Volume 62 Issue 13

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

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Volume 62

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Issue 13

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ASUCR:

PARKING PERMIT PRICES TO INCREASE BY 6.3 PERCENT ANNUALLY SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer

Kicking off the first ASUCR meeting of the winter quarter, senators Fernando Echeverria and Nafi Karim delivered an extensive presentation on the financial position and future of UCR’s Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS).

Senators currently support the creation of overflow parking lots as the most “cost-effective intermediate solution,” which will reduce transportation expenses by converting dirt spaces into unlit parking lots with a price tag of $505,000.

TAPS plans to increase the annual cost of parking permits by 6.3 percent every year starting

fall 2014-2015, which means that UCR gold permit students paying $99 per quarter will pay $105.24 the first year; $111.87 the second year and $118.91 the third year.

TAPS functions as an independent auxiliary that does not fall under the management of the university. The transportation service receives approximately 80 percent of its total revenue from UCR permit sales and citations alone, but the numbers have since fallen. According to senators, TAPS faced a drop in both permit sales and citations from the 2011-12 to 2012-13; from 4,512,477 to 4,460,562 permits and 916,661 to 549,979 citations.

“One of (TAPS’s) biggest revenue sources were

citations and that went down … and that’s not necessarily a bad thing because they took a new philosophy: If you get a citation and you make an appeal, then you’re more likely to be let off the hook. You’re also given a warning before you’re given a citation,” said Echeverria.

TAPS has been tapping its reserve fund of $1,298,508 to fund an ongoing deficit under its belt, which is projected to accumulate to a $3.2 million deficit by 2018, but senators say that the reserves will eventually run dry. To find moneysaving alternatives, while meeting ongoing demand for campus parking, TAPS plans to cut

Brown’s budget proposes an extra $142 million for the UC MICHAEL RIOS Senior Staff Writer

Gov. Jerry Brown recently released his state budget proposal for the 201415 year, outlining a plan to allocate $12.8 billion to higher education.

According to the budget, the University of California (UC) system would receive an increase of $142.2 million next year in state funding — an addition to the $2.8 billion that the university has been allocated in the 2013-14 school year.

The tuition and fee revenues at the UC are expected to remain the same under the proposed state budget at $3.1 billion. Additionally, the Brown administration hopes that the funds allocated to the university will be used to make college more affordable and encourage students to graduate within four years.

“This is a wise allocation of the state funds,” stated the governor when he introduced his budget proposal Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. “(The budget) helps students in two ways: by holding tuition flat and by encouraging the university and the colleges to enable students to get through within four years instead of the much longer period that seems to be the increasingly order of the day.”

Last year’s enacted budget allocated a total of $2.8 billion to the UC. This year’s proposed $142.2-million increase would raise the funds to nearly $3.0 billion. If agreed upon, this would mark the third straight year of funding increases for the UC. Thus far, some officials ► SEE BUDGET, PAGE 5

► SEE PARKING, PAGE 6

INSIDE: Increasingly advanced AI will grow our economy, not take over the world.

OPINIONS

PAGE 8

Uncle Chuang’s Bakery brings delicious and affordable pastries to the University Village.

PAGE 10

FEATURES

Light Light, Infinity Dots and Sky Mall brought BloodOrange Infoshop to the floor.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 16

The Australian Open is in full swing. We preview the favorites of the Aussie fortnight.

PAGE 19

SPORTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

PAGE 2

STAFF

PAGE 7 PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING

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NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

HIGHLANDER

New solar farm to provide renewable electricity COLIN MARKOVICH Senior Staff Writer

UCR has announced that a 10.92acre solar farm — the largest at any UC campus — will provide three megawatts of renewable energy to the campus starting in July 2014.

“It fulfills the vision of the university,” Director of Sustainability John Cook said in an interview. “It helps us with our sustainability efforts, it gives us an opportunity for research, it doesn’t cost the students anything.”

UCR is contracting with SunPower, a Silicon Valley-based solar energy company, to construct and maintain the farm. UCR will provide $350,000 in preparation costs and, once the farm is complete, will purchase the electricity from SunPower, resulting in $4.3 million in electricity savings over the lifespan of the 20-year contract, which works out to an average of $215,000 per year.

SunPower has previous experience with the UC system, constructing a onemegawatt solar array at UC Merced.

UCR’s array will be located behind Lot 30 and next to the recently established UCR Community Garden.

According to UCR Physical Plant, construction will not affect parking in Lot 30.

“All of the work as well as staging of materials, contractor vehicles and other construction equipment will be inside the actual construction area,” Director of Physical Plant Ken Mueller said.

However, the land was originally

intended to be used for a parking structure and academic purposes, among other things, as stated in the Long Range Development Plan. Because of this, the contract can be terminated at any point if it is deemed to be necessary to use the land for its original purpose, although Mueller anticipates that the solar farm “will be in place for the full 20 years.”

ASUCR Vice President of Internal Affairs Johnny Ta expressed support for integrating solar energy into UCR’s energy portfolio, but was concerned with the potential for a premature contract termination. “In a case where there is an urgent need for expansion, the farm may be shut down at a loss,” Ta explained, noting that he would prefer the money be spent on building classrooms and expanding parking “before spending money on a non-permanent project.”

UCR currently obtains its electricity and water from Riverside Public Utilities (RPU), although its supply of natural gas comes from other companies.

Eighteen percent of electricity generated

by RPU comes from renewable sources, according to the Office of Sustainability, and RPU expects to increase that to 33 percent by 2020. In contrast, the three megawatts that the new solar array will produce will go entirely to the campus, and will account for 30 percent of the university’s base power load. During peak hours, UCR uses 18 megawatts of power.

UCR has touted its sustainability efforts in recent years, including using compostable utensils and plates in

Photo of the Week

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS A solar farm will begin providing three megawatts of clean energy to UCR starting July 2014.

the HUB and dining halls. The Green Campus Action Plan (GCAP), a studentrun, student-funded initiative, has previously installed solar panels on the roof of the HUB and created a solarpowered mobile generator.

In addition to the plans for the solar array installation, a one-megawatt array of panels is expected to be installed on the roof of UCR’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology. Mueller also says that UCR is “actively working on some specific water conservation

14

Vice Chancellor Jim Sandoval takes the microphone to praise the Clearing the Air event and the benefits the new no-smoking policy will have.

Quotebook “I see students giving other students rides to Lot 30, so I don’t know if you can go as far to say that we’re not looking hard enough.”

- Vice President of External Affairs Kareem Aref on unused parking spaces

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measures at this time as well as actively utilizing LED lighting technology across the campus that is resulting in large electrical as well as maintenance savings.”

Meanwhile, GCAP plans to install solar panels in UCR’s community garden and bring in an Internet connection to create a variety of outdoor classroom.

“We would love to have professors utilize this space to teach classes and make lesson plans more interactive and tangible,” Vice President Ta said.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

HIGHLANDER

UC student regent recruitment tour visits UC Riverside JOSEPH AVILA Contributing Writer

University of California Student Regent Cinthia Flores, a UC Irvine graduate law student, and Student Regent-Designate Sadia Saifuddin, a UC Berkeley undergraduate student, met with the Highlanders on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 in HUB 355. In an information session, the two gave pointers on the application processes to aspiring student regent candidates and discussed pressing issues in the UC system.

Flores opened up the meeting by explaining the role of a student regent: “(We) represent 230,000 students — both undergraduate and graduate — on the governing board of the University of California. As members of the UC Board of Regents, we are specifically tasked with representing students’ interests.”

The student regents continued to share their projects and resolutions on expanding accessibility, affordability and diversity — three insignias of the UC — across the system.

“My primary project is access to higher education for underrepresented students as it relates to low-income communities of color,” explained Flores. “Sadia is interested in the financial aid aspect of affordability and restructuring

what that system looks like and how it benefits low-income and middle-income students and undocumented students.”

The discussion went on further to explain the application and selection process, which would require all applicants to submit the application form with personal statement by Feb. 20. Selected finalists will then go through three rounds of interviews in May for final appointment.

For writing a successful personal statement, Saifuddin emphasized the importance of focusing on a unique personal experience while tying its relevancy to the roles and responsibilities of a student regent. Saifuddin explained that for her personal statement, she shared her experience of working four jobs during her sophomore year to financially support herself, and how the experience contributed to her desire of making the UC more affordable.

“My biggest advice is: be yourself,” commented Flores on writing the personal statement.

“Write about your passion and what keeps you up at night because it’s going to be very apparent when we read your application that this person is doing this for the right reasons.

And trust me, it’s not worth

RICHARD LIN / HIGHLANDER Student Regent Cinthia Flores visits UC Riverside to speak with students about her role and responsibilities.

doing this for the title or the perks of the job because there aren’t too many of those.”

Excellent oral communication skills, perseverance through long work hours, charisma and other relevant qualifications were also greatly emphasized as qualities that would set apart individuals from the large pool of candidates applying for the position.

The Q-and-A portion of the meeting opened up the floor for students to ask any questions that students had for the student regents. ASUCR senator Shadi Matar asked for a comment on UC President Janet Napolitano’s opposition to the

American Studies Association resolution to endorse a boycott on Israeli academics, on which Flores responded, “I think her response was indicative of a lack of engagement from the faculty representatives on the board. I think if there would be a much stronger opinion and even engagement between the faculties she may not have responded in that way … It’s definitely something that we could discuss with the faculty representatives on the board of regents.”

The student regents were asked to share their current projects, advocating

accessibility, affordability and diversity in the UC system. Flores spoke about her accomplishment and partnership with the UC Student Association’s IGNITE campaign (Invest in Graduation Not Incarceration, Transform Education) in a resolution that led up to $10 million of allocations toward academic preparation programs for underrepresented youth. Saifuddin also shared about her contributions to raise more than $90,000 with Berkley Food Pantry for students who need food or hygiene items.

UC Riverside was the secondto-last stop on the student regents’ tour of the UC campuses.

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California transgender law goes into effect SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer

AARON GRECH Contributing Writer

A state law affecting the rights of transgender students was implemented on Jan. 1, 2014, despite attempts from opposing groups to place a proposed referendum on this year’s state ballot; the referendum would give California voters the power to decide whether or not to overturn the School Success and Opportunity Act (SSOA).

The SSOA allows K-12 students to participate in school extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, and use health facilities, such as showers and bathrooms, of the gender they identify with.

Opposition groups, such as Privacy for All Students — a conservative coalition consisting of parents, students, nonprofit and faith groups — seeks to repeal the state law, citing privacy concerns for students who may not feel comfortable sharing the same facilities with the opposite sex.

Back in Nov. 2013, the group needed to gather a minimum of 500,000 valid signatures to qualify the referendum for this year’s ballot. They obtained a total of 619,244 signatures, which the secretary of state needed to verify through random sampling. When the results came back, 482,582 signatures were considered to be valid, which fell 22,178 signatures short of stopping the state law from going into effect and placed the measure on this year’s state ballot.

But since the 482,582 validated signatures fell within the threshold of 95 and 110 percent of the required 500,000 signatures — reaching 95.6 percent of the signatures needed — state law requires each of California’s 58 counties to recount

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Transgender laws have garnered public acceptance in only a handful of states, indicated in solid dark gray on the graphic.

every signature. If 504,760 signatures are verified by Feb. 24, then state officials must place a hold on the law until California voters decide its fate later in November.

Supporters of SSOA argue that the state law has sufficiently clarified existing legislation that can protect transgender students from harassment. The law will affect approximately 6.2 million K-12 students in California public schools.

UCR’s LGBT Resource Center Director Nancy Tubbs supports the state law, which she believes would create a safer environment for transgender students to

express their gender identity.

“Though the previous state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, many school districts were not meeting the standards,” stated Tubbs. ”The bill allows the students to be treated in a fair manner and allows them a safe learning and school environment.”

However, members of Privacy for All Students said in a news release that establishing such a law may confuse younger students about their existing sexual orientations. “A student can assert a gender identity at school at any time,” read

a statement by the group. “Because gender identity is based on feelings … he or she can be both transgender and heterosexual at the same time.”

UCR students, such as third-year history and English double major Jessica Baker, believe the state law will make people more informed about an underrepresented demographic. “I do see social problems due to the lack of knowledge (about transgender) people … but (the state law) can be a major step forward in bringing these problems into the forefront,” Baker ■H said.

NEWS

HIGHLANDER

NEWS IN BRIEF

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UC President Napolitano takes a hard stance against Snowden’s actions.

see it for years to come … From where I sit today, I would not put clemency on the table at all,” said Napolitano.

Napolitano’s hard stance against Snowden, however, is not shared by everyone in the UC community.

“I believe reports on Snowden’s damage to our national security has been exaggerated by NSA,” expressed UCR political science professor David Pion-Berlin.

“It is true that Snowden is a criminal in some sense — he broke laws. But it is not right to treat him as a traitor. He should be granted leniency for whistle-blowing our government’s dishonest mass surveillance,” added Pion-Berlin.

MOBILENET CONNECTIVITY ISSUES REPORTEDLY RESOLVED During fall quarter, members of the UCR community reported that the campus wireless network Mobilenet was working intermittently.

Following the complaints, a campus-wide email was released on Nov. 26, stating that the issue was rooted in the Mobilenet authentication service and that the campus had been working with the vendor, Cisco, to resolve the issue.

According to UCR Senior Director for Technology Operations Larry McGrath, as of the second week of December, the issue has been fixed. In a phone interview with the Highlander, McGrath explained that there was a bug in the

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COMPILED BY MICHAEL RIOS, senior staff writer & WINNIE JENG, senior staff writer

UC PRESIDENT NAPOLITANO OPPOSES CLEMENCY FOR EDWARD SNOWDEN

On Jan. 5, UC President and former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano expressed her opposition for granting clemency to Edward Snowden, who leaked classified National Security Agency (NSA) documents in June 2013 and subsequently fled to Russia to escape trials on theft and espionage.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Napolitano stated that Snowden had “leaked very extensive information” that does not strike a balance of safeguarding the national security while upholding the value of privacy.

“I think (Snowden has) committed crimes and I think that the damage we’ll see now and we’ll

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Cisco-provided software that did not allow the network to function properly.

According to him, the issue took approximately three days to resolve with crew members reportedly working 18-hour shifts, in some cases, to resolve network problems. UCR also worked with Cisco staffers to rewrite and reinstall new code that would resolve the connectivity problems.

McGrath also added that the department is now working on new projects to increase the reliability of internet connectivity for students through the addition of “smarter” access points around the campus.

UCR MEDICAL STUDENTS OFFERED FULL RIDE Two UC Riverside students are currently studying at the recently opened School of Medicine for free.

Jennifer Han and Jonathan Pham have been offered a deal to have their $35,000-a-year tuition paid off, but only if they agree to stay in the Inland area and go in the field of primary care instead of specialty fields.

“I think it is an amazing deal,” Han said in a statement.

The deal was made as a response to the shortage of physicians in California.

“Forty percent of the doctors in my community look like me,” said School of Medicine Dean G. Richard Olds.

“They’re 55 years of age or older and they will retire in the next 10 years. So, the net result of that is we will probably have a 5,000- to 6,000-physician deficit in 10 years no matter what anyone does.”

Riverside County has some of the lowest numbers of primary care physicians in the country. Part of the mission statement of the UCR School of Medicine is to expand the area’s physician workforce and “to improve JASPERY GOH / HIGHLANDER the health of medically underserved UCR’s School of Medicine has awarded two students with full-ride scholarships. populations.”

FORMER UC PRESIDENT AMONG TOP-PAID UNIVERSITY LEADERS A study by the Chronicle of Higher Education recently revealed some of the top-paid university leaders around the nation. According the the study, former UC President Mark Yudof was ranked eighth in the country in 2012 in terms of public school leaders.

Yudof was also ranked the sixthhighest-paid leader in the state of California and the highest-paid among public universities. Base pay, bonuses, housing and transportation compensations are all counted up in the study.

Yudof served as the University of California president from 2008 to 2013 and made $847,000 in compensations per year. Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano took his place last summer and took a voluntary pay cut to make $570,000 a year.

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COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Mark Yudof ’s $847,000 pay when he was UC President ranks as one of the highest among public university officials. ► BUDGET FROM PAGE 1

have applauded the plan.

“UC appreciates Gov. Brown’s commitment to full funding for the second year of his multi-year budget plan for the university,” UC Vice President for Budget and Capital Resources Patrick Lenz stated in a press release.

“California teachers appreciate the governor’s continued commitment to public education and to repaying the billions of dollars that had been cut from students, schools and colleges,” read a statement from the California Teachers Association.

Since the 2007-08 school year, the University of California has faced massive budget cuts in the general fund pool that have totaled approximately $464 million.

In 2008, the UC received as much as $3.3 billion in state funds. In that same timespan, the UC increased fees and tuition from $6.6 billion in the 2007-08 school year to $12.2 billion in the 2013-14 school year.

Some critics of the budget proposal state that funding to the UC fell short. In November, the UC Board of Regents passed a preliminary budget that called for an increase of $267 million — $120.9 million more than what the state budget actually plans to allocate.

Gov. Brown’s $155 billion proposed budget allocates a grand total of $106.8 billion for general fund spending — an 8 percent increase from a year ago. Additionally, some of the money would be used to pay $11 billion in state debts and would also put $1.6 Graphics by BRANDY COATS billion in the state’s rainy day fund.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

HIGHLANDER

► PARKING FROM PAGE 1

employee salaries and benefits by $300,000 and pursue more cost-saving, efficient projects in the future.

The presentation says the permit increases and consolidation of TAPS staffing will allow TAPS to break even by 2017-2018, with the assumption that there will be 25,000 students attending UCR by then.

Senators reported that an increase in TAPS expenditures in 2011-12 resulted in nearly a million-dollar reduction in revenue — half of the expenditure increases consisted of service center assessment fees and land rent to the university. Other expenses were the result of an increase in police surveillance over transportation equipment and maintenance. Additional costs included: the emergence of the Pointto-Point Shuttle Service and overflow parking spaces in the Grace Methodist Church parking lot adjacent Lot 26, which created 80 new spaces.

“So in easy terms, our total expenses outweighed how much we were actually making,” Echeverria said. “So at some point, we’re going to run out of money in our reserves and TAPS has to address that.”

The presentation also revealed that there are 500 student parking spaces available on a daily basis, although Karim later placed the parking estimate to be an average of around 300 spaces, which may not always be visible.

Senators Echeverria and Karim are working to set up digital sign boards in each parking lot, which will show the number of available parking spots in the area. They are also working with ASUCR President Sai Patadia to synchronize an RSS feed to provide realtime updates on parking lots through a UCR

application.

“The issue is that parking is really bad the first two to three weeks of school when people are still getting used to it,” said Karim. “One possible option is that we can build a parking structure to accommodate all possible students, but it would cost the student body $18,000-$25,000 per space.”

Senators revealed that building a new parking lot would cost an estimated $30 million within a 30-year period with an

annual payment of $1.7 million. Since TAPS is considered an independent business, they would have to increase the price of parking permits by 50 percent in order to pay for the new structure.

TAPS is planning to provide additional parking spaces in a designated unlit dirt lot near Lot 30, which is expected to be open by spring quarter. “In total it cost $505,000 to have new lights for safety in areas like Lot 26 and to set up the overflow parking lot (which

Graphic by BRANDY COATS

will cut cost by leaving it as dirt space and having no lights, since high traffic are usually only a problem during afternoons and special events and not a regular problem at all times of the day),” said Karim.

The addition of 500 available parking spaces are expected to open up from 13, when the Glen Mor 2 construction is complete in ■H fall of 2014, according to Karim.

An extended version of the ASUCR meeting is available at highlandernews.org

UCR scholars receive $225,000 for religious projects

MARSHALL DANESE Contributing Writer

UCR researchers Mariam Beevi Lam, Shahab Malik, Amanda Lucia and Jennifer Hughes received grants totaling $225,000 to carry out three research projects: transnational networks and their effect on religious activism, the practice of Islamic law by American Muslims, and the evolution of public religious festivals in California. Funded by the Henry Luce Foundation, the grants support cross-campus, multidisciplinary projects among scholars, graduate students, artists and journalists.

Lucia and Hughes seek to gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of religious festivals in California over the last two decades. As the principal investigators, they will attend public events, like the Day of the Dead festival in Orange County or the Return of the Swallows at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

“We’re trying to map the California civic, political and religious landscape through looking at the proliferation of these festivals,” Dr. Hughes said.

With an emphasis on bringing in many different disciplines, Lucia and Hughes utilized the skills of many scholars, including graduate students and faculty, from across the UC system and organized what Hughes described as, “A mobile think tank, where we are all in the field together.” By interviewing the festival organizers and attendees before, during and after the festival, they hope to

gain an understanding about the community behind the public display.

UCR senior and sociology major Carmen Candelaria expressed her appreciation and support for Lucia’s and Hughes’ project to study religious festivals in Riverside, explaining that sometimes commuter students don’t feel very at home being in Riverside, but these religious festivals could connect them with the community and thereby diminish their feelings of alienation.

Mariam Beevi Lam, an associate professor of comparative literature and the director of Southeast Asian Studies at UCR, is working on one of the more far-reaching projects of the three. She will investigate the impact of religious and secular organizations on human rights activism across the globe. They will then create a website that centers on topics such as religion, secular values and ethics within the scope of these global organizations. The end goal of the project is to stimulate conversation around these ideas and to showcase commentaries on the website alongside current events.

By researching many different communities, the project aims to reveal the varied ways American Muslims practice their religion. After conducting interviews in both Northern and Southern California, Malik and his team wish to feature their findings on a website, museum expeditions and a book.

Malik hopes that these three mediums could help shed light on the complex ways American Muslims ■H express their Islamic identities.

COURTESY OF UCR TODAY Four UCR scholars have recieved grants to further study religion and religious festivals around the world.

. OPINIONS .

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

7

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

STANDARDIZED TESTING HAS CREATED STANDARDIZED STUDENTS WITH USELESS SKILLS

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I

n the last decade, we have become obsessed with evaluating and reevaluating the success of our students. With the United States slipping further and further behind the rest of the world, politicians have decided that the status quo can’t stand. Unfortunately, the status quo has been replaced with something worse: excessively standardized testing.

For grade-school students over the past years, scratching a scantron with a number two pencil has become far too familiar.

Tests seem to constantly appear in class curriculums in order to assess the material that is being taught. However, the process of “testing” students has created an unrealistic strategy of learning. The result is an overly structured way of expanding the minds of younger generations that doesn’t expand them at all.

There is a routine that has permeated the way students learn: memorize, then test your ability to memorize. But this has warped education into a process of factual recognition rather than appreciation for the knowledge itself. It is difficult for students to appreciate the opportunity to learn when educational structures are inhibiting their desire to explore subjects because of the infamous standardized test. For some reason, sitting and staring at paper and a scantron for two weeks straight doesn’t make students interested in learning.

Albert Einstein once said, “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” It would be incorrect to say that the schooling system has just now started impeding students’ ability to learn, since Einstein himself even suffered the same barriers. The man who singlehandedly rewrote the laws of physics was labeled as insubordinate and incapable of grasping what was taught in grammar school.

But the irony is that the education system is what is actually impeding students from even moving forward.

Realistically, the problem is how to educate the masses and the simplistic answer is that there needs to be a standardized way of teaching. But this oversimplification of reality affects students’ own process of education so

CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER

that they are unable to effectively learn and grasp college-level material.

Currently, there are two ways to test the competence of the school and the future success of students: an aptitude test and an achievement test (such as the California achievement test). The achievement test creates one of the main problems in that it pressures schools to have students succeed at a test that supposedly expresses the educational quality of a school.

But then the issue follows: schools are teaching to the test. The education system transforms itself into a test prep seminar in hopes that students will reflect high marks. Students’ intelligence is now being measured by their ability to fill in the right bubble.

On the other hand, although preferable, it would be nigh-impossible to teach students case-by-case, and the government does need a means of tracking students’ progress. Students need to understand how to obtain information and process it rather than dive into another test. Although the intent of the test is is to determine students’ knowledge it ultimately fails to teach them how to comprehend information rather than narrowing down multiple-choice answers.

The existence of standardized testing actually creates a false belief that students are either failing or succeeding. Dr. Elaine Tuttle Hansen, executive director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, recently discussed this problem in a piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education. Hansen stated, “The truth is that not all of the smartest kids who have jumped through the hoops required for selective college admissions are ready for the demands of college-level work.”

The younger generations have become overloaded with multiple-choice tests that have not allowed them to expand their creativity and critical thinking skills, but rather the skill of narrowing down multiple-choice answers.

There needs to be more emphasis on the observation of students’ growth rather than a comparison test that only evaluates a small portion of students’ knowledge. Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, states,

“testing programs often aim to judge students against measures that have little or nothing to do with what the classroom teacher has taught or is expected to teach.” Rather than attempting to create a test that scores students who come from different backgrounds, classes and educators, students should be encouraged to engage in the material rather than rote memorization.

In classrooms, students should be required to present their knowledge, which helps them with skills such as public speaking and articulating the information taught. Constant writing is also a key element that should be encouraged in grade school to help students grasp the basic style of writing.

A board of educators can also examine presentations to understand the way in which a student can express his or her knowledge. This provides a chance for multiple educators to examine a student’s performances and provide him or her with multiple scores instead of one numerical score provided by a computer, much like reviews of employees often necessitate input from co-workers, supervisors and others.

Skills such as reading comprehension, the ability to communicate through writing and publicly speaking one’s knowledge are imperative for college and life. These are abilities that should be stressed in our education system to provide students more insight on what is expected of them in college.

These are the future college students, tested repeatedly and limited to the boundaries of the test. It is imperative that a shift is made in the system so that education can actually expand on students’ skills rather than train them to reiterate information through scantron.

The focus must be moved away from scores and toward the idea that educational institutions are established to instill life skills in preparation for not the next grade ■H level, but for the real world.

Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board.

They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER

The computers are coming — and that’s not a bad thing COLIN MARKOVICH Senior Staff Writer

“2001: A Space Odyssey.” “The Terminator.” “Portal.” Pop quiz: What do these things have in common?

Artificial intelligence sucks.

Well, it’s slightly more complicated than that, and there is a lot more nuance.

But the general premise remains the same. Artificial intelligence is created by humans to help us perform tasks, test new theories and be our companions. But then the created turns on its creator. Our robot friends begin making decisions that override our own, imprison us and in some instances are happy to outright end us.

This nervousness is starting to pick up again as we have made strides in cultivating the AI of our computers.

In 2011, a supercomputer created by IBM called Watson bested two reigning Jeopardy champions. “Bested” is more of a euphemism, really — “crushed” is more accurate, since it won over $35,000, more than triple the haul of the next-closest contender. Three years later, its processing has more than tripled and its size has decreased hundredfold. As for its job prospects?

Watson is currently gainfully employed providing advice and information about lung cancer to 90 percent of nurses in the field.

Meanwhile, in Japan, mathematics professor Noriko Arai is developing a supercomputer nicknamed Todai-kun that can ace Tokyo University’s notoriously punishing entry examination, which includes math, physics, history and a written examination. Arai’s goalpost is in 2021, a mere seven years from now.

The advent of Todai-kun and Watson have raised the question of artificial intelligence’s role in our lives once again, and in today’s state of nearchronic economic depression, some worry that a supercomputer that can do just about anything will render many jobs obsolete.

This story has repeated itself throughout history. In the mid-1800s, the United States’ industrial revolution was in full swing and trains and railroads began to stitch together the fabric of the country. Outraged canal workers said that the new railways were taking their jobs — and they were.

The key thing is that those changes

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Operating systems found in artificially intelligent machines have improved the lives of humans, but many are afraid that the intelligence found in these machines will eliminate jobs.

are an entirely normal thing for an economy to do. In fact, it’s the calling card of every major technological change in history. When ships began to be made out of metal instead of wood, the lumber industry was felled.

In an ironic twist, the railway industry lost ground to trucking as the highway system was developed. Even now, as natural gas becomes an increasingly viable alternative to coal, coal workers are losing jobs in once-prosperous places.

As technology changes, the economic changes they produce are inevitable. Once-mighty titans collapse, and new sprouts grow into mighty redwoods. It’s the story of history, and trying to stop that change has the same effect as spitting into the wind: You get spit all over your face and look stupid while doing it.

Just as in other points in history, enhanced AI will siphon jobs away from other sectors. But it will also serve as a source for additional ones. People will need to maintain the artificial intelligence and cultivate it for future development. Computers may become

integrated into other occupations, like teaching, but there will always be a place for human teachers who can provide the social interactions and a human model that artificial intelligence can’t.

At the same time, it seems likely that overall economic growth would increase as a result of artificial intelligence development.

In the past, each new technological revolution has increased the United States’ economic output. Working on artificial intelligence has led to an increased number of jobs and an enhanced economic output in the computer sciences. Then there are the auxiliary industries that are also boosted by a better AI — for instance, the health care industry that Watson is now working for.

In the end, the world as a whole does better as economic growth increases and more people benefit from the increased earnings and increased paychecks. But as society attempts to jump the artificial intelligence gap, we must also provide

As technology changes, the economic changes they produce are inevitable. Oncemighty titans collapse, and new sprouts grow into mighty redwoods.

a safety net to the people whose jobs and livelihoods are being lost in the transition, instead of watching them drop into the abyss.

Unemployment insurance and jobless benefits are part of the solution, of course. But it’s also key to provide funding for training programs that enable those left behind to pick themselves up and get back in the race.

Instead of being down and out for years, workers who draw the short straw can retrain themselves and find a new line of work in the new economy. We shouldn’t leave anyone in our society behind, and we can use the gains of our economic growth to assist those most impacted by the changes in the economy.

As artificial intelligence develops, there’s no question that some jobs will fall to the wayside as computers become increasingly able to take on more and more difficult tasks. But at its core, humanity is adaptable. We’ve collectively survived two world wars, mass epidemics of influenza and plague and we live almost everywhere on the globe. Surely we can adapt to new advances in artificial intelligence.

Some people will persist in depicting dystopian futures where artificial intelligence attempts to exterminate humans. Let’s ask HAL, Skynet and GLaDOS how well that worked out for ■H them. Spoiler alert: not well.

COURTESY OF STEAM Popular culture depictions of artificial intelligence, like GLaDOS, add to the growing fear that AI will become too intelligent and wipe out the need for humans.

The opinions expressed in the Opinions section belong solely to their authors and do not represent the Highlander Editorial Board or the University of California, Riverside.

. FEATURES .

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

a breath of

fresh air

The Bell Tower stands with its new tobacco-free banner as festivities celebrating the Clearing the Air event take place around it.

Maxine Arellano, Staff Writer

W

hether there is something in the air — or lack thereof — UCR shined a little bit brighter in the first week of winter quarter. As of Jan. 2, 2014, R’side joined over 1,100 colleges and universities in the nationwide smoke and tobacco-free campus policy: Clearing the Air. UCR threw a celebration to not only celebrate the air and environment of the campus, but also the health and well-being of the community. Clearing the Air gathered students and faculty together to celebrate wellness with campus organizations to get everyone excited and aware of UCR’s future.

At 11 a.m. on Jan. 9, the Bell Tower’s chime was drowned out by club hits that blared through speakers from a DJ. Students hustled through to their next class, the HUB or anywhere away from the lecture halls, and soon took in their surroundings. As the DJ spun the tracks in front of the Bell Tower, a wall of fame titled “Pledge to be Tobacco Free” hung behind, awaiting the first star to be pinned. A photo booth on the side greeted students, who posed with a wig and a grin. Gold stars of names of UCR officials and the years they remained tobacco-free were scattered around a red carpet, which led students to the first table to pledge to also be tobacco-free. If getting their own star wasn’t an incentive enough, students also received wrist bands to obtain free food during the celebration.

Tables covered in pamphlets and stress balls urged students to visit organizations such as the Health and Wellness Center (The Well), all of them promoting and explaining the benefits of a smoke-free campus such as air quality in and

Photos by Aaron Lai

around buildings as well as long-term health of students. Along with free resources, guests also received free goodies. The Health and Wellness Center gave each a goody bag containing lollipops, mints, straws and toothpicks to keep the mouth busy instead of a cigarette — a “Salvation bag,” as fourth-year and Well employee Morgan Nixon called it. Nixon also informed many about the New Years’ resolution support groups and meetings for those who may need an extra push to reach their resolution of not indulging in tobacco or just to meet others with the same goals. Students also found out about “Class Sensations”: encouragement groups that work with tobacco treatment specialist VJ Sleight to provide support and materials to help anyone who wishes to nip smoking in the bud.

Students gravitated toward the Well and Office of Sustainability booths to play “Smoking Roulette,” a spin-the-wheel learning game about the effects of smoking as well as the effects it has on campus. I played the game to guess the amount of cigarette butts collected around Watkins last quarter over the course of two days. I guessed the number right on the head (392 butts) and received a free water bottle and weird stares.

Director of Sustainability Dave Cook gave me insight about the environmental effects of smoking and cigarettes, such as the staggering number of cigarette butts that covered the earth last year: 4.7 trillion. He explained that he was not that surprised to find the amount of butts on campus with the stressful and social environment the campus is. “It’s going to be a gradual change, but there will be,” he added. Tim Willette, head of the staff of the event, shared his story of working on the

airlines while inflight smoking was banned. Passengers worried about how they would handle a six-hour flight without a cigarette. “Four years later and they are doing it … come back (to campus) in four years, and you’ll see students doing it too.”

With that said, Clearing the Air understood the challenges smokers may have and provided a “Survival Guide” for tobacco users filled with things to consider while on campus like how to leave campus properly to smoke, manage cravings and stress and much more. Each organization was there to let people know they are there to help, promote and encourage wellness amongst the community.

As the walking cigarette butt named “Buddy” made his way around the event to keep the mood as light as the celery and carrot stick snacks students were given, Chancellor Wilcox made his way to the podium to follow speeches by Director Lovekin and Julie Chobdee — who had worked on Clearing the Air for almost two years. Wilcox opened with what a big change this will induce, and the challenges we will take on, “but we will take everything on together.” The idea and value of “community” was heavily emphasized, as UCR is known for its sense of community throughout. “We share the air,” Wilcox said, as he promised an even brighter future.

The music slowly faded and tables were nearly empty come 1 p.m. Students returned back to their regularly scheduled Thursday and the area around the Bell Tower soon became vacant. “Pledge to be Tobacco Free,” however, was overflowing with pledge stars, shining from end to end.

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FEATURES

HIGHLANDER

Uncle Chuang’s gives students a choice U

BY COLIN MARKOVICH, SENIOR STAFF WRITER // PHOTOS BY CAMERON YONG niversity Village is experiencing something of a restaurant Renaissance this academic year.

Last September marked the twin openings of Calibasil and Oven 450, and more arrivals are incoming, with posters hinting at venues like a new sports bar. This year, UCR students will have more dining options than ever before.

The newest addition to the burgeoning basket of eateries sprouting throughout University VIllage is Uncle Chuang’s Bakery. Inconspicuously nestled next to the 7-Eleven in the northwest corner of University Village, Uncle Chuang’s Bakery (abbreviated UC Bakery) doesn’t have any seating, so it isn’t so much a restaurant as simply a store that exclusively sells a wide variety of baked goods.

But that doesn’t make the food it offers any less delicious.

The first thing that strikes me about the place is the dizzying array of products lined up on the shelves. At least 10 different types of bread loaves are available, and sweet buns are everywhere, with rich and varied flavors. With so many baked goods present, it’s difficult to choose. The variety is enough to get your mouth watering, and trays are provided so you can indulge in as many pastries as will fit. I

quickly take advantage of them.

Selection is always better in the morning, when the pastries roll out of the kitchen. And if you’re early enough, you’ll catch a glimpse of the man behind the operation: Sam Chuang, a friendly, outgoing person who can recite the exact time of his arrival to the United States at the drop of a hat (3 o’ clock) and is eager to show me around the store. When we talk about the bakery, it is easy to see the enthusiasm in his eyes. He’s certainly proud of his work — every few minutes, he unfailingly urges me to take another sample. I politely demur. He insists.

Before long, I’ve eaten one of everything on offer.

In between bites of delicious pastries, I manage to ask him about why he decided to start UC Bakery here in Riverside near UCR. “To give students a choice,” he immediately responds, saying that there aren’t a lot of dining options available near UCR (a sentiment I’m sure many UCR students share).

UC Bakery certainly does fit a gaping void in the market for baked goods. Bakeries are few and far between in Riverside, with the emphasis on “far.”

UC Bakery differentiates itself by maintaining a decidedly Asian focus: no bagels or croissants here.

And though the store has more substantial offerings (sandwiches and the vegetable-and-pork buns come to mind), the emphasis is on the confectionary. There

are taro buns and almond cookies. Shelves stock chocolate bread and cream puffs. When I notice they sell pineapple buns, I make sure to grab one.

Chuang decided to give the bakery its start when his daughter, a second-year business major here at UCR, lamented the difficulty in finding a cake for her friend’s birthday. After an hours-long search, she settled on a generic grocery store cake, which, as Chuang pointedly noted to me, languished in the refrigerator for a week before it became inedible and was junked.

It’s no wonder, then, that cakes are also on sale, with prices ranging from $15 to $25 depending on size, shape and type — not too shabby. In fact, low price is a recurring theme throughout the store. A whole loaf of chocolate bread maxes out at $2.50.

The most expensive sweet rolls will run you $1.50.

With the exception of cakes and a few especially large items, pretty much everything is readily accessible in the $1-$3 price range. If you buy $5 or more worth of stuff, you’ll even get a free drink on the house. The drinks aren’t especially high quality — just your standard pre-packaged tea bags and hot cocoa mix — but it is free after all.

The quality of the food, however, didn’t take a ► SEE BAKERY, PAGE 11

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FEATURES

HIGHLANDER ► BAKERY FROM PAGE 10

hit. The ham, cheese and egg sandwich sounded off-putting to me at first mention, but the savory flavors and crunch of the cucumber convinced me otherwise, and it’s become one of my favorites.

The hot dog, cheese and green onion bun was similarly spurned. But I was surprised to find that the sweet bun blended well with the cheese, and the chilled hot dog ensured that the taste of meat didn’t overpower the entire thing. The green onions were a bit too clustered for my taste (on one occasion leaving my mouth full of cellulose), but the subtle sweetness belied its filling nature and made me wonder why I’d been so judgmental. Almond cookies always sound good, but the sweetness of the ones at Uncle Chuang’s met the Goldilocks condition: not overpoweringly sweet, but just enough to leave you chomping at the bit for more.

The entire goal behind the bakery, Chuang explains, is to bring authentic, high-quality baked goods at low prices to the student population. That’s

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

11

why they start baking at 2 in the morning, and some workers drive in from as far as Rosemead.

Not everything is perfect, but they are largely outliers. The pineapple buns’ pineapple is less creamy than I anticipated and tasted more like a concha (a type of Mexican sweet roll with sugar icing on top) than what I’m used to. Similarly, the vegetable and pork buns are disappointing and lacked the savory punch that makes many of the other plates memorable.

But as Chuang eagerly showed me around the kitchen, showing off the machinery that ensured the cream puffs stayed moist and the huge baking oven, it was clear to see the enthusiasm he had for the venture.

He says he wants to open another bakery near UC San Diego, and if the price and quality of the Riverside branch are any indication, he’ll have the ability to make it a success. But for right now, the Riverside shop will give students enough options to satiate their stomachs without emptying their ■H wallets.

Sam Chuang’s new bakery at the University Village provides hungry students with a variety of Asian baked goods ranging from fluffy creampuffs to savory buns.

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HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Events this week Tuesday | 1/14

Wednesday | 1/15

Open Mic @ Back to the Grind, 7 p.m.

Movie Night @ Blood-Orange Infoshop, 7 p.m.

Thursday | 1/16

“Ride Along” Ticket Distribution @ HUB, 2 p.m.

Friday | 1/17

“Sadie Hawkins” Screening @ ARTS 113, 8 p.m.

Joaquin Phoenix portrays Theodore Twombly in the new Spike Jonze film, “Her.”

Warner Bros. Pictures

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

HIGHLANDER

MOVIE REVIEW COMING OUT SOON:

THE NUT JOB

JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT

RIDE ALONG

I, FRANKENSTEIN

HER

RATING: ★★★★☆

BY: JAKE RICH, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

“Are these feelings even real, or are they just programming?” In “Her,” the latest effort from director and writer Spike Jonze (“Where the Wild Things Are,” “Being John Malkovich”), Jonze examines how love works with and around modern — or in this case, nearfuture — technology. A moving script, striking visuals and standout performances allow Jonze to take a nuanced look at how our current lives and relationships center around technology, and how it affects us, for better and worse.

Though it never gives a specific date, the film is set some time in the future Los Angeles. Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is a letter writer for a company that specializes in writing love letters.

Recently separated from his wife and close to divorce, Theodore attempts to fulfill himself through various technological means. A small earpiece connected to a smartphone-esque device allows him to check everything online — emails and provocative pictures of celebrities included. After seeing an advertisement for “OS1,” a highly intelligent artificial operating system, he buys one. At home, after a series of personal questions are asked by the computer, the OS’s voice (Scarlett Johansson) begins to speak to him almost as if she were a normal person.

From here, the OS — who names herself Samantha — and Theodore’s relationship evolves to become very loving and tender. Frequent close-ups on Theodore show his joy as he goes from depressed to genuinely happy because of their relationship. Other shots subtly show Samantha’s point of view as she learns how her emotions — or at least, programmed feelings — work. Feelings not thought possible between human

and machine, including sexual tension, form a large part of Samantha’s character at many points as she wishes she could have a body to have closer interaction with Theodore. The connection between Theodore and Samantha comes across as a natural building point in the relationship — even if the way in which it is done is unusual.

Our relationship with technology is explored within Samantha and Theodore’s interactions. Samantha’s constant questioning of herself and whether she is truly real is the driving force behind this. If she is making Theodore and herself happy, they find that it does not really matter what plane of existence they are on — as Samantha says, “they are all made of matter.” However, as she discovers more and more of what her own, non-human existence means in the context of her life, and how she operates as a different being, she and Theodore’s relationship faces drastic changes.

Though it has no definitive answer, Theodore and Samantha’s relationship allows the film to challenge the depths of love and relationships in real life and technology all at once. The love Samantha and Theodore feel is glowing and tender, but is it artificial because she is? And at what point does technology envelop us so much that we love it more than reality — or is it so ingrained, that becomes our new reality?

Another perspective of this is examined as Theodore’s friend Amy (Amy Adams) finds companionship — but only as friends — with her ex-husband’s discarded “female” OS. Amy and Theodore’s conversations show the difficulty in navigating the spaces between alternate, artificial realities. Amy, whose husband never truly supported her goals,

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

finds comfort in relating to Theodore as someone who also had to turn to an artificial reality for solace — but it remains unclear if those artificial spaces have the capacity to provide solace indefinitely.

To accent all of this, soft cinematography slowly paints its way toward the subjects and allows space for the audience to get inside the characters’ minds, empathizing with them. Interspersed shots of the city and flashbacks show the scattered nature of their thoughts and how the city and life around them affects them. To add to this, a heavy red and blue color scheme is present throughout — whether it’s in Theodore’s work office or in what he’s wearing — to help show conflict in the emotions of love and sadness, and how they often bleed into each other.

“Her,” though it is guised behind its science fiction gimmick, is truly a simple story of love, life and loss in our modern age. Johansson’s emotionally evocative performance as Samantha makes the audience question whether it is okay to have such a deep relationship with something that is apparently artificial, or if the mind needs something to inhabit to evoke our feelings for it. In the end, a line from Amy sums up the ethos of the movie when she says, “I can overthink everything and find a million ways to doubt myself, but I’ve come to realize that we’re only here briefly and while I’m here I want to allow myself … joy.”

The heart of “Her” is found here: Happiness lies wherever you make it, and you should do whatever is necessary to help yourself find it.

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MUSIC REVIEW MY OWN LANE // KID INK

RATING: ★★★☆☆ BY: CHRISTAL MIMS, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Going to a party? If the DJ has a good ear for crowdpleasers, be prepared to hear several tracks from Kid Ink’s newest album, “My Own Lane.” Los Angeles-born rapper Kid Ink welcomed us into the new year with a slew of songs designed for the exhilarating energy of the club.

Kid Ink released his first independent album “Up & Away” in 2012, but gained most of his present popularity in 2013 with the release of “Show Me,” a head-bobbin’ single featuring R&B superstar Chris Brown.

In “My Own Lane,” Kid Ink is joined once again

by Brown, as well as Tyga, Pusha T and King Los — just to name a few. Despite the fact that Kid Ink’s career has been picking up momentum on its own, these names certainly introduce him to a wider audience. Some of the best tracks on the album, including “Iz You Down” and

“We Just Came to Party,” contain featured artists and show that Kid Ink can keep up with established names.

Kid Ink is known for his pop-infused rap style, and “My Own Lane” further confirms this to be his unique specialty. With its cheery piano chords and slaphappy melody containing lighthearted lyrics and whimsical strings, the opening track “Hello World” could be the instrumental backing to a rock or pop song.

Kid Ink ups the ante with huge, bass-heavy anthems like “The Movement” and “No Option,” which will not only have the stadium rocking but also display Kid Ink’s ability to produce an impressively rapid flow.

However, Kid Ink does little to expand on subject matter, consistently filling almost every song with his lust for drugs, partying and women. Perhaps his most redeeming song is “No

Miracles” featuring Elle Varner, in which he sheds light on a few personal struggles. Lyrics like “Look into my eyes you can see the pain / Painted a perfect picture where I came from / Some nights when I thought I wouldn’t see the sun” exhibit vulnerability that allow listeners to see beyond his nauseating cockiness.

However, this boastfulness doesn’t necessarily detract from the album. If you are a veteran of hip-hop music, you would know that this attitude comes with the territory.

Kid Ink is doing what every other rapper is doing at the moment, proclaiming that he is and always will be the best.

Despite Kid Ink’s unexpected shift from partying and women to personal hardships, the album is a club banger. It rarely goes beyond infectious, repetitive beats that will either leave you grateful for its consistency or simply bored. However,

Courtesy of RCA Records

there is no doubt that Kid Ink has high expectations for himself. On the last track, “More Than A King,” Kid Ink channels Kanye West with lyrics like “I feel like more than a king / More than a king

/ More like God.” Perhaps with this mentality, Kid Ink will continue to hone his talents and we will see steady improvement from a rapper who has already created quite a name for himself.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER

A Night of Experimental Radness with Blood-Orange Infoshop

Jade Williams, Contributing Writer / Quotes by: Luis Sanchez, Contributing Writer / Photos by Johnny Ma Hidden in a basement below the brick building in downtown Riverside is a nifty hideaway known as Blood-Orange Infoshop. Last Wednesday night, music-goers from near and far slowly poured into the venue — commonly known as the BOIS — for the Family Life music show. They were ready for what the hosts called “a night of experimental radness.”

Downtown Riverside is historically known for its unique music and art scene. This venue in particular is literally underground, serving as a unique place where artists and people of all ages are given the opportunity to voice their musical and artistic capabilities. With high historical standards in mind, BOIS definitely had some high requirements to fulfill as a music and art venue.

Entering the dimly lit space, I was surrounded by a plethora of eccentric art pieces ranging from a collage of cutout magazines, to donated paintings, to various posters hanging on the boldly painted walls. By the looks of it, I had entered a space where people were free to express their inner emotions as well as their artistic talents in a do-it-yourself (DIY) atmosphere.

I soon came to the realization that BOIS does in fact manage to live up to the hype as a venue exploding with character. When the first act, Light Light, came on stage, people began to do something I have never seen at a live show before: The audience sat on the floor, bobbing their heads to the strumming of the electric guitar chords and listened intently to the music. Because of this odd arrangement, it became clear that BOIS does not follow the status quo of any normal venue. Instead, I was able to listen to the ambiance of the post-rock music in a more relaxed and laid-back setting. I felt comfortable enough to take a seat, engage in conversation or just listen to music.

The Family Life artists define their music as experimental because it is something that the audience doesn’t hear very often. Unlike radio tunes, these artists strive to compose their music to be unique to the ears of music listeners everywhere. The outcome is almost unpredictable, with musical pieces that are never the same thing twice.

As Infinity Dots took the stage, the dynamic of the show switched from rock to electronic pop. With the use of their keyboards and laptops, the duo was able to get the audience up on its feet and swaying to the synthesized beats of the keyboard. Together the audience flowed as one, with bodies rocking back in forth in unison to the vibrations bursting from the speakers.

BOIS serves as a safe haven for volunteers and frequent visitors. Pierce, a performer who hails from New York and goes by the stage name Sky Mall, stated that this DIY venue is a “more unified scene, more commu-

nity-based, more people are helping each other out.”

Helping each other out when needed is indeed a major factor contributing to the DIY style that the center upholds. One aspect of the venue that should not be overlooked is the “free store” located in the corner of the small space that contains donated clothes, blankets and shoes for anyone to freely grab. Although it’s a small collection of items, this feature adds a stylistic touch to the underground space where giving aid to others is crucial.

Sky Mall, the one-man musical project, has a sound that is heavily influenced by pop dance music. With more of a digitized, mystic groove and steady rhythm, the pieces are easy for anyone with a musical bone in their body to move to. Pierce, as well as all the other artists who performed that night, had a very welcoming and mellow demeanor that allowed the audience to freely talk to the musicians and feel that connection and sense of community that the BOIS brings.

BOIS is solely run with the help of volunteers and members who are dedicated to arts, activism and DIY education. Sam Woods, a volunteer and the host of the event, has a goal for BOIS to “keep the spark and keep it going and available to the public.” A space like BOIS offers so many opportunities for a diverse group of upcoming artists and performers to express their thoughts and emotions.

Whether you are looking to host a movie night, have a meeting or are in need of a stage, the BloodOrange Infoshop is available to all. Or as a member of Infinity Dots would put it: Blood-Orange is “a venue ■H for the people.”

Top to bottom: Sam Woods, the head organizer for the event, is pictured in the center talking to a group of guests before the show; Light Light puts some final touches on his electronics before performing; Amber, a member of BOIS holds up a promotional poster for the night’s event.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

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A Dance with the Crew of Sadie Hawkins

By: Rebecca Paredes, Senior Staff Writer Contributions by Oscar Ho High school — two words strong enough to send a shiver down any spine. The good times and the bad, the friendships and not-so-friendly, the dances, the awkward hairstyles and fashion choices — there’s a certain level of loss and hope captured by those four short years. “Sadie Hawkins,” the latest film by UCR’s theatre department, endeavors to capture those sentiments with a good dose of fun.

In “Sadie Hawkins” we follow Abby, a recently dumped 30-something. She meets Doug, who needs a date to his high school Sadie Hawkins dance, and an unlikely friendship is born. Presented as part of the theatre department’s second annual film festival, “Sadie Hawkins” marks the department’s second production — and another directing credit for acclaimed on-campus Renaissance man, Robin Russin. One of the most notable aspects of this independent project is that it was assisted throughout the process by a devoted team of student volunteers, providing hands-on experience to prospective filmmakers over its two-week shooting period.

“It’s a film that we did within the department,” Russin shared in an interview, “but it’s also a class and it’s meant to be a learning experience, so students who had no prior experience on the set were as welcome as those students who had quite a bit of experience.”

And while the thought of learning on the job might be both terrifying and exciting, third-year theatre major Andrew Banuelos’ experience was worth the 12-hour shooting days. “It’s a good experience because for everyone our age — unless you have the right connections or know the right people — it’s kind of hard to get on set,” he said. “People were willing to help and teach you. I was interested in camera, but I was working in sound, so when I had down time, I would go watch them.” And as for the cast? “It was just a great cast,” Banuelos said. “Once you fall in love with the characters, you fall in love with the movie.”

On-set, an average day for Banuelos involved showing up on set after getting a call time, setting up equipment and then going through each scene in a fast-paced day that could last from 6 p.m. to midnight — or longer.

The class Banuelos had to take to get involved in the production, THEA 170: Advanced Dramatic Production, is capped at 30 students. But both the class and production are not solely limited to theatre; media and cultural studies (MCS), our other hub for future film-

makers and critical thinkers, also has a hand in productions on campus, although the divide between the departments has been a point of confusion after both programs began their respective film festivals last year.

But filmmakers can rest easy in knowing that both departments — and both film festivals, for that matter — meet complementary goals. In email correspondence, Production Designer and Production Manager Carmen Gomez said, “The department of media and cultural studies is as it sounds. They study the impact of media on our society. We are a department of production. They study the art and its impact, we create the art. Both departments are beneficial to the overall life and health of our university.”

Add that to the fact that some theatre students seek out MCS classes when they want narrative or critical studies, and some MCS students join production classes in theatre, there’s one take-away: The MCS and theatre departments meet different goals, but both are headed toward a developing future for filmmaking on campus. The desire to get involved in productions, to learn hands-on experience from professionals — that’s all we can ask for as college students.

To this end, Banuelos hopes to “let students know there are clubs like the Film and Photography Society that are actually making films and putting them into competitions.” And given that students have the resources to make and edit films more cheaply and easily now than ever before — working just from Final Cut Pro on a MacBook a la Louis C.K., for instance — Russin hopes to see the university get behind the independent spirit of its creative thinkers.

“The creative economy is the most important economy in Southern California,” he said. “And so the investment the university makes in students who are going into that — into those fields — is a very wise investment, and we hope that they continue to increase their support for it.”

“Sadie Hawkins” debuts as part of the theatre department’s second annual film festival, screening Jan. 16-18 H at Arts 113. Tickets are free with a UCR student ID. ■

Production photos courtesy of Tony Baltierra

SPORTS

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW

19

By: Darren Bueno, Senior Staff Writer

Men’s Champion: Novak Djokovic

Women’s Champion: Serena Williams

He’s the three-time defending champion, loves the slow courts of Melbourne Park and finished the year on a 24-match winning streak. There’s just something about the “Happy Slam” that brings out Djokovic’s A-game.

She’s had spotty history in Melbourne since her 2010 championship — in 2012, she was upset by unseeded Ekaterina Makarova followed by a stunning semifinal loss to Sloane Stephens. The only obstacle in the American’s way is herself.

Barring another bizarre ankle injury, Williams should hoist her 18th Grand Slam championship, tying Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

Quarterfinals

Men’s

Women’s

1 5 6 4

6 6 7 J.M. del Potro 3 4 5 R. Nadal

R. Federer 6 7 3 6 A. Murray 4 5 6 3

7 T. Berdych 7 3 D. Ferrer 64 2 N. Djokovic 6 8 S. Wawrinka 4

2 6 6 2

6 4 3 6

5 6 7 2 7 65

1 S. Williams 6 6 7 E. Bouchard 2 4 4 Li Na 7 6 6 P. Kvitova 5 3 3 8 2 5

M.Sharapova 4 6 6

J. Jankovic 6 3 2 V. Azarenka 6 6 A. Radwanska 4 2

Semifinals 1 R. Nadal 6 6 6 7 6 R. Federer 76 4 3 5

2 N. Djokovic 6 5 7 6 1 R. Nadal 3 7 68 2 2 N. Djokovic 6 6 6 7 T. Berdych 3 4 1

1 S. Williams 3 6 6 Li Na 6 2 1 4

2 V. Azarenka 6 7 3 M. Sharapova 3 63

Men’s Sleeper: Stanislas Wawrinka Oftentimes left in the shadow of Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka embodies a dangerous opponent for all 127 players in the draw.

Coming off a surprising semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open, the Swiss comes into Melbourne with momentum and confidence. He pushed defending champion Novak Djokovic to the edge last year at the Open, and will be a force again this fortnight.

Men’s Toughest Road: Rafael Nadal His draw is littered with dangerous players. Nadal will open with Sydney runner-up Bernard Tomic before a potential third round clash with the former World No. 7 Gael Monfils. A resurgent Lleyton Hewitt, who beat Federer in the Brisbane final last week, also looms in the fourth round. I picked Nadal to reach the final, but it certainly won’t be easy.

Final

1 S. Williams 6 5 6 2 V. Azarenka 4 7 3

Women’s Sleeper: Jelena Jankovic

The Serb’s resurgence in 2013 was one of the highlights of the season. Jankovic is once again connecting on her trademark backhand down the line and seems to be interested in tennis again. She’s in Sharapova’s quarter, but always has a knack for the big matches.

Women’s Toughest Road: Venus Williams Venus Williams has seen her fair share of crushing defeats since being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome in 2011. The mind is willing, but the question always lies with the body. Williams has a tough opener against two-time quarterfinalist and talented lefty Ekaterina Makarova. Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, who beat the American in Beijing, is slated for the third round before a clash ■H against last year’s Australian Open runner-up Li Na.

20

. SPORTS .

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

HIGHLANDER

Men’s basketball drops back-to-back games to begin conference play

Despite great shooting, women’s basketball comes up short versus Fullerton, Irvine

AARON LAI / Highlander Guarded by players from UC Irvine, Lucas Devenny (No. 21) attempts to score.

KEVIN DINH / Highlander Simone DeCoud (No. 14) pushes the ball forward during a fast break against Cal State Fullerton.

MELISA BIVIAN Contributing Writer

STEVEN CAHILL Contributing Writer

JAN. 9 2014

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Titans 78 - Highlanders 73

After sitting out the previous two games, the Big Australian Chris Patton returned as the Highlanders began Big West Conference play Thursday evening against Cal State Fullerton. Defending their home court, Fullerton took care of business as they topped UCR 78-73.

Titan Michael Williams scored the first points of the night at the 18:35 mark. With 5:11 gone in the game, a Patton free throw gave the Highlanders an early lead, 11-9. But it wasn’t long until the Titans recovered the lead, going on a 12-0 run over the next six minutes to push the score to 21-11. As both teams continued to exchange buckets, the half closed with an 8-0 run from Riverside, cutting the Titans’ lead to 36-29.

Determined to keep the game in their hands, the Titans came in strong as the second half began. Marquis Horne’s three-pointer at the 18:57 mark increased the Titan lead to 10 points early in the second half.

Trying to claw their way back into the game, Riverside continued to push forward as Steven Thornton and Sam Finley scored layups and free throws.

With two minutes remaining, the Highlanders reduced the Titans’ lead to two points as 32 seconds remained.

Highlander Taylor Johns scored the last three-pointer of the night, but it wasn’t enough as Riverside fell short once again, 73-78.

Johns led Riverside with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Thornton added 14 shots, while Finley tallied 13 points.

Williams led the Titans with 21 points.

JAN. 11 2014

.............................................................................

Anteaters 72 - Highlanders 52

After the loss to Fullerton, the UCR men’s basketball team returned home for a match against the UC Irvine Anteaters, their first home game in conference play. However, the Highlanders would once again end up in the loss column as the Anteaters took the victory, 72-52.

The game began with Riverside winning the tipoff, but being unable to translate that to points on the scoreboard. Anteater Chris McNealy connected on a three-pointer for the game’s first points, putting Irvine on top at the 18:24 mark, 0-3. Irvine’s offense was on point as they prevented the Highlanders from scoring within the first three minutes. As the match progressed, Chris Harriel put the Highlanders on top at the 11:32 mark, 9-8. But it didn’t take long for Irvine to recover the lead. Every point made by the Highlanders was answered with a basket from Irvine. Connecting three-pointers and recovering the ball offensively, the half came to an end with the Anteaters on top, 23-35.

The beginning of the second half appeared to unfold in the Highlanders’ favor as they cut Irvine’s lead to 11 at the 14:16 mark, but they would get no closer than that. The Anteaters put on a clinic, as they kept pushing forward on their way to a 20-point victory.

Chris Patton led the Highlanders as he scored 14 points. Once again Finley scored in the double digits, contributing 13 points. Taylor Johns also added 10 points. Luke Nelson led the Anteaters with 14 points.

The Highlanders will now regroup and prepare to face UC Davis on Jan. ■H 16 at 7 p.m.

UCR women’s basketball started Big West play this week, facing Cal State Fullerton in their conference debut. In both games the Highlanders shot a higher field goal percentage than their opponents, but the huge amount of foul shots that Riverside surrendered in the second half of both games came back to haunt them.

JAN. 9 2014

.............................................................................

Titans 82 - Highlanders 78

Highlanders’ first game against Fullerton was extremely close, coming down to a four-point decision in the end (82-78). Late game heroics were almost the story, with late buckets by Brittany Crain and Simone DeCoud shortening the lead to three with only eight seconds left.

However, Fullerton hit some clutch free throws to ensure their win.

Leading the Highlanders in scoring was Crain, who had 25 points to go with five rebounds and zero turnovers. She was followed by Annelise Ito, who racked up 22 points on an extremely efficient 75 percent shooting and perfect night at the free throw line. DeCoud provided a spark off of the bench with 17 points along with four assists, second only to Kiara Harewood’s six. These two also played well defensively, each tallying three steals and a block each.

Statistically, the Highlanders had this game well within their grasp, though it’s hard to win when the club allows the opposing team to take 19 free throws in the second half alone.

JAN. 11 2014

.............................................................................

Anteaters 90 - Highlanders 78

The

trend

of

good

shooting

continued at Irvine in the team’s second game this week. Riverside was behind a manageable seven points going into the half thanks to a 6-0 run catapulted by Brittany Crain.

However, the game became a tug-ofwar of runs between the two teams, the likes of which UCR never seemed to get the best of.

Crain and Ito once again were the one-two punch that led the way for the Highlanders. This time, Crain put together a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, not to mention three steals and three assists. Ito scored 18 to go with her six assists and six rebounds.

This game, Jamila Williams was hot off the bench, scoring 14 points on a very impressive 7-10 shooting performance, and came up just one rebound away from her own doubledouble.

The Irvine Anteaters were led by Jennifer Tsurumoto, who exploded for a career-high 31 points. She also grabbed five rebounds, handed out four assists and recorded four steals. Once again, Riverside had a higher field-goal percentage that its opponent, but giving up 19 free-throw attempts to any team in just one half is a tough obstacle to overcome.

With the two loses, the Highlanders fall to 4-11, and are riding a sevengame losing streak. If they are going to change their fortunes, they are going to need to prevent their opponents from scoring easy points at the free-throw line, which means an emphasis on cleaner and more consistent defensive play. Riverside hopes to break the skid this week, starting this Thursday at home versus UC Davis, and then at home again ■H against Hawaii on Saturday.