Volume 130, Issue 4

UNR Dean of Engineering’s questionable research papers arise

By Jaedyn Young and Emerson Drewes

Dozens of academic research papers from Erick Jones, dean of the College of Engineering, have circulated online that are “so bad, you can’t believe it.”

This comes after a blog post was published by Andrew Gelman, a statistics and political science professor at Columbia University, who commented on the “empty jargon” present in the studies.

The main paper in question by Gelman is titled “Using Science to Minimize Sleep Deprivation that may reduce Train Accidents,” listing Jones as one of the four authors and was published in the International Supply Chain Technology Journal in 2022. Many red flags were raised by Gelman and subsequently the academic community on X, formerly known as Twitter: the paper consisted of only one page, two paragraphs and no citations and the peer review process took only 15 days.

Jones was hired as dean of the College of Engineering in 2022 and previously served as the senior science advisor in the Office of the Chief Economist at the U.S. State Department and was a former professor and the associate dean for Graduate Studies at the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Upon the publication of Gelman’s article, many took to X to further investigate the claims, calling Jones an “academic fraud”. Internet sleuths pointed out ISCTJ has two websites, both of which have Erick Jones on the editorial board, but in different capacities: one lists him as Editor-in-Chief, while the other simply lists him as a board member.

In a response to The Nevada Sagebrush, Gelman stated he denies Jones is a fraud or is involved in anything fraudulent, he is just “baffled” at the situation.

“I have no idea what is going on. This is one of the most bizarre academic stories I’ve ever hear[d],” said Gelman in a response to the Sagebrush. “Just to be clear, I’m not saying there is any fraud here.”

Gelman is unaware of what requirements a dean’s position at the University of Nevada, Reno or the College of Engineering’s research qualifications are, if any.

“What disturbed me is that some of his papers are so bad that it’s incomprehensible to me how they could be associated with a dean of engineering at a flagship state university, or a dean of engineering anywhere,” Gelman told The Sagebrush. “I was not saying that Dr. Jones’s research has not been sufficient for his job.”

Additionally, the majority of Jones’s publications per his Google Scholar have been through ISCTJ and the content raises the same alarms as the original article in question: little substance in the paper and a short turnaround time. Even further investigation pointed out Jones publishing almost identical articles in two separate issues of ISCTJ with the same authors, but separate review and publication dates.

Allegations of plagiarism have also surfaced, one X user saying Jones “took an existing published paper, added his name to it, and proceeded to republish the exact same article 3 more times.”

In another example, a commenter on the blog post cited an article titled “Working Towards Sustainable Net Neutral Critical Mineral Supply Chains” with seven sentences that was authored by five people, including Jones.

“What’s amazing is that any of the five listed authors of this paper must have had the ability to write something at least half coherent on the topic … But they couldn’t even be bothered to do that, ” Gelman commented in reply to this user. “The whole thing is

just so damn weird.”

Jones replied to the allegations in the comment section of Gelman’s blog post claiming Gelman’s assessment of the work was “unjust”; he said he “gave up” being editor of the journal a “few years back,” but is still the initial founder and editor of the publication, as well as an investor.

“The journal is peer reviewed and it was designed initially for more American supply chain practitioners, researchers and undergraduate students in applied application labs to publish with faculty, from internships and class papers on applied engineering activities that are related to supply chain technologies,” said Jones.

Furthermore, Jones admonished Gelman for his “crucifixion” and “hatchet job”, stating he does not use the work published in ISCTJ on his resume and has several textbooks and articles “more accepted” in the field.

Gelman further stood his ground in a comment back to Jones, his criticism directed towards UNR administration and not UNR faculty, or the university as a whole.

“It is a criticism of some aspect of the UNR administration in which the dean of engineering is running a journal that is publishing junk papers by himself and others,” said Gelman in his response. “If I were a student I would not be happy that this is where my tuition is going.”

Jones responded to The Sagebrush with a revised version of his original comment he posted in response to the blog.

UNR officials were reached out to for comment, but The Sagebrush did not receive an immediate response.

This is a developing story please check back for updates.

Emerson Drewes and Jaedyn Young can be reached via email at edrewes@sagebrush.unr.edu or jaedynyoung@sagebrush.unr.edu or on X @ NevadaSagebrush.

Erick Jones on February 7, 2024 5:35 PM at 5:35 pm said:

Impact Nevada seeks to bring inclusivity, unity, powerful leadership

By Jaedyn Young

Election season for the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, Reno has returned for 2024. This year, two presidential and vice presidential candidate teams are running — Fayza Salah and Isabella Valdivieso, and Dawson Deal and Liesel Kemmelmeier.

Primary presidential debates will take place on March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Theater and general election debates will take place on March 12, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The general election will occur from March 12 to 13.

Read about Dawson Deal and Liesel Kemmelmeier’s campaign below:

Hi this is Erick Jones, typically I don’t reply to these type of hatchet jobs but I do respect honest criticism. I gave up being the editor of the journal a few years back but I was the founder and initial editor of the journal. The journal loses money so I am still an investor in the company that owns it. The journal is peer reviewed and it was designed initially for more American supply chain practitioners, researchers and undergraduate students in applied application labs to publish with faculty, from internships and class papers on applied engineering activities that are related to supply chain technologies. I believed that publication in top journal took to long review and get published and that many in the field were not able to publish applied papers in this field in a timely fashion.

Generally, I don’t count these on my resume. I starred the journal after I was twice tenured and a full professor. I wanted to make sure this was seen as a ploy for tenure.

Please note I have several textbooks and many articles from other journals that are higher indexed and quite frankly more accepted in the field. Personally when I started I did not expect to be an administrator just a faculty member who tried to make a difference and provide access to more applied supply chain engineering technology ideas, projects and research.

As far as the criticisms of the many contributors, editorial board and current activities of the journal I feel you are being unfair. As far as some topics especially the one you are highlighting that was worked on by US students that a new thought backed by something believed to be novel and clearly states further investi-

Continued online at thenevadasagebrush.com

Emerson Drewes and Jaedyn Young can be reached via email at edrewes@ sagebrush.unr.edu or jaedynyoung@ sagebrush.unr.edu or on X @ NevadaSagebrush.

Students, faculty petition for Dean Jones’ resignation

By Jaedyn Young and Emerson Drewes

An engineering student at the University of Nevada, Reno has started a petition urging Erick Jones, dean of the College of Engineering, to resign from his current position after research articles of his have arisen with questionable content.

This comes after a blog post was published by Andrew Gelman, a statistics and political science professor at Columbia University, who commented on the “empty jargon” present in the studies. Following the article, students and internet sleuths have dug up more articles with dubious content. Some found articles consisting of only seven sentences, multiple duplicates of

The students are intelligent and hardworking; they rightly expect competence and honesty from the people overseeing their studies.

articles published in different volumes and very short peer review processes for all articles.

“The students of the University of Nevada are intelligent and hardworking; they rightly expect competence and honesty from the people overseeing their studies,” says the petition. “It is clear on the basis of the work to which he willingly puts his name that Dean Jones lacks either the competence or the honesty to execute his office as well as [the University of Nevada, Reno] deserves.”

The petition not only calls for his resignation, but also for UNR to conduct a review of their hiring processes to “ensure that senior faculty are held to at least the same standards of academic integrity as are undergraduate students.”

Joseph Dailey, an engineering graduate student at UNR and former undergraduate at the university, started the petition after seeing coverage of the recent controversy and out of concern for the legitimacy of his degree.

“It’s regrettable that we’re in this position to begin with, but it represents an opportunity,” Dailey said. “Evidently there are blind spots in academic politics, in the peer review process and in UNR’s implementation of administrative policy. The best time to start addressing these would have been years ago; the second-best time is now.”

Currently, 196 people have signed the petition, including students and faculty members within the engineering department; The Nevada Sagebrush has confirmed the legitimacy of these claims.

Hiring the new engineering dean

During the university’s search, there were five finalists that were presented to multiple open forums during the hiring process:

Continued online at thenevadasagebrush.com

Emerson Drewes and Jaedyn Young can be reached via email at edrewes@ sagebrush.unr.edu or jaedynyoung@ sagebrush.unr.edu or on X @ NevadaSagebrush.

YOURNevada seeks to increase campus safety, advocacy, breaking the status quo

By Nick Stewart

and Dawson Deal and Liesel Kemmelmeier.

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

VOLUME 130, ISSUE 4

Editor-in-Chief: Emerson Drewes edrewes@sagebrush. unr.edu

News Editor: Jaedyn Young jaedynyoung@sagebrush.unr.edu

Asst. News Editor: Nick Stewart ns@sagebrush.unr.edu

A&E Editor: Emily Hess emilyhess@sagebrush. unr.edu

Opinion Editor: Gabriel Kanae gkanae@nevada.unr. edu

Sports Editor: Derek Raridon draridon@sagebrush. unr.edu

Co-copy Editors: Jessie Cabrera jessicacabrera@sagebrush.unr.edu

Aria Frey alfrey@sagebrush.unr. edu

Design Editor: Brooke Germain bgermain@sagebrush. unr.edu

Photo Editor: Zoe Malen zoemalen02@gmail. com

Multimedia Editor: Patrick McNabb pmcnabb@sagebrush. unr.edu

Spanish JaquelineEditor: Lopez jaquelinel@sagebrush.

Impact Nevada

Dawson Deal, presidential candidate

Deal is a junior studying political science and was born and raised in Sparks, Nev. Deal started as a business major and then switched to poly-sci due to his interest in national politics at the time of the pandemic.

“Student government was something I had been really passionate about,” Deal said. “The whole philosophy behind servant leadership I’ve kind of just been raised on.”

As for his ASUN tenure, Deal started as a senate intern before switching to his position as advocacy director for the department of Government Affairs, which is where he felt he could contribute the most to the student body. In 2023, Deal became the director for the department, where he tries to bring all opportunities of politicians coming to UNR to get students involved in local government, he explains.

“One of our favorites was the Wolf Pack talks with Mayor Schieve. There was really great engagement from the students that attended there, and that got us really excited to keep continuing the work that we were doing,” Deal said. “Even if [our work] impacts just one student on campus, I think [we’ve] done [our] job.”

Liesel Kemmelmeier, vice presidential candidate

Kemmelmeier is a junior studying social research analytics under sociology, political science and international affairs, minoring in Holocaust, Genocide and Peace studies and political communication advocacy. She was also born and raised in Reno, Nev. and said the university has always been seen as a “pillar of the community.”

Additionally, Kemmelmeier has dual citizenship in Germany and before her time at UNR she studied abroad for a year in Germany, received her translator credentials and was an au pair for some time.

When Kemmelmeier started feeling homesick for her family and Reno, she came back in May 2022 and “hit the ground running” when she became part of the Nevada Student Ambassadors program and was a director of student elections and democratic education. After a stressful election season, Kemmelmeier didn’t know if she was going to go back.

“It was something that I took a while to kind of sit on,” Kemmelmeier said. “Even I saw a lot of ASUN imperfections and their flaws and I realized that the idea behind it and the mission and continuing to do it was more important to me than just leaving. [It was about] helping to build it towards something better.”

From there she met Deal and became the assistant director of Government Affairs.

Impact Nevada 2024 Campaign

“We really wanted to emphasize the impact,” Deal said. “This year,

we really want to focus on what we keep calling for tangible change.”

The team wants to set up goals, but they want to make sure they have the capacity to actually implement their ideas and the university is willing to accept their changes. However, Deal adds that they want to be transparent with them and make sure

It ultimately comes down to what the needs of the students are, not what the needs of ASUN are

The three pillars are inclusivity, unity and impactful leadership.

Under the inclusivity pillar, their goal is to bring together groups on campus who may be missing from the conversation. Under the unity pillar, they discuss collaboration with the university working with other departments to provide students with the best possible resources and help them take advantage of opportunities they’re offered. Under the impactful leadership pillar, they want to create an environment in which ASUN can be synonymous with progress.

“I think that’s what we’ve struggled with throughout the years is through every administration [in ASUN], it can sometimes be hard to see the differences in the change in administration over administration,” Deal said. “We don’t just want to be in a stagnant area.”

Deal and Kemmelmeier discussed their 2023 priorities and issues assessment survey they discussed at the Dec. 13 senate meeting which they put out so they could hear student voices on their priority issues of concern.

“When we look at what students are telling us, we need to sit down, have those conversations and take that action,” Deal said.

They are also putting a focus of their campaign on accountability and making sure all the people in ASUN are doing what their positions require of them and that nothing is getting “overlooked.”

Transparency is another big goal amongst their campaign which includes making sure the students know what ASUN does behind the scenes and showing them what opportunities they have as students that ASUN and other programs provide them.

“So communication is a big thing as well,” Deal said. “Overall, we want the students to be involved in every process. And that should start at the very beginning.”

Kemmelmeier added that promoting public meetings that are regulated by Nevada open meeting law to discuss “vital problems” on campus, including powerbased violence, affordable housing and career readiness with students could be a key way to implement this accountability and transparency.

Continued online at thenevadasagebrush.com

YOURNevada

Fayza Salah, Presidential Candidate

Fayza Salah is a third-year neuroscience major and an honors college student. She has been in ASUN since her freshman year. Currently, she serves as the speaker of the senate, but she was a legislation intern and College of Science senator in her previous years. The name of Salah and Valdivieso’s campaign is “YOURNevada”, which is supposed to represent their dedication to cultivating a campus community that embraces diversity and inclusivity.

“At the heart of it all, we [Salah and Valdivieso] believe in fostering connections that resonate with each student’s individual needs,” said Salah. “We’re making sure that the experiences of each student is truly theirs, so we’re really aligned with ASUN’s vision.”

Salah says she feels confident in her ability to lead and is equipped to succeed.

“I understand ASUN operations in and out,” said Salah. “I think I’m very much centered around community and building a better campus environment. When I came to UNR, I came with the intent to leave an impact.”

Isabella Valdivieso, Vice Presidential Candidate Isabella Valdivieso is a thirdyear student studying both political science and Spanish literature and culture. Valdivieso has been part of ASUN since her freshman year.

Valdivieso started as an intern in the legislative affairs department of ASUN and later became the assistant director of government affairs, and she is now the director of executive affairs for ASUN.

Valdivieso is running for vice president of ASUN with her running mate Fayza Salah, who is running for president. She explained her plan to connect with students to understand what they’re looking for and use the student voices to shape their goals, which included interviewing students and asking them questions about if they do or do not feel a sense of community.

“We think there is a lack of identity found for all UNR students to kind of unite under,” said Valdivieso. “There’s lots of different kinds of identity and lots of different communities on campus, which is awesome, but we want to make sure we can have an overarching one for everyone.”

Valdivieso says she feels confident to step into the role as vice president, especially with the number of ways she has worked with ASUN in the past.

YOURNevada Campaign Pillars

The main pillars of the YOURNevada campaign are: impact and intentions; advocacy through compassion and community; breaking the status quo. Additionally, Salah and Valdivieso emphasized the importance of campus safety and how it became a priority within her campaign.

“We’re committed to implementing proactive measures, such as continuous active shooter workshops, to evaluating communication strategies and maybe finding ways to better streamline communication to students,” said Salah.

As for creating a diverse and inclusive space, both women are tying their own identities as women of color into their vision for the student community.

“We want to create a safe space for all backgrounds and identities,” said Salah. “We’re committed to fostering an environment where all students feel like they belong, and that they’re supported and represented.”

Lastly, Salah and Valdivieso want to make class materials such as textbooks more affordable to students.

“We plan to try and get professors to shift towards open educational resources and affordable textbook options,” said Salah.

When talking about the goals of her and Salah’s campaign, Valdivieso says that their goals are always growing and changing and are not necessarily set in stone.

“We really do feel like it needs to be a focus on YOURNevada and making sure that when we use the word empower and we use the word impact, it’s used in a sense that it’s a positive thing,” said Valdivieso.

Valdivieso pointed out that when looking to make change, it’s important to consider factors such as whether or not they reached out to students, if they were included in decisions and if their resources were met Fayza Salah can be reached at fayza.salah@nevada.unr.edu or on Instagram @your.nevada. Isabella Valdivieso can be reached at isabellaehatt@nevada.unr.edu or on Instagram @your.nevada.

Nick Stewart can be reached at ns@ sagebrush.unr.edu or on X @nickk_ stewart.

Nevada Sagebrush

@NevadaSagebrush

@NevadaSagebrush

By Emerson Drewes

What is the student media ballot question?

The student media ballot question will be present on the Spring 2024 Associated Students of the University of Nevada ballot for students to vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the following question:

“Shall the Associate Students of the University of Nevada seek Board of Regents approval of a student media fee to fund the Nevada Sagebrush, Insight Magazine, Brushfire Literature and Arts Journal, and Wolf Pack Radio at the rate of $1.29 per credit taken?”

The question must get a two-thirds vote, approximately 66 percent, to pass.

If the question passes, what’s next?

As with all pieces of ASUN legislation and ballot questions: the Board of Regents has the final say in whether or not this fee passes. If two-thirds is met, the piece will be presented in December 2024 to the Regents. Realistically, the fee will not be enacted until the 2025 to 2026 school year.

How is student media funded currently?

Currently, Brushfire Literature and Arts Journal, Wolf Pack Radio and Insight Magazine are funded via ASUN. The Nevada Sagebrush us funded independently via advertisements and donations. However ASUN does have a line item dedicated to Nevadwwa Sagebrush advertising funds, but they are not required to spend all of the funding every school year.

Why is student media choosing to break away from ASUN and fund themselves via an independent fee?

The idea of a student fee, or sometimes called a student tax, to fund student media is not a new concept. In 2022, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ student

newspaper put in place a 20-cent-per-credit fee to fund the newspaper alone (the UNR fee would fund ALL FOUR student media). Other schools that have student fees to support student media include: many of our Mountain West Conference neighbors, Rutgers University, University of California, Irvine, etc. (seriously, just Google student newspaper fee).

Additionally, student media still continues to see drastic changes in funding and operating due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Brushfire, Wolf Pack Radio and Insight are funded via ASUN, therefore any budget cuts that come to ASUN could affect their organizations or the senate could choose to cut their budgets to move money to other student resources.

As for the Sagebrush, advertising revenue has declined significantly since the pandemic, making only $14,000 during the 2021 to 2022 school year; in its prime it was making over $150,000 in advertising. Additionally, with the printing press in Northern Nevada shutting down, cutting print has been a mandatory discharge due to the high costs of shipping from Northern California.

Currently, the Sagebrush runs on an approximately $30,000 per year budget, spending only $18,000 on wages for a thirteen person staff.

Where is the money going if the fee passes?

The money will fund all four student media, a full-time professional staff position that directly supports the organizations and a pool of money within the Student Media Advisory Board for scholarships, grants, overhead costs or to help fund new student media initiatives.

One of the main reasons for starting the fee was to provide livable wages for all staff members (more than half of the student media leaders work two to three jobs); the ability to pay our contributors who are currently unpaid volunteers (p.s. this also means YOU can get a piece of the pie); estab-

lish a pool for other students to dip into and expand the student media landscape at the university, create high quality pieces of media to push the university’s transparency and artistic capabilities and produce a competitive media landscape for UNR students to be recognized across the country due to the resources of this fee.

Students can view the entire proposed legislation starting on page 5, including the proposed budgets for each student organization.

Will there be any kind of oversight if this passes?

Yes. Since 2009 all student media leaders have reported to the Student Media Advisory Board as a form of oversight and as a voting body. The SMAB consists of fifteen members: all four student media leaders; Reynolds School of Journalism senator; one students at large not affiliated with student media; RSJ dean or faculty designee; one university faculty member; Coordinator for Student Publications and Marketing; ASUN Vice President; Associate Director of the Center for Student Engagement; two additional students at large chosen by either the ASUN Vice President or ASUN Senators.

For any additional questions about the ballot question please reach out to edrewes@sagebrush. unr.edu or the additional student media leaders and we may add it to the list.

Español

SURGEON

INFORMES DE INVESTIGACIÓN CUESTIONABLES DEL DECANO DE INGENIERÍA DE UNR

Actualización 11:57 p.m. del 8 de febrero

Jessica Lozada, oficial de comunicaciones de la universidad, le dijo a Sagebrush que están informados de las acusaciones.

“Nos tomamos en serio este tipo de reclamos, y es una práctica estándar que la universidad revise e investigue, lo que actualmente estamos en proceso de hacer”, dijo Lozada por correo electrónico.

Historia Original:

Docenas de informes de investigación académica de Erick Jones, decano de la Facultad de Ingeniería, han circulado en línea que son “tan malos que no puedes creerlo”.

Esto se produce después de que Andrew Gelman, profesor de estadística y ciencias políticas de la Universidad de Columbia, publicó una entrada de blog que comenta la “jerga vacía” presente en los estudios.

El artículo principal en cuestión de Gelman se titula como “Usando la ciencia para minimizar la privación del sueño que puede reducir los accidentes de tren”, enumerando a Jones como uno de los cuatro autores y fue publicado en el International Supply Chain Technology Journal (ISCTJ) en 2022. Gelman

y, posteriormente, la comunidad académica en “X”, anteriormente conocida como “Twitter”, plantearon muchas toques de atención: El periódico consistía en una sola página, dos párrafos y ninguna cita y el proceso de revisión por pares sólo tomó 15 días.

Jones fue contratado como decano de la Facultad de Ingeniería en 2022 y anteriormente se desempeñó como asesor científico senior en la Oficina del Economista Presidente del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos y fue un ex profesor y decano asociado de Estudios de Posgrado en la Facultad de Ingeniería en la Universidad de Texas en Arlington.

Tras la publicación del artículo de Gelman, muchos recurrieron a X para investigar más a fondo las afirmaciones, llamando a Jones un “fraude académico”. Detectives del Internet señaló que ISCTJ tiene dos sitios web: Uno de los cuales lo enumera como directora, mientras que el otro enumera a su hijo Erick Jones Jr. como miembro de la junta.

En una respuesta a el Nevada Sagebrush, Gelman declaró que niega que Jones sea un fraude o esté involucrado en algo fraudulen-

to, simplemente está “desconcertado” por la situación.

“No tengo idea de lo que está pasando. Esta es una de las historias académicas más extrañas que he escuchado”, dijo Gelman en una respuesta a Sagebrush. “Solo para ser claro, no estoy diciendo que haya ningún fraude aquí”.

Gelman no está consciente de cuáles son los requisitos para el puesto de decano en la Universidad de Nevada, Reno o las calificaciones de investigación de la Facultad de Ingeniería, si es que los hay.

“Lo que me molestó es que algunos de sus papeles son tan malos que es incomprensible para mí cómo podrían asociarse con un decano de ingeniería en una universidad estatal insignia, o un decano de ingeniería en cualquier lugar”, dijo Gelman a Sagebrush. “No estaba diciendo que la investigación del Dr. Jones no ha sido suficiente para su trabajo”.

Además, la mayoría de las publicaciones de Jones según su Google Scholar han sido a través de ISCTJ y el contenido plantea las mismas alarmas que el artículo original en cuestión: poca sustancia en el papel y un corto tiempo de respuesta. Incluso una investigación adicional señaló que Jones publicó artículos casi idénticos en dos números separados del ISCTJ con los mismos autores, pero fechas separadas de revisión y publicación.

También han surgido acusaciones de plagio, un usuario de X dijo que Jones “tomó un artículo publicado existente, le agregó su nombre y procedió a volver a publicar exactamente el mismo artículo 3 veces más”.

En otro ejemplo, un comentarista en la publicación del blog citó un artículo titulado “Trabajando hacia cadenas de suministro de minerales críticos neutrales netas sostenibles” con siete frases que fueron escritas por cinco personas, incluido Jones.

“Lo que es sorprendente es que cualquiera de los cinco autores enumerados de este artículo debe haber tenido la capacidad de escribir algo al menos medio coherente sobre el tema … Pero ni siquiera podían molestarse en hacer eso”, comentó Gelman en respuesta a este usuario. “Todo esto es tan maldito extraño”.

Captura de pantalla del sitio web de la ISCTJ Jones, respondió a las acusaciones en la sección de comentarios de la publicación del

blog de Gelman afirmando que la evaluación de Gelman del trabajo era “injusta”; dijo que “dejó de ser” editor de la revista “hace unos años”, pero sigue siendo el fundador inicial y editor de la publicación, así como un inversor.

“La revista es revisada por evaluación de pares y fue diseñada inicialmente para que más profesionales estadounidenses de la cadena de suministro, investigadores y estudiantes de pregrado en laboratorios de aplicaciones aplicadas publiquen con la facultad, desde pasantías y informes de clase sobre actividades de ingeniería aplicada que están relacionadas con las tecnologías de la cadena de suministro”, dijo Jones.

Además, Jones advirtió a Gelman por su “crucifixión” y “crítica feroz”, afirmando que no utiliza el trabajo publicado en ISCTJ en su currículum y tiene varios libros de texto y artículos “más aceptados” en el campo.

Gelman se mantuvo firme en un comentario a Jones, sus críticas dirigidas a la administración de UNR y no a la facultad de UNR, o a la universidad en su conjunto.

“Es una crítica a algún aspecto de la administración de UNR en el que el decano de ingeniería está dirigiendo una revista que está publicando documentos basura por sí mismo y por otros”, dijo Gelman en su respuesta. “Si yo fuera un estudiante no estaría feliz de que aquí es donde va mi matrícula”. Jones respondió al Sagebrush con una versión revisada de su comentario original que publicó en respuesta al blog.

Los funcionarios de UNR fueron contactados para que hicieran comentarios, pero el Sagebrush no recibió una respuesta inmediata.

Corrección de a partir del 7 de febrero a las 11:30 p.m.: Erick Jones no figuraba como miembro de la junta editorial, sino más bien su hijo Erick Jones Jr. Esta es una historia en desarrollo por favor revise para ver actualizaciones.

Se puede contactar con Jaedyn Young en jaedynyoung@sagebrush.unr.edu o en twitter @jaedyn_young3.

Sea un votante informado: Preguntas frecuentes sobre las preguntas de la boleta electoral de los medios estudiantiles

¿Cuál es la pregunta de la boleta de los medios estudiantiles?

La pregunta de los medios estudiantiles estará presente en la boleta de la primavera de 2024 de los estudiantes asociados de la Universidad de Nevada (ASUN) para que los estudiantes voten ‘sí’ o ‘no’ en la siguiente pregunta:

“¿Los Estudiantes Asociados de la Universidad de Nevada buscarán la aprobación de la Junta de Regentes de una cuota de medios estudiantiles para financiar el Nevada Sagebrush, Revista Insight, Revista de Literatura y Artes Brushfire, y Wolf Pack Radio a una tasa de $1,29 por crédito tomado?”

Si la pregunta pasa, ¿qué sigue?

Como con todas las leyes de ASUN y las preguntas de las boletas: La Junta de Regentes tiene la última palabra en sí esta tarifa se aprueba o no. Si se cumplen dos tercios, la pieza será presentada en diciembre de 2024 a los Regentes. Realísticamente, la tarifa no será promulgada hasta el año escolar 2025 a 2026. ¿Cómo se financian los medios estudiantiles actualmente?

Actualmente, Revista de Literatura y Artes Brushfire, Wolf Pack Radio y Revista Insight son financiados a través de ASUN. El Nevada Sagebrush nos financió de forma independiente a través de anuncios y donaciones. Sin embargo, ASUN tiene una línea dedicada a los fondos publicitarios de Nevada Sagebrush, pero no están obligados a gastar todos los fondos cada año escolar.

¿Por qué los medios estudiantiles eligen separarse de ASUN y financiarse a sí mismos a través de una tarifa independiente?

La idea de una cuota estudiantil, o a veces llamada un impuesto estudiantil, para finan-

ciar los medios estudiantiles no es un concepto nuevo. En 2022, el periódico estudiantil de la Universidad de Nevada, Las Vegas, estableció una tarifa de 20 centavos por crédito para financiar el periódico solo (la tarifa de UNR financia LOS CUATRO medios estudiantiles). Otras escuelas que tienen cuotas estudiantiles para apoyar los medios estudiantiles incluyen: Universidad Estatal de Utah, Universidad Estatal de Fresno, Universidad de Rutgers, Universidad de Oregón, Universidad Estatal de Luisiana (en serio, solo la tarifa del periódico estudiantil de Google).

