Vol. 101 Issue 8 Dec. 14

Winning streak washed away

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PETER GIBBS ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

There was domination in the championship game. Just not by the Tigers.

The Riverside City College football team lost 55-0 to the College of San Mateo Bulldogs in the California Community College Athletic Association Championship game on Dec. 10.

Heavy rain and steady winds are not something the Tigers are

used to. It was clear the team was not prepared to play in that type of weather while San Mateo saw it as just another game.

From the opening kickoff RCC was outplayed in every aspect.

San Mateo began the game by returning the kickoff 61 yards as multiple Tigers struggled to gain traction in the wet conditions.

Three plays later the Bulldogs scored.

The offense couldn’t get anything going either.

Each of the first three drives resulted in three-and-outs and after

the first quarter the lead was 21-0 for the Bulldogs.

“We came into the game leading the state in total offense,” head coach Tom Craft said. “It just wasn’t our day.”

Any chance of a comeback was lost when quarterback Jake Retzlaff fumbled on the first drive of the second half. It was one of five turnovers by RCC.

“Our quarterback had tonsillitis, but that’s not an excuse,” Craft said. “It was just See RAIN on page 8

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Coach Tom Craft walks the sidelines while Tigers suffer in the rain during the championship game at College of San Mateo on Dec. 10.

News Briefs

Book rentals are due

Textbooks rented from the Bookstore are due Dec. 19. You may mail in or drop off rentals in person to the Riverside City College branch.

Winter break

Classes will not be in session Dec. 18 - Jan. 2 for winter break. RCC campus and student services will not be available throughout those same dates in observance of legal holidays.

New Real ID Update

Everyone 18 years of age and older must have a Real IDupdated driver’s license or state identification card by May 5, 2025 for domestic flights in the United States. Passports are still needed for international flights. The Department of Homeland Security decided the two-year extension was needed because so many Americans have not yet applied for the federally-mandated Real ID at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The card can also be updated online.

Electric ordinance passed

The Riverside City Council voted 4-3 Dec. 6 to pass an ordinance requiring newly constructed buildings three-stories or lower to be fully electric beginning Jan. 6, 2023.

Influenza season

People are encouraged to get their Flu shot at a local hospital, clinic or local pharmacy to protect themselves and others. If you are experiencing Flu-like symptoms, stay home.

For more information about Influenza visit the link: https:// www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts. htm.

CORRECTION: In our previous issue, it was reported that Riverside City College has 2,800 students enrolled. That number was incorrect and has been corrected on our website to reflect the correct total.

District officials combat low enrollment

MARIA ODENBAUGH OPINIONS EDITOR

Although enrollment is increasing Riverside City College District Chancellor Wolde-Ab Issac is concerned about enrollment based funding.

Isaac said the pandemic is to blame for the decline in enrollment numbers since 2019.

“(The pandemic) has dictated a change in way of life,” says Isaac.

Aside from the pandemic, the increase in jobs available to newly graduated students like warehouse jobs caused a big decline in enrollment numbers as well.

“It is hard, honestly, to compete with a $21 hour warehouse job,” said Bill Hedrick, President of the RCCD Board of Trustees “When you have two of those in a family it starts looking like enough to pay the rent, so that is competition.”

Hedrick also said the economic stress from the pandemic is what hurt enrollment the most. Economic stressors caused high wage jobs in warehouses to be more enticing than furthering education.

According to the Chancellor, the District is trying new ways of advertising and increasing social media usage. Street signs, digital billboards and movie theater advertisements have served as ways to increase enrollment.

The District is trying to promote that community college is another cost saving option for high school graduates besides warehouse jobs.

“We can make the case to the students in high school both in terms of the quality education we

provide, which covers the first few years of the four year university, but also the cost saving,” adds Isaac.

RCCD is also conducting a study focusing on the people who left and didn’t come back and asking what stopped them from returning to RCC.

Hold Harmless funding, however, provides a safety net for the District.

The Hold Harmless funding is based off of the pre-pandemic enrollment numbers.

