Horoscopes
With the new year upcoming, enter 2020 with a fresh start
Lifestyle Page 2
Abortion resources needed
New bill allows abortion services at CSU’s and UC’s but not community colleges
Opinion Page 8
December 5, 2019 • Volume 93 • Issue 4 • Published since 1927
IS COLLEGE WORTH IT?
Photo Illustration by Abel Reyes, Jordan Parks, and Alexis turner
Despite two-year free tuition, other expenses still can cause a burden to students
News Page 3
NEWS
2
December 5, 2019
NEWS BRIEFS
Judge talks Trump
In a speech at Long Beach City College, Federal judge Gonzalo Curiel addressed President Donald Trump’s accusatory attacks. Trump’s comments were in regards to Curiel’s Mexican heritage being a conflict of interest in the class-action lawsuit against Trump University. Remaining firm on his decision in disregarding Trump’s comments, Curiel said that part of his job is learning not to take it personally when people don’t agree with his decisions.
— Savannah Gomez
YAF is back
The Young American Foundation (YAF) have reestablished themselves at Long Beach City College, a political conservative club. Long Beach City College can be looked at as more of a liberal campus, but with YAF, they are able to share a different viewpoint without judgment. Around two years ago, YAF was an existing club but disbanded due to the lack of members. Now YAF is giving students the opportunity to collaborate on topics like politics. The next meeting will be held on Dec. 6 in room T1309 at 1:00 pm. — Tyana Sallis
Mending wounds
Hands for Africa is a non-profit organization that is raising money in order to help Sierra Leone and the refugees displaced by the war that lasted from 1991 until 2002. “Over 80,00 people had their arms and legs amputated as a form of punishment, or to stop people voting a certain way,” said Shyanne Riberal-Norton, a community outreach specialist for Hands for Africa. Hands for Africa aims to boost Sierra Leone’s economy by donating prosthetic limbs to amputees in order to get them back into the workforce. — Martin Koev
FatherCon informs
Fathers, fathers-to-be, father figures, and foster fathers gathered at Warren High School in Downey on Nov. 9 for the annual FatherCon workshop. The event brought men together to discuss the obstacles of fatherhood amid the threat of human trafficking. “There are plenty of negatives from an unengaged father. On the flipside, we want to address all the positive good that can be done. You can be imperfect but still have a positive impact on your children,” said FatherCon creator Patrick Erlandson. — Tess Kazenoff
On the Web
For complete versions of these stories, go to lbccviking.com.
The temporary Viking Vault located in room E-212 of the Liberal Arts Campus.
Photo by Idalia Gonzalez
LBCC plans to expand Office of Basic Needs By Idalia Gonzalez Viking Staff
During the State of the College event in July Superintendent-President Reagan Romali announced the expansion of the Office of Basic Needs which will serve as a support system for homeless and food insecure students. “How we are going to expand the program is with different food programs that we’re working with that will be delivering food by the way of food donations, like the LA Regional Food Bank,” said Dianka Lohay, the manager of basic needs. While partnerships with the LA Regional Food Bank and others is not final, they hope to expand the Viking Vaults by way of private donations, according to Long Beach City College Director of Student Health and Student Life, Deborah
Miller-Calvert. “So much of our donations right now are community partners, small clubs and organizations, as well as Long Beach City faculty and staff,” Miller-Calvert said. The current Viking Vault is the size of a closet but with the new renovations, it will be bigger and provide extended services to students, which can be crucial to a student’s success. “Step one of the Healthy Viking Initiative is security, and if our students don’t have food, they don’t have shelter, research shows that they are not going to be strong academically and they’re not going to be as successful as their peers that do have consistent access to food,” said Miller-Calvert. Lohay also mentioned that community college students are at a greater risk of being food insecure than students attending CSUs and UCs.
“A recent study found that about fifty two percent of community college students in Los Angeles County are food insecure,” Lohay said. Even though the Office of Basic Needs at LAC was supposed to be open this Fall, but it has been delayed due to a roof leak, according to Vice President of Student support services Mike Muñoz. Even though the Offices are not completed the administration wants students to be aware that they are still able to receive help. “We don’t have the expanded services but we’re doing the work now. We don’t want anyone to think that they can’t receive the resources and support,” said Miller-Calvert. The Office of Basic Needs of both LAC and PCC will see a grand opening held in spring 2020.
PCC pushes sustainable parking By Nate Enierga Viking Staff The new multi-level parking structure at PCC is currently undergoing construction, with an estimated $21.5 million projection cost. PCC’s new parking structure is almost identical to the parking structure at LAC and will also be outfitted with solar panels on top, making it 100% self sustainable. Walter Johnson, Senior Director of facilities planning, spoke on the new parking structure. “The new parking structure is now two weeks into construction, we put fences up and started the civil parts of it. We are also
currently working on the ground utilities before the rainy season hits,” said Johnson. LBCC is now pushing for a more sustainable environment, as all of our buildings have met the net zero energy goal. A zero net energy building utilizes renewable energy, consuming no more energy than it produces. “We are aware of the impact of global warming, we’re currently attempting to reduce our carbon footprint by designing efficient buildings and implementing sustainability measures,” Johnson said. The structure will be four stories, consisting of five hundred parking stalls, 33 charging stations for electric vehicles, and 45 clean air vehicle spaces.
According to LBCC’s 2041 Master Plan, the new parking structure shall address the long term student and staff parking needs associated with the construction of a number of new instructional buildings at PCC. Student Dewayne Armestead Jr. had different views on the parking issue, stating, “The parking lot is generally empty, it’s relatively easy to find parking.” Student Jessica Tang shared a similar view and said, “Parking is fairly moderate at PCC, it’s not too hard to find parking.” LBCC’s administration is holding a ground-breaking ceremony on December 8 to celebrate the parking structure’s construction.
NEWS
December 5, 2019
3
What to know about college prices
graphics by abel reyes
Tuition, books, housing, and other expenses can be a burden to students
By Abel Reyes and Tess Kazenoff Viking Staff Community colleges have always been a crucial part for Americans interested in continuing or restarting an education. According to the College Board’s 2018 Trends in College Pricing Report, prices at public two-year institutions are more than twice as high in 2019 as they were in 1989. The Viking News broke down the cost of attending Long Beach City College and neighboring community colleges, and looked into the feasibility of making ends meet while simultaneously thriving academically.
What does LBCC cost now?
Depending on whether you live at home or not, or if you are a California resident or not, these figures vary. According to LBCC, the total cost of attending as a California resident is $15,072. These costs include tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation, housing and food, and personal expenses. Going to college is now the second-largest expense an individual is likely to make in their lifetime, right after purchasing a home. Tuition and fees for in-state public colleges was $10,230, according to the College Board and that’s not including room and board or other expenses. However, for those currently living away from home, or planning on moving, cost in housing and personal expenses do rise substantially. Along with that, added resources from LBCC and LBUSD can potentially lower some of the cost.
Resources
Of 24,704 LBCC students, 16,289 (66%) students receive some type of grant or scholarship. The average amount of aid given to students is $3,247. Of these students, 8,484, or 34% receive Pell Grants, and 517 students or 2% receive a federal student loan. 75% of LBCC freshmen are reported to be receiving some sort of financial assistance. At the beginning of the fall semester this year, those eligible for the Long Beach Promise are now eligible to fall under the new Long Beach Promise 2.0. With these programs in place, substantial tuition costs and fees are alleviated for students. Along with the programs in place that can resolve a lot of tuition cost issues, LBCC has adopted using Open
Education Resources (OER). OER are teaching, learning, and research resources that some professors use at LBCC. This includes Zero Textbook Cost, Textbook Free, and Low Textbook Cost courses. With this also in line with the Long Beach Promise programs, it will potentially reduce another portion of cost. LBCC also started giving out free Long Beach Transit bus passes this semester, and it is still unconfirmed whether the “Strong Beach” pilot program will be returning for Spring 2020. It is probable that most students would not have to pay the estimated amount due to the amount of resources that LBCC offers.
Comparison with other colleges
Looking at California community colleges in general, LBCC’s in-state tuition cost of $1,182 is less than the state average of $1,636, a price that has risen 9% in four years. In comparison with neighboring community colleges, Long Beach City College falls directly in the middle. The same type of expenses are applied to Cerritos and Cypress, and prices are going to vary depending on your California residency, same as LBCC. According to Cerritos College, the annual cost of attending as a California resident is $14,802. For Cypress College, the annual cost of attending as a California resident is $16,035. Both Cerritos and Cypress are not drastically cheaper or more costly than LBCC; however when it comes down to resources, all colleges differ. Cerritos College does have a similar program as the Long Beach Promise, the Cerritos Complete Promise Program. In the Complete Program, students who attend Cerritos College will receive two-year free tuition and two-year priority registration. Cypress College offers a discounted Orange County bus pass for $46 to students enrolled in nine credits while Cerritos College does not offer free or discounted bus passes.
