Volume 70 Issue 05

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, November 2, 2021

VOL. 70, ISSUE 05

est. 1954

NEWS

The R’Professional Career Closet reopens for the fall quarter THERE IS NO COST TO UCR STUDENTS FOR THEIR SERVICES. AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

The R’Professional Career Closet has reopened this fall after being closed due to COVID-19 and during the summer. This program benefits students by providing them with professional attire at no cost.

The R’Professional Career Closet is open during the academic year and available to current UCR students. Students must bring their R’Card and can select one outfit or three items per quarter. The R’Professional Career Closet can help nervous students tie a tie if they have never done so before, along with other services. There is no cost to students for the program.

Their mission statement reads: “At the University of California, Riverside, and at the heart of the Career Center, is career readiness. Our mission is to connect, inspire and empower UCR students to become the most career-ready talent in the global workforce.”

This program was created to help motivate students in need of professional attire for interviews or networking events.

They strive to “prepare UCR students to be competitive as they transition from education to employment by eliminating any and all barriers.”

This program is especially beneficial to students who do not have the means to purchase a new business outfit or may just not know how to dress or prepare for an interview.

Donations are also welcome at the R’Professional Career Closet. Donations should be gently-used business or business-casual attire. There should be no stains or holes, and the clothing should follow current fashion trends. Two-piece suits, jackets, blazers, dress shirts, blouses, trousers and business dresses are common donation items.

To donate, sign up for an upcoming donation drive or schedule by appointment only with one of the R’Professional Career Closet interns. This can be done through the Community Partner Donation Request Form.

Students wishing to utilize the R’Professional Career Closet can visit it at The Bear’s Den in HUB 105 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

For more information, contact H rprofessionalcareercloset@gmail.com. ■

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NEWS

The fifth ASUCR meeting marked by two special elections and a visit from a former ASUCR President NEW BUSINESS, INCLUDING A PRESENTATION ABOUT UCR’S STEM HIGH SCHOOL, JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND A SPECIAL SENATE ELECTION. ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s fifth meeting was called to order on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 in the ASUCR Senate Chamber. All senators were present, excluding senators La and Alba. Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf and saw the addition of a STEM high school presentation under New Business and Finance Hearing Minutes No. 9 to Committee Reports. Senate Resolution SR-F21-011 was also removed from the agenda for it was tabled during the latest Legislative Review Committee meeting.

Motions to open and approve the previous week’s meeting minutes also took place.

A public forum then began with an introduction from former Aram Ayra, a UCR alumni from the class of 2018 and

former ASUCR president. As part of his presentation, Ayra discussed UCR’s Student Resource Center and how food preparation is no longer continuing as a result of the chef being on maternity leave. Ayra wants a program to get Riverside involved in meal preps and resources and hopes to obtain a sponsorship from a student organization like ASUCR. New business was then addressed to the senate and saw a return of Ayra to the stand, along with Rich Davis of the University Neighborhood Association.

Their presentation concerned the building of the STEM high school and the opposition that was present by not only Ayra and Davis’s respective organizations, but also the greater community of UCR. Ayra cited how the school, proposed for building in 2015, will affect UCR students in a variety of ways from giving access to the same resources without paying tuition to issues with the location that may impact traffic, parking and general safety of students. Three proposed locations were

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discussed before it was settled upon using six acres of land on the cross of Blaine and Canyon Crest. The school has already seen opposition from the UCR and the Riverside community from organizations including ASUCR and Riversiders for School Equity.

The senators then asked Ayra and Davis a series of questions, many of which clarified details of the project. CHASS senator Victoria Nguyen began by asking about why this issue does not have more awareness, and Ayra responded by explaining that the issue had subsided overtime and that the UC is rather excited to push the legacy project. Through CNAS senator Rachel Paredes’ question, Ayra was able to explain how one can find important documents and statistics related to the project online, primarily through the Riverside Unified School District website. Senator Angelina Chavez also inquired about the timeline of the project and Ayra clarified that the school wants to open in 2024 though this date may be rather ambitious. In addition, ► SEE ASUCR PAGE 5

ATTEMPTING TO REBRAND HERSELF ONCE AGAIN, LANA DEL REY HAS RISEN UP FROM THE SHADOWS, FOCUSING ON VARIOUS TOPICS SHE FINDS IMPORTANT IN THIS NEW ALBUM.

Lana del Rey makes a daring comeback with her new album ‘Blue Bannisters’ REBECCA SALINAS Contributing Writer

“Do you think if I go blonde we could get our old love back?”

Lana Del Rey is currently having a difficult time fitting into the present music industry due to the fact that the topics she sings about do not fit the current political and social landscape. This has caused her to change parts of her persona that are deeply tied to her identity as a singer. For example, in 2017, she announced that she will not use the American flag in her performances or visuals because of the general disappointment the public felt towards the United States’ political actions at the time. However, Del Rey always seems to

fall back on her attempts to rebrand herself due to her own actions. In May 2020, she posted an essay on Instagram complaining about other artists like Doja Cat, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé and several others being able to sing about “feeling beautiful” in a bad relationship while she has been “crucified” and has been told she’s “glamorizing abuse” by the public. Del Rey’s essay made it seem like she’d been oppressed, but in reality, she actually hasn’t experienced the setbacks many of the artists of color she referenced to have experienced. These sentiments made many people feel upset, and Del Rey has since been trying to mend her relationship with the public. ► SEE LANA DEL REY PAGE 10

COURTESY OF LANA DEL REY

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

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Newsom Selects UCR Student for the Student Aid Commission

ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, A UCR UNDERGRADUATE ALUMNI AND CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENT AT UCR’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY GOV. NEWSOM TO TACKLE CALIFORNIA STUDENT

HANNA RUTQVIST Contributing Writer

Last March, UCR undergraduate alumni and current graduate student, Angel Rodriguez, was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom onto the California Student Aid Commission. CSAC is the state-run financial aid agency that caters programs such as the Free Application for Student Aid and DREAM Act to California highereducation students. Overseeing a total of $2.7 billion in student aid, it is the largest student aid commission in the nation.

Like the CSAC, Rodriguez is dedicated to “easing the pathway to higher education for students,” according to his appointee description on the commission’s website.

The committee appoints 15 members in total.

Since graduating from UCR, Rodriguez has taken up multiple office positions, including Senior Director of Public Affairs at the San Bernardino Community College District, Associate Director of State and Regional and other positions in Riverside’s Office of the Mayor and Chamber of Commerce. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in education at UCR’s School of Education, which is one of the most prestigious education schools in Southern California.

During his time as an undergraduate, Rodriguez and his family were affected by the 2008 Recession, where they lost their home and small business. To make ends meet, he picked up a retail job and applied for Cal Grants, which in turn would lead to his successful completion of his degree.

Realizing the importance of financial aid, especially for students in California, he wishes to pass the benefits he managed to receive onto others that may find themselves in the same position. Like many at UCR, he is the son of immigrant parents and a first-generation college graduate.

“One of the reasons I love higher education is because that’s what saved me and my family,” he stated in a discussion with the Campaign for College organization. “We need to do everything we can so students can afford college and get to the finish line.”

One of his current goals is related to the financial impacts of COVID-19. “It’s a dream to serve with the dedicated people at @castudentaif as we work to help

COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID COMMISSION

students bounce back from the pandemic,” he stated in a recent Tweet.

In a statement to the UCR Public Information news website, he stated, “Seven out of 10 students lost all or some incomes during the pandemic.”

During his time in various office positions, he caught the attention of lawmakers and local government officials.

Riverside Assembly member Jose Medina described how Rodriguez’s experience mirrored that of many other Californians pursuing a degree in this state, and that “he is exactly the type of representative we need to serve on the California Student Aid Commission.”

State Senator Connie Leyva also stated that she is “confident he will bring his professional acumen and personal

commitment to social equity to promote the work of the commission.”

In 2021, due to the Newsom administration’s goal of expanding college opportunities to young Californians, the governor signed multiple college aid bills amounting to $47.1 billion in higher education packages. This is the largest state investment related to higher education passed in California.

“We’re turning commitments into reality by ensuring that our students have more access to high-quality educational opportunities, creating a change of course for generations to come and bolstering California’s innovation economy,” stated Gov. Newsom in a publication by the Office of the Governor website.

Campaign for College asked Rodriguez about changes to Cal Grant prompted by the bills, which they have termed #CABudget. “The #CABudget makes historic investments to remove age and time-out-of-high-school barriers,” he answered, “ensuring more students can access financial aid and college dreams.”

Other passed legislation is seeing that college becomes more accessible through other outlets, such as easing the transfer process from community college to four-year institutions and expanding qualifications for achieving financial aid.

A full list of specified laws passed under the higher education package can be found in this article by the office of the governor H website.■

UCR listed as 25th Best Value College by The Princeton Review THE LIST IS DETERMINED BY RETURN ON INVESTMENT RATINGS.

AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

The University of California Riverside has been announced as one of the Top 50 Best Value Colleges (for public schools) by The Princeton Review. UCR was listed as No. 25, placing it in the top half of schools on the list.

The Princeton Review, established in 2004, provides students with private tutoring, test prep and admissions services. The company creates their list based on colleges that receive the company’s highest Return on Investment ratings. According to The Princeton Review, the ratings are based on “academic offerings, cost/financial aid, career placement services, graduation rates and student debt as well as alumni salary levels and job satisfaction.”

“The schools we name as our Best Value Colleges for 2021 comprise only just over 1% of the nation’s four-year colleges,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief.

“They are distinctive in their programs, size, region and type, yet they are similar in three areas: every school offers outstanding academics, generous

financial aid and/or a relative low cost of attendance, and stellar career services.”

The public colleges on the Top 50 Best Value list were found to give students with need an average grant of $13,700. The median starting salary of graduates from these schools is $59,500 and the mid-career salary of graduates is $109,700.

“Paying for college was a daunting challenge for students and parents 17 years ago when we debuted our Best Value Colleges project. It has become ever more challenging in the years since,” said Franek.

This is not, however, the only recognition for UCR this year. UCR was named by U.S. News & World Report as the country’s top university for social mobility for the third year in a row.

The university was also ranked as one of the top 50 public universities by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

The Princeton Review creates their list every year to help students and parents make the best choice when H attending college. ■ RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

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UCR expects 95% on-campus classes for the winter quarter WITH THIS RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF MOST CLASSES RETURNING TO AN IN-PERSON FORMAT, MANY ARE LEFT SKEPTICAL OF THIS NEW UPDATE. HARU CHANG Contributing Writer

As winter approaches, students are preparing their term plans and living arrangements for the upcoming winter quarter, but the threat of COVID-19 is still very palpable. The 2021-2022 school year proves to be an unyielding challenge for Highlander students, faculty and staff as the transition from remote learning to in-person classes has taken a toll on the UCR community. The recent development about the shift to 95% in-person winter classes has become a hotly debated topic throughout the community.

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Watkins announced that 95% of winter classes will be in-person. Winter quarter begins on Jan. 3, 2022.

“After consulting with the faculty Senate, I am pleased to announce that winter quarter classes will be scheduled at normal seating densities in their usual rooms. The only remote courses will be those that are normally offered online, usually around 2-3% of all courses, and another group that will be approved by exception for instructors who live with immunocompromised individuals or young children who are not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, likely another 2-3%. Overall, we expect around 95% of our classes will be in-person in winter quarter,” Watkins wrote.

According to Watkins, the Senate’s Executive Council members reaffirmed the current in-person plans. Exceptions will be made for instructors living with immunocompromised individuals or with young children who are not eligible for a vaccine and who are not attending inperson school or daycare. Instructors are advised to submit requests for exceptions in early December through a similar process that was implemented for the current fall quarter.

This provision will be extended for all staff in an equivalent situation and for whom remote work is feasible for

winter quarter. Staff members will be eligible to request remote work through consultation with their direct supervisors and local HR partners. According to a Sept. 16, 2021 announcement for the fall quarter, it should be noted that approvals are not guaranteed and should be regularly revisited by supervisors to ensure they meet the workload requirements of the unit and adhere to current health and safety regulations.

After closing the campus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, UCR reopened the fall quarter with 80% of UCR courses meeting in person. However, depending on the conditions of the class, some in-person classes were moved online. Other classes gave students the option of attending in person or remotely.

According to current vaccination rates, 96.3% of students and 86% of employees are reported to be vaccinated. A combined 94.7% of the UCR community are reported to be vaccinated. UCR faculty and staff have been hard at work prioritizing the community’s health in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the current issues with understaffing and the disconnect of the UCR Executive Council members from the UCR community have done little to alleviate the UCR community’s concern about the programming of the upcoming winter quarter, especially the concerns of students.

The current understaffing breeds doubt on whether or not the UCR campus will be able to adequately accommodate the 95% in-person winter programming.

UCR dining halls have been severely understaffed and are struggling to accommodate the current student population. Lothian dining hall remains closed until further notice. Meanwhile, Glasglow dining hall and the Glen Mor Marketplace are in service.

“The most noticeable understaffing to students right now is related to basic needs like student access to food. Parking space is hard to find already, and the UCR campus seems underprepared. It does not seem like a good idea right now to have 95% in-person classes,” says Bach Tran,

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a second-year economics major who has been living on campus this fall quarter.

UCR has enrolled a total 26,847 undergraduate and graduate students for the 2021 year. That represents a 1.6% increase from the total enrollment in fall of 2020.

Students have expressed deep concern about the safety of not only themselves being on-campus for winter quarter, but also the safety of their friends and the rest of the UCR community. Many of the concerns brought up by the community remain unresolved by the official announcement. It is unclear whether UCR will be able to solve the understaffing before winter quarter and whether the input of the UCR community will be seriously considered.

“I have peers who have been forced to move or relocate due to the pandemic, and this announcement has created a certain amount of anxiety for those students who are now being called back to campus.

I personally do not recall being asked if this is something students, faculty and staff felt comfortable with prior to this announcement,” states Hannah Hoff a

third-year gender and sexuality studies major and transfer student. “Making a decision such as this one in the middle of the academic year following a holiday season does not feel like the safest option for our community. As someone who is in all virtual classes this semester, the idea of being fully back on campus does not feel like an option but more of a demand. The day the announcement came out, all of my classes discussed it. Students talked about fear of exposure, having to relocate or fear of risking the health and safety of loved ones at home. Overall, this is why we are working on a petition and why I continue to ask questions in my classes about how students are feeling.”

Hoff and her peers are working on a petition against the 95% in-person winter classes in hopes of uplifting the voices of the UCR community. According to Hoff, it is still in its planning stages. “I just hope that the university considers giving students more options for what fits their current situation.”

As of now, it is highly likely that 95% of classes will be in person for the winter H quarter. ■

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ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER ► FROM ASUCR

she also asked what Ayra and Davis wanted from ASUCR to bring more awareness to the project, and they hope to work with the Associated Students and reach out to the dean or chancellor.

Following this lengthy presentation, ASUCR President William Wang then took the floor and introduced four candidates for Judicial Nominations, a continuation from last week’s meeting after the candidates were tabled.

Each candidate was instructed to come to the stand individually and deliver their presentations for three minutes, after which questioning by the senators would take place for five minutes. Senators, however, have the option to motion to extend each candidate’s time, with approval from the whole senate.

A closed session was then held amongst the senators, allowing for the galley to have a recess. Once the session was

over, the senate then voted to approve Zaki, Tang and Gutti for the judicial council with a vote count of 14 each.

Following the judicial nominations, a special election was held for the School of Education senator. Of the three candidates, two were present at the meeting and presented.

The third candidate for SOE senator, Atom Jesus Mong was not present.

An open session was held to elect one of the two present candidates for the senate position. While the senators appreciated the passion and commitment of both candidates, the senate ultimately chose Dorothy Leigh Bercilla Doronila with a 10-4 vote, citing her vast experiences and how Xochilt Angelica Salgado, with her goals, would be more fitting for the role of Transfer/ Non-traditional Director.

Committee reports then commenced with a motion passed to open and review

Finance Hearing Minutes No. 8 for the finance meeting which took place on Oct. 21, 2021. A total of $16,956 were allocated to a variety of programs and clubs on campus, such as $3,500 for UCR’s Society of Women Engineers and $3,500 for the Chinese Student Association.

Another motion was passed to open and review Finance Hearing Minutes No. 9 for the finance meeting which took place on Oct. 27, 2021, where a total of $8,392. Both meeting minutes were approved with a vote of 14-0-0.

Four pieces of legislation were subsequently reviewed following their approval from the Legislative Review Committee.

Constitutional Amendment CA-F21-001 amends Article IX of the ASUCR constitution and would remove the requirement for the Senate to approve all university-wide committee members. A motion to approve CA-F21-001 was called by

senator Nguyen and seconded by senator Christian Martinez, but this motion did not pass with a vote of 7-0-6.

Senate Resolution SR-F21008 was then on docket and resolved for ASUCR to stand in solidarity with the UC-AFT act. The Senate motioned to approve the resolution and it passed with a vote count of 130-0. Next on the agenda was Senate Resolution SR-F21009 which resolved to Publish and Promote Data Report from In-Person Transition Survey.

Written primarily by BCOE senator David Kiroloss, the resolution will have ASUCR

by Week 9 of spring quarter conduct a survey regarding the in-person transition, especially with the upcoming winter quarter. The resolution was approved with a vote of 12-01. Finally, Senate resolution SR-F21-010 UC Riverside Fair Trade & Labor Resolution called for UCR to become a fair trade campus and to be more

accessible. More fair trade products should be available that were sourced ethically.

This resolution was approved through a motion passed with a vote count of 13-0-0.

The meeting concluded with multiple senator reports from senators Garcia, Do, Vu and Usmani. Final announcements included senator Chavez announcing that she is writing a resolution to allocate funds for the Campus Safety Task Force, senator Kiroloss advocating for Mental Health Awareness Week, SPP senator Arleth Flores-Aparicio reporting on how the lack of notifications for COVID-19 cases on campus needs to be addressed and CHASS senator and President Pro-Tempore Orlando Cabalo commemorating Oct. 25 as the day which commemorates Filipino and Mexican farmworkers. The meeting was H adjourned at 9:40 p.m. ■

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Opinions

6 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

OPINIONS

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

California’s failure to provide accessible financial relief disadvantages minority communities that need it most COMPLICATED APPLICATIONS, A LACK OF VARIETY IN LANGUAGES AND AN ATMOSPHERE OF IMPATIENCE ARE BARRING IMMIGRANTS FROM RECEIVING MUCH-NEEDED RENT RELIEF.

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t is sadly common knowledge that immigrant populations and other minority groups in California are often some of the most impoverished. Though there are opportunities for financial aid given by both the state and federal governments, neither of these are often easy to obtain. These two facts don’t add up, especially in California where the immigrant population is higher than in any other state. And while it seems like the responsibility of an immigrant family is to at least search out these resources, the reality is that these resources are often outdated and hard to use, or these families don’t have the resources to access these resources in the first place.

The money that these families are missing out on because of a lack of updated and easy information and application forms is truly appalling. The government needs to streamline its application process for financial assistance and be more inclusive to help people who have just immigrated.

Many government websites are outdated and hard to navigate, especially when they are primarily in English or poorly translated. On top of this, applications are often incredibly long and tedious, which is precious time that many families cannot afford to spend when they are settling into a new country and a new way of life. If the government wants to start streamlining this for applicants, they should update their websites and shorten their applications. They should also ensure that these websites offer translations written by professional translators, not Google Translate, so that non-English speakers can still apply to get rent relief.

To make matters even worse, the hotline that is meant to help immigrants fill out these applications will hang up if there is no response after 20 seconds.

For people who are still struggling with a new language, or for those who are hard-of-hearing or have a stutter, this lack of patience on the government’s end is horrific. Not only that, it further removes immigrants from getting the aid they need. In a similar vein to updating and properly translating government websites and applications, this problem could be remedied by offering workers on the other end of the line who understand the languages of the applicants and who also have the patience to not hang up if the applicant is not able to speak rapidly.

It should be noted as well that immigrants and others are being left out of crucial rent relief because many hold non-traditional jobs. In the myriad pages that pad out financial relief applications, pay stubs and tax returns that immigrants may not possess are requested. The lack of these documents limits their ability to apply for relief, and while these documents may be important at a legal level, they still discriminate against those with nontraditional jobs. The government needs to take into account the non-traditional situations of many immigrants and their families and waive these requirements so that people don’t have to live out on the streets.

Accessibility is the key focus of how to remedy the issue of immigrants and minority groups missing out on rent relief.

Many families don’t have the money to spend on internet access or a computer, so the government should make an effort to provide centers which offer translators that are not overly formal and can speak in the familiar colloquialisms that will help applicants feel heard and welcome. Such centers could also provide stable internet access, computers and people who can help organize documents or assist those who don’t have the documents that the government requires. While there are

organizations that help immigrants fill out these forms, California would be wise to consolidate these centers as places of public service where people can come and receive the relief that they need.

Furthermore, landlords should take part of the responsibility to direct their tenants to places where they can receive aid. While not all landlords are evil land barons and are oftentimes struggling themselves, rent relief benefits everyone in a renter-rentee relationship, and landlords would be wise to share this information to new tenants in the first place. Of course, not all landlords would likely be so helpful, as seen with how many landlords lobbied against the pandemic rent moratorium. But something as simple as posting a notice on a corkboard that these options are available to tenants could save everyone involved plenty of money.

Though this situation is difficult, it is obvious who has the power to make the process for financial aid easier, and that is the California government. Updating, shortening, clarifying and providing are the keys to helping thousands of people across California. Moving to a new country is hard enough. It is the responsibility of the government to make assistance more accessible to the people H who will benefit most from it. ■

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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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

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The joy of trick-or-treating has no expiration date YSABEL NAKASONE Contributing Writer

Halloween is a holiday that celebrates the spooky and the abnormal, yet there is a strict set of social standards and rules surrounding the night’s celebrations. It’s a night of obscene amounts of candy and wacky costumes, and as innocent as this may be, not everyone is welcome to participate. In 2019, the city of Chesapeake, Virginia edited an ordinance in order to ban anyone over the age of 14 from trick-or-treating. Despite the advent of restrictions like these, the attitudes on older trick-or-treaters may be shifting.

A 2017 Canadian report from the Angus Reid Institute found that while more Canadians over 55 no longer participated in trick-or-treating after the age of 12, a quarter of millennials continued to trick-or treat until they were at least 15.

Trick-or-treating is a fun tradition, and participation should hinge only on a trickor-treater’s willingness to be respectful of others, not their age.

With concerns of bullying and vandalism, it’s easy to understand why people don’t want teenagers and adults to participate in trick-or-treating.

Additionally, parents of younger children have expressed concern over older trickor-treaters negatively impacting their child’s experience as older children may push past or harass younger children participating. If these are parents’ main concerns, then the problem does not lie with the age of trick-or-treaters, but with their etiquette and manners. Setting rules and boundaries for trick-or-treaters within

living communities through neighborhood emails or posting signage could be an easy solution to this problem. Such notices can ban acts of property damage, pranks such as egging houses or being disrespectful of other trick-or-treaters. Having rules that don’t exclude because of age can be an effective way to let participants know what is expected of them and what kind of behavior will get them removed from the activity.

Completely banning older children from participating is not the solution to safety concerns. Communities might consider implementing set time blocks for different age groups and establishing curfews for people participating.

Homeowners’ associations concerned about property damage could create neighborhood watch schedules throughout their communities on Halloween to make sure children of all ages adhere to any preestablished community rules. It should also be said that regardless of safety concerns, those with developmental disabilities should never be barred from trick-or-treating. Other trick-or-treaters, parents and families passing out candy should encourage polite and considerate teenagers or adults to join in. What’s fun about Halloween is that it is loosening up by wearing silly or scary costumes and enjoying an obscene amount of sugar. Having to worry and listen to judgements and commentary from others around you takes away from that fun. By shaming older participants, one becomes the problem they were worried about by taking away a pleasant experience from someone.

THE HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS OF 2021 HAVE COME TO A CLOSE, AND CONCERNS ABOUT TEENAGERS AND ADULTS TRICK-OR-TREATING ARE ONCE AGAIN RAISED.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

The day that avid trick-or-treaters are deemed too old for candy and fun costumes is the day that Halloween dies.

Furthermore, it’s not just about getting candy. If this was the case, people would just go to the store and buy some. Trick-ortreating is about the experience. It’s about the sense of accomplishment one feels at the end of the night when they pour out their candy to compare stockpiles with their friends after a long night of walking around the neighborhood. Halloween is

a real bright spot for those whose lives involve more responsibility and less pleasure. It should be socially acceptable for teenagers and adults to do things simply because they are joyful. One night of innocent fun where people can let go of the monotony and obligations that come along with their day to day lives is an excellent way to hold onto the best parts H of youth. ■

With COVID restrictions loosening, experts warn of COVIDInfluenza ‘twindemic’ WITHOUT MASKS AND OTHER PREVIOUSLY USED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, PEOPLE ARE AGAIN AT RISK FOR CONTRACTING THE FLU IN ADDITION TO COVID.

HARRY STOLTZ Contributing Writer

Last year, California health experts warned about a possible “twindemic,” a nightmarish scenario where both the influenza and COVID-19 pose a threat to the public. Luckily, 2020 presented some of the lowest influenza rates in decades because of heightened health awareness due to COVID. With the pandemic ongoing and the flu season fast approaching, citizens must be cautious and take extra safety measures in order to avoid a possible twindemic.

Health experts attribute the low influenza rates in 2020 to the mix of social distancing, masking and handwashing that COVID warranted.

Additionally, remote working reduced the amount of spaces where people could infect coworkers. With many people returning to the office or school, it is vital to reduce spread through all possible means. Compared to the 20192020 flu season, which had an estimated 39 to 56 million cases, the flu has been virtually nonexistent since the COVID pandemic. In fact, scientists think that at least two flu strains have gone extinct during this period. With this in mind, people need to recognize that the precautionary measures they took within the thick of the pandemic should not be ignored just because society has a sliver of normalcy.

Influenza may have seemed like a trivial issue in the past, but things are different in the age of COVID. The

main concern regarding a twindemic is hospital capacity. Over the last year, there have been extensive reports regarding little to no intensive care unit

beds due to overcrowding from COVIDinfected patients. This overcrowding has forced hospitals to make tough decisions about which patients deserve treatment

COURTESY OF PEXELS

over others, and this ultimately leads to a lot of untreated health issues. In the instance of a possible flu outbreak, the situation becomes exponentially worse.

In addition to the flu, another seasonal disease, respiratory syncytial virus, poses a new threat to public health.

Posing a larger threat to babies and adults, RSV is a respiratory disease that tends to emerge in the winter, but testing indicates an unprecedented uptick over the summer. RSV symptoms are similar to the common cold but can materialize in pneumonia for some people. Paired with the fact that there is no vaccine, experts worry that RSV could become a potential issue over the winter as well. However, following through with social distancing and mask-wearing can significantly reduce the chances of RSV becoming a serious threat over this winter season.

Although low rates of influenza are promising, there are concerns regarding lower immunity for the upcoming 2021-2022 flu season. To circumvent this, health experts are urging people to get their yearly flu shots. Last year, only 47% of adults in California vaccinated themselves against the flu, which is below the national average.

Additionally, continuing COVID precautions would attack both diseases at once — lowering the overcrowding of healthcare facilities. UCR is hosting free flu shot clinics that are available to H UCR faculty and staff. ■

8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

AS AMERICAN SOCIETY CONTINUES TO EMBRACE DATING CULTURE, MORE PEOPLE ARE TURNING AWAY FROM MARRIAGE AS A WHOLE, LEAVING US TO QUESTION THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON GENERATIONS TO COME.

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

Marriage is declining in America, and with it goes our social structure FATEMA SHALABI Managing Editor

The three main monotheistic religions in the world, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, place a great emphasis on the importance of marriage. Because of this importance, dating has many limits, if it is allowed at all, prior to getting married.

As many modern societies and cultures have found their moral stances rooted in one of these three religions, so too has the practice of marriage. However, as more millennials are turning away from practicing these religious traditions, they are redefining the American perspective on relationships as a whole and moving toward normalizing long-term dating, sacrificing the benefits of marriage.

One of the most common reasons as to why Americans are moving away from marriage and toward accepting dating as the establishment of a relationship is because they are afraid of commitment.

Dating allows for casual intteractions and interchangeability, and though these may appear to be positive characteristics, this opens a shell of issues. Although studies have shown that on average, it takes 172 days for two people to know whether they want to spend their lives with one another, there is an overwhelming amount of people who date for that and much longer only to end up in a bad breakup. Being in a continuous cycle of getting to know someone, dating and then separating greatly damages a person’s mental wellbeing.

Substituting the emotional and physical instability that dating creates with the stability that marriage provides places a person into an increased likelihood of prosperity. According to both Harvard Medical School and Iowa State University, married people tend to live longer and healthier lives, thereby proving that science favors married

relationships.

Similar to the common negative effects that dating has on a person’s mental health, social situations become significantly more muddled when involving children. Though there are undoubtedly some exceptions, children who grow up in married households tend to do better in school, develop stronger skills and go on to reciprocate those same effects in their own futures. More times than not, children whose parents are married have a firm sense of stability and don’t have to deal with bouncing between households or consistently having to acquaint themselves with a new father or mother figure as their parent engages in the dating scene.

In an economic aspect, married parents grant their children more financial stability, especially within households where both parents are working. This is in contrast to the financial dynamics presented within nontraditional relationships, where oftentimes, one parent has to get the law involved in order to get child support.

All that isn’t to say that nonnuclear families are inherently of a lesser state — but marriage tends to simplify certain matters.

Though there are common caveats that Americans face in their marriages, like some financial situations that

spouses may find themselves in, the aforementioned benefits tip the scale toward showcasing marriage in a brighter light. Perhaps all of this is why some of the religions with the most followers in the world have placed an emphasis on establishing familial structures through marriage. Though perspectives regarding religion may differ from person to person, there is an abundance of ways in which religion has intentionally orchestrated a guide in which to better society, with marriage being one of them. And to those who say marriage is not ideal for them in their present lives as they deal with academics and finding economic stability H — it’s better late than never! ■

10 :1 0

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FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Features Fall Edition:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

9

Seasonal treats for you to devour with a touch of cinnamon

BY: ASHLEY CHEN, FEATURES EDITOR Fall is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and I love all of the tasty treats that I can make during it! However, as a college student, it’s difficult to manage academics, on-campus and off-campus activities and making delicious treats with very little time to spare. With campus beginning to settle into the fall spirit, here are three tasty treats for you to make in the comfort of your own home.

Apple Cr umble

Chur ro Chips

Servings: 1

Servings: 1

Start to finish: 5-10 minutes

Start to finish: 5-10 minutes

Crust:

Filling:

1 cup of rolled oats 1 cup of all-purpose flour ¾ cup of brown sugar ¼ cup of granulated sugar 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon of salt ¼ teaspoon of baking soda ¾ cup of unsalted melted butter

6 medium apples ¼ cup of granulated sugar 2 tablespoon of brown sugar 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon of ground cinnamon ¼ cup of water

Preheat the oven to 176.7 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).

Peel and dice the apples, and arrange them into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add water, sugar, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon into the dish, and mix until the apples are evenly coated.

In a separate bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, sugar, cinamon, salt, baking soda and unsalted melted butter. Mix well until the butter has soaked through the dry ingredients. Evenly sprinkle over the apples.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the crumb and apples are baked to your liking.

6 medium tortillas 4 tablespoons of melted butter 1 cup of granulated sugar 1 ½ tablespoons of ground cinnamon Preheat the oven to 218.3 degrees Celsius (425 degrees Fahrenheit).

Cut the tortillas into 8 triangles, and toss them into butter, making sure both sides are coated.

In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Toss the tortillas into the sugar and cinnamon in batches.

Place them on a large baking sheet in a single layer, and bake for 8-10 minutes or until crispy. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving! ■ H

10 fall-themed ac ti vities for you and your f riends

SENNA OMAR Contributing Writer

As the weather gets colder, it is time to put away the bathing suits and whip out the pumpkins. Here are a few fall-themed activities you should try.

Go to a pum pkin patch Although it is a little on the basic side, pumpkin patches are a fall staple and something you can do with both your family and friends. After picking out the perfect pumpkin, you can paint it, make a jack-o-lantern or even make a pumpkinbased recipe.

Bake With the weather getting a little colder, baking is the perfect way to warm up a fall evening. Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavors; try making some ginger pumpkin cupcakes or an alamode apple pie. Any pumpkin-based treat can be a fall staple.

Mo vie Night Snuggling up next to the fireplace and watching the perfect autumn movie is

one of the best ways to spend your fall nights. Some movie staples are “Hocus Pocus,” “Coraline” and the “Harry Potter” series. Plan the perfect movie night filled with different fall-themed snacks and the comfiest pillow fort anyone has ever seen.

If weather permits, try having it outside; all you need is a projector, a bedsheet and a picnic blanket.

Bonfire Spending a cold fall night by the fire is a fall staple. Grab a couple of friends, and have a beach bonfire. If you are looking for something closer to campus, Dundee has three fire pits. Do not forget to bring s’mores supplies and all the snacks you can carry!

Laz y Day The cold fall weather often makes for the best lazy day. Give yourself a day to recuperate from all the midterm stress.

Maybe do a facemask, take a hot bath with your favorite bath bombs or cuddle up with your blanket to binge your favorite TV show in bed.

Cof fee Date Coffee is a vital part of the college student’s diet. Go with some friends to a niche coffee shop for a little coffee date.

Have your main character moment: bring your laptop and a textbook, order an iced vanilla oat milk latte and stare out the window at the fall ambiance while pretending to study.

Apple Pickin g It’s apple-picking season, so grab some friends and head over to an apple orchard, and take some Instagram pictures with the trees and your baskets full of apples. With the apples, make some apple pie, candy apples or any other fall-themed treats!

Cor n Maze

Looking for a little more adventure?

Head to a corn maze, or even better, a haunted corn maze. Although a little basic, corn mazes are such a fun activity to do with friends and family! Make it a competition to see who can escape the maze first.

IT’S FALL, AND HERE ARE SOME ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SEASON.

Fall-themed Picnic Take some of the fall-themed treats you baked on a picnic! Not only is this the perfect activity for you and your friends, but it’s also an adorable fall date idea. So pack up the candy apples and apple pie, and do not forget about the perfect cheese board, a picnic essential.■ H

10

Radar

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

The fifth and final season premiere of HBO’s hit series ‘Insecure’ ISSA RAE’S SEASON OPENER PROMOTES STAYING PRESENT, MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT, delivered on multiple ends PERSONAL GROWTH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY — MAINTAINING A SENSE OF HUMOR.

COURTESY OF HBO ENTERPRISES

ELIAS ALMAREZ-HERRERA Contributing Writer

Art can simply imitate life, but it is excellent art that can build a world to reflect our innermost desires, feelings and experiences.

“Insecure” is a loosely biographical television show created by actress, writer and producer, Issa Rae. Over the course of its five-year run, critics and audiences alike have raved — it is not commonplace for a

VERDICT:

corporate entity like HBO to invest in and provide a platform for a show that centers a pair of upwardly mobile, Black women from Los Angeles, navigating careers, failed romances and general adulthood. Needless to say, “Insecure” is nothing short of refreshing.

On Oct. 24, the first episode of the series’ final season premiered in a poetic prelude to Issa Rae. In 2011, the precursor to “Insecure,” Rae’s YouTube web series, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” became one of the most widely acclaimed web series of its time.

Rae was just a college student at Stanford University when she began merging her love for visual storytelling, rapping, acting and script writing. It displays unparalleled comedic timing and a personal narrative authentic to Issa. ABG was made possible primarily through crowdfunding and is now considered a bonafide cult-classic. The scope of her talents would not be fully realized until her next project, “Insecure.”

Season five, Episode one entitled “Reunited, Okay!?” centers around the fictional Issa and Molly, played by Yvonne Orji in attendance at their Stanford University 10-year reunion. The two are joined by fanfavorite, Kelli, played by Natasha Rothwell and series sweethearts: Tiffany, played by Amanda Seales, and Derrick, played by Wade Allain-Marcus, round out the ensemble friend group.

Issa has been invited to speak on a panel as the entrepreneur and CEO of her brandnew company “BLOCC.” The running gag in the first half of the episode is that Issa

continues to forget the acronym she came up with for her company. This season picks up shortly where it left off at the end of season four. After the explosive falling out between the two main protagonists in the previous season, viewers are now walking side by side in this new chapter with Issa and Molly as they work to rekindle their relationship. And it is painfully awkward.

The episode continues with a panning shot of Stanford’s main corridor transitioning our cast to the first night’s main event.

Oakland rapper Too Short’s signature record, “Blow the Whistle,” overlays the on-screen happenings of Stanford alums having drinks and mingling. There’s even a flute player synchronizing the whistles from the track, an ode to the rich culture of Black marching bands at the collegiate level. The invigorating, pulsated beat perfectly sets the ambience.

Issa and Molly run into an old friend, Cheyenne, played by Taja V. Simpson. The group reminisces on their former rap trio, “Trap Habit,” to which Tiffany surmises “ain’t never seen the trap.” Cheyenne, who dropped out of university to go on tour as a backup dancer for R&B entertainer Ciara, brings the group up-to-date, noting that she was just in a music video with Saweetie, to which Molly muses, “I love her, she be eating good!”

The series is undeniably about an upwardly mobile Black American experience. The characters are not from the “trap” otherwise known as the “hood.”

They are not faced with the systemic issues

of living below the poverty line and have held a particular position of privilege throughout the show as college graduates from a prestigious university. Issa even has a conversation with her reflection in the mirror, a recurring practice throughout the series, with her former-undergraduate self. “Young Issa” had braces, an item of increasing luxury in the current economic state and definitely a rare commodity for someone who might have actually been raised in the “trap.”

“Insecure”’s purpose is not dedicated to telling that story, though.

Even so, contrary to declarations from the growing social media fan base, “Insecure” is not without its fair share of Black-trauma.

From unforeseen baby mother revelations to carrying the weight of micro-aggressions by coworkers and the gender-wage gap, which disproportionately affects Black women.

What sets this show apart is that these issues are delicately woven into the lives of these characters, they are not the epicenter of their arcs along the series’ plot, a testament to great writing.

Melina Matsoukas directed this opening episode, and many other episodes throughout the series. She has received critical acclaim for her directorial work on “Formation” from Beyoncé’s visual album “Lemonade” and Rihanna’s “We Found Love” music video.

Similarly, musicality is a staple in setting the tone of each scene in “Insecure.” Few have mastered visual storytelling to the extent Matsoukas has, as the transitional shots in H this episode are stunning and seamless.■

If the first episode is indicative of anything, it is that the supporting characters who have helped push the plot forward up to this point may now have a chance to become fully developed as the show reaches its final season. Through the laughs, the shocks and the foot-tapping and head-nodding soundtracks, Issa Rae continues to illustrate the humanness of being insecure.

► FROM LANA DEL REY

“There we were, screamin’, Black Lives Matter” Without a doubt, Lana Del Rey’s new album, “Blue Banisters,” is beautiful. It is filled with pain and the desire to be loved, but it feels like a different Lana. The typical topics she sings about are presented throughout the album: daddy issues in “Textbook,” drug addiction in “Dealer” and romanticizing everyday American life in “Violets for Roses” and “Arcadia.” Yet, she randomly brings up Black Lives Matter in “Textbook” with no clear purpose. The song is talking about a relationship the singer entered with an older man, and presenting Black Lives Matter in the song seems very much as a way for Del Rey to prove to her fans that she is on the right side of politics.

“You can’t be a muse and be happy, too” The listeners of Lana Del Rey’s music have to understand that the person the public knows as Lana does not exist. “Lana Del Rey” is a persona used by Elizabeth Grant to create music. The persona gained popularity in the early 2010s through Tumblr, and since then, Grant has been keeping up the facade of Lana.

As time has passed, Grant has slowly expressed how difficult it is to be two people. This album has definitely exposed a part of Grant that she has kept hidden.

Snippets in songs seem to give insight into the struggles she is experiencing, given that she is no longer young and has constantly been scrutinized since she entered the music industry. Of course, there is an element of desperation because she needs people to like her. This is why there is the theme throughout the album of wanting others to approve and accept who someone is, yet this isn’t always received and instead leads to pain.

COURTESY OF LANA DEL REY VIA TWITTER

“I can turn blue into something” This is the beginning of Lana Del Rey finding her niche in the current music world. However, don’t listen to Lana Del Rey expecting to hear music about the world we know. Her music focuses on an America that is a dark fantasy where women are constantly on the run with a broken heart and finding trouble. Lana Del Rey turns America into a myth, much like she is a myth. However, her new album gives listeners a chance to understand parts of the lore she builds. The album carries Del Rey’s listeners to emotional places that gut one’s soul, but it isn’t ugly; it’s beautiful. Every song has the use of piano keys, giving them a softness, but also features percussion throughout to give the songs an intensity.. No one can transform a line like “I don’t

want to live” into an awe-inspiring sound, or somehow bring comfort to a bad situation, like in the song “Sweet H Carolina,” the way Lana Del Rey does. ■

VERDICT:

“Blue Banisters” is worth listening to. The album explores a new side to Lana Del Rey’s music and presents the vulnerabilities she has hidden in a very poetic manner.

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

11

Wonder Woman’s twin sister, Queen Nubia returns in her own modernized six-issue comic series, beginning with ‘Nubia & The Amazons #1’ KYLE PENIX Radar Editor

Popular comic book publisher DC Comics recently published the first issue of a new six-issue comic book series for one of its own forgotten and little-known Black female characters called “Nubia & The Amazons.” The series reintroduces and will focus on the story of the title-character Nubia, known as Wonder Woman’s Black twin sister in older publications, for the current generation of audiences.

Nubia’s origins date as far back as 1973, when DC Comics’ Robert Kanigher and Don Heck created her as a powerful and initially mysterious dark-skinned Amazonian from a distant island.

She was introduced as a character possessing a level of strength equal to Diana and as a challenger to the title of “Wonder Woman.” In later comics within the same continuity, Diana’s mother, Queen Hippolyta revealed to Diana that Nubia is her long-lost twin sister formed from clay.

Nubia is often considered the first Black female character that DC Comics had ever published.

However, some sources dispute that claim and instead credit the character, Bumblebee, from “Teen Titans” who debuted at a later time in the 1970s as the first. Whoever’s the first doesn’t really matter, but it’s surprising nonetheless that it took so long for a Black woman to be written into a comic book for DC, as the company had been in existence since the 1930s. Nubia’s initial comic book debut in “Wonder Woman” Volume 1, Issue 204 was a groundbreaking moment in DC’s history that undoubtedly influenced the inclusion of future comic book characters from diverse backgrounds.

Since her initial debut, Nubia has only appeared sparingly throughout the years in all of DC’s creative properties. Her original background story as Queen Hippolyta’s daughter and Wonder Woman’s twin sister had also been retconned several times in other future publications by DC. In one instance, writers changed her name to “Nu’Bia,” and she became just a fellow Themyscrian Amazon with no deeper familial connection to Wonder Woman, among other differences. Curiously, she’s primarily appeared

VERDICT:

only as a small side character to the bigger names in the DC universe, which is surprising considering that she was originally written as the twin sister and true equal to one of the most popular superheroes in this universe. However, fans of this lesser-known character continued to express interest and maintained hope that DC would use her in future publications and in other media.

It can be argued that because of the recent mainstream success of Black comic book characters, such as Marvel’s Black Panther, Luke Cage, Miles Morales and others, combined with a more progressive American culture that desires more diverse storytelling, DC thought it’d be a good idea to reintroduce such a powerful figure from their own comic book universe in an effort to capture new audiences, trying to capitalize on the ongoing trend to make more money. That’s a capitalistic view, but hopefully there were mostly good intentions behind the decision to bring Nubia back. Unquestionably, genuine fans played a considerable part in making this new mini, sixissue series happen in the first place. Some of the credit also goes to young adult literature writer, L.L. McKinney and her recent graphic novel, “Nubia: Real One,” which DC published in February 2020. As a fan of the character herself, she pitched the idea of a new story involving a teenaged Nubia in a contemporary setting where she struggles with her Amazonian gifts to DC, and they greenlit the project. The success of McKinney’s graphic novel was a breakthrough for the character Nubia, as what came next is where we are now: her first DC-published, solocomic series.

The two authors and leading creative minds behind this newest iteration of Nubia are Black writers, Ayala Vita and Stephanie Williams.

Both have an extensive history within the comic book space and have written previously for DC Comics. Vita’s co-written issues of “Batman,” “Supergirl,” “Suicide Squad,” “Static Shock” and several others. Ayala Vita has also been a writer on several Marvel comic books, such as “X-Men,” “Shuri” and “2020 Ironheart.”

Williams co-wrote “Wonder Woman Black and

Gold #2” and has also written a short-story for Marvel centered on Monica Rambeau in “Voices: Legacy.” She currently has three successful ongoing webcomics as well. Joining Vita and Williams in this project as the artist of the comic series is Black comic artist, Alitha Martinez. Like the authors, Martinez has a deep background of creative work within the comic book medium and is very talented. She’s worked as an artist for all of the major comic book publishers, including DC and Marvel. A few of the popular comic books she’s worked on are “Iron Man,” “Black Panther,” “X-Men” and “Batgirl.” The three of these incredibly talented Black creatives being at the helm of the official reboot of a forgotten Black female character is both inspiring and exciting.

The first issue of “Nubia and the Amazons” is a shorter read, but it’s of high quality. The story begins with Nubia recounting her arrival on the Amazonian island nation of Themyscira through the Well of Souls. In her former life, she was born in the world of “man”, but when unknown events put an end to that life, she was reborn as an Amazonian at the same time Diana was born. Magala the Keeper of the Well, is the first to introduce Nubia to her new environment and remains a close friend even after Nubia eventually succeeds Hippolyta as the new Queen of Themyscira. Centuries after Nubia emerged from the Well herself, five new women appear, which shocks her. Philippus, the aide to the Queen, picks up on her concern and recommends appointing a new guardian of Doom’s Doorway, a rift that protects the island from the evil of Hades. The comic concludes with a strange vision that seems to predict a future disaster on Themyscira, leaving readers with a mystery.

The storytelling for the first issue is interesting and moves at a steady pace. The illustrations are amazing, and the colors are rich and tonally dark, which works really well for this comic. Nubia’s character design is excellent, she’s depicted as regal, powerful, strong and beautiful with big curly hair. Existing fans should be pleased with this first issue, and newer audiences exposed to Nubia for the first time are likely to enjoy her new H introduction, too. ■

BEING ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE SUPERHERO CHARACTERS IN COMIC BOOK HISTORY, DC COMICS REINTRODUCES NUBIA TO MODERN AUDIENCES AS A REGAL AMAZONIAN BEAUTY, POSSESSING BOTH INTELLIGENCE AND STRENGTH.

Nubia’s debut in her first stand-alone comic book series is an interesting short read that provides a fresh-look for a long neglected DC character. Headed by three amazingly talented Black comic book creatives, the future of Nubia appears to be in good hands.

COURTESY OF LAURA MARTIN & ALITHA MARTINEZ VIA DC COMICS

12

Sports TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

SPORTS

UC Riverside women’s soccer loses 3-2 against CSUB KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor

UC Riverside’s women’s soccer played their second to last game for the Big West on Thursday night, Oct. 28. The women faced off against the Cal State University Bakersfield Roadrunners and fought to climb the conference ladder.

Unfortunately, after an intense 101 minutes, the Highlanders lost 3-2 to the Roadrunners.

The Highlanders kicked off the game and quickly went on the offensive.

They went on to push toward the opponent’s net and held them in their side of the field for the first 25 minutes of the game. CSUB pushed back and took occasional shots on the Riverside net. Unfortunately, in the 28th minute of the game, the Roadrunners found themselves in front of the Highlander net. After a scuffle in front of the net, junior forward Litzy Pimentel kicked the ball high and left, putting them up 1-0. UCR was not discouraged and quickly went back on the offensive.

Shortly after, UCR was awarded a corner kick. Junior forward Natza Marin took a shot and missed. The ball was found by freshman midfielder Lindsey Turner who passed the ball towards sophomore midfielder Alyssa Carranza.

She took a shot towards the lower left side of the goal, tying the game 1-1. The game continued, as both teams seeked to gain a leg up on their competition.

Unfortunately, the Roadrunners found themselves with another chance to score, Pimentel earned her second goal of the game, putting CSUB up 2-1 in the 41st minute, right before the end of the first half.

Going into the second half, the Highlanders were eager to tie the game back up again. UCR continued their offensive vigor, as they attacked towards the opposing net, finding a goal within the first five minutes of the second half.

Carranza had the ball again and found an opening from beyond the penalty box, taking a low shot landing in the right side of the net. This tied the game once again, leaving the Highlanders 2-2 in the 51st minute of the game. The Highlanders managed to stay in the game and kept advancing in search of the game winning goal. Unfortunately in the 90th minute, both teams were still tied, forcing them to go into overtime.

Going into overtime, the Highlanders were looking for their decisive golden goal. The first 10 minutes of the game were evenly matched with both teams being unable to score and find the back of

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

DESPITE TWO GOALS FROM CARRANZA, HIGHLANDERS ARE UNABLE TO SEAL THE DEAL.

VICTOR LEI / THE HIGHLANDER

the net. Going into the second half, CSUB found an early goal, putting an end to the game. Once again, Pimentel found herself in front of the net with an opportunity to score, giving the Roadrunners their golden goal.

The Highlanders took a total of 16 shots throughout the game, four more than CSUB. Half of those shots were on goal. UCR was also awarded a total

of six corner kicks. With this loss, UCR is in second to last place, still remaining above CSUB in the Big West Conference. The Highlanders return to the pitch on Oct. 31 for their final conference showdown.

The Highlanders play under the Riverside soccer field lights for their last season game as they prepare for the H upcoming post-season tournament. ■

Women’s volleyball lose in straight sets against UC Davis PATREACE ANN ESPIRITU Contributing Writer

The Highlanders experienced a crushing defeat at the hands of the Aggies in three straight sets. UC Davis hosted the game between the two teams last Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. With their loss, the women’s volleyball team now holds a record of 5-15-0 for this season.

As the referee blew the whistle, the Highlanders had the first serve to officially start the game. Although the Aggies scored the first point, the visiting team responded immediately with a point of their own. The Highlanders were down to as much as 9-16 in the first set, but they were able to make a headway as they trimmed the score to 16-20. Despite their best efforts to take the lead, they lost the first frame with a score of 18-25.

As the second set began, the Highlanders maintained their team spirit as they went back to the court. After a 0-6 scoring run by the Aggies, the visiting Highlanders got their momentum back as they closed the gap to the tune of 15-16.

They had a total of 10 kills during this set, the most among all three sets that they played, but were unable to keep the pace.

Multiple errors were made by both the offense and defense, but their spirit was not dampened by them as they continued to attack, totaling 36 attempts by the end of the set. However, UCR ended up losing with a score of 16-25 after an attack error by the Highlanders, giving the last point to the home team.

The Highlanders finished with the least amount of total attempts during the

final set. They started the first set with a total of 40 attempts by the team, which sizzled down to only 24. They had the least amount of kills at seven but still had six attack errors as they ended. Deja Bickers, jersey No. 16, gets the final kill of the night for the Highlanders and puts the score 14-22. The last point for the visiting team would be from a service error as Alexa Hogan from the Aggies deals the final score of the game, ending the set with 15-25.

The Highlanders were tenacious throughout the night, but the breaks of the game were not in their favor. All in all, they had a total of 100 attacks with 26 kills. However, the offense experienced multiple mistakes throughout the game, accumulating a total of 18 offensive errors towards the end. They gave up points from four service errors, but their defense did an amazing job of keeping the ball in play with a total of 53 digs. Anya Green, jersey No. 11, had a great night as she led the team with six kills, followed by both Deja Bickers, No. 16, and Amarachi Osuji, No. 8, with five each.

The head coach of the Highlanders, Michelle Patton Coleman, understands her team’s potential and remains optimistic that the team will make improvements.

“Our team has a good grasp on what needs to be done to improve and also understand that they have power in that by how they show up for each other each day,” she stated in complete support for her players.

“Adversity is an opportunity for growth and we are gaining valuable experience each time we play.”

The women’s volleyball team has seven games left for this season, with the next game being held at Honolulu, Oahu. They will go against the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine on Oct. 30, 2021. The Highlanders are hoping to go to the Aloha state with a different mindset H and come back home with a victory.■

“THE HIGHLANDERS RETAIN THEIR OPTIMISM AND TEAM SPIRIT FOR THE UPCOMING GAMES.”

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER