Vol. 71. Issue 01

As the Fall Quarter rears its ugly head, the UCR community prepares an abundant reception. UCR students have an opportunity to restore in-person campus life with new vigor after its untimely dissolution when COVID restrictions banished in-person campus culture. Most events planned for Welcome Week 2022 are open to all students. Some events cater to a specific audience and these details can be found in UCR news or students can contact the hosting department.

Notably, student resource centers are hosting a plethora of events to reintroduce their facilities and services. Student resource centers empower students to achieve their full academic potential in an inclusive and equitable environment. These events are fun opportunities for students to familiarize themselves with the support systems available to them.

The Undocumented Student Programs (USP) welcome all DREAMers, students from mixed-status families and allies. USP has several events lined up throughout the first two weeks of the quarter. On September 20th, USP invites students to a campus tour with donuts from 9:30-11 A.M. On September 21st, USP is hosting an open house tour from 12-1:30 P.M. to tour the USP offices at Costo Hall while drinking free boba, while supplies last. On Sept. 22, from 12-1 P.M., USP is hosting a welcome lunch with a variety of food. On Sept. 26 from 5-6 P.M., USP is hosting a welcome dinner and will be catering various foods. On Sept. 28, USP will be serving ice cream during their open house.

The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) invites the UCR community to celebrate the first week of the fall quarter with t-shirt giveaways, donuts, ice cream, selfies with

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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27 Tuesday 28

Wednesday 29 Thursday 30

Friday

Saturday 2

Sunday 3 Monday

CHASS Giveaway Rivera & Orbach Libraries

upcoMing events:

ASPB Tartan Soul Kickoff Nooner 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Belltower

Academic Resource Center (ARC) Open House 12 p. m. - 2 p.m. Skyhall

Student Disability Resource Center Open House 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1228 Student Services Building

Singer-songwriter Tim Apple Performance for Soul, Rock and Reggae Concert Event 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Barn

Health Professions Advising Center

Open House 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Rivera Library HPAC-B03

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UCR receives notable recognition as a top public university in the nation

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The University of California, Riverside has achieved numerous distinctions and rankings over the course of the summer and the past academic year, highlighting many of our campus’ strengths and feats. This recognition highlighted UCR’s social mobility, graduation rates, and impact as an institution for higher learning. The university has been consistently ranked in the Top 100 overall public universities by numerous publications throughout the past decade.

For four consecutive years, U.S. News ranked UC Riverside as the number one public university in the nation for social mobility on its 2022-2023 Best Colleges list. This recognition comes with consideration to the resources and support provided for under-privileged graduates and how well this elevates them to a higher standard of living. The Pell Grant was a notable factor in this regard, with more than 48% of eligible students receiving it in fall 2021.

Another accolade comes from Washington Monthly magazine who highlighted UC Riverside as No. 4 in the nation for its Pell Grant performance. The

Pell Grant serves low-income students as the largest federal grant program offered to undergraduates and this ranking spotlights one of the many ways UCR proves its dedication to serving underprivileged students.

Financial aid and value were also highlighted in the Princeton Review’s “Best 388 Colleges for 2023,” and UCR earned the No. 23 ranking among best value colleges in the nation. This primarily pertains to colleges and the return on investment they provide through academic opportunities, affordable resources, and strong career prospects following graduation.

UCR also ranked No. 11 among Best Schools for Financial Aid and No. 20 for Best Schools for Making a Public Impact, the latter referring to community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts, and student engagement. The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author spotlighted UC Riverside and expressed his support for our university stating, ““We’re delighted to recommend it as an ideal choice for students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college.”

UC Riverside also fared well in other

areas of recognition. This includes being ranked in the U.S. News 2022 college rankings as No. 30 for economic diversity and No. 41 for most innovative as well as No. 38 best public school and No. 89 in overall rankings.

Forbes, well known for publishing lists and rankings, recognized UC Riverside as the No. 33 public university in their top colleges list and No. 84 among 500 private and public colleges. The list was generated with respect to factors that determined whether students would receive their education at a reasonable price while still being able to graduate on time and remain successful in the professional world. In addition, new metrics were also utilized that observed how well students were able to pay off college debts and how well an institution supports low-income students.

Previously, UCR was ranked

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among the top 1.3% of universities internationally by the Center for World University Rankings Money magazine also ranked UC Riverside No. 40 on their “Best Values” colleges list. You can read more about Money magazine and their “Best Values” colleges list through the Highlander’s coverage.

UC Riverside thrives as a top ranked institution in the nation and much of this can be attributed to the school’s stellar academic experience and unmatched dedication to serving the underprivileged. Through this support, as well as the oncampus experience provided by students and faculty alike, Highlanders are able to succeed in their endeavors while also finding their place and purpose on campus.

Welcome Back!

HERE ARE EVENTS YOU CAN ATTEND TO RECONNECT WITH AN IN-PERSON CAMPUS COMMUNITY

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

Scotty, tours, and more. CHASS events will be held on Sept. 22, 23, 26, and 27.

The LGBT Resource Center (LGBTRC) invites students to an orientation on Sept. 25 from 1-3 P.M.. This program introduces student leaders, LGBT Resource Center staff, upcoming events, and programs. The afternoon will be filled with activities like speed-chatting and students will have an opportunity to get a Q-Camp Kit full of LGBTRC swag through the mail. Students can register for the event online.

September 28th is especially packed with events with the Student Organization Involvement Fair that incentivizes students to explore various organizations in UCR. The Academic Resource Center (ARC) will be hosting an open house for undergraduate UCR students from 12-2 P.M. There will be giveaways and food during the event. The Associated Student Program Board’s Tartan Soul Kickoff Nooner begins at 11 A.M. and ends at 1 P.M. at the UCR Belltower: providing live music, free giveaways, and free acai bowls.

