Volume 72, Issue 04

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, October 24, 2023

VOL. 72, ISSUE 04

SPORTS

NFL’S TOY STORY BROADCAST WAS A HUGE SUCCESS WITH KIDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA FURTHER DRIVING THE LEAGUE AHEAD AS THE MOST PROFITABLE LEAGUE.

RADAR

est. 1954

‘CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY’ COMES ALONG WITH MORE STORYLINES, GAMEPLAY AND A WHOLE NEW UPDATE.

The NFL sets itself apart again with incredible ‘Toy ‘Phantom Liberty’ Breathes New Life into ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ Story’ Broadcast DUSTIN LE Contributing Writer

KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

The NFL held its yearly London game on October 1st between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons from Wembley Stadium. The annual London game is an attempt by the league to break into a larger viewership pool in the UK and Europe where the NFL does not yet have a well established audience. This has worked out well for the largest professional sports league in the world as they have had sold out crowds in the London game with millions more tuning in from home.

Looking to build off the back of its partnerships with different brands, the NFL has introduced several different ventures in the hopes of engaging a very young audience. One of these ventures includes their collaboration with Nickelodeon in 2022 to air a Wild Card game that averages over 41 million viewers.

The collaboration with Nick also includes the NVP award (Nickelodeon Valuable Player) which garnered lots of memes on social media.

The NFL, seeing the success of the Nick

broadcast, turned to Disney for a collaboration for its London game, a broadcast which showed the game live from Andy’s Room from the Toy Story universe. The broadcast involved the players having their motion captured and animated live by the companies, Beyond Sports and Silver Spoon. This is made possible by chips in the players’ pads and the multitude of cameras around the field tracking every player’s movement.

The broadcast itself was fun, with few glitches and garnered positive feedback from dads who wanted to catch the game while also keeping their kids engaged. There was even a live halftime show from Duke Caboom which some are calling the greatest halftime show in the history of sports.

The success of these broadcasts begs the question, why aren’t more leagues doing something similar to the NFL to reel in more young fans to their leagues? There are two separate answers to this question both of which are valid but in different circumstances. ► SEE TOY STORY PAGE 15

On Sept. 27, the massive singleplayer, science fiction RPG “CyberPunk 2077” got its first and last expansion titled “Phantom Liberty,” almost three years after the initial release of the game in late 2020. The game, made

by CD Projekt Red, has you play as a young mercenary in the ever-awake NightCity as you shoot, loot, bribe and hide your way to the top of the food chain. Upon its initial release, the game was packed full of glitches and bugs that made the game close to unplayable. Because of this, it received heavy criticism from fans insofar that, even though the game’s release date was pushed back multiple times, it became a fully-fledged game a little too late. Anyone who played the game around the time of its release would agree that the game was enjoyable, not something you would expect to play after buying a full-priced Triple-A game, especially from the prestigious developing company, CD Projekt Red, who also made the widely celebrated game “The Witcher 3” back in 2015.

This is not to say that the new downloadable content (DLC) “Phantom Liberty” leaves the same disappointing taste in your mouth. On the contrary, the game developers took the three years between the game’s release and the release of the new DLC to fix the countless issues in an update they called Cyberpunk 2.0 that dropped alongside “Phantom Liberty.”

This update completely revamps the skill tree, changing each skill from some character’s forgettable statistic change into a new usable ability that becomes integrated into your gameplay practically instantaneously.

This change made the gameplay much more fun and fast-paced.

The DLC will cost you $30, so plenty of new content is expected for returning players, and that’s what the developers delivered. This content pack adds a whole new burrow to the city for you to explore, as well as a new quest that is heavily related to the story’s main objective. “Phantom ► SEE CYBERPUNK PAGE 14

KELLEY MANZO / THE HIGHLANDER

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OPINIONS 5

FEATURES 8

RADAR 11

SPORTS 15

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SHCC Conference Room

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ASP Nooners Artist 12 p.m.

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SRC Classroom Kitchen

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HUB 302

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SRC Pool

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Yoga as Healing 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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NEWS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

3

Political Recap: House continues to search for permanent Speaker HOUSE REPUBLICANS LOOK FOR ANOTHER NOMINEE AFTER FAILURE OF SECOND SPEAKER CANDIDATE. EMYR ORTIZ Assistant News Editor

When Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed from his post on Oct. 3, supporters touted it as Congress getting “back on track,” and some predicted a speedy turnaround. Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who voted to remove McCarthy, declared, “We’ll be back to work Tuesday. And we will elect a speaker on Wednesday, I’m confident. We’ll have one ballot on the floor. And I believe that will pass.” However, multiple weeks, three ballots later and with House Republicans abandoning their second nominee, Representative Jim Jordan, in a closed door vote, the future of the speakership is still unknown.

In the immediate aftermath of McCarthy’s removal, two candidates, Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana quickly emerged as frontrunners for the speakership. On October 11th, in a closed door, secretballot election, House Republicans nominated Scalise, the House Majority Leader, 113-99. However, Scalise’s victory was short lived as hard-right Republicans refused to back his candidacy even after the nomination.This left Scalise’s prospects in a floor vote for the speakership, where 217 votes are needed to succeed, uncertain. One day after receiving the nomination, and facing continued resistance from the right, Scalise dropped out of the race. In speaking to reporters after withdrawing his candidacy, Scalise said ‘“If you look at over the last few weeks, if you look at where our conference is, there is still work to be done ...

There are still some people that have their own agendas.”

With Scalise out of the race, Jordan was nominated in

a closed door Republican conference election 124-81 on the 13th. Representative Jordan, who was once branded a “legislative terrorist,” by former Speaker John Boehner and is now the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, was supported by many of those who had balked at Scalise. However, he faced considerable opposition from more moderate Republicans and institutionalists due to multiple reasons.

Even after an intense lobbying campaign that involved pressure from Jordan allies and local leaders, Jordan was unable to consolidate enough support to secure the Speakership during multiple votes on the House floor.

After losing a 3rd floor vote 194-235 on Friday, losing support from previous ballots, Jordan was dropped as the Republican nominee for Speaker on Friday in a closed door GOP conference meeting.

Amidst these events there has been talks of temporarily empowering the current acting Speaker of the House, Representative Patrick McHenry, with greater powers through a resolution. With a government funding deadline looming and Biden calling for aid to Israel and Ukraine, some have wanted to empower McHenry beyond his current role of overseeing Speakership votes. However, these plans have faced repeated pushback from multiple Republicans.

Speaking of the resolution, Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida said, “Reading the room, this thing is dead.”

With the speakership candidate being in question for the 3rd time since McCarthy’s ouster, many more lawmakers are taking advantage of the opportunity to become Speaker.

As of October 21st, more than a dozen Republicans had announced or were considering their candidacy for the speakership nomination. These range from House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota to Representative Byron Donalds of Florida. Other Republicans declaring or considering a bid on Saturday included Republican Study Committee Chair Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Pete Sessions of Texas, and Austin Scott of Georgia. These contenders have until Tuesday, Oct. 24 to make their case and consolidate support, with a Republican Conference vote being scheduled for that day.

However, some have voiced doubt as to if any in the new field are prepared to hold the Speakership. Among these is former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who said “On a very serious note, this is talking about the person third in line to the presidency. A lot of people here that might put their name in might not have the knowledge of what it takes.”

H He added, “I’m concerned about where we go from here.” ■

EMYR ORTIZ / THE HIGHLANDER

4 TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

NEWS

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Second Senate Meeting of the Fall Quarter THREE NEW SENATE BILLS: TWO PASSED, ONE TABLED. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

The second Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR) Senate meeting took place on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. All senators were present, excluding Senators Alex Lu, Kevin Nguyen and Leila Haidar. The meeting began with a land acknowledgment to the indigenous people who lived in the land before and was called to order at 7:01 p.m.

Motion to approve the current meeting’s agenda was called for by Executive Vice President (EVP) Victoria Nguyen. The motion to approve the agenda was made by Senator Rayhan Khan and seconded by Senator Teesha Sreeram. The motion was approved 13-0-0.

First to come to the public forum was Rachel Nguyen from the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG). There, she announced that CALPIRG had signed up over 800 new members. She reiterated that there is a $10 activity fee students can add to their tuition through CALPIRG to support student activism.

This month, the national organization that they belong to, known as StudentPIRGS, is holding a costume party.

Next on the podium were two ambassadors from the School of Public Policy (SPP). They announced that the UCR Public Service Job Fair is on Wednesday, Oct. 25, and will have many Federal, State and Local agencies present.

After that was Genevieve Ortiz, who holds a position in the External Office under the Vice President of External Affairs (VPEA) Angel Renteria. Currently, she holds the position of Organizing Director of Communications. Ortiz mentioned that a bill proposed later in the meeting would restructure her position and make it into the work of two different people.

VPEA Renteria arrived on the podium and directed a question to the two SPP ambassadors who had presented earlier and asked who would be present at their job fair.

The SPP ambassadors responded that agencies like the FBI, FDA, Homeland Security, LA Passport agency, etc., will all be arriving on campus for the event. VPEA Renteria expressed concern about how comfortable students will feel knowing that agencies like Homeland Security will be present on campus. The SPP ambassador ended by stating that they will be taking precautions and this has already been planned out, and if there are any other concerns, to reach out to them.

Last, on the public forum, Cooper Kumar, who works with campus partnerships under Renteria, explained how he works closely with Genevieve and that her work is a lot to handle, especially compared to his own work.

He supported bringing in another role to split the work that Genevieve does.

Next on the meeting agenda was Ex-Officio Reports, picking up on the previous week’s ECAB and Judicial Staff Ratifications. VPEA Renteria explained how he hired his team because of their love for student advocacy.

Renteria proposed ratifying Alejandra, Genevieve, Cooper, Joanna, Isabella, Julia, Miguel, Vivian, Elvira, Carmen, Dagmawit, Paolina, Eva and Harini. The motion to approve these ratifications was made by Senator Viraj Ala and seconded by Senator Nadia Colon. The motion to approve ratifications passed 13-0-0.

During Committee Reports, a motion was made to open SB-F23-002 Comms and OD Role Amendment Bill + GR Reform + More by Senator Naia Pizzaro and seconded by Senator Khan. The vote passed 13-0-0.

President Pro Tempore Abby Choy explained that this amendment is an update to the legislation that separates the Organizing Director of Communications into two positions. There were also some changes made to names and titles to make them more appealing and inclusive.

VPEA Renteria elaborated saying that it will separate the Organizing Director of Communications into two roles, UCSA Organizing Director and Communications Director. The UCSA Organizing Director will work with the Campus Partner Organizing Director to ensure that student needs are being heard. These amendments will also make it easier to delegate work. The Labor Commission will be renamed to the Highlander Labor Committee. The Campus Partnership Director will be renamed to the Campus Partnership Organizing Director.

The Statewide Lobbying Director will be renamed to the Statewide Relations Director, and the Highlander Action committee will have a mid-year audit. All the positions listed above will be voluntary. Motion to approve was made by Senator Colon and seconded by PPT Choy. The vote passed 13-0-0.

Next, a motion was made to open SB-F23-003 CHAPTER 11 - Bylaw Amendments by Senator Anjana Narasimhan and seconded by Senator Grace Su. The vote passed 13-0-0. PPT Choy explained that it is a bylaw amendment to Campus External Affairs to change titles of positions to be more inclusive. A representative under the Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs (VPCIA) recommended that any future VPCIA reach out to campus committees at the beginning of the term.

The motion to approve was made by Senator Kaden Ho and seconded by Senator Natalie Trutali. The vote passed 13-0-0.

Finally, a motion was made to open SB-F23-004 Candidates’ Senate Meeting Requirement by Senator Su and seconded by Senator Crystal Toral. The vote passed 13-0-0. PPT Choy explained that it has been in effect for the last few years and just had to be written down in the bylaws, referring to the idea that candidates must go to at least one senate meeting before they can become a senator. Senator Su asked if there was a time limit to this bylaw requirement, and PPT Choy responded that she had to consult someone. EVP Nguyen suggests that it can be tabled for now and can be revisited after the language has been changed. The motion to table was made by Senator K. Ho and seconded by Senator Amariah Peedikayil. The vote passed 13-0-0.

Next on the agenda was the motion to open Finance Hearing Minutes #1. The motion to open was made by Senator Peedikayil and seconded by Senator Colon.

The vote passed 13-0-0. Senator K. Ho explains that the Organization’s Contingency: Opening Balance was $136,562, and the Organization’s Allocations were $128,469. The vote was passed 5-0-1 during the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the Organization Contingency was $8,093 and the ASUCR Contingency:

G NOVYTSKYI / THE HIGHLANDER

Closing Balance was $53,513. The motion to approve the Finance Hearing Meeting Minutes was made by Senator Trutali and seconded by Senator Sreeram. The vote passed 13-0-0.

No one went to the podium for public comment.

Senator Reports was next on the meeting agenda and began with SPP Senator Pizzarro. She explained how she met with the Director of External Engagement, the Dean of SPP, and SPP Ambassadors to plan events for this quarter. She also has meetings planned for upcoming events to increase visibility and attendance and will be planning the town hall soon.

A motion was made to amend the agenda and go back to Staff Ratifications by Senator K. Ho and seconded

by Senator Khan. The vote passed 13-0-0. Chief Justice Kacker ratified Sravika Pillarisetty as the Secretary of the Court and explained that while she had applied to be a first-year fellow, she was recommended to be the secretary due to her previous work experience. The motion to approve ratifications passed 13-0-0.

Back to Senator Reports, CHASS Senator Khan announced that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The first event he will organize is a walk around the Bell Tower to advocate for and support those with breast cancer.

PPT Choy announced that she will be doing a collaboration with CALFRESH. She reiterated from the last meeting to reach out if anyone would like support for student researcher abuse. She ended by stating that LRC meetings are on Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For Roundtable and Announcements, CHASS senator Philson Ho announced that academic affairs committee applications are open and that if anyone is interested in bettering student academics on campus, they should join.

Senator Peedikayil announced that BCOE will be doing their match challenge, in which whatever donation you give to BCOE will be matched in turn by the school.

The event will continue from now until Oct. 31.

Vice President of Internal Affairs Ruhi Barman announced that the application for three of her committees closed at midnight that night.

VPEA Renteria gave an announcement directed to ECAB and Legislative announcing that the University of California Office of the President is looking for a student leader from each campus to attend their conference.

EVP Nguyen announced that the Senate Internship application was extended until next week and to follow the ASUCR Instagram for more information. On behalf of Elections Director Alexandra Arias, Senator applications and the Non-Traditional Student Director application were extended till the next week as well, and the special elections will be the following Wednesday, Oct. 25.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Senator K. Ho and seconded by Senator Sreeram. The vote passed 13-0-0, and the meeting adjourned at 7:44 H p.m. ■

G NOVYTSKYI / THE HIGHLANDER

Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

5

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The CSUs have failed to protect their community, and they’re not the only ones LEGISLATION DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY IN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CASES AT CSUS POINTS OUT THE FAILURES OF TITLE IX IN ADDRESSING SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION. 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.

Governor Gavin Newsom recently approved legislation requiring California State Universities to report all sexual misconduct investigations to the state. The bill, S.B. 808, comes after a barrage of failures on the part of various CSUs to address and investigate misconduct properly. An audit found faulty data collection, which severely limited the scope of the audit, and ultimately discovered that the CSUs failed to investigate claims regarding repeat offenders while generally exercising inconsistency in their investigations if they went forward with one at all. S.B. 808 aims to create transparency within the CSUs, transparency that was non-existent before. However, this legislation does not go nearly far enough and still fails to address the safety of students and the campus community fully.

The need for this legislation speaks to a more significant moral defect at the heart of the nation’s most extensive public four-year university system. While S.B. 808 forces the issue, this kind of transparency should have been in place already.

The CSUs have already said they would be improving the investigative process and hiring more staff to do so, but there should have already been an established system that ran the cases correctly. It’s beyond inhumane that this topic needs to be discussed and legislated when the university has an obligation to its student body, staff and surrounding community to prioritize their safety. S.B. 808 tells the campus community that their institutions cannot be trusted to prioritize or protect students.

This legislation still guarantees nothing. The consequences of violating this legislation might not be enough to prohibit the questionable behavior. If history has taught people anything, it indicates that this law will only motivate the CSUs to hide their failures and misconduct with more fervor. Furthermore, it’s unclear how this legislation would prevent sexual harassment and assault when the university has already shown a vested interest and capability in silencing survivors.

The answer lies in transforming campuses to prioritize the targets of sexual misconduct and reforming Title IX in prohibiting sex discrimination. Shifting an entire culture overnight is improbable but necessary and essential. It’s well past time to listen to survivors, ensure more frequent independent

audits of sexual misconduct at universities, limit the entities that facilitate these behaviors, specifically Greek life, and create more resources with more power on campuses to offer students and employees the bare minimum: safety.

It is not wrong or harmful for students to ask for more of the universities they attend. In May of 2021, a survey was conducted at UCs systemwide about the UC’s ability to handle sexual misconduct, Title IX and student resources, among other related topics. Only 68% of students had knowledge of Campus Assault Resources & Education, CARE and there were fundamental misunderstandings about Title IX, such as to whom it applied. This survey was conducted by Survivor + Allies, a group made up of UC students who aim to advocate for and with survivors, after a meeting with the Systemwide Title IX office dismissed their very real and present concerns. The office stated that a feedback form for Title IX complaints for students to suggest improvements in how they handle complaints would be “demoralizing” for the staff. Though to take a guess, it would be pretty demoralizing for an office that is supposed to support survivors of sexual misconduct to dismiss the distress of the communities they serve.

Beyond addressing sexual misconduct through investigations, the UCs also neglect their responsibility for the mental health impacts students face. The UC system spends an average of $56 on mental health care per student. The study done by S + A reported that a greater amount of survivors go off-campus to access mental health services. Additionally, UCs do not provide identity-based care to its students, with UC Davis being the singular campus with a confidential LGBTQ+ resource center.

The UC system, as a premier educational institution, should be setting an example for other universities. With the CSUs floundering in their basic duties, other universities can’t continue to refuse change and improvement. Survivors deserve more. They deserve identity-based support, Title IX offices that are subject to feedback and investigation transparency. It’s truly dehumanizing to have to demand the right to safety, but it’s a violation of human rights to refuse to do anything about it. ■ H

COURTESY OF PEXELS

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TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

OPINIONS

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Candied Marijuana to be the End of American Democracy Fun shapes treats to continue existing in a violation of basic decency.

MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

On October 8, 2023, a wave of despair passed over the state of California as Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed bill AB 1207, also known as, The Cannabis Candy Child Safety Act. Prop 64, a precursor to the bill, promised that marijuana products would not be designed to be appealing to children or be confused with commercial goods, prohibit the marketing of nonmedical marijuana to those under 21, and that cannabinoids will not exceed 10 milligrams THC per serving. AB 1207 will clarify parts of Prop 64, such as, defining what is “appealing to children,” require that cannabis be separated in individual doses and adopt emergency regulations to implement these provisions.

Since cannabis is so clearly marketed to the youth of today, it was imperative for Newsom to ensure that the bill would be passed. Alas, it once again was left in the hands of the parents to ensure that their own offspring do not get a hold of their cannabis stashes. An unfair requirement because clearly, changing the packaging would be a lot less work than just being responsible for the items in your own household.

In fact, parents and professionals should be aware that California should not just stop at marijuana control. If it is the packaging that makes marijuana products appealing to children we should stop to consider that al-

cohol should also be repackaged. So many brands of alcohol look like other harmless drinks whether they be juice, soda, or coconut water, case in point: beatboxes. Packaging and marketing make them look like delicious drinks, making it a moral imperative to transform these products into something less appealing to children.

Parents have the right to keep marijuana in their household.

They have the right to keep alcohol. If a child gets access to those items, it’s clearly the fault of marketing and packaging for making them seem so appealing to the younger generation. It couldn’t possibly be that children just like candy. Parents should be able to keep these items freely in their house and feel comfortable knowing that it is not packed in fun gummy shapes or soda bottle designs that

will tempt their children. We know all too well that simply changing them to look less appealing will make a child less likely to put it in their mouth.

Now that AB 1207 is vetoed there is no turning back. Packaging is going to remain the same. Children will flock towards the colorful aisles of marijuana products, that are stored in stores they are not permitted to enter, unaware of the evil that lies within them.

Parents will be unable to set boundaries with their children knowing that they are no match for the wonders of bold and bright colors. Teens will run rampant on the street waving around their marijuana products knowing that their silly gummy times will last, and that their parents will have no intention of laying down rules for consumption.

Since AB 1207 was vetoed by Governor Newsom, he should be held liable for all future accounts of marijuana poisoning. If it were not for him, California would have clearly been able to curb marijuana consumption by underage users. Packaging would have been more drab, which would obviously deter people from consuming it.

The only way to prevail now is to continue to escalate the situation because that always works. Do not stop at marijuana rebranding. Go to alcohol, make their packaging less appealing, get rid of their fun fruity flavors. To stop this nationwide epidemic of consumption, we must ensure that there is no joviality found in drugs and alcohol. *This is a satirical piece and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/or exaggeration.

IMAGE COURTESY OF mamewmy ON FREEPIK

Texas has Facilitated Racial Discrimination in its Schools Barbers Hill High School in Texas suspends a student for wearinG dreaDlocks in violation of its dress code.

SONALI WHITTLE Contributing Writer

Educational institutions consist of school dress codes that dictate what students should not wear while being at school and things that are considered inappropriate. These regulations serve as guidelines and are enforced by faculty and teaching staff. Dress code rules set by schools have recently sparked controversy, because they have been misused, blocking students' self expression in a violation of their civil rights. Taking away student’s rights to express themselves and their unique identities is unjust and should not be tolerated in the educational institutions that are supposed to benefit them.

Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High school, located in Mont Belvieu, was a victim of the school’s unjust policy enforcement. He was suspended due to his hairstyle.

The highschool says that male students are not allowed to have hair that “extends below the eyebrows, earlobes, or top of a T- shirt collar.” In addition to this extremely specific and rigid standard, students' hair must be “clean, well-grooming, geometrical, and not an unnatural color or variation.”

It is concerning that a student should be suspended over something as simple as a hairstyle choice when the purpose of school is for students to grow as individuals through knowledge and community, not exclusion. In no way do these rules have any-

thing to do with fostering effective learning in school. The length or color of a student's hair does not harm anyone's learning and is, frankly, a waste of time to enforce. It creates unnecessary friction and more obstacles for the student to face. No student’s inherent human or civil rights to an education should be contingent upon adhering to a dress code.

Repressive dress codes also open up the possibility for students to become the target of racial discrimination and to be denied their lawfully guaranteed education. Differ-

ent cultures incorporate their own hairstyles as part of their identity and cultural heritage.

Punishing someone for their hairstyle is outrageous and serves no purpose but to bully the student and demonstrate power over how a student presents themselves.

Darryl George is a victim of abuse via school regulations. He was racially discriminated against by the school for wearing dreadlocks which are culturally important to the identity of black people to the detriment of his learning. His family has filed a complaint and a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state Governor and Attorney General for failure to enforce a new law preventing discrimination based on hairstyles.

More attention should be brought to cases like this where students' educational journey is complicated with roadblocks in negotiating their own cultural expression. The normalization of these rules and regulations should be closely monitored, because it can harm students and perpetuate a toxic environment where children feel a lack of power over how they choose to present themselves.

Simpler dress codes should be implemented instead, such as making sure that clothing does not include hate speech and shirts should cover at least half of the torso, a policy that should be uniform for all genders. Technically speaking, Darryl George

did violate school regulations but there is far more to this story than meets the eye.

Rules and laws, although helpful, are not always inherently right. Despite violating the school’s dress code, Darryl George is not in the wrong. Rather, Barbers Hill High school and an inequitable student dress code have H violated George’s rights.■

IMAGES COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

7

Tenure is still an essential part of higher education, despite critiques APRIL BUTLER Contributing Writer

IT IS VITAL THAT MISFORMATION BEING SPREAD ABOUT THE HARM TENURE HAS ON THE ECONOMY IS ADDRESSED BEFORE THE REALITY OF TENURE BENEFITS BECOMES SKEWED. A tenured post is an indefi nite academic appointment that can only be terminated under extraordinary circumstances, such as fi nancial exigency or program discontinuation. Many academics spend a significant portion of their career trying to obtain tenure and it usually takes many years and a lot of unpaid hours for a professor to achieve this. It was fi rst introduced as a means to protect teachers with unorthodox viewpoints from being fi red, giving them the benefit of academic freedom.

A n t i - t e n u r e proponents claim that it is a strain on the U.S. economy because it limits scholarly institutions from being able to control expenses and redeploy resources due to funds being tied up in the tenure reserve. However, it would be just as easy to cut funding elsewhere or, better yet, fi nd a more efficient way to distribute expenses in order to continue paying professors tenure. This is less an effect of

tenure, and more a failure on the part of universities to effectively allocate funds.

Another argument is that it prevents incompetent teachers from being terminated. The granting of tenure requires teachers and professors to demonstrate excellent skills, not only in the functions of teaching, but also in other highly valued skill sets, including scholarly activities and professional service.

Therefore one could argue that the requirements to qualify for tenure alone make an effort to prevent incompetent teachers from ever being granted it.

Articles that target tenure policies are often written by Republicans who have a problem with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statements and missions. By eliminating tenure, it is believed that they can remove DEI supporting instructors from campuses or silence them by taking away their job security. The driving force behind all of this becomes far more evident when

considering the fact that Texas legislators recently passed the fi nal versions of S.B. 17, which would prevent diversity offices from having a presence on school campuses starting as soon as 2024, and S.B. 18 which would change tenure policies by directing university governing boards to establish polices to revoke tenure, especially if a teacher supports certain DEI statements.

Diversity offices are essential to the development and student success of underrepresented groups such as members of the LGBTQ+ community and students of color. Legislatures in Texas are not yet ready to accept these marginalized groups.

They do not wish to count them as they are, but instead, want these underrepresented groups to fit themselves into compartments to keep society comfortable and stagnant. This legislation is essentially making changes to tenure in order to hold leverage over educators and deter them from supporting DEI policies.

Students and faculty at Texas colleges are outraged, but they stood together in

Austin on May 28th this year to protest the bill that would ban DEI programs, affecting teaching and tenure. Revoking tenure makes it possible to terminate teachers that try to teach or promote DEI in their classrooms and severely limits academic freedom in general, as well as the integrity of instructors.

This isn’t ok in Texas, or anywhere else for that matter because it harms students and denies them the education to which they are entitled. Removing DEI offices and revoking tenure is a disservice to everyone. If educators are restricted in their teaching, then students are restricted in their learning.

With removing diversity offices from universities as the motive this attack on tenure, it needs to be a protected benefit for educators before students are further disadvantaged by state-sponsored attacks on information.■ H

IMAGES COURTESY OF JCOMP ON FREEPIK

Joe Biden and Donald Trump are destined for a rematch in 2024 AAZAM KHAN Contributing Writer

AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE UPCOMING PRIMARIES REVEALS THAT BOTH PRESIDENTS’ PARTISAN STRONGHOLDS WILL LIKELY OVERCOME A NATIONAL YEARNING FOR NEW CANDIDATES.

The 2024 elections are around the corner and many candidates are vying for attention. With such a large pool of presidential candidates, it may be tempting to hope the 2024 general election will consist of new nominees. However, the next general election will most likely be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, despite the fact that both of them have an overall negative favorability according to numerous polls.

On the right side of the aisle, there were a total of nine Republicans who polled well enough and received enough individual donations to qualify for the fi rst Republican debate. This includes Florida Governor Ron Desantis who is coming off of a successful reelection campaign where he defeated his Democratic opponent by 19 percentage points in a state that was seen as a swing state won by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

In the 2016 and 2020 elections, Donald Trump won the state by fewer than four percentage points. There were hopes for DeSantis’ supporters that he could use the momentum of his historic victory in Florida to propel himself into frontrunner status for the Republican nomination for president. But so far, that belief has not materialized. The other candidates in the race who qualified for that fi rst debate have extremely minimal support and are unlikely to gain any ground during their campaigns.

Trump’s former Vice-President, Mike Pence, is also on the campaign trail.

His campaign has a very slim chance of fi nding any success. This is in large part because of the responsibility he took in upholding the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021. On that day, Mike Pence used his power as the Vice-President to certify the election results that delivered Joe Biden the presidency. After Mike Pence protected America’s electoral institutions, he lost a substantial amount of respect among many Republican voters.

Donald Trump has met all of the polling and donation requirements to appear on these debate stages, but he refused to attend the debate. As counterintuitive as it may seem, it’s strategically the best decision for the former president. Trump has a

commanding majority among Republican primary voters at roughly 57%. Despite technically being the runner-up in the national Republican primary polls, Ron Desantis is only polling at around 12%. At this point in time during past primaries, the race should be more competitive. The eventual nominee for the 2012 race, Mitt Romney, was polling at only 25% and in the 2016 primary, Donald Trump was polling at 26%. The unprecedented nature of this gap signals the importance of Trump’s dominance in the polls and how much that will mean before the primary election arrives. Trump would have very little to gain and potentially a lot to lose since all the candidates sharing a stage with him would take aim at him in order to make a dent in his supporters.

On the Democratic side of the aisle, the primary is even more straightforward.

Aside from President Joe Biden, there are only two other Democrats in the running.

Marianne Williamson is an outspoken feminist and a self-help author. The least likely to become president is left-wing commentator Cenk Uygur, the founder and main co-host of The Young Turks.

Uygur announced his candidacy on Oct. 12, explaining to his audience that he is a “break glass in case of emergency” type of candidate who’s trying to encourage

Biden to drop out.

This primary is expected to be less memorable than the Republican Primary.

Incumbents have never lost a national primary battle in the modern history of American politics. Joe Biden is polling in the high 50s and low 70s among national Democratic primary voters while Mariane Williamson and Uygur haven’t reached double digits.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden represent the masses of their corresponding parties.

The fact that there is a significant portion of the American electorate that can’t stand both Trump and Biden is irrespective of the reality that voters in both primaries are likely to renominate the only candidates that have the experience of being president.

At this point, there is little to nothing that could change the outcome other than the two frontrunners dropping out of the race or American voters will be stuck having to decide which candidate is the lesser of two evils. ■ H

FEATURES 8

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

FEATURES

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Is Hallo-weekend the time when everything changes?

The cards speak of a foreboding week that carries heavy weight and change.

Ysabel Nakasone, Opinions Editor

Aries (March 21 - April 19) King of Pentacles This week will mean a lot of babysitting for you, Aries.

You’re taking on a leadership role with your friends as Halloween approaches. You’ll be planning and handling up to your ears.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Ten of Wands Reversed You’re carrying a burden. This week will release you from the constraints of something that has been attached to you for longer than you can remember. The information that you have is about to be revealed by you. It’s time to reveal the truth and live with the consequences before it is too late.

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22) Justice Reversed Look to yourself, Libra, you’ve been dishonest. You have lied to someone important about something important. You’re going to have to carry this lie a little longer.

They are not ready to know the truth.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Death Prepare yourself. The Death card carries heavy meaning this week as you will face a change and a loss. A person is not necessarily dying, but they are leaving you. It’s one of those things that can’t be helped, but it will be sad, and it will be over.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Two of Wands Reversed You are afraid of what this week means for you. You are terrified for the catalyst that this week will be as your friends encourage you to push forward and have created the exact right situation that will force you to face your fears.

Things will change no matter what decision you make. The only difference is how long it will haunt you.

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Seven of Wands This time is going to be a challenge for you. You will be hit with seemingly random and more random obstacles.

Sometimes life is nonsensical, unfortunately.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Four of Cups This week will provide you with the information you need to reevaluate your relationships. Someone important to you will present news about themselves that will change how you see them. You need to know that having standards doesn’t mean being unforgiving and making everything a dealbreaker.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Seven of Cups You are going to make your delulus into trululus this weekend, Virgo. Let your wishful thinking drive you and give you courage. No one ever built a life for themselves by sitting silently in a corner and ignoring the things they wanted.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) World

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Five of Pentacles You will be spending Halloween alone, Scorpio. It’s a sad state of affairs as you fall out with your friends. It’s unclear who is at fault, but you will be the one isolated. Try not to drown in the loneliness and focus on how to heal the rifts.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) King of Cups Try to have compassion this week, Aquarius. Someone will do something to hurt you, and your instinct will be to cut them off. Try to see beyond the effect and see why they did it. The reason behind it will provide the clarity you’ve been missing.

Something in your life has come full circle. This is not a sad ending, as a matter of fact, but instead, it will have the satisfaction of completion. This may simply mean a milestone in your life has been reached, and you’re working towards the next one. Don’t worry, it’s time and despite what you think, you are ready.

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Six of Cups This Halloween is going to be an innocent one for you. It’s going to be about revisiting your youth and finding your inner child. You’ll get to remember that some things just get to be happy and fun. You ■H get to let go this week, Pisces.■

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

9

Club Spotlight: Business Strategy Club A PERFECT PLACE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL STIMULATION. NATALIE DAHL Features Editor

Kelvin Wong, now a fourth-year student studying business, started the Business of the organization are solid, so according to Wong, “bringing the social air is Strategy Club his freshman year. When he came to UCR, he wanted to find a club the focus this year.” Another goal of the club is recruiting people from majors with the perfect match of a socially stimulating environment and opportunities for outside of business, so everyone has the chance to bond while gathering skills and professional development, so he created the right balance in the Business Strategy experiences to put on their resumes.

Club.

Their biggest event this quarter, providing a day filled with professional growth In the beginning of the club, the events and meetings held consisted of lots of and tons of fun, is their Week Six Venture Valley Tournament. Venture Valley is case competitions and simulations to help business a business simulation, eSports-style game where players students practice their skills in real-life situations. compete against each other to come out on top. Students Through Kevin’s second and third years, the club will get the chance to sharpen their skills throughout went through demo phases, solidified its founding the day as the event runs from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. document and cemented its vision. Throughout in Latitude 55 (where The Habit is located). By just the years of its founding, the club has settled into participating, students will get the chance to win prizes the ideal equilibrium of what its Vice President like gift cards, discounts on the habit, plushies or even Jay Vitela calls “professional focus in a fun cash. BSC hopes that competitive and socially active environment.” members of UCR’s campus will be drawn to the event The way that Wong, Vitela and other board so they can incorporate an even more diverse array of members foster this professional focus is by students into the club. providing people with feedback in real-time on how The board members’ goal of the event is to recruit more to improve their business skills, but a core part of club members but also to showcase to the university that their mission is delivering this in a way that is very COURTESY OF BUSINESS STRATEGY CLUB their members help create the culture of the club. Because engaging. In a typical club meeting, which in fall quarter is Tuesdays BSC is one of the newest business organizations on campus, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., you can find the club participating in various stimulating it doesn’t have as much of an established culture as other clubs, which Wong and activities. They practice case competitions to develop solutions on the spot to Vitela view as a positive opportunity. They want people to identify that this is their business situations, have socials at University Village, and bring in knowledgeable club as well, not just a group they attend a meeting with every week. BSC aims to guest speakers who are well-versed in the business world. One activity that stands maintain its startup culture, one that is very spontaneous, creative and can adapt out in the lineup is their interview prep, which students don’t often get to practice; to whatever direction the members desire it to go. This strong foundation for the these simulations help build students’ readiness to tackle the post-college world. club will help it be one that sticks around. One business principle you may learn in Board members of the club think that this is a critical part of studying business a BSC meeting is market validation, aka that organizations die if they don’t adapt that is often overlooked; this practice of business strategy (hence the club name) is and constantly engage their members in what they desire to learn/participate in, the primary focus of BSC. which is exactly what this club strives to do.

A major goal of the club this year is to incorporate even more of the social If you want to find out more about Business Strategy Club or are curious about H aspect into their meetings and events. After working so hard over the past their Week Six event, their Instagram is @ucrbsc. ■ couple of years to create a strong foundation, the practicality and application

Campus Cope: How to deal with being sick while in college GETTING SICK AND BEING AWAY FROM HOME IS NOT FUN – LEARN HOW TO RECOVER FROM BEING SICK AND HOW TO AVOID GETTING SICK IN THE FUTURE. KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

Catching a cold or getting sick in college is inevitable.

With the weather changing and being surrounded by other sick people, it becomes a chain reaction. First, your throat feels a bit weird and then the next thing you know, you’re congested and endlessly coughing. The hustle and bustle of school can have you forgetting to take care of yourself and get the much-needed rest. Pushing your body past its limits and getting stressed from school can cause you to be more prone to catching a cold. Here are some tips for navigating the common cold in college and preventing yourself from catching it!

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Rest Getting enough sleep and rest is one of the most obvious ways to recover from being sick. Although this can be more difficult in college with the need to keep up with classes and homework, it is essential to recover and build a strong immune system. Sleeping early, getting rest throughout the day and avoiding pushing your limits are simple ways that can immensely help your body to recover. Finding time to get your work done efficiently and not procrastinate will grant you time to properly care

for yourself. Besides the need for sleep, going out less is essential to give your body proper rest. Pushing yourself past your limits can not only get you sick but also make your sickness worse. Being in bed helps your body to properly recover.

Medicine One of the more common cold remedies is DayQuil and NyQuil. DayQuil is taken during the day, allowing you to take a medicine that will not slow you and your day down. NyQuil is typically taken at night before a night of sleep. These are both effective methods that not only help you to get through busy days but also be able to get a full night of good rest. While typically in liquid form, capsules are also sold for those who can’t stand the medicine-like taste.

Food and Drinks With a sore throat, congestion and nausea, having comfort food and drinks is helpful in the recovery process. In terms of a sore throat, the best remedy is tea.

A specific tea many sick people get to soothe the throat best is the “Medicine Ball” from Starbucks. It combines their Jade Mint Green Tea with their Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea as well as honey and lemonade. For those not wanting to go out and buy their tea, other helpful teas include citrus or ginger. For food, any hot soup is a perfect choice to help you feel better. For college students, having instant ramen is a great choice in easing the common cold. More specifically, a spicy hot soup will help battle annoying congestions that are difficult to eliminate.

Prevention When the seasons start to change, allergies acting up and many people getting sick in classes, worry can start

to build about catching a cold or any other viruses or bugs passing around. One particular method is drinking Emergen-C during these times. These powdered packets come in different flavors that are highly effective for building immunity when mixed with water. Another effective way to build a strong immune system is to take vitamins. Multivitamins are beneficial for giving the necessary nutrients that will keep you healthy and fill in any nutritional gaps. Taking care of one’s body is helpful in battling the high possibility of getting sick and staying healthy.

Contacting Professors and TAs Besides the need to take care of yourself, you also want to avoid spreading your sickness to others. If the sickness is really serious and you can’t make it to a class that takes attendance, contacting your TA or professor keeps them updated on your condition. Sometimes this can also help to extend the deadline on assignments so you can get the necessary rest. However, it is important to note that some professors and TAs may not allow the extension unless under serious conditions.

Preventing the Spread While the common cold does not spread so easily, it can still spread when put in close proximity to others.

Avoid sharing drinks or food when you are sick to prevent spreading your germs to others. Washing your hands also helps to maintain good hygiene and prevent the spread of germs. Another common method to avoid spreading your sickness is to cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. These are all common knowledge that should be practiced every day, but can sometimes be H forgotten easily. ■

10 TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

FEATURES

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Campus’ Best Seasonal Beverages Jump into the fall spirit with these delicious drinks.

NOLA PERIFEL Contributing Writer

Coffee shops around campus offer countless amounts of drinks, but what to pick? Sip on these warm and iced beverages to get a real feel for the Halloween season.

Fall is my favorite time of year, inspiring me to cover myself in blankets and curl up with a good book and a hot or iced drink in my hand. During the first few weeks of my freshmen quarter here at UCR, I struggled to find the perfect fall drink to match my favorite season. I decided to review seasonal drinks from Starbucks and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf shops on campus to guide you and me in finding the perfect autumnal drink.

Coffee Bean’s Hot Pumpkin Latte If you are looking for a warm, cozy drink to enter the cold fall season, Coffee Bean’s Hot Pumpkin Latte is the one. The drink smells like a strong mix of coffee and pumpkin spice. At the first sip, I was pleasantly surprised. As someone who does not normally drink pumpkin-flavored beverages, this experience was very enjoyable.

The latte was hot but not scalding, and the coffee tasted strong but not overpowering. With hints of cinnamon, the latte had a sweet but subtle pumpkin taste that harmonized perfectly with the coffee. The milky foam at the top of the drink offered a thick consistency and made it that much more enjoyable. If you have the chance to try it out, I recommend doing so.

Starbucks’ Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte If you are a chai enthusiast, as I am, this drink is for you. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte from Starbucks is an extremely popular drink of choice. In fact, on my way to the bustling and very full Starbucks at the Market at Glen Mor, I spotted three students with this specific seasonal beverage. After having ordered, I asked the cashier if the drink was popular. He reported yes and stated it was because the chai is a perfect mix between Halloween, fall and the cold season coming up.

Visually, the drink is very appealing. The pumpkin cream cold foam floats on top of the iced chai

latte, introducing an orange color to the mix. The drink smells, as you would expect, like cinnamon, chai and seasonal spices. After the first sip, I was hooked. The rich and creamy consistency of the sweet pumpkin-tasting cold foam complemented the chai tea magnificently as it brought the satisfying feeling of a sweet, buttery-smooth texture that coated the tongue. Chai lattes have my heart so this sweet, buttery, pastel orange drink is at the top of my list.

Starbucks’ Hot Pumpkin Spice Latte To compare with the Pumpkin Latte from Coffee Bean, I chose to try the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks as well, which was only ten cents cheaper.

Despite the 99° weather, I ordered the hot version to get a better comparison to the Hot Pumpkin Latte from Coffee Bean. When I got my drink, the coffee and pumpkin smell was very strong. The pumpkin seemed more intense than in the Coffee Bean version.

With this in mind, I worried it would be too overpowering for my taste. But to my surprise, it was subtle and delicious as the milk softened the strong spices and mixed perfectly with the coffee. This drink felt smooth and creamy, and the sweet pumpkin spices covered the espresso’s bitterness completely, leaving only the taste and smell of coffee. The option of adding whipped cream was also available. If it had been a cold day, this drink would have, without a doubt, warmed me up and given me the ultimate cozy feel of autumn that I enjoy so much.

Coffee Bean’s Pumpkin Ice Blended Drink Last on the list, but certainly not least, is the Pumpkin Ice Blended drink from Coffee Bean. This drink also had the whipped cream option as did the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. When I tried the beverage, I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected butter cookie taste, and the more I drank it, the more it reminded me of Thanksgiving meals. I soon realized that this Pumpkin Ice Blended drink tasted exactly like a creamy pumpkin pie dessert. While this drink had a strong aftertaste of spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, which come in pumpkin-flavored food and drinks most of the time, it also had a slight vanilla flavor as well. The consistency, as I have

English Major Survival Guide

also noticed in other ice-blended drinks from Coffee Bean, was extremely smooth. There were no chunks of ice at the bottom, and the drink seemed perfectly blended. This drink was very sweet, and the taste of coffee was completely covered, which is good news for people who dislike coffee but bad news for coffee lovers. This was one of my favorite beverages as it tasted identical to a dessert and refreshed me in this hot weather.

I hope this guide to Starbucks and Coffee Bean’s seasonal drinks was helpful and that you H can find your go-to fall beverage! ■

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NOLA PERIFEL / THE HIGHLANDER

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR one of the most versatile majors at UCR. BRENDAN VO Radar Editor

There is no doubt that the UCR English major is one of the most versatile to study. From acting out plays and analyzing movies to diving into close readings of literature, the major offers you an extensive toolkit to pick from. However, the caveat to this wonderfulness is a tendency to become overwhelmed with the range of projects English courses will strike upon us lovely students. As someone who transitioned into the major in the middle of his third year, here are a few tips I have used to help navigate my studies and prepare for my future as a graduate!

1. Read for Fun! An obvious fact for English courses is the necessity of reading. More specifically, close reading and analysis are two of the key skills needed for understanding and interpreting important works. And why not warm up your eyes with more casual material before getting to the heavy hitters?

As a long-time anime enthusiast, manga and especially light novels became a natural practice in this regard. Getting to practice spotting motifs, metaphors and symbolisms through familiar media allows readers to study the inner workings of works in a fun way! And the extra practice gets us ready to dig into multi-faceted, larger works like Frankenstein and Paradise Lost.

2. Google Scholar Google Scholar has become my bible when it comes to reading academic research. With citations and sourc-

With citations and sources built into these pieces, the website is a great starting place to find a plethora of peerreviewed studies. These papers, then, can serve as inspirations and foundation for your next writing assignments which helps not only your confidence in your interpretations, but also gives you more practice in reading.

Exploring these works will also help you understand what concentrations of English interest you the most.

Readings on historical periods, analysis on speculative fiction and interpretations of your favorite authors’ literature all await you on this godly site.

3. Consume Media in other languages One of the requirements to graduate with a degree in English for UCR is to take a course in a foreign language.

And this obligation is also a wonderful opportunity to explore language in itself through an entirely different lens. Interacting with movies, shows and music in other languages allows you to break down your understanding of how people articulate their words and express themselves.

4. Always try to attend your professor’s office hours Every professor will have a different way of how they look at English, due to the fluid nature of the subject.

Therefore, one professor can have a very different approach to grading your essays than another, even if it comes to seemingly smaller details like how you utilize sources. To secure your grade means to be able to understand the distinct perspectives that your teachers will have on the reading material, which also builds a greater foundation for how we learn from these works, ourselves.

Also, professors are an amazing resource for networking. The academic sphere can lead to multiple job and internship opportunities that can help students find post-graduate jobs!

5. Get involved in clubs and organizations!

With the immensely broad nature of English, it is overwhelming when trying to figure out what future career will lie ahead of your path. What is interesting to you? What is fun for you? And what is important for you?

The English Majors Association is a club that has plenty of opportunities to meet alumni and explore career options. Or would you want to try to find more specific experiences? A competitive club like Highlander Mock Trial thrusts students into litigation, giving people the chance to explore law, debate, and public speaking.

Finding your niche or specialization is important as an English major, as it allows us to develop more relevant experiences later on. Through these club meetings, events and gatherings we are able to find peers to work alongside and mentors to help guide us (and write our recommendation letters). And the best ways to start finding these clubs and organizations are to browse through them on Wednesdays at tabling or search them H up on Highlander Link. ■

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RADAR

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

11

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Review: An American tragedy, reexamined

Callousness, betrayal and greed shroud Martin Scorsese’s crime-western.

LUKE LIAO Contributing Writer

Across three and a half hours, Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” recounts the wealth that oil had brought to the Osage community, the white offcomers that suffused and the string of Osage serial killings that followed. The film towers and harrows, depicting the unadulterated exploitation that forged 20th-century America and continued the country’s vulturous relationship with its native people in its Oct. 20 release in theaters.

Central to these events is Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a bumbling war veteran who returns to Fairfax, Oklahoma to work for his uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro), aptly called “King.” Chance introduces Ernest to Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), a full-blooded Osage who rounds out the trio of key characters. Hale sees this liaison as a way to gumshoe deeper into the Osage pockets, but Ernest is quick to fall for and wed her, complicating the linchpin’s plans. Ernest states that the only thing he loves as much as money is his wife, and, as the film ensues, we see this assertion being continuously tested and the affliction that it brings him.

Because of how strongly Ernest’s contradicting loyalties drive the story, the film’s crests are undeniably spent with the three leads. Anytime Ernest and Mollie share the frame, their exchange — or even lack of one — demands our attention. This is largely due to the caliber of DiCaprio and Gladstone’s performances, with the script being quite leveled more often than not. Where DiCaprio pretzels his face and waffles, Gladstone meets him with reserved modesty, her gaze already saying so much.

Externally, “Killers of the Flower Moon” plays out as a crime procedural. The rhythm that Scorsese used to punctuate his crime masterworks “Goodfellas” and “Casino” is refitted into something cold and blunt. The very nature of these crimes is unique and there is an intimacy to them. Many of these white men are married to Osage women, live next to Osage or even find companionship with each other as we see in one instance. Yet, this amity only makes the atrocities more disturbing. We see how calmly and comfortably these killers are willing to take a life they often know so well for a lump sum or an order from the top.

Speaking of the top, this banality is inhabited specifically well by De Niro, who carries himself with an eerily calm poise. The criminal orchestrater is so deeply entrenched in the Osage community and versed in their culture and language, that it becomes nauseating how he weaponizes this knowledge to further his already monied estate. As Scorsese breaks down the mechanisms behind his crimes — which he does unsurprisingly well — it is revealed that Hale has everyone from the town sheriff to the blue-collar worker under his thumb and that this isn’t just the work of one man.

The absence of state justice or public concern allows these serial killings to run rampant, that is, until the Bureau of Investigation and agent Tom White (Jesse Plemons) step in. The clarity of the Bureau’s operation is not always defined or fastened but does provide the tail end of the film with an additional vantage point.

Stylistically, the film is handsomely made. Interiors are given an oppressive dread, where darkness drapes the margins. Unlike these interiors which are captured gorgeously, the exteriors are a mixed bag. The frequent usage of shallow focus makes one itch for a panorama or for the camera to fully capture the teeming inner city. The beautiful prairies and sundowns play into the film’s title: an Eden ravaged and pillaged. The scarce utilization of these landscapes does leave an unfulfilled feeling.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is bookmarked by an unconventional epilogue, and though it initially seems quite jarring, it’s because the coda makes way for Scorsese’s stark statement. It’s one that speaks on the essence of storytelling and the burial and failure of history. With the lacing of the Ku Klux Klan and Tulsa race riots in the story, Scorsese makes it clear that what we have just witnessed is only one chapter in America’s history of persecution and injustice.■ H

VERDICT: “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an engrossing and affecting saga, featuring three singular performances.

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

12 TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

RADAR

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Artist Spotlight: Mia Bruce exposes life’s fragility through artistic experimentation Mia Bruce pours her heart and soul into her beautiful artwork.

MAXEN OLVERA Contributing Writer

Inland Empire resident Mia Bruce uses every emotion and moment to paint an uncensored representation of life. Bruce has used the canvas as a therapeutic tool throughout her life. Vibrant colors, biological figures and emotions are the main focal points that help each piece stand out. Bruce uses multiple medical books as a template for her human body sketches. Her toolkit has a mixed media base and uses every art utensil in the book. The color palette of most of her paintings consists of flesh-colored pink, blood red and mellow yellow. Her aesthetic embodies the tug-of-war between body and spirit. Ultimately, Bruce employs tools of abstractionism and expression to capture a raw glimpse of her very own soul.

Bruce explores how her heart reacts to human love vs. God’s love in her art. Her piece “Scarce Room to Spare” showcases the key differences in love. In Bruce’s eyes, human love could be unreliable as it changes with time. On the other hand, God’s love is everlasting, serving as an eternal shoulder to cry on.

The painting runs on an abstract engine with bursts of bright pink, golden yellow and dark ocean blue. The top of “Scarce Room to Spare” spotlights two people face-to-face, staring into each other’s souls. The two figures imitate the blossoming early stages of a romantic relationship. Towards the left, a lone embryo seeks shelter underneath a human head, representing the individual in their most vulnerable state. At times, being vulnerable with another person could be extremely unsettling. Nonetheless, vulnerability brings you closer to your partner. Bruce seeks long-lasting peace from love.

A piece aptly titled “Because of Your Light” uses a mosaic filter to paint a picture of the inner chaos that resides in our society. She used three tracing papers and various drawing tools to bring her vision to life.

The red, blue and green mosaic pattern personifies the rigged anatomy of reality. This pattern of madness is split open by a bright yellow path. The golden road physically represents God and Bruce’s sense of spirituality. Reality is an unstable mess that’s difficult to operate. Nonetheless, God’s “light” will always guide you in the right direction. This idea is illustrated by an illuminated yellow walkway home to a lone individual

moving directly toward the chaos.

“Frustrating not to be satisfied” visualizes the complexities of the human condition. The piece shows that humans are never delighted with simplicity. They’re always on the move, looking for something bigger than themselves. The left-hand side of the painting houses an anatomical drawing of an eyeball. The eye symbolizes an individual’s desire to find meaning in unexplained phenomena. Hordes of red, pink and bluecolored muscle linings surround the eye. The impression of human muscle was accomplished using a flare technique with pencils and paintbrushes. Furthermore, the muscle groups represent the inner strength of an individual. Bruce hopes people can gain strength to find happiness in simplicity with this piece.

God’s divine inspiration fuels Bruce’s approach to art. Each piece represents a fragment of emotion experienced by her. A collection of the Inland Empire artist’s most recent works fills the magazine “Under Whose Timing.” People could message Bruce on Instagram to gain access to the zine. The publication features the hand-drawn pictures mentioned above and many more. The portraits are accompanied by poetic commentary that additionally empowers the painting.

“Under Whose Timing” encompasses the past year experienced by Bruce. She has produced numerous magazines over time. Each magazine represents a specific time period in her life. The pictures are extremely personal because they come from the inner depths of the artist’s soul. Each illustration tells a story that could help the viewer find meaning in their own lives.

The title of “Under Whose Timing” refers to the challenges that arise from imposing a specific timeline on your life. You cannot plan for every moment life has to offer. Life is unpredictable as circumstances constantly change. Bruce’s art helps people trust in the uncertainty and go with the flow of life’s ever-evolving stages.

To see more of Mia Bruce’s works, her Instagram is @mbbworkz.■ H

MIA BRUCE

MIA BRUCE / TO NOT BE SATISFIED

MIA BRUCE / BECAUSE OF YOUR LIGHT

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

RADAR

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

13

Troye Sivan has something to give us STELA NOELLE ABASTA Contributing Writer

Troye Sivan’s third album ‘Something To Give Each Other’ is a decently executed story of love, heartbreak and everything that comes with it.

On Oct 13, Australian YouTuber turned actor and pop star, Troye Sivan, released a full-length studio album, titled “Something To Give Each Other.” It was his first album in five years, following “Bloom” in Aug 2018. “Something To Give Each Other” is a mix of club, dance-pop and house with elements of pop that are true to his sound as well as an almost avant-garde instrumental in each track. Sivan himself has writing credits on each of the 10 songs.

Sivan teased the album on June 9, posting a video on Instagram containing clips of himself throughout his career before the capitalized word “RUSH” appeared in big orange letters, referring to the first and title track of the album.

“Rush” is named after a drug brand as well as the feeling of dancing with someone attractive. The song was later accompanied by a collaboration with PinkPantheress and K-Pop group Stray Kids’ Hyunjin. According to a Pitchfork article by Evan Minsker, Sivan has said in a statement, “‘Rush’ is the feeling of kissing a sweaty stranger on a dancefloor, a two-hour date that turned into a weekend, a crush, a winter, a summer…All of my experiences from a chapter where I feel confident, free and liberated.” It’s house-pop with a slight Eurobeat vibe. The chorus is annoyingly repetitive, but the pre-chorus makes up for it slightly with Sivan’s falsetto building up to the beat drop. The sultry lyrics are a plus since it adds to the image of the overwhelming joy and euphoria that comes from dancing with random people at a stranger’s house party.

The third track on the album, “One of Your Girls,” is one of the more popular ones. It has a synth-pop style with the synthesizer especially noticeable in the chorus. It begins with a humming that is reminiscent of Conan Gray’s “Greek God,” before Sivan goes into the pre-chorus by speaking in prose that feels out of place amongst his dulcet tones. The chorus is heavily autotuned, almost voice-box sounding, meant to represent “a sad robot thing,” as Sivan describes. It gets tiring quickly though, and the song could do without it. The verses surpass the chorus because of this sentiment. The lyrics aren’t particularly awe-inspiring — there could

have definitely been a better word to rhyme “lonely” with than “homies” — but it makes the narrative quite easy to follow.

The best produced track on the album is the fourth one, “In My Room,” which features a collaboration with Guitarricadelafuente.

It differs from other collaborations by having the featured artist sing throughout the song rather than just singing a single verse and harmonizing for the last chorus. The lyrics are especially romantic, perfectly encapsulating the feeling of giggling to yourself in bed while texting your crush. The end of the track is beautifully tied together with Sivan singing, “We got something to give each other.”

“Got Me Started” is the eighth and second most popular song on the album. It’s house-pop, the lyrics showing a story of meeting someone at a house party and the excitement of not being able to keep your hands off them. The track opens with a sample of the iconic song “Counting Stars” by Bag Raiders, commonly associated with many memes. It makes the song difficult to take seriously, catching one off guard at first listen. The chorus is purposefully pitched higher, targeting many TikTok users’ love of sped-up versions of songs. However, for those who prefer songs in their original state, “Got Me Started” is not one they would willingly want to listen to. People don’t want Alvin and The Chipmunks in their ears all the time. The provocative lyrics are fun, but the sampling and strange pitching ruin it. If only they were used for a different track — what a fumble.

The outro song “How To Stay With You” is the least popular but best song on the album. As cheesy as it sounds, the best was saved for last. It’s a mellow song with some saxophone nearing the end, a vibe familiar to fans of his previous album “Bloom.” Sivan told Apple Music, “I thought it was a very real way to end it,” and indeed it was. It’s a track that’s relatable for those clinging onto the last hopes of staying with their lover even when they know it won’t work out — a track for the delusionally hopeless romantics out there who have difficulty letting go. ■H

COURTESY OF EMI AUSTRALIA MUSIC AND CAPITOL RECORDS

Verdict: This album is worth a listen if pop is your scene, but be warned: it is not what you may expect (or want) if you are a fan of Troye Sivan’s past albums.

“Something To Give Each Other” won’t change your life, but, who knows, you might find a new favorite song.

COURTESY OF EMI AUSTRALIA MUSIC AND CAPITOL RECORDS

14 TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

RADAR

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

‘Phantom Liberty’ breathes new life into ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ DUSTIN LE Contributing Writer

‘CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY’ COMES ALONG WITH MORE STORYLINES, GAMEPLAY AND A WHOLE NEW UPDATE On Sept. 27, the massive single-player, science fiction RPG “CyberPunk 2077” got its first and last expansion titled “Phantom Liberty,” almost three years after the initial release of the game in late 2020. The game, made by CD Projekt Red, has you play as a young mercenary in the ever-awake NightCity as you shoot, loot, bribe and hide your way to the top of the food chain. Upon its initial release, the game was packed full of glitches and bugs that made the game close to unplayable. Because of this, it received heavy criticism from fans insofar that, even though the game’s release date was pushed back multiple times, it became a fully-fledged game a little too late.

Anyone who played the game around the time of its release would agree that the game was enjoyable, not something you would expect to play after buying a full-priced Triple-A game, especially from the prestigious developing company, CD Projekt Red, who also made the widely celebrated game “The Witcher 3” back in 2015.

This is not to say that the new downloadable content (DLC) “Phantom Liberty” leaves the same disappointing taste in your mouth. On the contrary, the game developers took the three years between the game’s release and the release of the new DLC to fix the countless issues in an update they called Cyberpunk 2.0 that dropped alongside “Phantom Liberty.” This update completely revamps the skill tree, changing each skill from some character’s forgettable statistic change into a new usable ability that becomes integrated into your gameplay practically instantaneously.

This change made the gameplay much more fun and fast-paced.

The DLC will cost you $30, so plenty of new content is expected for returning players, and that’s what the developers delivered. This content pack adds a whole new burrow to the city for you to explore, as well as a new quest that is heavily related to the story’s main objective. “Phantom Liberty” is complete with all new side missions,

shops and incredibly interesting characters with both familiar and new faces to work alongside.

Something that “Cyberpunk 2077” did very well was utilizing popular actors like Keanu Reeves to deliver wonderful performances. The “Phantom Liberty” DLC used well-known actor Idris Elba to help make the story feel more thoughtful and intimate.

These recognizable faces make gameplay feel like a movie at times, and it’s hard to think that these changes, especially in “Phantom Liberty,” were inspired by the success of the Netflix series “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” that came out in September of last year.

That being said, the storyline is one of the strongest elements in “Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty.” Each mission is full of action-packed sequences and cutscenes that are seamlessly integrated into the game. The DLC is a high-stakes espionage story that takes you around the new burrow of NightCity. Coupled with the new gameplay mechanics released in Cyberpunk 2.0, the DLC makes for a very fun and engaging experience.

CD Projekt Red turned their game around after the initial negative reviews they received for releasing an unpolished game full of bugs and glitches. It is now safe to say that “Cyberpunk 2077,” in general, is an enjoyable open-world game. And with the addition of “Phantom Liberty,” it has become even better. It is a shame that the developers at CD Projekt Red have decided to move on and have stated that they will not be releasing anything more for this game, making “Phantom Liberty” the first and H last DLC. ■

Verdict: Cyberpunk 2077 has made a huge comeback with their rework of critical game mechanics and the release of “Phantom Liberty,” turning the game into a much more enjoyable and exciting experience.

COURTESY OF CD PROJEKT RED

Sports

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

15

The NFL sets itself apart again with incredible ‘Toy Story’ Broadcast KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

NFL’s Toy Story broadcast was a huge success with kids and on social media further driving the league ahead as the most profitable league.

The NFL held its yearly London game on October 1st between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons from Wembley Stadium. The annual London game is an attempt by the league to break into a larger viewership pool in the UK and Europe where the NFL does not yet have a well established audience. This has worked out well for the largest professional sports league in the world as they have had sold out crowds in the London game with millions more tuning in from home.

Looking to build off the back of its partnerships with different brands, the NFL has introduced several different ventures in the hopes of engaging a very young audience.

One of these ventures includes their collaboration with Nickelodeon in 2022 to air a Wild Card game that averages over 41 million viewers. The collaboration with Nick also includes the NVP award (Nickelodeon Valuable Player) which garnered lots of memes on social media.

The NFL, seeing the success of the Nick broadcast, turned to Disney for a collaboration for its London game, a broadcast which showed the game live from Andy’s Room from the Toy Story universe. The broadcast involved the players having their motion captured and animated live by the companies, Beyond Sports and Silver Spoon.

This is made possible by chips in the players’ pads and the multitude of cameras around the field tracking every player’s movement.

The broadcast itself was fun, with few glitches and garnered positive feedback from dads who wanted to catch the game while also keeping their kids engaged. There was even a live halftime show from Duke Caboom which

some are calling the greatest halftime show in the history of sports.

The success of these broadcasts begs the question, why aren’t more leagues doing something similar to the NFL to reel in more young fans to their leagues? There are two separate answers to this question both of which are valid but in different circumstances. Sports fans are typically rigid and do not respond well to change within their respective sport. This is true especially for the sports leagues in Europe like the Premier League and leagues such as the MLB and NHL in the U.S. What the NFL does so well that the other leagues do not is having multiple different ways of viewing the same game unlike other leagues which typically only broadcast matches in one place in each country. Having multiple broadcasts helps the NFL not anger their diehard rigid fan base on the normal broadcast while helping them tap into multiple audiences and is true with every one of the ventures they partake in.

It really is an incredibly smart move by decision makers at the NFL and is a big part of what has made them the biggest sports league in the world by revenue towering over the likes of the MLB, NBA, Premier League, and NHL. With more and more leagues struggling for revenue and the next generation of fans often turning to other activities such as video games, the NFL is doing what it can to maintain its place at the top of the biggest leagues in H the world. ■

COURTESY OF DISNEY

COURTESY OF DISNEY

16 TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2023

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/sports

UC Riverside women’s volleyball swept 3-0 in set play against UC Davis HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The losing woes continue for the Highlanders as they lost their past five games The UC Riverside women’s volleyball team lost 3-0 in set play against UC Davis Thursday night in the SRC Arena. After winning three straight games last month, the Highlanders have yet to find the win column in the month of October. Looking to break their losing streak, UCR had a tough task of defeating the fifth-seeded Aggies team.

In the first set, both teams went back and forth, exchanging rallies to start out the set. UC Davis jumped out to an early 3-0 set lead, but UC Riverside was able to respond by winning the next four rallies. Both teams continued to exchange rallies as neither school was able to gain control of the set. As the set progressed, both teams found themselves tied at 15-15. UC Davis started to inch ahead as back-to-back attack errors from sophomore outside hitter Sophia Ewalefo gave the Aggies an 18-15 lead.

The Highlanders were able to mount a comeback as a couple of kills tied the setup at 20-20. Senior outside hitter Mylei Vargas-Deason was able to keep UCR in the set as she started to rack up kills at the end of the set. Every time UC Davis seemed to pull away, Vargas-Deason would record another kill to keep the Highlanders afloat.

However, the Aggies would win the last three rallies to give them the set win 25-22 due to an attack error from Vargas-Deason.

UC Riverside came out with much more aggression in the second set as they were able to jump out to an early 8-5 lead. The Highlanders were able to extend their lead to 11-6 with kills from Vargas-Deason, senior middle blocker Anya Green, and sophomore setter Beatriz Silva. Senior outside hitter Delaney Tate added on to the festivities by getting a kill of her own. However, UC Davis started to catch a

rhythm and started to cut into the lead. The Aggies then won five straight rallies to completely turn the set around and now held a 15-13 set lead. Junior opposite hitter Olivia Utterback started to rack up kills to give UC Davis a 20-16 set lead. The Highlanders were able to claw their way back into the set and close the deficit to 2220. However, sophomore outside hitter Jade Light put the finishing touches on the set with a duo of kills to give the Aggies a 25-20 set win.

The Highlanders were not going to go out without a fight as they battled hard to open up the third set. After trailing 5-2 to start out the set, Vargas-Deason and UCR were able to respond back to take a 7-6 lead. Both teams continued to trade rallies throughout the set, as neither team was willing to let the other side take control of the set. However, the errors from UC Riverside started to pile up, which led to UC Davis gaining control of the set. After a couple of errors from UCR and some kills from UC Davis, the Aggies held a 19-10 set lead. The Highlanders were unable to recover from their mistakes as Light and Utterback put the finishing touches for UC Davis as they won the set 25-13 and swept UC Riverside in set play 3-0.

Vargas-Deason led the way for the Highlanders with nine kills in the match. Green had a solid all-around match as she recorded five kills, two aces, and two blocks.

Silva led the team with 17 assists in the match and sophomore outside hitter Jessica Dean contributed with 14 digs.

The Highlanders drop down to 4-17 (3-6) on the year and will take on Long Beach H State at home on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6:00 p.m. ■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS