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OPINION: College shouldn’t feel like a maze

Aira Tabao
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OPINION: College shouldn’t feel like a maze

College should not just be about rules and deadlines, but should provide the best support and resources students need to succeed, without educational obstacles or leaving them confused and directionless feeling like they don’t ‘BeLong’ at LBCC as they navigate their education journey.

Higher education should be about exploring the world of interests and career ideas,not outdated schedules, unanswered emails, unclear availability and slow responses are all too common, and the school makes it unnecessarily difficult for students to reach real humans who can help. 

This is more than a minor inconvenience. It affects first-generation students, overwhelmed students and anyone navigating college bureaucracy.

LBCC’s lack of clear communication and timely responses is not just frustrating it’s a structural failure that makes navigating college harder, especially for students who rely on staff guidance for accurate information, such as deadlines, where to retrieve certain forms, loans and grants that often get miscommunicated loosely, resulting in delayed funds for tuition and housing. 

While LBCC expects students to meet deadlines, attend appointments, and be accountable, many departments fail to meet the same standard when responding to student needs that go beyond a simple phone call being transferred to an unavailable line. 

Students often cannot access reliable staff, accurate information, updated office hours, or clear instructions for scheduling appointments, all of which wastes valuable time and energy. 

The impact is significant: working students, students on financial aid, homeless students, formerly incarcerated students, transfers, major changers, students living alone, those struggling with mental health, and especially first-generation students all face unnecessary barriers.

There are severe consequences, like delayed graduations, loss of financial aid and mismanaged academic planning can leave students misguided and unequipped with the proper information. 

The deeper issue is that colleges assume students can manage complex systems on their own, overlooking that many are only just beginning to navigate higher education.

Students need years of experience to become familiar with how the school system works, and it is normal not to know what to do or where to go. 

Guaranteed response times, updated office hours and accurate contact information are practical solutions that could make a huge difference and would help students plan their schedules, especially those balancing work or other responsibilities. 

In support of staff efficiency, LBCC could include a centralized live chat or student support hotline to ensure students always have access to the guidance they need without solely relying on confusing paperwork that institutions expect students to know how to navigate in their first year after high school. 

Students need other humans and tangible access to help without the barriers of staff and faculty who decide not to work outside of their pay grades. 

Ultimately, departments should be held accountable when students’ needs are ignored.

With more effective training and the use of a ‘best practices’ approach, both administration and staff need to ensure students can access help, making sure they’re confident with the right guidance and resources, rather than being shut out or sent away, uncertain and unsupported.

Replacement food drive provides produce and other food staples for students

Dezaray Jimenez
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Replacement food drive provides produce and other food staples for students

The Viking Vault hosted a Thanksgiving food drive outside the B Building at LBCC’s Liberal Arts Campus to provide groceries for students and their families ahead of the holiday weekend on Tuesday. 

The event served as a substitute for the Basic Needs Program’s mobile food pantry, which normally would’ve been held at the TTC campus every last Tuesday of each month but was canceled this month due to the government shutdown that affected the Los Angeles Food Bank ability to provide food.

Justin Mendez, the director of the Basic Needs program and CASA grant, said that the monthly events held at the TTC campus are open to the community around the campus, but because this recent drive was done on short notice and was funded by student funds, the event was only for students. 

Fresh produce like apples, oranges and onions were handed out, as well as items like eggs, pasta, pasta sauce, almond milk and oatmeal. 

Organizers emphasized that food distributions like this happen year round, not just during the holidays.

“I think the experience is just recognizing the fact that food is a basic human right, and everyone should have access to it,” said Claudia Ibara, who helped organize and pass out food during the event.

Students who lined up said the support makes a real difference during a busy time in the semester.

“It is very nice, because most of us don’t have time to work much,” said Regin Sogo-an, a nursing student who visited the pantry. “This helps so we can eat at home and have something for the holidays. I’m very thankful.”

