The Highlander, Vol. 71 Issue 02

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

VOL. 71, ISSUE 02

est. 1954

NEWS

Women, Life, Freedom: The story of Mahsa Amini UCR IRANIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION

On September 13, 2022, Mahsa Zhina Amini was arrested by the “morality police” of Iran due to the fact that she was “improperly” wearing her hijab.

The young 22 year old was on vacation with her family when she was taken away to a “reeducation camp” where she later passed away three days after falling into an injury induced coma. The passing of Mahsa Amini caused major turmoil in Iran as a multitude of women throughout time have faced such unjust treatment alongside many who have lost their lives.

The fight for women’s rights has surged and as protests continue to get larger with each day, the Iranian government has completely shut off the internet, COURTESY OF PEXELS

RADAR

preventing their messages, and their fight for justice, from reaching the outside world. The burden of the fight against this long standing oppression should not only fall upon the citizens of Iran.

In the 1920s, women in Iran made similaarly powerful strides towards gender equality. These monumental changes allowed for co-ed classrooms, women holding positions within local councils, gaining certain rights to vote, filing for divorce and even fighting for custody. Iranian women no longer possess any of these rights today. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been brutal and tyrannical as they have used the name of Islam to strip women of their basic human rights. Throughout the last 40 years, women have lost the rights we take for granted in the in the United States today, ► SEE MAHSA PAGE 6

THE DRAMA LEADING UP TO THE PREMIERE MAY HAVE PROVEN TO BE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE FILM ITSELF.

‘Don’t Worry Darling’ lacks the thrill expected from a physiological thriller AMARAY ALVAREZ Opinions Editor

The buzz around “Don’t Worry Darling” was almost inescapable. With lead co-stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles performing alongside other notable actors, and director Olivia Wilde, the movie was expected to be a hit.

The excitement was only dulled when fans and critics of Styles remembered that the singer has little to no acting experience.

With his two roles being short appearances on the Nickelodeon show, “iCarly,” and the film “Dunkirk,” the talk surrounding the movie steered towards how he would fare in his first large role taking attention away from Pugh and her stellar acting career.

Leading to the premiere of the film, more drama followed the cast as it was revealed that Wilde and Styles were now dating, leaving Pugh to step up and perform the role of the director. With this news also came the leaked video of Wilde begging Shia LaBeouf to stay on as the male lead when she claimed to have fired him for Styles after allegations arose against LaBeouf.

Despite the apparent lack of professionalism displayed by Wilde, the film was released

and topped the charts in its opening weekend with $19.2 million in ticket sales at the box office. Shot in Palm Springs, the movie begins portraying a happy, and almost eerily perfect, 50s-esque community called Victory. Here the women stay home as model housewives while the men leave to work on the victory project, a project dedicated to bettering their lives and the community.

Problems arise when Pugh’s character, Alice, notices that one of her neighbors is starting to hallucinate and tell strange stories about Victory. She publicly states that something is wrong yet becomes shunned by those in the ► SEE DON’T WORRY DARLING PAGE 13

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES

FIND YOUR WEEKLY HOROSCOPEONPAGE 8! @thehighlanderucr @HighlanderUCR UCRHighlander

NEWS 3

OPINIONS 6

FEATURES 10

RADAR 13

SPORTS 15

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

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Upcoming Events:

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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UCR Staff Assembly Halloween Costume Contest Vitual Event To enter, email staffassembly@ucr.edu.

Resume Writing Workshop 10 a. m. to 11 a.m.

Career Center, Meeting Room A & B

The Human and the Alien: An Exploration of First Contact Stories 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rivera Library, Special Collections & University Archives (4th Floor)

Academic Resource Center (ARC) Open House 6 p. m. - 8 p.m.

The Bell Tower

Unarchiving Blackness: Opening Event with Artist LaVaughn Belle 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

CHASS INTS 1111

Trans Group Meeting 2 p. m. to 3 p.m.

The LGBTQ Resource Center

Taking the Pentagon to the People 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

HUB, 302

Friday

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R’ Garden Fall Harvest Festival!

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

UCR Community R’ Garden, Lot 30

Saturday

GRACE SUN / THE HIGHLANDER

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Botanic Gardens Online Fall Plant Sale 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Refer to @ucrbotanicgardens

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NASP Open House 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Native American Student Programs, 229 Costo Hall

Sunday

HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

Madison Rheins

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“Decolonizing Genocide of California’s Native Americans” Lectures by Jack Norton and Jana Rivers-Norton 10 a. m. to 11:30 p.m.

Costo Library at Rivera Library, 4th floor

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News

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NEWS

TUESDAY, October 4, 2022

Sustainability begins with us HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

Students and faculty alike identified the significance of proactive effort by our institutions in mitigating the consequences of pollution and enforcing transformative sustainability policies. Since as early as the 1960s, the academic community has made efforts to promote sustainability. Student-led organizations lobbied for green programs and policies throughout the UC system. Some early efforts included an organic farm created at UC Santa Cruz in 1967 and student-run public bus system started in 1968 at UC Davis. UC students and the California Student Sustainability Coalition worked with the UC administration to build a systemwide guideline that transformed all UC campuses. The guideline includes energy efficiency, recycling, waste reduction, use of renewable resources, and environmentally friendly construction methods.

The UC’s institutional commitment to sustainability began in 2003 through studentled initiatives that resulted in the UC Regents adopting the Presidential Policy on Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards in 2004. Since adopting these policies, the UC has expanded to include climate protection, procurement, transportation, water systems, food services, and healthcare facilities.

Recently UCR was awarded three top 10 rankings by the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, or AASHE STARS. STARS ratings are based on the overall submissions reported by the institution. Reports

are done either through an internal review by one or more individuals affiliated with the institution, but who are not directly involved in the data collection process for the credits they review or an external audit by those affiliated with other organizations UCR tied for No. 5 in sustainable investment and finances, No.6 in well-being and work, and No. 9 for water conservation efforts.

UCR reported several points of distinction.

This collaboration between Riverside Public Utilities, SunPower, UCR Business and Administrative Services, and Research and Economic Development enabled UCR’s recent projects: the installation of over 9,600 solar panels in two campus parking lots. This system is projected to provide an additional 4.3MW of renewable energy for a total of approximately 8 MW campus-wide.

The Green Campus Action Plan (GCAP) is a student-led organization that provides Green Grants, sustainability internships, and largescale campus initiatives through student fees.

As of 2020, GCAP has provided $203k through Green Grants, $187k through sustainability internships, and $327k to large-scale initiatives.

These projects include the Glove Recycling Program, Fair Trade Festival, and Hydration Stations, which help educate the campus community about engaging in sustainable practices.

UCR reported that the R’Garden is committed to increasing local food access in Riverside and emphasizing the importance of a sustainable food system. Its 8 acres of row crops, tree orchard, and community

plots provide the community with internship, volunteering, and employment opportunities and provides local and campus food banks with fresh produce. Student unrest of R’Garden’s refusal to pay a livable wage and its hazardous working conditions were not considered in the report. A key component of the garden is the solar greenhouses which not only allow light to enter for plant growth, but the roof panels can also capture solar energy that can be used to make the greenhouse operation more energy H efficient.■

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STUDENTS AND FACULTY ALIKE INSPIRE INSTITUTIONAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS ON ALL UC CAMPUSES.

