Volume 69 Issue 30

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Wednesday, June 9, 2021

VOL. 69, ISSUE 30

est. 1954

graduation issue

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REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit, hosted by ASU Virtual Event 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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NEWS

News

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ASUCR

ASUCR’s final meeting marked with a protest walkout IN ASUCR’S LAST MEETING, THREE SENATORS STAGED A WALKOUT IN PROTEST OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IF A WINNING CANDIDATE FAILED TO GARNER 70% OF THE VOTE.

ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

On Wednesday, June 2, ASUCR held their final meeting of the spring quarter and of the school year. Due to a walkout protest, the meeting was extended to three hours. CHASS senators Christopher Kent and Sarah Dhou, as well as President Pro-Tempore Orlando Cabalo, staged an unannounced walkout that prevented the passage of legislation.

The senate board began a motion to discuss SB-S21-10, a piece of legislation designed to require a yearly student-issued survey to be completed following the electoral process. However, upon calling for a motion to vote on the bill, the walkout occurred,

leaving the vote at 9-0-0. Due to the walkout of the three named senators, the quorum to pass legislation was not met, and the remaining senators were unable to continue with further motions, as all further voting would be considered unofficial.

President Pro-Tempore Cabalo released a statement to The Highlander on behalf of the three ASUCR senators who decided to walk out of the senate meeting, citing two primary reasons. The first concern of the five senators regards “a number of backroom attempts to strongarm these election bills to the Senate floor.”

In their statement, Cabalo and the other senators stated they felt it was necessary to resist attempts to pass unconstitutional legislation.

Their protest was driven by what they considered to be a major piece of unconstitutional legislation. The bill in question, SB-021-12 “Minimum Requirement to Win an Election

Unopposed,” was described in the statement as “defiant of the ASUCR Constitution” and threatening to the will of voters.

The bill states that in the event that a candidate fails to garner 70% of the vote, rather than looking at the majority of votes, a special election would be held in its place. In his statement, Cabalo expressed that “this unconstitutional bill would revoke the will of voters in the event an unopposed candidate fails to garner a ludicrous 70% of votes.

Rather than listening to voters, this bill would hand election power to the Senate in a special election.”

Cabalo further expressed his concerns stating, “Our caucus is wholeheartedly opposed to ignoring the will of voters and handing more power to a gang of 18 senators.”

In an interview, ASUCR Elections Director Lama Yassine expressed that she considered the walkout to be a “clear obstruction of justice,” and “very undemocratic.”

Yassine explained further that she wrote and submitted 12 pieces of legislation, including SB-S21-010, with sponsorship by other senators; this legislation would implement a minimum number of votes for unopposed candidates, defining an online aspect of the election process, requiring a yearly survey and removing the three strikes rule for candidates. However, she explained that Cabalo refused to place these pieces of legislation on the agenda for the Legislative Review Committee meeting, though her legislation was later accepted through a vote by the LRC. She explained that Cabalo had then refused to hold a meeting to review the legislation, a refusal to honor the LRC vote and violation of his jurisdiction.

However, an interpretation of the constitution by the ASUCR judicial branch allowed for an override of this refusal and ensured that the legislation would be heard in the senate. At the senate meeting, a

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motion was passed to include her legislation on the agenda, though once they reached her pieces, the walkout interrupted further voting.

Yassine expressed her concerns and stated that, “These senators who walked out were blocking my legislation from being heard and are silencing the voices of the elections committee and senators who voted to pass these pieces of legislation, as well as the senators and sponsors who worked hard to write and approve the legislation respectively.”

At the end of the meeting, many graduating senators expressed their appreciation for the work and professionalism of the ASUCR board. Many of them expressed that it was an honor to serve and lent their gratitude to the incoming cohort who will serve on the ASUCR board next year, bidding H farewell before their departure. ■

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

ASUCR’s Student Voice Committee completes their second case study

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

ASUCR’s Student Voice Committee conducted their second case study following the success of their first one conducted in March. The committee’s overall goal is to amplify student voices at UCR and to ensure that they see their concerns are listened to and heard by faculty, staff and administrators.

Mark Hanin, director and vice chair of the Student Voice Committee, explained the overarching purpose of this second case study. He highlighted his pursuit to understand the experiences of students with group chat services, considering the surge of their usage with the prominent transition into remote learning. The committee aimed to determine how students benefit from these services and whether they should be retained come this fall. The second case study and survey also looked at the impact of cheating on such services, given the idea that students rely on group chat services to commit academic misconduct. Hanin best explained the purpose of the case study stating, “I was hoping for this second case study to serve

as a mediator of some sort by explaining both sides of the issue with group chat services.”

The committee surveyed 405 respondents and had a total of 12 case study participants from a variety of backgrounds.

Beginning with the question of group chat usage, 75.5% of the survey respondents and 91.7% of case participants expressed that group chat services are beneficial and should be in use when inperson instruction returns come this fall. This majority expressed how group chat services were invaluable to their learning experiences as they helped them connect with other individuals and allowed them to remain engaged with course instruction.

Onwards with the question of academic misconduct, 12.2% of survey respondents stated outright that they have been academically dishonest on an assignment or exam, while 12.8% of survey respondents stated that they would not wish to answer that particular question. The remaining 75.0% of students reported they do not commit academic misconduct.

The case study, however, revealed a number of conclusions regarding this latter question.

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HANIN’S CASE STUDY LOOKS INTO ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES REGARDING GROUP CHAT SERVICES AND MISCONDUCT.

Students generally did not know their rights if they were ever involved in a case with academic integrity and were unsure of where to go online in order to access a list of those rights. Students generally attributed their reasoning behind committing academic misconduct primarily to outside pressures, such as familial expectations, the fear of failure and low grades, as well as a lack of substantial time to prepare for exams and assignments.

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

Students expressed that counseling is needed to combat cheating, although there appeared to be a debate on how this counseling can be delivered. Some students expressed that attending tutoring sessions rather than outright counseling can be one way to combat cheating while others expressed that understanding the reasons why students cheat, such as looking into their mental health, housing status or financial

situation through private sessions, is another way to combat cheating.

With the success of the first case study and the completion of this second one, Hanin expressed his desire “to continue disseminating the results as widely as possible to all administration groups, faculty groups, student groups and staff groups on campus so that it brings our campus community closer together.” ■ H

Graduating seniors reflect on their time at UCR

DESPITE THE UNTRADITIONAL YEAR, THE CLASS OF 2021 REFLECTED ON THEIR TIME AT UCR AND THE EXPERIENCES THEY WILL CHERISH.

COURTESY OF UCRNEWS

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

As one journey ends, another begins. Graduation and commencement are underway and differ from last year’s fully remote commencement, as they are being held in a limited, inperson fashion. Reflecting upon their upcoming commencement and time at UCR, many cherished their experiences and were eager to move onto pursuing their aspirations. However, with the global pandemic and the transition into remote learning, many also expressed feelings of being robbed of their final year.

Evan Kam, a graduating political science and law and society major, began his UCR journey in hopes of studying both law and animation. He described himself in the beginning as a “young and dumb 18-year-old who didn’t understand the college system.” But overtime, he not only learned to navigate the college system better, but also understood the cold, hard truth that adulthood is confusing. Kam expressed a greater notion to those feeling the rushed reality of adulthood that “It’s fine to still be studying by 28 since things are more crowded than before. Everyone moves at different paces.” Kam’s future

plans include getting into law school while also enrolling into Fullerton College to pursue his true passion of animation and maintaining a career in law as a practical backup.

Graduating with a psychology major, Travis Perales came into the university with a lot to prove and a fresh start following high school. And by the end of it all, Perales expressed, “I believe I did what I set out to do,” as he graduated in three years with University Honors, summa cum laude honors and will be continuing his education by completing a doctoral program in clinical psychology in the upcoming fall quarter. He expressed his gratitude stating, “I’ve realized now that it was this university and its community that gave me all the opportunities to really help me become the student I wanted and knew I could be.

Being at the end, it’s better now.

I don’t regret my decision for UCR.” Lama Yassine, a graduating biology and math major, settled upon UCR hoping to attain the experience of being at a large university. Describing the UCR campus as a “really heartwarming and accepting place to be,” she appreciated the down-to-earth attitude of students and cherishes

the many opportunities that our university offered, including her tenure at ASUCR, as well as the memories and life-long friends she made overtime. Yassine’s postgraduate future involves her enrollment at Columbia University come fall for her masters degree in biomedical engineering.

Natalie Haghani, a graduating biology major, decided to attend UCR due to the university’s strong biological sciences program and the recently established UCR School of Medicine. Adjusting to college life was difficult at first, though in little time, she blossomed through her experiences, meeting lifelong friends, and inspiring faculty and professors.

Graduating with a matheconomics major, Christopher Milonakos had grown up in Riverside, making UCR an easy pick. Being a transfer student, Chris only attended UCR for two years, but he loved every minute of the experience, even the universal struggle of finding parking. Chris has already obtained an actuarial internship at a retirement services company and will begin working after graduation.

Miguel Oh, a fourth-year mathematics major, made his decision to attend UCR citing the

school’s stellar education program as his primary reason. In his interview with The Highlander, he stated, “I think it’s safe to say that I don’t regret my choice at all after seeing where I’m at right now!” Oh hopes to become a math teacher in the future, either at a middle school or high school level, and after graduating, he will pursue a masters degree in education with a credential in mathematics.

“My experience attending UCR was nothing short of the best,” stated Mark Hanin, a graduating biology major. After graduating, Hanin looks forward to interning at the California Air Resources Board over the summer.

Following this, he strives to earn a masters degree in public health before specializing in health law and policy. He aspires to become a medical malpractice lawyer and a public health reform advocate with the hopes of addressing existing inequities within today’s healthcare system.

Online classes affected many student’s ability to learn and retain information, though many pros and cons were noted. Both Kam and Perales expressed similar concerns in their interviews and expressed that certain classes would have been much better handled in-person as opposed

to online. Milonakos stated that the transition has been mostly a detriment citing the lack of interaction in classes.

However, some courses, primarily students’ breadth courses, seem to have benefited from the transition. Furthermore, in her interview, Yassine made the point that, “Our virtual world has made it plenty easier to be involved on campus,” citing the ability to attend zoom meetings and view pre recorded lectures.

Haghani expressed her enjoyment of being able to complete her asynchronous classes at any given time.

However, with the transition into online learning, Perales expressed a concern shared by many, saying, “After everything I accomplished, this ending is very anticlimactic.” He reflected on how the pandemic prevented many from pursuing many opportunities and events that they looked forward to.

Though these graduating seniors are off to pursue different endeavours post-grad, through their interviews, they expressed their gratitude for completing their education at UCR and will always look back fondly at their H time. ■

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NEWS

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2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE EVENTS THAT UNFOLDED OVER THE COURSE OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.

SEPTEMBER 2020

BY: AMANI MAHMOUD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

OCTOBER 2020

In September of 2020, grappling with steep budget cuts, UCR’s Budget Advisory Committee suggested the elimination of the athletics department and the School of Public Policy in a summary of recommendations to UCR Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox. UCR was facing approximately a $70 to $108 million permanent budget shortfall over the next two to three years.

The recommendations from the BAC sparked opposition among UCR athletes, the UCR community, SPP students, faculty and the Riverside community, who began the Keep UCR Athletics movement.

COURTESY OF UCRNEWS

NOVEMBER 2020

The 2020 presidential race between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden was the first time many UCR students were eligible to vote in a presidential election.

UCR organizations and departments, such as the Civic Engagement Coalition, Student Life, the School of Public Policy and CALPIRG, centered their programming on Election Day around educating the UCR community on how to make a plan to vote, answering questions students had and creating spaces where they could voice their concerns and worries in anticipation of the next president of the United States.

JANUARY 2021

In a campus wide email sent on March 22, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Brian Haynes Haynes announced the March 29 reopening of the SRC with new safety guidelines to ensure a safe transition back to in person operations.

With the reopening, the SRC was open to UCR students only and the tennis, swimming pool and SRC South Fitness Center were available to use at 10% capacity. SRC North, multipurpose rooms and basketball courts remained closed.

In March, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Thomas M Smith announced an instructional plan for fall that aimed for a return to primarily in-person instruction in fall 2021 and allows for adjustments to be made in the coming months as new information arrives, uncertainty is resolved, and new guidance is issued.

COURTESY OF UCR/STAN LIM

DECEMBER 2020 After a year-long search, UCR Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox appointed Elizabeth Watkins as provost and executive vice chancellor, effective May 1, 2021. Watkins previously served as the dean of the graduate division, vice chancellor of student academic affairs and as a professor in the Department of Anthropology, Department of History and the Department of Social Medicine at UC San Francisco.

COURTESY OF CALPIRG STUDENTS

In the interest of protecting front-line healthcare employees, UCR’s Student Health Services received a 100-dose shipment of the Moderna vaccine via Riverside County. Administration of the vaccine began on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Aram Ayra, a UCR alumni from the class of 2018 and former ASUCR president, ran for Riverside City Council Ward 2. As a political science student at UCR, Ayra rose from being a CHASS senator to ASUCR president, addressing matters of oversight on police officers, sexual harassment and helping to facilitate communication between UCR and the city of Riverside. Ayra’s platform, a grassroots funded campaign with no corporate or pact donations, runs on the message “reform, rebuild, and reinvest.”

If elected, his immediate action will be to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.

MARCH 2021

In anticipation of fall quarter, UCR established a brand new COVID-19 testing laboratory on campus. It officially opened to all students and staff at the beginning of October.

In October of 2020, a UCR professor came under fire from students past and present after a series of videos went viral on social media. The videos posted onto TikTok and Twitter on Oct. 22 amassed over 7 million views and seemingly showcased Associate Professor of Chemistry Catharine Larsen being dismissive toward her students during CHEM 008A, Organic Chemistry.

For the second year in a row, UCR was ranked No. 1 in social mobility by the U.S. News and World Report. Each year, the U.S. News and World Report publishes a list of college rankings within the United States. For the year 2021, UCR once again placed first as a top performer in the category of social mobility.

COURTESY OF ARAM AYYARA VIA INSTAGRAM

FEBRUARY 2021 On Friday, Feb. 19, Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox sent a campus wide email in which he condemned a slew of violent and racist attacks against Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders specifically in the Bay Area and across the country. In the statement, Wilcox stated “We unequivocally condemn the recent violent and racist attacks in the Bay Area and nationally against Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the UCR Commencement Task Force, composed of student representatives from ASUCR, Diversity Council and GSA, as well as faculty, staff and administrators, confirmed that the spring 2021 graduation will take place virtually. The final decision was made in the interest of preserving the health and safety of the UCR community.

In February, The Highlander broke the news that UCR lost its federal designation as a Hispanic Serving institution due to a filing error by campus administration, resulting in the potential loss of millions in CARES funding. In 2008, UCR became the first federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution

APRIL 2021

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

In April, UCR announced that it will host in-person commencement activities for the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021.

From Saturday, June 12 through Monday, June 14, graduates would be able to sign up for blocks of time to walk across a stage individually as their name is read and have their photo taken on stage in academic regalia. They announced that no guests will be permitted inside or around either facility and students will follow CDC Guidelines by wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance.

COURTESY OF UCRNEWS

(HSI) in the UC system. The streak was lost at the beginning of 2020 after a filing omission occurred under UCR’s Office of Planning, Budget and Administration that caused them to miss the filing deadline for 2020. As a result, UCR was potentially barred from receiving millions of dollars in CARES Act funding and federal grants meant to support and expand educational opportunities for Hispanic and other low-income students.

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

COURTESY OF UCRNEWS

MAY 2021 On May 7, Chancellor Wilcox announced that graduates would be permitted to bring no more than two guests to their in-person commencement ceremony.

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 H conflict. ■ COURTESY OF UCRNEWS

Opinions

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OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

Despite promises for change, America continues to resist solving systemic racism and police brutality

O

A YEAR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH, THE UNITED STATES STILL AVOIDS ADDRESSING THE CORE ISSUES THAT ARE HARMING ITS BLACK CITIZENS.

ne year ago on May 25, George Floyd was killed in cold blood by former police officer Derek Chauvin. Floyd’s death provoked outrage, and people took to the streets to protest the latest in many deaths. The senseless killings of other Black people, such as Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor and numerous others, came to light as well thanks to the wave of activism spawned by Floyd’s murder. However, it’s a year after these events, and little has changed. Though Chauvin has been convicted, the nation still has far to go in its journey toward ending police brutality and offering a safer environment for its marginalized communities.

Society has lost its momentum in pushing for justice. For as powerful of a tool as social media is, it has unfortunately enabled performative activism. Years and years of strife and conflict cannot be summed up in a digestible pastel pink Instagram post. Even after the Chauvin case ended, social media was still shedding light on multiple murders that kept occurring, like that of Daunte Wright, but raising awareness has not been nearly enough. There is not anywhere near the amount of activism and urgency of that which happened last summer,

and therefore, there is not nearly enough of a push to earn justice and make a radical change.

The Biden administration suggested that it would attempt to solve police brutality with the establishment of a national police oversight commission within its first 100 days. However, no such commission has been established.

Though lawmakers are hopeful that they can get it to pass, it should come as no surprise if it unfortunately doesn’t. Even with a Democrat majority in the House, the Republicans will likely throw a tantrum and do anything to keep it from passing. Therefore, the Biden administration simply must stop wasting time trying to reach across the aisle on this issue. Biden has shown that he has the power to make plenty of change very quickly, especially with his executive orders at the start of his presidency. He has the power to implement mass reform, if only he gets over the fear of stepping on Republicans.

Some may try to cite the surge in gun violence as a reason to not actively defund the police.

However, given the continued deaths of Black people at the hands of police officers, police reform is absolutely necessary.

Of course, it’s not as simple as pulling funding from police departments. There must be great consideration put into how we

should restructure the police. If this complex issue receives the attention it deserves. Such care will be worth it, as it will result in a safer overall system that better takes care of people of color and mental health crises. The current police system is steeped in years of systemic racism and does not offer the balance of protection and safety that a public protection branch should provide. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities instead of feeling anxious about a traffic stop or doing everyday activities because of the gross power that the police wield. No matter the controversy, the police force of America needs serious, well-thought-out reform.

For instance, applicants for the police force should have their backgrounds heavily reviewed, and should go through a much longer training process. The use of military-grade weapons by police forces could be diminished, and responses to mental health crises could be allotted to committees trained to respond to such situations.

It is not simply the increase in actual activism and the reform of police that is needed to create radical change in America; we need to start in the classrooms of the nation as well. There is nothing wrong with introducing ethnic studies to students at a young age. There needs to be

more honesty in how we teach history to children; we can teach about Martin Luther King Jr. and slavery all day, but the fact that important events such as the Tulsa race riot and the true severity of Jim Crow laws are not even touched on in classrooms is a crime. Children deserve to know the truth of our history; teaching them about the racial issues in America and the atrocities that it has created may help create less prejudiced generations who are more motivated to end the systemic issues in the United States.

A year after George Floyd’s death, not much in the grand scheme of things has changed.

This does not mean, however, that we should ignore some of the changes that have started to take root. The Chauvin case was a turning point in showing police officers that they will be held accountable for their misdeeds.

More Black people are being shown in mainstream media than ever before, and their stories are being shared. The nation has seen that it can demand justice and have it be delivered; this is a turning point for our voices in demanding action. People have a new awareness of social justice, and although it may not be trendy anymore, there are still people speaking up and making sure their voices are heard. The

George Floyd case has opened up doors for the killers of other Black people, like Breonna Taylor, to be put on trial and given the punishments they deserve. There have been changes, and positive ones at that; there simply needs to be a more radical change.

America is still on a very long journey toward solving its police brutality and systemic problems. The people need to demand more of the government to ensure that victims of police brutality receive justice, and the government needs to stop sidestepping these crucial issues and instead seize the bull by the horns. We will not see radical change if we ourselves do not change radically in how we tackle these systemic problems.

We must keep up the momentum of this movement and fight for justice for those who are no longer with us. We must ensure that our future generations have H the safety everyone is entitled to.■

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

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Returning to in-person classes as an extreme extrovert will be a blessing EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor

It’s almost surreal to say that I haven’t been in a physical classroom in over a year. Like many others, the pandemic hit right at the end of my senior year of high school, and I spent my first year of college completely online as well. The pandemic has definitely made some aspects of college work very difficult, especially because I am an incredibly extroverted person. I love being around people and working in environments that allow me to collaborate or at least talk with others. While I’ve still been able to do that thanks to Discord and Zoom, nothing quite compares to the interaction you receive in a classroom. It has been difficult at times to feel motivated about attending an online lecture or having to watch hours upon hours of recorded lectures and taking notes, missing online office hours because of other classes or obligations and missing out on the chance to meet new people and friends in classes.

I am very excited to be returning to campus in the fall. I am fortunate to have received both doses of the COVID vaccine, and I will be able to return to campus safely for in-person classes. I think UCR was wise in giving professors a choice in what kind of instruction they want their classes to be given in. I’ll be taking half of my classes in-person and the other half online, giving a great transition period back into a classroom environment.

Although I am a little wary about the risks in-person learning could pose, I plan on keeping up precautions for my own health, such as sanitizing regularly and wearing a mask in crowds. Regardless, I’m excited at the prospect of getting to interact with people face-to-face again.

In terms of what I’m looking forward to the most, it’s the chance to finally get to feel like I’m in a college environment.

I have lived on campus for the last two quarters, and I’ve been able to walk around the buildings. But that’s not the same as getting to sit in a lecture hall and be able to actually engage. I’ve fallen into the pitfalls of not wanting to pay attention in class and sit with my camera off, dying for the class to end so I can get to some other work. Online classes have put me in a state of constantly needing to do something — catch up on a lecture, do a certain amount of homework and do this amount of studying. This constant feeling of being “on-call” has been overwhelming to me, and it has felt like my studies are stemming into every other part of my life, meaning I can’t relax. I feel like having the separation between the classroom and dorm room in the coming quarter will give me greater peace of mind.

This is not to say that I haven’t benefited in some ways from online learning. I’ve learned how to use Google Calendar, a vital and frankly gorgeous tool that I’ll be utilizing from now on, as it makes it so

much easier to remember when my classes are rather than relying on my paper planner and fried memory. I was able to make some fantastic friends my first quarter thanks to our class Discord chat, and they have become some of my best friends since.

Online learning opened up opportunities for creativity in communication that have been valuable, and I hope to hold onto these lessons even as we go back into inperson learning.

At least for me, I have nothing to fear when it comes to going back to in-person classes. I’m excited for the chances that being in person will offer, and I am more than excited to finally interact with my peers again. Though I will continue to be as safe as possible for myself and for others, the prospect of human connection again has me incredibly excited for what H the fall quarter will bring. ■

THE PANDEMIC HAS RESULTED IN PLENTY OF LANGUISHING, BUT EXCITEMENT FOR A NEW BEGINNING SURPASSES THOSE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS.

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ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

The First Amendment and issues regarding gun control remain a prominent issue of debate in the United States, and the popularity of this issue has grown exponentially over the past decade. With the level of bipartisanship in the country, as exhibited by the stark contrast between the ideologies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, it’s clear that gun reform will never cease to be a contested issue. But now, even common sense has begun to go out the window. Even with the rise of gun violence over the past few years, Texas lawmakers and Gov. Greg Abbott passed House Bill 1927, which serves as one of the most unrestrictive pieces of gun legislation to date. The effect this may have on not only Texas but the nation as a whole is rather concerning if this serves as a precedent for future legislation.

The current political climate reflects the decades-long clash between the two sides of the political spectrum: one side argues for personal liberty, and the other argues for public safety. Throughout the decades, Republican legislators, the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocacy groups have lobbied for and funded legislation to reduce restrictions.

In contrast, Democrats and guncontrol advocacy groups have firmly maintained opposition.

The federal attitude towards the Second Amendment tends to shift with each presidency,

Texas aims to pass House Bill 1927, which may allow open carry for Texans AS TEXAS PASSES THEIR LEAST RESTRICTIVE GUN LAW YET, MANY ARE RIGHTFULLY CONCERNED AS TO HOW THIS MAY AFFECT GUN VIOLENCE. COURTESY OF MICHAEL TEFFT @ FLICKR-CC BY NCND 2.0

although the attitude towards gun rights within states themselves has been more consistent with state leaders and their values.

Former President Trump’s rhetoric continued previous Republican lawmakers’ policy efforts to protect the right to keep and bear arms. Former President Obama made efforts to curtail gun violence and made it a central theme of his campaign agenda, especially in response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School among others. However, his efforts were unfortunately not as successful due to the presence of Republican opposition.

Texas has shown itself to be heavily dominated by the conservative agenda on gun control, with the state allowing for rifles to be carried openly without the need for a license. This comes in stark contrast with states such

as California and New York who have imposed firm restrictions on both concealed and open carry.

Nearly two dozen other states allow some form of unregulated carrying of handguns.

But House Bill 1927 may take Second Amendment freedoms to a whole new level as the bill would allow adults 21 and older without a felony criminal conviction to carry a handgun without a license or background check. In other words, Texas may become the most populous state where concealed carry will be allowed without permit, training nor background check in any form.

Though the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas has tentatively stated that it will back H.B. 1927 if some modifications are made, multiple law enforcement officials testified against it while it

was in committee. Houston Police Department Commander Jessica Anderson said it could “exacerbate” the problem of violent crime. This concern is shared by nearly all critics of the bill, citing the recent surge in mass shootings that have occurred all over the country, with the most recent few happening solely in 2021 within the span of only a couple months.

To alleviate concerns, lawmakers intended on adding stiffer penalties for felons caught illegally carrying guns, yet law enforcement groups have made it clear that the passage of the bill, even with this provision, would hardly solve the issue of gun violence while exacerbating the difficulty in identifying those carrying a firearm. Another criticism of the bill regards the concern of how this can increase the presence of gun violence,

given the multitude of mass shootings over the past few years that were carried out by non-felons who obtained their firearms legally. But Republican lawmakers and gun-rights advocates will still continue to push the horribly flawed logic that “You stop a bad guy with a gun with a good guy with a gun,” despite studies having shown the opposite effect.

However, the most pressing concern is that this bill may set a precedent for future legislation and even potentially affect lawmaking on a federal level.

Lawmakers appear determined to move forward with the bill despite clearly going against the wishes of the majority of Texans.

This type of legislative process is all too common nowadays with the passage of legislation by the previous administration that only further divided Americans. And with this legislation concerning the right to bear arms, the question remains as to whether or not lawmakers are truly concerned with the safety of their constituents if they’re willing to jeopardize it for political power.

In this regard, it’s evident that this is quite the politically savvy move that favors pro-gun groups that have consistently pressured lawmakers to adopt permitless carry laws. For the time being, we can only observe how gun violence is affected by the passage of the bill and whether or not we’ll see a surge in gun H violence across Texas. ■

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Unemployment rates rise as frontline workers refuse to return to unsatisfying work conditions

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

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RETAIL STORES ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FILLING POSITIONS AS THOUSANDS OF WORKERS LEAVE THE INDUSTRY DUE TO LOW WAGES AND ABUSIVE CUSTOMERS.

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DAVIOD MORENO Senior Writer

As California moves closer to its June 15 deadline for reopening, many business owners worry they won’t have enough labor. A labor shortage in the state makes it extremely difficult for businesses to keep up with growing demand, and this will only increase with reopening. With an inflated 8.3% unemployment rate and nearly 102,000 new jobs added to the market, it’s clear that something is holding people back from returning to work. For many minimum wage workers, the fear of contracting the coronavirus is still very prevalent. For others, employers are not offering enough compensation, and workers don’t feel properly taken care of.

If business owners want workers to return to work, they need to meet the demands of the labor force. This means offering higher wages, safer working conditions and access to health benefits.

Retail and fast-food workers are hesitant to return to work for many reasons. The main one is that for many, it’s not worth the struggle of having to deal with rude customers who don’t take COVID-19 restrictions seriously. Many of these interactions have gone viral

on social media, where anti-maskers become angry when they are refused service. This anger puts these front-line workers in dangerous situations for being attacked in their place of work. Front-line workers are also directly put at risk for contracting COVID-19 in the workplace.

Having to live in constant fear that you may be responsible for putting your entire household at risk can quickly start to feel like a heavy burden. We also have to take into account how much people’s lives have changed during the pandemic.

Since the beginning, many child care facilities and schools have been closed, which has stopped a significant amount of women from returning to the workforce.

Employers are also lacking in many areas, including wages, safety and employee benefits.

As unemployment rates across the country hold steady, fast-food chains are starting to grow more desperate for labor. Chain restaurants like Applebee’s are offering candidates who go in for interviews a coupon for free appetizers.

Other restaurants like Subway, McDonalds and Chipotle are offering referral and sign-on bonuses for new hires. However, new hire bonuses and free

appetizers are not going to solve the issues which have resulted in thousands leaving the fast food workforce. Many fast-food workers felt stressed, overworked and underpaid, which has led many to make the decision to look for employment elsewhere. Employers need to first work on providing safer and more inclusive working conditions before trying to recruit more unsuspecting individuals.

Front-line workers are constantly being harassed by customers who dehumanize them, so if employers want to welcome more workers back into the labor force, they need to guarantee a safer work environment If businesses want to attract future employees to work at their locations, they need to provide a greater amount of benefits. These benefits should not just be for new hires, but also pre-existing employees. Front-line workers need to be accurately paid for the hazardous work that they do. Multimillion-dollar corporations shouldn’t be paying their employees below the national minimum wage. These corporations should be held accountable for not paying their employees livable wages, especially right now with many of them constantly putting their own health

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, Seeing a seagull filled with plastic trash is normal now. Seeing an ocean or beach filled with plastic trash is normal now too. However, this should not be normal.

In a given year, according to Scientific American, 8 million metric tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans. Not only does this plastic ruin the ecosystem, but it also causes health problems in animals that live in the ecosystem. Many animals cannot differentiate between plastic trash and food; therefore, they eat the plastic trash thinking it is actual food. While the problem of plastic pollution was bad before COVID-19, the issue only got worse during the pandemic.

Due to COVID-19, using disposable face masks and gloves has become the norm. Rather than buying reusable

masks and gloves, some people choose to buy disposable ones that are thrown away after being used for a day. This, in turn, increases the amount of plastic we consume and makes the original problem worse.

If we hope to solve this problem, we need to put an end to global plastic pollution, and one key way of doing this is by urging policymakers to consider and pass bills dealing with decreasing plastic pollution.

Sincerely, Meenatchi Odaiyappan H University of California, Riverside■

on the line every time they walk into work. Workers shouldn’t have to put in crazy hours just to make enough money to survive. When front-line workers are expected to work so many hours, it leaves them vulnerable to being exploited by their employer. This then leads to workers feeling burnt out and overworked with little to no compensation. Employers need to prioritize the mental wellbeing of their employees because without them, their business will fail.

The unemployment rates of the entire country are continuing to fluctuate. While they do so, we need to remember who is truly being affected in this situation: our millions of front-line workers. Without them, our country would come to a standstill; they are the backbone of our economy. We need to leave behind the stigma that comes along with working retail and fast-food jobs. These workers deserve to be paid wages that compensates them for the amount of work they do. As consumers, we need to practice more empathy and patience when interacting H with front-line workers. ■

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FEATURES

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Campus Cope:

The rise and downfall of being a college freshman during a pandemic A GLOBAL PANDEMIC’S EFFECT ON A TRADITIONAL, FIRST YEAR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. ASHLEY CHEN Contributing Writer

It has been a little more than a year since the pandemic started, and the world has been deeply affected by this experience. Many of us have experienced unemployment, paying for masks and sanitizers in bulk at ridiculously high prices and shortages of everyday materials across the board.

In other words, this year has been hard on all of us. Though this year has been difficult for many people, times have been especially turbulent for the graduating class of 2020.

I was a senior in high school, and just like every senior, I thought my last year of high school would be enjoyable and memorable. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I vividly remember the sky being gloomy, and my best friend and I had decided to skip our last period to go to the popular boba spot, Omomo.

We had said our goodbyes to our friends during lunch, only to later realize that it would be our last time seeing them.

Being part of the class of 2020 was rough. I was unable to experience prom, Senior Week or even a proper graduation

ceremony. And although I was unable to enjoy my final days of high school, I thought my first year in college would make up for the loss of my senior year. I was under the impression that everything would be in person — however, I was wrong. It was later announced that the entire academic school year would be held online.

As a first year, I was always told that being a freshman in college would be one of the best experiences of my young adult life. I would get to meet new people, live with complete strangers in a small dorm and experience college parties. However, this traditional, firstyear experience was taken away from me.

Although classes and on-campus events were held online, I tried my best to make the most out of it. As a result, I came up with three goals I wanted to accomplish by the end of my first year.

My first goal was to make new connections. If I wanted to have a decent freshman year, I had to convince myself to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people through different types of on-campus activities and organizations

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in order to salvage my freshman year.

Luckily, I was able to find my group of friends and make new connections through these on campus organizations.

My second goal was to achieve a 4.0 GPA. Throughout high school, I was never really academically driven.

I would always surround myself with academically-driven people thinking that it would help improve my grades.

Ultimately, I was wrong, as I ended up being judged whenever I got a bad grade or a low GPA. This was damaging to my mental health, and I felt that school was not for me. But going into college meant having a clean slate, and I wanted to try again. I signed up for challenging classes and worked hard on getting those A’s.

By the end of my first year, I achieved that 4.0.

Finally, my third goal was to spend more time with my family. I have always been close with my family, but for the past year, we have been so busy with our

Slater’s 50/50 is worth the gamble

COURTESY OF @SLATERS5050_DTR VIA INSTAGRAM ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor

After a much anticipated wait, Slater’s 50/50 has finally opened its doors to the Riverside community. Located in the hustle and bustle of downtown Riverside, Slater’s 50/50 is just a 10 minute drive from campus, making this location a worthwhile restaurant venue for students to try out. This new burger restaurant specializes in the 50% ground bacon and 50% ground beef original patty as it pays homage to in its name. The restaurant also houses a variety of food choices, ranging from “Ahi Tuna Poke Nachos” to “Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches.”

Slater’s boasts about its passion for bacon, burgers and beers, so it is no surprise to find their extensive beer on tap selection on the walls as soon as you walk in. It gave off a sports bar atmosphere with every TV playing the same sports game and employees cheering for their preferred teams. The vibe of the eatery was laid-back and casual, and what

instantly stood out to me, other than the beer wall, was how the employees doublechecked to make sure the tables they were offering were properly sanitized. It was relieving to see that this establishment took cleanliness seriously.

Instead of offering physical menus, Slater’s 50/50’s offered a QR code to scan in order to see the menu from the comfort of your own smartphone, ensuring safety for both employees and customers. After scanning the code, I was a bit surprised at the prices, with the most expensive item being a $21 burger. All the other burger options ranged between $14 to $16, landing them on the higher end of the food spectrum.

To start the night, I decided to try their $16 “Ahi Tuna Poke Nachos” that comes with spicy sushi-grade ahi tuna, cilantro slaw, toasted sesame seeds, pickled jalapenos, chipotle crema, scallions and chile-lime hominy. I was a bit skeptical about the nachos considering the price tag, but as soon as they arrived, I was

shocked to see a huge portion of food.

This dish was so large that it could easily be shared by at least three to four people.

Additionally, my friend and I instantly noticed that the ahi tuna was extremely fresh and that the quality of the fish was high-end. Without the tuna however, this appetizer would be pretty standard and not worth the price tag.

Next came the entrees. I opted for the “Best Damn Cheeseburger” for $15.49, which consisted of an angus beef patty, thick-cut bacon, grilled onions, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and a Thousand Island sauce served on a brioche bun.

The burgers all came with french fries, but I opted for the tater tots, which tacked on an extra $2, since it came with a specialty queso dip. The food was piping hot, a sign of it being fresh off the grill, and there was a delicious bacon aroma emanating from the burger. At first bite, I noticed how juicy and flavorful the patty was. The bacon and caramelized onions all created a delicious flavor profile that

work and school lives that there was an obvious disconnect that had developed.

Quarantine was the perfect opportunity for us to spend quality time with each other. Every weekend, we would go on long walks, get coffee and go on San Diego trips to try different food places.

Through this, our family bond was stronger than ever before.

After going through a year-long pandemic and re-evaluating my senior year actions, the one thing I regret is leaving school early. I wish I had enjoyed my last moments with my classmates before we moved on to the next chapter of our lives. After experiencing such a rough year, I realized that I should cherish every moment. I should appreciate the people around me even if we barely talk to each other. This year has been hard on all of us; however, I sincerely hope that this upcoming school year will be better H for everyone.■

FOOD REVIEWS ARE A COLUMN UNDER THE FEATURES SECTION AIMED AT DISCOVERING NEW RESTAURANTS NEAR RIVERSIDE FOR THE STUDENT COMMUNITY TO TRY. made me mouth the words “Oh, my God.” The tater tots were also fresh and crunchy. Once dipped in the queso sauce, the entire flavor profile changed. The tots became cheesy and delicious. Overall, this entree was a win in my book, and the portion was generous.

The second burger was one that caught my eye called the “P.B and Jellousy.”

This burger came with an angus beef patty, thick-cut bacon, peanut butter and strawberry jelly on a honey wheat bun. The burger itself also came with french fries and a signature “Slater’s bacon ketchup” for $14.99 with an optional scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra $1.50. The french fries were pretty standard, but the signature house ketchup made the flavor stand out. The burger, on the other hand, made for a savory meal. The sweetness of the peanut butter and jelly was not overpowering, and overall, was a well-balanced burger much to my surprise. However, according to our server, this is a burger that people either love or hate. For me, this was a love considering the quality of beef and bacon was way up there and the flavors all mingled well together.

Having known nothing about Slater’s, this restaurant was a gamble for me considering the price. Nevertheless, the experience and quality of the food made it all worth it. The staff were all attentive, making the experience all the better. I could see myself coming back to this location for a bite to eat and maybe some H drinks. ■

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Features

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Senior Farewells The memories, experiences and knowledge I have gained at The Highlander are things I will always cherish — but I will be throwing away my AP Stylebook By: Amani Mahmoud, Editor-in-Chief Every day on my walk to one of my classes in the University Lecture Hall, I would stare longingly at a sign in front of The Highlander newspaper’s office that read “Weekly Monday Writer’s Meetings at 5:15 p.m.” I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper but I have also always been painfully shy. Journalism was something I was always passionate about and joining The Highlander sounded like a dream, I just had to gain the confidence to simply walk through the door. When I finally found the courage and took my first steps into The Highlander office, the trajectory of my entire college experience was transformed for the better.

As I prepare to finally walk across the stage at graduation, I am reflecting on my four years at The Highlander. I went from a confused contributing writer, to the assistant news editor, the news editor and eventually being elected as the 20202021 editor-in-chief. I never imagined that walking into my first writer’s meeting would lead to me eventually becoming the editor-in-chief. I also never could have imagined that I would only enjoy two full years at The Highlander and that the rest of my time would be cut short because of a global pandemic. Serving as the editorin-chief completely online crushed many of my dreams and goals. But I learned to roll with the punches and despite the hardships of the last year and a half, my four years at The Highlander will always be regarded as the highlight of my college career.

I vividly remember the day I officially transitioned from a contributing writer to the assistant news editor and moved into my office for the first time. I removed absolutely everything my predecessors had in the office previously and completely redecorated to make the

office my own. While everyone laughed that I transformed the office so quickly and eagerly, it paid off when I jokingly won “Most Likely to Become an Interior Designer” at our winter banquet.

While at the time Sunday productions were the most dreaded thing, especially with the constant fear of the computers crashing which would inevitably lead to a workday that would end at 2 a.m., I now would do anything to experience one inperson prod just one more time.

I will always fondly and disgustingly remember the raggedy couch in The Highlander’s lobby and everyone’s hesitation to sit on it for too long. I will jokingly recall the number of people who sat in the infamous armchair that had a broken leg and would subsequently collapse on the floor. I will annoyingly remember all the jokes and off-topic conversations in the lobby when we should have been working but that I secretly enjoyed. I will remember staying at ASUCR meetings every week, exhausted beyond repair, but doing my best to report on our student government. And while this job caused me more anxiety and stress than I could have ever imagined, the pride in reading one of my finished products was always worth it. I wrote more than 150 articles for The Highlander, produced 30 issues as the editor-in-chief and gained lifelong memories and experiences, despite how untraditional my experiences were.

It’s impossible to sum up my four years at The Highlander in one short article. It’s impossible to put into words how this organization has shaped who I am today.

As I write this article with tears in my eyes and reminisce on the friendships, memories, experiences and connections H made, all I can think to say is: thank you.■

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It takes a village to make an issue By: Silvia Ferrer, Managing Editor My first frame of reference of college journalism was “Gilmore Girls.” I imagined myself zipping around a newsroom the same way Rory did, calling out pitches and writing interesting stories about campus. Less than a month after I arrived at UCR, I put my fantasy in motion by marching into The Highlander newspaper office. Even during my first few months as a writer, the paper managed to incite in me a flurry of emotions: nervousness, excitement, annoyance (ever write a great paragraph only for it to get cut?), but most of all, fulfillment. It was thrilling to create something every week and see it come to life in print. I knew I wanted to stay involved while I was at UCR. I was hired as copy editor during spring quarter — a year that did not begin or end in the most pleasant of ways. It was bookended by discomfort; first, by the awkwardness and hesitation of being one of the few new editors in a room full of seasoned male editors and at the end, by having my year as copy editor cut short before I was ready to say goodbye.

But the bulk of that year was rewarding and fun. Then-editor-in-chief, Jonathan Fernandez, was the first to make me feel at ease with his constant jokes. Evan Ismail, the managing editor, made me feel similarly comfortable in my new role by providing some guidance and assuring me of the importance of my role — I soon felt comfortable voicing my opinion during Sunday production.

At risk of this last article sounding like an Oscars speech, there are many bright, funny and intelligent people I came across in the newsroom that made the work feel vibrant and powerful. Amani Mahmoud’s work ethic and empathy,

Christine Tran’s gift for Features, Samuel Harrison’s ability to choose the best adjectives: working with the 201920 senior staff was an opportunity that I’ll always look back on fondly. Moreso, every single editor in the office made the office feel like home.

Although the work wasn’t always flashy or challenging, working with such talented people made it feel worthwhile even when I was stressed or disillusioned. As managing editor, I was in charge of communicating and assisting our staff; their bright-eyed interest gave me the push I needed to stay connected to the paper in a time of my life that felt disenchanting and difficult and globally devastating. I felt like a proud mom to see Madison Rheins, the opinions editor, Kevin Contreras, the assistant sports editor and the rest of the editorial board grow as writers and editors.

When I first started as a contributing writer, It was flattering to receive intelligent, challenging feedback on my work and get an approving comment from an editor. Now that I am one of the most seasoned staff members, I hope I made my successors feel appreciated in the same way.

Unlike Rory Gilmore, my time working for a college newsroom was not a solitary endeavor. It was a time filled with laughs, Little Caesars pizza, collaboration and a shared love and mission for storytelling. It wasn’t as conventional or pretty as journalism on the silver screen — it was better, because it was filled with moments of bonding, fulfillment and potential. Even after I graduate, my time at The Highlander will leave a mark on my heart and on my H writing. ■

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Finding friends in the margins By: Alexandria Esteban, Assistant Features Editor I’ve always enjoyed writing. I find it easier to put my thoughts onto a page rather than speaking them aloud. But writing can be an independent hobby and, outside of the few friends I made in my creative writing classes, it was difficult for me to meet new people. This is why, during my second year at UCR, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and write for The Highlander newspaper.

The first thing I noticed when stepping into the office was that the small room was filled with people engaged in conversation.

It seemed like they were all good friends with each other. I listened to them discuss topics ranging from Disney’s monopoly on the entertainment world to the significance of a tree being torn down on campus.

Everyone around me was opinionated and trusted each other to the point that they were unafraid to vocalize their opinions to the entire room. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel like an outsider. They allowed me to slip into their conversations without judgment.

After writing a few articles, I decided to apply for a senior staff position. I had never applied for a leadership position in anything before. The thought of being in charge of something was terrifying. I wasn’t even sure I was qualified for a big job, so I sent in an application to be an assistant editor.

To my surprise, I was hired for the Features section.

Journalism is different from the fictional pieces I was used to writing. I had to pay careful attention to potential quotes during special events. I had to make sure that I had my facts straight. Then, there were the

deadlines that I had to meet every single week. I couldn’t write at my own pace, especially when, more often than not, the events I attended were on a Thursday night.

I had to stay up in order to type out an article that was due the next day. There were times I worried I would miss my deadline, but I always managed.

In time, writing was no longer an independent hobby working at The Highlander, and I am thankful for that. I had tons of support from the rest of The Highlander team. Everyone was always ready to help write for different sections or suggest an idea that no one has written about yet. Additionally, the other editors helped me develop my writing by offering suggestions on the articles I wrote. I was worried that journalism would be boring and that I would lose my creative touch to follow a steady structure. However, I was proven wrong. Writing for The Highlander gave me a platform to develop my style of writing and to implement my creativity in a different form.

Working entirely online was not ideal, but it didn’t take away from the experience I was hoping to get when I joined. I still made friends and participated in interesting conversations. Plus, working at The Highlander has kept me informed during one of the most eventful years we have seen. I’m not sure if I will be doing more journalism in the future, but I have a stronger appreciation for it. I hope that any future job offers the same level of belonging H that I felt in my time working here. ■

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I am not an imposter: A Dreamer’s reflection By: Adriana Mandujano Angel, Features Editor When I first moved into the dorms during my first year, my first goal was to find the campus newspaper. My high school newspaper gave me an outlet to express myself and gave me the love and appreciation for journalism that I sought to continue at Riverside. However, being a first-generation undocumented student, I began to suffer from the worsening effects of imposter syndrome.

I had always suffered from not feeling competent enough since junior high, but this time was different. I was surrounded by peers who had everything I did not have: loving and supportive parents, plans for their future and astounding accomplishments. I was under the impression that attending UCR was a fluke, constantly wondering if someone at the admissions office had made a mistake in my application and worrying that I would receive an email that would revoke my admission at any given moment. The first year was rough, but during my second year, I found solace at the Undocumented Student Programs.

USP offers “undocu circles,” a space for undocumented students to share their experiences and support for one another. For the first time, I felt seen and worthy of being a student. I remember sharing that I had the urge to be a part of UCR’s student newspaper, and the program coordinator for USP, Ana Coria, encouraged me to take the first step to walk through The Highlander’s doors.

It was nerve-wracking, but her support was enough for me to attend my first Monday meeting toward the end of my second year. At that meeting, I met the previous features editor, Mark Bertumen, who signed me on as a contributing writer. At that same meeting, I overheard the previous marketing director mention that they were hiring for marketing

interns to work during the summer.

Before I knew it, I was writing for the Features section and working for The Highlander as a marketing intern, finally feeling like I had found my home.

Writing for Features and tabling as a marketing intern became the highlight of my third year. I was becoming more confident in myself and my abilities.

Proudly embracing my first-generation Dreamer status. The Highlander made me feel like I had a place on campus and that my hard work in being admitted in the first place was not a mistake.

By the end of the year, I found myself being hired as the features editor for The Highlander. At first, I doubted my editor-in-chief’s decision and questioned if it was a mistake she had made, but for the second time, I realized that I was not an imposter. My hard work has landed me this position, and I now proudly write this reflection after a year of hard work during a global pandemic.

It wasn’t how I pictured the year to have gone, but regardless, I hope people look back on The Highlander senior staff of 2020-2021 as brilliant, hardworking and resilient individuals.

Everyone I worked with was amazing, and I often found myself admiring their presence and hard work. I was worried that The Highlander would become cliquey or that I would feel left out.

However, it was the opposite. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt accepted and welcomed with open arms. I felt recognized, like my existence was valid and that I was worthy of my position. It feels bittersweet now as my time as features editor comes to an end, but The Highlander gave me the confidence I needed to seek out a career and a future without feeling like an H imposter. ■

The Highlander helped me get through quarantine By: Davina Garcia, Assistant News Editor

From top to bottom, left to right: Amani Mahmoud, Silvia Ferrer, Alexandria Esteban, Adriana Mandujano Angel and Davina Garcia

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Incredibly, up until the middle of my sophomore year at UCR, I was unaware that we had a school newspaper. Perhaps I missed their table during Wednesday tabling events amidst the sea of others. In any case, I actually did not join The Highlander up until my sophomore year.

Over the next two years, I was more of a casual contributor to the opinions section than anything else. I had other obligations with my sorority and an extensive internship with a local Inland Empire publication. However, come the end of my junior year, I saw open applications for positions on the senior staff and decided to apply on a whim, now that I had the internship experience to back it up. One written application and interview later, and I was selected as the next assistant news editor.

Little did I know how this occupation would help keep me afloat over the course of the school year as I completed my undergraduate degree H at home. ■

Like many others, I experienced many personal challenges during the pandemic-induced isolation period.

Aside from schoolwork, this position at the newspaper was one of the few things that remained stable in my life; it helped ground me in a sense. Though I was not with The Highlander for a long time, I am extremely grateful that I became a part of it.

Of course, I had a wonderful experience, all things considered, but I do wish that I could have participated in meetings and hang outs in-person. I would have loved to host office hours and talk face to face with my fellow staff members, and other contributors.

Being able to convene with a group of writers and artists around your age, who are just as passionate and skilled as you, is not something to take for granted. For future generations, please enjoy that as much as possible — and join The Highlander earlier if you can. I guarantee it as a rewarding experience.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Radar

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

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John Krasinski proves he’s no one-hit wonder with ‘A Quiet Place Part II’

THE MUCH ANTICIPATED SEQUEL SUCCEEDS IN OPENING UP THE WORLD OF ‘A QUIET PLACE’ WITHOUT FEELING REHASHED OR DERIVATIVE.

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

COLIN CARNEY Radar Editor

In 2018, John Krasinski captured many by surprise with his revolutionary horror film “A Quiet Place.” The notion of Jim from “The Office” writing, directing and starring in a horror film seemed far-fetched, yet he smashed expectations and delivered one of the best and most original films of that year. Now, after a pandemic delay, Krasinski’s sequel to his 2018 hit arrived in theaters and managed to beautifully expand the world without losing the audience’s attention.

“A Quiet Place Part II” picks up immediately where the previous film left off. Following the death of family patriarch Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) and the near total destruction of their farm home, Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and her three kids, Marcus (Noah Jupe),

Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and their newborn sibling, silently set off in search of other survivors. As they venture beyond the safety of their home, the Abbott’s meet the jaded and detached Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a former friend and fellow survivor. What follows is a thrilling narrative that opens up the relatively contained environment of the first film as our protagonists venture out into the unknown in search of other survivors and a far off hope of salvation.

Arguably the most original and revolutionary storytelling device of the first film was Krasinski’s use of sound. Forcing the actors to remain almost entirely silent in a world in which the slightest outburst can summon a hoard of blind terrors to snuff out the sound’s source provided Krasinski ample room to build suspense. Scares no longer came from terrifying monsters, though there are still some of those, but instead came from the slightest noise. The breaking of a twig became a nightmare in this brilliantly suspenseful world John Krasinski created. Though no longer revolutionary or exactly original, “A Quiet Place Part II” continues to use this narrative and suspenseful device to a breathtaking effect.

Additionally, the returning cast delivers on their knockout performances just as they did on their previous outing. Emily Blunt is spectacular as a strong, yet terrified mother trying her best to keep her children alive in the worst possible circumstances. Furthermore, both

Jupe and Simmonds nail their individual performances and continue their character arcs that were established in the first film.

We see Marcus struggle to stay strong in the face of overwhelming danger when he is forced to protect his infant sibling. Likewise, we get an excellent performance from Simmonds as Regan tries to live up to her father’s example and search for a way to reconnect with humanity. Each member of the returning cast is electric, and newcomer Cillian Murphy adds to the ensemble with the tragic survivor Emmett. Audiences are exposed to his depressing view of humanity after the downfall of society and witness whether he is capable of finding hope in people again.

With regards to acting and suspense, “A Quiet Place Part II” beautifully carries on with what the first film established, but that alone isn’t enough to justify a sequel. Luckily, this film manages to continue the worldbuilding of the first film and opens it up to a greater sandbox for Krasinski to play with.

No longer are the Abbotts restricted to the relative safety of their home.

Now, they are off in the greater world to face more terrors as both aliens and humans present new obstacles for our protagonists. Audiences are also exposed to additional lore as well, as we are allowed to witness the beginning of the disaster that created this apocalyptic landscape.

Providing audiences with a little more context as to why the world

is the way it is allows them now to better understand why humanity has become so broken and hopeless. In this way, Krasinski is able to justify a sequel and create more interest and investment in the world he has created.

“A Quiet Place Part II” expertly picks up where the original left off by continuing the narrative and expanding upon the lore the first film established. An excellent cast and beautiful use of sound and suspense make for an engaging movie going experience. Even though the eerie silence and suspense the first film patented is no longer as revolutionary, it is used to great effect in the sequel and well H worth a return to your local theater.■

VERDICT: “A Quiet Place Part II” is a worthy successor to the 2018 smash hit and solidifies John Krasinski’s talent as a writer and director. Stellar performances from its new and returning cast coupled with expert storytelling and great use of sound make for a brilliant film.

‘Jubilee’ is the perfect album to start your summer REBECCA SALINAS Contributing Writer

Picture a typical teen movie where the main character joyfully dances alone in their room, and you can understand the emotions one gets when listening to Japanese Breakfast’s latest album “Jubilee.”

The album is a shift away from the sorrowful songs Michelle Zauner, the singer-songwriter behind the project, is known for.

Nevertheless, the newest release keeps the uniquely beautiful and funky sound that is present in all of her music.

When audiences were first introduced to Zauner, her albums were understandably riled with grief since they were her way to cope with her mother’s cancer and eventual death. This album is Zauner’s attempt to move past that dark period of her life. Listeners of her

music may have thought of her simply as a sad girl, but Zauner writes music that reflects her life and her emotions. By definition, jubilee is celebratory, anticipatory and hopeful, which Zauner expresses in her music. That sentiment is felt in the song “Posing for Cars,” as Zauner’s voice shifts to an instrumental tune that somehow gives the feeling of closure, as if the song — which finishes the album — has cemented her transition to a new period.

Japanese Breakfast’s goal was to convey happiness through joyous tunes, and this album manages to achieve that and more. For instance, as we finish this quarter, all of us feel worn out, unmotivated and uninspired, but listening to this album gives us the chance to unwind and take a breath. In other words, listening to “Jubilee” is the perfect way to usher in the summertime with its

bright and upbeat theme throughout.

Songs that stand out with this type of upbeat tune are “Paprika,” “Be Sweet” and “Savage Good Boy.” Each of those songs use their instrumental sound to lift listeners’ spirits. “Paprika” sounds like it could be featured in a musical. In fact, the song strongly reminds listeners of the movie “La La Land.” It has a fast peppy tempo which is very similar to “Another Day of Sun.” “Be Sweet,” on the other hand, strongly sounds like a song from the late ‘80s due to its heavy use of synthesizers, a popular practice back then.

Additionally, “Savage Good Boy” is a wildcard, with its unique and lively sound. In all, every song in “Jubilee” is very much Zauner’s own.

It may remind one of certain emotions or memories, a true reflection of how she projects happiness.

Although this album

features several upbeat and lively songs, it still takes the time to slow down and relax. Listening to songs such as “Slide Tackle’’ and “Tactics” makes listeners slow down to appreciate the moment. The tune for songs like that in the album is very soft. The melody is usually an organized jazz or orchestra paired with Zauner’s mellow voice that turns songs into a subtle ballad. This causes lyrics like “I’m tackling this void” to not be anguished, instead

it seems like everything is going to be sorted out.

Listening to “Jubilee” is the best way to enter summer.

It can be the soundtrack for students that are celebrating commencement or eagerly awaiting the return of inperson classes. The album gives listeners feelings of joy and tranquility, perfectly exemplifying the bittersweet feelings of a quarter that is coming to an end. Japanese Breakfast created a masterpiece in this H new release. ■

JAPANESE BREAKFAST, ‘JUBILEE’ MARKS A TONAL SHIFT FROM SORROW AND GRIEF TO HAPPINESS AND JOY.

COURTESY OF COURTESY OF JAPANESE BREAKFAST

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Sports

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

COACH POWELL REFLECTS ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HER FIRST YEAR WITH THE HIGHLANDERS.

Highlander Spotlight:

Women’s Basketball Head Coach Nicole Powell is ready to make her mark in the upcoming year

KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor

After many ups and downs this past season, the head coach of the women’s basketball team, Nicole Powell, is enjoying her time at home with her family and 11-month old baby.

This past season was full of memorable moments of victory and a dash of uncertainty. Powell was announced as head coach in March of 2020, but due to the pandemic, she could not meet the team in person until seven months later in October. During her first year, Powell made history with the Highlanders being the first team to beat USC in an intense 54-52 victory.

Additionally, she also helped athletes on the team make history with Jordan Webster earning the Big West All-freshman honor ­— the second time in the program’s history — and Keilani Cooper earned the All-Conference selection honor.

“We had a lot of Zoom meetings; that’s how we first met. I think there was just a real willingness and openness to accept

myself and our staff from the student-athletes,” said Powell. She added that it was their attitude that did that; that was their choice, and by them embracing that kind of approach really allowed everything to move forward in a special way even though we couldn’t do it in person till October.”

Powell got introduced to the world of sports from a very young age. As a child, her father played basketball every opportunity he could, oftentimes going to the local gym and playing there, and her mother was involved in the local parks and recreation program. “It was just kind of a way of life growing up. We went to the park a lot, and it was kind of a family culture,” said Powell Heading into high school, Powell continued her love of sports. She participated not only in basketball, but also in tennis and track, even going on to win a state title in badminton and discus throwing. It was there, in Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona, where her basketball career really began to take off.

HIGHLANDER HOT TAKE:

After high school, she received a scholarship to play basketball for Stanford University in Northern California. At Stanford, Powell came in as the Pac10 freshman of the year in 2000. Throughout her time as a Cardinal, Powell scored over 2,000 points and gathered over 1,000 rebounds. Powell also earned various accolades, becoming a three-time All-American, was the Pac-10 player of the year in 2002 and 2004 and was named the MVP of NCAA’s tournament of the Midwest Region. She also made history by earning multiple triple doubles through her collegiate career at Stanford. “It was life changing for me,” said Powell. In between high school and college, Powell also competed in the 2000 FIBA Americas Championships, earning gold with USA’s U18 team in Argentina.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen. We were just there; we were so young. I’m just grateful to USA basketball, and just the game again has just changed

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in Turkey, Russia, Spain, Italy and Poland.

In 2014 and during her last season with Seattle, Gonzaga University, the head coach at the time, Kelly Graves, offered Powell the opportunity to be an assistant coach for the school’s women’s basketball team. After a year at Gonzaga, Graves accepted the opportunity to be head coach for the University of Oregon’s women’s basketball team, and Powell followed him as an assistant coach. After her time in Oregon, Powell was offered the head coach position for Grand Canyon University. During her three years there, Powell led the team to many victories, coming in second overall in the 2019-2020 season.

Unfortunately, the postseason was cancelled due to the pandemic. Coming into 2020, Powell was named head coach for the Highlanders.

“Each of these paths and steps in our life are because of somebody else.

The foundation was my parents, and then in high school, I had great teachers and great mentors. It’s still the same thing in my life.

I have great people around me. Tamica as our AD then hired me and believed in me, and that continues with the leadership today of Wes and Michael at the top there all the way up to our chancellor. I am just grateful for the opportunity to be leading the program at H this time,” said Powell. ■

The biggest winners and losers of the 2021 NFL offseason

THE HIGHLANDER DISCUSSES WHICH NFL TEAMS IMPROVED AND REGRESSED THE MOST IN THE 2021 OFFSEASON. HANSEL CHU Staff Writer

With the NFL waiting for the preseason to start, rosters on every NFL team are pretty much set in stone, with the exception of the Green Bay Packers and the Aaron Rodgers drama. There were many interesting moves and acquisitions in the offseason, such as J.J Watt being traded to the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots revamping their whole offense. So, which NFL teams significantly got better or worse from this offseason?

Winners The reigning Super Bowl champions this offseason managed to keep all 22 of their starters. Going into the Super Bowl, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had won seven straight games, including the playoffs.

With a dominating blowout victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, many people have the Buccaneers repeating as Super Bowl champions in the upcoming season. With all the starters returning for the next season, the team chemistry for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be off the charts and a reason why they are one of the biggest winners in this year’s NFL offseason.

The Kansas City Chiefs just so happened to have their worst game in the Mahomes-era during the Super Bowl, and the front office decided to go all out to address the issues on the roster. In the Super Bowl, it was made

my life and opened up my eyes and taken me to places I literally couldn’t have imagined that I would be so I just feel very fortunate to have these experiences,” said Powell After her time in Stanford, Powell began her professional career in the WNBA. In 2004, she was drafted as the third overall pick by the Charlotte Sting. Across 10 years and 11 seasons of basketball, Powell played not only for Charlotte, but also for New York Liberty, Tulsa Shock, Seattle Storm and most notably the Sacramento Monarchs, where she played from 2005 to 2009. During her time in Sacramento, Powell continued to improve as an athlete, earning the WNBA’s most improved player award. That same year in 2005, the Monarchs, of which Powell was a key member, went on to win the championship title. In 2009, she also participated in the All-Star Game, scoring a total of 21 points. In the offseason, Powell also competed professionally in Eastern Europe. She played

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clear that the offensive line of the Chiefs was the biggest weakness on the team, even though three of the starting offensive linemen were not present. Thus, the Chiefs decided to release almost all of their offensive linemen in the offseason and signed Joe Thuney, Orlando Brown and Kyle Long, who all made the Pro Bowl in previous years, as well as drafting Creed Humphrey in the 2021 NFL Draft. With a greatly improved offensive line combined with the unstoppable offense of the Chiefs, Kansas City will be looking to get revenge for their embarrassing Super Bowl loss and are one of the biggest winners in this year’s NFL offseason.

The Cleveland Browns finally made their first playoff appearance since 2002 after being known as one of the worst teams in the NFL in recent memory. After a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional

round, the Browns looked to improve and develop their roster, and indeed they did this offseason. First, they bolstered their defense by signing star safety John Johnson III from the Rams. The Browns also signed star linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and defensive tackle Malik Jackson to help out the front seven. In the 2021 draft, the Browns selected athletic linebacker Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah out of Notre Dame in the second round, who provides versatility in the pass and run defense. With an arguably Top 10 defense and offense in the NFL, the Browns will be a problem in this upcoming NFL season and one of the biggest winners in this year’s NFL offseason.

Losers The Las Vegas Raiders seemed like a playoff team in the 2020 NFL season, and many people thought that the Raiders would drastically improve their roster in the 2021 offseason. However, questionable acquisitions regressed the team rather than improving the roster. First, the signing of running back Kenyan Drake was a headscratching move for many Raiders fans, as the Raiders already had a star running back in Josh Jacobs. Las Vegas dismantled their offensive line by trading away Pro Bowl lineman Trent Brown and releasing Pro Bowl lineman Rodney Hudson, which created a huge problem for their offense.In the 2021 draft, the Raiders selected offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round, which surprised many people as Leatherwood was projected to be drafted in the second or third round, and many analysts felt that the Raiders

wasted a first round pick on a player they could have gotten later. Thus, the Raiders have to be one of the biggest losers in this year’s NFL offseason.

The Seattle Seahawks have been a perennial playoff team every year, but they have never been able to make it back to the Super Bowl since their run in 2014. This last year, it was apparent that the offensive lineman and the defense were the biggest holes on the roster. However, in the 2021 NFL offseason, none of the problems were addressed directly due to low salary cap space and little draft picks. It was also reported a few months ago that their star quarterback Russell Wilson was unhappy with the franchise and that they did not address the issues on the roster. With a disgruntled star quarterback and little improvements on their weaknesses, the Seahawks are one of the biggest losers in this year’s NFL offseason.

Final Predictions: As the NFL announced that they are adding an extra week of football this upcoming season, fans cannot wait for football season to come.The 2022 Super Bowl will be a rematch of this year’s, but the Kansas City Chiefs this time around will defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the Super Bowl. However, there are many teams that have a real shot at being in the Super Bowl this year, such as the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns. Barring any injuries, this upcoming season will be superbly entertaining with all the talent the H NFL has right now. ■