Volume 63 Issue 11

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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UCR students “die-in” memory of police brutality victims

SANDY VAN / HIGHLANDER

Students organized a “die-in” protest to stand in solidarity with the African American community amid the recent civil unrest.

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SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer

early 60 bodies laid strewn on the floor of the HUB Plaza as part of a “die-in” event, which commemorated the lives lost from police brutality throughout the nation. Organized by African Student Programs (ASP), the Dec. 5 event recognized notable African Americans such as Mike Brown and Eric Garner, both of whom were killed due to police violence.

Against the backdrop of the university’s market day event, protesters gathered around the Bell Tower at 11:30 a.m. and proceeded to move to the HUB Plaza. One by one, student participants fell to the floor “dead” as

OPINIONS

names of police brutality victims were read out loud. After four and a half minutes of silence, protesters encouraged the “dead” to rise up once again by chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot; hands up, don’t shoot.”

“It signifies a sign of surrender, more specifically in the shooting of Mike Brown, his last words were: ‘I don’t have a gun, stop shooting,’” explained event organizer Breana Ross. “Rising up symbolizes rising up against police brutality, the violent epidemic plaguing communities of color and the systems of oppression and institutional racism.”

Taking after other recent solidarity demonstrations, students were also asked to wear black to show greater unity within the crowd. Representatives from organizations ranging from A Million Hoodies for Justice to ASUCR came out to march, chanting “no justice, no peace, no racist police.”

One of the earliest speakers, fourth-

FEATURES

Turkeygate is revealed as presidentiallevel slut-shaming.

PAGE 8

year student Shavonda Gates emphasized the importance of political activism and the value of self-identity. “The struggle is much bigger than police brutality, it’s about a loss of self. Unless we realize who we are as a black people in that it is the blood of kings and queens that runs through our veins … we will put ourselves to an end,” Gates said. “We cannot expect (anybody) to value us before we start valuing ourselves. Don’t let another black boy die before you get involved and find yourself within this community.”

Eddie Franco, a second-year student who identifies as white, talked about his experiences growing up in a predominantly white education system, which he felt perpetuated a misguided belief that racism was no longer an issue in the United States.

“The fact that when I saw the news (about Brown) and I didn’t think anything of it, showed what the issue is in

our country. The fact that I can brush over it because (a human death) is something that happens every day … it disturbs me that I thought it wasn’t a big deal,” Franco said.

The “die-in” event also drew eyes from as high as the third floor of the HUB, where second-year psychology student Yolanda Medina stood and watched. “I did not know this was happening, actually. I was at the HUB and then I just heard some noise and I was like ‘what’s that?’ and I looked at the window and I noticed a lot of people protesting so I just came out to look,” Medina said. “I think it’s good that students of UCR care about this issue (of) police brutality because … it’s an epidemic and it needs to be stopped.”

Right below Medina, third-year business student Clement Authier also watched the protest, but chose not to

RADAR

Fall 2014 is coming to a close. Avoid that end of finals stress with Campus Cope.

PAGE 12

► SEE DIE-IN, PAGE 5

SPORTS

Student vocalists bring holiday spirit to UCR. PAGE 15

Men’s basketball thumps Portland State behind 20 points from Taylor Johns.

PAGE 23

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NEWS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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Global studies lecture provides insight on social media protests ESTEFANIA ZAVALA Senior Staff Writer

On Dec. 3, renowned activist and author Todd Gitlin gave a lecture on the effects of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the future of social media protests at UCR. The lecture was held as part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the global studies, creative writing and sociology departments on campus as well as the Institute for Research on World Systems, an organization that encourages collaborative research for social and physical sciences.

Gitlin is a political author who has written the book “Occupy Nation: The Roots, the Spirit, and the Promise of Occupy Wall Street,” drawing from his own experiences as president of the Students for a Democratic Society during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and from his research at Columbia University.

“Occupy Wall Street understood the snag with the system which is that some people have millions more dollars than other people … the wealth that piles up, to put it mildly, is grotesquely unequal,” Gitlin said, diving right into the impetus for the movement.

LAURA NGUYEN / HIGHLANDER

Professor Todd Gitlin eagerly awaits questions from the audience after his lecture.

Since the end of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Gitlin claims, the protesters have either dispersed or failed. Gitlin went on to elaborate that the social media which had carried the movement actually prevented protesters from forming the infrastructure so crucial to any social justice movement. Unlike the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott of Martin Luther King’s day, the Occupy protesters never had to meet in person because

they could do everything by a Google document. “Precisely what made the occupations successful,” he said, “made them collapse.”

According to Gitlin, this lack of infrastructure led to one of the major failings of the Occupy movement, which was an inability to produce a set list of demands.

“The Occupy graduates tend to hope that their time will come again,” Gitlin concluded.

Photo of the Week

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Cameron Yong ASST. PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

A frustrated couple drives through police brutality protestors that blocked traffic on Mission Inn and Main Street during the Festival of Lights celebration.

Quotebook “Mass atrocities have occurred and we wanted to make that known.”

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After the lecture, a brief Q-and-A period ensued, with students asking Gitlin about social media and globalization.

Armita Mahmaneshrad, a thirdyear student, rushed up to Gitlin at the end of the event and asked to take a photo with him. He happily agreed.

Mahmaneshrad later said, “I found (this lecture) interesting because it actually involves two of my topics in my global studies and political science

classes … I took a lot of notes.”

Gitlin holds a PhD in sociology from UC Berkeley and has also written novels such as “Undying,” “The Murder of Albert Einstein” and “Sacrifice.” Gitlin’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Harper’s.

This event was moderated by Susan Ossman, an anthropology professor and director of UCR’s global studies program.

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DECEMBER Amar Alhoch, Senior Guitar Recital 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

ARTS 116

Japanese Taiko Drumming Demo 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

ARTS Building Amphitheatre Steps

UCR Concert Band and UCR Pedals Bike Shop and “Do-It-YourOrchestra self” Repair Station 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

University Theatre Parking Lot 19 UCR Jazz Ensemble 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Arts 157

Fall 2014 Dance Showings 8:40 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

ARTS 100, ARTS 300, ATHD 102

GO! PB&J (Peanut Butter & Jogging) 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

The Well (HUB 248)

“Ching-a-Ring Chaw”: Voice Studio of Dr. Ralph Cato in Concert 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

ARTS 157 Holiday Carillon Recital 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Bell Tower

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No Events

Sunday

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No Events

Monday

- Undergraduate

sociology major Lauren Whitehurst on attending the “die-in” protest

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

NEWS

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ASUCR: Senators have “no confidence” in UC regents, Napolitano AMY ZAHN Senior Staff Writer

Members of ASUCR unanimously passed a resolution last week expressing “no confidence” in the UC Board of Regents and UC President Janet Napolitano in the wake of the recently approved UC tuition plan. Another notable resolution was also passed, which urges UCPD personnel to complete 16 hours of ethnic and gender studies courses as protests over police brutality continue to spread throughout the nation.

The tuition resolution was written by the representatives of three student governments: UC Berkeley, UC Riverside and UCLA. The resolution was presented and passed at these three UCs, with a similar resolution also passed at UC Irvine.

According to Vice President of External Affairs Abraham Galvan, the resolution comes at a time when students are “just fed up” with Napolitano and the regents “actively (going) against student

concerns in multiple scenarios” and taking minimal input from students about the tuition increases. Galvan furthered that students were not informed about the tuition plan until two weeks before it was voted on and approved by the regents on Nov. 20.

Some students felt that the UC failed to provide adequate notice of the tuition hikes, which does not comply with the provisions of AB 970, a two-year-old state law requiring Cal State University trustees and UC regents to notify students 30 days in advance before tuition increases are expected.

Due to the law, which says that the UC need only comply with its provisions “to the extent that the regents act by resolution to make them applicable,” and UC’s autonomy in the California constitution, the UC has thus far not complied with it. If the regents were to comply, it would mandate that the UC notify students of proposals for fee increases at least seven days before posting notice of action to increase said fees, provide

a justification for fee proposals and disclose what the revenue from the fee increases would be used for.

Galvan also says that it is a problem that most of the regents, including Napolitano, have never worked in education before, causing students to “question their ability to govern our university.”

The resolution addresses each of these issues, stating that, “ASUCR believes that the current level of student involvement within the regents panel … does not constitute meaningful shared governance,” and condemns the regents and president “for failing to implement the provisions of AB 970.”

The resolution was passed through a standing order, a type of vote which puts a resolution into effect indefinitely, as opposed to expiring at the end of the year like most resolutions.

The resolution states that ASUCR will “maintain no confidence” in the UC leadership until a list of demands is met, which includes

VINCENT TA / HIGHLANDER President Pro Tempore Devin Plazo reads over the resolutions that went through the Legislative Review Committee that week.

the repeal of the tuition plan, full implementation of the provisions of AB 970 and the creation of a task force with student, faculty and administration representation, which, along with the California Department of Finance, would be “charged with investigating the budget of the (UC) and submitting a report of its findings.”

The goal of the resolution, Gal-

van says, is to “express (student) discontentment with the regents” and to maintain no confidence in their ability to lead the UC until the demands put forth in the resolution are met.

In an interview with the Highlander, Senator Delaynie Koenig expressed her support for the resolution, stating that the UC can take greater measures to improve the lives of students. She hopes that “as a world-class educational system, the UC can both aspire to and implement the policies that represent and benefit the hardworking students that give these regents their jobs.”

Also addressed at the meeting was Senator Akeem Brown’s resolution to urge UCPD to take ethnic and gender studies classes, which passed by 15-0-1.

Through the resolution, the UCPD chief of police would encourage personnel to take courses, which will consist of 16 hours spread out over two consecutive weekends. The ethnic and gender studies department heads would work with ASUCR members to craft courses, which would eventually be taught by senators themselves beginning in the spring of 2015.

While the spirit of the resolution was widely supported by ASUCR, several senators expressed concerns about the budget for the project, which many felt was not clearly outlined in the resolution. However, Brown explained that the resolution was merely a “strong recommendation,” and that the details regarding the $2,500 he was requesting for the project would be explained in a subsequent resolution.

The part of the resolution that promised that the courses would be made “free of charge” was found by senators to be too great an obligation for a resolution whose budget details they did not have. Thus, the resolution was amended to replace the word “free” with a promise that “ASUCR will make a good faith effort to make sure this course is free for those who enroll,” a change that Galvan feels leaves “(ASUCR) a little wiggle room.”

Fourth-year student Shane Brandon supports the resolution.

“Frankly, I think this program should have been put in place years earlier,” he said. “This may not be a truly effective solution for solving the problem completely, but I do at least think it’s a good start.”

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NEWS

highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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School of Public Policy proposes $5,952 supplemental tuition fee SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer

The School of Public Policy (SOPP) at UC Riverside seeks to implement an annual professional degree supplemental tuition (PDST) of $5,952 on top of its regular tuition starting in the 2015-16 academic year. PDST is an additional fee that graduate students are required to pay.

Announced during the November UC Board of Regents meeting, the PDST will apply to the school’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, a twoyear track dedicated to studying environmental, social and regional policy-making. The regents are expected to approve the supplemental tuition fee by the end of this year.

“The PDST is important to successfully train and educate our students for future professions in public policy,” explained Mark Manalang, spokesperson for SOPP. “The PDST serves an essential purpose for our incoming graduate students — that of providing services back to the students that will prepare them for careers in public policy.”

The proposed supplemental fee for the SOPP is considered one of the lowest in comparison to MPP programs at other UCs, with UC Berkeley’s at $8,020, UCLA’s at $7,288 and UC Riverside’s on par with UC Irvine’s at $5,952.

UC Media Specialist Brooke Converse furthered that the regents approved a plan that will allow UC President Janet Napolitano to approve PDST increases of up to 5 percent for

COURTESY OF UCR School of Public Policy

graduate professional degree programs at any UC from the years 2015-16 through 2019-20.

One-third of the PDST will go back to students in the form of financial aid, and the remainder will go back to students in the form of services such as internships and career placements.

If the school is unable to generate scholarship funding through donations, a larger

portion of the PDST will be dedicated to financial aid, according to Manalang. On the other hand, a thriving pool of donations will allow the SOPP to fund an internship and position for a career services placement coordinator.

Rachel Tennell, a fourthyear political science major and student ambassador of SOPP, said she was planning to apply next year for the program. “The

implementation won’t affect my decision in any negative way because there is actually going to be free tuition for the first class for any qualified student,” Tennell expressed about the proposed fee. “So that would be awesome to not have to pay tuition for my masters degree whereas at other schools I might have to.”

Applicants eligible for the master program in 2015-16 will receive free tuition, in addition

to a $5,000 stipend through an internship.

Admissions requirements include: a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, in addition to undergraduate courses in microeconomics, statistics, introduction to politics and government or equivalent courses. The SOPP is aiming for an inaugural class of 20 students next year with the early application deadline of Jan. 5, 2015.

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participate due to his own lack of information.

“It’s better to let justice do its work and make a judgment once we’re told more information … and maybe there was something which wasn’t said yet,” Authier said about the recent court decisions to not indict the different police officers charged with the killings of Brown and Garner.

The day before the “die-in” protest, ASP also held a forum called “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!” to encourage discussion about social injustices against people of color. The protest was inspired by the forum discussion.

Director of Student Life Ellen Whitehead was appreciative of the open discussion during the “die-in” which allowed for a “meaningful approach” that gave everyone a chance to participate. “The students are really passionate about the issue and so this is a forum for them to share their opinions and stories as a way to process it and talk about next steps,” she said. “It’s a very emotional topic and … I think allowing them to have that voice is a really good opportunity for ■H discussion.”

Breana Ross is an advertising representative at the Highlander.

NELSON LUU / HIGHLANDER Protesters organize a “die-in” protest in the HUB Plaza to address current events surrounding police brutality, and to stand in solidarity with the African American community.

Contributions made by Christal Mims

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

. OPINIONS .

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HIGHLANDER HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

FALL 2014: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

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T

he last week of classes is finally here. For first-years, the anticipation is new, a feeling of excitement mixed with nervous energy as the last day of finals draws inexorably closer. Other students who have already been through the mud know what to expect — some pass with flying colors while others struggle through with the same hapless stumbles of a newborn. But no matter where you fall on the spectrum, whether you’re a finals first-timer or a blue book veteran, most students look forward to one thing at the end of the quarter: being done with finals.

There’s a sense of catharsis when that last test is completed. There is relief that the course, be it easy or difficult, liked or disliked, has come to an end. There is a sense of closure. The last day of finals week is the bookend to 11 chapters of learning, working, studying, meeting new people and making new friends. It is the last day of college for the rest of the calendar year, and hopping in a car or plane and heading home has never felt better. College life is all but stopped as students finish up their last exams and leave campus behind.

But even as you watch the trees blur past or the mountains edge by, know that the world hasn’t stopped simply because finals are over. Everybody else continues to live their lives, regardless of whether your final exams are in the rear-view mirror. The sun still rises and the Earth continues to turn on its axis.

Problems in our world will continue to exist. During the school year, protests erupted over the shooting of Michael Brown and the strangling of Eric Garner.

UCR students made their voices heard, staging a die-in and demanding change.

For students who find these cases appalling, the fight for justice does not

CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER

take a hiatus over winter break. One African American will still be shot every four days by a white police officer.

At least in Ferguson, there is still a Department of Justice investigation ongoing. African American men are still incarcerated at a higher rate and for longer than white men. One out of every three African American men will still go to prison sometime in their lives.

Tuition was another flashpoint this year, with the UC Board of Regents approving a plan that could increase tuition by up to 28 percent over five years, all while students voiced their objections and contended they were shut out of the planning process. The plan nonetheless went on to pass, but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Any tuition increases can still be offset by increases in state funding. That means opening a new front directed at state elected officials, prodding them to increase funding to head off a tuition hike. It means continuing to campaign for an affordable education and continuing to support politicians who support us.

Even more recently, climate change is back on the table, with world leaders convening for a summit in Peru to discuss how to best tackle the looming problem.

This is occurring just after China and the United States made a historic agreement to cut carbon emissions and just as another massive typhoon bulldozes into the Philippines.

It would be a lie to say that recent events have given everybody reason to be optimistic. Plenty of horrible stories have been in the news. There’s no reason students shouldn’t take time to recharge their batteries after a quarter that has been grueling in more ways than one.

However, the fight doesn’t end with every new hardship. Each new tragedy,

every new outrage, should come as new motivation to encourage those wishing to make change. While relaxing in our time away from the responsibilities of school, we are responsible for knowing that there is still necessary change to affect in the back of our minds.

Students protesting violence — domestic or otherwise — is far from a new concept, and the very image of students being stifled by militarized authority is reminiscent of the Students for a Democratic Society organizing teach-ins in opposition to the Vietnam War. As the past generation did, so must the current understand that the voices of future policymakers and industrycreators have a tangible influence over the way contemporary issues are handled.

It must also be remembered that singularity of voice and purpose, as well as concrete goals will help to steel the drive for change, avoiding the unfortunate failure that came of the Occupy Movement. Lest we forget the lessons of previous movements of protestation, we, as student protesters, should keep longstanding histories of change in our minds, regardless of how it affects our winter breaks.

The end of finals is not really an end.

It’s a new beginning. We don’t put down our pens and finish writing our stories only midway through the first act. There are adventures yet to be lived and tales yet to be told, and the book of your college life doesn’t close during winter break. Write your own chapters, for H history is happening before our eyes. ■ Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.

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OPINIONS

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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Opinion Poll What are you going to do with your shortened winter break?

C ompiled

Shireen Caul Psychology Second-year

Alfonso Viera Sociology Fourth-year

Rudy Barroso Business / Economics Third-year

“My friend and I are going to New York for the week. We really want to experience a real winter!”

“I am going to spend time with my 10-year-old brother. There is going to be some serious zombie destruction happening.”

“I am going to visit and spend time with my family for the holidays.”

Alyeska Gutierrez

Media and Cultural Studies

Third-year “I am going to go back to San Francisco and go to Countdown on New Years Eve!”

by

Jay Coloso Biology Third-year “I will be shadowing a physical therapist during my break.”

L aura N guyen

Julie Vong Pre-business First-year “I might go to New York with my boyfriend for New Year’s countdown.”

► See more at Youtube.com/UCRChannelH

Why teaching kids how to interact with police will hurt both groups QUINN MINTEN Contributing Writer

No one can adequately deny that there are often problems with police abuse of power, from intimidation to unlawful searches. In an attempt to lessen incidents between police and students when the latter are stopped by the former, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) gave students at East Side Community High School a presentation on what to do when interacting with the police.

Students were taught, if stopped, to remain silent and not consent to searches, as well as how to file a complaint if necessary.

While the knowledge of how to cooperate with law enforcement is, in theory, a useful skill to have as a youth, the NYCLU’s method of instruction is highly unfair, as it prejudices the population against the police in an age where law enforcement is often unpopular and controversial. The NYCLU presentation would have students believe that the police are antagonists, not people performing a necessary public function.

Their instruction consists entirely of teaching how to make the policeman’s job more difficult and how to defend and even retaliate against officers; namely, by filing a complaint against an officer.

The fact that the NYCLU teaches students how to lodge a complaint suggests that there will be necessary occasion to use it, thus presenting police forces as a potentially hostile group with the intent to do harm.

The intent behind the NYCLU’s student training is not necessarily malicious or meant as a detriment to the

VINCENT TA / HIGHLANDER

police; indeed, it is a benefit for students to know that they have rights, and the police are meant to protect and respect everyone’s rights. Furthermore, from incidents of brutality to illegal searches, there are all too many occasions of grievous misconduct on the part of some officers. Nevertheless, it is key to note that only some officers abuse their power; most officers do their job, and do it well. Thus, to teach the population how to interact with cops as if all of them intend to overstep their authority is unfair to a group that, overall, seeks to protect and serve the public good.

When the population, especially the youth, are led to believe that the police are a menace of some kind, it encourages avoidance; after all, why should one listen to or help

the “bad guys,” when one can just keep distance from them, or run if they get close? Simple psychology would tell that, in the face of a supposed threat, the fight-or-flight instinct activates, prompting either a hostile or an avoidant reaction on the part of the person stopped by the police.

Hence, the presentations done by the NYCLU are inherently harmful to police-civilian interactions; by essentially vilifying law enforcement, the NYCLU is only discouraging New York students from positive interaction when lawfully stopped by police.

If groups like the NYCLU want to teach students how to interact with police, it is only fair that the law enforcement side of the situation gets to express itself. As a response to the NYCLU’s presentation,

the NYPD should head over to the high school and have a chance to teach how they think students should interact with police, or should collaborate with the NYCLU to make a joint presentation. The police presentation should be honest, recognizing the possibility that officers, not under the direct observation of a superior, may act outside their authority, and informing students that then would probably be an appropriate time to become defensive and later to file a complaint. They should emphasize that the police exist to enforce laws, not break them, and that penalties follow if laws are broken, but also that hindering an investigation carries its own penalties, as when students’ actions, as prescribed by the NYCLU, interfere with lawful police

action. Ultimately, they should lay out the responsibilities and rights of both parties when they need to interact.

Training students, whether it is done by groups like the NYCLU or the NYPD, is not going to solve the underlying problems behind cases of police abuse of power, though the combined instruction, featuring the viewpoints of both sides, can perhaps help lessen the number of incidents. However, until the deeper problems of bias and profiling by police officers are addressed, which are extensive problems with no simple solution, law enforcement will continue to be perceived as the “bad guys,” regardless of whether or not it deserves such a moniker, and cooperation between them and civilians will be next to impossible.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

OPINIONS

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Turkeygate: Defending the Obama girls against slut-shaming ESTEFANIA ZAVALA Senior Staff Writer

The latest social media scandal, fondly dubbed “Turkeygate” by the media, has hinged on the way that Malia and Sasha Obama are supposed to dress and behave. The two Obama girls were dressed formally and seasonally — Sasha in a maroon dress and Malia in a plaid skirt and gray sweater. When asked by her father if she wanted to pet the turkey, Malia politely declined.

Apparently, this was the height of impropriety for a few viewers.

GOP Congressional Aide Elizabeth Lauten posted an open letter to Facebook, which has since been deleted, asking that the girls “dress like (they) deserve respect and not a spot at the bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised, public events.” She was referring to the girls’ bored expressions at the annual Presidential Turkey Pardoning in which Obama spared the life of two turkeys named Mac and Cheese.

Although Lauten is facing the brunt of the blame and has since resigned, writers like Amanda Shea have also said, “I don’t think you would have ever seen the Bush daughters in dresses that short. Class is completely absent

from this White House.”

These comments are disappointing not just because they reveal the pettiness of American politics, but because they speak to the larger culture of slut-shaming and anti-feminism in our society.

Slut-shaming is the process of making someone (usually a woman) feel ashamed of the way they dress and their sexuality. Teenage girls fall victim to this especially — they are taught by the media to hate other girls and view them as enemies in the battle for men’s attention. They measure themselves up to impossible standards and then viciously turn on each other when they fail to match up.

In this case, it was not Republican men who conspired to make the Obama girls feel trashy and indecent but the women.

Slut-shaming is a symptom of patriarchy where teenage girls feel like they need to retain the image of pure little children. For example, why were the Obama girls even there in the first place?

They were decorations for a silly, childish ceremony. But the Obama girls are not children anymore; they are teenagers and their bored expressions and exasperated looks at their dad’s lame jokes were evidence of that.

That these Republican women

responded so strongly to teenage girls being regular girls points at a vicious misogyny in our own culture. Lauten should not have had to resign; she was only voicing others’ opinions on the event. For example, a female commenter for a right-wing news site said, “When teen girls go around looking trashy, I blame the Mom who doesn’t teach her daughters you have to show you respect yourself first before you can get respect.”

Unfortunately, Lauten was the symptom of the anti-feminism and not the cause. She apologized in a sincere way on Facebook, writing, “I reacted to an article and quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager.” Her apology got to the crux of the matter: teenagers should be free to make the fashion choices they want and they should not have to act happy during an insipid turkey ceremony.

I actually saw Malia Obama this last summer at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. I was too afraid to ask for a selfie so I tentatively stood next to her and we looked at pre-French Revolution Era paintings. Malia was wearing a blue cotton skater dress with a bright tie-dye pattern which contrasted sharply with the gilded

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

luxury of the room and she was surrounded by Secret Service poorly disguised as civilians. She was being given a guided tour of the museum by administration, but in that moment, in front of that painting, she had managed to shake both the tour guide and secret security. She looked up at the painting which was an ostentatious depiction of French courtesans. She snorted and rolled

her eyes. A typical teenage girl response.

Sasha and Malia should be free from judgment and slutshaming as they make the already difficult transition into adulthood.

The American public did not elect Sasha or Malia and they should not feel entitled to a fake display of manners and royal charm, like in a contrived French painting of courtesans.

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Can we stop writing the laws so ineffectually they become useless?

RICKY ST. CLAIRE Contributing Writer

Two years ago, Californians overwhelmingly voted Proposition 35, the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Act, into law, but the Ninth Circuit of Appeals on Nov. 18 overturned one provision of that law — the requirement for sex offenders to report all online identities within 24 hours of creating them. Judge Jay Bybee summed up the court’s conclusion, writing, “the CASE Act unnecessarily chills protected speech … (it) does not make clear what sex offenders are required to report, there are insufficient safeguards preventing the public release of the information sex offenders do report, and the 24hour reporting requirement is onerous and overbroad.”

In light of the court’s decision, California lawmakers should revise the law to make the reporting requirement clear and compatible with the First Amendment while also serving the law’s purpose in protecting children. However, this fiasco brings to light a significant problem we are facing in American politics: poorly written laws. The question must be asked: Why are laws designed to protect the vulnerable being written so badly that the wording unintentionally endangers the law itself?

The CASE Act’s provision for reporting requirements were contradictory, as described by the Ninth Circuit on page 26 of their ruling, in one place requiring only communication accounts (such as forums and chatrooms), while in another place requiring

all accounts, regardless of use.

The court thus concluded that the uncertainty of what to report would cause ample difficulty for sex offenders to confidently fulfill the requirements without fear of consequences, and this would have a “chilling effect,” deterring them from engaging in Internet communication. As a result, the act, as currently worded, infringes upon the First Amendment rights of sex offenders participating in online speech.

It is important to protect minors and other vulnerable people from online predators, but it is also important to protect freedom of speech, and the court decided that the act, as written, fails to do the latter. For one thing, the act’s burden upon Internet speech does not distinguish between private accounts (with banks, utilities, online vendors, etc.) and public discussion accounts. Furthermore, the act sees no difference between sex offenders who used the Internet to facilitate their crimes and those who did not, including those whose crimes occurred decades ago before the Internet was even a thing.

As a result of poor, vague writing, the provision was quickly put on hold back in 2012 shortly after the act was voted into law, and now has been officially overruled. This means that, to this day, California has been legally prohibited from requiring sex offenders to register their online identities, and all because the legal team behind the CASE Act did a poor job defining that provision.

What is really irksome about this, though, is the fact that this

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situation is very similar to the fiasco facing the Affordable Care Act right now. Earlier in November, the Supreme Court agreed to examine the effect five words in the ACA, “Exchange established by the state,” would have on the distribution of tax subsidies in states that did not establish an exchange. In such states, a federal exchange was established instead, and the challenges to the law claim that, based on the writing, nonstate exchanges are not eligible for the subsidies.

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the challengers and revokes tax subsidies in the 37 states with federal-only exchanges, millions of citizens in those states would see their insurance costs skyrocket, possibly resulting in

many dropping their coverage — the exact opposite effect the ACA was supposed to have. This in turn would potentially cause insurance companies to abandon those markets, leaving few coverage options for the lower classes. This is a ridiculous situation, whether you support the ACA or not.

A law should be challenged on the effects it is imposing on the American people. It should not be left open to attack on the basis of poor wording.

This is something that lawmakers need to do a better job with, especially with laws intended to help and protect the vulnerable.

Through sloppy design, the CASE Act’s reporting requirement for sex offenders’ online identities has been shut down. Through sloppy

design, a significant provision of the Affordable Care Act is under threat of being shut down. Bills are written to benefit their citizens, be debated and approach flaws with an eye for the greater public good. Having legislation that is so slipshod that the courts can shut it down calls into question the quality of the legislative process.

Did nobody catch these problems during review? There needs to be a better effort made to ensure the laws that are passed actually reflect, in writing, the intent of the writers, especially when the law is intended to protect the vulnerable, such as children. This way, when those laws are challenged in court, decisions can be made based on those intentions, and not simply on H poorly done legal expression. ■

OPINIONS

highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

9

R’ PERSPECTIVE: CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER

Living away from home is not the same as living for yourself MICHELLE MITANI Contributing Writer

Whether it’s 30 miles or 300 miles, living away from home for the first time can be a frightening experience. However, living away from home isn’t quite the same as living on your own.

For many college students, the experience of living away from home for the first time begins on move-in day, when it is time to pack up the bare essentials, such as bedding, clothes, school supplies and toiletries, say goodbye to your parents and somehow create a new home within a shared space. Despite all of the tips and tricks you may hear from experienced fourth-year on-campus residents, living as a freshman in the dorms is something you need to experience

firsthand. Out of the 75 percent of students who live on campus their freshman year, each and every one of them will most likely have their own unique, love-hate relationship with college dormlife.

What’s not to love about living away from home? For a freshman in college, it is almost too easy to associate dorm-life with complete and utter freedom. For some students, not having to live under the watchful eye of their parents translates to not having a curfew, getting to sleep in, eating junk food, skipping classes and binge-watching Netflix. However, the benefits of freedom and independence are all fun and games until it is time to pay that housing fee on your Growl account. Parents who financially support their chil-

dren through college have high expectations when it comes to academic success. They want to see their hard-earned dollars at work.

