Volume 70 Issue 25

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, May 3, 2022

VOL. 70, ISSUE 25

est. 1954

NEWS

UC Berkeley active shooter and campus safety statistics

UCR UCPD CHIEF JOHN FREESE RETIRES LEAVING THE POSITION TO LIEUTENANT ANTHONY FRISBEE FROM UCI.

HARU CHANG Staff Writer

questions about UCR’s readiness to secure UCR campus and ensure safety in areas that warrant a comprehensive review. Not too long ago the UC Riverside Police Department underwent a transition of management.

Lieutenant Anthony Frisbee from the UC Irvine Police Department was confirmed to the role of Interim Chief of the UCPD and began working with Chief John Freese in January 2022 to ensure a smooth transition in February 2022 when Freese retired. Chief Freese swore in Lt. Frisbee as interim chief on February 10, 2022. UCR continues to conduct a national search for a permanent chief and they hope to find a candidate that can start before the next academic school year.

UC Berkeley underwent a multi-hour campus lockdown on Thursday April 21. During the lockdown, police searched for a suspect that they claimed made serious and credible threats of violence toward the Berkeley community.

The university implemented the shelter-in-place order around 10 a.m. which lasted several hours. UCPD was able to locate the person in question at an off-campus location and determine that the individual posed no immediate threat to the campus or anyone on it.

The university has not released more specific details, prioritizing privacy for all those involved.

This recent event raises

NEWS

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TWO LETTERS AND ONE GREEN GRANT WERE APPROVED DURING THE MEETING.

ASUCR’s 23rd meeting saw the presentation of senator reports AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s 23rd meeting of the school year took place on Wednesday, April 27, both in person and through Zoom at the ASUCR Senate Chambers. All members of the senate were present, excluding CHASS senator Christian Martinez, CNAS senator Catelin La and BCOE senator David Kiroloss, who were excused. Senator Rachel Paredes arrived late.

Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf. A motion to add two letters was called for by president pro tempore Orlando Cabalo and seconded by senator Aalani Richardson. A motion to add Green Grant #49 was called for by senator Christopher Kent and seconded by senator Amy Do. Motions to approve the agenda were called for by senator Victoria Nguyen and seconded by senator Richardson.

The previous meeting’s minutes were then opened. Motions to approve the previous meeting’s minutes were called by senator Richadrson and seconded by senator Vivek Patel.

Both the meeting agenda and previous meeting minutes passed with a vote count of 14-0-0.

SPORTS

► SEE CAMPUS SAFETY PAGE 4

GREAT PITCHING FROM THE BULLPEN WAS THE KEY TO THE HIGHLANDER VICTORY.

UC Riverside softball wins doubleheader against UC San Diego HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor

The UC Riverside softball team swept the doubleheader games, 4-1 and 8-0, against UC San Diego Saturday afternoon at the Amy S. Harrison Softball Field in Riverside, California. The Highlanders most recently won their series against Cal State Northridge and have won five out of their last seven games. UC Riverside looked to continue its hot streak and climb the Big West Conference standings. ► SEE SOFTBALL PAGE 12

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No one spoke during public comment, and new business followed. During the new business, two letters were presented by PPT Cabalo. The first letter titled “Pell and Student Debt Letter” was sent to ASUCR from the UC Student Association. If approved, it would then be distributed and would solidify ASUCR’s support for doubling the Pell Grant and pushing to have federal student loans canceled. Motion to approve the letter was first called for by senator Richardson and seconded by senator Dorothy Doronila. It passed with a vote count of 14-0-0.

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

48,000 academic workers across the UC rise in unison for equitable workplace

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HANNA RUTQVIST Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, April 26, over 100 graduate students, academic workers and allies protested at Hinderaker Hall for a “fair workplace” under the UC system.

This was part of a UC-wide demonstration in which about 48,000 Academic Student Employee Union members across California rallied under the same cause, hence their proclamation “48,000 strong.”

At the Berkeley campus, 800 workers surrounded Chancellor Carol Christ’s office. The movement at UCLA caught public attention as protestors blocked an intersection, to which the LAPD deemed it “unlawful assembly” and arrested multiple attendees. Media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Fox 5, Politico and spanishlanguage network Univision have reported on the movement.

The protest at Riverside’s campus did not go unnoticed. As the march moved from the Bell Tower to Hinderaker Hall,

handheld signs included calls like “Raise Pay, Not Rent” and “Housing 4 All.” Some were pitched atop strollers, stating “Make UC More Family Friendly.” While occupying the outside of Chancellor Wilcox’s office for an hour, they were eventually met by Vice Chancellor Gerry Bomotti.

They called for climate change relief by making transit more accessible around campus, but that’s just one of many issues.

The demands from UAW 2865 were eliminating rent burden, incorporating protections from workplace harassment, such as bullying and racism, improved accessibility for the disabled, supportive pay for scholars with children and support for international scholars, such as waiving non-resident fees.

The main purpose was to call for the UC administration to recognize them as a union and to push for a contract, according to UCR Ph.D candidate and UAW 2865 member, Somchate Wasantwisut.

The movement included 7,000 postdoctoral students, 5,000 academic

researchers, 19,000 teaching assistants and 17,000 members of Student Researchers United. “With that, there are 48,000 of us academic workers for the first time, negotiating a contract centered around giving us an equitable and fair workplace,” said Wasantwisut.

The most common shared issue among these workers and scholars is related to wage, inflation and rent. The L.A. area inflation rose prices by 8.5% since a year ago, and Wasantwisut says the UC proposed a 4% raise in wage. “That’s nothing to offset rising housing costs. We are trying to lift every academic worker out of the rent burden,” he said.

The UC system is the fourth largest employer in California, as the L.A. Times compares it to the unionization efforts of Amazon warehouse workers and Starbucks baristas. The UCs are also essentially one of the biggest landlords, as UAW 2865 officer Gaby Barrios told the Times.

According to a survey by UCR’s Graduate Student Association, 35.6% of graduate students pay 30% of their income to housing, while another 25% pay more than 60% of their income. Of these respondents, 60.4% identified as Ph.D candidates.

This is a double-take for those who have children, as they argue for expanded paid family leave, extending healthcare clauses for dependents and enough base pay to cover general childcare.

The union questions where the UC allocates their funding. Last month, the system bought UC President Drake a $6.5 million Berkeley mansion and established it as the new official residence for future presidents. The purchase was made using the UC private fund, which is contributed to by donors with the intention of improving the system’s facilities. The headquarters have also been handing out raises by 6% to 28% to chancellors, which they deemed necessary because “UC chancellors are underpaid compared with the leaders of similar institutions across

UCR ACADEMIC WORKERS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS JOINED ITS SISTER CAMPUSES IN A STATE-WIDE DEMONSTRATION CALLING FOR BETTER WORK CONDITIONS FOR UC RESEARCHERS, TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND TUTORS ALIKE. the country,” according to the higher education journal EdSource.

On top of the wage conflict, international researchers are burdened with non-resident fees, which amounts from two to three times that of their domestic peers. “International Ph.D students make up over a third of the graduate student population at the UC. For UCR, it is 35%, and it is likely to be higher for S.T.E.M. fields,” said Wasantwisut, “We are doing world-class research and instruction at the university, while also paying taxes.” This leaves international doctorate students with a time constraint, as they are often provided with a funding package that lasts around three years, so they are under pressure to complete their studies within that period while local faculty can spend more time as they please.

There is room for academic advisors to exploit international students because if one were to perform poorly, the student would be at a strict timeline and be unable to switch advisors.

The UC’s Title IX enforcements are argued to fail at delivering closure for harassment and discrimination cases. An affected student at UC San Diego shared on a written sign, “I told my program chair the issues of abuse, and he told me a Ph.D might not be for me.”

The point of the state-wide assembly was so the UC system would consistently answer to all academic workers of each campus. “It’s so the university could not H divide us,” Wasantwisut stated. ■

ASUCR ► FROM ASUCR

The second letter titled “ASUCR Supporting Botanic Gardens Workers” was also read by PPT Cabalo. This letter pertains to the UCR Botanical Garden student workers who are trying to secure a living wage and $2 pay increase. The letter will be sent to UCR Human Resources and the Botanical Garden Administration. Motions to approve the letter were called for by senator Nguyen and seconded by senator Blanca Alba. It passed with a vote count of 14-0-0.

Executive office reports took place next. Ethnic and Gender Program Liaison Jeanine Nassar presented that she has met with some of her Ethnic and Gender Committees and asked them what events they would like to see hosted. Nassar is also working with senator Richardson and EVP Assaf to create a committee with the Ethnic and Gender Program liaison that would be open to senators and students. EVP Assaf added that ASUCR would keep Jeanine’s position and implement a committee under her.

Committee reports followed with Green Grant #49.

This grant was requested by UCR Gardening Club. They are asking for $206 to give students the opportunity to grow microgreens modeled after UCLA. A motion to approve Green Grant #49 occurred first by senator Kent and was seconded by senator Richardson. The motion passed with a vote count of 13-0-0.

No one spoke during public comment, and senator reports then occurred.

Senator Tammar Akel reported that he has reached out to UCR alumni for the alumni event but has not had any responses thus far. Akel has also worked on legislation with the academic senate for registration problems and sponsored a resolution for Ramadan accommodations.

Senator Nguyen reported that she has met with her Ethnic and Gender Committees. The Underground Scholars Initiative is still trying to find a safe space on campus in Costo Hall or HUB, and Nguyen is assisting them. She is also working with UCR Dining to create a resolution regarding food waste.

Sen Christan Torres reported last that he is working with Chicano Student Programs on their Cinco de Mayo

event occurring Wednesday during the nooner. Torress also introduced themselves to the LGBTQ Resource Center and asked what they wanted to see with ASUCR. Roundtable and Announcements followed with senator Paredes announcing a food drive that will take place May 9 to 16 at two locations, the HUB front desk and Rivera front desk. The food will go to the R’Pantry.

Senator Lauren Garcia spoke about how disappointed she is with the negative conversations and hate being spread on the app Yik Yak. She advised the senate to not post hate online and to control what they say on social media.

Senator Torrres reiterated the Cinco de Mayo and Semana de la Raza nooner at the Bell Tower that will be on Wednesday, May 4.

Senator Nguyen spoke to extend her support to senator Kent and asked for more transparency from the judicial committee. The issues regarding the election results of the Vice President of Finance have caused many senators and students to question the judicial system.

H The meeting was then adjourned at 7:05 p.m.■

3

4 TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 ► FROM CAMPUS SAFETY

UCR UCPD has made strides to provide a more comprehensive oncampus security. Decisions made by UCR UCPD last year reorganized the police department into a holistic health, safety and wellbeing division. The new division also includes Campus Advocacy, Resources and Education, or CARE, Basic Needs, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, The Well, Student Affairs Case Management and the Student Disability Resource Center.

UCR’s 2019 Crime and Safety Report crime statistics come from the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security data. It analyzes four types of crimes: violence against women, arrests for major crimes, arrests for possession and disciplinary actions.

UCR reported 232 incidents related to crime and safety in 2019. These incidents involved students and took place at or near campus or on other properties affiliated with the school.

The overall percentage of crime by category: 53.9% displinary actions, 23.7% arrests for major crimes, 12.5% violence against women and 9.9%

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arrests for possession.

In 2019, UCR on-campus crime stats reported 220 incidents related to crime and safety that involved students on campus. Overall percentage for on-campus crime by category: 56.8% disciplinary actions, 23.3% arrests for major crimes, 12.7% violence against women and 7.3% arrests for possession.

According to the 2019 UCR Crime and Safety Report, it is not uncommon for a school to report zero incidents for any or all of these categories: 56% of the schools covered reported no arrests for major crimes, 67% reported no violence against women, 70% reported no arrests for possession and 68% reported no disciplinary actions.

However, zero incidents of reported crime could indicate lax reporting.

A high number of incidents may mean that the school is stricter about law enforcement and reporting. By maintaining a critical analysis of crime reports and by centering the safety of the UCR community, the campus can prevent simplistic or incomplete analyses that can adversely affect UCR H students and staff. ■ RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

5

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Telehealth companies have offered millions of ways to get mental health treatments, but with suspicious loopholes THOUGH COMPANIES LIKE CEREBRAL HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL IN SOME WAYS, THEY NEED REGULATIONS IMMEDIATELY.

O

ne of the strangest elements of the COVID-19 pandemic was how usually busy spaces quickly became abandoned. As populations were shut in their homes in fear of an unfamiliar virus, the sourdough starters and cheerful Facebook posts about how things will get better weren’t enough to sustain mental health. As Americans were unsure how safe even a trip to the doctor could be, telehealth companies saw an immense boom.

Companies that could send medications for an array of mental illnesses thrived as people tried to cope with an everchanging world. Some finally had relief from long-standing issues, while others came to terms with their mental health and sought help. However, there is a less savory side to these telehealth companies:

namely, that heavy prescriptions for mental illnesses suddenly became very easy to get for anyone, regardless of mental health.

The severity of this issue is very hard to understate, especially given the ongoing opioid crisis in America as well as an increase in college students getting addicted to Adderall, a drug often used to help people with ADHD. With these telehealth companies not requiring medical screenings to receive these medications, anyone can lie about any ailment they might have in order to get any number of drugs to use or sell to others.

This issue has become so prevalent that pharmacies across the country are now blocking or delaying prescriptions from these telehealth companies.

The unfortunate reality of most systems in America is that even the most beneficial of ideas is run for-profit. While companies like Cerebral may have started with the best of intentions, any business needs to stay afloat somehow.

And yet, the company s t i l l doesn’t of fer

much more than a regular visit to a doctor or psychiatrist might. Co-pays and medicines are expensive no matter where someone might look for mental health care, and Cerebral simply cuts out the middleman of a doctor and ships medications straight to patients’ doors for the same amount of money. Though these companies can certainly be life changing for those who do not have the ability to leave their house frequently, the reality is that there needs to be rigorous medical checks so only people who really need these medications receive them.

It is incredibly disappointing across the board that such an important part of our society’s well-being is being handled so poorly. This goes not just for telehealth companies, but for our medical system as a whole. If the pandemic has proven anything, besides the fact that our medical workers are criminally overworked, it is that the medical system of America is not equipped to properly help people who need mental health assistance. Bureaucrats in pharmaceutical companies have high price tags on necessary medications, and the system seems unwilling to cave to find preventions rather than cures on a mass scale.

Like every system in America, mass reform is needed in order to help people who need these medications.

Unfortunately, this means that telehealth companies need to incorporate rigorous screenings so that people who truly need them can access these medications.

Though it is a difficult line to toe between being too harsh on regulations and being too lax, regulations must be set up to prevent another generation of Americans from falling prey to addictions. The medical system of America itself needs to change to better accommodate our ailing population. To avoid doing so is to renege on the most important element of H the Hippocratic Oath —“Do no harm”. ■

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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RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER

US News’ college rankings are a slap in the face to prospective students as they use unverified data and irrational determinants AS THE FACTORS BEHIND THE U.S. NEWS RANKINGS ARE BROUGHT TO LIGHT AND FALSE REPORTS

BY HIGHLY-RANKED UNIVERSITIES ARE REVEALED, IT’S TIME TO HOLD COLLEGES ACCOUNTABLE.

YSABEL NAKASONE Staff Writer

High school students have endured extreme stress due to college rankings, U.S. news reports or otherwise, the demands of academic life and the college application process. But now that a light is being shone on how these rankings are determined and colleges have been accused of submitting false reports, it’s a rather offensive affront.

The different factors used in order to determine a college’s rankings do little to illustrate academic rigor and quality, factors which are of a high priority to those pursuing higher education. High school students and other applicants deserve better than basically getting scammed.

Colleges should still be held to a high standard, and rankings give clear motivation for universities to continue improving. However, U.S. News’ rankings have been revealed to be encouraging rather unimportant factors while ignoring characteristics that are very important to modern college applicants. They don’t tell students about the academic standards of a

school, but instead they look at professor salaries when they should be looking at their teaching quality. Furthermore, factors like financial aid spending or diversity are important to the modern prospective student population and they are not included, making these rankings even less applicable to them.

Rankings can be useful to applicants who don’t have much guidance and they can give a broad sense of the academic standards of each school. But they can only be useful if they’re actually based on facts and important factors. Colleges should be encouraged to meet high standards, and the U.S. News Rankings fails to do so. Taking it even further, colleges of all levels of perceived prestige can offer an equally decent education. It’s really about what college is the best fit for each individual student, so these rankings should be considered very general and not the end all be all.

This system is also unreliable due to the fact that the information used to create the rankings are self-reported by the colleges.

As recently as last month, prominent universities such as University of Southern

California, Columbia and Rutgers have been accused of reporting false information to U.S. News. Even worse is how schools specifically adjust their systems to improve their rankings. Universities have gone so far as to purposely manipulate the factor of class size index by adding larger classes in the spring, such as introduction lectures where there are hundreds of students. There have also been attempts through the lowering of the intellectual demand of classes in order to increase graduation rates. These blatant lies increases their ranking and help to manipulate future students.

Applicants deserve to know exactly what these rankings mean. This false advertising on the part of universities and ranking publications is scheming and promotes stagnancy. Unfortunately, colleges presenting false information in order to unfairly earn a higher ranking isn’t a shock at all. After all the hard work students put into their applications, GPA and involvement in extracurriculars, the least U.S. News can do is hold those colleges to an accurate standard H and demand accurate information. ■

Limiting smartphone and social media usage can make you happier

FATEMA SHALABI Managing Editor

For a huge amount of smartphone users, specifically those with iPhones, receiving weekly screen time notifications that exemplify a percentage increase in the daily average for the past week can be a moment filled with significant dread. Though it might feel impossible to reduce phone or social media usage, or to avoid the sometimes menacing notifications, there is one factor that can encourage many to limit their screen time: doing it for the sake of mental health.

With the two years spent in social distancing, Americans were consuming an exhaustive amount of digital media — whether in binging Netflix shows, reading digital books or in searching for the next best bread recipe. Another way in which Americans used their devices was to connect with each other across the country and the globe. Though this, in itself, can be rather pure and wholesome, studies have shown that social media and smartphones as a whole have been contributing to a decrease in mental well-being and have been

contributing to an increase in depression and similar illnesses.

Take one of the most popular social media platforms, TikTok, for example. This platform rose to high ranks in the height of the pandemic, and though the material on there can vary drastically, a popular video type has been one where people show themselves going about their regular days, even when those days are anything but “regular.”

Though in many cases this can happen unconsciously, witnessing other people taking actions within their lives that the consumer wants within their own will in one way or another cause that person to feel unhappy with their current situation. They begin to wish for an unhealthy amount of more — more traveling, more friends, more views and simply anything and everything that cannot be easily obtained. All this results in the decrease of life satisfaction, and in turn, a decrease in the state of mental health.

Digging further into this example, what sets TikTok apart from other social media platforms is the maximum amount of seconds per video. Although it’s a larger increase from Vine’s 6-second-

rule, TikTok’s quick content poses a similar threat to our attention spans. Overstimulation in the hours of scrolling through social media has been found to decrease attention spans, and thereby connects to impulsivity, distractedness and even a lack of empathy. Although many have smartphones and are on social media in order to connect with the greater world, these findings nullify that purpose, instead resulting in a greater detachment from the physical world.

Realistically, it has become quite difficult and even impossible to completely remove ourselves from the technological world of smartphones and social media.

However, those who have achieved even a small amount of success in doing so have found some sort of happiness and relief as a result.

So as we continue to navigate this overstimulating and often overwhelming world, it’s important to constantly consider your dependence on your smartphone and to implement changes, no matter how small or grand, within H your life. ■

WITH NUMEROUS STUDIES LINKING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEFICIENCY IN MENTAL HEALTH, IT’S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING SOME CHANGES TO INCREASE YOUR LIFE SATISFACTION.

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

7

The term ‘Latinx’ fails to accurately represent members within its own community THE CHICANO COMMUNITY’S INABILITY TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE TERM HAS LEFT MANY IN THE DARK DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

The Latine community has undergone significant changes in recent years.

Throughout history, the community has pushed boundaries to achieve change.

These new political movements were being pioneered by a new generation of activists, Chicanos. This key demographic of young Mexican-American activists helped push the community in a more forward-thinking direction. As a direct result, their vision for change in the community failed to consider those across the border. This is prominent in the term “Latinx,” which fails to take into consideration non-English speaking members in the community. To be truly inclusive, we need to use terms that are at the disposal of all the members in the community.

Latinx was first used in the early 2000s, showing up in Google Trends in 2004.

The term came off the heels of several feminist and civil rights movements, in which the letter “x” was widely used to promote inclusivity. For instance, feminists activist would use the letter at the end of masculine ending words, taking words from a masculine connotation to a more gender neutral one. Simply adding “x” to the end of a word transformed it into a gender neutral term. And yet, considering this a genius modification to the English language would be a stretch too far.

Data shows that 23% of Latinos prefer

the term “Hispanic,” while 15% preferred the term “Latino” and only 4% preferred the term “Latinx.” We can look at this data and make the assumption that members within the community simply don’t like the term “Latinx.” This simplification has been used

of exclusion towards members within their own coalition.

Gender neutral terms are important — there’s no denying that. This is a driving factor behind the word “Latinx” gaining so much popularity in recent years.

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by many who opposed the implication of the term on a more wide scale. Members of the community who strongly dislike the term have marked its lack of Spanish translation as problematic. A native Spanish speaker and someone who doesn’t understand the English language has no possible way of using the term. This is only one pin in the Chicano community’s re-according pattern

Especially for LGBTQ+ members within the community, who have fully embraced its definition and punctuation, the term is filling a gap previously not available. This subsection of the community has only benefited from the introduction of the term as it serves as a great umbrella term for those within the community who identify outside of the gender binary. It offers a sense

of identity, one that comes at a steep price.

The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” both have their shares of negative connotations.

The word “Hispanic” serves as a direct connection to Spain. Linking an entire population of people to the country which colonized them isn’t the nicest thing to do. “Hispanic” also categorizes people who originate from a spanish-speaking country. Meanwhile, the term “Latino” refers to anyone born in Latin America, from Mexico all the way to Argentina.

Many have criticized the term simply because it attempts to group several distinct cultures into one. For example, someone born in Brazil would be considered Latino, but not Hispanic. Yet these two terms have basically become interchangeable, especially amongst Americans.

Nonetheless, all of these different words have a special place within the community’s rich history. Simply disregarding them wouldn’t solve the bigger issue at hand.

New terms like “Latine” are a stepping stone in the right direction. It is a term that is accessible to everyone in the community, not just the educated few. If the Chicano community wants to be truly inclusive, they would take into consideration native Spanish speakers. Moving away from terms like “Hispanic” and “Latino” greatly benefits everyone in the community. Being more gender inclusive can be accomplished while simultaneously being considerate of H the community’s needs as a whole. ■

France’s Marie Le Pen has a lot in common with Vladimir Putin

THE RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN FRANCE HIGHLIGHTS THE BREWING ANTIDEMOCRATIC FAR RIGHT.

HARRY STOLTZ Staff Writer

Last week, French president Emmanuel Macron secured a second term — the first time that a French president has won reelection in 20 years. Macron’s opponent: Marie Le Pen, a Trump-like ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Le Pen would have been a real threat to the EU, NATO and Muslims living in France. Winning with 58% of the vote is certainly a decisive victory, but Liberals shouldn’t let their guard down. Although Le Pen lost, she gained a 7.5% higher share of the vote compared to 2017. Given another election cycle, Le Pen — or someone like her — could take power in France.

While in the spotlight for now, Le Pen’s beliefs are not unique. In fact, she represents a worrying rise in global authoritarianism.

According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the world is facing a democracy crisis: “The number moving in the direction of authoritarianism is three times the number moving towards democracy.” Even domestically, the United States is reaching troubling new lows. Many Americans are now distrustful of democratic institutions, or even reject democracy outright. IDEA now lists the United States as a “backsliding democracy” for the first time ever.

Democracy often seems like an abstract concept. Almost everyone says that

they care about democracy, but a Yale study indicates that only 3.5% of U.S. voters would change their support for an undemocratic candidate who they would otherwise support. This democratic apathy manifested itself best in the January 6th insurrection. Political violence on this scale is an unprecedented breach of democratic norms in the U.S. Worse yet, only 21% of Republican voters believe that President Biden won the election. This is deeply concerning for the United States.

There is no better demonstration of these perils than Putin’s Russia. While many countries are democratically “backsliding,” Putin’s Russia barely has a hint of democracy left. While Russia

holds elections, they have largely been recognized as fraudulent by international observers. The Russian government controls the news, kills dissidents and criminalizes protests. It’s systems like these that allow for an autocrat like Putin to act without retribution.

Putin’s war in Ukraine is a warning of what can happen if a powerful country is led through these undemocratic systems. Putin has justified his claim on Ukraine through “blood and soil” rhetoric, even harkening back to Tsarist Russia. Globally backed up by many in the far-right, including the United States Congress, Putin is not alone.

Democratic backsliding is in full force, and H it should be fought everywhere. ■

COURTESY OF KENJI -BAPTISTE OIKAWA VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC 3.0

Features 8 TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

A season of truth is approaching...

by: Ysabel Nakasone, staff writer

This week’s horoscope says the truth will set you free as long as you’re willing to listen

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF PIKISUPERSTAR @FREEPIK

The star March 21 - April 19

Six of wands April 20 - May 20

After reflecting on your conflict and working hard to shed your isolating independence by looking to others for help, you’re approaching a period of reprieve. Let the wave of calm energy and peace take over. This could also be a chance of rediscovery for you to reconnect with your inspirations and let your heart open up.

As you finally receive recognition for an important milestone in your life, you should allow yourself to bask in this pride. You deserve it! This is your moment and you shouldn’t let the naysayers rain on your parade. The Six of Wands remind you that even with your serene nature, it’s not a time to be passive but to hold steady in your successes.

temperance July 23 - August 22

Leo, unfortunately your innate dramatics and passion will not serve you well in the present. You’re in a place where it’s not smart to be highly controversial. It’s in your best interest to take on a peacekeeper role. Aim to solve your problem with balanced methods and deliberate thoughtfulness.

seven of swords November 22 - December 21

Sagittarius, you often find that you don’t put limits on yourself and it seems you may be engaging in some sort of trickery or deception to avoid engaging with a difficult situation. The Seven of Swords reminds you to calculate and think before you make a move, or you will find yourself in major trouble. It’s important to remember that a shortcut will not help and you must confront the issue head on and utilize your communication skills.

eight of pentacles August 23 - September 22

The Hierophants May 21 - June 20

Three of wands June 21 - July 22

Gemini, you’ve been going against your zesty nature as you follow convention and refuse to rock the boat. With the struggles you face, this may be the best path. However, do not lose sight of your true identity and hold on to your analytic perspective as it will help you understand the traditions and rules you are currently guided by.

Though you are currently in a place of comfort, your horizons will soon be expanding. With your natural foresight, you may already be aware of the opportunities approaching you. Try to look past the limits and boundaries you have created for yourself, don’t remain trapped in your comfort zone.

Strength September 23 - October 22

The strength card indicates that you You are on the right path as you use may be coming from a place of fear your diligence and are willing to or worry, but that if you only find the practice and hone your skills. The Eight confidence, doing what you fear will of Pentacles is a sign to maintain this prove worthwhile in the end. You seek attitude of hardworking dedication as harmony in all aspects of life, Libra, it will eventually lead to your success. and now you must balance your fears The energy you are investing in your with the more important need to achieve personal growth and external goals your goals and experience internal will be worth it. growth.

nine of cups December 22 - January 19

four of pentacles January 20 - February 18

The Nine of Cups, also known as the wish card, is saying that the planets have aligned in your favor. Look around you and see all that you have to be grateful for because the grass is not always greener. This week should be one of indulgence and enjoying life’s pleasures. This could change at any moment as your happiness is fragile, so enjoy this period.

With your head in the clouds Aquarius, you’ve become unaware of how your choices are affecting others. You’re struggling with control as your independence makes it difficult for you to work with others. In your relationships, romantic, platonic, and familial, you have been resistant to change and unwilling to compromise.

You feel as though you have found what works for you, but playing it safe never makes it into the history books.

queen of swords October 23 - November 21

The Queen of Swords sees your internal conflict and the high standards you hold yourself too. You are in touch with your subconscious and exhibit foresight in all lives but your own lately. Look past all the noise and you will see how your self-criticism has no real place in your life, opening up the path to true peace and regaining your ability to be in touch with yourself.

The lovers February 19 - March 20

Pisces, you may be forming a very important relationship right now. You may be feeling like you’ve built a strong relationship, but it’s important to make sure that your partner or friend feels the same. Communication is a two way street and it’s possible that the other person in this relationship may be worried about your commitment or dedication to them. If you want to maintain this relationship, reassure them and be the dependable, sensitive person you are known to be. ■ H

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

9

UNDER THE KILT: SWIPE RIGHT ON DATING APPS BY: ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With the use of technology becoming more of an everyday necessity, it’s no wonder dating apps are becoming more and more popular over the years. With a wide range of dating apps such as Hinge, Bumble and Tinder, there’s an app that works for everyone. With completing the first step of downloading any dating app, there comes a point where the thought of talking with a complete stranger can bring some hesitation. Here are some helpful do’s and don’t tips that can make taking on the dating app world a little less intimidating.

DO Be yourself When making your profile or talking to matches, it’s always better to stay true to your likes and interests. You never know if you might end up meeting your matches in person. If your online self doesn’t match your true self, that might cause some problems.

ONLINE DATING WON’T BE INTIMIDATING — JUST FOLLOW THESE TIPS!

Keep an open mind When going through potential matches, it’s a good idea to not solely focus on your matches through their profile pictures. Take your time to look at profile biographies and learn exactly what that person is looking for in a relationship. Getting to know more about a person who has different wants than you can make getting to know them more difficult.

Establish boundaries It can be easy to be swept away in the moment when you start getting matches left and right, but with that, it’s always good to have boundaries. Be upfront with what you want and what you’re expecting.

Don’t be worried about being too assertive.

Know what you want, and don’t settle for less!

DON'T Give away personal information Never reveal personal information such as home address, phone numbers or even social media profiles until you have a better sense of who you are talking to.

It’s always better to be cautious than too trusting. Take a few days to message or call them through the dating app before meeting them in person or giving away your personal information!

Compromise your safety When meeting a potential match in person for the first time, make sure you’re in a safe and open space. You want to make sure you have a safe way out in case things don’t appear as they are. Meet at a coffee shop, the mall, a park or at a restaurant!

Your safety comes first. If you’re really nervous about meeting in person, have a friend tag along for that sense of comfort.

Carry relationship baggage with you When starting any new relationship, always make sure you’re ready. When looking at potential matches, it’s not a good idea to carry past relationship feelings into any new match. Make sure you’re ready to be open and honest.

Whatever you do online, make sure to keep it safe and healthy. Good luck on your H search for the one. ■ STRESSED OUT FOR UPCOMING MIDTERMS? HERE ARE A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO ACE THOSE TESTS!

CAMPUS COPE: preparing for midterms ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

Don’t cram your study materials

As midterm season rolls around again, many of us are frantically preparing for our last few tests of the year.

However, with the school year being over in just a few weeks, most of us are pretty tired and drained from the workload we’ve had all year. It’s hard enough to juggle our academics, social life and mental and physical health.

Here are a few tips that will help you prepare for those upcoming midterms while also taking care of your wellbeing.

Manage your study and break time

Studying for long hours can be draining and sometimes difficult to retain the information you are reviewing. Take the time to plan out your study and break time throughout the day. Try breaking down your study time for a few hours and add in a 10 or 15 minute break every 30 minutes.

Breaking down your study time and adding in these breaks will help you retain the information you review by giving your brain time to process the information. Grab a snack, stretch a bit or check your phone during these breaks!

A lot of us tend to cram all the study materials into one sitting. However, this method can be less effective as it’ll be harder for you to retain the information.

Spending long hours just sitting in one place to relearn your class materials can be draining and can encourage procrastination. Try dividing your learning materials into sections or chapters throughout the week! After learning each section or chapter, review it the next day before moving on to the next chapter. Using this method can be incredibly helpful, especially for harder classes, such as math, biology or chemistry.

Take care of your well-being

Although it’s important to study for these midterms whenever you have time, take a break every now and then and make some time for yourself! Go to the gym, make yourself a healthy meal, take a walk around campus, take a nap or work on your skin care routine. Not making time for your well-being can cause issues regarding your mental and physical health. Remember, your health comes H first over anything! ■

HERE’S WHAT TO PICK UP ON YOUR NEXT TRADER JOE’S RUN. DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

David’s Trader Joe’s weekly favorites

Here are some of my most recent favorite Trader Joe’s products.

These food and beverage items are perfect for the busy college student on the go and are budget friendly.

Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups These Trader Joe’s mini chocolate peanut butter cups are amazing and well priced. Coming in at $4.99, they are worth every single penny. ■ H

Spicy Chai Tea Latte Mix This spicy chai latte mix is perfect in both iced and hot. It’s well priced, coming in at $3.99.

Instant Cold Brew Coffee This instant cold brew coffee mix is a perfect time saver in the morning since it cuts down the cold brew making process to a few minutes. It’s also budget friendly and priced at $3.99

Joe's

Diner Mac ‘n Cheese The perfect addition to any meal, this frozen mac ‘n cheese can easily feed two people. It’s priced at $2.99.

Organic Creamy Tomato Soup This creamy soup is perfect for someone who is looking for a fast meal. The carton is priced at $2.69

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF MACROVECTOR, REDGREYSTOCK, AND RAWPIXEL VIA FREEPIK

10

Radar

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

‘Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain’ debuts on 4/20

ELIAS ALMAREZ-HERRERA Staff Writer

Chicano photographer Esteven Oriol, born in Santa Monica, California began documenting his time on the road with popular hip-hop acts over 20 years ago.

His footage has been curated for select art exhibits, developing the visual narrative of Afro-Latin and diasporic descendant art which makes up the heart of Los Angeles’ street culture.

His latest culmination of clips tell the story of Latin hip-hop punk group Cypress Hill of South Gate, California.

Before they would go on to garner mass appeal, “Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain” (2022) depicts the group’s garage days that would land them a record deal with Ruffhouse Records.

“We were street kids but we wanted to take our block, Cypress Ave, worldwide,” said Senen Reyes in one of many voiceover interviews that form the film’s narrative, offering a glimpse beneath the surface of the conceptual band. He would move to Los Angeles, California from Pinar Del Rio, a major city in Cuba.

Cutaway clips take viewers through the sheets of a photo album which document the journey of several migrant youth including Reyes as they embedded themselves into California’s cannabis culture. It is here where he would foster his love for West Coast music alongside

Louis Freese, recognizable as B-Real, the group’s eccentric frontman.

Oriol centers each member as they describe the process it took to fuse hiphop and punk rock together to create the sonical foundation of their records, employing dark imagery for their album covers in the style of a classic rock record.

B-Real and Sen Dog would spend the first years of their career honing in on writing structured raps while experimenting with an energetic delivery style. Drummer Eric Bobo, son of renowned jazz percussionist Willie Bobo, would serve as Cypress Hill’s final addition. His expertise in traditional Latin drums would further enhance the rich instrumentals backing the rappers’ vocals. DJ Muggs would produce the group’s work in early conception.

Joints in hand, the trio sits, naturally, listening to demo tapes and bonding through musicianship in a hazy cloud of marijuana smoke. With what began as a story of youth and addiction in their earliest years of performing, “Cypress Hill: Insane in the Membrane” showcases the bandmates as they explore their 50s.

“Your voice back then was so, wow.

Before any of the nasal thing you developed,” says Reyes to Freese on lead vocals as they land on an early demo tape of “Real Estate” (1991), which they claim was the first song they felt

Verdict:

confident could dominate radioplay.

Electric guitar radiates on “How I Could Just Kill a Man” (1991) as B-Real’s prominent voice sets Sen Dog up for the lyrical alley-oop. “Here is something you can’t understand / How I could just kill a man.”

The track was used for an extensive action sequence in the film “Juice” (1992) which stars Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. It would also make a landmark appearance as a playable track in the “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004) video game, becoming a cult classic tune in its own right.

According to the documentary, this is around the time Cypress Hill began developing their concept. Influenced by the stoner-comedy genre popularized by East Los Angeles natives Cheech and Chong, B-Real decided the trio would lean into the aesthetics of marijuana use.

Not only were there references to toking and smoking in their lyrical content, Cypress Hill would become infamous for their theatrical use of cannabis on stage.

“Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain” examines years of international tours and festivals, smoke sessions, psychedelics and the toll of becoming a cultural force.

“They should...put your lungs in the ‘Cannabis Hall of Fame,’” notes one of the group’s members to another, jokingly, in conversation. “Notice the resin buildup?” As they laugh, they reflect on

SHOWTIME DOCUMENTS THE COME UP OF HIP-HOP TRAIL BLAZERS. the self-inflicted physical damage done to propel the success of their career.

B-Real, Sen Dog and Bobo respectively represent visual juxtapositions to the violent claims that are continually projected onto Black, Afro-Latin and Latin stoners. This public discourse has historically translated into disproportionate, extended sentencing against these communities on possession charges. Adorned with bucket hats, hoop earrings and Dickies’ khakis, these young men brought regional style to a mainstream audience who still attempt to commodify and replicate it today.

Oriol photographs the trio diving into their locally owned clothing retailer as Sen Dog measures for accurate pant sizing by wrapping the pant’s waist seam around his neck. Reyes, 56, emphasizes the importance of artists’ authenticity: “Take a break. Learn to miss it. Learn to love it again,” as the artists relax into a familiar scour for staple pieces, exchanging valuable tips that come only from the experience of seasoned cultural curators. ■ H

From grinding through their come up to realizing their artistic heights, “Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain” captures the humanity of the ambitious, stage diving trio.

COURTESY OF KMERON VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY NC-ND 2.0

COURTESY OF MIKA-PHOTOGRAPHY VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC BY SA-3.0

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

‘Love Me More’ by Sam Smith engraves a positive message into fans’ hearts

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

11

SMITH’S LATEST SINGLE IS THEIR FIRST RELEASE OF THE YEAR THAT PAVES THE WAY FOR FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WON’T DISAPPOINT.

BRENDA JOVEL Assistant Radar Editor

Smooth vocals and transcending tunes have always characterized Sam Smith’s music. Their latest and first released single of 2022 titled “Love Me More” is yet another work of art that leaves a positive message to listeners.

“Love Me More” first premiered on YouTube.

The opening switches between clips of a young Sam Smith and as an adult whose music career was beginning to bloom. Their notable somber expression welcomes fans to a black and white video of Smith lounging comfortably in a vast apartment while their telephone machine goes off. The first lines are later sung by Smith as they venture down the streets of what looks to be a serene New York environment: “Have you ever felt like being somebody else? / Feeling like the mirror isn’t good for your health? / Every day I’m tryin’ not to hate myself.”

Aside from the rhythmic and uplifting tone, Smith emphasizes the struggle of self-acceptance and learning to love the person that you are. The relevancy of their words can hit close to home

for many people who have battled against selfesteem problems, and it marks a lesson to listeners that everyone around us has undergone the same struggles that we have experienced ourselves.

“Every day I’m trying not to hate myself / But lately it’s not hurting like it did before / Maybe I am learning how to love me more” are sung as people are seen writing words like “health” and “love” on a transparent frame. The words themselves echo a reminder to fans of how we should cherish ourselves with love in healthy mindsets.

The video cuts to scenes where Smith is enjoying themself in an atmosphere filled with joy and friendships. Either dancing on their own or dancing with friends in a nightclub, Smith exudes the freedom of self-love and discovery that they want audiences to feel. Though their journey appears easy in the video, Smith acknowledges how self-hatred can be an intoxicating thing to human bodies in “Love Me More.”

In Sam Smith fashion, “Love Me More” contains gospel and R&B vibes that will still have you tapping your feet along to the soft beat. Their soulful and light voice is a notable aspect in past

COURTESY OF SAM SMITH VIA CAPITOL RECORDS

works that have held light-hearted and meaningful messages for fans. Their new single reflects those themes, and it continues Smith’s legacy of memorable tunes. ■ H

VERDICT: “Love Me More” serves as a reminder that everyone should love themselves in their skin.

Its positive message will lighten the moods of listeners everywhere while also remaining stuck in their heads for months to come.

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Netflix’s ‘The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe’ dives into the life and death of the cultural icon THE DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS RECORDINGS OF FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES OF MONROE AS THEY RECOUNT HER LIFE AND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH HER.

KIMBERLY BEJEC Staff Writer

Marilyn Monroe was a big actress during her time and remains a staple pop culture icon to this day. Her life was highly publicized throughout her career and she garnered a massive amount of attention from the media. Netflix’s documentary, “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” follows the life and death of Marilyn Monroe.

The documentary incorporates unheard recordings of interviews with friends and those who knew Monroe.

The recordings, provided by Anthony Summers, author of the book about Monroe “Goddess,” are paired with actors lip syncing to the audio. Additionally the film includes footage and pictures of Monroe throughout her life, as well as audios from her own interviews.

Being known as a sex bombshell, Monroe had many scandals that the public was invested in. From her tumultuous marriages and relationships with people such as the Kennedy brothers, people were eager to learn more about her private life. Although she was portrayed as a “dumb blonde” during her time, the documentary shows how she was much more than that. It gives the audiences a

more personal side of Monroe that was not considered when she was alive.

The recordings are intriguing to follow as it has people recount what their experiences with Monroe were like.

Although Monroe’s life was immensely followed by the media, there were speculations made about her private life that were constantly discussed by the public. The recordings give insight into some of those moments and how they impacted her life. Despite the easy, happy persona Monroe painted for the media, there was a lot going on behind the scenes that affected her.

Besides seeing Monroe at the height of her career and eventual decline, the audience is able to learn about her past.

Growing up as an orphan, Monroe had her deal of hardships and trauma that would later impact her life. These problems affected her relationships and her perceptions of what others thought and felt about her. Those who were interviewed help to tell what they witnessed and heard from Monroe herself.

The documentary incorporates footage of Monroe while she was alive in public outings as well as some of her films. This highlights moments of Monroe’s life in which major changes

were happening. The audience is able to see how she carried out her life despite certain personal issues such as divorce or scandals. Additionally, the audience is able to see Monroe in her acting roles and see how she lit up the big screen. It connects the audience to Monroe and sees how she was behind the cameras. Despite having a lively personality in front of the cameras, the interviewees reveal how difficult things were for her, unbeknownst to the public. The impact of Monroe’s career and life is still being shown today, especially through this documentary. It accomplishes in humanizing Monroe for everything she has been through.

While so many were intrigued about Monroe and her life, her death brought in so many questions and speculations over what truly happened. There were questions on whether her death really was just overdose, suicide or if she was murdered. Summers discovers that some of the interviewees’ telling of her death do not line up. This leads to theories over what truly happened and what was covered up. The audience is able to gain a new perspective over all the speculation surrounding her death.

Although the documentary was meant to answer the questions surrounding Monroe’s life and death, most of the

recordings and content reveal what was already public knowledge. While it is interesting to hear what they have to say about Monroe, it fails to provide the audience with anything shocking or revealing. However, the recordings and theories following Monroe’s death added more mystery into public knowledge.

The lack of any new information following conspiracies may be disappointing, but the documentary exceeds in telling Monroe’s story. The documentary follows Monroe’s career journey from the start to the end, in which the audience is able to see how much she grew in the industry. It is fascinating for the audience who did not grow up knowing about the famous actress to learn about her story. It gives insight to what was happening, as well as how her H journey started and ended. ■

VERDICT:

“The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe” rehashes the late actress’ life and death, but fails to address anything new. It is interesting for audiences to learn more about Monroe and her scandals from friends and colleagues.

12

Sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

UC Riverside’s men’s baseball team crushes Loyola Marymount University THE HIGHLANDERS LOG BACK-TO-BACK WINS ON THE ROAD.

PATREACE ESPIRITU Contributing Writer

The Highlanders were welcomed by the LMU Lions on April 26, 2022 at the Page stadium. Ecstatic from their previous win against Cal Poly, they kept up the momentum as they defeated the home team with an impressive 6-1 on the scoreboard.

Freshman outfielder Jacob Badawi opened the game with a hit to center field. Fellow freshman outfielder Jayden Lopez was struck out and Badawi was caught attempting to steal a base for a double play. The Highlanders did not allow the Lions to land a hit during the first inning, but the home team did not warrant the same success during the top of the second inning. Redshirt senior outfielder Dylan Orick put UCR on the board with a solo home run to right field and his team cheered him on as he returned to the dugout.

The third inning was quite uneventful on the scoreboard,

but the Lions eventually tied the game during the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore pitcher Eric Marrujo allowed three hits in the fourth and their opponents took advantage by scoring their first and only run of the ball game. Marrujo, through six innings, only allowed one run while striking out four on the side for his second win of the season.

The Highlanders continued their momentum during the top of the fifth inning. With redshirt freshman midfielder Andrez Melendez on second base, Badawi doubled down and sent Melendez home, scoring the second point for the visiting team. Sophomore infielder Anthony Mcfarland advanced to third base as redshirt junior catcher Jacob Shanks went up at-bat. As Shanks sent the ball to left-field, Mcfarland took advantage as he scored another run for the Highlanders.

During the sixth inning, redshirt senior utility Nathan Webb drew cheers from the Highlander dugout as he stole a base at the same time redshirt senior outfielder Dylan

► FROM SOFTBALL

Both teams started out with back-toback one-two-three innings to open up the first game. In the top of the third inning, senior pitcher Chrys Hildebrand continued her great start on the mound with another three up, three down inning. In the bottom of the third inning, senior outfielder Nadia Witt got the first hit of the game as she hit a single down the left-field. Soon later, Witt was able to steal second base as junior infielder Lauryn Garewal was at bat. Garewal was then walked and was able to steal second base. With Witt on third base and Garewal on second, senior outfielder Haylee Kela looked to give the Highlanders their first run of the game.

Indeed she did as Kela crushes a double down the left-field to send Witt and Kela home and give UC Riverside a 2-0 lead.

A couple of batters later, redshirt junior infielder Max Ortega hit a single down the middle to give UCR another run and extend their lead 3-0.

In the top of the fifth inning, UC San Diego was able to get on the scoreboard with a double from sophomore Mariah Melendez. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Highlanders managed to get another run with a single from junior shortstop

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Orick scored due to an error made by the catcher, putting the visiting team up 4-1 against the Lions. With Webb now on third, Melendrez returned to bat with another successful hit for a double, allowing Webb to score another point within the same inning and increasing their lead to 5-1.

The last point of the night was made during the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore catcher hit a single through the right, allowing Webb to advance to third and sending redshirt freshman and first baseman Joey Nicolai home. That sealed off the night for the Highlanders as they finished the ball game with six runs under their name to the Lions’ one.

They went on to UC San Diego on April 29, 2022 to kick start their three-game series which had its final game on the first of May. The Highlanders will be presented with the opportunity to improve their Big West Conference ranking with another three-game series against Long Beach State from May 6, 2022 until its last ball game on H May 8, 2022. ■

Marissa Burk. Witt was able to score on an unearned run to make the score 4-1. In the top of the seventh inning, the Tritons had one last chance to force extra innings or to win the game. However, Hildebrand made quick work of UCSD as she retired Melendez to give the Highlanders the win in the doubleheader. Hildebrand in 7.0 innings pitched allowed only one run, four hits and had 11 strikeouts. Kela led the Highlanders with an RBI double with two hits and a run.

In the second game of the doubleheader, both teams felt the fatigue of the previous game as neither team got a run in the first few innings. Redshirt senior pitcher Katie Barbarick struggled this season on the mound but in this game, she managed to find her groove as she allowed only one hit and no runs. UC Riverside, however, struggled to get things going offensively as they were unable to reach scoring opportunities.

The game turned around in the bottom of the fifth inning as UCR found an offensive explosion. It started with a single from redshirt sophomore catcher Jantzen Owen to get things started for the Highlanders.

Singles from sophomore utility player Ally Troche and sophomore infielder Kat

Montuya had the bases loaded for UC Riverside. A single down the infield line brought home Troche and Owen to give the UCR a 2-0 lead. Moments later, Kela was walked to bring the score to 3-0 for the Highlanders. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Montuya was walked with the bases loaded to give UC Riverside a 4-0 lead.

Then, a wild pitch allowed Owen to race home and extend the lead 5-0. Soon after, a single from Witt brought Troche home and gave another run to UC Riverside and made the score 6-0. A single from Garewal down the left center earned runs for Witt and Montuya and brought the UCR lead to 8-0, which ended the game because of mercy rule and gave the Highlanders the win.

Barbarick in 6.0 innings pitched allowed only one hit, no runs, and had six strikeouts. Witt led the Highlanders with a RBI triple with two hits and a run. Garewal had a RBI double with two hits, and Owen had three hits with two runs.

The Highlanders improve their record to 20-22 (11-9) and sit fourth in Big West Conference play. They will play their last home series against UC Santa Barbara next H Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8th. ■