Volume 61 Issue 21

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

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Volume 61

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Issue 21

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PASSED AND SHREDDED ASUCR passes controversial divestment resolution, destroys senator votes on legislation

J u l i a T r u o n g /HIGHLANDER ASUCR senators cast secret ballot for a series of initiatives and referenda items, such as the Trolley System Overhaul, which seeks to reinstate the campus transportation system.

S a n dy V a n SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Michael Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Held under the premise of a secret ballot vote, ASUCR senators voted on a series of controversial resolutions including one to end funding to companies accused of supporting apartheid, particularly in Israel. The legality of voting procedures is being questioned, which raises issues of transparency for the undergraduate

Students descend on Sacramento for Student Lobby Conference

student government. The ASUCR constitution and bylaws set ambiguous guidelines for setting a secret ballot vote.

Audience members bundled together like blood clots along the arterial walkway of the Senate Chambers on Wednesday, March 6, as galley seats filled to the brim. The anxious students, alumni and staff members awaited the results of the five different votes to be held that evening.

Senators were confronted with

the difficult task of voting for or against a resolution, entitled the Divestment of Companies that Profit from Apartheid, amidst an outspoken crowd of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian speakers. In deliverance of the finance and committee hearing report, ASUCR senators overturned a bylaw and approved a senate stipend increase of 65 percent for the duration of the 2012-2013 academic year.

Following the vote on the stipend resolution, senators also

passed a KUCR referendum and a constitutional amendment for proportional representation. A referendum for the reinstatement of the trolley system was not passed.

Approved pieces of legislation will be placed on the spring ballot and voted upon by the undergraduate student body.

Closed ballot voting Parliamentarian Chris Sanchez explained that a closed ballot session was held at the request of the senate.

The tallied results for all resolutions

Commuter Culture An inside look into the impact of off-campus living

Features, Page 16

Michael Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The 11th annual UC Student Lobby Conference served as an opportunity for student leaders to lobby the state’s elected representatives and organize workshop sessions to inform the public about a wide variety of issues. Several ASUCR senators attended the conference, which took place March 1-4 in Sacramento, and shared their thoughts on what the conference meant to them and the students.

“It seemed from my perspective a very empowering trip for all the students who attended,” said ASUCR Senator Ian Cavasos. “Everyone had something great to say about all CONFERENCE CONT’D ON PAGE 3

and referenda were disclosed to the public at the time of the session, but each individual senators’ votes were not disclosed. After the senators voted, all ballots were shredded.

“I’ll be the only one to see this,” ASUCR Executive Vice President Armando Saldana said about the ballots. “This information is not going to be disclosed for any reason and these will be shredded ASUCR CONT’D ON PAGE 5

INSIDE: The National Leadership Summit on Immigration Reform will commence on March 16.

NEWS

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Sacramento politicians have forgotten their constituents for the gleam of gold.

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OPINIONS

Las Vegas and the Redwood National Forest are two cheap options for a great Spring Break.

FEATURES

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UCR baseball beats LoyolaMarymount and splits series with New Mexico.

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SPORTS

W e s l e y N g /HIGHLANDER C a r s p a s s t h ro u g h t h e C a n y o n C re s t D r i v e u n d e r p a s s o f t h e 6 0 f re e w a y. T h e m a n y h e a d l i g h t s t re a k s a re i n d i c a t i v e o f b u s y r u s h h o u r t r a f f i c g o i n g t o a n d f ro m U C R .

UPCOMING EVENTS

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STAFF

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NEWS

HIGHLANDER

Students organize upcoming Immigration Summit on March 16 S a n dy V a n SENIOR STAFF WRITER

A student-led group has organized the National Leadership Summit for Immigration, a conference to be held on March 16 that will include a panel of congressmen, assemblymen and prominent scholars from across the United States.

“The goal of the event is to educate and make people more conscious of the immigration reform. You know, we hear a lot of things on the news, a lot of legislation that is not completely accurate, but oftentimes the people that hear it are those who have something invested,” said UCR chicano and public policy major Victoria Tinoco.

Co-chaired by Tinoco and UCR political science major Joseph Cobbs, the group is entitled Alliance for Immigration Reform (AIR). The organization consists of nearly 30 students from the ethnic studies class, Chicano Contemporary Issues 132, which is taught by UCR Ethnic Studies Professor Armando Navarro.

“Hundreds of individuals from divergent sectors, organizations and communities from throughout the country who are committed to achieving humane comprehensive

immigration reform will converge on March 16,” said Navarro. “Not since the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which legalized some 3 million undocumented persons, has the country been at a juncture to achieve [this kind of] reform.”

Academic panelists will include: UCLA History Professor Juan Gomez-Quinonez; UCR Professor of Political Science Karthick Ramakrishnan; La Sierra University Sociology Professor Jesse Diaz; and UCR Associate Professor of Sociology Ellen Reese. The event took approximately one quarter to be organized by AIR. During the preliminary stages of the event, seven student committees—program, logistics, speaker’s pool, literature, finance, outreach, and publicity—were created within the class. The committees are led by separate chairs, who report to Cobbs and Tinoco.

“Both of my parents are undocumented, so I have been a really big advocate for immigration rights and human rights for a very long time. So for me...it was for my parents and it was for other people like them or stories similar to them,” said Tinoco.

C o u rte s y o f UCR T o d ay UCR Professor of Ethnic Studies Armando Navarro (left), with UCR AIR, speaks at a February press conference.

In late January, a federal bipartisan committee consisting of four Democrats and four Republicans collaborated in order to create general outlines for U.S. immigration reform. There are over 11 million undocumented workers in the United States.

“Immigration has always been a very divisive issue in America, even from a historical perspective and I think it’s kind of outrageous that

Photo of the Week

Dancers Joey Lister, Cory Nyirenda, Fabian Robiedo and Steve Rodriguez perform “Looped,” a dance by student choreographer Sarah Cardona as part of UCR is Dancing.

The performance was one of many in the annual showcase of original student choreography.

Quotebook

“Everything will be shredded.”

- ASUCR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ARMANDO SALDANA, ON THE DESTRUCTION OF SENATOR VOTES

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Upcoming Events

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

questions answered, so they no longer feel like they’re in a box with no escape,” said Tinoco.

The conference will take place from 8 am. to 5 p.m. on March 16. Located in HUB 302, attendees must register by contacting the UCR Chicano Student Programs or the AIR organization by March 13. Donations for the conference can be made on the AIR homepage.

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March

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Morning Zumba Fitness Class 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Student Rec. Center MPR A

David Siveter, Oxford (UK) 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Physics Building room 2104

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Winter 2013 Dance Showings 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Arts 100, Arts 200, ATHD 102

Softball: Bathune-Cookman 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

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LGBTQ Grad Student Hour Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Costo Hall 245

UCR Jazz Ensembles 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Humanities 400

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Softball: Northern Illinois 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

Softball: Iona 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

Tuesday

Jinyoung Ko

we still treat immigrants this way,” said Cobbs.

The co-chairs expressed appreciation for organizing the event and inspiration for being a greater part of the community.

“There’s so much miscommunication about what these proposed laws are and there’s so much confusion...I want this to give people more knowledge about what’s happening, so we can get all their

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

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Saturday

UCR AIR Immigration Summit Leadership and Strategic Planning 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for Chief Business Officials Highlander Union Building 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

UCR Extension Center

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Softball: Iona 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

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Finals Week All Week

Sunday

Monday

at highlandernews.org

NEWS

HIGHLANDER CONFERENCE FROM PAGE 1

WEDNESDAYS @ 9AM

KUCR RADIO 88.3

HIGHLANDER NEWSROOM

the workshops and clinics and what the they learned.”

ASUCR Vice President of External Affairs Lazaro Cardenas directed a workshop himself.

Entitled “United Students Against Sweatshops,” the session pushed to “mobilize students on issues facing labor and workers on-campus and internationally.” Cardenas and other leaders wanted to inform students about the indignity of such sweatshops as he encouraged students to join his movement.

Other topics of interest included UCSA’s voter registration campaign called UCweVOTE. The project registered a total of 51,846 students in 2012, 21 percent of which were from the UC system.

Delegates who attended the conference also provided a list of legislative priorities for 2013. The list included potential solutions to problems such as the oil severance tax, tuition equity for high school students

and Cal Grant tuition and fee coverage.

“I really believed in the Cal Grant reforms...” stated ASUCR Senator Ian Cavasos.

“There were certain assembly bills that were being voted on that could really provide more opportunities for students to get the funds they need to go to college.”

The final day of the conference featured a march to the state capitol. Entitled March in March, the rally was a way for student leaders to remind policymakers of their importance to the state.

“It was very empowering,” said ASUCR senator Kristina Morelos about the march.

The conference concluded on Monday, March 4 with a legislative reception. In it, the Legislative Community was invited to meet with students affected by defunding of higher education. The event, which ended by 7 p.m. concluded the four-day conference.

Ian Cavasos reflected on the event. “I think this conference

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

C o u rte s y

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Kristina Morelos

The conference provided workshops that informed attendees on issues pertinent to students. as a whole taught me to be of them all,” he said. “If we are issues we are passionate about. I more informed about the informed we can write, email, hope the UCR students continue [issues] because even certain or call to ask our senators and lobbying as a collective for elected officials are not aware assembly members to vote for higher education issues.”

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NEWS

HIGHLANDER ASUCR FROM PAGE 1

MEETINGS NEXT QUARTER ON MONDAYS 5:15PM @ HUB

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afterwards.”

Some of the senators requested a closed ballot due to safety concerns and pressured glares from the galley.

Senators contested that the vote was closed to protect senators due to the politically-charged nature of the divestment resolution discussed. A few senators claimed they received threatening emails soon after the senate meeting.

At the request of the Highlander, three out of the 16 senators were willing to disclose all of their votes. Senator Megan Crail voted against the divestment resolution, yet explained her reasoning behind the vote. “The resolution does not fully represent the diverse student population at UCR and marginalizes particular groups on campus. Furthermore, there was not enough time or opportunity among Senators to discuss the resolution due to public forum, and there was not a presentation of the issue from both perspectives,” she said.

Issues of transparency in UC student governments have arisen in recent years, notably at UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. In all three instances,

student organizations urged their governments to comply with California’s Ralph M. Brown Act, which requires legislative bodies to comply with strict guidelines of transparency and openness. Several related laws have applied such restraints to student governments at the California Community College and California State University systems, but due to the autonomy of the UC Board of Regents, the law does not currently apply to the UC. As of now, UC student governments are only accountable to the rules they set for themselves.

The ASUCR Constitution states that the legislative branch may “conduct all votes pertaining to personnel matter by secret ballot.”

Chapter I and Section 12 of the ASUCR bylaws states, “The Senate Chair has discretion to make any vote a secret ballot vote,” which permits the senate to make a secret ballot vote.

The aforementioned guidelines set vague criterias for setting closed voting sessions, which limit transparency to the general public.

The Senate Chair is responsible for deciding whether a meeting can be held on a open or closed ballot basis.

The Highlander attempted to contact ASUCR President Pro Tempore Sai

Patadia, chair of the constitution and bylaws committee, and Executive Vice President Armando Saldana, yet they did not return requests for comment.

In February, Saldana called for “limited discussion” about legislation during senate meetings.

He referred senatorial concerns and questions to the Legislative Review Committee, where legislation is edited and properly formatted in a closed meeting. Senators questioned whether squelching debate would provide enough transparency during senate meetings, while others suggested opening up the LRC meetings to the public.

Acting as an alternative legal oversight over the senate meetings, the ASUCR Judicial Council provides an outline of the role of each justice and functions with their Rules of Procedures. In Nov. 2012, the Judicial Branch attempted to establish a Judicial Review Board within the senate.

Due to the conflict of interest over appointing senators as justices, the idea was immediately discarded.

The instatement of the judicial ASUCR CONT’D ON PAGE 6

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J u l i a T r u o n g /HIGHLANDER

Director of Academic Affairs Shadi Matar came before the senate as a student and member of Students for Justice in Palestine. He outlined Israeli discrimination against Palestinians, as well as companies that support Israeli occupation of Palestine.

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ASUCR FROM PAGE 5

branch signified greater accountability for a senate that was immersed by controversy back in spring 2012. The unprecedented nature of last week’s senate meeting leaves to question whether the judicial branch should play a more active role in conducting and overseeing all legal proceedings. Limited information is available online for contacting judicial members and a mission statement for the branch has yet to be established.

Audience members divided over divestment resolution The audience was enveloped with students from Highlanders for Israel, Hillel, Students for Justice in Palestine and other organizations such as the Catholic Student Fellowship.

The divestment resolution called for UCR to discontinue funding from companies that offer financial support to Israel’s occupation of Palestine. An excerpt from the resolution reads, “Certain companies have promoted and been complicit in these ongoing human rights violations systematically committed by the Israeli government.”

Senators risked stirring the calm waters between Middle Eastern student organizations on campus by voting on the resolution, as indicated by the passionate dialogue between speakers on both sides of the legislation.

Tensions enraptured the audience members, who often invoked broad issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

Passions remained high throughout the senate meeting.

The public comment period was periodically extended to allow both sides to speak.

Senators extended the prepared speaker’s list over three times in order to offer fair representation from the opposing parties, which consisted of most of the audience.

“As of 2011, UCR is one of the only two campuses in the UC system that does not provide its students with a dedicated shuttle service...”

-Campus Trolley Overhaul Referendum

Introducing the resolution was Director of Academic Affairs Shadi Matar. Stripping off his ASUCR black polo and his Students for Justice in Palestine t-shirt, Matar came before the senate as a UCR student. He wanted to signify the separation between his identities as a campus representative from both organizations.

He gave a 14-minute presentation outlining the effects of what he describes as an apartheid.

Calling it “institutionalized racism,” Matar explained how the apartheid requires certain Palestinian citizens to carry identification cards that classify their ethnicity and religious views. Also, according to him, HewlettPackard (HP), Caterpillar and Raytheon are companies that support Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the racial discrimination that it entails. HP, for example, supplies machines to Israel that require Palestinians to register their thumbprints to an electronic database. Matar concluded by urging the senators to pass the resolution to end the investments in apartheid programs such as these.

Once he finished, the senate allowed members of the audience from each side to present their opinions on the resolution.

Speaker Jonah Myers condemned the resolution, stating that Israel’s current system does not promote any kind of racism or religious division. The pro-resolution side disagreed and argued that the resolution was an opportunity to change the status quo in Palestine and Israel.

As a child of Jewish refugees, antiresolution speaker Philippe Assouline accused the opposing side of offering skewed facts about the events taking place in Israel.

“Everything you heard... is false,” he declared.

He described Israel as a system of democracy with cultural equality throughout the state, refuting the claim that there is institutionalized racism in the land.

J u l i a T r u o n g /HIGHLANDER

Members of the galley listen to students speak to the ASUCR senate.

Alfonso Ruiz-Delgado, a fourth-year history and ethnic studies major and representative of the student-led organization MECHA, spoke in favor of the resolution. He stated, “We as a group support it. Not only that, but as a human being, because if it was my people getting hurt, I would be doing the same thing right now.”

Tensions developed between Assouline and Shaheen Nassar, a former member of the UC Irvine 11 and UC Riverside alumnus.

“Excuse me, your session is over!” shouted Nassar to Assouline, who exceeded his time limit of two minutes.

Other speakers included ASUCR President Liam Dow and Vice President of External Affairs Lazaro Cardenas, both of whom held opposing viewpoints on the resolution.

Senator Chris Salvador disagreed with the decision to allow ASUCR members to address the situation, stating that ASUCR representatives should remain neutral during the public forum. “Public forum should be for the public,” he said. His concerns were dismissed as Parliamentarian Chris Sanchez clarified as long as the ASUCR members are not voting on the issue, they would be allowed to speak. Dow and Cardenas, both part of the Executive Branch, were not voting on the issue and were permitted to speak.