There are a growing number of students who not only live on their own, but also work parttime to afford college tuition.

The difference between living away from home and living on your own can be best understood as financial independence.

In this case, living on your own goes far beyond not having your parents around to help with the cooking, cleaning and daily reminders. Living on your own means paying bills, filing taxes and dealing with insurance companies. Those of us who have yet to learn a simple task such as writing a check are overdue for a rude awakening.

Students who either work part-time or live on their own generally advised living under your parents’ roof for as long as possible. However, we all know that to have freedom from parental guidance there are sacrifices to be made. Tania Hill, a fifthyear political science major, suggested that students should “avoid paying for all individual bills” by carefully selecting apartments that lump together all utility bills, which helps avoid missing due dates and getting slapped with late fees.

Coming from a house of seven people and two dogs, “living on my own is great,” says Hill.

She acknowledged the fact that there is a direct link between her financial independence and her increase in freedom.

Unfortunately, freedom

comes at a price and if you are a student who isn’t paying for your college education with a parttime job or perhaps financial aid, then you better be paying with long hours in the library, good grades and class participation.

Parents are not the only ones who remind students of the value or rather the cost of a university education; professors aren’t afraid to caution their students that they get paid whether their students attend class or not.

In the same way that you are paying for your education, you are also paying for that newfound sense of freedom, which is why you cannot forget the sole purpose of attending a university, which is to achieve a form of higher education, and the personal growth that follows suit is simply a bonus.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Regarding the events described in the Nov. 11 article, “ASUCR: Students for Life display prompts passage of trigger warning resolution” F rom K arina P erez on behalf of S tudents for L ife at UCR A few weeks ago, Students for Life at UCR hosted a display on campus which is making its way around the country as part of the We Care tour, addressing the topic of sexual assault and abortion.

Our display sparked opposition from other groups, and the Highlander has featured articles focusing on disputes between these groups with little attention given to the actual content of our display. The Highlander also covered ASUCR’s new resolution calling on the university to mandate trigger-warning emails to the entire campus, directly targeting Students for Life and other pro-life groups. An email was sent out to campus on the day of the display warning students of “pictures and language pertaining to sexual violence and abortion that could be triggering.” According to the Highlander, SFL’s campus outreach is considered “potentially offensive and triggering” by

ASUCR and the We Care display was specifically labeled

by ASUCR as “emotionally triggering” and “not conducive to a positive academic environment.”

These descriptions might come as a surprise to anyone who actually saw our display! For the benefit of those who did not, it consisted of two tall flags and six banners containing a few stick figures and a lot of text, including the definition of sexual consent and information for anyone who has been assaulted. Members of our club were handing out self-defense whistles, wallet-sized cards with the definition of consent, and literature while engaging passing students in dialogue.

The purpose of our display was first to address the disturbing prevalence of rape in our culture and support the survivors of assault: according to the National Institute of Justice, 3% of all college-age women are victims of

an attempted or completed rape, with 80% of those by the age of 25. We also wanted to address the sensitive issue of pregnancy which results from about 5% of rapes (the most recent and most widelycited study available: “Raperelated pregnancy: estimates and descriptive characteristics from a national sample of women,” 1996), and the fact that our society unquestioningly promotes abortion as the expected “solution” in this case. We asked, is abortion a just or positive outcome? The second survivor, the baby, did not ask to be placed in this situation either, and no person deserves to die for the crime of his or her father. While the intention may be to lessen the woman’s suffering, abortion does not take away any of her traumait merely inflicts further pain and creates a second, equally innocent victim. Both survivors of a rape deserve healing, hope, and love; abortion offers none of these.

Students for Life members communicated our message peacefully and compassionately to passing students, while across the sidewalk a crowd of protesters showed up to oppose us with signs and a bullhorn. We welcomed discussion and several of our members engaged in calm dialogue with the protesters. Nothing about the presentation of our message could be considered distasteful.

Words like “offensive” and “triggering” are completely subjective and are being used to discriminate against a viewpoint that ASUCR disagrees with. The idea of Students for Life- or any other lawful campus club- being singled out in this manner through official, campus-wide warning emails each time that the group schedules an outreach event is very troubling. Universities are meant to be beacons of free speech and the open exchange of ideas, not places of censorship or repression

of certain opinions.

Indeed, it is this very freedom of expression which creates a “positive academic environment,” not takes away from it. We respectfully urge ASUCR and the university administration to show all campus groups the respect they deserve by welcoming a diversity of opinions and the dialogue which they encourage.

The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They must be 600-800 words at length and include the author’s name and contact information. Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact opinions editor Jameson Adame at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letter can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.

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

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. FEATURES .

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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21 AND OVER CLUB

PIXELS NAME RATING LOCATION

PRICE HOURS CATEGORY CREDIT WEBSITE

Pixels offers a huge variety of drinks lining their colorfully lit walls.

PIXELS

★★★☆☆

3535 UNIVERSITY AVENUE RIVERSIDE, CA 92501 $ SUNDAY - SATURDAY 11 A.M. - 2 A.M. DIVE BARS YES YELP.COM/BIZ/PIXELS-RIVERSIDE

ROBERT LEES, STAFF WRITER // PHOTOS BY TIM BACA ith the lights of downtown still lit up in expectation of the holiday season and a storm brewing overhead, the time seemed right to head out with some friends for a few drinks. Before chaining myself to the desk for finals week, I decided to check out Pixels, a small dive bar located off of University Avenue in Downtown Riverside.

Walking down the empty sidewalks of downtown, the sound of someone struggling out a screech through a Fleetwood Mac song on karaoke let us know we were drawing close. Pixels is in a small, unassuming building with a dim sign over the front door. The inside decor is very simple, with plain concrete floors and plain white walls, save for the

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occasional beer sign or piece of folk art. Inside, there is a small stage in one corner, the bar against the back wall and several tables scattered around the inside of the room.

My friends and I set our things at one of the open booths and headed to the bar as I tried to block out the terrible sounds coming from the stage.

Pixels truly stands out in its price. The specials of the night were all Mexican imports for $3, and all tequila for only $5. While I’m not much of a tequila fan, I opted to get a Tequila Sunrise with Patron Silver. Anywhere else, this would probably be a $15-plus dollar drink, and I appreciated the fine taste compared to my normal choice of bottom-shelf cocktails. My friends chose Dos Equis and Corona, and

we headed back to our table to take in the atmosphere.

It may have been due to the fact that my drink was extremely strong, but I really started to warm up to Pixels as I sat in the booth, joking and laughing with my friends, occasionally laughing at some of the more “unique” karaoke participants. We weren’t alone, as almost all of the other tables were full of various groups of other 20-somethings enjoying the atmosphere and the cheap drinks.

There seemed to be something for everyone, as many people were there for the karaoke, others were watching some Spanish soap opera playing on the big-screen TVs around the bar — while my group sat in a corner and talked, the dim lighting and chill atmosphere

put us all at ease.

My only complaint is that Pixels’ beer selection, especially for beers on tap, is quite paltry compared to many of the other places around Riverside. There were only five beers available on tap, the only one I liked being PBR, and it was served in a plastic Solo cup instead of a normal pint glass. While it was only $5, which is standard for most local bars, the small size and cheap serving style annoyed me. Regardless, it was still cold and delicious, and the kind staff and surreal hilarity of the decor and atmosphere made it hard for me to stay mad about my small complaint.

What really makes Pixels stand out above many of the other bars around Riverside is

its unabashed shamelessness: It understands it’s a small bar that fully embraces its identity. There’s no pretense of snootiness, nor any sense that the bar is trying too hard to be cool or have some sort of gimmick to draw a crowd. While the selection is a bit limited, the cheap prices and strong drinks more than make up for it. If karaoke doesn’t appeal to you, there’s a DJ every night of the week except Sundays, when live bands perform, and Tuesdays, which are for karaoke. If you’re out for clubbing or want something upscale or trendy, Pixels certainly isn’t the place to go. Nevertheless, if you want to find cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere on a starving student budget, Pixels is the perfect place.

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FEATURES

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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Holiday Inn or You Out?

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Maxine Arellano, Senior Staff Writer // Photos by Jaspery Goh and Cameron Yong

lames crackle from the fireplace, burning under the stockings that are filled to the brim. Frost encircles the windowpane outside, glowing from the lights above. The aroma of freshly baked cookies lingers overhead, carrying noses under the threshold of the kitchen. Peering up, you find yourself under the bundle of green leaves, tied together by red ribbon. Eyes closed, lips pursed: The mistletoe invites you and your one and only to share that moment many yearn for this time of year. Sweet and tender, that holiday kiss is shared with the most reliable thing in your life: that fresh-baked cookie.

It’s that time of season again: circling the mall parking lot for hours, battling neighbors for the best-dressed house on the block — and thanking Auntie Mary for reminding you of your nonexistent love life. The holidays are as stressed as it is, but it can be pretty tough going in single. Whether it is spent third-wheeling at ice skating in downtown with the Hallmark couple or chucking that box of See’s Candy at the TV every jewelry commercial, the spotlight doesn’t get any brighter than when you’re single during the holidays (except Valentine’s Day, but one day at a time). But why do we feel more compelled to have a relationship for this time of year? Is having a snuggle partner under the covers really that important? If so, what happens to them when it gets too warm and you have to throw off the blanket … Do they go too?

I’m just as tainted as anyone else, thinking it would be nice to have a significant other to introduce to all the jealous cousins.

Many feel the same, as spending the holidays with someone you barely know or can’t stand is better than alone: 13 percent of singles would rather stay in a bad relationship than enter the holidays alone and 51 percent stay to avoid any hurt feelings during this time.

But don’t assume these statistics are from women who dream of the New Year’s kiss. Surveys prove that men are most likely to stay in bad relationships during this time than women. It is as though when the weather drops, so do standards: Most will couple up with anyone just for the sake of having one and many may conclude it’s the weather, the need for warmth and idea of it coming from someone else.

