Volume 69 Issue 23

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Monday, April 19, 2021

VOL. 69, ISSUE 23

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NEWS

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MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

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ASUCR

ASUCR continues to advocate for a safe campus reopening ASUCR HELD THEIR FIRST STATE OF THE ASSOCIATION MEETING OF SPRING QUARTER.

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

On Wednesday, April 14, ASUCR held their first State of the Association meeting of the spring quarter, where members of the Executive Cabinet briefed the senate on updates that they have had over the past few weeks.

SR-S21-005 Campus Advocacy for Reopening with Equity Act was presented by President Pro Tempore Orlando Cabalo and outlined the senate’s commitment to providing updates to the student body surrounding the ongoing changes to the UCR campus reopening. The resolution states that ASUCR President Luis Huerta will report weekly with updates from the Instructional/ Academic Continuity Working Group and other important information regarding campus reopening up until the end of his term.

Additionally, the Offices of Campus Internal Affairs and

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External Affairs will continue to advocate for the initiative proposed in the Executive Cabinet in January including the extension of S/NC, grading leniency and transitional return to in-person instruction to support students who cannot immediately return to campus in the fall.

They will also work to secure frequent communications and commitments regarding campus vaccination efforts leading up to the fall, as well as following up

with Residential Life and local housing to support students experiencing housing insecurity.

Executive Vice President Natalie Hernandez will designate senators to organize community spaces for students to voice their concerns regarding the campus reopening and continue to collaborate with resource centers on campus such as Counseling and Psychological Services, the Well, Basic Needs, R’Pantry, CalFresh and others.

The resolution was passed

with a vote of 15-0-0.

Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs Angelica Garcia updated the senate on the efforts of her office in the past few weeks. Garcia has been working with her team to provide students with informational graphics about the reopening of the Student Recreation Center and vaccine availability in Riverside. Garcia stated that the Diversity Council is working to organize community town halls in the upcoming

week and have implemented community hours where students can meet the members of the council through Zoom.

Vice President of Campus External Affairs Vincent Rasso briefed the senate on the work that his office has been participating in, including the UC Student Lobby Conference that was held on March 20 through 22, where Rasso was awarded Advocate of the Year. Rasso stated that his office is working on legislation such as a campus reopening bill, open textbooks support from ASUCR and UCPD accountability.

This week, from April 19 through 25 during the Sustainability Fair, GCAP will be giving away nearly $20,000 worth of eco-friendly and sustainable products and gift cards to places such as Patagonia, Plant Power, Zero Waste Store and Uvida.

Next week, the 2021 ASUCR Elections will be held virtually from April 19 through April 23.

The meeting was adjourned at H 7:56 p.m. ■

Fourth generation electronic cigarettes are just as harmful as older models DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

UCR STUDY FINDS THAT DESPITE SHIFTS IN DESIGN AESTHETICS, NEWER GENERATIONS OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES STILL POSE HEALTH RISKS.

A new UCR study published in March of this year indicates that in spite of evolving differences in design aesthetics, fourth generation electronic cigarettes pod atomizers are actually similar to those from previous generations and can leak harmful substances that lead to potentially serious health and environmental issues.

These aforementioned pod atomizers allow the electronic cigarette device to turn the nicotine-filled liquid into a mist when heated. “The atomizers of e-cigarettes contain harmful elements that may leach into e-liquids or transfer to the aerosol upon heating,” explained Esther Omaiye, a graduate student in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology Department and one of the first authors of the research study.

According to Prue Talbot, professor of cell biology at UCR and leader of the research team, these electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years, yet scientists know very little about what elements are actually present in the aerosols. Talbot added that earlier studies do indicate that harmful metals can be released from the atomizer, passed into the aerosol and subsequently, to the human user. “So this was the first step in trying to understand if that same phenomenon exists in the more newly evolved pod style products that are very popular now with adolescents and high school students,” she stated.

Through analyzing the metal substances found in the atomizers using scanning

electron microscopy and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, the team was able to identify and map metals in various components of the atomizers in various different electronic cigarette pod products from different manufacturers.

The team studied 11 fourth generation electronic cigarette pods ranging from six different popular brands. Though several components in the pods were similar, like air tubes and wicks, there were variations in the fluid reservoirs, battery capacity and elemental composition concerning the sample pods.

They identified 23 different elements in the pods, with the following found in higher amounts: nickel, chromium, iron, gold, copper, zinc, tin, oxygen, silicon, carbon and sodium. Omaiye indicated that some of these substances have been proven to cause “adverse human health effects due to chronic exposure.” They are linked to many human illnesses, such as: cardiovascular diseases, lung injury, cancer, renal damage, immune system suppression and more. She added that another issue has to do with these products being discarded into the environment, likely contributing to chemical pollution in both water and soil.

Within the published study, though they were able to find a connection between potentially harmful substances and fourth generation electronic cigarettes, the team emphasized that this is just the start of discerning the direct detrimental effects that the liquid and aerosol components of electronic cigarettes have on the average user, and further study is required to learn H more. ■

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NEWS

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UC Riverside launches Latino and Latin American Research Center focused on the changing demographics of the Inland Empire LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

Latinos make up 38.3% of UCR’s population, making it the largest ethnic group at UCR with nearly 10,000 students and positioning it as one of the most diverse universities in the country.

