VIEWPOINTS VOL. 104, NO.7

RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE

Edward Moody launches himself over the bar, placing first in the overall OEC Finals men’s high jump at Riverside City College’s Wheelock Stadium on April 24.

Food aid at risk of getting cut

BRYLLE

DESEO ASST. LIFE EDITOR

The Women, Infants and Children program, otherwise known as WIC, could face major budget cuts after the Trump administration released its proposed budget for the next fiscal year, according to the National WIC Association. The budget would be a drastic change, from $52 to $13 for breastfeeding mothers and $26 to $10 for children.

Gold rush at Wheelock

Tigers outrun competition at track & field championships

LENNON ALVAREZ SPORTS EDITOR

The men’s and women’s track and field Orange Empire Conference Championship was held at Riverside City College’s Wheelock Stadium on April 24. The Championship featured six different schools all competing to take gold.

“It’s a gift to be able to have home track and field advantage. It’s a beautiful thing,” RCC men’s head coach Jim McCarron said.

The scores continued over from the OEC preliminaries held on April 17, where RCC’s men’s and women’s teams finished with 193 and 108 points, respectively.

RCC faced off against Orange Coast College, Saddleback College, Fullerton College, Golden West College and Santa Ana College.

The Tigers men’s and women’s teams both dominated their competition with speed on the track and power on the field.

The men’s team scored 506 points while the women’s team scored 316 points. In the men’s standings, Orange Coast College placed second with 113 points, followed by Saddleback College with 103, Fullerton College with 48, Golden

“ All the work that was done in the summer and the fall, that’s what sets us up today,

-Nate Robinson ”

Three-peat in command:

Sgt. Rojas returns as acting chief

BRYLLE DESEO LIFE EDITOR

Sgt. Octavio Rojas has been named acting chief of police until Riverside Community College District finds a permanent chief to keep the flow of leadership rolling. The role of chief of police has been vacated after Chief Mark DiMaggio’s contract ended due to limitations as a public retiree employee.

This would be Rojas’ third time taking up the mantle during his 20-plus years in the department. He assumed the promotion on April 7 and will be the acting chief of police until RCCD appoints its new first in command.

“It’s a temporary promotion

until we (the college) or the district can find someone who can fill that position,” Rojas said.

Rojas has continued to push positive interactions and student engagement at RCC during his time as a sergeant. For example, on April 9, he and other department staff went down to Terracina Drive and set up a booth at the job fair.

“Doing positive stuff, like having our booth out here and having our staff interact with students and building a good, strong trust with the community and our stakeholders, (is good)” Rojas said. “...To say, ‘hey, you know what? Not all people are bad.’”

This wouldn’t be the first time the Trump administration cut services that help with food benefits. Just last year the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” cut SNAP benefits and the damage became more apparent during the 2025 government shutdown.

Konique Toliver, a student at Riverside City College has two children and still uses WIC benefits to help with groceries. The program helped her when she had no resources and a job to provide for her kids.

“With formula, fruits and veggies…(WIC) really helped with that,” Toliver said. “It would greatly affect us because the kids would be hungry (otherwise).”

According to kidsdata.org and

April 30, 2026

Editor: Marissa Lievanos & Chelsea Sugimura| Viewpoints@rcc.edu

Digital media students design their way to a win

CHELSEA SUGIMURA NEWS EDITOR

One of the oldest programs at Riverside City College has been evolving as it made its way to success at the American Advertising Awards on April 9.

RCC’s digital media program has competed at the awards since 2018. Patrick Scullin, one of the Applied Digital Media instructors, said the college routinely performs well against the fouryear universities in attendance.

“We regularly do very well, as a little community college doing the good work,” Scullin said. “Our students really measure up.”

Seven students took the projects they made in the Graphic Design and Printing Department to the regional awards and received high recognition in several categories. The students competed against other colleges from the Inland Empire in categories such as illustration, brand identity, magazine design, social media and more.

Quiping Gao, a graphic design and digital media major, took home gold in the integrated advertising campaign category. Gao submitted a series of advertisements for a fake documentary that she created, titled

Israel Moreyra, a service press technician packs up informational booklets in the District Printing and Graphics Center located in the Technolgy B building on April 28.

“Win by a Milisecond,” which was inspired by “F1: The Movie.”

Gao said she hopes to someday open her own design studio to work for small business owners and believes that RCC has prepared her with the skills to meet market demands in the industry.

She described digital media as an important tool for business owners to connect with their community and establish a public image.

“Design is another way to convey ideas, which cannot be

representatives from the department, explain the job (is good).”

expressed in words alone,” Gao said. “Digital media is one of the primary ways of communication in the modern world.”

Kwokwai ‘Sunny’ Siu, another Applied Digital Media instructor, said the students were able to use assignments created throughout the school year as their submissions for the awards. Other RCC students who took home awards were Fritzi Santiago, Dolores Ontiveros, Luis Hernandez, Vanessa Salomon,

Ana Rodriguez and Angelo Curiel.

What started as the printing and graphics program over 100 years ago has turned into an intricate department with a dozen different types of printers for students learning product and screen printing, package design and different kinds of booklet making.

“That also goes to show that for our students, there’s longevity to this industry because the industry is changing and growing,” Siu said. “As long as they’re willing to change and grow with it, they will always have jobs.”

RCC’s print shop serves as the site for district printing and also acts as a hands-on learning experience for students learning to operate the machinery. Students have created mock magazine designs, cups, apparel and stickers in the print shop and can see firsthand how much graphic design and print are embedded in the world.

“It’s one of those industries that adapts, and it’s really connected to everything we do in the economy,” Scullin said. “We think it’ll continue to grow, continue to be a viable path and it’s a good place for creative

BRIEFS

Adviye Tolunay named Distinguished Faculty Lecturer

Riverside City College District has followed the prestigous tradition of picking a faculty member to share a scholarly lecture since 1961. Adviye Tolunay, a psychology instructor, will deliver this year’s lecture titled “AntiSocial Media: Memes, Echo Chambers, and Toxic Anonymity.” The lecture will be held from 12:50-1:50 p.m. at Norco College on May 7, RCC on May 12 and at Moreno Valley College on May 14.

2026

Classified Employee of the Year

Natalie Vazquez, a professional development coordinator has been awarded with this title. Riverside City College District recognized her contributions to the RCC campus. She will now be RCCD’s nominee for California Community College Classified Employee of the Year.

RCC Launches Strategic Plan

A typical day for Rojas is very random, and no shift is the same. He’s taken some serious calls, but says being a police officer puts him in other strange situations as well.

“There’s no typical day for any law enforcement. I can’t tell you what a typical day is because it’s so wide,” Rojas said. “We could be handling calls over suspicious circumstances, unlocking a door…so it all depends.”

Rojas said leadership in the department has always sought one thing: building a good relationship with students and passersby who walk around RCC and the surrounding areas. The department’s relationship with the community helped a great deal, especially after the anti-police sentiment in 2020.

“Going out to the community… whether it’s National Night Out, which is going out to community services, going to churches (and) social events,” Rojas said. “For us at the college, it’s also doing the same thing. Having positive interactions with students on days like this, a career day…to have

Rojas has always been big on community and positivity.

Following the aforementioned events of 2020, his time as a patrol officer was crucial to ending any interactions with civilians on a good note.

“Here with the college, we were kind of in that ‘limbo land,’ where we just had to make sure that the population that we serve, which is students, faculty, and staff, felt safe and secure,” Rojas said.

Rojas has put effort into maintaining RCC as a safe campus. He was present during events such as the brawl that occurred near the Digital Library a few months ago and the recent investigation into the smoking elevator, also located at the Digital Library.

At the end of it all, Rojas wants to protect and serve the community and his fellow officers at RCC with the best leadership he can provide.

“I know the officers also take it in stride of what things we perceive as bad and good,” Rojas said. “At the end of the day, the thing that we make sure (of) is that everybody goes home safe, regardless if it’s a non-student.”

“...we just had to make sure that the population that we serve, which is students, faculty and staff, felt safe and secure. -Sgt. Octavio Rojas ”

capriverside.org, about 64,000 to 70,000 Riverside County residents are estimated to be recipients of the WIC program. If this proposed cut goes through, about 2.8% of the county’s population will be affected.

“(WIC) helps us since we’re single moms with kids,” said Denise Roman, a newly enrolled RCC student. “If it gets cut, a lot of people will be struggling a little bit more.”

The proposed cut sparked a few influencers on social media to speak up about the times they’ve had WIC help them out through tougher times. Liam Layton also known as @theplantslant went on Tik Tok to express his anger about the proposed cut, due to his family relying on WIC when they were experiencing hardships.

“Growing up, we didn’t have a whole lot,” Layton said. “We relied on WIC, food stamps (and) whatever else we could get.”

Layton also expressed his anger and the hypocrisy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr and the Trump Administration saying

that the administration is taking away the small amount of money low-income people are using to buy food. The fact that RFK Jr. is known to preach about how “Americans should eat real food” and is currently leading the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement adds to his angst.

With rising grocery costs, the proposed $13 wouldn’t be enough to sustain low-income families. Toliver said that amount is “basically nothing” and the only thing she could get would be a pack of lettuce and maybe some oranges.

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., 3rd District called the budget a “moral crime” because it’s affecting parts of the government that help the working class and replaces it with “more war” and “more ICE abuses.”

“This budget zeroes out that program, doesn’t it? Yes it does. It’s right here on table 1-3, it zeroes it out on your budget,” McGarvey argued over the cuts with Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, Russel Vought.

“Are we great yet?” Layton said. “Is this what greatness is?”

The B.E.S.T. Strategic Plan was launched on April 6 during a campus event. The plan is a framework that serves as a reflection of the college’s mission and vision according to Vice President of Planning and Development Kristi Woods. The plan will be embedded to support programs that will impact student and institutional growth.

Corrections

March 26, 2026 Issue: Volume 104, Issue 6

In the article, “Madness in Riverside tournament,” the correct lede is, “California Baptist University is putting Riverside on the national stage…”

March 26, 2026 Issue: Volume 104, Issue 6

On page 12, the correct cutline for the “Cheer” photo should have said, “The Riverside City College All-Girl 2Year Advanced Show Cheer Collegiate Championship winners of Feb. 22.”

If you have local news or upcoming events that you would like featured on the Viewpoints briefs, send information to our email: viewpoints@rcc.edu.

Election season begins for student government

AYSA BENDER MULTIMEDIA REPORTER

Election season is in progress for the Associated Students of Riverside City College, looking to fill student leadership roles for the next academic year.

The election process began in the first weeks of April and results are set to be announced on May 8. Applications to be on the ballot are now open, and they are seeking candidates to fill the positions of senator, president and vice president.

To run for a position in the election, candidates must attend one informative meeting. On April 9, ASRCC adviser Megan Bottoms led the meeting. During the meeting, she listed important details and dates for the election process.

The requirements needed to run for Senate include: a 2.0 GPA, enrolled in a minimum of five units and 50 valid signatures from RCC students.

The president and vice president candidates are required to run together on one ticket. Candidates must individually have a 2.5 GPA, be currently enrolled in at least 6 units, and receive at least 200 valid signatures from RCC students for their ticket together.

“I’m always recruiting, trying to get students involved as much as possible,” said

“ When they can’t speak before the senate, their voices aren’t heard and their perspectives are not being represented in the student government.

-.Gibson Haines ”

Bottoms. “The unique thing about community colleges, that doesn’t happen at your CSUs, UCs, (and) four years, is that students are required to have a seat at the decisionmaking table. It’s called shared governance.”

Bottoms wants to encourage student involvement to ensure adequate representation on campus. Candidates should be held to provide students with

knowledge and information about what is happening on campus and to give them not only a voice but a platform where they can be taken into consideration.

Gibson Haines, ASRCC President applicant, weighed in on this sentiment, agreeing with Megan Bottoms. He said, “When they can’t speak before the Senate, their voices aren’t heard, and their perspectives are not being represented in the

student government.”

Based on the RCC website, there is an emphasis on ASRCC to strive forward by improving student life and experiences on campus. This election allows students the opportunity to network with other students and administrators, make impactful changes that students will benefit from and provide leadership and influence within their communities.

“I want to know what’s going on, first of all,” said Senate applicant Tabitha Flickinger. “I want to see if I can help more students, because not everybody fits in the same cookie-cutter.”

According to Bottoms, once candidates are confirmed on the ballots, they can start campaigning. The purpose

of campaigning is to help students learn more about their stances and goals.

The candidate introduction and town hall meeting will be in the Bradshaw Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 5, from 12-2 p.m.

Emails will be sent to students with a unique link that allows them to vote once for their preferred candidates.

Voting opens May 5 at 12 a.m. and closes the next day at 11:59 p.m.

Final results will be posted online on May 8, and the winners will be notified. Official statements will be made on May 15 to confirm the new student leaders of RCC.

Editor: Victor Ledbetter Jr. Viewpoints@rcc.edu

LIFE BRIEFS

May 4

RCC Honors ProgramInfo Session

Join this virtual session hosted by Honors Educational Resource Advisor Dr. Ruby Acevedo as she discusses eligibility requirements, how to apply, program requirements, and benefits. This is a virtual event being held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

May 6

Student Parent Club Meetings & Exercise Activity (Hybrid)

Join Araceli Calderon for monthly meetings designed to build community and share resources. Each session concludes with a brief exercise to promote wellness. This event will be held at the Digital Library Room 231 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Virtual meetings are available.

May 6

Viewpoints & Student in Politics presents: Local Election and Voter Ed Town Hall

This is an open forum concerning issues impacting Riverside’s future and will feature Ward 2 Riverside City Council candidates, 58th State Assembly candidates and 39th Congressional District candidate Steve Manos as well as possible appearance from Rep. Mark Takano. The forum will be held at the Bradshaw Cafeteria from 1 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.

May 7

“We Are Here Because You Were There”

Join Chicano/Latino faculty for a charla exploring migration, displacement and identity across North and South America. This will be held at the Business, Law, and Computer and Information Systems Building, Room 114 A & B, from 12:50 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.

May 27

Three Engagement Centers Host Wellness Workshop

The respective engagement centers are holding a wellness workshop to focus on stress management and positive coping skills. This will be held at the Computer and Information Systems Building T-20 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

5 April 30, 2026

College life, a matter of Graves’ concern

Student Trustee wants his voice to speak for students

AARON FRIESEN NEWS REPORTER

From the moment he stepped onto the Riverside City College campus in the summer of 2024, Student Trustee Gabriel Graves has been driven by a desire to advocate for his fellow students.

Student trustees act as a bridge between district administrators and the student bodies at all three Riverside Community College District colleges, by attending RCCD Board of Trustees meetings to give advisory votes on all matters before the board and reporting on student issues.

“They’re on the ground,” said Jose Alcala, president of the RCCD Board of Trustees.

For Graves, student advocacy is a game of ups and downs.

“That’s the nature of the job, making incremental advances for students,” Graves said.

It’s a job he takes seriously.

Graves stands over six feet tall—6-foot, 3 and a half inches to be exact—and he doesn’t hide it with bad posture. He has an “LA” tattoo under his left eye, short dark hair and a beard. Matched with the intensity he brings to his student advocacy and his education, he

can be imposing from a distance.

Daisy Garcia, fellow student trustee at Alan Hancock College, said Graves was intimidating at first. But Garcia also said compassion is one of his greatest strengths.

“He is willing to put himself in an uncomfortable situation if it’ll help students,” Garcia said.

Soon after Graves’ tenure started in June 2025, the board removed then RCC President Claire Oliveros from her position. Graves lost no time pushing back against being left out of the process.

“This shouldn’t happen where a huge decision is made that we as students don’t get a voice in that can gravely impact our futures,” Graves told Viewpoints in June 2025.

However, student trustees are not entitled by California law or District policy to attend closed “executive” sessions of the board, during which employee matters, including those involving discipline and dismissal being covered.

While Graves acknowledged this, he also said that unless there is “serious legal wrongdoing,” there should be a greater student voice in the process.

When asked what a greater student voice in the process looks like, Graves responded, “It doesn’t look like the student trustee being surprised at the news.”

Alcala said in his eight years on the board, they’ve seen a variety of student trustees, but Graves has done a good job of advocating for students.

“He has brought some interesting things to light,” Alcala said. “Some don’t find their voice until late in their term.”

It is a voice Graves has been developing since before coming

Scan for full story

From underground to center stage

How Riverside’s local music scene turned into Coachella

MAXWELL PORTER LIFE REPORTER

Since 1999, the Coachella Music and Arts Festival has served as an annual epicenter of music for people all over the world to visit. A mix of musicians who have already reached stardom alongside upand-coming artists who are paving their own path is the driving force behind the festival.

While Coachella has changed over the decades, one thing that remains is its origins, which lie deep in the subcultures of Riverside’s local music scenes of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

98 Posse, a prominent music collective from Riverside in the ‘90s, played a crucial role in Coachella’s origin story.

Founded by Bill Fold, 98 Posse collaborated with Goldenvoice Productions in an effort to shine a light on local punk and hardcore acts who are often overlooked by major production companies.

The mission of 98 Posse was brought to life through underground, lowbrow operations.

Late nights at the University of California, Riverside’s music

PORTER | VIEWPOINTS

Airon Gauff, guitarist of the band February, played the Sonora tent during Coachella 2026.

“It’s crazy going from playing small backyard shows with only five people, then going and playing Coachella,” Gauff said. “Then going back home and playing those same five-people backyard shows.”

While major artists like Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter were estimated to be playing for over 150,000 people combined during Coachella, the Sonora tent hosts crowds for far less, rarely exceeding a couple of hundred people. Spaces like the Sonora tent mimic the edge that alternative music has developed in Riverside.

venue, The Barn, with 98 Posse were spent bitterly arguing with promoters for representation for musicians. While major music promoters in Los Angeles freely operated in venues like the Whisky-A-Go-Go and The Smell, Riverside’s promoters were left to local backyards, dimly lit dive bars and, occasionally, breaking into unused warehouses to host bands.

98 Posse member and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker reminisced about Riverside’s music culture, saying, “There was one time we shut down Van Buren for a show. It was crazy. People were standing on cars and the cops were called.”

Bill Fold’s efforts proved

fruitful once Goldenvoice Productions discovered the possibilities of Indio, California, as a host ground for major artists. With the notable band Pearl Jam performing in 1993 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio in protest of rising Ticketmaster ticket prices, Indio was quickly viewed through the lens of possibility.

For nearly 20 years, the recognition of Riverside artists’ impact on Coachella remained unknown until the introduction of the Sonora tent on the festival grounds. Serving as a smaller area for lesser-known artists, the tent spotlights the raw, underground artists who still represent the grit and fury of alternative music.

For Riverside locals, Indio lies over 70 miles east, in the low desert. The distance, along with the rising cost for tickets, has created a gap between Riversiders and Coachella.

“It’s too expensive. I think nowadays you have to be rich or famous to go,” Johnathan Castellas, a Riverside local, said.

According to Billboard, over half of all Coachella attendees could not immediately afford their tickets, resorting to the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) plans that the festival offers.

Coachella serves as a focal point for world-leading music acts

Powwow returns in the middle of Riverside

As people walked in, they could hear rattles, drums, and laughter in the distance and smell fry bread already cooking. The 40th Annual Sherman Indian High School Youth Powwow opened its usually locked gates to welcome the public inside on April 18 in Riverside.

The long-awaited event was a social gathering to reconnect and a competitive way to have fun at the same time.

The powwow brought many Native American tribal members, from as far as the Canadian border to Mexico and from the far Midwest to the Pacific Ocean. They drove in to participate as vendors or for the dancing and combined drumming and singing competitions.

The school has a decadeslong history of hosting its own powwows each year, except last year. Some believe that budget cuts

made by the Trump administration may have led to the event being dropped last year and a severe reduction in the number of students allowed to attend the school.

“So when a powwow doesn’t happen, a lot of people start to feel a little off,” Sam Bearpaw said. “But to be back this year (is) phenomenal.” Bearpaw, a Chiricahua Apache, is a wellknown Native American actor and personality, seen in 17 movies and other projects over the years.

Lorene Sisquoc, a Fort Sill Apache/Cahuilla, curator of the Sherman Museum and a retired teacher, has always supported the students. Her mother, Tonita Largo-Glover, started organizing the intertribal powwow with some friends in 1986 and it transformed into an annual event.

“The purpose (of the powwow) is to bring culture and tradition to our students who are away from their tribal communities during

the school year,” Sisquoc said. “The powwow provides them a time to learn about other tribes and even explore their own tribal powwow customs.”

Sisquoc reminisced about when powwows began on campus as an opportunity for students’ families to visit their children. Sherman alumni also return to the school to reconnect with their “school family.”

The Southern California Bird Singers performed at the beginning of the powwow. Then the first Grand Entry was led into the arena by veterans carrying flags, followed by all the native competitors wearing tribal regalia.

The colorful powwow was held on the football field, with a large grassy dance circle in the center. The different tribes wore their own handmade traditional deerskin tribal clothing or cloth regalia when competing. The event also featured many artistic craft and food vendor

booths for the public to shop.

The food vendors sold the ever-popular Indian fry bread with sweet condiments and Indian tacos with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar cheese piled high on a large fry bread.

The vendor booths were set up along the entire track. The crafts were handmade and ranged from solid-silver jewelry to drums, paintings, clothing and skillful beadwork across many different mediums.

Bonnie Walker, a Rosebud Sioux, is a craft vendor and started working at the school as a traditional arts and crafts teacher for the students. After Walker retired, she began working the powwow road, traveling to them to sell her colorful

Flavorful competition returns to Riverside for Tamale Festival

As Riverside locals got close to White Park in Downtown Riverside, the air was filled with mariachi music, while folklórico dancers performed on the pathway to the gazebo. Colorful booths were organized throughout the grass while attendees saved the most shaded spots with chairs and blankets.

For over a decade, the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation has hosted the Annual Riverside Tamale Festival. On April 18, the park was transformed to create an immersive experience of culture, food and family fun. Behind this gathering lies generations of efforts towards the restoration and preservation of the Trujillo Adobe Heritage Village.

“Attendance numbers were great at about 5,000 (attendees). A steady stream of people throughout the day,” Larissa Diaz-Hahn said.

Diaz-Hahn was brought on as additional support in last year’s tamale event for management and marketing efforts.

After clapping for performers, families gathered at La Placita, a food hub that included different tamales and other treats. It was an abundance of heritage-rich foods that invited connection. Conversations flowed between strangers, with many sharing memories of tamale-making traditions and debating which filling was the best. With the sun beaming down, the agua

frescas sold by vendors were paired with a warm tamale.

A kid zone section, named La Escuela, held activities throughout the day, such as corn husk dollmaking and a chancla toss game. Towards the back of the park, those with a love for wrestling could enjoy multiple lucha libre wrestling matches.

The sense of connection built over food mirrors the deeper

Voice actors unveil the industry

VICTOR LEDBETTER JR. LIFE EDITOR

Despite two different paths, two voice actresses made their voices heard. The Asian and Pacific Islander Student Club at Riverside City College hosted a panel that featured voice actresses Crystal Lee and Risa Mei on April 10.

Lee is known for her various roles, including Phoenix in “Marvel Rivals” and the English voices for Ne Zha in “Ne Zha 2” and Alexandria Sebastiane in “Zenless Zone Zero.”

Mei is also known for her vast roles in games and media, including the English voice for Kokomi in “Genshin Impact,” Burnice White in “Zenless Zone Zero” and Gekkomon in “Digimon Beatbreak.”

The actresses discussed a range of topics, including entering the voice acting industry and the various challenges they faced throughout their careers.

When asked how each actress started out, the two had different paths. Mei started acting in commercials at a young age. When she discovered she had dwarfism, she began to be offered roles for novelty characters.

“I stopped seeing auditions that were for lead characters,” Mei said. “I stopped seeing auditions for the extra background because we’re not background. We don’t exist.”

Mei added that she “had a weird journey.”After various odd jobs, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world in 2020. At the time, Mei came across a production company online and sent a voice demo.

Lee, on the other hand, was pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. She had to take an acting class to fulfill a requirement. While this was out of Lee’s comfort zone, having only done theater and violin beforehand, she loved it.

“I really liked it,” said Lee. However, the love for action didn’t align with her goals. It was going to be the typical plan for master’s students. She says, “I had my whole plan. I was like ‘I’m gonna do the whole degree, do my internships, go work in corporate, then I’m gonna make six figs.’” Lee then found a local conservatory and started taking acting classes on the side.

connection to the village’s history and cultural roots. According to the program shared with attendees, this year’s festival is dedicated to both Helen Workman Mora and David Trujillo.

Lee eventually graduated at the end of 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the independent acting projects she was a part of had to be shut down. She eventually found out that she could continue her acting classes from her home.

“I was like, ‘Oh, I can keep

of “Legally Blonde” performs “Omigod

Thoughts on RCC’s ‘Legally Blonde’

pursue a law degree. As her fellow classmates mock her, she quickly flips into an incredible lawyer.

Warner’s conceited attitude in the song, “Serious.”

Throughout my time at Riverside City College, I’ve seen the theater department put on a variety of musicals, all mimicking different types of films.

So, when I saw that “Legally Blonde” was next in line on their schedule, I knew this was something I wanted to review. I’ve been a fan of the original movie since I first viewed it and have turned to rewatching it whenever I needed motivation.

The movie motivated me because of the plotline. The original movie followed Elle Woods, a fashion merchandising student at a fictional Los Angeles university. Following her breakup with character Warner Washington III, she transfers to Harvard to

In Act I, I was immediately impressed by the large sorority house that was placed in the center of the stage. I loved how the sorority girls from the fictional Greek organization Delta Nu opened the musical in the song, “Omigod You Guys.”

This opening made a significant mark for friendship throughout the musical as Elle, played by Bree Nielson, is always accompanied by her friends.

Nielson did a beautiful and impressive job embodying the character. The mannerisms and voice were spot-on, even to the pink outfits.

As well as El Friedhof, who played Warner, one of Elle’s love interests. Friedhof captured

‘The Drama’: Should we know everything about our partner?

ESCOBEDO LIFE

Weddings are built on the promise of accepting someone completely until death do us part.

A24’s film “The Drama” questions whether that promise is realistic.

The Kristoffer Borgli-directed film, starring Zendaya as Emma

and Robert Pattinson as Charlie, is a controversial take on how love collides with difficult moral truths.

Vulture titled it, “A dark-hearted, cringe-inducing romantic comedy with a sterile sheen.”

The storyline took your typical rom-com and added an allAmerican morbid twist.

When the bride drunkenly

In the musical number “Serious,” Warner breaks up with Elle because he’s going to Harvard, and this is where the memorable line lives: “If I’m going to be a senator, I need to marry a Jackie, not a Marilyn.”

Following the breakup scene, Nielson’s performance was identical to Elle’s in the movie, showing the anger and sadness of the separation.

Elle decides to apply to Harvard to follow her old boyfriend. Upon her arrival, she meets Warner, who introduces her to his new girlfriend, Vivian Kensington, played by Bella Ramirez, who later becomes his fiancée.

Ramirez’s performance also portrayed Vivian perfectly with her cold mannerisms in contrast

indulges in dark gossip, she is asked: “What is the worst thing you’ve done?” Emma admitted to once planning a school shooting but backed out at the last minute.

From this moment, Charlie begins to privately ruminate on the moral implications of marrying someone with such a dark past. He argues, “Imagine how many people must have thought about it, though? It could be anyone.”

The film does a great job of displaying how violent ideation is common. It has become so common that it’s a trend in some communities, like on the internet and in chat rooms.

Overthinking led Charlie to miss so many details, like the racial bias shown towards Emma for being African American. She’s perceived as angry and violent, but throughout the film, she seemed to just crave normalcy. Emma consistently showed patience, grace, and humor, yet her rehabilitation was dismissed simply due to her skin color.

The film centers on the groom’s process of realizing the bride has a muddy past; he isn’t sure she has fully cleansed. His

BTS’ ‘Arirang’ is an experimental exploration of South Korean culture

MARISSA LIEVANOS NEWS EDITOR

On March 20, BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, released their tenth studio album “Arirang.” The album comes at a high point in the South Korean boy group’s career, as it is their first official album release since they announced they would be taking a break to fulfill their mandatory South Korean military service back in December of 2022.

The album received lots of love from fans and critics, with the Korea Times sharing that “Arirang” sold almost 4 million copies on its first day out. The Financial Express also revealed that the group reached million seller status within 10 minutes, breaking their own record.

to Elle’s bubbly approach. I loved Vivian’s snarky attitude every time she showed off her diamond engagement ring to Elle. The rivalry between Elle and Vivian begins in the song “Blood in the Water,” where Vivian agrees with the law instructor to throw Elle out of class for being underprepared.

Later on, Elle meets Emmet Forres, played by Carter Friedhof, who eventually becomes her mentor. Their connection grows fonder in songs like “Chip on My Shoulder” and “Take It Like a Man.”

Their chemistry was perfect and almost identical to the movie. What I liked more from the musical

mind becomes a tricky rival, leading him to take actions with consequences for everyone around him. The film lingers in that uneasy space between love and resentment, where connection becomes tense, unpredictable, and quietly devastating.

A single past thought can feel almost as heavy as an action. Even though she abandoned the plan and changed her life, the ideation sticks psychologically like showing up in nightmares, in how others project fear onto her, and in the way her fiancé starts to reinterpret everything about her through that lens.

This was a fresh take on how much you could lose yourself in trying so hard to understand your partner. The loss of the perception that we have created of someone is harder than accepting the reality of who is standing in front of us.

The original score by the acclaimed composer Daniel

These 24-hour achievements continue, with the album’s title track, “Swim,” gaining 33-million views on its first day.

NPR reveals “Arirang” production was centered in Los Angeles, with the group spending about 2 months in the city to work with established producers such as Diplo, Mike Williams, Tame Impala, One Republic, El Guincho and Flume.

To protect their signature sound, they completed their post-production back home in South Korea with their company producer Pdogg.

Time Magazine writes that the album itself gets its name from a famous Korean folk song, “Gyeonggi Arirang.” This song is taught to children and carried into adulthood, symbolizing tradition and strength for many Koreans.

Consisting of 15 songs, “Arirang” captures the same tradition and high spirits as its inspiration. Listening to the album, you go through the emotions of anticipation and empowerment and end with feelings of longing and depth.

In this opening song, titled “Body to Body,” the band begins with the line, “I need the whole stadium to jump. Put your phone down, let’s get all the fun.” This song makes the listener feel energized, full of anticipation to see the group during their world tour, which they announced alongside this new album.

The next song, “HOOLIGAN,” is by far the most experimental song of the album. Each lyric is a clap back at people who call K-Pop too eccentric. Paired with a gritty beat that transitions into an angelic pre-chorus, the song is a perfect introduction for those who want to understand this new version of the group.

The feeling is immediate, with the sound of swords clashing against each other making you grit your teeth before the vocals ease the listener in.

OPINIONS

Is the President above the Bible?

LENNON ALVAREZ SPORTS EDITOR

In a time marked by conflict and political tension, the growing clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV is more than a war of words. One leader pushes aggression and authority, while the other calls for peace and moral responsibility. In this conflict, Rome stands on the right side of history.

As the war in the Middle East has escalated over the past couple of months, the Roman pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, has expressed his desire for peace and dialogue instead of bloodshed.

“Only by returning to negotiations can the war be brought to an end,” Pope Leo XIV said in a general audience.

Now, one might think that Trump would respond in favor of peace, considering that the White House and many of his supporters nicknamed him the “President of Peace.” They would be wrong.

Trump, a non-denominational Christian, should know that Matthew 5:9 reads, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Then again, this is the same man who could not name his favorite Bible verse.

Instead, Trump said on Truth Social, “I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s ok for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” He also claimed that the only reason Leo XIV was elected pope was because of him.

For the record, the pope has made no such comments. It seems that when Trump is met with an opinion he does not like, his first reaction is to call them a “liberal” and lie about them.

“He wasn’t on any list to be pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump,” Trump said in the same post. He must not have been aware that the previous bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, was also not a frontrunner to be elected to the see of Peter.

There is also the famous Roman proverb, “He who enters the conclave as Pope, leaves it as Cardinal.” Or maybe Trump is upset that the first American pope

is not a blind follower of his.

Trump has, however, spoken positively of the Pope’s brother, Louis Prevost. Trump even said that he is “All MAGA.” Unfortunately, not all people like the Prevost family. Just last week, a bomb threat was made on the home of John Prevost, the Pope’s other brother. So much for “peace.”

Pope Leo XIV has shown no fear of Trump and is not backing down. When aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV said, “I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do.”

Trump’s recent comments could prove to be a blunder for him and his administration.

Catholicism, for the first time in U.S. history, is the largest Christian denomination in America. According to the Pew Research Center, about 20% of adults are Catholic. That number continues to grow, as dioceses in America saw a 38% increase in people joining the church this past Easter, according to the National Catholic Register.

Trump also posted an AIgenerated image of himself dressed suspiciously similar to Jesus Christ healing a sick man, which upset many of his Christian supporters.

Recently, on the Riverside City College campus, the Catholic Student Fellowship’s flyer by the cafeteria was vandalized.

Someone wrote Matthew 4:10 on it, which reads “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” It is unclear if this has anything to do with the recent dispute between the Pope and Trump, but either way, it is upsetting that another Christian would write this about a fellow Christian.

The Pope also posted on X on April 16, writing, “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”

In the end, this is not just about a disagreement between two figures. It is about what kind of leadership carries more weight in a time of crisis: one driven by power or one guided by principle.

You don’t know what to feel until someone tells you

AVA ANDERSON ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR

Have you ever listened to a song just to understand how you feel? Not as a background beat for studying, not just because it was the most popular song at the time, but because you wanted to put a name to an emotional journey that felt unfinished, a recent experience that was left unanalyzed?

Then, you hear lyrics from a song that finally resonate and think, “That’s exactly how I feel.” It’s as if an artist predicted your emotions and expressed them in a way that you never thought could make you feel so seen, without them ever having seen you.

A field of study called “music psychology”explains this interesting concept. According to a blog article from the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, “…(T)he very act of listening to music can release certain chemicals in the brain (such as dopamine) that directly affect emotions. In the case of dopamine, this neurotransmitter causes feelings of pleasure and happiness. In some cases, it might even cause the listener to get the chills or feel overwhelmed with emotion.” This explains why music can evoke such intense experiences for us.

We asked Rachel Chandler, multitalented artist and drummer of the band Passenger Side, for her intimate perspective on the effect of music on us. She told us, “There’s something about music that’s able to speak to the heart and mind deeper than words alone. Every emotion and situation I’ve gone through, I’ve been able to process and heal with music;

E ditorial

Why is it unaffordable to be a student in the IE?

Spring break has ended across the Inland Empire, and members of the Viewpoints Editorial Board have noticed a new, unnatural and heavy silence after the question, “What did you do over vacation?”

As prices have continued to skyrocket nationwide, many of the young adults on our editorial team have become more frugal. After spending their hard-earned cash on the ever-growing prices of daily necessities, like food, gas — coupled with the cost of tuition — it has become increasingly frustrating to make plans with friends.

Yet, watching the Trump administration’s current spending on unnecessary wars, ballrooms and lavish dinner parties, leaves several on the board uncertain on whether they will see financial relief anytime soon and it makes them feel like their voices, asking for help, are not being heard.

How are students expected to pay for these high prices when many are struggling to find a minimum wage job? Tuition is not free and when our aid is threatened, we are required to rely on income made from parttime jobs. These low wages are only a part of the problem, with the other being that no one actually seems to be hiring.

How are we supposed to react to the government’s ability to spend money on frivolous activity while paying for a $10 latte counts as a splurge to reward ourselves for graduating college and entering the economy that will further fuel the government’s outof-touch behavior.

We are all economical contributors to our nation and it is our money that has been used to fund the administration’s expenses. The board believes that the federal government should instead focus on using that money to help community college students thrive rather than suffer the consequences of its actions.

For example, the government’s war with Iran has directly contributed to our empty pockets. As a commuter school, Riverside City College depends on students to travel from outside cities to study on campus. As of April 2026, the median gas price sits at $5.88 a gallon.

The added cost is an extra hindrance into our daily lives as we have to decide if the trip to school is worth the weekly gas expense.

The administration could also, instead, focus its efforts on growing the earlycareer job market and expanding financial aid opportunities.

As community college students, several editorial members have heard that RCC students have it easy because the cost per unit is comparatively low at $40 while neighboring universities Cal Baptist University and Redlands University are about $1,563.

RCC students may pay less compared to the thousands of dollars of tuition some other universities charge, but that does not make it any less expensive.

Everything is still priced way too high, with our tax dollars going into funding that works against bringing the cost of things down. The gap is staggering, and it feels like those in power are benefiting while the rest of us feel the hit.

Low wages are only a part of the problem when no one actually seems to be hiring.

As hard as it is to gain experience while studying, it’s worse when nobody is hiring. Even when they do, the qualifications are disproportionate to the job they are asking you to fill.

Do we really need a bachelor’s or master’s degree for an entry level position

that is only wanting to pay minimum wage? Is it worth sacrificing our time to take up a job that will not even provide us the experience we need when we start applying for full-time positions?

An editor who claimed they experienced the flawed job market first hand said, “I would also hear when applying for jobs, ‘if you don’t have any experience, don’t bother applying.’ It was very frustrating back then, too.”

This has become a big topic in the Inland Empire in light of the recent Ontario warehouse fire started by a former employee who decided to destroy it because their employer allegedly refused to pay, “livable wages.”

The reaction from the employee was extreme and wrong in the way it was carried out, but the frustration is something we all know.

So what did we do over vacation? We watched the world burn while we came to terms with the fact it would be up to us to extinguish the fire.

STAFF LIST

Editor-in-Chief: Breanne Soto

Managing Editor: Marissa Perez

Online Editor: Tara Bristow

NEWS

Editor: Marissa Lievanos

Editor: Chelsea Sugimura

Daniel P. Martinez Gonzalez

Aaron Friesen

Jonathon Hall

Louis Tozser

Daniel L. Carter

LIFE

Editor: Victor Ledbetter Jr. Asst. Editor: Brylle Deseo

Violet Dawson

Susana Escobedo

Maxwell Porter

OPINIONS

Editor: Jessica Sanchez

Asst. Editor: Ava Anderson

Alina Gomez

Citlalli Martinez

SPORTS

Editor: Lennon Alvarez

Asst. Editor: Ethan Aguilera

Julian Vazquez

Ernie Tobar

Ulysses Olmedo

Landon Halvas

MULTIMEDIA

Editor: Briana Franco

Asst. Editor: Aiden Medina

Lauren Lopez

Andrew Gibbs

Aysa Bender

Annie Lee

Noah M. Batchman

Reymundo Soto

Evilyn Ford

PHOTOGRAPHY

Editor: Lupita Rivera Cid

Editor: Mac Wilson

Roman Davison

Fidel Perez

Ethan Yim Kyndall Halseth

COPY-EDITING

Editor: Ryan Pope

Editor: Darlene

Kehauakelaio Burton FACULTY

Angela Burrell

Rick de la Torre

Daniel Eduardo Hernandez

Editor: Lennon Alvarez|

April 30, 2026

Tigers men and women finish strong at OECs

Tigers’ 1st-Place finishers at Championships:

Men

Shotput: Damion Ortiz with a mark of 16.12m.

Discus throw: Omar Sanchez with a mark of 49.72m.

3000 steeplechase: Joshua West with a time of 10:00.68.

200 and 400 dash: Orlando

Collins with a time of 21.14 and 47.71.

Hammer throw: Joseph Garcia with a mark of 50.01m.

800 and 1500 run: Alex Wesolowski with a time of 1:56.24 and 4:20:10.

5000 run: Luis Mier placed with a time of 15:39.54.

100 dash: Matthew Lollino with a time of 10.53.

Decathalon: James Henderson with 5693 points.

10,000 run: Luis Mier with a time of 33:40.29.

110 hurdles: Aden Johnson with a time of 14.78.

Tripple jump: Kameron Hawkins with 14.17m.

High jump: Edward Moody high jump with 1.90m.

4x100 relay: RCC with a time of 41.55.

4x400 relay: RCC with a time of 3:18.89.

Women

100 and 200 dash: Kaycia Carridice with a time of 11.95 and 24.43.

Shot put: Nyah Brown with 12.32m.

Discus throw: Skylar Svidergol with 41.21m.

100 hurdles: Tiana Burgess with a time of 14.37.

3000 steeplechase: Caitlyn Brody with a time of 12:43.70.

Hammer throw: Skylar Svidergol with 41.86m.

Javelin throw: Sara Brittin with 37.04m.

4x100 relay: RCC with a time of 47.67.

4x400 relay: RCC with a time of 4:01.76.

OEC from page 1

West College with 13 and Santa Ana College with 4 points.

In the women’s standings, Orange Coast College finished second again with 144 points, followed by Saddleback College with 70, Fullerton College with 57 and Golden West College with 33.

The Tigers’ men’s team earned their most points in the shot put and discus throw. Scoring 39 points in both competitions and in the process taking all podium spots.

Damion Ortiz placed first in the shot put with a mark of 16.12 meters. In the discus throw, Omar Sanchez placed first with a mark of 49.72 meters.

“All the work that was done in the summer and the fall, that’s what sets us up today,” men’s assistant head coach Nate Robinson said.

The 4x100 relay saw an exciting finish with Tigers’ Matthew Lollino overtaking Saddleback’s Shaun Thompson in the final seconds of the race, to grab the top podium spot for the Tigers and earn 10 points in the process.

“You just have to stay relaxed, you just have to keep your form, you can’t tense up at all,” Lollino said.

In the triple jump, Tiger’s Kameron Hawkins, who came off an injury, placed first with a mark of 14.17 meters. Teammates Gage McCorkell, Joaquin Leiva, and Tiandre Trusty made the podium as well, placing second, seventh and eighth respectively.

“I’m feeling very ecstatic, just got off injury, and I was able to bring out the jump,” Hawkins said.

The Tigers added 35 points in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 33 in the 200-meter dash, while continuing to show strength in field events with 32 points in the hammer throw and 22 in the javelin.

In mid- and long-distance competition, they earned 31 points in the 400-meter dash, 26 in the 800-meter run, 25 in the 5,000-meter run, 24 in the 1,500-meter run and 21 in the 10,000-meter run.

Sprint events also contributed, with 24 points in the 100-meter dash, along with 21 in the 110-meter hurdles and 18 in the 400-meter hurdles. Additional points came from the decathlon with a 24, the

long jump with 20, the pole vault with 17, the high jump with 14 and the 4x400-meter relay.

The women’s team got most of its points from the 100-meter dash. This saw the Tigers take all eight podium spots, earning 39 points.

In first place was Kaycia Carridice, who had a time of 11.95 seconds.

The Tigers also earned 29 points in the discus, taking five of six podium spots once more. Skylar Svidergol placed first for RCC with a mark of 41.21 meters.

“I’ve been having a few rough weeks during practice, so I just had to keep a peace of mind,” Svidergol said.

The Tigers also scored 31 points in the shot put. They added 25 points in the 100-meter hurdles and 24 points each in the

3,000-meter steeplechase and hammer throw, while the javelin contributed 22 points.

Sprint and field events continued to add depth, with 19 points in the 200-meter dash, 18 in both the high jump and triple jump, and 14 points a piece in the 400-meter dash, long jump and heptathlon.

Relay teams contributed 10 points each in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, while the 400-meter hurdles added 9 points.

Distance events rounded out the scoring with 2 points in the 5,000-meter run and 1 point each in the 10,000-meter run and 800-meter run.

Both men’s and women’s teams will head to Bakersfield College on May 2 for the SoCal Prelims.

Above: Riverside City College women swept the field in the 100-meter dash at the Orange Empire Conference Championships at Riverside City College, to earn the most single event points for the women’s track

Baseball explodes for 21 runs

ETHAN AGUILERA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Runs, runs, and more runs powered No. 7 Riverside City College to a 21-3 win over Fullerton College at Evans Sports Complex on April 23.

A five-run second inning and a nine-run fourth helped catapult the Tigers, as they quickly separated themselves on the scoreboard and never looked back in the dominant win againts the Hornets.

Leading the offense was sophomore utility player Grant Gray, who went 4-6 with six RBIs, while freshman infielder Noah Haros went 3-5 with three RBIs.

“We have been playing a lot better recently, just overall been playing like a team,” Haros said. “We’ve been taking it seriously, but also having a lot of fun, moving forward, and understanding what we gotta do.”

Despite coming out of the bullpen, sophomore left-hander Jaden McNeely earned his third win of the season and his second in Orange Empire Conference play, allowing one run over 2.2 innings.