Is it possible?
Sara Blasetti, LBCC Counseling Faculty, says yes. “As a counselor, one of my specialties is helping students successfully navigate school and life. One of the main conversations I have with students is how to have a good balance of both. I always discuss financial aid with students and encourage them to apply.”
Breaking down the time commitment that academic success requires, students should factor in 2 hours of homework a week per unit they are in, Blasetti says. For a student taking 12 units, they should estimate at least 24 hours of homework a week. This, plus actual class time can amount to 36 hours a week, which almost equals a full time job. She recommends first-semester students use the following information when planning their courses:
If you are working:
40 hours per week. Take 6 units 30 hours per week. Take 9 units 20 hours per week. Take 12 units Less than 20. Take 15 units For many students, especially for those not living with their families, the only plausible solution to fund school is to work throughout. For students employed throughout college and/or afterwards, addressing minimum wage in comparison to the cost of education is crucial. As the prices of a college education have steadily risen over the years, the value of a degree is called into question. Lee Douglas, Dean of Language Arts and Communication,and was a former professor of the class LEARN 11 a course that teaches students learning strategies, time management, etc… To ultimately prepare or help students in their academic career. “Education is more than getting a degree,” Douglas said. “Personal growth and learning more about yourself are huge factors while in college.” Finding mentorship at the college level is another path of success for students, Douglas mentioned. Damon Skinner, Welding and Metal Fabrication Asssistant Professor at LBCC offered his perspective, disputing the popular claim that a four-year-degree is integral to success. “I encourage all students to complete a two-year degree,” Skinner said. “I always encourage the degree, then get a job, then finish the degree.” He acknowledged this may not be as applicable to those in more academic majors. For an increasing amount of Bachelor Degree recipients there is a decreasing amount of jobs available. Amid the rising pressure to attend college and the increased accessibility towards achieving a degree has created a consequence of increased competition for jobs, leaving more blue-collar positions left unfilled.
LIFESTYLE
4
December 5, 2019
TWO EVENTS ON CAMPUS
Foster Care and Kinship: First Annual Christmas Toy Drive
December 6, 2019 Room MM-112 at PCC The Foster Care & Kinship Education Program is holding their First annual Christmas toy drive. All donations will be accepted through Friday Dec. 6. For more information, call (562)- 938- 3114.
CARE holiday event donations
December 13, 2019 Room A-1135 at LAC Room GG-217 at PCC The CARE Program will be holding its annual CARE Holiday Event on Friday, Dec. 13. CARE is in need of donations for students to help them celebrate the holidays in the best way possible. Donations can include shampoos and conditioners, hair products, lotions, soaps, candles, scrubs, masks, and any products you may have. All donations will be accepted through Friday December 6, 2019.
TWO EVENTS OFF CAMPUS
Belmont Shore Christmas parade
December 7, 2019 6pm - 9pm 2nd Street Since 1983, the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade has been marching down East Second Street. Come join Long Beach residents in celebrating the holidays while listening to local marching bands and watching floats designed by local businesses and associations. Attendance is free.
Long Beach Christmas Cookie Contest
December 15, 2019 6pm Bay Shore Church Head over to the 9th annual Long Beach Christmas Cookie Contest where you will be able to sample a wide assortment of Christmas cookies. There will be a contest where the top five winners’ will receive a $50 donation from the Community Action team to donate to their favorite local charity.
Photo By Arlene Hawkins Umoja college club member Zetelle Dirks, right, listens to a student, left, talk about schoolwork at the Stanford middle school Umoja club meeting after. The Stanford middle school Umoja club was created by Stanford’s assistant principal Nicole Reyes.
Umoja supports middle school By Arlene Hawkins Viking Staff
Members of LBCC’s Umoja club visited Stanford Middle School to help students of color identify with themselves and spread more awareness about black culture. At Stanford Middle School a similar program by the same name, Umoja, was created to help the small population of students of color. The program was started by Assistant Principal Nicole Reyes who reached out to her students to educate them on black awareness. “Just bringing awareness to the African American culture other than what is already out there. For example, there is more to us than the rappers and the athletes and I want them to learn about that,” Reyes said. The club is separated into two parts during school hours, club oriented activi-
ties are conducted and after school, tutoring is offered in study club. Reyes was given the idea to start Umoja by LBCC’s Umoja club president Elijah Harris. Harris would like to spread his resources and help out by tutoring students. Reyes and Harris met at a time where they planned a social awareness forum at Cerritos College with Reyes’s sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. “I was talking to one of my sorority sisters about the planning art of it and they told me about the club and I said, ‘Hey, I need his contact information.’ I read up about what he was doing, about the club and I told him what I’m trying to do and so, (the program) was born,” Reyes said. Reyes kept track of club activities while she acted as the club’s administrator. She builds her students knowledge on African American culture by giving them small research assignments on African American
figures who are not as popular as the other figures seen in textbooks. With Stanford’s middle school Umoja program, students further embrace their culture as African Americans and ignore negativity brought up about their culture. The Umoja members from LBCC enjoy their time helping the younger students with motivation and tutoring. The students enjoy the help as well. “Normally with mentoring, we plan to play games or just sit and talk about just being black in a community... The goal is to understand that there are people who look like you and you’re not alone in school and even in situations where you are alone, you have to strive to be your best because you represent all black people as a whole,” said Sierra Kerr, Umoja member and volunteer. The Stanford Umoja club gives young minorities the chance to learn about black history outside of textbooks and gives them more strength as young people of color.
NEW YEAR HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19). In 2020, take three seconds to think about what value your words are adding to a conversation before speaking. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). As you approach 2020, open your eyes to new perspectives and different ways of approaching challenges. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Filled with symbolism, your dreams will be a very useful tool to you in 2020, so keep a journal by your bed to help you navigate your subconscious. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Write out a list of all the unfinished business plans from this year and choose just one to
stick to for 2020. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Start by listing three things you are grateful for each day, even if you say them to yourself into the mirror while you are getting ready or in the car while driving. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Keep a log of when your anxiety gets triggered, or even seek professional help through a therapist. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you’ve been struggling with what goals to set for 2020, try to pick those that involve more outdoor activity. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Make a goal for how much you want to save and be
intentional about what you are saving for. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). For 2020, you’ll have to set your goals higher than you ever have before and not settle. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Allowing space for rest and relaxation will also make room for everything you’ve been working for leading into 2020. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Use your emotions to help you, not hurt you. Be honest with yourself so you can tell others what you need. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Make sure to celebrate small successes and milestones along the way, but remain focused.
December 5, 2019
LIFESTYLE
5
The Viking’s 2019 recommendations
Abel Reyes - Editor In-Chief Movie: Avengers Endagme “What ‘Endgame’ did and still does, is give fans what they always wanted and give them something they never thought they wanted. A film that not only sets the new bar for both future superhero movies and most cinematic experiences.”
Marissa Lopez - Opinion Editor Music: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. by Hunny “The album totally stands out from their three previous EPs. The production is unlike anything fans have heard from the band, the quality of the lyrics and sound show how much the band has grown as a whole... Play loud FOREVER!”
Sabriyya Ghanizada - Managing Editor TV Show: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina “Half-human, half-witch, Sabrina Spellman has chosen to embrace her dark side by signing her name to the book of the beast. If you like magic, suspense and plot twists, Sabrina is sure to take you on a ride into the depths of the underworld.”
Sebastian Angulo - News Editor Video game: The Long Dark
Ashley Lopez - Social Media Editor Show : Atypical
“An open-world survival game set in northern Canada, the long dark provides players with a unique experience in which they struggle to survive against freezing temperatures and the constant threat of Mother nature’s inhabitants.”
“Atypical spreads awareness on the lives of people who live on the spectrum and those close to them. Along with educating their audience on autism the show has recently promoted awareness to the LGBT community.”
As the year comes to a close , a handful of us at the Viking would like to give out some recommendations on what to watch, play, listen to, and enjoy over the upcoming winter break.
Alexis Turner - Lifestyle Editor Album: You are OK by The Maine
Arlene Guerrero - Sports Editor Album: 4Real 4Real by Y.G.
“The album flows from one song into another with recurring themes of selfgrowth and happiness. Through funky guitar solos and tempo changes, ten songs explore self discovery and finding peace and comfort within yourself and in your life.”
“It isn’t the most influential album do to his overall personality and curse words, BUT that is who Y.G. is and why I love him so much! Not everyone has the courage to talk about real life situations and struggles. Again Y.G. is great. Period.”
Isaiah Zuniga - Sports Editor Album: Ugh, those feelings again by Snoh Aalegra “Aalegra displays her talented voice over songs like ‘I Want You Around’, ‘Whoa’, and ‘Toronto’ and perfectly describe the emotions of a young adult, in love. She describes being in love and how someone loses love for another person.”
Anyssa Staine - Lifestyle Editor Band : Emotional Oranges “I’ve been digging the funk that an LA based duo named Emotional Oranges has been bringing to the table of R&B, Soul and Pop. I’d say the duo is somewhere in the realm of artists related to the band the Internet, Kyle Dion and Thundercat.”
Jordan Parks - Lifestyle Editor Movie: John Wick Chapter 3 “Even if you haven’t seen the other movies before, its still a fun action flick with a lot of great scenes that are just pure eye candy. Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry are fantastic and have great on-screen chemistry. He also has a cool dog.”
SPORTS
6
December 5, 2019
The Vikings add gold to their collection By Arlene Guerrero Viking Staff Freshman quarterback Derrach West totaled 125 passing yards as the Vikings defeated visiting team Southwestern Jaguars with a score of 20-16 for the Southern California Bowl game on Saturday. West was also given the Player of the Game Award as he led in passing yards and defensive linemen Divine Obichere was awarded Most Valuable Player award as he led the team with seven tackles for the 2019 bowl Game. The Jaguars led in the first quarter with a field goal and a touchdown putting the score at 10-0. Before suffering a knee injury in the early second quarter of the game, LBCC wide receiver Julian Woodard managed to score a touchdown with a three yard pass from quarterback West putting up the first points for the Vikings. The Vikings went for the two-point conversion and did not get it, leaving the Jaguars with a 10-6 lead. Defensive linebacker D’Anthony Jones had an interception with a 15 yard return. West followed with a 42 yard pass complete to wide receiver Zion Bowens as he scored the second touchdown leaving the score at 10-13. Bowens ended with one touchdown and 69 total yards. “I had one touchdown, I feel like I could’ve done better but it still feels good to put points on the board,” said Bowens. Coming into the second quarter of the game Jaguars made their final touchdown 16-13. Defensive back Alex Brown brought the final points for LBCC after recovering a fumble in the end zone leaving the final score of 20-16. The defense on both teams came out strong, leaving both teams unable to score for the third and final quarter. “We came out strong, I started pretty strong but we just had to finish fast at the end and finish how we started” said West “Overall I’m happy with the outcome of the game,” Peabody said.
Photo By Arlene Guerrero Number 41 from LBCC, Alex Brown, and number 43 from LBCC, Kaze Hayashi, make the tackle on the running back from Southwestern.
Head coach Brett Peabody celebrated his fifth bowl game win at LBCC. “It has been an honor coaching this group of young and talented men” said Peabody. “Coming into this season I didn’t know what to expect but I was very impressed with each and every individual.” This game marks the final win of the season for the LBCC football team, they ended their season with an overall record with 7-3 and 4-1 in the conference. Quarterback West plans to come back next season. “I’m going back into preparation, I’ll be right back in the lab working on my craft getting my mechanics back right for season next year” said West. The LBCC quarterback also added that he is “excited to be back in the lab in preparation for next year.”
Photo By Arlene Guerrero LBCC quarterback Derrach West rushed for a total of 14 yards, on Nov. 23. West completed 15 of his 29 pass attempts.
Student athletes of the month
JACE BASS
Men’s basketball Last game: 37 points, 47.8% field goal, 6 rebounds, 3 assists Jace Bass has been nothing short of a baller in the Vikings last two games, in which he scored 27 points 6 rebounds and 3 assists against Riverside and in the 79-70 Viking victory, on Nov. 14, Bass scored 37 points 3 rebounds and 3 steals vs. Cypress at home on Nov. 26. The second half of the Cypress game, Bass was 6/10 from the field, and scored 25 points. Bass is currently averaging 29.6 points per game and is shooting 80% from the free throw line. The Vikings will next face Barstow at Culver City, on Dec. 6, at 3 p.m.
DONAVION HUSKEY
Women’s basketball Last game: 24 points, 40% field goal, 22 rebounds, 3 steals Donavion Huskey scored a double-double, with 24 points and 22 rebounds on Nov. 23 against cypress in a hard fought match, in which the Vikings came up short 77-85 to the Cypress Chargers. Huskey is currently averaging a double-double, with 19.2 points per game and 18 rebounds per game, while shooting 56% from the field. Huskey scored 14 points in the 4th quarter alone, in the game vs. Cypress. LBCC’s women’s basketball team will be facing City College of San Francisco at L.A. Valley College, in the L.A. Valley College Tournament, on Dec. 13, at 1 p.m.
SPORTS
December 5, 2019
7
Bass scores 27 points for win vs Riverside By David Lewis Viking Staff
Photo By Arlene Guerrero Allison Rose Veloz celebrates her game winning goal against Golden West College on Sept. 10, 2019. By the end of the season Veloz scored 19 goals for the Vikings.
FALL SPORTS RECAPS
Women’s soccer
Women’s soccer improved in the 2019 season ending with an overall record of 14-6 overall after struggling last season. The Vikings ended the season after losing first round in the playoffs at Cerritos. Freshman forward Allison Rose Veloz led the team with goals having 19 goals.
Men’s soccer
After ending the 2018 season with 125-4 overall record, the men’s soccer team dropped to and overall record of 6-10-6 for the 2019 season. The team closed the season after a tie game vs L.A. Harbor for the South Coast Conference Tournament.
Football
LBCC’S football team ended their season with an overall record of 7-3 and 4-1 in the conference. Last season the Vikings struggled on both ends of the field as they ended their overall record of season 4-6 and 1-4 in the conference. The team came back and redeemed themselves while winning cross town cup vs Cerritos, getting the bowl game win and celebrating Head coaches Brett Peabody’s 50th win.
Women’s volleyball
After a 22-4 overall record in the 2018 season, the women’s volleyball team fell to a 20-8 overall record in 2019. The Vikings ended with a loss against the Orange Coast Pirates, the match having to go all the way to five sets, ending with a 3-2 score. Outside hitter Calissa Candalot ended with 250 kills this season.
Men’s volleyball
Long Beach City College’s men’s volleyball team ended with another title under their belt: the 2019 CCCAA State Champions. Long Beach beat Irvine in a 3-0 clean sweep. This title win marks the tenth time the Vikings have won, and a third title win for Head Coach Jonathan Charette. The Vikings ended with an overall record of 19-3,
Men’s and women’s cross-country
This season the LBCC women’s crosscountry team placed third in the 5k at the South Coast Conference Champions. The men’s team placed fifth in the four-mile race. In their first race of the season, the men’s team finished first in the four-mile run at the Tour de Cuesta. Both teams finished 16th at the Southern California Regional Cross Country Championships on Nov. 8.
Men’s and women’s water polo
The Viking men’s team had an insane 22 win streak for the beginning of their season, ending in overall record of 29-4. Having their second best season in the past decade, right behind their 27-2 record in 2013. For the fifth consecutive time, the women’s water polo team were crowned South Coast Conference Champions. The Vikings beat Cerritos 12-6, ending with a 23-6 overall record, improving drastically from their 17-11 record last season.
Guard Jace Bass lead Long Beach City College’s men’s basketball team with 27 points as they defeated the Riverside Tigers on Nov. 14 with a score of 79-70 at LBCC’s Hall of Champions. Improving their record to 3-1, the Vikings are finding what does and doesn’t work for them on either end of the floor. “They followed the game plan, we took it out of practice and executed in the game. We knew what they were gonna run through scouting reports and we exploited how they play a pseudo zone-defense that’s really a loose man-on-man defense,” head coach Barry Barnes said. Setting the pace in the first period, the Vikings repeatedly pushed the ball up the floor on their offensive transitions creating countless opportunities for Bass and his teammates. “We knew what we were coming into, for the game, I feel great about our performance, as a team, and we ultimately got the win,” Bass said.
