OCTOBER 22, 2026
LIFE
NEWS
VOL. 105, NO. 3
VIEWPOINTSONLINE.ORG SPORTS
Students fall into favorite seasonal fashion trends
Board of Trustees select new chancellor
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Social media links:
Tigers football stay on top as No.1 in state
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A 60-year murder still unsolved Loved ones of victim hope for an arrest and conviction CHELSEA SUGIMURA EDITOR- IN-CHIEF
Ken Welty is still searching for answers 60 years after the murder of his childhood friend on Riverside City College’s campus. Cheri Jo Bates was found dead in the early morning of Oct. 31, 1966 on Terracina Avenue near residential houses that were connected to the campus. She told her father she would be studying in the college’s library the Sunday night before, but she never made it home. Welty, a retired Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant, has monitored and sought after a conclusion to the case from authorities throughout the years. Recently, he and his wife have raised a monetary reward in hopes of an arrest and conviction in the case. The couple doubled the incentive from the initial $50,000 to $100,000 earlier this year through collections from colleagues and friends. “I could’ve been quiet all these years and not bugged anybody about it,” Welty said. “(I could have) just lived with it and said, ‘Hey Cheri was a friend, she’s dead, so what?’ I couldn’t do that.” Welty and Bates met in the sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary School in Riverside. He described her as an outgoing young girl who had a large number of friends and never had problems with anyone, to his recollection. For 60 years, her unsolved
directly involved with the Zodiac Killer investigation.” Bates’ car had been tampered with, prohibiting her from leaving the campus on the night of Oct. 30, 1966. Welty believes someone who had an unrequited romantic interest in her planned to lure her away from the car where she was then stabbed over 40 times. “The brutality of it speaks of the passion,” Welty said. “Someone got pissed off and we can only assume it’s because he wanted something and she didn’t and told him so.” The police have had a primary suspect that they were not able to charge because of a lack of DNA evidence. Welty said it was someone who attended Ramona High School with Bates and him. Viewpoints COURTESY of The Press-Enterprise is choosing not to name the Family and friends of murder victim hope for a solution to the case individual since he was never 60 years later. Cheri Jo Bates, an 18-year-old Riverside City College charged with a crime. student was murdered on campus on Oct. 30, 1966. The perpetrator, according murder has led to conspiracies Many believed the RCC to Welty, fit the description of and debate on who the killer murder to have been the first someone who could commit this might be. Michael Bates, the act from the Zodiac Killer act of violence. The relation to victim’s brother, said some people because of letters left about the the suspect also lines up with have gone as far to claim that Bates case that resembled those the assumption that the killer they have solved it themselves. of the Zodiac’s. was someone Bates knew and Michael reflected on the However, the five trusted enough, that she would numerous calls, emails and confirmed murders linked to the leave her car keys in the ignition physical mail he has received from unidentified Northern California while she followed them back to people over the years in attempts serial killer are reported to have the main campus. of their own sleuthing. Welty and begun in 1968, two years after Reports noted that Bates put Michael both said most of the the Bates murder. up a fight against her assailant, claims were factually wrong and According to the details in which provided the possibility just an attempt to link the Bates police records, the nature of the for DNA collection. Investigators murder to another notorious true Bates murder does not coincide retrieved a strand of hair from crime mystery. with the pattern of the Zodiac. a Timex watch found near the “It’s kind of a problem. It’s The Riverside Police Department crime scene. It was also said that just frustrating,” Michael said. has since said it would “not be Bates “clawed and scratched” at
Riverside locals protest ICE operations MAXWELL PORTER LIFE EDITOR
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, a group consisting of more than 35 immigrant-rights groups, organized an anti-ICE rally consisting of speeches from local residents, resources for those affected by ICE operations and organized
rapid response groups. Local residents gathered outside of Riverside City Hall on Oct. 15 in protest of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations within the Inland Empire. While some communities across the United States have felt the impact of ICE operations in recent years, Inland Empire residents have encountered ICE
in higher numbers because of San Bernardino County’s Adelanto ICE Processing Center, the largest facility of its kind in California. In response to consistent abduction of undocumented Inland Empire residents, locals took to the streets of downtown Riverside to voice concerns, formulate action plans to protect community members and offer encouragement to
stand against ICE presence. “It’s important to protest because people forget they have voices,” Salem Rathgeber, a Riverside City College physics
See PROTEST on page 3
her killer. “I think at some point, it’s possible that something could come out of this even after 60 years because there’s so much more advancements, especially with DNA,” Michael said. “There was some DNA but I was told it was too degraded at the time to figure anything out.” In the midst of the initial investigation, the Tiger Times (now Viewpoints) released an article four days after the murder. The lead editor, Marilyn Shea Stonum, was 19 years old at the time and recalled the heaviness that engulfed the community. Stonum worked at The PressEnterprise as an intern during her time as editor for the Tiger Times and would often walk alone from campus to her job late at night. She said she had her own apartment at the time but that her father asked her to move back home over safety concerns after the murder. “I think it made every parent shudder, but when you’re 19 you think you’re invincible,” Stonum said. The RPD Homicide Cold Case Unit is still working toward finding an answer to the Bates murder. Welty reflected on the heaviness of Bates’ death and said he would like to see a conviction served in his lifetime. “We were all 18 at the time and we all went on to have lives and families and professions and Cheri did not,” Welty said. “She was 18 and she never got to fulfill any of her dreams.”
INDEX NEWS
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LIFE
5
OPINIONS
10
EDITORIAL
12
SPORTS
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2 October 22, 2026
NEWS
Editor: Brylle Deseo | Viewpoints@rcc.edu
Representative brings Congress floor to RCC KYLIE GOFORTH NEWS REPORTER
39th District U.S. Rep. Mark Takano discussed the cost of living, immigration policies and artificial intelligence at his town hall meeting held at the iverside City College Digital Library Auditorium on Sept. 30. Community members gathered to hear Takano speak about what he called, “chaos, corruption and a rising cost of living,” under the Trump administration. Takano gave a brief update as to what has been occurring on Capitol Hill and also allowed attendees to ask questions in a public question and answer session. D u r i n g h i s i n t ro d u c t o r y speech and preview on what’s been happening on the Senate floor, Takano attributed the rise in the cost of living to tariffs, President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” BBBA and the conflict with Iran. “Tariffs aren’t in themselves a bad thing, but the inconsistent, the capricious way in which tariffs have been e acted is a huge departure from seven decades of economic policy,” Takano said. “We can trace the cost of living increases to a large part of those tariffs.” Takano further discussed the financial effects of the war with Iran, saying the conflict has been
costly to ta payers. He connected higher fuel prices to increased transportation costs, particularly for diesel powered trucks that deliver goods to grocery stores and restaurants. Immigration enforcement was another topic covered during the town hall. The congressman criticized immigration enforcement practices based on his own observations after visiting two IC detention facilities, one located in California and the other in Dilley, Te as. “The detainees lack necessary medical care and are living in deplorable conditions,” Takano said. Ta k a n o c o m p a r e d U . S . immigration practices to estapos on trains asking for papers during the Na i regime in ermany. “America of 0 6 cannot turn into Na i ermany in 19 6,” Takano said. Attendees e pressed concerns about the difficulty of legally immigrating into the U.S. and the current state of Immigration and Customs nforcement activities around iverside County. on Courts, accompanied by his wife, was one of several attendees who were able to ask the congressman a question about immigration. Courts has tried to help his sister in law immigrate legally into the United States since 00 . “I’ve been to, what, 1 countries
and you see why people want to come here to America. We’re just trying to get her sister a little piece of the action,” Courts said. “So, yeah, kind of disappointed it takes so long.” AI emerged as another major concern raised by the attendees, with some questioning Takano about the various effects of AI, such as job displacement, surveillance technology and the environmental effects of data centers. Takano emphasi ed that both government agencies and private
tech companies need to be held accountable for how personal information is collected, stored and used. He cited the ederal Aviation Administration as an e ample of a regulatory agency that can investigate aviation incidents and require planes to meet certain safety standards before an aircraft is deemed safe. Takano suggested that there should be a similar system in place for AI and critici ed Congress for “going home early” instead of addressing this.
Takano spent much of the town hall answering questions from constituents about issues affecting their communities. “I appreciate the amount of time that he was taking with every question. I think that it’s important that we are thorough in our answers, especially when it comes to our policies and things that affect us as constituents of this area,” asmine Campos, an attendee, said. “So I’m really glad that he was open to the public. He was open to every question and he didn’t try to deflect.”
BRYLLE DESEO | VIEWPOINTS 39th District U.S. Rep. Mark Takano answers a question raised by an attendee at his town hall event at Riverside City College on Sept. 30.
O n e s e a t , t w o c a n d i d a t e s Riverside Community College DAVIS GALLUZO SPORTS REPORTER
Tw o j u d i c i a l c a n d i d a t e s debated each other in front of a live audience in the Bradshaw Student Center at iverside City College on Sept. 1 ahead of the Nov. midterm elections. Assistant County ecutive cer Michelle aradise and San Bernardino County Deputy ublic Defender Andrea arcia are vying for the open seat on the Riverside County Superior Court bench. The debate started with the moderator asking the candidates, “What is your judicial philosophy and define the role of a criminal court judge ” “I will e amine cases and administer the law, and ensure that everyone’s constitutional rights are
protected,” arcia said. “I will need to take a close look at the statute from the family and the intent behind the statute, I will rely on common law.” Paradise added, “I will agree with Ms. arcia on this. art of the judicial philosophy is very simple. It’s that you have a good legal acumen, that you know the law, apply it, do it fairly, do it equally and you do it with justice always in mind.” Paradise argued that she is far more e perienced than arcia and claimed she has the resume to prove it. Prior to her election campaign, aradise served for years as a prosecutor in iverside County. She speciali ed in child abuse and homicide cases and has taken more than 100 cases to jury verdict. She has held a multitude of positions, including chief deputy
district attorney and assistant district attorney according to the Inland mpire Law Weekly. Like her opponent, arcia spoke of her list of accomplishments as well. arcia said that she’s had nearly 0 years of legal e perience with various roles in iverside County and has worked as an immigration attorney, public defender and law instructor. She also created iverside County’s first “in house” immigration unit and actively litigated post conviction relief in San Bernardino. They were both asked by the moderator, “What concrete steps would you take from the village to monitor and address any
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District polling locations MORENO VALLEY COLLEGE Location: PSC-12 (Parkside Complex) Oct. 24 - Nov. 2:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Election Day, Nov. 3:
7 a.m - 8 p.m.
NORCO COLLEGE Location: Center for Student Success Upper Lounge Oct. 31 - Nov. 2:
8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Election Day, Nov. 3:
6 a.m - 11 p.m.
RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE Location: Business Education 108
DAVIS GALLUZO | VIEWPOINTS Judicial candidates (left) Andrea Garcia and (right) Michelle Paradise debate for the Riverside County Superior Court bench seat at the Riverside City College campus on Sept. 21.
Oct. 31 - Nov. 2:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Election Day, Nov. 3:
7 a.m - 8 p.m.
*ALL TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON VOTER TURNOUT DURING DATE.*
October 22, 2026
Viewpoints@rcc.edu
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JESTINE TOVAR | VIEWPOINTS
Riverside area candidates answer questions in voter education town hall in the Bradshaw Cafeteria on Oct. 14.
Students watch local nominees at RCC town hall Candidates come back to RCC ahead of upcoming elections EMMA GOAD & CLARISSA MENDOZA OPINIONS AND SPORTS REPORTERS
Dozens of students gathered in the Riverside City College Bradshaw cafeteria for an opportunity to get registered to vote for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as well as a chance to deliver their questions to candidates who accepted an invitation to visit the campus. n ct. 14 the Students in olitics Club collaborated with iewpoints to orchestrate a local election town hall and voter education forum. f the 11 local o ce seekers invited, four answered the call: Ward 2 City Council candidates Aram Ayra and Gracie Torres along with 8th State Assembly nominees Leticia Castillo and Clarissa Cervantes. Candidates and nominees answered questions regarding w h at t h e i r m a i n p r i o r i t i e s are if elected, students asked questions regarding Immigration and Customs nforcement IC , protection of citi ens’ privacy and an e pansion of accessibility. Ay ra i s a U n i v e r s i t y o f California, Riverside alumnus who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in higher education. He began his opening statement by emphasi ing his focus on affordability and equitability when it comes to education. “I’m running on a simple
platform of making life more affordable here in iverside,” Ayra said. Similarly, Ward candidate Gracie Torres is running on affordability alongside bringing a concern for the city’s quality of life with an e pectation to improve said quality if elected. W h e n p re s e nte d w i t h a question regarding growing IC sightings in the Inland mpire, Castillo claimed she had not heard of any within her area of Home Gardens, Corona. However, when the question was moved to her competitor Clarissa Cervantes, she e plained that there has been a growing presence of IC within said region. “ eports of IC being in Home Gardens have come through, and there’s evidence to prove that,” Cervantes said. The event not only was an attempt to have the nominees connect with their young RCC voters, it was also a chance for students to have their concerns listed and their voices heard. At the forum, there was a large turnout of deaf and hard-ofhearing students and interpreters ready to ask their questions regarding e panding opportunities within their community. “ The event was definitely
beneficial and educational,” Kayla Dzougoutov, a deaf attendee signed. “I hope to see deaf students taking part in this event.” C o n c e r n s r e ga r d i n g t h e e pansion of lock cameras across the Inland mpire also took center stage during the e ve nt , fo c u s i n g h e av i l y o n whether their application should be strictly limited for solely law enforcement use. When candidates were asked about what they would do about lock cameras in iverside and surrounding areas, the four were in agreement that lock cameras can be severely dangerous if used for malicious purposes. A statement from Ayra brought light to the fact that, “There are probably do ens now, if not hundreds of stories you’ve heard of lock cameras being misused by either former law enforcement or current law enforcement.” To c l o s e o u t t h e e v e n t , atte n d a nt s we re i nv i te d to participate in a game of loteria bingo where they had a chance to win prizes and enjoy a meal within a casual atmosphere alongside the candidates. The Riverside Community College District has polling locations at all of its three campuses, Moreno alley College, Norco College and RCC, for students to vote and to drop off their ballots.
JESTINE TOVAR | VIEWPOINTS Audience members react to Riverside area candidate answers in voter education town hall in the Bradshaw Cafeteria on Oct. 14.
DYLAN QUINONEZ | VIEWPOINTS State Assembly nominees Leticia Castillo (left) and Clarissa Cervantes (right) answer questions in voter education town hall in the Bradshaw Cafeteria on Oct. 14.
California’s 2026 ballot propositions: will voters approve or deny? LOUIS TOZSER NEWS REPORTER
California voters will head to the polls on Nov. 3 to decide the fate of the 14 ballot measures, known as propositions, that could impact the state in different ways going into January 2027. There are two processes to get a proposition on the November ballot, those being that it either passes the state legislature, such as rop 1, or received the minimum 800,000 signatures, such as rop 9. To view a full list of the propositions that will be on the
ballot, you can visit calmatters.org. Proposition 1: Housing Bonds (Legislature) If this proposition passes, it would allow the state to issue over 11 billion in bonds to support issues such as mortgages for veterans, helping to preserve e isting affordable housing and other related issues. Proposition 3: Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Health Care by Extending the Existing Tax on High Incomes (Citizen’s Petition) rop would amend the state constitution to indefinitely e tend the top marginal tax rates set
to e pire in 0 1 on single filers earning at least 61,000 or joint filers earning at least 1,000 Among the revenue raised from these ta es, 89 of revenue would be allocated to K 1 schools and 11 to community colleges, as per the documents submitted to Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s o ce for rop . Proposition 4: Repeals Prohibition against Public Funding of Election Campaigns (Legislature) If passed, rop 4 would formally end the 1988 ban on candidates using public financing via ta payer funds and would allow state and
local governments to establish newly created programs to put candidates under spending limits and eligibility rules with said funds. Proposition 38: Healthcare Bonds (Citizen’s Petition) Should rop 8 pass, it would authori e the state to issue 8.4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund immunology and immunotherapy research. It would also mandate that the state and a UC affiliated immunology and immunotherapy research institute enter into a partnership and that half of the revenue generated under rop 8
would be allocated to said institute. It also mandates that the state use the remaining funds not provided to said partnership to establish grants for California based public and nonprofit medical research institutions for immunology and immunotherapy research. P r o p o s i t i o n 3 9 : Vo t e r Identification (Citizen’s Petition) The proposition would require voters to present a form of
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4 October 22, 2026 NEWS BRIEFS October 21 Two High School Students Arrested The Corona Police Department arrested two 15-year-old girls after allegedly conspiring a shooting at Corona High School. The police department investigated the situation on Oct. 6, after the FBI tipped them off about the potential threat on social media. October 26 Persist Women’s Political Engagement Conference The 9th annual Persist Women’s Political Engagement Conference will be held at University of California Riverside on Monday, Oct. 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at HUB 302. The conference is expected to present powerful messages from politically involved figures, to courage and inspire others who desire transformation in their communities and to become the change they want to see. October 27 RCCD Foundation Scholarship Application now open for 20272028 Academic Year Scholarships are now available and open for the following academic school year. The application deadline is Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027 and multiple workshops will be held until the deadline both in person and virtually. The soonest workshop will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. via Zoom. October 30 Chamber Conversations
Capitol
U.S. Representatives Pete Aguilar from the 33rd Congressional district and Mark Takano from the 39th district will attend a fireside chat at noon on Friday, Oct. 30 at California Baptist University. The lunch will be focused on national policy, the economy and the Inland Empire business climate. November 3 Election Day The U.S. midterm elections take place Tuesday, Nov. 3. The election determines which political party takes control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Polling places will be located around the county, including college campuses in RCCD. If you have events happening on campus that you want featured, send information about the event to viewpoints@ rcc.edu.
MAXWELL PORTER
VIEWPOINTS
Javier Hernandez, executive director for Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, adresses the anti-ICE protest on Oct. 15, 2026.
PROTEST page 1 major, said. “I want to see change. Even in my own community I’ve seen my neighbors kidnapped by ICE.” While ICE protests occur frequently within the Inland mpire, this particular event was triggered by a recent Californiawide immigration surge. Dubbed in media circulation as “ peration Safe California,” the reported 45day crackdown (unrecognized by Department of Homeland Security) has led to a higher ICE presence within communities across California. Javier Hernandez, the e ecutive director for Inland Coalition for Immigrant ustice and co-founder of Inland Empire Immigrant outh Collective
addressed the crowd of protesters outside of City Hall. “We have lost count at this point of how many operations, but just today Riverside was one of the cities that we have seen constant IC activity,” said Hernandez. “It’s concerning that when our communities are trying to get off of work and students are ge ng out of school, this agency and these thugs are still trying to come after our communities.” or communities impacted by ICE raids and arrests, rapid response networks have developed to provide information about IC agents, and simultaneously point those detained to legal assistance. “We need support through our rapid response network,” said Hernande . “We live in a beautiful community and a beautiful region, but we need your support
in order to protect our loved ones and protect our neighbors.” Odeh Gammoh, a guest speaker at the protest, addressed the crowd and shared a sentimental reflection on the impact of recent IC operations. “Every person that has been taken by ICE should be at home with their families and home with their loved ones,” said Gammoh “(instead) every person murdered by ICE should be at home with their families.” The attendees of the protest listened to Gammoh speak, with signs in hand reading “MELT ICE” and “ICE OUT OF THE IE.” Some held framed pictures with a list of those murdered by ICE agents, while others held Me ican flags that blew in the wind of the City Hall corridor. While protesting is a cornerstone for groups like
Inland Coalition for Immigrant ustice, amongst the event was a designated booth for voter education for the upcoming Nov. California eneral lection. Ward 2 Riverside City Council member and Democratic nominee for California State Assembly District 58 Clarissa Cervantes took to the stage and addressed the crowd. “The feeling is indescribable when you have to wake up and see messages that ICE is in our communities, kidnapping people, terrorizing people, people in fear that are just trying to go to work and live their lives,” Cervantes said. “We have to start with families not being torn apart, we need to make sure we are upholding our Constitution. ight now what we are living in is fascism. Plain and simple,” Cervantes added.
Board of Trustees announces new chancellor BRYLLE DESEO NEWS EDITOR
The Riverside Community College District has tapped a new chancellor. The RCCD Board of Trustees on Oct. 20 announced that Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, who joined RCCD last December as the deputy chancellor and provost, will start calling the shots on Jan. 1, replacing Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac after he finishes out the rest of his tenure. “Her leadership experience, understanding of California’s community colleges and dedication to serving diverse communities position her well to lead our district into its next chapter,” RCCD Board of Trustees President Jose Alcala said. “The Board looks forward to working with her to build upon RCCD’s accomplishments and expand
opportunities for the students and communities we serve.” The announcement came out after the board held an emergency meeting last week, the same week the district was set to hold forums to meet the finalists. Those scheduled forums were ultimately not held as planned. Before she started her tenure at RCCD, according to the district, Rivera-Lacey served in other leadership roles such as being the superintendent and president of the Palomar Community College District. The district added that she previously held administrative roles at San Diego College of Continuing ducation, San Diego City College, San Diego Miramar College and San Diego Mesa College. “I am honored by the Board of Trustees’ confidence in me and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next chancellor of Riverside Community College
District,” Rivera-Lacey said in the district’s press release. “Our three colleges have a proud history of transforming lives through education and I look forward to building on that legacy alongside our dedicated faculty, classified professionals, administrators and community partners.” The district said that RiveraLacey plans on visiting the Riverside City College, Norco College and Moreno Valley College campuses to host listening sessions with students, faculty and administrators as she gets acclimated into the new role. “The Board of Trustees also e pressed its appreciation to the Chancellor Search Committee for its dedication and though ul participation in the national search process, conducted with the assistance of the Association of Community College Trustees,” the district said in the release.
MARISSA PEREZ| VIEWPOINTS Star Rivera-Lacey speaks at a forum during her run for deputy chancellor and provost on Oct. 15, 2025 at Riverside City College.
LIFE
Editor: Maxwell Porter Viewpoints@rcc.edu
October 22, 2026
5
Halloween at the Heritage House Riverside ISABELLA LEON LIFE REPORTER
The Museum of Riverside hosted their annual Victorian Dark Carnival at the Heritage House on Oct. 17. The event showcased the dark Victorian era with arts and crafts activities, games and a tarot reading table. The event provided a tour of the ictorian house, which gave attendees a deep history of the original owner, Catherine Bettner, and the era’s traditions and customs. The event coordinator, Teresa Woodard, e plained how this event is a celebration of the darker side of the Victorian era. She elaborated that this event is also a part of Behind the Black eil, an event e ploring 19th century traditions. Ian Wright, the museum’s natural history curator, wants to educate the public on the culture of the 1800s. “ ictorians loved collecting bits and trinkets, and lots of that was natural history, insects from their yard or snake skeletons, just things like that,” Wright said. Many of them were myths and legends such as the cyclops cats, the two tailed chuckwalla, trick photography and other sorts
of oddities that were popular during this era. The main attraction that took part during the event was an impersonator who dressed as Stephen Squire, an early iverside mortician or what was called an “undertaker.” The term orginates from “taking” people under when they passed away. During 1800s funerals, they would give away funeral biscuits, which was a sugar cookie with caraway seeds on it. This stood out for a greater purpose because these types of seeds were black and bitter which representing death. The cookies were given as a thank you for coming to the funeral. “They were always fascinated with death,” the undertaker said when talking about the Victorian era. The event welcomed people who have a love for this era. Kathy Detrusting, an event attendee, e pressed how coming to the event helps her celebrate Halloween, as it’s her favorite
holiday and hopes more people visit the house. “There are some very entertaining booths, not only for myself, but for my son who is a teen,” said Lisette Mendes ackson, who attended the event with her son. She e plained how the atmosphere of the event fit the Victorian-esque vibe for Halloween. The Victorian Dark Carnival is all
about their unique a tude of death, their superstitions, fortune telling, photography, art and overall what they embodied. This was a great event for all ages and those who enjoy this time of the year entering the Halloween and fall season. “The house is gorgeous, if anybody has neverr stopped in at some point in their lives when they’re living or driving through iverside, make an appointment to come in and see the house,” Detrusting said.
Courtesy of Michael Bussee M use um of River s ide’s Vi cto r i a n D a r k C a r n i v a l Heritage Hou s e loc ated i n Ri v er si d e, C A .
Chicano heart, Chicano mind, Chicano soul MARIANA ARIAS LIFE REPORTER
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, iverside City College hosted numerous events that highlighted Latin culture, identity and history. Arturo Me a, renowned Chicano photographer, hosted a panel at RCC on Oct. 6 and shared his artwork, story and words of encouragement to highlight the importance of be ng on yourself. In his panel, Me a inspired the audience to ask, “If the eyes are the window to the soul, what narrative do photographs tell us ” Me a, a Los Angeles native who e presses his artistic vision through photography, highlights Me ican American culture through his camera lens, poetry and community. His photographic por olio includes lowriders, cultural events, portraits and candid photos of people living in the moment. “ hotography is my lane, it’s how I can be a storyteller. Finding new ways to tell stories is what inspires me and what allows me to be myself,” Me a said. “A lot of the time people try to tell me I’m not Chicano enough, but at the end of day their version of being Chicano is different from mine. But this is just everyday life.” When asked about the goal of what he’s trying to capture, he said he doesn’t have a specific answer and just shoots whatever catches his eye. “Most of the time they’re honest candid photos,” Me a said.
JESTINE TOVAR | VIEWPOINTS Arturo Meza, Chicano photographer, hosts a panel on Oct. 6. The event, hosted at Riverside City College, showcases Meza’s artwork and story.
Meza comes from humble beginnings and prides himself on his hard work ethic. His photography journey started back in 2012 with an iPod Nano no fancy equipment, just working and having fun with what he had available to him. Meza’s work has been in various media including movies, T shows, album covers and books. When asked about what more he wants to do, he mentioned wanting to be featured in local museums and even political protests. “In the future one of my goals is to be in The Cheech museum. I’m grateful my work has been in one
of my favorite shows, The ookie,’ but I’d absolutely love for my work to be in more media,” Me a said. Me a e pressed how family is important to him and said he is fortunate enough to have witnessed five different generations, spanning from his grandfather to his grandson, able to e ist and e perience life together. After the back to back passings of his grandfather and his dad, Me a began to question what legacy meant, as he was in charge of pu ng together slideshow memorials. “Everyone was giving me these different photos and I was put in
Museum gets new leader MAXWELL PORTER LIFE EDITOR
The Riverside Art Museum welcomed its new e ecutive director, ivian Zavataro, on ct. during a ceremony within the Art Alliance Gallery. Over 100 people gathered to commemorate Zavataro’s new position and gain insight into her plans for the museum’s future. While the walls within the gallery were filled with the current e hibition titled “ ut rom Under the Net” by Bernard Hoyes, the gallery itself was occupied by local council members, artists and current museum staff. At the center of the event stood Zavataro, e pressing both gratitude and confidence for the future of the RAM and Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture. Following the departure of former 1 year long e ecutive director Drew berjuerge, the RAM carefully searched for someone to fill the position. Having previously held the position of director and chief curator at the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art in eno, Nevada, as well as e ecutive director at the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, Zavataro has been making waves throughout the country and even abroad. Born in Bra il and trained in Amsterdam, Zavataro reflects on her future within the Inland Empire and her vision for the direction of the museum. Through her own unique e periences and personal identity, Zavataro plans to implement what she believes has been lacking in the art world. “Growing up going to museums, I never felt the representation for queer and Latin people,” Zavataro said. “Connecting to Latin and queer artists and creating a conversation is something that I want to do here.” Incorporating her e posure to art from all over the world, Zavataro has a clear and direct mission when it comes to shaping the identity of the AM and Cheech. “I want to bring more international e hibits and create a dialogue with local artists,” she said. “Creating a conversation while also elevating local artists is something that I envision for the museum.” While incorporating an array of artists from all over the world, Zavataro simultaneously aims to provide more focus on local artists as well. or Zavataro, the symbiotic relationship with international and local artists is a way to showcase the community
charge of creating these slideshows, but what I started to reali e was, Are these the slideshows they would have created for themselves? Are these their favorite memories?’ It just really reinforced how important it is for us to tell our own stories,” Meza said. After a trip to Me ico City where he captured the Indigenous culture, Me a was inspired to be creative in other ways. Although he describes photography as his strong suit, when asked about the poetry he has written he refers to his childhood. “I wrote two poems and they both talk about my childhood. Not to throw anybody under the bus, but they are centered around alcoholism. I wrote about that and their healing,” Meza said. “When my friend asked to publish it, my first thoughts were, I hope they never see these’ but at the same time it was cool to be published in a book because those poems were my feelings and they’re out there.” Me a said he captures raw, unstaged photos with the goal of capturing authentic Chicano beauty. “We deserve to see ourselves on gallery walls. Hollywood never gives us true authenticity. They never provide proper representation. No one will tell your story better than yourself,” Scan for full story Meza said.
6 October 22, 2026
Viewpoints@rcc.edu
La-la means I love low-riders Seventh annual car show highlights Chicano culture MARIANA ARIAS LIFE REPORTER
Lowriders cruised their way to Riverside City College along Terracina Drive to celebrate the seventh annual car show held on campus. Lowriders, oldies, an art gallery, proud Chicano culture and even Los Angeles-style streetdogs made their presence known at RCC on Sept. 24. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the event featured the art surrounding lowriders and other vehicles. Attendees were able to see the hard work and devotion the car owners put into their favorite pastime. Samuel Munoz, a 24-yearold student in CC’s Automotive Technology Program, brought his recently-purchased white 1964 Chevy Impala nicknamed “Shady” after his mother. Munoz’s love for lowriders spns generations. His grandfather also owned a
1964 Impala in the late ’80s that was passed down in his family until it was eventually sold. “I will keep this car in my family, I won’t be selling it. I want to pass it down to my kids and for them to pass it to theirs,” Munoz said. The remote-controlled gold 1963 Chevy Impala toy car named “Goldbunny” owned by 18-yearold Nathan Angel from Rubidoux is fully functional and eye catching with its uniquely miniature size. He received it as a Christmas gift from his mother last year and has continued to modify it. “I just experiment on it and see what works and what doesn’t. It’s a fun hobby for me because when I attend car shows I bring it with me and have a chance to show off my hard work and have fun with the community,” Angel said. Luis Pete Medina, a 59-yearold Corona native owns a brown-and-tan 1954 GMC pickup
truck. Medina’s love for cars didn’t start with the truck he brought to RCC, but with two others before it, one being a 1979 Chevy Luv. Medina shares his love for his truck with his family and hopes to pass down his truck to keep the tradition and culture alive. “My favorite oldies to cruise to is mostly just older Chicano music. I like ‘li’l Carlos Santana, ‘No School, No Class’ among other old schoolers. You get in the truck, turn the music on and get a lil crazy,” Medina said, expressing how he enjoys driving around the Riverside and Corona area. “Sixto” Gonzales, 80,from Colton, is the owner of a 1964 red-and-white Chevy Impala. The classy but bold red body, complemented with white paint, is a car that made you stop in your tracks and take a moment to admire. He purchased the car nearly a year
ago, adding it to his collection of two other cars: a 1987 Buick Regal and a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino. “I don’t name any of my cars, it’s bad luck; just watch the movie Christine’ and you’ll see what happens when you name a car,” Gonzales said lightheartedly when asked whether he had named his vehicle. A love and passion for lowriders runs in the Gonzales family. Sixto’s daughter Sandra joins her father with her own vehicle and customized leather bag to match the car’s paint job. Not le ng anything or anyone stop her, Sandra purchased her 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass in 2018. “I wanted my own lowrider because my husband owns a Regal and never once let me drive it, not even just down the block. I didn’t let that stop me. I just bought my own so he couldn’t tell me anything,” Sandra said. Ben Mullin, the owner of “Baby,” a 1957 Chevy Panel, grew up with his truck, enjoying memories of the vehicle
from his childhood and making it even more of his own now that it is his. The truck originally belonged to his mom, and he spent his early years riding around in it. Now he maintains nearly every part of the car himself. “I grew up in this truck; my mom took me to preschool in it, we drove all over the country and when I turned 0, she finally let me have it. I have so many memories with this truck, but one of my favorites is when I was eight. My mom, cousins and I were all heading to the lake and something blew within the truck. We had two options, either to have it towed or fi it ourselves,” Mullin recalled. Mullin added, “out of an old Ritz cracker tin box, we used a ball-peen hammer, a pocket knife and a half-inch wrench to create a makeshift gasket. We fixed it and headed our way to the lake.”
