Volume 72, Issue 12

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, January 16, 2024

VOL. 72, ISSUE 12

FEATURES

DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE’S NEWEST MUSICAL HAVEN IS HERE TO STAY.

The Penrose Record Room: IYKYK

CALIFORNIA’S AB 1084 REVOLUTIONIZES RETAIL, SMASHING GENDER NORMS WITH A BOLD MOVE FOR INCLUSIVITY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

The triumph of inclusivity: gender-neutral toy aisles mark a bold step forward LILIANNA ANGEL Contributing Writer

BOBBI MONAE MANDOUR Contributing Writer

Picture this: you’re strolling aimlessly through downtown Riverside, weary of the droning city sounds around you, and you think you’ve seen all the art that this city has to offer. That is until you stumble upon the corner of University Ave. and Lemon, your eyes elevating to a red-and-white sign above a basement stairway introducing you to your new favorite place: the Penrose Record Room.

Descending the wooden stairs, enclosed by bubblegum pink walls and a mural-in-the-works, you follow the music of a spinning record, echoes of conversation and laughter inviting you in. In this basement, the Penrose Record Room is half 1960s living room decor and half David Lynchesque set design, with soft, incandescent lighting illuminating the checkerboard floor and woodpaneled walls. Vinyl records plaster the walls and fill the bins. Upon entering, you’re likely to be greeted by one of the store’s owners, who will respond “Oh, just shy of wonderful,” when

OPINIONS

est. 1954

you ask him how his day is going. Within this newfound musical haven, you’re transported to a time that most of us have only seen in movies, with various characters flipping through records in the bins, friends of friends conversing on the couch, and the shop’s owner periodically switching the “currently playing” record behind the counter.

Rooted in Riverside history, the Penrose Record Room is co-owned by Gabe Roth and Matt Beld, both of whom have their roots settled in this city. While the shop officially opened its doors at the end of Oct. 2023, its conception has been a lifetime in the making. Roth and Beld, two lifelong friends, musicians and recordcollecting enthusiasts, agreed to go in on the business together after they considered how a record shop would support and promote both of Roth’s independent record labels, Daptone Records and its daughter-label, Penrose Records.

Both Daptone and Penrose produce funk music and soulful sounds, with Penrose essentially

On Jan. 1, California Assembly Bill No. 1084 came into effect.

This legislation, endorsed by Gov. Newsom in 2021, aligns with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, akin to the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause but specific to the state of California. The primary objective of AB 1084 is to mandate retailers with 500 or more employees to establish gender-neutral toy sections. This bill aims to create a more welcoming environment for children, and it is about time that there is a change in how toys are categorized to create a space where all children can feel included.

Although having gender-neutral toy aisles may be seen as a violation of free speech for companies, it is not in violation as it aligns with constitutional principles of equal protection under the

law. Furthermore, it challenges gender stereotypes and adheres to contentbased regulation standards established

by Supreme Court rulings such as the ruling in Reed v. Town of Gilbert. AB 1084 adheres to the precedent of Reed v. Town of Gilbert by following the regulations of having narrowly tailored content based regulations that serve a compelling government interest.

Gender-neutral toy aisles are a great step forward for ensuring the promise of the 14th Amendment as the aisles promote inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, it is beneficial for children to have gender-neutral toy aisles so that they are not confined to traditional gender roles and can truly experience freedom of expression.

When considering the impact of this law on retailers, it will be a minor ► SEE TOYS PAGE 9

► SEE PENROSE PAGE 11

THREE YEARS AFTER HER LAST ALBUM RELEASE, THE SINGER-SONGWRITER’S NEW RADAR SINGLE TEASES A NEW ERA ALONG WITH HER UPCOMING ALBUM. Ariana Grande shuts down her haters in new single ‘yes, and?’

KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

After taking a break to prioritize her personal life and focus on her acting career, Ariana Grande returns to start 2024 with new music for her fans.

In 2020, Ariana Grande released her sixth studio album “Positions,” which was received with positive reviews. Fans were eager for the singer’s new music when she started teasing pictures of her in the studio. Known for her impressive vocal range and vulnerability in her music, listeners are curious about how different this music and era of Ariana will be. Ariana Grande released her newest and lead single “yes, and?” from her seventh studio album on Jan. 12, 2024.

Despite being more private in recent years, there have been plenty of controversies and drama that have followed the singer/actress.

In early-to-mid-2023, it was announced that Grande and her then-husband, Dalton Gomez were separating, with the divorce later settled in Oct. of that year. Broadway actor, Ethan Slater, known for his titular role in the “SpongeBob

SquarePants” musical, later came into the picture as the two were rumored to be dating.

This was a shock to the internet, as Slater was still with his wife at the time. As a result of these events, people started to question Ariana’s brazen behavior and alleged homewrecking ways. However, the timeline is questionable due to information coming from secondary sources, leaving things out of the full story.

The release of “yes, and?” and her upcoming album starts a new era for Ariana Grande as she steps into a different stage of her life while also straying from her typical music style. The single starts with a bouncy and lively instrumental along with Grande’s background vocals to set the vibe for the rest of the song. The melody’s tone is reminiscent of Madonna’s “Vogue” and 90’s pop music. The beginning of the song gives a feel-good vibe that is deceptively cheerful when met with the lyrics’ bite-back meaning of unapologetically doing what you want and

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► SEE YES AND PAGE 17

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Unity Hour at the LGBTRC 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

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Anatomy of a Fall 7 p.m.

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ARC’s Student Success Conference 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Tai Chi Workshops 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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Narcan Training 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2023

3

Israel tried for violating the Genocide Convention

SOUTH AFRICA CHARGES ISRAEL WITH GENOCIDE WITH CASE AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

On Dec. 29, 2023, The Republic of South Africa filed proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regarding Israel’s alleged violations of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention). According to South Africa’s application instituting proceedings, an 84-page document laying out South Africa’s case and charges against Israel, “against a background of apartheid, expulsion, ethnic cleansing, annexation, occupation, discrimination and the ongoing denial of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination — Israel, since Oct. 7, 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide. More gravely still, Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

The Genocide Convention, ratified by both South Africa and Israel, defines “genocide as a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part.” Under this convention, states are obligated not to commit genocide, prevent genocide, punish genocide, enact legislation compliant with the convention, ensure effective penalties for violators, try persons charged with genocide and grant extradition when genocide charges are brought up.

Since South Africa and Israel are both member of the United Nations (UN), they are bound by all statues of the court, giving the ICJ jurisdiction over the genocide charges. According to Article 66.2 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the prosecution has the burden of proving guilt; in this case, South Africa must provide ample evidence proving that Israelis intentionally commiting genocide.

According to NPR, Israeli officials, in response to these allegations, have strongly denied allegations of genocide.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement calling the court proceedings signs of an “upside-down world” and the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the genocide case “meritless.”

An Al Jazeera article describes how South Africa, alongside the genocide charges, has asked the court to move quicky to prevent further crimes and to institute “provisional measures” or emergency measures before the case begins,

IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

arguing that provisional measures are “necessary to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention, which continue to be violated with impunity.”

The hearing began on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 and lasted two days, ending on Friday, Jan, 12, 2023. The Jan. 11-12 trial, which took place at The Hague in the Netherlands, is only addressing South Africa’s request for provisional measures; the court will not be ruling on wheather Israel has committed genocide during this phase of the hearing. In order to receive these provisional measures, South Africa must convice the court that the allegations of genocide are plausible. South Africa has requested to the court that Israel “suspend its military operations, take all measures necessary to prevent genocide, and to refrain from killing, injuring, or committing other acts constituting genocide against Palestinians” and halt any further violations of the Genocide Convention.

According to Al Jazeera, if the court decides to implement interim measures, Israel would have a legal obligation to comply, however, the court would have no authority to enforce this ruling; even if the court does not implement any provisional measures, they can still decide to try the case further.

The ICJ’s first hearing included fifteen ICJ judges, elected by the UN general Assembly and the Security Council to serve nine-year terms, alongside two additional judges from each of the plaintiffs’ countries. Judge Na Dikgang Moseneke resided on behalf of South Africa and Judge Aharon Barak resided on Israel’s behalf.

Al Jazeera reported that the hearing opened with a reading of South Africa’s case against Israel, demanding that Israel suspend military action in the Gaza strip and a reminder to the court that over 23,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7 by Israeli attacks in the Gaza strip.

Justice Minister of South Africa, Ronald Lamola stated that Israel’s response to Oct. 7 “crossed a line … No armed attack on a state territory, no matter how serious, even an attack involving atrocity crimes, can provide justification for or defence to breaches to the [1948 Genocide] Convention whether it’s a matter of law or morality.” He further added that this case proved the court with the opportunity to act in real time to prevent genocide from continuing in Gaza.

Adila Hassim, a representative in the South Africa case, laid out serious “genocidal acts” allegedly committed by Israel, highlighting them as violations of the Genocide Convention. She stated, “South Africa contends that Israel has transgressed Article II of the convention by committing actions that fall within the definition of genocide. The actions show systematic patterns of conduct from which genocide can be inferred.”

Hassim listed, and provided evidence for two violations of the Genocide Convention. First in violation of Article I, she stated, “the first genocidal act is mass killings of Palestinians in Gaza,” citing images of mass graves and unidentified bodies as evidence. Secondly, she brought up Israel on violations of Article II(b) for inflicting “serious bodily and mental harm to Palestians in Gaza.”

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, a lawyer representing South Africa, spoke after Hassim, arguing that Israel’s political

leaders have declared genocidal intent in their language regarding Palestinians in Gaza. Ngcukaitobi stated “Soldiers obviously believe that this language and their actions are acceptable because the destruction of Palestinian life in Gaza is articulated state policy.”

The hearing also addressed the issue of the court’s jurisdiction over the case. South Africa international law professor, John Dugard, highlighted that under the obligations of the genocide convention, states apart of the agreement are required not only to not engage in genocide but also prevent genocide.

Max du Plessis, also representing South Africa, stated that UN bodies and most human rights experts “[have] collectively considered the acts committed by Israel to be genocidal or at the very least warned that the Palestinian people [are] at risk of genocide” South African legal representation, in their three hour case, also outlined that, since Oct. 7, Israel has acted behind the guise of “self-defense.” However, according to South Africa, Hamas is not a state, therefore it cannot be apart of the Genocide Convention and has no relevance to proceedings at The Hague.

South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, also outlined earlier in the case that these genocidal acts stretch far beyond Oct. 7, stating “South Africa acknowledges that the genocidal acts and permissions by the state of Israel inevitably form part of a continuum of illegal acts perpetrated against the people, Palestinian people since 1948.”

Following South Africa’s presentation of their case, day one of the hearing concluded. The hearing resumed Friday, Jan. 12 to hear the Israeli case. Day two of the trial began with Israel denying accusations of genocide and instead accused Hamas of participating in genocidal acts.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Tal Becker opened Israel’s defense, stating “If there have been acts that may be characterized as genocidal, then they have been perpetrated against Israel … if there is a concern about the obligations of states under the Genocide Convention, then it is in relation to their responsibilities to act against Hamas’s proudly declared agenda of annihilation, which is not a secret, and is not in doubt.”

Israel legal representatives argued that their army had acted in accordance with international law, and attempted to mitigate civilian casualties by dropping leaflets warning Gaza residents to evacuate twenty-four hours before bombing an area. The arguments revolved around Israel’s “right to self defenses” against Hamas for their attacks on Oct. 7.

Christopher Staker, a lawyer representing Israel, according to an Al-Jazeera article stated, “The inevitable fatalities and human suffering of any conflict is not of itself a pattern of conduct that plausibly shows genocidal intent.”

Acting director of the international justice division at Israel’s Ministry of Justice, Galit Raguan spoke before the ICJ during the hearing, claiming that Israel found evidence that “every single hospital in Gaza” was being used by Hamas, therefore, according to him, Israel was justified in bombing them and all the people inside of them.

In response to these claims, Palestinian foreign ministry official Ammar Hijazi, said in a comment to Al-Jazeera, “What Israel has provided today are many of the already debunked lies.”

According to Politico, following the proceedings, Lior Haiat, spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused South Africa of “functioning as the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organization.” The South African government has denied all allegations of ties to Hamas.

The timeline for the provisional ruling is not yet known, but, according to the Atlantic Council, the case will most H likely take several years to conclude. ■ Disclaimer: If you wish to learn more about where the information came from, check the online issue to see all the linked sources.

4 TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

Professor Spotlight: Kim Yi Dionne

NEWS

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PROFESSOR DIONNE’S JOURNEY AND HOW SHE GAINED INTEREST IN HER FIELD OF STUDY. ALLISON WANG Contributing Writer

Professor Kim Yi Dionne is an associate professor here at the University of California Riverside (UCR).

Graduating from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelors, Masters and doctoral degree in political science, she has since focused her research on African politics, particularly in Malawi. Current projects include vaccine hesitancy in Malawi, natural disasters in Africa and recent elections in African countries like in Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the DRC capital Kinshasa. Her book, “Doomed Interventions: The Failure of Global Responses to AIDS in Africa,” her podcast she co-hosts, “Ufahamu Africa,” as well as the multitude of publications that center around African politics, all depict her work for this field of study.

An interview with Professor Dionne revealed that political science was not her initial major when she began college at UCLA. She started as a biochemistry major, but soon discovered that she didn’t enjoy science lectures or certain subfields like physics, which her then-major required several classes of. Eventually, after exploring other majors, she landed on political science due to an interest in politics and government. The major requirements for political science and international relations like economics and anthropology directed her interest towards poverty and inequality on a global level.

During her last year in undergrad, she registered for an African politics class with a then-unknown, brandnew professor, simply because the time fit well with her schedule.

Professor Dionne explains how “that class really changed my life. It made me want to study Africa. And turns out that professor was Dan Posner, and he ended up eventually becoming my Ph.D advisor and he is probably one of the most famous political scientists who studies Africa in the world… I was just very lucky to be in his class… he made studying another part of the world really fun and interesting… in a way that was deep and meaningful.”

Recounting her undergraduate experience, she also mentions her research work with Arthur Stein, another “excellent instructor” that studied peace and security in international relations.

These positive experiences with professors during Professor Dionne’s time in college is reflected in her strong

belief in the importance of mentor-mentee relationships, which she actively fosters in her own research lab, the Dionne Publicly Engaged Research Lab (DPERL), where she employs many undergraduate students.

In 2022, Professor Dionne co-founded the Minority Serving Institution Research Academy (MSIRA), alongside Professor Marissa Brookes and Professor Jennifer Merolla. MSIRA is a research fellowship, consisting of 10 weeks taking a course on political science research methods (POSC114L) followed by 10 weeks of stipended work as a research apprentice matched with a political science professor at UCR. Through DPERL and MSIRA, Professor Dionne emphasizes the importance of giving students the space to grow. She expressed how at UCR she’s “not convinced there [is] a strong enough culture around knowledge production among students … [and] a lot of students are just doing what they can to make it through, but they’re not given much space to see themselves as knowledge producers … Our students have really creative ideas and they’re not given enough opportunities to share those and I don’t see our student body reflected in the faculty … so it was really important to me to try to come up with a way of empowering students to feel like they could be creative and come up with their own research ideas.”

Recalling her role as a mentor, she gives credit to her students: “I’m very fortunate that the students I encounter who want to be in my lab or in MSIRA, they’re already

hard-working, smart, ambitious students … I think sometimes though, they’re at an institution where there’s a lot of barriers to their success. And I’m just there to lift the veil sometimes.”

Currently, Professor Dionne is conducting research on vaccine hesitancy in Malawi, her specific country of interest within African politics. She seeks to understand why and how vaccine hesitancy developed in Malawi, in particular the challenges surrounding deployment of vaccines.

Her interest in Malawi began during graduate school, where she was asked to aid in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded project to study HIV/AIDS in Malawi. To Professor Dionne, “Malawi is such a special place … [and] is always going to hold a special place in my heart … I met my husband on that trip … and then later that was where my daughter took her first step … it is a beautiful place with interesting people and interesting issues and a fascinating history.”

She also finds the human-environment interaction in Malawi moving: “There’s a large lake in the country where people need the lake to sustain their livelihoods.

You know, not everyone in Malawi lives on the lake, but there’s something really powerful about that huge body of water and how much the lake means for people in the country.”

On a more research-oriented perspective, Malawi as a country aligns with Professor Dionne’s interest in studying global poverty and inequality: “Malawi is also a country with low-income and a lot of people who don’t have enough to meet their basic needs … Why? Why are some people poor? What are the structural conditions that have made it so that people don’t necessarily have a lot of good chances to succeed? To what extent does [assistance from international organizations and other countries] actually work and what can be done to make a permissive environment for Malawians, who are already working hard, to actually flourish? I don’t think that there’s answers to those questions, but I feel really motivated to ask, then try to seek answers.”

More information on Professor Dionne’s research and classes, as well as her publications can be found on her H website. ■

IMAGE COURTESY OF UCR

New MONOPOLY game referencing Riverside

LOCALS ENCOURAGED TO SEND IN SUGGESTIONS FOR LANDMARKS INCLUDED. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

On Jan. 10, 2024, Top Trumps USA, the American division of Winning Moves International, announced the debut of MONOPOLY: Riverside edition. The game will include local businesses and landmarks across the city. An interview with Jennifer Tripsea, a senior sales executive, revealed more information about the developing project.

but we’re going to do our research as well to see what should be on it. We really want to feature everything that’s iconic and what people love about the city. We aim to ensure that MONOPOLY: Riverside Edition is an accurate portrayal of what Riverside locals and tourists love about this charming city

How long has this project been in the works for?

We’re just starting. Today’s our announcement and we’re letting the community know that we want to hear suggestions by no later than Feb. 16. And then we’re going to build the project and the game is going to come out in Sept.

Why Riverside?

Riverside is such a historic area and there’s so much community pride, so we thought, why not? We think this will be a perfect location. From the rich arts and culture to historic Riverside staples, we would love for everyone to get on board and send us recommendations of their favorite organizations and landmarks around town.

How can the community turn in their suggestions?

We’re going to ask everybody to email us. The email is riverside@toptrumps.com.

Are there any landmarks or historical areas that you are going to preserve in the game even if no one recommends them?

We’re going to look to the community for suggestions

Is there anything else you think is important for the community to know about the board game?

The game is coming out in Sept., so by the end of Sept., you will be able to purchase it in all of your local retail shops as well. Right now we’re just looking for suggestions.■ H

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NEWS

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2023

5

The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasies FEATURING FANTASTICAL WORKS FROM THE DEEP EDGES OF HISTORY TO THE CONTEMPORARY WORKS OF TODAY.

BRENDAN VO Radar Editor

The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasies is one of the world’s largest collections of science fiction and fantasy genre materials. It has a collection of over 100,000 print books, over 300,000 periodicals, magazines and fanzines according to its librarian, Dr. Phoenix Alexander.

From materials of various authors to special historical objects, one can visit Rivera Library on weekdays to see the collection inspired by fandom, nerd and science fiction culture.

At the heart of its operation is the current Jay Kay and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian, Dr. Phoenix Alexander. In an interview with The Highlander, Dr. Alexander reflects on his decision to become the collection’s librarian; he labels himself as a “massive nerd.” His first passion in fashion design didn’t pan out in school, and he chose to go into literature in Yale, aiming to become a professor.

The library there attracted him and Dr. Alexander started to volunteer at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, exploring the multiple departments: copywriting, exhibits and conservation.

As he experienced curatorship and the relationships between curators and donors during his time at Yale, Dr. Alexander offered his learned perspective as a librarian: “[if] you want to make sure your papers or your life’s work are going somewhere, wherever it is, you want to make sure that the people looking after it are responsible, receptive, take it seriously and are respectful.”

The collection originated from 1969 donor J. Lloyd Eaton, a collector of science fiction. He started the collection with a sizable donation of around 50,000 materials. According to Dr. Alexander, Professor George Slusser was the first curator and decided to further build up the collection and teach with it, bringing together writers and academics to use its materials. This led to the collection’s inauguration at the Eaton conference, a biennial conference that brought together people of the science fiction community to utilize and celebrate its work. The last Eaton Conference was held in 2013.

In addition to Slusser’s contributions in advancing the collection, Dr. Alexander further noted that its location in Southern California, and proximity to Californian artists and writers, to also be important in the collection’s

COURTESY OF PEXELS

development. With many materials donated from a wide array of sources, a vast network has been established and the Eaton Collection has grown as more attention was brought to it.

Regarding the current strengths of the collection, Dr. Alexander says “We have pretty much any science fiction novel in the 20th century. However obscure [it is], we most likely have a copy of it.” The future plans of the collection’s expansion entail acquiring mid-20th century works and earlier science fiction written by women authors as well.

Additionally, he notes that he is always on the lookout for contemporary additions from LGBTQ+ and people of color who authored works and papers, “making our collection representative of the field now because science fiction, like many industries, has typically closed the door to marginalized folks.” He ends the thought by stating that “science fiction is for everyone … I think it can bring so much joy and connect with so many people. So I want the collection to reflect that going forward.”

Regarding current plans to expand the collection, Dr. Alexander states that he regularly expands the collection by buying materials every month. “Every month I grab a bunch [of materials] and buy it, basically. But we always want to know what students are reading, what professors are reading, what folks are teaching with, and see if it is anything speculative or fantastical.” Emails are sent out to the Speculative Fiction and Cultures of Science (SFCS) program to guide the expansion plans. Assessments of the collection are undertaken to gauge the strengths of the collection and see in what areas should there be more material.

