Viewpoints fall 2021 vol. 100 issue no. 2, Sept. 23, 2021 by RCC Viewpoints

A typical front page of The Arroyo would contain around 20 or more

VOL. 100, NO. 2

different stories. The topics would

SEPTEMBER 23,

range from upcoming exams to

2021

sporting events.

RCCD updates vaccine deadline Students receive extension for second dose for in-person, hybrid courses LEO CABRAL & DANIEL HERNANDEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MANAGING EDITOR

The Riverside Community College District extended the deadline for students to receive the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine after faculty members voiced their concerns about the lack of recent

communication provided to students. Students received an email Sept. 16 informing them that it was their last day to receive their second vaccine dose in order to comply with the Sept. 30 full vaccination deadline. Students who did not comply with the deadline would be dropped from both face-to-face and hybrid classes if they were not fully

vaccinated by the final deadline. However, with the sparse email announcements from the district, many students were not prepared. Students received district email announcements Aug. 11, 12 and 18 informing them of the vaccination deadlines they must meet in order to stay enrolled in their in-person and hybrid courses.

This prompted Paul O’Connell, an Automotive Technology instructor, to send out an email to faculty and staff claiming that students have reached out to him expressing their dismay about the same-day notice. He also claimed that the district has not communicated

See VACCINE on page 2

Community honors fallen soldier

See LOPEZ on page 5 JOYCE NUGENT | VIEWPOINTS

Hundreds of children line the fence at Amelia Earhart Elementary School while just as many students from John Glenn Middle School assemble on the street to honor Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez as his motorcade passes by Sept. 17 in Indio.

From left: Lt. Vincent Avila with the Banning Police Department stands with fellow officers on top of the Banning Rescue unit to salute the procession carrying Cpl. Hunter Lopez as it passes under the San Gorgonio Bridge in Banning on Sept. 18. Right: Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran Jim Snyder looks on as Erik Barajas and his family hang the American flag on the San Gorgonio Bridge which overlooks Interstate 10 in Banning Sept. 18 to honor Lopez.

LIFE

VIEWS

Student tips:

Editorial: Texas

How to succeed

law paves way to

at RCCD

sketchy future

Area holds somber memorials for 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks JOYCE NUGENT STAFF REPORTER

Coachella Valley communities held commemorative events to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Twenty years ago, on that Tuesday morning in September, extremists linked with the Islamic group al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and attacked multiple structures in the United States. Two planes destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane was brought down by the hijackers in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when courageous passengers fought to prevent the plane from reaching its target in Washington, D.C. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. That figure includes 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. That story echoed throughout the entire Coachella Valley at numerous events this Sept. 11, held at fire stations, parks and an air museum. In Palm Springs at Fire Station 2, the ceremony began at 9:11 a.m. In addition to remembering those that lost their lives during the terrorist attack, the day was also a celebration of the first responders from California who were present at Ground Zero to assist with search and rescue missions, including 60 firefighters from Riverside County as well as six local firefighters.

See 9/11 on page 3

INDEX NEWS FEATURES A&E VIEWS EDITORIAL SPORTS

2 6 7 10 13 14

September 23, 2021

News

NEWS BRIEFS Important Dates Full credit eight-week late start classes begin Oct. 18. The final day to add classes is Oct. 27. The final day to drop with a “W” is Nov. 2, and the final day to drop without a “W” is Nov. 4. The final day to drop with a refund is Oct. 24. Second coronavirus dose deadline updated Students now have until Sept. 30 to receive their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to reach full immunity by Oct. 14. ASRCC Student Senate Election Electronic voting for candidates will be open from Sept. 28-29. For applications or more information email asrcc. vp@rcc.edu, or visit ASRCC in the Bradshaw Building room 207.

Riverside City College hosts Club Rush on campus for the first time since the pandemic from Sept 14-16. Many clubs shared a similar sentiment that the pandemic negatively impacted club attendance.

ASRCC Resource Center

Many students cautiously optimistic attending in-person

Free snacks, school supplies, toiletries and more are available in the ASRCC Resource Center. Hours of operation: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of these dates are subject to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus. Corrections: - In our previous issue we misspelled Chancellor Woldeab Isaac’s last name as “Isac.” - In our previous issue in the sports section about RCC sports returning, we stated the “first event in the fall semester will be a football game at San Diego Mesa.” This was actually a scrimmage, not a game.

To stay up-to-date on upcoming campus events, v i s i t t h e Vi e w p o i n t s calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org. If you have events happening on campus that you want featured on the calender, send information about the event to viewpoints. news@gmail.com.

JOHN GUERRERO | VIEWPOINTS

Club ‘Rush’ returns to Terracina Drive ANDREA MENDEZ STAFF REPORTER

Club Rush returned to Riverside City College’s campus for the first time since the pandemic forced all activities online. The three-day event was held in a hybrid format to accommodate for those who are unvaccinated or unable to come onto campus. Many were excited to be returning to campus. “It feels great,” Amy Bartels, biology major at RCC, said. “I actually have never been on campus, this is my second year at RCC.” She did, however, have some concerns over the promotion of Club Rush. Many of her classmates were not aware of the student-run event. “I heard a lot of my classes did not know about it until the professors told them,” Bartels said.

Information on the hybrid event was spread by professors and through Associated Students of RCC’s Instagram account. The student government spent time organizing Club Rush and assisting clubs with member recruitment. “This Club Rush was especially a lot of work,” Elisabeth Etchell, sociology major and an Inter-Club Council Director said. “We put up an extra effort to help the clubs get on their feet. Clubs have really suffered last year since recruitment was really hard when it was online only.” The pandemic affected many areas of all new and existing clubs and organizations operation wise. “There has barely been any clubs,” Kayla Batchelor, English major and member of the SOC club said. “The whole in-person Club Rush is a stark contrast to what it was the previous spring semester.”

Clubs have changed how they operate by enforcing and following COVID-19 regulations such as implementing mask mandates, CLEARED4 daily pass checks and social distancing. “We are going to mandate along with the school for the safety of others,” Phong Ngo, kinesiology major and member of the Asian Pacific Student Union, said. “We are going to try and have people six feet apart if possible with 10 or less members in our club location.” Club funding is another area that has been slightly wavering due to the pandemic. While newer clubs have not been affected monetarily, it has still impacted their ability to fund raise for club events. Budgets are up in the air to be settled with for new clubs as they are to be further discussed with student government. “I spoke with the ASRCC president and they said we could plan the whole year full of events

and that it would be reviewed to see what can be done within the budget,” Carlos Alvarado, psychology major and member of the Asian Pacific Student Union said. The student government does plan to have as many regular events as possible while following safety regulations on campus. “We’re working on having as many of the regular events as possible, like a COVID-safe Halloween Town and Scare Week,” Etchells said. “We’re working on making sure we can have something for the community if that’s possible but also making sure that it’s safe.” Clubs do plan to follow along with the scheduled events that ASRCC will be holding so as to not overlap. “For now we are following ASRCC Halloween Town, and Week of Scare, and any other monthly event they plan,” Alvarado said.

Original date for final vaccination changed VACCINE from page 1 effectively to students throughout this process and should move the deadline to a further date. As a result, the Faculty Association and Chancellor Wo l d e - a b I s a a c h e l d a n emergency meeting to discuss extending the deadline. “It appears there was some confusion,” the Sept. 17 email from the chancellor stated. “In

an effort to support all of those working towards full vaccination, recognizing that some may have misunderstood the September 30 deadline to be the date by which they were to receive their second dose, the deadline has been extended.” The new deadline now allows students to reach full vaccination status by Oct. 14. “As Student Trustee I am delighted that the deadline got pushed back,” Student Trustee

Jack Harris said. “I think the best thing to do is to push back until winter arrives… It is helpful for our most economically disadvantaged students who must work a lot and often don’t have reliable transportation or even childcare, however, students who are partially vaccinated still should maintain vigilance for their fellows with pre-existing conditions of life including autoimmunity, morbid obesity, old age, etc,”

The district will most likely utilize the CLEARED4 system and continue to offer COVID-19 tests and vaccinations through the fall to spring semester. “I know it has been very stressful for everyone,” Isaac said. “And I’m deeply grateful for people’s patience and tenacity and determination.” Isaac continued to thank the student body and all district employees for their cooperation.