Staff also pointed to rising costs and reduced benefits as reasons many events are needed.

“With everything going on right now, people not having access to their EBT and grocery prices going up, it’s very beneficial that students can come in and just do a one stop shop and have their groceries set with them, they don’t have to worry about the financial burden that comes with it,” Viking Vault organizer Nicole de Leon said.

Ibara mentioned spreading the word of food giveaways during the holidays is crucial. 

“When there are opportunities to share food with our community, that’s absolutely what we should do, especially around the holidays,” said Ibara.

Black student clubs come together for first annual Friendsgiving

Kay Pham-Nguyen
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Black student clubs come together for first annual Friendsgiving

Students gathered for the first annual Friendsgiving in the Black Student Success Center on Tuesday with games like UNO and Heads Up 7 Up; food including chicken, pizza and banana pudding; to celebrate gratitude and bring a collaborative event for the Black student clubs on campus.

The event was hosted in collaboration with the Umoja Scholars Program and people were free to share spoken word and prayer for the Thanksgiving season, highlighting the sentiment for community and togetherness before food was served.

Attendees and volunteers of the Black Student Success Center hold hands to give grace for the Umoja Friendsgiving on Tuesday.

Chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, breadsticks, pizza and nachos, with banana pudding and chocolate chip cookies for dessert were served for guests.

After dining, students participated in games like Heads Up Seven Up, Blackjack and UNO, fostering connection and fun. 

“It means a lot because I come from an older family. …It’s fun to see people my age be in unison and it just reminds me of my siblings when they were younger,” said student El Shaddai Beni-Him Huges. 

Black Student Success Center coordinator Angela Fowlkes emphasized the goal of creating a space for black students to meet new people, create community and a space where Black students and faculty can thrive. 

“This is the first time that we’ve had any Black student life clubs on campus. With Umoja being long standing and SAGE. … Building that bridge between all of the student life clubs on campus, … Building community is really important where other students are able to thrive for student success, so being able to come together and commune and eat bread and celebrate our traditions with one another,” Fowlkes said. 

Fowlkes explained the idea of the event, hosted by Umoja, was rooted in the idea of unity and togetherness. 

“This is our very first Thanksgiving…. We  just hope that this event expands and more people hear about it and more people come. Right now there’s a lot of food insecurity and housing insecurity and so people that are in these different programs are in this space right now building those connections and networking as well.” continues Fowlkes.

Umoja invited other black student life clubs like, A2MEND, SAGE Scholars, and NSBE, to serve food and host games. 

When asked why other clubs were involved in the Friendsgiving, SAGE club president, Devonte Barner said the collaboration was intentional and rooted in unity and support. 

“Just to give back. We collaborated with Umoja and A2MEND and NSBE to bring to culture and to just let them know, hey, even though we are separate clubs we are all connected and we can still come together as one and feast and have fun and just get to know each other and our community on campus. … We are here, we have resources, we even have free food today. We are having games, … this is a little bit of what we do as a whole.”  said Barner. 

“Well originally it was an Umoja event, umoja means unity, so they wanted to invite their sister and brother clubs to come to the table with them and so we had an opportunity to volunteer what you wanted to provide.” Fowlkes said. 

The Umoja Scholars Program is a community dedicated to supporting the education of students through connection, cultural engagement, and student services.  

Umoja Scholars President Oscar Jammot detailed the impact that he hoped this event achieved for those attending. 

“I feel that this will bring the community together. We had a lot of hardships this year, we lost students, we lost a lot this year so we are just rebuilding, coming together as a community. We incorporated a lot of mental health this year to make sure our students are good because we know. …mental health is a big factor in the black community, especially in our black men. So we are just trying to keep building the community to make sure we are all good. Check up on each other, and this is kind of a check in event,” said Umoja president Oscar Jammot.   

Friendsgiving not only served as a celebration but also as a celebration for culture and gratitude during a year marked by challenges and loss.