Dr. Alexander also cited his relationships built in going to conferences to expand his network. He mentions a spreadsheet where he and colleagues list works that they feel should be bought, usually consisting of material that had just come out. He also acknowledges that he knows that “a lot of students love anime and manga in particular” and mentions how the collection sports a large amount of non-English material.

Dr. Alexander thinks the collection is important because “it’s a snapshot of fandom in the 20th century, and how science and technology have inspired people’s

imaginations to write and create and to converse about how the world is developing. I think science fiction has such a unique relation to human culture because, whether you’re a fan of it or not, we’re constantly living in innovation and technology whether it’s today in 2023 or 1873.”

Science fiction and fantasy are chosen as the genres of the collection because, as Dr. Alexander explains, there are many important elements of the genres in our culture.

There is a common pipeline of the fan community to creators, emphasizing a strong connection between the audience and the author. He mentions how throughout the history of science fiction, it had not been a serious academic subject until recently, noting now that “science fiction and nerd culture in general has become so ubiquitous in contemporary culture … Not just from the fan side, but now in academia.”

Word of the collection has spread externally and internally. Outside of the university, Dr. Phoenix attributes spreading awareness of the collection to his “legwork,” attending conferences and events such as Worldcon and WisCon. Within the school, professors are reached out to and suggested to use the collection as teaching materials.

The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasies is open on weekdays from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. After registering to make an account, students can request the material they would like to view on the website. Requesting items 24 hours in advance is recommended as the reading room can get busy. After requesting, students check in at the front desk and will be allocated a seat in the reading room and staff will bring the requested material to you.

While viewing your requested material, it cannot be taken home for its protection.

According to Dr. Alexander, the collection is always looking out for new selections. Dr. Alexander emphasizes that the genre of science fiction and fantasy is flexible and encourages all to put in their suggestions. Students and faculty can get involved by submitting suggestions for what materials should join the Eaton collection. This can be accomplished by emailing Dr. Alexander (phoenix.

H alexander@ucr.edu).■

Opinions 6 TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/opinions

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

California’s new gun restrictions present Constitutional questions that may not survive legal challenges

THE RULING IN NEW YORK STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASSOCIATION INC. V. BRUEN HAS CRIPPLED THE STATES’ ABILITY TO MINIMIZE GUN VIOLENCE. 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.

After being blocked by a federal judge in December, California’s new comprehensive gun restrictions have gone into place after the federal appeals court put an order on the previous injunction preventing its implementation. This law came in response to the national prevalence of gun violence as well as two shootings in California: Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park. While the Constitutionality of these restrictions is certainly questionable, its potential to reduce gun violence and keep Californians inherently safer is not.

U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who was responsible for the ruling that put the primary injunction in place, reasoned that the bill’s “coverage is sweeping, repugnant to the Second Amendment and openly defiant of the Supreme Court.”

Judge Carney referred to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, which established that gun restrictions are constitutional only when there is a tradition of similar regulation in U.S. history. There is a serious problem with this ruling because the historical context does not provide for the burgeoning issue that is modern gun violence.

The Bruen decision is now the foundation for the rejection of contemporary gun regulations, gutting most attempts at gun control. Since its inception, the Supreme Court’s decision has affected over a dozen state and federal laws, at least in part. This decision is the most impactful decision

regarding guns in this decade, and it’s to the detriment of public safety for the sake of alignment with a Constitution that has proven itself unable to protect Americans from gun violence.

This ruling gave birth to what is known as the “Bruen Test” which has upended the judicial review of gun regulation in the U.S. Courts, now consider the similarity of regulations to those of historical laws on weapons. Essentially, modern-day assault rifles equivocate to weapons from the 1700s. The Bruen decision has been accurately described as anti-innovative and automatically prevents “innovative responses to challenges today that deal with gun violence.” With U.S. v Rahimi pending, a case that will determine whether those under domestic violence restraining orders can buy firearms, the U.S. Supreme Court’s penchant for expanding gun rights turns the safety of the American people into a painfully unethical experiment.

California’s new gun regulation law, Senate Bill 2, was a victim of the “Bruen Test.” The law’s survival is still tenuous as a legal battle in the court system continues.

Opponents of the bill claim that the bill is so restrictive that gun owners are unable even to leave their houses with their guns. More specifically, this law “precludes licensed gun carriers from having their firearms at public gatherings and special events, in parks and playgrounds, in stadiums, arenas and casinos, in medical facilities, religious institutions and financial institutions, on

public transportation and in many parking areas, among other spaces.” It’s unclear why guns were ever in many of these spaces in the first place.

Californians overwhelmingly favor putting legislation such as this in place.

After the fatal and tragic shootings of Half Moon Bay and Monterey Bay, it’s no wonder why. The fact that the Bruen ruling invalidates the will of Californians to legislate gun safety in this state is beyond unreasonable. Additionally, the fact that Second Amendment rights repeatedly and unabashedly take precedence over the physical safety of citizens is not only morally wrong but dishonorable and shameful. When any court is willing to ignore the undeniable harm being done to the American people by this ruling, the American values they stand for are already dead.

As various forms of gun legislation make their way to the superior courts, the Bruen ruling will continue to assist in knocking them down. Gun regulation is a necessity in a country that is plagued by shootings in the very spaces where everyone has a right to feel safe. Responsible gun owners who own guns as a self-defense measure should welcome regulations that will keep firearms away from those who endanger them and others. Senate Bill 2 will not endanger gun owners by leaving them defenseless, but invalidating it will leave many Californians and Americans unprotected. ■ H

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

7

Speeding cameras: creeping forward in preventative legislation ANDREW LEE Contributing Writer

CALIFORNIA HAS NOW TAKEN ACTION AGAINST THE PANDEMIC OF SPEEDING THAT IS SO INGRAINED IN THE CALIFORNIAN DNA WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPEEDING CAMERAS. Driving has long been considered the main mode of transportation in California, a product of the great chasms and mountains that disconnect its large cities. Globally, traffic related injuries are considered the eighth leading cause of death. Meanwhile, California ranks 2nd in total traffic deaths and a study by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, found that in the years 2019-2022, these fatalities have increased by 22% while total driving miles have decreased by 3%, showing just how dire the situation has become. For decades, the government has watched this statistic increase and relied on the often ineffective police to tame this rising phenomenon. Thankfully, after thousands of ignored campaigns on “speeding kills” and hundreds of studies, the state of California is springing into action at last.

Approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom in Oct. 2023 and effective Monday, Jan. 1, Assembly Bill 645 reserves the right for certain cities to institute speeding cameras at selected intersections to monitor traffic and distribute speeding violations to drivers clocking in over 11 miles per-hour (mph) over speed limit — attempting to taper down the fatality rate and equalize speeding-related arrests for disproportionately affected communities.

While this may inconvenience and frustrate drivers, the government may finally be able to slow down the countless unnecessary and often premature casualties.

The speeding cameras will be designated to the cities of Los Angeles,

Glendale, Long Beach, San Jose, the city of San Francisco and San Francisco county. These large districts have a long history of pushing the speedometer, and so it’s comforting to know that punishments can’t be avoided by slowing down in front of police. This might also prevent future police chases, a horrifying prospect for people who enjoy watching cars weave

for future traffic-control legislation that should stretch to even more cities and counties.

As the bill stands, if a driver is going more than 11 mph over the speed limit, the fee increases from anywhere from $50 to $500 depending on how egregious the speeding was. A fine of $500 will be issued if the driver is going over 100 mph.

through traffic in the news on the TV, but a necessary one for the betterment of California.

Furthermore, these cameras would be implemented in high-traffic areas, namely school zones, injury-prone intersections and known street racing roads. Although there might be concerns about possible expansion to less pertinent roads, the currently planned locations should have been monitored since the beginning.

Additionally, resulting from its pilot program status, the bill will be a trial

That’s far too little, considering that one’s risk of sustaining fatal injuries doubles for every increase of 10 mph. Furthermore, the appeals process customarily charges $25 to challenge a ticket, even though there is no excuse for going 10-15 mph over in a city street other than the most dire of circumstances.

As a pilot program, the chief objective of this law is to collect data on the efficacy of speeding cameras in reducing traffic fatalities. As a result, other information that could be collected from these devices

is kept confidential and destroyed, including photographic evidence and administrative evidence not integral to the study. Disregarding the concerns of Big Brother, storing data even temporarily can still leave it susceptible to data breaches.

Still, Gavin Newsom has not been shy about implementing surveillance at nongovernment facilities in churches, retail and even through other people’s home cameras. Photographic and other forms of information are already stored through many government-sanctioned programs.

In comparison, although a potential data leak from speeding cameras is a slight burden to many, it should be well worth diminishing the thousands of crashes that occur in California each year.

The state is far behind, with 18 other states already enabling the use of speed cameras. Hopefully, the data from this experiment will catalyze growth in California’s legislation to combat the destructiveness of excessive speed.

However, avoiding speeding tickets demands little from the drivers, and there are simple, effective methods to maintain a safe and compliant speed. Cruise control is a great method for controlling one’s speed in constant traffic. In cases where cruise control does not work, stay within the speed limit and follow traffic flow, be vigilant of high-density areas such as school zones and avoid disturbances such as loud music or distracting passengers.

Ideally, it should be the duty of each person to maintain the correct speed to avoid collisions and end these wasteful accidents. ■ H IMAGE COURTESY OF PEXELS

The government should take more control in regulating Artificial Intelligence

SONALI WHITTLE Staff Writer

GOV. NEWSOM’S NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER REGULATING AI IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING CITIZENS. Technology has come a long way since the advent of the internet. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a common topic at the center of many discussions due to its possibilities and the enormous impact on the progression of technological development. Although AI has proven very useful in the modern world, there are some concerns regarding how AI is regulated and who should wield that power. AI is a complex concept with great potential to be used for the wrong reasons.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed an executive order on AI that discusses the state government’s role in protecting and preparing for potential threats caused by AI. It is essential that multiple groups of people regulate AI to ensure no one group becomes a monopoly.

There are new policies that are being implemented to help balance the power of AI. After SAG-AFTRA went on strike, a deal was made between Hollywood Studios and actors which “required consent and compensation for the use of the worker’s digital replica.” AI is able to recreate images of human beings in a way that has not been done before.

The realisticness of the replicas creates a vulnerability for people regarding identity theft or false impersonation.

Videos with cloned audio and visuals can be used against a person’s knowledge to spread misinformation or say things that person would not say in real life, making it very dangerous. For instance, deepfake video technologies are being used to spread political misinformation in attempts to support certain controversial agendas. The consequences of having access to replicating people digitally could have negative consequences, such as tarnishing people’s reputations and spreading misinformation without policies regulating AI, leaving people misinformed, impersonated and wronged.

Furthermore, AI can help facilitate chemical and nuclear weapons, election interference and cyberattacks. Given the many risks, AI must be regulated in some form. An approach that should be taken is one that checks and balances regulators.

The government should have some power over AI regulations since it is a highly organized entity of people with broad authority. In addition, tech companies should also have input due to their expertise on the topic. It is not feasible to keep AI unregulated because that would perpetuate an unsafe environment for citizens. There should be safeguards, and it is most efficient to use the government

to regulate AI since it is both powerful and established.

Gov. Newsome recently signed a new executive order on AI that will implement risk analysis reports and state employee training and guidelines that can be used for agencies and departments. This order creates transparency between the government and companies developing AI technology by requiring businesses to share their data on safety tests when training new systems. The age of AI continues to grow and advance, and it is foolish to turn a blind eye to how this can impact the country. State governments can navigate and mitigate dangers through communicating with the public. Citizens being protected is most important in regulating the use of AI. A survey conducted by the Center for Governance of AI concluded that “84% of the American public believes that [AI] is a technology that should be carefully managed.” Some might argue that the new proposals for safely navigating AI are overregulation. Although it is important not to censor technology and innovation, the risks of AI outweigh the benefits in the eyes of the American people.

The possibility of someone being put in harm’s way immediately should

call for laws regulating its power.

Societal advancement and technological improvement are all important, but the safety of individuals should always be a H top priority.■

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/opinions

Homeless, not hopeless: Proposition 1 will aid the unhoused LEILANI ACOSTA Contributing Writer

Gov. Newsom urges support for the March ballot measure to reform California’s mental health system.

Homelessness is growing at an exponential rate in California; a trend that did not start recently or suddenly. In the last two years, homelessness increased by a shocking 12%. To combat this rising issue, Gov. Newsom announced Proposition 1, a bill that amends the Mental Health Services Act by reallocating existing funds and securing more bonds towards health treatment for homeless individuals. The bill aims to make mental health and substance abuse treatment more accessible to unhoused people in California, especially incarcerated individuals and former U.S. veterans. Prop. 1 will improve the current state of homelessness and mental health in California by eradicating the issue at its core.

California’s mental health system has had plenty of changes in the past few decades, a major one being the exact legislation Prop. 1 plans to amend — the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) of 2004. The MHSA included a 1% tax income increase for California residents which funds programs to aid individuals in need of mental health treatment.

One of these was by implementing Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs for these patients. PEI programs are shortterm mental health programs offered in schools and other places where behavioral health isn’t typically offered. It was shown that in PEI programs across California, an estimated 90% of clients were found to re-

main under the threshold of severe mental illness as they progressed through the program. This indicates that PEI helped combat those at risk for homelessness as well as improved the mental health of emotionally disturbed Californians. By amending and adding to MHSA, Prop. 1 will continue to combat the homelessness and mental health epidemic in California.

Finland almost completely eradicated the homeless crisis in their country since 2007.

Many people criticize Gov. Newsom’s plan and instead support the latter approach.

These concerns are valid; however, mental health treatment is clearly more imperative than moving the homeless from one place to another. A study by the US Department of Health and Human Services found that put-

Many Californians doubt how effective mental health treatment is at combating homelessness rather than taking a “Housing First” approach. The Housing First approach has been positively cited as how

ting unhoused people into homes does not fix the issue up front, which is mental health issues. Prop. 1 prioritizes mental health treatment over moving people into houses when it comes to eradicating the homeless-

ness issue, which is why this bill will end the lingering problem once and for all.

There is a correlation between mental health and homelessness. Approximately 82% of homeless individuals have experienced mental illness at least once in their lifetime. When a person is at risk of harming themself or others, it is imperative to treat their mental health issue first before placing a person into a home and integrating them back into society. By creating more beds and making psychiatric and addiction treatment more accessible, lawmakers can target the cause of homelessness before slowly moving these individuals back into society.

Although all California residents have differing opinions due to their held values and beliefs, it must be noted that not one person can tackle homelessness alone. This battle is a group effort to help these fellow neighbors. Many people can easily hide their financial struggles in today’s day and age. Prop. 1 encourages Californians to keep in mind that eradicating homelessness and creating accessible healthcare for those at a disadvantage will lead to a more physically and mentally healthy group of Californians who thrive together. ■ H

IMAGE COURTESY OF FLICKR

With the rise of civil lawsuits against Riverside County, Sheriff Bianco’s response elicits concern SPANDANA JANAPATI Contributing Writer

The numerous lawsuits against Riverside County jails and Sheriff Chad Bianco point to an institutional issue regarding inmate safety and department oversight.

Content Warning: This article mentions content that may be difficult to read, including suicide.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department faces legal consequences following the suicide of 21-year-old inmate Alicia Upton, who was residing in one of the county jails at the time. Upton’s parents are looking to sue Riverside County on the accounts of inadequate medical safety and a pattern of negligence when it comes to inmate care.

Even though the progression of Upton’s sui-

IMAGE COURTESY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY

cide was recorded by surveillance footage and monitored, she was not stopped in her attempt. In fact, her body was not recovered until over an hour after her death.

In response to being sued by Upton’s parents, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco released a variety of statements claiming the suit “is nothing more than someone wanting money” and saying the county is “responsible for a suicide is silly.” Sheriff Bianco failed to comment on the crux of the suit: Upton was released from a safety cell even though she showed obvious signs of harm-

ful behavior towards herself and suicidal thoughts. The circumstances of Upton’s death point to inadequate care and oversight of inmates within county jails, especially with several pending cases against Sheriff Bianca, all regarding inmate deaths.

Sheriff Bianco and Riverside County have already been scrutinized for the significant rise in inmate deaths within county jails alongside Upton’s case. The county reached a record high of 18 inmate deaths in 2022 alone. A large portion of families are filing lawsuits on behalf of inmates who died within the county jails, a number that is quickly entering the double digits. In response to the increased deaths, Sheriff Bianco stated that “every single one of these inmate deaths was out of anyone’s control.” A statement that ultimately dismisses the validity of the lawsuits and the care of inmates under Riverside County.

In 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urged Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate Riverside’s county jails and Sheriff Bianco. In their letter, the ACLU highlighted the significant unsolved homicide rate when compared to other sheriff’s departments within California and the county’s failure to provide the necessary protections for inmates, citing Sheriff Bianco’s negligence. His inability to accept responsibility on behalf of Riverside County and his deputies can be attributed to the level of care provided for inmates.

Several alarming instances have been noted within Sheriff Bianco’s career, starting with his outright refusal to adhere to COVID-19 public health orders. Additionally, Bianco’s opinions about incarcerated individuals and their families have also encouraged a negative perception of the county as he claims incarcerated individuals and their families are bad people. Similar blanket statements have been released where Bianco cited an increase in substance abuse and a culture of police resistance as the reasons for increased deaths in the county.

After Attorney General Bonta announced his investigation, Sheriff Bianco claimed to be a target of a political game which wrongfully assigns blame to Bianco. His ignorance toward the rise in inmate death within Riverside jails, which points toward a significant issue somewhere within the Sheriff’s Department. Riverside County is among the first to implement CARE courts and prioritize mental healthcare, making the decline in quality of care within the past years such a personal issue for the community.

The simple point of public dissatisfaction and outrage should be enough to prompt the sheriff’s department into implementing changes within the county jails. Perhaps Sheriff Bianco could have focused on bringing justice to the lives lost under the custody of Riverside’s County rather than the notion H of a political agenda against the department.■

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

No candidate should be banned from a primary ballot, including

9

Donald Trump AAZAM KHAN Contributing Writer

ATTEMPTS TO DISQUALIFY CANDIDATES FROM PUBLIC OFFICES ARE DETRIMENTAL TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, EVEN IF IT HAS GOOD INTENTIONS. Donald Trump is once again running for office. With all of the norm violations, verbal disdain for electoral regulations and incitement for the chaos on Jan. 6, numerous politicians want Trump to become ineligible ever to hold office again.

As of now, multiple states have already approved the disqualification of Donald Trump while California recently decided to allow Trump to be on the Republican primary ballot. The state’s decision to allow him in the primary is the ethical

decision. Any action to bar an American from running for an elected position is undemocratic. Every state should follow suit with California, and permit Donald Trump to run for office, regardless of what the public thinks of him.

The first state to make Trump ineligible was Colorado. The ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court was divided by educational lines. The three that dissented attended Denver Law School, and the four in the majority graduated from an Ivy League law school.

Those Ivy League justices believe that Trump’s incitement of the Jan. 6 riots was an ‘insurrection.’

Classifying Trump’s actions before and on Jan. 6 as an ‘insurrection’ specifically determines that Trump violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Shortly after, Maine’s Secretary of State followed in the footsteps of Colorado and banned Trump from their state primary ballots.

It is reasonable to

be critical of Trump’s role in the events of Jan. 6. His unwillingness to embrace a peaceful transfer of power or accept election results is extremely concerning and damaging to America’s electoral institutions. However, banning Trump from running for office does nothing but tarnish the electoral process even further.

Allowing Trump to run for office does not necessarily excuse him for his previous actions. The Trump phenomenon can still be defeated at the ballot box. In the 2022 midterm elections, many pundits expected a ‘red wave.’ But all of the Trump-endorsed candidates in statewide tossup races and who supported Trump’s election subversion were defeated with the exception of Ron Johnson from Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, traditional conservatives who didn’t embrace Trump’s election denial were able to outperform the Republicans who did. Gov. Chris Sununu, Gov. Mike Dewine and Gov. Brian Kemp are examples of conservatives who didn’t dive head first into Trump’s election denial and were able to outperform their Republican counterparts by more than four percentage points. An electoral pathway to defeat Trumpism is both more plausible and ethical than an outright disqualification.

Multiple things can be true at once. Donald Trump has no respect for democratic norms and election procedures. He is willing to subvert American democracy at all costs to his benefit. Even though he is a threat to

democracy, it shouldn’t be up to courts or Secretaries of States to determine whether he should become president. The election should be decided by the will of the American people. Any attempts to prevent Trump from running with the goal of protecting democracy are actually tarnishing it.

Some states have been able to recognize Trump’s abhorrent behavior without setting more flames on American democracy. The Minnesota Supreme Court determined that Trump “engaged in an insurrection,” but that should not bar him from a primary ballot.

California’s Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, elaborated on her decision by explaining that in order to be a “steward of free and fair elections,” she has to “place the sanctity of these elections over partisan politics.” Weber’s decision to hold her values of protecting the integrity of California’s elections over her personal political desires highlights how all public officials and judges should avoid interfering in elections. The only way a candidate should be defeated is by a rejection by the American people.

Anything short of that is antithetical to a government ruled by the will of the H people. ■

The triumph of inclusivity: gender-neutral toy aisles mark a bold step forward LILIANNA ANGEL Contributing Writer

CALIFORNIA’S AB 1084 REVOLUTIONIZES RETAIL, SMASHING GENDER NORMS WITH A BOLD MOVE FOR INCLUSIVITY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. On Jan. 1, California Assembly Bill No. 1084 came into effect. This legislation, endorsed by Gov. Newsom in 2021, aligns with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, akin to the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause but specific to the state of California. The primary objective of AB 1084 is to mandate retailers with 500 or more employees to establish genderneutral toy sections. This bill aims to create a more welcoming environment for children, and it is about time that there is a change in how toys are categorized to create a space where all children can feel included.

Although having gender-neutral toy aisles may be seen as a violation of free speech for companies, it is not in violation as it aligns with constitutional principles of equal protection under the law. Furthermore, it challenges gender stereotypes and adheres to contentbased regulation standards established by Supreme Court rulings such as the ruling in Reed v. Town of Gilbert. AB 1084 adheres to the precedent of Reed v. Town of Gilbert by following the regulations of having narrowly tailored content based regulations that serve a compelling

government interest.

Gender-neutral toy aisles are a great step forward for ensuring the promise of the 14th Amendment as the aisles promote inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community.

Additionally, it is beneficial for children to have gender-neutral toy aisles so that they are not confined to traditional gender roles and can truly experience freedom of expression.

When considering the impact of this law on retailers, it will be a minor inconvenience at most; they simply need to reorganize their shelves. Moreover, the restructuring of toy aisles might encourage a broader range of customers to make additional purchases, as toy aisles are no longer strictly assigned to a particular gender. For instance, Walmart periodically rearranges its shelves with the goal of boosting purchases by changing the usual shopping routes of customers. In essence, the situation with gender-neutral toy aisles is comparable to such retail strategies. However, if big retailers with 500 or more employees fail to comply with this bill, they could face fines of $250 for the initial violation and $500 for subsequent violations, potentially leading

to civil action. This penalty only applies to big companies; smaller businesses won’t be impacted by this law.

While this law mandates retailers to establish gender-neutral toy aisles, it fails to address the core issue at hand: the ongoing marketing of toys to specific genders. Although there is now a neutral presentation in stores, the persisting issue of gender-based marketing still exists.

It perpetuates stereotypes and limits children’s choices, reinforcing traditional expectations rather than promoting true inclusivity. Thus, it is essential to discourage the continued marketing of toys specifically targeted at one gender. Although ge nde r-neut r a l toy aisles represent a step in the right direction towards a more inclusive world, additional measures are

necessary to tackle the root of the problem.

To be straightforward, traditionalists of the world will likely complain about not wanting children exposed to what they perceive as “radical” ideas. However, a simple solution exists for them: avoid walking down that particular aisle. The world is evolving and changing, and it is about time for laws to actively contribute to breaking down entrenched gender stereotypes.■ H

IMAGES COURTESY OF FREEPIK

FEATURES 10 TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/features

Where are your academic priorities this winter?

As we prepare for winter quarter, let’s see where you should be focusing your efforts…

ARiES: CHARiOT MARCH 21 - APRiL 19 You know what you want, Aries.

This quarter, you’ve set your goals, and you know what it’ll take to complete them. It might not be easy, but it’s what lies ahead of you now. As long as you keep your goals in mind, you’ll have the willpower to see them through.

CANCER: TWO OF WANDS JUNE 21 - JULY 22 You struggled to find direction in the fall quarter, but now, you know what you want. Whether you’ve just found inspiration, or you’ve been building a five-year plan, you know what direction you’ll be going this quarter.

Don’t lose sight of that!

LiBRA: FiVE OF PENTACLES SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22 This quarter, you’ll lose something important to you. This kind of loss can make you feel insecure, unsteady and unsafe. Remember that you’re not alone in this — look to your friends, your family, your loved ones. They’ll see you through the worst of it.

CAPRiCORN: NiNE OF WANDS DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19 I won’t lie Capricorn, this is going to be a tough quarter.

You’re going to have to put in a lot of time and effort to see success in your academic life, but keep your eye on the finish line. It may be difficult, but you know you have it in you to see it through.

TAURUS: DEViL APRiL 20 - MAY 20 You’ve been letting your academics fall behind, in favor of other things.

It may be fun to party instead of studying, but you know you’ll have to take those midterms eventually — and either you’ll be prepared, or you won’t be. Don’t let instant gratification get in the way of your academic life.

LEO: PAGE OF WANDS JULY 23 - AUGUST 22 You may not have a solid plan, Leo, but you don’t always need one! Use this quarter to explore your options: join a club, or three! Take a class out of your major! Go to your favorite professor’s office hours for once! Winter is a quarter of possibility for you. Take advantage!

SCORPiO: SiX OF SWORDS OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21 You’re holding yourself back, Scorpio. Your winter will be very different from fall, but don’t hold on to a past that everyone else has already moved on from. Embrace the change, embrace the uncertainty, and by spring, you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way next.

AQUARiUS: EMPEROR JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 18 This quarter, you’re going to rise above — you’ll not only find success, but gain respect. When you get the opportunity, don’t be afraid to step into a leadership role: you’re ready for it, and everything that happens this quarter will only strengthen your leadership skills, and deepen the respect others have for you.

Aedan Ferrara, Production Manager

GEMiNi: EiGHT OF PENTACLES MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Gemini, you’ve been hard at work, whether it’s in a subject that challenges you or in improving your study skills. By the end of the quarter, as long as you keep at it, your dedication will pay off!! Don’t chase perfection — chase excellence.

ViRGO: THREE OF SWORDS AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22 You’re going to get hurt this quarter.

A project will fall through, or you’ll struggle in a class you really need to pass. It happens to all of us. The important thing to remember is that you can’t let it keep you from success in other areas of your life — but don’t be afraid to express that pain, either.

SAGiTTARiUS: SiX OF PENTACLES NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21 Congratulations! You’ll see success and security this quarter. You’ll pass your classes and ace your tests. In all your accomplishments, though, don’t forget the people around you. You know everything for this class — help your friends study! Extend generosity to those around you, and your success will only grow.

PiSCES: SEVEN OF WANDS FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20 You had a successful fall quarter, Pisces, and others have taken notice.

This winter, you’re in an enviable position. Others will see your success and be jealous. Don’t apologize for yourself; you earned your success. Don’t let yourself, or anyone else, forget that.■ H

IMAGES COURTESY OF FREEPIK

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/features

FEATURES

The Penrose Record Room: IYKYK

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

11

DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE’S NEWEST MUSICAL HAVEN IS HERE TO STAY.

BOBBI MONAE MANDOUR Contributing Writer

Picture this: you’re strolling aimlessly through downtown Riverside, weary of the droning city sounds around you, and you think you’ve seen all the art that this city has to offer. That is until you stumble upon the corner of University Ave. and Lemon, your eyes elevating to a red-and-white sign above a basement stairway introducing you to your new favorite place: the Penrose Record Room.

Descending the wooden stairs, enclosed by bubblegum pink walls and a mural-in-the-works, you follow the music of a spinning record, echoes of conversation and laughter inviting you in. In this basement, the Penrose Record Room is half 1960s living room decor and half David Lynch-esque set design, with soft, incandescent lighting illuminating the checkerboard floor and wood-paneled walls. Vinyl records plaster the walls and fill the bins. Upon entering, you’re likely to be greeted by one of the store’s owners, who will respond “Oh, just shy of wonderful,” when you ask him how his day is going. Within this newfound musical haven, you’re transported to a time that most of us have only seen in movies, with various characters flipping through records in the bins, friends of friends conversing on the couch, and the shop’s owner periodically switching the “currently playing” record behind the counter.

Rooted in Riverside history, the Penrose Record Room is co-owned by Gabe Roth and Matt Beld, both of whom have their roots settled in this city. While the shop officially opened its doors at the end of Oct. 2023, its conception has been a lifetime in the making. Roth and Beld, two lifelong friends, musicians and record-collecting enthusiasts, agreed to go in on the business together after they considered how a record shop would support and promote both of Roth’s independent record labels, Daptone Records and its daughter-label, Penrose Records. Both Daptone and Penrose produce funk music and soulful sounds, with Penrose essentially pioneering the Southern California souldies scene that is distinctly sentimental to Riverside locals.

The city’s association with lowrider car culture and “Oldies but Goodies” music à la Art Laboe — the late, great So-Cal radio host who coined the term — has been influential on the city’s predominantly Chicano/Latine demographic.

Alongside promoting Penrose and Daptone Records, the Record Room was also conceptualized as a remedy to the need for a more lively downtown scene, which is constantly evolving in Riverside. The shop is run 5 days a week by Beld, who’s been married to music since he was 17, playing guitar in local bands like Los Infernos, The Adolescents, and his current group Vicky Tafoya and The Big Beat — one of several groups repping the Penrose record label. Humble as ever, both Beld and Roth run the shop like it’s existed forever, grateful to offer a hub for lovers of souldies, longtime record collectors, and new kids on the block looking for a place to spend their pocket change. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., You can expect to walk in and spend a little more than a while in the shop, whether your time be spent perusing the collection or being charmed by Beld’s near-encyclopedic knowledge of music. If you’re really lucky, Roth might pop into the shop to flash a friendly smile and hello in between working with Penrose artists upstairs in the record label’s recording studio.

The musical selection in the establishment spans from Soul and R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Country, International and an ever-growing Punk and Metal section. The Record Room gets new records every week, and you’ll often find Beld cleaning and pricing records between moments of chit-chat. Carrying a great selection of new and old and in-between, the shop impresses even the most audiophilic of music enjoyers, though it stays inviting enough for those who may be seeking their first toe-dip into the world of music that exists outside of what streaming on Spotify and Apple Music has to offer. With two listening stations in the shop, equipped with Technics turntables, killing a couple of hours in between classes with sonic curiosity sounds like a pretty sweet day to me. And, if you don’t find that obscure artist, or newest release that you’re looking for, they’ll be happy to order it for you to pick up in the store.

Like the music that Penrose Records produces, it’s evident that the Record Room is a future classic and mainstay for downtown Riverside.

It’s also apparent that vinyl records aren’t going out of fashion anytime soon, especially as many of us are starting to appreciate both the sentimentality and physicality of owning the things we love over the shallow conveniences of our increasingly digitized world. ■ H

BOBBI MANDOUR / THE HIGHLANDER

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Modernism, post-modernism and futurism on our campus A HISTORY OF UCR’S EVOLVING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER. ZACHARY HANSON Contributing Writer

Physical spaces produce aesthetic echoes which are so impactful, yet their sources are so often left outside the conscious mind. It is in this vein that University of California Riverside’s (UCR) architectural construction stands as one of its highest watermarks.

The modernist sensibilities set forth by architectural fi rm Clark & Frey in 1952 are visible throughout campus buildings new and old. Brisesoleil sun shades (the slatted sun shades visible on many buildings on campus which only allow sun into a building at certain times of day), the covered walkways under Rivera and the sunshades above the windows of Lothian and Watkins all showcase this modern style. The mingling combination of natural and constructed features provides an undeniable architectural comfort, fostered by UCR’s with its large social gathering spaces and vast greenery.

Most emblematic of these qualities is, I believe, the Aberness-Inverness residence hall. Although I never lived in these dorms, they were the fi rst building which I noticed the architectural intricacies of. The oldness of the building is exacerbated by the glass, brick, stucco exterior and thick ivy growing on the southern walls of the MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

building. The maintenance of gothic bricks features an expected American modernist style displayed in lots of traditional-looking academic institutions. The dorm maintains a sense of agelessness despite its clear hallmarks of age.

As time has passed and architectural preferences and schools of thought have evolved, so has UCR’s architecture. Although several new design plans for the university have been drafted since 1952, most recently by Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners. The imposing structure of the art building, located on the far west side of campus, lacks much of the visual aesthetic hallmarks of the other buildings on campus because of its recent construction. But just as much as the traditional brick buildings, it maintains a sense of cohesion with the campus. The behemoth fits the desert landscape of our school, emulating the slopes of a far IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

off mountain, mirroring the looming silhouette of Box Spring Mountains that it faces.

A clear continuity is visible in buildings constructed on campus, the evolving architectural trends influencing the progression of design at UCR. The most recent addition, the second building of the School of Medicine, returned the academic brick found in much of the rest of the campus. Additionally, it adds new features such as much greater presence of glass and continued indoor/ outdoor spaces, as seen on buildings such as the Student Success Center and the Student Resource Center. Being surrounded by the visual imprint of innovation and changing times helps us learn to appreciate these structures that surround us. at UCR. The most recent addition, the second building of the School of Medicine, returned the academic brick found in much of the rest of the campus. Additionally, it adds new features such as much greater presence of glass and continued indoor/outdoor spaces, as seen on buildings such as the Student Success Center and the Student Resource Center. Being surrounded by the visual imprint of innovation and changing times helps us learn to apH preciate these structures that surround us. ■ IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

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RADAR

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

The best films of 2023

What the greatest narrative features of the year had to offer, from childhood stories of loss and precarious romances to explorations of documented evil.

LUKE LIAO Staff Writer

1. “The Boy and the Heron”

Hayao Miyazaki’s newest film asks how we can reconcile with the world’s hurt and be sure that it’s worth living in. The never-ending man is at his most abstract, manifesting this uncertainty through a boy’s journey in a mystical world following the loss of his mother. Whether it’s encounters with omnipotent powers, scuffles with humanoid birds or watching the night sky with an acquaintance, this hero’s journey is tapped into to unearth the wonder and beauty in the smallest or largest of happenings. “The Boy and the Heron” finds Miyazaki musing over some of the greatest questions he’s ever posed and seeking answers with familiar, unwavering grace and compassion.

2. “Past Lives”

In her directorial debut, Celine Song confronts the perpetuity of longing in a story about a lost and found connection. At the center is a woman anchored between the different cultures, continents and histories of two men. The film’s trio of characters are all outwardly modest with much left unsaid and, still, it’s the powerful feeling of ache that prevails through glances and gestures that defines “Past Lives.”

3. “May December”

“May December” concerns a wife who groomed her now-husband when she was 36 and he was 13, and their relationship is now periled by an actress studying the wife for a role. Where confidences are slowly coaxed out in the script, the unassuming suburban setting acts as a blunt reminder of the vice residing in plain sight. And with the entwining of the actress’ extreme fidelity to her performance, the film holds a mirror to two acts of exploitation.

4. “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Evil runs rampant in Oklahoma’s sprawling prairies and towns – from its residents, authorities and doctors. Martin Scorsese’s crime saga chronicles how white off-comers’ greed and complacency materialized into heinous acts against the Osage Native Americans. The film’s expansive runtime allows it to liberally detail the progression of corruption, from the top seeping downward until it’s become endemic.

5. “Monster”

Although “Monster” may not be narratively bulletproof due to its share of conveniences, it prevails with humanism coursing through its tenderhearted triptych. Across three parts, each concerning one perspective of a boy’s strange behavior, our preconceptions and search for the truth are challenged. Beneath this puzzle box construction, “Monster” uses its soft power as a call for understanding within adults and between the children in their lives. It also boasts the year’s best ensemble.

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6. “Oppenheimer”

“How can this man who saw so much be so blind?” is one of many contradictions posed in “Oppenheimer” about its subject, whose creation of devastating power resulted in his torment and ushered in the nuclear age. Christopher Nolan charts, intercuts and intensifies Oppenheimer’s role in the Manhattan Project and his turbulent fallout with a relentless gait and dedication to spectacle. The result is exhaustive and effectively distressing.

7. “All of Us Strangers”

After Adam meets with specters of his past, he must set on a path to exorcise his grief and live in the present where Harry, a potential lover, waits for him.

One of the most affecting films on this list, “All of Us Strangers” grapples with one of life’s only guarantees: death. Adam’s struggle to come to terms with the emotional vacancy that was once occupied by loved ones is equal parts fantastical, sentimental and disquieting.

8. “Pacification”

Weaponizing its molasses-slow pacing and incredible performer, Beoît Magimel, “Pacifiction” puts a lens on the workings of modern-day imperialism in Tahiti, one of many French Polynesian islands affected by France’s nuclear testing dating back to the 1960s. The film’s counterintuitive approach of fixating on exotic leisure and activities elicits frustration due to the inaction and apathy in light of the looming threat of what might or might not be inevitable.

9. “Fallen Leaves”

Dryly penned and dictated, Ali Kaurismäki’s bittersweet romance is set against its lovers’ uneventful lives where the days are spent doing blue-collared stints and the nights at bars, sometimes drinking until blacking out. The characters are not particularly optimistic about the state of the world, but find small moments of comfort and meaning through the company of one another.

Honorable Mentions: “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Joyland” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” ■ H

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‘May December’ – The ethics of biopics

After astounding critical acclaim, ‘May December’s’ reputation took a hit when its subject spoke out against the movie.

RAMITA SETTY Staff Writer

When “May December’’ was first released on Netflix, there was nothing but praise for it.

Todd Haynes’ latest movie handled some tricky subjects regarding the nature of grooming, power dynamics between children and adults and society’s strange fascination with turning tragedies into spectacle in a very human and heartbreaking story. The film was loosely based on the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, who groomed 12-year-old, Vili Fualauu into a relationship. When Letorneau was arrested for this, it caused a tabloid frenzy around the courtroom proceedings that reflected a morbid fascination with Letorneau’s crimes — the aftereffects of which were explored in the movie.

But the poignant message of the movie felt tainted when Fualauu gave an interview revealing that the producers of “May December” never informed him of the making of the movie and never consulted him on the script. “I’m still alive and well. If they had reached out to me, we could have worked together on a masterpiece,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “Instead, they chose to do a ripoff of my original story.” Suddenly, the movie felt rather hypocritical because it critiqued how the media had spun and exploited the feelings and life of Vili Fualauu when they do so to him without his consent.

It also brought up some tricky questions regarding the ethical nature of biopics, such as whether or not it is fair for movies to expose their subject to the public once more, especially those who have gone through very deeply traumatizing and personal experiences.

A similar issue cropped up when the mini-series, “Pam & Tommy,” surrounding Pamela Anderson’s leaked sex tape, was released. It centered around how traumatizing it had been for Anderson when the tapes were released and how violating it had been for her. But when the miniseries came out, Pamela Anderson revealed that the production never asked her for her permission, once again making the message of the miniseries feel less like a sincere attempt to shed light on Pamela’s side of the story and more like a cynical attempt to use her story to win awards.

On the other hand, biopics that had their subjects or their subjects’ family far too involved in the making of the story can tend to feel too sanitized, as the real story is somewhat obscured to make room for the image they want to project. For example, a different movie concerning a real-life victim of grooming came out this year as well. “Priscilla” revolves around Priscilla Presley’s relationship with Elvis Presley, starting when she was 14 and he was 24. Priscilla served as a producer on the film, and it was clear she had power over the story being told. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it was clear in the story of the film, which did not present Elvis in the best light, seemingly glossing over many of his more abusive natures, because Priscilla still had good memories of their relationship. “Priscilla” held back where “May December” was willing to go.

Ultimately, the filmmakers weren’t wrong for making the film without Fualauu’s input, especially since “May December’s” story is only loosely based off of his story. Plenty of brilliant biopics were made when the filmmaker took a look at a story from a distance and added embellishments for the screen, such as the 1980 film “Raging Bull.” But to not notify Fualauu at all about the film before its release became a matter of public fodder again feels irresponsible. Considering how pervasive the media coverage of the entire case was, the movie would clearly invite that level of attention onto Fualaau and his family again, and they deserved to know what would happen. There is a responsibility required in adapting someone else’s story, and that person should be involved — or at least informed — to a certain extent. To not do so betrays the message of the film, and makes it feel more like an attempt to win awards more than anything else. ■ H

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TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

‘Self Reliance’: Survival of the loneliest

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Reality can be a mind-bending game in Jake Johnson’s directorial debut.

BRENDA JOVEL Editor-in-Chief

Jake Johnson sets out on his directorial debut with his latest comedy-thriller film, “Self Reliance.” It first premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival on March 11, 2023, and can now be enjoyed in audiences’ homes since its release on Hulu on Jan. 12, 2024.

The film follows Thomas “Tommy” Walcott (Jake Johnson) who lives a routine of work, drinking and going to his mother’s home. His stagnant life is the reason why his girlfriend of 23-years, Theresa, broke up with him the year before. Johnson’s self-deprecating humor perfectly characterizes his character as someone who is willing to do anything for a change; and he does so without much thought.

Tommy is selected to participate in a game where Hunters will be actively trying to kill him for the next 30 days. If Tommy survives, he wins one million dollars. The loophole is that in order to live, he cannot be alone. The entire game seems like the perfect excuse for Tommy to reconnect with the ones he’s been detached from, most importantly his ex, who now has a baby. It’s a comedic version of family therapy. Genius, humiliating and heart-opening, characters begin to reconnect with each other on deeper levels.

As much as the film contains funny lines, it also contains the most heartwarming and light dialogue that feels like real-life conversations.

Of course, Tommy’s family thinks he’s being delusional. The first four days are easy-breezy for Tommy as nothing uneventful happens in his boring life. His paranoia slowly increases with the heartbeat-like thumps of the music as he looks around his shoulder

ever so often. It seems like the game is a joke, until day five when his mother’s home is broken into and he flees to his sister’s place where he’s almost killed by a cowboy with a rifle.

Tommy’s luck is lifted when he’s contacted by another participant, Maddy (Anna Kendrick). The two agree to spend the rest of the day together as partners to survive the game. They become close within 24 hours, talking about familial issues and emotions that both have buried for years.

They confess to each other their reasons for playing the game, revealing how Tommy craves to be around people as he’s felt alone while Maddy professes that she’s felt both lonely and bored.

Their connection is emotional and raw, and a fun montage sees the two behaving like a couple during the honeymoon phase. They become their happiest selves for the next few days. Kendrick and Johnson contain a jovial on-screen friendship that feels like it will turn into something more. It’s endearing and fulfilling to see their characters develop a bond that has been missing from their lives.

As the game progresses, the film does an excellent job of concealing what is real and what isn’t. At times, Tommy’s point of view becomes unreliable as he slowly loses himself to the game.

His office-job attire also reflects his pending wreckage; its structural wear becomes more tattered as he tries to survive the final H days of the game. ■

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Verdict: “Self Reliance” is an unconventional thriller with comedy-bites that digs into unexpected sentimental themes, though its ambiguous ending will leave you unsatisfied.

Artist Spotlight: Spotlight

Elidé channels cultural connection into her creative endeavors Elidé views her art as an inspirational tool.

MAXEN OLVERA Contributing Writer

Elidé Sanchez is a proud Chicana artist who operates within the Inland Empire.

All of her art pieces are constructed from her cultural roots. Elidé tries to implement fragments of inspiration from music or world cultures and channels real-life hardships into her creative process. She uses oil, acrylic and spray paint to visualize the highs and lows of her life. Aside from her personal art pieces, she has also made various murals for local businesses and non-profit organizations.

She discovered her love of painting through Riverside’s art scene. Elidé frequently attended the monthly art walks in the heart of downtown Riverside. Her interests led her to art supply store Urge Palette Art Supplies, where she was exposed to a diverse array of murals and canvas painters. The downtown art gallery and supply store is a safe haven for artists and enthusiasts. Elidé displayed her pieces in the store’s Pain Sugar Gallery and her artwork made a strong impression on local Riverside artists.

Most importantly, Jesus Castañeda invited her to a collaborative mural featuring various artists around the city. Their artistic expedition took place in the heat of the pandemic inside the historic Riverside Fox Theater which was boarded up during the racial protests of 2020. Riverside’s art district wanted talented artists to paint anything relating to the complexities that 2020 brought, so Elidé painted Zack de la Rocha (lead singer of Rage Against the Machine) belting out powerful lyrics from the funk rock ballad “Guerrilla Radio.” The mural depicts a call to action that emphasizes the need for change.

One of Elidé’s most personal pieces highlights her

two alien-like sphynx cats, Benito and Gizmo. The work is plastered on a wooden panel with an engine fueled by acrylic paint and Elidé dubbed the acrylic work as a “self-portrait with my children.” The title refers to Benito and Gizmo as her children because she feels connected to the furless felines. The two cats have provided unconditional love to Elidé in her lowest moments. Her painting depicts them as green glowing gods and shows that all animals are powerful beings in rhythm with the spiritual realm. The trio are placed near a bed of flowers with eyes in the center of the petals with the eye symbolism used to represent her past pets. She feels only eternal love towards her old pets as they can reciprocate the effect.

The latest piece by the Inland Empire artist, titled “Friends With Fear,” depicts her rational fears of the unknown. “Friends With Fear” is a psychedelic painting featuring Elidé holding a cracked green skull. The broken green bone represents the inevitability of death and she holds it in the palm of her hand without any sense of fear. The artwork represents how Elidé has made peace with life’s unpredictability and how she resolves to make every moment count.

You can follow Elidé and her creative journey on her Instagram. Her profile is home to many beautiful pieces, including the ones mentioned above, and spotlights her expansive mural work.

Elidé holds her mural catalog close to her heart and hopes that, one day, her murals and paintings will spark another person’s passion for art.

Instagram: @eilddeeee ■ H

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16 TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

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Out with 2023, in with 2024 ITZY’s ‘BORN TO BE’

ITZY drops their latest album ‘BORN TO BE ’ for you to gaslight, gatekeep and girlboss your way into the new year.

STELA NOELLE ABASTA Contributing Writer

On Jan. 8, K-Pop quintet ITZY released their eighth mini-album, “BORN TO BE.” The album explores a plethora of genres, such as EDM, dance-pop and rock. Five of the 10 tracks in “BORN TO BE” are solo songs by the members, with each of the girls credited for the lyrics of her respective song, making this album the first-ever to include solos.

The album’s self-titled song “BORN TO BE” is the first on the tracklist and is a solid introduction to what vibes are expected for the rest of the album. The EDM track is heavy with synth sounds that emphasize their empowering lyrics. According to Genius, this song “showcases a new style while staying true to ITZY’s signature sound.” Fans of bass-heavy “construction music” will dig the instrumental if anything.

The track begins with a repetition of the phrase “born to be” in a way that is reminiscent of EDM artist Derivakat. The song continues its repetition with the beginning of the chorus repeating the same words. Although it is a bit catchy, one can’t help but cringe at the lack of creativity in the lyrics. Not only are the lyrics repetitive, but they also come off as cheesy — especially the English lyrics. However, that is expected for a lot of Kpop songs, and ITZY themselves are no strangers to cheesy English lyrics. The theme of the lyrics is a callback to the messages of their first releases, which are supposed to embody the strength of female warriors, but the execution wouldn’t exactly make Artemis proud. The ad-lib cheering that emphasizes some of the lyrics is cute at the beginning but, by the ending chorus, is all over the place.

Following the first song on the mini-album is the title track, “UNTOUCHABLE.” During a press conference in Seoul on Jan 8, the group’s leader, Yeji, said, “The title track sings about nobody being able to stop us from moving forward. We fight together against the difficulties we face living in this complicated world.” “UNTOUCHABLE” is a dance-pop number that attempts to be EDM but fails. The song’s downfall is marked by its disappointing “beat drop” — it builds up before slowly being let down instead of being truly “dropped.” However, the ad-libs and humming in the background are nice touches to the chorus. The vocal doubling is also really cool, especially in the postchorus when the girls sing “bam-bam-bam-ba-li.” It’s a really fun addition to the track.

The ending ties the song together much neater than “BORN TO BE,” but, in general, the song is nothing special.

At first listen, the next track is sure to take one by surprise. Trust that “Mr. Vampire” sounds like nothing you have ever heard before. According to an article in PINKVILLA, the song “expresses the thrill of discovering potential true love and the desire not to miss the opportunity for a perfect match” and uses “vampire metaphors for intimacy” to convey that. Besides the lyrics, many other elements catch listeners’ ears. For starters,

the introduction is very unique, from the sounds of rushing water in a forest to the beat remixing a synth that sounds like birds chirping transitioning smoothly into a piano.

The piano sounds almost magical, but the sound clip does get slightly weird and choppy when the same trill is repeated. Regardless, it is so satisfying when it’s finished.

Additionally, the verses transport the listener into the body of Bella Swan in the middle of the wilderness with her vampire lover before the chorus takes a complete turn back into the synth. While unconventional, the beat drop doesn’t feel out of place. The track sounds so chill, but the EDM elements make it feel more upbeat. The speak-rapping is extremely pleasing to the ears as it flows well with the distinct beat. To end the bridge, Chaeryeong belts out a high note, which is welcomed as ITZY’s vocals are not showcased too often. “Mr. Vampire” presents ITZY’s vocals so perfectly that the listener can hear the metaphorical blood-red bow wrapping it together. This sets it apart from the H many rap and speak-singing-heavy songs in ITZY’s discography. ■

Verdict: Pretend that you’re “not like the other girls” for a moment as you skip the popular tracks on ITZY’s “BORN TO BE,” because the B-sides are what should be on your rotation.

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TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

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Ariana Grande shuts down her haters in new single ‘yes, and?’

Three years after her last album release, the singer-songwriter’s new single teases a new era along with her upcoming album.

KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

After taking a break to prioritize her personal life and focus on her acting career, Ariana Grande returns to start 2024 with new music for her fans. In 2020, Ariana Grande released her sixth studio album “Positions,” which was received with positive reviews.

Fans were eager for the singer’s new music when she started teasing pictures of her in the studio. Known for her impressive vocal range and vulnerability in her music, listeners are curious about how different this music and era of Ariana will be. Ariana Grande released her newest and lead single “yes, and?” from her seventh studio album on Jan. 12, 2024.

Despite being more private in recent years, there have been plenty of controversies and drama that have followed the singer/actress. In early-to-mid-2023, it was announced that Grande and her then-husband, Dalton Gomez were separating, with the divorce later settled in Oct. of that year. Broadway actor, Ethan Slater, known for his titular role in the “SpongeBob SquarePants” musical, later came into the picture as the two were rumored to be dating. This was a shock to the internet, as Slater was still with his wife at the time. As a result of these events, people started to question Ariana’s brazen behavior and alleged homewrecking ways. However, the timeline is questionable due to information coming from secondary sources, leaving things out of the full story.

The release of “yes, and?” and her upcoming album starts a new era for Ariana Grande as she steps into a different stage of her life while also straying from her typical music style. The single starts with a bouncy and lively instrumental along with Grande’s background vocals to set the vibe for the rest of the song. The melody’s tone is reminiscent of Madonna’s “Vogue” and 90’s pop music. The beginning of the song gives a feel-good vibe that is deceptively cheerful when met with the lyrics’ bite-back meaning of unapologetically doing what you want and telling critics to mind their own business.

Throughout the song, it is clear that this is Grande’s response to all the speculation and rumors surrounding her. In the second verse, she sings “Now I’m so done with caring / What you think, no, I won’t hide” referencing her annoyance with the negative public perception of her. The theme of moving on and saying “yes, and?” is reminiscent of her past songs such as “thank u, next,” “fake smile” and “shut up.”

The true bite-back message of the song mainly lies in the bridge as Grande sings in a down-tempo, almost spoken and sultry style. At one point in the bridge, she sings “Don’t comment on my body, do not reply.” Since being in the limelight, Grande has seen plenty of body-shaming comments, especially recently. She even responded in a TikTok about the comments, calling people out for making comments on other’s bodies.

Following the line, Grande continues to sing “Your business is yours and mine is mine,” making the point of the song clear as she calls on people to mind their own business. The

biggest shock for fans comes at the end of the bridge when she sings “why do you care so much whose **** I ride?” Grande clearly calls out people’s overbearing concern over her dating life and most recently the drama with her dating “SpongeBob” actor, Ethan Slater.

A few hours after releasing the lead single, Grande released the music video on YouTube. The song’s video is inspired by Paula Abdul’s music video for her song “Cold Hearted.” In the beginning, critics are talking about Grande such as one critic saying “who cares if she’s happy? I don’t want happy, I want Ari.” This type of sarcastic gossip at the beginning of her music video parallels her “thank u, next” music video. As the critics enter a room filled with statues, the statues break apart revealing Grande and dancers to perform for them. Grande shows off her dancing skills in the video and eventually wins over and entertains the critics with her song.

While the song doesn’t show off her vocals as much until the end, it remains a bop that has been well-received by fans, exciting them even more for her album. However, on the other side, some listeners question the lack of accountability Grande is taking for her alleged homewrecking ways and getting between a marriage by brushing it off. It calls the drama of her relationship with Ethan Slater into question, especially with the gray area and lack of evidence concerning the timeline of when they got together.■ H

Verdict: “yes, and?” is so different from past Ariana Grande songs, that it might take a few listens to get used to. Although the groovy and sparkly song is deceptive regarding its lyrics, it still manages to shine for the typical fans, as it sends off a kiss and a wink to the haters.

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Sports TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

SPORTS

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UC Riverside men’s basketball team defeats Cal Poly 71-56 HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

Highlanders get back in the win column after losing two straight games.

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team defeated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 71-56, Thursday night in the SRC Arena. Going into this ball game, the Highlanders lost two straight games by a wide margin. Looking to get back into the win column, UCR had a favorable matchup against a Mustang team that has yet to get its first win in conference play.

Cal Poly opened up the game with a 3-point basket by freshman guard Quentin Jones.

UC Riverside was able to see some early shots go in the basket as graduate student forward Kyle Owens scored back-to-back buckets to give the Highlanders a 7-6 lead. Off the bench, redshirt freshman forward Kaleb Smith made an immediate impact with five quick points and a steal to extend the UCR lead to 16-7 at the 13:59 mark. The Mustangs started to go on a run to get back into the ball game, but another made jumper from Smith pushed the lead back up to six, 18-12. Junior center Ben Griscti started to find a rhythm as he knocked down two straight jumpshots to push the UCR lead into the double digits, 24-14, with 8:50 left in the first half.

Everytime UC Riverside went on a run to extend their lead, Cal Poly would respond with a run of their own to claw their way back into the game. The defense led the way by forcing turnovers on the Highlander offense, which gave them easy opportunities to score on the fastbreak. After getting a steal on redshirt sophomore guard Isaiah Moses, Jones was able to finish a layup on the fastbreak to cut the UCR lead down to three, 24-21, with 5:43 left until halftime. A couple possessions later, Smith was able to knock down another jumpshot to stop the Cal Poly run. Minutes later, Owens finished a layup in the paint to extend the UCR lead back to seven, 28-21. With seconds left in the first half, redshirt freshman guard Barrington Hargress knocked down a jump shot off of an offensive rebound to give UC Riverside a 32-23 lead at the half.

The Highlander offense came out firing to start the second half as buckets from Owens and Hargress gave UCR a 13-point lead. Once again, however, the Mustangs refused to

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let up and battled back into the game. It started with a 3-pointer from Jones to cut the lead to 10. Moments later, graduate student forward Tuukka Jaakkola got himself a bucket off of the fastbreak. After a turnover from Owens, junior guard Aidan Prukop sunk in a 3-pointer to cut it to a one-possession game, 36-33. Moses was able to answer back with back-to-back three-pointers to extend the UC Riverside lead back up to nine with just under four minutes played in the second half. Other players started to find a rhythm for UCR as Smith continued his stellar play by knocking down another 3-pointer to push the Highlander lead back into double digits. Tattersall also found openings in the defense to get easy layups as UC Riverside led 49-35 with 14:18 left in the game.

Both teams started to exchange scores as the game reached the halfway point of the second half. Pickens started to make an imprint in the game as after a missed jumper from Jaakkola, sophomore guard Nate Pickens grabbed the rebound and went coast-tocoast to finish the layup plus the foul to give the Highlanders a 15-point lead, 58-43.

Pickens then went on a little run of his own as he drove to the basket and finished another layup with a couple of free throws on the ensuing possessions. Moses continued to be the steady point guard as he knocked down shot after shot down the stretch. After a missed jump shot from Jones, Moses came down the other way and sunk in his third 3-pointer of the night to give UCR their biggest lead of the night, 69-53. With time winding down, UC Riverside was able to get a comfortable win, 71-56.

Moses led the way for the Highlanders with 15 points and six rebounds. Off the bench, Smith continued to make an impact with 14 points and nine rebounds. Owens added another double-double to the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Four players scored in double-digits for the Highlanders in the victory.

The Highlanders improved their record to 7-10 (2-3) on the season and will go on the H road to take on Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. ■

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Highlanders earn hard fought 64-53 win against Cal Poly ISAAC SOLNICK Contributing Writer

UCR imposes their style of play in win against the Mustangs.

From the tip-off, it was clear last year’s Big West Women’s Basketball Tournament game was on everybody’s mind today. No. 10 UC Riverside faced off against No. 7 Cal Poly in the first round of the tournament. The Mustangs swept the regular season series, but the Highlanders pulled off the upset. With this being the first matchup between these teams since, this game meant a little extra to both teams.

Prepared for a physical matchup, Cal Poly started a very tall lineup. Their frontcourt featured 6 foot redshirt freshman Sierra Lichtie and 6 foot 1 inch senior Natalia Ackerman. On the other end of the spectrum, the Highlanders would need to keep an eye on 5 foot 3 inch junior Annika Shah. Shah is a 3-level scorer with the playmaking skills that make her a dynamo on offense.

Early on, the size advantage possessed by the Mustangs paid dividends. Ackerman established paint dominance with two blocks as Cal Poly’s offense found easy buckets inside. As the smaller team, the Highlanders looked to use their speed to slow down the Mustangs. Cal Poly utilized screens to push around the smaller Highlanders. However, the UCR guards were not deterred. By working around screens, sophomore Makayla Jackson and senior Jordan Webster gave Shah all she could handle.

After poor shot selection and turnovers from the Mustangs, Jackson and Webster used their speed to set each other up for fastbreak points. A deep 3-pointer from fifth-year guard RyAnne Walters gave the Highlanders a 15-11 lead and the momentum going into the second quarter.

After the break, Shah and the Mustangs offense got off to a quick start. After a long baseline jumper, Shah setup freshman Mary Carter for a 3-point play. After Cal Poly’s initial success to start the quarter, the Highlanders weaponized their full-court press to a tee. By taking advantage of lazy inbounds and telegraphed passes, UCR’s redshirt senior Matehya Bryant reaped the rewards on offense. Following a steal from senior Julia

Stenberg, Bryant scored her third bucket in a row for the Highlanders.

Apart from a stepback 3-pointer by sophomore Zoe Tillery, the Highlanders were getting easy transition buckets all quarter. Fast hands and swift instincts from junior Jaden Sanderson, Jordan Webster and RyAnne Walters gave Cal Poly’s coaching staff a headache going into halftime. With a 34-21 lead, the Highlanders stuck to their guns in the second half.

After stealing the inbound pass, Tillery channeled her inner Kevin Love and launched a dime to Webster in the opposite corner. She connected on the corner triple and this game was getting away from the Mustangs. Desperate for a spark, Cal Poly gave the Highlanders a taste of their own medicine.

The change helped the Mustangs adapt to the fast tempo of the Highlanders. With extra possessions from the full-court press, Mary Carter knocked down three triples to bring the Highlander lead back to 13 at the end of the third quarter.

Even with a big lead entering the fourth quarter, the Highlanders had to work hard to hold on. With both teams employing a full-court press, the intensity and tempo were dialed up to 11. The fourth quarter featured lots of fouls and fights for loose balls. A runner from Annika Shah cut the lead to single digits, but that was as close as it got. The Highlanders secured a 64-53 win in San Luis Obispo thanks to their aggressive defense.

After back-to-back wins against Long Beach State and Cal Poly, UCR improved to a 7-8 (2-3) record. In both victories, forcing turnovers was the name of the game. The scrappy Highlanders don’t play the prettiest style of basketball, but it is surely effective.

UCR enters a tough two-game homestand against back-to-back champions Hawaii Jan. 13 and Cal State Bakersfield Jan. 18.■ H

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JAN 16, 2024

19

Predicting NFL wildcard weekend KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

Super wildcard weekend includes storybook matchups from the league’s best script writers.

The wildcard round of the NFL playoff begins this weekend and every Super Bowl hopeful will be looking to book their spot in the divisional round. The NFL script writers were at their best with the week 18 of the regular season cementing some storybook matchups. Here is a preview of each matchup and which team will make it through to the divisional round:

Browns @ Texans

Both teams in this matchup come into the playoffs as underdogs, each with differing circumstances as to why they were not expected to make it this far. CJ Stroud and company are looking to further cement a franchise turnaround after many years of mediocre seasons. The Browns have also had an impressive season after being hit with several injuries on both sides of the ball, namely their superstar running back Nick Chubb and Quarterback Deshaun Watson. The last time these teams played the Browns beat a CJ Stroudless Texans 36-22, and the general consensus is that Stroud is worth a 14 point flip. The Texans win at home to advance to the divisional.

Dolphins @ Chiefs

This is a game where it could be a completely different story if the location of the game was flipped. The matchups across the board are relatively even, even with Miami’s defensive injuries. However, it’s clear to see how much of a disadvantage it will be for the Dolphins to play in negative temperatures as opposed to sunny Miami. This weather and its effect on the field alone will neutralize the stout running game of the Dolphins and the passing offense led by Tua Tagovailoa. Chiefs move on to yet another divisional playoff game.

Packers @ Cowboys

The matchup between the Packers and Cowboys has produced some all-time classics over the years as both teams have always managed to stay among the NFL’s best teams and have met in the playoffs several times. This time however it is a tale of two teams at different points in their builds. The Packers are the youngest playoff team in NFL history led by an inexperienced quarterback and a mediocre defensive scheme while the Cowboys are among the league’s best offenses while also boasting a turnover creating defense. The Cowboys should take this one in a blowout.

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Rams @ Lions

The scriptwriters deserve an Oscar for this matchup where we will in some way see the culmination of the trade that redefined both franchises a few years ago. Since then Jared Goff and the Lions have revamped their culture and are one of the toughest teams in the NFL while the Rams somehow got themselves out of cap hell by drafting well in the later rounds and developing them under one of the best coaches in the league. This game will be a shootout and it will be up to the defenses to see which team comes out on top, and the Rams are slightly more experienced giving them the edge in this matchup winning the Matthew Stafford Bowl.

Steelers @ Bills

This game got moved to Monday night due to how terrible the weather conditions were with blizzard winds and several inches of snow. While on paper the Bills blow the Steelers out of the water. The weather will narrow the gap between the two teams severely as passing will be incredibly difficult meaning Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen will be limited in his playmaking. If there ever was a team that overcomes weather it will be the Bills, however, and Allen’s ability to run is one the best in the league and their defense will create turnovers on a weak Steelers offense. The Bills will win by a slim margin although it will not feel like a close game.

Eagles @ Buccaneers

Somehow saving the worst for last is the matchup between the Eagles and the Buccaneers The Eagles have absolutely fallen apart in the last few weeks of the season after making it to the SuperBowl last year and starting this season off 8-1. The Buccaneers have also shown signs of weakness barely beating some of the worst teams in the NFL and almost squandering a playoff opportunity. Probably the worst matchup in the wildcard rounds, these two teams really have to beat their own ceilings in order to win this matchup and the team best equipped to do that is the Buccaneers as the Eagles are facing several key injuries to quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver AJ Brown. The tush push won’t save the Eagles this time as they lose a close one and are eliminated early.

That leaves the potential matchups for the divisional round in the AFC to be Chiefs @ Bills and Texans @ Ravens with the matchups for the NFC being Buccaneers @ H Cowboys and Rams @ 49ers. ■

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