President Romali fired Trustees vote 4-1 to remove Romali at emergency meeting News | Page 2 March 12, 2020 • Volume 93 • Issue 5 • Published since 1927
CLOSING FOR CORONA
Photo from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
LBCC plans for online-only instruction and cancels events due to COVID-19 spread
News Page 3
NEWS
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March 12, 2020
President Romali fired by board By Savannah Gomez, Tess Kazenoff Abrielle Lopez Viking Staff
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A day after the LBCC Board of Trustees fired Reagan Romali, the decision makers, the college administration and its spokesperson have remained silent. No formal announcement has been made to faculty or students specifying what events transpired, including who is currently filling the superintendent-president role in an acting capacity. When Viking News reached out to President Trustee Vivian Malauulu for an interview regarding the firing, she responded, “There won’t be an interview but I’ll send you a quote this afternoon. That’s all I can do at this time,” Malauulu said via text message. As of 6 p.m. March 5, no quote was provided. Public relations official Stacey Toda said in an email, “The District is declining the opportunity to comment at this time.” A day before the board meeting, Vice President Trustee Uduak-Joe Ntuk said he would coordinate an interview with Viking News on Thursday. After the firing on Wednesday, Viking News reached out to Ntuk via text to confirm an interview time, but he did not respond. Despite the school’s and board’s silence with Viking News, Ntuk had been actively retweeting previous articles regarding Romali’s controversies and job-searching across the country, dating back to Miami Dade. Romali did not respond to two phone calls made March 5 for an interview. At a meeting on March 4, Board Member Sunny Zia was not in attendance for roll call and public comment, but then arrived shortly after.
Photo by Abrielle Lopez Former Superintendent-President Reagan Romali was fired at a Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, March 5. A call was made to Romali March 5 following her dismissal, but a comment has not been made.
LBCC Student Trustee Jena Jimenez, who serves as the voice of LBCC students as a part of the Board of Trustees, was not in attendance at the board meeting. No phone number was provided for Jimenez on the school’s website. An email had been sent to Jimenez, but got no immediate response. The vote to fire Romali was 4-1 and it has not been confirmed who was in favor of her firing. According to the Long Beach Post, the Board of Trustees hired an investigator in Nov. 2019 for matters concerning misuse of public funds and the mistreatment of
staff and faculty. At yesterday’s meeting, lead faculty negotiator at Community College Association Karen Roberts began public comment on closed session items with a speech regarding the severity of the closed session that would determine Romali’s position at LBCC. “I wonder how relevant is the decision you’re about to make to student success in the mission of the college. How relevant is the decision you’re about to make to students trying to succeed this semester under a threat of a possible pandemic,” Roberts said.
Romali began her position as superintendent-president in March 2017 after being unanimously selected by the Board, then receiving a contract renewal including a pay raise just one year into the job in Aug. 2018. In June 2019, it was reported that Romali was up for a superintendent position as Miami-Dade College. The 19-page ledger, dating back to Oct. 2018 allegedly contains information regarding a retaliation against Romali from board members Vivian Malauulu and Uduak-Joe Ntuk, which they have both denied.
Student witnesses were able to recount the incident details. “When I came in I was ordering some food when the woman was trying to get money from the ATM and then started cussing at the machine,” student witness Yesenia Delgado said. David Hodges witnessed the entire incident, as he saw the cafeteria cashier become frightened as from the woman’s behavior. “She threw a whole cup of ice on the floor, started walking and cursing until the officer came,” Hodges said. According to Lt. Martinez, the woman who was arrested is not an LBCC student. There is an ongoing investigation following the case.
Photo by Jorge Hernandez A woman was arrested for two charges inside the cafeteria at Long Beach City College PCC campus on Feb. 27, 2020.
Woman arrested at PCC over ATM interaction By Jorge Hernandez Viking Staff
A woman was arrested by LBPD officers inside the cafeteria at Long Beach City College’s PCC campus on Feb. 27. According to LBPD Lt. Omar Martinez, the public safety officer arrived on scene at 11:36 a.m. when a woman was yelling profanity inside the cafeteria. Martinez said security tried to speak to the woman until she became agitated and confrontational, shoving the officer, resulting in the officer’s physical control and detainment on her. The woman in question was arrested for felony warrant and assault of an officer, who has minor injuries from the assault.
March 12, 2020
NEWS
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California primary recap
By Daniel Rivera, Jorge Hernandez, Destani Powell, Lloyd bravo and Martin Koev Viking Staff
Illustration By Veroinca Huerta Long Beach City College students and faculty members are expressing comments and concerns about the virus outbreak and what preventative measures are needed at this time of crisis.
Virus shuts down campus By Veronica Huerta and Abrielle Lopez Viking Staff LBCC has decided to shutdown in-person instruction and move to online-only, in order to combat the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, which has several confirmed cases in Long Beach. Starting March 12, all LBCC events are canceled and this will be in effect until April 12, according to an email sent to students and faculty by Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Kathy Scott on Wednesday evening. Most classes will move to online-only instruction starting Wednesday, March 18 and in effect until April 13, depending on the status of health crisis. The college will notify students and staff which classes will not be moving online by Friday, March 14. As of now, LBCC is not closing and facilities will remain open. “This action is to reduce the number of events where a large mass of people are gathering to help slow down the COVID-19 outbreak,” Scott detailed in the mass email. Information is being gathered from public health officials to keep students and faculty updated in the evolution of the health crisis. There are no known cases of coronavirus on campus as of Wednesday.
Universities shutdown due to the coronavirus include Cal State Long Beach, UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Whittier College, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Harvard University and Hofstra University on the East Coast. The school closures are significant measures against the disease. Areas struck the hardest by the COVID-19 virus include California, Seattle, and New York, and some major universities have begun to replace in-person courses with online instruction in order to reduce the risk of viral transmission. In a previous email sent by Scott on March 4, she wrote, “In an abundance of caution, we are developing plans for a variety of potential situations, including remote teaching.” “LBCC is just one of many community colleges that are acting responsibly to prepare for all possible scenarios in the best interests of our students. We have done research on best practices at other institutions and will continue gathering information as we monitor the situation,” Scott said. Scott also addressed barriers that could hinder the education of students in an online setting, such as the inability to access the Canvas website, not having access to computers, disabilities and lack of equipment and software for certain classes such as art, welding, and sports to name a few. “Currently we have two workshops a day for faculty and additional workshops
are to be prepared. Students can prepare more by using QUEST for online instruction.” According to Scott, classes cannot be canceled outright. “There needs to be a certain amount of instruction needed to receive credit for courses, prerequisites in order to obtain a certain amount of knowledge, and when transferring, and we want to make sure we’re protecting our students in that way too.” Scott emphasized the presence of the COVID-19 response team, and assured students that deep cleaning of high traffic areas is being conducted daily and additional emergency supplies are available on campus. “The COVID-19 is like biological warfare. It’s an invisible enemy, it’s contagious and we don’t have a cure yet. The last thing we want is to shut down the school, but unfortunately as a teacher, we have to touch maybe 60 students a day. I touch the tables, touch cameras, hand them over to everyone,” photography professor Brian Doan said. LBCC officially canceled a Women’s History Month event at PCC, which is the first event effected by the COVID-19 virus spread. Students, staff and faculty are urged to remain vigilant and aware of any updates concerning the evolving status of this health crisis.
The 2020 California Primary Election resulted in Senator Bernie Sanders finishing first in the Democratic presidential contest on March 11. The candidates included Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Mike Bloomberg. Viking News attended Sanders’ most recent rally at the beginning of this month. The crowd cheered for Sanders as he spoke at his rally featuring Public Enemy Radio on March 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Senator Sanders hoped on winning the California election on Tuesday and covered several things he’ll do as president, including healthcare for all, raising the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour, and tuition-free college for students. “In November of 2020, Donald Trump is gonna learn that we are a democracy, not an autocracy, because we will throw him out of office,” Senator Sanders said. A couple of days later election day came along, where Long Beach City College held its own voting booths. Eager LBCC students waited patiently to make their voices heard as they lined-up outside of the T-building on the Liberal Arts Campus to cast their votes for the Presidential Primary Election on March 3, 2020. Jennifer Escobar-Ramos is a psychology major who has done her research on each candidate and feels that Bernie Sanders was the perfect candidate that met all of her criteria of important issues to be addressed. “I hear people saying that Bernie is going to raise taxes, but if it is for something like education I don’t think that should matter,” Escobar-Ramos said. According to his presidential website, he wants to cancel all student loan debt and make college tuition free. He wants to do this by passing his College for All Act. This would provide 48 billion dollars a year to eliminate all tuition fees for most higher education. Americans currently owe 1.6 trillion in student debt and Sanders intends to place a cap on future loans at 1.88 percent.
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LIFESTYLE
March 12, 2020
Honoring women at LBCC By Alexis Bruschi Viking Staff
Clubs and speakers came together on Tuesday, March 3rd to honor influential women from the past who have paved the way for women of the present in political, social and day to day life. Some of the booths at the event were the Feminist Club, American Association for University Women, Women’s Shelter of Long Beach, sexual violence prevention and many more. Club members were actively reaching out to students to inform them of the importance behind celebrating women and their history. The event had speakers who shared stories of influential women from history and in the modern world. Student speakers, Claire Sala and Guadalupe Del Cid, shared some of the women they admire and the strides they have made to pave the way for women of today. Sierra Kerr, an LBCC student performed a song in which she relayed the message that women are not the color of their skin or the hair on their head but they are, “the soul that lives within.” Denise Montaya of the American Association of University Women said that,“advocating for equity for women and girls,” was an important aspect of their association. Fellow member Deedee Catalano shared about the values and importance behind the association and the benefits for women of today. Feminist club member Sasha Ramariez discussed the importance of celebrating womens’ history. “Everybody’s story is important to tell. Josephine Baker is an important woman in history. She was born out of wedlock, bi-sexual, she helped with the French Resistance and I named my cat after her,” Ramariez said. Kelly Martinez, a member of the Feminist Club, spoke about what the main purpose and value behind their club is. “It is important to get it out there. We need to stand up and stand out and be appreciated,” said Martinez. Women’s History Month celebrates the strides made throughout history and the strength women have gained through enduring all forms of discrimination. The event, along with this month is a celebration for women around the world.
Photo by Isaiah Zuniga The LBCC dance team performing the Baboraba dance from South Africa, at a Black Heritage Month event at LAC campus on Feb. 13. Black Heritage Month is honored annually at LBCC, bringing students together to learn about African American culture.
Celebrating black history By Alexis Bruschi, Corey Robinson Isaiah Zuniga Viking Staff
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Students gathered to experience and learn about African American culture and history at an annual observance of Black Heritage Month at the A-Quad of the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus on Feb. 13. The Viking Summer Voyage served students mac and cheese, peach cobbler, fried chicken, cornbread and other food. Imani Gordon, an LBCC student performed a poem titled “Dreams,” where she highlighted some of her favorite historic African American heroes. The UMOJA Club, LBCC Transfer Center, TRIO, the LBCC dance community and other programs had booths at the event. Dean O. Lee Douglas, who leads the language arts and communications school at LBCC, said the theme for Black Heritage Month this year is “African Americans and the Vote.” Student Anthony Moguel said his favorite part of the event was sharing in the atmosphere and being surrounded by culture. “It is important to come together and appreciate all of the sacrifices made throughout history,” Moguel said.
Photo by Hailey Montez Shaquille Brewster, an African American NBC Political reporter, speaks about his life to the crowd at LAC in the P-Quad.
NBC Reporter speaks at PCC, LAC By Sanaa Dickson Viking Staff Political Reporter Shaquille Brewster discussed his journey working at NBC News as an African American man and his work that has covered an abundance of news about the 2020 presidential campaign worldwide. Across television and digital platforms, Brewster was a general assignment producer in the NBC Chicago bureau, covering various national headlines as a journalist. Brewster brought out the quietness of black voices within political news, because up until recently, there has been very minimal black opinion in politics. “Once I became a reporter and a journalist, I really got to learn the power of stories, the power of being able to talk to people and hear what they have to say,” Brewster said.
March 12, 2020
LIFESTYLE
Former bank robber turns scholar
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By Veronica Huerta Viking Staff
Mark Lemerond is a dedicated advocate for change and humanity. He lingers at the LBCC campus, at every club from Human Services, to the Red Cross, and the Justice Scholars, because in his words, “I just want to be at the right place at the right time.” Lemerond is currently a club senate representative for the Justice Scholars Club and Program at LBCC, a group that is “a perfect fit,” he said, for his past and future life. The club advocates for social justice, resources, and change for those students previously incarcerated and now looking to better themselves through higher education. Lemerond is one such student. At the age of 47, Lemerond was convicted on counts stemming from two bank robberies in Florida, and was placed in prison for 60 months. At age 62, 10 years after leaving prison, the formerly incarcerated student recounted his life, from his current goals to growing up in California. Just one year after graduating high school, Lemerond joined the Marines from 1976-1980, working as a 0331 machine gunner while stationed in Hawaii. “I know everything there is to know about the m-16,” he said. He does not feel ashamed to share his struggles with drugs and alcohol, the details of his arrest, or share how the Marines were the first to give Lemerond reprimands, but also resources and help. In his eyes, “I joined when I was a kid. It was the wrong time for me, man. I wish I would’ve taken it more seriously.” Eventually, the drug and alcohol abuse caught up to him, resulting in discharge from the Marines after Lemerond, who was his unit commander’s Jeep driver, was “caught with dope [Marijuana] in my pocket.” After leaving the Marines, Lemerond would swing between periods of sobriety and using drugs, staying sober for five
Photo By Veronica Huerta Former bank robber Mark Lemerond who spent five years in prison is now changing his life in the Justice Scholars Club at LBCC. Lemerond openly discusses his struggles with drugs, crime and finding himself.
years at a time, then falling back to periods of using. Lemerond reached his lowest point when 16 years ago, he was arrested on charges related to two bank robberies he committed at both Bank of America and the Central Credit Union in Florida in order to fuel his “thousand-dollar-a-day coke habit.” After serving a five year sentence, Lemerond realized that there was more to life than drugs, negativity, and pain. He used his time in prison to become sober, earn his high school diploma, set up AA meetings and work with other prisoners in education. “I was a model prisoner. Since getting out I haven’t even had a parking ticket. You know, people can look at me and think whatever they want. But, it’s not true. I’ve walked that mile, and that’s my own history,” said the reformed student.
Lemerond is now working on a degree in academic or drug counseling, after being inspired by an ex-fiance who encouraged him to attend school again and find his route to recovery. Upon attending LBCC, Lemerond walked into a lecture by Dr. Annahita Mahdavi, Justice Scholars Club advisor, and said confidently, “I want to be here. This is what I’m about.” Mahdavi said of Lemerond, “He became active in the club two semesters ago, and his heart is in the program. From the beginning, he started taking charge.” Corbin Gerard, student advisor for the Justice Scholars Program, and friend of Lemerond spoke highly of him. “Mark is diligent, dedicated, always eager to help and assist with various groups and even his friends,” Gerard said. The reformed, formerly incarcerated bank robber now lives his life with the be-
lief that, “Every single person I meet, God has everything to do with it. Recovery is one of those things that I’m so supportive of. That’s why I want to work with people as either a drug or recovery counselor. Now, I can be what’s right with the world instead of what’s wrong with it.” said Lemerond. In the meantime, he wants to let others know that it takes, “…being in the right place, at the right time, and with the right people that give you tough love,” in order to continue to recover after leaving prison. “The veterans here on campus make me feel like I never left the Marines. The Justice Scholars taught me to accept myself, and not be ashamed of my story. They remind me that I’m good, and you know, something I’ve learned, is that you can change as much as you want. You know why? Because change is from beginning to end.”
SPRING EQUINOX HOROSCOPE By Abrielle Lopez Viking Staff ARIES (March 21-April 19). You are naturally synced with the abundant energies of early spring, as it occurs at the start of your zodiac season! Surrender to this flow and celebrate yourself. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Spring may begin off to a rough start for you, but try not to become discouraged. You’ll be back to high spirits just in time for Taurus season. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are emotional and loving but have been experiencing vulnerability issues. Engage from
your heart this season. Speak up if you have been emotionally wounded and show up for yourself. CANCER (June 22-July 22). “New season, new me” and for cancers it’ll be exactly that. Purge things of the past and take full advantage of all the new opportunities that are coming your way. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Do not entertain any illusions of laziness or weakness this season. You have the power to manifest anything you want with hard work and perseverance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Tap into your deepest sense of self, heal, rest and explore your depth. Springtime offers
abundant spiritual growth and self care is the theme for Virgo this season. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You must work harder to nurture your closest relationships this season in order to avoid creative blockages. Honor your loved ones, remember that you will find balance. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ve been hurting and that’s okay. Use this season to heal. Forgive and forget to allow yourself true healing and growth. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). All good things for you, as springtime brings heightened intuition, wisdom and visionary energy. Simply be still and silent enough to listen.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have so much to be grateful for and are worthy of happiness. Your purpose in life has been unclear recently, but this spring you will cultivate new love for yourself and those around you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Do not entertain reactive patterns of insensitivity or rebellion, Aquarius. This new cycle urges you to engage fiercely from your heart and practice gratitude. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Springtime offers you rebirth. Withdraw your energy from the physical world for as long as you need and understand that this transformation starts from within.
SPORTS
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March 12, 2020
Cheer team ends season on high note By Lloyd Bravo Viking Staff On Feb. 16, 2020, the LBCC cheer team placed second in the large co-ed show cheer division at the United Spirit Association USA Collegiate College Championships at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Vikings earned a score of 86.72 after a two-day-long competition being bested only by Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, who took first place with a score of 90.36. “Strong competition breeds strong competitive spirit. When we go to a larger stage, such as Nationals, they give us a run for our money,” said Head Coach David Shaw. The team participated in the U.S. Spirit Leaders Regionals and the CheerPros State Competitions including the Championship Cup, placing first in all three events. “It is a lot of hard work to be on this team. You cannot give up and have to commit. You’re putting your body on the line. It’s not just cheering,” said Ina Timbo. Assistiant Head Coach Ronaldo Vicencio said, “The goal is to compete in Nationals at the National Cheer Association in Daytona, FL.” Due to a lack of funds and high cost, the Vikings have not been to the NCA National Championships since 2005. “The cost lies on the cheerleaders themselves which is expensive,” said Coach Shaw. Vicencio said, “We pay for everything on our own, but we’re in college and still have to pay for books, rent, bills and other personal things.” Cheer Advisor Diana Galias explained that the team will be looking into possible grants along with the traditional fundraising methods to help her students get to Daytona next year. “We are a fabulous school, but it’s just hard to afford extras including going to FL which would mean great exposure for our team,” said Galias. Even though the cheer team has been struggling, Galias is grateful for all that the school has provided and feels that her team’s limitations have made them stronger. “The school has been more than generous and a huge help. We stretch out our funds and are still successful with what we have.” The cheer team is currently done with their season and will be back next semester for the start of the football season.
Photo by Syan Haghiri L.A. Wildcat running-back Dujuan Harris runs the sideline past defenders at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Wildcats will try to go 3-3 this week by defeating the Seattle Dragons on the road on March 15, at 4pm.
XFL Wildcats rush to LBCC
By Syan Haghiri Viking Staff
The Los Angeles Wildcats of the new and highly anticipated Xtreme Football League (XFL) are having their practices at Long Beach City College this season. The XFL is its own football association separate from the NFL and they are currently in week 6 of the football season. The first game was on Feb. 8th. The athletic director of Long Beach City College, William Husak spoke on the privilege of having the L.A. Wildcats practicing at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “It was a wonderful opportunity for the college to go ahead and get exposure, not just in Southern California but, the XFL is a national brand and so, Long Beach City college now gets exposure all across the country that maybe otherwise we wouldn’t have, and that’s really one of the benefits of athletics, and certainly a benefit of being associated with the XFL,” Husak said. The league started up in 2001, but unfortunately didn’t last more than just that year. XFL starts the weekend after the Superbowl, timed intentionally for the die-hard football fans who are eager to watch more football and don’t want to wait until the NFL season starts back up in Sept. Former Baylor defensive-end and now Wildcat, Shawn Oakman was upfront in saying he likes the team having their practices at Long Beach City College for the
Former Viking plays for L.A.’s team By Brooke Davidoff Viking Staff
Former Long Beach City College wide receiver De’Quan Hampton has returned to Veterans Memorial Stadium to practice as part of the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL. “It’s great to be back. It feels like coming home, playing a sport I love,” Hampton said after practice Feb. 12 at Veterans Memorial Stadium, which will serve as the team’s main facility this season. Hampton graduated from LBCC in 2015 and transferred to the University of Southern California, where he played wide receiver for two seasons. Hampton signed with the New Orleans Saints at one point, where he was on the roster for about four weeks. Hampton’s goal is to make his way back to the NFL and talked about why he is playing in the XFL, which is a professional American football league with eight teams, founded by WWE CEO Vince McMahon. “This league is the perfect opportunity to make my way back there,” Hampton said. weather purposes. “The hotter the better, the hotter the heat the hotter the steal, that isn’t going to do nothing other than make you better,” Oakman said. The Wildcats faced tough opponents in the first five weeks of action, ultimately coming out 2-3. Following their rough 0-2 start, the Wildcats bounced back and trampled the D.C. Defenders led by former NFL Quarterback Cardale Jones, 39-9 at home to achieve the teams first win of the season. Two weeks ago they traveled to the
East Coast to face the New York Guardians and lost 14-17, leaving the Wildcats with a 1-3 record going into week 5. The Wildcats came back home to Los Angeles on Sunday to face the Tampa Bay Vipers at Dignity Health Sports Park, in a game where they scored 27 unanswered points to erase a 24-6 deficit and ultimately came out on top with a win 41-34. The Wildcats will practice this week at Veterans Memorial Stadium to prepare for the Seattle Dragons, as they try to get their first road win of the season.
SPORTS
March 12, 2020
Reigning men’s volleyball champs stay hot
By Jacqueline Crochet Viking Staff
The LBCC men’s volleyball team won their match against Santiago Canyon Hawks at home, 3 sets to 1 on Wednesday. The first two sets were won by the Vikings with scores of 25-15 and 25-16, while the Hawks kept their hopes alive by winning a third heated set that ended in a score of 18-25. The fourth and what became the final set was won by the Vikings with a score of 25-19, sending the Hawks home early. Assistant Coach of the LBCC Vikings Remi Pouratt was not surprised with the outcome of the third and final set. “They’re a pretty good team so we were expecting more resistance from them. We were not surprised to see them going hard in the third set,” Pouratt said. This year’s team includes a lot of new faces with a total of 12 freshmen and three sophomores, which has added a bit of pressure for the reigning State Champs, but despite the young roster the team has won all conference matches and tournament games so far this season. Head coach Jonathan Charette remains confident about the team’s abilities despite so many new players on the court. “There are a lot of new faces but they’re all contributing when we need them to. They’re doing a good job,” Charette said. “We’re focusing on one match at a time to make sure we’re not looking too far ahead and we’re utilizing every moment in this gym leading up to the championship to get better,” the head coach said about their strategy for this season. Unfortunately, 19-year-old LBCC sophomore Kyler Tufuga suffered an injury during the game against Santiago Canyon. “The beginning of the second set I went up for a backrow attack. I was trying to avoid hitting the net, so I landed on my right heel with all my weight on it and I felt my achilles strain,” Tufuga said. The Vikings were victorious against the LA Pierce Brahmas in three sets on Friday March 6th. The Vikings will have their next match at Santa Barbara against the Vaqueros in division play Friday, March 13 at 6pm.
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Vikings defeat Rio Hondo
By Ricky Martinez Viking Staff
LBCC Men’s baseball (14-3) rout the visiting Rio Hondo Roadrunners (8-8) with help from starting pitcher sophomore Sebastian Irwin and freshman Third Baseman Alex Seguine who went 2-4 with 2 RBIs at Long Beach City College. Irwin threw for four innings allowing five hits and striking out four. He also faced a bases-loaded jam in the 4th with one out, however, he kept his cool and managed to get himself out of it. “ It’s huge to keep your composure, you don’t want to show the other team that you are scared, especially with being a pitcher and having all eyes on you,” Irwin said when asked about his thought process. The Vikings started slow, getting their first hit in the 3rd inning. Vikings were able strike first in the fourth, then with two outs Seguine delivered the biggest hit of the day and earned two more runs with a triple, one of his two hits on the day. “I got down pretty early in the count and I knew that he was working with a lot of off-speed and knew the Curveball was coming so I took advantage of it,” Seguine said when asked about his approach at the plate in the 4th inning. The Vikings managed to score two more runs in the 5th inning also with two outs. Skipper Casey Crook knew how important it was for his team to be able to get
Photo by Ricky Martinez Freshman Alex Seguine (21) celebrates after hitting a two out triple extending the Vikings lead to 3-0. The Vikings defeated the Rio Hondo Roadrunners 6-3 on Feb. 27.
hits when having two outs. “It’s really important, lots of times it takes two outs just to get into position to have those base runners,” Crook said. The Roadrunners were able to put up three runs in the seventh inning but didn’t manage to score another run in the game. Relievers Sophomore Dennis Stevenson and Freshman Matthew Pinal squandered any hope the Roadrunners had of
making a comeback as the two combined for two scoreless innings to ice the game. The Vikings were riding a nine-game win streak leading into a match-up on March 7 with Mt. San Antonio, but lost keeping the streak at nine. The Vikings will try and bounce back from a two-game skid following their streak, as they take on the Cerritos Falcons March, 12 at 2:30pm.
“I think it’s a good run though, I’m kinda tired from the 400m but I just did my best, so I went out there and went for it,” Reese said. The men had a tough challenge during the Invitational with Armando Padilla placing third with a 51.33 in the 400m. Sophomore Donovan Zavala made a final push to get the win with a 11:09.59 in the men’s distance medley. “It felt alright, I just filled in the first two laps and pulled it off after. It’s a good race,” Zavala said. LBCC director of track and field, Gabriel Rivera saw the positivity of the athletes who came together in these events, with the women’s victories highlighting the improvements their team needs. “I think we need to clean up some of our relay exchanges, especially with the men’s side of the relay. I think we just make sure we align ourselves upon the technical aspects in our field events,” Rivera said. The next meet for the Vikings track and field team will be held on March, 13th and 14th at the Ben Brown Invitational at CSU Fullerton.
Photo by Jorge Hernanadez Freshman Jada Reese competes during the Long Beach Invitational at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Feb. 28, 2020.
LBCC wins big at invitational By Jorge Hernandez Viking Staff
Vikings track and field experienced ups and downs when they competed in the Long Beach Invitational at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Feb. 28. Starting off with sophomore Joycelyn Galloway getting second in two events with 10.29 meters in women’s shot put and 33.54m in discus throw. Sophomore Cicely Arana placed second with a 12.65 second run in the women’s 100m dash. Freshman Grace Ellis had two wins, one coming from her 13 minute, 42.07 second time in the women’s 3k run and helped her team with a 14:04.94 performance in the women’s distance medley. “I had my coaches yelling at me to get that adrenaline rush to finish that run. Just trying to get some more races under my belt. I’m happy with it,” Ellis said. Jada Reese multiple wins with a time of 25.53 in the women’s 200m, a 1:01.88 in the 400m, and helped her team win the women’s 4x100m relay with a time of 48.69.
OPINION
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March 12, 2020
Ignore aggressive petitioners
Petitioners are a nuisance on Long Beach City College campuses. They are strangers aggressively asking students for personal information, and harassing students despite their submission to sign. They pose a threat to students safety an organized boycott ought to be enacted to combat this issue. This semester on LBCC there has been a severe increase in petitioners on campus hired by independent companies with common goals of getting different measures on voter ballots. Measures successfully reach voter ballots when a quota of signatures is reached there is a pay-rate associated with each signature. Petitioners’ presence at an institution where the majority of student ages range from 17 to late 20s, assumes a manipulative agenda on their part as they’re likely to believe young adults are naive and easy to persuade. The agenda to make money is objectifying and insensitive to all LBCC students because sometimes petitioners become aggressive to get signatures. Understanding petitioners are willing to do anything to get paid, the boundary of respect for students has been completely displaced. Some female-identifying members of Viking News shared personal accounts of sexual harassment from male petitioners and have witnessed the same conduct directed to female peers. One detailed account of harassment con-
BOARD EDITORIAL
tinued without an obtained signature from students and became an aggressive request for a Valentine’s Day date. Viking News has observed the majority of petitioners on campus this semester are male. Male petitioners have targeted individuals they assume feminine in an effort to manipulate signatures and it is harassment. It is sexist, animalistic, vile, disrespectful and coercive. Gender aside, there is a safety issue for LBCC students in contact with petitioners. A signature is not completed without personal information like one’s full legal name, home address and a face-to-face interaction with a stranger that must not be overlooked when it comes to a person’s safety. Offering your home address to a complete stranger is dangerous and compromises student safety. Ballot measures are constantly described vaguely, a student rushing to class does not have time to understand what they are signing or the consequences of their signature. The law allows petitioners to be on college campuses these people are exercising their rights. LBCC administration cannot push petitioners off campuses, but can make legislative changes and set limitations- that would take a
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We accept Letters to the Editor, email us lbccviking@gmail.com lot of time. A student-organized boycott against petitioners is an immediate solution to LBCC’s petitioner problem and it is perfectly legal and easy to establish. LBCC students need to ignore petitioners, refuse to sign petitions and actively encourage each other to do the same. In this case, petitioners will be deprived every opportunity to obtain signatures and will naturally migrate elsewhere. LBCC students need to speak up for each other offer assistance when they witness anyone being treated disrespectfully, whether by a petitioner or anyone else. If a person is being bombarded for signatures or sexually harassed in any context, witnesses ought to speak up and help the person being subjected to these injustices. The alliance and mass-resistance of all LBCC students is the solution to eliminate bothersome petitioners and Viking News proposes a student-organized boycott in an effort to combat this issue.
Stats math requirement doesn’t add up By Tess Kazenoff Viking Staff Statistics courses are strenuous and an unnecessary task for students pursuing a major in humanities or liberal arts, a personal-finance course could be a viable option, emphasizing necessary mathematics and more relevant to the majority of students. High level math is a misuse of time and resources for students not pursuing STEM-related majors who are likely to never use these skills again. California community college system chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley was quoted in a 2017 NPR interview stating that taking math classes like algebra is a hindrance to graduation rates, particularly affecting students of color in their pursuit of a degree. Oakley head of the country’s largest community college system of 114 schools told The LA Times ¾ of students who transfer to fouryear institutions are non-STEM majors.
Upper-level math classes create a financial strain, requiring additional materials such as graphing calculators and access codes to complete assignments. For many students, a $120 calculator is an big price tag for an item that will never be used again. Additional supply cost aside, what about the cost of taking the class? At $46 per credit at Long Beach City College that can be a heavy burden to bear, especially regarding a difficult to pass class. Considering the immense cost of college, some students don’t have financial resources to spend on courses that may serve no purpose other than negatively affecting their GPA. Learning about paying taxes or how to balance a checkbook is far more crucial to a “well-rounded education” than statistics or calculus. Of all LBCC students who took remedial math, only 31.2% went on to complete a college-level course (statistics or a course of equal value), according to 2017 Student Success Ini-
tiative data. LBCC Institutional Effectiveness data concluded only 47% of students enrolled in Math 130 passed the course, 39% passed Math 110. Both are remedial courses. If so many students struggle with passing remedial math, why is an advanced course necessary to complete a degree? Although larger issues perpetuate this issue- exemplified in public schools’ inability to prepare students for college standards, colleges need to accept responsibility in efficiently moving students forward to their careers. Many students know whether or not they will follow a math-related path in college, the U.S. college system should emphasize flexibility and freedom for students. Not only can many non-mathematically inclined students struggle with passing remedial and advanced courses it is a waste of time and energy that could be put toward classes relevant to their interests and majors.
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Editor-in-chief: Abrielle Lopez Managing editor: Tess Kazenoff News editors: Savannah Gomez Martin Koev Opinion editors: Brooke Davidoff Samantha Huff Lifestyle editors: Tyana Sallis Talia Coeshott Sports editors: David Lewis Jorge Hernandez Social Media editors: Eve Rosas Yeovanna Sandoval Staff Lloyd Bravo Alexis Bruschi Jacqueline Crochet Sanaa Dickson Idalia Gonzalez Tony Greeley Syan Haghiri Arlene Hawkins Veronica Huerta Michael Marin Ricardo Martinez Hailey Montez Destani Powell Daniel Rivera Corey Robinson Isaiah Zuniga Adviser: Walter Hammerwold Photo and online adviser: Chris Viola