat in a classroom on the second floor of the Quad also bears through the cold in a classroom in the Quad basement.

“It’s freezing,” she said. “After hot weather it feels nice but after a half hour I start putting stuff on because I’m shivering when I’m

sitting there.”

She isn’t the only student who has complained about the poor heating and air conditioning in the Quad.

Dale Ford, another full time student, has had hot classes for the past two semesters.

“My British Literature classes; both of them last semester and this semester have been excessively hot,” he said. “For the most part they’ve been hot despite the weather conditions outside.”

Despite the excessive heat, the instructors and the students both find a way to do the best they can.

“It can get sleepy at some points,” he said. “The professor usually has us open all the windows and tries to be as entertaining as she can be and it usually works out very well and everybody absorbs as much as they can.”

While many students and instructors are making the best of the situation, the excessive heat or

cold has affected some students ability to learn and perform to the best of their abilities while in class.

“It would be raining and inside it would still be really hot,” said Bryan Marin, a full time student.

“I was sweating during midterm and it was unacceptable.”

The irregular temperatures are all controlled by a central thermostat which is located on the second floor of the Quad.

Even though it is located on the second floor it controls the temperatures of every class in the Quad on the first and second floor.

In order to fix this, students would like to see the instructors have more control over their individual classrooms.

“I’d like to see the teachers given control over their classrooms,” Ford said. “Maybe they could put a thermostat in each room rather than have one for the whole quad.”

Daulton Villavicencio / staff Photographer

ac problem: Lack of heating and air protocol in the Quadrangle leaves faculty and students flustered.

Viewpoints

Opinions Serving students since 1922

6 | March 8, 2012

Viewpoints Staff

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Javier Cabrera (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu eic@viewpointsonline.org MANAGING EDITOR Destiny Rivera 951-222-8488 managingeditor@viewpointsonline.org ADVERTISING MANAGER Leah Frost 951-222-8488 ads@viewpointsonline.org FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Dan Evans NEWS EDITOR Ashley Anderson news@viewpointsonline.org

SPORTS EDITOR James Williams sports@viewpointsonline.org

INSCAPE EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR Lizbeth Landeros Sam Finch inscape@viewpointsonline.org features@viewpointsonline.org MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jarred Jackson

ONLINE EDITOR Amanda Rougeaux

PHOTO EDITOR Allison Perez photo@viewpointsonline.org

Allison Perez / Photo Editor

never-ending budget story: California budget cuts push college goals farther out of reach.

The next cut is the deepest

STAFF Gabriel Alvarado Christin Alvarez Diego Alvarez Brian Bash Kayleign Brown Monique Carrasco Amanda Charter Edwin Chavez Iliana Chavez Courtney Coleman Katan Collins Edward Diaz Phi Douong Sean Egle Sandra Emfinger Itzel Farias Jeremy Fuerte Roberto Gonzalez Oscar Grover Daniel Haskins Cameron Hill Jasmine Hoof Norihito Ikeda Amber Jackson Tim Kimbirk Shawanda Kinsey Marceil Lampkin Paul Ledesma Jasmine Lopez

Samantha Lopez Sean Maulding Fred McCarthy Killian McDonald Ramdy Mendez Chanel Mershon Heather Mitchell Victor Mora Audrey Mosley Jennifer Oritz Susan Parker Felicia Perez Robert Powell Alejandra Rodriguez Rafael Rodriguez Laith Salama Selenne Sevilla Luis Solis Heather Terry Na’Ilah Thomas Vu Tran Jonathan Vela Franco Villalobos Daulton Villavicencio Charles Wagner Veronica Widman Alexis Wiest Justin Wilson Johnathon Ysais

The spring semester has started for each community college in California, but instead of looking forward to a great start to the semester, each community college is feeling the low blow hit to the stomach, after hearing that there will be an additional $149 million cut during the 2011-12 academic year.

Since 2008, the 112 community colleges in California have cut $809 million, and with this new cut added to the current academic year, community colleges are unsure where more cuts can come from.

Eliminating the winter session or even the summer session are options to cut, but many community colleges are trying their best to keep classes available and with the demand for more cuts, the challenge is getting difficult for everyone.

The California government has failed to show its support for higher education, from the Assembly to the Senate and to Gov. Jerry Brown, no one in Sacramento is trying to help save higher education.

As much as every Californian is being affected by the state budget cuts, the idea for the California government should be to find ways to avoid making cuts to higher education, because in order to have future generations run the country, states and businesses, education is needed.

Unemployment is still high and many Californians are heading back to college to find new careers, but without a job or education, the chance to earn a living is so impossible there is nothing anyone can do to survive on his or her own.

California has done a lot of cuts that have affected

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR

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

Member:

California Newspaper Publishers Association

Journalism Association of Community Colleges

Associated Collegiate Press

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

viewpoints R

I

V

natural resources, environment protection, health and human services, corrections and rehabilitations, K-12 education, higher education and other, releasing inmates from prisons and funding to hospitals and fire stations.

This is a crucial point in California and each group from education to resources, they are each asking the question, why is the state cutting from their funds?

California needs to organize its priorities and understand that K-12 and higher education are the most important groups that should avoid heavy cuts, because education should not be taken from everyone.

With cuts to the education groups, it limits what each school can do for its students and faculty.

At Riverside City College, students are looking at the faculty for answers as to why there are hard-impacting cuts, while the faculty is asking the administration why the cuts are affecting the students.

As much as everyone wants to blame someone else for what the state has done to community colleges, there is no one to blame but the politicians in Sacramento, who are making these life-changing decisions for students.

The four-year universities of California are now protesting in Sacramento and are voicing their opinions to the cuts and increase of tuition to the ones at the capital.

Community college students need to do the same.

Students at RCC need to organize themselves as one and communicate and work with other community colleges nearby and across the state and stand up like the students at four-year universities are doing in Sacramento right now.

The time is now, and the call is out to take action.

E

R

S

I

D

E

C

I

T

Y

C

O

L

L

E

Vol. XXXVIVI, No. 9

G

E

March 8, 2012

Reach us: PHONE: (951) 222-8488 E-mail: viewpoints@rcc.edu Editor in Chief PHONE: (951) 222-8495

Printing Schedule

Copy deadline: Photo deadline: Ad deadline: Next issue:

March March March March

15 16 16 22

Viewpoints is a public forum, First Amendment newspaper.

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

Opinions

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

March 8, 2012 | 7

Viewpoints

8 | March 8, 2012

March 8, 2012 | 9

Serving students since 1922

A glimpse into the future of nursing Samuel Finch Features section editor After years of planning and development, the completion of a new building for the Riverside City College School of Nursing has ushered in a period of renewed excitement for the program’s future.

“There are many things I see for this building,” said Tammy Vant Hul, ADN assistant department chair and associate professor of Nursing. “One, it’s going to offer our students tremendous opportunities for learning. Two, I see it as a community outreach. I see nurses in the community coming here for classes.”

Vant Hul herself graduated from the RCC School of Nursing in 1993, returned to teach part time after earning her bachelor’s degree from Loma Linda University, and became a full-time faculty member in 2002 upon completing her master’s degree.

“It was actually like I had never left,” she said with a smile.

Given her experience, Vant Hul examined the improvements to the School of Nursing’s facilities.

“Oh my goodness,” Vant Hul said with a laugh. “Have you been to our old building? You know, they educated nurses out of there for almost 50 years. Back then, the classes were smaller, we didn’t have as many teachers, we didn’t have as many students, and now look at us. We fill the building, it’s a constant flurry here. And so what we did at our old building, look at how much better we’re going to do it here.

Have you seen our facilities here? It’s remarkable. The mannequins can do pretty much anything a person can do, so students can really practice without making mistakes in the hospital.”

Isaac Dannelley, nursing simulation lab specialist, elaborated on the advantages of such mannequins.

“We’ve got a wide variety of different types of mannequins that we use with different levels of fidelity, ranging from a low fidelity, which is basically just a mannequin,” Dannelley explained. “It’s got parts that can be changed around, I can change genders, I can put wounds in them, students can give them tubes in their noses, or give them catheters, and all kinds of different stuff there.”

“Then you have medium fidelity simulators,” he continued. “Those have blood pressure, they can talk a little bit, they have vital signs, you can listen for heart rates, I can give them lung sounds, different bowel sounds, things like that. Those are all kept in our learning lab.”

“Now, in the virtual hospital, we’ve got our high fidelity simulators,” Dannelley said. “These are fully programmable and state of the art. Most of them are brand new, we got them less than a month

ago. Now what these guys can do, everything I said before, and I always feel like I’m doing a sales pitch, plus I can set up all kinds of different trigger conditions.”

According to Dannelley, these trigger conditions include asthma attacks occurring once a student walks into the room as well as realistic reactions to medication levels.

“They’ve got pulses in their necks, their arms, their wrists, their legs, they can blink, if you shine a light in their eye, it actually reacts correctly,” Dannelley said. “And I change that too, so if I wanted to simulate neurological trauma, such as a blow to the head, I can make it so that one of the pupils doesn’t react.”

Dannelley has been involved with the RCC School of Nursing for the past four years and treasures his time with students.

“Getting to see their eyes light up when they first start doing simulation and realizing just how detailed it is, and how much it’s just like the hospital, watching that and getting to be a part of that, is very gratifying,” he said.

Students, who with the proper study and guidance, may one day end up like Vant Hul. “I’ve always been interested in nursing,” Vant Hul said. “When I graduated from high school back in the ’70s, I went right into my prerequisites for nursing school, then I got sidetracked by getting married and having children and so on. Then, when I was in my thirties, I came back and actually completed a nursing program. I always wanted to be a nurse. I think if you asked any of the teachers here because I think, I’m not sure of the exact number, we have a 23 member faculty, and of the 23 members, nine or 10 of us are graduates of the program. If you asked any of them, they’d tell you that they’ve always wanted to be nurses.”

The program at the RCC School of Nurses can be broken down into two branches, which Vant Hul explained.

“We have two different programs, an associate’s degree, the registered nursing program, and we have the vocational nursing program,” she said.

“For the vocational nursing program students have prerequisites that they have to meet and then, currently, we have a part-time VN program and a full-time VN program, so those students could be here anywhere between 1 to 2 years, depending on whether they’re full-time or part-time.”

“The RN program, we have a 2-year program, and we don’t have parttime, it’s a full-time program, and what we do there is we have what we call generic or traditional students who start at the beginning and end at the end,” Vant Hul said. “And we also have a bridge program so that our VNs can come into the second year without having to repeat that first year.”

And so, with new, state of the art facilities and a remarkably low dropout rate, between 2 and 8 percent depending on the semester, Vant Hul said, the future of the RCC School of Nursing is bright indeed.

Diego alvarez / Staff Photographer

Studying hard: (From left to right) Brittney Stuteville, Lili Dmaya and Jennifer Giordano work on some of their assignments and assessments.

Diego alvarez / Staff Photographer

Real life dummy: Students at the Riverside City College School of Nursing experience real life hospital scenarios using high-tech mannequins capable of simulating events such as seizures.

Diego alvarez / Staff Photographer

Learning together: In addition to high-tech simulators, assignments, and assessments, Brittney Stuteville (left) and Lili Dmaya (right) practice the basics of nursing.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

10 | March 8, 2012

Opinions

Big dreams become nightmares Franco Villalobos Staff Writer America the land of opportunity has arguably turned, as most citizens can say, into the perfect example of a paradox.

So it’s time for Americans to ask themselves is whether the American dream still alive. More importantly, what is the American dream? Was it ever alive?

There is no doubt that the American dream like everything else in its nature, has evolved over the years.

Today it seems like the American dream has defined and labeled us as nonchalant capitalists.

In the words of Michael Moore, in his documentary “Sicko,” “we all want big estates, big cars, and big burgers with a soda on the side. America, where everyone is a celebrity and everyone has a bill of rights in their pocket. Oh, and of course, the benefits of a free market where the possibilities for success are endless.”

We got a big reality check back in the 1920s when the stock market crashed and realized that the idea

of limitless financial success may lead to a national state of depression.

Of course we didn’t learn our lesson.

So where do we look to see where we went wrong? We look to our core values.

When the founding fathers got together for the first time and began to work on the original “American Dream” back in 1787, which they later decided to call the Constitution of the Unites States, it started with the inspiring lines, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Skip a few lines then it reads ”we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Establish Justice? Promote general welfare? All men are created equal? Governments are

Photo illustration by Viewpoints staff instituted among men?

With all due respect to our founding fathers they created the perfect dream, but we as Americans have not lived up to it.

Yes, we are blessed to live in this country because we do have a lot more privileges than people in other countries do.

Unfortunately, it may be because of that same reason that America has not reached certain

milestones.

We have become dormant in our own system. We are blinded by the freedoms to pursue personal happiness. It seems as if it’s been a constant battle for most Americans considering the fact that all people do not inherit the same opportunity.

We come to find that the good old saying “You have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps” does

define the American culture, it’s survival of the fittest.

There may not be enough American dollars to feed the egos of the top one percent, but America still does cry out and continue fighting for the American dream.

The dream lives in America’s leaders not heroes. Leaders represent our constitution, heroes pull themselves up by their boot straps.

Vending machines offer more than snacks and drinks

Selenne Sevilla Staff Writer Distributing birth control on college campuses through vending machines is a controversial move but reasonable choice.

Having contraceptives on a college campus is relevant to a student’s success.

One reason why birth control should be on college campuses is that, although most parents deny it, students are engaging in sex.

In an article by Robin G. Swayer, the search shows that college students are sexually active.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 8 6 percent of college students nationwide have had sexual intercourse and that nearly one-third of college women attending four-year institutions have experienced a pregnancy,” Swayer said.

Everyone can defeat those odds by providing students with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The college’s intentions are not to make students sexually active, but to expose them to methods of safe sex.

Although one wants to persist

students to delay in sexual activity and be abstinent, one must realize that one cannot control this situation.

One can only encourage students to be responsible about sex, but if they are sexually active, the responsible thing to do is to warn them about sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.

Ultimately it is the student’s decision.

Students are able to gain the tools they need to stop teen pregnancy and STDs from increasing.

With contraceptives being

available to the students on campus, parents can be at ease that their student will be successful.

Another reason is that college campuses subsidize the price for students because oftentimes students do not have the money for emergency contraceptives; it also saves them the embarrassment of going down to their local health clinic or drug store.

“One university-based qualitative study established…that often students did not request (birth control pills) because they were embarrassed for having failed to use contraception in the first instance,” Swayer said.

According to this article, the student association wanted it “for privacy as to anything else.”

The article also specified that the contraceptive would be sold for only $25 a dose.

If students can find these contraceptives at a reasonable price, then the use of them would be more common.

Considering that students are the ones asking for this petition, then one should not be oblivious to the realities of college life.

College students are considered to be adults; therefore they are more aware of their decisions.

One should only support

students to engage in safe sex and planned parenthood.

The idea of having birth control in college campus vending machines would be the right move because it would make students more aware of their overall health and future.

Giving students access to these contraceptives does not cause a problem with the rules associated with it because one must still provide a college ID confirming that the student is enrolled in the college, and is at least 17 years of age or older.

Therefore it is safely and securely distributed.

For instance, education is suffering major budget cuts, with this increase in the state’s budget, money can be allocated in public services like schools.

Another impact is that many capable students that hold a degree will be able to reinforce their careers and apply their attained knowledge and skills and openly work in California. The act will benefit everyone in the state.

If the act is to make it to the 2012 voting ballots in California, the eligible participants must meet a certain criteria. Benefited people must prove to have filed California income tax returns of their most recent year along with demonstrating California residency since Jan. 1, 2008.

Another requirement is that the individual must not have any

felony convictions and must not be suspected terrorists along with as knowing how to speak English or in the process of learning.

Participants must pay a processing fee in order to be part of the program.

In order for the act to be effective, Californians have to work together as a community to get this act onto the 2012 ballots.

Six hundred thousand signatures are needed to put the act on the ballot. The Student Alliance for Education (SAFE) Club at Riverside City College is supporting the act and is doing what it can to contribute to the act.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world,” said Margaret Mead.

Possible proposition offers unique solution Dianey Murillo Special to viewpoints Change will not come if everyone waits for some other person to take action.

Americans have been waiting for themselves to do something.

As President Barack Obama once said, “we are the change that we seek.”

Those times when everything seems hopeless, where Americans feel like equal opportunity is nothing but a far fetched dream, are the times to overcome.

It is not just a movement to change legislation, but to change the lives of millions of people living in what has been known as, “the land of opportunity,” and that is the goal of the California Opportunity and Prosperity Act.

The act is a five year pilot program that will help restore California’s economy; therefore, adding revenue to state and local governments by giving an opportunity to qualified immigrant workers to contribute.

Furthermore, the act is an initiative that will allow undocumented students and individuals to work legally in California, without granting legal status.

The Federal government decides who qualifies for the act.

Having undocumented workers in the workforce with a legal working permit, will allow the group to report income taxes, which can increase the state’s revenue.

This increase in revenue can impact in many positive ways.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

March 8, 2012 | 11

Franchise ends with final battle Laith Salama Staff Writer “Mass Effect” is a vast science fiction third-person shooter role playing game franchise for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

It has gained the respect of gamers and critics alike with its attention to detail and personalization of character and choices without lacking in its main storyline.

“Mass Effect 2,” as most good sequels do, emphasizes what the first one started and introduced a few new concepts.

It refined the graphics and gameplay mechanics of the first one such as the action, the leveling up system, and the personal touches the creators allow you to have.

The game is a lot better for those who completed the first game due to the personal aspect of the game.

After only about a year and a half of waiting, “Mass Effect 3” is coming to Playstation and Xbox fans alike.

The game still plays off of personal choices made in the previous two games and many more choices to come in this one.

The mechanics could still use some refining from the second installment and there’s plenty of plot to be revealed.

The plot is one of the key aspects of this game. Its in-depth choice-based story line of invasion is not only good, but toys with

games press

the end of a saga: BioWare releases the final installment of their popular “Mass Effect” series on March 6. players personally.

This is not the first franchise to do this, and probably not the best, but it does do it well.

Fans of the game are anxious to see what becomes of Sheppard (Player), and who could blame them? “Mass Effect” is designed and developed to keep faithful dedicated players on the edge of their seat and newcomers confused as hell.

The tagline for this installment reads “Take back Earth.” This is

naturally what the game is about.

The first and second installments have lead up to a huge invasion of Reapers who are apparently as hard to kill as a Terminator.

Fans are promised tears, relief, romance, action, and heartfelt brothers in arms moments in this “Mass Effect” finale.

The gameplay itself seems to have changed in structure by letting the player choose how they want to experience the game.

For example, they give a choice before the game begins whether or not it will be action, role playing, or story.

Fans can only imagine how this will effect the game, as when a player chooses action, the gameplay shifts to allow him to take more bullets and possibly dish out less to more enemies. But that’s only speculation.

The game’s difficulty can be affected based on the experience a gamer chooses.

All in all, “Mass Effect 3” doesn’t seem too far off from the first two. This is not a bad thing, especially since “Mass Effect” is a fan-driven franchise.

They know their audience and they’re sticking to them, and that’s all gamers can ask for in a development team.

Your choices translate over along with new ones to be had, all in the process of coming to what looks like “Mass Effect’s” satisfying conclusion.

Vi ew p o i n t s E n t e r t a i n m e n t C a l e n d a r

March 9 March 10 March 11 March 12 March 13

MOVIES EVENTS “John Carter” Which One’s Pink at “Silent House” Romano’s Concert Lounge “A Thousand Words” at 9 p.m.

EVENTS “Disney’s Beauty and the “Hamlet” Beast” at La Sierra High at UC Riverside Fine Arts Performing Arts Center at at 8 p.m. (through 7:30 p.m.

March 10) 6th Annual St. Patrick’s “A Chorus Line” at Lewis Day Party at Norco AmeriMOVIES Family Playhouse inMOVIES Rancan Legion Post 328 “Fame” cho Cucamonga at 7:30 p.m. at 6:30 p.m. “Fame”

EVENTS

10th Annual Los Angeles County Irish Fair & Music Festival at Fairplex in Pomona 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pablo Francisco at Ontario Improv at 7 p.m.

Joel McHale at Irvine Improv at 7 and 9 p.m.

EVENTS Winter End-of-theQuarter Dance Showings at UC Riverside Fine Arts at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tim Lamb the Piano Man at Lake Alice Saloon & Eatery at 8 p.m.

Alpha & Omega at Aladdin Jr. 2 at 8 p.m.

DVD “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” “The Descendants” “The Adventures of Tintin” MUSIC “Once: Original Cast Recording”

March 14 March 15 March 16 March 17 March 18 “Surrogates” “Surrogates” “Pandorum” “Pandorum” “All Shook Up” at “All Shook Up” at EVENTS EVENTS MOVIES Landis PAC Landis PAC UCR Choral Society at UC Bill Bellamy at Ontario “21 Alejandra Guzman at Alejandra GuzmanJump at Street” Riverside Fine Arts at Improv at 8 p.m.

“Jeff, Who Lives at Home” Pechanga Pechanga 12:10 p.m. (through March 18) EVENTS Norm McDonald at & Chong with Norm McDonald at Tango Kilo at Lake Alice Cheech Driven at Lake Alice Saloon Irvine Improv Shelby Chong at Irvine Improv Saloon & Eatery at 9 p.m.

San Manuel & Eatery at 9 p.m.

Open Mic Night at Romano’s Concert Lounge at 9 p.m.

Indian Bingo and Casino at 7:30 p.m.

The Truffles Album Release Show at Mission Tobacco Lounge at 8 p.m.

EVENTS Beyond Wonderland at National Orange Show Events Center at 4 p.m.

Queen tribute by Queen Nation at Romano’s Concert Lounge at 9 p.m.

“Once Upon a Mattress” at Norte Vista High School at 7 p.m.

EVENTS Everybody Laffs Comedy Showcase at Mission Tobacco Lounge at 9 p.m.

“Queen Milli of Galt” at Redlands Footlight Theater at 2 p.m.

“42nd Street” at California Theatre of the Performing Arts at 2 p.m. (also March 16 and 17)

Viewpoints

12 | March 8, 2012

Serving students since 1922

Inscape

Giving the voiceless a voice Monique Carrasco Staff Writer On March 30th, 2012, the Weinstein Company, in collaboration with the Sundance Institute, will be releasing their latest movie, “Bully,” into theatres around the country, and this is one event that must not go unnoticed.

The film is a fresh and urgent documentary, directed by Emmyaward winning filmmaker Lee Hirsch, which tells the story of five children who have suffered from the pain and heartache of bullying.

It offers an intimate look at the life of each child and family, and sheds some light on a social issue that has been ignored for much too long.

One of the stories told in this movie is that of 16-year-old Kelby, in Tuttle, Oklahoma.

Not too long ago high school was going pretty well for Kelby; she had average grades, and she was a valued player on her high school softball and basketball teams.

All of this changed after she decided to come out to her friends and family as a lesbian.

Tuttle is a small town where things get around fairly quickly,

The Weinstein Company

Featured in the film: “The Bully Project” is about three bullied teenagers showing their struggle and how they cope with the problems they face on a day to day basis. The movie comes out March 30. and this news was not received by classmates, and teachers. supporters of the film. everyone quite as well as Kelby At one point, she was even They worry the given rating had hoped. assaulted by a van of teenage boys will prevent the most targeted She was ultimately faced with during school hours. audience from being able to see physical and verbal abuse from Yet despite her parents’ offers, the movie, yet according to Fox disapproving neighbors, friends, Kelby refused to leave the city of News, the MPAA (Motion Pictures Tuttle.

Association of America) claims She chooses to stay in her that an R will not stop children small town and withstand the from seeing the movie, but simply cruelty, intending to, as she puts enable parents to make informed it, “change a few minds”. decisions.

The film also features Kirk Katy Butler, a high school and Laura Smalley who, after student from Michigan, and a the bully-related suicide of their victim of bullying herself, disagrees 11-year-old son Ty, established an wholeheartedly with the MPAA. anti-bullying organization called She decided to create an online “Stand for the Silent”, in order to petition demanding that they help children in the position Ty change the rating to PG-13, and was once in. the appeal reeled in over 150,000 In the film, a 12-year-old boy signatures. named Alex of Sioux, Iowa, is Only time will tell whether the harassed multiple times by several rating will stand until the premiere, different “bullies” on a bus ride but if one thing is certain, it’s home. that at least 150,000 strangers The scenes captured and the out there are in great support of stories told are merely pieces of the “Bully” and the message it holds, struggles these individuals have along with all those involved in overcome, and they are presented the movement which inspired in this documentary not only to the film, a movement called “The give a voice to each child and Bully Project”. family affected by bullying, but to The Bully Project is a all those who fall silent amidst the collaboration effort made up of chaos of the rest of the world. thousands, and every company, There is one thing, however, every family, every person stopping “Bully” from reaching involved is dedicated to ending its full potential: its rating. the bully crisis in America once Because of a few four-letter and for all. words used over the course of the Anyone who wishes to help the movie, it received an R rating, children suffering from bullying and this brought much concern to can be a part of the project simply The Weinstein Company

Raising awareness: The Weinstein Company hopes their new film will inform audiences of the dangers of bullying.

by going to TheBullyProject. com and choosing to “join the movement”.

After becoming a member, one receives notifications regarding the latest “Bully Project” functions, and ways to get involved through community campaigns, social media, and video projects Nearly 13 million children a year experience some form of harassment, discrimination, or abuse from their peers, so any sort of support is gladly received.

The founders of this project believe that with the right approach, and with enough heart and willpower, a difference can be made, and lives can be changed for the better.

Together the members strive to create a sense of both empathy and hope for all young victims of bullying, and raise awareness about the severity of the issue.

The more aware everyone becomes about the situation, the more responsive they will be, and the safer children will be allowed to feel in their schools and communities.

The director, producers, essentially every person involved in the making of “Bully” hopes that the film will turn out to be a substantial step in raising awareness, and informing the public about the many ways they can get involved, and make a positive change in their community.

To become a part of The Bully Project, go to www. thebullyproject.com and click join the movement

Viewpoints

March 8, 2012 | 13

Serving students since 1922

Tigers break Invitational records FReD Mccarthy Staff Writer The Riverside City College’s women’s swimming and diving team continued with an overall team win at the Golden West Invitational on Feb. 24.

RCC scored 1550 points to win the overall event, edging out Golden West which had a total of 1417.5 points.

The Tigers won all four relay events they competed in, including the 200 meter and 400 meter free relay, along with the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay events.

The teams consisted of Kamaheu Alboro, Andrea Antonissen, Danielle Pedroso, Allison Arch, and Ashley Fedler.

Fedler competed in the 400 meter medley relay in place of Arch, who competed with Antonissen, Alboro, and Pedroso in the other three events.

In all four of the relay races, the Tigers set new Golden West Invitational records.

In the 400 meter medley relay the team beat the old record by nearly seven seconds and in the 200 meter medley they surpassed the old record by over two seconds.

In the 200 and 400 meter free relay the women broke two of the records on the way to sweeping the relay events.

Tigers’ swimming and diving coach David Almquist gave warning to look out for Antonissen and Alboro as two of the top swimmers for the Tigers women’s team and he was definitely right when each of them won the four relay events they competed in at the invitational, with Alboro winning an additional two individual events.

Alboro placed first in the 50 meter backstroke with a time of 28.52 and first in the 100 meter backstroke with a time of 1:02.59.

She also places 3rd in the 100 meter individual medley. Alboro

Allison Perez / Photo Editor

Freestyle: Andrea Antonissen not only came in first place for both the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 meter freestyle, she also placed second in the 50 meter butterfly event. also set two new individual meet records in the two events that she won.

Antonissen placed first in the 50 meter freestyle with a time of 25.16 as well as first in the 100 meter freestyle with a time of 55.63. She also finished second place in the 50 meter butterfly event.

RCC men’s swimming and diving team came up just short of winning the event as well, coming in second place just 30 points behind Palomar, who came in first with 1262.0 points.

Luke Obert finished first in the 100 meter butterfly with a time of 53.24, first in the 200 meter individual medley with a time of 2:01.24, as well as second in the 50 meter butterfly.

The next match for both the women and men’s teams will be

on March 2 when they host Orange Empire Conference rival Orange Coast College before holding the Riverside/Chaffey invitational the following week starting on

March 9.

The Tigers have five more other events before they are headed back home to host the Orange Empire Conference championships on

April 21 at the Riverside City Aquatic Stadium, which is then followed, a week later by the state championships on April 28 in Monterey Park, CA.

allison perez / Photo editor

Record shattering: Swimmer Kamaehu Alboro set two Golden West individual meet records in the 50 meter backstroke and in the 100 meter backstroke.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

14 | March 8, 2012

Sports

Jarred jackson / Multimedia editor

Jumper: Mason Biddle, Tigers’ point guard, shoots a jumper against the Fullerton Hornets during a game on Jan. 6 at Cal Baptist University.

Tigers fall short of title shot

Riverside City College fell one game short of advancing to the state finals tournament James Williams Sports editor The No. 19 seeded Riverside City College Tigers’ basketball team had their road winning streak in the playoffs end at three games three, falling one victory short of becoming the first team to win four consecutive playoff games on the road.

The Tigers’ streak was snapped after taking a loss to the No. 7 seeded Antelope Valley College Marauders, 87-73, of the Southern California Regional Finals game in Lancaster, CA on March 3.

The Tigers found themselves down 42-23 at halftime, after going 6-of-22 shooting in the first half.

Despite the lack of made shots in the opening half, the Tigers managed to take care of the easy opportunities, making 10-of-12 free throw attempts.

The Tigers came out strong in the second half against the Marauders, scoring 50 points and finding a way to cut down a 20 point deficit to 10 points.

“They are a very talented team but we do not focus on how talented the other team is, we focus on ourselves and making sure our execution is right,” said John Smith, Tigers head basketball coach.

Tigers guard Bernard Ireland led the team in scoring, with 21 points in the loss to the Marauders.

Guard Solomon Singer contributed to the game scoring 12 points and had 11 rebounds in a double-double effort for the

Tigers. Forward Stephan Shepherd was the only other player to get in double digits for the Tigers with 11 points.

The Marauders had five players score in double figures on their team, including guard Jason Johnson, who led his team in scoring with 20 points.

This was not the first meeting between the teams this season, as the two teams played against each other in the Saddleback College Tournament on Dec. 9, 2011.

The outcome was the same as in their recent meeting, with the Marauders claiming the victory over the Tigers, 66-64.

The Tigers made the playoff bracket after knocking out the No. 14 seed Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks in the play-in game, 67-55, which landed them a spot in the 16-team playoff field.

The Tigers also ran into other familiar opponents throughout their road journey in the playoffs including No. 3 seed Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles and No. 6 seed Saddleback College Gauchos.

The Tigers got revenge against the Eagles with a score of 79-76, in overtime of the second-round playoff game.

After rallying back from a 14-point deficit with 14 minutes remaining in regulation, the Tigers were able to force the game into overtime.

The Tigers found themselves in familiar situation, but forced a different result from when they were knocked out of the playoffs last season by the Eagles, 71-70, in overtime.

The Tigers had four players reach double figures in the recent matchup with the Eagles.

Ireland led the team once again with 17 points in the game. Guard Mason Biddle scored 16 points, while forward Jacob Straley had 14 points.

“We just stayed constant throughout the whole game, constant effort and just playing hard,” Biddle said.

Singer put up another doubledouble with 11 points and a career -high 20 rebounds.

He had 15 of his 20 rebounds on defense. He also had a game-

high seven assists.

After getting past the Eagles, the Tigers played Orange Empire Conference Champion and No. 6 seeded Gauchos, for their third meeting of the season.

The Tigers wound up on top of the Gauchos for the first time this season, 50-41, in the playoffs for the most important game of the series for both teams.

The Gauchos won the first two meetings this season against the Tigers in conference play.

“We played each other a lot, we know each other well, so what we did for our game plan was we

changed how we were going to attack them offensively without them knowing and that was huge for us,” Smith said.

The first meeting favored the Gauchos over the Tigers, 74-65, on Jan. 25 at Cal Baptist University.

T h e Ti g e r s w e r e a g a i n unsuccessful on the road in the second meeting against the Gauchos, 66-50 on Feb. 17 for the last regular season game before the playoffs.

The Tigers finished the season 17-11 and third place in the Orange Empire Conference behind Saddleback and Irvine Valley.

Jarred Jackson / multimedia editor

Fast break: Mason Biddle, point guard for RCC, pushes up the basketball as he tries to create a easy layup against Fullerton College on Jan. 6.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

Sports

March 8, 2012 | 15

Running with Tigers edwin Chavez Staff writer

Baseball

Fastpitch

Season Record Season Record 11-5 7-9 Conference: Conference: 5-1 2-1 Next Game: Next Game: Mar. 10 vs. Irvine Valley Mar. 9 vs. Saddleback 2 p.m.

Noon

Swimming/Diving Feb. 4

Waterman Relays at Palomar 9 a.m.

Feb. 10

vs. Cypress, Santa Ana and Golden West 12 p.m.

Feb. 24

Golden West Invitational 9 p.m.

March 2

vs. Orange Coast 1 p.m.

March 9

vs. Chaffey 9 a.m.

March 10 vs. Chaffey 10 a.m.

March 23 vs. Saddleback and Fullerton 2 p.m.

April 6

vs. Palomar 1 p.m.

April 13

OEC Dive Championships at El Camino 10 a.m.

April 14

OEC Dive Championships at El Camino 11 a.m.

April 21

Orange Empire Championships at Riverside 9 a.m.

April 28

State Championship at East Los Angeles 9 a.m.

Jan. 31

Men’s Tennis

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

Season Record 17-11 Conference: 8-4

Season Record 10-18 Conference: 4-8

Feb. 24

RCC 7 Sacramento City 0

Feb. 25

RCC 5 Sacramento City 8

Feb. 28

RCC 4 Mt. SAC 9

March 1

RCC 4 Santa Ana 3

March 3

RCC 4 Cypress 5

March 6

RCC 8 Fullerton 2

March 8

vs. Golden West 2 p.m.

March 10 vs. Irvine Valley 12 p.m.

March 13 vs. Orange Coast 2 p.m.

March 15 at Saddleback 2 p.m.

March 20 vs. Santa Ana 2 p.m.

March 22 at Santa Ana 2 p.m.

March 24 vs. Cypress 12 p.m.

March 27 at Cypress 2 p.m.

March 29 at Fullerton 2 p.m.

March 30 vs. Fullerton 2 p.m.

April 4

vs. Santa Barbara 5 p.m.

April 5

vs. Cerro Coso 6 p.m.

April 10

at Golden West 2 p.m.

April 12

vs. Golden West 2 p.m.

April 14

at Irvine Valley 12 p.m.

Fastpitch

RCC 3 Los Angeles Pierce 6

Feb. 2

RCC 2 Desert 7

Feb. 1

RCC 9 Southwestern 1

Feb. 9

RCC 9 Victor Valley 0

Feb. 3

RCC 7 Long Beach City 2

Feb. 10

RCC 8 Palomar 1

Feb. 8

RCC 1 Cerritos 2

Feb. 11

RCC 0 UC Riverside 9

Feb. 9

RCC 1 Canyons 7

Feb. 14

RCC 7 San Diego City 2

Feb. 10

RCC 11 Citrus 4

Feb. 23

RCC 1 Mt. San Jacinto 8

Feb. 16

RCC 1 Cypress 5

Feb. 28

RCC 9 Cypress 0

Feb. 21

RCC 4 Saddleback 2

March 1

RCC 5 Irvine Valley 4

Feb. 22

RCC 9 Santa Ana 5

March 6

RCC 9 Fullerton 0

Feb. 24

RCC 11 Orange Coast 0

March 8

at Saddleback 2 p.m.

Feb. 27

RCC 9 East Los Angeles 5

March 13 at Orange Coast 2 p.m.

Feb. 29

RCC 3 Golden West 0

March 15 at Mt. San Antonio 2 p.m.

March 1

RCC 4 Fullerton 0

March 20 at Cypress 2 p.m.

March 3-4 Fresno Tournament

March 22 at Irvine Valley 2 p.m.

March 7

vs. Santiago Canyon 6 p.m.

March 27 vs. Fullerton 2 p.m.

March 9

vs. Saddleback 2 p.m.

March 14

vs. Cypress 3 p.m.

Baseball

Feb. 3

RCC 3 East Los Angeles 4

March 16

at Santa Ana 2 p.m.

Feb. 4

RCC 10 Compton 1

March 17

vs. Ventura at Walnut 5 p.m.

Feb. 8

RCC 0 Cuesta 9

March 17

at Mt. San Antonio 7 p.m.

Feb. 10 RCC 3 Fresno 7

March 20

at Antelope Valley 3 p.m.

March 21

vs. Orange Coast 3 p.m.

March 23

vs. Golden West 2 p.m.

Feb. 11 RCC 7 Fresno 5 Feb. 16 RCC 4 Western Nevada 12 Feb. 17 RCC 1 Western Nevada 3 Feb. 18 RCC 3 Western Nevada 4 Feb. 21 RCC 3 Mt. SAC 2 Feb. 23 RCC 18 Sacramento City 13

Men’s Tennis Season Record 6-4 Conference: 3-0 Next Game: Mar. 13 at Orange Coast 2 p.m.

vs. Fullerton 3 p.m.

March 30

at Santiago Canyon 2 p.m.

April 3

vs. Cypress 6 p.m.

Season Record 9-1 Conference: 3-0 Next Game: Mar. 13 vs. Orange Coast 2 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

Feb. 2

RCC 9 Victor Valley 0

Feb. 3

RCC 9 Imperial Valley 0

Feb. 6

RCC 9 Fresno 0

Feb. 10

RCC 4 Palomar 5

Feb. 14

RCC 9 Antelope Valley 0

Feb. 16

RCC 6 Glendale 3

Feb. 23

RCC 9 Mt. San Jacinto 0

Feb. 28

RCC 8 Cypress 1

March 1

RCC 8 Irvine Valley 1

March 6

RCC 7 Fullerton 2

March 8

vs. Saddleback 2 p.m.

March 13

vs. Orange Coast 2 p.m.

March 20

vs. Cypress 2 p.m.

March 22

vs. Irvine Valley 2 p.m.

March 27

at Fullerton 2 p.m.

March 29

at Saddleback 2 p.m.

April 3

at Orange Coast 2 p.m.

Track and Field

Feb. 10

vs. Golden West and Santa Ana at Cal State Fullerton 2 p.m.

Feb. 10

at Azusa Pacific 8 a.m.

Feb. 11

at Azusa Pacific 8 a.m.

Feb. 18

at Azusa Pacific 8 a.m.

Feb. 22

vs. Cal State Long Beach 2 p.m.

Feb. 24

vs. Saddleback 2 p.m.

March 2

at Cerritos 8 a.m.

March 3

at Cerritos 8 a.m.

March 9-10

Ben Brown Invitational at Cal State Fullerton

March 14-15 Conference Multi-Championships at Saddleback March 16-17 Aztec Invite at San Diego State March 22-23 Riverside Open March 30

at Orange Coast and Santiago Canyon at Orange Coast 2 p.m.

April 10

Regional Heptathlon and Decathlon Championships at Orange Coast 2 p.m.

April 10-11

Regional Heptathlon and Decathlon Championships at Cerritos 8 a.m.

Regional Heptathlon and Decathlon Championships at

March 24-25Bakersfield Tournament March 28

Women’s Tennis

Both of the Riverside City College Tigers track and field teams came out victorious against the Saddleback College Gauchos on Feb. 24.

The men’s team defeated the Gauchos 137-17, while the women’s team defeated the Gauchos 110-38, in an Orange Empire Conference meet at RCC’s Wheelock Field.

Tigers’ runner Yusef Merriweather set the best time in the state in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10:04:06.

“It’s the No. 1 time in the state right now, he is a solid guy and we are just in our training phase, so he is going to get a lot faster and it was not unexpected but it definitely stood out,” said Jim McCarron, coach of the men’s RCC track and field.

Merriweather and teammate Chris Chamness also tied in the 200-meter race with a time of 00:21.52. Chamness also won with a state leading time of 00:48.06, and in the 4x400 relay, the Tigers ran for a time of 3:14.

Brittany Osborne won the women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 00:12.40 and the top three finishers in the 100-meter dash; all finished under 12 seconds and bettered their previous best seasonal mark.

The Tigers swept the 200-meter, 800-meter, and 1500meter dash with Merriweather and Chamness tying the 200meter with a time of 00:21.52.

Willie Contreras led with a time of 1:57.18 in the 800meter dash and the 1500-meter first place runner clocking in at a time of 4:05 was Eric Brockhoff.

Tigers’ hurdler Jonte Turner swept the hurdles running in at 00:14.71. Turner also won the 400 IH running 00:54.35.

The Tigers also had two 4x100 relay teams win their races and both come in under 42 second with times of 00:41.56 and 00:41.70.

Cerritos 8 a.m.

April 14

Mt. SAC Relays at Mt. San Antonio 8 a.m.

Allison Perez / Photo editor

Jumping ahead: RCC’s Gary Lee won the long jump event with a 23-6.23 meter jump, which is the longest jump for any Tiger this season.

Watch a video of the Riverside City College meet against Saddleback College and Santa Ana on Tiger TV by visiting the Riverside Community College athletic website at riverside.trivalley.com

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

16 | Match 8, 2012

Features

From open seas to open books Shawanda Kinsey Staff Writer The transition from the stringent life of the Navy to every day student life presents unique challenges.

After nearly 10 years of active duty in the Navy, Tony Albauch is in the process of enrolling in classes at Riverside City College.

At a very young age Albauch knew he wanted to join the service.

“It’s a family tradition to serve the country,” Albauch said. “My father served our country and I knew since I was little that I would serve my country too.”

While in the Navy he worked in the construction field as a steel worker.

The skills he learned in the military can be applied to professions in society but because of the plunge in the economy, his best option is to go back to school.

“Many of the skills I learned in the service are not practical because of the downturn of the economy,” he said. “A lot of the skills required for these positions are now computer based and they’re offering lower wages.”

In order to have more opportunities he has decided to enroll in the air conditioning and

refrigeration certificate program.

“My goal is to better educate myself so I can have a better paying job,” he said.

Before his stint in the Navy he received poor grades in school but is now more disciplined and receptive to what he learns.

For Aulbauch the best part of being in the Navy was the people he met.

“The best part of the service was the camaraderie and longlasting friendships,” he said as he reminisced about the people he’s befriended. “I can see someone I was in the service with 20 years ago and we can just pick up where we left off.”

This feeling of fellowship and brotherhood is echoed in the experience of Navy veteran Joe Tracz.

Tracz describes the Navy as a place where they act, dress, and perform with unity.

“The well being of the whole unit is more important than those of the individual,” he said.

“A person’s social status and background don’t matter, all that matters is that they can get the job done and have your back.”

While in the Navy he worked as a demolitionist building, disabling, and loading explosives and aircraft weapons.

“I really enjoyed my job but it was a lot of work,” Tracz said

Allison Perez / Photo Editor

From a ship to a classroom: Joe Tracz, a Navy veteran, is now an Riverside City College student looking to receive a degree in neurological physical therapy. when describing his philosophy of work in the military. “Work hard, play harder.”

The navy provided Tracz with the education and skills he needed to get his job done. However many of the skills he learned as a military demolitionist does not transition into a typical civilian job.

Tracz is now pursuing a degree in neurological physical therapy

but financial gain is not his only motivation for going to college.

“I want a better education because I have seen firsthand what happens when you don’t have education,” Tracz said. “My biggest reason for continuing my education is for personal enlightenment.”

For both Tracz and Albauch the training and experiences they

received in the service gives them the courage to carry out any assignment they are given here at RCC. “No matter what I’m assigned here I never have the thought that maybe I can’t do it,” said Tracz “ Because of the things I’ve accomplished in the Navy I know I am capable of accomplishing anything.”