Volume 69 Issue 02

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

FOR THE WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

VOL. 69, ISSUE 02

est. 1954

Winter Quarter update suggests another virtual quarter lies ahead LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

In a campus-wide email sent on Friday, Oct. 2, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, Thomas M. Smith, outlined the possibility of a virtual winter quarter.

On Sept. 22, Riverside County moved into the red tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a fourtier, color-coded system that tightens or loosens coronavirus restrictions based on the amount of daily new cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests. A county must stay within a tier for three consecutive weeks before moving forward and is reassigned to a more restrictive tier after two weeks of worsening conditions. In order for Riverside County to remain in the red tier, it is required to maintain seven or fewer cases per day and a positivity rate of 8% or less. As of Friday, Riverside county had a case rate of 7.6 and a positivity rate of 5%, putting it at risk of being reassigned back to the purple tier.

UCR’s Instructional Continuity Plan directly corresponds to the state’s blueprint, as the purple tier aligns with UCR’s instructional phase two and the red, orange and yellow tiers align with UCR’s instructional phase three. In instructional phase three, indoor lectures would be permitted with a limited capacity of 50%; libraries and common areas would be open with strict physical distancing. “It is very likely we will remain in instructional phase two or three for winter quarter,” stated Smith in the email. ► SEE NEWS PAGE 3

RYAN POON /HIGHLANDER

Read more!

Opinions: UC layoffs, Pg. 5 Features: The Office Trivia Night, Pg. 8 Radar: Star Wars: Squadrons, Pg. 9 Sports: NBA Finals highlights, Pg. 12

f UCR Highlander Newspaper @UCRHighlander HighlanderTV NEWS 3

OPINIONS 5

FEATURES 8

RADAR 9

SPORTS 12

KUCR 88.3 FM

2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 2

RYAN POON | MECHANICAL ENGINEER | THIRD-YEAR COMPILED BY HIGHLANDER STAFF

12

Tartan Heart Festival 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Virtual Event

How to Have a Happy Houseplant 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Virtual Event

13

APSP’s Fall Welcome Game Night with Student Coordinators 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Virtual Event

Technical Resume Writing & Interviewing 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Virtual Event

Monday

Tuesday

UCR Music Wednesday@Noon DIY: Business Cards Performance by Mikal Amin. “Antidote 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. to C.O.V.I.D. (Creating On Video In Virtual Event Distance)” 12:00 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Virtual Event

14

Wednesday

“Photography started as a hobby back in highschool as a way for me to just document my life. I found it as an easy way to capture the emotions I was feeling in a moment. You don’t need to be artistic or creative to take great

15

Third Thursday Talks: Sara Trail 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Virtual Event

Cooking with Chef Val 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Virtual Event

16

Virtual / Live Bingo at The Barn 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Virtual Event

Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Virtual Event

Thursday

photos. I think you just need to know what you want to capture.”

Friday

17

Saturday

CONTACT US

HIGHLANDER STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

Silvia Ferrer

Amani Mahmoud

managingeditor @highlandernews.org

editorinchief @highlandernews.org

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Davina Garcia dgarc084@ucr.edu

NEWS EDITOR

Laura Anaya-Morga

news@highlandernews.org OPINIONS EDITOR Madison Rheins opinions@highlandernews.org

ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR Evelyn Homan ehauthor19@gmail.com

FEATURES EDITOR

ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Alexandria Estaban aeste005@ucr.edu

Adriana Mandujano Angel

features@highlandernews.org A&E EDITOR

ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Kevin Sanchez Neri ksanc034@ucr.edu

Colin Carney

radar@highlandernews.org SPORTS EDITOR

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Kevin Contreras kcont012@ucr.edu

Sofia Garcia

sports@highlandernews.org PRODUCTION MANAGER

ART DIRECTOR

Amanda Joy Teano

Celine Hoang artdirector. highlander@gmail.com

productionmanager @highlandernews.org PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Kathy Garcia Brinly Den ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Leo Yue lyue003@ucr.edu

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Ryan Poon

photo@highlandernews.org STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Isuru Karunatillaka Martin Lopez

Llyod Kao

VIDEO EDITOR

Rodolfo Andres Valdivia rvald015@ucr.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER

Arshneel Kaur

highlanderads@gmail.com MARKETING COORDINATOR

Deanna De Leon

marketing.highlander@gmail.com

Highlander 101 Highlander Union Building Riverside, CA 92521 www.highlandernews.org editorinchief@highlandernews.org TIP LINE: (951) 827-2105 Help the Highlander stay on top of what is happening on campus and in the general UCR community. Call this number and leave a message for the Editorial Board with your tip. Be sure to include your full name, relation to UCR, and a number or email address where you can be reached for more details.

Editorial Office: (951) 827-3617

Business Office: (951) 827-3457

Classifieds & Billing: (951) 827-5039

Fax: (951) 827-7049

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They must be 600-800 words at length and include the author’s name and contact information.

Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact Opinions Editor Samuel Harrison at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit the completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letters can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.

LEGAL The Highlander is published and copyrighted by the Highlander for the students, faculty and staff of UCR. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Highlander is strictly prohibited. Readers are allowed one free copy of the newspaper. For additional copies or for subscription information, please contact the Highlander.

The Highlander fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation.

The Highlander has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against it. All inserts that are printed in the Highlander are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the staff or The University of California or the Associated Students of UCR.

34th Annual Alumni Awards of Distinction 3:00 p.m.

Virtual Event

18 Sunday

MULTIMEDIA

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS ADVERTISING INFORMATION Please submit Classifed ads by calling 951-827-3457 or by emailing Highlanderads@ucr.edu PAYMENT Visa and Mastercard Make checks payable to The Highlander Newspaper No refunds RATES Classified: $2 per line; 17 characters (spaces, dashes, etc.)

THEHIGHLANDERUCR

f

THE HIGHLANDER @HIGHLANDERUCR HighlanderTV KUCR 88.3 FM

News

NEWS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

3

ASUCR

ASUCR debates over bill that would reduce the number of students required to vote on a constitutional amendment

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, ASUCR held their first meeting of the quarter. The new Senate voted to clarify items in the ASUCR Constitution and to add a constitutional amendment to the 2021 ASUCR Election ballot.

CA-F20-002, which proposed to reform the amendment process of the ASUCR Constitution, caused the most debate throughout the meeting.

The bill aimed to reform the ways in which a constitutional amendment may be proposed, which currently requires either the presentation of a petition to the Senate signed by at least 15% of the undergraduate student body or an affirmative two-thirds vote from the Senate in order for it to be placed in an ASUCR General Election.

Orlando Cabalo, president pro tempore, CHASS senator and primary author of the bill, stated that this change would bring direct democracy into the voting process of ASUCR because the amount of student signatures needed would be more feasible. Last year’s voter turnout for the ASUCR General Election was 11%, and aiming to

get 15% of the voting population to sign a petition would be nearly impossible, stated Cabalo. According to Cabalo, the bill was modeled after the Associated Student of UC Irvine Constitution, which also requires a signature from 2% of the student population.

CHASS Senator Christopher Kent raised concerns over the 2% requirement being too low.

“I know that we have had a hard time with turnout in past elections but I do worry that in a hypothetical scenario ... 2% of the student body could wield their power and push through a lot of amendments,” he stated.

UCR’s current population is 22,055, meaning that 2% of the undergraduate student body would be about 441 students.

Executive Director of ASUCR Laurie Sinclair then clarified that the vote from the Senate on CAF20-002 would only allow it to be on the ASUCR Election ballot in April, not approve it. The motion then passed with a vote of 15-20, meaning these constitutional amendments will be placed on the ballot for the next ASUCR General Election.

During the meeting, members of the Native American Honors

A screenshot of the Oct. 7 ASUCR meeting held via Zoom.

Society, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the Native American Student Association presented SB-F20-002, a bill that would update and outline the purpose, membership and tasks of the Indigenous Student Task Force and reinforce it as an active committee within ASUCR. “We want to make sure that this is not performative … this would be a really great opportunity to get to build on some real change,” stated Brandon Molina Berrios,

vice president of the Native American Student Association.

The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 18-0-0.

The Senate approved SB-F20001 and updated the bylaws for the Office of the Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs by including job duties for two new positions, the chief of staff and executive assistant, as well as updating the duties of the communications director. SBF20-003 and CA-F20-001 both passed unanimously, updating

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA /HIGHLANDER

the duties of the president pro tempore and proposing the amendment of the ASUCR Constitution to make it the supreme document of ASUCR, respectively. Finally, the Senate also approved CA-F20-003 to amend the veto process for the Executive Cabinet and only require a two-thirds majority of the Senate instead of a unanimous vote.

The meeting was adjourned at H 8:30 p.m. ■

NEWS IN BRIEF:

Winter Quarter update suggests another virtual quarter lies ahead ► FROM NEWS

ISURU KARUNATILLAKA /HIGHLANDER

Virtual learning has proved difficult for some UCR students, while others say they appreciate the flexibility of being able to study from home.

Danica Maulion, a thirdyear business administration major, stated that the lack of social interaction has been the hardest part of virtual instruction. “As a business major, networking is extremely important, and it has been more challenging to connect with students online,” she wrote in an interview with The Highlander. Despite this, she says her professors have created unique virtual environments that allow her and her peers to have more flexibility to build a schedule that fits their lifestyle, which has made it easier to be productive.

Magali Pineda, a thirdyear media and cultural studies major, stated that

while continuing with a virtual winter quarter would not be ideal, “it’s what’s best for the health of our UCR community.” She added that her professors have been very accommodating so far but also stated that not being in-person has prevented students from receiving complete learning experiences, referring to labs and art classes that typically require hands-on work.

For Olivia Van, a thirdyear business administration student, the benefits of a virtual winter quarter include having the ability to attend courses from the comfort of her own home and, echoing the sentiments of other students, having the flexibility to do work on her own schedule. However, Van stated that a virtual winter quarter would lead to, “a regrettable college experience since there are limits to what we can accomplish in a virtual H setting.” ■

4 MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

NEWS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

Freshmen move-in day proves successful despite COVID-19 regulations DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

COVID-19 has forced UCR to face many new challenges since mid-March, and this year’s freshmen move-in day was no different. From Saturday, Sept. 26 to Monday, Sept. 28, new students arrived in strategic waves in order to safely situate themselves in their respective, singleoccupancy dormitory rooms.

However, even prior to moving in, incoming students were expected to adhere to a strict set of precautionary measures.

Before their arrival, all residents were required to monitor themselves for any possible symptoms of coronavirus in UCR’s Daily Wellness Survey for the duration of 14 days in order to verify their health status before officially moving in. If they had displayed any potential coronavirus symptoms, they were expected to remain at home for at least 72 hours until their symptoms abated. In addition, all residents had to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 14 days of their allotted move-in date to Housing Services. Once done, freshmen were given a Move-In Day pass and an online QR code that enabled residents to check in. Without a pass, they were not allowed to begin their move-in process.

The check-in process itself was split across about 18 various half-hour time slots each day and arrayed in a way that limited the amount of move-ins on any particular hall at a single time. It was conducted by drive-through, utilizing a contactless format by scanning the QR codes that had been given to students earlier. In an interview with The Highlander, Bob Brumbaugh, the senior director of Housing Services, acknowledged the difference in numbers that the pandemic wrought on the annual freshmen move-in. ”Though we have in past years efficiently and effectively moved in 3,500 residents in one day,” he stated. He went on to state that this year they planned to move approximately 900 residents in over the course of three days to help insure the ability to physically distance residents at all points of the checkin process.

Immediately after checking in, students were provided with a “wellness kit”, which included a forehead thermometer, a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a bottle to

First-year students participating on move-in day.

be filled with disinfectant solution at the Resident Services Office. For the process of moving, residents were only to use sanitized, wheeled carts to transport their belongings to and from their vehicles to the assigned rooms. Students were also not allowed to bring any guests, familial or not, into the residential buildings to help in an attempt to minimize the amount of contact.

Moreover, once settled into their rooms, all residents were required to limit interaction with their hall and keep their outdoor time restricted for essential trips like purchasing food or visiting the Health Center for about one week. After the seven-day period, students are expected to get COVID-19 testwork done by UCR Health Services staff at least twice every week.

Still, despite the circumstances, many freshmen reported having an easy time.

One such student, Corbin Zabinski, a first-year mechanical engineering major dorming in Dundee, affirmed that he was content with the organization and general way that staff conducted the entire affair.

“I felt safe as no one was ever near me,” he stated.

The exterior of UCR’s new state-of-the-art Dundee Residence Hall.

COURTESY OF UCRIVERSIDEOFFICIAL VIA INSTAGRAM

Another student, Katie Lee, a firstyear media and cultural studies major dorming in East Lothian, shared a similar sentiment. She claimed that their move-in day operated smoothly, especially since the working staff had been extremely careful, and there were far less people present than what might have been normal. Lee remains confident that in spite of the virus, there should be no major issues with on campus living. “As long as everyone keeps taking precautions and cooperates with each other, I think we can continue to keep a safe environment for all students and staff,” she stated.

To continue ensuring maximum safety, Brumbaugh affirmed that hand sanitizing stations were also strategically positioned at every building and hall’s main entrances and exits, laundry rooms, music rooms and elevators. In addition, “high touch” communal areas of all the residence halls are cleaned at least twice daily and seven days a week with special disinfectants and electrostatic cleansers.

According to Brumbhaugh, Housing Services faced a slew of challenges in trying to set up a seamless and safe method of allowing freshmen to experience

COURTESY OF UCR HOUSING

traditional dormitory life. The local and national Health Departments guidelines continue to change over time, making any planning difficult, but that was only the tip of the iceberg, according to Brumbaugh.

Housing Services also dealt with a sharp increase in phone and email traffic due to COVID-related concerns. “Students wanted a true college experience, but were uncertain what decision to make regarding housing and were still making these decisions during the week prior to movein,” Brumbaugh explained.

He added that thousands of students deferred their campus housing to winter this year, in the hopes that the pandemic will have calmed somewhat. For Housing Services, the fluctuating numbers meant continual reassignment of residents to different rooms and buildings as they had to work for consolidation, closing underused buildings whenever possible to maintain safety and lower building overhead costs.

Now that move-in weekend is over, Housing Services staff is looking to the future. One of their main priorities involves continuously encouraging responsible living so that there are no viral outbreaks that might prompt housing closures. In the event of an upsurge, Housing Services partnered with Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities Services, Residential Life, Student Health Services and Office of Emergency Management departments to develop thorough “Standard Operating Procedures” in order to help students who have become ill or been exposed. Should it become necessary, there are numerous furnished rooms and apartments that may serve as quarantine areas.

Otherwise, Brumbaugh added that housing is determined to provide a meaningful experience for all the students living within the residence halls. While the circumstances might be quite different, he affirmed that they are working diligently to create fun and engaging programs that emulate the traditional college atmosphere. He concluded, “The Housing, Dining, and Residential Life teams believe that, together with our other campus partners, we can promote a safe environment in campus housing, allowing students to taste some semblance of the college experience they are craving, and be a model of success for other H institutions.” ■

Opinions

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

5

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

UC layoffs further reveal that the UC is ran like a corporation instead of a learning institution

T

he University of California (UC) stated that there would be no layoffs amid the growing job insecurity within the U.S. As one of the largest employers in California, this was promising news to the millions employed at various campuses across the state.

Yet, the UC’s narrative has seemed to change as they have been turning away hundreds of employees without adequate aid. The actions shown by the UC are proving that the UC Board of Regents are only thinking about profit instead of the lives that they are putting at risk. Real change needs to be made, and the UC needs to be met with hard pushback so that their funds are reallocated fairly.

Although it was said that the UC regents and president would take a pay cut early on, there has not been a public update since the initial proposal. Former UC President Janet Napolitano stated that the system should look to reduce administrative salaries and establish furloughs before eliminating other positions; however, with the

COURTESY OF UCRIVERSIDEOFFICIAL VIA INSTAGRAM

recent change in presidency, it is very likely that a change of priorities has also occurred. It should be no surprise that the UC is only looking for the top dollar and that upper administration just wants to make money.

It seems as if the coronavirus pandemic has been all of the UC campuses’ favorite excuse to justify their ill handling of finances. However, while they all claim to be in financial disarray, things still don’t seem to be adding up. For example, the UC is still building a million dollar telescope in Hawaii despite protests. With all of this spending, workers are still being laid off, and the lack of money should not be to blame.

Thus far, it seems like the UC is acting out of selfishness or the need to look flashy; people need to hold the UC system accountable for this lack of proper prioritization.

The UC can afford what needs to be done so that employees are taken care of.

They are sitting on a $10 billion unrestricted budget that serves no particular purpose and has not been used on anything yet.

Surely, this money could be used to alleviate the financial pain that the UC claims they

are enduring. For instance, UCR Residential Life has been financially impacted due to the coronavirus restrictions and their limitations on the number of students able to live on campus, which is where most of their funding comes from.

Therefore, UCR Residential Life may appear to not have the money to support residential life workers. $10 billion, however, is an obscene amount of money.

Allocating money to alleviate a small problem like that would likely not make a dent in their unrestricted fund.

It feels obvious that the UC’s unrestricted fund is more for flashing their reputation than for helping their employees.

While this large amount of money could be used as a rainy day fund to help employees in their times of need, the UC is instead choosing to use it for other means like a telescope or art installations.

There are many flaws that plague the UC, and one of them is that many of the regents in charge of making big decisions for the universities are not even educators to begin with. The UC Board of Regents is primarily composed of wealthy people that run other businesses who

have been appointed by the governor to be regents. That fact that these people are not educators is questionable and needs to be taken into account when looking into how the UC is run as a whole. Employees make a tenth of the regents’ income, and although there are claims that there is not enough money to go around, the regents fail to acknowledge the wealth gap between themselves and the more vulnerable UC employees.

An educational institution should not be treated as a big business because innocent employees will get swept under the rug.

The UC unrestricted fund has shown that schools such as UCR are capable of receiving adequate funding instead of having to scramble for money and cutting whole programs.

For instance, UCR has only lost approximately $28,000 in canceled housing, dining and other programs, which is nothing compared to the $152,000 UCLA lost. Considering the UC has that $10 billion fund, Riverside should not have lost that much money and still have to lay off workers, cut budgets or even whole departments. It is unfortunate and shameful that

while Riverside is one of the most diverse campuses, it is still the most underfunded. If the UC redistributed their fund to all of the schools for aid, they would probably still have money left over.

It is unlikely that the UC will use the provision, which is meant to act as an incentive given by the government in order to keep employees, in the year’s budget. given by the government in order to keep their employees. What could happen is that they would not use all of the money and only keep a few workers they deem essential, and then, just lay the rest off.

A possible solution would be to stop using private contractors and outsourcing so that jobs are kept for UC employees only.

UC employees should also be allowed to unionize, which will help protect them from being H taken advantage of. ■

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.

6 MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

The “happiest place on earth” puts money above the happiness of its workers with layoffs

EVELYN HOMAN Senior Staff Writer

In a time where the job market seems to change daily, it would make sense for companies to hold onto their workers if they are able — especially a business worth approximately $130 billion like the Disney corporation.

With an unfathomable amount of wealth, it seems logical that a company that espouses happiness would be more than willing to keep its employees safe during the out of control teacup ride that has been 2020.

Unfortunately, it seems they have been doing quite the opposite, furloughing as many as 100,000 workers in April and now laying off 28,000 of those at Disneyland and Disney World. This decision is absolutely appalling, and the Disney corporation has no right to lay off these workers and they will be placing themselves in a great detriment because of these layoffs.

Disney parks have been cash cows since the first one opened in 1955. The franchise has gone from producing animated movies to becoming a multibillion-dollar company that generates more money in a year than most people have seen in a lifetime.

Despite the losses it faced in the last financial quarter, Disney still made $11.78 billion in revenue. This absurd amount of money could easily be redirected toward supporting loyal Disney employees, especially considering the CEO receives a comfy salary that is 1,424 times more than the average cast member. To turn away so many employees now after furloughing them for months is unfair

COURTESY OF DENIS ADRIANA MACIAS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

when they could afford to cut the salaries of those in higher positions to support the people who make up the backbone of the corporation.

It is especially important to note that as of April 5, Disney reduced salaries of vice president-level executives and above by 20%, senior vice president pay was trimmed by 25% and exec VP-level staff saw a 30% reduction.

The CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek, also took a 50% salary cut and Executive Chairman Bob Iger decided to forgo his salary for the year. As of Aug. 23 however, the temporary salary reductions were reportedly restored to pre-COVID levels. Not even weeks later, the announcement came that Disney will be laying off 28,000

employees. This is all to suggest that the extra money that Disney will be saving because of these layoffs will more than likely go to line the pockets of the Disney executives, rather than protecting the company from financial damages caused by COVID. It is cruel to lay off 28,000 workers who should still be on payroll in our incredibly unstable job market. With a 7.9% unemployment rate in the U.S., the Disney layoff will put more people at the disadvantage of being out of work during the pandemic.

The Disney layoff will ultimately come back to bite them when the time comes for the parks to reopen. There is a significant amount of work that goes into becoming a Disney cast member:

a months-long program of Disney College must be completed, and a strict code must be adhered to at all times in order to preserve the Disney magic. Even part-time employees are trained in this way to ensure guest satisfaction at the “Happiest Place On Earth,” and all this skill is not going to be easily replaced. Not only that, but it is highly disrespectful of the corporation to have such high standards on all its employees and then turn around and lay them off in such a desperate time. Disney would not hire untrained employees to fill in the spots left behind by the 28,000 people being laid off; it would need to rehire and retrain new people to compensate.

It would make far more sense to hold onto these employees and continue to pay them until the parks can reopen, and then, Disney will not find itself with a potential shortage of trained staff.

Overall, it is a disgrace that Disney saw any good in laying off so many of its employees when the alternative is clear: keep paying your employees until they can go back to their jobs.

Disney can afford to keep these workers on payroll, and in the long run, doing so would save the corporation and its employees so much trouble. A company that still manages to benefit during such an uncertain time has a duty to their workers who help keep the company going. Disney should not have punished their workers for no reason other than to save money; it should, instead, have rewarded them by supporting them in a time when H workers need it the most. ■

Online schooling is mirroring a gate kept education system

ANGELA SAHA Contributing Writer

As developed countries take the initiative to produce a system for online education, the government must work to ensure that all students have access to a stable internet source and have a proper device provided at the students’ discretion. Until that is ensured, schools should be put on pause.

Amid the pandemic, the U.S. has been one of the slowest progressive nations globally. Upon failure of acknowledging COVID-19 promptly, President Donald Trump continued to display neglect toward his citizens through the early opening of select educational institutions.

The recent opening of schools has resulted in a spike of cases in specific areas. The lives of these students and teachers who make up these test sites were deemed dispensable science experiments as their attendance was expected, even with no proliferation of a proper vaccine.

Neglect is not an uncommon experience for teachers across the nation. Even prior to COVID, improper allocation of money and resources was present within countless school systems, most specifically in areas with low-income students and students of color. From the beginning, low-income students

have been the ones to carry the burden of a collapsing economy. By moving forward with remote education, it appears that the U.S. government is leaving these same students behind yet again.

Low-income students, students of color and students in rural areas are falling victim to the lack of technological device distribution and unstable internet connections.

It is impossible to have such high expectations of an individual when the proper resources are not provided to them, whereas those who are wealthier have the resources and are therefore more likely to succeed.

Additionally, studies have found that online schooling does not equate to learning. There seems to be very little reason to force students to deplete their health in order to “learn” when there is little to no benefit.

Online schooling is not living up to its intended purpose. As a student who has been exposed to such an environment, the only thing I feel is fatigue from constantly sitting in one spot all while worrying about the pandemic taking place. Still, my life is meaningless to the government.

If the U.S. Senate can cancel work, students should most definitely be granted a break until measures are taken to ensure every student has the H same opportunities in their household.■

COURTESY OF VICTORIA BORODINOVA VIA PIXABAY

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

7

Be Resilient.

ISURU KARUNATILLAKA /HIGHLANDER

Your vote is your voice, and it says far more than you think ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

Issues ranging from systemic discrimination, healthcare, pandemic management, the nomination for the SCOTUS, among many more create a tense environment surrounding this election, making it ever more important for each eligible American to cast their vote. However, while media focus has been placed on the presidential election and the sparring between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden, other important elections and legislation are also present on the ballot, which voters may know very little about.

The primary election has been one of toughest in recent years with the two candidates having competing visions for the future of the nation and nearly polar opposite views on many current issues. President Trump has been met with consistent scrutiny over his actions throughout his term, from downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic to only paying $750 in income taxes, a number that’s lower than even the lowest of income brackets. Biden has shown support for a more progressive governing body, although many question the policies he supports as well as his ability to rally voters successfully given how his nomination has created a division in the democratic party.

However, the importance of your vote extends beyond just the presidential election. Elections are also being held for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate as well as for the State Assembly and State Senate of California. The power held by the legislative and judicial branches of government can greatly affect the

future of the nation. Constitutionally speaking, Congress is the most powerful of all the branches of the government, as it determines whether a bill is eligible to become a law.

While local elections have, for years, received less coverage and voter turnout overall, many important decisions are determined at the local level. Nationwide, only 27% of eligible voters vote locally in municipal elections and the interest only decreases as you move throughout the ballot. This causes local governing bodies to often be improperly representative of their communities. So, conservative, older voters and lobbyists often hold more power in these areas.

Local governments are in charge of handling taxes and distributing them in funds, particularly for education and infrastructure. Because of this, the significance of your vote lies in how you want your tax money to fund local

COURTESY OF MATHIEU THOUVENIN VIA FLICKR

schools, streets and transportation.

In many cases, remarkably unrepresentative governments can enact unpopular legislation and manage trillions in funds that go against the wants and needs of the community.

The Californian ballot also features 12 propositions, some of which happen to be more serious than others. Proposition 20 is an especially controversial measure that would increase penalties and restrict parole for non-violent offenders, a tremendous step backwards for criminal justice reform that would increase prison and law enforcement costs. However, Proposition 17 would restore voting rights for ex-convicts while Proposition 25 replaces the current discriminatory cash bail system. In total, a quarter of the propositions determine the rights of millions of ex-felons and can significantly alter how law and order

is perceived in the state. Criminal justice reform has itself become a pinnacle topic of modern politics as many Americans agree that a more effective justice system is needed.

Even more is still at stake: Proposition 16, an especially decisive piece of legislation, which would allow schools and government offices to implement affirmative action when making decisions if passed.

Affirmative Action has, for years, been met with controversy with many debating whether the policy promotes diversity or leads to discimination.

Proposition 21 is a welcome rent control measure for housing that comes at a time when it is needed the most. The pandemic has left millions unemployed and subsequently homeless, necessitating rent relief and government aid in order to overcome this crisis. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act were effective earlier in the year but considerably more is needed. Regardless of one’s passion or beliefs on this legislation, voicing your opinion through your vote will contribute to a California that represents your interests. However, if low voter turnout continues to persist, the complete opposite may result instead.

The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the many other pressing issues, has placed emphasis on the importance of each individual vote on both the local and national levels. Every vote counts, especially this year, as allowing your voice to be heard regarding the nation’s pressing issues will allow for the change H necessary to have a promising future.■

8 MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

FEATURES

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Campus Cope

Useful ways to promote self- care and self- love ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Contributing Writer

My history with mental health problems has always been a present issue in my life. Growing up in a toxic Hispanic household impacted how I processed my emotions and how I saw the world.

Being the oldest and only daughter in the family, I never had any time to take care of my inner child. After moving out and starting my college career, I found that being alone with my feelings for the first time was overwhelming. Now, as a fourth year, I have found useful ways to practice self-care that have worked for me and might work for you as well.

Once I realized that I was indulging in unhealthy coping mechanisms, I sought out the aid of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Throughout the eight free therapy sessions, I managed to work through a lot of my childhood trauma. I still continue to visit CAPS, and by doing so, I am taking care of myself and have found that I feel happier.

A method that helped me was giving myself mental health days. On days where I felt extremely overwhelmed and unable to do anything, I would tell myself that I could have a day to rest. If there was school work to be done, I would do it the next day. I would add extra steps to my skin care routine and treat myself

to a soothing face mask. I’ve also used these mental health days to catch up on sleep, watch Netflix and indulge in any hobbies.

Taking a day to do anything and everything that makes you happy is a good step when taking care of yourself, whether that be gaming, baking, socializing or even being alone. Now more than ever, it is important to take steps to improve your mental health by promoting self-care, especially with the global pandemic raging on and courses being delivered remotely.

With the transition to online classes,

it is easy to get frustrated and tired of doing everything in the confines of your room. Personally, it feels suffocating at times. Whenever I feel like this, I go on walks to remind myself that there is more to the world than just my room.

Seeing the sunlight and breathing in fresh air while listening to good music is a relaxing and soothing experience.

I try going on these walks as often as possible and find myself coming home with a clear mind.

Being in Riverside, students are lucky in that they are in close proximity to Mount Rubidoux, which is a great

place to go hiking and clear your mind.

The hiking trail on Mount Rubidoux is a beautiful place to visit with stunning sunsets. You could also go on bike rides around a park or your neighborhood if hiking does not sound appealing to you.

Exercise is a great form of self-care, and hiking or a bike ride is a great way to relieve stress.

There are many ways of taking care of yourself to improve your overall well being, all of which can be very rewarding. All it takes is finding what makes you happy and what heals your H soul during difficult times. ■

COURTESY OF PEXELS

THE OFFICE TRIVIA NIGHT ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Contributing Writer

On Monday, Oct. 5, fans of the hit sitcom “The Office” were given the chance to show off their extensive knowledge of the show at ASPB’s Office Trivia Night.

The event was held virtually on Zoom from 7 p.m to 8 p.m. and students could register to join beforehand. The students who attended played for the chance to win prizes, such as a Dunder Mifflin T-shirt; to make the night even more exciting, Leslie David Baker, who played Stanley Hudson, led the attendees through the questions.

The night kicked off with a Q&A session with Baker. Students were preselected to ask the actor questions about his experience on “The Office.” Baker took his time breaking down scenes from the show and recollecting on old memories.

One attendee asked Baker about filming the episode “Stairmageddon,” in which his character Stanley was iconically wrapped in bubble wrap and pushed down the stairs.

The actor revealed that the experience was very comfortable because the bubble wrap made a soft padding. Another attendee asked what pretzel he would order for Pretzel Day, another iconic moment in the show where the characters were given free soft pretzels. Baker replied that he would prefer a pretzel with nuts, chocolate and

caramel sauce but that, when they filmed the episode, he did not eat the pretzels because he did not want to act on a full stomach. He even joked that he can’t eat mint chocolate ice cream again after eating too much of the flavor on set.

After the Q&A, the trivia portion began.

To ensure that everyone could participate, ASPB set up a virtual game on Cosmobuzz and shared a PowerPoint filled with questions about “The Office.” Each slide even had GIFs from the show. Some of the questions included: “Which warehouse employee was Pam engaged to?” and “Which co-worker did Pam convince was

COURTESY OF NBCUNIVERSAL TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION

being recruited by the CIA?” The winners of every round then competed in a final ultimate trivia round for the chance to win prizes. The questions varied in difficulty, but many of the attendees knew the answer to every one.

The trivia game was a lot of fun.

However, many people experienced technical difficulties with the website, which constantly kicked players out of the coderoom. Many people on the Zoom call were frustrated that they couldn’t participate in the game, especially when it seemed like the only ones without issues were the preselected participants that

were shown on the side of the screen.

By the third round, ASPB accepted answers via the Zoom chat but this only caused the chat to lag.

Overall, a virtual trivia night was a great idea, and it was amazing to hear Baker share some facts about the show. However, the actual trivia experience was incredibly frustrating for the attendees who were looking forward to competing. Be sure to stay updated on future events, such as More than Spoken Word which will be taking place online from Oct. 21 and H Oct. 22.■

Radar

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

9

“Star Wars: Squadrons”

lets players experience the explosive thrill of piloting your very own starfighter in a galaxy far far away By: Colin Carney, Senior Staff Writer

EA’s last venture in the realm of Star Wars multiplayer games was an extremely mixed bag. “Star Wars Battlefront II” was widely criticized at launch for its rampant use of microtransactions and an uneven progression system. Though EA did manage to improve the game as it continued to update and add content after launch, its disappointing launch soured fans to any and all subsequent Star Wars games produced by EA. This mentality created an uphill battle for the studio’s next multiplayer outing, “Star Wars: Squadrons,” which ditched ground combat for a solely starfighter experience. Thankfully, the issues that plagued “Battlefront II” aren’t present here as “Squadrons” delivers on outstanding space battles and phenomenal gameplay.

The starfighter gameplay in “Squadrons” is entirely different from what EA offered before in “Star Wars Battlefront II.” Played entirely in first person, “Star Wars: Squadrons” places players directly inside the fully designed cockpit of several iconic Star Wars vehicles. As they pilot these ships, players are given control of the starfighter’s engines, shields and weapons.

Though that may sound obvious, “Squadrons” truly delivers on the immersive experience by allowing players to divert power from one system to improve another. For example, if you plan on flying an X-Wing directly at a star destroyer, you can transfer power to your shields to soak up more damage. Furthermore, you can even direct your shields to the front of your ship to provide more protection, at the cost of rear protection. Gameplay in “Squadrons” is filled with several of these strategic choices that are easy to access and difficult to master. To add to this, each faction (Empire and New Republic) comes with four unique classes of starfighter to choose from: fighters, interceptors, bombers and support.

First up are the iconic fighters that consist of X-Wings and TIE Fighters. These are the balanced starfighters that offer decent damage output while remaining durable.

Next up are the interceptors, A-Wings and

TIE Interceptors, which are designed for dogfights as they are the fastest starfighters and the most delicate. Additionally, we have the bombers such as the Y-Wing and TIE Bomber. These slow tanks specialize in massive damage output. And lastly we have the support class that consists of U-Wings and TIE Reapers. Support ships are designed to impede enemy squadrons while providing aid to friendly pilots. Each ship offers its own unique playstyle for players to tweak and perfect. Furthermore, your choice of faction also impacts your playstyle as Imperial TIEs don’t come equipped with shields (except for the reaper) but uniquely allows players to give

an additional boost to weapons or engines.

Once you have found your ideal fighter, you are then given the ability to customize its loadout and appearance. With in-game currency (unable to be purchased with real cash), players can purchase different weapons loadouts, unique shields or specialized engines. This customization allows players to fine tune their starfighter to their unique play style. Cosmetic customization allows players to customize their starfighter, cockpit and pilot. Though there are plenty of interesting options, as players wiz by one another at a distance, paint jobs are often wasted and solely a personal touch.

Like “Battlefront II,” “Squadrons” offers players a single player story as well as a multiplayer experience.

Allowing players to play two opposing storylines, “Star Wars: Squadrons” offers an entertaining, albeit unremarkable story.

The two opposing narratives the players get to experience are those of Titan Squadron, starfighter pilots of the Imperial remnant and Vanguard Squadron, pilots who serve the newly formed New Republic. Taking place after the events of “Star Wars: Episode VI-Return of the Jedi,” Titan Squadron pursues a secret New Republic weapons project while Vanguard Squadron must defend it from Imperial sabotage. As the narrative unfolds players are provided with several entertaining action set pieces in space that largely boil down into a

Admiral Thrawn and Iden Versio. All in all, the single player campaign provides plenty of epic moments sprinkled in with interesting characters to create an eight hour experience that is quite entertaining, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.

After players have experienced “Star Wars: Squadron”’s campaign and get accustomed to the controls, they can confidently drop into its thrilling multiplayer. Admittedly, “Squadrons” is light on game modes, as there are only two at launch, but the low price tag and enjoyability of these modes makes up for the lack of content. These two modes include Dogfights, which has two squadrons of five races to get 30 kills first, and the epic Fleet Battles, which places pilots in the middle of a battle between two enemy capital ships. The goal of Fleet Battles is to earn enough morale (earned by shooting down enemy ships) to advance upon two enemy light cruisers before they can assault either an Imperial star destroyer or New Republic star cruiser.

Both game modes are a blast to play and can offer a sizable challenge as you face off against more seasoned pilots. However, in my playthrough, I have experienced the occasional player drop where I am left fighting COURTESY OF ELECTRONIC ARTS a full squadron alone and never receive any glorified training mode to get you familiar matchmaking reinforcements. Luckily with the game’s controls. this isn’t a frequent occurrence but a Once you complete a mission you nuisance nonetheless. Players can also return to your Imperial star destroyer or experience these game modes offline New Republic star cruiser to chat with with AI enemies and test out their custom your wingmates and get debriefed on your loadouts and hone their skills. next mission. Sadly, these interactions Overall, “Star Wars: Squadrons” are often stunted and unnatural as hits it out of the park. Its thrilling they often talk to you and not with you and immersive starfighter combat is since your character never responds. outstanding and keeps me coming back as Fortunately, each character is well voiced I strive to perfect my loadout and playstyle. and occasionally drops an interesting The story, though not overly remarkable, is reference to something within the wider enjoyable and offers epic moments and the Star Wars universe. Furthermore, as you multiplayer provides endless opportunities progress through the game you will meet to experience the thrill of piloting my familiar characters from Star Wars canon own starfighter against capable enemies. such as fan favorites like Rae Sloane, “Squadrons” is a great addition to the Star Hera Syndulla and Wedge Antilles as well Wars gaming catalogue and well worth the H as references to characters like Grand purchase. ■

verdict: “Star Wars: Squadrons” delivers on its thrilling starfighter combat and places you right in the cockpit of several iconic Star Wars vehicles.

Epic gameplay, an entertaining story and great multiplayer game modes make for an amazing game well worth the low price.

10 MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

‘Vampires vs. the Bronx’ utilizes a frail plot that even its humour can’t redeem By: Jashanpreet Malhi, Contributing Writer A group of kids in a small town uniting to obliterate an evil penetrating their home often captures the audience’s attention, as was the case with “Stranger Things” and “IT.” An unknown entity behind spontaneous disappearances makes the audience crave more details to uncover the hidden truths of an isolated town. However, Netflix’s “Vampires vs. the Bronx” is quite the opposite. Despite the humor and music utilized in the film, it possesses a feeble plot that makes it monotonous.

“Vampires vs. the Bronx” showcases multiple disappearances and stores being closed down by a concealed agency. In an attempt to save their local bodega, three friends, Miguel Martinez (Jaeden Michael), Bobby Carter (Gerald W. Jones III) and Luis Acosta (Gregory Diaz IV) try to throw a block party.

However, things take a turn for the worse when they uncover a herd of vampires and embark on a quest to defeat them from dominating their city.

The plot becomes disinteresting as the film rushes through the storyline. In the beginning, the plan to defeat the vampires arises impulsively in the midst of preparing for the block party. The film doesn’t get much better by the end, as the anticlimactic ending is very abrupt as the vampires are defeated in a brief time span and seem to not even put up a strong fight.

Winning against the vampires seems all too easy. The rapid pacing prevalent throughout the film forsakes the excitement of following along with the characters’ journey to triumph over the vampires. There is very little suspense, as the unfolding events are quite predictable, such as impending deaths and actions the characters will take. Moreover, the vampires received

Verdict:

very little screen time, so the audience doesn’t quite meet the antagonists in the storyline.

In terms of themes, “Vampires vs. the Bronx” fails to develop the indestructible bond of friendship between the characters. Miguel, Bobby and Luis begin to grow apart, and there is a weak attempt to consolidate their friendship. The story solely focuses on them standing victorious against the vampires, thus abandoning a crucial aspect within this subgenre — strengthening the relationships between the characters. For example, there is a falling out between Miguel and Bobby but little to no attempt at understanding and mending their relationship as they rush to defeat the vampires.

The theme of unity among the Bronx is extempore and very brief towards the end when they suddenly believe that vampires are real. Unification among the people in the Bronx isn’t shown throughout the film and is spontaneous towards the end, which even worsens the rapid plot. In an attempt to quickly force the vampires out of the Bronx, the storyline sacrifices the progression of its themes. The film also lacks its own creative aspects, hence it isn’t unique from other films. Unlike major vampire themed hits such as “Twilight,” “Vampires vs. the Bronx” doesn’t provide unique characteristics to its vampires. Instead, it utilizes solutions from folklore, such as wooden stakes and garlic, to defeat them. The film tends to lose the audience with its simplicity.

The acting in the film was well executed by the three friends: Bobby displays a fed up and careless attitude towards those around him, Luis captures a smart and dorky character through being the brains of the operation and Miguel is frightened, yet determined in

defeating the vampires once and for all. However, the acting performed by each of their mothers is over the top in certain scenes, such as when they incessantly yell at their children for getting into trouble, yet show little concern during situations involving life and death. The mild humor in the film aligns with its silly ambiance yet is fragmented when all the characters fail to deliver a good performance.

The soundtrack suits the lighthearted aura of the film and performs well in displaying the diversity in the Bronx, making the audience feel as though they are in the city. It ranges from pop and Spanish music to eerie and rapid paced tones, which create a balance between humor and the evil lurking in the city’s shadows. The cinematography wasn’t marvelous, but it worked well in unifying the film with saturated red lighting that stirred peril and pops of color in the city, thus curating the slightly scary, silly film.

The fragmented bodega and small houses worked to display life in the Bronx. However, the lighting and music fail to fill the void of disinterest stemming from the rapid plot.

“Vampires vs. the Bronx” embodies a meager plot with several gaps, as it fails to develop its themes of friendship and unity. Despite traces of humor and a good soundtrack, the rushed storyline purloins the audience from being immersed in a battle between the vampires and the city. There is a lack of originality, which makes the film predictable and dull, that even the lighting and scenery is unable to fix. With an imbalance in acting and hasty plot that abandons themes, “Vampires vs. the Bronx” is an unassuming H watch. ■

“Vampires vs. the Bronx” is not worth the time to watch. Sure, it has humor and great music, but the unorganized plot and undeveloped themes make it more of a lame comedy and ultimately, difficult to sit through.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

11

BINGE WATCHING Versus weekly release ft.

‘The Boys’ Season Two

BY Margarita Manzo, CONTRIBUTING WRITER “The Boys” was originally a comic-based story that saw media production under Amazon Prime in July 2019. The show takes place in a universe where superheroes exist and have money and fame akin to that of celebrities and politician levels of power. Unlike the gods they are made out to be, they abuse the power they hold; a few civilians who see through their facade form together a group to oppose them — the titular Boys.

Now, the show is in its second season and fully thriving, and show creator, Eric Kripke, decided to mix things up and drop the episodes weekly once its initial three were released. This change has reignited the debate about whether binging a season or waiting weekly for an episode is better.

Let’s start with the familiar method of watching shows: binging. It’s a method of show release that was popularized by Netflix in which the viewer sits through a great amount of the season consecutively. The date for a show’s new season gets announced; once it drops, people blow through it at most three days and in even less time now that everything has moved indoors and online. It has the benefit of stories being able to focus all of its time on a consistent plot, since it has no need to leave annoying

cliffhangers to keep people coming back the following week. Its appeal instead comes completely from the creativity of the show itself and not the need to have that minor mystery solved. With this style, there is also the benefit of keeping spoilers to a minimum since the show becomes available to everyone at the same time. However, its cons are that the eight to 13 episodes are consumed so fast that it only keeps people’s attention for a short period of time.

For marketing purposes this means less potential viewers are drawn in since the show doesn’t stay relevant for very long. Another con to bingewatching is that it further feeds into instant gratification which as a whole is making us less patient.

On the flipside, weekly episode releases are what many people grew up with, though it differs slightly since it is on a streaming platform.

Its benefits are the anticipation that comes from not knowing what comes next, which leads to constant fan theories and intricate predictions.

From the perspective of business and revenue, shows who run on this system get more word of mouth marketing than bingeable shows do.

However, this also leads to more spoilers since it gives people so

much more time in between to watch the episode and comment on it. Its major flaw is what brought on the creation of binging to begin with: it relies heavily on stretching plots and creating unnecessary drama and story arcs.

“The Boys” is in a rare position of having known both methods, and fans have clear opinions about that.

Users on social media are also divided about the show’s new release method.

Some are happy with the change while others prefer the old distribution method. It is due to this mixed bag of reviews that we don’t know what the 2021 season three release will look like. The show is already facing delays, as the ongoing pandemic has halted production.

Personally, I am on board with the weekly episode release of “The Boys,” especially in times like these.

With the pandemic keeping us all inside, days become harder to track.

The weekly release of an episode gives me something to look forward to and a way to have a concept of time again. I also like the increased fanfare it creates, not only because I love watching theory videos, but also because it gives some positive news on my Twitter feed instead of the all H too real chaos currently happening. ■

COURTESY OF PEXELS

SPORTS 12

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020

Players and leagues across professional sports take a stand against racial injustices HIGHLANDER STAFF

It was Game Five between the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic. The winner moves onto round two of the Eastern Conference Finals and inches closer to potentially becoming NBA Finals champions. But as the scheduled time for tipoff came and went, the Bucks refused to leave their locker room.

Waves of change were created in the NBA this past August when the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their playoff game against the Orlando Magic following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Strikes are banned under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, which means that the team took a risk in breaking their contracts to protest.

In the following hours, players in and outside of the NBA followed the Bucks’ footsteps.

Three Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), three Major League Baseball (MLB) and five Major League Soccer (MLS) games were postponed that same day in addition to tennis superstar Naomi Osaka refusing to play in her upcoming semifinal match for the Western & Southern Open.

When they are on the court, NBA and WNBA players alike have taken to wearing t-shirts and jerseys with statements such as “Black Lives Matter,” “Say Their Names,” “How Many More,” “I Can’t Breathe” and more. In addition, the words “Black Lives Matter” have been prominently displayed on all their courts. Beyond simple words, the NBA’s Board of Governors and the National Basketball Players Association established a new foundation and have committed to donating $300 million over the next decade toward empowering Black communities through education and youth employment.

Despite the complications with schedules, instead of punishing their players for speaking up, these leagues have rallied behind them. While the same has not always been said about the National Football League (NFL) considering Colin Kaepernick was essentially blacklisted for kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, the NFL has since changed its position.

For its 2020 season, the NFL displayed messages in the end zones that read “End Racism” and

“It Takes All of Us.” Following a video that was released that showcased dozens of NFL stars sending a message to the league about the racial inequality, the NFL has released statements in support of the Black community and its players. Alongside that, the NFL pledged to donate $250 million over a 10-year period to organizations that are committed to combating systemic racism.

Even leagues who are known to be slow to acknowledge social issues have finally chosen to take a stand. Opening Day is typically just the first two games of the MLB season, but in this year’s Opening Day, fans were greeted by all the players and coaches kneeling for 60 seconds in silence while holding a black cloth. The MLB, its 30 clubs and owners have also made over $1 million in donations to groups such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Color of Change, The Jackie Robinson Foundation and Campaign Zero.

While some people may prefer to keep politics out of sports, it is understandable why players across several leagues refuse to stay silent. With African Americans making up 74.2% of the NBA players, 67% in the

WNBA and 70% in the NFL, this past summer has not been just a movement but rather a stand for who they are as people. While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has already stated that the Black Lives Matter messages will not make a return on court or on their players’ jerseys next year, it is not a reason for anyone to stop advocating for justice. Whether it be NFL or NBA, these players have platforms they can utilize for the greater good, and that must continue even when messages are not displayed on their backs to remind them H and the world. ■

Highlights from the 2020 NBA FinalS

MIAMI Heat

It has been 10 years since the Los Angeles Lakers have clinched the title of NBA Finals champions. This year, with the team in the hands of Lebron James and Anthony Davis, the two have led a new generation of Lakers to win the Western Conference Finals and fans have been given hope that another title will finally be brought home. The only thing standing in the way of the Lakers is the Miami Heat. What most people thought would be a clean sweep for the Lakers has turned into an intense run for the title, with the Heat fighting hard to stave off elimination. As the NBA Finals draws to a close, here are the highlights from games one through five.

VS COURTESY OF ALL-PRO REELS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

LA Lakers

Game Four — Anthony Davis’ clutch threes and Rajon Rondo’s game intelligence Davis made up for a lackluster Game Three performance and definitely established his role as a leader on the court. Pulling up in the second half, Davis dropped two deep-threes to put the Lakers ahead and uplift the team’s morale. Rajon Rondo also made his presence felt in the second and third quarters of the game with his ability to assist and create opportunities to score.

Rondo tends to fly under the radar, but in this game, his longtime experience in the NBA shone as he wove through the defense and worked to set his teammates up to score. His efforts helped the Lakers tie in the second quarter and kept them in the game.

Game One — More Lakers stepping up against an injury-plagued Miami Heat

While James and Davis are undoubtedly the Lakers’ star players, the first half of Game One really showcased the abilities of the rest of the starting five and bench.

Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso were all knocking down shots and scored in the double-digits for the Lakers. Unfortunately for the Heat, two of their top scorers, Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo, were both injured and unable to continue to play.

Game Two — Lebron James and Anthony Davis establish themselves as an iconic Lakers duo

Davis and James truly bulldozed their way to victory in Game Two and gave fans hope that this series could be a sweep. James finished with 33 points, nine assists and nine rebounds while Davis contributed 32 points. After this game, James and Davis became the first Lakers duo to score at least 32 points each in a finals game since Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in 2002.

court that night to keep the Miami Heat from dropping to 3-0. Butler achieved a triple-double with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists to win the game. He also became the first person to ever outplay LeBron James in all three categories in a playoff game. Butler, of course, could not have brought home the win without the help of his teammates. Most noticeably, rookie Tyler Herro had a high-scoring game with 17 points and gave the audience quite the snarl after a drive to the basket that soon became a meme among basketball fans.

COURESY OF KEITH ALLISON VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Game Three — Jimmy Butler earns his first playoff triple-double and the Tyler Herro snarl

With two of the Heat’s starting lineup still out injured, it was expected that the Lakers dominance would continue. Jimmy Butler left everything on the

Game Five — The Jimmy Butler and LeBron James showdown There was excellency from multiple players in Game Five. Duncan Robinson hit seven three-pointers for the Heat, Davis was perfect at the free-throw line and ended the game with 28 points. But the stars of the night were undeniably James and Butler. With the lead shifting back and forth between the two teams in the final seconds, both players gave it their all and ended the night with triple-doubles. Butler, in particular, played 47 out of 48 minutes of the game and despite almost no breaks, was able to lead the Heat to victory. While LA fans may be disappointed, there is no denying that it was an intense H game to the very end. ■