Volume 60 Issue 20

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UC Riverside graduates’ salaries continue to rise Andie Lam

Merlyn Campos, the director of admissions at UC Riverside, believes that UC Riverside offers the finest academic preparation for graduates seeking a place in the job market. “It has been exciting to watch UC Riverside climb in national and international rankings in a variety of categories,” said Campos in an interview with the Highlander. “We’re particularly proud of this ranking because it shows the esteem with which our graduates are held in the professional world. It’s also a great indication of the quality education that our students receive. Thanks to our world-class faculty, excellent facilities and an academic climate that encourages both innovative thinking and real world problem solving, UC Riverside graduates enter the professional world prepared to compete, contribute, and succeed.” This is made possible by the three colleges at UC Riverside and the School of Business Administration. The campus

STAFF WRITER

UC Riverside has climbed up the list of the top 30 state universities by post-graduation salary potential. Payscale, a compensation data research company, has placed UC Riverside as the 29th top public institution in which graduates earn the highest annual income. The annual salary figures are based on surveys of full-time employees who hold a bachelor’s degree. The study measures data from graduates who have less than two years of work experience and those in their mid-career with 15 years of experience.

According to Payscale’s data for 2011-12, the median starting salary for recent UC Riverside graduates is $43,900, whereas the median mid-career salary is $88,800. UC Riverside has advanced 10 spots up the chart since 2010-11, when the median starting salary for Highlander graduates was $42,700 and $88,500 at mid-career.

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SALARY CONT’D ON PAGE 3

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UC Berkeley announces UCR community considers merits of millionaires tax E G new protest guidelines ric

a m b oa

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

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S a n dy V a n CONTRIBUTING WRITER

New protest response guidelines have been released at UC Berkeley in the midst of ongoing demonstrations aimed at the state’s disinvestment in higher education. The recently witnessed events, including the pepper-spray incident at UC Davis and the use of police batons at UC Berkeley, have attributed to the efforts of many campuses (UC Riverside included) to develop new measures to address the rights of protesters. Universities face the difficult task of balancing the constitutional rights GUIDELINES CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The political coalition ReFund California held a meeting on campus last Monday, Feb. 27, to discuss the Millionaires Tax of 2012. The proposed tax initiative seeks to raise $6 to $9.5 billion per year by increasing the tax rates of the state’s wealthiest individuals; those with annual incomes over $1 million would have their taxes increased by three percent while those making over $2 million would be subject to a five percent tax increase. The tax initiative, whose full name is the “Millionaires Tax to Restore Funding for Education and Essential Services Act of 2012,” would not raise taxes on any resident who makes less than $1 million a year. “The California millionaires that would be affected by this tax can afford to invest more in their state that has provided such remarkable opportunity for them,” states the tax initiative’s website. The meeting had a modest turnout, with an audience of approximately 40 people including graduate students, labor union leaders, a faculty member, Riverside Community College students, Occupy mem-

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bers and UC Riverside students.

Renowned organizer and Refund California director Jono Shaffer began the meeting by criticizing the country’s skewed distribution of wealth and elaborating on the state’s dire need for fiscal reform. “This system isn’t working… because too much wealth is being concentrated in the hands of too few,” said Shaffer during his presentation. According to Shaffer, the Millionaires Tax of 2012 would be an important step toward rectifying these disproportionate numbers. The current income tax rate

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for individuals charges 10.3 percent for incomes over $1 million and 9.3 percent for the bracket below.

“I support the Millionaires Tax Act of 2012, both because it will help restore the federal government’s fiscal capacity but also because it points a finger at one of the largest problems confronting the nation—that is, the huge growth in the share of income controlled by the super-wealthy,” stated UC Riverside Economics Professor Gary Dymski in an interview with the Highlander. Dymski, TAX CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS TUES 3/6

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Volume 60

Issue 20

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NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

HIGHLANDER

Republican senators prevent CSU chairman’s reappointment Vy

nguyen

STAFF WRITER

Governor Jerry Brown’s nomination of Chairman Herbert L. Carter for the California State University of Board of Trustees has failed. The Republicans argued that Carter, whose appointment would have marked his second term as chairman, is responsible for tuition hikes and ill-timed executive salary increases.

“Today the Senate sent a clear message to the students, parents and taxpayers that we deserve better from higher education than skyrocketing tuition, poor planning and little oversight,” stated Republican Senator Joel Anderson in an article by the Los Angeles Times.

Governor Brown and other Democrats, however, asserted that Carter should not be held responsible for the current crisis at CSU campuses. “[Carter] has a long and distinguished record of service and commitment to higher education and he deserves the consideration

and support of all senators,” stated Governor Brown’s spokesman Evan Westrup.

Despite the fact that the Democrats dominate both legislative houses, Carter ’s renomination was far from guaranteed since it required a two-thirds vote; the vote was eventually cancelled

by Democrats after Republicans revealed that they would not supply the necessary votes.

“Since 1984, Herbert Carter has been near the center of every CSU pay hike scandal. The CSU trustees don’t seem to understand that their ‘compromise’ of setting a CSU’s president’s pay at $325,000 is insulting to California students, parents and taxpayers,” Senator Anderson wrote in a letter to Governor Brown. The compromise is a reference to a proposal brought up by Carter which sought to cap the pay of new executives at a salary 10 percent higher than their predecessor.

The issue of executive pay came to public attention

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when the Board of Trustees agreed to set a salary for Elliot Hirshman, San Diego State University’s new president, at $400,000 ($100,000 higher than his processor ’s salary). The de-

cision was especially criticized since student fees had recently been raised by 12 percent. Carter was amongst the members who approved of this decision, which consequently prompted outcry

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even from Democrats. Similar criticisms have been made in the past few years regarding UC regents’ decisions to increase the executive salaries of highly paid H employees. ■

GUIDELINES FROM PAGE 1

of students while promoting the security and integrity of the campus community.

UC Berkeley Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost George Breslauer and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance John Wilton co-chaired the protest response team that created the guidelines.

Established in early January with a membership of 14 individuals, the response team was tasked with creating an “evolving approach” toward the way in which the university responds to campus protests. The implementation of these guidelines has most recently impacted the university’s response toward the encampment of UC Berkeley’s Sproul Hall and the occupation of the Doe Library.

The guidelines address the timeliness and manner through which the campus will respond to protests while considering the “degree of disruption to campus operations.” Other significant aspects of the guidelines included the ability to develop rapid responses based on the intensity of the protest and not by the basis of the issues being discussed. The guidelines encourage administrators to enact more transparent forms of communication through the presence and deliberation of public officials and faculty members alike. Each protest is examined on a case-to-case basis and the campus response will be influenced by the degree of uncertainty and danger that are apparent in the protest.

Not all are convinced that the newly remodeled guidelines–or guidelines in general–will serve the interests of students. “New guide-

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lines are nothing more than the police state trying to take away our basic freedom of speech. Freedom of speech means freedom of speech,” stated UC Riverside student Christian Murgula in an interview with the Highlander. However, the university chancellors and administrators have expressed enormous dismay over the recent allegations of police brutality and insist that new guidelines would be better for the campus community.

“As chancellor...I will do my very best to ensure that this does not happen again. I look forward to working with the Office of the President to identify best practices in this area,” stated UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau in an audio message last year, addressing the police force that was used against UC Berkeley students.

“I can understand that many stu-

dents are very anxious about this situation. It is my hope that we will try to solve it together because we all are confronting the very same problem—we live in a state that does not value higher education,” said Mary Gauvain, UC Riverside professor of psychology, chair of the Academic Senate and member of Chancellor White’s task force.

Gauvain expressed feelings of optimism regarding the task force and hoped that members of the campus community would continue to stay involved; during the UCR task force’s meeting in early January, members of the campus community were in attendance despite the fact that the meeting was intended to be held in private. “The first meeting benefited from having more students present, and I hope that future meetings can move forward from the is-

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sues we discussed at that meeting.

It is very important that everyone on the campus understand and speak against the state’s continuing disinvestment in higher education,” stated Gauvain.

Last month, the UC Riverside Academic Senate passed a resolution stating, “The right of assembly and expression of views shall not be suppressed. Such assemblies and expressions, however, shall not interfere with the lawful conduct and public safety of others in the University.”

“I expect that we will discuss amendments to the resolution that will further protect free speech and the right to assembly at UCR,” said Patricia Morton, chair and associate professor of architectural history. “[We] need a mutual commitment to reaffirm the right to freedom of H speech and assembly at UCR.” ■

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

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UC Berkeley study suggests inverse link between wealth and ethical standards Kevin Keckeisen SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Drivers of expensive cars were less likely to yield to pedestrians and other cars.

C o u rt e s y o f PNAS. o r g SALARY FROM PAGE 1

offers over 88 majors and 56 minors for undergraduates, while boasting over 350 student organizations and over 40 registered fraternities and sororities.

UC Riverside alumnus Gabe Baldovino attests to the growing strengths of the university, stating, “The education and support I received during my undergraduate career at UCR really paved the way for my future. Despite not having related work experience, the academics and my involvement in a fraternity allowed me to eclipse over several candidates and land the job that I wanted.” Baldovino graduated in 2010 as a sociology major and a member of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, and currently works in a legal services firm.

Seven other UC campuses also made the list, including UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Los Angeles, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz. UC Berkeley and UC San Diego placed in the top 10 list, ranking fifth and eighth, respectively. The median starting salary for UC Berkeley graduates is $51,400 and $102,000 in mid-career. UC San Diego graduates’ median starting salary is $48,200 and $96,700 at mid-career.

The State University of New York Maritime College led the rankings with new graduates earning a median of $57,300 and mid-career graduates pocketing an annual salary of $109,000.

UC Riverside undergraduates may also reap the benefits of the university’s network of employers. The Career Center regularly hosts job fairs and opportunities to acquaint students with companies. “The ranking is a wonderful testament to the growing strengths and marketability of UCR students,” stated Danny Kim, the associate vice chancellor of student affairs at UC Riverside.

“About five years ago, the Career Center embarked on a strategic plan and invested resources to develop relationships with employers and improve job placement opportunities for our students. I believe we are seeing the fruits of this effort and H other activities of the university.”■

Researchers in the department of psychology at UC Berkeley have found that upper-class individuals are more likely than lowerclass individuals to commit unethical acts. The authors assert that the results of the seven separate studies shed light on the need to make efforts toward alleviating the ethical lapses that divide the two sides of the economic spectrum.

The researchers surveyed the ethical tendencies of more than 1,000 individuals of lower, middle and upper-class backgrounds.

Volunteers reported their social class by filling out surveys which revealed attitudes about greed and unethical behavior and by using the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Socioeconomic Status. They also participated in tasks designed to measure their actual unethical behavior.

In their first two studies, researchers observed that people

driving expensive cars were more prone to cut off other drivers and pedestrians at a four-way-stop intersection near downtown Berkeley. Observers hid near the intersection and recorded the makes, model years, and conditions to indicate drivers’ social class and whether the cars waited for their turn.

These findings were expanded into a series of follow-up laboratory studies, the first of which gave college students eight different scenarios that implicated an actor in unrightfully taking or benefiting from something. The participants filled out a questionnaire, assessing their own socioeconomic status and answering how likely subjects were to behave unethically in the different scenarios.

In one of the questionnaires, students were asked to imagine that their professor made a mistake in grading a test and gave them an A rather than the B they deserved.

They were then asked if they

would notify their professor of the error. In another scenario, students were asked whether they would keep extra change that was accidentally given to them by a cashier.

The results revealed that people of higher socioeconomic status were more likely to exhibit unethical decision-making tendencies.

A separate study involved placing participants into a hypothetical negotiation, assuming the role of an employer tasked with negotiating a salary with a job candidate seeking long-term employment.

They were given several pieces of information, including the fact that the job would soon be eliminated.

Participants reported the chance that they would tell the job candidate the truth about job stability; those of the upper-class were more likely than lower-class individuals to lie during the negotiation.

The sixth study extended these findings to actual cheating behavior. Participants played a “game of chance,” in which a computer

presented them with one side of a six-sided die, seemingly randomly, on five separate rolls, and were told that higher rolls would increase their chances of winning a cash prize. When asked to report their total score at the end of the game, the upper-class individuals were more likely to increase their actual score.

The final study examined whether encouraging positive attitudes toward greed increases the unethical tendencies of lower-class individuals to match those of their upper-class counterparts. Participants listed either three things about their day (neutral prime) or three benefits of greed (greed-isgood prime), and then responded to questions that assessed their attitudes toward greed. As the other six studies discovered, individuals of higher economic standing were more likely to endorse unethical behavior at work than those of lower economic standing.

ETHICS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012 TAX FROM PAGE 1

however, warned that the millionaire’s tax “is no substitute for restoring the principle of progressive taxation.” Dymski noted that recent arguments aimed at flattening the tax rates and keeping capital gains tax rates low defy this important principle.

“What will help restore the willingness of the public to shift toward [progressive] principles of taxation is…to be sure that public funds are used for the public good, and not to bail out an over speculative, out-of-control banking system,” concluded Dymski.

As discussed during the meeting, 60 percent of the new initiative’s revenue would go toward state education. The University of California, California State University and community college systems would receive eight percent each while K-12 education would receive 36 percent.

The remaining 40 percent would go towards social services (25 percent), public safety (10 percent) and public infrastructure repairs (5 percent). “The Millionaires

NEWS Tax of 2012 is a great opportunity for California to begin reversing its economic decline. Due to the state’s $10 Billion annual budget deficit, public health, safety, and education have all been adversely affected by aggressive budget cut,” said UC Riverside third-year Brendon J. Butler in an interview with the Highlander.

During the ReFund California meeting, one audience member expressed his dismay that any funds gained from the tax would be allocated by the UC Regents.

“When the money comes in, how will we make sure that [the regents] will use the money on things that are good for the students?” said the individual. This problem, as noted by the Millionaires Tax of 2012 website, would be addressed by accountability measures such as “financial audits, ongoing Internet reports on fund expenditures, and fines and prison for misuse of funds.” Other tax proposals aimed at millionaires have recently gained momentum including a plan set forth by President Barack Obama.

Although the plan is hailed by many as a practical approach, some have pointed out that it may have harmful consequences. “The potential negative effect that this would have would be to discourage work.

Thus, the tax base would decrease and a higher tax rate might not increase tax revenue,” stated Todd Sorensen, assistant professor of economics at UC Riverside.

The argument follows that if millionaires and major capital owners become subject to a higher tax, then the impact would be felt by the employees in the form of lower wages. “When a single state makes a move like this, there is always the risk that people will move to other states.

Studies on this effect have been mixed,” said Sorensen. The impact could also shift to the general public by means of higher prices and potentially fewer jobs if millionaires decide to leave California. Other arguments have denounced the plan as a form of “class warfare” which strays away from the concept of equal treatment.

There are similar California tax initia-

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HIGHLANDER tives but advocates of the Millionaires Tax of 2012 proposal point out that the other initiatives would impose a cost on taxpayers and are only temporary (the millionaires tax has no expiration date).

According to a comparison made by the Millionaires Tax website, Governor Brown’s proposal would cost the average Californian taxpayer $123 and would expire in 2016. The Our Children, Our Future initiative would cost the average taxpayer $222 and expires in 2024.

Recent polls suggest that a majority of California voters are in favor of the millionaires tax and Governor Brown’s tax proposal, although the former has an advantage. Governor Brown’s administration has attempted to unite voters under his own plan, fearing that the three options might result in the failure of any initiative to gain a majority. “If all three are on the ballot, it’s a circular firing squad, and all of them will lose and the kids lose,” stated one of Brown’s political aids in an article H by the Los Angeles Times. ■ ETHICS FROM PAGE 3

■H

“These findings would reveal that one reason why lower-class individuals tend to act more ethically is that they hold relatively unfavorable attitudes toward greed (and, conversely, that one reason why upper-class individuals tend to act more unethically is that they hold relatively favorable attitudes toward greed),” the authors noted.

According to the study, upperclass individuals’ relative financial independence from others and increased privacy in their professions may provide fewer structural constraints and decreased perceptions of risk associated with committing unethical acts.

The researchers have also found that a person’s ethical standards could easily shift upon receipt of large amounts of money. In earlier studies, Berkeley researchers observed that wealthy people were less likely to act generously than relatively impoverished people. The study’s lead author, Paul Piff, told the Los Angeles Times that with this research, he hoped to find out whether wealthy people would also prioritize self-interest if it meant breaking the rules.

“The pursuit of self-interest is a more fundamental motive among society’s elite, and the increased want associated with greater wealth and status can promote wrongdoing.

Unethical behavior in the service of self-interest that enhances the individual’s wealth and rank may be a self-perpetuating dynamic that further exacerbates economic disparities in society, a fruitful topic for the future study of social class,” stated the authors.

UC Riverside students shared their concerns regarding the findings and their implications for society as a whole. Third-year student Casey Manogue noted that the findings, though unfortunate, were not surprising. “Wealthier people tend to hold more power in society, so often times they think they’re above the rules. This is bad, because nobody should have that entitlement,” stated Manogue.

Third-year student Elizabeth Flynn shared Manogue’s concerns, saying, “The findings of this research are unfortunate because these wealthy people in power are supposed to make decisions with the interest of all in mind. Instead, they’re just looking out for ways to H benefit themselves.” ■

. OPINIONS .

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

5

On June 6th, the Supreme Court refused to strike down a California law that offers state residents reduced tuition rates at California colleges.

The law’s opponents argue that the bill, which does not distinguish between lawful residents and illegal immigrants, violates a federal law that prohibits states from giving college benefits to illegal aliens on the basis of residence within a state. Unfortunately for the law’s detractors, the Supreme Court wouldn’t even hear their challenge.

Lawyers for a conservative immigration-law group that backed the appeal claim that the law is patently unfair to the thousands of full-bred American high school graduates who apply to California colleges from other states each year. These students will have to pay as much as $20,00 more for college tuition than the illegal immigrants (and many other California residents) that the bill aids. Others have argued that the bill gives preferential treatment to illegal immigrants - it is just one more derivative of affirmative action, bent on taking positions away from the hard working, middleclass Caucasians who really deserve http://ulife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/rick-santorum-660x320.jpg

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

C o u rt e s y

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RICK SANTORUM’S REMARKS ON HIGHER EDUCATION DEBUNKED It’s no secret that the rising cost of higher education is rapidly making college a luxury that not all Americans can afford.

That’s why President Obama announced last month that his administration would be backing efforts to reform the system and help more potential students gain access to the financial security that accompanies a college diploma. Responses to the president’s proposal were mixed, but the strongest by far was that elicited from GOP candidate, Rick Santorum.