When we were children, that warmth was from your parents

and family. As we get older, we seek out a different kind of loved one. Or maybe you spend finals week finding someone who avoids their family’s pressing “relationship” questions just as much as you do and you tag-team to take on families as the new loving couple. But that sound you hear in the distance may not be jingle bells — it’s just another Christmas

relationship shattering under pressure. Relationships are truly tested during the holidays, and one that is founded on false pretenses is set straight for doomsday.

So before you take up those Black Friday deals for Match.com to find that other person, think about treating out the best person there is: yourself. You already spent two paychecks and some of

your financial aid on holiday gifts, why not spend that little bit on yourself? If that Hallmark couple asks you to join them in on that ice skating excursion, say yes! No one should hold out on a night on the town just because some lights twinkle over the ice. Catch up with friends over eggnog (or coffee if you’re not looking for a heart attack).

The holidays are something to fear, single or not. Just remember, that New Year’s kiss won’t make or break your incoming year. So raise the champagne glass in one hand and hold the hand nearest you in the other, whether it be your holiday fling, your roommate’s best friend or even your mom. Begin 2015 with the ones that matter: It’s okay if that one is you.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

FEATURES

highlandernews.org

campus cope: Final Meltdown Honeiah Karimi, Senior Staff Writer // Nelson Luu, Staff Writer

preparation Winter break is the light at the end of the finals week tunnel, but first we must soldier on, bubble in those Scantrons and write in those blue books. Over the years it’s been helpful to accumulate some techniques to prevent premature graying of hair during this trying time.

When it comes to succeeding on final exams, preparation is key. At the risk of sounding like a mom, start studying as soon as possible. Cramming is the enemy.

There’s no point in stressing over what you can’t control. Usually you can’t predict which questions your professor is going to test you on, but you can control the amount of effort that you put into studying. When faced with that Scantron, don’t allow yourself to be unprepared. Review your chapters and lecture recordings, take practice tests if you can and adhere to a study schedule for each final.

Prevent all-nighters and stress eating by making your own study guides and perhaps reward yourself with a small piece of candy like a Skittle or M&M for every page you read in that humdrum, overpriced textbook of yours. Long readings can seem unmotivating but when there’s a small reward involved, you’ll be

more likely to stay on track. Keep a bigger reward in mind, such as finishing up that dramatic show series or hanging out with your friends, and focus on your work now so you can afford to play later!

Make sure you set enough time in your schedule for studying so you won’t feel pressured to finish and cram. Resisting your surrounding temptations during your designated study time is key so block distracting websites and discourage Facebook stalking because neither are going to help you study for chemistry. Let’s be real.

Most importantly, take breaks after studying. Do something fun after a certain increment of time. You don’t want your noggin going into overdrive. Whether your methods resemble that of Elle Woods or Rory Gilmore, you’ll kick ass.

Essentially, find what works for you studying-wise. If you view studying as a solitary activity, do that. If study groups are your cup of tea, join one. If you prefer an overly dramatic studying montage synced to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” more power to you. Often studying can be a game of trial and error. In time, you’ll devise a method to help you rack in those A’s.

Staying organized and efficient with your studying will keep you on track to getting the best grade you can get. Keep a level head during the final, and don’t forget to pace yourself.

During

On the day of, get to class a couple of minutes early to avoid any unnecessary stress. Take a deep breath, avoid rushing through the exam and have that No. 2 pencil in hand. Trust your gut when bubbling in your answer because it’s usually right — not to mention you’ll probably hate yourself if your initial answer was correct prior to changing it. Before you turn your exam in, make sure to survey it one last time.

What happens when you get shortanswer questions or short essays on your final? Don’t fret. Make sure to spend a minute or two before answering each one to break down the question into sections. Create an outline for yourself and make sure to answer it as clearly and concisely as possible. As

boring as your answer may seem, try to mirror the question in the answer to clearly flag what points you are answering at any given moment. It not only helps you stay on track, but also makes the TA’s job much easier.

Speaking of making your TA’s job easier, spend a little more time to write legibly. TAs may be more inclined to grade a paper more generously if they don’t have to waste their time trying to translate chicken scratch. It’s a waste to get a correct answer wrong simply because they can’t read it.

Above all, treat yourself kindly during finals week. Make sure to eat well, get enough sleep and exercise.

Mistreating yourself will only result in a lack of efficacy. Stress and anxiety are of no use to you during finals.

post-war So, you’ve weathered the storm — good job! Even if you have another final to study for, take at least a good hour or two to unwind and destress.

Treat yourself at the HUB or the Barn for something other than the instant ramen that’s probably been your diet for the past few days. Did you know that Sushi By Panda offers poke bowls now? It’s no Pokenometry, but it’s an alternative to the usual pizza or burrito options. Or perhaps grab a nice hot cup of coffee at the Coffee Bean.

Another piece of advice: Costo Hall also has a meditation room where you can have a moment of silence to collect your thoughts so take some time to yourself to mentally prepare for the rest of your study sessions. It’ll not

only leave you feeling more refreshed to power through the rest of the week, but also allow you to clear your mind of anxiety from the previous test. Even if you feel like you haven’t done that well, remind yourself that you just put that class to rest with the final, that there is no reason to worry anymore and to move on!

And what if you have finished all of your finals?

Then congratulations, buddy.

Pat yourself on the back and go on that Netflix binge you’ve been dying to do, aimlessly scroll through your Tumblr or Pinterest feeds or go out for a walk to get some fresh air!

The Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn is also a must-see before you head home, and is a good change of scenery from campus.

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You’ve just finished fall quarter and winter break awaits you!

Reward yourself for all the hard work you’ve accomplished in the past 11 weeks and look forward to home-cooked food, holiday presents and free time!

highlandernews.org

@highlanderradar

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Events this week Wednesday | 12/10

Thursday | 12/11

Friday | 12/12

Saturday | 12/13

UCR Concert Band and Orchestra Performances @ University Theater, 8 - 9:30 p.m.

UCR Jazz Ensemble Performance @ ARTS 157, 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Dr. Ralph Cato’s “Ching-a-Ring Chaw” student performance @ ARTS 157, 6 - 7 p.m.

Holiday Carolin Recital @ Bell Tower, 3 - 4 p.m.

Members of the UCR Chamber Ensemble perform “Chorus of Wedding Guests” by G. Donizetti.

TIM BACA / HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

highlandernews.org

Charles Evered: an underdog of the arts

Story by: Nathan Swift, Senior Staff Writer Photos by Cameron Yong

T

o Charles Evered, the story of the typical war veteran — and how veterans in general are treated once they return home — makes for something worth telling. “There’s always this stereotype of the war veteran with the 1,000-yard stare and the huge chip on his shoulder,” Evered said. “Like any stereotype, this dehumanizes what it actually means to be a veteran.”

Evered is a professor of screenwriting here at UC Riverside, and is also the art director for the theater department. He plans to shoot his latest film, “Back,” in the fall of 2015, about a soldier returning home after a tour of duty in the Middle East who finds love with a female celebrity from Los Angeles. Evered made sure to write an apolitical script — a purely political movie just isn’t for him. “I have my political opinions, and you have yours,” he said.

“With ‘Back,’ what I’m really aiming for is emotional truth.” Preaching to the choir doesn’t tell a compelling story, much less tell a good story, and Evered understands this.

How do you exactly move on from watching the deaths of others, sometimes by your hand? If war tastes like blood, then what is the aftertaste of war? These are the types of questions that Evered hopes to address. “Movies like ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘Platoon’ describe the hell of war; ‘Back’ is about the hell over what comes next,” Evered said.

Evered began his career as a student

at Rutgers-Newark University, where he received his undergraduate degree in playwriting, followed by an MFA at Yale.

While enjoying the academic atmosphere of the campus, Evered felt as though many students closed themselves off from realworld experiences. “There’s this clear difference between what you learn sitting down in a classroom, and what you learn taking a walk through a city,” he noted.

“Oftentimes students and faculty will feel satisfied with what they’re taught in a classroom.” Evered understands that the best way to learn in the world isn’t just with a textbook. “Go and volunteer

one of his biggest influences (alongside Clint Eastwood) with his advice. “He told everyone there to simply write their stories from the heart, based on what matters to you,” Evered stated. This might sound like any generic piece of advice, but this is coming from the director behind “Jurassic Park,” “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.” As somebody with that much directorial weight in the industry telling listeners to follow their dreams, it’s easy to see how Evered admires Spielberg.

He took that advice to heart, as his second feature “A Thousand Cuts” was nominated for a Saturn Award by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.

A psychological thriller, the movie stars Academy Award nominee Michael O’ Keefe and cost about $200,000 to make. Evered pushed hard to promote his movie, and was incredibly happy that it was nominated. “I just think of all that was put into the film,” he said. “Principal shooting only took a few days, but for post-production my brother and I essentially just drove up into the wilderness and locked ourselves in a cabin for weeks on end, editing the sucker.” Standing on a red carpet alongside figures like Quentin Tarantino and James Cameron for an awards ceremony was an amazing experience for him. He’s grateful that “A Thousand Cuts” had the honor to be noticed with films whose budget sizes dwarfed his.

He hopes to emulate the same amount ■H of success with “Back.”

“Movies like ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘Platoon’ describe the hell of war; ‘Back’ is about the hell over what comes next.”

- Charles Evered at your local food shelter, or be like me and join the Navy,” he said. We agreed that you can read as much as you want, but physical experiences can be the best professors.

Evered also mentioned the time he met (and eventually collaborated with) one of the film industry’s biggest heavyweights, Steven Spielberg. For him, meeting Spielberg was one of the biggest honors anyone could have. Evered and Spielberg had a single collaboration together for an unproduced script titled “Carrier,” which was inspired by his service in the Navy.

Evered recalls the first time he met Spielberg at a panel, where the famous director was speaking.

He revealed how Spielberg came to be

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A Mosaic of Melodies: Student vocalists put on pleasant show for family and friends Christal Mims, Senior Staff Writer // Photos by Tim Baca

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Members of the UCR Chamber Ensemble, Tzu Chi Youth Orchestra and Lyric Symphony Orchestra play together on the show closer “Chorus of Wedding Guests” by G. Donizetti. Giselle Austria (above) sings “O del mio dolce ardor” by 18th century composer C.W. Gluck.

he Voice Studio of Dr. Camelia Voin hosted a concert Friday night to showcase the talent of UCR students as well as a few special guests. Doors opened around 7 p.m. and let in an audience that consisted mostly of what appeared to be family members and friends of the performers. Fidgety children roamed around while people continued to spill into the performance lab, chatting and trying to find an empty seat in an almost-full venue. Shortly after 8 p.m., the lights dimmed and stragglers settled in as the musicians onstage began to warm up and prepare for a night of classical music.

Opening the show was the UCR Chamber Ensemble, performing a piece called “The Carolers.” The orchestra filled ARTS 166 with the soothing and altogether lovely sound of strings and woodwinds. They were met with thunderous applause from onlookers as they concluded their piece and made way for the following solo vocal performances.

Each participant took to the stage and gave it their all, emitting an admirable amount of energy and even using props to further bring the story of their songs to life. There was no denying that nerves got the best of some of the aspiring singers but even as notes fell flat and voices quivered, the audience remained supportive. Sheyla Jarquin stood out with a beautiful rendition of the popular “Les Miserables” musical number, “On My Own.” Each accompanied by the immensely talented pianist Emily Chao, one after another Voin’s students sang a variety of music styles, ranging from baroque to musical theatre. Other notable performances during the first half of the show included Karina Rogue, who garnered a few chuckles from the crowd when she continued her song after a long pause and Maira Ramirez, whose fiery red dress complimented her feisty attitude during the song. Marisol Sanchez and Slki Kim sang intricate harmonies with ease during a duet entitled

The entire ensemble plays and sings together as the audience listens to the performance.

“Sull’aria,” that led the audience into a brief intermission.

The second half of the show got off to a great start. One of the strongest vocalists of the night, Lauren Perry, sang a duet with Rogue before performing a breathtaking solo. As the concert continued, cell phones and cameras emerged to catch the intriguing pieces on video and mothers were seen trying to calm increasingly restless kids who’d obviously had enough of sitting down. The singing continued to get better and better, with memorable performances by Victoria Weis, VevinaAnne Swanson and Alexander Jackson.

The last solo performance of the night came from Yasmeen Saberi who chose to sing the powerhouse ballad “I Have Nothing.” As the music began, you could almost feel the nervousness in the crowd. Did she really decide to take on an incredibly difficult piece sang by the legendary Whitney Houston? Yes, she did. And to my and the audience’s delight she did the tune justice, easing in and out of high notes comfortably and generating an ecstatic response from the audience.

The concert concluded with a song called “Chorus of Wedding Guests,” which brought out all of the previous performers to participate in a grand finale backed up by the orchestra.

The students took their bows as Voin thanked everyone for attending and supporting the performers. However, before everyone could hop out of their seats, awards were given out to the Tzu Chi Youth Orchestra, who played along with the UCR Chamber Ensemble as well as a few, select members of the Lyric Symphony Orchestra.

There was an incredible amount of energy brought to the stage that can only be the product of hard work and dedication. The orchestra did an excellent job of supporting the soloists and it was apparent that every last one of the students was passionate about their craft. This fact can only make way for improvement and I for one am excited to witness it in the future.

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Alexander Jackson (top) performs “E lucevan le stele” by 19th century composer G. Puccini. (Above left to right) Daysy Valesco, Lauren Torres and Vevina Swanson perform “Three Little Maids from School” by 19th century composer A. Sullivan.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

highlandernews.org

Nelson Luu, Staff Writer

W

NELSON LUU / HIGHLANDER

hen I was brainstorming ideas for what to write in my first column, I thought, “What better way to start a fashion column on campus than by showcasing student style?”

Borrowing the style of “Humans of New York,” I found students around campus with interesting outfits, snapped their photo and asked them a few questions about their style. It’s somewhat nervewracking to go up to random people and ask to take a picture of their outfit. But for the most part, I’m met with positive responses and have been able to strike up some interesting conversations about personal style.

In light of the constantly changing weather in the past few weeks, I got to find some interesting looks from a range of students. As diverse as our campus is, so is the range of styles. Many of the people I interviewed seemed to welcome

the chillier weather, especially with all the heat that lasted until mid-November.

One of the most interesting outfits I got to shoot was Monica Arellano. We got to talk about how she was interested in channeling the ‘40s in her outfits.

Often opting for very feminine silhouettes using high-waisted skirts, blouses and curls, Monica said she enjoyed mimicking the style of the Golden Age of Hollywood in her own everyday wear.

I’m very partial to preppy men’s wear, which is why I was drawn to both Jesus’ and Kevin’s outfits. I shot Kevin’s outfit on a warmer and drier day than Jesus.

In his interview, he said that he prides himself on being put together for everyday purposes.

But for such unpredictable weather, he likes to throw on a light jacket to weather the cold ► SEE CYTHERIAL, PAGE 18

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

17

MOVIE REVIEW COMING OUT SOON:

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS

INHERENT VICE

THE HOBBIT

THE CAPTIVE

THE BABADOOK

RATING: ★★★★★

“I

BY: STASEAN WASHINGTON, STAFF WRITER

f it’s in a word, or it’s in a look, you can’t get rid of The Babadook.”

With little to no major marketing this horror film has flown under the radar of many moviegoers. “The Babadook” is an Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent.

Based on Kent’s short film “Monster,” “The Babadook” tells the tale of Amelia (Essie Davis), a widow who must protect her son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), from the Babadook, a supernatural entity who enters their home through the pages of a children’s book. The film boasts a powerful and creative story backed by all-around outstanding performances making it one of the best horror films of the decade.

The film is much more than a horror movie. Unlike most modern horror films that focus on creating cheap jump scares and meaningless gore, “The Babadook” tells an actual story. Kent takes inspiration from Roman Polanski domestic horrors like “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Tenant” or “Repulsion.” The film is frightening, but at its core it has

a strong story: It is about a mother battling her inner demons.

The Babadook isn’t just another Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees — it’s a physical manifestation of a much bigger problem, which is Amelia’s inability to cope with the death of her husband. For this reason, the film is more interesting to watch because we are seeing actual human beings with character development, rather than the caricature of a human being whose main goal is to die or get frightened just for the amusement of the audience.

The deep characters are also brought to life through incredible performances from amazing and capable actors. With a limited main cast, the film relies on Essie Davis’ performance, and she doesn’t disappoint. Davis brings the traumatized widow role to life, with the ability to switch to a hostile, borderline abusive parent on a dime. Davis does an incredible job of bringing the essence of the Babadook within herself toward the end of the film, making herself seem like a complete monster.

Davis synergizes incredibly well with co-star Noah Wise-

man. Wiseman plays the role of a child who’s an outsider, speaks his mind and is too smart for his own good. Wiseman is seven years old, but manages to bring out an incredible amount of emotions to the film. Wiseman brings life to lines like “I know you don’t love me. The Babadook won’t let you, but I still love you Mom,” or something as simple as, “I’ll promise to protect you, if you promise to protect me.”

All of this is enhanced by Kent’s approach to the aesthetics of the film itself. Kent’s film is

Coutresy of Cinetic Media

influenced by many silent films of the early 20th century. The film is dressed with weird shapes and harsh shadows which pay homage to German expressionist films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.”

Kent’s use of in-camera effects also pays tribute to early George Melias films like “The Devil’s Manor.” Kent’s homage is unique. Although the film tries to emulate old camera techniques and aesthetics, it does it with a modern twist that helps the film stand out amongst other

films.

“The Babadook” is more than just a supernatural horror film about a monster with a silly name. It’s about mourning and coping with loss of a loved one and how far melancholia can drive someone into becoming a monster. It’s also an incredible homage to a lot of the films responsible for starting the horror genre. “The Babadook” should be considered a graceful reboot of the genre, and films should follow in its footsteps like it folH lowed in the path of others. ■

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

highlandernews.org ► CYTHERIAL FROM PAGE 16

NELSON LUU / HIGHLANDER

mornings and not have to be weighed down too much when he has to take it off in the afternoon.

For Jesus, it’s always important to remember to stay comfortable even when being stylish. When you have to be on campus all day, comfort is king. That’s why he says that his Sperry Topsider shoes are some of his favorite shoes to wear while walking around campus. A light button-up shirt and windbreaker help him stay warm throughout the day but aren’t so thick and heavy that they get too uncomfortable.

Finally, I gravitated toward Lorena’s outfit with her pendant necklace and casual yet interesting shirt and jeans combo. Much like Jesus, she said that she prides herself on being stylish and comfortable at the same time.

Because of the uncertain changes in temperature, she keeps her outfits simple so she can simply add or take off a jacket. She adds interest to her outfits by accessorizing with statement jewelry that shows off her personality.

I hope this first column gives you some inspiration when you’re out shopping after finals! This definitely isn’t going to be the only Style Spotlight I’ll be doing, so don’t fret if you didn’t get featured just yet! Perhaps sometime soon you’ll get a tap on your shoulder and a friendly “Hey, I work for the Highlander and I really like your H outfit!” See you all next quarter! ■

Be published.

Want to make your mark in the world? The Highlander is your canvas. Learn more about how you can get your writing, designs and photographs published by coming to our weekly meetings, held in HUB 101 every Monday at 5:15 p.m.

Highlander

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

highlandernews.org

MUSIC REVIEW NO REASON // GIRAFFAGE

RATING: ★★★★☆ BY: NELSON LUU, STAFF WRITER

I

became a fan of Giraffage (aka Charlie Yin) after hearing his track “Music Sounds Better With You” on one of Clothesencounter’s YouTube videos. As hipster as I may sound, I love the underground electronic music world he occupies. I was stoked to hear that his new EP “No Reason” came out about two weeks ago, and it has now become a staple in my room when I’m studying, or need some good music to vibe to when I’m out with my friends.

It’s a mishmash of choppedup vocals, deep beats, electric riffs, eight-bit rips and lush drops that come together to create an eclectic, electronic symphony that’s far from what I normally hear. The best way for me to describe it is a mixed-media collage you can listen to. The songs on this EP are reminiscent of his previous records, like the track “Close 2 Me” from his album “Needs”, but have a

decidedly experimental tone to them that reminds me of Porter Robinson’s album, “Worlds.” It’s not surprising that I get this vibe because the two of them have worked together in the past, with Giraffage touring as the

The best way for me to describe it is a mixed-media collage you can listen to.

opening act for Robinson’s “Worlds” Tour.

Unique to this EP is Giraffage’s new method of crafting his songs. Unlike his previous remixes and singles that relied heavily on sampling tracks from other

artists, he chose to build his songs from the ground-up with original beats and vocals.

It’s a refreshing turn for an artist who has previously been known for his creative sampling of popular R&B artists like Janet Jackson.

Perhaps my favorite track from this EP is “Tell Me.” The phrase “You need to tell me” is screwed, chopped up and played with to create a perceived dialogue between two lovers.

Interlaced between the vocals are lush beats typical of his musical style that audiences have grown to love.

Finishing off the album is my next favorite track, “Be With You.” The vibe is a bit cuter than the previous songs — it’s a bit faster than previous tracks and many of the vocals and audio tricks play at a higher register. It ends the album on a positive vibe that leaves you with a feel-good emotion. As with the rest of

Courtesy of Fool’s Gold Records

the album, Giraffage plays with well flushed-out beats and vibes to accompany this track’s vocals.

What I love about “No Reason” is its cohesiveness

as an album. While all of the songs can stand alone as beautifully crafted tracks, they are also linked together in a unifying style that is distinctly “Giraffage.”

■H

VIDEO GAME REVIEW DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION

RATING: ★★★☆☆ BY: ROBERT LEES, STAFF WRITER

B

ioware has been in an awkward position for the past few years. Their last two releases, “Mass Effect 3” and “Dragon Age II,” were met with much more negative reviews than usual, and it seems that Bioware is trying to win back some of their longtime fans with Dragon Age: Inquisition — the third installment in their fantasy RPG Dragon Age series. While Dragon Age: Origins was a sleeper hit praised for its tactical combat and immersive story, Dragon Age II was criticized for being a rushedout cash-in with oversimplified button-mashing combat and lack of a plot. While Dragon Age: Inquisition does show much of the care and attention to detail missing from Bioware’s recent releases, it still has some serious issues that prevent it from being the work of art Bioware promised.

The story picks up where Dragon Age II left off, with a war between mages and templars threatening to destroy all of society, while a giant hole in the sky threatens to swallow the whole planet. In typical Bioware fashion, you, the protagonist, are the only person in the whole world capable of saving the world and restoring order. Much like Dragon Age: Origins, you can choose from a variety of races and backgrounds to personalize your role-playing experience. Along the way, you are joined by a cast of colorful and well-written party members.

Familiarity with the Dragon Age universe is necessary, as the story starts en medias res and many

characters and companions return from previous games to make token appearances and spout exposition in typical stock stiff, uncanny valley-esque dialogue trees. In the times when you’re not questing or waiting for “Origin” (EA’s Steam knock-off) to start, you’ll spend countless hours talking to supporting characters and various NPCs spread across the world. They are written very well, however, and the extensive dialogue and scope of the main quest gives the game depth and main plot an engaging amount of profundity.

Where the game begins to fall apart is in its gameplay. During the initial hype that preceded the game’s release, the developers promised a return to Dragon Age: Origins’ top-down, strategic combat system. However, the combat is much more like a modern hack-and-slash game or a spectacle fighter, as any pretense of strategy is eventually abandoned for endless button mashing. Combat works by clicking on an enemy as fast as possible until everything that isn’t a friendly NPC on the screen is dead. The game also has a tendency to spawn ludicrously large mobs of enemies, and the wonkiness of the camera controls, along with the lack of any meaningful way to control your parties’ strategy makes any pretense of tactics laughable.

Furthermore, all of the game’s side quests involve trekking across the map to either kill x-number of random enemies, or collecting y-number of objects for some random NPC. It all comes across

Courtesy of Electronic Arts

as disingenuous; I’m the head of an elite group tasked with saving the whole word — why am I being sent across the map to find 10 blankets for a group of refugees? You would think some of these pointless fetch quests could be carried out by any of the other NPCs that stand around the camp spouting the same two lines of dialogue. So while it does offer more than 150 hours of gameplay, only about 10 percent of it advances the plot in any significant way while the rest is pointless padding.

The PC version of the game also has more bugs than the entirety of UCR’s entomology department. In the 60-plus hours I’ve been playing Inquisition, several of those were spent restarting the game after it had crashed or waiting for it to

stop lagging at the title screen.

There are not just game-breaking bugs either, as many emotionally significant moments in the plot were ruined when characters got hung up in a cutscene and kept repeating the same lines endlessly.

While there is a patch in the works to address this issue, it seems like more time could have been taken during development to fix some of the more glaring issues. However, there is day-one DLC, and it feels disingenuous when EA has the audacity to release extra pay-toplay content when the base game is, at times, an unfinished mess.

As a fan of most Bioware games, I was really looking forward to “Inquisition” long before it was released, which served to make my disappointment even more bitter.

While it does feature an immersive setting and characters and the same commitment to open-ended storytelling Bioware is famous for, the artificial padding of the story and the amount of immersion-breaking bugs ruined the overall experience.

While it is still better than most of the artistically devoid cash-in titles endemic in the game industry today, it feels like Bioware has sacrificed attention to detail in favor of profit.

Based on the storytelling alone, it’s worth playing for fans of the series, but I can’t recommend paying full price due to the repetitive gameplay and large amount of bugs. Given some time, I hope these issues will be addressed. Who knows, maybe EA will release a “Make the Game Better DLC” for the low price of $9.99.

■H

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, DECEMEBR 9, 2014

Awayfrom

FINALS WEEK prawl: P L A Y L I S T

the

S

by Jake Rich, Senior Staff Writer

I

t’s that time of the quarter again. You dare not speak its name — your scar will burn too badly. Though we would never wish them upon anybody, finals have arrived again. For some of us, that means Scantrons and tests aplenty, while others have an endless amount of essays to juggle. To accompany this madness, a soundtrack can be helpful. This list attempts to

encompass all the moments you feel during this stretch run — the stress, the triumph, the actual work and of course, the classic breaking-down-intothe-fetal-position moment where you’re gobbling Nutella by the spoonful straight from the jar after your SafeAssign link expired two seconds too early. Happy listening.

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LISTEN NOW ON HIGHLANDERNEWS.ORG “Careful You” TV ON THE RADIO This jam from the veteran indie rockers will lure you in with its lush bass and groovy electronics, and keep you there with lead singer Tunde Adebimpe’s earnest vocals wavering between many emotions.

Favorite lyric: “Should we back it up and turn it around? / Take the good with the bad / Still believe we can make it somehow”

“Under The Pressure” THE WAR ON DRUGS This nearly nine-minute track that opens their 2014 album “Lost In The Dream,” allows you to lose yourself in its unique mixture of spacey synths and Springsteen-tinged guitars, as Adam Granduciel sings possibly the most relaxing song about anxiety ever.

Favorite lyric: “I’m just wading in the water / Just trying not to crack, under the pressure”

“Never Catch Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” FLYING LOTUS

This collaboration off of Flying Lotus’ latest album sees Lamar spitting verses with the intensity of someone exploring the meaning of life, as restless beats and jittery jazz guitar encompass a wide array of emotions over the course of three minutes and 54 seconds.

Favorite lyric: “Analyze my demise, I say I’m super anxious / Recognize I deprive this fear and then embrace it”

“I’m Not Part of Me” CLOUD NOTHINGS

Though the song appears to be more about a relationship than anything, the Cleveland garage rockers provide the correct mindset for motivation with this triumphant, self-assuring track.

Drummer Jason Gercyz’s fills and the way Dylan Baldi decisively sings the word “but” are enough reasons to listen to this track.

Favorite lyric: “It’s over now, there’s a way I was before / But I can’t recall how I was those days anymore / I’m learning how to be here and nowhere else / How to focus on what I can do myself”

“Caaalifornia (feat. Ghost Beach)” FRENCH HORN REBELLION This weirdo electro-pop offering is as strange and fun-sounding as you might expect a band called French Horn Rebellion to produce. Its bouncy synths and sounds combined with an irresistible hook are sure to put you in a good mood.

Favorite lyric: “It wasn’t Caaalifornia / She said I’m coming for you”

“I Am Disappeared” FRANK TURNER You can’t quite spontaneously get away just yet, but this track will let you pretend to. Get your anger out singing along with Turner’s earnest vocals and fantastic contrast of electric and acoustic instrumentation.

Favorite lyric: “And come morning / I am disappeared / Just an imprint on the bedsheets”

“Content Nausea” PARQUET COURTS Technically released under the pseudonym “Parkay Quarts,” this anxious garage track understands exactly how overwhelmed you feel, with rapid-fire stream-of-conciousness lyrics mostly about living with too much technology.

Favorite lyric: “On a screen or at a distance / Life lived best without resistance”

“Dream About the Future” THE APPLES IN STEREO

This ELO-esque song floats along like there’s nothing to worry about; its bright piano and undeniable groove combined with the retro-futuristic sounding vocoder remind you that a future and respite from finals and papers, at least temporarily, is not far away.

Favorite lyric: “What do you see (What do you see) / When you dream about the future / Do you see me?”

“This Year” THE MOUNTAIN GOATS

John Darnielle’s seemingly simple song follows only an acoustic guitar, a piano and a short steady drumbeat, yet efficiency is the name of the game here — not only do the instruments make you feel like you’re moving forward, but singersongwriter John Darnielle’s ardent, impassioned vocals make you believe that you can overcome anything.

Favorite lyric: “I am going to make it through this year / If it kills me / I am going to make it through this year / If it kills me”

“Gonna Fly Now (Theme from ‘Rocky’)” BILL CONTI

What more is there to be said about this track?

Go kick that final’s ass! Run confidently up the steps of the HUB and into your class with this blaring in your headphones, and success is all but assured — even if suffering may be inevitable.

Favorite lyric: “Gonna fly now / flying high now”

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SPORTS

highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, DECEMEBR 9, 2014

23

AARON LAI / HIGHLANDER

Steven Jones (No. 10) charges down the court, totalling nine points and six assists as the Highlanders take down Portland State Saturday night.

Men’s basketball thumps Portland State 88-62 Another Saturday night meant another win for the men’s basketball team. Unlike the Highlanders’ nail-biting victory of 59-58 against Bakersfield on Dec. 2, this was far from a close win. The Highlanders smashed the Vikings, 88-62, shooting 64.8 percent from the field for the contest.

Although UCR completely dominated, the win was not an easy task. “I thought they were a really talented basketball team. Outside of probably Utah, maybe the most talented we’ve faced,” shared Head Coach Dennis Cutts.

As soon as the game started, Portland took the lead. With less than a minute into the game, Portland State’s Tiegbe Bamba scored the opening points with a layup. This did not last long because the Highlanders soon took the lead. With 13:31 remaining, the score was 12-6 in favor of UCR. The plot twist occurred further in the game when there was a five-point possession in favor of Portland State, which led to the visiting team leading, 23-22. The Vikings quickly picked up their intensity with layups and timely three-pointers. However, both teams had 11 turnovers. With 2:40 remaining the Highlanders were up by

seven points with a score of 3225. UCR went into the locker room at intermission up by five points, 37-32. Portland only led for 2:22 of the first half while UCR led for 15:57.

After intermission, UC Riverside returned to the court but with more fire in their system.

With the time at 19:25, Taylor Johns scored a layup. After that shot, the scoreboard kept increasing in favor of the Highlanders. Jaylen Bland quickly followed with a three-pointer.

The intensity of the offense increased and the team continued to tally up points.

With 10:58 remaining in the game, UCR was ahead, 58-43.

The Vikings tried to catch up

but failed to do so. With minutes remaining, Bland and Austin Quick knocked down a pair of treys, bringing the score to 88-59. Portland followed with a shot and a layup by Brandon Cataldo, but it was not enough to defeat UCR as the Highlanders won 88-62.

The whistle blew and the crowd went wild, clapping and cheering for the victors. The team was content as well to have won another game. “I feel great actually,” shared Bland. “It’s a good win for us, but we’re not satisfied at all, we just want to keep getting better.”

Johns, one of the lead scorers of the night with 20 points, shared, “On the court it felt like

it was way easier to score … it was like everyone had it going for them and (Portland) couldn’t do anything.”

UCR finished the contest with the third-highest shooting performance in school history (64.8 percent) while knocking down nine-of-18 three-pointers from beyond the arc.

Johns led the Highlanders with 20 points and five rebounds while Bland tallied 17 points.

The Highlanders are looking to continuously improve as their schedule becomes more vigorous.

The win against Portland, however, helps them gain momentum as they face UCLA on Dec. 10 at ■H the Pauley Pavilion.

WRITE SHOOT DESIGN

MELISSA FUENTES Contributing Writer

Meetings on Mondays at 5:15 pm

for the Highlander

24

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

. SPORTS .

highlandernews.org

CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER

After winning their first five games of the season, the UCR women’s basketball team dropped two matches in a row.

Undefeated streak ends for women’s basketball vs. Fresno State, Bakersfield CODY NGUYEN Senior Staff Writer DEC 4, 2014

............................................................................

Bulldogs 73 -- Highlanders 61

The old adage has it that all good things must come to an end, as was the case for the UCR women’s basketball team Thursday night, when their unprecedented 5-0 start was brought to a screeching halt by the Fresno State Bulldogs.

A 6-6 tie early in the first half was the closest the Highlanders would ever get to gaining an edge on the Bulldogs.

Soon after, all hope was quickly dashed when Fresno State scored the next six points to take a 12-6 lead over the Highlanders. Throughout the rest of the first half, the Bulldogs continued to slowly but surely

Brittany Crain: Sitting down with the Big West’s top scorer JASON AHN Contributing Writer

Being a starting guard for a Division I basketball team is no easy task, let alone being the fifthhighest scoring women’s player in the NCAA, but UCR’s Brittany Crain makes it look as easy as pie.

Though she recently scored 1,000 career points and received Big West Player of the Week honors twice, the junior didn’t realize that she was one of the top scorers in the nation.

“It actually surprised me, but I think that I put in a lot of work behind the scenes,” Crain said. “It’s not just practice, it’s me coming in on the weekend, or during the nighttime when everyone’s sleeping. I’m in the gym shooting or doing something different like that.”

In addition to her personal practices, she has one- to two-hour team practices, a full range of classes and everything in between.

Some of Crain’s favorite drills

build upon their lead, and ended up with a 36-27 lead going into the locker room.

At the start of the second half, sloppy would be an understatement to describe what transpired in the first two minutes of play on both sides. Five misses, three turnovers and six fouls resulted in zero points for both teams, until Fresno State’s Robin Draper nailed a three to end the drought.

Though the Highlanders were able to keep pace with the Bulldogs throughout much of the second half, they were unable to score enough points to bring them within range of rallying for victory, and the wheels really began to fall off when a 10-1 Fresno State run provided the Bulldogs with a nearly insurmountable 68-50 lead at the 5:24 mark.

By the end of the match, the Highlanders had shaved six points off the Bulldogs’ aforementioned lead, but nonetheless left the court with the bitter taste of defeat for the first time in this young season.

during practice include the use of weighted balls, using the shooting machine to get in more shots and other drills to better her game.

Crain’s hard work has been paying off, as her field goal percentage has risen every year she’s been at UCR. As a freshman, she averaged 41.4 percent from the field, 46.5 percent as a sophomore and 46.7 percent so far for her junior campaign.

Her shooting improvement has not gone unnoticed. Even her men’s basketball peers have taken notice.

“She’s been good. I felt it coming last year,” men’s basketball leading scorer Taylor Johns stated.

“She was a sophomore and led the Big West in scoring. She can go.”

As the team’s lead scorer, Crain could easily use the tools that she already has, but acknowledges that there are parts of her play that could be improved, which she develops during her practice sessions.

“I could be in the gym three hours, four hours,” she said. “Depends on if I have to study … If I don’t have anything to do then I’m in the gym.”

Another factor in Crain’s success may be her levelheaded mindset in games. While some play rigidly, Crain seems fluid on the court.

“I think that it’s a matter of having fun,” she said. “If I’m in a game my mindset is different. I play harder and just let the game come to me, rather than forcing it.”

“She’s pretty efficient,” men’s basketball player Jaylen Bland added. “I’ve watched her games and she can play.”

For some basketball players, missing a shot might mean taking another to find their rhythm. For Crain, it means dishing the ball to her teammates. “If my shot’s not falling then I need to get the ball to my teammates,” she said.

Her assists show her unselfish nature and desire for her team to do well, not just herself. She has two goals for the season. “Win the conference and the Big West Tournament,” she declared.

One of Crain’s mentors is Assistant Coach Seyram Bell, who helps the guard out during tough times on court.

“All of the coaches have been there. Coach Seyram, my position coach, has been a lot of support,” she said. “She always pushes me in practice, and during games and different times to help me play better and work harder.”

Bell is familiar with what Crain goes through in games because she played for UCR from 2005-2009.

DEC 4, 2014

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Roadrunners 66 -- Highlanders 65

Despite a strong bounceback performance by leading scorer Brittany Crain, the UCR women’s basketball team dropped its second straight match Saturday afternoon against CSU Bakersfield.

The Highlanders dominated the opening stanza of the match, scoring eight in a row before the Roadrunners could even muster a single point. After essentially trading buckets for the rest of the first half, the Highlanders ended up tak-

ing a 29-17 lead into the locker room. Brittany Crain’s 10 points paced the team at that point, despite an underwhelming 3-10 shooting from the field.

The domination continued for the Highlanders at the start of the second half, as a 7-0 run early in the period gave UCR a commanding 38-20 lead.

Though one would be led to believe that the Highlanders would continue to control the match, the exact opposite occurred as the Roadrunners were able to buckle down on defense and force multiple UCR turnovers en route to cutting the team’s lead down to just one point by the 4:21 mark.

By 3:17, the match was tied, and by 2:29, the Roadrunners had taken their first lead of the night.

With the Highlanders nursing a two-point lead on what could possibly be the last possession of the game with 0:21 to go, the Roadrunners capitalized off a Tyonna Outland layup, tying the match at 65-65.

In addition to that, a Brittany Crain foul gave Outland the opportunity to give her team the lead off a free throw attempt, which she also connected on.

With five seconds to go and the game on the line, the Highlanders turned to Simone DeCoud, who fired on a three-point attempt that ultimately ended up off the mark.

After effectively snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Highlanders look to put an unfortunate weekend behind them as they prepare to take on the UCLA Bruins on Wed., Dec. 10.

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ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER Averaging 29 points per game, Brittany Crain currently is a national scoring leader.

Bell ranked fourth on UCR’s scoring list with 1,426 points, averaging 11.6 per game. Crain uses Bell’s success as a standard for herself.

Outside of basketball, Crain is interested in the possibility of pursuing a career in music. She has a rap group with her brother and produces songs in her free time.

“I actually changed my major to media studies, because I’m more in love with music (than biology),” Crain said.

The UCR’s women’s basketball team is currently 5-2, losing two

straight after winning their first five. Crain recognizes the team’s success but she’s focused on the big picture — winning. “(Wins are)… something that needs to be consistent, because you can always fall down,” she said.

“You can win five and lose the next 28 games, so we have to move forward and take it game by game.”

Whether the team continues to win or lose, one thing is for sure.

Crain will always be in the gym long after practice, honing her special craft.

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