September 23, 2021

News

JOYCE NUGENT | VIEWPOINTS

Above: The La Quinta community honors the victims of the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania terrorist attacks at a candlelight vigil Sept. 11. The event featured touching musical performances, several speeches by local dignitaries and a special dedication to fallen Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, the Coachella Valley native killed in Afghanistan last month.

Coachella Valley remembers lives lost during Patriot Day Above: A C-47 Sky Train returns to the Palm Springs Air Museum after flying over 26 fire stations in the Coachella Valley on Sept 11 to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11. The aircraft carries flags honoring local service personnel lost as a result of the Global War on Terrorism and Gold Star families. Bottom: Palm Springs Police Capt. Michael Kovaleff lifts his son Cash over the crowd on his shoulders so he can witness the 20th anniversary commemoration at Palm Springs Fire Station 2 on Sept. 11. Master of Ceremonies, Palm Springs Fire Department Engineer Mark Chavez described the events of September 22, 2001 for those who are too young to remember.

9/11 from Page 1 “We remember all the heroes of that day,” Palm Springs Fire Department Deputy Chief Jason Loya said. A 9/11 memorial sculpture was unveiled by the Cathedral City Council, Cathedral City Public Arts Commission and Cathedral City Fire Department in a ceremony that concluded with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. to coincide with the time American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The city of Indio gave away 300 small trees in honor of the victims of 9/11 and Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan. “Planting these trees will eventually provide shade, a beautiful canopy around our city and a generational legacy in Hunter’s honor,” Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes said in a prepared statement. “In addition, it’s a small way we can recognize the significance

“

of the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the many sacrifices made by our troops since that time.” Multiple World War II war planes from the Palm Springs Air Museum flew over 26 fire stations in the valley and High Desert. The aircraft carried the American flags honoring local military personnel who lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism. As the sun set and the day of remembrance came to a close, City Council Member Kathleen Fitzpatrick issued a call to action at a candlelight vigil in La Quinta. “Right after the attack on our country, we were at our best. We saw beyond our differences and unified in one vision,” Fitzpatrick said. “Let’s go forward from now and be worthy of the sacrifices of those families that were left behind. Let’s honor the heroism and courage of the first responders who lost their lives and those that are still suffering. Let’s be our best selves again, willing to do what’s right, working together for the benefit of all Americans.”

Above: A memorial honoring the 343 firefighters and thousands of others who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on U.S. Flight 93 Sept. 11, 2001, was unveiled at the newest Cathedral City Fire Station Sept. 11, 2021, the 20-year anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States. The 12-foottall memorial that now stands at the base of the American flag at Fire State 411, was designed by Cathedral City Fire Capt. Corey Goddard and fabricated by Jason Carlin.

Right after the attack on our country, we were at our best. We saw beyond our differences and unified in one vision.

September 23, 2021

News

history of viewpoints

’32-’42:

growth breeds golden age DANIEL HERNANDEZ MANAGING EDITOR

After 10 years of working to establish a student-run publication at Riverside City College, a new era came to fruition in 1932 with the hiring of a former alumnus: Robert Patton. Between 1922 and 1932, both the Tequesquite — a year book — and the student newspaper were only considered extra-curricular activities. Unlike today, there were no journalism classes that taught students the rules and ethics of being a reporter.. However, this all changed at RCC with the arrival of Patton. Within the first year of his tenure, a class in practical newspaper reporting was added and he became the adviser to both publications. While not much information can be found about what the class taught, its influence on the student publications was admired by the author of “A 65 Year History” and within the articles published in the subsequent years. His mentorship came at the perfect time for the paper. Between the end of the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II, the RCC community became more involved in state, national and international affairs — including the student-journalists at The Arroyo.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE

Students-journalists from The Arroyo sit in the newsroom and prepare an issue of the bi-weekly paper. Fortunately for Riverside, the Great Depression did not impact the college or the city like it did the rest of the United States. It was, however, the catalyst for the community’s interest in the politics of the era. The first signs of political interest at RCC began in 1932 when The Arroyo held a straw poll vote for the upcoming presidential election. The polls indicated that the college students were in favor of the reelections of Republican presidential candidate, Herbert Hoover, and California senator, Republican candidate Tallant Tubbs. It

solidified that the college was still staunchly Republican in ideology. During that same time period, The Arroyo also reported about a speech held in Riverside by an outspoken Socialist at the time named Upton Sinclair. The reporter called him interesting and elaborated on how the audience felt as if his ideals were the only for economic freedom. The threat of war looming over RCC also affected the college paper, which had articles discussing the potential of going to war as early as 1936. They reported on a “peace plebiscite”

where respondents refused (21%) to go to war or agreed only if the U.S. was invaded (45%). In the following years, the paper would continue to publish editorials, profiles and news articles all relating to World War II. The publications did not only cover political affairs. It also covered RCC’s growth as a college. The student-journalists at The Arroyo were proactive in reporting on the campus’ growth, documenting almost each and every new developmental project occurring within its borders.

From the Lovekin Art Center in 1939 to the addition of a pipe organ within the Auditorium, the program was proactive in documenting the college’s growth. Overall, the paper thrived with the arrival of Patton. His presence helped guide the student-journalists to be proactive with their reporting. “A 65 Year History” illustrates a typical front page as having 21 different items, concerning a variety of articles. The Arroyo’s golden age, however, would seemingly end around the beginning of the 1940s.

September 23, 2021

News

JOYCE NUGENT | VIEWPOINTS

A banner prominently displays Cpl. Hunter Lopez at the middle school that he attended while growing up in Indio Sept. 17. It honors Cpl. Hunter Lopez and the other 12 American service members who died during the bombing at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan Aug 26.

Hundreds mourn hometown hero in three-day procession LOPEZ from page 1 JOYCE NUGENT STAFF REPORTER

A homemade flag made by Army and Air Force veteran Brian Gray is left standing at the Palm Desert Sheriff Station. The flag reads “Hunter Lopez 9/21” in honor of United States Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez of Indio, who was among the 13 American service members killed during a terrorist attack near the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 26. “I found a piece of wood and some material from JoAnn’s that has the Marine Corps symbols and Semper Fi all over it,” Gray said. “I just made a flag out of it and wrote ‘no greater honor is given than a man who gives his life for his fellow man.’” Lopez died a hero shortly after he and a fellow Marine lifted two small girls over a fence to safety. He served in the Marine Corps for four years and spent his first three years as part of the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company A, 5th Platoon.