Bass ended with 27 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Though the effort was stout on the offensive end, the same can’t be said for the defensive end. More specifically, a good number of transitions on defense seemed to be lacking and ultimately ended up in the Tigers scoring a basket. “They kicked our behind on transition defense because they were getting outscored, they were fighting to catch-up,” Barnes said. The Vikings secured a lead going into the half with a score of 42-38. With the Vikings’ lead growing to as much as 24 points in the second period, victory seemed to be a lock for LBCC. “We usually play tough. We came out and we were really killing them, but we got comfortable and started settling back and as we started sagging off [of them on defense], they came back and started to make a strong push,” sophomore guard Kester Ofoegbu said. The defensive woes continued for the Vikings as they settled, and got comfortable in their lead.
OPINION
8
December 5, 2019
Out of state credits should be accepted
Editor-in-chief: Abel Reyes
By Tess Kazenoff Viking Staff
Transferring institutions is stressful, but it’s even more of a hassle when credits aren’t honored. Community colleges across the U.S. should universally accept credits to avoid this issue. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 40% of transfer students lose all of their previously earned credits. Students are meant to be in and out within two years but not accepting credits from a previous school only prolongs the time spent going to school. The possibility of having to retake an entire degree’s worth of classes because it doesn’t follow the specific requirements of a state seems to negate the entire convenience element of community college. Even if the curricula are not 100% the same, the grades and amount of classes taken, including hours spent, speak for the level of work students had to put in. California’s school systems seem to have a fool-proof method to seamlessly get students from high school, to their local community college, and then to a UC or a Cal State. Courses from other institutions should automatically be enrolled into the system when they are received by LBCC. The school could offer a counselor specializing in out-of-state transcripts, which would make it extremely helpful for misguided transfer students to get the correct information they need. Even offering an “Out of State Transfer Day” would allow students who transferred to LBCC the time to ask specific questions from informed counselors and begin an appeal process if necessary. Students want to get to the next step in their educational journeys and should be able to do so without the stress, money and time involved in navigating the complicated transfer process. The lack of information regarding outof-state curricula is a major issue that needs to be addressed and fixed immediately. Long Beach City College needs to do its part in guiding all of its students in the right direction, including the out-of-state ones, in order for them to be prepared for the next stage of their academic careers and success.
Managing editor: Sabriyya Ghanizada News editors: Sebastian Angulo Idalia Gonzalez
Photo Illustration by Marissa Lopez Senate Bill 24 is meant to help make abortions safe and accessible to college students but excluding community colleges does the exact opposite.
Make abortion services accessible on campus By Marissa Lopez Viking Staff
Got an opinion?
Senate Bill 24, allows Cal States and UC health service offices to make abortion pills accessible to students on campus, unfortunately this bill excludes community colleges. The issue with this exclusion is that it seems to be doing the opposite of it’s intention, which is to make safe abortions more accessible. The bill was introduced in early 2017, as SB-320, which advocated for the same issue, but was vetoed in September 2018. The bills are relatively the same, the only major changes made were dates, amounts of money/funding due to inflation and some portions of the bill were worded differently to appear more clear. An issue with SB-24 is one of the sections barely scratches the surface of costs, which is roughly $200,000 for training, equipment and the distribution of the funding per university. It is stated that the cost of it all will require at least $10,290,000, so $200,000 is not much money in regards too all the equipment and training that will come out of these funds. There are 146 public universities in California, 114 of those are community colleges. If community colleges make up the majority of institutions in the state, comunity colleges should be included in SB-24. Students shouldn’t miss out on the opportunities that those at higher institutions benefit from. According to a New York Times three part series focusing on family incomes in the
We accept Letters to the Editor, email us lbccviking@gmail.com California college system, the median family income for community college students is $34,900. The median family income for a Cal State is roughly $60,000, and for a UC is about $100,000. This shows that those in community colleges may face more financial hardships which results in a limit of resources, opposed to those at higher universities. When California State Senator Connie M. Leyva wrote the bill, she should have taken into account the people attending lower institutions who could benefit from the SB-24. Excluding community colleges from this marganalizes disadvantaged groups who the bill would help Often times, it is assumed that community colleges are a last resort for students who didn’t have the grades or money for a CSU or UC. Depriving them of resources that should be universally accessible only makes the divide of higher education worse. This exclusive senate bill continues to marganalize community college students more than they already are. LBCC Vikings are just as important as Cal State Fullerton Titans or UC Irvine Anteaters, we should be given the same opportunities as everyone else.
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