“Because of the low drop in enrollment, if our funding portionally dropped we would be destabilized in a very large way,” said Isaac. “During the pandemic we lost close to 23% (of enrollment).”

The funding provides more time from now and 2025 to work on improving recruitment.

Hedrick explained the importance of improving the school’s reputation and focusing on what percentage of classes are offered in-person or online. He said he has introduced the Trustees to the idea of offering

more evening and Saturday classes to accommodate students who work.

Hedrick looked at other college’s success with moving class times around.

“They have taken classes from what might be considered a traditional work day schedule and moved them to more convenient times for working students.”

The District hopes these potential solutions will allow more students to find a better workschool balance.

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

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 viewpoints. news@gmail.com

Emergency on campus

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO MANAGING & MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

A student was seen collapsed on the curb of Terracina Dr. in front of the Digital Library Dec. 12.

Nearby students who witnessed the incident immediately notified campus police. An emergency response team soon arrived to assess their condition. The student had obvious signs of trauma to the back of their head and was bleeding.

One witness was on scene and was questioned about the incident by campus police. Several other students around the scene were also questioned. Further information could not be obtained due to campus police clearing the area.

The student eventually became conscious and was brought to a nearby hospital for assessments.

According to campus police, the student was safely transported for care and is expected to make a full recovery.

Editor: Alondra Montes-Martinez

A lone student walks by the Quadrangle building at Riverside City College on Nov. 9. Low enrollment has left the campus less populated than usual.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Campus police along with first responders tend to a Riverside City College student who collapsed near the Digital Library on Terracina Avenue on Dec. 12.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Editors’ Eats

Somethin’ about the ‘Spot’

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Downtown Riverside’s latest restaurant addition serves quality-made and authentic Caribbean creole foods.

The Beignet Spot is family owned and run by the Alce family. They opened their first restaurant in Redlands named Dhat Island. Following a rise of popularity in beignets at their first restaurant, they decided to open another shop in the heart of Riverside.

A beignet is similar to a traditional doughnut, except for the taste and cooking method. It needs to be made with precision to avoid overcooking and to achieve a certain fluffiness inside.

These beignets melt in your mouth, while the powdered sugar helps compliment it. With each piece that you eat, more flavor is added to your taste buds.

The sugariness of the beignets can be elevated by selecting some of their artisan plates which include; Peach Cobbler Beignets, Banana Foster and Berry Berry. Each plate comes with six beignets topped with one of the three different house made

fillings.

The service is quick and friendly.

The Beignet Spot offers plenty of places to sit. Customers can choose tables around the cafe, stools by the bar overlooking the busy streets of downtown or a secluded booth in the corner with pillows.

The location on Main Street is ideal. They’re in close proximity to many hot spots in downtown Riverside.

Limited parking meters are behind the restaurant, which does add to your spending total.

Items on the menu are fairly priced, being much cheaper than the Riverside Food Lab beignets and are worth a try.

This place offers breakfast, lunch and dinner items with the most expensive meal at $14.95.

Each item is fresh and can even be seen being made in the kitchen through a huge window in the dining area that gives a peek into the well lit kitchen.

Every dish served has its own twist on

classic foods like the beignet combo which is scrambled eggs, sausages and grits with a handful of freshly-made beignets.

Regardless of what you order, the establishment provides a few puffy beignets showered in powdery sugar on the side.

The Breakfast “JFC” is a sandwich that includes jerk fried chicken, fried egg, cheese, tomato jam, arugula and their house sauce served on a brioche bun.

The breakfast sandwich comes with a side of tater tots and two warm, fluffy beignets.

The chicken is well prepared. It’s not dry at all and just the right amount of crispy. It is paired with melted cheddar cheese that perfectly falls over the chicken and fried egg.

The tomato jam gives the otherwise salty sandwich a hint of sweetness.