Santorum called Obama a “snob” for suggesting that all Americans should aspire to attend college and went on to criticize institutions of higher learning as “indoctrination mills” wherein students are inundated with the liberal agendas of their professors and brainwashed into abandoning their traditional beliefs. He backed up his argument by citing a study that supposedly showed that “62 percent of kids who enter college with some sort of faith commitment leave without it,” although he has yet to name the organization responsible for said study.

First off, it should be noted that President Obama never argued that all Americans should, at some point in their lives, attend a fouryear university. Rather, he suggested that every American “commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship.”

The president’s primary goal here is clearly not to send every American to college regardless of their career aspirations. He seems much more interested in ensuring that Americans are adequately prepared to face an increasingly competitive job market.

Now onto Santorum’s claim that the higher education system is bent on turning students away from their faith. A study conducted

by The Science Research Council in 2007 actually did find that 64 percent of college undergraduates had “curbed their [religious] attendance habits” since enrolling, but it also found that an even higher proportion (76 percent) of individuals of the same age that had not gone onto

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riddled with misconceptions about higher education that it’s hard to believe he ever actually attended college.

The university is, indeed, a place at which students are encouraged to question their worldviews, but no course curriculum demands that they relinquish them.

Undergraduates are often exposed to new perspectives on important issues like religion and politics in college, and it only makes sense that many would adopt more critical outlooks on their own views because of them. But the goal is not to force students to credit one truth or set of truths over another—it is to give them a more complicated and wellinformed context in which to understand those truths.

If a student leaves college without ever having questioned any of his or her beliefs, then a large part of his or her education has gone to waste. The lessons we learn in college are, after all, supposed to affect the ways in which we understand and engage in the world around us—and if they don’t, what value (other than economic) do they truly hold?

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a four-year university had experienced a “decline in religious service attendance.”

Clearly, then, there is no positive correlation between college enrollment and any notable decrease in religiosity.

And as for the notion that colleges are responsible for corrupting students by pressuring them into adopting liberal ideological beliefs, a little research shows that it, too, is relatively unfounded.

Though it is true that, in a recent survey conducted by the Young America’s Foundation, 57 percent of college professors identified themselves as liberal (as opposed to 20 percent that identified as conservative), there is no evidence that these professors are forcing their politics onto their students.

In fact, according to data collected by New York Times’ exit pollsters, there has been only one presidential election since 1988 wherein the majority of college graduates supported the Democratic ticket. If America’s professors are secretly trying to convert their students into liberals, they aren’t doing a very good job of it.

Santorum’s claims are so

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What makes a statement like Rick Santorum’s so dangerous, other than its blatant falsity, is that it demonizes the processes by which we, as students, come to terms with worldviews other than our own. Learning to think critically about one’s convictions is not the same as learning to reject them, and Santorum’s suggestion that the former is in any way allied with some form of liberal brainwashing is criminal.

College may not be for everyone, but it is no indoctrination mill. Today, countless Americans depend on higher education to make them not only more competitive job applicants, but also more intelligent and well-thought individuals in their respective communities.

Until Santorum’s views on education reflect this, students should remain wary of his motives and, subsequently, his trustworthiness as a H candidate. ■

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6

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

HIGHLANDER

PETA’s euthanasia policies jeopardize credibility Josephine Lien CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When documents released by the Center of Consumer Freedom revealed that last year PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) euthanized 95 percent of the pets in its care, many were outraged. Such staggering statistics throw the intents and practices of the organization into question. PETA’s website claims that their “positions may be controversial, but they are always true to [their] driving mission: to stop animal abuse worldwide.” If mass euthanasia contributes to animal abuse prevention, there are clearly flaws with the organization’s mindset.

PETA deemed the roughly 2,000 cats and dogs that it euthanized last year to be “society’s rejects” and stated that they could not be adopted due to their behavior or the inability to find an adequate home for them. However, it failed to provide the specific

criteria that determine each animal’s adoptability. According to records from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a meager 24 animals were placed into homes under PETA’s care last year. In effect, the organization kills more animals in one week than it finds homes for in an entire year.

Ironically, PETA’s actions parallel those of the corporations and companies it constantly targets. The organization ignores its supposed dedication to compassion by enforcing euthanasia upon potentially adoptable animals, which it has apparently lost hope in. Even a dog with an aggressive personality can change through behavioral exercises. Euthanasia, although valid in certain situations, should not be the first and only option in all situations.

With an annual budget of $37 million dollars, PETA possesses the financial abil-

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ity to provoke change, an advantage that many groups lack. However, a significant portion of the budget goes toward its infamous celebrity-endorsed campaigns. Too much money is spent in the hopes of producing shock value, rather than truly caring for animals. Instead of spending money on hiring celebrities who often violate PETA’s beliefs (Eva Mendes was spotted wearing fur after participating in an anti-fur ad), the organization could make

a greater impact on their goal of animal liberation by focusing directly on the animals.

Providing medical attention to animals and building more shelters would contribute to the well-being of countless animals in need and reduce the implementation of euthanasia. As important as spreading awareness may be, taking direct action incites change on a larger scale.

Due to the exposure of its controversial activities, PETA’s name has suffered

a loss of credibility. Despite its damaged status, it would be unfair to disregard its achievements. The organization’s support and reasoning for vegetarianism personally influenced my decision in becoming one, and I respect the effort it has made in the name of animal justice through pursuing court cases and such.

However, PETA must present a clear goal and constantly practice what it preaches, or the destruction of its reputation will continue.■H

ISSUE 19 EDITORIAL: SMARTPHONE PRIVACY REGULATIONS IN DIRE NEED OF REFORM In last week’s issue, the text of the Editorial was mistakenly replaced with that of another article. Here is the Editorial as it should have appeared.

The smartphone revolution marked a fundamental shift in the ways in which the average consumer communicates and shares information on a day-to-day basis.

One no longer need stay home to reap the benefits of a thriving online community—the Internet in all its glory is always just a few finger taps away. But, in the race to produce faster and more powerful smartphones, it would seem that tech companies have left the law enforcement agencies responsible for policing online activity in the dust.

It was revealed last month that Google has, once again, been tracking iPhone users’ activity on the platform’s default web browser, Safari. Evidently, the company managed to sneak in a bit of code that covertly records the sites us-

ers visit on their iPhones. The announcement, while disconcerting, was not particularly surprising.

This is not the first time Google has been caught snooping through smartphone users’ records. And they aren’t alone.

Twitter was also recently accused of violating its users’ privacy. Apparently, the official Twitter smartphone app records and stores users’ contacts for up to 18 months after being used. Twitter’s response, like Google’s, was shockingly nonchalant. The organization admitted that it had failed to properly inform users that it was taking down their private information and vowed that in the future it would be clearer about what its apps were doing—not even a hint of regret that it was stealing users’ information in the first place.

It is generally understood that most of this tracking is being conducted primarily in order to enable companies to advertise more efficiently to their costumers. If Google, for example, knows what sites a consumer visits on a regu-

lar basis, it has a pretty good idea of what sorts of products and services it would be most successful in marketing to him or her.

It does not appear, then, that either of these companies is interested in using consumer information to fulfill particularly malicious intentions, but that does not mean that their actions are not cause for alarm. There are more smartphone users in the world than ever (1/3 of American adults), and the notion that their every move is being monitored by profit-hungry corporate conglomerates is more than a little unnerving.

Consumers rarely see any cause to distrust the services they are rendered by their smartphones.

We readily offer up our credit card and bank information, our addresses and phone numbers and logs of our daily interactions and travels to smartphone apps. And we do so, quite simply, because that’s how the system functions.

Yelp! can’t direct me to the nearest Chinese food restaurant if it doesn’t know where I am, nor

can my banking website give me updates on my account if I don’t give it my financial information.

Smartphones must have access to users’ personal information, because without it they could not connect us to the online resources upon which we have become so dependent.

But we must remember that when one provides a particular smartphone app or online service with one’s information, one is entrusting that information to a private corporation with its own vested interests. That corporation should be held to the same privacy standards to which any other online resource would be held, but as it stands keeping smartphone service providers honest is a tall order.

Smartphones have become so advanced so quickly that there hasn’t been enough time to legislate privacy regulations for them.

And consumer demands for higher smartphone efficiency and functionality have ensured that the industry continues to develop at a

breakneck pace, making its progress hard to track and even harder to police.

It is time for smartphone users to take a hard line stance on the practices in which we allow app creators and online service providers to take part. User interaction on smartphones must be protected, and the power we have given service providers must be regulated.

All this is not to say that smartphones and app creators are all suspect or that the cultural revolution they have engendered should be in any way discounted. Smartphones have had a profoundly positive effect on American culture, but convenience always comes at a cost. As ever, if we don’t remain vigilant about monitoring our progress, it could get H the best of us. ■ 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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R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

HIGHLANDER

MOVIE REVIEWS ALSO THIS WEEK:

JOHN CARTER

SILENT HOUSE

A THOUSAND WORDS

SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN

PROJECT X RATING: ★★ ★☆☆

Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

BY: DIANA S. HUANG, STAFF WRITER Already slammed by critics, Nima Nourizadeh’s directorial debut is garnering negative reviews across the nation. Criticized as a complete waste of a film that only focuses on booze, boobs and amoral debauchery, “Project X” is a teenager’s ultimate party wet dream come true. Sure, it’s suppose to be a senior “high school” party, but producer Todd Phillips, who also produced and directed “The Hangover” and “Due Date,” isn’t fooling anyone. The creation of “Project X” is for the sole purpose for entertaining all those aged 14 to 25. From high school freshmen gaping at nude flesh to the older heads who are all too familiar with pill-popping and shotgunning a beer, “Project X” is winning big time in the younger movie-going demographic.

Advertisements touting “Project X” as the lovechild of “Superbad” and “The Hangover” aren’t too far off from the truth, although the last two movies admittedly had much better scripts and more substantial plots. There are tons of hot girls, lots of alcohol, drugs, relevant music, and of course, the token shy nerd who wants to get laid. Sweet 17 year-old birthday boy Thomas of the quiet, upperclass suburban neighborhood North Pasadena is left on his own for the weekend when his parents depart for their anniversary getaway. Before leaving, we catch Thomas’s father whispering to his wife that Thomas is a “loser” and there’s no way that the kid has it in him to throw a party. Of course, it’s all downhill from there.

Thomas’s friends J.B. and Costa help him plan the night, with the fast-talking, smart-mouthed Costa being the brains and mouth be-

hind the operation. Thomas wanted no more than 50 people, but was afraid of nobody showing up, so Costa took it upon himself to release the party info and address to every communications medium known to man, including Craigslist and radio stations.

The night starts as cars full of scantily clad girls show up in droves, taking over the house as the DJ spins top 40 tracks and popular EDM mixes, making all those in the audience feel like they’re part of the party, too.

There are several enjoyable montages of boys getting a dog high, beer pong, lots of making out, and of course, topless girls in bouncy houses, in the pool and dancing on tables. One of the greatest moments in the film is of a gnome being smashed open with a baseball bat and hundreds of ecstasy pills flying everywhere, inciting hundreds of hungry party goers to get on their hands and knees and snatching up as much as they can.

Things spiral very quickly out of control from there as Thomas himself stops trying to regulate and worry about the party and becomes just as reckless and wild as any veteran party animal.

While “Project X” isn’t as hilarious as “The Hangover,” it certainly has its moments as Costa’s hired security infiltrates the house of an annoyed neighbor. The writers also tried to emulate certain themes from “Superbad” as we see Thomas struggling with his feelings for long-time friend Kirby and having sex with the hottest girl in school. But in reality, that side plot isn’t necessary in this film as viewers are much more interested in the brand new Mercedes crashing into a pool, a whole street being set ablaze by a drug dealer and a furious midget throwing angry punches at anything that moves.

While the party spiraled out of the control, the writers of the script seemed to have been losing their marbles as well. The last quarter of the film focuses on the police clad in riot gear trying to disperse the party, but it’s just so incredibly unbelievable that a party in North Pasadena can get so out of control that the police have to wait until the party winds down to raid the place because it’s too wild for them to handle. Helicopters arrive to put out the fire and the scene quickly turns into what looks like an apocalypse. There are cars being set on fire, things being blown up and over one thousand drunk and drugged partiers screaming, crying and running in every which direction to escape the chaos.

“Project X” doesn’t seem to have a plot or message. This sort of film is a critic’s nightmare, and it only recieves 3 stars because it is geared toward this exact audiH ence: college students. ■

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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THE LORAX RATING: ★★ ★★☆

BY: JACQUELINE BALDERRAMA, STAFF WRITER

“The Lorax,” directed by Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda, , is an animated film based on the children’s book of the same name by Dr. Suess. Filled with color and adventure, this quirky tale seeks to advocate the protection of nature. With singing fish, plush little bears and the organic shaped structures of Dr. Suess, this familyfriendly film brings to life the importance of standing up for what is right and speaking for those without voices.

The film starts off in Thneedville, a beautiful yet entirely machine-based town colored by synthetic light bulb trees, parking-lots, fake beaches and resorts.

Ted (Zac Efron), a 12 year-old boy decides to cross the city boundary in search of a ‘real’ tree to win the heart of Audrey (Taylor Swift), a teenage girl fascinated by the prospect of trees. Along the way, Ted encounters The Once-ler (Ed Helms) who explains how this place came to ruin. As a young man seeking his fortune, he disregarded the Lorax (Danny DeVito), legendary guardian and speaker for trees. As a result, the entire forest and its lovable creatures disappeared. In efforts to complete the task of finding a tree, Ted must go up against the most important man in the city, Mr. O’Hare (Rob Riggle), who feels his business in selling clean air is threatened by trees which provide it for free. The story actually seesaws between the present struggle to regain trees and The Once-ler’s corruption and destruction of the forest in the first place.

The film is highly entertaining for all ages. The visual presentation of Dr. Suess’s

world is vibrant and thrilling with intricate settings and hilarious characters including Ted’s Grandma Norma (Betty White), who surprises everyone with her youthful tendencies while helping Ted on his quest to acquire a tree. The present and alluring superficial world is contrasted by the vast hills of gloomy stumps just outside the city walls. This in addition to the paradise of the fluffy forest trees comprised of pink and orange tufts of soft fibers and the innocent creatures—birds, bears and fish—all make this tale spectacular to see.

Still, the film is not without a good message. It advocates the protection of trees which may really be broadened to all of nature. The Lorax, though a small orange creature with an oversized mustache, acts as a conscience. He attempts to persuade the Once-ler to not chop down the forest regardless of his temptations for wealth.

But in the end, it is up to the person to do as they will. This is not unlike the real world where, regardless of the law, there are moral decisions people make everyday to make the world a better or worse place.

In response to that, the film does focus on the community. Both beginning and end have a musical number in which the community express what they care about—the beauty of their city and the hope that a tree might grow.

“The Lorax” is a charming narrative.

Through music, quirky characters and enchanting visuals, it zeros in on the significance of what a single person who cares can do. By holding true to this theme, it is H able to unveil a hopeful world. ■

Photos Courtesy of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment

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HEAT 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER

Music Festival

BY FATIMA MIRZA & EMILY WELLS, SENIOR STAFF WRITERS // PHOTOS BY KEVIN DINH & AN TRAN UC Riverside’s annual Heat Music Festival continued this year with an incredibly successful show featuring eclectic and highly acclaimed musicians. Three different stages provided ample options for a variety of musical tastes.

The Highland Stage opened with a lively performance by Santa Barbara-based band Iration, who are known for blending reggae, dub and rock. First-year Kaley Pringle-Haymons said that Iration was the artist she enjoyed most. “It was so fun and lively. Heat is very entertaining, and I’m definitely going to come again,” she said. While Iration played on the Highland Stage, Secret Panda Society, a dubstep group, played at the Southland stage. They engaged with audience members by throwing panda masks into the crowd. Individuals could be seen wearing the masks for the rest of the evening.

One of the most anticipated performers of the evening was Mac Miller. Miller, born Malcolm McCormick, rose to fame quite quickly despite being only 20 years old. The crowd heard him before they saw him—the stage was dark when he began rapping and once he built momentum, the beat dropped, the lights turned on and he appeared on stage. Miller proved to be skilled at engaging the audience, who jumped and fist pumped to his music. He said, “This is why events like this are the shit. Y’all (sic) work and study all week and when the weekend comes you just wanna get fucked up!” A crowd favorite was his song, “The Spins,” which sampled music from Empire of the Sun’s “Half Mast.” Though the crowd loved Mac Miller’s performance, it was often difficult to understand what he was saying or rapping. He seemed to graze over his lyrics and he sped through the music.

Miller’s energy alone was what redeemed his performance.

Meanwhile, the sensational pop duo Karmin played at Southland Stage. Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonam have enjoyed a quick rise to success, and were recently

featured on Saturday Night Live only a few weeks ago.

They delivered a great performance with a unique sound that blended many genres-—pop, rap and electronic. Heidemann had an adorable personality on stage and the duo interacted well with each other, the audience and their fellow instrumentalists. After their performances, Amy and Nick spent a lot of time meeting their fans, signing autographs and taking pictures.

Amy and Nick are engaged, and met at Berklee College of Music. They rose to fame through making covers and posting them on Youtube, and have appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as well as SNL. Heat attendees were given a sneak peak from Karmin’s upcoming album. Amy Heidemann said, “Tonight was the first time we performed our album. You guys had the exclusive listen. Half of these songs no one has even heard of yet.” When commenting on the atmosphere of Heat and performing for UCR, Amy Heidemann said, “No other college does it like this. This is huge! We did a couple of performances at other universities, but it wasn’t like this.”

Nick Noonam spoke about how Karmin garnered attention through social media platforms, and for those out there hoping to be discovered he offered advice: “Don’t be cookie-cutter, post as much as you can, and make it quality posts—don’t just post for the sake of posting. But don’t be cookie-cutter. If you don’t have your own space clearly formed out yet, make it.” Nick Noonam commented that what makes Karmin unique was the fact that he raps. Karmin was definitely a friendly duo who went out of their way to add a personal touch to their performance.

Following Karmin’s performance, hip-hop group Chiddy Bang entered the Southland Stage. Most of the crowd at the Southland Stage had dispersed by the time Chiddy Bang took the stage, but those who remained enjoyed the performance. Chiddy Bang spent a fair

amount of time freestyling. The duo is well known for creating songs that sample artists such as MGMT, Passion Pit and Radiohead.

Perhaps the most successful performance was delivered by The Airborne Toxic Event, a Los Angeles-based rock band who played at the Highland Stage from 10:50 to midnight. The band’s lead singer and songwriter, Mikel Jollett, had amazing stage presence. He truly connected with the audience. At on point he climbed onto one of the speakers, and at another point he jumped into the audience and began crowd surfing. Once he returned to the stage, Jolett threw water into the crowd, who loved all interactions with the lead singer. The playful and intimate relationship between the band members was clearly seen when they interacted with each other on stage.

The band also did not shy away from making political statements. At one point Jolett called out, “You’re either with us or against us. And I must say, when it comes to preemptive warfare, I’m against it.” The group played many of their songs including ones they’re most well known for, such as, “Changing” and “Sometime After Midnight.” Once they finished preforming and ran off stage, the crowd began chanting for an encore. Needless to say, the group did not disappoint—they returned to the stage at the crowd’s pleas. After they finished, they stayed until the crowds scattered, and made sure to meet every eager fan they could. Each of the band members took the time to speak, take pictures with and sign autographs for the students.

Heat is typically the most musically diverse out of the three UC Riverside music festivals, and draws in attendees from other campuses and the Inland Empire community. UC Riverside student Josh Katz said, “We like that people get to experience the campus through a really open, eclectic environment. Heat has something H for everyone.” ■

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INTERVIEW. AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT

Highlander Radar: What did you think of performing at UC Riverside compared to other venues? How was the crowd?

Mikel Jollett: It was awesome, it was exciting; I like playing for a college audience because a lot of the world events that the songs are about affect kids that are in that age range.

Steven Chen: I went to UC Berkeley and we never had any big festivals like this. I was surprised at how legit it was. Not that I didn’t think it would be legit, but it was like, a proper festival. The crowd was great. I was watching Mac Miller before us, and I was like, that crowd is insane. So we were carefully crafting the drunk crowd set (laughter) and there was a lot of energy when we were up there. It was fun.

Everyone seemed like they were having a good time.

Anna Bulbrook: It is awesome to play for a few thousand screaming college students. I mean, it’s the best.

Daren Taylor: The crowd seems to be much wilder here.

It was really wild, it was up

there. If we’re doing what we’re doing and we don’t get that kind of reaction, we’re doing something wrong.

Some of the band has a background in fiction writing.

How does this influence the songwriting process and lyrics?

Anna Bulbrook: It’s definitely an influence. Mikel is the primary songwriter, and I know one of the first things I noticed when he approached me about joining the band was that his lyrics were above and beyond the other lyrics that I’ve heard.

I think he really tells a story in every song.

Stephen Chen: I was a journalist but I did do creative writing also. I always played music as a hobby. Mikel and I met as writers, and he asked if I wanted to play in the band.

That definitely influences the songwriting process for Mikel—he’s a storyteller.

Mikel Jollett: I’m not sure. I get asked that question a lot. I don’t really know, to be honest.

Tell us more about the songwriting process.

Noah Harmon: Most of the songs our singer/fearless leader Mikel writes by himself. Some songs Mikel and I will write together and then he’ll do all the lyrics and vocals and stuff like that. And after that there’s a sort of process where we’ll take a song apart and put it back together as a band to get really focused in on how to record it and how to do it live.

How does it feel to be compared to other bands?

Mikel Jollett: Sometimes I feel like the comparisons are lazy.

Half the time you feel like people aren’t really listening. And if you asked a typical fan they would know it’s nothing like that.

Anna Bulbrook: It depends if it’s flattering.

Noah Harmon: It’s flattering when it’s bands you like and you’re a little bummed out when it’s bands you don’t like. Like Nickelback.

Steven Chen: That’s probably the band people don’t like to be compared to.

HIGHLANDER

By Emily Wells, Senior Staff Writer Photos courtesy of Spinner.com

So what would be a flattering comparison?

Noah Harmon: The Beatles.

Ella Fitzgerald, maybe.

Steven Chen: Beethoven. Our hair has been compared to Beethoven’s.

Noah Harmon: Getting compared to legendary bands is super flattering. But you really can’t let it get to your head and think you’re like the Beatles when you’ve put out two records.

A couple years ago you switched from an independent record label, Majordomo, to a much larger one, Island Records. Can you tell us a bit about this transition?

Noah Harmon: We were on an independent label and doing well and we moved up to a very major one. Overall it’s been a very positive experience for us. All the horror stories of major labels and how they’re the fucking evil machine and all that kind of stuff, that hasn’t really happened to us, so we’ve been fortunate with that. We have one hundred percent creative control of the music.

The band tends to make political statements through performances and involvement with organizations like Amnesty International. Do you feel that your ability to reach large amounts of people creates an obligation to do this?

Mikel Jollett: Yes. One hundred percent... Just because you can write songs doesn’t mean your opinions matter more. But there’s a lot of things in the world that need people to give a voice to those who don’t have one... Raising awareness is so important.

Daren Taylor: I think because we have a public forum to work from, it gives us a good opportunity to speak out on the issues we feel strongly about.

Steven Chen: I think it just falls into storytelling. Just as a person living in the world there are all these stories around you.

Yes, there’s a political side to the statement, but it’s more just these are stories that are happening to people, people are going through shit, and hopefully people can learn about it.

Noah Harmon: I approve this message.

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

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UCR AROUND THE GLOBE UCR Student, Camille Calloway shares her travel stories from her studies abroad.

BARBADOS

Photos Courtesy of Camille Calloway

NAME: Camille Calloway YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Psychology COUNTRY: Barbados AREA OF STUDY: Psychology & Cultural Studies

As I stare out of my window writing this article, I see the sun peeking over the clouds just over the horizon of the deep blue Caribbean Sea. Every morning I am greeted with a sunrise that only seems to get more beautiful as the days go by. Studying abroad in Barbados this past month has been a once in a life time experience, an experience that has affected my life in so many positive ways.

To begin, the scenery all over the island is absolutely breathtaking. From beaches with pink sand, to the clearest blue ocean water one can picture, Barbados is simply beautiful. I have been fortunate enough to spend most of my days relaxing on different beaches around the island with both locals and other international students. My first week here, I spent the majority of my time with the other students from the UC system. Over the past month I have formed bonds with these four girls that will last a life time. The international students all spend time together, whether we are doing tourist activities like visiting Harrison’s Cave, or going out to clubs every Thursday night.

However, I have also been able to spend a lot of time with the locals as well. The majority of Bajan people are some of the kindest people I have met in my life. Their culture is completely different from that of America, so I am learning more every day.

Whenever I’m lost, the community won’t hesitate to lead me in the right direction, although these days I find myself much better at getting around the island. I’ve also met a good amount of students from other islands in the Caribbean so I am getting a taste of so many different cultures. Of course I did not come here to only lay out on the beach and party and drink local rum drinks; I also do spend a good amount of time studying and volunteering at a primary school within the community.

I cannot lie and say that everything went smoothly with The University of the West Indies at Cave Hill (UWI Cave Hill). I always say I love Barbados, not so much the UWI campus. It took about two weeks for me and the other internationals to get our classes situated all while the semester was in progress.

However, the professors were very understanding

about the work missed and let us make it up.

Since the first two weeks, everything has been uphill. The classes are very different from what I was used to at UCR. Most of the lectures are more like what UCR would consider discussions. The students are very passionate about what they’re learning and I’ve noticed that they seem to care more about learning the material than the grades they will receive. It has taken time to get accustomed to the different teaching techniques, but I find my courses to be very engaging and I am learning a lot. Since I have been lucky enough to not have class on Fridays, I spend my mornings singing and reading to elementary-aged students, which is always very rewarding. While school is incredibly important, I have taken the time to also explore other islands while I am in the Caribbean.

Yesterday I came back from a mini vacation to the beautiful island of Dominica. I was fortunate enough to meet a student at UWI who was nice enough to extend his family to host me and a few friends while traveling to Dominica. Dominica is completely different than Barbados as far as landscape and culture is concerned. Both are beautiful countries with incredible people living there and it has been a blessing to be able to experience both places. The one thing people told me to do while out here is island hop, and I can definitely see why. I get so much more from my trip by seeing the different cultures of the surrounding islands in the Caribbean.

Although it has only been a little more than a month since I’ve been in Barbados, I already consider it home. I recall last quarter reading an article in the Highlander about another student studying abroad in Barbados, and her negative perception had scared me a little. I can see where her perspective came from because if you’re accustomed to the spoiled American lifestyle, living in Barbados will not be like living at home. You will have lizards in your room every now and then, and the humidity will make you sweat profusely. However, I am happy to say that my experience abroad has been nothing less than positive and a once in a life time experiH ence. ■

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HIGHLANDER

RESTAURANT REVIEW

ZAME FUSION SUSHI A common question asked around the Riverside area is, “Where is the Japanese food?” Yes, there are a few all-you-can-eat buffets within driving distance, but for authentic sushi lovers there hasn’t been an adequate or good restaurant until now. Zame Fusion Sushi, which opened less than a month ago, serves fresh fish that is as authentic as the sushi restaurants found in Japan. It was almost unbelievable at first to find that sushi this delicious had come to Riverside.

Zame Fusion Sushi has a sophisticated and modern red and black design, and the environment inside is both tranquil and chic. As I scanned the menu, I found that the fusion options were just as impressive. There were a wide array of eclectic dishes, such as honey walnut shrimp, (which is borrowed from Chinese cuisine) and “Gaeng Garee” (Golden curry from Malaysian cuisine). There were also dishes with a Japanese twist, such as filet mignon served with a diakon yuzu sauce, and grilled Chilean sea bass cooked in miso dressing. The menu was also surprisingly versatile, catering to the preferences of vegetarians or customers who like sushi but did not like it served raw. Most importantly, the restaurant was authentic, featuring the signature dish pork tonkatsu, which is breaded pork loin served with sweet Japanese fruit sauce.

