NEWS

News Briefs

Spring fnals

Spring fnals begin June 6. June 10 will be the fnal day of the spring 2022 semester.

Commencement ceremony

RCCD will host its frst 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: https://www.mvc.edu/ 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

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 flled 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 fgure, 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 fght 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

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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.”

Hogan spoke with Lynn 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 specifc 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 fne-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 ruffing 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 crossfre because the adults in the room couldn’t fgure 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 fnds 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.

DAESHA GEAR | VIEWPOINTS Al Weyant-Forbes, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services specialist (EOPS), and Andrea Dillon, LGBTQ+ Association for Student Success and Equity (LASSE) and Ally program coordinator, embrace after years of requesting adminstration for student services for RCC’s underrepresented students.

College provides safe space

Grand opening marks frst step to permanent center

ALEXANDRA UGALE FILARCA STAFF REPORTER

Riverside City College faculty members, Sexuality and Gender Acceptance club (SAGA) representatives and the LGBTQ+ Association for Student Success and Equity (LASSE) reached a milestone in visibility and representation on campus.

RCC celebrated the grand opening of the LGBTQIA2+ student hours May 19.

LASSE and SAGA faced many obstacles in recent years as faculty members and allies struggled to receive the services, student resource center and funding needed to support underrepresented students.

“The overall challenge (was) trying to fnd a room that wasn’t already marked with something else on campus,” said Théa Marie Seals, an instructional support specialist of the Writing and Reading Center and volunteer for LASSE.

They eventually acquired a space in the Martin Luther King Jr. Building.

“We have been fighting for so many years,” said Okami Harveinheit-Lucrey, an Associated Students of Riverside City College (ASRCC) senator and former SAGA president. “As soon as faculty came in, and there were more LGBT+ faculty, they were working with us. Administration decided to fnally listen and help us out.”

Andrea Dillon, LASSE cochair, said MLK 304 is a temporary space. She and others are still advocating for a permanent one.

The establishment of a LGBTQIA2+ student center was lengthy, but it is only the first step of a long journey to get the appropriate resources and safe space for the community.

LASSE and SAGA hope to accomplish more in order to accommodate students better as they continue to push for a permanent student resource center. Some things they would like to see are expansion, more student hours and more support and resources for students, according to Dillon.

“This opening is so important for the students who have not yet come out or (do) not yet understand themselves because now they have got a place to do so,” HarveinheitLucrey said. “It’s gonna do a lot for their mental state, health, safety, as well as their education to be surrounded by others who are just the same as them.”

Volunteers and students alike were pleased to have a communal space where they can nurture an environment that allows everyone to feel free to express themselves authentically.

“If I had a space where I could come and be okay being me, that would’ve meant the world to me,” said Seals. “That impact is immeasurable. That feeling of inclusion, of being seen and valued, is what matters to me. That is the reason why any of us are volunteering all (of) the time. We’re not getting paid extra for this – this is all just an act of love.”

Representatives from both clubs voiced other evolving issues affecting underserved students at RCC.

“Policy changes are a big one,” Dillon said. “We talk about

DAESHA GEAR | VIEWPOINTS LASSE, SAGA club members, faculty and representatives from various student services pose near the new LASSE fag placed in front of MLK Building on May 19. inclusive restrooms, but they’re not always open. They’re few and far between and that’s not okay. We’re (also) focused on how to get inclusivity in classrooms.”

LGBTQIA2+ students echo this sentiment as these students are more likely to experience misgendering and dead-naming in a classroom setting.

“When I changed my pronouns to they/them, that was something I struggled with during high school,” Lila Rodriguez, a frst-year flm major, said. “I think teachers should be able to learn how to properly address people with their pronouns.”

Representatives said there are plenty of ways allies can support the LGBTQIA2+ community at RCC, including promoting visibility, creating safe spaces and learning about the issues the community faces. “Advocating for our community and telling (people) that we are right here on campus (would help others) learn about us,” said Jennifer Shaw, vice president of SAGA. “Education is knowledge and power.” Toi Thibodeaux, assistant director of the LGBT Resource Center at the University of California, Riverside, was invited to speak at the opening of the student hours. Thibodeaux played an important role in establishing the BlaqOUT Conference in 2014 which provides a safe space for Black LGBTQIA2+ students. She gave insight on how the student hours could grow in the coming years, including creating a “professionally-staffed center” to establish its legitimacy. Thibodeaux also recommended looking into creating policies that aid marginalized students. “Policies where students can have their lived name on documentations, or multi-stall gender-inclusive restrooms and the healthcare system (are some of them),” she said. “Really, it’s about putting in policies that can actually create change.” LASSE, SAGA, faculty members and allies continue to push for change and more support for underrepresented students at RCC. “It’s really about being here for the youth of today to make sure that they can be here tomorrow to help the next generation,” Thibodeaux said.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS RCC Math and Science majors Kasandra Caywood, left, and Sandi Bangphraxay select props before having their photo taken Grad Fest in the Quad on May 26.

Josie Brooks from the Riverside City College Bookstore arranges graduation gifts in the Quad on May 26.

Students fnally ready to walk

RCC to give ’20-’22 graduating classes in-person ceremony

MYA CASTRO STAFF REPORTER

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools everywhere to transition to remote education, Riverside City College will be holding an inperson commencement ceremony celebrating graduates from 2020 through 2022.

Students gathered in the Quadrangle on May 26 for Grad Fest, hosted by Associated Students of Riverside City College (ASRCC). Students were able to pick up their free cap and gowns, receive free food, take photos with RCC President Gregory Andseron and decorate their cap.

The pandemic made many high school graduates from 2020 miss out on graduation festivities. RCC student Sofa Morgan graduated from Grove High School in 2020 and will fnally experience a real graduation this year.

“My high school had a drivethrough ceremony,” Morgan said. “It’s a good feeling since this will feel like my frst time graduating from a school.”

Marina Morgan, a student in Architecture, Interior Design and Social Sciences will be graduating with the class of 2022 with three degrees.

“My parents never attended my graduation in high school so they will be (attending) this year along with my sisters and boyfriend,” she said.

Many students have various services at RCC to thank for helping them through the pandemic to this in-person ceremony.

Yisenia Sanchez, a Fine Arts student and mother, started at RCC in 2016. She received food from the RCC Food Pantry and was able to apply for CalFresh through the college.

“I love RCC, there’s so many resources and a community I didn’t have in Los Angeles,” Sanchez said. “This is a place I don’t want to leave but I do need to move on.”

Sanchez is thankful for the support that was given to her from not only her family and friends but the school as well.

“(RCC) is where I became an adult, this is where I saw my passions and changed my direction of schooling.”

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS

Faculty calls for RCC president’s resignation

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an adverse work environment.

One instance surrounds a breach of confidentiality. The Improvement of Instruction (IOI) reviews on faculty members were disclosed publicly. The Faculty Association advised Anderson to take action on numerous occasions.

“The IOI is incredibly important for faculty because it determines whether or not they will continue to work here,” said Mark Sellick, Academic Senate president. “It should never be the subject of an open college meeting.”

The open letter stated Anderson addressed the conflict through law frms and human resources, claiming it was “freedom of expression.”

“You can’t describe freedom of speech to openly talk about somebody’s evaluation or a faculty investigation,” Taube said. “Those things are not allowed. That is not freedom of speech.”

Haghighat and Taube also alleged Anderson is incapable of making decisions independently as he constantly seeks legal advice from third parties on RCC’s behalf.

“We gave him a chance after several years of work,” Haghighat said. “We tried and tried and tried and tried, and this guy, he just doesn’t have it — leadership is not in his DNA.”

Anderson’s lack of approach has left issues at RCC abandoned, according to Haghighat and Taube.

One example involved resolving an issue for a faculty member surrounding Title IX. Anderson insisted he would take care of the issue.

However, according to Taube, the issue was never resolved and is currently ongoing.

The letter also alleged that Anderson uses scapegoats.

Raymond “Chip” West, RCC vice president of Business Services, was placed on administrative leave. The open letter claims Anderson said Human Resources and Employee Relations (HRER) instructed him to make the decision.

West’s leave resulted in responsibilities under his duty being unattended or shifted to another administrator. This created more work for faculty members, according to Haghighat.

Haghighat said Anderson has the right to place West on administrative leave, but also stated Anderson should have taken matters into his own hands.

The open letter states that other administrators are following Anderson’s footsteps by involving third parties to handle job duties.

The Association claimed it is a waste of funds to pay attorneys and human resources to make decisions meant for the higher-ups.

“The college is falling apart,” Haghighat said. “We have paid administrators who are not doing their job. If a president has to go to an attorney all the time to ask what to do, then why do we need a president? HR and attorneys run the college.”

Haghighat and Taube’s end goal is Anderson’s resignation, otherwise they will ask the Board to dismiss him.

The decision surprised Board of Trustees President Bill Hedrick, who was unaware the Faculty Association had undertaken a noconfdence vote against Anderson.

“I am always hopeful that issues can be resolved at the lowest level,” Hedrick said. “That certainly was not necessarily the case.”

Hendrick said he could not comment further on the issue. However, he said that the appropriate course of action will be for human resources and Isaac to consider the complaints made, followed by making recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

“(Anderson) is wasting everybody’s time,” Haghighat said. “He is creating more problems, and he is not addressing them. I believe RCC deserves better leadership than it is receiving now. We need a leader who will lead this great institution to higher and better places, and that leader is not Dr. Anderson.”

Anderson has not responded to multiple requests for a comment.