Volume 69 Issue 00

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

VOL. 69, ISSUE 00

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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Virtual Greetings from

a i n ifor

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We Wish You Were Here!

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS:

AMANI MAHMOUD | PUBLIC POLICY | 4TH YEAR

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Tighten N’ Tone 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Virtual Event, SRC

UCR New Staff Orientation 8:00 a.m.

Virtual Event

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Pop Pilates 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Virtual Event, SRC

SBIR TALKS: Crisis as Catalyst: The COVID-19 Impact on Innovation 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Virtual Webinar

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Aromatherapy 101 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Virtual Event, SRC

Gluteus Max Out 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Virtual Event, SRC

Tuesday

COMPILED BY RYAN POON

Wednesday

Thursday

“I finally got the courage to visit The Highlander newspaper office in the middle of my first year at UCR. I always had a passion for journalism

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and finally decided to take the step to get involved in college journalism.

I began volunteering for the news section as a contributing writer and before I knew it, I was appointed as the assistant news editor during my second year. I decided to reapply during my third year and served as the lead news editor. I am now serving as the 2020-2021 editor-

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in-chief of The Highlander. I can’t wait to make a lasting impact on this organization as the editor-in-chief and to continue bringing UCR students reliable campus and community news. “

UCR Dance. Inland Empire’s Ultimate Doundounba West African Drum and Dance Festival: Djembe Class with Fode Sissoko 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Virtual Event, Dance

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Sunday

CONTACT US

HIGHLANDER STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

Silvia Ferrer

Amani Mahmoud

managingeditor @highlandernews.org

editorinchief @highlandernews.org

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Davina Garcia dgarc084@ucr.edu

NEWS EDITOR

Laura Anaya-Morga

news@highlandernews.org OPINIONS EDITOR

ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR Madison Rheins mrhei002@ucr.edu

Christine Tran

opinions@highlandernews.org FEATURES EDITOR

ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Alexandria Estaban aeste005@ucr.edu

Adriana Mandujano Angel features@highlandernews.org A&E EDITOR

ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Kevin Sanchez Neri ksanc034@ucr.edu

Colin Carney

radar@highlandernews.org SPORTS EDITOR

Sofia Garcia

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ART DIRECTOR

Amanda Joy Teano

Celine Hoang artdirector. highlander@gmail.com

productionmanager @highlandernews.org PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

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ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Leo Yue lyue003@ucr.edu

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Ryan Poon

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Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact Opinions Editor Samuel Harrison at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit the completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letters can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.

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wRECk It! 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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STRONG by Zumba 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Virtual Event, SRC

Monday

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2020

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NEWS

NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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UCR’s fall quarter to remain largely online due to uncertainty posed by COVID-19 pandemic

DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

Amid COVID-19 complications and uncertainty, UCR has released a comprehensive proposal for the incoming school year. On Wednesday, June 17, a mass email was sent out to all students announcing UCR’s decision to remain primarily remote, with a minimal amount of class instruction occurring in person. Over the course of the past couple months, UCR’s Instructional Continuity Working Group (ICWG) has worked to fashion a suitable plan for the 2020-2021 academic year. The committee comprised of faculty, staff and students worked in conjunction with the Academic Senate, department chairs, deans, vice chancellors, other UCs and other working groups, in order to make holistic, informed decisions in the best interest of the university and its community.

In an interview with The Highlander, Interim Provost Thomas Smith and co-chair of the ICWG, stated, “The news in past days of COVID-19 surges across the nation, with Riverside County as one of California’s hot spots for infection, has quieted any hopes for a quick return to ‘normal’ campus life.”

The ICWG stressed that they were particularly concerned with taking the

necessary steps to ensure safety while still maintaining access to education and allowing

Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP) consists of six pages describing what to expect in the months ahead, and has been approved by the campus’ Public Health Working Group and leadership. The ICP includes four different phases based on necessary COVID-19 precautions. Phases one to three functionality. Summer school sessions are currently operating at the second phase and it is expected that the autumn term will move into the third phase.

As of now, the general consensus is that no staff or students are required to teach or learn in a physical environment.

Some classes that are more likely to be in person include graduate courses, as well as undergraduate laboratories and studios, due to the generally smaller student ratios or physically present; according to Smith, the to be around or less than 20%. However, such classes that are approved for in-person operation must follow strict guidelines in accordance with social distancing and make

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acceptable arrangements for those who cannot attend in person.

Despite the limitations, UCR has vowed to sustain whatever resources they can, encouraging students to look into Keep Learning for help with online learning. The university is also keeping Student Affairs open both remotely and in-person; such services include Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services and The Well. On-campus housing is also being offered at a lower capacity in order to preserve safety, but all freshmen, transfers and returning students are encouraged to

apply and await more information. be revealed in UCR’s Banner Student Information System later this summer.

Additionally, due to the unpredictability of for winter and spring quarter remain to be three months before the beginning of each term.

In the words of Interim Provost Smith, “This will pass, and when the time is right, we will be back together – joyously, and H safely.”

Twitter thread goes viral with students recounting their stories of sexual assault at the hands of UCR fraternity members

DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

to speak up about another related issue;

Reportedly inspired by a previous Twitter thread highlighting the locations of sexual predators in another part of California, Erin Spates, a UCR alumnus, decided to take similar action. On Tuesday, June 2, she created her own thread in direct response to a tweet regarding abuse committed by UCR fraternity members. Spates declared that if anyone had a sexual assault story involving students at UCR that they wanted to share with the public, then she would add their anecdote while preserving their anonymity.

Spates stated that she received an inundation of direct messages from individuals imparting their own personal experiences as victims of sexual assault.

From there, the thread quickly gained traction with over 80 given accounts, well over 2,000 retweets and more than 7,000 likes on the popular social media platform at time of writing.

In an interview with The Highlander, Spates admitted that though responses have been largely positive, there are plenty of people who are vocally upset about it. On her personal Twitter, she has received more than a few threats and violent attempts at cyberbullying, but regardless Spates has not stopped, and continues adding onto the thread fueled by the desire to spread awareness of sexual assault.

The Twitter thread eventually caught the attention of faculty a day later as users began tagging UCR in their comments. The

is not always helpful when it comes to handling reported cases of sexual assault.

One anonymous report on Twitter stated that the counselors involved in their particular predicament took the side of the accused when the charge was denied, even though the victim avowedly had two primary eyewitnesses. Spates herself reiterated this sentiment, adding that she has seen Title IX fail before and she hopes that the thread, which has garnered so much attention, “Brings to light how seriously you need to take these reports.”

In response to these statements, the Associate Vice Chancellor and Interim Title IX Director at UCR Kiersten Boyce, said in an interview with The Highlander that the entire UCR team, including the Title IX

statement saying that they were thankful the information had been brought to the attention of the university. They added that the Title cases mentioned on Twitter, and encouraged survivors to utilize the online Title IX reporting system.

This however, prompted some people

and Academic Integrity Programs (SCAIP), Residential Life, HR, UCPD, Respondent Services and Academic Personnel is, “Dedicated to responding to reports promptly and compassionately.”

Boyce added that in 2019, the investigation and adjudication processes of the President (UCOP) in order to meet new legal requirements. They are currently being revised once more in response to the new standards released by the Trump administration, indicating even more change to come.

Still, Boyce assured that in regards to is treating the situation seriously and as is standard in the case of anonymous reports.

She stated that there is little that the university can do for those who have already graduated as it falls out of their jurisdiction, but the rest will be addressed appropriately. Boyce

to making their processes, “As fair, thorough, and equitable as possible for our students, faculty and staff, so that those who assault, harass or otherwise violate the rights of others can be held accountable.”

UCR’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) also presented their own statement in regards to the Twitter thread, acknowledging that many of

with fraternities on campus. On Wednesday, June 3, the council took to Instagram in order to express their sympathy for the victims in the anonymous thread and applauded them they announced that due to the emergence of the thread, ”IFC now publicly demands that all fraternities with members accused of any sort of sexual misbehaviour or harassment immediately suspend their memberships by professionals.” The council promised that the sexual assault allegations are being treated with the utmost sincerity, adding that they are openly working with the Title IX, CARE and all victims to come forward and share their stories.

However, this too sparked some controversy, as numerous individuals on Instagram voiced their opinions about IFC’s announcement, criticizing and questioning the university and the council’s response. One of the aforementioned users, Michelle Arteaga, a fourth-year sociology major, spoke with The Highlander about her concerns regarding IFC’s past of complacency. “I feel like it’s sad to see that it took this Twitter thread for IFC to Arteaga maintained that the IFC should be taking more action, especially when considering the high amount of cases being brought to public attention. She added that it is upsetting to note how much effort is put into solving instances of crimes like hazing,

when there is a lack thereof in cases of sexual assault. “I hope that this shines a light on the Greek community and shows IFC that these fraternities are not valuing what they stand for,” Arteaga concluded.

Another user who criticized the Instagram post, Melissa Sagun, a fourth-year political science major, shared similar opinions. She expressed her approval of IFC issuing a public statement in regards to the Twitter thread, but indicated that doing so was merely “scratching the surface.” Sagun added that there should be more direct action in order to make the community better and eradicate the culture of sexual misconduct. “They need to holistically take a step back and reevaluate what it means to be a better ally and advocate, as well as fully apologize to the victims who came forward,” she stated.

Sagun asserted that in addition to the IFC, all UCR leadership and faculty needs to work together in order to provide greater resources for survivors. She claimed that they need to make moves to better prevent sexual assault from occurring, especially when “many people are discouraged from reporting to the police and going past experiences.” She added that the administration of both organizations don’t want this “horrible pattern and culture to continue in the professional world, hurting more people along the way.”

In an interview with The Highlander relating to the thread, Chancellor Kim Wilcox commended individuals seeking to shed light on the university culture of sexual misconduct. He stated, ”UCR will review these allegations and pursue investigative and legal remedies for those cases that are found to warrant action.”

The Highlander also reached out to the IFC and many of the accused for additional commentary, but at time of writing, they have H not responded to requests for comment.

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ASUCR

ASUCR 2019-2020 year in review her CHASS senatorial positions due to reasons unknown; her position was

2019-2020 ASUCR representatives

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

The 2019-2020 year began with newly-elected President Julian Gonzalez eager to transform ASUCR and strengthen student voices on campus. Ultimately, the year was marked by a myriad of resignations, debates over legislation COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. posed to the ASUCR senate was Protocol’s proposed commencement changes presented at the third ASUCR meeting held on Oct. 16, 2019. Their proposed plan to move commencement from Pierce Lawn at UCR to the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California and omit graduates’ names from being spoken out loud during the ceremony received backlash from students and sparked various questions and concerns from the senate. President Gonzalez authored a petition opposing the changes that received 32,615 signatures and students organized a protest at the Bell Tower on Oct. 21, 2019 to voice their opposition as well.

COURTESY OF ASUCR VIA INSTAGRAM

In response, Chancellor Kim Wilcox and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs (VCSA) Brian Haynes addressed the concerns at the next ASUCR meeting held on Oct. 23, 2019. Wilcox and Haynes stated that their intention was not to make concrete decisions on commencement 2020, nor to leave students out of the decision making process. As a result, the Commencement Working Group was created to collaborate and brainstorm a course of action to present to Chancellor Wilcox regarding the 2020 commencement ceremony. In the end, due to recommendations made by the Commencement Working Group, Chancellor Wilcox agreed to keep 2020 commencement on campus. However, due to campus closures prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, commencement for the class of 2020 has been postponed to hold large gatherings, and a virtual commencement ceremony was held in its place.

ASUCR also experienced many resignations from members of the senate, some due to reasons unknown and others due to various perceived issues within ASUCR. Itzel Heraldez

major in sustainability studies and media and cultural studies, Nelson Huerta. Olenka Graham-Castaneda followed suit, stepping down from her position as undergraduate sustainability director. On Wednesday, Jan. 8, President Pro Tempore and Public Policy Senator Preeti Juturu publicly announced her resignation as well. “I hope that one day, due to the hard work of every single ASUCR an organization that students associate with professionalism, progress, and comprehensive positive change,” stated Juturu. In an interview with The Highlander, Juturu revealed her frustration for the lack of dedication and effort taken by many senators. publicly announced her resignation from her position at the ASUCR meeting held on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Castaneda told The Highlander that she experienced hostility from other members of the senate and stated that she was tired of being part of a team that was unprofessional and used their elected positions to serve themselves.

CNAS Senator Phoebe Ly and also resigned from their positions for reasons unknown.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, ASUCR hosted its sixth annual R’Gear distribution in which they gave out 4,000 sweaters to students outside of the Student Recreation Center (SRC), received the free apparel. President Gonzalez was prompted to author

SB-S20-011, The R’Gear Initiative.

The bill would establish R’Gear as a traditional event and allocate $40,000 of next year’s budget to the event. The controversial bill received backlash from many students at the ASUCR meeting held on Wednesday, May 27. The senate received multiple oppositions from students who stated that the allocated funds should

support to students affected by the coronavirus pandemic. SB-S20-011 ultimately failed to pass with a vote of 6-6-4 because the bill required a majority vote of 50% plus one, totaling to nine yes votes.

Another controversial bill that was rejected by the judicial council due to improper voting procedures was SbS20-007, Amendments to Chapters 10, 8, 2 and 4 of the ASUCR Bylaws, which proposed an increase to the stipend from $7,425 to $9,900.

The Judicial Council announced that the vote was conducted unconstitutionally determined that vote on the bill was constituted to be a voted on and rejected previously at the ASUCR meeting held on Wednesday, Feb. 5. During that meeting, the senate moved into a closed session to discuss the bill for over one hour and it failed to pass with a vote of 7-4-4. Members of the senate and the galley expressed their concern over the discussion being held in a closed Abigail Cortes stated that she was allowed to make choices about the methods of voting and discussion per Robert’s Rules of Order. However,

she was unable to provide the clause to which she was referring to.

ASUCR held a successful online voting week despite the challenges they faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Voting was postponed by one week, allowing candidates to switch to an online campaign Committee incentivized students to vote through gift card giveaways and food giveaways. Voter turnout was 11.14% which is consistent with the typical amount that is garnered yearly.

Wednesday, June 3, was concentrated around ASUCR’s response to the BLM movement. Dozens of students attended in support of their peers and many expressed their concerns over ASUCR’s lack of advocacy towards the BLM movement, calling their actions a form of performative activism.

ASUCR President Gonzalez penned SR-S20-002 In Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, a resolution determined to, “Denounce racism on every level and express (ASUCR’s) solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.”

The resolution states that moving forward, ASUCR will take a stand on the systemic racial injustices, contribute to progressive causes monetarily, work to implement to ensure they are effective allies and demand the open exploration of new tactics and forms of protection in our community outside of UCPD, amongst other things. The responsibility to actually implement these resolutions is placed on next year’s senate.

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Meet your 2020-2021 ASUCR Senate

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

student opinion and interests to the community at large on issues affecting student life.”

The executive branch of ASUCR, also known as the

legislation and participating in at least two ASUCR committees throughout the school year.

Members of the legislative branch hold the power over all ASUCR revenues and allocations based on their individual yearly budget.

The judicial branch is tasked

request for censure and removal of a member of ASUCR as outlined in the ASUCR constitution and bylaws.

The governing documents of ASUCR are the constitution and bylaws. These documents structure the way ASUCR is organized and outline all job descriptions, duties and rules set in place by the senate. ASUCR meetings are

executive branch also includes an extended cabinet that consists

vice president of sustainability, personnel director, marketing and promotions director, transfer and non-traditional student director and elections director. Descriptions of each position may be found in the ASUCR constitution.

The legislative branch consists of several senators representing each of UCR’s colleges. Senators serve as chief policy makers and representatives of their constituency. They are responsible for proposing and voting on

President

Executive Vice President

Luis Huerta

Natalie Hernandez

VP of Finance

VP of Internal Affairs

VP of External Affairs

“Hello class of 2024! I am extremely excited for you all to start this year and become part of the Highlander family. The journey you are all going to embark on will be one full of growth and development!”

“Welcome Highlanders! I’m so excited for y’all to start this new and exciting journey! Don’t ever be afraid to reach tions or concerns!”

“Hello everybody welcome to the next chapter of your life. I am extremely excited to see what UCR has in store for you and do not hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything!”

“Welcome to college, class of 2024!

Don’t hesitate to get involved, make friends, and ask for help! We’re here for all of you!”

“Welcome to our Highlander family!

I am looking forward to a challenging yet strong year of student advocacy, and I hope you all know that the Exterceed in your academic journey here at UCR. Stay safe and take care!”

The Associated Students of University of California at Riverside (ASUCR) are UCR’s independent, student-directed, unincorporated, directly elected, three-branch student government.

As outlined in their mission statement, ASUCR is determined to “recognize, represent, and support the diversity of needs and views of students at the university” and “provide for the expression of

representative body composed president, executive vice president affairs (VPIA), vice president of

William Wang

cases in ASUCR, verifying the legality of all approved legislation and any extraneous cases presented to them, regulating and reviewing elections violations as well as reviewing any cases of a

Angelica Garcia

p.m. beginning in fall quarter and concluding at the end of spring quarter.

H

Vincent Rasso

NEWS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

Transfer/NonTraditional Student Director

Marketing & Promotions Director

President Pro Tempore

CHASS SENATOR

CHASS senator

CHASS SENATOR

CHASS SENATOR

CHASS SENATOR

CHASS SENATOR

CHASS SENATOR

VP of Sustainability

Vanessa Gomez Alvarado

Ian Chew

Personnel Director Ky Nguyen

Orlando Cabalo

Nelson Salvador Aguiar

Mufida Assaf

Rosemary Le

Lizbeth Marquez Torres

Elections Director Sean Nguyen

“Welcome class of 2024!! I am so excited to meet you all this year.

Ramses Cuadros

Alyssa Marchan

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Juan Morales

David An

CHASS SENATOR Christopher Kent

CNAS SENATOR Abigail Nguyen

-

CNAS SENATOR Lina Nguy

CNAS SENATOR

CNAS SENATOR

Barry Liu

Akanksha Sancheti

GSOE SENATOR

SPP Senator

CNAS SENATOR

Jacqueline Gomez

BCOE SENATOR

Leonardo Ballesteros

Feel free to reach out to me or come

BCOE SENATOR Natalie Campos

Stephanie Zeng

Nava Majlesi

“Hello UCR class of 2024! I am so excited

all made it! We are so excited to

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Let’s Take Action strives to amplify Black student voices on campus and promote sustainable change in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement at UCR

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

Let’s Take Action (LTA) is a collective group of students pushing for the equal treatment of marginalized and underserved students at UCR, demanding that transformative action be taken by campus administration.

Towards the end of spring quarter, UCR student leaders and activists KalinPont “KP” Tate, Evelyn Kennedy, Ariana Turner, Samia Alkam, Vincent Rasso and Roman Gomez came together to draft a letter and list of demands directed towards UCR leadership, ensuring that Black and minority students were being cared for by the university during their “The members of UCR’s Black student community, who have been faced with systemic injustice and national outrage, have been especially affected,” stated the letter. LTA drafted the letter following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Nina Pop, which have caused an outpour of protests across the country with folks demanding justice for those killed as a result of racism and police brutality.

On Sunday, May 31, the list of demands was sent to notable campus administration including Chancellor Mariam Lam, Academic Senate Chair UCR colleges, with a deadline to respond

by Wednesday, June 3. In the letter, LTA be canceled, postponed or made optional by professors and that UCR acknowledge campus-wide support of the Black Lives Matter movement. It also called for the immediate implementation of a no-failing policy for the 2020 spring quarter and the assessment of alternative forms of UCR campus safety and ultimate divestment

On June 1, the Riverside community came together to protest police brutality.

received over 17,900 signatures at the time of writing, and a GroupMe chat that was started by LTA for students who wish to be involved with the group now has over 300 members. The call to action was supported by a large population of students, many campus organizations and faculty members.

In an interview with The Highlander, LTA stated that the Academic Senate ally and consistently stayed in contact with the group. “We appreciated the transparency given by him and the things that we were able to do to get students accommodated in such a small time frame. We are very pleased with the outcome of that considering the realm of possibility,” stated Tate. Tate referred to a statement made by the Academic Senate on June 4. The announcement, “outlines the concrete measures the UCR (their) collective capacity to academically support vulnerable and impacted (Black) students during this time.”

The Academic Senate passed three

drop a course from the third full week of instruction through the end of the term with the approval of an academic advisor; this action was previously only allowed until the second week of the term. R.1.1.5 stated that no indication of courses dropped during spring and summer quarters would appear in students’ permanent transcripts, whereas previously, students would receive a transcript symbol of W, signifying withdrawal. And finally, R1.1.6 allowed for students to petition for conversion from letter grade to S/ NC or vice versa until the end of the term. In the statement, Rodriguez also urged faculty members and colleges to evaluate their grading policies, and “to embrace the call for solidarity, that is so clearly articulated in the Call to Action.”

While LTA was pleased with the results and help they received from Rodriguez, they say that there is still more work to be done to fulfill the demands listed, especially as it pertains support of the Black student community.

Gomez stated that the list of demands was a good starting point for the group

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and provided them with the momentum to keep going.

“It’s about getting administration to make commitments that we can hold to make commitments that we can hold them accountable to,” stated Gomez.

In their first meeting held on Wednesday, June 18, the group discussed the various meetings that co-authors of the list of demands and various allies have held with administration. In the meeting, Tate stated that administration group, a committee that was created last fall to provide advocacy and representation for the Black student community. Tate also stated that in a to work with the community and plan to take in feedback from students on ways they can ensure student safety on campus.

The group is currently working on establishing LTA as an official organization on campus that will be focused on bringing sustainable change to UCR. H

UCR’s Student Life prepares for remote Highlander Orientation DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

to a virtual format. In the past, school organizations would set up their own tables

to host the 2020 Highlander Orientation completely online for incoming students.

One way UCR is adjusting to the change is to promote their tool known as the “Involvement Calculator.” In an interview with The Highlander, Senior Coordinator

advertising their group and activities to the parents and incoming students. Students were able to walk around and approach groups they had potential interest in and speak directly with representatives from said organizations.

the Involvement Calculator is a survey incoming students can complete in order to share their interests. With the results, student organization advisors fashion personalized reports that suggest different

on maintaining and replicating that personal feeling of walking table to table and browsing. Though the virtual tabling website is still currently in development, he stated that the essential idea is for each campus department and student organization to submit an informational video to be compiled with other related groupings in a longer, categorized video. “If I was interested in a cultural organization, all of those groups would be combined into one video that I could watch, or I

he said that, ”If a student says they’re going a pre-med route and they’re interested in community service, their report might feature a few service opportunities that allows students to volunteer in hospitals or at local clinics.”

only the certain clubs I’m looking for,” he receives around 300 of these surveys each year, but the number is projected to increase this summer due to the remote orientation. When faced with over 500 clubs and organizations to choose from, he added that it is easier for new students to

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Additionally, the university is in the process of adapting the traditional tabling events that occur during orientation

By the time the site is completed, it will provide new students with a coherent and an easy way of navigating information out to students and parents as a part of the orientation materials this summer, set to H occur from July 9 to August 11.

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OPINIONS

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Reform or defunding — either way change within the UCPD is long overdue

P

eople, especially Black people, have long been exhausted by the continuing issues of police brutality and racism that is perpetuated by the current systems implemented. In the past two months, nationwide protests have broken out, even locally in Riverside, alongside demands for not just reforms but the defunding or complete abolishment of the police. UC students have found themselves in a similar conversation with their respective institution and the University of California Police Department (UCPD). In light of recent events, UC student activists are renewing their efforts for increased oversight and possible abolishment of the UCPD. No UC student should feel unsafe or harassed at their school, especially not by the people who are meant to protect them. While it is unlikely that the UC would be bold enough to abolish UCPD altogether, the UCPD has proven in the past to be working against their students rather than with or for them. Drastic revisions need to be made within the UC’s police force and a good place to start would be the defunding or reforming of the UCPD. On May 31, UCR’s Black Student Union released a statement directed toward Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox and the UCR administration with demands that UCR explore alternative forms of campus safety and ultimately divest from the UCPD. Similarly, earlier this month, the UC Berkeley Law Students of African Descent (LSAD) sent a letter to the chancellor of UC Berkeley (UCB) demanding that the administration “cut ties with the Berkeley Police Department, to disarm the UCPD and to disband the department and reallocate resources to the development of appropriate alternatives to policing.” The letter also includes several instances of police violence within the UCB community.

For example, in March 2019, two

COURTESY OF UCR

Black students were forcefully searched and thrown to the ground while walking home from campus.

They were both arrested and brought in for interrogation and throughout the whole arresting process, neither of them was read their rights.

In addition to concerns of racial profiling, the UCPD has received criticism due to their aggressive behavior when it came to handling protests. Most notably was an incident that went viral in 2011 where a UC Davis police officer casually pepper sprayed students who were seated peacefully protesting. The students affected eventually won a settlement and the officer was fired.

It is clear that the people who were put in place to protect UC students are actually just putting them in harm’s way.

This continuous pattern of behavior is not going unnoticed in the communities they work for either. In 2013, in attempt to combat an increase of robberies, UCR officers implemented new police actions that only ended up causing more racial profiling of Black students at UCR. Several African American students attended a town hall meeting to express how UCPD’s combative behaviors led to more frequent stops of Black students and them feeling unsafe walking outside at night in fear of being made out a suspect.

Not only has the UC allowed these aggressive behaviors to thrive at their institutions, they have been excessively funding it as well. In the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the 10 UC campuses collectively spent more than $138 million on policing alone, with UCR in particular spending $9.04 million. UC Berkeley spent more on salaries for police than for instructors of education, psychology or social welfare. The UC is a system of universities, not a military base. It doesn’t make sense to invest more money into policing over professors and its students, especially when there are more important organizations and departments on campus that are severely underfunded.

UCR often boasts about the diversity of its community but in the past has done little to support ethnic and gender programs on campus. In June 2018, students gathered around the Bell Tower to protest the gap between UCR officials’ salaries and the amount of money spent for students and Costo Hall. To this day, funding for Costo Hall, which includes funding for African Student Programs (ASP), comes from the Highlander Empowerment Student Services Referendum which relies on students’ fees rather than actual funding from UCR. To UCR students, it is a huge slap in a face to see so much funding be put toward a police department who make African Americans and other students of color feel in danger with make matters worse, the school is still going to use them as a token for diversity, while overlooking the fact that they choose to support the entity that works against them.

The UC system needs to truly listen to the concerns of their students and actively push for reform and any, if all, defunding of the UCPD. On May 31, UC President Janet Napolitano and Board of Regents Chair John Perez released a statement pledging to “take immediate action to re-examine our own practices and ensure we continue to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Universitywide Policing.” Yet, this statement isn’t a guaranteed promise that any changes will be made. Another UC systemwide task force on policing recommended in early 2019 that each campus set up an independent advisory board to oversee police, but a year and a half later, the actual implementation of this recommendation varied by campus.

It is expected that the UC would not be keen about defunding the UCPD completely, but a start would be to demilitarize all university police departments. A university campus is

not a place for armed forces and the inclusion of weapons in any situation could lead to escalation rather than resolution. According to UCR’s 2016 crime statistics, a majority of offenses were robbery or vandalism, both which can be handled without dire enough to warrant the use of police department should be called in to handle it instead. This doesn’t change the fact that whether it be the UCPD or city of Riverside police department, Black students still won’t feel safe with either presence relationships UCPD and local police departments have with UC students remains rocky after years of misconduct.

Taking away the UCPD’s weapon budget would free up money that could be redirected to students in need. In 2015 and 2016, UCLA’s police department spent $169,925 on material supplies which includes: fuels and lubricants, flares, safety vests, ammunition, uniforms for dispatch and office supplies. While this number most likely varies from campus to campus, it is still a significant amount of money all UC campuses could get back and UCR specifically could put it toward its underfunded programs.

There needs to be more emphasis on de-escalation and conflict resolution among officers but even then it is not certain that implementing this type of training will truly be effective.

Currently, UCPD officers receive the same legislative mandated training that all other California police officers go through, but a couple of weeks of implicit training has already proven to not be enough, especially since there are no follow ups about the effectiveness of trainings. The UCPD must do better in adopting non-lethal methods of approach especially since they are working for a population of predominantly young students. There is no room for errors similar to the ones

their city police departments peers are making nationwide.

If UCPD officers cannot adapt to conflict resolution tactics, then it would be best for the UC to reduce what the UCPD has jurisdiction over.

Oftentimes, police officers will get calls to do welfare checks or to scope out suspicious characters. In these cases, the situation can easily be escalated by police officers, as seen with the murder of Rayshard Brooks. The Atlanta police officers were responding to a complaint of a Black man asleep in a Wendy’s drive-thru and the interaction ended with the murder of an innocent man.

Instead of spreading the UCPD too thin, the implementation of a community-led organization who has individuals specialized in mental health and are trained in first aid could be an effective alternative to calling the UCPD for every single thing. In non-violent situations like welfare checks, sending in unarmed individuals experienced with mental health would prevent deaths like Rayshard Brooks from ever happening.

While it is still unknown if the pledges of Napolitano and other UC there is one thing that is certain: that Black UC students deserve to feel safe on their campus. They should not feel afraid to be on campus because for doing nothing but walking. If the UC truly cared about their students as they claim to do, they would take more active steps toward changing the role of UCPD on UC campuses and hold them accountable for police brutality.

H

Highlander Highlander

Editorial

editorials Board.

8

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS POLL Compiled by Deanna De Leon Marketing Director

“What advice would you give your past self before coming to UCR?”

ARCHIVE /HIGHLANDER

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Adam Thai Biochemistry Third-year

Brianna Rivera Psychology First-year

Samia Alkam Education Fourth-year

“Join clubs early because that’s the best way to make friends.”

“Look into all grants, every grant, ask questions about grants, and bother

“Take advantage of Costo Hall resources.”

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Sean Kyle Morgado Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology Class of 2018

“Don’t stress too hard on GPA, focus on EC’s. Some jobs after university don’t even care about your GPA.”

ARCHIVE /HIGHLANDER

ARCHIVE /HIGHLANDER

Lilly Woolf Psychology & Education First-year

Angelina Nunez Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Third-year

“Be open minded to going to events and joining clubs.”

“Wait before you buy course materials, you might hate the class.”

While college may be filled with uncertainty, socializing will help UCR students create lasting support networks

ANGELA SAHA Contributing Writer

College is the time for students to find themselves not only academically, but socially. This is difficult when impostor syndrome creeps up while students are trying to make the most of their experience. I have experienced its unpleasant side effects myself.

Stepping into my first computer science class, I had no idea what coding was. I quickly realized my foundation for education was not geared toward technology as much as my classmates were. Born and raised in a lowincome household in Los Angeles, my classrooms were always overpacked and underfunded while students coming from Northern California grew up taking computer science classes. The most embarrassing thing thus far was when I asked my hallmate for help in a lab and he asked what language the code was. I replied “in English,” having no idea what he was referring to when the correct answer was HTML. I recall feeling unworthy of being in the same institution, but luckily, I met new people who convinced me to take this nasty idea out of my mind.

The effects of impostor syndrome were only exacerbated by a plight 57% of the UCR population faces — as a first-generation college student, I have always carried the burden of my parent’s high expectations. The difference between my immigrant parents and myself is that I am actually experiencing

ARCHIVE /HIGHLANDER

these courses, in addition to struggling through the transition from in-person to online classes. 40% of students drop out of college because of how challenging it is. There will be countless times where students feel like they aren’t the smartest or most engaged person in a class, but this is a shared form of trauma and it can actually help you bond with other students and create empowering friendships. I made friends who were in the same position as me, filled with selfdoubt; however, we ended up being each other’s support system.

Socializing, maintaining your GPA and juggling being a “real adult” may be difficult, but getting involved in organizations and clubs that catch your

attention will surely bring joy to your undergraduate years. It does not always have to be a resume booster, internship or Greek life. You will always have time to try new things as that is the magic of college; you create your own schedule.

Your random hobby can possibly become what distinguishes you in the future from other applicants if you choose to pursue graduate school.

I found that immersing myself in my passion allowed me to make college worthwhile and make friends in the process. Although I am a political science major who intends to go into the law field, fashion and photography spark joy in me. By joining CLASSXFASHION, a fashion club

with weekly themes that incorporate photography and an annual fashion show, I was able to interact with peers from all different school years; as upperclassmen have traversed the same issues, they’re able to be a resource for me.

College is really expensive, therefore you should get the most bang out of your buck. Although it may be stressful, you are paying not only for education but also to create new memories with new people. It won’t be hard for incoming students to find support networks on campus as I did. They will help you believe in yourself, overcome feelings of doubt and make the most of your time H as a Highlander.

JOSHUA WANG /HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

9

Environmental organizations can better address socioeconomic and environmental issues through increased representation of BIPOC LEILA SHIBLAK Contributing Writer

prior to the 1960s, the idea that there Environmental organizations all over comes to addressing the interconnectedness health and housing conditions of African Americans living in Philadelphia revealed to the underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC)

communities. BIPOC face environmental hazards and risks in the forms of COURTESY OF PEXELS

include more BIPOC in environmental organizations to enact more effective, Ethnic minorities hold a mere 16% of staff positions and 12% of leadership

dumps near communities of color. For example, in a 2019 study of exposure to namely Black and Latino communities face nearly 40% more exposure to toxic

done in BIPOC communities. Scholarships, pollution. Environmental organizations

greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, improved means to an unimproved end. materials you already have. Educated consumer choices are a step in the right

environmentalism are left unexpressed and unpracticed. suggests that issues important to these

are heavily advertised online, posing a While environmental organizations are involved in the protection of the natural

racial digital divide. Nearly half of those versions.

have ignored calls for environmental in these organizations. Broadening the diversity among these organizations alienates BIPOC from getting involved in discrimination. Organizations that seek to diversify their staff must consider the racial digital divide and advertise their positions that

minorities

are

not

address complex environmental issues

is already ingrained into Indigenous the University of Michigan, suggests that environmental organizations must “stop

concerned

is, environmental concerns emerged relatively concurrently to the civil rights

recruit them in their spaces. In addressing impediments that prevent BIPOC from issues of environmental racism upheld environments rather than promote a culture change.

H

To date or not to date: Entering a new university with a boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t have to be an overly complicated decision lasting and communication is present, it comes to keeping a relationship in college. major at UC Santa Cruz stated that a long

that for some, long distance relationships

the partnership is strong and lasting. As a result, this means that if you have only

strong factor in the partnership.

time, a long distance relationship going

COURTESY OF PEXELS

MADISON RHEINS Senior Staff Writer

In addition to the many other challenges incoming students face, some must also

route in your love life. psychology major at UCR stated that the

simple.

I have asked has admitted that distance is

a fun experience that you should never take for granted. Relationships are such a they are certainly important and time-

happy and the relationship is healthy, then a year younger than you and still in high universities, these choices may appear to

remedy such an issue. Admittedly, a six-

for differences in relationships. Although

majority of your college experience. Your mental health and happiness in college is very important. Making the decision to H

10

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

FEATURES

Aries

signs are smart but will still do the bare minimum. Somehow, they will procrastinate all of their work but still manage to achieve good grades. Many people will be envious of this skill, especially in college. They are most likely a class clown who will AirDrop memes to random people during lectures.

Taurus

signs will usually be found either eating or sleeping during class. If they are not eating or sleeping, they will be spending the lecture thinking about what kind of food they will be getting with their friends afterwards. On the other hand, Tauruses would most likely be the ones emailing the professor constantly with questions and they won’t move out of the way if you walk down their row to go to the bathroom in the University Lecture Hall.

Gemini

signs will spend most of their ti me rambling in office hours. They’re the most li kely to join Greek life and they will always have the most unique fact about themselves during icebreakers. However, beware because they will also stare at your laptop screen during lecture — even if they don’t know you!

Cancer

signs will most likely be found submitting assignments while crying over them.

However, they are the only ones who will actually li sten when professors or TAs explain their intros on the first day. They will also be most likely to take notes for their sick friends and they will always send the homework to someone on time.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

11

BY MADISON RHEINS, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Leo

signs will always be that one person playing devil’s advocate in discussion. When they’re not trying to be the leader in a group project, they’re always found fixing their appearance on any reflective surface. Professors will always expect a Leo to try and convince them to change their grade to something higher. Expect Leos to always send emails about rounding up!

Virgo

Sagittarius

signs are most likely to skip lectures to go out with friends.

They are also the most likely to ask a professor or TA to extend a deadline for an assignment or schedule a field trip. If you are a Sagittarius, you might also be a student-athlete.

Capricorn

signs are usually the first to submit an assignment, usually hours or even days before it is actually due. They are most likely to argue with a professor during lecture and they always use SAT vocabulary in their essays even when it is not necessary. Because of this, Virgos will always maintain a 4.0! It’s just them and their Google calendars against the world.

signs will always have a straight face during lecture. However, if asked, they will write another student’s essay in exchange for money. Capricorns also break down everything into to-do lists and they most likely are that one person in the friend group who has their whole life planned out already.

Libra

Aquarius

signs will always resent class debates as they typically vouch for balance and peace. Libras will most likely crush on a new person in their class every week. Libras would split up work on study guides with their friends, but they won’t speak up if there is a mistake with a grade on one of their assignments.

signs will always have a different opinion than everyone else in the class. They are typically the artsy and eccentric students. Aquarius signs are most likely the people who do the illustrations during group assignments and they always come to office hours with good questions.

Scorpio

Pisces

signs are most likely to ask for the homework, but won’t send it back. When midterm or final exams grades are distributed, they are the least likely to share their grade with a peer. Scorpios will never raise their hand in class and would rather work by themselves than in a group!

signs will always be handing out snacks in class. They are most likely to bring extra scantrons and pencils for classmates during an exam and they are the type of person who will give a professor or TA a gift at the end of the quarter. They can also typically be found daydreaming during lecture. H

CELINE HOANG /HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Quick and tasty treats to Nutella and strawberries vamp up sandwich your diet By: Adriana Mandujano Angel, Senior Staff Writer

Delicious fruit parfait Prep time: 5 minutes (1 serving) Ingredients • Frozen fruit of your choice • Yogurt of your choice • Granola Steps • Begin by placing about half a cup of frozen fruit of your choice to the bottom of your cup.

• Place yogurt on top.

• Top it off with granola.

Prep time: 5 minutes (1 serving)

I spent the whole summer prior to moving into the dorms binging vlogs on YouTube for decoration tips, storage tips and easy DIY’s to make my dorm as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Despite spending hours upon hours watching dorm-related videos, I failed to take into account one important aspect about college: food. Looking back, I relied on my meal plan but I oftentimes found myself unable to wake up in time for breakfast before my 8 a.m, had a class that

lunch schedules, or another

Ingredients • Bread of your choice • Two strawberries sliced thinly • Nutella

COURTESY OF KITCHEN LIFE OF A NAVY WIFE VIA FLICKR

schedule. After a while, using my dinner meal swipe at The Culinary Chameleon resulted in just eating churros for dinner. So, here are some recipes that are easy to make for incoming freshmen living in the dorms or transfer students moving into campus apartments!

COURTESY OF VEGAN FEAST CATERING VIA FLICKR

The best thing about this is that you could prepare it the night before and add your granola in the morning!

Dorm-friendly salad Prep time: 10 minutes (1 serving)

Ingredients • Salad mix of your choice • Two strawberries cut in half • Half of a cucumber thinly sliced • Dried cranberries (optional) • Choice of salad dressing

Steps • Toast your bread (optional since dorms do not allow toasters).

• Place as much or as little Nutella on your bread as you like.

• Add the freshly cut strawberries.

• Close your sandwich!

The sweetness of the Nutella with the savoriness of the strawberries makes this an all-time favorite! Not to mention, it is super easy to assemble!

Homemade Egg McMuffin Prep time: 10-15 minutes (1 serving)

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

This recipe will be difficult to recreate if living in the dorms, however students living offcampus or on-campus apartments will be able to recreate it! Tastes just as great as McDonald’s while saving you a few bucks!

Ingredients • • One egg • A slice of Canadian bacon • A slice of American cheese • Butter • Salt • Pepper

Steps • Place a pan on medium heat and add a spoonful of butter. Once the pan is hot, crack an egg. Add salt and pepper to taste. After two minutes, •

•

Once the egg is done, begin cooking the Canadian bacon. Once both sides are nice and warm, turn off the pan. it pops up, place a slice of American cheese followed by your egg with the slice of Canadian bacon on top.

Street-style cut fruit Prep time: 20 minutes (4-5 servings)

Steps • Take a serving size of your pre-packaged salad mixed and place in a bowl.

• Add your strawberries and cucumbers. For some sweetness, add a handful of dried cranberries.

• Mix it all together and add your choice of salad dressing. I personally used a delicious pomegranate and blueberry dressing.

• Feel free to personalize and add in nuts or different fruits. The world is your oyster!

Ingredients • One mini seedless watermelon • One mini cantaloupe • One mini pineapple • One cucumber • One mango • Half a lemon • Tajin • Chamoy sauce Steps • Cut up all your fruits to your liking.

• Once all your fruit is cut, place it in a bowl.

Squeeze your lemon all over the fruit.

Sprinkle some Tajin seasoning all over the fruit. Top it off with chamoy sauce.

• Now you have a refreshing street-style fruit salad!

• Please note that this will make for a lot of fruit, if it is just you then feel free to half the ingredients.

COURTESY OF SIMON LAW VIA FLCIKR

I began preparing this recipe my second year of college and found it to be a great lunch! It is definitely my favorite and is easy to prepare in dorms as well!

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Being in college, I missed whenever my parents would bring me cut fruit. Now, I can cut my own fruit and enjoy it without sharing! Makes for a delicious summer snack, although it may be hard to make in the dorms.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

13

A campus guide on where to vibe out while you study

BY HEEWON KIM, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I came across a few problems after I moved back into my original home. Once I adapted to studying in the silence of my own dorm room (while campus was still open), I ran into the inability to adapt to the environment of my family.

A family of six that resides in a small apartment and a hectic finals week are not an ideal One of the most popular places that I found students studying in were, naturally, the libraries. I recommend Orbach Science Library over Tomas Rivera Library due to its close proximity to the freshman dorms and campus apartments. Orbach Library also has more computers and, to be frank, is less scary than the Rivera Library. Rivera is known for its horrific rumors of “haunted study” rooms and broken bathrooms. However, if you enjoy

combination. There were multiple instances where my brother’s gaming rage disrupted the silence while I was doing homework. There were multiple times when my parents walked into my room during a Zoom call and asked me to come out and eat while appearing in the background of my screen. A few of those times I was not on mute, so

my classmates would hear random Korean words in the midst of the lecture.

The one thing I kept thinking of every time I ran into one of the aforementioned embarrassing moments was the study spots on campus where I was surrounded by fellow college students who were there for the same reasons I was.

a nice thrilling experience while studying, I implore you to hit the books there. If you want absolute silence, I recommend the second floor of Orbach Library. I learned that people tend to be more talkative and interactive on the first floor. There are even tour guides who visit frequently with their microphones, causing even more noise on the first floor.

However, they never come to the second floor, so students can rest easy and enjoy the silence.

If you prefer a social and interactive space as well as a spot with a cafe vibe, I recommend The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at the HUB. A forewarning: the place fills up fairly quickly in terms of seats. Students enjoy the close proximity to coffee, their classes (as the HUB is right in the middle of campus) and the chill cafe vibe it gives out. There is also significantly less seating than the two UCR libraries.

COURTESY OF UCR

The Glen Mor Market, another popular study spot, is located right next to the Lothian Residence Halls and is only a few minutes away from Orbach Library. In addition to a small eatery and market, it also has a Starbucks so you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee or a small snack with music in the background. This could be your niche while you study. The Glen Mor Market also has an outdoor patio with tables and chairs if there is no room indoors. If you are afraid of the cold there is no need to worry because there are outdoor heaters built onto their ceiling.

COURTESY OF UCR

Sometimes the comforts of solitude is simply the best way to get your study session flowing. As a freshman, I tried studying everywhere and eventually realized that my niche for studying was my room. Luckily, I did not have a roommate so I had the pleasure of studying as late as I wanted, played whatever music I wanted and threw tantrums whenever studying for hours was getting on my last nerve. But most incoming students aren’t as lucky, so I suggest taking full advantage of the residence halls. Each residence hall has their own computer lab and various lounges,

and some lounges are specifically meant for studying. The only thing that is required is your student ID, as all study rooms will require you to scan your card before entering.

Since the transition to online courses has been extended into the fall quarter, instead of struggling to find the perfect study spot for you when you arrive on campus, know what helps you concentrate and find the types of environments that don’t break your study streak whether it be libraries, coffee shops or H even your own room.

The quirks of UCR is what provides students a campus with character and shared experiences

BY CHRISTINE TRAN, SENIOR STAFF WRITER My freshman orientation leader was extremely enthusiastic about UCR and at the time, I couldn’t help but agree. Everything about the campus was new and shiny to me and I thought it was genuinely a beautiful place to be. Yet, when I actually started at UCR, I soon came to realize that there were a couple things my orientation leader brushed over. UCR is still a beautiful that give it quite a character — and not always in a good way. experience here is the Pyrus Kawakamii, otherwise known as the evergreen pear trees, which always make their unwelcome return in the middle of winter. I remember I was walking outside of the Barnes & Noble on campus during midterms season of winter quarter UCR students are unfortunately familiar with. At the time, I seriously thought someone had buried a dead body nearby only to learn that the actual culprits were the trees outside the bookstore.

Admittedly, the trees are nice to look at when they are in full bloom, but that isn’t enough to make up for the scent they emit. It is unlikely UCR will get rid of them anytime soon which means incoming students have no choice but to endure them like we all did. But at this point smelling those trees is like a UCR rite of passage because once you do, you understand and share a hatred for them just like every other UCR student.

While UCR students’ noses are bothered by the bookstore, our eyes aren’t treated any better in the area outside of the Arts Building. This past year, UCR students were greeted with a new art sculpture that displays the words “Things Change” and “Change Things.” Your orientation leader this year may try to convince you that it is a wonderful addition to campus,

but don’t believe them. After the installation of the tall, bright yellow sculpture, there have been comments from students and alumni about how unsightly it is and how the funding for it could have been better used. Students even went as far to start a petition to get rid of it.

As time passed though, UCR students have come to begrudgingly accept it; just another thing for us to bond over hating. For the rest of our lives, the words “Change Things” will always hold another meaning for UCR students.

If you walk past the Arts Building and the Highlander Union Building (HUB), you might be surprised by the amount of things that will either scare or bother you when all you’re trying to do is simply walk on campus. For example, the bronze statue of the UCR mascot Scotty the bear sitting on a bench near the Bell Tower with its wide dead eyes is already unnerving during the day, but at night it is even worse because it can trick you into thinking an actual person is sitting there.

Right up there with Scotty is the Barack Obama standee in the window of the Associated Students

COURTESY OF UCR

to be greeted with Obama’s gleaming smile. No matter how many times you may see it, you’ll never remember it is actually there until it’s too late and you almost have a heart attack.

A trek around the Bell Tower, especially during spring quarter, is always a gamble. Since UCR is a public university and campus, it means that almost

booths selling cute hats, stickers or used books.

Unfortunately, along with that comes the preachers and the promoters — and sometimes, Girl Scouts selling cookies — who go out of their way to interrupt students on their way to class. What’s worse is that they’re relentless, and they’ll bother you no matter how crunched for time you are or clearly wearing earbuds.

While there will be things about UCR you won’t absolutely love, it doesn’t change the fact that there is something unique about UCR. The people you meet here are some of the best people you’ll come by and possibly even lifelong friends. It may be awhile before any new students will get to walk around

this can be a good thing when there are interesting

to step foot on the grounds of UCR.

some reason, ASPB decided to place a life-sized cutout of the former president in the corner window

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14 TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

RADAR Summer Movie Recommendations

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

BY: HiGHLANDER STAFF

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ BY: COLiN CARNEY, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

For those of you looking for a thriller to watch over the summer, look no further than one of the

mesmerizing as the two take turns learning from

to form a rapport with Lecter that helps her solve

‘Okja’

COURTESY OF ORION PICTURES

in hopes of gaining his insight on a recent string of

BY: AMANi MAHMOUD, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

creature against its oppressors, which in this case is

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

‘Sleeping With Other People’ BY: SiLViA FERRER, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

is perfect for a virtual movie night with the girls or

COURTESY OF IFC FILMS

‘Penelope’

lasting thoughts.

BY: ALEXANDRiA ESTEBAN, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

own home, waiting for someone to love her for who

COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

15

‘Akira’

BY: ADAM ALVERNAZ, STAFF WRiTER

COURTESY OF TOHO

from a government facility where the rumors of

‘The Half of It’ BY: CHRiSTiNE TRAN, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

his feelings to her, he turns to the main character —

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

of high school, showing that their stories are only

‘There Will Be Blood’ BY: KEViN SANCHEZ-NERi, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

everyone, there is still a lengthy, accessible backlog

unsettling score that takes viewers to the forefront

plotline that becomes a little worn out, it manages

preacher whose roaring talent as an evangelist COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT VANTAGE

mesmerizing from the very beginning — featuring

‘Batman’

BY: COLiN CARNEY, SENiOR STAFF WRiTER

has gone on to become a staple of the silver screen.

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COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

RADAR

Our student fees fund ASPB’s quarterly concerts — which ones are worth the money?

Ranking the biggest events of the year, from the hot to the sultry to the disappointing By: Silvia Ferrer, Senior Staff Writer In addition to the celebrity lecturers, free early movie screenings and their fall and spring concert series, UCR’s Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) also hosts the three biggest events of every Highlander’s academic year: fall quarter’s Block Party, winter quarter’s Winter Soulstice and spring quarter’s Spring Splash. Although Winter Soulstice is a lowkey, small scale occasion compared to the two giants that open and close the year, all three annual events are an incredibly fun way to spend time with

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Coming in at the best concert of the year is Block Party — aside from the decent musical acts, diverse array of food trucks, giveaways and arrangement of interesting activities to do with friends, the true magic of Block Party is in its timing. Block Party is held at the end of Week 0, at a time when most professors have opted to only go over the syllabus and the only and how to strike up a conversation with that is gearing up but only slightly, which allows students to indulge with their peers without guilt. And Highlanders know how to indulge — one negative about Block Party is that, with the optimal timing and all students back on campus, the pregaming skids too much into the extreme and medics have to be on standby to assist the college kids on the verge of blacking out. It’s not uncommon to bump into intoxicated students in line or in the crowds despite the heightened security of recent years. But sober students need not fret; there are plenty of attractions for those who don’t want to spend hours pressed against one another under the sweltering September sun. In 2017, students were able to go on carnival rides, rock climb or take free photobooth pictures while they waited for ASAP Ferg and Playboi Carti to perform.

Since, ASPB has ensured that there are plenty of attractions, like bungee jumping and henna artists, on hand and has hired performers sure to keep the crowd pumped.

friends, enjoy free live music — from artists that usually tend to blow up not long after performing at UCR, as most students brag — and get that necessary photo for Instagram to commemorate the college life. Every year, ASPB manages to put on a fantastic show at best and a tolerable experience at worst; while Block Party and Spring Splash 2020 were unfortunately canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, students may still be able to experience the priceless memories that these events will undoubtedly bring.

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For rhythm and blues (R&B) music lovers, Winter Soulstice is the concert for you. While Spring Splash and Block Party are notorious for featuring trap and electronic dance music (EDM) artists, Winter Soulstice is all about sultry vibes to brighten up the dull winter.

Winter quarter is like the Wednesday of the academic year — the enchantment of college life has faded a bit, California transitions from blue skies to dreary rain and the students are bogged down by readings, internships and jobs. Winter Soulstice manages to turn things around, at least for a day, to deliver an groovy experience for the Highlanders who don’t want to be trapped in massive crowds listening to booming beats. While Winter Soulstice has no food vendors, there are still giveaways leading up to and at the event. Better yet, this is the one annual event aimed for people who prefer softer sounds and calmer crowds. The lineup is always top notch for those with any sort of interest in indie or R&B. In recent years, ASPB has brought on H.E.R., Doja Cat, Brent Faiyaz, Omar Apollo, Alina Baraz and Kehlani.

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Last but certainly not least, Spring Splash closes off the year and provides one last hurrah during the middle of spring quarter.

Unfortunately, being held smack dab in the middle of spring means that students cannot indulge guilt-free in the same way they can during Block Party — although people will still try, despite the approaching midterm season. This is a bittersweet moment for graduating seniors, who get to enjoy one last commencement, but again, the timing makes Spring Splash more inconvenient than its predecessor. Add to that the unpredictable May weather and you might be listening to Amine (Spring Splash 2019) under the rain or under the blistering sun. Spring Splash and Block Party occasionally throw in an indie act to open the event, like Lauv (2018), but this concert is a return to rap and EDM artists, which may be disappointing for fans of other genres. Food trucks and attractions are still present, like the mechanical shark ride and free Colourpop lipsticks of past years. Even if some things aren’t perfect, you can’t knock a free concert and a chance to hang out with friends outside of house parties, class or the University Village.

Spring Splash and other ASPB events provide a nice opportunity to do so at a minimal cost. H

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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HIGHLANDERArchives

Looking back at the decorated women’s golf tenure of Jakeishya Le

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

JORDAN HOM Staff Writer

Jakeishya Le is one of the most decorated golfers in UCR history.

Although she is no longer a studentathlete within the program, having graduated in 2019, her legacy on the golf course stands among one of most accomplished and decorated. Le won numerous awards throughout her time at UCR and etched her legacy in UCR’s record books.

Before she signed aboard as a journey at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana where she led the Monarchs to multiple California Interscholastic

Federation team championships during her four years there.

During her freshman season at UCR, Le was named as the Big West Women’s Golf Co-Freshman of the Year alongside Long Beach State’s Haley Tygret. At the Stanford NCAA Regional Tournament, Le was the top finisher for the Highlanders.

The following 2016-17 season, Le came out even stronger than she did during her freshman year. As a sophomore, she shattered the singleseason average scoring mark with an average game score of 73.59, with the previous record being held by former Highlander Savannah Vilaubi in 2013-

14 who had an average score of 74.56.

For her dominant efforts on the golf course, Le was named to the First Team All-Big West as well as the Big West All-Academic Team.

One of the major highlights of Le’s senior year was her victory at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic Tournament on September 30, 2018. Among all of the participants, Le placed second overall as she finished with an overall score of 218. Le’s senior season saw her accumulate more and more accolades as she was also named as the Big West Women’s Golfer of the Month for the month of September 2018. To cap off what was an already

impressive resume, Le was named once again to the First Team All-Big West during the end of her senior season at UCR. Le’s legacy at UCR is among one of the most decorated and accomplished in the record books. She holds numerous records such as the most number of birdies in a single season or the lowest national score rating in comparison to past and current female UCR golfers.

Although she is no longer a member of the golf team as a player, Le will help train and mentor the next generation of female golfers at UCR as an Assistant Coach alongside Mary Ritche, the H current coach of the team.

Big West Conference Board of Directors issues statement announcing a phased in approach for the return of the fall 2020 sports season AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

The Big West Conference Board of Directors issued a statement on the phased in return to campus and competition of intercollegiate athletics regarding the upcoming fall 2020 athletic season. The statement, which was signed by the Board of Directors of the Big West Conference, states that they will issue an updated statement about their fall 2020 season in conjunction with the NCAA no later than July 20, 2020.

The Board of Directors stated that their main principles in regards to the phased in return to campus and competition of intercollegiate athletics is health and safety, intercollegiate athletics’s transformative impact and the timing of decision making. The statement reads, “it would neither be fair nor responsible regarding Fall athletics. We do not need to make that decision today, this week, or even this month. Instead, we have time for our health experts to continue the work that will both inform and empower us to make a better evidence-based decision when the game clock of our Fall season truly is nearing zero.”

Their phased in strategy comes with the precondition that certain measures may need to be rolled back, paused (or in the best of circumstances accelerated)

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

at any time, and that all current federal, state, local and university COVID-19 prevention practices must be observed.

According to the statement, these practices must include, but are not limited to: all equipment and facilities used by studentathletes or staff must be adequately and properly sanitized after each use, respective county guidelines in regards to facility sanitation and personal protective equipment shall be followed on each campus, CDC-recommended physical distancing practices must be observed at

all times and any and all other health and safety protocols required by the CDC, NCAA, State Departments of Health or local agencies must be observed.

The Board of Directors will then initiate a phased in approach if and when all of these measures are taken. The phases in approach will follow health and safety protocols. This includes minimum initial campus re-population of key staff, coaches and administrators followed by minimum and strategically scheduled re-population of student-athletes. The

statement reads, “Whenever possible and practical, all communications and certain training sessions between student-athletes, coaches, and staff should continue to be virtual.”

The Board of Directors noted that these and any other phased-in steps should be carried out with a focus on doing so “with the fewest possible people on campus and always consistent with public health guidance. We are hopeful for Fall competitions, but we are H cautious.”

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

UCR’s sports scene features Division I competition, club teams and intramurals ARCHIVE /HIGHLANDER

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Staff Writer

Whether you are a fitness junkie or not, sports are something that can help keep students in shape, distract them from in-class stresses that often plague university students and allow them to meet new people.

At UCR, the sports scene knows no bounds. The UCR Athletics program has every sport competing on the Division I (DI) level on a weekly basis, and tickets are free for students with a school ID. The time and date of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports games depends on the quarter; for example, fall sports include cross country,

soccer, volleyball, golf and the beginning of the basketball season, but during spring quarter the main sports will be softball, baseball and tennis.

The schedule for UCR’s NCAA sports teams can be found at gohighlanders. com.

There are also a number of sports opportunities that students can get directly involved in, including club teams and intramural sports.

The club teams available to join offer a variety of options ranging from soccer and tennis to fencing and Filipino martial arts. Club sports differ from intramural sports in that they compete against other schools whereas intramurals are UCR-based.

Club sports also typically meet multiple times a week and travel to compete in tournaments throughout the year. Students can find a full list of the club teams you can join at the student recreation center website, as well as spotlights The Highlander has done on the Women’s Club Water Polo team, the Kendo Club at UCR and the Highlander Gloves Club here.

Intramural sports is another option available to students that is more UCR-focused. In order to qualify to participate in intramurals, the potential competitor must have a membership at the Student Recreation Center. This restriction limits the participants of intramurals largely to UCR students,

faculty, staff and in some cases, community members.

When signing up, the participant will be able to choose between a more competitive league and the recreational league, which is less competitive. This is also when the participant can choose what day and time they would like to play, although options are limited.

Intramural games take place once a week during the regular season. Once the playoffs start, the days and times usually change to finish up the season.

Most sports also offer a women’s or co-rec option. There are over 20 intramural sports and tournament options offered at UCR, which you H can find at recreation.ucr.edu.

division I ARCHIVE /HIGHLANDER

club teams COURTESY OF HIGHLANDERLINK

intramural COURTESY OF UCR SRC VIA YOUTUBE