RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE “Our republic and its press will rise or fall together.” VOL. 98, NO. 11 - Joseph Pulitzer viewpoints APRIL 9, 2020 An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving as the voice of the students since 1922. WHAT’S RCCD cancels spring break INSIDE ERIK GALICIA president of the RCC Faculty but students need to be canceling spring break was NEWS Association, assured that the understanding.” the most viable option when NEWS EDITOR decision resulted from weeks of The COVID-19 pandemic considering the economic fallout intensive review and negotiations prompted California Community expected from the pandemic. Spring break will be absorbed between the district and the College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Many districts are already into the spring semester to make union. Oakley to issue an executive looking at protective measures, up for the week lost as Riverside “We expected there would be order March 20, granting colleges according to Haghighat. Community College District panic,” he said. “But this was not the authority to amend their “Some districts are saying faculty prepared for the March 23 a decision made lightly. It was a calendars. they can’t guarantee faculty switch to remote learning caused very labor intensive, emotional But according to Rhonda salary after June 30,” Haghighat by COVID-19. process for us.” Ta u b e , R C C D F a c u l t y said. “These are the realities we “This way, we will be Jorge Zavala, the RCCD Association president, the district have to deal with.” able to complete our 16-week student trustee, urged students is not asking faculty to assign Taube echoed the need to 3 to consider the reasons for the work during the week spring our state’s requirement for weekly decision. break was scheduled if they had pointed to the district’s success at student contact hours,” a district “It’s definitely a tricky originally intended to give their minimizing harm during the 2008 City Council email sent April 2 said. situation with the pandemic,” students that week off. Dariush Haghighat, vice Zavala said. “It’s unfair Haghighat explained that See BREAK on page 2 approves 50 unit housing project VIEWS 7 Gun shops not essential LIFE ANGEL PEÑA | VIEWPOINTS ERIK GALICIA March 26 regarding students’ testing will prevent students experiences with the transition. from accessing other browsers semester found that up to 30% of NEWS EDITOR Susan Mills, vice chancellor and a camera “monitor” feature one class did not have access to 6 of Educational Services and will highlight a student’s screen a printer at home. Reports during the Riverside Strategic Planning, said the if suspicious behavior, such “When you’re trying to Community College District district had only received about as getting up during a test, is give an organic chemistry exam PartyNextDoor Academic Senate meeting 2,500 responses as of March 30. detected. where (students) are writing March 30 identified needed “This is a survey that we But Stacie Eldridge, an RCC out mechanisms and they can’t releases improvements regarding the would like to have (students) chemistry instructor, questioned necessarily do it in multiple “PARTYMOBILE” transition to online instruction complete so that we could get the accessibility of the features. choice fashion, they need to be forced by the COVID-19 feedback,” said Mark Sellick, “With the ‘lockdown’ able to print out things,” Eldridge pandemic. District Academic Senate browser, we had a couple faculty said. “It’s really creating a lot of “Going to the online platform mention that the Chromebooks obstacles.” INDEX has its own challenges,” to be able to serve students more are not compatible with that,” Another RCC chemistry Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac effectively.” Eldridge said. “Some don’t have instructor, Paul Richardson, said NEWS 2 said. “We want to make sure that Sheila Pisa, interim dean of cameras. If it’s not accessible to that up to a dozen of his students the issue of equity is not eclipsed Distance Education, said several one or two, then you really can’t have experienced connection LIFE 6 by the fact that we are in a very faculty have raised concerns over use that platform.” issues during online quizzes. VIEWS 7 integrity during online testing. According to Eldridge, an According to Vivian Harris, According to Isaac, over Pisa explained that a RCC Chemistry Department a Norco College library services EDITORIAL 8 40,000 surveys were sent out “lockdown” feature during online student survey conducted during See ONLINE on page 4 2 April 9, 2020 News NEWS BRIEFS Face Covering Ordered Riverside County Public ordered everyone to stay home unless absolutely necessary and to cover their faces when public gatherings ban does not apply to essential businesses. The face covering order does apply to essential workers. Appropriate face coverings include bandanas, scarves or any other closed clothing, according to the Riverside city website. Because the healthcare industry is experiencing a shortage of masks, residents are being told to refrain from purchasing medical-grade masks. “Now we change from saying that you should to saying SAIDA MAALIN | VIEWPOINTS The Riverside Community College District transitioned to online instruction March 23 to combat the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. the city website. Spring break is canceled to make up for the time lost when faculty prepared to launch their online courses, according to the district. Police Seek Public Cooperation Semester absorbs spring break Local police have been District aims to reduce !nancial burden expected from coronavirus given the authority to enforce COVID-19 orders as necessary, BREAK from page 1 “All of the available options Accomodating for the lost time required days even if spring were reviewed,” Haghighat said. these courses have suffered break was allowed to remain. Chad Bianco asked for voluntary “But our calendar cannot be would require up to two weeks Haghighat argued that that plan public compliance. economic downturn. compared to districts that don’t to be added to the semester, held too much uncertainty. “We will not be setting up “In the long run it will be a have compressed calendars.” leaving little time to prepare for “Both the district and faculty any type of police state and this great economic decision for our The lack of comparable the summer session. According would have to do a juggling is not a declaration of martial college,” Taube said. districts limited alternatives to to Taube, those courses will be act,” he said. “Personally, I’m law in Riverside County,” According to the district allowing spring break and not allowed to add days of instruction not convinced the state would Bianco said on the agency’s email, breaking the state altering the calendar or allowing at the end of the semester. accept it.” Facebook page. agreement on required days spring break and extending the “What we were trying to The district expressed deep Bianco said responding of instruction could hurt the semester, Haghighat explained. avoid is adding a week at the end to violations would interfere district’s financial standing. He said the latter was not popular of the semester for all students,” appreciation for all who have with emergency services and Haghighat said that a budget among most faculty. she said. worked to ensure a smooth urged residents not to call 911 shortfall could result in classes Some courses, such as STEM Some suggested that transition in the past weeks and for potential violations. He being canceled and education and CTE classes, have proven individual faculty could readjust expects to make it through the assured that deputies will not be being delayed. to be difficult to host online. instruction to meet the state’s crisis successfully. stopping vehicles or pedestrians for enforcement but urged the use of common sense for the sake of public health. Community remembers Caludia Lucrey Mental Health Services RCC LGBTQ+ advocate died March 10 in a motorcyle accident at age 29 Riverside City College S t u d e n t H e a l t h a n d SAIDA MAALIN An email was sent out March Psychological Services have 12 by RCC President Gregory school, Claudia and her friends set up TeleMental health LIFE EDITOR Anderson addressing the news brought it within her group and counseling through Zoom. of Lucrey’s passing. campus,” said Angel Contreras, To schedule an appointment, Claudia Cloud Lucrey, a “A powerful advocate for president of the Associated send your full name, student beloved leader, friend and all LGBTQIA rights and equality, Students of Riverside City ID and phone number to kevin. around inspiration for many at Claudia was a valuable member College. [email protected]. Wurtz, the Riverside City College passed of the RCC community,” Contreras quoted novelist RCC mental health supervisor, away in a motorcycle collision Anderson said in the email. Richard Bach because it reminded will respond with digital March 10. She was 29 years old. “She touched the lives of many him of Claudia. consent forms and available Lucrey was the vice president around her.” “The bond that links your true appointment times. of the Sexuality and Gender The crash was reported family is not one of blood, but of PHOTO COURTESY OF GABRIELLA MENA Additional information is Acceptance Club for two at 9:25 p.m on Northbound respect and joy in each other’s Claudia Lucrey, right, and her available on RCC’s website. semesters. Interstate 215 north of Cactus life,” Contreras said, “Claudia partner of two years Garbriella Her partner of two years, Avenue in Riverside. was joy in people’s lives, she Mena, left. Lucrey was All campus events and Gabriella Mena, who is also a According to the Riverside respected everyone and was the president of RCC’s SAGA Club many local events have SAGA member and someone County Coroner’s press release, for two semesters.