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UCR
TEDxUCR = a kaleidescope of multiple perspectives
Highlander University
Volume 63
of
13
C a l i f o r n i a , R ive r s i d e
Serving the UCR community since 1954
Issue 25
FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
ASUCR ELECTIONS
ECAB debates turn up the heat on student issues
Jewish organization alleges UCR class is ‘anti-Semitic’ SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
AARON GRECH Senior Staff Writer
The heat didn’t stop ASUCR party supporters from attending the recent executive cabinet (ECAB) debates, as cheers arose from the crowd of about 30 people. Candidates from [OUR] Voice, PAC: Pride, Action, Change and [YOU]CR vied for some of the highest positions in ASUCR, while issues of student pride, tuition hikes and transparency were popular discussion topics throughout. The first to speak in the debate were vice president of internal affairs candidates, who deal with issues specifically on campus. Highlander Editor-inChief Colin Markovich asked the candidates Valeria Allende from PAC and Executive Vice President Michael Ervin from [OUR]Voice their opinion of the R’Gear program in which ► SEE DEBATES, PAGE 4
A Jewish group is calling for the cancellation of a UCR course, citing that it is “antiSemitic” and holds an “antiIsrael bias.” The R’Course, entitled “Palestinian Voices,” is one of 11 student-led courses being taught this spring. AMCHA Initiative, which describes itself as dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism on college campuses, alleged that the class syllabus contains “egregiously one-sided, antiIsrael readings and films that falsely paint Israel as a settlercolonial and apartheid state,” according to an open letter written to Chancellor Kim Wilcox. The syllabus describes the one-unit course as focusing on Palestinian history through contemporary literature and ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER Tensions between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups have flared up at UCR, including over topics such as divestment.
R’MOVEMENT
CRIME WATCH
On-campus robbery sparks creation of safety committee COLIN MARKOVICH Senior Staff Writer
UCR’S DANCE COMMUNITY DISPLAYS ITS TALENTS IN A NIGHT DEDICATED TO THE DIVERSITY OF DANCE
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A campus commitee on safety has been proposed after a student was injured in an attempted armed robbery near the Arts Building on Monday, April 13. At around 8:20 p.m., a student was walking toward University Avenue from Canyon Crest Drive when he was followed by two suspects in a vehicle. One of the suspects then exited the vehicle and followed the victim to the area of the Arts and INTS buildings, where he displayed a black semiautomatic handgun. After a brief struggle in which the victim was hit several times, the suspect fled to the vehicle without stealing anything. The first suspect has been described as a sixfoot tall black male adult, wearing a white hooded sweater and red shoes. UCPD has provided additional information about the suspect online and has warned people to not approach him if seen but to call UCPD at 951-827-5387. No description of the second suspect has been provided. Sometime prior to the incident, the victim was alerted of the possibility of being followed by a passerby. An investigation is currently ongoing. In the wake of the attempted robbery, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jim Sandoval has invited members of ASUCR to form a campus committee ■H focused on improving safety on campus.
NEWS 1 • OPINIONS 7 • FEATURES 11 • A&E 17 • SPORTS 24
► SEE PALESTINE, PAGE 5
Student Recreation Center loses thousands of towels due to theft SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
ROHAN MURGAI Contributing Writer
The UCR Student Recreation Center (SRC) is home to many things — an Olympic-sized pool, freshly painted tennis courts and most of all, towels, thousands of which have disappeared since the expansion of SRC South occurred back in Oct. 2014. In response, the SRC has launched #SaveTheTowels, an awareness campaign to curb the number of lost and stolen towels. As part of the campaign, the SRC has created lighthearted advertisements and videos, asking the public to drop off their towels in the bins located around the gym. “Save the towels, do it for the whales,” reads one ad. “Over 150 towels are stolen from the Student Recreation Center each week. It’s almost come to the point where complimentary towels may ► SEE TOWELS, PAGE 5
PLEASE RECYCLE