Vol. 72, Issue 00

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, July 11, 2023

VOL. 72, ISSUE 00

SPORTS

est. 1954

UCR’S HIGHLANDER GLOVES WOMEN’S TEAM WALKED AWAY WITH THE USIBA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE COMBINED MALE AND FEMALE BOXERS WALKING AWAY WITH FOUR BELTS.

UCR’s Highlander Gloves women’s team wins first place at USIBA and receives no appreciation

KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

UCR’s Highlander Gloves women’s team won the USIBA (United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association) team title this past March, the first in the school’s history. The school’s official boxing club sent a team of male and female boxers to compete at the 11th annual edition of the tournament at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

The club and team, which is coached

by Joab Corey, an associate professor of economics at UCR, promote boxing as both a great workout and a safe space for students to develop positive qualities in one another. This is on clear display by the interactions between members as well as resources provided by the club to promote a healthy lifestyle for its fighters. The club holds practices two days a week and offers shuttling to and from their off campus gym where members and fighters

can learn and utilize the fundamentals of boxing, developing their skills.

Towards the end of every academic year the club sends an official fight team consisting of student boxers to the national USIBA competition, first formed in 2012 to promote a safe, competitive and exciting league for their teams. In this edition of the competition UCR walked away with three belts won by Haley Mcreery (Female 119 Beginner), Jacob Castillo (Male 132 Open) and Carlos Rivera (Male 154 Beginner “A”) as well as a fourth belt won by the club via UCSC’s Matthew Goldschmidt (Male 154 Beginner “B”). These four belts in addition to the women team’s team championship is an incredible result for Highlander Gloves who came away with five belts in last year’s iteration of the competition.

Despite the incredible achievement of these student athletes and the effort and dedication they put on display throughout the year to ► SEE GLOVES PAGE 16

FEATURES

COURTESY OF UCR GLOVES

DISCOVER THE LATEST SUMMER FASHION TIPS AND ADVICE STRAIGHT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF VAIN UCR.

Summer Style and the Power of Fashion: Insider Tips from Vain UCR Club MARIBEL GAMEZ-REYES Assistant Features Editor

Welcome to the world of fashion and self-expression with Vain UCR! In an exclusive interview with Austin Laniyi, the club’s president and upcoming fourth-year student at UCR, The Highlander delves into the topic of summer fashion. Alongside his involvement in UCR club’s soccer and his passion for anime, manga and fashion, Austin founded Vain UCR in the fall quarter of last year, igniting a movement of fashion enthusiasts on campus. What initially began as a fledgling Instagram account showcasing student outfits quickly grew into a separate vibrant account that fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity. Vain UCR actively showcases student creativity in fashion through digital magazine issues.

The club also hosts exciting events like fashion runways, with applications now open for the upcoming fall quarter runway show.

When it comes to summer fashion, there is a clear distinction from other seasons, as the warmer weather calls for a different approach to styling an outfit. Unlike winter fashion, which typically focuses

on layering to keep warm, summer fashion embraces the opportunity to show off more skin due to increased heat. This encourages individuals to embrace their bodies and feel more confident in experimenting with various styles that compliment their body types. Austin, sharing his insight on summer fashion, also highlighted a couple of his personal favorite staples that he believes are here to stay. Among these cherished pieces are jean shorts and crop tops, which not only are stylish and versatile but also embody the essence of summer fashion with their comfort and effortless appeal.

When asked what a good summer wardrobe consists of, Austin expressed that there is no definitive answer. According to him, the notion of a good summer wardrobe is subjective, and should be left to each individual’s discretion and personal appeal of style. Importantly, building a great summer wardrobe doesn’t necessarily require you to go on a shopping spree for new clothes. It can be accomplished by working with what one already has available in their wardrobe by finding creative ways to mix and match pieces to create great

COURTESY OF AUSTIN LANIYI

► SEE VAIN PAGE 11

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2023 Family Graduation celebrates their graduating scholars AN INITIATIVE TO GIVE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

On June 9, 2023, a wide range of departments and organizations in the University of California, Riverside, came together to host a special family banquet celebration for the graduating class of 2023 composed of student parents and caregivers. This year marked their 2nd celebration and comprised of about 30 graduating scholars, consisting of both undergraduate and graduate students. Organizations present included the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), Early Childhood Services, Chicano Student Program (CSP), Undergraduate Scholars, Alumni, GradSuccess and Graduate Student Parent and Caregivers Association.

Throughout their day attendees, whether they are graduates, children, or volunteers, had activities like lawn games, mocktails and catering

by Citrus Grove. The ceremony began with an opening statement by two student-parents, Lucerito Lopez and Gabriela Almendarez. Then, a few speakers delivered their own statements.

Afterwards there was a special parent scholar recognition segment before closing it off with pictures of the graduating class.

Director Nina Ruedas of the WRC mentions how the “WRC is really fortunate to have two student-staff, one of which is graduating. They helped a lot with the programming, the organizing and getting everyone together as well. Student-parents are very fortunate that they have a lot of different departments who care about them deeply.”

One of this year’s graduating student-parents, Nancy Carranza, who received her Ph.D. this year, and who also helped organize the program shares a little bit about her hopes for future family graduation events. “The organizations this year were able to get some help to make the event happen this year, they even got a part of the CCAMPIS Grant, which was dispersed to support student-parents. I think it would be great for it to be an officially recognized graduation by the university.

Our goal would be down the line to have the Chancellor’s office take on student-parents as a diversity initiative, so it is not just the WRC trying to get resources to make these events happen, but to have a wider support center. It would be nice to see a student parent task force that’s coming from the Chancellor’s office.”

Carranza continues sharing that this year that they had COURTESY OF KAY SOSIN to accommodate almost double the number of attendees as the year prior. This year, preparation for the graduation event started rather late, so next year they are aiming to recruit more people to volunteer and begin preparation earlier. She further mentions that “when non-parents are able to volunteer or come out to certain activities, it helps student-parents. It’s hard for the parents to volunteer and have their kids with them at these activities at the same time. So when non-parents volunteer for these activities, it’s a great way to give back to the UCR community and fellow students, and also just appreciate and help student-parents feel included in the community.”■ H

UCR Spotlights: Incoming student, Anggita Suryadewi, wins $2,500 scholarship FIRST YEAR ANGGITA SURYADEWI WINS ADVANTECH INTELLIGENT PLANET SCHOLARSHIP. EMYR ORTIZ Assistant News Editor

Incoming UCR first year Anggita Suryadewi was awarded the Advantech Intelligent Planet Scholarship on June 1 through bold.org. The $2,500 scholarship was awarded to 4 high school seniors across 2 states, and is meant to “support innovators who are determined to complete their degrees through higher education,” according to the scholarship site.

The Intelligent Plant Scholarship is funded by Advantech, a technology company based in Taiwan. In the scholarship information, Advantech’s stated mission is to “enable an intelligent planet with Automation and Embedded Computing products and solutions that empower the development of smarter working and living.” This is reflected in the essay prompt for the scholarship, which was to “tell us about what an intelligent planet means to you and how you would work to make your vision a reality.”

For Suryadewi, a microbiology major, financial independence is important, and that influenced her decision to apply to the Intelligent Planet Scholarship. “My parents really wanted me to be financially independent,” she said in an interview with The Highlander.

“So I came across this and I thought, Okay, why not? Let’s apply for it.” Suryadewi elaborated, “when I actually won it I felt happy because now my parents don’t have to… take any money out of their pocket to pay, at least for my first year of university…I’m really grateful. I’m so grateful and honored that I won.”

Saryadewi’s essay response is framed around themes of community and environmentalism, themes with parallels to personal life. Saryadewi immigrated to the United States from Indonesia at the age of 9, and the differences in education systems have been insightful. “[In the US] they go into more detail and answer… why is it important? And how can we use it and apply it to the real world? So I guess that really helped open up my mind a lot about [how] education is really important.” In her essay, the theme of the importance of education is seen through an emphasis on understanding others and how an intelligent planet “means continuing to learn together.”

Another theme present in Suryadewi’s essay is that of environmental sustainability, writing, “an intelligent planet means adopting and implementing new technologies that are eco-friendly,” and that “these technologies must not only be accessible but also affordable for everyone so that everyone can contribute to the preservation of our planet.

Suryadewi shared that her interest in sustainability first arose from her time in her high school’s environmental club.

Suryadewi will be starting classes at UCR this upcoming academic year. She looks to start this new chapter with a focus on a few goals. “Once school starts, I’ll definitely try and get myself involved in more things, hopefully get out of my comfort zone…and H make some new friends.” ■

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Chancellor Wilcox accepts UCR’s invitation to the Association of American Universities

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HOW IT WAS ACHIEVED AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR UCR. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

On June 1, 2023, the University of California, Riverside’s Chancellor, Kim A. Wilcox announced that the school was invited to the Association of American Universities (AAU). According to the AAU’s website, they were founded in 1900, and are “composed of America’s leading research universities.” These universities “transform lives through education, research, and innovation… [and] earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.” UCR is one of six new members of the AAU since 2019, bringing their number of total members up to 71.

According to Wilcox in a statement he delivered to the UCR community, “Achieving the profile of an AAU member institution was first articulated as a goal in 2010, as part of the UCR 2020: Path to Preeminence strategic plan. In working towards this aspiration, we systematically focused our campus efforts in three key areas.” These areas being: research prominence and faculty excellence, student success and strategy in communication.

There were various thresholds UCR had to meet to be considered for AAU status. To bolster graduation rates, the school created a task force that was charged with producing recommendations to improve those rates. From 2013, “six-year graduation rates at UCR

have improved 10 percentage points to almost 76%. The four year graduation rate has surged by almost 18 percentage points.” There was also a significant increase in research and funding. “Federal research dollars increased from $132 million at the start of Chancellor Kim Wilcox’s tenure in 2013 to almost $200 million today.”

Now that UCR is considered a part of the AAU, it receives a variety of benefits.

One of them being guidance on compliance and funding issues for research security requirements. Another being collaborations in AAU only meetings to discuss topics such as “federal bureaucracy, industry, and foundation funding.” Within the AAU itself, members of their organization come together to tackle issues on campus in committees.

AAU benefits for institutions also include economic boosts, higher education, financial aid and research. Once again on the AAU site, it mentions that “In 2020 alone, AAU paid $100.4 billion in salaries to 794,947 employees, produced 5,583 patents, and fostered the creation of 676 start-ups.” AAU institutions also award 48% of the PHDs and 20% of undergrad degrees in STEM and social sciences.

Rodolfo Torres, UCR’s vice chancellor of Research and Economic Development in a statement expressed that “There is no doubt that [AAU recognition] is a seal of H excellence, and it does play a role emphasizing our level in research.” ■

COURTESY OF STAN LIM

UCR leaders respond to affirmative action decision IN RESPONSE TO THE SUPREME COURT’S RECENT RULING, UCR PLEDGES ITS COMMITMENT IN GUIDING A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY. BRENDA JOVEL Editor-in-Chief

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court gutted affirmative action in a 6-3 decision that condemned the University of North Carolina and Harvard College, ruling that their admissions process violated the Equal Protection Clause. The decision has stirred the nation into split views, with many agreeing with the decision to prevent the use of affirmative action in college admissions and others arguing that the decision would create uncertainty for students applying to college.

The decision still allows students to talk about their race to explain how it’s shaped their character through personal experiences when applying to universities, but college admissions would base their criteria solely on the student’s experiences and not on their race. Many liberals have argued that the decision would cause a setback for minority groups as it could weaken diversity on college campuses.

As the decision was being discussed last Thursday, Justice Clarence Thomas noted that the term “race-neutral” would behave as a solution to affirmative action, stating how “race-neutral policies can “achieve the same benefits of racial harmony and equality without any of the burdens and strife generated by affirmative action policies,” according to CNN. Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed her disapproval of the term, writing, “The majority’s vision of race neutrality will entrench racial segregation in higher education because racial inequality will persist so long as it is ignored.”

The decision overturned the 2003 ruling of Grutter v. Bollinger that allowed race to

be a factor in college admissions as universities aimed to have more diverse campuses.

In response, UCR leaders and scholars expressed their promise in continuing to maintain a diverse student body as the decision effectively banned affirmative action in universities.

UCR Chancellor, Kim A. Wilcox, highlighted California’s Proposition 209, which states that the “state cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, and public contracting.” In his statement, Wilcox wrote, “Since UCR policies align with the state constitution, we expect that today’s ruling will require little change in our process or behavior, though we will be reviewing the decision closely in coming days.” It continues, “However, we can be certain that diversity is and will remain a critical aspect of fulfilling our obligations and mission.” Wilcox assured the UCR community that the campus will continue to remain inclusive to all excellence from every student.

Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS), Darlye Williams, also released a statement. “Color and race matter in outcomes and we will continue to reduce the barriers to provide a world-class education for all,” he wrote.

Joi Spencer, dean of UCR’s School of Education, also agreed that the decision would H pose difficulties for “minoritized communities of color.” ■

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

“Race-neutral” policies are failing and a California amendment is a reminder of why In a six to three decision by the Supreme Court, affirmative action in college admissions has been struck down. This decision will have large implications for higher education institutions who are struggling to ensure equal opportunity for applicants and diversity at their campuses. In California, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 aims to work around Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in California.

This amendment is limited, but it calls attention to the fact that problems unique to different racial groups cannot be addressed with uniform policies.

This amendment does, in a limited form, reintroduce affirmative action allowing race-based criteria to be considered in California, circumventing Proposition 209, when certain data and research based standards are met. Generally, California has failed stupendously in ensuring equity in higher education with and without the influence of affirmative action. There are worries, however, that this will affect the importance of merit related recognition for grades, extracurricular activities and employment. This attempt to compensate for racial disparities and institutional racism doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Though, proponents of the amendment are correct in their assertion that California does not do enough to support equity overall.

Arguments that solutions to this problem need to be “raceneutral” show a complete misunderstanding of how inequity is allowed to flourish. Putting forward “race-neutral” policies only stands to further ignore the harm done to marginalized communities because, as a product of history and current societal norms, people of color face entirely different experiences in comparison to their white counterparts. “Race-neutral” is just

another method of avoidance and a way of pretending that racism isn’t a driving force in American society. Enforcing “race-neutral” ideas really just means enforcing ignorance.

Race shouldn’t have to matter and it would be ideal that students could be considered only on the basis of what they can list on an application, but that necessitates a fundamentally equal playing field where race has never played a role. Unfortunately, years of race-based oppression and marginalization have made it impossible to ignore how institutional discrimination has been enforced. Race needs to be considered because it is a fact that not everyone is offered the same advantages and opportunities.

The UC system has invested about half a billion into increasing diversity through various programs. UCLA alone put two million dollars towards this goal annually. UC Riverside is in the midst of shifting towards a more holistic approach to admissions in order to account for a greater variety of socio-economic circumstances. It still hasn’t been enough to counteract the long-term and deeply ingrained realities which disadvantage historically marginalized groups. In an amicus brief, the UC system maintains that race-neutral criteria “has not been sufficient to counteract the declines in diversity after Proposition 209.”

It’s unclear whether or not the California amendment will withstand legal challenges or if it will have the desired effect.

However, solutions that acknowledge different experiences rather than perpetuate ignorance are what universities and institutions need to be allowed to invest in. Going forward, Californians should hope that this amendment at least provokes discussion about the failures of “race-neutral” policies. ■ H

A POSSIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN CALIFORNIA POINTS OUT A PROBLEM IN HOW RACE-BASED INEQUITIES ARE BEING ADDRESSED ACROSS THE BOARD. 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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OPINIONS

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Op-Ed: Rising violence against the LGBTQ+ community can’t be ignored

ONE TRANS WOMAN’S STORY HIGHLIGHTS A TREND OF HATRED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WORLD. ALEC JOSEPH Law & Society Major

Attacks against queer Americans have been on the uptick lately. Several Target stores received bomb threats over Memorial Day weekend, and rightwing actors have found themselves emboldened by successful anti-Pride social media campaigns. Hateful rhetoric leads to violence not just in the U.S. but around the world, such as with the stabbing of 16-yearold Brianna Ghey in the UK. Victories for hate have set dangerous precedents.

A particularly gruesome example of anti-LGBTQ+ hatred is the passing of Eden Knight. She was a wonderful person, a refugee, a trans woman and a friend to many. She deserved an equal shot at life, but anti-trans panic stole that chance from her. Through false promises of a better future, she was manipulated, abducted and forcefully extradited back to her home country of Saudi Arabia. She committed suicide on the 12 of March, 2022, following what she described in an online posting as a forced detransition by her family.

Her name cannot be forgotten, especially in an era where all members of the LGBTQ+ community face harassment, abuse and death threats from those who feel their mere existence is an attack on their way of life and sense of self.

Eden’s story is immensely significant as the LGBTQ+ community continues to become the target

of violent attacks and hateful legislation. Some have even used the word genocide to describe recent actions, and there is valid evidence for this claim. In 1920s Germany, vicious Nazi attacks on the Institute for Sexual Research increased, culminating in a raid on the Institute in 1933. Over 150 bills restricting

COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

the freedom of trans people were introduced in state legislatures last year, ranging from the infamous bathroom bills to those restricting HRT and other medical practices entirely. Ron DeSantis has led these

attacks in Florida, while at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference Michael Knowles outright called for the “eradication” of trans people. These recent attacks echo what happened in Germany a century ago.

In the U.S. today, over 28% of LGBTQ youth have reported facing housing insecurity. Among gender nonconforming youth, the number is closer to 38%. In 2022, at least 38 transgender people were murdered.

Violence against queer people is on the rise even from their own families. Combatting this requires community solidarity and action, creating safe and welcoming spaces for all people regardless of their identity.

Eden’s story is not an isolated incident. If hatred against the LGBTQ+ community is allowed to fester, it won’t just stop at oppressing trans people, pushing them to suicide, or outright murdering them, cases of which have been on the rise. Hatred of this kind is a threat to all. Eden should have been remembered not for how she died, but for the light and hope she brought to the world. Her memory, and that of all tragically lost LGBTQ+ community members, should be one of H fighting back. ■

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The UC system is taking a page out of the union-busting playbook

YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

UC SAN DIEGO’S ACCUSATIONS AGAINST STUDENT WORKERS IS A BLATANT ATTEMPT TO AVOID RESPECTING THE LABOR THAT MAKES UP THE BACKBONE OF THE UC SYSTEM. Last Thursday, three UC San Diego student workers were arrested after accusations of conspiracy and vandalism by UCSD officials. The workers were held for 12 hours and face felony charges. The incident which they were arrested for involved washable markers and chalk at a peaceful protest at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in May. It appears that the UC system isn’t interested in even being subtle about its attempts to manipulate and disrespect workers.

The 2022 UC system strike by SRU-UAW workers was the largest ever higher education strike in U.S. history and technically ended in December 2022. However, members of UAW Local 2865 have said that UCSD’s administration has not implemented the agreed-upon contracts since. In addition to the aforementioned arrests, UAW 2865 has claimed that UCSD issued 67 false or exaggerated misconduct charges this past June instead of upholding their hard-won contracts. This has obviously been a source of conflict for the union and the university in the last few months.

One of the arrested individuals, William Schneider, said, “This is, in my opinion, very clearly part of a larger coordinated crackdown of union activities across the UC. UC has systematically tried to renege on the contract they signed with UAW and the graduate student researchers union.” There is nothing to suggest that Schneider is wrong about these assumptions, with UCSD refusing to honor the negotiated contracts, which still did little to help with astronomical California housing costs.

According to a statement from the university, the damage amounted to over 12,000 dollars, though it’s uncertain how washable products could cause thousands of dollars in property damage. The statement also mentions that the protest disrupted official campus events, though one might imagine that doesn’t inspire much sympathy or concern considering how much these arrests, as well as the ongoing struggle for fair pay, have disrupted the lives of student researchers and workers.

In addition to the humiliation and scare of facing criminal charges, this conflict is about a struggle for respect. Postdocs, researchers and graduate students contribute essential labor to the existence of higher education institutions, and this battle isn’t a recent problem. The demands made during the 2022 strike were years in the making as housing costs went up and workers resorted to extreme measures to meet financial obligations.

The agreements made in December, while still nowhere near matching what these workers are worth, were at least a step in the right direction. To renege on that agreement now is both disrespectful and cruel.

When campuses shut down with classes that had no one to teach them, and work went ungraded, it was made apparent and undeniable just how much SRU-UAW workers run UC schools.

These arrests further serve to highlight how little that work is valued and how creative UCSD and the UC system overall are willing to be in order to avoid acknowledging that work on a basic level. ■ H

COURTESY OF GRACE SUN

R’Perspective: How I found my home at UCR CECILE DIROLL Assistant Opinions Editor

TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE CAN BE TOUGH, BUT WITH DETERMINATION AND AN OPEN MIND, INCOMING STUDENTS CAN FIND THEIR WAY AT UCR. Entering my first year at UCR, I had everything planned out. Though I had only visited the campus once before move-in and did not know many people or the area well, I was excited and ready to leave my mostly online high school experience.

Imagining sleepovers with my roommate, finding my lifelong friend group and joining on-campus clubs — college seemed like a fresh start. However, my transition from high school to college was not as smooth as I had initially hoped.

Due to contracting COVID-19, I, unfortunately, missed my move-in date in September and “Welcome Week” — a transition week intended for first-years to meet their hallmates and other students. When I was eventually allowed to move in, as a naturally introverted person, I couldn’t seem to connect with anyone on my floor. I felt behind my peers in preparation for college and deeply alone because it seemed to me no one was struggling like I was.

My difficulty with finding a sense of belonging at UCR made me realize the pandemic had impacted me in ways I had never thought of before. A higher percentage of high-school students are reporting feelings of unpreparedness as a result of the pandemic disrupting their social and academic development. A survey found that 22% of 20,000 high-school students, especially first-generation and low-income students disproportionately affected by COVID, reported that feelings of unpreparedness affected their academic confidence and sense of belonging at college.

Missing half of my high school experience, I knew I had to put more effort to make up for that lost time in order to find my place at UCR. So, I applied to be an ASUCR Senate intern my first quarter. Shadowing an ASUCR Senator, I met new people and learned the inner workings of student government. Later, I joined the UCR Swim Club where student swimmers could practice weekly, attend swim meets against other schools and host fun social events. But, the best experience was growing my passion for journalism with The Highlander. Though some of these experiences worked out better than others, I continued to explore new activities and meet new people.

Participating at The Highlander, finding my academic interests and joining University Honors have made me feel I belong at UCR after much uncertainty.

I don’t have all the answers about the high school to college transition as I am still figuring it out myself. I do know that everyone’s college experience is different. Some people will naturally transition into dorm life, adjust quickly to their college courses or find their best friend on the first day. Others may struggle with a new environment, need extra help with their classes or have to go through multiple friend groups before finding the right one. My challenges may be different than yours, but I’ve found that the first step is to put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to try new things. Class of 2027, you belong here. ■ H

COURTESY OF STAN LIM

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

9

BrandEd universities offer a new education experience

BRANDED UNIVERSITIES PROVIDE UNIQUE COMPETITION TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS RELIANT ON PRESTIGE TO ATTRACT STUDENTS. SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

Higher education institutions are increasingly more focused on the prestige and branding of the university rather than the quality of education offered at the institution. This emphasis on reputation has translated from institutions towards students, who are now more than ever considering the prestige of the university they attend over the types of courses or educational opportunities offered by said institutions.

One company has decided to take a different approach to college branding, utilizing both business esteem and a focus on education to draw in students.

BrandEd, deciding to give into “branded colleges,” offers a unique educational experience tailored to the operation of its partner companies. Launching in 2018, the company “works with the world’s best brands to create educational courses that no other institution can offer.” They already have licensing agreements with The New York Times, City Football Group, Sotheby’s and Condé Nast. Although some of these brands had established educational goals before the company got involved, with the help of BrandEd, they are able to redesign the curriculum to focus more on educating students instead of enhancing corporate prestige.

According to BrandEd CEO Michael Chung,

BrandEd is different from other big-business brands because they are owned and operated by a family investment office instead of the traditional venture capital outfit; this “patent capital” allows them to “take a long wire and build slowly and intentionally — which is exactly what is needed to build high-quality education programs.” Many collegiate institutions prioritize profit over the student body. This patent capitol allows for more flexibility with funds and less investor pressure for profit from universities.

BrandEd colleges provide unique competition to other established universities reliant on branding to attract their student population. With esteemed universities simply relying on the weight of their name to attract the student body, BrandEd colleges rely on the prowess in passion fields to attract students to a unique learning environment. High-brand accredited universities are not a new concept. Incorporating independent non-educational institutions into higher education spaces is new and bound to stimulate competition between universities targeting students in BrandEd fields. This precedent has been lost amongst many higher education institutions that prioritize profits and prestige over the educational needs of the

student body.

When big business and corporate America are referenced around academia, the mind immediately draws to stock exchanges and “Goldman Sachs University.” BrandEd strays from the traditional business venture, focusing on “passion education.”

Chung’s goal is to benefit and stimulate those pursuing their passion through education; graduates from BrandEd universities are already successfully securing jobs in the arts, fashion, sports and so many other aspirational industries. The arts are often neglected in conversations about education, and creating institutions that highlight these fields only stimulates education for the better.

Although there is still a way to go before BrandEd educational institutions can be considered a success, this intersection between education and business holds promise. The combination of prestige provided by the industry and educational policy offered by BrandEd creates the perfect environment to attract students away from big-name universities towards these new H passion-centric projects. ■

COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

R’Perspective: Why UC Riverside was the best choice for me

THERE CAN BE A LOT OF FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING A COLLEGE, FROM LOCATION TO MAJORS TO COMMUNITY. ALEX KUPISIEWICZ Contributing Writer

Choosing a college to attend can be a lot of pressure for anyone. It feels like a major moment in life, and though it’s not an end-of-the-world kind of decision, there are quite a few key factors to consider when picking the right college to attend.

In my case, the University of California, Riverside was not my first choice. In fact, I didn’t even seriously consider the idea of attending UCR while I was applying. I was aiming for UC San Diego, but when the UC portal allowed me to submit my application to multiple campuses, I picked Riverside off the list because it was close to home. If I had to make the decision again, even if I had been accepted by UCSD, I would have chosen UCR because I discovered that this campus suits me perfectly.

One great thing about UCR is that it is centered in a much smaller city than many other UC campuses, which allows the campus to foster a close-knit community of students and allow a closer connection to nature. With Box Springs mountains just off campus that serve as excellent hiking locations, the UCR citrus groves and the botanical gardens on campus provide students with plenty of California’s natural beauty. It is still a UC campus and receives all the benefits of one, including government funding and advanced research technology.

UCR is also a campus that puts a lot of emphasis on its commuter services, as it’s not based in a large city like many other UCs. This includes free bus passes for all undergraduate students every quarter, allowing students to ride every RTA line free of charge, including the 3 separate lines that end on campus. There is also a commuter lounge which is a great study space, a comfortable spot to nap, provides microwaves

for packed lunches and lies right beside the HUB dining locations. Being on campus was a learning experience, and it wasn’t easy, but there were still a lot of options for establishing myself. Finding and paying for parking is difficult and has, for me, resulted in a particularly costly game of trial and error, so I recommend taking advantage of the bus passes, walkable pathways or on-campus housing provided to students.

Picking a university that’s right for you isn’t all about the campus, as the right college is different for everyone. Each UC campus has different majors and opportunities to choose from. If you’re applying with a major in mind, you can apply directly to your major of choice, but if you’re unsure, many universities allow you to apply undeclared. It’s always a good idea to research what majors your campus of choice offers, even if you’re still not sure. I applied to UCR as an undeclared freshman in 2021, and when I decided to declare in creative writing a year later, I found out that UCR is the only UC campus to offer creative writing as a major, with a wellknown and well-published staff no less. I was very fortunate in that respect, because now I can’t imagine majoring in anything else.

Deciding to attend a specific college isn’t an irreversible decision, but choosing well the first time can save students a lot of trouble. UC Riverside might not be right for everyone, but for me, it was close enough to home to commute when I couldn’t secure housing in my second year, offered my preferred major and has a large campus filled with lots of natural beauty. Choosing a college is about personalization, not about a uniform experience, so what H might not be everyone’s perfect fit was definitely mine. ■

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

10 TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

Features

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Fun in the Sun? Maybe not…

YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

ARIES

(March 21 - April 19): Queen of Pentacles You should expect to experience financial burden and a lot of pressure to support someone else. This isn’t a time to throw caution to the wind as you will be acting in a parental role to someone in the coming weeks. Think in the long-term about how you can support this person, but you’ll need to figure out limitations now or they will inadvertently take advantage of you.

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Taurus

This Summer will mean diverging paths as the cards predict temporary shifts.

Gemini

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(July 23 - August 22): King of Wands Leo, this Summer is about vision and the future. This summer won’t be about transient fun for you, but about preparation for what comes next. This will be about far more than just resume building or skill building. Look out for important nuggets of advice as an important mentor in your life will soon appear.

Capricorn

(December 22 - January 19): King of PenThe coming months will require discipline from you.

You will need to be focused and not make decisions based only on gut feelings. Know that there is a difference between being honest and being thoughtless.

Virgo

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(August 23 - September 22): Two of Pentacles You’re going to be torn apart, Virgo. There’s a storm coming your way and you’re going to be in the thick of it. People who are important to you are on the edge of a fight that might be the end of lifelong bonds. As you go home for the Summer, look out for your friends and family. Pay attention to what’s changed since you were around last.

(May 21 - June 20): Page of Pentacles This Summer is going to be about manifestation for you, Gemini. That means putting yourself out there and being your own advocate. Manifestation isn’t just about thoughts, it’s about putting those thoughts toward a tangible goal through action.

This Summer brings a stable relationship, Sagittarius.

You will find a strong connection and build a real partnership. However, it is unknown whether this partnership will last beyond the Summer so proceed with caution and don’t lose yourself in them.

Leo

(April 20 - May 20): Queen of Wands Summer is going to be a social time for you.

This is going to be a hot girl summer, Taurus.

Allow yourself to experience things, good and bad. This Summer will mean an important relationship for you, not because it will last, but because it will make you a more compassionate and empathetic person even if it just teaches you how not Dreamstime to treat people.

Sagittarius

(November 22 - December 21): Two of Cups

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Aquarius

(January 20 - February 18): Knight of Cups You’ve got a romantic Summer ahead of you. This isn’t to say a relationship, but you will experience the thrill of affection and being desired. Enjoy the ego boost, but don’t get too invested.

Libra

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(September 23 - October 22): Queen of Cups Dreamstime

You are going to be going with the flow this season.

This Summer really is going to be about the journey, not the destination. Find joy in the experiences or be miserable, it’s up to you.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20): Hierophant

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Cancer

(June 21 - July 22): Four of Cups

Reevaluation will define this period of your life, Cancer. There are goals and relationships in your life that are being considered by others and that need to be considered by you too. There is someone or something in your life that you need to walk away from.

You’re going to see a lot of signs in the next couple of months, Pisces. The Hierophant speaks of spiritual wisdom so take the time to pay attention to your surroundings beyond the obvious.

H Read into things. ■

Scorpio

(October 23 - November 21): Temperance All things in moderation, Scorpio. This summer will be largely uneventful for you and mostly predictable. Don’t expect big changes or revelations.

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

11

Summer Style and the Power of Fashion: Insider Tips from Vain UCR Club

MARIBEL GAMEZ-REYES Assistant Features Editor

Welcome to the world of fashion and self-expression with Vain UCR! In an exclusive interview with Austin Laniyi, the club’s president and upcoming fourth-year student at UCR, The Highlander delves into the topic of summer fashion. Alongside his involvement in UCR club’s soccer and his passion for anime, manga and fashion, Austin founded Vain UCR in the fall quarter of last year, igniting a movement of fashion enthusiasts on campus. What initially began as a fledgling Instagram account showcasing student outfits quickly grew into a separate vibrant account that fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity. Vain UCR actively showcases student creativity in fashion through digital magazine issues.

The club also hosts exciting events like fashion runways, with applications now open for the upcoming fall quarter runway show.

When it comes to summer fashion, there is a clear distinction from other seasons, as the warmer weather calls for a different approach to styling an outfit. Unlike winter fashion, which typically focuses on layering to keep warm, summer fashion embraces the opportunity to show off more skin due to increased heat. This encourages individuals to embrace their bodies and feel more confident in experimenting with various styles that compliment their body types. Austin, sharing his insight on summer fashion, also highlighted a couple of his personal favorite staples that he believes are here to stay. Among these cherished pieces are jean shorts and crop tops, which not only are stylish and versatile but also embody the essence of summer fashion with their comfort and effortless appeal.

When asked what a good summer wardrobe consists of, Austin expressed that there is no definitive answer.

According to him, the notion of a good summer wardrobe is subjective, and should be left to each individual’s discretion and personal appeal of style. Importantly, building a great summer wardrobe doesn’t necessarily require you to go on a shopping spree for new clothes. It can be accomplished by working with what one already has available in their wardrobe by finding creative

ways to mix and match pieces to create great outfits. By embracing individuality and resourcefulness, one can create a summer wardrobe that reflects their personal style.

Austin is an avid supporter of fashion icon and creator Miles Baguette, whom he highly recommends to those seeking fashion inspiration. Additionally, Vain UCR’s spring runaway events and captivating content showcased on their Instagram page emit summer vibes and inspiration. These resources can ignite creativity and help you curate a distinct summer wardrobe.

If you’re an incoming freshman embarking on your college journey, it’s crucial for you to cultivate confidence and explore your personal style. You can do this by looking at online resources such as Pinterest or Depop. Discovering diverse fashion inspiration can help shape your own aesthetic and enhance self expression.

Surrounding oneself with accepting and welcoming individuals is also equally important. It’s vital that the people that surround you embrace every aspect of your identity, allowing you to express yourself without judgment.

Incorporating hobbies as inspiration can be a gamechanger when it comes to occasions such as vacations, graduation celebrations and more. Let your personal interests guide your fashion choices, as it adds an authentic touch to your wardrobe.

In sharing final thoughts, Austin emphasized the importance of not solely relying on online sources for fashion inspiration. Instead, he advises that people should observe the individuals around them and trust their own judgment. He noted that just because a trend appears to be fading online doesn’t necessarily reflect reality. This can also apply to the popularity of a trend, it doesn’t mean that it’s widely followed in people’s daily lives. Therefore, don’t overvalue online options and disregard criticism for either following or not following a trend. Ultimately, your own opinions hold more significance in shaping your H personal style than anything you see online. ■

Discover the latest summer fashion tips and advice straight from the President of Vain UCR, Austin Laniyi, as The Highlander interviews him for exclusive insights.

COURTESY OF AUSTIN LANIYI

COURTESY OF GRACE SUN

12 TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/features

Campus Cope: How to become active your first year at UCR

Getting involved on campus will be the best thing you’ve ever done — trust me.

BRENDA JOVEL Editor-in-Chief

It’s your first year on campus, away from friends, home and the familiar. Being in a new space with new people can be overwhelming, and though it can feel lonely at first, newness can be a good thing for everyone. Being away gives you the opportunity to explore endless opportunities where memories and lasting friendships can bloom.

Here are a few tips on how to get involved in your first year!

Campus Organizations

Clubs on campus are great spaces where you can meet plenty of people with different majors and years from you. Usually starting the second week of school, Wednesdays at the Belltower are filled with campus organizations that table from morning to the afternoon. ASPB also hosts their weekly Spring Nooners, inviting student artists to perform, making the area lively for hours. Though the area can become crowded, do not fret! Try to go to as many tables as you can to get to know each club and its mission — you might even win a prize from their giveaways.

HighlanderLink

In case your class schedule keeps you busy on Wednesdays, or you’re away from campus, HighlanderLink lets students explore the different clubs on campus virtually.

Simply google a club you have in mind, or any general term if you’re still unsure of what to join, and hit search! Clubs should start appearing instantly beneath the search bar. Once you click on a name, the club’s profile page will pop up and provide a brief description of the club, its board members and meeting times.

Social Media

Following clubs on Instagram is also a great way for you to see their newest members, as well as their meeting times. Near the end of the fall quarter of my sophomore year, I remember looking at The Highlander’s Instagram and seeing their Monday meeting times. After spending my first year completely online and barricaded in my room during COVID, I thought that this was the best opportunity for me to get involved on campus. So I went to The Highlander office and the rest is history. If

Campus Poll: Favorite UCR Classes

I hadn’t gone to the meeting, I would have never met my closest friends, so don’t be afraid to go to club meetings near the end of the quarter. Club meetings are always welcoming new members every week, and you never know; they can become your second home.

Jobs on Campus

My first job was at UCR, and fortunately I was able to find it through Handshake.

Handshake is a great place to find campus jobs, especially work-study positions if you need to use your award. Start looking over the summer as many departments usually open up new positions during this time, and many are open to hiring freshmen.

Hopefully, when you make it past the interview and get the job (whoo-hoo!), you’ll get to meet talented people working around you and grow closer to the UCR community.

Take Fitness Classes

I know, I know — working out can be tiring, but taking fitness classes at the SRC can be a great space to meet new people. What better way to socialize than with people who are also struggling during a workout with you? The SRC offers a multitude of classes, from yoga to cycling (my favorite, in particular). It’s also a great way to keep both your mental and physical health intact during these lonesome times to keep you busy as you get used to your new setting.

Word-of-Mouth

Socializing can be daunting and exhausting, but talking to the people in your classes or even your roommates can lead you to learn more about what UCR has to offer. Take it one step at a time; it’s okay if you only speak to one person at once, or a dozen at a time. Meeting new people isn’t the easiest task, but taking it at your own H pace can boost your confidence to create new conversations. ■

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

Six UCR students share their favorite classes taken on campus.

NATALIE DAHL Features Editor

Rhea Judge, 2nd year, Pre-Business Major

My favorite class that I’ve taken at UCR so far is ECON003 with Corey Joab.

Not only is the professor super understanding, but he makes it so that the class accommodates people who commute or can’t make it to class sometimes. He communicates well with students and I never found myself lost with the material he was teaching or what was going on during each week. He makes it so that every student can succeed in his class and overall makes the class extremely enjoyable.

