Volume 70 Issue 17

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, February 22, 2022

VOL. 70, ISSUE 17

NEWS

PRESENTATIONS WERE GIVEN BY THE LEADING ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS PROGRAM EMPOWERING DISABILITIES AND THE STUDENT VOICE COMMITTEE

Two pieces of legislation were presented and approved at ASUCR’s 15th meeting AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the 15th Associated Students of UCR meeting took place both in person and through Zoom at the ASUCR Senate Chambers. All members of the senate were present, excluding CHASS senator Blanca Estela Alba and CNAS senator Catelin La who were excused. The executive branch was present at this meeting.

Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf with a motion to make senator reports two minutes per person and the addition of Finance Hearing Minutes 11 and Outreach Meeting Minutes

3. The new agenda was first motioned to be approved by senator Christopher Kent and seconded by senator Lauren Garcia.

The previous meeting’s minutes were then opened and approved as well. Both passed with a vote count of 14-0-0.

Public Forum took place next with a presentation given by the Leading Engagement and Awareness Program Empowering Disabilities. LEAPED President Christian Delgadillo and Director of Events Lauren Nguyen were both present and spoke about how their organization works to bring awareness toward the challenges this community faces.

Their goal is to unite the UCR

community to help provide more opportunities and career options for people with disabilities.

LEAPED is planning to have a one-day conference, either in person or remotely, in May with speaker sessions given by professionals and students. The conference will assist in bringing public awareness, fighting stigmas, encouraging inclusivity and representing UCR. There is also a resolution being written on behalf of the club with senator Victoria Nguyen. The organization is currently communicating with the Student Disability Services to collaborate on the event. ► SEE ASUCR PAGE 3

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ASP DIRECTOR JAMAL J. MYRICK REFLECTS UPON THE NEWS IMPACT OF BLACK HISTORY AT UCR. Black History Month sees a reflection of Black history and pivotal figures at UCR ABHIJIT REGE & ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA News Editor / Contributing Writer

Black History Month presents the opportunity to explore the Black student experience at UC Riverside. As one of the leading schools in diversity and social mobility, the UC has a deep history of Black students, staff and faculty members, whose contributions have created a space that allows voices to be heard. An interview with African Student Programs Director Jamal J. Myrick Ed.D. provided The Highlander with insight

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on the impact of Black history at UCR. With the 50th anniversary of ASP, Myrick acknowledged the work of past Black professionals, scholars, faculty and staff who contributed to the success of UCR students. In regards to UCR’s past, Myrick stated, “It’s important that we recognize history, and it’s important that we pay attention to that history because it can be very easy to forget the folks that have walked this campus before us.”

Myrick gave recognition to some of the many leading Black figures who are

part of UCR’s history and emphasized the importance of recognizing the value and contributions of these historical figures that were part of the UCR campus.

Among those discussed include Roy Overstreet, the first Black male scholar to graduate from UCR in 1958, and Zelma Ballard, who was the first Black female to graduate from UCR in 1959.

Graduating with a degree in physics, Overstreet also notably became the first Black oceanographer in the United States. ► SEE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PAGE 4

SPORTS Hot Take

3 major takeaways from the 2022 NFL Super Bowl

THE 2022 NFL SUPER BOWL PROVIDED SOME MAJOR IMPLICATIONS TO PLAYER AND TEAM LEGACIES HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor

On Sunday, Feb. 13, the Los Angeles Rams took on the Cincinnati Bengals in SoFi Stadium to determine the winner of Super Bowl XLVI. In a game where both teams battled toe-to-toe, the Rams were able to squeak out a 23-20 win thanks to a game-winning touchdown from wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The 2022 Super Bowl provided three major takeaways consisting of player and team legacies. ► SEE SUPER BOWL 2022 PAGE 12

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News

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► FROM ASUCR

Following their presentation, two students from the Student Voice Committee spoke about a recent housing survey that was conducted with 550 participants. The survey was specific to the on-campus apartments and found that students mainly choose to opt out of student housing due to the high cost of living. The results also concluded that the Plaza and Bannockburn apartment complexes had higher percentages of health and safety issues faced by students living there. The Student Voice Committee plans to present their results to the Housing Office in hopes of changes being made. The results of the survey will be posted on the ASUCR website.

Executive Office Reports took place next beginning with Ethnic and Gender Program Liaison Jeanine Nassar. Nassar reported that tabling is going to start during week two of the spring quarter and that ASPB will be having a Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 23. They have also met with the LGBT Resource Center and are working with them to make CAPS more inclusive and a place where students from this community can feel comfortable finding help.

During Committee Reports, Finance Hearing Minutes 11 were opened and read by senator Christian Martinez. At this meeting, the Medical Emergency Education Project was allocated $998, and the UCR BioMedical Engineering Society was allocated $1,500.

Outreach Meeting Minutes 3 were then also read by senator Martinez, stating that

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

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ASUCR money was given to a graduate club through state fees. Both reports were approved with a vote count of 14-0-0.

Two pieces of legislation were then presented to be reviewed. SR-W22009, In Support of Resolving the CARE Confidential Advocate Shortage, was presented first by President Pro Tempore Orlando Cabalo and senator Rachel Paredes.

This resolution will assist the current staff shortage in the CARE Confidential office by hiring more employees.

SR-W22-010 Senate Resolution: In Solidarity with UC Davis Associated Students Resolution 16 was then read by President Pro Tempore Cabalo and senator Myra Usmani. This resolution supports UC Davis in no longer using the derogatory terms “illegal” and “alien” at the university when referring to immigrants. Both legislations passed with a vote count of 140-0.

Senator reports took place next beginning with senator Paredes reporting that GCAP and their other committees have been successful in passing referendums.

Paredes has also been meeting with the Diversity Council biweekly and is planning a food drive with the R’Pantry this quarter.

Senator Dorthy Dornilla reported that there are no updates from the R’Professional Committee but that the International Student Committee is currently recruiting members. Dornilla is working on legislation that will provide commuting assistance for international students from the airport.

The Undocumented Students Programs is also plannig an immigrant awareness

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week.

Senator Tammar Akel reported next, stating that he is also working on the international students legislation as well as another legislation that will improve the registration process for students.

Senator Usmani reported that the Alumni Relations Committee is planning an event during spring quarter and that they are also working on the legislation regarding registration.

No one spoke during public comment, but during roundtable and announcements, senator Nguyen announced that the

“Students for a Safer Return to Campus” group leader Bryce Hill met with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Brian Haynes and the academic senate on Friday, Feb. 11. They are continuing their conversation and hope to have an email sent out to the community soon. Senator Doronila asked if there was any follow up news with the NCAA referendum. Executive Director Laurie Sinclair replied that there are currently no updates.

The meeting was then adjourned at 7:09 H p.m. ■

4 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

NEWS

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Student Researchers United rallies against rent burden ACADEMIC STUDENT WORKERS ARE FED UP WITH UNLIVABLE WAGES AND INADEQUATE ONCAMPUS HOUSING. HARU CHANG Contributing Writer

On Feb. 15, UC Academic Student Employees led a rally in front of the UCR Housing Office. The rally was organized by members of Union Auto Workers (UAW) 2865, UAW 5810 and Student Researchers United (SRUUAW). During the rally, the campus unit chair for UAW 2865, Somchate “Pao” Wasantwisut, spoke of the economic and social inequities that the decisions made by the UC administrations inevitably exposed them to by increasing rent on campus and failing to provide sufficient affordable housing. These issues were further magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“According to a recent survey sent out to graduate students, it was discovered that nearly two-thirds of us pay more than half of our monthly salary just to afford rent. Rent has been increasing especially in the Inland Empire during the recent year,” Pao stated just before he presented a speech in front of the rally. “When we go into contract negotiation we want to change the direction of the university funds to support those who make this university a world class teaching and research institution — which is us: the students and workers.”

The ASE protestors attempted to move the rally into the Resident Services Office where they planned to leave Post-it notes describing their experiences, from grossly incompetent on-campus housing facilities to their experiences with economic hardships caused by UC. They were

promptly locked out of the building and opted to leave these notes on the doors of the RSO instead.

ASE and the broader campus community are demanding that the UC provides a Cost of Living Adjustment to lift a major economic burden for the greater campus community. With the cost of living for ASE increasing rapidly and an average salary of $21,000 a year, ASE across all UC campuses are considered rent burdened by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development criteria.

The university’s housing administration has consistently increased rents on campus against the concerns of students and ASE. UAW 2865 filed several Unfair Labor Practices after UCPD at Santa Cruz violently arrested 16 wildcat strikers, firing striking workers without due process and attempting to bargain with organizations that do not serve the interests of student workers.

Mai Nguyen Do, the recording secretary and Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science, as well as many other graduate students, articulated their frustrations. “We are calling on the UC to essentially pay us enough to live where we work. It is absurd that the university is not providing enough quality and affordable on-campus housing for its employees to live in. As the biggest landlord in the state, the UC has the power and the funds to ensure that its employees are able to be housed and yet it does not.”

“About 60% of my income goes to rent. When we can’t even afford basic necessities, it means that we are very

susceptible to being exploited and vulnerable to things like food insecurity.

We have relied on the food pantry and other local resources to get food to sustain ourselves, which should not be the case.

We should be able to make enough to afford groceries that are healthy for us and pay for gas, which is getting more and more expensive. The university isn’t paying us a liveable wage that is keeping up with the cost of inflation. Recent actions have really revealed the university’s priorities between giving chancellors huge raises while continuing to pay their academic workers unlivable wages and while failing

► FROM BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In addition, Myrick acknowledged Martha Berkeley as the first African American undergraduate at UCR who was part of the chartering class of 1954.

Today, UCR has more than 4,400 degreed Black alumni and 1,265 enrolled African American undergraduates. Graduation rates for Black UCR students continue to rise while UCR has garnered national recognition for Black student success.

Through the efforts of the ASP and other ethnic organizations, Black students are able to find support, mentorship and a community on campus. “ASP has provided opportunities for many of our scholars to feel seen, heard and recognized on this campus throughout the years — and most importantly: celebrated at a time when so much is going on in the world, whether it’s now or the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s.” Myrick acknowledged his predecessors, including former directors: Kenneth E. Simons, who served the longest term for 15 years, and Kathyrn Jones, the first African Student Programs director, who according to Myrick “did a lot of heavy lifting in our early years to make sure that we’re here today.”

Myrick praised UCR alums, Jalani Bakari and Bert Wright, in their current efforts as Black leaders who support ASP and other Black organizations at UCR. Bakari, a former UCR Black Student Union president, serves as the current Chair of UCR’s Barnett and Eleanor Jean Grier Concerned Citizens, one of the oldest organizations representing African RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

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to ensure that there is adequate housing supply even though they are fully capable of doing so.”

ASE has ratified a bargaining framework for a COLA in order to find a compromise with the UC. UAW 2865 proposed three points to eliminate ASE rent burden: provide all ASE with housing stipend to eliminate rent burden, eliminate rent burden in existing on-campus housing and build more affordable oncampus housing. The UC has refused this H proposal. ■

American leaders since 1982. Wright served as a former Black Alumni Chapter president of UCR and was the first male resident advisor for the Pan-African Theme Hall at Pentland Hills residence hall. Bakari and Wright most recently established the “Barbershop Walk,” an unofficial group that aims to overcome the mental and physical challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides an opportunity for Black students to get connected with alumni and receive mentorship.

UCR’s upcoming Black Graduation Celebration will have ASP interviewing five generations of UCR Black alumni from five differing decades. Myrick hopes to showcase pivotal Black figures from history, not just in the world, but locally.

“Having a collection of oral histories to showcase and hold in our collection will be really important.” UCR has previously hosted other leading figures including Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King III and most recently, Dr. Angela Davis in a Black History Month Zoom event in 2021.

Discussing the impact of Black History Month, Myrick expressed its long-lasting spirit of “making sure that the country understands the contributions that African Americans and folks of the African diaspora” have provided the world. “We wouldn’t have a lot of the things if it wasn’t for Black inventors or folks that H have used their voices for change.” ■

Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Countries and participants cannot be blamed for the 2022 Beijing Olympics when the International Olympic Committee is fully responsible THE OLYMPICS ARE MEANT TO BE SOMETHING THAT BRINGS THE WORLD TOGETHER, AND THE IOC NEEDS TO BE MORE MINDFUL OF WHERE THE EVENTS OCCUR.

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T

he 2022 Winter Olympics being in Beijing, China have caused a host of controversies because of the ongoing human rights violations in the country. It’s easy to point fault at the Olympic athletes and individual countries for going to the event despite the knowledge of concentration camps for Uyghur Muslims and journalists and dissenters of the Chinese government disappearing, among others. However, the IOC is truly at fault for deciding that this year’s Olympics will take place in Beijing despite these violations and, going forward, needs to make wiser decisions about where this important event is held.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to solely blame countries and their athletes for allowing the Winter 2022 Olympics to go forward in China.

The Olympics are a source of national pride for countries all over the world, and Olympians spend their lifetimes trying to qualify for the chance to be in these prestigious events. It’s understandable that countries were unable to simply boycott the events this year, whether out of national pride and excitement for the event or to remain on somewhat good terms with China.

Especially in the United States, we are used to athletes speaking out against unjust causes.

However, the situation with China is quite volatile. Chinese citizens who speak out against the Chinese Communist Party frequently disappear, and if they do come back, they are placed on close watch by the government.

Although many of the athletes competing are foreigners to China, it is understandable why many are choosing to remain silent — they fear that speaking out could mean the Chinese government ruins their reputations, or worse. It is difficult, therefore, to shift the blame toward the athletes for these games still happening, as they are in an environment where they simply are not safe to speak out the way they normally might be able to.

Instead, all eyes should be on the IOC. They are the ones who choose in advance where the Olympics will take place, and that’s where the problem stems from. They need to take responsibility for their choices, and for better vetting ahead of time to determine whether the location they’re looking at has an ongoing issue with human rights violations like China does. It should be a general rule that countries participating in ongoing human rights violations should simply not hold the Olympics. Though it certainly is disappointing for innocent civilians of these countries that they don’t get to host the oldest sporting competition, it is a necessary sacrifice to send a message to their government.

Most disappointing is that this isn’t even the first time that the IOC has chosen a country that is currently violating human rights to host the Olympics. Russia got the Olympics at Sochi in 2014, and even further back, Nazi Germany hosted the games in Berlin in 1936.

The IOC is at full fault for not being more wise about where the games are held, and indeed, in how they run the games in general.

The way that the Olympics are currently run is incredibly wasteful and displaces hundreds of thousands of people in favor of massive stadiums that are never used again and housing for athletes. If anything, the IOC more than anyone else needs to take a good hard look at making this tradition more sustainable and equitable for everyone, regardless of where the games are hosted. To continue on this path H means nothing but turmoil for everyone. ■

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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6 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

OPINIONS

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DESPITE THE RECENT DROP IN STOCK, META STILL PROVES TO BE AN ASSET WORTH INVESTING IN.

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Hold Meta for long-term returns CHLOE AU Contributing Writer

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, took a nosedive in the stock market recently, with their stock plunging 26% and then 32% amid a four-day losing streak. This followed the company reporting its Fourth Quarter 2021 earnings that fell below expectations and its first decline in Facebook daily active users.

Its market value plunged by $237 billion dollars, marking the largest one-day wipeout in U.S. history. In a frantic panic, investors rushed to sell Meta stock, but it’s important to note that Meta is still a profitable long-term investment.

It’s hard to underestimate Meta’s incredible growth since its initial public offering in 2012. Meta has ballooned to one of the largest and most renowned tech companies in the world, boasting unprecedented market power. For years, Meta was valued as a growth stock, but now, their growth is slowing. In its earnings report, Meta lowered its forward forecast for 2022, falling short of analysts’ expectations from $30 billion revenue to $27-29 billion. Declining quarterly profits, stagnating user growth and lowerthan-expected revenue all factored in their more dismal outlook for 2022.

The drop in profits is due to Meta’s investment in developing the Metaverse.

Meta breaks down its revenue into two segments: Family of Apps consisting of Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and Messenger, and Reality Labs — which is their new business that develops virtual reality and augmented reality. The total percentage of their operating income, or their profit after deducting operating expenses, comes from their family of apps segment. Their legacy businesses are becoming more profitable, and revenue from the Metaverse business has been doubling year after year over the past three years. Meta has been investing heavily in Reality Labs in hopes of a potential longterm gain. The Metaverse will continue weighing on the company’s operating margins as the new business took a loss of $10 billion in 2021, with this loss only expected to grow. Executives have already said it could take up to 15 years before Reality Lab becomes profitable.

Another concern is their slowed growth in daily active users due to an oversaturated market with competition from TikTok and Snapchat, as well as Apple’s privacy changes. Facebook’s user base is stagnating and aging, bringing concerns about its appeal to younger

audiences when apps such as TikTok have captured their attention. Apple’s privacy changes reduce advertisers’ ability to target users as accurately and threaten Facebook’s core profit model of advertising. However, even with its slowed growth, Meta maintains an enormous user base. Meta has bought out its competitors and effectively maintains a social media monopoly. Across its family of apps, Meta collectively has 2.82 billion daily active users and 3.59 billion monthly users. With the current world population hovering around 7.9 billion, Meta has managed to secure its product usage among 45% of the world’s population so nearly 1 out of 2 people globally use at least one of Meta’s apps on a monthly basis.

Currently, Meta has no debt and generates more free cash flow in a quarter than most businesses do in a year. Looking at the company’s long-term trends, quarter-to-quarter, revenue grew 20% and year-to-year, revenue grew 37%. Net income fell 8% quarter-to-quarter. Yearon-year, profits increased by 35% and free cash flow increased by 60%. These are strong growth numbers for a mega-cap company. Facebook has a strong balance sheet with its 6.3% free cash flow yield and can still deliver long-term returns

under the assumption of slowed growth.

There’s no doubt that Facebook still faces an uncertain future. The company is under scrutiny for maintaining an illegal monopoly, following the Federal Trade Commission filing an antitrust lawsuit alleging anticompetitive practices. The company battles controversy after a whistleblower leaked internal documents showing that Instagram was aware of its algorithm that pushed teens and children toward harmful content yet decided not to take action. Meta faces more obstacles as it embarks on an uncertain, expensive, quindecennial transition to the Metaverse.

Still, there is no denying the global conglomerate’s strong balance sheet and user base.

However, analysts’ forecasts can be wrong. Projections are based on fundamental and technical analysis of Meta’s stocks’ historical price pattern, but past performance does not guarantee future results, especially since the issues that Meta is facing are not temporary but structural issues. Before investing in any stock, be sure to research and evaluate, and remember that your proclivity to trade depends on your expertise and how much H risk you are willing to take on. ■

Make the workplace business casual, but not too casual YSABEL NAKASONE Staff Writer

It’s becoming easier to take advantage of workers’ time as the definition of the workplace shifts with the pandemic. Because of Zoom meetings and working from home, the workplace is becoming more casual, and it’s still up in the air whether or not the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

With the workplace, businesses should practice moderation. A workplace can and should engage in more casual practices without taking advantage of their workers.

According to a study out of Harvard Business School from 2020, during the pandemic, typical workday hours increased by 8.2%. The assumption that workers may be more productive may be wrong and could be explained by longer work hours. This indicates that there needs to be a greater emphasis on keeping work and home spaces distinct from one another. For those working from home, it’s become difficult to separate the two. It’s hard to switch off from work mode when you don’t have a clear boundary between that and one’s home life.

Working from home comes with some mental health drawbacks. An online survey done by the American

Psychological Association in 2021 revealed that the bulk of those working from home experienced isolation, loneliness, as well as trouble with the boundary between home life and work. It seems like the blurred lines between one’s personal life and work is affecting sleep as well. A survey of 2,000 people in 2020 who were working from home discovered that a whopping 70% of these workers have endured a disruption of their typical sleep schedule. Creating physical boundaries between work and home, such as an enclosed office space that is separate from family or sleeping spaces, could be incredibly beneficial in rectifying sleep schedules. When it comes to symptoms of isolation and loneliness, workers should try to meet with others through virtual engagement or in outdoor settings.

Zoom meetings and other virtual meeting spaces are contributing to the growing casual atmosphere of the workplace. It has been asserted that these practices are responsible for the decrease in boundaries between workers. When in a meeting, you can see into someone’s home and into their personal space. This is a boundary that cannot be crossed in a physical workplace. Using backgrounds or the

green screen feature on Zoom can mitigate this issue.

To be clear, there’s no issue with small adjustments that make the workplace more comfortable for workers and still increase productivity.

Things like casual workplace attire can be a major benefit. It is especially beneficial for female employees who face far more unrealistic appearance expectations than their male counterparts.

Additionally, online workspaces eliminate long and frustrating commutes that workers do not enjoy.

Companies can work and have worked to support their employees’ mental health in many ways. For example, digital therapeutics programs can be considered as additions to employees’ benefits packages. These platforms offer mental health services for employees. Another action could be putting limits on hours worked at home and creating an end to the online work day where supervisors and employees stop sending emails or making calls.

It’s up to individual companies and businesses to make these adjustments in order to support their workers if they H want to sustain their workplace. ■

BUSINESSES NEED TO CREATE FORMAL WORKPLACES THAT SUPPORTS THEIR EMPLOYEES’ MENTAL HEALTH WHILE BEING MORE COMFORTABLE

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OPINIONS

The southern border is being used as a military weapon testing playground, and Americans should be more concerned.

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DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

The Biden administration, like many of its predecessors, is making the same mistakes when it comes to issues regarding the southern border.

The humanitarian crisis at the southern border is only getting more complicated, with the influx of people trying to seek asylum in the United States. The damaging butterfly effects from past administrations continue to influence the ways in which the border operates.

It’s easy to say that things are better because of the Biden administration’s quick move to halt the construction of former President Trump’s infamous border wall. However, the way this

current administration continues to use the border as a testing ground for inhumane military weapons should be cause for concern.

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security started to use the southern border as a testing ground for a machine that can best be described as a headless robot surveillance dog.

The machine, which is made by the company Ghost Robotics, has previously demonstrated models of the same robots equipped with firearms. The DHS has pitched these machines as a futuristic version of man’s best friend with the intention of helping border problem agents navigate through rough terrain.

While at first glance these machines may look harmless, we have not seen

their full potential. These robot dogs are just an addition to the already long list of technologies currently being used at the southern border. Technology like drones and motion sensors put people who are trying to seek asylum in the U.S. in even more danger.

While the situation at the border might seem far removed from issues affecting everyday Americans, it’s been proven that these technologies, which are first tested on areas like the southern border, are later used by the U.S. government to monitor people right here in the states.

For example, during large anti-racist protest, the DHS used the same drone technology to monitor protestors in over 15 different cities. Once the government knows a certain piece of technology

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

7

FUTURISTICS SURVEILLANCE ROBOT DOGS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO MAKING THE SOUTHERN BORDER A SAFER PLACE. works effectively, they have no problem using it on a larger scale.

Furthermore, the southern border has been a terrible place for countless amounts of individuals trying to seek asylum in the United States. During the Trump administration, children were being held in cages separated from their parents. The conditions were downright inhumane, many children faced with the real possibility of never seeing their parents again. Countless times we have seen refugees from across Latin America look towards the United States in hopes of seeing a brighter future. Instead of helping we tell them that if they try to come here they will be turned away.

Border patrol agents have been pictured on horseback using brutal force to round up immigrants caught trying to cross Rio Grande.

The current administration allowing DHS to use the southern border as a playground for their military weapon testing should be heavily frowned upon if not outright banned. It’s already a traumatizing experience to have to seek asylum in a different country, and there’s no need to add headless robot dogs to the mix. The Biden administration should allocate portions of the billions of dollars which he gives to the military and use that money to help solve the immigration crisis at the southern border instead of using that money to further inflict more stress and pain onto an already vulnerable community of people H who are seeking asylum in the U.S. ■

Ending mask mandates does not equate to the end of the pandemic

LIFTING MASK MANDATES WILL ONLY EXACERBATE INFECTION RATES JUST LIKE WE’VE SEEN THIS PREVIOUS SUMMER.

MADISON RHEINS Editor-in-Chief

Gavin Newsom made the decision to end the mask mandates in California by Feb.15. This means that mandates put in place will become more relaxed, and he cited recent evidence of low infection rates as justification. With this announcement, many people are rejoicing and seeing this as a sign that the end of the pandemic is near. However, no one is considering the potential dangers that this decision poses.

While the mask mandates are being lifted for vaccinated people in San Diego, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, people will still be expected to wear their masks if they are unvaccinated or in places like nursing homes. On the other hand, cities such as Los Angeles are not partaking in the lifting due to concerns that there will be another spike in such concentrated areas.

As we reach the end of the omicron variant surge, now is not the time to sit back and relax. Although cases have been decreasing in California by 67% and 70.1% of citizens are fully vaccinated, there is still a chance that the upcoming summer months could spell disaster for those who are immunocompromised and communities with high concentrations of unvaccinated people. Not to mention, as people begin to venture outside without their masks

and mingle, there’s a higher chance of new variants popping up and wreaking havoc on the population again.

Especially in schools — where Newsom plans on relaxing mandates next — mask mandates should not be lifted. Teachers have already suffered the most at the hands of the pandemic while navigating online education and dealing with mass absences. Lifting mask rules for schools will only exacerbate these problems to the point of no return.

People need to understand that lifting mask mandates does not mean that the pandemic magically goes away. There is still a large population in the U.S. that does not believe in the efficacy of vaccines and have therefore chosen to not receive them. Unvaccinated people are going to continue creating hubs where the virus runs rampant, and we will never truly see the end of this pandemic.

Everyone is desperate to be done with this pandemic and move on with their normal lives, so it’s understandable that many are celebrating this decision. However, once mask mandates are lifted, that dream of ending the pandemic is pushed further away. In order to truly fight through this pandemic, we must consider all aspects of this decision and its potential H consequences. ■ COURTESY OF THE PEXELS

8 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

OPINIONS

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Be Curious.

Do you have an interest in writing, photography, design or marketing? The Highlaner can help you polish your skills. Reach out to a staff member via email to learn more.

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FEATURES

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Features

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

9

QUICK AND SIMPLE BROWNIE COOKIES THAT ARE EASILY MADE WITH A BOX OF BROWNIE MIX.

Brownies and cookies, oh my!

ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN Contributing Writer

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with baking brownies and cookies, especially late at night after studying for hours. It’s an internal struggle deciding if I’m in the mood for cookies or brownies. So I thought to myself, why not combine the two and have the satisfaction of the flaky chewy consistency of brownies but in cookie form? This is one of the easiest cookie recipes out there, and they taste just like brownies! It’s the best of both worlds! You can use your favorite brownie mix and have a tasty treat in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect to make with friends or to simply enjoy after a long day of studying.

BROWNIE MIX COOKIES Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 24 cookies • • • •

1 box of brownie mix 1 egg ½ cup melted butter 2 Hershey’s bars, broken into separate squares

Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a mixing bowl, combine your brownie mix with the one egg and melted butter. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined.

Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake the cookies for 8 minutes. Then, remove them from the oven. As soon as the cookies are removed from the oven, place a square of hershey chocolate onto each cookie. Give the chocolate 1-2 minutes to melt before grabbing a knife and spreading melted chocolate frosting on each cookie. Give them another H minute to cool, and then enjoy! ■

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF FREEPIKS

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos to fix leftover Super Bowl Sunday cravings

QUICK AND EASY WITH AN AIR FRYER.

JULIA WOOCK Contributing Writer

Disclaimer: This recipe is not Mexican but an amalgamation of American and Mexican elements. My abuelita would never make something like this but would chuckle at the invention.

Inspired by both the Super Bowl and leftover chicken from Trader Joe’s, I embarked to make something scrumptious.

Empowered by endless hours of cooking shows the last couple of years in lockdown, I decided to trust my instincts and go for it. A diehard fan of Binging with Babish, “Parts Unknown,” “No Reservations,” “Iron Chef” and “Selena + Chef,” I felt I had learned something.

My goal was to use items fellow Highlanders might already have handy and keep ingredients to a minimum.

Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 8 • • • • • • •

1 cup shredded chicken 1/2 cup buffalo sauce 1 cup Mexican-blend cheese 1/2 cup cream cheese 8 corn tortillas Cooking oil spray Toothpicks

Mix the chicken and sauce together, and let them marinate in the refrigerator for an hour.

Spray avocado cooking oil to lightly spritz a microwave-safe bowl with a lid. Add cream cheese and 1/2 a cup of Mexican-blend cheese into the bowl. Then, microwave it for 30 seconds. Add the other half cup of cheese, and microwave it for another 30 seconds.

“Schitt’s Creek” viewers: brace yourselves. We are much like David and Moira Rose about to fold in the cheese. Never fear folks; folding in the cheese means we are mixing and incorporating the cheese until it forms a uniform sauce.

Wrap 8 tortillas in either a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, and microwave for 30 seconds, or until they are flexible.

Take your chicken out and prepare your mise en place (French for setting up your ingredients).

Grab a tortilla and a teaspoon of your chicken, followed by your cheese sauce. Spread them in a line down the middle. Roll them up, and secure them with a toothpick.

Place your taquitos in your air fry tray. Then lightly use your cooking spray to cover them with a light layer. Set your air fryer to 400 F for 4 minutes. Flip your taquitos. Repeat.

The outcome was amusing and tasty. I got out of my cooking rut but hope that Selena Gomez, Babish and the Iron Chefs never find my recipe. It’s something to consider making if you want to break your H routine, but it will not be in any Michelin-star restaurant’s menu. ■ COURTESY OF SAM THE COOKING GUY VIA YOUTUBE

10 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Valentine’s Day

Love story Story

I met my current boyfriend, Sebastian, at a UCSA Student Organizing Summit that ASUCR was inviting students to attend.

We both applied and attended the summer before our first year at UCR. We met at the UCR table at the conference, made a really great group of friends.

Thanks to that friend group, we were able to hang out throughout the multi-day conference and become closer friends. We were the youngest in the group, so we shared a bit about our eagerness of starting the school year. Eventually, we exchanged Snapchats and would talk throughout the summer. Within the first few weeks of moving in, we reconnected and went to the SRC together, took the RTA to Target and as we continued messaging, we got to know each other more and more. After the

Block Party in 2018, we met up at a party and talked about french fries until he eventually asked me out on a date to get french fries the following week.

After our “first date,” we decided that our next one would be to watch the new “Halloween” movie that was coming out. So, on Oct. 24, 2018, we walked to the UV after my discussion class and had a great time watching and making fun of the movie. I ended up taking my card out first to pay for the tickets, and he wanted to make up for it by grabbing pho afterwards.

Then after dinner and a movie, we walked back to his dorm at AI and made it official. We’ve been pretty inseparable ever since and plan to celebrate four years together this upcoming H October. ■

- Mayra Gomez-Labrada

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF FREEPIKS

Radar

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRAURY 22, 2022

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What makes certain movie soundtracks so timeless?

KIMBERLY BEJEC Contributing Writer

In most films, there is often a soundtrack that pairs along with it. Many times, it is new original music made just for the film or selected music added into it. Plenty of timeless songs have come from films that have even transcended the film itself.

Some notable songs that gained popularity away from their respective films are “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from “Dirty Dancing” and “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic.”

Movie soundtracks can vary from many different types of music, including original music sung by the characters in a film, or an original score. There may be a musical soundtrack that can be incorporated into the film itself or have background music composed to represent the pacing of the film. In both ways, music has a way to heighten the film’s scenes and impact them in a way that keeps the audience engaged and immersed in the film.

Soundtracks made specifically for a movie amplify the tone, highlighting scenes. If there is a particularly sad scene, a sad song may play in the background.

To fit a certain tone of the film, a carefully crafted soundtrack is made to match with it.

A song can be played at the right moment of a film to accurately represent the scene that is shown on the screen. This can be seen with the instrumental song “Married Life” from “Up.” The song accurately portrays the range of emotions in the scene. Hearing the song on its own reminds listeners of the sad scene and potentially gets them emotional. For the audience, they are able

to connect with a scene through the music and soundtrack playing in the background.

This gives the audience a more inclusive cinematic experience that combines both imagery and sound through the screenplay and music.

A memorable soundtrack exists beyond the film, making it noteworthy for audiences to listen to in their own time. Often, soundtracks or certain songs turn into hits, surpassing the films themselves. When audiences listen to the soundtrack outside of the film, they are able to experience it without actually watching. For some, the soundtrack or a few songs on the musical score provide tunes to listen to casually in their everyday lives.

When the song corresponds with the scene, the audience can feel more immersed in the film and its setting. An example of this is “Tokyo Drift” in “The Fast and The Furious.” Performed by the Japanese hip pop group, Teriyaki Boyz, the song sticks to the atmosphere of Japan, while having an upbeat, fast song. It helps to represent the intense street racing that happens in most of the film. It matches the energy of the film, while giving the audiences a fun, fast beat song to listen to.

Besides a single song standing out from the film’s soundtrack, an overall soundtrack can accurately represent the film as a whole.

In Marvel’s “Black Panther” and “ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” both soundtracks take from the background of the films to portray them. “Black Panther” has an original soundtrack that consists mostly of hip-hop, rap and R&B. The album was made with songs inspired by

traditional African music and orchestral music commonly used in superhero films.

The same was done with the “Shang-Chi” soundtrack. The soundtrack featured an original score as well as original tracks featuring Asian artists. Both soundtracks feature representation that goes alongside each movie and its diversity.

Some songs become so popular that they become even more popular than the film.

When a certain song appears on the radio, listeners may be reminded of the film. Films become known for the soundtrack or a song that came out of it. Soundtracks from past films can be recognized today and give nostalgia, becoming classics and standing independently from its movie counterpart.

Soundtracks can become iconic with a certain tune that anyone can immediately connect to its respective film or its franchise. Orchestral scores are an example of this with the “Avengers Theme,” “The Imperial March” and “Hedwig’s Theme” from Marvel, “Star Wars” and the “Harry Potter” series, respectively. As soon as the first few beats of these scores are played, listeners can tell which franchise the score belongs to.

Soundtracks have such an impact on the film that they could potentially get nominated for an award for best song or best score. From original new music to orchestral scores, plenty of soundtracks have the potential to get recognized and nominated. For songs that reflect the film skillfully and transform it into a piece that the audience can get a better experience out of, they have the potential to be nominated for their outstanding quality.

MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING A FILM AND ITS NARRATIVE BY SETTING THE TONE.

COURTESY OF DISNEY PLATFORM DISTRIBUTION

Between the movie and its soundtrack, the audience can get a better experience when the two coincide with each other.

When the soundtrack fits into the film, the audience is able to become more immersed in the story. A film’s soundtrack can have a strong impact on the film while also having the potential to become a memorable hit on H its own, long after the movie’s release. ■

‘Pam & Tommy’ revives the infamous celebrity sex scandal of the ‘90s

THE LIMITED SERIES EXPLORES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAMELA ANDERSON AND TOMMY LEE AND THEIR LEAKED SEX TAPE THAT TOOK THE MEDIA BY STORM.

COURTESY OF HULU

BRENDA JOVEL Assistant Radar Editor

The ‘90s was a time of celebrity scandals that have managed to remain engraved in the minds of growing generations. One particular scandal that has resurfaced is the leaked sex tape of “Baywatch” star, Pamela Anderson, and her then-husband, Tommy Lee. Hulu has recently come out with the limited drama series, “Pam & Tommy,” that has returned a nostalgia of controversy and nightmares.

The show dives into the chaotic birth of Anderson and Lee’s marriage. From a viewer’s perspective, it’s clear that the pair had an endearing love toward each other while also managing to not really even know each other. Their rushed romance led to a quick marriage in Cancun with the stars later departing to Malibu to live their romantic dream. Viewers of the show

come to learn that Lee is having his house remodeled by fellow carpenter, Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogen). After Lee humiliates and refuses to pay Gauthier for his so-called “bad” work, Gauthier decides to take karma into his own hands. He steadily plans and ends up stealing an entire safe from Lee that contains valuable belongings, including the sex tape. As an act of revenge and to get his money’s worth, Gauthier publishes and sells the tape alongside partner Uncle Miltie (Nick Offerman) on the newly born world of the internet.

The first two episodes showcase how Anderson and Lee’s privacy is utterly destroyed and violated. The tape is quickly branded and promoted through Anderson’s name, turning her overall image into a sexualized object for the world to watch.

Even if her husband is in the tape, Anderson’s name is the one that is being brought up within the media storms. Anderson is fueled by the controversy that ruins her short-lived happiness about her first-ever pregnancy while Gauthier and Miltie indulge in their illegal, profitable earnings.

Surprisingly, the leaked tape isn’t noticed by the media at first. It slowly spreads in the confines of friend groups to office spaces until it lands in the hands of Penthouse founder, Bob Guccione, pushing Lee to file a lawsuit against the magazine mogul. Once this lawsuit occurs, the media begins their journey of using the tape for punchline jokes on popular Tonight shows

and coverage in newspapers. The inevitable controversy slowly deteriorates Anderson and Lee’s once-happy marriage.

Lily James, who plays Anderson in the series, undergoes a drastic change to fully embody the ‘90s star. From fake veneers to big blonde wigs, James became Anderson in the flesh. Since the real Pamela Anderson refused to have any part in the production and development of the show, James went out of her way to study every interview of the “Baywatch” star that she could find. In the end, her research paid off. The young English actress captured Anderson’s light voice and charismatic attitude that made her shine throughout her ‘90s reign as a Hollywood star.

James’ co-star, Sebastian Stan, also captured the essence of Tommy Lee. Lee’s notable tattoos transformed Stan, who captured the musician’s notorious behavior that deemed him as a punk rockstar. Though he is known for his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Stan proves that his acting abilities can expand over a broad range of characters. His performance as Tommy Lee will certainly be a memorable one for his career.

Like many shows that are based on real events, there will always be a slight tweak of reality to create more drama. “Pam & Tommy” changes the timeline of a few events to place emphasis on the emotional stress that Anderson suffers as her public image is dragged across the tabloids. The

limited series shows how celebrities are often seen as Hollywood objects whose privacies are treated like everyday valuables to be seen by the public. At the end of the day, celebrities are humans too, and they have a right to decide what they’d like to share about their lives. In Anderson and Lee’s case, they were victims of a petty plot that changed their lives and images for the years to come.

What’s great about the show is that it is in no way making fun of the situation the couple experienced. “Pam & Tommy” does an excellent job at depicting the trauma that one leaked video or image can do to a person’s life. It gives the audience the opportunity to understand what the couple may have felt during the most controversial H moments of their lives. ■

VERDICT: “PAM & TOMMY” IS THE KIND OF SHOW THAT WILL CAPTIVATE AUDIENCES AND CAUSE THEM TO GROW SYMPATHETIC TO ITS REALLIFE PERSONALITIES. IT BRILLIANTLY DISPLAYS BOTH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO HOLLYWOOD FIGURES AND THE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING YOUR PRIVATE LIFE EXPOSED TO THE DANGEROUS WORLD OF THE INTERNET.

12

Sports TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

THE LEAD CREATED IN THE FIRST HALF WAS ENOUGH TO KEEP THE HIGHLANDERS IN CONTROL.

UC Riverside’s men’s basketball team emerge victorious against CSU Bakersfield KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

► FROM SUPER BOWL 2022

Cooper Kupp completed one of the greatest wide receiver seasons of all time and cemented himself as a top-three wide receiver in the league.

The 2022 Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp had a record-breaking season. In the 2021-2022 regular season, Kupp achieved the Receiving Triple Crown, a feat where a player led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, which hasn’t been achieved since Steve Smith did it in 2005.

Kupp amassed 145 receptions, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns in this regular season.

Kupp’s 1,947 single-season receiving yards are the second highest ever in NFL history only below Calvin Johnson in 2012. Cooper Kupp was then awarded 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and three days later won Super Bowl MVP. The only other player in NFL history to earn a Triple Crown, Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP was Jerry Rice. However, it took Rice his whole career to achieve those awards while Kupp achieved all those feats in a single season.

With all the records that Kupp broke along with the accolades that he achieved this season, this is easily the greatest season from a wide receiver in NFL history.

The Highlanders faced off against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners on Thursday night, Feb. 17.

The SRC arena roared with excitement as a multitude of Highlanders came out to support the men’s basketball team in their effort to climb to the top of the midfield in the Big West Standings.

The game got off to a rough start with the Roadrunners catching on to an early lead. CSUB opened up the scoreboard with a jumper from junior forward Cameron Smith. This prompted the Roadrunners to embark on an early 6-0 run in the first few minutes of the game. UCR, unwilling to be shown up on their own court, embarked on an impressive 18-0 run to grant them the lead.

During the impressive run, UCR graduate student and guard, Dominick Pickett, shot two solid 3-pointers, and sophomore guard Will Tattersal also sank a 3-pointer of his own. With just over nine minutes left to go in the first half, the scoreboard was 18-8 in favor of the Highlanders.

The Roadrunners embarked on a quick 6-2 run of their own to place them within a 5-point reach from UCR. The Highlanders, unwilling to let go of their lead, went on an 8-2 run of their own, to keep CSUB at bay. Within that run, both Tattersal and Pickett scored another 3-pointer each, the score 28-17 with 4:08 left on the clock. In the final minutes of the game, both teams went back and forth trading baskets, Tattersal and Pickett, again showcased their amazing talent from downtown, scoring another 3-pointer each. The Highlanders ended the half in the lead by 11, 32-25.

Going into the second half, the comfortable lead UCR had created themselves foreshadowed not only what

record-setting games this season. Burrow threw for 525 yards in Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens, which was the fourth-highest ever in NFL history. Chase in Week 17 against the Kansas City Chiefs broke the rookie single-game receiving yards record with 266 yards. The connection between Burrow and Chase is one of a kind, dating back to their days at Louisiana State University. The only other quarterback-wide receiver duo with this type of connection is Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. The way Burrow and Chase find each other is similar to the way Rodgers is able to find Adams with ease. The fact that Burrow and Chase are so young into their careers and are able to work so well with each other is a scary sight for the league.

The Rams prove that there are multiple ways to win a championship.

was to come for the rest of the game but for the rest of the week. UCR opened up the half with another solid 3-pointer from Pickett. CSUB was then awarded two free throws, made good by sophomore guard David Walker. As a response, junior guard Zyon Pullin managed to retrieve the ball and dunk it in a show of force. Both teams, eager to score, traded baskets for the rest of the game. UCR was unwilling to relent in control of the game, and CSUB was desperate to cut the deficit. The 11-point lead generated in the first half led the Highlanders to victory over the Roadrunners. UCR managed to close out the game 79-69 after a hardfought second half.

Tattersal and Pickett led the charge throughout the game, earning 20 and 21 points respectively. Both performed exceptionally well from deep range, scoring four and five 3-pointers. Pickett earned himself a new season high, beating his previous high of 18 points. His new season high is just one point under his career high.

Redshirt junior center Callum Mcrae and Pullin also aided with points, earning 16 and 14, and returning to the court for the first time this season after being injured, was Angus McWilliams, earning his first 2 points of the year.

The momentum generated from their win over the Roadrunners, led the Highlanders to carry it over to their matchup against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. UCR returned to their home court for the second time this week on Saturday evening. UCR once again generated a very early lead, closing out the first half, 40-28 and ultimately closing out the game with a whopping 20-point lead, 7858.

The Highlanders return to the SRC arena once again on Thursday Feb. 24. The men’s team only has four games H left before the post-season tournament in Las Vegas. ■

winning a Super Bowl is to stock up on high draft picks and develop young players, hopefully finding a generational talent to turn the franchise around and lead them to success. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals are prime examples of franchises that found generational talents and developed young players to lead them to success. However, the Los Angeles Rams proved otherwise this past Super Bowl.

The Rams traded all their future first round picks until 2024 in order to get quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Von Miller, as well as signing superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr to build a superteam alongside Cooper Kupp, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Trading their whole future to go all in for a Super Bowl was a big gamble that was heavily criticized upon, but the Rams winning the Super Bowl this year proves that there are other H methods to build a Super Bowl winning team. ■

In this time and age, the blueprint for success to

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are the new Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.

In a season where everyone thought the Cincinnati Bengals were going to finish last in the division with a poor record, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase singlehandedly turned the franchise around and led them to a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl. In his rookie season, Chase hauled in 1,455 receiving yards, the secondmost by a rookie in NFL history. After a gruesome leg injury last year with Joe Burrow, Burrow came back better than ever, logging up 4,611 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns. Both Burrow and Chase had

COURTESY OF RAMSCOOPERKUPP VIA FLICKR UNDER CC-BY-SA 2.0