Chicanos in the Inland Empire have participated in a decades-long struggle to recruit students to UCR and to build up Latin American Studies, says Alfonso Gonzales Toribio, an associate professor in UCR’s Department of Ethnic Studies and the chair of the new Latino and Latin American Research Center.

Funded by a $2.9-million-dollar grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, the UC Riverside Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center seeks to advance an emergent hemispheric approach to understanding both Latinos in the United States and people and processes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Based in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, the goal of the center is to establish UCR as a leader in the hemispheric debates about Latinos, examine the linguistic practices of Latinos in Southern California and train the next generation of leaders and scholars that will critically shape the understanding of such topics. The center focuses on issues that are directly impacting the lives of Latinos and Latin Americans including linguistic justice, immigration and the ways in which the structures that colonialism set

up in the U.S. impact the lives of Latino communities.

Gonzalez Toribio has his focus on the Inland Empire. Growing up in Mira Loma to a mother who was a homemaker and a nanny and a father who was a construction worker, Gonzales told The Highlander that he feels connected to the communities that live here.

“The IE is a place that matters and it’s a place that is going to demand respect.”

Gonzales Toribio hopes to build up the research on the Latino experience in the Inland Empire, examine its demographic transformation and support the communities throughout the region in expressing their voices and developing a sense of their history. The center will also examine the region’s importance to Mexico and Central America, where the Inland Empire serves as a major source of remittances.

Claudia Holguin Mendoza, assistant professor of Spanish linguistics and coprincipal investigator of the center, will lead research on sociolinguistic justice and literacy, with a particular focus on the myths surrounding bilingualism. Growing up in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and studying at the University of Texas at El Paso, Holguin Mendoza understands the double standards of bilingualism in academia that oftentimes criticizes the language students are taught at home. Her women-led team is working to interview bilingual families in Southern California to discuss their experience learning their second language at home

and discuss their attitudes surrounding how Spanish is taught in schools. She hopes to change the way Spanish is taught to bilingual students in classrooms and dismantle myths surrounding informal and formal speech.

“Students are labeled as having incomplete acquisition if they do not speak their language perfectly,” said Holguin Mendoza, “but community members do not think that they are wrong, this is how we speak Spanish in Southern California.”

Her team hopes to involve communities in Southern California as much as possible and build a research project that can be taught nationwide.

So far, the center has held three events including a soft-launch, a panel with academics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico on the issues that have been highlighted in migrant communities with COVID-19 and another panel with academics, lawyers and activists on the migrant reforms proposed by President Joe Biden.

Moving forward, the center will host events focusing on social movements and Latinx Utopias, stated Ivan Aguirre Assistant Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies and active member of UCR’s Latinx and Latinamerican Faculty Working Group. “We want to build stronger cross campus networks to provide support for faculty, graduate and undergraduate research and knowledgeproduction, valuing what we all already H bring and building from there,” he stated. ■

THE CENTER SEEKS TO ADVANCE AN EMERGENT HEMISPHERIC APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING BOTH LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PEOPLE AND PROCESSES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

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Opinions

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OPINIONS

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Easy access to food is a right all students deserve

UCR AND UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND WASTE ON AND AROUND CAMPUS.

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ood insecurity continues to be a threat to students at UCR. In a survey done by the Basic Needs department on campus, more than 6 out of 10 students experience food insecurity. Three in 5 undergraduate students and 2 in 6 graduate students worry that their food will run out before they can afford more. Much worse, 1 in 5 undergraduate students and 1 in 6 graduate students have often skipped meals due to the inability to afford food. This issue cannot be ignored anymore — administration at UCR must do more to address food insecurity and waste instead of burdening its students to fix this issue by themselves.

Aside from R’pantry and R’garden, UCR has not done nearly enough to take care of its starving students. UCR has only scratched the surface of solutions pertaining to this problem.

If UCR’s faculty and upper administration take a proactive approach toward combating food insecurity and waste, the student body would witness unprecedented progress.

For starters, the luxury of eating at the dining halls must be extended to upperclassmen.

Dining halls throw away an immense amount of food; without fail, the day’s end comes with a horrendous amount of

food waste. Dining halls have a unique opportunity to collaborate with organizations and administrators in order to make sure that this obscene amount of waste does not continue. First years with unlimited dining hall meal plans are able to eat three meals a day monthly for roughly $8 a day; while this price ranges per meal plan, upperclassmen not living on campus are saddled with incredibly high prices for one meal. UCR must provide cheaper vouchers for upperclassmen to take advantage of, as the current price to eat at the dining hall is inaccessible.

Lowering the entrance fee could be an extremely helpful resource to starving upperclassmen. It shouldn’t be too difficult to implement — already, the dining halls have existing partnerships with organizations on campus in which they raffle free meal tickets. That plan should be broadened to include more of the student body.

On-campus eateries like the ones in the Highlander Union Building could also take a more proactive approach to solving food waste and insecurity issues.

For example, Rosa’s Fresh Pizza located in Philadelphia offers a pay-it-forward initiative where individuals can buy meals for someone else. The consumer leaves a Post-it on the wall that someone that may not have enough for a full meal can use as payment. An initiative like this

would greatly benefit students on campus trying to find affordable meals. This would also limit the amount of money students spend on food outside of school because their university would be able to provide for these basic needs.

Small changes implemented by the university would make life exceptionally easier for all students.

UCR should also take initiative in creating new ways to combat food issues that include local restaurants. For instance, two international students from San Diego State University created an app that connects individuals to local restaurants who can offer their leftover food on the app at the end of the day for a fraction of the cost. This not only eliminates any potential food waste, but also addresses food insecurity. If UCR were to develop such an app, it would help small businesses boost profits and also aid hungry students.

Unfortunately, a lot of restaurant owners believe in the common misconception that donating leftover food can increase their likelihood of being sued over food illnesses.

However, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects businesses from criminal liability in these cases. Thus, local Riverside restaurants should find no significant problems with working alongside the university by donating excess food to

students or the surrounding community. And though business owners might worry about losing customers during normal hours due to people waiting to get cheaper food on the app later, restaurants can fully control whether or not they will be giving food away at any given time.

With this solution, everyone wins, and most importantly, no one goes hungry.

While ideas such as food waste apps, dining hall vouchers and free meal Post-its are solutions to solving this problem, UCR must not burden its students with figuring this out on their own. All too often, universities depend on students to tackle these issues instead of taking responsibility in providing adequate aid for their students. Surely, the university and its large budget would be better equipped to implement these solutions than students are.

Food insecurity should not be a part of the long list of worries a student has to face. At the very least, UCR must allocate the correct funding and resources to its students in order to alleviate the problem of food waste and H insecurity. ■

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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Legalizing recreational marijuana provides minority groups with resources to succeed in the industry, but it won’t erase the years of damage they’ve already endured COURTESY OF PEXELS

DAVID MORENO Contributing Writer

NEW YORK PUSHES TO LEGALIZE THE USE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, PLACING “SOCIAL EQUITY” AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR INITIATIVE.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed new legislation legalizing the use of recreational marijuana. Under the new law, 40% of tax revenue from marijuana will be allocated to helping marginalized communities. Of course, while reinvesting the money into minority communities is a great starting point, this won’t undo the damage the state has already caused to those communities.

Millions of people’s lives hang in the balance of progressive legislation reform; as more states push for legalization, the same push should be continued on at a federal level.

The legalization of marijuana is a momentous step forward for the state of New York. This is especially true for the marginalized communities that have been greatly affected by restrictions surrounding marijuana in the past. Just this past year, New Yorkers of color made up 94% of marijuana-related arrests by the New York Police Department. These arrests bombarded thousands with felony charges that make it harder to access federal money or seek employment.

However, under this new law, people who were convicted of marijuanarelated charges will have their records automatically expunged. It will be easier for individuals to live freely without the fear of their past convictions coming back to haunt them. Additionally, the state will also implement a program that aims to give dispensary licenses to individuals who are a part of minority communities.

This ensures that white-owned marijuana businesses won’t monopolize the market.

While the governor of New York has been very proactive in getting this legislation passed so that these promises will come to fruition, it is up to the citizens of New York to focus on making sure the state actually delivers on the benefits minorities so rightfully deserve.

It’s been estimated that recreational marijuna sales will eventually make over $350 million in tax revenue and billions in sales. It should be the state’s top priority that communities who have been generationally affected by past unfair regulations are benefitting the most from this economic boost. Although nothing could make up for the valuable years many residents have lost due to marijuana-related criminal charges, it’s

still a great starting point for reform.

As more states push to legalize recreational marijuna use, the United States as a whole should be advocating for a change in federal legislation.

Recreational marijuana sales help local economies and the United States has the possibility of expanding this success nationwide. More importantly, changing federal restrictions will help millions of Americans who have been affected by harsh regulations. This would be a critical step in the right direction not only for reforming drug-related charges, but for changing the prison system as a whole in this country.

The state of New York has done a good job at pushing forward legislation with the intention to make it inclusive for minority groups. Besides merely legalizing the sale of marijuana and not allowing bigger corporations to completely take over the market, they have also allocated proper space exclusively for vendors from marginalized communities. Black and Latino communities need to be given the proper resources to succeed in a business they have historically been punished for H partaking in.■

Returning to normalcy means the return of systemic problems ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

Joe Biden’s presidency gave many hopes for extensive change to occur; already we have seen the country slowly but surely returning to normalcy with the fairly successful vaccine rollout.

However, at the same time, there has been a surge in tragic events that have transpired in the past few weeks. Multiple mass shootings have occurred all over the country, along with multiple instances of police brutality. As a result, these events unfortunately maintain the many systemic problems that have plagued this country since before the pandemic.

The Atlanta spa shooting was the first mass shooting that sparked major headlines this year. Eight people were killed, with six of them being women of Asian descent. And although the shooter responsible claimed his motive was due to his alleged sex addiction, it is clear that this tragedy was a hate crime, given the anti-Asian sentiments that have been on the rise due to the pandemic. In truth, the shootings that took place shed light on the alarming rise of gun violence and discrimination that has always been present in this country.

