16.09.2025 Views

Renegade Rip issue 1, Sept. 17, 2025

The Renegade Rip is the student-produced news publication of Bakersfield College

The Renegade Rip is the student-produced news publication of Bakersfield College

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Leverage SEO-optimized Flipbooks, powerful backlinks, and multimedia content to professionally showcase your products and significantly increase your reach.

The Renegade Rip

Vol. 104 No.1 Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

Bakersfield College

New presidents at

BC

News, Page 2

Club Spotlight:

SAGA

Campus, Page 6

Opinion, Page 7

The rise of

Indie “Noises animations Off” full of

fabulous chaos

Opinion, Page 7

ARAYA BAN/THE RIP

The crowd rises as Desert and Bakersfield College men’s

soccer players surge towards the goal post.

LEILANI NORDINE/THE RIP

BC students gathered around UCLA and Sacramento

State University information tables during Transfer Day.

ARAYA BAN/THE RIP

Bakersfield College Renegades offensive line huddles

together in prayer before kickoff at Memorial Stadium.

The Renegade Rip @bc_rip Follow us online at www.therip.com


Page 2

By Stephanie Perez

News Editor

Newly elected Student

Government Association

President Khalfani H.

Mackey says he is honored

to serve and ready to lead.

“My vision is to see Bakersfield

College thrive as the

heart of opportunity in our

community a place where

every student, regardless of

background, feels supported,

challenged, and empowered

to achieve their goals,”

Mackey said. “I want BC to

be known not only for academic

excellence, but also

for innovation, equity, and a

strong sense of belonging.”

Mackey explained that

his leadership will be guided

by service, integrity, and

accountability. “I believe in

transparency and in putting

students first, while also respecting

the work of our faculty

and staff,” he said. “My

guiding principle is simple:

The only way one can get

News

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

behind is by not moving

ahead.” He added that supporting

faculty and staff will

be a key focus. “As BCSGA

President, I will advocate

for resources that allow our

faculty and staff to continue

excelling-whether through

updated equipment, professional

growth opportunities,

or better support systems,”

Mackey said. “Strong faculty

and staff equal strong

student outcomes, so investment

here is essential.”

Looking to the future,

Mackey said he wants Bakersfield

College to explore

non-traditional programs. “I

want to see Bakersfield College

explore non-traditional

programs such as rocket

shuttle projects, expanded

athletics like golf, and new

pathways that align with

the industries of the future,”

he said. “Additionally, I will

push for updated technology

and equipment in our classrooms

because students and

faculty deserve tools that reflect

the high standards of

higher education.”

Mackey also stressed the

importance of equity, diversity,

and inclusion. “Equity,

diversity, and inclusion are

not just words; they must be

embedded into every decision

we make,” he said. “I

will work to ensure that each

group on campus whether

traditional or non-traditional

students has access

to the resources, opportunities,

and representation

they need. Our community

is like a body, and every part

must receive the nutrients it

requires to be whole.” For

Mackey, what excites him

most is the diversity of Bakersfield

College. “Different

ages, cultures, and life paths

all converge here at BC.

That creates a richness of

experience that no other institution

can replicate. Being

a part of that community,

and helping unify it, is deeply

inspiring to me.”

He also shared a message

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

New President outlines vision for BC

By Carlos Ayala

Reporter

Dr. Stacy Pfluger, interim

president of Bakersfield

College, says her top priority

in her new role is building

stronger connections

with the community while

ensuring students have the

resources they need to succeed.

“I’m very focused on

building partnerships with

the community,” she explained.

She acknowledged

that one of the biggest challenges

facing BC is the scale

of instruction.

With the opening of the

Arvin campus, Pfluger said

the college is working to

bring resources together and

expand student support.

When asked what message

she would give students,

Pfluger shared “If I could

have a message it would be

my husband’s quote. ‘It’s

hard to fail if you never quit

trying’,” she said. “You’ve

got to see the possibilities

and keep pushing towards

them.”

Stepping into the interim

president role, Pfluger

said she was inspired by the

chance to have a broader impact

on student success and

the college’s growth. “The

biggest draw for me is availability

affecting student success

and operation of success

and in this role it’s broader

and has the availability to be

more intentional for improving

the school and foundation

of future growth,” she

said.

Supporting student success

both academically and outside

the classroom remains

one of her central goals. “I

think we got a lot of things

going with tutoring and

writing, if we have opportunities

to expand.” Pfluger

explained.

She also highlighted BC’s

Meet the new SGA President

strengths, pointing to the

people who make up the

campus community. “I think

here, especially on campus,

there are people wanting

to be part of the BC family

and a lot of community support,”

she said.

To remain connected with

students, Pfluger said she

values being present and

approachable. “Being available

is the best and there are

some groups I meet with like

student government and try

to get around campus walking

around and engaging

with the students,” Pfluger

stated.

directly with his peers: “My

advice is simple: Do not just

read history—write it. Every

challenge you face at BC

is an opportunity to define

your legacy. Take ownership

of your education, seek

mentorship, and remember

that leadership begins with

how you lead yourself.”

STEPHANIE PEREZ/THE RIP

SGA President Khalfani

H. Mackey


Page 3

News

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

Transfer Day event at BC

By Leilani Nordine

Reporter

Many BC students gathered at the Renegade Event Center

on the morning of Sept. 8 for the fall semester transfer day.

Transfer day gave BC students the chance to interact with

multiple university representatives from across the country.

Majority of these universities that came to BC were a part

of the CSU’s and UC’s in California. This gave students the

opportunity to learn more about how the UC and CSU systems

work. Apart from this many students also got a chance

to look at other universities outside of California. Transfer

counselor, Rene Diaz shared how many students are eager

to see who’s here and what they can learn, along with all the

free gear they give away.

Apart from this, transfer days aren’t just a day to collect

pamphlets and get free souvenirs, it is also a day to connect

with college representatives. “This event gets students to get

out of their comfort zone by asking specific questions about

the campus culture and the diversity.” stated Diaz.

Furthermore, multiple students have shared when coming

to transfer day, students tend to look for schools that meet

their academic and personal goals.

Prnathi Mathew a bio major student stated, “I’m definitely

trying to find a stem focus school, but at the same time I don’t

want it to be overly rigorous.”

During the event, many BC students shared some of the

schools they were interested in transferring to. The most popular

option was UC Santa Barbara.

Abdiel Zapata, a psychology major student shared, “I just

By Joshua Dante

Reporter

The Student Involvement Festival returned

to Bakersfield College on Sept.

4. between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. It

welcomed all students, with resource

booths, as well as music and food. All

through the day students explored resource

tables, gathering information

about many opportunities available.

The Disabled Students Programs

and Services booth gave information

about how they provide equal access

to education opportunities for students

with disabilities. The Student Health

and Wellness Center are available for

students who need first aid for injuries,

over the counter medications, as well

as Health education, Health screenings,

and various other medical needs.

There were booths giving out information

about employment and apprenticeships.

The Traditions Health

organization needs hospice volunteers,

to help care for seniors and healthcare

patients that need care and attention.

The Greenfield After School Success

Program is now hiring. They provide

mentoring and tutoring in reading,

math, and writing. Pathway advisors

are available to assist all students with

registration, class scheduling, educational

planning, career guidance.

There were many booths representing

various clubs. These included,

a history club, a Photography club, a

Christian Fellowship group, an agricultural

club and others.

Throughout the day, students visited

the festival. There were many booths to

visit with many opportunities for info.

For If anyone that needs information

about what the festival had to offer,

want to see all the colleges that are around here and see my

future potential in all these other campuses.”

Transfer Day overall gave many BC students the opportunity

to see their other options after their time at BC is over.

Diaz also shared how one of his former students had called

him to say how all the services provided at BC gave her the

opportunity to transfer to CSUB.

LEILANI NORDINE/THE RIP

BC students gathered around UCLA and Sacramento

State University information tables

during transfer day in the Renegade Event

Center. Sept. 8.

BC Student Involvement Festival

they should reach out to attendees.

This might help make new connections,

after all the festival helped make

those connections.

JOSHUA DANTE/THE RIP

Students explore the festival in the

shade.


Page 4

Sportss

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

Renegades take the victory

By Carlos Ayala

Reporter

The Renegades improved to 2–0 on

the season with a convincing 33–7 win

over the Bulldogs on Sept. 6, powered

by a dominant defensive performance

and huge plays on special teams.

The defense came out aggressive,

forcing a three-and-out on the Bulldogs’

first possession. On the punt attempt,

the Bulldogs tried a fake, but

Tyler Lewis was ready. He sacked the

punter in the backfield, forcing a safety

and putting the Renegades on the

board with a 2–0 lead.

The offense had a rough start, fumbling

on its first possession and later

throwing a costly interception at the

goal line. But the defense picked them

up again, forcing a fumble and grabbing

two interceptions in the half, including

one from Nathaniel Wallace

(#20). A quarterback switch from Malachi

Statler (#13) to Carson Woods

(#2) gave the offense some momentum.

Woods handed off to Corey Watkins Jr.

(#22) for the team’s first touchdown,

extending the lead to 12–0. However,

the Bulldogs answered right before

halftime with a pick-six, cutting the

score to 12–7 at the break.

The second half was a completely

different story. On the opening drive,

Woods dropped back and found Dylan

Johnson (#6) streaking down the field

for an 87-yard touchdown strike. The

score pushed the Renegades’ lead to

19–7 and gave Johnson his first highlight

of the night.

The Renegades’ special teams continued

to dominate. Late in the third

quarter, they blocked a punt and quickly

turned it into points when Woods connected

with Johnson again, this time for

a 34-yard touchdown. Moments later,

another blocked punt set the offense up

inside the Bulldogs’ 25-yard line. Running

back Ian Jernigan (#25) finished

the drive with a rushing touchdown,

sealing the game at 33–7.

Johnson, who caught both of Woods’

touchdown passes, reflected on his

breakout performance after the win. “I

felt good and blessed,” he said. “God is

good. I’m ready for the next game, and

it feels great that our team is 2–0.”

With the defense forcing turnovers all

night and special teams creating scoring

chances, the Renegades overcame a

slow offensive start and finished strong,

showing they can win in all three phases

of the game.

ARAYA BAN/THE RIP

RB Ian Jernigan (#25) celebrates after

scoring a rushing touchdown that sealed

the Renegades’ 33-7 victory.

Renegades shine in triumph

against College of the Desert

By Araya Ban

Reporter

Striking three times, Bakersfield College

Renegades pulled it off in a gritty

3-2 early season game against Desert on

the Friday afternoon of Sept 5, 2025.

As the clock ticked down the game

went on with tension. Lots of time

was spared with the sound of clashing

cleats, determination, and the fresh

smell of cut grass until our very own

(#26) defender, Cyril Langevine kicked

off from (#6) Luis Gil and (#20) Javier

Villatoro scored the very first goal for

Bakersfield College bringing the Renegades

to a 1-0 during halftime.

In the blazing heat as the game continued

4 minutes into its second half

the trailblazing team chemistry of our

Renegades was brought out as Midfielder

(#24) Dawson Wilifordd struck

on a stunning assist by (#8) Joshua

Martinez for a fire ball of a second

goal doubling the score to 2-0. Nearing

the end of the second half things were

getting tense, the focus, and adrenaline

pumping through the veins of these determined

young players were beginning

to pour out. Bakersfield College players

were frequently getting knocked down,

but the Renegades never wavered.

The momentum kept building as they

tightened their grip on the match, controlling

the pace and flow with steady

determination. Still, the Desert Roadrunners

weren’t finished, by the 73rd

minute, they mounted a late push that

turned the game into a nail-biting,

neck-and-neck battle. The pressure set

the field for a thrilling finish, and the

energy on the field shifted into a tense,

high-stakes environment.

BC’s goalkeeper, (#23) Brian Ruvalcaba,

rose to the moment with grit and

resilience, recording a fighting total of

seven saves as he threw his body and

heart in front of the net to protect the

post. On the attack, the Renegades refused

to slow down, firing off shot after

shot, closing the match with eight

on target compared to the Roadrunners’

two. Their relentless spirit and

commanding presence embodied the

mentality and physicality of renegade

knights in shining armor, proving once

again why this field belongs to Bakersfield

College.


Page 5

Campus

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

Styled to build confidence

By Jolie Wyatt

Reporter

On Tuesday Sept. 2,

Styled for Success helped by

offering free haircuts to students

in the Bakersfield College

Panorama Bookstore in

association with ClipDart.

Juan Reyes, Jennifer Rodriguez,

and Savannah Gomez

took on the challenge of

distributing haircuts to more

than 50 students that signed

up through their QR codes

on their advertisements posted

throughout campus.

ClipDart is a Social Enterprise

and Nonprofit organization

founded by Kyle

Parker. Parker’s statement

via the official ClipDart website

states he “...lost all access

to culturally competent haircare

which made him realize

just how vital haircare is to

one’s mental wellness.”

When talking with the

Cosmetologists and Barber

involved with the event, they

were all incredibly enthusiastic.

“We’re given a gift to

make people feel beautiful

regardless of a budget.” said

Savannah Gomez, one of

the Cosmetologists involved

in the event.

When asked about what

she hopes to see her clients

walk away with she replied,

“I hope they walk away with

confidence,” Gomez said

simply.

In conversation, she explained

that since she had

such little time, she did very

thorough consultation with

each client to ensure that

they would all get exactly

what they wanted.

Gomez also shared a

touching experience that

happened during the event.

She got the opportunity

to help a student feel truly

themselves by giving them a

gender affirming haircut.

While talking to students

that attended the event, Isabella

Torres shared, “I haven’t

had my hair done in so

long,” while getting her hair

curled.

Torres had so much gratitude

for her stylist, Jennifer

Rodriguez.

For Gomez and the other

stylists, Styled for Success

wasn’t just about the haircuts—

it was about the confidence,

“If you don’t have

the proper grooming tools,

you’re more concerned

about what other people are

thinking rather than what

you’re learning about in

school,” said Gomez.

JOLIE WYATT/THE RIP

Jennifer Rodriguez curling

student Isabella Torres’

hair after cutting it.

Levan center deep cuts

Joshua Dante

Reporter

Bakersfield College held the semester’s first installment of

“Deep Cuts and Conversations,” on Sept.10, between 1:30-

2:30 p.m. in the Levan Center. The meeting was moderated

by Professors, Reggie Williams, Kyle Burnham, and Tim

Heasley.

The meetings are informal and are held on the second

Wednesday of every month in the Levan Center from 1:30-

2:30 p.m.

“We’ve been meeting here at Bakersfield College, going on

eight years now,” Reggie Williams stated, “The attendance

varies.”

Most of the audience that attended on this first installment

for the semester were there for extra credit. Though there

were a few others who visited to experience a fun, musical

activity.

During the meeting, audience members are allowed to pick

music to play and are asked after what they thought about

the music choice they made and anything else that they like

about their song.

“I think the most requested genre of music are hip-hop,

popular commercial, and experimental type stuff,” Reggie

commented.

The meeting kicked off with four songs by the 1990s grunge

band, Alice in Chains, with their songs: Grind, Bleed the

Freak, down in a Hole, and No Excuses. Other audience

picks included music from, Cage the Elephant, Alicia Creti,

Celeste, and even Billy Joel.

There was also a discussion about how Classical Music influences

Contemporary Film composers.

Deep Cutts and Conversations, is an entertaining way to

hear new music or maybe music that is recognizable. It’s a

great opportunity to play song favorites that others might like

and be influenced to listen to.

As always, these meetings are free and open to everyone.

It’s a great way to hear and discuss music of any genre. If

anyone attends a meeting, be encouraged to bring your playlist.

JOSHUA DANTE/ THE RIP

Reggie Williams, center, discussing music

played during the meeting.


Campus

Page 6

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

SAGA: Not your average club

By Leilani Nordine

Reporter

Bakersfield College has had many clubs throughout the

years; however, one club has been at BC since 2009, and that

club is the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance club or SAGA.

SAGA is one of the many BC clubs on campus that promote

a safe space for both students and staff on campus.

This club brings together many people from the LGBT+

community; however, Co-advisor Chris Holland has stated,

“come on by and get to know the club, whether you are in

the LGBT+ community or not.” Many members of the club

have been promoting SAGA has a safe space for all.

This safe space for all promotion of the club has been happening

since Sept. of 2009 thanks to Advisor Helen Acosta

accepting an offer from a former student about becoming an

advisor. Acosta had stated, “that at the time I had no experience

advising a club, but I had experience being a part of the

queer community.” With her knowledge of the community

and the help of Professor Gloria Dumbler co-advising the

club, it has been standing for the last 16 years. Since then, the

club has been meeting every Wednesday at 4:10 pm.

Throughout the years, many members of the club have felt

a more welcoming atmosphere compared to the space they

felt during high school. Many club members have shared

that during high school their own SAGA was welcoming;

however, it wasn’t as welcoming as BC’s SAGA. The president

of SAGA, Lloyd Chatterton, shared “the club here is

more inclusive.” The reason for so much inclusivity is due to

the fact there aren’t any cliques here at BC. One member

stated, “I hope that new members get a sense of belonging

and a feeling of support.”

Apart from this, SAGA has overcome one of their biggest

challenges, which was the 2020 pandemic. Due to this pandemic

shutting down everything, it became a challenge for

the club to meet on a weekly basis; however, the club created

a speaker series. This series had many of the club members

be given a chance to speak to multiple people from across the

country, most of whom were former BC students. During

this closed-off period, the club created an outlet to connect

with others from the community.

Furthermore, SAGA is holding a special event on Sept. 17,

which is Constitution Day. SAGA and many other clubs will

be coming together to educate BC students and staff on understanding

their Constitutional rights.

Overall, as previously stated, many of the SAGA club

members and advisors have been creating a safe environment

for all BC students and staff to enjoy.

LEILANI NORDINE/THE RIP

Officer Mike Wilkerson answering

questions about safety on BC’s

campuses on Sept. 3

First place nationally for two year college Websites at

the Associated Collegiate Press 2020 midwinter conference.

Fifth place newspapers. First place for newspaper

in 2011, third place in 2013, 2014, 2015 for CNPA General

Excellence

Fourth place nationally in 2019 for website publication

by Associated Collegiate Press

The Renegade Rip is produced by Bakersfield College

journalism classes and is circulated on Thursdays

during the fall and spring semesters. The newspaper is

published under the auspices of the Kern Community

College District Board of Trustees, but sole responsibility

for its content rests with student editors. The Rip is

a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association,

Associated Collegiate Press, and California

Colleges Media Association.

The Renegade Rip

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief..........................Sam Cooley

Digital Editor.............................Isabel Farias

News Editor.........................Stephanie Perez

Sports Editor....................Samantha Trujillo

Arts & Entertainment Editor.....Diego

Zaragoza

Opinion Editor.............................Jared Buys

Copy Editor...........................RubenTrujillo

Adviser.........................................Erin Auerbach

STAFF CONTINUED

Reporters/photographers:

Carlos Ayala

Araya Ban

Alex Bejarano

Xavier Chavez

Joshua Dante

Linda Lemons

Gabriella Martinez

Leilani Nordine

Elian Puentes

Ocean Roberson

Jolie Wyatt

Write The Rip

Letters should not exceed 300 words,

must be accompanied by a signature

and the letter writer’s identity must be

verified.

The Rip reserves the right to edit

letters, however, writers will be given

the opportunity to revise lengthy or

unacceptable submissions.

If an organization submits a letter as a

group, it must be signed by only one person,

either the leader of the organization

or the letter writer. Anonymous letters

will not be published.

How to reach us

-Address: Bakersfield College,

1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield,

CA 93305

-Phone: (661) 395-4324

-Email: ripmail@bakersfieldcollege.edu

-Website: therip.com


Page 7

Opinion

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

Indie Animation: Industry

for Creatives

By Alex Bejarano

Reporter

When one thinks of animation,

they picture Disney,

Pixar, DreamWorks, or Illumination;

the head honchos

of the industry. These

studios have been the cornerstones

of this medium

for decades, appealing to a

massive global audience. All

of that changed on Oct 28,

2019.

The pilot episode for Hazbin

Hotel, created by Vivienne

Medrano was released

on YouTube, amassing over

a hundred million views,

along with her spinoff series,

Helluva Boss at sixty-nine

million views to date. It was a

passion project of Vivienne’s

that took four years to create

with help from all corners of

the internet. The raunchy

adult musical skyrocketed in

popularity, being picked up

by A24 Films, produced by

SpindleHorse, released on

Prime Video, and greenlit

for three more seasons.

The series follows the

Princess of Hell running a

rehabilitation hotel after the

annual exterminations carried

out by Heaven. Meanwhile

its spinoff series follows

a bunch of imps running a

business all about killing people

in the living world. Both

host a colorful cast of characters

voiced by Broadway,

Hollywood, and internet legends.

Vivienne and her team

didn’t stop there. Stay tuned

for the pilot of Homestuck

based on the popular web

comic by Andrew Hussie.

While the show has some

pacing issues audiences have

fallen in love with this show

and its inhabitants, beautiful

animation and a soundtrack

that has reached critical acclaim.

The fan base continues

to show their passion and

love for the franchise through

cosplay and fan art.

Glitch Productions is another

studio that continues

to produce stellar shows that

prioritize fun stories and creativity

above all else. Their

discography includes shows

like Murder Drones and

The Gaslight District. However,

you cannot mention

Glitch without acknowledging

their most popular show;

The Amazing Digital Circus

created by Gooseworx. A

phycological horror heavily

inspired by the popular scifi

novel I Have No Mouth

and I Must Scream. While

the show is reaching its final

episode, the impact is undeniable.

Audiences are positively

obsessed with The Amazing

Digital Circus. Since its conception,

each new episode

continues to amass millions

of fans all around the world.

It is a show that will be talked

about for generations to

come.

These two studios have

proven time and time again

that they value creativity over

the bottom line. Due to this

belief and practice ex-Disney

animator Dana Terrace,

creator of The Owl House

has a new show coming out

with them called Knights of

Guenevere; Gitch’s first ever

2-D animated show. The pilot

will be released Sept. 19,

2025. Indie animation will

not be replacing the major

studios any time soon, but

their message is clear. Audiences

and by extension the

shows’ creators want creativity

and quality.

What’s up Juice it up

Ruben Trujillo

Copy Editor

During the week I went to

try Juice it up a smoothie bar

here locally in town that just

opened in second location in

August. It sounded incredibly

good, intriguing, and

wanted to try it out myself

see if it was worth the hype.

You can find the place at

9839 Panama Lane, Suite

100.

As I walked in everything

smelled fresh and the vibe

was nice and chill. The place

offers a nice warm feeling

They had one long table on

the side and many different

chairs to sit on with pillows.

The employees were very

friendly and helpful they told

me exactly what they had

on the menu. They carry a

variety of raw healthy juices

which you can even create

your own, they even got

smoothies, açaí bowls, and

even avocado toast and more.

I kept it simple and had two

smoothies and a juice. One

was the Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava

Smoothie highly

recommend that one but

keep in mind it is a seasonal

summer drink so get it while

you still can. The second was

the raspberry haze and lastly,

I decided to create my own

juice by trying something different

and added cucumber

pineapple and spinach it was

okay.

When it comes to prices

it’s not the cheapest but

not super expensive, I ordered

three items: a juice

and two smoothies. The

small smoothies came out

to $5.99 each, and the raw

juice was $7.55 and in total

it was 20 dollars. They also

offer medium, and large too

This could be a place where

you could come with friends

hang around sit down on

the many chairs that are

available. After a workout

or finishing a run get yourself

a raw juice or a protein

smoothie.

The area around the place

is super nice and clean very

safe environment to bring

your kids for a smoothie.

Overall, I had a wonderful

experience my first time

there so many different stuffs

to choose from you should

give it a shot.

RUBEN TRUJILLO/ THE RIP

The types of smoothies

and raw juices offered at

juice it up.


Culture & Calendar

Page 8

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

Viva México

The Legacy of Independence

Each September, communities

in Mexico and

around the world celebrate

Mexican Independence

Day, marking the nation’s

freedom from Spanish colonial

rule. Often mistaken

for Cinco de Mayo, the

true day of independence is

September 16, a date filled

with history, pride, and tradition.

On that morning in

1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo

y Costilla rang the

church bell in Dolores and

called for revolt against

Spanish rule. His speech,

remembered as El Grito de

Dolores (“The Cry of Dolores”),

sparked the war for

independence and became

a lasting symbol of Mexico’s

fight for freedom.

Celebrations officially

begin the night of September

15, when Mexico’s

president reenacts El Grito

from the National Palace

in Mexico City. Across the

country, crowds wave flags,

shout “¡Viva México!” at

midnight, and watch fireworks

fill the sky. The next

day brings parades, festivals,

and concerts that honor

the nation’s heritage.

Culture

By Stephanie Perez

News Editor

Stephanie Perez

For Mexican families,

Independence Day is both

history and identity—a

time to embrace language,

music, and food that connect

generations. Dishes

like pozole, tamales, and

chiles en nogada fill tables,

while mariachi and folklórico

add rhythm and color.

In Bakersfield, where many

trace roots to Mexico, the

holiday also highlights the

community’s strength, diversity,

and cultural contributions.

As September 16 approaches,

remember the

words that began it all: El

Grito. A cry for freedom

that still echoes today—reminding

us that independence

is both a right and a

responsibility.

Renegade Events

Campus Events

Sept 17: Constituion Day Festival: Located at the Renegade

Crossroads at 10:00 AM-1:00PM

Sept 23: Frida’s Life & Collabortive Mural: Located at

the Fireside Room at 3:00PM-5:00PM

Sept 25: From Earth to the Universe Planetarium Show:

Located at The William M. Thomas Planetarium at 7:30PM

to 8:30PM

Sept 29: Colores De Mi Cultura: Talavera Tile Painting:

Located at BC’s SouthWest Room 102 at 2:30PM-4:30PM

Oct 1: Transforming A Hispannic-Serving Institution:

Located at CSS 151 at 2:30PM-4:00PM

Oct 2: Noche De Familia: Located at Arvin Education

Center at 5:00PM-7:00PM

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!