Organizers and collaborators plan to make the Friendsgiving an annual tradition, hoping to expand its reach and continue to build a supportive space for students and staff. 

Mariachi strengthens the relationship between a mother and her children

Jessica Rodriguez
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Mariachi strengthens the relationship between a mother and her children

  A former mariachi mother’s singing is lifted by the sound of violins, guitar and vihuela from her son and daughter on the autism spectrum to make up the heart of LBCC’s growing mariachi ensemble.

The family of three, mother Rocio Chavez and her children Aolani Delgado and Maximiliano Delgado, are the passionate core of the group, known outside of LBCC as Mariachi Anacatlan. 

Los Vikingos mariachi group members Rocio Chavez, center, and her children Aolani Delgado, left, and Maximiliano Delgado, right pose for a portrait on Oct. 30, with Viking News on campus after LBCC’s first mariachi class’s debut performance during the Dia de los Muertos event. The three are a part of the mariachi class and Chavez has been lobbying for the creation of the class for years. (Isaiah Ryan)

Both Aolani and Maximiliano share a unique and powerful perspective, they are both on the autism spectrum. 

“We are basically defying gender stereotypes, not just gender stereotypes, but like disability stereotypes … But here we are, both of us on the spectrum and playing in a mariachi band,” Maximiliano, an 8th grader who currently cannot enroll in the class but plays alongside his family said.

Aolani, a freshman at LBCC, is a classically trained musician who also plays violin in the LBCC Symphony Orchestra and was the reason the family began their mariachi careers at LBCC as members of Los Vikingos. 

Los Vikingos mariachi group member Maximiliano Delgado pauses for a portrait on Oct. 30, with Viking News on campus after LBCC’s first mariachi class’s debut performance during the Dia de los Muertos event. Delgado, who is on the autism spectrum, challenges stereotypes through his role in the mariachi band, which performed at LBCC’s Dia de los Muertos event. (Isaiah Ryan)

When the family heard LBCC was offering a mariachi ensemble course, they were overjoyed. 

Rocio, a former mariachi singer, was surprised and proud to see her children pursue the art form they have loved for four years in their own mariachi group. 

The LBCC mariachi class, though not an official course, was a dream project for professor Angela Romero, a former member of the Mariachi Divas, who has been lobbying for its creation for years.

“We officially don’t have a mariachi class, but we’re running it under the Viking band. I’m writing a curriculum … I know it’s something that everybody likes a lot of the leadership … have desired for Long Beach City College to have,” Romero said. 

For Romero, the fight for the class is about cultural validation. 

“I think it’s extremely important… I feel like it’s validating my culture and my background,” Romero said.

Romero sees a growing appreciation for Mexican culture and learned violin, guitar and vihuela, noted, “People are going beyond the beer and tacos, and they’re really starting to appreciate the music, appreciate the people, and appreciate the way Hispanic people communicate.”

They showcased their fierce pride by donning the ‘traje de charro’, traditional mariachi worn in Mexico. 

“We are very proud because, you know, to wear a mariachi suit, you have to be very proud. And yes, we are proud and respectful of the suit.” Chavez said. 

The family’s performance at the Dia de los Muertos event was a powerful testament of their love for their culture, and of their family bond. 

“It brings us together even more because… now we share a passion,” Maximiliano said.  

Vikings lose close 66-63 game against Canyons

Alex Pina
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Vikings lose close 66-63 game against Canyons

Vikings point guard Lawrence Brown led the team with 16 points three steals and one assist in a down to the wire loss vs Canyons 66-63 on Wednesday Nov.19.

The game started off slow for the Vikings which were scoreless in the first five minutes to start the game. 

Canyons had momentum, while the Vikings weren’t able to shoot the ball well and missed opportunities getting offensive and defensive rebounds. The Vikings were trailing by as much as 23-12. 

The Vikings found life in the later minutes of the first half with the defense getting turnovers and being able to draw fouls.

As the first half ended, the Vikings turned a nine point deficit into a two point deficit with the score being 26-24. 

Jorge Mata, point guard, commented on the tough loss and the type of impact he was trying to bring for the team.Mata finished the game with 10 points and made  three pointers down the stretch to try to keep the Vikings in the game. 

“I feel like the shots we took were good. We couldn’t really control making the shots. It is what it is, you make some, you miss some. Just playing harder I feel like they played harder than us down the stretch. Definitely make more shots, I made my last two but I don’t know how many I put up, but I put up a lot, definitely should have made more shots during the game but for sure definitely a building block, came off the bench today, coach wanted me to get more shots up,” Mota said.

Point Guard Lawrence jumps for the Ball to gain possession against Canyons at  the LBCC Hall of Chamipions.Vikings lost against Canyons 66-63 in a close game on November 19, 2025. (Dezaray Jimenez)

Once the second half began, both teams were going back and forth with each team responding to one another’s baskets.

 Lawrence Brown started to emerge and he was scoring all over for the Vikings, including making a contested shot while being fouled in the process along with a slam dunk to narrow Canyon’s lead to two points. 

Brown commented on bouncing back after a slow start in the first half and doing everything he could to try to give the Vikings a chance in this game.

“I feel like I started off slow in the second half and picked it up, energy wise, just my overall game picked up on the second half. Definitely feel like I did better in the second half, first half could have started a lot stronger, just did best as I could to try and bring us back,” Brown said.

In the final minutes of the game, Canyons got offensive rebounds and put back baskets, the Vikings had to stop the clock from running, sending Canyons to the free throw line as they proceeded to make two clutch free throws. 

Canyons had a three point lead and in the final possession of the game with the clock running down, Brown pulled up for a three pointer but missed the game tying basket.

Canyons escaped with a 66-63 victory, dropping the Vikings’ record to 1-4.

Women’s soccer scores three penalty kicks to win third round of regionals

Dom Maddan
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Women’s soccer scores three penalty kicks to win third round of regionals

LBCC women’s soccer goalkeeper Mary Valenzuela blocked the last penalty kick to secure the win against Mt. San Antonio College after a 1-1 tied game that went past overtime during the third round of regionals on Nov. 25.

The Vikings hit their stride out of the gate, keeping control of the ball for most of the first half and scored the first goal of the game.

Vikings midfielder Sky Demelo scored the first goal continuing her five game streak of scoring the first goal of the game in their matches.

The goal came after she drew the first foul in the first five minutes of the game, which resulted in a faulty free kick from Mt. SAC that Demelo managed to take control of when the ball became in play again.

“It felt amazing, I really wanted it because I was the one who drew the foul,” Demelo said.

The first half was filled with positives for the Vikings, but it was a rocky start for Mt. SAC with defender Emma Malana and midfielder Yuliana Jimenez being taken out of the game due to leg and knee injuries.

However, Mt. SAC goalkeeper Zanette Gonzalez prevented many of the Vikings’ attempts to score, including catching three free kicks. 

Midfielder Nadine Padilla scored the first and only goal for Mt. SAC with seven minutes left in the first half.

The second half was rather unremarkable as neither scored a goal, but both goalkeepers were tasked with many near goals.

Viking midfielders Laila Alfadhiel and Maya Sanda were the stars of the second half, securing the ball for most of the game, but were unable to score due to Gonzalez’ blocks.

After the second half and both overtime halves had passed, the game was to be decided by penalty kicks.

After the Mt. SAC goalkeeper failed to block three of the Vikings’ PKs, Viking goalkeeper Mary Valenzuela blocked both PKs attempted by Mt. SAC to break the 1-1 tie.

Valenzuela knew the win was imminent after they scored.

“I feel like we had the win when we made that first shot…I knew we had it,” Valenzuela said. 

LBCC Women’s soccer celebrates their third round win against Mt. San Antonio after defeating them 3-0 in penalty kicks on Nov. 25 at the LBCC Soccer Complex. (Asa Liberty

“We’ve got to celebrate this win tonight, tomorrow we have to recover because it took everything from us in these 120 minutes,” said Coach Nunez.

Nunez noted that they are fully prepared and ready for anything in the upcoming game, “We took care of business early on in regionals but we really had to fight in this one so we’ve experienced a bit of everything”.

The Vikings will be facing Santiago Canyon at an away game on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. for the fourth and final Southern regional finals matchup.

This win for the Vikings sent them to the Southern regional finals, where they lost 4-2 against Santiago Canyon on  Saturday.

Antique Finds for under $20

Hailey Hildreth
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Antique Finds for under $20

The atmosphere of Veteran Stadium’s Antique Market blended creativity and nostalgia as people tried on vintage coats, sifted through bins of unique trinkets and flipped through old records on Nov. 16. 

The Long Beach Antique Market, established in 1982, is home to more than 800 vendors who show up rain or shine and many were on the lookout for gifts with personality and charm, pausing at booths filled with items that reflected decades of style and craftsmanship.

Seasonal booths offered discounted holiday decor, drawing crowds searching for affordable inspiration. 

Sal Alsouqi, owner of the “Twilight Caravan” booth, sells a mix of vintage Americana and Japanese collectibles, including decor, toys, knick-knacks, and other unique finds. 

“Here at Long Beach, typically, everything is vintage. You’re not gonna find too much new stuff, no new products. Just that Americana, cool, Japanese stuff, this and that from the 1920s to the 90s,” Alsouqi said. 

Filled with rows of vintage clothing, handcrafted furniture, secondhand books and accessories, many holiday gifts could be found for under $20. 

Handmade trinkets, vintage decor, and even small antiques appeared throughout the market, offering budget-friendly but meaningful options.

Shoppers wandered through the stadium grounds, vendors shared the history behind their items, showcasing everything from mid-century home goods to worn-in leather jackets.

The market featured jewelry, clothes, decorations, collectibles and art, offering merchandise for shoppers of all tastes. 

A standout type of antique were handcrafted ceramic kitten heels, which doubled as  candleholders, and featured different floral prints with vibrant colors. 

Handcrafted ceramic kitten heels candleholders, showcased in a variety of floral prints at the Antique Market at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, CA on Nov. 16, 2025 (Hailey Hildreth).

LBCC student Jeremiah Savedra and his friend Ezekiel Aficial, who run the vintage clothing shop “By Gone Surplus,” were among the vendors set up for the day. 

They said selling at the market is about more than business, it’s about connecting with people who share their appreciation for vintage style.

“The biggest thing for me about this is building community and sharing my personal style and what I like with other people,” Aficial said.

Vendors also shared insight into trends that keep customers returning each season, noting rising interest in sustainable shopping and the appeal of owning items with a story.

Some visitors, such as Melanie McWhirter, a student visiting from Palm Springs, traveled far to attend and said the trip was worth it.

“I’m here with my friends, they came up with the idea to come to the flea market. I thought it was a fun idea. We drove three hours here, and I’ve just been shopping around, having fun,” McWhirter said.

Throughout the day, the market fostered a sense of community while celebrating the value of secondhand culture and the thrill of discovering one-of-a-kind pieces.

The next Long Beach Antique Market event will take place on Dec. 21 and continues to recur every third Sunday of the month from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

Hear firsthand stories from LBCC’s first-gen students 

Asa Liberty
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Hear firsthand stories from LBCC’s first-gen students 

LBCC students received encouraging advice of perseverance and community from successful first-generation college students like Student Learning Outcomes Coordinator and Subcommittee chair Trisha Wilging, Long Beach Community College district’s Associate Vice President at TTC Dr. Alisia Kirkwood, and others at the I-AM-FIRST-KICK-OFF Celebration on Nov. 5.

Kirkwood shared her story on being a first-generation student. 

“Born and raised in Riverside, California, I, too, am a first-generation college student on both sides of my family. My mom’s side and my dad’s side, neither of them went to college, no degrees, but the one thing I always had about me was the audacity and courage and here I am now many years later speaking to other first-gen students here in Long Beach city,” Kirkwood said.

Wilging explained the hump she had to get over to where she’s at now in her journey.

“When I was in college, I was pursuing the (physical therapy) route but then I got pretty sick. I was taking a lot of units that was a lot of working hours and I got pretty sick and it made me stop and consider what direction I wanted to go and when I got sick I wasn’t enjoying school that much, I wasn’t enjoying the puzzle, I wasn’t enjoying the grind the learning, and all the things that had made it so worthwhile. Through getting better and through encouragement of folks on campus and folks at home, I just kept going. It speaks to the community and the people around me that strength made it continue,” Wilging said.

Community Advocate for SJIC, Emily Ramon, shared her story of coming from immigrant parents.

“I grew up in Anaheim, California … I am a daughter to parents who immigrated from Mexico, so my parents were undocumented for a lot of my life coming up but that was a lot of what my story started off as being a daughter of immigrants and navigating the world as we speak Spanish and English. Growing up in education was always something I was interested in so I decided to attend community college in sociology and I got my associates, then transferred to UCI where I got my bachelor’s in sociology,” Ramon said.

LBCC’s College student adviser, Andrew Hernandez, shared advice he would give to the students here at LBCC.

“Definitely take advantage of all the programs and resources at school because there may be help you don’t even know you need that you can get,” Hernandez said.

LBCC student Precious Scoot shared how the I-AM-FIRST-KICK-OFF Celebration has helped her.

“It’s very educational and informational to people who are barely coming into school or barely enrolling into school. There’s different programs like EOPs, there’s also a program for foster youth kids who have been in foster care or are in foster care right now. There’s Calworks, there’s free food assistance, there’s counseling. Just a lot of different programs here that the school offers, so it’s really helpful,” Scoot said.

Pro-Israel speaker receives cease and desist from Board of Trustees 

Rafael Gomez
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Pro-Israel speaker receives cease and desist from Board of Trustees 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story had misquoted Uduak Joe-Ntuk, stating “I reject all accusations of semitism.”. instead of “I reject all accusations of antisemitism.”

A self-described Zionist received a cease and desist notice, via email, on Aug. 6 on behalf of the LBCC Board of Trustees to “refrain from making any further knowingly false and defamatory statements alleging that any Board of Trustee members are antisemitic” during public meetings, which he claims he’s never done.

Al Barlevy has been attending Board of Trustees meetings since December 2024 to “counter” pro-Palestinian speakers and was surprised to receive the cease and desist, which was signed by lawyer Vincent Ewing. 

“In order for the attorney to do something on behalf of the board, the board has to discuss it and vote on it. … I know that my name never appeared on the board agenda. So I don’t know if one of the board members asked the attorney to send it to me to try and intimidate me or if they violated the Brown Act and three board members met outside of a publicly noticed meeting, … whether it be a serial meeting or an actual meeting, I don’t know,” Barlevy said. 

The cease and desist letter sent to Al Barlevy, a self-described Zionist, requests him to stop making statements that allege LBCC trustees to be antisemitic. Barlevy claims he has never called any member antisemitic, but has only countered pro-Palestinian speakers who make public comments at the Board of Trustee meetings, which he has attended regularly. Photo courtesy of Al Barlevy.

Barlevy says that he had never made direct claims of antisemitism towards the Board of Trustees, only speaking against pro-Palestinian speakers who made public comments at the meetings. 

“The only thing that could even come close to accusing them of antisemitism is that (after Trustee Uduak Joe-Ntuk concluded the June meeting) by saying ‘I reject all accusations of antisemitism.’ So I leveraged that and in theJuly meeting I said, ‘it’s great that you’re rejecting accusations of antisemitism. Now let’s see you do something about these antisemites who come to speak in front of the board. That’s not an accusation of antisemitism in my book,” Barlevy said.

The Viking News reached out to trustees Ntuk, Sunny Zia and Director of Communications Stacey Toda for an in-person meeting with any of the trustees, Superintendent President Mike Munoz or herself and received no answer regarding how the cease and desist was decided upon because “legal matters must be addressed through formal, written statements rather than live interviews,” but sent an emailed statement from LBCC.

“The Long Beach Community College District routinely communicates with community members regarding decorum and compliance with the Brown Act. As a matter of policy, we do not discuss individual correspondence or legal communications. The District remains committed to civil discourse and respectful public participation,” the statement read.

When asked about his initial reaction, Barlevy said that he thought the letter was “laughable.”

“The cease and desist letter tells me how the First Amendment gives me the right to speak in front of the college, and it’s very broadly construed and then it says ‘but you cannot call board members antisemites’ and like, I’m not aware that the Constitution has an exception for calling officials antisemites so, I was, I thought it read like it was written by a buffoon,” Barlevy said.

Barlevy has continued to regularly attend board meetings since the receipt of the letter. 

OPINION: Students hit with unnecessary parking fines due to poor signage

Aira Tabao
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OPINION: Students hit with unnecessary parking fines due to poor signage

Dozens of Long Beach City College students return to their cars only to find a $74 citation on their windshield, most commonly for violating the campus’s “Head In Only” parking rule that is posted only once at the entrance of each parking structure, making it easy for drivers to miss, especially during busy mornings when most students are rushing to find any open spot.

Once inside, there are no additional signs on any of the five floors reminding drivers that backing into a stall is prohibited. 

As a result, many students unknowingly violate the rule and face an expensive fine.

According to Long Beach City’s Parking Regulations and Citations, the “Head In Only” requirement is meant to ensure “clear visibility for all drivers and pedestrians, improved safety in parking lots, and efficient enforcement of parking permits,” emphasizing that a vehicle’s license plate must remain visible to parking enforcement at all times. 

The rule originally addressed the growing number of drivers who remove their front license plates for aesthetic reasons. 

This trend has become more common as 21 U.S. states, excluding California, no longer require a front plate. 

Visibility is the core concern the policy is supposed to address.

Despite this, many LBCC students who have both required plates clearly displayed, front and back, are still being fined for backing in.

California law requires both plates, and many students comply fully, yet the enforcement targets the method of parking rather than whether the plate is actually visible.

This disconnect creates a system where students who meet the intended visibility requirement are still penalized on a technicality.

For young students balancing tuition, textbooks, gas, and often unstable part-time jobs, a $74 fee for a fully visible license plate feels disproportionate and avoidable.

The signage itself exacerbates the situation. 

The “Head In Parking Only” notices are limited to one small square sign at each entrance, with no additional postings throughout larger lots or multi-level structures.

If a student misses that initial sign, and many do, there is no reinforcement anywhere else. 

Staff lots have the same issue: small-print signs at the entrance that are difficult to notice and have not been updated or made more visible. 

The lack of consistent signage directly contributes to the number of citations issued, yet the responsibility and financial burden fall entirely on the students.

Because many LBCC students already comply with the visibility standard by displaying both plates, the strict enforcement and outdated signage raise questions about fairness. 

Adding more signs throughout each parking structure, especially on every floor, would greatly reduce confusion and prevent unnecessary fines. 

Additionally, reconsidering citations for vehicles whose plates are fully visible would align enforcement with the actual purpose of the rule.

Ultimately, LBCC’s current approach to the “Head In Only” requirement has created a preventable citation issue, one that could be solved with clearer signage, updated enforcement practices, and policies that reflect the realities of student life and actual safety needs.

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