Unfortunately, only six days later, another mass shooting took place at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado where 10 people were killed.

The gunman also purchased his firearms

AS WE RETURN TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY AS VACCINE ROLLOUT CONTINUES, THE RETURN OF SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS MASS SHOOTINGS AND POLICE BRUTALITY ARE NOT SO WELCOME.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

legally. While we do not currently have a clear motive for the shootings, sources claim that the suspect’s Facebook page displayed expressions of paranoia and beliefs of being targeted for racism and Islamophobia. This tragedy not only adds to the long list of gun violence this year, but it also displays another issue that has failed to be addressed: mental health.

The country is still in dire need of gun reform that prohibits individuals with mental illnesses from ever obtaining a firearm.

At the time of writing, another mass shooting took place at a FedEx ground facility in Indianapolis, where a former employee shot and killed eight people and wounded several others. The shooter also purchased his gun legally and had also appeared in FBI reports prior to the shooting. A prior investigation had placed the suspect in temporary mental health care, and while there was no evidence of extremism, weapons were still

confiscated from his home. These three major shootings occurred within a span of a month and are only compounded by more tragedies.

Systemic issues unfortunately have risen on the other side of the law as well.

When police tried to detain 20-year-old Daunte Wright for an outstanding warrant, he was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop. Officer Kim Potter’s murder of Wright was allegedly accidental, with reports and bodycam footage showing her intent to grab her taser. The shooting is especially notable with George Floyd’s murder occuring only a year earlier.

Protests have similarly emerged with some turning violent, especially in light of recent events.

Adam Toledo, aged 13, was another victim of a fatal police shooting.

Bodycam footage shows a police officer chasing Toledo down an alleyway before yelling at him to stop. Toledo was shot despite the fact that the video showed

him raising his hands in the air. Reform is not limited to the wrong side of the law as both of these recent tragedies raise concerns over police conduct and the sudden rise in violence caused by law enforcement. The rise in gun violence seems to parallel the rise in police brutality cases, yet legislation and reforms to remedy these issues seem to never come.

All of these terrible events make it quite clear that mass reforms are needed in order to solve these systemic problems. Of course, it was not like these issues weren’t occurring in some sort of frequency throughout the pandemic and, of course, before it. However, it’s clear that the pace of these occurrences is picking up immensely with the slow reopening of the country. At this rate, we are more likely to return to a reopened America that’s not so different at all from H the America we knew before. ■

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OPINIONS

100 years later and the past feels all too present in Northern Ireland

COURTESY OF PEXELS

COLIN CARNEY Radar Editor

2021 marks the 100-year anniversary of Northern Ireland: a century filled with political upheaval, sectarian conflict and hard won peace. Since the partition in 1921, Northern Ireland has endured continued conflict between its two communities. The conflict has historically been fought between the Protestant majority, Unionists/loyalists who identify as British, and the Catholic minority, that is, Republicans or nationalists who identify as Irish. The conflict between these two groups plunged Northern Ireland into near constant turmoil as paramilitary groups on both sides fought a war of terror for decades. After decades of fighting, the two sides finally came together in 1998 and signed a power sharing agreement known today as the Good Friday Agreement.

In recent weeks, Northern Ireland has experienced continued conflict emerging from within unionist communities. News reports have been littered with footage of city buses engulfed in flames and children as young as 13 throwing petrol bombs at police officers and Republicans alike.

Many have blamed the public prosecutor’s decision to not press charges against the nationalist Sinn Fein party for attending a funeral despite COVID restrictions as the catalyst for the violent demonstrations.

However, though that decision may have acted as a trigger, the violence undoubtedly stemmed from a growing sense of isolation and dissatisfaction the unionists have increasingly felt following Brexit.

The political compromise that resulted in the finalization of Brexit effectively cut Northern Ireland off from the rest of the UK. In a lengthy effort to avoid

a land border on the island of Ireland, which would’ve caused unrest within Republican communities, Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed to establish a sea border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. This new border has imposed trade delays and shortages on goods arriving from the UK as well as forcing Northern Ireland to abide by EU regulations they have no say in creating.

This economic isolation from the rest of the UK has infuriated unionist communities who feel ignored by their elected representatives and have acted out violently as a result. Unfortunately, solutions to this dilemma are hard to come by, but there are steps that can be taken to reaffirm the unionist and nationalist commitment to peace.

Vital to curbing the recent violence is a concerted effort by politicians to reduce the rhetoric and work together to stem the tides. Fortunately, condemnation for the violence has been widespread; however, unionist politicians in the Democratic Unionist Party must act quickly to soften their own escalatory rhetoric.

In recent weeks, the DUP have come under fire for their actions before and after the violence began. As the violence has escalated, the DUP has been publically calling for the resignation of the police chief as well as meeting with representatives from former paramilitary organizations. These two actions have done nothing to de-escalate the conflict and have further enraged opposition. Furthermore, the DUP’s effort to play both sides of the conflict validates unionist dissatisfaction with their elected officials. The DUP campaigned for Brexit and have stood in the way of meaningful compromise.

Furthermore, even now as they are charged

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

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BREXIT’S SHORTSIGHTEDNESS HAS REIGNITED SECTARIAN DIVIDES AND JEOPARDIZED A HARD FOUGHT PEACE. with the implementation of the Irish protocol, they are actively campaigning against it.

Reducing the rhetoric and striving for dialogue is essential, but not everything.

Significant divides still exist in Northern Ireland that were never addressed by the Good Friday Agreement. If citizens of Northern Ireland are ever expected to coexist peacefully, whether as a part of the UK or in Ireland, they must learn to reconcile their differences. Even today, physical barriers still exist that divide nationalist Catholic communities from unionist Protestant communities. If lasting peace is to be achieved, and maintained in a post-Brexit world, significant efforts at reconciliation must be made. Policies of youth integration, public outreach and other more imaginative ways are necessary to reduce the societal divides that exist in Northern Ireland.

Most significant is the continued pressure Brexit will place on Northern Ireland. The issues above would exist without Brexit, but the UK’s departure from the EU forces Northern Ireland to face this insurmountable challenge now.

The isolation felt by the Northern Irish is further displayed by the utter dominance of the English political will and their utter disregard for the Northern Irish. Brexit was forced upon a Northern Irish population that voted against it by an English population that voted for it. With little regard for the logistical implementation, the English forced the Northern Irish to choose between their identities while remaining indifferent to their concerns. In order for peace to re-emerge on the island, political leaders in the UK and Ireland must turn their attention toward those who H often feel left behind.■

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Features MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

FEATURES

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Campus Cope: It’s a lonely walk to graduation ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

As I began a depressing year of “Zoom University,” I remember being hopeful that the shelter-inplace orders would be lifted by June 2020 but was in disbelief when 2020 graduates had an online ceremony. As I approached my own senior year, I was hoping for a sense of normalcy for my last two quarters at UCR, which ended up not happening. Now, the class of 2020 and 2021 have the option to have an in-person graduation. The only catch? There are no guests allowed.

It felt bittersweet reading the announcement made by Chancellor Wilcox regarding the plans for a limited in-person commencement.

As a first-generation student, I was looking forward to my graduation ceremony and my family’s plans to throw a party to celebrate.

Knowing that my family won’t be able to attend and see me graduate stings. However, I know that when that moment comes for me to walk, my family will still be seeing me and cheering me on.

A professor recently told me

that graduating is the culmination of your efforts and should be celebrated by yourself. With the recent announcement, I am grateful for this hybrid way of graduating. I can still get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in being able to wear the academic regalia and walk across a stage while my name is being read. These past four years at UCR have been filled with stressful study nights, overwhelming weeks and doubts about whether or not I could make it. The moment I turn the tassel on my cap will be mine and mine alone.

Although it would be great to have my family by my side, I know that from the other side of the screen, they will be proud of me.

Most importantly, it would mean a lot to me knowing that they are safe and not risking exposure to COVID-19.

Additionally, a limited in-person commencement would make me feel safe. A side effect of being in quarantine for so long, especially when I have been living alone, is that I find myself having anxiety when people are nearby. I feel

hyperaware of my surroundings and how many people are around me so much that I wonder how life used to be during pre-COVID times.

Even if commencement occurred like past years, I do not think I would participate due to my fears, even now that I am vaccinated.

A commencement that allows students to sign up for a specific time block with enforced social distancing and face masks will allow me to feel safe. To me, this is a happy medium. As much as we may wish for things to go back to normal after this global pandemic is over, the effects will still linger for longer; unfortunately, one of the traditions that is paying the price is the commencement ceremony.

It is easy for our worlds to be turned upside down from one day to the next, but to be turned back to what it used to be feels nearly impossible. It is a feat that will take longer than just a couple of good months. Regardless, this method of commencement does not mean you are alone. Your families will be watching and cheering you on.

Celebrate your efforts; they are H well deserved. ■

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

This Meat Lover’s sandwich is the ultimate cheat day meal for a student on the run By: Alexandria Esteban, Assistant Features Editor

THE HIGHLANDER OFFERS RECIPES THAT ARE QUICK AND EASY TO PREPARE MEALS FOR YOUR DAILY CONSUMPTION.

In between classes, studying and work, I can’t always find the time to make hot homemade meals.

Cooking on a stove or with an oven can often take more effort than it’s worth, and microwave meals are a sad substitute. As a result, I invested in a toaster oven so that I could make the warm and crispy meals that I enjoy without taking too much time out of my busy schedule. One meal that I often make are toasted sandwiches: they’re easy to make, quick and filling, the perfect trifecta for the starving student.

Here is my recipe for a meat lover’s sandwich:

Cooking time: 10-15 minutes Servings: 1 2 slices of white bread 1 stick of butter 2 slices of ham 2 slices of turkey 2 slices of swiss cheese 1 whole baked chicken COURTESY OF PEXELS

Lay out the slices of bread side by side on the toaster oven tray.

Spread as much butter as needed onto the top of each bread slice.

Place a slice of swiss cheese on a buttered bread slice.

Place the slices of ham on top of the swiss cheese.

On the other bread slice, place the slices of turkey. Add a slice of swiss cheese on top.

Take the whole baked chicken, which you can buy precooked at your local grocery store and strip off some of the chicken breast.

Spread the chicken strips on both bread slices. Sprinkle on the garlic powder.

Place the tray in the toaster oven. Toast for 5-10 minutes until each bread slice is toasted.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

H Take out your finished sandwich and enjoy! ■

Radar

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

REBECCA SALINAS Contributing Writer

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

9

‘Thunder Force’’s lackluster comedy is elevated by its strong female leads

“Thunder Force,” which premiered on Netflix with stars Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer at the forefront as Lydia and Emily, presents two former friends who become superheros after genetically altering their DNA. The film flows well with the traditional comedic expectations of McCarthy, while maintaining a traditional superhero plot inspired by comic books.

The movie has everything that’s expected from a superhero movie: an established city setting, established villains, an origin story and a training montage, but the film doesn’t mock this sort of traditionalism. It is very clear “Thunder Force” is not a parody or a comedy movie that is using comedians as superheroes — it is, at its core, a superhero movie that is trying to be situationally funny. Unfortunately, it’s comedy misses the mark as most of the jokes meant to make viewers

laugh are cringey or gross. Lines that are supposed to be funny are awkward and easy to brush off.

For any other movie, this would be its Achilles’ heel, but the film’s presentation of women and female superheroes separates it from others and lifts it to success.

The film doesn’t diminish women in superhero roles.

McCarthy and Spencer are never made fun of for their age or mocked to fulfill the misfit trope or a comedic plot. No jokes are made to make fun of them for not being the traditional thin reeds Hollywood uses for female superheroes. They are not sexualized, nor is any other woman in the movie. Women’s roles in the movie are taken seriously and never used for sex appeal. By upholding women, the movie’s traditional superhero plot is able to be taken seriously.

The awkward comedy in the film is easily dismissed as the viewers focus on is the development

of Lydia and Emily’s renewed friendship and their pursuance of justice.

The movie’s empowering portrayal of women excuses its bad comedy. Bad jokes are transformed into part of the character’s nature. This is best seen with Lydia’s characterization as a clumsy, gross, beer-drinking woman. On its own, this would be something which would not be likeable, but by not diminishing Lydia, her character becomes endearing. Her strange behavior becomes one of her quirks, and that becomes funny. This does not mean the movie is a success as a comedy; rather, it means the characters of the movie become more likeable. The awkward sense of comedy makes the characters appear awkward, making viewers connect with the characters more.

“Thunder Force” has odd soundtrack choices that emphasize the uniqueness of the heroes. As they drive off to the

location of their first mission, Glenn Frey’s “Smuggler’s Blues” plays — a strange choice for the adrenaline rush a mission would give a superhero. In later scenes, Frey’s “You Belong to the City” plays over Lydia’s romance.

The film’s cheesiness highlights the quirkiness of Lydia and Emily, and it demonstrates their friendship and fun relatability of the leads.

“Thunder Force” brilliantly represents women in superhero roles, which has been a struggle with other superhero movies. It places two unlikely heroes, Lydia and Emily, at the center of the film instead of a more archetypal superhero, like Emily’s daughter, Tracy. By presenting Lydia and Emily as respectable main characters and demonstrating their capability to fight crime, the movie aligns them with other main characters of the same H genre. ■

THE COMEDY FALLS FLAT IN THIS NETFLIX SUPERHERO FLICK, BUT THE TWO HEROES MANAGE TO STICK THE LANDING.

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Force” deserves a watch for its terrific portrayal of female superheroes. It does a great job of endearing them to viewers despite its VERDICT: “Thunder comedic shortcomings.

Radar Replay:

‘Y: The Last Man’ takes a simple premise and creates a masterful story KEVIN SANCHEZ NERI Assistant Radar Editor

The post-apocalyptic genre has long been known as a wellspring for thrilling, albeit formulaic, storytelling. The options are endless: zombie apocalypse, natural disasters, nuclear warfare — grimdark stories of life after global devastation. What sets “Y: The Last Man” apart, first and foremost, is that it operates on a subverted male-power fantasy: what actually happens when the last man on Earth is also accompanied by the entire female population? Writer Brian K. Vaughan and Penciller Pia Guerra’s 60-issue comic book series provides a realistic, satirical and utterly engrossing answer to that question in their portrayal of a female-led society.

The story hits the ground running, introducing all four of its central characters in brief but fleshed out sequences. Yorick Brown, a jobless English major and amateur escape artist, and his heedless pet monkey Ampersand, are introduced to us as the sole survivors of a ferocious plague that has wiped out the entire male mammal population. Tasked with finding the cause of the plague, Earth’s foremost geneticist, Dr. Allison Mann, leads the duo to her lab in Boston, where she hopes her bioengineering research can shine a light on the mysterious plague.

Escorting the group across the bloody streets of New York is

Agent 355, a secret agent working for the covert network of spies known as the Culper Ring. On the other side of the hemisphere in the city of Nablus, West Bank, is Alter Tse-elon, an unsympathetic colonel in the Israeli armed forces with a fervent desire to preserve the freedom of her people, and hellbent on capturing Yorick as bargaining leverage for Israel.

As far as openings go, the setup to this story is phenomenally entertaining. We get a feel for Vaughan’s proclivity for wacky, action-driven concepts that thrive in this post-apocalyptic setting, and his knack for succinct and clever dialogue does a great job of offsetting the overall tone of impending doom. The concept is straightforward: the mysterious plague has killed every mammal with a Y chromosome, and the consequences are dire.

Sectors that were previously male-dominated are now being operated by women, but with little efficacy. There seems to be a possible solution with Yorick’s survival, but that mission is foiled time and again, often leaving readers with an insatiable itch of anticipation for what comes next. What remains is an external conflict where the strengths of this story really shine through.

The group’s journey is constantly being subverted, as multiple parties, including the Israeli army, lead attempts to either capture or kill the lone human survivor. It’s bonkers storytelling, but it’s done

in a way that isn’t hackneyed or overdone.

As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Yorick is not the “chosen one” type of character we tend to see in an apocalyptic setting. He’s careless, largely dependent on others and outside of being a walking encyclopedia for pop culture references, contributes little to the overall mission. He wasn’t chosen; he was just lucky. Survivor’s guilt and the psychological ramifications of this realization is meticulously explored through grotesque, druginduced flashback sequences.

For newer readers, the simple layout of this comic makes for swift read-throughs, which deftly compliments the fast-paced nature of the plot. Pia Guerra and Goran Sudzuka, the pencillers, Jose Marzan Jr., the inker and Zylenol, the colorist, collaborated to create clean and uncomplicated artwork that is still impressive in its own right. The length of the book sits at a manageable length of 60 issues, allowing the story to breathe without any sense of it being rushed.

The numerous climactic moments contained throughout the series never wear out and are well timed. Nearly every issue is as important as the next, allowing for thorough character growth and a bittersweet ending. While there are clearly villain-type characters in pursuit of Yorick, it’s the fine detail of this post-apocalyptic society that is clearly the focal

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH DOESN’T STAND A CHANCE IN THIS POST-APOCALYPTIC TALE.

COURTESY OF VERTIGO

point of the story. For example, Australia is one of the few countries that employs female submariners; after the unmanning, their navy becomes the leading power in the Pacific. History buffs will notice Agent 355 is named after a real life female spy agent working for the Culper Ring during the Revolutionary War, the organization responsible for uncovering Benedict Arnold’s betrayal.

At the story’s core, the mystery of what happens is what makes it so engaging. We get clues as to what may have caused the plague, but never explicitly. It’s also realistic, and while the average person may have little experience with apocalyptic scenarios, the way different facets of society

navigate through the devastation makes sense on a human level.

Conflict in the story is never ending and the manner in which its central characters handle it is a realistic balance of headstrong and naive personalities.

This story illuminates the idea that catastrophic events don’t just end after the apocalypse.

Maliciousness and perverse human motivations carry on, even in the face of global devastation.

In the same vein, the ability to do the right thing still exists and manages to create a sense of lingering hope. When all is said and done, the message is simple: a world without men doesn’t make the world better or worse, H just different. ■

10

Sports

SPORTS

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

UCR’s men’s and women’s track and field excel in the Bryson Clay Invitational THE HIGHLANDERS OUTPERFORM THEMSELVES AND PLACE HIGHLY ACROSS MANY EVENTS. KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

UCR’s men and women track teams recently participated in the Bryson Clay Invitational hosted

by Azusa Pacific University.

The two-day event took place on Friday, April 16 to Saturday, April 17. The many different events extended from early in the morning on Friday to late at night on Saturday. Friday consisted mainly of preliminary events, while Saturday consisted of the final races plus a few other events like the triple jump.

Many Highlanders managed to demonstrate amazing talent by placing high across different events.

WOMEN’S For the women’s team, freshman hurdler Monea Jennings placed first in the women’s 100-meter hurdles preliminary round, earning a time of 14.5 seconds. This impressive feat landed her among the greats in Highlander history, becoming the seventh fastest in the program.

Freshman hurdler Nia Jones also demonstrated great ability, earning herself a lifetime best for the same event at 15.20. This earned her eighth place in the preliminary

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

event, and both earned a spot in the final round of the event but did not start.

Freshman distance runner Carolinh Calvert managed to make waves by placing not only at the event, but also in the records at UCR as well, making her lifetime debut in the 3,000 steeplechase event. After an intense set of 7 ½ laps, Calvert stopped the time at 10 minutes, 45.91 seconds, which landed her in eighth place at the event. Impressively, her time earned her third place in the Highlander record books. This race being her first, Assistant Coach Rob Hansen recognized her talent, grit and potential for future races. “Once the gun goes off, Carolinh is not afraid to stick her nose in a race and compete against anybody. This was an exemplary debut, and with a bit more experience, she’ll be able to clean up her hurdling and really

do some damage in this event,” he stated.

Sophomore Delaney Harris also managed to advance past the preliminary stage, placing eighth overall in the women’s 200-meter dash, with a time of 25.33, a new personal best for her. In the final, Harris made her team proud, placing third in the final stage with a brand new personal best by a very small fraction of a second, 25.32.

On the field side of things, freshman Shiloh Corrales-Nelson placed third in the women’s hammer throw event, throwing a distance of 49.52 meters and fourth in the shot put event with a distance of 12.22 meters. Nelson also placed in the discus throw, earning sixth overall. Sophomore Purnima Gunarathna found herself in an incredible seven-way tie for the women’s high jump event. She jumped a total of 1.53

meters. Gunarathna also placed for the triple jump, earning the No. 9 spot with a distance of 11.13 meters, this time with no tie.

MEN’S Many athletes on the men’s team also managed to make an impact this weekend. Senior distance runner Arman Irani managed to run a strong race, earning him a new personal record in the men’s 5000-distance run.

Landing in 16th place, Irani’s time was 14:03.66. Irani’s eligibility for the race had been up in the air the week prior to the race due to a potential injury. Fortunately for him, he was able to perform and landed third place among UCR records. Freshman distance runner Andrew Jackson also made new marks, earning eighth place in the men’s 800-meter race. His

time of 1:52.16 knocked about a second off his most recent personal best.

Freshman hurdler Joshua Lee placed seventh overall in the men’s 1,100 hurdles preliminary event, with a new personal best time of 15.30. This earned him a spot in the final of the event, where he placed sixth, breaking his personal record from the day before with a new time of 15.24. Junior hurdler Quinn Williams also managed to advance to the final round in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, after placing eighth overall with a time of 56.38. He was able to surpass his time in the final heat, 55.28, yet still remained in eighth place in the final.

Sophomore John Ober III impressively earned second place in the men’s javelin throw, throwing a distance of 51.56 meters. He also participated in the discus throwing event but placed lower, in the eighth position.

For the men’s triple jump, junior Brian Nnoli earned the seventh place spot with a distance of 14.55 meters, and freshman Titan Ruotolo earned the ninth place spot with a distance of 13.99 meters. Freshman Cameron Lewis was not far behind, in 12th place with a distance of 13.46 meters.

Both the men’s and women’s teams will compete again at the Northridge Invitational on Saturday, April 24 hosted by Cal H State Northridge. ■

UCR baseball survives 11 inning thriller, outlasts CSUN in first of four games COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

HOME RUN IN THE TOP OF THE SEVENTH INNING PROVED TO BE THE TURNING POINT FOR THE HIGHLANDER VICTORY.

HANSEL CHU Staff Writer

The UC Riverside baseball team outdueled Cal State Northridge in a 6-5 victory for the Highlanders.

The Highlanders were looking to build a win streak this week after a win over Hawaii last Sunday.

A crucial 3-run home run from third baseman Nathan Webb in the seventh inning became the turning point for UCR during this match.

Both teams were trying to get a feel for each other throughout the beginning of the game, as no team was able to put up any points on the board for the first four innings. UCR had their chance to score in the top of the 2nd inning with the bases loaded. However, catcher Ethan Payne was struck out and the inning was over. In the bottom of the fourth inning,

CSUN had their chance to score, as a throwing error put catcher Jose Ruiz on third base. However, a strikeout and a groundout closed the inning and prevented the Matadors from scoring.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, CSUN put up the first scores of the game, as a double down the middle from designated hitter Ryan Ball put the Matadors up 1-0. A couple plays later, a single down the left side from first baseman Kai Moody added another run for the Matadors and saw the Highlanders go down 2-0.

UCR responded with a two-run score in the next inning to tie the game up. With the bases loaded, a single down centerfield from Payne tied the game up 2-2. CSUN countered back in the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run from centerfielder Denzel Clarke

to take the lead back 2-3. The Highlanders, however, gave the Matadors a momentum crusher, as with two players on base, Webb delivered a moon-sailing home run that gave UCR their first lead of the game 5-3.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, CSUN had one last chance to tie or win the game, and they took full advantage of it. A triple into right field from left fielder Robert Bullard inched the Matadors closer 5-4. Later, a sacrifice fly ball from third baseman Mason Le tied the ball game at 5-5, sending the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 11th inning, a single from center fielder Travis Bohall and an intentional walk for second baseman Ely Stuart saw the Highlanders with bases loaded. A flyball from left fielder

Jacob Shanks put UCR up 6-5. In the bottom of the 11th inning, a flyout and groundout put CSUN in a tight predicament. With two outs on the board, a walk, hit and another walk loaded the bases for the Matadors, putting them in position to tie or win. With second baseman Carlos Arellano on the bat, Arellano hit a groundout and ended the game, giving the Highlanders the victory 6-5.

Pitcher Zach Jacobs had five strikeouts in his 7.0 IP. Webb led the team with three RBI, two runs and one crucial home run.

The Highlanders won their double-header games the next day and look to continue their win streak next week at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday, April 23, at 5 p.m, Saturday, April 24, at 1 p.m and Sunday, April 25, at 1 H p.m. ■