Viewpoints Fall 2017 issue No. 7 Nov 30, 2017 by RCC Viewpoints

ySPORTS

yLIFE

Player breaks basketball record

Staff chooses top albums of 2017

yOPINIONS

In defense of net neutrality

viewpoints An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922.

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VOL. XCVIII, NO. 7

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Bursted Transgender Awareness Week pipeline celebrations rock the Inland Empire creates havoc SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW

@SLGBartholomew

The Keystone Pipeline leak earlier this month resulted in significantly more spillage than the company estimated was likely, according to a new report. The incident, which spewed over 200,000 gallons of oil into fields near Amherst, South Dakota, was one of three substantial leaks in the pipeline since operations began, according to Reuters. The others took place in South Dakota in 2016 and North Dakota in 2011, each expelling around 400 barrels of oil. Risk assessments, which were submitted to regulators before the start of the project in 2010, estimated that a leak of more than 50 barrels of oil would not occur more than once every seven to 11 years. Where the two South Dakota spills took place, no more than one spill was predicted once every 41 years, according to TransCanada Corp. documents. The spill took place days before regulators in neighboring Nebraska lifted the last major regulatory hurdle for the expansion that has been delayed for years by environmental opposition. President Donald Trump handed TransCanada a presidential permit for Keystone XL in March, reversing former President Barack Obama’s decision to reject the line on economic and environmental grounds, saying that it would create jobs and boost national security. As of Nov. 26, 44,000 gallons of oil have been recovered from the Amherst site and monitoring air and local well water revealed no significant concerns While cleanup continues, the company resumed operation of the Keystone pipeline Nov. 28.

ILLUSTRATION BY ISELA OROZCO

SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @SLGBartholomew

There were many ideas on display throughout Transgender Awareness Week, however, chief among them was freedom to celebrate. “We’re here to celebrate each other and ourselves,” Darby Osnaya, the event’s organizer, said. “We are all beautiful people with beautiful stories.” Transgender Awareness Week kicked off Nov. 18 with an event put on by Royalty on the Roof, a growing annual

event at Riverside City Hall’s Grier Pavilion celebrating the lives and success stories of “our transgender family and community.” “We are all royalty,” Osnaya said. “Some of us are just waiting to earn our crowns.” The event included entertainment that featured and honored the talents and passions of the Inland Empire’s outspoken transgender community. “There are hurdles at every turn for the transgender community, from coming out to simply living,” Osnaya said. “Tonight is about living your most authentic self.”

Being transgender is a t o p i c t h a t ’s b e e n m a k i n g headlines lately for numerous reasons. However, living life as a transgender individual is a struggle many people don’t understand and the struggles have only increased under the Trump administration. “We need politicians that serve everybody,” Osnaya said. “We need new blood coming into politics.” This event was followed by a screening of “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” a documentary that paints a poignant portrait of the transgender woman noted for

throwing the first stone in what we now know as the Stonewall riots. “We need to remember those that paved for the community,” event attendee Mykal Gabon said. “Because it was they who fought to get us to where we are now.” Finally, the week concluded with the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Nov. 19. TDOR was launched in 1999 after the brutal murder of Boston’s Rita Hester, a crime that to this day remains unsolved. Even in death, Hester’s victimization continued as news

See TRANS on Page 2

News

November 30, 2017

FCC proposes the repeal of net neutrality regulations

NEWS BRIEFS Scholarship Workshops Riverside City College will be hosting scholarship workshops Dec. 4 and Dec. 6 in the Charles A. Kane Building room 205 from 1-2 p.m. Scholarship applications for the 2018-2019 school year are due Jan. 12 by 5 p.m.

Salvation Army Toy Drive

IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

SAMANTHA BARTHOLOMEW @SLGBartholomew

companies powerful gatekeepers to information and entertainment. The telecom companies say that the existing rules prevent them from offering customers a wider selection of services at higher and lower price points.

repeal net neutrality protections included one of seven identical messages. More than half were associated with duplicate or temporary emails. Dozens included references to the animated film Bee Movie, a film about a disillusioned worker bee that has become fodder for several popular memes. Roughly one million comments came from Pornhub.com email addresses. And more than 7,000 comments were submitted by people named, -- Lindsay Manfield simply, The Internet. According to the review, only six percent of the comments were actually unique. The rest were submitted multiple The big companies that times. Some of the most popular provide internet access to phones among them can be traced back to and computers have fought legitimate organizations that have for years against broadband mobilized their communities regulations. Under the new plan, either for or against the repeal. broadband providers will be able “The FCC is acting careless to block access, slow down or with our freedoms for no other speed up service for its business reason than to line their own partners in some cases — as long pockets,” RCC student Lindsay as they notify customers. Manfield said. “In no way will The decision has also sparked this repeal benefit us and they controversy due to the fact that know it.” over a third of the nearly 22 The plan could be approved million comments that poured by the Republican-led FCC as into the FCC regarding its plan to early as its Dec. 14 meeting.

“

The Federal Communications Commission released a plan Nov. 21 to dismantle regulations that ensure equal access to the internet. This would allow internet service companies to charge users more to see certain content and to access to some websites. The proposal, made by the FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, is a repeal of rules put in place by the Obama administration. The rules prohibit high-speed internet service providers, or I.S.P.s, from stopping or slowing down the delivery of websites. They also prevent the companies from charging customers extra fees for high-quality streaming and other services. The announcement set off a fight over free speech and the control of the internet, pitting telecom titans like AT&T and Verizon against internet giants like Google and Amazon. The internet companies warned that rolling back the rules could make the telecom

“The FCC is acting careless with our freedoms.”

Transgender lives mourned, celebrated in Riverside TRANS from Page 1

reports consistently misgendered her and used her name in quotes. Though Hester was not the first person to be a victim of transphobia and violence, her death became the catalyst for the launch of TDOR in San Francisco on the one year anniversary of her death. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 23 transgender people were killed in 2016. The number increased to 25, the highest number of gender identity based deaths ever recorded in a year. In a research report released

in early November, the FBI found that hate crimes against transgender Americans rose 44 percent last year, making up 105 of the 124 reported gender identity based crimes. After a year that has seen continued violence against transgender people, the LGBT community and its allies came together later this month to honor those who lost their lives and celebrate the work that’s being done to advocate for trans people across California. “TDOR is about mourning those who have been taken from us through violence, transphobia and hatred, and it

is a way of recognizing the loss that those lives represent to our community,” said Nicole Cozier, HRC Director of Diversity and Inclusion. For RCC student Hannah Brewer, who came out to an unsupportive family in 2009, the event is about more than a community mourning. “It sends the message that violence against transgender people is not OK and should not be accepted,” Brewer said. “Transgender people existed before this event and will continue to exist after this event and are part of your campus community.”

The Associated Students of Riverside City College is sponsoring 200 Riverside children this holiday season with their annual toy drive. A Christmas tree will be available in the Bradshaw Student Center on Nov. 27 outside the Hall of Fame where students can pick an ornament and return to Student Activities no later than Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. Those who are unable to go shopping can simply make a donation to ASRCC and they will purchase a gift on your behalf.

RCCD Police Department Awarded Grant The Riverside Community College District’s Safety and Police Department was awarded $6,061 in first aid equipment by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Through the grant, the department was able to acquire 45 Rip Away injury kits which are worn on the vests of district police and community service officers.

AMPUS CRIMES Nov. 14 Drug possession A non-student individual was arrested for drug possession in Lot U at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 17 Burglary A non-student individual was arrested for burglary, possession of stolen items and drugs in Lot F at 3 a.m. Nov. 22 Drug possession A non-student individual was arrested for the possession of drugs and other controlled substances in Lot U at 6:41 a.m. Nov. 22 Petty theft A student’s cell phone was stolen on campus at 11:06 a.m. No suspect has been identified. Nov. 22 Petty theft A bicycle was stolen from the Math and Science Building at 7:26 p.m. No suspect has been identified. Nov. 24 Vandalism A fire extinguisher was impaired in the parking structure at 5:22 p.m. No suspect has been identified.

SPORTS

November 30, 2017

“I have failed over and over again in my life ...That is why I succeed.”

michael

Jordan

SHEKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

Sophomore point guard Dejah Wright has garnered a 74.5 percent shooting rate from the free-throw line, 20 steals and 164 total points scored across eight games.

On the ‘Wright’ side of history Dejah Wright breaks RCC single game record CAMERON WINSTON @RCCviewpoints

Record breaking names can live on in the books and are remembered by performances that do not happen very often. Riverside City College sophomore guard Dejah Wright is one athlete that will now have her name placed in the record books for breaking the women’s basketball single game scoring record at RCC with 44 points. “It’s honestly surreal,” Wright said. “During the game I didn’t even know. I was just playing hard. People are coming up to me, people I don’t even know and are just like ‘you’re that girl.’” It was not just a special moment for Wright, but also a special moment for her coach. The former record just so happened to be held by current head coach Alicia Berber, who scored 41 points in a single game. It was a moment Berber felt was a passing of the torch, and made her feel even more honored to coach Wright during the whole experience. “Her confidence level has just gone through the roof,” Berber said. “Practicing has helped her, working in the spring and the

summer. Working on her game has led her to where she’s at now.” Wright has been on a roll since the start of the season making a big leap after her freshman season. In 2016, she struggled to score and make as big of an impact for a 19-11 Tigers team that reached the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) South regional playoffs. She came off the bench and averaged four points a game, shooting 31.6 percent from the field, and 28.6 percent from the three-point line in thirty games played. Following her 44-point game against Grossmont College, Wright had increased her season average from last season. She currently leads the Orange Empire Conference in points per game with 20.6, and is shooting at an improved 41 percent in field goal attempts and 43 percent of her three-point attempts. Wright fell in love with the game early on in her life, as she started playing when she was only four years old. That passion almost came to a halt during her days at Valley View High School in Moreno Valley. She can only describe it

as “interesting” as she had a frustrating time building a strong and respectful relationship with the coach. “Don’t give up,” Wright said. “I was going to give up on basketball before I came here. Just don’t give up on what you love. If you love it and do it the right way and enjoy what you’re doing, then it’s going to work out regardless.”

Attending RCC has restored her passion for the game. She now has a strong relationship and friendship with Berber and her teammates that have given her confidence and enjoyment in the game again. Wright has emerged as one of the leaders for this team, and has displayed it both on and off the court. In a way, she has started to take some players under her wing

and has helped them transition to the college level just as some of the second-year players on the team from last season helped her. “On and off the court, (Wright) has always been a leader,” Berber said. “Not very vocal but definitely by example. She’s a good teammate to everybody, and she creates a very good environment and culture for everybody.”

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November 30, 2017

Sports

Tigers suffer postseason loss RCC football falls to Fullerton College (75-16) NICHOLAS PERALTA @Nickthephantom

Riverside City College’s football team was seemingly poised to accomplish greatness this season, but that fantasy has been denied. In one of the most anticipated football games of the 2017 season, the top-seeded and undefeated Fullerton College Hornets took on the No. 2 ranked RCC Tigers. R C C ’s p o s i t i o n i n t h e postseason marked the third time in the past five years that the Tigers have reached the SCFA (Southern California Football Association) Championship contest. The last time the Tigers won a state title was in 1982 and they looked to end the over three decade long drought this year. However, the contest between the top two teams did not play out as competitively as expected. In every facet of the game, the Hornets dominated with the pigskin. The game began innocuous enough, as the Tigers scored on a 20 yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Cam Sutton from starting quarterback Vic

MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS

RCC Tigers suffer another consecutive postseason defeat against Fullerton College. Viramontes on their opening running game over their next ball giving up great positioning drive. Unfortunately, the Tigers’ three drives, while the Tigers to Fullerton which led to another success ended there. offense went three and out in their Fullerton touchdown, ending the RCC would give up two next three possessions. first quarter at 21-7. touchdowns to Fullerton’s The Tigers then fumbled the The second quarter was just

as merciless. The Tigers could not find effective offense and struggled to score scarcely. The only points scored by RCC in the quarter came in the form of a 34 yard field goal by kicker John Garibay who scored three points. However, RCC gave up two more touchdowns in the next three Fullerton possessions. RCC scored one more touchdown, another receiving pass to Sutton for 42 yards from Viramontes, before the end of the half. Tigers kicker Antonio Estrada would unfortunately miss the pointafter-try leaving the score at 10-34. This would be the last quarter where RCC would score in the game. Fullerton shut out the Tigers in the entire second half of the game. To add insult to injury, the Hornets scored an extra 44 points, ending the Tigers season with a 75-16 defeat. RCC ends their season with a 12-2 record. Despite the loss to cap their tenure in 2017, the Tigers still had a successful season overall, placing second in the state, ranked second in total rushing yards, seventh in rushing touchdowns scored, eight in overall touchdowns scored, and ninth in overall points scored.

Vic Viramontes commits to Minnesota University NICHOLAS PERALTA @Nickthephantom

After submitting one of the best quarterback campaigns in Riverside City College football history, 2017 star quarterback Vic Viramontes is set to move on to the University of Minnesota to play Division 1 football.

Viramontes turned in an incredible year for the RCC Tigers and was also one of the most significant offensive threats in the entire California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) after posting incredible numbers in all major offensive categories for a quarterback this season. At 6 feet 1 inch tall and

weighing 230 pounds, Viramontes accumulated multiple accolades during his run as the starting quarterback. Vi r a m o n t e s h i m s e l f ranked first in the state in rushing touchdowns with 21 despite playing the position of quarterback. He also ranked first in the state in total rushing yards from

scrimmage with 1,346. Furthermore, he ranked second in average yards-percarry with 7.4 and third in rushing yards-per-game with 112.2. Viramontes now joins the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers who are a part of the Big Ten Conference. They are currently sixth in the division with an overall record of 2-7.

SHAKINA GAMON | VIEWPOINTS

Sophomore Quarterback Vic Viramontes.

RCC wins third place in CCCAA state tourney NICHOLAS PERALTA @Nickthephantom

Riverside City College’s women’s water polo season comes to a successful end. After an unrelenting season that saw great action all throughout, RCC’s women’s water polo are the CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association) Championship third place winners. Heading into the CCCAA Championships for the fifth straight year, the Tigers were faced with the challenging task of taking on Sierra College in the semifinals. Both teams competed like offensive powerhouses, with several ejections being handed down to multiple players throughout the game that included lead game scorer Katy Peterson, Nikkol Webber and Megan Upton.

MIA MAGANA | VIEWPOINTS

Women’s water polo averaged an impressive 10.13 goals per game across 31 games this season. The ejections came late in the game after the Tigers fell behind in the final quarter, desperate to save themselves from defeat. Freshman attacker

Peterson accounted for two scores throughout the game, along with one steal. Webber also garnered one goal, as well as an assist for

sophomore defender Anay Ramirez’s goal. Ultimately, RCC fell to Sierra 6-5, thus eliminating them from the championship game.

The Tigers were still given the opportunity to solidify their satisfactory season with a third place game against San Joaquin Delta College Nov. 18. I n t h a t g a m e , We b b e r displayed the best performance of her freshman season. Performing excellently in every facet, Webber notched three scores while adding three assists, four steals and two drawn ejections. Ramirez and freshman Kate Fox each brought in four goals, while Fox chipped in two steals and two drawn ejections. Freshman goalkeeper Hannah McCarley shined in her final game of the season as well, producing eight saves. The women’s water polo team finish the season with an overall record of 26-5 which includes an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) finals appearance, Southern California Regional Finals appearance and a fifth straight CCCAA State Championship appearance.

LIFE

November 30, 2017

“The music business is motivated by money. Music is motivated by energy and feelings.” -

Erykah Badu

Warning: rage quit may occur

Destroy your personal life, get on your phone and download South Park’s newest game. HEIDI DYE @RCCViewpoints

“South Park Phone Destroyer” was released Nov. 9 for Android and iOS devices it’s a role-playing game where fans can battle with their favorite characters from the series. It’s a warm day in the town of South Park, tired of playing “Wizards and Elves,” the boys of South Park, Kyle, Stan, Kenny, and Cartman can’t decide on which game to play. Instead of just choosing one game to play, they decide to play all of them, “Cowboys and Indians,” “Aliens and Robots,” “Christians and Jews,” and “Wizards and Elves.” It’s all on the new kid to help the boys defeat the various bosses that lay in the streets. You play as the New Kid, a master on their phone and one of the main characters of the game and the show. Your avatar is customizable so the character can be changed to your liking. The game is played by placing different cards that feature various characters with different attacks and powers onto the battlefield. Each card costs a certain amount of energy. The player’s energy loads while battling but at a slow pace and only up to ten at a time. There can be twelve cards featuring two different themes, either: Sci-fi, mystical adventure or fantasy in a deck. But neutral cards, for example Officer Barbrady, can be included with the addition of the two themes. New cards can be found in lockers, free decks of cards, or in PvP, player versus player packs. There are common, rare, epic and legendary cards to be found.

ILLUSTRATION BY HEIDI DYE

C a r t m a n ’s s t o r e o ff e r s free packs of cards every four hours but packs of cards can be purchased with cash. Even though cash doesn’t come that easy in the game, the player can buy cash with actual currency. Cards can be upgraded with specific items and coins and the more of the same cards a player has, the more powerful the card becomes. Upgrade items can be bought in Cartman’s store or found in lockers. When playing in single player mode, players face off against various bosses, Stan, Kenny, Kyle, or Cartman with their deck of cards. Each boss has

their own theme. Stan of Many Moons, takes over the Adventure theme. Cyborg Kenny, takes over the Sci-fi theme. Kyle, Master Ninjew, takes over the Mystical theme. Grand Wizard Cartman, takes over the Fantasy theme. After each match, players can open up lockers that include money, cards and upgrade items. There are different episodes in each theme with five stages in each of the episodes. Stages can be replayed up to fifteen times with it increasing in difficulty each time. At the end of some episodes, Don King, Butters, requires the player to win a certain amount of PvP matches

to proceed to the next episode. PvP matches are battles against other players of the game in real-time. A player wins once they depleted all of the other player’s health. After winning three matches, a player receives a PvP pack of cards that includes new cards, upgrade items, coins, money and PvP tickets which can be used in Butter’s store. Since the game is fairly new, there are still some bugs within the game. For one, sometimes the game glitches and an enemy will regain some of their health. Also the game will freeze and when it unfreezes the game would be

at a different point. PvP matches sometimes will put a player against another player who is at a higher level. After reaching level ten in PvP, players start to lose progress after each defeat, making it harder to keep a rank. Also to his app takes a whopping amount of battery power and memory, the game has to have at least 650 MB to load which is equivalent to ⅔ of a GB. Other than the bugs, “South Park Phone Destroyer” is a highly addictive game that’s a good way to pass the time or in my case, destroy my social life. So bring your phone and join the boys in their battle against each other.

JAYY MIRELES

So you’re an impulse shopper. There’s two things you can do. First, think about the things that are more important that you’re shopping for and pretend it’s not there. Secondly, tell yourself you don’t have enough money, even if you do. You probably can’t afford those shoes right now. Later you’ll need that money for something more important. Sales are often a trick. Just because you’re saving $3 doesn’t mean that you need that shiny new item. Re-evaluate your needs and stay true to your bank account. Gas is something that we all think of. Are you planning a road

trip, but you really shouldn’t be? Gas is a tricky subject because it’s a staple, especially living in Southern California. There are apps that you can download on your phone that will tell you the gas stations close to you and will give you a list of their prices so you can find the cheapest one closest to you. Google Maps has a feature that does that too. Limit yourself and coordinate driving with your friends when going out. Have everyone chip in for gas, or take turns. Don’t drive out of your way for reasons that are not really justified, you know what you need to do.

Don’t be a baby, go get your finances in check @RCCViewpoints

ILLUSTRATION BY IMARI REDE

Are you not to be trusted with money? Is “saving” a word left out of your vocabulary? Stop eating out! That is one of the main issues us college students have, we go for the easier route. Honestly, it is so much cheaper just to make your own food and portion it for three days and take it for lunch. Just go home and eat, wait it out and save that cheddar. Do you not know how to stop buying? Are sales your “thing”?

November 30, 2017

Life

DANIEL QUESADA @RCCViewpoints

“DAMN.” by Kendrick Lamar The fourth studio release by Kendrick Lamar comes after his incomparable 2015 studio album, “To Pimp a Butterfly.” “DAMN.” shows a sporadic side of Lamar, one who doesn’t care what the media says about him. In fact, he uses samples of media outlets talking about his music in a negative light to hype up his songs even more and giving said media outlets a big middle finger to the face. He has his highs and his lows on this album. From the I want to jump around and go crazy side like, “HUMBLE.” and “DNA.” to a softer sound like “LOVE.” and “PRIDE.” Overall this album is another win for Lamar (as if he can ever take a loss.)

“American Teen” by Khalid If there was ever an album to sum up an ‘American Teen,’ this would be it. Khalid covers all topics that teens today in America go through such as longing for the person that they want back in “Saved” as well as a sense of adventure and need to be free of everything in the appropriately titled “8TEEN.” There’s even a song that address being, well, “Young Dumb & Broke” and accepting that and still having fun. American Teen” is the perfect representation of what goes on in a teenager’s mind because will the material is being sung by a teenager. The album is a great listen for those long adventurous drives.

“Flower Boy” by Tyler, the Creator Wow, just wow. Tyler, the Creator does it again with his vibes and vocals and the overall way he handles his sound and makes it his own. From tracks like the intro “Foreword” with the soothing vocals of Rex Orange County to the Frank Ocean feature on the track “Where this Flower Blooms,” Tyler always knows how to extend himself and make a killer track that we can all bang our heads to like he did with “I Ain’t Got Time.” His use of different sounds and vocals to make his music sound a bit more different from other artists out there.

“FREE 6LACK” by 6LACK Although this album was released late in 2016, it didn’t hit its peak until 2017 where it reached 34 on the Billboard 200. 6LACK really made a name for himself on his debut studio album “FREE 6LACK,” which his soothing vocals and a trap rap/R&B vibe that makes you just want to lay back, close your eyes, throw some headphones on and just relax and vibe out. The one year anniversary of the release of “FREE 6LACK” gave us three new songs to enjoy titled “Glock Six,” “In Between” featuring BANKS and “One Way” featuring T-Pain. The original didn’t have any features but 6LACK called upon the vocals of BANKS and T-Pain, respectively, to give us something special. These new additions definitely add to an already stacked album and really tie his sound all together to complete the album.

“Luv Is Rage 2” by Lil Uzi Vert Lil Uzi Vert definitely got it right with “Luv Is Rage 2.” The songs are catchy, the beats are ‘fire’ and Uzi gives a vocal performance that redefines the term “Rap Rock Star.” Throughout his career he has been know as the rockstar of the rap world and on this album he has confirmed that. With tracks like “444+222” that make you wanna just cruise and bump or tracks like “Unfazed” that are a softer melody and beats with some added vocals by The Weeknd. Uzi can do no wrong on this album with the vocals and beats compiled together makes a solid album all the way around.

JAYY MIRELES @RCCViewpoints

“Sacred Hearts Club” by Foster the People

Clockwise from top middle: Dua Lipa, Khalid, Yukimi

VIEWPOINTS’ TOP 15 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

Membe top five like Th that yo Comm

Foster the People have really stepped up their game with “Sacred Hearts Club.” Their songs have a Tame Impala vibe now and really take you on a trip. Lead singer, Mark Foster’s voice has really improved as well, like with their song “I Love My Friends” which talks about reckless friends that have each other. This album also has more of a happy tone then some of their other albums as well. It makes you really get into the feels, then it could make you cry. It’s almost like going into the mind of a young adult that cannot make up their mind and dances while crying. I would suggest this album, or any of Foster the People’s albums to anyone, because their music really can relate to anyone.

“Something to Tell You” by Haim Finally, after years of having a break from releasing music, Haim, the band of three sisters from Los Angeles, bring their sophomore album to the table. Their sound has really evolved from what they released a couple years ago, but they still have the same effect and sound as they did on their debut “Days Are Gone.” Their sound and studio quality has really changed with tracks like “Night So Long” and “Found It In Silence” that involve orchestras and three-piece harmonies that can make you fall asleep (in a good way). They also bring it back with “You Never Knew” which sounds like a mix of Fleetwood Mac and Cyndi Lauper. The album talks about the struggle of touring and how you have to say goodbye to everyone you love in order to tour and sometimes things don’t work out, like friendships or relationships. Overall, the album is a really good time, or “Haim Time” as the sisters branded it.

“BE HERE NOW” by The Mynabirds This album, I would have to put it at the top of the list. Laura Bird (lead singer, past member of The Postal Service), talks about very controversial topics like our current president and rape. While having melodic, yet weird, instrumentals and a beautiful voice like Bird’s, the album can really speak to the heart and make you feel the emotions that she feels. “Golden Age” is a sad ballad about how 2016 was the end of the Golden Age, how her heroes passed away and how Donald Trump is now president. She basically cries to tell us to wake up and see that we need to stand up and show that we’re not afraid. She brings to the table things that some artists are afraid to talk about, and she can really pack a punch with her sweet voice. Bird sounds like a magical and majestic being, that talks about the most horrible things and how we need to fix it. Her sweet voice is the sound of the new revolution.

Life

November 30, 2017

DOMINIQUE REDFEARN @DomRedfearn

“Dua Lipa” by Dua Lipa Model turned pop star Dua Lipa really makes her mark with her self titled debut. “Dua Lipa” is a catchy r&b/pop crossover full of synths, lyrics about female empowerment and confidence topped off with Lipa’s signature deep, raspy vocals. Standout single “New Rules” and its accompanying music video are what finally broke the London native into the U.S. mainstream. After achieving a number one single on U.K. charts, the song has finally started inching its way up the charts in the U.S., most recently entering the Billboard Top 200 at No. 19. Songs like “Thinking ’Bout You” and “Be The One” long for a lover to come back into her life. In contrast, “IDGAF” includes an anthem-like chorus, rallying vocals around the acronym that is the song title to fend off a boy that plays games. Lipa already has an all-star resume of collaborators including Martin Garrix, Miguel and Sean Paul and is surely on the way to becoming a star herself.

“I See You” by The xx From a Drake sample to the influence of a band member’s solo album, indie rock trio The xx took their signature sound for a spin on “I See You.” When the band released their lead single “On Hold” late last year, it was made very clear that the band known for their minimalistic production was going to take it up a notch with their third album. A four year break between albums gave the band time to grow. Producer and resident beats maker Jamie xx released his first solo album, “In Colour,” in 2015 which he later cited as being a big influence for “I See You.” Where only simple guitar riffs, drum beats and intimate vocals from Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim may have been before were amplified with their new found influence. Opening track “Dangerous” blares with horns a la Florence + the Machine while “Performance” alludes to the band’s original sound with only Croft’s vocals and a guitar punctuated with Jamie xx’s production. The album is a welcome step in the right direction.

Blue Lips (lady wood phase II) by Tove Lo Swedish pop star Tove Lo is never one to use hidden meanings in her music. Perhaps the most straightforward and sexually gratifying pop artist out there, Lo returns with “Blue Lips,” a follow up to 2016’s “Lady Wood.” While “Lady Wood” explored the spark of attraction and the aftermath of its fade, “Blue Lips” contains two contrasting chapters of its own, “Light Beams” and “Pitch Black.” The album begins with infectious lead single “disco t***” which speaks of sweaty club dancing while “cycles” finds the singer acknowledging her toxic romantic habits. “Blue Lips” is yet another commanding and reflective journey from Lo.

“Everyday is Christmas” by Sia ILLUSTRATION BY OF ISELA OROZCO

i Nagano of Little Dragon, Haim and 6LACK.

ers of Viewpoints’ Life section choose their e albums of the year ranging from big names The xx and Kendrick Lamar to smaller acts ou need to know like Mynabirds and Thee mons.

While other artists play it safe and take on their own renditions of Christmas classics, leave it to Sia accidentally write a full Christmas album. In an interview with Beats 1 Radio host Zane Lowe, the singer said she grew tired of the same holiday standards and decided to pull from the topics that were already there like Santa Claus and mistletoe. The album includes what can be compared to as a “Cheap Thrills” holiday counterpart, the upbeat holiday banger like “Ho Ho Ho” to more traditional sounding ballads like “Snowman.” “Snowman” urges a lover to avoid the forthcoming spring weather to “go below zero and hide from the sun.” It’s not all melancholy however. “Santa’s Coming For Us” is an upbeat song about the anticipation of Saint Nick while “Puppies Are Forever” is about, well, how puppies are forever. Be sure to make this album a new part of your holiday traditions.

IMARI REDE @RCCViewpoints

“Season’s High” by Little Dragon After taking part of amazing collaborations with artists like Gorillaz and Kaytranada, Little Dragon’s fifth full length album doesn’t disappoint especially if you’re a fan of the style that they’ve been maintained over the years. The band continues to let the electronic synth-wave vibes and lead singer, Yukimi Nagano’s soulful voice run the show. The song “Strobe Light” is one of the most popular songs on the album that carries themes of luxury and love with a classic ’80s dance beat to it. “Push” brings a lick of French that their last album, “Nabuma Rubberband” was known for. Little Dragon will be touring London and Mexico in the coming spring.

“Paleta Sonora” by Thee Commons Psychedelic cumbia-punk has never made you move so good. Thee Commons have been making a splash of color the LA scene and beyond during the past few years. Their third full album “Paleta Sonora” took the band on their largest tour yet stopping at venues across the country. The song “Playas” is a fun upbeat song. David Pacheco’s scratchy voice brings some punk to the surf, all in Spanish. Thee Commons are the opening band for Chicano Batman’s New Year’s Eve celebration so put on your best “Camisa al Reves” and head out to the psychedelic baile.

“Freedom is Free” by Chicano Batman Chicano Batman makes the psychedelic realm a reality for brown people of all ages. Love and culture run their lyrics. This album moves away from their deep love songs to talk about a different type of love. “ La Jura” is the emotional center point of the album as they bring current events to the forefront by singing about someone who is shot by the police and left to die. The chorus translates to “Those that should protect do the opposite, they kill innocent people.” For some fans the band’s change from romantic love to loving social awareness is too much of a change. The band has been called a sell out by some fans because of their album’s preceding single “This Land is Your Land” and the song of the same name of the album, “Freedom is Free.” These two songs are songs that have pushed Chicano Batman into the light of the mainstream media. Having this type of attention is overall a good thing for the band because they are able to have a platform to share strongly messaged music, like what is heard in “La Jura.” Chicano Batman is set to play at the Fox Theater in Pomona for a New Year’s Eve celebration.

November 30, 2017

Life

No justice for the legendary league DAE THOMAS

@RCCviewpoints

As a former DC Extended Universe enthusiast, there’s a lot to “unbox” from the DC juggernaut superhero team-up movie. And, as many were expecting, (even the Warner Bros. execs themselves it seems) it’s a very mixed bag, or box I suppose since that was my first pretentious inanimate object analogy. The film headlines a robust, if not slightly crowded cast of old pros mixed with charismatic up-and-comers: Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Amy Adams as Diane Lane, JK Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Ciaran Hinds as Steppenwolf. What a mouthful. Phew. The film was (and you can tell) directed for three quarters of the production process by the bulky-goggles obsessed Zack Snyder, and then handed over to Joss Whedon after Snyder stepped away from the film due to the death of his daughter. What unfortunately resulted was further bastardization. Remember that misogynistic Whedon “Wonder Woman” script

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that leaked and we all breathed a sigh of relief because it was never made? It would seem he got his hands on her legacy after all, and what results ultimately feels like I’m watching a female co-worker get sexually harassed on a regular basis at work. Each male member of the league expresses implicit or explicit sexual attraction to Diana. Whedon dressed her and portrayed her like a beefedup Black Widow-type. It’s

rather unflattering and in poor taste, especially after this years “Wonder Woman” made such headway in terms of portraying women admirably in film. Think I’m being overly sensitive? Whedon literally inserted a bit where The Flash briefly lands face-down in Diana’s breasts. Don’t even get me started on the Amazons’ costume design. I can only assume Whedon being brought on was the WB executives attempt to soften and

she returned in all starts and was technically the tenth queen eliminated in the show, returning a second time as a fan favorite. Katya was the eleventh queen to be eliminated on the show, and also won the title of “Miss Congeniality” for also being a fan favorite and being the nicest and most cordial queen on her season. Since both queens got so far on their season, and were such fan favorites for their comedy and strange fashion, they were common occurring characters on the “World of Wonder YouTube channel,” “WOWPresents,” and in other various web series and shows. They were so popular that their fans demanded them to have their own web series so “UNNhhh” came about. “UNNhhh,” was only produced a year ago. It grew in so much popularity, having over

a million views just on their first video and averaging over 50,000 views each episode. With raunchy comedy about a different topic every day ranging from sex to movies. Trixie and Katya’s web series grew in popularity because of their pop culture references and raunchy comedy, being able to make almost any subject funny. They kept doing their thing until the network, Viceland, saw their show and commended them and gave them an actual televised talk show on their channel called “The Trixie and Katya Show.” “You know, they say on the road to success, to work hard, or whatever, they don’t say you should cross-dress on YouTube until someone pays attention,” said Trixie in one of the trailers for their talk show. The premier episode of “The Trixie and Katya Show”

inject some fun and color into their limping franchise after the intense critical whiplash brought on by 2016’s “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad.” It was a risk that did not pay off. This brings me to my next point: This movie was a sort of last-ditch attempt at capturing the mainstream and critical crowd as “Wonder Woman” had done, but it falls so short. It was nice to live in the “Wonder Woman” era of good

Rotten Tomatoes scores for superhero DC films. The reason “Wonder Woman” succeeded was because it was meticulously and lovingly crafted, with respect for her origins. “Justice League” doesn’t even come close. The movie runtime itself is less than two hours which is an egregious sin. A film that’s about some of the biggest names not only in DC, but in comic book lore as a whole needs more time for character development. I can’t help but wonder if a soft reboot for the franchise is the way to go at this point. The future is somewhat uncertain as we wait for the undoubted announcements that Warner Bros. will make after “Justice League” has been at play in the box office long enough. Future slated films include “Aquaman” and a currently untitled “Wonder Woman” sequel, both of which will be helmed by James Wan and Patty Jenkins. Both directors who’ve proven to be no slouches when it comes to meaningful storytelling and box office success. They are they only creative forces at play that I feel like won’t sink this already hurting extended universe (evidenced by the lukewarm $96 million opening weekend). In Jenkins and Wan we trust.

Attention, all drag queens to the front please! JAYY MIRELES @RCCviewpoints

Drag queens Trixie Mattel (Brian Michael Firkus) and Katya Zamolodchikova (Brian Joseph McCook) are the first drag queens after RuPaul to have their own televised show. Both of these individuals moved up in the drag queen “food chain” from performing in bars, to being on the reality television game show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, to having their own YouTube series, “UNHhhh,” to now having their own show on Viceland called “The Trixie and Katya Show”. Trixie and Katya first stole our hearts on season 7 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2015. Neither of them won the reality game show. Although originally, Trixie was the fourth queen to be eliminated,

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discussed the very hairy topic “Hooking Up” where the two queens talked about the ups and downs and the process that people take while participating in hookup culture. “On this show we take a single topic, and explore it inside and out, like a handsy funeral director, giving the most inappropriate autopsy,” Katya

Entertainment Briefs RCC Holiday Extravaganza Come enjoy a night of holiday music presented by the RCC music ensembles Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. General admission is $20, VIP admission includes hors d’oeuvre and wine reception on the CAADO Roof Top Terrace for $50. ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Festival of Lights 2017 Explore the hottest winter event loaded with holiday fun and excitement in downtown Riverside. Nov. 25 - Dec. 24 Mon.- Thu. 5 - 10 p.m. Fri. 5 - 11p.m. Sat. 3 - 11 p.m. Sun. 3 - 10 p.m.

Holiday Art and Craft Sale The RCC Art Club and ASRCC are holding an event which will include handmade ornaments, art prints, original work, hot chocolate, cookies and more Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the RCC Quad.

said in an interview. Overall, “The Trixie and Katya Show,” although not right for all people because of the raunchy comedy, is a good laugh. “It feels like you’re hanging out with one of your friends,” Trixie said. Each episode airs once a week on Wednesday at 10 P.M. on Viceland.

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November 30, 2017

Big budget pipeline bursts

us what you think, in a letter to the editor, in an email, or use #RCCnow.

The construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline continues after oil spill by Standing Rock

KEVIN KNOX @KevinNotKevin

For over five years now, Native American tribes and climate activists across the country have waged a long, tiring battle against the construction of the now-infamous Keystone XL Oil Pipeline. These groups mainly cite the potentially devastating leaks such pipelines are prone to, as well as the ethics of building them through lands that local Native American tribes consider sacred as reasons why their construction should be blocked at all costs. The pipeline debates came to a rather violent head in 2016, as the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of South Dakota, along with many environmental activists, set up camps and physically blocked constr uction of an adjacent pipeline built by Dakota Access. During their months-long protest, these self-proclaimed

“ water protectors” were subjected to an astonishing level of police brutality. At the t i me, foot age of the local sheriff’s department dispensing tear gas and using high-pressure hoses to spray protesters with ice-cold water, on a night when temperatures were below zero, went viral. The Guardian reported that at least 160 activists were injured during that clash alone. This is the extent of what these protesters have gone through in their fight against the oil pipelines. But in the end, the Standing Rock protesters left their camp, as the Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone XL pipeline were approved for construction. It seems the U.S. government did not care much about those groups’ fear of major oil leaks poisoning the land contaminating their groundwater. So what has happened in the aftermath? On Apr. 4 the Dakota Access Pipeline spilled 84 gallons of oil in South Dakota, not too far from Standing Rock. If that were not enough, the Keystone XL pipeline spilled over 200,000 gallons of oil, again not far from the Standing Rock tribe’s territory Nov. 16. These are two of the three leaks South Dakota’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources has reported this year

alone. Officials for TransCanada, who are constructing Keystone X L , h ave r ele a s e d pu bl ic statements saying that local water supplies have not been contaminated. But National Geographic reports that local Native American leaders are not so sure. Whether or not these spills specifically have contaminated any thing, the fact remains a bu nd a nt ly cle a r t h at t he Native American tribes and the environmental protesters who have been spending the last few years fighting against these pipelines tooth and nail are vindicated by these events. CNN reports that a spokesman for South Dakota’s Department of Environmental and Natural resources said leaks such as the one that occurred on Apr. 4 are “not uncommon.” This has been abundantly clear as of late. If we’re lucky, the recent Keystone XL leak may not cause any serious damage, but who’s to say the next one won’t? Several groundwater sources and many Native American ter ritories stand to become catastrophically contaminated should any one of the pipelines being built in that area leak again. We have no idea what the size of the next leak may be, but it looks like we can be sure that

IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

there will be more in the future. With the news that Nebraska’s Public Service Commission will allow the Keystone XL Pipeline to be built through their state despite the recent leak, it’s clear that they will never deter our government from building more. These pipelines represent a mountain of short-term profits, and it looks like America’s local, state and federal governments

see that as worth potentially contaminating the water sources that millions of people rely on. The Standing Rock protesters endured hoses, beatings, having dogs sicced on them and so much more in their efforts to warn us about these risks. It’s a shame that recent events indicate those warnings apparently will not be heeded, even after it’s too late.

Society’s problem in dealing with sexual assault

LESLIE SANTIBANEZ @RCCviewpoints

There is a toxic double standard present within our society regarding female victims of sexual assault. One way it is reflected is in Hollywood’s behavior dealing with sexual assault. Female victims tend to be ignored. If they ever dared to speak out, media outlets would mock them. These women had their reputations torn to shreds. Countless actresses have described their experiences being targets of harassment by men in positions of power. A-List actresses, such as

Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow have come forward, but they are still being shunned by society. T h e i r A- l i s t s t a t u s i s irrelevant. Their experiences are still seen with a degree of skepticism. S o c ie t y’s hy p o c r i s y i s prominent in the accusations against Louis C.K. It is a struggle for people to admit that their idols have used their position of power to assault women. He has a loyal fanbase and even I enjoy his sense of humor, but what he did was wrong. C.K’s people still excused him. His fans exclaimed that he had asked permission before exposing himself to the women. Sure, it was not on the level of Harvey Weinstein, but it is still wrong. The online commentary was abusive towards the women with several derogatory terms. The commentary questioned why the women didn’t leave i m med iately i nstead of questioning C.K.’s actions. In contrast male actors who

IMAGE COURTESY OF PIXABAY

have shared their experiences with sexual assault have been praised. Actors such as Terry Crews have spoken out against their harassers and named them. “If I would have just retaliated, in defense, I would be in jail right now,” Crews said. “That’s one thing I knew, being a large Black African American man in America, I would have immediately be seen as a thug, but I’m not a thug.”

It’s great that more people are speaking out and sharing their experiences with sexual assault, especially men. However, there is a huge contrast in the way Crews’ was treated. People praised Crews for having the courage to speak out. People didn’t question him. Comments cheered him on while comments under female victims often mocked them. The women were always questioned.

The idea that we should wait for evidence before anyone starts to point fingers popped up a lot in online comments. When men came out against Kevin Spacey, people were outraged. Spacey lost his spot in a hit show and any prospects he had within a day or two. Weinstein still has not been jailed even though there is a pile of evidence and several eyewitness testimonies. It took the voice of a man for people to be willing to listen. It is frustrating to see how women are treated in this society. Their thoughts and opinions are disregarded as if they are not capable of them. Women are seen as being incapable of anything but at the same time seen as being out to ruin men’s lives. This needs to stop. Victims of sexual assault need to have a support system to help them speak out. Victims should be believed regardless of their gender. That is the only way we can truly deal with sexual assault.

November 30, 2017

Campus Conversations How do you feel about President Donald Trump issuing an executive order to cut federal funding from sanctuary cities?

“He’s really screwing over a lot of people that came to this country for a better future. It hits me on a personal level because I have a lot of family that live in safe havens, so for them not to have that anymore kinda sucks.” - Braulio Parra

“I don’t feel good about it. I am a DACA recipient, so I know the struggle of hearing all about it. It’s just too personal. I just try to ignore it. So for me it’s not good.” - Mariana Hernandez Garcia

“I don’t like what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to pressure cities and states. I don’t like that he’s threatening our well being just because he doesn’t like immigrants.” - Yobany Gutierrez

“Personally I feel like he’s not looking towards the future, towards us as a future generation. He’s acting based on instinct not on planning ahead.” - Nicolas Starcev

Interviews by Nahid Ponciano Photos by Marcus Cocava Campus Conversations is an open forum for Riverside City College students to voice their own opinions, views and ideas.

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Cash crop of the century

Big businesses keep marijuana illegal for their own self serving needs

JOSHUA BURCIAGA @RCCviewpoints

Marijuana has carried a negative stigma throughout recent history. In the ‘60s and ‘70s marijuana was associated with hippies, so if you smoked you were viewed as a lazy bum or a drug addict. In the ‘80s and ‘90s the plant was then associated with rap and R&B, so if you smoked you were viewed as a troublemaker, hoodrat or drug dealer. Weed legalization leads to less crime and criminal behavior, and there hasn’t been a single recorded marijuana overdose since its legalization. Marijuana has been legalized in over 29 states in the U.S, however, there are still 21 states which refuse to legalize marijuana. These 29 states reap the medical, economic, and social benefits of weed legalization. This leads some to ask: why is marijuana illegal? The common argument I often hear for opposing legalization is that marijuana is unhealthy. But your brain’s anatomy suggests otherwise. Scientists Kevin Bonsor and Nicholas Gerbis released a study called “How Marijuana Works”, that explains how marijuana affects your brain. Your brain has millions of microscopic cells known as neurons that utilize neurotransmitters and receptors to communicate with one another. Each neuron performs a specific function. You have neurons for food, for water, for oxygen and even for weed. “Your brain has groups of cannabinoid receptors concentrated in several different places,” Bonsor and Gerbis said. “High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors exist in the hippocampus, cerebellum and basal ganglia.” The brain contains neurons for marijuana, but what the brain doesn’t posses are neurons for meth and alcohol. This is why if you smoke too much meth or drink too much alcohol, you overdose and die. Therefore, the likelihood of overdosing on marijuana, is the same as having an overdose from food, water or even oxygen.

So if marijuana is harmless, w h y d o n ’t w e l e g a l i z e i t everywhere? I mean, why is something as harmless as weed considered illegal, yet something as toxic as nicotine perfectly legal? Here’s the thing you need to know about weed, it’s a weed and weeds grow anywhere. You can throw a couple of seeds on the dirt, come back eight months later and then you have yourself a plantation. Anyone could grow it in their backyard. It doesn’t require a lot of work, effort or money. Nicotine on the other hand, is completely different. In order to successfully grow nicotine you need perfect weather, soil, amount of water, fertilizer and so on and so forth. Growing nicotine requires a lot of work, skill, effort and a considerable amount of money just to grow it in your backyard. If you want to start a business in the nicotine industry, not only do you have to spend millions of dollars just to start, but you also have to constantly invest millions of dollars on new technology in order to stay ahead of the game. With a business model like this, you’re able to monopolize it so then only the rich and well connected can start this type of business. Whereas with weed, anybody can pretty much grow it by themselves and start their own business overnight. This type of business model is a threat to the type of model that many businesses rely on. In fact, there are hundreds of pharmaceutical companies that would be put out of business by marijuana because the industry would easily replace them. A study done by Ashley C. Bradford and David W. Bradford showed states that legalized medicinal marijuana saw a decrease in prescriptions for other drugs. “This included anxiety, depression, glaucoma, nausea, pain, psychosis, seizures, sleep disorders and spasticity,” Debra Borchardt, writer for Forbes Magazine said. “The Bradfords also found a 13% decline in depression drug prescriptions, a 12 percent drop in psychosis drug prescriptions and an 11 percent slide in pain drugs.” This resulted in pharmaceutical companies losing billions of dollars worth of revenue. That’s why big pharmaceutical companies are funding anti-pot studies, lobbyists for certain federal agencies and reelection campaigns for lawmakers who oppose legalization. Big business can’t make a profit off of weed. This is precisely why it’s illegal. Marijuana doesn’t stop at the production of cheaper and safer

ILLUSTRATION BY ISELA OROSCO

medication. The hemp grown from marijuana can be used to make cheaper necessities. It can make products such as newsprint, computer paper, stationery paper, cardboard, envelopes, toilet paper, diapers, tampons, clothing, rope, canvas, paint, ink, plastic substitutes and thousands of more items. Using hemp to produce these items are extremely beneficial to the environment as well. One acre of marijuana can produce up to four times more paper than one acre of trees. Harvesting marijuana does little damage to the topsoil compared to the harvesting methods used to collect wood and cotton. Hemp could easily replace cotton and reduce the amount of water and pesticides we use to produce clothing and textiles. The economical and environmental aspects of marijuana can help us curb pollution, make necessities cheaper and more available to the public and create thousands of jobs in the process. Jack Herer, cannabis rights activist and author of “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”, informs that marijuana has been commercially used to make products for thousands of years and that the plant has only been illegal for less than a hundred years. “Benjamin Franklin started one of America’s first paper mills with cannabis,” Herer said. “This allowed America to

have a free colonial press without having to beg or justify paper and books from England.” In a letter to William Pearce, plantation field manager for George Washington, the former first president wrote for him to follow a very strict order. “Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere!” said Washington. Our Founding Fathers understood the potential marijuana could bring to our nation and grew marijuana themselves. Now it’s time for us to make the most of our seeds and lift the prohibition on marijuana. Marijuana isn’t illegal because it’s dangerous for our youth or because it’s a gateway drug. It’s illegal because it endangers the insurmountable amount of money and power that big business leaders hold on our economy. We can create a world where clothing can become affordable for everyone. Where public schools no longer suffer from shortages because supplies are too expensive. Where the pollution and damage caused from deforestation could end in a heartbeat. Do not settle for weed legalization which limits us to recreational or medicinal use. In order to truly change our economy for the better, we must allow businesses to legally own and utilize marijuana for commercial use and we should demand for nothing less.

November 30, 2017

Liberty needs net neutrality

Editorial

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The internet has become such a commonplace necessity in the lives of most Americans that it’s easy to imagine that it will always remain a free and open medium. like to believe it will remain a place where you can always access any type of content you want and where the people delivering that content can’t play favorites because they disagree with the message being delivered or want to charge more money for faster delivery. This is, apparently, a thought process that is not shared between the public and the President Donald Trump’s administration. A planned Dec. 14 vote by the Federal Communication Commission is expected to result in net neutrality being eliminated as the rule governing internet service providers. Instead, access to online services would be governed by a much weaker set of rules based on expecting corporate executives to stick to their published policies rather than requiring an even playing field. The Viewpoints Editorial Board believes that in a world where so much communication and

commerce are conducted online, the freedom to continue operating in an open and content neutral internet is a must. Ending net neutrality would open the floodgates for phone and cable companies to unleash their monopolies on the public’s internet resources. As it is, they would then have the ability to pay to block competitors and to fix prices. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, these major phone and cable companies have already proven their blatant disregard for the interests of free speech in the years prior to net neutrality regulations being set in place. Before net neutrality, Verizon blocked text messages from reproductive rights group NARAL, calling them “controversial.” Before net neutrality, AT&T censored a Pearl Jam live stream over Eddie Vedder’s criticism of then-president George W. Bush. Without net neutrality protections, the internet becomes a platform where the highest bidder reigns supreme. It would become a luxury rather than a public resource. We cannot let that happen. We cannot allow this administration to ignore the millions of Americans

who rely on an open internet and have contacted the FCC to voice their support for net neutrality. Without net neutrality laws, internet subscribers would have to pay more to access websites such as Facebook and Twitter, while the quality of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu would be determined by how much extra a consumer paid. Imagine having to pay extra each month to stream your favorite shows on Netflix in addition the regular fee the streaming service charges. Imagine having to pay a monthly fee to access your emails. How would such a fee affect college students who are already paying for other resources needed for their classes? Imagine having to pay to be an informed citizen this nation needs you to be. This isn’t a matter of partisan politics, it’s one of fundamental fairness to American consumers and businesses. Time is running out and it is the civic duty of the American people to take a stand against the threats that ending net neutrality would pose to us as a nation. Make a call to Congress now to save net neutrality.

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

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STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dominique Redfearn (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu MANAGING EDITORS Nahid Ponciano Samantha Bartholomew viewpoints.managing@gmail.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Samantha Bartholomew viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Matt Schoenmann

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