Volume 69 Issue 11

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Monday, January 11, 2021

VOL. 69, ISSUE 11

est. 1954

NEWS

As COVID-19 conditions worsen in Riverside, UCR announces decision to continue spring quarter instruction remotely SILVIA FERRER Managing Editor

On Tuesday, Jan. 5, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Thomas M. Smith sent a campus wide email announcing that spring quarter instruction would continue remotely, finalizing the 2020-21 academic year at UCR as exclusively online. The future of spring quarter instruction looked bleak as health conditions in Riverside County worsened and coronavirus cases spiked, surpassing 200,000 on Jan. 5.

Hospitalizations also increased, and Riverside County once again landed in the purple tier, indicating that their ICU capacity is below 15%, the closure of nonessential businesses and a widespread order to isolate.

In light of the sharp rise of COVID-19 cases nationally, Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox sent a campus-wide announcement that stated that students who reside in campus housing who engage in “unmasked activity” are required to self-isolate for 14 days and, depending on the type of housing, must undergo COVID-19 testing once to twice a week. Similar orders were handed to essential employees approved to work on campus.

Despite the measures and the statewide closure on Dec. 7 issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom, coronavirus cases at UCR spiked from 77 in November 2020 to 105 in December. At the time of writing, there have been 12 new cases at UCR,

most of which are staff members.

There are currently 24 active cases, i.e., positive cases that are 14 days from the date of reported symptoms.

In the broader Riverside County, the situation is much more grim.

Riverside County has declared COVID-19 a widespread county risk, with 204,327 confirmed cases and 2,189 deaths as of Thursday, Jan. 7. There is a 0% ICU bed availability within the county. In a data compilation by the Los Angeles Times, Riverside County averaged 3,346 new cases a day and 28.6 new deaths over the first week of the new year.

Although Pfizer and Moderna’s

UCR women’s basketball defeats UC Irvine 63-45 with impressive sharp shooting

UCR men’s basketball lose first home game against University of Hawaii A LATE SURGE IS NOT ENOUGH AS THE HIGHLANDERS FALL TO HAWAII. JOSHUA WANG /THE HIGHLANDER

The UCR men’s basketball team took their second loss of the season in a highscoring 88-83 game at home against the University of Hawaii on Jan. 8. The Highlanders committed 15 turnovers, which proved to be costly in this close game.

Both teams started the game slow, as the Highlanders committed three turnovers in the first four minutes, and both the Highlanders and Hawaii shot below 37% from the field to start out. By the halfway point in the first half, UCR had turned it over eight times, and a dunk from Justin Hemsley of Hawaii put Hawaii up 1815, prompting Coach Magpayo to call a timeout.

INCREASE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS SHATTERS HOPE OF RETURNING TO CAMPUS FOR THE 2020-21 ACADEMIC YEAR.

► SEE SPRING QUARTER PAGE 3

SPORTS

HANSEL CHU Contributing Writer

RYAN POON /THE HIGHLANDER

Off of the timeout, the Highlanders began to play much better. A quick 5-0 run from UCR tied the game at 22 apiece before Justin Webster of Hawaii hit a 15-footer to stop the run. Hawaii began to go on a little run of their own, going up as much as 6 points before forward Arinze Chidom sank a 10-foot shot to cut the deficit to 4 points going into the locker room. Despite the Highlanders committing 11 turnovers and shooting 34.6% (9-26 fg) from the field, they found themselves only down 30-26.

Dominick Pickett and Zyon Pullin led the team with 7 points, as well as a team high 8 rebounds for Pullin at the half.

Coming out of the half, Hawaii came out firing, going on a 10-4 run to start. A three-pointer from Will Tattersall extended the lead to 10 for Hawaii, forcing Coach ► SEE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PAGE 12

DESPITE SUFFERING FROM CANCELLED GAMES AND ROCKY SCHEDULES AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 RELATED CANCELLATIONS, THE HIGHLANDERS DEFEAT THE ANTEATERS IN A SHOW OF STRENGTH.

AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 8, the UCR Highlanders women’s basketball team played their first game against the UC Irvine (UCI) Anteaters in the Big West Conference. UCR has endured multiple game cancellations as a result of COVID-19 related reasons.

UCR’s series against the University of Hawaii was cancelled after a COVID-19 test came back positive on the Rainbow Wahine.

In a display of power, the UCR Highlanders triumphed over UCI with a 63-45 win. This secured the first win for UCR’s women’s basketball team against a Big West Conference opponent. The starting lineup for the game included freshman Jordan Webster, sophomore Jada

Holland, senior Keilanei Cooper, freshman Kari Kyrkjebo and junior Daphne Gnago.

The Highlanders got off to a strong start and led 16-6 by the end of the first quarter, setting the stage for the remainder of the game. Webster secured the first points of the game, including a stunning 3-point shot.

The Highlanders kept up their impressive lead against UCI into the second quarter. UCR’s impressive defense suppressed UCI from overcoming the Highlander’s lead. With five minutes left in the second quarter, Cooper earned her fourth rebound of the night. By the end of the second quarter and at the start of half-time, the UCR Highlanders led with a notable 33-15 lead.

Starting off the third quarter strong, ► SEE UC IRVINE PAGE 12

f UCR Highlander Newspaper @UCRHighlander HighlanderTV NEWS 3

OPINIONS 6

FEATURES 9

RADAR 11

SPORTS 12

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MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

The Highlander’s 2021 New Year’s Res-

Upcoming Events: Week 1

olution

COMPILED BY THE HIGHLANDER STAFF

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Time Management 1.0 Worhops 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Virtual Event

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Hot off the Presses: Ariel Dinar 10:30 a.m.

Virtual Event

Technical Resume Writing & Interviewing 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Virtual Event

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Total Body Toning 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Virtual Event

Time Management 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual Event

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

“In 2021, The Highlander resolves to continue in its pursuit of the truth, the free exchange of information and maintaining a fair and independent student voice.

Despite the campus closure, The Highlander resolves to write engaging articles about

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Where Are the Jobs?

The Hidden Job Market (Job & Internship Search Series) 11:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Virtual Event

All About Internships (Job & Internship Search Series) 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Virtual Event

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CEPCEB Seminar: Rosangla Sozzani, North Carolina State University 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Brown Bag Conversation series 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Virtual Event

Thursday

the UCR community, the broader Riverside community and the Inland Empire as a whole. The Highlander resolves to continue to shed light on student issues, campus news, UCR events and broader UC issues. In 2021, The Highlander will commit itself to fostering an environment where student journalists learn and gain the necessary skills to become probing, fair and critical in their writing and thought. In

Friday

2021, we resolve to go beyond basic reporting by engaging in vigorous investigation and creative thinking.”

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Saturday

CONTACT US

HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Silvia Ferrer

Amani Mahmoud

editorinchief @highlandernews.org

managingeditor @highlandernews.org

News Editor

Asst. News Editor Davina Garcia dgarc084@ucr.edu

Laura Anaya-Morga

news@highlandernews.org Opinions editor

Asst. Opinions Editor Evelyn Homan ehauthor19@gmail.com

Madison Rheins opinions@highlandernews.org Features Editor

Asst. Features Editor Alexandria Estaban aeste005@ucr.edu

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

Asst. Features Editor Kevin Sanchez Neri ksanc034@ucr.edu

Colin Carney

radar@highlandernews.org Sports Editor

Asst. Sports Editor Kevin Contreras kcont012@ucr.edu

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Celine Hoang artdirector. highlander@gmail.com

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Ryan Poon

photo@highlandernews.org Staff Photographers

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

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News

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021

UCR’s School of Medicine expands on its research on stuttering ATHENAS ODRIOZOLA Contributing Writer

UCR’s School of Medicine is partnering with Emalex Biosciences in producing a biological treatment for stuttering and will lead the second phase of clinical trials.

UCR will serve as the lead site for a Phase 2 clinical trial that will evaluate the effectiveness of ecopipam, an investigational drug being tested for the treatment of stuttering in adults and Tourette syndrome in pediatric patients.

Emalex Biosciences who developed ecopipam, will conduct the clinical trial. Ecopipam currently treats talk and speech therapy. However, if the trials continue to show success and are later submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ecopipam could become the leading biological medication to treat stuttering with FDA approval. Furthermore, ecopipam has the possibility of also treating children with Tourette syndrome, a type of disorder which involves “involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalization.”

Stuttering is known as disfluencies in speech including repetitions, drawing a word out or difficulty in uttering a word out. Stuttering primarily arises during childhood, but some who exhibit stuttering as a child may continue to stutter into adulthood. About 1% of the world’s population stutters, with males being more likely to stutter than females.

According to the National Stuttering Association (NSA), the male to female ratio is close to 4-to-1, while in children it is close to 2-to-1.

Ecopipam aims to selectively cut off the actions of neurotransmitter dopamine in the D1 receptor. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and its receptors have been divided into two families based on their genetic structure. The D1 receptor, which includes the subtypes of D1 and D5, may be responsible for the compulsive and repetitive behavior seen in stuttering.

By cutting off the communication to this receptor, flow of speech may be easier to attain.

According to the study, the Phase 2 trials are set to have 68 participants, and half of the group will receive a dose of ecopipam HCI of about 2 mg per kg per day while the other half of the group will take a placebo pill. Dr. Gerald Maguire, professor and chair of psychiatry and neuroscience in UCR’s School of Medicine, stated that the clinical trials may help in bringing light to stuttering.

“The lack of understanding of the brain and research have been way under researched. It’s beginning to change, the awareness is coming,” stated Dr. Maguire, “[but] the understanding of brain disorders still has a stigma and discrimination on it.”

The initial research was funded by philanthropist Granville Kirkup, who has helped fund research on stuttering

in the past. In 1999, Kirkup sold his company, Telmar Network Technology, which distributed telecommunication equipment and donated $1 million to Dr. Maguire’s research at the University of California, Irvine, where he worked at the time.

In an interview with The Highlander, Kirkup revealed that he stuttered as a child and early in his adult life, which impacted his work performance in his company. Kirkup attempted speech therapy but had little success. However, Kirkup stated in an interview via email, “Dr Maguire pioneered the use of medication to help reduce stuttering.

We tried several medications over more than ten years and eventually found one that made a dramatic reduction in my stuttering. Now I can make phone calls, talk to friends, and book restaurants!

Things I had not been able to do before.”

Dr. Maguire hopes the trials may help patients who stutter by providing a variety of options to choose from and encouraging their own agency.

“Everybody is unique. It will give people a choice on the choice of treatment. I do believe we will have treatments that will be a combination of talk therapies and medicine just like we do for depression, anxiety and even diabetes,” he stated.

Once Phase 2 shows promising results, Phase 3 will begin and will seek participants outside the country of H different backgrounds, race and cultures.■

► FROM SPRING QUARTER

RYAN POON /THE HIGHLANDER

vaccine received emergency authorization from the FDA on Dec. 11, 2020, it seems like the campus will remain a ghost town for the foreseeable future. While the two-part vaccine has an efficacy rate of over 94%, Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari said that only half of Riverside County’s hospital workers are accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. While the state continues to distribute vaccines according to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the

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ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

UCR TO PARTNER WITH EMALEX BIOSCIENCES AND SERVE AS THE LEAD SITE TO PRODUCE A TREATMENT FOR STUTTERING.

campus is under remote instruction, students and instructors interested in in-person teaching must undergo a process with administration.

According to Smith’s email, indoor lectures are completely prohibited until the campus exits Phase 2 operations. Only courses that require a specialized indoor setting, like studio arts or labs, are permitted if physical distancing is in place. Although the hope for returning to campus may seem impossible, the Office of the Provost is accepting requests for approval for spring quarter classes if there are H exceptional circumstances. ■

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NEWS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

ASUCR

ASUCR reviews election timeline after announcement of another remote spring quarter LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, ASUCR held their first meeting of winter quarter where they reviewed the election timeline for the year. This year, the timeline was modified to reflect the university’s announcement that spring quarter would be held entirely remotely, marking one whole year of remote learning.

The announcement came in the form of a campus-wide email sent on Tuesday, Jan. 5 citing the third wave of the pandemic that has hit California and has caused Riverside County to regress into the purple tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The city has been under a regional stay at home order since Dec. 7 and has had very limited ICU capacity. “To help all members of our community plan ahead and prepare, we are announcing the continuation of remote instruction through spring quarter,” says the email, adding that the same policies and procedures adopted for fall and winter will likewise apply to spring.

In anticipation for this year’s ASUCR election season, Elections Director Lama Yassin presented the timeline starting with Jan. 19, when students will be able to begin filing for candidacy. The deadline to apply will be Feb. 16, the same deadline to submit constitutional amendments.

Candidate workshops will be held during late February and early March, with specific times still to be determined.

Students will be notified of candidate confirmation on March 29, and candidates will be able to campaign for three weeks beginning that day. During that time, Yassin was excited

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES THE RESIGNATION OF SPP SENATOR.

to announce the implementation of candidate conventions for ASUCR senators and the executive branch, which will be held over Zoom. “I feel like students didn’t get that much one-on-one time or any face to face interaction with candidates, so I still want to make that happen,” said Yassin.

Voting week will be held during the week of April 19, and elections results will be announced on April 27. Special elections for the elections director and vice president of external affairs will be held two weeks later on May 10.

During senator reports, CHASS Senator Sebastian Quinteros stated that during the break he met with UCR Basic Needs to discuss UCRs Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP) and they have been discussing ways to inform students on its benefits. He is currently also assisting an effort led by other ASUCR senators and the Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC) who are working on a piece of legislation that clarifies the protocols for discrimination on campus. During his report, CHASS Senator Christopher Kent stated that he is in the process of meeting with other ASUCR senators, the LGBTQ Resource Center and Costo Hall regarding writing legislation to mandate pronoun training for members of ASUCR. Finally, during her announcements, Executive Vice President (EVP) Natalie Herandez stated that SPP Senator Nava Majlessi recently resigned and is searching for a replacement. The first alternative rejected the position and EVP Hernandez stated that she was awaiting a response from a second alternative.

H The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.■

JOSHUA WANG /THE HIGHLANDER

UCR is given over $4 million in grants for avocado preservation

COURTESY OF UCR NEWS

DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Culture Specialty Crop Research Initiative has awarded a grant of $4.4 million solely to UCR in the name of avocado preservation.

Avocado orchards are currently endangered because of potentially lethal threats, such as Laurel Wilt, Phytophthora root rot and soil salinity.

In particular, Laurel Wilt, caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola, has been shown to inflict irreparable damage once it has infected a crop. Florida’s avocado crops have already seen devastation due to Laurel Wilt. Without strategic action, the fungus is predicted to spread across the country and make its way to California, the country’s leading producer of avocado crops.

Additionally, avocado producers must contend with Phytophthora root rot and soil salinity. The former is a deadly disease caused by the microorganism Phytophthora cinnamomi, in which the roots of avocado plants blacken and perish. The latter refers to the salt levels within the soil, as these plants are sensitive to salinity and may fail due to an increase. With these combined challenges, avocado growers face an acute loss in fruit yield and quality and the serious potential of losing whole orchards.

In the interest of curbing these issues, the grant issued to the university will be used to formulate and strengthen

appropriate solutions and preventative measures. In an interview with The Highlander, Patricia Manosalva, head of this project and UCR’s Avocado Rootstock Breeding Program (ARBP), stated that they will be focused on targeting different aspects of these production challenges, aiming for short, as well as mid to long term solutions. In particular, those involved in the project will be identifying sources that resist stressors, developing new diagnostic tools to proactively detect pathogens amongst avocados and registering new fungicides. Additionally, they will be implementing a sensor system that could assist with phenotyping for breeding purposes and differentiating between different issues, like whether a crop is suffering from drought-induced high salinity or root rot.

According to Manosalva, UCR was specifically chosen as a recipient of this grant due to the university’s history and expertise in avocado research, as well as their renowned avocado scion and rootstock breeding programs. Indeed, the ARBP plays a fundamental role in this grant project in that it allows researchers to identify and work with rootstocks that are found to be uniquely tolerant to potential harm from salinity and/or major pathogens. ”The main goal of the program is to provide rootstocks to the industry that are resistant to the several avocado production challenges such as pathogen resistance, drought, salinity,” she stated, adding that they strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible in maintaining the school’s large and diverse germplasm

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GRANTS UCR FUNDS TO HELP SAVE AMERICAN AVOCADO ORCHARDS. collection.

Indeed, with the addition of a related $1.9 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, the efforts towards saving avocados extend across the country.

The grant was given to a selection of 15 scientists from five different universities across the country, including Manosalva and UCR, with the main director hailing from Florida State University. With these funds, they are planning to study whether or not plant essential oils can aid and/or control avocado diseases within organic certified orchards.

In essence, this joint project will help determine other alternatives to disease control under organic production.

Manosalva reiterated that these projects are imperative to saving the avocado industry, not only in the U.S., where California has dropped from being the world’s second largest producer to around the 10th, but also in other countries worldwide. “We love avocados, and we want to continue taking advantage of their great nutritional and healthy properties,” she concluded, “so we need to secure the avocado production as well as increase the profitability of growers and sustainability of the industry.”■ H

NEWS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

Students reflect on the year 2020 and express their hopes and fears for the new year

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

THE HIGHLANDER SPOKE WITH UCR STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE PAST YEAR, AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT 2021.

DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

Raging wildfires, a sweeping global pandemic, a turbulent presidential election and much more, the year 2020 has been incredibly unrelenting for everyone in the U.S. and around the world. Though the approach of a few calamitous events has been hinted at in years past — police brutality cases and global warming both contributing to huge social unrest and continual wildfires, respectively — no one could have predicted that 2020 would become the year of incessant disaster. Still, despite the lows of last year, there have also been some happier moments in between to celebrate that are unique to every individual.

The Highlander spoke to five students about their own personal experiences while navigating through 2020, also discussing their concerns and hopes for 2021.

Rika Chilstrom

fourth-year biological anthropology major Rika Chilstrom immediately affirmed that one of the worst situations to come out of 2020 was the inability to see loved ones, namely her friends. She added that it was jarring to suddenly veer from going on spontaneous boba runs with her friends to being afraid of seeing them at all.

Even so, Chilstrom found a silver lining in that she was unexpectedly able to develop a better relationship with her parents, courtesy of being home so often. During her time spent at home, she also became a self-proclaimed “plant lady.” “I guess I’ve learned to love to take care of people and things, as I’ve been taking care of elder family members and plants during COVID,” Chilstrom stated.

When asked about online learning, she explained that her grades have never been better. Still, according to Chilstrom, while her grades have been excellent, she admitted that her work ethic has suffered greatly. “Instead of becoming a better student to deserve my better grades,” she clarified, “I’ve really just gotten lucky that my professors have made class so straightforward to get an easy A.” In the new year, Chilstrom is concerned for her club, the Nikkei Student Union, a sociocultural organization in the interest of Japanese American history. She is worried about the pandemic-induced stress that new leadership will endure. Chilstrom also expressed concern over the way people will start behaving now that the vaccine is undergoing distribution. “Just because we may have gotten the vaccine doesn’t mean we can instantly go back to the way things were,” she stated.

In terms of her hopes for the near future, Chilstrom stated that she is really looking forward to watching her plants grow and also finishing up her graduate school applications. She is hoping to be accepted into a UCR program in particular and would love to experience the campus again “in full effect.”

Ravneet Dhah second-year economics major

Like many others, Ravneet Dhah’s life changed a lot over the course of the last year. However, he was also quick to acknowledge his luck, stating that missing his friends and being barred from the gym were only some of his major worries.

Dhah admitted that there was an unfortunately small number of good experiences that he had in 2020 but added that he was able to make new friends online through gaming and Discord, an instant messaging and digital distribution platform. For Dhah, Discord has been one highlight during his time in quarantine; he joined some UCR student communities from last spring quarter and has felt much more connected since. “Students being able

Steven Yang

fourth-year business administration major

to congregate in a safe community was what I wished for, given the negative impact of COVID-19,” he explained.

In regards to his experiences with online learning, Dhah struggled with the initial transition but eventually enjoyed some relief. The majority of his classes were asynchronous with his professors being flexible in their grading and teaching process, and as a result, his grades have seen an improvement.

Now in the new year, Dhah worries over the country’s sociopolitical climate and what might happen due to Trump’s extremist supporters, as is evident by the riotous storming of Capitol Hill by Trump supporters and protestors. He is also a little fearful that the pandemic will last yet another year, as the numbers worsen for Americans.

“I have so much resentment for those who are going to parties, not social distancing and not wearing a mask,” he stated. “I am doing my part in preventing COVID from spreading, and I hope others are too.”

However, Dhah is anticipating that the future will also bring better things. Despite divided behavior regarding coronavirus etiquette, he remains hopeful that COVID-19 is nearing an end now that the vaccine is undergoing distribution, and that he, along with other UCR students, will be able to return to campus and hit the gyms soon.

Hanh Nguyen first-year biology major

In Hanh Nguyen’s case, the worst part of 2020 was undoubtedly contracting COVID-19. It had been passed onto her via her mother, a healthcare professional.

Nguyen stated that isolating herself from her family was exceedingly difficult and depressing, especially during the new year celebrations. “When you’re alone, time is distorted and you don’t remember if it’s Saturday or if it’s Sunday,” she explained, adding that her daily life just became so routine and blurry in memory.

However, Nguyen did have some better moments in the last year, like doing well academically and earning a high GPA. She also met her boyfriend, who she cited as one of the people who has continuously supported her throughout the difficult times, like her experience with coronavirus and emotional burnout from finals.

In regards to dealing with remote learning, Nguyen felt that there were clear pros and cons. Overall, she has been appreciative of the online format, purely because everything is more easily accessible. However, the inability to make connections with classmates and professors while attending in-person courses has been a definite negative point.

When thinking about 2021, Nguyen expressed both excitement and apprehension over the new vaccination administration. “I am looking forward to the COVID vaccines so I can see all my friends and loved ones again,” she stated. However, she is also fearful that even with the new inoculations, the virus will continue to keep people indoors and isolated well into this new year.

For Steven Yang, the worst aspects of 2020 were no contestation. When UCR turned to online classes during last spring quarter, he had to return home to the Bay Area.

According to Yang, the lack of social interaction and the transition to online classes took a definite toll on his mental health. Yang affirmed that he had the most fun before the state went into quarantine mode during the last spring quarter, but once he returned to living in Riverside, he was no longer so isolated and was able to enjoy spending time with people in his immediate vicinity once again.

As of now, Yang stated that he is much more accustomed to online learning than he had been initially. “I have had a lot more personal time since a lot of classes have been catered to accommodate everyone,” he stated.

When looking to the future, Yang expressed his readiness to move on. He stated that he is excited for graduating, preparing for life afterward and for learning new things outside of the classroom. However, he harbors strong concern over having to apply for jobs after graduation due to the overwhelmingly negative effects that the coronavirus has had on the job market.

Diana Moua

third-year liberal studies major For Diana Moua, 2020 has been marked by personal loss. While moving from her home in Merced back to Riverside for the start of fall quarter, she was informed that her grandmother had passed away. According to Moua, it had been a long fight against a failing kidney, and her grandmother had been admitted to the ICU, where they were not allowed to visit her during her week-long stay due to COVID. She affirmed that this was by far the most devastating low point of the last year. “It was really hard for me to grieve alone when all of my family were back at home grieving together,” she stated.

Though Moua is grieving still, she maintains that there were better parts of 2020. She found solace in coming back to Merced, despite the common complications of having to work from home. Moua told The Highlander that the time she spent while at home allowed her to reflect upon her first two years spent at UCR and the personal challenges that she faced. “I was adapting to a new environment and kind of lost myself as I was trying to find and create myself,” Moua explained, adding that through introspection, she was able to reorient herself and set her priorities straight.

In a similar vein, Moua admitted that online school has been an excellent experience so far. Taking asynchronous classes while living at home has reportedly allowed her to plan her schedule with more ease while saving money on gas and parking permits.

When thinking about 2021, Moua expressed worry over the well-being and health of her family, explaining that she has experienced a large loss of immediate and distant relatives over the course of last year. Even so, she still sees positivity in the future. Moua stated that she is looking forward to making small changes to her daily life in order to create a better experience for herself, as well as for others. “I cannot wait to continue learning and growing from the experiences that I will create this year,” Moua H concluded. ■

Opinions

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OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Escaping the conveniences of Amazon is harder than it looks, but it is necessary ABSTAINING FROM AMAZON, WHILE DIFFICULT, IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES.

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mazon is a part of at least one aspect of everyone’s daily life. It is so ingrained into our culture that it seems like people cannot live without it. From convenient next-day shipping to trendy snacks from Whole Foods, avoiding this corporate giant feels impossible. However, the public cannot let Amazon get away with their poor treatment of employees any longer.

Furthermore, if Amazon were to take any accountability, it must begin with consumers taking a stand and abstaining from giving money to this predatory company.

Amazon has treated their employees poorly for far too long. Warehouse workers have even reported being treated like slaves, having to endure grueling 10-hour shifts and minimal breaks. Furthermore, it was revealed that a large percentage of warehouse workers sustain stress-induced injuries, yet these fall under the radar and remain largely unreported. Amazon fails to take their workers seriously and instead forces them to keep up with high consumerist demands. This is reflected in the way that warehouse workers are said to usually forgo their bathroom breaks in order to keep up with productivity by urinating in buckets or bottles. All of these atrocities are done to workers who only get paid minimum wage while their CEO lives lavishly as one of the richest men in the world. This corporation has continuously proven that they do not invest in, nor care about, their employees, and this should be a wake-up call for the public to stop supporting this corporate monster. With all of these instances building up, there should be no reason why consumers should keep supporting this company.

One way to avoid shopping through Amazon is to opt-out of getting groceries at Whole Foods. While it might be difficult to part ways with the

trendy aspect of shopping there, abstaining from the brand will show support to the many employees who are currently being mistreated by the company. Amazon secretly incorporates heat maps in order to target and put down unionizing efforts in Whole Foods stores. By doing this, Amazon is blatantly denying these workers their right to organize for better working conditions. Even more disappointing is the fact that the CEO of Whole Foods stated that healthcare would not have to cost so much if people simply ate healthy and stopped getting sick. This is a ridiculous and tone-deaf response to a very real issue affecting many families in the country, and consumers should halt their support of someone who is so ignorant. Instead, people should show their support to smaller farmers markets who are in need of business after having to compete with these corporations.

Of course, avoiding Amazon seems like it is way easier said than done. While there are people out there who make abstaining from Amazon seem like an impossible task, in reality, these particular consumers are just unwilling to say goodbye to the convenience.

However, there are painless ways to do it that should not disrupt the order of someone’s life.

In order to seamlessly abstain from Amazon, the easiest way to begin is to order everyday items elsewhere and do curbside pickup. That way, Amazon is not being funded and social distancing is still maintained by not physically walking into a store. Additionally, doing curbside pickup allows someone to get the item they desire that same day in a similar manner to Amazon. Those who are unable to drive should have no fear since there are also many delivery services

that do not fall under Amazon’s large umbrella, such as Instacart.

Most importantly, instead of continuously giving money to large corporations that are equivalent to Amazon, people can support small businesses instead. As a result of giant businesses taking over the global market, small businesses need the support of consumers now more than ever. As discussed previously, in addition to shopping at small farmers markets, people can also shop at local bookstores, smaller clothing boutiques or even Etsy shops for unique pieces of art. By giving support to smaller, individual or family owned businesses, less people will suffer and lose their jobs at the hands of large corporations, and Amazon would be completely avoided.

The possibilities for how one can avoid Amazon are endless. The luxuries the corporation provides can be easily replaced, and people would be giving the workers of Amazon the support they need by avoiding all Amazon-related products. While it may be true that avoiding Amazon is not a permanent solution in any regard, it is still a good jumping-off point for more people to start recognizing the disgusting treatment that Amazon gives their employees. With consumers taking a stand, there could be opportunity for great momentum to bring change. It is a worthwhile fight to show these multimillion dollar companies that they cannot exploit their low wage workers and get away with it.

Although this may seem like a daunting task, the public should not fear million-dollar companies. It is time to take a stand and fight for the working class so that no one has to suffer at the hands of this corporate monster. If Amazon won’t listen to the grievances of their employees, then it is up to consumers to uplift those voices by boycotting Amazon and putting an end to the H unfair treatment that workers endure.■

The 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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Even after a year like 2020, we can still feel hope for the future THE WORLD MIGHT BE FALLING APART, BUT EVEN IF WE ARE AWARE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON, WE CAN BE HOPEFUL FOR THE NEW YEAR.

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EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor

From COVID-19 to Kim Jong Un, from Black Lives Matter to Biden winning the election, from Australian bushfires to Zoom fatigue, 2020 was a year that affected everyone. It left some happy to stay at home for weeks on end, and it left others traumatized from the loss of family members and the intense fight against systemic racism. Many people were wise to point out that just because of the new year, the problems of 2020 are not going to disappear. But that should not mean that we cannot be optimistic about 2021. In reality, we can still be optimistic without being naive; in fact, we would be smart to be optimistic about the battles that 2020 started, as they can change our world for the better if we continue to learn from them.

Though it is understandable to not have too much hope for 2021 (especially given that the U.S. Capitol building was raided before the first full week was out), there is a great deal of hope that can come with this new year. We can keep raising awareness of systemic racism by continuing to support the Black Lives Matter movement and pushing back against police brutality. We can take the fierce Australian bushfires to raise awareness of global warming. We can take the California gender reveal fire to get rid of the horrible trend of gender reveal parties. Even on the smallest level, we can take the nonstop tragedies of last

year in order to help promote a better future this year.

Of course, optimism does not only have to entail pushing for big changes for the future. If 2020 threw you in for a loop, it’s okay to work your way back into finding good reasons to enjoy your life even during lockdowns and political turmoil. It can be something as simple as setting up your room in a different way, taking the time to go on walks or trying a new recipe. Despite 2020’s struggles that are bleeding into 2021, we can still find things to look forward to. You could plan a vacation for when the pandemic is over; even if you don’t ever go on that vacation, studies have found that just planning a trip can be good for your mental health.

You can meet up with friends for Zoom games and chats or plan something you can all do together when the pandemic has ended. Though it seems odd to place so much focus on the end when there doesn’t seem to be one in sight, it can be nice to take stress off of the brain by focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel rather than inundate ourselves daily with constant tragedy.

And of course, there is nothing wrong with self care. Social media detoxing and taking time to do things that bring you peace can help foster hope and joy. Returning to a daily routine can also help mental health and may instill your life with more optimism. Even within the safety guidelines and problems going on in the world, it is okay to take a few days

There are bigger problems on social media than selfies MADISON RHEINS Opinions Editor

With social media becoming increasingly powerful, the selfie is being brought into question. Many believe it to be a negative tool used to put others down. On the other hand, others believe that it is a method used by individuals to project their insecurities onto the rest of the world.

Nevertheless, whether this may be true for a small percentage of people, it is still not a big enough problem to ban the selfie altogether. Rather, there are larger issues on social media, such as trolling and political figures using their platforms to spread false information, that need greater attention than a young man or woman posting a picture of themselves at the beach.

First and foremost, the

action of banning the selfie altogether is impossible.

Individuals have proposed to implement a policy where if someone were to post a selfie, they would be banned from the platform for a number of days. The amount of backlash this decision would inevitably meet would be astronomical — so much so that there is no point of even proposing this as a possibility in the first place.

Furthermore, banning the selfie is way too severe, and the strict policy mentioned previously would be better used in other areas on the internet. Banning accounts and posts would be more helpful in situations such as monitoring the spread of false information about elections or the coronavirus.

Implementing such severe controls on something as miniscule as the selfie is a

waste of authority.

While it should be agreed upon that there are some pictures out there that are “NSFW” (Not Safe for Work), that still should not mean that all pictures need to be banned entirely. There would be no point to have social media if no one is able to post anything anyways, since a majority of posts on these platforms are selfies.

On the other hand, with free speech advocates, this would be a tricky process to navigate since people would most likely get up in arms about being censored, or having their rights stripped from them. Overall, the pros of banning pictures would not be enough to outweigh the immense amount of cons. The only positive thing to come out of banning pictures is that there would be a lower

chance of someone posting a sexist or racist photo.

However, there are already community guidelines on social media platforms that either take down the photos automatically or allow people to report them to be taken down.

Although many people may feel a sense of “FOMO” (the phobia known as “Fear of Missing Out”), when seeing posts of social media, there are more pressing issues on the internet that deserve more attention. If the government is going to exercise their power of controlling the internet, it would be best put towards more serious occurrences happening online and not pictures of people in Los Angeles or facing their H bathroom mirror.■

to yourself to recharge your batteries.

Living in times as mercurial as these can take a serious toll on mental health, especially for people of color, and it would bode well for hope for a better year if positive mental health was a main focus.

When you’re not concentrating on taking care of yourself, learn. 2020 put to the forefront the many things that are wrong in our societies, and now with these issues in everyone’s minds, we can educate ourselves better. Read books written by POC and continue to support small businesses. Educate yourself on the atrocities mainstream media is choosing to ignore, and help do something about them, even if it’s spreading awareness through social media. Learning helps the brain stay healthy and active, so even if you’re diving into some subjects that are heavy, your brain will appreciate learning something new about communities that are in need of support.

It is okay to not be optimistic about 2021. It is also okay to try to find some hope in 2021 by bettering yourself, your home or the world around you.

No matter what state 2020 left you in, there is still plenty of life that can be enjoyed and changed. We can venture forth from the wreckage of the last year hopeful but wise, and no matter how good or how bad 2021 ends up being, we can have confidence in taking H control over what we can change. ■

BANNING THE SELFIE WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING AND PEOPLE SHOULD FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE INTERNET.

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8 MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

The Obama presidency has often been characterized as an era of change and progress best expressed with his campaign slogan, “Yes We Can!,” as well as his status as the first African-American president of the country. Unfortunately, much of this promised progress fell short as the former president faced opposition on both sides of the political spectrum. Consequently, both CBS News and C-SPAN’s official rankings list Obama in 12th place overall compared to former presidents, and although it is unexpectedly low, the placement is rightfully deserved.

Obama’s presidency consisted of many shining moments that exhibited his strength as an effective leader, most notably with his ability to handle the crisis he inherited, the 2008 recession. Arguably the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, unemployment rose to almost 10% nationwide. Fortunately, Obama’s response with the immediate passing of the Recovery Act upon entering office began a steady rise in the country’s gross domestic product and led to job growth that continues to this day. In this regard, Obama outshines many of his predecessors as the effectiveness of a leader is marked in their ability to address and solve any crisis given to them, no matter how tough. Of course, Obama’s response to other crises are rather mixed in reception.

Obama’s legacy is also further marked by the expansion of rights and reforms, including the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Fair Pay Act and increasing enforcement of Title IX. Not to mention, Obama also made great progress in climate change reform by joining the 2016 Paris Climate Accord. To this extent, Obama’s presidency followed through on some of his promises for change which contributes to the positive image that many hold of him.

OPINIONS However, despite the peaks of his presidency highlighting his strengths as a leader, the progress stopped there as he fell to the same conventional problems

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to be unable to keep their pre-Obamacare insurance plan. Even with this reform’s implementation decades ago, numerous health crises, especially the COVID-19

President Obama’s legacy: better than most but still disappointing FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA’S LEGACY MAKES HIM ONE OF THE BETTER PRESIDENTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT ONLY COMPARED TO OTHER FORMER PRESIDENTS.

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and decisions commonly seen in politics.

What is often considered his crowning achievement, the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided health insurance for 20 million previously uncovered Americans. But the ACA, though a monumental reform for healthcare in the country, only led to more problems as premiums increased for private insurance holders, causing millions across the nation

pandemic, illustrate that healthcare has hardly been reformed and is in need of a drastic overhaul, such as a universal healthcare system.

President Obama is also often criticized for his immigration policy that led to the deportation of nearly 3 million illegal immigrants, compared to 2 million under the Bush presidency. This reveals him to have been the harshest enforcer of

immigration laws in American history, a fact that starkly goes against his promise to expand the rights and reforms of the people.

Furthermore, Obama promised to handle the foreign policy mess inherited from President Bush, though failed miserably. Although the assassination of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden gave the president a much needed boost in his approval rating, coming a decade after the tragedy of 9/11, the Middle East as a whole suffered from the same poltical theater of prior presidencies. His initial escalation of the war in Afghanistan and his mishandling of the threat of the Islamic State has led to a tense Middle East as a result of the increased military presence. Additionally, his hands-off approach to the Civil War in Syria and usage of drone strikes led to skirmishes between U.S. allies and a massive refugee crisis. Though he received pressure from both sides, Obama’s ineffectiveness in bringing peace to the region as promised tarnished his chance of achieving foreign policy success.

While many Democrats may claim that Obama would have been able to get more done in a less partisan and opposed atmosphere, the fact of the matter is that Obama’s decision-making led to disappointment and the steady decline in his overall approval rating during most of his term.

Obama’s presidency consisted of a variety of actions that established the good, the bad and the ugly of his presidency. Of course, his handling of the 2008 recession, expansion of rights and reforms and overall composure led to the appeal that won over the nation. However, his presidency was still characterized as disappointing for it echoed the lethargic nature of progress in the country. With incoming president Biden, the possibility remains as to whether or not he will fall to the same mistakes as H his former ally. ■

Monsoon season is flooding Malaysia and the world needs to pay more attention to it EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor

If the last few years have revealed anything, one of the most terrifying discoveries should be that if a particular crisis is not affecting America or another developed country, then a vast majority of the public simply does not care that something is happening. Sadly, this is the fate currently resigned to the flooding going on in Malaysia; a quick Google search yields that no major journalism sites have covered these specific floods at the time of writing. Very few people seem to know about them, and apart from a few efforts by the Malaysian prime minister, even the Malaysian government is not making the flooding global news. This should be the last of world tragedies to go unnoticed, and major journalism sources should uphold their responsibility to report on these atrocities in the same way they address much less useful information.

As of writing, a reported 28,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes because of the flooding. Though this is currently nowhere near the number of displaced people from the 2014 floodings, this number of people is still far too great.

Even worse, there has been very little reporting on whether or not the government has done anything to help these individuals, although the statistic of 71% of Malaysian citizens who believe that their government

is corrupt could reveal the reason why very little has happened. These people are being displaced from their homes and need aid, yet the powerful countries of the Global North who are usually quick to send help are not openly condemning the lack of assistance from the Malaysian government. In fact, some of the only outside aid coming to Malaysia is coming from small organizations such as Islamic Relief Worldwide. Disappointingly, there is very little reporting on this issue, and though it could be blamed by the state of the coronavirus pandemic shifting daily, this is still no excuse for big journalism publications to turn a blind eye to devastating disasters such as this one.

Of course, this is not the first of major disasters that the mainstream media is failing to cover, or that the world has seemed to turn a blind eye to. The ongoing issue of the Uighur concentration camps in China has not been kept in the news cycle the way it deserves to be, with the majority of mainstream media seeming to acknowledge the issue in only one article or news section to satisfy people who were raising awareness on social media about these atrocities, before dusting off their hands and almost ignoring the issues entirely. There has not been any local news stations who have consistently commented on these disasters to keep them in the forefront of the public’s consciousness.

Although major American events such as a rocky election season have seized the world stage, in addition to the global pandemic, there is still no excuse for the world to ignore major human rights violations and disasters such as major flooding going on in less developed countries. Disasters should not only matter to the world simply because they are only happening in or to major world powers. The importance of human life does not stop mattering simply because the countries or minorities being affected do not often show up on the world stage.

Mainstream media must stand up and help raise awareness for these crises so that people are less likely to ignore them.

Even despite political chaos and rapidly spreading viruses, we cannot choose to be ignorant towards catastrophic events where people are being hurt, killed and displaced. We must hold mainstream media accountable and demand that they push these stories so more awareness is spread.

These countries cannot afford another day of being in the background because we are being allowed to live in ignorance of the atrocities affecting them. We, as a world population, cannot afford to sit another day in ignorance to these people. We must help our fellow human beings and push the narratives of these events so those affected H can be assisted and freed.■

HEAVY FLOODING IS COMMONPLACE IN MALAYSIA. BUT AS THOUSANDS ARE FORCED TO EVACUATE, IT LEAVES QUESTIONS AS TO WHY NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING.

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Features ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor

FEATURES

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021

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Tea Time With Terry’s mission to share art

From Aug. 10 to Jan. 8, Terry Lee Hastings, the arts’ event coordinator at UCR Palm Desert, and his co-host, Terry Ray, hosted a series of virtual discussions to share the work of local artists. Each meeting was centered around different themes, such as the ocean or animals, and artists would submit their work to be showcased. During the meetings, artists were invited to drink tea and to compliment each other’s works from the comfort of their homes.

Tea Time With Terry held its last meeting on Jan. 8. Hastings began the meeting by welcoming some of his old friends and introducing himself to new artists. Right away, the meeting began with humorous conversations and a friendly vibe. The artists that attended shared inside jokes and lamented about current events, ranging from the pandemic to the riots in Washington D.C. Afterwards, Hastings announced that all the artists attending the event had submitted what they believed was the best piece of art that they created in 2020. Hastings showed a slideshow with everyone’s submitted pieces, and all the artwork in the slideshow was available for purchase. Each slide contained an image of the artwork, the price and the contact information for the artists.

Every artist was given a chance to explain the art that they created. One artist, Diana Morgan, drew a painting on one sheet of toilet paper using watercolors. She revealed that this project took a lot of time, concentration and gentleness because the toilet paper was easy to tear. Another artist, Elaine

TERRY LEE HASTINGS HOSTED A SERIES OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS TO HELP PROMOTE AND DISCUSS THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS.

Sigwald, created a digital painting by running different algorithms until she got the design she desired. Sigwald also pointed out that, upon closer inspection, her painting actually consisted of many smaller paintings.

Everyone had positive comments towards each other’s work. A conversation even arose about how some of the artwork in the meeting were being undervalued, with a few of the artists believing that the price for some of the art pieces should be higher because of how complex and beautiful they were. However, one artist, David Seifert, argued that selling a piece of art for a lower price was not meant to make an artist feel like their work was undervalued. Instead, selling art for a lower price makes it possible for beautiful art to become affordable for a larger group of people, argued Seifert.

Though the quarantine period gave artists plenty of time to create new works of art, it did limit the methods in which they could share and sell their art. Like many other workers, these artists turned to online platforms to promote their work. As Tea Time With Terry came to an end, Hastings shared his gratitude for websites, such as Redbubble and Society6, for giving artists places to sell their art during these times.

UCR Palm Desert has plans to continue hosting events that showcase the artistic talent in Riverside.

For more information, you can sign up for their newsletter. All of the Tea Time With Terry meetings were recorded and can be viewed on the UCR Palm H Desert Center’s YouTube channel. ■

ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN /THE HIGHLANDER

UCR students gaining cosmic knowledge at the first astronomy lecture of the year ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

On Jan. 7, the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Physics Department hosted a virtual lecture with Dr. Varoujan Gorjian who works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The JPL is a research facility aimed towards robotic space exploration and has launched missions, such as Mars 2020, that will look into surveying Mars.

Kicking off the event, host Xinnan Du welcomed attendees and introduced the chat moderators and solar system ambassadors who have been trained by JPL to communicate NASA’s exploration missions: Jess McKibben, Christine Hirst, Bryan Scott, Emmanuel Masonsong and Elena Semerdjian. It was very exciting to see people in the chat share their excitement for the lecture.

Dr. Gorjian went into detail regarding the origins of robotic missions from JPL, starting with a brief history.

He discussed rocketry in the 1920s and 1930s which was interesting to learn about, considering how hard it was to produce rockets at the time. Once produced, rockets became a huge part in launching the first satellite and would eventually become the epicenter to NASA’s robotic exploration journey.

The first attempt of launching a satellite failed due to an explosion midair. However, in 1958, JPL launched the first successful satellite into space, which was the catalyst for President Eisenhower to create NASA. JPL began creating different programs to survey the moon in order to send astronauts there. As I was watching his lecture, I remembered the video of the first man landing on the moon, and it made me realize that I had never thought about how much research had gone into sending a human to space. It was very interesting to learn about.

Many people were commenting and interacting with Dr.

Gorjian’s lecture, which was very refreshing to see. One attendee, Kyle Marston, stated that he was staying up “way past my bedtime for this, and [I] wouldn’t have it any other way.” It was heartwarming to witness and even more so knowing that the attendees were listening to his lecture and excited to learn.

Throughout the lecture, the moderators were taking note of questions put in the Zoom chat. At the end of the lecture, Du presented them to Dr. Gorjian. One such question was from Caleb Liu, who asked if there is snow on Pluto.

Dr. Gorjian confirmed that Pluto does have snow, as it is covered in other kinds of material that have the ability to become icy and frosty. He explained it was a matter of what the temperature was.

Overall, this event was very informative and successful.

I personally learned a lot about JPL and space in general.

I found the way he was describing the space rovers to be endearing, and seeing the chat interactions definitely made H my evening.The next lecture will take place on March 4.■

IN THIS FIRST PUBLIC LECTURE, DR. VAROUJAN GORJIAN DISCUSSES THE HISTORY OF THE ROBOTICS AT THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY.

ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN /THE HIGHLANDER

10 MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021

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Making the most:

Finding enriching opportunities within your career field

CAMPUS COPE IS A STUDENT ADVICE COLUMN AIMED TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS PERTAINING TO DAILY LIFE.

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ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

At the start of every new year, I remember thinking that I should look into career opportunities for myself, only to brush it off and think that’s an issue for my future self. As a fourthyear in my second to last quarter, it is now a pressing issue. The thought of graduating and having to find a job during a seemingly never-ending pandemic weighs heavy on my mind.

However, if I have learned anything during my time at UCR, it’s that there are lots of resources aimed to help students connect with employers.

UCR Handshake is an amazing tool for students looking for job opportunities.

Handshake allows students to explore many different

job opportunities that coincide with their major. It also allows students to browse a handful of jobs at different locations. Students can find a variety of employment opportunities, as well as internships, that might be of interest to them. Most of these job applications require resumes, cover letters and sometimes even letters of recommendation. While some students can feel intimidated by the application process, the Career Center at UCR is a helpful tool for students who need extra help.

Back when I was applying for jobs via Handshake, a simple appointment to the Career Center gave my resume and cover letters all the help I needed in order to secure interviews. For students struggling to find letters

of recommendation, begin by maintaining a good relationship with a TA or professor. Make an effort to attend office hours and ask questions during classes so that they are familiar with who you are. Asking a TA or professor to write you a letter of recommendation is a great first step.

Students should also keep an eye out for any announcements that professors, deans or departments send out about job opportunities for students. Oftentimes, professors may announce opportunities for students during lecture, so be sure to pay close attention to these announcements.

Social media is another great tool to look for job opportunities. With the campus closure, employers have gone to social media to announce

job openings and opportunities.

Actively seeking out job openings can help students find enriching job opportunities.

Students should remember to get started on pursuing these opportunities as soon as possible. Sometimes, career opportunities might arise from connections made from networking, which is another way to secure the bag and be set after graduation. Keeping an eye out for these opportunities within your local community is also a good idea.

Overall, being vigilant and openminded can set you up for success, and despite facing hard times, good change will come. All it takes is to make the most of what’s given to you H and to keep looking forward. ■

Radar

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‘Wonder Woman 1984’ is mostly run-of-the-mill but offers a handful of evocative moments KRISTEN WIIG AND PEDRO PASCAL STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT IN THIS LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL.

KEVIN SANCHEZ-NERI Assistant Radar Editor

After several pandemic-related delays, the latest installment of the DC Extended Universe, “Wonder Woman 1984” (WW84), was released on HBO Max on Christmas Day. Patty Jenkins returns as director alongside Gal Gadot as Diana Prince. The film takes our titular heroine to the glamorous 1980s with some cheesy aesthetics along the way.

The film follows Diana Prince, an employee at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by day and Amazononian warrior by night. Also an employee at the Smithsonian is Barabara Ann Minerva (Kristen Wiig), a dejected and socially awkward geologist. The same geology department is soon visited by a seemingly conniving businessman and television personality, Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal). Surely enough, Lord’s true intentions are revealed to involve acquiring the Dreamstone (previously in Barabara’s possession), a mystical artifact, and his ardent desire to dominate the oil industry.

The Dreamstone functions like a genie but with a catch: wishes come true but at the cost of the wishmaker’s most

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important possession or quality. By the time the stone is stolen by Max Lord, Diana and Barabara had already — unwittingly — made a wish. Diana wishes Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who was presumed dead after sacrificing himself at the end of the first film, back to life. Barbara, unaware of Diana’s superhuman abilities, wishes to be just like her. The consequences of these wishes unfold throughout, building up to international unrest.

Right out of the gate, the sequel falls leagues behind its predecessors.

The plot revolves around and is too dependent on the Dreamstone, a plot device that simply lacks originality.

Events leading up to the international conflict that are brought on by Max Lord’s machinations, whose wish was to become the Dreamstone, feel rushed, almost exhaustingly so.

There were several aspects of the film that prompted head-scratching, like Diana’s singular obsession with a man who is supposed to have been dead for 70 years and the decision to bring Steve back to life in another man’s body. Furthermore, the villain of the film seems to have a debilitating obsession with omnipotence that is abandoned just as quickly as it was built up.

While the film clearly attempts to propagate the fuzzy themes of the power of love, that message becomes jumbled, especially with Chris Pine’s character being relegated to buddycop status and operating more like a sidekick. However, the cheeriness and inspirational tone of the film should suffice in providing a mildly captivating viewing experience.

The antagonists are bright spots in the film, with Pascal delivering an outstanding rendition of a sleazy businessman with boundless ambition for, essentially, world domination.

While the conclusion of the film gives us a brief but deeply personal look at his childhood, it doesn’t make up for the ridiculously simplistic nature of his downfall. Devoid of her humanity and serving as Max Lord’s de facto accomplice, Kristen Wiig’s character, Cheetah, is convincingly frightening, and her story arc, though familiar, feels genuine and is sure to draw its viewers’ sympathies.

While the sequel is not exactly bringing anything new to the table, it is still pretty to look at with its vibrant and sleek 1980s aesthetic. It is muddled in spectacle but still makes H for an enjoyable watch. ■

“WW84” has a narrative that is largely driven by a magic rock, but its antagonists and familiar themes of truth and love are still touching enough for any fan of the genre or character to find solace in times of uncertainty.

Radar Replay:

‘Batman Beyond’ revitalized the Batman mythos with fresh and original storytelling BATMAN RETURNS IN THIS FRESH NEW FUTURISTIC TAKE ON THE CAPED CRUSADER. COLIN CARNEY Radar Editor

Following the conclusion of the acclaimed “Batman: The Animated Series,” Warner Bros (WB) decided to continue Batman’s story in a refreshingly original take. The well of content that is Batman’s comic book history is nearly endless and contains countless heroes and villains. Any of these characters could’ve likely led their own show; however, WB instead chose to pitch an original character that propelled Batman’s story into the future. 1999’s “Batman Beyond” follows an old Bruce Wayne as he mentors the new Batman, Terry McGinnis, in a futuristic Gotham City.

“Batman Beyond” follows in a similar format as the original

“Batman: The Animated Series,” which the show acts as a sequel to. Episodes are often your standard villain of the week while also occasionally hinting at an overarching plot, such as the first season’s focus on the villainous Derek Powers. Viewers follow the young and headstrong Terry McGinnis as he reels from the murder of his father and stumbles upon Bruce Wayne’s vigilante past. Following Terry’s theft of the batsuit, Bruce reluctantly decides to take the headstrong and wisecracking youth under his wing and give Gotham a brand new Batman. Acting as a father figure and mentor, Bruce provides Terry with support as he takes on a slew of new futuristic villains that comprise his new rogues gallery.

The show concluded after three seasons in 2001 and has since become a fan favorite. A more than worthy successor to the beloved “Batman: The Animated Series,” “Batman Beyond” offers fans a familiar hero in a brand new light. Rather than the dark

and brooding detective, Terry is instead a young and brash teenager. Though by no means immature, this Batman is not above the occasional quip or oneliner. He’ll gladly banter and taunt his enemies while he beats them up. Furthermore, Terry’s personal life is a welcomed shift from the unrelatable billionaire that is Bruce Wayne. Coming from a divorced family, Terry juggles his duties as Gotham’s protector with his responsibilities to his mother, brother and girlfriend, Dana.

The series also manages to perfectly pay homage and respect to the series it followed while never getting lost in Batman’s long shadow. Occasional episodes utilize famous Batman villains in either leading or cameo roles, such as Mr. Freeze and Bane, and familiar allies spring up as recurring faces, such as Bruce Wayne and Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon. Their additions are a welcomed reminder of the original series, but are never a crutch. In fact, Terry’s interactions and relationship with

Bruce and Barbara create some of the show’s best moments.

The utilization of these legacy characters established a sense of familiarity for fans of the original series while never coming across as cheap and repetitive. Blended in with these familiar faces are a slew of colorful new futuristic characters. Though none of his villains ever quite reach the heights of the Joker or Two-Face, this new Batman has plenty of memorable villains like Inque and Blight.

Speaking of paying homage to the past while also embracing the future, the new Gotham City can perfectly describe that. Gotham is no longer trapped in perpetual darkness like it was in the original cartoon, but is now advanced and filled with towering skyscrapers and bright vistas. Flying cars and new technologies litter the city, but at its core Gotham is still the same city it used to be. Filled with political and corporate corruption, Gotham is plagued by the same kind of criminality that Bruce’s Batman fought against. On that

same note, Terry’s new Batsuit is similarly new yet recognizable.

With his newest state-of-the-art batsuit, Terry’s Batman is sleeker, as it ditches the cape, and more monochromatic. Now capable of limited flight, advanced strength, and a slew of more gadgets, this Batman is custom-made for the era he’s in. Newcomers to the show are sure to fall in love with this sleek new design that retains enough of the original to remain recognizable.

“Batman Beyond” is essential viewing for any Batfan as it beautifully carries on the legacy of the beloved “Batman: The Animated Series.” Filled with plenty for classic Batman fans to love and enough new material for new fans to gravitate towards, “Batman Beyond” is a classic in its own right. The show respectfully pays homage to its namesake while expertly crafting its own unique style to differentiate itself from the past. “Batman Beyond” can now be viewed in its entirety on HBO Max and is well worth H viewing. ■

Sports 12

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021

SPORTS

► FROM UC IRVINE

► FROM UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII

Magpayo to call a timeout and regroup the team. Out of the timeout, UCR caught fire, sinking 3 consecutive 3-point shots to cut their deficit to 1 point with 12 minutes to go. The game continued to go back and forth, and neither team seemed to gain control of the game. A beautiful pass from Zyon Pullin to Arinze Chidom for the layup tied the game 48-48 with 10 minutes left in the game.

However, Hawaii went on a huge 17-8 run to lead 65-56 over the Highlanders with 5:12 to go. A deep triple from James Jean-Marie put Hawaii up by 12 with under four minutes remaining.

With under one minute remaining, the Highlanders found themselves down 83-73, and it appeared that the Highlanders were ready to call it a game. However, UCR made one final push in an attempt to win the game.

A steal and layup from George Willborn cut the deficit to 5 points with 31.8 seconds

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

remaining. A quick foul from UCR sent Hawaii to the free-throw line, sinking only 1 of 2 free throws. In the next possession, a quick layup plus the foul from Flynn Cameron, in which he sank the free throw, found the Highlanders to be only down by 3 points, 84-81, with 21 seconds left. However, Junior Madut from Hawaii would make 4 consecutive free throws, ultimately sealing the victory 88-83 for Hawaii and giving UCR their second loss of the season.

Arinze Chidom led the Highlanders with 20 points, and Zyon Pullin contributed with 18 points and 10 rebounds. However, they could not contain the University of Hawaii’s James Jean-Marie, who finished the game with 24 points, and Junior Madut, who finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds and three steals.

The Highlanders played their second game against the University of Hawaii in H which UCR won 70-68. ■

Holland scored an impressive long 2, bringing The Highlander’s lead to 3517. With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Webster shot a 3-pointer, giving the Highlanders a 20 point lead over the Anteaters, bringing the score to 4020. Webster went for the steal with five minutes left on the clock of the third quarter, charging her way down the court and banking a layup. Cooper gained the last point of the quarter, bringing her to 11 points scored and five rebounds. By the end of the third quarter, the UCR Highlanders extended their lead 49-25, an impressive lead of 24 points.

The Highlanders continued to impress in the fourth quarter, but the Anteaters fought hard to close the margin in the final quarter. Not only did the Highlanders never lose their lead throughout the entirety of

the game, the Anteaters only outscored the Highlanders in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points to UCR’s 14. Scoring a 3-pointer, Cooper helped further solidify the Highlanders lead as well as their inevitable win, bringing the score to 5641 with only two minutes and 30 seconds left in the quarter. By the end of the fourth quarter, despite their fight in the fourth quarter, it wasn’t enough for the Anteaters to overcome UCR. The Highlanders ultimately secured their win 63-45. They scored 41% with 14 or more points every quarter while the Anteaters shot 31%. The win for the Highlanders was even more rewarding as the Anteaters scored on average 5 1/2 3-pointers per game while they only scored one 3-pointer despite 10 attempts.

The Highlanders went on to play UCI in their second game on Jan. 9 but ultimately H lost 60-62. ■

UCR men’s basketball are victorious UCR women’s basketball lose their in their second game against the second game against UC Irvine University of Hawaii VICTORY ESCAPES THE HIGHLANDERS AT THE LAST THE HIGHLANDERS PULL TOGETHER AND GET THE WIN WITH A NARROW 2 POINT LEAD AT THE LAST SECOND.

JOSHUA WANG /THE HIGHLANDER

KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

On Jan. 9, UCR faced the University of Hawaii after losing 83-88 on Jan.8.

After a very intense second game, the University of Hawaii had brought UCR to a tie game in the final seconds of the game. The scoreboard showed 68 points for both the home and away teams with five seconds left on the clock and UCR had the ball. Zyon Pullin had the ball as the clock counted down, and he found Arinze Chidom in the key, who quickly led the ball to the back of the net with a floater, putting the Highlanders up 70-68 and winning the game.

After having lost the previous night, Coach Mike Magpayo and his team were looking to turn things around this game in order to secure their victory. Coming in strong in the first half, the Highlanders were quick to secure a lead. Six minutes into the game their efforts had secured them a 6 point lead. Freshman Will Tattersall found the back of the net with a 3-point shot which put UCR up 18-9. Soon afterward, Arinze Chidom, with the ball in his hands, made a quick layup, which changed the score to 20-12 in favor of the Highlanders. Not long after, Chidom found the back of the net again with a 3-point shot and a layup that would further extend Riverside’s lead to 25-19. Chidom would go on to score a total of 15 points in the game, as well as 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

With 11 minutes left UCR had extended their lead but Hawaii’s rainbow warriors fought profusely to catch up. Hawaii chipped away and came within reach 2521 with a little under eight minutes left in the first half. Eventually, Hawaii took the lead in minute 15 of the game, putting themselves up 28-27. This moment was short-lived as the highlanders quickly came

back in the final five minutes of the game.

Senior Jock Perry scored a quick 3-point shot that put UCR back in the lead 31-28.

Despite Hawaii’s best efforts, Riverside closed out the first half in the lead 35-34.

Perry, who plays center, scored a total of 13 points this game.

In the second half of the game, UCR maintained that same ferocious energy to open the scoreboard. A great 3-point shot from junior Flynn Cameron would put UCR up 40-34. Hawaii pushed back and tried to get some points, but UCR would not relent. The Highlanders pressed on, extending their lead by 11 points, leaving the scoreboard 48-37 within the first five minutes of the second half. Zion Pullin also pitched into UCR’s lead, adding three points to the Highlander’s score, leaving them 54-49 with 10 minutes left in the game. Cameron totaled 14 points and 3 rebounds this game, while Pullin totaled 9 points and 4 rebounds.

Hawaii did their best to come back with a 3-pointer in the eighth minute. Hawaii kept fighting to bridge the gap, eventually tying the game 56-56 with 8 minutes left in the game. This gave hope to the rainbow warriors for a few moments as they extended their lead by four points leaving the scoreboard 62-58 with under five minutes left in the game. This wouldn’t last long, as UCR came back quickly tying the game at 68-68 and eventually winning the game.

Coach Mike Magpayo was thrilled with the resiliency his team demonstrated, especially after losing the lead for a few brief moments in the last few minutes of the game. Magpayo and his coaching staff have found success behind their incredible defense paired with the steady shooting of their players.

UCR’s next game is against USC on H Tuesday night, Jan. 12.■

SECOND.

KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

On Saturday, Jan. 9, the UCR women’s basketball team faced off against UC Irvine (UCI) for the second time in the same weekend. Unfortunately, despite their valiant efforts in the final minutes of the game, they lost 62-60. Despite coming in strongly each quarter, the Irvine Anteaters kept finding the back of the net in the form of free throws.

UCR was quick to the ball each quarter of the game. In fact, they were the first team to score in all four quarters, but to no avail.

Jordan Webster, the freshman hailing from Dallas, Texas, opened up the game for the Highlanders, granting them their first 2 points. UCR kept the opposing team at bay for the majority of the first quarter.

With a little over five minutes left in the first quarter, UCI began to find their rhythm as well as the back of the net, as they began to form a lead. The Highlanders remained headstrong and fought hard to keep UCI from extending their lead. Unfortunately, Irvine pressed on, closing the first quarter with a lead of 8 points, 21-13.

The Highlanders kept fighting during the second quarter, keeping the Anteaters scoreless for the first five minutes of the quarter as they went on a 6-0 run. The UCI team pushed back, extending their lead to a 10-point lead with a little over four minutes left in the quarter. UCR kept chipping away at Irvine’s lead, scoring 10 more points before closing out the quarter 34-27, with UCI still on top.

After a slow first half, UCR came back with a newfound ferocity. Senior Keilani Cooper from Murrieta, California opened

up the half with a 3-pointer. She would go on to lead the charge for Riverside, scoring a total of 16 points in the game. The Highlanders kept chipping away at the lead from the opposing team. Their strong efforts helped them close out the quarter with only a 9-point deficit; UCI was up 49-40.

In the fourth quarter, the Highlanders gave their all in order to try and finally close the gap. UCR came on strong during the fourth quarter and would go on to dominate for the majority of it. Four minutes into the quarter, Riverside took the lead 50-49 over the Irvine team. UCI pushed back, but a foul from their team paired with another 3-pointer from the Highlanders would put Riverside up 57-53. UCR extended their lead to 60-55. Sadly, UCI would go on to tie and win the game in the final two minutes of the game, leaving the score 62-60 in favor of the Anteaters.

Despite the loss, the spirited efforts of the Highlanders highlighted many strengths found within the team. The brilliant leadership of the coaching staff led

by Nicole Powell, paired with the efforts of the team bode well for UCR. Keilani Cooper and Jordan Webster closed the game with 16 points, 2 assists and 8 points, respectively. Jada Holland, the sophomore from Pleasanton, California, also played a great game, scoring 15 points and gathering 6 assists for the team.

The women’s basketball team’s next scheduled game will be against California State University, Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22 and 23 at 4 p.m. for the H first Big West Conference game.■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS