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June 2, 2022
News Briefs Spring finals Spring finals begin June 6. June 10 will be the final day of the spring 2022 semester. Commencement ceremony RCCD will host its first in-person commencement ceremony June 10. The event will host three academic classes (2020, 2021 and 2022) graduating from Riverside City College, Norco and Moreno Valley College. The Arthur N. Wheelock Stadium will host those graduating from RCC. Further clarity for those graduating from MVC or Noro can be found here: h t t p s : / / w w w. m v c . e d u / commencement/ https://www.norcocollege. edu/services/studentLife/ commencement/Pages/index.aspx RCC mask requirement Due to recent COVID-19 outbreaks at RCC, administration implemented a campus-wide mask mandate that will require staff, students and faculty members to wear masks indoors throughout the rest of the spring semester, ending June 10. Summer intersession The six-week RCCD summer intersession will begin June 20, and the term will end July 29. The deadline to register for classes is June 25. Lavender graduation LASSE will host its Lavender graduation, an event to acknowledge LGBTQIA2+ graduates and their achievements for the 2021-2022 academic year June 8 from 3 - 4 p.m. The event will be held in a hybrid format, and will be held at the A.G. Paul Quadrangle in Room 144 for those who wish to attend in-person. To participate virtually through Zoom, the link can be found here:
All of these dates are subjected to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus. To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org. If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calendar, send information about the event to viewpoints.news@gmail.com
Editor: Jennipher Vasquez | viewpoints.news@gmail.com
RCC eulogizes beloved colleague Criminal justice instructor’s legacy endures LEO CABRAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A silence befell the Riverside City College Quadrangle, something out of character for a usually-bustling college campus. A solemn crowd of over 60 faculty, staff and friends of Oliver Thompson, former criminal justice instructor, gathered in the Quad to collectively celebrate his life and legacy May 26. The intimate function was made possible by the Black Faculty and Staff Association. The celebration of life opened with Kristi Woods, dean of Instruction, Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences, following African tradition and asking the elders present for permission to speak. Woods and Miguel Reid, English instructor, commenced a libation ceremony with Riverside Community College District Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac’s permission. Pouring the libation is a ritual performed in remembrance of ancestors on special occasions. A brief memorial video brought some viewers to tears. The video was filled with several snapshots of Thompson’s life and testimonials of his influence on friends, colleagues and former students. Many at the service shared memories of Thompson and how he impacted their lives.
STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS Family, friends and colleagues memorialize criminal justice instructor Oliver Thompson at a celebration of life event in the Riverside City College Quadrangle on May 26. “He lived a life remarkably dedicated to education,” Isaac said. “During his career at Riverside Community College District, he became a beloved friend and mentor not only to students but also to faculty to staff and administrators alike.” Many alluded to his dedication to student equity and justice. Some remarked that Thompson was much like a father figure, and everyone said they would miss him dearly. “Oliver was my ride or die at RCC,” Woods said. “We tag teamed in meetings, on committees, discussions, programs, initiatives.
We worked together to consistently remind the college of the data … Oliver would say, ‘We’ve been looking at these data for 20 years. What are we going to do about it?’” The celebration of life’s climax was a eulogy delivered by Edward “Ed” Bush, president at Cosumnes River College and former RCC Student Services vice president. His eulogy evoked an array of emotions from attendees. “We might not have a physical structure to memorialize Dr. Thompson but I submit that your presence today represents something more powerful than
any structure could do,” Bush said. “In fact, you are the structures that memorialize Dr. Thompson’s legacy. It is through your work, your commitment, your spirit, your energy, your fight for justice that would keep him alive on this side of creation.” The celebration concluded with Thompson’s wife Christine offering thanks and closing remarks. “I want to thank you for just taking Oliver in,” she said. “You don’t know but you loved on him. You really loved on him. And everything that he did, he did wholeheartedly.”
Last minute cuts leave advisers scrambling HOURS from page 1 and other programs in the same predicament, two options: significantly reduce necessary services for students or work for free. Hogan had already completed 130 hours of work by the end of April. This concerned Hogan because May is one of the busiest months of the spring semester and he already surpassed the new allotted hours. “It’s hurting our Honors program,” Hogan said. “These are low-income, non-traditional and students of color. Honors is the vehicle by which they can access universities such as UCLA and (UC Irvine). This is a vehicle for equity and RCC is letting it die.” H o g a n s p o k e w i t h Ly n n Wright, vice president of Academic Affairs, and Kristi Woods, dean of Instruction, Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences, on Zoom in early February — Woods is responsible for overseeing the Honors program — and described how Wright asked him to explain to her what the Honors program was and what it does. “I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Honors program faculty leadership to learn about this specific program,” Wright said. “The college is responsible to abide by the agreement between Riverside Community College District and the Faculty Association. Increases
in reassigned time for any program, including Honors, may be considered in the coming academic year. That consideration would be part of a broader discussion about costs, impacts and roles.” RCC President Gregory Anderson also said increases in reassigned time for any program, including Honors, may be considered in the coming academic year and would be part of a broader discussion, in accordance with Wright. “The administration is committed to sustaining a strong and successful Honors program,” Anderson said. “The college is responsible to abide by the agreement between RCCD and the Faculty Association.” Hogan then took the pressing concerns to the Faculty Association in mid-March. Faculty Association vice president Dariush Haghighat responded to Hogan via email, warning that opening up reassigned time contract negotiations for Honors would impel everyone to renegotiate their agreements. “I’m tired of explaining and reexplaining this issue,” Haghighat said. “Contract negotiation is a highly time-consuming process. I have a serious problem for people who are not familiar with contract negotiations and collective bargaining getting involved and making comments.” In previous years, reassigned
time was renegotiated through addendums or memorandums of understandings, where the president had the power to reassign, increase or reward more hours to faculty that went over what was negotiated in the contract. “Honors coordinators were getting reassigned time above what is negotiated in the contract, that is illegal, they are lucky they got that,” Haghighat said. “The district is the management that has the responsibility of reinforcing the contract and now has a new sheriff in town. And that new sheriff is our vice chancellor, and she’s going over the contract with fine-tune.” Hogan followed up by emailing Anderson for direction on where to submit a proposal. He said Anderson responded by acknowledging there should be a process but did not know what it was. “At the end of the day, it is not the job of the union to educate (faculty) about the contract. It is the job of the administration,” Haghighat said. “Why do you think the district has voted a ‘no confidence’ vote of President Anderson? He has repeatedly failed to live up to his responsibility.” The assurance that more hours were available if needed is what kept many of RCC’s programs afloat after being denied their request for an education adviser. A majority of those programs
are in the Visual, Performing and Creative Arts Department. A lack of tenure prevents other faculty members from coming forward, according to Haines. “The union is very powerful here,” Haines said. “I would like to think they are making decisions based on ethics and morals, recently I have questioned if that’s the truth. I think that sometimes they can target a person that they decide is ruffling too many feathers and asking too many questions, and so things can happen to those people.” Faculty members like Hogan and Haines are frustrated, not from the lack of funding, but from the lack of administrative response. “Our students don’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire because the adults in the room couldn’t figure it out,” Hogan said. “I’m not asking for a miracle, I’m asking for an answer, an explanation or, at least, a reply to my email.” Communication has increased recently between Hogan and Wright over the budget cuts. Although Hogan is appreciative of the increase, he feels he has wasted a semester. He also finds it highly unlikely that anything will change. Haines is currently working on the lighting design of his dance concerts for free. Hogan has informed the Honors program that fall 2022 will be his last semester in the program.