Dow spoke first and referred to a letter sent by the president of UC Davis’ student body, Rebecca Sterling. The letter urged the ASUCR Senate to reject the resolution. The reason being that the passing of the resolution would not represent the student body at large.

As indicated by the letter read by Dow, this issue has affected other UC campuses.

On the same day of the meeting, the UCLA Undergraduate Students Association Council emailed a letter to ASUCR, condemning the divestment resolution as “inappropriate and unacceptable.”

In Nov. 2012, the Associated Students of UC Irvine overwhelmingly passed a divestment resolution on their campus. Back in 2010, UC Berkeley also approved a similar resolution, but the Student Body President Will Smelko vetoed the motion. The student government of UC San Diego will be voting on their own divestment resolution in midMarch.

Speaking apart from his ASUCR position, Cardenas went on to remove his senator shirt in order to represent the local Riverside organization, United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS). He advocated in favor of the resolution and stated, “I believe it’s recognizing the companies and not the groups.” He opposed the use of student tuition ASUCR CONT’D ON PAGE 7

Senators who disclosed all of their votes to the Highlander Senator Megan Crail Senator Sean Fahmian Senator Aaron Johnson

Senators who have not yet disclosed all their votes to the Highlander Senator Emmanuel Alloh Senator Spencer Castrellon Senator Ian Cavasos Senator Niela Darmani Senator Jeanette Lau Senator Brian Leung Senator Sai Patadia Senator Ben Pengson Senator Chris Salvador Senator Johnny Ta Senator Ashley Yee Senator Ahlam Jadallah Senator Kristina Morelos

*As of press time on March 10, 2013 For an updated list of senators and votes, visit highlandernews.org.

J u l i a T r u o n g /HIGHLANDER

Pro-Israeli speaker Philippe Assouline accuses detractors of misrepresenting Israel.

HIGHLANDER

NEWS

ASUCR FROM PAGE 6

and fees to fund corporations that have been accused of abusing human rights.

A short two-minute break was given to the senators prior to the vote. When they returned to the chambers, the senators voted on a closed ballot. After a few minutes, the votes were counted, and the resolution passed with a two-thirds majority, 11-5.

The supporters of the resolution rose from their seats and celebrated the passing of the resolution. Within minutes, the side opposing the bill quietly exited the room long before the conclusion of the meeting.

The aftermath A day after the senate vote, Chancellor Jane Conoley took a neutrality stance on the topic, stating that ASUCR’s resolution is not reflective of campus policy, according to a press release. “It is important to note that such divestment is not the policy of the University of California system nor of UC Riverside,” the statement read. “Moreover, The UC Board of Regents requires this action only when the U.S. government deems it necessary. No such declaration has been made regarding Israel.”

Students for Justice in Palestine President and ASUCR Director of Academic Affairs Shadi Matar spoke briefly of the results and how relieved he was. “Honestly, I could not believe this happened,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll be the first step in a bunch of steps to bring a better situation for people in Palestine and to make students more aware of where their money is going and for the school to be more C o u rte s y o f KUCR responsible of where they’re spending their The passed KUCR referendum will increase funding for the aging radio station. money.”

Alyssa Gray, a fourth-year undergraduate and president of the Catholic Student discussion among marginalized student and limited supply, TAPS has even instituted Fellowship at UCR and RCC, was one of the organizations associated with Israel, Palestine a waitlist for parking permits, according to Leung. first speakers who spoke on behalf of the pro- and other Middle Eastern countries.

Trolley referendum loses steam in the Cardenas expressed a few points of resolution side. senate contention with the referendum, including “I believe that this legislation will not divide Other pieces of legislation were also voted the establishment of an oversight committee, our campus but rather open up a much needed line of communication between differing on during the meeting. In an effort to bring back which would consist of four administrators sides. Though the legislation is a catalyst that a safe and sustainable mode of transportation from TAPS but only three ASUCR exposes the already existing divide, I trust that to campus, Senator Brian Leung vouched for representatives. The representatives would the maturity on our campus will prevail in a referendum to reinstate the trolley system. include the Vice President of Internal Affairs allowing an open and honest discourse about Due to dissenting opinions throughout the Kevin Jo, who sits on the Task Force for humanitarian efforts in general and the Israeli- senate, the trolley referendum failed to gain a Campus Safety.

“In the first two months of this year alone, Palestinian conflict specifically,” said Gray in majority by a close margin of eight in favor, seven opposed and one abstaining. there were seven instances of armed robberies. an email interview with the Highlander.

The trolley referendum sought to increase Those instances happened when students Other audience members held the belief that the resolution was detrimental to the student fees by a maximum of $28 per were going to and from school—80 percent of quarter in order to reestablish the campus those cases,” said Leung. peaceful campus climate for students.

In response, President Dow said, “I think The Highlander received a letter from transportation system. The charge would have Jacqueline Zelener, the president for been contingent upon the financial support of we need to solidify the language within Highlanders for Israel (HIFI), who expressed Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS), this referendum before we vote to pass it as students and I think that would be a very feelings of betrayal from SJP for keeping in order to cap student fee increases.

“As of 2011, UCR is one of the only important step to do more.” Dow went on to their plans under wraps. She states that Hillel and HIFI were given 20 hours notice prior to two campuses in the UC system that does commend Leung for his continual work on the meeting and that the resolution fuels the not provide its students with a dedicated improving student wellbeing and safety on incurring division between Middle Eastern shuttle service,” stated the resolution. Leung campus. “I do believe that this is very vital to expressed this as “completely unacceptable.” our campus and for connecting the campus to students on campus.

“Up until this point, the organizations As a former intern at the San Francisco our community,” said Dow. Senator Aaron Johnson felt that the freely shared information about upcoming Municipal Transportation Agency in 2011, plans and events out of mutual respect,” she Leung sought to use his experience to address undergraduate body should be given the said. “Despite the internal progress made inefficiencies of the trolley such as reducing opportunity to vote on the referendum. “It’s between the students while working on the the wait time between shuttles, alleviating not really a matter of our personal opinion, [Middle Eastern Student Center] MESC, bottleneck student traffic and finding local although passing this would give the choice to the students. As a matter of urgency, I think this Senate meeting quickly differentiated points of interest for students.

UCR’s trolleys were sold to UCLA in 2011. safety’s a big [priority] on our university and those who are Pro-Israel from those who are Anti-Israel,” said Zelener about two-year Alternative modes of transportation offered by [so is] a lack of a transportation system...” he preliminary planning stages into the MESC. the university are limited to vanpool programs said.

Constitutional amendment pushes for She says the center is purposed with fostering and the RTA. Due to overwhelming demand equal collegiate representation The senate passed a resolution to place a constitutional amendment of proportional representation on the upcoming spring ballot.

In a constitutional amendment co-authored

by Senators Ian Cavasos and Kristina Morelos, the process of proportional representation will be included in the latest ASUCR Constitution or bylaws. The senate is traditionally elected through proportional representation, but the process was never formalized.

Senators voted to place the constitutional amendment on the upcoming spring ballot after having tabled the legislation in a previous meeting. A special Legislative Review Committee meeting was also held the same day, in order for senators to review the amendment prior to voting on the legislation during the senate meeting.

“I am glad senate finally approved this constitutional amendment, however the amendment still needs to be voted on by the C o u rte s y o f a m l s p . c o m student body. Hopefully, we have been able to T h e p ro p o s e d C a m p u s Tr o l l e y O v e rh a u l re f e re n d u m a i m s t o p ro v i d e write the legislation more clearly so that the b e t t e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d d e c re a s e c r i m e . students can decide whether this is a needed

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change or not,” said Cavasos.

In April 2012, the ASUCR senate transitioned into a three-branch system, which consists of the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The constitutional amendment will add four more senate seats on an “at-large basis,” and the seats will be filled by the four highest runner-ups from the colleges of CHASS, SOBA and BCOE. This would bring the number of senators up to 20 from the current 16.

“With any legislation, whether it gets approved or not, at least a voice gets heard. I hope that this legislation does pass through in order to ensure more equal representation of our student body,” said Cavasos.

Senators voice support for the campus radio station, KUCR 88.3 FM Spearheaded by Senator Chris Salvador, the KUCR referendum seeks to increase student fees from $3 to $9.50, which would provide funds to potentially renovate the campus radio station facilities, support new technologies for ongoing music programs and events, and continue high-quality broadcasting in the Inland Empire. Senators passed the resolution by a vote of 14-2.

KUCR, the campus radio station, is one of the longest-serving student-centered organizations at UCR. Started in 1964, KUCR obtained its broadcasting title just two years later. The radio station has been located on Linden Avenue and next to the Aberdeen and Inverness dormitories for the last 47 years.

According to the referendum, “KUCR requires funds to contribute to a building fund which would at some point relocate the station to a modern facility, while still retaining the creative character which has been essential to the station’s operations.”

Salvador argues that the lack of funding is a deterrent towards promoting student involvement, due to insufficient equipment and time slots. At the same time, the deterioration rate of buildings and equipment has slowed technological growth. KUCR last received funding through a student referendum passed in spring 1997.

“As a DJ of KUCR, I realized that a referendum was needed because...our technology is over 40, 50 years old. Sometimes we use eight-tracks. A lot of the materials...are deteriorating yet we do not have the proper funds to save cds, vinyls [and] long plays,” said Salvador.

Greater reinvestment into KUCR may potentially rejuvenate the distant media organization to play a larger role in student life, according to the resolution. The radio station has maintained stagnant operational budgets over the last few years.

“This referendum was necessary to make sure that we can accommodate as many students, who are interested in the musical culture on our campus,” said Salvador.

ASUCR approves 65 percent stipend increase The senate also held a vote to increase its stipend levels by 65 percent.

Since 2002, the number of enrolled UCR undergraduate students rose from 12,000 to 18,000. The rise in enrollment required a budgetary increase of 82 percent. Chapter VII, Section 7, Letter F of the ASUCR bylaws states that stipend levels are subject to review every three years and a maximum of 25 percent may be granted. According to Parliamentarian Chris Sanchez, since 2002, the stipend levels required three revisions to create a potential 75 percent increase.

However, since enrollment from 2009 to 2012 did not increase significantly, “a reduction of 10 percent was prescribed, thus finalizing to be a 65 percent increase across the board,” Sanchez stated. The senate did not specify why the reduction was prescribed at that exact number.

Also, according to Chapter VII, Section VII, Letter G, stipends that increase over 25 percent must be approved under special circumstances by two-thirds of the ASUCR senate. The senators motioned to suspend the bylaw in order to vote of the stipend increase. The proposed stipend increase was ultimately passed, via a closed ballot, by a unanimous vote of 160.

■H The Highlander will update coverage of the disclosure of votes online at highlandernews.org.

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HIGHLANDER

THE LAB

RESEARCH NEWS FROM UCR AND THE UC SYSTEM

by Winnie Zheng, Contributing Writer

UCLA seeks customized acne treatment

C o u rte s y

o f i n w i th s k i n . c o m

Researchers have found that different strains of acne bacteria can cause pimples while others protect against them.

Acne, the most common skin disorder in the United States, affects 85 percent of the Americans year-round. Despite its prevalence among the populace, acne treatment is not a well-known subject; doctors and scientists have made little progress in the past combating the acne problem.

But acne’s days may be outnumbered. A UCLA-led research on the disorder recently discovered a common genetic strain that might spark hopes for future personalized acne treatment and other medical advances.

Researchers found that the different strains of acne bacteria explain why some people are more pimple-prone than others: a bad strain causes pimples and a good one seems to protect the skin from blemishes.

The study was conducted by extracting acne bacteria using porecleansing stripes from a sample of 100 volunteers, half of whom were pimple-ridden and the other half had clear skin. After isolating

the microbial DNA from the strips, the researchers then used a genetic marker to sequence the bacterial strains and recorded whether the person suffered from acne.

Out of the 66 strains of the bacteria, scientists singled out two strains in particular that were found way more often on the volunteers that suffered from acne than on the volunteers who did not. The “friendly” strain is believed to have contained a defense mechanism that attacks the infection before acne formation begin whereas the “bad” strains irritate the body’s immune system and cause skin inflammation that results in pimple growth.

Increasing the body’s friendly strain of acne bacteria through the use of a simple cream may help calm spotty complexions. Lead Researcher Huiying Li said the next step will be to investigate whether a probiotic cream can block bad bacteria from invading the skin and prevent pimples before they start.

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Making weapons from the shield of mantis shrimps

A group of researchers led by UC Riverside engineering Assistant Professor David Kisailus are studying mantis shrimps, with the purpose of creating lightweight, strong and durable materials for construction.

Mantis shrimps, or stomatopods, are tropical marine inhabitants best known for their dactyl club that they use to attack their prey.

The clubs act as a spear that stuns and dismembers, similar to a combination of spear, dagger and pistol.

The research team seeks to put forth applications in structural materials that produce lighter-weight and impact-resistant weapons than existing products.

The objective of their research is to transform future military armor, vehicle and aircraft frames into the engineering construction through incorporating the unique structure of a marine crustacean.

Mantis shrimp’s powerful clubs rendered them the nickname “thumb-splitter;” one blow may accelerate underwater as fast as a 22-caliber bullet. And although it rarely happens, they are capable of breaking through aquarium glass.

The club can also withstand high-velocity strikes that have the equivalent impact of 50,000 bullet blows.

“Such a powerful weapon is hard to achieve in engineering, yet biology can do it,” wrote Kisailus on his research website. “Simple building blocks from the environment can create a wide range of complex structures, and they do it under natural conditions.”

The research team comprises of experts in crossdisciplinary fields including zoology, mechanics, modeling and synchrotron x-ray characterization, and engineering. Kisailus said the multidisciplinary lens make it “a very thorough investigation.”

■H

C o u rte s y

of

UCR T o d ay

A team of researchers led by UC Riverside engineering Assistant Professor David Kisailus look at the powerful clubs of mantis shrimps to develop light and strong materials.

UCSD robots fighting robots Robot Combat League, a new television series on the Syfy network, brings reality robot combat on screen. Saura Naderim, UC San Diego engineering physics alumnus, was cast as one of the dozen robottechs who control the fighting movement of the humanoid robots.

The weekly show features 12 teams of individuals teamed up with an 8-foot, 1000-pound

humanoid robots whose movements are controlled by the human competitors through the use of exosuits. Human competitors wear the exosuits to supply energy and conduct movement.

The competition resembles the robot tournament in Japan that took place in Korakuen stadium hall in Tokyo. However, this tournament puts the combat on screen while ex-

C o u rte s y o f i n s i det v . ew . c o m The Robot Combat League series makes engineering exciting and entertaining.

perimenting with controlling super large-scale robots. The series began airing on Feb. 26 at 10 p.m..

The 12 teams of individuals are responsible for controlling the robots’ mechanical assaults. Each fight goes three rounds with the winning team advancing. The fights are “until the death,” meaning that the robots have to be completely destroyed to score the point. Each fight goes three rounds, and the winning team advances. The last group that survives will win a $100,000 prize.

Robot Combat League combines the skills of cross-disciplinary fields in engineering, art and technology. It seeks to not only entertain, but also inspire passion in engineering.

One of Naderim’s career objectives is to introduce practical and fun engineering skills and inspire others.

Naderim accounts her participation in the competition television show as a worthy experience to “communicate engineering to non-engineers.”

■H

. OPINIONS .

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

9

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

BRING KUCR OUT OF THE CAMPUS WASTELAND

HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Chris LoCascio

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photo@highlandernews.org Staff Photographers

Lin Chai, Kevin Dinh, Jinyoung Ko, Vincent Ta, An Tran, Bryan Tuttle, Cameron Yong

“W

elcome to a new year and a new era in the history of the University of California

at Riverside.”

These were the words that began the first broadcast ever transmitted by KUCR, UCR’s very own radio station. The year was 1966.

In the nearly 50 years KUCR has been on the air, it has had a storied history. Its broadcasts provide music, entertainment and news to the campus and the city. Its DJs host Heat, and KUCR itself helps organize events like Comedy Apocalypse and the shows at the Barn. Through its half a century of existence, it has become a part of the very fabric of the UCR’s blue and gold tartan soul.

So why is the radio station that is so important to this university’s identity relegated to only an inconspicuous family housing unit isolated from the rest of campus?

The area that KUCR calls home is the corner of Avocado Avenue and Linden Street, beyond the MSE building and past A&I. The station is far from any campus activity center, unless you count the dilapidated family housing units as the heartbeat of the university.

It is nowhere near any high-trafficked area, and unless a student gets lost on their way to MSE, nobody is going to happen upon it in the course of his or her normal day. Even if someone purposely set out to find KUCR, the nondescript tan building it is housed in differs only from the crowds of surrounding homes through its radio antenna and tacked-on sign.

This is devastating because the lifeblood of any campus media organization is participation by the campus itself. Without significant involvement by its intended audience, any media group atrophies and dies. And while KUCR broadcasts beyond UCR to the Riverside community as a whole, just as the Highlander does, its heart beats in sync with that of UCR. Louis Vandenberg, KUCR manager and general director of the station, acknowledges the quandry. He likes where KUCR is currently situated because of things like the parking accessibility and proximity to the dorms. And it is true that the location as it currently exists has a number of benefits. Furthermore, the cost of uprooting all of the station’s expensive

i l l u s t r at i o n b y

equipment and transporting it elsewhere could cost more money than KUCR and the student body could stomach.

But Vandenberg also admits the building the radio station is housed in is old. “The building we’ve been in, that’s the original building on the campus—from 1965—and when the campus had about 1,000 students.”

The result is a conundrum. Relocating entirely would only engender an entirely new set of problems. But maintaining the status quo would be just as problematic. With only these two options, it’s a lose-lose situation for KUCR. So why not take a third option and institute a KUCR extension in a place like the Exchange in the HUB? In so doing, KUCR would be able to maintain all the benefits of its current location and simultaneously gain the advantages of a more central location on campus.

The Exchange by itself is not large enough to house all of KUCR’s operations. But between it and KUCR’s current location, the radio station would have the expansion in space it so desperately needs. A KUCR extension would provide room for additional recording studios, additional music storage and additional outreach to the UCR campus. In doing so, it would be better able to serve the campus community.

Having an extension in the HUB would also give KUCR greater access to the significant foot traffic present in the HUB. Currently, not many students stumble upon KUCR’s recording studio because it is so far from campus. But an annex near the center of campus would loudly declare KUCR’s existence before a vast swath of UCR’s student population. The result would be a spike in awareness and listenership.

A student who sees the KUCR banner on the way to the University Lecture Hall could even decide to pursue a career in broadcasting and even become the next hit DJ. A KUCR annex in the Exchange would also allow the station to hold more events for the campus. Right now, if KUCR wants to put on an event near the bell tower, it has to carefully transport its heavy and expensive equipment from the outskirts of campus, through crowds of students to its final destination. But a secondary outlet in the HUB

B r a n d y C o at s /HIGHLANDER

would simplify and shorten this transportation process, giving KUCR a greater presence not only through its new building, but by putting on more interesting and engaging events for students.

KUCR would benefit from increased listenership, but students would benefit as well. The student who doesn’t know what his future holds could awaken a skill and a passion for radio broadcasting. Events occurring on and near campus would be made more prominent, spurring attendance at the variety of engagements UCR has to offer. And increased knowledge of the station’s heritage could help spread its unique charm for students, allowing them to learn more about the history of the campus.

This is only the beginning of the long list of things KUCR could do with increased space and a greater campus footprint. In a time when UCLA, UC San Diego and UC San Francisco have all shut down their traditional radio broadcasts in favor of an Internetbased approach, the increased standing of KUCR could result in a radio renaissance, with more students clamoring to tune in to radio broadcasts not just from Riverside, but elsewhere.

ASUCR has recognized KUCR’s unique value to the campus and overwhelmingly passed a resolution to put a referendum on the spring ballot that would increase student funding for the station. This is a great step forward to ensure that KUCR will reclaim its storied place in UCR history, but what KUCR really needs is an expansion.

Moving KUCR entirely would be expensive and would gloss over the history of the station. But keeping it only in family housing does just as much of a disservice to the radio station that has been with UCR for nearly a half century. KUCR’s future lies in expanding beyond this myopic dichotomy and taking advantage of the benefits of both options. Let’s make KUCR more accessible and give it a foothold on campus.

■H 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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LEGAL The Highlander is published and copyrighted by the Highlander for the students, faculty and staff of UCR. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Highlander is strictly prohibited. Readers are allowed one free copy of the newspaper. For additional copies or for subscription information, please contact the Highlander. The Highlander fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation. The Highlander has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against it. All inserts that are printed in the Highlander are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the staff or The University of California or the Associated Students of UCR.

10

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER

An accidental HIV cure may not actually be a cure J o s h ua W a g o n b l a s t STAFF WRITER

Over the past few days, news agencies and medical personnel have reveled in the limelight after a newborn has been said to be cured of the HIV virus. People who have only caught a glimpse of the news programs reporting on the subject may believe that infants everywhere can now be cured of HIV, and those who have only managed to read the banner at the bottom of the television screen on their way to school or work might think that HIV can now be cured in everyone. Well, this is certainly not the case and why this supposed cure is even being promoted as much as it has been is mind-boggling.

A cure occurs when someone, who was already infected with a virus of some sort, sees a full recovery from the afflicted disease.

For instance, polio can be cured, and cancer cannot due to the fact that, although there is treatment for the disease, it never in fact goes away for good. However, it seems that HIV can now be added to the list of diseases that can now be cured. Yay! But wait a second.

When and how did this disease get cured? That’s right—it didn’t.

The word of this said “cure” spread after doctors discovered that the now two and a half yearold baby showed no signs of the HIV virus in her blood. The process was simple: prescribe a large cocktail of already commonly used HIV medications to an HIV-positive mother whose child will most likely be born HIVpositive as well. After birth, the child continued on this treatment for a reported 18 months, but then the mother got lazy or forgot

and decided that a 10 month gap from the treatment was probably a better route to take. When she returned to the care of Dr. Hannah Gay the infant showed no signs of the HIV virus.

This causes a misconception though because HIV cannot be cured by a simple combination of medicine, and this infant was a special case who may not have been infected by the disease to begin with. A cure? I think not. A miracle? That seems much more likely.

This is wonderful for the child and the opportunities to research how this infant was resistant to his mother’s HIV virus should be explored. Let’s leave no stone unturned here, but can we please not rant about how there is a cure for HIV-infected babies in the process? Someone should step up and say that HIV cannot be cured since it is unknown if the infant child actually was infected with the disease.

Until all of the details are looked into by experts who deal with HIV and AIDS, the word “cure” should be the last declaration used.

There is one reason that this child should not be promoted to have been cured. This reason can be summarized by the words of the chief of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

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of

W i k i med i a . o r g

More caution is warranted before we trumpet a victory over the HIV virus (pictured above).

in Boston Dr. Daniel R. Kuritzkes, who said that “the one uncertainty is really definitive evidence the child was indeed infected.”

This means that doctors are unsure if the child was actually infected in the first place. In this case, the mixture of prescribed drugs could have simply stopped the virus from infecting the baby’s body. If this is what happened, then this is definitely no cure, rather a case of prevention, as ascertained by Stanford pediatric AIDS expert Yvonne Maldonado, MD. Until all of the details are looked into by experts who deal with HIV and AIDS, the word “cure” should be the last declaration used. Naturally, news agencies are trigger-happy with the term, but there can be consequences to this overuse of the word.

The first problem is not

knowing if this treatment can be duplicated in other patients.

Can all babies be cured with an early influx of large doses of prescribed medication? Or was it just this one specific instance?

If that is the case, then we really need to rethink how to go about promoting this child’s HIV-free health because her story shouldn’t be promoted as a guaranteed cure for HIV. The second consequence is putting more HIV-positive expectant mothers who have heard of this cured child on this same treatment. The therapy should be administered, but these mothers could make the same mistake as the mother of the “cured” baby. They take the drugs for a long amount of time and then assume it is okay to stop.

One may think that a mother may not be foolish enough to do this,

but that is exactly what the mother of the now “cured” child did.

This is dangerous because even if the HIV virus is undetectable due to this drug treatment, or antiretroviral therapy, halting care can lead to a moment where “the virus comes roaring back.”

Calling this drug cocktail a cure is a mistake because it has not been determined if it is actually a cure. When Timothy Brown underwent treatment for his HIV by use of a stem-cell transplant in his bone marrow and was later found to be completely free of HIV, then it was appropriate to call his procedure a cure. It is time to stop using the word cure unless referencing Brown’s received treatment and other future remedies, and to start discussing how we can find another cure through the knowledge about this ■H infant’s immunity.

Riverside Police Chief Diaz’s immigration proposal proves detrimental Alexandria Camarella CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One of the more controversial topics often debated today is the immigration policy in the United States. Although the national government has not passed the DREAM Act, some state governments, such as California, have taken initiative and passed a policy allowing undocumented students to attend college and receive financial aid. In his address to the nation in June of last year, President Obama argued that undocumented individuals who have lived in the United States most of their lives deserve to have some protection from deportation if found without papers. In this respect, he is not so far off from the Riverside Chief of Police Sergio Diaz’s proposal to the local community.

Diaz publicly announced a policy on undocumented immigrants on Feb. 9, assuring they do not have to worry about police turning them into federal immigration authorities unless they commit major crimes.

Although originally stated

in July 2012, Diaz wanted to call public attention to it and ensure undocumented individuals felt safe if they ever needed help or to report a crime to the police.

While this policy is great in terms of making sure an undocumented individual does not feel threatened if he wants to report a suspect or act as a key witness on an important case, what exactly does it mean for the city of Riverside? Will Riverside outstretch its hands to

While the policy is aimed at aiding the individuals without voices in society who have no legal standing, it will inevitably serve as a detriment to the Riverside community.

undocumented immigrants all over the nation? The policy states it will provide people a “safe haven” as long as the individual is in compliance with the law. But just how far will this safe haven go to protect the people who do not live here legally?

While he was working for the LAPD in 2010, Diaz supported the idea that driver licenses be issued to undocumented individuals— banned from California since 1993. Now that these individuals are relatively safe from deportation in Riverside, it will only be a matter of time before other privileges follow, such as driver’s licenses, temporary documentation, and more.

“What guides me is the simple fact that if people don’t trust police, they won’t identify criminals, they won’t report crimes and criminals will step into the breach,” Diaz said, as reported by the Press-Enterprise. Although Diaz has good intentions to help lower the crime rate and make these individuals feel comfortable with helping the police, the whole idea of “safe

...it will only be a matter of time before other privileges follow... haven” is a very slippery slope. With the passage of this policy, sooner or later some cities will decide to issue temporary I.D.’s or work visas and then later de facto amnesty. Assuring protection from deportation is one step on the slippery slope—once it starts, how far will it go before it will stop?

The policy is regarded as one of the most immigrantfriendly policies in all of the Inland Empire, spurred by hearing of an incident in early 2012 when an officer contacted the U.S. Border Patrol to report a driver who committed a traffic infraction.

His desire to protect these individuals is admirable and understandable. These people live in fear almost every day that they may get deported, and getting reported by the police who are supposed to

protect you is frustrating.

On the surface, this policy is a great way to provide safety and calm to the undocumented individuals who have struggled to come here, but in the long run this could prove to be a detriment to the city. It will be only a matter of time before more people flock to Riverside for its safe haven.

This would prove detrimental because it would be saying illegal immigration is okay, and that safety from deportation is a reward.

It would not be fair to the people who paid to come to this country legally or for visitors who had to get ahold of visas for a weekend visit. Riverside would be allowing these undocumented individuals into its city, no questions asked. This would also crowd out legal residents, because of the influx of people moving to Riverside for safety.

Diaz plans to assure undocumented immigrants in Riverside of their security.

DIAZ PROPOSAL CONT’D ON PAGE 11

HIGHLANDER

OPINIONS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

from

In response to ASUCR’s passage of the resolution titled “The Divestment of Companies that Profit from Apartheid” on Mar. 6, 2013. The resolution calls for defunding companies that have invested in Israel and “have promoted and been complicit in these ongoing human rights violations systematically committed by the Israeli government” from

Reema Hantuli

Students of all races, ethnicities and religions came together in celebration, on March 6, in which a historic moment for the University of California Riverside took place. This marked the night that ASUCR Senate passed the Boycott and Divestment Sanctions bill, BDS, brought forward by Students for Justice in Palestine. SJP’s bill urged the members of the Senate chamber for support in helping divest and boycott from companies that assist in the illegal occupation of Israel in Palestine, and in the continued dehumanization of the Palestinians in their native land. A similar bill was passed several months ago in UC Irvine, in which a unanimous vote passed the bill. UCR became the second University in California to pass the divestment bill. The BDS movement is an ongoing cause that is practiced on an individual basis by many, but the passing of the bill will help expand the cause on an institutional level as well.

The University is not invested in companies that support the Palestinian struggle, in any form; therefore, it should not invest in companies that support the apartheid state of Israel either. Such companies include, but are not limited to, Caterpillar machinery, which is used to demolish Palestinian homes and uproot their olive trees (a primary source of food and money supply), and HP computers, which are used at the frequent checkpoints, limiting Palestinians’ freedom of

movement. Their basic human rights are stripped away and their voices aren’t being heard, so the bare minimum that one can do is to step back and look at the issue from a neutral perspective.

In doing so, one should choose not to continue to fund participating companies. The members of Students for Justice in Palestine, along with the support of over 35 different student organizations, feel that it is imperative for the University to play a neutral role in the politics of the PalestinianIsraeli conflict. In passing the bill with a majority vote of 11-5, ASUCR Senate spoke on behalf of UC Riverside in condemning companies utilized in halting freedom for the Palestinians, at least on a symbolic level.

Students for Justice in Palestine was first founded at UC Riverside in 2004, and has been an active social justice group, raising awareness of the conflict in the region. Through tabling, weekly group meetings, screening documentaries, and setting up events around campus for Palestine Awareness Week, the members of the organization have been successful in reaching out to students and faculty members about the matter, with factual and historic credibility. After working to establish awareness about the conflict, Students for Justice in Palestine decided to join the BDS movement and aim to make a bigger impact through the organization.

It is amazing to see so many student

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

organizations come together for a just cause and put so much effort to implement social change on a larger scale. One does not need to be Palestinian or affiliated with Palestine to empathize with their daily injustices and struggles. The divestment bill has been, and will continue to be criticized by opposition but, if thoroughly evaluated, the bill does not discriminate against any religion or student organization. In fact, many Jewish and Israeli students were in support of the passing of the bill as well. This is a humanitarian issue, not an ethnic/religious dispute of land ownership. The BDS bill was a necessary action put forward by SJP and in passing it, UC Riverside made the right moral decision. My hopes is that the chancellor will take action and do whatever is in her power to voice the decision of ASUCR and over 18 thousand students in the near future. I predict that the passing of the divestment bill will serve as a gateway to further social changes on campus, and that is the ultimate victory.

Congratulations, Students for Justice in Palestine.

Reema Hantuli Students for Justice in Palestine

11

Liam Dow

Dear Highlanders, On March 6, 2013, the ASUCR Senate passed a Resolution that I openly opposed during the Senate meeting. I continue to strongly disagree with the resolution. I understand the importance of creating an environment for students to express their beliefs; however, I believe that this effort of divestment encourages biases instead of reconciliation, and creates counter-­ productive hostilities that divide the UCR campus. I came to this conclusion by weighing the intentions of the Resolution against the toll on our campus climate, and most importantly our student body.

My main concern stems from numerous students who have expressed that this particular resolution is hurtful, contains inaccurate facts, and does not create a safe learning environment for many students at the University of California, Riverside.

The resolution itself marginalizes a significant community of UC students and does not promote efforts of dialogue and peace both on campus and in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the resolution was passed, and per ASUCR’s new constitution, my position was unable to vote. This resolution does not represent the values of our entire campus constituency, nor does it represent the views of all of our elected officers.

I do not support this resolution as it fails to establish solutions or promote peace.

As the undergraduate student body president, I will always stand against anything that divides our campus community.

Respectfully, Liam Dow ASUCR President

The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They should be 600-800 words in length and include the author’s name and contact information. Contact opinions editor Colin Markovich at opinions@highlandernews.org for more information.

DIAZ PROPOSAL FROM PAGE 10

He stresses that as long as the individual is not reasonably suspected of a crime, the police will not contact immigration authorities. Even in the case of the police officer deciding to report an individual as an undocumented immigrant, the officer would have to obtain approval from someone of the rank of lieutenant or above—thus, providing yet another protection to these individuals.

This extra step of reporting the case to a higher-ranked officer would prove to be more paperwork than it is worth.

True, it would help in weeding out the less significant cases to put more focus on the more dangerous suspects, but this additional requirement will just put more stress and work on the police department, and use resources that could be better spent improving the safety of the Riverside streets.

And as Diaz said when instituting the policy, “It’s my obligation to use all the resources I have to combat serious crimes.”

This serves as an extra protection for the individual who does not possess any papers to live in the country legally. By implementing the policy, Riverside will become a magnet for undocumented individuals from all over the country in search for this “safe haven” type of environment—where the city government makes an effort to protect them from the more strict, national immigration policy. Why would this be fair in the slightest? If the country is against illegal immigration,

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o f th i rt y m i l e s o f c o r r u p t i o n . c o m

The Riverside Police Department’s decision not to pursue illegal immigrants for deportation has long-term consequences.

then why should a city be vouching for policies opposite of it?

Diaz’s intentions make sense; however, this kind of policy can lead to an influx of undocumented individuals into Riverside, because there will be no fear of deportation. With no fear of deportation, more of these individuals will flock to Riverside, crowd out, and steal jobs from legal citizens. This crowding out of the legal citizens who live here will lead to tension in the community that could potentially reach

a boiling point and cause violence between undocumented and legal residents.

In addition to this, with the newly enacted DREAM Act, there will be an increase in enrollment into UCR by these undocumented students. This whole idea of allowing safety from deportation, public school funding and now a chance at university education with financial aid showcases the slippery slope of the topic of illegal immigration. When one thing is

allowed, it is only a matter of time before a new privilege is given.

While the policy is aimed at aiding the individuals without voices in society who have no legal standing, it will inevitably serve as a detriment to the Riverside community. With all this in mind, Riverside will now be among the safest cities for undocumented families in all of the United States— no need to fear the United State’s immigration policy, because Riverside ■H will be acting around it.

12

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER

Legislators swayed by the luxurious life provided by corporations Colette King CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The California legislature has adapted to a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality over the years. Just in 2012, there have been a surplus of gifts flooding into the state capital, estimated to be worth up to $500,500. The motivation behind the gift giving or donations is that of control over government policies. This is how corporations achieve their impact on the government: bribery through luxury gifts. Democracy is being sacrificed for policymakers to have their overabundance of endowments.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) pays for the airfare and travel luxuries for legislators to travel across the country. The council is funded by corporations that include some of the largest drug, tobacco and phone companies of the world. These companies are promised tax writeoffs if they wine and dine legislators.

Basically, the more money corporations spend on legislators, the more tax write-offs corporations receive for this so-called charity project. With this, companies have been able to keep an influential hand in government dealings.

Lisa Graves, executive director of Center for Media and Democracy and publisher of ALECexposed. org, revealed that corporations like Pfizer, Verizon, and Blue Cross Blue Shield fund trips to luxurious resorts for lawmakers “to vote behind closed doors with

lobbyists on proposals to change state laws.” Companies have also found an alternative route to hiding the gifts they are providing to legislators by wrapping it in the word “scholarships.” Through all this, ALEC has designed a creative way for legislators to receive lavish gifts for the purpose of swaying lawmakers in creating policies that benefit largzze corporations.

Legislators have been conditioned to expect this type of treatment as long as they keep the companies contributing to them satisfied. But this is how America works, right? The more money that an individual or company has, the more influence he has on the government. The gross imbalance of influence that large corporations exercise over government leaves no room for the average citizen’s voice to be heard.

For instance, the United States is one of two countries that allows for the advertisement of pharmaceutical drugs. Thus, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is the largest contributor to legislators, with a $188 million annual lobbying budget. PhRMA exemplifies the monetary, political, and social power special interests hold over the government, and by proxy, the healthcare system. This engenders a monopolistic situation where one company can wield power and influence above and beyond another, cutting the chances for other pharmaceutical drug companies to take root. The result is

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In response to the Mar. 5 article titled “Comedy Apocalypse: Underwhelming in the wake of 2012” by Toni Louie and Alexander Suffolk from

Louis Vandenberg

First off, I love the Highlander. It’s an indispensable element of student life at UCR. I well know what it takes to do the paper every week, and I know what good that work does for the campus. It deserves respect, which I provide in ample quantity each week for every issue. Also, the Comedy Apocalypse series was cocreated with Highlander people, with its former longtime MC being Joe Totten, a former Highlander editor, whom we remain in close contact with.

When we started the series, nobody was doing comedy on campus. People were afraid of it.

Nevertheless, we thought it could be good. Comedy is a big part of the entertainment industry. The concept was to bring real pro club comics to the Barn, doing real-deal comedy for the campus. Everybody knew that it was a risk though, because some people have issues and are sensitive with some subjects being made fun of, and we don’t/can’t prescreen what the comics intend to do.

Our production task is defined: we determine that the comics are capable of being smart and funny, have a professional track record which suggests they will be, that they are available and, finally, that they can be afforded. Then there is the hassle

of contracts, insurance, promotion, getting the performers to the Barn there, etc.

So, after all that, the show happens. Everything was pretty normal in this case. A recording of the show clearly demonstrates that comedians did their sets, people laughed. Dwain Perkins did his funny and original take on race relations, bringing some new twists to the standard black/white riffs comics do. Robert Yasumura’s stand-up took an edgy dark turn as he spoke of his self-image and family relationships. The laughs were fewer, with some “OMG he didn’t just say that” lines here and there. Gene Pompa was the most conventionally successful of them all, playing with identity issues in refreshing way. He got a very strong response. Jimmy Dore, a comic’s comic, well-known in the industry does his in-your-face thing, people are laughing. He brings the other comics up on stage for an improv panel discussion and the laughs slow down as the comics talk shop, quip, say outrageous things, get serious about political and social issues. It’s unusual, but not for Dore.

He throws it all in: humor, social and political observations, media criticism. It’s interesting just to see these guys mix it up. At this point,

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of azizonomics.com

The numerous gifts to California state legislators blind them to their constituents’ needs.

our health left in the hands of one lobbying group because it provides nice hotels and lavish lifestyles for old white men in government.

There are lobbying regulations that do prohibit lobbyists from directly giving government officials gifts, but these laws can be ineffective. In 2006, Randy Cunningham, a former Republican Congressman from San Diego revealed to the public, “I rationalized decisions I knew were wrong.”

Cunningham was convicted for accepting $2.4 million in favors

from military contractors in return for paving the way for government contracts. Although this case was uncovered and prosecuted, there are many other cases that still remain covered because lobbyists have found underhanded ways to deliver their large sums of money to policymakers.

In the Cunningham case, it can be considered flat-out bribery; however, councils such as ALEC are middlemen in providing a means for corporations cover up their bribery as “charity.” There is no need for the

ALEC fund or any funds of this sort because they only allow loopholes for large corporations to have the power to sway policies for their own benefit. This does not mean that people should not have the right to give policymakers donations but for corporations to pull from all their resources and throw their entire weight behind a lobby perpetuates an unfair advantage. The power that large corporations have over the government is disproportionate to the amount of influence that the average citizen has.

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it’s the kind of dialog that, if not raucously funny, seems right at home on a college campus.

Then the Highlander review (March 5, 2013) appears. More “revenge” than “review,” it was the most brutal, hyperbolic, pummeling indictment anyone had recently seen in the paper, giddy as it was with the carnal joy of rhetorical evisceration.

All writers of criticism know how much more fun it is to write a bad review than a good one. So, this one must have been a real rave-up of sheer delight. It may well be the worst review in the history of the Highlander, written by, all agree, intelligent nice well-meaning people.

But, it consists mostly of superficial reactionary epithets, all of them negative, and dubiously supported. It begins with “worst” and drills down ever-deeper, remorselessly burying the show.

The writers want to support their hyperbole, and who cares about rules of journalism when you’re fired by indignation, so “facts” are supplied, such as “audience members were leaving early, fed up . . .” This can’t possibly be accurate, not with respect to the numbers of those leaving, nor with respect to what was in the minds of those who left. How could the “fed up with offensive jokes” part be known to the writers? This show, on a Wednesday, did run considerably longer than a normal show, and all long shows, whether they be hip-hop, punk, indie, or whatever, have people leaving. Even the writers use of the term “walk out” is gratuitous and tendentious. With the show ending at

10:45pm, those leaving are students who have to read, write, study and get up in the morning. Normal stuff we see every week. At least 75% of the audience remained to the end of, let’s agree, an excessively long show.

And there several other journalistic fails in the piece, in which the writers project, ignore context, disregard irony, perspective, surface level vs. sub levels of meaning and give no indication that they understand comedy as an art form, with a history, method and practice. It’s all driven with the language of supercharged indignation.

So, what happened? Are we to believe that these comics, with extensive credits, millions of podcast downloads, and decades of experience presented the audience with the vile comedy cesspool as described? Or, is this a mind-of-thebeholder thing, Or a combination of the two? The mind of the beholder – the social mind, the personal mind, is where comedy lives and dies. Comedy is delicate, really. It’s affected by subjective mood, by your friends, by everything that we are made of. When it works, we laugh, which is a beautiful enigma of human psychology. We love to laugh, and we feel better doing it. But, getting a laugh isn’t easy necessarily. I’m guessing one or both writers reacted with anger at something that was said and then that framed everything else into wholesale condemnation.

I’m guessing that because I know how comedy works, and I know how it is received, perceived and misperceived.

There is no way

that these four comedians, sensitive, aware, progressive, neurotic – as most, if not all, comics seem to be – meant to communicate any surfacelevel ad hominem offense. They are ironically playing with identity, character, persona, secondary and tertiary meaning, etc., because that’s where the laughs come from. Do you think Stephen Colbert is actually a right-wing talk show host? It’s more complex than it looks, and Colbert’s shtick is simple by comparison.

My opinion: this show was not bad, but not as good as Dore’s truly great UCR appearance last year and it was too long. After the show, I asked him, “why did you go on so long? You have said many times that comedy should be quick.” “I kept going because they kept laughing,” was his response.

All that being said, my penultimate words are praising. I think the Highlander has been excellent this year.

And finally, as comics have been known to say: “dying is easy, comedy is hard.” Try it sometime – the comedy part, and I think you’ll agree.

Louis Vandenberg Comedy Apocalypse Production Team The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They should be 600-800 words in length and include the author’s name and contact information.

ContactopinionseditorColinMarkovich at opinions@highlandernews.org for more information.

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

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. FEATURES .

HIGHLANDER

Spring Break:

How to do Las Vegas on a Budget

By Maxine Arellano, Contributing writer

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h e n the sun peeks out from clouds, legs creep out from pants and students burst out in celebration, it can only mean one thing: the end of winter quarter. UCR students are caught daydreaming about what follows the week they have mentally prepared for since registration.

Finals week may feel like the “Triwizard Tournament” to most, but eternal glory is not what awaits at the end. It’s Spring Break. This tease of a vacation is a fantasy filled with parties, friends and zero cares. However, as college students, finding more cobwebs than cash may be an issue.

I, for example, am considered cheap. I like to say frugal. Nevertheless, I always look for fun on a budget, such as Las Vegas. Enjoyed many times over Spring Break, I have found the ins and outs of the savings of Sin City.

No matter where in California, a four hour road trip to Vegas seems like the easiest route.

With high gas prices today, the smallest tank can use up to $30 a fill. With an average 40 MPG, Riverside travelers are looking at a one way trip of $180. On the other hand, have students ever considered swapping the four hour drive for a 45 minute flight? When signing up with airlines directly, such as JetBlue airways, travelers receive seasonal promotions to a number of destinations. In past years, round trip flights from Long Beach, CA to Las Vegas, NV were $120.

Not only does it save money, but traveling by air also saves travel time. Buying tickets in advance also comes with benefits, even though one must avoid the prime time flights (12:00 pm).

Once there, many turn to cab rides and pay for the “fastest” route to their hotel, when really, they are paying for the joy ride around the butt crack of Nevada. Instead, the Monorail is available at every pick up station and makes direct stops at most casinos on the strip. The Monorail costs only $1 a person.

Most view the city as one that never sleeps—yet a room reservation is a must. However, that doesn’t mean that students need to get the cheapest room that has bricks for pillows and paper for sheets. As another alternative, people usually turn to promotional sites that guarantee a cheap vacation, but continue to go broke before they even get there.

The answer is not the promotional sites. The answer lies in the hotels directly. Not to get all Yoda on the situation, but by signing up with each hotel directly, guests receive personalized coupons for not only the room, but also food, amenities and even club life. Resorts such as the Venetian, Caesar’s Palace and Bellagio have offered birthday promotions, seasonal coupons and year-round special events. The catch is to have flexible enough of a schedule to accommodate such opportunities.

The cheapest times to visit Las Vegas are Monday through Thursday. Now if this sounds like it won’t be popping because they are weekdays, during Spring Break, Vegas doesn’t care if there is work to be done at 5:00 a.m. Any given spring Tuesday would harness the exact same vibe as a summer Saturday.

Of course, the most luxurious places will inevitably be more expensive than the Motel 6 off the strip. When hotel hunting, look for hotels that are in the center of the strip or with a “sister” hotel: one that has a connected casino, such as Paris and Bally’s. Paris puts you in the middle of France with one glimpse of the Eiffel tower, but it can also put you into shock if you pay for the room. It may put its sister hotel Bally’s to shame, but with the connected casino and amenities, you can still enjoy all that is offered without going into cardiac arrest.

Just because you are in Las Vegas doesn’t mean living essentials need to go out the window. People see all the lavish restaurants that make mouths drool and wallets ache. The first plan is to seek out the cheapest eateries around you. Some resorts, such as MGM Grand,

have their own 24-hour food court for any partier to grab a bite before drinking the night away. Here, one could find major fast food chains and attractive dollar menus. This could be anything from chicken soft tacos from Del Taco to bacon wrapped hot dogs from that sketchy hot dog stand. By finding alternatives to get yourself through the day, you can save up for the ritzy meal the Kardashians would eat on their reality show. Here is where those individual promotions come in handy again.

Whenever guests book the vacation using these offers, resorts send you a “thank you gift.”

Most receive discounts on the casinos’ personal restaurants. For example, the nightclub and Asian bistro Tao (in the Venetian) offers food developed in dreams and prices created in nightmares. The seafood, sushi and Asian barbeque are priced from $18-$56 per entrée. However, coupons in prior months have offered up to 30 percent off an entire bill.

Another huge eating attraction is the buffet (my personal favorite). Open for each square meal, buffets embody a certain theme that shows throughout the resort. The Paris Resort buffet fills trays with classic French cuisine. But do not be mistaken for Hometown Buffet, as they can charge you $30 dollars and up per person. Cheaper than a nightclub bistro, yes, but the price can be reduced even more with coupons offered by hosted hotel.

With an average 40 MPG, Riverside travelers are looking at a one way trip of $180. On the other hand, have students ever considered swapping the four hour drive for a 45 minute flight?

Now, lets get into the real reason a student may read this: the unveiling secret of “doing Vegas right” on a budget. Vegas promoters are not giving up the goods that easy, though. Plus, there are many alternatives to poppin’ bottles in the club.

An emerging destination that has revived tourists is “Fat Tuesdays.” “Fat Tuesdays” has three locations on the Vegas strip, offering customers 21 and over 15 choices of slurpee style drinks. Don’t be fooled as these spiked slushies range from Tropical Itch (fruit punch, Bourbon, orange cocoa and rum) to their strongest concoction: 190 Octane (orange juice and 190 grain spirits). Not only is it a fun way to enjoy the booze, but when one purchases a souvenir jug, these drinks will never get tired when paying only for the refill price.

To be honest, I travel to Vegas to enjoy the amenities that may not draw the average visitor.

When going over Spring Break, the weather creates limitless opportunities. The pool during the day gives tanners the spring glow for the night life later on. Shopping at the out-ofordinary stores is a must. Tourists can purchase items they wouldn’t find in the Tyler Galleria, like a lighter with the flame shooting out of a middle finger. Passing the Bellagio one can gaze at the waterfall show for free or walk to Treasure Island and witness the fiery battle of pirates over the life sized ship.

Spring Break is just around the corner, but UCR students are already feeling the butterfly rave in their stomachs like it is tomorrow. Be sure to stay safe but most of all, take advantage of the free time before Spring quarter comes. It can be spent in the comfort of your home or the luxury walls of Las Vegas. Even if you got twenty dollars in your pocket but looking for ■H a come up, this Spring Break will still be freaking awesome.

FEATURES

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

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Spring Break: The California Redwoods for a free and refreshing alternative

By Joshua Wagonblast, Staff Writer

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J i m Z u cke r m a n

Majestic Redwoods at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, located near the Oregon border.

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et ready for Spring Break, Highlanders! After the dreaded finals, papers and projects, there is no doubt that the majority of the student body will be making their way out of Riverside and looking for the best place to rage for an entire week. Over these last four years I have spent my Spring Breaks in various destinations, including parts of California and even Portugal. This year I have decided to set my sights on something reliable, relaxing and most importantly, affordable.

For those who are not keen on traveling across their own state, or are not California natives, then visiting the Redwood National Park is a must. You’re probably thinking, a bunch of trees on Spring Break? Well, for your information, they are some of the tallest trees in the world, but that is not the only reason to make a trek up to the Northern side of the state.

I like to fancy myself a true nature buff, so heed my words! For those of who like to camp, hike or indulge in some debauchery in

the great outdoors, the California Redwoods are a majestic beauty.

There is a gorgeous 133,000 acres to explore and it’s not going anywhere contrary to the constantly changing popular college Spring Break spots.

If you can imagine all that acreage, you know that is a lot to take in for a week. Do not fret, though, because no one expects you to see that much of the Redwood Forest.

Although I do have some suggestions of which areas to set your sights on, such as, Jedediah Smith State Park, which closely hugs the Oregon Border. It is there that the depth of the forest can really be experienced while still remaining nearest to the ocean.

Why is that important? Well, the answer is simple. The deeper into the forest the louder you can be and the more you can get away with. The Redwoods are a great place to go if you’re looking for a secluded spot to travel to with a group of friends and where you can get rowdy or admire the wilderness. Just remember to bring a tent and the needed supplies, which is much more cost effective than staying at a hotel.

The Redwoods are not hard to find because they are some of the biggest trees in the world.

They are also condensed about 12 hours away at the Northern tip of California, in the general Humboldt area. The drive may be longer than a flight, but you won’t have to pay for the expensive airfare. Especially if you travel with friends, it can be an absolutely unforgettable road trip. Plus, with a large group of companions, you can share the cost of food, gas and drinks, and put more towards your college tuition.

All the sights are free. There is no need to pay admission into a museum or night club when you are able to wake up in the morning and have your spectacular experience in front of you.

President Roosevelt did not save all of these National Parks for nothing, so make sure you take advantage of your history and the land of your country by paying a visit. All you need is a group of your best friends, a cooler full of assorted drinks and the equipment to get you through the entirety of your stay.

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Coastal Redwoods flourish along the northern coast of California..

o f p u l s a r med i a . e u

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HIGHLANDER

17

Commuter Culture

By Toni Louie Senior Staff Writer Photos By Wesley NG

Lot 30, UCR’s largest campus parking lot, is packed during the evening.

Many UCR students go home on a Friday, not feeling feeling compelled to stay on campus.

f I lived on campus, I would participate more,” said Brigitte Trezino, a fourth-year history major. Trezino, who makes a daily 25 minute commute to campus from Rancho Cucamonga, admits that besides academics and work, she does not engage in additional extracurriculars. She considers herself a part of a few student organizations, but does not stay for any of the meetings. As to why she commutes, she said “it’s mainly to save money.” There is a significant lack of students on campus at the end of the day and on weekends, to which she simply responded, “It’s because students go home.”

According to the 2012-2013 Strategic Academic Research and Analysis report, just 31 percent of UC Riverside’s students live either on campus or in college-affiliated housing, 75 percent of which are freshmen. That leaves an astounding 69 percent of the student body in the commuter category, which applies to those who drive, bike or walk to campus Adam Daniels, an advisor at Student Life and Commuter Programs, painted this picture: out of the 20,000 students who attend UCR, there are about 14,000 commuters. This means that when the school aims to throw on-campus events, they really are just targeting those 6,000 students who don’t drive here. “To live on campus is ridiculously expensive,” said Daniels. “Plus, Riverside is one of those cities that is surrounded by other cities, so people will choose to commute because of money and convenience.”

Nevertheless, UCR is often seen as a temporary place of passing whether it’s in the grand scheme of a student’s academic career or within his or her weekly whereabouts. For activities like shopping, entertainment and even quality food, students often venture to other cities in pursuit of better options.

Professor Patricia Morton, who currently teaches ART 178: The Modern City and taught a class on suburbia and industrialization in the Fall quarter, has educated students about Riverside and its beginning in the 1870s for the past 19 years. “[Downtown Riverside] not oriented towards UCR students, but more towards older and wealthier...” she paused, “tourists, really.” Morton referred to the concentration of little antique shops and restaurants around the

found it difficult to connect with people due to her 20 minute commute. “We’re a commuter campus,” Darmani said. “You have your home life, then you have your school life.”

It wasn’t until she reached out to others that she began to establish her connection to UCR. “You don’t realize until you do it for yourself that it’s really worth it,” she said. “It helps you bring that school life home.”

At the beginning of each year, ASUCR is faced with major issues that they want to see changed and, as the only commuter on the senate at the time, Darmani realized, “We need to help our commuters out.”

Along with Senator Ben Pengson, Darmani is helping organize Cubbies for Commuters, a locker system for UCR’s commuting population that they hope to implement by Spring Quarter.

The commuter culture contributes to the perception that UCR is in constant motion.

“UCR has an identity of growing,” said Morton, “we are constantly reinventing ourselves.”

In the past year alone, the campus has undergone major changes such as welcoming a new interim Chancellor, transforming the Student Recreation Center and opening of the UCR School of Medicine. The tractors, cranes and bulldozers spend more time on the campus than the actual students do.

Some students have had a difficult time establishing a sense of permanence within the campus due to its continued evolution. Ashlynne Ragasa, a second-year biology major and member of the UCR Spirit Squad, said that school spirit “could be a lot better.” Even comparing the logistics of the Athletics program from last year to this year, she already sees major improvements and anticipates even more change to come in the future.

Ragasa regarded her experience on the squad so far as one big “transition phase,” referring to another new coach and supervisor coming in this year, and everyone acclimating to new leadership and management. “Our school is always trying to keep up and move forward, instead of getting stuck with what people weren’t happy with before,” she said of UCR. “That’s why we’re always improving our facilities and programs.”

Among some of the Spirit Squad’s respon-

“I

Mission Inn that she feels are irrelevant to the student population, let alone Riverside locals.

Morton admitted that “the city doesn’t try hard enough to cater to UCR students.”

Riverside is what Morton describes as a “fragmented space,” which is an evolving location that people usually commute to for work or school, eventually becoming its own accidental or temporary city, and ultimately never forming its own identity. As for students who commute, she said, “Their lives are divided up into different locations,” which “works against UCR developing a sense of place.”

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey, a native of the city, pointed to the fact that half of Riverside’s population consists of 150,000 students ranging from kindergarten to college. “We are the Athens of Inland Southern California because of the densely-concentrated student population,” said Mayor Bailey. However, he acknowledged, “We’ve had our Renaissance period already and, unfortunately, money is tight these days.”

Still, looking forward, Mayor Bailey said that one of his main responsibilities as Riverside’s mayor is to welcome out-of-town investors and make them feel comfortable about the future of Riverside. For example, he still has high hopes for the future of Division 1 sports at UCR, the C-Center and a streetcar to transport students from campus to other parts of the city.

The changes made to transportation would also help with the parking frustrations that students currently face. The mayor referred to the College Council of Riverside as an organization that provides students an opportunity to work with their city on engaging Riverside’s four colleges and universities.

Mayor Bailey hopes to see streetcars and trolleys implemented within the next four to five years. In terms of changing UCR’s identity as a place of constant change, he also looks towards rooting students in the city after they graduate. “The next question is jobs,” Mayor Bailey added. “We don’t want students to graduate and take their education away from Riverside. We want to let them root themselves here and flourish.”

Before getting involved on campus, Niela Darmani, a third-year biology major and ASUCR senator, was a very outgoing person but

Courtesy of milliniumfalcon.com

sibilities are getting the crowd excited and involved with the cheers. “Sometimes there are more visitors than students, which is really awkward,” she said. “We try to get the crowd pumped up, but no one says anything.”

Although there are more spectators at basketball games on weekdays than on weekends, Ragasa recalled looking out into a crowd that was “pretty empty” one too many times in both instances. Contrasting the large population of commuters vs. students living on campus, Ragasa said “I think that’s the main reason weekday games are better.” For commuters to attend games on weekends is asking for “an extra drive” that they probably don’t want to make.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jim Sandoval sees the emptiness of the campus over the weekends and said, “That’s an issue. But we try to be realistic about it.” Because students need time to study and be with their families, he said the amount of activities offered for students over the weekends is limited.

According to Sandoval, other universities constantly ask UCR about the success of its annual Heat festival. Chiefly, they want to know how the campus tradition effectively combines what students want at that moment while maintaining UCR’s system of values.

While many of UCR’s annual spirit events engage the students at large, the distance between commuters and their campus on a dayto-day basis remains. “We’ve focused on this area for about five to eight years, and take it very seriously,” said Sandoval. One major strategy of his is to aggressively implement the concept of “Highlanders as one union.”

“I am squarely responsible for the non-academic success that students have,” said Sandoval. “The overall college experience is about balance and being a whole student.” He hopes to “pepper in Highlander spirit into everything.” For example, he credited student vision, creativity and initiative for making the Highlander Union Building (HUB) a reality in 2007.

As the campus continues to change, students’ identities as Highlanders will as well.

“The Highlander of 2003 isn’t going to be the same thing as the Highlander of 2013. But they’re still Highlanders,” said Sandoval. He maintains that commuters will be a part of that H evolution. “I see us going no place but up.” ■

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FEATURES

HIGHLANDER

WOMEN’S WEEK AT UC R -l Women speak out and inspire on campus Women in the newsroom: Pulitzer Prize winners speak at UCR

By Jessica Martinez, Contributing Writer

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he Women’s Resource Center ended Women’s Week March 8 with a talk by Pulitzer Prize winners Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart, two guest speakers from the LA Times. They spoke about their experience in the newsroom as women and what it takes to make it in the seemingly dying industry.

Both women have extensive journalism backgrounds that began at smaller regional papers, after receiving their bachelor’s degrees in journalism. They currently write for the Metro section of the LA Times, where they received the Pulitzer Prize in 2009 in the Explanatory Journalism category for their 15-month study of the cost and effects of combating wildfires in the Western United States.

When tackling the subject of women in the workplace, Boxall stated that gender definitely does make a difference in the newsroom. “Women are supposed to be nice, they’re not supposed to be confrontational. If you’re a good reporter there are times when you need to be confrontational and you need to be aggressive.”

According to Boxall, if men are aggressive, it is seen as something positive but if women are aggressive, people tend to look down on them. Society has shaped how women and men should be perceived and it has affected how women are seen in the newsroom.

Cart began her career at the LA Times as a writer for the Sports section, where she wrote for 10 years. She took the job because it was the only one she could get at the time. During this time, female sports reporters were first beginning to step into locker rooms, which was a significant change for the industry. In the locker rooms, athletes tended to walk around nude, thus creating an uncomfortable situation for the women. Cart recalled how she, in addition to other female sports reporters, never complained because they didn’t want to call negative attention to their gender. She worried that she would also be questioned for her qualifications on the sport she was reporting on, whereas male sports reporters were rarely questioned. Despite having to over-

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Presenters Bettina Boxall (left) and Julie Cart (right) shared their experiences as LA Times journalists. come these issues, Cart appreciated what the experience brought for her. She learned to “just roll with it.”

Boxall and Cart patiently answered questions from the audience for the last 30 minutes of their presentation. Some questions included whether they thought that going to graduate school for journalism was necessary nowadays, to which they responded yes, but that having experience was also crucial to moving forward.

Audience members were concerned about racial diversity in the newsroom, which Boxall and Cart felt was lacking.

The presentation was summarized by Emily Wells, a current UCR undergraduate student in the creative writing department and Press-Enterprise staff writer.

She began her journalism career as a contributing writer the Highlander, then worked her way up to Arts and Entertainment Editor. Wells stated that gender diversity is an issue that needs to be addressed. Although she has never been treated unfairly because of her gender, she sees the preference for male voices is stronger than that of female voices, especially after looking at statistics from national newspapers.

US News and World Report found that in the 2012 election, frontpage male bylines outnumbered female bylines 3 to 1. Wells also mentioned the loss of the journalism program at UCR and stated that although other programs such as creative writing and media and cultural studies are still in existence, they don’t offer what a journalism program would. The journalism program would give students a chance to be taught how to first inform themselves appropriately, in order to inform the public professionally. Wells also advocated for more racial diversity in the newsroom and felt that, with UCR being one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, it could certainly come into play. This action should begin at the undergraduate level which would be easier with a journalism program which as mentioned previously, UCR no longer has.

Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart have both had many experiences in the newsroom that helped get them to where they are today. Both showed much gratitude for the ability to work at something they are passionate about and, through their lecture, encouraged others that would like to work in the industry that the best way to get started was to gain experience and learn by doing. They stated that they they were both in the process of still learning, even after being in the industry for over 30 years now.

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5th Annual Celebration for a Day of Appreciation and Recognition of Women Keynote Speaker: Judge Raquel Marquez-Britsch // “Mujeres Unidas” (Women Together)

By Marcelo Guardado, Contributing Writer

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n honor of Women’s Week, UCR held its 5th Annual Celebration for a day of Appreciation and Recognition of Women Studies. The March 6 ceremony was split into two parts. The first half of the night honored the achievements of five exceptional graduate and undergraduate female students in areas of leadership and civil engagement, social justice and overcoming adversity. The second half featured the night’s keynote speaker Judge Raquel Marquez-Britsch, the first Latina judge on the Riverside Superior Court.

UCR’s own Dr. Pamela Clute commenced the ceremony by acknowledging all the women that were being recognized for their academic success as well as the Women’s Resource Center for putting the entire ceremony together. She said, “You know, 150 years ago, women were not allowed to attend college…Today, women represent 59 percent of the nation’s college population, and six out of 10 graduate degrees in 2012 were awarded to women. Women go to college, women excel and the evidence is right here in this room tonight.”

Clute then presented the lavender roses given to the five recipients. She explained to the audience that the lavender rose represented “The color of power… Recipients, this is going to remind you everyday of the power you have to excel and achieve. The power you have to be a role model and mentor to others.”

Next, female UCR students were presented with a plaque and bouquet of flowers. The five honorable students awarded were Leila Magistado, Joanna Jimenez, Rachel Aguilar, Robyn Dahl and Elia Burrero. The five honorees were women from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds that faced myriads of obstacles in order to succeed academically. Some overcame severe life threatening illnesses. Others overcame language and cultural barriers as they traveled from other countries to the United States in order to obtain higher education. All five were service-oriented and were ultimately commemorated for their drive to achieve excellence.

After two beautifully sung a cappella songs by UCR’s own Not So Sharp music group, Marquez-Bristch gave her speech. She began by explaining to the audience that her talk represented more than an incredible life story. Rather than acknowledging her own personal achievements or success, she explained that her life gave voice to so many others with similar life experiences.

Marquez-Britsch explained that throughout her childhood, her family faced a series of obstacles since both her parents were none-educated Mexican immigrants living in Sacramento. Throughout her teenage years, she had to work multiple jobs at once to help sustain her family. It was through these tiresome years that she claimed to value the concept of hard work.

In her late teens, Marquez-Britsch was studying in a library during the day, since she had to work the graveyard shift at Denny’s during nights, when she overheard a Mock Trial taking place next to her. As the trial continued, she overheard two prosecutors correct a student’s appeal several times. Out of frustration and lack of sleep (brought on by

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Social Justice Award honoree Rachel Aguilar receives flowers from her presenter Roberto Corella (left) and Women’s Resource Center Director Adrienne Sims (right).

balancing school and work) she eventually walked up to the student and said, “Tracy! do it like this.” The two prosecutors were greatly impressed with her delivery and offered her a position on the team right away. With her as a new recruit, the team won the county competition and went on onto state finals. Since then, Marquez-Britsch went on to graduate from UCLA Law School. She was a lawyer for several years before becoming appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as Superior Judge for Riverside County on Dec. 27, 2011.

When asked if there was any advice that she can give any student on campus with hopes and desires to achieve as much success she had, she simply said, “Don’t beat yourself up. You are your own worst enemy… This might sound cliché but it’s the best advice I can give any student because I’ve been where you guys are right now and know how hard ■H it can be. Never quit and work hard.”

FEATURES

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

19

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! A consistent thrashing of the trends, tropes and traditions of the silly little world we live in.

FINALS: ONE WEEK TO RULE THEM ALL

by Alexander Suffolk, Senior Staff Writer

WRITE FOR THE HIGHLANDER NEWSPAPER

MEETINGS ON MONDAYS 5:15PM @ HUB 101

UCR is changing. I feel it in the nonexistent river. I feel it on top of the C. I smell it in the trees. Much that once was, is now lost, for none who party can remember it. It began with the forging of the Great Tests. By week three, midterms were given to the CNAS, beings who still haven’t convinced me that math is a “natural science.” Tests were also given to BCOE, great miners and craftsmen of Minecraft. And nine, nine weeks of essays were gifted to the race of CHASS, who, above all else, desire power. But they were, all of them, deceived, for something worse was made. In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a master Week, to control the outcome of your classes. And into this Week he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. One

Week to rule them all.

Finals.

Yes friends, the end of the quarter is upon us and we must yet again do battle with the dreaded force of evil that is Finals Week.

It sure is an odd time isn’t it? For most of every quarter, half of the population tries to look good in a futile effort for acceptance

and admiration, but as soon as finals roll around, everyone agrees that sweat pants are suddenly in high fashion. Everyone agrees that make-up, deodorant, showers and sleep are all just for the weak. You’re not a true academic warrior unless you are sporting noticeable sweat rings and raccoon eyes.

Then the campus itself looks like Scotty the Bear got kidnapped by Rod Serling.

Where there were once Greek letters and skateboarders nearly crashing into you, there are nothing but crows cawing into the abyss.

On the bright side, though, with nobody around, one can actually get a mediocre Subway sandwich in less than half an hour.

But seriously, there’s a lack of souls on campus to the point where you could climb the Bell Tower naked and nobody would notice. Disclaimer: don’t actually climb the

Bell Tower naked. Nobody wants to see a naked butt eclipsing the sun. Well, maybe Sir Mix-A-Lot would.

Yodel-ay-he-poo. I’m sorry, that was a crap joke.

FINALS CONT’D ON PAGE 20

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013 FINALS FROM PAGE 19

But while the HUB and Bell Tower areas are completely barren, the libraries are teeming with edgy and nervous students. It is such a weird shift to walk around in complete silence and then enter the Rivera library only to see the place vibrant with antisocial mole people, who burrow deeper and deeper away from the outside world as if it was the UV rays that caused them not to read half of each book their professor assigned. They huddle in anger as they stare at walls of text as if their eyes can just instantly scan pages into their minds. They get frustrated that they aren’t learning anything from the flashcards they made a week ago but are looking at for the first time now, as if the ritual of making flashcards itself is enough to warrant enlightenment. They are the poor, unfortunate souls who have sold their souls to Red Bull and Starbucks in the hopes that caffeine will save them.

Then there are people who are even too antisocial for mole people and choose to lone wolf their studying. And good lord, is that a tough battle. The entire time you are sitting

T

he annual presentation of UCR is Dancing arrived with innovative choreographies and fresh faces on March 8. This student production combines various dance genres in its pieces and deviates from standard monotonous dance routines.

Highly regarded by the students in the UCR Department of Dance, Artistic Director Joel Smith has been making theatrical dances in Los Angeles for the past eight years and is currently co-artistic director of Casebolt and Smith, a contemporary dance and theater duet company. With an extraordinary faculty, students majoring in dance are able to gain an in-depth experience with the event while forming a cultural and historical perspective on the art of dance. The show reflects the program’s commitment to undergraduate research and its goals for student choreographers to author their own work.

Casting is not limited to dance majors or “prima-ballerina” candidates, said Choreographer Sidney Spiegel. Spiegel, a thirdyear physics and dance student explained that the selection process isn’t dictated by technical skill but rather improvisation abilities, expressive movement and the courage to participate in avant-garde pieces. UCR is Dancing promotes the creative elements of dance and experimentation. According to Spiegel this event serves as “a big undergraduate thesis.”

Each piece was a medley of techniques ranging from ballet to jazz, vocalizing, running, laughter and the defacing of furniture. The production was dominantly led by chiming instrumentals with the exception of Professor Wendy Roger’s bold silent number. Dancers Patty Huerta and Edwin Siguenza graciously coordinated with each other’s bodies rather than sound.

For first-time modern dance spectators, “Circa” presents an

there in your room, sirens begin to call you.

You can’t properly study unless everything is clean, right? And since you’ve spent so much time cleaning, you should go get something to eat—can’t study on an empty stomach.

Now that you’ve eaten and become a bit sleepy, you should take a nap now, doesn’t that sound great?

Things get even worse if you have to use your laptop. Reddit is always just a few clicks away and much more fun than making the information you ripped off of Wikipedia look like you totally didn’t just rip it off of Wikipedia. Do you know what’s a better thing to do on the Internet than spam emails to everybody in your class? Everything.

In fact, doesn’t it feel like the right time to marathon something on Netflix? To Hell with grades, shouldn’t you catch up on “The Walking Dead?”

Art at this level is so hard to resist.

unorthodox technical approach to be remembered. Every dancer radiated energy on the stage in an individual way and was bound to his or her group by gestures and physical interaction.

In order to highlight expressive dance, Emily Pulido, a second-year political science and dance student featured in two performances, said, “Most choreographers chose the absence of lyrics to accompany their pieces because they take away from the dancers and the piece.” Aware of the unconventional movements and unfamiliar music, Pulido explained the distinctiveness of UCR is Dancing as “a little wacky but entertaining.” “Modern dance needs to be experienced and given a chance before it can be appreciated because it’s an unusual art.”

Both science and humor were implemented in “Lights and Contradictions,” which involved a challenging performance in which the performers partook in chatter that could have easily left anyone tongue-tied.

Several contrasting elements exercised on the stage made an artistic statement. The casual wardrobes were ironic for the picturesque choreographies, but it all came into play in the creative aspects of the performances.

Constricting jeans and layered blouses were impressively compatible with the dancers’ elastic band movements. Some of us can hardly stretch in our everyday outfits.

Preparation for UCR is Dancing began about eight weeks prior to March and was demanding of lengthy rehearsals in order to adhere to high standards. UCR is Dancing, which ran from March 7-9, manifested courageous experimentation in every piece and evoked curiosity behind the creative process that made all of the choreographies so daring and unique.

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The saddest part about Finals Week is that there is really only one demographic that profits off of it: drug dealers. The demand for Adderall around this time of year skyrockets to the point where I am surprised people haven’t started hunting down the attention-deficit yet. Then of course, as soon as finals are over, people stock up on enough junk to even make Hunter S. Thompson nervous. After all, the best thing to do after cramming a bunch of stuff into your brain is to try your damndest to squeeze it all out. It’s not like we all pay thousands upon thousands to be here or anything.

However my brothers and sisters, while it is as insufferable, dragged out and abundant in tears as “Les Miserables,” Finals Week too will pass. So buckle down, stock up on the toxic caffeine sludge of your choice and get ready for yet another battle of endurance.

But have faith everyone, beautiful things are just beyond the horizon if you can live long enough to see them. If you make it out alive, you can one day see “Iron Man 3,” buy a PS4 and even see Sofia Vergara’s machine gun boobs in “Machete Kills.” So fight hard, H Highlanders. You’re so close to freedom. ■

HIGHLANDER

And so close to glory.

King Alexander “Longsword” Suffolk will be fighting for the Iron Throne in Germany this spring. Look out for “The Deutschland Diaries” next quarter.

UCR IS DANCING dares audiences to enter the eccentric world of dance

BY SUSAN CHAVIRA, CONTRIBUTING WRITER PHOTOS BY DAMING YE & JINYOUNG KO Clockwise from top: Sidney Spiegel in the “Lights and Contradictions”; Patty Huerta and Edwin Siguenza perform “Circa” choreographed

by Wendy Rogers; Dancers perform “Semblance:Resistance:Difference” choreographed by Christiana Powell.

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT @ h i g h l a n de r r a d a r

Events this week Tuesday | 3/12

Wednesday | 3/13

Thursday | 3/14

Friday | 3/15

N i ch o l a s P et r i cc a

of

Walk

the

Moon

New Play Festival auditions @ Arts Building Studio Winter 2013 Dance Showings @ ARTS 100, ARTS 300 and ATHD 102 UCR Jazz Ensembles @ University Theatre, 8:00 p.m.

The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jayne @ Culver Center, 7:00 p.m.Humanities 400, 8 p.m.

C o u rte s y

o f thede a dh u b . c o m

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER

Performance Review:

“The Tempest”

By Rebecca Paredes, Senior Staff Writer Photos courtesy of Kathleen DeAtley

T

he Arts Studio theatre reminded me of a Halloween fright house on Thursday evening, March 8. An artificially dense, sickly sweet layer of fog hung low in the room, and the walls were decorated with beige tarps, torn to look mussed from the elements. On the stage stood raised wooden platforms designed to represent a ship, and a single podium sat at its center with a music stand illuminated by a lone, ominous light.

The setting sprawled throughout the elbow-grazingly intimate theatre and immediately set the tone for the evening.

It was creepy. It was immersive. It was William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” directed by Christina Jensen, and it was a Shakespearean hit, if you don’t mind looking up the story’s context ahead of time.

“The Tempest” is about Prospero, an usurped duke of Milan and a powerful magician, who spent 12 years marooned on an island with his daughter Miranda. As part of his plot to restore his dukedom, he uses his magic to cause a tempest and wrecks the ship of his enemies. Along the way, we meet Ariel, Prospero’s spirit familiar; Ferdinand, son of the king of Naples; and Alonso, Prospero’s usurping brother.

Jensen’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s 17th century romance incorporated the powerful melodies of Beethoven’s symphonies, and a director’s note in the program explained the passionate connection between the music and play as emotional counterparts. The end result is a mighty soundtrack that suited the story, particularly during the opening scene, as Prospero casts his tempest with the flair of an orchestra conductor.

The score also helped during moments of confusion; even when the Shakespearean English flew over my head, I was still able to grasp a scene’s emotional context through the music.

And that need for context ended up happening more often than not. While Shakespearean English is beautiful in its own right, lines occasionally sounded

TOP: Mark Guillermo as Antonio and Michael Singh as Sebastian MIDDLE: Troy Whiteley as Prospero BOTTOM: Emanuel Robinson as Stephano, Yan Tkach as Caliban and Jeremy Garcia as Trinculo

muffled and lost when they were not spoken directly at the audience. Even though I felt Prospero’s (Troy Whiteley) power as he expounded on backstory to his daughter Miranda (Jennifer Zheng), quickly-delivered lines meant that I missed half of his exposition in a sea of “thou” and “canst.” Of course, this might be an inherent drawback of Shakespearean plays before modern audiences, and in all honesty, a quick Sparknotes refresher might help firsttime viewers better follow the plot.

Beyond my confusion, a number of actors completely embodied their characters. Whiteley’s booming voice and intense gaze captured Prospero’s enigmatic presence throughout his performance. As Ferdinand, Jordan Mackey brought a sense of boyish naïveté to his relationship with Miranda, and the comic pairing of Stephano (Emanuel Robinson) and Trinculo (Jeremy Garcia) was absolutely delightful. But above all other characters, Ariel (Joshua Montez) stole the show. As the airy, ethereal spirit, Montez introduced a gracefully maniacal edge to Ariel that captured my attention whenever he appeared on stage.

From a technical standpoint, the play also succeeded. The lighting was moody and appropriately created a sense of space, even as scenes were set in varied locations around Prospero’s island. The wooden platforms that represented the ship’s deck were well conceived, but they did not limit the actors; at one point, several hooded spirits stood directly in front of the first row, and Trinculo and Stephano ran around the perimeter of the theatre during a chase scene, all of which worked to create a dynamic environment between the stage and audience. I felt like I was part of Prospero’s island, which was an unexpected and delightful element of the performance.

“The Tempest’s” last show was Mar. 9, but the theatre department’s next event is a screening of “Names,” a film

by David Campos, April 4 – 6.

■H

★★★★☆

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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MUSIC REVIEWS GIRL TALK // KATE NASH RATING:

I

★★☆☆☆ BY: JILLIAN RAUSA, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

n the years since Britain’s indie-pop queen Kate Nash’s international debut in 2007 with her breakout album “Made of Bricks,” the singer has become known for her signature plucky style. After a three-year period of dabbling in charity, films and feminist advocacy, Nash returns to the music scene with her third album “Girl Talk.” The bold and quirky songs that raised her to international stardom have been done away with

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and replaced by an indie punk-rock mix that can be described as a blend of Best Coast’s lyrics and Pretty Girls Make Graves’ sound.

It’s a fresh take, but overall this new sense of direction falls short of amazing.

However, It’s not uncommon for artists to change styles somewhere along their musical career, and in this case, Nash’s playful vocals should make a comfortable fit.

She maintains the familiar sassy lyrics in songs like “FriEnd?,” “OMYGOD!” and “Conventional Girl,” with a very pop feel reminiscent to her first album. This especially goes for “OMYGOD!” with its sudden changes in rhythm and focal electric guitar and bass that give the song a surfer rock quality.

...despite the jarring and sporadic quality of the album, Nash’s personal experiences make an impact.

“3AM” is a good example of the coexistence between both Nash’s past and present self. Her songwriting still reflects her tendency for blatant lip, which marries well with the upbeat punk rhythm driven by the bass and drums.

On the other side of the spectrum, “Rap for Rejection” is actual rap with some solid

lyrics addressing chauvinism: “Yeah, tell your friends / How you never woulda done me / You’re tryna tell me sexism doesn’t exist?” The downfall of this song is its pretty terrible delivery. Although it isn’t meant to be a rap/ hip hop song, the vintage Lady Sovereign sound isn’t compatible with Nash’s distinct vocals. The same goes for “Death Proof” and “Cherry Pickin’,” where the indie rock and quirky vocals clash—most of the tracks on this album raised the uncomfortable mental image

of an innocent 6-year-old girl screaming punk songs at me.

However, despite the jarring and sporadic quality of the album, Nash’s personal experiences make an impact. In “Lullaby for an Insomniatic,” she summons her past struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder in a very stripped, a cappella fashion that tops off the wide spectrum of genres found in “Girl Talk,” together they rally the question of the album’s inspiration. The “mission statement of what it’s like to be a woman,” says

Nash. This purpose is further prevalent in the screamer “All Talk,” which states: “I’m a feminist / And if that offends you / Then fuck you!”

Kate Nash is a true musician in that she stands by what she wants to sing.

The major musical change in “Girl Talk” may have cost her a record contract, but she commendably continues to release what she deems fit.

Her new punk sound will only attract the hardcore Kate Nash fans who are willing to stand by her through these transitions.

■H

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

HIGHLANDER

A Column

Fashion Instinct

Trend Alert: Spring Break: What to Pack

by Thelma Annan, Staff Writer Spring break + final exams coming up = not the best combination. Hat: Whether it’s a stylish fedora But with the recent tease of perfect or a ridiculously oversized floppy weather, how can it not be on ev- hat, a hat during spring break is eryone’s mind? You might be plan- the perfect fashion accessory to ning on spending your days soaking keep you chic while hiding a bad up the sun and drinking everything hair day. but water, but there are five musthave essentials you should not go without over this break.

Night Out Outfit: You should always pack a night out outfit regardless of where you’re going or what business you have there. A maxi skirt or dress is the perfect choice for spring break; both are easy to slip over your swimsuit, yet dressy enough for the evening.

Guys, colored shorts and a polo or short-sleeved button-up will help you look put together. Don’t forget a pair of shoes to go with your ensemble—wedges for the ladies and boat shoes for the gents.

Sunscreen: Although I have a permanent tan that lasts me all year long (in the shade of dark chocolate), I still understand the importance of sunscreen. Make sure to put your sunscreen on before you hit the beach. And ladies, just because you wear makeup it does not mean you can skip out on the SPF. Your face is the most exposed area on your body when it comes to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Luckily, there are makeup products from brands such as Smashbox that have been premixed with sun protector to help you maintain your flawless complexion.

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c o u rte s y o f

Mensrag

Jewelry: Keep your accessories to a minimum by taking only one or two statement pieces. A chunky necklace from H&M or a bold arm cuff will do the trick.

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M e f l i pa l a m o d a

Shades: Need to cover up the regret of last night?

Sunglasses are the fashionable choice to protect your eyes and hide your shame.

Choosing the right pair of frames for your head shape can make a world of difference. If you have a round-shaped head, angular shaped frames are your best bet, while round frames balance out those with a square-shaped head. Cateye frames favor the heartshaped individuals, and if you’re lucky to be oval H shaped, any style goes! ■

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c o u rte s y o f

B e a u t y m o v e s me

WONDROUS BUGHOUSE // YOUTH LAGOON RATING:

Y

★★★★★

outh Lagoon’s sophomore album “Wondrous Bughouse” is nothing short of a magnum opus. It has something for everyone: the bubblegum pop kids, the experimental cats and the beat groovers. The album’s lush quality is likely to be bottlenecked into the dream pop genre, but one should not ignore frontman Trevor Powers’ ability to explore the avantgarde side of music. My own classification of this record would be circusy angst-pop.

“Through Mind and Back” starts out the collection with a glitchy electronic atmosphere.

The prelude is a haze of twinkling background sounds and intentionally detuned pianos that foreshadow the melancholic theme of the record.

There are various speakerpanning tricks at work here, which makes it seem as if the sonance buzzes and zaps around inside the listener’s head; this lends a richness to the sounds that may otherwise be considered stagnant.

The first structured song (and one of my favorite pieces) “Mute” explodes into a plush beat that may trick the listener into thinking this is an upbeat album, but make no mistake—this collection of songs is rather dark, both in their message and in their sonic spirits. The drums are simple and driven, which gives this piece a head-grooving feel. It then transitions into a down tempo organ section, an exciting break for those who enjoy rhythm changes in their music. The drums and guitar dance with one another, both instruments frequently meeting in little touches of oscil-

BY: LUIS SANCHEZ, CONTRIBUTING WRITER lating lo-fi crackles. The track ends with a piano that makes one think of a crime detective show with its slow progression and ominous ambiance.

Up next, “The Bath” features a very oceanic-sounding middle section. Powers’ croons are mournful and filtered, as if they were recorded underwater. The pacific singing is grievous and continuously swirls about with a concoction of other noises, including percussive clinking and a bizarre organ that wobbles out a melody. Then the song immerses itself in its own aqueous broth, turning into a luscious haze of electronic synths that wipe across the piece. Powers then in-

troduces some mellow action through a bass and guitar.

The last of the bunch, “Daisyphobia,” kicks off with a swirling atmosphere. The down tempo exposes Powers’ ability to start and end an album gently. The song contains a kooky organization of sounds, which is headed by a high-pitched, crinkling key instrument. Youth Lagoon’s innovative qualities seem to dig up a niche of its own, fusing pop melodies with unsettling organs. Powers has created something truly unique—a genre of his own. Although the year is young, it’s going to be difficult to find an album this year that I will enjoy more than this one.

■H

Captured Tracka

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER

Awayfrom the

Sprawl’s

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

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To listen to these songs, check out the Highlander’s “Away From the Sprawl Spring Break” Spotify playlist at highlandernews.org!

by Jake Rich, Senior Staff Writer

Spring Break Playlist 2013 That sacred time of year for college students has come—the time when you’re almost completely burnt out on unnecessary papers, annoying classmates and professors. You are probably wondering why or how that breadth class will ever be relevant to any career you end up with. To put it simply: you need your spring break. Whether you’re headed to the beach, clubs or concerts, or you’re just planning to chill and play videogames, one week free of the stress that comes with your costly higher education should make you feel good.

Of course, there’s always the more free-spirited option for your spring break plans: road trip.

Hop in the car and go. Doesn’t matter where. Just drive. While you’re driving, however, you should be able to feel the easy breeziness of spring and the cusp of summer without worry. These are Away from the Sprawl’s top 10 tracks to relax and rock out to as you drive down PCH into the sunset.

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“Anna Sun” Walk the Moon This harmony drenched tune from the Cincinnati quartet should keep you feeling good, with its college-themed lyrics and furiously catchy beat.

Best lyric: “We got no money but we got heart/ we’re gonna rattle this ghost town”

“Itchin’ on a Photograph” Grouplove

“Stay Useless” Cloud Nothings Dylan Baldi’s scratchy vocals help give this lo-fi punk-ish song its character, as he sings/ growls about adolescent feelings of hopelessness in the catchiest way possible over a chugging, energetic guitar.

Best lyric: “Can I feel / so utterly unreal / but nothing I could do would make things change”

“Animal” Miike Snow

The ever energetic Grouplove let go in this song, with lead singer Christian Zucconi’s voice cracking multiple times seemingly from pure joy and excitement over a cluster of drums and a hooky guitar.

Andrew Wyatt’s coded and sometimes falsetto vocals, combined with producers Bloodshy and Avant’s vaguely reggae electronic beat, give this track a unique, infectious sensibility that doesn’t let up.

Best lyric: “Yeah I'm itchin' on a photograph / Yeah I'm scratching on a thermostat / Yeah I'm letting go of what I had / Yeah I'm living now and living loud”

Best lyric: “In your eyes I see the eyes of somebody / I knew before, long ago / But I'm still trying to make my mind up / Am I free or am I tied up?”

“Trojans” Atlas Genius This slick track follows bouncy synths over a relaxed yet solid delivery from lead singer Keith Jeffrey that encourages the listener to be spontaneous in life.

Best lyric: “Take a look / Hesitate / Take a picture you could never recreate”

“Tiptoe” Imagine Dragons These indie rockers from Sin City make retro seem fresh with this high energy, keyboardladen track that sounds like it could be taken straight out of the 80s.

Best lyric: “In the morning light let my roots take flight / Watch me from above like a vicious dove”

“Lover of the Light” Mumford and Sons

“Gold” - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eighty4 Fly If there was ever such a thing as breezy California rap (note: Macklemore is from Seattle), Macklemore and Ryan Lewis hit the spot, with their high, carnival-like synths accompanying Macklemore’s lyrics about relaxing on the beach and giving out gold and compliments.

Best lyric: “I’m kidding, everyone is gold in my city / You paint Betty White gold, even Betty White can get it”

“Safe and Sound” Capital Cities This electronic indie duo (they also played Spring Splash last year) provides a feel good, horn-laden track that doesn’t quite have a distinct genre, but still manages to make you want to dance and sing along.

Best lyric: “You could be my luck / Even if we're six feet underground / I know that we'll be safe and sound”

“It’s Alright” Matt and Kim

The anthemic banjo wielders strike a chord with this song as brass joins their plucking—along with the crashing cymbals, ever beautiful harmonies and understated piano.

These British folk-rockers will keep any car ride lively.

Rounding out the top 10 is the alt-dance duo Matt and Kim’s newest song, “It’s Alright,” which includes Matt’s trademark gleeful vocals and Kim’s energetic drumming with an irresistible brass and synth-soaked chorus that you can’t help but tap your foot to.

Best lyric: “You may not trust the promises / Of the change I'll show / But I'd be yours if you'd be mine”

Best lyric: “Maybe we’re going nowhere fast / Ohhh / And maybe we never even touched the gas / Ohhh”

SPORTS

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

27

Riverside basketball unable to close out season with a win Bad offense and good defense was a theme in the first half as both teams shot 50 percent. The Highlanders turned the ball over six times while the Gauchos had eight. UCR was unable to hit shots, shooting 8-32 from the field. On the other side, the Gauchos shot 12-28.

Jayvee Valencia STAFF WRITER

March 7, 2013 Mustangs 65 - Highlanders 62

The men’s basketball team collapsed in the second half en route to a 65-62 loss. Riverside allowed a 14-point lead to evaporate when they were outscored by the Cal Poly Mustangs 42-22 in the second half.

UCR had three players in double figures. Chris Patton was the leading scorer for the Highlanders with 18 points, Taylor Johns chipped in 14 and Chris Harriel contributed 10 points.

Chris Eversley willed the Mustangs to victory with 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and one steal. The Mustangs also had bench scoring from Reese Morgan with 16 points going 4-4 from threepoint range.

There weren’t many free throws in the game, but Cal Poly took advantage of the charity stripe by shooting 8-11 while the Highlanders shot 7-14. The Highlanders coughed the ball up seven times compared to the nine turnovers by Cal Poly.

The Highlanders came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, shooting 18-26 from the field. With five minutes left in the half, UCR extended their 23-21 lead to 40-26 when they

The Highlanders came out of the gate firing on all cylinders...

D a m i n g Y e /HIGHLANDER

Freshman forward Taylor Johns went on a 17-3 run to go into halftime.

In the second half, Chris Eversley and the Mustangs took control of the game with the help of a 22-4 run. Eversley connected on a triple that put the Mustangs up 53-52.

Cal Poly’s defense held the Highlanders to 4-19 shooting to close out the game.

finishes a layup against Pacific guard Markus Duran.

The Highlanders are on a four a fast note but had another secgame losing streak. ond half collapse, which has been a recurring theme this March 9, 2013 season. The Highlanders led 8-2 within the first six minutes Gauchos 56 - Highlanders 46 of the first half. UCR convertThe UC Riverside men’s ed missed shots and turnovers basketball team ended the into a nine point lead, 23-14, 2012-2013 season with a loss but the Gauchos fought back at UC Santa Barbara 56-46. making baskets to close the Riverside started the game on gap 24-21 entering the half.

After a 41-41 tie with 4:31 left, the Highlanders were unable to stop the Gauchos from scoring. UCR allowed Santa Barbara to score 11 in a row in the next three minutes. The game was a defensive battle as both teams struggled on the offensive side. Chris Harriel scored 18 points, Austin Quick chipped in with 15, and Chris Patton scored 7. For the Gauchos, Alan Williams scored 19 points. Michael Bryson manufactured 11 and Kyle Boswell contributed with 12.

This marks the end of the UC Riverside men’s basketball season. The Highlanders finish with a 6-25 record overall and a 3-15 record in the ■H Big West.

Women’s basketball team loses final two games of the season C o dy N g u y e n STAFF WRITER

March 7, 2013 Wahine 67 - Highlanders 57

After starting the season 8-4, the women’s basketball team now finds themselves winding down in the midst of a sevengame losing streak. The Highlanders have dropped 13 of their last 16 matches with the road loss to Hawai’i 57-67.

The first half consisted of baskets being traded by both teams until Hawaii was able to put together a 9-4 run to take a 37-28 lead at halftime. UCR’s only lead came early in the first half, when they led 10-6 with 13:45 left to go.

At the start of the second half, the Highlanders rallied with an 11-2 run to tie the game up at 39 a piece with 13:37 to play.

Hawaii quickly answered the Highlanders’ run with a 6-2 run and later by a 8-1 run to obtain a 55-42 lead with 7:45 to go.

The Wahine lead would prove insurmountable, even though the Highlanders were able to cut it to 5 points (58-53) with 3:50 remaining, as Hawaii scored 9 of the last 13 points to earn the victory.

Three Highlanders finished in double figures against the Wahine. Brittany Crain led UCR and all scorers with 23-points.

Highlander Jamila Williams had 14-points and Natasha Hadley trailed close behind with 12-points.

With the last possession in hand, Guay nailed a gamewinning layup to end the Matadors’ season on a high note.

With the loss, the Highlanders fell to 11-17 on the season, with their last chance for redemption in the regular season finale against Cal State Northridge on Saturday, March 9.

March 9, 2013 Matadors 55 - Highlanders 54

Albeit on bad terms, the free-fall finally ended for the UC Riverside women’s basketball team as they concluded the regular season with a one point loss to the Cal State Northridge Matadors, 55-54.

Both teams played a competitive first half, with seven tied scores and 4 points being the largest lead for either side.

At the halftime buzzer, the score

J i e H u a n g /HIGHLANDER

Freshman Brittany Crain splits the defense against UCSB senior Angelei Aguirre.

was justly a 28-28 deadlock.

The Matadors opened the floodgates at tipoff of the second half, opening up a 12-4 run to give them a 40-32 lead with 15:08 to go in the match.

Brittany Crain’s jumper and Natasha Hadley’s layup would cut the lead, but Ashlee Guay responded with a layup and a three-pointer. That opened up a 9-point lead for the Matadors.

With 3:42 remaining, the Matadors led by a score of 5145. However, the Highlanders were able to chip away at the lead, scoring 7 unanswered points, including a clutch Crain three-pointer to give them a 52-51 advantage with 47 seconds left to play.

A missed layup by Ashlee Guay on the ensuing possession gave the Highlanders a chance to extend the lead or

even run out the clock. But they committed the cardinal sin in crunch time: a turnover.

Randi Freiss’ stole the ball and with a layup, she put the Matadors up 53-52. Crain was able to respond with a layup of her own, giving the Highlanders a 54-53 lead with 20 seconds to go. With the last possession in hand, Guay nailed a gamewinning layup to end the MatH adors’ season on a high note. ■

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UC Riverside softball team loses to IUPUI, sweeps Buffalo M a t t h e w G u e rr e r o CONTRIBUTING WRITER

March 8, 2013 Jaguars 6 - Highlanders 5

UCR’s softball team lost to IUPUI 6-5 at the Mizuno Invitational after they gave up the winning run in the seventh inning to the Jaguars on Friday, March 8.

There was a 95-minute rain delay in the middle of the tournament. When the Highlanders returned to action, they surrendered 1 run in the top of the sixth to lose the lead and another run in the seventh inning to give the Jaguars the lead and eventually the game.

Left Fielder Ariel Shore had three hits for the Highlanders, while Kayla White and Alexis Pickett knocked in 2 runs each. Ali Mosier and Eryn Dillon led the Jaguars with 2 runs batted in a piece.

Alyssa Razo dominated the Jaguars to start the first inning, striking out three while giving up a double to Alicia Brewer. Razo would quiet the Jaguar bats through two more perfect innings of work.

Riverside scored first in the third inning, after being dominated by Jaguar starter Nikki Thomas through two innings.

Highlander Nicolette Lujan

doubled and later scored on an Alexis Pickett sacrifice fly.

An error by Dionne Anderson in right field allowed the Jaguars to plate two runs in the fourth inning, before they scored two more runs in the fifth on a Mosier single to left field, making the score 4-1.

Pickett singled home 1 run in the fifth, and then back-to-back home runs by White and Ashley Ercolano capped off a 4-run inning for the Highlanders, who stormed back to take a 5-4 lead.

A Megan Cory single in the

The Highlanders’ bats were on fire as they got 10 hits and held Kentucky scoreless in the seventh to seal the deal. sixth inning would tied the game for the Jaguars. The final inning Jaguar Dillon knocked home the final run of the game in the seventh inning on a long triple down the right field line.

The Highlanders were retired in order in the seventh inning for the 6-5 defeat.

T s u n g S u /HIGHLANDER

Sophomore Nicolette Lujan dives for a ground ball against the Boise State Broncos.

March 10, 2013 Highlanders 5 - Bulls 1

The Riverside softball team scored in the first three innings for a 5-0 lead and never looked back as they went on to win 5-1 against the Buffalo Bulls.

Ashley Ercolano started for the Highlanders and had a complete game, going all seven innings. She allowed just 1 run on five hits and struck out one batter.

Riverside dominated the entire game with eight hits, 5 RBIs,

one home run and a double. Ariel Shore went 1-3 with one run scored. Alexis Pickett was perfect as she batted 2-2 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Highlander Meagan Esteban was the only other perfect batter going 2-2 with 1 run scored and a stolen base. Kayla White smacked a home run for a 2-RBI game.

March 10, 2013 Highlanders 4 - Bulls 3

The

Riverside

softball

team was able to complete the sweep against the Buffalo Bulls winning 4-3.

Alyssa Razo (6-6) started for Riverside and went the full seven innings for her sixth win of the season.

She allowed seven hits but only gave up 3 runs while striking out three batters.

Alexis Pickett and Dionne Anderson both homered going 2-3 with 2 RBIs and 1-3 with 1 RBI, respectively.

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Travis Smith earns All-Conference honors, Highlanders fall to Santa Barbara Michael Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

March 8, 2013 UC Riverside’s Travis Smith traveled to Fayetteville, Ark. on Friday, March 8 to compete in the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. As the lone member of UCR’s team to compete in the event, Smith made the best of his trip and had a performance to remember.

He went into the event ranked 15th in the nation after his throw of 62’ 45” at the UW Invitational in January allowed him to qualify for the event. In the championships, he would not disappoint. Smith recorded a shot put throw of 60’ 11.5 inches to finish in ninth place in the preliminaries.

Smith was unable to record a longer throwing distance, but his performance still earned him Second-Team, All-American honors at the event, marking the second time he has earned that honor.

The first was a year ago at the 2012 Indoor Championships.

UCR has not earned an AllAmerican honor since Danny Reed did it in 1997 when he competed in the 5000m.

March 9, 2013 UCR hosted a dual meet against UC Santa Barbara this past Saturday but the women’s team lost 95-84 and the men’s team fell 112-62.

DARREN BUENO

BUENO’S BUZZ He said what?

V i n ce n t T a /HIGHLANDER

Senior Damajeria DuBose and Junior Raquel Heffin run along with UCSB women for the distance event. DuBose is in the lead with UCSB runners on her trail.

Although they dropped the top in the 4x400m relay with Seth Totten who finished first overall event, the Highland- three of her teammates with in the 300m run with a time ers outcompeted the Gauchos an overall time of 3:48.36. of 8:33.32. in a number of the events they DuBois won the triple Despite the Highlanders’ participated in. Damajeria jump with a distance of 38’ solid performances, it was UC DuBose, Jacquelyn DuBois 6.75” and the long jump with Santa Barbara who came out and Amber Wright had solid a distance of 18’ 3.75”. victorious in overall competiperformances as all three finRounding things up was tion. ished the competition with DuBose who won both the The Highlanders will foltwo wins each.

1500m and the 3000 runs low this home meet with a Wright came out victorious with times of 4:30.68 and trip to San Diego starting on in the 200m dash with a time 10:09.88, respectively.

March 15 as they compete in of 12.20. She also came out on Other winners included the Aztec Invitational.

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Meetings on Mondays at 5:15pm at HUB 101 next quarter

“I’m better at life than you.”

Bold, huh? Those were the words Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman hurled at ESPN’s “First Take” television host Skip Bayless on one of the show’s episodes last week.

Following Bayless’ comments that the Stanford product wasn’t in the “same class” as Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, the Bayless-Sherman on-air debate was circled on the calendar and did not disappoint. But did Sherman cross the line?

If you watch “First Take,” you know that its two stars, Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, take the “embrace debate” ethos to heart.

The show’s premise hinges on Bayless and Smith spurting out more crap than a Brooklyn sewer.

They bark, yell and talk smack about professional athletes for nearly three hours a day and welcome any on-air rebuttals from the athletes themselves. So when the Seahawks’ standout cornerback fielded the offer, there was a natural expectation of verbal fireworks and a heated discussion.

What we got was a debate that quickly veered into a personal attack as Sherman wasted no time in declaring his feelings for Bayless. “Skip, whenever you refer to me, whenever you speak to me, whenever you address me, address me as ‘All-Pro Stanford graduate’ because those are some accomplishments... you’ll never accomplish.”

Wait, what? Do I have to refer to Sherman as “All-Pro Stanford graduate” too? I can understand an athlete being confident in their abilities and achievements, but to tell another person how to address you comes off as egotistical to the point of near delusion, even if it is directed at sports’ motormouth.

He later described Bayless as an ignorant, pompous, egotistical cretin before proclaiming that he would “crush” Bayless “in front of everybody” because he is tired of the “ignorant pollution.”

Wow, where to begin? Number one. Bayless is certainly deserving of a portion of criticism because he does dish out numerous controversial statements and is not muzzled by ESPN. But with that said, the way Sherman came at him was largely unwarranted.

Sherman, who clearly had a “let me stir the pot” agenda, needs to take a note from Tim Duncan. Duncan is one of the most commendable athletes in sports. He is silent and lets his numbers speak for themselves. If Sherman wants to be one of the best (a constant declaration of his), he needs to learn from the best.

And like the old adage goes, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

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The UCR men’s tennis team squared off against the Vanguard Lions but fell 5-2. The two points for UCR came at the singles action when Julian Ruffin defeated Lukas Larsson and Calvin Ngo took down Robin Wagner.

UNLV swept the Highlanders in singles 4-0, with two tie breaker matches that went unfinished onced the game had already been decided.

Doubles was unable to complete because of the singles sweep.

The Highlanders won the doubles point, but were steamrolled in singles as they were defeated 5-2 at the rackets of Stetson University.

UCR continues to struggle stringing together consistent individual wins.

In singles, the lone point that UCR obtained was Courtney Pattugalan’s victory against Julie Tukuafu. Utah State would emerge victorious at numbers one, two, three, five and six, giving them a 5-1 victory.

Senior Jimmy Roberts earned a rare win in singles over Loyola Marymount as UC Riverside’s losing streak extends to five straight games. Go out and cheer the Highlanders to victory as they compete for a Big West conference title.

C a me r o n Y o n g /HIGHLANDER

F re s h m a n J u l i a n R u f f i n s e r v e s t h e b a l l t o U C S a n D i e g o a f t e r w i n n i n g t h e p re v i o u s ro u n d .

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Baseball team beats Marymount, splits series against New Mexico

KENDALL PETERSON

KENDALL’S FASTBALL A run toward history

V i n ce n t T a /HIGHLANDER S e n i o r P h i l H o l i n s w o r t h ( # 4 ) u p t o b a t d u r i n g a g a m e a g a i n s t S a i n t M a r y ’s C o l l e g e .

K e n da l l P e t e r s o n SENIOR STAFF WRITER

March 5, 2013

scored 1 run. The only other Highlander with 2 RBIs was Bart Steponovich who went 1-3.

Highlanders 6 - Lions 4

March 9, 2013

The Highlander baseball team worked well together to pull out a late 6-4 victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions.

Riverside chalked up 10 hits and walked seven times.

Highlander pitcher Mitch Patito started on the mound and went three innings. Patito allowed 2 runs on five hits.

Lions Patrick McGrath started for Loyola Marymount and went 4.2 innings. McGrath allowed 4 runs on six hits and walked two batters.

UCR’s Donovan Gonzales relieved Patito and went 2.1 innings, allowed 2 runs on one hit and struck out one batter. The winning pitcher was Highlander senior Mark Garcia. He went 2.2 innings and struck out two batters. Trevor Frank came in the ninth inning and was able to record his second save of the season for UCR.

Highlanders 14 - Lobos 12

March 8, 2013 Lobos 11 - Highlanders 9

Joe Chavez for the Highlanders went 2-3 with one walk and scored 2 runs. Kevin Davidson came in for one at bat and made it worthy as he knocked in 2 runs.

The baseball team came out of the gates against the New Mexico Lobos scoring 5 runs in the first inning but would let the lead slip out of their hands en route to a 11-9 defeat.

Junior pitcher Dylan Stuart got the start for Riverside.

Stuart went four innings while allowing 8 runs on 11 hits with one strikeout. Garcia (2-1) was credited as the losing pitcher for Riverside. He went 3.1 innings, allowed 3 runs on six hits while striking out two batters.

The Highlanders were zoned in on the ball all day long with 14 hits off of the Lobos’ pitchers for 9 RBIs. Phil Holinsworth went 4-5 with 2 RBIs and

In game one of a doubleheader the Riverside baseball team found themselves in another battle with the New Mexico Lobos but crawled their way out to a 14-12 victory.

UCR and New Mexico combined for 26 runs and 30 hits. Riverside had 14 hits, 13 RBIs and walked nine times.

Phil Holinsworth drove in 3 runs when he tripled in the second inning and drew a walk in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, earning him the last of his 4 RBIs and marking his fifth multi-RBI game of the season. Highlander Joe Chavez batted a superb 4-5 for his fifth multi-hit game with 3 runs scored, 3 RBIs and a walk.

The Riverside baseball team found themselves in another battle with the New Mexico Lobos but crawled their way out to a 14-12 victory.

Riverside knocked in two home runs, one from Clayton Prestridge and Nick Vilter. The Highlanders drove in 5 runs on five hits in the second inning for a 7-4 lead but would later score two more runs in the fourth and fifth inning for a 119 advantage.

After six innings, the Highlanders led 12-11 but would secure their victory when they scored 2 runs in the eighth inning. Rubanowitz drew a walk to start the eighth which was followed by a Vilter hit-by-pitch to put men on first and second base with no outs.

Matthew Ellis came up to bat and laid a SAC bunt, shifting

V i n ce n t T a /HIGHLANDER F re s h m a n A l e x R u b a n o w i t z ( # 2 0 ) s c o re s a r u n f o r U C R i n a g a m e a g a i n s t S a i n t M a r y ’s C o l l e g e .

Riverside players over a base.

Eddie Young smacked a pitch and reached first safely on a fielders choice, but Rubanowitz was gunned out at home.

However, moments later Young stole second and teammate Chavez singled through the left side of the field for 2 RBIs, scoring Young and Vilter.

UCR starter Jacob Smigelski recorded his first win of the season going five innings with three strikeouts. Trevor Frank got his third save of the season, going two innings and striking out two batters.

March 9, 2013 Lobos 10 - Highlanders 7

The baseball team was unable to win the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, March 9 against New Mexico en route to a 10-7 defeat.

Highlander Joe Chavez batted 3-5 with 3 RBIs and scored a run. Devyn Bolasky went 3-4 with 1 RBI and crossed the plate twice. Lobo player Chas Harris was key to New Mexico’s victory as he went 4-5 with 3 RBIs. Pitcher Ben Doucette started for Riverside and only lasted three innings. He allowed 6 runs on six hits, walked seven

batters but also struck out four batters.

UCR took a 7-6 lead at the top of the fourth inning when they scored 5 runs. However, they would let it slip when they allowed the Lobos to score 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 9-7 deficit.

Highlander Donovan Gonzales (0-3) was credited with the loss.

March 10, 2013 Lobos 14 - Highlanders 9

Once again the baseball team (9-7) showed their magnificent offense with a 7-run inning in the third to power them to a 14-9 victory.

Starting pitcher Mitch Patito allowed only 1 run on four hits while striking out five batters for his first win on the season.

David Andriese was crucial for the Highlanders, going 4-6 with 1 run scored and driving in 4 runs. Devyn Bolasky went 4-5 with 2 RBIs and crossed the plate four times. Riverside demonstrated teamwork as they got 18 hits and 14 RBIs while drawing six walks.

The Highlanders remain on the road with a three-game series against Portland on Friday, March 15.

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The 2012-13 NBA season hasn’t let me down. Every game that I have watched has been worth my time. There is great competition in the league, especially in the Western Conference with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers or the San Antonio Spurs.

But one specific team that has attracted my attention isn’t even in the West—it’s clear across the country. The Miami Heat and their amazing run toward history is what has been so fun to watch.

I have been keeping a close eye on them and want to state that what the Heat have done and currently are doing on their 18game winning streak is proof that they are the team that will win the 2013 NBA Championship.

Although some critics like to point out that the Heat’s streak isn’t the longest in the NBA, they are certainly getting close to it. They passed this season’s longest streak held by the Clippers when they had a 17-game winning streak from Nov. 28, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013.

The Heat’s streak has been impressive and amusing at the same time. They almost gave a game away to the Orlando Magic on March 6, but LeBron James showed his MVP self and made the game-winning layup.

When the Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, March 8, they tied the 195960 Celtics for the third-longest winning streak by a defending NBA champion. One other interesting fact is they have the fifth-longest NBA streak ever.

That came after they defeated the Indiana Pacers Sunday, March 10.

The funny thing is that it was the Pacers who last defeated the Heat on Feb. 1, the same team they beat on Sunday, March 10 to extend their winning streak to 18 games. If Miami is able to win one more, they will tie the 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers and the 2008-09 Boston Celtics for 19 consecutive games won.

During the Heat’s Sunday match up against the Pacers, Miami had three players in 20-plus points and LeBron wasn’t one of them. Mario Chalmers, who is not known for his scoring, dropped 26 points, Chris Bosh tallied 24 and Dwyane Wade had 23. James only scored 13, which shows that the Heat are capable to win even when James doesn’t score at a high level.

During the Heat’s streak LeBron James has been averaging 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Once their streak ends, their hard work will transfer into the playoffs and they will dominate the weaker Eastern Conference teams on their path H toward another championship. ■