COURTESY OF IVAN RADIC VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY 2.0

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NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4 2022

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

UCR selected as a Minority Serving Institution to participate in Student Freedom Initiative program ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The University of California, Riverside, on August 23rd, 2022 was selected to participate in the Student Freedom Initiative program as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). UCR joins 13 other institutions that were added in this round of selections, increasing the total number from 20 to 34 institutions across 18 States. Previously, UCR had received notable recognition for high social mobility, including being ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for social mobility by U.S. News and World Report.

The Student Freedom Initiative acts as a single-purpose, nonprofit organization that aims to reduce the wealth gap in the field of education. An income-contingent funding option and multiple support services are provided by the program to tackle the inequities faced by minority populations when paying for college and to offer a sustainable, scalable platform to invest in future leaders.

Rising tuition costs, high-cost loans, and other historical barriers to entry all limit opportunities for students to pursue their educational paths. But through participation in the program, universities can offer their marginalized students more opportunities for internships and industry-driven certifications, and provide them with tutoring or mentoring services.

Kim A. Wilcox, chancellor of UC Riverside, commented on this selection expressing, “As a leader in social mobility, UC Riverside continues to seek innovative approaches for increasing economic opportunity and resilience for our students. The core values of the Student Freedom Initiative align well with our goals as a research university.”

The program builds on its collaborative, holistic approach to increase students’ economic and social mobility by expanding from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to now including Hispanic Serving Institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. UCR, along with City University of NY (CUNY) Hunter College, and California State University Long Beach (CSULB) serve as the first institutions to expand the Student Freedom Initiative’s programming to meet the needs of these minority populations.

“We are excited by the 149% increase in students who will benefit from Student Freedom Initiative’s programs, ‘’ explained Robert F. Smith, founder and board chairman of Student Freedom Initiative, and founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, “This is remarkable growth since we first started this journey with nine participating HBCUs. Our team has remained true to our original vision to provide educational and professional opportunities to firstgeneration, low-income students. Thanks to the success of Student Freedom Initiative’s partnerships with HBCUs and to further drive diversification across industries, we made a decision that this cohort needed to include Hispanic Serving Institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions to truly be an organization dedicated to inclusive growth.”

WITH THE ADDITION OF UCR, THE SFI PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED TO SERVE HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS AND ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER SERVING INSTITUTIONS.

To learn more, visit www.

StudentFreedomInitiative.org or find ■H them on Twitter @StudentFreedom.

THE HIGHLANDER / GRACE SUN

New Student Health Building

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

UC Riverside has seen a drastic growth in its student population, enrolling a record of 26,847.

Seeking to expand its infrastructure, UCR funds the construction of a new Student Health and Counseling Center. The facility will bolster medical, mental health, and wellbeing services in a more convenient location nearby on-campus student residences.

Construction began in February western portion of Parking Lot 21, south of Linden Street, between Aberdeen Drive and Pentland Way. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2023 and ready for staff to move in that August. The building will be 39,450 square feet with 27,900 square feet of assignable space. It is projected to centralize Student Health Services, The Well, and Counseling and Psychological Services. Currently these facilities are separated, located in separate buildings with Student Health Services at the Veitch Building, which was built in the mid-1960s.

The building will include exam rooms, an urgent care center, a pharmacy, a full-service laboratory, a radiology office, and an ambulance loading area. The second floor will house Counseling and Psychological Services. Mental health professionals will have access to offices for individual appointments as well as larger spaces for group therapy. The Well will have a new conference room, offices, and gathering spaces for its workshops and classes.

In order to emphasize the connections to nature, the conference room will open into a courtyard that overlooks the interior of the campus while the building provides views of the Box Springs Mountains. The design will maximize the natural light that will filter into the building to create an open environment.

According to Dexter Galang, a project manager with the Office of Planning, Design and Construction, the building will incorporate blue, yellow, and green colors that help to identify different clinical areas at the center.

Providing healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of a healthcare building that provides adequate separation and spacing, room for large influx of students, and flexibility for how people enter and leave the building. The new Student Health Center is designed to provide these infrastructures. The location at the northwest end of campus is intended to be accessible to commuter students, with parking nearby, and student residents. These efforts will increase the student health infrastructure and make healthcare more accessible for a burgeoning UCR student H population and faculty.■

CENTRALIZING STUDENT HEALTHCARE AND MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Resolving the history of institutional racism begins with re-introducing affirmative action The use of affirmative action has long been debated over, especially whether it should be used when examining applicants for higher education. In 1996, this practice was banned in California making it so that colleges and universities could not use a student’s race when looking at their application. This ban was done to help reduce racial discrimination, but has not solved anything. Many students of color are still considered a minority at their schools and are not receiving the same opportunities their white classmates receive. While other efforts can be done to resolve this issue of discrimiation, the ban on affirmative action is now being re-examined to be overturned in California.

Critics and supporters of affirmative action have been torn on the question of whether it is truly fair to marginalized students. It might help universities examine their population statistics and offer more opportunities to other racial and ethnic groups, or it may be done merely to fill a diversity quota. Instead of looking at the student as a well-rounded applicant, the admissions committee might only see them for their race. While all students accepted to the same university are equally qualified, the inclusion of affirmative action could cause others to ridicule these students claiming they do not deserve to be there. This only reinforces stereotypes and hurts the communities the system is trying to uplift.

Some argue that income should be looked at instead of race during the application process. Students who have a parent that went to college or were able to afford tutors are already at an advantage. Those from marginalized communities, who are not able to pay for or access these same resources, should not be punished for this. This tactic, however, has already been considered and has not proven to increase diversity. Steps in the admission process, like no longer requiring the SAT or ACT tests, have been initiated to include those from lower income backgrounds.

Affirmative action overall is not as harmful as it

has been portrayed to be. Through its use, it can help create diversity and improve the lives of those who have historically been turned away from higher education. In 2021, University of California Berkeley’s freshman class included only “258 Black students and 27 Native American students out of a class of 6,931.” These low admission numbers do not reflect the same percentage that these groups make up when looking at demographics of the Bay Area. Other steps that the UC system has taken to improve diversity throughout the years have not created the results necessary to achieve equality.

Affirmative action is desperately needed to fill this gap.

Ultimately, the main problems lie within the institution of higher education as a whole. Prestigious universities are known for having historically racist practices and the cost of this education today is yet another way to discriminate. Affirmative action will help, but it is not the solution. These problems stem from centuries of institutional racism that have put people of color at a lower priority.

Students from these groups need to be supported so they succeed in graduating and diversity statistics are retained.

Re-examining and re-writing the admissions process is the best way for higher education institutions to end institutional racism. Colleges and universities in the U.S., and especially California, should reflect the racial diversity and H demographics of their population. ■

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.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION MAY NOT BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR ISSUES OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND DIVERSITY AT COLLEGES, BUT IT IS THE SOLUTION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

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WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM: THE STORY OF MAHSA AMINI CONT.

such as swimming at the beach with your family, singing, dancing at concerts and walking around in summer attire on a hot day. These actions can now lead to a death sentence.