Emmari Pureza, 2nd year, Biology Major

My favorite class was CHEM08LB with Kevin Kou. He is a really good teacher who puts things into simple, understandable terms and makes Organic Chemistry really enjoyable. He was super accessible and helpful during office hours and always took the time to properly answer any questions students asked him. He also offered a-synch options and recorded lectures, which made reviewing material easy. He genuinely wants you to succeed in his class and in your college career!

Dustin Le, 3rd year, History Major

My favorite class this quarter is History 139, African History in Fiction, Film and Science Fiction, taught by professor Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi. She offers a modern perspective on history writing. We’ve looked at a lot of media that covers African stories to analyze how history is seen and actively being written all around the world.

Sandra Jacob, 2nd year, Geology Major

My favorite class was GEO 003, Headlines In the History of Life. The best part about it was being able to analyze different fossils in the lab portion of the class. The class had a great professor who made the lectures really engaging and kept topics interesting. I really enjoyed getting to learn about different organisms that lived during each time period, the history of mass extinctions, dinosaurs and the K-T extinction and soft-bodied organisms during the Ediacaran period.

Aaron Nissanka, 2nd year, Economics Major

My favorite class recently has been my Scriptwriting class. It’s the most relaxing class I have had and I love going to the class just because of Professor Bucklin and my TA, Karly, alone. They’re both the sweetest and most respectful people I’ve had recently. I always love going into conversations with them about any type of movie or show. Despite going into Economics and Computer Science, watching movies and discussing them/getting to learn how to write a script has always been a hobby for me and it helps me relax especially with the type of movies they give out. I loved the movies they gave out and do deep dives in, especially going into the directors and actors of these films, and the behind the scenes of them. It gives me more appreciation for those films and movies in general. This class also helped give me more content for my Letterboxd.

Hong-An Trang, 4th year, Education, Society and Human Development Major

I loved taking Education 179A, Language Development in Content Areas, with Aya Shhub. It was the first education class I took that focused on methods and teaching strategies rather than theory. I could clearly see myself applying what I was learning to H my future classroom and it made me excited for my career!■

COURTESY OF PEXELS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

RADAR

TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

Radar

Churning the controversy machine: ‘The Idol’ BOBBI MONAE MANDOUR Contributing Writer

If a show gets released and nobody talks about it, did it really exist?

The art of satire is difficult to achieve, though that doesn’t stop directors like Sam Levinson to brand his recent addition to television drama, “The Idol,” as such. Attempting to convince viewers that the intentions of the show were satirical is laughable at best, and a bit sad at worst, especially considering the rise to popularity Levinson has experienced since giving viewers “Euphoria.” It feels pretty clear that “The Idol” is a cheap attempt at siphoning some of the viewership and controversy that “Euphoria” had, which brings to question the expectations of a show riding on another’s coattails to “provoke” audiences for anything other than criticism against it. Yet, despite all else, the show does compel people to talk about it.

Interestingly, Sam Levinson wasn’t the original choice for directing “The Idol,” since it was already filmed and set to be released with Amy Seimetz as the director, though much of her footage for the show was scrapped when she dropped the project. With a female director in the lead, it feels possible to imagine that the “female perspective” that was uninteresting to Levinson would have made for better delivery of the show’s themes surrounding the life of a creatively lost, grieving pop star and her vulnerability, while those around her salivate for a piece of her. From a feminist and empathetic perspective, the familiar stories of real pop stars, like Britney Spears, are evoked, which dissect the toxicity of Hollywood, media and the misogyny faced by young women who seem to have it all but struggle under the shine of their own light. “The Idol’’ had the chance to deliver an interesting exploration of what it means to be idolized, and perhaps even the dangers of idolatry in a society as atomized as ours.

Unfortunately, with only one more episode to be released, the show leaves much

COURTESY OF HBO MAX

to be desired and imagined had a more in-tune director be involved.

Like its unofficial predecessor, “The Idol” is similar to “Euphoria” in that it features more than enough scenes and plotlines detailing sexualized young women at the hands of threatening men.

While Lily-Rose Depp’s acting might be the show’s only saving grace, the vibe of The Weeknd as her off-putting love-interest clashes hard against it — which is even more perplexing considering that The Weeknd is responsible for much of the show’s storytelling. Much of his dialogue teeters between awkward and, frankly, gross, especially in episode three’s cringy sex scene.

Unfortunately, Levinson refuses to respond to the criticism or shed any light on the creative choices for the show, maintaining the assertion that the show will “speak for itself.”

None of this is to say that the show is inherently backward in its approach to sexuality and stardom because the portrayal of desire and pain is fruitful. In many ways, the show unravels the threads between desire and love, revealing that they are separate entities at odds with each other in the realm of romantic attachment. Sometimes, our desires are our deepest threat, as “The Idol” fixates on the threatening nature of desire, perhaps even more so than “Euphoria” does. Though I doubt ■H Levinson had philosophical intentions nor wrote an ode to Lauren Berlant’s “Desire/Love” with the show’s release.

While not necessarily as deep as Levinson or The Weeknd may have thought they were, “The Idol” does have the potential to be analyzed as a deconstruction of the predatory pop-star machine industry. Unfortunately, it would take a significant amount of brain power, as the show undoubtedly fails to speak for itself and was rather created as something to be spoken about — until the next controversial headline, that is.

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14 TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

RADAR

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‘Nimona’: a fierce sanctuary of hope and acceptance this summer With the hardships and difficulties that the queer community must endure, the film adaptation of ‘Nimona’ brings a message of optimism at the end of a contentious Pride Month.

BRENDAN VO Radar Editor

The one theme that has persisted over the years of the greatest stories in the literary canon is that of “monsters.” Dracula, Frankenstein and Godzilla are past works that persevere through the ages, finding themselves readapted, revived and rejuvenated to meet today’s social commentary. And the new Netflix original, “Nimona,” finds its place amongst these giants, succeeding in a modern “monster” film that delivers a masterful portrayal of the queer narrative.

Before its June 30 release on Netflix, Blue Sky Studios’ “Nimona” had found itself deep into controversy as Disney had bought out its parent company, Fox, in 2020. After taking ownership, Disney resolved to dissolve the film’s animation studio and scrap the film itself, despite 75% of the film having been completed. It would be revealed that the decision was made due to Disney executives taking issue with the queer aspects of the story such as the non-binary Nimona, the explicitly gay main characters and a same-sex kiss. It is hard, then, to feel anything but gratitude to Netflix and Annapurna Picture for taking back the project in April 2022, empowering the movie as a beacon of defiance to the corporate narrative and hope for LGBTQ+ storytelling.

The science-fiction/fantasy animated film, based on cartoonist ND Stevenson’s graphic novel, revolves around Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) who was given the chance to rise to the rank of knighthood by the Queen, despite his absence of any relation to royalty. As he is about to be knighted after graduating

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to the top of his class, tragedy strikes when his mechanical sword, unknowingly holding a laser mechanism, shoots a beam that kills the Queen and spirals his life downward. He then goes on the run from the entire kingdom for a murder he had unfairly been misaligned with. Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), an outcast and cryptic, yet boisterous and punky character sporting shapeshifting powers, joins him as his sidekick. Resisted by Ambrosius Goldenloin, a direct heir to the original royal bloodline and secret lover to Ballister, Ballister and Nimona find themselves understanding and growing alongside each other while unraveling the mystery behind the murder of the Queen.

The unsurprising star of the film is undoubtedly Nimona, as she finds herself in the audiences’ hearts through her energetically charming and electrically impish personality. With Moretz’s range in voice acting, the shapeshifter is able to deliver incredible performances on not only the comedic aspect of the story but also its more heartfelt scenes. Nimona steals the spotlight in every moment of the film and what rounds out her character more so is the writers’ fearlessness in also portraying her as extreme and problematic at times, remembering to ground the fantastical character with a human side. Ultimately, Nimona’s journey as the film’s “monster” is an incredibly rewarding and nuanced tale that is the heart of the film.

Tackling the narrative of acceptance in

contemporary films is a long attempted endeavor, pitting “Nimona” against the vast multitudes of incredible films on what it means to be different.

Therefore, the motifs and narrative of “Nimona” do not shine as innovative or unique to modern film standards, but, instead, reveal a brilliance when applied to a queer story with an incredibly compelling allegory. The first of which would be the connection of Nimona’s ability to change into any creature to her implicit nonconformity to the gender binary. When acknowledging that she would not be able to “live” if she was not shapeshifting, Nimona represents a powerful allegory for what it means to be trans-coded and the struggles and difficulties of the marginalized and discriminated against LGBTQ+ community.

This is also furthered by the theme of duality where the past and future meet in a complex discourse in a futuristic medieval-esque fusion. The pastel art style that would have well suited a conventional mythical fantasy storyline meets with the science fictional neon lights of the electric hovering cars, city lights and laser swords. The futuristic kingdom sports advanced technology in dichotomy with the traditions of royalty and knighthood representing marginalization and discrimination will always persist in different forms despite society’s advancements in the sciences, imbuing the film with a sense of cohesiveness between H its art, direction and story. ■

Blue Sky’s Studio’s last and greatest work, “Nimona,” is a film that will persevere as a work transcendent of the corporate movie industry. While delivering thoughtful and insightful commentary through its deliberate conjunction of aesthetic and narrative, the film serves to inspire more queer work and to never back away from representing the marginalized.

Twee-girl summer commences with ‘Asteroid City’

Being lighthearted and quirky is the vibe from here on out in Wes Anderson’s latest project.

BOBBI MONAE MANDOUR Contributing Writer

In preparation for the hopeful box office hits of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in July, Wes Anderson’s newest addition to the canon of whimsically artsy flicks brings moviegoers “Asteroid City.” The film sets the tone for the coming season, casting the theater in an Andersonian pastel hue that’s necessary for the first official post-pandemic summer. Anderson delivers a scrapbooked narrative about a group of young brainiacs and their malaise-afflicted parents at a space cadet summer camp. The movie is set in the middle of a desert that looks like a dollhouse ghost town whose program is interrupted by the arrival of a quiet and enigmatic alien.

Set in a faux-nostalgic 1950s desert, “Asteroid City” plays with Americana visual aesthetics, which perfectly embodies the postmodernism that Anderson’s cinematic style is typically associated with. One of the

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most miraculous feats of his films is that they always feel familiar, even to a brand-new set of eyes. That’s probably why his works are most recognizable by their visuality, and “Asteroid City” makes up for its quirky, non-linear plot line with pleasing imagery similar to most films that are touted for their artiness. The film is full of still shots that would make for compelling Tumblr blog posts, and in some ways, feels more set up to do that than to make any sort of deep exploration of the human condition.

Second to the cinematic aesthetic of Anderson’s films, “Asteroid City” also stays true to tradition by way of its star-studded (and really, really white) cast.

There’s Scarlett Johanson emulating the beautiful mania of Marilyn Monroe and is accompanied by Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzmann and even Margot Robbie for a brief cameo. Unfortunately,

keeping with tradition also means that the cast lacks any semblance of diversity, which is a turn-off for many viewers. In some ways, “Asteroid City” and the catalog of Wes Anderson’s films are pretty Burtonesque — and not in a good way.

However, the point of “Asteroid City” doesn’t seem to be in the effort of making any groundbreaking social commentary, which might be okay — that’s not really the motivation to watch Wes Anderson films, anyway.

What this film and its predecessors do well is curating a unique approach to cinematography, music and fashion that is both vintage and modern, evoking the sense and style of “twee” to sentimentalize the idea of being kind of quirky and geeky, and mostly harmlessly, hipster. ■ H

Clearly, “Asteroid City” can be praised more for its dedication to aesthetics than its storytelling — which is more confusing to the audience than anything else. All in all, the film isn’t a waste of time to see, though, as it’s still a solid reason to get out of the house and have some popcorn and a slurpee, which is what summer is all about.

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND FOCUS FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

RADAR

TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

15

Olivia Rodrigo’s newest single ‘Vampire’ is a perfect song for listeners to sink their teeth into this summer KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

The young pop-rock singer makes her long-awaited comeback, starting off her sophomore album era off with a bang.

Olivia Rodrigo’s musical career quickly rose to she belts out “Bloodsucker, fame f*cker / Bleedin’ fame back in early 2021, when she released her me dry like a goddamn vampire.” This demonmassively popular single, “driver’s license.” Howstrates how drained out Rodrigo felt from the relaever, before the release of the single, the artist was tionship, symbolizing her past lover as a vampire, no stranger to the limelight as she starred in Disney sucking everything out of her. The difference from Channel shows such as “Bizaardvark” and more the soft beginning to the more intense chorus helps famously, “High School Musical: The Musical: The to highlight the tone of the song as she focuses Series.” Following the release and success of “driver’s more on the anger and betrayal she feels. license,” Rodrigo would release two more singles, By the second verse, the song continues with a “deja vu” and “good 4 u.” These singles would lead to faster and more intense tone that starts shifting in the release of the singer’s debut album, “SOUR.” The the chorus. This type of build-up has been shown album was a huge commercial success for Rodgrigo, before in Rodrigo’s past music, as it portrays the especially with the wide praise for the singer’s vocals, different music sides she can employ. That style of lyrics and instrumentals. However, since its release music progression is one of the factors that makes in 2021, the singer had not released any new music, her music so unique. While the song still mainbuilding anticipation for fans. tains its ballad feel, it brings up the musical tone When Rodrigo announced her single “Vampire,” to convey the more intense feeling that she sings fans were ecstatic to be getting new music from the about. The second verse shows the more toxic and Grammy Award winner. With the amount of popu- manipulative effects that her former partner had larity her songs received in the past, it was no suron her. The intensity of the verse allows listeners prise how highly anticipated this single was. On June to sympathize with the difficulty of letting a toxic 30, Rodrido’s lead single for her sophomore album, relationship go despite the warnings and red flags.

“Guts” was released alongside a new music video.

In the last choruses and bridge of the song, the “Vampire” starts off with slow piano instrumentals tempo builds up even more, as it adds in drums that match the sad ballad lyrics Rodrigo sings. In the further intensifying the song. The listener can feel first verse, she softly sings “I loved you truly / You the frustration of Rodrigo as she addresses her gotta laugh at the stupidity,” demonstrating how she past lover’s actions and how the relationship would is finding amusement in how much love she gave, have never worked out. In the last moments of only to deal with pain and heartbreak after. In the the bridge, she sings, “I tried to help you out, now way that Rodrigo sings it, listeners can feel the bitI know that I can’t / ‘Cause how you think’s the terness and resentment harbored by the artist as she kind of thing I’ll never understand.” It is a pivotal hashes out how foolishly she felt over the hurt and moment in the song, as it shows how she not only mistakes she made. accepts how he is but also her limitations and The instrumentals start to swell as it gets closer boundaries. to the chorus, introducing an electric guitar into the Alongside the release of the song came the mix. This is reflected in the lyrics as she belts out how music video, directed by Petra Collins, who was she feels about the person taking advantage of her also responsible for Rodrigo’s past music videos. and her love. The emotions are felt more intensely The music video matched perfectly with the song, in the chorus, especially with the raw way she sings. demonstrating a different side to the song, as she The build-up emphasizes the overwhelming feelings focuses more on the toxic impact of the pressures that she has, especially as she looks back over the and exploitation of fame. At the beginning of the person’s treatment of her. At the height of the chorus, video, she is seen singing a soft ballad at an awards

ceremony. When the song hits the moment of its shift to the faster tempo, things on stage start crashing down on her and she begins bleeding.

Despite this, she continues smiling throughout her performance, demonstrating the pressure to put on a happy facade. As the song builds even further, she then gets chased away by the paparazzi in a chaotic frenzy. The music video demonstrates how drained and exhausted the music industry can be, especially for a young artist like Rodrigo. ■H

COURTESY OF GEFFEN RECORDS

VERDICT: With the beautiful music progression, deep lyrics and powerful vocals, the pop-rock artist delivered yet another song to listen to on repeat. Rodrigo’s “Vampire” shows promise as she begins a new musical era.

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

Sports

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

UCR’s Highlander Gloves women’s team wins first place at USIBA and receives no appreciation by the school’s higher ups UCR’s Highlander Gloves women’s team walked away with the USIBA team championship with the combined male and female boxers walking away with four belts.

KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

UCR’s Highlander Gloves women’s team won the USIBA (United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association) team title this past March, the first in the school’s history. The school’s official boxing club sent a team of male and female boxers to compete at the 11th annual edition of the tournament at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

The club and team, which is coached by Joab Corey, an associate professor of economics at UCR, promote boxing as both a great workout and a safe space for students to develop positive qualities in one another. This is on clear display by the interactions between members as well as resources provided by the club to promote a healthy lifestyle for its fighters. The club holds practices two days a week and offers shuttling to and from their off campus gym where members and fighters can learn and utilize the fundamentals of boxing, developing their skills.

Towards the end of every academic year the club sends an official fight team consisting of student boxers to the national USIBA competition, first formed in 2012 to promote a safe, competitive and exciting league for their teams. In this edition of the competition UCR walked away with three belts won by Haley Mcreery (Female 119 Beginner), Jacob Castillo (Male 132 Open) and Carlos Rivera (Male 154 Beginner “A”) as well as a fourth belt won by the club via UCSC’s Matthew Goldschmidt (Male 154 Beginner “B”). These four belts in addition to the women team’s team championship is an incredible result for Highlander Gloves who came away with five belts in last year’s iteration of the competition.

Despite the incredible achievement of these student athletes and the effort and dedication they put on display throughout the year to achieve these results, their accomplishments were not promoted nor celebrated by the school. Highlander Gloves has consistently been relegated to less public-

ity and appreciation in comparison to the school’s other sports teams which is incredibly disappointing given the incredible impact the club has on its members and the community.

This is in no way saying that any other of UCR’s sports teams and clubs should receive less appreciation for their efforts and impact, but rather an indictment on the school for consistently relegating its athletics programs to the back burners. Just around three years ago did the athletics program as a collective face cuts to their budget, and the termination of many of its teams including the now wildly successful men’s soccer team which won a double Big West title this past season.

The hiring of athletic director Wessley Mallette is a great move in the right direction for UCR’s appreciation of their sports program but the school’s higher ups still undervalue the importance of athletics on student life. While many other schools in the University of California system champion athletics and benefit greatly from its profits, UCR fails to capitalize on its large student population to drive interest in its athletic programs and clubs.

If UCR wishes to follow their core values of “integrity, accountability, excellence and respect” then it must place a much higher appreciation in sports which teach athletes every one of those values. Highlander Gloves clearly imparts this knowledge on its members yet it receives little love from the school’s administration. It is now up to UCR’s higher ups to improve its appreciation of its athletics including Highlander Gloves by providing them with more funding, facilities and publicity to improve both student life and culture at the school while increasing the school’s allure. In the meantime, however, it is up to the student body to seek and appreciate the students who fought at USIBA, and Coach Corey for their efforts this past year. ■H

COURTESY OF UCR SPORTS

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SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/sports

TUESDAY, JUL 11, 2023

17

Highlander Hot Take: Biggest winners and losers of the 2023 NBA Free Agency HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

With the 2023 NBA Free Agency well underway, here are some teams that either made a splash or made some questionable decisions.

A free agent is a sports player who is not bound by a contract and so is eligible to join any team, defined by the Oxford Dictionary. For many teams, free agency is a crucial period that will either send their franchises to the next level or back into a state of mediocrity. The NBA free agency class is usually loaded with talent as superstars look to either resign with their current teams or look to join forces with a different franchise. With the increasing rise of star players leaving their current team to join other star players in hopes of winning a championship, one may say the NBA free agency is more entertaining than the actual season itself. The anticipation of waiting to see where star players decide to take their talents creates high levels of suspense that keep many analysts, reporters, and fans up late at night. With the 2023 NBA Free Agency underway, here are some teams that either hit the jackpot or regret making a crucial decision.

Winners

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the clear-cut winners of this free agency class. Last season, GM Rob Pelinka made some exceptional trades at the trade deadline to turn a struggling Lakers team into a strong playoff contender that ultimately made it to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers brought back key role players that were instrumental to their playoff success in Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. In the free agency market, they signed Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxon Hayes. Not only did the Lakers bring back most of their roster that helped them make it to the Western Conference Finals, their free-agency signings just bolster an already-loaded roster, which makes the Lakers one of the early favorites to win the title next season.

The Phoenix Suns are kind of slept on in this free agency. Of course, they had the blockbuster trade a couple of weeks ago that sent Chris Paul,

Landry Shamet and a ton of first and secondround picks to the Wizards for All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal to form a deadly big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Beal. The elephant in the room after the trade was the lack of depth surrounding the three superstars. GM James Jones made sure to address this issue by signing Drew Eubanks, Keita Bates-Diop, Chimezie Metu, Yuta Watanabe, and bringing back Damion Lee and Torrey Craig. These signings were not eyepopping, but these players play their roles at an adequate level that will help the Suns succeed in other ways besides scoring, which will be covered by their trio of stars.

The Milwaukee Bucks have an interesting case to be a winner in this year’s free agency. The reason why they are a winner in this free agency isn’t that they landed a big superstar or signed a bunch of great role players; rather, they brought back their core that got them the best record last season.

Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez were due for new contracts and many teams were looking to sign those veteran players. However, GM Jon Horst was able to bring back both Middleton and Lopez to help superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo have another shot at his second championship. There are still some pieces that need to be filled out on this Bucks roster if they want to overcome their playoff meltdown they had last postseason, but if they lost Middleton or Lopez, there would be no chance of Giannis and the Bucks winning a second championship.

NBA. However, GM Rafael Stone decided to sign point guard Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to a combined $210 million dollars. Although VanVleet and Brooks are great players, they do not match the timeline of the Houston Rockets. VanVleet and Brooks are most likely going to be inserted into the starting lineup and will take valuable minutes away from the young players, who need those minutes to develop into better players. Even though the Rockets had one of the largest salary cap rooms in the NBA this offseason, they should have used the money to bring in veteran players that will help mentor the young core.

The Denver Nuggets are a surprising choice to be on this list as they just won the NBA championship. However, the Nuggets lost some pretty important role players that were instrumental in their championship run in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. Bruce Brown was their Swiss army knife off the bench as he was able to shoot, defend, and cut to get easy layups off of Nikola Jokic. Brown was then rewarded a two-year, $45 million dollar contract to join the Indiana Pacers. Jeff Green also played a crucial role off the bench with the ability to shoot the long ball and be a veteran presence for a young Nuggets team. He then decided to join the Houston Rockets on a one-year, six-million-dollar contract. Denver still has one of the best starting fives in the NBA led by Jokic, but the huge losses off the bench may severely hurt their chances of repeating as champions. ■H

Losers

The Houston Rockets have made some headscratching decisions in this year’s free agency. The future of the Rockets was starting to look bright with this year’s draft selection of Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Thompson and Whitmore would join a young core of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr. to form one of the most exciting young cores in the

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER