Volume 72, Issue 18

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, February 27, 2024

VOL. 72, ISSUE 18

NO TRADES FOR SPORTS IN THIS EDITION OF THE 2024 MOCK DRAFT, THERE ARESIMPLICITY’S SAKE. 2024 NFL mock draft

RADAR

ANH BUI Contributing Writer

est. 1954

ASPB’S FIRST AREA951 SETS GROUND FOR FUTURE SMALLER UCR EDM EVENTS.

AREA951 2024: A night of high-energy EDM and engaging DJs despite the small crowd KIMBERLY BEJEC AND BRENDAN VO Assistant Radar Editor and Radar Editor

With the 2023 NFL season now in the books, there is nothing to do but to look forward to the next. A new year means a buttload of new talent is bound to enter the league, and judging from an astounding year of college football, there is most definitely reason to be excited about this year’s class of prospects. But without further ado, here’s the 2024 NFL Mock Draft.

simply screams “Mahomes.”

1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC When it’s all said and done, the Bears could move on from Justin Fields and select Williams here at one, ushering themselves into a new era. The USC product has game-breaking upside and an exciting gunslinger playstyle that

3. New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina Maye has all the tools of the prototypical NFL quarterback: a large frame, a live arm and light feet. His arm talent is by far his superpower and despite a bit of a step back in production in 2023, Maye’s upside will certainly be

2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU Simply put, Daniels is the most electric dual-threat prospect we have seen coming out since Lamar Jackson.

The 2023 Heisman-winner will be a perfect fit under newly-hired offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

► SEE NFL PAGE 19

On Feb. 22, for the very first time, the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) introduced AREA951, an electronic dance music (EDM) concert accompanied by a photo booth and food trucks. Coming off of the positive reception to Knock2’s performance at Block Party and demand for EDM, the event promised an energetic night that capitalizes on UCR students’ love for EDM alongside ASPB’s sought-after trademark merchandise that still proves to be the main draw for their concerts.

Theme The concert was outer space themed, which plays off of the notorious Area 51.

Its aesthetic was channeled through its hoodie merchandise and marketing from its Instagram page. Since AREA951 was a smaller event, compared to the ASPB’s larger Block Party or Spring Splash concerts, the theme was scarcely utilized outside

of the merchandise. The concert featured a small stage on Pierce Lawn along with various attractions surrounding the event.

Although the event description on the UCR events calendar promised “an interactive 360-degree set where the DJ is playing in the middle of the crowd,” it ended up being off to the side. This is a typical stage setup of past UCR concert events that did not bring much change to this particular event.

Attractions and Stations AREA951’s attractions had an array of food trucks and a photobooth — both being ASPB concert staples. The three food trucks stationed were the Sweet Stop, Burning Buns and LA Hotdogs & Munchies. The Memory Makers Photobooth was an undergradexclusive photo booth fashioned with props. assisted marathon had been run under 2:01:00. for the majority of undocumented ► SEE AREA951 PAGE 15

RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS? HEALTHY "Dating advice from The Highlander’s infamously and terminally single Opinions Editor, because coaches don’t play…"

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OPINIONS 7

FEATURES 10

RADAR 15

SPORTS 18

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2 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

27

Trivia Night at the Barn Stable 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Stable

Baseball vs. San Diego State 6:30 p.m.

The Plex

Virtual Author Workshops: Undergraduate Research Symposium 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Virtual Event

Hunting for Housing 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

HUB 268

ScotSurplus Furniture Blowout Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Veitch Student Center - Lot 15

Tranfer Talks: Networking & Support Systems 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

HMNSS 1614

1

Softball vs. Nevada 11:30 a.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

Cover Letter Building Workshop 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Virtual Event

2

Men’s Basketball vs. Hawai’i 5 p.m.

SRC Arena

3

Baseball vs. Pepperdine 1 p.m.

The Plex

4

Monday Carillon Recitals 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

UCR Bell Tower

Tuesday

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Wednesday

29

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

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Sunday

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CA Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute takes a stop in Riverside

ANECDOTES, RESOURCES AND TIPS ARE SHARED TO BUILD AN ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

The California (CA) Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute is currently in the middle of a tour across the state of CA, and recently stopped in the Inland Empire. The tour, entitled, “A Conversation for Black Women Tour - Building an Economic Action Plan” had a stop which took place Saturday, Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Marriott Riverside. The purpose of the tour was to “empower Black women with information to improve their economic status.”

The goal of the CA Black Women’s Collective, according to Chief Administrative Officer of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Charles Williams, is that they are “focused on improving the lives of Black women and girls here in the state of California.”

They do this through their fiscal sponsor, California State University Dominguez Hills, utilizing their research and information in order to do so.

In one of the studies that was conducted by the collective, after interviewing 1,258 Black women across the state of California, they found that “2 in 3 Black women who are employed are primary breadwinners” but also that “40% of Black women report that racism and discrimination has limited their income.” Williams elaborates on the data, explaining that “[Black women] are struggling with their finances, and they’re looking for a way to equalize the playing field for themselves … That’s one of the things we want to help through education and knowledge sharing, providing opportunities and resources.”

Upon entry, people were welcomed inside and would settle down at one of the many tables, with around eight to ten people per table. Prior to the speaker panel, many took the time to walk around and network with one another, introducing themselves to their table neighbors, or snacking on some of the fruits and juice that was offered.

At the back of the room, many community organizations were tabling to provide attendees helpful information as well as local resources. In attendance were BMO, a banking service and one of the event sponsors, The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit Center, an “economic hub” located

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

within the Inland Empire whose purpose is “to eliminate racial and gender inequality” by providing women of color access to the materials they need to succeed, California Black Women’s Health Project, a non-profit dedicated to “amplifying the missing voices of Black women” in the health advocacy community, the Inland Empire Resource Center, a non-profit which works to assist and educate people on their home buying journey, Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, who announced various events taking place and resources they have to offer and the Inland Empire Community Foundation, who explained to attendees the various funds that they were promoting such as the IE Black Equity Fund and the Women’s Giving Fund.

According to Williams, when looking for organizations to table at the event, they looked for “vendors or partners that could add benefit, like BMO or Chamber of Commerce, that can help businesses. We look for those [who] can partner with us and bring tools and resources to attendees to help them move forward with their economic action plan.”

Around 9:45 a.m., a panel discussion revolving around matters concerning economic equity began. The panel featured prominent individuals such as Kimberly Goode, Chief Communications and Social Impact at BMO; Wendy Gladney, coach, consultant, speaker and author; Tonya Burke, Director of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning at Mt. San Jacinto College; Tammy Martin-Ryles, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire; Hilda Kennedy, founder and president of AmPac Business Capital; and was moderated by Regina Wilson from CA Black Media.

Many topics were discussed during the panel, with speakers discussing what an economic action plan looked like to them, how to transform side hustles into a business and what kind of advice they would give to Black women in roles they normally do not see themselves in. These topics were accompanied by personal anecdotes, tricks of the trade that they had picked up over time and emphasized the concept of lifting community voices and experiences in order to support one another.

The panel was then opened up to the audience who had the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers, with some even sharing their own testimonies and organizations that they are a part of. One audience member shared that “one of the things that I love about spaces like this is that I see the possibilities of what we can become,” and she felt empowered through her involvement in spaces like this event. She then asked the people in the room to reflect on what happens after they leave the room, and asked them to move forward together, to not only leave the room with business cards in hand but to meet up and uplift one another regularly.

Another audience member shared that the Inland Empire Black Women’s Collective is now an organization which has existed for a little over a year. She shared plans that they held to reach out to the community and find out what the needs of Black women are in the area, and promoted their pillars of leadership, politics, health, education and economics. The goal of the organization is to find Black women who are interested in working collectively in these areas.

Many more people spoke after that, getting feedback and tips from the panel speakers up at the podium, as well as connecting with various members of the audience. Sharing their experiences of what it was like to be a Black woman entrepreneur, the struggles they had to overcome in order to grow their businesses, as well as how they worked to get support in their workplaces. During this time, people slowly began to take a break to eat lunch, and would return to these discussions at their respective tables.

Williams also shared some future plans that the Collective has, stating, “we’re having a trailblazer award [that] we’re honoring significant women in the state. It’s a pretty large event that we’re having in Los Angeles at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. That’s an opportunity for us to bring recognition to women that have been very inspirational in H the state.”■

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Unearthing UCR’s construction projects UPCOMING BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS, AND A LOOK INTO THE CONTRACTOR MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES.

SENNA OMAR & EMYR ORTIZ Managing Editor & Assistant News Editor

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is currently undergoing two “transformative” projects which will provide hundreds of new beds of on-campus housing and thousands of square feet of classroom and administrative space. These projects, North District Phase 2 and the new School of Business building, hope to address both the academic and residential strains of increased enrollment through “modern” facilities containing “stateof-the-art” technologies. Managing construction for both projects is contractor McCarthy Building Companies.

The new School of Business Currently in the mid-stages of construction, one of the McCarthy projects being constructed on campus is the new School of Business building. Approved by the University of California (UC) board of Regents in the summer of 2022, the new School of Business building, an $87 million project just south of Anderson Hall, hopes to accommodate recent growth in the UCR School of Business and provide both undergraduate and graduate business students with a “sense of home” on campus. Many business students take their courses around campus since Anderson Hall, the former School of Business, has limited classroom space. This new home for the School of Business provides 38,500 square feet of assignable space, augmenting the 23,800 square feet of space the school has in Anderson Hall and the second floor of Olmstead.

According to Inside UCR, the new building would feature, “a large multipurpose room; two 80-seat classrooms; a 350-seat auditorium; a computer lab; a studio to record podcasts, lectures, videos and other media; study areas; a student lounge; 20 faculty offices; 59 administrative offices including one for the dean; a faculty and staff lounge; an executive meeting room; and group meeting rooms.”

The project began preliminary work in fall of 2022, and held a groundbreaking ceremony in April of 2023.

Construction is set to be completed in August of 2024.

Frank Salhab is the Senior Project Manager for McCarthy Building Companies and the contractor managing the School of Business project. The project completed work on the frame of the building, called the superstructure, in December of 2023, and is now working on “the exterior skin, getting the building fully dried in and then we can start the interior finishes at that point,” according to Salhab.

The project site currently sees work from about 60 different trade partners daily, managed by McCarthy.

Salhab estimates that between 70 to 80 people are on the site each day, and asserts that keeping track of all these moving pieces comes down to “having good documentation,” such as monthly and weekly schedules distributed to the trade partners.

North District Phase 2 In regards to the other McCarthy projects currently being built on campus, Vice Chancellor of Planning, Budget and Administration (VCPBA), Gerry Bomotti characterized

SENNA OMAR / THE HIGHLANDER: NEW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BLUEPRINTS.

North District Phase 2, as “a student success project that happens to have housing.” Since the project will house a combination of both UCR and Riverside Community College District (RCCD) students, UCR administration hopes that it will increase transfer rates that have fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lead Operations Manager for North District Phase 2, Eric Speik alongside Jason Cantrell, the Senior Superintendent for the project, shed light on the behind the scenes construction elements that go into turning an empty plot of land into an actual building.

As far as amenities go, North District Phase 2 will consist of two apartment style buildings, offering 1,568 beds to a combination of UCR and RCCD students. For more information on this partnership check out the Highlander’s coverage, “North District Phase 2 breaks ground.” North District Phase 2 residents will have access to a grab-andgo cafe, laundry rooms, a fitness center, conference rooms, a parking lot, an outdoor recreation space and an outdoor amenity space nestled between the two buildings that Speik, is calling “Central Park.”

VCPBA Bomotti discussed this ‘central park’ area, describing it as “an area up [on the site] that had all these large trees,” and expressing that the project intended to “maintain the trees, providing shade [for residents]; we’re going to put some benches and other stuff for students to use … We’d like the residents there to have somewhere outside where they could go and be in the shade and study or do whatever they wanted to do there.”

Elaborating on this ‘central park’ area, VCPBA Bomotti further delineates how they would be installing recycled turf, “we are making people take turf out of other places on campus where the turf is not in use so that we’re not adding turf [to campus] overall. There’s a bunch of turf around a lot of the existing housing now that’s not used. It has to be maintained and watered so people have already planned on taking out at least as much as we’re adding up on the North District [Phase 2] site to provide a nice green area there.”

Alongside the outdoor spaces, North District Phase 2 will act as a pedestrian and commercial gateway into UCR campus. The space will consist of a loggia, or an outdoor covered walkway along Canyon Crest Drive. Cantrell elaborated on this, “instead of just having the building face coming up right up to the edge of the sidewalk … you’re inviting people to come walk into the loggia, which is a part of the structure … so everybody who’s part of this community is going to be part of this building at that point.

It’s not like they’re just separate, they’re not just walking through a commercial space.”

North District Phase 2 is set to be completed by August 2025. Currently the project is in the excavation phase, meaning they are preparing the site to be built on.

According to Speik, “We’re just now beyond the heavy export portion of the job and getting ready to certify our building pad. From there, once we certify the pad, we will start our concrete work.”

Construction Aspects Because the North District Phase 2 project is considered an accelerated project, McCarthy has a 22 month time frame to complete the construction. According to Cantrell, a project of this size would typically take around 24 to 25 months; there are some extra components to accommodate this sped up timeline that are not typical of other construction projects. Cantrell described how on a day-to-day basis the project will probably have between 300 and 350 people working on site and “at peak we’ll probably be hitting close to 500 people out here working on the building.” This type of manpower is not typical in construction projects; so, to accommodate such a mass volume of people, McCarthy utilizes a sequencing system to manage staff.

Before they even begin working on the project, McCarthy construction assembled their internal team to create a proposal responding to UCR’s request for proposal (RFP). An RFP is a stipulation of the universities project requirements, and McCarthy created a proposal adherent with those requirements. According to Speik, “we put together a proposal that adheres to the [RFP] that the campuses published, along with a value associated with that. And those two in conjunction are the basis of awards for the university.” McCarthy made the most competitive bid, both on a points scale and in the overall dollar value, allowing them to win the rights to the project.

McCarthy works on both commercial and educational building projects; North District Phase 2 is classified as an education project. Cantrell detailed McCarthy policy when working on educational projects, stating, “we are working on an active campus, safety is obviously our first priority.”

There are also different jurisdictions authorities working within the project, including the Division of the State Architect (DSA) alongside the UC system as their own building authority who are the ones permitting this project.

Since North District Phase 2 is a UCR housing project, Cantrell highlighted that McCarthy is going through a different review process compared to a commercial project, stating, “instead of just going to the city, you’re going through the university’s building official. So they have a little more vested interest in the project and how it ultimately turns out.”

Diving into this more, Speik talked about UCR’s Planning, Development and Construction group (PDC) that is managing the project on behalf of UCR and RCCD. According to Speik, the PDC acts as “representatives for the university. So as they’re looking out for the best interests of the university, and as decisions are made within the project, they’re the representative that would give the ‘yays’ and ‘nays’ depending on what the issue might be.”

McCarthy’s role on North District Phase 2 is focused on the construction of the project, with the design coming from an outside architect and changes mostly being dictated by the University. Speik elaborated “as part of the criteria and basis of award for this project, the University had already started [the design] process with the lead designer

■H

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THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), from there McCarthy contracts with SCB to finalize the drawings and then build the work.” According to Speik “both RCCD and UCR had a ton of input into the current drawings as you see them today. So what ends up being put out in the field has UCR and RCCD fingerprints all over it.”

Unlike North District Phase 2, the new School of Business is a design-build project, in which McCarthy, working with architecture firm Moore Ruble Yudell, won the contract to both design and construct the new building.

Administratively however, the structure of McCarthy’s relationship with the University in this project is “pretty similar” to what it is for North District Phase 2, commented Salhab. “They’re overseeing us to make sure that we’re on track, for example, from a scheduling standpoint. The University reviews a lot of our submittals to ensure that they’re in conformance with the construction documents and the campus standards. The inspector has the ultimate say as to whether or not something is completed and signed off and when we are ready for the next phase [of the construction process].”

On both of these projects, the University has the opportunity to review the standards and scope throughout the process. “They have the opportunity to say ‘this product does not meet the campus standard. Please switch it to a different product,’” explains Salhab. “To which I will say ‘gladly, of course, we’re bound by the campus standards.’”

For instance, the School of Business project scope was expanded to include a cafe which will be offered within the new building. According to Salhab, the original design for the building included space for a cafe, but that these

services would be provided at a later date. “But between campus leadership, it was decided that we’re already here.

And I know that the Dean of the School of Business would appreciate having a cafe where students can gather, grab some food without having to travel all the way back to the heart of campus,” explained Salhab.

Sustainability Concurrent with UC sustainability policy, North District Phase 2 is pursuing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. Speik stated that “[Leed Gold] means from design through construction,” the project team is utilizing sustainable building practices.

Speik stated, “the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) puts together a certification program and project goals, and we’ll chase those certifications. For example we are utilizing recycled materials, and tracking waste diversion. This means the waste that leaves the project is diverted from landfills and recycled to be used on other projects.” The North District Phase 2 site has an area where McCarthy collects concrete and dirt waste to be diverted to other McCarthy construction projects.

The sustainable aspects of the project go beyond just recycling, Cantrell stated that North District Phase 2 utilizes “energy efficient utilities for electrical water, hot water heating and electrical heat within the building, so there’s the opportunity to use renewable energy to power those.”

Additionally, according to VCPBA Bomotti, North District Phase 2 and the new School of Business use type one L concrete, or limestone concrete. VCPBA Bomotti

SENNA OMAR / THE HIGHLANDER CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON A PLANNED CLASSROOM IN THE NEW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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stated, “This concrete looks more white than it looks like regular concrete. That is one of the ways you can tell it’s a more sustainable product there in comparison to normal concrete … [The School of Business] is the first building we have on campus that is using this more sustainable concrete.” According to Salhab, “The introduction of limestone during production of the cement actually reduces the carbon footprint. And so, type one L, generally speaking, has a lower carbon footprint than other types of concrete.”

Leed Gold certification is the second highest sustainability rating, topped only by a platinum rating, which the School of Business is attempting to achieve.

Aiming for a LEED platinum rating means the project has implemented multiple sustainability features ranging from the building itself, including bike racks and a solar array, to how the building is being constructed, such as air quality testing, material recycling and even the type of concrete used.

As construction of the new School of Business moves into its last few months, the McCarthy team is excited to see the completed project. Salhab even stated that “this is probably one of the most enjoyable [projects]” he has worked on, “I really love this building and how it is tucked into the hillside, and as you get up to level three and four.

You have a very nice view overlooking the campus.” The experience working with UCR, according to Salhab, was “overall nothing but great,” and he looks forward to working H on future McCarthy and UCR collaborative projects. ■

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ASUCR Senate passes 4 Senate Bills RECAP OF THE FOURTEENTH SENATE MEETING OF THE YEAR. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

The fourteenth Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR) Senate meeting took place on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.

All senators were present except for senators Ray Khan, Teesha Sreeram, Alex Lu, Leila Haidar, Natalie Trutalli, Grace Su, Anjana Narasimhan and President Pro Tempore (PPT) Abby Choy who were all excused. PPT Choy joined the meeting at 7:40 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 7:11 p.m.

The meeting agenda was approved unanimously.

First on the meeting agenda was approval of the previous week’s meeting minutes. Senate Meeting Minutes #13 was approved 10-0-0.

Next for the meeting was public forum. During public forum, two Dean’s Brand Ambassadors from the School of Public Policy (SPP) came to announce some of the events that they were hosting. One will take place on Mar. 4 regarding a student spotlight, with the earliest one being Feb. 28 with an alumni speaker who is a local organizer for labor unions.

Next on the agenda was approving ECAB Meeting Minutes #2. The details of the meeting was presented by President Ankita Ahluwalia who shared that she, along with Executive Vice President Victoria Nguyen and Vice President of External Affairs Ángel Rentería, attended a protest for the undocumented students community. She also advertised the Global Fair, which occurred on Feb. 23, and that ECAB has been continuing their Ethnic & Gender Center conversations. For more information on the event, check out page 12 for “Celebrating diversity and talent at the Global Fair” by Features Editor, Natalie Dahl. The minutes were approved 10-0-0.

There was nothing on the agenda for new business.

For committee reports, the first thing to be reviewed was Finance Meeting Minutes #6. The information from the meeting was presented by CNAS Senator Kaden Ho. He explained how the committee has approved organization allocations, a grant request by Mujeres Unides de UCR, funding for R’Gear, new microphones

CECILE DIROLL / THE HIGHLANDER

for the Senate Chamber, budget for the elections platform and a budget for Hill Day at Washington D.C. EVP Nguyen then elaborated that the Senate microphones initiative has been worked on by PPT Choy as well as Executive Director Asha Nettles and included working microphones for the senators, a new master control and a mic for the podium, and will be an investment for many years in the future. The minutes were approved 10-0-0.

Four senate bills were proposed by the Legislative Review Committee (LRC). The first one was SB-W24004: Amendment of Chapter VII, Item 6, Section C: Reference of ASUCR in Campaign which Senator Roshan Kannan explained wrapped up loose ends brought up by ASUCR Judicial Cabinet regarding candidates using the ASUCR name and school mascot in their platform. This bill would prevent candidates from using the mascot or ASUCR name in their campaigns and platforms. The Senate discussed and agreed that they would have to clearly define what “a mascot” is referring to. The Senate then moved to closed session as some of the Senate had to abstain from the vote due to their status as a possible candidate. The bill was approved 5-0-5.

The next senate bill was SB-W24-005: Chapter 57 Bylaw Amendment. This amendment proposed changing the position of First-Time College Student Director to a nine-month position. EVP Nguyen then proposed that they change it to a twelve month position. She shared her former experience as First-Time College Student Director and said it would be helpful for the Director to serve throughout the year, especially since many freshmen are eager to interact during orientation and the First-Time College Student Director typically does not work at that time. The bill was tabled 10-0-1.

The next bill was SB-W24-006: Chapter 4 Re: ASUCR Reserve Policy. Vice President of Finance (VPF) Brandon Huang explained that they have been working on restructuring the reserves and organizing them based on their uses. This would allow for ASUCR to use their

funds throughout the year rather than letting it accumulate over time. At the end of the year, the Executive Director and VPF will rebudget the leftovers. The bill was passed 10-0-1.

The final bill presented for the night was SB-W24007: President Bylaw Changes in Accommodation of new Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Role.

According to Senator Kannan, Judicial Council noticed that some of the responsibilities under the President interfered with the duties of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (VPDEI). This legislation would remove these responsibilities from the President and solely assign them to VPDEI. The bill was passed 11-0-0.

No one came up to the podium for Public Comment.

During Senator Reports, Senator Nadia Colon announced that she has been attending meetings with the Executive committee, attending LRC and Public Safety Committee meetings, and will be doing a debate on homelessness with the SPP. Senator Juan Campos announced that he has worked with first-year fellows on the Campus Safety Initiative and Textbook Initiative to increase textbook accessibility and will now work with the Academic Senate on this matter. He also will be tabling with Campus Safety on Wednesday.

During Roundtable and Announcements, Senator Amariah Peedikayil reiterated that the Global Fair will be happening, and that the BCOE Town Hall will take place Feb. 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Senate Chambers.

EVP Nguyen announced that Thursday, Feb. 29, is the ASUCR Open House and that all elected official student representatives will be at HUB 302 with stations regarding their achievements and their plans for the rest of their term. The Open House will happen Feb. 29 from 1-3 p.m. and free tote bags will be given to the first 150 students who go to engage with them.

H The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. ■

Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

7

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The California government’s obstructionist tendencies squash the freedom of the press

POST-LOCKDOWNS, CALIFORNIA COMMUNICATIONS STAFF CONTINUES TO USE COVID-19 SAFETY POLICIES AS A WAY OF DISTANCING STATE OFFICIALS FROM THE PRESS. 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 the height of the pandemic, there have been an increasing number of hurdles to returning to normalcy. The California government communications staff is no exception to this as concerns have been raised over their interactions with the press and accusations of diminishing transparency. In 2023, the Capitol Correspondents Association of California put out new guidelines for journalists on new challenges hindering their ability to cover California politics. There have been repeated complaints that COVID safety policies have worsened Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and the California legislature’s communication with the press. The press is a bridge between the public and their elected officials and nothing could be more essential to a democracy. The failure to facilitate transparency cannot continue, regardless of the difficult conditions that led to this.

Reporters depend on in-person press conferences, the chance to ask followup questions and media phone lines that connect reporters to staffers. These disappeared with the spread of COVID-19 and still are not fully reinstated. The use of written statements is a poor substitute for interviews and in-person meetings that muddy the waters of communication between journalists and their readership.

All sectors of the California government need to do more to be transparent with reporters besides opening meetings to the public and making public records available. These documents need to be

more readable to the average person. The jargon and complicated language is a way of obstructing transparency with the public as much as refusing an interview is. Beyond these very basic laws, the state does not have set standards for communications policies. Despite a total of 435 employees in the executive branch and press aides working with legislators, the policies surrounding the communications staff vary widely, adding to the confusion.

Newsom specifically has been criticized for how his administration interacts with the press. From favoring national media outlets to blocking journalists from approaching the Governor at public events, Newsom has been proactive in his refusal to allow reporters to do their jobs. As Newsom gears up for a rumored presidential run, his interactions with California press are telling and discouraging. As an elected official, there is an even greater responsibility to allow reporters to fulfill their constitutional mandate of supporting the creation of a well-informed electorate.

The Fourth Estate has been gutted in their ability to provide the public with the news. It used to be that the press could learn information through the simple act of being physically present in the statehouse. Reporters can’t run into officials and staffers in the hall anymore with a wall erected between them. It’s easier to box reporters out and leave their questions unanswered this way, which may be why California, in particular, has been so slow to return to regular press

interactions. Access has been restricted to an incredible degree as offices often direct reports to reach out with questions by email, and many offices do not list a media phone number anywhere. Practices such as these allow the government to control the truth and control coverage rather than a reporter’s ability to facilitate the truth.

During the pandemic, CBS’s Julie Watts, over the course of two years, reported on health and safety failures at state COVID-19 testing labs but was barred from speaking to the Health and Human Services Secretary. She was forced to rely upon information later discovered to be false or misleading. The restrictions of shutdowns that the government still refuses to lift meant that Watts and other reporters were left unable to fully investigate and question the California government’s claims. Regardless of whether or not the intent was a cover-up or not, there was no clarity and no chance to push back.

While remote work changed things in a good way for some government agencies, the remnants of shutdowns need to be removed completely. The freedom of the press means nothing if the press is not given ample opportunity to question and investigate. The press exists to hold public officials accountable, not to spin their approved message. Without the media working tirelessly, everyone is left in the dark. Reporters deserve their government’s cooperation, protection and respect, but if they won’t give that then it H must be demanded. ■

COURTESY OF PEXELS

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TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2023

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California says goodbye to plastic bags once and for all SPANDANA JANAPATI Contributing Writer

CA State Senator Blakespear’s latest legislation, SB 1053, places a statewide ban on the sale and use of plastic grocery bags.

On Thursday, Feb. 8, California State Senator Catherine Blakespear announced legislation for a statewide ban on all plastic bags. Blakespear, working alongside State Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, spearheaded SB 1053 and AB 2236, bills that are hoping to eliminate the usage of unwoven plastic bags at all grocery, convenience and retail stores in California by 2026. Although Senator Blakespear’s proposal seems daunting, this new bill addresses an easily forgotten aspect of climate change — plastic pollution — while encouraging consumers to focus less on recycling and more on re-using.

Plastic bags began controlling up to 80% of the European market in 1979 before it spread to other nations including the United States (U.S.). Within 20 years of the plastic bag market explosion, scientists had begun pointing toward a significant accumulation of plastic in the ocean. Bangladesh became the first country to address the plastic pollution problem by implementing a 2002 ban on thin plastic bags. As the impact of climate change and global warming gained more international attention, plastic was coupled with other aspects of climate change,

such as the expulsion of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and deforestation.

California’s journey against plastic bags began with the first ban on non-compostable plastic bags in San Francisco.

This paved the way for other environmentally friendly legislature within California and the enactment of plastic bag bans in other states nationwide.

According to Blakespear, SB 1053 is a necessary step in improving California’s original plastic bag ban, SB 270 and ensuring a much more successful implementation this time around. SB 270, a 2014 bill that banned single-use plastic bag usage and required stores to charge at least 10 cents per bag, was monumental in dissuading consumers from purchasing plastic bags, but it failed to reduce the trashing of these plastic bags.

As it is still the inception of SB 1053, Blakespear, Allen and Bauer-Kahan have not

released any information about how they will tackle the continued use of plastic bags by consumers and possible implementation strategies and administration they hope to use.

However, the primary objective is to amend SB 270 and address unperceived weaknesses.

Blakespear, Allen and Bauer-Kahan referenced data collected six months after the initial plastic bag ban showed an 85% reduction in the number of plastic bags and 61% in the number of paper bags. Despite what look to be positive signs and a reduction in usage, the opposite was proven after looking at statewide statistics. In total, California contributes about 12,000 tons of plastic to landfills every day.

ABC News experimented in 2023 to see what happens to plastic bags after consumers use them. This experiment included micro trackers placed in Target and Walmart plastic

bags before they were given to consumers.

Eventually, it was concluded that less than 10% of purchased plastic bags were recycled.

Senator Blakespear’s willingness to stick to this issue and make the necessary changes to ensure the smooth implementation of this ban shows her dedication to facilitating protective environmental actions. The framing of this bill in the eyes of the public can play a role in its future public adherence and perception. Past studies found that over 60% of U.S. adults reported recycling almost all of their household’s plastic, showing awareness of the role of plastic in climate change.

It is unlikely that consumers would be more open to this change if Blakespear approached this issue from a place of assigning fault.

SB 1053’s goal to mitigate plastic from California opens up conversations about other unnecessary forms of plastic, such as food wrappers, plastic bottles and straws, that can add to pollution alongside grocery bags. Focusing on reusing already purchased plastic bags still makes a meaningful contribution in lessening statewide pollution as thicker plastic bags, which are technically reusable, have also been contributing H to the accumulation of plastic pollution.■ IMAGE COURTESY OF PEXELS

The impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas is not the solution to the border crisis AAZAM KHAN Contributing Writer

Republicans impeaching the Secretary of Homeland Security was a partisan distraction meant to divert attention from their unwillingness to cooperate on a bipartisan border deal.

Throughout the Biden administration, there has been intense scrutiny over the President’s policies with regard to border security.

Since Joe Biden took office, there have been a record number of migrants attempting to cross the southern border. With millions of migrants traveling to the country each year, many Americans have disapproved of Joe Biden’s handling of immigration. Republicans in the House of Representatives attempted to capitalize on this disapproval by impeaching the Biden-appointed Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. On the surface, an impeachment may seem like an effective tool to put pressure on officials for incompetence. But this impeachment is a public charade meant to detract Congress from implementing common-sense border provisions.

The attempt to remove Mayorkas from his position before the end of the Biden administration is essentially impossible. In the second effort to impeach him, an extremely narrow majority of the representatives voted in affirmation. Even though Republicans aren’t accusing Mayorkas of committing a single crime, 214 of the 217 voted yes, while all 210 Democrats voted against the impeachment. This partisan impeachment has no chance of going anywhere in the Senate.

A conviction requires a two-thirds majority among senators; currently, the Democrats control the Senate chamber, and there has been no indication that a single Democratic Senator supports convicting Mayorkas.

The purpose of this impeachment is to deflect blame from the Republican party’s unwillingness to cooperate on border security and immigration reforms in Congress. ReCOURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

cently, the Senate introduced legislation that provided billions in funding to border security along with aid to Israel and Ukraine. But Donald Trump was firmly against Republicans finding a border compromise during the Biden administration and exclaimed via Truth Social, “A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO B OR DE R DEAL!” After Trump’s remarks, Republicans ran away from a border compromise while continuing to place the blame for the immigration crisis on Democrats.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson explained via X that “[i]f this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival,” while simultaneously claiming that the “Biden Administration has failed America by failing to secure our border.”

Republicans did not oppose the border

deal because of the aid it would give to other countries in conflict. They opposed the bill because a bipartisan deal could give the Biden administration political points helpful towards his reelection campaign. In the House, Republicans attempted to ram through $17.6 billion in aid towards Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza.

More than 200 Republicans were in favor of more unconditional aid to Israel’s military, while 166 Democrats voted against it.

In the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans passed a foreign aid bill that would give $60 billion to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel, and $10 billion to humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones. Republican politicians by in large approve of the United States investments in conflicts abroad.

But it is in the omnibus border deal where

they claim to be against spending overseas.

If Republicans are truthful in their grievances about the amount of international spending, the United States does.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives should write a counter-border deal offer that does not include foreign aid. Passing a bill through the House and placed on the Democrat-controlled Senate would make Republican claims of their concern for border security more legitimate.

Since the border deal was struck down because of Republicans, the party needed a plan to pretend that immigration security is their top priority over winning electoral control. This is why the House placed a resolution to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas. Even though President Biden has deported more illegal immigrants than Trump, Republicans need the current administration as a foil for the record levels of illegal crossings.

The impeachment attempt to remove Mayorkas sets a facade that Republican politicians are genuinely trying to solve the border crisis. In reality, congressional Republicans hope to create more chaos until a RepubH lican is in control of the White House.■

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

9

New EPA regulations are a blessing, not a curse LILIANNA ANGEL Contributing Writer

CALIFORNIA FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE AS EPA TIGHTENS SOOT REGULATIONS WITH POTENTIAL HIGHER COSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AT STAKE. For decades, California has struggled with air pollution. However, on Feb. 7, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released updated regulations to address the issue on a national scale further. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM NAAQS) sets these regulations on air pollution and mandates that areas should not have more than PM2.5, soot, from 12 to nine micrograms per cubic meter area. Soot, a hazardous pollutant generated by the use of fossil fuels in various activities

such as transportation, agriculture and industrial processes, poses serious health risks, including asthma and heart attacks.

It is about time that soot regulations are tightened; however, it does present a more challenging time for California as most counties have been unable to meet the previous regulation standard lowering.

As a large state with many cities and farms, California primarily relies on transportation and industrial smokestacks.

Unfortunately, that means California causes a lot of pollution through soot.

In a county like Riverside, known for its

logistics industry, this new regulation will have especially significant impacts, including higher financial costs to lower soot emissions. For instance, vehicle manufacturers, farmers and smokestacks will face increased costs because of the high prices of environmentally sustainable practices. These practices tend to be costly, like solar energy, 20,000 dollars to install and are typically not what most industries have in their pocket.

The tighter EPA standards could require these industries to invest in cleaner technologies, improve combustion efficiency or implement emissions control measures such as scrubbers and filters.

Higher regulations mean California, especially Riverside County, is facing a rise in costs, particularly concerning upgrading energy efficiency and adopting environmentally friendly practices.

Due to concerns about these associated costs, industries will likely challenge the proposed higher EPA soot regulations.

While their stance is understandable, the measure should not be dismissed, as cleaner alternatives exist, albeit at a higher expense. Sectors such as power generation, maritime shipping and construction contribute significantly to soot pollution, but exploring cleaner solutions, despite their costliness, remains imperative.

It is crucial to recognize that the bulk of soot emissions stem from these industries and vehicles, affecting low-income people of color most significantly. They bear a disproportionate burden due to residing in areas with elevated industrial and vehicular emissions, compounded by challenges like limited healthcare access and socioeconomic barriers. This often leads to exacerbated health effects, such as increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Although addressing soot pollution in California will be difficult, the benefits will be worth it. Addressing air pollution also works to alleviate the inequalities among various neighborhoods defined by their zip codes. These regulations promote equity and fairness in environmental protection efforts. Furthermore, the implications extend beyond individual communities, impacting the nation by fostering positive health outcomes and enhancing air quality. With lower soot emissions, the rate of asthma and heart attacks connected to this pollution will decline. These regulations encourage adopting better environmental practices in all sectors, hopefully leading to a H healthier and more sustainable future. ■

COURTESY OF FREEPIK

Starbucks employees unionized, yet no change in sight AVANTI ABHYANKAR Contributing Writer

STARBUCKS WORKERS UNITED CONTINUE PROTESTING AND ORGANIZING, YET THESE EFFORTS COULD BE SHORTLIVED IF INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT AWARE OF LABOR UNIONS FROM AN EARLY AGE. Starbucks Workers United (SWU) is set to represent 400 plus stores and over 10,000 union partners. Although these numbers have not halted profits, Starbucks has grown 11.59% in revenue to $35.9 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Starbucks has not recognized the legitimacy of this union since it lacks communication to meet and begin collective bargaining efforts. With this stonewalling from the company continuing in 2024, employees face unfair wages, hours and firings. Today, it is essential that individuals, especially youth, learn about corporate tactics so individuals know that organizing is a right available to them.

Consumers in today’s market want their goods to arrive on time or require quality services without having to question the company’s treatment of workers. On the other hand, workers are often scammed in how their managers and corporations deny their hours, pay or healthcare. This disparity between what the consumer sees versus the treatment employees are subject to is why companies can continue their sly methods of ill-treatment towards their staff. These issues have been ongoing for years, illustrating the labor sector’s struggles with corporate interests blocking their agenda.

Starbucks is notorious for utilizing IMAGE COURTESY OF MARCO PAKOENIGRAT VIA FLICKR

its marketing strategies to cover up its employees’ dissatisfaction regarding company benefits. In 2004, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union operated to turn working conditions into winnable demands, SWU stated that only 42% of the workers had access to healthcare, whereas today, healthcare is only accessible to those who work 20 hours a week. In January 2022, time reductions rolled out, reducing employees’ work time from 25 hours to anywhere between 17 to 5 hours a week. The change in corporate policies deepens employees’ resentment and trust in their employers, leading to protests and unionization efforts. However, individuals organizing Starbucks and other corporations see a potential threat and begin to spread their anti-union messaging.

Starbucks prides itself on principles of inclusivity and community, but these principles seem unapplied when treating Starbucks employees. The Starbucks website states “we call our employees partners because we are all partners in shared success.” Nevertheless, employees

must deal with improper healthcare, wage deductions and unfair labor practices.

These employees cannot be partners if they are not treated as equals.

Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz has significantly halted unionizing efforts and “characterized unions as a menace to the company’s economics and culture.” Starbucks cannot sustain a healthy work environment if chief officers do not implement policies that create such a space. Additionally, C a l i f o r n i a Representative Ro Khanna wrote a letter signed by 30 other representatives to Schultz calling attention to the unfair wage and benefit increases to those who are not unionized, illustrating how far this issue has permeated. It has reached a level of recognition demanding state intervention.

According to 2022’s Gallup Work and Education survey, 71% of individuals approve of labor unions which was at 48% in 2009.

This indicates that the approval rate has increased in the last 12 years, yet

the number of individuals actively participating in unions is low at 10% in 2023. These statistics demonstrate knowledge but inaction on the part of wage earning individuals. California has already taken action by establishing Assembly Bill 800 in chapter 271 which states that high school students in grades 11 to 12 will learn about labor in the month of May. This Workplace Readiness initiative by Califonia Assemblymembers could help bridge the gap between approval and participation in unionization.

To have a successful economy, employees must be reassured that they are partners in Starbucks’ success instead of pawns on a chessboard. Employees must be able to advocate for their fundamental rights without fearing retaliation from their managers. The path to better discourse between employees, managers, unions and corporate heads will be possible if franchise establishments like Starbucks learn to support workers rights. Teaching individuals about union efforts and labor rights in an academic setting could further the community’s understanding of what unions are meant for and why they are needed in the workplace. By teaching young minds the importance of unionization, individuals will be better equipped to know when they are being utilized by corporate agenda. ■ H

FEATURES

FEATURES

10 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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A week of unforeseen challenges Whatever you expected, this isn’t it.

ARiES: KiNG OF WANDS MARCH 21 - APRiL 19 The King of Wands is the perfect leader, delegating to others to get things done. This week, it’s not time for you to get your hands dirty. Instead, take a step back, and recognize where others might be better equipped for the tasks at hand. You don’t have to give up the reins; just get comfortable with leading from afar.

CANCER: THREE OF PENTACLES JUNE 21 - JULY 22 You might occasionally prefer to work alone, and you can’t be blamed for that.

Nobody loves a group project. This week, though, you won’t be able to reach your goals without the help of those around you. Find the people you work best with, and focus on putting effort into making that team really work.

LiBRA: EMPRESS SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22 You’ve been hard at work these past few weeks, and you have a difficult challenge ahead of you: taking a step back and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Look at everything you’ve managed so far! You deserve a break, because if you keep going like this, you’ll only tire yourself out. Take a moment to reflect on everything you’ve worked for, and on how far you’ve come.

CAPRiCORN: WORLD DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19 A lot has been going on, Capricorn, and you’ve been looking for a sense of direction, understanding and meaning. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be completely satisfied, but this week, you’ll be challenged to find that meaning yourself.

Look back on all you’ve been through and all you’ve accomplished, and reflect on what you’ve learned.

Aedan Ferrara, Production Manager

TAURUS: THE STAR APRiL 20 - MAY 20 When things aren’t going your way, it’s fair to think that things will continue not going your way. This week marks a light at the end of the tunnel, a spot of hope. Don’t expect everything to start going your way overnight, but in comparison to the challenges of the past few weeks, this next one will be a breeze.

LEO: FOUR OF PENTACLES JULY 23 - AUGUST 22 You’ve been taking a lot of care, Leo, but it might be time to let loose. The Four of Pentacles is a symbol of acceptance and allowance, of enjoying yourself even if it means spending a little more, or calling in a few favors. It’s great to save up and be frugal, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t make use of what you have.

SCORPiO: FOUR OF WANDS OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21 You’ve been feeling a little alone and far from home recently. Luckily, this week, home will come to you, whether it’s an old friend or some other reminder of the familiar. Take this time to appreciate and celebrate the good things in life, even if they aren’t within arm’s reach right at this moment.

AQUARiUS: TOWER JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 18 The Tower is a symbol of chaos and upheaval. Those areas of your life where you feel the most safe and secure will prove just the opposite, and there’s nothing you can do besides embrace the chaos and ride it out. Like a forest that regrows after a fire, you have to let the destruction and turmoil open up new opportunities in their wake.

GEMiNi: QUEEN OF SWORDS MAY 21 - JUNE 20 The Queen of Swords leads with the head, not the heart, and this week, you’ll be challenged to do the same. It’s all well and good to say you can make an unbiased decision and set your emotions aside, but when the time comes, it may be more difficult than expected. Commit yourself to honesty and fairness.

ViRGO: WHEEL OF FORTUNE AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22 If you have any plans, Virgo, it’s time to throw them out the window. This week will be a time of upheaval and change, and there’s no way to know what the winds of change will bring until the time comes. Let go of your expectations, and just go with the flow. There’s no other way to go about it.

SAGiTTARiUS: KNiGHT OF WANDS NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21 You’ve had a lot of ideas floating around in your head, but ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s time for action — even if you haven’t had time to formulate the perfect plan. Have the courage to take a step forward, boldly venturing onward and finding your way as you go. This week is the perfect window of opportunity to act on your ideas, so don’t let it go to waste!

PiSCES: PAGE OF PENTACLES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20 Pentacles are the realm of material possessions, money and physical health. This week, you’ll find a growing awareness of this area of your life. It might be a problem that’s just beginning to rear its head, or a new opportunity opening up before you. You might not fully understand what you’re in for, but this is your sign to lean into that uncertainty and see what’s in H store. ■ IMAGES COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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Tio’s Tacos: go for the food, stay for the art

Located on Mission Inn Avenue beside Riverside’s Public Library, a distinctive restaurant with hand-painted sculptures made of bottles, cans and plastic materials stands proudly.

CECILE DIROLL Assistant Opinions Editor

Stepping into Tio’s Tacos, I didn’t know what to expect.

Art made from trash usually is not something you want to see when eating at a restaurant. Nonetheless, as a Mexican food enthusiast, I always take it upon myself to find the best Mexican restaurants in whatever area I’m in. I immediately knew I was in the right place when I saw the menu with photos of different dishes hanging on the back wall — a staple feature in any locally owned Mexican restaurant. Since it was my first time reviewing a restaurant, I decided the best thing to do was ask the staff what dish they suggested I try.

Feeling adventurous, I took the cashier’s recommendation and ordered the “mojarra,” a deep-fried Tilapia fish sauteed in lemon and garlic sauce, even though I never eat fish. Unsurprisingly, I spent a good ten minutes performing surgery on it in an attempt to avoid the tiny fish bones. I’ll admit the mojarra was not the best decision for me due to my inexperience with eating fish. However, the lemon and garlic sauce absorbed beautifully into the fish meat, filling my mouth with its nuanced flavor. Cooked tenderly, the fish was nicely paired with corn tortillas, red rice and refried pinto beans. This is an excellent choice if you like fish and don’t mind picking at your food. However, it was not enough for my appetite.

So, I returned to the cashier and ordered a carnitas burrito — my safe Mexican food bet — with a mango and strawberry agua fresca. Wrapped in a warm flour tortilla, the carnitas burrito was a perfect choice. The mixed assortment of beans, red rice, soft avocados, chopped onions and green lettuce created a delicious taste with its different textures and flavors.

However, as someone who likes their meat well done, the carnitas were a little too pink for my taste. Nevertheless, the burrito was reasonably priced at $13, an affordable cost for college students and for the quantity of food you pay for.

The best part of my meal, which will have me returning, was the refreshing strawberry and mango agua fresca. A

warm and often spicy food. When I shook the drink, floating pieces of mango and strawberry seeds whirled around, showing the fruity concoction’s freshness. Tio’s Tacos also lets you mix different flavors in one drink so customers can create unique and fun refreshments.

When entering the back patio, you are welcomed by an eclectic array of artwork made exclusively from recycled materials. Every nook and cranny of the outdoor seating area was filled with handmade art, from the painted tin structures of the “Despicable Me” characters to the airplane made of tin cans on the roof and the tin R2-D2 and C-3PO from “Star Wars.” The owner, Martin Sanchez, reuses “trash” to create all the unique art pieces and sculptures in the back patio and parking lot behind the restaurant.

Not only is the art sustainable and environmentally friendly, but each piece, from the Selena statue to the flock of migrating monarch butterflies and the beer bottle wedding chapel, represents the blended cultures of the Mexican American experience in Southern California. Because the outdoor area is constantly changing and evolving with new art pieces, customers discover something new each time. To get the best experience, I suggest sitting on the back patio (rather than at the tables inside the restaurant), where most of the sculptures are located, so you can look at the fantastic art while you eat.

Overall, Tio’s Tacos is an affordable and authentic Mexican dining experience best enjoyed in their one-of-kind outdoor sculpture patio of hand-crafted, sustainable structures unique H to Riverside. ■

sweet Mexican fruit juice mixed with sugar, the strawberry and mango agua fresca was a tasty drink to accompany the

IMAGES VIA CECILE DIROLL / THE HIGHLANDER

12 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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Celebrating diversity and talent at the Global Fair NATALIE DAHL Features Editor

A vibrant cultural showcase on campus.

On Friday, Feb. 23, Associated Students of University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) hosted an event that brought together a tapestry of cultural performances, creating an unforgettable experience for attendees. Held from 4-7 p.m. students and visitors were treated to a feature of music, dance, martial arts and more. According to Anjana Narasimhan, ASUCR Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) Senator who organized the event, “the purpose of Global Fair is to celebrate UCR’s diversity and cultural organizations. As one of the most diverse UC campuses, I wanted to recognize our variety of Costco Hall Ethnic Gender Programs and the many cultural organizations that provide a strong community for UCR students.”

The festivities kicked off with an eclectic mix of Bollywood, salsa and K-pop music playing over the speakers, setting the stage for what was to come. As the sun cast its golden glow over the event, attendees were invited to partake in complimentary pizza and drinks by visiting various club booths and collecting passport stamps — a clever way to encourage exploration and engagement. Among the organizations present were Students Organize for Syria, Italian Club, South Asian Federation, Native American Student Programs, and several others, each offering a unique glimpse into their cultural

heritage and activities.

The performances began at 5 p.m., starting with a mesmerizing display by Ballet Folklorico. Adorned in stunning costumes, dancers enchanted the audience with duets and quartets, showcasing impressive footwork and h i g h kicks, all set to a backdrop of vibrant spinning skirts.

Next up was Tartan Seoul, delivering a dynamic K - p o p number to the beats of a Stray Kids song.

Dressed in sleek black attire accented with silver, the group executed sharp movements and precise formations, captivating the crowd with their synchronization and energy.

Wushu took the stage next, showcasing the artistry and athleticism of Chinese martial arts. From synchronized demonstrations with staffs and swords to theatrical solo performances, the audience was treated to a

spectacle of skill and precision. A standout moment was witnessing a performer execute a chain whip maneuver reminiscent of skipping rope — an impressive feat of agility and control.

UCR Mariachi followed with 17 members, filling the air with the rich melodies of traditional Mexican music with trumpets, g u i tars and string instruments. Solos and duets showcased the emotive voices within the group, adding depth and passion to their performance.

Next, Shubra Singhal from Abhinaya brought elegance and grace to the stage with a solo dance, undeterred by the ringing bells from the Bell Tower signaling the hour during her performance. Her glittering spins and expressive movements captivated all who watched.

Taiko drums provided a thunderous fina-

le, with performers exuding joy and intensity as they danced around their instruments.

The lively rhythms brought a powerful performance evoking sounds of marching into battle and the Taiko drums left a lasting impression on all who experienced their thunderous beats.

To conclude the evening, a fashion show featuring cultural attire from around the world celebrated the rich tapestry of diversity present at UCR. Narasimhan hoped that students had “the opportunity to explore the different UCR cultural organizations that are present on campus. When speaking with different students at the event, many didn’t know that certain cultural organizations even existed. By encouraging cultural fairs can we spread awareness about the different communities available on campus that can support and empower our students.

Additionally it is also an opportunity for organizations to promote themselves and allow students to find a sense of “home” on campus by engaging with communities they relate to.”

Overall, the event was a celebration of unity and the beauty of cultural exchange.

The Global Fair will tentatively be returning annually, so keep your eyes out next year to participate or watch this event. ■ H

IMAGE VIA ANJANA NARASIMHAN

RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS? HEALTHY "Dating advice from The Highlander’s infamously and terminally single Opinions Editor, because coaches don’t play…"

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13 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

FEATURES

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Campus sustainability through fashion with Katie Wen A look inside small business, Alterations by Katie.

SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

Katie Wen is a third-year psychology major, double minoring in marketing and organizational behavior; her small business, Alterations by Katie, offers “convenient clothing alterations” here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

At the start of her journey, she posted on her personal Instagram account solely as documentations of her projects and “thrift flips,” a popular term for re-working thrifted items into something that fits the maker better. Many people on campus saw her personal projects and expressed their want for similar services; so in April of 2023, Wen started her Alterations By Katie Instagram account, @alt.byk, to advertise her alteration services to UCR students and faculty.

In fall of 2023, Wen also began hosting sewing workshops where she taught students the basics of sewing and how to alter their own clothes. In the future, she stated that she hopes “to host more sewing workshops to teach people how to hand sew and by-machine in order to equip them with the skills to wear their clothes more confidently and on a budget.”

Wen described her inspiration behind the business, stating, “it brings me so much joy to help people wear clothes that flatter them the way they feel comfortable in, that are more functional and last longer and ultimately save them money in the long run … these are all the reasons why I love sewing for myself. It helped me express my creativity and find my style; and it helped me gain confidence because I no longer blamed myself when clothes in stores were not designed for my body shape and proportions.”

Offering a wide variety of alterations, Wen described how she has hemmed “pants, shorts, skirts and dresses. I can take in the sides of jackets, sleeves, pants, dresses and tops. I also take in the waistband or expand the waistband in some cases. I have added or made [bigger] pockets on clothing. I have added or increased slits in dresses. I have cropped shirts, knit sweaters (in some cases) and jackets (in some cases). I have repaired buttons, rips and reattached or shortened straps.” Her most common alterations are hemming and taking in clothes, but she had received some more unique requests, such as “taking in a jacket for a dog and mending a mink scarf.”

Growing up, all of the clothes Wen wore were either hand-me-downs or thrifted, shaping the way she views fashion. This inspired her to learn how to sew by watching YouTube videos so that she could hem, mend and fix clothing that she thrifted or that was passed down from friends

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHRYN WEN

COURTESY OF PEXELS

and family; she also began mending items for her friends and family. As her skills improved, Wen began to challenge herself to learn different sewing techniques and how to work with more difficult types of fabric, she described how, “in highschool I would analyze people’s outfits if they were wearing trendy clothes and try to mimic certain trends and sew it myself instead of paying full price for something that was going to go out of style in the next season.”

Wen discussed the importance of sustainability in fashion, stressing that “the most sustainable thing you can do in fashion is to use what you already have! Whether that be styling things in multiple ways, following the care instructions to keep it in good condition, or wearing things till they become rags in your kitchen … learn to care more about the clothing they already own instead of expecting clothes to be bought, worn and discarded within a year.”

Sustainability is very important to Wen, and fast fashion waste is a huge part of pollution problems all throughout the world. She finds it important that we find ways to reduce textile waste and be kinder to the planet by prolonging the life of clothing before being discarded in the landfill. Wen hopes that her alterations business will indirectly encourage students to be more sustainable and reduce textile waste. She is inspiring students to practice slow fashion, elaborating, “regardless of [student] concern for sustainability, most will agree that buying clothes second hand and altering it to fit and function better for you is cheaper than buying clothes new for full price.”

Wen has collaborated with a multitude of on-campus organizations to heighten her reach and advertise her small business to more people.

She tables with both the Career Center and VAIN, allowing her to access audiences interested in both professional clothing alterations and more stylistic ones. In the future, she hopes to collaborate with more campus organizations that align with the goals of Alterations by

Katie.

Her most beneficial collaboration has been with Career Center’s R’Closet, because they align with the values of her brand. Wen elaborated on this, describing her brands values as “repurposing donated clothing, being accessible to UCR students, and helping UCR students wear clothes that fit their body and clothing needs. This works perfectly with the R’Closet because I advertise to my audience that UCR students get 3 free clothing items [from the R’Closet] each quarter. Since their inventory is donations based, sometimes they require some alterations for it to fit the students’ needs which is where collaborating with the R’Closet works perfectly.”

She started out just tabeling with the R’Closet and their relationship has now evolved into her hosting bi-weekly sewing workshops where she teaches students how to mend and hand sew their clothes. Wen provides all the supplies and guides students through the process of learning the basics of mending or sewing the article of clothing they bring to the workshop.

Wen has also collaborated with the Women’s Resource Center (WRC). Here she educated students about sustainable fashion and alternatives to fast fashion that are budget friendly and taught a beginner friendly basics of sewing workshop. At her second event with the WRC, Wen taught students “the basics of adding pockets to anything. The WRC provided totebags and fabric for the students to practice on. And the Orbach Library Creat’R lab provided sewing kits that they 3D printed in the Creat’R Lab.” Outside of the rewarding aspects of making UCR a more sustainable campus, Wen described that her alterations business has “been my favorite way to meet people on campus rather than meeting people from my major, classes, or mutual friends. People I meet through Alterations by Katie are fast tracked to understand who I am, what I value, and what I do for fun.”

IMAGE COURTESY OF PEXELS

To inquire about alteration services, contact Katie Wen H via her Alterations by Katie Instagram account, @alt.byk.■

14 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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How to conquer organic chemistry GABRIELA GALVAN Contributing Writer

Master the organic chemistry series with these simple tips.

Organic chemistry’s reputation among the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) students, and University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) student population as a whole, has been notoriously infamous. Recognized as a med-school dream crusher and its nature for being a “weedout” class, organic chemistry lives up to its reputation. However, many students have conquered the class (and so can you!) by following these painfully obvious, but more than necessary to reiterate, tips and tricks.

Thank you to the UCR student I interviewed and Professor Matthew D. Casselman for their time in offering organic chemistry advice that will help future and current students navigate their academic journey.

Go to class Almost as impossible as a carbon forming five bonds is a student consistently going to class, especially if it’s organic chemistry. While this might sound like a broken record, and despite it being a given, attending class is the first step in conquering organic chemistry. And yes, that means every class! Organic chemistry is heavy in its material, meaning missing even one class will guarantee you will fall behind. This warrants unnecessary, overwhelming cram sessions that would be better used to review and study the material taught in class that day. Students may think there’s some grace granted in some organic chemistry classes that are recorded and can be watched from the comfort of one’s home, but that is wholly incorrect. While it’s true that some lectures are recorded, the nature of being a student is promising to watch recorded lectures and ultimately not fulfilling that promise.

Attending class in person guarantees you a feel-good student moment and a personal and uninterrupted learning environment. As Professor Casselman (who teaches in the Chemistry department) mentions, go “every day. Even if your lectures are recorded, it’s a different in-person experience. You’re going

to be focused on the lecture much more than if you rewatch a lecture recording at home, where your attention is likely divided.” Part of doing well in organic chemistry is your approach. So do yourself a favor and approach those lecture hall doors!

Study correctly Much of organic chemistry’s distinction from other physical sciences comes not from its name but rather its reputation among students for being one of the most failed and retaken college courses. And while these facts are seemingly discouraging, take them as affirmations that will feed into your encouragement to do well. It’s important to recognize these facts about organic chemistry and how the class, despite its infamous reputation, is a course that requires your focus, effort, and, most importantly, organized study habits like any other class. Studying is a fundamental step in doing well, and your approach can include a variety of resources and methods that can be helpful to your overall performance in the class. What might work for others might not work for you.

First, take advantage of the textbook and or slides before class. Familiarizing yourself with the material will make the lecture make more sense. Second, you need to take notes.

Organic chemistry is, as Professor Casselman describes it, “a different language.”

Writing down mechanisms and reactions is different from writing down your name and recognizing its meaning immediately. Taking notes will relay any information you need in future studying and improve your understanding. Third, your lecture notes should be treated differently from the neglected brackets around resonance structures. Revisiting your lecture notes as much as you can before and after class will ensure the material is freshly absorbed in time to understand the concepts in the following lecture and future exams. This will also help you navigate what to review based on what

you didn’t understand from the lecture.

Take advantage of your resources UCR and its professors prioritize and advocate for the success of the student population by funneling academic resources on campus and in class! Professors often assign worksheets or in-class assignments that will challenge your understanding of the material. While they may be graded on completion, prioritize their correctness. UCR also offers many tutoring opportunities through supplemental instruction and tutoring sessions on behalf of the Academic Resource Center. Again, read and study the textbook as professors relay its information in the class material. Also, outside resources such as Khan Academy and YouTube are of great help! Many new and old organic chemistry students can attest to the helpfulness of YouTube’s academic side. One UCR student testifies how helpful online resources like these are: “I cannot stress enough to say that people need to watch The Organic Chem[istry] Tutor on YouTube. He is god sent. He has helped me a lot. Check him out. He will save you.”

Go to office hours While being an extension of the resources you should use to study, going to office hours deserves its own spotlight. Given that our professors are teaching the material, please take advantage of the direct help they offer during office hours! This resource will help you navigate the material using the methods and techniques your professor stresses better than any other outside source. When you have a question or could use clarification on a concept, this is an excellent recognition of when you need help and guidance. A failing midterm grade should not be a determiner for seeking help but rather when you come up with a question that can be answered by your professor during their office hours. On top of perfecting the craft of organic chemistry, your professor will appreciate your

recognition of the course and their being.

Professor Casselman stresses that “your professors are people too; come hang out and chat about life, school, careers, etc.”

Avoid memorization and prioritize understanding Stress this message forward and backward in your brain: conquering organic chemistry depends on understanding over memorizing the material. Organic chemistry is different from other science courses that require memorizing vocabulary and fundamental cycles. While it does require the memorization of chemical jargon and even its functional groups, among other things, the rest requires the action and effort of thinking. Organic chemistry consists of mechanisms and reactions, and navigating why and how they happen. Thinking about these organic processes encourages and involves the notion of understanding.

Make friends Form bonds with the people in your class!

Making friends in your class encourages helpful, material-related conversation and the opportunity to make study groups that are always useful for exam season. Also, students well-versed in the subject might create functional groups whose friendships will persist beyond the class!

Give yourself a break Every once in a while, a bond gets a break, and so should you. Organic chemistry’s almost foul reputation is no mystery and has the ability to challenge many students’ perceptions of their intelligence and place in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. However, learn to give yourself the credit you deserve for confronting its material head-on!

Good luck to the future and current organic chemistry students, and congratulations to the former students who have alH ready conquered this goliath of a class! ■

Coaches Don’t Play: Light recon is the way to his heart YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

“Dating advice from The Highlander’s infamously and terminally single Opinions Editor, because coaches don’t play...”

“We hang out all the time, we make each other laugh, and my gosh, he’s the best, if you know what I mean … But I’m over this situationship. I want him to be mine, but I can’t tell if that’s what he wants, too. What should I do?”

Anonymous So, situationships … I can’t recommend them. It’s a sea of ambiguity and months of decoding texts. I believe that situationships are only for the bluntest of people and I think that they’re much harder than defined relationships. Knowing where you stand is hard when there’s no label on a relationship.

It makes you ask questions like “Is he seeing other people?” or “Do I introduce him to my friends?” It makes you wonder if you have a right to those things.

This is an up-or-out situation. You could always try being honest with him, but that

has the potential to be humiliating. If there’s another way to figure out where he stands, like asking a mutual friend, I would try that first.

P u s h ing for clarity is risky and could end with you alone, so being discreet is key. I think, though, that if he’s not truly interested in a real relationship but only the facsimile of one, you need to get a headstart on mov-

ing on. If you can’t live with living in limbo until either he steps up or it all falls apart, you need to do reconnaissance and decide from there.

It’s a question of what you can live with.

Either way, a situationship is not a sustainable outcome.

Eventually, you’re going to need more. Don’t let a fear of his lack of interest in commitment overshadow your need to feel important to him.

If he’s the type to walk away at that, the second you show him what you need, he was never going to be yours.

I also hate to accuse anyone of being delusional, but situationships are built on a bit of delusion. Sometimes, that delusion can give you courage and push you to build something that lasts longer than three months, but unfortunately, sometimes, the relationship is only going to shatter. As doomed as that may seem, I advise trying to think of the possible end of this situationship not as the time you got your heart broken, but the time H you dodged a noncommittal bullet. ■

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

15 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

Radar

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AREA951 2024: A night of high-energy EDM and engaging DJs despite the small crowd ASPB’s first AREA951 sets ground for future smaller UCR EDM events.

KIMBERLY BEJEC & BRENDAN VO Assistant Radar Editor & Radar Editor

On Feb. 22, for the very first time, the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) introduced AREA951, an electronic dance music (EDM) concert accompanied by a photo booth and food trucks. Coming off of the positive reception to Knock2’s performance at Block Party and demand for EDM, the event promised an energetic night that capitalizes on UCR students’ love for EDM alongside ASPB’s sought-after trademark merchandise that still proves to be the main draw for their concerts.

Theme The concert was outer space themed, which plays off of the notorious Area 51. Its aesthetic was channeled through its hoodie merchandise and marketing from its Instagram page. Since AREA951 was a smaller event, compared to the ASPB’s larger Block Party or Spring Splash concerts, the theme was scarcely utilized outside of the merchandise. The concert featured a small stage on Pierce Lawn along with various attractions surrounding the event. Although the event description on the UCR events calendar promised “an interactive 360-degree set where the DJ is playing in the middle of the crowd,” it ended up being off to the side. This is a typical stage setup of past UCR concert events that did not bring much change to this particular event.

Attractions and Stations AREA951’s attractions had an array of food trucks and a photobooth — both being ASPB concert staples. The three food trucks stationed were the Sweet Stop, Burning Buns and LA Hotdogs & Munchies. The Memory Makers Photobooth was an undergrad-exclusive photo booth fashioned with props.

Other stations to visit were an ASPB station that handed out glowsticks and lightsticks to concert participants and a station manned by The Well Health Promotion and Education Department equipped with date kits that contain condoms, mints and lubricant, as well as fentanyl strips. At The Well station, a fourth-year biology major Kaylee ran the station and said “we focus on sexual health, safe drug and safe partying use,” as well as offering free health education, free Narcan training and more. They will also be found at the Spring Splash concert so concertgoers can look forward to that in the future.

Line The line for the EDM concert circled around Pierce Lawn and stretched to the entrance of Pierce Hall. Security was more lax with the stanchions placed around the lawn separating the venue and the line, probably due to the smallerscale nature of the event. With a projected 6 p.m. start, the event commenced at a later 6:20 p.m. time. The line would be let in quickly and dissipated even faster as merchandise ran out around 15 minutes after the first participants were let in. Stanchions were removed around 7 p.m., letting anyone from the outside come into the venue to enjoy the festivities of AREA951.

Artist Performances Almost immediately after ASPB started to let students into the event, the first performer of the night took the stage. Although the stage was smaller than past ASPB events and the lights were a bit underwhelming, it was very fitting for the more low-key event. Student DJ, Runqi Li was up first and had the task of setting the vibe for the event as students started to enter. For the first half of Li’s set, students were preoccupied with getting their merch and checking out the other attractions and stations. Eventually, as more time passed, people started to congregate toward the front and enjoy the live beats.

Runqi Li’s set was very typical for an EDM performance and house music. His set was more beat-heavy and rarely included lyrics. With a mix of beats from songs such as “Musica” by Meduza, “Seismic” by AC Slater and “Redlight”

by Swedish House Mafia and Sting, Li got people to start dancing and vibing to the music. He even included a quick snippet of the instrumental from “The Olive Tree” by Chyi Yu, which is reminiscent of Taiwanese music. This was a strange but very unique addition to an EDM house music set. His mixing was heavily influenced by energetic beats that involved build-ups and fast-paced rhythms. This was perfect for those who were jumping around to the beat and had their hands in the air. Li was successful in setting the vibe for the rest of the night and getting the crowd warmed up in the cold February air for the next two artists. After Runqi Li’s set, he himself would cite his performance as a great experience: “It’s amazing … people enjoyed [it] more than I thought. It’s my first time on a stage like this.” He thanked ASPB for giving him a chance to perform.

The transition between Runqi Li and Julienne By had the organizers playing Knock2’s “dashstar* - VIP,” which was an instant hit that got people amped up as Julienne By took the stage. The Cambodian-American DJ is a rising artist as she has been featured in past Insomniac festivals such as Countdown and has even headlined her own shows.

By did not disappoint with her mixing skills, starting strong by building up the beat and getting the crowd hyped up. Her EDM set mixed popular songs with strong beats that had the crowd head banging and singing along. She featured well-known songs such as “No Hands” by Waka Flocka Flame, Roscoe Dash and Wale, “Need to Know” by Doja Cat, “INDUSTRY BABY” by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow and many more. Her mixing and transitions between songs were a highlight of her set as each flowed seamlessly and without any awkward pauses. The lyrics were also a great addition as they allowed for the crowd to get lost in the music and enjoy the high energy. The beats and lyrics were mixed together in a way that heightened the others’ quality, making for a good set.

Headliner, Cheyenne Giles was a highly anticipated performer, known for his unique sounds and ability to create “Big Room Bounce” energy. The San Diego native DJ started his set with high energy as he jumped along with the crowd while the music started to build. Giles had a great connection with the crowd as he called out to the crowd “All energy right f*cking now!” which had energized the crowd along to the beat. His set featured a mix of electronic beats and beat drops that amped up the crowd and had them enjoying their time. The energy was reminiscent of a real rave that had the crowd forgetting that they were still on campus.

Giles had an engaging stage presence that had him

moving around and jumping instead of sticking behind the table. His set has a mix of electronic beats, while remixing music such as “I’m Good (Blue) by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, “Make Me Feel” by The Chainsmokers and Cheyenne Giles and “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice. Among these songs, he also mixed in his newest single “Let’s Rock.” Cheyenne Giles provided a great end to ASPB’s first AREA951 event.

ReceptionASPB’s introduction of AREA951 is an interesting event when compared to their larger concerts. The marketing had been referenced by second-year mechanical engineering majors Kenny Nguyen (he/him) and Caroliza Kano (she/her) insofar as they were drawn to the event by ASPB’s Instagram posts. Kano herself also mentions that since “[ASPB] only has one EDM festival … [I was] trying to support that because I personally like electronic music.” Yuengchen, a graduate student pursuing a master of business administration also mentions how the event was bustling and seemed like a good time when he spotted it after class; “I [got] curious and I’ve never seen it before. And I see many, many people.” Yuengchen was then drawn to the concert and said that he liked ASPB events because they are a good time with friends.

On ASPB’s side, ASPB member and 2nd-year media and cultural studies student, Jara Dioum (she/her), felt the event turned out pretty well, despite some people upset over not being able to obtain the limited merchandise. “It turned out pretty well. I mean I know it’s a new event … but I think it H turned out the way we wanted [it] to.” ■

IMAGES COURTESY OF ASPB

16 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

RADAR

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Looking into the failure of ‘Madame Web’ ‘Madame Web’ is making headlines with how comically awful it is, but nobody is talking about why it’s that bad.

HALLE CANON Contributing Writer

The first trailer for “Madame Web” dropped on Nov. 15, giving audiences a glimpse into the new superhero. Although there was no mention or hint of Spider-Man in the trailer, audiences couldn’t ignore the similarities between the two storylines, questioning if “Madame Web” would be a parody of hero films or a new addition to Marvel’s SpiderVerse. These suspicions were answered when a comic book titled, “The Amazing SpiderMan … Meet Madame Web” surfaced, confirming that the 2024 film would be based on Marvel’s Cassandra Web, a blind and paralyzed psychic who uses her clairvoyant powers to help “Spider-People.” But after its release in theaters, news of the movie’s critical and commercial failure began sweeping the internet. Not only did “Madame Web” have a boring storyline and a measly combined minute of the actresses in their superhero costumes, but neither Spider-Man nor Peter Parker were mentioned once by name despite his birth being a side plot of the film. Audiences couldn’t help but wonder what happened to this tragic film.

The film follows Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson): a paramedic who begins to experience brief visions minutes into the future after an accident. When these flash-forwards result in her seeing three teenage girls being killed by a man, Cassandra feels obligated to hide and protect them. Simultaneously, the film follows Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), the man determined to find these girls because he dreamed of them killing him. Cassandra leaves the girls with friend, Ben Parker (Adam Scott) and his pregnant sister Mary Parker (Emma Roberts), to research in the Amazon. There, she discovers that Ezekiel killed her mother. She then has a vision of Mary going into labor and Ezekiel finding and killing the group. As this pans out in real time, Cassandra appears and uses a new understanding of her powers to eventually kill him. In the process, she loses her sight and becomes paraplegic. The film closes with a scene years into the future where Cassandra is still fully blind and wheelchair bound, having a complete grasp on her powers now. As the four women in a superhero team flash on the screen, the final words are narrated over: “You know the best thing about the future, it hasn’t happened yet.”

Unfortunately, there were fundamentally no highs of “Madame Web” to outweigh the lows; the whole film felt unfinished in a way. The narrative is simple, almost childlike, with a lack of suspense or mystery integrated to combat such. For example, we are shown the villain’s motives at the 30-minute mark, which also feel insignificant to the audience. The film’s writing has full-on-the-nose statements, such as, “Us strays need to stick together,” and “What if I don’t want to know my future?” All characters feel bored and undeveloped, resulting in no reason for the audience to root for them throughout the film.

During the opening week of “Madame Web,” the film received a 13% on Rotten Tomato’s “Tomatometer” and a worldwide profit of $53 million on a $80 million budget, failing both Sony and its audience members. It was undeniable that the film was illreceived due to its plain storyline, awkward writing and undeveloped characters but there were two things that seemed to highlight this even more so: Ezekiel Sim’s clearly dubbed audio, and Mary and Ben Parker’s near-to-complete erasure from the main storyline, despite being played by big names. Gas was added to the fire when press release interviews with Dakota Johnson were released and the actress seemed indifferent towards the film.

When asked about script changes, she even stated, “there were drastic changes, and I can’t even tell you what they were.”

However, once the original screenplay for “Madame Web” was leaked, it was evident why the actual outcome felt so forced. In this film, Madame Web and the Spider-Women try to protect a pregnant Mary Parker from Ezekiel Sims, a man who wants to kill her to prevent the birth of Peter Parker. It’s believed that this version was actually in the late stages of filming when Marvel contacted Sony, informing them they did not have the rights to use the names “Peter Parker” and “Spider-Man” in “Madame Web.” This tracks out; as stated, Ezekiel Sims lines are clearly dubbed over and Ben and Mary Parker’s storyline is practically missing. While these rumors have not yet been confirmed, it feels legitimate and as if Sony rushed an unfinished product into theaters. ■ H

Verdict: So, while it’s difficult to decide what made “Madame Web” so unbearable — the storyline, the writing, the company behind it — it’s still easy to agree on something: “Madame Web” is a bad movie.

‘Drive Away Dolls’ proves the need for more fun and silly lesbian movies

A fun and feminine B-movie about two gals going south.

RAMITA SETTY Staff Writer

In 2021, Saturday Night Live released a sketch named “Lesbian Period Drama.” It was meant as a parody of period dramas featuring lesbians in a repressive setting, such as “Carol,” “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” “The Favourite” and “Ammonite.” The sketch poked fun at the overly serious nature of movies like these and how they were the only kind of movies featuring lesbians that ever seemed to get any attention — or, indeed, get made at all. However, in recent years, there has been another kind of lesbian movie making waves.

It started with “Booksmart” in 2018, a comedy following two high school girls trying to get laid before they go off to college. Last year, there was the teen comedy “Bottoms” about two high school-aged lesbians who start a fight club in an attempt to hook up with cheerleaders. And on Feb. 22, “Drive-Away Dolls,” a lesbian road trip comedy by Ethan Coen was released.

“Drive-Away Dolls” follows two young women Marian (Geraldine Vishwanathan) and Jamie (Margaret Qualley) who decide to go on a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida to get away from the pressures of their lives. Wires get crossed and they realize that the car they’ve borrowed has a mysterious briefcase that criminals are hunting to find. What follows is a wacky 90-minute comedy filled with sexual awakening, plenty of psychedelic neon-filled flashbacks and Miley Cyrus making a plaster cast of a senator’s penis.

Silly and sexy seem to be the best words to describe this film. Vishwanathan is a scene-stealer as the fussy, uptight Marian and brilliantly executes her droll lines. Still, Qualley is a pit of charisma and energy as the carefree Jamie who is determined to make the best of her life and have as many sexual experiences as she can, regardless of fidelity.

Together, they check out many lesbian bars and hot slumber parties on their way to Tallahassee — a location that is also a source of many jokes in the film.

This film takes the “road trip” part of this movie very seriously with several back-

and-forths of the hilarious signature Coen dialogue between not only Marian and Jamie, but two of the hapwit criminals chasing them. Credited simply as “The Goons,” the two criminals hot on Marian and Jamie’s tail have their wacky road trip shenanigans with Joey Slotnick as the overly preachy criminal high off his wisdom and CJ Wilson as a dimwitted thug who punches first and asks questions second, but routinely gets beat up. Matt Damon has a surprisingly funny scene-stealing turn as a conservative senator who will go to whatever lengths he can to get his goods back. With a sharp comedic wit, Beanie Feldstein is the best part of the movie as Suzanne, a rage-filled cop who Jamie dumps at the beginning.

The film is drenched with queer femininity, from the wardrobes to the locations to the dialogue. The biggest example of this is the constant flashbacks to Marian as a child, straining for a peek at her naked female neighbor. She wants something, but she doesn’t know what. It’s a struggle the adult Marian carries as well, wanting something more with Jamie but not knowing how to ask for it. Though the film is set in 1999, when lesbian bars were much more common across the country, Marian and Jamie still feel resonant with today’s queer youth. Jamie’s character embodies the motif that life is short, so just go for what you want at the moment.

Ethan Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke, who co-wrote the film together, talked about wanting to make a lesbian film that was “proudly unimportant.” Cooke added, “I think it’s important that there are more queer comedies out there because we want to eat our popcorn and have fun at the movies, too.” Movies about lesbians in the repressive setting of the past learning to come to terms with their sexuality in an unforgiving society can be important and well-made. But more films about lesbians simply trying to have as much H sex as they can feel important, too. ■

Verdict: “Drive Away Dolls” is an outrageously sexy comedy that centers on lesbian women and their desires against a backdrop of a signature Coen comedy.

IMAGES COURTESY OF IMDB

17 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

RADAR

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Radar Replay: ‘Tenet’: A spy to and fro.

Christopher Nolan’s circuitous espionage film returns to theaters.

LUKE LIAO Staff Writer

“Tenet,” Christopher Nolan’s action time-bender, finds the director falling into some of his worst habits. The result is overworked, and at times, entertainingly so.

The film follows the cloak-and-dagger globetrotting of the Protagonist (John David Washington), who is recruited by the cryptic organization, Tenet. He is taught about inversion, the act of moving backward in time and an ability that has been harnessed by Andrei Sator (Kenneth Brangan) for catastrophic purposes. To uncover and put an end to these plans, the Protagonist allies himself with various players including Neil (Robert Pattinson), a mentor of sorts, and Kat (Elizabeth Debicki), the estranged wife of Sator.

The rundown of “Tenet” can be summed up in a handful of sentences. The truth is not much, at least in regards to the material narrative — “Tenet” is, simply put, drawn out. Dialogue is mostly annotative, setting up the next who, what, where and when. Additionally, character work is out of the question. This knotty, convoluted plotting, constant name dropping and usage of archetypal characters echoes many of the “Bond” and other espionage films, particularly “The Spy Who Came from the Cold.” Even without noting this harkening back, it becomes clear by the first hour that “Tenet” isn’t too concerned about a graspable plot. This is perfectly fine, but introducing the temporal logistics and things can get overwrought. To decipher and then explain the film’s winding road map in the hopes of revealing some latent genius is neither here nor there.

Nolan’s writing has never been particularly gracious and that’s more than evident in “Tenet” — it doesn’t do the explicative nature of the film any favors. More dramatism would help gel the cross-country locations and recurring setup-payoff structure into one another.

As a result, Nolan falls back on the technical — Ludwig

Göransson’s powerful score and the hammering sound conjure tension behind many impassive scenes. On the other hand, Nolan’s choice to disregard detailing the Protagonist’s character is a welcome commitment. In almost any other film it would be of importance, but to project any relatability or emotionality onto the agent would result in a lesser, cumbersome time. And, intentional or not, there are some jocular lines here and there, coolly delivered by a stoic Washington.

What ultimately sells “Tenet” and makes it a watchable (rewatchable, even) experience is the rudimentary pleasures that come with viewing its dynamic sights and hearing its gloriously overmixed sounds. All of this can be enjoyed with narrative logistics removed. The film’s two action centerpieces, the crashing of a 747 and the most complicated pit maneuver ever devised, are captivating sequences. They are heightened because of Nolan’s fidelity to practical filmmaking. Most importantly, Nolan recognizes, like his influence, Michael Mann masterfully understood, that watching professionals at work is inherently exciting stuff.

Reflecting on “Tenet” nearly four years later, in the context of Nolan’s body of work and especially with his follow-up, “Oppenheimer,” what’s more evident than ever — despite the drastic degrees of success between the two, is Christopher Nolan’s ability to hijack genres. “Tenet” demonstrates an obvious understanding of its genus, but it’s Nolan’s instilling of his preoccupations, for better or for worse, that makes it his picture. “Tenet” also finds the director comfortably settled with a practical, dapper visual style he began to refine in the late 2010s — credit has to be given to Nolan’s cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema. Succinctly, Nolan has always tackled high concepts but with “Tenet,” arguably his H most eggheady film, he finds himself off the deep end. ■

IMAGE COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES

LE SSERAFIM makes it look ‘EASY’ with their new EP LE SSERAFIM graces listeners’ ears with smooth sounds from their latest release.

STELA NOELLE ABASTA Contributing Writer

On Feb. 19, LE SSERAFIM, a K-pop girl group with Source Music, which is a label under HYBE, released “EASY,” the group’s third EP. The concept that has been going on since the group’s debut is described by Spotify as one of “self-confidence and iron will as they go out into the world fearlessly and unwavering before the watchful eyes of the world.” This EP continues this narrative through the themes of ambition, perseverance and, of course, fearlessness.

The introduction to the EP, “Good Bones,” is not so much a song but rather more of a narration. The title seems to be a reference to Maggie Smith’s viral poem of the same name. Throughout the track, each of the five members speaks in their respective first languages — Sakura and Kazuha speak Japanese, Chaewon and Eunchae speak Korean and Yunjin speaks English.

Having members speak different languages in a single song is a unique choice that isn’t very common in the K-pop industry, despite there being a lot of K-pop groups with members of different nationalities.

The spoken words remind the listeners that despite being idols with a group name that references seraphs, angelic religious beings, LE SSERAFIM lives on the same mortal plane as them.

The instrumental of the song is electric guitar-driven accompanied by other elements of rock, such as drums. It made listeners excited to listen to a killer rock concept before they were let down by the narration. It felt as if it could have been a

similar song to “brutal” by Olivia Rodrigo, especially with the repetition of the chorus “Easy, crazy, hot, I can make it,” which has a similar vibe to the chorus in “brutal.”

Instead, it felt like a wasted opportunity.

The title track is of the same name as the EP, “EASY.” Although this song could be brushed aside as another girl-boss hit made by a girl group, there are aspects that make it unique. One of those factors is the distinct instrumental.

A Dispatch article describes, “The title track is based on a trap genre … It is a combination of catchy vocals from R&B style and addictive melody.” The instrumental is laid-back and trendy to make listeners feel effortlessly cool.

The lyrics deliver a meaning of how nothing is easy, but they’re going to make it easy. Within the lyrics, there’s a reference to the phrase, “I’M FEARLESS,” which the group’s name, LE SSERAFIM, is an anagram of. In the second verse, Sakura sings, “I’m the FEARLESS.” The English lyrics sound

confusing at times, and the ad-libs are a bit outdated (“Sheesh, sheesh, sheesh”), but these sorts of things are nothing new in K-pop songs. There’s autotune present in most of the song, but it fits in perfectly with the trap beat and doesn’t feel overdone or unnecessary. Many artists use autotune to hide their lack of talent, but LE SSERAFIM uses this instrument to flower rather than hinder their vocals.

Following the title track is “Swan Song” with members Yunjin, Chaewon, Sakura and Kazuha receiving credits for writing it.

The title leads listeners to think it’s a ballad, but the beat is surprisingly chill. The chords that guide the song are first introduced within the first few seconds and are repeated in a way that gets stuck in your head.

This is a track that could make it to the mainstream as even people who don’t listen to K-pop can easily tell how catchy it is. The fast rapping in the second verse flows very well and is a good contrast to the slower beat, while the twinkling sound bite that plays throughout the song gives the track an especially magical vibe and listeners able to close their eyes in serenity as the melody

gently floats into their ears.

Next, “Smart” is an amapiano-inspired track, characterized by synths and wide percussive basslines with Yunjin listed for being one of the songwriters behind it. The distinct rhythm makes this one of the more upbeat tracks on the album, encouraging listeners to get up and groove. However, the autotune in this song wasn’t as great as in “EASY” as listeners would prefer to hear the girls’ high notes without autotune. According to Apple Music, the members are singing about how “it’s not just effort but also cleverness that informs their continued success.”

The last track on the EP, “We got so much,” is dedicated to the group’s fans, FEARNOTs. It was pre-released during the first solo tour in August 2023. Both Yunjin and Eunchae took part in writing the lyrics for this song. In it, the girls thank FEARNOTs for their continued support and tell them that their hard work is for them. Similarly to many of the other songs on the track list, it has a chill beat but also features high notes that are, thankfully, without autotune.

Verdict: LE SSERAFIM’s EP “EASY” should definitely make its way to being your go-to whenever you need music in the background of a chill weekend as you relax, awaiting the recession of winter and H the slow return of spring.■ IMAGE COURTESY OF HYBE LABELS

SPORTS 18 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/sports

UC Riverside women’s basketball team earned a comfortable win over UC San Diego, 63-48 HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The Highlanders secured a spot in the Big West Conference Tournament with win over the Tritons.

The UC Riverside women’s basketball team defeated UC San Diego, 63-48, Thursday night down in La Jolla. Going into this ball game, the Highlanders won their past four of five games and looked to carry their momentum against a struggling Triton team. Senior guard Jordan Webster continued to make her claim as the Big West Player of the Year as she had another stellar outing to carry UCR to another decisive victory.

Sophomore guard Makayla Jackson set the tone early for UC Riverside as she opened up the game with a 3-point play as she fi nished a layup through contact. It was a team effort in the beginning of the quarter as four of the five starters recorded a point in the quarter. Redshirt senior forward Matehya Bryant scored her fi rst points of the game in the paint after a UCSD turnover. Minutes later, fifth-year guard RyAnne Walters knocked down a 3-pointer to give UCR an 8-4 lead. After a steal from Jackson, Webster fi nished in the fastbreak layup to score her fi rst points of the ball game. UC San Diego kept the game close, however, as they were able to respond with points of their own to keep the game competitive. After a missed jumper from Webster, guard Gracie Gallegos knocked down a jump shot to bring the game within one, 12-11. After forcing a steal on Bryant, the Tritons sank in a 3-pointer to give them their fi rst lead of the game, 1214, with 2:50 left in the fi rst quarter. Both offenses stalled to close the quarter as both defenses started to pick up their intensity to end the quarter.

Both teams continued to go back-and-forth to begin the second quarter. There were five lead changes within the fi rst five minutes of the quarter as both teams exchanged buckets after buckets. Webster started to get into a flow as she knocked down two consecutive jump shots to give the Highlanders a 21-18 lead with 6:12 left in the quarter.

After the Tritons responded with a 3-pointer to tie the game, UC Riverside went on a

13-4 run to give them a comfortable lead going into the half. Webster took over later in the quarter as she scored seven straight points for UCR as they took a 34-25 lead at the half.

The UC Riverside offense didn’t seem to skip a beat to start the second half as they scored six straight points to give themselves a 15-point lead. The duo of Webster and Bryant started to shred the Triton defense. Bryant had six points in the quarter and played a big factor in extending the Highlander lead while Webster continued her offensive onslaught by scoring and facilitating to her open teammates. Defensively, UCR ramped up their defensive intensity and limited UCSD to only nine points in the quarter. At the end of the quarter, UC Riverside was on top with a comfortable 48-34 lead.

Other players started to join in on the fun as the lead continued to grow. After a miss from the Tritons, senior guard Julia Stenberg knocked down a 3-pointer of her own to push the lead to 19. Junior forward Esther Matarranz joined in on the fun as she fi nished a layup to give the Highlanders a 20-point lead, 58-38, with 3:54 left in the game. After Webster missed a layup, she grabbed her own miss and passed it out to Stenberg, who knocked down another triple to give UCR their largest lead of the night, 63-41. As time winded down, UC Riverside got the easy win, 63-48.

Webster led the way for the Highlanders with 23 points, four rebounds and six steals.

Jackson chipped in with 11 points, three rebounds and three steals. Bryant had a solid outing with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Highlanders have now won their past five of six games and improved their record H to 15-11 (10-6) and will take on Hawaii on the road on Saturday, Mar. 2, at 9 p.m. ■

IMAGES COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Highlanders slowed down in 77-65 loss to UC San Diego ISAAC SOLNICK Staff Writer

UCR’s shooters off-target against the Tritons.

After a slow start to conference play, the Highlanders rattled off four straight wins to put themselves back into the Big West playoff picture. Looking to make it five in a row, UCR was set to take on the 11-3 UCSD Tritons. With the Tritons possessing a two game winning streak of their own, both teams entered this game riding momentum.

UCR head coach Mike Magpayo refused to fi x what wasn’t broken. He continued to trust the same starting five that features only one upperclassman, graduate forward Kyle Owens. It was clear from the tip-off that Magpayo tasked sophomore guard Nate Pickens with the toughest assignment.

On defense, Pickens was glued to star guard Bryce Pope of the Tritons. The redshirt senior is an elite scorer, but Pickens looked to disrupt him from the get-go. As Pope’s teammates looked to get him the ball, Pickens’s sticky off-ball defense would force them to look elsewhere. Pickens turned defense into offense with a corner triple to put the Highlanders on the board.

On offense, UCR looked to push the pace with every opportunity. After each defensive rebound, forwards Kyle Owens and Kaleb Smith looked to fi nd the quick outlet pass to either Isaiah Moses or Barrington Hargress. The strategy came with a mixed bag of results. While the Highlanders were able to get some easy buckets in transition, they were often prone to turning over the ball.

After subbing out Moses, Magpayo and the Highlanders abandoned this tactic. They looked to play a more traditional half-court offense through redshirt freshman Barrington Hargress. Hargress’s playmaking created a multitude of scoring opportunities. However, his teammates failed to make the most out of these chances. With UCR shooting just 22% from the field, the Highlanders were lucky to fi nd themselves down just eight going into halftime. It was evident that shots would have to fall if they were to keep up with the high-flying Tritons.

After the break, UCSD’s offense erupted to start the second half. A trio of 3-pointers from the Tritons forced Magpayo to burn a timeout early. The Highlanders quickly found themselves down by 15. Coming out of the timeout, UCR needed to turn the tide in any way possible. Despite being down by double digits, the Highlanders continued to

work hard on both ends of the floor.

Fortunately, they would soon be rewarded for their effort. After Pickens intercepted a pass from junior Hayden Gray, it sparked a powerful fastbreak dunk for Kaleb Smith.

Smith’s rim-rocking jam and a corner triple from Moses appeared to get the Highlanders right back into it.

However, while the Tritons kept making their shots, UCR failed to fi nd a consistent offensive rhythm. Following a 3-pointer from UCSD’s redshirt senior J’Raan Brooks, the Highlanders were looking for a quick response. But their eagerness led to silly mistakes. Hargress dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds. Then, Smith airballed a wide-open corner three.

As the UCR momentum ground to a halt, junior Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones turned into a walking bucket in the second half. While Pickens continued to shut down Pope, it opened the door for Tait-Jones to lead the UCSD offense. He scored at will and got to the rim whenever he pleased. Magpayo tried using different defenders on Tait-Jones, but he proved to be a matchup nightmare. Too big for most guards and too fast for most forwards, Tait-Jones made it look easy on every offensive possession.

Nevertheless, the Highlanders wouldn’t go down with a whimper. With just minutes remaining, 6 feet Barrington Hargress flashed the athleticism and dunked on 6 feet 5 inches junior Tyler McGhie. Hargress’s poster dunk got the home crowd back into it and gave his team a sliver of hope. However, a triple from Hudson Gray on the very next possession put the game out of reach.

Following a four-game winning streak, the Highlanders fell flat at home against one of the top teams in the conference. Despite Pickens’s strong defensive outing holding Pope to just 4 points, the Highlanders failed to overcome their shooting woes. Off the back of Tait-Jones’s 20 points, the Tritons walked away with a 77-65 win.

On Saturday, UCR faced a quick turnaround on the road against Cal Poly. Despite a 35-point performance from Cal Poly guard Kobe Sanders, the Highlanders left San Luis Obispo with an 84-78 win. Next weekend, they will return home to host the Rainbow Warriors on Mar. 2. ■ H

19 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/sports

2024 NFL mock draft In this edition of the 2024 mock draft, there are no trades for simplicity’s sake.

ANH BUI Contributing Writer IMAGE COURTESY OF PIKISUPERSTAR VIA FREEPIK

With the 2023 NFL season now in the books, there is nothing to do but to look forward to the next. A new year means a buttload of new talent is bound to enter the league, and judging from an astounding year of college football, there is most definitely reason to be excited about this year’s class of prospects. But without further ado, here’s the 2024 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC When it’s all said and done, the Bears could move on from Justin Fields and select Williams here at one, ushering themselves into a new era. The USC product has gamebreaking upside and an exciting gunslinger playstyle that simply screams “Mahomes.”

2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU Simply put, Daniels is the most electric dual-threat prospect we have seen coming out since Lamar Jackson. The 2023 Heisman-winner will be a perfect fit under newlyhired offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

3. New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina Maye has all the tools of the prototypical NFL quarterback: a large frame, a live arm and light feet. His arm talent is by far his superpower and despite a bit of a step back in production in 2023, Maye’s upside will certainly be tough for the Patriots to pass on.

4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio St. The son of a Super Bowl-winning Hall of Famer, Harrison Jr. did not disappoint during his time at Columbus.

Harrison Jr. looks to make an immediate impact as Kyler Murray’s top option in a young, revamped Cardinals offense.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame Jim Harbaugh makes a statement with his first pick in Los Angeles by selecting Joe Alt, a day one starter at either side of the line. Protecting franchise quarterback Justin Herbert should be priority number one moving forward, and Alt looks to be a big part of the solution.

6. New York Giants: WR Rome Odunze, Washington Let’s give Daniel Jones (or whoever ends up starting for Big Blue) a tough, big-bodied receiver with surefire hands to play with. Odunze led the nation with 1,640 receiving yards and had 13 receiving touchdowns to go along with in 2023.

7. Tennessee Titans: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn St. Fashanu is extremely nimble for his 6 feet 6 inches height, 300-pound frame and enters the draft as one of the most refined pass blockers in the nation. Tennessee look to rebuild their offensive line pairing him up with 2023 firstround pick, Peter Skoronski.

8. Atlanta Falcons: WR Malik Nabers, LSU

If the Falcons don’t land a quarterback in the offseason, expect them to be a major trade-up candidate in this year’s draft. However, they are taking LSU’s Malik Nabers here — an explosive big-play threat who has the potential to score every time he touches the ball.

9. Chicago Bears: DE Dallas Turner, Alabama After trading for Montez Sweat at last year’s trade deadline, the Bears add to their defensive core by drafting Turner. Turner is a long, athletic edge who can affect the game in all three downs whether it be against the run or getting to the quarterback.

10. New York Jets: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon St. The Jets need help up front. Fuaga is a big time mauler in the run game and has the potential to be the best tackle of this year’s class when it’s all said and done. A strong showing in the Senior Bowl makes him a lock for the top15.

11. Minnesota Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Kirk Cousins will potentially return to Minnesota, but the Vikings select his protegé in McCarthy — a highly efficient playmaker with a live arm.

12. Denver Broncos: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama The Broncos pair superstar Pat Surtain II with the best corner in this year’s class to form a monster tandem. Arnold reminds me a lot of Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks with his strong instincts and tenacious physicality at the position.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson Wiggins is one of those guys whose stock will soar throughout the draft process. He’s a long, rangy, fluid corner who is “sticky” in coverage and has top-tier ball skills.

14. New Orleans Saints: OT J.C. Latham, Alabama Nicknamed the “Trench King,” Latham is an absolute unit who will sure-up a team’s right side for years to come.

He’s dominant in the run game and has strong hands and smooth feet. Latham’s game needs some refinement, but his size and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect.

15. Indianapolis Colts: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia Arguably the best tight end in all of college football history, Bowers can do it all. He’s a versatile threat who can line up all over the field and possesses special run-after-thecatch ability. The Colts take the best player on the board and give Anthony Richardson a new toy to play with.

16. Seattle Seahawks: DE Jared Verse, Florida St. Verse is a relentless, physical presence on the edge who has a motor that never stops going. His violent, back-breaking hands standout. He’ll add some much-needed juice to a young Seahawks defense.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo Another riser post-Senior Bowl. Mitchell was a ball hawk in 2022, tallying two pick-6s, and in 2023, teams

didn’t even bother throwing his way — he was “lock-down” all season (not surrendering a touchdown in 2023, per PFF). Mitchell has all the qualities of a shutdown corner.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU Big. Fast. Scores a ton of touchdowns. Thomas Jr. is a speed demon who makes the opposing secondary lose sleep at night. His route tree remains a bit limited, but the 6 feet 4 inch pass-catcher is a special weapon to have in any offense.

19. Los Angeles Rams: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa One of my favorite prospects in this year’s draft class, DeJean is a top-flight athlete who possesses unique versatility to play multiple roles in the secondary. He’s tenacious in the run game and often makes big plays as a disruptor.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia After hitting a home run on Broderick Jones last draft, the Steelers draft another enormous tackle with freakish athleticism out of Georgia to keep Kenny Pickett protected moving forward.

21. Miami Dolphins: OT Troy Fautanu, Washington Fautanu possesses rare versatility for a prospect, as he can play at all five positions on the offensive line. Fautanu will likely end up slotting inside for the ‘Fins especially if Robert Hunt and Connor Williams aren’t retained.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA If it weren’t for some medical concerns, Latu would be a surefire top-20 pick. Latu is the most skilled pass rusher in this year’s class. The Eagles know a thing or two about defensive line prospects, and at twenty-two, there's a big chance Latu can end up being the steal of the first round.

23. Houston Texans: DT Byron Murphy II, Texas There is a lot of Calijah Kancey in Murphy II — undersized, but twitchy and skilled in the pass rush. Houston could go in many different directions here at 23, but Murphy II would be a fun addition for defensive-guru Demeco Ryans to pair up with reigning Defensive Rookie of Year, Will Anderson.

24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma When it comes to the big boys up front, Dallas just doesn’t seem to miss. However, the unit is aging and set to have many holes to fill this offseason. Jerry Jones and Co. take a chance on Guyton, an inexperienced prospect, but arguably the most athletic tackle in this year’s class.

25. Green Bay Packers: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon An absolute bully up front, Powers-Jackson plays an aggressive style of football making him an anchor on the offensive line. Green Bay find a stud to keep rising-phenom Jordan Love protected, as well as an absolute difference H maker in the run game. . .[article continued online]. ■

20 TUESDAY, FEB 27, 2024

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