Volume 70 Issue 16

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, February 12, 2022

VOL. 70, ISSUE 15

est. 1954

SPORTS

UC Riverside’s women’s basketball team emerge victorious with a charge in the second half

STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TRANSITION TO INPERSON CLASSES FOLLOWING THE FIRST HALF OF THE SPRING QUARTER BEING HELD ONLINE.

THE HIGHLANDERS SIT IN 7TH PLACE AFTER ANOTHER SPLIT WEEK. PATREACE ESPIRITU Contributing Writer

The Highlander women’s basketball team faced off against the UC San Diego Titans on Saturday night at the SRC arena on Feb. 12. The UCR women’s team played back-to-back home games this past week, and after a devastating loss against UC Irvine on Thursday night, the Highlander’s were desperate to get a win and end the week on a higher note.

The women started the game trying to catch their rhythm, surrendering the opening points of the game to the Tritons, but quickly tied with a jumper from junior guard Jada Holland. UCSD goes on a quick 4-0 run to gain the lead but sophomore guard Jordan Webster scores a 3-pointer to put UCR behind by a point. The Tritons managed to score another layup to stay in the lead before committing a foul and granting UCR two free throws, which were sunk by junior forward Anna Blount to leave the score 7-8, over three minutes left in the first quarter. After a two minute drought, the Tritons committed another foul, this time on redshirt senior guard Olivia West, who made good of the opportunity and put UCR in a 1-point lead. A jumper from senior ► SEE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PAGE 12

FEATURES

COURTESY OF UCR

NEWS

UCR Vice Chancellor Brian Haynes and Associate ​​ Provost Ken Baerenklau host a forum during ASUCR’s 14th meeting AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, the 14th Associated Students of UCR meeting took place both in person and through Zoom at the ASUCR Senate Chambers. During this meeting, UCR Vice Chancellor Brian Haynes and ​​Associate Provost Ken Baerenklau were present to host a Q&A session regarding a previous resolution in support of more remote learning options.

All members of the senate were present, excluding CHASS senators Blanca Estela Alba and Christian Martinez, CNAS senator Catelin La, President William Wang, Vice President of External Affairs Elysha Castillo, Vice President of Sustainability Alondra Martinez, Personnel Director Lina Nguy and Marketing and Promotions Director Wallace Fang who were excused. BCOE senator Amy Do,

Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs Arshneel Kaur, Vice President of Finance Jeffrey Tran and Transfer Non-Traditional Director Roxanna Vasquez were all absent.

Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf with the addition of GCAP under committee reports and finance hearing minutes 10. Senators’ reports and resolution SR-W22-004 were removed from the agenda. The previous meeting minutes were then opened and approved with a count of 14-0-0.

During the new business, VCSA Haynes and AP Baerenklau opened their Q&A for students to discuss their concerns regarding remote learning options. VCSA Haynes began by addressing the senate and students present. Haynes noted that he has heard the concerns from students about returning to in-person instruction and would like to acknowledge them.

According to Haynes, “safety, access and accessibility” are three principals UCR adopted during the pandemic and the decision to resume in-person classes on Jan. 31 took them into consideration.

About 97% of students are vaccinated with 88% of staff being vaccinated.

Last fall quarter, the infection rates were monitored, and UCR did not experience any major outbreaks. There were also ongoing conversations with county and campus medical professionals along with administration from the other UC campuses.

AP Baerenklau, who is also in charge of a campus COVID-19 committee that monitors infection numbers, spoke next.

Baerenklau stated that students were surveyed last February on their thoughts regarding in-person instruction and that the results showed a wide range of ► SEE ASUCR PAGE 4

ASPB’s Shrek movie night was a perfect way to spend a weekday afternoon ASPB THREW THEIR FIRST OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT OF THE WINTER QUARTER THIS PAST WEEK.

COURTESY OF DREAMWORKS PICTURES

DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

This past Thursday, the Associate Student Program Board held a movie night at sunset by the bell tower. The movie in question was no other than Shrek. This movie was decided by an Instagram poll conducted

by ASPB earlier in the week. The completely outdoor event was the perfect opportunity for students to bring out their picnic blankets and

enjoy the warmer weather. Upon entry students had to show their completed wellness check. While the event on the ASPB instagram was advertised as starting at 4 p.m. originally, a separate flier stated a start time of 5 p.m. While this confused some students in line, throwing an event at this time of day was already a little awkward.

Time confusion aside, students quickly started to show up, eager to take pictures with the cardboard cutout of Shrek. Snacks

were provided, students had the option to pick between either an apple sauce pack or a handful of HI-CHEW. A small container of popcorn was also provided to each student. Fortune cookies were advistersted on the original flyer, but none were given out at the event. The highlight for many attending was being able to pick a heart shaped carabiner, perfect for the current valentines day season. ► SEE MOVIE NIGHT PAGE 10

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

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“When I first arrived as at UCR, everything was quite overwhelming.

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However, I was fortunate to have a great SI leader who helped me orient myself in my classes. From that experience, I decided to do the same for others and become an SI leader myself. It was the best decision I ever made. I love being able to mentor others and help my peers through the most difficult classes. I would highly encourage

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NEWS

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NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

3

New testing sites open on campus to accommodate more students

COURTESY OF STAN LIM VIA UCR

THE NEW TESTING SITES ARE AT THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER AND BANNOCKBURN ROOM G-105.

MADISON RHEINS Editor-in-Chief

On Feb. 1, UCR added two new testing sites on campus located at the Student Success Center and Bannockburn room G-105. This comes as an effort to combat long wait times and large groups prone to exposure. Prior to this, testing was only available at lot 26 and Pentland Hills. Students, however, were hesitant to test at these sites due to the long wait for results from lot 26 and even longer lines at the Pentland Hills location.

Many students took to Reddit to voice their concerns about there only being two testing locations citing health risks which included having to wait in long lines for 30 minutes or more and around others who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

While the school is being proactive in adding more testing sites, students still have concerns about the organization of them — namely, the Student Success Center.

Fourth-year sociology major Hunter Kirn recently went to test at the new Student Success Center location RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

and recalls the experience stating, “I thought it was super convenient.

The only thing is that when I was doing the saliva test, some people thought it was gross when walking out of the SSC and were kind of making fun of the people getting tested … It would be nice to have a grass area like the Bear Cave site so it’s not in front of the entrance to the SSC.” Alexandra Giles, a third-year business administration major, stated, “It’s great that UCR has opened up new testing sites. The accessibility of getting tested is much better than before, and I’m glad that these new sites have opened. It would be nice if the site in front of the SSC were moved because it causes a crowd to form in front of the main doors to the SSC, making it harder to get in and out of the building.”

The alternate location at Bannockburn, however, offered a more positive experience in terms of wait times and seclusion. Secondyear creative writing major Brenda Jovel recalls, “The COVID-19 testing site at Bannockburn was very efficient and quite vacant. I

think its location may hinder some people from finding it, but it’s a convenient spot for those who live in Bannockburn or The Plaza apartments.”

Since the opening of the two new testing sites on campus, students have more options for where to get a PCR test without having to risk their health being around other potentially affected students. These sites are open to all students on campus who need a test and can be accessed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, students testing on campus are also able to get their results within 24 to 48 hours.

According to the school COVID-19 policy, select groups of employees and students are expected to test regularly. Students who live on campus are required to get tested every two weeks. With the opening of the two new testing locations, the school hopes to get as many people tested on a regular basis without long wait times causing a hindrance.

For more information on testing, please visit UCR’s campus return website at www.campusreturn.ucr.

H edu/. ■

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NEWS

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ASUCR ► FROM ASUCR

opinions with many extremes. Baerenklau also noted that he believes the rationale for the resolution is outdated as we are past the spike of Omicron. Social distancing and public guidance have changed. There are now more testing sites on campus while health and safety is the school’s priority.

Although county mask mandates will be ending soon, Baerenklau stressed that the campus will continue to have a mask mandate and that the risk of becoming infected on campus is much lower than off campus. According to Baerenklau, UCR has been more flexible than other campuses as the administration does not dictate how faculty hold their courses.

The administrative senate has also given flexibility to allow midterms to take place virtually. The emails that Provost Elizabeth Watkins sent to the community on Jan. 14 and 24 are examples of the communication UCR has provided.

Senators were then invited to ask questions beginning with senator David Kiroloss who acknowledged that the campus COVID-19 tracker does show that cases have gone down. Kiroloss then continued to ask what student accommodations have occurred as some classes are now online permanently or hybrid. AP Baerenklau replied that they could not say what accommodations have taken place due to all professors teaching their courses differently with some being more flexible than others. VCSA Haynes added that if students are unable to make accommodations, they should first speak with their professor, and if that does not work, then they should speak with the department head then the dean of the college.

Senator Rachel Paredes next asked if there are still measures in place to tell students if their classmates have COVID-19. AP Baerenklau replied that the campus is shifting the way they notify students with all of the information now being on the campus COVID-19 dashboard. “It is everyone’s responsibility to look at the dashboard everyday. Some emails may be going out still but we will not continue this going forward,” Baerenklau stated.

Senator Aalani Richardson asked what protocols UCR has if another outbreak occurs. AP Baerenklau’s response stressed that the campus will not go into another full closure and that outbreaks on campus have not been serious. The students who returned in January did cause a small spike, and that is why precautionary actions to delay in-person instruction were implemented.

Senator Lauren Garcia thanked the two for coming and asked who decides what courses will be online while others have been told to return in person. Garcia referenced that CHASS classes have been more accommodating than CNAS classes.

AP Baerenklau stated that this variation is not surprising, and many professors who have labs or certain curriculum were told by their departments that they needed to be in person. As of now, he noted, there have not been conversations about flexibility for spring quarter.

Senator Arleth Aparicio asked if dorms or campus housing students will be notified by email if someone on their floor is positive. According to AP Baerenklau, they do not have an answer to that question yet but students should continue to check the dashboard.

Senator Garcia spoke again stating that some students felt the email from the provost to return occurred too late as many students did not have housing yet.

They asked if there is a guarantee that students and faculty will have a prompt

response for spring quarter. AP Baerenklau responded that the response will be sent out as promptly as possible.

Senator Myra Usmani commented that some professors are more accommodating while others are more difficult to work with and that they hope moving forward there will be more accommodations instead of students scrambling for tests or attendance.

Sen Paredes noted that the campus has RISE technology that allows for hybrid accommodations and asked how many classrooms have this technology. AP Baerenklau responded that “about 110 general assignment classes’’ have this technology and that it all depends on what the professor is teaching and how they can use it. Other smaller and older classrooms are unable to install the RISE technology.

“About ⅓ of the classes don’t have it,” Baerenklau explained. More technology has been put around the campus during the pandemic to assist students.

Senator Richardson asked what the campus is doing to protect students because Riverside County has had one of the highest infection rates in California.

AP Baerenklau replied that the COVID-19 committee has been monitoring numbers.

Sen Christian Torres stated that there is more to COVID-19 than getting sick, asking what the campus is doing to help students get online jobs or counseling because of COVID-19 hardships.

VCSA Haynes replied that when the pandemic began, the CAPS center went online and has mainly remained online.

They are trying to be accessible to students who need help The school recently received a grant that will allow UCR to hire more councilors.

The career center is also assisting students with remote jobs and conducting remote interviews.

The public forum was then opened to members of the community. Several students who are members of a Discord server titled, “Students for a Safer Return to Campus,” organized by UCR student Bryce Hill, were present through Zoom and discussed their concerns.

Hill spoke first, thanking the two for coming and allowing a forum for students to gather. Hill continued by stating that he feels students were not kept informed and that the survey from February is outdated.

He also cited that the email from Provost Watkins ended stating, “What happens next? I don’t know.” Hills argued that this is not an adequate response and that the short notice was difficult for students to find work, housing and childcare accommodations. He then pointed out that this is the first time we have been able to directly communicate with administration.

He also questioned that if counselors can conduct appointments remotely, why can’t students remain remote? Hills feels the RISE technology isn’t being utilized, explaining, “I had to request for my professor to use it after speaking to the department chair.”

VCSA Haynes replied that not all counselors are currently remote. Some accept remote appointments but are still on campus. The campus has tried to be as flexible as possible. AP Baerenklau then invited Bryce to have a meeting with him and Haynes regarding his concerns.

Hailey Alzina, a UCR student, spoke next that their professors have not been flexible. They said that they were expected to go back in-person and that the students also needed to be present.

Alzina said that the professors don’t seem to be able to make their own decisions if they want to obey the school’s in-person orders. Alzina explained that it’s difficult to attend in person due to living with a

person who has a compromised immune system. AP Baerenklau responded that some instructors had to communicate with their departments due to certain curriculum needing to be taught in person.

Baerenklau cited that it isn’t surprising that some faculty do not have the same freedoms to teach remotely or through hybrid.

Cyan Shaw, another UCR student, then asked for clarification on hybrid options and if there are any plans to continue to implement them. AP Baerenklau responded that the administration learned several things from the pandemic on what is and isn’t working. He is unsure yet how the campus will incorporate more online and hybrid classes after the pandemic.

UCR student Stephanie Caldwell spoke next in support of Bryce and more hybrid options, stating they value the safety of being able to learn online.

Hill spoke again, accepting the offer to meet in person. He then asked why administration is not dictating faculty on how to teach their classes when they are dictating that all students must return to campus. AP Baerenklau replied that they have allowed faculty to make their own decision and have advised them to be empathetic and accommodating while adhering to the curriculum.

Students Mario Torres and Nate spoke next in support of Bryce. Torres stated that Hill is representing a lot of student voices and despite the small attendance today many students share these concerns.

More time was then yielded to Hill who spoke about how one of their professors has to use their personal technology and laptop to record the lectures and why the school is not using more funding towards hybrid technology. AP Baerenklau responded that the RISE classes were funded with a one time pandemic bailout grant and that the school has finite resources.

UCR student Austin Haugland spoke in support of hybrid options and Hill stating that they are frustrated with UCR as the transition from being remote half of the quarter has been difficult. Another student Naydine echoed Haughland stating that they wanted to attend the meeting in support of “Students for a Safer Return to Campus.”

VCSA Haynes and AP Baerenklau thanked the senate and students for their time and agreed to return to host another forum in the future if requested by the community. They recognized that many students have concerns and stated they would take into consideration the feedback received.

Senator Dornilla spoke last, reiterating that this conversation is the first chance students have had to speak with the administration. They then thanked them for their time and acknowledged that COVID-19 and the pandemic have not been consistent.

New Business followed with the judicial branch presenting concerns related to social media usage and legislation during elections. During elections, senators running for office should recuse themselves from voting on legislations that affect them. The judicial branch was also concerned with the approval of their Instagram account. Senators Nguyen and Usmani clarified that the judicial branch was approved to use their account.

Executive Office reports were presented next with Elections Director Sarmiento reporting that they have revised the candidacy manual and assisted in promoting a new elections legislation that passed. The elections committee is also still meeting to decide if they will have in-person or online elections due to the pandemic. Candidate applications are

due Feb. 20. Sarmiento has met with the Highlander on how to cover elections.

International Student Director Gonzales reported that they have met with International Affairs and international students to assist in navigating travel restrictions implemented during the Trump administration. Gonzales is working with senator Dornilla on a resolution to implement priority registration for international students and transportation from the airport.

Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Director Nina Aguila is still promoting transfer week and is assisting in remodeling the transfer room on campus.

VP of External Affairs reported that the graduate student union and ASUCR will be having a rent burden rally on Feb. 15.

First Time College Student Director Lilly Romero reported that they are open to transitioning to in-person committee meetings. Romero is also planning their first event called Snack and Grab as well as events for the spring quarter.

VP Sustainability Martinez reported that they are working on legislation to help reduce plastic on campus.

Executive Vice President Assaf reported that they are currently on how to summarize the meetings and post the highlights on Instagram and that senator reports are due biweekly. The nursing and criminal justice major legislation has also been sent out.

President Wang and VPCIA Kaur did not submit reports while the Ethnic and Gender Program Liaison had nothing to report.

Committee reports were then read with GCAP starting first. Green Grant 37 read by senator Christopher Kent would allow a green grant for a plastic free initiative at Glasgow with a request for $4000. Green Grant 41c was requested by Highlander Racing FSAE for a vehicle they are building with a request for $4000. Both grants passed.

The Finance Committee then read Finance Hearing Minutes 9. Senator Hoang Vu presented them stating that the Fair Trade Committee was allocated $908, senator Alba asked for $1100 for an event and it was tabled, Dancesport at UCR was allocated $3,500 and the Chess Club at UCR meeting was rescheduled.

Finance Hearing Minutes 10 were then opened and presented stating that the Medical Emergency Education Project was rescheduled, Puente Connection was allocated $908, Make a Wish UCR was allocated $750, senator Alba was allocated $200, Abyssinian Student Union was rescheduled, HOSA was rescheduled and La Familia De UCR was allocated $908. Both finance minutes were passed.

Legislation was then reviewed beginning with SB-W22-004 Town Hall Amendment. This resolution will edit the bylaws that required senators to host a town hall based on their respective colleges so that no senator has to conduct two. The legislation passed with a count of 12-0-0.

No one spoke during public comment followed by no roundtable and announcements. The meeting was H adjourned at 8:47 p.m. ■

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Texas’s book bans mean danger for free speech and minority communities

T

AS IMPORTANT PIECES OF LITERATURE ARE REMOVED FROM SCHOOL CLASSROOMS, THE ARGUMENTS FOR THIS TERRIBLE PRACTICE MUST BE SCRUTINIZED.

exas’s book banning has drawn national attention, especially since the majority of books being pulled from the shelves center around LGBTQ and racial themes. It’s nothing new to state that banning books from schools is wrong. But in this century where minority stories have gained the status that they deserve, to stage an attack on these books and then claim that they are too sexual or too mature for younger readers is a claim that simply does not hold up.

When most people are discussing “children,” they don’t actually mean just elementary school aged children, but middle schoolers and high school students who are now young adults. The majority of the books that are being banned are found in the classrooms and libraries of middle and high school students who are mature enough to understand the content within it.

Some Texan parents stated that the books that are no better than “pornography” were riddling the shelves of their children’s schools.

However, these were more than likely middle school and, more likely, high school students who had access to age-appropriate material. If this were truly the case, this concern would absolutely have legs to stand on; young children in elementary school should not have access to books that discuss sexual or mature topics. But high school students will know about these topics even if parents don’t want them to, and it is better they read about these acts in a safe way via a book rather than something more insidious like the internet.

The argument against some of these banned books would also have more teeth if the majority of the books being banned didn’t center around LGBTQ people. Knowing how the public can sometimes react toward stories featuring LGBTQ people or youth, it is likely that these books feature little more than some kissing between LGBTQ people and little more. But since this doesn’t align with the beliefs some parents hold, these parents deem it “pornographic” in order to shelter their children from these important topics.

The discussion around teaching critical race theory in schools has risen in the last two years as Black Lives Matter has strongly taken hold

in the American consciousness. While many states are debating whether to include it, the removal of books that discuss CRT or BLM in Texan schools feels like a very targeted way of sheltering children from important discussions about race. Though elementary schoolers don’t have to be exposed to the severe violence that

occurs because they may not be mature enough to handle it, there is most definitely a way to have age-appropriate conversations with children about serious topics at any age. Books are often some of the best ways to go about this.

Though they can be biased, it is safe to say that the amount of editing and the number of people who look over a published book means that it is a safer source to learn from than something unchecked and published by anyone on the internet.

The fact is that whether parents like it or not, banning books is not going to stop their

children from learning about these topics.

Fining librarians for even having books on these topics in the first place won’t stop children from learning about these topics, via literature or otherwise. If parents are so concerned about finding appropriate ways to introduce these topics to children, librarians and teachers can attempt to craft and hold age-appropriate lessons or discussions centered around these topics.

These stories and these groups of people are not going to disappear just because books about them are removed from libraries. But it will damage a generation of kids who might identify with these stories and take comfort in them. It will also damage kids who are not of these identities because they will grow up ignorant of the severity of the issues these communities face. While no elementary school or even middle school child should have unrestricted access to books that deal with heavy sexual topics, children deserve exposure to diverse communities so they can be future H leaders who are inclusive and welcoming. ■

The Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.

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OPINIONS

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Letter to the Editor The president’s success cannot be boiled down to his political alignment IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTICE BIDEN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEFORE DENOTING HIM FOR HIS FAILURES. ROSE KOOPER

Although it may be tempting to reduce your approval of a president to their political party, it’s far more important to look impartially at what this person plans to do. It’s important to also notice historical capability and what they have already done in office.

It’s about time to begin looking past black and white — or alternatively, blue and red labels. News of President Biden’s successes have been downplayed since he has been in office. It’s important to look at facts and statistics here rather than diverse political opinions.

First of all are unemployment rates. Obama was inaugurated as president in January 2009. The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics shows that unemployment, as of December for each year, was at 7.3% in 2008, and moved up to 9.9% by December 2009. This

was, of course, during one of the most recent largescale recessions before COVID-19. Trump was then inaugurated in January 2017. By December of 2016, unemployment rates were down to 4.7%, and by that time next year, they had fallen further to 4.1%. Biden was then inaugurated in January 2021, overseeing the December 2020 unemployment rates of 6.7% down to 3.9% at the end of his first year.For a side by side comparison, that is +2.6%, -0.6%, and -2.8% change in each president’s first year.

Biden has not been stagnant during his first year as president. 77 executive orders have been signed in 2021, including 25 in his first 12 days in office.

He implemented one of the largest economic relief measures in U.S. history, distributing $1,400 to eligible Americans through a $1.9 trillion plan. Pushing vaccinations, his administration oversaw efforts that came to over 60% of the population fully vaccinated as of the end of this January. This number includes the younger populations who became eligible for the vaccine only recently, as well as those who are not yet eligible.

Biden’s administration has also been working hard to introduce diversity in his administration and court.

Aside from the most obvious example, Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the first female vice president in our country’s history, there was a notable increased diversity in nominated and sworn in judges.

He has had over 40 new federal judges sworn in, and almost 75% of his nominees have been women. To be clear, approximately 27% of federal judges were female in 2019, while the population of the United States is 50.8% female. Trump’s nominations included about 1 in 4 women. There is also the difference between Biden’s nearly 65% people of color and Trump’s 17%.

Only 60% of the United States population is white, for reference.

This does not cover everything that his administration has accomplished, and admittedly does not cover a few downfalls of the presidency so far.

However, it should be noted that his accomplishments have been incredibly downplayed, and should be, at the H very least, known. ■

COURTESY OF VJMLHDS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0

Democrats need to gerrymander to maintain a fair playing field

INSTEAD OF HANDING AN ARTIFICIAL LEAD TO REPUBLICANS OUT OF PRINCIPLE, DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SHOULD ENGAGE IN THE GERRYMANDERING FIGHT UNTIL THE PRACTICE IS ABOLISHED.

COURTESY OF VICTORIA PICKERING VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

HARRY STOLTZ Staff Writer

As the once-in-a-decade redistricting process draws closer and closer to finalizing, it’s becoming clear that Democrats may have learned a valuable lesson — play dirty. Despite having far higher public support than Republicans, this is not reflected by the slim 51% advantage that Democrats have in the House of Representatives. This is an effect of legal gerrymandering on the part of Republicans in an effort to make up for having less voters. If Democrats are unable to remove gerrymandering as a practice, they must learn to use it to their advantage.

Gerrymandering is the process of redrawing district lines to to overrepresent the votes of a particular group of people and underrepresent the votes of another. While this might seem like a complicated concept to visualize, it’s actually pretty simple if you picture a grid of 50 squares, arranged five columns by 10 rows. The left two rows are composed of voters from one political party, while the right three rows are from the opposing party. Given a task of drawing five equally-populated districts, you will find that drawing them horizontally creates five districts that will always vote for the second party. However, drawing them vertically, counting each column as a district, will result in fair representation. There are also many websites that show gerrymandering visualizations, and even do-ityourself games.

Republicans have applied this practice to overcome their actual voter disadvantage in recent redistricting cycles. According to a recent study, Republican-led gerrymandering has led to a 9.1% points gain in Congress within the last two decades. This is deeply troubling because the House of Representatives is supposed to

be the more representative wing of Congress, with the Senate representing states’ rights. Even in the current redistricting battle, Republicans are pushing this tactic aggressively. In a particularly egregious instance, the Alabama supreme court had to reject a proposed republican map that essentially drew district lines that would put the state’s 25% Black population in control of just one of seven districts.

Democrat-led efforts to outlaw gerrymandering have historically gained little traction from Republican politicians. While this is ultimately the best solution to make the House truly representative of voters, Democrats need to realize that they need to simultaneously gerrymander for their own gain in the meantime. In the past, Democrats have tepidly argued for redistricting reform, and asserted that they have the moral upper hand.

This doesn’t seem to sway voters though, and a common misconception is that both Democrats and Republican gerrymander to a comparable degree. This aversion to gerrymandering basically assures an unearned advantage to Republicans, with little to no reward. If democratic legislators were equally competent at gerrymandering as republican legislators, it would effectively erase any discrepancies created by the practice.

Engaging in gerrymandering is the only way to bridge the artificial lead that Republican legislators have created.

Democratic legislators have seemingly realized this reality during the current redistricting cycle and have actually managed to push through state maps that raised the number of “blue districts” by 11, while Republican districts have only increased by three. Engaging in the gerrymandering fight, rather than running away from it, seems to be the only way to uphold basic principles of democracy in the H House of Representatives. ■

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

Spotify’s favoritism towards podcasters is leaving musicians out in the cold

7

SPOTIFY IS ACTIVELY POURING MILLIONS INTO PODCAST DEALS, WHILE FAILING TO MEET THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PAYING ITS MUSICIANS. COURTESY OF THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE

DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

The streaming service Spotify is under fire for the way it has handled the spread of COVID-19 misinformation.

Joe Rogan, creator of the Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast which gathers over 11 million listeners per episode, finds himself at the center of this controversy. Joe Rogan was accused of spreading false information in regards to the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Spotify’s lack of action led several musicians to start a movement to boycott the platform until action was taken against him. Artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have pulled their music catalogs off the streaming service. The controversy has also resulted in a mass social media movement to encourage users to delete their Spotify accounts. The protest has opened a deeper conversation about the other ways in which the platform is

falling short.

Spotify landing itself in the middle of this controversy has allowed artists to vent their frustrations with the streaming platform. Musician Neil Young expressed his frustrations with Spotify urging other artists to remove themselves from the streaming platform.

The argument centers around how the platform only cares about money and not the worth of an individual artist’s work.

In the past, Spotify has been accused of underpaying musicians, failing to match their competitors Apple, Amazon Music and Tidal in the way in which they compensate musicians. Spotify has been reported to only give back around 5% of the money generated to the recording artist, leaving around 75% for rights holders and the rest for the platform. If a musician generated a million streams on a song, they’re only paid a few thousand dollars.

Musicians have a right to be frustrated

with Spotify, especially when looking at how much money the platform pours into podcasts. For example, Spotify made an exclusive deal with Joe Rogan to acquire the rights to his podcast for $100 million. The streaming platform has reportedly made podcast deals with celebrities like Prince Harry and wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex all the way to former president Barack Obama.

Deals which all help the streaming platform become less reliant on music rights holders, and give musicians an even harder time Spotify’s recent actions have put the platform in a new light for many users.

Recently, a sound bit of Joe Rogan saying a racial slur on his podcast made its rounds around the internet.

Joe Rogan apologized insisting that the soundbite was taken out of context and Spotify responded by deleting over 70 episodes of his podcast off the platform. This action comes right after

the platform promised to put warning labels about COVID-19 misinformation on episodes on the Joe Rogan Experience.

Nonetheless, Spotify still continues to stand by Joe Rogan and puts far more money and time into podcasts than the musicians who need the platform to share their art or make a living. Choosing not to back down from their decision to continue to offer him a platform, Spotify has clearly drawn a line in the sand.

It’s up to users to decide if they want to continue to support the company.

Especially when it comes to musicians, these recents events might push more artists to remove their work completely off Spotify. The platform’s recent pivots towards the podcast industry, might make these protests insignificant in H bringing any real critical change. ■

FLYERS FALSELY BLAMING JEWISH PEOPLE FOR THE PANDEMIC WERE SPREAD ACROSS SIX STATES, BUT ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS HAVE BEEN OCCURING WITH ALARMING FREQENCY FOR SOME TIME NOW.

People need to worry about the rise of antisemitism amidst the pandemic YSABEL NAKASONE Staff Writer

Flyers containing antisemitic rhetoric were found in Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas, California and Maryland in January. The flyers state that the Jewish community is responsible for the pandemic. It was reported that the flyers had a list of influential public health figures who the creators of the flier falsely claimed are Jewish. Sadly, this kind of behavior isn’t uncommon and can be found repetitively across American and world history. Jewish Americans are at risk and have been for a long time. Americans should have already been concerned about the scapegoating and harassment of Jewish people amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The myth of Jewish power presents an incredible danger to Jewish individuals and communities. This myth is the belief that Jewish people are inherently powerful and wield that power in a sinister manner over society. Blaming the Jewish community for the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 is the latest in a long line of illogical assumptions based on this false ideology. For instance, a hostage situation in Texas involved a man holding Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker at gunpoint at a prayer service. The man held the Rabbi and three other members of the congregation hostage. He demanded that Rabbi Cytron-Walker call Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of the Central Synagogue in New York so that she could secure the freedom of a convicted terrorist. This same mindset is what led to the dispersal of these anti-semitic flyers

claiming that Jewish people could have control over a global pandemic. It’s the same mindset that allowed people to believe that Jewish people could be responsible for their life struggles during World War II and killed six million Jews.

Jewish people are already typically the most targeted religious community in the U.S. Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicate that anti-Jewish hate crimes are almost 55% of all religious related hate crimes. If that doesn’t seem disturbing, note that Jewish people make up only approximately 2% of the American population. There are already recent reports of an escalation in hate crimes in New York. Information out of New York City, Police Deparment reports that anti-Jewish hate crimes have increased by 275% from January 2021 to January 2022. There’s already something to be worried about.

Human behavior is repetitive — as is history.

Scapegoating is a common feature of world history, and it seems like no one is learning a lesson. The psychology of scapegoating suggests that people desire to feel like heroes, and in order to do that, they need a villain. In order to preserve a positive self-image, people tend to explain negative events by blaming others. Instead of choosing to accept some of the sacrifices that need to be made in order to come together and survive the pandemic, it’s easier for some to try and find a villain and fight a nonsensical falsehood. By implying that the Jewish people are to blame for the pandemic and its devastating effects, hateful individuals indicate that these groups should be the ones

making the sacrifices needed to solve a problem that they undoubtedly had absolutely no hand in.

A culture of fear is woven into the fabric of America, so hate crimes happen and will continue to happen without intervention. The very least everyone can do is recognize that these hate crimes are not a sudden development, but rather the result of ignorance that this country cannot H afford to sweep under the rug. ■

COURTESY OF TED EYTAN VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-SA 2.0

8 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

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FEATURES

FEATURES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

9

Can you feel the love in your Starbucks?

REVIEWING VALENTINE DAY SECRET STARBUCKS MENU DRINKS THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN Contributing Writer

Breaking out of routine is hard in any situation, let alone when it comes to our Starbucks orders. With the rise of social media such as TikTok, trends have skyrocketed. Wild Starbucks drinks in particular have been making headway, with unique creations that have everyone rushing to try. With Valentine’s season upon us, new secret menu items have begun popping up.

Whether you prefer cold iced coffees or blended frappuccinos, there is something new for everyone to enjoy.

Located on the corner of University Avenue lies one of the many Starbucks located near campus. With options of walking in or if you’re in a hurry, the drive thru is always available. Walking in, you immediately see a wide range of students either studying, hanging out or taking a much deserved study break.

The first Valentine secret menu order is the White Chocolate Strawberry Iced Latte. To order this drink, ask for a Grande iced White Mocha with two pumps of raspberry syrup and vanilla sweet cream cold foam with strawberry puree blended in. At first

glance, the drink has an ombre look with the chocolate white mocha on the bottom, and the pink cold foam resting on the top. Appearance wise with the two tone colors, I would rate it an easy 3 out of 5 stars. With that first sip, you immediately taste sweet strawberries that flood the taste buds. Going for a second sip, the white mocha flavored with raspberry syrup combines with vanilla strawberry cold foam, giving the illusion of eating a chocolate covered strawberry. The sour tang of the raspberries does give the sweet concoction a tangy taste. With that said, this drink is on the sweeter side, but if you can’t get enough of chocolate covered strawberries, this drink is for you.

Fourth-year anthropology major Elizabeth Camarillo tried The Love Bug frappuccino. To order this drink, ask for a grande strawberry creme frappuccino with one pump of raspberry syrup, a scoop of java chips, topped with whip cream,and cookie crumbles on top. She recommends when trying new drink recipes, especially on the secret menu, to start off by ordering a small size first. You never know if it’s going to be a hit or miss, and ordering a small size gives you the opportunity

to customize more to your liking next time. Everyone has different tastes and sometimes these drinks are way too sweet. Overall, she enjoyed the drink, but it’s definitely something to get only once in a while.

Next, political science major Catherine Dominguez Roriguez tried the Cupid Refresher. To order, ask for a grande pink drink with one pump vanilla, one pump raspberry, topped with vanilla sweet cream cold foam mixed with strawberry puree. With the Pink drink being popular in the past, this is a fun twist on a classic everyone enjoys. One thing she recommends is to not add that one pump of vanilla,combined with the vanilla cold foam since it may be too sweet for some people. However, she definitely recommends it to those who love the Pink drink.

Overall, there are plenty of drinks to create and choose from at Starbucks, which makes it all the more fun. With Valentine’s Day in full swing, now’s the chance to break from your normal routine and find a new drink to fall in love with. With a Starbucks around every corner of campus, the sky’s the limit on a variety of new drinks to H create. ■

COURTESY OF STARBUCKS

A Christmas-y Swedish cookie to liven up any occasion A LITTLE TRADITION IN YOUR BAKED GOODS NEVER HURT ANYONE. EVELYN HOMAN Opinions Editor

Though the Christmas season has passed, this thin, crispy Swedish gingerbread cookie is a light treat that gives you the feel of the holidays no matter what time of year it is. “Pepparkakor” translates to English as “pepper cookie,” a sign of the number of spices that await in every bite. Let them put a little pep(per) in your step as we close out the winter months.

1.

PEPPARKAKOR:

• • • • •

• • •

⅔ cup of butter 2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ginger ⅓ cup molasses (can be substituted with golden syrup or honey) 1 teaspoon cardamom 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves

2.

3.

4.

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF MACROVECTOR VIA FREEPIK

Preheat the oven at 350 F. Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl. Add molasses slowly until the mixture is creamy.

Place all of the dry ingredients in a second mixing bowl. With a sifter, slowly add the mixture to the first mixing bowl, stirring these dry ingredients in as you go. Beat the mixture well until dry ingredients are no longer visible in the first bowl.

Store the finished dough in the fridge for several hours so the dough gets very stiff.

Take the dough out of the bowl and roll it out, about half the ball of dough at a time. Make sure to roll the dough out until it’s very thin — about ⅛ of an inch thick — so that

5.

6.

7.

the finished cookies will be crispy.

Use a cookie cutter (traditional shapes are those of reindeer and other animals), and cut the shapes out of the dough, placing the shaped cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake the cookies for about 5 to 8 minutes, depending on how hot your oven runs.

Take the cookies out when they’re done, and allow them to cool. Enjoy these crunchy cookies anytime you H need a little festivity! ■

10 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

FEATURES

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Valentine’s Grams Aneesah, I appreciate you so much and I hope you know you’re loved. Luv you <3 -H

Dear Juan, every beat of my heart envelops you in love always.

Adoringly yours, Bartley

Gina, Happy Valentine’s Day!! I’m so glad we met last year and I can’t wait for more adventures with you!

-Ashley

Happy two year anniversary Sky! I’m so lucky to have a partner like you in my life.

-V

Ismail and Ruthie! I love you two so much and I have so much appreciation for you both. I am so lucky to have the most amazing best friends in the world! Happy Valentine’s Day! -Madison

► FROM MOVIE NIGHT

Students had more than enough room to spread out throughout the lawn. From a casual hangout with friends to a date night, this was the perfect event to spend time with loved ones in a safe way. The event, which had the capacity to hold 250 students, successfully managed to not feel crowded.

Before the movie started, the Shrek soundtrack kept everyone in a nostalgic and entertained

environment.

The movie started out with some technical difficulties, but soon enough started to play.

While I finished my snacks in the first ten minutes of the movie, the entire viewing experience was very enjoyable. ASPB should hold more outdoor events, which are a safer option for students who want to participate in on campus H activities. ■

COURTESY OF STAN LIM VIA UCR

RADAR

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TUESDAY, FEBRAURY, 15 2022

11

‘The Book of Boba Fett’ brings action and excitement as it creates anticipation for future projects in the season finale DESPITE SOME FALLS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST SEASON OF THE NEWEST STAR WARS SHOW, IT ENDS OFF ON A HIGH NOTE

KIMBERLY BEJEC Contributing Writer

When the second season of “The Mandalorian” came out, fans of the Star Wars franchise were shocked at the appearance of Boba Fett. The bounty hunter was last seen in the final installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, “Return of the Jedi,” as he fell into the sarlacc pit, thought to have been killed. Fans of the franchise became interested in the character as well as whenever he appeared on other Star Wars shows before his death.

Fans thought Boba Fett’s fall into the sarlacc pit was going to be the last they saw of him, but once they saw his dark green beskar armor, they were filled with excitement and questions. It was known that anyone who fell into the sarlacc pit would face a painful death. However, Boba Fett was able to escape and survive. While fans had questions over his survival, they were able to get answers through the new Disney+ series, “The Book of Boba Fett.”

The show starts off with Boba Fett, played by Temuera Morrison, and Fennec Shand, a trained assassin, played by MingNa Wen, as they navigate through the underworld of Tatooine. In a territory once controlled by the crime lord, Jabba the Hutt, they are trying to establish themselves and gain respect from the citizens of this territory. The beginning episodes of the show jump back in time to Boba Fett getting out of the sarlacc pit showing how he got to

where he is now.

It is fascinating for the audience to see how Boba Fett was able to survive and get to the position of power that he is in now. Fans are able to get answers to their questions about what he went through and how he experienced it. Now in his time, establishing himself as a daimyo, the audience is able to see a side of him they never have before.

Before, Boba Fett was more on the serious, stoic bounty hunter side, but fans see a more personal side to him as he establishes power.

The acting by both Morrison and Wen as Boba Fett and Fennec Shand respectively, is engaging for audiences to see. Their chemistry with each other is enough to establish the two’s loyalty and reliability for each other in the show. The two have a bond that is entertaining and thrilling to see. Both are past bounty hunters with exceptional skills in combat that ties into the show’s action scenes.

The show had plenty of thematically rich moments that upheld the plot and kept the audience engaged. Besides the acting, the show captured a variety of shots that were visually appealing for the audience to see.

Throughout the show, there were scenes that were sure to satisfy fans of the franchise and make them excited to see. The show did well in satisfying fans while presenting the story in a way to keep audiences interested.

Additionally, the show featured characters from across the Star Wars franchise that got fans filled with excitement over their appearance on the show.

A major turning point for the show was the involvement of the Mandalorian, played by Pedro Pascal. The Mandalorian

comes into the show to help out Boba Fett and Fennec Shand battle adversaries and save the people in the Mos Espa territory of Tatooine. The involvement of the Mandalorian in the show helps to tie both series together and connect them. Since the bittersweet ending to season two of “The Mandalorian,” fans were anxious to find out more about the Mandalorian and Grogu. “The Book of Boba Fett” gives fans answers to their questions, while also building anticipation for the next season of “The Mandalorian.”

Despite the excitement that came from the Mandalorian’s appearance in the show, his involvement hindered Boba Fett’s story. In the episodes that involved the Mandalorian, it felt more like an episode of “The Mandalorian’’ rather than “The Book of Boba Fett.” It turned the spotlight away from Boba Fett and projected it more towards the Mandalorian’s story, which could have been a ploy to set up season three of the show. Despite the season closing out

COURTESY OF DISNEY PLATFORM DISTRIBUTION

this way, as a whole, the plot still shined as an overall project.

The season excels in showing Boba Fett’s survival story and his journey through his current situations. Besides the portrayal of the iconic character, the show revealed hints towards the future of the Star Wars franchise. Besides obvious hints towards season three of “The Mandalorian,” there were plenty of signs towards the direction that the franchise will take in the future and H in its upcoming projects. ■

VERDICT: “THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT” HAS SOME FLAWS; IT MAKES UP FOR IT IN OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SHOW THAT ARE SURE TO MAKE FANS OF THE FRANCHISE EXCITED AND EAGER FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. IT EXCELLED IN ITS DEVELOPMENT OF THE ICONIC CHARACTER ALONGSIDE ACTION, NOSTALGIA AND HUMOR.

‘The Queen’ poses just one question as she embarks on latest promotional run: ‘Do We Have a Problem?’

COURTESY OF NICKI MINAJ VIA YOUTUBE

ELIAS ALMAREZ-HERRERA Staff Writer

Whether you know her as Megatron, Barbie, the Queen of Rap or Roman Zolanski, from her controversial hot takes on the COVID-19 vaccine to the many sound bites from her energized Queen Radio bits and Instagram live rants, Nicki Minaj has become one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary popular culture.

“Do We Have a Problem?” (2022) marks her return to music with a widespread promotional release. Breaking her three-year hiatus, the trap-infused single demonstrates Nicki Minaj and Atlanta-based rapper Lil Baby’s ear for catchy melodies and lyrical bars. The song was released on Feb. 4 with an accompanying ten minute music video, racking up 15 million views and counting.

Inspired by the Angelina Jolie-led 2010 blockbuster “Salt,” Minaj’s background studying theatre is on full display as she plays the role of a luxurious double agent tasked with assassinating the head of a top criminal organization. Despite its pleasing visual aesthetics and high production value, the video is narratively quite generic.

Dim, moody close up shots of Nicki Minaj compliment

VERDICT:

NICKI MINAJ TEAMS UP WITH CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED RAPPER LIL BABY FOR NEW RELEASE, TAKING VISUAL INFLUENCE FROM ESPIONAGE-FILM DRAMAS.

the trap synthesizers that carry the beat of “Do We Have a Problem?”

Her opening verse memorializes recently-deceased rappers: “This one’s for Pop, This one’s for Juice / I am the one, b— you a deuce.” In the months following commencement of The Nicki WRLD Tour in early 2019, news of the emo-rap pioneer Juice WRLD’s accidental overdose sent shocks across hip-hop fans in December of that year. She has since been vocal about her grief, dedicating her Billboard Game-Changer award in the late rapper’s honor. Sustaining the memory of lost legends is a staple part of hip-hop culture.

Ever since coming onto the rap scene, Nicki Minaj has earned respect from her peers for writing all of her own lyrics. Her seasoned lyrical capabilities ring true with the triple entendre “son your whole set like it’s a round six.”

This bar not only asserts her authority over the “sons” who take influence from her sound and style, but is also a play on words: she could be referring to the 6 o’ clock sunset or a type of gun which holds six rounds of bullets in it.

While it is not surprising for Minaj to push her pen on a track, one notable point of improvement on “Do We Have a Problem?” is her singing ability. Dating back to her debut

album “Pink Friday” (2010), Nicki Minaj has been no stranger to vocalizing, but she has always maintained her position as a rapper at heart. Because of this, her sing-song melodies usually have a distinct, nasally tone. However, she harmonizes impressively on the hook of this track. “There’s no autotune on me, is there?” she subtly boasts in a candid in-studio conversation with her producer at the start of the third verse. Cuts like this bring energy and personality to the song.

Lil Baby makes an appearance on the second verse to outline his goals for the new year. He also pays homage to the groundbreaking Jay-Z album “Blueprint” (2001) with the line “I done really trapped in the carter, I got the blueprint.” His ability to dominate on a track without resorting to flashy, over-the-top gimmicks is remarkable. Lil Baby’s subtle, laid-back approach to rap allows for his lyric to speak for itself.

The beat lacks any major progression changes or switchups, placing emphasis on both rappers’ flows. There is no mistaking that each of their vocal cadences and bars are the focal points, foreshadowing the dominant sound listeners should expect to hear on Nicki Minaj’s highly-anticipated H fifth studio album. ■

FOR THE OPTIMAL “DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM?” LISTENING EXPERIENCE, SKIP THE LONG-FORM VISUALS AND STREAM THE SINGLE OR SHORTENED VIDEO TO AVOID CONSTANT AUDIO BREAKS. THIS SONG IS AN OVERALL STANDARD HIP-HOP RECORD, BUT IT IS SURELY A VEHICLE FOR THE ROLLOUT OF MUSIC TO COME FROM FAN FAVORITE, NICKI MINAJ.

12

Sports TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

SPORTS

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UCR men’s basketball falls short against the UCI Anteaters KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor

The Highlanders were on the road on Feb. 10, 2022 against UCI. They were hosted by the Anteaters at the Bren Events Center last Thursday where they lost 56-66. With their loss, the men’s basketball team is now ranked fifth in the Big West Conference with a 6-4 record.

The arena was filled with hundreds of people as they came to watch the much-awaited game against the two teams. The Anteaters were favored in the match-up, but the Highlanders did not shrink from the challenge. Junior guard Zyon Pullin started off the night with two free throws, in which graduate student guard Dominick Pickett followed with a jumper to put the visiting team up 4-0. With the two teams eventually tied with 10 points each, senior forward Daniel Mading stepped back to perform a jumper at the 8-minute mark to take the lead.

The visiting team kept the momentum going as redshirt

freshman center Jhaylon Martinez silenced the crowd with a shot from downtown to give them a 7-point lead with 19-12. Pullin continued to put pressure on the home team as he performed back-to-back jumpers, finishing the first half with 6 out of the 10 points under his name. They finished the first half with a 2-point lead over the Anteaters at 25-23, but the team struggled to maintain the pace going into the second.

The game resumed with a lead change within the first minute as the home team went on a 7-0 run to put the score at 25-30. Despite the loud cheers for the opposing team, the visitors did not waver as Pickett stepped back to score a jumper and quickly followed it with a shot from beyond the arc, tying the score with 30 on both sides. They were down by 11 points with 3:05 left on the clock, but sophomore guard Wil Tattersall sank a 3-pointer to cut their lead.

The intense atmosphere continued as the game had three lead changes

► FROM WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

in a 1-point lead. A jumper from senior guard Keilani Cooper in the final seconds of the quarter left the Highlanders ahead 11-8.

Despite a solid first quarter, UCR was met with a wave of Tritons in the second quarter. Both teams traded baskets in the first few minutes of the quarter leaving the score 14-12 in favor of the Highlanders. UCSD then kicked into a higher gear and went on an 11-2 run, putting them in the lead 23-16. UCR was then awarded two free throws, made

THE HIGHLANDERS ARE NOW FIFTH IN THE BIG WEST CONFERENCE AFTER LOSING TO UCI.

within the first eight minutes, until the Highlanders were unable to catch up. They were down by as much as 13 points during the game, but a 3-point shot by redshirt junior guard Fynn Cameron in the final 14 seconds ended the game with 56-66.

Despite their loss, the Highlanders had an overall amazing performance.

Although they ended the night with a 36.7% field goal percentage, they did well on the free throw line, shooting 100% from the charity stripe. Pickett led the team with 14 points, followed

by Pullin, Tattersall and redshirt junior guard Callum Mcrae with 10 points each. The team scored 26 points in the paint and 7 points came from the bench.

The Highlanders will have their second game on the road at the RIMAC arena on Feb. 12, 2022. They will be going up against the UC San Diego Tritons for another chance to move up in the Big West Conference H and improve their record. ■

good by Holland, to which the Tritons replied with a layup. The Highlanders were awarded another two free throws, this time sunk by Ryanne Walters. Both teams scored a basket each to close out the half. Sophomore guard Parker Montgomery from the Triton squad scored a 3-pointer for her team, and freshman forward Esther Matarranz scored a layup. The Highlanders ended the half down 22-28.

The Highlanders opened up the second half with a 3-pointer, courtesy of junior guard Mele Finau, which prompted an impressive 16-2 run from the

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Highlanders, leaving the Tritons behind with a lead of 44-30. Their remarkable run took up the bulk of the third quarter, leaving just over three minutes left on the scoreboard. UCSD was then awarded two free throws, sunk by senior guard Sydney Brown. Both teams then traded 3-pointers to end the quarter 47-35.

UC Riverside carried the momentum generated in the third quarter into the final 10 minutes of the game. The Tritons opened up the board with a lay up. West responded with a 3-pointer of her own, and Matarranz aided the charge with a solid jumper. The Tritons

were then awarded with two free throws which they scored. UCR then went on a quick 5-0 run leaving the score 57-39 with over 7 minutes left in the game.

UCSD responded with a 3-pointer which started a 7-0 run for the Tritons. With well over three minutes left in the first half, UCR finds it within themselves to go on an 11-2 run to close out the game 68-48, Walters scoring the last points of the game with a 3-pointer.

UCR returns the court on the road against the CSU Bakersfield H Roadrunners. ■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS