Volume 69 Issue 21

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Monday, April 5, 2021

VOL. 69, ISSUE 21

NEWS

ASUCR 2021 candidates announced

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NEWS

Career center faces pressure from students to uninvite CBP from career event

THE SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION ADVOCATING FOR AN IN-PERSON COMMENCEMENT.

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS WILL HOST AN EVENT SIMULTANEOUSLY TO HIGHLIGHT CAREERS THAT UPLIFT AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS.

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

On Wednesday, March 31, ASUCR held their first meeting of spring quarter where they discussed updates to the upcoming ASUCR Elections and passed a resolution advocating for a safe, in-person graduation ceremony.

Elections Director Lama Yassine updated the senate on the timeline for the upcoming ASUCR elections. Next week, the elections committee will begin hosting Candidates Conventions for both senators and those running for the executive branch, giving each candidate the opportunity to discuss their platforms. Voting Week is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 19.

Yassine also announced the candidates who will be running in the 2021 ASUCR Elections. They are: Executive Cabinet President - William Wang Executive Vice President - Mufida Assaf, Sean Nguyen Vice President of Finance - Steven Luu, Jeffrey Tran Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs - Arshneel Kaur, Nelson Aguiar Vice President of Campus External Affairs - Aaron Sanchez, Elysha Castillo Vice President of Sustainability - Alondra Martinez, Barry Liu

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Extended Cabinet Personnel Director - Connley Neufeld, Lena Nguy Marketing and Promotions Director Mehak Sharma, Wallace Fang Transfer/Non-traditional Student Director - Roxanna Vasquez, Sonali Murugan Senators CHASS Senator - Aalani Richardson, Alejandro Martinez, Angelo Velasquez, Angelina Chavez, Blanca Estela Alba, Christian Martinez, Christopher Kent, ► SEE ASUCR PAGE 3

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

Tania Gonzalez and Carlos Alarcon had just wrapped up their first day of their last quarter at UCR when they heard the news that Customs and Border Patrol would be attending an event hosted by the UCR Career Fair. They were not happy about it.

Tania and Alarcon are president and co-president, respectively, of Providing Opportunities, Dreams and Education in Riverside at UCR, a student organization that seeks to provide assistance to undocumented students. “We don’t feel

comfortable with them there ... They’re literally hiring the next generation of people who would be at the border separating families,” stated Tania.

On Tuesday, March 30, PODER released a statement demanding leadership at the Career Center uninvite CBP from their upcoming event Virtual Spring Job Fair: Career Night 2021. The letter stated that the university’s “actions in allowing this employer to recruit and have a platform within the Career Center, undermines the universities commitment to a welcoming environment to all students and reduces it to a violent act of performative allyship,” it read.

“I feel absolutely horrible about the pain, suffering, fear and trauma this has brought to our undocumented students and community,” stated Sean Gil, the director of UCR’s Career Center to The Highlander.

The Career Center is currently pursuing several options to address student concerns and is working on a finalized course of action. While they are not at liberty to discuss their plans, they are working directly with Undocumented Student Programs at UCR to meet with students on Monday to address their concerns. ► SEE PODER PAGE 3

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Upcoming Events: Week 2

Humans of UCR AMANDA SITUMEANG | BIOLOGY | SECOND-YEAR COMPILED BY THE HIGHLANDER STAFF

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Language Circles 11:30 a.m.

Virtual Event

Monday

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Tuesday

Body Politics: Breast Cancer, the BRCA Gene, and Reconstruction 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Virtual Event

Highlander Days Virtual Open House: Freshman 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Virtual Event

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Spring ‘21 Nooner: Snotty Nose Rez Kids 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

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Wednesday

I am a first-generation Indonesian and I indulge in gift-giving, stationary, finding hidden views, and people. Above all, I am a musician that developed an intense passion for all things music as a byproduct of forced piano lessons as a young child. I play a couple stringed instruments and really enjoy singing. A quality I take pride in is my ability to song write. I am an avid believer in the power of music and its healing abilities, which is why I have used songwriting as a means to validate my emotions as I have learned the importance of healthily manifesting one’s own thoughts and feelings instead of internalizing and casting aside. I do all of this for my personal journey but do share some of my tunes as I go along. I am blessed to have a loving community of people – friends, family, and strangers – that enjoy my music as I do. I have put up some of my songs on Spotify under the name Mintymanda in the past year so that we all get to vibe through our struggles. I hope to be a person who helps others heal and if possible, through music.

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Thursday

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Friday

Decolonizing Self-Defense Part I: Self- 17th Dragalicious Drag Ball - Spring it Defense & Self Love to the Runway 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

Virtual Event Virtual Event

Research Computing Webinar 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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Plants3D Seminar: Mary Williams, American Society of Plant Biologists 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Slow Art Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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IE Alumni Network: Sycamore Canyon Hike and Scavenger Hunt 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sycamore Canyon

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Saturday

CONTACT US

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NEWS

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► FROM ASUCR

Christopher Kim, Cristian Torres, Gabriel Davis, Helen Chu, Hoang Vu, Ismail Kiswani, Joshua Moran, Lauren Grace Garcia, Orlando Cabalo, Sam McLean, Shay He, Victoria Nguyen CNAS Senator - Catelin La, Myra Usmani, Rachel Paredes, Ridwan Syed, Tammar Akel BCOE Senator - Amy Do, David Kiroloss, Henry Zheng SPP Senator - Arleth Flores Aparicio, Joshua P. Deese, Sam Habibi GSOE Senator - No candidates.

ASUCR will host a special election to fill this seat in May 2021.

Full candidate biographies can be found on the ASUCR Elections website.

In a unanimous decision,

the ASUCR Judicial Council’s deliberations came to a conclusion regarding CHASS Senator and President Pro Tempore Orlando Cabalo, Executive Vice President Natalie Hernandez and Personnel Director Sean Nguyen’s constitutional challenge to a statute on March 4. The issue was regarding SB-W21-007 which 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, 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.”

In their official written decision,

the ASUCR judicial council wrote, “Previous interpretations of this bylaw understood it to be that any ASUCR Senators, Directors, or Executive Cabinet members who have filed to run or are planning to run were still able to vote in any bylaw changes, resolutions, or additions, specifically excluding just Elections Code affairs.

However, after March 3rd, a new interpretation was called to attention.” The new interpretation led to an underrepresentation of senator votes during the majority of the winter quarter.

To amend the issue, the Judicial Council decided to revert the bill back to its original interpretation with some changes. Now, ASUCR senators, directors or executive cabinet members who have filed to run in the ASUCR Elections or are planning to run, must recuse themselves from voting on any

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

bylaw changes, resolutions or new bylaw additions that have a conflict of interest, and/or any other legislative action which may impact upcoming elections after candidacy has been filed.

During LRC, the senate voted on a bill amending the senate internship program, SB-S21-002.

The amendments include putting the internship program under the office of the EVP and the president pro tempore, as well as refining the responsibilities and duties of senate interns. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.

CHASS Senator Lizbeth Marquez Torres authored SRS21-002 along with Hernandez to advocate for a safe, in-person graduation ceremony. The senate resolution states that the UCR Commencement Task Force has not listened to students’ concerns and requests surrounding the 2021

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graduation and has refused to work with students on the task force to create a graduating experience that is both safe and beneficial to all. The resolution states that with vaccines becoming widely available and UCR planning to offer 75% to 80% of all courses in-person for the fall 2021 term, an in-person graduation ceremony should be considered.

Other universities in Southern California have announced their plans to host in-person commencement ceremonies in some capacity such as the USC and California State University, Fullerton. SR-S21002 Advocating for a Safe, InPerson Graduation Ceremony was passed unanimously with a vote of 13-0-0.

The meeting was adjourned at H 7:43 p.m. ■

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER ► FROM PODER

“The Career Center will be reviewing our practices, policies, and procedures surrounding employer outreach for career fairs,” stated Gil. Ana Coria, coordinator for Undocumented Student Porgrams, expressed in an interview with The Highlander that on behalf of USP, she acknowledges and understands the harm and pain students may experience from any engagement with CBP and will continue to support and center the needs of USP constituents.

As part of their support, USP and the Career Center created an alternative event to the virtual career fair that will be held simultaneously, and she encourages students to attend that event instead. The event, Careers in Immigration Rights, will be held on Wednesday, April 7 from 5 to 6 p.m. and will highlight careers that uplift and protect the rights of immigrants.

ASUCR also released a statement on March 31 in support of USP and PODER stating, “We demand that UCR makes a commitment to actively refrain from supporting agencies that impose fear and violence against members and families of our undocumented community.” A petition demanding that the Career Center uninvite CBP from the virtual job fair has garnered over 2,050 signatures at the time of

writing.

This is not the first time students have pushed back against their universities for hosting recruiting events with federal agencies like CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Most recently on March 15, ICE pulled out of a UC Berkeley career fair following student activism. “It just still shows that there’s still so much work to be done,” stated Alarcon.

While many students were in support of the statements released by ASUCR and PODER along with the petition, users on social media were not. “I don’t agree with this, I’m undocumented but I would not like to limit anyone’s option for a career,” one stated. Another stated that they understand the sentiment of how it would make people feel, but it is still “a career option and truthfully a good one at that.”

The final decision from the Career Center will be made on Monday, April 4.

“There is support (for undocumented students) coming from students, the staff at Costco Hall, faculty, right, but when it comes to UCR administration, these past four years I’ve noticed that the UCR admins don’t do anything unless there is student pressure,” H stated Alarcon. ■ JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

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NEWS

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Oban family housing receives a ‘Little Free Pantry’ DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

On Feb. 5, the city of Riverside officially established the first of 26 community pantries throughout the city, all committed to combating food insecurity. This initiative is formally known as the Little Free Pantry program and is a collaborative effort between the city of Riverside, Inland Empire Health Plan and the Riverside Mutual Aid Network.

Now, the city of Riverside received about $28 million through the CARES Act, legislation dedicated to helping citizens navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately $13 million of these funds were allocated to supporting families with children through child care and food assistance. Thus, the Little Free Pantry program was created as a part of this effort. “The program has received such great interest and positive feedback that we are now looking into funding sources to continue this program as part of our existing Neighborhood Programs,” Josaline Cuesta, City of Riverside Community and Economic Development project assistant, stated.

UCR’s Oban Family Housing now has a Little Free Pantry on-site, dedicated to helping those students with families in need. Jazmin Garcia, an incoming ethnic studies graduate student living in Oban Family Housing, stated that because of COVID-19, family members and residents of Oban have been faced with many extra difficulties, herself included. She added that those within this housing community were already sharing resources like cooked meals and other items, but prior to the pantry installation in March, they never had a secure place to share and exchange any items with one another.

Due to her personal status as both a student and a single mother, Garcia struggled at times to provide and be present for herself and her son, an issue that worsened with the onset of the pandemic. As a resident advisor for Oban,

LITTLE FREE PANTRY PROGRAM HELPS FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY AROUND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE.

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

Garcia herself has access to a meal plan, but that does not include her son. “I became desperate and was looking for local community fridges and/or food distribution events on the weekends,” she told The Highlander.

Shortly after the beginning of her search, Garcia discovered the Little Free Pantry program, immediately submitted an application for Oban Housing and contacted UCR Housing Services to request aid. Her request was quickly accepted, and she was connected with UCR Basic Needs in order to help support the pantry.

Items reportedly change depending upon availability, but currently, the pantry is being supplied with an assortment of goods from baby

NEWS IN BRIEF:

formula to macaroni and cheese boxes.

“Little Free Pantries help neighbors help neighbors,” Cuesta stated, adding that these pantries are most ideal for those who are not as easily able to fulfill everyday food and/or personal needs. Community-supported, each pantry requires individuals who will allow the unit to be on their property, individuals who will aid in physical installation, as well as individuals who will take charge of upkeep as needed.

For those interested in applying for a pantry in their own neighborhood or elsewhere around H the city, email Neighbor@RiversideCa.gov. ■

ASUCR senators provide updates on the affairs of CHASS AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief

On March 3, ASUCR’s CHASS senators met with the Interim Dean of CHASS Juliet McMullin to discuss budget cuts, classroom density for fall 2021, the current academic regulations for spring 2021, student efforts to implement an American Sign Language class at UCR and the current status of creating a Black Studies Department.

CHASS is currently anticipating an 11% budget cut that could lead to potential faculty shortages and a reduction in resources for undergraduates and graduate students alike. In her meeting with CHASS senators, McMullin told students that CHASS has an initiative to protect the TA budget from being cut. CHASS senators proposed the creation of a working group of campus organizations and administrators in order to collectively lobby UCOP for equitable funding.

Based on their conversation with McMullin, CHASS senators

anticipate that fall 2021 courses with more than 250 students will take place online. A number of secondary activities, like discussions, may also be online. CHASS aims to have 75% of all “course-earning classes” (classes that have units) be in person for fall 2021.

CHASS senators and a representative from the American Sign Language Club also presented their advocacy and research to implement an ASL course at UCR to the dean. The proposed ASL course is subject to approval from the Academic Senate.

A proposal to create a Black Studies Department was also discussed in the meeting. The current proposal is being spearheaded by a faculty working group who are in the stages of submitting their proposal for approval. In order to be approved, it must pass the CHASS Executive Committee and the Academic Senate. A Black Studies Department once existed at UCR, but it was dismantled in the 1980s H due to budget cuts. ■

CHASS SENATORS ADDRESSED BUDGET CUTS, CLASSROOM DENSITY, ASL COURSES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A BLACK STUDIES DEPARTMENT IN A MEETING WITH INTERIM DEAN OF CHASS JULIET MCMULLIN.

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NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF: UCR instates new COVID-19 cleaning crew

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DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

UCR’s Environmental and Resource Services for Facilities Services has organized a new cleaning task force dedicated to cleansing and sanitizing areas of the university campus that may have been contaminated through contact with COVID-19. This newly implemented 15-member team is comprised of existing housekeeping and janitorial staff who volunteered themselves to help out.

According to Hassan Ghamlouch, the director of Environmental and Resource Services for Facilities Services, though the custodial staff had been trained in altering some of their regular duties in order to accommodate the virus, the university had still been outsourcing cleaning services in order to take care of the spaces that were thought to have been seriously contaminated. Forming this group with on-campus employees reportedly allows for more prompt responses to

decontamination requests, as well as a significant amount of financial savings since they are no longer paying contractors.

Ghamlouch added that his department has partnered with the on-campus Environmental Health and Safety Department in order to organize in-depth training sessions for the volunteers that abide by all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California Institutions of Higher Education guidelines. These sessions focus on every aspect of proper sanitization and protective

gear application, like “the donning and doffing and the use of PPE’s” that were specifically purchased for this new task force.

In addition to attending to these extra duties, the volunteers will be continuing with their regular day to day tasks. “We are very proud of our staff who continue to provide this essential service to our campus during the pandemic … and look forward to a brighter day when the campus reopens and welcomes back our students, faculty and supporting H staff,” Ghamlouch concluded. ■

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UCR FACILITIES SERVICES RECEIVE TRAINING FOR CORONAVIRUS DECONTAMINATION.

Opinions

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL WITH DEMOCRATS IN POWER, TIGHTER GUN LAWS AND BANNING ASSAULT RIFLES IN THE US MUST BE HURRIED TO PREVENT FURTHER BLOODSHED.

Enough is enough — we must ban assault rifles now

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t time of writing, at least 20 mass shootings have occured since the Atlanta hate crime on March 16 which left eight people dead. With these tragedies, the Biden administration has begun to seek a full ban on assault weapons and the tightening of gun laws in the U.S. However, Republicans are still immovable on the subject. Much worse, Democrats do not seem to be taking full advantage of the majority they have in Congress. While this is frustrating to any sensible person concerned about safety, Biden still has the potential to make substantial progress in scaling back the accessibility of firearms in America. In order for this to be successful, he must be open to emulating the gun laws in other countries and putting pressure on the Democrats in Congress to do their part.

Republicans have offered little hope of working toward a safer country, which is mainly a consequence of the tight grip that the National Rifle Association has on these politicians’ wallets. And though the safety of children and people of color are huge priorities, the Republican party refuses to budge when it comes to their beloved assault rifles. However, if Republicans are unwilling to compromise on the issue, then Democrats shouldn’t either. Immovable Republicans should not be the reason why this important piece of legislation fails to pass.

On the contrary, Democrats are in a unique position where they hold a

majority in Congress and therefore, must waste no time in passing gun safety laws.

Democrats give an immense amount of leeway to appease Republicans and try to appear bipartisan. If the roles were reversed, it would be highly unlikely that Republicans would act in the same way. There would be no room for debate, and they would not think twice about the desires or concerns of others.

It’s time that Democrats grow a backbone and take a more rigid approach to gun control laws and the banning of assault rifles. If actions aren’t taken promptly, it may become too late to make changes. Playing nice and trying to convince the other side has proven to be ineffective in the past, and it will not get easier from here. If they continue trying to please Republicans, any legislation passed would likely be a watered down version of what it should be.

Extremely strong gun control laws and a sweeping assault rifle ban must be implemented to fight mass shootings in America. On the surface, given Biden’s moderate stance coupled with a weak Congress, there appears to be little to no hope that he will put pressure on imposing strict gun control. He has heavily emphasized healing and unification, so it looks unlikely that he will try to pass anything that might rock the boat.

However, citizens should not completely lose hope. Biden has strong experience when it comes to gun control, and although it may have been difficult to squeeze anything past Republicans in the past, Biden may be able to get

more effective legislation passed with the Congress that we have now. Afterall, he was the one who passed an assault weapons ban in 1994, and following the Sandy Hook shooting, he made a number of proposals for gun control during the Obama administration. This not only proves that he feels strongly about the issue, but it also gives hope that he has the capability to bring forth change.

In terms of rhetoric, Biden proves that he is a staunch proponent of gun control, but in addition to urging Congress, he must also be open to learning from other countries. Places such as Japan have almost eradicated gun violence by including extensive mental health and criminal record checks in their processes.

Additionally, Ireland has exceptional gun laws, where there is extremely heavy restriction on the type of firearms people are allowed to own.

Most similar to the U.S. — but still more effective — Canada has a tier system where they classify their guns in three categories: prohibited, restricted and unrestricted. Although Canada’s laws seem a bit loose considering what we wish to achieve with the U.S., it’s still an easily achievable step in terms of what America can do with tightening their gun laws. Canada’s laws also include background checks that consist of mental illness screenings and looking into if an individual has been associated with violence, attempted violence and domestic violence.

The U.S. seemingly has some of the loosest gun control laws in the world —

the effects of this has spoken for itself. At the very bare minimum, if we are unable to ban assault rifles in the U.S. — although that should be the ultimate goal — we must do what these countries have done and implement a stricter process to obtain them. There is absolutely no reason why the average citizen should have military grade assault rifles at their disposal. Even with less intensive firearms, people need a better reason that holds more weight than just self defense. Anyone can use the reason for self defense, and we must crack down on individuals who are trying to get their hands on a tool which can kill innocent civilians.

There shouldn’t be a next time in terms of another mass shooting in America.

Congress should not wait in order to take gigantic strides towards tightening gun laws and banning assault weapons. While Biden has the heart and capability to make change, he must be backed by a stronger Congress in order to ensure that citizens in America are safe from gun-wielding fanatics. The time is now to follow in other country’s footsteps and to implement sweeping legislation that eliminates the H danger of these destructive weapons. ■

The Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of The Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.

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OPINIONS

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

Spring Breakers in Miami: traveling during the pandemic and police brutality DAVID MORENO Contributing Writer

After spending over a year in quarantine, we should still be cautious when it comes to long-distance and nonessential travel.

Over spring break holiday, Miami had a large influx of people coming into the city. Tactics like an 8 p.m. curfew were announced to help deviate crowds from the area. Large crowds gathered predominantly in the South Beach area where eventually, they started to be turned away by local authorities. Unfortunately, when individuals gather in mass crowds like the ones in Miami, it only sets us back. However, that still does not give police departments any right to use unnecessary force when breaking up the crowds, especially when the crowds were predominantly composed of young Black people.

Likewise, the state had already lifted a majority of their COVID-19 restrictions deeming this level of force used by law enforcement unnecessary. Large-scale police attacks like the ones in Miami only serve to show the division in this country.

State and local government officials should have anticipated the surge of people coming into Miami for spring break. And before escalating to using excessive force, they should have done a better job at preventing large groups from gathering in the first place.

The Miami police department could easily try and argue their case for the use of intense force on spring breakers. Breaking COVID-19 safety guidelines and holding mass gatherings directly endangers local communities. While the police department was only trying to maintain order, the execution of their plan only created more hostility between officers and civilians.

Instead of working with local community

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IN MIAMI, DANGEROUSLY LARGE CROWDS OF SPRING BREAKERS WERE MET WITH UNNECESSARY FORCE FROM LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS.

leaders to help disperse the crowds in safer ways, the police officers relied heavily on the use of unnecessary force. Although the spring breakers should have anticipated pushback from local law enforcement, this does not justify the fact that other preventative measures could have been set in place to avoid any violence at all.

Police brutality has become a central topic of discussion throughout the country over the past year, but for many, this has been a lifelong issue. Anyone gathering in such large crowds during this pandemic should be properly held accountable. But earlier this year, when majority white crowds started to gather at the state capital, force used by law enforcement was little to none. When white people rally in enormous crowds and demand to take up space, they are never met with unnecessary violence from authorities. The disparity of police treatment between people of color, specifically Black people, and their white counterparts in this country is as clear as day. It’s important to acknowledge that this issue goes beyond just crowds breaking COVID-19 restrictions.

In the case of the spring breakers, unnecessary travel during this pandemic should be looked down upon. Over the past year, we have seen how the

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COVID-19 virus has disproportionately affected communities of color. And this should have been more than enough evidence to stay home and not participate in the spread of COVID-19. Individuals in these communities already face higher difficulties accessing COVID-19 testing and vaccination appointments.

Unnecessary travel only puts them at a higher risk of spreading COVID-19 to members within their own communities.

It’s vital that before anyone wants to travel they take the proper steps to ensure they aren’t going to put their communities at risk.

State officials in Florida recently lifted a majority of their COVID-19 safety restrictions. In addition to this, Gov. Ron DeSantis emphasized that Florida never even had a mask mandate. The state was quick to welcome tourists back, allowing places like Disney World to continue normal operations. As a result, the state’s

policies have directly led to a surge of COVID-19 cases, especially among younger people. Over the past week, the state has averaged over 5,000 new cases per day. To prevent unnecessary mass gatherings, state officials need to enforce stricter COVID-19 safety guidelines.

When we start the process of reopening spaces too soon, we run the risk of deadly surges. The case of spring breakers down in Miami is a great example of how our government is not taking the proper steps to ensure everyone’s safety during this pandemic.It also shines a very important light about how marginalized communities continue to suffer at the hands of our police departments. The ways in which police officers have and continue to treat people of color in this country stems from a larger pool of systemic issues. This issue is just one of the many systemic ways in which oppressive tactics have been inflicted onto H these communities. ■

American Jesuits are paying racial reparations, other missionary religions should follow their lead EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor

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CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES HAVE CAUSED PLENTY OF RACIAL DAMAGE AROUND THE WORLD. NOW THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IS PAYING UP, OTHERS SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THEIR EXAMPLE.

In the middle of March, the Jesuits of America pledged to give $100 million to racial healing organizations. The motivator for this was their partnership with the GU272 Descendants Association, which seeks to remember the 272 slaves that Jesuits sold in 1838 to help pay debts for Georgetown University. Though other denominations of Christianity are calling for reparations to be paid, this great move for racial reparations is immense, and Christian denominations who rely on or have relied on missionary work in the past should take note of what this group is doing.

Though religion is very near and dear to the communities of many — even in countries where Christianity was introduced by white missionaries — the harm that it has caused worldwide must be taken into consideration. When European missionaries came to the Americas, they forced Native Americans to assimilate to their cultures and religions. They believed native religions were pagan and that Native Americans were less than human because they did not know about Christianity. There is, of course, nuance to these interactions, but in the long run, these attempts to force

assimilation have led to the oppression of native religions that still occurs in the 21st century. Historical oppression such as this should force different sects of Christianity to re-evaluate their racist pasts and offer up reparations to heal the communities that still suffer today.

Christian sects should not only look at repairing their wrongdoings of the past. They also need to look at the impact their missionary trips are having in the present. For many religions, going on mission trips is an important part of being a member. And though most mission organizations these days do it for the sake of volunteer work, there are still plenty of sects, like Mormons, who go out to evangelize abroad. But despite their good intentions, these evangelical mission trips should be reanalyzed.

Though they are a cornerstone of faith for many, some younger missionaries struggle with feeling a white savior complex, given the long history of oppression caused by missionaries before them. These feelings should not be ignored; the uncomfortable feeling of intruding on another person’s life and beliefs should speak volumes about the past of Christian missionaries, as well as those in the present.

As attitudes are shifting among Generation Z missionaries, religions themselves should examine what

missions mean to them in the modern world. Considering that as of 2020 there are approximately 2.4 billion Christians worldwide, it’s not a stretch to conclude that there’s not too much “foreign land” to evangelize anymore.

The majority of the population is aware of Christianity, and if they do not want to join the religion, then no amount of mission trips from privileged American kids could change their mind.

Christianity needs to examine its past and its present in order to improve in the future. The American Jesuits taking these steps to offer racial reparations for their organization’s wrongdoings are a great start. Other sects should follow suit in re-evaluating their stances on evangelization in the modern world, as well as examining their organizations’ wrongdoings against people of color.

Though the line of race and religion is a tricky one to dissect, modern-day Christians must admit the wrongdoings of their organizations by giving back to the communities that they harmed long ago. And though no amount of money will replace the lives and cultural values lost because of missionaries of older times, moves to help racial healing in the modern day where it is needed most is the most kind, Christlike motion that H can be done. ■

8 MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

We missed out on the $15 minimum wage increase LEAVING A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE OUT OF THE COVID-19 RELIEF BILL WAS A COUNTERPROGRESSIVE MOVE THAT COULD HAVE IMPROVED MANY LIVES.

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ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

Joe Biden’s presidency offered hope for extensive change in the nation. One of the many measures that we looked forward to was the American Rescue Plan. Many proposals were added to the plan; however, a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $15 was left out.

Omitting the minimum wage increase from the relief bill was a missed opportunity that could have improved many lives. And President Biden’s hands are not tied as his administration has implied.

At the stimulus bill’s core, is it’s purpose to provide more aid for the unemployed, the hungry and those facing eviction. The plan itself called for sending a second round of $1,400 checks to those eligible, increasing unemployment aid to $400 a week and extending benefits until September. Additionally, the bill provides $25 billion in rent relief and increases food stamp benefits to help feed the hungry.

Biden also wanted the plan to provide plenty of support to small businesses and front-line workers. Furthermore, the plan aimed to improve testing, vaccine rollout and distribution. The last proposal called for legislation to begin raising the minimum wage in stages until it hits $15 in 2025 — though this was unfortunately left off at the last moment.

The wage increase had been proposed for quite some time. Organized labor groups have consistently made efforts to advocate for a $15 per hour minimum wage for decades. However, shifting political opinions and widespread economic

turmoil makes a minimum wage increase an appealing maneuver, with the American Rescue Plan as the best opportunity to implement such a change. Senator Bernie Sanders offered an amendment to the bill that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025; however, the amendment was voted down by a 58 to 42 count where the Senate parliamentarian determined the wage hike did not qualify under senate rules.

President Biden’s response to this was less than ideal for who we consider to be the most progressive president we have had. On the campaign trail, Biden consistently voiced his support for increasing the minimum wage. Even after the election when Bernie Sanders asked if Biden supported a $15 federal minimum wage, the latter responded positively.

Biden even formerly advocated for a similar provision in the CARES Act, but met opposition from Republicans.

Though the focus of his proposition was an additional $13 increase to support essential workers affected by the pandemic, such a proposal was one of the first during the initial stages of the crisis. Biden claimed that the increase would ensure that workers can sustain their families, especially if they had gotten sick.

Democrats who now have a majority could have passed the bill through budget reconciliation, but this unfortunately failed to occur. Furthermore, Biden has executive authority and could have put in more effort to make do on his promises. Unfortunately, this means that we’re likely going to have to wait until another solid opportunity arises. After all, increasing the minimum

wage is a rather difficult process that has a number of drawbacks — ­ many of which are used by the opposition to strike down the proposal.

The main concerns of the opposition are that raising the minimum wage will lead to an increase in layoffs due to budgetary problems, increased prices, cost of living and limited employment opportunities.

Consequently, this may result in the usage of outsourcing to places with lower minimum wage standards. From a political standpoint, firm opposition is present from the Republican party along with some opposition in the Democratic party as well.

But the benefits of such a change far outweigh the costs. Raising the minimum wage allows families to keep up with inflation and maintain economic stability. The effect of increased wages will then contribute to spending, raising demand and creating more jobs directly, thereby stimulating the economy. Tax revenues should increase while reliance on government assistance will decrease.

Conditions in the country can improve significantly if we close the wage and poverty gap. Doing so will lead to a more progessive, efficient society due to increased motivation and worker satisfaction among minimum wage employees.

Ample time remains for the Biden administration to implement a $15 minimum wage. However, if Biden remains ambivalent toward supporting and fighting for progressive legislation, then the possibility for a more economically stable society may be out of our reach for the next few years, despite how beneficial H it may be during the pandemic. ■

Skeptics spread irrational fear and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine

COURTESY OF PEXELS

HEEWON KIM Contributing Writer

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOULD STRAY AWAY FROM SUBJECTIVE SKEPTICS AND THEIR MISINFORMATION. Although the world had been pondering over when the COVID-19 vaccine would be released and available for everyone, there were a good few who were still skeptical. Despite ex-Vice President Mike Pence publicly receiving the vaccine on

live television and professional medical platforms that testify to the safety of this vaccine, there are people who are still against receiving this shot. The reason for government officials to have first received the shot was not for mere show, but to gain their citizens’ trust and to show that it is safe to be vaccinated.

One highlighted group that seems to be the most bothered by the vaccine are farright extremists. The same people who have pushed their political agenda with the Stop the Steal Movement have started to spread misinformation about the virus and the vaccination process. The Stop the Steal Movement was started by the right in an attempt to overturn the election results of 2020. Although from their perspective, their loss is unfortunate, their spread of information is now raising controversy in another area.

The Stop the Steal Movement tried to bring Trump back into office and to eventually have the government work in a way that was advantageous to the Republican party. Now that President Biden has been officially inaugurated, farright activists have been throwing in efforts to undermine the government. They attack the credibility of the vaccine, government officials and even medical professionals. If anything, the American public should push their trust toward the medical professionals, who can give objective feedback, rather than the opinions of far-right extremists who publish their own subjective opinions with no form of medical proof.

One of the major ways that they have been shaking public opinion is by continuously spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. While medical professionals and online

platforms are publishing as much credible information as they can, skeptics seem to be diluting these findings with their own false ideas. They have published their own articles without any basis in scientific fact and with fearmongering headlines, which only wreaks havoc and incites fear among the American public.

Despite the COVID-19 vaccine increasing in availability, skeptics of the vaccine have created their own pandemic by spreading fear and distrust toward something positive and our best chance to get out of this pandemic. While far-right extremists may not be the only group of people that are against the vaccine, their public efforts of spreading misinformation about the virus does not help the mindsets of those who are easily swayed by the H media. ■

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Features

FEATURES

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

9

A closer inspection of the ocean waves through a photographic lens ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor

The California Museum of Photography and Culver Center of the Arts boasts a collection of pieces created by many talented artists. On the first Thursday of every month, UCR Arts shines a spotlight on some of these amazing pieces and welcomes students and staff to participate in a detailed analysis of specific artworks.

On April 1, UCR Arts hosted a slow art walk centered around photographs with an ocean view.

This First Thursdays event had a surprisingly small audience compared to the ones that I’ve attended in the past.

There were roughly five people in the Zoom meeting, but the size of the group did not deter from the experience. The moderator, Cambra Sklarz, was friendly toward all the viewers and opened up the meeting by asking us about our favorite beaches. I don’t have a preference because I’m not an avid beachgoer, but one participant mentioned that their favorite was Laguna Beach.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, Sklarz showed a PowerPoint of different photographs involving the ocean and challenged viewers to consider the elements in the photos. It was interesting to see the different oceanic scenes that photographers chose to capture. The photos were taken from places such as

UCR ARTS HOSTED A FIRST THURSDAYS EVENT, A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE THAT GIVES AUDIENCES A CHANCE TO FORM A DEEPER ANALYSIS OF ARTWORKS FOUND IN THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND CULVER CENTER OF THE ARTS.

Newfoundland, Hawaii and Oregon, displaying a variety of landscapes. Most of the images were taken in black and white. A few participants commented on how the lack of colors took away from the details of the piece, leaving room for the imagination. Others noted that the images were taken at varying times of day based on the shadows.

Although the images were of the same subject matter, they were all unique and taken from different vantage points, casting different tones. One photo of a crowded beach showed the oceanic view as a loud, community experience.

Since this photo was taken from a higher perspective, it further emphasized the vast, collectiveness of the ocean. Another photo depicted a single person standing atop a rock and looking out at the ocean pensively. This photo reflected a feeling of loneliness, and it’s closer angle made the photo feel more personal. The last photo that was shown was of an octopus sitting on the beach. The absurdity of seeing the sea creature lying on the sand ended the meeting on a lighthearted note.

This First Thursdays event was

COURTESY OF UCR ARTS

informative and the small group environment was friendly, and people felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions with everyone. I recommend attending one of these programs if you get the chance, especially if you are a fan of the arts. On April 10, UCR Arts is hosting a similar event called “Slow Art Day.” This event will include yoga, three Slow Art tours and sound bath meditation.

For more information, check out the UCR H Arts website.■

There’s no fooling around with astronomy ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RIVERSIDE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, UCR’S DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY HOSTED A VIRTUAL STARGAZING EVENT ON APRIL FOOLS’ DAY TO DEBUNK SOME MYTHS AND COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS.

April 1, also known as April Fools’ Day is traditionally a day where people make practical jokes or create hoaxes. However, the Riverside Astronomical Society, in collaboration with UCR’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, hosted a fun triviafilled event which aimed at debunking common misconceptions within the field of astronomy. In other words, they weren’t fooling around.

The event started promptly at 8 p.m. with co-host Xinnan Du, who is part of the public outreach program for UCR’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, and John Liderbach-Vega, the outreach director for RAS, introducing themselves to the audience. Both of them were very upbeat and excited to be hosting the event.

Before getting started, Du introduced chat moderators who were tasked with answering questions in the chat or saving them for the Q&A portion of the night.

Many of the moderators were UCR graduate students, such as Jessia Dopel, Garret

Lopez, Yongda Zhu, Ming-Feng Ho and Amanda Pagul. Others hailed from different universities, such as Franco Iglesias from CSULA or the RAS such as Cheryl Wilcox.

Nonetheless, these moderators ensured a safe space for attendees to participate and debunk these myths.

One of the first myths that was debunked was life on Mars. A member of the RAS gave a presentation about martian canals, a phenomenon that began in the late 19th century that was widely believed to be a sign of intelligent life on Mars. However, after further investigation using highresolution mapping, it was discovered that these canals were an optical illusion.

After this presentation, Alex McConohay from the RAS set out to debunk the myths associated with the North Star. The North Star was widely believed to be the brightest star, due north, constant and even a universal guide. As shown by McConohay, all of this is untrue. The North Star, also known as Polaris, is actually ranked 50 in brightness and is not actually north as it is three-quarters of a degree away from the North Pole. McConohay also explained that the North Pole moves around the sky every 26,000 years, so in 26,000 years from now, it is possible to have a different star as our north star.

McConohay went on to describe that Polaris cannot be seen south of the equator and thus cannot be a universal guide. This presentation debunked a lot of myths I personally believed to be true, especially considering the role the North Star has played in popular media. It was very insightful and educational.

What followed next was a trivia portion.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

One of the questions asked was: Is a planetary nebula associated with a planet?

Ho answered this question by explaining that a planetary nebula is a remnant of smaller stars that have shed their outer layers of gas and are only named as such due to their similar appearance with planets.

Hosts Du and Linderbach-Vega then led a storytime in which they told the tale of Galileo, who after looking into a telescope, believed that the stars did not revolve around Earth. This challenged the church’s belief that Earth was in the middle of the solar system, which led to Galileo being placed under house arrest. Later, Copernicus came up with the heliocentric theory that the solar system revolves around the sun. His theory was also challenged by the church which got him banned. Over the years, many people died for believing in heliocentrism.

As stated by Du, “What we know today may not be what we know tomorrow.”

Jose Castro from the RAS debunked myths regarding cheap high-powered telescopes and gave viewers some tips

on how to find good quality telescopes for viewing the night sky. Manny Leinz also debunked the theory that claimed the Milky Way to be the whole universe. Leinz explained the different galaxies, such as the Andromeda Galaxy and the Leo Triplet. In short, there is more out there than meets the eye.

Lastly, there was a Q&A segment where an attendee named Zayanna M. asked, “Are the ice caps on Mars drinkable? Does that mean there is water on Mars?” These questions were answered by Pagul, who explained that the ice caps on Mars are actually dry ice which then turn into carbon dioxide and gas.

The event ended with moderators linking a survey for a chance to win astronomy calendars. Overall, the event was very fun and educational. A lot of what I believed was debunked, such as the myths of the North Star. The next event will be held on H May 6. ■

10 MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

Radar

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

‘Invincible’ is as thrilling as it is visually alluring

COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS

KEVIN SANCHEZ Assistant Radar Editor

Since the release of “The Boys” Season Two, the trend of the superhero genre with a gory twist continues to receive the golden treatment on the silver screen.

Created by Robert Kirkman and based on the Image Comics series of the same name, the Amazon Prime adult animated series centers on the seemingly mundane high school life of Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), who is eagerly waiting for his powers to kick in. After his powers finally do surface, the typical concoction of superpowers: superhuman strength, speed and agility, Mark, now ‘Invincible,’ realizes he is not as prepared as the job demands. Life as a superhero may not be as simple as he had imagined, especially after taking a particularly ruthless gut punch during training with his father, the ultrapowerful Omni-Man, and a lackluster performance with the superpowered Teen Team. Meanwhile, Earth’s most powerful defender, Nolan Grayson aka Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), plays the role of an involved but emotionally distant father who appears to have some kind of friction with the Guardians of the Globe, the resident super team. This conflict reaches a quick resolution by the end of the episode.

With Omni-Man hospitalized and the

ADULT ANIMATION GETS THE SUPERHERO TREATMENT WITH A STELLAR CASTING LINEUP Guardians apparently defunct, the Global Defense Agency led by the hard-edged Cecil Steadman (Walton Goggins) scrambles to find a replacement team. After a successful stand against an alien invasion (an alien species referred to as the Flaxons), Robot (Zachary Quinto) is tasked with assembling a new team, one that is eventually made up of former members of the Teen Team. Mark befriends Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs), a prominent member of the Teen Team, and strikes up the first of many inter-superhero friendships.

After finally defeating the Flaxons, Mark embarks on his first space mission, where he goes toe-to-toe with the orange-skinned Allen the Alien (Seth Rogan), a shredded interplanetary space agent. Soon realizing a lapse in communication, Allen hilariously apologizes for the altercation, admitting he was actually looking for the planet “Urath.”

Eventually, a new Guardians of the Globe is assembled, and suspicions continue to mount against Nolan, with his wife Debbie Grayson (Sandra Oh) also growing doubtful of her husband’s true nature.

For fans of the original comic, this

series is a homerun. With its comic accurate costume design and sticking to the focal narrative of its source material, “Invincible” features an array of likeable characters, with the exception of the unbearably obnoxious Rex Splode (Jason Mantzoukas). While the dialogue is mostly lighthearted in nature, it has just the right amount of quip and welltimed witticisms that add to the already high enjoyability of this series. While the drama largely centers around the lives of teenaged characters, it’s engaging enough to make them interesting.

If not for the occasional stiffness, the animation is mostly smooth and crisp.

Featuring some scenic flyover sequences across the shimmering skyscrapers of New York City, sticking to its source material’s color palette was clearly the right move.

Furthermore, if there was one crowning achievement in the production of this series, it would have to go to the thrilling battle sequences. Beginning with the dramatic entrance of the Guardians of the Globe in episode one, the series maintains consistent momentum in the direction of its plot. Its lead characters have ambiguous motivations, but the audience can gather enough information to determine which side of the moral spectrum they land on. Nolan Grayson clearly has certain ulterior motivations, but

‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ lives up to the original trilogy JASHANPREET MALHI Staff Writer

Disney+ recently released films, such as “Soul” and “Raya and the last Dragon,” which have received positive feedback from audiences. Its latest release, “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,” is yet another win for Disney with little flaws and a refreshing take on what sports actually entail. This new addition to the “The Mighty Ducks’’ franchise provides a new take on the Ducks hockey team as bullies. The new series will be a 10-episode-long family-comedy series.

After being let go from the Mighty Ducks hockey team, Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) and his mother Alex (Lauren Graham) seek to form their own team to challenge the Ducks.

Throughout the episode, the mother and son face their own struggles: Evan loses hope to find players for the team, while Alex is pressed for time to find an ice rink and coach before their first game. She eventually encounters Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), a retired hockey coach and ice rink owner who claims to hate hockey. The pilot episode does a good job at setting up the story, so the audience isn’t required to watch the ‘90s “Mighty Ducks” franchise to understand it.

“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’’ has a good cast and team with different personalities, establishing outcasts that break away from the herd. While recruiting for his

team, Evan has a brooding mentality and is on the verge of giving up but takes a stance to empower others to join him. Their goalie (Luke Islam) is devoid of energy and wants to be left alone but uses the strength of his fast reflexes to be on the team. Maya (Taegen Burns) strays away from being one of the popular girls at school and joins the team.

Nick Gaines (Maxwell Simkins) is hilarious and adds to the lighthearted nature of the show with great one-liners. The characters make for a dysfunctional team, but they are fun to see on screen as each portrays the cheesy message of not being afraid to be yourself.

The show is also nostalgic with little flaws.

Graham’s acting can be too over the top, often delivering cringe-worthy lines. Evan is told to “don’t bother” at hockey when he gets cut from the team, and the show delivers that line several times. In one scene, Alex says their team name is “The Don’t Bothers,” which is a failed attempt at humor. After Graham’s exceptional performance in the series from the 2000s, “Gilmore Girls,” it was disappointing to see her embarrassing lines and scenes in “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.”

However, the show seems to borrow from her recent role as Lorelai Gilmore and provides a warm feeling as she is still seen as a single mother who is trying to keep it together for her child. By starring Emilio Estevez, who was the protagonist in “The Mighty Ducks” franchise, the show provides a nostalgic feeling for

anyone into the original films.

The show has an altogether fun tone to it with which audiences can relate to: parents can place themselves in Alex’s shoes and sympathize with her wanting to have a better life for her child, while younger audiences may relate to being misfits and the pressure to excel in sports. The show also parodies helicopter parenting as it pokes fun at parents that exaggerate sports and make extravagant purchases for their children’s games. In one scene, Alex makes the parents’ efforts seem extreme as she berates one of them for bringing a private trainer and child psychologist to the hockey game. The show offers a different perspective on sports that entails bringing individuals closer together and simply enjoying the moment, rather than just focusing on winning.

The pilot episode is a lighthearted watch that does an excellent job in establishing the storyline and makes for a promising series.

It focuses on getting a team together and introduces the well respected Gordon Bombay, so it can establish everlasting friendship among the teammates and Bombay’s possibility of returning to coaching in succeeding episodes.

An interesting aspect of the addition to the franchise is that it doesn’t just see sports as black and white or winning or losing; rather, it shows that the most important part of sports is the willingness to keep going, even when the H odds may not be in your favor. ■

the extent to which those motivations may lead can only be speculated. Cecil Steadman, who is the head of the CIA-equivalent Global Defense Agency, grows suspicious over the circumstances of the Guardians’ disappearance, an investigation that’s also being aided by a demon detective, Damien Darkblood (Clancy Brown) — a fusion of the hellspawn “Hellboy” and Watchmen’s “Rorschach.”

Despite some characters suffering from slight one-dimensionality, the sleekness of the animation and bombastic action sequences make this series a more than worthwhile watch. The buildup, while still unclear where it is taking us, is a riveting backdrop for a series that is tonally all over the place — lighthearted at certain moments with interweaving sequences of borderline H gratuitous gore.■

VERDICT:

There’s no question that this series was made with plenty of love and fanfare. The dialogue is lighthearted but still engaging, and while the excitement does trend somewhat downard by the end of the third episode, the sometimes gruesome battle sequences and interesting characters are more than enough to keep viewers intrigued.

DISNEY+ OFFERS A NUANCED APPROACH TO SPORTS THROUGH A TEAM OF OUTSIDERS.

COURTESY OF DISNEY PLATFORM DISTRIBUTION

VERDICT:

Cheesy at times, “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” is a fun-filled watch with a cast that radiates. It has a bright future ahead as it can explore the relationships of its characters and offers a unique approach to sports being more than just a means to victory. It’s an easy watch for all audiences.

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

Sports

SPORTS

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

13

UCR women’s tennis kickstarts their 2021 spring season

KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

The UCR women’s tennis team began their 2021 season on the road against San Diego State University on March 9.

After almost an entire year, the women returned to the courts. The eight-woman team, coached by Mark Henry since 1996, consists of only two freshmen, one sophomore, four juniors and one senior.

In the opening match of the season, the SDSU Warriors managed to sweep the Highlanders 7-0. Despite the losses, both junior Hanh Pham and junior Mahli Silpachai demonstrated great potential by forcing a third set in their singles matches.

Coach Henry was both disappointed and happy to be able to begin a new season.

“It’s always tough to lose 7-0, but the team really played well,” he said in a UCR press release. He added, “For our first match in a year I’m very pleased with the effort and competitiveness in both singles and doubles.”

The Highlanders’ next match took place at home against UC Irvine in a Big West matchup on March 25. UCR managed to earn three-set wins, earning them 2 points.

Senior Tia Elpusan and Pham both won their singles match against UCI, both taking the game all the way up to a decisive third set. Freshman Serina Saltzen and freshman Sydney Tran also earned a victory for the

Highlanders, winning their doubles match.

Unfortunately, UCR was unable to secure the victory, falling 5-2 to UCI. UCR’s next matchup also went down on the SRC tennis courts, this time against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.

Despite the 1-6 loss against the Gauchos, many athletes on the team managed to make personal progress, most notably sophomore Sofia Lazzaroni who garnered her first season win.

For their next matchup, the Highlanders headed toward Orange County to go up against the California State University Fullerton Titans on April 3. Maintaining steady progress, UCR earned another pair of three-set wins. Elpusan won her singles match against Sophomore Misaki Kobayashi. Junior Natalie Shama also earned a win for UCR against senior Jadie Acider. Each of the UCR athletes made it to the decisive third set in their matches, which allowed them to secure their wins.

Despite the victories, the Highlanders were unable to topple the Titans, falling 5-2.

Despite the shaky start, the Highlanders are ready to get back on the court. Their next opponent is UC San Diego on April 7.

The bout is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and H away from home on the San Diego coast. ■

AMIDST A SHAKY START, THE HIGHLANDERS MADE A STEADY PROGRESS TOWARD VICTORY.

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

UCR men’s tennis returns after a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

Men’s tennis is back in session at UCR for the 2021 spring season.The current team roster is composed of seven athletes, four freshmen, two sophomores and a redshirt senior. The young team is currently being coached by Mattias Johansson, who has been the head coach at UCR since 2015.

UCR’s opening match for the 2021 season happened almost an entire year after their last match on March 3, 2020.

The men’s team opened at home on the SRC tennis courts against Azusa Pacific University on March 5. The Highlanders faced the opposition headon despite being short by two men for the matchup. Opening strongly during the doubles matchups, UCR was able to land on their feet with a tight 7-6 win.

The Highlanders did their best in order to keep their momentum going in singles, forcing a third set each game, but were unable to keep it going. At the end of the day, UCR fell 1-6 to APU. The Highlanders’ next match was against University of Hawaii at the UH tennis complex on March 23 and 24.

UCR fell to the Rainbow Warriors on the first day of the matchup, 7-0. The Highlanders did their best to fight back on the second day of the matchup, but they were unfortunately unable to change course, losing 6-1. Despite the double loss, Johansson highlighted the potential he sees from his team throughout their various matches. He specifically noted the potential of redshirt senior Gilbert Chung, junior Nolan McCaig and

sophomore Jayson Blando, who managed to score UCR’s sole point. Ultimately, Joanson was just happy to be back on the court. “We are happy to be out there playing tennis again and competing. Our goal is to just improve day by day and see how far that takes us,” he said in a UCR press release.

The men’s team’s latest match was against the University of Las Vegas on March 31 under the Las Vegas sun. The Highlanders were unable to earn a point against UNLV, falling 7-0 to the Rebels in the first match. The Rebels managed to win two out of three doubles matches, earning them a point and enough momentum to go undefeated throughout the singles matches, granting them the win. UCR fell 5-2 in the second match of the day, coming up empty in all matches.

Johansson highlighted McCaig’s performance throughout the matches.

Despite the tough losses, he continues to remain optimistic about the upcoming season.

“It is always tough to lose matches, but as long as we make progress with each match played, we will continue to grow as a team,” he said in another UCR press release. “This is a very young group with a lot of potential. They just need a lot of playing experience, and we will get there.”

Johansson has faith in his predominantly young team and hopes to start earning victories very soon. The men’s team has another bout scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 at the SRC tennis courts against Concordia University H Irvine. ■

DESPITE A ROCKY START, THE TEAM REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON.

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS