Vol. 102, Issue 5

RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE

RCC mourns beloved student

NATALIE STRAIN

R iverside City college mourns the loss of one of its students.

On April 16, RCC students and faculty were notified of a medical emergency involving a student at the parking structure.

The student was later identified as Carlos Daniel Pedorza Villalobos through a public records police request.

Retired journalism instructor awarded with Emeritus status

Riverside Community College District conferred Allan Lovelace with emeritus status for his unwavering dedication to the Riverside City College Journalism Department at the District Offices on April 16.

RCC President Claire Oliveros has since spoken on behalf of the RCC community.

“We are devastated by the loss of Danny. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” said President Oliveros.

“The well-being of our

In a statement issued by RCC, Pedroza Villalobos was said to be graduate of Henry J. Kaiser High School, based in Fontana. He was passionate in sociology and anthropology, working to transfer from RCC to pursue a bachelor’s degree. He was known for his dedication to his academics and his bright personality in and out of the classroom.

community is our top priority, and we are committed to providing the support and resources needed to navigate through this tragedy together.”

In response, the school has provided on-campus support to students, providing resources on coping with the loss of a loved one and navigating through emotional distress.

Students can attend dropin counseling sessions and receive on-campus support by contacting Health and Psychological Services in the

Bradshaw Building below the bookstore, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by calling 951-222-8151.

A memorial site has been located behind the southeast side of the parking structure where loved ones can leave flowers, notes, and memorabilia. A vigil and other ceremonies will be organized by the community in remembrance of Pedroza Villalobos.

More details are yet to be released by the Associated Students of Riverside City College (ASRCC).

District votes to insure part-time instructors

AYDEN VASQUEZ ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Riverside Community College District unanimously approved covering 100% of health insurance premiums for eligible associate faculty members across all three colleges in the district during the Board of Trustees meeting on March 20.

With over half of the associate faculty across all three colleges in the district being eligible for coverage, this will not only benefit professors at RCC but the entire district as a whole.

“With most classes in the district being taught by part-time instructors, this program will give associate faculty comfort and stability

in the workplace but also allows them to not worry about if they should spend money on health insurance or feeding themselves and their families,” Co-lead negotiator and full-time faculty at Norco College Virgil Lee said.

In addition to the unanimous passing of this program, RCCD’s Board of Trustees has agreed

to completely refund all associate faculty who spent money on healthcare premiums for RCCD health insurance options during the 2023-2024 academic year across all three colleges.

See INSURANCE on Page 3

Amidst the recognition, Lovelace, a former Associate Professor of Journalism from 1996 to 2020, was revered alongside instructors from various disciplines.

These included individuals like Scott Blair (Astronomy), Linda Braiman (Library Services) and James Cregg (Computer Information Systems).

Lovelace’s commitment to advocating for students’ First Amendment rights inspired students and the broader campus community.

He encapsulated the essence of his students’ motivation, “They were driven to make a difference,” Lovelace said. “They wanted to serve the public.”

Under his guidance, the student newspaper Viewpoints, thrived as a platform for diverse perspectives and open expression.

“I tried to make sure that every student had an opportunity, no matter what their background was… to do whatever they wanted with the newspaper,” Lovelace said. See

Flowers, candles and notes left at memorial site outside of parking structure on April 22.

JOANNAH CLEMENTE STAFF REPORTER

Editors: Natalie Strain and Annabel Silva

NEWS BRIEFS

Theatre Arts Performance

Riverside City College Theatre Department holds its first performance of the semester, presenting “She Kills Monsters.” The story follows a girl discovering her late sister’s past in a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Students can watch this performance from April 25 to April 27 at 7 p.m. Additional performances will be held on April 27 and April 28 at 2 p.m.

Spring Choral Concert

The RCC Vocal Music Program will be holding its annual Spring Choral Concert, featuring RCC Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz. The event will be held on May 13 from 7- to 9 p.m. in the RCC Coil School for the Arts Concert Hall.

62nd Distinguished Faculty Lecturer

Riverside Community College District will be hosting its 62nd Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, featuring Melissa Bader, M.A., Professor of English at Norco College. The event will recognize the academic accomplishments of faculty across RCCD and highlight Bader’s expertise and contributions in the community. It will be held on May 21 from 12:50- to 1:50 p.m. in the Riverside City College Bradshaw Hall of Fame.

Memorial Day Campus will be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. Campus will reopen on Tuesday, May 28.

Final Exams

Final exams will begin on Friday, May 31. June 7 will be the final day of the spring 2024 semester.

CORRECTIONS:

In issue 9, we misidentified Taylor Smith as Charlie Richard for the Essentially Ellington Jazz festival conductor.

We also gave incorrect songwriting credits to Bob Marley for “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Bobby McFerrin wrote the song.

All of these dates are subject to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus.

To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org.

If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calendar, send

RCC welcomes new sports information director

JASMINE BARRERACAMACHO STAFF REPORTER

Riverside City College welcomes Samantha Wellman as its new sports information director.

Wellman took over for long time SID Nicho DellaValla who after his departure left the position vacant for almost a year.

Wellman began an internship at Azusa Pacific University with her former sports information director and would later go on to graduate from APU with a degree in journalism. She would then go on to receive her first official position at Cal State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, previously known as Humboldt State University.

Wellman has had previous experience working in the collegiate sports industry at San Francisco State University and Cal Baptist University. Her extensive career journey has led her to RCC.

As a former resident of Riverside, California, Wellman gained the opportunity to be in her hometown while also being a part of longtime traditions.

“RCC opened up, and I’m from Riverside so obviously it made more sense. There’s a lot of tradition with athletics here, so it’s cool to be a part of that,” Wellman said.

Wellman has also expressed her appreciation to be in a community and program that allows personal connections to be made. Along with getting to know individuals within the college’s sports community and experiencing their journey.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is working games and getting to know student athletes and coaches. So I always miss that connection, I didn’t have that obviously working from home,” Wellman said.

As Wellman is expecting her second child in August, one big focus she detailed is making sure the athletic directory will maintain a good standing during her partial leave.

“I want to make sure I can figure out what to put in place before that and how I can troubleshoot before, or empower people to troubleshoot for me so that when I am gone things can run smoothly,” Wellman said.

During Wellman’s first month as director, she has made it a goal to bring more light on the achievements made by RCC’s athletes. Because the position of sports information director was left vacant for some time before Wellman stepped in, it was important to update any missing information.

“When I first started here, football, there was no mention of the state championship so I had to clean up their website and kind of get it up to date. Actually show people that we won state,” Wellman said. “There’s been some history things that have been, kind of, not updated just because there

hasn’t been someone to try and fit those in.”

Wellman said, “The more that people know about the student athletes as people, the more they’re going to be engaged and want to follow them.”

RCC undergoes parking lot renovation

JENNIFER CARDONALEON STAFF REPORTER

Riverside City College’s Board of Trustees announced a construction update on district wide solar and battery projects at a meeting on March 5.

The project’s construction plans will be done to parking lot C next to the Charles A Kane building, parking lot E by the auto building, and RCC Coil School for the Arts parking lot.

The Board of Trustees approved the TotalEnergies Contract in Dec. 2022 to design and permit the 25year parking operation. The construction project includes a solar photovoltaic system, battery energy storage system, and electrical vehicle charging stations.

RCC plans on renovating parking lot C to be in effect from June 8 to Aug. 18 before the fall semester starts.

For parking lot E construction will be from June 10 to Oct. 13. Then open partially by Aug. 18.

Construction for lot E has been broken off into four segments, each holding

around one hundred parking spaces.

Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning & Development, Hussain Agah, worked alongside engineers, architects, constructors and college faculty to minimize the impact of construction on everyone.

“Currently Riverside City College has 13 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the quantification,” Agah said. “This project will add an additional 60 EV charging stations in parking lot C.”

RCC Coil School for the Arts parking lot construction will be Aug. 5 to Oct. 10.

Adding rooftops solar photovoltaic canopy. The Riverside Fox Theatre will be used as alternative parking with 100 stalls and Mission Square Garage with 50 stalls.

Agah brings up that the money saved in electricity will be going back to the classrooms, RCC and the outdoor environment.

Introvent in what is promoting student success.

RCC Vice President of

Business Services Kristine DiMemmo shared that they plan to provide more adequate spaces for students with mobility issues. So, they can get into the Kane building to take care of businesses, admissions, records, and financial aid.

“We will be doing a lot with social media,” DiMemmo said. “We will be sending emails and text messages to our students. Updating our signage to make sure we are very clear about what are the options.”

ERIC PACHECO | Viewpoints

Sports Information Director Samantha Wellman, inputs live statistics during a baseball game at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 18.

JENNIFER CARDONA-LEON | VIEWPOINTS

Riverside City College parking lot C, next to the Charles Kane building.

Former adviser awarded for dedication

NEWS from page 1

It mirrored his philosophy of promoting student-led journalism and unrestricted reporting freedom.

Illustrating his dedication, Lovelace passionately supported investigative journalism, encouraging students to expose faculty misconduct and raise awareness campus-wide.

“Their goal was to tell an important story that the public needed to know, especially for the students,” he said.

Despite challenges, he staunchly defended students’ rights and press freedom, even amidst efforts to oppose the closure of Norco College’s newspaper.

“It was important to win that victory, at least temporarily (two years), that made me feel really good,” Lovelace said.

Recognizing its impact, achieving this press freedom felt meaningful to him as an instructor despite its fleeting nature.

Also, he acknowledged the privilege of working with students and his role in shaping their learning atmosphere.

“It’s a privilege for me to get to work with them and be the one who created the right environment,” Lovelace said.

Matthew Schoenmann, Viewpoints Journalism Specialist, echoed Lovelace’s advice to him: “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Schoenmann emphasized the importance of embracing imperfections and learning from Lovelace’s mentorship.

RCCD approves health premium for faculty

INSURANCE from page 1

“This program is not only a huge win for our associate faculty counterparts but is a win for students, teachers, and the district,” said Lee. “With benefit and healthcare equality being the driving points of me and my fellow negotiators of the Faculty Association, we are all proud to have fought so hard for this.”

The report accounts for Riverside City College related crime.

Monday, February 26

An individual was arrested for vandalism, violation of probation terms, resisting an executive officer, and willfully resisting an officer in the Riverside District Office.

Wednesday, February 28

An individual was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia at the RCC Coil School of Arts.

Thursday, February 29

An individual was arrested for trespassing, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance in the Riverside District Office.

“His words were powerful and important and made me believe in what I do as a journalist,” Galicia said. “It’s important not just for the democracy of our country but for social justice in our communities.”

To reiterate Lovelace’s stance, Schoenmann emphasized that students went beyond being labeled “student journalists.”

“I don’t like the term student journalist,” Schoenmann said. “They are as much of a journalist as someone from the Press-Enterprise or New York Times.”

This perspective showcased the students’ professional

Similarly, former Viewpoints Editor-in-Chief and Fresno Bee reporter Erik Galicia recalled Lovelace’s influential mentorship and emphasized his advocacy for student voices.

caliber, a lesson Schoenmann took from Lovelace.

Galicia also remarked on the challenges posed by the Great Recession of 2008, during which Lovelace steadfastly upheld Viewpoints as a respected newspaper under his leadership.

“He firmly stood up for Viewpoints and the journalism program,” Galicia said. His reflections confirmed Lovelace’s dedication and affirmed his emeritus status as a testament to his profound influence on the college, its students and the newspaper.

Laura Tapia, former Editorin-Chief and current Clinic Administrator at Massage Envy appreciated Lovelace’s recognition for his past guidance

during her tenure as Editor-inChief.

“He wanted us to never stop fighting for what’s right and to never give up on the right to press freedom,” she recalled.

According to Tapia, Lovelace’s significant contributions shaped students’ careers, including hers and had a lasting impact on the institution.

Expanding on this, Galicia acknowledged Lovelace’s lasting legacy in empowering students to enact change through journalism.

“What he instilled in his students is to amplify voices, hold the powerful accountable and provide a public service to our community,” Galicia said.

CRIME REPORT

Tuesday, March 5

An individual was arrested for obstructing an officer on Main Street and Market Street.

An individual was arrested for trespassing in the RCC Parking Structure.

Wednesday, March 6

An individual was arrested for parole violation, trespassing, theft of credit cards/debit cards, and possession of drug paraphernalia in the Kane Building.

Friday, March 8

An individual was arrested for parole violation, trespassing, possession of a controlled substance, and bringing controlled substances into a county jail in the RCC Parking Structure.

Friday, March 15

An individual was arrested for taking a vehicle without consent, grand theft of vehicle, auto theft with priors, possession of burglary tools, violation of probation, and possession of methamphetamine in the Facilities Yard.

An individual was arrested for taking a vehicle without consent and grand theft of the vehicle in the Facilities Yard.

Saturday, March 16

Petty theft and removal of a part from a vehicle was reported in Lot E.

Monday, March 18

A vehicle hit and run was reported in Lot Y.

Tuesday, March 26

Grand theft was reported in

the Aquatics Department.

Thursday, March 28

An individual was reported violating protective order on RCC campus.

Sunday, March 31

Vandalism was reported in the Riverside District Building.

Tuesday, April 2

An individual was arrested for felony evading, violating court order, and prowling at a private residence in Riverside.

Wednesday, April 3

An individual was caught tampering with a motor vehicle in Lot E.

Thursday, April 4

An individual was arrested under the possession of drug paraphernalia and possession

Out of the 73 different community college districts in the state of California, Riverside Community College District is one of the first districts to offer this program to its associate faculty, hopefully paving the way for the rest to do the same.

“We are ecstatic and incredibly grateful that RCCD is able to give us this opportunity and stability that in this generation for educators is very much needed. In the end, I and so many others feel lucky that RCCD is a forwardthinking district and has their faculty in mind,” Lee said.

of a controlled substance at the RCC Coil School for Arts.

Two accounts of trespassing were reported in the RCC Parking Structure.

Friday, April 5

An individual was arrested for trespassing and resisting an officer in the Aquatics Department.

An individual reported images of vandalism in the Cosmetology Department.

If you feel you or others’ safety is at risk or you have witnessed a crime and wish to report it, please contact the RCCD Police Department at 951-2228171 for non-emergency calls, and in case of emergency, call 9-1-1.

Felipe Galicia (left), President Claire Oliveros, Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac, Trustees President Jose Alcala and Academic Senate President Jo Scott-Coe honor Allan Lovelace with the emeritus award at the Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees meeting on April 16, recognizing his 24 years of dedicated service as a journalism instructor at Riverside City College.

JOANNAH CLEMENTE | VIEWPOINTS

Mine Okubos Eyes: A Life in Colors

The Riverside Community College District Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties will celebrate the opening of Mine Okubos Eyes: A Life in Colors on April 26.

Jazz Orchestra Concert

An afternoon concert wth Riverside City College nationally-recognized and award-winning Jazz program and features the RCC Jazz Orchestra is being held at the Coil School for the Arts Concert Hall on April 28.

TigerCon 2024

The annual convention (one day event) will take place on May 2 at the Riverside City College Digital Library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Undocu-Allies Documentary Screening

Join the Undocu-Allies club for a special event on May 3, from 6- to 8 p.m. at the Riverside City College Digital Library, Room 121. This event features a preview screening of “Ghosts of Adelanto & The Rise of Abolish ICE.”

STEM

Keynote speaker Jose Hernandez shares his experience from migrant farm worker to NASA astronaut on May 9 at the Riverside City College Math and Science Building Breezeway Courtyward.

To stay up to date on upcoming events on campus, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org.

If you have event happening on campus that you want to be featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints. managing@gmail.com.

Screening of ‘Black Wall Street’

JASMINE BARRERACAMACHO

“We will start embracing Black history 24/7, 365,” Riverside City College Vice President of Student Services FeRita Carter said, as she introduced Dennis Delemar, director of the film “Black Wall Street: An American Nightmare.”

“So this is just another extension of how we’re supporting that effort,” she added. Film screening of “Black Wall

Street: An American Nightmare” encouraged conversation and education on the struggles the Black community has faced on April 18 in the Bradshaw Hall of Fame building at Riverside City College.

Delemar, keynote speaker and director of the film, emphasized that a lot of the challenges the Black community faced in the past are still a big problem in the world we live in today. He explained how White supremacy is still one of the things being taught and experienced within communities, allowing mistreatment of many races to still

exist.

Delemar’s film showed the many ways the Black community has been targeted and faced abuse in the world. It showed different periods in history where segregation was enforced, up until present day with the event of George Floyd’s death.

After Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, Delemar went back to change his previous script of the film.

“I literally went back in and changed the script,” Delemar said.

“Because even though Black Wall Street is this time in history, often

times when we think about it, it’s disconnected from now,” he said. “I started to research it, and I started to see the pieces of the puzzle in racism, and White supremacy, and self-hate, and all these different things mixed together… this is still relevant, this is what you saw on T.V.,” he added.

With many of the events and treatment the Black community is facing in America, Delemar thought of how individuals from the past would be affected and react to the present day, furthering the development and importance of his film.

“I thought about, with this movie, how would it be if somebody from the past came to see Black America?” Delemar said.

Delemar shared a Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “I feel like we’re integrating into a burning house.” Delemar said. “You’re pushing to make change, then when you get to the top you see… this is a power structure of White supremacy.”

Statements made with the audience encouraged conversation as to why there is inequality when it comes to the idea of one race thinking another is inferior or superior than the other. This explains what history has taught others to think about race.

RCC Promise Program helps combat financial barriers

JOANNAH CLEMENTE STAFF REPORTER

Riverside City College’s Promise Program persists in championing academic excellence by ensuring affordability and dismantling financial roadblocks for students.

The Promise Program offers cost-free education for the first two years, catering to certificates, associate degrees and university transfer students.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and nursing degrees are waived for three years due to their strict academic requirements.

“Our goal with the Promise Program is to get you [students] in and out of RCC in two years,” Director of Academic Support Sharon Walker said.

Applicants receive priority registration for both the spring and fall semesters and a $250 textbook voucher, ensuring early enrollment and minimizing educational material costs.

“Students will have educational advisors provided specifically by the program,” Walker said. “They will also have access to the engagement center, advisors and peer mentors by their major.”

Outreach Specialist Jessica Contreras cited effective communication as crucial for program success.

“We offer a lot of great resources, but we tell students we don’t know what you need unless you tell us,” Contreras said.

Its support network comprises educational advisors assisting with

coursework, peer mentors and various resources for students.

“We also encourage students to meet with their engagement center as they are based on their major,” Contreras said.

Ariba Baig, a second-year Biology major and peer mentor, shared how critical mentorship is in the program.

“One thing that I do as a STEM peer mentor is I give them information on workshops and refer them to their engagement center,” said Baig. “That’s big with us, connecting them with cultural and academic engagement centers.”

Additionally, as a program student herself, Baig emphasized the adaptability she gains during her studies.

“I’d say it’s pretty flexible because you just have to register. The good thing about work-study is I just do my homework while being at the desk here.”

Emphasizing the program’s resources, Charly Scott, a secondyear Biology major and peer mentor, highlights its role in ensuring eligibility and facilitating a two-year transfer.

“The resource alone has been good for keeping me in check on seeing what I have to do to stay in the program and the way the program works,” Scott said.

As a peer mentor, Scott said they act as a “middleman” between students and resources at RCC.

“I think being a peer mentor and learning how to do that has been a great source within itself… I really feel like I benefited a lot from being a mentor,” Scott said.

While initiating new methods, Scott said the program is actively seeking alternative approaches, including utilizing an account on Instagram.

“It’s a great way to stay connected with the school and overall be like a hub where anyone can go to ask about resources,” Scott said. “That means doubling down on understanding engagements and also means we have to interact with them.”

However, without sufficient awareness across the college, all this engagement becomes ineffective.

Jordan Winn is a secondyear Geology major and student ambassador.

“I feel like it would be kind of nice to know people who are also doing the Promise Program,” Winn said. “I feel like I know no one.”

Despite its unique structure, Winn expresses interest in forming connections with others enrolled in

the program.

This sentiment arises from his experiences of uncertainty regarding the program’s eligibility, highlighting the importance of a supportive community within the program.

“I actually think that Promise is one of the only programs where there are no classes you can go to where there are other Promise students,” Winn said.

Winn also noted a sense of isolation, as communication from the program primarily occurs via email.

Winn, who conducts campus tours, said that having Promise Program representatives during tours will directly showcase program benefits through their firsthand experiences.

“A great way to bring the Promise Program out is on a campus tour with someone from the program who will talk to the students,” Winn said.

Expo with Jose Hernandez

STAFF REPORTER

JENNIFER CARDONA LEON | VIEWPOINTS RCC student working front desk at the Promise Program

Dennis Delemar speaks at screening of his film “Black Wall Street: An American Nightmare” on April 18 at Riverside City College.

LACEY JAMES | VIEWPOINTS

RCC’s Career Closet is here to help

NATALIE STRAIN NEWS EDITOR

With the job-hunting season underway, Riverside City College’s Career Closet is providing students and alumni with tools they need as they dress to impress.

The Career Closet opened in 2019 and relocated to portable 6 between Landis Theater and Technology A in 2021. Its goal has been to provide students with necessary resources needed to begin their careers.

It has now served 600 students over the course of two years and has since been titled Winner of the 2020 Exemplary Program Award by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. The award recognizes the work of exceptional programs that give back to the community.

As H&M, Macys and other department stores raise their prices, the Career Closet remains the most affordable and most accessible, providing free clothes to RCC students. Students have access to clothes of all sizes and styles and can pick up to two full outfits a semester. These clothes were once donated and sorted through to provide students with high-quality items.

The Career Closet is also

in the midst of partnering with Bank of America for a professional attire drive that will distribute boxes to all its branches to provide donations to the closet. Advisors hope to spread the message in order to

help students save money.

“Take advantage of the resources that the college offers,” Employment Placement Coordinator

Meriel Anderson-Mcdade said. “People are passionate

about this closet. We want to save you from spending that money,” Anderson-Mcdade said.

Students can make their way down to Terracina Drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays

from 2-3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m. to find pants, a shirt, jacket, shoes and accessories at no cost.

Whether students and alumni want to donate an outfit or find a new suit for their next job interview, the RCC Career Closet provides all resources.

“The Career Closet has been incredibly valuable to me because it offers professional attire that enhances my confidence and ensures I look nice to make a great impression at business-related events and interviews,” first-year student Zoe Minter said.

Students from all backgrounds have benefited from this program, securing the Career Closet as an RCC staple for success.

“The whole experience left me feeling so prepared and ready to pursue my career in law, and take on the job market. RCC’s career center is definitely a hidden gem – they truly care about their students’ success,” first-year student Musharraf Buggs said.

The organizers of the Career Closet have made it a goal to make RCC an inclusive campus, providing the most for their students.

“The college understands their needs. The community hears them and wants to help,” Anderson-McDade said.

College hosts Earth Day campus clean-up

Student Sustainability club organized a campus clean-up to support Earth Day April 22

Meriel Anderson-McDade, Employment Placement Coordinator logging students in at the Riverside City College Career Closet.

NATALIE STRAIN | VIEWPOINTS

Ofelia Doroteo picking up trash near the Art buildings with Adrian Mazariegos and Heveer Rocha.

Ofelia Doroteo picking up trash near the Art buildings with Adrian Mazariegos and Heveer Rocha.

Ofelia Doroteo, Heveer Rocha and Adrian Mazariegos by the art and sculpture building.

PHOTOS BY IZABELLA DE LA ROSA

Monthly event brings people, small businesses, artists together

Riverside holds an Artswalk the first Thursday of every month from 6-9 p.m. where you can visit museums, listen to live music performances and support small businesses and local artists.

Despite the rain on April 4, the event drew musicians and visitors to the downtown area.

Since The Cheech and other museums or studios offer free admission during the Artswalk, this allows more visitors to attend the museums and experience the art in Riverside.

Annie Guadarrama, guest services manager at The Cheech, said the museum has had a significant impact on Riverside since its opening in 2022.

“The story of The Cheech is a little bit more unique. It’s like a labor of love,” Guadarrama said. The museum showcases art of emerging artists in the local area and works with the community to activate spaces of support and belonging.

The art showcased at The

Cheech has the ability to shine a light on many developing artists in the Riverside area, as a prominent culture in Riverside is Latinx. Artists have featured “a very real depiction of what it means to grow up as a Latino, Hispanic or Chicano,” Guadarrama said.

Event wide, many things were on display, all with different textures and purposes, from crochet crafts, to glass-made jewelry and household items.

Daneil Gonzalez II, 23, comes from a music-loving family. With ideas in his head, he didn’t want to wait, officially starting the El Segundo solo project in 2019. His band features indie/alternative rock en espanol to 90s hip hop and rap.

“You know it is really cool,” Gonzalez said. “Today is not really all great, but we’re still happy to at least play. That was our gain from this. It was really fun.”

The Artswalk has been home to many small businesses over the years, providing new opportunities, growth and exposure to every day artists.

The Cheech showcases Frank Romero’s artwork “City at Night, Downtown, Chinatown and Freeway Overpass,” at the Riverside Artswalk on April 4.

Arina Kirilina, who immigrated from Russia in 2018, showcases her art featuring military blankets to send a message about war at the Riverside Artswalk on April 4.

Glass Candi sells hand-crafted glass jewelry made by Candi Cae at the Riverside Artswalk on April 4.

JENNIFER CARDONALEON

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CARDONA-LEON

Amber McNeil sells her art at the Riverside Artswalk on April 4.

Guest reporters Grace Esquibel and Novah Reyes Morales contributed to this story. STAFFF REPORTER

Nicole Cloeren showcases her puppets at the RStudios at the Riverside Artwalk on April 4.

Google shouldn’t block California news outlets

Move could limit access, suppress press freedom, lead to censorship

JOANNAH CLEMENTE STAFF REPORTER

In the digital age, the right to access information stands as a bedrock of our democracy, yet Google’s recent power play— blocking California news outlets exposes a sobering truth.

It’s not merely about a tech giant flexing its muscles, it strikes at the essence of information freedom.

Google’s decision to restrict access to news outlets for some Californians has triggered a significant response.

The News/Media Alliance has called for a federal investigation, citing concern about potential legal violations and the lack of transparency regarding the extent of the impact on Californians and news publications.

Their belief that Google may be violating laws with this “short-term removal,” combined with Google’s silence on details of the affected users and publishers, highlights the urgency of the situation.

This move was a “response” to the proposed California Journalism Preservation Act, which requires tech companies like Google to compensate California-based publishers for their content.

While we acknowledge the potential legal violations, it’s crucial to consider the power that tech giants like Google hold over the internet.

It’s not about drawing conclusions; rather, emphasizing the undeniable ramifications of this power play and its implications for news outlets.

Google’s blockade traps corporate interests, regulatory frameworks and the public’s right to information.

As one of the primary conduits for news consumption worldwide, it influences the flow of information and our public discourse.

It raises serious concerns about potential censorship, suppression of press freedom and monopolization of news exposure.

Such a phenomenon could signify that Google has the power to mold our worldview, potentially distorting perception and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.

The News/Media Alliance’s call for a federal investigation isn’t solely about holding Google accountable, it’s about protecting our democracy, as it has the potential to determine and compromise its integrity.

This investigation’s outcome could redefine tech regulations and reaffirm the importance of journalistic integrity in the digital era.

It’s a moral reckoning, where scrutiny and decisive action

are essential in addressing this pressing issue.

Society must not allow Google to dictate and manipulate the terms of our democracy to serve

its interests.

We’re at a juncture, striving to reclaim a free press hindered, necessitating relentless resistance to fundamental rights to information.

Our steadfast pursuit of information freedom must remain unwavering in this precarious moment.

New minimum wage has drawbacks, perks

LAURA BAUTISTA STAFF REPORTER

I’ve been working at my local Subway store for almost three years now and I enjoy working with my co-worker and interacting with customers but it can be stressful at times. There are days where there’s only one person working for two or three hours by themselves. It’s fine when there’s no customers, but very often a lot of customers come in and only one person is making those

sandwiches until the next person comes in.

Fast food jobs can be a stressful environment to work in and only getting paid $15-16 doesn’t reflect on the labor the employees go through on a weekly basis, especially those who are working full time.

In September 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law, AB 1228, that raises the minimum wage from $16 to $20 an hour for fast food workers. A lot of fast food workers are happy with the new pay, however not everyone is agreeing with the pay increase.

With the new Minimum wage, restaurants are now raising prices and even some owners are laying off staff. Also there’s some customers who aren’t on board with paying more and waiting in line for fast food. Some are arguing that even with the higher pay, it still is not going to help with the high living costs in California.

I argue that the prices have been rising before the new minimum wage was introduced and that price increase is only minor. According

to a Cal Matter article, “New California laws raise the minimum wage for two industries. Others could see pay hikes too,” Levi Sumagaysay and Shreya Agrawal consultred an economics professor at UC Berkeley Michael Reich, “When wages rise 10%, costs in the restaurant industry go up by about 2% to 3% and usually just on a one-time basis instead of a yearly

increase,” Reich said.

On average, full time fast food employees work 35 hours or more a week and part timers work from 3 to 35 hours a week depending on the part timers other commitments,whether it’s another job, school, or family commitments.

I’m a part timer and I usually work 16 or 20 hours a week because of school and family commitments.

Nevertheless, I’m grateful that I still live with my parents and currently not in a position where I’m struggling financially. However, I’m aware of some of my classmates and coworkers who are working two jobs, who are single parents and who are working to pay their rent and bills.

I know that the new minimum wage is going to help those who are struggling financially and help those to reach their goals. I remember a conversation at work where a coworker told me that with the new pay, she can quickly reach her goal to afford to pay for culinary school. Another coworker of mine tells me that the new raise can finally help her move out of her boyfriend’s place and be financially independent. I’m optimistic that the new wage would bring fast workers to reach their financial goals.

Photo by Brian Lundquist via Unsplash

Photo via Hisucccon Unsplash

OPINION:‘Quiet on Set’ shines light on child abuse

MORRIS STAFF REPORTER

Max’s recent documentary, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” serves as a serious reminder of the urgent need to stop exploitation and mistreatment of child actors within the entertainment industry.

Directed by the talented duo Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz, this eye-opening documentary is the first of its kind to reveal the dark truth surrounding the exploitation of young actors, particularly regarding Nickelodeon child actors.

I believe one of the most disturbing and disheartening aspects of the documentary is how Nickelodeon writers witnessed and ignored the inappropriate gestures targeted toward the child actors.

For instance, Penelope Taynt is a character from The Amanda Show mentioned in Quiet on Set. Former writer Jenny Kilgen

explained that the creator Dan Schneider instructed the writers to keep the true meaning of the word “taint” a secret as it is inappropriate.

“Man, that is power,” Kilgen said. “That you can just say you want something and it’s done. It’s one of those things where it’s like ew, it’s a young girl.”

This joke is just one of the many adult-like jokes featured in Schneider’s shows.

Unfortunately, the working environment at Nickelodeon specifically in the writers’ room was tense and hostile which added to the disturbing atmosphere.

Christy Stratton and Kilgen, the only two female writers on season one of “The Amanda Show” revealed that Schneider behaved inappropriately at work and showed them pornography and requested massages.

They described the workplace as toxic under Schneider’s leadership. “Working with Dan felt like being in an abusive relationship,” Stratton said.

“Sometimes he would also say things like, ‘Can you please give me a massage? I’ll put one of your sketches in the show,’” Kilgen said.

“He would always present it like a joke and he would be laughing while he said it. But you always felt like disagreeing with Dan or standing up for yourself could result in you getting fired,” Kilgen said.

Fearing the man in charge and worrying if one little mistake would lead to termination was probably the hardest thing the

female writers had to go through during their time at Nickelodeon.

Even with established rules and regulations to protect child actors in the entertainment industry, the documentary proves that many people, including parents of the child stars, won’t speak up and take action when bad things happen.

A mother who identified as MJ, of a former child actor Brandi from “The Amanda Show”, opened up about the sexual misconduct her daughter faced at the hands of a convicted sex offender Jason Handy in the second episode.

One week after her filming Brandi, whose real name was not disclosed, started receiving emails from Handy. The mother explained at first how nothing was out of the ordinary. “She let me read it,” MJ said. “It was very innocent. It just talked about the shows that he had been working on.”

A few months later Handy sent a photo of himself to the child actor which some might consider inappropriate. The child actor’s mother shared that Jason explained he sent the photo because he wanted to show that he was thinking of her.

The mother was torn on whether or not to involve the authorities, fearing judgment as a parent for allowing her child to communicate with Handy. This inner conflict caused great distress and eventually led to her daughter Brandi leaving the entertainment industry for good.

Despite Brandi’s departure from the industry, authorities were

not alerted right away and thus allowed Handy to avoid being held accountable for his actions until later.

Parents can often fail to realize that staying silent in situations like Brandi’s allows more despicable individuals to harm and traumatize children.

This is seen in the most gutretching part of the documentary when former Nickelodeon actor Drake Bell shared his experience of being sexually abused at the age of 15. Bell revealed that he was a victim of abuse by Brian Peck, a dialogue coach on Nickelodeon’s “All That” and “The Amanda Show.”

Bell’s father managed him early in his career but grew concerned about the amount of time Peck was spending with his son. He expressed his discomfort to the production team and said that he didn’t see anything abnormal but just had a negative feeling about it.

According to Joe Bell, the production team informed him that Peck was gay and suggested that his discomfort stemmed from homophobia and a lack of understanding of Peck’s friendly nature.

Feeling alienated, Joe Bell eventually distanced himself and was gradually excluded from his son’s life.

In 2003, Drake finally opened up to his mother about the ongoing sexual abuse he was suffering at the hands of Peck. Peck was arrested and served 16 months in prison and was required to register as a sex offender.

Shortly after Peck’s arrest, Bell began shooting “Drake & Josh” and loved his work. Sadly he struggled to process his happiness and excitement on set with the trauma he had endured.

I stress that we must acknowledge the fact that the entertainment industry has continued to ignore this problem and actively participates in the abuse of its weakest and most vulnerable stars.

As the audience, we can’t just simply move on after watching “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” We need to take action and hold all entertainment industry companies accountable because it’s not only Nickelodeon that exploits and abuses child actors.

This means demanding background checks for executives and implementing new rules that prioritize children’s safety and wellness.

I encourage us as viewers to reflect on our consuming habits and the content we engage with. If we decide not to support movies and TV programs that exploit actors, it sends a clear message to the entertainment industry that such unethical practices are unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.

In all, “Quiet on Set” is not just another documentary but a cry for help as it exposes child actors’ disturbing realities.

The documentary shines a necessary light on child actor abuse. It forces us to accept these uncomfortable truths and helps us work together to begin a new era where such abuse no longer exists.

AKIRA

Photo by Brands&People Via Unsplash

Recycling industry falls short

As

Even with our good intentions in trying to recycle more, our efforts aren’t as effective as they should be. This is due to the fact that we face serious issues in the recycling process.

One significant issue is misinformation about what we can recycle. Each area has its own rules and guidelines for recycling which unintentionally causes mix-ups and mistakes.

For instance, in Riverside County, we can recycle paper, cards, junk mail, magazines, newspapers, aluminum and steel cans, clean aluminum foil, plastic and glass bottles, empty and dry plastic and glass food containers.

However, Los Angeles County has a larger variety of recyclable materials with items such as any color glass bottles or jars, microwaveable food trays and frozen food boil-in-bag pouches that can be recycled.

So even those of us who try to do the

right thing might unknowingly put nonrecyclable items into recycling bins.

Contamination is another issue when it comes to recycling. If the items we recycle are contaminated with anything that cannot be recycled, such as food waste and liquids, they can’t be processed correctly and would most likely end up being thrown out instead of recycled.

Additionally, the lack of efficient recycling facilities has negatively impacted our recycling efforts since several communities don’t have access to proper facilities to sort through and process our recyclables.

Over the past several years in California, hundreds of recycling centers have closed down due to global commodity prices. This creates drawbacks in the system and ultimately forces more items to be sent to landfills.

To make matters worse there are problems with recycling on a global scale as some countries have implemented restrictions on exporting recycled items which makes the recycling process even more challenging.

To give an example, in Turkey waste management is not a priority. This leads to most trash being disposed

of in landfills. Similarly, in Chile unregulated dumping is prevalent due to an inconsistent waste management system.

As international markets for recyclables start to decrease, it puts a strain on our local recycling systems and leads to an increase in recyclables being dumped in landfills instead of being repurposed into new products.

If we face these problems head-on, we can start paving the way for a more eco-friendly future where our efforts in recycling actually make an impact.

To overcome our recycling challenges, we need to take the initiative to educate our communities on the proper recycling methods and local recycling protocols.

Also, if we invest in better recycling infrastructures and develop more advanced sorting and processing facilities, we can greatly improve the efficiency of our recycling system.

Through education and investing in proper infrastructure we can ensure more items are being recycled and repurposed into new resources. This will ultimately reduce our environmental footprint and promote a healthier planet for future generations.

Photo courtesy of Pawel Czerwinski via Unsplash

Tigers upset Dons, win series

PACHECO MANAGING EDITOR

Great pitching and clean defense have been the key to success for the Tigers all season.

Their current calling card held up again in a crucial rubber match versus the Santa Ana College Dons (25-8-1) on April 12, who came into the game atop the Orange Empire Conference(OEC) standings.

The Tigers (23-11) were embarrassed in game one of the series, losing 15-2 in Santa Ana. Uncharacteristically, no pitcher was able to record more than eight outs and the defense committed five errors.

“Pitching … it’s always going to be pitching,” Tigers head coach Rudy Arguelles said “We didn’t get any of it in game one.”

In game two, freshman righthander Ryan Jenkins improved

to 3-0 in conference play, tossing a complete game five-hit shutout that gave the Tigers a 2-0 victory.

In the finale of the series, the Tigers went with a bullpen day as redshirt sophomore Jordan Townley got the start and went just over two innings before being relieved for the bulk of innings by the man they call “Toro,” sophomore lefty Julian Cazares, who went nearly six innings of scoreless baseball on the mound to help propel the Tigers to a 6-2 victory at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex.

“I came into the game with the mindset of thinking I was starting,” Cazares said. “I just had to compete in the zone and work all pitches for strikes.”

It was easy sailing for Cazares until the fifth inning when he allowed three consecutive singles to the Dons hitters to start the inning. Cazares proved to be unphased as he induced a 1-2-3 double play

followed by a flyout to get out of the inning which erupted the Tigers out of their dugout in cheers.

“I’ve been in those situations before, just tried to stay calm, pound the strikes, and let the defense work,” Cazares said.

“Toro coming in taking the mound, that was huge,” coach Arguelles also noted.

The Tigers offense would count on some timely hitting in the 3rd inning when they scored four runs on three hits, two of those being scored via a wild pitch.

“We knew Andeel was very fastball heavy today so we wanted to jump on the heater and leave anything down, if it starts down it’s going to stay down,” freshman catcher Richard Tejeda said. “We were just trying to attack the heater as much as possible.”

The cleanup hitter Tejeda, who had missed nearly a month of

action with an oblique injury, was a big contributor at the plate going 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He also contributed to the uptick in the Tigers energy during the game.

“It’s everything, momentum is huge for us, and if someone doesn’t bring energy we kind of die,” Tejeda said. “The injury really put things in perspective for me, don’t take this game for granted and play with passion and try to get everyone to play with passion.”

The Tigers jumped from sixth place in the OEC standings to a tie for third place by taking the series from the Dons.

“That’s a big series win, at this time of year really big to win the series,” coach Arguelles said. “We have a saying here ‘We’re not looking for pretty points’ and this win definitely wasn’t pretty, overall we got to be better, we got to be able to execute.”

Tigers softball woes continue, lose fourth sraight

The Tigers softball team fell to the Fullerton College Hornets 11-1, extending the team’s losing streak to four games at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 16.

The Tigers found issues early on defense as they kept giving the Hornets a few hits and not as many strikes or outs, as well as allowing runs early on in the game. “We’re gonna have to make sure that we improve our defense,” head coach Michelle Daddona said. “I feel like we were caught off guard a few times and we didn’t execute after we practiced those situations.”

In the top of the 2nd, the Hornets made two more hits which put them on the board once again with a score of 3-0. The offense also had issues through the day as they weren’t

getting any consistency with the bats. The Hornets continued to score on the Tiger defense as they added 3 more runs to the board in the top of the 5th inning putting the

score at 6-0. The Tigers were having trouble talking to each other as they were letting the Hornets pass them by.

“I think a lot of communication is what we struggle with,” sopho-

more pitcher Chloe Lockhart said.

“Just talking, where we need to go, places that we need to know.”

The Tigers were weak in their defensive and offensive side today, continuously making the same mistakes which kept them from being in the game.

“We just didn’t come out ready to go,” Daddona said. “We got caught on our heels, and they were ready to get a lead early.”

The Tigers scored their first run at the bottom of the 5th with sophomore third baseman Summer Sanders hitting an RBI Single which scored freshman catcher Guadalupe Lemus to get them on the board with a score of 6-1.

“It felt pretty good to at least get some runs in,” Lemus said. “But it ended up just being one.”

Throughout the last 2 innings, the Hornets added 5 more runs to the board, taking on a bigger lead of 1-11 against the Tigers, silencing any hope for a comeback.

“We had plenty of hits that should have been more than one run,” Daddona said. “We made base running mistakes that cost us runs.” Tigers face off next versus Cypress on April 25, at Evans Sports Complex. Orange Empire

ERIC

Riverside City College first baseman Alysse Flores (left), designated player Brianna Burries (middle), and pitcher Samantha Sizemore (right) at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 16 AYDEN VASQUEZ | VIEWPOINTS

ALIAH TUBBS STAFF REPORTER Riverside City College Tigers pitcher, Julian Cazares, 17 gets his sign at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex on April 12. ERIC PACHECO | VIEWPOINTS

RCC Men’s tennis sweeps SoCal Regional

AYDEN VASQUEZ ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

A 5-0 sweep against Santa Barbara City College in the first round of the 3C2A SoCal Regional on April 9 propelled the Riverside City College men’s tennis team to the next round of playoffs.

With Santa Barbara having an uneventful 5-7 record on the season, the Tigers agreed that while not the strongest team, the Vaqueros would be a good warmup for the next round .

Despite knowing that they were the stronger team, RCC continued with tenacity and still played hard.

“We as a team talked beforehand and wanted to establish that even if Santa Barbara wasn’t the toughest of opponents, we would still play like they were,” captain Emilio Real said.

His teammates follow the same ideology, playing hard until the very end.

“We dominated today and I attribute that to my guys taking what we said as a group to heart,” Real said.

Starting off the day with three doubles matches, RCC would go on to sweep each one. The wins put pressure on

Santa Barbara very early on which would lead to the team making mistakes in key moments.

“With this new ‘clinch’ format, which is when the first team to 5 points wins, we knew that if we dominated doubles it would give us the momentum we needed to finish off strong in singles and move on to the next round,” head coach Evan Parry said.

Going into their single matches, the Tigers were ready to use the momentum gained from sweeping all their previous doubles matches to their advantage.

One of the most interesting matches came from the Tigers second-ranked singles player, freshman Micheal Chang. Giving it his all, Chang would clinch the last point of the day, clinching not only his singles match and helping complete the sweep of the Vaqueros but keeping RCC’s playoff hopes alive.

“Towards the end, I felt like I wasn’t pushing hard enough on my forehand swings,” Chang said. “Luckily I was able to finish out strong nonetheless. I feel kind of tired, but I helped my team finish off the day strong with a win.”

With a more promising team, as well as better seeding, Riverside now looks to the future as they prepare for what’s to come.

STUNT team makes first ever national tournament appearance

ANAYA STAFF REPORTER

The Riverside City College Tigers STUNT team showed great promise in national competition for the first time ever, which would be the first appearance by a junior college in STUNT.

STUNT has become one of the fastest grow-

ing female sports in the country. While it is a fairly new sporting competition created in 2015, it was just recently passed into all three NCAA divisions as of Jan. 13 at the NCAA convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

STUNT is somewhat like cheer, except it removes the sparkles, pompoms, glitter and crowd out of the equation. Athletes perform in a volleyball esque uniform to

perform their jumps, pyramids, stunts and tosses. It all takes place within four quarters. Some may liken it to a basketball or football-formatted game. Each quarter both teams perform specific routines which can range from three to six for each quarter. Whichever team wins that routine earns a point.

Unfortunately, the Tigers ended up losing 16-7 to fifth ranked Arizona State and to third ranked Michigan State 16-8. Both these matches took place at the Darling Pavilion in Fullerton on April 18 and 19.

The feat of making the tournament itself is the first ever of its kind by a junior college. By being the first to ever qualify for such a tournament it cements them as a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Riverside City College freshman Michael Chang preparing a cut shot at the Riverside City College Fran Bushman Tennis Courts on April 9.

NATHAN

AYDEN VASQUEZ | VIEWPOINTS

Riverside City College Mens Tennis Captian Emilio Real walking off the court at Fran Bushman Tennis Courts on April 9.

AYDEN VASQUEZ | VIEWPOINTS

Tigers ballplayer commits to USC

ERIC PACHECO MANAGING EDITOR

Riverside City College baseball player Richard “Richie” Tejeda announced his commitment to play baseball at the University of Southern California in the early morning of April 22 via his Instagram.

The true freshman, who is a catcher and first baseman, came from Southern California high school powerhouse Orange Lutheran. He was a three-year varsity player before becoming a Tiger this past fall according to Maxpreps.

“I chose RCC because the coaching staff made me feel like family. They come to the field every day excited to work with us and to get us better,” Tejeda said. “Being able to be close to my family and for them to have a chance to watch me play every day was something definitely on my bucket list.”

Tejeda has been one of the Tigers’ top performers this season. In 28 games he has posted a .353 batting average with four home runs and 22 runs batted in. Tejada was sidelined for nearly a month with an oblique injury but picked up right where he left off, hitting .324 with a .425 on-base percentage since returning from injury.

“ He is what we call an ‘NM’ … No maintenance,” head coach Rudy Arguelles said ecstatically.

Although Tejeda’s time in the

black and orange will end up being short, the impact the program has had on him has definitely been felt.

“What led me to RCC in the first place was their history of getting guys to schools like USC,” Tejeda said. “We have some of the best coaches in the country. The fact that they also have full confidence in my game truly allows me to be the best player I can be for the program.”

Tejeda proved to be a leader this season for the Tigers with his onfield play, off-the-field presence, and in the classroom.

“He’s academically off the charts, a wonderful human being, and a fierce competitor. He’s just scratching the surface, and I can’t express how proud the staff and I are of him,” Arguelles said.

Tejeda will join the 12-time national champion –the most in NCAA Division 1 baseball–Trojans this fall as they prepare to embark on their first season in the BIG 10 conference after they depart from the PAC-12 at the end of this academic school year.

“It’s something that I have been dreaming about for a very long time,” Tejeda said. “The coaches have been proven to help develop guys and get players into the big leagues and that’s something that I want to do.”

“The Trojans received a good one,” Arguelles added.

From top to bottom, Richie Tejeda fields his positions for the Riverside City College Tigers at the Riverside City College Evans Sports Complex. Tejeda, 32, commited to play baseball for the University of Southern California Trojans.

ERIC PACHECO | VIEWPOINTS