Volume 69 Issue 28

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Monday, May 24, 2021

VOL. 69, ISSUE 28

est. 1954

NEWS

FEATURES

Ramy Youssef: Digging deeper into the experiences of his titular show

ASUCR releases statement in support of Palestinian students, staff and faculty

RAMY YOUSSEF, A STAND-UP COMEDIAN AND DIRECTOR OF ‘RAMY,’ TALKS ABOUT HIS RECENT WORKS AND PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THE MIDDLE EASTERN STUDENT CENTER.

STUDENTS AND ALUMNI EXPRESSED GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR ASUCR’S STANCE ON THE ONGOING ISRAELIPALESTINIAN UNREST.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC-BY-SA 2.0 ASHLEY CHEN Contributing Writer

From being an American stand-up comedian to directing his own comedy series on Hulu called “Ramy,” Ramy Youssef has made a global impact through his stand-ups and comedy-drama series. On Friday, May 21, ASPB collaborated with the Middle Eastern Student Center to host “Live With Ramy!: A Conversation With Ramy Youssef” as part of their M.E. Week guest speaker event. Every year, the MESC spends a week celebrating Middle Eastern culture. This event allowed students to have a conversation with Youssef and get to know a bit more about his recent works.

Ali Saadat, the MESC Student Development Specialist, started off the first round of questions. Youssef mentioned his life growing up in New Jersey coming from an Egyptian family.

He felt that there were some differences in terms of language. However, he is grateful for the environment he grew up in and the diversity New Jersey has to offer. ► SEE YOUSSEF PAGE 7

AMANI MAHMOUD / THE HIGHLANDER LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor

On Monday, May 17, ASUCR released a statement affirming their support for Palestinian students, faculty and staff at UCR in addition to all those affected by the violence taking place in Gaza as a result of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian unrest. The statement received over 300 comments from students, alumni and others showing appreciation for ASUCR taking a stand and acknowledging the conflict.

“Drafting this statement, ensuring our association shows strong support to

our Palestinian student community and their loved ones struggling with military violence and an ongoing colonial apartheid is extremely important and not complex,” stated Vice President of External Affairs Vincent Rasso.

During Public Forum, multiple students and alumni expressed their appreciation and gratitude for ASUCR’s statement saying they felt seen and heard as Palestinian students. “I am so proud to be a student at UCR where we have one of the first student governments to acknowledge the truth about what is happening in Palestine.

Thank you for seeing us, thank you for hearing us and thank you for standing with us,” said a student.

President Pro Tempore Orlando Cabalo moved on and began presenting New Business and introduced SB-S21-009 Creation of the Student-Parent Committee Act. The bill creates and ordains the Student-Parent Committee to ensure that student-parents have a continuous, independent voice in ASUCR. The motion passed with a vote of 15-0-0. ► SEE ASUCR PAGE 3

EDITORIAL As the world finally reaches a reckoning in its opinion on Palestine, we must wholeheartedly condemn and call for an end to Israeli apartheid READ THE EDITORIAL ON PG 4

AMANI MAHMOUD / THE HIGHLANDER

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OPINIONS 4

FEATURES 7

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Upcoming Events: Week 9 Deaf & Dapper with Chella Man 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Virtual Event

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Career Center City Year Coffee Chat 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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Toxic Leadership 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

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CAPS Stress and Coping Workshop 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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Conflict Engagement 10 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m.

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Playworks 7 p.m.

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Coffee With CAPS 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Return to Campus Briefing: COVID Management Working Group 11 a.m.

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LGBT with a Degree: Now What?

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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40th Annual James Young Colloquium 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Virtual Event

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UCR Doundounba Festival 2021 - West African Drum and Dance - Online!

12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Virtual Event

UCR Doundounba Festival 2021 – West African Dance Master Class with Master Dancer Mouminatou Camara - Online!

12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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CONTACT US

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News

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► FROM ASUCR

Mark Hanin, vice chair of the Student Voice Committee, presented SR-S21011 In Support of Prioritization of Mental Health Services at UC Riverside Starting Fall 2021. The resolution states that ASUCR will provide further mental health resources for students through social media posts, surveys and public service announcements as a result of the mental toll of the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning. The resolution passed with a 15-0-0 vote.

The final piece of legislation, SR-S21013 Resolution in Support of Increased Transparency of UCPD, was authored

by Rasso, CHASS Senator Melanie Grigorian, Senate Intern Togrul Savalan and School of Public Policy Senator Zara Ali. The resolution states that while “UCR advocates for the safety of students by relying on campus police and community service officers as the main resources to keep the campus community

NEWS

UC Riverside ecologists are working alongside researchers from San Diego State University and the Climate Science Alliance’s Tribal Working Group in the California Strategic Growth Council’s Climate Change Research Program’s project, dedicated to aiding Southern California’s Native American tribal nations as they adapt to climate change.

The overarching goal of this project is to help tribal nations develop better knowledge and actions that enhance persistence of cultural practices with an emphasis on preserving the ecosystems and species that are central to tribal communities and their survival in the midst of climate changes. According to Helen Regan, professor in UCR’s Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Department and co-principal investigator of the project, there are five objectives that combine to achieve this goal: The first objective is to enhance understanding of short and long-term climate change impacts to culturally significant plants and to develop better strategies for conservation and protection of these natural landscapes in ways that work in conjunction with tribal culture, tradition, health and wellness. The second is to assess the vulnerability of said plants to climate changes, which will serve to inform restoration actions to maintain biodiversity and increase food security.

Janet Franklin, co-principal investigator and distinguished professor of biogeography in UCR’s Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, informed The Highlander that the Tribal Working Group has been integral in providing them knowledge of these culturally significant plants that are intrinsic to the Southern California environment, detailing

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ASUCR safe, this has become a growing area of concern due to the complex history of policing being rooted in racism and anti-Blackness combined with ongoing concerns over police brutality that has been disproportionately targeted towards Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities and other marginalized groups.” The resolution aims to increase the transparency and accountability of issues pertaining to campus safety, policing and the University of California Police Department in order to address concerns of racist police violence, budget allocations and anti-Blackness.

The resolution cites various incidents involving aggressive behavior by UCPD officers and mishandling of student protests, including when UC Davis officers used pepper spray on peaceful protestors, when a student at UC Berkeley Ahmad Mahmuod was profiled by UCPD officers as well as UCPD’s history of excessive force against protesters.

The resolution calls on the

administration to more proactively engage the undergraduate students and the broader UCR community on addressing concerns of campus safety and increasing UCPD transparency and accountability.

They also urge campus administration to engage students for feedback on recommendations made by the Campus Safety Task Force, to implement cohesive guidelines for how the university and UCPD deal with student concerns, complaints and reporting racial profiling and to accurately report these incidents.

The resolution was passed with a vote of 15-0-0.

During her senator reports, CHASS Senator Sarah Dhaou stated that she was very proud of ASUCR’s statement in support of Palestine and encouraged the senate to continue informing themselves and advocating on the issue. “What is unacceptable is staying silent and blaming it on not knowing enough,” stated Dhaou.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m. ■ H

UC Riverside ecologists help tribal nations adapt to climate change DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

traditional usages of local plants like oak trees, yucca, white sage and mesquite.

The third objective is to identify and provide seed funding for related projects that will test restoration and climate adaptation strategies on tribal lands. The fourth is to evaluate the workability of options in regards to strengthening tribal ability to implement such strategies in order to manage these culturally significant species. The final objective is to create a set of products and applications that can be used to take a robust approach towards supporting the maintenance of traditional or cultural food systems and cultural information about relevant species.

Regan also emphasized the importance of the collaborative nature of this project, as it places a focus on Native American communities and their role in climate change research. She explained that tribal communities across Southern California are already working to prepare for and reduce the risks and dangers associated with these extreme events and changing conditions. However, because these tribes are not considered a part of state, county or city jurisdictions, their needs are not included within existing local plans. For this reason, they suffer from a lack of resources.

“We see this unique partnership and the leadership and involvement of Climate Science Alliance Tribal Working Group members and researchers at San Diego State University as a way to gain momentum to provide a space that includes diverse perspectives to advance resilience planning across sectors and jurisdictions,” Regan stated.

Franklin added that all partners of this project, including the Climate Science Alliance, have “put unique

community outreach” at the forefront of this initiative. This means that the project involves supporting tribal leaders in hosting outreach efforts for other tribal environmental and cultural leaders, managers, community members, elders and youth in order to support integration of research findings into tribal projects and plans. It also includes hosting meetings for tribal and nontribal professionals and other stakeholders to explore opportunities to integrate the aforementioned findings i n t o

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT AIMS TO PROMOTE TRIBAL RESILIENCE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORTING ACTIONS THAT ENHANCE THE PERSISTENCE OF CULTURAL PRACTICES.

conservation efforts across the area, as well as developing educational resources for Climate Kids Tribes actions and developing general resources and outreach materials for relevant community and public events.

Interested parties can read more at H Climate Science Alliance’s website. ■

Opinions

4 MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

OPINIONS

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

As the world finally reaches a reckoning in its opinion on Palestine, we must wholeheartedly condemn and call for an end to Israeli apartheid

AMANI MAHMOUD / THE HIGHLANDER

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DESPITE CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE, THE CONVERSATION CANNOT END. THE WORLD MUST CONTINUE TO DEMAND AN END TO THE OCCUPATION IN PALESTINE AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIANS IN ORDER TO OVERCOME APARTHEID.

n recent weeks, the years of suffering in Palestine have emerged in the world’s consciousness and have made a great impact in terms of support for Palestine.

However, a call for a ceasefire does not indicate any semblance of peace for the Palestinians who are suffering under Israel’s apartheid. The media has a duty to accurately report on what is truly happening to Palestinians on their land. Moreover, the Western world has a dual duty to assist this ailing population and stop taking part in their oppression. The world as a whole cannot continue to portray the injustices and violence occurring to Palestinians as a two-sided issue; we must collectively open our eyes to these injustices and offer solidarity to the Palestinian people.

The unrest was inflamed after Palestinian families in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, located in East Jerusalem, faced displacement from their homes by Israeli settlers. Under international law, Israel, as an occupying power, cannot confiscate private property in occupied territory. According to United Nations rights office spokesman Rupert Colville, transferring civilian populations into occupied territory is illegal under international law and may amount to war crimes.

The United States is especially guilty of aiding in the violence and the oppression of the Palestinian people. The U.S. and Israel have shared close bonds for decades, and the U.S. thus funds Israel in a number of ways — namely in the selling of arms that are being used against Palestinian civilians. This allyship has bled into the media coverage that we see regarding Israel and Palestine, such as classifying

the number of atrocities Israel is committing against Palestinians as a “conflict.” We need to label what is occurring in Palestine accurately as settler colonialism and apartheid. As of Saturday, May 22, the Palestinian death toll stands at 248, including 66 children, and more than 1,900 people wounded from Israeli air and artillery attacks. In Israel, rocket fire killed at least 12 people including two children.

It is impossible to watch the footage of Israeli attacks on Gaza and look at the sheer number of Palestinians killed and wounded and claim that this is an equal fight. A conflict implies that there is equal footing, and in reality, Israel very clearly has the upper hand.

Though the American media will unlikely shift their biased viewpoints on the violence Palestinians face at the hands of Israel, people all over the world have a responsibility to educate themselves on what is happening in Palestine and why we must support them. There are numerous Palestinians actively using social media to help spread the truth about what is happening, and the world must shift its attention to them and learn from the very own voices of Palestinians and their experiences.

Many Palestinians living outside of their home nation must also deal with the suffocating truth that they cannot publicly criticize Israel and their government for fear of not being allowed back into Palestine or the potential danger their activism may cause for family living within Palestine. Palestinians live with a constant fear of retaliation when criticizing the Israeli government, and they additionally must fear an attack that inaccurately conflates any critiques of Israel with antisemitism.

College

students and faculty members are often slandered on the website Canary Mission, linking any of their critiques of Israel with antisemitism and terrorism. This creates a culture of fear among student activists and faculty who deserve to be able to critique a government without being labeled as antisemitic or inciting terror.

Antisemitism obviously has no place in the movement for Palestinian liberation. The Zionist goal of conflating Judaism with Zionism is deliberate in order to intimidate activists for Palestine into silence. Palestinians have condemned antisemitism for years. However, the current conversation about Palestine is too often shifted away from the Palestinian experience to instead address antisemitism.

Unfortunately, the news seems to constantly and strategically move the conversation away from this. Palestinians are constantly fighting ethnic cleansing and genocide, they should be able to pour all of their energy into fighting for liberation. The cause for Palestinian liberation must not be diverted and the conflation between any critiques of Israel as antisemitic must end.

The Western public has a dual-sided job: to step back and let Palestinians share their truth while also advocating for those who cannot speak. America especially has a self-important savior attitude that it must put aside in order to genuinely help Palestinians. However, this does not mean that help cannot be offered in the form of sharing Palestinian stories online.

Amplifying the voices of victims is the best way that most people can help others be aware of the ongoing struggle. America is in a unique position as an ally to hold Israel accountable for its crimes;

therefore, the general public must keep this in the spotlight to hold politicians accountable.

Above all else, it should also be noted that what is going on in Israel and Palestine is not solely about violence. The media likes to glamorize the violence and vilify Palestinians. But at the core of this, men, women and children are killed every day by bombs funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars.

Lives are being lost, families are being torn apart, entire bloodlines are lost in a single explosion ­— this is not a simple matter of two countries unable to get along.

In truth, this is Israel actively oppressing and stealing land from people who want nothing more than for their families to thrive like everyone else. Though it is understandable that people may want to wait and learn more before holding onto an opinion, it doesn’t take more than seeing Palestinian children cowering in fear at the sound of bombs to inform you on who is being oppressed in this situation.

This is not a “both sides” issue: this is a human rights violation that needs to be ended.

The activism that we put forth must not become performative.

Posting a colorful infographic to your Instagram story that most followers won’t bother to scroll through is not activism. Reading through the infographic your friend posted and leaving it at that is not activism. In other words, if you are not actively engaging with the information consumed and using it to better a cause, then there is no activism occurring.

We all must do our part in reading literature by Palestinian authors, attending lectures, protesting and simply talking to people who are being impacted by Israel’s colonialism. After all, there is no better person to ask about the genocide that Palestinians

are facing than a Palestinian themself. We must uplift the voices of the oppressed and ignore the mainstream media’s biased talking heads.

If we don’t give a platform to the voices of those who are suffering, then the world will never truly be able to assist the hundreds of people who are risking death every day because of their ethnic background. We must stand up for those being silenced and quiet our own voices for those who are able to speak to their own experience.

A ceasefire means nothing to the people who have been oppressed and murdered for decades on end. A ceasefire does not mean that oppression stops. Death and destruction have not and will not end. The blockade on Gaza has not been lifted. A ceasefire does not solve the thousands of people Israel displaced in the past few weeks, and it does not bring back the entire families who were wiped out in an instant.

A ceasefire is only a slowing down of the mass slaughter and violence of the Israeli occupation and apartheid that denies basic human rights and safety to the Palestinian people. Palestinians deserve more than to simply not die. They deserve to live free. It is imperative that we listen and uplift the voices of Palestinians and continuously demand an end to the occupation and apartheid because silence will never stop an H oppressor from destroying lives. ■

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, MAY 24, 2021

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Trumpism has split the Republican party in half DAVID MORENO Staff Writer

Donald Trump has managed to maintain his power over the Republicans, which he actively uses to fraction the party. To make matters worse, Republican lawmakers have made it their sole purpose to please the former president, and they continue to remain complicit through this internal power struggle. At this point, it seems like an endorsement from the former president is worth more than condemning him. The infamous “Trump Train” has run right through the Republican Party, leaving many with no option but to pick a side.

Donald Trump has stuck with his accusation that the 2020 election was a fraud, and over 70% of Republicans also believe this to be true. The accusations made by Trump have become so influential that Republican lawmakers across the country are showing their support in the form of restrictive voting laws. When imposed, these regulations aim to make it harder for individuals to cast their votes in certain regions. Donald Trump has a very prominent voice within the Republican Party, and this is especially clear considering how close he was to winning the election. Nonetheless, it is

DONALD TRUMP’S INABILITY TO SURRENDER HIS POLITICAL POWER WITHIN THE GOP WILL TRIGGER TREMENDOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR CURRENT REPUBLICAN LEADERS. imperative that the Republican Party shifts their voters’ attention to another qualified member of the party.

After the Capitol riots in January, the Republican Party started to drift apart ideologically, and it quickly became a matter of whether someone was for or against the former president. Donald Trump has mobilized millions of loyal supporters who follow him blindly. And without them, it has been realized that future Republican lawmakers run the risk of losing their elected positions to their Democratic counterparts.

With midterm elections approaching in 2022, Republican lawmakers have a difficult decision to make. However, it seems like those in the party who oppose Trump immediately receive backlash from the former president. Trump recently attacked Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for acknowledging President

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Biden’s win. It also seems that former Vice President Mike Pence has lost popularity among Trump’s core supporters. The former president shows no signs of trying to unify the party anytime soon.

Trump is leading the Republican Party down an unforgiving rabbit hole. It has become apparent that Trump enables his large following to believe in harmful conspiracy theories that center around hateful ideologies. These ideologies are branding the Republican Party as a whole, whether they like it or not. This is a matter of death by association, and Republican lawmakers need to take control of their image. The rising tension in the Republican Party has caused certain individuals within it to act on their own merit. Over 150

Republicans have launched a new political movement to cleanse the party, calling for reform — reform which centers around removing Trump’s political hold over the party.

If the Republican Party wants to survive, they need to free themselves from Donald Trump’s grip. Trying to please the former president will only end in further division within the Republican Party that will directly make it weaker moving forward.