JESTINE TOVAR | VIEWPOINTS Standing proudly next to their cars is Luis Medina (59) with his brown 1954 GMC pickup, Sandra Gonzales next to her brown customed 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass, next to her father, “Sixto” Gonzalez (80) standing next to his red and white 1964 Chevrolet Impala during RCC’s Lowrider Event on Sept. 25.
Homecoming week brings school spirit to RCC Charla explores Latinidad MAXWELL PORTER LIFE EDITOR
In preparation for Riverside City College’s football game against Southwestern Community College, RCC students across campus show school spirit during the “sweetest week of the year.” Starting from Oct. 12 through Oct. 17, RCC hosted events including scavenger hunts, gingerbread building competitions and a loud and proud pep rally. Hosted on the steps of the Martin Luther King Jr. Teaching a n d L e a r n i n g C e n t e r, t h e Associated Students of RCC gathered on Thursday, Oct. 15 to cheer for the upcoming homecoming game, introduce the nominees for homecoming counsel and give out prizes to some lucky students. With the Tigers going into their homecoming game undefeated, students showed out in numbers with high hopes for the game. Within the pep rally were performances from both the cheer team and theatre
program. Pearl Solis, a 19-year-old theatre major at RCC, performed alongside her musical theatre group doing a number inspired by the 1988 film “Heathers.” “School spirit, especially in the theatre program, means being authentically you and not being embarrassed to have fun and try new things,” Solis said. “We’re here to figure out what we want to do and have fun.” During the event, the thennominees for homecoming court took to the stage to be introduced to the crowd. Amongst the nominees was Joshua Clarke, a psychology major at RCC and member of the Tigers cheerleading team. When reflecting on his experience on cheering with RCC, Clarke said “It’s been amazing and I’ve met so many different types of people. We are in so many communities and we don’t just cheer for one event, we cheer for the whole school.” Fo r C l a r ke , ta k i n g c e nte r stage for homecoming court is all too familiar.
“I actually ran for homecoming court all four years of high school and won every single year,” said Clarke. “Now that I’m in college I thought ‘why not,’ and I’ve loved the experience so far.” Clarke’s winning streak for homecoming court continues to hold strong, as during halftime of the Tigers football game on Saturday, Oct. 17, he was once again crowned as winner, alongside fellow candidate Tabitha Flickinger. Throughout the pep rally, the ASRCC gave out prizes to raffle winners and students who had the most spirit. Ranging from DoorDash and Amazon gift cards to Fire TV Sticks and gift baskets. Amongst the lucky winners was Michelle Huizar, a member o f RC C ’s d a n c e te a m a n d recipient of a new flatscreen
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ENIYA FARQUHARSON NEWS REPORTER
Riverside City College faculty brought conversations about immigration, cultural identity and belonging to the forefront during the “We Are Here Because You Were There” event held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Bradshaw Cafeteria as part of Nuestra Gente Heritage Month celebration. The event brought together C h i ca nx a n d L at i n o fa c u l t y and students for a charla, or community conversation, exploring the historical roots of migration, displacement and identity across America. Through personal ex p e r i e n c e s a n d h i sto r i ca l perspectives, speakers examined how imperialism, labor and colonial histories have shaped Latino communities, encouraging st u d e nt s to e m b ra c e t h e i r cultural identities. Citlali Anahuac, an instructor of ethnic studies at RCC, explained how the event aimed to create space for conversations about
immigration and representation. “We want to redirect the conversation about immigration in a positive light and bring perspectives from our lived experiences,” Anahuac said. Anahuac emphasized that students should recognize their cultural backgrounds as sources of strength rather than something to hide or feel ashamed of. Anahuac also explained that the event was intended to encourage students to share their personal stories and connect with others who have experienced similar challenges surrounding identity and belonging. Raul Campos Moreno, a political science instructor at RCC, discussed the historical relationship between the United States and Latin America. “The Latina/Latino presence in the United States is partly a function of U.S. interventions in Scan for full story
October 22, 2026
Viewpoints@rcc.edu
Books and ‘Lanterns’ becomes the beacon of willpower baseball bring Riverside history to life BRYLLE DESEO NEWS EDTIOR
AYSA BENDER ASSISTANT LIFE EDTIOR
The Riverside Historical Society hosted its annual book fair on Oct. 4 with the spotlight on the newly published book, “A History of Baseball in Riverside.” The event created an environment for Riverside history to be learned, appreciated and remembered. Whether you are a baseball fan, book fanatic or just along for the ride, this book fair tended to many individuals at the Ysmael Villegas Community Center in iverside. Many local foundations, artists and authors set up booths to show their cause and passion for art and the history of Riverside. ”I think Riverside deserves the recognition. iverside is more of an afterthought, it seems like. A lot of great players and a lot of great experience lives here,” Les Veik, former bat boy for the Los Angeles Angels, said. The main attraction of the book fair was the recently released book, “A History of Baseball in Riverside” that had a total of 25 authors and 134 a cknowledgments who deep-dived into how Riverside co nt r i b u te s to h i g h s c h o o l baseball teams and even Major League Baseball. The book has been in the works since May 2025 and took an entire team of writers to give readers and baseball fans the most complete history of the sport in Riverside. The book fair also included a display of old baseball memorabilia including original magazines, bats and baseball cards from high schools and the MLB that tie back to our city. A small portion of the event included the crowd singing one of baseball’s favorite songs, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” performed by Anthony Small, who worked for a Minor League Baseball team in Riverside. Attendees sang along and swayed together while enjoying their favorite pastime. “Baseball is the game of your life,” Tom Reul, who contributed to the book, said. “Other than my spouse, my kids, my parents and my dog, baseball is the most important thing in my life.” Baseball wasn’t the only draw to the book fair. Local foundations also had the opportunity to connect with the people of Riverside in hopes to shine light on how historically important the city is. Different historical pieces of iverside also went up for auction,
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“In brightest day, in blackest night–No evil shall escape my sight, for those who worship evils might, beware my power, Green Lanterns light!” - The oath of the Green Lantern Corps. English actor Aaron Pierre and purebred Texan Kyle Chandler took flight on DC and HB ’s “Lanterns.” The show revolves around a young John Stewart Jr. becoming the replacement for the old and experienced Hal Jordan. Don’t let the grim and grounded story fool you, Chandler’s portrayal of Hal Jordan (Earth’s first Green Lantern) gives the wiser hero a charm that hasn’t been seen in previous appearances of the character in animated shows, movies and comic books. On the other hand, his trainee, John Stewart, portrayed by Pierre, gives us a deeper look into familial pressures and the expectation of becoming the Green Lantern of Sector 2814, the sector that includes the Milky Way galaxy and other neighboring star systems in the DC universe. In the first episode it seems like the show revolves around Jordan teaching Stewart on how to become a superhero. Jordan puts “Junior,” (his nickname for Stewart) in a series of life threatening tests like driving a car off a cliff to see how Stewart can react to danger. To survive, he puts on the ring and makes a bubble wrap construct to protect himself. After Stewart survived the suicidal test, Jordan returns in an unexpected fashion, he came back as a hologram or what Stewart calls the “Hal-ogram,” that was a backup of Hal Jordan’s memory from 10 years prior in 2006 and warns the trainee about an incoming threat. After learning about the threat, Stewart tells present-day Jordan and they both go to Nebraska to investigate the mystery. or the entirety of the season rather than having a teacherstudent relationship, the two become detectives and are trying to figure out the alien invaders that have naturalized themselves in the rural town.
BRYLLE DESEO | VIEWPOINTS An illustration of DC and HB Ma ’s “Lanterns” starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre.
When they solved the chaotic mystery of the Manhunter with multiple casualties and e plosions in Rushville, Stewart was able to rip the ring off ordan’s finger after being fearmongered by his nemesis Sinestro and made him fear the idea of replacement. After 10 years another problem arose in ushville, this time it was set in 2026 with the death of Hal Jordan. This mystery made Stewart return to ushville to investigate the death of his former mentor. The show is great with its grounded environment, and it’s amazing how they made “space cops” into rural detectives trying to figure out a bigger threat. At first fans were skeptical about everything, like Jordan’s yellow-ish suit that wasn’t a construct but a physical costume he had to wear, the casting of an old Hal ordan and the limited amount of Green Lantern ring usage in the show. However, skeptics later became fans of the show when it became
less about the heroes themselves but the people behind them. In flashback episodes, audiences see the struggles of a young Stewart because his parents wanted him to become the perfect hero after his father failed to become Green Lantern. Jordan’s childhood was also tragic with his flashback episode revolving around his father and what they called the “Jordan boy’s legacy,” which is ultimately committing suicide and it was revealed that Martin ordan the father) and Jordan’s grandfather had seen the same fate. The show is good with some minor hiccups on the road but it’s definitely not a waste of time. The series is slowly building up the DC universe that James Gunn is creating and gives viewers hints of other characters’ presence in the continuity. The ne t time the reen Lanterns will take flight will be in 2027’s “Man of Tomorrow.”
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LIFE BRIEFS October 24 Pink on Parade The breast cancer awareness walk takes place at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. With a classic car show and plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy, join the fight against breast cancer, promote health wellness and celebrate cancer survivors with us. November 5 West Side Story Musical Riverside City College Musical Theatre presents the Shakespearean musical West Side Story, the modern day New York street gang rivalry retelling of the literature classic Romeo and Juliet. Hosted at the Landis Performing Arts Center, from Nov. 5-8 with the opening show taking place Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. November 7-8 Riverside Day of the Dead Celebration Honoring the dead with a two day festival hosted in Downtown Riverside on Saturday Nov. 7 from 1:00-10:00 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 8 from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. Multiple blocks from Market St, University Ave and 14 St. will celebrate with live music, food, cultural performances and art. November 14 Veterans Parade Celebrate our veterans with a community parade hosted on Nov. 14 that will run throughout Downtown Riverside along the streets of Market St., 10th St. and Main St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. November 18 HBCU Caravan Riverside City College hosts 20 Historically Black Colleges & Universities from 12-4 p.m. in the Bradshaw Cafeteria. Representatives from HBCUs will be in attendance to help students with transfer options and additional information. Students are welcomed and advised to bring a copy of unofficial transcripts.
COURTESY HBO MAX A poster for “Lanterns,” the new HBO crime drama set in the DC universe that follows Green Lantern Hal Jordan.
If you have events happening on campus that you want featured, send information about the event to viewpoints@rcc.edu.
‘Primetime’ asks us to take a seat at an uncomfortable table JULIAN VASQUEZ SPORTS REPORTER
Nearly two decades after Chris Hansen became synonymous with confronting online predators on television, “ rimetime” brings the controversial world of “To Catch a Predator” back into the spotlight with a twist. The new film, directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring Robert Pattinson as the infamous Chris Hansen, depicts an exaggerated and imaginative reflection of the making of “To Catch a Predator,” a 2000s reality hit show that saw Hansen, the then-NBC host, lure predators attempting to meet children online onto their home sets to confront and expose them on camera for the nation to see.
The film opened Sept. 25, e cellent. The movie is filled with for a very intimate, yet chaotic and raking in 19. million domestically vibrant colors and nostalgic, grainy adrenaline inducing two hours. in its first weekend off a $15 images that entrance you into a million budget. It received an 87% hazy, fever dream-like state. Its fast pace and aggressive use of Scan for full story otten Tomatoes score and an 80 audience score and has sparked medium and close-up shots allow plenty of online discourse. So, is this film as good as it seems In “Primetime,” we follow Hansen as his investigations grow into a major television phenomenon. As he pushes for higher ratings and a larger pla orm, he becomes obsessed with making every “catch” grander than the last. When the show’s success begins colliding with Hansen’s personal life and a highprofile political target enters the COURTESY OF IMBD picture, the pressure surrounding Primetime still photo of from LADbible.com. the production intensifies. Vi sual ly, “Primeti me” i s
8 October 22, 2026
Style look-book: Students fal MARIANA ARIAS & CHELSEA SUGIMURA LIFE REPORTER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fall fashion is different for Southern California residents. At Riverside City College, the campus experiences mornings filled with cold ha es, afternoons consisting of the warm bright sun and evenings with dark nights and chilly bree es. Autumn has its own special fashion identity in California due to the influence of the weather and climate. These atmospheric conditions make it tricky for us as we try to dress ourselves to accommodate these fluctuating temperatures and elements throughout the day. A few people from the iewpoints staff collaborated with members of the ashion Club to show off the pieces that we think make the perfect Southern California fall ou it. When we think of fall fashion numerous patterns, colors, textures and accessories all come to mind. atterns such as plaid and animal prints or colors like dark browns, deep greens, reds and orange tones add to the warm palette to fit the co y vibe of the season. Arguably, the most important pieces of any outfit are the accessories. ewelry is our personal favorite with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, belts and rings that can elevate every look. Bracelet stacking has been a popular trend on social media and is an easy way to mi and match colors and textures to add more dimension to an ou it. Tyler ovall, a member of the ashion club used this method of stacking with a deep red watch on her wrist that added a pop of color to her green and brown outfit. ovall finali ed the stacked look with brown and tan studded and beaded bangles on top of her wrist to complete the warm fall vibe. We believe jewelry is what is most diverse this season because all metals g o l d , s i l v e r, bron e and black metals and crystals can fit the colors that are in season. ieces that keep us warm from cold drafts like f u r s , l e a t h e r, yarn coats and scarves are always found in fall fashion. In sunny California, however, you have to off-set heavy pieces to balance out the high temperatures and create a warm look in a differet way. Leather jackets for example are a fall staple, but you may choose to pair
it with a skirt at the bottom rather than jeans, or swap it out for a lighter jacket altogether. L i g h t e r j a c ke t s w i t h a cute skirt on the bottom like ashion club president Madison Mueller styled is perfect for the unpredictable weather. Men’s and women’s fashion during fall follow similar guidelines as we all begin to layer up. Layers are key because even though we face toasty afternoons once the sun sets you will regret not being prepared for the drop in temperature and chilly winds. Men’s harvest time fashion involves brown toned jackets, especially leather and flannels. Shoewear like Timberlands, loafers or dark colored sneakers. A nice plain long sleeve with a bold jacket or vice versa a bold long sleeve and a simple colored jacket. Lennon Alvare , iewpoints sports editor, paired a tan button up with a light brown leather jacket on top. Women’s fall fashion tends to be a little more playful especially with the layers. atterns like animal print and plaid or pieces like plain long sleeves and fur jackets steal the show on any ou it. Leather material is used for various items like jackets, skirts, boots and purses. Brown tones are usually the emphasis around this time of year and we would argue it’s the perfectcolor for a light cardigan. Some typical feminine outfits you may see can consist of: a short or long sleeve, a jacket that can be removed when one is feeling too warm, a skirt with warm tights underneath, some thigh high boots, shorter boots and maybe headbands or a slicked back hairdo so no one’s hair is blown into their face. Mueller e pressed her taste with a white beret hat, gray sweater over a brown baby tee, early 000’s plaid skirt, brown thigh high socks and brown leather boots with gold accents. A perfect combo to combat the California fall weather.
Maxwell Porter
Madison Mueller
Editor-in-Chief: Chelsea Sugimura | Viewpoints@rcc.edu
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ll into favorite fashion trends Povall g a v e us her spin on fall fashion with a short sleeve green top complemented by a brown under tee. She rocks a loose denim jean with black boots and distinctive jewelry full of character, a more relaxed fit ou it. Her collection of bracelets and rings are attention grabbers and said the majority of her collection comes from her grandmother. iewpoints life editor, Ma well orter jumped into layering with a white long sleeve underneath his cropped dark gray graphic tee shirt. He elevates the look with his accessories and pairings a basic belt, a hat and mismatched shoes to level up the look. David Romero displayed a traditional masculine fall look with his grey turtle neck, long black coat, black jeans and black leather shoes. He made his ou it stand out with the pop of bright pink in his scarf. legant and well put together he carries himself runway ready. iewpoints, sports and opinions reporters, Clarissa Mendo a and mma oad, wear matching attire that allows them to face fall fashion fiercely. They wear matching denim blue beret hats, silver jewelry, white tees, black tops, along with their baby blue bottoms and black boots. Although their platelets are the same they flip certain elements like a short sleeve or shorts so both outfits are still comfortable during our fall weather. Mendo a wore her black long sleeve but with baby blue shorts. Her shirt kepts her warm from cold weather but wearing shorts allows her to comfortably be out in the afternoon’s warm sun without feeling overheated. oad preferred to wear a short sleeve black top and baby blue jeans which showed a distinct difference from her friend. They both completed the classic California look by creating different outfits with the same formula. I Mariana Arias t w e a ke d m y s t y l e to adjust to the climate because I don’t like to be cold. I love animal print, especially leopard. I feel it make a bold statement and is an expression of character. Starting with my outfit from
top to bottom I am wearing a headband that matches my long sleeve so my outfit feels a bit more uniform. I love gold jewelry so my hoops and necklace are gold material and so they can match with the rest of the brown tones I have going on. I am wearing fleece lined tights and a brown leather skirt with my black boots to carry me through the day and keep me warm from head to toe. verall an ou it I can take to any fall outing especially some place like the pumpkin patch. iewpoints news editor, Brylle Deseo wears a brown camo camouflage jacket which ironically, in the best way possible is what makes him stand out. The contrast between his bright white long sleeve button up and his jacket works ama ingly along with his light blue jeans. The reason why his palette works so well is due to his choice to wear his silver rings, DYLAN QUINONEZ | VIEWPOINTS the colors are in unity with each From left: Madison Mueller, David Romero and Tyler Povall, students from Riverside City College’s Fashion other and are well balanced. club put together their favorite versions of fall outfits t0 pose in the Viewpoints newsroom on Oct. 15.
Brylle Deseo
Mariana Arias
Clarissa Mendoza & Emma Goad
Lennon Alvarez
Photos by Dylan Quinonez | Viewpoints
10 October 22, 2026
OPINIONS
Why many people are no longer celebrating Columbus Day EMMA GOAD COPY EDITOR
People are not stepping away from Columbus Day because they were told to, they are stepping away because the story behind the holiday no longer matches what we know to be true. For generations, American classrooms taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. That version is simple, but it is not accurate. When Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, the land was already home to tens of millions of people. What followed upon his arrival was not a story of exploration that deserves a parade, it was a story of coloni ation. Historians have documented forced labor, enslavement and a rapid spread of disease that killed millions of Indigenous people in the decades after contact. That is why many people in Riverside and across the country are choosing Indigenous People’s Day. Not because they want to erase history, but because they want to stop celebrating an ignorant version of it. The decision is personal for many families here. California i s h o m e t o 1 0 9 fe d e r a l l y recognized tribes. Riverside County specifically houses many such as the Cahuilla, Luiseño and Morongo peoples. These communities are not history lessons. They are present day
As someone who has struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder since childhood, I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is way more than being a “clean freak.” With October being OCD Awareness Month, I decided to take matters into my own hands and explain the depth behind what me and many others deal with on a daily basis. “ The Man Who Couldn’t Stop,” a book written by science journalist David Adam, compiled stories of people who struggle from OCD. One quote from the book reads “obsession is a break, a source of drag, not a badge of creativity, a mark of genius or an inconvenient side effect of some greater function.” OCD has been watered down in recent years, with people using phrases like “I’m so OCD” for cleaning their houses or saying “I let the intrusive thoughts win” when impulsively dyeing their hair. While these behaviors seem harmless and do, in a way, share
The leaves are falling, why not the temperature? JESSICA SANCHEZ OPINIONS EDITOR
ANNIE LEE|VIEWPOINTS This collage depicts the changing views of Christopher Columbus’ legacy and the growing recognition of Indigenous communities.
governments, businesses, schools and families. The Morongo Band operates one of the largest employers in the San Gorgonio Pass. The Pechanga Band funds scholarships, wildfire response and water conservation projects. When people choose to honor the holiday, they are choosing to acknowledge that living presence. Gov. Gavin Newsom recognized that when he issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 10, 2022, as “Indigenous People’s Day” i n C a l i fo r n i a , noting the state was marking three decades since the city o f B e r ke l e y o r ga n i ze d t h e first Indigenous People’s Day celebration. Individuals are also choosing to stop celebrating Columbus Day because they have learned what celebration means. A federal holiday is not a neutral day on the calendar. It is a statement
he woman who co l n’t stop MARISSA LIEVANOS MANAGING EDITOR
Editor: Jessica Sanchez| Viewpoints@rcc.edu
of values. For more than 80 years, Columbus Day told native children that their ancestors’ pain was secondary to someone else’s voyage. Indigenous People’s Day tells a different story. It centers resilience rather than conquest. It acknowledges that despite centuries of policies designed to re m o v e a n d a s s i m i l a t e Indigenous peoples, including forced boarding schools and land dispossession in California, Native cultures survived. That survival is visible in Riverside today. At The University of California, Riverside, students gather each October for bird singing, a Cahuilla tradition that carries history through song. At Sherman Indian High School, one of the oldest off reservation schools in the country, students now learn language revitali ation alongside math and English,
which is a direct reversal of the school’s original mission to erase Native identity. Some still argue that stepping away from Columbus Day disrespects Italian American heritage. Italian Americans have deeply contributed to this county, from labor organizing the citrus groves of Riverside to art, music and politics. That heritage does not need Columbus to be meaningful. Los Angeles County now recognizes October as Italian American Heritage Month, a move that celebrates contemporary culture rather than a 1 th century coloni er. When choosing Indigenous People’s Day, it is not showing that one is pretending 1492 did not happen. It means one is advocating to finally tell the full story of what happened after.
is more than a cleanin obsession
as simple as rearranging an out of place book on a bookshelf or stacking up cookies in a cookie jar, and they don’t know that some people have gone years without letting themselves feel excitement because they thought they were a jin . It is important to hold these months of awareness and remind people that mental illnesses are still disabilities. There are days when it gets COURTESY OF ADOBE STOCK bad, and just because it isn’t According to the International OCD Foundation, one in 40 adults inherently physically disrupting struggle with OCD. life doesn’t mean it isn’t causing similarities with the disorder, they something tells me they need problems for one mentally. also spread misconceptions and to be there. I have gone days Every day is a struggle. I have stereotypes about the debilitating without seeing people because been formally diagnosed and still mental illness. I was afraid I would curse them. have to reiterate the fact that it The National Institute of My intrusive thoughts aren’t Mental Health defines CD about sticking my tongue out in is not a joke to family and friends as “a mental health condition a photo, but rather refusing to when it is brought up. I stand with others who face defined by a cycle of unwanted, braid my hair because my mind intrusive thoughts (obsessions) tells me my mom will get sick if this illness. OCD never goes away; it is a chemical imbalance and repetitive physical or mental I do. actions compulsions performed It is important that we keep in someone’s brain. We rely on to relieve distress.” the conversation open because exposure therapy not to stop the This definition does not ever the more we loosely throw intrusive thoughts, but to learn specify OCD as being a cleanliness around these terms, the more to be okay with the uncertainty obsession. While that can be a we undermine the mental illness they bring. symptom, there is much more itself. If you or someone you to it. People have not taken my know is suffering from similar In my case, I have the opposite disability for what it is for years symptoms of OCD, I encourage problem. My intrusive thoughts now, constantly assuming they you to check out NOCD to learn make me messy. I leave hair ties know what it is and thinking I more about the mental illness in certain spots on my carpet and have the power to “just stop.” and consult with a doctor to clothes in certain chairs because They don’t know that it isn’t receive the help needed.
With 90 degree weather in October, and beach towns flooding waist deep, it’s hard to ignore the unusual changes in our climate. Although it is an El Niño year, which is a normal weather pattern, we are seeing changes that are out of the ordinary and the current Trump administration is to blame. We should be enjoying a cool autumn watching the leaves change from green to brown, a nice cooling breeze and our favorite fall drinks. To be fair, in California, standard fall means weather in the mid 0s. Instead we are wearing tank tops and shorts wishing there were water misters on campus. This is no surprise, the Trump administration has made several decisions to eliminate regulatory laws made to protect our planet from climate change that were put in place by the Obama and Biden administrations. Trump has consistently denied and refused to acknowledge climate change as a real thing, calling it “the greatest con job ever perpetrated in the world” during a speech at the United Nations in 0 . I n F e b r u a r y, P r e s i d e n t Trump led the charge along with Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin to disregard and repeal the findings of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. These determinations have served as a guideline to reduce harm made by greenhouse gasses, carbon emissions and were a part of the Clean Air Act. By disregarding these findings, we are putting the planet and our resources in danger. Just recently, the Public Broadcasting Service published an article by Mathey Daley that details these decisions led by Trump and made by Zeldin who said that, by repealing these laws they will “unleash American Energy.” What are the consequences of “unleashing” this energy? According to “What repealing the endangerment finding’ means for public health” by Andrea Thompson, it could be our health. Thompson writes on how repealing these laws will directly worsen climate change and the effects. “One of the most direct risks is through heat waves, which
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October 22, 2026
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11
P sical me ia’s rise from t e ea is ust in time for allo een JULIAN VAZQUEZ SPORTS REPORTER
COURTESY OF RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT n unhouse communit in iversi e shows the struggles an living con itions people face.
Riverside fails to support residents that need it most HENRY REYNOLDS OPINIONS REPORTER
Homelessness is an issue we face across the nation, with a large portion residing within our home state of California. C i t i e s l i ke S a n Francisco have chosen to hide their unhoused populations in order to maintain their ideal i m a ge . W h at i s R i ve rs i d e ’s strategy, and is the city making mindful choices for its people? On the surface, Riverside officials claim to be taking st r i d e s to wa rd d i m i n i s h i n g the percentage of unhoused persons, but their actions do not support their claims entirely. The Supreme Court gave California the ability to enforce punishments to unhoused individuals in 2024. While responses varied city to city, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a word of caution, stating, “[t]his ruling must not be used as an excuse for cities across the country to attempt to arrest their way out of this problem… that route is more expensive for taxpayers than actually solving the problem.” Despite the expenses Bass warned, many cities accepted their newfound abilities with open arms. One such city is our own Riverside. Legislation
TOPIC:
has now criminalized sleeping on public property without classifying their prohibition as not being cruel and unusual punishment. You might expect, then, there would be an alternative to sleeping on public property for those who are unhoused. Adam Wedeking, president of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Riverside, explains that “[a]s long as there are not enough shelters or affordable housing units to meet the needs of every person, we cannot morally justify laws that force people into hiding or expose them to criminal penalties for having no place to go.” With the increased criminalization of unhoused people, one may expect that R i v e r s i d e w o u l d p r i o r i t i ze procuring housing to fulfill p ro m i s e s m a d e to ke e p a l l citizens safe. However, recent developments have once again proven Riverside’s stance on its less privileged. The Riverside City Council rejected $20 million in state funding that would have been used to create over one hundred units of housing that would have changed lives for many who find themselves living in the streets. The decision rightfully turned many heads within the community, catching the eye of the American Civil Liberties
slowed to 9% in 2025, compared with drops of more than 20% in both 0 and 0 4, according to the Digital Entertainment Group, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. As these supposedly dead formats find new life, their return feels fitting for a season built around toying with the dead. For many of us, Halloween is more than a night of costumes, candy and spooky decorations. It is a collection of childhood memories: running through the neighborhood in a costume, watching a favorite Halloween special with family or spending weeks anticipating trick or treating. Even as we grow older, we continue to revisit these traditions each ctober, recreating familiar e periences and finding comfort in the things we remember. This connection between the past and the present is what makes nostalgia such a powerful part of physical media’s resurgence. For many people, physical media is more than just entertainment, they are reminders of childhood, family traditions and periods of life they remember fondly. A report from February by Cerys Davies from the Los Angeles Times profiled young film fans returning to D Ds and Blu-rays, including collectors who remembered enjoying DVD special features as children. These experiences illustrate how a physical copy can carry personal
Every October, we celebrate the things that refuse to stay dead. From classic horror movies to the monsters that have haunted our screens for decades, Halloween gives us an excuse to revisit the past. But this year, something else seems to be crawling out of the grave: physical media. CDs, DVDs and physical video games were once considered outdated as digital entertainment took over. Now, these once forgotten formats are finding new life among a generation raised on streaming. S o w hy a re w e b r i n g i n g them back? Like a horror villain that refuses to stay dead, physical media has repeatedly been declared deceased, only to find new life years later. CDs lost ground to digital downloads and streaming, DVDs and Blu-rays were pushed aside by streaming services and physical video games increasingly compete with digital purchases. Yet some of these supposedly outdated formats are showing signs of renewed interest. According to entertainment data company Luminate’s 2026 midyear report, United States CD sales increased 16% during the first half of the year, reaching 16. million units. Meanwhile, the decline in Scan for full story DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD sales
Union of Southern California, who is calling for the Council to reconsider their decision. Despite the overwhelming support this project has gained, the council members did not budge on their decision. Along with the council, the Farm House Collective has formally expressed their opposition pertaining to the project. D e s p i te t h e optics, Riverside seems to pick attractions over progress, harming its community in the process. For a government that claims to be working for its people, Riverside has repeatedly turned its back on those who need help the most. While those in power boast about statistics, our government turns around and chooses oppressive force over opportunities that can make an actual difference in the communities it aims to serve. With the current lack of resources allocated to mending t h e state o f t h e u n h o u s e d p o p u l at i o n , re j e c t i n g state funding is a choice we cannot afford. The rejection seemingly has its roots in discriminatory ideations, and does not benefit the community at all. This lack of positive development along with the increased criminalization feels predatory. Riverside needs to start making decisions that c l e a r l y i l l u st rate t h at t h ey COURTESY OF TRANQUILDISTANCE | REDDIT p r i o r itize its people, which photo ispla s ph sical me ia for the first alloween film from inclu ing all . . V releases as well as all . . V releases includes the unhoused community. 1 an a few lu ra an
versions.
Campus Conversations
What is your favorite horror movie? Interviews and photos by: Multimedia Editor Aiden Medina
Santiago Flores Electrical Engineering
Aaliyah Perez Nursing
Carl Brewster 2D Graphics and Animation
“‘Insidious’ was one of the first horror o ies atched and was one of the most memorable.”
“‘Seed of Chucky.’ The horror and the comedy mixed really well, plus I’m a big fan of the Chucky series.”
“‘Malignant. The camera shots stood out along with good twists and a great music score.”
Leslie Hernandez (left) and Maritza Tapia Nursing “‘The Conjuring.’ But only the first one eca se it s a c assic and the suspense is great.”
12 October 22, 2026
iewpoints at
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DANIEL EDUARDO HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Members of the Viewpoints editorial team, from left: Brylle Deseo, Marissa Lievanos, Aiden Medina, Chelsea Sugimura, and Lennon Alvarez, pose with awards they received at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges SoCal Fall Regional Conference on Oct. 10.
Vie points sta members earned several a ards at the ournalism ssociation for Community Colleges oCal Fall egional Conference The ct event as held at Cal tate niversity orthridge Editor-in-Chief Chelsea Sugimura took first place in the on-the-spot competition for opinion writing
Managing Editor Marissa Lievanos won second place in the onthe spot news writing competition.
For or completed during the academic year the follo ing ournalists received recognition: Critical Review – Honorable Mention: Annie Lee ( ultimedia assist editor) Ryan Pope (Copy editor)
Editorial Cartoon
Feature tory
First Place: Brylle Deseo (News editor)
Fourth Place: Lupita Rivera Cid (former
photography editor) Front Page Layout Illustration
Honorable
ention: staff
First Place: Brylle Deseo
Inside Page Layout
First Place: Tara Bristow (former online editor)
e s tory
econd Place: Aaron Friesen News asst. editor
pinion tory
First Place: Lennon Alvarez (Sports editor)
Photo Illustration
econd Place: Tara Bristow
Photo tory Essay
Fourth Place: Roman Davison (former
photographer) Video Hard e s eporting
Honorable
ention: Breanne Soto
(former editor-in-chief) Video oft e s eporting
Fourth Place: Noah M. Batchman, Lupita
ivera Cid, Briana ranco, Breanne Soto, Mac Wilson (former staff)
ince 9 Vie points has served the iverside and Inland Empire communities as it teaches students the fundamentals and ethics of the journalism profession. We are committed to connecting with our Inland mpire neighbors, amplifying a range of perspectives and holding those in power accountable to the people they serve. If you’ve enjoyed our coverage, please consider ma ing a donation to our operations by visting iewpointsonline.org. All contributions made go toward the cost of web hosting to ensure we remain an accessible, digital first publication. DANIEL EDUARDO HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS JOURNALISM SPECIALIST Members of the Viewpoints editorial team and advisers, from left: Brylle Deseo, Angela Burrell, Aiden Medina, Chelsea Sugimura, Daniel Eduardo Hernandez, Marissa Lievanos, Lennon Alvarez and Richard de la Torre, pose with the awards received at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges SoCal Fall Regional Conference on Oct. 10.
October 22, 2026
Editorial
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Viewpoints’ editorials represent the majority opinion of and are written by the Viewpoints’ student editorial board.
Editor-in-Chief: Chelsea Sugimura
Can students trust academic institutions to protect them? There is a timeframe known as the “ ed Zone” which states that 0 of assaults on college campuses is reported within the first si to 10 weeks of the fall semester. This is a high risk time period where people are away from home for the first time, still ge ng adjusted to a new schedule and are maybe more off guard than they would usually be. iolence against women during fall months is nothing new. The murder of Cheri o Bates on iverside City College’s campus in ctober 1966 and the ctober 0 4 se ual assault reported by “ ane Doe” from Cornell University happened within the “ ed Zone.” It’s time we ask ourselves a troubling question Can students trust academic institutions to help fight against this horrific statistic Administrators from Cornell University, in the iewpoints editorial board’s opinion, completely failed to protect and support “ ane Doe.” The victim reported the se ual assault in 0 4 but according to an article published by senior editor Cereese usba with the Cornell Daily Sun, the university’s student run publication, only two of the seven men accused by “ ane Doe” were e pelled. The students who assaulted the victim belonged to the Chi hi fraternity. While only seven physically harmed “ ane Doe,” screenshots of a Snapchat group message were released that show over 0 people who were aware the assault was happening in their chapter house. Not one man from the fraternity spoke up on her behalf or did anything to help. Some fraternities are seen as glorified boys’clubs made to build friendships and connections. In reality, some of them appear to only be places you can go to where parties provide easy access to alcohol and drugs. This turns these gatherings into high risk and low reward environments. The frat members refer to themselves as a brotherhood. They go through embarrassing ha ing initiation rituals and protect each other at all costs, conforming to some “bro code” they pledge to. This “bro code” is what leads to women being verbally, physically and se ually assaulted at these frat parties and makes the “brothers” complicit to the atrocities they not only commit but also witness. The members of these “frats” pay membership dues and some come from wealthy families or have traces of nepotism in the college they attend. This makes these people assets to these institutions as they help contribute to their reputations and their funding through their parents or
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Managing Editor: Marissa Lievanos NEWS Editor: Brylle Deseo Asst. Editor: Aaron Friesen Eniya Farquharson Kylie Goforth Louis Tozser LIFE Editor: Maxwell Porter Asst. Editor: Aysa Bender Mariana Arias Betzabeth Chavez Shiyo Gunawan Isabella Leon OPINIONS Editor: Jessica Sanchez Asst. Editor: Violet Dawson Henry Reynolds BRYLLE DESEO|VIEWPOINTS An illustration that portrays a woman shielding herself against sexual violence. The recent Cornell University case in which a woman accused seven fraternity members of sexual assault has brought attention to the recurring problem of sexual violence women face at the hands of men on college campuses around the country.
influence. These institutions perhaps have made it crystal clear that they are more interested in protecting their “assets” than their everyday students. An e ample of this is Damien Shanklin, a football player at Louisiana State University who was accused of raping a woman. Shanklin was found guilty of forcible rape in uly by the LSU ce of Civil ights and was only given a one year suspension by the school. A member of Alpha Delta hi at the University of Chicago allegedly se ually assaulted a 19 year old woman during a party on eb. , following another assault that was reported at the school a week prior at the Alpha psilon i fraternity. The “ ane Doe’s” lawsuit said that she was given a shot of alcohol by one of the members of the Alpha Delta hi frat and she later was found unconscious in a room and struggling to speak and walk. She reported the assault to Chicago police. The lawsuit accuses AD and the University of Chicago for not taking the se ual assault seriously and failing to keep her safe. This “ ane Doe’s” story is similar to the Cornell University case. Why do these institutions keep giving men second chances that are not warranted and that they do not deserve It should be in
every school’s interest to keep their students safe and not tolerate violence like this. art of this conversation is the overused argument that sometimes women fabricate these assault stories. While this rarely happens, we need to think critically about such situations. Society has proved that men who are found guilty of assault often get away with just a slap on the wrist. So what is really worse someone lying or the countless people that have had their worlds flipped upside down from being assaulted Solving this overarching issue of untrustworthy institutions of higher education will not be an easy one step process, but a reformation over time. Institutions should all make it clear that they have ero tolerance for violence of any kind and then really stand by it. Colleges and universities should be the loudest advocates for victims on their campuses, rather than waiting for a student journalist like Cornell University did. Had usba from the Cornell Daily Sun not broken the story, would this horrific event have been brought to light at all Colleges and universities should also have more victim support available for all students. Whether it be Title I enforcements or more ways for students to safely report incidents without fear of retaliation, victims deserve to feel protected.
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SPORTS Editor: Lennon Alvarez Asst. Editor: Ernie Tobar Davis Galluzzo Andrew Gibbs Clarissa Mendoza Julian Vazquez MULTIMEDIA Editor: Aiden Medina Asst. Editor: Annie Lee Marcos Aguilera Aaliyah Hobson Tory Percell Juan Rivera PHOTOGRAPHY Editor: Jestine Tovar Asst. Editor: Dylan Quinonez Alessandro Gutierrez Gloria Martinez Melanie Popok COPY EDITORS Emma Goad Ryan Pope FACULTY ADVISERS Angela Burrell Rick de la Torre JOURNALISM SPECIALIST
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14 October 22, 2026
SPORTS
Editor: Lennon Alvarez| Viewpoints@rcc.edu
JESTINE TOVAR | VIEWPOINTS Issa Fomba (No. 22) wins the tip-off to kick off the game against Cerro Coso Community College at Wheelock Gym on Oct. 15.
Basketball teams lace up for season DAVIS GALLUZZO SPORTS REPORTER
The Tigers played their first scrimmage against Cerro Coso Community College on Oct. 15 at Wheelock Gym, where they won 63-57. The team has one more scrimmage before the season starts against Glendale Community College on Oct. 22. Coming off their best season in almost half a decade and making the postseason last season, the Tigers men’s basketball team is set to come into this season with high e pectations. “I mean, we have a pretty talented team, as long as we’re playing together, we’re going to be pretty good,” head coach Andre Wilson said. “To me, there’s always room for improvement, so it doesn’t matter how well we do one day. I know tomorrow’s a different day, so we just gotta stay consistent, stay humble and just stay on our guys every single day.” Last season, the Tigers avoided what would have been their third consecutive losing season, finishing with a 17-12 overall record and 9-5 in conference play. Their improvement has given the team momentum heading into the new campaign. “We just emphasi e how every day matters. We have to keep building and going each day. We had some early success a couple weeks ago at a showcase, but our
guys kind of got relaxed, thinking they were really good at a point in time, but we had to make sure we stayed humble,” Wilson said. “We have the same approach every single day and that’s why we’re going to be successful this season. We have a pretty talented team.” The Tigers will play their first regular season game at the We Play Hard Tournament at Ventura College with a game against West L.A. Wildcats on Oct. 29 before wrapping up the tournament with a game against Ventura on Oct. 30. Meanwhile, the women’s team is looking to turn things around after a di cult season last year. Tigers head coach Alicia Berber remains optimistic about the team’s potential heading into the new campaign. “I feel great about it, we have a really good team this year,” Berber said. Last season the team ended with a record of 6-22 while also wrapping up the year on a 12game losing streak. This year’s team will look to make some major improvements. “I’m preparing them to win a lot of games this year,” Berber said. Before the regular season begins, the women’s team will have an opportunity to evaluate its progress during its first and only scrimmage against the Citrus College Owls on Oct. 23 at Wheelock Gym. The matchup will give the
Tigers a chance to test their preparation and see how the team has developed this offseason. “I’m always thinking of new plays and we have a great coaching staff to help the players succeed,” Berber said. They will start their regular season with two straight home games, the first on Oct. 29 against the Cosumnes River College, then they will play East LA College the next day in the 5th Annual IX Title Tip-Off.
LUPITA RIVERA CID | VIEWPOINTS
Riverside City College women’s basketball gets called for a foul against College of the Canyons in the fourth quarter at Wheelock Gym on Nov. 18 2025.
Men’s upcoming schedule Women upcoming schedule RCC at We play hard tournament 10/29-30
RCC vs Cosumnes River 10/29 RCC vs East L.A 10/30
RCC vs Victor Valley 11/4 RCC at L.A Valley 11/7 RCC vs Ventura 11/10 RCC vs East L.A 11/13 RCC at Alvin Hunter Classic 11/14-15
RCC at 10th Annual E.O.S Tournament 11/12-14 RCC at Canyons 11/17
October 22, 2026
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15
Kicking her way into RCC history LENNON ALVAREZ SPORTS EDITOR
Tigers kicker Kiara Creta made Riverside City College history on Sept. 1 after she became the first woman athlete to score points for the football team in the Tigers’ 60 37 victory over Palomar College. Creta made a 4 yard field goal and converted all five of her e tra point attempts to finish with eight points, the most scored in a football game by a female athlete in 3C2A history. Her 4 yard field goal is also the longest made by a female kicker in C A football history. After spending three years at RCC, Creta said scoring her first points for the Tigers gave her a sense of belonging within the team. “What had happened on Saturday made me feel like I was more part of the team and made COURTESY | RCC ATHLETICS me feel like I had a bigger role to Riverside City College kicker Kiara Creta warms up before kickoff. play,” Creta said. Creta initially joined RCC What had happened on Saturday football with some familiarity about the program. Her high made me feel like I was more part school coach at Corona Santiago High School spoke highly of her to of the team and made me feel like I the CC coaching staff. had a bigger role to play. “They had me come out. They had me kick a lot,” Creta said. “And Kiara Creta then after that, they were kind of like, Wow you’re solid for sure. everyone was just really happy for of being brought to light and ou could definitely play here.’” me, especially ’cause everyone everyone’s able to see what I’ve Creta said she faced challenges knew how much I put in.” been working on.” when joining the football program The attention surrounding Although Creta received because the team already had her performance has also been much of the attention for her established relationships between something new for Creta. record se ng performance, she players and coaches. She described “I would be lying if I said I was quick to point out that the herself as a “bystander” when she didn’t like the attention,” Creta field goal was a team effort. She first arrived at CC. said. “I hadn’t gotten any kind of credited her snapper, holder and That changed after her historic attention or publicity before this the offensive line for helping give performance against Palomar. year. I’m just super appreciative her the opportunity to make the “Everyone was just super that my hard work is finally paying 4 yard field goal. supportive,” Creta said. “ bviously, off, and that everything’s kind “It ’s an operation,” Creta
“
”
said. “In the headlines, you see female makes 4 yard field goal,’ but even a bad snap, a bad hold, any of that could have deviated the headline.” Creta said everyone involved in the field goal, including the players protecting her, played a role in the record se ng kick. “I could not have kicked that if it wasn’t for a snap, a hold and everyone blocking for me,” Creta said. “I think I also want to get them some recognition as well.” The special teams unit has also become an important part of Creta’s e perience at CC. She said the group has developed a close relationship and regularly spends time together. “ The other players were definitely very tight,” Creta said. “We are usually the ones that are always hanging out together.” Before becoming a kicker, Creta’s athletic background began with soccer. Her father played professional soccer in Europe and encouraged her to begin playing at a young age. “I wouldn’t be who I am today if he didn’t force me to play soccer at, like, three years old,” Creta said. “My parents have pushed me farther than I can imagine.” Creta also hopes her time with the Tigers will not be the end of her football career. After finishing at RCC, she plans to continue playing at a four year school. She said her goal is to play at the highest level possible, with Division I being the ideal destination. However, she said she would be happy to continue her career at a Division II or Division III school. “I want to see the highest level I can play at,” Creta said.
SPORTS BRIEFS Men’s Water Polo iverside City College’s men’s water polo team is looking for a turnaround during a di cult season, entering the latest stretch with a 14 record. reshman Charlie Lucore leads the Tigers offense with 49 goals, providing a bright spot for the team as they look to build momentum in its remaining games following a 14 8 win over UC iverside Club, hoping to improve defensive play and offensive consistency moving forward. Cross Country iverside City College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams turned in strong performances at the Manny Bautista Cross Country Invitational on ct. 9 in San Diego. The men captured the team title with 44 points, edging host San Diego Mesa College by one point. The women finished eighth with 191 points. CC’s Cross Country teams now prepare for the Titan Invitational at Cal State ullerton on ct. .
Ti g e r s w a s h a w a y T h e B e a c h ANDREW GIBBS SPORTS REPORTER
The No. ranked iverside City College women’s water polo team defeated the No. ranked Long Beach City College in 8 6 comeback win at the iverside Aquatics Center on ct. 16. The game contained strong defensive tactics, outstanding individual performances and intensity in the pool. In the opening quarter, Long Beach took the lead first in the game, scoring two goals and forcing turnovers on Riverside before the Tigers scored their first goal toward the end of the quarter, limiting the momentum for the Vikings. Both defenses were using similar techniques, by pressing up on the offensive player aggressively, forcing turnovers leading to goals. The offense found more success in the second quarter, having five total goals. Using the momentum from the end of the first quarter, CC was able to score
two more goals to take a lead. However, the Vikings regained control, scoring three unanswered goals in the rest of the period to take a lead into overtime. The break was very helpful for the Tigers as they were able to use it to regroup and come out firing on all cylinders in the second half. “We pushed hard and none of us gave up, encouraging each other and bringing the energy up changed the tide,” attacker Isabella Stolpp said. Stolpp and Chloe Bustos were key factors in this game, scoring three goals each and helping set the tone on defense throughout the game. During the third quarter, the same defensive energy for both teams was kept up, however, the momentum started to shift toward the Tigers’ when Chloe Bustos scored with 6 seconds remaining, cu ng the score down to one. The rest of the period was low scoring, with the Tigers’ goal being the only goal. CC took this quarter by storm by scoring four goals and only
DYLAN QUINONEZ | VIEWPOINTS
Mckenna Dunning (4) is loading up to score against Long Beach City College at Riverside City College on Oct 16.
allowing one goal to Long Beach. By forcing turnovers and sticking to their game plan, the Tigers were able to set up key goals and completely take over this half. With both sides of attack clicking, iverside was able to pick apart the ikings’ defense and offense, erasing any momentum they might have had.
The Tigers’ defense, after allowing five goals in the first half, almost pitched a shutout in the second half, limiting any action for Long Beach. “ verybody was on the same page and had the mentality of making sure we were going to work together, not le ng anything get past us,” Tigers’ assistant coach
Sarah Grennawalt said. This was proved to be evident when, after key stops, they would be leading to scoring plays at the other end. Both Stolpp and Bustos were able to contribute to the four goals in the quarter set up by their teammates. “I just persevered and was pumped up after we kept ge ng the goals,” Bustos said. After defeating the Vikings, the Tigers now have a 1 record against them and an overall record of 18 4. “They’re a very good team and it’s good to face them because it helps us rise to the occasion while also allowing us to see what we need to work on,” Tigers’ head coach Doug Finfrock said. T h e n e x t ga m e fo r t h e women’s water polo team will be a conference game against range Coast College on ct. 1 at 1 p.m. “We can identify some things that we have to work on in the weeks to come, but this time of the year we want to play the tough games,” Finrock added.
16 October 22, 2026
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MARISSA LIEVANOS | VIEWPOINTS
MARISSA LIEVANOS | VIEWPOINTS
Running back Jaylen Gooden (8) pushes through the Southwestern College defense during Riverside City College’s homecoming game on Oct. 17.
Quarterback Christopher Cooper (2) drags through the Southwestern defense to score a rushing touchdown during Riverside City College’s homecoming game on Oct. 17.
There can only be one Tigers win homecoming game against Jaguars in battle of the unbeaten LENNON ALVAREZ SPORTS EDITOR
No. 1 Riverside City College took on No. 3 Southwestern College at Wheelock Stadium for their homecoming game on Oct. 17. Both squads entered the anticipated matchup with perfect 6 0 records, se ng the stage for a showdown with major implications for the rest of the season as the California Community College Athletic Association’s only two undefeated teams. The Tigers came out on top, defeating the Jaguars 38–28 in an exciting victory during RCC’s homecoming game. With the home crowd behind them, the Tigers delivered a strong performance to secure the 10 point victory and maintain their momentum. Southwestern College struck first on its opening drive when quarterback Domonic Duran connected with wide receiver Ahmad Perry II for a 60-yard touchdown pass, giving the Jaguars an early lead. The Tigers
quickly responded, however, as running back Jaylen Gooden found the end zone on an 11yard rushing touchdown to even the score. Riverside continued to build momentum on the Jaguars’ next possession when wide receiver ontavious ames blocked a punt, leaving the ball at Southwestern’s 26-yard line. The Tigers capitali ed on the field position, with running back Kurelle Thomas punching in a 1 yard rushing touchdown to put RCC ahead. iverside’s offense continued to find success as the Tigers added another score, extending their lead to 21–7 by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw both teams exchange touchdowns as Southwestern looked to close the gap and iverside worked to maintain its lead. Each offense found success in the end zone, with the Tigers and Jaguars scoring two touchdowns each during the quarter. Despite Southwestern’s efforts to keep pace, CC continued to
hold the advantage heading into halftime with a 1 lead. “We never punted in the first half, so we were doing well on offense, but we weren’t getting e n o u g h sto ps fa st e n o u g h . They were controlling the game and the clock and the time of possession,” Tigers’ head coach Kevin Craft said. Neither team managed to find the end zone in the third quarter, as both defenses held firm and limited scoring opportunities. Entering the fourth quarter with the lead, RCC focused on managing the clock and protecting its lead. The Tigers added three more points when kicker ames Holt connected on a 4 yard field goal, extending RCC’s lead. The Jaguars answered with the final touchdown of the game, a yard scoring play, as the aguars attempted to mount a late comeback. However, the Tigers held on through the closing minutes to secure a 38–28 victory. Riverside closed out the game with an important victory over one of the state’s
top ranked teams. “ There were some points where we were being aggressive and some points where, in the second half, we’re just trying to control the ball and the clock and not leave our defense out on the field,” Craft said. The Tigers’ offense made its biggest impact on the ground, scoring all five of its touchdowns through the rushing game. Gooden led the way rushing for 138 yards with three rushing touchdowns, helping power the Tigers offense throughout the game. “My line was just creating all types of holes, like on the left side, backside and they were giving me keys to look at,” ooden said CC quarterback Christopher Cooper contributed to the victory by completing 16 of 6 passes for 184 yards. The dual-threat quarterback also added his ninth rushing touchdown of the season, tying him for third in the state. “There’s a lot of holes in the D line, so we were able to pound the ball the entire game,” Cooper said. The Tigers’ defense also played an essential role in securing the
victory, consistently putting pressure on the aguars and limiting their opportunities to keep drives alive. iverside’s defense came up big on fourth down, stopping Southwestern on all four of its conversion attempts. The defense also brought down constant pressure on Duran, sacking him five times for a combined loss of 33 yards. Linebacker Caden Arellano and defensive back Isaiah Ayers led the Tigers in tackles, recording eight apiece. With the victory, the Tigers improved their record to 0, extending their undefeated streak and continuing their strong season. The Tigers will look to carry their momentum into their ne t matchup. The Tigers are set to travel to Mt. San Jacinto on Oct. 4 for a 6 p.m. kickoff. “We’re Tigers, we overcome everything,” Cooper said. “They came back, battled through adversity, but hey, we’re the ones still undefeated.”
The Boneyard A list of teams RCC has defeated this season Week 1 Long Beach City College 41-7
Week
alomar College 60
Week No. 11 olden West College 6 10
Week 6 Bye
Week 3 College of the Canyons 64-10
Week No.14 Chaffey College
Week 4 No.3 Saddleback College 38-21
Week 8 No.6 Southwestern College 38-28
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