Most recently he was a member of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Golf Company, 1st Platoon, 3rd squad. Lopez, 22, was born in Palm Springs and spent his youth in the Coachella Valley and is the son of two Riverside County deputy sheriffs. His mother, Alicia Lopez, is the Riverside County Sheriff’s Association Board secretary and his father, Capt. Herman Lopez, is chief of La Quinta Police Department. “Before Hunter became a Marine, he was a son to Alicia and Herman, a brother to Owen and Trinity, a friend to many, a student and an Explorer Scout captain with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department,” Riverside County Sheriff’s Lt. Tim Brause said Sept. 18 at the Palm Springs Convention Center during the memorial service. “Hunter’s early commitment to serve others led him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.” The Lopez family said in a statement that news of their son’s death was “the news that no parent wants to receive.” “Our family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and

JOYCE NUGENT | VIEWPOINTS

Firefighters from Fire Station 412, Cathedral City and Fire Station 442, Palm Springs climb on aerial ladders to secure an American flag to honor Cpl. Hunter Lopez at the convention center in Palm

condolences we’ve received in the wake of Hunter’s sudden passing,” the couple added. “Please know that Hunter wore the United States Marine uniform with love and pride, and it is very apparent that the community will never forget his sacrifice and our family.” On Sept. 16, the streets in the Coachella Valley were lined by men, women and children dressed in red, white and blue proudly holding American flags to honor Lopez as his motorcade traveled from the Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cathedral City to St. Francis of Assisi church in La Quinta. You could hear a pin drop as the procession passed the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station. Some people placed their hands over their hearts, veterans and law enforcement saluted and others simply watched through tears of gratitude and sadness. The second day of the three day memorial event to honor Lopez a somber procession made its way through his childhood schools, Amelia Earhart Elementary School, John Glenn Middle School and La Quinta

High School. At Amelia Earhart Elementary, school pictures of Lopez taken during his younger years lined the sidewalks flanked by American flags that represent the school’s community. “Rest in Peace, Cpl. Hunter Lopez,” Principal Ann Morales said. “You will live in our hearts and memory forever.” Te a r y - e y e d f a m i l y a n d friends lovingly shared stories and memories of Lopez at his memorial service Sept. 18. Nick Conway, Lopez’s friend since the fourth grade, wiped away tears as he told how he, Lopez and Matthew Zamora cried with laughter while playing Xbox, shared frequent sleepovers with nerf gun fights, Star Wars movie nights, pool fights, birthday parties and stupid inside jokes. According to Conway, Lopez always had a sense of maturity and level headedness about him. He always had a plan and was able to execute. After he joined theMarines the only things he cared about were his family, becoming a better person and a better operator.

“He was the kind of friend you wanted by your side, he would do anything for you,” Conway added. “Hunter lived and died by the motto ‘service above self.’” Sgt. David Traylor was at the airport with Lopez Aug. 26. After the pair pulled the children to safety, Traylor said he looked at Lopez and they fistbumped. “Unfortunately, I never got to see my brother again,” Traylor said. As the funeral procession — escorted by dozens of law enforcement vehicles from local agencies and the California Highway Patrol — approached Banning on its way to Riverside National Cemetery, the San Gorgonio Bridge was being decorated with the American Flag by Erik Barajas, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and his family. “I lost my Lieutenant in Iraq so I know what it feels like,” Barajas said. “It is important to me that Hunter’s family knows the people of Riverside County care about them and their son and what they are going through.”

JOYCE NUGENT | VIEWPOINTS

The California Highway Patrol clears Interstate 10 near Banning for the motorcade carrying Cpl. Hunter Lopez out of Coachella Valley for the last time. The procession travels from the memorial service held at the convention center in Palm Springs Sept. 18 to the Riverside National Cemetery where he is buried.

September 23, 2021

FEATURES

The Arroyo reported on the numerous on-campus events such as dances, rallies and operas that were free for students in the 1930’s.

Tips on how to succeed at RCCD Seasoned students offer advice to overcome difficulties DAESHA GEAR OPINIONS EDITOR

I n-pe r son e ducat ion at Riverside Community College District has returned for the fall semester, but many new and returning students may feel unprepared. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the district into distancelearning in March of 2020, which caused both new and returning students to adapt to an online environment. Now, after a year and a half of Zoom classes, studying in our pajamas and going through college from our bedroom, student life is retur ning to nor malcy through the reintroduction of in-person courses. However, due to the absence of face-to-face learning for such a long period of time, reverting to in-person classes may be challenging. Several seasoned RCCD st udents have helpf ul suggestions for first-time and returning students to overcome these difficulties and achieve a prosperous semester. Quizlet is an online study tool that allows its users to create digital f lashcards on various subjects. I t ’s r e s o u r c e f u l t o individuals like second-year Christian Arrcola, a business ad mi nist ration major at Riverside City College. “When preparing for an upcoming exam, I would create flashcards that would pertain to the material I was currently learning,” Arrcola said. Text-to-speech is beneficial when taking an English, history or political science course as

JULIANNA HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

Students have learned to use a variety of online resources to help with their studies throughout the pandemic and are now applying them to in-person education. it provides convenience for students like third-year, Remy Tate, fine arts major at RCC. “Usually, I would have textto-speech activated whenever a professor assig ns me an online article to read,” Tate said. “Listening to it helps you become more efficient in decoding an article.” Discord is a popular messaging app that conveniently unites students together. Discord benefits fourth-year Josue Ortega, psychology major of Moreno Valley College, when

organizing study groups with classmates. “You can invite classmates to it to create helpful study groups through messaging, video or phone calls,” Ortega said. “Being able to chat and study together conveniently with peers can emulate the excitement of an actual class.” Online Resources provided by RCCD administers academic support to its students through the Virtual Librar y, online t ut or i ng a nd Wr it i ng a nd Reading Center.

“When it comes to using MVC resources, I like to use the virtual library to find scholarly sources for my paper,” Ortega said. “Retrieving sources from the Virtual Library or Google Scholar helps you find exciting facts for your paper.” Approaching your professor as a first-time or returning student may seem frantic. Still, it is another essential tip from Arrcola. “Since RCC is back to inperson lear ning, it’s easier and better than online courses

because you have more time to com municate with your teachers,” Arrcola said. Other valuable tips listed by the students include: reviewing not e s , at t e nd i ng t ut or i ng sessions and staying in contact with your professor. “Do not be intimidated by the number of students in your class when you’re asking a question,” Tate said. “Emailing is another option if you’re shy, but they (professors) aren’t going to bite; they want to help you.”

A break-down of Hispanic Heritage Month Mixture of cultures come together to celebrate community BRIANNA GOMEZ ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

In the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanics and non-Hispanics are often faced with the question of what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them. R iverside Cit y College Chicano Studies instr uctor Steven Moreno-Terril gave an educational view on Hispanic Heritage Month and went into depth about what it means to be Hispanic and Latino in the United States. T houg h H is pa n ics a nd Latinos all come from different regions, their heritage all comes

together as one here in the United States, where they helped in building the nation. “You can’t tell the story of the United States without including the history of Latinx communities throughout our country as well as the Americas as a whole,” Moreno-Terril said. While the United States was built off the labor of a combination of different people and cultures, the Hispanic and Latino community often experience a disconnect from their roots. “As you go on th rough generations in a country, there can be a thinning of the close connection to your heritage

culture,” Moreno-Terril said. With all that being said, Hispanics and Latinos are all a mixture of different cultures as opposed to just being one; this is what makes Hispanic Heritage Month such an important time here in the United States. As much as it is a time of celebration and appreciation, it also can be a time to bring awareness and advocate for Hispanic and Latino cultures. One important issue during this time is the way Hispanic Heritage month is presented to other cultures. “Hispanic or Latinx Heritage Month can be like a commodification where it is commercialized ... the other

aspect is where this month just focuses on the heroes,” Moreno-Terril said. “And this is not to dismiss or denigrate their accomplishments, but if that’s all that’s done and there’s no discussion of the struggles of Lat i n x com mu n it ies throughout the history of the United States, it gets pushed aside.” There are many ways to get involved in advocating during H ispa n ic Her it age mont h, even for non-Hispanics and Latinos. “ T he re a re ple nt y of different resources of different organizations and even social me d ia a ccou nt s t o fol low such as The Daily Chela and

Smithsonian Latino Center, there’s so many… there’s also books and podcasts,” MorenoTerril said. What Hispanic Heritage Month means differs f rom person to person and though each meaning may be different they are all equally important. “In my role as a professor and as a historian, I get excited… it’s a good opportunity to share information with folks and to say, hey let’s make this month count in ways that are really critical and meaningful and are not just surface level or watered down” he said. “Learn a little bit about the history but also make sure you’re learning about the struggles.”

The filming of a Will Rodgers movie at The Riverside County Fairgrounds was reported in an article of The Arroyo.

A&E

September 23, 2021

‘Shang-Chi’ dazzles with fight scenes Latest Marvel movie establishes precedent for impending phase four TIM NACEY MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

The thing that struck me most walking out of “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” was that I didn’t feel like I’d just stepped out of a superhero movie. It has some of the trappings of the genre, but it doesn’t bash you over the head with them. Because of that, I’d say that if you’ve ever been curious about the Marvel Cinematic Universe and have been looking for a place to jump in: this might be it. The film centers around a man named Shaun, who was trained as an assassin by his warlord father and ran away from home when he was a teenager. Since then, he’s been living a normal life in San Francisco and is now working as a valet at some unspecified fancy establishment. As you might expect, his father sends for him and Shaun’s, as he’s been calling himself since he moved to America, life changes forever. “Shang Chi” stars Simu Liu as the titular character and Awkwafina as his best friend

PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY

Shang-Chi (Simi Liu), Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) and Katy Chen (Awkwafina) star as the lead roles of the latest Marvel film “Shang-Chi.” Katy. This dynamic is what makes this movie feel like something special. Liu and Awkwafina are hilarious together and have effortless chemistry that, without words, effectively conveys their years of history without pushing them into a romantic relationship. Without spoiling too much, it’s heavily implied that Shang Chi and Katy will have a big role in the future of the MCU, and I, for one, can’t wait to see more of them together. Of course, I wouldn’t be

doing my job if I didn’t bring up the other star of this film: the action. Inspired by various styles of Kung Fu cinema, the fight scenes in this film are among the best seen from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One scene near the film’s start makes heavy use of wires to accent the fighters’ flowing movements, much like in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Another involves at least a dozen combatants flipping

and leaping through and across scaffolding outside of a skyscraper, calling to mind some of Jackie Chan’s pre-Hollywood work. In addition to feeling very thought-out, the action is also smoothly shot and it’s easy to keep track of the scene’s geography — a frustrating rarity in modern Hollywood. The only thing that keeps these fight scenes from being truly dazzling is the heavy use of CGI that Marvel Studios can’t seem to help.

One of the things that makes a great martial arts film such an amazing sight to behold is the stunt work that showcases almost superhuman levels of athleticism. It keeps you locked into the moment and, sometimes, almost makes you forget you’re watching a movie. The epic scale of a few shots and the amount of material added in post-production hurt that a bit. In addition to the usual fun and games of a Marvel movie, this film spends a surprising amount of time engaging with big topics: nature vs nurture and the idea of assimilating into American culture. While this commentary isn’t as pointed as in “Black Panther” or the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, they lend a little heft to the proceedings and make “Shang Chi” feel like one of the MCU’s more substantive and emotional films. Despite a few minor missteps here and there, “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings” feels like Marvel’s big return to cinemas, more so than “Black Widow.” It feels like the MCU’s phase four has finally begun in earnest.

September 23, 2021

A&E

Amazon’s take on Cinderella dull Subplots about feminism and social justice fails to capture audience MACKENZIE D. JOHNSON ASST. A&E EDITOR

We all know the story. Long ago in a kingdom far far away, a beautiful young woman becomes a slave to her evil stepmother and ugly stepsisters after losing her loving father. She escapes her deplorable situation because of a glass slipper, a handsome prince and, of course, her fairy godmother. H o w e v e r, A m a z o n ’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale starring Camila Cabello is obnoxious and forgettable. In writer and director Kay Cannon’s version, Cinderella dreams of herself as a businesswoman. This craving to have her own dressmaking business takes the place of many familiar and meaningful Cinderella story themes. To push the “girl boss” storyline ahead, Ella sells her late mother’s brooch as part of a dress design with no remorse. The focus Ella puts on dressmaking is not because she loves to design but because of the money she could make at it. Stepmother (Idina Menzel)

Camila Cabello (left middle) and Nicholas Galitzine star in CINDERELLA. receives a few questionable musical numbers. For a few minutes, Menzel sings a Madonna song that has absolutely no context in the movie and is awkwardly placed, like much of the score. The musical numbers are painfully boring. Nothing about them is memorable or extraordinary like you would expect a princess movie score to be. The songs that were chosen for the scenes feel uninspired and the lyrics have nothing to do with what’s going on in the film. The original songs written

for the film are fine, Menzel did what she could to salvage this. In a huge romantic moment, Ella and her prince are pretty but dull and lacking in chemistry and charisma. Fairy Godmother (Billy Porter) gives a few words of encouragement and maybe two wand waves, nothing magical. Of course every girl r e m e m b e r s C i n d e r e l l a ’s magical blue ball gown, which is completely absent from the film and substituted for a rather boring and gaudy prom look. It is still unclear who the target audience is. Scenes collide

into one another without sense, which is made all more obvious with the musical numbers. Cannon had a real need to put in subplots of social justice, selflove and feminism, all of which were greatly covered up by the fact that Cinderella’s success is only happening because of her proximity to wealth. “Rich people will change your life,” Fairy Godmother exclaims before sending Ella off to the ball. The film tries to send messages of body positivity through the step-sisters’ insecurities. Yet, the film also

mocks heavy-set people and calls them clumsy and other regressive stereotypes. To put it simply, this movie is astoundingly bad. It’s full of half hearted ideas, painful musical numbers, clearance rack fashion and incorrect stereotypes. Cannon’s attempt to throw in Ed Sheeran, Madonna, Janet Jackson, modern words like “dude” and “chicks dig it” and some flashy clothes simply does not work and there is no real flow to the narrative. Perhaps it’s so directionless because the filmmakers felt Generation Z has embraced TikTok so fully that movies do not demand a narrative flow anymore. It’s easy to picture a producer saying, “All kids want is dances, fashion and social justice!” Ti k To k e r s s h o w m o r e uniqueness in their dances, more style in their clothes and definitely higher social standards than this film was trying to achieve. It’s honestly disappointing to see a princess film with absolutely no magic. The only thing delivered by Cannon is a cringeworthy mess that’s impeccably dull and intellectually shallow.

‘King of Horror’ loses his touch James Wan recycles ideas from past movies in his newest project WILLIAM L.G. STEPHENS A&E EDITOR

The opening sequence of “Malignant” resonates as if it was left on the editing floor of a “Stranger Things” storyboard room. It’s all there, the dark hospital on the cliff, the disturbed patient being studied and the experimental score playing in the background. With little advertisement, other than the ones that interrupt your YouTube videos, the newest addition of James Wan’s horror repertoire hit theatres on Sept. 9. James Wan has held the title of “King of Horror” for roughly fifteen years now and possesses the knowledge of what gets a reaction out of audiences and what doesn’t. “Malignant,” however, has shaped itself into an accumulation of recycled parts from all his previous films. For example, the protagonist is hypnotized by an outside party in an attempt to remember her suppressed past just as they do in “Insidious.” Even the costume of the “Malignant” creature reminds us of “Insidious.” It’s yet to be known if this is done by design and I won’t be the one to spoil it for you. “Malignant” tells the story of Madison Lake, who is carrying the child of her abusive husband. One night, a devilish figure enters

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATOMIC MONSTER PRODUCTIONS

Madison Lake (Annabelle Wallis) has just gotten off work from her shift at the hospital. She is experiencing more pain than usual. She is heading upstairs to her bedroom where her abusive husband awaits her. her Victorian home and kills her husband while also knocking her unconscious. The typical duo detectives, where one of them is cynical and the other is intrigued, investigating the string of crimes rule it a home invasion. Meanwhile Madison, who is able to see the devilish figure attack his victims through visions as he commits the murders, is joined by her adopted sister. In the process, Madison discovers that the killer is linked to her

childhood imaginary friend Gabriel. With a muddy plot, and difficult to follow narrative, we are left with an arrangement of a film that is crippled by its uneven script and equally-in-comparison pacing. Between the poorly written story of Madison and her biological mother added by an ample number of scenes that are garnished by poor dialogue such as “Hey, are you still here?” to the guy that sits roughly 15 feet

away, this movie is riddled with plot holes and inconsistencies. In a genre where suspense is everything, this is the Achillies heel of the film. Much like an M. Night Shyamalan film, another horror director of this era, “Malignant” attempts to make up for its first two acts, with a clever twist in its third. As clever and as surprising as the twist may be. It eventually comes up short and does not make up for its 111-minute running time.

Luckily for us, this is a goodlooking film that captures the landscape and aura of Seattle, Washington in an apprehensive way. Aided by a skillful eye behind the camera who showcases his talent for revealing what is around the corner and standing behind its prey. With the choice to watch it in theaters or stream within the comfort of your home on HBO Max, I’d recommend staying home as there are far superior movie options to choose from.

September 23, 2021

A&E

Nintendo Switch remixes classic ‘WarioWare: Get It Together!’: a gross fun time TIM NACEY MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Over a 60-second period in “WarioWare: Get It Together,” you may find yourself chasing a toilet through a series of caves, flying through a shoebox in an attempt to avoid being grabbed by Wario or tweezing the armpit hair from a sentient Greek statue. The setup for a “WarioWare” game is simple: Mario’s rival has started a game development studio but doesn’t have the follow-through to make an entire cohesive game. Instead, he opts to bring his colorful group of friends together to create bite-sized interactive experiences that last about 10 seconds apiece. You play these “microgames” in a string, gaining a point as each one ends — regardless of whether or not you accomplished the mission — and losing one of your four lives with each failure. Your goal is simply to use your twitch reflexes and quick problem-solving skills to survive as many of these as you can in the pursuit of a high score. While the core idea remains largely the same in the Switch iteration, “Get It Together” changes up the formula in a really big way. In previous series entries, each one of Wario’s friends would host a series of microgames where you would interact directly through the specific Nintendo console’s unique gimmick, such as the Wii’s remote or the DS’s touchscreen.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NINTENDO

“WarioWare: Get It Together!” offers over 200 microgames that gamers can enjoy with friends. Nintendo Switch released the 10th ‘WarioWare’ installment of minigame video games Sept. 10 for the Nintendo Switch. This time, however, you take direct control of a rotating cast of characters who each have a specific skill, weakness and movement pattern. For example, 18-Volt can’t move on his own but has a disk he can throw in any direction or Pyoro the Penguin who hits things with his tongue but can only aim it diagonally.

Previous “WarioWare” games made it easier to teach yourself to master the games through muscle memory but this game forces you to change characters and styles every time you change games. This adds an element of both chaos and strategy that adds exponentially to its replayability. You never know exactly what you’re getting in any one

run. Games that are easy as one character can be next to impossible as others and that keeps you constantly on your toes. Parts of this game, such as the co-op multiplayer or the story campaign, feel half-baked and tacked on, but that’s easy to forgive when the stars of the show (the microgames) shine so

brightly with their surreal and often grotesque and disgusting senses of humor. At the end of the day, however, playing this game made me feel like I was in elementary school again playing “Touched” on my DSi. That nostalgia trip, mixed with the game’s reduced price tag makes this a time-killer that I’d recommend to anyone.

PlayStation Studios teases future of gaming Long-awaited releases and remakes incoming DIEGO LOMELI PHOTO EDITOR

On Sept. 9, PlayStation Studios showed the world a glimpse into the future of the PS5. Not only did they release trailers for some highly-anticipated sequels, but also unveiled several genuine surprises. These are, in my opinion, the best upcoming games shown at the 2021 PlayStation Showcase. ‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’ Remake PlayStation began its showcase with something absolutely nobody could’ve expected: the 2003 MMORPG “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” is getting a remake. Even though no gameplay was shown and a release date was not mentioned, the one minutelong teaser trailer was more than enough to excite unsuspecting fans.

‘Project Eve’ Developed by SHIFT UP Corporation, “Project Eve” looks like an incredible roleplaying game (RPG) with well polished, fast-paced combat and a gorgeous post-apocalyptic world to explore. The trailer showed off a titular Eve fighting off hordes of grotesque parasitic creatures.

Gameplay including boss fights, cutscenes and User Interface elements. ‘Tiny Tina’s Wonderland’ The upcoming “Borderlands” spinoff game “Tiny Tina’s Wonderland” is set to release March 5, 2022. In an interview with New Musical Express (NME), the game’s creative

PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY

On Sept. 9, PlayStation Studios showcased future releases for the PlayStation5 to an eager audience.

director and senior producer Matt Cox said that “Tiny Tina’s Wonderland” will be a stand-alone game, and not a “Borderlands 3” downloadable content (DLC). The development team drew inspiration from the 2013 “Borderlands 2” DLC “Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon’s Keep.” ‘Forespoken’ Announced on March 18 earlier this year, “Forespoken” now has a scheduled release date of Spring 2022. Developed by Square Enix, “Forespoken” will be a PS5 exclusive title. The trailer showed off bits and pieces of the main storyline, combat system and the open world itself. ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ Even though “Grand Theft Auto V” is now an eight-year-old game, it’s still incredibly popular. “GTA V” and “GTA Online” will both be making their way to the PS5 with improved graphics, enhanced gameplay and seamless character switching. Both were

delayed to March of 2022 from their original Nov. 11 release date this year. ‘Ghostwire: Tokyo’ “Ghostwire: Tokyo” was first announced in 2019 at Bethesda Softworks’ E3 press event. The highly anticipated first-person action game was unexpectedly delayed to early 2022 back in July of this year. Not much is known about “Ghostwire: Tokyo” but the basic premise of the game revolves around the player fighting to bring back 99% of Tokyo’s mysteriously vanished population. ‘Spider-Man 2’ Back in 2018, “Spider-Man” was met with great reviews and never-ending praise shortly after its release. The “Spider-Man 2” 2023 release date will definitely be a painful wait, but taking the amount of detail and polish that Insomniac Games put into developing the first game into consideration, it’ll definitely be worth it.

September 23, 2021

Views

An editorial was written in 1935 titled “Not Wanted Here” condemned reported communist activities happening in San Bernardino.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CANSTOCK

LEO CABRAL | VIEWPOINTS

Mainstream media fails LGBTQ+ community Transgender people deserve accurate representation

LEO CABRAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Fil m a nd television a re mediums I’ve always escaped to for comfort. However, that comfort slowly faded as I realized that there aren’t many people like me on-screen. The f ur ther I jour neyed into and embraced my gender identity, the less I saw myself in the media I consumed. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Mexican nonbinar y, transmasculine character, let alone one who is aromantic and asexual like me. Suffice it to say, there are not enough transgender and queer writers contributing to film and television.

Yes, I exist in a rather specific realm of intersectionalities, but plenty of people also straddle different intersectionalities who are not represented either. Consider who is in the writing rooms of your favorite films and shows. It is predominantly White, cisgender and heterosexual males writing queer stories — and they don’t do it well. The culture that excludes LGBTQ+ writers, especially of color, from f ilm and TV production must be actively challenged and held accountable. Showrunners should consult a team of t rans and queer individuals whenever they want to tell our stories and they should stop giving trans roles to cisgender actors. This will minimize harm and misrepresentation of the community as well as offer more employment opportunities. According to the Gay & L e sbia n A l l ia nc e Ag a i n s t Defamation, there were “zero transgender characters in the 44 major studio films released in 2020.” On top of that, eight of the major film studios that they tracked — this includes notable studios like Lionsgate,

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Studios — received an “insufficient” or worse grade regarding LGBTQ+ representation in 2019. In terms of representation, television has done slightly better than its studio film counterparts. Of the 773 series characters scheduled to appear on broadcast scripted primetime TV in 2020, only 70 of them, or 9.1 percent, were LGBTQ+. Such a monumental deficiency in authentic representation leaves room for misinformation, derogatory stereotypes and the perpetuation of violence. Tr a n sg e n d e r p e o ple , especially those of color, continue to fend off the misconception that they are socially deviant, mentally ill or primitive. An echo chamber of these stereotypes can lead to acts of violence against LGBTQ+ people. Characters like Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb from “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) depicts the “man in a dress” trope that leads to the bathroom panic, thus making private spaces more hostile for trans women. Characters like this feed into

the myth that trans women are evil, dangerous or deceitful when in fact the opposite is true; they are trying to live authentically. Trans women aren’t the only ones who receive this harsh treatment in the media. Trans men are depicted as angry and aggressive as a result of testosterone from hormone replacement therapy. At the same time, they are infantilized and dismissed as confused lesbians. Nonbinary people are usually portrayed by thin, light-skinned individuals assigned female at birth with delicate facial features, broad shoulders and a flat chest. T he se de pic t ion s e r a se nonbinar y people of color, nonbinar y people assig ned male at birth and indigenous experiences of gender pre and post European contact. In reality there is no one way to look nonbinary and trans men don’t become monsters by proxy of testosterone. We are so inundated with shallow illustrations of how people interact with gender that it’s often overlooked that medical transition isn’t every transgender individual’s end goal. It sets an

unrealistic standard of transness that, like unrealistic beauty standards, may be unachievable or undesired. Guess what? There is also no one way to be transgender. The only requirement is not identifying with the gender one was assigned at birth, something we don’t see represented onscreen. There are countless instances where media solely focuses on educating cisgender audiences, trans characters’ gender identity or a trans person’s transformation and appearance that we miss out on the more meaningful stories that could be explored. We may never progress in creating equal representation in the media if we continue treating LGBTQ+ individuals like they’re a new phenomenon instead of challenging cisgender audiences’ preconceived notions. Audiences don’t have to love it or immerse themselves in LGBTQ+ cultures, but they must accept that our beautiful and diverse stories are as important and worth sharing as any other. We deserve to see ourselves when we watch TV and movies.

“It keeps you guessing. For example, in my English class, there was a student that had it (the virus). Some of us had to be there, and some of us didn’t. The policies are not super clear, and you have to be flexible with it.” - Charlianne Yeyna

“Honestly, pretty safe. When it comes to my classes, I haven’t had any issues yet. So far, I don’t have any complaints.” - Zoie Knight

“I didn’t really agree with how fast we moved into it. When we first went into the lockdown, we were told it was going to be a stage-type period where we slowly would be going back into full-time classes. But it seems that within the semester, we went back full time in person when I thought we were supposed to go into hybrid classes.”

“I just feel like it doesn’t really make sense. I feel like what’s going to happen is, as COVID gets legally less serious, there are going to be more students that will slip under the cracks, who just aren’t vaccinated and just lie about everything.” - Marceline Pulk

Campus Conversations How safe do you think Riverside City College is with the coronavirus policies set in place?

Interviews by Kelsey Olarte Photos by Natasha Morrison

- Willie Gates

September 23, 2021

Views

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE

YouTube has implemented Chapters and Shorts in an effort to make its platform more interactive for its audience starting March, 2021.

Descent from platform to corporation YouTube continues to fail both its viewers and creators with its many changes

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO STAFF REPORTER

Over the past few years, YouTube has grown exponentially and has become a place where millions of users worldwide can express themselves. As YouTube grew larger and saw the potential to make money, it began making changes to the platform’s landscape. YouTube’s current CEO, Susan Wojcicki, claimed she would make the platform more diverse and welcoming to all people. That was a huge lie in terms of equality and diversity on a platform that was once stated to have rivaled network television for its creator’s freedom and

unique content. YouTube bots demonetize thousands of YouTube videos daily, despite most of these flagged videos following YouTube’s current guidelines. One of the hardest-hitting rules made is the possible demonetization of videos that include vulgar language and possible copyright. For instance, when the pandemic worsened, people would share their stories about COVID-19. Despite this content being informative for the general public by initially monetized creators, they would face demonetization by the Content ID. Similarly, topics covering issues within the LGBTQ+ community have been constantly flagged as sensitive or inappropriate. In contrast to language resulting in a video becoming demonetized, copyright can also play a huge role. Fair Use is a system meant to protect creators utilizing content from another source for information, parody or commentary. Despite this, YouTube has failed to allow the purpose of Fair Use to be properly implemented within YouTube’s Content ID.

Content ID is essentially YouTube’s auto moderator on the platform. With this system in place, many creators fear using videos and music from other sources, although their usage may fall under the Fair Use conduct. “Through its automatic copyright filter, Content ID, YouTube has effectively replaced legal, fair use of copyrighted material with its own rules,” Associate Director of Policy and Activism at Electronic Frontier Foundation Katharine Trendacosta said in her article, “Unfiltered: How YouTube’s Content ID Discourages Fair Use and Dictates What We See Online.” Creators further struggle with understanding why their videos are flagged due to a lack of a feedback system. For example, as stated by Matthew Patrick, YouTube content creator, in “Game T h e o r y ’s U N C E N S O R E D Interview with YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki,” video games walk a fine line. This circles back to the unclear Terms of Service agreement created regarding many topics. Many content creators whose channels focus on gaming fear

demonetization because of violence shown in the games they play and upload onto their channels. Further adding to this madness, YouTube gives each video a ‘content rating’ on which advertisers can choose to display their ads. Yet again, on the creator side, they cannot see their given channel rating regardless of intended purposes, albeit satire, parody, comedy, gaming and so on. At a minimum, YouTube should have implemented a system in which creators could build upon to create content that they enjoy making without having to stress about the invisible hands of demonetization lingering right around the corner. There should be a transparent system in place that would dictate to creators what their channels are rated. There should also be strict guidelines that YouTube should follow in terms of Fair Use and monetization. Two distinct layers of review should be in place for videos to pass through, rather than being completely automated. Although this may take up more time and resources, this type of system allows for videos to be quality-

checked to ensure fair and equal monetization ratings. Finally, YouTube should implement more communication between creators and human resources. Similar to the issues related to bigger and smaller channel inequality, there exists little to no human contact between creators and YouTube Human Resources. Rather than having YouTube workers follow a basic response outline, there should be a more genuine connection in terms of help. The basic outline should be used to help determine the needs of the creator rather than being the answer itself. YouTube as a whole has changed since its start back in early 2005. To this day, the platform continues to grow and adapt both to the mainstream audience and its creators and advertisers for better or for worse. To accommodate everyone, YouTube should not only focus on the financial side but also on what would help benefit its content creators and audiences alike. Wojcicki should be open to making controversial choices that might negatively impact their finances to further improve the platform for everyone involved.

Moschino receives positive feedback After years of criticism, Jeremy Scott hits a home-run with the newest drop

ELAINA KLEVEN FEATURES EDITOR

The Moschino Spring 2022 ready-to-wear spring collection has been released to the public, and has been receiving positive press. Since Jeremy Scott became the creative director of Moschino in 2013, his shows have been heavily criticized as

tacky, overbearing and lacking the camp-chic qualities that Moschino had established itself as in the mid-90s. What nailed Scott’s coffin was the 2018 fall collection when he released a show inspired by Trump’s immigration policies called “Illegal Aliens.” The show features many models painted different shades of the rainbow. Many came forward and criticized the show as extremely insensitive to the situation that was happening and felt that his profiting off of others’ tragedies was doing more harm than good. However, Moschino received surprisingly good feedback from critics in the fall 2021 and spring 2022 shows. It seems fair to question why Moschino is now getting good again. And what made it good in the first place? At the base, Moschino is

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOSCHINO.COM

essentially a chic-camp. Its attraction is based on breaking the serious and uptight association luxury brands hold and instead makes fun of it in some ways and makes luxury fashion fun and attractive for everyone, unlike old-money couture, which infamously profits off of inclusivity. What is, objectively, the reason why the brand was able to keep its reputation until Scott arrived was its play on classic silhouettes and styling.

In the ‘90s, when Moschino was thriving, the most popular designs were those based around popular silhouettes at the time. Miniskirt and blazer sets, dress coats and vintage dress patterns were trending, and Moschino stuck to those designs but added unreserved prints and bold accessories to elevate these. When Scott first infamously joined, the first thing he immediately changed was experimenting with the silhouette. Often adding feathers,

bold padding and generally not classic elements to the designs. His maximalist prints, bold silhouette and over-accessorizing destroyed the chic elements that Moschino once had and made it lose its connection to high-class fashion. Now that Scott has brought back these simple silhouettes in play with his prints, it has brought Moschino back to its original roots and is once again making it desirable to the public.

13 Texas abortion law opens can of worms September 23, 2021

Views

Editorial

The “heartbeat” bill has opened a can of worms that could potentially lead any state to enlist bounty hunters in order to circumvent the Constitution. Texas’ new abortion law, Senate Bill 8 or S.B.8, incentivizes their citizens to open a civil lawsuit against anybody who assists a person who receives an abortion after six weeks. If the plaintiff’s lawsuit is successful, they will be awarded with a minimum of $10,000 as well as costs and attorney’s fees. Also, the law does not protect the defendant from being taken to court multiple times over the same abortion case but states that the money can only be collected once. S.B.8 is an unprecedented attempt to bypass Roe v. Wade by leaving the enforcement of the law in private citizens’ hands and not state officials. We believe that Texas, if their law holds in court, will open the floodgates for other states to copy its legislation in an attempt to circumvent constitutional rights they deem unnecessary. Other states such as North Dakota, Mississippi, Indiana and Florida have already taken measures to enact similar legislation. A strong precedent would be set within the court system if lawsuits from multiple states succeed. This could, and more than likely would would, empower activists from blue states to react with their own similar bans, dragging the abortion bans strong precedent in tow. For example, if California were to pass a similar law allowing its citizens to sue gun vendors, ammunition sellers or gun manufacturers as a form of gun control; this would infringe on the people’s constitutional right to bear arms while rewarding whistleblowers with a bounty. Other states where abortion rights are on thin ice may also follow Texas’ lead and send their own citizens after those seeking the procedure. Loopholes such as this undermine human rights and their protections and paves an ugly road to an Orwellian America. The Republican majority Supreme Court dismissed an emergency application that would allow them to decide its constitutionality. We urge that the five justices who voted to abstain should reconsider their position and fight for the Constitution. By not making a decision on whether or not this “loophole” is Constitutional, you are complicit in opening the floodgates for states to circumvent federal control.

JULIANNA HERNANDEZ | VIEWP

JULIANNA HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS

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

LETTERS

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Leo Cabral (951) 222-8488 viewpoints@rcc.edu

NEWS EDITOR Jennipher Vasquez viewpoints.news@gmail.com ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS Andrea Mendez Liv Pearson

MANAGING EDITOR Daniel E. Hernandez viewpoints.managing@gmail.com

SPORTS EDITOR Daniel Hernadez viewpoints.sports@gmail.com ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS Jesus Coronel Jair Ramirez

ADVERTISING MANAGER viewpoints.advertising@gmail.com

PHOTO EDITOR Diego Lomeli viewpoints.photo@gmail.com

JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Matt Schoenmann matthew.schoenmann@rcc.edu

OPINIONS EDITOR Daesha Gear viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

FACULTY ADVISERS Matt Schoenmann Angela Burrell

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Alondra Alarcon viewpoints.socialmedia@gmail.com

REACH US: NEWSROOM PHONE: (951) 222-8488 E-MAIL: viewpoints@rcc.edu MEMBER:

Associated Collegiate Press

Journalism Association of Community Colleges

California Newspaper Publishers Association

TO THE

EDITOR

COPY EDITORS Melina Lam Kelsey Olarte FEATURES EDITOR Elaina Kleven viewpoints.features@gmail.com ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Brianna M. Gomez ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Will L.G. Stephens viewpoints.artsentertainment@gmail.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ASSISTANT EDITOR Mackenzie D. Johnson MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Tim Nacey multimedia.viewpoints@gmail.com ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Grecia Ortega

REPORTERS: Rebecca Tucker Sean Ryan Joyce Nugent Kristyna Ramirez Cheetara Piry

Isabel Whitsett Sigifredo Macias Mya Castro Bianca Macias Kelsey Olarte

Natasha Morrison Brian Calderon Julianna Hernandez John Michael Guerrero

Letters to the editor should be kept to 250 words or less and include contact information. Deliver letters to the Viewpoints office in the room behind the Assessment Building. An electronic copy is required. Viewpoints reserves the right to edit letters for space and to reject libelous or obscene letters. Letters to the editor and columns represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Viewpoints staff, Viewpoints faculty advisers, student government, faculty, administration nor the Board of Trustees.

PRINTING SCHEDULE Copy deadline:

September

Photo deadline:

September

Ad deadline:

September

Next issue:

October

Viewpoints is a public forum, First Amendment newspaper. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. © 2021 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.

September 23, 2021

SPORTS

The first issue of The Junior Colleger was printed on orange paper. The editorial explained that they did this to showcase pride for the college’s colors.

Lockdown defense JAIR RAMIREZ ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After winning the 2019 national championship behind their high-powered offense, the 2021 version of the Riverside City College football team has their hard-hitting defense leading the way this year. RCC defeated Saddleback College 33-6 behind an explosive defensive performance, holding Saddleback to just two field goals. “We were opportunistic defensively tonight,” RCC coach Tom Craft said. “We felt like going in that we were able to play good defense tonight and let the turnovers keep the game close and that’s exactly what happened.” Sophomore linebacker Noa Purcell set the tone with his goal line tackle in the first quarter. “ We c a m e t o g e t h e r a s defense, how we preached throughout the week,” Purcell said. Freshman defensive lineman Talib Salahuddin led the team with eight tackles and a sack. T h e Ti g e r s s e c o n d a r y allowed just 119 passing yards and had three interceptions. Two interceptions were returned for

a touchdown, first by freshman defensive back Demarco Moorer in the second quarter and then by freshman defensive back Carlton Johnson in the fourth quarter.. “Honestly just happy, it’s my first game back, it’s the first game back for a lot of us. Getting back on the field after two years,” Johnson said about the victory. Sophomore kicker Ricardo Chavez showed off his big leg by making four out of five field goals including two from over 50 yards. Chavez also had four punts inside the 20-yard line, giving the Tigers a field position advantage throughout the game. Penalties threatened to hurt RCC after they racked up 14 for 141 yards. Most of the penalties committed by RCC were after big hits which seemed to light a spark under the team and rattle Saddleback. Coach Craft wasn’t too thrilled about the penalties committed. “Penalties come from an inexperienced team and we’ve got to get better at that,” he said. R C C ’s o ff e n s e s h o w e d potential but they still have some things to work on. RCC next faces Golden West College on Sept. 25 at home.

Volleyball Game The women’s volleyball team will play at home against Irvine Valley College on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. The game will be held in the Wheelock Gymnasium, located behind Wheelock stadium. Football Game The football team is playing against Golden West College at home on Sept. 25 at 6:00 p.m. To enter the stands, spectators must showcase proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. Masks are also required. SCFA Players of the Week

DIEGO LOMELI | VIEWPOINTS

Marquis Ashley, wide receiver, had two catches for 95 yards against Saddleback College on Sept. 18.

Freshman considered key playmaker MYA CASTRO STAFF REPORTER

As the season begins for Riverside City College men’s water polo, Reese Starkey has become a force to be reckoned with. With 10 years of playing experience, the Cajon high school alumnus has collected a college career total of 24 goals and 28 steals. Starkey’s outstanding offense and defense have helped the team secure three wins so far this season. As his passion for the sport continues to grow, Starkey’s two older brothers are the ones who inspired him to play the sport competitively. His brothers also played at Cajon high school and one of them attended and played at RCC just like him. Starkey couldn’t be any happier to follow his brother’s footsteps and play for RCC. “Water polo for community college was probably the best option with RCC,” Starkey said. Like many other freshman, Starkey missed out on experiencing his first year at college as a student athlete because of the pandemic and the hold on in-person classes at RCC. After a year of waiting, the freshman couldn’t wait to get back on campus and back in the water. “I’m excited to play but I feel

MYA CASTRO | VIEWPOINTS

Reese Starkey scored three goals and had six steals against Mt. San Antonio College on Sept. 10. like it really held me back from a lot more,” he said. For someone who is eager to constantly improve his skills, a year off from playing was not beneficial to him in any way. While he believes that he wasn’t able to reach his full potential, Starkey’s teammates believe that he is one of the biggest assets to the team. “He’s so fast, like one of the fastest on the team so his speed mixed with his knowledge of the game and how hard he works definitely helps the team out offense and defensively,” Jared

SPORTS BRIEFS

Salas, a men’s water polo team captain, said. S e b a s t i a n K e n l e y, a sophomore on the team, also believes that Starkey’s speed has helped them a lot during games. “Reese is really fast and he finds himself open a lot on counter attacks because of his speed,” Kenley said. “He is positive and is a very committed athlete.” When asked about what makes Starkey different from other players, many of them have described him to be a hard worker.

Reese is really fast and he finds himself open a lot on counter attacks because of his speed.

- Sebastian Kenley

“He puts in work every minute he is in the water for us and he is one of our key starters,” Tommy Dempsey, another team captain, said. When it comes to school, the freshman remains focused on his studies at all times. “Being a student comes first, because if I don’t have my classes done and all my stuff done then I can’t be an athlete,” he said. Looking forward to the future, Starkey has big goals for himself. As a film major, he plans on working his way up to be known in the world of film. “I started when I was twelve and I started liking not just taking photos but I started using my own camera to record little videos and edit them and I’d say I’ve done pretty okay at it,” Starkey said. “And now I wanna start my own business with it.” As a water polo player, he has big dreams of going to top division one schools to compete. “I definitely wanna transfer to play… my number one option would be UCLA,” he said. “If I can’t get into UCLA I’ll definitely look into UC Santa Barbara or UC Irvine.” Starkey’s time at RCC is not at a close though once the season ends. He still plans on attending and playing at RCC for one more year before he transfers. The starting freshman has continued to shine not only in sports but in academics as well.

Kicker Ricardo Chavez and defensive back Carlton Johnson have been announced as the Southern California Football Association’s players of the week. Chavez kicked a career-long 54 yard field goal while Johnson had a 48 yard pick-six. Women’s Water Polo Wins The women’s water polo team hosted a tournament at Citrus College where they won two games. The team beat Chaffey College 16-4 and beat Golden West College 15-7. Canceled Invitational T h e M a s t e r ’s C o l l e g e Invitational that was set for Sept. 25 is canceled. The next cross country race will be the San Diego Invitational at NTC Park on Oct. 1. The first race will begin at 9 a.m.

All of these dates are subject to change due to possible regulations to come involving the containment of the coronavirus. To s t a y u p - t o 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.

Sports

September 23, 2021

Cross country travels cross-town The men’s and women’s teams competed against quality competition at UC Riverside BRIAN CALDERON STAFF REPORTER

The team fielded runners in all four events and ran on the Ag/Ops Course. In the opening race, the women’s 6K, the Tigers placed 21 out of 24 teams. The team’s highest finisher in that race was Helena Valdez in 131st out of 173rd runners with a time of 23:36. The rest of the team finished between 131st -165th positions. During the second race, the men’s 8K, Riverside City College placed 17th out of 26 teams. Gavyn Condit was the team’s highest finisher in the race taking 82nd out of 194 with a time of 25:36. The team

BRIAN CALDERON | VIEWPOINTS

Competitors for the men’s invitational 8K make their way to the first hill of the Ag/Ops course at UC Riverside Sept. 18. finished between the 82nd143rd positions. In the final women’s race, the women’s 5k, the cross country team did not score points. The Tigers only had three runners in the race. The highest placed runner for the Tigers was Laila Wright in 159th with a time 22:15. The invitational ended with

the men’s 8K open where the Tigers finished 7th out of 20th teams. The highest finisher in the race was Michael Holland in 47th with a time 26:49 while the team finished between 47th-97th positions. Their next race will be the San Diego Mesa at NTC Park in San Diego, California on Oct. 1 at 10:00 a.m.

BRIAN CALDERON | VIEWPOINTS

Jordan Wilson, Sophomore at RCC, looks to make up positions on the final 200 meters of the UCR Ag/Ops Course.

BRIAN CALDERON | VIEWPOINTS

Runners from the women’s open 5k make their way up the first hill of the Ag/Ops course for the 40th annual UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 18.

RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE

Map Key 1. Alumni House – 3564 Ramona Drive • RCCD Foundation 2. Art 3. Automotive Technology 4. Business Education (Alan D. Pauw) • Mailroom/Admin Service Center 5. Ceramics 6. Cosmetology 7. Digital Library & Learning Resource Center (Salvador G. Rotella) • City Grill Express Food Services • Dean, Student Success & Support • Glenn Hunt Center for Teaching Excellence • Guardian Scholars Engagement Center • Journalism/Viewpoints • LHSS Academic Engagement Center • Study Abroad Office • Technology Support Services • World Languages Lab 8. Early Childhood Education 9. Facilities, Maintenance & Operations 10. Gymnasium (Arthur N. Wheelock) • Athletics • Student Athlete Engagement Center • Fitness Room 11. Gymnasium (Catherine S. Huntley) 13. Kane Student Services & Administration Building (Dr. Charles A Kane) • Academic Affairs • Admissions & Records • Auxiliary Business Services/Cashier • Business Services • CalWORKs • Career & Transfer Center • Counseling • Disability Resource Center

•

Extended Opportunities Programs & Services (EOPS)/CARE • Financial Aid • President’s Office • Student Employment Services • Student Financial Services • Student Services • Transcripts • TRIO – Student Support Services • Veterans’ Resource Center • Welcome Center 14. Landis Performing Arts Center 15. Lovekin Complex • College Safety & Police (L1-3) • Gateway to College (L4-9) • Tennis (L10) • Tennis Courts • • Photo Lab & Studio (L12-14) 16. Martin Luther King Jr. High Tech Center • Center for Communication Excellence • Math Center • STEM/Fine & Performing Arts Academic Engagement Center • Tutorial Services • Writing & Reading Center 17. Math & Science Building • Dean, STEM 18. Music 19. Music Annex 20. Music Hall (Richard M. Stover) • Dean, Fine and Performing Arts • Marching Tigers 21. Nature Trail (Arlene & Robert F. Richard) 22. Quadrangle (Arthur G. Paul) • Art Gallery • Dean, Languages, Humanities & Social Sciences (LHSS)

• Honors Study Center 23. Parking Structure 24. Pilates Studio (Eleanor H. Crabtree) 25. Planetarium (Robert T. Dixon) 26. Practice Field 27. RCC Coil School for the Arts – 3890 University Avenue 28. RCC Culinary Arts Academy – 3801 Market Street 29. Riverside Aquatics Complex 30. School of Nursing 31. Sports Complex (Samuel C. Evans) • Baseball Field • Softball Field (Ab Brown) 32. Stadium (Arthur N. Wheelock) • Weight Room 33. Student Center (Ralph H. Bradshaw) • ASRCC Student Government • Bookstore • City Grill Food Services • Dean, Student Life • Food Pantry • Hall of Fame • Student Health and Psychological Services • Heritage Room • La Casa Cultural Engagement Center • Student Activities • Umoja Cultural Engagement Center 34. Technology A • CTE Academic Engagement Center • Dean, Career & Technical Education 35. Technology B • International Students and Programs Center • Printing & Graphics Center 36. Warehouse 37. Outdoor Plant Laboratory • Greenhouse

Viewpoints fall 2021 vol. 100 issue no. 2, Sept. 23, 2021

Articles inside

NEWS

FEATURES