The most stunning, in terms of both flavor and appearance, were the signature rolls. The passion shrimp roll is composed of shrimp, avocado and cucumber topped with smoked salmon and a spicy mango sauce. Some rolls were wrapped in soy paper, which is a fusion of Vietnamese cuisine, blessing the roll with a light, chewy and delightful texture. The most popular roll at Zame Fusion Sushi is the baked volcanic mango shrimp, which was presented in a beautiful flower-like setup. It composed of a generous concoction of teriyaki and Sriracha sauce drizzled upon the

plate, and sprinkled with crunchy tempura flakes, Brussels sprouts and green onions.

It is a comfort and a cause for celebration to witness a Japanese restaurant that holds itself to such high standards. Not only were the mixture of fish, fruit, vegetables, sauces and spices in perfect harmony, but the fish was also absolutely heavenly. Good fish, which Zame Fusion Sushi serves, is buttery, tender and bears a melt-in-your-mouth sensation. It is never clammy, stale or in desperate need of being drenched in other sauces and ingredients. Even the vegetables and rice, which are the rising action to the fish, were indulgently fresh and mouthwatering. Other restaurants may attract customers because of their allyou-can-eat deals; but in reality they are serving fish that is lower in quality and cheaper to buy, which is why heavy sauces always overwhelm them. At Zame Fusion sushi, sashimi alone is flawless because only the best parts of the freshest fish are served.

Jay Bai, the owner of Zame Fusion Sushi and a sushi chef of 20 years, said that his goal was to give customers good tasting food. In order to do so, Bai purchases expensive materials, such as his knives that cost around $500 each. His dedication does not stop there, in a week he is flying to China and returning with real Chinese bamboo to furnish his restaurant properly.

The overall experience was wonderful: attentive staff caters to every need and the contemporary dishware is made of eccentric black ceramic. Zame Fusion Sushi is definitely an impressive place to take a date to.

The average price for a signature roll is $12 and for dessert, a deep fried banana served with ice cream is just $4. If authentic Japanese food fans are craving something special, Zame Fusion Sushi is the new up and coming restaurant that undoubtedly will blow them H all away. ■

By Toni Louie, Staff Writer Photos by Bryan Tuttle

★★★★★

FEATURES

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THE DIGITAL WORLD WITH RYAN SIMON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN “ASSASSIN’S CREED III” WRITTEN BY RYAN SIMON, SENIOR STAFF With the recent announcement of Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed III,” the fifth entry into the tremendously successful game series, there was a surprise revelation: Connor, the main protagonist, is part Native American.

A preview of the new “Creed” by Game Informer reveals that the French game development studio has set the game to take place between 1753 and 1783—during the American Revolution. Throughout this time period, various Native American tribes living within the boundaries of the thirteen colonies were put into harm’s way as white settlers began encroaching on their lands. Connor (known as Ratohnhaké:ton by his tribe) is described as half English and half Mohawk. He was raised by the Mohawk tribe, a Native American culture that still exists today in parts of Canada and New York.

What makes this an intriguing surprise is that there have not been many major mainstream pieces of Western media casting a Native American as a “hero.”

Ubisoft describes Connor as a “freedom fighter,” and that “he’s not out for personal revenge” against the people who destroyed his village. It is refreshing to see a Native American depicted as a noble warrior and not as a mind-

less savage—a stereotype Western history books and films have convinced many people to believe. Since the plot of the game is profoundly inspired by real historical events and people, Ubisoft has a grand opportunity to create a precedent for future games to follow. If the game’s audience takes well to playing as a Mohawk warrior, it would not be surprising to see more games in the future starring Native American protagonists. There are still, however, opportunities for Ubisoft to skew the Native American image.

Ubisoft needs to be careful with handling the specifics of Connor’s Mohawk upbringing.

In several images for the game, Connor can be seen with various weapons and garb inspired by the Mohawk culture. Ubisoft must make sure that they stay true to the Mohawk traditions in this regard in order to properly honor the Mohawk people. If other story elements are introduced in relation to the Mohawks, they should remain accurate to the Mohawk culture. Maintaining a strong consistency in how the Mohawks, the English and the Revolutionaries interacted with one another will be crucial in ensuring that Ubisoft delivers a game that is able SIMON CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Photo courtesy of Game Informer

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SIMON FROM PAGE 15

Photos Courtesy of joystiq.com

to give players an unbiased look at the events that transpired during the American Revolution.

Game Informer’s interview with the developers of “Assassin’s Creed III” hints that the game’s story will not disappoint. Ubisoft is dedicated to having accurate and engrossing dialogue between characters in the game. They have confirmed that they hired historical script consultants and Native American actors to fill appropriate rolls. Ubisoft has gone as far as recording the traditional Mohawk language for particular scenes in the game. It seems that they have spared no expense to ensure that players are able

to experience a truly unique and culturally accurate story. If Ubisoft is able to provide a compelling presentation of real Mohawk culture in the game, it may just inspire otherwise ignorant players to learn about the real nature of many Native American tribes.

“Assassin’s Creed III” may be one of the most culturally significant video games to ever be produced. With Ubisoft’s promise of historical accuracy fulfilled, their new game has an opportunity to present a proper recognition of Native American people and their plight. All signs point to an amazing experience. The game will be reH leased this fall on Oct. 30, 2012. ■

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. SPORTS .

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

17

UCR women’s basketball suffers overtime loss P r a n av B h ak ta SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The UC Riverside Women’s basketball team dropped its final game of the season at the Student Recreation Center against the UC Irvine Anteaters by a score of 60-65 in overtime. The loss to the Anteaters diminished any hopes the Highlanders had of continuing their season with a berth in the Big West Conference Tournament. Even with a win against the Anteaters, the Highlanders would have needed other Big West rivals to lose games to gain a chance. While being blow out widely by their opponents in their previous six games, the Highlanders played the Anteaters closely, sending the game to overtime. The Highlanders fell to 5-24 overall and 3-13 in Big West play, while the Anteaters improved to 13-16 overall and 9-7 in the Big West conference.

In the first half, the Highlanders got off to a hot start as a 13-3 run gave them an early 17-9 lead with minutes remaining. The Highlander defense was solid, holding the Anteaters off the scoreboard during the 13-3 run.

The Anteaters had a 12-0 run of their own and took the lead, 21-

Kevin Dinh/HIGHLANDER

17. The Highlanders were quick to respond to the Anteater offensive outburst as Dynese Adams hit a jump shot to cut the lead to 21-19. Jessica Ogunnorin then hit a three at the end of a 7-0 Highlander run, regaining the lead 24-21. The Anteaters, however, took a one-point lead to the

locker room, 28-27, at the end of the half. The Highlanders, while playing well, committed 16 turnovers in the first half; the Anteaters scored 14 points off those turnovers.

In the second half, the Highlanders were the better team, but turnovers committed by the

Women’s tennis snaps skid against Bakersfield Michael Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

March 2, 2012 Highlanders 5 -- Road Runners 2 UC Riverside’s women’s tennis team finally stopped its seven-game losing streak with a victory over Cal State Bakersfield this past Thursday.

Riverside won that game by a score of 5-2. Riverside has not earned a victory since Feb. 2, 2012. That win came against this same Cal State Bakersfield team.

UC Riverside got things started by winning two of the three doubles matches to earn the first point of the day.

UCR’s duo of Jamie and Taylor Raney won their match with a score of 8-3 and the duo of Kate Bergeson and Courtney Pattugalan earned a with after defeating their opponents by a score of 8-1.

The Highlanders continued their dominance in singles action. Jamie Raney, Taylor Raney and Natalie McKay all won their matches decidedly.

Riverside’s Kate Bergeson played a competitive match against Bakersfield’s Estefania Limpias in court No. 5.

After trailing early on in the match, Bergeson ultimately came out victorious and defeated her opponent with a final score of 5-7, 7-6, 10-5.

March 4, 2012 Aggies 6 -- Highlanders 1 Riverside tried but failed to make it two straight wins this past Sunday against UC Davis.

The Aggies handed the Highlanders a tough loss as River-

side’s lone victory came from Courtney Pattugalan.

Pattugalan defeated Davis’s Layla Sanders in singles competition with scores of 6-3, 6-0 at court No. 4. The rest of the singles matches were disastrous as Highlanders Kate Bergeson and Rachell Andra both lost their respective matches with identical scores of 6-0, 6-0. Jamie Raney was the player that came closest to a win, but she lost her match with scores of 6-1, 6-4. Natalie McKay and Taylor Raney both lost with identical scores of 6-2, 6-1.

In doubles action, the Highlanders were swept in

all three matches as Davis earned that point. The Aggies went on to defeat the Highlanders with a final score of 6-1.

UCR’s women’s tennis team falls to 2-9 in the season and 0-4 in conference play. UC Riverside now has a 1-5 home record.

The Highlanders will take a break from conference competition as they will host Colorado State on March 13 at home and will try to get back on the winning track. competition as they will host Colorado State on March 13 at home and will try to get H back on the winning track. ■

Highlanders kept the Anteaters in the game. The Anteaters had seven points off 14 Highlander turnovers. The score remained tight as the Highlanders led by one, 46-45, with 1:45 remaining.

Anteater Kelly Meggs hit a three to give the Anteaters a two-point lead with 1:23 remaining. The

Highlanders tied the game thanks to Brittney Palmer who drew a shooting foul with six seconds left. Palmer hit both of her freethrows to tie the game at 48-48 and send the game into extra time.

In the overtime period, the Highlanders fell behind by five points early after turning over the ball three times on their first four possessions. Kelly Meggs of the Anteaters continued to be a thorn, scoring nine points in the extra session. The Highlanders were outscored 17-12 in overtime and fell to the Anteaters 65-60.

The Highlanders, while plagued by 33 turnovers, dominated the game in rebounds, 4728, and held the Anteaters to just 33 percent from the field. Highlander Jessica Ogunnorin had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jamila Williams also added 11 rebounds for the night. The Highlanders were led in points by Brittany Palmer who had 19 points. Anteater Kelly Meggs had a game-high 26 points and teammate Anete Klintsone had 16 points, hitting 12 of 13 free throws. The Highlanders closed out the season with a sevH en-game losing streak. ■

HIGHLANDER NEWSROOM

KUCR RADIO 88.3 WEDNESDAYS @ 9AM

18

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

HIGHLANDER

Track and field continues dominant season P r a n av B h ak ta

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The UC Riverside track and field teams competed at the All-Cal Challenge Cup meet on Saturday, their first outdoor meet of the season. The Highlanders competed against UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine among others.

In the men’s running events, Omar Gonzalez and Benjamin Heck placed 12th and 13th, respectively in the 1500m race. Gonzalez had a time of 4:01.50, while Heck had a time of 4:03.83. In the 400m race, Peter Guenther placed second with a time of 48.77 which made him a Big West qualifier. In the 100m dash, Bryan Adams placed first with a time of 10.87. In the 800m, Michael Koger placed ninth with a time of 1:57.00. In the 400m hurdles, Kenneth Grimble placed third with a time of 55.65 and Eric Evan finished right after Grimble with a time 56.63. In the 200m dash, Hernell Dyer placed second with a time of 21.69. Jerome Rideaux placed fourth with a time of 22.29. In the 4x400m relay, the team of Kevin Fashola, Michael Koger, Kenneth

Grimble and Bryan Adams placed second with a time of 3:17.07.

In the men’s field events, Caleb Stuart placed first in the hammer throw with a solid throw of 62.10m.

In the long jump, Ted Hooper placed first with a career-best jump of 7.08m. In the triple jump, Ryan Swafford placed first with a jump of 15.04m. Travis Smith had a big day as he placed first in the discus with a throw of 50.96m. In the shot put, Smith set a new school record with a throw of 17.81m, coming in first once again.

In the women’s running events, Damajeria Dubose came in first in the 1500m event with a time of 4:34.97, while teammate Brittany Reimer came in third with a time of 4:39.79. In the women’s 100m hurdles, Danielle Littleton came in second with a time of 13.93. In the 100m dash, Yozmine Modeste came in first with a time of 12.32. In the 800m, Raquel Hefflin and Alisha Brown had a neck and neck finish, as Hefflin got an extra step to finish in first, ahead of Brown who placed second. Both finished with a time 2:11.02.

In the women’s field events, Nikki James placed first in the hammer throw with a throw of 50.18m.

James placed second in the discus with a 44.58m throw. In the javelin event, Ashley Gatewood placed first with a throw of 46.45m. Gatewood placed second in the shot put with a throw of 13.17m.

When asked about the difference between indoor and outdoor competition, Coach Browne said, “It’s somewhat different because our kids will start to race their real outdoor distances. We don’t focus too much on the early season races, but it’s a chance to compete nonetheless. Nearly everyone on the squad will get a chance to do one or two events each. It also serves as a training opportunity, but since there is live competition, there is a double benefit.”

“Both teams have a chance to do really well come the end of the season,” Coach Browne continued, “so each week we want to make progress towards that goal. The men need to continue to perform at a high level and I have no doubts our women will begin to pull together across

PRANAV BHAKTA

P-BHAK’S CORNER Reexamining the All-Star Game A r c h i v e /HIGHLANDER

all event areas and show the promise that this coaching knows they have.

It’ll be a fun start to the season with All-Cal meet this week and the Santa Barbara dual next week. The season will be rolling along rather quickly from that point. We can’t wait.”

UC Riverside’s track and field teams will host their first home meet since 2005 on March 10 at the UCR H Track Stadium. ■

Softball wins three of four in Highlander Classic K e n dall P e t e r s o n STAFF WRITER

March 1, 2012 Highlanders 5 -- Vikings 0 UCR’s softball team hosted Portland State as part of Riverside’s first of four games in the Highlander Classic at Amy S. Harrison Field. UCR scored four runs in the first inning in route to 5-0 shutout victory.

Jordyn McDonald for Riverside pitched a complete game as she went all seven innings. She achieved eight strikeouts and only gave up two hits. In the first inning, the Highlanders managed only one hit and scored four runs.

Kayla White started it off as she walked and was the Highlanders’ first runner. Wild pitches were thrown, River-

side scored two and Alexis Pickett doubled down the left field line for two RBIs. March 2, 2012 Highlanders 4 -- Black Bears 3 Softball continued tournament play against Maine Friday afternoon. The Highlanders were able to pull off a two-out rally for a comefrom-behind 4-3 victory over Maine in extra innings.

The Highlanders were scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Brittany Keeney walked, Dionne Anderson singled up the middle and Kaylie Atkinson walked, which loaded the bases. Alexis Pickett singled to left field for a RBI which tied the game one a piece.

G o r d o n H u a n g /HIGHLANDER

It went into extra play and in the top of the eighth, the Highlanders allowed two runs on three hits. Keeney started off the bottom of the inning already on second base for the

Highlanders. Jessica Vasser fouled out to right field which advanced Keeney to third.

Anderson grounded out to short for the second out but SOFTBALL CONT’D ON PAGE 19

In last week’s column, I argued that there should be no All-Star game because there is a risk of injury and there is not a good competitive flow to the game. Some readers pointed out to me that the NBA All-Star game actually put on quite a show, thus disproving my argument in some sense.

That said, the NBA all-stars did put on quite a show in the last stretch, making it an extremely close and competitive game. Some incredible highlights of the nights were OKC Thunder’s star Russell Westbrook throwing down a monster dunk which got the Orlando crowd on its feet, along with a couple of other great plays. But beside that, there was just a lot of scoring and no defensive execution.

The issue with this is that while it is fun to see an all offensive basketball game, seeing easy baskets being scored is not really that fun to watch. At the end of the half, the East allowed 80 points. Some NBA teams do not even allow 80 point for the whole game. Not playing defense is understandable because playing hard defense can be risky; just like when Dwayne Wade decided to play hard defense and give Kobe Bryant a hard foul.

Bryant took a hand to his face by Wade which caused him to break his nose and suffer a possible concussion. Bryant acknowledged that it was accidental, but Lakers fans were not happy that their superstar got hurt since there is still half of a season to play, especially with Bryant being the only reason the Lakers are in playoff contention. Yes, it was great seeing Bryant passing the all-time great Michael Jordan in All-Star scoring, but at the risk of a concussion, fans aren’t so sure about the effectiveness of an All-Star game H anymore. ■

SPORTS

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

19

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Phil Martin

MEN’S BASKETBALL

TAKE PICTURES? Be a Photographer for the Highlander!

Meetings on Mondays at 5:15pm at HUB 101

K e v i n D i n h /HIGHLANDER

Phil Martin continued to dominate in the month of February. The forward from Staten Island, New York once again posted high numbers this past month as he led the Highlanders to a fifth-place finish in the Big West standings.

Martin averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game this past month as he helped the Highlanders get through a tough stretch. UCR lost three straight games, but Martin and the Highlanders snapped that skid after Martin went for 21 points and six rebounds in a win against Southern Utah in the Sears BracketBuster. Martin scored a go-ahead jumper with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Martin also converted on two crucial free-throws to put the Highlanders up by three late in that game. UCR earned a much-needed win by a score of 57-52 thanks to Martin’s late-game heroics.

UCR went on to defeat Northridge on the road in the following game to win two straight matches. Martin led the team with 14 points in that game.

The Highlanders are now in the Big West Tournament for the second straight season. The Highlanders will take on Cal Poly in the first round. Martin scored 22 points against the Cal Poly Mustangs the last time these two teams faced each other.

Martin finished the season as the conference’s leading scorer. Martin averaged 19.5 points per game this season in Big West games. He beat out UCSB’s Orlando Johnson by two-tenths of a point.

For his achievements in the month of February, Martin has earned the Highlander’s Athlete of the H Month honor for the second straight time. ■

MEN’S BASKETBALL Athlete Phil Martin

PPG

RPG

APG

ST

BL

FG%

FT%

3PT%

15.1

6.1

1.1

5

4

39.0

77.8

25.0

SOFTBALL FROM PAGE 18

Atkinson homered to left field for two RBIs for a 3-3 tie.

Pickett reached on bases with an error and was able to steal second. Another error advanced Pickett to third and Jordyn McDonald doubled to right center for the game-winning RBI. March 3, 2012 Gamecocks 9 -- Highlanders 4 Riverside’s softball team continued its play at the Highlander Classic at Amy S. Harrison Field when the team squared off against South Carolina. The Highlanders were powerless against Carolina’s offense in route to a 4-9 loss.

Jordyn McDonald started for the Highlanders and struggled for three innings before being pulled.

McDonald allowed five runs on four hits and walked three. Amy Lwin only went four innings, allowed six hits, walked three and allowed four runs.

UCR’s defense allowed South Carolina to score in five consecutive innings, putting them in a eight-run deficit at 1-9 by the fifth inning.

Riverside tried to make a comeback as it scored three runs in the fifth on four hits. Halle Luna singled to shortstop and Kayla White tripled to right center for an RBI, scoring Luna. Lwin came up and knocked in a two RBI homer to right field but that was it for the

G o r d o n H u a n g /HIGHLANDER

Highlanders. UCR could not score anymore and the Highlanders lost 4-9.

March 4, 2012 Highlanders 8 -- Vikings 0 Riverside’s softball team (7-11) concluded play at the Highlander Classic on Sunday with an 8-0 shutout victory over Portland State (910) at Amy S. Harrison Field.

Taylor Alvarez started for the Highlanders as she only allowed four runs, one walk and she piled up four strike outs.

The Highlanders got eight hits and were held scoreless in just one

inning. Ariel Shore shined for UCR as she went 2-2 with four RBIs, one walk and scored twice.

The fourth inning was when Riverside did its damage as the Highlanders scored four runs on four hits.

Jessica Vasser started the team off with a single through the left side.

Luna came in to pinch run for Vasser and she stole second. Pickett singled to left field and later stole second.

Shore singled up the middle for two RBIs and White tripled to right center for two more RBIs. The Highlanders’ next two games are on Tuesday, March 6 against Saint Joseph’s and Michigan H State. ■

20

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012

HIGHLANDER

Men’s basketball prevails in an overtime classic Michael Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Highlanders have had a handful of exciting games that were decided in overtime this year, but none of them were as thrilling or as meaningful as Saturday night’s overtime win against the UC Irvine Anteaters.

The Highlanders had a lot riding in this game. It was homecoming, senior night and the final game of the regular season for UC Riverside. The Highlanders were hoping to earn their third win in four games in front of a packed house of 2,185 fans. Phil Martin’s 27 points and Kareem Nitoto’s strong offensive performance ultimately propelled the Highlanders to a much-needed victory against UCI in overtime.

A 9-0 run by UCR got things started. The Highlanders maintained their large lead for the majority of the first half. UCR eventually led by double digits as they shot 45.8 percent from the floor to end the first half with a 36-26 lead.

The Highlanders opened up the second half with a lot of energy as a Phil Martin dunk increased the lead to 16 points. The Highlanders were in complete control at that point, but things fell apart soon after as the Anteaters’ resilience cut the UCR lead to single digits. UCI went on an 11-1 run to cut the lead to just six points with 11:43 remaining in the second half.

Riverside countered with five unanswered points of their own to stop the bleeding, but the Ant-

MICHAEL RIOS

RIO-SIDE Big West Tournament preview

Kevin Dinh/HIGHLANDER

eaters would not quit. UCI cut the lead to just one point with 3:56 remaining. Both teams traded baskets from that point on. UCR led by three with just 11 seconds to go and looked poised to win it. But with less than ten seconds left, Travis Souza dribbled the ball up the court and drilled in a stunning three-pointer to tie the game at 62 points. The game went straight to overtime.

In the extra period, UCR maintained its composure and quickly built a seven-point lead. Just as they did late in the second period, UCI kept attacking and cut the lead to just one point. But it was too little, too late for the Anteaters and the Highlanders made

their final free-throws to seal the win. UCR escaped with a 72-69 victory over UCI in overtime.

“I was really proud of our guys,” said Coach Wooldridge after the game. “We sure did find a way to win the ball game. [I’m] exceptionally proud about how they performed in overtime.”

UC Riverside finished the game with 40 free-throw attempts and converted on 28 of them.

UCR finished with a dismal 37.7 percent shooting from the floor, but held the Anteaters to just 37.5 percent.

Phil Martin ended the game with 27 points on 8-13 shooting. Nitoto added 13 points and flirted with a double-double as he

grabbed nine rebounds. Robert Smith was UCR’s third leading scorer with 11 points.

“It was a great way for us to have our senior night with a win and have our homecoming with a win for our fans and for our families in attendance,” commented Kareem Nitoto after the game. “It was a great win for everybody.”

With this victory, UCR finishes the regular season with three wins out of four games. The Highlanders will travel to the Honda Center in Anaheim this Thursday to take part in the Big West Tournament.

UCR will go into the event as the fifth seed and will take on the Cal Poly Mustangs on March 8 in the H first round of competition. ■

UCR Baseball only musters one win in a week’s play K e n dall P e t e r s o n

March 2, 2012

March 3, 2012

STAFF WRITER

Bearkats 9 - Highlanders 4

Highlanders 10 - Bearkats 1

T h e m e n ’s b a s e b a l l t e a m traveled to Huntsville, Te x a s f o r a t h r e e - g a m e s e ries against Sam Houston State. The first match up w e n t t o Te x a s a s t h e H i g h landers were incapable of withstanding H o u s t o n ’s o ff e n s e i n r o u t e t o a 4 - 9 loss.

Riverside struggled at the plate against their Bearkats’ pitchers. UCR was able to string up seven hits as they scored four runs on three RBIs. The starter for the Highlanders, Dylan Stuart (12), went 6.1 innings, allowed eight hits and seven runs but got four strikeo u t s . Te x a s s t a r t e r C o d y Dickson went seven strong innings and only allowed two runs on five hits.

Riverside scored in the first two innings but ended up scoreless the next five innings while Sam Houston piled on the points. By the top of the eighth, the Highlanders were in a seven-run deficit at 2-9. UCR managed to score two in the eighth but none in the ninth as they failed to take the first game.

Riverside (4-6) faced off against Sam Houston State (5-5) for the second game of their three-game series. This time around, the Highlanders countered back strong with their offensive power as they beat their opponent, 10-1.

The team came together as they only struck out five times in the game. This is the second consecutive game where the Highlanders have been under 10 strikeouts.

Eddie Young had the hot hands as he went 3-4 with one walk, one RBI and counted for three runs.

The Highlanders as a group played magnificently as they tiled up 11 hits, eight RBIs and walked seven times.

Eddie Orozco (2-1) went eight sturdy innings as he allowed just one run on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Gavin Mills came in the ninth inning to relieve Orozco and only allowed one hit as he closed the game for the Highlanders.

Feb. 28, 2012 Toreros 8 - Highlanders 5 The men’s baseball team hosted San Diego this past Tuesday in a dog fight.

Coach Doug Smith had his team where he wanted them with a 5-3 lead going into the top of the eight; yet the last two innings turned for the worst as Riverside’s lead slipped out of their hands.

The Highlanders allowed five late runs, two in the eight and three in ninth, in route to a 5-8 loss.

The Highlanders struggled at the plate again, striking out 11 times with only four RBIs and five hits. The two players for Riverside that stood out were Eddie Young and Cody Hough. Young went 2-3 with one run and Hough went 1-1 with two walks and two runs scored.

Coach Smith was asked about his frustration with the mishap late in the game and their strikeouts. “Oh, it is frustrating no doubt,” he said. “But we are a young team. We have a four-game road trip and hopefully with those games, we can take some positive out of it.”

March 4, 2012 Bearkats 4 - Highlanders 3 Riverside

finished

its

three-game series against Sam Houston State this past Sunday afternoon.

UCR scored in only two innings in a 3-4 loss as the Highlanders were shut out scoreless through three innings.

Trevor Frank started the mound for the Highlanders, going 7.1 innings. Frank allowed seven hits, four runs, walked three batters and got eight strikeouts.

The Highlanders reverted back to their woes as they struck out 11 times, but walked six times and got nine hits. In the top of the fourth inning, Vince Gonzalez walked and was advanced on a wild pitch. Later, a single by Cody Hough sent him to third. Gonzalez later scored on a single by Jake Gallaway.

In the top of the fifth, Devon Bolasky walked and Phil Holinsworth doubled down the left field line which advanced Bolasky to third base. Eddie Young grounded out but that scored Bolasky and Holinsworth advanced to third. Gonzalez singled to third for an RBI as he scored Holinsworth for UCR’s final run of the game.

UCR lost the game by only a single run. The HighlandH ers’ record stands at 4-7. ■

The playoffs are here! The UC Riverside men’s basketball team will get another shot at winning its first ever conference title as UCR heads to the Honda Center for the Big West Tournament. Last year, this team went all the way to the semifinals and came close to defeating the 49ers, but the team ultimately fell short as Long Beach handed the Highlanders a heart-breaking defeat.

Things have sure changed in one year. Granted, it’s still mostly the same team we had in 2011, but there are a few improvements.

Phil Martin is now the team’s unquestionable leader.

He’s the leading scorer in the Big West and he’s capable of going for 30 points on any given night. Last year, Martin was mostly the second option in this team, but with Javon Borum gone, Martin is free to dominate on any given night. If he plays as well as he has been the last two months, it’s going to be hard to bet against the Highlanders.

What else has changed?

The point guard position is now dominated by three great guards. Robert Smith is a great pick-up and he’s been one the team’s most reliable players.

Daymond Cowlah and Harrison Gaines have both shown excellent decision-making skills.

The biggest concern will be the big men. UCR has solid defensive players down in the post, but they lack the offensive power they need to go against powerhouse teams like Long Beach and Fullerton.

So where will they finish?

I think if the guards execute the offense well and create shots for themselves and the big men, UCR can make it all the way to the conference finals. Unfortunately, I don’t see anyone beating Long Beach. I know UCR has come close in the past, but the 49ers are too good to deny or bet against.

Still, if UCR ends its season in the conference finals, there will be a lot to look forward to.

It will be a small but significant achievement. If it happens, it will mean that UCR is finally ready to compete in the NCAA Tournament; it will mean that UCR’s basketball program will finally be relevant across the nation, and it will mean that the championship is likely to come H in the near future. ■