FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
Highlander University
Volume 62
of
C a l i f o r n i a , R ive r s i d e
Issue 30
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UCR students, Riverside police forge deal to open new boxing gym SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
UCRChannelH
ASUCR: Gender studies requirement passes within senate ESTEFANIA ZAVALA Senior Staff Writer
For the past two years, Highlander Gloves at UCR, the official student boxing club on campus, has trained underneath the Amy Harrison bleachers near Lot 24, but that’s about to change over the next few months. Approached by Riverside Police Detective Mario Lopez, the UCR boxing club will be provided with boxing equipment, a ring and a brand-new gym to train in — all of which will be free of charge — and in exchange, a crop of student boxers will be tasked with tutoring high school students for 30 minutes a day, three days a week, starting in July 2014. “It came out as an idea (between) me and another person from the police department,” Lopez said. “We were working out with my dad in a park several years ago and that’s how the idea started: How can we bring boxing, (education and self-accountability) in this community?” Lopez, along with a handful of members from the Riverside Police Department (RPD), funded and formed the Raincross Boxing Academy (RBA), a lowcost tutoring and boxing program that promotes education, community and a healthy lifestyle for underrepresented youths in Riverside. The program will focus on boxing instruction, community service, accountability toward academics and physical fitness through the gym’s mentoring program. According to a press release, the RPD will collaborate with local high school educators, administrators and parents to identify at-risk students who qualify for the program. “Atrisk” students are categorized as those having financial difficulties or lack of interest in schoolwork, sports or physical activities. With grants provided by the Riverside Police Foundation, which consists of local residents who fund youth programs and
community outreach, RBA was able to rent out space within a building in downtown Riverside to construct a brand-new gym. Lopez says a good ring can cost upward of $7,000, boxing bags at around $150 apiece and a speed bag around $65. Located near Third Street and Vine Street in downtown Riverside, the rented space will consist of one floor of a building with three rooms: one for the gym and another for the tutoring center, with the third room’s use still being determined. The building is owned by the City Church of Riverside. “When you look at the building, one of the first things that comes to your mind is: ‘Wow, that’s right out of a Rocky movie,’” Lopez alluded, and said that the building was once an older warehouse and is located near railroad tracks, all of which gives the vicinity a more “traditional” feel. A membership fee of $30 per month will be charged to the public for using the gym and all proceeds will go to support overhead operating costs and
OPINIONS
RADAR
involvement. Major obstacles facing club members will include scheduling tutoring times between student boxers who may feel an additional obligation alongside their academics. Student boxers are not obligated to tutor and tutors are not required to be members of the UCR boxing club. Lagunas said the ultimate goal is to create a college pathway to Riverside youths by introducing them to mentors, creating a support system for them and showing students a better life. “(The academy is) providing a computer lab to help high school students and for us to teach them different ways to use a computer in order to get into college,” Lagunas said. She hopes to get at least 20 Highlander Gloves members to participate in the program. She adds that the new location may be a better alternative for the UCR boxing club, which is limited in terms of resources and spacing, noting that individuals are not allowed to hang boxing
In the heightened spirit of the last meeting of the year, senators unanimously passed a resolution that would support the implementation of gender studies requirement courses at UCR. Dubbed Senate Resolution 25 (SR 25), this proposal will now be presented to the Academic Senate for final approval. This resolution passed after a rousing presentation by incoming senator Summer Shafer and liaison to the Women’s Resource Center Malhar Shah on the necessity of a gender studies requirement for UCR and the availability of courses to meet the new requirement. The presentation offered visceral statistics to support the need for the resolution such as the fact that 95 percent of sexual assaults go unreported on college campuses. Shah and Shafer challenged the senators to see this rape phenomenon as preventable through the force of education. “Too many students are too sure of what gender and sexuality is. This often leads to prejudices and misconceptions. The gender and sexuality courses will give them the tools to engage (with these topics) and ask questions,” said Shah. Shah and Shafer’s solution aimed to make the breadth requirement easy on UCR students. The requirement, if adopted, would only apply to incoming freshmen so as to not delay graduation time for any currently enrolled students. They also anticipated opposition that the new requirement would delay graduation by making the gender studies course part of the additional humanities and social sciences elective which all colleges require students to take. This requirement is
► SEE BOXING GYM, PAGE 6
► SEE GENDER STUDIES, PAGE 2
JANINE YBANEZ / HIGHLANDER Highlander Gloves boxing club president Celia Lagunas (left) helps a member practice his punching throws during one of their meetings located underneath the softball stands.
Editorial: The city of Riverside should carefully chose how to inject life into downtown, instead of throwing money into empty spaces. PAGE 8
any additional revenue will go to scholarships for participating high school students in the tutoring program. With the goals of enhancing youth development, Lopez emphasized that high school students accepted into the program (about 20) will be granted free membership, in addition to all UCR tutors. Lopez said that he was initially “surprised” to hear that UCR had a boxing club, but after reaching out to Highlander Gloves around Jan. 2014, he was ultimately “impressed” after the first meeting. “The club was a lot more organized than I’d see in a traditional boxing gym, so it impressed me talking to them,” he expressed. Pitching the idea to Highlander Gloves President and certified USA boxing trainer Celia Lagunas, she expressed excitement, but understood the challenges of obtaining gym space and of creating a tutoring program. The club, which is in charge of developing the RBA’s tutoring program and part of the training routine, will emphasize community and social
FEATURES
Comedy Apocalypse XI is full of laughs and awkward moments.
PAGE 16
Students unwrap the truth about the powerful symbol of the hijab in the Hijab Monologues. PAGE 19
SPORTS Track and field crowns three individual champions at the Big West Championships in Davis, Calif. PAGE 24
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NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
HIGHLANDER
► GENDER STUDIES FROM PAGE 1
usually fulfilled already by a philosophy, religious studies or women’s studies course; the new resolution would simply ensure that the required course dealt with gender and sexuality. Shah and Shafer went through hundreds of course descriptions and asserted that over 200 courses offered at UCR already engage gender and sexuality on a comprehensive level. These courses are in many different departments such as English, media and cultural studies and anthropology. To fulfill the requirement, a student would just have to pick a course which interested them. “(The gender studies requirement) would basically be a mirror to the ethnic studies requirement,” clarified incoming vice president of external affairs Abraham Galvan. “Let’s make a change,” Shafer concluded. “Let’s educate our students on the misconceptions of gender and sexuality.” The public forum reaffirmed the support for this new requirement. Professor of English, co-chair of the department of LGBT studies at UCR and director of the Queer Lab Jennifer Doyle was confident that this proposition was feasible, noting that there is an abundance of faculty at UCR who teach courses that engage with gender and sexuality. Doyle further expanded on the courses that can be offered based on diverse fields in education, political science, economics and public policy, along with gender issues and the workplace. “Gender studies is about a lot of things — not only sexual violence,” she said. “A course
VINCENT TA / HIGHLANDER Incoming ASUCR senator Summer Shafer co-presented on the necessity of having a gender studies requirement at last week’s ASUCR meeting.
on Beyonce or Selena might meet this requirement, as might a course on RuPaul and contemporary drag culture or a course on masculinity and sports.” Galvan and incoming vice president of internal affairs Fernando Echeverria vowed to personally ensure that this resolution is pursued next year and are also looking into expanding the gender studies requirement so that it applies to the entire UC system. Other notable items on the agenda: Members of ASUCR also approved changes to the ASUCR Elections Code which was often scrutinized during the 2013-14 elections this year. The elections bylaws required candidates to have a 2.0 cumulative GPA and good standing with
Photo of the Week
the university, yet does not set a specific quarterly GPA requirement. Senators debated whether they should make the GPA requirement apply only cumulatively rather than only the quarter prior to the campaign season. Galvan supported only a cumulative GPA requirement, which he felt was less exclusionary and geared more toward nontraditional students, who were more likely to have “fluke” quarters where they underperformed. By the end of the meeting, the election bylaws were updated to state that any candidate running for office must have a 2.0 minimum GPA (both quarterly and culmulatively) to align with the university’s official policies on “good
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Cameron Yong ASST. PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Small flags were placed on the lawn beside Hinderaker Hall in honor of Memorial Day and those who lost their lives serving their country.
Quotebook “We all want to spar (and) that’s not a bad thing, but without any safety, without any ring, without any coaches, that’s not safe.”
Upcoming Events
Tuesday
standing.” Any candidate must also be enrolled in at least 12 units for all quarters of the campaign. If campaigning extends beyond one quarter, then eligibility (including GPA verification) will be reassessed. Another change that was made involved specifying the time required to verify the GPAs on submitted candidate applications. The Elections Code reads, “The ASUCR Executive Director must inform the Elections Director of ineligible candidates after the application deadline. The Elections Director must then contact ineligible/disqualified candidates immediately in writing,” but the change clarifies when candidates will be informed ■H about their eligibility.
MAY/JUNE Japanese Taiko Drumming Demo (En)gendering Basque song: Les12 p.m. –12:30 p.m. sons for Endangered Languages ARTS Buliding Amphitheatre Steps 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Orbach Science Library 240
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Wellness Wednesday: MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. HUB 269
UCSB Candlit Vigil 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. Bell Tower
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ASPB Presents: A Spike Lee Joint 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. UCR Student Recreation Center
Audiovisual Music 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Culver Center for the Arts
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Astronomy Seminar - Shri Kulkarni 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Pierce Hall 2226
MaryLu Clayton Rosenthal New Play Festival 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. ARTS 113
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Twilight Carillon Recital 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Bell Tower
MaryLu Clayton Rosenthal New Play Festival 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. ARTS 113
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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UCR Chamber Singers: Justice Songs 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Calvary Presbyterian Church
Sunday
2
Monday
“Dating when you’re big: Fossil and extant dragonflies and damselfly systemactics 4:10 p.m. – 5 p.m. Genomics Building 1102A
Weekday Carillon Recitals 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Bell Tower
-Highlander Gloves Boxing President Celia Lagunas on sparring in a boxing match.
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NEWS
HIGHLANDER
Passionate students and demonstrators spoke against the anti-abortion displays Thursday afternoon while other students held signs and marched around the Bell Tower.
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
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CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER
Abortion banners trigger backlash from Highlanders SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
Over 50 UCR students gathered near the Bell Tower last Thursday to protest the erection of large prolife banners on campus, controversially displaying graphic images of fetuses during the earliest stages of pregnancy and juxtaposing aborted fetuses with the images of victims of tragic historical events such as the Holocaust. One of the leading protesters, Irene Morrison, urged UCR administrators to take down the banners, which she saw as endangering the safety and reproductive freedoms of a woman. “We had a woman crying her eyes out here after seeing this and the university has a responsibility to protect its students,” Morrison said. “Hate speech is not free speech.” “It’s taking away the safe space from women on this campus,” Candace Edsel, a fifth-year history major who protested the pro-life signs, said. “The fact that students are crying about an event that is not put on by students, and admin are standing and watching it happen — they care more about this than the rights of students? That’s not okay.” The display was organized by the Center for Bio-ethical Reform (CBR), a pro-life organization dedicated to establishing prenatal rights to life for the unborn, disabled and vulnerable people through educational seminars. Invited by the prolife campus organization Students for Life, CBR spearheads projects such as: the Reproductive “Choice” Campaign, the Genocide Awareness
Project (GAP), Matthew 28:20 and AbortionNO. CBR Director of Operations Kevin Olivier says that many people have never seen prenatal development and do not know what abortions look like. He adds that banners were enlarged to create more awareness about the process of abortion, which is inherently “graphic” to see. “It’s important (to display) because a lot of people do not know what a preborn baby looks like.” Olivier says. “We want students to know the facts about abortion so that they can have a well-informed debate about them.” Students for Life member and second-year microbiology student Sarah Smith said the images used by the GAP, which “compares the Jewish genocide during the Holocaust to the genocide of the unborn in the U.S.,” are not used to offend anyone in any way. “The killing of Jews was legal and justified because they were seen as sub-human or not even humans at all,” Smith said. “We see a parallel of this occurring today in the U.S. where the personhood of the unborn, who are human beings from the moment of conception, is not being granted.” With campus administrators watching, UCR’s assistant vice chancellor and dean of students Ryan Alcantara said the protest was based more on an “issue of free speech” and finding a balance for it. Alcantara says it is important to be “respectful” by providing an open atmosphere for discussion over issues surrounding gender respect and the portrayal of women in media. ■ H
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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
NEWS
HIGHLANDER
UCR researcher says to treat prisoners to fight hepatitis C AARON GRECH Staff Writer
Nearly four million people in the United States have the hepatitis C viral infection with up to ten thousand dying annually across the nation. In response to this epidemic, a team of researchers has proposed combating the prevalence of the virus by treating those in the prison system; one in six prisoners are infected with the disease. The virus, which can cause cancer or liver failure, is prominent among inmates due to shared needles for intravenous drug use. “It should come as no surprise that that same population of injection drug users also comes into contact with the criminal justice system with higher frequency,” stated Dr. Scott Allen, associate dean of the UCR School of Medicine and one of the researchers behind the study. Most people who contract the virus are usually exposed in their communities rather than the prison system. “It’s not that the prisons spread the infection — they don’t. It’s that the prisons provide an opportunity to diagnose and treat the infection,” Allen stated. In federal prisons, more than 50 percent of prisoners are incarcerated for drug offenses. “In 1997, nearly one-quarter of all people living with HIV or AIDS, nearly one-third of people with Hepatitis C and more than one-third of those with tuberculosis in the U.S. had been released from a prison or jail at some point during the year,” reads a federal policy report. In the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) article authored by Allen, Dr. Josiah Rich and Dr. Brie Williams, it is suggested that treatment and research on prisoners is an effective way to tackle the epidemic nationwide despite the prevalence of the disease within overpopulated prisons. As 95 percent of prisoners are eventually released, many of the illnesses can ► BOXING GYM FROM PAGE 1
bags underneath the bleachers. “(Mario’s) providing something better for us, he’s providing something we basically can’t get here,” she said. “I still like the place here, but over there, we’re able to have bags, we’re able to fight in a ring and that’s what boxers need: We need a ring to be able to spar, to learn.” UCR’s Competitive Sports Program Director Kevin Martin says the boxing club ranks as a tier three club or emerging recreational sports club and falls under the competitive sports umbrella. “The club is already a team, they just have to join a national governing body for boxing,” Martin furthered. “They also would have to hold insurance from that national association for every member.” Lagunas hopes to create an amateur boxing team one day that can officially compete with other universities by holding tier one status, which would allow the club to be considered
COURTESY OF UCR TODAY
Associate Dean of the UCR School of Medicine Dr. Allen Scott believes that prisons provide a great opportunity to diagnose and treat hepatitis C.
continue in the community if not properly treated. While prisons are already legally required to treat prisoners with hepatitis C, the treatments, according to Allen, are older and less effective. He continued by stating that prison officials “will have to give consideration to these new drugs, as hepatitis C is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.” Allen also argued that “the courts (including the U.S. Supreme Court) have already held failure to provide reasonable access to healthcare for serious medical conditions violates the eighth amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishments (sic),” citing
the Brown v. Plata case which asserted the eighth amendment rights of prisoners in California due to prison overcrowding. Treatments, however, are relatively expensive with the price tag of $84,000 per prisoner. Allen explained that new treatments are expensive because drug prices for new treatments are high in the U.S. free market-based system. Manufacturers point out that curing someone of chronic hepatitis C prevents the high costs that can result from the final stages of liver disease, thus giving them a reason to charge higher prices for early treatment. Despite the high prices, the doctor added that, “While I don’t
defend these high prices per se (I do see them somewhat as an exploitation of a captive market), I do agree with the math — which is to say even with these high prices, treating people now will be cheaper than waiting to treat them when they get sick down the road.” Some students believe, however, other steps may be effective in preventing the spread of the virus. Alicia Paleno, a second-year English major, stated that, “While I think it’s important to make healthcare accessible to those in need, it seems more effective to focus on the root of the problem rather than the aftermath,” arguing that better sanitation in prison and policies to focus on the prevention
an intramural sport. At the same time, tier one would also allow the boxing club to alter its title to reflect being a UCR team rather than a team that is simply based out of UCR. As of now, Lagunas feels that partnering up with the RPD is a step in the right direction because it would allow UCR student boxers to train with professional coaches and equipment. “We all know that boxing is not a one-man sport because … you do need a support system in order to be the best,” said Lagunas. “The thing is, for us, this would be the best thing because we’re not only making a connection with the community, but it would help us build an amateur team or a boxing team.” A few years back, combat sparring was banned on campus by the UCR administration because the mixed martial arts club allegedly did not use the proper safety equipment when sparring, according to Lagunas. As a result, the campus boxing club has been forced to travel to off-campus gyms in locations
such as Temecula and San Bernardino to train. The RBA will also function as a collaboration between the RPD, the UCR boxing club, professional trainers and boxers for the first year, but the academy also hopes to reach out to other Riverside colleges in the future. Additionally, the RPD is planning to build up an amateur boxing team, as well as oversee daily operations of the boxing gym and the training of its members. A few of the professional boxers (all raised in Riverside) volunteering for the program will include: Chris Arreola (36 wins, 6 losses) and Josesito Lopez or “Riverside Rocky” (32 wins, 6 losses), who are both ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions in the United States. The RBA will draw on financial sponsorship from the local community to support the initiative and is seeking nonprofit status, which will provide them with the perks of having greater access to local grants and exemption from paying local, state and federal taxes. ■H
Members of Highlander Gloves work on perfecting their punching techniques during last week’s meeting.
of the disease are more important than focusing resources on treating them. However, other students believe that this presents a great opportunity to combat the epidemic. Michael Hallahan, a fourth-year English major, stated that, “If this is able to contribute to harm reduction, and improve the well-being of prisoners and the community, we should try it regardless of the costs. The well-being of a person’s life is more important than monetary costs.” Allen also argues to consider the human cost in terms of suffering from chronic and often terminal illnesses by not treating the disease properly. ■H
JANINE YBANEZ / HIGHLANDER
NEWS
HIGHLANDER
NEWS IN BRIEF COMPILED BY AARON GRECH, MASS SHOOTING NEAR UC SANTA BARBARA LEAVES SEVEN DEAD
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
staff writer ;
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COLIN MARKOVICH, senior staff writer
ABRAHAM OVED NOMINATED AS 2015-16 STUDENT REGENT
COURTESY OF ABRAHAM OVED
COURTESY OF UC SANTA BARBARA
Seven people were killed, including at least six UC Santa Barbara students, and 13 were wounded last Friday, May 23, during a shooting spree in the Isla Vista community near the university. “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the news of a mass shooting last night in the Isla Vista area near UC Santa Barbara,” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy, their families and the entire Santa Barbara community.” The suspected shooter is Elliott Rodger, a student at Santa Barbara City
College, who was also killed in the incident. Before the shooting occurred, Rodger posted a video to his YouTube account outlining his plans to commit the crimes. He also emailed a 140-page document explaining his actions to his parents. Seven of the shooting victims remain in the hospital, two of whom are in serious condition. UCR will be holding a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting on Wednesday, May 28, at 8 p.m. by the Bell Tower. As of press time on Sunday, over 1,000 people have pledged to attend.
A special committee of the UC Board of Regents has nominated Abraham (Avi) Oved, a current third-year student at UCLA, as the student regent for the 2015-16 academic year. The regents will vote on the recommendation in July and if selected, Oved will be the 41st student regent of the UC system since the position was established in 1975. Oved, an economics major with a minor in global studies, has been active in many groups among UCLA and the greater UC community. These involve the Undergraduate Students Associations Council as vice president, the UCLA student union and Hillel at UCLA, in addition to an internship at Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office.
This year, 38 students from nine UCs applied for the position. To be chosen, the nominee must be in good academic standing and preferably reflect diversity in the UC system. Once appointed, the selected applicant will take on the position of student regent-designate during the first year and then student regent as a voting member on the UC Board of Regents during the second year, serving a total of two years. The regent for the 2014-2015 term, Sadia Saifuddin, stated that “Avi is an enthusiastic and capable leader (and) I’m looking forward to working with him next year on issues of accessibility, affordability and quality which are hallmarks of the UC.” ■H
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. OPINIONS .
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
HIGHLANDER
HIGHLANDER HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL EDITORIAL
PROPOSED DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE ARENA MISSES THE MARK
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large, magnificent sight appears in downtown Riverside that the city’s citizens and UCR students have wanted for so long: Thousands of people are flowing into the city, the streets are bustling and life is moving. All this — thanks to the city’s brand-new $50 million-plus arena. At first glance, it seems almost too good to be true. Students have clamored for a more active downtown scene for decades. Between this proposal to build a 6,000-seat stadium for as much as $78 million and the recent partnership of the Fox Theater with Live Nation, is the city of Riverside finally taking students’ desire for a lively city into account? What artist will be playing there? Could it even draw sports teams to a venue with no major sports attractions to speak of? But the way the city of Riverside is planning out their proposed venue, none of this will be happening. Though good intentions and ideas are at heart, there are far too many problems with implementing the proposed center. The city should stop while it’s ahead. Instead of flushing $50 million down the tubes for an ill-advised stadium, Riverside should take steps that will actually improve downtown Riverside culture. Recently, Councilman Mike Gardner expressed support for the proposal, saying that “An arena allows a larger event than any of our facilities that we currently have.” While this is true, at least at this moment in time, Riverside doesn’t need this large of a venue. First and foremost, both attendees and potential performing artists don’t have a great reason to come here in the first place. Riverside is at the heart of the Inland Empire, and though this normally makes for convenient transport to nearby landmarks in Southern California, this also poses problems for drawing an unique array of performances to a potential stadium. An artist could choose to have a show in Los Angeles, San Diego or any one of a huge number of Orange County locations. These locations would probably be more
COURTESY OF FLICKR
profitable for them, and fans would likely have easier access. Riverside, as it stands, is in very little way a “destination.” For all the great history that the Mission Inn holds, it’s not enough to draw people in for a visit — and then a trip to another venue afterward. Even if the hypothesized turnout does materialize, the city’s infrastructure renders the practical implementation of such a center difficult. The stadium is intended to seat 6,000 screaming fans — but an adjoining parking structure would only contain 1,750 parking spaces. Even if two people ride in each car, there’s still 2,500 people who need a place to park. The city would have to build additional parking structures or implement some form of alternative transportation, which themselves come with additional costs. But cars don’t just need a place to park. They also need to be able to get to the arena in the first place. Given Riverside’s cramped layout, especially in the downtown area, a significant amount of construction would have to be undertaken. Historical buildings would have to be demolished and bike lanes would give way to asphalt roads to facilitate the spike in traffic. Riverside prides itself on its history and its bold steps toward sustainability. Implementing a new arena could very well harm both of those images. And what if the projected turnout isn’t met? All that construction and all those taxpayer dollars would make Riverside seem like a shell of its former self. In fact, Riverside is missing the point in attempting to enliven its downtown with a huge arena. Students and residents should have a reason to go downtown every weekend — even every day — not just when a big concert name is in town. Having a sports team play or bringing a big-name band to the city can initially draw people in, but they won’t want to stay unless downtown has something to offer them. If the city wants to invest in making downtown vibrant, a good start is to
focus on the small stuff. Smaller venues, similar to the Barn, could quickly develop a culture that thriving downtown areas have in spades. A comedy club here or a place for a musical performance there would do a lot to help spruce up the downtown area. It couldn’t hurt to have a bit more variety either. Opening up locally owned restaurants and shops with unique offerings hard to find elsewhere could bring something vital to a downtown that, aside from about a block or two of activity on Friday nights, is completely silent. Providing financial support for enterprising small business owners to start something new is one way the city can revitalize its downtown. While the city’s at it, with that much money, why not invest into expanding downtown into the wasteland between the 91 underpass and UCR? The area is filled with dirt lots and cheap motels, and prevents many students from making their way downtown and spending their cash on Riverside businesses. An enormous potential for cashflow is being wasted simply because of a long trek through the Riverside desert. The city can do its part to transform that desert of questionable hotels and run-down hovels into an oasis of small businesses and interesting eateries. Once that happens, students will see that Riverside doesn’t stop at Iowa Avenue, but continues all the way to the Santa Ana River. Riverside has its heart in the right place with the idea for a stadium. But only when Riverside has an animated downtown life will such a project be successful. Until that point, the years of construction, noise and smog will all be for nothing. If Riverside is going to spend money, it should do something to help improve the quality of life in the city — H and not just make a giant empty room. ■ 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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HIGHLANDER
OPINIONS
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
9
COURTESY OF THE GUARDIAN With graduation just on the horizon, why should college students have to pay for caps and gowns at inflated prices when they’ve already paid enough during their years of education?
Should we have to pay for our caps and gowns? JENY ORTEZ Contributing Writer
The value of knowledge is priceless. Education on the other hand does have a price, and at times, a high one. In grade school the amount of money put into school supplies and other materials may seem insignificant to the student since it is up to the parents to pay up. But as soon as students are old enough to realize the value of a dollar it becomes evident that gaining a higher education does not come cheap. Parents have become concerned with the excessive amount of money they find themselves spending during the usual back-to-school shopping trips. Patrick Donnelly, parent of a Gold River Discovery Center student, complains about having to spend around $70 to $100 to satisfy the requirements in a classroom supply list sent out by his child’s teacher. It seems illogical to require students and their parents to spend ridiculous sums of money on supplies that the school should be able to provide. In 2012, Assembly Bill 1575 was passed, which “prohibits a pupil enrolled in school from being required to pay a fee, deposit or other charge not specifically
authorized by law.” Under this law, students in public, charter or alternative schools cannot be required to pay for any classroom supplies, such as books, lockers and uniforms, among other educational materials. Since this law was passed it has not taken effect at its full potential. Parents and other activists have taken note that school districts in California have not fully complied with these regulations, with schools continuing to send out lists of school supplies that need to be provided by the parents of students. As activists and parents spoke out against the absurdly e x p e n s i v e shopping lists, school districts began providing graduation materials to those students who could not afford them or did not want to pay for them as a way to address this problem. While some argue that school budgets are already tight without having to provide graduation attire to students, schools can find sponsors, such
as financially successful alumni to provide these necessities for graduating students. It only seems fair to strip students of the burden of having to pay for their cap and gowns after having to invest time and effort into their education. Cap-and-gown packages may not seem too expensive in grade school, but along with the other senior activities, including grad night and prom, the money adds up. This problem only seems to get worse as you achieve higher education. Extending AB 1575 regulations to college students would only be fair since college students have already paid their dues. Students at any school level should be rewarded for their hard work. Students should not have to prove financial need to receive free graduation attire because we have proved to be deserving of it by being eligible to graduate. Dropping the graduation fees for every student regardless of financial status would be a fair
Dropping the graduation fees for every student regardless of financial status would be a fair trade for students’ hard work and dedication.
trade for students’ hard work and dedication. Future UCR alumni agree that the price for graduation attire and accessories is too high. Fourth-year Angie Galindo describes the $150 graduation package, including a cap, gown, sash, tassel, UCR license plate, UCR key chain, diploma frame and graduation invitations as “overpriced.” Warsame Hassan, future UCR graduate, agrees with Perez as he states, “It is outrageous for students to have to pay for their own cap and gown after pouring thousands of dollars into the university.” As a sign of appreciation, Hassan believes “schools should provide students with a free cap and gown or at least offer students the option to rent the attire at a cheaper rate, because at the price we are paying, you’d think they would at least throw in a burrito.” It does not make sense to expect students to pay exaggerated amounts of money for a cap and gown that they have worked so hard to earn and that they are only going to use for a couple of hours. Schools should provide graduation essentials as a reward for achieving such an important and memorable H milestone of a student’s life. ■
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OPINIONS
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
HIGHLANDER
Opinion Poll What are you doing to prepare or de-stress for finals?
C ompiled
by
J ames F ierro
Christine Lam Biological Sciences Fourth-year
Engrid Artaga Global Studies Third-year
Evan Alderete Business Second-year
Daniel Camargo Mechanical Engineer Third-year
Melinda Mata Mechanical Engineer Third-year
Sally Cheung Economics Third-year
“I’ll clean my house, go to the gym or grab a bite to eat. Something that will get my mind off studying for a while.”
“I de-stress for finals by coloring, hanging out with friends or petting my dog.”
“Cramming. I try not to cram, but it just ends up happening.”
“De-stress? I don’t think I get to de-stress. It’s just constant stress.”
“To study for finals, I usually like to go over my notes and go over the homework. To de-stress, I like to go to the gym and play with my bunny.”
“I study for finals by studing the study guide and reading the books. I de-stress by sleeping, eating and watching Netflix movies.”
Why living history is effective teaching JAMESON ADAME Staff Writer
The extent of how far educators are allowed to go to get a substantial response from students is often under debate. Many times, school districts will ban books and even whole subjects when parents could potentially take offense to whatever knowledge is being imparted. Understanding where the point between acceptable and offensive exists becomes especially salient when historical teachings demand an adherence to a history that our country is less than proud of. Recently this issue was raised once more when a 14-year-old African American student in Orange County participated in a mock war trial designed to reenact the consequences for deserters during a living history field trip about the Civil War. Though the subject matter of the Civil War itself didn’t fall under question, concerns over whether the student’s participation was voluntary as well as the use of a noose as a prop resulted in his teacher being placed on leave. When relating this particular student’s experience to issues of appropriate education, it becomes necessary to ask: Are living history exhibits like these going too far to include young students in demonstrations, or are the reactions to his experience exaggerated due to
issues of hyper-sensitivity over historical events? In contrast to what people might think upon hearing about the story, the issue around this event did not stem from the simulated lynching of an African American, but was based on the living history group reenacting the process of a trial for deserters during the Civil War. The truth about whether the student made the choice to participate or was volunteered is where most of the concern with the situation was raised. Lynchings themselves should never be subject for reenactment, as even miming the act is highly offensive for a variety of reasons. In this instance, however, the allusion to lynching that many saw came from the fact that the student participating in the mock trial was African American. At the risk of offense, it is necessary to state that if a student participates in a mock trial revolving around punishments historically given out to deserters, they do not necessarily become issues revolving entirely about race. Any number of people of any number of races were victim to prejudicial violence, and as such, the living history group that staged the event should not be held accountable for a reenactment becoming racially charged through audience involvement. However, the necessity
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS A recent history field trip in Orange County resulted in questionable judgment and a teacher placed on leave.
of certain props also must be taken into account when teaching through such means. The use of a noose in the mock trial was a misstep, and the group should have known that the associations people draw today from such images affect a majority of racial, ethnic and national backgrounds. While the individual case of offense can’t be placed entirely at the feet of historical reenactment, it was surely a misinformed decision to use a real noose as a prop, as it is an item with a long and horrifying history of violence and oppression. Additionally, the manner
in which the student was brought in to the mock trial was questionable. Assuming that the student was indeed selected and not acting of his own will, then it is entirely possible that this is discrimination. Such a possibility also needs to be taken into consideration when a school organizes a trip to a such an event, where the environment is no longer entirely controllable, and the possibility that somebody is hurt on an emotional level becomes just as real as a chance for physical injury. Teachers and staff chaperoning events like these need to have greater
contextual awareness of their students’ feelings and the effects that historical trauma can have on them. This is an instance that reflects a need for understanding when teaching about a period of history marked by the oppression of one group by another. Though the Civil War living history group could have shown better judgment, the idea of immersing students in a historical environment is not an inherently bad one. If anything, it should be a reason to promote ethnic understanding in schools at every level including that of teaching staff. ■H
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.
@highlanderradar
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Events this week Tuesday | 5/27 EDM Panel @ HUB 302, 7 p.m. Thursday | 5/29
Friday | 5/30
Saturday | 5/31
Audiovisual Music @ Culver Center of the Arts, 7 p.m.
MaryLu Clayton Rosenthal New Play Festival @ Arts Building, 8 p.m.
UCR Chamber Singers @ Arts Building, 8 p.m.
Shoppy’s guitarist Matt Wyckoff jams out at the Saturation Fest.
JASON LIN / HIGHLANDER
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SATURATION F
ARTS & ENTE
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
Nathan Swift, Senior Staff Writer; Stasean Washington & Josh Conde, Staff W “We are all volunteers,” reads a print at the do-ityourself workshop in downtown Riverside. That line best sums up the massive art-house project that is Saturation Fest. Saturation Fest is an enormous festival that takes place in downtown Riverside. In the past, it’s lasted for weeks on end, but for this year, it is a three-day sprawl of art, music, literature and street performers — a huge venue filled with a diverse array of artists and entertainers. Indie-rock and alternative underground bands are called in to play from various corners of southern California. Some bands live and practice as close as Irvine and Fullerton, while some bands come all the way from the East Coast. The heart of the project, however, is the city of Riverside. University Avenue was jam-packed with traffic — even more traffic than that part of the city usually has, from Back to the Grind to Tio’s Tacos. The sidewalks were teeming with life. Street musicians strummed peaceful harmonies and crooned ballads while asking for simple charity to be dropped into tin cans and black top hats. All along the row of buildings were huge masses of people; people eating, walking, smoking and even just standing in the shade of any particular shop, escaping out of the sun and into conversations with strangers and passersby. Nothing seemed or felt contrived. Everybody looked excited, engaged and happy. A part of the glue that holds these types of important cultural events together isn’t just that one person who shows up simply to show up. Enjoying these events means that, as an outsider looking in, you actively contribute to the very idea that a cultural phenomenon is taking place to begin with. Therefore, to truly care for and participate in this festival, you cannot just be present — you must actively volunteer yourself to engage in the artistic festivities, as much as the artist. It’s as though every face should be saying to one another, “We are all volunteers.” At the Blood Orange Infoshop in the Life Arts Center, a handmade print banner reading DIY Print Fest wrapped around a fence, as attendees descended into the heart of the Life Arts Center. As a hub for do-ityourself culture, it was only fitting that it be the public
venue for the 2014 Riverside DIY Print Fest. The DIY Fest is an interactive presentation consisting of workshops, demonstrations and discussions pertaining to print culture, the celebration of the art of books, journals and the printed word. Handcrafted arrows and signs led event-goers into a small, gray conference room. Surrealist artwork plastered the four sides of the room enhancing the indie vibe. Self-publishers lined up across the walls, with their artwork on display for exhibition and to be sold. Zines (short for magazines), comic books and printed novels were all up for grabs. Tailored to different tastes, each publisher brought their own flavor and perspective to serious topics of discussion. Topics ranged from coming out as a gay individual to caring for the ocean. However, not everything was printed on paper. Nickolas Bahula’s wood prints really stole the show. As if putting a temporary tattoo onto wood, Bahula infused beautiful photographic images onto wooden blocks. In the spirit of independence, Bahula selflessly showed attendees how to create their own wooden prints by creating promotional blocks that he handed out for free. Across from him, his partner Jeff Ribaudo demonstrated how to create black prints. Past the Blood Orange Infoshop, one could experience the long-lasting but small music festival contained in Back to the Grind, a large coffee shop and venue that served as the location for the Honey Pop Hop music festival. Everything from the art pieces on the walls and tables to the wooden furniture and massive bookshelves made the place a true standout by providing a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. One could be pleasantly surprised with the venue alone, alongside its peaceful, hipster allure. There were well over 20 musical acts that played alone in Back to the Grind. One of the groups to set up and play was an all-female duo that went by the name The Stupid Daikini. The audience all easily took a seat on one of the chairs and listened to the band play, where the lead singer played a ukulele, alongside the drummer. Despite the pair’s odd style of music, which contained elements of folk and rock, the audience was blown away by the powerful lead singer, who was able
FEST
ERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
Writers // Photos by Jason Lin
to project her voice throughout the entire venue as well as hit high notes that would put most singers to shame. The crowd enjoyed the performance as well, with their enthusiastic cheering and obvious support for the band. Never was there a small number of people throughout the entire set. In fact, the number of people never ceased to grow throughout the different performances played each day. People of all ages constantly flocked in to see the numerous bands. There was never a dull moment throughout the entire musical festival. The venue had two stages, one upstairs and the other downstairs, which allowed for the next band to start playing immediately after the previous one finished. This made the Honey Pop Hop event, as well as other events, quick-paced and lively the entire time, despite it lasting over eight hours. The event featured numerous bands that ranged from small local groups such as So Many Wizards to locally well-known and established bands such as The Summer Twins and Naive Thieves. It was clear that these bands were the ones bringing in the larger crowds — during the performance of Naive Thieves a massive group of people crowded in front of the stage. The second the band started playing, every single person in the crowd started jumping up and down and dancing to the music. The energetic and infectious music had the entire crowd dancing to the beat in complete unison. It was performances like these that made Honey Pop Hop such a memorable event. Other standout performances included bands such as Eva and The Vagabonds with their Bohemian and polka-inspired music, Michael Rey and The Woebegones with their blues-infused rock and The Summer Twins with their uplifting and irresistible pop surf rock. The presence of Saturation Fest allows the city of Riverside to foster and develop its rich history, as well as the local arts and music scene. From the broken earth surrounding Tio’s Tacos to the long-standing Fox Theater, every inch of the ground contributed to the ambiance of the festivities. Every individual in Saturation Fest can believe that he or she is contributing to something greater than themselves, something that will help cement the legacy of the arts and music scene that Riverside is slowly building up as a city. ■H
Clockwise from top right: The logo for Saturation Fest, the baby head, could be found in a variety of mediums around the festival; Shoppy’s guitarist Matt Wyckoff plays a tune for the Mission Tobacco Lounge; One of the many art pieces made by artists of the DIY Print Fest event; Artists display their best works; Charles Lenida from Summon the Yeti plays at Back to the Grind; Some of the events were held at the Blood Orange Infoshop in Downtown Riverside; The Stupid Daikini’s lead singer Melissa Zavislak performs at Honey Pop Hop show.
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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
MUSIC REVIEWS INFINITY // YANN TIERSEN
RATING: ★★★☆☆ BY: KELLY DUARTE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Y
ann Tiersen is best known for capturing audiences’ musical attention with unique and energetic scores, with his most recognized work being in “Amelie” and “Goodbye, Lenin.” Tiersen never really broke out of the soundtrack genre sound-wise, but his classical training and post-punk experience have enabled him to slowly start finding his own sound. Although not attached to any film, his eighth studio album still has a soundtrack feel, which is mostly due to the instrumental tracks that seem to guide you through an unknown story. Inspired by the rocky bluffs by his oceanside home of Brittany in northern France and the beautiful landscape of Iceland, the album, which also includes spoken word, has an overall ambient and calming effect. The first track, “Infinity,” starts the album off on a very atmospheric trip, with a background track that almost resembles wind and is pierced with violins. From then on, the listener is treated to a mix of whimsy and gloom simultaneously. The simple, melancholy melodies of each track are overlapped with toy and electronic instruments as well as accordions. Although each track may follow the same pattern, they are by no means similar. Each song has its own feel and story to it. One track may be joyous and energetic while the next may be dark and slow. The inspiration of several locations in Europe on his album are very evident, with an airy, natural feel of being in the rural areas of Europe displayed in several of his songs. Its minimalism is really effective in keeping the listener invested in the album because it provides a nice contrast to the more eccentric songs on the album. Tiersen also takes advantage of using different languages, which is refreshing and surprising to a
listener who may not be familiar with the dialect of other cultures. Tiersen uses not only English and French, but also Icelandic, Faroese and Breton, which is Tiersen’s native tongue. The two tracks that stand out in this album are “A Midsummer Evening” and “Gronjord.” “A Midsummer Evening,” first released as a single, starts off slow, but soon picks up the pace. It is also one of the few songs that has singing, rather than spoken word. If
you really liked Tiersen’s work in “Amelie,” “Gronjord” will remind
. . . in the end this album is just too abstract and out-there to be groundbreaking. you of the film, filling you with that familiar accordion, with some
violin and harpsichord added to create an upbeat tune. An original narrative piece is read by a man with a Scottish accent in the last track “Meterorite,” which also features a guitar trickling in the background, leaving the album to end on a haunting note. In fact, haunting is the perfect word to describe the entire record — the album intertwines the upbeat and the gloomy to create a balance in between two unlike elements that resonates with the listener.
Although Tiersen may have tried to break the mold with this new album, the same soundtrack feel is there. Even though he experiments by adding new instruments, spoken vocal tracks and mixing unusual melodies together, in the end this album is just too abstract and out-there to be groundbreaking. However, it is obvious that Tiersen has fun trying new things and mixing, as he always has with his past work, with the end result being a very beautiful album. ■H
HIGHLANDER
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
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…AND THEN YOU SHOOT YOUR COUSIN // THE ROOTS
RATING: ★★★☆☆ BY: JUAN EDUARDO FLORES, STAFF WRITER
T
he Roots have been a model for longevity and continual growth within hip-hop as well as the music scene for almost as many years as they’ve been active in it. Over 20 years in the business of making music, their appeal has begun to expand more than ever before with their gig as the house band on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and their continuing expansion outside of hip-hop on their records. They’re a complete band who have always gone against the typical hip-hop sound and message, and they’ve intensified those attitudes on their most recent records. Their newest record, “…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin,” can hardly be considered textbook hip-hop, presenting an unconventional sound that paints a large, sometimes satirical, dark portrait against hip-hop facades. Boom-bap czars of “real hip-hop” will have a difficult time digesting some of the sounds found on this record. Yet in line with their previous album “Undun,” it’s a record that you can listen to even if you’re unfamiliar with hiphop. This album brings some challenging tracks in the form of “Dies Irae,” an electronically shredded combustion of sound in the album’s center. It’s one of the three tracks not originally from the Roots, including the intro track, “Theme From the Middle of the Night,” sung by Nina Simone, and “The Devil” by Mary Lou Williams. They bring a gloomy mood imprinted in between original Roots tracks, with their spacing continuously moving the album forward. Then there are a grip of vocal features that highlight how musically adept the Roots have become. “Never,” the second track, brings together a choirlike introduction grouped with eerily child-like vocals from Patty Crash that transitions into a disjointed string plucking. Then there’s “Black Rock,” the most fittingly disorganized musical piece on the album, with pianos and drums clashing in a disjointed manner. Its counterpart, “The Dark (Trinity),” brings the boom in a forceful way. It’s heavy, concerning and downright gutter. It’s the album’s unquestionable climax. The Roots battle with the idea of riches, fame and sexuality in hip-hop through numerous characters as they struggle with these pitfalls. It’s an interesting concept where these characters exude their wealth and power in shocking ways, while also being self-aware of the triviality of their successes. “I don’t give a fuck / Now maybe that’s abstinence / Or the arrogance of someone who ain’t got shit / That think money over bitches is a stock tip,” is one of the powerful lines dropped on “When the People Cheer.” The lyrics are heavy with punch lines while staying true to a larger story in satirizing the excesses of hip-hop. There’s Black Thought’s intro on “Never,”
setting the tone for the album with “I was born faceless in an oasis / Folks disappear here and leave no traces.” These nameless characters are faceless and standins for anybody struggling in the ghetto, a victim of their own environment as well as a willing participant of that environment. The best lines though certainly
It’s a direct album with indirect undertones that clash with hip-hop normalities. come from “The Dark (Trinity).” “The law of gravity meets / The law of averages / Ain’t no sense in attempting to civilize savages,” is a line where Black Thought sees the dehumanization of black males, yet abides by the structure when he boasts as the best. Then there’s Dice Raw’s line, which
is undoubtedly purposely spit in a 2 Chainz style, that goes, “I remember all I wanted was a gold chain and a Kangol / I remember all I wanted was a gold chain and some Jordans too / Crossed that bitch, then I got that bitch / Now all I want from her’s an abortion.” It really puts into perspective the lyrics that are mimicked without a thought on just about every popular hip-hop record, glorifying that which isn’t glorious. It’s a direct album with indirect undertones that clash with hip-hop normalities. This track burns beautifully with the best verses on the whole record, which is a considerable accomplishment considering all the great verses and vocals throughout the album. As dark as it may be, the last track “Tomorrow” is oddly uplifting and hopeful, as Raheem Devaughn sings for a better tomorrow. It’s a nice bowtie on a box wrapped in tortured foil. The Roots keep finding new ways to expand their sound; this,
Courtesy of Def Jam Records
coupled with their relentless lyrical content, keeps them fresh and relevant. Personally, the tragedy on their previous “Undun” is a masterpiece that’s
hard to top, but it’s exciting to see how the Roots continually present themselves anew and dare to challenge the music that ■H they love.
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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
MOVIE REVIEW COMING OUT SOON:
TAPPED OUT
GEBO AND THE SHADOW
MALEFICENT
THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DORIS PAYNE
BLENDED
RATING: ☆☆☆☆☆
C
BY: JAMESON ADAME, STAFF WRITER
an expectations be any lower than when you know Adam Sandler is making another movie about himself and another person entering into “a wacky and totally unconventional relationship?” The answer is no, probably not — especially when the trailers that boast of this new story tell you that it’s a movie being shot out of the compost machine that is Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions. With this being what I was promised, it’s needless to say that my expectations for the newest Sandler film, “Blended,” directed by Frank Coraci, were already at rockbottom. What makes it so shocking then is that the film failed to make it even to my lowest standards of acceptability. Right from the get-go,
“Blended” shows itself to be written from the leftover cliches of every romantic comedy that has preceded it. The story begins as Jim Friedman (Adam Sandler) and Lauren Reynolds (Drew Barrymore) have a disastrous blind date that sets up their inevitable wacky misadventures to occur later in the film. By the abrupt end of their meeting at Hooters, the two have harbored a healthy distaste for one another, and quickly go home to their families. It was about this point that I began to hear the theme to “The Brady Bunch” in my head, as the main characters’ children were introduced. Lauren’s family is the token boys that belong to an uptight mother: Her older son Brendan (Braxton Beckham) is a teen with an unhealthy babysitter
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
obsession who blames Lauren for their absentee father; her younger boy Tyler (Kyle Red Silverstein) is a gymnastic wunderkind whom she doesn’t allow to participate in potentially dangerous activities. Jim’s children, on the other hand, are three daughters, all bound by his
hyper-manliness: the oldest, Hilary (Bella Thorne), is a budding teen who is embarrassed by her father forcing her into boy-oriented sports and clothes; his middle daughter Espn (Emma Fuhrman) — yes, her name is ESPN, because her dad likes sports — continuously converses
with the family’s late mother. Last and far from least is Lou, the baby and therefore the wisest character in the whole film. When the whole cast then goes to Africa on the same trip and happens to end up in the same room, hijinks are sure to follow! Right? Unfortunately, the comedy in “Blended” is more tired than the old African man who is written as the butt of no less than half the jokes. Most of the actors’ comedic moments involve their cliched characters getting into situations that the audience will most likely see coming from miles away. While normally this is just annoying, it comes across as mildly offensive in this movie, as anybody who has seen previous Adam Sandler films will know the same recycled comedic queues and even some of the same jokes from all of the movies Happy Madison has been pumping out since they first came into existence. It’s a shame that the comedy isn’t even bad enough to be ironically funny like “Grandma’s Boy,” leaving the audience sitting there just hoping for the pain to end. “Blended” falls just as hard when trying to move the audience as when trying to get them to laugh. Apparently unable to learn its lesson, the film seems determined to prove that poorly written characters can elicit emotional responses from an audience. Scenes involving Jim’s oldest daughter Hilary thinking she is ugly because of how she dresses (see “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “The Princess Diaries,” “She’s All That,” etc.) are lazy and uninspired at best, and disrespectful to the audience at worst, telling us all that as long as you have short hair and play sports, everyone will think you’re a boy. Likewise, the rest of the characters are set up so poorly, their dramatic scenes come off as contrived. While there are a few actors in the film like Terry Crews and Shaq who are charming enough or funny enough in their own right to choke a laugh out a viewer, the vast majority of this film is a travesty. On the whole, this felt like an attempt by the filmmakers to get a quick buck by pumping out a romantic comedy so formulaic that people feed it to their babies. Anybody wanting to see this movie should save the ticket money for something that isn’t a loosely connected series of sitegags. Watch “Young Frankenstein” ■H instead. That movie rocks.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
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Comedy Apocalypse XI OFFERS FEW CRINGES, PLENTY OF LAUGHS
Nathan Swift, Senior Staff Writer / PHOTOS BY Tim Baca
A
s a newcomer to Comedy Apocalypse, I was going into this with a fresh mind. Last quarter’s Comedy Apocalypse X proved that the Barn wasn’t about to follow up one bad comedic night with another, which decisively delivered on its promise to students with plenty of laughs that helped distract from the stress of preparing for finals and last-minute papers. As a newcomer to both UCR’s Comedy Apocalypse series and the Barn in general, I attended the night’s event wide-eyed and eager to see what my first visit would hold. Despite the show’s uneven structure, with the second comic outperforming the first and third, I genuinely had a good time watching a not perfect but overall fun event. It was a cold evening at the Barn, which was near-capacity. The food in the back kept cash-strapped students full, with orders being called out left and right, music blasting from giant speakers on the stage and the general buzz of the crowd providing a friendly atmosphere for the night’s comics. At 8:30 p.m. the lights and music dimmed down, the crowd cheered in excitement and I took my seat as the first comic, Byron Bowers, made his appearance. Much of Bowers’ act centered around issues of race, and it was often a hit-andmiss performance. One of the funnier segments involved Bowers speaking about the paradoxical truth of “forgiving people for doing terrible things” because “they provided (society) with such great service that their flaws went unnoticed,” and referenced a handful of famous historical figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Walt Disney, to prove his point. “Martin Luther King:
great man,” Bowers said. “But he slept with a lot of women. Walt Disney: great cartoonist, great imagination, but he was racist.” He got many laughs out of the Disney remark, noting, “He drew cartoons so well that it was years after he died that people started to realize ‘hey, these cartoons are in blackface.’ Like, who knew that crows had such big lips and ate watermelon, right?” Aside from any 20-somethings who revel in Disney nostalgia, hopefully rethought now, the crowd found his statements quite funny. The times when Bowers’ race-related jokes missed their mark were cringeworthy. One of the more painful moments was when Bowers jokingly defended slavery by saying “everybody wanted one of us. We were the iPhone of the 1700s,” along with thanking one of his female ancestors for having intercourse with her master to give him “perfect hair.” He muttered, “Ya’ll going PC on me?” when nobody laughed. Emily Heller, sporting shoulder-length hair and thick-rimmed glasses, was by far the funniest comic to take the stage that night. She reminded me of Louis C.K. with her self-deprecating style of humor. Unlike Bowers, Heller strived to connect her setups and punchlines to her personal life. This produced a vulnerability that allowed Heller to seem relatable to her college audience. “Don’t you fear dying alone?” asked Heller, quoting a friend concerned with how she hated to be in relationships, to which she rhetorically responded, “Well, yeah … but I also fear about dying in a gangbang. I think I just fear death in general.” A self-described feminist, Heller liked to incorporate feminism into her jokes,
even being self-referential about it. “The common stereotype is that feminists can’t be fun, they can’t be funny,” Heller smirked. “Do you guys see what I’m doing? That’s bullshit!” In one of her best segments, she quoted potentially hateful hip-hop lyrics and turned them around as whimsical one-liners. “Bitches ain’t shit!” she exclaimed, quoting Dr. Dre. “You’re right, bitches aren’t shit, they are valuable members of society. ‘I’ve got hoes in different area codes!’ — my gardening business is expanding!” John Roberts had the weakest segment, as well as the strangest. He’s primarily known for voice acting, specifically for “Bob’s Burgers” as the voice of Linda. Roberts took to using prop comedy as his main schtick, and his act essentially came down to him donning different wigs (which wasn’t too funny), different voices (which was awesome) and impersonating imaginary characters in minute-long skits (which delivered on a hit-and-miss basis). He liked to refer to his mom, and said that she was one of the main inspirations for the creation of Linda. Unlike Bowers and Heller, Roberts used less social commentary for his humor and more day-to-day observations. He tried to get away with it on the strength and diversity of his voice acting, but that wasn’t enough, and his skits could sometimes come across as “meh.” It felt as though the audience laughed out of courtesy here and there — it was only on occasion that we busted a gut like the way Bowers or Heller could make us do. Like last quarter’s Comedy Apocalypse, this year provided us with a diverse list of performers that each had their own
unique style. Although only one of them — Heller — could really connect to us on a personal level, each comedian had his or her moments of absolute, ear-deafening screams. Of course, the only topic that all three brought up that had anything to do with college stereotypes was about smoking weed. In fact, Roberts’ very last words were to light up a blunt in his name. Despite a few road bumps, the eleventh installation of Comedy Apocalypse was a success. Even though I eventually reminded myself about studying for upcoming exams, final papers and the like, I’m glad that I, and the UCR community, were able to get distracted from all of that for a few fun hours. ■H
Clockwise from top: Emily Heller speaks on the phone for the crowd. Her jokes rolled in smoothly one after the other; John Roberts shares a laugh with the crowd as his video “Debbie Cakes,” featuring his character, Debra, plays in the background; Byron Bowers mimes a flying Harry Potter broom, imagining a world where gangsters rode flying brooms; “Debra” points to the crowd hoping that someone will be her new best friend.
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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
Kina Grannis amazes at S ide b y S ide Concert
Christal Mims, Senior Staff Writer // Photos by Jaspery Goh
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ighlanders came out to admire the sunset on Wednesday night with singer-songwriter Kina Grannis. Fans gathered at the Bell Tower to enjoy the Side-by-Side concert put on by UCR’s Asian-Pacific Student Programs in celebration of Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The surrounding areas of the Bell Tower were filled with student organizations selling everything from ramen burgers to dumplings. The program began at 6 p.m. and a small crowd sat on the steps in front of the Bell Tower chatting with friends as they waited for Grannis to take the stage. Before the main act, the crowd was greeted by Not So Sharp, UCR’s own acapella group. They performed covers of Florence and the Machine’s “Shake It Up” and Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” and were met with a delightful reaction from the audience. They modestly left the stage to make room for APSP members who tried to pump up the crowd by promising giveaways later in the program. They left the stage and we were left to wait. I shivered in the wind and glanced at the side of the stage where a DJ was playing music and an enthusiastic audience member was dancing. Personally, I was grateful for the distraction. The lack of activity onstage gave me too much time to ponder why on earth I’d left my jacket in my dorm and the sudden movement took my mind off things. Finally, a student performer took the stage to perform some of her original songs. It’s hard to estimate the general reaction of a student crowd to an unknown performer, but even as she stumbled on the lyrics as she sang, onlookers cheered her on and made her feel welcome with screams of support. Nothing gets the crowd moving like free stuff. APSP members tossed up T-shirts and reusable water bottles as audience members gleefully grabbed at numerous airborne items crashing to the ground. The program then continued with a confusing return by Not So Sharp, who proceeded to sing the same songs they’d performed previously with a few more group members. Surprisingly, this may not have been a bad thing. The size of the crowd had grown since the start time and Not So Sharp proved to be strong vocally and talented enough to keep the crowd interested. More free items were given out and another student performer entertained the growing audience with cheery songs filled with pop culture references, including celebrities who’ve starred as main characters in Nicholas Sparks movies and popular theme park Disneyland. Audience members were then instructed to direct their attention to the grassy area
sandwiched between the Bell Tower and the HUB where a lion dance took place, filled with drummers and a routine by a performer wearing a dragon dance costume. Following this energetic performance was a comedic student performer who intertwined hilarious life stories with covers of several Katy Perry songs. Finally, APSP members took to the stage to introduce the program’s headliner, Kina Grannis. Her entrance produced deafening screams from the crowd and I tried to keep my balance as excited fans struggled to push their way to the front. Cell phones emerged from pockets as the growing mob attempted to get photos of the charismatic singer. Grannis was all smiles as she talked to the audience, emitting beauty with a touch of quirkiness that made her presence warm and captivating. With the assistance of an acoustic guitar she began performing songs from her new album “Elements” as well as songs from her previous album “Stairwells.” Grannis made the concert more intimate by providing the backstory for many of her songs. She broke hearts while telling the story behind the solemn track “Forever Blue,” in which she spoke of the difficulty she has with change, primarily the inevitable shift in one’s life after the loss of a loved one, and how this has negatively impacted her life. Grannis also showed versatility. She had the entire audience laughing while telling a story that involved a rat, a cabin and herself in the middle of nowhere. She hilariously admitted that she thought she was going to murdered
before realizing there was simply a rat in her cabin and this later inspired her song “Little Worrier.” The response Grannis garnered from the crowd was incredible, with someone confessing their love for her almost every five seconds. She sang one of her hits, “Valentine,” and tried to get the not-so-rhythmically-oriented crowd to clap along with her on the last song before playfully acknowledging that it had been a bad idea. The night was full of laughter and good vibes. Grannis’ smile alone lit up the stage and her musical abilities made her even more alluring. Fans were in for another treat when she announced that she would be having a small meet-and-greet after the show. Overall, APSP was successful in putting on a terrific event that not only showcased the talent of UCR students, but allowed those present to witness the undeniable talent of Grannis who, based on this performance, has nothing but success coming her way. ■H
Kina Grannis blew the audience away with her talent and down-to-earth performance at the Bell Tower last week.
. FEATURES . FEATURES
HIGHLANDER
Unveil It All:
Hijab Monologues
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Stasean Washington, Staff Writer / Photos by Janine Ybanez
his Thursday just before sunset, students lined up outside of the Barn to hear thoughts on a controversial topic: the hijab. The Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC) held its firstever “Hijab Monologues” to clear controversy on the UCR campus. The question of the night was: “What inspires women to wear their hijabs in the face of adversity?” UCR students came to share their personal perspectives on and unveil misconceptions about the headscarf, as well as to inspire unity and build a common understanding among UCR students. As students began to pour into the Barn, they were greeted by a sign-in desk that provided students with the option of participating in an open mic session after initial performances were done. The room smelled like fresh barbecue as guests and performers had the option to order food just before performances. A blend of Turkish, Algerian, Bosnian and Pakistani hip-hop played on the speakers to help set the cultural mood. As students lined up at the cash register to use their $5 UCR Dining voucher provided by the MESC, performers huddled to the left side of the room going over the night’s game plan. As everyone began to settle in, the lights dimmed and the night began with MESC Director Marcela Ramirez taking the stage. She quickly laid out the ground rules for the night and set the tone by having the audience “make it rain.” Following her instructions, the audience rubbed their hands together, snapped their fingers and stomped their feet to imitate the sound of light showers, hail and hard rain. Ramirez encouraged the audience to show their support for
the performers, all students who had come of their own volition and were not professionals. As the lights dimmed, the night began with a monologue by UCR student Nadia Rauff. “I would have never have guessed you were Muslims … you look like civilians,” Rauff, a Muslim woman, recalls hearing as she expressed how wearing the hijab automatically distinguished her as a Muslim versus a “civilian.” “I have learned to be the conductor of my own cause!” exclaimed Najoa Bouzidi as she analyzed the lack of understanding of her culture in her poem “Who Am I.” Haala al Haadity expressed the idea of completely wanting to annihilate the stereotypes of Muslim women who wear hijabs as being shy and timid. To her, the hijab means “an education, a willingness to be educated, understanding why you are doing what you’re doing,” and most of all, “putting on the hijab for God.” “I chose this road myself … my hijab doesn’t cover me in feminine oppression,” declared Fatima Ibrahim in her spoken word. Showrunner Merima Tricic took the stage wearing a martial arts uniform. “The hijab is a danger to the opponent,” read Tricic from a 2010 ruling for martial arts. Tricic continued to illustrate how wearing the headscarf could exploit the weakness of a woman who chooses to wear the hijab in national competition. Tricic reciprocated by making her greatest weakness her biggest strength, encouraging her fellow women to fight on. Although the scrutiny of the hijab is something that seems to be aimed toward Muslim women, this did not stop the night from having a variety of performers. “(The)
majority of problems are started by men,” Arbazz Mohammed recalled as he presented the audience with a proposition to teach men how to be better people. The performer under the alias Cornelius Mumford gave a spoken word performance filled with passion and energy. The room then lit up with a comedic performance by Muaath Al Araj. He explained the “first glance,” the interrogation of Muslim parents and the difficulty of approaching women wearing a hijab. He ended wishing that the “hijabi odds will forever be in your favor.” Ramirez collected the audience with a community breather, as Miriam Salen took the stage in the open mic portion of the event to present a monologue from the perspective of a Muslim woman who chose not to wear the hijab. After a brief disclaimer for the contents of her performance, Salen went into her monologue. She expressed her feelings of being considered a “Muslim by name,” and how her level of faith is judged on a constant basis. She expressed the idea that the hijab is a “social construct of what it means to be cultured.” No matter the gender or view, each performance ended with a round of applause. The willingness to go on stage and express thoughts on such a topic was definitely something to be admired, and the audience knew this. None of the students were professionals, allowing for brief pauses of nervousness — only to be responded to with snaps of encouragement from the audience. The defining idea that echoed throughout the night was that religious preference is not something indicative of a person’s nature. To the speakers, the hijab is a symbol of strength, faith and expression of choice. ■H
Students drew from their firsthand experiences to present their personal stories during UCR’s first MESC-hosted Hijab Monologues.
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
Wilcox’s Way: Teach me how to be chancellor MATTHEW WARD Contributing Writer
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n my first time inside the chancellor’s office, I sat directly across from Kim Wilcox, whose feet lay propped up on another chair. We sat at the conference room table in his office, a place he spends the majority of his day. Discovering what the chancellor eats for breakfast instead of plans for next year’s budget, I caught a glimpse of the reality of being UCR’s ninth chancellor. “When someone opens the door, you’re not the chancellor of UC Riverside anymore. I am. Teach me how to be chancellor,” I said. Wilcox gasped, “Oh — whoa,” as if I broke the news that the president was just impeached. “Let me go to first principles,” he said. He admitted that — in his opinion — the principles of an ideal chancellor had more to do with the office than with Riverside in particular. “I believe jobs like this require some things. They first require someone to be a very good listener. You have to be an active and respectful listener … always trying to tie things together.” He then added that he regularly reminds himself that most people don’t get to walk into the chancellor’s office, whereas he is in it every day. I was squeezed into the chancellor’s schedule just 20 minutes prior to his next meeting. In fact, it was a timeslot that had been rescheduled three times prior. The chancellor’s schedule, especially Wilcox’s, does not include gaps for leisure time or, for that matter, much downtime at all. “You have to be ready to release control,” he said. “I don’t create my schedule, Suzette does.” Suzette, the chancellor’s assistant, hands Wilcox his schedule every evening so he knows where and when to be for the next day. Expressing his preference for distancing himself from the details of
FEATURES the scheduling process, Wilcox further noted that, as chancellor, one must feel comfortable with having somebody else schedule their life. What makes Wilcox even remotely comfortable with this notion is not his lack of interest in scheduling but rather his dedication to creating “a team of people that feel like a team.” Wilcox sees the importance of a close team as not just important to himself but for the whole campus. He related, “You have to be in an environment where people feel confident that when the vice chancellor for student affairs speaks, he’s speaking with the support of the chancellor. If that isn’t believed, then the whole system doesn’t work. For that to truly be the case he has to feel and I have to feel it.” On a typical day, Wilcox wakes up at 6 a.m. at the chancellor’s residence on Watkins Drive and is on his treadmill by 6:05 a.m. for “three 10-minute miles — no faster, no slower, that’s it.” Wilcox wraps up his morning workout with 20 pushups and 80 situps — although he did disappointedly admit he had not been able to do all 80 situps because of a strain in his back. He then joked that he’d given me more information then I asked for, only to follow with his renowned hearty laughter, which could fill a room the size of University Lecture Hall. After reading the newspaper with a breakfast of yogurt and fruit, by a quarter to eight, Wilcox is in his office on the top floor of Hinderaker Hall. He describes the majority of his day as meetings held at the very table we spoke at — the table that Wilcox complained about being too low because his knees hit the top. Yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers and fruit top his desk when it is time for lunch, with a Diet Pepsi to complete the hearty meal. “Living large,” he joked. I could not help but smile as I envisioned Wilcox, like Tom Hanks’ airport-stranded character in “The Terminal,” carefully preparing and taking great delight in a sandwich of saltine crackers and cheese sticks. Noticing
HIGHLANDER
ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER Chancellor Wilcox describes the day-to-day life of leading the UCR campus.
my reaction at his rather average routine, Wilcox acknowledged that it isn’t “the glorious life you may think. But it’s great fun.” For the chancellor, great fun is not much different from average students. The chancellor has the opportunity, on a daily basis, to engage with and learn from a variety of unique and interesting people. The only difference is he has only as much as an hour to make a meeting count — and that’s it. He has to do his best then to move on to the next meeting on his schedule and know he made the most of it and if required, the best decision possible. To be chancellor is to be “in the moment” and feel comfortable engaging in the next topic despite knowing he might have done better if he spent all day on it — however, for Wilcox, “that’s not an option.” For many people, just the hint of taking on more than one project at a time is horrifying. Some people think academics have become academics to have a lowrisk, low-pressure environment where they can focus on their own interest of study. Wilcox, however, is anything but horrified by his new reality as chancellor.
For the chancellor, great fun is not much different from average students.
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Somewhere in his gut there is a feeling — a feeling to not just make a difference but a lasting one. Wilcox’s overarching advice, in serving in the role of chancellor, is something like this: It is easy to be liked by everyone by not doing much. If he wanted to — and he says some people do — Wilcox could not do much and get away with it. He acknowledged that if “you just go to events, have fun, eat cookies, give speeches … everybody will love you.” Knowing this to be unfair to the campus, he further proclaims that it is his obligation to do things that are not fun and will even make people very upset — even if they are the right things to do. Wilcox, as he often does, shares a story of his mother, who was a secretary her whole career. He says his mother would often come home frustrated and say, “I don’t know why they don’t do something about that.” Wilcox acknowledges that he is now “they.” As “they,” Wilcox describes his job as leaving the campus “a whole lot better” than when he arrived and frequently asking himself the question: “What will this mean 20 years from now?” He realized, “That’s the other guiding principle in all of this. You have to keep your eye on the longer term prize.” Then the door knocked. It was time for his next meeting. ■H
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FEATURES
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
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COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS College hook-ups can be a great stress-relief tool, but it can also become a major headache if motives aren’t clear from the start.
Hook-up Culture
Brenna Dilger, Staff Writer Let’s be real — most college students are in a perfect environment for casual sex, and hook-ups are just as prevalent as dating nowadays. Some people aren’t into that scene, but for those who are, it’s important to know the ropes when entering hook-up culture. This isn’t just the basic “use a condom” information (although you obviously should be using a condom, unless you want to run the risk of chlamydia or are ready for parenthood). This is information that will help you maximize the hook-up experience and avoid any hasty decisions one may regret in the long run. There’s no denying that hooking up has its benefits: You can have lots of sex, change partners easily and avoid relationship stress. However, lots of college students engage in casual sex for the wrong reasons, pick the wrong sexual partner or damage their wellbeing instead of having fun. There is only one healthy reason to hook up, and that is because you really want to and because you fully approve of the decision you are making. According to Zhana Vrangalova, a prominent sex researcher, if two people have casual sex because they genuinely desire to do so without reservations, their overall wellbeing improves — they experience stress relief and have a good time. However, if someone engages in casual sex with hesitancy, they are likely to be plagued with feelings of guilt, regret or insecurity. That leads to the several unhealthy reasons to hook up: because you want to feel better about yourself, because you’re hoping it leads to more, or because you feel pressured. Engaging in a hook-up for these reasons can lead to a general decrease in well-being. Out of 1,468 undergraduate students surveyed in a 2011 study, 27.1 percent felt embarrassed after hooking up, 24.7 percent reported emotional difficulties, 20.8 percent experienced loss of self-respect, and 10 percent reported difficulties with a steady partner. If you feel that casual sex is against your beliefs or just isn’t really your cup of tea, then simply don’t do it. Your mental well-being is at stake. It’s also important to find the right hook-up buddy. I know not many people consider this, since one-night stands
don’t usually involve much of a screening process. But for women, it’s beneficial to know that there are guys who will make you feel less insecure or used after a hook-up. And for men, it’s important to not pick a girl who will become super insecure or attached after your hook-up. Women unfortunately run the risk of being slut-shamed in any of these situations; though it is a complete double-standard, it is still an unfortunate reality. To protect yourself from being humiliated, it’s important to make sure you aren’t hooking up with a guy who will later degrade you. So ladies, stay away from generally narcissistic, manipulative or sexist dudes. Note how he talks about women around you or even about you; if he isn’t respectful, he probably will not respect you either, and you could possibly fall into being slutshamed. For guys, if you come across a girl who is constantly putting herself down (even jokingly), is talking constantly about an ex, or just seems hesitant about the hook-up, don’t go through with it. Find someone who knows she wants a hook-up to have fun, not to get back at an ex or to feel better about herself. Make sure she is confident in her decision; otherwise it will lead to complications or feelings of guilt and regret. It is also very important to not hook up with someone because you are hoping your casual sex will morph into a loving relationship. In a sample of 507 undergrads, 29 percent of men and 42.9 percent of women claimed they hoped their hook-up would turn into something more; however only about 6 percent of these undergrads combined actually got past the first one-night stand. So it is very unlikely that having casual sex with someone will lead to anything more than just casual sex. If you want a relationship, maybe try hanging out as friends or going on a date first; if the person you’re interested in wants to jump straight to sex, maybe that’s all they really want. Women need to be especially careful during and after a hook-up. Sexual activity releases oxytocin, also known as the “attachment hormone,” and is very strong in women. Sometimes the female body will trick a girl into thinking she is romantically interested in her fling, and this can lead to feelings of hurt and
rejection. To prevent this, girls should allow themselves a few days after a hook-up to cool off, to not contact their hook-up buddy and to focus on other things. Remind yourself that it’s just your oxytocin acting up. Those tricky feelings will evaporate by the end of the week. It’s also very important to note
that casual sex needs to be absolutely, unquestionably consensual. If there is not a definite “yes” from both parties, you are risking jail time. So, hopefully after reading these pointers, you can engage in hook-ups like a pro. Just remember to do it for the right reasons, to be careful who you sleep with and always be safe. ■H
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SPORTS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
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SPORTS POLL Do you think Johnny Manziel should have been drafted higher in the NFL draft?
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Joseph Lau Microbiology Fourth-year “I think he was drafted in the right spot. He could bust or he could be Cam Newton and live up to his hype.”
Wintana Melake Business Second-year “I’m going to have to say no because a lot of teams weren’t looking for a QB this time around.”
Jonathan Martinez Biochemistry First-year “I think he should have been drafted higher. Most teams weren’t looking for a QB. Florida ended up drafting someone in-state.”
Leslie Gudino Business Second-year “It would’ve been a smart business decision for whichever team drafted him. I really expected him to be drafted higher though.”
COMPILED BY VINCENT TA
Zadkiel Entsuah Biology Fourth-year “I thought he was going to be drafted higher. Talentwise, he’s undersized. Business-wise he should’ve been drafted higher.”
Julius Pagtakhan Business Economics First-year “I don’t think so. I think most likely he’s going to flop because he’s overhyped.”
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. SPORTS .
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
HIGHLANDER
Baseball concludes season shy of .500 win mark ALEXANDER MANZO Contributing Writer MAY 20, 2014
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Highlanders 8 - Antelopes 6
Playing their last home game on the season with over 400 fans on hand, the Highlanders took down Grand Canyon 8-6 with a three-run, walk-off home run by Devyn Bolasky in the bottom of the ninth inning. UCR took advantage early by scoring twice in the opening inning. The Antelopes would counter the two-run lead in the second inning by scoring three runs themselves. Brandon Smith smacked an RBI, sending Josh Meyer home after he reached third on a stolen base. UCR pitcher Donovan Gonzales loaded the bases and was replaced by Angel Landazuri. His first batter was a strikeout, but allowed an RBI and a sac fly, giving the Antelopes the lead, 3-2. UCR tied the game in the bottom half and took back the lead in the fourth with the help of a home run by Cody Hough before the eighth inning. Highlander closer Kevin Sprague came in for the final inning of the game. With one out already on the board, Grand Canyon’s Jon Kealoha reached first base on an infield single to short before Chad De La Guerra followed up with a home run that would put the Highlanders in the red zone with a onerun lead for Grand Canyon, 6-5. Jorge Perez came out ready to close the game for the Antelopes, but Cody Hough gave him a double down to the left-field line. A bunt from Alex Rubanowitz put Hough in perfect scoring position. Joe Chavez hit a grounder to third to give Hough enough time to get home, but ended up being the first out. With the booming roars of the crowd behind him, Bolasky stepped up to the plate and sent the ball over the wall, ending the game for UCR. He was mobbed by teammates at home plate and gave the Highlanders another victory on the season. MAY 22, 2014
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Rainbow Warriors 5 - Highlanders 1
The Highlanders had some jet lag on their trip to Hawaii’s Les Murakami Stadium
with a 5-1 loss to the Rainbow Warriors, falling to below a .500 record for the season at 25-27. UCR just was not able to generate multiple runs the entire game despite the fact that they had runners on base in seven innings and players ready to score on third for four of them. Most of the Highlanders reached third base with two outs already on the board. UCR’s Joe Chavez came up to bat in the third inning after two batters were retired, only to be hit by a pitch and sent to first. Devyn Bolasky doubled down to left field while Thomas Walker was walked, giving the Highlanders loaded bases. David Andriese, however, struck out swinging to finish the inning. The fourth inning opened eerily the same for UCR with the first two batters being retired before Matt Ellis singled to left field. Cody Hough drew a walk to have runners on first and second, but Alex Rubanowitz would pop up to end the inning. The Rainbow Warriors scored once in the first and then in the second inning. Once the sixth inning came around, they managed another run off of an error, 3-1. Once the eighth inning rolled around, UCR had a leadoff man on base with Walker singling up the middle. Despite all of their efforts, three outs would come up with a fly out, a strikeout and a line out. Hawaii would go on to end the game, 5-1. MAY 23, 2014 ............................................................................. Highlanders 8 - Rainbow Warriors 6
The Highlanders showed some California strength in game two of their series against Hawaii with a remarkable comeback in the fifth inning after being down by five runs. UCR took the lead in the sixth inning and finished off the game 8-6 after trailing 6-1 through four innings. UCR starting pitcher Zach Varela was taken out in the fourth inning after the Rainbow Warriors got nine hits and six runs off of him. His replacement, Dylan Stuart, took the helm in the fifth and took on the rest of the game without a single hit. Stuart came into the game with a tough situation with runners on first and second and only one out. The Rainbow Warriors scored an unearned run, but that would be the only
Francisco Tellez (no. 42) slides safely onto third base.
thing he let slide past him for the remainder of the game. With Stuart holding off the Rainbow Warriors from scoring, it was up to the rest of the Highlanders to get back on the board. As the fifth inning rolled around, the Highlanders attacked and took advantage of everything thrown at them. Hawaii starter Scott Kuzminsky was kicked off the mound after UCR’s Joe Chavez cut the lead down to two, 6-4, and Quintin Torres-Costa was sent in from the bullpen to try and clean up the mess. However, it didn’t seem like he warmed up enough as he threw a wild pitch that allowed Walker to reach second and gave David Andriese a walk to first. A balk sent two players to second and third base. Francisco Tellez singled to right to have Hough reach home and Andriese right behind him with another error by the right fielder. Hawaii once again took out their pitcher and pulled Juliene Jones from the bullpen. He would close the fifth inning, but now with a tied game, 6-6, they had to work a little harder to try and beat the Highlanders. A miscue from left field this time would allow the go-ahead run for UCR in the following inning. After two outs, Bolasky
JASPERY GOH / HIGHLANDER
got hit by a pitch. Walker hit a double to left to move pinch hitter Mark Contreras into scoring position, but with the left fielder not able to get the ball quickly enough, he gave UCR the lead 7-6. The Highlanders finished the game after an insurance run in the eighth to win the game 8-6. MAY 24, 2014
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Rainbow Warriors 5 - Highlanders 1
The UC Riverside baseball team watched their season come to a close with a 5-1 loss to Hawaii on Saturday night. Squaring off against one of the powerhouses in the Big West Conference, the Highlanders faced formidable pitching in the early going, only generating three hits in five innings. The fifth inning saw UCR earn its only run off of a wild pitch; however, it would be the only score for the team on the day en route to a 5-1 thumping. The Highlanders end the season with a 26-28 record, tallying a 12-12 Big West conference record. The 12 Big West wins are the most victories for the club since 2010 when they finished 13-11 and in third place in ■H conference.
Stuart, Hooper and Littleton impress at the Big West Championships JASON AHN Contributing Writer
The Big West Track and Field Championships have been heating up over the past couple of weekends as the athletes of UCR’s track and field team competed at UC Davis over the weekends of May 9-10 and May 16-17. The men’s team placed fifth while the women’s team finished the championship in seventh place overall. Long Beach State’s men’s club and UC Davis’ women’s team took home the Big West bragging rights. Caleb Stuart took home two firstplace trophies with a 58.67-foot shot put throw and a whopping 219.25 mark in the hammer. Stuart dominated the hammer event, out-throwing his nearest opponent by 25 feet. In the shot, he started with a 52.16-foot throw and after a foul, threw his winning mark. Long jumper Ted Hooper was crowned Big West Champ for the third time in a row with a 24.58-foot mark. Hooper and five other jumpers started the long jump with fouled marks. His top jump came in the fifth round of jumps, erasing most of the doubt that he
wouldn’t win. Danielle Littleton won in both the long jump and 100-meter hurdles, as well as placing second in the heptathlon. Her standings don’t reflect the weight of her accomplishments, as she broke the school record for points as a heptathlete. Littleton started off strong by leading the group by 18 points after the first day of events. She placed first in the 100 hurdles, second in the high jump and the 200. She then surprised everyone with a career-best 5.42-foot mark in the high jump. Michael Koger took home a secondplace trophy in the men’s 400 with a 52.00 finish. Chima Ikeme placed third in the discus, hitting a 167.67-foot mark. Stuart almost medaled in the disc as well with a fourth-place 163.92-foot mark. Tiffini Stone came fourth in the women’s triple jump clearing 39.81-feet and Jacquelyn DuBois finished seventh with a top mark of 39.38-feet. Michael Harris and Darren Richardson Jr. came in fifth and eighth in the men’s triple jump with marks of 48.56-feet and 46.5feet. The men’s 4x100 relay team of
COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS
For the third time in a row, Ted Hooper was crowned Big West Champ for his long jump performance.
Hooper, Michael Kojin, Justin Harris and Bryan Adams placed fifth with a 41.33 time. The men’s 4x400 relay team of Koger, Dylan Gates, Harris and Marcus Cummings mimicked the 4x100 team with a fifth-place 3:14.53 time. The UC Riverside women’s 4x100 relay team of Phoenisha Schuhmeier, Noelle Abboud, Camille Deadwiler and Nechelle Reyes came in sixth with
a time of 47.56. The women’s 4x400 relay team of Abboud, Littleton, Tayler Fleming and Keisha May recorded a 3:51.60 time, putting them in eighth place. The individual winners of the UCR track and field team will advance to the NCAA West Region Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., beginning on May ■H 29.