This fight for freedom affects more than just the people in Iran. As many Iranian-American students still have family in the country, it is more important now than ever to be the voice of those who cannot be heard. They hear about the fears that their families are facing during the very limited time they get to speak to them. Even to Iranian-Americans, standing up against the regime in Iran may be intimidating. Many are aware of the consequences that could follow if their names get out after a protest or they go against the beliefs of the government. Oftentimes, this could mean not being able to return to Iran and brings the fear that they may be putting their families at risk.

As a community, it is our responsibility to stand together, to fight together and to come as one in support of a country of women who have fought for basic human rights for so long whilst also continuing to create a safe space for all Iranian students on campus. There are many ways not only students, but people all over the world, can help this fight for equality.

First and foremost is the spread of proper information. People need to know about the fight, the deaths and the injustices happening within the country. This is a story many have not heard despite the severe effect it has had on such a great population. Major news sources have not made it a priority to cover and spread awareness of this story in detail if at all.

Students can attend protests and stand in solidarity with not just Iranians, but other members of the community that support the cause. People in Iran need to know they are not in this fight alone. Mahsa Amini was one of us. Let us be the voice she never had. Let us finally put an end to this suffering H by sharing her story with the rest of the world. ■ #Mahsa_Amini

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

“TRAUMATIZED AND DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE NEWS OF MY HOME COUNTRY, I FEEL MORE HEARTBROKEN THAN EVER, AS THE WOMEN OF IRAN LITERALLY GET KILLED FOR THEIR RIGHT OF FREEDOM. THE LEAST ANYONE CAN DO IS BE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE SUFFERING, AND NOT LET THESE HORRIBLE ACTIONS GO UNPUNISHED, OR EVEN WORSE, NORMALIZED.” - RAMTIN H. “AS TENSIONS HAVE RISEN ALL ACROSS IRAN AND IN TURN ITS DIASPORA AROUND THE WORLD, I CAN’T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT HOW THE NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF MY HOMELAND HAS BEEN FURTHER AUGMENTED BY A REGIME THAT WORKS TO SILENCE AND OPPRESS ITS POPULATION. AS IRAN BLEEDS, NOT ONLY DOES MY DISTANCE STIFLE MY ABILITY TO FIGHT FOR MY PEOPLE, I FEEL DROWNED OUT IN A SOCIETY THAT DOESN’T HEAR OUR CRIES,” ANONYMOUS UCR STUDENT.

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COURTESY OF PEXELS

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

Lowering the voting age in the United States could increase voter turnout ISABELLA DAY Contributing Writer

With midterms around the corner, the United States must weigh in on a crucial impending decision that has the potential to alter the lives of many: the question of whether people under the age of 18, even as young as 16, should be allowed to vote in national elections.

Society not only expects young people to know how to make good decisions, but also expects them to be able to face adult punishments for their poor decisions and be tried as such in the legal system. Teens are contributing members of society and should therefore be allowed to vote for laws and representatives that will best represent them.

Lowering the voting age can encourage new voters to cast their ballots and, over time, will increase voter turnout. Developing the habit of voting and actively participating in democratic elections early on will also positively increase the voter turnout rate in years to come. Over the course of many election cycles, statistics show that young people have historically had the lowest turnout rate, and older citizens have had the highest. In Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., when the voting age was lowered to 16, voter turnout among this demographic exceeded every other demographic during the 2016-2017 election, in fact, it nearly quadrupled the average voter turnout percentage. Voter turnout is the lowest it has been in 40 years and it won’t magically increase without any action. The solution is to lower the voting age and educate younger generations about how civic engagement can improve their lives.

IT’S TIME TO INCLUDE YOUNG PEOPLE IN IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR FUTURE.

Teens all across the country have mobilized in astonishing numbers to protest and rally for the issues they feel are the most pressing in society today. Take for example, the mass shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

In response to that horrific event, students from Stoneman Douglas took to the streets and created a global call to action. They spearheaded the March For Our Lives movement and brought people together to protest gun violence. This is just one example of how lowering the voting age could have given them the opportunity to vote for representatives that would assist them in fighting for gun control.

It has often been argued that teens don’t have the decision making skills that are crucial to voting in such vital elections as their prefrontal cortices have yet to be fully developed. While there is truth to this statement, the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until the age of 25. Many of the policies being voted on today impact younger generations more profoundly than older generations, but because voting is inaccessible to these younger generations, the laws that are passed fail to accurately reflect the best interests of that age group.

One example is climate change, an urgent issue that will disproportionately impact today’s youth and the next generations. Air, water and soil pollution will have serious long term health effects on future generations if nothing is done to combat this problem.

Failing to include young people in these conversations will only ensure that the laws and regulations passed disregard the concerns of young adults. Nobody feels the gravity of this situation or the impending doom of the planet as strongly as young people.

Centering cities exclusively around cars is an unsustainable system that needs significant reform.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Lowering the voting age will increase voter turnout and improve the lives of our youths. While there are always arguments in opposition to this movement, there are far more reasons to lower the voting age than to raise it. Ultimately, the same people thought of as too immature to vote started a worldwide movement for gun control, climate change and civil rights. Not only does this show strength, bravery and a strong sense of political awareness, but proof that younger generations deserve to be listened to and given the H opportunity to make changes during election season.■

AMERICANS NEED TO START ACKNOWLEDGING THAT VEHICLE DEPENDENCY IS EXPEDITING

MICHAEL APELACIO Contributing Writer

Most, if not all, travel in the United States almost always requires a car, even for something as mundane as buying food or going to the convenience store. Anyone that has no access to a car will have to brave the pedestrian-unfriendly, untraversable urban landscape. It isn’t uncommon for many city-dwellers to face this problem daily. Cars aren’t for everyone, as not all can afford the absurdly high monthly payments, let alone a car, or even have the physical capability to use them. Modern American infrastructure not only upholds classism, ableism and racism among its inhabitants, but is also severely detrimental to the climate.

Zoning laws are largely responsible for this instability due to the unrestricted growth of suburbs and strip malls and the prevention of natural flora from flourishing. These laws play a huge role in gentrification primarily because of rules, such as minimum lot sizes. This has made housing increasingly unaffordable, especially for the lower class, many of whom are predominantly people of color. A Supreme Court ruling further displaced the lower class as it restricted how many biologically unrelated

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individuals can live in a single home, making houses much more exclusive to affluent nuclear families. Ultimately, zoning laws increased the distances between residences, grocery stores and shopping centers. As a result, cars have become a necessity for daily living.

This automobile dependency paved the way for further construction of roads, from the Interstate Highway System to today’s public roads almost bearing the same width as the freeway.

The Interstate was later merged with the National Highway System, bringing the total length of the system to 160,955 miles. Today, the United States has 4.161 million miles worth of roads. This is accompanied by up to two billion parking lots, which is a large amount of pavement combined.

This becomes problematic for the climate, firstly because pavement is an impervious surface; impenetrable by water, which dries up the soil under it. The surface traps heat, increasing air temperature. Additionally, the EPA reported that most vehicles produce about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. The US has approximately 300 million cars registered this year.

These conditions make it very difficult, if not impossible, for those

unable to afford or physically operate vehicles to perform daily tasks that involve having to go somewhere, such as buying groceries and visiting their loved ones. While pedestrians can use existing public transportation, the lack of sidewalks or guardrails forces them on the side of the road, where they become dangerously vulnerable to vehicular harm.

Walkability is absolutely attainable, and there are many possible plans that could be undertaken that would preserve the convenience of the automobile. The current urban design is contributing to the increasing socioeconomic and sociopolitical divide among the denizens of American society. The problem is that the current urban design also contributes to the increasing wealth gap. Companies are seeking to take advantage of the increasingly unaffordable housing market by buying homes off and renting them out for profit and car dependency is keeping car companies’ and insurance companies’ profits unreasonably high. The extreme exploitability of the current urban design for profit makes it very difficult for the United States’ much needed H redesign to happen.■

SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.

COURTESY OF DAVID SEIBOLDVIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC 2.0

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OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

Long term access to live world news negatively affects Gen Z’s mental health In August 1964, the United States publicly declared involvement in the Vietnam War. This was a historical period for television, as the number of Americans who owned a television skyrocketed, and soon everyone had easy access to one. This meant that television stations were suddenly desperate to have the most exciting stories. Unlike the news that was shown of World War II in public theaters, these stories came from crews who worked for the stations, not the army itself. This made censorship much harder, and the public was suddenly given access to footage and almost live news of what was really going on at the front line.

This war is known as the first glimpse citizens – including women and children – had into what war actually looked like.

People were, naturally, horrified, and a few of these people decided that they wanted to do something about it. On Oct. 21, 1967, around 100,000 protesters gathered at the Lincoln Memorial. This was one of many such protests. American citizens saw what was happening and immediately wanted to do whatever possible to help. That is the nature of humanity. We are a species designed to work together, and to help one another.

But consider what happens when the citizens of a country are given access to 24/7 updates on bad things happening worldwide. This is the modern reality for over 243 million Americans who use social media daily.

On Feb. 24, Russia launched a major invasion of Ukraine. News alerts were sent to citizens’ smartphones describing the horrible news of yet another war.

Many were woken up by the notification and read through articles detailing the event from major news outlets. With the start of a new war came the added dread of what this would mean for us in the U.S. Unsure of the immediate consequences, Americans were then forced to return to their daily routine of going to school or work.

This is the reality our generation faces, and has been our whole lives. This was less than a year ago, and yet there have been multiple events like this that have been reported in our news since. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was widely known moments after it happened, as well as the death of Queen Elizabeth and

then the protests in Iran.

At times it may even feel like the world itself is falling into chaos. But the world is a big place, and news travels faster than it ever used to. People mobilize and plan protests or demonstrations through Facebook and TikTok. The majority of people are being constantly informed by these and other social platforms. This generation, more than any other, has come to find such news inescapable. What used to be a ‘living room war’ has now evolved into multiple conflicts at any given time, following people out of the living room, into the bedroom, classroom, grocery stores and even the bathroom. Wherever someone goes, the news now follows.

This deeply affects the mental health of those who are active on these platforms daily.

The Crossroads Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental health issues, published an article on the relationship between Gen Z and the ‘savior complex’. They identify the trend of nonprofits being started up by teenagers, and the extra workload they tend to give themselves. They claimed that this kind of effort made by the majority of our generation has created an unparalleled mass humanitarian movement, but has also resulted in a mental health crisis that is similarly unseen before now. Harris Poll conducted a survey that found only 45% of Gen Z participants reported that their mental health was ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’, as opposed to 70% of those considered to be part of the baby boomer generation. These statistics make it very clear that, whatever the reason, Gen Z is facing far more trouble with their mental health than previous generations.

While the world may seem smaller than it ever used to, it is important to remember that our planet is a huge place, and there is so much going on. It is amazing to see this generation band together, and witness the change we can bring. Nothing good, however, can come from the burnout of an entire generation, especially as they come into an age where they can exert real change. Growing up brings with it the ability to vote and become independent from your family, there is more freedom to work for change. This is why it is vital that as a generation, we too are being H taken care of. ■

GEN Z ARE GROWING INTO ADULTHOOD WITH CONSTANT ACCESS TO BAD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND IT’S CAUSING LONG TERM NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. ALEX KUPISIEWICZ Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF PEXELS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

9

THE POWER IS BACK IN YOUR HANDS — IT’S TIME TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

BY: YSABEL NAKASONE, ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR Aries: The Chariot

Despite major changes and shifts, it’s finally time for you to take charge of your future.

This card is connected to the Lovers card, in that you are able to steer yourself in the direction of what you want. Perhaps you’ve been stewing in relationship drama lately or there’s someone you have been hiding your feelings from. Even if you don’t realize it, you have made a decision. Don’t be passive, your window is closing quickly.

Taurus: The Hermit

The Hermit can represent a mentor in your life, someone who has appeared to enhance your awareness. However, they are not here to just give you the answers, as annoying as that may be. It’s going to be a frustrating week because the answers will be addled with riddles. But this mentor will help you find your own answers.

Gemini: The Magician

It’s time to focus on a singular goal. There’s a number of things on your plate and your main aims have gotten lost. Look inward and decide on your main priority. This isn’t an emotional whim, so think logically and strategically. Think through initial emotions and base impressions.

Cancer: Temperance

You have some big decisions coming and a lot is resting on your shoulders. Maintain tranquility and don’t descend into frantic decision making. There are a lot of people in your ear with different ideas. The answer is to listen and make something new from the voices of others. You have the ability to find the balance between the people surrounding you, no one else.

Leo: Knight of Cups

You’ve been negative lately. You can’t control your emotions, so you’re allowing them to control you. It’s time to stop with the tortured mindset. There wouldn’t be a reason to be so moody if you would take action. Because you hold your feelings inside, the feelings of jealousy that have been guiding are of your own making. They’re not doing anyone any good locked away.

Virgo: Page of Swords

You’re exploring something new. It’s a new goal or new relationship or just a new perspective. You’re asking lots of questions and focusing on information gathering. There’s no harm in being introspective and exploring — in fact it’s just the right step for you. The things you are learning now will be vital down the road when problems arise.

Libra: The Moon

Things feel confusing, like everything means something different than it usually does. This uncertainty is influencing your life in ways that harm your long term happiness. You’re allowing your anxieties to permeate every corner of your life. Just because one area of your life is unsuccessful, doesn’t mean that applies elsewhere. Remember that.

Scorpio: The Lovers

Your relationship is incredibly strong right now as your connection deepens. Perhaps you have found someone who will be an important relationship that helps you grow or maybe they are going to be in your life long-term, or both! However, this isn’t a relationship you can take for granted. Give your partner attention, dedication, and room for growth. Relationships and friendships can fade when you’re not paying attention because you assume things will stay the same and stay strong.

Sagittarius: Two of Pentacles

You feel like every second of your time is taken up and you’re moving from place to place, priority to priority. Time management is something you normally struggle with, but with all your new commitments you haven’t been able to keep up. You feel guilty or off whenever you take a break, but it’s that lack of downtime that is making your life difficult. Your brain is working in overdrive and you need to slow down.

Capricorn: Wheel of Fortune

Capricorn, the Wheel of Fortune reminds you that life is incredibly fluid. Things are shifting unpredictably, but there’s one thing you can count on: What you put out there will come back to you. If you put out only negative energy, you should expect the same in your life. You have more control over your life than you think. Sure, unexpected things happen that might conflict with how you act in the world. But, if you only see in negative terms, you’re unlikely to find anything positive.

Aquarius: The Emperor

The Emperor indicates that you are focusing on rules. You are sticking to the prescribed regulations set to you by some entity. Maybe it is an institution, like a university, or individuals, like your parents. While rules have value, you can’t forget to push the boundaries. Improvise, even if you do it within bounds, and exercise your creative side. Breaking down problems and finding stillness within absolute chaos is done with a combination of understanding rules and knowing when to go beyond them.

Pisces: Nine of Pentacles

The woman living in luxury pictured on this card taunts the average college student with her wealth and comfort as you sit in your tiny dorm with three other people eating ramen. The Nine of Pentacles wishes good fortune on you, but that does you a fat lot of nothing. You need to be just as independent as the rich woman and have patience to achieve a similar level of comfort.

Outside forces impact your future, but without your own involvement and initiative, opportunities mean nothing.■H ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF FREEPIK.COM

10 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

CAMPUS COPE

‘R You Ready for a Great Freshman Year?

NATALIE DAHL Conributing Writer

Transitioning from high school to college can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to make your freshman year adjustment easier.

Attend on campus events.

ASPB, HUB programs and so many other organizations put on so many programs and events that there is always one right around the corner. Look through campus organization’s instagrams to find events that interest you and attend whichever seem like the most fun!

The HUB programs offer events such as free coffee, crafting days and workshops, and in addition to hosting big concerts like Block Party, ASPB hosts events like AI Knoll Movie Nights. If you’re looking to make new friends, programs like these are a great place to strike up conversations with fellow students.

Aim to take classes that interest you.

When you’re registering for winter quarter classes, aim to enroll in one class that you would want to take even if it’s not required for your degree. Instead of quickly choosing classes with the most convenient lecture times, take time to really read the course descriptions of potential classes you want to take. Utilize R’Web’s course planner to help keep track of what classes you can take to fulfill your major requirements. You will be much more successful in a class you are interested in and it may even help you explore what area you’d like to pursue for a future career,

so take a couple of extra minutes to find out what the class is about.

Go to in-person classes instead of online meetings.

Say your professor gives you the option of watching recorded lectures or attending lectures in-person. We all tell ourselves that we’ll watch the zoom video later, but let’s be honest, you’re never going to watch that video. Do yourself a favor — get out of your bed, and take the time to go to class. You’ll thank yourself in the long run. And while you’re at it, take effective notes during class time so you didn’t walk halfway across campus for nothing.

HOW TO HAVE A MEMORABLE AND SUCCESSFUL YEAR ON CAMPUS.

Explore campus through study spaces.

A college campus can seem intimidating to navigate and explore when you first arrive. To acclimate yourself to the school grounds, try to find different places to study!

Start with the library or Student Success Center and then try going to a building close to one of your classes. Once you’re comfortable with that, branch out to the botanical gardens or the Starbucks in the Market at Glen Mor. If the best study space for you ends up being your dorm, you’ll still be more comfortable navigating campus.

Good luck Highlanders! Have a great year and make H sure to keep your ‘R’s up! ■

COURTESY OF PEXELS

5 ways to kick off your morning WOKE UP TIRED? HERE ARE 5 WAYS TO START OFF YOUR MORNING STRONG! ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

The start of the school year is right here and many of us are mentally preparing ourselves for the workload of exams, essays and assignments the year has to offer.

It’s hard to develop and maintain a strong and healthy morning routine when all we want to do is sleep all day.

After being in college for two years, I’ve found a few ways to help me look forward to the next morning.

Sleep on time It’s difficult to maintain a sleep schedule, especially during midterms and finals week. However, if you develop a sleep schedule that would work for you throughout the school year and during midterm and finals week, you’ll be able to maintain a strong work routine. Can’t sleep?

Try not going on your phone until 3 A.M. Grab a book and read until you fall asleep. Sleep is one of the most important factors that can make or break your day. If you sleep late and wake up late, you’ll be unmotivated to attend class, work on assignments or hang out with friends. Instead of setting multiple alarms every minute of your morning, go to sleep with the intention of waking up at a certain time. Having a certain time set in your mind will allow your mind to prepare for the alarm the next morning.

Stretch first thing in the morning Many of us wake up with our bodies sore or in pain.

However, we tend to ignore the pain and tell ourselves that our body will stretch on its own while walking to class or working out later in the day. I found that stretching first thing in the morning motivates me to attend lectures and discussions, work on any school assignments and attend work on time. I also found that I feel less stressed

throughout the day as my body feels less tense. This is just a reminder that doing the little things like stretching can go a long way!

Switch out coffee for tea As we start to become busier with school and other things happening in our lives, we tend to look towards caffeine to help us function throughout the day. However, too much caffeine can affect our mental and physical health. Instead of ordering a large cup of coffee first thing in the morning, try going for a cup of hot or iced tea.

Drinking tea has many benefits such as boosting your immune system, fighting off inflammation and decreasing your risk of health diseases!

Make daily goals every morning Throughout our day, we tend to forget our tasks and things we wanted to get done. Keeping a checklist or a few goals around you can make your life a lot easier.

Whether you write it on your notes or agenda, you’ll be able to keep track of all your assignments and tasks for the day. By the end of the night, it’s fulfilling to see all the important tasks checked off.

Don’t forget to eat!

As we enter midterms and finals week, many of us tend to forget to eat and depend on coffee as our meal.

However, this can be harmful to our physical and mental health. You definitely don’t want to be starving in the middle of your exam. Take a few minutes from your morning to eat a healthy breakfast! Running late to your class? Some on-the-go breakfast foods are sandwiches, bagels, or waffles! Visit the Features section for some H quick and easy recipe ideas. ■ COURTESY OF PEXELS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, October 4, 2022

Last dance with The Highlander’s Features Editor BY: ASHLEY CHEN, FEATURES EDITOR From joining the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) to joining a sorority, I was determined to have the best college experience. As a first year student, I was very eager to join every on-campus organization UCR has to offer. The pandemic had affected my first year experience since classes were held remotely and everyone was back home. Being at home led me to believe that I had to make as many friends as I possibly could online so I had people to hang out with when we were back in person.

Towards the end of my first year, I still felt incomplete. I had joined all these amazing organizations on campus but I still didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere.

I was scrolling through Instagram one day when my sorority sister had posted The Highlander’s hiring post on her story.

At first, I was unsure whether to apply or not. It had been a while since I had written anything for fun besides English essays.

After much contemplation, I submitted my application.

It only went uphill from there. I had received an offer to be the Features Editor even though I had applied for the assistant Features Editor. I never had a leadership role this big before so it was nerve wracking, especially since this was a paid position. However, after meeting the team, I knew that we were all going to work really well together. Once we could attend school in-person again, we would have

HOW THE HIGHLANDER SHAPED MY THREE YEARS OF COLLEGE.

weekly hangouts at the office and get boba after writers’ meeting. During production on Sundays, all the editors and assistant editors would huddle up in the Features/ Opinion’s office room and talk for hours about our week. The Highlander eventually became a safe place for all of us.

Submitting my application was one of the best decisions I could have made throughout my three years at UCR. I’ve met so many influential people at The Highlander that I will forever look up too. From past and current section editors to staff writers to interviewees, I have learned so much through these amazing people I’ve encountered in the past two years as Features editor. Many of these figures that I’ve come across have shaped me into the person I am today. As I work towards completing my last year at UCR, I am so thankful for what The Highlander has provided for me and my fellow staff members. Even though my time here is coming to an end, The Highlander will always be my home. Thank you, The Highlander, for shaping my three years at UCR and making my college experience so H fruitful and complete! ■

THE HIGHLANDER / GRACE SUN

Get Toasted: dinner for when you desperately need BY: SENNA OMAR to dine ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

As a college student, you may often find yourself staring into the empty shelves of your fridge for weeks on end. Sometimes, finding the time to get groceries is hard; with work, classes, clubs, and having a life, when it comes to food, simplicity is usually better. Here is the perfect, easy, quick, and simple toast recipe for those days when you have enough food to feed you for the next five hours.

A 5-MINUTE TOAST RECIPE; GREAT FOR IN BETWEEN GROCERY RUNS.

Serving size: one Prep + cook time: 5 minutes Ingredients: 1 slice of toast of choice (I used sourdough) 1 medium-sized tomato or 1 handful of baby tomatoes (whatever is on hand) 2 Slices of Mozzarella Cheese (optional) Extra virgin olive oil Sea Salt to taste Pepper Trader Joe’s Mushroom Umami Seasoning (optional) Other Seasonings of choice Preparation:

THE HIGHLANDER / SENNA OMAR

Begin by toasting your bread in a toaster until it becomes golden/ light brown. Place toast onto a plate and coat the bread with olive oil.

(OPTIONAL STEP) Place two slices of mozzarella cheese on top of olive oil.

Slice tomato, and place onto toast. Drizzle another layer of olive oil over the tomatoes, then add salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings desired to taste.

H Dig in and enjoy your simple but delicious “gourmet” toast. ■

11

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Radar TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 2022

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

Indie rock prince, Alex G, returns with ‘God Save the Animals’ JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

Alex G is back with a long-awaited record and a new sound. With the help of producer Jacob Portrait, the album has a clean rhythm. While some fans argue the new tune does more service to the mainstream industry, the artist still maintains his indie charm.

The album opens up with “After All,” a song that finds familiarity with Alex G’s past style. The guitar riffs and vocal auto-tune are instantly reminiscent of his previous work. However, the production is significantly notable.

As for lyricism, the artist sets the theme of spirituality.

With direct reference to a god, Alex G finds comfort in the feeling of a spiritual presence on the track.

While previously released as a single, “Runner” fits the sound of the LP. The instrumentation on the track is composed beautifully, yet its length does not do itself justice. The song spends nearly half the song building up the track, then ends with lyrical repetition. The build-up leads the listener to disappointment. Its abrupt ending and mediocre lyrics make the track worth a skip.

“Mission” begins with “I’ve run the whole world ‘round.” The lyric’s placement, considering the previous track “Runner,” is a nice touch to the record. In the record, Alex G discusses the feeling of failure from unexpected occurrences of an intended plan.

The next track, “S.D.O.S” is on the experimental side.

A deep echoed voice haunts the track. The percussion in this song is creative in its use of the cowbell and other

instruments.

Following the experimental “S.D.O.S,” “No Bitterness” is also a surprise as the song reaches its end.

The song begins with a sweet guitar riff, which is paired with gentle piano accompaniment. Halfway through, the acoustic guitar is replaced by the electric guitar. The sudden boom of bass and glitchy vocals fits into the musical trend of hyperpop. The sudden change in the song’s instrumentation could be interpreted through the lyrics. Alex G writes about mistakes and maturity as he suggests a change in one’s life that leads to regret.

The following tune’s songwriting is heavy to digest.

The melody follows an addict in recovery. After the first chorus, the percussion disappears, leading the guitar to guide the listener. The riffs are shaky and unsteady. The track is saddening and darker than most.

“Cross the Sea” and “Blessing” were both released as singles as well and are the most noteworthy from the LP. Both are filled with unusual vocals. “Cross the Sea” is heavy in auto-tune, while “Blessing” has a vocal whisper.

Toward the end of “Cross the Sea,” electronic keys and synths are introduced, which are the main attraction of “Blessing.” In contrast to its preceding tracks, the writing on these songs is optimistic and idealistic.

Alex G returns to acoustic guitars and simple drum beats, as he sings about the grief of a partner losing interest in him. “Haven’t I given enough? / When will I run out of love?” While he sings, a violin is in response to his singing. The track is fairly plain and lacks originality,

THE NEW FULL-LENGTH LP IS THE MOST WELL-PRODUCED RECORD BY THE ARTIST, YET CARRIES A FEW FAULTS. with nothing new to add to the LP. “Immunity” is a standout on the album. The ballad is a commentary on hiding a drug addiction from their loved ones. The piano on the track accompanies the track in a major key, then switches into a minor key toward the end of the song. This choice left listeners unsettled by the sound of the keys.

The next track, “Headroom Piano” is an instrumental by the artist, but acts as a bridge on the album. From negative and clouded songwriting to a hopeful note in the following song.

Alex G reflects on mistakes and looks into the future on “Miracles” and “Forgive.” The acoustic instrumentation and sorrowful vocals flood the tracks with emotion, ending H the album on a sentimental note ■

COURTESY OF DOMINO RECORDING COMPANY

VERDICT:

THIS IS ALEX G’S BAEST-SOUNDING RECORD TO DATE. REGARDING SONGWRITING, THE ARTIST HAS A DIVERSE SET OF LYRICS. SOME SONGS BECOME SKIPWORTHY FOR THEIR DULL LYRICS, WHILE OTHERS ARE THE BEST OF HIS DISCOGRAPHY. THE ARTIST ALSO PLAYS IT SAFE INSTRUMENTALLY. IN COMPARISON TO HIS OTHER RECORDS, THIS IS THE LEAST EXPERIMENTAL TO DATE, WITH A FEW CREATIVE TRACKS. “GOD SAVE THE ANIMALS” IS EMOTIONALLY MOVING, BUT LACKS AN ARTISTIC APPEAL.

HBO Max’s ‘House of the Dragon’ continues to soar as audiences crave more from the show THE PREQUEL TO POPULAR FANTASY DRAMA SERIES, ‘GAME OF THRONES’ FOLLOWS THE HOUSE TARGARYEN DURING A WAR OF SUCCESSION FOR THE IRON THRONE.

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION

KIMBERLY BEJEC Staff Writer

“House of the Dragon” is set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.”

Both fantasy drama series are inspired by the “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels written by George R.R. Martin. With the show being the second in the popular franchise, fans were eager to unravel the story. As more episodes are released on the streaming platform every week, the viewership increases as people want more from this universe.

The show starts off with King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) naming his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, as his heir to the throne. However, his decision has caused uncertainty in the realm, as the people favor men over women to hold the throne. Years later, the King eventually gets a son and the realm has hope for him to become heir. However, since Rhaenyra has the right to the throne, her seat will be challenged for a man to rule instead.

The show follows the events leading up to and during the war of succession between House Targaryen, also known as the “Dance of the Dragons.”

Despite the fans’ major dislike and

VERDICT:

disappointment for the last season of “Game of Thrones,” they are back with excitement for the franchise. The writing of the show so far satisfies old fans of “Game of Thrones,” as well as readers of the book series. Each episode feels engaging and essential to the plot of the overall story. Drama and tension rise as each episode progresses, causing an eagerness in the audience as they await new episodes. In the first five episodes, before a 10-year time jump to the war of succession, the audience is able to see the start of the war’s pressure on its characters.

This develops the story of the show in a way that the audience is able to learn not only about the origin of the story, but also the development of the main characters.

The show received acclaim for the performance from its cast and the chemistry between them. The audience can clearly see how each actor eases into their role and perform them convincingly.

Princess Rhaenyra and Lady Alicent are played by Milly Alcock and Emily Carey respectively as their younger selves.

Audiences and critics applauded their performance on screen as well as their chemistry together. However, by episode

five, a 10-year time jump occurs. Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke take over as Princess Rhaenyra and Lady Alicent respectively in their older years. Despite fans being sad to see Alcock and Carey leave, they celebrated the choice to recast them in the time-jump and are ready to see the performances from D’Arcy and Cooke. Other notable actors include Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen and Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower. Both actors’ performances are entertaining for audiences to watch as they become more familiar with their characters.

Both “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” get praise for their cinematography and CGI. For audiences, seeing big and powerful dragons fly on the screen is enough to gather their attention and interest. The show uses spectacular shots to highlight important scenes, as well as bringing attention to the smallest details. Minor elements such as capturing the right angles to make inferences about certain characters and scenes make a huge impact for the show’s dramatic and actionfilled plot line. The shots also demonstrate the wealth of the crown and the medieval era aspect. Cinematography in a fantasy

show is important to show the aspects that separates the fantasy world from reality.

“House of the Dragon” successfully uses cinematography to do so in a way that does not distract from the story, but rather adds to it.

From the book series and “Game of Thrones,” there is plenty of lore for viewers to gather from and connect with the show.

Fans are able to connect easter eggs from “House of the Dragon” with “Game of Thrones,” adding to their excitement of the franchise. Additionally, showing the history from the memorable character, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), from “Game of Thrones,” audiences are fed with more information about the House and the overall story of the franchise.

While the show does have spectacular acting, cinematography and lore, there are some aspects that audiences should watch out for. Similar to “Game of Thrones,” “House of the Dragon” does not shy away from violence, gore and graphic scenes.

Before watching the show, audiences should be aware of the graphic content and uncomfortable moments that may be H sensitive to some viewers. ■

“HOUSE OF THE DRAGON” IS POPULAR FOR A REASON. THE SHOW HAS PLENTY OF PROMISE WITH THE ACTORS’ STUNNING PERFORMANCES, CAPTIVATING CINEMATOGRAPHY AND RICH LORE. OLD AND NEW FANS OF THE “GAME OF THRONES” FRANCHISE ARE SURE TO ENJOY THIS PREQUEL.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Radar

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

13

‘Blonde’: A disappointing portrayal of a Hollywood icon torn to pieces RAMITA SETTY Contributing Writer

Sixty years after her death, Marilyn Monroe still holds a prominent place in the collective consciousness of American pop culture. Her newest biopic, directed by Andrew Dominik, was released on Netflix on September 28th.

Before diving into the film, it’s worth examining Monroe’s image at the height of her stardom and today. Monroe is most famous for her “Dumb Blonde” persona, in which she was well involved in crafting. The persona became so iconic that people believed it was true. To this day, she remains one of Hollywood’s most iconic sex symbols.

Today, Monroe’s image is a little more conflicting. There’s a stark contrast between Monroe’s glamorous Hollywood life and her tragic personal one that makes her so fascinating to this day. It leads to what could be called Monroe’s second persona- the Tragic Beautiful Woman. The Tragic Beautiful Woman has the perfect glossy life on paper, but a dark and abusive personal life. She has no real depth or complexity but is merely a textbookperfect victim put on a pedestal for people to pity her eternally. “Blonde” rather shamelessly capitalizes on this.

From start to finish, Monroe (Ana de Armas) is portrayed as a passive, helpless victim of everything－her mother (Julianne Nicholson), the studio executives, her second husband Joe DiMaggio (Bobby Cannavale), President Kennedy－everyone. Everyone exploits and abuses Monroe. She is powerless to do anything against it except succumb and commit suicide in the end. By the time this happens, at the end of this bloated three-hour melodrama that bleeds despair, you won’t feel any sort of shock or sympathy over the tragedy of Monroe’s life,

VERDICT:

but rather relief that the soul-sucking endeavor of watching this movie is over.

Andrew Dominik is not a subtle filmmaker.

We know that Monroe has deep-rooted trauma over her father’s absence because she calls all of her husbands “Daddy.” We know she feels guilt over her abortion because of the off-kilter appearance of a talking fetus ripped straight out of a pro-life editorial. There is never the slightest ambiguity regarding Dominik’s intentions because he feels the need to hit us over the head with it.

Monroe was well-read, and the film alludes to that a couple of times. However, for most of the film, she doesn’t seem all that smart.

Everything about her portrayal in the way she talks and acts in the film makes her out to be a moony-eyed girl with her head constantly in the clouds. This isn’t a woman who repeatedly defied studio executives on what her roles should be and tried to forge her path. There are some hints of something more－like when Monroe chews out her agent over her salary, but they are quickly overshadowed by more scenes of Monroe being abused and depressed. What could have been an exciting portrait of a woman struggling to find her place in male-dominated 1950s Hollywood is reduced to a melodramatic soap opera.

Of course, it should be acknowledged that Dominik was never interested in telling that story. He has acknowledged that he skipped over several of the most notable moments of Monroe’s life. He skips over the formation of her own production company, so she could secure better parts, boosting singer Ella Fitzgerald’s career and marrying Arthur Miller in defiance of the Red Scare witch hunts of the 50s. Dominik stated this wasn’t what he wanted to focus on in the film, but that he’s

“more interested in how she feels… in what her emotional life was like.”

Dominik’s intentions are a refreshing take for a biopic, most of which are content to be paintby-number scenes of their subject’s life. But did Dominik accomplish what he set out to do?

What did “Blonde” show us about the emotional and psychological turmoil that Monroe went through? That she was a drug addict, abused by various people and committed suicide. Anyone remotely familiar with Monroe’s story knows this already, and we didn’t need a three-hour angst-fest to tell us this.

The film does not try to hide that it is a largely fictional portrayal of Monroe’s life. Artistic license could have been forgiven if Dominik had used it to go beyond the “Dumb Blonde” or the “Tragic Beautiful Woman” and created a portrait of a complex, intelligent woman fighting for fame on her terms. But instead, he chose to fetishize Monroe’s pain and turn her into a hollow facsimile for his own fetishized take on female trauma. Ironically, in the end, he and Netflix are no different from the studios of the 1950s that abused and exploited Monroe H they’re just doing it posthumously. ■

MARILYN MONROE IS STILL HOLLYWOOD’S GO-TO BEAUTIFUL, TRAGIC WOMAN

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

A BLOATED FILM OF BLEAK DESPAIR THINLY COATED IN ARTHOUSE FILMING THAT WILL EITHER LEAVE YOU DEPRESSED, IRRITATED THAT YOU WASTED THREE HOURS OF YOUR LIFE, OR BOTH.

DON’T WORRY DARLING CONT.

by those in the community. Her actions cause Alice to also begin questioning their utopia, provoking her to break the rules of Victory. Style’s character, Jack, and the other male characters try to silence and gaslight Alice into believing everything is fine until she eventually uncovers the truth.

Pugh, who is known for her horror and psychological thriller films, was daring in “Don’t Worry Darling.” Her performance captivated the audience and carried the movie. Being the main lead, she created a sense of mystery and curiosity that allowed the viewer to question her suburban utopia and the victory project alongside her.

Styles’ performance, on the other hand, was what you would expect from someone with his background in acting.

He was able to play his role, but at times felt unbelievable receiving giggles from the audience when he was trying to be serious or upset. With Wilde advertising the film as an ode to female pleasure, the more notable parts of his performance were where he engaged in sex and enigmatic dancing, as well as supplying his “hot appearance.”

Although the film may have received a five-minute standing ovation at the Venice

Film Festival, there is no need to run to see the movie. The question of what the victory project truly is and why everyone seems to eventually lose their mind will captivate the audience until the end, but the twist is barely explained and is lackluster. This is not the typical feminist heroine film that Pugh is used to acting in, or that Wilde created in “Booksmart.” Instead, it felt cliché and reflected the rumors that Wilde H was more focused on Styles than the film.■

VERDICT: THE FILM FELT LIKE AN EPISODE OF “BLACK MIRROR” THAT DIDN’T NEED TO BE TWO HOURS LONG. IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY SHOT, PORTRAYING PALM SPRINGS IN A WELL-DESERVED ARTSY STYLE. THE FILM, HOWEVER, WAS NOT WORTH THE HYPE OR MEMORABLE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES

14 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

Sports

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/

UC Riverside women’s volleyball defeats UC San Diego in a thrilling five sets NEW HEAD COACH NICKY CANNON SECURES HER FIRST HOME WIN AGAINST THE TRITONS HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The UC Riverside women’s volleyball team defeated UC San Diego in an exciting five sets. After dropping the first two games in Big West Conference play, the Highlanders returned back home for their home opener against the Tritons. With the team’s first win of Big West Conference play, they are hoping to carry that momentum onto the next game.

Both teams went back and forth to open up the first set. UC San Diego started to extend their lead 8-5 with an attack error from senior outside hitter Mylei Vargas-Deason.

Two straight attack errors from the Triton’s outside hitter Zaria Henderson brought the set to 8-7 before Henderson redeemed herself with a kill to bring the set to 9-7. After a couple rallies, the Highlanders were able to tie the set up at 14-14 with a service error and attack error from the Tritons. However, with the set at 17-16 in favor of UCSD, the Tritons won three consecutive rallies to bring the set to 20-16. UCR was unable to combat the momentum change and UC San Diego capped off the first set with three consecutive kills to win the set, 25-18.

In the second set, UC Riverside jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a kill from sophomore middle blocker Anya Green and an attack error from the Tritons. Freshman setter Makena Tong delivered the first ace of the game to extend the Highlander lead to 6-4. Both teams exchanged rallies for a period of time before UCSD won four straight rallies to tie the set up at 14-14 thanks to two consecutive kills from Henderson. UCR responded with a little run of their own with Vargas-Deason taking over the set. In the span of five rallies, Vargas-Deason accumulated three kills to give the Highlanders a 20-17 lead in the set. Two consecutive service aces from graduate student setter Tayler Hifo extended the UC Riverside lead 22-17. The Tritons tried to make one last comeback as they won three straight rallies to bring the set to 23-22. However, the Highlanders were able to hold on to win the set 25-22.

Both teams opened up the third set exchanging rallies. With the set score at 9-8 in favor of UC San Diego, the Tritons won three consecutive rallies to gain a comfortable lead in the set, 12-8. Moments later, UCR responded with three consecutive winning rallies of their own to bring the score to 14-13 thanks to a series of kills from Hifo and junior outside hitter Delaney Tate. The Tritons were able to win the next rally with a kill from Emily McDaniel. However, the Highlanders won the next four consecutive rallies to take control of the set 17-14. Tate and Vargas-Deason each had a kill during the run and Tate also delivered an ace. Both teams continued to rally back and forth and neither team was able to take control of the set. A service error from UC Riverside tied the third set at 19-19 before UCR was able to win another four consecutive rallies to inch closer to winning the set due to a couple errors from UC San Diego. With the Highlanders on the verge of winning the set

24-20, the Tritons showed resilience once again as a kill from Aubrey Tanner brought the set to 24-21. Two consecutive attack errors from UCR narrowed the set to 24-23, vastly shifting the atmosphere in the SRC Arena. However, Vargas-Deason was able to pull through for UC Riverside as she got the kill to give UCR the win in the third set.

With their backs against the wall, the Tritons came into the fourth set with a sense of urgency. UCSD jumped out to an early 9-6 lead due to a couple of attack errors from Vargas-Deason and senior middle blocker Isabella Scarlett. UC Riverside was able to tie the set up with four consecutive won rallies with kills from Tate and Green. The Highlanders then took the lead 15-13 with kills from Scarlett and from senior right sider Ayanna Kimbrough. Two consecutive aces from Tong extended the lead to 1814. With the game nearing an end, UC San Diego turned up their intensity to tie the set 18-18 with four consecutive kills. Both teams exchanged rallies in a decisive fourth set in the race to 25. A kill from VargasDeason brought UCR closer to the win 23-20. However, an incredible effort from the Tritons turned the tide as they won five consecutive rallies to take the fourth set and tie the match in set play. Two attack errors from Vargas-Deason proved to be critical as the Highlanders let the fourth set slip from their hands.

In the fifth set, the Tritons used their momentum from the previous set to jump out to an early 8-2 lead. The Highlanders responded by winning the next four rallies to get back into the ball game thanks to back-to-back aces from sophomore libero Kenzy Militar. Both teams continued to exchange rallies in the shortened set and the intensity and atmosphere started to run high.

A kill from Vargas-Deason and an ace from Hifo gave UCR the lead 13-12. Both teams exchanged rallies and the set was tied at 1515. With the set needing to be won by two, Tate got a huge kill to give UC Riverside the advantage 16-15. With the match on the line, an attack error on UCSD’s Henderson gave UCR the win in the final set and the match, 17-15.

Vargas-Deason and Tate led the way for the Highlanders with 16 kills each. Hifo had a game-high 46 assists and Militar had a gamehigh 29 digs. Even though UC San Diego won most of the statistical categories for the match, UC Riverside won this game because of the amount of aces they had, in which they had a 15-2 advantage over UCSD. Hifo led UCR with six aces in the match, and Militar and Tong both contributed with four aces. \The Highlanders receive their first win in Big West Conference play and improved their record to 3-9 (1-2). Their next game will be against UC Irvine on Saturday, Oct. 1, in H the SRC Arena at 4:00 P.M. ■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

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