On Sept. 29 from 11-2 P.M., the Student Disability Resource Center organized an Open House where students are welcome

to meet to get reacquainted with the SDRC. There will be some refreshments and activities. From 4-9 P.M., singersongwriter Tim Apple will be playing live music at The Barn during its Soul, Rock and Reggae Concert. ASPB will be screening “Monster’s University” at the Aberdeen and Inverness Knoll at 6-8 P.M. The event is free for all students but food and giveaways are reserved for undergraduate students.

This is a great time to discover new depapartments, on-campus community networks, reconnect with familiar programs, and acclimate to the in-person campus life.

UC Riverside to use Grants and Funding to make higher education more accessible

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

UC Riverside has received various grants that will be redirected to make higher education more accessible to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, further UCR’s commitment to social mobility, and environmental research.

In 2021, UCR received a $188,020 HEERF grant to re-engage students that were impacted by the pandemic. UCR University Extension and UCR Undergraduate Education partner to help students that faced challenges during the pandemic such as physical and mental illness, deaths in the family, changes in employment status, changes in housing status, and struggles with online learning have an opportunity to receive financial assistance. 17 students have already been offered grants ranging from $1,100$8,300.

This grant was awarded in winter and spring 2022 quarter but according to the director of academic quality, integrity and assessment with UCR University Extension, Marie Martin, there is more money left to distribute. All of the funds have to be distributed by June 2023. In addition, UCR has $11,000 left to pay off delinquent account holds to allow students to re-enroll and return to UCR, and $117,000 left to cover a full course load of concurrent enrollment courses and UCR readmission application fees.

Students are encouraged to complete the eligibility form.

A $342,000 grant will allow the expansion of Latinx and the Environment: Partnerships to Pave Pathways to the Professoriate from UC Berkeley to UCR. This project is funded by the University of California Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity initiative and will be led by UCR and UC Berkeley. The program has a dual emphasis in encouraging and creating environmental research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate Latine students and creating new pathways for graduate students to become professors.

Since 2018, UC Berkeley has been operating the program dubbed, “Latine and Environment Initiative.” UCB seeks to extend the program to UCR. UCR has been a Hispanic Serving Institution, or HSI, since 2008: recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Act for having a full-time Latine student population that is at least 25% Hispanic. Today, UCR has a more than 40% Latine student population. UC Berkeley’s Latine student population is 18%. This expansion offers Latine students UC-wide community support.

UCR students interested in conducting research can participate in “Latinx and the Environment” seminar starting fall 2022. Latinx and the Environment Seminar will run simultaneously at each campus, with students and faculty from both schools collaborating, sharing ideas, and further expanding the program to other UC campuses.

UCR will be hosting the first UC graduate research conference that is scheduled for March 2023. Latine students from every UC will showcase their research on environmental issues.

UCR and the Inland Empire received $18 million from a statewide investment of $250 million that addresses equity gaps and improves education-to-career pipelines in each region of the state. The Regional K-16 collaborative program is intended to establish collaboration among the University of California system, the California State University system, community colleges, K-12 school districts and workforce partners so that students have clear career pathways that begin in elementary school.

UCR is a lead applicant for the grant and will hire staff members to oversee the program. The Riverside County Office of Education and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools will serve as coconvenors on behalf of additional regional

partners that signed the grant. A committee including regional partners will ensure the equitable distribution of funds across both San Bernardino and Riverside counties once the funds are received by UCR.

The regents of the University of California have approved construction plans for a new UC Riverside School of Business building that will provide more instructional and administrative space to meet growing enrollment demand. The facility will include state-of-the-art technology for hybrid learning where lecturers can deliver multimedia seminars that can be recorded and streamed. According to the campus architect, Jacqueline Norman, the new building will centralize the School of Business community. The project’s budget is at $87 million, originally budgeted at $55 million. The project is paid for with campus funds, including School of Business resources and bond financing.

HAVE ALSO APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A

LEO

America’s corporate celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month ignores real issues being faced by the Latine community

September 15 in the United States marks the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time meant to uplift and highlight the voices of the Latine community. During this month, along with other heritage and recognition months in the U.S., it is common to see brands and companies change their social media profile pictures or create a new slogan reflecting the community being celebrated. While this trend may be fun, it is merely corporate performative activism, and the public often gives in. By turning these heritage and recognition months into a marketing scheme, the larger issues these communities face are being ignored.

One grave issue currently weighing heavy on the Latine community, in the U.S. and across the world, is the negative effects of climate change. In a study conducted by Pew Research Center in 2021, “the majority of Latinxs surveyed said that climate change is affecting their local community, that they lived in an area that had experienced an extreme weather event in the last year and that addressing global climate change is important to them.” This data brings to light the urgency in which climate help is needed. Gentrification and redlining have pushed the Latine community into areas where they are more likely to experience the worst of climate change including floods, wildfires, and droughts. Around the world these problems become more apparent, with Mexico recently having another large earthquake and Puerto Rico facing Hurricane Fiona. It seems as if these countries cannot get a break to rebuild and stabilize with natural disasters constantly being thrown at them.

During this month, companies sometimes claim to work with Latine designers and state that a profit of their sales will go towards the community, and while these small promises help, they are most likely being done to avoid backlash while receiving a tax write-off. Social media has proven that those who claim to support disenfranchised communities gain more of a following, and companies use this to their advantage. This is merely the same problem as

greenwashing. The merchandise that comes out often feeds into stereotypes like putting rainbows on everything during pride month and claiming you’re an ally. Walking into your local Target and finding a tacky display of Hispanic Heritage Month T-shirts and other merchandise is distasteful and does nothing to solve the systemic problems that harm these marginalized communities.

Large corporations are the main cause of global warming and add to the majority of carbon emissions. These corporations need to hold themselves accountable for their actions in destroying our environment. During this month we should push our representatives and leaders to pass legislation that would implement real solutions to climate change. Community action groups are also at the forefront of solving these issues and should be supported for their efforts that often go unnoticed.

While heritage and recognition months are still an important way to celebrate America’s diversity, the culture surrounding them needs to change. Supporting Latine owned businesses versus large corporations is one way to start decolonizing and decapitalizing the month. We should also place less emphasis on merchandise and instead take this time to learn about the community being highlighted. Teaching the youth to be tolerant and accepting of all backgrounds and cultures is especially important to create positive change. By putting an emphasis on action instead of capitalism, we can change the way heritage and recognition months are treated in the U.S.

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.

CLIMATE CHANGE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS LATINES AND LITTLE IS BEING DONE TO HELP.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Welcome to college — everything isnot as it seems

COURTESY OF FREEPIK

MADISON RHEINS Editor-in-Chief

When freshman and transfer students first step onto a college campus, they’re often bombarded with literature that boasts some of the institution’s proudest accomplishments. From diversity statistics to welcome events, it’s easy to be swept up in the excitement that a university first has to offer. It’s important, however, to realize that many institutions must still be held accountable for their flaws that directly impact student life.

For decades, student-run publications across big and small universities alike have specialized in handing out disorientation guides to prospective students. And while colleges have their own literature they like to hand out, these student-published guides are completely different. Disorientation guides introduce students to campus activism and give students the unfiltered truth that colleges fail to reveal themselves. Important social justice issues are highlighted in these guides such

as abuses of power by campus police or the lack of funding for ethnic programs on campuses. Moreover, these guides often highlight the not-so-positive history of college campuses and place emphasis on fighting for justice in relation to the past.

For prospective students, it’s incredibly important that the real history of a college campus is not overlooked or overshadowed by superficial facts about what a university might have to offer. For these reasons, disorientation guides are becoming increasingly important on college campuses. College administrators expect students to be naive and these guides work to put an end to that. Disorientation guides put the past in perspective and show how it has negatively impacted underrepresented students today.

Not only do disorientation guides offer a refreshing and unbiased look into a college’s history, they also cultivate a sense of urgency when it comes to fighting for what is right. Student activism is a powerful tool that many universities are scared of and often don’t openly encourage. Instead, disorientation guides encourage students to go out and actually make a difference on campus, positively impacting student life for all and aiding people in their future endeavors.

Student activism teaches people to expect more from powerful institutions and teaches people to hold leaders accountable for their actions. Without activism, society would definitely be more susceptible to lies and institutions who want to take advantage of them.

Disorientation guides must be a more popularized piece of literature across all college campuses. Students should know the truth when it comes to the universities they’re attending and they need to be exposed to the efforts that are being made to make campuses a better and safer place for all. It’s important for students to experience grassroots activism in order to improve their educational experience and prepare them for life after college.

Horrific conditions at jail facility prove that prisonsshould become obsolete in American society

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

The abysmal conditions of the LA County Jail’s booking center, known as the Inmate Reception Center (IRC), epitomizes the American prison industrial complex. Since its establishment, LA County jails have been entrenched in dubious practices like chronic overcrowding, maintaining increasingly filthy and inhumane conditions and targeting vulnerable people at the margins of society. LA County Jail’s persistent history of mistreatment of marginalized communities and its patterns of mass incarcerations of certain citizens, which is increasingly people of color as the century progresses, endure into the contemporary.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) served as a court appointed monitor of the LA County Jail since 1985. They documented overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and extreme abuse of inmates at the hands of deputies. In early 2012, LA County Sheriff, Lee Baca, succumbed to mounting national pressure to allow access to the jails for study on the feasibility of closing Men’s Central Jail. The ACLU and Sheriff Baca both endorsed a new report around April 2012 that recommended closing the infamous jail within two years.

Recently, the ACLU asked the U.S. District Judge, Dean D. Pregerson, for an emergency order to force Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the Board of Supervisors to immediately address the “abysmal” conditions at the county jail’s inmate reception center. The request revives a 1975 class-action suit which led to orders that the county end dangerous and inhumane practices that violate inmates’ rights.

The Inmate Reception Center processes approximately 120,000 inmates annually through the county jail system, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Its facilities have inadequate infrastructure to sustain the volume of criminalized people.

Inmate attorneys who visited the center reported that there were piles of garbage scattered throughout the

clinic, toilets were smeared with feces and the attorney did not observe an effort to sanitize the area during the time they were in the clinic. “While I was there I saw people who were chained to the benches in the front area, whom I understand have serious mental illness, stand up to attempt to pee into the orange juice containers but missing with some of the pee ending up on the floor.”

Mentally ill inmates reported that the jail failed to provide the psychiatric medicines that they take regularly to treat such conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or chronic PTSD. Terry A. Kupers, the psychiatrist ACLU attorneys cited, testified that “an experience of abrupt discontinuation of psychotropic medications followed by exacerbated psychiatric decompensation will worsen the ongoing course of the mental illness, worsen the disability and make the prognosis more dire.”

The 2019 Office of Inspector General Review, OIG, of the IRC Intake Evaluation Process observed the excessive restraining of inmates to chairs and OIG personnel have observed unsanitary conditions on multiple occasions. Severe restraint, Kupers warns, as observed at IRC has very harmful effects on all inmates, but especially impacts inmates with mental illness. Many of those suffering from psychosis become more dysfunctional, and lose confidence in custody and mental health staff. Subsequently, these conditions not only harmfully impact a defendant’s ability to help their own defense but also make mental health treatment very problematic.

The two routine practices, abrupt discontinuation of medication for the duration of inmates’ stay in IRC and severe restraint, both violate all standards of medical health care and cause damage to the psychiatric condition of the inmates. The practices are connected, as the removal of prescribed medication causes exacerbation of mental illness and consequently increases disability.

The emergency filing asks the court to limit custody

at the IRC to 24 hours at most and improve conditions of the facilities to meet minimum standards of sanitation, health care and human decency. But advocates and community groups argue that the real solution requires state investment in alternatives to incarceration.

It is imperative to recognize systems such as prisons as sites where enormous amounts of violence take place as systems that were created to be inherently violent in order to maintain control and ultimately harm vulnerable members of society. To reduce the harms of incarceration systems there must be state investment in communitybased solutions that not only address incidents of violence but also facilitate collective responses to them: empowering collective action to build relationships and communities that could intervene in instances of violence and ultimately prevent it.

DISORIENTATION GUIDES ARE A PERFECT WAY TO START HEALTHY DISCOURSE REGARDING CAMPUS ACTIVISM.

“IMPRISONMENT HAS BECOME THE RESPONSE OF FIRST RESORT TO FAR TOO MANY OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT BURDEN PEOPLE WHO ARE ENSCONCED IN POVERTY.” - ANGELA Y. DAVIS

COURTESY

The military needs to make internal changes in how it supports its service members

YSABEL NAKASONE Assistant Opinions Editor

This August, an Associated Press article stated a 13% increase in reports of sexual assault throughout the military since 2018, with increases in the army and navy being the most concerning. This may be an increase in reporting, rather than sexual assault, which would indicate that the situation has always been this dire. In either case, it’s calling attention to the neglect faced by service members as this issue remains largely unaddressed. The efforts of Pentagon officials to bring awareness to this issue are simply not enough as service members operate in an unsafe environment and are subject to acts of violence from their own coworkers. The military cannot expect to remain a priority, nor a strong institution, in the eyes of the American public while they do not prioritize the physical and emotional safety of service members.

This increase in the reporting of sexual harassment and assault of service members will likely contribute to already decreasing recruitment numbers, in addition to the military’s deteriorating public credibility. According to Pew Research center approximately 75% of Americans do not believe that the military has the ability “to act in the public’s best interest.” These new statistics from AP show that they don’t seem to be able to act

in the best interest of their own members either.

Even before AP released these statistics on sexual assault, the Pentagon was facing scrutiny due to already worrisome recruitment numbers. These low numbers have been attributed to a new generation’s emerging perspectives and “lifestyle trends,” according to several military officials. While there are a number of improvements that the military can make to address the unattractive facets of joining, such as increasing pay and benefits or introducing more stringent protections for sexual assault and harassment victims, what is entirely unhelpful is Representative Anthony Brown of Maryland’s suggestion that the country “deep[en] partnerships with traditionally underserved or overlooked communities to tap into the full talent pool of our country.” Targeting Americans of low socioeconomic status, instead of making internal adjustments, cannot be the solution to this problem and only adds to the impression that the military and government as a whole are aiming to take advantage of Americans.

The increase in sexual assault reporting since 2018 is certainly not going to be helpful during this recruiting crisis as family and friends do not feel comfortable sending their loved ones to be part of an institution that does not have

their back. Joining the military already poses dangers on its own, but there has to be an expectation of professional conduct among colleagues as well as personal safety from said colleagues. Many family members already have to fear their loved ones being harmed in combat, where it might be expected, but now also fear the men and women who are supposed to stand with them against any danger they might face.

The military cannot expect young Americans to sign up for this treatment when they can find better opportunities with greater protections elsewhere. It’s time for the military to stop putting the blame on cultural shifts and take a look in the mirror at their own failures to create a safe or desirable work environment. Sacrificing for one’s country is not a new concept, but this is a bridge too far.

Los Angeles County holds hotels responsible for housing the expanding homeless population

LA COUNTY, AFTER CLOSING MANY HOMELESS AID PROGRAMS, PROPOSES A BILL THAT WOULD FORCE HOTELS TO HOUSE ITS HOMELESS IN VACANT ROOMS.

SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor

In 2024, Los Angeles will propose to voters a controversial bill requiring hotels to rent out vacant rooms to the homeless population of the county. This bill, while it may seem like a way to solve the worsening homelessness problem in LA, is a last-ditch effort by the county to hold someone else responsible for a crisis they created.

With the astronomical price of homes in and around LA continuing to rise, the cost of living has reached well beyond the means of most Los Angeles residents. The median income of LA County residents has remained stagnant at around $31,000 a year, while the average cost of living ranges at the low end of about $4,000 a month, which rounds up to $48,000 a year. The math simply does not add up, and LA County is forcing hotels to take an unreasonable financial burden to solve this problem.

If passed, this proposal would require hotels to report vacancies to the city housing department. The housing department will then pay a “fair market rate” for rooms using prepaid vouchers. This voucher program has no

proposed source of funding and is currently completely dependent on donations from church groups, private buyers and homelessness relief programs.

Most hotels are happy to offer their services to the program once their many safety and financial concerns are addressed. Hotel insurance carriers have also claimed they will pull coverage from hotels participating in this program because of the unmitigatable risk factor. Hotels did not cause the homlesness crisis and they should not be the solution either.

Since LA County city officials have gradually been closing COVID era homelessness relief program Project Roomskey’s locations, using hotels seems like the county’s way of forcing someone else to deal with a problem they created. This homeless relief program may seem like a good idea on the surface, but in reality it proposes an unreasonable financial and safety burden for hotels and their patrons.

DWINDLING MILITARY RECRUITMENT NUMBERS SHOW AMERICANS KNOW SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NOT A SACRIFICE SERVICE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Courtesy of Russ Allison Loar via Flickr under

Features

Prepare yourself, your life is about to change

Everything is up in the air, good and bad.

By: Ysabel Nakasone, Assistant Opinions Editor

Aries (March 21-April 19): The tower

Sudden change is dawning. Welcome or not, you must accept it. As fall quarter begins, this might come in the form of a new challenge. Maybe you are a first time freshman who is feeling out of their depth or a transfer student trying to form new bonds. The good news is that with this unexpected change will be followed by internal growth and important revelations.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): ten of Swords

Something in your life is coming to an end and unfortunately, it will be difficult. This might be a romantic relationship, a friendship, or an opportunity you were counting on. But the Ten of Swords is not about wallowing — it is about accepting the painful aspects of life and making the best of it. Even if you are feeling betrayed and hurt, there is comfort in the reassurance that this will be the last bout of pain you will endure from this source. You must make it through this obstacle in order to experience rejuvenation.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): The moon

You are experiencing some anxiety. Completely understandable. You might believe that you have put too much on your plate and cannot handle it or maybe life is throwing too many curveballs. But you are letting the anxiety and fear cloud your judgment. If you believe you will fail, then you will fail. You may feel uncertain, but it is because you do not have all the information. Whether it is your personal life, school, or work, you need to think about the situation logically even if that is hard.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): justice

The Justice card reminds you that even if you are trying to be fair and clear, it is important to remember to be compassionate. Compassion is a component of justice often forgotten. You are not supposed to be judgemental, but realistically, everyone judges. Remember to look at more than the facts. Someone around you has let you down, but there is always a reason behind it and it might be worth listening to.

You had a plan, but now the plan is off the rails. You are losing sight of what originally

Leo (July 23-August 22): page of pentacles

led you to this point and what inspires you. Tap into that and engage in the things that used to uplift your spirit before. You need to follow your own guiding light because following someone else’s will not lead to your own passion.

Virgo, your critical nature may not come

Virgo (August 23September 22): The Hermit

in handy as the Hermit card indicates you need to look inward. Try not to turn your judgment on yourself even as you take a step back from the world at large. Even though this is a time for you to explore what it is like to be alone, you do not have to be lonely. The people who are worth it will understand how to support you without stifling you and letting you make your own decisions.

Libra (September 23October 22): the magician

The Magician is a sign that the tools you need to reach your immediate goals are within reach. You have been feeling stagnant in your process, but that is because a breakthrough is close. Focus on what started you on this path and look forward to the end result. It is thinking ahead with clarity that will help you forge ahead.

Scorpio (October 23November 21): queen of cups

The Queen of Cups tells a story of mothering energy. You need to focus on nurturing people and relationships even though you feel like you do not know what you are doing. For you, it is time to be emotional and try not to overthink. Maybe there is someone or something you have been holding back from because it does not feel like it makes sense, but not everything has to. As a Scorpio, this may not be your strength with your black and white view of the world, but thinking with your heart will be like a breath of fresh air.

Sagittarius (November 22December 21): the four of swords

This is a sign to take a moment and breathe. You have been going, going, going and you are going to need to practice selfcare if you want to avoid burnout. Stay off of social media and maybe block out some nap time. A new school year and move-in can be very stressful, so working out how to balance mental health and your other responsibilities is important.

Capricorn (December 22January 19): the emperor

Capricorn, you have been focusing on trying to make others respect you. You have been exhibiting harsh and inflexible thinking. It is okay to exude confidence, but not so much that you make others feel passive. You can take on leadership roles, but remember that you should be inspiring others to take charge. Giving others a chance to shine does not mean that you have to take the backseat. You are in the process of letting go of an old burden. It was holding you back, but now you are surrendering to the better angels of your nature. This choice to take a moment and smell the roses is opening your eyes to opportunities that you would have otherwise missed. Let this be a lesson to you and remember to take care of yourself as you go forwards as it will lead

Aquarius (January 20February 18): death

you on an unexpected, yet desired journey. Stay calm. This card does not mean someone is going to die. It is a symbol of transformation and rebirth. It means that you need to cut out negative influences. There is someone in your life who has been causing turmoil whether it is a friend or partner who you know that you should have backed away from already. Prioritize yourself over someone who does not prioritize you.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20): The wheel of fortune

You feel like you are out of control and outside influences are controlling your life instead of you controlling. While you should do your best to reach your goals, you have to accept that you cannot control everything. Your relationships may also be feeling unstable and you do not know how to create stability. That is what is so burdensome about this card, you have to do your best and hope that fortune falls in your favor.

“A-dough-able” and delicious desserts found at Uncle Chuang’s Bakery

ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

Located at the University Village near campus, Uncle Chuang’s Bakery is one of Riverside’s hidden gems. Baked fresh every day, Uncle Chuang’s Bakery specializes in all sorts of baked goods such as ice cream sandwiches and savory and sweet breads. They also serve a variety of cake options for any special occasion, such as birthday parties, weddings and family gatherings.

Opened on December 8th, 2013, the family-owned business had the goal of bringing together Asian and American cultures through their products in order to satisfy everyone’s hunger. With most of their items ranging from $2-$6, Uncle Chuang’s Bakery is one of the most affordable and delightful bakeries for students who are looking for something to snack on.

After talking to Madison Rheins, one of Uncle Chuang’s Bakery employees and The Highlander’s Editor-In-Chief, she explained that the bakers at Uncle Chuang’s Bakery come in every day from 1 A.M. to 9 A.M. to bake all the breads and cakes. The employees then come in at 8 A.M. to package all the baked goods for customers to purchase first thing in the morning.

I had the opportunity to try a variety of desserts recommended by Rheins and with Uncle Chuang’s Bakery affordable and freshly baked goods, the bakery did not disappoint! To start off, I had the opportunity to try the garlic bun for $2.00. The bread was soft and moist with a hint of garlic butter. Garlic buns are known to be very

greasy but the ones I had surprisingly didn’t have much oil.

Next up was the lychee strawberry ice cream sandwich for $3.00. After letting it melt for a bit, the cookies had a very soft and smooth texture that goes well with the silky lychee sorbet. The medium sized ice cream sandwich was perfect for my liking as it satisfied my sweet tooth without being overwhelmingly sweet. After finishing the ice cream sandwich, I had the opportunity to try the mini tiramisu for $4.25. The cake also wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet as you could taste a hint of coffee through every bite. It’s perfect for anyone craving a sweet dessert on a hot day.

Finally, I was able to try their ice green tea. At first, I thought it would be bitter like most unsweetened teas, however, I was shocked to find that their green teas are sweetened and brewed fresh every day. Excitingly enough, their iced green teas are free for any purchase above $12. Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience at Uncle Chuang’s Bakery and will definitely start coming here more often.

REVIEWING ONE OF RIVERSIDE’S FAMILYOWNED BAKERIES RIGHT AROUND CAMPUS.

Campus cope: best thrift stores around campus

SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor

With the popularization of thrifting via TikTok, many people may find themselves wondering where are the best places to shop second hand near campus? Here is a list of some of the nicest, band for your buck thrift stores around UCR.

Goodwill - 6086 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92508

New to thrifting, Goodwill is your perfect introduction to shopping second hand. Goodwill is one of the most popular thrift stores in the country, and although the prices have increased slightly over the years, it is still a wonderful thrift store filled with impeccable deals on clothes, shoes, books, furniture, and anything your heart desires.

Salvation Army - 10020 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA, 92503

Salvation Army, very similar to Goodwill, has shelves chocked full of anything you can think of. Their extremely broad selection, coupled with their half-price Wednesdays makes Salvation Army quite the bang for your buck.

Set Free - 3021 14th St, Riverside, CA 92507

A local shop, Set Free thrift has a little bit of everything. Set Free is a little on the smaller side of thrift stores, but has a surprisingly good selection of high quality items for extremely low prices.

These are just three of the dozens of wonderful places for you to thrift from around campus. Shopping second hand is the most environmentally friendly way to participate in consumer culture. By spending time showering thrift stores not only are you saving the environment and your money, but you’re also creating a one-of-a-kind wardrobe filled with items unique to you. Thrifting is like recycling clothes, and who knows, you might create your dream wardrobe.

THRIFTING IS THE BEST WAY TO SHOP, HERE ARE A FEW SPOTS AROUND CAMPUS TO CHECK OUT.

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ASHLEY CHEN / THE HIGHLANDER

RadaR

Block Party is back in full swing with its first woman headliner

THE ANNUAL EVENT HOSTED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENT PROGRAMMING BOARD FULFILLS STUDENT EXPECTATIONS DESPITE A FEW SET-BACKS.

JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

On Saturday, September 24th, ASPB left students satisfied with their Block Party experience. For many students, this was their first time at a Block Party with live music. With live performances and unique attractions, the event was worthy of combatting the Riverside heat.

Days leading up to Block Party, ASPB tested out a new way to distribute wristbands for event entry. With select days and hours, rather than an exclusive day of distribution, students could collect an entry wristband. The new method received a positive response from students.

Third-year student, Ally Moissiy, commented on the wait after receiving her wristband Friday morning. “It took me longer to do the module than to wait in line.” A multitude of students echoed Moissiy’s words regarding fast wait times.

While the wait for a wristband was quite short, an abundance of students waited outside the venue before doors opened. A few students waited up to three hours for a barricade viewing of the main stage or first access to Block Party promo items. Even with hours of waiting, there were no complaints. Others walked in after 5:00 PM with no problem. The process was quick and easy.

DJ Carisma welcomed attendees with music to get all highlanders dancing. From artists like Cardi B to City Girls, the crowd warmed up in preparation for Vicetone.

As more students entered the venue space, a pattern of vibrant fashion was a fad for the night. Bright colors and distinctive designs covered students’ clothing. Body glitter and over-the-top accessories decorated the crowd.

Hannah Lee and Janelle Silva, a pair of second-year students, added their take on the concept of Block Party fashion. Lee stated, “I wish more people would go over the top with their costumes, makeup and hair.”

Vicetone began their set fairly early after doors opened. As soon as the EDM group introduced themselves, the crowd filled with excitement. The group mixed some of their music with other electronic classics. Vicetone got students jumping and singing along to EDM hits. They ended their set with their song “Astronomia” followed by the Avicii song “Wake Me Up.” The pair left the stage at 6:15 PM with cheers succeeding their departure from the stage.

Ten minutes later, V of Emotional Oranges walked on stage alone. She began to sing “Motion,” while A smoothly followed after her lead. The two instantly had on-stage chemistry. From singing to each other to dancing in sync, the pair undeniably gave a moving performance. As V and A sang “All That,” backup dancers appeared on stage. While Emotional Oranges were performing, students slowly trickled out of the stage space to cool off from the heat. V also briefly covered Missy Elliot’s “Get Ur Freak On” and Fuggee’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Overall, the crowd vibed with the R&B group and had plenty of energy to give. Emotional Oranges left the stage at 7:07 PM and left the DJ to carry on the mood.

The DJ played reggaeton tracks to get the crowd moving for Lunay. During the 20-minute interval between the sets, ASPB staff repeatedly had to ask students to step back.

Lunay ran on stage at 7:26 PM with immediate shouts of enthusiasm. Dancing sparked throughout the mass to the reggaeton beats. A student gave Lunay a Puerto Rican flag and he held it up with pride as he sang his first song. Right away, students fell in love with the musician. So much so, throughout the show, women’s undergarments were thrown at Lunay. The artist brought his smooth dance moves and wowed the crowd during “El Favor.” Toward the end of his set, Lunay stood against the barricade and sang with the students. The reggaeton musician exited the stage with suave at 8:08 PM.

Right after Lunay’s performance, Scotty joined the

party by throwing free shirts into the crowd. ASPB staff also followed by throwing bandanas at students.

With a long interlude between sets, students began to feel the heat. Security asked students to back up. They provided cooling measures like spraying the crowd with water and handing out ice from a bucket. With a combination of weather and body heat, multiple students had to leave the main stage area.

Meanwhile, in the food truck area, students were not satisfied with their experience. Some students even missed Lunay’s performance.

Third-year students Siddharth Malik and Sebastian Morales vocalized their unpleasant experiences. Malik expressed, “We waited an hour in line at Heritage for a sandwich. I did not expect the line to be this long. There were also no prices on the truck, so it was disappointing.” Morales followed. “I paid 25 dollars for this meal. I can’t believe we missed Lunay. My heart would have stopped if I saw that man.”

22 minutes later, Flo Milli started her set with “Come Outside.” Her performance is especially unique to UCR, as DJ Carisma announced earlier that Flo Milli is the first woman to headline at Block Party. Flo Milli brought passion into her rapping and had fun with it as her adlibs flowed. Students were especially surprised by her song “Back Park (Flora The Explorer),” due to her unique sampling of the song. Flo Milli brought the party with “Conceited” and “May I.” If students weren’t a fan of Flo Milli before her performance, they left as a fan of hers.

Verdict:

WHILE THE RIVERSIDE HEAT WAS A DISTRACTION FROM THE PARTY, THE PERFORMANCES WERE EXTRAORINARY. EVERY ARTIST PPUT ON A SHOW WORTH WATCHING AND FILLED THE CROWD WITH EXCITEMENT.

JAELYN GONZALEZ / THE HIGHLANDER

RADAR

Bad Bunny broke the pop industry: why that ma ers for the Latine community

JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

The reggaeton star, Bad Bunny, started and ended the summer on the Billboard Hot 100. The artist released his latest album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” in May of this year. The album quickly entered the charts and has held the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts since 2016. With instant hits like “Me Porto Bonito” and “Tití Me Preguntó,” the summer beats and catchy lyricism captured the attention of a whole new audience.

With the summer filled with Bad Bunny’s success, the American music industry opened its doors to an entirely new market. Reggaeton is rarely seen on the charts or given radio play, yet Bad Bunny has made the U.S. more appreciative of the Caribbean sound.

Pop music was in an unknown state. From the conventional dance music by Drake to bleak lyrics from Jack Harlow, the industry needed a refresher. Bad Bunny released his album at a time when audiences craved an original sound. The sounds of reggaeton are vibrant and lively, which came to be a liking for the American audience. Reggaeton offers a new sound the U.S. is not used to hearing on the radio. Bad Bunny has introduced and brought reggaeton to the charts. Despite great success in the U.S., it is questionable as to what point the pop industry exploits reggaeton.

After “Un Verano Sin Ti,” non-Latine artists have flooded the market with a resonance of reggaeton and Afro-beats. In recent news, Bjork released “atopos” on September 6th. The single received mixed criticism online over her experimental take on reggaeton. Bjork’s single raises eyebrows, as well as introduces a dichotomy between non-Latine and reggaeton. Reggaeton is a descendant of Caribbean music. The Latin rhythms are the glue to the beats originating from Jamaica. The genre

is fairly popular in Latin America and is not new to the Latine community. Ultimately, the debate of whether nonLatine artists should be producing reggaeton is up to the Latine community. Reggaeton has deep connections with cultural and traditional music from Latin America. While it is a complex discussion, it is overtly established that the music industry should prioritize Latine musicians. There should be no battle with non-Latine artists over success in the genre.

Bad Bunny set the stage in the U.S. for the wide acceptance of reggaeton. Latine musicians now have a greater advantage to capitalize on this moment in popular music. Bad Bunny has used his fame to promote smaller artists. The singer brought out queer musicians, who are Puerto-Rican based, as backup singers for his sold-out concert. Young Miko and Villano Antillano are examples of his sharing success for the best. Bad Bunny also gave spotlight to Young Miko and Villano Antillano’s experiences as queer musicians. This is not the first time the artist has been political with his music.

On September 16th, Bad Bunny premiered the music video for his single “El Apagón.” The title translates to “The Power Outage,” which is in reference to the frequent electrical blackouts in Puerto Rico. The 22-minute video also serves as a documentary, featuring details of the ongoing issues on the island. Amid Hurricane Fiona, the video is deeply political, and Bad Bunny is not afraid to address such critical matters.

Bad Bunny uses his music as a political voice for the people of Puerto Rico. Not only is he rocking the charts, but is making crowds in the U.S. aware of Latin American affairs. It is inspiring for the new generation to see Bad Bunny, a Latino artist, not only become successful in the U.S. market but become an advocate for the community.

The future withholds which Latinx artist

will arise in Bad Bunny’s footsteps. However, it is known his establishment in the pop industry has created an everlasting impact on reggaeton and Latine musicians.

Abbo Elementary returns for season two following its three wins at The Emmys

THE SHOW PAYS HOMAGE TO PHILADELPHIA WITH A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE.

AMARAY ALVAREZ Opinions Editor

Following three Emmy wins, ABC sitcom, Abbott Elementary, aired its fi rst episode of season two on Wednesday, September 21 with a celebrity guest. The show fi rst premiered in 2021 and quickly rose to popularity with many praising its diverse cast and topics. Abbott Elementary focuses on a group of teachers trying to get by while navigating the Philadelphia public school system plus an under qualifi ed principal. Although the staff may not have all the resources they need, they are determined to help their students succeed.

The creator of the show, Quinta Brunson, may be recognized by fans from her early career when she was an Internet personality. Brunson starred in several BuzzFeed YouTube videos and had her own Instagram comedy series, “Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date.” Along with being the creator, Brunson is also the star of the show; third-grade teacher, Janine Teagues.

Season two began by showing what preparations occur before the start of a new school year with the teacher’s development week being the main focus of the episode. During the end of season one, the audience saw Janine break up with her long term, aspiring rapper boyfriend Tariq Temple. The two had been together since seventh-grade and seemed an unlikely couple.

With Janine being the responsible one and Tariq being somewhat of a slacker, their relationship was destined for doom.

Janine returns to teacher development week optimistic

about the new school year claiming she has spent the summer working on herself and has “grown up.” She even announces that she has secured a visit by local celebrity, Gritty, the offi cial mascot for the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey team, for the fi rst day of school.

As the episode progresses, we learn that Janine is actually struggling and has refused to see how the breakup has truly affected her. No longer sharing just 20% of her bills with her ex-boyfriend, Janine is unable to pay her rent and other invoices.

As Janine’s co-workers try to give her advice and assist her in this challenging time, she spirals further out of control by pretending everything is fi ne. Her perspective on the situation is only swayed when she is informed by the custodian that her car is being booted for not paying her parking tickets. Having the entire staff run outside and see her plea with the city worker not to put the clamp on her car is the reality check she needs. To make matters worse, Gritty then arrives after being told by Janine the wrong fi rst day of school.

Other plots that occur during this episode involve teachers Barbara Howard, played by Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Gregory Eddie, played by Tyler James Williams, who are desperately trying to secure a special desk for a new student who will be using a wheelchair. Barbara is excited that she was able to convince the school district to install a ramp outside for the student, but is unsuccessful in getting him a desk. Gregory ultimately fi nds a desk for the student showing the resilience and dedication these teachers have. The episode ends with students returning for the fi rst day of school. Janine and the others once again feel excited that the year will be a good one, despite any obstacles they may face.

Verdict:

THE SEASON TWO PREMIERE WAS JUST AS HILARIOUS AS SEASON ONE SETTING A POSITIVE TONE FOR THE NOW EMMY WINNING SHOW. VIEWERS SHOULD EXPECT MORE FROM THE ABBOTT ELEMENTARY STAFF AND STUDENTS.

THE PUERTO RICAN STAR STOLE EVERYONE’S HEARTS THIS SUMMER WITH REGGAETON HITS, BUT WHAT DOORS HAS HIS SUCCESS OPENED FOR OTHER LATINE MUSICIANS?

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Highlander preview:

Expectations and special dates forthis upcoming season

WITH THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR UPON US, HERE ARE SOME KEY DATES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR SPORTS TEAMS

HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

Last season, UC Riverside saw its athletics program take a massive leap in building a successful culture. Sports teams saw a significant increase in wins and improvements in player statistics all last year. With high expectations for UCR Athletics this school year, here are some key dates for this upcoming season.

Last season, both men’s and women’s basketball teams finished as a top six seed in the Big West Conference and played great in the Big West Conference Championship Tournament. Both teams added key contributors to their rosters via the transfer portal and continued to develop their players. The season opener for the men’s basketball team will be on October 28, 2022 against Cal State Dominguez Hills at 6:00 P.M. in the SRC Arena. On November 30, 2022, the men’s basketball team will take on Cal Baptist University in the Crosstown Showdown at CBU at 7:00 P.M. On December 14, 2022, they will have a PAC-12 rematch against Oregon University in Oregon time to be determined. Big West Conference play will begin on December 29, 2022 in the SRC Arena against Cal State Bakersfield at 5:00 P.M. Senior night for the men’s basketball team will be on March 2, 2022 against UC Irvine at 7:00 P.M. The season opener for the women’s basketball team will be on November 3, 2022 against Whittier College at 6:00 P.M. in the SRC Arena. They will have a tough matchup against UCLA a week later on November 10, 2022 at 11:30 AM in Los Angeles. The first Big West Conference home game will be against Long Beach State on December 31, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. Senior night for the women’s basketball team will be on March 4, 2022 against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 6:00 P.M. The Big West Conference Championship Tournament will be from March 7th-11th, in which the winner of the tournament will secure a spot in the NCAA March Madness Tournament. Both teams will have high expectations to have a winning season and make a deep playoff run

in the Championship Tournament.

Men’s and women’s soccer has already begun their season and are looking to be successful in Big West Conference play. The men’s soccer team will begin Big West Conference play on September 28, 2022 against Cal State Northridge in Northridge at 7:00 P.M. Their first home game in Big West Conference play will be on October 1, 2022 against UC Davis at 7:00 P.M. Senior night for the men’s soccer team will be on October 29, 2022 against UC Santa Barbara at 7:00 P.M. Women’s soccer has already begun their Big West Conference play with two ties against Long Beach State and UC San Diego. Their next matchup will be against UC Irvine on September 29, 2022 at 7:30 P.M. in the UCR Soccer Stadium. Senior night for the women’s soccer team will be on October 27, 2022 against Cal State Northridge at 7:30 P.M.

Women’s volleyball has also begun their season already and are looking to turn their season with the Big West Conference play. They began their Big West Conference matchups against UC Davis last Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in which they lost in set play 1-3. Their next game will be on the road as they take on the University of Hawaii at 10:00 P.M. on September 24, 2022. The Big West Conference home opener for the women’s volleyball team will be against UC San Diego on September 29, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. Senior night will be on November 19, 2022 against UC Santa Barbara time to be determined.

More information and schedules will be released later on for the spring sports such as baseball and cross country. With the academic school year underway, students will be able to attend all sporting events at UC Riverside for free and cheer on our student athletes.

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