Además, los medios estudiantiles siguen viendo cambios drásticos en la financiación y el funcionamiento debido a la pandemia de COVID-19. Dado que Brushfire, Wolf Pack Radio e Insight se financian a través de ASUN, por lo tanto, cualquier recorte presupuestario que llegue a ASUN podría afectar a sus organizaciones o el senado podría optar por recortar sus presupuestos para mover dinero a otros recursos estudiantiles.

En cuanto a la Sagebrush, los ingresos publicitarios han disminuido significativamente desde la pandemia, ganando solo $14.000 durante el año escolar 2021-2022; en su mejor momento estaba ganando más de $150.000 en publicidad. Además, con el cierre de la imprenta en el norte de Nevada, cortar la impresión ha sido una descarga obligatoria debido a los altos costos de envío desde el norte de California.

Actualmente, el Sagebrush tiene un presupuesto de aproximadamente $30.000 por año, gastando solo $18.000 en salarios para un personal de trece personas.

¿A dónde va el dinero si pasa la tarifa?

El dinero financiará los cuatro medios de comunicación estudiantiles, un puesto de personal profesional de tiempo completo que apoya directamente a las organizaciones y un fondo de dinero dentro de la Junta Asesora de Medios Estudiantiles para becas, subvenciones, gastos generales o para ayudar a financiar nuevas iniciativas de medios estudiantiles. Una de las principales razones para comenzar la tasa fue proporcionar salarios dignos para todos los miembros del personal (más de la mitad de los líderes estudiantiles de los medios trabajan de dos a tres puestos); la capacidad de pagar a nuestros contribuyentes que actualmente son voluntarios no remunerados (p.s., esto también significa que puede obtener un pedazo del pastel); establecer una piscina para que otros estudiantes se sumerjan y amplíen el paisaje de los medios de comunicación estudiantiles en la universidad, crear piezas de medios de alta calidad para impulsar la transparencia y las capacidades artísticas de la universidad y producir un panorama de medios competitivos para que los estudiantes de UNR sean reconocidos en todo el país debido a los recursos de esta tarifa.

Los estudiantes pueden ver toda la legislación propuesta a partir de la página 5, incluidos los presupuestos propuestos para cada organización estudiantil.

¿Habrá algún tipo de supervisión si esto pasa?

Sí. Desde 2009, todos los líderes de los medios estudiantiles han informado a la Junta Asesora de Medios Estudiantiles como una forma de supervisión y como un cuerpo de votación. El SMAB consta de quince miembros: Los cuatro líderes de medios estudian-

tiles; senador de la Escuela de Periodismo Reynolds; un estudiante en general no afiliado a los medios estudiantiles; decano de Reynolds o designado por la facultad; un miembro de la facultad universitaria; Coordinador de Publicaciones Estudiantiles y Marketing; Vicepresidente de ASUN; Director Asociado del Centro para la Participación Estudiantil; dos estudiantes adicionales en general elegidos por el Vicepresidente de ASUN o Senadores de ASUN.

¿Habrá algún tipo de supervisión si esto pasa?

Sí. Desde 2009, todos los líderes de los medios estudiantiles han informado a la Junta Asesora de Medios Estudiantiles como una forma de supervisión y como un cuerpo de votación. El SMAB consta de quince miembros: Los cuatro líderes de medios estudiantiles; senador de la Escuela de Periodismo Reynolds; un estudiante en general no afiliado a los medios estudiantiles; decano de Reynolds o designado por la facultad; un miembro de la facultad universitaria; Coordinador de Publicaciones Estudiantiles y Marketing; Vicepresidente de ASUN; Director Asociado del Centro para la Participación Estudiantil; dos estudiantes adicionales en general elegidos por el Vicepresidente de ASUN o Senadores de ASUN.

Para cualquier pregunta adicional sobre la pregunta de la boleta, comuníquese con edrewes@sagebrush.unr.edu o con los líderes de los medios estudiantiles

SENADO 1/31: Se aprueba proyecto de ley para destituir a secretario de los estatutos de los estudiantes asociados de la

Con una agenda ligera hoy, los estudiantes asociados de la Universidad de Nevada, Reno se reunieron el 31 de enero para discutir un proyecto de ley que se presentó en la mesa.

S.B. Ley para eliminar la Secretaría de los Estatutos de los Estudiantes Asociados

Joel Martin, el senador por el Colegio de Artes Liberales, y Tori Beaulac, el senador por el Colegio de Ciencias, presentaron y escribieron esta pieza con Ally Chávez, secretario del senado. El proyecto de ley eliminaría al secretario de los estatutos.

De acuerdo con la legislación, los secretarios son empleados del Centro de Participación Estudiantil, no los funcionarios de los estudiantes asociados de la Universidad de Nevada, Reno y por lo tanto no son administrados por los documentos de gobierno de los estudiantes asociados de la Univer-

sidad de Nevada, Reno. Como resultado, los presentadores están presionando para que esta oficina sea removida de los estatutos.

Jefrin Jojan, senador de la Facultad de Ingeniería, preguntó cuál era el daño en mantener a los secretarios en los estatutos y se preguntó por qué lo eliminaron si no iba a traer ningún cambio.

Beaulac y Chávez señalaron que los secretarios son empleados de las ciencias de la computación e ingeniería y por lo tanto no pasarían por los estudiantes asociados de la Universidad de Nevada, Reno por ningún cambio de departamento.

El proyecto de ley fue aprobado con un solo voto en contra de Jojan. Se puede contactar con Jaedyn Young en jaedynyoung@sagebrush.unr.edu o en twitter @jaedyn_young3.

Traducido por Jaqueline Lopez

Traducido por Jaqueline Lopez

Arts Entertainment

@NevadaSagebrush

UNR Theater and Dance misfires with “Assassins”

By Emily Hess

As the curtains lifted on

Friday, Feb. 16, the stage was set for a spectacle featuring America’s most infamous assassins as the main characters. Clad in a patriotic coat of red, white and blue, this show promised a wild ride filled with dance, gunplay, catchy tunes and a gathering of elderly white gentlemen presidents.

However, the University of Nevada, Reno Theater and Dance production of “Assassins” didn’t just miss the mark—it misfired. Directed by Deborah Leamy, the play promised presidential assassination stories served with a side of dark humor, but it felt more like a dull political debate.

Nevertheless, amid the mishaps, there were a couple of shining stars. Georgia McKnight and Peyton Tuley effortlessly brought Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore, respectively to life; both igniting the stage with their electric chemistry and captivating portrayal. Similarly, Coy Romo’s casting as the Balladeer was a stroke of brilliance, adding depth and emotion to the narrative. On the other hand, Luis Galvez’s performance, though solid, fell somewhat flat due to the predictable nature of his grumpy character typecasting.

Each assassin sported a pop of red that added a delightful splash of color to the stage. Just imagine John Wilkes Booth commanding attention in his majestic red coat, exuding confidence and charisma as if he’s the star of his own show.

And then there’s Lee Harvey Oswald, rocking red socks that’s more than just a fashion statement—it’s a symbol of his inner turmoil, adding depth to his character in a visually striking way. In short, the wardrobe choices were bold, eye-catching and perfectly complemented the theatrical flair of the

production.

The musical number “How I Saved Roosevelt” proved to be a dizzying spectacle, but not necessarily in a good way. While the energy was high and the performers gave it their all, the overall singing and chaotic running around the stage created an eye sore rather than a captivating moment.

The frenetic pace and lack of cohesion left the audience seeming disoriented, struggling to keep up with the whirlwind of activity unfolding before them. Despite the best efforts of the cast, this particular musical number fell short of delivering the intended impact, leaving much to be desired in terms of clarity and execution.

And let’s talk about the bold choice of using a meme as the backdrop during the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt scene in “Assassins” at UNR. It’s like they thought, “Hey, why not add a little modern flair to this historical moment?” But instead of a clever nod to internet culture, it felt more like someone accidentally left their browser window open on the projector.

A lot of the show felt overdone, or just missing the mark. Nothing truly felt just right. And a certain amount of this has to be held up to the writing of the play and not just the performance. But I fear, even if we had a stellar performance, the play still would’ve fallen flat.

So, what’s the takeaway?

Maybe next time, they should aim for a bit more punch and a lot less political posturing. After all, if you’re going to tackle a topic as dark as presidential assassinations, you might as well go all-in and make it a killer performance.

be reached at emilyhess@sagebrush.unr. edu or via Twitter @emilyghess03

Breaker of the Anime Live-Action Curse: Netflix’s “One Piece” Review

By Quay Skankey

No one was excited for the “One Piece” live-action adaptation. When Netflix announced they were adapting the famous anime “One Piece” in July of 2017, the internet shared a collective groan. The memory of the horrible live-action “Death Note” was fresh, and in the distant future, Netflix’s “Cowboy Bebop” would reinforce the hatred for anime adaptations. Similar to the show’s rebellious nature, however, this live-action adaptation goes against the grain.

Showrunners Matt Ownes and Steven Maeda had a Herculean trial on their hands. They had the task to adapt a wacky anime that has over 1100 epi-

sodes out and is ongoing. They made the smart decision to cover the first 61 episodes and focus on the main story beats. The pacing is the adaptation’s greatest strength. It uses its runtime very effectively by never spending too much time in one area, and prioritizing character development over everything else. Whenever a scene would go on for too long, it would quickly change to a new scene where something zany would happen. The cast shines with actors who are so charismatic that they feel as charming as their animated counterparts. Iñaki Godoy was incredible as Monkey D. Luffy, so optimistic that it

was genuinely inspiring. The endlessly entertaining characters of Nami, played by Emily Rudd; Usopp, played byJacob Romero Gibson; and Sanji, played by Taz Skylar, play off of Iñaki and each other so well. The only actor and character who felt lacking was Mackenyu, as Roronoa Zoro, who felt wooden, with an underdeveloped shift in motivations later on.

This story is continued on www. nevadasagebrush.com

Quay Skankey can be reached at emilyhess@sagebrush.unr.edu or via Twitter @NevadaSagebrush

“Mean Girls: The Musical” is So Not Fetch

By Emily Hess

Welcome to North Shore

High, where the halls are alive with the sound of teenage angst, questionable fashion choices, and the occasional autotuned catastrophe. “Mean Girls: The Musical” brings the Broadway magic to the big screen, but not everyone’s hitting the right notes.

Hold on to your Burn Books, because Angourie Rice as Cady Heron hits a few sour notes. The attempt to transform Cady into a Broadway songbird feels more like a misguided experiment in vocal alchemy. Autotune, the musical wizard’s wand, is liberally applied, but alas, it can’t quite turn this singing Cinderella into a vocal princess. It’s as if Regina George herself put a curse on Cady’s vocal cords. And now, let’s talk about the outfits. Someone call the fashion police because the attempt at a modern wardrobe feels like it’s been curated by someone stuck in a time-warp. It’s a bit like watching a middle-aged time traveler raid Forever 21 for their attempt at understanding teenage style. Less “on trend” and more “on the struggle bus,” the outfits are a fashion faux pas of epic proportions. But fear not, for Regina George, played by the vocal powerhouse Renee Rapp, is the undisputed queen of this musical realm. Rapp slays every note, delivering a vocal performance as sharp as Regina’s infamous insults. She’s the Regina we all deserve – commanding, confident, and carrying the show on

her perfectly-coiffed shoulders.

While Cady may be struggling to find her vocal footing, Avantika Vandanapu as Karen Smith is the unexpected ray of sunshine in this musical storm. Her bubbly charm and surprisingly delightful singing make Karen a standout, proving that sometimes it’s the sidekicks who steal the spotlight. Move over, Plastics, because Janice is in the house, and Auli’i Cravalho is serving vocals hotter than Regina’s burn book insults. Cravalho brings a rebellious energy to Janice that’s as refreshing as a cafeteria smoothie, and her singing? It’s nothing short of a musical rebellion against the status quo. Janice’s anthem, “I’d Rather Be Me” will have you pumping your fists in solidarity and wondering why she wasn’t the lead all along.

“Mean Girls: The Musical” might not be a symphony of perfection, but it’s a rollercoaster of teenage theatrics. The singing may falter, the fashion may bewilder, but in the end, it’s the show-stealing performances of Regina and Janice that will have you clapping, cheering, and maybe even forgiving a few off-key moments. So if you choose to see it, lower your expectations a tad, and get ready for a musical experience that’s a little less Broadway brilliance and a lot more high school hilarity.

Emily Hess can be reached at emilyhess@sagebrush.unr. edu or via Twitter @emilyghess03

Controversial, Challenging and Absolutely Crazy: “Poor Things” Review

By Quay Skankey

The hot topic of award season this year is the strange and divisive movie, “Poor Things”, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, William Dafoe, Ramy Youssef and Mark Ruffalo. As of early February, the film has received 381 nominations and won 75 awards. Upon watching it, the praise and criticism become very clear because this film is incredible.

The story is a strange coming-of-age tale for an infant-like woman, played by Emma Stone. The course of the film depicts her going on adventures and developing into a confident and intelligent woman along the way. The reason for its controversy lies in the numerous sexually explicit scenes starring her. Many audience members might find sex scenes involving a character who is an infant in a woman’s body very uncomfortable. However, it does not fetishistically depict her naivety and her sexual revelations are integral to the themes and plot. Emma Stone steals the show as Bella Baxter, depicting the many stages of a child with subtle movements that don’t call attention to themself. While this movie is a comedy in part, Stone refuses to exaggerate her actions too much to

reach for laughs. It was the right choice since the movie is funny enough already. The side character’s acting is mostly superb. William Dafoe, who plays a mad scientist with daddy issues, was as comedic as he was tragic. Ramy Youssef successfully plays a mostly sympathetic helper of the mad scientist. Mark Ruffalo is, surprisingly, the lowest point of the movie, as he seems to snicker through some of his lines, breaking the illusion a little while mostly performing masterfully.

Kathryn Hunter, who plays a brothel owner, is great at being manipulative while seeming kind and considerate. Christopher Abbot plays a colonial general and is both satirically paranoid and leg-shakingly intimidating.

Many describe this movie as Barbie, but for adults and while it isn’t fair to compare this movie to another with a completely different tone, one could see similarities in how their themes develop. Both involve a fish-out-ofwater story for a woman character entering broader society, who breaks social conventions by striving for authenticity and illustrating their desire to change society to be more freeing.

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush Cast of “Assassins” closes with a whirlwind final number with their prop guns facing the audience giving a striking tableau.

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen/ Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Zoe Malen / Nevada Sagebrush

Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Oscars 2024: A Deep Dive Into the Nominations, Predictions

By Emily Hess

As the anticipation for the 2024 Oscars reaches its peak, the film industry is abuzz with excitement over the outstanding nominations across various categories. The Best Picture race is shaping up to be a particularly tough competition, with ten stellar films vying for the top honor.

Best Picture:

The Best Picture category boasts an impressive lineup of films spanning different genres and storytelling styles. “Barbie” is the fan’s choice meanwhile, “American Fiction,” a thought-provoking exploration of human connection in the digital age, goes head-tohead with “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a gripping crime drama from the legendary Martin Scorsese. “Maestro,” delving into the life of Leonard Bernstein, and “Poor Things,” a unique narrative based on Alasdair Gray’s novel, are also strong contenders.

Among the dark horses, “The Holdovers” and “Oppenheimer” are generating significant buzz, with both films showcasing the depth and diversity of this year’s cinematic offerings. The winner in this category could be anyone’s guess, with each film bringing its unique flair to the table.

My Prediction – “Killers of the Flower Moon”

The Best Director category is stacked with renowned filmmakers, each bringing their unique vision to the screen. Justine Triet’s work on “Anatomy of a Fall” has earned praise for its artistic and narrative prowess. Martin Scorsese’s direction in “Killers of the Flower Moon” is expectedly masterful, while Christopher Nolan’s intricate storytelling in “Oppenheimer” has captivated audiences.

Yorgos Lanthimos (“Poor Things”) and Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”) round out the category, showcasing their ability to weave compelling narratives. As the Oscars approach, the battle for Best Director promises to be as intense as the films they helmed.

My Prediction – Christopher Nolan – “Oppenheimer”

Best Actor and Actress:

A Showcase of Outstanding Performances

In the Best Actor category, Bradley Cooper’s portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro” stands out, alongside powerful performances from Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti, Cillian Murphy, and Jeffrey Wright. The competition is fierce, with each actor bringing their Agame to the big screen.

The Best Actress category is equally competitive, with Annette Bening, Lily Gladstone, Sandra Hüller, Carey Mulligan, and Emma Stone delivering standout performances. The diversity of roles and the depth of talent displayed make predicting a winner a challenging task.

My Prediction-

Best Actor: Bradley Cooper- “Maestro”

Best Actress: Lily Gladstone: ” Killers of The Flower Moon”

Sterling K. Brown’s impactful performance in “American Fiction” and Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal in “Oppenheimer” make them strong contenders for Best Supporting Actor. Emily Blunt’s role in “Oppenheimer” and America Ferrera’s moving performance in “Barbie”, Danielle Brooks’ powerful performance in “The Color Purple” stand out in the Best Supporting Actress category. The competition is fierce, and surprises may be in store. My Prediction-

Best Supporting Actor: Sterling K. Brown for “American Fiction”

Best supporting actress: America Ferrera for “Barbie”

Best Original and Adapted Screenplay

The writing categories showcase a mix of original stories and adaptations. “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Maestro,” and “The Holdovers” present strong cases for Best Original Screenplay. In the adapted category, “American Fiction,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Poor Things” demonstrate exceptional storytelling based on source material.

My Prediction –Best Adapted Screenplay: “Oppenheimer” – Christopher Nolan; based on the biography “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

Best Original Screenplay: “Maestro” – Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer

ki’s “The Boy and the Heron” and the visually stunning “Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse” are strong contenders. “Nimona” and “Elemental” bring unique perspectives, while “Robot Dreams” adds a touch of innovation. The category promises to be a celebration of creativity and imagination.

My Prediction – “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

Best International Feature Film International cinema shines in the Best International Feature Film category. Matteo Garrone’s “Io capitano,” Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days,” and J. A. Bayona’s “Society of the Snow” showcases the global talent present in the competition. “The Teachers’ Lounge” from Germany and “The Zone of Interest” from the United Kingdom round out a diverse and compelling lineup.

My Prediction- “Io capitano” (Italy) – directed by Matteo Garrone

War For the Awards: GRAMMY Awards Album of the Year Nominations

As award season motors on, ‘The Grammys’ stand out at the premier event for the music industry. Every year on a Sunday evening, people from every corner of the profession come together to celebrate the most influential artists and performers of the year. Each year, a significant number of nominees are offered a spot in the room with the incredible potential to accept an award for their work in front of all of their peers and influences — however, the most anticipated category is Album of the Year.

Through the years, we have seen so many incredible artists grow from their first ever Grammys appearance. Young artists like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo have proven how much artistic development can be presented, despite winning their own respective Grammy awards for their debut albums while also pushing for the industry toward a standard of incredible equality.

Going into the Grammys Awards in 2024, the nominees and stakes are incredibly high. Last year’s Album of the Year winner, ‘Harry’s House’ by Harry Styles was a controversial one. Many found it to be a wonderful celebration of the success Styles achieved, and others questioned the legitimacy and worthiness of its award. This year’s Album of the Year nominees raise the stakes even higher.

To begin, GUTS by Olivia Rodrido is nominated. This pop-rock heartbreak album

impact of the other albums nominated.

The same could be said for Janelle Monáe’s ‘The Age of Pleasure’. Incredibly talented and inspired by the sounds of freedom and independence, this album is a fun joyride that offers sounds that just make you feel motivated and aligned. However, despite these positives, Janelle is up against some of the albums that include records that have taken over everybody’s music library. Her album is absolutely great, and it just might be even greater if it was to be considered and enjoyed on its own instead of being listed amongst the albums it currently is.

Miley Cyrus came in hot in the start of 2023 by announcing her return to music via a marketing strategy nobody could possibly escape — and still can’t, due to the overwhelming success of her song ‘Flowers’. The album, titled ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ puts Miley in a wonderful new state of experimentation toward her own sound and also explores the mindsets, trauma and experiences she has recently encountered. This album presents an overwhelming amount of attention that could be garnered from a successful marketing campaign and also shows that Miley still has a seat in the music industry that she dominates and draws attention towards.

Penultimately, ‘Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd’ is Lana Del Rey’s latest Album of the Year nomination and potentially her first Grammy she could take home. This album is a collection and

composes and stirs mixtures of emotions. From the beauty of feminine rage to the controversial topic of being abused for your fame, Olivia’s sophomore album presented a story that, while similar to her debut, differs in maturity and exploration. One would claim that Olivia’s efforts are incredibly high and successful which leads her to a high potential to win this award, especially if you consider that her debut album SOUR wasn’t the winner only a few years back. Olivia’s growth as an artist hasn’t changed significantly yet, but the album GUTS put her back on the frontlines, even if it means competing with her own inspirations.

presentation of how much Lana has developed since the start of her career in the early 2010s. Combining significant songwriting, her irreplaceable and heavenly voice and productions by Jack Antonoff that are sweeping soundscapes of environments, walls of instruments and minute details, Lana’s latest album, alongside her song ‘A&W’ presents an opportunity for the overdue and well-deserved win from The Grammys.

As the anticipation builds for the Oscars 2024, the film industry is primed for a night

of celebration and recognition. With such a stellar lineup of nominees, predicting the winners in each category is a challenging yet thrilling task. The ceremony promises to be a showcase of talent, creativity, and the magic of cinema, leaving audiences eagerly awaiting the reveal of the winners on Hollywood’s most glamorous night.

Boygenius’ debut album ‘the record’ is an interesting nomination. This “indie” album is composed of a folk-rock mixture with undertones of pain, sorrow and harmony. The band comprises the artists Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. It takes the tonality of these artists’ sound signature and mixes them together in a euphoric collaborative effort. This album has gained massive media attention both from critics and social media fanbases. The overwhelming support for this emotionally traumatized trio is incredibly intense, but it may take more foundation and refinement before they are presented an award like Album of the Year.

‘SOS’ by SZA brings its Princess Diana inspired cover to The Grammys. While SZA isn’t new to the industry, her record breaking collaborations with other artists as well as her 2017 debut album ‘Ctrl’ provided SZA a beautiful space in the music industries R&B, hip-hop and pop space. SZA has strategically built her foundation over almost a decade, and this album is proof of her refined nature. With songs like ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Snooze’ taking over radio stations, charts and being listed as some of the best songs from last year, SZA is a wonderful contender for this award.

Jon Batiste’s ‘World Music Radio’ is another surprising nomination. Since he won Album of the Year two years ago for his album ‘We Are’, it would be shocking to see him take home the award for this album. Although his album features many collaborations, smart productions and a beautiful representation of Jon’s vocal style with polish, ‘World Music Radio’ just isn’t an album that fits alongside the competition, especially considering the

Lastly, Taylor Swift is nominated for her tenth studio album ‘Midnights’. Her previous Album of the Year win was only three years ago when she released her surprise album ‘folklore’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. This time around, Taylor used significant marketing strategies for Midnights and built up an anticipation we have never seen before. As a result of Midnights, Taylor became the first artist to take over all top ten spots of the Billboard Top 100. This album, also featuring productions by Jack Antonoff, has Taylor visit vocal ranges we haven’t heard her in before. It showcases the instrumental beauty that comes with experimentation between two artistic friends, how heartbreak and past experiences will continue to haunt you and also how you can still protect yourself in the process. This “lo-fi” album by Taylor Swift has potential to win big at the GRAMMY Awards, and has a massive potential to win Album of the Year. Many will argue that it is one of Taylor’s weakest pop albums, while others will praise it. Considering the controversial response, it could definitely be argued that Midnights may not be her second pop Album of the Year award.

The Grammys have a history of being unpredictable, but this year, with the stakes being so high, no winner would be a disappointment. My prediction however is Taylor Swift’s Midnights. due to her continued success, overwhelming impact on the music industry and her relatability to people who are voters and even those related to them. Her force is unstoppable if she wins or doesn’t, and in second place, I would pick Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS due to her continued momentum and impact following her debut into the

Jernej Furman/Flickr

By Gabe Kanae

Emily Hess can be reached at emilyhess@ sagebrush. unr.edu or on Twitter @ emilyghess03

Clockwise L-R: Oppenheimer, The Holdovers, Barbie, Killers Of The Flower MoonScreenshot: Universal Studios/Focus Features/Warner Bros. Pictures/Apple/YouTube

Searchlight Pictures / Universal Pictures / Warner Bros.

Jason McDonald/Netflix

CLOCKWISE [L-R]: ‘PERFECT DAYS’, ‘THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE, ‘THE PEASANTS’, ‘SHAYDA’

Photo Courtsey of CBS

Photo Courtesy of GRAMMY’s

Gabriel Kanae can be reached at emilyhess@ sagebrush. unr.edu or on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush

Tangled Analytics: Depth In Media’s Labyrinth

By Gabe Kanae

Social media continues to grow and shift every single day. With the overwhelming amount of information that everybody is able to access, a deep and dark labyrinth of confusion has been built. The most complex part of this tangled maze is that, to many, they have forgotten they are in a maze with no escape.

When we think about analytics in the social media world today, many are fast to use statistics to certify and reassure their opinion on artistic work. Whether it is positive or negative, the factor of having a one-sided echo chamber has impacted people in a deeper way than most are willing to think about.

Echo chambers are frequently mentioned when talking about social media algorithms being created around your opinions on politics and other societal issues. Today, I wanted to talk about how echo chambers impact artists and why your opinion on what you’d consider “one of the worst songs or movies ever made” may not be accurate to the world outside the labyrinth.

When you think about a piece of art that you’d consider significantly awful, you’d justify your opinion by claiming that the people around you also dislike it. Perhaps you’d refer to the numbers, but what the numbers say is easy to misinterpret.

There’s a desensitization to numbers in society today. For example, if an A-List artist gets 10 million streams on a song after a year, a lot of people on social media would consider that a failed song. When looking deeper at the number however, 10 million streams is an incredibly high number. The message you send when claiming that 10 million streams is a failure tells the smaller artists that their numbers of 10,000 streams is even worse.

This concept is a cognitive bias. The idea that 10 million streams is a failure is incredibly strange if you consider what 10 million people actually look like. Sure, a song may be majorly disliked in consensus but, is it really a failure if it got 10 million streams and earned the artist thousands of dollars?

From the outside of this labyrinth, in the world around, a lot of people aren’t influenced or feel the need to express their dis-

like toward an artist’s project online. They enjoy the art in peace and in a way that fulfills what their need is. However, people who dislike a project are likely to speak out about it, which then will result in an imbalance of opinion. There are likely more

attending to it. It is also true that the “Streisand Effect” will come into place in times like these. The “Streisand Effect” refers to the idea that the vocal minority is the reason that more people will access the art and thus make the art

it to be? At this point, the “Streisand Effect” will just cause more silent majorities to access the art and enjoy it silently. These all contribute to the labyrinth maze that is in social media’s deepest tangles.

When people go online and throw hatred toward art, they also fall victim to reductionism. Reductionism comes into play when people insult a piece of art without considering the dozens or even hundreds of creative people who worked hard and sacrificed their time to create the piece of work that is being negatively discussed. People who are not involved in the production process of media are even more likely to disregard and fall victim to this reductionism and oversimplification because they don’t understand how complicated the art making process truly is.

When creating art, it is impossible to know how the audience will perceive it. People have to give their vulnerability and hardest work and hope it attaches how it is intended. When it doesn’t, the hatred and reductionism is incredibly uninspiring and can lead to emotional effects on the people who have put so much work and effort into a project. They have to watch as it’s scaled down to quick messages that can be sent online about statistical numbers that are actually bigger than presented.

people who enjoy this project than dislike it, but the amount of people who dislike it are so loud that when somebody does genuinely enjoy the project, they are met with confusion and invalidity. These are the vocal minorities and the silent majorities. If a project was as horrible and disappointing as the vocal minorities claim, there wouldn’t be millions of people

Who Said That? The Disappearing Act of Quotation Marks in Modern Novels

By Emily Hess

As the literary world becomes increasingly dominated by brevity and instant gratification, one notable casualty seems to be the vanishing act of quotations within novels. As a bibliophile who revels in the immersive experience of literary worlds, I find this trend deeply unsettling.

Among the myriad casualties of this literary recession, one standout example is Sally Rooney’s critically acclaimed novel “Normal People,” a work emblematic of both modern storytelling and the decline of traditional quotation usage. In “Normal People,” Rooney crafts a compelling narrative that delves into the complex dynamics of human relationships that offers readers a glimpse into the lives of Connell and Marianne as they navigate the tumultuous waters of love, friendship, and identity. Conspicuously absent, are the familiar markers of dialogue: the quotation marks that once served as signposts guiding readers through conversations and interactions.

The absence of quotations disrupts the flow of reading, which pulls me out of the narrative and forces me to backtrack and decipher who is speaking. It’s akin to stumbling through a dimly lit room, groping for clarity amidst the shadows of unattributed speech. This literary sleight of hand, while undoubtedly innovative, sacrifices clarity for the sake of stylistic experimentation.

Moreover, the disappearance of quotations reflects a broader shift in reader expectations and the evolving landscape of literature. In an age where attention spans are dwindling, there’s a palpable pressure to streamline the

reading experience to distill complex narratives into easily digestible sound bites. Quotations, with their inherent verbosity, no longer fit neatly into this narrative paradigm. I can’t help but mourn the loss of quotations as casualties in this literary arms race. They are not merely typographic flourishes but essential tools in the writer’s arsenal that facilitate communication between the author and the reader.

Quotations lend voice to characters and infuse them with vitality and dimensionality. The absence of quotations diminishes the immersive power of storytelling. In the case of “Normal People,” Rooney’s decision to eschew traditional quotation marks may be interpreted as a bold artistic statement. It could be seen as a conscious rejection of literary convention in favor of a more fluid, immersive narrative style. While I applaud her audacity, I continuously feel a pang of nostalgia for the days when quotations held sway over the printed page.

In the end, the disappearance of quotations is symptomatic of a larger cultural shift towards immediacy and efficiency in storytelling. As we embrace the brave new world of literature, we should not forget the humble quotation mark because we would risk losing something essential: voices that breathe life into the stories we hold dear.

more widely consumed.

It is worth considering that once the “Streisand Effect” falls into place, the art can’t really be considered a failure. If something is talked about widely, provides money to the creatives involved and also has a boost in their analytical numbers, is it truly the failure that the vocal minority created

While there is no direct way to fully end this analytical phenomenon, you can help contribute by understanding the messages you are sending, grounding yourself in perspectives of what the general public thinks outside of the echo chamber and also consider whether you reduce numbers or the dozens of behind-the-scenes creative of their value and hard work because of your opinion. The trap of “the higher the number, the less important the number is” can be very deep and lead to a decrease in your understanding of reality.

Opinions expressed in The Nevada Sagebrush are solely those of the author and do not necessarily express the views of The Sagebrush or its staff. Gabriel Kanae is a student at the University of Nevada studying journalism. They can be reached at gkanae@sagebrush. unr.edu and on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.

Social media is ruining your protective bubble

By Gabe Kanae

It is so easy to forget the importance of securing and protecting yourself in your everyday life, especially considering the challenges our generation faced following the COVID-19 pandemic. When reflecting on the many experiences that my friends and I experienced in our lives recently, I came to the realization that: many of us do not understand how to emotionally protect ourselves.

Our generation’s obsession with social media does have an impact on our daily lives. We rely on it to get news, spread the recent community stories and hear perspectives besides our own. However, it can be overwhelming if we let it dominate and control how we view the world in its entirety.

As of the last few months, I have been overburdened by the amount of opposing views, comments and debates I see on social media. My front page is inundated with sensitive content to grab people’s attention and encourage them to act. Despite the intention of the people posting this type of content, it has had the opposite effect. I have found myself utterly disturbed by the lack of warning or consideration on how these triggering and video images could impact anybody at any given time. I realized I had to emotionally protect myself by muting phrases, words and sometimes, even my favorite accounts.

Our generation places priority on progression and change. I came to the realization that my attempts and desire to promote progress and change is actually causing me to be exposed to the lack of it in our society. In turn, it made me feel even worse. Our generation fears being left out of the loop and not in the middle of the conversation. This has caused a lot of us to surround ourselves with information that opposes our world view, which causes more stress in our lives. It is a form of self-sabotage.

After realizing where my physical actions were placing me, I discovered that I had more control than I previously believed. It’s the same reason a lot of people find themselves

a lot happier in their lives when they quit social media platforms. By surrounding myself with information that isn’t political, controversial or complicated — I was able to enjoy my time on social media more. Sure, this means I am not as informed on the current celebrity gossip or the global news conversations but, I am also significantly more satisfied in my life and my current position in it.

A lot of this satisfaction comes from accepting that I do not understand, know about or have an opinion on some of the most controversial topics currently being discussed – “out of sight, out of mind.” Since I do not know about the issues going on in the world, I’m able to live more freely and accept that I will be okay even if the worst scenarios come into my life.

To many, it may come as a form of ignorance, but perhaps putting yourself first is more essential and important than being exposed to issues you cannot personally change on your own. I enjoy learning about what is occurring in the world by listening to my friends, family and instructors. Being able to hear perspectives and find out about topics from the people around me has allowed me to explore my opinions and perspectives on them without a fear of judgment, argumentation and the overwhelming nature of conversation that social media may induce.

As social media continues to grow, develop and change, it is more important than ever to trust yourself and prioritize your health, safety and emotional stability – even if that means you might not be personally involved in the biggest conversations and discourses.

Opinions expressed in The Nevada Sagebrush are solely those of the author and do not necessarily express the views of The Sagebrush or its staff. Gabriel Kanae is a student at the University of Nevada studying journalism. They can be reached at gkanae@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.

Image from VectorPortal.com

Photo courtesy of Faber and Faber

Swim and Dive multiple medals, sets numerous records in Mountain West Championship

By Derek Raridon

Editors Note: The Nevada Sagebrush sends its condolences to the University of Wyoming and its community over the loss of three of their athletes: Charlie Clark, Carson Muir and Luke Slabber, who tragically passed away in a car accident on Feb. 22

The Nevada swim and dive team had a historic meet this past weekend from Feb. 21 to 24: placing on the podium nine times, six of them setting new school records, all of them in the top three of their respective books.

On the first day of the event, the 200 medley team consisting of Scarlett Ferris, Sara Mihalic, Yasmin Perry and Evie Floate took home a bronze medal with a time of 1:38.52, putting them in the history books as the second fastest time in school history.

Nevada stacked up three more medals and records during the second day of events. The first came from Frederica Kizek, who in the 500 freestyle event, swam a time of 4:44.85, getting her second place in the event and marking her second in school history.

Later in the day, Melissa Mirafuentes, diver, got second place in the three-meter

springboard event with a score of 71.55.

The last event Nevada placed in on the day was the 400 medley event. The team, which consisted of Perry, Ferris, Floate and Mihalic once again, swam a time of 3:36.14. Their efforts earned them second place in the event and first in school history. These were not the only accolades from the 400 medley event, as Ferris, during her 100 backstroke split, broke the school record for the split with a time of 52.14 seconds.

As the third day came and went, Nevada added two more podium finishes and three more school records. To start the day, Perry swam a time of 53.26 in the 100 butterfly event. While it didn’t get her on the podium, Perry’s time did put her in the school record books, taking third all time in the event for the school.

Later on, Kizek swam in the 400 individual medley event, finishing with a time of 4:13.61. Kizek got second place in the event and put herself third in Nevada’s record books.

Nevada’s highlight of the day was Ferris in the 100 backstroke. The freshman

from Scotland swam a time of 51.49 seconds, which nabbed her first place and broke the meet and conference record for the event.

The Wolf Pack rounded out their conference tournament appearance with three podium appearances and one more record. Kizek earned her third medal of the meet in the 1650 freestyle event, finishing with a time of 16:11.82 to claim first place and setting a new school record.

Perry took home one more medal as well in the 200 butterfly event. She swam a time of 1:57.85, adding a second place finish to her meet resume. And lastly, Mirafuentes took third place in the platform diving event with an overall score of 310.60.

With all of the hardware under their belt, the swim and dive team will take a week off, then go to Westmont, Illinois to compete in the TYR Pro Series from March 7 to 9.

Derek Raridon can be reached via email at derekraridon@ nevada.unr.edu or via Twitter @TheBigCountry14

Wolf Pack wins all but one game in Silicon Valley Classic

By Lily Walker

On Feb. 15, the Wolf Pack softball team traveled to Santa Clara, California for the Silicon Valley Classic tournament, where they finished with a record of 5-1, bringing their season record to 8-3.

The Pack kicked off the tournament with a game against the Santa Clara Broncos, the hosts of the tournament, on Feb. 15.

Cairah Curran, Santa Clara second baseman, was the first to score when she stole home in the first inning.

However, Nevada was able to score five runs in the third. Maile Olsen, Nevada shortstop, began Nevada’s scoring streak after advancing to third on a single from Chelie Senini, Nevada center fielder, then

scoring on a throwing error. Haley Painter, Nevada third baseman, hit a home run later on, bringing in two more runs for the Wolf Pack. The last two runs for the Wolf Pack that inning were scored unearned after a double and triple from Nevada’s Gabby Herrera, right fielder, and Aaliyah Jenkins, utility, respectively.

The third inning also saw a home run from Morgan Salmon, Santa Clara, third baseman, which brought in three more runs for SCU, bringing the score after the third inning to 5-4 in favor of Nevada.

Nevada scored seven more runs in the fourth and fifth, highlighted by Painter hitting her second home run of the game in the fourth. Santa Clara was only able to score one more run in the fifth after a single from Morgan Salmon, and the game ended with a score of 12-5.

The Wolf Pack’s second game, on Friday, Feb. 16, saw a match up with the Portland State Vikings. Nevada scored two runs in the third inning and four in the sixth, with one home run from Painter, her third in the tournament, in the fifth inning. Portland was only able to score one run in the fourth, when Alison Harris, Portland catcher, hit a single, allowing Logan Riggenbac, Portland outfielder, to score.

Blake Craft, Nevada starting pitcher, pitched the entirety of the game, obtaining ten strikeouts and only allowing three hits. The final score of the Wolf Pack’s second game was 7-1, marking Nevada’s second straight win.

Nevada’s next two games were played against the Fordham Rams on Friday and Saturday. Their first game on the 16th against the Rams began with a home run in the first inning from Sydney Wells, Fordham catcher, which gave the Rams their only run of the game. The Pack went on to score six runs, one in the second, two in the third and one each in the fifth and sixth innings.

Carley Brown, Nevada pitcher, only allowed Fordham to get five hits throughout the game, while the Pack had ten hits on Holly Beeman, Fordham pitcher. Nevada’s first win against Fordham ended 6-1, giving the Pack a tournament record of 3-0 going into the third day of the tournament. The Wolf Pack faced off against Fordham for the second time on Saturday. Nevada scored four runs right away at the top of the first inning, beginning with a three RBI home run from Taryn Jenkins, Nevada first baseman. The Rams’ designated player, Bailey Enoch, also had one

home run in the first inning, and one RBI from Sydney Wells, Fordham catcher. Painter hit her fourth home run of the tournament in the second inning, while Taryn Jenkins hit her second in the third. The score was 11-6 following the third inning.

Taryn Irimata, Nevada pitcher, and Blake Craft, allowed Fordham to get 10 hits in the game, of which only seven scored. Nevada had 17 hits throughout the game, and 13 RBIs, six of which were from Taryn Jenkins. The Pack’s final game against Fordham finished with a score of 13-7, bringing Nevada’s tournament record to 4-0.

Nevada’s final game on the 17th saw another matchup with Portland State. Nevada had three RBIs in the first and second innings, while Portland scored two unearned RBIs in the fourth. Tyra Clary, Nevada pitcher, only allowed three hits from Portland throughout the game. The final score was 3-2 in favor of Nevada.

The Wolf Pack’s final game of the tournament was played on Sunday morning against Seattle University. Nevada was the first to score in the second inning with an unearned run from Aaliyah Jenkins, who was playing catcher in this game, and again in the third with an RBI from Gabby Herrera, Nevada right fielder. Mike Morris, Seattle shortstop, also hit one RBI in the third inning, bringing the score to 2-1.

The Pack scored one more time in the fifth, when Taryn Jenkins hit her third home run of the tournament. Nevada was unable to score again throughout the rest of the game, but held the score until the sixth inning, when Seattle tacked on five RBIs, bringing the final score to 3-6 and giving Nevada their first loss of the tournament. Nevada left Santa Clara with a final tournament record of 5-1, which brings their season record to 8-3. The program now will prepare to go to Stockton, California, where the Wolf Pack will compete in the Pacific Tournament starting on Feb. 23.

The Nevada Sagerbush Stock

Photos of the Nevada Swim and Dive practice pool in the Lumbardi Recreation Center

Davidson’s Dominant Performance Led the Pack Past the Spartans 84-63

By James Wolfgang Perez

The Nevada men’s basketball team rolled past the San Jose State Spartans in an 84-63 road win on Feb. 23. The win bumps the Wolf Pack to third place in the Mountain West, with an overall record of 22-6 and a conference record of 9-5.

The Wolf Pack stepped into its groove at the right time, having won six of their last seven games after their season sweep over the Spartans.

K.J. Hymes, Nevada forward, opened the scoring by taking a defensive rebound for a layup after a missed jumper from Trey Anderson, San Jose State forward. Right after that, Jarod Lucas, Nevada guard, splashed a triple. Hymes converted two free-throws to put the Wolf Pack up 7-0 with 18:35 to play.

The Spartans climbed their way back into the game with a 5-0 run that ended with a made three-pointer from Alvaro Cardenas, San Jose State guard, to cut Nevada’s lead to 7-5 at 17:36. Both teams exchanged scores until Lucas stole the ball from Rickey Mitchell Jr., San Jose State guard, and ran it back the other way for a fast break layup to put the Pack up 18-11 with 11:25

to go. San Jose State refused to go away and capitalized on four Wolf Pack turnovers to go on a 10-4 run. Two free-throws from Latrell Davis, San Jose State guard, made it a one-point game at 22-21 with 5:50 remaining.

Nick Davidson, Nevada forward, responded with a made layup. Hunter McIntosh, Nevada guard, hit a contested three-pointer to give the Pack breathing room at 27-21 with 4:21 left in the half. The teams traded buckets back-and-forth for the remainder of the half, as Nevada took a 34-29 lead into the second half. Nevada got off to a quick start to open the second half. Davidson splashed a three-pointer and Tre Coleman, Nevada forward, converted on another to give the Pack a 40-33 advantage.

The Spartans continued to stay in the game as they roared back on a 9-2 run, capped off by a dunk from Christian Wise, San Jose State forward, to tie the game at 42-42 with 15:27 left in the game.

With momentum shifted in the Spartan’s favor, the Wolf Pack needed a quick response. David-

son and McIntosh were the ones to answer the call. Davidson ignited the offense with two layups on back-to-back possessions; McIntosh followed up as he poured in three three-pointers in a two-minute span to give the Pack a strong 57-42 lead. Nevada went on a 15-0 run and prevented San Jose State from securing an offensive rebound during the stretch. Cardenas would end the Pack’s scoring run with a triple of his own until Coleman, Lucas, and Davidson hit from beyond the arc on Nevada’s next three possessions to extend the lead by 19 points at 67-48 with 6:43 left. In the remaining minutes, both teams traded scores as Davidson and Lucas combined for 14 points. McIntosh converted his sixth threepointer of the game to finish off a 21-point Wolf Pack victory at 84-63.

Nevada is not known for being a great team shooting from three, evidenced by their 35% splits on the season, but flipped the script against San Jose State by making 12 threes on 57% shooting. Davidson led the way with a dominant 23

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point, 15-rebound double-double — his sixth of this season. Lucas pitched in 20 points. McIntosh had one of his best performances of the year, as he poured in six shots from deep on 66% efficiency. “I’m really proud of them, I thought we had a lot of guys do a lot of good things.” Steve Alford, head coach of the Nevada men’s basketball team, said in an interview after the game. “It was an odd game,” Alford said. “We were pretty sloppy, and we had 10 turnovers in the first half. But the guys calmed down going into the second and responded the way good teams have to respond.” The Wolf Pack will stay on the road for their next game as they travel to Fort Collins, Colo. to take on the No. 22 Colorado State Rams (20-7, 8-6 MWC) on Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

James Wolfgang Perez can be reached via email derekraridon@nevada.unr.edu or via Twitter @JamesWPerezUNR

Women’s Basketball drops back to back games against Fresno State, UNLV

By Derek Raridon

The Nevada women’s basketball team lost both of their most recent matchups, one to the Fresno State Bulldogs and the other to the UNLV Lady Rebels. With these losses, the Pack moved back to .500 and tied for sixth with Colorado State in conference standings with only three games left in the regular season. Nevada went to Fresno, Calif. to take on the Bulldogs on Feb. 21. The Wolf Pack wound up on the losing 5745 in the road matchup.

Izzy Sullivan, Nevada guard, and Kennedy Lee, Nevada forward, got the game started for Nevada with two straight baskets. However, the Bulldogs answered right back, going on a 9-0 run capped off by a jumper from Taija Sta. Maria, Fresno State guard. After Nevada tied the game at nine, both teams went back and forth trading scores, pushing the game to 11-11 with 2:32 left in the game. Fresno State took over the rest of the quarter, finishing the quarter on an 8-0 run by Mia Jacobs and Maria Konstantinidou, Fresno State forwards, and Deajanae Harvey, Fresno State guard. After the first ten minutes, Nevada trailed 19-11. The Pack continued to fall over the next two quarters. Nevada was outscored 1623 in the middle two quarters. Fresno State built their lead all the way to 19 points at the 2:20 mark in the third quarter. The Wolf Pack was able to chip away at Fresno State’s lead before the end of the third, but was still in a 15 point hole at 42-27 going into the final quarter of the game.

Nevada was able to chip away at the Bulldogs lead in the fourth quarter, but they were not able to get it below 12 points before the final whistle. In the end, the Pack

lost to Fresno State 57-45. The Wolf Pack then came back home to take on UNLV in a revenge matchup on Feb. 24. However, this game did not fall in their favor, as the Pack fell to the Lady Rebels 98-67. Nevada was dominated in every aspect of the game. UNLV started the game off with a 6-0 run, headlined by Desi-Rae Young, UNLV center, and Ashley Scoggin, UNLV guard. This set the pace for the rest of the game, as the Lady Rebels answered anything Nevada did with a multi-point run. Through the first half, the Wolf Pack women were outscored 5020. The second half was not that better for the Pack. The team did shoot better overall, as the Pack shot 55 percent from the field compared to their 33.3% shooting in the first. This resulted with four players in double digits at the end of the game, those being Lee with 18, Sullivan with 17, Audrey Roden, Nevada guard, with 13 and Lexie Givens, Nevada forward, with 11. However, Nevada was not able to hold off the Lady Rebels’ advances, as UNLV put up another 48 points to add to their total. Once the final whistle was blown, the Wolf Pack women lost their second game in a row 98-67. After their two game skid, the Pack found themselves at an even 14-14 overall record and 8-7 conference record. The team will look to right the ship against Colorado State when the program takes on the Rams on the road on Feb. 28 at 10 a.m.

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