Volume 61 Issue 27

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Highlander University

Volume 61

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C a l i f o r n i a , R ive r s i d e

UCR Highlander Newspaper

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UC Riverside undergrads to part with UC SHIP

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

UC SHIP CONT’D ON PAGE 3

Spring Splash Heavy beats and indie rock make waves

Rapper 2 Chainz gets everyone to put their hands up as he works the crowd.

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Michael Rios David Stewart, the former dean of UC Riverside’s School of Business Administration recently filed a lawsuit against the university, accusing UCR and of “misallocating and misusing the professional degree fees” of students.

According to Stewart, the ordeal began after he found out that former UCR Chancellor Timothy P. White mismanaged, redirected and spent the students’ fees on other university programs instead of the intended MBA program. After discovering this, Stewart claims that he discussed the matter with White in a meeting, but was relieved of his duties as dean soon after.

The Highlander spoke with Stewart about the lawsuit and the actions that the university allegedly took. As Stewart put it, “The money was needed to subsidize the operations of the business school, which was largely concerned with teaching undergraduates.” The

former dean stated that without the appropriate funding, the quality of the program began to decline.

“We were not able to provide the kind of services that a typical University of California MBA program would provide,” he said.

“That involves things like career development staff, a stronger, larger admission staff, a larger student services staff. A lot of things that are part of offering a professional degree program that you would find at other UC business schools—at other business schools generally.

We simply were not able to provide at the level that we should have been able to had we been able to allocate all of the professional degree fees to the support of the MBA program.”

According to recent rankings, the quality of the MBA program did, indeed, suffer a setback. In 2011 the program was ranked for the first time in its history on a national scale. That year, the U.S. News and SOBA CONT’D ON PAGE 4

The UC Riverside baseball team has been taking heat these past few weeks for using an ineligible player. Eddie Young, who was sidelined for weeks while his team tried to get his eligibility sorted out, has now been denied his fifth year by the NCAA. Young got injured in his freshman season in 2009 and the proper paperwork for a medical redshirt was not filed, according to NCAA. The NCAA ultimately concluded that the UCR baseball team will vacate eight wins this season for using an ineligible player before the issue was settled. The senior infielder has not played since pre-conference play.

The UCR baseball team’s future is now unknown. It will be tough for the team to bounce back and try to get the sufficient amount of wins and still have the chance to make a push for the Big West Championship. This mishap will now bump the baseball team’s record to 10-25.

According to the PressEnterprise, Head Coach Doug Smith said that he wished that the NCAA would’ve shown a little

W e s l e y N g /HIGHLANDER

Lawsuit filed against UCR by former business dean SENIOR STAFF WRITER

UCRChannelH

Baseball vacates eight wins for using an ineligible player

Christyna Pourhabib

The Council of the Chancellors has supported the recommendations made by the UC Student Insurance Program (SHIP) Advisory Council in making the decisions regarding whether each campus will opt out or stay in the systemwide health care plan.

UC Riverside is one of five campuses—including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara—to partially opt out of the health care plan. UC Berkeley is the only campus to completely abandon UC SHIP. UCR has withdrawn from the medical portion of the plan, but it is the only campus to keep graduate students solely under the UC SHIP dental and vision plan.

According to the UC Office of the President, 58,000 students will remain on the program. UCR Director of Media Relations Kris Lovekin explained, “The premiums for campuses that have stayed with UC SHIP may go up slightly because there are fewer people in the pool now.”

Issue 27

Serving the UCR community since 1954

YOUNG CONT’D ON PAGE 26

INSIDE: Opinion Poll: Students reveal their secret strategies to surviving midterm madness.

PAGE 9

OPINONS

Walk the Moon discusses “Ren & Stimpy,” chili dogs and their upcoming big surprise.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 16

Liam Dow sits down with the Highlander to discuss his term as ASUCR president.

PAGE 18

FEATURES

Senior Jazmine Lewis meets her goal of setting school record in the heptathlon.

PAGE 26

SPORTS

C o u rt e s y

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UCR N e w s r o o m

Former School of Business Administration Dean David Stewart accuses UCR of misusing funds intended for the MBA program, which has suffered setbacks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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STAFF

PAGE 7

PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING

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NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

HIGHLANDER

S e n a t o r s c ond e m n UC I r v i n e f r a t e r n it y ’s b l a c k f a c e v i d e o S a n dy V a n SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Barely meeting quorum with a total attendance of eight senators—the other half of the senate was partially excused to attend to other club obligations—ASUCR held its fifth meeting of the quarter on May 1. Speakers included Students for Justice in Palestine President Amal Ali, who denounced a UCI fraternity for recording a video with a member wearing blackface, while other notable reports were delivered by Vice President of External Affairs Lazaro Cardenas and Controller Crystal Kim. Issuing a 10-minute presentation during the public forum period, Cardenas touched on his recent initiatives to expand technology usage on campus. “[At the help desk] they’ve had 21,849 laptops [checked out] since September of last year,” Cardenas noted. Students have checked out laptops 220 times a day in locations such as Latitude 55 and the Student Help Desk, and with such high web traffic, he hopes to expand Internet bandwidth in the future. “As student laptop use increases dramatically, so is the need for better wireless access,” he said.

Cardenas stated that nearly 7,000 students have been using iLearn mobile, which is currently available on Android, iOS and Blackberry platforms.

Touching upon another project, Cardenas said, “Chancellor White fronted a lot of money last year [in] regards to bringing back SIF, the Student

Initiatives Fund,” he said of the multimillion dollar project.

“Basically, we’ll make classes.edu and GROWL all live and it’ll also be able to create and report within the year, the classes enrolled in the most,” which he says is important towards improving the decades-old program.

Vice President of Finance Crystal Kim reported, “So this year, our finance committee met with 154 clubs regarding allocations. We allocated over $153,643 as of yesterday and we funded over 22 [organizations] with grants. Last year, they only met with 95 clubs.” She aims to reduce restrictions on clubs to spend on equipment and conferences, while continuing a quarterly student fee mass email report.

Later in the meeting, speaker Amali Ali voiced her concerns about the discriminatory behavior of other UCs, which she feared would spread to Greek organizations at UCR. “There was a fraternity, Lambda Theta Delta, that has been using some racist acts in their pledge videos in both this fall and last fall, using methods of blackface,” she said. “I just want to make sure this does not become an issue here, because of the fact that the administration there has made no statement.”

The UC Irvine fraternity Lambda Theta Delta was seen in a video set to Justin Timberlake’s song “Suit and Tie,” which features a person wearing blackface to represent the American rapper Jay-Z in the collaboration.

W e s l e y N g /HIGHLANDER Vice President of External Affairs Lazaro Cardenas gives a presentation on the effects of rising student loan debt.

UCI’s Black Student Union condemned the act, stating that this was not the first case of racism on campus. The union referred to another video, where a fraternity member wore blackface during a Halloween party back in 2010 as part of a recruitment video. On May 1, the fraternity suspended holding all campus events until fall of 2014.

In reaction to the incident, Senator Megan Crail addressed that the senate does not have the ability to punish other campuses, yet reiterated the senate previously passed a resolution against racial acts on campus. “I believe last quarter we passed a racist rager resolution where we don’t stand by any sort of [discriminatory] parties ... since it’s been happening across the country.”

Photo of the Week

A puppy is held by a student in the petting zoo at Spring Splash 2013 on May 4. Other animals included chickens, a camel and a zebra.

Quotebook “The hardest thing for student government is defining exactly what the students want.”

Upcoming Events

Jake Rich

pass a resolution, I’m just saying that it’s a good thing that everyone’s aware because I thought that everyone was aware of the Lambda Delta issue,” said Jo. To clarify Ali’s statement, Cardenas added, “It’s not a Greek issue. It’s a UC issue. It’s a student issue. It’s a state issue. Racism is still very prevalent in this state and this world. So to say this is a Greek issue—this is not true.

That’s not the case.” He referenced other incidences of racial insensitivity, such as the Compton Cookout held by a UC San Diego fraternity and the nooses hung at a library in UC Davis.

“We should all actively participate in these things as students in solidarity with other folks who are suffering,” Cardenas said.

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May

7

Artists Talk with Augie Robles 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

HMNSS 2212

Basic Elements of Public Speaking 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Rivera Library 138

8

Sexual Health Fair 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Bell Tower

Career Station 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

HUB Mall

9

LGBTQ Grad Student Hour 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Costo Hall 245

Indigenous Dance Movement Workshops 12:40 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

ARTS 100

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Careers for Art Majors 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

HUB 355

Cell, Molecular, and Development Biology Symposium 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Genomics Auditorium 1102A

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UCR Chamber Orchestra 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

ARTS 166

32nd Annual Medicine Ways Conference 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

HUB 302

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Baseball: Cal State Fullerton 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Riverside Sports Complex

Mother’s Day All Day

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How to Work a Career Fair Room 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

HUB 355

José Muñoz on the Brown Commons 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

INTS 1128

Tuesday

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Yet, Ali still encouraged the senators to voice their support on the issue by personally contacting the UC Irvine administration.

Senator Cortni Thomas responded, “Regarding what she said about contacting … UCI, just as a student that has been interested in these recent actions … African Student [Programs] here on campus is actually sending letters of support.”

Senator Kevin Jo referenced a similar incident during a CSU San Marcos party where sorority girls of Alpha Chi Omega dressed up as Latina gang members. The Alpha Chi Omega sister chapter at Pennsylvania State University was also under hot water for holding a “Mexican-themed” Halloween party last year. “Even if we

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

- Liam Dow, ASUCR President

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HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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UC SHIP FROM PAGE 1

Courtney Parker CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Attempted sexual assault near West Linden Street A woman reported an attempted rape in the laundry room at her apartment on Tripoli Street to the Riverside Police Department. Located near the Grace Methodist Church on West Linden Street, the incident occurred at 11:45 p.m. on April 30.

The assailant held the victim against the wall and attempted to assault her. Fortunately, the perpetrator immediately left the laundry room when the woman screamed for help. Both UCPD and Riverside PD were contacted to try to find the man responsible, but could not locate him.

The victim offered a very limited description of her assailant. The man’s ethnicity is unknown, but he was seen as a thin man, standing between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 9 inches. This man was wearing dark clothing, a cap or hat and a bandana across his face.

Home invasion on West Blaine Street UCPD sent out a mass email to the campus on regarding another attempted sexual assault that occurred on the evening of Saturday, May 4 at 10:30 p.m.

A young woman was awoken by man touching her in her bedroom located at the Highlander Pointe Apartment complex on West Blaine Street.

The victim then pushed the perpetrator off of her. The man ran out of her apartment afterwards. The Riverside Police Department, as well as UCPD was immediately notified.

Unfortunately, the suspect was not found.

The Riverside Police Department is currently investigating this case. The victim described her assailant as a black male in his early 20’s who was about six feet tall and weighed about 120 pounds. He had short hair and was wearing H a shirt and basketball shorts. ■

Please contact the Highlander Newspaper at: (951) 827-2105 to report any breaking news on or around campus.

While the cost of premiums has not yet been confirmed, Lovekin stated, “The move will keep insurance more affordable for our students, and we anticipate that the premiums will be lower for our students than they would have been under UC SHIP.” Campuses that have opted out will seek coverage from new health insurance agencies.

On May 1, the UC Board of Regents approved excluding the $57 million deficit from affecting student premiums.

The Council of the Chancellors also supported the eradication of a pharmaceutical cap and lifetime maximum, which already falls under the Affordable Care Act. Premiums will also be based on the total cost of the individual plans on each campus. The switch out of UC SHIP will be effective at the start of the fall quarter on Sept. 23.

“These added benefits will provide students with enhanced access to care and less financial risk,” said Lori Taylor, the University of California system’s newlynamed director of self-funded health plans.

“The University of California remains committed to providing quality health care insurance to its students, offering strong benefits at an affordable price in a plan that is sustainable now and in the future.”

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Graduates will opt out of the medical UC SHIP but intend to stay under its dental and vision plans.

A r chi v e /H i g h l and e r

World Report ranked the graduate school of management 97th in the nation. The program would fall out of the rankings the following year, however.

Start claims that the rankings fell due to the mismanagement of funds.

“None of the programs were ranked when I arrived as dean,” he said. “I mean, that had been completely neglected … We were making good progress to create a strong business school and it’s just too bad that we were sidetracked in that effort.”

Stewart also claims that jobs were lost in the department as a result of the mismanagement of the fees.

“At the end of my term, there were people losing their jobs,” he stated. “It’s also the case that we were never able to have the size staff that other UC business schools have.” UCR’s business school currently has 184 full-time enrolled students

as opposed to more developed business schools like Berkeley, which has an enrollment of as many as 803 students.

White and Stewart met in in July of 2011 to discuss their disagreements over the way the funds were being used. Stewart claims that it was during that meeting that he knew his job was in jeopardy.

“Well, I had a meeting with the chancellor in which we had a discussion,” Steward said. “It was largely a repeat of things that I had said in the past. It was a basic disagreement about the support of the school in general and the support of me as dean more specifically.”

He went on to say that the issues he raised were not new to the chancellor or the university. “[The issues] have been present for at least two decades,” he said. “I simply happen to stay around long enough to better understand them and to better articulate what the problems were.”

The Highlander tried to

contact Timothy White, who is currently the chancellor of the California State University system, for further clarification, but no response was provided.

However, UC Riverside did issue a public statement that reads: “The university is aware of the allegations made

by David Stewart. While we cannot comment at this time on the specifics of the case, the university intends to vigorously defend this action.”

Stewart was also asked to comment on what the lawsuit would do to the reputation of the university. He responded, “I hope that irrespective of the outcome of the case that the result is that UCR and the Inland Southern California region ... ultimately attains the type of business school that the university and the region really need.”

Both sides will meet to discuss the lawsuit during a case management conference, which is scheduled for Sept.

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HIGHLANDER

J o hnn y M a /HIGHLANDER UCR intends to “vigorously defend” itself against Stewart’s allegations.

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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THE LAB

RESEARCH NEWS FROM UCR AND THE UC SYSTEM

by Dean Mayorga, Senior Staff Writer

UC Riverside: Voter expectations tied to disappointment UCR Assistant Professor of Psychology Kate Sweeney and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University Zlatan Krizan have collaborated on a study that explores the dimensions of voter expectations, confidence and disappointment. Entitled, “Causes and Consequences of Expectation Trajectories: ‘High’ on Optimism in a Public Ballot Initiative,” the study was published last month in the empirical journal Psychological Science.

The study focuses on how voter expectations changed over time in regards to the failed Proposition 19—the ballot measure that would have legalized marijuana in the state of California. Over the course of the months leading up to the 2010 elections, the pair of researchers studied the expectations of 175

voters who supported or opposed the initiative to some degree.

“We found that knowledge about the issue, which in this case meant a growing awareness that the measure was unlikely to pass, predicted a move toward pessimism about the measure’s likelihood of passing— which makes perfect sense,” said Sweeney. “However, this was only true for opponents of the measure; supporters remained optimistic about the measure’s passage even if they should have known better.”

The reason that they chose Proposition 19 to focus on was due in part to the convenient timing.

The measure was on the ballot right about the time that they came up with the idea. They also figured that they could easily find participants from different sides of the spectrum of opposing and supporting

opinions.

When asked about the effect that disappointment has on a person, Sweeney explained, “Disappointment is a poignant experience. When I talk about my research, I often ask the audience members to pause and think about a moment of significant disappointment in their lives, and most people can readily (and painfully) bring a personal example to mind. Although the feeling of disappointment is shortlived in many situations, I would argue that the shattering feeling of being caught off-guard by a feared outcome can make people hesitant to get their hopes up in the future, and it might even undermine their motivation to engage with something like a political cause that might not turn out their way.”

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C o u rt e s y

of

The Denver Post

The studies of Assistant Professors of Psychology Kate Sweeney and Zlatan Krizan show that disappointment affects expectation on a more general level than just voting.

UC Davis: Autism indicators for pregnant women

C o u rt e s y o f D i g i ta l J o u r na l Studies indicate a strong association between the number of trophoblastic inclusions in the placenta of pregnant women and their children’s risk of autism.

A specific abnormality found within the placenta called trophoblast inclusions (TIs), may be an early indicator that a child will develop autism, according to research scientist at Yale School of Medicine Dr. Harvey J. Kilman. In collaboration with the UC Davis MIND Institute, Kilman compared placentas from pregnant women who had a heightened risk of giving birth to a child that would develop autism to those who didn’t. The results showed that in the high-risk group, 59 percent had no TIs but 92 percent of the control group had none.

“Our study found a very strong association between trophoblastic inclusions and autism risk,” said Assistant Professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Cheryl Walker who is the first and lead author of the study. “Placentas of the at-risk pregnancies of mothers of children with autism included as many as 15 trophoblastic inclusions, while the

placentas from the uncomplicated pregnancies had no more than two trophoblastic inclusions.”

Walker explains that trophoblasts are unusual microscopic findings marked by cell clusters that appear to represent abnormal tissue folding within the placenta.

“They have been associated with a wide range of chromosomal abnormalities found in early pregnancy losses,” she stated. “Their role in pregnancies that result in live births has been unclear.”

“The role of the MIND Institute and UC Davis was considerable,” said Walker. “The study’s participants are followed before, during and after their pregnancies. Researchers obtain information about the prenatal and postnatal environment to which the baby is exposed. The study obtains a broad array of biological and environmental samples from study participants, including samples of their placentas

following delivery,” she said.

In total, 217 small pieces of placentas were sent to Dr. Kilman from UC Davis.

Once received, his staff cut the tissue and embedded samples into paraffin, which allows for thin slicing into tissue that is put on microscope slides and stained for microscopic view.

Walker feels that Kilman collaborated with UC Davis largely due to the efforts of the Markers for Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) study, which according to its website is a “longitudinal study for pregnant women who have a biological child with autism spectrum disorder.”

All the placental tissue that was studied in Kilman’s research was contributed by participants in MARBLES. The study is a collaboration of the MIND Institute, the UC Davis Center for Children’s Environmental Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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UC Berkeley: Using tobacco crops as a biofuel source Researchers from Berkeley, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky, have been working on turning the tobacco crop into a potential source for biofuels. By infusing genes from algae into the leaves of the plant, its efficiency to turn light into carbon fuels is increased. As a high biomass plant, tobacco is more preferable to use when extracting oil.

According to Faculty Biologist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Center and one of the head researchers, Anastasios Melis, “There are other high biomass leafy plants, like corn and sugarcane, but these are food crops and we better avoid the conflict of food versus fuel. There are also grasses with about equal to tobacco, or even slightly greater productivity, like Miscanthus giganteous and Napier grass. However, these cannot be easily transformed by genetic means to accumulate

hydrocarbon products.”

He reports that in lab trials, they have been able to make tobacco accumulate more than one percent of its dry weight in the form of a specific hydrocarbon that can be used as fuel. His goal is to reach 10 percent within the next two years.

Also part of their effort is trying to install carbon dioxide transporters— normally found in algae—within tobacco in order to accelerate carbon uptake from the atmosphere and to promote assimilation by the photosynthesis of the plant. This means that while the fuels being burned produce carbon, it is at the same time being reintroduced to the plant to be turned back into fuel.

If the process becomes commercially successful, Melis states, “It would become one of the solutions in the quest H for alternative and renewable energy.” ■

C o u rt e s y o f L e a r n NC Tobacco may be the answer to biofuel source problems. Infusing the plant with genes from algae increases its ability to turn light into carbon fuels and then use the released carbon photosynthetically to repeat the process.

. OPINIONS .

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

7

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

SEPARATION OF POWERS AMONG ASUCR MUST BE ABSOLUTE

HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

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T

here was once a time when UCR students couldn’t even elect their own student body president. Only senators were directly elected, and those senators selected the president from amongst themselves. Furthermore, senators had the final say on everything—there was no external balance to ensure that the votes were properly taken. The very structure of the student government lent itself to nepotism and shady dealings, not transparency.

This was not a relic of a long bygone era at UCR. That time was only last academic year.

ASUCR decided to take the brave step forward and make the fundamental structural change necessary to be able to function more effectively as a student body. So they pushed for a new constitution in 2012 that would alter the structure of that body from a parliamentary system to a presidential system, with three branches of government that would provide checks and balances on one another, just like the United States government.

Instead of the senate choosing executive officers, the student body would be able to select an executive cabinet, taking power that once rested in the senate and returning it to the student body. The executive branch would gain veto power over the legislative branch to help prevent bills from being ramrodded through in a hasty legislative session. A newly-created judicial branch would oversee the operation of the new student government and ensure that it followed the ASUCR Constitution and Bylaws. This restructuring was, according to the text of the proposed change, “a necessary change to respond to the growing undergraduate student population and political interest, the growing political issues, and to the principle of defending our autonomy from the administration.”

And it was necessary. The Highlander endorsed the change, and so did the student body of UCR. The new constitution passed overwhelmingly with 80 percent of student support. 2,665 students voted in favor of the new constitution, just about 300 votes shy of the total student turnout in this year’s set of elections. ASUCR received an unprecedented mandate to implement a new system of government that would make it more effective, more transparent and more responsive to UCR students.

This year, now that the new system is in place, one would hope to see a more transparent ASUCR like the constitutional

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

change promised. Instead, ASUCR has been buffeted by controversy arising from secret votes and the fallout of recklessly voting on emotionally-sensitive legislation.

But this is not because the constitutional change failed. It is instead due to the fact that the changes have not been sufficiently implemented to live up to the constitution’s promise of separation of powers.

In response to the secrecy surrounding the Divestment from Companies that Profit from Apartheid resolution that would call for the UC to divest from companies investing in Israel, the long-dormant judicial branch activated itself. Ruling that ASUCR had violated the required reading bylaw in the runup to the vote, the judicial branch presented the senate with a list of reforms that would prevent the conflicts from recurring.

Just as the constitutional change intended, the judicial branch provided much-needed oversight over murky senatorial procedures.

Now it is up to the senate to uphold its part of the bargain. When Vice Justice Mark Orland made his presentation to the senate, many senators recognized the authority of the judiciary as granted by the ASUCR Constitution and gave all indications to show they would follow the ruling.

Senators did raise concerns about the content and implementation of the reforms, and those are valid questions. But it was troubling to hear some senators’ objections not to the content of the ruling, but to the fact that the ruling was issued in the first place, and that the senate and executive branch would have to abide by it.

The objections are grounded in two assumptions. First, it assumes that the judiciary does not have the power to rule on this issue in the first place. Second, it assumes the ruling by the judiciary is not final.

But as anyone who has read the ASUCR Constitution knows, these assumptions are not grounded in truth. The judicial branch does indeed have the power to make rulings on whether or not ASUCR has violated its constitution. As clearly stated in Article VI, Section A, the judiciary’s authority “shall extend to all judicial cases, as defined herein, arising under this Constitution, the ASUCR Bylaws, official actions of ASUCR executive officers, employees, and the Senate, and any matters delegated to the council by the ASUCR Senate or this Constitution.” The judicial branch identified that the senate’s

B r and y C o at s /HIGHLANDER

actions were in conflict with the required reading bylaw, and as such, the judiciary has authority over the case.

Furthermore, the executive branch and legislative branch are both obligated to obey the judicial ruling. Article VI, Section E sums this up succinctly: “All decisions from the Judicial Council shall be final unless reversed by subsequent council action.” Only the judicial branch can overturn rulings by the judicial branch. Just like the Supreme Court of the United States, the ruling of ASUCR’s judiciary is the final interpretation of the law and the constitution.

This view of the senate as all-powerful shows a fundamental disregard for the ASUCR Constitution and the idea of separation of powers it has tried to implement.

If all the judiciary is allowed to do is make a mild-mannered plea with senators to please change their actions, the whole point of having a judiciary to create accountability to students and the ASUCR Constitution is defeated.

The framers of the ASUCR Constitution intended to keep a check on the power of the legislative and executive branches, and the judicial branch is only fulfilling this intent.

And how would the senate look if it blatantly decided to ignore the ruling of the judicial branch? Senators have pledged to further accountability and transparency within ASUCR, but discounting the judicial branch would show students that senators don’t care about being held to task. ASUCR advocates for an engaged student body, but why should students participate in ASUCR if it isn’t accountable to students?

The key to the success of a three-branch system of government is the separation of powers between all three branches. Just like a three-legged stool would collapse if any of its legs were cut off, so too would a three-branch student government be dysfunctional if the judicial branch were ignored. ASUCR must make good on the promise it made to students who voted five-to-one last year in favor of a new constitution, and respect the boundaries of each branch of student government. That way, students can have a government they ■H can truly believe in.

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.

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

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

HIGHLANDER

Syria’s damnable decisions: no time to turn a blind eye

C o u rt e s y o f p u b l icin t e l l i g e nc e . n e t C o u rt e s y o f m o b i l e . s e r u u . c o m We should assist the Syrian rebels by increasing border patrols, but cannot endanger U.S. lives by directly intervening. Bashar al-Assad’s use of the chemical weapon sarin must force the U.S. to take a greater role in the Syrian conflict.

J o s h ua W a g o n b l a s t STAFF WRITER

Last August, President Barack Obama, wary of the civil unrest in Syria, issued a firm warning to President Bashar al-Assad, saying that the use of chemical weapons would cross a “red line” and result in “enormous consequences.”

Now the president’s seriousness toward the situation is being called into question as the Syrian military forces are said to have been engaging in chemical warfare by using a chemical called sarin, a move that calls for the U.S. to contemplate its role in this continually shifting chess game.

The conflict in Syria has already seen tens of thousands of deaths by conventional weapons, so the use of chemicals is no matter to be taken lightly. Chemical weapons have had devastating effects before.

Their first usage in World War I led to those involved being scarred physically and psychologically by the exposure to the harmful gases.

Following the combat, the Geneva Protocol was enacted in 1925 and banned the use of chemical weaponry—a decision that was for the better.

Chemical arms arose as a worry once again when the United States was in the midst of the Cold War. Luckily, after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Chemical Weapons Convention was signed in 1993 and declared restrictions on the production and stockpiling of such armaments. Witnessing chemical artillery being utilized today makes the subject much more sensitive.

However, six countries remain non-signatories of the treaty, with Syria being one of those states.

Those opposed to United States intervention in any way should

know that the decision to intercede is made not only because the president has an obligation to make good on his threats. The chemical sarin is also considered a weapon of mass destruction and was banned during the aforementioned weapons convention of 1993 due to its horrific effects. For those unfamiliar, sarin is a colorless and odorless liquid that can be deployed into missiles and mortars, causing severe muscle spasms, vision loss and asphyxia. In extreme cases, it can kill within a minute of contact.

Remaining neutral will affect innocent lives.

The use of sarin is simply cruel, and in most cases does not even harm intended targets—Greg Teilman, who worked in the state department, said that military personnel can shield themselves from chemical weapons, at the expense of civilians. A recent instance in which the use of sarin has occurred was under the rule of Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq War. The chemical was meant to inflict suffering on Iranian forces, but in 1988 devastated the Kurdish people of Halabja, Iraq, where they suffered 5,000 deaths.

Remaining neutral will affect innocent lives. The latest chemical weapon attacks have killed at least 25 people in a village near Aleppo. A photographer in the

area, reporting for the Reuters news agency, said that “mostly women and children” were affected by the attacks. Innocent lives need to be protected, especially from a chemical that is dangerous enough to be categorized as a weapon of mass destruction. Using a chemical that can produce a feeling of agonizing suffocation is inhumane and makes the situation in Syria that much more vital.

Washington has stated that its has seen “no evidence” that the rebels are to blame, and Louay alMeqdad, the political manager of the rebel command, reportedly told the Reuters news agency that the Syrian regime “hit the town with a long-range missile equipped with a chemical warhead.” The Obama administration, including Secretary of State John Kerry, have also announced that U.S. intelligence concluded that the forces of the Syrian government used chemical weapons in two clashes with the rebels.

The President and his advisors need to act quickly and carefully on the matter. For now, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and President Obama are demanding further proof about the use of sarin since the Syrian regime and the rebels are pointing fingers at one another.

Syria has committed a war crime with its use of the deadly agent sarin, so restrictions need to be made accordingly. An immediate course of action should be to establish safe zones in Syria that can protect the people from the violence incurred because of the rebel-government confrontations.

A few U.S. troops could patrol the borders in the safe zones. A no-fly zone is also a viable option that

would prevent possible airborne chemical bombardments and stress Obama’s heavy-handed threat.

Hagel announced that Washington would be “rethinking changing its policy of opposing providing weapons to the rebels,” as reported by CNN. Although pressure needs to be put on the Syrian government, this should be a Plan B since arming the rebels could provoke al-Assad and the Syrian regime further. U.S. troops should instead be strategically placed around the borders of Syria since it would not cause as much of a stern response as direct intervention would.

Syria has committed a war crime with its use of the deadly agent sarin...

CNN reported that a few hundred troops have been deployed “to Jordan, just south of Syria, with the purpose of aiding refugee care,” and there has been no sign of conflict. The additional military impact would also prepare the nation for the possibility of necessary interpolation, and increase assistance to many more refugees.

If Syria continues with the use of sarin, or any other chemical weapons, the international taboo on chemical arsenals could be

rescinded, meaning that the weaponry would become more common in warfare—a bleak future consequence. This is why it is important for the U.S. to try and rid Syria of its chemical stockpiles by utilizing the influence its has and invoking help from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if military intervention becomes an unavoidable option.

Britain, France and Israel are valuable allies that would be able to gain the attention of President alAssad, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. The British Foreign Office has already said that the confirmed attack deserves a serious international response.

Ally assistance is a real feasibility.

Israel has already taken action into their own hands, as they have been confirmed to have launched an airstrike in Syrian territory on May 3. Israeli officials have commented that the purpose of the recent attack was to specifically target arms shipments being transferred to Hezbollah groups in Lebanon. Despite the strike, President Obama said that he does not see military invasion as an option. However, the recent bombings may call for a more aggressive response from the United States. This will include arming the Syrian rebels.

Syria has crossed Obama’s “red line” and the use of sarin is condemnable. A NATO influence, if not stern policy constraints that consist of airborne regulations and the creation of safe havens, are needed to put pressure on al-Assad and his regime. If the chemical warfare continues, rebel aid and military support will be necessary to secure Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile.

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OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

9

Opinion Poll

How do you cope with midterms?

Viviana Gil, first-year pre-business major: “I take a break [...] and listen to music; it gets my mind off things for a while.”

Amelia Salazar, firstyear double major in history and anthropology: “I try to get some fresh air ... go on a little jog, play with my puppy.”

C o m pi l e d

Dennis Quintana, first-year mechanical engineering major: “I look for ways to get my mind off of [midterms] such as playing ‘League of Legends’ with my friends at resnet.”

by

J in y o u n g K o

Louis Flores, third-year environmental science major: “I go outside and either do yard work or mountain bike.”

and

V inc e n t T a

Samantha Miranda, third-year sociology major: “I usually review notes and I also try to eat breakfast to stay in a good mood. I just think that if I feel better I’ll do better.”

UCR students don’t seize destiny but hun ker down instead G i s e l l e T e rva l o n CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Before I attended UCR, my companions told me the city of Riverside was just okay, but the school was great. Naturally, when starting school in the fall, there was a preconceived resentment toward the city, and I heard the same sentiment from many students at UCR. Most felt there was simply nothing to do here, and often echoed the familiar, “I will probably transfer” refrain.

Seizing Our Destiny, a community-based campaign run by local leadership that strives to better the lives of people in Riverside, has launched a city survey examining the quality of life in Riverside. When answering the survey questions, I wondered what was really causing students to be so disengaged from the community. Were university students simply not trying hard enough to engage in the community? Or was it the city’s inability to attract students? The more I reflected, I could not help but feel that Riverside’s unyielding crime was causing the disconnect.

UCPD e-mails serve as stark reminders that university students are frequent targets of crime. Consequently, the crime in Riverside has stunted its ability to become a destination city.

Riverside has many cultural attractions, farmers markets, art installations and festivals, such as the Riverside International Film Festival held in April. These sort of things should create a vibrant student presence, yet in Riverside the students seem absent. Many leave on the weekends to their hometowns or only come out at night for the routine house party. The issue is not that students are disengaged or that the city has not done anything to attract students.

The problem is the persistent crime that has made the city almost devoid of students. Studies have shown that crime has a detrimental effect on economic activity, and crime in the UCR area has increased over the past several years. Although UCR is a commuter school the campus often feels desolate on the weekends. “I would not go alone to downtown Riverside at night given the recent attacks,” said Valezka Acevedo, a first-year business economics major. Students who do not drive are wary of going out at night and those who do drive are quick to get out as fast as they can.

UCR students have good reason to distance themselves from the city. Assailants

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W iki m e dia C o m m o n s

Crime in Riverside, especially around UCR, has increased significantly from last year at this time.

in the community have become exceedingly more daring and seem to be moving closer to campus. In March, there were a total of 14 robberies, 31 burglaries, and 37 total violent crimes in the university’s district. UCPD e-mails have become weekly notifications, and people have been attacked in places that should be safe. Students shouldn’t have to be worried about being robbed at gunpoint at a Starbucks minutes away from UCR. It is astonishing and absurd that students are being robbed right in front of a police station or a block from campus, and the recent attempted sexual assault near Bannockburn is completely unconscionable given its proximity to campus.

There is a sense that the city of Riverside is separate from UCR’s campus. Consequently, students have a bunker mentality and often do not tread far from campus. Students are not inclined to explore Riverside’s downtown area after dark because they feel like they are taking a risk. It is safer for students to remain

home, which contributes to the feeling that the city is boring. Without an increased sense of safety, university students will have the same perpetual sentiment that there is nothing to do in Riverside.

Recently, UCR’s free trolley system was cut due to expense. The program was managed

by TAPS (Transportation and Parking Services) and paid for by student permits and parking violations, and provided students a level of safety within the community. TAPS may still want to consider operating it, however, because UCR’s inability to control the crime around campus makes a mockery of the school. This has a long-term effect on how people perceive the school, and if not addressed, it could have affect on enrollment.

Students at UCR are able to enjoy the free RTA bus fare too, yet the city needs to be more aware of what causes the disconnect between students and the city, and implement a laterrunning bus system so students can enjoy the city’s attractions. UCR has even encouraged

students to take public transit for their safety.

Riverside often speaks highly of its distinct historical culture and growing nightlife, yet in a city with high crime rates, it may want to take a more aggressive approach in trying to attract students. If police presence is not stopping assailants from preying on students, the best option is to provide a safe means of transportation that would encourage students to fully engage in what the city has to offer.

Although the survey asks very relevant and appealing questions, including the type of restaurants we want to see, or the compelling things students want to experience, they are overshadowed by the growing fear of crime. Riverside has to be more concerned about safety. The desire to create a more metropolitan life for Riverside residents, and improving the city’s strengths, can only occur when crime is no longer synonymous with life in Riverside. When students feel Riverside is a place they can explore with personal safety, everyone will benefit.

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10

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER

The torture of innocents at Guantanamo is reprehensible Colette King STAFF WRITER

It is one thing to debate a “controversial subject” in order to better understand the topic. But when this controversy is leading to the torture and murder of innocent people, the charade needs to stop. Guantanamo Bay needs to be closed now. Guantanamo Bay is an interrogation prison that detains captives believed to be national threats in the Global War on Terror.

However, what little efficacy the prison has achieved in its protection of the United States, it has gained at an unjustifiable cost due to the inhumane and unjust tactics used on its prisoners.

Many people fear that if Guantanamo Bay is eliminated, more terrorists will feel comfortable enough to attack the United States.

However, it is interesting that some in Washington feel that this one prison is what keeps thousands of terrorists away from the United States.

But while the United States dwells in its paranoia, the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay have very different issues at hand. Behind the closed doors of the prison, the constant regime of ruthless torture and brutal dehumanization has led to mass hunger strikes and suicide attempts.

The Center for Constitutional Rights chronicles an appalling statement by a U.S. intelligence military officer, as said to a prisoner, “You are in a place where there is no law—we are the law.” This probably explains the reasoning as to why individuals were placed in extreme isolation causing psychological trauma, exposed to extreme temperatures in cells, deprived of sleep, their

C o u rt e s y D e t a i n e e s a t G u a n t a n a m o B a y h a v e b e e n d e n i e d t h e i r b a s i c h u m a n i t y b y b e i n g s u b j e c t e d t o c o u n t l e s s h o u r s o f t o r t u re .

genitals grabbed and thumbs pulled back, and threatened to be transferred for endless torture.

Even though this is horrible torture, far too few people flinch at its existence because it has been driven into our heads that these individuals will kill our families and loved ones if given the chance. It would certainly be an easier pill to swallow if this were the case and Guantanamo was indeed harboring only the most dangerous terrorists the US has captured.

However, that notion is simply a lie. An active Guantanamo interrogator

stated, “There are a large number of people at Guantanamo who shouldn’t be there.” So this mission to combat the War on Terror obstructs itself by detaining innocent bystanders along with supposed terrorists. According to Brigadier General Martin Lucenti, most of the men that were imprisoned were not fighting, but fleeing.

Americans might read this article and justify the torture with the idea that locking away these detainees keeps the United States safe and that the atrocious treatment of prisoners is what allows our freedom to endure. To

Guantanamo Bay is not necessary for the safety of the United States and should be closed.

argue that interrogating even the innocent can help the United States is incorrect and blatantly inhumane. One reason why it doesn’t work is that people will say absolutely anything to get out of torture.

If someone is innocent, there is absolutely nothing to tell, so they start to lie and say anything to make the torture stop. Furthermore, the agents that interrogate the “terrorists” have only subjective ways of interpreting whether or not the prisoner is stating the truth while under duress.

One difference between civilian interrogations and the torture carried out in

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T h e C o l o r ad o I nd e p e nd e n t

o f p u l s a m e r ica . c o . u k

Guantanamo Bay is the duration of the coercion.

On civilian territory, the interrogations can last up to two hours, but that is absolutely nothing compared to those at Guantanamo Bay. A joint research report

by Duke University and Claremont McKenna College reports that “suspects may be interrogated repeatedly over the course of days, weeks, or even months.” However, longer interrogations actually increase the chances of the prisoner falsely confessing because they are tortured to the extent that they lack the energy to withstand the pressure.

What’s even more sickening is the fact that the CIA has perfected its techniques of torture in order to maximize the pain inflicted without killing them. It seems the United States has used its extensive war experience to hone the effectiveness of their “interrogation” tactics to the point that they can elicit the “truth” out of anyone.

Guantanamo Bay is a torture chamber without a purpose. It is unlawful that individuals are placed there without the right to a speedy trial. This prison has managed to do little more than torture innocent people, reveal the most disgusting aspects of the military and the government, and keep the rest of the United States ignorant on this for too long of a time. Now that more knowledge is being spread about Guantanamo Bay it is as inhumane to keep it open as the torture originally inflicted on the prisoners.

■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 7, 2013

R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Events this week Wednesday | 5/8

Very Be Careful ft.

Quita Penas @ the Barn, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday | 5/9

Mosaic Open Mic @ Getaway Cafe, 8:00 p.m.

Friday | 5/10

MaryLu Clayton Rosenthal New Play Festival @ Arts Theatre, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday | 5/11

K e v in R ay

of

Walk

the

UCR Chamber Orchestra @ ARTS 166, 8:00 p.m.

Moon

l e ap s in t o t h e ai r d u r in g

S p r in g S p l a s h

W e s l e y N g /HIGHLANDER

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

HIGHLANDER

MOVIE REVIEWS COMING OUT SOON:

THE GREAT GATSBY

PEEPLES

AFTERSHOCK

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

IRON MAN 3

RATING: ★★★★★

I

BY: PHILIP CARROLL-JOHNSON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ron Man 3” had big shoes to fill. As Marvel’s first post-Avengers outing, this installment in the Iron Man franchise soars, surpassing its predecessors. This is currently the best film in Marvel’s ever-expanding cinematic universe.

“Iron Man 3” has high ambitions. It juggles political commentary and half a dozen central characters wound into a relatively intimate narrative that is far more concerned with the man behind the iron mask than senseless action set pieces. This has always been the success of the Iron Man series. Instead of having the lifeless computer-generated Iron Man, we get the endlessly talented Robert Downey Jr. This is an awards-worthy performance by Downey in a film that fully utilizes his comedic cynicism and immediacy. In bringing Tony Stark to life, Downey gives a performance that is so rich and layered, it seemingly doesn’t belong in a film that often takes itself so lightly. The supporting cast is stellar.

After two films, Gwyneth Paltrow is finally given ample screen time by adding some much-need gravity and complexity to the narrative.

Don Cheadle took over as Colonel James Rhodes in “Iron Man 2” after Terrence Howard’s departure and is undoubtedly better suited for the role. Sir Ben Kingsley plays the Mandarin, an international terrorist mirroring Osama Bin Laden. “

Kingsley hasn’t been this good since “Sexy Beast.” He could have easily been creatively absent, but watching a top-tier actor have this much fun is well worth the price of admission alone.

Jon Favreau stepped out of the director’s chair, giving “Iron Man 3” a much-needed breath of fresh air. Where Favreau struggled in finding comedic and emotional grounding, series newcomer Shane Black has configured a nearly pitch-perfect tone. Nearly, because “Iron Man 3” never feels as menacing or high risk as the filmmakers intended. This is due in part to the film’s innate comic nature. Stark spends much of the film in the playful banter of an adolescent boy, undermining the ominous threat of the Mandarin.

Black’s direction is one of the film’s biggest and most satisfying surprises. Coming into “Iron Man 3,” Black had only directed one feature: the $15 million, brilliant Downey-led black comedy “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.” Dealing with a $200 million dollar budget, Black isn’t just competent; he proves that he is fully capable of operating a major blockbuster vehicle. Fans of his first film will be in awe at his ability to stage action. Watching Stark command a hoard of Iron Man drones demands to be seen.

What he has done is nothing short of breathtaking. Joss Whedon, take note.

Jaw dropping visuals aside,

what makes Black’s “Iron Man 3” the best in the series is his distinct understanding that the film belongs to Tony Stark. Favreau failed to create a world in which the audience could identify with the troubled billionaire. His Iron Man was misanthropic with no true humanity. “Iron Man 3’s” screenplay, cowritten by Black and Drew Pearce, economically opens up Stark’s world by limiting his ability to use the Iron Man suit. One of the big themes of the picture is what makes Stark superhuman. The answer?

It is his intellect and cunning–– the suit is just supplemental. The

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

screenwriters are decisively pushing the franchise into uncharted territory. Where most superhero fare ends or gets a resuscitative reboot after a third film, because of the way Black develops Stark, “Iron Man 3” astonishingly feels like it is just the beginning.

One of the issues of the film’s existence in a post-Avengers Marvel universe is: How do the filmmakers account for Stark being a member of an elite team of superheroes?

The threat in this film seems a lot less immediate than the impending alien apocalypse in “The Avengers.” Why couldn’t Stark simply

ask Captain America or the Hulk for assistance? Black and Downey artfully maneuver around this issue by creating a more complex Stark, one that has been shaken and disturbed by the events that took place in the Avengers, giving the film an unexpected emotional pulse. There are profound psychological consequences to our hero’s actions, a revelation in a non-Christopher Nolan directed superhero picture.

This is the Marvel universe all grown up. “Iron Man 3” represents a major step forward for films of its kind; it is a mature, explosively en■H tertaining pop spectacle.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

A Column

Fashion Instinct Style Informed:

What to Wear: Summer Concerts & Festivals

by Thelma Annan, Staff Writer

Summer is around the corner! And with that comes endless beach fun, movie blockbusters and unforgettable music festivals. Just because two of the year’s biggest festivals have already passed (Coachella and South by Southwest) doesn’t necessarily mean the party is over. There’s still FYF Fest, Outside Lands, Warped Tour, EDC, Mayhem Festival and Rock the Bells, to name a few. Here are some fashion tips on how to conquer summertime music.

Guys:

There is nothing cooler than a graphic tee of your favorite band, sports team or TV show (“Beavis and Butthead,” anyone?). Tees are a perfect way to show off your personality, humor and laid-back style. Bonus: These types of tees are a great conversation starter with that cute girl standing next to you.

If you’re over using adolescent graphic tees to express your feelings, try a patterned tank in an Aztec design or lightweight V-neck to tackle the grueling summer heat. Pair it with a nice pair of plaid or solid colored shorts in maroon, blue or classic khaki.

Shoes:

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P o s h 24. c o m

Vanessa Hudgens at Coachella music festival.

The bad thing about music concerts is everyone jumping all over your poor feet. That being said, I would heavily suggest closedtoed shoes. Combat or motorcycle boots, low heeled booties, Doc Martens or some good ol’ Chuck Taylors are some options to help you stay comfortable and dance the night away.

However, if you do want to wear those new gladiator sandals of yours, I offer you two phrases of advice: Get a pedicure and brace yourself.

Ladies:

High-waisted shorts are everything this summer. While pricier stores such as Urban Outfitters and American Apparel have some flawless options, there’s no shame in utilizing your innovative skills and checking out your mother’s closet or the nearest thrift shop. Buy a pair of old school jeans and hack off the bottoms for a sweet DIY project.

Maxi skirts or dresses are great alternatives from the high-waisted epidemic running amok in America.

Pair a crop top or bustier with a printed maxi skirt for a bohemian feel, or wear a sheer maxi piece in a bold color such as mint green or pastel orange.

Accessories:

Of all the accessories you should never go without, sunglasses should be at the top of your list. Protect those lovely gems of yours in colorful or classic aviator styles. Wear a stylish fedora, bowler hat or snap back to continue protecting your eyes and head from the sun. Not a hat person? A rosette or turban-inspired headband is a stylish way to keep those pesky hair strands in place. Choose one in a vibrant print or bright neon to stand out. Don’t forget something to hold all your things in, such as a satchel or a fun backpack. You H can even get away with a fanny pack these days! ■

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Spring

HIGHLANDER

15

Heavy beats and indie rock make waves at Spring Splash

Splash Photos by Wesley Ng, Jake Rich and Cameron Yong

Ab-Soul Kicks Off Spring Splash

By Dean Mayorga, Senior Staff Writer Ab-Soul was a perfect pick for ASPB’s Spring Splash lineup. He is definitely someone you’ll hear being played in a college dorm room, and given that Rick Ross and 2 Chainz were also on the ticket, the overall event promised a very particular type of hip-hop. It starts with an R and rhymes with hatchet.

Soul hit the stage a little behind schedule. But the Carson native walked the fine line between dropping science and building the crowd’s energy with skillful song choices, most of which came from his 2012 release, “Control System.” Mr. Soul Brother Number Two performed “Number Two” to beckon audience members from Pierce Lawn. Thankfully, he took his time to dish it out

in its entirety. Keeping with the tracklist of his album, he then went to the smooth track, “Bohemian Grove.” He used the song to remind the audience to not forget the ladies, although he didn’t use those words exactly.

Not losing momentum with songs like “SOPA” and “Druggys wit Hoes Again,” he showcased his dynamic with fellow Top Dawg Entertainment cohort Schoolboy Q while professing his affinity for––what else––”smoking dope.”

These songs proved to be a great set up to his plug of the upcoming album by Q, “Oxymoron.” The already popular track, “Yay Yay,” played for a short while, and the crowd responded positively to the minor intermission. Q’s nasally inflection cut through the bass, which sounded like the most pleasant come down ever. Soul asked the crowd about their own habits and experimentation, saying, “This is college, ain’t it?”

Undoubtedly, and a little bit ironically, the highlight of his performance was “Terrorist Threats,” which was perhaps the most intelligent track of his repertoire that night. “Where the revolutionaries at?” he inquired before ripping into a verse ridiculing the government, capitalism and the media. Followed by the hypnotizing “Pineal Gland,” this proved to be the climax of his set and the moment when all of his riddling eccentricities started to make sense. With a small thank you and goodbye after, he concluded his show––or as Soul said, “Don’t trip on your mind.”

Walk the Moon Goes Lunar

By Jake Rich, Senior Staff Writer In the throes of an exhausting European tour, fresh off a cross-country flight from New Hampshire that took off at 4 a.m. the same morning, Cincinnati-based indie rock band Walk the Moon descended on the UC Riverside campus to perform at Spring Splash. And though their set had to be cut short because of a late arrival, they still put on arguably the best show of the day.

Starting out with the energetic, pounding song “Quesadilla,” lead singer Nicholas Petricca bounced out onto the small runway in the middle of the stage, clapping his hands and twirling, before grabbing drumsticks to pound on his floor tom while singing. The energy of the crowd skyrocketed immediately as they bounced along with each thump of the drum and had a dance party with each breezy synth.

The band continued the celebration with the driving “Next in Line,” and “Lisa Baby,” before exploding into frantic fan favorite, “Tightrope.” Petricca passionately sang, “Walk a tightrope, walk a little tightrope / You walk a tightrope, walk a little tightrope / But oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh this heart is burning up,” as facepaint-clad fans mimicked the song’s music video by raising their hands as

To p : Wa l k t h e M o o n ’s b a s s i s t K e v i n R a y p u t s u p a h e a r t s i g n t o s h o w h i s a p p re c i a t i o n t o t h e c h e e r i n g c ro w d .

C l o c k w i s e f ro m b o t t o m : I n f l a t a b l e i n s t a l l a t i o n f ro m A i r D i m e n s i o n a l D e s i g n p o w e re d b y a n e a r b y m o b i l e s o l a r p o w e r g e n e r a t o r ; T h e F e r r i s w h e e l w a s a p o p u l a r a t t r a c t i o n , c re a t i n g a l o n g l i n e t o r i d e i t ; R i d e r s e n j o y a i r t i m e o n t h e E u ro B u n g e e ; T h e p e t t i n g z o o f e a t u re d a v a r i e t y of animals, including a camel.

he sang about his heart “burning up.” Before the show, Walk the Moon’s crew came through the pit to offer tribal facepaint to anyone who wanted some. The band also had the paint smeared all over their face—a staple of their live shows.

After “Tightrope,” bassist Kevin Ray couldn’t help but exclaim, “You guys are awesome!” as he and his bandmates continued running around the stage smiling at the crowd throughout their set. During the sultry “Shiver Shiver,” as well as throughout most of the songs, Petricca danced seductively while showing off his range with a very high falsetto.

All three other members of the band—bassist Ray, guitarist Eli Maiman and drummer Sean Waugaman––harmonized fantastically as they backed up Petricca.

Though they could not get to some of their other great songs because of time constraints, the band closed off their set in spirited fashion with their biggest hit, “Anna Sun.” The college themed song set the crowd into a frenzy as they sang with full spirit back to the band

“What do you know? This house is falling apart / What can I say? This house is falling apart / We got no money, but we got heart / We’re gonna rattle this ghost town.” Ray and Maiman ran out to the runway to play closer to the crowd, and Ray eventually climbed up on top of the speakers and jumped all the way down in excitement. Maiman ran to the other side and leaned as far as he could off the stage to play to the crowd.

Petricca at one point exclaimed how happy they were to be “in sunny Southern California,” and as they prepared to walk off the stage, Ray put up a heart sign with his hands to show his appreciation to the crowd. In spite of the short set, Walk the Moon put on the most fun set of the day, in spite of their sleep deprivation—a sentiment that I’m sure most UCR students can appreciate as midterm season comes to a head.

Rick Ross is Bigger Than Life

By Dean Mayorga, Senior Staff Writer

Despite being an opening act, it can be argued that Rick Ross is perhaps the biggest name— no pun intended—that ASPB has brought to UCR, considering an artist’s current relevance and appeal. He lives on MTV and controversy surrounds him like an entourage. His life is a Godfather picture, remember?

And although there was a whole Facebook campaign to protest his visit, when Rozay hit the stage, he was welcomed by a crowd that would make graduation ceremonies jealous.

With really no way to go wrong, Ross started his set strong. Songs like his OG hit, “Hustlin’,” and even his guest verse on Ace Hood’s “Hustle Hard (Remix)” (see a theme going?) were devoured like candy by the crowd. Although significantly slimmer, his figure was immediately noticeable with his bright green hat and green shirt which quickly became damper after every song.

Worth mentioning was his jewelry, which made him look like he was competing with Sir 2 Chainz. It was this figure, imminent on stage, that served as a great visual backdrop for songs that followed, including Ace Hood’s “Bugatti,” Rihanna’s “Pour It Up

(Remix),” French Montana’s “Pop That,” DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” and “I’m On One.” Simply performing his guest verses on these songs was enough to satisfy the crowd while reminding them that within about seven years, Ross boasts a catalogue that already borders legendary status.

It was a peculiar sight watching a sea of college students rocking back and forth to music that asks if we’ve ever made love to a woman out in London. Nevertheless, Ross did not necessarily remain in that motif of fast living for the entirety of his set. “Diced Pineapples,” “Here I Am,” “Magnificent” and “Take It To The Head” offered an opportunity for introspection that was coated in R&B hooks and sentiment. To finish off with the same momentum as his introduction, Ross then reintroduced more street anthems such as “Stay Schemin.” He also kept the region in mind by using Tupac’s “California Love” as a segue to Meek Mill’s “Tupac Back.”

The lengthy set, worthy of a headliner playlist, was sufficient in preparing the audience for what was next while finishing early enough to ensure that Rozay could attend the Mayweather fight in Las Vegas just hours later––and you thought you had good after party plans.

C l o c k w i s e f ro m b o t t o m r i g h t : R a p p e r 2 C h a i n z s t r u t s o n s t a g e a s h e b e g i n s h i s s e t ; R i c k R o s s g e t s t h e C a l i f o r n i a c ro w d g o i n g w i t h M e e k M i l l ’s “ Tu p a c B a c k ; ” Wa l k t h e M o o n ’s l e a d s i n g e r N i c h o l a s P e t r i c c a v i g o ro u s l y p l a y s t h e f l o o r t o m ; Wa l k t h e M o o n ’s g u i t a r i s t E l i M a i m a n p l a y s t o t h e c ro w d d u r i n g t h e i r o p e n i n g s o n g “ Q u e s a d i l l a ; ” Wa l k t h e M o o n ’s b a s s i s t K e v i n R a y g ro o v e s t o t h e i r s o n g “ Ti g h t ro p e ; ” R a p p e r A b - S o u l p e e r s i n t o t h e c ro w d a s h e p e r f o r m s “ N u m b e r Tw o . ”

2 Chainz Too Uninspiring Joshua Wagonblast, Staff Writer With lyrics like “She got a big booty / so I call her Miss Booty,” it came as no surprise to me that UCR’s Spring Splash headliner, “2 Chainz,” was as lackluster as his music.

The hip hop recording artist has become popular lately due to songs such as “I’m Different” and the previously mentioned “Birthday Song.” Plenty of fans gathered to watch the performer live, but I couldn’t help but notice the unenthused faces that squeezed together just beyond the fifth row and the continual streamline of attendees walking away from the stage. Rick Ross, who performed just before fellow rapper 2 Chainz, definitely saw a larger audience and a lot more movement in the crowd.

Unfortunately for 2 Chainz, the audience did not have the same vibe and spectators grew significantly less jovial after the first few seconds.

Both “I Luv Dem Strippers” and “Fuckin’ Problems” received a semimellow response from the crowd, making for a duller experience. 2 Chainz also only rapped three to four lines of the latter, which makes me question why he would even play the song to begin with.

As the attendees grew tired and a familiar scent began to drift away, the middle of the show was probably the lowest point.

Although a good number of people remained, bouncing to the well-known 2 Chainz beats in the first few rows, the rest of the crowd grew thinner.

The performance, however, did begin to gain some electricity as the rapper’s show transitioned into the ending portion. People again began to push their way back in through the packed lawn, and the audience began to loosen up. “No Lie” was a crowd pleaser, along with the previously mentioned “I’m

Different,” both earning audience-wide raised hands.

The music was no doubt loud.

The rapping was certainly below-average. But, the rhythmic beats vibrating through the ground finally gained a greater fan reaction as 2 Chainz’s set came to a close.

2 Chainz may be a popular choice as the go-to house-bumping party music, but the live performance didn’t see the intended energy, even as viewers awakened for the end. Granted, there were notable instances of rowdiness and eccentricity, but only during the rapper’s most popular works. A concert becomes subpar if the artist is hit-and-miss. Although the southern rapper has hit the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 list more than once, I still don’t see myself becoming a fan. 2 Chainz bumps hard, but his shows just don’t flow.

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16

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

HIGHLANDER

Awayfrom the

Sprawl:

Interview with

by Jake Rich, Senior Staff Writer

Walk the Moon

Fresh off their set from Spring Splash, Walk the Moon sat down with me at the HUB to discuss, among other things, late-night food, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and how they feel at home playing colleges. Members Nicolas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman and Eli Maiman have been on a frantic touring schedule ever since their debut major label album “Walk the Moon” came out and their hit song “Anna Sun” blew up the airwaves. Here are their (occasionally sleep-deprived) responses. For the full interview, go to highlandernews.org.

JR: Thank you guys for doing this on the crazy schedule you have.

EM: Thank you for having us.

JR: You’re in between tour stops in Europe and Australia—how is it to be back in the states for at least a little bit of time, or are you just so jet-lagged that nothing makes sense anymore?

EM: It almost doesn’t count, we got like 24 hours at home. I’m trying to do laundry and get ready for the next trip.

JR: So you went back to Cincinnati then?

KR: I had enough time to walk in. My dog bit me in the crotch, and I was sad and then I left.

That’s pretty much it.

JR: I saw on your website just in the past couple days, “Big news coming soon,” popped up. Is there any kind of hint you can give me on this?

SW: Well, it’s no coincidence that we’re playing with Rick Ross today.

NP: Yeah, we’re actually just going to go out and get a bunch of tattoos.

JR: Walk the Moon does hip-hop?

EM: You never know.

NP: I don’t know if we’re really at liberty to say.

KR: But it is big and we’re really excited just to get some … things going, towards the end of the year and— NP: Very specific.

KR: I see a castle, and a mountain— EM: ––and a dragon. There’s magic. And there’s lots of stars and ice.

NP: There’s the “Jungle Book.”

KR: Baloo is there and it’s a party.

EM: Something like that. These are real but they’re just really, really unhelpful. Actually we have no idea what you’re talking about. [laughs] Next question!

JR: You guys have been classified in kind of a lot of different genres like art rock, pop, alternative dance—how would you classify yourselves if you could, because you’re kind of diverse.

KR: A product of the late 1980s.

NP: A fiesta of delights.

EM: The unfortunate result of four men with ADD. NP: It’s hard doing the genre thing because you

Writer Jake Rich (left) with Walk the Moon and friends.

C o u rt e s y

of

P hi l M a o

know––we are a product of many different influences.

KR: Netflixers?

EM: Netflexers.

JR: Who would you say are some of your biggest influences?

NP: Probably something like the Talking Heads and the Police, Bowie, Prince.

EM: Tears for Fears.

NP: Stuff that I think is seeing a big resurgence now, and it’s just going to get even more popular and you know, it’s exciting. It’s an exciting time.

JR: You guys have a song on the new “Iron Man” soundtrack. How does it feel to be on a big movie soundtrack?

EM: That is cool. We were like, “Whaaatttt?”

NP: We couldn’t believe it. I think, I remember when “Spider-Man” came out and I got that soundtrack.

EM: The one with Dashboard Confessional on it?

NP: And Chad Kroeger and Three Doors Down, and I was all psyched about that and I remember, you know the music video with “Spider-Man” flying through Chad Kroeger’s face. So it just reminded me of that. And it’s a pretty cool honor to be included, especially with that line-up. It’s kind of like a little chunk of our road family because we keep running into a lot of those bands, especially this summer we’re looking forward to running into a lot of those guys at festivals.

JR: So you guys have a lot of college-themed songs, in particular “Anna Sun.” What would you say is different about playing at a college or festival as compared to a normal show?

NP: That’s a good question.

KR: A lot of our fans are of that age, it’s a pretty popular group that comes to our shows.

NP: Yeah, I don’t know, I kind of see like, you know in middle school for instance, the fifth graders get all excited like the little kids, but the eighth graders are trying to be cool? I feel like in college, you’ve forgotten all that and you can be like a big kid and still go nuts, and feel good about it. I think it’s a consistent thing that every time we go to a college there are people just letting go and they feel free to be themselves. We feel at home in the college circuit.

JR: Favorite late-night food? Where from or what kind?

SW: Deep-fried Oreos. Deep-fried anything.

EM: I think it’s got to be Skyline. Skyline Chili, Cincinnati. Do you know Skyline Chili?

JR: No. EM: In Cincinnati, we have this special chili that’s different because it’s a little more of a sauce and we put it on spaghetti and hot dogs with lots of shredded cheese. The Coney Island is how the rest of the country does it but we know it as a Coney. [laughs] A cheese Coney. That’s pretty much the late night staple in Cincinnati.

SW: Although I prefer Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. Whenever I can get it. Might do that tonight.

JR: Favorite cartoon as a kid?

SW: “Ren and Stimpy.” Hands down.

KR: “Simpsons.”

NP/EM: “Ninja Turtles.”

EM: Everything though. We watched everything. We have a lot of nostalgic moments when we see a ninja turtle. For instance, we were on tour in Europe recently and Nic went out and bought the entire first season of the “X-Men.” NP: On the box it said over six hours of action, and we got through about three.

EM: I think we were in Germany and we saw some kind of late 90s live-action “Ninja Turtles” show, and Donatello was a chick, and at this point I was like I’ve lost most of my faith in everything.

NP: Started throwing things—that was a rough night.

EM: She had little turtle teets.

NP: Breasts.

JR: What’s your favorite current TV show?

NP: “Breaking Bad.” We’re getting excited for “Breaking Bad.” “Game of Thrones” is a recent obsession. We’re all up to date on the “Walking Dead.” “Shameless” is a big one. “Shameless” is the one that we all watch on the bus together, as one. We got to the point where we all had to be there to press play, because somebody was going to get upset if they missed out.

EM: I can’t wait for the new “Arrested Development.” Yeah, we’re all big Netflixers.

JR: So you guys get to be friendly with a lot of other bands on the road?

NP: Yeah, definitely, you definitely find that, when you’re on the road with somebody, they end up being just extensions of your family.

NP: We were on the road with Young the Giant for a while, Fitz and the Tantrums.

KR: The Wikipedia page doesn’t come close to listing the entire list, we’ve been out with just a ton of bands.

EM: When you’re a touring musician you have a unique set of experiences that not many people share. And I think there’s an easy camaraderie with people on the road, because you have to be friends, or else you just don’t have any friends because you’re in a new town tomorrow, or today, depending on what your schedule is like.

Ours has been like two towns a day for the last four days. So you definitely seek the friendship and companionship there.

JR: What has it been like rising in popularity over the past year or so?

KR: It’s interesting because, you say something like “rising in popularity,” and it’s like we just don’t feel that.

EM: We don’t really get a chance to step back and realize what we’re doing. We’re just constantly, constantly working.

KR: Once in a while you’ll get somebody that’s like “what’s it like being famous?” and it’s like … I don’t know.

EM: I worry about paying rent. That’s what it’s like to be famous.

SW: People don’t really recognize us when we’re on the street so it’s not really— NP: It happens sometimes.

SW: Nic got recognized as Eli. NP: We had 24 hours at home and I went to stock up on tank tops, and walking out of the parking lot these guys pulled up and they were like “Eli! Eli? Walk the Moon right?” and I was like “… yeah hey!” [laughs] And I had just gotten my haircut to look like him so I think that’s part of it.

KR: That was your chance to like, give Eli a really bad name. Like throw something at them.

SW: Like strip and run around naked. “I’m on meth!”

JR: Okay, well thank you guys very much it was a great show— KR: And on that note. [laughs] NP: Walk the Moon does drugs and—[laughs] EM: This is Walk the Moon signing off, trying to go to sleep.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

17

MUSIC REVIEWS SUCH HOT BLOOD // THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT RATING:

★★★★☆ BY: SUSAN CHAVIRA, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

W

idely known for their melancholy track “Sometime Around Midnight” on their first album, the Airborne Toxic Event has made a romantic comeback this spring with “Such Hot Blood.” It has been two years since the alternative rock band with the woman who plays violin released their sophomore album, “All At Once.” As expected, the band’s unique sound made its way to my repeat playlist.

I was a bit disappointed with some of the lyrics on the album. At times, Jollett sounds like an inebriated teenage girl who is whining about her feelings. He was aiming for passion and raw emotion, but he could have done a better job with his writing. However, “Such Hot Blood” succeeds in proving that love is crazy, and conveying the message is all that matters.

“Bride and Groom” gets personal and a little dysfunctional when it says, “When I broke my hand on your car / When you told me you were leavin’ / And I begged for your forgiveness.” What’s a good love ballad without physical pain to accompany agonizing emotion?

This track highlights typical complications in a relationship and the unfortunate fate some come to meet. This is definitely something you should turn up after a breakup if you’d like to mourn.

A highly emotional track, “Safe,” whistles, “Were you happy? / Were you honest? / Did you ever believe that any of this was

real?” The artists want to evoke love and longing from their listeners, and the song makes a strong effort to evoke these emotions. This is a better way to depict love than “True Love,” the obvious song that aimed to do so. It is too upbeat compared to the rest of tracks so it throws off the flow of the album as a whole.

Male and female duets usually never disappoint me. “The Fifth Day,” which happens to be the longest track on the album, is a sweet account between two lovers. The song just bleeds romance with its soft beginning and gradual increments in instrumental volume. It will take you to a different place. Fans of Florence + the Machine would enjoy the energy that is channeled in this song.

The final track, “Elizabeth,” croons, “There’s a distance in your eyes / That’s why the smile is always such a surprise” after opening the song with a set of lovely guitar riffs that mix nicely with Anna Bulbrook’s violin.

Perhaps it is too mellow for the average music listener, but it is a nice listen for those who appreciate orchestral sounds.

The Airborne Toxic Event ultimately accomplished their goal in producing a highly emotional product. They were highly enthusiastic about releasing it and it’s obvious they are self-aware of their awesomeness. If you want a good laugh, you should check out the commentary for each song. “True Love” will get a chuckle out of anyone.

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Maps & Atlases The indie rock group performed at the Barn on May 1. Here’s what we saw.

Photos by Bryan Tuttle

Courtesy of Island Records

18

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

. FEATURES .

HIGHLANDER

ONE ON ONE WITH ASUCR PRESIDENT

LIAM DOW

President reflects on his term, addresses criticisms and talks about the future of ASUCR

Liam Dow is proud of ASUCR’s accomplishments but hopes it will have a better-defined roadmap and improve communications with campus media next year.

T

here are many words one could use to describe the eventful year that ASUCR had. In the past eight months, UC Riverside’s student government faced a multitude of issues ranging from painstaking elections to controversial resolutions. In the end, “successful” was the word AUSCR President Liam Dow used to describe the year ASUCR had.

I recently sat down with the student body president to talk about his term and some of the most notable moments that took place inside and outside the ASUCR Senate Chambers.

When I first spoke with Dow just eight months ago in his office at the start of his term to cover an ASUCR meeting, what I remember most was seeing a poster behind his door where he had written a checklist of things he wanted to accomplish before his term was over. The list included priorities such as establishing a relationship with the chancellor, hiring interns, utilizing the room where the Exchange used to be and regularly attending ECAB and exofficio meetings. As I sat in his office eight months later, I noticed that same checklist behind behind his door again.

What I realized this time was that every item on that list had been crossed out.

I asked him about it. He took one look at the poster and paused for a moment before proudly assuring me that every single priority listed on it had been accomplished.

With that in mind, I asked, “What were some of the highlights you can point to from your term?”

After another pause, he answered, “Voter registration was probably one of the high and low moments.” Dow was referring to the project that ASUCR and CALPIRG had spearheaded this past November where the two organizations were able to register thousands voters

Michael Rios, Senior Staff Writer // Johnny Ma, Photographer in and around the UCR community.

“Just working really, really hard for something that you’re really passionate about and trying to register voters is a lot of fun and is also kind of hard because you have students who aren’t really engaged and totally apathetic about the whole situation ... But it was a lot of fun ... because it was at the beginning of the year. Not a bad way to start at all.”

Dow continued by reflecting on some of the goals he had originally set out to accomplish prior to the start of his term.

“I was really concerned about reestablishing student government and making it really kind of a new image for the office,” he stated. “So I really put all of my time into my job.”

As he said this, Dow went on to elaborate more on his time commitment to the student government and according to him, it was a stressful job. He stated that he was forced to put his studies on hold in order to focus on his duties as president.

“I’ve been spread so thin … I really put school on hold. The first quarter I was able to balance everything and I think the second quarter, the winter quarter, is when it really hit me … I missed so much class. I put my whole life on hold to try to really, really do a good job here,” he said.

“Was it a successful term?” I asked him.

“I think that it was a very successful term,” he replied. “I think that we did amazing things. Our office—we really changed the direction the student government was going ... I was talking to the dean of CNAS and she was like, ‘The student government has been wonderful, just amazing this year.’”

The conversation shifted gears from that point to the Highlander’s April 16 editorial titled “Behind the veil of ASUCR,” which criticized the student

government’s lack of transparency, accomplishments and elections system.

“My initial reaction was that it was very one-sided,” he responded. “It didn’t seem to encompass our year especially if you looked at the previous Highlander issues, you would see all of the accomplishment that ASUCR has made ... And that was very confusing to me.”

He went on to point to one specific issue he had with the editorial.

“There was one instance that the Highlander criticized, I think, that was a snowball effect to the editorial. For example, the voting for the divestment, which, you know, affected students in adverse ways and was a very hot topic, to say the least. How we dealt with it was unique and it needed to be unique because it was a unique situation.”

He acknowledged that transparency was an issue that needed to be addressed by the senate. At the same time, he continued to voice his concerns over what had been written in the editorial.

“Some of those aspects are warranted like some of those [about] transparency,” he admitted, but went on to say, “I think a lack of transparency does not equal a lack of doing work and a lack of ethics. I think that was kind of the push of the editorial. It was like: Because there is a lack of transparency, they haven’t done any work and because they haven’t done any work, they’re just totally unethical and student money is going down the drain. And that was, like, very offensive …”

He went on to suggest that there needed to be a deeper understanding between the student government and campus media. “I think there has been kind of a break in communication, just in general,” he said.

Another topic of discussion that Dow mentioned was the recent ruling made by the judicial branch. On April

24 the ASUCR judicial branch outlined a reading policy that requires each senator to submit his or her input about every piece of legislation prior to voting on it. The branch also recommended that a questionnaire for students be created that asks about issues that matter to them. Next year’s candidates will have to provide responses to the questionnaire when running for office.

“When we reviewed the recommendations, they were recommendations,” Dow said, claiming that the ruling made by the judicial branch was not an absolute law. At the same time he admitted that there were certain aspects about the ruling that he was in favor of. He pointed specifically to the required reading of a legislation

by ASUCR senators. “I think that needs to be written into a bylaw,” he stated.

With that, I asked him what he thought about the distribution of power the between judicial branch and the senate.

“The judicial branch makes ruling based on the constitution,” he replied, but he made it clear that he believes that the judicial branch does not have the power to create law.

From there, we moved on to next year’s senate and the changes that he hopes to see.

“There will be a more clearly defined road to what to do,” he said, referring to incoming ASUCR representatives.

“With the training that they’ll receive, they’ll have more grasp on how to do it.”

The incoming ASUCR representatives began their transition training this past Thursday, May 2. Next year’s staff will begin holding senate meetings in the fall.

With an entire year of experience under his belt, I asked him if he any advice for next year’s staff. He replied, “My advice would be to start early—get ■H the ball rolling early.”

FEATURES

HIGHLANDER

S

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

19

RESTAURANT REVIEW:

USHI

A

SAHI

By Maxine Arellano, Contributing Writer / Wesley Ng, Photographer RATING:

T

★★★★☆

he city of Riverside seemingly has two temperatures: tundra and Hades. The simmering spring days of May urge students to flee from the heat and find refuge anywhere with an ounce of shade, cool air and refreshing food. Luckily for me, I found the place to get away from the sun rays in Sushi Asahi. Located a few miles off campus, Sushi Asahi is a place where students and families can get away from the desert of Riverside and enjoy the ambiance and food for the hour or two they’re there.

Asahi finds itself nestled in an hidden gem of a shopping complex right behind the Van Buren Drive-In. Once we completed the endless rounds of finding parking, we made our way to the entrance. A formal patio, lined with bamboo shades and dusty heating lamps was cluttered with loud chatter and hungry guests. Inside, the cool environment welcomes anyone to stay. Fortunately for us, we arrived right after the lunch rush. However, the place was packed cheek to cheek with only two-seater tables lined around the wall. I was a little disappointed

The Jen Jen special roll.

Unagi (fresh water eel) sushi.

not to get the full effect of watching the sushi masters complete each dish with the finesse that they usually do. The waitress informed my friend and I that we were actually lucky since there was only one table left.

As we wiped the sweat off our foreheads from just the walk from the car to the restaurant, the waitress took our order of an ice water and all-you-can-eat (AYCE) sushi. Now some people refer to me as cheap, but I like to say I’m frugal. With sushi being my favorite meal and also my wallet’s worst enemy, I find that reasonably priced all-you-can eat-sushi deals are the way to go.

At a lunch price of $17.99 and a dinner price of $20.99, Asahi is reasonably priced and quality assured.

The AYCE special includes appetizers from the kitchen, individual sushi and hand-cut and specialty rolls. The menu consists of every sushi craver’s dream: Salmon kama and baked lobster specialty roll. Asahi also gives customers choices of individual meals as well as a kid’s menu.

With our stretchy pants loosened and sushi appetite screaming, we

took advantage of the special.

Ordering the sashimi salad, miso soup and baked green mussels to loosen the pallet and an interlude of albacore, fresh water eel, and mackerel sushi, my stomach’s grumbles told the waitress to put a step on it.

Waiting for our food to arrive was no problem; the guests can take in the decor that hugged the room to pass the time. Red lanterns glowed over the floral fans hanging over head. ESPN hummed behind the sound of Kpop that gave guests something to tap their feet to as they enjoyed other’s company. The place was so cluttered with hustling people, but the waiter’s diligence was duly noted as the food came out at a surprising speed. Little did we know, our two-seater table would almost collapse with the avalanche of food. We had to resort to placing all table toppers on the ground just to make room for the eight plates and two glasses we had.

I dug into the sashimi salad, dying for a refreshing bite. Diced salmon, tuna and white fish were tossed with arugula and orange vinaigrette. The sweet and slight-

ly bitter vinaigrette meshed well with the bitter greens, but just played in the background behind the notes of the smooth fish. The baked green mussels balanced out starters with its hearty and creamy attributes. On that note, however, the mayonnaise sauce that created the sweet crust over mussels as they broiled was a little too rich by the second bite. By the time I completed the order, I had to shift in my seat to make room for the next entrée: the sushi.

Some could debate that fish tastes the same everywhere.

That’s not true. The amount of care and attention that the sushi chef and their carrier put into making the meal added to the outcome. With that said, I was very pleased with the freshness and crisp taste of the albacore and Mackerel. Albacore is known for its sweeter tang, which pairs well with Sriracha or any spice. Mackerel can be a little more overbearing because of its strong fishy taste. But I say: When in Rome, swim with the fishes!

As the elastic around my pants deteriorated, we ended the meal with the special rolls of Jen Jen and Shrimp Boat. The shrimp

boat had to be my favorite. What could be better than deep-fried food and seafood together? It is a mixture of fresh crab and shrimp rolled in panko and fried to create a harmony of a crunchy, light and creamy meal. It was topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce which usually has a sweet tangy glaze.

This, on the other hand, tasted more like A1 steak sauce. It had an unusual taste, with a hint of ketchup, which really did not mix well with the fish. With that said, the eel sauce soaked the Jen Jen roll to the point where the scallops wrapped in fresh tuna were drowning in it. Definitely not a favorite, but something to consider if you want to try Japanesestyle barbecue sauce.

The meal overall was something to remember. We got our money’s worth we left with rice busting at the seams from so much food. Asahi is one place that tops in my sushi repertoire, especially in Riverside. With summer days stewing, Asahi can protect anyone from the heat with their fresh delectables. I was new walking in, but I feel like I can become a regular after today’s visit—if I had deep pockets.

■H

The sushi bar area manned by no less than six sushi chefs working and interacting with customers.

20

FEATURES

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

HIGHLANDER

The student band discusses their experiences at UCR, how they first met and their future plans

An interview with UCR band

By Matthew Ward, Contributing Writer

A

ccording to Webster’s dictionary, the word Pococurante is defined as indifferent or nonchalant. UC Riverside student band Pococurante is apathetic in name only, however. The musically ardent and inventive group—which consists of seniors Hovig Sarkissian, Eric Hyman, Stephen Fong and Nate Guze— has been producing music together since its formation in 2010.

I have seen Pococurante play a few house shows and at the Barn. The psychedelic rock band has a following from not only friends but also admirers who nod their heads to the band’s ambient garagerock rhythms that support lead vocalist Stephen Fong’s lyrics.

Influenced from an array of experimental rock bands, Pococurante, at times, takes on the sounds of Radiohead, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Deerhunter, to name a few. Pococurante and I talked about the band’s time at UC Riverside as the year is coming to an end. And in the midst of the conversation, they also answered the question: What is the next step for Pococurante?

Matthew Ward: What were you doing musically (or not musically) pre-Poco? Did you ever think you would be musically involved or in a band at UCR? Hovig Sarkissian (Lead Guitar): When I moved into A.I. [Aberdeen-Inverness], I immediately wanted to start a band.

Eric Hyman (Drums): I taught myself drums in high school and never stopped learning.

I was involved in the UCR Orchestra my freshman year.

During that time I had met Stephen through an art history class and we started jamming

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with his electric drum set and guitar. We wanted to write a Zombie Opera that took place in Chinatown, San Francisco, so we practiced in the piano room in A.I. and started fooling around with guitar riffs. Never thought that I would get to the level I am now musically, ever.

I’m super blessed to be able to do what I’m doing with these dudes.

Stephen Fong (Lead Vocals/ Guitar): When I first got to A.I. I knew I wanted to start a band, but it was hard because there was no space for a drum kit and I didn’t know anyone with a kit either. That’s when I got some gear where I could compose my own songs using logic and a MIDI keyboard. I met Eric my first quarter and we started making songs on the piano together, and I was also getting my toes wet with producing for my other group Ghostcat. Eric and I originally wanted to make a zombie rock opera. I still have those sketches somewhere on my computer. Before I came to UCR I was the vocalist/rhythm guitar player for a band called Rip Van Winkle and the Water Babies which was made up of me and bunch of buddies from my high school jazz band.

Nate Guze (Bass): In my high school years, I was in a band called Northern Lights. It was pretty much just a few of my friends and I messing around with guitars, drums and bass. I joined Burgundy Skies when I first got to UCR and we played together and around campus for about two years before most of them split due to graduation— it’s a bitch, ain’t it? As [a] music major I was required to join school ensembles so I had a brief stint with Collegium Musicum before joining the UCR Jazz Ensemble, which I’m still in.

MW: How did the band first

meet and end up working together? How did the addition of Nate come along?

HS: I met Stephen through a friend and eventually found out he lived in the same apartment complex as me. I joined in with his duo he formed with Eric on drums and Stephen on bass and we all jammed and eventually did our first few performances not too long after on campus.

EH: The addition of Nate came when we bought our PA [public-address] system. Nate started jamming with us and the chemistry was awesome.

After a few practices together he decided to help throw down $200 for the band to get a PA / mixer and everything.

“I’d love to see this band go places because we definitely have the talent ...”

-Nate Guze SF: First I met Eric during office hours in the only class we’ve had together, which was about Pre-Columbian architecture.

We jammed together in the piano rooms and made little songs. The next year I had an electric drum kit and would jam with Eric in my apartment. Hovig lived in the same complex and was introduced through our mutual friend Mario. I actually jammed with just Hovig first and was pretty blown away and I remember telling Eric, “You’ve got to hear this guy play, man.” We played as a trio for the rest of the year, going on to win Battle of the Bands.

The next year I met Nate in jazz band and he came to jam with us on bass and I moved over to guitar. This was a big help for me because I had trouble holding down the bass lines and singing vocals.

NG: I met Stephen first in the UCR Jazz Ensemble. He invited me over to jam with his trio a few times after I told him I was interested in playing with them [laughs]. I guess I kinda did buy my way into the band with chipping in for the PA system, but I could sense the talent and potential in the group so I had to find a way to stay.

MW: Proudest moments for the band? Favorite shows played?

HS: The Barn show we had was in my opinion where the money was at—literally because we made the most money with that show [laughs]. But the energy and work we put into the band really shined bright that night as we had our caring fans and close friends to cheer us on. I also got really drunk before and might have blacked out in many if not all of my solos. Not to mention my biggest influence Omar Rodriguez Lopez would be playing on the same stage a few weeks later.

EH: Any show where any of us end up bleeding from raging on our instruments so hard.

SF: I think my proudest moments in the band were during shows—notably the Bell Tower shows and the Barn show.

Being in a band like ours takes a lot of hard work to sound good and the process surrounding that, getting together, going over parts, scheduling, agreeing on what works and what doesn’t can really test your patience and have you question why you’re doing this. But always when we play the shows and a song

ends and then you hear a bunch of people screaming or even singing back some of the words you feel validated and you know it was worth the effort.

Performance is really important because of that; you give your whole heart to something and then you get something back from the fans. That’s a very proud moment you know?

NG: So many awesome moments, it’s hard to decide.

The Barn show was definitely a fun one. We all went crazy there and had an awesome time. Another good moment was at the Riverside Musical Arts Showcase. We were on our last song (“6/4”) and we were all doing amazing solos— especially Hovig.

Damn, boy—when the cops came to bust up the show. Joke was on them, though, because we had just finished our set to tons of cheering fans that didn’t give a shit about the cops (including us). That was one of the best crowds we ever played for.

MW: Where do you see the band going? What direction do you want it to go?

HS: [It’s] hard to tell the future.

We are all close friends with very different musical tastes, ideals and songwriting techniques. But it’s a lot of frustration and hard work to keep things in check, so it’s hard to tell how long we will be able to maintain things and keep reinventing ourselves. We are about to record our first EP and are focusing on that right now and also everyone is busy about to graduate.

EH: I’ve always seen this band as a college project; never really thought too far into the future. Honestly, I don’t think any of us know what we’re doing next week let alone what POCOCURANTE CONT’D ON PAGE 21

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we do after graduation, but I would like to think even when we’re 30 years old we’ll still remember our songs and jam out.

SF: Like the guys said: We’re all in our last year of college.

So we’re focused on getting this piece of paper called a degree first. Eric is right. I don’t know what I’m doing next week [laughs]. I think the course of the band is heavily dictated by how we conduct ourselves now. The main focus is to get this EP out and into the world. That could change a lot of things for us and the band dynamic. If I’ve learned anything about this band is that it’s a whole phenomenon of it’s own; I’m learning more and more to just let it do it’s thing because it’s bigger than any one of us as individuals. I love all these guys and I’d love to continue to make music with them into the future.

NG: Every band I join, I join in for the long haul. I’d love to see this band go places because we definitely have the talent, but I guess we’ll see what happens ... Regardless of what happens I know we’ll still play. This band can make it for sure; we just gotta get that EP out!

and then Stephen adds in lyrics.

I am very shy and quiet and mostly prefer instrumentals because sound through my guitar is my true voice. Some of our songs are written and meant to be instrumental. But we try to balance things out with more lyrics.

EH: I’ve never written a single lyric in my life. My job is easy: just write the beat.

SF: In the early days we would jam and string parts together to make a song and then I would add lyrics later, for example the song “Tightrope”. Now we do that to an extent, but it mostly consists of the guys bringing a song or idea to the table and dealing out the parts. Hovig usually brings in a piece and we’ll jam off that and expand.

I tend to bring in already complete songs, which to be honest doesn’t give the other guys a lot of room to add to the song so I’m trying to work on bringing stuff that can be more collaborative

MW: How does music itself affect writing lyrics and vice versa?

NG: I do it similarly to the way that Hovig said: The instrumentals come first. I may have an idea for what the lyrics should be about when writing the instrumentals, but I get around to those after all is said and done. Most of our songs lyrics are written by Stephanovich, though.

HS: In this band we mostly always have instrumentals first

MW: Who makes up the band’s biggest following?

What’s the groupie situation?

HS: Mostly all the close friends we’ve acquired and spent our fun college years with living, eating, jamming, studying and partying with. Shout out to Sugarloaf and Liz and company.

EH: I would say that the biggest contribution to the band is how chill my roommates have been about letting Poco blast noise every week.

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 (Chelsea!) and friends of friends.

It’s mostly a group of seniors/ juniors and those with band relations or people in the music department who dig us. This music is for everyone though, so don’t be intimidated! Come and listen! We are currently accepting applications for band groupies though. Please write your name and number on an article of your underwear and throw it to us at our next show—females only, please. We’ll get back to you asap.

“It’s been the people at UCR that has helped me along my music path.”

-Eric Hyman

MW: Is your music aimed at any audiences in particular?

What do your parents think of your music?

SF: As the other guys said, pretty much the regular Sugarloaf family, which was seven guys, but really more like 50 people because that house was always filled with friends and pets. We have a flag in our apartment now that was signed by all our friends from Sugarloaf.

EH: My dad came out to see us once and he said that we were too loud.

NG: The Esquires and GentileLadies of Sugarloaf Manor are our biggest supporters by far.

We always have a crowd of regulars which include girlfriends

HS: When I write it for an audience it doesn’t feel natural to me and it comes out forced as if I am trying to conform or fit in with everyone else. I write music for myself to find what hidden talents, capabilities, powers and unique traits I have that make me who I am.

SF: I’m sort of the opposite of Hovig because I like to always keep my audience in mind when I write, but it more has to do with the question of is this convincing or not, does it sound like I’m trying too hard. For me I have extreme musical ADD. One moment I’ll listen to Outkast and Kendrick Lamar then the next song will be like Yeasayer or

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Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, so my mood and how I write changes all the time, which means I bring some weird stuff to the table that doesn’t always fly with the guys.

But at the end of the day when I write I try to imagine myself and the other guys performing it in front of the audience and I try to imagine if we could pull it off in a way that could be convincing.

I’ve had some crazy ideas and thank goodness we didn’t use all of them!

NG: Writing for an audience is something we don’t normally do.

We really write for ourselves and let the band sort out all the details.

MW: Why Pococurante?

the

name

HS: I actually brought that name to the band. I saw it written on a Starbucks coffee mug my mom bought with its definition underneath meaning to be nonchalant. I always liked the sound of the name and it seemed to match our moods.

EH: We first called ourselves Stollen Jizz, then realized we weren’t in High School.

SF: We need to stop using that mug and put it in a display box.

NG: Because we’re totally nonchalant and don’t give a fuck ... They picked it way before I joined [laughs].

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

May Day May 1

“Happy New Year!” shouted an alcohol-slurred voice among the multitude of faces.

This was the greeting my friends and I met as we got off the U-Bahn and into the crowd that consumed the middle of Berlin. The first of May is a national holiday in Germany, in which almost everyone has a day off from work and celebrates that fact. Arguably the most notorious celebration for May Day is Myfest, an annual event where entire streets of Kreutzberg (a.k.a. the Hipster capital of Berlin) are filled to the brim with all kinds of people, live music venues and a multitude of grills and beer tents.

It is also famous for every so often breaking out into full-scale riots at night—a fact that our program booklets specifically cautioned us about. So naturally, we had to check it out.

We soon found ourselves in the overwhelming waves of people ebbing and flowing between the streets. One thing some of us were amazed by was just the sheer variety of people walking around together. There was your average Joe, your flamboyant bohemian and everything in-between; t-shirts and jeans moshing with rainbows of hair and jackets bedecked in enough expressive patches to make my own trademark leather look remarkably tame by comparison.

And of course there were several policemen covered in full riot-gear scattered throughout, although they all just directed traffic with an expression of obligated boredom rather than cautiously patrol.

Looking beyond the crowds, one could see the occasional

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raised tent hosting a band or DJ, sometimes not even too far apart from one another. There was one instance in which trap music was blasting just down the street from a German punk band. One could also see large clouds of smoke rising into the air—mostly from people setting up makeshift food stands to sell to the hungry crowd but also from many cigarettes and spliffs.

And then there were every so often balloons carried around or let into the sky, many of which were of Patrick Star from “Spongebob Squarepants” for some reason I never really figured out.

Now that I’ve been to music festivals and the like, the sheer amount of people was not a surprise or discomfort to me. But what really caught me off guard was the fact that 90 percent of all the people there were constantly moving and drinking, with everyone clutching onto their precious p l a s t i c cups lest their sweet contents get lost in the motion. And then of course, it would take only two seconds for one to completely disappear, with our group constantly breaking up and re-converging amongst the sea of heads and voices.

We walked for about an hour, but felt it like an eternity of shouldershoving and people saying “excuse me.” We would stop for beer, or for food or to just stop and dance for a moment, but for the most part it was an event entirely in motion.

The longest break we took was in

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a small park, in which children were playing soccer.

In the bushes behind them, both men and women agreed that it was to be the spot to relieve themselves. Nobody should blame them though, all the bathrooms set up by the event were charging a two Euro entry and extra 20 cents for washing one’s hands.

But then we decided that we should probably leave if we wanted to find a bar to watch the Champions League game of Bayern versus Barcelona. I discovered that when I was trying to leave the crowd as opposed to move with it, moving amongst that many people wasn’t as fun. By the time we reached the station again, I had at least two different drinks spilled across my left leg, I had been nudged and pushed countless times and I was one more cigarette-cloudlazily-spewed-into-my-face away from snapping. In such moments, it became clear to me why this event was known for occasionally turning to violence.

We finally arrived at the train station only to see ours depart and leave us waiting for the next one. We were then stuck in the mob at the station that trying to leave instead of the mob that was trying to party. A few minutes went by of listening to the ambient beats still pulsing from an electronic music tent nearby. My friend Yoshi, as if sensing my slight irritation in that moment, simply turned to me and said, “You know, they use this sort of music as a form of torture.”

Then the next train rolled in like sweet salvation and we all promptly crammed ourselves into the already MAY DAY CONT’D ON PAGE 24

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HIGHLANDER POCOCURANTE FROM PAGE 21

MW: Has UCR helped you along your music path? How so?

HS: Absolutely, and in every way possible. UCR has helped me open up and really discover what I’m capable of and what my true passion is. I am truly grateful for all who’ve helped me become a better musician and person as well as all my friends and fans who fuel my offstage and onstage energy.

EH: It’s been the people at UCR that have helped me along my music path. The students that run ASPB have single-handedly been responsible for some of the coolest moments of my life.

My friends that have come out to the shows to show support have no idea how much that means to me. UCR is an amazing learning environment not just for an education but also for self-maturation and exploration; personally and musically for me.

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SF: Absolutely. On the most basic level it’s the place where we all met and came together. On top of that the school provided a lot of opportunities for us to play, and still does. I think the moment where we were all thinking “this is special” was when we won the battle of the bands competition when we were a trio.

ASPB has been very supportive of us along the way, providing gig opportunities and such. In particular Jenny Guzman and Amy Nguyen who are my good friends since freshman year (B1E Jenny!). Here we also met Maral Erol our manager who helped get us the Barn gig and a few others along the way. She connected us with Niel Chua at KUCR who did the radio interview with us.

Also Bob Scarano who teaches guitar to me and Hovig is going to record our EP. The list goes on and on, but we’re eternally grateful to all the peeps at and around the school who supported us.

NG: Holy mother of the gods.

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Yes, it has! It has pushed me into playing so many new music genres that I don’t think I would have ever played otherwise. UCR has allowed me to be a part of the Riverside music community and play with a lot of different people. As a result I can now say that I am a professional multiinstrumentalist. I’ve been paid to play on different instruments!

UCR is a great place for musicians!

that deserve to be heard. Almost every band that played had at least one UCR student out of eight acts. It was an amazing experience to be able to share the stage with fellow UCR artists.

But I think that there really isn’t a music scene in Riverside.

Hopefully other bands pick up where we left off and are proud enough of where they come from to keep coming back and create a music scene in the Inland Empire.

MW: Is there an “underground UC Riverside music movement?” Is Poco at the head of it?

SF: I think the musical scene in and around UCR is pretty fractured. I know a lot of musicians, artists and filmmakers around the school and we’re all within our small groups. I think it would be such a great thing for the school and for the art community if some of these people got to know each other. It goes beyond just bands, but also rappers and hip hop producers, classically trained musicians, there’s a small jazz scene emerging from the music department. On top of that you have some really good sculptors and painters, plus

HS: I have actually met a lot of interesting musicians around the area. I think it is too scattered to be a concrete scene but there are a lot of people out there trying in the least.

EH: The idea behind Riverside Musical Showcase was to show Riverside that there exists a music scene right in front of us and that it’s filled with talented musicians

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there’s the whole FPS [Film and Photography Society] club and much more. These people don’t all have to work together but if we all started to get to know one another I think the scene would flourish. A rose is a rose is a rose and art is art is art no matter what.

They’re all related and if we as a group can help grow the art scene then I would say, what’s wrong with that?

NG: I would love to say, “Yes! Poco is at the head, center, abdomen, heart, small intestine and gallbladder of the underground UCR music movement!” But it’s not that simple. We’ve met many interesting characters that are apart of this movement that are promotionally way far ahead of us, but I do think we provide some of the best music that UCR (and Riverside for that matter) has to offer. Hopefully this will change for future generations at UCR, but the UCR community doesn’t seem to be into supporting the ■H performing arts that much.

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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MAY DAY FROM PAGE 22

over-capacity train cars.

However, everyone aboard seemed to be more amused than alarmed at their sacrifice of personal space for the luxury of faster transportation. The next stop brought even more people on board, including a man whose entry left us crotch to crotch and pinned to the wall. The two of us then spent the entirety of the ride trying to not make eye contact and make the position any more awkward.

But finally, we arrived at our desired stop. After spending the day at Myfest, it felt oddly alien to walk out into a street that didn’t have a person standing on every square inch of it. And then, at one of the only Mexican bars/ restaurants I’ve seen over here, we finally unwinded and enjoyed a great victory for Bayern. The little devil in me was disappointed that I didn’t get to see a full-scale riot, but for the most part, I was entirely content to sit back, enjoy a beer and overpriced nachos, watch the game and call it another eventful day in Deutschland.

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

SPORTS

Senior Jazmine Lewis shines at Big West Championship Darren Bueno

YOUNG FROM PAGE 1

leniency toward Young because the mistake was out of his control.

Athletics Director Brian Wickstrom blamed an administrative error within the compliance office for the mixup that resulted in the penalty.

This year, Young started the season as a fifth-year senior and played in 15 games, none of them in Big West Conference play, before the error was uncovered and reported. He was one of the talented core on the team and now the young man will not have the opportunity to show his talent and help the team win the Big West title.

Last season was the best of Young’s UCR collegiate career.

Young had the second best batting average among the starters, hitting .295 while starting all 54 games.

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Jazmine Lewis stated in her UCR biography that her goal as a UC Riverside athlete was to set the record in the heptathlon.

And on Saturday, May 4 she achieved her goal as the senior shattered the university’s heptathlon record and finished in second place at the Big West Track & Field Multi-Events Championship. As the lone competitor for the Highlanders at the seven-event championship, Lewis scored 4,974 points, which eclipsed Denise Woodard’s point total of 4,890 set in 1984.

Competing against four other athletes, Lewis started the weekend event slowly with a last-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles. The senior finished her next three events (high jump, shot put and the 200 meters) sandwiched in the middle of the pack, but still managed to complete the day second only to Hawai’i’s Samantha Balentine.

Trailing Balentine by 225 points, Lewis needed a strong showing on the last day of the tournament to snag the top spot. The Stockton, Calif. native did exactly that as she set a new career best in the long jump (5.50m) to inch herself 86 points closer to Balentine.

Lewis next finished first in the javelin with a top mark of 36.12m (118’ 6”), which was almost four meters ahead

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of

He scored the most runs with 35, was second in hits with 57, tied for third in RBIs with 24, second in onbase-percentage with .419 and led the team in walks with 41.

Head Coach Smith was asked about his initial reaction and if he felt that the NCAA’s ruling was fair. “I feel anger. I am not happy about it, not happy about it at all,” Smith said. “I don’t think it was a fair decision. There is no way to convince me that it was in the best interest for the player.”

Coach Smith later discussed what is happening to Young and what he told his team moving forward. “He is working out for an opportunity to go out to play professional baseball. It hinders his opportunity to be able to expose his talents ... I told the team that I thought it was not a good decision, but it is our job to move on and play ball.”

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G a b r i e l A c o s ta

Jazmine Lewis throws the javelin. She finished first in the event.

of second-place Long Beach State’s Taylor Jackson, who threw 32.86m.

The final event was the 800 meters, where Lewis finished in fourth place with a time of 2:31.77, a mere four seconds behind Balentine. Although she couldn’t nab the top spot, the senior came away with the Highlanders’ highest-ever fin-

ish in the Big West Conference Heptathlon. Lewis has improved every year in the event since her freshman year, where she placed 14th, all leading up to the best win of her collegiate career on Saturday.

The rest of the Big West Track & Field Championship starts on Friday, May 10 at Cal State Northridge.

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Eddie Young fields the ball in a game against CSUN last year.

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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Cal State Northridge sweeps Riverside softball team C o dy N g u y e n STAFF WRITER

May 4, 2013 Matadors 5 - Highlanders 1 DARREN BUENO

BUENO’S BUZZ More than words “I’m a 34-year-old NBA Center. I’m black. And I’m gay.” Simple, poignant and daring words. Jason Collins, a 12-year NBA veteran, became the first man to acknowledge being gay while still active in one of America’s four major professional sports. But Collins’ statement was much more than words, it was a small shift in American sports popular culture: the acceptance of a single person for who they are.

The parameters of sports often exclude sexual orientation. Some might argue that choice of sexuality simply isn’t relevant in sports, but the truth lies in the fact that it isn’t wanted. American sports pinch out every ounce of masculinity possible and the result is a space extremely skeptical of homosexuality.

In the months preceding Collins’ announcement, there were whispers of several gay athletes in the NFL that were prepared to come out. Analysts and former players were unsure if the sports contingent was ready for that monumental leap. Fast forward to today, the overwhelming support received by Collins from fellow teammates to the president of the United States shows the public opinion, particularly in sports, is changing.

I say changing because all the reception hasn’t been as warm and jovial. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace questioned, hours after Collins’ coming out, why any man would be gay with “all these beautiful women in the world.” ESPN analyst Chris Broussard openly condemned homosexuality and stated that being gay was an “open rebellion against God.” And I can only imagine the sea of people that agree with their line of thinking but don’t have the guts or platform to say it, of course outside of the YouTube comment section.

So is Jason Collins’ coming out monumental? Yes. In my eyes, it is an inspiring story that above all says, whether straight or gay, be yourself.

But in the larger context, there is still a long way to go.

Sports and some sections of society still do not embrace other’s sexualities. In his article, Collins said he doesn’t sleep well at nights. After his celebrated day, I’m sure that he is sleeping just a bit better tonight. And in the end, that’s ■H all the matters.

Coming off a two-game winning streak, the Riverside softball team looked to continue its streak on the hostile field of Cal State Northridge, but fell to the Matadors 5-1.

After three scoreless innings, the Matadors struck first in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Mikayla Thielges’ homer off UCR starting pitcher Alyssa Razo. UC Riverside was able to put up an equalizer off Kayla White’s RBI, capitalizing on a second base steal and a Matador error.

The Matadors caught their break in the bottom of the sixth.

With two runners on base, Jennifer Tyler fired a homer over left field to give Northridge a 4-1 lead. Subsequently, a double

by Adrienne Martinez scored a Northridge runner to increase the lead to 5-1.

In the top of the final inning, UCR’s White was able to hit a single with one out, but two outs followed, securing the win for the Matadors.

May 4, 2013 Matadors 8 - Highlanders 5

In a shootout match that contradicted the previous low-scoring affair, the UC Riverside softball team was unable to avoid the dreaded doubleheader sweep against the Cal State Northridge Matadors, losing 8-5.

Northridge wasted no time riding the offensive momentum from last game, getting on the board with two runs in the first inning. With bases loaded, Mia Pagano fired a double to left center to score two runners.

The Highlanders were able to quickly answer back and take the lead in the third inning, as Kayla White fired a home run with two on base, giving UCR a 3-2 lead. Natalie Sanchez continued the scoring in the fourth, firing a double with runners on second and third, increasing the lead to 5-2.

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V inc e n t T a /HIGHLANDER Senior Kayla White (#4) swiftly makes her way to home base, avoiding being tagged out by the San Diego Ti t a n s d u r i n g a g a m e i n A p r i l .

Northridge replied once again, scoring five runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead that they would never let up, securing the defeat of the Highlanders.

May 5, 2013 Matadors 12 - Highlanders 3

The UC Riverside softball team needed the assistance of the

mercy rule in their series finale to stop the bleeding, falling 12-3 in five innings to the Northridge Matadors.

The Matadors scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings, two in the first and second, three in the third and five in the fourth. On the other hand, the Highlanders were only able to find themselves with a single run in each of the last three innings.

After being ahead 10 runs in the fifth inning, the NCAA mercy rule was applied and the victory was given to the Matadors.

The Highlanders will look to break their three-game losing streak when they hit the road again for their final conference games of the season against UC Santa Barbara. The games are set to take place ■H from May 10-11.

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. SPORTS .

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

HIGHLANDER

Despite eighth place in Big West Championship, men’s golf optimistic for next year Steven Cahill

and ended strong by going one under par in the final round.

Coach Riehle seemed proud of David’s performance and the progress he’s made. “Over the last month of the season, David has been playing very well. His last three events he has finished first, T-5 and T-5 at the Big West Conference Championship. Earlier in the season David was struggling with his ball striking, so we decided to make that a priority in practice, and the results followed the work that he has been putting in,” said Riehle.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The men’s golf team couldn’t come back from a lackluster sixthplace, first-round performance in the Big West Championship and wound up finishing eighth overall out of 10 teams with a final score of 912. CSU Fullerton and University of the Pacific were tied after the final round and went on to play a one-hole playoff, in which Pacific came out ahead. With the win, Pacific earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals.

UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and Long Beach State rounded out the top five, respectively.

The Highlanders’ first-round finish of sixth place was their best of the event. They would later falter with eighth-place finishes after rounds two and three. They were, however, only six strokes behind Hawai’i for sixth place and were a whole sixteen shots ahead of Cal Poly and CSU Northridge, who tied for ninth.

After the competition, Head Coach Eric Riehle stated that. “[He is} satisfied with the performance, but not overly excited with the finish. We were in position during the final round to finish one spot higher in the event, but did not close well on the last four holes. Disappointing in that regard, but we did outperform our seeding going into the tournament,” he said.

Individually, Highlanders Jason Semthiti (75-75-80), Ryan Smith (79-76-77) and Christian Rajcic

“We were in position during the final round to finish one spot higher in the event, but did not close well on the last four holes.”

- Head Coach Eric Riehle C o u rt e s y D a v i d G a z z o l o ( R i g h t ) w i t h h i s f i f t h p l a c e a w a rd a t t h e B i g We s t C h a m p i o n s h i p .

(77-78-79) all finished close to each other, with scores of 14, 16 and 18 over par, respectively. BJ Doucett (78-84-78) rounded out the team, finishing with a score of 24 over par. Doucett and Semthiti

played a couple holes exceptionally well, scoring the only two eagles for the team in the tournament.

Riverside’s leading man, however, was David Gazzolo (7276-71) who finished tied for fifth

of

B i g W e s t C o n f e r e nc e

overall by accumulating only three shots over par. He was extremely consistent throughout the competition, scoring as many birdies as he did bogeys or double bogeys, staying right around even all three days

With this being the last competition of the season, the team must now begin to think about next year, and the head coach already has.

Riehle said, “We return four great players, and have seven freshmen coming in. I couldn’t be more excited about the group that we will have next year.”

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UCR swept by Mustangs, returns home for a five-game home stand Matthew Guerrero CONTRIBUTING WRITER

April 30, 2013 Rebels 20 - Highlanders 6

Riverside baseball traveled to Nevada and battled against the UNLV Rebels in what was a brutal slugfest for the Rebels. It was a lopsided game as the Highlanders allowed 20 runs, the second-largest amount of runs ever allowed by the Highlanders, en route to a 20-6 defeat.

Riverside had to dig deep into its bullpen, using a combined six pitchers. Antonio Gonzales (0-2) started on the mound for the Highlanders and only lasted two innings, giving up six runs, five hits and four walks.

UCR finally put runs on the board in the four inning when they scored three runs on two hits. Chaves started it off with a double to right field.

Two batters later, David Andriese singled through the right side for an RBI. The top performers for the Highlanders were Cody Hough, Francisco Tellez and David Andriese. Tellez went 1-2 with a homer, his second of the year, a walk and knocked in two runs. Hough had one RBI, a double and scored a run while going 2-2 at the plate. Andriese went 2-4 with a RBI and a run scored.

May 3, 2013 Mustangs 4 - Highlanders 1

Riverside baseball started a conference series battle against the nationally-ranked Cal Poly

Mustangs but lost 4-1 in its first game. The Mustangs were held scoreless through six innings, but scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh in what was a pitcher’s duel. Joe Chavez knocked in the only Highlander run, while Elliot Stewart led the Mustangs with three RBIs. The Highlanders managed to score early in the game as Nick Vilter singled in the third inning, and two batters later, scored on a Chavez double.

The Highlanders would fail to score the rest of the game and pitcher Dylan Stuart couldn’t hold the lead after the sixth as a 3-1 pitch to Brian Mundell soared over the left field fence to begin the seventh inning.

Two singles and a sacrifice bunt put runners on the corners as Stewart came to the plate to pinch hit for the Mustangs and belted a three-run homer to left field to take the 4-1 lead.

May 4, 2013 Mustangs 3 - Highlanders 1

UCR continued its three-game series against the Cal Poly Mustangs with another loss, falling short in another pitcher’s duel, 3-1. Riverside pitcher Ben Doucette allowed just one run through six innings, while Clayton Prestridge knocked in the only Highlander run. Jimmy Allen drove in the go-ahead run for the Mustangs.

Nick Torres knocked in a run in the

Junior Ben Doucette pitches the ball during a game against UCSB in April.

third inning for the Mustangs, lacing a single off Doucette for the 1-0 lead.

The Highlanders would fail to score until the seventh inning, when Prestridge singled home Joe Chavez with a hit to center field. That would be the only Highlander run of the day, however, as the Mustangs would go into the bottom of the seventh tied with the Highlanders.

Brian Mundell reached on an infield single to start the seventh and two batters later, a walk to David Armendariz put two runners on for Allen.

Allen singled to left to drive in the run and the Mustangs took the lead at 2-1.

The Highlanders put runners on base through the later innings, but failed to

score as the Mustangs escaped with a win.

May 5, 2013 Mustangs 4 - Highlanders 3

To say that it was a tough weekend for the UC Riverside baseball team would be an understatement, as the team fell for the third time in a row to the Mustangs in a close game, losing 4-3. Francisco Tellez and Joe Chavez both had two hits and an RBI for the Highlanders, while Tommy Pluschkell had two RBIs for the Mustangs. Zach Varela pitched well for the Highlanders, throwing five innings.

The Mustangs were the first to

C a m e r o n Y o n g /HIGHLANDER

score as Pluschkell reached on a fielder’s choice to drive in a run. Pluschkell would again drive in a run in the fourth inning, this time on a groundout to score a run.

Chavez and Tellez knocked in their runs in the fifth inning, as they notched doubles to tie the game at 2-2.

The Highlanders again scored in the sixth on a fielder’s choice and took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning. Brian Mundell would help the Mustangs escape with the sweep when he delivered a clutch hit. He delivered the walk-off RBI single after the Mustangs scored the tying run on a triple.

UCR’s next game is at home against San Diego State on May 7.

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