Volume 69 Issue 19

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Monday, March 8, 2021

VOL. 69, ISSUE 19

est. 1954

NEWS

UCR’s regains federal designation as a HispanicServing Institution

75-80% OF ALL COURSES WILL BE IN-PERSON WITH A STRICT ADHERENCE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.

AFTER A FILING ERROR BY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION, UCR MISSED THE FILING DEADLINE FOR 2020, POTENTIALLY BARRING THEM FROM RECEIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CARES ACT FUNDING AND FEDERAL GRANTS.

AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief

At the beginning of 2020, UCR lost its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution after a filing omission occurred under UCR’s Office of Planning, Budget and Administration that caused them to miss the filing deadline for 2020. UCR estimates that it lost $2.4 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act funding due to losing its HSI designation. The university has officially regained its status as a HSI after approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions are defined under Title V of the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Act as an institution of higher education with a full-time equivalent undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25% Hispanic. HSI’s must have an enrollment of students in need where at least 50% of an institution’s students received financial assistance under the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study or the Federal Perkins Loan Programs.

A letter to UCR from the U.S. Department of Education stated, “We are pleased to inform you that your recent request for designation as an eligible institution under Titles III and V of the ► SEE HSI PAGE 5

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NEWS

UCR releases its fall 2021 instructional plan

AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief

“Current forecasts give us hope that in the fall our students can enjoy a more normal on-campus experience,” stated University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D. on Jan. 11, after the UC announced that it is planning for a return to primarily in-person instruction systemwide starting fall 2021.

The responsibility of specific plans for resumption of fall classes, including additional safety measures and starting dates, were placed on individual UC campuses as they continue to coordinate closely with local public health agencies and follow all local and state health guidelines.

In early February, UCR faculty and students were surveyed to better understand their preferences for fall quarter instruction. In a campus press release, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Thomas Smith stated that overall, respondents were strongly split on their instructional

mode preferences. “Written comments expressed both support for returning to in-person instruction as well as concerns about the health risks, and emphasized the importance of vaccinations, the challenges of ‘dual mode’ instruction, and the need for all members of the campus community to follow public health guidelines as a condition for returning to campus,” stated Smith.

Smith stated that as vaccination rates have continued to rise, case counts and test positivity rates have fallen substantially. Local elementary schools announced they are targeting March 8 for a return to hybrid instruction, and the Centers for Disease Control has issued new guidance for K-12 schools that Smith said is encouraging news. There still remains uncertainty regarding how fast infection rates will fall in the region and how many people will be vaccinated by the start of fall quarter, he also stated.

Despite these uncertainties, Smith stated that since fall quarter scheduling begins in February to accommodate

registration in May, UCR must make decisions now, far in advance of decisions about research and other campus operations in order to start the process. “With consideration of the preceding factors, and after consultation with campus leadership, the Academic Senate, the Instructional Continuity Workgroup, and the COVID Management Workgroup, I am announcing an instructional plan for fall that aims for a return to primarily in-person instruction and allows for adjustments to be made in the coming months as new information arrives, uncertainty is resolved, and new guidance is issued,” said Smith.

The plan is responsive to the announcements made by President Drake and Chancellor Wilcox on Jan. 11 and Feb. 23, respectively. Additionally, the plan is taking into consideration faculty and student sentiment expressed through the surveys, faculty need to balance instructional workloads with research and service obligations ► SEE FALL 2021 PAGE 3

NEWS

Nikole Hannah-Jones encourages young journalists to dig deeper HANNAH-JONES IS AN AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST BEST KNOWN FOR HER COMMENTARY ON THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE’S 1619 PROJECT. COURTESY OF ALICE VERGUEIRO UNDER CC-BY-2.0

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for the New York Times Magazine. In 2020, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her essay in the 1619 project, which traces the central role that Black Americans have played in shaping the U.S. The project aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of our national narrative.

On March 5, Hannah-Jones participated in UCR’s 52nd annual

Hays Press-Enterprise Lecture. The conversation was moderated by UCR Professor of Philosophy Myisha Cherry, who hosts the “UnMute” podcast where she interviews young, diverse philosophers about various social and political issues. Cherry and Hannah-Jones discussed various issues within media and journalism such as neutrality and objectivity in heightened political times, as well as HannahJones’ particular interest in covering segregation in New York schools.

Growing up in Iowa, Hannah-Jones always had a particular interest in journalism while reading the newspaper

with her father every morning. At 11 years old, she became interested in politics and published her first letter to the editor about Jesse Jackson’s failed presidential campaign in her local newspaper. At the time, she was outraged at his lack of support in Iowa and her letter gave open criticism, writing that it was probably due to him being Black. That continued in her high school years when she wrote a column in her school newspaper called “From the African Perspective.”

Throughout the lecture, the ► SEE HAYS PAGE 4

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Upcoming Events: Week 10

Humans of UCR CHRISTOPHER LUU | COMPUTER SCIENCE | THIRD-YEAR COMPILED BY RYAN POON

8

Monday

9

Grad School 101 Funding Graduate School 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Virtual Event

International Women’s Day - “She Inspires Me” 4 p.m.

Virtual Event

UCR Advocacy Day 12 a.m.

Virtual Event

10

Lunchtime Trivia 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual Event

Best Practices for Student Engagement and Equitable Teaching in a Virtual Format 3 p.m.

Virtual Event

11

Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid Campus Forum 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Virtual Event

Otherworldly Archives: Exploring The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy 6 p.m.

Virtual Event

Plants3D Seminar: Devin Coleman-Derr, USDA/UC, Berkeley 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual Event

Provost’s Monthly Open Office Hours 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Virtual Event

Tuesday

Wednesday

“Have you ever wanted to type out an essay so bad? Yeah, that’s the power of mechanical keyboards and why I got into them in the first place. Mechanical keyboards are so customizable that it can be altered

Coffee Chat with the Internal Revenue Service 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual Event

Thursday

to whatever you want. This is why I got into this hobby and advocate for everyone to have a mechanical keyboard. It changes your productivity and enhances your experience at the desk infinitely. For me, I like the portability of a 65% keyboard along with linear switches because they are the smoothest to type on. Some people like to have physical feedback when

12 Friday

typing or even typewriteresque switches and there are options for that. The possibilities are endless”

13

Saturday

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NEWS

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THE SENATE HELD THEIR FINAL STATE OF THE ASSOCIATION MEETING OF THE QUARTER AND AMENDS ELECTIONS CODE.

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

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ASUCR

ASUCR polishes up Elections Code in preparation for 2021 Elections

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

With ASUCR elections right around the corner, ASUCR is patching up discrepancies within their Elections Code and gearing up for spring quarter.

The ninth ASUCR meeting of the winter quarter on March 3 also marked the final State of the Association meeting of the quarter.

During LRC, the senate approved an amendment to the Elections Code to remove the deadline to file a violation form on the elections website. Previously, violations were subject to a 2-day limit for filing; however, the senate bill states that all violations are essential and must be addressed. SB-W21-007 Amendment to Elections Code to Remove Deadline to File a Violation passed with a vote of 9-0-7.

The senate also passed SB-W21-009, amending the Elections Code for efficient practices. This piece of legislation pertains to a standing rule that was voted on at last week’s meeting. The issue that arose was that the majority of the senate filed for re-election.

Chapter 7 of the Elections Code stated, “ASUCR Senators, Directors or Executive Cabinet members who have filed to run in ASUCR Elections or are planning to run, must recuse themselves from voting on any bylaw changes, resolutions, or new bylaw additions, or all affairs regarding elections after candidacy has been filed. Failure to do so may

count towards election strikes, the assigning of which shall be determined by the Judicial Council.” This means that any member of ASUCR who filed for candidacy would be unable to vote on any piece of legislation up until the ASUCR elections on April 23.

SB-W21-008 amended those sections of the Elections Code and now states, “ASUCR Senators, Directors or Executive Cabinet members who have filed to run in ASUCR Elections or are planning to run, must recuse themselves from voting on any bylaw changes, or new bylaw additions for the entirety of the election period (beginning from the deadline of filing for candidacy to the announcement of the election’s outcome).”

The bill also clarifies that in the event that two or more senators are candidates for the current election cycle, they must abstain from voting on any bylaw changes or new bylaws due to conflict of interest and up until the day after elections results are announced.

Furthermore, once election results are announced, all elected officials who are current senators must abstain from voting on bylaw amendments that pertain to the office that they will assume at the start of the following year.

SB-W21-008 Amending Elections Code for Efficient Practices was approved with a vote of 6-2-10.

Members of the executive cabinet updated the senate on their efforts throughout the past month. During his update, ASUCR President

► FROM FALL 2021

and the benefits students will receive by participating in on-campus learning and cocurricular activities.

There are five key elements for the plan to return to primarily in-person courses in the fall. The first is a strict adherence to health and safety standards. Personal and institutional health and safety standards for on-campus activities including instruction will be developed by the COVID Management Committee to be consistent with applicable public health guidelines, stated Smith. He added, “This likely will include universal and correct use of masks, physically distanced classroom seating, and regular testing of anyone participating in oncampus activities.” All in-person instruction activities, and anyone participating in these activities, will be required to strictly adhere to these standards.

Smith stated in an interview with The Highlander that UCR is going to emphasize that mask wearing protects the entire community and positively message the benefits. “If someone refuses to wear a mask, they can be asked to leave a building or even the campus. People will forget to wear their masks at times and we want to create a culture where others respectfully remind those not wearing masks of the mask requirement,” stated Smith.

Smith also announced that 75-80% of all instruction will be held in-person with varying enrollment densities. Courses will be assigned to larger-than-normal rooms.

UCR’s largest courses will continue to be delivered remotely in fall. Classes with enrollments above 80 students will allow for 50% of room capacity. Classes with enrollments between 35 and 80 students will allow a maximum of 67% of room capacity.

Full room capacity will be permitted for courses with less than 35 students.

If social distancing and reduced density

RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

are still mandated by Riverside County Public Health in the fall, UCR will have signs reminding everyone on campus of the need to maintain social distance, markings on the floor of buildings that show the distance people should stand apart while waiting in line and seats in classrooms will be arranged, removed, or marked to signal where people should sit to maintain social distance, stated Smith.

Smith stated that progressively higher densities for smaller classes “reflects the reduced risk associated with having fewer people sharing an indoor space, as well as the significant benefit to students of participating in higher quality in-person experiences in labs, studios, learning communities, and other intimate settings.”

According to Smith, preliminary modeling illustrates that densities should allow 75-80% of all primary credit-bearing activities such as lectures and seminars to be scheduled in-person. Secondary noncredit-bearing activities such as discussion sections are more likely to be moved online due to space constraints and lower priority in the scheduling process, stated Smith.

He noted that all of these guidelines assume that high vaccination rates and falling infection rates will lead to new public health guidelines that allow these classroom

densities. If new public health guidelines do not permit these classroom densities, UCR will scale back in-person instruction accordingly.

Another key element to UCR’s reopening plan for fall is flexibility at the department and program level to determine delivery modes. What this means is that chairs and directors will work with their faculty to determine a mix of 75-80% in-person courses and 20-25% remote courses for each department or program. “Consideration should be given to both instructor and student circumstances, with the goal to serve as many students as possible with a reasonable menu of accessible courses,” stated Smith. Remote options will not be required for in-person instruction; however, they may be used to extend access to more students when circumstances warrant.

UCR will also implement modifications to emergency remote teaching as part of its reopening plan. Emergency remote teaching will be extended to fall quarter but with new limitations that will be implemented.

In order to teach remotely, an instructor’s course must be included on the list of remote courses submitted by a chair or director. An instructor could also submit an exception request to be approved for remote instruction. The Academic Senate will

Luis Huerta discussed his meeting with various work groups on campus including the Instructional Continuity Workgroup, the Athletics Workgroup, the Campus Safety Taskforce and the Commencement Working Group.

Vice President of External Affairs Vincent Rasso also updated the senate on an eventful month for his office. Throughout the month, Rasso was an active member of the UC campaign to Double the Pell Grant and participated in multiple meetings and ongoing social media action to advocate for more financial aid for students. Rasso also chaired the monthly UC Student Association meeting in February and discussed issues related to the impact of COVID-19 on UC students.

During her updates, Executive Vice President Natalie Hernandez also welcomed CHASS Senator Melanie Grigorian to the senate after the resignation of a CHASS senator last week. At time of publication, the identity of the senator who resigned is unknown. She also announced GSOE Senator Stephanie Zeng as Senator of the month for February. “Senator Zeng constantly assures she represents every community at UCR to the best of her ability,” stated Hernandez. She also praised Senator Zeng for her natural positive attitude and professional demeanor during meetings.

H The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m. ■

discuss establishing minimum standards for continuing remote instruction and ensure these are consistent with pending guidelines from our regional accreditor.

The last key element of UCR’s fall 2021 instructional plan is its commitment to not switch remote classes to in person on short notice. Smith added that courses that are initially scheduled for remote instruction in fall will not be shifted to in person if public health conditions improve more than expected. He stated that if UCR were to switch remote courses to in-person on short notice, it could create untenable situations for students who have already registered and established living arrangements away from campus. If conditions do not improve as expected, Smith stated that classes initially scheduled for in person instruction may be shifted to online courses.

In an interview with The Highlander, Smith stated that while there is some debate, it appears that federal law does not allow employers and others to require vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine distributed under an Emergency Use Authorization (EAU).

“If EAU is lifted in the coming months, I would expect discussion of mandates to begin,” stated Smith.

In the coming weeks and months, additional details of the fall instructional plan will be finalized. Smith concluded stating, that as an institution that places great value on equity and inclusion, UCR also will continue to think carefully about how their planning affects each member of the community and their diverse and sometimes disparate needs and desires. He stated, “A successful return to campus will require of everyone the same empathy, generosity, and teamwork that made UCR a special place to teach and learn before the pandemic. I encourage everyone to think about what they can do personally to help us navigate H the next phase of this challenge.” ■

4 MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

NEWS

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COURTESY OF PEXELS

UCR Extension Center establishes new cannabis program FROM BUSINESS TO AGRICULTURE, THE NEW CANNABIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO SET INDIVIDUALS UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE LEGAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

The UCR Extension Center, known for offering programs and services that help individuals advance in their careers, move into a new field or start their own business, now has an official cannabis program for anyone interested in a career in the marijuana industry.

Within this program are four different focus areas in which a prospective student can choose to specialize and receive a full-credit certification upon completion: the business of cannabis, cannabis agriculture and horticulture, cannabis healthcare and medicine and cannabis law and policy.

In an interview with The Highlander, Eric Latham, the director of Program Development at the Extension Center, stated

► FROM HAYS

two discussed remaining neutral in situations where that may seem impossible. Journalism is about promoting democracy, stated Hannah-Jones, especially in times of heightened political conflict such as the Capitol Hill insurrection.

“We get into journalism to hold power to account,” she said. She also emphasized the importance of local news, especially in a time where information is spread so widely through social media that it has become difficult to distinguish factual coverage. Having watchdogs to sit in on local school board meetings and city council meetings is just as important as covering a national story because that is where decisions are made that directly affect the people, she said.

Cherry also highlighted HannahJones’ 2016 article in the New York Times Magazine, “Choosing a School for My Daughter in a Segregated City.” Hannah-Jones reflected that when she first began her coverage of school segregation and education in Durham, North Carolina, the No Child Left Behind Act had just been passed. The act was meant to test and develop assessments for students in basic skills, and their results would determine the amount of federal funding and resources each school would receive. The issue with the

that he and his staff are always on the lookout for new and fruitful opportunities to create educational programs that help a wide variety of individuals secure proper jobs.

Last year, Latham recognized cannabis as one of the fastest developing industries in the state of California, as well as the Inland Empire; he viewed it as a major opportunity for people to hone their interests and start a related business or work for an existing company. “Early in 2020 I was hearing a lot about the opportunities within the cannabis industry, so I started reaching out to people on campus that were working with the industrial hemp programs,” he explained.

Upon learning more about the trials and changeability of the industry, Latham admitted that he knew it would be challenging for

No Child Left Behind Act, said Hannah-Jones, was that heavily segregated school districts were punished for not achieving the same test scores as neighboring white districts.

Hannah-Jones stated that while she was working to cover these school districts as a 27-year-old journalist right out of journalism school, she noticed that none of the people who called themselves activists and advocates for the desegregation of the Durham schools were actually sending their kids to them. That story and her experiences inspired her to write about her daughter’s school, which unexpectedly became embroiled in debate when district officials in Brooklyn, NY suggested moving students from an overcrowded white school in the district to her daughter’s mostly Black school.

Hannah-Jones calls herself a realist. When it comes to being optimistic about the future of progressive education in the U.S., she said it is impossible to do so when “Black kids are as segregated as they were away from white kids in the 1970s, Latino kids are more segregated than they were in the 1970s and white children remain the most isolated and resourced rich kids in our public school system.”

“I’ve never found a single place in America where Black kids in heavily Black schools have the

the Extension Center staff to try and fashion a proper curriculum on their own. Thus, they are now partnered with Green Flower, an experienced Ventura-based organization that had been providing its own marijuanarelated courses for several years prior. Working in conjunction with Green Flower has shaped much of the program content and has forged a strong connection with a group of cannabis experts to teach the classes. Looking to the future, they are also working with Green Flower to start an employer network in order to help graduates secure connections and job opportunities in the surrounding area.

According to Latham, they had actually tested this program on a non-credit basis in August and October of last year. However, the program quickly gained attention and is now one of their most popular

same resources as white kids,” she said. She criticized the tolerance that society and the U.S. has had toward inequality in the education system as well as American exceptionalism. There is something particularly corrosive about being in a country that is founded on ideals of freedom and liberty during a time where Black people were not seen as completely human, said HannahJones.

Since it was published, the 1619 project has received ample pushback and criticism from many.

In September 2020, it even resulted in executive action from former President Donald Trump, who criticized the project and similar efforts to teach slavery and systemic racism in school, suggesting that they were anti-American. “Outside of my Pulitzer, that’s my greatest honor,” she joked. She stated that such harsh criticism speaks to the true power of journalism and only emphasizes how meaningful the project is for Black people in the U.S. To conclude, Hannah-Jones spoke directly to young journalists interested in covering racial inequality and social issues. She said it is important to dig deeper, to ask questions and to be curious and criticize the way society functions in order to have their work create change. She stated, “Don’t be H satisfied.” ■

yet.

Interested students are able to learn more about the industry and gain practice experience that will help when looking for employment, while businesses and employers will gain more competent workers.

Latham added that the benefits do not stop there. He believes that it is important to ensure that legal cannabis businesses are maintained well and have dependable employees.

“These businesses pay taxes and keep those financial resources in our local economy,” he explained.

He added, “These are positive contributions to our communities, and our state.”

If you are interested in learning more about the cannabis program, check out https://cannabisstudies.

H extension.ucr.edu/. ■

COURTESY OF ALICE VERGUEIRO UNDER CC-BY-2.0

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NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

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COURTESY OF PEXELS

Long term commuting linked to future health problems UCR STUDY FINDS THAT REGULARLY COMMUTING LONG DISTANCES MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER OR REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES.

DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

A new UCR study published in January of this year indicates that California commuters are putting themselves at risk by inadvertently inhaling chemicals that are known to increase the likelihood of causing cancer, reproductive issues and birth defects.

These harmful substances include five Proposition 65-listed chemicals: benzene, formaldehyde, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and tris (1, 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP). The first two were found in the interior air, whereas the latter three chemicals were detected in vehicle interior dust.

With the stipulations found in Proposition 65, companies and manufacturers are mandated to place a warning label on products that may breach the “safe harbor levels.” This threshold indicates a level of exposure to a listed chemical that is not thought

to cause overt damage to an individual’s health, and therefore does not legally necessitate a cautionary label.

In an interview with The Highlander, Aalekhya Reddam, a graduate student in the Toxicology Department and lead author of the study, stated that their primary goal was to find out whether or not drivers were inhaling or ingesting any of these harmful substances at a consistent rate that surpassed the safe harbor levels. In order to do this, Reddam focused on calculating exposure levels for people spending anywhere from 20 to 240 minutes in their cars.

This study found that although all of the aforementioned chemicals identified in the vehicular study are potentially dangerous, benzene and formaldehyde are the most potent in terms of vehicular exposure.

Within the state of California, the amount of commuters with a 10% probability of exceeding the cancer risk associated with either of these two chemicals was reportedly around 78% and 63%.

However, there are certain factors that affect the level of impact these chemicals may have. According to Reddam, individuals can have different levels of exposure. “They can

have a brand new car, drive with the windows up, and have no ventilation,” she explained. “This basically causes these chemicals to be volatilized or in the air, so then they have a higher range of exposure.” People who do have this larger range of exposure are much more likely to be at risk of experiencing the negative effects from these chemicals in the future.

When considering the study’s findings, David Volz, professor of environmental toxicology, emphasized the importance of relativity. Given that cancer is a disease that tends to develop over time, serious health issues caused by these chemicals are

not usually going to impact drivers who use their cars more sparingly or do not always drive long distances. “The concern is more for people who are commuting a significant amount of time on a daily basis or even several days a week over a long period of time,” he stated Now for those who may be wondering what they can personally do in order to mitigate the risks, Volz suggests opening up the windows more often to promote better circulation and regularly wiping down the car to get rid of compounds that lurk within dust particles. However, even if people take precautions with their cars, Volz stated that

COURTESY OF PEXELS

► FROM HSI

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, is approved.”

UCR also regained its status as a federally designated Asian American and Native American Pacic Islander-Serving Institution. AANAP institutions provide universities with grants and related assistance to allow for improvement and expansion in relation to their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.

As a result of regaining their designation as a HSI and an AANAP, UCR is now eligible for a waiver of the non-federal share matching requirements under the Federal Work Study Program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program and the TRIO Student Support Services Program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. UCR’s status renewal also means that it is also potentially eligible for a waiver of the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program matching requirement, pending a demonstration of UCR’s need for such a waiver in its application for new awards under this program.

The filing omission occurred after UCR’s

the automobile industry needs to take action to get rid of these potentially hazardous substances and identify safer alternatives for regular use.

Reddam concluded by reiterating that this study is just the tip of the iceberg. “There isn’t a lot of research looking at people who spend a longer amount of time commuting — which is super relevant in UCR, with our undergraduate students,” she explained.

According to Reddam, there is still much more research and studying that needs to be done in order to truly understand the long term effects that commuting H has on individuals’ health. ■

RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

Office of Planning, Budget and Administration failed to submit documents to the Department of Education required to certify UCR’s HSI designation. Vice Chancellor of Planning, Budget and Administration Gerry Bomotti, previously stated in an interview with The Highlander that the specific annual requirement was not part of their division’s “master calendar” project that ensures such responsibilities are not overlooked.

Despite UCR’s quick renewal of its HSI status, many students and faculty still expressed concern with how the situation was handled. “[We] believe that the campus administration’s indifference to this situation, the way the situation has been handled and its blatant lack of transparency is disrespectful, impetuous, and malicious,” stated ASUCR’s Office of Internal Affairs. In my opinion, the failure to promptly communicate the issue was a major mistake on the part of the administration,” stated Mauck. Assistant Professor of Entomology Kerry Mauck told The Highlander in a past interview that, “In my opinion, the failure to promptly communicate the issue was a major mistake on the part of H the administration.” ■

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ASUCR’s Student Voice Committee completes case study to look into student’s academic experiences and what changes they hope to see at the academic level AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief

In an effort to look into student’s academic experiences, what changes they hope to see at the academic level and inclusivity and equity in the classroom, ASUCR’s Student Voice Committee conducted a case study in order to amplify student voices at UCR beyond the scope of surveys they usually conduct as a committee throughout the whole year.

In an interview with The Highlander, Mark Hanin, the director of the Student Voice Committe stated that they wanted to personalize what students believed and thought about certain topics that concerned them. Hanin attributed this as the main motivation for why they conducted a case study specifically aimed on exploring students’ academic experiences and the changes they hoped to see at the academic level. They specifically wanted to focus on the subject matters of inclusivity and etiquette within the classroom since they believed that both these subject matters are instrumental in constructing the academic experience of students. “With academic instruction going remote for the time being due to COVID-19, we believed that the academic experiences of students is undoubtedly a topic of the utmost importance that we needed to most certainly conduct a case study on,” stated Hanin.

He added that he wanted to start an initiative that he felt would engage students through the platform he has as a member of the the Student Voice Committee. He stated, “the need to provide students with a creative platform to express themselves through the case study was what inspired my team of select committee delegates and myself to work on the case study as part of our project group within the committee.”

The Student Voice Committee surveyed a total of 139 respondents and had a total of six case study participants who come from different demographics within the university. The case study, which focused on inclusivity and etiquette, resulted in three conclusions regarding the impact it has on UCR students’ academic experiences.

They found that UCR students have observed a strong and mutual appreciation for each other and their professors.

“This acknowledgement and respect that students give each other, no matter their cultural background nor selfidentified identity, is the cornerstone of UCR’s heavily

reinforced consideration for its student body,” stated Hanin.

He noted however, that this respect and representation of underrepresented groups can also become a burden for some. Individuals may feel overrepresented, which hinders their opportunity for academic growth and instills a sense of pressure to compare themselves to their peers, according to Hanin. This ultimately leads to a sense of confusion regarding where the student belongs on campus; the spectrum of students and the multicultural environment can be welcoming and show inclusivity, but it can also make it difficult for some students to find themselves and their purpose. “In the long run, this affects their academic experiences because they might be hesitant to apply for internships, club positions and step outside of their comfort zone. UCR students also noticed and appreciated the accessibility of and number of programs that support minorities and promote inclusivity training.

More centers of support for the LGBTQ+ community and awareness of social events are also prime factors in students overall academic experiences. “These support groups and branched movements show how students are interconnected and that everyone at UCR can be a source of support,” stated Hanin. He added that this ultimately prompts the confidence and openness of students to express themselves and their ideas without fear of being oppressed, ostracized, or judged. There is also a mix between how students have received etiquette from professors and teacher assistants. The overall consensus is that there should be a push for inclusivity and etiquette training to accommodate for the students’ identities and cultural awareness stated Hanin.

In light of the Coronavirus pandemic and the effects that it had on UCR students, UCR students reported many changes they hoped to see at the academic level. A common response was that they hoped to have increased accessibility to resources such as textbooks and tutoring at the academic level so that they are able to succeed academically. Specifically, they hope that they have more textbooks available in PDF format due to remote learning and that the feedback provided on iEvals is seriously considered by both faculty and teaching assistants.

Furthermore, they also hope that UCR is able to provide them with the resources they need at the undergraduate

STUDENT VOICE COMMITTEE’S CASE STUDY LOOKS INTO INCLUSIVITY AND ETIQUETTE WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

level to continue pursuing higher-level education at graduate and professional schools. A couple of the students also hoped that the Mandated Inclusive Language Training that faculty, staff and student employees are now required to undergo is impactful as they have personally expressed excitement about the new possibilities and changes brought forth by both the case study and mandated training. On the other hand, some students also expressed that the training was not necessary since UCR is not problematic in the area of inclusivity. Specifically, those students felt that an overemphasis on inclusivity will not directly solve any problems and may devalue the struggles that students face.

A few students expressed hope that university administration begins to care more about students and not money. They hope that administration places students in more committees on campus so that students can have more of a role on decisions that impact them by the University. Students also hope that they are provided with more opportunities to pursue their interests while on campus and not worry about having budget cuts imposed by the University hindering those interests. A few students also expressed hope that the university continues to hold inclusivity events in order to celebrate the diversity of existing cultures on the campus. However, they also hoped that such events would come with a renewed respect for indigenous lands and the indigenous people of Riverside.

The Case Study Project Group hopes to have gathered enough information on how students’ academic experiences have been and what changes they hope to see at the academic level in more detail with the results of the case study. They hope that given their results now becoming more personalized and are now designed to be more reflective of the thoughts and opinions of UCR students through this case study, that they would construct a compelling representation of the fellow students that make up our campus. Through the representation they hope to have constructed from the results of the case study, they hope that students feel that their voices are being heard when they read about other students’ experiences and can relate to those experiences themselves. This would hopefully further encourage more students to come forward and share their experiences with us so that we can build a network of trust and support with the student body, H according to Hanin. ■

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Opinions

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OPINIONS

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

7

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Double the Pell: It’s time for Congress to prioritize lowincome students

L

ow-income college students are in dire need of assistance, and it needs to come from doubling the Pell Grant. Doubling the Pell would be hugely beneficial to low-income students affected by the pandemic, and the results will leave a lasting positive impact on society in the long run. Students — especially at UCR — have been putting in countless hours lobbying for this legislation to pass, but the burden must also fall on faculty and administration.

Students need government funding now more than ever. In fact, it has become increasingly important that Congress puts this in motion now as a result of the pandemic that has left many students out of work. Unfortunately, older generations boast about pulling themselves up from their bootstraps and not needing help from the government, believing the youth should struggle like they did. However, what these people don’t grasp is that times have changed. Tuition is far more expensive than what it used to be, and it is only going to keep increasing.

Additionally, the cost of living in most areas has gone up significantly from when these generations were students. This makes it that much harder for current students to support themselves through school when they also have to worry about living situations. When looking at these differences, doubling the Pell Grant is necessary and should happen sooner rather than later.

The obstacles seem vast and never-ending, but people fail to see the bigger picture.

A large challenge facing this legislation is the bureaucracy and the partisanship. Especially in this current political climate, Congress is very divided and often lacks the capability to prioritize the right things. But while there’s always a hesitancy to increase government spending, the benefits of doubling the Pell Grant will outlive the concerns being raised in the present.

It’s very likely that many people will refuse this aid to lower-income students given that their taxes will increase.

And while no one wants to pay higher taxes, this cause will be beneficial to society in the

long run if the American people practice a little more empathy towards students in need.

Paying higher taxes does not outweigh the outcome of what doubling this grant will do for the future of American society.

If Congress fails to double the Pell Grant, students will be less likely to perform well in school, and they will have no choice but to prioritize other things such as taking up multiple jobs instead of focusing on their studies. The Pell Grant eases the financial stress of low-income students supporting themselves through college. Additionally, students will not have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and their energy can be put toward other organizations on campus that will benefit them when they enter the workforce.

The Pell Grant also gives low-income students a chance to escape poverty. Although the government is hesitant to get involved with education, they need to understand that doubling the Pell Grant will give an immense amount of people an equal opportunity to higher education that they would not have had otherwise.

SOCIETY BENEFITS FROM MORE EDUCATED COLLEGE GRADUATES — DOUBLING THE PELL GRANT WILL MAKE THIS A REALITY.

Society benefits from having more college graduates in the workforce, so the government should do whatever it takes to help these students succeed.

If we want to see lowerincome students getting the help they deserve, it is going to require a large commitment not only from students, but also university administrations in order to lobby and get this passed. In fact, UCR would benefit the most from this as it has the largest enrollment of Pell Grant recipients than the Ivy League schools combined.

Not to mention, UCR is the most diverse University of California campus with a large majority of students coming from poverty. Thus, the UCR administration needs to do more to make sure that their students are getting the help they need.

The UC often puts the burden on students to be activists regarding these issues instead of the university itself being vocal. But students are up to their throats in work with clubs, organizations, classes and now lobbying to double the Pell.

This is too great of a burden for students to carry alone, and if

we want any changes to occur, administrations, especially at UCR, must help put in the work.

It’s important to keep this conversation going by raising awareness in any way possible, and participating or lending support to student-led advocacy groups are an important part of this. Low-income students deserve a chance to escape poverty and attend college stress-free. Doubling the Pell Grant will create a leveled playing field for all college students, which will benefit society in the long run. So while it may be quite some time until administrations are fully involved, students must not lose hope and continue fighting H until something gets done. ■

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.

8 MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

OPINIONS

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Fighting climate change denial with facts is a lost cause WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, REPUBLICANS PLACE PROFIT AND EGO ABOVE SCIENCE, AND THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF FACTS THAT WILL REVERSE THEIR DANGEROUS DENIALISM. THUY-TIEN BUI Contributing Writer

Even after the unprecedented winter storm that left millions of Texans without power, Texas Senator Ted Cruz is still hell-bent on denying anthropogenic climate change. For decades, scientists have warned that extreme weather events will become more frequent and intense as human-induced global warming progresses.

Evidence of climate change has never been presented so clearly: a blazing west coast, a notably hot state now frozen, increasing species extinctions and melting sea ice. All of these consequences are happening at an alarming rate catalyzed by human emissions of fossil fuels. Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence, Republican lawmakers like Senator Cruz still deny the fact that human activity is responsible for climate change. The recent Texas weather crisis has proved how shortsighted climate skepticism is, and fighting this denial with facts is

completely pointless.

According to the majority of congressional Republicans, sure, the climate is changing, but it’s a completely natural process and not intensified by human activity. For instance, in 2015, Senator Cruz falsely claimed that “scientific evidence doesn’t support global warming” and “climate change is a pseudoscientific theory for big government politicians who want more power.” An even more far-fetched argument was circulated online by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who believes that California’s wildfires were caused by Jewish space lasers, not climate change.

The most frustrating aspect of these blatantly false defenses is that they are not made out of good-faith disagreement with science. Congressional Republicans’ climate change denial stems from greed, exploitation and corruption. By advocating for fewer environmental regulations in

Health passports: navigating life in a postCOVID-19 future

COURTEY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-SA-2.0

order to minimize the role of the federal government, conservative lawmakers have allowed the fossil fuel industry to increase its profits. As a token of appreciation, oil, gas and coal companies have funneled generous amounts of money into Republican campaigns — essentially bribing government officials for protection.

Republican leaders’ corrupt motives for denial consume all reason, rendering the factual fight with climate skepticism a fool’s errand.

Texas’s extreme weather crisis serves as a harrowing cautionary tale of the dangers of ignorance towards climate change. Despite record low temperatures causing power outages in 1989 and again in 2011, the state was unprepared, which caused history to repeat itself — this time leaving millions without electricity for days. Texas had 30 years to weatherize its power supply and infrastructure, yet authorities like Governor

Greg Abbott, who has historically fought against combating climate change, turned a blind eye. Consequently, the more time government authorities spend undermining and denying the threat of climate change is less time spent preparing for inevitable natural disasters.

Congressional Republicans are perpetuating a cycle of denying the truth, fabricating facts and gaslighting experts, and thus the U.S. has yet to make significant steps towards climate change mitigation. We have been given too many warnings, and our planet has suffered too many wake-up calls. There is simply no time to waste in the battle with climate change. This cycle of denial won’t end when scientists find just the right argument or provide even more concrete evidence.

The cycle ends when corrupt government officials are voted out and removed from H office.■

A FAKE COMMUTE CAN HELP PREVENT EXHAUSTION AND BURNOUT. TO BETTER OUR MENTAL HEALTH IN QUARANTINE, WE SHOULD MAKE IT A PART OF OUR EVERYDAY ROUTINE AGAIN.

AS COVID-19 VACCINES ARE ADMINISTERED, APPS LIKE COVIDPASS OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO THE WAYS WE ARE GOING TO OPERATE IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD.

DAVID MORENO Contributing Writer

Until we are able to get the majority of the population safely vaccinated, COVID-19 tracking and identification apps must be an integral part of our everyday lives. As the world navigates itself through the pandemic, we have seen the ways in which technology has played a leading role in tracking the spread of the coronavirus. For instance, in California, there are programs like CA Notify, which works to alert its users of possible COVID-19 exposures.

With vaccine rollouts underway, we are also faced with the dilemma of identifying who has received the vaccine or who has not. As a result, apps like CovidPass are aiming to provide an efficient way to identify vaccinated individuals. These apps could very well be the answer to returning to normal life. But they also introduce several logistical and accessibility based issues.

Apps for identifying those who have been fully vaccinated possess the potential of aiding in the process of reopening the country. In the United States alone, over 96 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered across the country. Additionally, approximately 10% of the adult population has received both doses of the vaccine.

As more people get vaccinated, the country finds itself anxiously waiting for restrictions to be lifted. With major countries across the globe beginning the process

of lifting their COVID-19 health restrictions, we must figure out ways to travel more safely. This has resulted in the emergence of apps like CovidPass, which were created to serve as health passports for vaccinated individuals. These passports would allow people to be able to travel freely without the need to quarantine when entering a new place.

Furthermore, this would also allow people to enter into public gatherings, like sporting events and entertainment venues, without any problems.

While these apps work efficiently, relying on them for tracking vaccinated individuals can still lead to potential issues surrounding accessibility.

Alternative identification methods need to be accessible to those who need it, such as vaccination record ID cards, which can be a great substitute for apps.

Providing people with a wider range of options will be greatly beneficial for specific age groups like senior citizens or those who may not have access to mobile devices.

Nonetheless, every single day, hundreds of thousands of people are vaccinated for COVID-19, and that number will only increase. As we start the process of rejoining the world, we have to remember to lead forward with extreme caution. Until the general public is presented with a more efficient and inclusive vaccine rollout plan, apps like CovidPass are going to play a critical role in the way in which we navigate our near H future. ■

The commute is more important than we think, and it’s time we implement it in our pandemic lives COURTESY OF PEXELS

EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor

As the one-year anniversary of the pandemic approaches, it seems almost impossible for those working from home to imagine their prior days of sitting in traffic on their way to work. Especially for Californians, the standard commute might mean sitting in a spiderweb of traffic, bad morning radio talk shows and coffee going cold. But that obnoxious morning ritual actually has more benefit than we ever gave it credit for.

Now, as our coffee grows cold on our desks while we sit with our cameras off in Zoom meetings, we all should make the effort to put a “fake commute” into our lives to regain those mental health benefits while keeping safe at home.

The commute from bed to desk can be included in one’s daily routine by creating a third little commute space to help the mind transition from waking up to working. Rather than rolling out of bed and getting right to work, allowing a few minutes to get out of the house and going for a bike ride or a walk allows us to “psychologically detach from work.” Additionally, avoiding technology for a period of time in

the morning and enjoying sitting on your patio can have the same effect. Allowing the gap between work and home life can help the body keep a routine that offers these decompression benefits.

It wasn’t very difficult for me to adjust my morning routine to taking classes from home. My morning routine of getting up, making my bed, having breakfast and getting ready for my day was my “commute” between home and school, even though both now occurred in my own room.

However, that mental distancing between work or school and home life has become more important than ever. Therefore, it is more beneficial for the body to wake up, give yourself that fake commute and do your work in a separate place from where you sleep. After all, it is well-known that doing any sort of work in the bedroom can disrupt your sleep, so to have a separate space for work and a separate place for rest as we all did in the pre-pandemic world would only further help prevent burnout.

A fake commute should be actively promoted in work places and on college campuses.

Students can make use of a morning walk and separate their

class spaces from their activity spaces by working in different spots of their apartment or dorm to allow for the mental detachment. Zoom fatigue is a real problem among students, so even incorporating multiple short walks or time away from devices in a day could help prevent feeling tired after a day of online classes. Likewise, professors should also actively promote this fake commute concept in order to support students during these times. In addition to helping students get out and be more active, the chance of lessening burnout could prove beneficial to professors with time.

Cutting time out of our day to not be in front of our screens and switching up our routines to reflect those we were so used to has immense benefits for our mental and physical health. Even as we start facing the potential end of the lockdown era, we should still implement these little commutes into our homebound lives until we can be so lucky as to sit in traffic on our way to our jobs again, back into the routines our mental health relies so heavily H upon. ■

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

9

OP-ED

It’s time to pursue a reinvestment in systemwide student-based advocacy that has secured profound investments in UC students VINCENT RASSO Contributing Writer VINCENT RASSO IS CURRENTLY A FOURTH YEAR POLITICAL SCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT UC RIVERSIDE. HE IS ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF UCR, AND ALSO CHAIR FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE UC STUDENT ASSOCIATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SYSTEMWIDE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, VISIT HTTPS://UCSA.ORG/.

Over the past fifty years, the UC Student Association has represented students across the University of California to the Board of Regents, the UC Office of the President, the Governor and state elected officials and has even made power moves as a leading force of federal advocacy in Washington, D.C. alongside the United States Student Association. Today, the UC Student Association is the official voice for over 280,000 students across ten campuses and works alongside the UC Graduate Professional Council to empower undergraduate and graduate student issues through university policy reform, government relations through lobbying and campus action through student activism.

With passionate leaders from unique and diverse backgrounds coming together to organize and advocate, there have been massive strides made through strategic campaigns and initiatives like Fund the UC, which has time and time again halted potential tuition hikes proposed at the regents year after year, or Racial Justice Now working to highlight the need for transformative divestment from the prison industrial complex while bringing together Black students and allies statewide to push for affirmative action and support UCSA with securing much needed recruitment and retention program funding to empower UC’s diversity.

ISURU KARUNATILLAKA / THE HIGHLANDER

As a systemwide leader and higher education advocate, it has been my distinct privilege to meet such incredible student leaders from across the state and organize with them to secure critical resources for students through legislation, policy and funding. I have witnessed over three years of UCSA growing increasingly powerful in ambition through its means of pushing to successfully secure a $15 million budget line item on basic needs, lobbying for several bills to support student-parents, reforming police standards, expanding access to financial aid, investing in the Cal Grant and providing several opportunities to advance student opportunities, such as traveling to the California State Capitol to meet with legislators.

The challenges presented by a global pandemic have been limitless. Coupled with rising racial inequity that knows no boundaries and has deepened already troubling existing disparities, as well as blatant police violence against Black and brown communities, our students

of color have consistently been targets of institutional oppression and forces of injustice. Our communities have also been exacerbated by the absolute overhaul of our college experiences through remote distance learning, lacking academic responses to support and accommodate student needs and extended uncertainty for a future on campus that cannot be a return to normal, but rather an uphill fight for a much better environment for those most impacted by COVID-19, especially through securing resources for our underserved students.

This is why I am calling on my peers, administrators and systemwide representatives to support the efforts of student-leaders across the UC to reinvigorate the capacity of our advocacy at the systemwide level. The UC Student Association, alongside the UC Graduate and Professional Council, have pursued the interests of the broad student body of UC students. Along with our counterparts at the California State Student Association

need to have accessible textbooks that are available both online and offline, and open textbooks give students that opportunity.

Textbook prices also disproportionately affect transfer students from the UC, and this year showed an increase in the amount of transfer applicants. This entails a larger percentage of UC students who will be impacted by textbook prices.

Open textbooks at the UC are feasible and advantageous for both faculty and students. Successful open textbooks programs have already been carried out in Massachusetts and the California Community Colleges, and these programs have collectively saved students millions of dollars.

The campus community at UC Riverside has already taken laudable strides toward open textbooks. From open access resources at the UCR library to the prevalence of professors who choose to write their own textbooks, there is faculty and staff support behind this cause.

There is also astounding student support for the cause: CALPIRG Students’ Affordable Textbooks Campaign at UCR has garnered 825 petition signatures from students. Across the whole UC system, CALPIRG students across the state and the UC Students Association have also worked to pass a UC Students Association resolution in support of open textbooks.

Given this support along with the UC’s implementation of open journals, the addition of open textbooks is completely possible. Our next steps as students should be demonstrating overwhelming campus wide support for the cause to show the UC Regents that open textbooks are a priority. This will require further grassroots support from student petition signatures,testimonials, public comments and faculty sign-ons to show the UC Regents that faculty would use the grant if it were implemented.

If this support is constantly and consistently shown, we can get the UC to take the next step after open journals.

In other words, we can get the UC to implement open textbooks and be champions of accessible education and social mobility.

The harsh reality is that the quality education that spurs social mobility is put behind a paywall. Students indisputably work hard to get to college, and once they’re there, they shouldn’t be locked out of the opportunity to perform well in class.

Inaccessible and expensive textbook prices are an accepted part of college life, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We cannot normalize educational inequity.

Textbook prices have posed a problem for decades, and this problem has only been H exacerbated by the pandemic. ■

and the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, we have consistently made significant headway in the fight to make higher education more affordable and accessible to all students across California’s public higher education. It’s up to the regents and our constituents, students across the UC, to recognize how massive student-voices in advocacy spaces have impacted their university system and educational experience.

When it came to proposals to increase tuition costs in 2012 and 2015, and even as recently as 2019, systemwide student leaders on the UCSA Board of Directors used their campus networks to mobilize petitions, public comment and protests in solidarity with student organizations to demand an affordable UC education.

As basic needs grew more pressing for our most marginalized communities, UC student leaders invested time into basic needs advocacy, empowering students with disablilites and partnering with undocumented students to expand the role that the university and state have in funding programs, financial aid and policy reform.

The investments that our role in systemwide advocacy has had on ensuring the accessibility, affordability and quality of a UC education continues to break boundaries for the capacity of organizations like UCSA. I have the highest of hopes that after 50 years of fighting for the critical interests of students across the UC system and securing substantial victories in all kinds of issue areas, there must be a spark to invest in student advocacy that can and will change the game for UC students and our critical interests over the next 50 years H and beyond. ■

Open textbooks open doors

RIA MAVINKURVE Contributing Writer

RIA MAVINKURVE IS A SECOND-YEAR ECONOMICS MAJOR AND THE CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR FOR THE AFFORDABLE TEXTBOOKS CAMPAIGN AT CALPIRG STUDENTS AT UC RIVERSIDE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CALPIRG, CONTACT RMAVI002@UCR.EDU.

A college education undeniably serves as a road to social mobility, but particularly in the landscape of COVID-19, expensive course materials are a roadblock. As students of the University of California system, which considers itself a proponent of educational equity, it is imperative that we take action to eliminate the obstacles that get in the way of accessible education.

The UC has already taken considerable and commendable steps to heighten accessibility by implementing open access journals. Now, it’s time for them to extend that accessibility to other course materials by implementing open textbooks, which are peer reviewed and faculty written under an open license.

We need to do this as soon as possible.

Recent reports by The Student PIRGs cite that 90% of students are concerned about the impact that not being able to buy a textbook might have on their grades.

Saving students’ money on textbooks would address a host of other issues, like unreliable access to the internet, food insecurity and mental health. Students

We need to show the UC Regents that open textbooks are a priority for the UC. Implementing an open textbooks grant program saves students money, removing obstacles on the road to a better future.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

10 MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

Features

FEATURES

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The University Village’s hottest new restaurant addition: ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

The University Village has recently welcomed a new addition to its growing list of restaurant venues with Hotties Fried Chicken. Hotties Fried Chicken specializes in chicken and has a very enticing menu with a spice meter ranging from no spice to mega. The restaurant is located at the edge of University Village with signs posted around for easy spotting.

When I first arrived at the restaurant, I noticed that the inside was very spacious and had no tables due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Social distancing signs were located on the floor, marking positions six feet apart from each other.

The menu was very big and bright. Their menu items consisted of chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches and just about anything else chicken related. What caught my eye immediately was their truffle macaroni and cheese; I instantly knew I had to try it.

Once it was my turn to order, I decided upon their one sandwich combo with a medium spice level for $10.49 and their truffle macaroni and cheese for $5.25. The total, including tax, came out to $16.96 and was a little bit on the pricier side.

Nonetheless, I was ecstatic to try out the food.

After a few minutes, my order came out, and I headed off to open the box and eat my food. My first impression was that it smelled good — very good. The chicken aroma was very prominent alongside the fries. To my surprise, the fries were seasoned with cajun spice. The sandwich itself looked very delicious and for a split second almost made me forget about the item I was most eager to try: the truffle

Hotties Fried Chicken

macaroni and cheese. Along with my meal came three sides of sauce similar to Raising Cane’s signature sauce, but more flavorful.

I began by eating the fries and dipping them into the sauce. The fries were nice and crispy with a crinkle cut shape that nicely held the Cajun seasoning. I instantly

definitely worth it.

The sandwich was a little bit on the smaller side, so I was surprised to find how deliciously filling it was. I settled upon a medium spice level for my chicken, and it did not disappoint. The medium spice on my chicken gave it a nice kick, which

coupled with the spiciness of the chicken balanced each other out and blended well together. Alone, each item was already delicious, but together, they created a flavor profile that made my taste buds happy. This entire meal was extremely delicious, and I can definitely see myself coming back for

HOTTIES FRIED CHICKEN HAS RECENTLY ARRIVED AT THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, BRINGING TO THE MENU SIGNATURE CHICKEN ENTREES THAT GIVE YOU THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. COURTESY OF HOTTIES FRIED CHICKEN

noticed that these fries were piping hot and freshly made. There was also a very good portion of fries, which made me happy as I knew I was getting my money’s worth. I then moved on to the macaroni and cheese.

It was love at first sight, or maybe ... first bite? For being served in a to-go container, the presentation was very pleasing to the eyes.

The macaroni and cheese was quite cheesy, and with each bite, one could easily taste the sauteed mushrooms that gave it a robust flavor. Although it seemed pricey to me at first, the macaroni and cheese was

surprised me as I was not expecting to reach for my drink after a bite much less acknowledge that it was spicy. Alongside the coleslaw, pickles and sauce, this sandwich made me appreciate each bite.

The chicken was super juicy and flavorful, and the crunch from the chicken with each bite was heaven. The bun was nice and toasted, which is always appreciated.

Mid-bite I was struck with the fabulous idea of placing some of the macaroni and cheese inside my sandwich and was met with a flavorful and mouth-watering bite.

The cheesiness of the macaroni and cheese

more in the future.

Despite the food being on the expensive side I believe it is worth the money for those times you just crave some quality chicken. The star of the show was the truffle macaroni and cheese and the chicken, both of which were absolutely delicious and seriously surprised me due to the quality and quantity of food given. This is a place I can see UCR students frequenting often once campus opens up. If you’d like to try it out, Hotties Fried Chicken is open every H Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. ■

Kenny Dobbs jumps into a NASP lecture

ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor

The Native American Students Program collaborated with UCR Athletics to organize a virtual lecture with Kenny Dobbs. Dobbs is a basketball player globally recognized as the best slam dunk artist in the world. He has been sponsored and endorsed by brands such as Nike, Redbull, Sprite and Google. Additionally, Dobbs runs a YouTube channel where he posts videos of his skills on the basketball court.

During his lecture on Tuesday, March 2, Dobbs discussed how his experiences have shaped him into the person he is today. Growing up, he was raised in Arizona in what he described as an unhealthy environment. His parents fought constantly, and he was exposed to drugs at a very young age. “I was kicked out of my house,” Dobbs stated, “and since I didn’t have parents telling me what to do, I dropped out of school.”

Education was not a priority for him, but he always had an interest in sports. “I always had a dream to be a professional athlete,” Dobbs claimed. He recalled how his childhood room was filled with posters of famous athletes, but slowly, he began to lose sight of his childhood dreams. It took him a long time to re-evaluate his life and to push himself toward achieving his old childhood goals. Dobbs returned to school and received his high school diploma. He also got a basketball scholarship at a junior

college. Now, after receiving numerous awards at slam dunk competitions, Dobbs expressed that he felt like his goals and dreams have been accomplished. Through sharing his story, Dobbs wants to prove that anything is possible and that anyone can turn their life around and achieve their dreams.

There were less than 10 people who attended this lecture, so everyone had an opportunity to speak with Dobbs and ask him questions. Cinthya Gonzales asked what kept the dunking star motivated, to which he sweetly responded that his motivation comes from the need to show his daughters and the next generation of kids what he is capable of. He stated that he strives to make an impact on the lives of others, so he decided that he has to be his best self.

Other viewers asked similar questions about his well-being; Rachell Enriquez asked about his basketball routine prior to COVID-19. Dobbs claimed that he maintains a healthy diet because staying fit on the basketball court is more than exercising. “Training for myself,” Dobbs stated, “was something that was hard for me to do in the beginning because it required a routine.” He admitted that he hasn’t been able to go to the gym because of the lockdown, but he continues to work out at home. He even showed the Zoom audience the new basketball studio he built in his house.

Before COVID-19, Dobbs was looking

WORLD-RENOWNED SLAM DUNK ARTIST, KENNY DOBBS SPEAKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY TOWARDS BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN ATHLETICS. forward to a packed schedule for 2020, and although many of his original plans were canceled, he announced that he still intends to accomplish his goals. Recently, his movie “Slamma Jamma” has been made available on select streaming sites.

He expects to start touring soon, and he’s been training another athlete to win the Slam Dunk competition next year.

Despite all his successes, he humbly remembers his roots. When questioned about how he maintains Native traditions, he claimed that he still holds his beliefs of a universal creator. He was taught that everyone and everything is connected, so he must respect the land and take time out of his day to pray.

Throughout the lecture, Dobbs was very easy-going and comfortable talking to the attendees. He encouraged us to follow him on Instagram for the opportunity to win an autographed poster and T-shirt. Attending his lecture was inspirational, and hopefully, H we’ll see more of him on the court soon. ■

COURTESY OF @THEKENNYDOBBS VIA INSTAGRAM

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MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

FEATURES

Under the Kilt:

11

Letting go of friendships: How toxic is too toxic?

SILVIA FERRER Managing Editor

Friends have lamented to me, “I’m so toxic!” during specific situations or in reference to certain people, so it’s easy to oversee these claims as simple dramatics or exaggeration. But whether it is a buildup of small stings or a particularly nasty fight, it is important to reflect on certain friendships and ask whether the “toxicity” has surpassed the point of hyperbole and whether it is time to cut a friendship out of your life.

Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, writers of “Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close,” wrote about the elasticity of friendship in their book and how in challenging times a friendship will “stretch” to accommodate for the needs of both friends. “Stretching” might be a relationship change that leaves one person feeling neglected or a long-distance friendship that leaves both people feeling distant and necessitates communication and compromise. Most of my friendships, from short-term ones with passing friends or long-term ones with people I’ve loved for almost a decade have “stretched” in distinct ways over the years.

However, there are occasions where a stretch will strain so much that it snaps — this point is the crossroads where you reflect.

Art Markman, professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, has commented that toxic friendships lack balance and reciprocity.

Maybe you’re starting to feel strained after offering rides and food without your friend ever offering to take the bill or pay you back. Perhaps you leave every interaction feeling drained after listening to their relationship drama, but the moment you

WHEN TO RECOGNIZE THAT A FRIENDSHIP IS PAST THE POINT OF REPAIR AND IT’S NECESSARY TO CUT A FRIEND OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

speak about yourself, your friend seems fidgety and distracted.

I was confronted with someone who Markman describes as “the drama maker.”

Slight changes in tone would result in lengthy paragraphs demeaning my choice of words and an abrupt cold shoulder. Once I cleared up the misunderstanding, the friend would apologize and immediately go back to normal, even if I was not; the immediate blood pressure spike would be upsetting and confusing. I felt forced to drop whatever I was doing to ensure that our friendship stayed intact even as I felt breaks coming on. Whatever it may be, the moment you start questioning your wellbeing and come away from it feeling more negative than positive is the time to reflect whether this person is worth keeping in your life.

Clinical psychologists have said that toxic friendships, like toxic relationships, can affect your sense of self and identity, damage your self-esteem and even lead to feelings of depression or anxiety. This doesn’t mean that you should break off

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a friendship during a heated fight, or if you’re feeling sad after a hurtful comment made by a friend. Talk to them! Friends that care about you will care about your feelings, your boundaries and the health of your friendship. I’ve addressed issues with best friends in tears, and 9 times out of 10, those friends have apologized, explained their side and made steps to improve. Our bond has grown stronger because of this communication and empathy.

But if you address an issue head on but you still feel like your boundaries are being violated, it is a glaring sign that the issue is more serious than a bump in the road. This friend had made it clear to me in anecdotes about former friends and lovers that they were temperamental, but being on the receiving end of that changed my perspective about opinions I’d voiced earlier. “They’re just heartless,” I’d comfort, but once I started to receive hurtful messages and their username disappeared from my followers list after I set boundaries and made my distress clear,

it was obvious that this friendship was not worth the upkeep.

I received an apology less than a month after I bared the brunt of malicious actions and hurtful words on an almost daily basis that left me feeling ostracized and on edge.

I walked on eggshells for weeks, fearing that one misstep would turn their wrath onto me. So when the apology finally came, I found that I wanted this friend to stay blocked, digitally and otherwise.

You do not need to tolerate unpleasantness or conflict in your life because you pity someone or long for the days when you’d share a laugh over coffee.

Dr. Dan Brennan stated in a discussion about toxic friends that, “Toxic people thrive in dramatic situations … People are often toxic because they’re not interested in being stable and healthy relationships.”

Save yourself the heartache of dealing with drama and learn to recognize patterns early in the friendship — or else you’ll be forced H to deal with the stress and heartbreak later.■

Celebrating 35 years of events at ASPB’s anniversary party

ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor

Chairperson Andy Ortega and Vice Chairperson Laura AnayaMorga of the Associate Student Program Board co-hosted the ASPB’s 35th anniversary celebration. On Friday, March 5, the six divisions of ASPB had some of their directors demonstrate their respective fields of work to give students insight on how ASPB is run.

The event highlighted and acknowledged the collective effort it takes for ASPB to organize events for the student body.

Kickstarting the event was Julian Gracian, one of the directors of concerts. The director of concerts organizes the biggest music events at UCR, including Block Party and Spring Splash. Gracian introduced the opening act, DJ Medek. This DJ played some energetic beats and encouraged viewers at home to dance along to the music. Medek actively interacted with the chat, allowing for students to give him some song recommendations.

Viewers called for songs such as “Too Player” by Vinny West and

“Up” by Cardi B, and Medek did his best to deliver.

But playing music wasn’t the only job Medek was tasked with for the night. After a few minutes of playing tunes, he was asked to read out the questions for a brief trivia contest. The questions for this contest challenged the viewers’ knowledge of UCR. Players in the chat were quick to answer questions such as “What are the six divisions in the ASPB?” and “What does the HUB stand for?” Some questions were harder than others, but students were able to learn a lot about campus from each other’s answers.

Following the trivia contest was a brief demonstration in advertising by Jameson Lee, a director of marketing. He shared his screen to show viewers how digital posters are created to promote events on ASPB’s social media platforms. When he finished his presentation, Esther Esho, an additional director of concerts, announced that ASPB will be streaming “Mean Girls” for 24 hours. Esho shared a QR code that would give people access

to a Google Form and the movie link.

The event concluded with a demonstration on how to create a vision board by Connie Marmolejo, a mental health educator at UCR. Vision boards are a collection of images that visually represent a mood, idea or dream. Marmolejo encouraged the audience to take some time to craft their own digital vision boards based on what they want to see in their lives in 2021. While students worked, Marmolejo kept the mood light by playing some music on Spotify. A few people were then chosen to share their finished products.

Overall, the event successfully shared the hard work behind the ASPB team.

Anyone who attended the event was welcomed to enter their name in a raffle for the chance to win some cool giveaways, such as an ASPB jacket or blanket. Attending the celebration was a great stress relief from upcoming finals, and I can’t wait to attend more of H these events in the future. ■

ASPB HOSTS A NIGHT FILLED WITH MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THEIR 35TH ANNIVERSARY.

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The long awaited ‘Coming 2 America’ is a lackluster sequel to the original 1988 cult classic

KYLE PENIX Contributing Writer

“Coming 2 America,” an Amazon Prime exclusive and the recently released sequel to the legendary 1988 Eddie Murphy film, “Coming to America,” is unfortunately a 33-year let-down. The original director, John Landis, doesn’t make a return; instead, Murphy reunites with “Dolemite” director, Craig Brewer. Coming into this film expecting a level of improvement over the original or at least something just as good will unfortunately leave many disappointed. Although there are some redeeming moments, the film is a fairly steep regression in quality that lacks a lot of what made the 1988 classic an experience worth watching.

The opening scenes return viewers to the fictional African Kingdom of Zamunda from the original movie.

Recognizably, time has passed as Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his wife Lisa (Shari Headley) are now mature parents with three bright, young daughters named Meeka (Kiki Layne), Omma (Bella Murphy) and Tinashe (Akiley Love). Driving the plot, Prince Akeem and his aging father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), discuss succession to the throne. The elder monarch believes his son is too weak to rule and fears that he will only get assassinated by the leader of Zamunda’s rival nation, Nextdoria.

A “King’s Only” law prevents any of Akeem’s daughters to inherit the

kingdom alone without an appropriate suiter. There is a limit of just two choices: either Meeka must marry the detestable son of Nextdoria’s ruler, General Izzi (Wesley Snipes), or Prince Akeem will have to return to Queens, New York to search for his long-lost son, Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler).

After being pressured, Prince Akeem agrees to travel to the United States with his friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) to attempt to find and bond with Lavelle.

One of the primary culprits that hurts the enjoyability of the film is its overall lack of originality. Jumping out of the gate, it quickly becomes clear that the film wants to use nostalgia from the original to influence the new story.

The opening scene of the Zamundan palace and the accompanied African music track is an immediate callback to the very same iconic scene in the first movie. Following that, the audience is then reintroduced to recognizable characters, albeit in the form of brief cameos. Flashbacks are also common and use digital technology to change the appearances of actors to appear younger. A few scenes from the 1988 film are also taken exactly as they were and are mixed in to help tell the story. To its credit, long-time fans will appreciate the endearing trips down memory lane. However, the theme of referencing the past becomes such a frequent and ongoing occurrence that it wears out its initial welcome very fast.

Other disappointing features of

the sequel that stand out are its poor character development and writing.

The first film, while not perfect, had better written characters that were more interesting and relatable. Notably, Prince Akeem himself had a lot more going for him in terms of personality and dialogue. He was a kind and gentle bright-eyed 21-year-old whose dialogue helped guide and center the movie in a compelling way. In the sequel, he’s reduced in his role and does no more than serve as a backdrop character to others. Additionally, his wife Lisa, who also played a large role in the original, is also greatly limited. Many of the characters suffer the same treatment of being introduced for cameo purposes and then fading away to be forgotten later.

It gets worse as new characters such as Meeka, Omma, Tinashe and several other key characters seem to not get much screen time, and when they do, it’s unimportant dialogue that does little to make an impact on anything. However, the highlights are Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reprising their roles in make-up for the various characters they portrayed in the last film. The jokes they make are politically incorrect and are still funny for a PG-13 movie — a downgrade from the original’s R rating.

Contemporary references to modern gentrification, Barack Obama, Teslas and more are sure to delight.

The sequel’s pacing is also off and there are too many mini storylines going

GREAT MOMENTS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN THIS UNORIGINAL RETURN TO ZAMUNDA.

COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS

on and it’s easy to lose track of what’s happening or where the story will go next. The introduction of Mirembe (Nomzamo Mbatha), the Zumundan love-interest of Lavelle whom he secretly wants to marry as opposed to Bopoto (Teyana Taylor), feels hollow and rushed. The stereotypical “ghetto” performances of characters like Mary Junsen (Leslie Jones) and Uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan) are also notably cringeworthy. The pair are both unnecessarily loud, rude and obnoxious to the point where it only reinforces negative racial associations. Their addition is questionable as the focus of the original film centered on depicting Black people as regal and sophisticated.

After a long 33-year hiatus, “Coming 2 America” is a sequel that ultimately wasn’t worth the wait. The film has its moments that are sure to provoke a chuckle, but the cons outweigh the pros for this revisit to the African nation of H Zamunda. ■

VERDICT:

“Coming 2 America” isn’t a total failure and gets a few things right. Unfortunately, it’s a movie that bores with its unoriginality and is too flawed. Ultimately, it’s a disappointing follow-up to a great 1988 Black romantic comedy that inspired generations by it’s charm, humor and positive representations of a regal African society.

‘Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell’

humanizes the legendary rapper but ignores much of his career IGNORING ASPECTS OF THE RAPPER’S PERSONA LEADS TO UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IN THE DOCUMENTARY.

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

REBECCA SALINAS Contributing Writer

Netflix has released a documentary focusing on the life of the Notorious B.I.G., likely connected to the 24th anniversary of the rapper’s March 9, 1997 death. The documentary consists mainly of interviews by the close friends of Biggie who knew him since he was a child in Brooklyn, his mother and reflections by P. Diddy, B.I.G.’s music producer and later collaborator. The film also heavily references two interviews Biggie did and includes videos his friend, Damion Butler, shot in the ‘90s. Interestingly, the videos created

by Butler were used to create the gritty and nostalgic aesthetic for the documentary.

This documentary is obviously an attempt to have the public view the rapper outside of his tough gangster persona, as his friends and family try to explain both his criminal past and professional career by explaining what Biggie was like growing

up. This creates a compelling narrative in the film since his friends speak of the street life Biggie had and reveal how he got into the drug world. This side of Biggie is juxtaposed with his mother, who tries to paint Biggie as the “good boy” she raised and justifies why he made certain choices.

The effect of this is a revision on the typical gangster perception of B.I.G. held by the public.

This revision on the perception of B.I.G. is important because the rapper has only been seen in a dangerous light. That image is what he was marketed as and what the music industry thought was necessary to legitimize rappers at that time — which is briefly mentioned in the documentary. With B.I.G.’s death often being thought of as connected to some sort of violent dispute, and the fact that he was a Black man, the person Biggie was sold as to the public was accepted. Thus, this documentary offers fans a look into the person the people around the rapper knew. It is this that makes the documentary compelling, since it slowly becomes clear to fans that B.I.G. was not motivated by violence to write many of his songs but due to his need to cope with the emotions he was carrying around.

While the revision on Biggie gives an interesting and humanizing perspective on him, the documentary has a lot of gaps.

Many times throughout the film, the rapper’s motives are not clear, as his friends often

contradict themselves on what prompted Biggie’s actions. In fact, in certain parts of the documentary, P. Diddy contradicts himself on Biggie’s motives to create “Ready to Die,” B.I.G.’s iconic album. This may be due to the large amount of time that has passed since the events being spoken about, but it may also be due to participants in the documentary wanting to hide some of their actions. This is most clearly seen when B.I.G.’s friends speak about the gangs in Brooklyn and the drug dealing B.I.G. did once he was already in the music industry.

The film curiously chose to skip over much of Biggie’s rap career. Only snippets of his career are spoken of, completely glossing over the East and West Coast dispute. Instead, the documentary presents the dispute as a misunderstanding that got out of hand, framing B.I.G. as a representative of the area where hip-hop originated. Ignoring this part of B.I.G.’s career cuts out much of how he would interact with people from LA and how his career was deeply tied to the dispute. This causes Biggie’s relationship with Tupac Shakur to be confusing when it is mentioned in the film.

At the same time, the events that led to B.I.G.’s death become vague. This might have been done to separate everyone from the violence that came out of the dispute and to remove B.I.G. from the famous controversy he is usually tied to, but it made the documentary fall flat at certain points.

The documentary is a bit underwhelming since all the participants speaking in the film have made sure that their words would only present B.I.G. under a good light. Parts of his character and history are lost. For example, many of his acquaintances have admitted he had a temper that would get out of control at times, frightening them. In the film, however, this is not spoken of. Rather, he is painted to be close to a saint — albeit with some flaws.

Since much of B.I.G.’s life is ignored as years are skipped over, the documentary feels incomplete. When the film ends, viewers are left with a feeling that more is still to be said. This sentiment calls the documentary’s title into question, causing audience members to ask, “What is left to say about Biggie that was not said?”

Overall, the documentary is good to watch if the viewer already has some knowledge about B.I.G., but it will not have enough information for viewers that know very little about the rapper. The film is more interested in presenting a side of Biggie that the public did not get to see than focusing on every aspect of his life, as complex as H that might be. ■

VERDICT:

This documentary is not worth your watch if you are not a fan of Biggie. The film’s stance on the rapper causes it to be slow and, quite frankly, not interesting since much of who Biggie was is lost.

T

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MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

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‘SUPERMAN AND LOIS:’

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION

Arrowverse’s unique spinoff sets the bar high WITNESS THE MAN OF STEEL AS BOTH A PARENT AND SUPERHERO IN THIS NEW SPINOFF.

JASHANPREET MALHI Staff Writer

After brief glimpses of Clark Kent in “Supergirl,” Superman fans are in for a treat with Arrowverse’s new show, “Superman and Lois.” The Arrowverse crossover episode, “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” paved the path for “Superman and Lois” as it was revealed that the two were expecting a child. A few CW DC comic shows, such as “Arrow,” have been hit or miss — a few seasons will go really well then go on a downward slope as the show progresses.

However, “Superman and Lois” provides an exciting, escapist view in its pilot that sets it apart from other DC shows and is not far from being a fan favorite.

The pilot episode starts off with a magnificent, short montage that sets the stage for Clark Kent’s (Tyler Hoechlin) “double life” as a superhero and family man. His backstory is provided, showcasing his arrival to Smallville, meeting Lois Lane (Bitsie Tulloch) and placing the audience in the midst of their marriage with two sons. Throughout the episode, Clark finds himself entangled in difficult pursuits. He conceals the fact that he is Superman until one of his sons begins to develop powers and battles an unknown enemy. When faced with a pressing situation regarding his mother, Clark must return back to Smallville where things take a turn for his family. Things don’t seem to add up until one of the show’s antagonists, Morgan Edge (Adam Rayner), purchases businesses in Smallville for unclear, mysterious reasons.

“Superman and Lois” utilizes expert cinematography, which makes it feel as though you are watching a movie and draws the audience into another world. Wide, long shots that showcase surroundings, for example, display the entirety of rural Smallville and work well to show Superman flying throughout the vast sky.

To really allow the audience to cherish an emotional moment, slow motion scenes are used throughout the show. In one scene, the Kent family is seen having a grand time as the camera lingers on their joy and their indestructible bond, which allows the audience to be present in the moment when life seems to be rushing by. The audience is able to acknowledge the value of family and making time for it, even when the whole world may seem to rest on your shoulders.

In addition, “Superman and Lois” makes excellent use of golden lighting that floods scenes to curate an aura of warmth among Smallville and its residents.

Not only is the cinematography great, but so are the relatable characters. Jordan Kent (Alexander Garfin) and John Kent (Jordan Elsass) are teenagers that younger

audiences can connect with. Jordan is the not-so-popular kid dealing with anxiety who wants to be left alone. On the other hand, John is revered for being the varsity quarterback and getting along well with others. Lane is witty and possesses a fearless attitude when it comes down to her work life as a journalist, but is also a pillar of support when her family is in need. Clark is portrayed as a down-to-earth individual who has to deal with equally important problems, like saving mankind. The indepth characters pave a high potential for character development in further episodes and make the show a great experience.

“Superman and Lois” deserves praise for delivering emotional themes that focus extensively on reality. Rather than merely showcasing Clark Kent as Superman, the show highlights his struggle with maintaining a healthy relationship with his family and carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is faced with a greater responsibility to his family, as he is seen struggling to be the perfect father for his sons. Sure, it would be great to be a superhero and have all these amazing powers, but “Superman and Lois” highlights that superheroes aren’t alien to problems that we all face. The show is different from other DC comic shows in that it emphasizes that being extraordinary doesn’t make one immune to challenges and places great importance on family.

Throughout the show, Clark receives bad news about his job and his mother’s health, but both Lois and Clark retain hope for the future.

Ultimately, there is a lot going on in this pilot episode of “Superman and Lois”: an enemy named Luthor seems to know all about Superman and is on the loose, Lois deals with a mystery in Smallville and the progression of Superman’s powers in his children is yet to be explored. The show does a good job in laying out the future for its upcoming episodes. It also appeals to a large audience base as it works both for a younger audience, who can relate to John and Jordan, and adults,who may be faced with a similar situation of struggling to be H present for their family. ■

VERDICT: Having established itself as unique from other DC comic shows, “Superman and Lois” has great potential to become one of the best CW shows. There’s no doubt it has a great future with several aspects it has to explore. The film-like ambiance and its interesting take on Clark’s responsibility as a father and hero is sure to lure anyone in.

MUSIC GENRES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING WITH THE TIMES AND ROCK IS NOT IMMUNE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS A BAD THING.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

ROCK AND ROLL

is evolving —

and it’s here to stay

MADISON RHEINS Opinions Editor

As music evolves, there will always be critics who claim that rock and roll is “dead” because it’s too commercialized or it doesn’t sound like how it used to. But people should be rest assured that quite the opposite is true. Rock and roll is not dying or becoming obsolete for these reasons, it’s actually getting better — and this is only the beginning.

In recent years, people have begun to believe that true rock music is dead due to a shift toward other musical genres — primarily pop and hip-hop. However, while many people are concerned over this shift, they also must be reminded that music should never fall into rigid categories. Real music usually includes a mix of genres with artists sampling from different types of songs. For instance, we can see rock elements present in several genres ranging from alternative to even contemporary pop.

In the song “Wild Thoughts” by Dj Khaled, featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, they sampled a Santana guitar riff for one of their main melodies. When artists mix genres together like this, it enables music to keep evolving. And as long as this keeps occurring, rock music is never truly dead.

Overcommercialization is another trend that has terrified rock music lovers into believing that rock and roll is becoming obsolete. Rock and roll and its aesthetic is garnering a lot of popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok to the point where there is a growing concern of it becoming too mainstream. But this irrational fear of rock music losing its authenticity as a result of overcommercialization needs to be quelled. Rock and roll — or any type of genre — should not be deemed obsolete just because more people know about it.

I’ve noticed a lot of people like to invalidate music once it gets popular on social media, which is an unhealthy mentality to have.

Music is beneficial and even therapeutic

to many people, so no genre should be gatekept from the general public. And just because something is popular or not “underground” enough, does not mean it’s suddenly out of style.

Music should not be an elitist circle where people are trying to keep rock and roll from evolving. There is absolutely no reason to be disappointed that the rock music genre is becoming more versatile.

Rock and roll has taken new forms in indie and alternative music, which is on the rise thanks to communities on TikTok. In fact, artists such as Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers are just a few examples of the rock and roll genre living on through current artists.

In addition to this, artists such as Lana Del Rey even covered the Sublime song, “Doin’ Time” while adding her own artistic personality to it. But if people fear change or are quick to cancel this progress, music will never evolve in the way that it is supposed to.

In truth, the revival of rock and roll through newer generations should be celebrated. It’s a good thing that rock music and even classic rock is becoming increasingly popular amongst young people. The influence that this resurgence will have on up and coming artists should be a reason to rejoice in the fact that there will always be new music to discover. And just because rock music does not sound like how it used to does not mean that it is going out of style. In reality, rock and roll is not in danger of vanishing, rather, it’s just presenting itself in a new light — and people should be okay with this.

The evolution of rock and roll should be celebrated by all music lovers. Regardless of what music elitists may think, rock and roll is here to stay and it is only getting better from here. Thanks to up and coming artists, the genre is ever-changing and fans of rock music should rejoice in the fact that there will never be a shortage of new music H to discover. ■

14

Sports MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

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UCR Men’s basketball team finishes victorious in a nail-biter game against Cal State Northridge

HANSEL CHU Staff Writer

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team got a huge win against Cal State Northridge thanks to a great defensive stop from the Highlanders to close the game. The Highlanders were without their star player redshirt senior forward Arinze Chidom, as he sustained an injury during their second game against UC Santa Barbara the week prior. Without Chidom, sophomore point guard Zyon Pullin and junior guard Flynn Cameron stepped in to lead UCR to their best record in the Big West Conference since the 2008-2009 season.

UCR jumped out to an early 13-8 lead, led by back to back 3-pointers from freshman shooting guard Wil Tattersall.

The Matadors would climb back into the game and tie the game 15-15 at the halfway point in the first half. The Highlanders took control of the game by going on a 17-8 run to lead 32-23 with 4:41 left in the first half, led by back to back triples from Cameron.

However, CSUN rallied to cut into the UCR lead, and a triple from CSUN’s junior guard Darius Brown II would cut the Highlander lead to 32-28. A pair

of made free throws from Pullin at the end of the half saw the Highlanders up 39-36. Cameron led the Highlanders with 9 points, including 3 3-pointers, and Pullin chipped in with 7 points and 3 assists. UCR also connected on an efficient 7-15 from 3-point range in the first half.

Coming out of the second half, the Matadors came out strong and tied the game 43-43 thanks to a 3-pointer from CSUN’s freshman guard Amound Anderson. A couple possessions later, CSUN took the lead 47-48 with a layup from Anderson. The Highlanders settled themselves and took the lead back 53-52 with a triple from Pullin. A couple possessions later, Pullin sank another 3-pointer to extend the lead 61-56 with 8:35 left in the game. When asked about Pullin’s impact on the game, Head Coach Mike Magypayo said, “He gets it done with offense, scoring, facilitating, and rises to the challenge defensively and rebounding … (he’s) as good as any guard in the league.”

CSUN was determined to not lose this game, and with 4:48 to go, the game was tied at 6161. With 3:05 left in the game, a layup from CSUN’s freshman forward Alex Merkviladze gave

the Matadors the lead 64-66.

The Highlanders responded with a putback layup from redshirt senior center Jock Perry to tie the game back up. With 1:40 to go and UCR down by 1 point, redshirt senior guard Dominick Pickett sank a huge top of the key 3-pointer to give the Highlanders the lead 69-68.

With eight seconds left in the game and UCR up 71-68, CSUN had one more chance to tie the game and force overtime.

However, senior guard George Willborn III deflected a pass, which led to a scramble for the ball, a turnover for the Matadors and gave the Highlanders the victory with a final score of 7268. “It is a coach’s dream to win the game on the last play with hustle and guys diving on the floor,” said Magpayo when asked about the last defensive play.

Pullin led the Highlanders with 17 points and 7 assists.

Cameron contributed with 14 points, including four 3-pointers and Perry chipped in with 13 points and 8 rebounds.

The Highlanders improve their record to 12-7 (8-5) and will look to play in the Big West Championship next week in Las H Vegas.■

A CRITICAL TURNOVER FROM THE NORTHRIDGE MATADORS GIVES THE HIGHLANDERS THE WIN.

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

UCR men’s basketball concludes regular season and sweeps Cal State Northridge in a close Game 2 matchup

KYLE PENIX Contributing Writer

UCR’s men’s basketball team battled their way to win during a close second game against Cal State Northridge, ending at 66-65. Despite losing Game 1, the Matadors (9-11, 5-8) kept UCR on their toes throughout the contest. Ultimately, UCR (13-7, 8-4) prevailed to win their last game of the regular season.

The first half belonged to CSUN as the Matadors kept UCR in check on scoring and prevented the Highlanders from ever taking a lead. Led by redshirt junior guard TJ Starks, the Matadors attacked early to go on a 7-0 run within the first two minutes. A foul committed by CSUN allowed junior point guard Flynn Cameron to score the first 2 points behind the charity stripe for the Highlanders.

The Matadors then went on an aggressive 16-0 run, forcing UCR Head Coach Mike Magpayo to call a timeout with 15:24 left to go.

Stepping in for the resting Chidom, a 3-pointer from redshirt sophomore Daniel Mading provided UCR a desired spark to help bring them back into the game.

When interviewed by the Highlander, Magpayo had positive words for Mading, “We definitely have a next man up mentality, and Daniel plays Chidom’s position in the same manner. He was huge for us today and really in my eyes a huge reason we won the game today. He was big on the boards, hit timely baskets, and free throws. He had a perfect game. 100% from the field and free-throw line ... 5

boards, 1 steal.”

Leading off of the momentum, the Highlanders overcame an early 21-4 deficit to only being behind by just 7 points at 23-30 with 4:31 remaining before halftime. Both teams took advantage of turnovers and missed opportunities on offense to keep it competitive down the stretch. UCR ended the half on a positive swing with Cameron sinking a 3-pointer to close it out before halftime, 33-38.

In the second half, the Matadors lost their early momentum. Helping lead the way for UCR’s comeback, redshirt senior center Jock Perry came alive for the Highlanders after a silent first half, where he was held scoreless and had just 1 rebound. Sophomore point guard Zyon Pullin and Cameron also contributed significantly to the momentum shift. The two teams battled in a tug of war match as one went on a scoring run while the other experienced a drought.

In response to the momentum shift and changes made at halftime, Magpayo responded, “We had to change our defenses a little bit. They were scoring at will early on us. The changing defenses disrupted their rhythm and then our guys got aggressive in our press and turned the game.”

With only 2:01 remaining, a clutch 3-pointer from freshman shooting guard Wil Tattersall cut the deficit for UCR to 1 point for the first time in the game at 6263. CSUN’s junior guard, Darius Brown II, then responded with a 3-pointer of his own. A couple of possessions later,

“OUR GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY BOLD IN THE STANDARD THEY’VE SET FOR THEMSELVES ALL YEAR AND CONTINUED TO MEET IT EVERY DAY, WITH A NO EXCUSES MENTALITY. I’M EAGER TO PUT OUR REGULAR SEASON GROWTH TO THE TEST IN THE BIG WEST TOURNEY.”

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Perry then gave UCR its first lead at 6665 with only 38 seconds left. In the final moments, UCR’s No. 3 ranked defense came up big to stop Starks from making a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the last 3 seconds of the game, effectively sweeping the Matadors.

Providing details about the overall offensive and defensive scheme changes in the last moments of the game, Magpayo said, “Offensively we just couldn’t make enough shots today so our guys just attacked the paint. Zyon attacked and Flynn and Jock started making some big shots around the basket.” Magapayo added that his versatility and ability to go inside really helped. He noted that the team shot 25 free throws today, a season high. Defensively they got incredibly more active towards the end and senior

guard George Willborn had a huge steal layup and junior pointguard Flynn Cameron had a huge steal and 1.

The Matadors led the Highlanders in field goals and 3-point percentages but finished significantly behind in free throws at 27.3% compared to 76% for UCR. Flynn led the Highlanders with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal. Pullin had 11 points, Perry had 8 rebounds and Mading had 9 points.

Looking back on the accomplishments of the regular season despite a pandemic, Coach Mike Magpayo replied, “Our guys have been very bold in the standard they’ve set for themselves all year and continued to meet it every day, with a no excuses mentality. That’s what gives us a chance to always survive and advance.

I’m eager to put our regular season growth to the test in the Big West Tourney.”

The Highlanders finish the regular season, 13-7 overall and 8-4 in conference play. UCR will play against the University H of Hawaii on March 11 at 8 p.m.■