The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Tuesday, November 8, 2022
VOL. 71, ISSUE 07
est. 1954
CHECK OUT OUR REVIEW OF “MIDNIGHTS”
PAGE 13
FEATURES Riverside celebrates Día de los Muertos covered in marigolds for its 19th annual festival JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor
FEATURES
COURTESY OF REPUBLIC RECORDS
A Conversation with Jennette McCurdy tackled topics of mental health, eating disorders, family dynamics and McCurdy’s experience as a child actress AMARAY ALVAREZ Opinions Editor
On Saturday, November 5th, Riverside’s community gathered for its Day of the Dead, Día de Muertos, festival. The festival ran through the heart of Downtown Riverside along Market Street, between 14th Street and University Avenue. From 1 pm to 10 pm the party hosted by the Division 9 Gallery, was a success with a non-stop celebration.
and was instantly mesmerized by the flavors. The pairing of the seasoned guacamole and the savory carne asada was worth every bite. I also purchased the “Churaffle,” a combination of churro and waffle, from a vendor exclusively selling flavored waffles on a stick. Despite its clever idea, it was met with disappointment as the waffle was not fully cooked.
UCR’s Associated Students Program Board hosted, “A Conversation with Jennette McCurdy” this past Wednesday featuring the actress, and now author, Jennette McCurty. During her talk, McCurdy discussed her New York Times Best Selling book, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” as well as topics regarding the entertainment industry and her journey with recovery.
Upon arriving at the event, the streets of Riverside were filled with stunning makeup, Folklorico dresses and ranchero boots. The excitement from those entering was exhilarating as guests were greeted with banda music from the main stage on 14th Street. Dancing on the corner of University Street and Market Street was the unofficial requirement before entering the festival.
Shopping vendors all across Southern California were stationed along Market Street with toys, clothing and jewelry. Huipils, a common dress native to Mexican and Central Americans, were common to see and embroidered with intricate designs. The richness of Mexican culture was not shied away from, as leather goods from Guanajuato and beautiful jewelry from Oaxaca were on the market.
Along Market Street were food and shopping stalls. Food options ranged from traditional Mexican food to street tacos. I was able to try the “California Burrito” from Tacos Before Vatos
Occurring every so often, lines of Aztec dancers packed the street with smells of copal incense. The smell of copal incense is an enormous factor in the holiday, as it is said to be a
In preparation of McCurdy’s arrival, anxious and excited students began lining up about four hours before at 3 P.M., although the event did not start until seven. The line could be seen between Rivera and Watkins Hall stretching to the Bell Tower. It was said by students waiting in line that those who arrived to wait at 5:15 P.M. were the last few to make it into the theater once doors opened. Despite the large turnout, ASPB kept control of the crowd and gave those who had their R’cards a wristband before being sent to a bag search by security.
► SEE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS PAGE 11
The moderator of the event was ASPB’s Senior Coordinator, Jazmin Alvarez Barragan. She hosted the first half of
the evening guiding the conversation and started by asking McCurdy about her recovery through her eating disorder and abusive family dynamic. McCurdy welcomed the questions and did not shy away from starting with difficult topics. She stated that “we shouldn’t sugar coat topics when we are trying to heal” and that “humor can be a great coping mechanism if it isn’t used as a defensive mechanism.” She also spoke about her relationship with therapy and how it opened her eyes to the toxic relationship her mother had created where McCurdy had no choice but to obey and suffer. Her relationship with her mother ultimately resulted in the other mental health problems she faced throughout her career and 20’s. After this first portion, McCurdy read an excerpt from her book where she detailed the events of her attending an award show. She had just begun therapy and her therapist attended the event to help watch over McCurty so that she would not binge and purge as award shows were a trigger. Despite the evening resulting in a panic attack, McCurdy was held accountable and not permitted to give in to the unhealthy ► SEE ASPB PAGE 10
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