“We’ve been playing really good and playing as a team,” pitcher Jake Valenzuela said.

“Pitching has been good, and hitting has been excellent altogether, we’ve been playing well.”

The Tigers improved to 29-10 overall and 15-5 in OEC play, marking their eighth double-digit victory of the season and moving within one game of first place in the Conference.

With the win, the Tigers continued their strong finish to the season, taking their final three series and going 8-1 over their last nine games, showing steady improvement and momentum down the stretch.

“We got this momentum, we just got to carry it in tomorrow, and then that’ll roll into next week and do us good in the playoffs,” outfielder Luke Medure said. “Overall, we just want to be on top at the end.”

Santa Ana holds a one-game lead over Riverside in the OEC standings but has already secured the head-to-head tiebreaker after sweeping the series, giving the Dons control of their path to the conference title.

The Tigers would finish second in conference play for the second straight season, with a regional playoff series likely to be hosted at home.

The team lost their last regular season game on April 24.

It will host the first round of the California Community College Athletic Association SoCal Regional Tournament against Santa Barbara College or San Diego Mesa College on May 1.

Riverside City College’s men’s and women’s swim and dive teams celebrate together after both winning the OEC championships on April 18.

Swimmers make waves

Men’s and women’s teams win big at Orange Empire Conference

JULIAN VASQUEZ SPORTS REPORTER

The men’s and women’s swim and dive Orange Empire Conference Championship was held from April 16-18 at Orange Coast College. Competing schools againts Riverside City College were Orange Coast College, Golden West College, Cypress College, Saddleback College and Fullerton College.

For the first time in RCC history, both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams topped the podium and won the OEC Championship.

Head Coach Doug Finfrock led the women’s team to 808 total points and was named the OEC women’s swimming and diving coach of the year.

“It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers,” Finfrock said. “However, there is no way that we have this success without all of the hard work that my assistant coach, Shelby Hernandez, put into this team. She is just as much coach of the year as I am.

The men’s staff, Jason Northcott, Tyler LaDet, Cliff Ruth and our diving coach Eric Lesser also

deserve credit for this award. A true team effort.”

To start, Emily Parker and Kate Simmons were named OEC co-divers of the meet after their stellar performances throughout the season.

“I can’t say enough about these two athletes. They put in the work, and coach Eric Lesser did a great job of preparing them. They were big point scorers for the championship meet and put us in a very strong position,” Finfrock said about parker and Simmons.

Three Tigers would place second in their respective races, with Kaia Boone finishing the 100yard individual medley with a time of 1:03.31, Ashlyn Allen finishing the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:35.83, and Isadora Taylor inching out ahead of third place by two seconds in the 1650-yard free, posting a time of 19:10.60.

In the 100-yard free, Isabella Stolpp would place third (56.69), and Madison Faulker followed in fourth (57:09).

In the 200-yard butterfly, Taylor took fourth with 2:28:52, followed by Marianna Smith in fifth (2:47.30), Kailin Stumpf in sixth (2:47.71), and Angelina Beall

coming in seventh (2:51.40).

“There were a lot of key performances that led us to the championship,” said coach Finfrock. “It really was a team effort; every one of the 17 swimmers and both divers played a pivotal role in our success.”

To close out the women’s side, the 400-yard free relay team claimed second, clocking with a time of 3:45.87.

When asked about what the championship means to the team, Finfrock said, “It means a lot… Keep in mind that we had to train in the old pools all year. We had no starting blocks to practice on, and even those pools broke down for a week, and we had nowhere to train. We had to overcome a lot of adversity this season.”

As for the men, head coach Jason Northcott led the Tigers to first place totaling 874 points and was named OEC men’s swimming and diving coach of the year.

Northcott called being named coach of the year “A great honor to the entire coaching staff.”

Zachery McDonald and Eli Martinez Spencer were named OEC Men’s Diver and Swimmer of the meet, respectively, with

Spencer setting a school record by finishing the 200-yard back in 1:49.13, after already breaking another school record two days prior, when he won the 500-yard free with a time of 4:32.76.

Spencer wasn’t the only Tiger to break a record, as Jared Ladinez would set the school’s new 200yard breaststroke record with a time of 2:03.25.

“Those three records were some of our longest-standing, 2016 and 2017,” Northcott said. “Extremely impressive.”

This would secure Ladinez second, followed by Bryce Hitter in third place (2:07.31), Davis DeAnda in fourth (2:07.37), Adrian Thompson in sixth (2:17.19), and Xavier Potencion finishing in seventh (2:18.38).

Several other Tigers placed second in their respective races, including Jeremiah Ireland in the 100-yard free (46.86), Wyatt Miner in the 200-yard butterfly (1:53.71), and Aaron Ho in the 100-yard individual medley (54.21).

Football alumni head to National Football League as free agents

ETHAN AGUILERA

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

As the 2026 National Football League Draft wrapped up, former Riverside City College alumni are getting their opportunity to compete for a spot on an NFL 53-man roster, earning rookie minicamp invitations and even an undrafted free agent signing.

Several former Tigers will now look to continue their football journey at the professional level after standout collegiate careers following their time at RCC.

Dean Connors Running back Dean Connors signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.

After his lone season at RCC in 2021, Connors transferred to Rice University, where he played three seasons from 2022-24. He finished his college career at the University of Houston in 2025, totaling 977 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns. Connors put his name on the map with his 126-yard rushing game against Louisiana State University in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl.

Jake Retzlaff

Former Tigers Quarterback has been invited to the Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp as an undrafted free agent. After leading Riverside to the Southern California Football Association

championship, Retzlaff transferred to Brigham Young University in 2023 and was named the starter for the 2024 season, in which the team went 11-2. Retzlaff transferred to Tulane University for the 2025 season, where he would lead the Green Wave to their first-ever playoff appearance.

Reggie Retzlaff

Former Tigers wide receiver has been invited to rookie minicamps for both the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. Retzlaff, the brother of former Tigers quarterback Jake Retzlaff, played at RCC from 2019-22, earning all-state, allconference, and All-American honors in 2022 while setting the

school’s single-season receiving touchdown record. He finished his college career at Colorado State University Pueblo, totaling 3,026 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns over three seasons.

Kajiya Hollawayne

Former Tigers wide receiver has been invited to the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp as an undrafted free agent. Hollawayne initially committed to UCLA as a quarterback in 2020 before transferring to Grambling State University in 2021. He arrived at RCC in 2023, converting to wide receiver and recording 425 receiving yards on 22 receptions before committing to Temple University in 2024.