Vol. 71, Issue 16

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, February 21, 2023

VOL. 71, ISSUE 16

RADAR

COURTESY OF INTERSCOPE RECORDS

New single, new sound: Lana Del Rey gets personal on ‘A&W’

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est. 1954

OPINIONS

The role of Kappa Sigma in ASUCR needs to continue being addressed HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL STAFF

JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

Leading up to her soon-to-be-released album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.,” Del Rey delivered a Valentine’s Day gift with “A&W” on February 14th. Following her in-depth interview for Interview Magazine, the single has intimate storytelling and profound production.

Del Rey has been known for her detailed world-building within her lyrics. The latest single is a sample of her brilliant capability to tell a unique story all within seven minutes. Within the lyrics, Del Rey questions her place in the world. She opens up about her childhood in the first minutes of the song,

missing her adolescence. The singer has mentioned her lack of a mother in previous songs, but on the track, is blunt about her absence and the effect on Del Rey. The writing moves into her womanhood and what it feels like to feel worthless as a woman. From her body image to sexual assault, the singer is unafraid to say what is on her mind.

“If I told you that I was raped / Do you really think that anybody would think I didn’t ask for it / I didn’t ask for it,” she sings.

Del Rey comes back to the phrase “American whore,” which alludes to the underlying meaning of “A&W.” All her life, the singer has felt she was not ► SEE LANA PAGE 13

ASUCR President, Mufida Assaf, along with only 5/6 of the Executive Cabinet, released an official statement at the beginning of the month condemning the injustice and bias that has occurred within the organization. The statement claims that there has been, and is currently, a division within the associated students that favors members who are also in the Kappa Sigma fraternity. This fraternity, however, is not and has never been officially affiliated with the UCR campus. The bias that these members have been allowed is unfair and has created an environment where the senate is unable to justly uphold their positions and make the best decisions for the campus community.

Despite Kappa Sigma being an unrecognized and unsanctioned organization, the fraternity still actively recruits students to join and is one of the largest Greek life groups at UCR. At the beginning of each school year, students are sent an email listing organizations that are not affiliated with the campus or that have been kicked off due to issues like hazing. This email is the only warning that most students see and typically fails to deter new recruits. Along with running an unofficial fraternity, the members of Kappa Sigma also have a history of joining and running for official positions in senate giving them more ► SEE KAPPA SIGMA PAGE 5

FEATURES

Club Spotlight: Student Organize for Syria advocacy efforts in the midst of tragedy

SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor

Students Organize for Syria (SOS) is a studentled initiative aiming to spread awareness about the ongoing conflicts in Syria. SOS holds chapters at multiple universities all across the United States.

According to Alaa Mido, the current vice president, “The main goal of SOS is to engage students and youth in the United States and around the world, advocating for an end to the violence and humanitarian crisis in Syria.”

Everyone is welcome at SOS, hosting various events ranging from advocacy circles to Syrian

cultural appreciation events. This year, Students Organize for Syria organized rallies, fundraisers, and educational forums to raise awareness for Syria’s humanitarian crisis and provide aid for those affected.

In the wake of the recent earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, SOS partnered with Youth United with Purpose (YUP) to contribute toward aid efforts.

Youth Unite with Purpose is a nonprofit organization that helps refugees establish identities outside of the injustices they endure by providing refugees with education opportunities. The YUP foundation taught ► SEE CLUB PAGE 9

COURTESY OF STUDENTS ORGANIZE FOR SYRIA

LET’S TALK ABOUT ELEMENTS ► SEE HOROSCOPE PAGE 8

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OPINIONS 5

FEATURES 8

RADAR 11

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NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

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The Inland Empire housing crisis has a huge extent and impact HOW IT HAS CHANGED MATA ELANGOVAN Contributing Writer

Currently the population of California is rapidly growing, and its housing is becoming less affordable as the cost of living rises due to its inability to keep up with this growth.

The Inland Empire (IE) is the 3rd most overcrowded region in the US, and 41.5% of the population is housing cost-burdened as of 2019 due to the fact that 30% of their income goes towards paying for housing. Due to the IE’s inability to house its population, it has affected the region’s sustainability, affordability, and policy.

Sustainable housing as defined by the housing report is defined as “housing that can meet the current needs of a growing population that additionally has the infrastructure to adequately serve future generations.” The goal of housing in the IE is to promote social mobility as well as sustainability through minimal environmental impact. In regards to the University of California, Riverside, currently only 30% of the student population live on campus, with the remainder of students commuting to school. When living on campus, students do not have to worry about cost of transportation nor increases in rent, as during their time at the university, their housing and tuition costs are stable. Because of this, students are able to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute positively to the environment because it is more likely that they use public transportation, rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft, or rental services such as Zipcar for their travel needs. In contrast, off-campus students are more likely to have concerns about spikes in housing, allocating time to commute to campus, and attaining methods of transportation, and as a result, are more likely to have a higher carbon footprint because they likely need a car to commute.

Low and moderate income households in need of affordable housing are often priced out of the Southern California housing markets due to lack of an affordable supply. The new housing supply in SoCal and its high costs make it difficult to meet the demand of the

OVER THE YEARS AND HOW IT AFFECTS STUDENTS.

people. Due to the housing situation being a decades long problem as well as zoning laws resulting in gerrymandering between low-income and high-income households, it makes it difficult for action to be taken to address this need in housing affordability.

In practice, it is suggested that total housing costs should not be any more than 30% of a household’s income, and in households that use 50% of their income on housing, they are considered rent burdened. Affordable housing does not include government subsidized or income-restricted housing, so the scale to determine whether housing is truly affordable is determined by the area median income (AMI). According to the article, the average household income has increased by around 28.7% between 1980-1990 as well as property values, but the property values increased by a less substantial rate. This, along with the reports of changing demographics in the Inland Empire, suggest that the housing crisis has significantly improved in the area and that it may be considered a “haven for minorities and those who would be severely or extremely cost-burdened elsewhere.”

The university helps mitigate the housing crisis for its student population by providing various housing options for its first year, continuing, and transfer students, along with family housing. Their options are generally less expensive than other areas in the Inland Empire, and in many cases on-campus housing costs can be mitigated through the use of financial aid or work study opportunities. Students living on campus may also not have to worry about the costs of transportation or dining through meal plans provided rather than cooking for themselves. And while on-campus housing may not be guaranteed, it is certainly one of the more affordable options for a student to consider in order to save on H costs while studying. ■

4 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

NEWS

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Tiny organisms are capable of surviving and thriving during the first year after a wildfire

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

THIS COULD AID IN THE RECOVERY OF LAND THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY SEVERE WILDFIRES.

Researchers from UC Riverside have discovered that certain tiny organisms are capable of surviving and thriving during the first year after a wildfire, which could aid in the recovery of land that has been damaged by increasingly severe wildfires. UCR mycologist Sydney Glassman led the team of researchers that made this discovery and their findings are published in the journal of Molecular Ecology.

The study focused on the Holy Fire, which burned over 23,000 acres across Orange and Riverside counties in 2018. The research team visited the burn scar nine times over the course of the next year, comparing the charred earth with samples from nearby, unburned soil. They found that the overall mass of microbes dropped between 50 and 80% after the fire, and did not recover during that first year. However, they noticed a phenomenon where certain living organisms increased substantially. “Certain species increased in abundance, and in fact there were really rapid changes in abundance over time in the burned soils,” Glassman said. “There were no changes at all in the unburned soils.”

Rather than a single species, a variety of microbes were found to have survived and thrived during the first year following a wildfire, with different species dominating the burned soil at different times. “There were interesting, distinct shifts in the microbes over time. As one species went down, another came up,” Glassman said. Initially, microbes with high tolerance for fire and heat were found, but were followed by fast-growing organisms with a lot of spores that could take advantage of space with little competition.

Organisms that could consume charcoal and other post-fire debris high in nitrogen tended to dominate toward the end of the year.

The study also found that certain microbes called methanotrophs, which regulate the breakdown of methane, increased their methane metabolism genes in post-fire microbes.

Fabiola Pulido-Chavez, UCR plant pathology PhD candidate and first author of the study, noticed how genes involved in methane metabolism doubled in post-fire microbes. “This exciting finding suggests post-fire microbes can “eat” methane to gain carbon and energy, and can potentially help us reduce greenhouse gasses,” Pulido-Chavez said.

The researchers continue to investigate whether the fungi and bacteria’s ability to thrive in a burn scar is due to their unique traits or whether there is another reason for the

observed shifts in the soil. The soil’s response to a wildfire is comparable to the human body’s response to a major stress, with different organisms taking over as a result of antibiotic use. “We think one organism can’t be good at all the skills necessary to thrive in a burn scar,” Glassman said. “If you’re good at tolerating heat, you’re probably not as good at growing fast.”

The researchers are also trying to understand how to restore land to its pre-disturbance state after a large fire, with much of what they are studying applicable to the human microbiome. While scientists have known for a century how plants can adapt and recolonize burn scars after a wildfire, this new research suggests that fungi and bacteria may have developed similar strategies to cope with the aftermath of an enormous fire. Glassman explained how the results were exciting as “We’ve only developed the technology in the last couple of decades to really understand what microbes are doing in the soil, and how they contribute to regeneration.”

New discoveries about the behavior of post-fire microbes may challenge older theories about plant behavior which did not account for microbes. “To me, this is exciting, as microbes have long been overlooked, yet they are essential for ecosystem health,” PulidoChavez explained.

One outstanding question is whether the adaptations that plants and microbes have developed in response to wildfires will also adapt to megafires or recurrent fires. In the past, there may have been decades between fires, but now it is becoming more common for the same soil to burn again in less than a decade. Climate change is exacerbating the problem, especially in the West, with rising temperatures and longer dry seasons making forests more susceptible to burning. The increase in size, severity, and frequency of fires raises questions about whether natural burn recovery can keep up. “Things can recover, but it takes time, and whether or not the land recovers after super-frequent megafires is another story. Can recovery time keep pace with megafires? We don’t know yet,” H Glassman said. ■

New Bylaw Amendments during Sixth Senate Meeting

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

THE SENATE PUSHES SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION. The sixth Senate Meeting of the Winter Quarter was called to order at 7:27 P.M. All were present with the exception of CHASS Senator Andrew Bui, CHASS Senator Jules Yang, CHASS Senator Alex Lu, CNAS Senator Abby Choy, CNAS Senator Kyle Cheng, and BCOE Senator Chloe Au. The motion to table State of the Association due to lack of quorum was approved 12-0-0. Finance Hearing Minutes #6 and Finance Outreach Fun Hearing #2 was added to the agenda. The agenda was approved with the following amendments 12-0-0.

During the LRC, SR-W23-006 Proposition to Increase First Pass Unit Maximum was introduced by PPT Aalani Richardson to be a resolution pushed by current and previous members of senate. The resolution changes the maximum limit of units especially for those with major course requirements that leave them with odd unit members. Academic Affairs Commissioner Nimisha Gupta aims to reintroduce the legislation and push administration to place it into effect. The motion was passed 11-0-2.

SR-W23-007 SHVP It’s On Us Resolution was organized by the Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence Prevention Committee as a resultion for sexual harrasment and violence prevention. The campaign advocates more preventative measures on-campus and, according to Leilani Tull the Commissioner internal office, makes them an officially recognized chapter on campus. Its On Us focuses on peer on peer training to become better at sexual violence prevention, educating students to become better advocates, and domestic violence prevention. The motion passed 9-0-3.

The amendment SB-W23-009 Administrative Amendments to Chapter XIX, authored

by Senator Ruhi Barman, amends the entirety of the LRC. It requires a senate voting member to either be a sponsor or listed as a primary author on all legislative processes.

The changes in Chapter 19 the Legislative Process and Regulations have always been practiced by the senate and the new amendment codifies this practice in the bylaws. The amendment also limits what can be reviewed and corrected during LRC amendments, allowing very minor format amendments and requiring the evidence be provided before the meeting. PPT Richardson opened a discussion amongst the Senate about the vote count. EVP Myra Usmani and Sen. Sean Nguyen spoke in favor of simple majority vote count over the ⅔ vote count. With a friendly amendment to account for the vote count preference, the bill was approved 10-0-2.

During GCAP the senate reviewed one Green Grant Application #25 introduced by VP of Sustainability Alondra Martinez. The application was submitted by a first year fellow and addresses sustainable fashion and organizes an upcycling event. Sen. Bui and Sen. Lu enter the meeting around 7:56 P.M. The Green Grant was approved 13-0-0.

During the Finance Hearing, Sen. Brandon Huang presented the Finance Hearing Minutes #6. $3000 was pulled from reserves for renovating cubicles and other related materials. In regards to the topic mentioned in the previous week, Sen. Ahman Greene

reported that the balance for renovations is $33K. There were $3210 for general club allocations which also made up the total allocations.

Finance Hearing Minutes #6 was approved 14-0-0. The motion to open Finance Outreach Fund Hearing #2 was approved by Sen. Huang and seconded by Sen. Hemant Hari. According to Sen. Huang: all grants that were requested by organizations were passed. The Finance Outreach Fund Hearing was approved 14-0-0.

Since there were nothing addressed in New Business and Public Comment, the senate moved onto Senator Reports. Sen. Hari notably mentioned the process of securing a more robust on-campus safety escort resolution with his committee and the Personnel Director.

The on-campus safety escort resolution partners with the Women’s Resource Center.

Complications because of one particular disagreement about collaborating with UCPD has slowed the progress of the student-led program. Most are in agreement that the oncampus safety escort service should be run primarily by students for students. According to Personnel Director Ankita Ahluhwailia the committee will be meeting with WRC shortly to fix the issue. Unlike previous organizations of campus safety escort services the committee is hoping to get a $1,500 stipend to pay safety escort officials and other funds for miscellaneous items like walkie talkies.

H The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 P.M. ■

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

5

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The role of Kappa Sigma in ASUCR needs to continue being addressed political research ASUCR President, Mufida Assaf, along with only 5/6 of the Executive Cabinet, released an official statement at the beginning of the month condemning the injustice and bias that has occurred within the organization. The statement claims that there has been, and is currently, a division within the associated students that favors members who are also in the Kappa Sigma fraternity. This fraternity, however, is not and has never been officially affiliated with the UCR campus. The bias that these members have been allowed is unfair and has created an environment where the senate is unable to justly uphold their positions and make the best decisions for the campus community.

Despite Kappa Sigma being an unrecognized and unsanctioned organization, the fraternity still actively recruits students to join and is one of the largest Greek life groups at UCR. At the beginning of each school year, students are sent an email listing organizations that are not affiliated with the campus or that have been kicked off due to issues like hazing. This email is the only warning that most students see and typically fails to deter new recruits. Along with running an unofficial fraternity, the members of Kappa Sigma also have a history of joining and running for official positions in senate giving them more legitimacy and control over the campus.

The members of senate who are affiliated with Kappa Sigma then use their platform to create an environment in ASUCR that favors their decisions instead of what is best for the student body. Elections especially cause tension and division with candidates either campaigning on their own or doing so with the backing of Kappa Sigma. The last senate elections were met with unprofessional campaigning tactics that resulted in a series of spying and tattle-tailing. Strikes were given to the candidates if they were reported for doing something unallowed, like using a step stool to put up posters, resulting in one of the candidates, Lina Nguy for the VP of Finance, being disqualified without notice despite receiving more votes. The other candidate who won due to the disqualification is also a member of this unsanctioned fraternity.

More transparency is needed within the senate to combat these issues of injustice and bias. The statement that was released acknowledged that the recent election of the Associate Justice was unfair and the candidate who was also in Kappa Sigma was favored

A STATEMENT MADE

BY ASUCR ADMITS A CULTURE OF INJUSTICE AND BIAS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

is a start. It appears that the Executive Cabinet is only now able to speak on these issues as the majority of the seats are held by women. Even so only 5/6 of the EC signed with statement and are advocating for change. The closed door elections referenced in the statement should also be done away with so that students and members of the community are aware of how these elected officials are upholding their positions. Other UC’s have open door policies that better uphold the democratic processes.

The UCR student body needs to be aware of the corruption within the senate so that they can put an end to the “boys club” that has been allowed to infiltrate campus politics.

Attending senate meetings, reading the weekly ASUCR recap by The Highlander and voting during elections are all ways to get involved. These elected officials reflect UCR and should be questioned on their affiliations and motives for wanting to be a part of the senate. Greek life organizations can be dangerous and allowing one that is not sanctioned or affiliated with the school to take over the senate will only lead to more problems and H unfavorable political tactics. ■

The Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

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OPINIONS

Online dating is ultimately still unreliable SONALI WHITTLE Contributing Writer

Online dating has become a societal norm. Using different apps such as Hinge, Tinder and Bumble is now common.

Through these dating apps, users have been conditioned to view potential partners through limited profiles on digital apps that only present the best version of themselves.

Online dating has resulted in relationships for many people, but there is no one correct methodology that can be followed uniformly by all users. Experts believe that society lacks significantly in digital communication skills. According to licensed therapist and dating coach, Kelsey Wonderlin, “there isn’t one place where people can go to learn how to start and maintain a healthy relationship.”

There is no standard when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship through an online experience.

Comparing younger and older generations, there is a stark contrast in dating culture. Due to the fact that this technology was not prevalent in older generations, the use of dating apps was non-existent. The way people dated was different compared with today, creating a barrier between these generations. The learning curve of online dating is something people must figure out for themselves because there isn’t a plethora of previous knowledge on the subject..

The determining factor of whether you get to start a conversation or talk with someone on a dating app requires either swiping or liking the person’s profile. The contents of the profile are mostly filled with pictures of that person meant to encompass only certain aspects of their life. Rarely do people share

very personal things on dating apps because it is dangerous to put personal information online. An element of caution is required in online settings.

Overall, online dating is hard to navigate on our own, and that is why those who participate in this should consider looking to experts. Ms. Wonderlin’s program, called the Texting Communication Cure, is a step towards facilitating a higher standard for healthy communication and the transition from online communication to in-person communication. The program details a five step plan to master text communication as well as how to deal and prevent things like ghosting and how to spot red flags.

The apps themselves do not make it easy to communicate. Pictures do not always accurately represent a person’s real life and fall short of recreating an in-person meeting.

Conversations can end up being forced or leading to dead ends. When people can create an image and present themselves in an inauthentic way, there is too much confusion.

Dating apps are hard to navigate alone or even with expert assistance. Connections have the possibility of becoming genuine, but searching for connection through dating apps sets a shaky foundation and leaves more room for chaos and confusion. No one can know for sure if the person they are talking H to is being real. ■

DATING ONLINE ALLOWS TOO MUCH ROOM FOR FALSE CONNECTIONS AND MISCOMMUNICATION.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

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OPINIONS

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

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Admit it — electric scooters are a curse to campus JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

ONLINE ELECTRIC SCOOTER DISCOURSE IS NO LONGER A JOKE AND IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON CAMPUS.

One Reddit search will tell you the number of claims of students and faculty has been hit by electric scooters, followed by dozens of complaints.

On January 21st, user UMSvictim in a post wrote, “I was too initially traumatized to even look at, much less get the names of, the many witnesses or the guy who hit me.”

Another post by user ComprehensiveOffer51 claims, “I was hit from behind today on my walk down AI, Aberdeen-Inverness, hill by an electric bike and the rider continued on her merry way without so much of a glance behind her.”

These Reddit posts are met with mixed discourse online, and are just a small sample of the many reports of electric scooter and bike related incidents. With what seems to be an increase in on-campus unlicensed motorized scooter, UMS incidents, many students question what policies the university has in place.

In 2010, campus policy 450-24 was implemented by the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor, Business & Administrative Services. This policy features the banning of UMS on campus, except for those with mobility impairment. Within the policy procedures, the line of responsibility with on-campus enforcement of the UMS ban is laid out clearly. However, this is not reflected on campus at all.

Getting around campus by UMS is a popular option among students. In simple terms, UMSs are the favored mode of transportation due to of Riverside’s poor transit systems. UC Riverside is considered a large campus, yet it is paired with unpredictable Riverside Transit Agency, RTA, buses. The absence of the campus bus loop leaves a large number of students

with very few transportation options — bike, skate or scooter. UMSs are one of the speediest options of the bunch, yet this is the root of the problem.

UMSs have what regular bikes and skates do not — the ability to reach high speeds in a short time. Speedy scooters and a crowded HUB on a Wednesday is a recipe for disaster.

Scootering at full speed on a campus filled with students can be dangerous, allowing pedestrians and even the rider to be struck.

Last fall, a San Jose State student was killed after colliding with a bus on an electric scooter. The 18-year-old’s death is an example of the possibilities of what UMS usage can lead to on campus. After certain speeds, these scooters can become hard to control.

Despite the multiple reports of crashes, UMSs remain on campus and do not seem to be going away. With a dense scooter population at UC Riverside, citations by Transportation and Parking Services, TAPS, appear to be minimal. If UMS usage continues to grow on campus, so will more accidents. Going 20 MPH and not following bicycle etiquette should not be the new norm on campus.

A senior told The Highlander, “Anybody on wheels on campus needs to watch where they’re going. Stop using sidewalks. You belong in the bike lane.”

Whether UMSs are cited or not soon, this is a wake-up call for Riverside to provide better transportation options. While UC Riverside students await reliable and easy transportation, users of micro-mobility need a reminder that the pedestrian rules the road, H even on campus.■

COURTESY OF PEXELS

The Ohio train derailment incident is a sign that this is now the norm

MICHAEL APELACIO Contributing Writer

CORPORATE CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND HARMFUL LABOR PRACTICES HAVE ENABLED PROFIT INCREASES THROUGH NEGLECT. On Feb. 3, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio, a 151-car long, 18,000-ton freight train had 38 of its cars derailed. Eleven cars were carrying hazardous flammable chemicals, most of which were controllably burned. The spill led to the evacuation of residents within one mile due to health concerns. It also caused ecosystemic destruction that killed an estimated 3,500 small fish. The company responsible for the incident, Norfolk Southern, offered $1000 checks to affected residents, but people are reluctant since it might prevent them from seeking legal recourse. As of today, the EPA allowed residents to return to their homes after reporting that air quality went back to normal.

This incident was completely preventable, but corporations have always aimed to increase their profits without worrying about ethics. Unless people start becoming more aggressive about demanding real accountability from companies, the frequency of events like these will not decrease, and there could be an even more harmful incident.

This is not a unique case. There have been many occurrences caused by harmful labor practices. The eerily similar New Jersey derailment also spilled the same chemical. The causes of the incident were a direct consequence of the implementation of precision scheduled railroading meaning; less workers, more hours, reduced inspections and trains longer than safety standards. Additionally, the freight train was 151 cars long and was already experiencing problems prior to the incident. This practice causes almost thousands of derailments every year.

Government policies that prioritize workers and worker safety could have significantly contributed to the prevention of derailments like these. Back in December, President Joe Biden, who frequently addresses himself as “Union Joe,” illegalized rail strikes as a response to the recent rail dispute “to avoid an economic catastrophe at a very bad time

in the calendar.” Currently, rail workers do not have paid sick leave and are punished for the inability to work a day, especially during the holidays.

The fundamental problem behind East Palestine and other harmful incidents is corporate lobbying. Lobbying is a crucial mechanism that allows companies to exert major control over government policy. Railroad companies spent a total of $27.4 million in lobbying, $1.9 million of which came from Norfolk Southern. Within the same year that Trump repealed the 2015 safety mandate requiring high hazard flammable trains being fitted with modern brakes by 2021. Norfolk Southern was also one of the lobbyists that contributed to Biden’s illegalization of rail strikes.

The reason cited for the repeal of the 2015 safety mandate for high-hazard trains was that the cost exceeded the benefit, but the safety mandate would only cost up to 0.7% of their revenue. The case here is not that corporations are incompetent or do not have the means to improve working standards. They are aware of the problem and are actively H suppressing them. ■

COURTESY OF JOHN MUELLER VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC BY 2.0

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Features TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

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Horoscopes

Let’s talk about elements

YSABEL NAKASONE Assistant Opinions Editor

HOW DOES YOUR ELEMENT GROUP MATTER? Fire Signs

Aries, Leo, Sagittarius You may think that being a fire sign is completely selfexplanatory. In some ways, that’s true. Fire signs express passion and tend to be more temperamental. Wild, even. Fire signs require careful companionship and support, so they don’t burn out. They also tend to be creative individuals and can get in touch with their emotions through creative or nontraditional methods. A fire sign also indicates a natural affinity for leadership, although each sign tends to follow different paths to get there.

Air Signs

Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Air signs’ thoughts move fast, and they tend to be thinking of a million things a minute. They have a strong attraction to abstract thinking. Their brains work in intricate ways, pulling things apart, analyzing them, and putting all the pieces back together again. They are curious beings, constantly winding their way through different ideas and information. Less focused on an end to the journey, they don’t really see one. Air signs are consumed with the now and the factors they see around themselves at the moment. There’s too much to be delved into to focus on an arbitrary endpoint.

Earth Signs

Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Earth signs are steady. They are the unmoving ground beneath your feet and the people you can count on. A person is only as good as their word, and Earth signs keep their promises in spades. Earth signs are inherently logical and goal-oriented.

It can be their weakness to miss intricacies along the way because they focus on the end product. Surprisingly, earth signs are sometimes seen as materialistic. However, they also put a high value on security, whether it be financial or emotional.

Water Signs

Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Water signs are the dreamy ones. Like fire signs, they have stronger emotional instincts. However, in direct contrast, they tend to filter themselves more toward flexibility and understanding rather than fiery passion. Water signs show a sense of fluidity in their affairs and a willingness to be flexible. Compassion is big for water signs. They do tend to be fluid in their own emotions, though as well, sliding from mood to mood with ease. Sensitivity makes them feel things deeply, and the pain of themselves and others resonates deeply. ■H

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Club Spotlight: Students Organize for Syria advocacy efforts in the midst of tragedy

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SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor

STUDENTS ORGANIZE FOR SYRIA HELPS PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THOSE DISPLACED BY THE EARTHQUAKES IN SYRIA AND TÜRKIYE. Students Organize for Syria (SOS) is a student-led initiative aiming to spread awareness about the ongoing conflicts in Syria. SOS holds chapters at multiple universities all across the United States. According to Alaa Mido, the current vice president, “The main goal of SOS is to engage students and youth in the United States and around the world, advocating for an end to the violence and humanitarian crisis in Syria.”

Everyone is welcome at SOS, hosting various events ranging from advocacy circles to Syrian cultural appreciation events. This year, Students Organize for Syria organized rallies, fundraisers, and educational forums to raise awareness for Syria’s humanitarian crisis and provide aid for those affected.

In the wake of the recent earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, SOS partnered with Youth United with Purpose (YUP) to contribute toward aid efforts. Youth Unite with Purpose is a nonprofit organization that helps refugees establish identities outside of the injustices they endure by providing refugees with education opportunities. The YUP foundation taught Syrian refugee women how to hand crochet dolls; during Wednesday tabling, SOS is selling these dolls with all funds raised directed towards relief efforts.

Student outreach coordinator, Yasmine Kudssi, stated, “the main doll, Salma, dream is to inspire refugees, just like herself. The YUP foundation also sends dolls to refugee camps to bring happiness to the tiny hearts of children at the camps. SOS is trying to extend our hearts and hands to help however we can.” SOS also hosted a “Pie for Syria” event where students paid $5 to pie board members, raising over $3,500 for the YUP foundation to support earthquake relief efforts.

Many SOS members have personal ties to those displaced by the quakes. Yasmine Kudssi’s family, forced to flee their home of Ez-Zor, Syria, due to war, lived in Gaziantep, where the first 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit. She stated, “when the earthquakes hit, everyone in their town was sleeping. My aunt told me they could hear buildings falling.

They just got up as fast as they could, not able to grab anything but a jacket and their shoes, and ran out the door, praying their building would not collapse next. My uncle also had to go into my grandparent’s apartment and carry my grandpa out of his bed and down the stairs, running as fast as he could. But they could not prepare for what was to come next. Their whole neighborhood was standing in the streets under the freezing rain and snow. Luckily their neighbor had a car and was nice enough to let my family sit in it until daylight.”

Alaa Mido, from Aleppo, Syria, lost many distant family members due to the earthquakes. She even visited Aleppo this past summer, for the first time in 10 years and

saw her own home destroyed by war. “Some buildings that were still intact got destroyed by the earthquake, and Aleppo, already severely affected by the war, was hit the hardest.

Syrians have become accustomed to tragic events, but it was still difficult to see them experience yet another tragedy after everything they have been through. While we try to offer help, the most that can be done for now is to raise money and provide education to people.”

SOS president Ranya Oubied’s family slept outside in their cars for fear that their homes would collapse, thankfully, they are still standing. Ranya stated “when things like this happen, you become worried for your family because you have no way of physically seeing if they’re okay or not. It’s not like you can drive down to see them; you just have to wait for a callback.”

After being displaced by the earthquakes, Yasmine’s family spent five days in a government aid shelter until they were temporarily transferred to a home in Trabzon, a popular sightseeing destination in Türkiye. During the 20-hour trip from Gaziantep to Trabzon, her family witnessed “the devastating aftermath of the earthquakes. Almost 70% of that city fell to the ground. They saw so many people stranded in the streets crying and screaming, trying to look for their loved ones, dead or alive, under the rubble.” The future is still unknown for Yasmine’s family, “right now, my family is waiting until inspectors can go and see if their home will be safe. The government also cut out gas and water for safety reasons to avoid fires.”

For anyone who wants to help with relief efforts, SOS “urges everyone to speak up and spread awareness about what is happening and donate to trusted organizations such as Molham Team, Syrian American Medical Society, and the White Helmets.” SOS is currently working on expanding its fundraising efforts, reaching out to campuses such as UCLA about selling dolls made by Syrian refugees. To get involved with SOS, follow their Instagram @sos_ucr to stay updated on events and meetings.

“The last thing I would like to say is please don’t stop talking about Syria after this month. Syria has been in a humanitarian crisis for a decade, and its often ignored and silenced by the media. We need to make sure that we stand with Syria and Syrians and help as much as possible. That means posting about it, talking about it, fundraising, etc.

Please keep Syria in your hearts, and please never stop talking about it,” stated SOS president Ranya Oubied. ■ H

Campus Cope: Balancing sleep, social life, and grades…can you really have it all?

ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

For the past three years of my college experience, I have had many ups and downs in trying to deal with juggling everything going on in my life. My high school self thought that everything going on in my life would suddenly get easier once I started college.

I thought going to SAT prep, waking up every day at 6 A.M. and worrying about not going to college after one bad test was the worst of it. However, after starting my college career, I was definitely wrong. Things only got a lot harder to deal with, especially since my first year was online due to COVID-19.

Even though I was home during my first year, it was hard to deal with the fact that I could not see my high school friends whenever I wanted to and that last day of school was unexpectedly the last time I would ever see them again. I had moved from Chino Hills to Orange County so even if I wanted to see them, I was not about to make a two-hour round trip for a 30-minute hang-out outdoors or in our cars. Since then, I told myself that even though classes and club activities would be online during my first year, I would join as many organizations as possible so I would not have to worry about making friends when things were back in-person.

Once my first year started, I decided to take 16 units, went through formal recruitment, joined the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) and the Chinese Student Association (CSA), and decided to work at Kumon in my hometown to make some money. Once I joined a sorority called Alpha Delta Pi, I decided to hold two small officer positions.

Toward the end of my first year, I started working for The Highlander. Even though this seemed like a lot of activities to juggle, everything was online, and I was dealing with all of this in the comfort of my own home. I did not have to worry about food or transportation since I was at home. In fact, I still managed to make time to meet all of the friends I made through these organizations while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and a healthy lifestyle.

However, when everything was back in-person, during the start of my second year, things started to take a turn for a bit. I thought I could manage my academics, personal life and all of the organizations I was in but I soon realized that managing all of these was going to be difficult. I was in a car accident the summer before my second year, so I had to go back to OC every other weekend for physical therapy and doctor appointments.

Some of my classes were also in-person, so I had to learn how to manage my time

THE STRUGGLES OF BALANCING MY ACADEMICS, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND A PERSONAL LIFE. throughout the day. Juggling all of these things going on in my life affected my mental and physical health, losing myself along the way. I had to take a break from many of the organizations I was in, I rarely had the energy to hang out with my friends, and I could not handle having a job outside The Highlander.

Learning how to deal with these obstacles was tough. However, by the end of my second year, I was finally able to get my life back together. Learning how to manage my time definitely helped me juggle everything going on in my life while getting at least 8 hours of sleep. My academics are always the main priority, so scheduling my free time, social activities and work commitments around my class schedule helped me do well in my academics. Having classes starting at 9 A.M. was a struggle at first, but it soon helped me be productive throughout the day. Waking up at 8 A.M. and starting the day off with an iced coffee and a nice homemade breakfast before class helps me get through the day and improves my mental and physical health. I also started taking my vitamins and drinking green juice every morning and night to get some extra nutrients in my system. Implementing these little things every day helps balance my life.

Now that I’m in my third and final year, it took me a while to learn how to properly manage everything going on in my life. Once I learned how to manage my time properly and started to work on the little things, all of my struggles began to improve. I am able to graduate in three years and get accepted into graduate school. I currently work three jobs while taking 16 units, my mental and physical health has drastically improved, and I still manage to make time to hang out with my friends and family.

Although it took a while for me to overcome these struggles, I realized that taking the time to improve everything you’re struggling with at your own pace helps you balance your life. No matter how many obstacles you have to overcome, going at your own pace and figuring these things out on your own can help you have a fruitful life over time.

Whatever you are currently facing is only temporary. Do not rush and let life take its H course. You will figure it out.■

10 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

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A piece of France in Riverside County

ANNELISE MCCULLOUGH Contributing Writer

REVIEW OF THE FRANCE HOUSE OF CREPES

While the unassuming exterior may fool you, walking through the door to the France House of Crepes greets you with an opportunity to experience delicious French crepes right here in Riverside. The right wall painted a cheerful salmon, with booths pressed up along the sides, and the left wall a bright yellow, combined with checkerboard floors creates the ambiance of an old fashioned diner mixed with a parisian cafe.

There is music to serenade you as you dine; crooning old French songs, the popular and recognizable La Vie en Rose, (and strangely, Discord by The Living Tombstone). The music adds to the atmosphere and will definitely put you in the mood to enjoy crepes. The place is bright and cute, a darling little place to have crepes. At 7:00 P.M., there were other patrons– their conversations adding to the vibe– but nothing too busy or hectic.

coffees, and french sodas. And of course, there is a Happy Hour every day from 2- 7 P.M. with notable drinks such as micheladas and mimosas and much more. The menu pictures the most popular sweet and savory crepes for your perusal, with such a wide and extensive menu, there is something for everyone.

I ordered a sweet and savory crepe to have the best of both worlds and a hot chocolate, as it was a cold night and too late for coffee.

The hot chocolate came first: a tower of whipped cream sitting atop a blue mug and topped off with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

The whipped cream was light and airy, sweet

To: Fort It was love at first sight when you took my order at coffee bean From: Ice Vanilla Latte Lover

We met around November of 2021 in Pentland Hills E. My hallmates and I had just came back from the gym, and throughout the quarter, I had always wanted to introduce myself to our next door hallmates. Every week, we would always say that we would, and end up not having the courage to do it, and after that gym session, I got a box of hot pockets that I had, and got the courage to go and Introduce myself. My hallmates followed of course. I knocked on the door and was greeted by her roommate. I asked “hot pocket?” and she took one. Her roommate then called the entire suite to introduce us all to my entire suite, and then she came out. I offered her a hot pocket nervously as I was stunned by her beauty, and after looking into her eyes, I knew, that she was the one.

We were freshmen 2017, I used to eat with my friends at the Lothian dining hall and I would see this beautiful man when I would eat there almost everytime. One day, I was feeling cute so I told my friends “if I see him today, I’m gonna ask him out.” I did see him so I worked up the nerve to ask him as he and his friends were leaving the dining hall. I walk up to him and I go “Hi can I talk to you for a sec” he just kinda nods and his friends leave him there and I go “I don’t usually do this but I see you around and I think you’re really cute, would you wanna grab coffee or lunch sometime?” And he just looked

I ordered the Creamy Paris Crepe– one of their bestselling savory crepes and for very good reason. Inside the crepe was chicken, mushrooms, olives, onions, sweet green peppers and mozzarella cheese. A garlic cream sauce was drizzled over everything and grated parmesan cheese garnished the top. The combination was phenomenal.

The olives added a slightly sour kick to the otherwise umami taste, the garlic cream sauce had a mild flavor that pieced everything together. The slight sweetness of the crepe added a perfect balance of sweet and savory making the crepe almost addicting.

Then the sweet crepe came out: their popular Royalty crepe, with Nutella, cocoa, strawberries and bananas, chocolate and a dollop of chantilly cream on the side. The crepe was sweet, overset by a brightness provided by the strawberries and bananas keeping it from being too rich.

The service is very prompt, with a greeter coming to seat you very quickly and the food coming out in a timely manner. Although it must be noted that around 7:00 P.M. is likely not their busiest hours and the time between ordering and receiving your food may change during rush hours.

The menu has a wide array of sweet and savory crepes, breakfast crepes and daily specials, omelets, hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads. There is also a wide variety of drink options– hot drinks: cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate. And cold drinks: soft drinks and juices, fruit smoothies, iced

with a hint of salt to overset the sweetness.

The hot chocolate itself was not overly sweet, which I appreciated. The savory crepe I ordered arrived first, so I set the hot chocolate aside to finish later.

COURTESY OF ASHLEY CHEN

Overall, the France House of crepes is a great place to go to enjoy crepes. The prices range from decent to a bit on the pricey side, making it the perfect place to go on a special occasion, rather than casual, everyday dining. It is a great place to go with friends or on a date if you are looking for a little piece H of France in Riverside.■

Valentine’s Grams at me and then I go “If you’re not interested or you have a girlfriend…”

“Yeah, I have a girlfriend” he finally spoke to reject me. And I go “Oh okay sorry to make things awkward!”

And run off to my friends table. Well, I never got his name and he never got mine. But my friends and I called him Lothian Boy for obvious reasons.

During my time at UCR, I used to work at the front counter at the SRC, which —I didn’t know at the time but— prompted this guy’s friends to refer to me as Gym Girl. I would see this guy on campus from time to time but was convinced he hated me for some reason —and little did I know he thought the same thing of me when he saw me. Well, 3 years pass, and (I didn’t know this at the time but) my friend Tyler moves in with Lothian Boy. Tyler is sitting next to Lothian boy on the couch, scrolling through instagram and Lothian Boy just happens to glance over at Tyler’s phone when a picture of me pops up.

(It is important for me to make clear that Lothian Boy had been broken up with his girlfriend at the time for 2 years.) Lothian Boy sees my picture and goes “THAT’S GYM GIRL THAT’S GIRL WE’RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT” and Tyler suggests that Lothian Boy follows me and talks to me. And here we are now, 3 years later, still together, we graduated from UCR together in 2021 and it turns out his name was H Christian. ■

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Netflix’s ‘Unlocked’ should stay locked away

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

RAMITA SETTY Contributing Writer

There’s nothing modern horror and thriller writers hate more than a cell phone. A device that the characters can use to call for help instantly — where’s the tension in that? As a result, these stories often contrive phone-less circumstances.

No signal, dead battery, the device lost or stolen. These overdone ideas are endless. However, some writers choose to look at phones not just as a cheat code for an escape, but as a source of horror in itself. Phones are like mini databases that contain all information personal and sensitive about us. Our daily routes, most embarrassing photos and banking information are within these devices. What would happen if the wrong person could access that? That is what “Unlocked” explores.

The Korean surveillance thriller opens with a cheerful, fast-paced montage following Na-mi’s (Chun Woo-hee) cell phone throughout her day: the games she plays on the subway, messages she exchanges with her friends, paying for her food and the selfies she takes with her friends. After she loses her phone, it is found by Oh Jun-yeong (Yim Si-wan) who returns it to her and uses it to track her via keylogger. A brief montage of Na-mi’s day through her cell phone is shown again, but this time interspersed with shots of Oh Jun-yeong taking notes of the people Na-mi is closest with, her daily route to work, the amount of money in her bank account. Just in case Jun-yeong’s nefarious intentions weren’t clear enough at this point, the montage ends with the reveal that a drawing of Na-mi, bound and gagged, is Junyeong’s new screensaver.

The film focuses on brief but menacing shots of litup scenes throughout the movie from which much of the movie’s suspense is derived; evoking the dread of being stalked by a nefarious figure. Despite its clever use of

VERDICT:

smartphones, “Unlocked” does not possess much in the way of suspense or tension. Na-mi is too incurious and thus comes across as naive and clueless. Her actions, which seem designed merely to keep the movie going forward make it difficult to be invested when terrible things start happening to her. When Na-mi is fired from her job and loses her best friend thanks to Jun-yeong’s actions, it’s difficult for the audience to care, because Na-mi feels more like an avatar for a screenwriter to move the plot forward rather than a real person.

A subplot about Jun-yeong’s father (Kim Hee-won), a detective desperately trying to catch his serial killer son while pondering on his guilt over how Jun-yeong turned out could have been interesting. But it too lacks depth and instead feels more like an attempt to pad out the screen time in order to hit the two-hour mark. A last-minute plot twist destroys any impact this arc could have had in its entirety.

It is a film that could have benefitted from a shorter runtime. The first hour of the film plods along until the detective and Na-mi team up to catch Jun-yeong when things should start getting interesting. Instead of leaning into the killer’s macabre tendencies that have been explicitly hinted at throughout the movie, the film suddenly gets cold feet and shies away from any genuine fear or menace. For all his careful serial killer methodicalness, Jun-yeong feels strangely de-fanged.

A plot twist should be exciting. It should have the audience racing to re-evaluate the past two hours of the film. It should not make you shrug your shoulders, apathetic and say “Sure. That might as well happen.” Unfortunately, that is what happens with a rather lackluster last-minute plot twist that is there for the sake of being a plot twist. It

is an apt description of the entire movie, which feels like it was made for the sake of being made. For a thriller, it’s not particularly thrilling and offers nothing countless better H genre films haven’t already done. ■

THIS FLAT SURVEILLANCE THRILLER LACKS SUSPENSE AND TENSION.

A dull, plodding offering to the thriller genre that could have benefitted from a couple more rewrites.

Ultimately, it winds up being an unexciting addition to a genre that depends on excitement.

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‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ falls just short of its predecessors but manages to make this up with its charm MAX BRIGGS Contributing Writer

The “Magic Mike” film series made its final, longawaited return to the big screen with “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” on Feb. 10th. Initially set to be released via streaming on HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures decided to change this after its positive test screenings.

Acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh takes the reins back from Gregory Jacobs, setting up high expectations.

Although the trilogy never garnered much critical acclaim, these were largely set in stone by devout appreciators for its respect and portrayal of a side of show business often looked down upon.

While the first two entries are rather overarching in their thematic presence, it is clear that this film is grounded in comparison. Revolving around Mike Lane’s (Channing Tatum) brief affair with a wealthy socialite, Maxandra Mendoza (Salma Hayek), their paths intertwine, leading to an intangible foreign feeling between the pair. Mike is forced to get back in the game after unsuccessfully attempting to keep his furniture business afloat due to the pandemic. The situation quickly escalates and Mike is placed in charge of directing a stage play — incomplete, of course, without an ensemble of male strippers.

One key change makes “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” surprisingly different in its messaging; this is contained within the focus shifting away from the previous locus of its antecedents. The story shines a rare and important light on female desire, acknowledging an overlooked theme with grace and passion. Ginuwine’s legendary song “Pony” also could have made a grander return, providing a perfect nostalgic segway to the old days.

Mike’s streak of struggling to maintain meaningful

VERDICT:

relationships comes to an end here, leading the film’s plot to focus on his dynamic with Maxandra. The connection that alters such an important part of Mike’s character could have been explored through the stronger character development of the latter. Unfortunately, its absence hinders the time granted to further explore other important elements of why Mike’s work and artistry are so important.

This subject is only explored briefly in a short dialogue between Mike and of course, “The Kings of Tampa.” Only including the iconic posse in one scene is a missed opportunity — something that hardcore fans will find hard to let go of. As a result of this, the heavy lifting is left solely to Maxandra, whose characterization isn’t nearly as fleshed out. Despite Hayek’s good performance, the underdeveloped romance fails to resonate with the audience as much as it should have.

However, Soderbergh’s innate ability to control the camera stands out again, allowing the narrative to coincide with the visuals emphatically. One of the most prolific directors working today, this film is no stranger to his specific sense of precision, as his cinematography only reinforces this notion. Reid Carolin’s writing slightly drops in terms of its impact, partly due to the lack of positive male camaraderie that featured so heavily before in his work. The stakes are raised, divulging from the expected “hangout vibes” that come naturally to all those who exist in Mike Lane’s world.

Yet again, the excellence of the film lies within the brilliant dancing, with Tatum highlighting his seemingly unfading, perfect mastery of the art form. His ability to translate physical energy into pulsating waves of

unfiltered emotion elevates each scene, serving as a simultaneous catharsis and way of unparalleled personal expression. Although the viewer doesn’t feel connected to the rest of the dancers, a key component that doesn’t set in until Mike’s final appearance, there’s no denying the familiar breathtaking skill on display.

The final result of this is a display of otherworldly spectacle in the rawest form. The choice for the final sequence to take place in a theater in contrast to a traditional revue setting highlights how much he has progressed from the beginning of his journey. Despite the unclarity of his new relationship, its sole presence granted a path for empathy to work its way into Mike’s talent. The water from the show washes away the past; he is himself once again. Even though the first and second acts are far in quality from the final performance, the most important goal is achieved — provide a resounding farewell. Times may change, and people may go, but the H spirit of “Magic Mike” will remain forever.■

Although Soderbergh’s return to the franchise is the weakest of the series, Tatum’s screen presence and stunning sequences of choreography combine to create a worthy sendoff to the titular character.

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS PICTURES

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New single, new sound: Lana Del Rey gets personal on ‘A&W’ Content warning: This article may not be suitable for those sensitive to topics of sexual violence.

JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

DEL REY TAKES A DIFFERENT DIRECTION — AND A GOOD ONE — FOR HER LATEST TRACK.

COURTESY OF INTERSCOPE RECORDS

VERDICT:

Lana Del Rey makes a bold and beautiful return with “A&W,” from the intense bass to the vivid storytelling.

Leading up to her soon-to-be-released album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.,” Del Rey delivered a Valentine’s Day gift with “A&W” on February 14th. Following her indepth interview for Interview Magazine, the single has intimate storytelling and profound production.

Del Rey has been known for her detailed world-building within her lyrics. The latest single is a sample of her brilliant capability to tell a unique story all within seven minutes.

Within the lyrics, Del Rey questions her place in the world. She opens up about her childhood in the first minutes of the song, missing her adolescence. The singer has mentioned her lack of a mother in previous songs, but on the track, is blunt about her absence and the effect on Del Rey. The writing moves into her womanhood and what it feels like to feel worthless as a woman. From her body image to sexual assault, the singer is unafraid to say what is on her mind.

“If I told you that I was raped / Do you really think that anybody would think I didn’t ask for it / I didn’t ask for it,” she sings.

Del Rey comes back to the phrase “American whore,” which alludes to the underlying meaning of “A&W.” All her life, the singer has felt she was not worthy of being loved and only “the other woman.”

However, everyone else around her sees her as promiscuous.

Throughout this story, melodic piano follows her voice. This is a similar style Del Rey has used frequently throughout her

last three albums. These ballad-style songs, which the singer has grown to be known for, are what draw away listeners who come for a catchy pop song. She pushes away from this approach with a dramatic beat separating the song into two parts. Producer Jack Antonoff brings a drum machine out of the closet for this track, something that Del Rey did not touch often in her most recent tracks.

Her hip-hop-inspired and trap-style beats are reminiscent of her previous record “Lust for Life.” This portion of the song is refreshing and innovative, while still keeping her nostalgic Americana touch to the track. She uses an interpolation of “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop” by Little Anthony and the Imperials for this duration.

This expression is common throughout American pop culture but the phrase alludes to the act of a man being sexually aroused by a woman.

Paired with this, Del Rey sings, “Love me if you love or not, you can be my light.”

After the four-minute mark, her distorted vocals sing about knowing a man is using her which adds to her overarching theme of being loveless.

The production on the track is phenomenal and enticing for what’s to come on “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” If you are a fan of Lorde’s “Melodrama” or Taylor Swift’s “Reputation,” this track may land a spot on H your “on-repeat” Spotify playlist. ■

Do you have ‘3 Boys’ to talk to?

BRENDA JOVEL Radar Editor

R&B ARTIST, OMAR APOLLO, RELEASES HIS FIRST SENSUAL SINGLE OF THE YEAR. Soul and heavenly vocals surround the tunes of Omar Apollo. Recently coming off a Best New Artist Grammy nomination, Apollo has risen from the ground up to bless his fans with alternative R&B, pop and hues of reggaeton.

The artist’s start to music was unsteady due to Apollo’s financial struggles. When attempting to release his first single, “Ugotme,” Apollo was unable to pay the $30 fee required to upload the song, and was aided by a friend. Once uploaded, “Ugotme” rose to popularity as listeners fell in love with the way that it tugged at the heartstrings.

As his voice became recognized, Apollo continued to release refreshing songs. His latest project and first album release from 2022, “Ivory,” defied the norms of R&B with sultry and electro-pop vocals as the singer reminisced about past relationships.

Captivating and melancholic tunes continue to capture Apollo’s sensual essence in his latest single, “3 Boys.”

“3 Boys” consists of smooth vocals that rain against the heart as Apollo sings about relationships with multiple voices. “I should take your advice and find someone new / So I could have two” are words that emphasize how people can love more than one heart at a time. Themes of non-monogamy, relationships and attachment intermingle to create a burning effect that is sure to mark listeners’ minds.

Apollo’s light voice empowers the significance of each verse. His emotion stands out the most when he sings, “Three boys would work if I wasn’t so tethered to you,” a hardhitting line that the singer puts plenty of feeling into.

Guitar and bass ring throughout the single, aligning themselves with Apollo’s voice.

Each sound can deepen not only the meaning of the lyrics but also the transcending emotions Apollo evokes. Together, everything combines to create a realistic experience of human connection.

Every lyric plays an important role when it comes to describing relationships, and their ability to lock within one’s heart and soul. Apollo never shies away from the fact that having more than one voice to talk to can withhold exhilarating feelings, but also create strain and complexities within individuals. Non-monogamous relationships are a subject that many can relate to, and Apollo’s “3 Boys” will have many thinking about H their relationships, situationships and more. ■

VERDICT:

As Apollo’s first release in 2023, “3 Boys” is emblematic of the young artist’s soulful year with music. For now, fans are sure to be listening to this single from morning to night.

COURTESY OF AWAL

14

RADAR

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/radar

Artist Spotlight: More art and más fun with Deladeso MAXEN OLVERA Contributing Writer

THE VISIONARY CONSTRUCTS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE INLAND EMPIRE.

Deladeso, aka Richie Velazquez, is a multimedia wizard based in Riverside, California. Deladeso is an artist, musician, show host and many more roles in the entertainment realm. I spoke with Deladeso in his immersive art studio, Oofalandia.

The art space looks like it came out of a Saturday morning cartoon with his visually striking art pieces at every corner. Most of the pieces draped on the walls are forms of the grime art style. Grime style is when pop art symbols look like they are slowly melting. Deladeso is the godfather of the transformative art style. Deladeso would add the drip aesthetic to skating videos made by his friends. These videos allowed Deladeso to exercise his artistic muscles. He began applying the grimy style to portraits of pop culture icons such as Jimi Hendrix and Mickey Mouse. Deladeso’s modified images of prolific creators like Kurt Cobain gained a cult following and infused the mainstream with his artistic craft.

The art of Deladeso represents his passion for pop culture iconography born in the 1990s. “The Simpsons,” “Nicktoons” and “Goosebumps” fueled Deladeso’s childhood. The programs enhanced his creative mindset and inspired him to create his cartoon, “Los Dumpies.” The animation served as a fresh way to present Deladeso’s art. Further into the pandemic, Deladeso was given an opportunity to build out the world he created with “Los Dumpies.” He transformed an old brewery into the unbelievable Oofalandia. The spot became a place for Deladeso and his friends to hang out. They started to film their experience in the studio to preserve their memories. The homemade films evolved into the creation of Más Fun T.V. Season Uno of Más Fun T.V. recently wrapped up, holding 11 episodes that allowed viewers to relax and have fun with various artistic innovators. Deladeso hosts each episode as he chats with musicians, artists and creators. Episode diez

gave a spotlight to the psychedelic funk band Chola Orange. The sounds of Chola Orange are reminiscent of Jamiroquai and Funkadelic. However, Chola Orange creates its music with cinematic lenses. Songs on their Tokyo Sunset album open with blockbuster sound effects or cinematic dialogue. Tokyo Sunset blends film, music and art to create a masterpiece that subverts sound entertainment.

The latest episode of Más Fun T.V highlighted a Latina singer/songwriter named Chrisol. Chrisol’s music could be recognized by her signature Latin-Disco-Soul sound. Songs like “Corazón” and “Hypnotized” are built on the enchanting vocals of Chrisol. She deserves more recognition than she gets as Chrisol has the talent needed to spice up the music industry.

Más Fun T.V. is expanding into apps, animation, art, music and food. The Más Fun T.V. app can be downloaded on almost every device. The app encompasses countless forms of entertainment that are suitable for all ages. There will be a music video showcase called “para la cultura” and a cooking show titled “tengo hambre.”

The two new shows are barely the tip of the iceberg, as Deladeso plans to create more shows that can provide a sense of positive morale.

Riverside has always been important to Deladeso. Recently, he got a space at the newly opened Raincross District. The district has set up shop in downtown Riverside and is open every day from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. The Raincross District houses art installations, vintage clothes vendors, and sustainable essentials. Deladeso’s grime art serves as one of the art installations in the district. The exhibit contains a chunk of Oofalandia that has Deladeso’s artwork incorporated into its design.

H You can download the Más Fun T.V app at masfuntv.com/. ■

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

Sports

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

15

UC Riverside sweeps season series against Long Beach State with a 88-76 win HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team defeated Long Beach State 88-76 Wednesday night in the SRC Arena. Going into this ball game, the Highlanders lost three of their four games and were looking to get back on track. Many festivities were brought pre-game with tailgate events, free t-shirts, and music to prepare students and fans for the big game.

UCR jumped out to an early 11-4 lead as graduate student Flynn Cameron had five early points to lead the way. The Elbees would respond with an 8-0 run of their own to take control of the game 12-11 with a couple of three-pointers of their own. The game would slow down approaching the midway point of the first half as both teams struggled to knock down shots. UC Riverside would go on a four-minute scoring drought before Cameron would hit a three-pointer to give the Highlanders an 18-14 lead with 9:55 left in the first half. The freshman center Lachlan Olbrich would connect on a couple of layups and his third three-pointer of the half to give UCR a 25-18 lead with 8:08 left until halftime. A couple of possessions later, Olbrich would clean up his own miss for a putback layup to push the lead up to nine. UC Riverside would maintain their lead down the stretch as junior forward Will Tattersall finished layup after layup to give the Highlanders a 38-30 lead at the half.

Cameron was the story of the second half as he came out of the locker room with a hot hand. After a made layup from Long Beach State, Cameron stepped into a triple to put UCR up by nine points. In the next possession, Cameron got the basketball, sidestepped for three, and knocked it down for his second straight three-pointer. After a missed three-pointer from the Elbees, Olbrich quickly handed the ball off to Cameron, who immediately launched it from way behind the line, and splashed it down plus the foul, causing the entire SRC Arena to erupt.

10 straight points from Cameron gave the Highlanders a 16-point lead, 48-32. UC Riverside would maintain the lead throughout the second half. With mere seconds left on the shot clock, sophomore forward Luke

Turner hit a crazy fadeaway three-pointer at the buzzer to give UCR their biggest lead of the night at 17 points, 53-36.

However, as the game continued, Long Beach State slowly chipped away at the lead and soon found themselves back into the ball game. A couple of layups from the Traore brothers closed the margin to within 11 points for the Elbees. Junior guard Marcus Tsohonis knocked down back-to-back jump shots to bring the deficit to single digits, 61-53, with 11:21 left in the ball game. After a turnover from Olbrich, sophomore guard Jadon Jones slammed down a powerful dunk on the fast break to bring it within six points. Moments later, Tsohonis would finish a layup to bring the score to 68-64 with 6:09 left in the game. Graduate student Jamal Hartwell II would connect on a huge three-pointer to push the lead back up to seven, but the Elbees would continue to chip away. A couple of possessions later, sophomore guard Tone Hunter would knock down a three-pointer to make it a one-possession game, 71-68, with 4:11 left in the game. Hartwell II would respond with a three-pointer from the right wing to push the lead back up 74-68. After that shot, the Highlanders would run away with the game. Cameron would knock down his seventh three-pointer of the game to extend the lead to eight points. Sophomore forward Vladimer Salaridze would drain a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the game away as UC Riverside won 88-76.

Cameron led the way for the Highlanders with 24 points, five rebounds, five assists, and knocked down seven three-pointers. Olbrich had a solid H game with 13 points and eight rebounds, and senior guard ■ Zyon Pullin contributed with 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists.

UC Riverside defeated UC Santa Barbara 74-63 on Saturday night, giving them their 18th win on the season, the most in school history. The Highlanders now sit third in the Big West Conference standings with an 18-10 (11-5) record. Their next game will be on the road Wednesday night, Feb. 23, against the University of Hawaii at 10:00 P.M.

THE HIGHLANDERS KNOCKED DOWN 13 3-POINTERS IN FRONT OF A PACKED SRC ARENA.

COURTESY OF UCR SPORTS

Fans need to stop idolizing athletes and hold them accountable for their actions KIA NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

Content warning: This article discusses instances of sexual assault and/or violence.

Athletes are frequently idolized by fans for their unbelievable physical feats. Oftentimes athletes are leaders in social causes given their influence on their followers and, more specifically, the youth. However, with this idolization there is always a risk that the idol turns out to be a horrible human being. Mason Greenwood who is a young forward under contract at Manchester United falls into this category. Greenwood recently had charges of rape and assault dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, citing the withdrawal of a key witness, that being the victim who is Greenwood’s girlfriend.

This all stems from Greenwood’s girlfriend posting pictures of herself beaten and badly bruised, as well as voice notes where it seems Greenwood allegedly forced himself onto her. The young star was subsequently suspended by his club, and had sponsorships, most notably with Nike, terminated. This all happened around a year ago and since then, little has been heard from Greenwood apart from a second arrest stemming from a breach in his bail conditions after he went to talk to the victim. Now, following the dropping of his charges it appears as though Greenwood and his girlfriend have reconciled despite his abuse, which has many worried and confused.

The reactions towards the dropping of the charges have been mixed. There are some who rightfully believe

ATHLETES ARE OFTEN PUT ON A PEDESTAL BY FANS FOR THEIR SPORTS PROWESS, BUT THEIR CHARACTER FLAWS ARE OFTEN IGNORED. that having a potential abuser in and around the club would be damaging to what the club stands for within its fanbase, but also within its staff. The staff includes a full fledged womens’ team who would have to don the same badge and colors as Greenwood. There are others, however, who either believe that the dropping of charges equates to Greenwood being guilt-free, or who do not care about the allegations, victim, or repercussions given that Greenwood is widely considered as one of the premier talents in the entire world.

This debate of whether or not Greenwood should be let back into the team is a debate that happens quite often in the world of sports. There have been many athletes in all professional sports that have been accused of sexual misconduct and of those athletes the vast majority have suffered little to no consequences despite there being evidence of their crimes. Notable examples include Deshaun Watson in the NFL and Trevor Bauer in the MLB. Athletes, being of high renown as well as their great financial capabilities allow them to beat these charges at little cost to their careers.

The other aspect one has to consider in this matter is the effect Greenwood being back in the team will have on fans, specifically female and younger fans. Sports have always been an escape for so many people and as time has gone on, fandom has become more inclusive to women, kids, and marginalized communities. Having abusers in the fold on one of the biggest teams, on one of the biggest stages in the world, sends a message to

femme and young fans that Greenwood’s behavior is tolerated and even rewarded with a £100 thousand-a-week contract.

Manchester United are currently holding an independent review of Greenwood’s behavior and they could be in line to terminate his contract with the club. Unfortunately, there are also rumors that some United staff would welcome Greenwood back with open arms.

Sports fans tend to be extremely fickle in their support. Many idolize players based on skills and the glory they give their teams, rather than how their actions off the field might reflect on the team as a whole. Many athletes stand for great causes, but having abusers such as Greenwood be a part of their faction is a great disservice to all the good they do in the world. There needs to be a major culture shift in sports where athletes are held accountable for their actions and not idolized for their skills. If this change is actively worked for, the world of sports will be seen as talented people doing what they excel at, but they will not be immune to necessary consequences. With the intensely macho attitude present in sports today, such a shift could mean more safety and inclusivity for all, on and off the court. ■ H

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