Whether you are looking for a place close to Riverside City College to grab a quick bite or to sit and talk to friends, something about the Beignet Spot is just right.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

ANGIE ESCALANTE JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO

A mural on the outside wall shows the Beignet Spot logo with beignets that have arms and legs and fruity hats on Dec. 13 at the Beignet Spot.

A beignet, having been dipped, has caramel drizzling off of it at the Beignet Spot on Dec. 13.

An employee at the Beignet Spot takes an order from a customer Dec. 13.

A dining area with hanging plants, and tables and booths, at the Beignet Spot on Dec. 13.

REVIEW: ‘Peter and the Star Catcher’

STEPHEN DAY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

We all know the story of the boy that never grows up, and his merry band of Lost Boys who fight with Captain Hook and Smee, and avoid the croc with the clock. But how many of us know the story of how all these characters came to be?

In it’s final production of the semester, the Riverside City College theater department put on a production of the Tony Award winning play Peter and the Starcatcher. The play will open Feb. 10 in the Landis Performing Arts Center.

Viewpoints was given a special showing.

The intimate black box

theater allowed for an up close and personal view of the cast as they brought dozens of characters to life, and even interacted with audience members.

The tale centers around three orphan boys being shipped off to an island kingdom, a captain with a trunk of secret cargo, the pirate Black Stache who wants the cargo for himself and Molly Aster, a “starcatcher” in training.

The titular role of Peter, who begins the show without a name, was played effectively by Jordan Alexander Arcos, who brought a fantastic innocence and wonder to the part.

Throughout the show his wide eyed expressions and obvious admiration of Molly made it impossible not to connect with him.

“Playing Peter was a lot more work than I originally thought,” Arcos said.

To prepare for the part, he watched every movie, read every book and reviewed every Broadway recording of the show.

Arcos felt honored to have been cast for the show since this was his first time at RCC.

“I couldn’t have done it without Gary’s full support as well as the whole cast,” he said.

Molly Aster, played by Andrea McCreary, establishes a big sister/leader role with the three boys despite only being a 13-year-old girl.

She does a great job of helping the audience come along with the story, especially since the actors all play several different

characters, often in the same costume.

“Playing the role as a leader made me passionate about her characteristics and how she took charge of every situation,” said McCreary about how she developed her character. “I fell in love with her the moment I knew how special she was to everybody in the cast.”

Black Stache, played by Austin Arnwine, brings comedy to the show often just by his animated facial expressions.

Black Stache, who eventually becomes the pirate we know as Hook, chases the ship through most of the show and eventually gets the trunk but doesn’t end up getting what he hoped for in the end.

“For Black Stache I fell in

love with the idea of always wanting more,” Arnwine said about preparing for his role. He continues, “I wanted to make him likable while still showing off the crooked villainous side.”

In order to prepare for a role like Black Stache, Arnwine said, “figuring out the deeper meaning behind the action will make the character stronger.”

Arnwine will be playing the parts of Vonhussler and the Park Keeper in the upcoming run of Mary Poppins.

If you miss this show’s run, you’ll have a chance to catch some of these performers in the upcoming production of Mary Poppins, which opens Feb. 10 at the Landis Performing Arts Center.

Peter, played by Jordan Alexander Arcos, looks sweetly over at Molly while she tells the boys a story.Peter and the Starcatcher ran in the Gary D. Schultz theater located at the back of the Landis Performing Arts Center on Dec. 8th.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

LEFT Black Stache, played by Austin Arnwine, holds a knife to Molly, played by Andrea McCreary, while trying to get Lard Aster to turn over the trunk.

Peter, played by Jordan Alexander Arcos, and Molly, played by Andrea McCreary, hold each other’s hand as they realize their mutual affection Dec. 8th.

RIGHT Black Stache, played by Austin Arnwine, laughs maniacally while sparring verbally with Lord Aster.

Christmas lights up Riverside

STEPHEN DAY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

‘Tis the season to be merry and bright! What better way to do that than to take in all the festive lights and decorations throughout Riverside.

For the merriest adventure, grab your friends, jump in your car and check out some of the neighborhood displays. Some of your neighbors go all out for the season, and we found a few of the best ones to help you plan your night.

Click on the Christmas tunes, and take a a drive out to the Mission Grove neighborhood to 8381 Deercreek Dr. for the Xtreme Light Wizards holiday display.

Their light show is synced to music broadcasted on 89.7 FM. You can even vote for which songs you want to hear on their website. Visit between 5 p.m. and midnight.

Next we are headed back toward downtown Riverside to 134 Gracefield Way. This display features characters, a nativity scene and more than 20,000.

You can walk through more than 320 wood displays, and children can place their names in Santa’s box so it can be added to next year’s display. There are more than 100 scrolls with over 1200 names currently displayed. Visit between 5pm and 9:30pm.

Right around the corner at 118 Clearwood Ave, you’ll find another display that comes with music, found on 93.3 FM. You’ll hear classics like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and 20 other songs on rotation. Visit between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m..

Lastly we’ll cruise over to 2993 Gertrude St and see an amazing display of more than 60,000 lights. The music you’ll hear is based around the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Visit between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m..

After you’re done with the spectacle of Christmas your neighbors have created, head over to Riverside’s Christmas pride and joy, the Mission Inn, where you will find the nation’s largest holiday light display.

Alongside the Mission Inn is the Festival of Lights where you can wander through vendors and shops that only around for the Christmas season.

The lights stay on until 10 p.m. each night until Jan 6, 2023, but the festival ends on Dec. 31.

A Christmas tree display in downtown Riverside.

LEFT A neighborhood home with a massive Christmas display that encourages viewers to walk through and read the names of children who have visited in the years past.

The Gingerbread Shop is just one of the vendors that set up for the Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside

Christmas lights and decore bring a festive spirit throughout the promenade of the Festival of Lights on Dec. 13.

Businesses along the promenade of the Festival of Lights, like the Brickwood, get into the spirit with festive Christmas Window dressings Dec. 13.

Festivally decorated Kettlecorn vendors adorn the promenade for the Festival of Lights on Dec. 13.

RIGHT A Christmas spectacle set to music with video screens greets viewers in this neighborhood.

A house with more than 60,000 Christmas lights that flash set to music that can be heard by tuning in on the radio.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

OPINIONS

Editor: Maria Odenbaugh viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

Shush! Don’t say ‘socialism’

STEPHEN DAY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Socialism. It’s that dirty word we say in hushed tones and dark corners, but what most people fail to realize is that the United States is already heavily invested in socialism.

The roads we drive on, public K-12 education, county hospitals, the US military, MediCare/ MediCal, and Community Colleges, are all examples of socialism within our society.

If you have a social security card, then you are in fact, a card carrying socialist.

Socialism and communism are often used interchangeably, especially by people who want to vilify the idea.

Communism often leaves a bad taste in the mouth of Boomers and Gen X’rs who lived through the Cold War of the 1980’s and endured non-stop anti-communist propaganda.

At the most basic level socialism is more of an economic structure and communism is a political ideology that includes economic structures.

No country has ever achieved a pure communistic or socialistic government, mostly because every country has to also interact with the global community in order to survive.

Socialism says that the means of production and distribution are owned by the community and managed through a democratically elected government.

Essentials of life, like food, housing, health care and education would be available to all without cost.

What is a government’s job if not to care for the needs of all of their citizenry?

Unlike what you’ll hear on Fox News, socialism does not mean the end of private property. Innovation and individual effort are encouraged, and benefit all.

Imagine the possibilities if everyone, regardless of class or color, had the opportunity to

pursue their passions and talents, free of the burden of trying to survive in an economy that is rigged to make them fail.

Imagine the potential scientific discoveries we are losing out on, because the next Einstein has to drop out of middle school to help their parents work in a field, in order to ensure they have food to eat.

Opponents of socialism like to use the example of a janitor and a doctor making the same amount of money, and how egregious that would be.

Socialism doesn’t work that way though.

Each profession has demanding workloads and while a doctor obviously requires far more

education and carries a higher level of responsibility, both the doctor and the janitor provide a valued and needed service to the community.

Currently, getting the education required to become a doctor can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and therefore, doctor’s salaries are much higher than a janitor that doesn’t have to spend that time and money getting educated.

What if that was not the case?

What if the education to become a doctor was provided freely to those who showed an aptitude for medicine?

What if you could chase your passion for medicine, without having to figure out how to pay

for it, and without worrying about how your family will survive without you working?

The kid who has to drop out of school to become a janitor to help his family survive, if given the opportunity, may realize that they have the talent and ability to be a great doctor.

Rather than the kid with the rich parents, who is funneled through medical school on the back of money and favors, who would probably better serve his patients better by cleaning up after them, than trying to practice medicine on them.

Creating a society where each member is valued, and their potential and talent are nourished and encouraged, allows innovation to come from many different directions. Success becomes a natural byproduct.

We have to fix the current culture of competition that capitalism foments.

We must establish limits on the amount of wealth that can be amassed and hoarded by a single person.

That wealth should be redistributed to properly run programs that ensure that all people have guaranteed housing, healthy food, accessible, adequate medical care and enough education to pursue their dreams.

Then, and only then, can we create a society where the focus is on thriving, not merely surviving.

US stuck in the past, equality sacrificed

own citizens by making them all equal under the eyes of the law. They instead have to make it an Act that could always be taken away by the next party in power.

The population of Cuba was allowed to discuss and draft the new Family Code with many workplaces and neighborhoods gathering and revising what should be said and guaranteed within the new addition to their Constitution.

Not only does this happen for the Family Code Referendum, but many political, social and economic policies that are conceived are brought to the Cuban people to debate and discuss.

ZACH REYNOSA STAFF REPORTER

The United States Congress have recently passed the Respect for Marriage Act which grants protections for interracial and LGBT+ couples across the country.

Conservatives have been ramping up to defend their definition of marriage being between a man and a woman, while also attacking interracial marriage

as well with many of them voting against the bill.

Even Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been vocal about attacking the LGBT+ community through the use of the Supreme Court.

He was one of the first Conservative voices to bring up the idea after Roe v. Wade.

The so-called “land of the free” lets the fate of millions of Americans be decided by 535 elites in power.

How is this fair and democratic? Or is this what democracy is supposed to be?

No. It isn’t.

Our fate should not be in the hands of party elites who decide whether or not we deserve the freedoms that are naturally gifted to us. We deserve the chance to vote and discuss key issues like the Respect for Marriage Act that would have easily passed amongst Americans.

Many other countries, even countries that the U.S. considers enemies, let their people democratically decide what happens to their lives.

Take for example Cuba. Their people were given the

chance to change their constitution Sept. 25 by participating in an election that would implement protections for LGBT+ women and children.

The 2022 Cuban Family Code Referendum legalized equal marriage and equal adoption rights no matter what sexual orientation.

There are many other provisions that are within the Family Code that are meant to solidify equality amongst the Cuban people.

The U.S. won’t even amend its own constitution to add the Equal Rights Amendment to protect its

This is the example that we should be following. A true way that a democracy should run.

We as Americans must be able to take control of the fate of our lives and must be able to make social progress that frees not only ourselves but those who are disenfranchised by the system. There must be changes in the way that American politics work by allowing its citizens to have a bigger voice.

The way America runs is a way of the past that has become outdated and corrupt. It’s time for a new America that is open and equal to all.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCK

A hand flips a dice and changes the word “capitalism” to “socialism”.

A rainbow LGBT pride sticker in favor of same-sex marriage equality seen in Havana, Cuba on a metal shutter on Nov 22, 2018. Sticker reads in English “Marriage Equality in Cuba”.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS FAULL

E ditorial

STAFF LIST

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jennipher Vasquez viewpointseic@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITORS

Hayden Kulick John Michael Guerrero viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

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NEWS EDITOR Alondra Montes-Martinez viewpoints.news@gmail.com

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS

Laura Bautista, Jair Ramirez

LIFE EDITOR

Angie Escalante viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR Maria Odenbaugh viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Darlene Dukelow-Burton

SPORTS EDITOR Hayden Kulick viewpoints.sports@gmail.com

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Peter Gibbs

Brittney Griner was at a disadvantage. As it is, being a Black Lesbian woman in this world forces her to face unjust discrimination.

Griner doesn’t deserve the scrutiny that she is receiving simply because she is a famous, Black lesbian basketball player that was brought home instead of an ex marine.

Her being in a foreign country facing criminal charges further shows the blatant scrutiny that Black and LGBTQ people face.

Griner was charged with nine years in prison for drug smuggling and possession charges after she was allegedly found with hashish oil while traveling to Russia to play basketball for extra money in her offseason.

WNBA players regularly play in foreign countries in the offseason because they do not make enough money playing in the United States.

She was exchanged for Viktor Bout, an arms dealer from Russia nicknamed “the merchant of death” who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012.

Many say the deal was unfair, but the issue stems deeper than just a trade.

Regardless of who she was traded for, Griner spent 11 months in a foreign prison for something that is legal in her home country. If she was a male celebrity, she would have been home much faster.

In July of 2019 Hip-Hop artist A$AP

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURENT CIVITCH | FLICKR

Rocky was charged with assault in Sweden. He was brought home in August of that year.

Griner is more than just a basketball player. She is a WNBA champion, an eight time all-star and a two-time olympic champion. In other words she is an icon for young American women who face the discrimination of being black and homosexual.

She’s one of the greatest American female athletes of this generation and should be treated like it.

If it were a male Olympic champion, they would have been home in weeks.

Some Americans are angry at the fact that former marine Paul Whelan remains in a Russian institution while Griner is on her way home.

However, we tried to bring him home. The government was trying to reach a deal that exchanged Bout for Griner and Whelan. But they couldn’t get that done.

Whelan’s family understands that a deal that brought Paul home was not possible.

“It’s clear that the U.S. government has no concessions that the Russian government will take for Paul Whelan,” Paul’s brother David Whelan told CNN. “And so Paul will remain a prisoner until that changes.”

His family also understands that it was more than just a “trade.”

“It was a choice between bringing home one particular American — Brittney Griner — or bringing home none,” David added.

Bringing Whelan home was not possible. The United States government has been making attempts to bring him home ever since he was placed in prison.

“The Biden administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home,” said David. “And to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.”

Many people compare this situation to when Ex United States marine Trevor Reed was exchanged for Konstantin Yaroshenko. Yaroshenko is a Russian pilot who was arrested for smuggling cocaine.

However this situation is not the same.

Russia was using Griner as a bargaining chip. They used her celebrity status as a negotiating tool. Although having plenty of support from the basketball community, other internationally known athletes could have spoken up. Tiger Woods, Serena Williams and Lewis Hamilton: where were you?

Maybe Russia wouldn’t have paid much attention to the millions of fans but it would have put pressure on the United States government to do something.

In Reed’s situation there was not as much media attention surrounding him making it so Russia could not use that as leverage.

Griner is home. A sure fire WNBA hall of famer, an icon for young women and children, an Olympic champion and an American idol is home.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PRINTING SCHEDULE

Copy deadline: February 1

Photo deadline: February 1 Ad deadline: February 1 Next issue: February 9

Viewpoints is a public forum, First Amendment newspaper. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

© 2022 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 viewpoints.photo@gmail.com

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR John Michael Guerrero multimedia.viewpoints@gmail.com

ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Peter Gibbs

SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE MANAGER

John Michael Guerrero viewpoints.socialmedia@gmail.com

REPORTERS:

Carlos Ayala Santa Ana Arianna Cervantes

Jesus Coronel

Jazmyn De Jesus Julia Goldman

Vianney Morales

Leroy Orozco Hannah Padilla-Estrella

Liv Pearson

Zach Reynosa Dalila Romero

William L.G. Stephens

JOURNALISM

matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu FACULTY ADVISERS Angela Burrell Matt Schoenmann

REACH US: NEWSROOM PHONE: (951)-222-8488 EMAIL: viewpointseic@gmail.com

RCC looks to rebuild following championship loss

RAIN from page 1 an unusual situation.” Retzlaff confirmed direct message that he had tonsillitis throughout the week.

“I was bedridden for over 24 hours before the game,” Retzlaff said. “Being sick is one thing, but being sick, wet and cold is something entirely different.”

The weather conditions and being sick clearly affected Retzlaff as he was inaccurate and unable to get into a rhythm.

Eventually, coach Craft pulled the starters and elected to play the bench players in the fourth quarter, essentially waving the white flag.

“Our kids work extremely hard,” San

Mateo head coach Tim Tulloch said. “They prepared hard for this. But it’s not just this week, it’s how they approached everything all year.”

The Bulldogs were able to attack the RCC defense by running laterally, which led to multiple plays of 20 or more yards.

“They (RCC) do a phenomenal job,” Tulloch said. “I saw a heck of a football team (on film). Today was just our day.”

Running back Ezra Moleni set a new rushing record for the Bulldogs with 232 yards on 16 carries..

This is the end of a historic season for the Tigers in which the team went 12-1

and was the Southern California Football Association champions.

However, RCC will be losing a large amount of talent as players transfer to higher-level schools.

“At this level, you’ve got to rebuild every year,” Craft said. “There will be a complete reload.”

The Tigers will look to bring in graduating high schoolers as well as try to find another Jake Retzlaff from the transfer portal to try and make it back to the state championship for the fourth consecutive time next year.

“We had a great year,” Craft said. “We’re going to continue to do what we do. We’ll be alright.”

Tigers fall short, slip in title game

HAYDEN KULICK MANAGING & SPORTS EDITOR

This loss can’t be blamed on the rain.

Losing a football game 55-0 can’t be chalked up to brutal weather.

Sure, Riverside City College plays in a drier climate compared to the College of San Mateo. But, the rain is not the reason they lost.

A lopsided game like this doesn’t happen often and it surely doesn’t happen often in rain games. And it certainly doesn’t happen in the State Championship.

Generally when you think of football in harsh weather conditions, you think of teams running the football a ton while also keeping the score low.

So why wasn’t that the case in this game? The Tigers were not prepared.

On all three levels the Tigers were dominated.

Offensively, this game was a disaster. On multiple occasions RCC players fumbled without being touched. Yes, the rain can make the ball slippery. Why wasn’t San Mateo dropping the ball like that? Maybe the Tigers were simply unprepared.

Fumbles weren’t the only blunders.

In the third quarter, RCC was attempting to mount a comeback. But instead of taking a sack on third down, quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw the football directly into the hands of one of the San Mateo defensive linemen for a pick six.

You’re already getting blown out. It is four down territory. Why not take the sack? Live to see another down.

Don’t play hero ball when you’re already down by 35.

San Mateo clearly saw something on film about how to attack the defense. The Bulldogs found holes anytime they ran sweeps.

Even on special teams RCC couldn’t hold it together. The opening kick off was returned to the Tigers’ 35 yard line. Later, one of their punts got blocked in their own territory.

The blame for this historic championship loss can’t be put on one person. However, the coaching leading into this game clearly wasn’t good enough.

The team may have been one of two undefeated junior college football teams heading into the weekend but that doesn’t excuse the horrific performance that was put on in the championship by the Tigers.

Editor: Hayden Kulick

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

LEFT Norbert Espadron tries to catch the pass, but like most of the day, wind and rain made everything more difficult. RIGHT Budd Bernie, who came in the game after Jake Retzlaff was pulled, runs the ball down the field.

ABOVE The Bulldogs proved to be slippery when wet, and made the defensive line work twice as hard to stop them. On the punt return Tigers’ Etu Sekona was able to pull Bulldogs’ Brian Pierce down.