Vol. 101 Issue 11

Students demand silence, noise complaints grow

Library considers bans for loud students, no noise toleration

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

The Salvatore G. Rotella Digital Library and Learning Resource Center is one of many key places at Riverside City College that students can visit for various resources, a place to study or a place to mingle.

Recently, the library has gained attention for how noisy it can get at the food lounge on the first floor. Students have said librarians are threatening to ban noisy patrons.

“I have heard it gets pretty loud and that (students) haven’t been able to focus on the ‘quiet floor’ which is located on the second floor of the Digital Library,” Chloe Spartos, a student at RCC, said.

Linda Joannesing, library technical assistant II, said the college assumes students will read the Student Handbook to learn about the Code of Conduct. She said the noise is a product of how crowded the building is.

“If there are a lot of people, it can get noisier, but with fewer people, it is usually not an issue,” Joannesing said.

Librarians have continued to warn students that they may be asked to leave if the noise level in the library becomes too loud.

This has been a frequent issue this semester compared to the previous semesters following COVID-19, according to Jacqueline Lesch, department co-chair and librarian faculty.

She said that many of the current rules and regulations students are

Construction causes commute

fully adjust.”

The throwing teams have felt separated due to the move.

The athletes and coaches prefer the grass at UCR to the turf that they had at home.

August. However, the recent storms may have delayed the process.

The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees approved funding for the RCC Football Field and Running Track Project.

The project is to replace the football field and the running track.

The field was shut down after a study conducted by an outside vendor right before the 2021 football playoffs..

The college’s football team has used Ramona High School’s stadium as its home field temporarily. The track and field team has been practicing at University of California, Riverside since the construction began March 4.

Track athletes have to go to RCC for classes, drive to UCR for cardio, and then drive back to RCC to lift weights in the Wheelock Gym. The shotput and discus throwers on the team still practice at RCC on the field near the parking structure.

“It’s a lot more tedious for them,” head women’s track and field coach Damien Smith said. “It took them about a week to

“Team bonding has been a little rough just because we’re separate from the (rest of the) team,” throws coach Nick Robinson said.

The constant back-and-forth travel between campuses isn’t the only issue for the athletes.

“Parking (at UCR) was the bigger issue,” Smith said. “Once we figured out the landscape and how to park, it became easier.”

“It’s been challenging, but it’s something (that happens) like in life. It’s something you have to do and you just get it done,” men’s track and field head coach Jim McCarron said. “They’ve done very well.”

The move hasn’t been entirely negative for the teams.

“UCR provides us with a lot of equipment that we have at our place and allows us to store other equipment here,” Smith said. “For the jumpers, they have more than one pit to jump in. I can put sprinters in one pit so they can do some drills and the long jumpers can still do their whole workout. They like the grass field here, it’s a little softer. It helps on their cooldowns.”

“I kinda wish we had grass,” McCarron said. “It’s just better for training. It’s less impact. It’s softer on the legs, so I really actually like it. One of the benefits of training over there is that we get to use their javelin runway on Mondays, which is really helpful. So that’s a big benefit of using their track.”

Smith said the teams have had to change its practice times due to the temporary move.

“The biggest obstacle is not being at home and not being able to get right to our stuff,” Smith said. “The girls normally practice at 1 o’clock. We had to shift up to 1 o’clock and the guys come at 3.”

The difference in the timing makes it harder for the coaches to focus on the athletes individually.

“Normally the girls would be done working out and the guys would come in,” Smith said. “Then we could fully focus on the guys, but now they intermingle a little bit.”

After the season ends the team will no longer be using UCR’s field.

The track is supposed to be completed by the last week of

“They ripped the track apart the day after our last home meet,” Smith said. “There hasn’t been a thing done to it since.”

Currently, there is more prep to do before the construction company can start laying down the new track.

“They are testing the asphalt to make sure everything is okay before they put the mondo track on top,” Robinson said. “Right now, they are going through testing to make sure they don’t have to replace any of the asphalt.”

The contractors and construction manager will update the official project schedule provided to them as progress is made.

The District’s project manager will oversee all operations in this project based on observations by the senior management of the construction company.

RCC will use the construction services of C.W. Driver LLC, led by Project Executive David Amundson. The construction of the new field and running track is projected to cost up to $192,000. This story is developing.

‘MUSE’ provides vulnerable space to feel,

HAYDEN KULICK & JAIR RAMIREZ

HAYDEN KULICK | VIEWPOINTS

Wheelock stadium looks in shambles April 4 after the track and field have been deconstructed to begin repairs and remodeling.

NEWS Healthcare union strikes

Editor: Alondra Montes-Martinez & Elaina Kleven news.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

BAN from page 1

Library attempts to regulate noise

expected to follow within the library are in the Student Handbook.

Lesch uses section V of the rights and responsibilities portion to determine if students are being disruptive. Both points 11 and 16 of this section help librarians to take appropriate actions. They say they will approach a group, and are sensitive to folks’ privacy.

“As employees, we will approach any student, without singling out any individual,” she said. “Loss of privileges defines for a designated period of time a student’s attendance on District property to specified activities including library privileges.”

They do hold the power to enforce a short or long-term suspension from the library if they deem it necessary. Banning a student from the library is an escalation that only the Dean of Student Services or vice president can make and will undergo more complex procedures outside of the librarians’ control.

LEFT: On March 31, Caregivers gather at Riverside Community Hospital (RCH) to protest understaffed and underpaid workers who are protesting under the Healthcare Corporation of America (HCU).

RIGHT: SEIU-UHW discovered 90% of healthcare workers at RCH reported being severely understaffed, nearly 80% reported having insufficient time for proper patient care and 70% reported delays or denials of patient care due to short staffing, according to the SEIU-UHW website.

Journalists push conversation for inclusion

Diversity panel encourages newsrooms to receive equal pay, break through barriers

VIANNEY MORALES STAFF REPORTER

The Society of Professional Journalists chapter, serving the greater Los Angeles area, held a panel March 28 discussing the importance of diverse leadership in the news industry.

USA Today Managing Editor Cristina Silva moderated the discussion.

The panelists were Deputy Managing Editor of the Washington Post Sharif Durhams, Axios Editor-in-Chief Sara Kehaulani Goo, Investigative Reporter for CBS Chicago Dorothy Tucker, Editor-in-Chief of El Paso Times Tim Archuleta and President of Telemundo Orlando Migdalia Figueora.

They focused on the importance of intentionally establishing

diversity at all levels in the newsroom, especially in the top managing positions.

Silva spoke about a time when her ideas were shut down because her editor didn’t believe there was an audience for immigration news stories.

“I had an editor who would never let me write about immigrants,” she said. “She would tell me people didn’t care about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or dreamers or immigration.”

Archuleta mentioned his earlycareer mentors recognized the importance of having a diverse newsroom.

“There was an awareness of the need to have more people of color in leadership roles,” he said.

Goo is an advocate for programs that aim to include those from underrepresented communities at

the entry-level.

“I’m a big supporter of (diversity) programs,” she said. “They’re lifechanging and really important if done well and organized.”

Her first internship out of college was with the Wall Street Journal through a minority journalism convention.

“I haven’t really seen progress in this industry without intentionality,” Goo said.

Page programs are entry-level internships designed to familiarize participants with the industry.

Figueora said that entry-level page programs must systematically change in order for the news industry to have more inclusion and diversity, especially if salaries do not support the cost of living for interns from underprivileged backgrounds.

“One of my biggest pushes at

the corporate level has been for these page programs, they have to change from the get-go,” she said. “We are only building certain opportunities for certain people with certain privileges.”

The conversation shifted to the panelists acknowledging barriers for people of color in management positions. They said that there is little support for people of color being promoted to leadership roles in the industry.

“Corporate leadership keeps you in the same position instead of giving you opportunities to go do bigger or better things,” Archuleta said.

The panelists agreed that the hiring process is inaccessible, especially to people of color.

Tucker took issue with the hiring process of management positions.

“At the top, I don’t see the commitment that has to be there if

we are going to get people of color in those top managing positions,” she said.

The Chicago reporter described how she has personally witnessed the flawed hiring program.

“They call their friends (to fill these positions), they end up looking just like them,” Tucker said. “Maybe they call and ask 4 or 5 people of color they know and then they figure they did their job in looking for candidates.”

She reflected on her own experiences in diverse newsrooms that represent a wide range of voices.

“The issues they raise stand out,” Silvia stressed.-“They are representing voices that aren’t in those rooms otherwise. It does make a huge difference when we have more diversity points in those editor meetings.”

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

ABOVE: Cowbells ring, music plays loudly and passing vehicles honk in support of healthcare workers that are part of the Service Workers International Union (SEIU-UHW).

ABOVE: Students enjoy a quiet area of the Salvatore G. Rotella Digital Library and Learning Resource Center on April 4.

Riverside unites to respect trans rights

Pride advocates protest, promise to protect LGBTQ+ youth

Crowds chanted “Hey Ho! Transphobia has got to go!” while vehicles drove by, many honking in support of the marchers, numbering over 100 people.

Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride, in solidarity with Queer Youth Assemble in Washington D.C., organized the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy in downtown Riverside on March 31.

Crowds assembled at Back to the Grind on University Avenue and passed out small posters that read “Protect Trans Youth’’ as well as different small flags representing many of the groups under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Many of the protestors brought homemade signs showing support for transgender youth.

The crowds began marching from the coffee shop around 4:20 p.m. and headed north toward Riverside City Hall.

When the crowd arrived at the City Hall, they gathered around to hear several local politicians and community leaders, many who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Speakers included Congressman Mark Takano, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Board Secretary of the Trans Health and Wellness Center Steff Warsinski, Riverside County Democratic Party Chair Joy Silver and Ward 1 Councilmember Erin Edwards.

The Riverside Resistance Revival Chorus was on hand to sing in honor of those who have died in the LGBTQ+ community.

Several of the speakers discussed the laws being passed nationwide regarding transgender youth and the damage those laws will cause. Cervantes spoke about AB1314, a California bill that, if passed, would require parental notification of students who come out to their teachers, forcibly outing those students to their parents.

After the planned speakers were finished, members of the community in the crowd were invited to come up on the stage to share their stories, and their calls for advocacy.

Overall, the organizers and speakers found the event to be very successful. “It’s a joy to see this many people in our community come together and say trans lives matter.” Cervantes said.

Brock Cavett, Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride Advocacy Director said to the crowd: “We knew that we had to do what we could here in Riverside, but we had no clue it was going to be such a huge success. Y’all didn’t disappoint!” His statement was responded to with cheers and shouts with one person in the crowd shouting “They can’t keep us down!”

Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride says it is an organization devoted to uniting, educating and celebrating the diverse LGBTQ+ community.

“We noticed that everyone was looking for something,” said David Giron, Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride vice president and fundraising director. “And they were all looking for community.”

Elaina Kleven contributed to this story.

A

Marchers, many of whom brought their own signs, also carry small signs that read “Protect Trans Youth” at the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy.

Congressman Mark Takano, Assemblyperson Sabrina Cervantes and other local politicians and community leaders spoke to a crowd that marched from Back to the Grind to the courthouse in Downtown Riverside.

A marcher holds up a sign that reads “Protect Trans Youth” at the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy.

A crowd of marchers listen to Congressman Mark Takano as he speaks about fighting legislation being created all over the nation at the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE

member of the Riverside Resistance Revival Chorus hugs Congressman Mark Takano after he concluded his speech at the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy on March 31.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

STEPHEN DAY

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Stealing the season series

Tigers take advantage of control issues, win two out of three games

SETH HAYGOOD STAFF REPORTER

A back-and-forth slugfest peaked with a seven-run fifth inning that propelled the Riverside City College baseball team to victory over Cypress College.

That rally on April 1 ignited a spark in every player on the Tigers, including freshman catcher Anthony Gibbons.

“(That inning) was really good,” Gibbons said. “It made us feel comfortable. Made us ease up

a little bit on the defensive and the offensive side, so it was cool.”

From that point on, the momentum was too much for the Chargers and RCC ended up securing the win 17-11.

One of the Tigers’ key players was sophomore first baseman Adrian Arechiga. He started the fifth inning by scoring two of his six RBIs on the day.

“Each at-bat I just tried to not be tense and focus on staying in the middle of the field, getting my barrel to the ball and driving

through it,” Arechiga said.

There were plenty of control issues with Cypress’ pitches not finding their target, causing some passed balls. The Tigers took advantage of those mistakes with extra stolen bases.

“(We) really just tried to hone in and stay diligent with the approach,” Riverside head coach Rudy Arguelles said. “(We were) trying to be patient and force them to come in the zone. I felt the guys offensively overall did a really good job.”

RCC had an extra edge to it’s play after Cypress snapped the Tigers 16-game win streak on March 31 that dated all the way back to Feb. 14. With the win, the team took the season series against the Chargers.

Early fielding struggles hurt the Tigers in the first couple innings.

“To be honest, I don’t know if we even really cleaned (the defense) up. We just happened to be on the fortunate side of a W and not an L,” Arguelles said. “Sometimes it’s like that. I don’t think that’s the

IE in MLB

brand of baseball that we want to play but in this conference having the opportunity to get the W and get a conference series win, we’ll take it.”

Riverside will be on the road for a non-conference game against the LA Mission College Eagles on April 4. The team knows it has to follow the gameplan to win and get back on track.

“Just come out and simply compete,” Arechiga said. “Take care of the little things and if we can do that, then we’ll be successful.”

The Inland Empire was well represented on Opening Day with numerous players from the area

Corona Riverside Murrieta Chino Fontana

Milwaukee Brewers rookie second baseman Brice Turang got the Opening Day start at second base. Just a few days later he hit a grand slam for his first major league home run. Turang attended Santiago High School in Corona.

Riverside City College legend Jesse Cavez got to work early this season as he pitched one and one third innings allowing zero runs on opening day for the Atlanta Braves. Since then he has appeared in one more game where he pitched a shutout inning. Chavez also went to A. B. Miller High School in Fontana.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher and Riverside native Austin Barnes is going into his ninth MLB season. Barnes attended Riverside Polytechnic High School where he was teammates with Chicago White Sox outfielder Jake Marisnick.

Murrieta Valley High School alumni third baseman Patrick Wisdom recorded two home runs through the first two games of the season for the Chicago Cubs. He spent one year each with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers before landing with the Cubs in 2020.

Pitcher Bailey Falter recorded his first start of the season for the Philadelphia Phillies three days after opening day where he held the Texas Rangers to two runs in five and one third innings. Falter was drafted out of Chino Hills High School in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB first-year player draft.

Riverside center fielder Casey Murray Jr. gets caught up in a pickle while trying to steal third. However, the Tigers stole 12 bases April 1 with Murray tallying three by himself.

PHOTO BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Pitching problems persist

Early lead blown late by pitching, defensive woes

JESUS CORONEL STAFF REPORTER

An early advantage looked like a promising victory but turned into a blown lead for the Riverside City College softball team on April 1.

Four straight singles in the second inning gave RCC the early lead against the Pasadena City College Lancers, with the inning being capped off by a two RBI single from sophomore center fielder Sophia Franco-Colis.

That was the last run the Tigers saw for the game.

The Lancers started their comeback with an RBI single from sophomore shortstop Danielle Ruiz in the third inning.

Pasadena sophomore right fielder Gabi Perez hit an RBI single in the fourth inning, then a wild pitch from freshman reliever Chloe Lockhart allowed another run to score.

“We started to lose focus in the middle of the game,” freshman starting pitcher Ereka Gibbs said.

After a scoreless fifth inning from both teams, the Tigers committed several fielding errors throughout the top of the sixth inning that allowed the Lancers to score three more runs.

First, Perez scored when Riverside made an error on a bunt. Then freshman catcher Cassidy Cooper overthrew second on a steal, which allowed another run

to score in the process.

What looked like a routine single from sophomore pinch hitter Arlyne Ruiz became an RBI double after a missed throw to second base, allowing another run to score.

“We were chipping away, but once we trailed it was hard to get out of the deficit,” Franco-Colis said. “I feel like the ball (when) fielding was eating us up.”

Riverside head coach Michelle Daddona expressed her concerns with the defense after the struggles

throughout the game.

“We were playing pretty well, but we had some miscommunication on defense,” she said. “We weren’t in the right spots, we didn’t execute our plays, and it led to mistakes that ended up being too much for us to overcome.”

The bats went cold for the Tigers offense and they lost the game 7-4, extending the team’s losing streak to two games.

Even though the team had a collapse, Daddona is confident that

Sports Briefs Golf

if the team plays like they did up until that point, they can compete in every game for the rest of the season.

“We didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, but overall, we are happy with what we did,” she said. “As long as we do that, we will be in contention to win every game.”

The Tigers will be on a road trip while playing Saddleback and Fullerton College on April 6-7. Their next home game is April 11 against Palomar College.

The Riverside City College’s golf team placed second in the Riverside Host Meet on April 3.

Swimming & Diving

The men’s swimming & diving team placed third at the OEC Meet #2 on March 24.

The women’s swimming & diving team placed second at the OEC Meet #2 on March 24.

Tennis

Men’s tennis defeated Orange Coast College with a sweep on April 4. Riverside clinched a tie for the OEC championship title with the victory.

Women’s tennis won its match 7-2 against Cypress College on March 31. The Tigers are 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Baseball

being held scoreless after the second inning.

Ballclub banishes beat reporter

Once again, journalists are not being respected, this time by the Los Angeles Angels.

April 3 saw the team’s radio station inform Sam Blum, a beat reporter for The Athletic, that he would not be welcomed back to the “Beat Reporter Roundtable” because he was too negative towards the team.

As journalists, we are taught from the beginning to always be unbiased and to report the news the way it is intended to be reported.

Blum does the same by reporting on the good — a Shohei Ohtani home run while pitching — and the bad — Anthony Rendon getting into an altercation with a fan.

I’m an Angels fan and every week there seems to be something negative about the team. However, every outlet reports on the subject, not just Blum.

The problem with the franchise is the lack of transparency and inability to keep a clean reputation.

This situation with Blum will likely be forgotten next week and the Angels will slowly develop more positivity on their radio network. But there won’t be anybody to tell it like it is.

Blum himself has said

the organization has a “toxic positivity” to it, meaning the franchise is unwilling to say anything negative about itself or admit there are problems. For a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in eight years, there has to be some accountability.

Unfortunately, the Angels will likely never say there’s a problem.

That itself is an issue. When the franchise is unwilling to admit they’re wrong, the media finds a new story to talk about and most of the time it’s negative.

The Angels shouldn’t ignore the criticism, they should learn from it. People grow because their mistakes are highlighted and they learn from it.

Fortunately, other beat

reporters like Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register and Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com are standing in solidarity with Blum and are choosing to leave the radio segment.

Journalists have to stand up for each other and make sure that no team can get away with censoring someone because the organization doesn’t like what is being reported.

One day I hope the national and local media can find something positive to report on for the Angels because I want my team to finally see some good come it’s way.

However, if journalists covering the team are being blacklisted because the franchise cannot stand being called out for its issues, then the cycle will continue.

RCC’s baseball team beat LA Mission College with an 18-3 win on April 4. The team is 23-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play.

Softball

The softball team defeated Golden West 17-9 on April 4. The Tigers have an overall record of 11-15 and are 7-7 in the conference.

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 information about the event to sports. viewpointsonline@gmail. com.

Riverside right fielder Alexis Pelayo gets caught in a pickle and looks for a way back to first base.

The Tigers were unable to steal any bases April 1 while

PETER GIBBS

SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

PHOTO BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

LIFE

Editor: Angie Escalante life.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

Poets summon ‘MUSE’, get ‘brave’ Creativity flows, emotions honored at open-mic

JAZMYN DE JESUS ASST. LIFE EDITOR

The smell of old wood and espresso lingers as you enter the performance space in the basement of the downtown Riverside staple, Back to the Grind. The feeling of familiarity and comfort is felt by even first-time performers and audience members. Despite the sounds of the neighboring businesses and upstairs area still operating, everyone in attendance was immersed in each reading that occurred in the underground room.

On the evening of March 30, Riverside City College’s art and literary publication, MUSE, held one of its beloved and intimate open-mic poetry readings. Guest speakers Romaine Washington, James Coats and Bob Marshall as well as a diverse group of artists performed literary pieces for the community.

MUSE was able to collaborate with Inlandia Institute, another Riverside literary publication, to create a special event for the RCC alumni and staff to participate in.

Bob Marshall of Inlandia provided typewriters for participants to practice writing lines of poetry on. As time went on, the pages filled, each line of poetry being written by anyone who wanted to participate. Through their network of writers the veteran literary performers were able to

display their talents.

Romaine Washington is an established author and voice in the Inland Empire creative writing community. She read pieces from “Sirens in Her Belly,” one of the published works she has received acclaim for.

One poem in particular, a blackout poem titled Resurgence, was read for the first time at the event. A 1967 article regarding the Ku Klux Klan which had themes of domestic terrorist violence through the use of guns with a racial undertone was blacked out to create this poem. The audience’s response to it was exactly what she

had hoped for. After the reading, Washington prompted the audience members by asking in which year they believed the article was written and in what context.

“You have people saying it was 2019, then 2015, when it was 1967 and that’s very telling,” Washington said. “I might even write a poem about the response to the blackout poem.”

Washington utilized audience participation once again for a poem that she noted as an ode to the close of Women’s History Month. She handed out nine cards with the names and bios of each Black woman she mentions in a

piece titled “We Are Powerful and Dangerous.” Each name and bio was read prior to her reading to serve as “(A) roll call for brilliant Black women, and if you don’t know who they are, they’re just names.”

James Coats was another guest speaker whose poems discussed the topics of blackness in America, healthy expressions of masculinity and mental health—all from his book titled “Midnight and Mad Dreams.”

He commonly attends Riverside and I.E. literary events as a former RCC staff member and alumni of Cal State San Bernardino. A piece

that stood out during his time onstage was a poem titled “We Only Eat What Is Soft,” which tackled the topic of managing toxic masculinity. All of the poems he read were introspective and personal to his experience, which made others in the room also feel vulnerable.

“Poetry has allowed me to dive into those hard places and little by little I open up more and can tackle those areas,” Coats said, “I can really look at myself and where my thought process needs correcting.”

Following the guest speakers, open-mic performers shared very personal, humorous and humbling written works. The subject matter varied from pieces about falling in love to cultural appropriation.

RCC instructor, James Ducat, facilitated the event and ensured that every artist who performed was well acknowledged and received by the audience.

“Give a lot of support to those who come up here because it is brave to do this,” Ducat said.

Many of the performers either performed for the first time or after a break. It was a full house which could not have been easy for those who were courageous enough to share their work onstage.

Filled with new faces and old, beginning writers to professors and mentors, creativity flowed and emotions were honored with each artist’s reading thanks to MUSE and the community’s support.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Romaine Washington reads from her book “Purgatory has an Address.” Riverside City College’s ‘MUSE’ hosted a poetry reading event at Back to the Grind in downtown Riverside on March 30, featuring Washington, author and fellow of the Inland Area Writing Project at University of California, Riverside.

A member of the audience reads from a card that tells the story of a significant Black woman from history as a setup for Washington’s next poem.

E ditorial

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

STAFF LIST

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jennipher Vasquez viewpointseic@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Hayden Kulick viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Elaina Kleven

ADVERTISING MANAGER

John Michael Guerrero advertising.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

NEWS EDITORS

Alondra Montes-Martinez

Elaina Kleven news.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

LIFE EDITOR

Angie Escalante life.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR

Jazmyn De Jesus

OPINIONS EDITOR

Maria Odenbaugh opinions.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Julia Goldman

SPORTS EDITOR

Peter Gibbs sports.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Jair Ramirez

Grand jury stumps the Trump

Trump’s indictment will test the democracy of this country.

Donald Trump, the 45th and former United States President was indicted by a Manhattan Grand Jury on a count of 34 felonies on March 30. Less than a week later Trump surrendered and was arrested on April 4.

Tuesday set a historic precedent, something we thought we would never see: Trump being held accountable for his actions.

As young students we want to see a country that will put a stop to corruption.

He pleaded not guilty for 34 felonies under a New York Statute falsifying business records to cover up negative and payoffs interfering with the 2016 election.

The biggest and most historic of the charges made is paying off porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to cover up their relationship that would ruin his chances of being elected into office. Hush money.

This is not the first time we witnessed our president commit a crime.

If Trump is found guilty of these felonies, which even then is unlikely he will not be incarcerated at all. This does not exclude him from the next presidential election. If condemned he could serve a life sentence. However, experts say he won’t face jail time because he is a first time offender.

When we think of the people elected into government we think of power. With power comes the mentality of, “I can do what I please.”

Politics and corruption go hand in hand.

The money and power feeds the ego and allows it to take over as the main motive rather than supporting and making decisions for all.

Although Trump’s indictment is finally an opportunity to show justice on a corrupt politician, his tactics to run for president are still possible. It’s possible because he still has a huge number of supporters ready to vote for a man that commits adultery and lies to get ahead.

At the end of the day we can’t trust our vote. We vote to have someone protect our future and for someone to set an example to younger generations.

Politics in America has gained a reputation of always having something hidden in the dark.

Let’s face it, Trump may be a former president but holding such position only boosted his sense of entitlement. He received “respect” because he was the face of this country. He was “the man.”

If this wasn’t Trump, would the American citizen be treated the same?

That’s easy to answer: No.

We would see anyone else without his

status being handcuffed and dragged down to court. We would see almost immediate justice. Trump should be prosecuted and treated like any other American.

This will not be the last of our fight. Our fight for a non-corrupt political world where we can trust who is in charge, where we can trust our vote.

If anything, this is just the start.

Since there is nothing in the Constitution that states that convicted felons can or can not run for president.

The chances of him being president are still here. It would be a nightmare to go back to the Trump era.

Once again the Constitution fails in the modern world.

When the Constitution was made over 200 years ago, there were no pay offs, no consequences for corrupt action. But now there is. We have legal systems in place. We have rules and regulations that Trump violated as clearly as a spring day.

So as American citizens we can sit back and hope that Manhattan’s District Attorney can convict him and hope that it ruins his chances and lowers his support.

How can we get to a point where corruption does not get into office?

We create, teach and elect people determined to better America for all, not just themselves.

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Ad deadline: April 19

Next issue: April 27

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© 2023 by the Viewpoints staff, Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. 92506-0528. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the Viewpoints editor-in-chief.

PHOTO EDITOR

Stephen Day photography.viewpointsonline@gmail.com

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Mathew Acosta

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

John Michael Guerrero

REPORTERS:

Izaiah Cerratos

Ilani Cervantes

Xavier Constantino

Jesus Coronel

Chris Diosomito

Seth Haygood

Vianney Morales

Ausja Nolan

Lee Orozco

Dalila Romero

Kathya Sagrero

Anna Silva

Lindsey Tovar

Alyssa Velasquez

FACULTY ADVISERS

Angela Burrell

Matt Schoenmann

JOURNALISM SPECIALIST

Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LISETTE BRODEY | PIXABAY