The GOP needs to re-evaluate their core beliefs and choose how they want to be perceived post-Trump. Republicans need to cut the cord or suffer the consequences of allowing Trumpism to take over their H party. ■

The removal of Liz Cheney galvanizes the GOP’s Trumpist loyalties

ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

The past few years have reshaped the political arena for decades to come. Not only is this a result of just the pandemic, but also of the Trump administration and the divide that has been created in the country.

However, no divide seems to be more stark than the one brewing in the Republican Party as members clash over opinions regarding the former president. Headlines were made when prominent Republicans ousted Liz Cheney from her leadership position in the House of Representatives as a result of her speaking out against former President Donald Trump and his false accusations of election fraud. Her removal shows that a majority of Republican leadership still back the former president, and this reflects on the future of the GOP for years to come.

The current political climate within the GOP reflects the fallout of the former Trump administration. This past year, Trump’s false claims led to the Jan. 6 storming of Capitol Hill which interfered with the democratic process of certifying the election and led to the deaths of five people and countless injuries. However, what’s more unsettling is that despite the clear motives and causes of said event, prominent Republicans have continuously made attempts to deny the insurrection or minimize the impact of the siege. However, a few prominent Republicans remain to be an exception.

Elizabeth Lynne “Liz” Cheney is an American attorney and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming’s at-large and only district since 2017. As the daughter of prominent Republican Dick Cheney, she had served an important role in Bush’s administration, holding various positions in the U.S. State Department. But her rise in the GOP began with her election to the House of Representatives in 2016, where her popularity rose considerably amongst her

constituents as one of the most conservative members of Congress. Cheney supported the traditional conservative narrative regarding foreign policy, the economy, national security and other issues. Within the current House of Representatives, Cheney’s popularity allowed her to acquire a prominent leadership position as the No. 3 House Republican. However, regardless of her popularity and positions, Cheney stood out as one of the few Republicans to actively hold Trump accountable.

Unfortunately, this led to her falling out of favor with the GOP, and through her defiance, the start of her removal process. Though this is rather the second time this year that Liz Cheney faced a vote for removal, this is unfortunately her first without receiving support from Minority House Leader Kevin McCarthy. On May 12, Republicans went through with the removal of Rep. Cheney from her party leadership role due to her criticism of Trump’s lies and role in the insurrection. In response to her removal, she has remained defiant and has promised to do whatever she can to stop the former president from getting elected again.

With Liz Cheney out of the picture, Republican leaders are looking for new candidates. Elise Stefanik originally entered Congress as a moderate Republican, but her popularity skyrocketed as she became an outspoken Trump loyalist, supporting his baseless claims about election fraud.

Additionally, Kevin McCarthy has expressed that the removal of Cheney was a move for unity amongst the party, though it’s evidently clear that “unity” in McCarthy’s eyes translates to loyalty under Trump. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was uncharacteristically silent about this whole ordeal, and this silence speaks volumes for the majority of House and Senate Republicans who have pledged their loyalties to the former administration.

Of course, many prominent Republicans’ involvement in the removal process can reflect upon their actions moving forward,

and we can only hope that their decisionmaking will not be further influenced and weighed down by the values of the former administration.

This removal is telling of the future of the GOP and where they stand on former President Trump. Despite his impeachments, there is indeed a chance that prominent House Republicans will continue to back the Trump administration in the future with the former president’s aim to run again in 2024.

More than 100 Republicans, including some formerly elected officials, have threatened to split from the GOP and form a third party if the party does not make certain changes. Only time will tell if democracy will prevail from this unprecedented divide and whether millions will continue to be misled by the lies of the H former administration. ■

CHENEY’S OUSTING PROVES PROMINENT REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S LIES. THIS MAY GREATLY AFFECT THE LANDSCAPE OF THE 2024 ELECTION.

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6 MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

OPINIONS

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Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I will be the first in my family to live away from home next year, so learning that 6 out of 10 students experience food insecurity makes me nervous, mainly because students are not receiving the necessary resources for proper nutrition. As a first generation student, I wonder how many students skip meals to avoid another financial worry. Without a proper meal, students face another educational obstacle, and this is a problem that should be urgently addressed.

UCR can help students through affordable meal plans for undergraduate and graduate students. Instead of disposing of food, the campus can give it to students that cannot afford to buy an extra meal. R’ Pantry and R’Garden can take stronger initiatives to combat food insecurity by collaborating with the dining halls.

It is important for UCR to commit

Students are too preoccupied with assignments, work and life to figure out school resources.

UCR relies on students to do their job. At a CALPIRG meeting, I found out about the existence of the Grocery Support Program the school offers. What’s the point of having these resources when the students are unaware of their existence?

This is a recurring issue at the university, where many of the resources are talked about by students rather than the staff. The university should not leave this job up to students. Many students have to juggle their studies, work, extracurricular activities and internships to ensure that they are fit to be in the competitive work industry.

It is unreasonable for students to be expected to find these resources while paying high amounts of money in tuition.

The university needs to advertise its resources better to reach every student

to helping its students overcome food insecurity.

As a CALPIRG intern that has worked with the Zero Hunger Campaign, I understand that students have a voice that needs to be heard, and it is important now more than ever to hear their voices especially when combating an issue like food insecurity.

Sincerely, Jazmin Anguiano H University of California, Riverside ■

on campus. After all, every university’s goal should be to assist students. A good way to start would be with professors.

Implementing an additional page with the resources on their syllabuses would be helpful. Additionally, professors should constantly mention the resources throughout their course.

That’s why I joined the Zero Hunger Campaign on CALPIRG to shed light on the issue. I hope for the chancellor to commit to Zero Hunger while taking responsibility to promote the resources on campus for all students.

Sincerely, Sunny Escalante H University of California, Riverside ■

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FEATURES

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

Tobe Nwigwe shines a spotlight on rap music

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ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor

Tobe Nwigwe is a Nigerian American rapper who expresses his appreciation for his culture through his lyrics. Since 2016, he has released several albums, and his songs, such as “Eat” and “Try Jesus,” have more than 1 million views on his YouTube channel. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, in a guest lecture hosted by the Associated Students Program Board, Nwigwe gave a guest lecture on his music career.

The event started with him sharing his newest music video for his song, “Fye Fye,” featuring Fat Nwigwe.

Afterward, Nwigwe explained that the video was shot in Brewster Park in Houston, Texas. He felt that it was

the biggest production that he has done so far. When speaking of the location of the music video, Nwigwe said, “I wanted to bring a sense of what I deem high level art to the hood.” He went on to state that his music “started off as trash,” explaining, “I just refined it, refined it … until I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”

From the start, Nwigwe made it clear that he was there to interact with the audience. He kept his introduction brief and immediately jumped into the student Q&A portion of the event. One student, Ester Esho, asked Nwigwe what his inspiration was for his music.

Nwigwe replied that he is mainly inspired by “the spirit of God” and that he always stays true to his principles

and beliefs. Later, he also talked about how his wife, Fat Nwigwe, helped him come up with many creative ideas.

“Every single thing that I do, I get her opinion on,” Nwigwe stated. He mentioned that before they met, she wasn’t too invested in rap music, so she offers a fresh perspective on his own music.

Before answering more questions, Nwigwe showed another music video for his song “Make It Home.” This song is part of one of his more recent albums titled “The Pandemic Project,” an album that revolves around the recent rise in the Black Lives Matter movement and the struggles that Black people have endured for too many years. The video features himself and

MUSICAL ARTIST, TOBE NWIGWE, ANSWERS STUDENTS’ QUESTIONS ON HIS TIME SPENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY DURING THIS ASPB GUEST LECTURE.

three other Black people dancing in an all white room to a song that expresses Nwigwe’s wish for every Black person to safely make it home at the end of the day.

Katey O’Neill asked him what advice he would give to others that are interested in pursuing a career in entertainment, and Nwigwe suggested that people should know who they are first. He warned that joining the entertainment industry meant having to build a persona that would attract an audience. Once an audience is acquired, they will expect to continue seeing the type of content that they liked in the first place. Change is difficult to do in the entertainment industry because it could require appealing to a new type of audience, so it’s better to be certain of who you want to be before chasing stardom.

Nwigwe has created many beautiful songs that reflect his beliefs and desires for a better world. During this lecture, he showed that he was downto-earth in the way he interacted with the audience members. Check out his music if you have not heard any of his songs already, and if you missed this lecture, be sure to attend the next one. On May 24, ASPB will behosting “Deaf and Dapper with Chella Man.” Check out their social media pages for H more details. ■

► FROM YOUSSEF

Youssef also brought up how his family reacted to his change in career path. Before taking on the career of a comedian, he had attended Rutgers University, Newark to study political science and economics. Convincing his parents was really hard, especially when they would openly state their opinion. “I appreciate the pressure I had and it made me work really hard,” Youssef explained.

It was not easy directing and starring in “Ramy,” according to Youssef. “My initial intention was to focus on key characters and investigate what they are going through from an introspective place,” he said. Although a lot of his viewers are not Muslim, he hopes that when they watch the show, it will give them more perspective on the Muslim experience. There was a lot of tension between parents and kids while he was growing up. Youssef’s goal was to develop a show where he’s able to integrate traditions and show how the character struggles. Youssef was also inspired to create “Ramy” through different types of movies. “The magic of streaming is why our show exists,” Youssef stated. He wanted the characters to feel as “cinematic as possible” through their stories.

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During the second half of the event, students were given the opportunity to talk to Youssef about his career. UCR student Gaby Bobadilla mentioned that she was inspired to take part in a Chicana podcast through the influence of his works. When asked what advice he would give in writing a show, Youssef advised to dig into whatever you want to tell people. In life, we were always taught to project a positive side of ourselves. Any time a story is able to show something about a character that no one is able to say in-person, it may be a really cool thing to show.

With Ramy’s successful career in mind, Laura Shah asked Youssef where he sees himself in five years. Youssef paused for a moment and revealed that he is hoping to be a “better version of himself” or “more like himself.”

He’s excited to always be doing that spiritually. To be a part of creating infrastructure for others to get their stories out, Youssef feels really lucky and excited to see the little difference he is making through different backgrounds and traditions.

This event was really helpful for those who aspire to work in the film industry and those who look up to people who are making a difference H within the community. ■

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MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

STUDENT

spotlight

FEATURES

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An insightful look at a graduating student’s relationship to UCR

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS ARE A FEATURES COLUMN AIMED AT HIGHLIGHTING STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

When not studying, fourth-year sociology major Shawna Sein can be found in her room curled up watching Netflix or at the Student Recreation Center releasing pent-up exam stress by boxing. At the moment, she is currently watching “Cobra Kai” and describes it as “action-packed and exhilarating.”

Sein is set to graduate in June of 2021 and feels mixed emotions. She claims that she feels happiness because “after four years of hard work there is finally a finish line in sight.” Coupled with being

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a first generation student, being able to graduate is a great accomplishment for her. She feels sadness because of her deep connection with UCR. “Over the course of the past four years I’ve made so many good friends and great memories,” she stated. “As close as we all are, it’s gonna be so much harder to stay in touch once we graduate and go on with our lives.”

Sein lived in Aberdeen-Inverness, known as AI, her first year and now looks back at her favorite memories.

Specifically, she recalls the late nights

where her hallmates and resident advisor would sit and have fun in the hall or her makeshift apple bowling tournaments down the hall. To Sein, UCR has felt like home since the first moment she stepped on campus.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the campus closure, Sein’s favorite spot on campus was the HUB. She claims that after a long day of classes, she would go to the HUB and oftentimes run into friends. “We would sit down, grab food, chill and hang out. That’s one thing I love and miss about campus,” she explained. Sein also misses the famous blue tent burritos that would be sold by student organizations as a way to fundraise.

Another good memory of Sein’s is taking a sociology course with Dr. Firat during her second year at the University Village. “It’s the professor that makes the class interesting,” she stated. Sein looks forward to a hybrid graduation but still misses campus and the inperson connection. “I miss being able to run into my professors at Coffee Bean because those are experiences you can’t get anywhere else.”

Sein is just one of many students who sacrificed a year at UCR and traded it in for a year of Zoom University.

Graduating students this year are getting a semblance of a normal graduation, but as a collective, the school has lost out on a year of making friends and important connections with professors.

The college experience was different from its usual hustle and bustle, but Sein’s memories showcase how despite the setbacks and the losses that students have had to struggle through in the past year, looking back at our time in the university is filled with heartfelt H memories and fond moments. ■

Radar

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

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‘Woman in the Window’ teases a hidden mystery that ultimately doesn’t pay off KEVIN SANCHEZ-NERI Assistant Radar Editor

Watching a bad film doesn’t necessarily translate into a bad viewing experience. From a casual viewing perspective, as long as there’s some semblance of a story being told and the characters are interesting enough, it’s probably enough for a viewer to stick around to see how it all unfolds. “Woman in the Window” is great at reeling in our attention with subliminal promises of a buried mystery, but outside of a few enigmatic visuals of delirium, it does not do much with the suspense it artificially creates.

Based on the novel by A.J. Finn, director Joe Wright’s “The Woman in the Window” takes place in a Manhattan neighborhood and follows agoraphobic child psychologist, Anna Fox (Amy Adams). Anna lives alone in a brownstone apartment and is inexplicably separated from her husband and daughter, the first of many breadcrumbs to a greater, albeit stale, mystery. After noticing her new neighbors move in across the street, Anna meets the neigbor’s

only child, Ethan Russell (Fred Hichinger), a fidgety 16-yearold with a prying demeanor.

Anna also meets the mother, Jane Russell (Julianne Moore), a woman with a similarly intrusive personality.

Noticing patterns of abuse in the Russell household, Anna desperately tries to help with a fruitless 911 call and is impeded by her restrictive agoraphobic state. After taking it upon herself to uncover perceived abuse by Jane’s husband, Alisair Russell (Gary Oldman), Anna’s pervasive spying and obsession with the Russells leads her down a deadly path with the usual mystery tropes of a mistaken identity, hallucination and psychological thriller whittled down to a “whodunnit.”

One of the surface level appeals of this film is it’s timeliness. It’s about a person with a deadly fear of being outside, the parallels of which are too obvious to address. Throughout the film, those surface level appeals still persist but never quite build into anything we haven’t seen already. Amy Adams delivers a balanced performance as an

AMY ADAMS STARS AS AN AGORAPHOBIC PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE LATEST PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM NETFLIX.

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agoraphobic slowly descending into a delirium that is aggravated by her obsession with revealing the truth, but even after a few revealing subplots, too little is known about her character to develop any kind of attachment.

Nearly every supporting character gets very minimal screen time, which is unusual for a film boasting an impressive cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Julianne Moore and Gary Oldman. What we get instead is a handful of phone call voice-overs from Anna’s husband (Anthony Mackie) that serve no purpose besides reminding us of Anna’s isolation. Alistair Russell is

depicted as an abusive father, but by the time his real motivations are revealed, his role is so minimal that it’s not impactful.

Despite its shortcomings, the film still contains some moments of visual flurry. The disorienting sequences depicting Anna’s inner turmoil give us glimpses into the director’s unusual but entrancing aesthetic. While the climax feels more like a cheesy action movie rather than a thriller, the villain of the film is commanding enough to produce a real sense of fear.

By the final act, the resolution of the big mystery serves to subvert our expectations of a crazed woman going on a frenzy

of false accusations. However, while the trope is undoubtedly a tired one, what we get instead is an unconvincing attempt to oversimplify Anna’s bout with agoraphobia as she, against all odds and with the help of painfully obvious plot armor, defeats the big bad and suddenly conquers her crippling disorder.

Despite some intriguing visuals and a more than serviceable performance by Amy Adams, “The Woman in the Window” won’t do much to quench any appetite for a solved H mystery. ■

you’re looking for something to pass the time, “The Woman in the Window” might suit those needs. It’s got mystery and solid acting VERDICT: Ifperformances, but don’t expect any kind of fulfilling payoff.

J. Cole shows no sign of slowing down with his latest album ‘The Off-Season’

JAMES JONES Contributing Writer

Fayettvilles’s very own J. Cole has returned with his sixth full length album, “The Off-Season.”

This album marks his return after a deadly pandemic year underlined by a fiery summer of anti-police brutality protests.

The tape’s release at this point in Cole’s career is a very interesting one, not just because of recent events, but also due to where he left us last. His last project, “KOD,” was more of a mixed bag with Cole analyzing different topics and ideas within society.

There’s no doubt that Cole has cemented his name since then as one of the best to ever pick up a mic.

With every step of his career, he has increased his profile and proven his influence in the music industry, doing most of it without features. What’s interesting is how comfortable he is with breaking this streak with an array of secret guest features. Right off the bat, we’re met with an hyped-up intro from none other than Killa Cam; this project was well worth the anticipation as this is definitely one of Cole’s better projects for the same reason the track is so compelling. Cole

sounds like he’s still trying to get a record deal, accompanied by a solid beat and grand horn sample.

Laced into a confident delivery, cutthroat bars and lyricism set the record straight on where Cole stands in the rap game. The beat mixed with its rap style, Killa Cam’s intro, as well as the Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz sample toward the backend show that Cole is really a student of the early 2000s.

This is a very refreshing version of Cole, where he drops the woke pretense and instead focuses on what he does best: relatable storytelling accompanied with great beats.

To be fair, there’s nothing wrong with music with a social pretense and conscious angle, but typically when Cole releases a tape with a grand observation or statement, it tends to not always connect and live up to the hype. In no way is “The Off-Season” a shallow record, as there are plenty of personal contemplative corners throughout the tracklist. On the cuts where Cole decides to pull back some layers, he does it in a way that relates directly to his own personal experiences that’s vulnerable and not painfully embarrassing. Not only that, but

all the guest appearances really added some excellent and much needed versatility to the tracklist.

I love the lyrical highlights on the intro song, such as the line “Put a M on your head you Luigi brother now” or “So many shells left on the ground it would make the Easter Bunny proud.”

Even though this is a strong start to this extended play, the rest of the journey is not without its potholes. There are a couple of tracks on the album that really could have been built out more.

Cuts like “p u n c h i n’. t h e. c l o c k” hit very hard for the time that it lasts. However, it would have had more of an impact had there been another verse or a hook somewhere. The Damian Lillard sample in the beginning and tail end of the track stole the show, really telling the story before and after Cole starts rapping along with the hypnotic entrancing beat that really makes this track a highlight of the album.

While it’s fair to say that the first half of the album is a bit spotty, it picks up speed hard, like a skateboard going downhill.

Tracks like “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l” where the lyrical focus impressively revolves around pride with smooth transitions into

an incredible Lil Baby verse is an exceptional moment in the album.

The Lil Baby verse on this track, where he is essentially rapping his life away, is great in the way it goes above and beyond to match Cole’s energy. The track “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d” is one of the more confessional cuts on record where Cole dives into themes of self-doubt and his son growing up. This leads him into a diatribe about his times growing up being afraid of fighting, getting hurt, getting killed and not being hard enough as he needed to be to get through numerous obstacles in life. The laid-back hypnotic beat and relaxed rapping, along with 6lack’s background vocals, make for a very personal and intimate H track. ■

THE RAPPER’S NEWEST RELEASE IS REFRESHING WITH ITS USE OF FEATURED ARTISTS AND HARD-HITTING LYRICS.

VERDICT: There’s so much to like about this album from start to finish.

For the everyday J. Cole fan, this album is sure to excite. Though it is his last contribution to the rap game, “The Off-Season” is a great listen that’s hard-hitting, smooth and thought-provoking.

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10

SPORTS

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

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HIGHLANDER HOT TAKE:

HIGHLANDER HOT TAKE IS A COLUMN UNDER THE SPORTS SECTION THAT FEATURES UNPOPULAR OPINIONS ABOUT THE SPORTS WORLD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE UCR.

The Brooklyn Nets will win their first NBA championship this year KYLE PENIX Contributing Writer

Well, it’s happened before — sort of. The Nets franchise — then called the New York Nets, won two American Basketball Association titles in 1974 and 1976 led by legend Julius Erving before the ABA-NBA merger at the conclusion of the ‘76 season.

However, since joining the newly formed league, the Nets have been an up-and-down team.

The team has often struggled to make it through the first round of the NBA playoffs or to even make the playoffs at all.

The closest the Nets have ever come to winning an NBA title is a throwback to when Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd’s 2002 and 2003 teams advanced to the NBA Finals twice in two amazing back-to-back seasons.

Unfortunately, rollercoaster seasons followed, and in an effort to revitalize the team, the Nets moved to Brooklyn for the first time in 2012.

Superteams aren’t new in professional basketball.

However, the team that has been built in the last two years in Brooklyn is scary. The roster is loaded with talent and experience that the Nets franchise has never had in its entire history. The star trio of players on the Nets’ roster that has been the primary buzz this year consists of Kevin

Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Their accompanied accolades and achievements are highly notable and are a valid reason enough for the resulting optimism. In particular, Durant and Harden, alongside former teammate Russell Westbrook, starred together for the Oklahoma City Thunder for several years at the beginning of their careers in the NBA. Durant and Harden would eventually part ways to find success with new teams.

Durant won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors, and Harden became the face of the franchise for the Houston Rockets, leading them to multiple playoff appearances.

As for Irving, he won a title with former teammate Lebron James as a key member of the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Boston Celtics. All three found themselves playing together for the first time in 2021 in a city and for a team desperate for a title.

Brooklyn’s coaching staff are also no strangers to winning professional basketball games.

The coaching staff is led by Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash as head coach. Nash helped Durant win both of his titles in 2017 and 2018 as a consultant after he retired in 2015 from the Lakers.

Reuniting with Nash for the third time in his basketball career but

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as an assistant coach is Mike D’Antoni. Nash and D’Antoni have been a force together in the NBA, winning many games as a part of the organizations for the Suns and the Lakers. D’Antoni also coached Harden the past four seasons as head coach of the Rockets. He led the Rockets to the highest winning percentage in the Western Conference over the past four years (.682), trailing only the Toronto Raptors (.695) in the entire league according to ESPN. Despite playing with significant challenges this year such as Durant being injured, Harden joining as a somewhat

late addition, Irving taking several personal leave-of-absences and the battle to overcome the lack of reps together on the court, the Nets still came in only second place behind the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference.

Brooklyn dominated other teams this season and broke several franchise records along the way.

The Nets earned a 48-24 record as the league’s top offense to conclude their regular season and notably achieved their highest ever winning percentage of .667%, beating the .634% record set by Kidd in the 2002 season.

It’s also important to mention that the team was strengthened

further by other recent additions: center Deandre Jordan, hybrid power forward Blake Griffin and power forward Jeff Green.

The team is a nightmare to play against, and other teams will have their work cut out for them in the playoffs.

The Nets will face Boston for their first playoff game on Saturday, May 22. The big-three is fully healthy and eager to prove the doubters wrong. Expectations are as high as they’ve ever been for the Nets, and it’s about time H they win big. ■

The Philadelphia 76ers will defeat the Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals and take down the Lakers to win the 2021 NBA Championship

HANSEL CHU Staff Writer

With the 2021 NBA Playoffs officially underway, the road to the championship has been taken to a whole other level. This NBA season has arguably the most parity it has had in the last few seasons. With multiple teams having a legitimate chance of winning it all, the Philadelphia 76ers will emerge victorious and become the 2021 NBA Champions.

First of all, the 76ers have one of the most star-studded offenses in the NBA this season, led by MVP candidate, Joel Embiid. Embiid this season averaged a career high 28.5 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. Embiid has

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been nothing short of dominant against opponents this year with his unique arsenal of power and finesse. This can be seen when Embiid went down with an injury in the middle of the season and the 76ers went 10-11 without him.

However, the MVP candidate also had tremendous help from his supporting cast. Before, the 76ers had a problem with floor spacing for Embiid and point guard Ben Simmons. In the offseason, the 76ers resolved this issue by trading away Josh Richardson to the Mavericks for sharpshooter Seth Curry and signed 3-and-D player Danny Green to help space the floor. Curry and Green made

immediate impacts for the 76ers as both players shot above 40% from the 3-point line. This allowed Embiid to operate freely in the midrange and in the paint, as opponents are unable to double team Embiid without giving up a three to Green or Curry. Forward Tobias Harris has also been an underrated piece to the 76ers’ success. This season, Harris averaged 19.5 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game, giving the 76ers another offensive weapon alongside Embiid.

As if the offense isn’t enough to handle, the 76ers’ defense is more dangerous than their offense. This season, the 76ers ranked 14th in offensive rating, but their

defense ranked second in the NBA. This can be attributed to the Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Ben Simmons, holding down the defense for the 76ers.

As a 6’11 guard, Simmons has the ability to defend all five positions on the court and disrupt the opponent’s top players with his height and length. Embiid also made a name for himself as being an elite shot blocking big man in the league, as he averaged 1.4 blocks a game as well as 1.0 steals a game.

The 76ers have lengthy and versatile defenders, such as guards Matisse Thybulle, Danny Green and Tobias Harris, that they can throw at opposing guards. Along with their top defensive rating, the 76ers also ranked fourth in opponent second chance points, which means opponents have less opportunities to score against the 76ers.

With a star-studded offense and a suffocating defense, the 76ers are going to be a force in the playoffs. The 76ers have the defensive potential to halt the nuclear offenses of the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks. Offensively, no one in the league this season seemed to have an answer for Joel Embiid. Barring any injuries, the 76ers will ride the shoulders of their MVP candidate, Joel Embiid, and H win the 2021 NBA Championship. ■

Sports

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SPORTS

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

11

UCR’s baseball team fall to UC Santa Barbara

HIGHLANDERS UNABLE TO CUT THE DEFICIT CREATED IN THE EARLY INNINGS. KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

UCR’s baseball team began their fourgame series against UC Santa Barbara this Friday evening, May 21, taking place under the Riverside sunset in the Riverside Sports Complex.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Zach Jacobs opened the game for the Highlanders from the mound. His pitching led to two outs back-to-back against the first two hitters from the Gauchos. Third up to bat for Santa Barbara, freshman Zach Rodriguez, managed to reach first base. Sophomore Christain Kirtley was next up, managing to find the ball and hit it far enough for Rodriguez to open the scoreboard for the Gauchos. Riverside got the third out shortly thereafter to head into the bottom of the first. Sophomore Michael Mcgreevy was the opening pitcher for Santa Barbara.

Bohal was first up to bat and managed to get to first. A hit from Orick down the middle left him on first and Bohall on third, two outs on the board. Bohall charged toward home to get a point, but the Gauchos got another out before he reached home.

Going into the second inning, Gaucho freshman Jason Willow managed to hit the ball deep out toward left field, which allowed him to reach second base. Willow managed to steal third base, and Mason Eng managed to drive the ball up the

middle. This gave Willow enough time to reach home base, putting Santa Barbara 2-0 and giving them their third out shortly after. The bottom of the second was largely uneventful for the Highlanders as they quickly transitioned to the third inning.

In the third inning, redshirt sophomore Cole Cummings extended the Gaucho’s lead to 3-0 after a ball being thrown toward third base flies a little too high, allowing Cummings to reach home and the third out being postponed. Senior McClain O’Connor found Jacob’s pitch, batting a triple toward center field. He managed to score, putting the Gauchos up 4-0 over the Highlanders. UCR did their best to put themselves on the board. Each of them managed to hit the ball off of Willow’s pitches but were ultimately unable to seal the deal.

The Highlanders managed to slow down Santa Barbara in the fourth inning, as they were unable to score. In the bottom of the fourth, things seemed to turn around for the Highlanders. Freshman Anthony Mata hit the ball toward left field, an error on first base gave him enough time to reach second. Jacob Shanks followed him, hitting a single which brough Mata home and put UCR on the board 4-1. Redshirt junior Cole Pofek was next in the lineup, grounding the ball toward first base.

Shanks moved to third base, putting him

in a position to score. Redshirt freshman Joey Nicolai brought Shanks home with a flyball. The score was now 4-2 with two outs on the board. The Highlanders gave up the third out shortly after.

Early in the fifth inning, there was a sense of deja vu. Rodriguez managed to get onto the bases, and Kirtley brought him home shortly after putting them up 5-2.

Kirtley managed to reach second base, as he awaited to be brought home by redshirt sophomore Broc Mortensen. Mortensen hit a home run out toward right field, giving Santa Barbara two more points, 7-2. The Highlanders managed to strike out the Gauchos, leading them into the bottom of the fifth. Redshirt senior Travis Bohall was first up to the plate, hitting a single.

Redshirt sophomore Eli Stuart was next up to bat, sacrificing his own run to let Bohall reach first. Redshirt Junior Dylan Orick batted another single, and two mishandled throws from the Gauchos helped Bohall come home, putting the Highlanders on the board again 7-3.

The game was essentially over after the fifth inning as neither of the two teams managed to score again.The Highlanders ended the game down 7-3. The Highlanders tried to put some points on the board the next day during their double header matchup. Unfortunately, they lost both games: 14-3 the first game and 12-0 the

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second game.

“We have not had a good weekend, we have not played as well as I expected us to… (We’ll) continue to work hard and develop. We need to improve as individual players and as a team everyday. We start multiple freshmen in every game and they have continued to compete and improve throughout the year which is promising for the future,” said Interim Head Coach Justin H Johnson. ■

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